James T. Brett, President and Chief Executive Officer of The New England Council, was appointed to those positions by the Council’s board of directors in October 1996. The Council, a nationally respected and influential regional organization, was established in 1925. It is an alliance of schools, hospitals, corporations, and other private organizations throughout New England, working together to promote economic growth and a high quality of life in the New England region. It identifies and supports federal policies of importance to New England, and advocates for its membership regionally and nationally.
Under Mr. Brett’s leadership, the Council has recorded major policy successes. For example, the Council was a strong advocate in favor of legislation that increased 401(k) and IRA contribution limits and simplified complex pension plan regulations that made it difficult for small businesses to offer plans. This legislation not only enabled workers throughout New England and the nation to take greater advantage of their savings in order to maintain their standard of living at retirement, but also buttressed a core sector of the region’s economy – the financial services industry. During Mr. Brett’s tenure, the Council also joined with successful coalitions in passing an extension of the dividend and capital gain tax cuts, class action reform, an extension of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) and an expansion of the H-1B Visa cap, among other legislative victories.
The Council’s membership and financial growth have been impressive under Mr. Brett’s leadership. In the past four years, revenues have doubled and net assets have significantly exceeded historical levels.
As President & CEO, Mr. Brett serves as the co-host of D.C. Dialogue, a monthly public affairs program broadcast on New England Cable News.
Before joining the Council, Mr. Brett served for more than fifteen years as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. He held a succession of important leadership positions, including the chairmanship of two of the most significant committees in the Massachusetts legislature, Banking and the Committee on Taxation. In these positions, he brought together various constituencies to create economic opportunity for the Commonwealth’s citizens and businesses.
While serving as Chairman of the Joint Committee on Taxation, for example, Mr. Brett co-authored legislation granting tax relief to the Commonwealth’s mutual fund companies, in return for the creation of 11,000 new private-sector jobs in Massachusetts over a five-year period. He also sponsored the “Single Sales Factor” legislation designed to help Massachusetts manufacturers remain competitive, and keep high-skilled and high-wage jobs in the state.
He previously served as Chairman of the Joint Committee on Banks and Banking, the Joint Committee on Criminal Justice, the Joint Committee on Congressional Redistricting, the Joint Committee on Counties, and the House Committee on Legislative Redistricting.
Mr. Brett is Chairman of the Governor’s Commission on Intellectual Disability and in 2011, President Barack Obama appointed him the Chair of The President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities. He also served as Co-Chairman of the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health Inpatient Study Commission. Mr. Brett is a member of the Board of Directors of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, the Massachusetts Association for Mental Health, The Missionary Society of Saint James the Apostle, and the Inflammatory Breast Center. He serves on the Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, the Robert F. Kennedy Children’s Action Corps, The New England Center For Children, and The Irish Immigration Center. Mr. Brett also serves on the Board of Advocates of Bay Cove Human Services, Inc., and and serves on the Advisory Board of the Boys and Girls Club of Dorchester. He is an Honorary Board of Directors Member of Special Olympics Massachusetts, a member of the Campaign Advisory Council, Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, National Advisory Board of the National Autism Center, College Ready New England (CRNE) Board of Advisors, Early Education for All (EEA) Campaign Advisory Committee as well as a member of the Advisory Committee of the Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance and the Mary Ann Brett Food Pantry. Mr. Brett is a member of the Advisory Board to the Rappaport Center for Law and Public Service at Suffolk University Law School and Project B.I.N.D., Boston Inclusion Network for Disabilities. He is also a member of The Charitable Irish Society.
Mr. Brett is a former trustee of the Shriver Center, Catholic Charities, the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Sisters of Saint Joseph Aids Education Ministry, Carney Hospital and Franklin Pierce University, as well as former board member of Project Bread, the Notre Dame Education Center, Marian Manor Nursing Home. He previously served on teh Advisory Boards of the Laboure Center, the Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, and the Rappaport Center for Law and Public Service at Suffolk University Law School.
Mr. Brett is a member of the Knights of Malta, the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George, and the Royal Brotherhood of the Order of Saint Michael of the Wing. He is also a member of The Charitable Irish Society.
While a legislator, Mr. Brett was formally honored on several occasions by labor, human service, and law enforcement organizations for outstanding public service. Many other groups honored him as “Legislator of the Year,” and organizations such as Friends of the John F. Kennedy Library, Central Remedial Clinic in Ireland, and the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers have publicly honored him for his service.
Mr. Brett has continued to be a tireless advocate for the physically and mentally challenged, and has been recognized for his humanitarian work by Action for Boston Community Development (Lifetime Public Service Award) and Hospice of Boston (Humanitarian of the Year). In 1996, Bay Cove Human Services of Boston named a new community home for disabled adults “Brett House” in his honor. Mr. Brett also received the Distinguished Leadership Award from Massachusetts Special Olympics in 2008. In recognition of this contributions in support of people with intellectual disabilities, Mr. Brett was invited by the Boston Red Sox to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Fenway Park on Disabilities Awareness Night in both 2009 and 2011.
Mr. Brett is a recipient of an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from the University of Massachusetts at Boston, an Honorary Doctor of Public Service Degree from Westfield State University, and an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree from Salem State University.
View a list of James’ Awards and Honors
In addition to a Bachelor’s degree from American University, Mr. Brett holds Master’s degrees in Public Administration from both Suffolk University and the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
Mr. Brett and his wife, Patricia, reside in Dorchester, Massachusetts.
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