As a retired teacher and proud member of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, I am heartened that our union voted to support H.1264/S.767, An Act Promoting Responsible Investment. This legislation would safeguard our pension funds by prohibiting investments in companies that manufacture weapons of mass destruction.
Beyond the moral urgency, this is a sound financial decision. Companies that produce weapons of mass destruction face significant long-term risks: geopolitical volatility, abrupt changes in federal policy, international sanctions, legal liabilities, and growing global scrutiny. These risks can undermine the stability and growth of our retirement funds. Responsible fiduciary stewardship means avoiding investments that expose pensioners to unpredictable markets tied to global conflict.
We need look no further than the weapons supplied by our own government to the state of Israel, which have been used in the ongoing devastation in the West Bank and Gaza. This year alone, the United States has sent more than $22 billion in military aid that has contributed to the deaths of over 63,000 people. Members of Israel’s war cabinet have already been charged with crimes against humanity by the International Court of Justice. Investments tied to such actions carry not only profound ethical concerns but also severe financial and reputational risks. Our pension funds should not bankroll activities that jeopardize both human rights and economic stability.
War has long been driven by profit, as former Marine General and Medal of Honor recipient, Smedley Butler wrote:
“War is a racket… conducted for the benefit of the very few, at the expense of the very many. Out of war, a few people make huge fortunes.”
Butler recognized the distortions and profiteering that shape the global arms industry—hardly the kind of foundation on which educators should rely for retirement security.
As educators, our responsibility is to nurture life, not to profit from its destruction. Investing in the “merchants of death” compromises not only our values but the long-term health of our pension system. True responsible investment means directing funds toward stable, socially beneficial sectors such as education, healthcare, renewable energy, and affordable housing—areas that offer strong, sustainable financial returns and broad public benefits. Responsible investment is not only about where we place our dollars; it is about where we place our values and how we protect our financial future.
I urge you to vote favorably on this legislation and send it to the full House and Senate for ratification.
