100 Days In

(WESTFIELD – 9/10/2020)

This past week marked 100 days since I was sworn in as the State Senator for the 2^nd Hampden and Hampshire district. In reflecting back on these past months, I am grateful for the relationships I’ve made, the lessons I’ve learned, and the work we’ve already been able to accomplish, and I wanted to share some of these reflections with you all today.

Going from the State Representative for one city to the State Senator for 11 different communities is a huge change, and I have dedicated plenty of time to engaging with our district.

From Town meetings in Russell, Southampton and Tolland, to Selectboard meetings in Montgomery and Southwick, to one-one meetings with the Mayors of Agawam, Easthampton, and Holyoke, it is so important to me to me with the local officials in the communities I represent. I want to learn about all the different needs that my constituents face, and this has been a priority from day one.

I’ve met with community organizations and businesses in every town and city, and learned how I can best support them. I’ve met with law enforcement, fire departments, and health officials all over to better understand the challenges they face. I’ve met school administrators, teachers, and parents as we begin the new school year. And I’ve spent time helping out at Senior Centers, Food Pantries, Boys and Girls Clubs, and other non-profits throughout the district. Overall, I’ve tried to be as accessible as possible to my constituents, and had in-person and virtual meetings to talk about what’s on people’s minds and find out how I can help. Through all these experiences, I’ve begun to build relationships that will serve me and our district well.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected so many people, and it is undeniable that much of my work so far has been on helping communities and residents get the help they need right now. Whether it be assisting constituents with their access to unemployment benefits, sharing information about testing locations, or providing residents with food resources during this time, my office has done whatever it can to assist during these times. My staff and I are always here to help, no matter what the issue, and I’m proud that we have assisted over 100 constituents who were experiencing difficulties with State agencies since my time in office.

As far as committee work, I quickly received a leading seat on the Joint Committee on Labor & Workforce Development, where I am assistant Vice-Chair. I also currently sit on the Economic Development & Emerging Technologies Committee and the Mental Health, Substance Use & Recovery Committee.

The Senate has worked on many important bills during this time, and I’m proud to have been a part:

Health Care Legislation

The Senate has made major commitments to increasing access to health care during these difficult times, and one of my first votes was for the Patients First Act. This legislation builds on vital lessons learned during the COVID-19 public health crisis. This bill makes tele-health services permanently available, protects patients by ending the unfair practice of surprise billing, and requires healthcare providers to notify patients of a healthcare provider’s network status before non-emergency procedures. We’ve also empowered patients and providers by passing An Act Relative to Step Therapy and Patient Safety at the end of July. This legislation limits the use of step therapy, or ‘fail-first’ protocols, that often direct patients to less expensive medications rather than those more suitable to treat their condition. We’ve committed to protecting maternal health through licensing midwives, and created commissions to study racial inequalities in maternal health outcomes and perinatal substance use treatment. We’ve improved treatment of and care for stroke patients, by directing the Department of Public Health to annually review protocols to ensure stroke patients are transported to care facilities best equipped to treat them.

Education Legislation

We’ve also passed important education legislation during this time, including the Breakfast After the Bell Act that my colleague and friend Rep. Aaron Vega has worked so hard on. This legislation fights childhood hunger, by requiring all public K‑12 schools with 60% or more students eligible for free or reduced-price meals under the federal National School Lunch Program to offer breakfast after the instructional day begins. Improved student nutrition helps students succeed in the classroom, and research shows that programs that begin after the start of the day are much more successful in encouraging students to eat breakfast at school. We’ve also expanded higher education opportunities for people with disabilities by removing existing barriers for students with intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorders or other developmental disabilities so they can attend public institutions of higher education.

Funding Legislation

The State has passed strong Chapter 70 and Chapter 90 funding legislation for our communities during this time. An Act financing improvements to municipal roads and bridges was signed into law on July 2, 2020, and provides municipalities with vital funding for roads, bridges and infrastructure through Chapter 90 funding. It authorizes $1.5 billion for federally supported highway projects and a further $220 million for rail projects around the state

The State has also ensured stability for municipalities and schools as the COVID-19 crisis continues through a local aid and funding agreement for fiscal year 2021. The agreement commits to level funding for Unrestricted General Government Aid (UGGA) for cities and towns. It also provides a $107 million increase over fiscal year 2020 in education aid that guarantees level funding for all districts and provide increases necessary to ensure that all districts meet their foundation budget.

COVID-19 Relief Legislation

As COVID-19 has changed our lives, it has pushed the legislature to change laws to help citizens and businesses adapt. The legislature has responded to these changes, and has passed bills extending the state income tax filing deadline, addressing disruptions in municipal tax collections, and allowing licensed restaurants more flexibility to sell alcoholic beverages with food take-out and delivery orders.

The Senate has passed also several major relief bills during these months, including the Endure Act and the COVID-19 Supplemental Budget. The Endure Act authorizes $455 million to communities to aid small businesses and workers, and stimulate economic development. Among other things, it includes $20 million for small business grants, $20 million for restaurants impacted by COVID-19, and $15 million for community college workforce programs. This legislation will provide major relief and support to our economy as we begin to recover from the financial consequences of COVID-19. The Supplemental Budget, which was recently signed into law by Governor Baker, is in direct response to COVID-19, and takes advantage of federal aid that Massachusetts will be receiving. It provides much needed aid to our State to combat this pandemic, including $350 million for PPE and $30 million for community health centers. Included in the final bill was my first piece of Senate legislation, an amendment earmarking $250,000 in funds for the Holyoke Soldiers Home.

Holyoke Soldiers Home

I’m extremely proud that my first Senate filing was to secure funds for the Soldiers Home. As a veteran, I spent plenty of time at the Home before these tragedies, and as the Senator now representing the Home, I have made advocating for the facility and its residents one of my top priorities. One of the very first things I did was to reach out to the families of those who lost loved ones and hold listening sessions for them to speak directly to me. Their stories are heartbreaking, and have pushed me to work tirelessly to make sure that what happened can never happen again. My staff and I are on weekly calls with the Executive Office of Health and Human Services and the staff at the Home where I receive updates on residents and current testing numbers. In addition to listening sessions with families, I have worked alongside community stakeholders and advocates, and had conversations with the Department of Veterans Services and the Governors administration on how to improve the Home and its funding.

Some of you may know that I was also named to the Legislature’s Oversight Committee that will be making recommendations for how the Home should look moving forward. Currently, the architecture firm Payette has been tasked with creating a needs assessment of the facility. The firm has experience with the Soldiers Home, and with VA design requirements. During this work, it is critical that Payette fully engages with all stakeholders, and takes into account both the immediate and long-term needs of the Home. The next generation of veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan, of which the fastest growing group is women, will rely on the Home for years to come. They will have different needs, and we need the Home to adapt to provide the necessary accommodations, including mental health and substance abuse resources. It is crucial that this future generation is taken into account so that the Home can be sustainable in the long-run.

Advocating for the District

I’ve also been proud to advocate for our district in the Senate in a number of different ways. In recent Bond Bills, I have pushed for infrastructure upgrades to Public Safety Departments, and increased funding for our communities. In these bond bills, I have had numerous amendments adopted, including $450,000 for Broadband Expansion in Granville, Montgomery, Tolland and Russell, and $7.5 million for transportation projects across our district. While bond bills still have to be authorized by the Governor, I am proud to advocate for projects that will improve the quality of life in our district whenever possible. I have called for increased COVID-19 testing capabilities for our communities alongside my Western Mass Colleagues, and am glad that State testing is now available at no cost in Agawam and Holyoke. I still hope to see more testing expanded to Hampshire County, and recently signed onto a letter urging for just that alongside legislators from the County.

Being in the Senate is a change from the House, and I’ve learned a lot in these few months. One thing that has not changed though, is my duty to you all. I am looking forward to continuing my legislative work, to continuing my outreach to the communities I serve, and to continuing to advocate for the needs of all my constituents.

Be safe, and stay well.

John C. Velis