Hi everyone,
Hard to believe that we are at the end of April! The Spring is flying by and before we know it, we will be in the dog days of summer.
Things in the Legislature are picking up as the FY24 budget season continues. This week the House completed their budget after a week of debate. Next up is the Senate, where we will work on our own budget over the next few weeks before ultimately debating and finalizing it towards the end of May.
As Chairman of the Mental Health, Substance Use, and Recovery Committee, many of my priorities this budget session will be in that area. This week was great preparation for that, starting with a great conversation on Monday at Westfield State on the topic of mental health on college campuses. We had an incredible turnout, and it was truly informative to hear from students and faculty about the trends they are observing.
Our work with behavioral health this week also involved meetings with Boston Children’s Hospital and Samaritans Inc to discuss legislative priorities related to children’s mental health and the rollout of the national 988 suicide and crisis lifeline. For those of you who don’t know, the 988 lifeline is available 24/7, 365 days a year, to anyone who is in emotional distress. It has been an incredible resource so far and I look forward to continuing to support its infrastructure.
This Wednesday while at the State House I also had the opportunity to meet with the Springfield Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber was out for the annual Beacon Hill Summit, and it was wonderful to meet with some of the great business leaders in the Greater Springfield area.
Special shout out to the Hampden Charter School of Science in West Springfield for having me over for a visit on Friday. Talking to students is always a blast for me and it was great to hear about their interests and passions.
This week I also recorded the next episode of my local cable show, “Beacon Hill to the 413”. My guest was Keith Fairey, President and CEO of Way Finders, a community organization focused on housing stability and production. Our discussion focused on some of the housing challenges that Western Mass faces and how the State can help make housing more affordable. Check your local cable channels or head to my website to watch.
This week my team held office hours in Westfield, Russell, and Southampton. Next week we will be at the Agawam COA on Monday from 11AM to 12PM. Feel free to stop by any of our office hours with questions, comments, concerns, or just to say hello!
If you are unable to make our office hours or need assistance any sooner, I can always be reached at my email: john.velis@masenate.gov or by phone: (413)572-3920. You can also find me online at senatorjohnvelis.com where you can sign up for my newsletter!
Best,
John Velis