john_velis

February 17, 2021February 17, 2021

Velis named Chair of Veterans and Federal Affairs Committee

BOSTON (2/17/2021) – On Friday the Massachusetts State Senate announced new committee assignments for the 2021-2022 legislative session. Senator John Velis (D-Westfield) was named the Senate chair of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs. When asked about his new position, Senator Velis stressed the importance of delivering for those who have served our country.

“Those in our Armed Forces are selfless and courageous individuals who lay their lives on the line in defense of our great country. In turn, we need to do everything we can to make sure we are properly assisting and caring for those who serve and have served.” said Senator Velis, who is a Veteran and Major in the U.S. Army Reserves himself. “Our Veterans have their own unique needs and skillsets, and I am incredibly excited to chair the committee directly tasked with all aspects of Veteran affairs.”

Senator Velis will chair the Joint Committee alongside State Representative Paul McMurtry (D-Dedham). Senator Velis noted that he has filed several pieces of Veteran Affairs legislation on his own already and that he hopes to see several major Veterans Bills be signed by Governor Baker this session.

In addition to his chairmanship, Senator Velis was also named Vice-Chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery, and Vice-Chair of the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.

“Both of these committees will be working on issues very near and dear to my heart,” said Senator Velis. “As someone who went through the special education system in Westfield, and as someone who has had their own struggles in recovery, I look forward to lending my personal insight to these committees as we work on legislation that will benefit residents across the Commonwealth.”

Senator Velis will also be sitting on five other joint committees in the 2021-2022 legislative session, including the Joint Committee on the Judiciary, the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government, the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security, the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight, and the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development.

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February 12, 2021

February 7th, 2021 – Weekly Update

Happy February Everyone,

It was a cold and snowy start to the second month of the year and according to Punxsutawny Phil, we still have six weeks left until the weather starts to warm up.

More importantly, this Monday marks not only the beginning of February, but also the beginning of Black History Month. This time provides an opportune moment for us all to look forward and contemplate how we can create a more equitable and cohesive Commonwealth.

One of the few upsides of working from home is that I and my staff were able to keep working despite the “Snowageddon”. Thankfully so, as our weeks are only getting busier here as we move into this new Legislative session. At the beginning of the week, I met with members of the Massachusetts Teachers’ Association to discuss their legislative priorities for this session. Teachers are some of the most dedicated and vital public servants in our Commonwealth. The purpose of these ongoing talks is find out what works best for them and how the legislature can help them during and beyond the pandemic.

Later that day I joined other State Senators on a zoom call with Secretary of Health and Human Services, Marylou Sudders, to discuss the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. This week the State launched the Massachusetts Vaccine Scheduling Resource Line, which individuals ages 75 and older may call to get assistance from a live representative on scheduling a COVID-19 vaccine appointment. The hotline can be reached by dialing 2-1-1, and will operate from 8:30AM to 5:00PM on weekdays. If you would like to stay up to date with vaccine information, please visit my website at https://senatorjohnvelis.com/covid-19-updates/ and sign up for our weekly COVID-19 newsletter.

This week I also had the honor of speaking with students of Westfield High about what the future holds for both them and our Commonwealth. I really enjoyed discussing my time at Westfield High School as well as answering their questions. Special thanks to their teacher, Sarah Corbett, who set up this talk and whom Westfield High is extremely lucky to have.

On Friday I met with members of the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association to discuss their legislative priorities. This is just one of many legislative topics my office is taking meetings on as the bill filing season continues.

That morning, I was also able to tour Westfield State and see the new COVID-19 testing site that they’re going to open. Even with the vaccine on the horizon, frequent testing remains the most effective way to prevent spread and serious symptoms. I implore all of you to stay vigilant so as to protect yourselves and your neighbors.

In this new legislative session, I will also be putting together newsletters from my office that can be sent right to your email inbox. If you would like to sign up for the newsletter, head to www.senatorjohnvelis.com/quarterly-newsletter/

As always, if there is anything I can do to assist you, please never hesitate to reach out to my office. I can be reached at my email: john.velis@masenate.gov or by phone: (413) 572-3920 and you can find me online at senatorjohnvelis.com.

Sincerely,

John C. Velis

February 12, 2021

February 14th, 2021 – Weekly Update

Hello Everyone,

Punxatawney Phil, our trusty groundhog, was unfortunately right. This last week was even snowier than the first week of February. Hopefully with March around the corner, Spring is on its way.

This week, like the last couple, has been filled with zoom meetings after zoom meetings as the Legislative Session fully begins. Hopefully, we can resume normal life relatively soon as vaccine rollout progresses. If you’d like to stay up to date with the vaccine rollout info, visit my website at https://senatorjohnvelis.com/covid-19-updates/ to sign up for our weekly COVID-19 updates.

On Monday, I met with John Hurst from the Massachusetts Retailers’ Association. He and I had a very productive conversation on how the Massachusetts legislature can aid retail businesses in the Commonwealth. Retail has been one of the worst hit sectors of our economy during the COVID-19 pandemic and we need to do everything in our powers to help our local businesses recover.

Later that afternoon, I joined the Gateway cities caucus for another virtual Zoom meeting. A gateway city is a medium sized, semi-economically independent city (Westfield, Holyoke, Chicopee) that serves as an intermediary between more rural towns (Southwick, Russell) and larger metros (Springfield, Boston). Gateway cities are in very unique position economically and as such, they have their own specific needs that larger metros and smaller towns do not need to address. I along with legislators from other Gateway cities had a very productive discussion on how the Legislature can best address these types of cities’ needs.

This Tuesday marked another hearing for the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home Oversight committee. The committee heard testimonies from the Board of Trustees, Secretary of the Department of Veteran Services, Cheryl Poppe, and Secretary of Health and Humans Services, Marylou Sudders. The purpose of these hearings is to find out the underlying institutional causes that led to the tragedy at the Home last spring and the committee will make our official recommendations to the Senate by March 31^st.

Later in the week, I met with members of the Association for Behavioral Healthcare. Everyone has been hit hard by the pandemic, but residents with substance use disorders have been faced with a new set of challenges. Meeting with this organization will help me better identify legislative solutions I will be able to bring forth as a state Senator. After that, along with other Western Massachusetts legislators, I met with the Commissioner of the Department of Early Education and Care to discuss COVID-19 testing to ensure our children and families are as safe as possible in our region.

Recently, I also started sending quarterly newsletters from my office that can be sent right to your email inbox. If you would like to sign up for the newsletter, head to www.senatorjohnvelis.com/quarterly-newsletter/

As always, if there is anything I can do to assist you, please never hesitate to reach out to my office. I can be reached at my email: john.velis@masenate.gov or by phone: (413) 572-3920 and you can find me online at senatorjohnvelis.com.

Sincerely,

John Velis

February 1, 2021

Winter Storm Tips

When winter storms are heading towards our district, my office will put out helpful information and updates as they become available. Below are resources and tips for how to stay safe during heavy snowfall and possible power outages.

Preparedness and Safety Information

Stay Informed

For additional information and updated forecasts, see National Weather Service Boston and National Weather Service Albany
Utilize MEMA’s real-time power outage viewer to stay informed about current power outages in your community and region, and across the state, including information from utility companies about restoration times

Online Resources

January 29, 2021February 12, 2021

January 24th, 2021 – Weekly Update

Hello Everyone,

Things are starting to pick up again as a new session begins. My staff and I are excited to roll up our sleeves and get to work as I start my first full term as your State Senator.

This week marks what would have been the 92nd birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King as well as a very profound national transition for our country. I hope all of you had a chance to celebrate on Monday.

On Wednesday, I virtually met with Robert Roose, the Chief Medical Officer at Mercy Medical Center, to discuss substance use disorders and how the pandemic continues to detrimentally impact people living with addiction. I am grateful for the opportunity to speak with Dr. Roose and brainstorm potential legislation to help others struggling.

Later on Wednesday my office held another virtual listening session for families who currently have loved ones at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home. I invited family members to share their stories and I give my deepest gratitude to those who did. It was insightful to hear from families about the current status of the Home and concerns that still exist.

On Thursday the Legislature’s Special Oversight Committee on the Soldiers’ Home held a public hearing where I was able to raise many of the concerns I have heard. Members of the administration, as well as Holyoke Soldiers’ Home employees, testified and fielded questions about staffing and labor-related issues among other topics. It is essential that we ensure the Home is moving forward in the right direction, so that our current and future Veterans get the care they deserve.

On Friday I was glad to join the Massachusetts Military Support Foundation in Springfield to help with the delivery of winter coats they were getting via the Coats4Vets program. My newly-elected colleague Senator Gomez was also there helping out and it was great to see all the donations come in that will go to our Veterans.

As always if there is anything I can do to assist you, please never hesitate to reach out to my office. I can be reached at my email: john.velis@masenate.gov or by phone: (413) 572-3920 and you can find me online at senatorjohnvelis.com.

Sincerely,

John C. Velis

January 29, 2021February 12, 2021

January 31, 2021 – Weekly Update

Hello Everyone,

Hard to believe we’re already at the end of January! 2021 is moving along and I hope this new year has been good to you all so far. This week I had several meetings regarding potential legislation to file in this new session, as well as the COVID-19 vaccine distribution process.

On Monday morning I met with Dave Cruise, President and CEO of the MassHire Hampden County Workforce Board. We had a informative conversation about companies and businesses in our district and how the Legislature can support them. Monday afternoon I sat down with Mayor Humason and Representative Pease to talk about our legislative priorities and how we can work together to benefit the City of Westfield.

On Tuesday I met with Westfield City Councilor Kristen Mello and other community members to discuss PFAS and a new potential study that would look at the impact of the contamination in food sources across the state.

This week my staff and I also met virtually with representatives from the U.S. Department of Defense to talk about potential legislation for Veterans and active military members in the Commonwealth. While I will be refiling several pieces of Veterans affairs legislation from my time in the House, I have a few new interesting initiatives I will be pursuing as well.

Earlier this week, the Baker Administration announced that individuals who are 75+ years old can begin to book appointments through mass.gov/covid-19-vaccine to receive the COVID-19 vaccine when Phase 2 begins on February 1^st. I have heard from many constituents this week about the difficulty and confusion of signing up for a vaccine appointment on the site. While the Governor is unilaterally overseeing the vaccination distribution, my office has been communicating with the Administration frequently to make our concerns clear.

This week I co-sponsored legislation to greatly improve the current vaccination booking process. SD300, An Act streamlining COVID-19 vaccination sign-up in Massachusetts, directs the Department of Public Health to immediately establish an accessible, one-stop online sign-up for COVID-19 vaccinations, as well as a 24/7 phone hotline in multiple languages. Ensuring access to the vaccine is crucial to recovering as a Commonwealth.

Last week several of my colleagues and I also sent a letter to Governor Baker asking for increased vaccination preparations in Hampden County, and I am glad that Eastfield Mall in Springfield will now be a mass vaccination site. I will continue to advocate to improve the vaccination process however I can, and my staff is available to assist with any questions or concerns you may. In addition, I will be sending out COVID email updates as new information becomes available. You can sign up to receive them at senatorjohnvelis.com/covid-19-updates/

As always if there is anything I can do to assist you, please never hesitate to reach out to my office. I can be reached at my email: john.velis@masenate.gov or by phone: (413) 572-3920 and you can find me online at senatorjohnvelis.com.

Sincerely,

John C. Velis

January 28, 2021January 28, 2021

Velis Calls for Centralized Booking for Vaccine Registration, Co-Sponsors Bill to Improve System

(Boston 1/28/2020) Today Senator John Velis co-sponsored legislation with Senator Eric Lesser to improve the COVID-19 vaccination sign-up system in Massachusetts. The bill, An Act streamlining COVID-19 vaccination sign-up in Massachusetts, has been filed as an emergency law and would take effect immediately if passed and signed by the Governor.

“I have heard from so many constituents that they have been unable to sign up for vaccine appointments. With each vaccination location utilizing a different booking system, the process is too difficult and flat out confusing, especially for older individuals who might have trouble using the internet to begin with” said Senator Velis. “A centralized system must be implemented, so that Massachusetts residents can easily sign up for vaccine appointments as they become available.”

Earlier this week, the Baker Administration announced that the first priority group in Phase 2 (individuals who are 75+ years old) may begin to book appointments to receive the vaccine on February 1^st and beyond. The Administration also announced several new vaccination sites across the state and released information on how to sign up for an appointment.

Currently, eligible residents must first find a vaccination site near them on the state’s COVID-19 vaccine website and then book an appointment through that location’s appointment system. With each location having a different system, many Massachusetts residents have reported difficulty in finding appointments.

The bill directs the Department of Public Health to immediately establish an accessible, one-stop online sign-up for COVID-19 vaccinations for both desktop computer and mobile phones. It also requires the immediate implementation of a phone hotline in multiple languages, to be staffed 24/7, and directs the Department of Public Health to notify residents of these streamlined options for vaccination sign up using a text-based notification system, such as “AlertsMA”.

“We need a clearer system here, we need more resources for residents who have difficulty with websites like these,” said Senator Velis. “We all understand that the vaccination output is lagging behind the demand right now, but we need more clarity for our residents and this legislation will greatly improve the current system.”

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January 22, 2021January 22, 2021

‘We never received that request’: General says Massachusetts National Guard was initially unaware of rising death toll at Holyoke Soldiers’ Home

January 21st, 2020 – Stephanie Barry – MassLive, Photos by Sam Doran (State House News Service)

HOLYOKE — Ten months after the coronavirus tore through the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, the head of the state’s National Guard contingent testified before a legislative oversight committee that he never received a call for help from the facility when the disease took hold in March.

Maj. Gen. Gary W. Keefe, adjutant general of the Massachusetts National Guard and the new chairman of the Soldiers’ Home board of trustees, said he and 102 members of the guard arrived at the home late that month, when veterans began dying at an alarming rate, encountering carnage many staff have since recounted to a litany of investigators.

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Sen. John Velis, D-Westfield, a committee member and combat veteran who has emerged as an advocate for the facility and families of veterans, challenged Sudders on the hierarchy that includes the Department of Veterans Services.

He pointed to a blistering report commissioned by Baker and authored by Boston attorney Mark Pearlstein that heaped blame for the death toll on upper management at the Soldiers’ Home and middle management for the state.

“Does it make sense to have that added layer of bureaucracy?” Velis asked Sudders. “The more people you have in that chain of command, the more instances of potential breakdown.”

Sudders stood behind the chain of command and highlighted the hasty reforms the state is pursuing, including a “refresh” of the Holyoke facility, staffing changes and a sprint toward a new, state-of-the-art home with a $300 million price tag.

Some of Sudders’ own testimony suggested she was unfamiliar with the culture at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home until the crisis, including haphazard staffing.

“I was frankly stunned that there wasn’t a permanent schedule at the home,” Sudders testified, referring to staffing plans, though she maintained the levels were “adequate.”

Velis suggested Walsh’s call for help may have gotten lost in the tangled chain of command. In response to a request for comment, a spokeswoman for Sudders referred to a page in the Pearlstein report that concluded the call for the National Guard came to a halt with former Veterans’ Services Secretary Francisco Urena, whom Walsh emailed directly. Two days later, the cavalry arrived when other state leaders got wind of the magnitude of the crisis, the report says.

January 22, 2021

Health officials testify on the deadly COVID-19 outbreak at Holyoke Soldiers’ Home

January 21, 2020 – Audrey Russo, Morgyn Joubert – Western Mass News

SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) — Some of the state’s top health officials testified before state lawmakers Thursday on the deadly COVID-19 outbreak at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home.

The joint legislative session looked to get to the bottom of staffing levels at the facility, where more than 75 veterans have died after testing positive for COVID-19.

Legislators not only discussed recent changes to how staffing is managed but also the requirements set to become a superintendent.

“You’re not giving staff certainty on their schedule, and people were having, not knowing what their schedule is going to be,” said Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders.

Sudders fielded questions from legislators on why staff turnover rates were so high at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home.

Members of a joint legislative committee tasked to investigate the deadly COVID-19 outbreak at the facility. On Thursday, they were eager to address the staffing shortages and other problems that caused the pandemic to spiral out of control.

“There was not the internal processes, clinical management, and operations, to withstand a pandemic,” she explained. “There are many nursing homes in Massachusetts that faced the pandemic, including Chelsea, but their internal structures didn’t collapse.”

The lawmakers questioned Sudders as to why a licensed nursing home administrator is preferred, but it’s not a requirement of a potential superintendent. That is a requirement at private facilities at the state.

Sudders said the distinction isn’t rigorous enough when it comes to the actual healthcare experience. She believes even a licensed nursing home administrator couldn’t have reigned the pandemic in, given the home’s operational failings.

“I don’t think one person would have been able to have stopped that,” she noted.

One of the committee members, State Senator John Velis, said the goal is to find solutions.

“We need to transition to the going forward part of this,” Velis said.

Velis added that after speaking with families, his concerns about staffing linked to the home’s ability to facilitate resident visits once again.

“You’ve got all these veteran residents not able to speak to their families, talk to their families in a meaningful way. I would say so I’m concerned about that impact,” he noted.

In-person visits are canceled for the time being at the home.

Acting Superintendent Val Liptak and the state’s Veterans Services Secretary Cheryl Poppe also testified on Thursday.

The legislative committee’s report is due in the spring, roughly one year since the outbreak began.

January 22, 2021January 22, 2021

Senator Velis, Legislators, Bring up Concerns during Holyoke Soldiers’ Home Oversight Hearing

BOSTON (1/22/2020)

On Thursday the Legislature’s Special Oversight Committee on the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home held a virtual public hearing for administration officials and staff to directly testify. Senator John Velis, who represents the city of Holyoke and sits on the committee, stated that the hearing was an opportunity to bring up concerns and learn more about how to improve the Home.

“It is clear that staffing and oversight problems at the Home have existed for a long time. I have heard many concerns from families and staff directly, and it was critical to bring these issues up,” said Senator Velis. “The goal is to figure out how we can address these problems going forward so a tragedy like last spring never happens again.”

Major General Gary Keefe, who was recently named the new Chair of the Soldiers’ Home Board of Trustees, was among those who testified in front of the committee. General Keefe is the adjutant general of the Massachusetts National Guard and was in charge of the guardsmen who were deployed to the Home in March to respond to the outbreak.

General Keefe said that when he first arrived at the Home at the end of March, “it was bedlam.” Responding to a question about the chain of command at the Home, the General stated that a standardization of policies and regulations at the Home is badly needed.

One of the first to testify was the Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Marylou Sudders. After a series of questions regarding staffing levels and administration positions at the facility, the Secretary noted that they are continuing to work to improve staffing levels and that recruitment is always a challenge.

In a comment to the Secretary, Senator Velis said that families have continued to report that staffing shortages at the Home have contributed to visitation problems. “All these families want to do is see their loved ones. The isolation that COVID-19 has brought upon these Veterans is terrible, and I am worried about the impact this time period will have on their mental health.”

Secretary Sudders responded that shutting down visitations last spring and then later this fall again were some of the hardest decisions she has ever had to make. She said that she was hopeful that family visits and socialization with other residents will improve with increased vaccinations and new testing models. She also stated that she has asked Secretary of Veteran Services Cheryl Poppe to come up with a new visitation model for the Home.

Another topic discussed was the recommendations the architecture firm, Payette, has made for a new Soldiers’ Home facility. Their plan, which was commissioned by the Baker administration, calls for 180-204 beds for the new Home, a decrease from the pre-COVID capacity of 235 beds.

Senator Velis stressed that the bed projection needs to be increased, mainly because there is no way to accurately predict how many Veterans will rely on the Home in the future. “I would rather be in a position 20 years from now where we’ve got a few vacancies as opposed to waiting lists where constituents can’t get a bed at the Home.”

Kevin Jourdain, the former Chair of the Board of Trustees, also testified on Thursday that the number of beds should not be decreased. “We can’t predict the next war, the next military conflict. We’re supposed to be building a facility for the next 100 years, not for the next 10 years,” said Jourdain.

Mr. Jourdain also emphasized the importance of instituting an ombudsman’s office at the Home to ensure that residents and families have an confidential and independent resource to reach out to when issues arise. In the FY’2021 budget, an amendment by Senator Velis to provide funding for an

ombudsman’s office at the Soldiers Home’ was successfully adopted. Mr. Jourdain stated that such a position would greatly help to improve oversight of the Home.

The hearing, which lasted from 1PM until just before 7PM, is the first the Committee has held in the new year. A report from the Committee, along with possible legislation, is due by the end of March.

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