Author: john_velis

Hello everyone!

We hope you all have had a great week! Tomorrow evening marks the first night of Hanukkah. From all of us on Team Velis, we’re sending our warmest wishes to everyone celebrating!

To kick off the week Team Velis was excited to announce two grant awards to support ADA accessibility improvements and live theater in West Springfield. More specifically, the Town of West Springfield was awarded a $75,000 grant to design an ADA self-evaluation and transition plan to improve accessibility to municipal programs, services, and facilities! The Theater Project at the Majestic Theater was also awarded a grant of $51,974 to help support their production of “Once”!

On Tuesday, Bridget was in Holyoke to join Mayor Garcia, Urbanist Development, and community partners to celebrate the official groundbreaking of the Wright’s Block rehabilitation project on High Street. This transformative initiative will revitalize downtown Holyoke by creating new housing opportunities and vibrant storefronts for residents to enjoy!

Later that day Mark attended a topping off ceremony with Westfield Technical Academy to celebrate the students’ hard work completing a structural frame for a new home on St. James Ave. This project provides students with the invaluable hands-on experience in building a home thanks to the strong collaboration between the school, local businesses, and community organizations. As our Commonwealth continues to address the housing crisis, programs like the one at Westfield Technical Academy are critical to not only expanding our housing supply but also for building the skilled workforce we need for the future.

On Thursday, the Special Commission on the Public Health Effects of Xylazine met to discuss the findings of the Commission’s working groups who have each been dedicating their time over the last month to focus on specific topic areas. Gabe, Josie, and Caitlyn from our State House office have been working closely with the Commissioners of the Senator’s two working groups on Education and Training as well as Effective Outreach and Treatment. Across the board the research and findings of all the working groups will play a critical role in the Commission’s final recommendations to combat the deadly drug contamination issue here in Massachusetts.

This week Team Velis held office hours in Chicopee and West Springfield. Next week, we will be hosting office hours at the Easthampton Council on Aging from 10:30AM to 11:30AM on Tuesday and again on Wednesday at the Holyoke Council on Aging from 10:00AM to 11:00AM. 

If you are unable to make office hours or if you have any questions about the changes to some community’s regularly scheduled office hours this month please do not hesitate to contact us by email,  john.velis@masenate.gov, by phone, (413) 572-3920, and online at senatorjohnvelis.com.    

Sincerely,   

Team Velis  

Hello everyone, 

We hope you’ve all had a great start to December! Despite the snowy weather, Team Velis had a very busy week around the district and out in Boston. 

This week, the Healey-Driscoll Administration announced that seven communities in our district were awarded FY25 Justice Assistance Grants. This funding will support local public safety officials through prevention and education programs, technology upgrades, and other critical law enforcement initiatives. If you haven’t already, be sure to check out one of the Senator’s social media channels to see how much was awarded to each community! 

On Wednesday, Bridget joined community members in Chicopee to celebrate the grand opening of Rumbleseat Golf Room, keep your swing warm all winter long with this new golf simulator. That evening Mark attended a Westfield Gas & Electric Municipal Light Board meeting to help celebrate the retirement of Commissioner Kevin Kelleher. During Commissioner Kelleher’s final meeting, an official senate citation was presented on behalf of Senator Velis to recognize the Commissioner’s 22 years of service.  

This past Wednesday was also the Joint Rule 10 deadline in the Senate. This is an important date in the legislative calendar when most Committees must determine which bills will move forward in the legislative process. This session, Joint Rule 10 Day was moved up from its typical time in mid-February to the first Wednesday in December. This change has helped ensure that many bills can advance more efficiently during the two-year legislative session. Throughout this week, Josie was staying in close contact with various committee staff to help move many of the Senator’s bills forward. 

To round out the week, Mark helped welcome Superior ElectroMechanics to Westfield. Superior ElectroMechanics specializes in repairing a wide range of equipment to ensure that their customers can resume operations as quickly as possible 

All of us on Team Velis want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the countless first responders, community organizations, and individuals who provided support to those in Holyoke impacted by this week’s devasting fires. Please know our office remains in close contact with Holyoke officials and state partners to continue to provide support to those affected.  

This week Team Velis held office hours in Agawam and Southampton. Next week, we will be hosting office hours at the Chicopee Council on Aging from 10:00AM to 11:00AM on Tuesday and again on Wednesday at the West Springfield from 11:00AM to 12:00PM. If you are unable to make office hours or if you have any questions about the changes to some community’s regularly scheduled office hours this month please do not hesitate to contact us by email,  john.velis@masenate.gov, by phone, (413) 572-3920, and online at senatorjohnvelis.com.    

Sincerely,   

Team Velis  

Happy Thanksgiving! 

We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving spent with family and friends this week. All of us on Team Velis have much to be grateful for this year, but nothing is more important than the privilege of spending the holiday surrounded by our loved ones, especially while so many men and women of our U.S. military, both abroad and here at home, like Senator Velis are deployed and away from their own. 

As the Senator continues his deployment, all of us on Team Velis are working hard on behalf of the Hampden and Hampshire District and, of course, carrying on the Senator’s annual holiday traditions. Dating back to his years serving the City of Westfield as State Representative, the Senator has joined the Forum House each year to serve Thanksgiving meals. On Tuesday, Mark from our team was at the Forum House to carry on that tradition and to catch up with community members. 

Today is Small Business Saturday! This is a wonderful chance to support the local businesses that invest in our communities while you check off your holiday shopping lists. No matter the time of year all of us on Team Velis love to shop from local businesses throughout the year and we will absolutely be popping into a few stores owned by our friends and neighbors today. 

Speaking of the holiday season, some of our office hours have been moved around in the month of December to accommodate all the different holidays that we will be celebrating. Next week, we will be hosting office hours at the Agawam Council on Aging from 11:00AM to 12:00PM on Monday December 1^st and at the Southampton Council on Aging on Wednesday December 3^rd  from 9:30AM to 10:30AM. 

 If you are unable to make office hours or if you have any questions about the changes to some community’s regularly scheduled office hours this month please do not hesitate to contact us by email,  john.velis@masenate.gov, by phone, (413) 572-3920, and online at senatorjohnvelis.com.    

Sincerely,   

Team Velis  

Hello everyone,

We hope you all are well and are having a smooth start to your Thanksgiving preparations this weekend.

This week, Gabe, Caitlyn, and Josie participated in two different working groups for the Special Commission on Xylazine on behalf of Senator Velis. Bringing together public health officials, legislators, and harm reduction specialists, these working groups will focus on specific areas of the Commission’s charge to gather research and propose recommendations on how the Commonwealth can best respond to emerging contaminants like Xylazine.

On Wednesday, Mark was over in West Springfield to help welcome Seven Brew to town. During the celebration, an official citation from the Massachusetts State Senate was shared to recognize the occasion. Mark of course grabbed a warm cup of coffee before heading over to Agawam for an economic development meeting with town officials.

This week Bridget joined community members in Holyoke to celebrate Día del Descubrimiento de Puerto Rico (Discovery of Puerto Rico Day). This is a national holiday in Puerto Rico that honors the island’s history and culture. During the celebration a Puerto Rican flag was raised in front of City hall!

On Thursday, the Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism held its final meeting to approve its final report and recommendations. The final report’s findings and recommendations chart a course for combating antisemitism the “Massachusetts Way,” by supplying a set of best practices rooted in the Commission’s strong belief that fighting and preventing antisemitism must combine strong civil rights protections, civic education, and moral responsibility. While Senator Velis was unable to formally vote on these recommendations due to his deployment, he did write a letter during his personal time to share his resounding and empathic support of the report.

To round off the week, Mark joined Mayor Garcia and officials from the Department of Public Health, RMV, and the New England Donor Services to highlight the special gift of an organ donation. Just one organ donor can save eight different lives. Transplant patients receive these organs from either people who have left our world, and are making this last act of kindness, or living donors who step up and donate to a patient who is waiting for this life-saving opportunity.  Checking the organ donor box on your driver’s license application could provide a life changing gift to a patient in need.

This week Mark hosted our office hours in Easthampton while Bridget held our Holyoke office hours. Next week we will be hosting office hours at the Westfield Council on Aging on Monday from 12:30pm to 1:30pn and again on Tuesday at the Russell Council on Aging from 11:30am to 12:30pm. If you are unable to make office hours, you can continue to reach us by email,  john.velis@masenate.gov, by phone, (413) 572-3920, and online at senatorjohnvelis.com.   

Sincerely,  

Team Velis 

Hello everyone, 

This week Senator Velis began his deployment with the Massachusetts National Guard. While the Senator is away serving our country, our office will remain fully operational and continue working tirelessly on behalf of the residents of the Hampden and Hampshire District! Before jumping into the highlights of this week, all of us on Team Velis wanted to take an opportunity to introduce ourselves and share how we support the Senator in serving our communities.   

Around the district you may often see our Constituent Services Aide, Bridget, and District Director, Mark. Bridget compassionately helps constituents from across the district navigate local and state resources. When she is not helping folks at one of our many different monthly office hours or attending events, you might catch her at a locally owned bookstore. Mark works on municipal and regional issues, ensuring that our district’s 9 municipalities are receiving the support they need from our state agencies and that local organizations can competitively pursue state grants to benefit our communities. When he is not helping our local municipalities, he’s often hanging out with his pal Jack at the Agawam dog park.  

Out in Boston, Gabe, Caitlyn, and Josie are working hard to ensure that the voices of the Hampden and Hampshire district are heard loud and clear throughout the State House. Our Legislative Director and General Counsel, Josie, plays a key role in helping the Senator draft new legislation and collaborates with other offices to advance the Senator’s legislative priorities. As our Communications and Engagement Director, Caitlyn works closely with the Senator to develop creative ways to engage with our communities and keep them informed about Team Velis’s work. When they’re not busy around the State House, you can often find Caitlyn and Josie exploring new restaurants around Boston. None of our work would be possible without the leadership of the Senator’s Chief of Staff, Gabe, who ensures the Senator has everything he needs from our team to best serve our communities each day. And when Gabe isn’t supporting the office, you’ll likely find him shooting hoops on the basketball court, trying to keep up with the Senator. 

This week Bridget joined local officials in Chicopee to help cut the ribbon on Belcher Apartments, a 25-unit new affordable housing development operated by Valley Opportunity Council. Team Velis also had the opportunity to share exciting news as over $3 million dollars have been awarded by the Community One Stop Program to municipalities and organizations across the district! 

This week Bridget hosted our office hours in West Springfield. Next week we will be hosting office hours at the Easthampton Council on Aging on Tuesday from 10:30am to 11:30am and on Wednesday at the Holyoke Council on Aging from 10:00am to 11:00am. If you are unable to make office hours, you can continue to reach us by email,  john.velis@masenate.gov, by phone, (413) 572-3920, and online at senatorjohnvelis.com.   

Sincerely,  

Team Velis 

Hello everyone,

I hope you all have had a great start to the month of November, I truly can’t believe how fast 2025 has flown by.

Around the district we had a lot to celebrate this week. I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Puffer’s Salon & Day Spa on their business’s 40^th anniversary this past Wednesday and share my gratitude for all that they do to give back to our Westfield community. Later in the week, Team Velis joined the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce to welcome Zeretas Hair Salon to the City during their grand opening celebration on Friday.

Throughout this week my State House Team and I were hard at work preparing for Thursday’s debate of my bill, the EASE Act, which aims to strengthen the support we provide to our military families. When someone raises their right hand and pledges to lead a life of service and sacrifice for our great nation, in many ways so do their families. Truly, there is so much that military families sacrifice as they navigate the unique challenges of having a loved one in the armed services.  

The EASE Act aims to help limit the disruptions that will inevitably arise throughout our military connected students’ education when that student is coming to Massachusetts. It will allow a child to get situated in their new school district where their new permanent residence will be, allows a child whose parents are temporarily transferred on orders to remain at their school until they complete the highest grade level, and ensures a smooth transition for military connected students who receive special education services by requiring that the district provide services within a timely manner. I am incredibly proud that after a robust debate during Senate Session on Thursday that the EASE Act was passed!

As we approach Veterans Day, my district team was busy crisscrossing our district to collect letters from local students that were thoughtfully made for the residence of the Holyoke Veterans Home and other area Veteran organizations. I am always so grateful to all the many local teachers that take the time to teach their students about the sacrifices that our nation’s veterans have each made to protect our country and the freedoms we hold dear.

This week Team Velis hosted office hours in Agawam. Next week Team Velis will be hosting office hours at the West Springfield Council on Aging on Wednesday from 11:00am to 12:00pm. If you are unable to make office hours, I can always be reached by email, john.velis@masenate.gov, by phone, (413) 572-3920, and you can find me online at senatorjohnvelis.com.  

Sincerely, 

John C. Velis 

Legislation boosts investment opportunities for Western MA regional economy

(11/7/2025- BOSTON) The Massachusetts Senate voted unanimously yesterday to pass legislation sponsored by Senator John C. Velis to provide enhanced safety, stability and educational opportunities for military families. The legislation positions the Commonwealth for greater federal defense investment and economic growth around its six military bases, including at the 104^th Fighter Wing in Westfield, Massachusetts.

An Act to enhance access, inclusion, support and equity for military connected families, S.2676—also known as the EASE Act—would guarantee that a child of a military family would have a seat in the classroom at their current school in Massachusetts, even if their parent or guardian is temporarily transferred elsewhere on official orders. If a military family moves permanently and arrives in a Massachusetts community, the bill also requires a timely and seamless transition for students who receive special education services. 

To strengthen public safety and increase access to justice around military bases, the legislation allows certain information from the military to be admissible as evidence in state courts for people seeking temporary domestic violence restraining orders. The bill also allows for federal judges to transfer juvenile cases to Massachusetts courts for offenses that occur on military bases. Over the course of yesterday’s debate, Senators adopted an amendment with bipartisan support that further directs National Guard leadership to track and report suicide data among veterans of the Massachusetts National Guard. Senators passed the entire bill with a 39-0 roll call. 

“As we approach Veterans Day, I am incredibly proud to be a part of a legislative body that prioritizes not only our veterans and servicemembers but also our military families as well,” said Senator John C. Velis (D-Westfield), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs. “Building off the comprehensive advancements made in the SPEED Act and HERO Act over the last two legislative sessions, the EASE Act bolsters the way that Massachusetts cares for our military families and in turn helps improve our Department of Defense scorecard to maintain critical federal military investments in our state. At the end of the day, my focus as Chairman of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs continues to be on ensuring that our Commonwealth is not only the very best state for a veteran to call home, but also a welcoming and supportive home for our active-duty service members and their families.” 

During the same session, the Senate passed An Act clarifying the duties of the adjutant general, S.2675, which writes into law that the Adjutant General—Massachusetts’ highest-ranking military officer—has command of all troops in the state National Guard while carrying out the orders of the Governor. A technical clarification, the bill brings state statute around the National Guard chain of command into line with the model used by the vast majority of other states.

“I’m proud that Massachusetts continues to seek out ways to support our active military members and veterans—and their families,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “In advance of Veterans Day, it was important that the Senate reinforce our commitment to meeting veterans, active military members and their families where they are and provide support to those who have served and are serving our nation. It was also important to make a technical clarification to the command structure of the Massachusetts National Guard that brings us in line with most other states. I am tremendously grateful to Senator Velis for his leadership on these issues—and for his service—as well as Chair Rodrigues and the entire Senate for advancing these measures.” 

“Military families very often face difficult situations when parents are called to duty, never knowing when or where their service to our country will take them,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “This bill will help create a more stable environment for military serving families by ensuring continuous education and a smooth transition for special education services when changing school districts. Additional legislation takes action to clarify that the Adjutant General of the Massachusetts National Guard has command of all the militias of the Commonwealth. I would like to thank Senator Velis and Senate President Spilka for their leadership in advancing these bills that assist our brave men and women soldiers, and their families, so fitting in honor and recognition of Veterans Day.” 

Provisions in the EASE Act respond directly to needs that have been raised by military families in recent years. Addressing these concerns is key to further boosting Massachusetts’ standing on the Department of Defense scorecard, a key metric that the federal government takes into account when deciding where to increase or maintain its spending for military bases. 

Massachusetts is currently among the top 10 states for defense contract spending. More than 57,000 Massachusetts jobs are supported by the state’s six military installations: Fort Devens, Hanscom Air Force Base, Joint Base Cape Cod, Barnes Air National Guard Base, Westover Air Reserve Base, and the Natick Soldier Systems Center. 

Separately, the Senate approved legislation—H.3388, An Act designating veterans suicide awareness and remembrance day—that will set aside September 22 of each year as Military Service Members and Veterans Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day. That bill, which has already been passed by the House of Representatives, acknowledges that suicide among service members and veterans is an epidemic and calls for annual recognition with a proclamation from the Governor. 

All three bills acted upon yesterday were approved by the Senate and now move to the House of Representatives for further consideration. 

### 

Statement of Support 

Jeffrey Chin, MSW, LCSW—Executive Director, Blue Star Families of New England; Co-Chair, Governor’s Advisory Council on Veterans Services 

“I have seen firsthand the power of legislation that seeks to improve the lives of our military and military-connected families. The EASE Act will provide our military families a vital component that has all too often been missing in their ability to properly provide educational resources for their children. These families are often required to move to various duty stations as part of their duty and lifestyle, and this legislation will allow our military families to access the same choices that non-military families have available to them with regards to schools and access to appropriate educational resources for their children. Thank you for this important legislation!” 

Hello everyone,

I hope you all had a fun and safe Halloween last night with your families. My son Carson was so excited to finally go trick-or-treating after spending much of the last month looking forward to finally wearing his dragon costume. I, on the other hand, was mostly excited to sneak a bag or two of his extra Skittles when we got home.

It was another busy week around the district and out at the State House for Team Velis. This week, my State House team had the opportunity to sit down with constituents from Agawam, Easthampton, Holyoke, and Westfield for the annual American Physical Therapy Association’s “Day on the Hill”. From hearing about legislation that will have a positive impact on Western Massachusetts to engaging with physical therapy students to learn more about their courses, Caitlyn and Gabe from my team appreciated the time this group took to meet with them in Boston.

As we approach Veterans Day, I am incredibly proud to be a part of a legislative body that prioritizes not only our veterans and servicemembers but also our military families. This week, the Senate tee’d up two of my bills for a vote next week: one which would clarify our National Guard’s chain of command for state missions and the other to continue our longstanding mission to improving the care of our Commonwealth’s military families. At the end of the day, my focus as Chairman of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs continues to be on ensuring that Massachusetts is not only the very best state for a veteran to call home, but also a welcoming and supportive home for our active-duty service members and their families. Be on the lookout next week for more updates. 

On Friday, Team Velis joined community members in Agawam to celebrate the opening of the new Baystate Ob/Gyn Office on Silver Street. This new location will go a long way in addressing the limited access to reproductive healthcare for women in our area!

I wanted to take an opportunity to remind you all that my office is always available to assist constituents with a wide variety of issues. Whether you need assistance completing an application for a state program or finding the locations and hours of a local food pantry, Team Velis is here to help! Please never hesitate to call my office or stop into office hours for assistance.

This week Team Velis hosted office hours in Westfield, Russell, and Southampton. Next week Team Velis will be hosting office hours at the Agawam Council on Aging on Monday from 11:00am to 12:00pm. If you are unable to make office hours, I can always be reached by email, john.velis@masenate.gov, by phone, (413) 572-3920, and you can find me online at senatorjohnvelis.com.  

Sincerely, 

John C. Velis 

Hello everyone,

Between the chilly weather and the changing leaves, fall is in full swing around Western Massachusetts. To top it all off, there are plenty of fun seasonal activities happening across our district this weekend including Southampton Road School’s Trunk or Treat this afternoon and the Russell-Montgomery Police Department’s Annual Haunted Strathmore event later this evening.

Huge congratulations to Pioneer Valley Fiberglass Pools and Spas who were recognized at the 10th Annual Manufacturing Awards Ceremony at Gillette Stadium on Tuesday. Each year, I am proud to help highlight local manufacturing businesses from our district, and I’m thrilled that Pioneer Valley Fiberglass Pools and Spas was honored with an award from the Massachusetts Legislative Manufacturing Caucus. While I was unable to make it out to Foxborough, I am grateful to my friend Senator Feeney for sharing an official Senate citation to Clancy on my behalf during the gathering.

This week, Team Velis joined the SPIFFY Coalition to discuss youth substance misuse and prevention efforts right here in Western Massachusetts. This issue truly keeps me up at night, from the deadly contamination of the drug supply and the harmful, lifelong impacts of substances like nicotine and tobacco. I’m incredibly grateful for the work of the SPIFFY Coalition for surveying students across our region to understand emerging trends related to youth substance use and to identify impactful prevention initiatives in our communities.

On Wednesday, Team Velis was thrilled to welcome Graze Craze to West Springfield! This new charcuterie business is all about bringing people together and is already collaborating with great local organizations like the Boy Scouts of Western Massachusetts. During the grand opening celebration, Team Velis presented an official Senate citation to commemorate this exciting occasion.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The sad and terrible truth is that most of us know someone who has been affected by domestic violence. It can happen to anyone regardless of gender, income, zip code, or marital status. During this month, and every month, we must continue to raise awareness, break the silence, and stand with survivors. Everyone deserves relationships free from violence. If you or someone you love are need of assistance, I encourage you to reach out to the YWCA of Western Massachusetts’s 24-hour hotline for local resources and support services at (413) 733 7100.

This week Team Velis hosted office hours in Easthampton. Next week Team Velis will be hosting office hours at the Westfield Council on Aging on Monday from 12:30pm to 1:30pm, on Tuesday at the Russell Council on Aging from 11:30am to 12:30pm, and again on Wednesday at the Southampton Council on Aging from 9:30am to 10:30am. If you are unable to make office hours, I can always be reached by email, john.velis@masenate.gov, by phone, (413) 572-3920, and you can find me online at senatorjohnvelis.com.  

Sincerely, 

John C. Velis