Author: john_velis

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October 25th, 2020 – Weekly Update

Hi all, 

I hope this week was good to everyone! It was certainly a busy week for me. I want to remind everyone that in addition to in-person voting on November 3rd, there is early in-person voting at a secure location in your City or Town until October 30th. You can go to MassEarlyVote.com for more information or give my office a call-we’d be happy to help. Make sure you have a plan to vote!  

Based on this Thursday’s COVD-19 Community-Level Data report, there has been an increase in cases recently in our district. Westfield, Holyoke, and Chicopee are currently in the “red” (higher risk) category, while Southwick, Agawam and Easthampton are currently in the “yellow” (moderate risk) category. We need to continue to wear masks and socially distance  in order to stop this spread and keep our families safe. Free State testing is still available in Holyoke at Holyoke Community College and the Holyoke Veterans Benefits Department. Please contact my office with any questions about testing and resources.  

 This week, we held our first public hearings for the Legislature’s Soldiers’ Home Oversight Committee where we heard directly from family members who lost loved ones. Tuesday’s hearing was held at Holyoke Community College, and Thursday’s hearing was held virtually. The stories that were shared were heartbreaking, and I can tell you that each of us on the Committee were deeply affected. Hearing these experiences was essential to fully understand what changes must be made at the Home. I’m so grateful to those who testified and those who have spoken to me personally. Their strength is inspiring, and we will continue to work closely with family members as we move through this process. Next week, the Committee will be holding two public hearings for staff connected to the Soldiers’ Home to share their perspective, with an in-person hearing on Tuesday at Holyoke Community College and a virtual hearing on Thursday.  

This past Thursday the Senate convened in an informal session and unanimously adopted a resolution to support bringing F-35A Fighter Jets to the 104th Fighter Wing at Barnes Air National Guard Base. The resolution, which is directed towards U.S. Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett and Major General Gary Keefe noted the importance of bringing these F-35As to Westfield. Last month, I sent my own letter to Secretary Barrett advocating for the 104th Fighter Wing to be selected for the F-35As—I’m ecstatic to have the support of the entire State Senate on this as well. The impact this airframe conversion would have, not just on the Fighter Wing but on the entire Westfield community, cannot be understated. I will continue advocating however I can. 

I also had a number of great meetings with constituents and local organizations this week. Early Monday, I met with the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce to discuss various topics such as the Soldiers’ Home and East-West Rail possibilities. On Wednesday, I spent the day at the Statehouse for some meetings, including a virtual meeting with the Holyoke Taxpayers Association. I appreciate them taking the time out of their evening to discuss how taxpayers have been impacted by the pandemic. On Monday, I had an informative legislative briefing with Holyoke Community College officials, where we discussed some of the College’s priorities and budgetary needs. We need to support our schools at all levels, and I am strongly advocating for at least level funding for our public education systems throughout the budget process. After the briefing, I went over to Mount Tom Quarry to learn more about ongoing projects at the Department of Conservation and Recreation. 

Friday brought with it a Committee Hearing for the Mental Health, Substance Use & Recovery Committee, where we held a listening session on trends in behavioral healthcare during the pandemic. We must remember to always check in with those around us, even if they might seem okay, and my office is always available to share resources and connect people with the help they need.  

I know some of you reached out to my office this week about the South Maple Street Bridge in Westfield and where it stands. After some conversations with MassDOT officials this week, I can tell you that the project is definitely progressing. On Tuesday, MassDOT had a preconstruction meeting and next week the Department is meeting with utility companies and town officials. Prior to bridge construction work, some relocation work by the utility companies is required and I know that the contractors are already starting to submit their baseline schedule. I will be sure to keep everyone updated as this moves along. 

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 

The Legislature’s Soldiers Home Oversight Committee at their 1st public hearing on Tuesday, October 20th at Holyoke Community College
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Legislative hearings on Holyoke Soldiers’ Home this month to focus first on families, then staff

October 12, 2020 – Stephanie Barry – MassLive

HOLYOKE — The first hearing before a legislative oversight committee tasked with probing the deadly COVID-19 outbreak at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home will shine a spotlight on families on Oct. 20.

The 17-member committee will hold the hearing at Holyoke Community College, with a second hearing tentatively scheduled Oct. 27 to highlight stories from staff.

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State Sen. John Velis, D-Westfield, said he expects the first legislative forum to be an expanded version of smaller “listening sessions” he has held singly with loved ones of veterans who succumbed to the spread at the Soldiers’ Home.

Velis said he looks forward to having those family members share their powerful experiences and valuable insights with the full committee.

“It was the family members who were on the front line of this … but at the same time they had to go through the horrors of having their loved one inside the facility,” Velis said. “They can offer so much about what they went through during that initial time period, but they’ve got a lot of really good thoughts and a lot of opinions about how to make this thing better.”

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Velis carries bi-partisan record from House to Senate

October 10, 2020 – The Westfield News – The Westfield Newsroom

BOSTON – Before state Sen. John C. Velis won his election to the Massachusetts State Senate on May 19 of this year, he served as state representative for the 4th Hampden district in the House of Representatives since 2014. In his time in the house, he was widely known for having one of the most bi-partisan and independent records in the state legislature, and frequently voted across party lines.

Velis has carried his independent record from the House to the Senate, and in the fourth months since being sworn in, he has crossed party lines several times. In his four months in office, there have been 96 roll call votes in the Senate on either a bill or an amendment. Of those 96 votes, 16 have been contested with 15 being split on party lines. Of those 15 votes split on party lines, Velis has crossed over to vote with the Republican delegation 10 times. The remaining 80 votes were either unanimous, where Republicans and Democrats voted together, unanimous except for one legislator, or related to procedural matters.

When asked about this pattern, Velis stressed the importance of viewing a piece of legislation on its merits, not by what political party brings it forward: “When I am voting on a bill or amendment, I am always thinking of what the legislation will actually accomplish and what is best for my constituents and our district,” said Velis. “My job is not to simply follow what others in my political party are doing, and I firmly believe that both a Republican and a Democrat are capable of coming up with a good idea.”

The 15 roll call votes in question covered a variety of different issues, from mail-in voting processes, to police reform, to transportation funding. One of the more contentious votes was on amendment #230 in Senate Bill 2813 – An Act Authorizing Accelerating Transportation Investment. This amendment would have removed a provision from the bill that enables local and regional transportation ballot initiatives for imposition of tax surcharges. This is more commonly known as an override of Proposition 2 and ½. Velis was one of only four Democrats to cross over and vote with the Republican delegation for this amendment, which would have protected cities and towns from this possible increase in taxation. With 36 Democrats in the Senate and only four Republicans, many wondered if Velis might be pressured to side with Democratic leadership in more contentious debates, as it is unconventional for newly elected officials to cross party lines early on in their first term. When asked about this, Velis stressed that the key to maintaining strong relationships in the legislature is by being transparent and open.

I am always up front with my colleagues about concerns or issues I have with legislation,” said Velis. “In my humble opinion, the most important is compromise. My experience and my years in politics have shown me that the people we represent are better served when Republicans and Democrats work together.”

This voting record demonstrates that Velis has continued his bi-partisan nature from his time in the House to the Senate, and establishes him as one of the most independent legislators in the State of the Massachusetts. The current legislative session continues throughout the end of this calendar year.

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Velis collecting torn, tattered American flags Oct. 29

October 19, 2020 – Lori Szepelak – The Westfield News

WESTFIELD-For area residents who have an American flag that is torn, faded, or damaged, state Sen. John C. Velis and his legislative aides will be collecting them curbside on Oct. 29 at the Westfield Senior Center.

Flags may be dropped off from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. For seniors who are picking up a meal that day, they may bring their flag with them and drop it off when they come through the lunch line from 11 a.m. – noon. All others can bring their flags from noon –  1 p.m.

“The flag is a symbol and representation of our great country, and should always be in pristine condition,” said Velis, who has served in the Army Reserve for 11 years. “When it is in a condition that is no longer fitting for display, it should be retired in a dignified and appropriate way.”

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“I can say without reservation that I think America is the greatest nation on the earth, and the flag is a symbol of that,” said Velis. “People have died, have been maimed, and have been permanently maimed in defense of the flag and everything we hold dear in the country. To me, the flag means everything.”

For more information on the flag retirement collection, call the Westfield Senior Center at (413) 562-6435.

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October 18th, 2020 – Weekly Update

Hello Everyone! 

I hope everyone had a great week and was able to enjoy the long weekend. I had plenty of meetings and events in the district this week, and have some updates regarding early voting and the Soldiers Home Oversight Committee to share. I also am excited to announce a new addition to my Senate Staff, Katie Verra! Katie is my new Chief of Staff & Legislative Counsel, and we are so excited to have her join the team. She recently received her J.D. from Suffolk University, and brings a wealth of experience in fiscal policy analysis and legislative drafting. Welcome Katie! 

Early voting began this past Saturday, October 17th! In addition to in-person voting on November 3rd, there will be early in-person voting available at a secure location in your City or Town from October 17th until October 30th. If you live in Westfield, you can vote at City Hall on any weekday from 9am-5pm, Saturdays from 9am-2pm, and Sundays from 11-4pm. If you live in Southwick, you can vote at Town Hall on any weekday from 8:30am-4:30pm (Thursdays until 6:30!), and on Saturdays/Sundays from 8am-12pm. If you live in another municipality, you can go to www.MassEarlyVote.com to find your early voting location and schedule, or give my office a call and we can help.  

Next week, the Legislature’s Soldiers Home Oversight Committee will be holding two public hearings for family members and health care proxies to share their testimonies directly with the Committee. The first hearing will be in-person at Holyoke Community College on Tuesday October 20th at 11am, and the second hearing will be held virtually on Thursday October 22nd at 12pm. Over the past months, I have held my own listening sessions with family members of those who lost loved ones, and I can tell you that their experiences are not only heartbreaking, but shine a lot of light onto how we can improve the Home moving forward. We need their voices, and I am grateful to all who are going to testify during these hearings.  

This past Tuesday I had a great meeting with SolaBlock’s founders Jason Laverty and Scott Longley. SolaBlock is an Easthampton-based company focusing on developing sustainable solar-wall systems that would enable almost any building structure to extract and use energy from the sun. We need to continue to develop sustainable energy sources, and it is great to see companies  utilizing Western Massachusetts manufacturing opportunities. Later that day I visited the Westfield Fire Department where I learned more about the department’s operations, and got to watch them conduct practice scenario training on firefighters who have been incapacitated and need assistance. They were also kind enough to feed me dinner! It is always great to see first hand how our first responders prepare and train, and many thanks to Fire Chief Egloff for the invitation.  

On Thursday morning I participated in a very productive virtual discussion with the West of the River Chamber of Commerce alongside several of my legislative colleagues. The Chamber has many business members from Agawam and West Springfield, and we discussed the challenges that businesses are facing and how we in the legislature can help. Navigating the recovery and reopening process is not going to be easy, but it is critical that we are meeting the changing needs and concerns of our local businesses. 

On Friday I joined other Western Massachusetts legislators for a call with MassDOT Secretary Pollack for a discussion regarding developments with the Valley Flyer project. The Valley Flyer train, which has a station stop in Holyoke, is an important mode of transportation for so many in our communities and we are looking forward to its expansion. Later on Friday, I went over to the Massachusetts Military Support Foundation’s empowerment center in Agawam to help pass out food kits. The MMSF has done such a great job of helping veterans and community members get access to the food they need during these difficult times, and I greatly appreciate their work.  

On Saturday I joined the Westfield Council on Aging for their “Serving up Senior Safety” Luncheon. We distributed lunches to nearly 200 seniors in the community and shared information on local resources and how to stay safe during COVID-19. Later that evening, I joined the Agawam Police Department for a ride-along, where I got a chance to see what their officers go through on a daily basis and how they prepare. It is so important to get out and see this work for myself. These experiences are truly eye-opening, and I am grateful to have been able to join them. 

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 

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October 11th, 2020 – Weekly Update

Hello all,

I hope everyone is doing well. I know we had some intense storms this week and I want to send my thanks to all the municipal public safety and public works departments who were on call for storm damage and power outages. Southampton in particular had over 400 residents without power and my office was able to facilitate communication between Eversource Energy and the Southampton Fire Department; who were then able to work together to restore power. 

This week I hosted a meeting with legislative colleagues, community activists, and UMass Amherst researchers on the existence and dangers of PFAS in our food sources. Among other things, we discussed the possibility of a pilot study at UMass that would look at eggshells from communities with high PFAS levels like Westfield and Hyannis. This pilot study could lead to expanded studies that would help us determine what products have PFAS in them, where they come from, and how we can best address PFAS in our food sources. Our communities deserve to know what we are consuming and there was great legislative interest in the study.

I also want to acknowledge that this past week was Mental Illness Awareness Week. Those dealing with mental and behavioral health issues often do not get the help and support they need because of the stigma surrounding the topic. These issues are only exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and we have seen rates of depression increase during these past several months. As a member of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use, and Recovery, I am proud that the State has launched their new “More to the Story Campaign”, which is focused on normalizing conversations and reducing the stigma around mental and behavioral health issues. People often mask what they are going through. But there is always more to the story and we can all do more to help those who are struggling. To find out more about the campaign and other related resources, please contact my office. 

This past Monday morning I had a meeting at the Holyoke Health Center with E.D. Jay Breines, Representative Vega, and Representative-Elect Pat Duffy on the impact of the health center on the greater Holyoke area and how we in the legislature can support them. Later on Monday I joined Mayor Sapelli of Agawam for a tour of Belt Technologies. It’s always eye-opening to see how businesses have adapted to meet the challenges of COVID-19. We need to continue to provide support to them as we go through these recovery stages. 

Tuesday morning, I went over to the Southwick-Tolland-Granville Food Pantry to spend some time helping out. Food insecurity is still one of our largest challenges for our most vulnerable populations and it is great to see how these organizations and volunteers go above and beyond to provide groceries and resources.  

On Friday, I had a virtual meeting with Secretary Sudders from the Executive Office of Health and Human Services and many legislative colleagues on the proposed closing of Farren Health in Turner Falls and the proposed patient transfer to Mount Saint Vincent in Holyoke. My colleagues and I have deep concerns about such a change taking place during this pandemic, and I advocated for delaying the move and for increased guidelines and resources to be provided for residents, staff, and families. After this meeting, I went over to Holyoke to present Esme Power with an official Senate Citation. Esme was recently named a delegate to the national Girl Scout Council, and has spent time advocating for people to vote and use their voice! I am so proud of the great youth in our communities, and congratulations to Esme. 

I wrapped up Friday night by spending several hours on a ride-along with the Westfield Police Department. I believe in rolling up my sleeves and seeing things first hand and these ride-alongs are an important opportunity to see the daily work of our law enforcement officers. I am grateful to WPD for letting me come along. 

This week I also had a variety of meetings with economic experts and the Ways and Means Committee to talk about the State Economy. The fact remains that it is still hard to predict exactly what our economic recovery is going to look like without a federal package. This budget is going to require strategic planning and we are looking at all options. We need to be fiscally responsible for the long-term and not dig ourselves into a hole while at the same time provide funding and clarity for those struggling in our communities. I will continue to update you all as the budget moves along. 

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

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October 4th, 2020 – Weekly Update

Hello all, 

October is upon us! It is truly crazy how quickly we have been flung into fall and I can’t believe winter is around the corner. I had a number of different meetings and tours this week and also have information regarding the budget to share.  

This week I was proud to sign on to a letter with my Western Massachusetts Colleagues urging Governor Baker to nominate a jurist from Western Mass to one of the two vacant seats on the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. There is currently no representation from our region on the Court and it was imperative that they have all perspectives and experiences at the table on our highest State Court. I can also announce today that the first public hearing for the Holyoke Soldiers Legislative Oversight Committee is going to be scheduled for the later part of this month. This first hearing will be an important opportunity for families to speak directly to the committee and this past Sunday I had a meeting with some of my colleagues to go over planning and logistics 

On Monday I had an introductory call with Kevin McCaffery from the Holyoke Chamber of Commerce and later had a meeting with Representative Vega and Holyoke Community College President Royal. We discussed a number of different K-12 related initiatives related to HCC including child-care, early college, and dual enrollment options. Our local colleges are so important to our communities and I always love getting involved. Tuesday afternoon, I joined Westfield State University President Roy Saigo to welcome students back to campus and also take a tour of some of their facilities. 

Also on Tuesday, I held a listening session for constituents who are concerned about the pending merger of Farren Health Center in Montague and Mount Saint Vincent in Holyoke. There are real and tangible concerns about this type of change during this pandemic and I am grateful to have had these conversations. Later in the week, my office participated in the Department of Public Health’s hearing on this issue, where we brought up these concerns and advocated for our constituents. I hope that this move can be held off until after the pandemic, and my office will continue working and communicating with residents and families. 

I began Wednesday with a tour of Savage Arms and a in-depth conversation with CEO Al Kasper. Among many things, we talked extensively about workforce development and how we can provide options for the next generation to get into trades and manufacturing.  As assistant vice-chair on the Labor and Workforce Development committee, this topic truly resonates with me. We need to do a better job of teaching students about all the professional opportunities they have and connect them with the resources to succeed. Later on Wednesday, I headed down to the State Police Academy in New Braintree. Col. Mason had invited members of the legislature down to learn about the different types of training and programming that recruits go through. We were walked through de-escalation techniques and use of force defensive tactics, and engaged in productive discussions about policies and trainings. It was an incredibly informative and eye-opening day and I’m grateful to have been a part of it. 

Thursday brought with it a lot of budget information and I had a long virtual caucus with legislative colleagues about the state of the budget. I am glad to report that we are closing out Fiscal Year 2020 without having had to dip into any of our state’s “rainy day fund”, but that does not mean that Fiscal Year 2021 will be the same way. Mitigating and preventing painful cuts will be a huge part of our work in the FY21 budget, as we work through these difficult economic times. Next Tuesday, the Ways and Means committee will be hosting a economic round table for the Senate which will result in a new consensus revenue number that that will be the basis of  the actual budgeting numbers process. The big unknown is whether or not there will be any federal relief. While there is still an outside chance of that happening, we simply have to keep moving forward on the state level as best we can. There will really be no end to our budgeting work because as soon as we finish the budget for FY21, we will immediately begin work on FY22. These two budget years are structurally intertwined in a way that we really haven’t seen before which means that a lot of work from the FY21 budget is going to carry into the FY22 budget. I have been meeting with groups that depend on state funding all over the district and know how important this budget will be for organizations during this pandemic. I will keep you all updated on the process as it continues.  

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 

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Lawmakers want seniors-only option at western Mass. RMVs

September 16, 2020 – Daily Hampshire Gazette – Bera Dunau

Area lawmakers are calling on Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack to reopen Registry of Motor Vehicles offices in Greenfield and Easthampton and offer dedicated service hours to older drivers across the region.

Special hours for those 74 and older to renew their licenses in person were recently added at the RMV Service Center in Springfield, but that’s not enough for some members of the western Massachusetts delegation.

“This is just another example of something that is fundamentally unfair to the western part of the state,” said Sen. John Velis, D-Westfield.

In Massachusetts, those 75 and older must renew their driver’s licenses in person. Initially, when the RMV announced on Sept. 1 dedicated service hours for those 75 and older renewing their licenses in person, no western Massachusetts locations were included. The RMV locations included in that initial announcement were Danvers, Leominster, New Bedford, South Yarmouth and Watertown, with Watertown offering the hours starting on Sept. 2 and the other locations offering the hours starting on Sept. 9.

On Wednesday, the Springfield RMV debuted a half-day of dedicated service hours.

In response to the announcement, 13 legislators, including Velis, signed a letter to Pollack. “We are writing today to request that you reopen the RMV locations in Greenfield and Easthampton and provide dedicated service hours for customers who are 75 years of age or older at three sites in western Massachusetts: one in Berkshire County, one in Franklin County and one in Hampshire County,” reads part of the letter.

Others signatories included Rep. Natalie Blais, D-Sunderland, Rep. Dan Carey, D-Easthampton, Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, D-Northampton, and Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton.

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Western Mass. legislators urge Governor to look to the west when appointing a justice to the Supreme Judicial Court

September 29, 2020 – MassLive – Jeanette DeForge

A total of 18 legislators who represent the four counties in Western Massachusetts are joining the effort to urge Gov. Charlie Baker to fill at least one of two vacant seats on the Supreme Judicial Court with a resident from Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden or Hampshire County.

The senators and representatives sent a letter to the governor arguing that the state’s highest court does not have any justices who have served or lived in the western part of the state and called for more regional balance in the state’s highest court.

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Those who signed the letter are Sens. Jo Comerford, Eric Lesser, Adam G. Hinds and John Velis. The Representatives are Aaron Vega, Natalie M. Blais, Joseph F. Wagner, Brian Ashe, Nicholas Boldyga, Michael J. Finn, Mindy Domb, Susannah Whipps, Todd Smola, John Barrett III, Tricia Farley-Bouvier, Lindsay Sabadosa, Jose Tosado and Daniel R. Carey.

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Senator Velis, City Councilor Mello Encouraged by New PFAS Regulations and Grants

WESTFIELD (9/28/2020) 

This past week the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection announced stricter regulations regarding PFAS levels in public drinking water, and awarded a $200,000 grant to the Westfield Public Water System to support their efforts in addressing PFAS contamination.  

The new drinking water standard for PFAS establishes a limit of 20 parts per trillion (ppt) for the sum of six PFAS compounds, called “PFAS6.” This new level of 20 ppt provides a much higher degree of protection compared to the previous guidance of 70 ppt, particularly for sensitive subgroups including pregnant women, nursing mothers and infants. The regulations also require that public water suppliers begin quarterly testing for PFAS in 2021, and mandates that they must act when there is a detection above the limit. There are currently no federal PFAS standards for drinking water, and very few state regulations as well. 

“The long term health consequences of PFAS are abundantly clear, and these new regulations and funding are a critical step towards protecting our communities and our health from long-lasting dangers,” said Senator John Velis. “It is completely unfair that we have been forced to bear this public health and financial burden when we had nothing to do with it. During my time in the legislature, I have fought for funds wherever I can to ensure that Westfield residents are not penalized for trying to do the right thing and fixing their drinking water.” 

City Councilor Kristen Mello, who has worked with community members to bring attention to PFAS levels in Westfield, stressed the importance of these regulations and noted how much work Senator Velis and others have put in for this to happen.  

“We are proud to take our place among the states who have placed legally enforceable limits on PFAS in drinking water in the absence of federal action. Finalizing this Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for six PFAS in drinking water is another vital step forward in reducing toxic PFAS exposure to residents of our communities ,” said Councilor Mello. “Residents from Westfield and other affected communities are grateful that, from our first meeting with MA DEP asking for a PFAS MCL in April 2018 to the last hearing for public comment in 2020, Senator John Velis has been there with us advocating for our communities every step of the way.” 

“This is really the culmination of years of work, and years of advocacy from constituents and residents,” said Senator Velis. “We have worked so hard to bring our concerns to the State and to make sure that Westfield is not forgotten about when it comes to PFAS. I’m just relieved that action like this is finally taking place.” 

The $200,000 grant awarded to the Westfield Public Water System will provide funding for planning, studies, pump tests, and engineering to support their efforts to address PFAS contamination and to design a system to eliminate it in their drinking water. Nine other municipalities in the State that have high PFAS levels were also selected for grants. 

When asked about the grant, Councilor Melo said that it will help to ease the financial stress of dealing with PFAS, “Addressing the local need for assistance in testing and treatment for these “forever chemicals” helps to ensure those of us bearing the burden of PFAS exposure are not facing additional financial burden from the regulation intended to decrease that exposure.”  

“The grant provided to Westfield is so important because it will allow us to continue working towards our ultimate goal of removing PFAS from our water systems completely,” said Senator Velis. “There’s still much more to be done, but these are tangible accomplishments, and I’m grateful for all of the Westfield community members who have worked alongside me.” 

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