Category: Uncategorized

Hello everyone,

I hope you all had a restful week after all the exciting events that took place last weekend! Later today I am excited to be back on the basketball court at the Norris Elementary School in Southampton to help support pediatric cancer research in memory of Maddie Schmidt.

This week I spent a great deal of time crisscrossing the district to attend a variety of community events and even made it out to the State House to rally support for a bill I sponsored this session, An Act Relative To Endometriosis Awareness. If you asked me a few years ago, what Endometriosis was I truthfully would not have been able to tell you. However, after having it hit close to home, I’ve gotten to learn more about this commonly misunderstood, and often misdiagnosed, illness that impacts over 6.5 million women in the U.S.. On Wednesday Senator Robyn Kennedy, Representative Sabadosa, Representative Hendricks, and I held a special briefing with some of the top women health experts to raise awareness about Endometriosis amongst my colleagues and ask for their support of our legislation to bring together a task force to recommend what more we can do to further research.

Also, on Wednesday Team Velis joined Urban Co-Works, Holyoke’s newest coworking space provider, to celebrate their grand opening! Team Velis was proud to share a citation from the Senate to recognize this momentous occasion and to extend my best wishes for success.

Today is National Vietnam War Veterans Day, a day where we honor and remember our Vietnam Veterans, those still Missing in Action, and their families. I am grateful to the Chicopee Veteran Service Office for inviting me to their fifth annual Vietnam Veterans Remembrance event on Thursday afternoon to remembering all who we have lost, those surviving families and all who have served during the Vietnam War. I can still vividly remember returning home from Afghanistan where some of the very first people to welcome us all home were Vietnam Veterans despite all that they endured here at home when they returned home from deployments. To all those who served in Vietnam thank you for your service and Welcome Home my friends!

This week Team Velis hosted office hours in Westfield, Russell, and Southampton. Next week there will be no formal office hours, however, please do not hesitate to stop into my district office located at 94 North Elm St. in Westfield if my team can provide any assistance. If you are unable to make it over in-person, 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.  

Best,  

John Velis

(Springfield- 3/11/2025) Today, Senator John C. Velis (D-Westfield) chaired the Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism’s fifth meeting at the Springfield Jewish Community Center (JCC). During the meeting the commission had the opportunity to discuss trends in Western Massachusetts with community members, educators, and local Rabbis. This marks the first of several community meetings of the Special Commission to hear from those with subject knowledge expertise from throughout the Commonwealth.

“Ensuring Western Massachusetts has a seat at the table is always at the forefront of my mind with everything and anything that I do, That’s why from the onset of the Special Commission I was adamant that we needed to take the opportunity to come meet Western Massachusetts’s vibrant Jewish community right where they are,” shared Senator John C. Velis , co-chair of the Special Commission. “I am so grateful for all of our speakers from throughout our region who took the time to share their experiences with the Commission and most especially to our gracious hosts at the JCC for making this hearing possible in the first place.”

“The Springfield Jewish Community Center is honored to host this discussion about an issue that is extremely important to the Jewish, and wider, communities locally,” said Karen Jarmoc, CEO of the Springfield Jewish Community Center. “We very much appreciate that the Commission is holding this meeting in Western Massachusetts and taking the time to hear about trends and concerns in the Pioneer Valley and in Berkshire County from community members.”

Last spring, Senator Velis sponsored legislation, that was later signed into law, to create the Special Commission which includes members appointed by the Legislature, Governor, state agencies, and organizations. The legislation also instructed the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to provide curriculum, resources, and professional development to school districts to teach students about antisemitism in age-appropriate ways. During Tuesday’s hearing the Commission also received an update on these ongoing efforts from DESE Acting Commissioner Russell Johnson.

The Commission is tasked with putting forth recommendations this fall on ways that Commonwealth can combat the alarming rise in antisemitism across the state and implement the White House’s National Strategy on Counter Antisemitism. Senator Velis shared that the Commission intends to continue to have hearings across the state ahead of the November 30th reporting deadline.

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Velis Receives Award for Leadership in Suicide Prevention

(3/21/2025- Boston) Last week during a ceremony at the Massachusetts State House the MA Coalition for Suicide Prevention (MCSP) presented the Leadership in Suicide Prevention award to Senator John C. Velis (D-Westfield). This award follows years of dedicated work by Velis to bolster behavioral health resources, including suicide prevention programs, among both the civilian and military connected populations.

The Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention is a statewide organization of community activists, healthcare professionals, crisis works, and those impacted by suicide. Over the last 20 years MCSP has been actively working to reduce barriers to mental health, substance addiction recovery, domestic violence shelters and other community services.

“I am truly honored to receive this recognition for my work in the behavioral space, an issue so near and dear to my heart. At the end of the day, as we continue to work to bolster access to behavioral health programs it’s imperative that people know that help is out there and things can and will get better,” shared Senator Velis, Chairman of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use, and Recovery. “I would also be remiss if I did not acknowledge the hundreds of folks across our state working on the ground each day to form relationships and answer folks when they raise their hands and ask for help. What we do up on Beacon Hill is only one piece of the much larger lifesaving work that is happening every single day in our communities because of these providers and volunteers.”

Following reports last summe that showed that the Army’s suicide rate in peacetime has now exceeded total combat deaths in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, Velis held a roundtable at Holyoke Community College on how suicide can be prevented among our Commonwealth’s service members. After last week’s award ceremony, Velis shared that he will continue to demand a comprehensive response across our nation to address these alarming statistics.

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Hello Everyone,

I hope you all have been able to enjoy some of the incredible celebrations of the Pioneer Valley’s Irish Heritage over the last week! Having ate a few too many boiled dinners this week it’ll be a game time decision about this morning’s road race, nothing like waiting till the last minute! However, I cannot wait to see many of you along the parade route tomorrow for what I hope will be the a warm sunny day to celebrate  the 72nd Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade!

I spent much of this week continuing the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. On Monday I spent some time with my friends in Southampton for a very special Dinner and Dance organized by the incredible staff at the Council on Aging. Later in the week I made my way over to Holyoke Medical Center to present official citations from the Massachusetts State Senate alongside my colleagues Senator Gomez and Senator Oliveira to the Holyoke and Chicopee Colleens and the members of their courts. This is always such a thoughtful event put together each year by the Parade Committees to uplift the spirts of the staff and patients at the hospital.

On Wednesday I joined Representative Pease and Mayor McCabe over at the White Oak School in Westfield to speak with students. The White Oak School is one of the countless specialized schools across the Commonwealth that serves students with specific learning disabilities and related learning differences who otherwise might have a difficult time in a traditional school setting. It was great to hear about all that the student are learning and learn more about the resources and opportunities White Oak provides.

Out at the State House this week with committee assignments recently announced I took the opportunity this week to meet with the new House Chair of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs, Representative McGonagle of Everett. I am thrilled to have another strong partner to collaborate with on this Committee and looking forward to all that we will accomplish this session for our Veterans, Military members, and their families.

This week Team Velis hosted office hours in Easthampton and Holyoke. Next week we will be hosting office hours on Monday at the Westfield Council on Aging from 12:30pm to 1:30pm, on Tuesday at the Russell Council on Aging from 11:30am to 12:30pm, and 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.  

Best,  

John Velis

Hello everyone,

I hope you all had a fantastic week especially with all the warm weather and brighter evenings with the beginning of daylight savings. This week was an incredibly busy one all across Western Massachusetts for Team Velis and I!

On Monday I kicked off the week over at Westfield High School for a fantastic celebration and tour of the school’s new science labs. A few years back I was proud to secure a FY’23 earmark of $1,000,000 for the school to renovate their science labs and purchase new equipment to help further our students’ educational opportunities. It was great to hear from students about all that they are excited to learn in these new state of the art classrooms. Luckily for me I think I managed to stay out of the principal’s office that afternoon!

This week the Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism held its first community hearing right here in Western Massachusetts at the Springfield Jewish Cultural Center on Tuesday. Ensuring Western Massachusetts has a seat at the table is always at the forefront of my mind with everything and anything that I do, that’s why from the onset of the Special Commission I was adamant that we needed to take the opportunity to come meet Western Massachusetts’s vibrant Jewish community right where they are. During the meeting the commission had the opportunity to discuss trends in Western Massachusetts with community members, educators, and local Rabbis. I am so grateful for all our speakers from throughout our region who took the time to share their experiences with the Commission and most especially to our gracious hosts at the JCC for making this hearing possible.

With St. Patrick’s Day nearing, the festivities celebrating many of our communities’ Irish heritage are in full swing. On Friday I joined the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce for their annual St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast that was celebrated with some incredible Irish Dancers from the Cassin Dance Academy! Later in the day I was over in Chicopee to help the city raise a flag in celebration of Monday’s holiday. Luckily for us the celebrations will continue into next week as we gear up for the Holyoke Saint Patrick’s Day Parade on Sunday March 23^rd!

This week Team Velis hosted office hours in Chicopee and West Springfield. Next week Team Velis will be hosting office hours on Tuesday at the Easthampton Council on Aging 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, 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.  

Best,  

John Velis

(WesternMass News- Addie Patterson) The Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism held their fifth overall meeting Tuesday at the Springfield Jewish Community Center.

While they’ve met in the past, Tuesday marked the first community meeting of the special commission and it was the first of several meetings to be held across the state.  “My concern and this commission’s concern is rooting out antisemitism wherever it rears its head within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,” said State Senator John Velis.

The commission heard testimony from several Jewish individuals about the trends they’re seeing in western Massachusetts.  Some of the challenges that were brought up included education and teaching.  “We want to make sure that Jewish teachers, the ones that we do have feel comfortable talking about their Jewish identity, revealing themselves as a Jew. We’re hearing from Jewish teachers in our districts and around the state that, right now, not all of them feel that way,” said State Rep. Simon Cataldo.

In December, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security found that 119 incidents of anti-Jewish hate crimes were reported in 2023, which was a 70 percent spike from the previous year and an eight year high for Massachusetts.  It’s something that Velis said is completely unacceptable.  “We can’t say that here in Massachusetts, we’re going to push back on hate wherever it rears its head and then to have this rampant hatred toward Jewish people and not do anything about it,” he added.

Other members, like Cataldo, told us that the commission has received lots of community support and will keep working to combat antisemitism in the Bay State.  “Students, parents, people from all walks of life have been rooting for this commission to do its work, so we’re going to continue to do this,” he explained.

The commission emphasized that these hearings are only the beginning of their work.  “We’re going to continue to have these hearings and ultimately respond in a way we find after we take in all this testimony and hear from all these people,” Velis said.

You can CLICK HERE for more information on the special commission or to watch Tuesday’s meeting virtually.

Hello everyone,

I hope you all are having a great start to the month of March! Tomorrow marks the beginning of daylight-savings, which means moving the clock forward one hour. With the mild weather this week I am thrilled that we will begin to slowly have more day light in our evenings.

On Monday I joined the Monastery Heights Senior Living & Memory Care community in West Springfield to host a coffee hour. I appreciate all the residents who joined me for a robust discussion about my legislative priorities this session and all the work I hope to accomplish as Vice Chair of the Joint Committee on Aging and Independence. To top off this great visit we chatted about one of our shared favorite lunchtime activities, Bingo. I hope to be back again soon to maybe call a few games!

On Tuesday my colleagues and I wrote to the Department of Unemployment (DUA) regarding the unacceptable amount of time that it is taking for claims to be processed and how difficult it is for constituents to even speak with DUA’s call center. For folks who have been laid off and are now suddenly without a source of income, any delay with their unemployment application can lead to real financial hardships for them and their families. People should be able to reach the DUA Call Center, receive timely responses, and know exactly what steps they need to take to get their unemployment claims processed. If you or someone you know are having trouble with an unemployment claim, please do not hesitate to call my office for assistance!

This week many of the schools across our district celebrated Read Across America Week! Read Across America Week brings together community members and educators to help inspire our local students to become lifelong readers. This week I had a blast at the Fausey Elementary School where I read the book “Game Changers” to Mrs. Gibney’s 4th grade class.  Thank you for inviting me Mrs. Gibney!

This week Team Velis and I hosted office hours at the Agawam Council on Aging, I really appreciate all the folks who came out to chat and am thrilled my team was able to assist a few folks with issues that they are experiencing.

Next week Team Velis will be hosting office hours on Tuesday at the Chicopee Council on Aging from 10:00am to 11:00am and on Wednesday at the West Springfield Council on Aging 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.  

Best,  

John Velis

Hello Everyone,

I can’t believe how fast 2025 is flying by and that we are already kicking the month of March off!

There was a lot to celebrate around the district this week as Team Velis helped two businesses commemorate their grand openings. On Tuesday Delaney’s Market opened their fifth store over on West Springfield. You can always count on one of the Delaney’s Market locations to offer fresh home-made food which Team Velis and I so appreciate while we are on the go in-between events. The next day my office joined folks over at the Westfield-Barnes Municipal Airport to celebrate the grand opening of Savvy Source, a software automation company that offers a wide range of technology services. Congratulations to both businesses!

On Tuesday I received a Leadership Award from the Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (PAARI) Board. PAARI was founded in Gloucester Massachusetts back in 2015 and has grown to become a national network of over 700 police departments across 46 states. PAARI is an organization that provides resources and trainings to local police departments to help them best support those in our communities struggling with addiction. I am so appreciative of the PAARI board for recognizing my work both legislatively as well as directly in the community helping those battling addiction and navigating their recovery journey.

This week Senate President Karen Spilka announced Senate committee leadership assignments for the 2025-2026 legislative session. I am beyond honored to have been reappointed the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use, & Recovery as well as the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Veterans & Federal Affairs. I am proud that both these committees sent comprehensive legislation to the Governor’s desk last session that will improve the lives of our Commonwealth’s Veterans and expands programs for those struggling with addiction. There is still plenty more to accomplish in these spaces and I am ready to get to work and build-upon last session’s momentum.

Yesterday marked Rare Disease Day, a day aimed to raise awareness and improve the lives of those living with commonly unheard of, yet extremely impactful, rare diseases. Each year Rare Disease Day is celebrated on the final day of February due to February’s unique “rare” day every few years. We are incredibly lucky that Massachusetts is home to some of the best research hospitals in the nation, many of whom are dedicated to conducting groundbreaking research to help treat those living with a rare disease!

This week Team Velis hosted office hours in Westfield, Russell, and Southampton. Next week we will be hosting office hours on Monday at the Agawam Council on Aging 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.  

Best,  

John Velis