Category: Uncategorized

(BOSTON – 03/30/2023) The Massachusetts State Senate on Thursday passed a bill that includes $350 million in bond authorizations for transportation needs across the state, including $200 million for the state’s Chapter 90 program, which provides municipalities with a reliable funding source for transportation-related improvements, including road and bridge repairs.

“This legislation will maintain and improve our state’s infrastructure, ensure that residents have safe and reliable transportation options, and support sustainable, regionally equitable economic development in communities across the Commonwealth,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland).

“Chapter 90 provides our communities with important resources to improve the local roads, bridges, and infrastructure that we all rely on,” said Senator John Velis (D-Westfield). “I am especially grateful that this legislation also includes additional transportation support based on road mileage and a $25 million fund to rural communities for road and culvert work. These additional measures build upon the Chapter 90 formula investments and will specifically benefit our communities here in Western Massachusetts.”

This legislation also authorizes $150 million in programs that will assist municipalities with various transportation-related projects. This includes $25 million for each of the following:

• the municipal small bridge program;
• the complete streets program;
• a bus transit infrastructure program;
• grants to increase access to mass transit and commuter rail stations;
• grants for municipalities and regional transit authorities to purchase electric vehicles and the infrastructure needed to support them;
• and new funding dedicated to additional transportation support based on road mileage, which is particularly helpful for rural communities.

A different version having previously been passed in the House of Representatives, the two chambers will now reconcile differences before sending the bill to the Governor’s desk.

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(AGAWAM 3/29/2023) Today Senator John Velis (D-Westfield) called out the limited visiting hours at the Agawam Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery. While the Winchendon Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery is open to visitors 24/7, it was recently brought to Senator Velis’ attention that the gates at the Agawam Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery have been closing at 4PM for the past several months.  

“There are only two state veterans’ cemeteries in all of Massachusetts. People from all over the state come to Agawam to visit their loved ones and it is absolutely heartbreaking to hear that folks are unable to do that because of these limited hours,” said Senator Velis, who is the Senate Chair of the Legislature’s Veterans & Federal Affairs Committee and a veteran himself. “Closing the gates at 4PM means that people with 9-5 work schedules don’t even have time to visit on the weekdays. The men and women who reside in the Agawam cemetery selflessly served and sacrificed for our nation. Their families and friends should be provided every opportunity to visit them and pay their respects.” 

Senator Velis noted that as of March 1^st the Executive Office of Veterans’ Services (EOVS) now has a new Secretariat and that he has already reached out to them to raise this issue. 

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(BOSTON–03/23/2023) The Massachusetts Legislature on Thursday passed a $388.6 million supplemental budget for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23). The legislation funds vital services that support vulnerable populations and address food insecurity, housing instability, the state’s long-term COVID-19 response, economic development, essential support services for incoming immigrants and refugees, and more. Notably, the bill extends initiatives first implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as outdoor dining, remote public meeting access, and support for assisted living residences. The bill further authorizes $740.3 million in bonding to bolster the Commonwealth’s clean water and other public works projects for cities and towns, as well as to support the Commonwealth’s ability to compete for competitive federal grant funds.

“This supplemental budget ensures that our Commonwealth continues to support the most vulnerable among us while also building on the lessons we learned during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “I’m proud to say that the Legislature has proven once again that it has the courage to chart a course that leaves no place or person in the Commonwealth behind. I would like to thank our partners in the House, as well as Chair Rodrigues and his dedicated team at Senate Ways and Means, for their hard work and contributions to this supplemental budget.”

“I’m proud that, among several critical investments, this supplemental budget provides support for many of the most vulnerable residents and communities in Massachusetts through funding for free school lunches, financial assistance to homeless shelters facing an increase in their migrant population, and extended enhanced SNAP benefits,” said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). “I want to thank Chairman Michlewitz and all my colleagues in the House, as well as our partners in the Senate, for prioritizing this important legislation.”

“In partnership with the House, the Legislature has taken the necessary steps to keep the economy of the Commonwealth on a firm footing as we continue to emerge from the pandemic. The passage of this supplemental budget today utilizes robust tax revenues to its fullest effect, making substantial investments in economic development, housing, education, and the social service safety net. Those investments, along with a forward-thinking long-term bond authorization, will keep Massachusetts as a leader in the key economic sectors for decades to come,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “Thanks to the strong leadership of Senate President Spilka, and the commitment of my colleagues in the Senate, we sent a clear message to the people that we will always look to protect our marginalized communities, support our education and health care workforce, and invest in local infrastructure as the Commonwealth continues to recover from the impact of the pandemic.”

“This relatively modest supplemental budget addresses some of the most pressing needs the Commonwealth is facing. Whether it is ensuring that our school children have access to free meals, essential early childcare education grants, or directing critical resources to deal with the influx of migrants coming into the Commonwealth, these funds will have an immediate and positive effect for the residents of the state,” said House Committee on Ways and Means Chair Representative Aaron Michlewitz (D Boston). “I want to thank Speaker Mariano for his leadership on these issues, my counterpart Senator Rodrigues, and all my colleagues for their timely action on this matter.”

The bill invests $388.6 million to address several time sensitive needs for an array of programs relied on by some of the most vulnerable residents of the Commonwealth, including $130 million for SNAP food assistance benefits to provide a path for families who were receiving enhanced SNAP benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic, $68 million for the Early Education C3 stabilization grant program, $65 million for the continuation of free school meals, $45 million for emergency shelter assistance, and over $40 million to support affordable housing for immigrants and refugees. Other measures funded in the bill include:

• $8.3 million for judgments, settlements, and legal fees
• $7 million for coordinated wraparound services for incoming immigrants and refugees
• $2 million for the reimbursement of SNAP benefits for victims of benefit theft
• $2 million for the preparation and execution of the 114th National NAACP conference, which is taking place in Massachusetts in 2023
• $1 million for a public awareness campaign to educate the public about the misleading tactics of so-called crisis pregnancy centers and their lack of medical services
• $250,000 for Reproductive Equity Now’s free abortion-related legal hotline.

The bill also authorizes $740.3 million in capital expenditures to support economic development projects. Notably, these include $400 million for the MassWorks Infrastructure Program, which provides grants to cities, towns, and other public entities for infrastructure projects, and $125 million for state matching funds to compete for federal grant opportunities, including those funded through the CHIPS and Science Act, which encourage innovation in Massachusetts. Other bonding items authorized by the bill include:

• $104 million for the Clean Water Trust Fund
• $34 million for a program to revitalize underutilized properties
• $30 million for state matching funds to compete for federal broadband expansion grants and improve state broadband infrastructure
• $15 million for the Massachusetts Manufacturing Innovation Initiative, which supports innovation within the state’s manufacturing industry, including by offering technical assistance to manufacturers and attracting talent from outside of the state
• 14 million for the Massachusetts Manufacturing Accelerate Program
• $9.3 million for broadband middle mile supports
• $8 million for the Smart Growth Housing Trust Fund.

Recognizing the societal shifts that have taken place during the pandemic, the bill also addresses several pandemic-era related measures, including:

• Permanently allowing public corporations and nonprofits to hold certain meetings by means of remote communication
• Permanently allowing notaries public to conduct remote online notarization using communication technology
• Extending the ability of graduates and students in their last semester of nursing education programs to practice nursing in accordance with guidance from the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing
• Extending popular pandemic-related provisions including outdoor dining services, and beer, wine and cocktails to-go for a year
• Extending the ability of public bodies to allow remote participation by members in public meetings
• Extending flexibilities given to municipalities to allow for representative town meetings to be held in hybrid or fully remote capacities and that authorize reduced in-person quorum requirements
• Extending the ability of nurses employed by assisted living residences to provide skilled nursing care in accordance with valid medical orders, provided the nurse holds a valid license to provide such care.

The supplemental budget includes the following provisions related to the end of the public health emergency on May 11, 2023:

• Temporarily extending flexibility on ambulance staffing
• Temporarily extending the ability of staff of a community program to administer prepackaged medications if in compliance with DPH guidance
• Temporarily extending staffing flexibilities related to dialysis providers.

Having been passed by the Senate and the House, the supplemental budget now goes to the Governor for her signature.

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(BOSTON – 03/09/2023) The Massachusetts State Senate on Thursday unanimously passed a $368.7 million supplemental budget for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23). The legislation funds vital services that support vulnerable populations and address food insecurity, housing instability, the state’s long-term COVID-19 response, economic development, essential support services for incoming immigrants and refugees, and more. Notably, the bill extends initiatives first implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as outdoor dining, remote public meeting access, and support for assisted living residences. The bill further authorizes $814.3 in bonding to bolster the Commonwealth’s clean water and other public works projects for cities and towns, as well as to support the Commonwealth’s ability to compete for competitive federal grant funds.

“This supplemental budget ensures that our Commonwealth continues to support the most vulnerable among us while also building on the lessons we learned during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “I’m proud to say that this body has proven once again that it has the courage to chart a course that leaves no place or person in the Commonwealth behind. As I have said since the start of the pandemic, we must go ‘back to better,’ not ‘back to normal.’ With today’s supplemental budget, I am pleased to see the Senate take one more step toward this goal.”

“I am proud to have joined my colleagues in voting to pass this supplemental budget, which provides important supports and essential services to vulnerable populations and communities throughout our Commonwealth,” said Senator John Velis (D-Westfield). “These investments are really critical and I am also glad to see that a lot of the COVID-era policies that we know have benefitted municipalities have been extended as well.”

“As we continue to emerge from the pandemic, the Legislature has taken the necessary steps to keep the economy of the Commonwealth on a firm footing. The passage of this supplemental budget today utilizes robust tax revenues to its fullest effect, making substantial investments in economic development, housing, education, and the social service safety net. Those investments, along with a forward-thinking long-term bond authorization, will keep Massachusetts as a leader in the key economic sectors for decades to come,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “Thanks to the strong leadership of Senate President Spilka, and the commitment of my colleagues in the Senate, we sent a clear message to the people that we will always look to protect our marginalized communities, support our education and health care workforce, and invest in local infrastructure as the Commonwealth continues to recover from the impact of the pandemic.”

The bill invests $368.7 million to address several time-sensitive needs for an array of programs relied on by some of the most vulnerable residents of the Commonwealth, including $130 million for SNAP food assistance benefits to provide a glide path for families who were receiving enhanced SNAP benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic, $68 million for the Early Education C3 stabilization grant program, $65 million for the continuation of free school meals, $45 million for emergency shelter assistance, and over $40 million to support affordable housing for immigrants and refugees. Other measures funded in the bill include:

• $8.3 million for judgments, settlements, and legal fees
• $7 million for coordinated wraparound services for incoming immigrants and refugees
• $2 million for the reimbursement of SNAP benefits for victims of benefit theft
• $2 million for the preparation and execution of the 114th National NAACP conference, which is taking place in Massachusetts in 2023, which was adopted via an amendment from Senator Liz Miranda
• $1 million for a public awareness campaign to educate the public about the misleading tactics of so-called crisis pregnancy centers and their lack of medical services
• $250,000 for Reproductive Equity Now’s free abortion-related legal hotline

The bill also authorizes $814.3 billion in capital expenditures to support economic development projects. Notably, these include $400 million for the MassWorks Infrastructure Program, which provides grants to cities, towns, and other public entities for infrastructure projects, and $200 million for state matching funds to compete for federal grant opportunities, including those funded through the CHIPS and Science Act, which encourage innovation in Massachusetts. Other bonding items authorized by the bill include:

• $104 million for the Clean Water Trust Fund
• $34 million for a program to revitalize underutilized properties
• $30 million for state matching funds to compete for federal broadband expansion grants and improve state broadband infrastructure
• $15 million for the Massachusetts Manufacturing Innovation Initiative, which supports innovation within the state’s manufacturing industry, including by offering technical assistance to manufacturers and attracting talent from outside of the state
• $14 million for the Massachusetts Manufacturing Accelerate Program
• $9.3 million for broadband middle mile supports
• $8 million for the Smart Growth Housing Trust Fund

Recognizing the societal shifts that have taken place during the pandemic, the bill also addresses several pandemic-era related measures, including:

• Permanently allowing public corporations and nonprofits to hold meetings by means of remote communication
• Permanently allowing notaries public to conduct remote online notarization using communication technology
• Extending the ability of graduates and students in their last semester of nursing education programs to practice nursing in accordance with guidance from the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing
• Extending the ability of municipalities to allow outdoor dining services
• Extending the ability of public bodies to allow remote participation by members in public meetings
• Extending flexibilities given to cities and towns that allow for town meetings to be held in hybrid or fully remote capacities and that ease the threshold for a quorum
• Extending the ability of nurses employed by assisted living residences to provide skilled nursing care in accordance with valid medical orders, provided the nurse holds a valid license to provide such care

Senator Liz Miranda (D-Boston) and Senator Robyn K. Kennedy (D-Worcester) both gave their inaugural Senate speeches during consideration of the supplemental budget. Senator Miranda spoke on behalf of her amendment for $2 million to support the NAACP’s 114th national conference, which will be taking place in Massachusetts in 2023. The amendment was subsequently unanimously adopted. Senator Kennedy highlighted how the supplemental budget’s $68 million investment in C3 early education grants will provide crucial stability to the early education sector.

As a previous version of this legislation has passed the House of Representatives, the two branches will now reconcile the differences between the bills.

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(HARLEM, NY – 3/6/2023) At the end of February, Senator John Velis (D-Westfield) visited the East Harlem location of OnPoint NYC, a harm reduction and overdose prevention center in New York City that houses the first government-sanctioned supervised consumption sites in the country. Senator Velis, who was appointed Senate Chair of the Legislature’s Mental Health, Substance Use, and Recovery Committee last month, stated the goal of the visit was to get a better understanding of how the center operates.  

“On all issues, no matter where I land, I have an obligation to fully analyze the issues and understand the different sides and viewpoints. That responsibility is heightened now that I have been appointed Chairman,” said Senator Velis. “In 2021 there were more than 100,000 drug overdose deaths in the United States, with a record high 2,290 opioid-related overdose deaths in Massachusetts alone. These numbers, and the increasing prevalence of fentanyl and synthetic opioids, have pushed many people to think outside the box about how to combat this epidemic, including the federal government. This debate is going to continue to come up and, in my mind, it was critical that I see how these programs actually operate as I continue to do my due diligence on this issue.” 

OnPoint NYC operates two harm reduction and overdose prevention sites in East Harlem and Washington Heights. While they have largely been in the media for their supervised consumption sites, the majority of the facilities’ programs focus on harm reduction and social support services.  

“One of the things that really amazed me was the harm reduction and wrap-around services that OnPoint provides to the people who come in. From linking people up with treatment and behavioral healthcare, to providing drug testing and laundry services, it was truly eye-opening to see the ways the facility connects people with resources,” said Senator Velis. 

 “Many of the individuals who work at OnPoint have been personally impacted by the opioid epidemic and substance use in one way or another. They understand those life experiences and really care about these people coming in. They ask them how they are doing and help them with what’s going on in their lives, and it was transformative and incredible to see that type of compassionate and holistic care taking place.” 

Senator Velis visited OnPoint’s Holistic Health Center, Drug User Health HUB Clinic, Drop-In Center, and Overdose Prevention Center during the visit. Services that OnPoint provides include:  

• Health and wellness services, including medical assessments and linkage to addiction treatment programs and counseling 
• Harm reduction services including syringe exchange and education counseling 
• Public outreach and safety services, including syringe litter cleanup 
• No-barrier walk-in resources, including hot meals, bathrooms, acupuncture and laundry 

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