Category: Uncategorized

(Boston 7/14/2022) Yesterday, Senator John Velis (D-Westfield) was appointed as the Senate Lead of the conference committee tasked with resolving differences between the two Veterans’ omnibus bills passed by the House and Senate. Both omnibus bills are based off the SPEED Act, a bill that Senator Velis filed to support military families in their transition to Massachusetts.  

“I am honored to have been appointed by Senate President Spilka to lead this conference committee and look forward to working with my colleagues to get a finished bill to the Governor’s desk that will improve the lives of our Commonwealth’s service members and their families,” said Senator Velis, who is also Senate Chair of the Legislature’s Veterans Committee.  

“The House and Senate bills are both based off the SPEED Act, which is really a recognition of the challenges that military families face. Among other pieces, both bills include important policies that will ensure that military spouses can continue their jobs and military children can continue their education without disruption. These supports for military families are something that the Department of Defense is specifically looking for when they consider whether a state’s military installations are staying relevant and should remain open.  

I was proud to file the SPEED Act and am thrilled that it is the core of the House bill. There are many strong additional pieces in the final House bill as well, from increasing supports for Veterans affected by toxic burn-pit exposure, to allowing National Guardsmen to transfer education benefits to dependents, and beyond. I believe that there is plenty of room for us to build on and I look forward to getting to work on all these pieces, while ensuring that the main piece, the SPEED Act, gets to the Governor’s desk this session.” 

The House passed its version, H.5000, on July 7th and the Senate passed its version, S.2559, on October 21st. Conference committees meet privately to resolve differences and produce a final report. That legislation is then sent back to each branch and subsequently to the Governor’s desk for his signature.  

The other Senate conference committee members appointed are Senator John Cronin and Senator Ryan Fattman. The House conference committee members are Representative Paul McMurtry, Representative Sarah Peake, and Representative Donald Berthiaume.  

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(BOSTON – 07/11/2022) The Massachusetts State Senate on Monday passed three bills which promote animal welfare. S.2994 An Act protecting the health and safety of puppies and kittens in cities and towns ensures the safety of puppies and kittens during breeding, sale, and boarding. S.2992 An Act Protecting Research Animals, previously passed by the Senate in 2018 and commonly known as the ‘Beagle Bill’, encourages research facilities that use dogs and cats to offer these animals up for adoption after finishing research, rather than automatically euthanizing them. Finally, S.2993 An Act further regulating the enforcement of illegal hunting practices takes measures to discourage the illegal hunting and sale of game animals, including endangered species.

“I was proud to join my colleagues in voting to pass these bills to protect animals throughout our Commonwealth,” said Senator John C. Velis (D-Westfield). “Throughout my legislative career, I have worked to expand protections and funding for our animal friends, and am thrilled that the Senate has taken these important steps with these bills today.”

“As a lifelong animal lover and owner, I am acutely aware of the importance of protecting the Commonwealth’s animals, whether in our homes, in kennels and shared facilities, or in nature,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “I am also grateful for the advocates and Senators who worked to get these bills to the Senate floor.”

Protecting Puppies and Kittens

An Act protecting the health and safety of puppies and kittens in cities and towns addresses inhumane practices relating to the transfer of pets. As separating puppies and kittens from their mother and litter prior to completion of their eight-week developmental socialization stage prevents them from learning important behaviors such as bite inhibition and the development of proper social relations with other members of their species, this bill prohibits the sale of puppies and kittens under eight weeks of age. To promote continued wellbeing of puppies and kittens in group settings, this legislation tasks the Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) with creating Massachusetts’ first state-wide oversight regulations and licensure requirements of breeders, doggie daycare, and boarding facilities. The bill also ends the sale of animals on roadsides, parking lots, flea markets, or in other public spaces.

Beagle Bill

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, nationally more than 60,000 dogs, almost all beagles, and nearly 20,000 cats are used each year to advance scientific research and to test cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and other household products. Currently, many research labs choose to automatically euthanize these cats and dogs once their experiments are over. An Act Protecting Research Animals, commonly known as the ‘Beagle Bill’, facilitates a relationship between animal research laboratories and registered non-profit animal rescue organizations and requires that when these animals are no longer needed, the research facilities make every effort to place animals up for public adoption.

Illegal Hunting

Massachusetts is currently experiencing historically unprecedented losses of species diversity, with much of the state’s wildlife increasingly vulnerable to human activities like climate change and illegal hunting. An Act further regulating the enforcement of illegal hunting practices aligns Massachusetts poaching regulations with other states, to better protect fish, birds, mammals, and endangered or threatened species. This bill also brings Massachusetts into the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact, which helps states to work together to prevent illegal hunting across state lines.

Having passed the Senate, An Act protecting the health and safety of puppies and kittens in cities and towns now goes on to the House of Representatives for further consideration. As An Act further regulating the enforcement of illegal hunting practices and An Act Protecting Research Animals have passed both branches of the legislature, a conference committee will be appointed to resolve differences between the bill’s two versions, if any.

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(BOSTON–07/07/2022) Today, the Massachusetts State Senate unanimously passed S.2973 An Act to expand access to high-quality, affordable early education and care. This bipartisan legislation will transform early education and child care in the Commonwealth by making it more accessible and affordable for families, providing high-quality care for young children, strengthening early education providers, improving compensation and professional development for the early education workforce, and addressing the workforce needs of Massachusetts employers. The bill draws from the recommendations made by the Special Legislative Early Education and Care Economic Review Commission, which was created by the legislature in 2020 and issued its final report in March 2022.

“Just as the Senate led on transforming the Commonwealth’s K-12 education system through the Student Opportunity Act, today’s bill would similarly transform the early education system,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “Unfortunately, high-quality early education remains out of reach for most Massachusetts families, and our providers struggle to keep their doors open. This bill will address those issues and make our Commonwealth stronger by making early education more affordable, investing in our early educators, and ensuring the sustainability of our providers.”

High-quality early education helps young children to develop stronger communication, social, and cognitive skills. Investments in early education have been shown to yield considerable long-term benefits, such as higher academic achievement and greater lifetime earnings. Many families in Massachusetts, however, lack access to high-quality, affordable early education. This impacts the ability of parents, especially working mothers, to enter or remain in the workforce. The financial strain of child care on families is a contributing factor to workforce shortages and threatens to hamper the state’s economic recovery.

The Senate bill would improve access to high-quality and affordable care for Massachusetts families in several ways. The bill would:

• Increase subsidy eligibility over time from the current level of 50% of state median income ($65,626 annual household income for a family of four) to 125% of state median income ($164,065 annual household income for a family of four)
• Make it easier for subsidized providers to offer scholarships or discounted tuition for their private pay families
• Require the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) to evaluate and eliminate barriers to subsidy access for families on an annual basis
• Require parent fees for subsidized families to be affordable and updated at least every five years
• Require EEC to assess the extent of the current supply of licensed child care availability across the state and the unmet needs of families

Even though child care is expensive for families in Massachusetts, early education and child care providers are themselves in crisis. Given the low wages and poor benefits that providers can afford to pay their staff, providers face chronic challenges with attracting and retaining early educators, almost all of whom are women and many of whom are women of color. Federal pandemic relief funding has been a lifeline for the early education and care sector, but these funds are one-time.

This Senate legislation will help stabilize providers, improve program quality, and expand capacity in several ways. The bill:

• Makes permanent the operational grants to providers that were first distributed during the pandemic and requires that a provider must be willing to enroll subsidized children in order to qualify for a grant
• Requires EEC to use an actual cost-of-quality-care methodology for setting subsidy reimbursement rates and calculating operational grants
• Requires EEC to reimburse subsidized providers based on quarterly enrollment rather than daily attendance of children
• Takes steps to strengthen the recruitment and pipeline of early educators

Early educators with bachelor’s degrees earn far less than their counterparts who teach in public elementary schools, and one in six early educators lives in poverty.

To improve compensation, benefits, and professional development opportunities for the early educator workforce, this legislation:

• Requires EEC to develop a career ladder that links educational attainment and work experience to compensation and benefits and recommends that compensation levels be commensurate with public school teachers who are similarly credentialed
• Establishes early educator scholarship and loan forgiveness programs to provide greater access to higher education and professional development opportunities
• Enables subsidized providers to offer free or discounted seats for the children of their own staff

Other provisions would further improve and strengthen early education and child care in Massachusetts. The bill:

• Creates a commission to study and recommend to the legislature ways that employers could provide more support to their workers to help meet their early education and child care needs
• Requires EEC to report to the legislature on ways to expand successful local partnerships, such as the Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative (CPPI)
• Requires EEC and the Children’s Investment Fund to report to the legislature on ways to improve and expand the impact of the Early Education and Out of School Time (EEOST) Capital Fund for making improvements to early education facilities
• Requires EEC to create a plan to pilot and scale shared service models that can improve the efficient delivery of high-quality care
• Creates a data advisory commission to work with EEC on expanded data collection and reporting, and the improved use of data to inform the cost and quality of care

Having passed the Senate, An Act to expand access to high-quality, affordable early education and care now moves to the House of Representatives for further consideration.

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Hello Everyone,  

I hope everyone was able to enjoy a safe and happy Fourth of July on Monday! The Fourth is one of my favorite holidays.  Being a major in the U.S Army Reserves, I took the time to reflect on the hard-won American ideals that this holiday represents. Celebrations were in full swing around the district, honoring our nation’s independence.  And this year was my newborn son, Carson’s, first Fourth of July, and we attended his first parades in both Hampton Ponds and Wyben. 

After the holiday weekend, there have been some exciting events happening in the district.  This past Tuesday, I attended the swearing-in ceremony at the Easthampton Fire Department. It was an honor to help celebrate new Deputy Chief Kevin Benson and new Captain Jason Dunham, along with new firefighters Tyler Colby and Nathan Cowan.  Congratulations to you all!  We also recognized the lifesaving actions of Easthampton resident Paul Galotti.  Paul rescued a fellow resident from a building fire in May before emergency personnel arrived at the scene.  Your community and I commemorate you for your bravery, Paul! 

On Wednesday, I presented the Westfield American Legion Post 124 with $20,000 that I secured for the organization from the American Rescue Plan Act. This funding will help improve the condition of their facility and allow them to continuously create a community for Veterans and active members in the district.  

I would also like to congratulate Kathi Cotungo for receiving the Mass Heroine Award for her work with the opioid epidemic in the community.  This award is given to women who have made big difference in their communities and have displayed extraordinary acts of service. The dedication that you have exemplified does not go unnoticed, Kathi! Congratulations Kathi!  

On Thursday, the Senate passed funding to fulfill the Commonwealth’s obligation to fund the settlement with the families of the Veterans affected by the COVID-19 outbreak at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home. No amount of money will ever make up for the devastating loss and heartbreak that these families have been through, but this settlement does ensure that the families no longer need to suffer the painful and long process of litigation. 

This week the House also passed the SPEED Act, a bill I filed to support military families in their transition of the Commonwealth. This passage is an important step for the bill, which will lead to increased federal investments in our military installations, and I look forward to getting it to the Governor’s desk!  

Yesterday, my staff held office hours at the Russell Council on Aging from 11:30am to 12:30pm. Next week, we will hold office hours at the Chicopee Council on Aging on Monday from 10am to11am. Hope to see you there! 

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 where you can also sign up for my newsletter! 

 Sincerely,  

John Velis 

(BOSTON 7/7/2022) Today the Massachusetts Senate unanimously passed legislation authorizing $56 million to fulfill the Commonwealth’s settlement with the families of the Veterans who were impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home. The settlement had previously been agreed to in the class action lawsuit approved by the United States District Court. Senator Velis, who represents the City of Holyoke and the Soldiers’ Home, introduced the bill on the Senate floor before the vote. 

“No amount of money will ever make up for the devastating loss and heartbreak that these families have been through. What happened at the Home was unacceptable and will forever leave a scar on the Commonwealth especially our Western Mass communities,” said Senator Velis, who is also Chairman of the Veterans’ Committee. “No dollar figure will ever bring these families their loved ones back. That anguish and grief will always be there, but this settlement does ensure that the families no longer need to suffer the painful and long process of continued litigation.” 

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While the Senate took up the Soldiers’ Home settlement, the House of Representatives today passed their version of the SPEED Act, a bill filed by Senator Velis which the Senate passed in October.

The SPEED Act supports military families in their transition to Massachusetts when service members receive orders to relocate. The legislation would speed up the professional licensure process for military spouses to ensure they can continue their careers and allow for advanced and virtual enrollment for military children to resolve disruptions in education. The bill would also help Massachusetts meet criteria used by the Department of Defense for basing assignments, like the current F-35 Fighter Jet conversion being considered for Barnes Air National Guard Base in Westfield.  

“Anyone who has worn the uniform or has a family member who has worn the uniform knows that the sacrifice of military service goes far beyond the individual service member. The SPEED Act is a recognition of that sacrifice and the challenges these families face,” said Senator Velis. “The bill will benefit so many military families coming to our state and will help bring massive federal investments to our Commonwealth.” 

Among other pieces, the House Bill also included a Burn Pit Bill for Veterans that was originally filed by Senator Velis when he was a member of the House. The policy would support the estimated more than 3.5 million Veterans who have been exposed to toxic burn pits during their time serving.  

The bill would provide resources for Massachusetts Veterans to register with the federal VA burn-pit database, which would in turn make them eligible for increased health care services and provide them with compensation if they have health conditions related to the toxic exposure. 

“Burn pits is to my generation of Veterans what Agent Orange was to Vietnam Veterans, and it is time that we acknowledge the serious and long-lasting health effects these toxins have,” said Senator Velis. “I have been advocating for this bill since my own time in Afghanistan and am grateful that the House has taken these important steps today for our service members and their families.” 

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Happy July Everyone, 

Summer is officially in full swing!  I hope everyone is taking advantage of everything Western Mass has to offer and is also able to enjoy this long weekend.  The Fourth of July celebrates our country’s independence and the beginning of a long endeavor for a more perfect union. I hope everyone will take some time this weekend to reflect on this. And whether you’re going to the beach, the lake, or a barbeque, please also stay safe while celebrating. 

Despite the long weekend and great weather, we still had a busy week here in the district.  On Wednesday, I was able to join West Springfield veterans for their luncheon at the Grace Lutheran Church.  It was a great event and I always enjoy meeting other veterans in the area.   

This week, my staff also held office hours in two locations. On Monday, we were at the Westfield Council on Aging and on Friday we were at their counterpart in Southwick.  We love hearing from members of the community and helping in any way we can, so please feel welcome to stop by our office hours in the future with any questions or concerns, or even just to say hi. Next week, we’ll be at the Russell COA on Friday from 11:30 to 12:30.  We hope to see you there.   

Also at the Westfield Council on Aging this Monday and alongside Mayor McCabe and Representative Pease, I presented $100,000 of funding secured from the American Rescue Plan Act to their executive director Tina Gorman.  The Westfield COA has such an engaged staff who really care about their community.  I couldn’t think of a more deserving group and I can’t wait to see the renovations they plan to use this funding for.   

Armbrook Village of Westfield dedicated a new outdoor recreation space for seniors this week and I was lucky enough to be invited to attend the ribbon cutting. Armbrook village is such a wonderful facility that takes great care of our elderly. This new outdoor space for seniors will be a great addition to their home as well as our community as a whole.  

I also attended a virtual meeting this week about the design of the new Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke.   This served as a briefing on the final design of the Home and the details of how it will be used for generations of veterans to come.  Physical work is expected to begin soon and I cannot wait to see the new facility once it’s finished.  The Home has always been an asset to the Valley and will be for decades to come.   

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 where you can also sign up for my newsletter! 

Sincerely, 

John Velis 

(BOSTON 6/30/2022) Ahead of July 4^th, Governor Baker has officially signed into law a policy from Senator John Velis (D-Westfield) that will make it easier for military members serving overseas to vote. The amendment was part of the broader voting reform bill, An Act fostering voter opportunities, trust, equity and security. 

“I’m incredibly grateful that this policy for our service members has officially been signed into law.” said Senator Velis, who is Chairman of the Legislature’s Veterans Committee. “The right to vote is a fundamental right, but overseas service members are currently burdened by many logistical and operational obstacles that impact that right. Anything that we can do to make that voting process for our service-members overseas more efficient, we have an obligation to do. I am proud to say we fulfill that obligation with this law.” 

Senator Velis’ amendment will allow service members overseas to vote through a secure online portal. Fifteen states in the United States already allow similar online voting portals. 

The current process for a military member to vote from overseas starts with an absentee application to their local clerk. Then a ballot is either mailed or emailed to them overseas. The military member must then print out the ballot, fill it out, and then either fax it back to their clerk, scan it to email back, or mail it. Once it is received, an election receiver will then copy the military members name and votes onto another physical ballot before it may be counted.   

Senator Velis, noted that he himself voted from overseas during the 2018 mid-term elections when he was stationed in Afghanistan, and knows how burdensome the current process is.  

“Many times, service-members do not have functioning printers at their installations. Many times, they are not able to communicate with their municipal clerk back home. Many times, they are out on missions that take them away from their installations all together,” said Senator Velis. “I remember the excitement and great pride I felt voting during the 2018 mid-term elections from Afghanistan. At the same, I worried about how many of my fellow service-members might be missing out on this opportunity and wondered why this process could not be simpler.”  

 Service members will no longer need to find a printer or fax, worry about the back-and-forth communications with their clerk, or wonder about the privacy of their votes. It will be more efficient and cut out red tape while still ensuring safe and secure voting. 

“When you are in the military, the focus is always on the mission at hand. We —as a Commonwealth— must do everything we can to make this process as easy as possible so that our military members can exercise their right to vote and get back to their mission,” stated Senator Velis. “At the most fundamental level, this law will make it easier to vote for those who have given us our right to vote.” 

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(Northampton 6/28/2022) Senator John C. Velis (D-Westfield), the Senate Chairman of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs, today released the following statement on the news that the Leeds VA Medical in Northampton will remain open:  

“Yesterday a bi-partisan group of US Senators blocked the proposed closures of the Leeds VA Medical Facility in Northampton and other VA facilities across the Country. 

From the very start, so many of us have stood steadfast against this irresponsible proposal to close Leeds.  Veterans and advocates rallied, they spoke out, and they showed how critical it is for our region that this facility remains open. The powers that be heard loud and clear from us that this would have had a disastrous effect if they went forward, and I am glad that they listened.  

I am grateful to all who have to fought to ensure that the 24,000 Veterans the facility serves each year will continue get to the care they need and have earned in service to our nation.” 

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Hello Everyone, 

This week marks the official start of summer with the passage of the solstice. I hope everyone has been able to enjoy the long days despite all the rain we’ve had this week. We’ve had a very productive week here in the legislature. I certainly have and want to share some exciting news from across the district this week. 

This past Monday was Juneteenth, marking the day that the news of abolition and the end of the Civil War reached every corner of our country. The day when the last slaves learned of their freedom was a pivotal moment in our country’s struggle for equality. I hope everyone was able to observe the holiday and reflect on the significance it has played in American history.  

Last Saturday I attended a celebration congratulating Karen Salvini on 39 years of service as the clerk to City of Westfield. It was my honor attending and celebrating her hard work and dedication to the city. Congratulations on retirement, Karen! 

On Wednesday, I spoke in Springfield during the Western Mass Addiction Policy Forum hosted by Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery at the UMass Center in Springfield. I am glad we were able to talk about funding and support for those on the frontlines of substance use disorders. There is much policy and legislative work to be done locally and in the state house. It was moving to hear the stories of the many people who attended, and I am thankful to have been asked to speak. 

The Williston Library in Easthampton was able to secure $50,000 in funds from the American Recovery Plan Act. On Thursday, alongside Representative Dan Carey, Mayor Nicole LaChapelle, Director Katya Schapiro, and Board President Elizabeth Appelquist, I was happy to formally present the funds to the library. With this money, they can continue to be the cultural centerpiece of the Easthampton community. Libraries are not just a place to check out a book, they are a place of community and learning to those who need it.  

I’d like to congratulate the Westfield High School Soft Ball team on winning their state championship!  The hard work and persistence you all put in this season has shown. Your community and I are proud of your achievements, and we hope you are too! 

Today, I attended the Pascommuck Conservation Trust’s 40^th Anniversary celebration in Easthampton. This dedicated group of volunteers has grown from their first parcel in 1982 to now managing over 190 acres of preserved land. Thank you to the trust for helping to keep the Pioneer Valley beautiful for four decades! 

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 where you can also sign up for my newsletter! 

Sincerely, 

John Velis 

(5/26/2022) Today the Massachusetts State Senate unanimously adopted an amendment filed by Senator John Velis (D-Westfield) that would make LGBTQ Veterans discharged under the now-repealed Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy eligible for Veteran benefits from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  

“For far too long, thousands of courageous individuals have been told that they are not worthy of the same benefits that their comrades and counterparts earned. That their service, and their sacrifice is not worth the same. All because of who they are and who they love,” said Senator Velis, who is Chair of the Veterans & Federal Affairs Committee. “The years of trauma, abuse and harassment caused by Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell cannot be undone. But we must do everything in our power to ensure that LGBTQ Veterans across the Commonwealth have the same access to benefits and services that other Veterans have.” 

“LGBTQ Veterans that were discharged under the now defunct, Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, served their country proudly and are every bit as entitled to state Veteran benefits as any other service member. We are grateful to Senator Velis for his recognition of their service and his leadership in ensuring that their sacrifice will be honored by restoring the benefits that they rightfully earned.” said Tanya Neslusan, Executive Director of MassEquality. 

The Department of Defense’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy barred openly gay, lesbian or bisexual persons from military service from 1994 until 2011. During the 17 years that the policy was in effect, more than 14,000 service members were forced out of the military. Because these service members did not receive an honorable discharge, they and their families are not eligible for many Veteran benefits.  

This past fall, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs issued new guidance that Veterans discharged under the policy are eligible for federal benefits. Amendment #799 would codify into Massachusetts state law that any Veteran discharged under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell would be eligible for state benefits from the Massachusetts Department of Veterans Services.  

Under this amendment, State Veteran benefits that discharged Veterans would receive include: 

• Chapter 115 Financial Aid 
• Property Tax Exemptions 
• Tuition Waivers 
• License Plate and ID Designations 
• Veteran Annuities  
• Care at Massachusetts Soldiers’ Homes 

 “Ask the soldier who is bleeding out on the battlefield if they care about the sexual orientation of the combat medic applying the torniquet. Ask the Marine in Afghanistan or Iraq in a firefight if they care about the gender identity of the person besides them shooting to defend their life. The belief that having an LGBTQ service member would somehow keep our military from functioning or compromise our mission is unfathomable,” said Senator Velis, who is also currently a Major in the US Army Reserve. “The tragic truth is that so many service members are still feeling the effects of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell to this day. These Veterans wore the same uniform as us, they served alongside us, they fought alongside us, and they deserve to be taken care of the same way as the rest of us. It is time to do right by them.” 

With the amendment now adopted into the Senate’s budget, it will now be considered in a conference committee with the House of Representatives.   

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