Category: Uncategorized

Happy June Everyone, 

Summer’s almost officially here and graduation is right around the corner for many of our students this time of year.  I was lucky enough to attend the Westfield High, the Westfield Technical Academy, and Agawam High school’s graduation ceremonies this week.  I would like to congratulate all of our students who have reached this milestone in their lives.  This a special time in your lives and I hope that you all cherish it.  

This past Monday marked Memorial Day. As a Veteran myself, this holiday holds a particular place in my heart.  I had the honor of speaking at multiple events that day throughout our community.  One was at the Agawam Memorial Veterans Cemetery.  I also attended a flag raising in the Agawam town green.  Later in the day, I was also able to attend a parade in Russell.   Thank you to all members of the military—active, retired, and those no longer with us. 

Last week the Senate passed its version of the FY23 budget.  This version is not the final one, however.  The Senate’s version must go into conference committee with the House version to be reconciled and after that, it will be sent to the Governor’s desk for final approval.  I’m proud of the many amendments my team was able to secure for our district and have been highlighting the many pieces of funding all week on my social media. 

Wednesday evening, I attended a virtual town hall with the Southwick Democratic Committee.  We spoke about the many issues facing this community, chief amongst them being the new policies surrounding the Congamond lake system.  Just this past week they received the green light by the National Resource Conservation Service to the clear out the Great Brook and Canal brook, two very important outflows for the lake.  This project would dramatically improve water quality in the lakes; something that has been an issue for a very long time.   

I also met with several city councilors from Holyoke this week to hear about news at the municipal level. Holyoke is the second largest city in my district and it’s always important to me to maintain strong relationships with all our local officials.  

Our office also welcomed our summer interns this week.  I’d like to put out a formal and warm welcome to Logan from Westfield State and Camryn from UMass Amherst!  I know they’re going to do great things and I look forward to working with them this summer.   

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– 5/27/22) The Massachusetts State Senate on Thursday passed a $49.78 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23). Advanced with unanimous support, the budget makes significant, critical and targeted investments in the areas of education, health care, housing and community supports to meet the on-the-ground challenges brought on by the global pandemic and ongoing financial uncertainty.

“The residents of Massachusetts are at the center of our work and their voice, advocacy and contributions are interwoven throughout our Fiscal 2023 budget,” stated Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “I take great pride in advancing a budget that contains meaningful investments in early education and childcare, K-12 schools, public higher education, mental health and substance use disorder treatment as well as a record level of assistance for low-income residents. At a time when reproductive and gender equity rights are under attack across the country, I am also grateful that the Senate budget adopts new, critically needed measures to protect our providers and health care centers. I want to thank Chair Rodrigues, Vice Chair Friedman and Assistant Vice Chair Lewis, as well as their staffs, the members of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, all of my Senate colleagues who contributed ideas and energy as this budget came together and every advocate and member of the public who made sure we knew what was important to them.”

“Today, the members of the Senate have spoken and moved forward together to pass a Fiscal Year 2023 budget that strengthens our state’s economic foundation, upholds the fundamental rights of our people and continues our efforts to build a more inclusive Commonwealth,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “Under the leadership of Senate President Spilka, the Senate has taken meaningful steps this week to support our long-term economic health, maintain fiscal responsibility, and make targeted investments in education, local aid, health care, housing, workforce development, and many other important areas, ensuring we meet the everyday needs of our communities. Thank you to the Senate President for her guidance, Vice Chair Cindy Friedman, Assistant Vice Chair Senator Jason Lewis, Ranking Minority Member Senator Patrick O’Connor and Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr for their impactful contributions, and to my colleagues in the Senate, whose advocacy throughout the week contributed to a respectful and civil discussion on priorities important to them, which helped shape the overall direction of this budget.”

The Senate’s FY23 budget includes a total of $49.78 billion in spending with $854.4 million deposited into the state’s rainy-day fund, bringing that account’s total to $6.74 billion. Structured upon a consensus revenue estimate of 2.7 per cent growth, the budget also funds Unrestricted General Government Aid (UGGA) at $1.231 billion. Other budget highlights are detailed below.

Education

Drawing on its belief that the state’s recovery is made stronger by a commitment to invest in early education and care, the Senate’s budget makes a $1.13 billion investment into this sector of the care economy, including $300 million in new resources to begin implementation of recommendations made by the Early Education and Care Economy Review Commission. These investments will help to stabilize providers, support the early educator workforce, and provide access to affordable care for children and families. Funding includes:

• $250 million for the Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) Stabilization Grants, stabilizing the early education and care sector by supporting critical operational and workforce needs
• $25 million for a new infrastructure and policy reform reserve to bolster the statewide system of care and assist families in navigating the early education landscape
• $25 million for the center-based childcare rate reserve for reimbursement rates for subsidized care
• $16.5 million for grants to the Head Start program to maintain access to early education services for low-income families
• $15 million for the Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative to expand access to pre-kindergarten and preschool opportunities in underserved areas
• $5 million for the Early Childhood Educators Scholarship

In K-12 education, the Senate delivers on its promise to fully fund and implement the Student Opportunity Act (SOA) by FY 2027, investing $6 billion in Chapter 70 funding, an increase of $495 million over FY 2022, as well as double minimum Chapter 70 aid from $30 to $60 per pupil. This investment ensures the state remains on schedule to fully implement the law by FY2027, provides school districts with resources to provide high quality educational opportunities, and addresses rising costs and administrative challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This budget also confronts head-on the issue of higher education student costs by providing $175.2 million for the scholarship reserve, including an additional $37.5 million for the MassGrant and MassGrant Plus programs. An amendment adopted by the Senate also dedicate $1 million to pilot a digital textbook and materials program at a community college or state university to provide student with the opportunity to access free textbooks online.

The Senate also expands access to inclusive education opportunities for young adults with disabilities through the removal of existing barriers and codifying the Massachusetts Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment grant program. The budget dedicates $4 million in flexible resources for the public higher education system to implement and support inclusive learning options for this diverse student population. Other education investments include:

• $435 million for the special education circuit breaker
• $243.8 million for charter school reimbursements
• $82.2 million to reimburse school districts for regional school transportation costs, representing an 85% reimbursement rate

• $10 million for Early College programs and $9 million for the state’s Dual Enrollment initiative, both of which provide high school students with increased opportunities for post-graduate success
• $5.5 million, after adding $1.5 million through an amendment, for targeted aid to rural schools
• $1.5 million for the Genocide Education Trust Fund, fulfilling our commitment to educate middle and high school students on the history of genocide and support implementation efforts in accordance with Chapter 98 of the Acts of 2021, An Act Concerning Genocide Education, passed by the Legislature in 2021

Health, Mental Health & Family Care

For too many—especially children—the post-pandemic world continues to be wrought with uncertainty. To address these concerns, the Senate’s budget focuses on funding a range of services, including social emotional learning (SEL) support for students, domestic violence prevention, substance use disorder treatment, and strengthening our regional boards of health. The budget also supports the expansion of Family Resource Centers (FRCS), which offer resources to families seeking health, safety, educational, and employment services.

The Massachusetts State Senate’s FY23 budget also sends a strong message that reproductive health and gender affirming health will be protected, despite growing legal uncertainty across the United States. Investments include $2 million for grants for improvements in reproductive health access, infrastructure, and safety. An amendment to the budget also codifies new protections for receiving and providing reproductive and gender-affirming health care in Massachusetts in response to laws in other states allowing their residents to bring legal action against individuals for traveling out-of-state to receive services and against workers who provide care.

The Senate budget funds MassHealth at a total of $18.56 billion, providing more than 2.1 million people with access to affordable and accessible health care services. Other health investments include:

• $514.6 million for Department of Mental Health adult support services, including assisted outpatient programming and comprehensive care coordination among health care providers
• $210.3 million for a complete range of substance use disorder treatment and intervention services to support these individuals and their families
• $112.5 million for children’s mental health services
• $56 million for domestic violence prevention services
• $40.4 million for Early Intervention services, ensuring supports remain accessible and available to infants and young toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities
• $28.3 million for Family Resource Centers to grow and improve the mental health resources and programming available to families
• $20 million to recapitalize the Behavioral Health, Access, Outreach and Support Trust Fund to support targeted behavioral health initiatives
• $18.5 million, increased during the amendment process, to expand to all correctional facilities the existing pilot program for the delivery of medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder
• $18 million for family and adolescent health, including $7.8 million for comprehensive family planning services and $6.7 million to enhance federal Title X family planning funding
• $15 million for grants to support local and regional boards of health, continuing our efforts to build upon the successful State Action for Public Health Excellence (SAPHE) Program
• $15 million for emergency department diversion initiatives for children, adolescents, and adults
• $8.2 million to support student behavioral health services at the University of Massachusetts, state universities and community colleges
• $6 million for Social Emotional Learning Grants to help K-12 schools bolster social emotional learning supports for students, and $1 million to provide mental health screenings for K-12 students
• $4.4 million for the Office of the Child Advocate
• $3.5 million for the Massachusetts Center on Child Wellbeing & Trauma
• $3 million for Children Advocacy Centers to improve the critical supports available to children that have been neglected or sexually abused
• $1 million, increased through the amendment process, for an expansion of the Hey Sam text-based mental health support line, a peer-to-peer suicide prevention communications initiative for youth and young adults

The Senate also adopted an amendment that prevents correctional facilities from charging fees to incarcerated persons or their loved ones for prison phone calls, and it also sets a new requirement that commissary items in correctional facilities shall not be sold at more than 3 per cent over the purchase cost. Both changes ensure that our correctional facilities do not unjustly profit off the basic needs of incarcerated persons.

In addition, the Senate adopted an amendment to address the failures that led to the tragic death of Harmony Montgomery, who was released from state custody in 2019 when she was five years old, but then went missing for two years without being reported. To ensure that a tragedy like this will not happen again, this budget establishes a Harmony Montgomery Commission to study, examine and make recommendations regarding the welfare and best interest considerations of children in care and protection cases and petition to dispense with consent cases.

Expanding & Protecting Opportunities

The Senate remains committed to continuing an equitable recovery, expanding opportunity, and supporting the state’s long-term economic health. To that end, the budget includes a record investment in the annual child’s clothing allowance, providing $400 per child for eligible families to buy clothes for the upcoming school year. The budget also includes a 10 per cent increase to Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) and Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children (EAEDC) benefit levels compared to June 2022 to help families move out of deep poverty.

With skilled workers in high demand and job openings plentiful, the Senate’s budget invests more than $100 million to bolster job training programs, help connect unemployed and under-employed people with higher paying jobs and support career services that help students gain access and skills to apply for future jobs. Economic opportunity investments include:

• $356.6 million for Transitional Assistance to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) and $140.7 million for Emergency Aid to Elderly, Disabled and Children (EAEDC) to provide the necessary support as caseloads increase, and lift families and individuals out of so-called ‘deep poverty’
• $55.3 million for adult basic education services to improve access to skills necessary to join the workforce.
• $30.5 million for the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program
• $24.1 million for summer jobs and work-readiness training for at-risk youth
• $20 million in Healthy Incentives Programs to maintain access to healthy food options for households in need
• $20 million for a Community Empowerment and Reinvestment Grant Program to provide economic support to communities disproportionately impacted by the criminal justice system

• $17 million for the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund to connect unemployed and under-employed workers with higher paying jobs
• $15.4 million for Career Technical Institutes to increase our skilled worker population and provide residents access to career technical training opportunities
• $7.5 million for community foundations to provide emergency economic relief to historically underserved populations
• $5 million for the Secure Jobs Connect Program, providing job placement resources and assistance for homeless individuals
• $4.8 million for the Innovation Pathways program to continue to connect students to trainings and post-secondary opportunities in the industry sector with a focus on STEM fields
• $2.5 million for the Massachusetts Cybersecurity Innovation Fund, including $1.5 million to continue partnerships with community colleges and state universities to provide cybersecurity workforce training to students and cybersecurity services to municipalities, non-profits, and small businesses
• $500,000, through an amendment, for the Economic Empowerment Trust Fund to expand the state’s Baby Steps college savings program

An amendment passed by the Senate would also establish a veteran equality review board to ensure that veterans dishonorably discharged under “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” receive state-based veterans’ benefits. Another adopted amendment directs the state to develop one common application portal through which residents can simultaneously apply for multiple forms of state-administered needs-based benefits and services.

Housing

Based on the Senate’s understanding of the strong link housing security has to positive health and economic outcomes, the Senate FY23 budget invests over $900 million in increased funding for housing stability and homelessness assistance to work towards keeping people in their homes and helping individuals and families find permanent housing solutions.

The budget prioritizes relief for families and individuals who continue to face challenges brought on by both the pandemic and financial insecurity, including $213.2 million for Emergency Assistance Family Shelters and $210 million for Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT), including $60 million carried over from the March supplemental budget. The budget also upholds the emergency-level maximum amount of rental assistance that a household can receive at $10,000. Eligible households facing a housing crisis would also be given access to apply for RAFT and HomeBASE. The budget, through adoption of an amendment, also requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to study and report on the execution of no-fault evictions between 2019 and 2022.  Other housing investments include:

• $175 million for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP), including $20.7 million in unspent funds carried forward from FY 2022; the budget also recommends structural program changes that, starting January 1, 2023, will allow households to pay no more than 30% of their income for rent to receive rental vouchers for up to 110% of fair market value 
• $92 million for assistance to local housing authorities
• $83.3 million for assistance for homeless individuals
• $56.9 million for the HomeBASE diversion and rapid re-housing programs, bolstering assistance under this program to two years with a per household maximum benefit of $20,000
• $19.3 million for the Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP), which provides rental assistance to people with disabilities, including $5.6 million in unspent funds carried forward from FY 2022 and $2.5 million for grants to improve or create accessible affordable housing units
• $5 million for sponsored-based supportive permanent housing
• $3.9 million for the Home and Healthy for Good re-housing and supportive services program, including $250,000 for homeless LGBTQ+ youth

Community Support

The Committee’s budget reflects the Senate’s unwavering support for cities and towns and provides a significant amount of local and regional aid to ensure communities can provide essential services to the public while addressing local impacts caused by the pandemic. This includes $1.231 billion in funding for Unrestricted General Government Aid (UGGA), an increase of $63 million over FY 2022, to support additional resources for cities and towns. In addition to traditional sources of local aid, the Committee’s budget increases payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) for state-owned land to $45 million, an increase of $10 million over FY 2022. PILOT funding is a vital source of supplemental local aid for cities and towns working to protect and improve access to essential services and programs during recovery from the pandemic. Other local investments include:

• $96.5 million for Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs) to support regional public transportation systems, including $2.5 million for the implementation of pilot programs for fare innovation and reduction across the state
• $40.8 million for libraries, including $14.5 million for regional library local aid, $16 million for municipal libraries and $4.7 million for technology and automated resource networks
• $22.3 million for the Massachusetts Cultural Council to support local arts, culture and creative economy initiatives
• $3 million for Non-Profit Security Grants, after an increase of $1.5 million through the amendment process, to cover vital security enhancements to houses of worship, community centers, and other institutions at heightened risk of violence
• $1 million for the New American Voter Grant Program to provide accessible election materials to municipalities with significant non-English speaking populations and promote public awareness about voting

The Senate also adopted an amendment based on recommendations of the PFAS Interagency Task Force, which would provide $250,000 for the continued implementation of the AFFF Take-Back Program that funds the collection and proper disposal of Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) stored by municipal fire departments and other public safety partners in Massachusetts.

Another amendment passed in the budget would also extend COVID-19 state-of-emergency provisions related to remote public meetings, flexible town meetings, remote notaries, remote corporate meeting and remote mortgage video conferencing.

The Senate’s FY23 Budget is available on the Massachusetts legislature’s website: https://malegislature.gov/Budget/SenateWaysMeansBudget. Now that the Senate and Massachusetts House of Representatives has passed their respective budget proposals, both branches will now work together, form a conference committee and reconcile differences.

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Happy Memorial Day Everyone, 

I hope all of you are able to enjoy this long weekend with friends and family.  While we enjoy cookouts and pool days, it’s important to remember the sacrifices of members of our armed forces that allow us to enjoy such freedoms.  As a Veteran myself, this holiday holds a particular place in my heart.  Thank you to all members of the military—active, retired, and those no longer with us.  May God bless America and please be safe this weekend.   

This week marked debate week in the Senate for the FY2023 budget.  So, we have been busy over here in the legislature.  I was able to secure a lot of funding for various projects in our district, including initiatives related to Veterans.  One example is $70,000 that will be included for the Agawam Veterans Memorial Cemetery.  This funding will allow the cemetery to better aide in the administration of the site and to support the families of Veterans who are laying their loved ones to rest.  

Another focus of mine in the budget has always been on substance use and the opioid epidemic. I am extremely proud that in this year’s budget I was able to secure $50,000 for Tapestry Health.  This funding will allow them to purchase a mass spectrometer device which would be able to test street drugs for fentanyl.  The tainting of this drug is one of the leading causes of overdoses and fentanyl can even kill police who are simply handling the drug for confiscation purposes.  This new mass spectrometer has been proven to lower overdose rates and in the war on opioid addiction, there’s no single weapon we leave out of our arsenal.  Thank you to those as Tapestry for all the work they do in making our community a safer place.   

Our local schools are always a priority for me in the budget as well, and a number of my successful amendments were for improvements and upgrades at schools across our district, including $1,000,000 in funding for Westfield High to help improve their infrastructure and buildings.  

Another of my successful Veteran budget amendments focused on correcting an injustice from last decade. With the repeal of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy in 2011, there were many service members who were dishonorably discharged and left without benefits.  My amendment would allow for LGBTQ service members who were wrongfully discharged during this era to reclaim their rightful state benefits for them and their families. This Memorial Day we remember ALL service members.   

Keep your eye out for more news about the budget and funding that my team secured for our district. 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 

Hello Everyone,  

I hope all of you are getting outside and enjoying this spring weather.  We had another packed week here in the legislature as the senate works to finalize its version of the FY2023 budget.  Debate starts next week, and my staff and I have been very busy meeting with local organizations and preparing amendments that will benefit our district and our Commonwealth as a whole. 

This was a big week for me and our local schools. It started off on Tuesday when I visited the 8^th grade class from St. Joan of Arc School in Chicopee.  We discussed the different levels of government, how the state legislature works, and a bit about my experience in the military.  I was happy to visit this group of bright young individuals and St. Joan of Arc should be proud to have them as students.   

On Thursday, alongside Representative Carey, I welcomed the winners of Easthampton High’s “We the People” civics team to the state house for a visit.  As a lawyer, a lawmaker, and a veteran, I love seeing young people engage in civics. The team is the reigning Massachusetts State Champions and it was great to take them   on a tour of the heart of government for the Commonwealth.     

Westfield Dollars for Scholars also held their 60^th annual scholarship event night this week and I was lucky to be asked to speak at the ceremony.  This organization has been aiding the students of Westfield for the last six decades.  It’s difficult to find someone from Westfield who hasn’t benefited from this group.  Our city is blessed to have such individuals dedicated to expanding access to higher education.   

This Wednesday at the Eastfield Mall, the Springfield partners for Community Action held their “Stars and Stripes Day” Veterans Resource Festival.  This event helps to connect local veterans with service providers, community resources, employment opportunities and of course each other.  Veterans, while being one of the most deserving groups in our country, are often unaware of the benefits and assistance available to them. The Resource Festival is a great way to make those connections and I thank the Springfield Partners for Community Action for putting on this event.   

I also participated in a city wide clean up in Easthampton.  While our work at the State House is vital, it is nice to get outside and get something tangible done with my hands.  Thank you to Cub Scout Pack 209 for joining in on the cleanup and for giving me an excellent Sunday afternoon.   

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 

Hello Everyone, 

Summer was in the air this week.  I hope everyone was able to get outside and enjoy the nice weather.  For us here in the legislature, it’s been a packed week as senate budget negotiations are well under way.   

A few months ago, I was able to secure $100,000 of funding for Baystate’s opioid grant program. The initiative provides grants to community organizations throughout our region who work to treat and prevent opioid addiction.  On Friday, I presented this funding to the president of Baystate. Addiction is sadly one of the most serious problems facing our community and one would be hard pressed to find someone whose life has not been touched by this epidemic.  Treatment and prevention are the two most potent weapons in our armory.  As Vice Chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Recovery, I will always do everything in my power to help lift our community and the commonwealth as a whole from the thrall of the opioid crisis.  

This week marks National Police Week. I was honored when the Western Massachusetts of Chiefs of Police Association asked me to be their keynote speaker. I had to the chance to speak at the memorial on Wednesday and honor our officers who have fallen in the line of duty.  I would like to thank all our police officers and their families for the sacrifices they make every day.  

Behavioral Health Network Inc. has recently appointed a new CEO, Steve Winn, whom I met with this week as well.  Steve has been a steadfast employee for BHN for the last 25 years and while I am sad to see the previous CEO, Kathy Wilson, head into retirement, I know it’s much deserved and that Steve will do an excellent job as their new chief executive. Behavioral Health Inc. provides critical mental health services for the Greater Springfield Area and I’m looking forward to continuing our partnership to make these services available to all who need them.   

This week I also had the opportunity to get out in West Springfield. On Tuesday I toured the ongoing Coburn Elementary School project alongside Mayor Reichelt. Having a modern, clean, and spacious environment is conducive to a great learning experience for our children and I am so excited to see the students of West Springfield thrive in their new school building next fall. On Wednesday I joined Representative Finn to visit the West Springfield Boys & Girls Club. It was great to meet some of the folks who keep the Club running about learn about programs offered for youth. 

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 

Happy May Everyone, 

This first week of May marks Teacher Appreciation week in the Commonwealth.  Our teachers have worked tirelessly over the last two years and are more deserving than ever of this credit.  For especially hardworking teachers that parents have chosen to spotlight, I will be sending you a letter of appreciation!  We have over seventy nominations so far and if there’s any teacher in your life that you think is deserving of commendation, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office. Thank you to all our hardworking educators! 

In the FY’22 budget I was able to secure $59,800 for the Westfield Police Department to purchase an Apex Virtuality Simulator.  On Tuesday, I was proud to present it alongside Mayor McCabe to Chief Valliere and our hardworking officers.  This technology will allow our police to simulate high stress scenarios in order to better train at situation de-escalation.  A simulator like this is huge asset for the department and would allow much better training for traffic stops, shooter responses, building checks, and domestic violence calls.  I look forward to seeing how our officers utilize this new training module. 

This week also marked the retirement of Judge Phillip Contant. After almost four decades of distinguished service to the Massachusetts justice system, it’s with a heavy heart that we see off Judge Contant to retirement, although I’m sure he’ll be content to spend more time with his family and less in robes.  He was an asset to our courts and someone I am happy to call friend.  Thank you, Judge Contant!   

Holyoke Community College opened its “Itsy Bitsy Child Watch” program this week.  I was able to secure $100,000 in funding for the program and was happy to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony this past Wednesday.  Finding childcare is very often one of the biggest challenges to accessing higher education and HCC’s program, which is FREE to students attending the college (the second of its kind in the Commonwealth), will be a huge asset for working parents trying to get an education.   

I was able to attend the installation of one of the Easthampton’s new opioid rescue kits.  These kits will be placed around the city in strategic locations where there is heightened risk of overdose.  Access to these kits can save lives and are another weapon in the arsenal against addiction.   

On Friday, I toured Easthampton alongside Michael Bobbitt, executive director of the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC).  We went to the City Space Building, the Cottage Street Cultural District, and the Eastworks building. Our small Western Massachusetts city is revitalizing rapidly and I’m looking forward to seeing how the legislature and the MCC can help.   

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 

Holyoke, MA – Girls Inc. of the Valley has named 9 recipients of their first-ever Dream Maker Award ahead of their Spirit of Girls event. During the past two years, several members of the community have stepped up to provide high-quality learning opportunities for youth, advocate for funding for Girls Inc. programs, and volunteer their time, talents, and treasure to benefit.

Girls Inc. of the Valley is a leading nonprofit committed to inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold by providing them with educational development programs that are research-driven and designed to meet the specific needs of girls. Girls Inc. of the Valley serves girls ages 5-18 from the greater-Holyoke, Springfield, and Chicopee, MA areas.

Girls Inc. of the Valley. Girls Inc. is honored to award the following people their Dream Maker Award:

Senator John C. Velis represents the 2nd Hampden and Hampshire district in the Massachusetts State Senate, which includes the City of Holyoke and 10 other cities and towns in Western Massachusetts. He has been a champion of the Eureka! Program, secured a $50,000 earmark for Girls Inc.’s new building on 480 Hampden St., and continues to advocate for state funding.

“Girls Inc. continues to provide tremendous programs and supports for girls of all ages throughout our communities,” said Senator Velis. “They are truly inspiring our next generation of leaders. I am honored to support them in their mission and am grateful to have been selected for this Dream Maker award.”

Mary Kay Brown is the Director of Partnerships at John J. Duggan Academy, a Social Justice Magnet School, Kennedy Middle School and the Academy at Kiley. She has been the liaison to get Girls Inc. programming in Springfield schools and has advocated for funding from the district for Girls Inc.’s healthy sexuality curriculum.

Angelina Cicerchia graduated from UMass Amherst in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree and currently works at Mass General Hospital. She has been an incredible champion for youth, which includes her dedication as a mentor in Girls Inc.’s College Access Now (CAN) Mentor Program. Her favorite part about the CAN Mentor Program has been getting to know the scholars, as their hard work always inspires her.

Dr. Cady Coleman is a former NASA Astronaut and Air Force Colonel with more than 180 days in space, accumulated during two space shuttle missions and a six-month expedition to the International Space Station (ISS), where she acted as the Lead Robotics and Lead Science officer. Dr. Coleman is a vocal advocate for inclusion in STEM fields. She has hosted workshops to energize youth about space and science careers, and inspired girls to dream bigger and pursue a career as an astronaut.

Rep. Patricia Duffy represents Massachusetts Fifth Hampden District, which consists of Holyoke and is expanding to include Chicopee Ward 3B in January 2023. She continues to advocate for state funding for Girls Inc. and hosted the press event at Girls Inc.’s new home at 480 Hampden Street. Rep. Duffy’s weekly resource meetings for organizations during the height of the pandemic were also incredibly impactful.

Sarah Etelman has been a part of the Girls Inc. family for more than 12 years (which includes nearly a year as a consultant before a full-time position opened up). During that time, she’s excited to have been witness to the many transformations that Girls Inc. inspires. The past few years have been especially tumultuous, and Sarah is grateful to have had the support of her Girls Inc. friends and family. During the pandemic, she helped keep girls creatively engaged with felting workshops, and outfitted Girls Inc. staff with handmade masks.

Nikai Fondon is a recent graduate of the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst, and now works at a woman-owned marketing agency. She hosts her own podcast called She Did That!; a podcast dedicated to highlighting women of color leaders in our community. She has lent her voice to the Girls and Racism Town Hall, and worked with Girls Inc. teens to develop their own Zine

Jean Mendoza currently serves as the Director of Marketing & Communications for Auxiliary Enterprises at UMass Amherst, where she facilitates and leads high level marketing projects and strategic plans for the campus community and beyond. A proud Springfield native, her commitment to enrich, empower, and engage her local community has been a priority throughout her career. She has shown up for youth in incredible ways, most recently as a mentor in the CAN Mentor Program.

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, is the area’s multimedia leader and the most watched television station in the market. The station and its reporters have participated in important conversations that center and elevate girls’ voices in the community, like Project Red to bring awareness to the inaccessibility of period products during the pandemic, and Project TEAL, to shine a light on the hyper-sexualization of girls and women of color.

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Hello everyone, 

I can’t believe April is already coming to a close. Spring is well underway here in Western Massachusetts and I for one happily welcome it.  

It was a packed week here in the state senate.  After long deliberations, I’m happy to announce that the Senate passed a bill on Thursday that would legalize sports gambling in the Commonwealth. The bill includes important resources and protections for those who might struggle with problem gambling. The House passed a similar bill in July, and it will now go to a conference committee where differences between the two versions will be worked out before being sent to the governor’s desk for signing.  With the Governor’s signature, the Commonwealth would join over two dozen other states where the practice is legal in some shape or form.  The legalization of sports betting is a huge step and will go a long way to attracting tourism and generating tax revenue in Massachusetts. I voted in favor of the bill and am already looking forward to the positive impact it will have in our state.   

This week, I, alongside Governor Baker, Congressman Neal, Senator Lesser, and Representative Olivera, also attended a ribbon cutting at Westover Airbase in Chicopee to commemorate the opening of the UMass Aviation & Training center as well as the reopening of the main runway at the base.  Both are public investments that will only serve to benefit our local economy and strengthen our workforce. 

Wednesday afternoon, I attended the Massachusetts School Building Association’s Board Members meeting to vocalize my support for two district projects—one in Holyoke and one in Agawam. Bettering our school infrastructure is critical to ensuring that our students get the best education they possibly can.  The Western Mass legislative delegation as a whole also met with Congressman Neal and Governor Baker this week to discuss the East-West Rail project.  For those unfamiliar, this would expand the MBTA’s commuter lines from Worcester out into Springfield and Pittsfield.  It was a very productive meeting and I look forward to further working towards this rail expansion.  Connecting the Commonwealth would be a win for lowering emissions while also being a boom to our local economy.   

This week, I also had the pleasure of attending the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Westfield’s youth of the year award ceremony.  Congratulations to Gracia Jorgensen for taking home the award and to Vivian Szostek and Mia Anglin for being nominated finalists.  It’s much deserved and I’m looking forward to all that they are going to do to help our community.   

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 – 04/28/2022) The Massachusetts State Senate on Thursday passed An Act regulating sports wagering which would legalize commercial sports betting in Massachusetts. The bill, which would allow for in-person and online sports betting, also includes several consumer safeguards and addresses gaming addiction and recovery. This legislation is estimated to generate $35 million in tax revenue annually. 

“I am proud that the Senate has taken a thoughtful and balanced approach to legalizing sports betting,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “This legislation is consumer-focused and responsible, while promoting economic development. I am grateful to the many, many Senators who added their voices to the discussion on sports wagering, to the Senators whose proposals we built upon, and to Chair Rodrigues and the Senate Ways and Means members and staff for their work to reach consensus on the bill we voted on today.”  

“With the Senate’s passage of this bill, we lay a comprehensive foundation for a competitive legal sports wagering marketplace that will maximize revenue for our Commonwealth, promote equitable economic development, and establish the strongest consumer protection measures in the country,” said State Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Senate Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means.

The legislation would allow for bets to be placed on a professional sport or athletic event, such as the World Series or Stanley Cup, and establishes a licensing process that is inclusive of the state’s existing casino and slot parlor industry. In addition to sports wagering being offered at existing casinos, the bill contemplates six licenses to be awarded through a competitive process to companies which promote job-growth, responsible gambling, diversity, equity and inclusion, and which have community support. Those six licenses would be permitted to operate both in-person at a retail facility and online wagering. Wagering would not be permitted on electronic sports, amateur sports or athletic events including high school and youth sports, Olympic-related competitions, or collegiate sports. All leading Massachusetts Division 1 universities had previously weighed in against college sports betting. 

Mindful of the harmful impacts of compulsive gambling and risks of addiction, the Senate proposal is intentional in its efforts to promote responsible gambling and takes steps to protect consumers. To that end, the bill would prohibit the use of a credit card to place a sports wager and would require the Department of Public Health (DPH) to establish a compulsive gambling direct assistance program.  

Additionally, companies licensed to offer sports betting would be required to train employees to identify problem gambling and create plans to address instances of problem gambling, which would be submitted to the state’s Gaming Commission. In addition, the bill would ensure that consumers could cash out and permanently close accounts for any reason or create self-imposed limits on wagers. 

To further protect consumers, this legislation would include limitations on advertising for sports betting. The bill would prohibit unsolicited pop-up advertisements and certain promotional items, and institute a whistle-to-whistle ban on television advertising during live sporting events. Similar to the state’s cannabis law, the bill would limit advertising on television and online where less than 85% of the audience is 21 or older. 

With legislation relative to sports betting having passed the Massachusetts House of Representatives, a conference committee will be established to reconcile differences between the two bills. 

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Hello Everyone, 

Each year on the third Monday of April, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts commemorates the opening military engagements of the American Revolutionary War. When you draw a line through history from the Battles of Lexington and Concord to Patriots’ Day 2022 you arrive at a distinct conclusion: Massachusetts is a place full of proud, willful, and patriotic people. This tremendous sense of pride has only increased over the years. With the 126^th running of the Boston Marathon this past Monday, we remember those lost or impacted by the horrific events that took place there nine years ago. While many of the scars of the Boston Marathon bombing will never completely heal, it is important to remember how we always come together as state, just as our predecessors did in 1775. 

In Westfield on Monday, I attended a Patriots’ Day ceremony at Parker Memorial Park. Put on by the Westfield Veterans’ Council, it was a great opportunity to celebrate patriotism and commend local youths for their contributions to the community. During the event, I had the privilege of presenting a Certificate of Appreciation from the City of Westfield to Jillian Battles. Jillian has done tremendous work collecting donated items for Veterans and is a shining example of youth activism. Way to go Jillian! 

On Thursday, I reconnected with Easthampton High School’s “We The People” civics class via zoom for their last day of prep before heading to Washington, D.C. Although I was happy to provide any additional insight and advice that I could muster, these students are ready to compete! I cannot express how impressed I am with this class and their teacher, Kelley Brown. Good luck to Easthampton High at the national ”We The People” competition this weekend. 

Later on Thursday I visited V&F Auto on Springfield Street in Agawam. I toured the businesses and had a great talk with the owner about issues impacting small businesses and the importance of COVID relief.

Friday morning I spent some time researching and talking with folks about sober homes in Massachusetts. With an anticipated substance use bill coming up this session, my team has been looking at sober homes recently to see their impact and how the state can better support individuals struggling with addiction.

I wrapped up Friday in South Holyoke for a Earth Day clean up with the Holyoke Safe Community Initiative! It was great to get outside and join community members in volunteering.

Nothing tells me that summer is around the corner more than the crack of a baseball bat, and summer was certainly in the air this morning in Agawam. After a several year hiatus, Agawam’s Little League opening day was back on! Thank you to the Agawam Little League Board of Directors for inviting me to the opening day parade. Wishing all the little leaguers in Agawam a successful season! 

I’d like to give a big shout out to second-grader Temperance Freeman of Westfield for her efforts in fundraising for a new tree at the Munger Hill School! Temperance worked diligently to help raise contributions to replace a fallen tree at the school, and she took part in a campus cleanup this weekend. May the tree grow strong for future generations to admire! 

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