Category: Uncategorized

Hello Everyone! 

Are you ready for some football? It is always an odd feeling watching a Super Bowl absent of the Patriots or Tom Brady, but I suppose an occasional change of pace doesn’t hurt. Good luck to the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams in the big game on Sunday, and I hope you all have your favorite Super Bowl recipes lined up. If you are visiting friends, family, or your favorite local establishment, please plan to have a sober ride home. There is no excuse for drunk driving, and we need to work together to keep each other safe. 

Another busy week in the books! On Tuesday I was honored to be joined by Dr. Peter Friedmann, Chief Research Officer at Baystate Health, on my local cable TV show, “Beacon Hill to The 413”. We had a comprehensive conversation on addiction, medication assisted treatment, and policies that help save lives. This is a topic that is so near and dear to families around Massachusetts and our country, I strongly encourage folks to tune in when they have an opportunity. Episodes of “Beacon Hill to The 413” are archived on my social media channels and website, so feel free to check out the show there! 

This week, the Massachusetts Department of Veterans’ Services launched a survey with the goal of better engagement and support for women Veterans. it comes at a critical moment when women are the fastest growing Veteran demographic. This survey is part of a boarder study to determine how the Commonwealth can better support its women Veterans, and I was proud to secure the funding for this study in the FY’22 budget. This survey can be accessed at https://tinyurl.com/5n6j2ybd Please share with any women Veterans in your networks! 

On Thursday the Senate met in formal session, where we took up and passed S.2651, An Act relative to pharmaceutical access, costs and transparency (PACT Act 2022). This legislation is a multi-pronged approach to obtaining better cost transparency from pharmaceutical companies and ultimately helping alleviate the prices that patients pay for their prescription drugs. Among other things, the bill caps out-of-pocket consumer insulin costs at $25 per 30-day supply. The conflict between obtaining vital prescriptions and the strain on a patient’s bank account must stop, and S.2651 is another positive step in that direction. I was proud to vote in favor of this legislation and look forward to continuing to support it as it moves to the House.  

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   

BOSTON (02/10/2022) – Today, the Massachusetts Senate passed by a vote of 39-1 An Act relative to Pharmaceutical Access, Cost and Transparency (PACT Act 2022), comprehensive pharmaceutical legislation to address the rapidly increasing cost of prescription drugs and to ensure life-saving medications are affordable, fairly priced and accessible for all consumers.    

“Today the Senate again stood up for the individuals and families who, for far too long, have been forced to choose between paying the high costs of life-saving medication or putting food on the table,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “The PACT Act of 2022 gives immediate relief to residents who rely on insulin, while creating a system to evaluate and put in place controls on other prescription drugs. This bill includes necessary industry oversight while giving consumers more decision-making power. Today’s actions are the latest example of the Senate leading on this issue, and I am extremely grateful for the attention and thought that went into creating today’s bill by Senator Cindy Friedman, Chair of the Health Care Financing Committee, Senator Michael Rodrigues, Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, and to the rest of my colleagues in the Senate for their strong support.” 

“This legislation moves the Commonwealth one step closer to a system that delivers affordable, high quality, and accessible care for our residents,” said Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington), Senate chair of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing. “The PACT Act 2022 ensures that more consumers can access prescription drugs at a fair price, by capping out-of-pocket insulin costs, providing relief for certain high-cost drugs, improving patient access to medications and pharmacies of their choice, and enhancing transparency and oversight within the pharmaceutical industry. I thank President Spilka, Chair Rodrigues, my colleagues, and the many stakeholders who helped craft this bill, and I am hopeful that this legislation will be signed into law soon.”  

“Today’s passage of the PACT Act 2022 demonstrates the Senate’s commitment to confronting rising prescription drug costs and delivering accessible and affordable health care in the Commonwealth,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “Thank you to Senate President Spilka for her leadership, to Senator Friedman and her team for their hard work and collaboration in crafting this bill, and to my colleagues in the Senate for a thoughtful and thorough debate and for voting to improve patient access and enhance oversight within the pharmaceutical industry.” 

Too often, patients cannot access the medications they need due to high prescription drug prices. The PACT Act 2022 contains enhanced accountability tools to address this and other barriers to care. Currently, Massachusetts cannot effectively identify the drugs that have burdensome costs which prevent patients from being able to afford them. These cost barriers also contribute to unaddressed health issues and often worsen conditions. This legislation directs the Health Policy Commission (HPC), in consultation with stakeholders, to establish a process for identifying drug price thresholds that pose a public health risk. In addition, it allows the HPC to recommend pricing measures to increase patient access to necessary medications. Drug manufacturers that fail to comply with this process will be required to pay a fee that will go into a trust fund for a new drug cost assistance program to support patients with certain chronic health conditions that disproportionately impact marginalized communities. 

In a first for Massachusetts, the legislation offers immediate price relief for insulin—a life-sustaining, daily drug for the one in 10 Massachusetts residents living with diabetes, without which they face substantial health risks and complications. Insulin prices have recently risen sharply, resulting in out-of-pocket costs that can reach $1,000 or more per year for patients in high-deductible plans or who are underinsured. This financial burden often forces patients to engage in the dangerous practice of severely limiting or forgoing the use of insulin.  

To address this problem, the PACT Act 2022 limits out-of-pocket spending on insulin by eliminating deductibles and coinsurance, and permanently capping co-pays at $25 per 30-day supply. If the PACT Act 2022 is signed into law, Massachusetts would join 21 other states that cap co-pays for insulin. An amendment adopted by the Senate also directs the Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA), an independent state agency that provides objective analysis of the Massachusetts health care system, to study the feasibility of requiring access to epinephrine injectors for children free from out-of-pocket costs. 

The bill brings oversight to pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), who play a major role in how drugs are tiered and priced on insurance plans. PBMs serve as brokers or ‘middle-men’ in the drug transaction process and are not currently subjected to rigorous oversight by the state, making it unclear if PBMs act in the best interest of consumers or health plans when they negotiate the price of drugs with pharmaceutical manufacturers. The PACT Act 2022 authorizes the Division of Insurance (DOI) to provide much-needed oversight by licensing and regulating PBMs—and establishing sanctions for PBMs that fail to meet certain standards.  

To ensure that patients pay the lowest possible cost at the pharmacy counter, the PACT Act 2022 builds on federal legislation to ensure that a patient purchasing a prescription drug is not charged a cost-sharing amount, such as a co-pay or deductible, that exceeds the drug’s retail price. 

The bill also takes significant steps toward ensuring that patients can get their prescription drugs from the pharmacy of their choice. This bill will allow any pharmacy the opportunity to become licensed to dispense of specialty medications and contract with insurance plans to provide specialty medications to patients. In addition, this bill provides patients with greater access to mail order prescriptions by allowing any network pharmacy to contract with carriers to provide mail-order prescriptions, changing the current practice in which carriers determine what pharmacies are available to patients for mail order prescriptions. 

“Our HelpLine takes calls from people across the state who can’t afford their medications. Individuals and families in Massachusetts have been struggling for far too long to access and afford the prescriptions they need, and this legislation provides critical financial relief at a pivotal time,” said Amy Rosenthal, Executive Director at Health Care For All. “By passing this bill today, Senators took an important step to rein in excessive drug costs, bringing oversight of pharmaceutical companies and pharmacy benefit managers in line with other health care industries in the state.” 

“As the representative of the largest number of independently owned pharmacies in Massachusetts, we are pleased at the action of the senate today to pass comprehensive legislation to address rising prescription drug costs and patient access to their local pharmacy,” said Todd Brown, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Independent Pharmacist Association. “This legislation is a major step forward in protecting patients from the rising cost of prescription drugs and barriers to care resulting from what has long been a black box of secrets by the Pharmacy Benefits Management (PBM) industry. We are encouraged to see that many of our concerns regarding the unfair practices of PBMs have been incorporated in this bill and support the focus on transparency and accountability which are positive developments for patients and independent pharmacies in Massachusetts.” 

To help control costs further, the PACT Act 2022 requires pharmaceutical manufacturers to notify the state in advance of new drugs coming to market, and of significant price increases for existing drugs. With advanced notification, the state’s MassHealth program can better prepare for potential cost increases by exploring ways to mitigate the cost or negotiating improved prices. In addition, advance notification will enable the HPC to focus on these cost drivers at their Cost Trends Hearings, which are held each year to examine the drivers of health care costs, identify challenges and opportunities for improving care and reducing costs in Massachusetts, increase transparency and accountability for health care providers and insurers, and help the state to meet its annual health care cost growth benchmark  

In addition, pharmaceutical manufacturers and PBMs will be included in the HPC’s annual Cost Trends Hearings for the first time. By participating in the hearings process, manufacturers and PBMs will be required to provide public testimony on the factors that influence drug costs and provide documentation to back up their claims. The HPC will use this information to analyze how pharmaceutical industry costs impact the state’s health care market—and the ultimate cost of health care for Commonwealth residents. 

This bill also empowers CHIA to collect a range of drug cost information from pharmaceutical manufacturers and PBMs to include in its annual health care cost report, which does not currently include comprehensive data on drug costs. Collecting this data will allow policymakers and consumers to better understand the role of pharmaceutical manufacturers in driving costs moving forward.  

An amendment adopted on the floor would direct the Department of Public Health, in consultation with the Attorney General, to analyze the Commonwealth’s code of conduct rules for pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers to ensure that they do not improperly influence prescribing patterns of opioids and other drugs. 

The Senate has been a leader in putting forth policies that address unaffordable drug costs. The HEALTH Act, passed by the Senate in 2017, proposed policies to incorporate pharmaceutical costs into the state’s annual health care cost oversight process and ensure that consumers are offered the lowest available prices at the pharmacy. The Senate also championed the inclusion of provisions in the Fiscal Year 2020 budget to allow MassHealth to directly negotiate supplemental drug rebates to save the state millions of dollars each year. The Senate passed the first iteration of the PACT Act in the 2019-2020 session. The PACT Act 2022 takes several more important steps forward to rein in drug costs and improve patient access throughout the health care system.  

The PACT Act 2022 now moves to the Massachusetts House of Representatives for consideration. 

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(Boston 2/7/2022) This week the Massachusetts Department of Veterans’ Services (DVS) and the Women Veterans’ Network (WVN) announced their launch of a survey for women Veterans in the Commonwealth. The survey is part of a broader study by DVS to develop recommendations to better engage women Veterans and to direct resources in ways that better support women Veterans and their families. Senator John C. Velis secured $500,000 in the FY’22 budget to fund the study and expand outreach to women Veterans in the Commonwealth.  

“I’ve had the honor of training and serving alongside many women in the military.  It’s no secret that they face an entirely different set of challenges than their male counterparts,” stated Senator Velis, a Veteran himself and Major in the US Army Reserve. “Many of the services that our state provides for Veterans were not implemented with women Veterans in mind. Women Veterans have different medical needs, housing needs, and regrettably, often need sexual trauma care.  This study is the first step to making sure they get what they need and that no women Veterans fall between the cracks.” 

The survey is focused on understanding the services that women Veterans in the Commonwealth currently use, and those that could best support their unique circumstances and the issues that impact them. Responses to this survey will help DVS better understand how women Veterans interact with the Department and other service providers. 

The survey and broader study will result in a report submitted by DVS to the Legislature, which will include information on current housing options for women Veterans, the quality and availability of physical, mental, and reproductive healthcare, and recommendations on how to improve women Veterans outreach initiatives. 

Senator Velis, who is also the Senate Chair of the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs, noted that the number of women Veterans is still growing. “By year 2040, it is estimated that women Veterans will make up nearly 40% of our Veteran population in Massachusetts. They are the fastest growing demographic of Veterans, and we must ensure that our Commonwealth is meeting their needs.” 

DVS is seeking as many responses as possible and is asking to share the survey link: https://tinyurl.com/5n6j2ybd with any women Veterans. The survey, which should take approximately 10 minutes, can be done on a computer or mobile device. Those who complete the survey will be eligible to enter a raffle to win one of 20 Dunkin’ gift card, each valued at $20. 

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Hello Everyone, 

Can you believe it is already February? Regardless of Punxsutawney Phil seeing his shadow this week, we are only weeks away from the official start of spring. I, for one, am looking forward to spending more time outdoors, watching some hoops during March Madness, and seeing everyone out and about in the district!  

First off, a big shoutout is in order for our educators and students in the district–there are so many exciting things happening in the 413. On Wednesday, I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to speak to students at Mater Dolorosa Elementary School in Holyoke. The students were decked out in red, white, and blue to show their patriotism, and they were a very engaging group. We discussed being thankful and appreciative for the things that we have in America, as well as ways we can all pitch in to make it even better. 

A few congratulatory notes for some additional students in the district. On Friday, Roberta Doering Middle School in Agawam graduated roughly 140 students from D.A.R.E. This long running program is a great way to educate our youth on the harmful effects of illegal substances and alcohol, and how to prevent violent conflict. On January 28^th, Easthampton High School took home the statewide “We the People” competition. EHS students will go on to represent the state of Massachusetts in our Nation’s capital later this spring. This is a tremendous accomplishment, and I look forward to hearing about their continued success!  

Over the past months, committees in the Legislature have been busy holding hearings to hear testimony on bills before them. This past Tuesday was the deadline for those bills to be reported out and move on to their next stage. The Veterans committee reported out over 100 bills, many with favorable recommendations. Committees are an important step in the legislative process, where bills are considered and tweaked, and I look forward to advancing Veterans bills from our committee across the finish line.  

Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and I was excited to present a citation on Wednesday to New Leash on Life, a pet grooming salon in Westfield that opened their doors this week. I am excited to see some handsome four-legged friends around the city, maybe we’ll even have my Chief of Staff’s puppy come out to Westfield for a haircut! We love our small businesses and I wish New Leash on Life much success in their venture. 

As we enter February, we are also entering Black History Month. I hope we all take some time this month to reflect on Black perspectives and celebrate the incredible achievements and contributions of Black communities that are so often ignored.  

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   

BOSTON – In an effort to create additional infrastructure across the Commonwealth, the Baker-Polito Administration today announced that $13.1 million in grants have been awarded to 54 government and private entities under the Massachusetts Electric Vehicle Incentive Program (MassEVIP) to install 306 Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) electric vehicle charging ports at 150 locations. The MassEVIP DCFC program, administered by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), provides grants covering 100 percent of the eligible cost to acquire and install publicly accessible DCFC electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at government-owned properties and 80 percent at all other locations, up to $50,000 per charging port. 

“Our administration understands the importance of reliable infrastructure supporting the Commonwealths energy future,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Today’s announcement is a step towards the increased deployment of these clean vehicles, which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality and public health, enhance energy diversity and promote economic growth.” 

“This Direct Current Fast Charging incentive program is another example of our administration’s commitment to improving air quality for all,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “This program will support our efforts to grow the clean energy economy, transform the transportation system, and help Massachusetts attain our emissions reduction goals set under the Global Warming Solutions Act.” 

“I am thrilled that Chicopee, Holyoke, Westfield, and West Springfield will be receiving these MassEVIP Fast Charging grants to expand access to electric vehicle charging ports in our communities,” said State Senator John Velis (D-Westfield). “Electric vehicles are one of our best tools to lower our Commonwealth’s emissions and an increasing number of folks in Massachusetts are switching over to these types of cars. These 24 hour, 7 days a week, charging ports will only aid in that growth and I am grateful to the Baker-Polito Administration for their continued investments in this area.” 

The $13.1 million awarded today includes $1.5 million from Massachusetts’ $75 million share of the $2.925 billion Environmental Mitigation Trust established nationally under the 2016 settlement between Volkswagen (VW) and the U.S. Department of Justice, and $11.6 million from the Massachusetts Climate Mitigation Trust. The Massachusetts VW Settlement Beneficiary Mitigation Plan (BMP) committed the Commonwealth to devoting the allowed 15 percent of VW funds to EV charging infrastructure, approximately $11.25 million. MassDEP also offers funding for Level 1 and Level 2 EV charging stations through the Public Access, Workplace and Fleet, and Multi-Unit Dwelling and Educational Campus charging programs. 

“The transportation sector accounts for more than 40 percent of the greenhouse gases emitted in Massachusetts, so the deployment of more electric vehicles is an important step towards helping the Commonwealth’s efforts to achieving our ambitious climate change mitigation goals,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides. “Significantly, this program will also support environmental justice communities with the placement of 94 of the EV charging ports in EJ areas.” 

“I think it’s great that we are increasing the network of chargers so that electric vehicles continue to become more viable in our state,” said State Representative Kelley Pease (R-Westfield). “As we actively take steps to become leaders in clean energy, I think many of these programs will pay off well in the future.” 

To further expand the Commonwealth’s EV readiness, Massachusetts is working on a regional level with the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM) to support the placement of EVs and charging stations throughout the region and to enhance the economic benefits associated with these vehicles. Additionally, some of the grantees plan to combine or leverage MassEVIP funding with make-ready infrastructure funding offered by National Grid and Eversource. 

For more information on the EV charging infrastructure programs administered by MassDEP, please visit the agency’s Volkswagen Diesel Settlements and Environmental Mitigation webpage here. 

MassDEP’s mission is to protect and enhance the Commonwealth’s natural resources – air, water and land – to provide for the health, safety and welfare of all people, and a clean and safe environment for future generations. In carrying out this mission, MassDEP commits to address and advance environmental justice and equity for all people of the Commonwealth, provide meaningful, inclusive opportunities for people to participate in agency decisions that affect their lives and ensure a diverse workforce that reflects the communities served by the agency. 

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Hello everyone, 

Get your shovels, salt, and snowblowers ready, we are in for some snow! Avoid the roads if you can help it, and make sure to give yourselves plenty of breaks while clearing your driveways. Look after your neighbors and lend a hand to those who may need help as the snow piles up. Thank you to our local DPWs and plowing companies that keep our roadways clear and safe.  

A sincere thank you to all who reached out to me this week with birthday wishes. I may be a year older, but I am as energized as ever. Earlier this week the Western Mass Delegation met with our federal partners in Congress, Congressman Richard Neal and Congressman Jim McGovern, to discuss our strategy moving forward in support of a West-East passenger rail system. The communities spanning from West Stockbridge to Worcester deserve access to a passenger rail system that will connect the entire Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Thank you again Congressman Neal and Congressman McGovern for your guidance and leadership here, and a special thanks to Senator Jo Comerford for hosting this conversation. I look forward to continuing working with my partners on the state and federal level on this critical investment to our infrastructure. 

Team Velis also held office hours in Southwick and Westfield this week and thank you to all the constituents who stopped by with questions. My staff will be at the Southwick Senior Center again next Friday 02/04 from 10:00am – 11:00am. Agawam and Russell, you’re next! We will see you the week of February 7^th. 

On Tuesday the Joint Committee on the Judiciary heard testimony on legislation, including H4290 An Act to protect victims of crimes and the public, filed by Governor Baker. The testimony was riveting, emotional, and gripping. I testified on one specific piece of the bill, our state’s Dangerousness Hearing statute, to advocate to update the statute to include other heinous crimes that are currently not included. Following the hearing, I tuned into Governor Baker’s State of the Commonwealth address. I am thankful for the Baker-Polito administration’s leadership and look forward to a productive 2022 across the legislature. 

To round out a busy week I chaired the first meeting of our National Guard Caucus. I am extremely honored to have the opportunity to work with colleagues, advocates, and most importantly, National Guard members themselves on the issues that are most important to them. The men and women of our National Guard are always there when we need them; it is only right that we are here for them when they need us! I look forward to working with caucus members to advance the Guard’s legislative priorities. 

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  

(BOSTON 1/28/2022) Today, Senator John C. Velis and Representative Bruce J. Ayers hosted the first briefing for the National Guard Legislative Caucus after submitting paperwork to the Senate and House Clerks earlier this week to formally establish the caucus.  Representative Ayers and Senator Velis stated that the aim of the caucus is to help advance the Guard’s legislative priorities and support their members.  

“The COVID-19 pandemic has seen a remarkable increase in activations and deployments for the National Guard. As a result, the Guard is the busiest it has been since World War II,” stated Senator Velis, who is also Chairman of the Joint Committee on Veterans & Federal Affairs and a Major in the US Army Reserves. “It is absolutely critical that we—as a Legislature—are doing everything we can to support the Guard as they continue to serve and support us.” 

“I’m honored to be co-chairing the National Guard Caucus alongside my friend Senator Velis,” said Representative Ayers. “In times of challenge, Massachusetts has always been able to rely on the National Guard. They are an integral part of the communities that they serve, and have been involved with countless efforts in their hundreds of years of existence to improve the lives of their fellow residents. When they’re called upon, the Massachusetts National Guard has stepped up to help ensure the smooth operation of important initiatives, providing irreplaceable support during natural disasters, pivotal moments, global pandemics, and everything in between. I’m looking forward to working with my colleagues in the legislature on this bipartisan caucus to support the great work of the Massachusetts National Guard.” 

Activations for the National Guard continue to grow due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Guardsmen have been deployed to assist state and local officials with COVID-19 testing and vaccines, school transportation, and other public safety efforts. Guardsmen were also activated and deployed to the Capitol in Washington D.C. in January of 2021. In total, the National Guard has activated 8,1888 members since the beginning of the pandemic. 

“We truly appreciate the support to the Massachusetts National Guard from the State Legislature while they have performed missions federally and across the Commonwealth. This has been an unprecedented time for us all, this includes the Massachusetts National Guard,” stated Colonel Jason Oberton, Director of Strategic Plans and Policy in the Office of the Adjutant General. “Since we were first called out in March of 2020, the Massachusetts National Guard has activated over 8,188 Service Members supporting many types of missions. Service Members from across all communities in the Commonwealth have stepped up and volunteered to support their neighbors, their communities, and the Commonwealth. It is what they have signed up to do, and your support through your legislative efforts provides them benefits to support their family, their careers, and their retention in the Nation’s First.”  

“As a first time Representative I am honored to be a part of the Massachusetts Legislative National Guard Caucus,” stated Representative Meghan Kilcoyne. “For the last ten years I had the opportunity to work with the National Guard on a number of issues. The pandemic has called on the National Guard to fill in at local hospitals, vaccine clinics, prisons, and many other efforts to protect the people of the Commonwealth, and it is my hope that this caucus can better assist the men and women of the National Guard.” 

The Legislators noted that Guard faces their own distinct challenges and circumstances and stressed that it is important for the Legislature to take that into account.  

“A lot of times, people conflate the National Guard with active-duty military members or Veterans. There is this idea that when we pass legislation for one of these groups, it applies to the Guard as well, but that isn’t always the case,” stated Senator Velis. “It is my hope that this caucus will help the Legislature better understand the Guard’s unique issues so that we can work to support them.” 

The virtual briefing today focused on the current status and initiatives of the Guard, as well as priority legislation. Over 30 legislative offices joined the briefing and participated. Representative Ayers and Senator Velis stated that all legislators are welcome to join the caucus and they hope to hold similar future briefings in-person at National Guard installations across the Commonwealth.  

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I hope you are doing well and staying warm! We are registering some of the lowest temperatures of the winter, so please bundle up and check in on those in need. In addition, reaching out to those who may be isolating due to COVID-19 concerns is especially important this time of year.

I’d like to provide a few updates on both the personal and professional fronts. On Tuesday, my wife Emily and I welcomed our son, Carson James Velis, to the world. We are very grateful to the staff at Baystate Medical Center who helped deliver a happy and healthy baby. The amount of love and support we’ve received from the community is tremendous, and we cannot thank everyone enough. I join many of you in hoping that we will one day see Carson in a Westfield Bombers uniform!

On Monday I chaired the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs hearing. As always, I appreciated everyone’s participation and thoughts on legislation before the committee. In addition, I attended a legislative briefing from the Holyoke Soldier’s Home Coalition. I look forward to continuing to work towards the reform that we need to make the commonwealth’s Soldiers’ Homes the best they can be.

While the hearing and briefing were taking place, my team held office hours in Chicopee at the RiverMills Center. Keep any eye out for my staff as they make their rounds across the district! Our next office hours are currently scheduled for Monday, Jan. 24, from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Southwick Senior Center, and from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the Westfield Senior Center.

Later in the week, my staff met with colleagues in pursuit of the formation of a National Guard caucus. The Guard has seen an enormous increase in activations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and I feel strongly that we must do more to ensure that the Legislature is supporting them. I look forward to chairing the caucus with my good friend Representative Ayers and ensuring that our National Guard servicemembers’ interests and needs are being represented.

This upcoming Monday, Jan. 17, the commonwealth will observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Martin Luther King Jr. Day was first observed as a federal holiday in the United States 35 years ago. As we honor his memory this weekend, please take time to reflect on his extraordinary contributions to the civil rights movement. His pursuit of a better world for all its citizens is an effort that is still ongoing today, and we can all make a difference throughout 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.

Sincerely,

John C. Velis

Hello Everyone, 

I hope you all had a great week and are still staying strong with your New Year’s resolutions! 

This week the federal government launched a website to order four free COVID-19 test kits per household, (covidtests.gov). They have also established a phone line, 1-800-232-0233, for assistance ordering these tests over the phone. In addition, insurers are now required to pay for 8 at-home tests per person per month. Consumers with private health coverage can buy a test online/in a store and get reimbursed by filing a claim with their insurance. Be sure to save the receipt! Please take advantage of these resources as we continue to combat COVID-19 and the Omicron variant.  

While my son, Carson, now dictates much of my current sleep schedule, it was a still busy week for Team Velis. On Tuesday I met with Dr. John Kelly, Director of the MGH Recovery Research Institute, to discuss challenges faced by individuals in recovery and the new advancements that Dr. Kelly and his team are pursuing. Later on, my staff met with Mayor McCabe and other community members to discuss several topics, including the traffic issue at Mass Pike exit 41. Nobody likes to sit in traffic, including me, and I look forward to working with Mayor McCabe and Westfield City Officials on this issue. 

On Thursday I attended a call with leadership from hospitals across Western Massachusetts. These leaders continue to provide valuable insight into the challenges that our healthcare system face regarding COVID-19. I will continue to communicate with them to ensure that they are receiving the support they need to care for the residents of our communities. Also on Thursday, my staff was in attendance for a meeting between Mayor Joshua Garcia of Holyoke and the Holyoke Taxpayers Association. Mayor Garcia filled us in on his transition to leadership in Holyoke, as well as his vision for the future of the city. He shared some very exciting details on his plans to make sure the city government runs cohesively and efficiently, for his term and beyond.  

This week the Baker-Polito Administration announced grant funding for 306 Massachusetts fire departments from the FY22 Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant Program. I am thrilled to see several departments in the Second Hampden and Hampshire District allocated funds as part of this program. These funds will help keep our firefighters safe, in turn making our communities safer. Our thanks to the Baker-Polito Administration, and our first responders. On the note of firefighting, this Friday my office presented citations to two retirees from the Easthampton Fire Department, David Mottor and Wayne Hennemman. I want to thank both for their commitment to keeping Easthampton and the surrounding communities safe.  

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

Hello everyone,  

I hope you are all doing well and were able to manage the snow and icy roads we dealt with this past week. I want to give a special shoutout to our municipal Department of Works employees who were busy responding to road conditions.  

As we all know, the Omicron variant is spreading rapidly through our community and Commonwealth. I know how frustrating this pandemic can be, but we will get through this difficult time. Vaccines, and especially boosters, are extremely effective against the variant and I encourage anyone who is not vaccinated to find vaccine locations at vaxfinder.mass.gov. Testing is also critically important if you have symptoms or a known exposure to COVID-19. I have heard from many about the difficulty in finding testing and will continue to push for more resources from the state however I can. You can find testing sites at mass.gov/covid-19-testing and at-home tests at many pharmacies near you.  

I want to congratulate Mayor McCabe, Mayor Garcia, Mayor Sapelli, Mayor Vieau, Mayor LaChapelle, and all our City Councilors and School Committee members who were sworn in this week across our district. While I would’ve loved to attend all the inauguration events taking place, it was great to be able to join the ceremonies in Easthampton and Agawam and I look forward to working alongside all our local officials in the new year.  

Last Tuesday I recorded the second episode of my new local cable TV show, “From Beacon Hill to the 413”. I was glad to have Representative Pease join me on the show to discuss the American Rescue Plan Act, Veteran’s legislation, and the importance of bipartisanship. Keep an eye out on your local cable channels for the show or head to my website to find the recording.  

Legislatively, this week had a strong focus on Veteran’s affairs. On Wednesday I met with the Mass Military Task Force to update them on the status of the SPEED Act, a bill I filed to support military families that was passed this fall by the Senate. On Thursday I met with some of my Western Mass colleagues to discuss legislation related to reforming the governance structure at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home. In addition to the new facility being constructed, it’s critical that we implement oversight reforms for the Home that will support our Veterans. This past Friday I chaired the Joint Committee on Veterans & Federal Affairs public hearing. With the deadline for reporting out bills from committees coming up, it’s important that we hold these hearings to hear testimony on the bills left before the committee. We had over sixty residents testify, and it was great to hear their perspective.  

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