Category: Uncategorized

(BOSTON 11/12/2021) After debating more than 700 amendments, the Massachusetts State Senate passed its American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) spending bill late Wednesday night. Senator John C. Velis (D-Westfield) filed nearly 30 amendments of his own, 23 of which were adopted. By the end of the debate, Senator Velis had secured $2,000,000 for the expansion of the Treehouse Foundation, $500,000 for Veterans’ Treatment Courts, and $1,000,000 for municipalities and community organizations throughout the Second Hampden and Hampshire District.  

Founded in 2002, the Treehouse Foundation creates affordable housing and provides wraparound community supports for families adopting children from foster care, for transition age youth, and for low-income older adults. Treehouse Easthampton, their first intergenerational community, is home to approximately 125 community members, ranging in age from newborn to 93 years. The funding secured by Senator Velis would allow the Treehouse Foundation to establish two additional outcome-based, multi-cultural Treehouse communities in Massachusetts.  

“As we all know, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have been felt the hardest by our most vulnerable populations. This is especially true for foster children, working families, and senior citizens,” said Senator Velis, who is Vice-Chair of the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities. “The Treehouse foundation has been a constant support for these groups before and throughout the pandemic and we must continue to invest in these innovative affordable housing and family-oriented living programs that benefit our communities as a whole.” 

While the national high school graduation average for foster youth is 58%, Treehouse youth have a 95% high school graduation rate and a 100% rate of attending college or vocational training. Senator Velis noted from his visits to Treehouse Easthampton that the program also allows working parents, especially women and people of color, to engage in the workforce because they have dependable childcare. Similarly, Treehouse older adults benefit from these affordable community housing options, reporting higher overall health and quality of life.  

In addition to his amendments for the Treehouse Foundation and Veterans Treatment Courts, Senator Velis secured $1,000,000 in earmarks for 20 different local community priorities and projects in his district. This includes funding for chambers of commerce, senior centers, food pantries, college workforce development programs, and infrastructure improvements throughout the 11 communities he represents.  

“These one-time federal funds are going to be absolutely critical for our Commonwealth and I am proud that I was able to secure funding to support these important organizations across our district,” said Senator Velis. “It is my job as Senator to ensure my communities are getting their fair share of this money and I am glad that my team and I could get these amendments across the finish line.” 

The Senate and House of Representatives will now meet in conference committee to reconcile their differences in ARPA spending bills.  

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Hello Everyone,  

I hope you are all doing well and were able to take some time this week to observe and reflect on Veterans Day. This time of year, we are all reminded of the importance of recognizing those who serve our nation, and I am deeply inspired by how our communities came together today to do just that. 

I began Veterans Day by joining Agawam and West Springfield residents for a sunrise wreath laying ceremony at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge. I then drove over to Holyoke to join city officials and residents for a mid-morning ceremony at the Holyoke War Memorial building. Right after, I drove back to Westfield for our annual ceremony at Parker Park (shout-out to Julie Barnes and Westfield Veterans Services for organizing). I then drove back to Agawam for a ceremony at the Massachusetts Veterans Cemetery. Among all the great community events though, the highlight of my day was delivering over 1,500 letters from students throughout my district to residents at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home. This is the second year my office has organized this initiative and I am so grateful to all the schools from Southwick, Westfield, Southampton, and beyond that participated. These letters mean the world to the residents and show just how reflective and thoughtful our students are. 

As busy as Thursday was, the day before was just as crazy as the Senate took up and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding bill. These one-time funds from the federal government are critical for our Commonwealth’s economic recovery and infrastructure. Some of the highlights include $500 million for essential frontline workers, $500 million for the unemployment insurance trust fund to provide relief to small businesses, $600 million for supportive housing and public housing authorities, and $400 million to support the behavioral health sector, an investment that is expected to help recruit and retain nearly 2,000 mental health professionals. 

I was proud that several of my amendments for Veterans, the Treehouse Foundation, and local organizations throughout my district were adopted during the Senate’s debate as well. For Veterans I was able to secure $500,000 for transportation for our Commonwealth’s Veteran Treatment Courts, an incredible program that helps so many Veterans facing PTSD, mental health challenges, or substance use issues. I was able to secure $2,000,000 for the Treehouse foundation to expand their work for foster children, working families, and low-income senior residents across the Commonwealth. For local organizations, I was able to secure $1,000,000 in local earmarks for infrastructure improvements, senior centers, chambers of commerce, and other groups throughout our district. In addition, and in recognition of Veterans Day, I filed an amendment to extend our Commonwealth’s Medal of Liberty to military members who have died as a result of training accidents. Many of you will remember Air Force Lt. Col. Morris “Moose” Fontenot Jr., a Longmeadow resident who died after his F-15C jet crashed on a routine flight from Barnes Air National Guard Base to New Orleans in 2014.  This amendment would ensure that military members like Fontenot are eligible for the Medal of Liberty and that we are properly recognizing these individual’s service. I was glad to see the amendment adopted in the bill before Thursday’s final vote.  

The rest of my week was mostly spent in the district. On Monday Representative Duffy and I hosted the Gateway Cities Legislative Caucus in Holyoke for a luncheon and walking tour of businesses in Holyoke. The Caucus focuses on supporting the unique needs of Gateway Cities like Westfield and Holyoke and I was glad we could host my colleagues here in Western Mass. 

On Friday I joined Western Mass colleagues for a tour of Riverside Industries in Easthampton, a phenomenal organization that works alongside individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to help them secure employment. I then joined Baystate Health for a virtual Veterans Day ceremony for employees and community members. I wrapped up my day at the ribbon cutting of LaFlamme’s Auto & Truck Service, Inc. On Fairfield Avenue in Westfield. It’s always great to see new businesses opening and I wish them the best of luck! 

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 November! If you haven’t yet read up on the turkey shortage that’s happening this year, you may want to! It’s always good to prepare and make plans early.

This week was filled with ribbon cuttings! On Monday I attended the opening of Salon Sage+ in Southwick, and on Thursday I participated in Real Living Realty Professional’s opening in Agawam, and also attended the ribbon cutting of Holyoke Community College Homestead Market! The market will be the first convenience store at any community college in Massachusetts to accept federal SNAP benefits to combat the food insecurity that so many college students across the commonwealth continue to face.

On Monday, state Rep. Dan Sena and I hosted a legislative briefing on H700/SD2559, An Act Establishing an Elementary and Secondary School Robotics Grant Program. Robotics programs teach students so many valuable skills that prepare them for college STEM programs and our evolving workforce. Unfortunately, many schools are not able to offer these programs due to financial limitations. This bill aims to increase robotics and STEM participation in public and charter schools, specifically prioritizing schools in Western Mass. and ones without an existing robotics program.

I wanted to wish my sincerest congratulations to Mayor-elect Mike McCabe, Mayor-elect Joshua A. Garcia, Mayor Nicole LaChapelle, and Mayor William Sapelli on their election victories on Tuesday. I look forward to working alongside them all to represent and advocate for our cities. It’s been an absolute pleasure to work alongside Mayor Don Humason and Mayor Murphy and their dedication and service to our communities will be remembered for years to come.

On Thursday, I was joined by Holyoke city officials at the Veterans’ Memorial Park to present $50,000 in FY ’22 state funding for the restoration of the Lady Liberty statue. The statue is a memorial to the 55 young men from Holyoke who died fighting in the Civil War, and I was proud I could secure the funding in the budget debate last spring.

On Friday, my office held office hours at Southwick’s Council on Aging. Thank you to everyone that participated. If you didn’t get a chance to come by, I’d like to extend the invitation to my next office hours, which will be held in Chicopee on Monday, Nov. 8, at the River Mills Senior Center. Please feel free to drop by or call 617-722-1415 to make an appointment. Later in the afternoon, I organized a local farm tour for myself, Reps. Pease, Sabadosa, Duffy, and Boldyga to discuss challenges farmers in our communities face. Joining us were members of American Farmland Trust, Holyoke Food and Equity Collective, and Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA). We visited E. Cecchi Farm in Feeding Hills, Fletcher Farms in Southampton, and Glendale Ridge Vineyard in Southampton. Farms are such an important part of our local economy and community, and we must do everything in our power to support them

Next week the Senate will be busy debating and working on the American Rescue Plan Act funding. My office has been busy meeting with local communities and organizations to hear their needs, and I look forward to advocating on the Senate floor for our district to get our fair share of this one-time funding. Engage with our social media accounts or look forward to next week’s update to learn about the proposed details of this funding.

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 john.velis@masenate.gov or 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 Halloween everyone! 

I hope you’re all doing well and that you stayed safe during the storms this past week. I want to thank all the public works employees, first responders, and municipal officials who have been working so diligently this week to keep our power on and roads safe.  

Important: All eligible MA residents can access COVID-19 vaccine booster shots in accordance with updated guidance from the CDC. Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson booster are available near you. Learn more and check on your eligibility status at mass.gov/covid-19-vaccine 

One of my highlights of this week was–without a doubt–reading “House Mouse and Senate Mouse” by Peter Barnes aloud with Mrs. Ward’s 4th grade class at Southampton Road Elementary School in Westfield. It was a pleasure to meet some of the future leaders of our community. I then switched age groups Monday afternoon for a meeting with MassDOT Aeronautics about Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems (CounterUAS). For anyone that may not know, CounterUAS refers to systems that are used to detect and/or intercept unmanned aircraft systems while in flight. I have my own experience with UAS from my time in Afghanistan and know how important it is that we develop strong systems to monitor and patrol their usage. I’m looking forward to strengthening my relationship with MassDOT and working on this issue as Chair of the Aviation Caucus. 

The Senate’s formal session to finalize redistricting for new districts filled my Wednesday. The reality is that populations in our Commonwealth shifted east over the last 10 years. As a result, districts in Western Massachusetts, including mine, now must shift east as well to gain enough population. It has been a true honor to represent Southwick, Tolland, and Granville. I have formed strong and meaningful relationships with so many local officials and residents over my time as Senator, and I will continue to zealously advocate for these communities however I can until the end of this session. By moving east, my district will be adding West Springfield, a community I have great personal and professional connections to. I am excited for the opportunity to represent the town and learn from residents about the challenges they face and how I can best support them. 

On Thursday I joined Senator Gomez and Senator Lesser’s team in Chicopee to celebrate the ribbon cutting of the new mobile food pantry at Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen and Pantry! The mobile food pantry will plan to have 12-16 stops in Chicopee per month and is made possible from a generous donation from Theory Wellness. Food insecurity in our communities has only grown during the pandemic and initiatives like this will help our food pantries meet people struggling where they are at.  

I began Friday morning joining Mike Tourville, author of “Voices from The Fallen: True stories of Addiction, Grief, Recovery, and Courage” on his podcast, “Healing Voices Project” to discuss substance use in our communities as well as legislative initiatives to combat the epidemic and support those struggling. Later in the day I had a call with Mike Tyron of Western Mass Emergency Medical Services to talk about EMS services in our region and to listen to the needs of our EMS workers. Finally, I joined the Holyoke Chamber of Commerce and the Western Massachusetts Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to discuss supports for Holyoke businesses and the individuals in our community that make them run. 

This week the Massachusetts School Building Authority voted in favor of the Franklin Avenue Elementary School project and moved it into the next phase! This is extremely exciting for Westfield, and I was glad to advocate alongside Representative Pease and city officials during the MSBA’s meeting this week.  

Our county has been filled will spooky events over the past couple of days like Chicopee’s Spooktacular and Holyoke Community College’s Trunk or Treat. In addition West Springfield Park & Recreation Department is hosting a Trick or Treat trail today, and Westfield hosted it’s 28th annual Downtown Merchants Trick or Treating this Friday. Be sure to run to the store and fill up on a good assortment of candy for all our trick or treaters, and for those with trick or treaters of their own, bundle them up! 

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 

I hope you’re all doing well and have been able to enjoy some of the nice weather we had this week. This was an especially busy and exciting week in the Legislature as my bill, An Act relative to military spouse-licensure portability, education and enrollment of dependents, unanimously passed the Senate on Thursday afternoon. Otherwise known as the SPEED Act, the bill supports military families who relocate to the Commonwealth and I was proud to speak on the Senate floor and see it pass.  

Massachusetts has always been a leader in terms of caring for active service members and Veterans, but I strongly believe we need to do more for the families of service members who also call Massachusetts home. Military families move an average of 6-9 times throughout their service member’s career and this uprooting can lead to academic gaps for children and periods of time for spouses where they are without a source of income. 

The SPEED Act speeds up the professional licensure process for military spouses to ensure they can continue their careers, allows for advanced and virtual enrollment for military children to resolve disruptions in education, provides in-state tuition continuity for military-connected college students, and establishes a Purple Star Campus designation to identify public schools that show a major commitment to military families. 

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. This bill is our Commonwealth taking care of our thousands of military families and I am grateful to all my colleagues for supporting it. Now the bill will go to the House of Representatives for their consideration.  

Although the SPEED Act kept me busy in Boston this week, I still had a number of events in the district as well. On Tuesday I joined Local 104 for the exciting ribbon cutting of their new state-of-the-art training facility, Union Hall, on Westfield Road in Holyoke! Back in 2018, the union ran out of space in Chicopee to accommodate the amount of new interest in trades. The new building in Holyoke has a training facility for hands-on indoor instruction, welding shops, and classrooms for the evening apprenticeship program available for individuals who work during the day. Expanding trade and skills programs in our region is so important and it was great to be a part of this exciting ribbon cutting.  

I began Wednesday morning at the West of the River Chamber of Commerce’s legislative breakfast. It was great to see businesses from throughout Agawam and West Springfield in attendance and share updates about the Legislature’s work to support small businesses. This wasn’t my only Chamber meeting of the week, as I also joined the Westfield Chamber of Commerce on Friday for a great event at the Tekoa Country Club. Our region’s Chambers do a tremendous job of advocating for the businesses they represent and it is a priority of mine to stay connected and continue to work alongside them.  

Today is ARToberFEST in downtown Westfield! From 10am to 5pm, you can explore downtown Westfield and emerge yourself in FREE community art and cultural experiences. Presented by ArtWorks Westfield, this event has dozens of artists along Elm Street, over 20 authors and writers on the Green, and performance dance and music all around. I encourage you all to check the event out! 

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 – 10/21/2021) The Massachusetts Senate on Thursday passed An Act relative to military spouse-licensure portability, education and enrollment of dependents, or SPEED Act, to support military families who relocate to the Commonwealth by providing career stability for the spouses of service members and quality education for their children.

“Supporting our brave service members who call Massachusetts home means lifting up the families who stand behind them,” stated Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “This bill would eliminate barriers which make it difficult for military spouses to gain employment despite holding a valid license or certificate, and would also strengthen educational supports for the children of service members who relocate to the Commonwealth. I want to thank Senator Velis and his staff for their hard work on this bill, my colleagues in the Senate for their support and military families across Massachusetts for their contributions to our Commonwealth and sacrifices for our country.”

“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,” said Senator John C. Velis (D-Westfield), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs. “By passing this legislation, we are saying to these families that we understand their challenges, that we recognize the great sacrifices that they have made, and that we are committed to doing everything we can to support them. I am grateful to the Senate President and Chairman Rodrigues for their leadership and understanding of the challenges military families face, and to all my colleagues for supporting this important legislation.”

The legislation would speed up the professional licensure process for military spouses to ensure they can continue their careers, allow for advanced and virtual enrollment for military children to resolve disruptions in education, provide in-state tuition continuity for military-connected college students, and establish a Purple Star Campus designation to identify public schools that show a major commitment to military families.

The SPEED Act would also help Massachusetts meet criteria used by the Department of Defense and military officials when considering basing assignments and federal investments for military installations.

On average, military members receive new orders to relocate every 24-36 months. This uprooting not only affects the service member, but it also affects their entire family as well. Military spouses and children move an average of six to nine times over the course of their service member’s career. About 185,000 military children move between schools annually and miss important registration and application periods. As a result, they may have to shift their planned course of study, take courses during summer school, or even be forced to graduate later. In addition, military-connected students also face social and emotional challenges that include leaving supportive friends and activities to start over at a new school.

Frequent moving pushes many military spouses to seek out portable professions, which often require a state-issued license. The current lengthy process of reapplying for licensing can lead military families to lose a second source of income and push many service members to considering leaving the military.

Components of the SPEED Act include:

Military Spouse-Licensure Portability

• Under this legislation, the Department of Occupational Licensure and Massachusetts Boards of Registration must accept a spouse’s application for licensure or notify of them of what criteria they did not meet within 30 days of applying, a timeframe recommended by the Department of Defense.
• The SPEED Act would codify this requirement into law.

Expedited Military Spouse Teacher Licenses

• Teachers are the most prevalent profession among military spouses.
• The SPEED Act will require the Commissioner of Education to issue military spouses teaching certificates if the spouse meets certain requirements, such as holding a valid teaching license from another state.

Advanced and Virtual Enrollment for Military Children

• The SPEED Act would waive proof of residency requirements and allow military families to register and enroll when their service member first receives relocation orders.
• Military children who are transferring mid-semester would be allowed to enroll in and attend one of the Commonwealth’s virtual schools to ensure there is no disruption in their education.

Purple Star Campus Designation

• The Purple Star Campus Program, administered by the Department of Education, would identify public schools that show a major commitment to students and families connected to our nation’s military.
• To receive the designation, schools would have to meet a number of different criteria, including designating school staff as a point of contact for military students and families, designating a page on its website with resources for military families, and maintaining a transition program for military students.
• The Purple Star School Program not only encourages schools and districts to increase their supports for military families, but it also helps families identify schools that are best prepared to meet their needs.

In-State Tuition Continuity for Military-Connected College Students

• Currently, a child or spouse of an active-duty service member in Massachusetts can lose in-state tuition eligibility if the military sponsor is assigned to move out of the state.
• The SPEED Act, through passage of an amendment during debate, would also ensure that a military-connected student receiving a letter of acceptance shall be deemed an in-state resident for purposes of determining tuition and fees

The bill now goes to the Massachusetts House of Representatives for consideration.

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October is upon us! I hope you all have a wonderful long weekend with your dear ones, enjoy it to the fullest.

I began this past week by meeting on Monday with Rep. Duffy and CEO Jay Breines of the Holyoke Health Center to discuss how the center is operating. The bulk of my day, though, focused on a hearing with the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery on bills related to parity and equity for people who use substances. I’m honored to be working as vice chair of the committee, and have been meeting with many addiction experts, medical professionals, and individuals impacted by substance use to help inform my work. Later in the afternoon, I had a call with Mike Tourville, the local author of “Voices from the Fallen: True Stories of Addiction, Grief, Recovery and Courage.” The book will take you on an intimate journey inside the lives of people who have experienced addiction, relapse, and recovery.

In honor of Hispanic Heritage month, educators across the commonwealth are begin recognized by Latinos for Education, a group focused on recognizing the contributions that teachers make the lives of Latino students and families throughout the commonwealth. Amy Piedra, an incredible teacher who has worked in the Holyoke Public Schools system for over 20 years, is among those being recognized. I was thrilled to visit her alongside Rep. Duffy on Tuesday in Holyoke to present her with a Senate citation and thank her for all she has done for students in our communities.

Wednesday was another busy day, as I was joined by the secretary of Housing and Economic Development, Mike Kennealy, and Undersecretary Jennifer Maddox, for an affordable housing tour in Holyoke. We toured the Appleton Mills, Lyman Terrace and the South Holyoke Project that have been made possible by a partnership between the state and the Holyoke Housing Authority. In a similar vein, I joined state and city officials in Easthampton on Friday to look at possible Mass Housing Development sites there as well. It’s so important we continue to expand affordable housing in our communities, and I was grateful to be a part of both of these events.

On Friday, I also joined the Massachusetts Association of Dairy Farmers for their annual picnic at Rockwood Farms in Granville! The importance of our country’s farmers goes far beyond making sure there’s food on the table, and I was glad to stop by and talk to farmers from throughout our district. I wrapped up my Friday with a legislative dinner with fire chiefs from throughout Hampshire County to discuss the issues they face and their needs from our communities.

If you’ve been craving a sweet treat lately, Chrissy G’s bakery on Elm Street in Westfield officially opens today! I’m looking forward to the ribbon cutting and I encourage you all to check out the bakery soon. At night, Westfield’s annual fireworks celebration will be held at the Westfield South Middle School field. As many of you know, Westfield was unable to offer this celebration of community and country the past two years as the coronavirus impacted planning and limited gatherings. I’m thankful we’ve surpassed this as a community and now have a full calendar of events through October!

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 you’re all doing well. It’s hard to believe we’re already halfway through October…Halloween is just around the corner! 

I began the week with a hearing for the Joint Committee of the Judiciary. I am a Committee member, but also testified during this hearing on my bill, S1153, An Act to safely reduce the use of cash bail. We all understand the issues associated with cash bail in our Commonwealth’s judicial system. As we work towards moving our Commonwealth away from reliance on cash bail though, we must ensure that we are doing so in a safe way. By updating the list of “dangerousness-eligible” crimes, making it a penalty to break court conditions, and empowering police to monitor court conditions, this bill will allow our court system to reduce the use of cash bail while ensuring that dangerous individuals remain in jail. I am looking forward to working with committee members on this legislation as it moves forward. 

On Tuesday, I met with Westfield’s Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski and local officials to discuss the new elementary school that the City is looking to build and possible funding from the Massachusetts School Building Authority. It was a great conversation and I look forward to working with local officials as we move this project forward.  

I began my Wednesday morning in Westfield for the grand opening of the Building Futures Child Care Expansion at the Greater Westfield Boys & Girls Club. This expansion will increase programming spots for so many children and families and is a result of a strong collaboration between state, local, and community partners. Later on in the day, I joined some of my Western Mass colleagues for a meeting with the Connecticut River Cleanup Committee and local water department officials. It is critical that our sewer and water systems function properly and we discussed how ARPA funding may be helpful. 

On Friday I joined Holyoke City officials and community members to celebrate the beginning of construction of South Holyoke Homes, a 12-unit affordable housing building on South East Street that has been made possible with funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. It is so important that we continue to develop affordable housing units for our communities and I was glad to attend the event. Later in the day, I had a virtual meeting with the TreeHouse Foundation in Easthampton, a community organization that works to support foster and adopted children throughout our entire region. I visited the organization over the summer and know how invaluable the youth programs are first hand. I look forward to supporting their mission and work.  

Today is Doors Open Holyoke! This is a rare opportunity to discover architectural and cultural gems in Holyoke and see behind doors that are rarely open to the public, all for FREE. I am thrilled to be partnering with Representative Duffy to sponsor free rides on Holyoke’s historic Merry-Go-Round from 2-4PM, one of many events taking place. Check out www.doorsopenholyoke.com for a full list of activities.  

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 10/6/2021) On Wednesday, October 6^th, the Massachusetts State Senate unanimously adopted an amendment put forward by Senator John Velis (D-Westfield) that ensures a streamlined absentee voting process for Massachusetts residents who are serving in our armed forces overseas. The amendment was adopted during the Senate’s debate on S2545, An Act fostering voter opportunities, trust, equity and security. 

Senator Velis, who chairs the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs, noted in his speech that he himself voted from overseas during the 2018 mid-term elections when he was stationed in Afghanistan. He stated that the current process is cumbersome and overly complex.  

“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,” stated Senator Velis. “The right to vote is a fundamental right, but overseas service members are burdened by many logistical and operational obstacles that impact their right to vote.” 

The current process for a military member overseas who wants to vote starts with an absentee application to their local clerk. Then, depending on the type of election, their 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 printers, scanners, and fax machines are not always available to military  members. Many times, service-members do not have functioning printers at their installations, or are out on missions that take them away from their installations all together. 

This process also puts an additional toll on local clerks and election officials who must communicate and work with each individual military member overseas during an already incredibly busy time. Copying over the names and votes of military members adds another step to the elongated process and restricts a service-members’ privacy while voting. 

Senator Velis’ amendment will allow service members overseas to vote through a secure online portal. Fifteen states in the United States already allow online voting portals or mobile applications as a way for overseas service members. 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—have an obligation 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. “Anything that we can do to make that voting process for our service-members overseas more efficient and more timely, we need to do. At the most fundamental level, this amendment is about making it easier to vote for those who have given us our right to vote.” 

The amendment is part of the final language of S2545. The bill will now go to the House of Representatives for their consideration.  

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Happy October Everyone!

It was great to see so many of you at the Big E this week. I’m sure plenty of you, just like me, very much missed the exposition last year. While my heart was happy to be back, my stomach might have had a little too much between the waffle burgers and the maple bacon mac and cheese (both of which I still highly recommend if you go this weekend). I was honored to be invited to both the Agawam Day and Westfield Day, and am already looking forward to next year’s fair.

This week was jam-packed with committee work and hearings, as well. Monday, I chaired a hearing with the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Recovery, where we heard testimony related to harm reduction and racial justice legislation. Tuesday was a hearing with the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight. Wednesday morning brought with it a hearing for the Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities, which I am the vice chair of. Later on Wednesday, I also chaired a hearing with the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs, where we discussed potential reforms for the governance and organizational structure of the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home. Now that the funding for a new physical building has been secured, our focus in the Legislature is on other reforms that must be implemented for the Soldiers’ Home. Much of this work will go through the Veterans and Federal Affairs committee. Fall is typically a very busy time for committee work and we are in full swing over here at the State House.

Westfield also welcomed two new businesses this week! I had the pleasure of attending the ribbon cuttings for Heka Inc., a new cannabis dispensary, and First Choice Storage, a new storage business. I wish the best to both of these enterprises and I’m proud to see that new businesses are opening in our city as we move out of the pandemic.

Now that Halloween is just around the corner, the Old Burying Ground has started one of Westfield’s spookier New England traditions, its haunted cemetery tours. Another event that was sadly canceled last year due to COVID-19 is finally back and I am happy to actually play a part this year. I will be playing the role of Ezra Clapp, a man who built a home that was used as a tavern and meeting place for Westfield patriots during the Revolutionary War. It is said that the famous Gen. Henry Knox stayed in this tavern while hauling the captured English cannons from Fort Ticonderoga, N.Y., all the way to George Washington in Cambridge in 1776. If you’re looking for something spooky and educational to do with the family, the tours are this weekend only and tickets can be purchased for $10.

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