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Final bill strengthened with amendments aimed at addressing crisis hotline, suicide prevention and mental health care access for people who are incarcerated

(BOSTON – 11/17/2021) Today, the Massachusetts Senate passed the Mental Health ABC Act 2.0: Addressing Barriers to Care (ABC), comprehensive legislation to continue the process of reforming the way mental health care is delivered in Massachusetts, with the goal of ensuring that people get the mental health care they need when they need it. This legislation comes at a time when the Massachusetts State Senate is making landmark investments in mental and behavioral health, including $400 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to transform the behavioral health sector, with $122 million dedicated to recruiting and retaining nearly 2,000 behavioral professionals. 

The Mental Health ABC Act 2.0 is driven by the recognition that mental health is as important as physical health for every resident of the Commonwealth and should be treated as such. The bill proposes a wide variety of reforms to ensure equitable access to mental health care and remove barriers to care by supporting the behavioral health workforce.  

“Across the Commonwealth, we have heard loud and clear that access to quality mental health care is on the minds of our residents, and I am proud and humbled to help move the state closer to that goal,” stated Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “By working on this collaborative effort to reform the way we deliver mental and behavioral healthcare in Massachusetts, we truly have the opportunity to help many individuals, families and communities. The COVID-19 pandemic that we are all in this together, and that we are stronger than the sum of our parts if we take care of each other. This is true in healthcare and public health, and it is certainly true when it comes to mental health. I am so grateful for the many conversations and shared stories that have gotten us to this point, to Senators Cyr, Friedman and Rodrigues who helped to advance this groundbreaking bill, and to the many advocates who have amplified and sustained these efforts.” 

“Today, the Massachusetts Senate took vital strides toward transforming mental health care in Massachusetts,” said Senator Julian Cyr (D-Truro), co-chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery. “By unanimously passing the Mental Health ABC Act 2.0, we affirm that mental health is just as essential as physical health and take a leap forward to ensure that all people in Massachusetts can access the mental health care they need and deserve. I am deeply grateful to Senate President Karen Spilka for her leadership and example, and to Senators Friedman and Rodrigues for their partnership in the most urgent endeavor.” 

“Massachusetts’ health care system should deliver affordable, high quality, and accessible care to all of our residents—including mental health care,” said Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington), co-chair of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing. “This bill recognizes that mental health care is just as important, valuable, and worthy of treatment as physical health care, and begins to tackle our most pressing issues, such as expanding services to all corners of the Commonwealth, enforcing existing parity laws, and addressing the boarding crisis in our Emergency Departments that is impacting too many of our children and families. I sincerely thank Senate President Spilka for her continued commitment to bold action on mental health care with the passage of this bill. I also thank Senator Cyr, Senator Rodrigues, and all of the advocates involved in crafting this bill for their thoughtful collaboration and shared commitment to reforming our mental health care system so that it works for everyone.” 

“The Senate’s passage of the Mental Health ABC Act 2.0 shows our commitment to ensuring that, in Massachusetts, you can get the mental health care you need, when you need it,” said Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “The Senate’s continued investments in mental health have only underscored the need for bold action. I applaud Senate President Spilka for her compassion and steadfast leadership on this issue, Senators Cyr and Friedman for their outstanding work on this bill, and my Senate colleagues for voting to destigmatize mental health care and ensure equitable access to care for all.” 

“So many individuals across our Commonwealth struggle with mental health challenges and those issues have only been exacerbated by the isolation and stress of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Senator John C. Velis (D-Westfield), Vice-Chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery. “Mental health care is something that every single resident of our Commonwealth should be able to access and the Mental Health ABC Act 2.0 makes critical reforms to our health care system that will ensure that we all can get the care we need.”

Amendments to the bill included provisions focused on suicide prevention and mental health care for people who are incarcerated, among other things. The final bill establishes a suicide postvention task force dedicated to addressing the after-effects of a confirmed suicide and requires the Department of Public Health (DPH) to collect data on the physical location of suicides and the number of known attempts made by any person at the same location. It also directs the state 911 department to integrate training on identification of and response to callers experiencing behavioral health crises into the certification standards for 911 workers, and, in anticipation of the establishment of a new national ‘988’ hotline in July, designates one or more ‘988’ crisis hotline centers to provide crisis intervention services and crisis care coordination to individuals accessing the suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis hotline 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  

The final bill also allows people who are incarcerated experiencing acute mental health distress to petition to seek proper care in a Department Mental Health (DMH) facility as opposed to being subjected to in-prison ‘mental health watch,’ establishes a special commission to review and make recommendations to remedy administrative burdens to accessing mental health care and behavioral health care services, and requires the Office of Behavioral Health Promotion to ascertain the mental health needs of veterans. 

“The need and demand for mental health services has soared as a result of the pandemic, and anyone who has tried to find help for mental health concerns will vouch for the many barriers that still exist,” stated Danna E. Mauch, President and CEO of the Massachusetts Association for Mental Health (MAMH). “This bill tackles some of our most difficult challenges. These challenges include insurance company policies that make it hard to pay for care, a lack of providers across the Commonwealth but especially in communities of color, and care that too often is fragmented and siloed. The bill’s provisions provide creative, practical steps toward addressing these issues and it looks ahead to creation of a comprehensive system of effective crisis services. We thank the Senate, and especially President Spilka and Senators Cyr, Friedman, and Creem for their leadership, deploying their commitment, insights, and authority to protect and promote mental health and well being.” 

“The need for access to quality behavioral health care has never been more important than it is right now,” said Andrew Dreyfus, President and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. “The Senate bill takes a thoughtful approach to expanding access to care by increasing capacity, improving integration with physical care, and making targeted investments to better serve the needs of the people of Massachusetts. We are grateful to the Senate for their commitment to this critical issue and we look forward to continuing this important work with them and other policymakers and stakeholders.” 

“Every individual in the Commonwealth deserves access to high-quality behavioral healthcare, but for far too many, this is complicated by issues of parity, stigma, administrative complexities and workforce constraints,” stated Lydia Conley, President/CEO of the Association for Behavioral Healthcare. “With the Senate passage of the Mental Health ABC Act 2.0, it is clear that those with mental health needs and their providers are being heard and valued. We are incredibly grateful for the continued commitment shown by the state Senate to address existing barriers to care, and thank Senate President Spilka and Senators Cyr and Friedman for this bold step towards a fair, equitable and well-resourced behavioral health system.” 

“Senate President Karen Spilka and the Senate should be commended for their affirmative efforts to improve access to behavioral health care services and end the stigma associated with behavioral health treatment,” stated Lora Pellegrini, President and CEO of the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans. “We thank her and the Senate leadership for their willingness to work with us while developing the legislation. The Massachusetts Association of Health Plans and our member health plans understand the importance of focusing on prevention and screening to ensure that behavioral health needs are not overlooked. To that end, MAHP supports provisions in the bill that would extend an annual mental health wellness exam for members.” 

The following is an overview of The Mental Health ABC Act 2.0. 

Ensuring Equitable Access to Mental Health Care 

Guaranteeing Annual Mental Health Wellness Exams. The idea that a person’s mental health is just as important as a person’s physical health is the cornerstone of this reform. This bill would codify this principle by mandating coverage for an annual mental health wellness exam, comparable to an annual physical. 

Enforcing Mental Health Parity Laws. Mental health parity as a concept is simple: insurance coverage for mental health care should be equal to insurance coverage for any other medical condition. This concept has been codified in federal and state law for decades, but enforcement of the law has been challenging. As a result, inequities persist, and patients are often denied coverage for mental health treatment that is every bit as critical to managing their health as treatment for diabetes or heart disease.  

This bill provides the state with better tools to implement and enforce our parity laws by creating a clear structure for the Division of Insurance to receive and investigate parity complaints to ensure their timely resolution. Other tools include parity enforcement for commercial, state-contracted and student health insurance plans, greater reporting and oversight of insurance carriers’ mental health care coverage processes and policies, and reasonable penalties and alternative remedies for when an insurance company does not comply with the law. 

Addressing the Emergency Department Boarding Crisis. For many adults and children in the grips of a mental health crisis, the fastest way to get help is to go to a hospital emergency department (ED). Sadly, when they need to be admitted to an inpatient psychiatric unit, it can be days, weeks, or even months before they’re admitted. Meanwhile, the person must often wait in the ED, receiving little to no psychiatric care. This is referred to as ‘ED boarding’ and it has increased up to 400% since the COVID-19 pandemic began.  

Given the severity and urgency of the state’s ED boarding crisis, this bill tackles the issue in several ways, by: 

• Creating an ARPA-funded online portal that enables access to real-time data on and includes a search function that allows health care providers to easily search and find open beds using a number of criteria; 

• Establishing a complex case resolution panel to help resolve barriers to care for children with complex behavioral health needs and would include representatives from several state and local health and education agencies working together to ensure a child’s behavioral health needs are met in a timely manner; 

• Requiring all hospital EDs to have a qualified behavioral health clinician available to evaluate and stabilize a person admitted to a hospital ED with a behavioral health presentation during all operating hours; 

• Directing the Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) to produce an annual report on child ED boarding; and 

• Tasking the Health Policy Commission (HPC) with conducting a statewide pediatric behavioral health assessment every five years to inform future policymaking. 

Addressing ED boarding will help families experiencing acute mental health crises receive timely care. 

Reimbursing Mental Health Providers Equitably. Mental health and primary care providers are reimbursed at different rates for the same service. The bill seeks to level the playing field for reimbursement to mental health providers by requiring an equitable rate floor for evaluation and management services that is consistent with primary care. 

Reforming Medical Necessity and Prior Authorization Requirements. When an adult or child arrives in an emergency department in the throes of acute mental health crises requiring immediate treatment in an appropriate setting, clinical determinations should be made by the treating clinician. In practice, however, insurance carriers impose too many restrictions on providers’ clinical judgement in terms of prior approval and concurrent review requirements for mental health services.  

This results in barriers to, and delays in, treatment for patients who need immediate care, creating a dysfunctional system that allows insurance companies to have more leverage in determining a patient’s course of treatment than health care providers.  

This bill mandates coverage and eliminates prior authorization for mental health acute treatment and stabilization services for adults and children; requires MassHealth and commercial insurance companies to follow a uniform set of criteria established by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) for medical necessity and utilization management determinations for treatments for substance use disorder (SUD); and ensures that if a health insurance company intends to change its medical necessity guidelines, the new guidelines must be easily accessible by consumers on the health insurance company’s website. 

This bill also establishes a special commission to bring all stakeholders to the table to study and make recommendations on the creation of a common set of medical necessity criteria to be used by health care providers and insurance carriers for mental health services. 

Creating a Standard Release Form. Behavioral health providers struggle in the era of electronic health records and care coordination to create systems that simultaneously protect an individual’s right to consent to share sensitive health information and allow practitioners to access the information they need to treat the individual and coordinate care. This bill would direct the development of a standard release form for exchanging confidential mental health and substance use disorder information to facilitate access to treatment by patients with multiple health care providers. 

Increasing Access to Emergency Service Programs. Emergency Service Programs (ESPs), which are community-based and recovery-oriented programs that provide behavioral health crisis assessment, intervention, and stabilization services for people with psychiatric illness, are currently covered by MassHealth. The bill would require commercial insurance companies to cover ESPs as well. 

Expanding Access to the Evidence-Based Collaborative Care Model. The collaborative care model delivers mental health care in primary care through a team of health care professionals, including the primary care provider, a behavioral health care manager, and a consulting psychiatrist. This evidence-based access to mental health care has proven effective, less costly, and less stigmatizing. The bill would expand access to psychiatric care by requiring the state-contracted and commercial health plans to cover mental health and substance use disorder benefits offered through the psychiatric collaborative care model. 

Reviewing the Role of Behavioral Health Managers. Some insurance companies have subcontracted mental health benefits to specialty utilization management companies for years with mixed results. The bill directs the Health Policy Commission, in consultation with the Division of Insurance, to study and provide updated data on the use of contracted mental health benefit managers by insurance carriers, often referred to as “carve-outs.”   

Incentivizing Investment in Acute Psychiatric Services. This bill would create an exemption from the Department of Public Health’s determination of need process to incentivize health care facilities to invest in and develop more acute psychiatric services across the Commonwealth, including inpatient, community-based acute treatment, intensive community-based treatment, a continuing care unit and partial hospitalization programs. 

Tracking and Analyzing Behavioral Health Expenditures. This bill includes a critical first steps toward incentivizing greater investments in mental health care within the analysis of statewide health care cost growth. Specifically, the bill directs the Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA) to define and collect data on the delivery of mental health services to establish a baseline of current spending; and directs the Health Policy Commission (HPC) to begin tracking mental health care expenditures as part of its annual cost trends hearings. 

Establishing an Office of Behavioral Health Promotion. Current behavioral health services are spread across state agencies. This dilutes the responsibility for mental health promotion and focus on the issues and undermines the important work being done. This bill would establish an Office of Behavioral Health Promotion within the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) to coordinate all state initiatives that promote mental, emotional, and behavioral health and wellness for residents. 

Increasing Access to Care in Geographically Isolated Areas. This bill would direct the Department of Mental Health (DMH) to consider factors that may present barriers to care—such as travel distance and access to transportation—when contracting for services in geographically isolated and rural communities. 

Removing Barriers to Care by Supporting the Behavioral Health Workforce 

Creating a Roadmap on Access to Culturally Competent Care. This initiative builds off an academic study mandated and funded through the Commonwealth’s Fiscal Year 2021 budget to review the availability of and barriers to accessing culturally competent mental health care providers. Under this provision, an interagency health equity team under the Office of Health Equity, working with an advisory council, would make annual recommendations for the next three years to improve access to, and the quality of, culturally competent mental health services. Paired with the Senate’s ARPA investment of $122 million in the behavioral health workforce through loan repayment assistance programs, this roadmap will make great strides toward building a robust workforce reflective of communities’ needs. 

Allows for an Interim Licensure for Licensed Mental Health Counselors. The bill would create an interim licensure level for Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHCs) so that they can be reimbursed by insurance for their services and be eligible for state and federal grant and loan forgiveness programs, further increasing the number of licensed providers able to serve patients. 

Expanding Mental Health Billing. This bill would allow clinicians practicing under the supervision of a licensed professional and working towards independent licensure to practice in a clinic setting. This will help to ensure quality training and supervision and encourage clinicians to stay practicing in community-based settings. 

Updating the Board of Registration of Social Workers. The bill would update the membership of the Board of Registration of Social Workers to clarify that designees from the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and Department of Public Health (DPH) be licensed social workers. 

This legislation builds upon the original Mental Health ABC Act, passed by the Senate in 2020, important provisions of which have been signed into law, including: 

• Standardizing credentialing forms, which shortens the amount of time it takes for newly hired mental and behavioral health professionals to be approved for inclusion in an insurance network, increasing access to care. 

• Requiring coverage for same day care, removing a significant financial barrier to the integration of primary care and mental health. 

• Creating a tele-behavioral health pilot program, which authorized three pilots for tele-behavioral health services in public high schools in the Commonwealth. 

• Creating a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner fellowship pilot program, which offers additional support and training to psychiatric nurse practitioners who agree to work in community settings with underserved populations. 

• Creating a mental health workforce pipeline to encourage and support individuals from diverse backgrounds to choose careers in mental health by emphasizing that it is valued and important work. 

• Studying access to culturally competent care to review the availability of culturally competent mental health care providers, as well as to identify potential barriers to care for underserved cultural, ethnic and linguistic populations, the LGBTQ+ community, and others. 

This legislation also comes at a time when the Massachusetts State Senate is making transformative investments in mental and behavioral health, including: 

• $400 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to transform the behavioral health sector, with $122 million dedicated to recruiting and retaining nearly 2,000 behavioral professionals. 

• $10 million annually for the newly-created Behavioral Health Outreach, Access and Support Trust Fund, which funded the highly successful More to the Story public awareness campaign. 

• $10 million for the rapid creation of new inpatient mental health acute care beds, particularly new beds for children, adolescents and underserved communities. 

• $15 million for Programs of Assertive Community Treatment (PACT) for children who exhibit symptoms of serious emotional disturbance; PACT uses a multidisciplinary team approach to provide acute and long term supports for individuals in the community. 

• $3 million for a loan repayment assistance program to recruit and retain child and adolescent psychiatrists at community mental health and health centers.  

Having passed the Senate, the Mental Health ABC 2.0 Act now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration. 

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(BOSTON – 11/10/2021) Today, the Massachusetts State Senate unanimously approved An Act allowing humane transportation of K9 partners, also known as Nero’s Law, ensuring law enforcement officers’ K-9 partners receive life-saving medical attention and transport if injured in the line of duty. The bill, first proposed by Senator Mark Montigny, comes in response to the tragic events that took the life of New Bedford-native and Yarmouth Police K-9 Sergeant Sean Gannon and severely injured his K-9 partner, Nero.

In April 2018, Sergeant Gannon was shot and killed while serving a warrant in the Town of Barnstable. Despite the multiple empty ambulances on site, Nero had to be rushed to the animal hospital in the back of a police cruiser. Current Massachusetts law prohibits emergency medical personnel from treating and transporting animals. Fortunately, Nero survived his injuries, but the inability to transport him showed that reform was needed to honor working dogs who risk their lives every day to serve the Commonwealth.

“Providing emergency medical services to police dogs injured in the line of duty is both compassionate and appropriate, especially in light of what we’re asking them to do,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “Service dogs play a necessary role in effective law enforcement operations, and they deserve our support. I thank Senator Montigny for his hard work and attention to this issue, as well as Senators Rodrigues, Timilty and Cyr for their advocacy and collaboration on this legislation.”

“K-9 officers protect the men and women in law enforcement as well as the community at-large,” said Senator Mark Montigny (D-New Bedford), lead sponsor of the bill. “These animals endure extreme danger from gun violence, narcotics, and even explosive materials. Allowing our emergency personnel to provide basic treatment and transport is a commonsense measure that honors their contributions across the Commonwealth. Sergeant Gannon was a native son of New Bedford and therefore his K9 partner Nero is part of our community’s extended family. Words cannot describe the gratitude we have for the Gannon family for their tenacious and compassionate advocacy to get this bill done. I must also thank my colleagues Senators Walter Timilty and Mike Rodrigues for expediting this bill through the committee process.”

“This is a commonsense bill that gives proper recognition for the animal partners, like Nero, that help protect our communities, and ensures they can be cared for with dignity,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “By allowing these invaluable K-9 units to be properly treated, Nero’s Law supports K-9s, their partners, and the whole law enforcement community. Thank you to Senate President Spilka for her leadership, Senator Montigny for his diligent work on this matter, and to the Gannon family for leading the charge on this issue.”

“There was a tremendous outpouring of support for Nero’s Law from advocates, law enforcement officers, their family members, and communities from across the Commonwealth,” said state Senator Walter F. Timilty (D-Milton), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security. “Each and every day, law enforcement professionals, including police canines, put their lives on the line to protect the citizens of the Commonwealth. It is crucial that our first responders are given the ability to treat them when they are wounded in the line of duty. I am thankful that this legislation has passed and that first responders are now able to provide emergent care to wounded police canines.”

“Sergeant Sean Gannon was a dedicated officer of the Yarmouth Police Department known for his restraint and his quiet but firm sense of right and wrong. His tragic murder—and the life-threatening injuries sustained by his canine Nero—left the Cape and Islands in shock and grieving,” said Senator Julian Cyr (D-Truro). “We rely on canines to serve alongside police officers to go where we cannot, seek out what we cannot detect, and search for the vulnerable in their most trying moments, yet existing law prohibits emergency responders from treating and transporting police canines like Nero when they are most in need. I’m proud that the Senate is honoring Sergeant Gannon’s legacy and his example by protecting our canine friends who have been our companions and partners in public safety and so much more.”

Nero’s Law authorizes emergency medical service personnel to provide emergency treatment and transport of K-9 partners. This includes basic first aid, CPR, and administering life-saving interventions such as naloxone.

Nero’s Law now advances to the Massachusetts House of Representatives for consideration.

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(BOSTON–11/11/2021) The Massachusetts State Senate on Wednesday unanimously passed a $3.82 billion bill that directs federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to assist the Commonwealth’s ongoing recovery, with a particular focus on making equitable investments and ensuring that communities disproportionately impact by the COVID-19 pandemic are prioritized. Using this framework, the bill delivers targeted, transformational supports to critical sectors such as health care, mental and behavioral health, housing security, environment, and workforce development.

“The Massachusetts State Senate has acted decisively to support our state’s recovery and ensure we do not go back to normal but ‘back to better’,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “The Senate’s proposal provides a path towards an equitable recovery that benefits residents, businesses, and communities through transformational investments in public health, housing, and climate change. I once again thank President Biden and the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation for their work to pass the American Rescue Plan Act at the federal level. I am also grateful to my colleagues in the Senate, the members and staff of the Committee on Ways and Means, and the many members of the public who provided input to help us chart our future.”

“Over the course of Wednesday’s long and productive debate, the Senate demonstrated its commitment to using the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that the American Rescue Plan Act funds represent to fuel an equitable recovery and support the communities most impacted by the pandemic,” said State Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “Under the continued leadership of Senate President Spilka, the Senate has risen to the challenge of making meaningful investments in mental health, public health, workforce development, affordable housing, and so much more, ensuring those hit the hardest by COVID-19—families, essential workers and small businesses—are being helped the most. Thank you to my colleagues in the Senate, whose advocacy and dedication helped to shape the overall direction of this bill to ensure our residents will benefit equitably as we continue to chart a path forward to recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

“The Senate has produced an important bill to respond to the powerful impacts that COVID-10 has had in every community and sector of our Commonwealth. Our American Rescue Plan Act bill directs federal and state surplus dollars towards our highest priorities including; public health and wellness, economic and environmental protection and stewardship, infrastructure improvements, supports for the services people and businesses need to recover and prosper,” said Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R – Gloucester). “The release of these funds won’t cure all our ills, but it will fuel our state’s recovery from a devastating pandemic, and build strength and resilience for the future.”

Investments included in the bill are as follows:

Mental and Behavioral Health, Public Health and Health Care

The Senate’s ARPA spending plan helps families, vulnerable populations, and historically underserved communities by investing more than $1 billion to support the state’s healthcare system and confront the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Senate’s bill invests $400 million in mental and behavioral health supports, including over $122 million to expand loan repayment programs for behavioral health professionals, including substance use disorder professionals. This investment is expected to help recruit and retain nearly 2,000 mental health professionals across the continuum of care. During debate, $5 million was added by amendment to support grants to higher education institutions to address student behavioral and mental health needs.

The Senate’s plan also revolutionizes the state’s local and regional public health infrastructure and makes a historic investment of $250.9 million to ensure the Commonwealth can protect the public health of residents, workers, and businesses for years to come. This funding includes $118.4 million for public health infrastructure and data sharing upgrades, and $95 million for direct grants to local boards of health to be prepared to respond to future public health threats. To complement this landmark investment, the Senate adopted an amendment that encourages greater collaboration between regional public health systems on workforce standards and policies, while sustaining the Public Health Excellence program established under the State Action for Public Health Excellence (SAPHE) program. Other health care investments include:

• $300 million for the Home and Community-Based Services Federal Investment Fund to address workforce needs for those caring for vulnerable populations,
• $200 million for acute hospitals impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic,
• $60 million for food security infrastructure with complementary amendments investing $17 million for the Greater Boston Food Bank for regional food security network improvements across the Commonwealth, $5 million for the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, $2 million for the Massachusetts Food Trust Program to provide loans, grants and technical assistance in a regionally equitable manner to communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, $1.92 million for Project Bread to better connect eligible unenrolled residents with federal nutrition programs statewide and $1 million for the Massachusetts Military Support Foundation, Inc. for the operation of empowerment centers and to support the distribution of food to veterans in need,
• $55 million to support a robust and diverse home health care and human service workforce through recruitment, retention, and loan forgiveness programming,
• $50 million for nursing facilities, including $25 million for capital support, to increase the quality of patient care and $25 million for workforce initiatives,
• $25 million for a grant program for community violence prevention and re-entry organizations, focused on communities disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic,
• $5 million added by an amendment for Health Care For All to conduct a community-based MassHealth redetermination and vaccination outreach, education, and access campaign targeted in communities disproportionately impacted by the pandemic,
• $5 million added by an amendment for the Disabled Persons Protection Commission to study and review the interrelationship between service-providing agencies for individuals with disabilities within the Commonwealth and to design and implement a system for an interconnected network that will provide a continuum of care for those individuals,
• $2 million added by an amendment for unreimbursed COVID-19 costs for Early Intervention providers, and
• $500,000, added through amendment, to establish transportation services for participants in the Massachusetts Veterans’ Treatment Courts.

Economic Recovery and Workforce Development

The Senate’s ARPA spending plan invests $1.7 billion to robustly support an equitable economic recovery for all by supporting workers, businesses and communities hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill dedicates $500 million towards premium pay bonuses for essential workers, up to $2,000 per worker, providing much needed relief to the workforce who served on the front lines during the pandemic.

The bill also provides nearly $200 million in tax relief for small-business owners who otherwise would be required to pay personal income taxes on state or federal relief money. During debate, the Senate adopted an amendment to codify into statute an existing safe harbor provision related to the calculation of the advanced sales tax payment law. This time sensitive issue is meant to ease compliance and provide many businesses peace of mind, given that the current rule was set to expire on December 31, 2021.

Other economic recovery and workforce development investments include:

• $500 million for the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund, providing necessary relief to small business,
• $100 million for vocational school infrastructure and capacity building needs,
• $75 million for the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund to support organizations working with people displaced from jobs during the pandemic, historically underserved populations, and individuals reentering their communities from the corrections system,
• $75 million for equitable and affordable broadband access and infrastructure improvements to close the digital divide,
• $75 million for Mass Cultural Council grants to support the cultural sector,
• $50 million for direct grants to minority-owned small businesses,
• $30 million for regional high-demand workforce training at community colleges,
• $25 million for the expansion of Career Technical Institutes,
• $24.5 for workforce development and capital assistance grants to the Massachusetts Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs and the Alliance of Massachusetts YMCAs, as well $4.5 million added through an amendment for the YWCAs,
• $15 million to enhance and diversify the cybersecurity sector with partnerships between public higher education institutions and private businesses,
• $12 million for the resettlement of Afghani evacuees and $8M added on the floor for Haitian evacuees,
• $10 million added by amendment for regional tourism councils, and
• $14 million for agricultural economy supports.

Housing

The spending plan acknowledges the critical role that housing plays in economic recovery. Over a year and a half into the pandemic, access to stable and affordable housing remains at the forefront of the state’s strategy to ensure economic security for those who call the Commonwealth home. Reflecting the Senate’s long-standing commitment, the ARPA spending bill allocates $600 million for investments in affordable, accessible housing, as well as supportive housing.

Housing investments include:

• $150 million for supportive housing, including $75 million for the chronically homeless population, and $20 million, added by amendment, to increase geographic equity and accessibility related to the continuum of long-term care services for veterans not primarily served by the Soldiers’ Homes in Chelsea or Holyoke,
• $150 million for public housing authorities to maintain and upgrade existing infrastructure,
• $125 million for the Commonwealth Builders Program to support housing production and promote homeownership among residents of disproportionately impacted communities,
• $125 million for affordable rental housing production and preservation for the workforce and low- and moderate-income individuals,
• $50 million for homeownership assistance tools, including down payment assistance, and mortgage interest subsidy supports.

Climate Preparedness

The Senate bill prioritizes building a more resilient Commonwealth and ensuring a healthier environment for all. To that end, the bill invests $450 million to combat climate change through mitigation initiatives, strengthen environmental infrastructure, fix aging water infrastructure, and modernize marine port infrastructure to support the state’s emerging offshore wind industry.

Environment and climate investments include:

• $175 million for water and sewer infrastructure investments through the Clean Water Trust,
• $125 million for environmental infrastructure grants, including the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) program,
• $100 million for marine port infrastructure investments focused on the promotion of offshore wind development,
• $25 million for Greening the Gateway Cities program to support tree planting, after adding $5 million through an amendment,
• $15 million for parks and recreational assets,
• $10 million for clean energy retrofitting in affordable housing units,
• $7.5 million, added by amendment, for community colleges to help train underserved populations for green jobs, and
• $5 million for the advancement of geothermal technologies.

Transparency and Oversight

To support communities disproportionately impacted by the pandemic and prioritize historically underserved or marginalized populations, the Senate’s bill establishes an equity and accountability review panel for federal funds to track in near real-time the amount and percentage of ARPA funds spent in these communities and awarded to minority-owned and women-owned business enterprises. The bill also takes steps to ensure minority-owned and women-owned business have fair participation on procurements issued under the act.

With both the House and Senate having passed their own versions of ARPA spending plans, the two bills must now be reconciled before heading to the Governor’s desk.

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(HOLYOKE 11/11/2021) Today Senator John C. Velis delivered letters from students throughout the Second Hampden and Hampshire District to residents at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home in honor of Veterans Day. This is the second year that Senator Velis has organized the initiative, which has 13 different schools from Westfield, Holyoke, Agawam, Southampton, and other communities participating.  

“I am thrilled to be able to continue this tradition which I know means so much to the residents at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home,” said Senator Velis (D-Westfield). “We have between 1,500 to 2,000 letters from students of all ages, from PRE-K all the way up to high school. This is an excellent, hands-on opportunity for students to learn and reflect about the importance of Veterans Day while bringing our communities together.” 

“At the Roberta G. Doering School in Agawam, the approximately 519 students created cards and letters to be delivered to the Holyoke Soldiers Home for Veteran’s Day,” said Kathleen Goyette-Jediny, a 6^th Grade Teacher in the Agawam Public Schools system. “We have a long history of honoring Veterans at the Doering School. When we learned we would need to postpone our annual ‘Bring a Vet to School Day’ due to Covid, the students desperately wanted to reach out to our Veterans and honor them locally.  The letters are a way for students to communicate their gratitude directly to Veterans.” 

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(WESTFIELD 11/5/2021) On Friday, November 5^th, Senator John C. Velis (D-Westfield)  organized a local farm tour for the Western Mass legislators in Agawam and Southampton in collaboration with the American Farmland Trust, CISA (“Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture”), Land for Good, and the Holyoke Food and Equity Collective. The goal of the tour, according to Senator Velis, was for legislators to get a better understanding of the challenges that local farmers in Massachusetts face and to discuss ways that the Legislature can support them.  

“Local farms are a critical backbone of our Commonwealth, from providing fresh food to our communities to contributing to our local economies,” said Senator Velis. “Many of our farms faced enormous challenges even before COVID-19, and as we have seen from today’s visits, those issues have only grown during the pandemic. It is critical that–we as legislators–are doing everything we can to support our local farmers and that starts with discussions like these today.” 

Senator Velis was joined by Representative Kelly Pease (R-Westfield), Representative Pat Duffy (D-Holyoke), Representative Lindsay Sabadosa (D-Northampton), and Representative Nick Boldyga (R-Southwick). 

“Our farms in Western Massachusetts are putting food on the tables of families not only here but throughout the Commonwealth. We are thrilled that our local legislators are joining Senator Velis to hear directly from farmers, their ideas, hopes and challenges, for growing a food system with deeper resilience, access, and equity for all,” shared Philip Korman, Executive Director, CISA (Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture). 

The tour started at E. Cecchi Farm on Springfield Street in Feeding Hills. Celebrating its 75^th year, the vegetable farm has been in the same family for three generations and makes seasonal food donations to the surrounding communities. After touring, participants discussed the Massachusetts Healthy Incentive Program and how the Legislature can support farmers donating food.  

The tour then moved to Fletcher Farm, a dairy farm on Gunn Road in Southampton. The number of dairy farms in Massachusetts has declined more than 85% since 1978, but the remaining 117 dairy farms produce over 20 million gallons of milk annually, with a market value of more than $60 million. Legislators toured the farm’s newly constructed farm stand, where their conversation focused on how to support the Massachusetts Dairy Industry and expand Food Insecurity Grant Programs that many communities have taken advantage of. 

The tour wrapped up at Glendale Ridge Vineyard in Southampton. Starting with just 120 grapevines in 2010, the farm has expanded to five acres of different varieties of grapevines. While the vineyard has a wine-tasting room, it was shut down at the beginning of March 2020, and now tastings are held outside. After touring, participants discussed the great impact that climate change has had on farms and possible legislation for agricultural and horticultural lands that aims to mitigate these effects. 

“Western Massachusetts farmers work tirelessly to grow food for residents across the 2^nd Hampden and Hampshire district. American Farmland Trust is grateful for Senator Velis and our local legislators’ openness and willingness to have conversations with farmers about their passion for agriculture and the day-to-day challenges of being a producer in the district.  It is a thrill to engage legislators on farms, collaborating on ways to develop policy that supports farmers who sell local products in communities, including those that are historically underserved like Holyoke. Our working lands are at the heart of our food system. We look forward to working with Senator Velis and other local legislators in advancing changes that will contribute to making agriculture resilient in the face of climate change throughout the Commonwealth,” said Chelsea Gazillo, New England Policy Manager for American Farmland Trust.  

Senator Velis said he hopes to take the lessons from the tour back to the Legislature to collaborate with his colleagues on policies that address these challenges and expand supports for farms. 

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(BOSTON 11/10/2021) Today during the Massachusetts State Senate’s debate on the American Rescue Plan Act spending bill, two Veteran-specific amendments filed by Senator John C. Velis (D-Westfield) were unanimously adopted. “As we approach Veterans Day, we are all reminded of the importance of recognizing and honoring those who have served our nation,” stated Senator Velis. “These amendments are another a step towards ensuring that Massachusetts is the premiere state for our military members and their families.” 

Amendment 308 provides $500,000 to the Commonwealth’s Veterans’ Treatment Courts for  establishing transportation services for participants. Veterans’ Treatment Courts are designed to handle certain low-level criminal cases that involve defendants with military service who are struggling with substance use or behavioral health problems. After pleading guilty, Veterans can be referred to the Treatment Courts for intensive treatment, which includes weekly court check-ins, Vet to Vet mentorship, VA services, and more. 

“For Veterans who are facing PTSD, mental health challenges, or substance abuse issues, these courts are a god send,” said Senator Velis. “The courts have shown incredible outcomes in terms of reducing the incarceration and recidivism rates of Veterans while also helping them address issues of substance use and mental health.” 

In August Senator Velis organized a roundtable in Holyoke with District Attorneys, Trial Court Judges and Probation Officers involved in the Treatment Courts. Subsequently the Senator held a meeting with over a dozen Veteran Treatment Court mentors to continue the conversation. Senator Velis stated the number one issue that arose was the need for increased transportation resources. “Too often Veterans are unable to participate in this program because they can’t actually get themselves there and I pledged to go fight for transportation funding on Beacon Hill,” stated Senator Velis.  

In addition, Senator Velis’ amendment extending eligibility for the Commonwealth’s Medal of Liberty was adopted on Thursday as well. The Medal of Liberty is awarded to service men and women who have been killed in action or who died as a result of wounds in action. The amendment would extend the Medal of Liberty posthumously to Massachusetts service members who died as a result of a training accident in the line of duty.  

In his remarks on the floor, Senator Velis remembered Air Force Lt. Col. Morris “Moose” Fontenot Jr., a Longmeadow resident who tragically died in 2014 after his F-15C Eagle fighter jet crashed during a routine flight from Barnes Air National Guard Base in Westfield, Massachusetts. Lt. Col. Fontenot was not and–is not–eligible for the Medal of Liberty. 

“There is an expression in the military: ‘Train as you fight, fight as you train.’ In order to be the best, you need to train to be the best, and with that training comes its own set of dangers,” said Senator Velis. “Lt. Col. Fontenot’s story is not alone; we have service members completing missions and trainings like him every single day. It is imperative that we recognize the dangers that these even routine missions present and properly honor the sacrifices of all of our service members.” 

The Senate will recess in observance of Veterans’ Day and will resume debate on the ARPA spending bill on Friday, November 12^th.  

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(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