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(Boston- 5/23/2024) Yesterday the Massachusetts State Senate unanimously passed (40-0) an amendment that seeks to confront and address the rising act of antisemitism occurring across Massachusetts. The adoption of this amendment comes at a time when Massachusetts is outpacing other states in the frequency of these acts of hate against Jewish Baystate residents and institutions. 

The amendment would instruct the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to provide curriculum, resources, and professional development to school districts to teach students about antisemitism in age-appropriate ways. The amendment would also organize a commission to make recommendations on how the Commonwealth can combat the alarming rise in antisemitism and implement the White House’s National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism. 

“It is deeply disturbing and truthfully infuriating to know that Massachusetts is among those five states that cumulatively make up almost half of our country’s antisemitic acts of hate.” shared Senator John C. Velis “We pride ourselves for being an inclusive and welcoming state here in the Commonwealth; that regardless of your background, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or religion that we accept you as you are and will treat you with kindness and respect. But for too many of our Jewish friends and neighbors- we are not living up to our promise.” 

According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), who has carefully tracked antisemitic incidents across the nation for almost 45 years; 2023 saw the highest total acts of antisemitism in any year since the ADL began tracking this data. Specifically, Massachusetts saw an 189% increase in antisemitic incidents from 2022 to 2023. This increase was the result of 440 total antisemitic incidents across Massachusetts that included vandalism, harassment, and physical assault targeted at Jewish children, adults, and institutions.  

“Hate in all of its forms must always be condemned, and yet   Antisemitism has persisted in countless forms for over 2000 years dating back to biblical times.” said Senator Velis. “Tragically, antisemitism continues to not only exist, but is becoming increasingly normalized. I am proud to be apart of a legislative body that is willing to overwhelmingly speak out in the strongest possible way against it and educate others about the harm this it is causing.” 

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(Westfield – 5/16/2024) Ahead of the Massachusetts State Senate’s FY25 budget debate next week, Senator John C. Velis (D-Westfield) is raising the alarm on the prevalence of fentanyl throughout the state and the need to expand funding for the life-saving overdose reversal tool Narcan. Senator Velis has filed two amendments, amendment 570 and amendment 571, to the Senate’s budget on this issue that will be considered during debate next week.  

• Amendment 571 would drastically increase the amount of funding that the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS) receives to purchase and distribute Narcan.  
• Amendment 570 would establish a Statewide Public Awareness Campaign to inform residents on drug contamination and the need for Narcan and other harm reduction services 

“Right now, our Commonwealth’s drug supply is more contaminated, and deadly, than ever before,” said Senator Velis, who Chairs the Legislature’s Mental Health, Substance Use, and Recovery Committee. “Massachusetts continues to lose thousands of lives each year and a large reason why is because people don’t realize just how contaminated our supply is. We need to do whatever we can to educate people about these risks, but we also need to drastically need to expand access to the most powerful tool we have to actually save people’s lives when an overdose happens, and that is Narcan.” 

The most recent data from the State Department of Public Health showed that there were 2,323 confirmed and estimated opioid-related overdose deaths between October 1, 2022, and September 30, 2023, and that the rate of opioid-related overdose deaths has increased by 3% on average per year since 2015.  The data also showed that fentanyl was detected in 93% of opioid-related overdose deaths in the first three months of this year.  

Individuals in Massachusetts can access Narcan from the pharmacy or access it through a BSAS-approved program that carries Narcan. Senator Velis noted that funding for this program has not kept pace with community need and the increased drug contamination in Massachusetts. 

“Anything that we can do to make people more aware and to get Narcan into more hands we should be doing, because it will truly save lives,” said Senator Velis. “This is my number one priority heading down to Boston for budget debate next week and I don’t intend on coming back to Western Massachusetts empty handed.” 

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Happy Memorial Day Weekend Everyone,  

For many, Memorial Day weekend marks a kickoff to summer however, while I hope everyone is able to enjoy this long weekend with loved ones and friends, I hope you take a moment to not only reflect on the sacrifices of those in the armed forces but also to celebrate the free and prosperous country that they helped defend. Remember to be safe this weekend as well. 

Despite the long weekend ahead of us, it was quite busy on Beacon Hill all week long as the Senate debated the Fiscal Year 2025 budget. I am excited to share that I was able to secure local funding that will benefit our youth, seniors, veterans, public safety, and municipalities! As a Western Massachusetts Senator, I was proud to support many amendments and the Senate’s overall budget that were grounded in regional equity. It is critical that everything we do at the State House not only benefits the residents of the Commonwealth living in the Boston area but our state as a whole, including all of us right here in Western Massachusetts. 

Tuesday morning, I was honored to have spoken at the special presentation of the Medals of Fidelity and Liberty to military families during the State House’s observance of Memorial Day. Here in Massachusetts, we not only recognize and remember those who died in service to our nation on the battlefield, but we also recognize all those who later died from the invisible wounds of war like PTSD or exposure to toxins such as Agent Orange or Burn Pit Toxins. 

Despite all the activity out in Boston surrounding the budget, my team and I were able to still attend several events throughout the district. Thursday evening, my team presented official State Senate citations for the Grand Opening of La Gran Cocina community kitchen in Holyoke and to the West Springfield Boys’ and Girls’ Club Youth of the Year, Ndayishimiye “Raha” Rahabu.  Congratulations to you both! 

This week my team hosted office hours at the Easthampton COA on Tuesday. Next week we will be hosting office hours at the Russell COA on Tuesday from 11:00am to 12:00pm.  Because of the Monday holiday, we have a double feature of office hours on Wednesday.  We will be at the Southampton COA from 9:30am to 10:30am and at the Westfield COA from 12:30pm to 1:30pm.  If you can’t make office hours, I can always be reached by email, john.velis@masenate.gov, by phone, (413) 572-3920, and you can find me online at senatorjohnvelis.com. 

Sincerely, 

John Velis 

Hello Everyone, 

I hope you’re all doing well and enjoying this New England Spring.  Although if anyone out there is a suffering from spring allergies, my best goes out to you.   

As we push further into the Fiscal Year 2025 budget process, my staff and I have had full schedules taking meetings with stakeholders from all across the district to find how the legislature can best work for Western Massachusetts.  Community Leaders, local organizations, and my fellow constituents have all been working with my team to make sure everyone’s voice is heard.  

Monday morning, I was proud to join many from across the region at the Westfield-Barnes Municipal Airport for the ribbon cutting of their new taxiway on the airfield.  This project represents the collaboration of so many agencies and organizations from every level of government and community.  I was proud to have done my part to help see this to fruition and I can’t wait to see all the positive effects this will have on the air base, the municipal airport, and our entire community.   

Later that morning, I joined Representative Dan Carey of Easthampton, Chief Housing Officer Emily Cooper from the Executive Office of Elder Affairs, and many other housing and elder advocates from around the Valley to have a discussion with our seniors on how housing issues are affecting them.  It was a very productive conversation and as a member of the Joint Committee on Housing and the Senate Vice-Chair on the Joint Committee on Elder Affairs, these insights are crucial to my work in the legislature in making sure our seniors are not left behind in the housing market.   

Wednesday marked the passage of National Peace Officers Memorial Day, a day that honors peace officers from all levels of government who have been killed or disabled in the line of duty.  To further honor these brave men women, I attended the Western Massachusetts Police Memorial Ceremony yesterday morning, to commemorate those officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice.  We owe a debt to those who have done so and their families. Thank you to the MPTC Holyoke Police Academy for hosting us all yesterday morning.   

This afternoon I will be attending the induction ceremony for Agawam’s newest Eagle Scout, Shannon Newsome.  After years of dedication to your community, this title is well deserved! Congratulations to you Shannon!  We’re lucky to have you.   

This week my team hosted office hours at the Chicopee COA on Tuesday and at the Holyoke COA on Wednesday.  Next week my team will be hosting our office hours at the Easthampton COA on Tuesday May 21^st from 10:30am to 11:30am. If you can’t make office hours, I can always be reached by email, john.velis@masenate.gov, by phone, (413) 572-3920, and you can find me online at senatorjohnvelis.com. 

Sincerely, 

John Velis 

Hello Everyone, 

Happy Mother’s Day to all of the incredible Moms and Moms-to-be out there! I hope you all have a wonderful day tomorrow! 

This week was another busy week filled with meetings and activities throughout the Pioneer Valley. I got my week started with a tour of Empower Health Group in Northampton.  This facility provides a wide array of services for those suffering from substance use disorders.  The treatment of substance use disorders is not one size fits all and so often specific to the substance in question.  Empower does this important work of tailoring treatment plans to help those suffering stay in Recovery.  Thank you to the staff over here for giving me a tour of the good work you all are doing.   

After years of work, it was my pleasure to celebrate the grand opening of James Hardie’s new factory here in the City of Westfield on Tuesday. James Hardie renovated the old National Envelope Company manufacturing site and is bringing good paying jobs to create economic opportunity for residents across our region. This week we also celebrated the grand opening of Sigma Mattress where I was proud to join them for their ribbon cutting celebration and present a citation from the Senate. Congratulations and welcome to Westfield! 

May also marks Mental Health Awareness Month and to mark the occasion, my team joined the folks over at Mira Vista Behavioral Health Center in Holyoke on Thursday morning to raise the green flag.  The mental health crisis is one of the most pressing issues facing the Commonwealth today and everywhere from Pittsfield to Provincetown has a shortage of hospital beds specializing in treatment for mental health disorders. That’s why the work being done by the good folks at Mira Vista is so critical and as the Senate Chair for the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use, and Recovery. I look forward to continuing to work alongside them. 

Wednesday morning, I was honored to have been asked to attend the West Springfield Public Library’s “Terrific Twos” reading time where I read the book “Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed” to a very lively audience of toddlers. Reading to your little ones is so important as they learn about the world and build language skills. Thank you for having me West Side! 

Today is also the 100^th Birthday for the Veterans’ Affairs Hospital in Leeds!  Our veterans deserve the best care possible, and the Leeds facility works so hard to provide them with just that.  Here’s to many years to come!  

Next week my team will be hosting our office hours on Tuesday May 14^th from 10:00am to 11:00am over at the Chicopee COA and again at the Holyoke COA on Wednesday May 15^th, from 10:00am to 11:00am. If you can’t make office hours, I can always be reached by email, john.velis@masenate.gov, by phone, (413) 572-3920, and you can find me online at senatorjohnvelis.com. 

Sincerely, 

John Velis 

(Holyoke- 5/6/2024) This past Friday, May 3^rd, Senator John C. Velis (D-Westfield) joined community members at Hope for Holyoke’s 8^th annual “Hopey Awards”. During this event, which recognized individuals, businesses, staff, peer leaders and volunteers, Senator Velis received Hope for Holyoke’s Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his work to support those in recovery.

“I am beyond honored to have received the lifetime achievement award from Hope for Holyoke, an incredible organization that does so much work every single day to help those in recovery in our community,” shared Senator John Velis, Chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use, and Recovery. “I firmly believe the three hardest, and most courageous, words any person can say is “I need help”. In return, we must create an environment, and really push back on the stigma that too often exists in society, so that when people raise their hand and ask for help that they are met with the support that they need to begin their recovery.”

Hope for Holyoke provides free peer to peer recovery support programing in the City of Holyoke. Throughout Senator Velis’s career he has championed legislation and support for programs focused on supporting those with substance use disorders. As the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use, and Recovery, Senator Velis noted that he will be continuing to focus on these issues in the Senate’s upcoming FY25 State Budget and throughout the rest of the legislation session.

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Happy May Everyone, 

The flowers and trees are finally in full bloom here in the Pioneer Valley. Springtime is budget time over at the State House as well. My staff and I have been packed with meetings with fellow legislators, local organizations, and constituents as the Senate prepares to put forth its Fiscal Year ‘25 budget later next week.  

Last Sunday I was proud to present a citation to Bomber Hockey’s very own, Coach Moose Matthews, in recognition of his induction to the Massachusetts State High School Hockey Coaches Hall of Fame. Over Coach’s 30-year career he taught hundreds of hockey players and won three state championships among his over 300 total career wins. Congratulations, Coach!  

To start off the week, on Monday morning I was lucky enough to receive a tour of the Majestic Theater in West Springfield. This place is a center of cultural arts here in the Pioneer Valley. It’s wonderful group who works hard to bring great performances to our communities. If you haven’t been already, I recommend you try to catch a show this summer.  

Later in the week, while in Boston, I was proud to lead a meeting of the National Guard Caucus at the State House alongside Major General Keefe. Together we discussed with caucus members the importance of our National Guard Armories throughout the Commonwealth and the investments the National Guard hopes to make to improve these ageing buildings. These investments would not only benefit our National Guard members working in these locations each day but, would also allow these locations to be used as community centers once again.  

Friday was the 8^th annual Hope for Holyoke Awards, or “the Hopeys”. Hope for Holyoke is a peer recovery center that does amazing work in the field of services for those struggling with substance use disorders. Peer recovery centers do such an amazing work of showing people going through these struggles that they are not alone, and that recovery is possible. I was honored to have received their Lifetime Achievement Award for my work in the recovery space during the ceremony.  Congratulations to all my fellow honorees and I can’t wait to see all the good work that Hope for Holyoke will continue to accomplish in the coming year!  

Later that afternoon, I attended the dedication of the newly minted Elm Street Plaza right here in downtown Westfield. At the heart of our Westfield community, this center will allow our community to gather together for various events and will attract new businesses to Elm Street. I’m very much looking forward to all that this brand new and beautiful center will bring to our city!  

Next week my team will be hosting our office hours on Monday May 6^th from 11:00am to 12:00pm over at the Agawam COA as well as at the West Side COA on Wednesday May 8^th, from 12:00pm to 1:00pm. If you can’t make office hours, I can always be reached by email, john.velis@masenate.gov, by phone, (413) 572-3920, and you can find me online at senatorjohnvelis.com. 

Sincerely, 

John Velis 

Hello Everyone,

I hope you’ve all been enjoying the sunshine this week.

I started off the week with a tour of the Kiva Center over in Worcester with my fellow committee members from the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use, and Recovery on Monday. Kiva is a peer respite center which is a short term, non-clinical, community-based program for those experiencing mental health issues. Centers such as these serve as an alternative to a more traditional hospital setting which would require long term admission. Thank you to Kiva for giving us the tour and I look forward to continuing the work to expand mental health services for all as we move through the legislative session.

This week I had a great time connecting with youth and young adults throughout our district. On Tuesday evening, I had the honor of speaking to the Student Government Association over at Westfield State University. These young leaders asked me questions about some of the most pressing issues facing the Commonwealth. Later in the week, I joined the Westfield Middle School and Stefanik Elementary School to celebrate Arbor Day by planting trees in their school yards in celebration. I am particularly excited for Westfield Middle School who received a grant to plant over 50 trees throughout the property.

This week my office and I also celebrate the Grand Re-Opening of Petro’s Breakfast and Lunch over in Chicopee by sharing an official citation from the Senate. I am so happy to have them back open and I look forward to stopping in for lunch sometime soon!

Spring is here and so is baseball season! Just this morning we celebrated one of my favorite yearly events, the opening day for the Westfield and Easthampton Little League! Youth sports are such a good way for kids to learn the values of teamwork. A big thanks to the Easthampton Little League for letting me throw the first pitch of their season earlier today. I hope all the youth participating in spring sports across the district have a great season!

This week my office hosted office hours at the Westfield COA on Monday and the Russell COA on Tuesday. On Wednesday morning, both my staff and I hosted office hours at the Southampton COA where I was very grateful to have been taught how to crochet by the Southampton Fiber Arts Club- I appreciate their patience as I tried my best to learn this craft.

My team will be hosting our next office hours on Monday May 6th from 11:00am to 12:00pm over at the Agawam Council on Aging. If you can’t make office hours, I can always be reached by email, john.velis@masenate.gov, by phone, (413) 572-3920, and you can find me online at senatorjohnvelis.com.

Sincerely,

John Velis

Hello Everyone, 

To all who ran on Monday in Boston, Congratulations! 26.2 miles is no small feat, and you should all be proud of this accomplishment. I still proudly display my Boston Marathon medal in my office from 2017. 

This week was another busy one filled with events throughout the district. On Tuesday morning, I took a tour of Meridian Industrial Group’s facility in Holyoke. Having been in operation for over 140 years, this company specializes in precision machining for aerospace and commercial production. It’s businesses like this that are the heart of our local economy, and I would like to thank the team at Meridian for inviting me on this tour.  

Later that day, I went over for a tour of the Holyoke YMCA and to meet with new director, Conor Bevan. I’ve worked alongside Conor in the past during his time with the Boys & Girls club and I know he will do a fantastic job as the new YMCA director. Congratulations again and I look forward to collaborating with you and all of our other YMCAs throughout the district. 

One of my favorite things to do when I have a moment of free time is to read a good book. On Wednesday I went over to Agawam to see just how some of my favorite books are printed and bound at the Bridgeport National Bindery. Whether you are looking for a small quantity of your own personal book, or you are an international publisher, Bridgeport National Binder does it all! 

Yesterday, I and many across the Pioneer Valley, gathered together to celebrate and officially welcome the new President of Holyoke Community College, Dr. George Timmons, during his inauguration ceremony on campus. HCC is an integral part of our community, offering a quality education to many for whom an education may have been seemed impossible. Having gotten to know Dr. Timmons over the past few months I am sure will do an excellent job as HCC’s fifth president. I look forward to all the work we will be doing together in the future to best serve the students at Holyoke Community College.  

This week my office hosted office hours at the Easthampton COA on Tuesday and at the Holyoke COA on Wednesday.  Next week, we will be at the Westfield COA on Monday from 12:30pm to 1:30pm, the Russell COA on Tuesday from 11:30am to 12:30pm, and the Southampton COA on Wednesday from 9:30am to 10:30am. If you can’t make office hours, I can always be reached by email, john.velis@masenate.gov, by phone, (413) 572-3920, and you can find me online at senatorjohnvelis.com. 

Sincerely, 

John Velis