Dear friends,

I hope you are all doing well as we head into the winter months and holiday season! This is the fourth official issue of my office newsletter and I hope you enjoy this update. Please feel free to share this newsletter with friends, family, and anyone else.

COVID-19 Update

If you have not been vaccinated yet, I encourage you to get vaccinated as soon as possible. The COVID-19 vaccine is safe, effective, and is the best way to protect yourself, your family, and your community. Vaccine boosters are also now available for everyone age 18+ who received Pfizer or Moderna at least 6 months ago or Johnson & Johnson at least 2 months.

Vaccine locations and more information can be found at: mass.gov/covid-19-vaccine

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)

Just last week, the Senate and House came together and advanced a $4 billion bill to the Governor’s desk that directs federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) surplus funding to assist the Commonwealth’s ongoing economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

These one-time federal funds are going to be absolutely critical for our Commonwealth and my office has been busy over the last few months meeting with organizations across our district and state about this important legislation.

ARPA Bill Highlights

• Economic Recovery and Workforce Development
  • $500 million for premium pay bonuses for essential workers, up to $2,000 per worker
  • $500 million for the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund to provide business relief

• Public Health and Health Care
  • $400 million in mental and behavioral health supports, including $122 million for loan repayment programs for behavioral health and substance use professionals
  • $200 million to support local and regional public health infrastructure
  • $44.8 million for food security infrastructure, including $5 million for the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts

• Affordable Housing and Homeownership
  • $150 million for supportive housing and chronically homeless populations
  • $150 million for public housing authorities

• Education
  • $100 million to improve indoor air-quality and healthy environments in public schools
  • $75 million for capital and maintenance projects for higher education



As part of the final bill, I was proud that my team and I could also secure $1,000,000 in earmarks for 20 different local community priorities and projects across our district.

During our Senate Debate, my amendment providing funding to the Treehouse foundation for foster youth, low-income families, and senior citizens was also adopted.

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.  The funding secured will allow the Treehouse Foundation to establish two additional outcome-based, multi-cultural Treehouse communities in Massachusetts.  

I have had the pleasure of visiting Treehouse Easthampton and seen their success firsthand. 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. 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.  

As the Vice-Chair of the Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities, I was thrilled that I could secure this funding to help the Treehouse Foundation expand their critical work.

Veterans Work

As the Chair of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs, I have made advancing legislation that will benefit those who have served our nation a top priority of my legislative agenda.

ARPA Veteran Amendments

In the ARPA Senate Debate, I was proud that two amendments I filed for Veterans were unanimously adopted. The first amendment would extend our Commonwealth’s Medal of Liberty posthumously to Massachusetts service members who died as a result of a training accident in the line of duty.  

In my remarks on the Senate floor, I  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. 

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. I was glad to see this amendment unanimously adopted.

My second amendment in the ARPA bill for Veterans focused on our Commonwealth’s Veterans Treatments Courts.

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. They have shown incredible outcomes in terms of reducing the incarceration and recidivism rates of Veterans while also helping them address the issues they face.

In August I organized a roundtable in Holyoke with District Attorneys, Trial Court Judges and Probation Officers involved in the Treatment Courts. Subsequently I held a meeting with over a dozen Veteran Treatment Court mentors to continue the conversation. 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. I pledged to go fight for transportation funding on Beacon Hill and am thrilled that I could deliver on this promise.

The SPEED Act

In October, the Senate passed S2558, An Act relative to military spouse-licensure portability, education and enrollment of dependents, a bill I filed to support military families in their transition to Massachusetts.

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. By passing this legislation, we are saying to military 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.

With this legislation, we are also sending a major signal to our military and federal officials that Massachusetts is primed with support for additional investments and mission assignments. I am grateful to my team for their diligent work on this bill and to all my colleagues for supporting it. You can watch my full remarks on the Senate floor here. The bill is now in the House of Representatives.

Veterans Day

On Veterans Day, 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 to do just that.

From a sunrise ceremony with Agawam and West Springfield residents at Veterans Memorial bridge, to Westfield’s ceremony at Parker Park, to Holyoke’s ceremony at the War Memorial Building, and back to Agawam for a ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery, it was an honor to participate in so many moving and powerful events around our district.

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The highlight of my day though, 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.

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Mental Health ABC Act 2.0

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.

In November, the Senate passed the Mental Health ABC Act 2.0. From guaranteeing annual mental health wellness exams, to addressing the emergency department boarding crisis, to reforming mental health insurance coverage and expanding access to care, this is a comprehensive piece of legislation that continues the process of improving the way mental health care is delivered in Massachusetts.

Every single resident should be able to access mental health care and this legislation makes critical reforms to our health care system to ensure that we can all get the care we need. I was proud to work on this legislation as Vice-Chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use, and Recovery, and thrilled to join my colleagues in voting to pass it. The bill is now in the House of Representatives.

Full Press Release

“From Beacon Hill to the 413”

I am extremely excited that my new monthly local cable TV show, “From Beacon Hill to the 413” is officially on the air! Keep an eye out for the first episode on your local cable channels or stream the show online here.

Just like my weekly updates in The Westfield News and my newsletter, the goal of the show is to give viewers an inside look at what’s happening on Beacon Hill and how it impacts our district.

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Each show I will bring in guests to help facilitate a broader discussion of these issues from all angles. I was thrilled to have my good friend and colleague, State Representative Mike Finn, join me for the inaugural episode to discuss Redistricting and our work on the Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities.

Around the District

Office Spotlight

Marissa Otero

Marissa is a Westfield native and Westfield High Class of 2017 alumni. She is also a recent graduate from NYU. Having studied at the Gallatin School of Individualized Study, Marissa created her own major focusing on the social intersection of narrative and politics with a minor in Spanish. During her time at school she was also a member of the NYU Lacrosse team and managed the NYU Men’s Basketball team. In addition, she was able to study abroad, living in Buenos Aires, Argentina prior to the pandemic. 

When not in the office, Marissa is often hiking, snowboarding, gardening, cooking, or spending time with her beloved 20lbs cat, Lucille! 

If you ever need any assistance, Marissa is always here to help out! Whether it be the unemployment system, the RMV, or any other state agency, she can be reached at marissa.otero@masenate.gov or at our district office at 413-572-3920.

I hope this fourth newsletter was interesting and informative. If I can ever be of any assistance, please never hesitate to reach out. I am here to help.

Wishing you a happy and healthy holiday season.

Sincerely,

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