Happy February Everyone,
It was a cold and snowy start to the second month of the year and according to Punxsutawny Phil, we still have six weeks left until the weather starts to warm up.
More importantly, this Monday marks not only the beginning of February, but also the beginning of Black History Month. This time provides an opportune moment for us all to look forward and contemplate how we can create a more equitable and cohesive Commonwealth.
One of the few upsides of working from home is that I and my staff were able to keep working despite the “Snowageddon”. Thankfully so, as our weeks are only getting busier here as we move into this new Legislative session. At the beginning of the week, I met with members of the Massachusetts Teachers’ Association to discuss their legislative priorities for this session. Teachers are some of the most dedicated and vital public servants in our Commonwealth. The purpose of these ongoing talks is find out what works best for them and how the legislature can help them during and beyond the pandemic.
Later that day I joined other State Senators on a zoom call with Secretary of Health and Human Services, Marylou Sudders, to discuss the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. This week the State launched the Massachusetts Vaccine Scheduling Resource Line, which individuals ages 75 and older may call to get assistance from a live representative on scheduling a COVID-19 vaccine appointment. The hotline can be reached by dialing 2-1-1, and will operate from 8:30AM to 5:00PM on weekdays. If you would like to stay up to date with vaccine information, please visit my website at https://senatorjohnvelis.com/covid-19-updates/ and sign up for our weekly COVID-19 newsletter.
This week I also had the honor of speaking with students of Westfield High about what the future holds for both them and our Commonwealth. I really enjoyed discussing my time at Westfield High School as well as answering their questions. Special thanks to their teacher, Sarah Corbett, who set up this talk and whom Westfield High is extremely lucky to have.
On Friday I met with members of the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association to discuss their legislative priorities. This is just one of many legislative topics my office is taking meetings on as the bill filing season continues.
That morning, I was also able to tour Westfield State and see the new COVID-19 testing site that they’re going to open. Even with the vaccine on the horizon, frequent testing remains the most effective way to prevent spread and serious symptoms. I implore all of you to stay vigilant so as to protect yourselves and your neighbors.
In this new legislative session, I will also be putting together newsletters from my office that can be sent right to your email inbox. If you would like to sign up for the newsletter, head to www.senatorjohnvelis.com/quarterly-newsletter/
As always, if there is anything I can do to assist you, please never hesitate to reach out to my office. I can be reached at my email: john.velis@masenate.gov or by phone: (413) 572-3920 and you can find me online at senatorjohnvelis.com.
Sincerely,
John C. Velis