Hello Everyone,
I hope you all had a great week and are still staying strong with your New Year’s resolutions!
This week the federal government launched a website to order four free COVID-19 test kits per household, (covidtests.gov). They have also established a phone line, 1-800-232-0233, for assistance ordering these tests over the phone. In addition, insurers are now required to pay for 8 at-home tests per person per month. Consumers with private health coverage can buy a test online/in a store and get reimbursed by filing a claim with their insurance. Be sure to save the receipt! Please take advantage of these resources as we continue to combat COVID-19 and the Omicron variant.
While my son, Carson, now dictates much of my current sleep schedule, it was a still busy week for Team Velis. On Tuesday I met with Dr. John Kelly, Director of the MGH Recovery Research Institute, to discuss challenges faced by individuals in recovery and the new advancements that Dr. Kelly and his team are pursuing. Later on, my staff met with Mayor McCabe and other community members to discuss several topics, including the traffic issue at Mass Pike exit 41. Nobody likes to sit in traffic, including me, and I look forward to working with Mayor McCabe and Westfield City Officials on this issue.
On Thursday I attended a call with leadership from hospitals across Western Massachusetts. These leaders continue to provide valuable insight into the challenges that our healthcare system face regarding COVID-19. I will continue to communicate with them to ensure that they are receiving the support they need to care for the residents of our communities. Also on Thursday, my staff was in attendance for a meeting between Mayor Joshua Garcia of Holyoke and the Holyoke Taxpayers Association. Mayor Garcia filled us in on his transition to leadership in Holyoke, as well as his vision for the future of the city. He shared some very exciting details on his plans to make sure the city government runs cohesively and efficiently, for his term and beyond.
This week the Baker-Polito Administration announced grant funding for 306 Massachusetts fire departments from the FY22 Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant Program. I am thrilled to see several departments in the Second Hampden and Hampshire District allocated funds as part of this program. These funds will help keep our firefighters safe, in turn making our communities safer. Our thanks to the Baker-Polito Administration, and our first responders. On the note of firefighting, this Friday my office presented citations to two retirees from the Easthampton Fire Department, David Mottor and Wayne Hennemman. I want to thank both for their commitment to keeping Easthampton and the surrounding communities safe.
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