(Daily Hampshire Gazette – Sydney Ko) Western Massachusetts will have ample representation on a new legislative committee focusing on agriculture.
Sens. Ann Gobi, D-Spencer, and Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, were named Senate chair and co-chair of the new Agriculture Committee while Rep. Natalie Blais, D-Deerfield, will serve as vice chair on the House side, with Rep. Paul Schmid, D-Westport, as House chair.
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Sen. John C. Velis, D-Westfield, has been appointed Senate chair of the Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery and Veterans and Federal Affairs committees. He was also named as vice chair of the Elder Affairs Committee and will serve on the housing, judiciary, public safety and homeland security, and state administration and regulatory oversight committees.
“In my mind, mental health and substance use are the biggest problems in the commonwealth that not enough people are talking about. And as someone who has had their own struggles in recovery, I know firsthand how these two issues can so often be concurring for people. We know that we must do more to help those struggling, and I look forward to working with members of the committee to accomplish just that,” Velis stated in a press release.