Press Releases/Statements

Senator Velis Receives Legislator of the Year Award from Providers’ Council

State Representative Simon Cataldo (D-Concord) and State Senator John Velis (D-Westfield) Announce Commission to Combat Antisemitism

BRIDGEPORT NATIONAL BINDERY HONORED BY LEGISLATURE AT ANNUAL MANUFACTURING AWARDS CEREMONY  

Velis Renews Push to Modernize Wiretap Law 

Senator Velis Helps West Springfield Council on Aging Purchase New Vehicle 

Velis Joins Community in Remembering Those Lost to Overdoses  

Velis Highlights Concerning New CDC Data Regarding Youth Mental Health 

Governor Healey Signs HERO Act into Law 

Velis Shepherds HERO ACT Across Legislative Finish Line to Governor’s Desk 

Senate Acts to Mitigate Massachusetts Opioid Crisis

Senator Velis Raises Alarm on Military Suicides Unrelated to Combat

Velis Transparent Ticket Pricing Bill Passed in Senate’s Economic Development Bill

Velis Amendment Expands Homeownership Opportunities in Small & Rural Towns Across Western Massachusetts

Velis Ushers Expanded HERO Act Through Senate to Support Veterans, Active-Duty Service Members, and their Families

 Senate Adopts Senator Velis Amendments to Support Veterans Ahead of Memorial Day 

Senate Passes Unanimously Velis Amendment to Combat Rising Acts of Antisemitism in the Baystate 

Ahead of Senate’s Budget Debate, Senator Velis Raises Alarm on Fentanyl Prevalence and Need for Narcan 

Senator Velis Receives Hope for Holyoke’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Work Supporting Individuals in Recovery   

Legislature Recognizes American Legion Auxiliary — Department of Massachusetts and Celebrates Purple Up Day for Military Children

Senate Unanimously Passes Explicit Image Bill

Massachusetts Senate acts to transform early education and care

Senator Velis Creates Legal Mechanism to Address Repeat Firearm-Violent Offenders 

Senator Velis Demands Pharmacies Increase Access to Narcan

Senate FY’24 MSBA Funding Saves Holyoke and Westfield Taxpayers on School Construction Projects

Senator Velis Presented “Legislator of the Year” Award by Massachusetts Police Association 

Revenge Porn Bill Reported Out Favorably from Judiciary Committee 

Final Tax Relief Package Sent to Governor’s Desk  

Massachusetts Fulfills Sen Velis Legislation, Establishes Veterans’ Equality Review Board to Ensure LGBTQ Veterans Receive State Veteran Benefits 

Senator Velis Joins Community Members at Events Throughout Western Massachusetts for International Overdose Awareness Day 

Sen Velis Veterans’ Bonus Eligibility Bill Passed in Final Budget 

Legislature Maintains Senator Velis’ Priorities for District and State in Final FY24 Budget

Healey-Driscoll Administration, United Way Announce Farm Resiliency Fund to Support Flood Relief Efforts 

Department of Mental Health Commissioner Doyle, Senator Velis Visit Westfield State University for Behavioral Health Discussions 

Over 40 Legislators Join Senator Velis in Calling for Increase to Substance Use Treatment Reimbursement Rates 

Ahead of Taylor Swift Performances, Sen. Velis and Rep. Carey Highlight Transparent Ticket Pricing Bill 

Sen. Velis Highlights Behavioral Health Funding in FY24 Senate Budget Proposal 

Sen. Velis Announces $164M in Federal Funding for Reconstruction of Holyoke Veterans’ Home  

Senator Velis Holds Mental Health Discussion with Students at Westfield State University 

Pentagon Announces F-35 Fighter Jets for 104th Fighter Wing:  SPEED Act Helps Massachusetts Meet Final Criteria 

Senator Velis Announces Extended Visiting Hours at Agawam Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery 

Senator Velis Outraged at Limited Visiting Hours at Agawam Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery 

Senator Velis Visits OnPoint NYC – Harm Reduction and Overdose Prevention Center  

Senator Velis Glad to See His Tax Relief Priorities in Governor Healey Proposal 

Senator Velis Appointed Chair of Mental Health, Substance Use, & Recovery Committee, Veterans & Federal Affairs Committee for 2023-2024 Legislative Session 

DPU Approves Reduction in Gas Heating Rates 

Senator Velis Appointed to National Mental Health Task Force 

Senator Velis Urges Department of Public Utilities to Reconsider Winter Energy Rates as Price of Oil Falls 

Senator Velis Urges More Focus on Chelsea Soldiers’ Home Following Inspector General’s Letter 

Legislature Sends Compromise Economic Development Bill to Governor’s Desk, Includes $2.5 Million Secured by Senator Velis for District

Senator Velis Joins Colleagues in Urging DPU Action on Winter Energy Rate Increases 

Sen. Velis, Rep. Duffy recognize Holyoke Public School Educators  

Governor Baker Signs SPEED Act at Hanscom Air Force Base  

Senator Velis Tours District with Chairman Rodrigues 

Senator Velis Calls for More Supports for Women Veterans as State Audit Reports “Unacceptable” Women Veterans’ Network 

State Legislators Sign on to Sen. Velis’ Letter Urging US Senate to Pass Federal PACT Act 

MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATURE LEGALIZES SPORTS BETTING 

MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATURE PASSES BILL SUPPORTING VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES 

Senator Velis Secures $1.5 Million to Help Replace Main Street Sewer Pipes 

Sen. Velis Amendment Repeals Archaic Gold Star Spouses Restriction

Senator Velis to Lead Veterans Conference Committee 

Senator Velis Secures $1,000,000 in Senate Budget for Westfield High School Improvements  

Senate Passes Holyoke Soldiers’ Home Family Settlement, House Passes Sen. Velis’ SPEED Act  

Gov. Baker Signs Sen. Velis Military Voting Policy into Law  

Senator Velis Statement on Leeds VA Facility Remaining Open 

Senator Velis Secures Funding to Combat Record High Rate of Overdose Deaths 

Senate Passes Sen. Velis Amendment for LGBTQ Veterans Discharged under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” 

Senator Velis Presented “Dream Maker” Award by Girls Inc. of The Valley

Sen. Velis Honored as 2022 Champion of Youth by MA Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs

Senate Passes Cannabis Bill, Includes Sen. Velis Amendment to Support Municipalities 

Senator Velis Appointed to Soldier’s Home Conference Committee 

Senator Velis Statement on Recommended Closure of Northampton VA 

Senator Velis Presents $75,000 in ARPA funding to the Agawam Senior Center 

Senator Velis Presents $2,000,000 in ARPA funding toTreehouse Foundation in Easthampton

Senate Passes Soldiers’ Home Governance Bill, Senator Velis Secures Amendments to Streamline Chain of Command and Maintain Local Power

Senator Velis Partners with Animal Law Advocates to Host Roundtable on Animal Cruelty Laws 

Department of Veterans’ Services Launches Women Vets Survey, Funding for Survey Secured by Senator Velis 

Chicopee, Holyoke, Westfield, and West Springfield to receive Electric Vehicle Fast-Charging Stations from Baker-Polito Administration

VETERANS COMMITTEE REPORTS OUT COMPACT BILL, WILL SEND “STRONG MESSAGE” TO DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Velis Secures $3.5M in Senate ARPA Bill for Treehouse Foundation, Veterans, and District Organizations

Senator Velis Delivers Student Letters to Holyoke Soldiers’ Home Residents on Veterans Day

Senator Velis Amendments for Medal of Liberty, Veterans’ Treatment Courts, Adopted in Senate ARPA Debate

Senator Velis Tours Local Farms with Western Mass Legislators

Senate Passes SPEED Act to Support Military Families Relocating to Massachusetts

Senate Adopts Velis Amendment for Overseas Military Voters

Veterans Committee Hears Testimony from Gold Star Families

Velis Testifies in Support of Recycling Bill, Remembers Agawam Resident Jack Coughlin

Veterans & Federal Affairs Committee Reviews Velis’ Bill to Support Military Families

Senator Velis Addresses Local Chambers of Commerce

Senator Velis Secures $2 million in Budget Amendments for District, Statewide Organizations

Velis Secures $500,000 Budget Amendment for Women Veterans

Velis Secures Budget Amendments to Fund Narcan Pilot Program and Help People in Recovery Find Jobs

Senate Enacts Holyoke Soldiers’ Home Conference Bill

Legislature’s Aviation Caucus holds First Meeting

Velis Small Business Bills Referred to Committee

Velis Files Education Bills in Senate

Velis introduces legislation to support military families

Velis one of twenty legislators across the country to be selected for opioid fellowship

Velis named Chair of Veterans and Federal Affairs Committee

Velis Calls for Centralized Booking for Vaccine Registration, Co-Sponsors Bill to Improve System