Press Releases/Statements

Special Legislative Commission on Xylazine Holds First Meeting, Co-Chaired by Senator Velis

Velis Testifies on Phone Free Classroom Bill to Improve Youth Mental Health

Senate President Joins Senator Velis for a Youth Mental Health Roundtable in Western Massachusetts

Velis Amendment Adopted by Senate to Establish Mental Health Support for Victims of Hate and Bias

Velis Receives Award for Leadership in Suicide Prevention

Velis Brings Commission on Combating Antisemitism to Western Massachusetts

Velis Re-Appointed To Lead Mental Health &Substance Use Committee, Veterans & Federal Affairs Committee

Co-Chair of Antisemitism Commission Weighs in on Disturbing Hate Crimes Report

Velis Outraged and Shocked to Learn Background Checks of EA Shelters Participants Were Not Happening

Velis, Conference Committee reach agreement on final Substance Use Disorder Bill

Senator Velis Highlights Dire Need for Housing Development in Gateway Cities

VELIS DELIVERS 5TH ANNUAL STUDENT LETTERS TO VETERANS’ HOME

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

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