(BOSTON – 5/25/2023) After considering over 1,000 amendments in a three-day-long debate, the Massachusetts State Senate today unanimously passed its final FY’24 budget. During the debate, the Senate adopted 16 policy and funding amendments filed by Senator John Velis (D-Westfield) that allocated a total of $3.76 million to policy initiatives and organizations across the Hampden and Hampshire District and the Commonwealth.
“This final Senate FY’24 budget makes transformative investments in so many important areas of our Commonwealth and I am grateful to my colleagues for adopting several of my amendments throughout the debate for veterans’ services, behavioral health supports, and so many other priorities in our district and state,” said Senator Velis, who is Chairman of the Mental Health, Substance Use, & Recovery Committee and Chairman of the Veterans’ & Federal Affairs Committee.
Veterans’ Affairs Amendments
- Amendment 362: $500,000 to the Massachusetts General Hospital Home Base Program to expand trauma services for Veterans across the state
- Amendment 490: $200,000 to implement the recommendations of last session’s Women Veterans Study, including expanding outreach to identify women veterans and services
- Amendment 372: Expanding eligibility for the MA Welcome Home Bonus to LGBTQ+ service members who were dishonorably discharged under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
- Amendment 352: $914,000 to Disabled American Veterans Department of Massachusetts Service Fund, Inc. to provide counseling and benefits assistance to disabled veterans and their families
- Amendment 584: $100,000 to Vietnam Veterans of Massachusetts Inc to aid veterans in the commonwealth with filing claims for medical and financial benefits
Health Care Amendments
- Amendment 531: $500,000 to establish a Behavioral Health School Pilot Program that will allow school counselors and administrators to call a specialist hotline to discuss behavioral health issues with students
- Amendment 378: Requires the Board of Nursing Home Administrators to report on nursing home closures and whether the closures were in compliance with state regulations
- Amendment 354: Ensures that Physicians are able to access mental health resources after being referred to Physician Health Services.
Another amendment from Senator Velis, amendment 351, increases funding for the Massachusetts Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs by $800,000, from $2.2M to $3M. That funding will support Boys & Girls Clubs across the Commonwealth in the next operating year.
In addition to these statewide amendments, Senator Velis secured $750,000 in local funding, with amendments for all 9 municipalities in the district. Funding includes $250,000 to the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce to promote building restorations and business upgrades throughout the City of Holyoke, $50,000 to Bay State Noble Hospital’s opioid treatment and overdose prevention community grant program, and $50,000 to the West Springfield Council on Aging for renovations to their fitness center.
“It’s my job as Senator to go down to Beacon Hill and zealously advocate for our district however I can,” said Senator Velis. “Over the past several months, my team and I have been meeting with local leaders and organizations throughout the district to learn about their needs and priorities. I am thrilled that I secured this important funding in the Senate’s budget to support our communities and some of the many incredible groups who do so much for our residents.”
Senator Velis represents his hometown of Westfield, Agawam, parts of Chicopee, Easthampton, Holyoke, Montgomery, Russell, Southampton, and West Springfield.
With these amendments now adopted into the Senate’s budget, it will now be considered in a conference committee with the House of Representatives.
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