Hello everyone,
Words truly cannot express how great it is to be back home with my family and our entire community!
As you might have seen online, last week I returned home following a six-month deployment with the Massachusetts National Guard as part of Joint Task Force Southern Border. I am grateful to everyone who supported me through this deployment, especially my Senate Team. While I was deployed, my team went above and beyond to serve our district and ensured I was kept up to date on everything going on in our communities and at the State House.
After spending a few days with my family, I was excited to jump right back into things and start preparing for next week’s debate of the Senate’s proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget. I am proud to share that the Senate’s budget proposes the highest allocation of local aid in our state’s history. I’ve heard loud and clear how our municipalities and local residents are struggling to keep up with rising costs, that’s why next week I’ll be fighting hard to bring back essential funding for our district and Western Massachusetts as a whole.
This week my State House team had the opportunity to connect with a few local organizations during their advocacy days. Caitlyn greatly appreciated the opportunity to connect with staff and clients from Riverside Industries in Easthampton to discuss the essential services and employment opportunities that they provide for adults with disabilities. Sam also had the chance to meet with folks from Meghan’s Light, a Western Massachusetts nonprofit that raises awareness and supports individuals diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis.
On Thursday, I attended a special event with the JCRC of Greater Boston, where my team and I were honored for leading the Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism. I am grateful to be named their Legislator of the Year and for their recognition of my staff. While this work is absolutely not done, I look forward to working with the Administration to implement the Commission’s recommendations and will continue to push back on hate wherever it rears its ugly head.
At the end of the week, I had the chance to join students from West Springfield and Agawam for their 8th grade civics bowl. It is critical that we provide our young people with a strong civics education and I am grateful to the educators who organized this fun opportunity for the students to put their knowledge to the test and, even more importantly, discuss the significance of being active citizens.
This week Team Velis hosted office hours in Chicopee, and West Springfield. Next week Team Velis will be hosting office hours on Tuesday at the Easthampton Council on Aging from 10:30am to 11:30am and on Wednesday at the Holyoke Council on Aging from 10:00am to 11:00am. If you are unable to make office hours, I can always be reached by email, john.velis@masenate.gov, by phone, (413) 572-3920, and you can find me online at senatorjohnvelis.com.  
Best,   
John Velis