Hello everyone,
I hope you all had a great week! For most of the past week I was over at the State House participating in the Senate’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget debates. I’m proud to report that it was a highly successful week as I was able to secure over $600,000 in local funding for our district and strengthen support for statewide programs such as the Massachusetts Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs and MCPAP for Schools.
Having spent countless hours at our local Boys and Girls Clubs, shooting hoops as a kid and later as a youth mentor, I’ve seen firsthand the transformative impact these organizations have on children and teens. That is why I was beyond proud to increase the funding allocated to our Commonwealth’s 40 Boys & Girls Clubs to help ensure they can continue providing essential resources and support to the next generation.
I also spent much of this week engaging with my colleagues about the serious youth behavioral health crisis that we have on our hands and the troubling stories I have heard from students and school staff about how profoundly our children are struggling. That’s why this week I led the charge on a budget amendment to fund the MCPAP for Schools program so that they can continue their work not only in the Agawam and Somerville Public Schools but expand their reach to ten more schools next year.
In addition to my work on the budget this week, I participated in the second annual Military Appreciation Day, an event dedicated to recognizing active-duty service members and local veterans from across the state for their dedication to our nation and their communities. Among those honored was Westfield’s Frederick Banda, who was recognized for his advocacy surrounding Agent Orange exposure. Last year, I had the privilege of partnering with Mr. Banda to ensure that Agent Orange Awareness Day is commemorated annually on August 10th in the Commonwealth.
I am truly thankful to Mark and Bridget for keeping things running smoothly here in the district throughout the week. On Thursday, Mark visited a class in West Springfield, where he talked with 8th grade students about the importance of civic engagement and explained that public service careers go far beyond just holding elected office. He highlighted the many ways people can positively influence their communities through various roles. Bridget also took part in celebrations for the grand opening of Contractors Home Appliances and marked the 10-year anniversary of Whip City Fiber.
This week Team Velis hosted office hours in Easthampton and Holyoke. Next week Team Velis will be hosting office hours on Tuesday at the Russell Council on Aging from 11:30am to 12:30pm and on Wednesday at the Southampton Council on Aging from 9:30am to 10:30am. 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