Hello,
I hope everyone is enjoying the month of August so far. There’s a been a chill in the air for sure and Fall is definitely right around the corner.
On Wednesday of this week, we marked the observance of Purple Heart Day. The purple heart is awarded to those service members who have been wounded or lost their lives in the line of duty and is one of the oldest active military medals in the United States. So many of our freedoms as Americans find their foundation in the sacrifices of those who came before us and as a proud American and veteran, I would thank all those, as well as their families, who have bravely defended our nation no matter the cost.
This past Thursday I joined Governor Maura Healey, Veteran Secretary Jon Santiago, and members of the legislature to celebrate the HERO Act as it was signed into law not far from where the first battle of the American Revolution was fought in Lexington, Massachusetts. The legislation, now signed into law, is the culmination of months of work alongside my fellow veterans, those who specialize in their care, my fellow legislators in the House and Senate, and those in the Administration. This package will greatly expand resources and services available to out veterans here in the Commonwealth. Included in this bill, among many other benefits, is an expansion of eligibility for Chapter 115 benefits, an expansion of Chapter 115 benefits to include reimbursements for behavioral health treatment, and protections for veterans against predatory claim shark companies. The HERO Act has also received praise as one of the most comprehensive Department of Defense bills enacted in the country this year. Massachusetts has a long history of prioritizing the needs of our veterans and service members- and I am happy that the HERO Act has continued this tradition as we work to make our Commonwealth one of the best places for a veteran or service member to call home!
This week my team hosted office hours at the Agawam COA on Monday. Next week, we will be at the Chicopee COA on Tuesday from 10:00am to 11:00am and at the West Side COA on Wednesday from 11:00am to 12:00pm. If you can’t 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.
Sincerely,
John Velis