Hello everyone,
Have you made your Valentine’s Day plans yet? Well luckily later today the Southampton Fire Department will be hosting a Community CPR Class over at Town Hall from 1PM to 3PM. This is great opportunity to learn hands only CPR, AED use, and other lifesaving skills. When an emergency arises being able to provide CPR for someone you love helps buys precious time until EMS is able to arrive!
Team Velis started the week on Monday with a meeting of the Special Commission on the Public Health Effects of Xylazine to discuss their findings and create potential recommendations for the Commission’s final report, which is due late next month. Over the past eight months, public safety officials, public health experts, veterinarians, and lawmakers on the Commission have worked together to understand this contaminant and the devastating harm it is causing in our communities. The draft recommendations discussed will help ensure that we can support those struggling with addiction and exposed to Xylazine or other harmful contaminants.
This week Team Velis met with a few different groups of constituents both here in the district and over at the State House. From discussions on the benefits of early childhood education, ways to make housing more affordable, and much more; we sincerely appreciate the time and effort these constituents dedicated to visiting our offices throughout the week.
This week the Senate considered three consumer protection bills. This includes legislation to strengthen fair housing practices for home buyers and renters, updating the state’s Lemon Law to provide a more reasonable timeline to have a vehicle inspected following its purchase, and updating the educational requirement for certified public accountants to include a mix of both college education and work experience. With these three bills having passed the Senate on Thursday they will be sent to the House of Representatives for future consideration.
This week Team Velis held office hours in Chicopee and West Springfield. Next week we will be hosting office hours at the Easthampton Council on Aging on Tuesday from 10:30am to 11:30am and again on Wednesday at the Holyoke Council on Aging from 10:00am to 11:00am. If you are unable to make office hours, you can reach us by email, john.velis@masenate.gov, by phone, (413) 572-3920, and online at senatorjohnvelis.com.
Wishing all of our local students and educators a fun and safe February break next week!
Team Velis