Hello!
I hope everyone had a great week. With all the cold winter weather that has come our way I would like to remind you all that my office remains available to assist constituents with applications for fuel assistance or locating nearby warming centers.
This week I had the absolute honor of joining the City of Holyoke as they swore in their new Chief of Police, my dear friend Brian Keenan. Beyond the officer who brings the highest level of integrity and dedication to his job each and every day- Brian is truly one of the most caring and dependable guys around. Whether it was checking in with my family when I’ve been deployed overseas or being one of the first people to celebrate with Emily and I when Carson was born, I am beyond lucky to call him my friend. The City of Holyoke could truly not be in better hands with Chief Brian Keenan. Congratulations!
On Tuesday my team and I had a great time connecting with members from the Chicopee American Legion. Like many legions across the state, Post 452 has been hard at work to increase their membership and improve their building. Our American Legions are important welcoming spaces for veterans both past and present to engage and congregate. Together we discussed some of the challenges they are having and ways that I may be able to assist in the future.
With the new legislative session underway Team Velis and I were hard a work this week finalizing some of the new legislation I will be filling ahead of the bill filing deadline. Under the Legislature’s joint rules, all bills must be filed by the third Friday in January of the first annual session, this year being January 17th. While my colleagues and I can file some bills later in the session those pieces of legislation will have to navigate additional committees due to their tardiness. As we continue to move forward in the 194th legislative session I will be sure to keep you updated on different aspects of the legislative process.
This week Team Velis hosted the first office hours of 2025 in Agawam and West Springfield. Next week we will be hosting office hours on Tuesday morning at the Chicopee Council on Aging from 10:00AM to 11:00AM 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