Hello everyone,
We hope all the local students and teachers had a fun and relaxing April vacation this past week.
Mark and Bridget kicked off the week in Westfield to help celebrate the swearing-in of Westfield Fire Department’s new chief, Eric Bishop. This past fall Senator Velis was proud to help celebrate now Chief Bishop on graduating from the prestigious Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy, a two- year rigorous program centered around community safety and well-being. On behalf of our office and the Senator, Congratulations Chief!
During school vacation weeks, visitors from all over Massachusetts flock to the State House to explore its rich history. This week, Boy Scouts representing various regions of the state, including three scouts from West Springfield, visited the Senate Chamber to present a report on Scouting’s impressive impact statewide. We hope they enjoyed their visit and the remainder of their Freedom Trail Tour around Boston.
On Wednesday, Gabe hosted guests from Forum House in Westfield for the Massachusetts Clubhouse Coalition’s annual advocacy day and employment celebration. During their visit, Gabe joined in acknowledging their valuable partnership with Westfield State University’s Dining Services, which offers numerous supportive employment opportunities for their clients. Partnerships and employment opportunities such as these are vital for individuals served by Forum House, as they foster personal growth, independence, and a sense of belonging within the community.
This week, our team began preparing for the Senate’s upcoming budget season, which starts in just a few weeks. We aim to advocate strongly for our communities and the essential services everyone relies on. Each year, one of the legislature’s most significant responsibilities is crafting a robust, balanced budget for the next fiscal year. The Governor presented her proposed FY’27 budget in January, and following months of hearings and analysis of both the proposal and our Commonwealth’s needs, the House of Representatives now has the budget. They will complete their review over the next week or so before sending it to the Senate, where we will have the opportunity to put forth our own strong recommendations. We look forward to sharing updates about the Senator’s efforts on the budget throughout the next month.
This week, Team Velis hosted office hours in Easthampton. Next week we have an exciting line-up of office hours beginning on Monday at the Westfield Council on Aging from 12:30pm to 1:30pm, on Tuesday at the Russell Council on Aging from 11:30am to 12:30pm, and again on Wednesday at the Southampton Council on Aging from 9:30am to 10:30am. If you are unable to make office hours, please remember that you can reach us by email, john.velis@masenate.gov, by phone, (413) 572-3920, and online at senatorjohnvelis.com.
Sincerely,
Team Velis