Hello everyone,
I hope you all had a wonderful Fourth of July! It was truly special to see so many of you at events throughout our community, and thank you to everyone who worked to make these events a success.
Team Velis was back at it this week, both at the State House and in the District, starting off on Tuesday morning when I joined the “Male Call” exercise class at the Westfield Senior Center. It was a great change of pace and a chance to reconnect with constituents. Thank you to Jeff Hosmer and everyone in the class—I hope to return soon!
Later that day, I co-hosted the third annual Brian Donaghue Simpson Naloxone Training at the State House with several of my colleagues. Together we reviewed how to identify opioid overdoses and administer naloxone (Narcan), an important training in ensuring more people are prepared to respond in an emergency. On Wednesday, Representative Domb and I collaborated again to co-host a behavioral health resources briefing at the State House, highlighting services available through the Massachusetts Behavioral Health Helpline and how legislators and staff can connect constituents with support. I am continuously grateful for opportunities such as these to learn more about resources available to our communities.
On Thursday, the Senate took up a new social media bill aimed at reducing adolescents’ exposure to addictive online features and improving protections for youth. As Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use & Recovery, I have been a long-time advocate for legislation that creates safer online spaces for young people across the Commonwealth and I am grateful to have been involved with this bill from start to finish. With the House previously passing a different version of this legislation, the two bills will now go to a “conference committee” where differences between the two bills will be worked out.
Friday morning, I joined Kamp for Kids for their annual “Welcome Day” in Westfield. This wonderful program brings together differently abled youth and provides meaningful opportunities for connection throughout the summer. I look forward to this celebration every year and hope all participants have a memorable season!
This weekend, I will attend a ceremony honoring the 30th anniversary of the B-17 Memorial on Mount Tom. The ceremony recognizes the 25 servicemen who lost their lives in 1946 and memorial that was established in their memory. It is always a privilege to join community members in honoring their service.
This week, Team Velis hosted office hours in Agawam and West Springfield. Next week, we will host office hours at the Chicopee Council on Aging at 10:00a.m. on Tuesday, and at the Holyoke Council on Aging at 9:30a.m, on Wednesday. If you are unable to make office hours, please remember that you can reach us by email at john.velis@masenate.gov, by phone at (413)- 572-3920, or online at senatorjohnvelis.com.
Best,
John Velis