Hello,
I hope everyone is doing good during these winter months. Spring is right around the corner and hopefully warm weather with it. It has been a busy time going through all the bills that are filed for the upcoming 2021-2022 session. I have filed four bills and co-sponsored over thirty others.
STATE REP. KELLY PEASE
The four bills I filed are: 1) mandating that cities and towns receive a minimum of the gas and diesel tax for road repair, 2) An Act studying the effect of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in commercial products, 3) An Act relative to personal care attendant services, and 4) An Act for hunting on Sunday. In addition to those bills I have co-sponsored over 30 other bills. A couple examples of the bills that I have co-sponsored are: An Act relative to protecting municipalities from unfunded mandates and An Act relative to unfunded mandates on public schools. If you would like to see all the bills I have co-sponsored or other information you can go to: https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/KWP1/Bills
One of the biggest frustrations and complaints I hear is the lack of a vaccination site in Westfield and how hard it is to get an appointment using the on-line or call center. I have made several calls to the Department of Health and Human Services (they are the lead agency for this pandemic) and talked to Secretary Sudders point man on vaccine distribution and getting a site in Westfield or close by. Unfortunately, the biggest issue is the supply coming from the federal government. After talking to the director of the Westfield Senior Center Tina Gorman, we both feel that the new Johnson and Johnson vaccine will be a game changer when it is approved in the near future. She gave me a tour of the Senior Center to show the set up in preparation for being able to administer the vaccine once it becomes available. The plan and layout are perfect and very safe for social distancing while waiting or getting a shot. I am optimistic that with the new vaccine we will have a chance to use that site soon.
Committee assignments came out and I was very pleased to get the committees that I put in for. I will be serving on the following committees:
Joint Committee on Higher Education — Ranking Minority Member
Joint Committee on Education — Member
Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs — Member
House Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets — Member
Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets – Member
Education is always an important topic, and with Westfield State University, I am very pleased to be the Ranking Minority member of the Joint Higher Education Committee. Being a twenty-year veteran of the Army I am honored to serve on the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs with Chairman of the Committee Senator John Velis. I also look forward to serving on the House and Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditure and State Assets. This committee oversees all spending and debt for the Commonwealth.
Unfortunately the Penguin Plunge was cancelled this year. As you know this is a big fundraiser for the Amelia Park Children’s Museum. In Lieu of the plunge they are asking that people do a snow angel, much like the ice bucket challenge a few years ago. Send your videos and
donations to help out this worthy cause. I will be donating and hope those that can, will also donate.
Ethan and I continue to attend numerous meetings with state agencies and other organizations, and we have taken many calls from constituents with various issues. Please reach out to my office at 413-875-8787 from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. We are in the Westwood Building on the 3rd floor (94 N Elm St, Suite 301N). You can also email us at: [email protected] or [email protected].
I am honored to serve the City of Westfield and will do the best job I can. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you.
State Representative Kelly Pease
