Hello Westfield and Happy New Year! 2017 was certainly an exciting and important year for many of us- I can’t believe it’s almost over. From Beacon Hill to South Korea, I’m especially thankful for all the new opportunities that this year brought, and I can’t wait to see what 2018 has in store.
It was almost a year ago to the day that the 190th General Court was sworn in and I took my third oath of office. We hit the ground running soon after that, filing over 20 bills within those first 2 weeks. Among them was a bill I wrote with the help of Greg Heath, a local firefighter with Parkinson’s disease. The bill, which I have talked about before, would bring accidental disability benefits to firefighters diagnosed with the disease. It’s been great to work with Greg this year and I’m hoping that our bill will continue to build momentum into the new year.
The other bill that took up much of 2017 was my Veterans’ Preference bill that would require all municipalities of offer a formal preference to veterans applying for fire and police jobs. After working with Mass Fallen Heroes on the bill for some time, it finally had a hearing this past fall. Although it is still in committee, I am optimistic that the bill will move forward, as well, in 2018.
Outside of the State House, it was also an exciting year for my army unit. I spent much of the summer and the first two weeks of December completing a training course that was required for a promotion to Major. I won’t have official word until the Spring, but that’s another big thing to look forward to in 2018! As many of you will know, I also spent 3 weeks in South Korea in August. Every year, the US Army performs joint military exercises with the South Korean army, and I’m grateful that I had the opportunity to serve this time around with so many brave men and women.
Back in Westfield, 2017 was filled with dozens of ribbon cuttings, constituent meetings, and bingo at the senior center. I am truly blessed to be able to spend my days helping the people and the business community of Westfield to thrive. Whether it’s just talking to constituents in the Dunks line, or meeting with a constituent who has a great idea to help the community in some way, being present and helping in whatever way I can is the best part of my job. Again, I look forward to seeing what 2018 will bring for our city and doing whatever I can to ensure that it continues to be the best place to live in Massachusetts.
The House is officially back in session on Wednesday. After the holiday recess, I am eager to get back into the fray. On the horizon is the long-awaited criminal justice reform bill. The conference committee report should be out sometime in January, and as always, I will do my best to keep you updated on its contents. Budget season officially begins again in the new year, as well, and I am excited to be seeing many of you at legislative events over the next few months to discuss budget and legislative priorities.
That’s it for this week, folks! Please do not hesitate to reach out to my office with any questions or issues. We can be reached at (413) 572-3920 or [email protected]. Have a Happy New Year- I’ll see you in 2018!
