Gobi Testifies in Support of Bills Honoring Dedicated Civil Servants

BOSTON (May 4, 2021) - Senator Anne Gobi (D-Spencer), former chair of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture, testified today before the committee on a pair of bills she has sponsored this session aimed at honoring individuals who dedicated their lives through service to the Commonwealth.

Gobi had this to say on her testimony, "I was glad to offer my support for the passage of these bills. Les and Terry Campbell and Detective John Songy made a positive difference in Massachusetts and being able to honor them in a tangible way is something we should do."

The first bill offered by the Senator and co-sponsored by Representative Susannah Whipps (I-Athol), S.544, would designate the Quabbin Visitor Center in Belchertown as the Les and Terry Campbell Quabbin Visitors Center. The Campbell's dedicated much of their lives to all aspects of the Quabbin and were instrumental in the founding of the visitors center that continues to bring educational benefits to the thousands of guests the wilderness reserve sees annually. Their lasting contributions to the region remain with the many conservation groups they founded and the people they touched, including the Friends of the Quabbin, Pioneer Valley Photographic Artists, and the Quabbin Photo Group, all of which preserve the memory and beauty of the Quabbin region for future generations.

The second bill the Senator spoke on today addressed designating a boat launch area in the town of Rutland as the Detective John D. Songy Boat Launch, recognizing the life of Rutland Police Detective John Songy, who tragically lost his battle with COVID-19 in May of 2020. Detective Songy was an eight-year veteran of the department who previously served with the Oakham police, and was a staunch conservationist in his spare time that could often be seen patrolling around the boat launch areas. Gobi spoke about how the boat launch dedication would serve to honor both his memory and that of other first responders who lost their lives during the pandemic, and encouraged the expeditious passage of both bills to honor the fallen during these difficult times. The bill has been co-sponsored by Representative Kim Ferguson (R-Holden), Representative David LeBouef (D-Worcester), and Senator Michael Moore (D-Milbury).

For more information on the legislation, please contact Senator Gobi's via email at Anne.Gobi@MASenate.gov.

Massachusetts Senate Advances Holyoke Soldiers' Home Bond Bill

Legislation includes additional bond authorization for geographic equity and accessibility for veterans

(Boston–05/04/2021) On Thursday, April 29, 2021, the Massachusetts State Senate passed a bill authorizing $400 million in bonds for the design and construction of a new facility for the soldiers' home in Holyoke. It also authorizes the issuance of $200 million in general obligation bonds to increase geographic equity and accessibility related to the continuum of long-term care services for Massachusetts veterans across the state, with an emphasis on those areas not primarily served by the soldiers' homes in Chelsea or Holyoke.

"The funding in this bill will ensure that we begin to rethink how we deliver care to veterans of every generation across Massachusetts," stated Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). "Ensuring that our veterans are connected to their communities is an important factor in ensuring that their physical and mental health is taken care of, and so I am proud of the steps we have taken to ensure geographic equity and accessibility, especially for our women and LGBTQ veterans, as well as veterans of color. Our quick action in passing this legislation will help ensure we maximize federal funds in this important endeavor."

Senator Anne Gobi (D-Spencer), a member on the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs who is also serving as a member of the Special Committee on Oversight for the Holyoke Soldiers Home COVID-19 Outbreak, had this to say on the bill's passage, "Our Veterans deserve proper care delivered with honor and dignity. The nurses, doctors and staff that provide that care deserve a facility that that supports their duties. This investment in a new soldiers home is also an investment to provide state wide care to all Veterans in need. They were there for us, we need to be there for them."

In passing the $400 million bond authorization for a new soldiers' home in Holyoke, Massachusetts is eligible to receive up to 65 per cent in federal reimbursement through the Veterans Affairs State Home Construction Grant Program. The existing soldiers' home in Holyoke was built in 1952 with many triple and quadruple-bed rooms. The bill passed by the Senate will advance the construction of a modern facility with a "small house" concept to meet the needs of future generations of veterans.

The Senate adopted an amendment on the floor to ensure that construction of the project utilizes a diverse workforce and provides for well-paying, middle class jobs. The amendment inserts Project Labor Agreement language that mandates a pre-bid, pre-hire labor agreement for the construction of the new facility in Holyoke, which will ensure that the workforce is local, diverse, inclusive, well-trained, safe and skilled.

Historically, such agreements on large taxpayer funded projects result in the completion of construction on-time and on or under budget. Additionally, this amendment mandates bold action to establish, recruit, and assist women, minority, and veteran owned businesses who may participate in the design and construction of the facility. The bill establishes the Access, Inclusion, and Diversity Committee to help set and monitor progress of diversity and inclusion goals and recommend solutions and programs to meet them, throughout the design and construction of the facility.

As part of the Senate's commitment to increase geographic equity and accessibility for all veterans, the bill requires the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM), in consultation with the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), to hold hearings across the state to better understand the regional long-term care needs of veterans throughout the Commonwealth. Based on these hearings, communities will be better positioned to advocate for the $200 million authorized in new capital spending for long-term care services for veterans across the continuum of care, including potentially new "small home" satellite veterans' homes, or new or expanded capital supports for community or home-based care.

One of many amendments adopted on the floor also requires the Department of Veteran's Services to consider the needs of veterans in designing facilities to ensure new facilities meet the needs of a changing veteran population, while another requires plans for new long-term care facilities to prioritize equitable access, regardless of race, religion, sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation.

The bill must now be reconciled with the version recently passed by the House of Representatives.