Massachusetts Senate Gives Final Approval to Holyoke Soldiers’ Home Bond Bill
The Massachusetts State Senate on Thursday unanimously gave final legislative approval to a bill authorizing $400 million in bonds for the design and construction of a new soldiers’ home facility in Holyoke. The bill, which passed the Massachusetts House of Representatives earlier in the week and now moves to the Governor for consideration, also authorizes the issuance of $200 million in bonds to increase geographic equity and accessibility related to the continuum of long-term care services for veterans across the state.
“As we pass this critical measure, my thoughts today are with the families and loved ones of the veterans who died at the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke as a result of COVID-19,” stated Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “The Senate will always lead in its efforts to support the brave men and women who have served. Veterans of all generations deserve a facility that meets their growing physical and mental health needs, and this legislation provides a blueprint for those efforts. More reforms are needed to help increase access to care in our communities for our veterans and I am committed to making that happen. I want to thank the Senate and House conferees, House Speaker Mariano and my legislative colleagues for their hard work and swift action in seeing this important measure through.”
“Today’s passage is a reflection of the Senate’s commitment to meeting the needs of the ever-changing veteran population and providing the long-term care services desperately needed for all veterans across the Commonwealth,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways & Means. “I want to thank Senate President Spilka for her leadership along with Senators Freidman, Rush, Velis, Feeney and others for their contributions to improve the bill to address regional equity and increase accessibility to services for all of our veterans.”
“Rebuilding the soldiers’ home in Holyoke and increasing access to services for our veterans is necessary and long overdue, especially after tragically losing many residents of the soldiers’ home to a COVID-19 outbreak last year,” said Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington), lead Senate negotiator of the Soldiers’ Home Conference Committee. “This funding will ensure that the Commonwealth’s veterans are met with the services that they deserve and that address their unique and changing needs. I want to thank Senate President Spilka for her leadership and my fellow conferees for their collaboration and efforts in advancing this important legislation.”
“Our Veterans throughout the Commonwealth deserve the very best in care and treatment as they age. The bill that we enacted today will ensure that their needs are met for generations to come in a safe, comfortable, and welcoming soldiers’ home,” stated Senator Paul Feeney (D-Foxborough), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets and a member of the Conference Committee. “Additionally, it is critical that this vital taxpayer funded facility be built efficiently by a local, well-trained, safe and diverse workforce that provides a career pipeline for skilled craftspeople in Western Massachusetts. The bi-partisan and collaborative bond authorization bill we sent to the Governor is reflective of our values and consistent with our focus on providing equitable and top-notch care to every Veteran in the Commonwealth.”
“As the Senator for the City of Holyoke and the Soldiers’ Home, I know what this new Home means to so many in our community. This has truly been a long and emotional process that started well before this legislation was first filed. From the very start, families and Veterans gave me a very clear message: Get this done. We could not let them down and I am proud to say that we have not let them down,” stated Senator John C. Velis (D-Westfield), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs. “I want to thank the Senate President for her unwavering commitment to this critical issue, Senator Friedman and the committee members for their swift and diligent work on this legislation, and all my Senate colleagues for their support. The funding authorized in this bill will ensure that the future residents of the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home and Veterans across our Commonwealth receive the care with honor and dignity that they have earned in service to our nation. Today’s vote brings us one step closer towards fulfilling that mission.”
“I would like to thank President Spilka and Speaker Mariano for your leadership and congratulate my colleagues on the conference committee, for their hard work and dedication on this important issue,” said Senator Michael F. Rush (D-West Roxbury). “I am pleased that we have adopted a bond bill that will construct a much-needed new facility at Holyoke, while also addressing the geographic challenges we face in housing long-term Veterans. I look forward to continued conversations on the future of our veterans’ homes and the importance of providing the best care to veterans and their families throughout the commonwealth.”
The existing soldiers’ home in Holyoke was built in 1952 with many triple- and quadruple-bed rooms. Those capacity and facility issues became clear last year as the highly contagious COVID-19 virus spread throughout the home leaving more than 70 veterans dead.
The bill passed by the Legislature will advance the construction of a modern facility with a “small house” concept to meet the needs of future generations of veterans. To further meet the needs of veterans in all corners of the Commonwealth, with an emphasis on those areas not primarily served by the soldiers’ homes in Chelsea or Holyoke, the $200 million in bonds authorizes the establishment of regional or satellite veterans’ homes as well as new or expanded supports for community-based care services and home-based care services. This $200 million for geographic equity was added to the bill by the Senate after passage by the House and maintained by the conference committee.
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 legislation ensures that construction of the project utilizes a diverse workforce and provides for well-paying, middle class jobs. The bill includes 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.
Mandating 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. This provision builds on the Senate’s commitment to address systemic racial inequities in all areas of the economy.
The legislation now goes to the Governor’s desk for approval.