Lawmakers urged to ‘Do the right thing’
$400M bill would rebuild Holyoke Soldiers’ Home
Members of the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home Coalition will urge lawmakers to “do the right thing” during a Tuesday hearing and pass a $400 million bond bill that will cover the costs of rebuilding a safer facility than the aging home where 77 veterans have died of coronavirus over the past year.
“We call on members of the General Court to now do the right thing and to support the governor’s bill and the administration’s plan to capitalize on this opportunity to make things right: right for the families of the veterans who died from the COVID-19, right for the incredibly dedicated staff who care for our veterans and right for future generations of Veterans who deserve a new Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke,” the organization said in a statement.
The Legislature has two weeks to pass the bill authorizing the design and construction of a new, eight-story, 224-bed facility to meet an April 1 deadline for a 65% matching grant from the federal Veterans Administration.
Sen. John Velis, D-Westfield,
said he’s “hopeful” the bill will be voted on “promptly.” It still needs to earn a favorable recommendation from the committees on Bonding and Ways and Means before its brought to a floor vote in each chamber.
Velis, coalition members and others will testify before the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight during a virtual hearing at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday. Gov. Charlie Baker filed the bill last month, urging “quick” action.
“Time is obviously of the essence with the April 1st deadline, but we are still on track,” Velis told the Herald. “Securing the federal reimbursement for the project is absolutely critical and we are working tirelessly to make sure this bill is passed expeditiously.”
A November state-commission report following a months-long deadly coronavirus outbreak at the Home revealed eight-year-old plans to remodel or completely replace the facility could have “avoided tragedy” if the state had acted on them, prompting an outcry from families and officials alike.
“Updates to the Home have been put off for far too long,” Velis said.