Corey P. Paris

As legislators on either end of the age spectrum, we’ve seen the yin and yang of college debt. The experience of today’s recent graduates — including millennials and members of Gen Z, is dramatically different from that of their parents’ and grandparents’ generations. The rising rate of inflation in education costs is preventing too many recent grads from getting an economic toehold. In comparison, earlier generations, once they got a steady job post-graduation, paid off the cost of college relatively easily.

State Representatives Corey P. Paris (D – Stamford), Gary Turco (D – Newington), Christine Palm (D – Chester, Deep River, Essex, Haddam), Eleni Kavros DeGraw (D – Avon, Canton), and Manny Sanchez (D – New Britain, Newington) held a press conference Tuesday announcing legislation to help address Connecticut's student loan debt crisis. The press conference coincides with the Higher Education & Employment Advancement Committee's public hearing on the proposed bill.

Did you know that from 2007 to 2020, student loan debt ballooned by 144% in the United States? In Connecticut, there are nearly 500,000 borrowers who have about $17.5 billion in student loan debt. The average borrower in the Class of 2020 graduated with an average of $35,853 in student debt. The cost burden of student debt can impact borrowers' ability to build wealth, contribute to their families, and engage with their community.

The Connecticut League of Conservation Voters recently released its legislative scorecard for votes on key environmental bills during the 2021 legislative session. Rep. Paris received a 100 percent for his votes on these major issues.

We celebrate the achievements, accomplishments and contributions Black Americans have made to this country, of which there are many, each February during National Black History Month. President Gerald Ford made it official in 1976.

If you have ideas for legislation for the 2022 legislative session or want to share your thoughts and concerns on state issues, I will be holding Virtual Coffee Hours during the first week of February.

Speaker of the House Matt Ritter (D – Hartford) has tapped State Representative Corey P. Paris (D – Stamford) to serve on the Connecticut General Assembly's powerful Appropriations Committee.

I am pleased to share with you that today, the Connecticut State Bond Commission approved over $2.5 million for projects throughout our city.