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Dear Neighbor,
We had a fantastic turnout last week during our Coffee Hour at The Ditty Bag. I hope to see you all when we do it again next month. Bring your friends!
In the meantime, I will be joining my colleagues for a Town Hall at New London City Hall on Tuesday. The details are below. I hope to see you there.
I wanted to share some of the issues we may take on in the 2026 legislative session that begins on February 4th. Scroll down for more details.
There's also a reminder regarding the Access Health Enrollment deadline. If you need a health or dental plan, it may be worth checking out.
This week's newsletter topics include:
- Around the 41st District
- Join us in New London on Tuesday
- OLR 2026 Major Issues Report
- Addressing Federal Student Loan Changes
- Snap & Cash Changes Benefit Dates
- Reminder: AHCT Enrollment Deadline
- The Yellow Envelope Program
- Honoring Dr. King in New London on Sunday
- Welcome Aboard!
- Veterans Resources & Updates
- Community Events
Do not hesitate to contact me with any thoughts or concerns you may have at Aundre.Bumgardner@cga.ct.gov or 1-800-842-8267.
Have a great weekend,
Sincerely,
Aundré Bumgardner
State Representative
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Last Saturday’s coffee hour at The Ditty Bag was a real success — full of thoughtful conversation, great questions, and neighbors who care deeply about our community.
I’m grateful to everyone who stopped by to share ideas, raise concerns, and talk about priorities as we head into the 2026 legislative session. These conversations help ground the work we do at the Capitol in the real, lived experiences of Groton, Mystic, and Stonington.
A special thanks to Judy Westwood for the cookies and to Jason and Hazel for keeping the coffee flowing.
Looking forward to more conversations like this — and more coffee hours soon. |
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The Groton legislative delegation met with the Groton City Council and Mayor Rusk this week for a productive discussion on priorities for the 2026 session and key initiatives, projects, and policies impacting the City and Groton Utilities.
The conversation focused on energy affordability, climate resilience, infrastructure investment, support for youth services, and strengthening both our anchor employers like Electric Boat and Groton’s small businesses—work that directly impacts affordability and quality of life for residents. |
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| The Office of Legislative Research Report provides brief descriptions of important issues the General Assembly may face in the coming session. Please click on the image below for details. |
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The One Big Beautiful Bill Act dramatically restructures federal student lending by altering borrowing limits, eliminating key loan programs, and accelerating repayment timelines.
Key changes include:
- Stricter limits on federal student borrowing
- Elimination of the Graduate PLUS Student Loan Program
- Phaseout of existing income-driven repayment plans
Beginning July 1, 2026, a substantially narrower set of repayment options for new federal loans comes into play.
Starting in July, students enrolled in programs designated as "professional degrees" will face an annual borrowing cap of $50,000 per year or $200,000 total.
Students in other graduate programs will be limited to $20,500 per year or $100,000 total. Notably, nursing degrees, along with degrees in physical therapy, public health, social work, and education, were excluded from the professional designation, despite requiring extensive training, licensure, and certification.
These changes raise serious concerns. It is not possible to strengthen our nursing workforce while simultaneously restricting access to the education required to enter the profession. Limiting federal loan availability threatens the pipeline of trained health care professionals and risks exacerbating existing workforce shortages and barriers to care.
In response, my colleagues and I are proposing the creation of a new state-level student loan program and expanded (change to expanding) access to the Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority (CHESLA) during the upcoming legislative session.
CHESLA is a state-created, nonprofit agency providing affordable financing, loans, scholarships, and financial literacy resources to help Connecticut students and families pay for college and manage student debt.
By establishing a state-level graduate loan program, we can protect students, strengthen our workforce, and ensure that higher education remains a pathway to opportunity, not a barrier, for the professionals our communities urgently rely upon.
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| Connecticut passed new legislation requiring DSS to spread out SNAP benefit issuance dates throughout the month rather than concentrating them in the first few days. |
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| This change will help reduce congestion at retailers and improve the overall client experience. |
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| Here's a reminder that the final deadline to enroll in a health or dental plan for 2026 has been extended to Saturday, January 31. |
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Some customers might qualify for new state subsidies or other low- or no-cost coverage options, including the Covered CT Program or HUSKY Health, Connecticut’s Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
The state subsidies will fully fund the expired enhanced premium tax credit amounts for consumers with incomes between 100-200% of the federal poverty level, and who are not enrolled in the Covered CT program.
The state subsidies will also replace 50% of the expired enhanced premium tax credit amounts for those with income over 400% of the federal poverty level and up to 500% of the federal poverty level. |
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Connecticut’s Yellow Envelope Program is about ensuring that everyday interactions are safer and more respectful for people with physical or cognitive disabilities.
Starting this year, the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles will begin providing Yellow Envelopes as part of a larger education and training effort for first responders across the state.
This program helps bridge gaps in high-stress moments, when some individuals may need additional tools for disabilities that are not immediately visible. In doing so, the program promotes understanding, patience, and safer outcomes for everyone involved.
The Yellow Envelope was modeled after the already-established blue envelope initiative, which started in 2020 and was aimed exclusively to support people with autism. Connecticut also has a green envelopes program, started in 2005, for drivers who are deaf or hard of hearing.
For more information, please click HERE. |
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I am thrilled to welcome our newly elected members to the House of Representatives.
State Rep. Iris Sanchez of New Britain was sworn in this week, replacing Rep. Bobby Sanchez, who became New Britain's new mayor, and State Rep-elect Larry Pemberton Jr. won the 139th General Assembly District open seat left by our esteemed colleague Kevin Ryan, who passed away in December.
As our legislative session kicks off on February 4th, we are grateful to have every seat filled and ready to get to work. Congratulations colleagues!
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As the State Representative for Groton, Mystic, and Stonington, home to a strong military community and the U.S. Naval Submarine Base, I am committed to ensuring veterans, active-duty service members, and military families have access to the latest updates, resources, and opportunities.
Below are important events, legislative updates, and benefit programs that may be of interest to our district’s veterans. |
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2025 Connecticut General Assembly Session Opened January 8Veterans can track bills related to military benefits, tax relief, and more using the General Assembly’s Bill Tracking Tool: Track Bills HereHow to Get a Copy of Your DD 214
- Your DD 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) is critical for accessing VA benefits. Here’s how to obtain a copy:
- Check with your Town Clerk – Many veterans file their DD 214 with their local town clerk.
- Contact CT Veterans Affairs – They have an archive of 130,000 DD 214s. Email oaa.dva@ct.gov for assistance.
- Submit a Request to the National Archives – The fastest way is online: Request Here
- If Needed for Burial or Military Honors – Funeral directors have priority retrieval access.
Applying for a Discharge UpgradeVeterans with less-than-honorable discharges due to PTSD, TBI, Military Sexual Trauma (MST), or sexual orientation (Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell) may be eligible for an upgrade. Learn more and apply online: Discharge Upgrade InstructionsMunicipal Veterans Representative ProgramEach town must appoint a Veterans Representative to help veterans access services. Find your local VetRep here: Locate Your Rep2025 Veterans Benefits Guide Available for DownloadThe latest edition of the VA’s "Veterans Benefits for Veterans, Dependents, Survivors, and Caregivers" is now available: Download Here
Stay Connected & Get Involved
I encourage all veterans, military families, and community members to stay informed and engaged. You can sign up for the Connecticut DVA Newsletter to receive future updates: Subscribe Here.For those looking to connect with fellow veterans, share stories, and access important resources, consider attending a veterans' Coffeehouse near you. These gatherings provide a welcoming space for veterans to socialize and receive information about benefits and services:
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- Groton – 2nd & 4th Friday of the month, 9 AM – 11 AM
- Groton Public Library – 52 Newtown Road
- Mystic – 1st & 3rd Thursday of the month, 9 AM – 11 AM
- Mystic Congregational Church – 43 East Main Street
- Pawcatuck – 2nd & 4th Thursday of the month, 9 AM – 11 AM
- Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center – 27 Chase Street
For more locations and information, contact:
Gina King, Director, Senior Volunteer Services
gking@tvcca.org | 860-425-6617
If you have any issues, concerns, or ideas related to veteran services, military families, or legislative priorities, please feel free to reach out to my office. Your service and sacrifices deserve to be honored with the best support possible.
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