Larry B. Butler

The House of Representatives approved legislation for including African-American, Puerto Rican and Latino studies in the public high school curriculum.

Minimum wage workers are moving closer to a living wage. The House approved House Bill 5004 to increase the minimum wage incrementally over the next few years to $15 in 2023.

The House of Representatives held a Memorial for the late Representative Ezequiel Santiago. The House offered his family and each other, words of comfort and remembered him in a very special way. Although there was sadness, there were also happy memories of the impact he made in his community and the impression he left with his Legislative family.

As Deputy Speaker, it is a great honor to lead our House members as we handle state business. I have much respect for what this opportunity represents and for all my colleagues on the floor.

The April 15th deadline to file your state and federal income taxes is fast approaching.

Happy to welcome my colleagues and members of our Black and Puerto Rican Caucus, and many constituents at a local town meeting in Waterbury, and listen to concerns and questions shared with us on local or state issues this past Saturday, March 16.

The 2019 Legislative Session is underway and having an open and honest dialogue with the people I represent is very important to me. I will be joining my colleagues, Senator Hartley and Rep. Reyes for coffee and conversation, this Saturday, February 23 and would like to hear from you.

This month we celebrate Black History month and I take pride in our rich and powerful history celebrating the many heroes, advocates, and individuals who paved the way so that people of color like me could have an equal place in society and in history. I also cherish and value the significant progress that was achieved by others who faced adversity, threats and even death through their endless fight for equality, but I recognize that today, more than ever, we must not give up on our call for justice and equal rights.