Michelle L. Cook

I am pleased to announce that the firefighter’s cancer bill I have championed has passed the House of Representatives.

Today, I was awarded with the 2016 Friend of the Family Award by the CT Family Resource Center Alliance. Each year the Alliance honors legislators based on their commitment and support to FRCs statewide.

Rep. Michelle Cook testified Thursday in support of legislation addressing the needs of firefighters who have contracted cancer related to their duties.

Every year, Dr. Matt Blondin of Torrington organizes a Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (VOSH) trip to Nicaragua. I wrote up two legislative citations for two local residents who assist with him with his operations.

Firefighters put their lives on the line to keep us safe each and every day. They run into burning buildings to ensure that you and your family make it out alive, with no guarantee that they will.

That is why I introduced legislation to make sure firefighters are cared for if they suffer from cancer as a result of their important work.

The Torrington Fire Department is collecting goods to benefit the Missouri flood victims. Any nonperishable goods such as personal care items, clothing, and nonperishable food items are being accepted at the Torrington Fire Department.

I was excited to attend a White House Convening of State Education Leaders in Washington, D.C. last week to discuss issues related to state education. This was an invaluable learning opportunity for me and I look forward to applying that knowledge to my work on the Education Committee and to improve education in Torrington.

On September 23, I pledged to fight Governor Malloy’s cuts to Charlotte Hungerford Hospital; in October we secured funding for small hospitals; and now the legislature has approved a budget reform package that restores most of the cut.