Legislative Update December 20

December 20, 2024


 
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Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I hope you are enjoying the holiday season and festive times.

From my family to yours, I want to take a moment to send my best wishes for the holiday season. May it bring you and your loved ones peace, happiness and time well spent together. 

I would ask each of us, In the spirit of the season, to spread the joy that makes this time of the year truly special.
 
Looking ahead to the new year, I am excited for all that we will accomplish together. And further in this email, I have included information on our elections, the actions I have taken, and resources I hope will be of used to you and your family.

 
Local and National Elections

I am excited to announce that I have been reelected as your state representative for another term! I am so deeply honored and humbled by the trust my community has placed in me to represent you at our state's Capital. To everyone who supports our vision—thank you.

 

There is critical work ahead, not only for Stamford and Connecticut but for our shared values across our country. And I never been more committed to working tirelessly to create a stronger, more equitable future for our people.

 

To my fellow Americans, the fight for the future is not yet over. To our immigrants, the LGBTQ+ community, veterans, seniors, working families, and everyone who calls Connecticut home: I want you to know that as long as I am your representative. I will fight for you, I will listen to you, and I will work tirelessly to protect your rights and well-being. Our community is diverse and resilient, and together we will continue the fight for a more just and compassionate government.

 
Preparing for the Legislative Session

Immediately after the general election, I met with my fellow Democratic members of the Connecticut House of Representatives to elect our Speaker and Majority Leader, and begin laying the groundwork for how we will govern in the coming term. 

 

Over the next few weeks I will be meeting with national, state, and local government agencies and a host of community stakeholders to develop our legislative priorities. I know many of us are concerned about what a new national administration could mean for our state and for our shared values. I want you to know that we’re ready to stand up for Connecticut, protect our communities, and continue building a future that’s safe, fair, and inclusive for everyone.

I would also like to congratulate Speaker Matt Ritter and Majority Leader Rojas on their election, and for their steadfast leadership, friendship, and dedication to our country and our state.

 
Eversource

Our utility rate increases are negatively affecting millions of families across Connecticut. Our state ranks nationally for some of the highest utilities rates in the U.S. and I have personally met with hundreds of families to listen to how their rate increases have impacted their household budgets, particularly those on fixed incomes.

 

During this upcoming legislative session, fighting for more affordable utilities will be one of my top priorities. To support this goal, I recently met with the leadership and staff of our local Eversource facilities to discuss collaborative ways to bring down our utilities rate and provide more affordable power to our citizens. We also used this opportunity to review the critical electrical infrastructure that supports our community and discussed how to best maintain and support our infrastructure as our population continues to grow.

 

I would like to thank Lissette Andino, Roman Stanislavsky, Jonathan Ferrigno, and the entire team at Eversource for their efforts in keeping the lights on. I look forward to our continued discussions and debates as we head into this year’s legislative session. 

 
SilverSource

I recently met with the leadership of SilverSource and had the pleasure of meeting their hardworking staff. During this time, we discussed the current state of senior care in our community, and I had the opportunity to hear firsthand about their priorities for the upcoming legislative session.
 
SilverSource was founded in 1908 as the Stamford Home for the Aged with the express purpose of serving low-income older adults in Stamford. Today, the dedicated team at SilverSource works to advance the dignity, independence, and quality of life of our older adults by providing support services to those in need and guidance to families seeking assistance.
 
I want to thank Kathleen Bordelon, the Chief Executive Officer of SilverSource, for her kind invitation and her unwavering commitment to our community. 

 
The Salvation Army of Greater Stamford
Earlier this week, I met with the staff and leadership of our Salvation Army to discuss their priorities and concerns for the upcoming legislative session. During this visit, I toured their facility and had the privilege of volunteering alongside the incredible staff and volunteers during their annual toy drive.
 
The Salvation Army of Greater Stamford serves our community in many ways, including offering groceries through their food pantry, diapers through their diaper bank, general holiday assistance, toy drives, and summer camps for children and seniors. They also serve as a place of worship and offer Sunday School & Sunday Morning Services.
 
I want to extend my gratitude to Majors Kim and Myron Smith, as well as all the staff and volunteers at the Stamford Salvation Army for their dedication to addressing the needs of our community.
 
Veterans Corner: Breath of Life Fellowship Award
I am honored to announce that last month I received an award from Breath of Life Fellowship for my service as a soldier and my advocacy for veterans and the military community. I was incredibly proud to stand alongside my fellow veterans and community leaders, Thomas Patterson and Corporal James Lyles, to honor their service as well. I would like to thank Tichianaa Armah, Paster Rodney Grissom, and everyone at Breath of Life Fellowship for this meaningful recognition.
 
 
Student Loan Reimbursement Program
Starting January 1, Connecticut college students will be able to benefit from a bill we passed to alleviate student loan debt. The reimbursement program, led by House Democrats and the first of its kind in the nation, provides up to $5,000/year for up to four years (up to $20,000) in loan forgiveness. Six million dollars has been allocated in the current budget cycle and will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. 

The Office of Higher Education (OHE) may approve the participation of any person in the student loan reimbursement program who meets the following requirements:

  1. Must have graduated from a Connecticut state public or private college or university with a bachelor’s or associate degree or have an occupational/professional license or certificate or left such college in good standing and was granted a hardship waiver by the Office of Higher Education.
  2. Must be a CT resident for at least five years.
  3. Must have a Connecticut adjusted gross income of not more than $125,000 for single applicants and file a federal tax return as unmarried or have a Connecticut adjusted gross income of not more than $175,000 for married applicants and file a federal tax return as head of household, married filing jointly or a surviving spouse.
  4. Must have an outstanding student loan balance and have made payments in 2024 toward federal direct loans, federal direct PLUS loans, federal Perkins loans, CHESLA loans, other state’s sponsored student loans, or a private student loan.
  5. Must have volunteered for at least 50 hours at a Connecticut nonprofit organization that is registered with the Department of Consumer Protection, municipal government, served on the Board of Directors for a nonprofit organization, or has military service after January 1, 2024.

This program represents a true bipartisan effort and will have a direct impact not only on Connecticut’s economy but also on its workforce.
 
Questions should be directed to OHE.SLRP@CT.GOV. The application process opens on January 1. For more information or to apply in January, click HERE.

 
Thousands of CT Residents Set Medical Debt Relief
More than 22,000 residents of Connecticut can expect some or all their medical debt to be eliminated, thanks to a major state initiative in partnership with the national nonprofit organization Undue Medical Debt.
 
Undue Medical Debt collaborates with state and local governments to leverage public investments, negotiating with hospitals and other providers to eliminate large, bundled portfolios of qualifying medical debt. This initiative specifically targets patients whose income is at or below four times (400%) the federal poverty level, or who have medical debt that constitutes 5% or more of their income. Because these medical debts are acquired in bulk and pertain to individuals who are least able to pay, they can be purchased at a fraction of their face value.
 
In this initial round, the state allocated approximately $100,000 from its share of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. With this investment, Undue Medical Debt successfully negotiated with a secondary market partner (such as a collections agency) and a national provider to acquire approximately $30 million in qualifying medical debt for Connecticut residents.
 
Residents do not need to apply for this medical debt relief, nor can they request it. Those whose debts have been identified for relief will receive a branded letter from Undue Medical Debt detailing which debts have been eliminated. These letters will be sent out through the U.S. mail, starting December 23, 2024.
 
To view a sample of the letter recipients will soon receive in the mail, please click HERE.
 
 
Access Health CT Enrollment

Access Health CT (AHCT) customers who enroll from Dec. 16, 2024, through Jan. 15, 2025, will have coverage starting Feb. 1, 2025. The Open Enrollment Period for Connecticut residents to shop, compare, and enroll in health insurance or renew their coverage began Nov. 1, 2024, and runs through Jan. 15, 2025.

Customers may enroll in only health or dental coverage, or both. AHCT is the only place state residents can get financial help to pay for their health insurance. Nearly 90% of AHCT customers receive financial assistance to help pay for their health insurance. Some customers might qualify for the Covered CT Program. This program provides no-cost coverage for eligible residents.

Free help to sign up is available online, in person, and over the phone. 

Please visit  to AccessHealthCT.com and click "Get Help" or call 1-855-805-4325. Help is available in more than 100 languages. Customers who are deaf or hearing impaired may use TTY at 1-855-789-2428 or call a relay operator. People can also chat live with a customer service representative by clicking the “Live Chat” icon on the website.

 
‘Time To Own’ Program Reopens 
Great news for low and moderate-income homebuyers in Connecticut!

This week, the State Bond Commission approved $40 million in state funding that will be used to reopen the popular Time To Own program to a new round of applicants.
 
Time To Own has helped thousands of people buy their first homes since launching in 2022. The program provides forgivable loans for down payments and closing costs and has enabled individuals and families to achieve the dream of homeownership, fostering long-term financial stability and contributing to stronger communities.
 
To date, Time To Own has helped more than 4,800 homebuyers in 149 towns buy their first homes, more than half of whom are people of color. With the new funding allocation, Connecticut has invested $195 million in the program.

For more information on eligibility, additional considerations, and how to apply, visit chfa.org/TimeToOwn.

 
Preventing Elder Scams
Recent incidents in New Haven and Fairfield County show anyone can be the victim of an online scam. However, millions of our elderly neighbors are targeted for some type of financial fraud every year. With the holiday season upon us, it's an important reminder that not everyone is acting from a benevolent place in their heart. With the elderly population growing and seniors racking up more than $3 billion in losses annually, elder fraud has remained a growing problem.
 
Common elder fraud schemes include the Romance scam (Criminals pose as interested romantic partners on social media or dating websites); Tech support scam (Criminals pose as technology support representatives and offer to fix non-existent computer issues); Grandparent scam (Criminals pose as a relative — usually a child or grandchild — claiming to be in immediate financial need); Government impersonation scam (Criminals pose as government employees and threaten to arrest or prosecute victims unless they agree to provide funds or other payments); and Sweepstakes/charity/lottery scam (Criminals claim to work for legitimate charitable organizations or they claim their targets have won a foreign lottery or sweepstake, which they can collect for a fee).
 
There are ways to protect yourself and your loved ones, including the following (courtesy of the FBI and 2-1-1):
 
  • If you believe there is a scam attempt, end all communication with that individual. Create a shared verbal family password or phrase that only you and your loved ones know. Also, disconnect from the internet and shut down your device if you see a pop-up message or locked screen.
  • Search online for the contact information (name, email, phone number, addresses) and the proposed offer. Other people have likely posted information online about individuals and businesses trying to run scams.
  • Resist the pressure to act quickly. Scammers create a sense of urgency to produce fear and lure victims into immediate action.
  • Call the police immediately if you feel there is a danger to yourself or a loved one. Take precautions to protect your identity if a criminal gains access to your device or account. Immediately contact your financial institutions to place protections on your accounts and monitor your accounts and personal information for suspicious activity.
  • Be cautious of unsolicited phone calls, mailings, and door-to-door services offers.
  • Never give or send any personally identifiable information, money, gold or other precious metals, jewelry, gift cards, checks, or wire information to unverified people or businesses.
  • Be careful what you download. Never open an email attachment from someone you don't know.

 
Contacts and more information
Office of the Attorney General – Senior Fraud Hotline
The State of Connecticut Office of the Attorney General’s Consumer Assistance Unit runs an Elder Justice Senior Fraud Hotline at 860-808-5420. The office also has a website here
Department of Aging and Disability Services
The Connecticut Department of Aging and Disability Services posts recent examples of frauds and scams on their website here:
To Find Services in Connecticut’s Community Resources Database:
Search by Provider Name: Better Business Bureau of Connecticut
by Service Name: Fraud Prevention

 

 
Drone Sightings

The Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP), which includes the Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS), the Connecticut State Police (CSP), and the Connecticut Intelligence Center (CTIC), is monitoring reports of large drone - or Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) - sightings across Connecticut.

Connecticut is not alone in the drone sightings, as states along the East Coast, including Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia have reported sightings recently. In Connecticut, sightings have been reported in towns and cities including Stamford, Fairfield, East Windsor, and Enfield, and flying near Bradley Airport in Windsor Locks.
DESPP does not have the authority to take down a drone. Drone operators must maintain a flight altitude of 400 feet or less and maintain a visual line of sight by the operator. Drone pilots generally require a federal license if the device is being used for commercial purposes.
CSP monitors drone activity through a system of portable and fixed drone sensing devices Drone sightings by CSP are now being handled through a detailed reporting process to collect as much information as possible.   
CTIC analysts are comparing reported sightings with Federal Aviation Administration flight data. CTIC has found most could be attributed to manned aircraft or those UAS devices lawfully operating in the private sector.

Connecticut Congressman Jim Himes, the ranking member of the U.S. Intelligence Committee, recently met with FBI, CIA, and U.S. military officials. Congressman Himes says he is satisfied that the drones are not connected to a foreign power or the U.S. federal government. So far, the FBI's investigation hasn't found evidence pointing to anything nefarious, according to Himes.

If residents are concerned for their immediate safety, contact local police or call 911 in an emergency. However, residents are encouraged to use online reporting methods to allow state and federal agencies to track and investigate these sightings appropriately.

Online reporting methods:
Suspicious Activity Reporting Form
CT Safe App for Apple and Android

 
If you have any issues, concerns, or feedback, I would love to hear from you! Please feel free to email me directly or contact my office at (860) 240-8585

Sincerely,

Hubert Delany

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