Congrats to Journey Home for opening Home for Good (591 New Park Avenue, West Hartford) to support their mission to end homelessness in our region. This thrift store turns donated furniture and home goods into funding that directly supports Journey Home’s mission.
I was honored to be there with a huge crowd to support their grand opening and look forward to shopping soon!
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Also, thank you to everyone who came out to the Newington State of the Town on Thursday. We had an informative and engaging discussion, and it was truly great to hear your thoughts, questions, and ideas.
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Your participation and feedback are what help make our community stronger and more connected. Events like these are an important opportunity to share updates, listen to one another, and work together toward a bright future for our town.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have additional questions, suggestions, or topics you’d like us to address moving forward. We appreciate your continued involvement and support, and we look forward to seeing you at future events.
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During this week's House session, we passed a new four-year contract covering 3,661 state employees, recognizing the essential contributions these workers make to keeping our state running every day. This agreement delivers 2.5% annual wage increases along with step raises, ensuring fair and predictable compensation for a broad range of maintenance, technical, and administrative staff. By investing in this workforce, we are supporting the people who maintain our facilities, deliver critical services, and help government operate efficiently. The contract runs through the 2028–29 fiscal year.
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I was proud to take part in the Blue Collar Caucus announcement outlining their priorities for this legislative session. The agenda reflects a strong commitment to the issues that matter most to working families and communities across our state.
From strengthening workforce development initiatives and expanding opportunities in the skilled trades, to enhancing protections for our first responders, the caucus is focused on building a safer and more resilient workforce. Their priorities also emphasize improving access to affordable, high-quality health care, addressing the rising cost of living with a refundable child tax credit for working families, and advancing meaningful consumer protections.
In addition, the caucus is committed to supporting education at every level, ensuring that both students and workers have the tools they need to succeed in a rapidly changing economy. Altogether, this comprehensive approach underscores a clear dedication to uplifting working people and creating pathways to economic stability and growth.
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| Click the above image to watch the press conference. |
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On Thursday, I hosted a press conference to mark Equal Pay Day. Equal Pay Day marks how far into the year women must work to earn what men earned in the previous year, serving as a reminder of the persistent gender wage gap. Connecticut’s women working full time, year-round typically make only 83 cents to the dollar of men. The gender gap is more severe for Black women (59 cents), and Latina (49 cents) women compared to white men in our state. Connecticut ranks 22nd in the nation for its wage gap, highlighting ongoing income inequality. For the first time since 1960, the wage gap has widened for two years in a row. The wage gap limits women's economic stability, their ability to support their family and be secure in their retirement.
Disclosure of wage ranges and benefits in job advertisements is one step Connecticut can take to close gender and racial wage gaps, directly supporting the financial stability of our residents and our economy. By fostering transparency, I'll be working to pass HB 5387: An Act Concerning Disclosure of Wage Ranges and Benefits on Public and Internal Job Advertisements aims to close gender and racial wage gaps, directly supporting the goals of Equal Pay Day.
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The state will implement new federal Workforce Pell Grants through the Connecticut Office of Workforce Strategy (OWS), marking a major expansion of financial aid for short-term, career-focused training.
Enabled by H.R. 1 Workforce Pell expansion, the policy allows low-income students to use Pell Grants for programs lasting 8–15 weeks (150–599 hours). Previously, only programs at least 15 weeks and 600 hours qualified. This change is designed to open faster, more flexible pathways into high-demand fields, especially for working adults and non-traditional learners.
OWS will coordinate a broad statewide effort involving agencies and institutions such as the Connecticut Office of Higher Education, Connecticut Department of Labor, Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, and the University of Connecticut, along with workforce boards and credentialing bodies. The goal is to align training programs directly with employer needs and regional labor shortages.
To qualify for Workforce Pell funding, programs must meet strict performance and quality standards:
- Align with high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industries
- Lead to a recognized, stackable postsecondary credential
- Achieve at least a 70% completion rate and 70% job placement rate
- Result in wages above the state median for high school graduates
- Be in operation for at least one year
The initiative is intended to strengthen Connecticut’s talent pipeline while making education more accessible and outcomes-driven. Workforce Pell Grants are scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026.
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And thank you to Wolcott Elementary School students for coming to visit the Capitol this week!
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| STATE AND LOCAL RESOURCES |
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Holi Community Celebration – Festival of Colors, Sunday, March 29 12:00 p.m. at Vallabhdham Temple (26 Church Street, Newington).
Celebrate Holi, a beautiful symbol of Unity in Diversity, bringing the community together with colors, culture, Non-Stop DJ music, Street Food and joy.
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From April 7 to April 9 at the Noah Webster Library (20 South Main Street, West Hartford), the Seniors Job Bank is offering workshops on how to thrive in the job market
Click here for more information and to register for a workshop.
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On Thursday, April 9, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., I hope you will join me and the Newington delegation for Newington Advocacy Day at the State Capitol (210 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, Room 105).
This is a great opportunity to engage directly in the legislative process, connect with state leaders, and advocate for the issues that matter most to our community. Your voice plays an important role in shaping the future of Newington, and we welcome your participation.
Click here to RSVP.
We look forward to a meaningful and productive morning together and hope to see you there!
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Celebrating our UConn Men's and Women's Basketball Teams. Go Huskies!
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