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This morning, I was proud to join many of my Groton Town elected and appointed officials in joining them at Fitch High School to answer questions from students regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It was a robust conversation and the creativity, intelligence, and concern for our country from the students was admirable. I am proud of them for asking the thoughtful questions and expressing their concerns to public officials, and they will all be incredibly successful individuals. Thank you to the Groton Public Schools Team for inviting me!
The direction and lawless actions from Immigration and Customs Enforcement is deeply concerning to me. Innocent people have tragically died, and I will not sit back and watch. I will do everything in my power to stand up for an individual’s basic rights. We as a community must come together to ensure individuals have a right to due process, preserve and protect each other’s individual civil liberties, and continue to respectfully allow people to exercise the freedom of speech so they can speak out against or for the government. This is essential to protecting our democracy.
The State of Connecticut currently has the Trust Act, which is about ensuring that our local law enforcement focuses on protecting and serving all community members. This is why the Trust Act bans local law enforcement from sharing information with Immigration and Customs enforcement unless required by law or in cases involving serious crimes. I voted in 2025 to expand these protections.
I stand in strong support of Connecticut’s Trust Act, a law that reflects the core values of dignity, fairness, and community safety.
The Trust Act is about ensuring that local law enforcement focuses on protecting and serving all members of the community. The law prevents Connecticut from being drawn into the federal government’s immigration enforcement efforts. This is why the Trust Act bans local law enforcement from sharing information with ICE unless required by law or in cases involving serious crimes.
As always, I am happy to talk with anyone on any issue or concern they may have in regards to our community because we do not solve issues without conversation! All you need to do is reply to this email.
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The House came back into session this week, where we will meet for the next three months to pass legislation to better our state. It was wonderful to see my colleagues and begin our work on behalf of our communities.
It's easier than ever to follow along and get involved. There are several resources you can utilize that will help you stay updated on the legislative process as it unfolds in Hartford.
Here's how you can stay connected and actively participate:
- The Office of Legislative Research (OLR) provides nonpartisan and unbiased research to members of the General Assembly and its staff. Part of OLR's duties include writing bill analyses, which are summaries of bills in plain language.
- You can view the Connecticut General Assembly's upcoming events by checking out its schedule on the CGA official website.
- Follow CT-N for live coverage of committee meetings, press conferences, as well as House and Senate floor debates.
- Click here to register to monitor any bill's journey as it goes through the legislative process. By signing up, you can enter the bill number and receive real-time updates. Stay informed with email notifications whenever there's a change.
- Click here for information on how to testify on a bill at a public hearing.
Together, we can ensure all voices are heard.
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In the rest of this week's eblast, you can read about emergency funding for Connecticut, Black History Month, and more. You can click the links below to navigate between sections.
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Black History Month is a time to rejoice, reflect, and remember that Black history is American history.
In Connecticut, we have a rich history of Black Americans shaping our communities. I encourage you to explore the following resources to learn more about Black History in Connecticut, and to attend local events taking place over the next month:
The State of Connecticut published a piece about why we celebrate Black History Month, resources to learn more about this history, and events.
The Connecticut Tourism Office detailed the various landmarks and museums you can visit to explore Black History in Connecticut, along with events throughout the month.
Black History is something to be celebrated by all Connecticut residents, and I hope you'll look through these wonderful resources.
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Last Thursday, Governor Lamont submitted a supplemental plan to the bipartisan leaders of the Connecticut General Assembly to use funding from the recently created Emergency State Response Reserve in response to federal funding reductions and delays made by the Trump administration and Congressional Republicans to essential health and human services supports that the residents of Connecticut depend on for some of their most basic needs.
This supplemental plan totals $18.7 million and will be used for:
- $2 million to expand the reach of community health workers, who will play a critical role in helping residents understand and navigate changes to SNAP and Medicaid eligibility under Public Law 119-21 (commonly known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”). These workers will provide personalized assistance to help ensure individuals and families remain connected to the benefits they need through June 30, 2027.
- $11.4 million to support system upgrades at the Department of Social Services, ensuring the state can successfully implement the eligibility changes required by Public Law 119-21.
- $830,000 to replace funding for mental health counselors provided by EdAdvance to schools in the Northwest region of Connecticut through June 30, 2027.
- Over $4.5 million to replace funding for Community School grants for Clifford Beers in New Haven, Waterbury Bridges to Success, and Hartford Public Schools which provide critical wraparound services, including healthcare and childcare, to children and families in these communities through June 30, 2027.
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A reminder that the Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC) announced the next round of Ignite and Child Care Business Grant Programs.
The Ignite Grant Program is designed to help women-owned businesses grow. The program offers grants of up to $10,000 to women-owned businesses in the state of Connecticut who have been in business for 2 or more years and have revenues between $25K and $2 million. The application period for Ignite grants runs through March 18th. You can find additional information on Ignite here.
The Child Care Business Opportunity Fund, offered in partnership with the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood (OEC), provides grants of up to $25,000 to qualified licensed and aspiring child care businesses. The program offers grants targeting different stages of business, from start-ups to those ready to expand. The application period for Child Care Business grants runs through February 28th. You can find more information on the Child Care Business Opportunity Fund grants here.
Information sessions for both grant programs are scheduled throughout the application periods. These sessions will help applicants understand the grant requirements and provide an opportunity for those interested to ask questions about the grants. Interested applicants can register for a live information session here.
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The Chime Scholars Foundation recently announced the opening of applications for the 2026–2027 academic year, offering scholarships of up to $20,000 to students of all backgrounds pursuing college degrees, apprenticeships, trade schools, and technical or workforce certifications.
Since launching in 2022, the program has provided $7 million in funding to more than 1,000 scholars nationwide through Chime’s 1% pledge to expand access to education. The program is delivering strong results: 100% of surveyed graduates say the scholarship helped them complete their degree or certification, 87% are projected to graduate—nearly double the rate of Federal Pell Grant recipients—and 72% secure employment in their field within six months of graduation. Applications are open through March 31, 2026. Additional information can be found here.
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Sincerely,
Dan Gaiewski
State Representative |
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