Maria Horn

This is my State Capitol update for the week of January 6. If you would rather watch than read, check out the link at the bottom of the page.

Preserving Open Space in the Northwest Corner

We got some great news on Wednesday concerning several grants we’ve been advocating for to preserve open space in Cornwall, Salisbury, and Sharon. Three of the twenty-four grants announced were from our Northwest Corner, which is a tribute to the amazing work of our local land trusts. The statewide grants awarded $9.1 million to support communities in the purchase of 2,466 acres of land that will be designated as open space. The grants are authorized under the state’s Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Program, which is administered by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). These grants will help the selected areas protect wildlife habitats, offer recreational opportunities, and will serve as a buffer and adaptation to climate change. Recipient projects are required to supplement the state funding with matching funds or other grants, and the land being purchased must be protected by a conservation and public recreation easement that will ensure the property is forever protected for public use and enjoyment. The three properties in our region are:

• Red Mountain (Gallucci) Preserve in Cornwall, 72.5 acres of core forest on Johnson Road, sponsored by the Cornwall Conservation Trust;
• The Pope Property in Salisbury, 79 acres of Wetauwanchu Mountain abutting the Appalachian Trail, sponsored by the Salisbury Association;
• The D’Alton Property in Sharon, 70.4 acres located on West Woods Road in Sharon, sponsored by the Sharon Land Trust

 A Few Reminders of Previously Noted Events

As previously noted, Access Health CT (AHCT) has extended open enrollment through January 15. AHCT will be hosting an Enrollment Fair in Torrington on Monday, January 13 at the Torrington Elks Lodge #372, 70 Litchfield Street, Torrington 5:00pm – 8:00pm. Click here for more information on the upcoming event. Although registration for residents is strongly encouraged, it is not required. Click HERE to register!

Congresswoman Jahana Hayes' staff will be available at the Scoville Library in Salisbury for 'Casework on Your Corner' on January 15, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm, to resolve any issues constituents may be having with federal agencies.

And, the U.S. Census Bureau is still looking for census takers, and it announced this week that it will increase the hourly rate for census takers in Connecticut from $21.00 to $23.00 an hour. The pay increase is effective, Monday, January 6, 2020. Click here for the online application.

Connecticut Among the National Best States to Raise a Family

This was a piece of news that was not a surprise to my family, but a recent analysis recognized Connecticut as a top ten state to raise a family. The state ranks 9^th and was one of four New England states earning a place in the top ten. Click here to read more.

Caucuses This Week

As we approach the opening of session, I had a few caucus meetings this week. One was the Fire and EMS Caucus. We focused on some challenges that EMS providers have been having with a piece of recent legislation requiring Mental Health First Aid training for EMS providers. While most agree that this training is valuable, the legislation was drafted in a way that has made it difficult to access, so we will be looking to address that.

The Rural Caucus also met this week, with wide ranging discussions touching on pesticides, anaerobic digesters, and cage free eggs. Anaerobic digesters could help address challenges for dairy farmers and egg producers, as well as providing a more systematic composting system for residential and institutional use, so it’s an important topic for the future. The conversation about cage free eggs was also interesting, as a representative from one of the major egg suppliers confirmed their view that consumers were driving the move toward cage free egg production, in the wake of Europe, which has required this for more than 15 years, and Massachusetts, which after a recent referendum will also require this designation.

Happy Law Enforcement Appreciation Day!

Technically, this was yesterday, but I don’t think any of our dedicated members of law enforcement would mind being appreciated a day or two late. I have known many law enforcement professionals in my life, who make real and lasting change in our communities, and stand ready to care for us in our most vulnerable moments, every day and all day. Thank you for all you do for us.

It is my honor to represent our district. I look forward to hearing from you about the issues raised in this newsletter, or any other topics you think I should know about. You can email me at maria.horn@cga.ct.gov or call me at (860)-240-8585. Thanks for reading, and I wish you a safe weekend.