A Great Coffee Hour Turnout, CT Foodshare Council, CTLCV Environmental Score

July 23, 2025



 

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Dear Neighbor,

Thanks to everyone who attended the constituent coffee in Avon this past weekend, and especially, thanks to Beanz & Co. for hosting us. Great questions on housing, the ramifications of the big bill out of DC, and what we will do to mitigate the SNAP cuts. 

I’ve included some information this week, both on maternal health legislation we passed as well as information on our community health centers, which are the backbone of healthcare for many in Connecticut. 

Thanks to CTLCV for the 100% grade on their environmental scorecard. I’ll be hosting an event with them sometime in September, so stay tuned for more info in an upcoming e-news. 

Have a great week, 

Eleni

A Great Coffee Hour Turnout

We had a great turnout at the end-of-session legislative update with State Senator Paul Honig.

These coffees are one of my favorite parts of the job because we are able to discuss legislation just passed, take questions from the people in attendance, and hear ideas on how we can do our work better.

Thanks to the Avon Police Department, Connecticut, for joining us and keeping us all safe. We even had a special appearance by our new Chief Neil Dryfe.

We are looking forward to another great partnership with him, the way we did with Chief Melanson.

Thanks to everyone who came out!
 

Meeting With The CT Foodshare Council 

It was a privilege to join my colleagues, State Representatives Kate Farrar, Hilda Santiago, Geraldo Reyes, Jillian Gilchrest, and Sen. Matt Lesser to speak with Connecticut Foodshare’s Neighborhood Council at the Legislative Office Building this week.

While we shared how they can be more involved at the legislature, they also had questions on how we can truly tackle homelessness, what we think the root causes of poverty are and how we can address them, and many questions about the impact of the federal cuts on SNAP, WIC, and Medicaid we will soon see at the state level.

While I attended in my capacity as Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Feeding CT Caucus, there isn’t a single zip code in Connecticut that isn’t touched by food insecurity, including District 17. And, sadly, those numbers started going up last year and continue to.

I’m glad that my bill with many, many co-sponsors to fund CT-NAP has provided much-needed funding to CT Foodshare ($2.9 million in FY ‘26 and $5.9 million in FY ‘27) was included in our final budget. While we may need more because of those federal cuts, this is a good start.
 

Supporting Our Community Health Centers

We’re putting our values into action. Connecticut is committed to keeping care accessible and affordable for all. With community health centers in every corner of the state, quality care is always within reach. 
 
Click to find a Community Health Center near you 
 

A Commitment To Maternal Health Services

Supporting maternal health doesn't begin in the delivery room.

It starts with access to care, education, and resources, long before pregnancy.

Connecticut committed to providing access to maternal health services during the 2025 legislative session with the passage of  HB7102, An Act Concerning Maternal and Infant Health Care, and HB 7214, An Act Concerning Maternal Health.

HB7102 requires the state to develop a strategic plan to increase the number of birth centers and birthing hospitals in parts of the state with high percentages of Medicaid recipients and limited access to these facilities.

The bill also expands perinatal mental health services and strengthens family support, including programs that aid fathers in supporting maternal health.

HB7214 enhances hospital transparency and accountability in maternal care by establishing a task force to assess the availability of perinatal mental health care services and identify care gaps. It also calls for an advisory committee to study doula-friendly practices in hospitals.

HB7102 and HB7214 affirm Connecticut's dedication to ensuring safe, high-quality care, regardless of race, income, or zip code.
 

An Interesting Read

Part of addressing our housing crisis is thinking creatively. Enjoy this article about a possible rectory conversion happening in Middletown. Click on the image below.
 

CTLCV Environmental Score: 100%

CTLCV grades legislators on a scale from 0% to 100% based on their votes on environmental bills in committees, the Senate, and the House. The 2025 final score is the average of the legislator’s votes on key bills. You can read more about the CTLCV Environmental Scorecard HERE.
 

Reminder: Let's Build Community, Host A Block Party

Build community, bring people together? Host a block party!

Sincerely,

Eleni Kavros DeGraw
State Representative

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