To My Wonderful Intern, Shairai Richards, HB6963 Advances, Food Insecurity Day

April 30, 2025

Dear Neighbor,

With only five weeks left to go in the 2025 session, the days are packed with meetings to negotiate the contents of bills, hearing from advocates and everyday residents on their wants and needs for the budget, and voting on legislation as we spend more days in the House Chamber.

Within the last week, I attended the End Homelessness Caucus screening of “Where Then Shall We Go?” a CPTV documentary, met with leaders from Fairfield County, co-hosted a Student Loan Debt Reimbursement press conference with Representatives Corey Paris and Gary Turco, spoke at the Food Insecurity Day press conference and managed to snag the Governor in the hallway to advocate for budget items we are still considering.

In between I spoke with advocates around housing, education, special education, and a host of other issues that are before us this session. If there’s any issue you care about, I highly recommend visiting the Capitol on a session day to advocate for your cause.

This week’s newsletter is a little video-heavy, so pace yourselves, but I hope it gives you a flavor for many of the things happening this week at the Cap!

Have a great week,

Eleni

To My Wonderful Intern, Shairai Richards

Please click on the video below to learn how lucky I have been to have Shai on my team!

Meticulous, kind, and thoughtful: State Representative Eleni Kavros on intern Shairai Richards.

HB6963 Passes in House, Empowers Local Zoning Officers

I am happy to report the Planning and Development Committee passed HB 6963, AAC The Enforcement of Requirements Imposed By Certain Municipal Approvals And The New Home Guaranty Fund unanimously passed out of the House chamber Tuesday.

Thanks to my partner and ranking member, State Representative Joe Zullo (R-East Haven/99th District), and my Senate co-chair State Senator MD Rahman (D-Disrict 4) for their work on this critical piece of consumer advocacy legislation.

State Representative Eleni Kavros DeGraw discusses HB 6963, passed in the House this week.

You may recall that this bill originated because of the problem in my district and the Farmington Valley with Sunlight Construction not completing work in established developments and the alleged theft of deposits for new homes.

This bill both protects consumers from bad actors and gives towns greater ability to go after builders who do not complete their work in a timely fashion.

This bill moves on to the Senate and I truly hope this will be the year to get it to the Governor’s desk.

Horrifying: Federal Student Loan Debt Collection Plan

We heard the noise coming out of Washington regarding debt collection of student loans and held a press conference this week to discuss the irrefutable harm it could cause but also to note that here in Connecticut, we recognized the importance of student loan debt relief with our one-of-a-kind legislation that has already reimbursed over a million dollars to Connecticut borrowers.

We will continue to lead the nation in remembering that a college education shouldn’t end up costing you more than the value of your degree. Please click on the links below and the video from WFSB below for more coverage.

3rd Annual Food Insecurity Awareness Day @ The Capitol

With a nod to former State Representative Michelle Cook who began this day three years ago, as co-chair of the bipartisan Feeding CT Caucus, I was proud to join fellow lawmakers, advocates, and Jason Jakubowski, the CEO of Connecticut Foodshare in support of the 3rd Annual Food Insecurity Awareness Day at the Capitol on Wednesday.

The numbers remain alarming - 1 in 8 people in Connecticut are hungry and 1 in 6, are children. A focus for me, as well as the newly formed Feeding CT Caucus, is $10 million in funding for the CT Nutrition Assistance Program (CT-NAP). This program provides fresh food to Connecticut Foodshare, food pantries, soup kitchens, and emergency shelters across the state.

Additionally, 15% of the funds would be utilized to purchase produce and other products from Connecticut farmers. This program was started more than 20 years ago by Gov. Jodi Rell.

Please click on the video below to hear my comments from the press conference.

Today is also Stop Food Waste Day

Did you know...

Recognizing Denim Day

Denim Day is an international protest against victim blaming, and this year marks the 25th anniversary of Denim Day. In 1999, the Italian Supreme Court overturned a rape conviction because they believed that the victim's tight jeans implied consent.

The next day, the women working in the Italian Parliament came to work wearing jeans in solidarity with the victim. Annually, people wear denim in solidarity with survivors and to challenge victim-blaming.

(In photo left to right, Beth Hamilton, Executive Director Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence, State Rep. Aimee Berger-Girvalo (D-Ridgefield), me, Governor Lamont.)

Denim Day is recognized on the last day of April, which is also Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM).

End Homelessness Caucus Hosts Screening of "Where Then Shall We Go?"

Last week, the End Homelessness Caucus hosted a screening of the documentary “Where Then Shall We Go?” at the Capitol. It was inspiring to come together with advocates and residents of Rosette Neighborhood Village in New Haven, whose stories are featured in the film. You can watch it HERE.

Reminder: Breaking the Silence on Menopause: Real Talk @ The LOB on Saturday

On Saturday at 10 a.m., there will be an important and timely conversation about menopause—an experience that touches the lives of millions, yet remains under-recognized in policy, healthcare, and the workplace.

Whether you are experiencing perimenopause, supporting a loved one, or a professional in the field working with patients, this event is for you! Menopause is a natural transition--let's talk about it.

Program Highlights:

Screening of The M Factor documentary
Expert panel discussion and Q&A
Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits available for eligible professionals

Your presence at this event will demonstrate your commitment to inclusive, evidence-informed policy and the well-being of Connecticut’s diverse population across their lifespan. Please register for the event HERE.

Senior Day @ The Capitol on Thursday, May 8th

Hosted by State Representative Jane Garibay and the Aging Committee on Thursday May 8th at 10 a.m., Senior Day At The State Capitol is a chance to meet with legislators and learn about important programs and resources available for older adults in Connecticut. Enjoy refreshments, conversations, and community. Food and ice cream will be served.

Fourth Annual CGA Kickball Classic on Monday, May 12th

The Connecticut General Assembly is coming together to support Connecticut Foodshare!

Don’t miss the 2025 CGA Kickball Classic. Grab your ticket HERE. I hope to see you there.

Sincerely,

Eleni Kavros DeGraw
State Representative

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State Representative

Eleni Kavros DeGraw

Proudly Serving Avon, Canton

To My Wonderful Intern, Shairai Richards, HB6963 Advances, Food Insecurity Day