Newsletter

November 17, 2021

With everyone already focused on Thanksgiving next week, I wanted to highlight some of the good news out of Washington and our state.

First, as I am sure you saw, the landmark, bipartisan infrastructure bill, decades in the making was signed this week. What does that mean for Connecticut? $3.5 Billion will return to our state to fix our crumbling infrastructure like bridges ($500 million for repairs) and roads. There's also a huge investment in rail that will affect the entire Northeast. Additionally, electric vehicle charging stations will be built across the state to encourage people to make the switch and provide those who already have more accessibility.

Second, we continue to receive good financial news at home. We paid down a historic $1.6 Billion on our pension liability, and based on the projections we see now, it looks as if we will be able to pay down additional debt in the coming year. Additionally, the projected deficit for our next biennium (for June '23) looks to be smaller than previously expected.

Lastly, I added a new section this week called "Neighbors in the News." I'm proud to say we have an incredible number of people in District 17 who are doing great work in our community, at their jobs, and as small business leaders. My hope is to make this a weekly effort to highlight all of the wonderful people doing great work in Avon and Canton.

Historic Infrastructure Bill Passes, What it Means

This country has been in desperate need for a modernization of our physical and digital infrastructure for years. From the ravaging effects of climate change to the deadly lead pipes in Michigan to more than 300 structurally deficient bridges here in Connecticut, our infrastructure has been hit hard since the last major transportation bill was passed six years ago.

Now, after years of delay and months of negotiations, Congress acted and passed a new $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill, which President Biden officially signed on Monday.

Please see some highlights of the legislation, including items which will provide direct assistance to Connecticut.

Transportation

  • $52.5 million for the installation of more electric vehicle charging stations
  • $561 million to repair structurally deficient bridges
  • $1.3 billion for improvements to modes of public transportation, such as buses and railways
  • $30 billion for enhancements to the Northeast Rail corridor, which will seek to make significant improvements to travel times

Transportation

Digital Infrastructure

  • $100 million to ensure all Connecticut residents have access to affordable high-speed internet
  • $1.9 billion for the U.S. as a whole to boost our cybersecurity defenses

The Environment and Climate Change

  • $79 million to help reduce our state's carbon footprint
  • $90 million to help protect our roads, railways, and airports from more extreme weather
  • $106 million for the protection of Long Island Sound and its ecosystem
  • $1 billion for coastal resiliency projects, which are meant to protect our state's coast from rising sea levels and flooding brought on by climate change

For a more detailed list of $5.38 billion in funding Connecticut will receive through this legislation (including an additional $100 billion in grants our state is eligible for), click HERE.

I am grateful to Connecticut's federal delegation for their tremendous work in ensuring that our state receives a significant portion of the funds allocated in this legislation.

$1.6B Down on Pension Liability, More to Go?

I would say this is more good news for Connecticut: "Just last week, the nonpartisan Office of Fiscal Analysis certified budget surpluses of around $200 million in each of the next two fiscal years." - Sean Scanlon, co-chair Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee, CTPost November 16, 2021. To read Representative Scanlon's complete opinion piece entitled "Tax relief for the rest of us" please click on the image below.

Reading

Elder Justice Forum With Attorney General William Tong Scheduled for November 29th

I hope you can join me and Attorney General William Tong for a forum to discuss Elder Justice Hotline and issues facing our seniors on Monday, November 29th, 2021 at the Avon Senior Center, 635 West Road, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. To R.S.V.P. please see details below.

Elder Justice

House Speaker Matt Ritter's Informational Forum on Children's Behavioral Health

In our ongoing conversation of mental health in children, Speaker of the House Matt Ritter gathered experts last week for a conversation to help us understand how we can best help both in the short-term and long-term to highlight the issue and continue the work we started last session. My hope is this will be an ongoing conversation that leads to effective legislation in our upcoming short session. To watch please click below.

Children's Behavioral Health

Pancreatic Cancer Day is Thursday, Awareness Heightened Throughout November

Tomorrow, is World Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Day, and I wanted to highlight this to bring awareness to the symptoms—knowledge is indeed power in this case. By 2030, pancreatic cancer is expected to be the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. behind lung cancer. Jaundice is usually the first major symptom, but there are others worth knowing. For more information, click here. For a closer look at key warning signs to look for, please click on the image below.

Pancreatic Cancer

November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, too, and this one has always struck close to home. Unfortunately, my own family has been repeatedly touched by this disease as have many friends I know. My grandmother lost her father and two siblings to this illness, including my godfather. It's a disease that, unfortunately, by the time it's discovered is often too late to do much for the patient, however, hope and critical research is on the horizon. Even the change of twenty years between the deaths of my grandmother's siblings was significant in terms of knowledge of the disease—once believed to be a one off in families, it's now known there is a genetic component and you can test for it.

Recognizing National Native American Heritage Month

Despite a painful history marked by unjust federal policies of assimilation and termination, Native American people have persevered.

Native American Heritage Month

During National Native American Heritage Month, we celebrate the countless contributions of indigenous people past and present, honor the influence they have had on the advancement of our nation, and recommit ourselves to upholding trust and treaty responsibilities, strengthening tribal sovereignty, and advancing tribal self-determination. To read the White House's full proclamation please click here.

Neighbors in the News

Congratulations to Canton resident, Michelle Begley, on her recent award from the Northwest Arts Council, as part of the Litchfield Hills Creative Award. For those of you who don't know Michelle, she is the Education Program Director for the American Mural Project. Michelle is working on what is being considered the largest collaborative piece of artwork in the world, a 20 feet long, 48 feet high, 10 feet deep mural being constructed in two former industrial buildings in downtown Winsted. The mural will be a “tribute to American workers that highlights what has defined the country over the last century.”

Michelle Begley