As we enter into a New Year and prepare for the upcoming session, I've been reflecting on the accomplishments of the last session and want to recap some of the highlights.
Arguably, the greatest achievement of the last session (other than passing a bipartisan budget) was our vote to propose a constitutional amendment that would allow for in-person early voting should voters elect for this change. This referendum will appear on voters' ballots this November.
After many lost their jobs due to COVID-19 and were seeking out labor assistance, we created the Office of Unemployed Workers' Advocate to better assist unemployed individuals with processing claims and understanding available programs and benefits. We also cut unemployment insurance taxes on businesses by excluding pandemic-related layoffs and dramatically reformed the unemployment trust fund, resulting in a tax decrease for 73% of businesses.
We passed the Bottle Bill, which expands the eligible containers for redemption, raises bottle deposits to 10 cents, and increases funds to towns and redemption centers to recycle a greater volume of bottles. We banned the use of "PFAS", known as forever chemicals. The Blue Plan passed, which is the state's comprehensive ecological preservation plan for the Long Island Sound.
We passed many important pieces of legislation to protect and serve children, women, and families. Just to name a few, we are expanding youth suicide prevention training and outpatient services, access to telehealth, expanding protections for domestic violence survivors, combatting sexual assault on college campuses, and keeping guns out of the hands of people who've identified to be high-risk to themselves or others.
For our Seniors, we are expanding tax exemptions on retirement income, reformed critical nursing home protections, and protections for any future pandemics.
Lastly, we paid down a historic amount of our unfunded debt. We still have a long way to go but we are on the right track and with these payments, have taken important steps to a brighter fiscal future for all CT residents. We accomplished all of this and much, much more.
I am so proud of the work that we've done and the work that is ahead of us. Thank you for putting your trust in me and for offering your support, ideas, and sharing your concerns for our community and our State. Please never hesitate to reach out to me with ideas, hearing directly from you makes me a better representative!
| Have some ideas or concerns you want to bring to my attention ahead of the 2022 Legislative session? Join me for coffee hour on Jan. 26th from 6-7:30pm at the Fairfield Museum and History Center. Masks are required. Recognizing that COVID is still a very fluid situation, should the numbers be too high for an in-person event, this will be moved to a virtual event. I will keep you informed as the date gets closer. |
|
| COVID-19 Testing and Vaccination Sites |
|
|
| Good news! St. Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport just opened a community testing site. The testing site is open Jan. 8th from 12pm to 4pm and on Jan. 10th from 10am to 4pm. Appointments are required. Visit the Hartford Healthcare website at the link below to schedule: |
|
| The Connecticut Department of Public Health is hosting a mobile, pop-up vaccination clinic at Sacred Heart University on Monday, Jan. 10th from 10am to 3pm. No appointment is needed and insurance is not required.
This clinic is open to ages 12 and up. The Pfizer, J&J, and Moderna vaccine for first, second, third and booster doses will be available. Click the photo below for info: |
|
| COVID Relief for Essential Workers |
|
|
| The Connecticut Essential Workers COVID-19 Assistance Fund is now up and running. It was authorized by the legislature in June for the purpose of easing the financial burden on essential workers who became ill and were unable to work, or died of COVID, between March 10, 2020 and July 20, 2021.
The program assists with lost wages, out-of-pocket medical expenses, and burial expenses. The application portal is now open and can be accessed by clicking on the image below. |
|
| Yesterday, marked the one year anniversary both of my swearing-in and also of the violent attacks on our nation's Capitol. This has been a year of high-highs and low-lows for many of us. I spent some time reflecting on the state of our democracy and you can read more here: |
|
|
