One Year as a Legislator

January 6, 2022

One year ago today, I was officially sworn in as your State Representative. 2021 was another unpredictable year, but I am proud of everything I was able to achieve during session as well as during the off season.
 

Below is a selection of the accomplishments that I made during 2021. This is just a small sample of the work that I've done, but there were a few feats that rose above the others.  

Crumbling Foundations

 

As co-chair of the bipartisan Crumbling Foundation Caucus, I am proud to have worked to secure an additional $100,000,000 in state bonding, pass legislation to eliminate the expiration date of the Connecticut Foundation Solutions Indemnity Company to assist property owners with crumbling foundations and study crumbling foundations in non-residential buildings. Click here for the most recent update.

Bonding for East Windsor 

I secured $1.2 million in funding for East Windsor including $560,000 for the park improvement projects and $750,000 for the Chestnut Brook Culvert Replacement Project.

Children's

  • Improved child safety through background check requirements at camps and with coaches (PA 21-82)
  • Established numerous children's mental health initiatives including a youth suicide prevention program and a collection of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) data (PA 21-46)
  • Allowed children, stepchildren and other dependent children to retain dental and vision insurance coverage under their parents' insurance policies until they attain the age of 26 or obtain substitute coverage through an employer (PA 21-149)

Outside of Session

  • In October, the Children's committee met to discuss the state's child mental health crisis.  We heard powerful testimony from parents and young people who reached out to share stories and offer suggestions.
  • In November, I hosted a roundtable discussion on children's mental health with Dr. Julian Ford  from the Center for the Treatment of Developmental Trauma Disorders and Dr. Sandra Chafouleas, who serves on the  UConn Board of Trustees as a  Distinguished Professor and Co-Director of the Collaboratory on School and Child Health. Click here to watch the discussion
  • And being a rep has lights hearted opportunities too! I read "Ada Twist, Scientist" by Andrea Beaty to a group of toddlers at Hall Memorial Library in Ellington

Well Water Contamination

In early October, I attended a Water Planning Council Meeting! This is just one example of the efforts I made to ensure that every household in our district has access to safe drinking water. I also recently convened the leading change agents in this work to plan for possible advocacy in using the Federal Infrastructure Money on this issue. 

Public Health

  • Increased privileges for Physician Assistants (PAs) and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) to give home health orders, which is important because many PAs and APRNs are primary care providers (PA 21-185)
  •  Extended telehealth options for two years (PA 21-133)
  •  Required a study of the disparate impact of COVID-19 (SA 21-37)
  • Expanded newborn baby screenings (PA 21-121)
  • Expanded the organizations that provide mental health first aid (PA 21-134)
  • Created pilot programs to prevent and combat community opioid addiction (PA 21-108)

Outside of Session

  • I helped distribute N95 masks in East Windsor
  • I worked with local hospitals to support our region. In November, I celebrated Rockville General Hospital's 100th anniversary with ECHN leadership and fellow members of the CT General Assembly after a robust meeting to talk about regional needs. 

Citations

One of my favorite parts of being a state legislator is issuing citations. I took great pride in honoring Alyce Maher and Anthony Dimastrantonio, among others.

Supporting Local Business

  • My family and I spent small business Saturday shopping at local stores around our district, including a fun trip to Ellington Agway
  • I scored well on the CBIA Score Card, which illustrates my strong partnership to our local business community as the only bill they dinged me on I voted for as a result of negotiating favorable compromise for the dairy sector. 

Agriculture

  • Accelerated permitting for more anaerobic digesters on farms that address storm water runoff and food waste (PA 21-16)
  • Prevented increased trucking fees and transportation costs for dairy farms (PA 21-177)
  •  Directed more money to farmers markets (PA 21-2)

Outside of Session

  • My Family and I visited Syme Family Farm
  • I was honored to attend the groundbreaking for the anaerobic digestors on Oakridge Dairy - the first bill I ever took out on the floor was to streamline the permitting for on farm anaerobic digestors. This technology will harness methane waste as energy.
  • I hosted a farmer's discussion with special guests from the USDA, FSA, RMA, and NRCS. Click here to watch.
  • Governor Lamont visited Oakridge Dairy and announced that the state will allocate over $10 million in ARPA funds to dairy and aquaculture industries, farmers markets and the emergency food system throughout the state

Environment and Technology

  •  Required low-carbon heating oil blend to be used in the state (PA 21-181)
  • Raised Virtual Net Metering cap and created a study of solar energy storage goals (PA 21-80)
  •  Banned auto-renewed contracts from third party electrical utilities to protect consumers from expensive hidden price hikes (PA 21-117)

Outside of Session

Veterans
Below is a selection of bills pertaining to veterans that I supported:
 

  • Established a tourism trail that showcases our veteran and military destinations (PA 21-105)
  • Increased funeral benefits for vets to cover the cost of obituaries (PA HB 6480)
  • Established the National Purple Star School Program to assist families with school registration, planning, counseling and other support services (PA 21-86)
  •  Directed state colleges and universities to update what credits they can award based on military training (HB 6402)

Public Safety

  • In July, I attended a press conference to honor East Windsor Police department and their innovative policing program, the Mental Health Team (MHT).
  • Click here to watch my discussion with Sgt. Santa.

Seniors

  •  Expanded municipal options for property tax abatements for seniors (PA 21-84)
  • Expanded the senior farmers market vouchers which now can be used to purchase eggs, in addition to fruits and vegetables (PA 21-155)
  •  Required background checks at homemaker-companion agencies (PA 21-37)
  •  Strengthened rights for residents of long-term care facilities (PA 21-55)
 

As you can see, it has been a busy year. I am eager to build on the work that was started in 2021 and accomplish even more in 2022!