Newsletter
February 2, 2022
February has arrived and with it, only seven more days until the opening day of the 2022 session of the CGA. A reminder that we are a part-time legislature and that this is the "short" year where we are in session from February until May. While we passed more than 350 bills and resolutions during last year's longer session, this session finds us focusing on bills raised by the individual committees. We can raise and promote bills with the chairs of the committees we are not on, but much of our work outside those bills focuses on the committees on which we serve.
Our biggest priority this session will be looking at mental health care, especially in relation to children. Additionally, we are looking at a host of tax credits and I am really looking forward to that part of the discussion on the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee where I serve as the Vice-Chair. It's been exciting to hear from each committee chair what bills may come before us this session and we have a lot of long days (and nights) ahead of us.
While this may be a part-time legislature, it is never a part-time job. Constituent outreach and responding to the issues I can help constituents with when they contact me is one of my favorite parts of this job because it always informs my policy work. While we may not always agree on every issue, I am always reading and listening when you contact me.
| February is Black History Month |
We celebrate the achievements, accomplishments and contributions Black Americans have made to this country, of which there are many, each February during National Black History Month. President Gerald Ford made it official in 1976.
For a list of African American firsts, from Business and Labor, Medicine and Health and more please click here.
This month is also a good time to shine a light on the struggle, the injustice and systemic racism Black Americans still face today despite their achievements, accomplishments, and contributions.
"But by facing those tragedies openly and honestly and working together as one people to deliver on America’s promise of equity and dignity for all, we become a stronger Nation — a more perfect version of ourselves," President Biden said in his Proclamation on National Black History month yesterday.
I'm hoping you and your family take time to celebrate Black Americans, their achievements, their culture and become familiar with their stories. Black history is American history and it has been for a very long time.
| Governor Lamont Proposes $336 Million in Tax Cuts for CT Residents |
Governor Lamont today proposed $336 million in tax cuts as part of his first package of legislative proposals for the 2022 legislative session which begins February 9th.
The governor said that he is proposing the tax cut package as the state is projecting an operating surplus of $1.48 billion, which will enable a significant reduction in the one-time revenues built into the enacted budget and will continue to ensure the state has a strong rainy day fund.
The details of Governor Lamont's five-part tax cut proposal and more can be found by clicking on the press release below.
| Winter Heating and Fuel Assistance Panel Discussion Monday February 7th |
I will be hosting a Winter Heating and Fuel Assistance Panel Discussion on facebook Monday, February 7th from 6 to 7 p.m. Joining me will be U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, Marissa Gillett, Chairman of Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), Brenda Watson, Executive Director at Operation Fuel and Tonya Anderson, M. ED, Director of Energy Programs at Operation Fuel.
We'll discuss each organization's programs as well as learn more about available heat and fuel resources during the winter months. You can join us live at facebook.com/RepKavrosDeGraw or click on the image below.
| Website Launched for Newly Formed Hate Crimes Advisory Council |
Governor Ned Lamont has announced the launch of a website for the recently formed Connecticut Hate Crimes Advisory Council. The website provides CT residents with information regarding the group, which was created as a result of legislation that Governor Lamont signed into law last year. You can access the website by clicking on the image below.
| Rewind: Community Gun Violence Prevention Forum |
I am including the video from Community Gun Violence Prevention Forum I hosted last week with fellow State Representative Tammy Exum. I would again like to thank our special guests, Senator Chris Murphy, CT Against Gun Violence, Mothers United Against Violence, and Moms Demand Action for joining us.
This conversation was focused on commonsense solutions to gun violence in the wake of a rising number of shootings across the country, but in Connecticut too, primarily during the pandemic. I believe that the CGA will take up measures to continue to address gun violence in this short session.
The discussion also received some coverage in the Hartford Courant. Thank you, again, to all of the panelists and for the many comments and questions we received during the event on Facebook.
| Replay: Energy and Technology Forum on Electric Grid Resiliency |
As a member of the Energy and Technology Committee I'm glad we hosted this event and would like to thank all who participated, including representatives from the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), Eversource, United Illuminating (UI) and the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). I found this forum to be quite informative. I hope you do as well. Please click on the video below to watch.
| Happy Lunar New Year |
Happy Lunar New Year! I’m wishing you happiness and prosperity in the Year of the Tiger.
| Happy Groundhog Day? |
Don’t put away your winter jackets just yet - Chuckles, Connecticut's groundhog, saw his shadow this morning, so did Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania, predicting six more weeks of winter. Now, I think we all know that chronologically, spring is six weeks away no matter what, and that's what I will be focusing on through these cold days!
