Eleni Kavros DeGraw

Today was Opening Day of the 2022 legislative session in Hartford!

I was excited to be back in the House Chamber seeing colleagues from both sides of the aisle and to hear from Governor Lamont some of the ideas he will ask us to support.

While we didn't vote on anything today, the day was packed with legislative meetings.

Tomorrow, the members of the House will vote on whether or not to codify the Governor's remaining executive orders into law, including the one related to the mask mandate. We will vote on moving masking decisions from the Governor to the Public Health Department working with the Education Department Commissioners after February 28. This would not prevent local school boards and superintendents working with the Farmington Valley Health District to decide on mask requirements. More details to follow.

Meanwhile, in this update, I've included resources that will help you navigate through the short, 12-week 2022 session. I have also added my Constituent Survey which features several questions regarding some of the issues we, as a state, face. Your opinions and ideas matter to me and I ask that you please consider taking the survey.

In case you missed the Winter Heating & Fuel Assistance Discussion we had Monday night, I've included the video below as well as a pretty cool story NBC Connecticut did recently on a famous local ski club in the Collinsville section of Canton. David Leff was fascinating as usual.

THE 2022 SESSION HAS BEGUN

The 2022 legislative session kicked off this morning!

This session, we'll have the opportunity to continue addressing the fallout of COVID-19, make Connecticut more affordable for working families, and advance Connecticut's recovery. When we're in session you can always watch on CT-N.com.

While opening day almost resembles sessions pre-COVID-19, the legislative process will operate like it did last year with virtual committee meetings and public hearings throughout the month of February.

Public hearings are an impactful way for you to share your experiences directly with lawmakers and influence change. To learn more about submitting testimony and participating in public hearings, click here.

In addition to public hearings, there are numerous ways for you to stay engaged in our state's democracy. Below are just some of the resources available to you as the 2022 legislative session gets underway:
 
Resources to Navigate the 2022 Session

• The non-partisan Office of Legislative Research recently published the 2022 Major Issues report, which summarizes key issues the legislature could take up during the upcoming session.
• Visit the CGA website to view a daily schedule of events, access committee information, find your State Senator or State Representative, and more.
• Read the Bulletin to find out when committees are meeting, how to provide public hearing testimony, and more.
• Register for the CGA's Bill Tracking system to follow any bill as it moves through the legislative process. You will receive notifications when the bill's status changes.
• For information on how to testify on a bill that is up for a public hearing, follow this link.
• Access the CGA Citizen's Guide for more on how you can become part of the process
• Follow CTN for live coverage of committee meetings and House and Senate floor debates.

Are you curious about how your tax dollars are spent? The State Comptroller's OpenConnecticut web portal allows residents to track state government spending in real time.

Your voice is fundamental to the legislative process, and I hope you will continue to reach out to me to share your thoughts, ideas, and questions.

PLEASE CONSIDER TAKING MY 2022 CONSTITUENT SURVEY

To effectively serve you in Hartford, it helps me to hear from you. Please consider taking my survey below. I'd like to get your views on the various issues we're facing in Connecticut.

Please click on the image to take the survey. Thank you and, as always, please do not hesitate to contact me if I can help you or your family.

(philassd)

$8.2 MILLION IN DOT GRANTS SECURED

In our fourth round of funds, we have secured $8.2 million in grants to improve mobility, accessibility and safety in our towns. We have now secured a total of 104 awards and more than $38 Million.

REPLAY: WINTER HEATING & FUEL ASSISTANCE PANEL DISCUSSION

I would like to send a special thank you to all of our panelists who participated in last week's discussion via Zoom, including U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, Marissa Gillett, Chairman of Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), Tonya Anderson, M. ED, Director of Energy Programs at Operation Fuel.

We had a great discussion about the organization's programs and we learned more about available heat and fuel resources. If you didn't get a chance to join us, I've included the video below.

DIVERSITY IS A STRENGTH

At our house, we have a book table that looks like a variation of this, 365 days a year, not just in Black History Month, because we are avid readers of all ages and because #WeNeedDiverseBooks. Black history is American history!

TODAY IS NATIONAL PIZZA DAY

When it comes to pizza, we all know CT does it best! What's your favorite local pizzeria?

COLLINSVILLE'S ABANDONED SKI AREA?

Did you know there is a place in the Collinsville section of Canton the remains of an old ski area from a long time ago? I was fascinated by this story done by nbconnecticut.com and wanted to share. Please see "Hidden in Plain Sight" below.