| As gas prices continue to soar and calls to suspend the state gas tax or implement a gas tax holiday heighten, we also must consider our already in-need transportation infrastructure. I am eager to alleviate the burden of rising gas prices on our residents but I am torn on whether a gas tax holiday will be a meaningful savings for individuals and families, while it could have a detrimental impact on our ability to maintain our roads, bridges and mass transit. I hope you will share your thoughts with me on this critically important issue.
This is also a crucial time to consider legislation that would make electric vehicles a more accessible alternative. The lack of charging stations in our state and the initial high costs of purchasing an EV remain the two greatest obstacles. My legislative colleagues and I are working on legislation that would make an electric future more equitable and inclusive.
I have co-sponsored S.B. 4, An Act Concerning the Connecticut Clean Air Act, which would expand Connecticut Hydrogen and Electric Automobile Purchase Rebate (CHEAPR) and fund projects to decrease emissions and bring more EV charging stations and electric school buses to our state. |
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| Additionally, I co-sponsored HB 5094, An Act Concerning the Sale of Electric Vehicles in the State, which would establish a personal income tax deduction for the installation of residential electric vehicle charging stations.
S.B. No. 214, An Act Concerning the Sale of Electric Vehicles in the State, would permit electric vehicle manufacturers to sell electric vehicles directly to the consumer. The Transportation Committee has raised this bill and will hold a public hearing on Monday, March 14th. If this is an area of interest or concern for you, I encourage you to testify. Submit the on-line testimony registration form here or email written testimony to TRAtestimony@cga.ct.gov. |
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| I shared a video about how the legislative process works and how you can most effectively make your voice heard. Click here to watch! |
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| On Monday, I gave testimony to the Transportation Committee expressing concerns with H.B. 5254, An Act Concerning Access to Parking Near Public Beaches and Recreational and Scenic Areas, which calls for parking fees to be equal among coastal residents and non-residents. I spoke on the fair and equitable practices for beach parking that already exist in Fairfield and offered alternatives to this proposal. Watch my testimony below: |
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| This morning, I joined Save the Children’s Chief Development Officer Luciana Bonifacio, Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz, Congressman Jim Himes, First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick, and State Senator Tony Hwang for a press conference to discuss the efforts of Save the Children to meet the urgent needs of children and families impacted by the devastation in Ukraine. |
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| In bordering Romania, Save the Children is helping newly-arriving children and families at reception centers and refugee camps, where they are distributing critical emergency supplies and establishing safe spaces for children to play, learn and begin to cope with grief and loss. They are urgently assessing needs in Poland and Lithuania, and stand ready to respond there as well.
Save the Children is doing incredible work to provide relief and I am so proud that Fairfield is home to their U.S. Headquarters. If you'd like to donate to their mission, I've provided a link below: |
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| Fairfield Stands with Ukraine |
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| Local Fairfielders with family ties to Ukraine have organized a fundraising event at the Penfield Pavilion on Wednesday, March 30th at 6 p.m.. I will be there and I hope you can make it too! To find more information on the event and learn about the amazing work Fairfield Stands for Ukraine is doing to raise awareness and funds, click here. |
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| March is Endometriosis Awareness Month! It's estimated that 1 in 10 individuals with a uterus experience endometriosis. Raising awareness of the disease and ensuring individuals have access to quality care is so important.
As part of Endometriosis Awareness Month, local Fairfield resident, Arleigh Cole, has organized a period products drive to combat period poverty in our community. If you're interested in donating sanitary products, contact arleighhairmakeup@gmail.com for the drop off location. Donations will benefit a local shelter.
The Public Health Committee held a public hearing this week on legislation concerning medical education on Endometriosis and the creation of an Endometriosis data and biorepository program in CT, as well as a bill to address period poverty. Click here to watch the public hearing. |
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| Cybersecurity at Fairfield University |
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| On Wednesday, I had the privilege of standing with the Governor to highlight the incredible work happening in the cybersecurity field at Fairfield University through their Master's Program in the School of Engineering. This topic is certainly timely as we face heightened cyber attacks from Russia and other foreign, as well as domestic, adversaries.
It was enlightening to hear Mark Raymond, the State's Chief Investment Officer, discuss the growing need for professionals in the cybersecurity space. As we continue to move more and more business online and streamline those connections for the ease of consumers, data protection and cybersecurity become all that much more critical.
As a legislator on the Commerce Committee, I look forward to finding ways to include this burgeoning field in the state's workforce development pipeline and to work to incentive the state's young people into these needed jobs. You can learn more about Fairfield U's program here. |
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| Community Conversation on School and State Funding |
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| How our schools are funded is both critically important and also deeply complex. Rep. Devlin and I are excited to bring experts from The School and State Finance Project to our community (virtually) to break it all down. I hope you can join us on Tuesday, March 15th! Email Audrey.Rossignol@cga.ct.gov to register for the Zoom. |
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| Connecticut and the nation have seen gas prices increase at an alarming rate during this time of global unrest and the effect of market volatility on commodity prices. While price fluctuations are expected, there are some unscrupulous businesses that exploit these conditions to gouge consumers at the pump. |
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| If you believe a business is engaging in price gouging, you may file a report with the Office of the Attorney General here or call 860-808-5318. |
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