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| Dear Neighbor,
Last month, I partnered with my West Hartford delegation colleagues State Representatives Jillian Gilchrest and Tammy Exum to hold a Women's History Month Essay Contest for students at Conard High School and Hall High School. On Monday at the Pond House Café, we celebrated this year's contest winners - Annie Lopez-Lopez from Conard High School and Amithi Nair from Hall High School! |
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| We presented the winners with legislative citations and $500 each from an anonymous donor. We received over 30 essay submissions detailing who the most influential woman in the student's life is or their favorite woman in history.
I am grateful to the students who participated in the essay contest to reflect on women's courage throughout history and to celebrate their contributions to our society. It was inspiring to read all of the submissions and learn more about the women who are helping to mold the next generation of leaders.
Congratulations to Annie and Amithi!
You can read more about this here. |
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Throughout a child's life in public K-12 schools, they have access to programs that supply free and reduced meals - but food insecurity doesn't end on graduation day. For college students, food insecurity can become a significant barrier in their ability to pursue and succeed at a higher education institution. On Wednesday, the House passed HB 5301, which will work to identify the nutritional needs of students and establish strategies to combat food insecurity at our colleges and universities, among other initiatives to better support students, including creating a plan to build additional childcare facilities at state colleges and universities. As a member of the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee, I was proud to support this bill from its development in committee to passage in the House. It now goes to the Senate for consideration.
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As we witness anti-abortion laws being enacted across the country and anticipate the overturn of Roe v. Wade, expanding access and protecting reproductive rights in Connecticut has never been more important.
The landmark decision of Roe v. Wade, which upholds a women’s right to choose, is codified into our state law. Abortion-related care will remain legal here, but that is unfortunately not the case for many states across the country.
On Tuesday, the House voted to expand the eligibility for certain advanced healthcare practitioners to provide legal protections for those seeking or providing abortion-related care in Connecticut.
House Bill 5414:
- Expands eligibility to perform abortion care to include advanced nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, and physician assistants to perform first-trimester aspiration and medication abortions.
- Protects individuals from extradition who are accused of seeking or providing reproductive healthcare in Connecticut that may be criminal in other states.
- Prohibits state agencies and health care providers from assisting in out-of-state investigations or prosecutions of reproductive healthcare that is legal in Connecticut.
- Anyone being sued in another state for allegedly providing, or receiving support for, reproductive health services that are legal in Connecticut can recover certain costs they incurred defending themselves.
It has been 32 years since the legislature examined abortion laws in our state and given the climate we are in now, where other states are infringing upon an individual’s right to choose, it is important that we act now to expand access and protect our residents and other individuals that come to Connecticut.
This legislation now goes to the Senate for debate and consideration. |
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Our state is home to several arts and culture institutions which help to enrich the lives of residents, create jobs in their communities, and help to boost tourism in our state. With the passage of HB 5267 on Tuesday, the House acted to ensure that CT's arts and culture sector is included in state-wide marketing plans so that we may further promote the great parts of our state.
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| The West Hartford Economic Development Center and Connecticut Small Business Development Center (CTSBDC) are bringing back free, confidential, one-on-one business advising for entrepreneurs. The advising will be located at the West Hartford Town Hall, 50 South Main St.
Office hours will be by appointment only on Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. To set up an appointment or to ask questions, please call 860-576-5135. Interested individuals can also register online at www.ctsbdc.uconn.edu. |
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| The U.S. Department of Transportation Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched U Drive. U Text. U Pay., a national high-visibility enforcement campaign for National Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April. This campaign reminds drivers of the dangers and legal consequences of distracted driving. Anything that diverts attention from driving is considered distracted driving. This includes texting, taking selfies, adjusting the radio, setting your navigation, applying makeup, eating, or drinking. Texting is considered the most dangerous type of distracted driving because it combines visual, manual, and cognitive distraction. To learn more about this campaign, please click here. |
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| Don't forget about our family-friendly Park Road Business Association's Community Clean up this Saturday at 9 a.m. Check-in starts at 8:45 a.m. on the Patio of Playhouse on Park, 244 Park Road. We need your help to create a greener neighborhood for our residents and businesses! We'll step off at 9 a.m. to start cleaning up the area. Gloves and trash bags will be provided. |
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| As always, if I can be of assistance to you and your family, please reach out to me at 860-240-8585 or email me at Kate.Farrar@cga.ct.gov. Follow @KateforCT on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay up-to-date on everything I'm doing at the Capitol!
Sincerely,
Kate Farrar
State Representative
she/her/hers |
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