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Click the links in the introduction to navigate to the corresponding sections in the body of this email.
If you are having trouble with the links try opening this email in your browser.
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| Friends and Neighbors,
Writing to you from under the gold dome where on Friday night at 11:47PM, the controlled chaos of the room fuels members’ want and willingness to see passion projects and laudable legislation “up on the board” for discussion and debate. For the bills voted and passed on to the Senate, they live to see another day of consideration. For those still seeking the attention some may believe they deserve, proponents will be working nonstop between now and the time the Speaker declares sine die on May 4.
As this hits your email sometime Saturday morning, many of us will be taking a pause to regroup, try to find some time for our friends and family, but most importantly to breathe. And there’s nothing more important than ensuring that that breath of fresh air is a safe one to take.
We have long championed measures that promote a healthier environment and I am pleased to share that finally, SB 4 – a measure that now heads to the governor's desk for signing, is an important step forward in that direction.
Connecticut residents deserve clean air, but transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions have contributed to worsening air quality leading to higher rates of illnesses like asthma. Investing and encouraging wide-scale electric vehicle distribution will greatly contribute to reducing these emissions and ultimately, improving air quality. |
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This legislation:
- Invests in transitioning to electric and zero-emission state vehicles, school buses, and transit buses
- Promotes all school buses to be zero-emissions by 2030 for some districts and by 2035 in all other school districts
- Makes it easier for consumers to reduce their carbon footprint by increasing access to rebates and vouchers to buy electric vehicles through programs like CHEAPR
- Assists municipalities and businesses with the purchase of electric vehicle charging stations
- Equalizes the registration fee for electric vehicles with all other motor vehicles and establishes a voucher program for the purchase of electric bicycles
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| Reducing toxic air pollutants and setting emissions control measures will help us and future generations breathe easier by bringing Connecticut to the level of other states that have strong clean air policies in place. |
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To stay up-to-date with everything happening in Hartford, click the "At the Capitol, In District, & Beyond" link below, but also please check out the other subject links in this intro to go right to the topic in the body of this email.
You can find additional resources and information on my web site,
www.housedems.ct.gov/currey. If there's something you need help with that isn't included in this email, please check my website. If you can't find what you're looking for there, please don't hesitate to reach out to me.
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Overall Summary
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Cumulative
(except for hospital census)
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Past 7 days*
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Positive PCR/NAAT Tests
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820,472
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5,700
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All PCR/NAAT Tests
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14,059,123
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60,527
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Test Positivity (pos/all PCR/NAAT)
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--
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9.42%
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Patients Currently Hospitalized with COVID-19
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212
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+24
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*This column indicates all PCR/NAAT tests by specimen collection date from the past 7 days. Hospitalizations over the past 7 days indicates the change in the number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 over that period.
Data on COVID-19 associated deaths is updated once per week every Thursday. The most recently reported total number of deaths is 10,840.
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Specific Updates for Our Community
| Town |
Total Cases |
Total Deaths |
Number of Tests |
Number of Positive Tests |
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| East Hartford |
12,758 |
198 |
217,680 |
16,057 |
| Manchester |
10,609 |
188 |
211,005 |
12,957 |
| South Windsor |
4,023 |
65 |
76,572 |
4,703 |
Weekly Update of the Department of Public Health's COVID-19 Alert Map
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| Medical experts are tracking the most recent COVID-19 omicron subvariant, BA.2. The subvariant is becoming the dominant coronavirus strain in U.S. and could lead to a surge of cases this spring. With at-home testing options and boosters available, our state has the resources necessary to manage another wave of infections.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have authorized second booster shots for individuals 50 years and older. Vaccines continue to be effective tools in protecting residents from severe COVID-19 infections. To get vaccinated or your booster, please click here to locate vaccination sites in our community.
Below are several vaccine clinics happening in our community:
- Tuesday, May 3
- Stone Academy, 745 Burnside Ave, East Hartford, 3 p.m. - 7 p.m., for ages 5+
- Friday, May 6
- New Cut Barbershop, 239 Franklin Ave, East Hartford, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., for ages 5 - 11
- Wednesday, May 11
- Raymond Library, 840 Main St, East Hartford, 4 p.m. - 7 p.m., for ages 5+
Information about getting vaccinated, including how to make an appointment and a list of clinics, is available on Connecticut's Vaccine Portal, here.
If you need assistance finding transportation to and from a vaccine appointment, you can find transportation resources here.
If you're a homebound resident, you can receive your COVID-19 shot at home. Complete the state Department of Public Health's Homebound Intake Form to get the appointment process started. |
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| Testing remains a vital strategy to curb the spread of COVID-19 in our communities. Individuals who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or have been identified as a close contact of someone who has had a confirmed case of COVID-19 should get tested. There are several drive-up and walk-up test sites in our area for residents who need a COVID-19 test now. Click the links below to find sites near you.
East Hartford
Manchester
South Windsor |
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The House was in session last week. Curious about what we passed in the people's House? Click the buttons below for slide decks of some of the bills we passed on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. You'll find a brief explanation about what the bill would accomplish and a link to read the full text of the bill. Each graphic shows the bill's progress in the legislative process. The bills we voted on yesterday will now go to the Senate. If the Senate approves them, the proposals will go to the governor for consideration.
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| You can find a full list of bills that have been passed in the House and Senate this session here. |
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AT THE CAPITOL, IN DISTRICT, & BEYOND...
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| This session, I have been working closely alongside my legislative colleagues, members of the CGA's Education Committee of which I am a member, and education advocacy groups like the School + State Finance Project to develop H.B. 5283. This proposal would disentangle our state's very complex education funding system so that each and every student in our state's public schools has the opportunity to thrive. It would accelerate the Education Cost Sharing (ECS) formula's scheduled phase-in to full fun all districts starting in 2025 when COVID-19 relief expires.
There is less than a week left of the legislative session, and there's still time to urge Governor Lamont to consider and ultimately sign H.B. 5382 to ensure our public schools are fully and equitably funded.
How will fully funded education impact your student? The School + State Finance Project is encouraging Connecticut parents, guardians, and students to share their education story and why full, equitable funding is important. |
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| After months of negotiation and hearing input from residents throughout the district and across our state, legislative leaders and members have moved one step closer to passing a budget package that will provide tax relief for parents, retirees, workers, and property owners.
The budget proposal we unveiled Wednesday offers Connecticut tax payers like you and our neighbors $600 million in tax cuts.
Our budget plan CUTS YOUR TAXES by:
- Cutting state income taxes for retirees
- Lowering property taxes on homes and cars
- Extending tax cuts for workers in low-paying jobs (EITC)
- Creating a state tax credit for childcare
- Extending the 25-cent gas tax cut until December
- Establishes state child tax credit worth $250 per child
As we approach a vote on this relief package, I will update you in the coming days on the spending side of the budget where we make groundbreaking investments in children’s mental health, increase funding in juvenile justice and anti-crime programs, leverage new federal funding for important programs, and invest in childcare, education, and our workforce. |
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| One of the bills passed this week was a historic bipartisan bill aimed at addressing the immediate, intermediate, and long-term needs of the children's mental and behavioral health system in Connecticut, a priority during the 2022 legislative session.
HB 5001, An Act Concerning Children's Mental Health, is a transformative piece of legislation that responds directly to the youth mental health crisis, which has been exacerbated by the impacts of the pandemic, presenting itself in the form of increased rates of depression, suicide and self-harm among adolescents.
Emergency rooms across Connecticut are inundated with patients awaiting placement into inpatient psychiatric beds. Schools across the state are facing a shortage of mental health professionals and are sounding the alarm on the need to expand access and support services.
In short, this legislation addresses these issues immediately and long term by:
- Enhancing the Behavioral Health Workforce
- Supporting School-Based Mental Health Services
- Expanding Mental Health Treatment Facilities Across the State
- Supporting Existing Services
- Increasing Access Through Insurance Coverage
The House has taken the first step, and now it’s up to the Senate to send HB 5001 to the governor’s desk for his signature. The time to deal with this issue is now. |
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| U.S. News & World Report has ranked Connecticut IB Academy (CIBA) as the #2 high school in Connecticut. The publication's high school rankings included nearly 24,000 public high schools across the U.S. and 200 in the state. Nationally, CIBA ranked #239 nationally with an overall score of 98.66 out of 100. It was also ranked #55 in Magnet High Schools nationally and #1 in Hartford Metro Area High School. To learn more about this great distinction, please click here. |
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WrapCT is part of the Connecting to Care network and emphasizes a holistic approach to addressing mental and behavioral health changes for children and family. It puts children and family at the center of care and surrounds them with a support network of providers, community members, and more to support them and help them achieve their goals. Click here to learn more.
In addition to WrapCT, here are additional resources if you or someone you know is in need of support:
- Mobile Crisis Service 2-1-1: If your child is actively harming themselves, having suicidal thoughts, or planning to hurt others, call 911, or 2-1-1 and press option 1 for the Mobile Crisis Service. This is a 24 hour, 7 day a week free service to have your child immediately evaluated by a mental health professional. NOTE: If calling by cell phone, 2-1-1 can also be reached toll-free at: 800-203-1234
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for English, 1-888-628- 9454 for Spanish, or Lifeline Crisis Chat.
- Crisis Text Line - Text “HOME” to 741-741, or visit http://www.crisistextline.org/ for more info.
- NAMI Education Courses: The National Alliance on Mental Illness offers online education programs for parents and caregivers to learn more about supporting youth who are experiencing mental health symptoms. The NAMI Basics OnDemand is a free, six-session that can be completed on-demand, at your pace.
- The State of Connecticut has several mental health resource. Find the list here.
- The Connecticut Children's Behavioral Health Toolkit also has helpful resources for children experiencing a mental health crisis.
- State Rep. Liz Linehan's website also has helpful mental health resources for children.
- CHR Health can help young adults and teens who may be struggling with substance use disorder through a comprehensive network of support. For more information about CHR's Substance Screening and Treatment Recovery services, click here.
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| Although the rate of suicide in young people is lower than the rate of suicide in adults, in 2019, suicide was the second leading cause of death among U.S. adolescents. Studies analyzing suicide risk have found that overall, more sexual minority and gender minority adolescents will attempt suicide compared to their heterosexual and cis-gender peers. There are resources for LGBTQ adolescents who may need support. |
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| Join AARP CT for a FREE, Virtual conference taking place on Tuesday, May 3, 2022 from 2:00 p.m. to 4 p.m. on approaches to creating livable communities that are inclusive, innovative, and intergenerational. AARP membership not required to attend this live event. For more information and to register, please click here. |
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| For additional state and local resources, click the links below:
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COMMUNITY RESOURCES & EVENTS
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| Access Health CT has announced a new special enrollment period for Connecticut residents with lower income.
To be eligible for this SEP, Connecticut residents must:
- Be new or returning customers who are not currently enrolled in a health insurance plan through Access Health CT.
- Have a household income at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).
Head to accesshealthct.com for more information. |
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| For residents who may need some extra support keeping up with rising utility bills, Connecticut recently launched a new online application for heating and utility assistance for income-eligible Connecticut families. Eligible persons can apply for the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) and the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program though an online application. This new online application is part of the state's efforts to use technology to improved access to vital services. Households will have until June 30, 2022 to apply for these helpful programs. To learn more about this helpful program, please click here. |
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YOUTH ACTIVITIES & RESOURCES
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| The New Haven Pride Center is bringing back its Connecticut LGBTQ+ Youth Conference on May 20th and 21st at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven. Each day of the conference will feature 11 educational workshops, an afternoon full of poetry, music, drag performances, and powerful keynotes from Tiq Milan, Milan Garcon, and Jennicet Gutierrez. The conference is FREE to attend thanks to the support from Health Care Advocates International and the State of Connecticut’s LGBTQ+ Health & Human Services Network. Click here to register for this great event. You can learn more here. |
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| If you're an LGBTQ+ high schooler or know someone who is, don't forget to tell them about the Hartford Gay & Lesbian Health Collective's Queer Prom 2022! Prom is scheduled on June 18, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the West Hartford Town Hall, 50 S. Main St. There will be a live DJ, pizza and dancing. The event is $20 per person and is open to high school students. No one will be turned away because of their inability to pay. Sign up for prom here.
You can sponsor a student to help keep prom accessible to all. To donate $20 or more, please click here and put the note "Prom" in the comment box. |
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| East Hartford Parks and Recreation Summer Camp opens Monday, June 20 and will run through Friday, August 5. Camps are open to East Hartford residents only. We will offer a full array of camp programs, serving children ages 4-15, and individuals with special needs ages 6-21. This program will be in collaboration with East Hartford Public Library and East Hartford Youth Services. All campers will be registered for the East Hartford Public Library summer reading program. Registration for camps open on Thursday, May 12. There will be a Virtual Camp Open House on Wednesday, May 11 at 7 p.m. To register, click here or call 860-290-4330. |
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| ECHN Family Development Center's Early Head Start is currently enrolling. Early Head Start is a home visiting program that serves children from birth to 3, pregnant women and their families residing in Manchester or Vernon. A Parents as Teachers (PAT) certified Parent Educator provides parent education, child development information, developmental screenings, dental screenings, disability and behavioral health services, field trips, playgroups and learning activities and parent support groups. For more information about the program and to apply, please call 860-533-2990 ext. 2457 or 860-682-2681. |
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| May is Mental Health Awareness Month. To shine a light on mental health, South Windsor High School Students Against Destructive Decisions Club has organized a 5K Fun Run/Walk in cooperation with South Windsor Recreation Department's "Trails for Charities" Day. The Fun Run/Walk is scheduled for Sunday, May 22 at 9 a.m. at Nevers Road Park Pavilion. Registration is $20 and includes a t-shirt. All proceeds will benefit SADD Club Scholarships and the Purple Light Project, which supports mental health patients throughout Hartford Healthcare. Online registration is open until May 3. Click here to register. |
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JOB OPPORTUNITIES & RESOURCES
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| Through the state's Department of Labor, the American Job Center offers resources, information, and support for individuals throughout the state searching for a job. You can receive help writing a resume and attend interview technique workshops for those currently on the job hunt. For more information, click here. |
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| On May 2, 2022 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Conduent Business Services in East Hartford will hold a job fair at the American Job Center located at 3580 Main Street in Hartford. During this event, participants will learn about job openings at Conduent, which include Call Center and Transaction Processing staff. To learn more, please click here. |
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| The State of Connecticut is hiring! You can find a variety of seasonal, part-time, and full-time positions. There are jobs open to members of the public as well as those already employed at a state agency or organization. You can find a full list of openings here. |
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| End Hunger Connecticut! is hiring for two Summer 2022 programs - the CT Summer Meals Program and CT Fresh Match Program. These are full-time, seasonal positions. Applications are being reviewed on a rolling basis, but the programs will begin soon. The CT Summer Meals Program is aimed at addressing food insecurity, helping children in the community, and supporting summer meal site throughout the state. The CT Fresh Match Program works to increase access to nutritious food for CT residents. To learn more about the programs and the openings, and to apply, please click here. |
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| Game on!
It's spring sports season at our middle and high schools! Click the links below for schedules of this week's games:
You can also find schedules and results on the CIAC website. |
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| EAST HARTFORD:
Click here for the Town Meetings calendar.
Click here for the Community Events calendar.
Click here for information on the East Hartford Public Library.
Click here for East Hartford Community Television. |
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SOUTH WINDSOR:
Click here for the Public Meetings calendar.
Click here for the Community Events calendar.
Click here for information on the South Windsor Public Library.
Click here for South Windsor's Government Television Programming - watch LIVE town council meetings! |
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MANCHESTER:
Click here for the Town Meetings and Community Events Calendar.
Click here for information on the Manchester Public Library.
Click here for Manchester Public Television. |
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Upcoming Meetings and Events
A full calendar of all events happening at the Capitol next week, including public hearings, is available on the General Assembly website.
You can find the agenda for public hearings on the calendar by clicking on the calendar item and following the link to the committee page. For instructions on how to testify at a public hearing, please click here.
You can view a list of all the bills passed by the House so far this session here.
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