Jennifer Leeper

Dear Neighbor,

As a reminder, town and state offices will be closed on Monday, October 10 in observance of Indigenous Peoples' Day. Town offices will open again on Tuesday, October 11. 

In this week's email, you will find information on:

• Celebrating Manufacturing Day
• Advocating for Victim-Survivors of Domestic Violence
• Expanding Access to Breast & Ovarian Cancer Screenings & Diagnostics
• Energy Assistance Program Gets Federal Funding Boost
• Fairfield Launches Glass Recycling & Food Waste Programs
• Fairfield to Update Its Plan of Conservation & Development

Thursday night, I was honored to receive ManufactureCT's Government Affairs Award. Our manufacturing sector is the cornerstone for growing our economy and it’s been a privilege to work with multiple stakeholders to make our state an easier place to work and grow.

A recurring sentiment that speakers shared was how Connecticut has the most educated workforce in the nation and how that is what has enabled our manufacturing sector to lead the nation. State Representative Jeff Currey and I have spent a lot of time working on how to further develop the workforce pipeline, especially for our technical and comprehensive high schools.

Statistics show that 1 in 4 women & 1 in 7 men are affected by domestic violence every day. October is recognized as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and I'm proud to see Connecticut leaders take action to disrupt the cycle of violence. 

In recent years, our state has implemented a number of reforms to provide more support and protection to domestic violence victims and survivors. Among these is a 2021 law that expanded the definition of domestic violence to include coercive control. Coercive control is a pattern or behavior that can use threatening, intimidation, or exploitation to trap individuals in abusive relationships.

This expanded definition recognizes intimate partner violence can be more than physical abuse – it can take shape as emotional, psychological, and sexual abuse. This measure will help make the process of filing for restraining orders, divorce, child custody, and other family court matters easier for victims and survivors. It would also create a new legal aid program to provide legal representation for victims and survivors of domestic violence.
 
To support and help victims and survivors of domestic violence visit CTSafeConnect.org or call or text (888) 774-2900. Help is available 24/7. 

Earlier this week, I was pleased to join local leaders and members of the Fairfield legislative delegation at the Pink Pledge event to help support the Norma Pfriem Breast Center's vital work.

In addition to patient care and research advancements, legislation can be a powerful tool in the fight against breast cancer.

Over the past few years, the Connecticut General Assembly has passed crucial laws to provide resources, close loopholes, and make early detection easier for Connecticut residents.

This year, I proudly supported legislation to require health insurance coverage for breast and ovarian cancer screenings including mammograms, ultrasounds, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as well as certain procedures related to breast cancer treatment like breast biopsies, certain prophylactic mastectomies, and breast reconstruction surgery. The law also covers BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 genetic testing and prohibits most policies from imposing out-of-pocket costs.

Early detection saves lives, and these laws will safeguard access to screenings and diagnostics for patients.

You can learn more about the Connecticut Early Detection and Prevention Program here.

This is great news for Connecticut's low-income and working families who rely on CT's Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help pay for home heating costs.

Today, more than ever, this program provides crucial support to vulnerable homeowners and renters with the costs of heating their homes. With heating costs expected to rise this winter, this boost in federal support will ensure more families can stay warm.

Don't delay. The application period for the 2022-2023 winter season of the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program is NOW open. I encourage you to apply today!

There are several ways to submit your application: 

• Online at ct.gov/heatinghelp/apply.
• Call the office of your local community action agency and request assistance applying, or schedule an in-person appointment  
• Download and complete the CEAP application, and mail the completed application with the required documents to your local community action agency. 

The contact information and addresses of Connecticut's community action agencies can be found here. 
 
Benefits are based on your household’s income and number of family members. Benefits are available for households with incomes up to 60% of the state median income, which equates to roughly $76,400 for a family of four. 

Typically, benefits are paid directly to the utility company or fuel supplier. Households that heat with deliverable fuels like oil or propane may be eligible for multiple free tank fills.

Applications for the 2022-2023 winter season must be received by May 31, 2023. 

If you’d like more information, click here or call 2-1-1 for more information.

Glass Recycling Drop-Off Program
Residents can now drop off certain glass containers at the Fairfield Transfer Station. The glass will be recycled into a high-end cement product that is more sustainable than traditional cement production. This recycling option is available free of charge to residents with a valid dump/beach sticker.

Food Waste Drop-Off Program
Starting on Monday, October 17, 2022, residents will have the option to drop off food waste, free of charge, at the Fairfield Transfer Station. The first 250 residents to sign up for the program will receive a free starter kit. The food scraps will be used for soil-enriching compost. For more information, please email sustainablefairfieldtaskforce@gmail.com.