State Capitol Update for the Week of November 21st

November 23, 2022

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

This past year has been a time of overwhelming gratitude and awe-inspiring service. 

It has been my most sincere honor to serve you, and I am so humbled to have been selected again to continue to serve as your State Representative for the 144th District. Thank you to everyone for your love and support, and thank you for putting your confidence in me. 

We are days away from Thanksgiving, and we are also in the midst of our annual holiday season. While for many of us, this time of year signifies gifts, joy, and rich family traditions. For some families, this Winter means having to make hard decisions on how to keep the heat on and utilities running as the days get colder and the nights get longer. 

This year Eversource and United Illuminating (CT’s two main electric distribution companies) are requesting a rate increase at approximately 40%. This is unwanted news during the holiday season. Especially considering these companies are bringing in record profits. 

I believe that work must be done to address this issue, and my colleagues and I will be traveling to Hartford this Monday, November 28th, for a special legislative session to deal with this and other important topics. 

As always, serving our community is foremost in my mind. Please feel free to reach out with your concerns, comments, and problems. I am available by email at Hubert.delany@cga.ct.gov, or by my cell phone at 203-397-6167.

Below is a more detailed summary of the actions I have taken, and resources I hope will be useful to you and your family. 

Most of all, I hope you and your family have a thoughtful and safe Thanksgiving filled with fun and lasting memories. 
 
VETERANS CORNER
Earlier this month this month I served as the master of ceremonies for our Stamford Veterans Day Parade. This year we honored our brave men and women who served during World War II, and we also memorialized Lieutenant Michael DeBartolomeo by adding his name to the list of fallen service-members who grace the Stamford Veteran’s, Memorial Park. 

I would like to thank the DeBartolomeo family, my colleagues in the Stamford Patriotic and Special Events Commission, Mayor Caroline Simmons, Govoner Ned Lamont, Senator Richard Blumenthal, Attorney General William Tong, and the other members of the Stamford Delegation for sponsoring such an incredible ceremony. 

Also, this year the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tot’s program will be at 504 Glenbrook Rd., Stamford, CT. To learn more about donating you can lick the link bellow or contact Chris Munger at : +1 (914) 262-9724.
Toys for Tots
 
FIGHTING ADDICTION / DEFENDING OUR COMMUNITY  

This week I stood with a coalition of state and city officials to announce the first $42.8 million payment from Johnson & Johnson to Connecticut over the manufacturer's role in the opioid crisis. The funding will be used for opioid treatment, prevention, intervention, and recovery in the fight against our nation’s opioid crisis. 

Today's announcement is a significant moment in our ongoing battle to hold the addiction industry accountable for the devastation the opioid epidemic has caused to the families and communities across our state.

 

Connecticut will receive approximately $300 million dollars over the next 18 years as part of a larger settlement from the nations three major pharmaceutical distributers: “Cardinal, McKesson, and AmericourceBergen”, and pharmaceutical manufacturer “Jhonson and Jhonson”

I would like to thank our Attorney General William Tong for leading the charge against this major injustice, and Mayor Caroline Simmons, Senator Bob Duff, State Rep. Matt Blumenthal, State Rep. Daniel Fox, State Rep. David Michel, and the rest of the Stamford Delegation for championing efforts against the opioid crises.

 
SERVING THE LATINO DIASPORA
 

Last week my colleagues and I held a joint forum between state legislators and the representatives of our Latin American and Caribbean consulars. 

 

The purpose of this gathering was for my colleagues and I to learn how to better provide access and resources from the diplomatic consulars to our Latinx constituents.

 

I would like to thank Milagros Acosta, State Representative Edwin Vargas, my fellow members of the BPRC, and the steadfast leaders of the Mexican, Peruvian, Dominican, and Ecuadorian Consulates for working together to give our community the resources we need.
 
EVERSOURCE AND UNITED ILLUMINATING RATE INCREASE
I am sure we share the same concerns about Eversource and United Illuminating, the state's two main electric distribution companies, which both filed for new standard service supply rates with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) that will increase rates by approximately 100%. There are two portions of our electric bills- usage and delivery. The proposed increases will impact the usage portion of the bill and it is estimated will increase overall electric bills by about 40%.

Once these new rates are approved by PURA, they will go into effect from January 1, 2023, through the first six months of the year.

This is unwanted news at the start of the holiday season, especially as Eversource and United Illuminating enjoy historic profits amid increasing electric generation rates, customers experiencing economic hardships and a global energy crisis due to both nearly three years of supply chair disruptions and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.


 

As lawmakers, we will soon be called into special session, so we my colleagues and I can address solutions to this situation and work on legislation ensuring adequate funding for the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP), which provides winter heating cost assistance to income-eligible households, regardless of their heat source.
PURA is currently in the process of implementing performance-based ratemaking and recently released its final decision to implement a low-income discount rate beginning in January 2024 where eligible customers will receive either a 10% or 50% discount on their utility bills based on their overall household income.

More information on resources for residents who need assistance with high energy costs is available by visiting

ct.gov/heatinghelp
 
ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM GETS FEDERAL FUNDING BOOST
A recent report detailed that throughout Connecticut there was an increase of 13% in overall homelessness from 2021 to 2022.

My legislative colleagues and I are actively working on solutions ahead of the upcoming winter season. Most recently, as part of the state budget adjustment passed during the 2022 legislative session, we included $5 million for the Connecticut Department of Housing (CTDOH) for eviction prevention. The funding will be divided as follows:
  • $2 million for Project Longevity housing vouchers to be issued in Hartford, Waterbury, Bridgeport and New Haven
  • $1.5 million for the Rent Bank

$1.5 million for the state’s seven regional Coordinated Access Networks, which is nearly triple the appropriation from the previous two years.

CTDOH and the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) recently announced the release of nearly $8.5 million in additional aid to connect those experiencing homelessness with support services like housing, food, and mental health services.

This includes:
  • $5 million from CTDOH to support seasonal shelters and services throughout the homeless service system during the winter
  • $2.5 million from CTDOH to develop new hubs within Coordinated Access Networks that supports the hiring of more staff, ensuring flexible financial assistance is available, and technological upgrades can be supported
  • $500,000 from CTDOH for the United Way of Connecticut to increase staffing at 2-1-1
  • $475,000 from DMHAS for the United Way of Connecticut to support costs related to the complex needs of unsheltered individuals and families during periods of extreme cold weather

Anyone who is experiencing homelessness or is at imminent risk of homelessness should call 2-1-1 to get connected to available resources.