Session Kick-Off & Community Highlights

January 18, 2023
The 2023 Session kicked off on January 4th. Together with all of you, I look forward to what we can do to help keep our communities and our state healthy, safe, and strong. Below is information on opening day, a quickly approaching affordable housing session, and other helpful updates:

You can click on any of the links above to jump to that section of the email. I hope that you find these resources helpful.

 
Opening Day of the 2023 Session
At the start of the month, the General Assembly convened for the 2023 Legislative Session. I was joined by my Mom, husband, and son, as I was sworn in to serve the 133rd district, once again representing Fairfield and now Bridgeport as well.

Seeing the Capitol come alive after almost three years of total and later partial shutdown, was inspiring. I was overcome with emotion as we listened to the Hartford Gay Men’s Chorus sing our National Anthem and with my family by my side as I took the oath of office. In a way, this Session feels like a new beginning.

Although it only started a few weeks ago, our work is well underway. You can stay up to date with happenings in Hartford and at home by signing up for email updates like this one. Please click the image below to sign-up on the webpage, and feel free to share this information with anyone you feel would find it helpful.
 
New Committee Appointments
For the first time since the 2019 Session, the Capitol is fully open to the public, we have 36 newly elected legislators, and I have the privilege of serving in a new leadership position as House Chair of the Public Health Committee.
The pandemic underscored the important role of Public Health in keeping our state healthy, safe, and strong. From combating the opioid crisis, to addressing provider shortages, and decreasing the racial and economic inequalities in access to healthcare, I am thankful for the opportunity and look forward to working with my colleagues to help Connecticut thrive.

To stay up-to-date on all proposals moving through the committee, I encourage you to visit the committee's webpage by clicking the button below. There you will find meeting agendas, public hearing testimony sign-ups, and additional resources.

Public Health Committee
In addition to the Public Health Committee, I am honored to remain a member on the Planning and Development Committee, which I previously Co-Chaired, the Government Administration and Elections Committee and the Transportation Committee.
 
Affordable and Fair Housing Workshop
Tomorrow from 10:00AM - 11:30AM,  leaders from Partnership for Strong Communities, Open Communities Alliance and the Connecticut Fair Housing Center to discuss Connecticut's tight housing supply, high rents, and rising home prices. You are welcome to join us, but given the late notice, know that it will be covered by CT-N and you can watch the recording here.

The presentation will provide an overview of the following:

  • What is Affordable Housing?
  • Who Needs Affordable Housing in Connecticut?
  • Affordable Housing Development and Preservation Finance Resources
  • Connecticut Zoning Enabling Act (Section 8-2)
  • Affordable Housing Land Use Appeals Procedure (Section 8-30g)
  • Municipal Affordable Housing Plans (Section 8-30j)
  • Racial and Economic Segregation in Housing
  • Obligations Under Fair Housing
  • Tenant Protections

This is a vital conversation that I hope you will participate in as we work to ensure everyone in Connecticut has access to a safe and affordable home in the community of their choice. Please feel free to submit questions ahead of time by clicking the button below:

Submit Questions
 
$5K for Bright Beginnings of Fairfield
I am delighted to share that Bright Beginnings of Fairfield received $5,000 in funding through the CT Department of Agriculture's CT Grown 4 CT Kids Grant. These funds will be used for the purchase of a tower garden, produce for students’ snacks, and agricultural education books to integrate into Farm to School curriculum at each of their three Family Child Care centers.

During the 2021 Special Session, we established the grant program to increase availability of local foods in child nutrition programs, promote hands-on learning in the classroom, establish relationships with local farmers and producers, improve children's health and enhance the state's economy. It was welcome news to hear that the program received 72 applications totaling over $1 million in requested funds.

Please click the image below to learn more about the program.

 
Utility Bill Assistance
As we rang in the new year, Connecticut's two electric distribution companies, Eversource and United Illuminating (UI), announced that they doubled their rates effective January 1, 2023. This unwelcome news came as both Eversource and UI collect record profits, passing the cost burden onto us.
 
The severe service rate increases continue to impact thousands of Connecticut families who have already faced numerous challenges over the last few years and now may not have the resources they need to keep their heat and lights on throughout the winter months.
 
This is unacceptable.
 
My legislative colleagues and I have been hard at work finding solutions, both long- and short-term, to ensure every family in Connecticut has access to affordable utilities:
 
How you can save now:
  • Last month, the Governor announced the launch of the collaborative short-term Customer Relief Plan, a $120/year credit towards your electricity bill, for all Eversource and UI customers, which can offer a savings of $10/month on your utility bill
  • Energize CT is a publicly funded resource where you can secure lower rates for a minimum of 4 months from third-party suppliers and learn how to make your home energy efficient to lower consumption
  • During the November special session, we increased funding for Operation Fuel, an energy assistance resource for qualifying low-income families, which has an assistance program that began December 19th
  • During the November special session, we also approved an additional $30 million boost in funding for the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which you can apply for here through May 31, 2023
  • Additional energy assistance is available by contacting Human Services Department, community action agency, or me directly

In addition to these resources, House Democratic Leadership has formed a bipartisan commission with industry-experienced representation to evaluate alternative energy programs and legislative proposals that we can raise to protect families from severe rate hikes like this in the future.
 
The work we are committed to:

  • Greater investment in other sources of clean energy to remain committed to Connecticut's environmental goals while making our state's utilities affordable for all
  • More regional options for energy supply to lower delivery costs
  • Sufficient transparency on rate increases offering greater review and public input
  • Research states with regulated markets and lower consumer costs to draft similar legislative proposals

I understand that the soaring energy prices continue to affect working families, which is why my colleagues and I remain committed to working on solutions that will provide resources and assistance to ease the cost burden on you. Please feel free to share your thoughts with me on how we can better offer aid to working families, and if you need help applying for any of the energy assistance programs listed above, please do not hesitate to contact me directly.

Contact Me
 
SHU Arena Opening
I want to offer a special congratulations to Sacred Heart University, Sacred Heart University Women's Hockey and Sacred Heart University Men's Hockey on the opening of the beautiful, new, state-of-the-art Martire Family Arena.
The public will have an opportunity to not only cheer on the Pioneers, but also try out the rink during public skates. The best part of the visit was getting to see my next door neighbor Rob Dombrowski in action training the women’s team. Rob is the Director of Hockey Performance at SHU. Great hometown talent! Go, Pioneers!!

 
One Book One Town Selection
Last week, the Fairfield Public Library (FPL) announced their annual One Book One Town selections. This years adult book, “I Keep Trying to Catch His Eye: a memoir of loss, grief, and love,” by Fairfield’s own Ivan Maisel is a serious and powerful selection. It is a story of Ivan and his family’s loss of their son Max to suicide. The companion youth and children’s books are "Hope Nation," "Hope Wins" and "The Rhino Suit."
Thank you, Ivan, for your courage, strength, and vulnerability in sharing your story. And thank you Fairfield Public Library for your constant willingness to take on difficult but necessary conversations.