Legislative Update 3/17

March 17, 2023

I hope you and your family have been staying warm and healthy during these winter months.

Wishing you and yours a Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!

Last week my family and I visited the Statue of Liberty, and I was inspired by the quote at the base of the statue’s pedestal:

"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
      ⁃     Emma Lazarus

Today we celebrate our Irish Community, and I believe that rooted in today’s celebration is the celebration of immigration and all of the immigrants who have helped build this country. As a young man I learned about the American policy of encouraging people to make the journey to the United States. Those policies were considered revolutionary at the time. We welcomed immigrants from all over the world, and our leaders had the wisdom and foresight to recognize the power immigration to build and strengthen our country.

We in today’s world should do no less. Our welcoming of others, our celebration of our diversity, is our strength. Let this day be a celebration of immigration itself.

Below you will find information about the places I have been, legislation I am working on, and resources that I hope will be of interest to you and your family.

 

Below you will find information about the places I have been, legislation I am working on, and resources that I hope will be of interest to you and your family. 
 

VISITING AVON THEATRE 

Earlier this week, I visited our local Avon Theatre Bedford St, and I heard their plans and proposals for supporting our community.

Avon is an incredible artistic hub that offers our community unique and beautiful experiences : Showcasing films, supporting our local artists, and contributing to overall cultural fabric of our city.

I am so grateful for the sense of community that Avon helps bring to Stamford, and I would like to thank Arthur Selkowitz and the rest of the Avon staff for hosting me.
 

UPCOMING EVENTS
I will be hosting two events over the next couple of weeks. 

On Thursday, March 23, 2023, there will be a non-partisan informational roundtable about early voting in Connecticut.  This event will take place at 11:00 A.M. in Room 2A of the Legislative Office Building (LOB), located at 300 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, Connecticut.

  This event is free and open to the general public.  For further information, please contact Werner Oyanadel at Werner.Oyanadel@cga.ct.gov or (860) 372-1022.
One week later, Thursday, March 30, I am cohosting a Women's History Month Community roundtable. State Reps. Khanna, Figueria, and Planned Parenthood of Southern New England will join me for a conversation about issue that impact traditionally marginalized communities in CT. Please see the flyer for more information. 
 

BILLS I AM WORKING ON  

I believe access to affordable early childhood education is a fundamental right for everyone. I am proud to support House Bill 5540, which will aim at making early childhood education less of a financial burden.

If passed, House Bill 5540 will increase reimbursement rates and address wages, staff recruitment and retention in hopes of making early childhood education more affordable across the state.
 

YMHA - MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING

The Stamford Youth Mental Health Alliance (YMHA) is excited to offer a full eight-hour Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) training program Friday, March 31 from 4 p.m. 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, April 1 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for any adult that regularly interacts with young people. The training will cover common mental health challenges for youth, review typical adolescent development and teach a five-step action plan for how to help young people in a crisis and non-crisis situation.

Our expert Youth Mental Health First Aid trainer, Denique Weidema, has been conducting trainings since 2013 and has an extensive background in youth development and programming, prevention and behavioral health.

Space is limited, so please register early on the QR code!  Dinner and lunch will be provided.
 

EXPANDED ACCESS TO HEALTH COVERAGE FOR PERSONAL CARE ATTENDANTS

Personal care attendants (PCAs) will have additional access to affordable health insurance after an agreement was reached to expand the application deadline for PCAs to apply for the first round of the new premium assistance benefit.

PCAs, who provide valuable services and support to more than 7,000 of Connecticut’s Medicaid consumers so they can remain in their homes and communities, may now apply for the premium benefit through April 7. The special enrollment period for coverage through Access Health CT, the state's health insurance exchange, runs until May 15. For those who do not apply for assistance by April 7, another application period will be provided later this year with payment on or around September, in time for the traditional open enrollment period on Access Health CT.
 
Connecticut is one of the first states to do this, and I encourage all PCA s who are not enrolled in health coverage to sign up for this important benefit.

Access Health CT has a special enrollment period and dedicated telephone line with navigator assistance for PCAs so that they can easily find the best health insurance option for them and obtain enrollment support. The Access Health CT navigators also screen the PCAs for eligibility for the HUSKY and Covered CT programs. 
 
PCAs will soon receive communication with instructions on how they can access this important benefit.
 

HOW TO AVOID TAX SCAMS
Tax filing season is upon us. As you prepare to file, I urge you to be mindful of potential scams. The IRS produces a list of "dirty dozen" tax scams.  While these scams can occur year-round, they tend to increase during this time of the year. It’s wise to stay on top of the latest list of common issues—and take some simple steps to stay safe from them.

A great way to protect yourself is to do additional research on anything that seems suspicious. Do not click on an email or a link to an unfamiliar website. Never give out any personal information—especially your Social Security Number—to someone claiming to represent the IRS over the phone or online. When in doubt, visit IRS.gov for additional guidance.
 
Filing taxes can be a stressful process. Avoiding these scams can prevent an even larger headache. The deadline to file is April 18.