I hope you and your family have been enjoying the brighter weather and warmer times.
These last few weeks have been a whirlwind of activity. We are more than halfway through the regular session, and this is the time of year when legislative activity picks up in the Connecticut General Assembly.
After weeks of holding public hearings, my colleagues and I in the Appropriations Committee met this week to pass our revised budget proposals in our committee meetings.
Over the next few weeks, we will be having meetings to negotiate with the governor and legislative colleagues to craft the final budget. The budget bill then goes before the House and Senate, where each chamber must pass the same version of the budget in order for the bill to move to the governor's desk. After being passed by both chambers, the legislature’s final budget must then be signed into law by the governor before the end of the fiscal year on June 30.
I will keep you posted as we bring the budget bill to the floor to be debated and voted on in the coming weeks.
Below you will find information on the policies I have been championing, initiatives I have taken, funding we have brought back to the community, legislation I am working on, and upcoming events that I hope will of interest to you and your family.
HEALTHCARE FOR IMMIGRANTS
Earlier this last week, I joined students, activists, journalists, and legislative colleagues in a rally to support our proposed policy to expand health insurance access for ALL Connecticut kids and families regardless of immigration status.
No child should be denied health care because of immigration status. Moreover, our undocumented immigrant population already pay state and municipal taxes, and a portion of those taxes already goes to support our HUSKY Healthcare program. Coupled with the reduction in cost from uncompensated care from our hospitals and emergency medicaid costs, we can fulfill this policy in a way that is both socially equitable and financially responsible.
I want to thank the Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund, State Senator Derek Slap, State Senator Matthew Lesser ,State Representative Kate Farrar and everyone who came out to stand up for healthcare.
Last week, my colleagues and I had a discussion on the importance of books and libraries in our children’s lives and the policies we are supporting to combat the banning of books.
This conversation brought together the Stamford community to debate what we can do to protect our libraries, how we can combat the banning of books across America, and highlight the importance of our children reading stories that help them realize they are not alone
As a mentor of mine said during orur discussion:
“We are talking about who gets to be a protagonist in the story of America.”
I was honored to speak in front of our community, I am proud to cosponsor legislation that supports our libraries, and I am so grateful to represent the people of Connecticut!
Earlier this month we announced that Stamford is now officially a sister-city with Kramatorsk, Ukraine!
As a U.S. Army Soldier who has served in Eastern Europe, I believe the symbolism of the sister-city relationship sends a powerful message: that we are ready to stand with and support the Ukrainian people!
The strength of our community and our country is not determined by our nuclear weapons or even our supply lines. It is in our people, our partnerships, and our willingness to stand and work together.
I would like to thank Mayor Caroline Simmons Senator Richard Blumenthal Representative Jim Himes, my colleagues in the State Delegation, Reverend Ihor Midzak of St. Vladimir's Church, and co-founder of Ukraine Aid International Brian Mayer for organizing this incredible symbolic event.
HVAC Funding for our Schools
Governor Ned Lamont announced that his administration is awarding $56 million in grants for public schools throughout Connecticut to make upgrades to heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. The following 6 schools in Stamford received funding:
Julia Stark - $289,142,34
Davenport - $421,566.57
Cloonan Middle School - $96,216.69
Stamford High School - $693,566.83
Westover Magnet Elementary School - $802,700.03
Rippowam - $493,271.60
Northeast- $231,402.40
This funding does not cover the entire project, but it is crucial funding that will benefit our teachers and students in the long run.
BONDING
The Stamford delegation was able to secure funding for its harbors and marinas. During the bond commission meeting on April 6, funding was approved for the following projects -
$3,095,520 for the channel dredging of the Cove Island Park Marina, $236,500 for final design and permitting at the Cummings Marina, and $20,000 for a Harbor Boat Launch Feasibility Study. This money will lead to critical improvements these locations.
Thank you to Governor Lamont and the members of the commission for their consideration of our community.
BILLS I AM WORKING ON
As a soldier, one of the bills, I am proud to cosponsor the session is SB 634 - AN ACT CONCERNING MUNICIPAL VETERANS SERVICES. Currently, our municipalities have an inadequate amount of resources to properly support our local veterans.
If passed, SB 634 would provide municipalities with additional guidance on veteran services, hire state employees to help municipalities with veteran services, and provide direction on the roles and responsibilities of municipal veteran representatives.
Those who served our country deserve the utmost of our support and gratitude along with an abundance of resources to suit their needs. SB 634 will let us take steps to guarantee that those who served our country have access to the care they need when they complete their service and return home.
Workers in Connecticut deserve the ability to get paid for days off due to illness. As such, I am co-sponsoring SB 1178 - AN ACT EXPANDING CONNECTICUT PAID SICK DAYS.
If passed, SB 1178 would expand existing paid sick days to cover all private sector employees, increase the family members employees may use for sick day eligibility, and increase the rate of accumulation and eligibility reasons for paid sick time off. In the bills current form, it would also increase total sick hours from 40 to 80 per year.
This policy will put us on par with our neighboring states, and I am proud to support it.
UPCOMING EVENTS
The Stamford Chamber of Commerce is holding several fun events over the next few weeks. Please see the flyer below for more information.
If you have any issues, concerns, or feedback, I would love to hear from you! Please feel free to contact me at 860-240-8585 if you ever need anything or by email at hubert.delany@cga.ct.gov
