Prioritizing Latino Voices & Protecting Our Firefighters

January 19, 2024

If you take one step outside, you already know it’s dangerously cold out there. The state is now under a severe cold weather protocol through noon on Monday. Anyone in need of shelter is urged to call 2-1-1 to find a warming center in their community. CLICK HERE to learn more. 

I hosted an important forum prioritizing Latino input from our community. Many people spoke up and shared their views and concerns. Please read below to see why the state is listening to as many Latinos as possible ahead of the 2024 legislative session.

We are now six months into the start of the state's landmark Baby Bonds program. Please keep scrolling to find out how many newborns in Waterbury are getting financial help for their future.

It's Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month, and our first responders are braving the cold while keeping our communities safe. I'll break down the new law providing benefits to firefighters who are diagnosed with cancer.

You will find the following sections below:

  • Prioritizing Latino Voices
  • Newborns Eligible for Baby Bonds Program
  • New Law Protects Firefighters With Cancer
 
Prioritizing Latino Voices

The state is listening to Latino voices ahead of the 2024 legislative session. UConn professors are touring Latino communities all over Connecticut and stopped by Waterbury to get input from our residents.

Latinos from all walks of life shared their opinions on how to improve our state and their concerns about affordable housing, education, and homelessness.  I led the forum last week, and we had an amazing turnout with about 70 people.

The goal is to create a legislative agenda directly from the voices of the Latino community. This process can pave the way for new ideas at the Capitol.
 
Newborns Eligible for Baby Bonds Program
The first-of-its-kind Baby Bonds legislation is up and running, and about 7,800 newborns were automatically born into the program. 615 of those children are in Waterbury. The Baby Bonds Program provides critical funding to aid children who are born into poverty.
Children whose birth is covered by HUSKY, the state’s Medicaid program, are automatically enrolled in the program and are having $3,200 invested on their behalf. Those investments, which are managed by the Office of the Treasurer, will grow over time and can be used when the participant is between the ages of 18 and 30 for specific purposes intended to help build individual wealth. These include buying a home in Connecticut, starting or investing in a Connecticut business, paying for education or job training, and saving for retirement.
 
It is estimated that about 15,000 babies will be eligible for Connecticut Baby Bonds annually. Parents of eligible newborns do not need to take any action to enroll or apply.
 
New Law Protects Firefighters With Cancer

My colleagues and I highlighted a new law providing compensation and benefits to firefighters diagnosed with cancer. We gathered at the Waterbury Fire Department to show our support for our first responders for Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month. The law ensures firefighters get the treatment they need without having to prove how they contracted cancer.

Cancer is a leading cause of death among firefighters, and research suggests firefighters are at higher risk of certain types of cancers when compared to the general population. Firefighters can be exposed to hundreds of different chemicals in the form of gases, vapors, and particulates. Some of these chemical substances are known or suspected to cause cancer.

I’m proud to support our firefighters. I have a great deal of admiration and respect for the work they do every day. This legislation will provide some support in an inherently dangerous profession.