Dan Gaiewski

Friday is Juneteenth, a day of reflection, celebration, and progress.

As we commemorate the end of slavery in the United States and celebrate the resilience and contributions of the Black community, let's continue to strive for equality, justice, and freedom for all.

I was so proud to see an additional investment of approximately $320 million into Connecticut’s Early Childhood Education Endowment.

Established in 2025 through Public Act 25-93, the endowment serves as a permanent funding source dedicated to strengthening Connecticut’s early childhood education system. This new investment, combined with last year’s initial $300 million commitment, positions Connecticut as a national leader in creating sustainable, long-term solutions that support children, families, educators, and providers.

On Saturday evening, a building in the Ledges Apartments caught on fire. My heart is with those who have been affected by this tragedy. After communicating with the Red Cross on the ground, the community needs our help, and Groton Human Services will be the place where you can donate things!

This week I attended Groton Subvets annual Memorial Day Ceremony, where they remember the submariners we have lost. I am always proud to represent the Submarine Capitol of the World and remembering those we have lost comes as part of that responsibility.

Thank you to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country - we are so grateful.

Last week, the House concluded its legislative session, wrapping up months of hard work to deliver for the people of Connecticut.

In this eblast, I want to tell you about some of the most important pieces of legislation we passed, starting with the state budget.

In Groton and New London alone, we delivered millions for our residents, including nearly $3 million in education aid and over $5 million in town aid.

Connecticut House Democrats are making targeted, meaningful investments in the people who keep our communities strong — from first responders and veterans to nurses, teachers, and blue-collar workers.

We passed legislation backing those who serve by expanding support for police, firefighters, and veterans. That includes state-backed health insurance for families of fallen volunteer firefighters and state marshals, mortgage assistance for first responders, and stronger recruitment and training efforts. We’re also building on successful partnerships between law enforcement and mental health professionals and creating new tuition assistance opportunities for those serving here at home.

In addition, there are sections in the bill that focus on connecting members of our military and National Guard with workforce reentry programs, job training information, career counseling resources, and more. This section is a great way to welcome back those serving our nation and making sure they are secure and successful back at home. I'm so proud to have helped pass and craft this legislation with Democratic Rep. Jaime Foster, Republican Reps. Mark Anderson, Tim Ackert, and Democratic Sen. Paul Honig

It was a busy week, as the State House of Representatives was in session Monday-Thursday. We passed a number of bills, and you can read about some of them here.

It was great to be back in the House chamber recently with my colleagues. In the coming weeks, the State House and Senate will be meeting much more frequently to give final passage to bills that advanced through committees. Bills that passed through the House and Senate will then be sent to the governor's desk to be signed into law. I will keep you updated on all of the important bills the legislature passes!