Gregg Haddad

Rep. Gregg Haddad, House chairman of the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee, issued the following statement Tuesday after the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) rejected the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities’ proposal to consolidate the state’s 12 community colleges.

We are closing in on the deadline to apply for heating assistance. Don't wait to the last minute. If you are eligible for home heating assistance, this program may help you. The general deadline for applications is May 1, 2018, however, eligible households that are subject to a shut-off notice by a utility for heating bills have an extended deadline of May 15.

Rep. Gregg Haddad, House chair of the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee, joined his Democratic colleagues recently to unveil their Free 2 Start/Free 2 Finish college program, which would provide state aid to help qualified Connecticut students start and complete their college careers at community colleges and state universities.

House and Senate Democrats unveil the Democratic Values Agenda for the 2018 legislative session.

To reduce the spread of the flu virus, the state Department of Public Health is working with local health departments to provide free and low cost influenza vaccines across the state on Saturday, Jan. 27. Clinics will be held at UConn Student Health Services and at EO Smith High School.

For those of you impacted by the changes to the Medicare Savings program, there is good news. The state Department of Social Services has announced that it will delay the scheduled Jan. 1 implementation of income eligibility reductions in the Medicare Savings Programs, as a result of concerns raised by beneficiaries, advocates and legislators.

The Office of Policy and Management has announced that residents enrolled in the state’s Renter’s Rebate program are expected to receive their checks this week.

Tens of thousands of Connecticut patients suffered interruptions of health care during a seven-week contract stalemate before Hartford HealthCare and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield finally reached an agreement. To avoid future health care disruptions, the legislature will hold a forum and public hearing Nov. 28 at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.