John-Michael Parker

I am pleased to report that responsible budgeting and major structural changes made to pension and teachers' retirements plans are putting Connecticut on much more solid fiscal ground and saving taxpayers billions in debt payments.

With many families in Connecticut facing added financial strain due to rising prices, the legislature went into special session earlier this week to provide some relief. A bipartisan bill passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Lamont extends the current suspension of the gasoline tax, provides additional funding for energy assistance programs, and continues premium pay for frontline workers.

A recent report detailed that throughout Connecticut there was an increase of 13% in overall homelessness from 2021 to 2022.

Access Health CT's (AHCT) Open Enrollment Period will open on Tuesday, November 1. During this period, individuals can renew their coverage, explore the various policy options for the first time or see if they can save money.

Thousands of Connecticut residents have dedicated their careers to public service. The federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program recognizes this choice with complete student loan cancellation after 10 years of public service work and loan payments.

Sadly, statistics show that 1 in 4 women & 1 in 7 men are affected by domestic violence. That is why I am proud that Connecticut is at the forefront in addressing this issue, passing laws that offer more support and protection to victims and survivors of domestic violence.

Did you know that an estimated 3,550 Connecticut women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year? While anyone is at risk of developing breast cancer, it is the most common type of cancer diagnosed in American women, except for skin cancers. In the U.S., 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.

This week, the annual crime statistics report that compiles data on crimes reported to state law enforcement agencies was released, and it shows violent and property crimes are down from the previous year, which preserves Connecticut's status as one of the safest states in the country.