Mary Welander

The Select Committee on Special Education is tweaking two important bills that would better support children with special needs, their families, and the educators who work so hard on their behalf.

I’ve heard directly from families, educators, and providers about the many proposals that could affect the early childhood profession. There are several great ideas on the table focusing on strengthening our child care system and supporting the dedicated workforce behind it.

My colleagues and I in the House, Senate, and Governor's Office are working collaboratively to advance legislation that strengthens early childhood care across the state.

Connecticut and the rest of the nation are dealing with more uncertainty after drastic federal cuts to early childcare and home heating assistance programs.

The federal government is slashing $150 million in federal grants to Connecticut that would support public health. These drastic cuts will put lives at risk, eliminate jobs, and severely weaken our state's ability to track and prevent public health crises.

I'm participating in a community coffee hour on March 23 in Orange. Hundreds of people gathered at the State Capitol in a powerful show of unity, urging the federal government to reject proposed cuts to Medicaid.

I stood in solidary with education advocates to show our shared commitment to ensuring that every student has access to a high-quality education and that our teachers receive the resources they need to thrive.

I am proud to co-sponsor a House priority bill that would invest in early childhood care and education, attract and retain childcare educators, and enhance both new and existing childcare facilities.