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WHAT'S OUR REP BEEN UP TO?
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It was great to catch up with colleagues and many others before the Mystic Irish Parade on Sunday. Thank you again to the community volunteers and first responders for their efforts!  |
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Another incredible Mystic St. Patrick’s Day Parade for the books  |
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| We had a bright and energizing Thursday morning at the Ocean Community YMCA’s 2024 Annual Support Campaign Kick-Off at the beautiful Ocean House in Westerly. We heard from some incredible speakers conveying the importance of key resources that the YMCA provides for our communities in Mystic, Westerly-Pawcatuck, and Arcadia.
Shout out to my colleagues First Selectwoman Danielle Cheseborough and RI State Senator Victoria Gu, District 38 for also joining us.
Fun fact: 100% of the donations raised in the next 6-weeks for the Annual Support Campaign are directly awarded to individuals for scholarships towards Y Membership, Summer Camp, and Y Programming! Continue to learn about and support the YCares Financial Assistance Program here. |
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| It was a busy day at the Capitol Thursday, too! We held our final Environment Committee meeting of the session, voted out HB 5004, and just concluded a long public hearing at the Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee! |
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| Recently, I attended the USS IDAHO Christening at the EB Shipyard in Groton. Congratulations to the General Dynamic Electric Boat shipbuilders for completing the construction of our US Navy’s latest and leading-edge Virginia-class nuclear-powered fast attack submarine.
It was abundantly clear that we have the world’s best sailors maintaining the world’s best Navy! Proud to represent the Submarine Capitol of the World!  |
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| EARLY VOTING STARTS ON TUESDAY! |
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| Early voting for the 2024 presidential preference primary begins Tuesday. This is important. Remember, every vote counts! Please take a moment to click on the image below for more details, including polling locations. |
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| The Legislature’s Environment Committee, of which I am a member, voted along party lines to advance HB 5004 - an ambitious omnibus bill to address climate change — to the full House for a vote.
Known as HB 5004 "An Act Concerning the Implementation of Certain Climate Change Measures," had a public hearing on March 8. At last count, 356 people submitted testimony in favor of the bill and 62 against it. You can read the testimonies HERE. |
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This complicated bill has 21 sections - you can read a summary HERE - and seeks to respond to the climate crisis in four overarching ways:
- Declaring a climate crisis and updating the Global Warming Solutions Act to make Connecticut's greenhouse gas emissions targets more in line with other states in the region;
- Supporting businesses and towns that engage in clean economy sectors or employ environmentally sustainable practices by: creating tax credits and incentives, developing a pilot incubator program for entrepreneurs in green technologies, and creating a sustainable municipal purchasing model;
- Developing plans for transitioning to a clean economy through such measures as expanding solar and heat pumps, requiring electrification of new state buildings, expanding workforce training, and creating a consumer’s energy bill of rights, and
- Supporting nature-based solutions, such as protecting old-growth forests, controlling invasive species, restoring coastal habitats, and increasing carbon sequestration.
The legislation has strong support among environmental advocates, including Save the Sound, The Nature Conservancy of Connecticut, Connecticut River Conservancy, Citizens' Climate Lobby CT, Connecticut Roundtable on Climate and Jobs, Connecticut Land Conservation Council, and CT League of Conservation Voters. |
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| HB 5001- PROTECTING AND PRIORITIZING SENIORS |
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| Now this is great news!
The Aging Committee approved HB 5001, an omnibus bill that will provide further support to our seniors. This proposal is a priority of the House, and I am thrilled it is progressing through the legislative process.
Issues impacting seniors are often ignored. Our elderly residents need support and access to resources that will provide them with the best quality of life possible. HB 5001 does this by:
- Requiring additional training of home care workers
- Creating a more efficient process for accessing Medicaid
- Expanding the Office of Long-Term Care Ombudsman
Click here to read an article that explores additional details of the bill. |
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| Our aging population faces a growing list of challenges that are not isolated incidents. As our society gets older, these issues will only become more pronounced. HB 5001 not only acknowledges these complexities but also paves the way for crucial improvements. This legislation will ensure that our seniors will age gracefully. Next stop, the House Floor! |
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| PUBLIC HEARINGS MARCH 25-29 |
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| I will always encourage you to get involved. |
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| GET HELP WITH UNPAID UTILITY BALANCES |
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| Utility companies have started reaching out to residential customers with unpaid balances to sign up for payment plans to avoid interruption in their current services.
Those with financial hardships or medical issues due to a serious illness have not been eligible for termination due to nonpayment since March 2020, which stems from the COVID-19 pandemic, and a longstanding statutory moratorium that annually safeguards Connecticut residents from winter shut-offs from November 1 to May 1.
If you get one of these notices, my office can work with you to help contact utility companies directly to set up a payment plan to avoid service disruption. These plans charge no interest, and all customers qualify at least once for one or more of the plans. Please see the graphics below for contact information for the utility companies and the available payment plan options for eligible customers. |
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After connecting with utility companies, customers may additionally contact PURA’s customer affairs unit for specific questions regarding payment arrangements.
As a reminder, utility companies will never call threatening to shut off power and demanding immediate payment. Please reach out if you have any questions, comments, or feedback.
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| INVESTING IN BROADBAND EXPANSION |
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| Connecticut is spending nearly $41 million in federal funding to expand broadband infrastructure and improve access to high-speed internet. Organizers will prioritize underserved areas by focusing on those who have historically faced barriers to digital access. The goal is to achieve universal access to high-speed internet with 1 gigabit per second download speeds and 100Mbps upload speeds. |
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| You can apply now on a project that will connect residents and businesses to internet access with speeds of at least 100 megabits per second (Mbps) for downloads and 100Mbps for uploads. Applicants must be eligible to receive capital project funds, including local governments, private entities, and nonprofit organizations. Partnerships between public and private entities are encouraged.
The state is taking applications, and they must be submitted to DEEP by April 30 at 4:30 P.M. |
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| TOWN OF STONINGTON ZONING UPDATE |
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| For a look at the Town of Stonington's latest, comprehensive zoning update, please click on the image below. |
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| DEEP LOOKING TO GROW PARTNERSHIPS AT CT PARKS |
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DEEP is looking to build upon successful partnerships in Connecticut State Parks by inviting businesses, non-profits, and other private sector stakeholders to submit concepts to an RFI. Submissions for all partnership concepts for implementation in 2025 and beyond are due Tuesday, April 30, 2024. Submissions can be submitted at deep.partnershipsinparks@ct.gov. To learn more please click HERE.
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| GROTON HIRING FOR SUMMER EMPLOYMENT |
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| The City of Groton Parks & Recreation Department is hiring for seasonal positions for the Summer of 2024. Click on the image below for more details, including available positions, pay, and a seasonal employment application. |
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| CELEBRATING ONE OF CONNECTICUT'S OWN |
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CT women are trailblazers. Here is a look at even more of Colonel Lucas’s achievements:
Volunteered to teach English to Japanese students while stationed in Japan
Received a master’s degree in educational psychology from Columbia University
Spent the 1960s setting up literacy programs for servicemen
Served as Director of Urban Services at Washington Technical Institute, later becoming the Dean of Physical Science, Engineering & Technology |
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| COMMUNITY EVENTS AND NOTICES |
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| Young basketball enthusiasts will have an opportunity to learn from professional basketball players and their coaches as the Connecticut Sun will host a "Basketball for Free" event at Wilbur Cross High School, 181 Mitchell Drive in New Haven, on Saturday, March 30th from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Please respond to Chris Smith at Chris@consult-ct.com if you can attend. The Mohegan Tribe became the first Native American Tribe to own a professional sports team when they welcomed the Sun in 2003.
Do not hesitate to contact me with any thoughts or concerns you may have at Aundre.Bumgardner@cga.ct.gov or 1-800-842-8267.
Sincerely,
Aundré Bumgardner
State Representative |
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