$150 Million in Cuts to Public Health

March 31, 2025


 
 

I had the pleasure of speaking with senior citizens about their priorities and what I am working on up in Hartford. I also had the honor of participating in a Greek American celebration at the Capitol. Please keep scrolling to see images from those events.

I would like to call your attention to some of the changes happening at the national level affecting Connecticut. The federal government is slashing $150 million in grants that would support public health in our state. I'll break down how these cuts will put lives at risk and affect our ability to fight disease and outbreaks.


As always, I look forward to hearing from you. For more information, please make sure to follow my Facebook page HERE. 

If I can assist you and your family, please don't hesitate to reach out at Savet.Constantine.@cga.ct.gov or via phone at the Capitol at 860-240-8585. And follow me for the in-between newsletter updates on Instagram @StateRepSavet Constantine.

Sincerely,


Savet Constantine
State Representative
 

Addressing Senior Concerns

I would like to thank everyone who attended Stay At Home Wilton's forum last week at the Comstock Community Center. It was a privilege to share updates on our legislative priorities in Hartford and to have meaningful conversations about the issues affecting our senior citizens. It is vital for me to hear your concerns, listen to your feedback, and answer your questions. I deeply appreciate the opportunity to hear directly from you.

I’m also grateful to Wilton Board of Finance Chair Matthew Raimondi for his insightful presentation on the town’s budget process. His clear and thorough explanation gave us a much better understanding and perspective on the financial landscape in Wilton.

I look forward to continuing these important discussions and working together to address the needs of our community.
 

Education Funding

In our final Education Committee meeting last Friday, we moved forward with multiple bills to secure critical programs like school nutrition, special education, and support for local districts.

While federal support wanes, we’re standing up for our children, educators, and families - because investing in education means investing in our future.
 

$150M in Federal Cuts to Public Health

The Trump Administration is cutting approximately $150 million in federal funding to Connecticut, jeopardizing critical public health, mental health, and addictions services.

CLICK HERE to read Governor Ned Lamont, House Speaker Matt Ritter, and Senate President Looney's response to the news.

These drastic cuts will put lives at risk, eliminate jobs, end essential contracts, and severely weaken the Connecticut Department of Public Health’s (DPH) ability to track and prevent public health crises. Without these grants, DPH will struggle to monitor emerging health threats and share real-time information.

Most alarmingly, these cuts will cripple DPH’s ability to track and respond to disease outbreaks such as measles, avian flu, and mpox. The agency will lose access to real-time data from emergency departments, leaving public health officials less prepared to the warning signs of potential epidemics.
 
Additionally, healthcare providers will be forced to use outdated fax systems to report diseases instead of sending the information electronically, delaying response times and weakening our ability contain outbreaks. This will have a trickle-down effect to our local health departments, already stretched thin, being less equipped to respond to infectious disease threats in our communities.

The consequences extend beyond disease tracking. These cuts will significantly disrupt:

  • newborn screenings
  • childhood immunization programs
  • testing for viruses and other pathogens
  • timely laboratory diagnostics
  • staffing to respond to outbreaks including in nursing homes

The Connecticut Department of Public Health released a comprehensive report detailing the full impact of these devastating funding cuts.
Click here to learn more
 

The Week Ahead in Public Hearings

Make sure to get involved, and join us for next week's public hearings to help shape our community's future! As Vice Chair of the Finance, Revenue & Bonding Committee, I will attend and listen to testimony on Wednesday at 11 a.m.

CLICK HERE to register to speak in person or via Zoom.

CLICK HERE to submit written testimony.

CLICK HERE to watch the public hearing live.
Full agenda of bills
 

Greek American Celebration

It was truly a joy to celebrate Greek American heritage at the Capitol in honor of the anniversary of Greek Independence Day. It was an opportunity to recognize the profound contributions of Greek Americans, such as my grandfathers who fought for the United States and Allies in both World Wars. From the values of democracy and perseverance, Greek heritage continues to inspire and strengthen our society.

We also celebrated the resilience and achievements of Greek Americans. Their dedication to education, business, public service, and the arts enriches our nation in countless ways. I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in this celebration and to recognize the enduring impact of Greek culture and history in our communities.