HB 5003 Public Hearing March 18

March 15, 2024
HB 5003, "An Act Concerning Child and Family Nutrition," is subject to a public hearing before the Public Health Committee on Monday, March 18. The public hearing starts at 11 a.m. I'm very proud to be championing this bill as it moves through the House and Senate. 

The purpose of 5003 is to ensure that children and families have increased access to all available nutrition programs in the state with the long-term goal of improving maternal and child health outcomes and lowering infant mortality. In response to the vital need for improved childhood nutrition, HB 5003 helps ensure mothers and children who are eligible for federal benefits are enrolled in these programs with ease and confidence.

WIC (Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, Children) enrollment in Connecticut is among the lowest in the country at 46%. Not maximizing participation in this program is resulting in worse outcomes for the health and nutrition of young children. 

Child nutrition is important for many reasons including:

  • Strengthening the child's immune system
  • Providing essential vitamins and minerals
  • Enhancing brain development
  • Encouraging physical growth
  • Setting the stage for healthy eating habits for a lifetime

Healthy nutrition is also tied to preventing chronic disease, improving mental health, and helping build strong bones and teeth.
State Reps. Jaime Foster (D) and Kathy Kennedy (R) are both strong supporters of HB 5003, showing that child nutrition is not a partisan issue. 
If you're testifying in person: Please register to testify HERE. Registration will close on March 17 at 3 p.m.  The speaker order of approved registrants will be listed in a randomized order and posted on the Public Health Committee website on March 17 at 6 p.m. under "Public Hearing Testimony."  If you do not have internet access, you may provide testimony via telephone. To register to testify by phone, call the Phone Registrant Line at 860-240-0560 to leave your contact information.

Please submit written testimony HERE. The first hour of the hearing is reserved for Legislators, Constitutional Officers, State Agency Heads, and Chief Elected Municipal Officials. Speakers will be limited to three minutes of testimony. The Committee encourages witnesses to submit a written statement and to condense oral testimony to a summary of that statement.  All public hearing testimony, written and spoken, is public information. It will be made available on the CGA website and indexed by internet search engines. 

If you're unable to attend in person or on Zoom but want to submit your testimony, click HERE. 

The Public Health Committee's agenda for Monday can be found HERE. 

To read the bill draft and language, click HERE. 

For more information on how to testify at public hearings and reach your legislators, click HERE.

I encourage you to show your support as we move forward. Together, we can make a lasting impact on the health and well-being of our youngest community members.
 
I recently sat down with reporter Robert Storace from the CT Examiner, and we spoke extensively on HB 5003. To read the article, click HERE or click the photo above.