Geraldo Reyes Jr

As the natural gas supply shortage continues to affect the globe and the country, Connecticut's two electric distribution companies, Eversource and United Illuminating (UI), announced that they are doubling their rates effective January 1, 2023. This unwelcome news comes as both Eversource and UI collect record profits, passing the cost burden onto us.

Speaker of the House Matt Ritter has reappointed me has as Deputy Speaker ahead of the 2023 legislative session, which starts in early January.
 
When the Speaker of the House is absent from the chamber, a Deputy Speaker presides over the House of Representatives.
 

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.

The state has announced a five-year, $46.6 million investment to expand small business assistance programs across Connecticut, specifically supporting small business owners who may have previously experienced barriers to accessing financial support.This initiative will also support startup businesses, which is great news for our economy.

The Waterbury delegation in the Connecticut General Assembly welcomed the Community Investment Fund 2030 board’s approval of $10 million toward the city's Freight Street Corridor Redevelopment Project.
 

Every year from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, we observe Hispanic Heritage Month to celebrate, recognize, and feature the countless achievements of the many Hispanic Americans who have positively impacted and enriched our communities.

On Thursday, I joined fellow members of the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus and the community for a kick-off event on the South Lawn of the State Capitol for National Hispanic Heritage Month, which also coincides with the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.

Suicide prevention begins with all of us.

To learn about the risk factors, protective factors, and warning signs of suicide click here. 

Call or text 988 to access the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Available 24/7, 988 gives you access to trained crisis counselors who can help people experiencing suicidal, substance use, and/or mental health crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress.