We'll be gathering next Wednesday for a much-needed Special Session to address some of the funding holes created by the federal government. Food assistance, heating assistance, and housing are the headlines on the list.
We actually received some good news on the housing front on Friday. Please see the details below.
I'm sure you've noticed the drop in temperatures inside and outside of your home. I am including information this week on how you can obtain heating bill assistance this winter. Scroll down for more.
The Miller Park Fall Food Drive begins Saturday and every weekend through November 23rd. Please consider donating to help our local families.
I had the pleasure recently of sharing some thoughts with Tony Tidbit on the podcast "A Black Executive Perspective." I've included it below.
Lastly, an early shout-out to our veterans. Thank you for your service!
As always, if I can be of assistance to you and your family, please don't hesitate to reach out to me at Corey.Paris@cga.ct.gov or call 860-240-8585.
On Wednesday, the House of Representatives will be in a Special Session. You can follow along live on the Connecticut Network at ct-n.com, on YouTube, and on Roku. At this time, our potential agenda is likely to include votes on addressing the massive funding gaps created by the federal government in healthcare, food, childcare, WIC, heating assistance, and school meals; children's mental health; codifying existing data privacy and courthouse protections; and a revised housing bill.
The language of the individual bills will be released to legislators and the general public shortly.
The Mill River Park Fall Food Drive is set to kick off.
Beginning Saturday through Sunday, November 23rd, if you can, please consider donating canned and non-perishable food items to help support families in the community. Please click on the image below for more details.
We're a little more than 40 days away from the start of winter, but sweater weather is already here.
During the fifth annual Heating Assistance Awareness Month this November, Stamford is partnering with Eversource to raise awareness of the programs available to help pay or lower heating bills, and keep homes warm this winter.
If you or someone you know is struggling to keep up with their energy bills, now is the time to get assistance this winter heating season.
There is a plan for everyone, including:
Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP):
Apply to get up to $645 towards your heating bill from CEAP. Apply for CEAP online at CT.gov/heatinghelp or through your local Community Action Agency (CAA). Find your local CAA at 211.ct.org or call 211.
Energy Efficiency:
Take advantage of Eversource’s energy efficiency programs, incentives, and tips to help you save money and reduce your overall energy use during the colder months. Renters need permission from their landlords to participate.
Winter Protection:
If you provide proof of qualifying household income or public assistance benefits you receive for at least one household member, your service cannot be shut off between November 1 and May 1.
To find the right options for you, click HERE to learn more about these programs. You can also find your local CAA for assistance at 211ct.org or call 211.
The Generation Power CT (GPCT) Emergency Energy Assistance Program provides a one-time grant of up to $500 to help eligible Connecticut households with electric, gas, or fuel expenses. Increasing energy costs are a challenge for many in the state, but through this program, GPCT has helped to provide families across Connecticut with secure access to heat, power, and water.
All GPCT energy programs are available to income-eligible households making up to 75% SMI gross household income. Each income-eligible household that receives a GPCT Energy Assistance Award will receive up to $500 toward a future fuel delivery or toward a past-due utility bill.
For the best chance of approval, and to make full use of this once-per-12-months grant, GPCT strongly encourages households to apply for assistance when they are most in need. GPCT has two Energy Assistance Application Cycles coming up, including Nov. 2-10 and March 2-10, 2026.
To learn more about eligibility requirements and application materials, please click HERE.
Open Enrollment for Access Health CT (AHCT) health and dental insurance began on Saturday and ends on Monday, December 15, for plans effective at the start of next year.
Residents can enroll until Thursday, Jan. 15, for plans beginning in February.
You may have received a letter in the mail warning of healthcare premium price increases starting Jan. 1 due to legislation passed in the U.S. Congress this year. Currently, the federal government is shut down as those price increases are debated and negotiated.
For those looking to enroll, please have the following information and documents prepared for you and anyone else in your household, even if they don't need coverage:
Dates of Birth
Social Security Numbers
Visa, green card, or immigration documents
Most recent W2 and/or Form 1040, 1099
Pay-stubs, Profit & Loss Statements or other employment information
Current insurance coverage (policy numbers for any current health insurance plans covering members of your household)
Access Health CT's staff remains a valuable resource to guide you through this process and to tell you what to expect during open enrollment. To get in contact, you can :
Visit AccessHealthCT.com and click “Get Help” for a list of places to get free, in-person help.
If you do not have a broker, find one on the Access Health CT website. Visit AccessHealthCT.com and click “Get Help” and “Find Certified Broker.” Brokers are free to work with, and they are trained and certified to help you find a plan that works best for you and your family.
Call at 1-855-805-4325 - help is available in over 100 languages. Customers who are deaf or hearing impaired may use TTY at 1-855-789-2428 or call a relay operator. Hours of Operation are Monday-Friday 8 am-4 pm (Holiday hours may vary, check website for details)
The Relief for Connecticut Borrowers Working Group, of which I am co-chair, is still working and had a productive meeting this week.
The group, which held its inaugural meeting in July, consists of legislators, state officials, and advocates, all charged with the task of finding ways to provide student loan debt relief for more than half a million residents across the state.
Did you know Connecticut ranks fifth-highest in student loan debt in the United States?
Click on the image below to hear my opening remarks.
A special shoutout goes to Tony Tidbit for having me on "A Black Executive Perspective." I truly enjoyed sharing my thoughts on a number of topics. You can find the interview in its entirety HERE, but I've also included a couple of short clips on college costs and families who chose to come to America for a better life, below.
I was proud to join the Children's Learning Centers of Fairfield County for the recent Building Brighter Futures Together Panel Discussion: Unlocking Stamford's Early Childhood Education Potential.
The night included a celebration of Stamford's 20-year early childhood partnership between CLC, Stamford Public Schools, and the City of Stamford.
I was an equally proud recipient of the Friend of Early Childhood Award, presented by Merrill Gay, Executive Director of the CT Early Childhood Alliance.
It was an awesome night, cemented by our collective commitment to ensuring that Stamford's future, our children, remains bright.
November is newly proclaimed Alzheimer’s Awareness Month in Connecticut. Alzheimer’s is a disease that affects about 90,000 Connecticut residents, and for every person living with the disease, there are countless family members, friends, and care partners who are providing ongoing support. During the 2025 session, we passed legislation to ensure insurance coverage of biomarker testing starting next year and established the Alzheimer’s Disease & Dementia Task Force to examine needs and review available services, and also developed a State Alzheimer’s Plan.
The Connecticut Office of Early Childhood (OEC) is seeking parents and caregivers of children between the ages of 0-5 to help improve programs and early childhood services.
Take the quick survey and share your needs for childcare, experiences with early childhood services, challenges faced when accessing care, and what matters the most when it comes to childcare.
You can use the QR code on the flyer below, click HERE, or click the graphic below for the survey. For questions, call 860-249-1551.
The Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity (CWCSEO) is hosting a special VIRTUAL listening session for those who identify as GEN Z - high schoolers, college students, young adults.
November 16, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Please come ready to share about issues impacting you and your community. The information you share will be used to inform policymakers and CWCSEO's work and ensure that the voice of Connecticut residents is the commission's central focus and priority.
Register HERE. To learn more about CWCSEO, please click HERE.
Veterans Day is coming up on Tuesday, and I just want to say to the brave Americans who have helped preserve our freedom, from myself and all the Connecticut House Democrats, thank you for your service!
Did you know the Connecticut Legislative Office Building houses a permanent memorial to Connecticut’s veterans? Pictured above is the Connecticut Hall of Honor.
