Rachel Khanna

Workforce development has been one of my top priorities since I took office. Last December, I had the opportunity to travel to Austin, Texas to attend the National Conference of Legislators Forecast ‘24 Conference. One of the issues discussed at the conference was early childhood education and childcare. Lack of available and affordable childcare is a key impediment to getting people back into the workforce.

I am so happy to be back in session to continue to fight for what’s important to you. Last week the Governor gave his State of the State address, in which he highlighted his priorities.

Wednesday was the start of the 2024 legislative session and I’m excited to continue working toward improving the lives of residents in the 149th District and throughout Connecticut.

The next legislative session kicks off on February 7 and workforce development remains a priority for me. The expense and shortage of early childhood education and care programs prevents many from being able to join or re-join the workforce. This was a key takeaway from a Greenwich United Way Legislative Forum on January 11.

As we ring in the new year, there are some laws that became effective on January 1 that were passed during the 2023 legislative session addressing key issue areas including early voting, health and mental health, and online privacy and data protection.

The General Assembly will be back in session starting February 7, 2024. To serve you effectively, I’d be most grateful if you could complete this quick survey so I can better understand your priorities and thoughts on issues. Decisions will be required for the many proposals that will be introduced in the upcoming legislative session and the survey will provide the information I need as I’m making those decisions.

Last week, I attended the National Conference of Legislators (NCSL) 2024 Forecast Conference. One of the most urgent issues we tackled was childcare because our ability to boost economic growth depends on it. With so many states facing worker shortages, we must find a way to help parents re-enter the workforce. According to the Population Reference Bureau, the United States stands out for its lack of family-friendly policies, and the availability and affordability of childcare is a key reason.

Much like supporting women-owned businesses, it’s important to support our local small businesses. By supporting small businesses, we’re investing in our communities, growing our taxpayer base, and stimulating Connecticut’s economy.