Jennifer Leeper

Happy Friday! The photos below are from a beautiful menorah lighting in Fairfield last week to celebrate Hanukkah. For all who celebrated, I hope you had a joyful, peace-filled holiday.

Although I'm being moved from the Commerce Committee, you can rest assured that I will continue to be a fierce advocate for the business community - the backbone of what makes our state so great. I can't wait to update you on the exciting work ahead!

In this week's eblast, you can read about the Sandy Hook anniversary, abortion rights protections in Connecticut, and more. You can click on the links below to navigate between sections.

• Sandy Hook Anniversary
• Abortion Rights Are Protected in Connecticut
• ArrayRx Event Recap
• Bottle and Can Collection Drive
• Letters to Santa
• Candy House Family Workshop

My heart is heavy as we remember the 26 lives lost in a senseless act of violence at Sandy Hook. Eleven years later, and the pain and heartbreak is still felt all across our state. I'm sending love and strength to the families who, once again, have an empty seat at the table this holiday. 



I know how discouraging it can be to watch so little action being taken at the national level in the face of increasing mass shootings. The Federal Safer Communities Act from 2022 was the first gun reform legislation in nearly 30 years. It didn't go as far as many of us would have liked but it took meaningful steps in the right direction.

Thankfully, here in CT Democrats have passed sweeping and impactful legislation to prevent gun violence most notably the landmark reforms of 2012, which where in response to this soul-crushing tragedy. Every year since then, we have listened to our communities, advocates, and gun violence prevention experts on how to further protect Connecticut residents from gun violence. In the past few years, we have: restricted open carry laws, banned ghost guns, drastically limited the quantity and type of guns sold in Connecticut, banned automatic assault weapons, and required safe storage in homes and vehicles. All while ensuring that gun violence prevention programs and offices are fully funded.



The pain of that day, and of every mass shooting before and since, will never fade. But instead of letting it overcome us, I'm so proud that in Connecticut, we have turned tragedy into action and taken the steps to ensure it never happens again.

• Protecting licensed medical providers from any adverse actions taken by another state as a result of a provider’s involvement in otherwise legal and competent reproductive healthcare services (Public Act 23-128);
• Allowing pharmacists to prescribe certain types of birth control without patients first needing to visit their doctor as required under previous law (Public Act 23-52);
• Require public higher education institutions with on-campus residences to develop plans addressing students’ needs for reproductive healthcare (Public Act 23-41); and
• Establishing safeguards for the collection, sharing, and selling of patient health data by businesses and service providers operating online platforms in Connecticut that have the ability to collect personal information about the individual (Public Act 23-56).

The decision to terminate a pregnancy is one of the most difficult decisions one can make. As we witnessed in Texas this week, it doesn't need to be made more difficult, more painful, and riskier because of idealogues inserting themselves in the process. Whatever the ruling on this case may be, here in CT, we will continue fighting for your right to control your body and your healthcare.

It was so great to welcome the Comptroller Sean Scanlon to Fairfield for our discussion on ArrayRx, the prescription drug savings card program. I'm always happy to highlight exciting programs like this, that I genuinely believe can improve people's lives, here in our community.



Connecticut residents can save up to 80% off certain prescriptions at nearly all pharmacies in the state. There's no cost, no age restriction, and no income restriction to join. To sign up, please click HERE.



For more information on ArrayRx, including a drug price lookup tool, visit arrayrxcard.com.



Thanks again to everyone who joined us!