Testimony, Women's History Month, and more

March 8, 2024


 
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Happy Friday! It's been another busy week at the Capitol, filled with public hearings, committee meetings, and much more. In this eblast, you can read about my testimony at the Capitol, Women's History Month, and more. You can click on the links below to navigate between sections.
     
    My Testimony at the Capitol
    I heard hours of testimony this week on my various committees, and I even gave some testimony myself!

    First, I spoke to the Public Health Committee about an issue I've been advocating for for a long time: the licensure of clinical lactation consultants. It was shocking to me to learn that clinical lactation services are not available for Medicaid reimbursement due to the lack of licensure, and therefore, women on Medicaid are often locked out of clinical lactation support after they leave the hospital.

    After last session, I organized a working group of public health experts to dig deeper into this issue. Our unanimous recommendation was to license the International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) to protect patients and to create a pathway for Medicaid reimbursement to enhance access for low-income mothers and babies.

    Licensing IBCLCs is a commonsense policy that evens the playing field for all mothers, and I was honored to talk about this bill in front of the committee.

    If you want to read my sponsored bill in full, click here. If you want to watch my testimony, click the image below. And if you'd like to read my testimony, click here.
    You can watch my full testimony here.
    I was also joined by State Sen. Tony Hwang, SCNETI Co-Founder Steve Ozyck, and Meghan McCloat to testify in front of the Energy and Technology Committee yesterday about HB 5359: An Act Concerning the Composition and Expertise of the Connecticut Siting Council. We are so fortunate to have a community that is so engaged and such committed advocates. I am so grateful for their leadership and partnership. You can read my testimony in full here.

    The bill as written to date makes a few moderate recommendations to improve the council such as allowing for the council to employ independent consultants with expertise in electric transmission infrastructure and preventing any more than 1 commissioner from having any ties, past or present, to the utilities.

    While this is a first step toward the improvements necessary for the Siting Council to adequately, effectively, and judiciously rule on the important cases they are tasked with, there are many more reforms and requirements that I hope can be implemented, including:
    • sending certified letters for all abutters and adjacent properties with clear communication of the project proposal and whether the property is subject to any taking or easements, with receipt confirmations required from any property owner subject to property-taking or permanent easements,
    • submitting detailed financials including the lifecycle of the infrastructure, maintenance, and frequency of outages for both the proposed project and two alternatives that must be included in the application by the utility, 
    • presenting all adjacent components of a project in one application,
    • explicit needs assessment and barring a project from being classified as a "rebuild" (and therefore sidestepping FERC) if ampacity or capacity is increasing, 
    • requiring reporting to PURA on the TAC line item on consumers' bills, and 
    • forbidding the taking of land or permanent easements in an environmental justice community unless no alternatives exist.
     
    The Legislature's Climate Change Bill
    The Environment Committee - of which I am a proud member of - recently released the language for our omnibus climate bill, titled An Act Concerning the Implementation of Certain Climate Change Measures. This is a dense bill with many initiatives designed to address climate change across a range of industries and sectors.

    There are four overarching goals in this bill to address climate change in our state:
    • Updating the Global Warming Solutions Act to make Connecticut's greenhouse gas emissions targets more in line with other states in the region;
    • Creating incentives for businesses that engage in clean economy sectors or employ environmentally sustainable practices;
    • Developing plans for transitioning to a clean economy, including workforce training;
    • Supporting nature-based solutions.

    These four goals only scratch the surface of what this bill does for our state. If you have some time this weekend, I encourage you to read the bill in its entirety.
     
    Celebrating Women's History Month
    March is Women’s History Month, a time dedicated to honoring the vital role women have played in American history. It’s also a time to celebrate their achievements and learn more about their contributions.
    Connecticut has a long history of female pioneers who brought progress to our state and the rest of the country. Women in our state have consistently risen to positions of leadership within the political landscape, showcasing their outstanding abilities and commitment to public service.
    • We are home to the first boarding school for women of color, which opened in 1831 in Canterbury.
    • Helen Keller was one of Connecticut’s most influential women for her fierce support and advocacy of women’s suffrage, legalization of birth control, and benefits for people with disabilities.
    • Ella T. Grasso was the first woman elected Floor Leader in the Connecticut General Assembly, first woman to chair the Democratic State Platform Committee, and the first woman in the U.S. to be elected governor.
    • Antonia “Ann” Uccello was the first woman in Connecticut to be elected mayor of a municipality, and she was the only woman to head a major U.S. city during the Civil Rights era.
    • Today, U.S. Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro continues to break barriers.
    Click Here To Read More About Women’s History in Connecticut
    In our quest to honor and protect women in our state, I would like to highlight some of the work we have done and continue to champion in the legislature.
    Our advocacy is far from complete. We have several priorities in the 2024 legislative session that directly impact women on a daily basis.
    Let's celebrate Women's History and the remarkable women in our own lives each and every day!
     
    Next Week's Public Hearings
    There are 21 public hearings at the Capitol next week! We are at a critical point in the legislative process, where we seek to hear from you, the residents of Connecticut.

    If you're interested in testifying, sign up here.
     
    Green Team Advocacy Day + Tip of the Week
    This Sunday, March 10 from 3-4:30pm at the Fairfield Library, the Fairfield Public Schools Green Team is hosting their Green Team Advocacy Day!

    This event is open to children on the teams and anyone in the district who would like to join, and it gives the kids the chance to talk to the town about the most pressing sustainability issues and what we need to do to address them.

    The members of the Green Team represent the next generation of activists, and I hope you'll hear them out if you're free.
    In addition, this week's Green Tip of the Week: Do not put your recycling in plastic bags!

    Haulers will consider anything in a plastic bag regular trash, and it will not be recycled. Instead put your recycling straight into your bin! It's little actions like these that make a big difference for helping our environment.
     
    Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame: Writers and Journalists
    On Tuesday, March 19 at 6pm, the Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame is partnering with the Fairfield Museum for an event recognizing some of Connecticut's best writers and journalists in our state's history. The event will walk us through some of the most meaningful writing and reporting our state has ever produced, and I hope you'll check it out!
     
    One Book One Town Connecticut Tribal Panel Discussion
    After Tuesday's wonderful One Book One Town event, I hope you'll check out the follow-up event, a panel discussion with local Indigenous communities at the Fairfield Museum and History Center tomorrow, March 9 from 2:30-4pm at the library's Rotary Room.

    The panel discussion will feature tribal citizens from four Indigenous Indian Tribes in Connecticut: the Schaghticoke, the Paucatuck Eastern Pequot, the Mashantucket Pequot, and the Golden Hill Paugussett.

    Panelists will discuss topics from "Warrior Girl Unearthed" and discuss their own life experiences, along with a Q&A.
     
    Experience Fairfield's March Calendar of Events

    Experience Fairfield has released their March calendar of events, which includes concerts, family-friendly events, and more. There's something for everyone in this calendar, so I hope you'll take a look.
     
    I'm committed to ensuring your voice is heard. Please don't hesitate to call my office at (860) 240-8585 or email me if there's anything I can do for you. Be sure to follow @LeeperForFairfield on Facebook and Instagram to stay up-to-date on everything I'm doing at the Capitol.

    Sincerely,

    Jennifer Leeper
    State Representative
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