Cristin McCarthy Vahey

Dear Neighbors,

As Memorial Day quickly approaches, with the end of the legislative session soon to follow, the pace of work here at the Capitol has picked up. The Governor and legislative leaders continue to negotiate a budget package, considering big-ticket items like education and non-profit funding alongside the hundreds of individual bills addressing policy solutions.

This week, I’d like to highlight some of the bills that have passed and share information about cancer screening and what we have done, and hope to do, here in Connecticut.

During the last weeks of the legislative session, much of my time is spent here at the Capitol, either on the floor of the House presenting or voting on bills, or hidden away in negotiations with public health stakeholders. I meet with my co-chair and ranking Republican members, the Department of Public Health, the Connecticut Hospital Association, medical providers, constituents, advocates, and many others.

Fellow committee chairs like Rep. Leeper (Education) and Rep. Stafstrom (Judiciary) are doing the same. There is less time in the district or at home these days and many late nights spent at the Capitol. (Though I did sneak away for the college graduation of my son! 😊)

Dozens of bills have passed, but I want to take a moment to highlight a few of them:

HB 7009 – An Act Concerning the Establishment of the Connecticut State Seal of Civics Education and Engagement

This bill, led and negotiated by Representative Leeper, covers a variety of important areas. Besides establishing the civics seal, as the title indicates, the bill continues the pause on the racial imbalance law that has impacted the McKinley School community most directly. It also reforms our crisis response bills. Thank you to Representative Leeper for her leadership especially on these aspects of the legislation.

SB 1234 – An Act Prohibiting Libraries from Agreeing to Certain Terms in Electronic Book and Digital Audiobook License Agreements or Contracts

Yesterday, the House passed a bill which I first worked on years ago as the Planning and Development Committee Chair, which will help our libraries address the rising cost of e-books.

Fairfield Librarian Scott Jarzombek, head of the CT Chapter of the American Library Association, has worked alongside librarians around the state to advocate in favor of this bill.

Libraries pay more for the same titles as consumers, and do not have the opportunity to keep these e-books once “purchased.”

This legislation also aims to curb libraries’ unsustainable financial burden while ensuring the public continues to have equitable access to digital content. It does so by barring a number of onerous contract terms that publishers have used to price-gouge libraries on e-books and audiobooks.

Our libraries are the beating heart of our communities. They shouldn’t have to choose between providing the books their patrons want and accepting terms that interfere with their operations or waste taxpayer dollars.

HB 6883 – An Act Protecting the Location of Housing for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Victims

Fairfield and Trumbull’s Rep. Sarah Keitt championed this bill, which would strengthen protections for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault by guarding the physical addresses of shelters and group homes from public access and public discussion during agency meetings. Safeguarding these locations is a testament to our unwavering support for survivors.

HB 6771 – The House also voted to strengthen healthcare for Connecticut's seniors! This legislation among other things increases access for vital biomarker testing, establishes a task force to address the specific needs of seniors with Alzheimer's and dementia, and enhances safety with improved background checks for all nursing home employees.

This action reflects our ongoing efforts to support and care for our aging population

HB 6857 –An Act Concerning the Attorney General's Recommendations Regarding Social Media and Minors

Connecticut took a major step forward as a national leader by passing legislation to reign in big tech’s predatory practices that are reinforcing addictive and harmful choices in minors. We are proud to join a nationwide movement that prioritizes youth mental health over tech profits.

SB 1426 –An Act Making Changes to the Firefighters Cancer Relief Program

This month, Fairfield mourns the passing of two Fairfielders who lost their battle with Pancreatic cancer, including Jen Duguid Savader, a beloved teacher at Fairfield Woods Middle School. Their passing is a heartbreaking reminder of the urgency of early detection and the importance of equitable access to cancer screenings.

The Connecticut General Assembly has taken important steps in recent years to expand access to screenings for lung and breast cancer. This year, the Public Health Committee is considering a bill to provide screening for pancreatic cancer.

Among other things, SB 1191: An Act Establishing a Pancreatic Cancer Screening and Treatment Referral Program, promotes pancreatic cancer screening, detection, and treatment among unserved or underserved populations and educates the public about the importance of early detection.
 

In 2023, the Lung Cancer Early Detection and Treatment Referral Program (PA 23-204) was established through the Department of Public Health (DPH) to support residents ages 50 to 80, with a focus on high-risk populations.
 

In 2022, Connecticut passed An Act Concerning Required Health Insurance Coverage for Breast and Ovarian Cancer Susceptibility Screening (PA 22-90), which requires insurance plans to cover a broader range of breast and ovarian cancer screenings and treatments. This includes coverage for diagnostic and screening mammograms, MRIs, ultrasounds, biopsies, preventive mastectomies, reconstructive surgery, and genetic testing for cancer risk.
 

To learn more about where and how to get screened for cancer in Connecticut, including eligibility and insurance coverage, visit CT Department of Public Health – Cancer Screening.

• Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer, with a 5-year survival rate of just 13%.
• Lung and breast cancer remain two of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in Connecticut.
• Many cancers, when caught early through regular screenings, have significantly better outcomes.

Together, we can honor those we've lost by pushing for continued awareness, funding, and access to lifesaving screenings.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend. As always, please feel free to reach out directly with your ideas, questions, or concerns. You can reach me by phone at (860) 240-8585 or (203) 522-3037.

Take care,

Cristin McCarthy Vahey