Weekly Updates with Aimee

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March 25, 2021
As the Legislative Session continues to progress, and bills get JF'd out of committee – which just means the committees have agreed that a bill should be taken up by the full General Assembly - I want to continue to make myself available to you.
Beginning next week, I will host office hours twice a month, to give you an opportunity to chat with me and share what’s important to you. So, if you have any unanswered questions, concerns, or just want to meet your legislator, please sign-up for one of the 10 minute time slots. I love hearing from you all on what you believe our community needs.
Click Here to Sign-up for Office Hours
Equal Pay Day

Yesterday was Equal Pay Day — a symbolic day that marks the point at which it takes a woman, on average, to earn what her male counterpart did the year before. In 2020, a woman in Connecticut earned only $0.83 for every dollar that a white, non-Hispanic man made.
This wage gap exists regardless of where women live, what industry they work in, or their education level. The gap increases further for minority women. The high unemployment rate during the pandemic is expected to exacerbate these disparities.

In Connecticut, and nationwide, the wage gap still exists, due to gender and racial discrimination, women’s overrepresentation in low-wage jobs and underrepresentation in high-paying jobs, and economic barriers with caregiving responsibilities.

Over the years, Connecticut has taken significant steps to address the wage inequality. Most notably, the recent passage and implementation of paid family medical leave was a significant step for women’s ability to stay in the workforce. But, if we don’t do our part for working women in this moment of COVID-19 crisis, we will revert back decades in terms of women’s fair pay.

This session, we are working to address income inequality through a number of legislative proposals, including H.B. 6380, which requires employers to provide job applicants and employees with salary ranges for vacant positions. With a high-end salary range, women are able to base their salary negotiations on an industry standard rather than their historical salaries which are often artificially lower thanks to years of inequitable treatment in the workforce.

It’s time for us to close the gap and ensure that women receive equal pay for equal work.
Vaccinating Homebound Residents

If you or someone you know is homebound and needs a vaccine, a vaccinator can come to you. The Connecticut Department of Public Health has released a new form for people requesting homebound vaccinations.

You can

fill out the form here and once you become eligible in the current phase, you will be contacted to schedule an appointment for COVID-19 vaccination. You do not need to register in this form if you have other options for getting the COVID-19 vaccine. For FAQs, please click here.

The information you enter will be used for purposes of scheduling your vaccination and will be kept private.
Schedule a Vaccine Appointment

Please also remember, all residents eligible for the vaccine are required to schedule an appointment to get the vaccine. To find available vaccination clinics, residents can click here, verify your eligibility and schedule an appointment.
Visiting Local Vaccine Distribution Center

This morning I had the privilege of joining Congressman Jim Himes, Senator Will Haskell and Ridgefield First Selectmen Rudy Marconi at the Ridgefield Visiting Nurse Association (RVNA).

The RVNA is our community's COVID-19 vaccine distribution force, and has been the backbone in providing vaccinations to our town, beginning at the initial phases of the rollout. Organizers at the center shared their process with us and said they are equipped to vaccinate 100 people an hour thanks to the hard work and dedication of their staff. I also spoke with multiple nurses at the facility who told me they were both proud and happy to play such a pivotal roll in the solution. Two of them even told me that in all of their professional career, this is the happiest job they’ve ever had!

Thank you to all the amazing volunteers at the RVNA who are helping protect our community from this pandemic!
Women's History Month Contest!
 
Calling all Ridgefield 7th and 8th graders - celebrate Women's History Month with me! Follow the prompt above and submit your work by clicking the button below.
Submit Work