Newsletter

April 28, 2021

Topics in today's email/newsletter include:

  • The House is in Session
  • National Child Abuse Awareness Month
  • Stop Asian Hate Rally
  • Finance Committee Releases Budget Proposal
  • Restaurant Revitalization Fund Get the Facts
  • Monday Motivation
THE HOUSE IS IN SESSION

The House is in Session today. We'll be discussing....You can watch by clicking on the image below:

House in Session

I led the Pledge of Allegiance before session today with House Speaker Matt Ritter.

Pledge

NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE AWARENESS MONTH

I stood with fellow colleagues from the Children's Committee who held a press conference at the Capitol in a bipartisan show of support to end child sexual abuse.

April is National Child Abuse Awareness Month and during this final week of April - and just before the start of session today - child abuse prevention legislation was introduced by the committee.

Child Abuse 1

Child Abuse

The highlighted legislation includes:

HB 6113 - AAC The Provision of Information Concerning Child Sex Abuse. This bill requires information regarding grooming and sex abuse to be part of registration information for childhood sports, camps, youth groups. Passed unanimously out of committee  
 
HB 6399 - AAC Center for Disease Control’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey. This bill adds a question to the CDC survey given yearly to middle school and high school students across CT to ascertain the prevalence of adult sexual misconduct towards children. We can’t fix what we don’t know — this is a necessary step in combating the problem. Passed out of Children's committee 12-1, and unanimously out of Education Committee, has bipartisan co-sponsor support.

HB 6417AAC Background Check for Certain Employees of Youth Camps — requires OEC licensed youth camps to utilize standard background checks, both in CT and nationwide, for employees over 18. Please note Sub language forthcoming eliminates fingerprints until DESPP can handle the amount of work. Supported widely, including OEC, YMCAs, Camping Assoc, and victim advocates. Passed out of committee near-unanimous, and has bipartisan co-sponsor support
 
HB 6511 AAR Background Checks for Youth Sports Coaches, Trainers, and Instructors. To require youth sports coaches, instructors, and athletic trainers who are 18 or older to submit to a comprehensive background check -- the same check under HB6417 Passed unanimously, and has bipartisan cosponsor support

Take some time this month to learn how protective factors and adverse childhood experiences impact families and communities. Learn more by clicking on the image below:

Child Abuse 3

STOP ASIAN HATE RALLY

I was happy to attend the Stop Asian Hate Rally in Simsbury last week. Hate crimes have spiked across the country by an alarming rate of over 100 percent since 2020. One of the culprits is the ugly rhetoric blaming Asians for the spread of COVID-19.

As I shared at the rally, the racism our Asian, Asian-American, and Pacific Islander friends experience is often some of the most invisible and invasive because it is woven into cultural references, movies, and even cartoons.

We have seen it here in Connecticut, even in local businesses. They received letters at the beginning of the pandemic implying it was unsafe for them to participate in take-out, which would have ruined their business.

Local leaders, teens, business owners, and even our own Attorney General William Tong shared the painful and sadly, frequent, stories from their own lives where they have experienced this kind of racism and felt uncomfortable speaking up.

That's where we come in!

Asian
(photo credit Lena Stein)

It's on us to be the ally at the dinner party, whether our Asian friends are there or not. It's on us to get past our discomfort and call out the comments or jokes that are repeated and not challenged. It's on us to be the bystanders we would want to have if we were in their situation. We can do better by our friends and neighbors. I stand with the AAPI community and hope you do as well.

Asian 2
(photo credit Lena Stein)

FINANCE COMMITTEE RELEASES BUDGET PROPOSAL

The legislature's Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee has released its state budget proposal. This proposal will serve as the basis for negotiations between legislative leaders and the executive branch.

Many Connecticut families, businesses, and industries have been hit hard over the past year. This proposal would put more money in the pockets of those who need it most right now, while also making the investments necessary to help businesses grow and flourish in our state.

This is a living document which means that while it was passed out of committee, we are actively working on it and it will change between now and the final budget.

With this as a foundation, I am confident that Connecticut will emerge from the pandemic stronger than ever before.

I am grateful for the thoughtful work we, as a committee, put into this comprehensive proposal, which features several measures that would result in lower taxes for many Connecticut households, including the creation of Connecticut's first-ever state child tax credit, and phasing out the personal income tax on IRAs.

To see other priorities which are included in the Finance Committee's budget proposal, see below.

Finance

RESTAURANT REVITALIZATION FUND GET THE FACTS

The American Rescue Plan, led by the U.S. Small Business association, has established a $28.6 million Restaurant Revitalization Fund aimed at assisting one of the hardest hit sectors of economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The RFF is looking to provide non-repayable funds to eligible food service business and will host webinars this week in which you can learn more details including:

  • Eligibility
  • Calculation of Funding Amount
  • Eligible Uses of Funds
  • Timeframe for Using Funds
  • How to Apply
  • Documentation Requirements

Restaurant

Starting today....chose the program date/time that is best for your schedule, register and get access to this powerful information!

Monday, April 26 @ 2pm

Link for attendees: https://uconn-cmr.webex.com/uconn-cmr/onstage/g.php?MTID=e823dff3ed8a3d4a909289ca5b94c7614

Audio conference: +1-415-655-0002 Access code: 120 731 8082

Tuesday, April 27 @ 9am

Link for attendees: https://uconn-cmr.webex.com/uconn-cmr/onstage/g.php?MTID=e9b10732fe40ca1e6b592b6629e4aa5da

Audio conference: +1-415-655-0002 Access code: 120 130 9410

Wednesday, April 28 @ 10am (Spanish speaking event)

https://www.sba.gov/RRFenespanol

Wednesday, April 28 @ 2pm (for Mandarin Speakers)

https://www.eventbrite.com/RRFmandarin

While SBA is not accepting applications for RRF just yet, you can prepare your application by reviewing the sample application, program guide and cross-program eligibility chart on SBA COVID-19 relief options website.

MONDAY MOTIVATION

Monday Motivation