Eleni Kavros DeGraw

Into the Home Stretch, Bills I've Supported, Celebrating Pride Month

We are in the home stretch of the 2021 legislative session which will come to an end June 9th. Yesterday, we passed a significant piece of legislation. SB 1 addresses comprehensive access to mental, behavioral, and physical healthcare in response to the pandemic for all. Additionally, SB 1093 has a section that addresses the car theft concerns many of you have. Also included in this update is a PSA for the AAPI Community on getting vaccinated, my thoughts on Pride month including some upcoming Pride events in our district and my words at Canton's Memorial Day Commemoration Ceremony.

THE HOUSE IS IN SESSION

The House was in session yesterday and will be for the remainder of the week including Saturday. You can get a good view of what we do by tuning into CT-N which you can find by clicking on the image below:

SB 1: AN ACT EQUALIZING COMPREHENSIVE ACCESS TO MENTAL, BEHAVIORAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH CARE IN RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC EASILY PASSES HOUSE

Yesterday, the House sent a powerful piece of legislation to the Governor’s desk. SB 1 declares that racism is a public health crisis in our state.

Earlier this year, the CDC issued a statement which declared, in part, that “racism, both structural and interpersonal, are fundamental causes of health inequities, health disparities and disease.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has only highlighted the wide health and quality of life disparities in communities of color. Studies have shown that Black women are up to four times more likely to die of pregnancy related complications than white women; Black men are more than twice as likely to be killed by police as white men; and the average life expectancy of Black Americans is four years lower than the rest of the U.S. population.

It is long past time that we address these disparities.

Beyond identifying the racism as a public health crisis, SB 1 also includes a number of provisions aimed at addressing and combatting this public health crisis such as:

• Creating a Commission on Racial Equity in Public Health to make recommendations to decrease racism’s effect on public health and to create a strategic plan to eliminate health disparities and inequities
• Increasing recruitment and retention of healthcare workers of color
• Providing employers with tools to support their mental health needs
• Establishing a gun violence intervention and prevention committee
• Improving demographic data collection

Yesterday, I was proud to stand with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass this comprehensive bill which takes substantive steps towards addressing the systemic inequities that exist in our state.

OTHER BILLS I SUPPORT THAT HAVE PASSED THE HOUSE

Investing in the in-state clean technology workforce is a critical component to combatting climate change in the years to come. SB 999, An Act Concerning A Just Transition To Climate-Protective Energy Production And Community Investment, will create continuity standards across the renewable energy industry resulting in several good paying jobs for Connecticut residents. Please click on the image below for more information:

SB 1093: An Act Concerning Civilian Police Review Boards, Security Guards, Body-Worn Recording Equipment And Searches By Police

Throughout the session, I've shared bills aimed at addressing the car thefts we've seen in communities across Connecticut. Unfortunately, the bills I co-sponsored and championed did not make it through the legislative process, however, SB 1093 contains some measures geared specifically toward juvenile justice that we hope will address car thefts by juveniles.

In Sec. 504 from lines 115 to 130 it states: (Effective from passage) (a) The Judicial Branch shall conduct a study to determine the feasibility of (1) decreasing the period of time between the arrest of a child and such child's initial court appearance, in order to increase the likelihood that such child will attend such appearance and reduce the likelihood of such child's recidivism, and (2) establishing a diversionary program for children who are arrested, in which participants shall report to a judge, juvenile probation officer or clinical social worker licensed pursuant to chapter 383b of the general statutes, on a weekly basis from the period of arrest until the adjudication of the matter in order to reduce the likelihood of recidivism. (b) Not later than January 1, 2022, the Judicial Branch shall report the findings of the study conducted pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the judiciary and children.

AAPI PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT VACCINATION ANNOUNCEMENT

Several Connecticut State Agencies from the Executive and the Legislative branches of Connecticut government are working together to raise awareness of the importance of getting the Covid-19 vaccine. Connecticut is leading the nation in vaccination, but inequities continue to exist. The Connecticut General Assembly’s Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity, and Opportunity (CWCSEO), Attorney General’s office, and State Legislators of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) descent are working together to raise awareness of the need to get the vaccine.

The public service announcement (PSA) below features elected and appointed state officials in an effort to reassure these communities about the safety and the necessity of getting vaccinated.

This effort aims to supplement the Governor’s efforts to reach out with their door to door campaigns by organizing vaccination pop up clinics in locations frequently used by the AAPI community.

JUNE IS PRIDE MONTH

Happy Pride month! All month long we celebrate our LGBTQIA community and recognize that the fight for human rights is ongoing.

Broad community support is critical, not just for events, but for the LBGTQIA community, especially for teens who may have just come out or are planning to. Though last month was Mental Health Awareness month, I want to call attention to the statistic that just one trusted, supportive adult can reduce a gay teen’s suicide risk by 40%. Consider ways you can be that adult and helps us save lives.

On another note, we are ready to paint the district in rainbows!

You may have already noticed the Avon Cares and Canton Cares Pride signs popping up all over and there will also be events held locally this month.

Canton will have a Puppy Pride Parade on Saturday, June 12th at 12:30 p.m. starting at the Canton Dog Park and walking to Ben and Jerry’s in the Canton Shops. Pup costumes encouraged!

Avon will be having a Family Pride Picnic on Sunday, June 13 at noon at the Avon Congregational Church, 6 West Main Street from 12 p.m. until 2 p.m. Local businesses plan to offer Pride picnic offerings for that day and some throughout the month to encourage both Pride and getting outside with our families.

A MEMORIAL DAY MEMORY

I would like to thank the Town of Canton for having me deliver the Memorial Day Address on Monday. If you'd like to hear my remarks please click on the image below: