Christine Conley

Today the House of Representatives met in a special session to extend Connecticut’s emergency declaration. Throughout the pandemic, our state has been a leader in responding to and navigating this public health crisis by listening to the experts and scientists. We must continue this trend to ensure we emerge successfully.

Although we have made tremendous strides with vaccines, COVID-19 is still a part of our lives. 30% of our state has not been fully vaccinated, and the future impact of the Delta variant is still unknown.
 
I voted yes today to ensure that the state can respond nimbly to keep the people of Connecticut safe and access the range of federal dollars owed to us.
 
It’s important to note that of the hundreds of Executive Orders at the height of the pandemic, today only a handful remain. And because of a bipartisan bill passed in May, the legislature can veto any future Executive Order if we believe it crosses a line.
 
Finally, extending the emergency declaration is critical to make sure Connecticut continues to receive every dollar of federal funding available. Several federal funding sources are contingent on the continuance of the emergency declarations and the executive orders. The pandemic has brought with it a significant financial toll and this federal funding is what our state needs to come out of this pandemic even stronger.
 
Today’s extension will allow the state to continue critical measures that will provide healthcare access and economic relief. If you have any questions about Connecticut’s COVID response or the executive orders, please reach out to my office.