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Click the links in the introduction to navigate to the corresponding sections in the body of this email.
If you are having trouble with the links try opening this email in your browser.
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| Friends and Neighbors,
This month, from September 15 through October 15, we observe Hispanic Heritage Month to celebrate, recognize and feature the countless achievements of many Hispanic Americans who have positively impacted and enriched our communities.
The rich culture has influenced the entertainment industry, sports, fashion, food, the political landscape, education, science and more with an enormous economic impact worldwide. |
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| I am proud the legislature adopted and included Latino studies in our public high school curriculum beginning in the fall of 2022, allowing for more diversity and inclusion of an integral part of American history.
As we celebrate how Hispanic Americans have contributed to our country's richness and culture, it's important that we recommit ourselves to extending kindness to those who are different from us, who may have different cultures and traditions than ourselves, but share the commonality of simply being human. |
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| Today, the governor announced his plan for Connecticut to welcome over 300 Afghan refugees for resettlement. Nearly every state across our country will be helping Afghan refugees resettle. This effort comes during a period where our country remains divided over immigration policy. Here in CT, we have veterans and leaders dropping those political affiliations to stress the message of doing what is right and what was done for so many of those enlisted – keeping one another safe.
The U.S. has a long history of helping refugees from all corners of the world resettle and start their lives in America. I hope that during these contentious times, we can put our differences aside to extend a helping hand similar to the way we are (hopefully) looking out for one another's safety and well-being during this era of COVID.
These refugees are our nation's allies who aided and worked alongside U.S. servicemembers throughout the war in Afghanistan. Our country has a duty to help. If you would like to help in these resettlement efforts, you can join one of Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services (IRIS) 50 community groups or start your own to help refugees. Register here to get more information.
Below you will find a guide to the following information. Click the subject links in this intro to go right to the topic in the body of this email.
You can find additional resources and information on my web site,
www.housedems.ct.gov/currey. If there's something you need help with that isn't included in this email, please check my website. If you can't find what you're looking for there, please don't hesitate to reach out to me. |
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Overall Summary
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Total
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Change Since Yesterday
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COVID-19 Cases (confirmed and probable)
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384,342
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+1,544
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COVID-19 Tests Reported (molecular and antigen)
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10,848,663
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+36,572
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Daily Test Positivity
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--
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4.22%
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Patients Currently Hospitalized with COVID-19
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332
(240 – 72.3% – are not fully vaccinated)
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+7
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Overall Summary
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Total
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Change Since Last Thursday
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COVID-19 Associated Deaths*
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8,447
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+31
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Data on COVID-19 associated deaths is updated once per week every Thursday.
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Specific Updates for Our Community
| Town |
Total Cases |
Total Deaths |
Number of Tests |
Number of Positive Tests |
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| East Hartford |
7,125 |
156 |
161,265 |
8,852 |
| Manchester |
5,571 |
155 |
153,052 |
6,765 |
| South Windsor |
1,891 |
54 |
52,858 |
2,226 |
Weekly Update of the Department of Public Health's COVID-19 Alert Map
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AT THE CAPITOL, IN DISTRICT, & BEYOND...
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| It's National Small Business Week, the perfect opportunity for us to recognize the hard work and accomplishments of our state’s and nation's small business owners and leaders. More than half of Americans either own or work for a small business, and they create roughly 66% of jobs in our country each year.
At a time when small businesses matter more than ever for the local economies, and remembering the hard challenges faced by business owners during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, please take time this week to shop at local small businesses and restaurants and support those in your community. Find a list – by category – of local businesses in our district by clicking the button below and searching the Connecticut Magazine database. |
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| If you are a local business owner, please also remember that Connecticut offers a number of programs to ensure your success. Please click the button below to access resources available to you. |
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| This week, the governor announced over 50 million pages of state government documents were digitized through a public-private partnership with Scan-Optics in Manchester as part of an effort to modernize services and create efficiency in state government. Making these documents available in digital form will allow us to have rapid access to information so we can work smarter.
This partnership with Scan-Optics was forged in 2013 through the Department of Social Services and Access Health CT. Since then, it's grown to include the Department of Administrative Services, Department of Children and Families, the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, and Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. You can learn more about this partnership here. |
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| This session Connecticut enacted important new laws to protect pedestrians. They will help improve communication between pedestrians and drivers and make crossing the street safer for everyone. Yielding to Pedestrians at Crosswalks, Dooring and more laws will take effect on October 1. Click the button below to learn more. |
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| The CGA Legislative Internship is now taking applications for its 2022 program, and most excitingly, the program will be back on-site at the Capitol! If you want to see how state government operates, watch the legislative process unfold in real time, and gain valuable hands-on work experience, this program is for you. Applications must be submitted by November 1, 2021 for consideration. For more information and to apply, click here. |
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| When we work together, we can make our voices louder and achieve great things. During the 2021 legislative session, we passed legislation to address some of the challenges that patients who need a kidney or who donate a kidney experience, including prohibiting insurers from discriminating against organ donors. There's still a lot of work to do to address all the challenges of kidney disease, and I was happy to join Armand Halter on the Hot Topics in Kidney Health podcast to discuss how you can become an advocate for kidney health. The episode aired today and you can listen to it here.
The podcast is a product of the National Kidney Foundation to highlight resources and discuss various topics of concern for kidney patients. |
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| South Windsor's 175th Anniversary Jubilee kicks off today at 5 p.m. at Nevers Road Park! Celebrate our town's 175 years of existence with children's games, pie eating contest, car show, cricket match, and so much more. Festivities end Saturday. Get all details here. |
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| Did you know that September is National Recovery Month? To raise awareness and share powerful stories of recovery and transformation, InterCommunity Health Care will hold a Zoom panel discussion on Wednesday, September 22 at 2 p.m. Learn more about the event here. You can join the Zoom event here. |
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| Are you looking for ways to support your local agricultural producers? Have you been wanting to source your food more locally? East Hartford, Manchester, and South Windsor have some truly great farmers' markets this season! Get more information about each below:
Nearly every farmers’ market in our state is affiliated with the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) which serves participants of Women, Infant, and Children and seniors who are over the age of 60 and meet income eligibility guidelines with checks to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables, cut herbs and honey.
For more information on FMNP please click here. For a full list of this year's farmers' markets please click here. |
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| the Biden Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have approved a significant and permanent increase in the amount of food stamp assistance available to families in need. Starting in October, SNAP benefits will rise an average of 25 percent—a permanent change that will benefit our nation's 42 million SNAP beneficiaries. As a result, the average SNAP benefit – excluding additional funds provided as part of pandemic relief – will increase by $36.24 per person, per month, beginning October 1, 2021.
This additional assistance will help individuals and families maintain a healthy diet and keep food on the table both during and after these uncertain times.
Click here to learn more about Connecticut's SNAP program, including information on how to apply for food assistance.
I've heard from some constituents who are utilizing the SNAP program for a variety of reasons, that they are between jobs, are caring for a family member, and more. Everyone should have access to food regardless of their income, and SNAP is incredibly helpful. If you need some extra support, you can learn more about the program here.
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| Connecticut's utility moratorium ended on Wednesday. If you have been struggling to pay or catch up on your electric, water or other utility bill, Operation Fuel can help connect you to payment plans or get coded for Hardship or Winter Protection. Hardship or Winter Protection coding will protect your service until May 1, 2022. Call your electric or gas company to determine your eligibility.
Apply for Help from Operation Fuel:
To learn more about emergency assistance through Operation Fuel, apply online, chat online with a specialist, or find a fuel bank in your neighborhood, click the button below.
You can learn more about payment plans your utility company offers below:
- Heat
- CT Natural Gas: 860-524-8361
- Southern CT Gas: 860-659-8299
- Electricity
- Eversource: New Start - 860-286-2000
- United Illuminating (UI) - 800-722-5584
Additional help is available through the following:
- UniteCT - Money toward back rent, and light bill. No shut off while they work on your application.
- Energy Assistance: Money toward back heat bill. Call your utility company or the United Way's 2-1-1 info line.
- CT Public Utilities Regulatory Authority: (800) 382-4586. Ask for help getting an affordable payment plan.
- Center for Children's Advocacy: 860-566-0836
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| Beginning this month, there will be bill credits applied to your Eversource bills as a result of the performance penalty assessed by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), which was put into place after August 2020’s Tropical Storm Isaias.
You do not need to take any action to receive this credit, it will be automatically added to your account if you qualify.
The credit is based on usage and varies by customer rate, but typical residential customers are expected to receive a few dollars per month in credit over the next 12 months. Most bills will feature a “TS Isaias Performance Penalty” on page 2 that will further explain the credit.
Additional Utility Assistance
After roughly 18 months, the pandemic moratorium on utility service disconnections is expected to end on September 15 for residential non-hardship customers, but there are still protections, assistance programs and payment plans available.
According to Eversource, the protection moratorium from shutoff for hardship customers will prevent service turnoffs between November 1 and May 1.
Apply for Aid
- If you or a member of your household has a serious or life-threatening medical condition, please call (800) 286-2628 to learn more about protection from disconnection.
- See if you are eligible for the Matching Payment Program for electric heating and gas heating, call (800) 286-2628 or click here.
- Contact Eversource under the New Start program to have your outstanding balance eliminated in as little as 12 months.
For additional assistance with your utility bill, click here or call (877) 947-3873. |
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JOB OPPORTUNITIES & RESOURCES
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| Through the state's Department of Labor, the American Job Center offers resources, information, and support for individuals throughout the state searching for a job. You can receive help writing a resume and attend interview technique workshops for those currently on the job hunt. For more information, click here. |
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| Pratt and Whitney is recruiting participants for its Pipeline Program, which will train candidates for entry-level Airfoil Cell Operator positions at its East Hartford facility. This program offers free training to those interested in joining the Pratt and Whitney team and growing their career in manufacturing. Successful applicants could receive entry-level wages up to $30 an hour. The application closes on September 10. All applicants must attend a virtual info-session. Click here to schedule a virtual info session. For more information about the program, email MHemming@ccat.us. |
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| EAST HARTFORD:
Click here for the Town Meetings calendar.
Click here for the Community Events calendar.
Click here for information on the East Hartford Public Library.
Click here for East Hartford Community Television. |
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SOUTH WINDSOR:
Click here for the Public Meetings calendar.
Click here for the Community Events calendar.
Click here for information on the South Windsor Public Library.
Click here for South Windsor's Government Television Programming - watch LIVE town council meetings! |
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MANCHESTER:
Click here for the Town Meetings and Community Events Calendar.
Click here for information on the Manchester Public Library.
Click here for Manchester Public Television. |
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Upcoming Meetings and Events
A full calendar of all events happening at the Capitol next week, including public hearings, is available on the General Assembly website.
You can find the agenda for public hearings on the calendar by clicking on the calendar item and following the link to the committee page. For instructions on how to testify at a public hearing, please click here.
You can view a list of all the bills passed by the House so far this session here.
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| Jeff Currey |
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