Bill Addressing Food Insecurity at Public Colleges and Universities Passes in the House
We often don't think about food insecurity impacting our college students, but the truth is that many students face challenges in providing nutritional, affordable meals for themselves. Remote learning during the pandemic presented additional challenges.
The added stress of food insecurity can significantly impact a student's success in pursuing higher education, which can lead to lower academic performance, depression, poor physical health, and low retention.
The House passed HB 5301 which works to identify the nutritional needs of students and establish strategies to combat food insecurity at our colleges and universities.
Under this bill, public colleges and universities in Connecticut will conduct a survey and collect data to evaluate programs and services that address the needs of food insecure students. The bill also identifies programs offered by colleges that meet federal criteria to expand access to the food-assistance SNAP program to full-time students.
Programs and services that can help:
- Lower cost food or meals plans
- Provide additional swipes on meal plan
- Provide financial assistance
- With access to campus food pantries
Help with access to fruit and vegetable incentive program.
At a time with high inflation and rising costs of everyday items, I am proud to support this legislation that will help so many in need.
This bill next heads to the senate for consideration.
HB 5146: An Act Concerning Food Donation
The House passed HB 5146 to make it easier for supermarkets to provide surplus food to those in need – so that we may not only have plans in place that reduce food waste, but we find solutions that support the members of our communities.
HB 5414: AAC The Provision of Protections for Persons Receiving and Providing Reproductive Health Care Services in the State and Access to Reproductive Health Care Services in the State
As we witness anti-abortion laws being enacted across the country and anticipate the overturn of Roe v. Wade, expanding access and protecting reproductive rights in Connecticut has never been more important.
The landmark decision of Roe v. Wade, which upholds a women’s right to choose, is codified into our state law. Abortion-related care will remain legal here, but that is unfortunately not the case for many states across the country.
This week, the House voted to expand the eligibility for certain advanced healthcare practitioners to provide legal protections for those seeking or providing abortion-related care in Connecticut.
House Bill 5414:
- Expands eligibility to perform abortion care to include advanced nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, and physician assistants to perform first-trimester aspiration and medication abortions.
- Protects individuals from extradition who are accused of seeking or providing reproductive healthcare in Connecticut that may be criminal in other states.
- Prohibits state agencies and health care providers from assisting in out-of-state investigations or prosecutions of reproductive healthcare that is legal in Connecticut.
- Anyone being sued in another state for allegedly providing, or receiving support for, reproductive health services that are legal in Connecticut can recover certain costs they incurred defending themselves.
It has been 32 years since the legislature examined abortion laws in our state and given the climate we are in now, where other states are infringing upon an individual’s right to choose, it is important that we act now to expand access and protect our residents and other individuals that come to Connecticut.
This legislation will now move forward to the Senate for debate and consideration.
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HB 5267: AAC The Department of Economic and Community Developments Strategic Planning Regarding the Promotion of Arts and Culture
Our state is home to several arts and culture institutions which help to enrich the lives of residents, create jobs in their communities, and help to boost tourism in our state.
With the passage of HB 5267, the House just acted to ensure that CT's arts and culture sector is included in state-wide marketing plans so that we may further promote the great parts of our state.
Click on the image below to learn more.
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HB 5240: AAC Establishing a Task Force for the Protection of Youth and Intramural and Interscholastic Athletes
It's imperative that we ensure our children are not only having fun but staying safe when participating in youth sports leagues. HB 5240 will establish a task force to study safety protocols and make any recommendations to keep our children safe. Click on the image to learn more.
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HB 5386: AAC Health Insurance Coverage for Epinephrine Cartridge Injectors, Health Carriers And Pharmacy Benefit Managers
No family should have to face the difficult decision between affording bills or paying for the out-of-pocket charges on critically needed medication. Through passage of HB 5386, the House just moved to cap out-of-pocket costs for EpiPens so that families aren't financially strained in accessing these life-saving devices. For more details, please click on the image below.
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A Special Visit to the Capitol For the Parent Leadership Training Institute...and Me,Too!
I was very pleased to join my fellow West Hartford Delegation members in greeting our Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI) parent leaders for a tour of the Capitol and Legislative Office Building today.
Did you know that 2022 is the 10-year anniversary of PLTI in West Hartford? I did. The program was supported through The Bridge Family Center, and I was fortunate to help lay the groundwork in organizing and coordinating PLTI in West Hartford for its first five years.
It was an honor to meet with today's class, in person, and to reflect on this amazing program that has created dynamic and engaged parent leaders both in West Hartford, and throughout the state of CT. I'm also a proud graduate of the PLTI program as well!
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I'm passionate about PLTI, and was so pleased to see this class of parent leaders. I look forward to hearing about their projects, journeys and visiting with the class in May.
To celebrate this special occasion, the delegation presented PLTI with a citation and took some pictures before the tour.
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| I'm pictured below with Karen who was in the inaugural (2012) class. She's a part of the 2022 class as well. Pretty special. |
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National Take Back Day/Wellness Resource Fair in West Hartford April 30th
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Julia Tannenbaum to Speak at Connecticut Historical Society May 5th
Katherine Wilson, a friend to many of us in PLTI, has a daughter Julia Tannenbaum who will be speaking at the Connecticut Historical Society on Thursday, May 5th from 6-7:30pm to mark Mental Health Awareness Month.
Julia is a local young adult author and mental health activist who shares her decade-long battle with anorexia, depression, and anxiety and how overcoming her illnesses enabled her to discover her passions for writing and advocacy.
To learn more about the event and register, please click on the image below.
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Congratulations to our Women's Month Essay Contest Winners
Fellow colleagues, Jillian Gilchrest Kate Farrar and I, who make up West Hartford's first all women delegation to the state House of Representatives, recognized the winners of the delegation's Women's History Month Essay contest at the Pond House Café in Elizabeth Park.
Annie Lopez-Lopez won from Conard High School and Amithi Nair won from Hall High School. The delegation presented the winners with citations as well as $500 from an anonymous donor.
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The contest was open to students at Hall High School and Conard High School. Participating students answered one of the two essay prompts:
- Who is the most influential woman in your life today and why?
- Who is your favorite woman in history and why?
The delegation received over 30 essay submissions and selected one winner from each school.
Lopez-Lopez's essay focused on her experiences as a first-generation Hispanic woman and the lessons she has learned about independence, perseverance, and how she can create change through STEM education.
Nair wrote about Juana Inés de la Crus, a 17th century Mexican writer, philosopher, poet, and composer whose legacy remains important today.
Congratulations to the winners and to all who participated! |
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The Village for Families and Children Needs Help
The Capitol Police will be hosting an emergency food drive to assist The Village for Families and Children feeding families in in the Greater Hartford area.
The food drive begins Monday, April to 25 through Friday April, 29th. Any non-perishable food item can be dropped off at:
- Capitol West Entrance
- Capitol Employee Entrance
- Legislative Office Building Skywalk Entrance or
- LOB West Entrance
Please consider helping.
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