Newsletter

April 20, 2022
We are in the middle of a big week of passing legislation. Some as simple as cleaning up language or recommendations in statute to capping prices on epi-pens to protecting women's access to abortion. You'll find the legislation passed recently in the information below.
 
I will have a Seniors event at the Canton Community Center and I hope to see many of you there.
 
Additionally, we are in the middle of Earth Week and it's a great time to commit or recommit to addressing our Climate Crisis. I was grateful to vote SB4 out of the Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee this morning. Protecting clean air is something we can all agree on and be happy to support.
 
Community Conversation on Senior Services at Canton Senior Center Friday at 12:30 P.M.
I wanted to send out a reminder about the Community Conversation on Senior Services event I will be hosting at the Canton Senior Center, 40 Dyer Ave., this Friday, April 22nd, at 12:30 p.m.

The event is free.
 
I will be joined by a couple of guests panelists, including Amy Porter who serves as Commissioner of the Department of Aging and Disability Services as well as Anna Doroghazi from the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).
 
Celebrating Earth Week
We are in the midst of Earth Week and this year's theme is InvestInOurPlanet. I'll be sharing resources and ways to help accelerate the transition to an equitable, prosperous green economy for all. You can visit the CT Climate Action website here.

In the meantime, there is an Earth Day Trails Clean-Up event happening in Avon Saturday, which I am including below, and don't forget to mark your calendars for the Farmington Valley Green Living Festival on May 14 in Avon from 1-4 on the grounds of the Avon Congregational Church.
 
 
House Passes Legislation Protecting and Expanding Access to Reproductive Healthcare
As states across the US seek to criminalize abortion (26 to be exact) and with the knowledge that Roe v. Wade will most likely be overturned, last night, I stood with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to expand access and protect Connecticut residents from reprisals by other states.
While access to abortion was codified in the 1990s in Connecticut, this bill:
  • Protects CT doctors, nurses, midwives, and others from extreme and over-reaching laws in other states;
  • expands eligibility to practitioners to perform certain abortion-related care to advanced practice registered nurses, nurses-midwives, and physician assistants where permitted by their licensing, training, and the appropriate standard of care.
 
Additional Bills Passed in the House on Tuesday
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, on Wednesday, moved to cap out-of-pocket costs for EpiPens so that families aren't financially strained in accessing these life-saving devices.
 
 
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.
 
HB 5146 makes 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.
 
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 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.
 
Rolled out Today: First Phase of New Model Curricula, Includes Financial Literacy Instruction for Grades 6 through 12
Phase one of Connecticut’s new model curricula for educators statewide was rolled out by Governor Lamont and Connecticut Education Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker today.

The first phase includes math curriculum for grades 6 to 8, and financial literacy curriculum for grades 6 to 12. These resources will be available to all Connecticut educators at no cost through 

GoOpenCT, Connecticut’s digital library. You can read the press release in its entirety by clicking on the image below.
 

Last year, Governor Lamont signed into law Public Act 21-2, which required the Connecticut State Department of Education to develop, for the first time, age appropriate and rigorous model curricula to supplement existing local curricula.

Model curricula development is done through collaboration with the State Education Resource Center, subject matter experts, district officials, educators, and additional stakeholders. With this implementation, Connecticut becomes one of 19 “open education resource” states in the nation.
 
Thank You Too, Canton Intermediate School Students
A couple of weeks ago, I was a mystery reader at the Canton Intermediate School. I wasn’t expecting this lovely surprise of thank yous from the students. It makes me smile every time I read them.