I hope you had an easy holiday weekend and your week was kicked off with a renewed sense of thankfulness, love, and joy.
As I mentioned in the last eblast, the Legislature held a special session today to further address and help alleviate some of the stressors that families throughout our district and our state may continue to face as we move through the winter and holiday season.
To that end, yesterday, my colleagues and I voted to extend sweeping tax relief for the state, extend free bus services, provide additional funding for energy assistance programs, and continue premium pay for frontline workers.
The current suspension of the 25-cent-per-gallon gas tax was set to expire tomorrow, November 30. With numerous factors still causing increased gas prices, my colleagues and I voted to cut $90 million in gas taxes by extending the gas tax suspension for an additional month, then offering reduced gas tax prices through April 2023.
Every Connecticut family should have the resources they need to stay warm throughout the winter. I am proud to share that we approved $30 million in additional ARPA funding for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
My colleagues and I remain committed to providing any and all assistance we can to ease any added burden from Connecticut Families. To learn more and apply for energy assistance, click the button below:
We also voted to increase funding for Operation Fuel, an additional energy assistance resource for qualifying low-income families. The increase in funding is sourced by requiring PURA to direct at least 95% of specified proceeds to Operation Fuel, which is expected to roughly double the resources available.
To learn more about Operation Fuel, or to apply for upcoming assistance beginning December 19th, please click the button below
I was proud to support premium pay for the over 100,000 Connecticut workers who were on the front lines throughout the pandemic. Our goal is to provide the most low-income essential worker applicants with the majority of the financial aid.
As the year slowly ticks down, and we prepare for General Session in January, I am proud to see the work we could accomplish in a special session to assist families across Connecticut.