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| Dear Friend,
This is my State Capitol update for the week of May 22.
If you prefer to watch rather than read, click on the video below to hear about the issues contained in this newsletter. |
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| Most of my work is now in Hartford, as there are very few days between now and June 7 that we are not in session. On my drives back and forth, even late at night, I am always so grateful to return to the Northwest Corner. On my drive this week, I got to witness the progress being made on the construction of the new Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) sprouting up in North Canaan – it is really beginning to take shape! |
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| Last weekend I attended the 2023 Ella Grasso Women's Leadership Brunch, which honored my colleague, Appropriations Committee Chair Toni Walker, for her legislative leadership, and Goshen's own Henrietta Horvay for her longstanding service to Goshen. I believe they noted that Henrietta was the senior DTC chair in the state! Congratulations to both Toni and Henrietta for well-deserved recognitions. |
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And right now I am on my way to Washington, where I will be attending a reception this evening at the White House honoring the UConn men's basketball team national championship. I almost missed that invite in the swarm of email these days as advocates and colleagues make many last-minute pitches to get items included in the final budget, but thankfully my aide flagged it, just before UConn staff started asking me whether I planned to attend. It will make for a lot of time on the train coming to and from Washington, but I'm hoping for decent wifi that will at least enable me to read email!
Happy Memorial Day weekend to all, whether you are a veteran, the family member of a veteran, or looking for an opportunity to express gratitude to the veterans who have served and sacrificed to protect our country and our democracy. I have included in the newsletter a list of various events throughout the district honoring the holiday, so I hope I will see some of you out there! |
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| Here’s a sample of some of the bills that we passed this week:
HB 6813: We are committed to protecting our marine ecosystems. H.B. 6813 ensures the safety of seabirds and shorebirds by establishing a protection program, including designated protection areas.
https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=…
HB 6667: While Connecticut remains one of the safest states in the nation because of our previous legislative action, it does not make us immune to the continuing epidemic of gun violence. HB 6667 is step toward making Connecticut even safer.
https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=…
HB 6486: The House took another step towards sustainability with the passage of H.B. 6486. This bill establishes a state-wide stewardship program for discarded tires and ensures access to tire collection while promoting recycling efforts and holding producers accountable.
https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=…
HB 5628: Hydropower is a clean and renewable energy alternative that our state could potentially utilize. That’s why we passed HB 5628.
https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=…
HB 6768: We’re taking another step to protect reproductive rights in our state by ensuring access to emergency contraceptives at pharmacies. HB 6768 will give pharmacists the ability to prescribe medications and medical devices to patients. It also protects pharmacies from prosecution from states whose laws do not allow such activity.
https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=…
HB 5917: Connecticut has recently seen an increase in roadway fatalities. Implementing the recommendations of the Vision Zero Council will make the roads safer for drivers and pedestrians alike.
https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=…
HB 6755: Advanced manufacturing is our future – H.B. 6755 establishes a working group to develop a plan for an advanced manufacturing technology center in the state, and to maximize the economic, educational and workforce benefits provided to the state.
https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=…
HB 5441: HB 5441 is a bipartisan effort that improves the state’s workforce pipeline, including the extension of the existing teacher loan subsidy program for teachers in Alliance Districts, to paraeducators and school counselors.
https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=…
HB 6880: Education is a top priority for us. HB 6880 makes vital revisions to our education laws that support parents, teachers, families and most importantly, our students.
https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=… |
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Table of contents:
- COVID-19 weekly update. Click here
- CT's minimum wage increase. Click here
- CT Trails Day Hikes. Click here
- Summer Enrichment Grants. Click here
- $Registration for Open Space & Urban Green/Community Garden Grants & Info Session. Click here
- Connecticut Receives Credit Rating Upgrade from Kroll. Click here
- Pilobolus Ball on June 17 and Family Day on June 18. Click here
- Milling and Resurfacing Project on Rte 202 Washington. Click here
- Region 20 School Names/Logo Image. Click here
- Memorial Day Weekend Events around the district. Click here
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| For graphs and tables containing data on COVID-19, including a list of cases in every municipality click the button below. |
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| Note that the federal government is making at home test kits available free of charge. For more information, https://www.covid.gov/tests. |
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The state’s minimum wage will increase from the current rate of $14.00 per hour to $15.00 per hour beginning Thursday, June 1, 2023.
The change is the result of legislation signed into law four years ago that schedules several gradual increases in the minimum wage to occur over a five-year period.
Signed into law in May of 2019, Public Act 19-4 requires the minimum wage to increase five times over a five-year period, from the then-rate of $10.10 per hour to:
- $11.00 on October 1, 2019;
- $12.00 on September 1, 2020;
- $13.00 on August 1, 2021;
- $14.00 on July 1, 2022; and
- $15.00 on June 1, 2023.
Ultimately, beginning on January 1, 2024, that same law requires the minimum wage to become indexed to the employment cost index, which is calculated by the U.S. Department of Labor, and for the first time in Connecticut the rate will grow according to economic indicators. |
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190+ CT TRAILS DAY EVENTS
Reserve your spot today!
★ Ready... Set... Get Outdoors! ★
Come celebrate CT Trails Day's 30th anniversary!
Click the button below get started on your next adventure:
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Here's a couple of local hikes to get you started. The Sharon Land Trust (SLT) will be leading hikes on June 3rd and 4th https://mailchi.mp/d9bfe2b1408a/take-a-hike-with-hotchkiss-library-tuesday-april-27th-17336216?e=3e5a9f2bc1
Saturday, June 3rd 10am - VonAhn Preserve
276 Millerton Road, Sharon, CT
Join SLT Executive Director Maria Grace for a hike at SLT’s newest public preserve, the VonAhn Preserve. Protected at the end of 2022, the VonAhn Preserve is 170 acres of field and forest, overlooking Indian Lake and the Millerton Valley. It is adjacent to SLT’s Goodbody Preserve and forms the Indian Mountain Trail System. Come for a 2.5 mile moderate hike, leading to the top of Indian Mountain to take in the views to the west.
Pre-registration is required. Space is limited.
To register, click here. |
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| A view from the VonAhn Preserve. |
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Sunday, June 4th, 10am - Mary Moore Preserve
24 Williams Road, Sharon, CT
Join SLT Stewardship Director Tim Hunter for a hike at the Mary Moore Preserve. Just on the outskirts of town and offering incredible views to the north and west, the Mary Moore Preserve is comprised of field and forest. Hike to see the state champion Chinkapin Oak and to the viewpoint to see the mountains to the northwest of Sharon. On a clear day, you can see all the way to Mt. Greylock! Continue on the cliff loop trail, to wander through rock outcrops and boulder fields. This is a 2.5 mile moderate hike.
Pre-registration is required. Space is limited.
To register, click here.
For more information, please email or call (860) 364-5137 |
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More than one hundred oganizations in Connecticut are being awarded more than $13 million in grants to provide learning opportunities to children during the summers of 2023 and 2024 as part of the latest round of funding under the Connecticut Summer Enrichment Program.
Here's a full List of orgs that received grants. Included among them are several in the Northwest Corner, including three YMCA programs:
- Camp Sloane (Salisbury)
- Camp MOE (Torrington)
- Northwest CT YMCA Childcare (Torrington)
Established in 2021 in response to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and administered by the Connecticut State Department of Education, the program was created in an effort to connect K-12 students whose education may have been negatively impacted by the pandemic with low or no-cost, high-quality enrichment opportunities when they are out of school during the summer months. This includes at summer camps, childcare centers, and other similar programs, with a priority for those in communities that were disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.
With the release of this funding for 2023 and 2024, the state will have dedicated a total of $33 million for the program since its creation. These resources come from federal COVID-19 relief dollars the state received to support its response to the pandemic, including from the American Rescue Plan Act and the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund.
An independent evaluation of the 2021 program concluded that the initiative successfully connected more than 108,000 Connecticut students with summertime enrichment opportunities that year. A similar evaluation of the 2022 program is expected to be released soon.
Families seeking to enroll their children in the participating programs for the summer of 2023 can find a list of available opportunities online by visiting summerct.org. Camps will run as early as the first week of June through the end of August. |
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| CT DEEP is accepting applications from municipalities, land trusts, and water companies for the next round of the competitive Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Grant Program (OSWA) and from targeted and distressed communities* for the Urban Green and Community Gardens Grant Program (UGCG). The application deadline for both programs is October 2, 2023.
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Connecticut Open House Day, now in its 19th year, is an annual event held on the second Saturday of June. The purpose of the event is to inspire Connecticut residents to learn about all the experiences in their own backyard, anticipating that this will convert them into ambassadors who will recommend these experiences to other visitors.
Register your farm, business, or cultural institution for CT Open House Day by May 27th – it helps promote tourism in the state. Venues will be organized by county.
- Link for registration
- Eligibility requirements
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| Good news for Connecticut's growing economy!
Connecticut just received an upgraded credit rating from the Kroll Bond Rating Agency, which means that our General Obligation bond credit rating was upgraded from AA (stable) to AA+ (stable), just one step below the highest credit rating possible!
This news is an excellent testament to the success of the bipartisan fiscal guardrails and budgeting disciplines we have in place. |
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| Our state has received an improved credit rating before.
Just last year, Standard & Poor’s (S&P) upgraded Connecticut's credit rating from A+ (positive) to AA- (stable). In 2021, all four major credit rating agencies upgraded Connecticut's credit rating, including Moody's. S&P, Fitch and Kroll.
Our credit upgrade allows us to maintain a strong financial standing and strengthens our appeal to those looking to make investments here. |
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Pilobolus Ball is being held June 17th and Family Day celebration June 18th. https://pilobolus.org/ball2023
- Pilo-BALL-Us - The Pilobolus Ball, Saturday, June 17th at 6:30 pm. Click here.
- ALL of US - Pilobolus's Second Annual Family Day Celebration, Sunday June 18th at 2:00 pm. Click here.
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CT DOT announced that the project will begin and end milling Tuesday, May 30 and resurfacing Thursday, June 8-June 20 from Sunoco Gas Station to Rte 341.
Motorists can expect delays and one lane alternating traffic M-F 7am-4pm during the times of the project. |
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Region 20 BOE will make selection of names for High School (currently the Wamogo building). They are now accepting nominations for names through Friday, May 26. Submissions will be reviewed May 31 and final selection on June 22.
Region 20 BOE is accepting mascot submissions until June 2nd. All submissions will be property of Region 20. Final selection will occur at the July meeting. |
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Cornwall – Monday, May 29
- Commemorative service held at North Cornwall Cemetery at 9:00am
- Seaman’s Memorial will take place at the Covered Bridge at 10:00am
- Parade followed by ceremony at the town green at 11:00am
- After the ceremony there will be a carnival on the grounds of UCC
- Link to event: https://cornwallct.org/event/memorial-day-events-2023/
Falls Village – Monday, May 29
Goshen –Sunday, May 28, 2023
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| Kent – Monday, May 29
Norfolk – Monday, May 29
North Canaan – Monday, May 29
Salisbury – Monday, May 29
Sharon – Monday, May 29
Washington – Monday, May 29
- 12:00pm Washington Green Cemetery: Prayer, Roll Call, Color Guard, and Firing Squad only
- 1:15pm Parade gathers at New Preston Congregational Church
- 1:30pm Parade steps off through Village to Baldwin Hill Cemetery
- 2:15pm Parade gathers at Washington Primary School.
- 2:30pm Parade stops at Depot Bridge for service for Navy deceased and then onto Bryan Memorial Town Hall for service and presentation.
- Link to the event: https://explorewashingtonct.com/events/memorial-day-parade-and-commemorations-2/
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| It is my honor to represent our district. I look forward to hearing from you about the issues raised in this newsletter, or any other topics you think I should know about. You can email me at maria.horn@cga.ct.gov or call me at (860)-240-8585. Thanks for reading, and I wish you a safe weekend.
Click here to forward to forward this email to a friend. |
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| Sincerely,
Maria Horn
State Representative |
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