Moira Rader

In-District Events 

It’s been great having time to be out at events in our community, seeing many of you and working to support the great work (and fun) that happens in our wonderful shoreline district.

I stopped by the Branford Land Trust open house a few weeks ago. Their work, along with that of the Guilford Land Conservation Trust, are so vital to preserving our open spaces, offering us opportunities to enjoy our natural surroundings and sustaining these natural resources for generations to come. The Branford Land Trust is in the process of rehabilitating, restoring and preserving their beautiful property in Stony Creek. Located at 26 School Street, their homebase includes an 1865 schoolhouse and a 1901 firehouse. These historic treasures are integral parts of Stony Creek’s history and their restoration critical for the future success of the Branford Land Trust’s work. To learn more about our community land trusts, please follow these links:

https://branfordlandtrust.org/

https://guilfordlandtrust.org/

Last week the American Library Association recognized and celebrated Banned Books week. This week-long effort, which began in 1982, seeks to defend and celebrate the freedom to read. It was in 1982 that the Supreme Court ruled in Board of Education, The Island Trees Union Free School District v. Pico that local school boards “may not remove books from school library shelves simply because they dislike the ideas contained in those books”. Since that time, we have witnessed the ebbs and flows of book challenges, efforts to remove book access and outright censorship. Please take some time to consider the information below or review the American Library Association site to learn more about this important issue. While we may not always agree on what is appropriate or factual when it comes to the written word, we can all agree that protecting our freedom and rights to read are inherent to who we are as a society. In protecting that right, we secure the freedom to think, grow and perhaps move beyond our biases. That is something we can, hopefully, all get behind.

Click here to learn more. 

Earlier this month, I had the great privilege of traveling to Denver for the second in-person convening of the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) Child Welfare Fellows. This fellowship brings together about 25 legislators from around the country to learn and share policy ideas to better the lives of children. We heard from experts and dove deep into successful policies that work to support the challenges of housing, education, early childhood interventions and a holistic approach to supporting our most vulnerable children and their families. My head and heart as a Fellow are full, ready to bring some of these innovative policy ideas back to Connecticut for the betterment of our children.

I want to take a moment to update you on the recent developments that took place during our Special Session a few weeks ago. 
 
I'm pleased to share with you that we voted to approve the nomination of Nora Dannehy to fill a vacancy on the Connecticut Supreme Court. This decision will ensure the continued integrity and fairness of our judicial system, allowing us to uphold the principles of justice and equality that are so important to our state.
 
Additionally, we voted to change the Connecticut presidential primary date by moving it up by four weeks. This means the presidential primary will occur on the first Tuesday in April. This received bipartisan support with the hope that it will increase our influence in the national political landscape and encourage more candidates to visit us during the 2024 campaign season. 
 
Furthermore, I'm proud to share that we have taken steps to strengthen our election monitoring and recount procedures. By taking these measures, we are ensuring transparency and accountability in our electoral system. It is crucial that we maintain the highest standards of fairness and accuracy in all our elections, and these enhancements will help us achieve that goal.

The application period for the 2023-2024 winter season of the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) is now open. CEAP provides vulnerable state homeowners and renters with crucial support for the associated costs with heating their homes.

Applications for the 2023-2024 winter season must be received by May 31, 2024. If you are interested, there are several ways to apply:

• Visit ct.gov/heatinghelp
• Call your local community action agency and request application assistance or schedule an in-person appointment (Click here for the list of phone numbers)
• Download and complete the CEAP application. Mail the completed application and required documents to your local community action agency. (Click here for the list of mailing addresses)

Additional information on the application process can be obtained by visiting ct.gov/heatinghelp or calling 2-1-1.

Basic benefits toward heating bills range from $180 to $530 depending on income, size of household, and need. Benefits are available for households with incomes up to 60% of the state median income, which equates to roughly $79,910 for a family of four. These benefits are usually paid directly to the utility company or fuel supplier. Households that heat with deliverable fuels like oil or propane may be eligible for multiple free tank refills.

This increase was made possible thanks to legislation passed in 2019, which implemented five incremental increases in the minimum wage between 2019 and 2023, followed by future adjustments that are tied to the percentage change in the federal employment cost index.

Beginning on January 1, 2024, and occurring annually each January 1, the state’s minimum wage will be adjusted according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s calculation of the employment cost index for the 12-month period ending on June 30 of the preceding year. The law requires the Connecticut Department of Labor to review this percentage change and then announce any adjustments by October 15 of each year. The minimum wage adjustments become effective on the next January 1.

Providing livable wages to the lowest-earning workers is a step in the right direction to help them make ends meet and provide for their families. This increase not only assists hard-working Connecticut families, but it can spur local economies by putting more money in people's pockets, which drives up spending power and makes it easier to pay household bills. Approximately 60% of minimum-wage earners in Connecticut are women, according to the Current Population Survey, calculated by the US. Census Bureau and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

No one should be forced to work multiple jobs just to make ends meet. I stand in strong support of this pay adjustment and the workers who will benefit from it. 

New laws include wrong way driving prevention with a test program on 120 highway exit ramps that are determined high risk for wrong-way drivers, gun violence prevention, and prohibiting hand-harvesting of ecologically important horseshoe crabs or their eggs from state waters.
 
Additionally, we prohibited deceptive and coercive interrogation methods, and implemented proper notification of inmates’ families and any associated victims of related crime(s) when they transfer them from one facility to another.

These are just some of the laws, click here for the full list.

Your calls, emails, and testimony at public hearings during this year's legislative session had a direct influence on these new laws. Thank you for your input, and please continue sharing your views and making your voice heard during our legislative process.

Gun Buyback Program October 28

I wanted to invite you to the 3rd Annual #KeepKidsSafe Connecticut Statewide Gun Buyback & Gun Safe Giveaway Day. The Guilford Police Department, located at 400 Church St, will hold their event from 10am - 1pm on Saturday, October 28.

The gun buyback and gun safe giveaway day helps residents dispose of unwanted and unsecured weapons, and make money in the process.

Buybacks will provide gift cards to individuals in the following amounts:

• $200 for assault weapons
• $100 for pistols and revolvers
• $50 for rifles and shotguns
• $25  for single and double shot handguns and any type of black powdered guns

The most recent data shows that Americans are dying of gun-related injuries at a record rate, including a record number of both gun murders and gun suicides.

Though Connecticut has made great progress on reducing gun deaths, there is still work to be done, and that is what this event is all about. If you have unwanted and unsecured weapons, I hope you'll go to this critical event.

ArrayRx is Now Open!

Update! The ArrayRx program is now OPEN.

I highly encourage you to take advantage of this free program that can save Connecticut residents up to 80% off certain prescriptions at nearly all pharmacies in the state. There's no cost, age restriction or income restriction to join. To sign up, please click here.

Visit the ArrayRx web site and enter your name, your email address, birth date, home address and zip code. After signing up, you will be emailed a digital discount card.



The program is part of Public Act 23-171, An Act Protecting Patients and Prohibiting Unnecessary Health Care Costs, which I proudly supported.

For more information on ArrayRx, including a drug price lookup tool, visit arrayrxcard.com.