Rebecca Martinez

Teacher Appreciation Day was this week - let's celebrate the educators shaping the future of Connecticut! To our teachers: I will always support you, fight for you and work to pass the legislation you deserve.

Our legislative session is in full swing, and I want to give you a look at what my days looked like this week at the Capitol.

On Monday, the Appropriations Committee reviewed 132 bills! This committee is critical as it is the committee that produces a two-year budget for our state, so we have hundreds of proposals to wade through.

I also was thrilled to join Sen. Blumenthal, Comptroller Scanlon, Rep. Demicco, Farmington school administrators, Farmington High School students, and behavioral health providers for a round table to discuss behavioral health.

On Tuesday, I met up with my friend and colleague Rep. Kaitlyn Shake to make a video in honor of National Nurses Day and to discuss some of our priorities for nurses this session, and every session.

I was also a host for the 2025 Women-Owned Business Day and I attended a press conference recognizing International Firefighters Day!

On Wednesday, I was proud to stand in solidarity with the striking workers of IAM Local 746 - skilled machinists at Pratt and Whitney fighting for the respect they deserve, and then attend session to pass some great bills that you can read about below!

House Democrats voted this week to make important changes to the Firefighters Cancer Relief Program, including among other things expanding the types of cancers covered to include skin cancer and authorizing workers’ compensation administrative law judges to handle appeals of any denial of benefits.

Taking care of our first responders is always a legislative priority.

House Democrats also took action this week to make sure that warehouse workers are treated with respect by passing legislation that limits and provides clarity when employers use production quotas.

The legislation also ensures that:  

✅ Employers must provide quota information upon hiring an employee

✅ If quotas change, workers must be notified

✅ Employees cannot be retaliated against for requesting work records

✅ Quotas cannot be used to inhibit workers from using the restroom or taking an entitled break

Valuing people over profits is good public policy.