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The work at the Capitol continues as my colleagues and I are moving through the legislative process. Committees are working through the Joint Favorable (JF) process where legislation is reviewed, amended, and voted on. This is an important step in shaping the legislation that will impact our communities.
Below you will find updates from this week and resources I hope you find helpful. As always, it is an honor to serve our community and please feel free to reach out with any concerns or questions you have. Email me or contact my office directly at 860-240-8585. |
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One bill that the Labor and Public Employees Committee JF'd out of our committee last week is H.B. 6953, An Act Requiring Municipalities To Provide A Pension To Police Officers And Firefighter Through Participation In The Municipal Employees' Retirement System Or Another Comparable Pension System.
H.B. 6953 was supported by firefighters and police officers across Connecticut including our very own in Stratford and I want to thank our brave men and women for their strong advocacy on this bill. I am proud to have introduced H.B. 6953 and will continue to advocate for our police officers and firefighters. Below you can watch a clip from the Labor and Public Employees meeting on March 20th where I discussed this bill and the amended language that will first require the Comptroller's office to conduct a study on the feasibility and benefits of each municipality. |
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| Labor and Public Employees Committee Meeting H.B. 6953 |
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| Federal Funding Cuts and the Potential Impact on Connecticut Residents |
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Many of you may be worried about the recent executive order to dismantle the Department of Education, and I share these concerns with you. Stratford is estimated to receive $8 million dollars for our schools in the next fiscal year and losing this federal funding would have a devastating impact on our children, education staff, and community as a whole. This week, members of our federal delegation held a news briefing with Governor Lamont and Lt. Governor Bysiewicz about this decision. Congresswoman Jahana Hayes and Senator Richard Blumenthal spoke about their work being done at the federal level to protect the Department of Education. Below you can watch the full press release and read about the steps being taken in response to this executive order and how we can help protect Connecticut's Education system.
READ: CT elected officials stand strong against plans to wipe out US Department of Education |
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| Capitol News Briefing with Gov. Lamont, Lt. Gov. Bysiewicz, U.S. Sen. Blumenthal and U.S. Rep. Hayes on the U.S. Department of Education |
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The administration announced a recent cancellation of $12 billion in public health funding to states previously allocated to track and prevent infectious diseases, support mental health services and connect people struggling with substance use disorder to treatment, with Connecticut slated to lose approximately $155 million in support for state programs. These grants also provided support for programs ranging from screening newborns for potential health issues to providing childhood immunizations and testing for viruses and other pathogens. Without the funding being restored, Connecticut would see significant job losses and countless residents losing access to important services.
READ: CT loses $155M in federal aid for public health programs |
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There are concerns that museums and libraries in Connecticut may soon struggle because of attempts to cut costs by the federal government. There was recently an executive order issued to effectively eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services, which provides millions to the Connecticut State Library and significant funds to cultural organizations statewide and beyond. Anywhere from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars in museum funding is potentially gone now, a serious concern.
Read: Trump's targeting of little-known federal agency could impact CT arts and culture organizations |
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March 25th = how far into the year women must work to earn what men earned in the previous year. Equal Pay Day is a reminder of the ongoing fight for gender equality in the workplace.
In Connecticut, we’re making strides with legislation like the Pay Equity and Opportunity Act, which strengthens pay transparency, prohibits salary history inquiries, and ensures fair pay for all workers, regardless of gender. I am proud to be a co-sponsor of H.B. 6517, An Act Concerning Disclosures Of Salary Ranges On Public And Internal Job Postings. Together, we’re working toward a future where EQUAL WORK means EQUAL PAY for everyone. Below you can watch the press conference held by a few of my colleagues on Equal Pay Day. |
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| Capitol News Briefing with Rep. Farrar on Equal Pay Day |
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How Big is the Wage Gap?
The pay gap varies depending on race, industry, and education level, but the national average shows that:
- Women in the U.S. earn about 82 cents for every dollar earned by men.
- For women of color, the gap is even larger. Black, Latina, and Indigenous women must work even further into the year before reaching pay parity.
- Black women make 59 cents and Latina women make 49 cents for every dollar
- Over a 40-year career, this gap can result in hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost wages, affecting lifetime earnings, savings, and retirement security.
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| Artificial Intelligence (AI) Caucus |
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I am proud to share that I am a member of the Connecticut General Assembly's newly formed Artificial Intelligence (AI) Caucus and a co-sponsor of S.B. 2. The AI Caucus strongly supports S.B. 2, An Act Concerning Artificial Intelligence.
The purpose of the caucus is to safeguard and enhance the future of our state through responsible and innovative artificial intelligence legislation and guardrails. I believe it is critical that we create policies that ensure transparency, accountability, and ethical standards in the development and deployment of artificial intelligence while supporting our workforce and small business communities.
This week the AI Caucus held their first press conference discussing our goals and priorities. Watch the full press conference below. |
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| Capitol News Briefing with Senator Maroney, Rep. Delaney and the Artificial Intelligence Caucus on SB 2 |
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Don’t forget - you only need to register if you wish to provide testimony. If you want to observe the hearings, you can tune in and watch them live on the committee’s YouTube channel.
Register to testify and learn more about this week’s schedule, including the bills that will be heard, in this week’s CGA Bulletin. |
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Congratulations to the UCONN Women's Basketball team on their win Monday night! We are cheering for the team across Connecticut as they advance to the Sweet Sixteen and play Oklahoma in their next game on Saturday night!
Go Huskies!!! |
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Drivers should expect delays for bridge maintenance on I-95 in both directions in Stratford and many surrounding communities. The highway road work will begin on Monday, March 31st and continue through Friday, April 25th from New Haven all the way to the New York state line. Crews will ensure that drainage on our bridges on I-95 remain in good shape.
The Connecticut Department of Transportation anticipates that it will shut down the shoulder and some lanes from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. during the project. Drivers should be aware that the timeline could change based on weather delays or other unforeseen conditions so please plan ahead prior to your travels.
Read more about the project here: https://portal.ct.gov/dot/ctdot-construction-advisories/2025/bridge-maintenance-on-i95-in-various-town-in-connecticut?language=en_US
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| Susan Johnson, a dedicated member of the Stratford Library Association Board recently stepped down after years of volunteer service and was honored by the Board. Thank you for your commitment to our community! |
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| The 2nd Annual Senior Health and Resource Expo will take place on April 6th from 10 am - 1 pm at Mozaic Senior Life in Bridgeport located at 4200 Park Avenue. Senior organizations from across Fairfield County will be available to answer questions and provide resources. |
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The Stratford Animal Rescue Society is hosting a fundraiser to benefit animals on April 12th and 13th at the Stratford Animal Control.
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The Stratford YMCA is holding their Annual YMCA Healthy Kids on April 26th from 10 am to 1 pm. This event features a variety of family-friendly activities to encourage healthy kids. The event is free and open to the public.
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Yours in service,
Kaitlyn Shake
State Representative |
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