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| I had an eventful week at the Capitol! On Monday 02/24 the House went into Session at 5 pm. We held a vote on two bills that addressed issues including Special Education Funding, Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans, and Community Funding Grants. Further down in this email you will find more information on what was passed as a part of these bills.
This Saturday March 1st, join me, State Representative Joe Gresko, and State Senator Herron Keyon Gaston for a community meet and greet at 3:00 pm. We are looking forward to connecting with community members and discussing the priorities for this legislative session. The event will be held at Stratford Library in the Lovell Room. We encourage all members of the community to attend! |
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On Thursday 2/27, the Human Services, Labor & Public Employees, and Public Safety & Security Committees all held public hearings.
During the Human Services Public hearing, we heard testimony on bills addressing The Department of Social Services, funding for nutrition assistance, Medicaid coverage and reimbursements regarding allergy prevention, substance abuse coaches and mental health counselors and medically necessary children’s diapers.
In the Labor & Public Employees hearing, my colleagues and I heard testimony on Proposed H.B. 6413. The goal of this bill is to require the state to provide uninsured and under-insured coverage of one million dollars to employees of the Department of Transportation, such insurance shall cover such employees in instances when an employee is injured or killed by a motor vehicle within the course of their employment.
The Public Safety & Security Committee hearing discussed many raised bills in the committee. These bills included establishing a working group to develop uniform Statutory definitions of “First Responder” and “Essential Worker.”, the sale and use of certain fireworks, and public school security personnel training. |
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| On Friday 02/28, I attended two press conferences about the potential risks of federal Medicaid cuts. Connecticut will be one of the most impacted states, seeing a 71% increase in its uninsured rate with these cuts. My colleagues and I pointed out that these federal Medicaid cuts are largely to offset the massive tax breaks the Trump administration is planning for the ultra-wealthy. These Medicaid cuts will decimate services impacting mental health, addiction , SNAP benefits, seniors, and mothers and their children, and overall public health in our community.
I also had the opportunity to have a conversation with over 60 EMS from across the state about the impact Medicaid cuts will have the CT EMS System. Thank you Senator Anwar for giving us the chance to meet with these first responders and listen to their concerns directly. The work EMS Providers do is highly important in each of our communities and we have to continue to support their hard work and dedication to the field. |
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| $40M In Special Education Funding |
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On Monday, I was proud to vote for a bill allocating $40 million in funding to special education, giving immediate support to more than 140 school districts in our state and helping to provide the highest quality education for our students. Stratford is estimated to receive $650,000 and these critical resources will help ensure students receive the specialized support they need to thrive.
Since then, the governor has expressed concerns regarding this budget allocation and has suggested the possibility of a line-item veto. However, I remain optimistic that a workable agreement can be reached as we address this critical issue.
My colleagues and I have heard from cities and towns across Connecticut that special education costs are squeezing local budgets. Students and families are dealing with the repercussions of a broken system, and while the legislature considers long-term solutions, we recognized our school districts needed immediate relief.
Our ultimate goal is to achieve systemic reform to ensure sustainable funding in this arena.
Special education remains a legislative priority for House Democrats this session, and moving forward, we will continue looking for solutions to lower costs, strengthen services, and provide more financial support for our education system to make sure every child has access to the education they deserve. |
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| Tax Relief for Disabled Veterans |
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| The House also voted in support of veterans by passing legislation that provides tax relief for those who are 100% permanently and totally disabled due to their military service. This bill recognizes the sacrifices made by these veterans and aims to ease their financial burden by reducing property tax obligations, allowing them to keep more of their hard-earned income for essential needs. I am proud to support this bill and provide our veterans with the resources and assistance they deserve. |
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| House Democrats sent a clear message that we do not support Washington’s war on diversity and their targeting of vulnerable populations. We treat people with respect and dignity and we legislate that way, too. We provided funding to Planned Parenthood for sexual and reproductive healthcare as well as sex education. We helped organizations that assist immigrants, refugees and other displaced people through a range of services including support and advocacy for LGBTQ+ communities. |
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| The Transportation Security Administration issued an important message recently that will affect anyone who travels on domestic commercial flights.
Beginning on May 7, anyone who wishes to travel on a domestic commercial flight must have a REAL ID or other acceptable form of documentation.
What is a REAL ID?
A REAL ID is a state-issued ID that meets minimum security standards to access federal facilities and board domestic flights. The program was implemented following a 9/11 commission recommendation on making air travel and federal facilities more secure.
When will I need a REAL ID?
- Starting May 7, you will need a REAL ID or another acceptable form of identification to board domestic flights or access certain federal facilities (such as nuclear power plants, military bases and other federal buildings).
How do I get a REAL ID?
- You can visit your local DMV to learn more and apply for a REAL ID, or at the CT information portal here.
- In Connecticut, you'll need:
- a U.S. passport or U.S. birth certificate;
- a Social Security card; and
- two pieces of mail from two different sources dated within 90 days to prove that you live in Connecticut.
- For all new applications for a driver's license, as well as out-of-state transfers to Connecticut licenses, you will automatically be issued a REAL ID.
How do I know if I already have a REAL ID?
- Check your driver's license or ID to see if it has a gold star in the upper right corner, like the accompanying graphic. If you do, then you have a verified REAL ID.
What other forms of ID are acceptable?
- A U.S. passport.
- State-issued Enhanced Driver's Licenses and identification cards are also acceptable, though Connecticut does not issue them.
For more information, visit the following:
Department of Homeland Security website
CT Department of Motor Vehicles website
CT Information Portal website |
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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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Here's how you can stay connected and actively participate:
- The Office of Legislative Research (OLR) provides nonpartisan and unbiased research to members of the General Assembly and their staff. Part of their duties include writing bill analyses, which are summaries of bills in plain language. Click here to check out their website.
- You can view the Connecticut General Assembly's upcoming events by checking out its schedule on the CGA official website.
- Follow CT-N for live coverage of committee meetings, as well as House and Senate floor debates.
- You can register to monitor any bill's journey as it goes through the legislative process. By signing up, you can enter the bill number and receive real-time updates. Stay informed with email notifications whenever there's a change in the bill's progress.
- Visit this website for information on how to testify on a bill at a public hearing.
Together, we can ensure all voices are heard. |
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All politics is local! Get involved and make change in your community by participating in public hearings. Many people find the idea intimidating, but I encourage you to get involved.
Accessibility:
- ️All public hearing rooms are wheelchair accessible.
- If you are not able to attend the hearing, you can submit written testimony ahead of time.
- ️You can follow along live on the committee’s YouTube channel.
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| The Stratford Health Department will host free health screenings in 4 community locations from February 7th to March 3rd. The mission of the Know Your Numbers (KYN) campaign is to empower community residents with information about their health status and educate them on how to reduce their risks of chronic disease. The screenings will include body mass index, blood pressure, and blood sugar (A1c). |
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Yours in service,
Kaitlyn Shake
State Representative |
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