Kaitlyn Shake

The Connecticut General Assembly will start the 2026 Legislative Session next week! Thank you to all the Stratford residents who came out to my and Representative Gresko's Legislative Town Hall this week. It was a wonderful to see so many of you and hear your ideas, questions, and concerns ahead of this session. Special thank you to ACLU-CT and the Alliance for Community Empowerment for joining us and providing resource information for our residents! At any time over the next few months, if you would like to discuss your concerns and issues you hope we address during session, please reach out to me. In preparation for our upcoming session, I attended several events and meetings throughout the week with community organizations, leaders, and Stratford residents.  
 
In this week's email, you can find information on a special enrollment period for Access Health CT, learn about different Women's Business Development Council Grants, and more. If you have any questions, concerns, or if my office can be of assistance to you, please call my office at any time or email me at kaitlyn.shake@cga.ct.gov.

If you have taken one step outside over the past few days, you know just how dangerously cold it has been with icy conditions making travel difficult and dangerous. In response, the governor has extended the state's Severe Cold Weather Protocol through Thursday, February 5th at noon, marking the longest activation of this protocol in more than a decade.
 
Forecasts now show that bitterly cold weather will persist even longer than expected, with well below normal temperatures continuing into the middle of next week. Overnight lows over the next 10 days are projected to fall into the single digits, with several nights dipping below zero.
 
Anyone in need of shelter or a warming center is urged to visit 211ct.org or call 2-1-1 to find available locations. Transportation can be provided if necessary.
 
Click HERE to learn more.  

Tuesday morning, I attended the Bridgeport Regional Business Council's Legislative Breakfast Forum focused on the housing bill passed during the special session, H.B. 8002. We heard from Senator Gaston, Representative Felipe, and Representative Scott in a panel discussion moderated by Christopher Davis from Connecticut Business & Industry Association. They discussed how the new housing legislation will impact local businesses, organizations, workforce, and communities across the Bridgeport area and greater Fairfield County. This was an insightful discussion between officials, business and industry leaders, and policymakers about housing policies and economic growth in our communities. During the 2026 Session, I look forward to continuing the conversation around affordable housing and ways we can continue to address the housing crisis here in Connecticut. 

Tuesday morning, I had the pleasure of meeting with students, faculty, and President Collins during the CT State Housatonic Community College Meet and Greet. This was a great opportunity to connect directly with students and President Collins about the current priorities on campus and how we, as local elected officials, can support them. As a proud alum of Housatonic Community College, I was thrilled to attend this event and meet with current students and staff. 

Tuesday evening, I attended the Connecticut For All Bridgeport Regional Legislative Roundtable. This meeting was an opportunity to hear directly from CT For All members about the concerns they are hearing from communities across the greater Bridgeport region. This meeting allowed regional leaders and community members to discuss these concerns and ways the legislature could address them during the legislative session. 

Wednesday morning, I was thrilled to join Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro at the Sterling Community Center for an Access Health Enrollment Fair. This was a great opportunity for residents from Stratford and the surrounding area to learn about and take advantage of the Access Health CT Open Enrollment extension through this Saturday, January 31st.  

When federal subsidies were at risk of losing funding, and the rate of Access Health CT premiums were expected to significantly increase, Governor Lamont and state leaders allocated funds from the $500 Million Emergency Fund to offset federal funding cuts. Without this funding, families were expected to have their healthcare premiums skyrocket, making it unaffordable. I am thankful to our state leaders who took action when it was needed to protect so many of our residents, and for Congresswoman DeLauro for her visit to Stratford to help connect our residents with hands-on assistance to enroll in Access Health. 

To get more information on what healthcare plan is right for you, visit accesshealthct.com or call 1-855-805-4325 to speak with a representative.