Weekly Update - April 19th

April 19, 2024


 
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Dear Friends,

We passed quite a few bills in the House this past week. We have a lot more to get done before session ends on May 8th and I will be sure to provide updates when I can.

This past week, I was so proud to stand in solidarity with my colleagues Representatives Robyn Porter, Kai Belton, and Trenee McGee in support of Black Maternal Health, which is celebrated annually from April 11-17th, to raise awareness and take action to improve the health of Black mothers. 

I was proud to secure $15,000 in funding for the Open Doors Shelter recently. Please consider donating if you can.

I have also included a bill in this newsletter I hope you follow. It would provide free state transportation to public school students, among other measures to re-engage 14- to 26-year-olds who are neither working nor in school.

Finally, we've got a new school coming to South Norwalk! Please see this week's newsletter below.

Have a great weekend,

Travis
Working In The House
I started Thursday morning off with a Transportation Committee meeting and, shortly afterward, went into our second day of session for the week. We passed a number of bills over those two days, including:

 
Adressing Black Maternal Health
Black Maternal Health Week concluded on Wednesday. I was proud to stand with fellow lawmakers, Robyn Porter, Kai Belton, and Trenee McGee, who held a press conference to discuss action and legislation addressing this year's theme, 'OUR BODIES STILL BELONG TO US: REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE NOW'.

Did you know Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than White women? Did you know most are preventable? Many factors contribute to childbirth inequities, including variations in quality healthcare and underlying chronic conditions, with systemic and structural racism having the most direct impact and influence.

WTNH did a story on the topic, please click on the video below to watch.

 
 
HB5213 Awaiting A Vote in the House
I wanted to update you on a fine piece of legislation we voted to approve in the House recently, and I hope you keep your eye on this. HB5213, An Act Concerning Disconnected Youth, a bill that originated out of the Education Committee, would provide free state transportation to public school students, among other measures to re-engage 14- to 26-year-olds who are neither working nor in school.

We heard favorable testimony on this legislation for hours from lawmakers, teachers, and students, during a recent Public Hearing. I will keep you posted on its progress. To read an article on the topic, please click below.
 
Funding Secured For Open Doors Shelter
I was proud to secure $15,000 in funding recently for the Open Doors Shelter to help feed the community. 
Please consider donating. A list of items the food pantry needs most is listed below. Donation times are Monday through Friday, from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. If those times don't work, please call 203-866-1057 ext. 134. 
 
Welcome to the Neighborhood
You've probably heard ground has been broken on a new, state-of-the-art school in South Norwalk, its first in over 40 years. Completion is set for August 2025 and up to 680 K-5 students from the community will attend. The school will be the city's first project under the new state reimbursement rate of 60 percent, meaning Norwalk taxpayers will save almost $30 million, with the state taking care of nearly $47 million. I was born and raised in this community, so I am very proud to have helped pass legislation that secured funding for this amazing, neighborhood school - the first since 1978! Click on the headline below from the Norwalk Hour story for more details.
 
Happening In The Community

As always, feel free to call me at 1-800-842-8267 or email me at Travis.Simms@cga.ct.gov if you have any questions or concerns. Also, please like my official Facebook Page for regular updates.

Sincerely,

Travis Simms
State Representative
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