Month: February 2020

Senator Duff Testifies in Support of His Bill to Protect Net Neutrality

HARTFORD, CT – Today, Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) testified in front of the Energy and Technology Committee public hearing in support of Senate Bill 5, “An Act Concerning Internet Service Providers and Net Neutrality Principles.” Senator Duff wrote and submitted the bill which is also a legislative priority for the Senate Democratic caucus.

“An Act Concerning Internet Service Providers and Net Neutrality Principles,” would require the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority to apply net neutrality principles to Internet service providers and enforce such principles with civil penalties. Net neutrality is the principle that all Internet service providers should enable access to all content and applications regardless of the source, and without favoring or blocking particular products or websites.

“The Internet is an integral part of our lives,” said Senator Duff. “It has not only changed the way people engage with each other, but it is intrinsically linked to the economy. From small business owners to corporations to everyone in between, the Internet is something we all rely on. Unfortunately, the decision by the Trump Administration to repeal Net Neutrality endangers the level of access individuals have with the internet. This bill would ensure an accessible and open internet in Connecticut and would prohibit any throttling, surcharging, or paywalling from internet service providers. I’m hopeful that the Energy and Technology Committee will vote this bill out of committee and I’m eager to vote on it in the Senate.”

The draft bill contains three main components, stating that that internet service providers (ISPs) in Connecticut:

Shall not block lawful content

• This measure will prevent ISPs from blocking websites.

Shall not throttle

• This section prevents ISPs from slowing down internet speeds from the agreed upon plan that was purchased.

Shall not engage in paid prioritization

• This component primarily protects companies in Connecticut from having to pay to have their content delivered to the consumer. This protection is especially important for smaller companies that cannot afford to pay to have their content delivered at a faster speed.

In November 2014, President Barack Obama recommended that the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reclassify broadband Internet service as a telecommunications service in order to preserve net neutrality. In February 2015, the FCC did that and ruled in favor of net neutrality by reclassifying broadband access as a telecommunications service. The Trump Administration has fought to repeal these regulations and succeeded in December 2017 when the FCC voted to reclassify broadband providers so that they are not considered common carries under Title II of the Communications Act of 1936.

In October 2019, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a 200-page decision that largely sided with the FCC on its decision to roll back several Obama-era net neutrality protections. However, the court also ruled that states could enact their own protections. In 2018, the State Senate passed a bill to restore net neutrality in Connecticut but the bill died in the House of Representatives.

Other states have had success in passing similar proposals to protect the Internet. Washington State passed net neutrality in a bipartisan fashion, 35-14 in the state senate and 93-5 in the state house. In 2018 California also passed a similar measure. Oregon now prohibits public bodies from contracting with ISPs that engage in certain network management activities based on paid prioritization, content blocking or other discrimination. Additionally, Vermont requires an ISP to certify that it is in compliance with consumer protection and net neutrality standards in order to be eligible to receive a government contract for internet service.

Following Trump’s Attack on Planned Parenthood, Senate Democrats’ Plan to Fund Women’s Health Care Moves Forward

HARTFORD – Today, the Human Services Committee voted to advance one of Senate Democrats’ foremost priorities this legislative session, Senate Bill 4, “An Act Concerning Increased Funding to Planned Parenthood and Other Family Planning Clinics.” If approved, the legislation would close a funding gap caused by President Donald Trump’s changes to the Title X Family Planning Program. The vote to raise the bill by the Human Services Committee was required for the bill to receive a public hearing. All Democratic members of the Human Services Committee supported the bill but it was opposed by five Republicans on the committee.

“Today’s decision by Republicans to vote ‘no’ to raise Senate Bill 4 further underscores that they are in lockstep with President Trump,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven). “President Trump’s gag order on Title X funding was an assault on women’s health care. As a caucus, Senate Democrats made it a priority to provide state funding to Planned Parenthood and other family planning clinics to counter this loss of federal funding. Despite the lack of Republican support, we will continue to fight so that women receive the essential healthcare they need and put forward policies that fight back against the disgraceful agenda of the White House and those in the legislature that support it.”

“Unfortunately, it should surprise no one that Connecticut Republicans voted no to raise Senate Bill 4, a bill that would increase funding to Planned Parenthood and Title X family planning clinics,” said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk). “In anticipation of a reduction in federal funding, Senate Democrats have been steadfast in ensuring that women have access to the necessary healthcare services. It’s unfortunate that only one party supports providing funding and access to healthcare and family planning, but this is the reality of living in Donald Trump’s America. Regardless of Republican inaction, Senate Democrats will continue to advocate on behalf of women in Connecticut to protect and provide funding to family planning clinics across the state. We know that healthcare is a right and no one should have the power to deprive individuals of the services they need – not even the President of the United States.”

In response to a gag order issued by the Trump administration prohibiting health care providers from counseling patients about abortion, Planned Parenthood announced it will no longer receive Title X funding to avoid it. Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, which operates 12 health clinics in Connecticut, would forego $2.1 million in federal funding under that rule, about 5 percent of its budget. While 20 states are challenging the gag order, a federal appeals court ruled the policy changes can take effect despite the lawsuits.

Senate Bill 4 would fill the funding gap, providing state Title X family planning clinics in Connecticut with an additional $2.4 million in funding.

Planned Parenthood of Southern New England statistics show that nearly 44,000 patients received services and support through Title X funding in 2017. One-third of those patients were under the age of 25, one-third of those patients earned less than $12,000, one-third were Latino and one-third were African American.