Month: February 2024

SENATOR ANWAR VOTES TO APPROVE $17M TO EXTEND HEATING ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

Posted on by Devin James
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Joe O’Leary | Joe.OLeary@cga.ct.gov | 508-479-4969
February 14, 2024

SENATOR ANWAR VOTES TO APPROVE $17M TO EXTEND HEATING ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

Today, State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor) joined the Senate’s unanimous vote to approve $17 million to supplement dwindling federal funding for heating assistance for Connecticut residents through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and Operation Fuel. There are over 70,000 households currently enrolled in these programs, and as of the end of January 2024, over 15,400 fuel delivery households have exhausted their LIHEAP benefits.

“As a physician and a pulmonary doctor, I have had patients on limited incomes forced to choose between paying for heat, medicine and food. It’s with this knowledge that I know we must intervene and step in to provide aid where we can,” said Sen. Anwar. “As my colleagues and I continue to look at ways to relieve these burdens, we cannot wait to provide relief to those in low-income homes and get them the aid we need. I am also thankful to our federal delegation for their support ,but this is not the last time we will have to address this issue. In the long term, we need to make sure the federal government does not further cut aid. This is about compassion and commitment to keep every citizen safe and healthy. Every person we help today has a story and will benefit from our support.”

The $17 million will be allocated from federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. $13.5 million will go to the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP), which is administered by the Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) and distributes federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds. An additional $3.5 million will go to the non-profit Operation Fuel for home fuel delivery.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps keep families warm through initiatives that assist families with energy costs. LIHEAP provides federally funded assistance to reduce the costs associated with home energy bills, energy crises, weatherization, and minor energy-related home repairs. Operation Fuel is a Hartford-based nonprofit that provides year-round emergency energy assistance to low- to moderate-income households across Connecticut in collaboration with a statewide network of local fuel banks.

While LIHEAP is traditionally fully funded by the federal government, funds were increased significantly during fiscal years 2021 and 2022 in response to the pandemic. Republicans in Congress have since rolled back funding despite increased demand.

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SENATOR NEEDLEMAN VOTES TO APPROVE $17M TO EXTEND HEATING ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

Posted on by Devin James
State Senator Norm Needleman
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Joe O’Leary | Joe.OLeary@cga.ct.gov | 508-479-4969
February 14, 2024

SENATOR NEEDLEMAN VOTES TO APPROVE $17M TO EXTEND HEATING ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

Today, State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex) voted with his colleagues in the Senate to approve $17 million to supplement dwindling federal funding for heating assistance for Connecticut residents through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and Operation Fuel. There are over 70,000 households currently enrolled in these programs, and as of the end of January 2024, over 15,400 fuel delivery households have exhausted their LIHEAP benefits. The vote passed unanimously with a 35-0 tally.

“With more than a month to go until spring, snow in the forecast and low temperatures in the teens and 20s for coming weeks, there are thousands of households struggling to stay warm here in Connecticut. Today, we provided them with important support,” said Sen. Needleman. “This funding will help families stay warm amid challenging circumstances and provide them with welcome aid. Demand for heating support is growing and it’s our duty to the people of Connecticut to help them stay warm.”

The $17 million will be allocated from federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. $13.5 million will go to the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP), which is administered by the Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) and distributes federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds. An additional $3.5 million will go to the non-profit Operation Fuel for home fuel delivery.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps keep families warm through initiatives that assist families with energy costs. LIHEAP provides federally funded assistance to reduce the costs associated with home energy bills, energy crises, weatherization, and minor energy-related home repairs. Operation Fuel is a Hartford-based nonprofit that provides year-round emergency energy assistance to low- to moderate-income households across Connecticut in collaboration with a statewide network of local fuel banks.

While LIHEAP is traditionally fully funded by the federal government, funds were increased significantly during fiscal years 2021 and 2022 in response to the pandemic. Republicans in Congress have since rolled back funding despite increased demand.
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Senator Rahman Votes to Approve $17M to Extend Heating Assistance Programs

Posted on by Devin James
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                             CONTACT
Tuesday, February 13, 2024                             Hugh McQuaid: 860-634-4651

 

Senator Rahman Votes to Approve $17M to Extend Heating Assistance Programs

Today, Senator MD Rahman joined the state Senate in a unanimous vote to approve $17 million to supplement dwindling federal funding for heating assistance for Connecticut residents through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and Operation Fuel. There are over 70,000 households currently enrolled in these programs, and as of the end of January 2024, over 15,400 fuel delivery households have exhausted their LIHEAP benefits.

“With the cost of home heating weighing on family budgets, I am thankful to our leadership for bringing legislation to supplement this federal program and provide our residents with the help they desperately need,” Senator Rahman said. “These funds will help ensure our most vulnerable families stay warm through the cold months ahead.”

The $17 million will be allocated from federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. $13.5 million will go to the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP), which is administered by the Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) and distributes federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds. An additional $3.5 million will go to the non-profit Operation Fuel for home fuel delivery.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps keep families warm through initiatives that assist families with energy costs. LIHEAP provides federally funded assistance to reduce the costs associated with home energy bills, energy crises, weatherization, and minor energy-related home repairs. Operation Fuel is a Hartford-based nonprofit that provides year-round emergency energy assistance to low- to moderate-income households across Connecticut in collaboration with a statewide network of local fuel banks.

While LIHEAP is traditionally fully funded by the federal government, funds were increased significantly during fiscal years 2021 and 2022 in response to the pandemic. Republicans in Congress have since rolled back funding despite increased demand.

Senator Rahman Applauds Connecticut Grown for Kids Grants for Manchester Farm Programs

Posted on by Devin James
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                             CONTACT
Tuesday, February 13, 2024                             Hugh McQuaid: 860-634-4651 

Senator Rahman Applauds Connecticut Grown for Kids Grants for Manchester Farm Programs

 

Today, Senator MD Rahman, D-Manchester, welcomed news that the state Department of Agriculture had awarded a total of more than $60,000 in Connecticut Grown for Kids grants to support two Manchester programs already teaching kids about the importance of nutritious diets and the value of locally grown food.

Under grants awarded last week:

  • The Community Child Guidance Clinic will receive $38,114 to expand its Grow Ahead Gardening and Whole Child Wellness Programs, which provide kids with therapeutic and educational activities while teaching a curriculum that emphasizes proper nutrition.
  • The Manchester Early Childhood Collaborative will also receive $22,194 to broaden an existing program to feed 180 preschool kids with fresh produce from local farmers’ markets and lead educational field trips to learn about topics like farmers, beekeepers and where food is grown.

“It is essential that Manchester children have access to healthy, nutritious diets and learn about the role that local farms play in feeding our communities,” Senator Rahman said. “I am glad our state will continue to support these therapeutic and educational projects.”

The Connecticut Grown for Kids Grant program awards grants of up to $50,000 for projects that support farm-to-school initiatives. The program seeks to improve student health by including locally grown food in dietary programs and reinforce relationships between local farms and educators who wish to provide hands-on instructional tools.

This year’s grants represent the third round of funding under the program, which has been supported by funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. Last year, state legislators allocated another $1 million in the state budget to continue the program as well as another $2 million in ARPA funding for shipping container gardens to grow fresh produce for schools and food pantries.

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CONNECTICUT GROWN FOR CONNECTICUT KIDS GRANT INVESTS $50,000 IN EAST HARTFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Posted on by Devin James
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Joe O’Leary | Joe.OLeary@cga.ct.gov | 508-479-4969
February 9, 2024

CONNECTICUT GROWN FOR CONNECTICUT KIDS GRANT INVESTS $50,000 IN EAST HARTFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS

The Connecticut Grown for Connecticut Kids grant program recently announced recipients of its grant funding to support availability of local foods in child nutrition programs, allow educators to teach students about nutrition and farm-to-school connections and help children build healthy habits from a young age. State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor) was ecstatic to learn that a key recipient of these grants was East Hartford Public Schools, which will receive $50,000 for the East Hartford Farm to School Project.

This project, already helping students learn about the importance of agriculture and the science behind growing food, is seeking to expand programming and increase sustainability. This grant funding will support the program by funding a part-time farm-to-school coordinator, as well as updating existing gardens, aiding professional development, acquiring kitchen equipment and providing farm field trips for students.

“I’m excited by the increased possibilities these funds will provide to students in East Hartford and the growth they will support,” said Sen. Anwar. “By bringing on new staff, upgrading currently used gardens and allowing for students to take field trips and visit farms, this program will continue to benefit local students through hands-on exploration and education on agriculture’s important and local connections.”

State legislators have allocated funding in recent years to support this program; in the 2023 legislative session, it received a $1 million allocation in the state budget and a $2 million allocation through the American Rescue Plan Act for shipping container gardens supporting local schools and/or food pantries.

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CONNECTICUT GROWN FOR CONNECTICUT KIDS INVESTS $54,900 IN CLINTON, EAST HAMPTON EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT

Posted on by Devin James
State Senator Norm Needleman
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Joe O’Leary | Joe.OLeary@cga.ct.gov | 508-479-4969
February 9, 2024

CONNECTICUT GROWN FOR CONNECTICUT KIDS INVESTS $54,900 IN CLINTON, EAST HAMPTON EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT

The Connecticut Grown for Connecticut Kids grant program recently announced recipients of its grant funding to support availability of local foods in child nutrition programs, allow educators to teach students about nutrition and farm-to-school connections and help children build healthy habits from a young age. State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex) recently welcomed the news that $54,900 of grant funds would be invested in programs supporting agricultural education and nutrition in Clinton and East Hampton.

In East Hampton, the Kids of Chatham program received $49,900 to establish a farm-to-school program in children ages 1-12. The initiative will include the creation of an educational garden, taste test events for children with local produce and integrating agriculture into local curricula for students by enhancing their understanding of healthy eating and local farming.

In Clinton, Clinton Child Care Services received $5,000 to launch a Farm to School program, with plans to partner with the Arbor Garden Club of Clinton to build a garden and establish a relationship with a local farm to source fresh food to their Center, including the purchase of two Community Supported Agriculture shares from Bitta-Blue Farm in Killingworth.

“Local agriculture is vital to our communities, and giving children opportunities to learn about its importance firsthand with educational resources, as well as access delicious local produce, is great for our state’s future,” said Sen. Needleman. “I’m excited to see the results of these projects in future years.”

State legislators have allocated funding in recent years to support this program; in the 2023 legislative session, it received a $1 million allocation in the state budget and a $2 million allocation through the American Rescue Plan Act for shipping container gardens supporting local schools and/or food pantries.
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Senator Lesser Welcomes State Grants for Local Farms, Schools Collaboration

Posted on by Devin James
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Garnet McLaughlin | Garnet.McLaughlin@cga.ct.gov

Senator Lesser Welcomes State Grants for Local Farms, Schools Collaboration

HARTFORD, CT — Today, State Senator Matt Lesser welcomed the announcement that three programs in the 9th District are set to receive funds through the Connecticut Department of Agriculture Connecticut Grown for Connecticut Kids Grant program:

Rocky Hill Public Schools, High School Botany: Hydroponic Greenhouse Garden

  • $32,450 to support students in the Botany, UCONN Horticulture, Culinary, Marketing, and Business classes to delve into the farm to table experience through the creation of a hydroponics growing house that will produce different lettuces, herbs, cucumbers, and strawberries. The addition of this technology will also allow educators to use hands-on educational techniques to teach students.

ACES Early Head Start, Middletown: Gardening at Early Head Start

  • $5,000 to create and maintain community family gardens both inside and outside of their location which will allow families in their program to access fresh fruit and vegetables year-round while engaging them in hands on projects with their children, peers, and community members.

Little Wise Daycare LLC, Wethersfield: Planters & Cooking Activities

  • $4,037 to build projects that will allow students to connect with nature, grow their own food, and interact with the garden, as well as do cooking activities.

“The Connecticut Grown for Connecticut Kids puts our money where our mouths are – literally and figuratively,” said State Senator Matt Lesser. “This program invests in student nutrition, our local food systems and our agricultural industry, creating educational opportunities and healthy eating habits. I’m so pleased that our state budget allows this program to continue over the next two years, and I look forward to continuing to make meaningful investments in programs like this one.”

The Connecticut Grown for Connecticut Kids Grant (CTG4CTK Grant) is intended to increase the availability of local foods in child nutrition programs, allow educators to use hands-on educational techniques to teach students about nutrition and farm-to-school connections, sustain relationships with local farmers and producers, enrich the educational experience of students, improve the health of children in the state and enhance the state’s economy.

This is the third round of the program, which was funded for two years as a pilot through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and administered in collaboration with the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) and the Connecticut Farm to School Collaborative (FTSC). The latest state budget allocated another $1 million to award annually for the next two years. Eligible entities were able to apply for up to $50,000 in funding with no match required.

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Meriden Delegation To Host Legislative Preview

Posted on by Devin James

**PRESS ADVISORY**

Tonight: Meriden Delegation to Host Legislative Preview

From 6 pm to 7 pm tonight, the Meriden Legislative Delegation will host a Legislative Preview at the Meriden Public Library. The event will offer a sneak peak at some of the issues likely to come up during the legislative session that begins on Feb. 7 and give residents an opportunity to share their thoughts, ideas, and concerns with the legislators.

The Meriden Delegation includes Senator Jan Hochadel and Representatives Michael Quinn, Jack Fazzino, and Hilda Santiago, who will discuss their policy priorities and answer questions from residents.

 

WHO:

Senator Jan Hochadel

Representative Michael Quinn

Representative Jack Fazzino

Representative Hilda Santiago

 

WHAT:

Meriden Legislative Forum

 

WHERE:

Meriden Public Library (Meeting Rooms 1+2+3)

105 Miller Street, Meriden, CT

 

WHEN:

Wednesday, February 7th from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Senator Rahman Backs Proposal to Repeal Regressive Motor Vehicle Tax

Posted on by Devin James
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                             CONTACT
Tuesday, February 6, 2024                               Hugh McQuaid: 860-634-4651

 

Senator Rahman Backs Proposal to Repeal Regressive Motor Vehicle Tax

Today, state Senator MD Rahman (D-Manchester) unveiled a plan to eliminate the Motor Vehicle Property Tax. The proposal follows months of work by the Motor Vehicle Property Tax Taskforce, a working group that has studied the feasibility of repealing the motor vehicle property tax and replacing the municipal revenue the tax currently provides.

“The motor vehicle tax is one of the most regressive and complicated taxes in Connecticut,” said Senator Rahman, who co-chaired the task force and serves as Senate chair of the legislature’s Planning and Development Committee. “We have worked to identify options to eliminate this tax and help our towns and cities replace the revenue they rely on to support critical services.”

Senator Rahman’s proposal would repeal the motor vehicle property tax for Connecticut families, but give municipalities the option of maintaining the property tax on commercial vehicles. This would help to offset the revenue lost by towns and cities.

Statewide, the car tax brings in roughly $1.179 billion in municipal revenue. Maintaining the property tax on commercial vehicles would preserve around $193 million, lessening the repeal’s impact on local budgets.

To make up the difference, Senator Rahman’s proposal would allow municipalities greater flexibility to set their own assessment ratios on real property. Currently, state law requires towns and cities to assess property at 70% of its actual value.

The proposal would enable municipalities to increase their assessment ratios on property like land and buildings up to a cap set at the threshold necessary to recoup revenue lost by the repeal of the motor vehicle property tax.

“This plan repeals an unpopular and unfair tax while empowering municipalities to recover lost funds through a predictable revenue stream,” Senator Rahman said. “Eliminating the motor vehicle property tax puts Connecticut towns and cities on a path toward a simpler, more equitable tax code.”

The motor vehicle property tax is considered a regressive tax because its burden tends to fall disproportionately on residents of lower and middle income communities. That’s due in part to limited tax bases in many cities, where much of the property is owned by nonprofits or tax-exempt entities that operate hospitals, universities or other government functions.

Although these entities provide necessary services that support residents of the region, including taxpayers of nearby towns, they reduce a city’s overall tax base and result in higher mill rates. Because of those elevated tax rates, residents of lower income communities often pay significantly more in car taxes than a resident of a wealthier town who owns the same vehicle.

Senate Democrats will advance a bill on the motor vehicle property tax as part of their 2024 legislative agenda during the session that begins tomorrow, Feb. 7.

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SENATOR NEEDLEMAN WELCOMES NEW STAMP HONORING CONSTANCE BAKER MOTLEY, COMMEMORATING LOCAL BLACK HISTORY

Posted on by Devin James
State Senator Norm Needleman
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Joe O’Leary | Joe.OLeary@cga.ct.gov | 508-479-4969
February 5, 2024

SENATOR NEEDLEMAN WELCOMES NEW STAMP HONORING CONSTANCE BAKER MOTLEY, COMMEMORATING LOCAL BLACK HISTORY
State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex) recently welcomed the recent release of a commemorative stamp honoring Constance Baker Motley, a Civil Rights leader who lived in Chester for 40 years, and its commemoration of local Black history amid Black History Month. The stamp, issued by the Postal Service on February 1, came as Governor Lamont declared that day “Constance Baker Motley Day” throughout Connecticut.

According to the United States Courts, Motley played a vital role in fighting for civil rights, standing as the first African American woman to serve as a federal judge and the first African American woman to argue a case before the Supreme Court. One of her most important cases argued was one that led to integration of prominent Southern universities; she further worked to provide access to schools and parks to African Americans. Motley served as a lieutenant for Thurgood Marshall and represented Martin Luther King, Jr., but blazed a trail all her own. She did it all while living in Chester from 1965 to her death in 2005 and held New Haven as a hometown.

Motley’s stamp becomes the 47th in the Postal Service’s Black Heritage series where she joins fellow figures including King, Rosa Parks and John Lewis.

“Constance Baker Motley is one of Connecticut’s most treasured daughters and her impact on our nation cannot be overstated,” said Sen. Needleman. “Her work during the Civil Rights era was responsible for incredible steps forward across our state and our nation. During Black History Month, I could not be prouder that a woman who accomplished so much and called Chester home is receiving this incredible honor.”

A celebration of Motley and the stamp will be held at the Chester Meeting House at 4 Liberty Street in Chester on Saturday, February 17 from 3 to 5 p.m., sponsored by the Chester historical Society, Chester Land Trust and Sari A. Rosenbaum Fund for Women and Girls at the Community Foundation of Middlesex County. The Black Heritage stamps are available online and at local post offices.
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