Month: July 2025

Senator Hochadel Responds to Trump Administration’s Removal of Nearly $1 Million from Meriden Schools

Posted on by Devin James

Senator Hochadel Responds to Trump Administration’s Removal of Nearly $1 Million from Meriden Schools

Senator Jan Hochadel, D-Meriden, issued the following statement Friday in response to news that the Trump administration’s U.S. Department of Education had withheld $917,814 in congressionally approved funding for Meriden Public Schools.

“It’s difficult to overstate the damage that will be caused by the removal of nearly $1 million in already approved funding from Meriden classrooms,” Senator Hochadel said. “Our district operates on a limited budget, and our schools were promised hundreds of thousands of dollars to support students and the teachers who educate them. Do not mistake this broken promise for an inconvenience. Its impact will be severe. The next generation of Meriden children will have fewer opportunities because Donald Trump and his Republican enablers made a choice to take from our kids.”

Senator Hochadel’s statement follows reporting by CT Insider, which detailed the town-by-town impact of the Trump administration’s decision to withhold roughly $53.6 million in approved federal funding from Connecticut schools for the 2025–2026 school year, affecting nearly every district in the state.

SENATOR NEEDLEMAN DEEPLY CONCERNED BY LATEST TRUMP EDUCATION FREEZE STRIPPING $448,000 FROM LOCAL SCHOOLS

Posted on by Devin James

SENATOR NEEDLEMAN DEEPLY CONCERNED BY LATEST TRUMP EDUCATION FREEZE STRIPPING $448,000 FROM LOCAL SCHOOLS

State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex) expressed deep concerns about the latest announced federal education funding freeze from the Trump administration, which will strip billions of dollars from national education programs, more than $50 million from Connecticut public schools and $448,023 from public schools in Connecticut’s 33rd Senate District.

These cuts include $75,027 from Clinton Public Schools, $42,810 from Colchester Public Schools, $38,819 from Old Saybrook Public Schools, $37,589 from Region 17 Schools, $36,219 from Westbrook Public Schools, $33,383 from East Hampton Public Schools, $31,782 from Portland Public Schools, $26,942 from East Haddam Public Schools, $26,173 from Region 18 Schools, $21,702 from Region 4 Schools, $15,421 from Essex Public Schools, $15,234 from Deep River Public Schools and $13,539 from Chester Public Schools.

Nationally, more than $6 billion in grants were frozen from programs supporting teacher development and recruitment, student support and academic enrichment, community learning centers, English learning support and adult education and literacy, including more than $53 million in federal funding for Connecticut schools. Leaders around the state report the cuts pose serious threats to a number of school programs.

“To cut education funding by billions nationally, millions statewide and hundreds of thousands locally, especially for teacher training, recruitment and retention and direct student academic support, sets back our communities and our schools significantly,” said Sen. Needleman. “These programs provide direct support to everyday students and residents; to cut after-school programs and adult education services seems to harm our efforts to support students today and in the future. When we know these programs help improve educational outcomes, cutting their support seems foolhardy, if not cruel.”

State officials said the specific grant freezes impacting Connecticut include grants for improvement of teacher instruction, including teacher development, retention and recruitment; improvement of services for multilingual learners; support for well-rounded education opportunities, student health and safety and technological education; before- and after-school programs improving student education and well-being; and adult education and literacy services.

SENATOR ANWAR SLAMS LATEST TRUMP EDUCATION FREEZE STRIPPING $1.26 MILLION FROM LOCAL SCHOOLS

Posted on by Devin James

SENATOR ANWAR SLAMS LATEST TRUMP EDUCATION FREEZE STRIPPING $1.26 MILLION FROM LOCAL SCHOOLS

Today, State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor) slammed this week’s latest education freeze from the Trump administration, which will strip billions of dollars from national education programs, more than $50 million from Connecticut public schools and $1,263,431 from public schools in Connecticut’s 3rd Senate District.

These cuts include just over $1 million of support for East Hartford Public Schools, $140,137 of funding for South Windsor Public Schools, $64,165 for East Windsor Public Schools and $41,509 for Ellington Public Schools, according to the Connecticut School and State Finance Project.

Nationally, more than $6 billion in grants were frozen from programs supporting teacher development and recruitment, student support and academic enrichment, community learning centers, English learning support and adult education and literacy, including more than $53 million in federal funding for Connecticut schools. Leaders around the state report the cuts pose serious threats to a number of school programs.

“As the federal government prepares to add trillions of dollars to the national debt in coming years, it should be obvious that freezing and cutting education funding to this level has no real intent beyond an attack on our schools and our communities,” said Sen. Anwar. “Without this support, children lose access to key programs supporting their education. Communities lose resources connecting residents with opportunities to develop skills spurring personal enrichment and setting them up for lifelong success. Our society makes a promise to our students that we will support them; to renege on that promise is to worsen our collective futures. The damage these cuts represent is dire; worse, I fear there’s more to come.”

State officials said the specific grant cuts impacting Connecticut include grants for improvement of teacher instruction, including teacher development, retention and recruitment; improvement of services for multilingual learners; support for well-rounded education opportunities, student health and safety and technological education; before- and after-school programs improving student education and well-being; and adult education and literacy services.

SENATOR MARX DECRIES LATEST TRUMP EDUCATION CUTS STRIPPING $1.3 MILLION FROM LOCAL SCHOOLS

Posted on by Devin James

SENATOR MARX DECRIES LATEST TRUMP EDUCATION CUTS STRIPPING $1.3 MILLION FROM LOCAL SCHOOLS

State Senator Martha Marx (D-New London) decried the latest announced federal education funding cuts from the Trump administration, which will strip billions of dollars from national education programs, more than $50 million from Connecticut public schools and $1,298,131 from public schools in Connecticut’s 20th Senate District.

These cuts include $952,262 from New London Public Schools, $93,963 from Waterford Public Schools, $91,726 from Montville Public Schools, $61,286 from East Lyme Public Schools, $38,819 from Old Saybrook Public Schools, $26,173 from Region 18 schools in Lyme and Old Lyme and $16,313 from Bozrah Public Schools.

Nationally, more than $6 billion in grants were frozen from programs supporting teacher development and recruitment, student support and academic enrichment, community learning centers, English learning support and adult education and literacy, including more than $53 million in federal funding for Connecticut schools. Leaders around the state report the cuts pose serious threats to a number of school programs.

“To put it simply, these funding cuts make little sense. At a time when teachers and students rely on additional services, programs and aid to bolster Connecticut education, gutting programs directly supporting teacher development and academic enrichment does nothing but harm our schools and our students,” said Sen. Marx. “These cuts impact communities across our region and our state. They represent significant setbacks that weaken our overall educational systems. I’m concerned they won’t be the last.”

State resources said the specific grant cuts impacting Connecticut include grants for improvement of teacher instruction, including teacher development, retention and recruitment; improvement of services for multilingual learners; support for well-rounded education opportunities, student health and safety and technological education; before- and after-school programs improving student education and well-being; and adult education and literacy services.

Senator Gaston Outraged Trump Cuts Could Strip Millions From Local Schools

Posted on by Devin James

Senator Gaston Outraged Trump Cuts Could Strip Millions From Local Schools

Today, state Senator Herron Keyon Gaston (D-Bridgeport) is outraged following the news that the Trump administration is withholding federal education funds. In the 23rd district, over $4 million would be withheld from Bridgeport and Stratford schools.

Late last month, the Trump Administration froze $6.8 billion in federal K-12 education funding for the 2025-26 school year. Connecticut schools are set to lose $53.6 million, 10% of their total federal education funding for the school year. Local schools will see significant funding cuts:

Bridgeport: $3,808,657

Stratford: $418,262

“This is deeply disturbing and unacceptable,” said Senator Gaston. “These are not just numbers on a spreadsheet, this is real money that funds real classrooms, supports real teachers, and provides resources for real students. In Bridgeport alone, losing nearly $4 million could mean fewer school counselors, outdated textbooks, and even larger class sizes. The children in my district deserve better.”

Senator Gaston’s statement follows reporting by CT Insider, which detailed the town-by-town impact of the Trump administration’s decision to withhold roughly $53.6 million in approved federal funding from Connecticut schools for the 2025–2026 school year, affecting nearly every district in the state.

SENATOR MAHER DEEPLY TROUBLED BY LATEST TRUMP EDUCATION CUTS STRIPPING $2.3 MILLION FROM LOCAL SCHOOLS

Posted on by Devin James

SENATOR MAHER DEEPLY TROUBLED BY LATEST TRUMP EDUCATION CUTS STRIPPING $2.3 MILLION FROM LOCAL SCHOOLS

State Senator Ceci Maher (D-Wilton) was deeply troubled by the latest announced federal education funding cuts from the Trump administration, which will strip billions of dollars from national education programs, more than $50 million from Connecticut public schools and $2,318,965 from public schools in Connecticut’s 26th Senate District.

These cuts include $1,953,036 in cuts to Stamford Public Schools, $75,496 for Westport Public Schools, $69,994 from Ridgefield Public Schools, $61,848 from New Canaan Public Schools, $42,667 from Darien Public Schools, $34,137 from Wilton  Public Schools, $32,205 from Weston Public Schools and $28,493 from the Stamford Charter School for Excellence according to the Connecticut School and State Finance Project.

Nationally, more than $6 billion in grants were cut from programs supporting teacher development and recruitment, student support and academic enrichment, community learning centers, English learning support and adult education and literacy, including more than $53 million in federal funding for Connecticut schools. Leaders around the state report the cuts pose serious threats to a number of school programs.

“We face a shortage of teachers, our students need academic supports and back to school programs and adult education programs provide springboards for self-improvement and skill development. Cutting funds that support those efforts seems misguided at best and purposefully cruel at worst,” said Sen. Maher. “Scattershot funding cuts by the federal government continue to harm our communities, especially glaring when the recently approved budget will increase the national debt by trillions –it’s clear this isn’t a cost-cutting measure, or at least one that makes sense. I’m confident in our local school districts that they will continue serving students to the best of their abilities; I’m much less confident in the Trump administration.”

State officials said the specific grant cuts impacting Connecticut include grants for improvement of teacher instruction, including teacher development, retention and recruitment; improvement of services for multilingual learners; support for well-rounded education opportunities, student health and safety and technological education; before- and after-school programs improving student education and well-being; and adult education and literacy services.

Sen. Slap Slams Trump Administration Freezing Nearly $1M for Local Schools

Posted on by Devin James

Sen. Slap Slams Trump Administration Freezing Nearly $1M for Local Schools

HARTFORD – Today, State Senator Derek Slap slammed the Trump administration for withholding nearly $1 million dollars from Bloomfield, Burlington, Farmington and West Hartford Schools.

Late last month, the Trump Administration froze $6.8 billion in federal K-12 education funding for the 2025-26 school year. Connecticut schools are set to lose $53.6 million, 10% of their total federal education funding for the school year. Local schools will see significant funding cuts:

Bloomfield: $398,578
Farmington: $152,733
Region 10: $36,774
West Hartford: $393,987
Total Funding Loss: $982,072

“This year my colleagues and I delivered a budget that provided millions more in education funding, particularly special education funding,” said Sen. Slap. “We take much pride in our schools and the high quality of education they offer, while also recognizing the significant burden on local taxpayers. The illegal actions of Trump administration is in direct conflict with the progress we have made. Between this funding freeze and a federal budget bill that kicks the most vulnerable off their healthcare and food assistance programs – our state simply cannot afford to mitigate all of the effects of a hostile federal partner.”

This legislative session, the state legislature passed a budget that prioritized municipal aid and local schools. The state budget delivered Bloomfield, Burlington, Farmington and West Hartford over $9.8 million in municipal aid over the next two years, including $2.65 million in each year for Education Cost Sharing (ECS). Additionally, local schools are set to receive nearly $1 million in Special Education and Expansion Development (SEED) grants over the next two years.

According to the Connecticut School and State Finance Project, the Trump administration froze several specific grants. The impounded funds largely support multi-language learners, before and after-school programs which serve as a lifeline for working families, academic enrichment, adult education and educator training

SEN. OSTEN WELCOMES SIGNING OF IMPORTANT CONNECTICUT FARM AID BILL

Posted on by Devin James

SEN. OSTEN WELCOMES SIGNING OF IMPORTANT CONNECTICUT FARM AID BILL

Senator Cathy Osten and members of the Spielman Farm in Baltic, Connecticut

State Senator Cathy Osten (D-Norwich) was praised today for her work in crafting a bill that will bring about $144 million in tax cuts to Connecticut farmers and make them eligible for millions more in state aid to run their farms.

Sen. Osten was a key speaker at the ceremonial bill signing for Senate Bill 1497, “An Act Concerning Programming At The Department Of Agriculture,” which passed the General Assembly in June on a bipartisan and nearly unanimous vote. The bill signing took place at a tobacco farm in South Windsor.

Senate Bill 1497 increases the local property tax exemption on farm machinery to from $100,000 to $250,000, a change that is expected to save Connecticut farmers about $144 million in local property taxes every year. The bill also provides a 20% income tax credit for farmers investing in machinery, buildings or equipment, thereby supporting farmers who are struggling with costs and inflation

The bill also creates a new state-backed crop loss reimbursement grant program will help support farmers who face crop losses after extreme weather events, and it allows drones to be used for precision application of fertilizers and pesticides

“Agriculture in Connecticut brings in billions of dollars of revenue to the state every single year and is responsible for tens of thousands of jobs. When I was younger, my parents ran a family restaurant in eastern Connecticut, and we would buy our corn, eggs, milk and meat from local farms,” said Sen. Osten. “This bill provides a mechanism for dealing with the costs of running a farm, and if we can drive down those costs, we can drive down the costs to consumers. This bill has been a dream of mine to accomplish, and I’m so excited that my colleagues joined me because any legislative victory is never one person, it’s done with a team and a group of people. And this was a bipartisan bill, supported on both sides of the aisle.”

At today’s event, state Agriculture Commissioner Bryan Hurlburt introduced Sen. Osten as a “legislative champion” of the bill and its driving force.

“Senator Osten, as chair of the Rural Caucus, has spent a significant amount of time and energy focused on agriculture – not only in her district, but across the state,” said Commissioner Hurlburt. “She started the conversation around the Connecticut farm bill with a very simple statement: ‘I want to do something for farms this year.’ Senator, with the passage of this bill, you certainly did a heck of a lot for farms this year.”

Senator Hochadel Condemns Trump Cut to Meriden Boys & Girls Club

Posted on by Devin James

Senator Hochadel Condemns Trump Cut to Meriden Boys & Girls Club

Senator Jan Hochadel, D-Meriden, issued the following statement Wednesday in response to education funds withheld by President Donald Trump’s administration, which will result in the termination of free afterschool programming at the Meriden Boys & Girls Club.

The Meriden Boys & Girls Club relies on federal funding under the 21st Century Learning program to provide transportation and high-quality afterschool programming to 145 students. However, the Trump administration’s U.S. Department of Education has frozen Congressionally approved support for the program as of July 1, 2025, leaving the afterschool initiative unfunded effective immediately.

“I’m appalled by this decision to take resources directly from the youth in my community — especially the students most in need of assistance,” Senator Hochadel said. “We’re talking about families who enrolled their children in safe, supportive afterschool programs funded with money promised by the federal government. They built their budgets and work schedules around that commitment, trusting their kids would be cared for after school. Republicans in Washington have betrayed that trust. While I will explore any and all avenues of supporting the Meriden Boys & Girls Club and other services impacted by this cut, I am disturbed by this cynical decision by our federal government. Voters will remember who turned their back on our kids. If Republicans don’t value our children, what do they stand for?”

The administration’s decision to withhold the funds is expected to have repercussions for programs serving young people across the nation. According to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the loss of funding could result in the closure of hundreds of clubs, providing supportive programming and safe spaces to more than 220,000 children during the most vulnerable times of day. Click here to learn more.

SENATOR MAHER THRILLED AS REDDING RECEIVES $6.065 MILLION IN STATE BRIDGE FUNDING

Posted on by Devin James

SENATOR MAHER THRILLED AS REDDING RECEIVES $6.065 MILLION IN STATE BRIDGE FUNDING

State Senator Ceci Maher (D-Wilton) was thrilled to welcome the announcement that Redding will receive $6.065 million in support for four local bridge projects through the state Department of Transportation, providing vital resources to keep local bridges in good condition for decades to come.

“Our bridges are necessary points of connection across our communities, and keeping them safe for traffic passing every day is a vital need,” said Sen. Maher. “I’m so grateful to the Department of Transportation for this significant local support and it’s relieving to know our local roads will remain safe for years to come.”

The announcement was part of a larger $17.3 million allocation for 15 projects across the state, with cost-matching through the State Local Bridge Program meeting half of necessary project costs for bridges owned by local municipalities. Towns and cities are responsible for the remaining 50% of costs.

In Redding, four separate bridges will receive support, including:

       $1.13 million for the bridge carrying Sport Hill Road over an unnamed stream

       $2.453 million for the bridge carrying Greenbush Road over Little River

       $1.097 million for the bridge carrying Brookside Road over Gilbert Bennett Brook

       $1.386 million for the bridge carrying Long Wall Road over an unnamed stream

“This program helps keep locally owned bridges in good repair, ensuring they remain safe and reliable for all travelers,” said Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto. “As the program continues to deliver real results for communities both big and small, its popularity grows year after year. We’re proud to support these efforts and get the projects to the finish line.”