Saud Anwar

Senator Anwar Joins Senate Democrat Coalition to Discuss 2019 Session Victories

HARTFORD, CT – Today, State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor) joined a coalition of Senate Democrats as they discussed the successes they experienced during the 2019 legislative session, which ended June 5 of this year. Sen. Anwar, a physician, spoke on the importance of the passage of “Tobacco 21,” legislation that raises the legal age of access for tobacco products from 18 to 21.

“Up to 95 percent of all people who smoke started before they turned 21,” said Sen. Anwar. “Over their lives, the cumulative effect of their smoking increases their risk of developing cancers, cardiac diseases and other illnesses. This legislation can reduce the probability of addiction – it drops the likelihood of an individual starting to smoke. It additionally reduces the likelihood that 18-year-old high school students share tobacco products with underage classmates. That will save lives. We will see the direct impact of this bill over time, especially as the average lifespan in the United States is decreasing. This is one piece of that puzzle and we will hopefully be able to reduce its decline. This legislation is the culmination of effort from a lot of people; I would like to thank Senator Mae Flexer, Representative Cristin McCarthy Vahey, Senator Mary Abrams and Representative Jonathan Steinberg. I am honored to have joined them to have achieved this.”

Sen. Anwar joined Senate President Martin Looney (D-New Haven), Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk), Senator Christine Cohen (D-Guilford), Senator Julie Kushner (D-Danbury), Senator Cathy Osten (D-Sprague) and Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex) Monday in the Legislative Office Building to discuss important legislative priorities the Senate achieved during the six-month legislative session. Victories discussed Monday included:

• The landmark achievement of implementing a Paid Family and Medical Leave program for Connecticut workers
• A five-tier increase of the minimum wage from $10.10 today to $15 in 2023
• Significant gun safety changes, including Ethan’s Law, which requires guns to be securely stored in homes where minors live
• Up to three years of debt-free community college courses for high school graduates
• Energy legislation adding new focus on green energy generation through wind and solar energy and increased access to high-speed 5G internet service
• Health insurance protections prohibiting consumer-unfriendly billing practices

Senate leadership also commended freshman Senators for their hard work. Half, or eleven, of current Democratic Senators in the Connecticut General Assembly are in their first term, including Sen. Anwar.

Caption: State Senator Saud Anwar discusses legislation raising the tobacco age of access to 21 Monday.