MIDDLETOWN LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION STANDS IN SOLIDARITY WITH STRIKING PRATT & WHITNEY WORKERS, CITING JOB SECURITY, GLOBAL UNCERTAINTY

MIDDLETOWN, CT — The Middletown state legislative delegation today announced its full support for the Pratt & Whitney workers represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), who are set to go on strike starting at midnight.

The workers are demanding stronger job protections amid escalating fears that the company could relocate key manufacturing operations to Germany or North Carolina.

The Pratt & Whitney facilities in Middletown produce the F135 engine for the F-35 fighter jet and the advanced, fuel-efficient Geared Turbofan (GTF) engines used in Airbus’ A320neo aircraft.

These are highly strategic, high-skill manufacturing operations critical to both U.S. defense and international aerospace commerce. Parent company RTX recently announced stronger-than-expected earnings, but warned investors that tariffs could cost the company $850 million in 2025.

Middletown’s lawmakers are sounding the alarm about the broader risks at stake—not only to local jobs but to economic stability and national security.
“I have deep respect for the hardworking members of IAM Locals 700 and 1746, and I stand with them as they raise their voices for fair treatment and long-term security,” State Representative Kai Belton said. “These machinists play a critical role in Connecticut’s economy and deserve a contract that reflects their value and dedication. I hope both sides can return to the table and reach an agreement that honors the contributions of these skilled workers and supports strong, stable jobs in our communities.”

“The workers in Middletown and East Hartford helped build Pratt & Whitney’s legacy through generations of hard work, innovation, and excellence,” said Senator Matt Lesser. “Now, with global tensions rising, they’re rightly demanding job security and respect. These jobs must stay here.”

“The hardworking employees of Pratt & Whitney helped make Connecticut a leader in aerospace manufacturing. Now these workers would like basic assurances their jobs won’t be shipped overseas or sent to other locations,” Sen. Jan Hochadel said. “Sadly, the federal mediators who have helped resolve these conflicts in the past are no longer available. I stand firmly with these dedicated workers, who want to ensure they can continue to provide for their families.”

“I am proud to stand in solidarity with the workers of Pratt and Whitney,” State Rep. Brandon Chafee said. “Pratt and Whitney has been a major employer in Connecticut since it was founded here one hundred years ago. These workers are an integral part of our community, and they deserve decent wages, benefits, and assurances that their jobs won’t be shipped overseas to further enrich shareholders and executives. I am urging management to come to the table and bargain in good faith with the workers who have made the company what it is today.”

Lawmakers also raised concerns about increasing economic disruption tied to President Trump’s renewed tariffs on European aerospace components and ongoing tensions with NATO allies. These dynamics threaten global supply chains and could complicate the production of both military and commercial engines.

The delegation called on RTX (formerly Raytheon Technologies), the parent company of Pratt & Whitney, to return to the bargaining table with good-faith proposals that protect jobs, honor the workforce, and invest in Connecticut’s manufacturing future.

The lawmakers also plan to join workers on the picket line this week.

Middletown Legislative Delegation Condemns NEA Decision to Cut Funding for Oddfellows Playhouse

“One More Lawless Attack on the People of Connecticut”

MIDDLETOWN, CT — Today, State Senators Matt Lesser and Jan Hochadel and State Representatives Kai Belton and Brandon Chafee issued a unified and forceful condemnation of the National Endowment for the Arts’ (NEA) decision—under the direction of President Trump’s administration—to abruptly withdraw previously committed federal funding for Oddfellows Playhouse, a cornerstone of youth arts education and social engagement in Central Connecticut.

In a letter received this week by Oddfellows Director Dic Wheeler, the NEA informed the organization that its $10,000 grant, which was intended to support a theater production centered on the lived experiences of underserved high school youth, had been revoked due to new policy priorities dictated by the Trump administration.

The NEA justified its decision by stating that the project “does not align” with new federal directives which now prioritize political and ideological goals such as “celebrating the 250th anniversary of American independence,” “fostering AI competency,” and “making the District of Columbia safe and beautiful,” among others.

“This is one more lawless attack on the people of Connecticut by an out-of-control administration that is targeting arts, truth-telling, and young people,” said the delegation in a joint statement. “Oddfellows Playhouse has spent decades providing an essential platform for creative expression, empowerment, and community-building. For the federal government to strip funding from a program that uplifts underserved youth—simply because it doesn’t fit a political agenda—is disgraceful, retaliatory, and deeply un-American.”

Oddfellows Playhouse, founded in 1975, has served generations of Connecticut youth, particularly from marginalized communities. The canceled production was designed to amplify the voices of high school students whose stories are too often left out of public discourse—a mission that aligns precisely with the NEA’s founding purpose: to support creativity, inclusion, and free artistic expression.

The delegation called for immediate congressional oversight of NEA decision-making, transparency in the implementation of these new funding priorities, and a reversal of what they describe as “ideological cleansing masquerading as arts policy.”

“This isn’t just an attack on a theater. It’s an attack on free expression, local communities, and the very idea that art belongs to everyone—not just to those who serve the President’s agenda,” the statement concluded.

Sen. Lesser Leads Passage of Legislation to Expand Coverage for Sickle Cell Disease

Today, State Senator Matt Lesser, Senate Chair of the Human Services Committee, passed legislation that would require Medicaid coverage of FDA-approved gene therapies to treat sickle cell disease.

This legislation requires the Commissioner of the Department of Social Services to give Medicaid coverage for federal Food and Drug Administration approved gene therapies to treat sickle cell disease. It also requires the commissioner to apply for any federal initiative, including the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ cell and gene therapy access model, to increase cost-effective access to these therapies.

“Sickle cell disease is a debilitating disease that affects hundreds in our state, and for a very long time treatment options were limited,” said Sen. Lesser. “Today, cures are available and they provide real relief for patients. Unfortunately, the cost is unattainable for many and our most vulnerable are left without treatment options. This legislation is one step closer to providing comprehensive, quality healthcare to everyone, not just those who can afford the astronomical cost. This is an important step forward for health equity. I am grateful for the unanimous support of my Senate colleagues.”

Sickle cell disease is a group of inherited disorders that affect hemoglobin, the major protein that carries oxygen in red blood cells. It affects blood flow and causes anemia, chronic wounds that will not heal, frequent infections, episodes of extreme pain among other complications.

In recent years, technology has allowed for curative treatments, including cell and gene therapy, but cost remains a barrier for many. In December 2023, the FDA approved two gene therapies for the treatment of sickle cell disease, Casgevy which costs over $2 million per treatment, and Lyfgenia which costs over $3 million per treatment.

Sickle cell disease is a life-long disorder that causes a series of complications, and the Biden administration’s Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services determined that complications from sickle cell disease cost the health system almost $3 billion annually. Sickle cell disease disproportionately impacts Black and Hispanic Americans. In the United States, more than 100,000 people live with sickle cell disease, and between 50-60% of those affected are enrolled in Medicaid.