Author: sdozapier@senatedems.ct.gov

SENATORS LOONEY, DUFF, ANWAR RESPOND TO HEPATITIS B VACCINE RECOMMENDATION CHANGE BY FEDERAL ADVISORY COUNCIL

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SENATORS LOONEY, DUFF, ANWAR RESPOND TO HEPATITIS B VACCINE RECOMMENDATION CHANGE BY FEDERAL ADVISORY COUNCIL

December 5, 2025
 
Today, Senate President Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven), Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) and State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor), Senate Chair of the Public Health Committee, responded with concern and alarm to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s decision to end universal recommendations for newborn vaccination against hepatitis B.

The advisory committee, which saw its membership replaced earlier this year by Health and Human Services Secretary and known vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr., voted to change a 34-year-old standard for all newborns to be vaccinated against hepatitis B, which can cause lifelong chronic injury and complications that can lead to death among those infected as infants. The new policy only recommends newborn vaccination if a mother tests positive for hepatitis B or does not test for the virus, ignoring that newborns and infants can be exposed to viruses in many other ways than maternal contact.
 
“I am deeply troubled by this morning’s CDC advisory panel vote to abandon universal hepatitis B vaccination for newborns,” said Senate President Martin Looney. “This decision reverses decades of proven public health policy that has prevented millions of infections and saved countless lives. We will work to ensure that our state’s immunization policies continue to protect our most vulnerable infants from a preventable, potentially deadly disease. Secretary Kennedy and President Trump are turning the CDC into a platform for conspiracy theories and placing American lives at risk.”
 
“The CDC panel’s decision this morning to roll back newborn hepatitis B vaccine recommendations is a reckless departure from evidence-based medicine,” said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff. “The hepatitis B vaccine has reduced infections in children by 99 percent since the early 1990s, and there is no legitimate scientific reason to change course now. Connecticut’s healthcare providers and families deserve clear, science-based guidance that prioritizes children’s health and safety. Connecticut will not follow Trump and Kennedy down this dangerous path of vaccine denial.”

“Since universal newborn vaccination against hepatitis B was first recommended in 1991, rates of infection among children and teens have plummeted. That’s evidence of lives saved, illness avoided and the overwhelming success of this universal standard,” said Senator Anwar. “According to the American Public Health Association, this policy has prevented more than half a million infections and 90,000 deaths in the last 30 years. Ending a standard with such obvious benefits is outlandish and disturbing, and when even members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices itself are questioning their peers, it makes any future decisions from that body difficult, if not impossible, to trust.”
 

Contact – Kevin Coughlin – kevin.coughlin@cga.ct.gov

SENATORS LOONEY, DUFF, ANWAR RESPOND TO HEPATITIS B VACCINE RECOMMENDATION CHANGE BY FEDERAL ADVISORY COUNCIL

Posted on by sdozapier@senatedems.ct.gov

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SENATORS LOONEY, DUFF, ANWAR RESPOND TO HEPATITIS B VACCINE RECOMMENDATION CHANGE BY FEDERAL ADVISORY COUNCIL

December 5, 2025
 
Today, Senate President Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven), Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) and State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor), Senate Chair of the Public Health Committee, responded with concern and alarm to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s decision to end universal recommendations for newborn vaccination against hepatitis B.

The advisory committee, which saw its membership replaced earlier this year by Health and Human Services Secretary and known vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr., voted to change a 34-year-old standard for all newborns to be vaccinated against hepatitis B, which can cause lifelong chronic injury and complications that can lead to death among those infected as infants. The new policy only recommends newborn vaccination if a mother tests positive for hepatitis B or does not test for the virus, ignoring that newborns and infants can be exposed to viruses in many other ways than maternal contact.
 
“I am deeply troubled by this morning’s CDC advisory panel vote to abandon universal hepatitis B vaccination for newborns,” said Senate President Martin Looney. “This decision reverses decades of proven public health policy that has prevented millions of infections and saved countless lives. We will work to ensure that our state’s immunization policies continue to protect our most vulnerable infants from a preventable, potentially deadly disease. Secretary Kennedy and President Trump are turning the CDC into a platform for conspiracy theories and placing American lives at risk.”
 
“The CDC panel’s decision this morning to roll back newborn hepatitis B vaccine recommendations is a reckless departure from evidence-based medicine,” said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff. “The hepatitis B vaccine has reduced infections in children by 99 percent since the early 1990s, and there is no legitimate scientific reason to change course now. Connecticut’s healthcare providers and families deserve clear, science-based guidance that prioritizes children’s health and safety. Connecticut will not follow Trump and Kennedy down this dangerous path of vaccine denial.”

“Since universal newborn vaccination against hepatitis B was first recommended in 1991, rates of infection among children and teens have plummeted. That’s evidence of lives saved, illness avoided and the overwhelming success of this universal standard,” said Senator Anwar. “According to the American Public Health Association, this policy has prevented more than half a million infections and 90,000 deaths in the last 30 years. Ending a standard with such obvious benefits is outlandish and disturbing, and when even members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices itself are questioning their peers, it makes any future decisions from that body difficult, if not impossible, to trust.”
 

Contact – Kevin Coughlin – kevin.coughlin@cga.ct.gov

Senator Duff Appoints New Member to CT Tourism Council

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Sen. Duff Appoints New Member to CT Tourism Council

Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) is thrilled to announce he has officially appointed a new member to the CT Tourism Council. Senator Duff appointed Joseph Sequenzia to the CT Tourism Council that was effective December 3.

“I am proud to appoint Joseph Sequenzia to the CT Tourism Council,” said Senator Duff. “With his depth of executive experience and ability to build powerful, lasting brands, Joseph will make an exceptional addition to the CT Tourism Council. His approach to innovation will help elevate Connecticut’s tourism landscape and strengthen our state’s reputation.”

“I’m honored to be appointed to the Connecticut Tourism Council,” said Sequenzia. “As someone born and raised on the Connecticut shoreline, this state has shaped every part of who I am. When I left IPG to start my own agency, milk in 2001, I knew I would build it in Connecticut. We made the move in 2002, settling in SONO, where we’ve been proud to support both Connecticut businesses and global brands ever since. Being invited to serve on the Connecticut Tourism Council is a privilege. I’m excited to contribute to the continued success and vibrancy of this great state I’ve always called home.”

The Connecticut Tourism Council is tasked with promoting and expanding the state’s tourism industry. Its goal is to increase the economic impact of tourism, attract more visitors, and improve the overall tourism experience throughout Connecticut.

Contact: Kevin Coughlin | Kevin.Coughlin@cga.ct.gov | 203-710-0193

Sen. Cohen Issues Statement on Trump Rollback of Vehicle Emission Standards

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Sen. Cohen Issues Statement on Trump Rollback of Vehicle Emission Standards

For Immediate Release
Contact: Garnet McLaughlin – Garnet.McLaughlin@cga.ct.gov – 860-304-2319
 

HARTFORD – Today, State Senator Christine Cohen, Senate Chair of the Transportation Committee, issued a statement in response to reports that the Trump administration has proposed a roll back of federal fuel economy standards.
 
“Fuel economy standards not only save drivers money by requiring a certain degree of fuel efficiency, but they also help keep our air clean and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The transportation sector is the leading contributor of carbon emissions and creates significant air pollution, leading to higher rates of respiratory illness, particularly for at-risk groups.
 
These rollbacks will cost consumers more in added fuel costs, will accelerate our contributions to climate change and will worsen public health for many communities here in Connecticut. Years from now federal leadership will change, and in the meantime states like ours can enact policies to keep our air, land and water clean – but the environmentally hostile actions of the Trump administration will cause irreversible damage that we will be dealing with for generations to come.”
 

SENATOR HOCHADEL BLASTS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FOR MAKING NURSING HOMES LESS SAFE

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Senator Hochadel

SENATOR HOCHADEL BLASTS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FOR MAKING NURSING HOMES LESS SAFE

December 4, 2025

Today, State Senator Jan Hochadel (D-Meriden), Senate Chair of the Aging Committee, blasted the Trump administration’s decision this week to repeal Biden-era regulations on long-term care facility staffing standards, an effort that will reduce the amount of direct care that nursing home patients receive each day and will likely lead to worse health outcomes for them.

On December 2, the federal Department of Health and Human Services repealed measures initially passed in 2024 that sought to increase minimum nursing home staffing requirements with the intent of reducing the risk of residents receiving unsafe or low-quality care.

The rule required nursing homes participating in Medicare and Medicaid to provide residents with at least 3.48 hours of nursing care per day, including at least half-an-hour of care from a registered nurse and about two-and-a-half hours from a nursing aide. It also required facilities to have registered nurses on location 24/7.

“Our loved ones deserve the best possible care in nursing homes, which makes this decision from the federal government so disappointing,” said Sen. Hochadel. “These staffing requirements were purposely designed to ensure people could receive the help and attention they need, as far too many patients struggle and suffer when they don’t receive timely care or current staff is stretched too thin to properly respond to their needs. While Connecticut’s regulations for patient care will withstand this repeal, that doesn’t change the reality that nationally, nursing home providers will benefit at patients’ expense.”

Connecticut state law requires nursing homes to provide at least three hours of direct care per resident per day.

Prior to this official repeal, the rule was previously under fire from opponents. Lawsuits over the new policy from nursing home provider organizations saw federal judges strike parts of the new staffing requirements in 2024, while the federal budget approved by Republican lawmakers in July 2025 delayed its implementation by a decade.

Nursing home and hospital groups supported the repeal of the rule, while nursing home consumer advocate groups noted that residents would struggle in homes without adequate staffing.

Contact: Joe O’Leary | joe.oleary@cga.ct.gov

Senator Hochadel Statement on the Passing of Former Meriden Mayor Michael Rohde

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Newsletter HeaderSenator Hochadel Statement on the Passing of Former Meriden Mayor Michael Rohde

Senator Jan Hochadel, D-Meriden, issued the following statement today on the passing of former Meriden Mayor Michael Rohde.

“Meriden is a stronger community because of Michael Rohde’s three decades of service as mayor and city councilor,” Senator Hochadel said. “He had a reputation for confronting difficult, longstanding problems that often seemed too daunting to address, and I’m grateful for the time and energy he devoted to our community. My deepest sympathies are with his family, and I hope they find comfort knowing his positive impact on our city will endure for generations.”

Contact: Hugh McQuaid | Hugh.McQuaid@cga.ct.gov

Sen. Cohen Responds to Attack on East Haven Police Officer

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Sen. Cohen Responds to Attack on East Haven Police Officer

For Immediate Release
Contact: Garnet McLaughlin – Garnet.McLaughlin@cga.ct.gov – 860-304-2319
 

EAST HAVEN – Today, State Senator Christine Cohen issued a statement in response to the attack on an East Haven Police Officer over the weekend.

“In the strongest possible terms, I condemn the attack on an East Haven police officer over the weekend. As Senate Chair of the Transportation Committee, I have worked closely with law enforcement to ensure they can properly address dangerous and frightening street takeovers. To see these acts committed against a responding officer is unacceptable and I want to see these individuals prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

My thoughts are with this police officer and their family, as well as those across the district. Everytime they put on their uniform, our men and women in blue risk their lives to keep us safe. That sacrifice, and that of their families, deserves our utmost respect.”

Senator Cohen represents parts of East Haven, as well as Branford, Durham, Guilford, Killingworth, Madison and parts of North Branford, Durham, Middlefield and Rockfall.

Senators Looney and Duff Mourn the Passing of State Representative Kevin Ryan

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HARTFORD – Today, Senate President Martin Looney (D-New Haven) and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) released the following statements on the passing of State Representative Kevin Ryan.

“Kevin Ryan was a devoted public servant whose steady presence and deep commitment to the people of Connecticut earned him wide respect in the General Assembly,” said Senator Looney. “During my years working with him, I always admired his compassion, humor, and unwavering focus on improving the lives of families in our state. His passing is a profound loss for Connecticut, and we hold his family in our thoughts during this time of loss and grief.”

“Representative Kevin Ryan was the kind of colleague you could always count on,” said Senator Duff. “He was thoughtful, principled, and quick with a joke. I saw firsthand his deep knowledge of the issues and his genuine care for his constituents in eastern Connecticut. Our state has lost a dedicated leader, and I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family and all who knew him.”

Looney and Duff Mourn the Passing of State Representative Kevin Ryan

Posted on by sdozapier@senatedems.ct.gov

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Senators Looney and Duff Mourn the Passing of State Representative Kevin Ryan

HARTFORD – Today, Senate President Martin Looney (D-New Haven) and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) released the following statements on the passing of State Representative Kevin Ryan.

“Kevin Ryan was a devoted public servant whose steady presence and deep commitment to the people of Connecticut earned him wide respect in the General Assembly,” said Senator Looney. “During my years working with him, I always admired his compassion, humor, and unwavering focus on improving the lives of families in our state. His passing is a profound loss for Connecticut, and we hold his family in our thoughts during this time of loss and grief.”

“Representative Kevin Ryan was the kind of colleague you could always count on,” said Senator Duff. “He was thoughtful, principled, and quick with a joke. I saw firsthand his deep knowledge of the issues and his genuine care for his constituents in eastern Connecticut. Our state has lost a dedicated leader, and I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family and all who knew him.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kevin Coughlin | kevin.coughlin@cga.ct.gov | 203-710-0193

Looney, Duff, and Anwar: CDC Must Not Amplify Dangerous Vaccine Myths

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Senators Looney, Duff, and Anwar: CDC Must Not Amplify Dangerous Vaccine Myths

HARTFORD – In response to recently posted false claims on the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggesting a link between childhood vaccines and autism, Connecticut Senate Democratic leaders issued the following statements reaffirming the scientific consensus and the need for trustworthy public health communication.

“It is deeply troubling that the CDC is now defending thoroughly debunked misinformation about vaccines and autism,” said Senate President Martin Looney (D–New Haven) and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D–Norwalk). “Connecticut families deserve clear, science-based public health guidance. Promoting long-disproven health care myths will result in needless illness and deaths in our country. This chaos and confusion are what happen when President Trump appoints discredited kooks and conspiracy theorists to critical government roles. We call on Connecticut Republicans to join us and our state’s public health experts in reaffirming the overwhelming medical consensus: vaccines are safe, effective, and critical to protecting our communities.”

“As a physician and public health advocate, I want to be unequivocal: there is no credible scientific evidence linking vaccines to autism,” said State Senator Saud Anwar, Senate Chair of the Public Health Committee. “Decades of rigorous, peer-reviewed research confirm their safety, and any suggestion otherwise risks undermining public confidence and putting children in harm’s way. Vaccines save lives, and they remain one of the most effective tools we have to prevent serious disease.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Kevin Coughlin | kevin.coughlin@cga.ct.gov | 203-710-0193