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

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

Senators Looney & Duff Condemn Trump’s Violent, Dangerous, & Un-American Rhetoric

HARTFORD – Senate President Martin Looney (D-New Haven) and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) issued the following statement today in response to President Trump’s latest remarks, where he characterized the actions of Democratic members of Congress as “seditious behavior” and suggested they should face punishment “by death” for urging service members to refuse unlawful orders:

“President Donald Trump’s comments are dangerous, violent, and unhinged. At a time when our nation desperately needs stability and unity, he continues to glorify violence and unfathomably threaten the lives of elected representatives. Connecticut and our country will not be intimidated by his threats. We will continue focusing on affordability, strengthening our democracy, and defending the fundamental freedoms that Trump so casually undermines. We hope Connecticut Republicans will defend everything that America represents and denounce these dangerous statements.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Sen. Duff Applauds State Grant for Streetscape Improvements at Norwalk’s East Wall Street

NORWALK – Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) today celebrated the inclusion of Norwalk’s East Wall Street Streetscape Improvements project in the newest round of statewide transportation infrastructure grants announced by Governor Ned Lamont. The $800,000 state grant for Norwalk was a part of nearly $12 million in grants to 17 towns and cities across Connecticut.

The project, part of the ongoing revitalization of the Wall Street neighborhood, will receive critical funding through the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s Community Connectivity Grant Program, helping Norwalk advance Phase II of its long-planned improvements that strengthen safety, mobility, and economic vitality in the historic downtown.

Senator Duff submitted a formal letter of support urging DOT to select the project for funding, emphasizing its importance as a long-awaited connection between the Wall Street neighborhood, East Avenue, and the Norwalk Town Green.

“I want to thank DOT Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto, Deputy Commissioner Laoise King, and Norwalk Director of Transportation, Mobility and Parking Jim Travers for championing this project and helping move it across the finish line,” said Senator Duff. “Their partnership made this possible. This grant is another major step in our commitment to totally transform the Wall Street area. Over the last several years, we’ve secured tens of millions of dollars in state investment for this neighborhood — from Belden Avenue and Wall Street to Burnell Boulevard, Freese Park improvements, the District Music Hall renovation, Wall Street Place housing, and now this crucial East Wall Street streetscape project. Together, we are delivering the safe, vibrant, walkable downtown that Norwalk families and businesses deserve.”

East Wall Street serves as a critical east–west crossing north of I-95, linking neighborhoods across the Norwalk River and providing key access to downtown businesses, homes, parks, and transit. The upgrades will complete the connection between the Wall Street district and East Avenue, advancing a vision for a more walkable, accessible, and economically thriving downtown.

Planning for the corridor dates back to the 1986 Wall Street Business District Management Plan. The City broke ground on Phase I in 2024, supported by an earlier state appropriation secured by Senator Duff.