HARTFORD, CT – Today at the Legislative Office Building, state Senator Christine Cohen (D-Guilford) led the first meeting of the bipartisan Coastal Caucus. Sen. Cohen is the creator and co-chair of the caucus and said it was formed to address the unique needs of Connecticut’s waterways.
“The creation of the Coastal Caucus was born of the idea that in order to effectively drive sustainable, resiliency solutions, we all need to learn from one another and collaborate,” said Sen. Cohen, who is also co-chair of the legislature’s Environment Committee. “We are coming together from both sides of the aisle, representing municipalities across Connecticut, to recognize that we can take meaningful action on matters impacting our communities. From our commercial and recreational activities, to waste and contamination, to the impacts of sea-level rise, there is no denying the significance of waterways in our state. I look forward to advancing meaningful legislation during a productive session!”
The 40-member Coastal Caucus listened to testimony on sustainability for vulnerable communities throughout the state from the Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation (CIRCA). Coastal Caucus co-chair, state Representative Cristin McCarthy Vahey (D-Fairfield), said the Coastal Caucus is ready to get to work.
“Today’s presentation from the Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation reflects the importance of local, state and federal policies that deal with the realities of climate change,” said Rep. McCarthy Vahey. “I think the members of the bipartisan Coastal Caucus are committed to working toward comprehensive solutions where all levels of government work together.”
The Coastal Caucus was formed to tackle the state’s various needs regarding our proximity to the Long Island Sound and other waterways. The Coastal Caucus intends to delve into issues such as coastal resilience, offshore energy, waste contamination, supporting aquaculture, fisheries and marine wildlife and other pertinent issues related to the health and wellness of our state’s coastal environment.
Sen. Cohen began forming the caucus in September, sending invitations to Republican and Democratic lawmakers. The caucus plans to hold subsequent meetings with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and other environmental agencies. The next meeting will be held Tuesday, December 3, 2019 at 1 PM in the Legislative Office Building.