Mae Flexer

Flexer Re-appointed as Democratic Senate Chair of Aging and Veterans’ Affairs Committees; Also Newly Appointed as Environment Vice-Chair

State Senator Mae Flexer (D-Danielson) has been re-appointed as the Democratic Senate Chair of the Aging and Veterans’ Affairs committees for the 2017-18 legislative session, has been named Deputy President Pro Tempore, and will take on new responsibilities as Senate Vice-Chair of the Environment Committee and as the legislature’s federal relations liaison, which helps represent the legislature’s interests and views on matters of federal policy with its Congressional delegation.

Sen. Flexer will continue to serve as Senate Vice-Chair of the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee, and as a member of the Appropriations and Judiciary committees.

Sen. Flexer’s appointments were recently announced by State Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven).

“I am honored and excited to be able to continue my work making valuable and effective public policy for the 200,000 military veterans now living in Connecticut and the 565,000 people over age 65 who call Connecticut their home. My dad is both a Marine Corps veteran and he’s 70 years old—I think about people like him every time I debate and pass new legislation,” Sen. Flexer said. “I’m also proud to take on a leadership position on the Environment Committee, which does so much great work to ensure that Connecticut’s quality of life—and the quality of life for people in eastern Connecticut—remains one of the best qualities of life in the nation. I have a perfect 100 lifetime score as a senator from the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters, so I look forward to putting to good use my commitment and advocacy on the environmental policy-making body of the General Assembly.”

“I am also honored to be tasked with working with Connecticut’s Congressional delegation in Washington, D.C. on matters of state and national importance,” Sen. Flexer added. “I have been to the White House several times in the past two years to talk about issues such as childhood education, college affordability, paid family medical leave and other issues affecting middle-class working families.”

“Regardless of who is president, the focus in Washington, D.C. must remain on improving the lives of Connecticut residents and protecting the civil rights of all Americans,” Sen. Flexer said. “I intend on using my new responsibility to work with our Congressional delegation to fight the harmful decisions that I fear Congressional Republicans will make regarding health care, global climate change and a host of other issues that could affect Connecticut and the nation. The state legislature must remain a strong partner with our Democratic colleagues in Washington to stop any policy that will harm Connecticut residents.”

Sen. Flexer served in the state House from 2008 to 2014, and she was sworn in to the state Senate in January 2015.

Sen. Flexer has been one of Connecticut’s strongest proponents regarding family and domestic violence law, has fought for legislation providing economic aid to save Connecticut’s last remaining dairy farms, and led the state legislature in approving a new law ensuring that the driver’s licenses of military members never expire while they are on active duty.

Sen. Flexer has lived in Killingly for almost her entire life; she is an alumnus of Killingly High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Connecticut.