Month: July 2020

Washington, DC – Yesterday, The House of Representatives passed the Great American Outdoors Act by a vote of 310-107.  This act fully funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and establishes the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund.

“Southwest Connecticut is a place of great natural beauty,” said Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04).  “Our identity and economy are tied to the land, especially the Sound, and we have an obligation to conserve and improve the spaces around us.”

The $900 million dollars dedicated to the LWCF support the $887 billion outdoor recreation industry, one of the fastest-growing sectors of the economy, and protects natural areas from development, an important element of climate stewardship.  In the past, the LWCF has provided funds to help Connecticut acquire or expand treasures like Sherwood Island, Weir Farm, Carwin Park, Oyster Shell Park, the Stamford Nature Center, Johnson Oak Park, Jennings Beach, and many other outdoor recreation spaces. In addition to the LWCF funding, the Great American Outdoors Act will provide funding for the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Bureau of Indian Education to begin to address a significant maintenance backlog and preserve the parks for future generations.

“This renewed, dedicated funding from LWCF will lead to opportunities for us to acquire and protect more public land for Connecticut families to enjoy,” Himes continued.  “I’ll work with the state to bring these federal dollars home.  We’re also optimistic that we’ll be able to secure maintenance funds for National Park-related areas in Connecticut like Weir Farm.”

 

This press release was made possible by:

 

Domestic Travel

As you may have heard, there are new requirements and enforcement actions for the mandatory self-quarantine for domestic travel from states with high COVID-19 infection levels.

“Affected State”

• The benchmark for identifying these states is a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents or a state with a 10% or higher positivity rate over a 7-day rolling average to self-quarantine for a 14-day period from the time of last contact within the identified state.

• The current list of states that meet the above criteria is at 31. The list will be updated on a weekly basis.

• The list and a map of the states as well as additional relevant information such as the Executive Order, Travel Form, and Frequently Asked Questions about Connecticut’s Travel Policies can be accessed here: https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/Covid-19-Knowledge-Base/Travel-In-or-Out-of-CT?fbclid=IwAR1l_6pXVzDUeW–NJRCVHyRypYd1SJOUtJpNgpJIWscZbrpzc3_CYFP_iA

“Affected Traveler”

• An affected traveler is defined as a person who has spent 24-hours or longer in an Affected State within 14 days prior to arriving in CT.

• There are exemption for workers traveling from Affected States to CT, however if such worker was in an Affected State for a reason other than Connecticut-related work (e.g., vacation), such worker shall self-quarantine and complete the Travel Health Form.

 

Travel Health Form

• Anyone entering from one of the identified states must fill out a travel health form upon arrival. Travelers can fill out the form online at ct.gov/travelform.

 

• Affected travelers prior to arrival in CT shall complete a Travel Health Form which requires the person to disclose their name, the last Affected State in which such Affected Traveler has spent 24 hours or longer, last date of stay in such Affected State, date of arrival in Connecticut, address of designated self-quarantine location in Connecticut, length of stay, address in home state, cell phone number, contact phone number while in Connecticut, method of travel into Connecticut and information regarding accompanying minors.

 

Testing Alternative

• Only applicable if the Affected Traveler is unable to self-quarantine.

 

• Affected Traveler has to have a negative test result for COVID-19 in the 72 hours prior to arriving in Connecticut and provides written proof to the Commissioner or her designee of such a result.
  • If a test was obtained in the 72 hours prior to travel but the result is still pending at the time of arrival in CT, such Affected Traveler shall remain in self-quarantine in CT until the test result is received and the written results are submitted to the Commissioner or her designee.

 

Enforcement

• Any Affected Traveler willfully refusing or failing to self-quarantine or complete a Travel Health Form truthfully and accurately shall be subject to a fine up to $1,000 for each violation (up to $2,000 per person) imposed by the CT Department of Public Health.

 

 

 

International Travel

While there currently are no state restrictions on international travel, the federal government continues to provide international travel recommendations for anyone living inside of the United States. For guidance on international travel, visit the “COVID-19 Travel Recommendations” section of the CDC’s website.

Domestic Travel

As you may have heard, there are new requirements and enforcement actions for the mandatory self-quarantine for domestic travel from states with high COVID-19 infection levels.

“Affected State”

• The benchmark for identifying these states is a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents or a state with a 10% or higher positivity rate over a 7-day rolling average to self-quarantine for a 14-day period from the time of last contact within the identified state.

• The current list of states that meet the above criteria is at 31. The list will be updated on a weekly basis.

• The list and a map of the states, as well as additional relevant information such as the Executive Order, Travel Form, and Frequently Asked Questions about Connecticut’s Travel Policies, can be accessed here: https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/Covid-19-Knowledge-Base/Travel-In-or-Out-of-CT?fbclid=IwAR1l_6pXVzDUeW–NJRCVHyRypYd1SJOUtJpNgpJIWscZbrpzc3_CYFP_iA

“Affected Traveler”

• An affected traveler is defined as a person who has spent 24-hours or longer in an Affected State within 14 days prior to arriving in CT.

• There are exemption for workers traveling from Affected States to CT, however if such worker was in an Affected State for a reason other than Connecticut-related work (e.g., vacation), such worker shall self-quarantine and complete the Travel Health Form.

 

Travel Health Form

• Anyone entering from one of the identified states must fill out a travel health form upon arrival. Travelers can fill out the form online at ct.gov/travelform.

 

• Affected travelers prior to arrival in CT shall complete a Travel Health Form which requires the person to disclose their name, the last Affected State in which such Affected Traveler has spent 24 hours or longer, the last date of stay in such Affected State, date of arrival in Connecticut, address of the designated self-quarantine location in Connecticut, length of stay, address in home state, cell phone number, contact phone number while in Connecticut, method of travel into Connecticut and information regarding accompanying minors.

 

Testing Alternative

• Only applicable if the Affected Traveler is unable to self-quarantine.

 

• Affected Traveler has to have a negative test result for COVID-19 in the 72 hours prior to arriving in Connecticut and provides written proof to the Commissioner or her designee of such a result.
  • If a test was obtained in the 72 hours prior to travel but the result is still pending at the time of arrival in CT, such Affected Traveler shall remain in self-quarantine in CT until the test result is received and the written results are submitted to the Commissioner or her designee.

 

Enforcement

• Any Affected Traveler willfully refusing or failing to self-quarantine or complete a Travel Health Form truthfully and accurately shall be subject to a fine up to $1,000 for each violation (up to $2,000 per person) imposed by the CT Department of Public Health.

 

 

 

International Travel

While there currently are no state restrictions on international travel, the federal government continues to provide international travel recommendations for anyone living inside of the United States. For guidance on international travel, visit the “COVID-19 Travel Recommendations” section of the CDC’s website.

 

This press release was made possible by:

 

Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong today joined a coalition of 18 attorneys general from around the nation in urging the U.S Department of Education (DoE) to abandon a proposed rule that severely restricts the use of federal funds earmarked for students suffering from the devastating economic impact of COVID-19.

The CARES Act, passed in March to help boost the economy in response to COVID-19, appropriated more than $30 billion to DoE to assist students and schools facing unprecedented financial, logistical, and educational challenges. Congress placed no eligibility restrictions on the billions of dollars aimed at aid for students, but last month the DoE proposed a new rule that prohibits millions of students – including Dreamers and international students – from receiving the funds.

“This is another cruel and capricious attack on immigrants and international students,” Attorney General Tong said. “When COVID-19 closed schools and businesses, countless students lost their sources of income regardless of their immigration status. These students were unable to pay rent, afford groceries, and other basic needs and we must support them through these unprecedented hardships. The Department of Education should withdraw its punitive and misguided rule and allow our schools to support all of our students.”

In a comment letter to Secretary Betsy DeVos and the DoE, the coalition of attorneys general urge the department to immediately release the funds as the CARES Act intended. The coalition, led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, argues that Congress did not impose any of the proposed rule’s eligibility restrictions on these grants for students.

Across the country, institutions of higher education expect billions of dollars in losses due to COVID-19 and the potential loss of international students who may return home if they cannot afford to stay, will create even more financial hardship for these institutions. In Connecticut, the University of Connecticut anticipates a $130 million loss over the next school year. Canceled procedures and other COVID-related disruptions at UConn Health have also led to a $188 million loss in revenue, with no rebound expected before 2021. In addition to these losses, UConn has also already spent $1.5 million on telehealth equipment and software, special cleaning agents, sanitizers, masks, and scrubs.

 

This press release was made possible by: