Author: Alex

 Today, Blumenthal stood with CT Council of Problem Gambling to highlight the surge in sports betting ahead of Super Bowl

[HARTFORD, CT] – Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and U.S. Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) introduced the Gambling addiction Recovery, Investment, and Treatment (GRIT) Act, bicameral legislation that would dedicate federal funds to studying, preventing, and treating gambling addiction in America. Blumenthal and Salinas first introduced the GRIT Act in the 118th Congress.

“The growing legalization of sports betting coupled with the ability to place bets from your phone whenever you want have created the perfect storm for gambling addiction—resulting in a severe public health crisis. The GRIT Act will allocate dedicated federal funding to tackle problem gambling head-on, allowing individuals suffering from gambling addiction to access support, resources, and treatment. With this legislation, we work to stop addiction and save lives,” said Blumenthal.

“Gambling can be a fun and harmless form of entertainment when enjoyed in moderation. Unfortunately, the rapid rise in online gambling has made it easier than ever to place bets – leading to a drastic increase in the number of Americans who are struggling with a gambling addiction,” said Salinas. “The GRIT Act would invest in new research to help prevent problem gambling and connect more people with treatment – all using existing funds so that taxpayers won’t pay a single dime more. This is a commonsense, fiscally responsible piece of legislation and I urge my colleagues in both parties to support it.”

Approximately 9 million Americans struggle with problem gambling, resulting in an annual social cost of around $14 billion. However, many state health agencies and nonprofits that study and treat gambling addiction are severely underfunded. The GRIT Act would remedy this by designating existing federal funds toward gambling research and treatment.

Specifically, the GRIT Act would:

• Set aside 50% of the federal sports excise tax revenue for gambling addiction treatment and research, 75% of which will be distributed to the states for gambling addiction prevention and treatment through the existing Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant program. The remaining 25% will go to the National Institute of Drug Abuse to fund grants for research into gambling addiction.
• Authorize spending for 10 years and require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to submit a report to Congress on the effectiveness of the program within three years of passage.
• Provide vital support to state health agencies and nonprofits left on their own to address gambling problems.
• Allow investment in best practices and comprehensive research, which is only possible at the national level.

Importantly, the GRIT Act would not raise taxes or create more bureaucracy. The legislation would draw from existing federal excise tax revenue and operate within existing HHS programs and procedures.

The GRIT Act is endorsed by the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), the Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling (CCPG), and Oregon Council on Problem Gambling (OCPG).

“Federal funding for gambling addiction research, prevention, and treatment is long overdue, and the GRIT Act is a critical step in addressing this urgent need,” said Susan Sheridan Tucker, President of the Board, National Council on Problem Gambling. “This legislation provides essential support for those impacted by gambling addiction. We applaud Senator Blumenthal and Representative Salinas for their leadership on this important issue.”

“Connecticut is fortunate to have a robust problem gambling safety net with our 24/7 Helpline and access to certified clinicians for treatment for gambling related problems. We are so thankful for Senator Blumenthal’s efforts to make these resources available nationally to help millions of families,” said Diana Goode, Executive Director, Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling.

(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong released the following statement regarding the directive issued by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to “pause the distribution of all funds” to jurisdictions who do not let the federal government unlawfully commandeer local law enforcement resources for federal immigration enforcement.

“This is yet another attempt by the Trump administration to defund police and distract local law enforcement from serious public safety threats, including gun violence, reckless driving, domestic violence and the opioid epidemic. We are in federal court in Rhode Island and have already obtained a temporary restraining order blocking the Trump administration’s lawless funding freezes. We are reviewing this directive and watching for any impact to our states. We will not hesitate to act should the Trump administration move to defund our states in violation of the court order,” said Attorney General Tong.

The directive revives a failed federal policy attempted during the first Trump Administration that resulted in $6.4 million in funding being illegally withheld from local police in Connecticut through Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants.

Connecticut joined six other states led by New York in suing the U.S. Department of Justice in 2018 arguing that the Trump Administration’s immigration-related conditions on Byrne-JAG grants interfered with the rights of states and localities to set their own law enforcement policies. After appellate proceedings going up to the U.S. Supreme Court, the Biden DOJ agreed to remove the challenged conditions, allowing Connecticut and the other plaintiffs in the suit to access their withheld grant funds.

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that the state budget proposal he will present to the Connecticut General Assembly later this week will include an increase in funding for towns and cities to provide special education services for students with disabilities, as well as the creation of a new program that incentivizes municipalities to provide special education programming to students in-district or on a regional basis.

“Over the last several years, special education services have been one of the largest cost drivers for school districts due to the increase in the number of students eligible for special education services and the rapid increase in the cost of those services, particularly for students outplaced in approved special education programs,” Governor Lamont said. “I know that special ed is a major expense when developing town and city budgets and can be unpredictable from year to year. This increased investment supports our municipalities and supports students with special needs.”

For fiscal year 2027, the governor is recommending to the legislature that the Excess Cost Grant, which subsidizes high-cost placements for students with the greatest needs, be increased by an additional $40 million.

Additionally, the governor is asking the legislature to establish the High-Quality Special Education Incentive Grant program. Administered by the Connecticut State Department of Education, this competitive grant program will increase the capacity of school districts to provide high-quality special education programming in-district and regionally, reducing reliance on out-of-district placements and meeting students’ needs as identified by their Individual Education Program in the least restrictive environment. For fiscal year 2027, the governor is proposing to allocate $10 million from the General Fund and $4 million in bond funds to support it.

The State Department of Education is also currently undergoing a study to analyze other states’ annual special education rate-setting for providers of special education services, including placements in out-of-district programs, which could result in additional recommendations by the department. Initiated by Education Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker, this initiative aims to address the financial unpredictability associated with these specialized services and help districts better manage their budgets.

“By incentivizing districts to provide high-quality special education services right within their communities through new and innovative partnerships, by devoting additional funding to the Excess Cost Grant, and by addressing special education tuition costs, this proposal will directly tackle the rising costs of special education services,” Commissioner Russell-Tucker said. “It will assist our schools in building stronger educational opportunities for the 91,847 students who are receiving special education services across Connecticut.”

Governor Lamont is scheduled to deliver his annual budget address to a joint session of the General Assembly on Wednesday, February 5, 2025. Documents containing the full details of his biennial budget proposal and other legislative proposals will be filed on that date.