State News

FEMA Approved Declarations

May 5, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved another portion of his ongoing request for disaster assistance as part of the State of Connecticut’s Major Disaster Declaration due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Today’s approval includes funding for crisis counseling under the individual assistance category, which will help support mental health initiatives designed to benefit individuals affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Previously, FEMA approved Governor Lamont’s request for public assistance for Connecticut, allowing impacted state agencies, municipalities, and tribal nations in all eight of the state’s counties to be reimbursed by the federal government for 75 percent of the costs associated with their response and emergency protective measures. A supplemental request from the governor to increase…

State News

AG Files Suit On Clean Water Act

May 4, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

Hartford, CT) --Attorney General William Tong joined a coalition of 19 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s effort to gut longstanding Clean Water Act protections by unlawfully narrowing the definition of “Waters of the United States. The EPA final rule removes protections for all ephemeral streams, many wetlands, and other waters that were previously covered under the Act. In the lawsuit, the coalition argues that EPA’s rule directly conflicts with the text of the Clean Water Act, Supreme Court precedent, and the EPA’s own scientific findings. “The whole point of the Clean Water Act was to clean up our nation’s waterways, and that requires a full and comprehensive application of the law. This revised rule,…

State News

Senators Want To Help Fishing Industry

May 4, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

#WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) are asking the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Assistant Administrator to be transparent, expedient, and fair in determining how Fishery Disaster Assistance funding is allocated to fishermen and seafood processors across the country, and urged the agency to consider a minimum allocation for smaller coastal states. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has devastated fisheries, fisheries distributors, and fisheries processors, who are experiencing severe economic losses as domestic purchasing has plunged and exports have slowed. With limited capital, fishing communities – business owners, crews, and processing plant workers – are facing unforeseen financial hardships that put their livelihoods at risk. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES)…

State News

Senators Want More SNAP Benefits

May 1, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) led a group of twelve of their colleagues, including Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), in urging Senate leadership to support and strengthen SNAP—also known as food stamps—to help ensure that families across America can keep food on their tables despite the mounting economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic. “SNAP is the nation’s first line of defense against hunger and is proven to help lifts millions of American families and children out of poverty,” the senators wrote. “The latest estimate by the Census Bureau found that SNAP lifted 3.4 million people out of poverty in 2018 including 1.5 million children. Given the unprecedented disruption to the economy, income and employment with more than 17 million Americans filing unemployment…

State News

Unemployment and Stimulus

Apr 30, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that the Connecticut Department of Labor (CTDOL) has successfully programmed its computer system and begun issuing the first round of weekly federal stimulus payments to filers receiving state unemployment benefits, with the first batch of payments having been issued this past weekend. The additional $600 weekly payment, known as Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, was created as part of the emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is retroactive to March 29, 2020 and will be provided through July 25, 2020. For those who already received unemployment benefits for previous weeks – such as April 4, 11, and 18 – the agency will be providing retroactive payments as a lump sum by the…

Small Business Shout Out State News

Himes On CARES Act

Apr 29, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

In March, Congress passed the CARES Act into law, taking important steps to help small businesses, keep employees on the payroll, and provide direct support for Americans with immediate financial relief. However, programs created by the CARES Act, like the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Emergency Economic Injury Grants, quickly ran out of funding. That’s why I drove down to D.C. last week to vote on the 4th Coronavirus Emergency Response bill. I was proud to pass further economic stimulus relief, providing more funding to our small businesses and nonprofits as well as much-needed funding for hospitals. The bill takes a key step toward recovery, requiring a nationwide strategy for expanding testing procedures. This increased funding refills the coffers…

State News

Paycheck Protection Progra,

Apr 24, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Thursday released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed additional funding for small businesses, our health care system, and to increase testing and contact tracing capacity. This legislation funding specifically designated for community banks and small lenders to ensure that Paycheck Protection Program funds are actually reaching small businesses. The Senate passed the legislation by unanimous consent (UC) on Tuesday. “I’m glad to support this bipartisan agreement to get emergency funding out the door so that our small businesses in Connecticut can pay their employees and stay afloat. It’s especially important that we were able to set aside dedicated funding to community banks and small lenders, since far too many Paycheck Protection Program…

State News

IRS To Host Webinar On Payments and CARES Act

Apr 23, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

Congressman Jim Himes posted this press release: Recognizing how many Americans need immediate economic support to keep their heads above water while fighting the coronavirus pandemic, I voted to support sending millions of Americans Economic Impact Payments as part of the CARES Act. While many payments have been successfully distributed, I’ve heard about too many glitches and a lot of frustration from constituents on how they can make sure they get what they deserve. I wanted to make sure you saw that the IRS is holding a webinar to discuss how these payments are being processed tomorrow, Thursday April 23rd at 2:00 pm ET. You must register to participate in this event; Click here to register. Join the IRS Commissioner Chuck…

State News

AG Wants Communication Shutoffs Suspended

Apr 22, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

#Hartford, CT-- Attorney General William Tong today joined a bipartisan group of 25 attorneys general led by North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein and Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery urging the telecommunications industry to make further commitments to protect consumers who are struggling financially as a result of COVID-19 and in calling upon the FCC for support. "As much of our lives, from work to family dinners, move online, it is vital to our economy and well-being that we stay connected," Attorney General Tong said. "Connecticut and her sister states commend the FCC and these companies' for suspending of shutoffs for 60 days but we all know that the economic ramifications will last well beyond that. That's why I and 24 other…

State News

Commissioner Warns Insurers

Apr 22, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

Insurance Department Commissioner Andrew N. Mais warned all life insurers doing business in Connecticut to refrain from asking applicants about exposure to the novel coronavirus. “The state of emergency has already placed undue hardship on families and businesses during this pandemic. Families need the security that life insurance brings and any new barriers to coverage must be avoided,” said Commissioner Mais. “Some carriers may want to know if people applying for coverage have self-isolated due to symptoms, or been tested for the disease or diagnosed with it. That won’t be allowed in Connecticut.” In a Department Notice , the Connecticut Insurance Department issued guidance to all insurance companies offering Life Insurance coverage in Connecticut are advised that any life insurance application form filed for review…

FEMA Approved Declarations

AG Files Suit On Clean Water Act

Senators Want To Help Fishing Industry

Senators Want More SNAP Benefits

Unemployment and Stimulus

Himes On CARES Act

Paycheck Protection Progra,

IRS To Host Webinar On Payments and CARES Act

AG Wants Communication Shutoffs Suspended

Commissioner Warns Insurers

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