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State News

Everybody Learns Initiative

Jul 29, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

HARTFORD, CT – Governor Ned Lamont announced today that his administration is launching the Everybody Learns initiative: a $43.5 million investment in remote learning solutions to close the digital divide in Connecticut and empower students across the state to learn from home, especially as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues impacting the country. The governor said that the funding – which comes from the state’s portion of the federal CARES Act, the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund, and the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund – will be used to purchase 50,000 laptops for students, 12 months of access to at-home internet for 60,000 students, create public hotspots free to the public at 200 community sites across the state, and offer…

State News

Bill Would Prevent Drastic Measures to Recoup Medical Debt

Jul 29, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) introduced the COVID-19 Medical Debt Collection Relief Act, legislation to prevent health care providers from taking drastic steps to collect medical debts from patients – including seizing bank accounts and garnishing wages. Nearly one in four working-age American adults report having problems paying their medical bills. As our nation battles the COVID-19 pandemic, the financial and health consequences of medical debt are even more troubling. Reporting across the country has shown that some hospitals continue to seize bank accounts and garnish wages in order to collect medical debts, preventing Americans from using these funds to meet basic needs, like buying food or paying rent. The COVID-19 pandemic has also underscored longstanding racial inequities in our health care system. Data shows…

State News

Red Cross Needs Volunteers

Jul 28, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

Experts say we are in for a busy hurricane season this summer and the American Red Cross needs volunteers to help in our community. “The coronavirus pandemic will make it challenging to deploy trained disaster volunteers from other parts of the country should an emergency occur. In light of this, the Red Cross is asking you to be ready to help your community,” said Mario Bruno, CEO, American Red Cross in Connecticut and Rhode Island. “Train now to be a Red Cross volunteer and answer the call to help if the need arises here in our region.” Full information on volunteer opportunities is available here. SHELTER HELP NEEDED There is a special need for volunteers to support sheltering efforts. Because of…

State News

Capping the Cost of Insulin

Jul 27, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

Since the 1990s, the price of insulin has increased by over 1,000 percent, rising from $20 per vial to $248 per vial. For the six million Americans who rely on insulin, the price increases often have life or death consequences. One recent study found that 1 in 4 American patients ration their insulin due to cost, and this has resulted in tragic, avoidable and inexcusable deaths. HB 6003, "An Act Concerning Diabetes and High Deductible Health Plans," would cap a person's out-of-pocket cost of insulin at $25 per month, cap noninsulin drugs like glucagon at $25 per month, and cap diabetic equipment and supplies (such as blood glucose test strips, glucometers, lancets, and syringes) at $100 per month. This press release…

State News

Access to Absentee Ballots

Jul 27, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

Currently, Connecticut law only allows citizens to obtain an absentee ballot under very specific circumstances, such as a voter being on active duty or having an illness or disability that prevents them from voting in person. Since public health officials have warned that COVID-19 is likely to spread through crowded, indoor public gatherings, many voters who would not normally qualify for an absentee ballot are concerned about voting in person on Election Day. HB 6002, "An Act Concerning Absentee Voting and Reporting of Results at the 2020 State Election and Election Day Registration," would amend Connecticut law only for the 2020 Election to allow for absentee voting due to "the sickness of COVID-19," ensuring that no one is forced to…

State News

Great American Outdoors Act Passes

Jul 24, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

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…

State News

CT Travel Advisory

Jul 23, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

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…

State News

AG TONG CALLS ON TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO ABANDON RULES RESTRICTING STUDENT ACCESS TO CARES ACT FUNDS

Jul 23, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

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…

State News

National Defense Authorization Act Passes

Jul 22, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

#Washington, DC – Today, The House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by a vote of 295-125. The bill funds defense and related programs and is one of the largest pieces of legislation that Congress passes each year. “When we authorize funds for our national defense, we must ensure we’re prioritizing the right things,” said Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04). “This means maintaining our fighting capability, investing in technologies that are going to keep us a step ahead of our geopolitical rivals, taking care of our troops, and supporting American industry. This bill achieves those goals and more.” The NDAA contains significant funds for Connecticut-based companies that employ thousands of workers. This includes: $6.8 billion for the Virginia…

State News

Amtrak Funding

Jul 21, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Tom Udall (D-NM) and U.S. Representative Danny Davis (D-IL) introduced the Intercity Passenger Rail Trust Fund Act to permanently fund Amtrak. The bicameral legislation would create a dedicated fund to help Amtrak invest in major improvement projects, increase passenger rail’s efficiency, and help provide safer, more reliable service. Intercity passenger rail currently relies on the often unpredictable and limited annual appropriations process for funding, making it difficult to plan long-term, comprehensive investments needed to improve the system. “This measure envisions a milestone, major commitment to rail transit in real money, for now and future generations,” said Blumenthal. “We must make a long-term, steady commitment to our nation’s intercity passenger rail system to…

Everybody Learns Initiative

Bill Would Prevent Drastic Measures to Recoup Medical Debt

Red Cross Needs Volunteers

Capping the Cost of Insulin

Access to Absentee Ballots

Great American Outdoors Act Passes

CT Travel Advisory

AG TONG CALLS ON TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO ABANDON RULES RESTRICTING STUDENT ACCESS TO CARES ACT FUNDS

National Defense Authorization Act Passes

Amtrak Funding

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