State News Archives - Page 59 of 114

State News

Wear Your Mask Act In ALL Federal Buildings

Sep 18, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

#WASHINGTON, DC] – Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tom Carper (D-DE), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) introduced the Wear Your Mask Act today, requiring that all people in federal buildings and facilities across the country – including post offices, Social Security offices, and the U.S. Capitol – wear a face mask any time they are within six feet of another person. “Mask wearing should be considered a moral and health mandate— our single best method to combat the coronavirus,” said Blumenthal. “Backed by both common sense and science, our measure would impose this public health imperative in all federal buildings. Even with a vaccine, mask wearing will be a vital tool in conquering…

State News

SENATORS DEMAND BIG PHARMA ALLOW LOW-INCOME PATIENTS TO ACCESS LIFESAVING, DISCOUNTED 340B DRUGS AND CARE

Sep 17, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) led a group of 22 senators, including U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), in demanding that pharmaceutical manufacturers stop withholding medications discounted under the 340B Drug Pricing Program from qualified providers that use contract pharmacies – locking out low-income patients from accessing lifesaving drugs and care. In a letter to the drug industry trade group Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), the senators pointed to multiple retaliatory, burdensome, and likely unlawful efforts by its member drug companies to prevent 340B-covered providers from receiving discounted drugs, including denials to providers using contract pharmacies and excessive claims data requests. “By improperly limiting access to 340B drugs, manufacturers will sever a lifeline to treatment for…

State News

At Home Learning Tools Arriving Ahead Of Schedule

Sep 16, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

#HARTFORD, CT– Governor Ned Lamont announced today that nearly 25 percent of the 81,000 devices purchased through his administration’s Everybody Learns initiative is scheduled to arrive earlier than anticipated, with some districts seeing deliveries this week. Taken together with the 60,000 Dell laptops provided by the Partnership for Connecticut, the State of Connecticut has now provided more than 141,000 devices targeted primarily to high-need districts and their students. The state has also made substantial progress on its delivery of 60,000 at-home internet connections in the way of personal hotspots and broadband service. All of the 12,744 personal hotspots that were ordered have been delivered, and fulfillment of broadband service is underway for approximately 40,000 students. “From the beginning…

State News

Insurance Commissioner Issues Decisions For 2021 Health Insurance Rates

Sep 14, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

Insurance Commissioner Andrew N. Mais announced the Department has made final decisions on health insurance rate filings for the 2021 coverage year. Rates for individual plans were held essentially flat, with an average increase of 0.01%, down from the average requested increase of 6.29%. The average increase approved for small group plans is 4.1%, down from the requested average increase of more than 11.28%. As a result of these decisions, approximately 214,600 Connecticut consumers are projected to save $96 million. “Working on behalf of consumers, the Department was able to reduce the health insurance rate increase requests thanks to the hard work of our actuaries and professional staff,” Commissioner Mais said. “I will continue to work collaboratively with all stakeholders…

State News

AG Urges Protection For Ratepayers

Sep 9, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong submitted testimony today to the Energy and Technology Committee of the Connecticut State Legislature, urging strong action to protect ratepayers. In written testimony, Attorney General Tong offers support and key suggestions to strengthen ratepayer protections in the bill. “I commend your leadership during this critical moment for Connecticut ratepayers. This summer, while enduring the current public health and economic crises, Connecticut consumers coalesced in their anger at their Eversource electric bills skyrocketing in July. Then, consumers of both Eversource and United Illuminating were left in the dark for up to one week during the hot days of August after Tropical Storm Isaias thrashed our State. Connecticut ratepayers have a right to be angry…

State News

Senator Calls For Break Up Of Utility

Sep 9, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

HARTFORD, CT) – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) today is submitting testimony in support of LCO 3920, An Act Concerning Emergency Response by Electric Distribution Companies and Revising the Regulation of Other Public Utilities, which is up for a public hearing before the Energy and Technology Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly today at 10:30 A.M. “The legislature has a huge, historic opportunity, which it should meet with bold, historic action. Like you, I have heard unprecedented outrage and frustration as I’ve traveled our state— a galvanizing grassroots demand for reform, now cresting. A public utility like Eversource should be truly public— putting people before profits, downsized and managed to be really responsive, and even owned by the people of Connecticut.…

State News

PUSH FOR VA TO COVER K2 VETERANS’ TOXIC EXPOSURE CARE

Sep 4, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

#WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced legislation today, mandating the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provide health care and benefits to all veterans who served at Karshi-Khanabad Air Base (K2) in Uzbekistan and have illnesses associated with the toxic substances found at the site. “This bill will bring life-saving relief to hundreds – and potentially thousands – of veterans who were exposed to extremely harmful toxins in the black goo and glowing ponds reported at K2,” said Blumenthal. “When we send people to war, we make a commitment and accept an obligation to treat them no matter the costs. We know that K2 veterans are suffering from cancers and other illnesses at a great rate, so…

State News

EXTENSION FOR SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAM URGED

Sep 3, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and 26 of their Senate colleagues joined a letter led by U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to fully extend school meal waivers through the end of the 2020-2021 school year so that schools have the flexibility to fully serve students whether or not they are attending school in person. The senators initially made this request in July, and the USDA recently announced that it will agree to extend some of the school meal waivers. The USDA extended until the end of the 2020-21 school year waivers that allow parents and guardians to pick up school meals – rather than students themselves – and remove the requirement that school meals…

State News

GOVERNOR LAMONT APPOINTS ANGEL QUIROS TO SERVE AS COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION

Sep 2, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

HARTFORD, CT – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he is appointing Angel Quiros to serve as commissioner of the Department of Correction (DOC). A veteran of the DOC, Quiros has worked at the agency since 1989, first joining as a correctional officer and then working his way up the ranks as lieutenant, captain, major, deputy warden, warden, district administrator, and his current position as deputy commissioner of operations and rehabilitative services, which he has held since January 2019. He has also been serving in the capacity of interim commissioner since July, following the departure of the agency’s most recent commissioner, Rollin Cook, from the position. In addition to his work within the state’s criminal justice system, Quiros brings a…

State News

$400,000 in Coronavirus Relief Funding

Sep 2, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

Representatives Jim Himes (CT-04), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) and Jahana Hayes (CT-05) announced that the Shelton Economic Development Corporation received $400,000 in CARES Act federal coronavirus relief funding from the U.S. Economic Development Administration for the Naugatuck Valley Economic Development District. This grant will be used to implement the necessary economic development strategies required to address the ongoing effects of the coronavirus pandemic in the Naugatuck Valley Economic Development District. “Bringing federal dollars to Southwest Connecticut is good for our economy, workforce, and community,” said Congressman Jim Himes. “The COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating for many Southwest Connecticut communities. Federal grants like this will help combat the economic havoc and encourage growth and recovery. I look forward to working with the…

Wear Your Mask Act In ALL Federal Buildings

SENATORS DEMAND BIG PHARMA ALLOW LOW-INCOME PATIENTS TO ACCESS LIFESAVING, DISCOUNTED 340B DRUGS AND CARE

At Home Learning Tools Arriving Ahead Of Schedule

Insurance Commissioner Issues Decisions For 2021 Health Insurance Rates

AG Urges Protection For Ratepayers

Senator Calls For Break Up Of Utility

PUSH FOR VA TO COVER K2 VETERANS’ TOXIC EXPOSURE CARE

EXTENSION FOR SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAM URGED

GOVERNOR LAMONT APPOINTS ANGEL QUIROS TO SERVE AS COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION

$400,000 in Coronavirus Relief Funding

You missed

Rollover Crash in Bridgeport

Highway Crash Involving an 18 wheeler

Car and Moped Collide

Major Crash

DoingItLocal