#Hartford, CT— U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) released the following statement regarding the first known vaping-related death in Connecticut:
The vaping epidemic has now hit home – tragically. This epidemic now exploding in force has turned deadly here. Everyday teens are starting lifetimes of addiction and disease, thinking vaping is harmless. As I have warned repeatedly over years, e-cigarettes deliver powerfully addictive nicotine, dangerous chemicals, and unknown poisons. The FDA must act before there are more deaths and more lives put in peril. It should ban flavors immediately, and take other necessary long overdue steps.
On Friday at 11 am, Blumenthal will conduct a roundtable conversation with students at A.I. Prince Technical High School in Hartford regarding the dangers of vaping.
WASHINGTON, D.C] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced two pieces of legislation – the Big Cat Public Safety Act and the Captive Primate Safety Act – to protect public safety and improve animal welfare. The Big Cat Public Safety Act prohibits the ownership of big cats, like lions and tigers, and makes it illegal for exhibitors to allow public contact with cubs. The Captive Primate Safety Act prohibits the sale or transportation of nonhuman primates for the exotic pet trade.
“These bills will help prevent the exploitation of big cats and primates—reducing risks to public safety by prohibiting the private ownership of animals that should really be allowed to live naturally in the wild. When wild animals—whether lions or chimpanzees—are kept captive by private individuals, both the public and animals are put at serious risk. Big cats are powerful predators, not pets, and pose a particular threat to public safety. Primates, like apes and chimps, are intelligent, social animals that suffer greatly when held in isolation or captivity,” said Blumenthal.
Both bills are endorsed by the Association of Zoos & Aquarium, the Animal Welfare Institute, the Humane Society, the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, and Born Free USA, in addition to numerous law enforcement and conservation organizations.
Big Cat Public Safety Act
Private ownership of big cats raises significant public safety, animal welfare, and conservation concerns. It is estimated that thousands of big cats – including lions, tigers, leopards, cheetahs, jaguars, and cougars – are privately owned and held captive in insecure and unsafe conditions. Cub-handling attractions and petting zoos cause irreparable harm to the cubs, which are often separated from their mothers at an extremely young age, and pose a danger to humans, who may be bitten or scratched. There have been more than 700 incidents in the United States involving big cats, including hundreds of human injuries, maulings and deaths.
The Big Cat Public Safety Act would prohibit the possession of big cats by unlicensed individuals. This bill also restricts direct contact between the public and big cats, including cubs.
The Big Cat Public Safety Act is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Kamala Harris (D-CA), and Cory Booker (D-NJ).
Captive Primate Safety Act
Nonhuman primates are highly intelligent and social animals. As a result, they suffer greatly when improperly held in captivity. The pet primate trade frequently separates young primates from their mothers at a very early age and owners keep them in small cages and relative isolation. As with big cats, even well-intentioned primate owners are not able to provide the specialized care that primates require. An estimate 300 people have been injured by primates held by private owners, including a well-known Connecticut resident, Charla Nash, who suffered extreme facial injuries after being attacked by her neighbor’s pet chimpanzee.
The Captive Primate Safety Act prohibits the private ownership of nonhuman primates and the sale and transportation of these animals for the exotic pet trade.
The Captive Primate Safety Act is co-sponsored by Chris Murphy (D-CT), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Kamala Harris (D-CA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ).
HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont is advising people in Connecticut to take proper precautions to protect themselves against Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) as state public health officials announced that the second person to be diagnosed with the virus this year in Connecticut has passed away. The patient, an adult resident from Old Lyme, was hospitalized with encephalitis in mid-September and is the second human fatality from the virus in Connecticut since 2013.
The governor made the announcement at a State Capitol news briefing alongside the leaders of the Connecticut Mosquito Control Program, including the commissioners of the Department of Public Health (DPH), the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), the Department of Agriculture (DOAG), and the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES). In addition, Department of Transportation Commissioner Joe Giulietti announced that cautionary messaging will begin to appear on digital highway signs throughout the state directing people to get more information about EEE on the state’s website at www.ct.gov/eee.
“State government is being cautious on peoples’ behalf and we are just warning folks to be careful, but there is no need to panic,” Governor Lamont said. “We want to make sure that we are doing everything we can to provide updated information on these developments to the people of our state. If you must be outside early in the morning or at dusk, it’s a good idea to take some simple precautions.”
“Our number one priority right now is informing the public about precautions they can take to reduce risk of infection,” Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz said. “Don’t panic, but please remember to use bug spray, wear long sleeves and pants, and try to avoid spending time outdoors after dusk. The good news is that as we continue to track and test mosquitos throughout Connecticut, we are seeing a dramatic decrease in the number of mosquitos testing positive for this virus as the cooler weather approaches.”
“The death of two Connecticut residents with EEE virus emphasizes the seriousness of this infection,” DPH Commissioner Renée Coleman-Mitchell cautioned. “Approximately a third of patients who develop EEE die and there is no specific treatment for EEE. Using insect repellent, covering bare skin and avoiding being outdoors from dusk to dawn are effective ways to help keep you from being bitten by mosquitoes. Mosquitoes continue to be active until the first heavy frost.”
Yesterday, CAES identified EEE virus in a type of mosquito that bites only birds at the trap site in South Windsor. Given the amount of EEE activity being seen in eastern Connecticut, this finding in South Windsor is of public health concern. Residents of South Windsor are advised to protect themselves and their children by: (1) taking personal precautions to prevent mosquito bites, and (2) minimizing outdoor activity from dusk to dawn, when mosquitoes are most active. If outdoor activity is unavoidable, all personal precautions to prevent mosquito bites should be taken.
Dr. Theodore Andreadis, Director of CAES, said, “Right now, we are seeing that the greatest risk is east of the Connecticut River. However, the very good news is that as we monitor our mosquito population, we are seeing a significant overall decline in the number of mosquitoes collected in our statewide trapping as well as the number of mosquitoes infected with the EEE virus.”
Blumenthal: “I am calling today for a House Select Committee to investigate and move forward with impeachment proceedings against the President. I reached this decision with sadness, but also anger, after the President has repeatedly broken laws and betrayed his oath of office. His seeking corrupt assistance from a foreign leader for personal political gain crosses the line. This illegal misuse of the presidency for private benefit is an impeachable act. This most recent lawbreaking follows three years of contemptuous disregard for the Constitution. The Congress must demand accountability. The values and norms of our democracy are precious and vulnerable and they depend on people fighting for them in times of adversity. At this moment, the threat to the rule of law and our democracy has reached a new height and requires all of us to step forward.”
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Tuesday released the following statement:
“American democracy is not tangible. It cannot be seen or touched; it has no physical foundation or concrete infrastructure. American democracy isn’t the pieces of paper that are displayed at the National Archives, upon which our nation’s creators wrote the founding words of our republic. Those documents mean nothing, if not for the men and women who choose to take action in service of making their promise real.
This fragility of our American experiment means that once in a while it is tested by overreaching leaders who find its checks and balances an inconvenient barrier to the accumulation of power. At these moments, our democracy cannot fight back on its own – it needs all of us to rally to its banner. Today stands as one of those nation-defining moments.
In May, I first raised for my colleagues my grave concern that President Donald Trump was using the massive power of his office to demand that a foreign power dig up or manufacture damaging information about one of the president’s election opponents, former Vice President Joe Biden. In the last several days, it has come to light that President Trump in fact personally lobbied the President of Ukraine to begin a politically-motivated investigation of Vice President Biden in service of his own 2020 reelection campaign.
To use America’s global credibility as a casino token, to be cashed in for personal political gain, is an intolerable abuse of power and totally anathema to the rule of law. If we allow President Trump to get away with trading our influence abroad in order to advance his political interests, our nation’s standing in the world will suffer irreparable damage and the health of our democracy at home will suffer a potentially mortal blow.
It is now my belief that the House of Representatives must begin an impeachment inquiry into the president’s corrupt efforts to press a foreign nation into the service of his reelection campaign. As part of the inquiry, the House should take steps to assure that the pending whistleblower complaint be presented to Congress in full, and an investigation must take place into the full extent of the Trump administration’s demands that the Ukrainian government become agents of the president’s political agenda. If, as it appears Mr. Trump has already acknowledged, the president violated his oath of office by using the constitutional powers entrusted to him to try to destroy a political rival, then the president much be impeached.
I am deeply sorry that our nation must begin this journey toward impeachment. Up until these recent developments, I had resisted calling for the House to begin impeachment proceedings, choosing instead to allow the House to consider its options free from senatorial advice. But circumstances have changed, and the seriousness of the moment requires all of us to speak out in order to preserve our nation’s commitment to the rule of law.”
HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont is urging the members of the Connecticut General Assembly to meet in special session as soon as possible to adopt legislation his administration developed following a series of meetings this summer with the leaders of each legislative caucus to address the ongoing issue of wages for restaurant workers.
In a letter delivered yesterday afternoon to legislative leaders, the governor explained that the proposal strikes a proper balance while protecting workers with legitimate claims to unpaid wages. He is hopeful that they will vote quickly on the proposal so that he can sign it into law.
“The legislative proposal that I have put forward through our collaborative discussions strikes the appropriate balance by eliminating double damages awards against restaurant owners who can provide they acted in good faith by relying reasonably on written guidance from the prior administration’s Department of Labor,” Governor Lamont wrote. “My proposal also avoids the constitutional pitfalls of the prior proposal. Rather than retroactively repealing existing regulations, my proposal requires DOL to expedite the promulgation of new regulations. Prior to promulgating any such regulations DOL would be required to consider both state and federal guidance regarding service employee wages. In addition, DOL would be required to consult with all relevant stakeholders, including representatives of the restaurant industry, restaurant employees, service employees, and other interested stakeholders. Lastly, my proposal would clarify the circumstances under which class actions alleging violations of the existing regulations could proceed.”
WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Jon Tester (D-MT) introduced legislation to restore eligibility to servicemembers seeking to transfer their educational benefits to dependents.
Last summer, the Department of Defense issued a new policy that requires servicemembers to commit an additional four years of military service at the time of their application to transfer benefits. The policy change also prevents servicemembers with more than sixteen years of military service from transferring education benefits to their eligible dependents. Previously, any servicemember who had served for six years was eligible to transfer their benefits to an eligible dependent.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill Transferability Entitlement Act would ensure that all servicemembers who have completed ten years of service in the Armed Forces are eligible to transfer their benefits to dependents at any time – both while serving on active duty and as a veteran – providing a comprehensive fix to the Administration’s unfair, broken policy.
“The Department of Defense’s confusing new policy moved the goalpost for transfer eligibility, breaking our promise to military families. Disqualifying servicemembers with more than sixteen years of military services penalizes the men and women who have served this country in uniform for the greatest length of time. This policy change is fundamentally illogical and unfair, and exacerbates existing inequities in the transfer of education benefits – it should be remedied immediately by passing our bill,” Blumenthal said.
“It’s our duty to ensure that when servicemembers, who sacrifice for our nation, return home, they and their families can receive the education and training they’ve earned,” Brown said.
“The law should make it easier, not harder, for servicemembers to use the benefits they’ve earned in a way that makes the most sense for them and their families,” said Tester, Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. “Our bill ensures that the men and women in uniform—who served our nation for years— are able to transfer their G.I. Bill education benefits to their loved ones without unnecessary hurdles. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this bill, so we can do right by our nation’s veterans.”
This legislation is supported by the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States and the Reserve Enlisted Association.
“The men and women that protect our way of life often do not come from generational wealth, and they have earned the right to pass on what they have earned to their family,” explained Daniel Elkins, Legislative Director of the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States.
“The legislation will address inequities and restrictions in transferring GI Bill benefits from service members to spouses and children. With the Department of Defense transfer deadline approaching in January, now is the time to act,” said Ken Greenberg, Director of Veterans and Military Policy for TREA: The Enlisted Association.
“This is a sensible solution that will help our veterans and their families far into the future. If the benefit has already been earned, it only makes sense to honor that veteran’s service by allowing them to transfer the benefit to their dependents,” said Paul Tarbox, an Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran from Orange, Connecticut who served in the U.S. Army and Connecticut Army National Guard between 1999 and 2009.
U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) urged aggressive federal action, including additional funding for research and development of vaccines and treatment to combat Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), West Nile virus, and other mosquito-borne illnesses. There is currently no vaccine or treatment for EEE.
Blumenthal will be joined by Dr. Matthew Cartter of the Connecticut Department of Public Health (CTDPH) and Dr. Theodore Andreadis of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) to provide an update on current mosquito and virus activity in the state. This week CTDPH announced that an adult from East Lyme has tested positive for EEE, only the second human case ever reported in Connecticut. The EEE virus has been identified in mosquitoes in 12 towns and horses in two other towns. Across the region, there have been eight human cases of EEE infection in Massachusetts and one human case in Rhode Island, with one case in each state resulting in a fatality.
#HARTFORD, CT – Governor Ned Lamont today said that Connecticut should join the growing number of states that due to overwhelming public safety risks are requiring children who attend public schools – and are medically capable – to receive vaccinations for preventable diseases, citing recently-released statistics from the Department of Public Health (DPH) showing that over the last year the state has had the largest single year increase in claimed exemptions for vaccinations since the state began tracking the data a decade ago.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), high vaccination rates protect not only vaccinated children, but also those who cannot be vaccinated – a designation referred to as “herd immunity.” Schools that achieve herd immunity reduce the risk of outbreaks of preventable diseases such as measles, tuberculosis, rubella, or whopping cough. Children who cannot safely be vaccinated for certain medical reasons depend on herd immunity for their health and their lives.
“This is an incredibly difficult decision and something that I absolutely have thought long and hard about and consulted on with many medical experts. When it comes to the safety and health of our kids, we need to take an abundance of caution,” Governor Lamont said. “The more children who receive their vaccinations, the safer it is for everyone, especially those who may be at risk to catch serious diseases. I want to make it clear, parents will still have a choice regarding the medical decisions for their children, but if you make the choice not to protect your children against preventable diseases then alternate decisions must be made about where to educate your children. Over the last couple of years, the number of children who are not receiving all of their required vaccinations is steadily increasing, while at the same time we’re seeing significant growth in preventable diseases that our nation hasn’t seen in decades.”
In 2019, the United States has seen the largest increase in the number of measles cases in the last 25 years. According to the CDC, more than 1,241 people in 31 states had contracted measles between January 1 and September 12, 2019, including three cases in Connecticut and more than 1,000 in Brooklyn and Rockland County, New York.
Earlier today, DPH Commissioner Renée D. Coleman-Mitchell delivered a detailed letter to legislative leaders – including Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney, Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, Speaker of the House Joe Aresimowicz, and House Majority Leader Matthew Ritter – responding to an inquiry on this topic and explaining her recommendation that the Connecticut General Assembly should adopt legislation eliminating the vaccination exemption for school attendance beginning with the 2021-2022 school year.
Other states that recently eliminated vaccination exemptions for similar reasons include Maine, New York, and California. West Virginia and Mississippi do not allow for any exemptions.
HARTFORD, CT– Governor Ned Lamont is reminding consumers in Connecticut that the state’s sales tax-free week begins Sunday, August 18 and runs through Saturday, August 24, 2019. During this one-week sales tax holiday, retail purchases of most clothing and footwear items priced under $100 are exempt from the sales and use tax. This exemption applies to each eligible item under $100, regardless of how many of those items are sold to a customer on the same invoice.
Sales tax free week was included as part of the biennial budget that was supported by House and Senate Democrats and signed into law this summer by Governor Lamont. It is estimated that Connecticut shoppers will benefit from approximately $4.9 million in savings during the sales tax holiday, which coincides with the busy back-to-school shopping season.
“Having this tax-free holiday helps working families stretch their dollar a little bit more during the busy back-to-school season while giving businesses an extra boost to their bottom line,” Governor Lamont said. “I also encourage residents during this busy shopping week to consider locally-owned retailers and supporting Connecticut’s small business community.”
“Sales tax-free week offers real savings at an opportune time, when families are planning for the school year and shopping for new clothing and footwear,” Department of Revenue Services (DRS) Commissioner Scott D. Jackson said. “In addition to promoting Connecticut’s retail sector, the sales tax holiday helps stretch shopping budgets – something we can all appreciate and look forward to.”
“Connecticut retailers work diligently throughout the year to be responsive to their customers and provide outstanding customer service,” Timothy G. Phelan, president of the Connecticut Retail Merchants Association, said. “Retailers are also actively involved in their communities and play a pivotal role in the strength and vibrancy of the Connecticut economy. Connecticut sales tax free week provides an opportunity for customers to shop at local retail businesses and save money on their purchases, which can be especially helpful for families preparing for the upcoming school year.”
Many retailers in Connecticut frequently offer additional clothing and footwear discounts during sales tax free weeks, resulting in even more savings for shoppers.
Additional information on Connecticut’s sales tax free week, including examples of individual items that are exempt or taxable as well as specific statutory information, can be found by visiting the DRS website at ct.gov/drs and clicking the “2019 Sales Tax Free Week” link.
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont released the following statement on the lawsuit filed today by MGM regarding the future of gaming in Connecticut:
“As I have consistently said, our state needs to reach a global gaming resolution that will avoid years and years of complex litigation. The gaming industry in Connecticut represents a significant portion of our economy, and as other states have demonstrated, there is room to grow it. It has always been my intention to develop a comprehensive gaming platform that not only strengthened Connecticut’s gaming industry, but protected it from litigation. Our administration remains committed to these objectives and looks forward to working toward a solution that moves the state forward with the General Assembly.”
