Roland Lemar

Monday is Memorial Day, a day to remember and honor all whose bravery and service cost them the ultimate sacrifice. While this long weekend presents the opportunity to spend time with our loved ones, it is also a time to pause and reflect on those who gave their lives to protect and preserve our great nation and democracy. I also make sure to take the time to remind myself to live a life that is meaningful and worthy of the sacrifices so many have made. I hope you all have a safe and meaningful Memorial Day.

Connecticut law enforcement officers have our backs every day. We owe it to them to support their families and stand by them. From now on, if a police officer or trooper is killed in the line of duty in our state, this fund will offer immediate support to their family.

And that's a wrap! The Connecticut General Assembly finished our 2024 legislative session at midnight on Wednesday, capping a busy three months of fighting for the people of Connecticut!

As the elderly population steadily grows, there is an urgency to provide resources and assistance to this community. During Monday's session, we took a significant step to achieving that goal by passing HB 5001, a top priority for House Democrats this session.

We passed a number of great bills this week! See the list here.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, street takeovers have become a national issue, including here in Connecticut. This cannot become the new normal. These takeovers by the illegal use of all-terrain and other types of vehicles, pose a significant threat to public safety, endangering participants, innocent bystanders, and law enforcement officials.

On Wednesday, the House of Representatives took bipartisan and unanimous action to help cities and towns regain control of their streets as we voted 148-0 to pass HB 5413 to control takeovers, which have proven to be a concern for many of our residents.

House Democrats have made it a top priority during this legislative session to address the issue of childcare affordability. HB 5002 focuses on making childcare more accessible and affordable for families through long-term strategic investments. This is a significant measure that could positively impact many families in our community.

This week, two of the House Democrats's caucus priority bills passed out of committee: HB 5001 - an omnibus bill that further supports our seniors, and HB 5004 - an ambitious omnibus bill to address climate change. I want to take the time to tell you a bit about each bill.