Jason Rojas

Great news! As Connecticut continues a successful vaccine rollout, Governor Ned Lamont announced Thursday that all Connecticut residents aged 16 and older will become eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine on April 1 (four days sooner than the previously accelerated timeline).

Violence against Asians has skyrocketed over the past year. I stand in solidarity with the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community as we call for an end to hate.

"Zoning and land use have prevented the development of diverse communities. As legislators, we have a choice – we can continue the politics that defined the past several decades, or we can engage each other to develop solutions that address the cost of housing and the legacy of morally bankrupt policies that perpetuate racial and economic segregation," said House Majority Leader Jason Rojas (D – East Hartford, Manchester).

President Joe Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion relief package that will provide many Americans with $1,400 stimulus checks, a $3,000 Child Tax Credit per child up to 17-years-old, certain unemployment benefits, and more.

This week, in an effort to continue efforts to increase the equity of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, the state Department of Public Health has identified 50 zip codes across the state to receive at least 25% of the vaccine supply for residents in these communities.

The House of Representatives convened on Wednesday to vote on several important matters, including and omnibus bill, HB 6516, that addresses double taxation of Connecticut residents who work out-of-state, the practice of placing liens on real property of those who receive public assistance, and changes to the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) Program.

The 2021 legislative session is picking up and I want to hear from you about the issues that matter most to you and your family. Every year, I send a constituent survey so every resident in our district can share their thoughts and ideas on important state issues.

Wednesday afternoon, the Governor announced his budget proposal for the 2022/23 fiscal years. This is the first step in a months-long process where the budget will go to the legislature's Appropriations and Finance, Revenue & Bonding Committees for further review and public hearings for input from residents and stakeholders.