The Connecticut House of Representatives is in session today and I am happy to share that a bill I introduced has passed (121-26).

Rep. Bobby Sanchez, co-chair of the Education Committee, has pushed forward a half-dozen bills that would boost pay for child care workers, increase the state’s contribution to child-care slots and vouchers, expand eligibility for state subsidies and make it easier for child care workers to afford the college credentials required of them, according to Linda Conner Lambeck, Connecticut Post reporter who writes about education issues.

In response to the death of an 11-year-old Cheshire girl and six other child suicides last year in Connecticut, Rep. Liz Linehan, the House chair of the legislature’s Committee on Children, has introduced legislation to reduce the increasing number of suicides by youths.

Rep. Gregg Haddad praises Mansfield Middle School students who joined other youths around the globe to raise awareness of climate change. “Students are the most important constituency for this,” Haddad told them. “We understand that you’re going to be living in this world long after us and the decisions we’re making today will be very impactful on your lives.”

HB 5833, An Act Establishing a Pilot Program for the Expansion of Advanced Manufacturing Certificate Programs, to be voted by House.

Today the Public Safety and Security Committee discussed House Bill No. 7332, “An Act Concerning Public Safety and the Welfare of Repeat Juvenile Offenders and their Victims.” The bill aims to require juveniles charged with theft of a motor vehicle to have their cases transferred to criminal court when they have a history of prior felony adjudications or convictions.

During a hearing of the Judiciary Committee on March 11, I was honored to introduce Mark Barden, a prominent gun-safety advocate who lost his son Daniel in the Sandy Hook School massacre more than five years ago. Mark offered public testimony in support of Ethan's Law, HB 7218, legislation that would close loopholes in Connecticut's state firearm storage laws.

Rep. Bobby Sanchez, co-chair of the Education Committee, other legislators and education advocates on Wednesday called for passage of legislation that addresses educator pay equity and gives access to early childcare for full-time students who have children and need to work, but can’t afford childcare.