David Michel

Connecticut has the third-highest accumulated student loan debt in the country and the financial burden that our college graduates must shoulder after growing up here is driving many of them to other states where housing and the cost of living is cheaper.

The House of Representatives passed House Bill 7083 to require the instruction of climate change in our public schools. It would be included in the science curriculum and based on guidelines consistent with the Next Generation Science Standards. In 2015, the state Board of Education unanimously approved NGSS standards.

The House passed a budget which is responsible, stable, and funds the Rainy Day Fund at historic levels. With significant investments in education, job growth, and economic development throughout the state, the budget holds the line on spending.

Connecticut is taking important steps with innovative ideas to help us address our environmental and energy challenges through passage of a comprehensive measure to lay the ground work towards sustainable green initiatives.

The House of Representatives voted Thursday afternoon to pass legislation prohibiting the trade of shark fins in Connecticut to protect the rapidly declining shark population.

State Representative David Michel joined Captain Paul Watson, world-renowned environmental activist, co-Founder of Greenpeace, Founder, President and Executive Director of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, to discuss the role of oceans as climate regulators and what humans must change to restore balance to destabilized ecosystems.

Greener days for energy production are on the horizon for Connecticut with House Bill 7156 authorizing the procurement of energy derived from offshore wind that passed the House of Representatives with a strong bipartisan vote of 134 to 10.

Minimum wage workers are moving closer to a living wage. The House approved House Bill 5004 to increase the minimum wage incrementally over the next few years to $15 in 2023.