Travis Simms

On this day, June 21st, we honor the birth of a remarkable figure in our history: Joseph Hayne Rainey. Born in 1832 in Georgetown, South Carolina, Rainey’s journey from the depths of enslavement to become the first Black person to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives is nothing short of awe-inspiring.

I hope you're staying cool and hydrated during the searing hot temperatures we're experiencing. Relief is coming soon, but in the meantime, I have included some information and resources that could be of assistance in beating the heat.

I am humbled and proud to receive the prestigious honor of being named one of the 100 Most Influential Blacks in the state by the CT NAACP. I want to thank the NAACP Connecticut State Conference for selecting me and congratulate all who are being recognized for their work.

Happy Juneteenth!

Acknowledging and celebrating this day allows us to educate younger generations about the importance of freedom and the cost at which it was achieved.

I hope you're enjoying the warm weather. Even warmer weather is headed our way in the coming days. This week's newsletter includes information, from the Governor forming a working group to look at Ranked Choice Voting to an exciting Juneteenth celebration at the Capitol on Wednesday.

I hope this correspondence finds you well. I want to wish you and your family a safe and Happy Memorial Day weekend! This week's newsletter topics include:

Expanding Health Care and Forgiving Student Loans
More Aid For Norwalk Schools
Major Public Acts Passed in 2024
Flying High at the Capitol
Out and About

I hope this correspondence finds you well. This week's newsletter topics include:

HB5005, An Act To Expand Paid Sick Days In The State
Recently-Released Food Insecurity Data For Connecticut
In Our Community
It's Mental Health Awareness Week
An AAPI Caucus In Connecticut
AANHPI Heritage Month Highlight: Joseph Pierce

The 2024 legislative session is over. We had a lot of wins. We had some losses, including the comprehensive climate bill. We couldn't get that one over the finish line, but the fight on that one is not over.