Health Equity Week, Constitutional Crisis and Real ID Deadline

April 10, 2025


 


We're celebrating the 7th Annual Health Equity Week with the theme of Championing Health Equity.  This will serve as an opportunity to address Connecticut’s need to stand united, focused, and committed to improving health equity with better access, more affordability, and enhanced health outcomes for all residents.  Click the image below to hear my comments.
 

Some of the key Health Equity bills this session include:
 
Housing (HB 5002, SB 12)
Children’s Welfare (SB 740, HB 5986)
Public Health (HB 7214, SB 1192)
Prescription Drug Costs (HB 6870, SB 1366)
Racial & Gender Equity (SB 1506)
 
These bills tackle medical debt, maternal health, Medicaid access, and more! 
 

This Week in Connecticut
Click the image to watch my full interview, which starts at the 1:00 mark.

On Sunday I joined Dennis House on This Week in Connecticut to discuss where things stand midway through the legislative session. We discussed important bills to make Connecticut more affordable and how federal funding cuts are affecting our state.
 

Constitutional Crisis

I was pleased to join fellow lawmakers and advocates this week, including representatives from the Connecticut Bar Association and the ACLU of Connecticut, for a news conference where we reaffirmed our commitment to safeguarding Connecticut's immigrant and LGBTQ+ communities. We also pledged to protect our judicial branch from the harmful onslaught of illegal executive orders from the White House that undermine the Constitution and the rule of law.

We will not allow the President to ignore the orders of our courts. We are committed to defending a valid, independent, and co-equal judiciary here in Connecticut. What we are witnessing today is nothing short of a crisis within our judicial branch, and we will continue to stand strong in its defense.
New Haven Register Article
 

Real ID Deadline: May 7th

Time is running out to get your REAL ID!

Beginning May 7, you will need a REAL ID, U.S. Passport or U.S. Passport Card to board domestic flights or access certain federal facilities (such as nuclear power plants, military bases and other federal buildings).

What is a REAL ID?
A REAL ID is a state-issued ID that meets minimum security standards to access federal facilities and board domestic flights. The program was implemented following a 9/11 commission recommendation on making air travel and federal facilities more secure.

How do I get a REAL ID? 
You must visit a DMV site in-person to get a REAL ID.  Only U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible for a verified license or REAL ID card. Customers with a drive-only license aren’t eligible for a REAL ID license.  Check the CT information portal for more information.

In Connecticut, you'll need:

  • a U.S. passport or U.S. birth certificate
  • a Social Security card; and two pieces of mail from two different sources dated within 90 days to prove that you live in Connecticut
  • For all new applications for a driver's license, as well as out-of-state transfers to Connecticut licenses, you will automatically be issued a REAL ID

How do I know if I already have a REAL ID?
Check your driver's license or ID to see if it has a gold star in the upper right corner, like the above graphic. If you do, then you have a verified REAL ID.

For more information, visit the following:

Department of Homeland Security
CT Department of Motor Vehicles
 

Electric Rates

People who live in Connecticut currently pay the second-highest electricity prices in the country, placing an undue financial strain on families, businesses, and communities. Our goal is to implement policies that lower prices and enhance transparency that would benefit all ratepayers.

There are two important pieces of legislation, House Bill 1531 and House Bill 7206, aimed at tackling the rising cost of utility bills while ensuring greater accountability for public utilities. Both bills passed out of Committee and now move to the House and Senate floors for further consideration.
 
These proposals are designed to:

  • Increase public-utility transparency by making them subject to the Freedom of Information Act for the regulated parts of their business
  • Reduce monopoly power and consolidation by preventing utility companies from owning both gas and electric utilities
  • Strengthen oversight to ensure our utilities are acting in the best interest of consumers and not incurring unnecessary costs
  • Ensuring utility capital projects are properly vetted to ensure they are necessary, the least costly and best alternative, and best serve our future energy needs 

These measures give the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority and the Connecticut Siting Council more tools to better regulate utility companies and reduce our energy costs.

Strengthening these regulatory bodies is a crucial step toward protecting consumers from excessive costs and fostering a more fair and sustainable energy system for households and businesses across the state.

Through legislative action and public engagement, we are committed to ensuring a more affordable and equitable energy future for everyone.

Below is a breakdown of your electric bill.
 

UConn Women Victory Parade

Congratulations to the UConn Women's basketball team on winning its 12th national title on Sunday.

You can be part of a victory parade and rally in downtown Hartford on Sunday, April 13.  The parade will step off at the State Capitol building at 1:00 P.M. at the intersection of Trinity Street and Elm Street and will end at the intersection of Asylum Street and Trumbull Street.

The rally will begin at approximately 1:30 P.M. and will be held outside of the main entrance of the XL Center on Trumbull Street.
 

Community Events

Registration has begun for Hamden Summer Camps from June 30th to August 8th.  

 
Click here to register.