State Capitol Update for the week of June 24

June 24, 2022

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I hope you and your family have been well.

Today marks an unfortunate day in our country’s history. A day where the constitutional right to have an abortion has been taken away.

Unfortunately, our rights are under siege. However, I ask that you remain resolute and determined. I am resolved to continue the work that my colleagues and I fought for this past legislative session in protecting abortion rights in Connecticut.

 

To those seeking access to safe, legal reproductive health care: You CAN come to Connecticut, and our laws WILL protect you from persecution from our conserve states. I have included details about our newly passed Reproductive Freedom Defense Act later in this week’s newsletter.

Let today be a day we reflect not only on abortion rights, but what it means to serve our community and each other. 

As always, I am committed to the defense of our rights and the defense of our freedoms.

 

Below is more detailed information on legislation enacted, upcoming events in Stamford, and resources I hope you and your family will find useful.
 
COMMUNITY RACIAL JUSTICE SERIES
 

Please join us for the 1st day of our Stamford Racial Justice series! Where we will be hosting a series of events over the next few weeks to discuss the recently passed CT Police Accountability Bill, and how that impacts our Stamford community.

 

This Saturday, June 25th, at UCONN Stamford we will be hearing from Robert Delvin, the inspector general for the state of Connecticut, and Ken Barone, the Associate Director for the Institute for Regional Municipal Policy! 

 

A special thank you to Stamford Stands Against Racism, the 100 Black Men of Stamford, Cradle to Career, the Stamford YMCA, and the Community Health Center for working so hard to get this event together.
Register Now
 
  LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE

In this year's Capital Budget, Mayor Simmons designated $2,000,000 for city-wide storm drain upgrades and $500,000 for the first city-wide storm drain study, so we can ensure Stamford is prepared to mitigate the impacts of storms and flooding. 

 

Earlier this week, our city officials met to start conversations for the implementation of these important projects!
 
U.S. SUPREME COURT OVERTURNED ROE V. WADE
In a 6-3 decision today, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, and eliminated the constitutional right to an abortion after nearly 50 years.

This harmful opinion also casts doubt on the future protections of same-sex marriage, other LGBTQ rights and contraception.The Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive health research group, 

counts 26 states as “certain or likely to ban abortion” under all or most circumstances or early in the gestation period, such as abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, and half of those states have so-called “trigger laws” to ban abortion upon Roe's reversal.
The Connecticut General Assembly passed the Reproductive Freedom Defense Act during the 2022 legislative session, which legally protects medical providers and patients traveling to Connecticut seeking abortion care. This legislation also allows for advanced practitioners for whom abortion care is part of their scope of practice to perform abortions. Governor Lamont has signed this legislation into law, putting our state at the forefront of protecting reproductive rights.
 
Connecticut also codified Roe V. Wade into its Constitution in 1990.
 
Fighting for the right to choose, protecting practitioners and keeping Connecticut a safe place for all is at the top of my list as a lawmaker.
 

STRAWBERRY HILL AVENUE AND FIFTH STREET RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT

 

Please be advised that that Strawberry Hill Avenue and Fifth Street Reconstruction Project will begin Wednesday, June 22nd. 
 

The project will widen certain portions of Fifth Street and Strawberry Hill Avenue to improve traffic operations around the new Strawberry Hill School. 

 

Additionally, crosswalks and sidewalks in the area will be enhanced.

 

Drivers should plan for extra travel time and use caution and slow down in work zones.

 

Thank you to everyone for informing me about any street and maintenance issues that you may have in your neighborhood. Please feel free to continue to reach out, so we can continue to work on repairing our vital roads and city infrastructure.
 
HEAD START ON HOUSING
 

I am pleased to announce Head Start on Housing, a cross-agency collaboration that will work to expedite housing subsidies for Head Start households.

Housing is the most important foundation for a healthy and stable life, especially for children who are the most vulnerable segment of the population.

Services can often be delivered in the most efficient manner when agencies work together and this effort uses a multi-pronged approach to help provide permanent housing to as many families with children as possible.


 

Head Start on Housing is a partnership between the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood, Connecticut Department of Housing, Connecticut Head Start State Collaboration Office, Connecticut Head Start Association, and the National Center for Housing and Child Welfare.

Combating homelessness is another component and step forward in our overall goal of improving the lives of our young residents to give them the best opportunity for future success.

I look forward to this plan benefiting children in need and to the positive impact it will have on families and neighborhoods across the state.
 
CHILD TAX PAYMENTS APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN
Connecticut's first ever child tax payment has just gone into effect and it's already a massive success!

Since applications were first opened to the public on June 1,

more than 90,000 households have filed to receive the $250 per child tax payment (up to three children). This was included in the $650 million tax relief package that House Democrats approved as part of the 2022 state budget to give much-needed financial relief and flexibility to working families across Connecticut.

If you have a child born before Jan. 1, 2022 and haven't yet applied, I want to remind you that there is still time to apply to receive your check!

This tax payment is available to single parents who earned less than $100,000 and two-parent households that made less than $200,000 during the 2021 tax year.

For more information on the payment and to submit an application with the Department of Revenue Services before the July 31 deadline, click the button below.
Information on the 2022 CT Child Tax Payments
 
If you have any issues, concerns, or feedback, I would love to hear from you! Please feel free to contact me at 860-240-8585 if you ever need anything or by email at hubert.delany@cga.ct.gov