David Michel

We have successfully passed several priority measures this week, and now the Senate must act on them in the coming days. One of those bills protects our environment. Please read below to find out how the measure encourages businesses to go green while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The House also approved a proposal that would keep families healthy while supporting local farmers. Please keep scrolling to learn how the bill improves nutrition for women and children. 

A fiery crash has shut down I-95 in Norwalk in both directions as crews tear down an overpass that was badly damaged. I'll let you know how long the highway will remain closed.

Here are the sections of today's email:

• House Passes Climate Bill
• Child & Family Nutrition Bill Clears House 
• Supporting Childcare Affordability & Early Education Access
• Help for Our Seniors
• Expect Delays on Route 104

This week, I joined my Democratic colleagues and voted for one of our top legislative priorities this session, House Bill 5004, protects the environment and works to combat the effects of climate change.

This bill, which I co-sponsored:

The measure now heads to the Senate, which must act before our deadline at midnight on May 8.

Although I am proud of the work it took to pass this bill, especially in a short session, we need to address how we are going to accomplish the goals set in this measure. The Connecticut General Assembly has to continue working with the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to pass more transformative laws to protect our state.

I look forward to returning next year and advocating for more robust legislation including Environmental Justice language and a push for more renewables. The economy will only improve if we pass legislation where labor and the environment work hand-in-hand.

The House demonstrated its commitment to the health and well-being of our families and children by unanimously passing House Bill 5003. This comprehensive legislation, which I also co-sponsored, ensures mothers and children, who are eligible for federal benefits, are enrolled in nutrition programs with ease and confidence.

This bill aims to reduce barriers to participation in WIC (Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, Children). WIC enrollment in Connecticut is among the lowest in the country at only 46%. We need to maximize participation in this program to improve the health and nutrition of young children.

Below you will find how the bill helps our state.

House Bill 5002 supports working parents by:

• creating the “Early Childhood Care and Education Fund,” that may only be utilized for childcare and early childhood education programs
• establishing the Early Childhood Care and Education Fund Advisory Commission that will report on the health of the Fund and annually update recommendations on how to best expend the resources of the Fund to the General Assembly
• investing in teachers and assistant teachers in state-funded school readiness programs and state-funded childcare programs
• requiring a study on the availability of space in state-owned properties that may be used for early childhood care and education programs

These are sound investments in our state’s future and will go a long way toward helping parents earn a living and provide for their children’s education.

The bill now goes to the Senate for its consideration.

HB 5001, which passed with bipartisan support, protects and prioritizes elderly residents in our state. This bill:

• makes it easier for seniors to age in place
• creates a nursing home database, providing consumers with an easy and reliable way to compare locations around the state
• establishes incentives to encourage nursing homes to improve care

The measure now moves to the Senate, which must act before the end of the legislative session.

The northbound lanes of the highway are closed at exit 14 and the southbound lanes are shut down at exit 15. I urge you to avoid this area and use public transportation until further notice.

Metro-North Railroad will provide additional weekend service and increased capacity on trains along the New Haven Line. The Connecticut Department of Transportation hopes to reopen I-95 by the morning rush hour commute on Monday, May 6.

I would like to thank every emergency responder who was involved for their heroic and quick-thinking action, which ensured that no one was seriously hurt.