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Dear Neighbor,
The update is packed with such a large amount of information this week, I will keep my weekly letter to you short. I do want to highlight, however, that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month—please ask, remind, and encourage the women in your life to schedule a mammogram (and if they're 45 and over, a colonoscopy, too).
As always, please reach out to me if I can be of service to you—I often tell people, I may not be the exact person you need, but I probably know who you need to speak with and can connect you to them. Also happy to have a Zoom or a coffee if there's an issue you need me to work on or care deeply about.
I hope you enjoy the rest of the newsletter and have a great week,
Eleni
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Energy Assistance Program Gets Federal Boost
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An additional $1 billion boost in federal funding, allowing for more households to receive the benefit in the state, has been allocated as part of an emergency supplemental aid package approved by congress this week.
This is great news for Connecticut low-income and working families who rely on CT's Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help pay for home heating costs.
Today, more than ever, this program provides crucial support to vulnerable Connecticut homeowners and renters with the costs of heating their homes expected to rise more this winter.
Don't delay. The application period for the 2022-2023 winter season of the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program is NOW open. I encourage you to apply today!
There are several ways to submit your application:
- Online at ct.gov/heatinghelp/apply.
- Call the office of your local community action agency and request assistance applying, or schedule an in-person appointment
- Download and complete the CEAP application, and mail the completed application with the required documents to your local community action agency.
The contact information and addresses of Connecticut's community action agencies can be found here.
Benefits are based on your household’s income and number of family members. Benefits are available for households with incomes up to 60% of the state median income, which equates to roughly $76,400 for a family of four.
Typically, benefits are paid directly to the utility company or fuel supplier. Households that heat with deliverable fuels like oil or propane may be eligible for multiple free tank fills.
Applications for the 2022-2023 winter season must be received by May 31, 2023.
If you’d like more information, click here or call 2-1-1.
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Recognizing National Indigenous Peoples Day
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Indigenous Peoples' Day, which falls on Monday, October 10, offers an opportunity to rethink the way we understand and celebrate American History.
An estimated 6,000 to 7,000 Indigenous people subsisted in what is now Connecticut before the Europeans arrived. This state is home to five state-recognized tribes and six reservations. The Algonquian word "Connecticut" itself translates to "land on the long tidal river."
Despite war, enslavement, and prejudice, Indigenous people have remained active agents in their own and state history. Notable figures include Robin Cassacinamon, a 17th-century Pequot sachem and diplomat; and Mohegan medicine woman Gladys Tantaquidgeon, an educator, activist, and, in 1931, co-founder of the first Native American-owned Indian museum in the US.
The state-recognized sovereign nations in Connecticut are the Eastern Pequot, Golden Hill Paugussett, and Schaghticoke tribes with the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan having federal recognition as well.
Learn more about Connecticut's Indigenous history here.
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National Disability Employment Awareness Month
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In 2021, Rep. Tammy Exum and I passed the Disability Workforce Pipeline bill (unanimously) to ensure that anyone with a disability can have access to meaningful employment. We are continuing that work and, in the meantime, there is an important event coming up soon.
Connecticut offers many resources to ensure people with disabilities have full access to employment and involvement in their communities. To connect individuals to these resources, the Connecticut Department of Labor and the Connecticut Department of Aging and Disability Services will host its 10th Annual Disability Employment Resource Fair on Friday, October 14 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the New Britain Senior Center, 55 Pearl St.
The fair will include employers from across Connecticut that will provide information about job opportunities, as well as other partners who will provide information on programs and services for individuals with disabilities. The Disability Employment Resource Fair coincides with Disability Employment Awareness Month in October.
Jobseekers can also access helpful career resources and supports in-person and virtually through the following:
- The Connecticut Department of Labor’s American Job Centers. Appointments are recommended. More information is available here.
- The state’s CTHires portal, which serves as a one-stop resource to search for jobs, create a resume, and find training. Learn more here.
- Additional job fairs are scheduled frequently across Connecticut. For a full schedule, click here.
Other services that may be useful include:
- The Kennedy Center offers travel training to residents with disabilities and seniors who wish to become more independent. This program is free for all participants.
- The Connecticut Department of Transportation and the Connecticut Department of Aging and Disability Services are piloting an initiative to improve independence and accessibility for public transit users who have low or no vision. The Aira app provides no-cost instant access to a live Aira agent who can assist transit users who are blind or have low vision with navigation, reading signs and menus, and managing other essential travel components. More information is available here.
- The Connecticut Department of Aging and Disability Services provides assistance to help navigate federal benefits and paid employment. For more information, click here.
- The Recovery Friendly Workplace initiative – a collaborative program of several state agencies – provides assistance to help workplaces support employees. More information is available here.
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Connecticut Farmers Now Eligible for Disaster Assistance
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved Governor Lamont's request to expand the natural disaster declaration for certain parts of our state due to the summer drought that has continued through fall. Agricultural producers in all 8 Connecticut counties are eligible to apply for assistance through the Farm Service Agency to help offset production losses resulting from the drought.
With the declaration, Fairfield, Hartford, Litchfield, Middlesex, New London, and Windham counties have been designated as primary natural disaster areas due to the drought. New Haven and Tolland counties have been named contiguous disaster counties.
While the recent rain has helped ease water concerns presently, many agricultural producers experienced crop losses and reduced yields through the summer.
Farm operators can apply for emergency loans and other forms of assistance through their local Farm Service Agency office. Framers have 8 months from the date of the declaration to apply for assistance. You can learn more about this here.
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October is Breast Cancer Awareness
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Did you know that an estimated 3,550 Connecticut women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year? While anyone is at risk of developing breast cancer, it is the most common type of cancer diagnosed in American women, except for skin cancers. In the U.S., 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.
Legislation can be a powerful tool in the fight against breast cancer, and all types of cancer.
Over the past few years, the Connecticut General Assembly has passed crucial laws to provide resources, close loopholes, and make early detection easier for Connecticut residents.
This year, I proudly supported legislation to require health insurance coverage for breast and ovarian cancer screenings including mammograms, ultrasounds, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as well as certain procedures related to breast cancer treatment like breast biopsies, certain prophylactic mastectomies, and breast reconstruction surgery. The law also covers BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 genetic testing and prohibits most policies from imposing out-of-pocket costs.
It builds upon a 2019 law that made breast ultrasounds and mammograms available to certain patients at no cost.
Early detection saves lives, and these laws will safeguard access to screenings and diagnostics for patients.
You can learn more about the Connecticut Early Detection and Prevention Program here.
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Make Sure Your Voice is Heard This Election
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There is power in numbers! Education, healthcare, immigration, infrastructure, the economy, our veterans, and so much are all affected by our vote. By not voting, you lose a say in how our state is run. Are you registered to vote? Click here to verify your voter registration, update it, and register to vote.
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CT Clean Energy Investments
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There is no better opportunity for our state to invest in low-cost clean energy than now to meet its climate goals and deliver affordable, reliable energy. Governor Lamont unveiled a new energy investment plan that works toward Connecticut's climate goals through the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) 2022 Procurement Plan. The state is preparing a series of procurements that could secure clean energy resources, like storage, solar, and transmission, at a lower cost. The plan seeks to take advantage of new federal tax credits and clean energy resources included in the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act.
The 2022 Procurement Plan calls for the procurement of solar resources and energy storage systems. It also demands regional action on electricity transmission to unlock affordable, offshore development, and utilize federal funding for regional transmission approaches.
DEEP will issue a schedule of the next steps in the coming weeks and will host a kick-off event on Wednesday, October 5 to present the planned procurement process. You can email DEEP.EnergyBureau@ct.gov for more information about the event.
If you want to learn more about DEEP's 2022 Procurement Plan, please click here.
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CT Nationally Recognized for Digital Government Excellence
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Connecticut has worked to build an all-digital state government that provides residents and businesses with tools to digitally connect to state services. In recognition of the state's efforts, the Center for Digital Government has awarded Connecticut with a grade of A- and ranked it third for information technology leadership in the U.S. The grade was included in the organization's 2022 Digital States Survey.
A listing of all 50 states and their grades is published on the Center for Digital Government’s website here.
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Wishing You a Meaningful Yom Kippur
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Yom Kippur – the holiest day of the year in Judaism – began yesterday at sundown and continues until sunset today.
Known as the "Day of Atonement," Yom Kippur's central themes are atonement and repentance. The Jewish faith traditionally observes this holy day through fasting and intensive prayer.
For all those observing Yom Kippur, I hope you have a meaningful holiday.
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Sincerely,
Eleni Kavros DeGraw
State Representative
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