CT, accountability priorities for local Congress delegation
As the country welcomes a new year, members of Connecticut’s political delegation reflected on last year’s accomplishments and disappointments, as well as their goals for 2017 and the convening of the 115th U.S. Congress under a new administration.
CONGRESSWOMAN ELIZABETH ESTY
U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D), who represents Connecticut’s 5th Congressional District, said she is proud of some of the work she and her colleagues have accomplished in 2016.
The Child Nicotine Poisoning Act of 2015 is one bill Esty is happy to see pass. Originally introduced to the Senate in 2015, the bill aims to establish guidelines for the packaging of liquid nicotine containers. The bill requires any nicotine provided in a liquid nicotine container in the United States to be packaged safely, so children can’t open the package.
“Big tobacco has targeted out children,” Esty said.
Esty went on to say that the FDA has not moved fast enough in regards to regulating packaging for liquid nicotine containers. The containers are often colorful and sweet smelling, attracting young children to the product.
The bill officially became a federal law Jan. 28.
Esty has been doing work specifically in New Britain, too. The Congresswoman has worked with New Britain Police Chief James Wardwell to spotlight opioid abuse in the area.
“Opioid addiction has created so much damage in our families and communities,” Esty said.
Esty served on the conference committee that crafted the final language of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, or CARA. Portions of Esty’s Prevent Drug Addiction Act were signed into law as part of CARA, so the Congresswoman has been championing the cause for years.
In a nutshell, CARA establishes a strategy for communities to tackle issues regarding prescription and opiate abuse in their area while also promoting important drug treatment, relapse prevention and recovery options.
Democrats didn’t set out everything they wished to accomplish in 2016 though, Esty said. Gun safety reform remains a hot-button issue in Washington, and Esty said it will remain one until legislation is passed.
Esty said she was disturbed by the, “continued frustration concerning the inability at the federal level to pass gun-safety legislation.”
She challenged President-elect Donald Trump to show he isn’t a typical politician early in his presidency.
“One of the first things he can do if he wants to prove it isn’t business as usual is stand up to the gun lobby,” Esty said.
Comprehensive background checks would make purchasing a gun harder for felons and criminals, Esty said, but there are loopholes in the system. Online vendors and sellers at gun shows don’t necessarily abide by background check regulations, and this creates a problem.
“It is way too easy to purchase a firearm online,” Esty said.
Keeping guns in safe hands will also help our police force, too. More guns in the hands of criminals puts officers at risk.
“He needs to understand the risks our police officers face,” Esty said.
Esty remains hopeful that gun safety measures can still be passed, even under a new administration.
“The landscape may be different, but the task remains the same,” Esty said.
Regarding education, Esty said she would reserve judgment for Trump’s Secretary of Education pick, Betsy DeVos, but is, “not encouraged that neither she, nor her children, attended public schools.”
“I will not be shy about expressing my opposition,” Esty said, referring to potential changes to the country’s education system.
Esty went on to say that she was a fan of outgoing Education Secretary John King Jr. and liked working with him.
While Esty in not encouraged by everything Trump has done in preparation for his presidency, the congresswoman remains “cautiously optimistic” about Trump’s focus on infrastructure and manufacturing. Esty supports using American workers and American companies to strengthen the country’s economy, and hopes that the new administration sticks to its word of supporting new enterprise.
“I’m going to keep pushing hard for basic research and development investments,” Esty said.
In the meantime, Esty is keeping her ears to the streets to listen for ways she can help District 5.
“I’m hearing and working with folks at the local level,” Esty said, “That’s the way government is supposed to work.”
As for the Senate, Connecticut senators will continue their efforts to do right by their state’s voters.
U.S. SEN. RICHARD BLUMENTHAL
Sen. Richard Blumenthal saw his bipartisan veterans package — the Miller-Blumenthal Veterans Health Care and Benefits Act — signed into law in December. The comprehensive legislation has 76 separate provisions aimed at helping veterans and their families.
The law will help ensure veterans are taken care of by implementing a deeper system of protocol the United States Department of Veterans Affairs must follow when helping them.
Going forward into 2017, Blumenthal hopes he and his colleagues will be able to work with President-elect Donald Trump.
“While I was disappointed by the outcome of the presidential election, I am prepared to work with the President-elect if he pursues policies that benefit Connecticut, our country, and our communities, including veterans issues, national defense, and rebuilding our roads, bridges, and other infrastructure,” Blumenthal said.
The senator said he won’t be shy in expressing his dissatisfaction with the administration if they do not focus on helping the American people.
“I will not hesitate to oppose the president-elect when his actions undercut and discredit the goal of unifying and healing our country or run counter to our state’s interests. I have grave concerns about some of the actions the president-elect has taken and several of the advisers he has named,” Blumenthal said.
Looking ahead, the senator said he will continue to fight for the causes he’s supported in years past.
“During this time of dramatic transition in Washington, I pledge to continue to put Connecticut first. I am fighting to keep faith with veterans, protect consumers, guarantee equal pay for equal work, and ensure health care for all who need it,” he continued, “I will be a passionate voice for sensible gun violence prevention measures. I will continue to advocate for women’s health care rights, for immigrants, for LGBT protection, for a healthy environment, and much more.”
U.S. SEN. CHRIS MURPHY
Sen. Chris Murphy saw his Mental Health Reform Act approved in 2016.
“It’s the most important piece of legislation I’ve ever passed,” Murphy said.
Murphy described the law as the most comprehensive mental health-related piece of legislation in a generation. The senator introduced the bill with Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy, but they both had help.
“Many Sandy Hook families were very involved in the drafting of this bill,” Murphy said.
While not “directly” related to gun safety reform, the law aims to help improve mental health treatment in the country, which is crucial to the safety effort.
The senator hopes more gun safety measures will be passed by the federal government in the future. Preventing outbursts of violence like the Sandy Hook shooting in 2012 has become Murphy’s calling.
“I now have a mission that gets me up every single day,” Murphy said to a crowd at the Mandell Jewish Community Center on Wednesday, Dec. 28.
The senator said American voters have showed that they support gun safety measures.
“I think what we’ve realized is that when you take these fights right to the people, people support changing our gun laws. In November, the very thin silver lining for those of us who work on this issue was that three of four states that had referendums on the ballot tightening gun laws passed those referendums,” Murphy said.
Murphy cited Nevada’s new comprehensive background check law as evidence of progress.
Looking forward into a new presidency, Murphy said he hopes he will be able to work with Trump and his constituents in a bipartisan manner.
While the senator said he hasn’t heavily researched Trump’s cabinet picks yet, he said he isn’t encouraged by the group so far.
“I’m very concerned about some of these nominees, and my concern is at a number of different levels. This cabinet right now doesn’t really look like this country, it’s filled with generals and billionaires,” Murphy said.
Referring to Trump’s Secretary of Education pick, Betsy DeVos, Murphy said a business mentality doesn’t typically work in the school system. “Market principles don’t really work well when it comes to education,” Murphy said.
On trade, though, the senator and the president-elect may agree more often than not.
“Trump’s views with trade largely line up with mine,” Murphy said. The senator said that he hopes Trump stands by his “buy American” mentality and continues to support American-made products.
Even with uncertainty surrounding the president-elect’s actual agenda, Murphy is confident he and his colleagues will continue to support what is right.
“I’ll fight for what I believe in and what I think Connecticut believes in,” Murphy said.