Dear Friend,

There is no better place to spend summer than Connecticut where beach days, bike rides, and barbecues abound. Read on to learn about some of my recent adventures!

In Conversation:

Thank you to the seniors who joined me in Greenwich and Monroe to hear about Congressional efforts to bolster Social Security, strengthen staffing standards at assisted living facilities, and combat fraud schemes that target older Americans. I was especially excited to share how the Inflation Reduction Act has benefited seniors in Connecticut. Out-of-pocket insulin expenses for Medicare beneficiaries are now capped at $35 a month and, in 2023, over 130,000 Medicare Part D enrollees received a vaccine at no cost to them thanks to the 2022 law. Lowering healthcare costs and improving quality of care are two critical priorities I will continue to advocate for in Washington. 

On the Farm: 

At Ridgebury Farm and Stables in Ridgefield, licensed occupational, physical, and speech therapists create individualized treatment plans for their patients that incorporate the use of horses. In 2021, this beautiful farm also became home to Ridgebury Riders, a non-profit organization that provides little-to-no-cost animal assisted therapy for individuals with mental, social, and physical challenges. The staff’s dedication to their patients’ wellbeing and expanding access to innovative therapies is inspiring! 

With Kids Who Code:

I visited the Hall Neighborhood House in Bridgeport to check out the technology curriculum offered at the Alan Wallack STEM Learning Center. The 60 kids enrolled in the center’s summer program were in the middle of coding their basketballs to move from one end of the court to the other. The computer skills they learn will be sure to serve them well come the start of the school year. I was thrilled to hear Bridgeport Public Schools are on track to have one of these STEM centers in each of their 28 educational facilities within the decade. Keep on coding kids!

Out on the Water: 

Of the Norwalk Police Department’s many responsibilities, one of its most difficult tasks is monitoring over 22 miles of coastline and 12-square-miles of the Long Island Sound and Norwalk Harbor. Members of the Marine Unit took me out to see their patrol area which includes the Copps Island Oyster beds, Norwalk beaches, and nearly 2,000 boat slips. Thank you for keeping us safe on the water.