Legislature Hears Calls for a Just Recovery in Connecticut

Demands for a just recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic reached Congress and the State Legislature this week, as the historic American Rescue Plan was signed into law and hearings at the state legislature highlighted Husky for Immigrants who are now excluded from health care coverage and workers' compensation presumption for essential workers who contract COVID-19.

The Connecticut Congressional delegation estimates that the American Rescue Plan will bring over $10 billion to workers, families, children, small business and municipalities in Connecticut for relief to make ends meet as a result of the pandemic shutdown, enhance unemployment insurance,  the child tax credit and nutrition, provide the vaccine and PPE, and re-open schools safely.

Press conferences, zoom meetings and prep sessions were held daily for an array of bills expanding democratic rights in Connecticut.

The Husky for Immigrants bill SB 596 that would expand health coverage to those without documents brought testimony from 245 people.

A letter from the Husky for Immigrants Coalition and 306 health care providers in Connecticut to the Human Services Committee said, “As health care providers, we recognize our responsibility to care for all patients, regardless of race, income, or immigration status. Unfortunately, our state laws do not reflect that same commitment.”.

The providers urged support of SB 599. to “remove immigration status from HUSKY eligibility rules and finally allow our most vulnerable community members to access quality medical care.”

Three were many courageous and heartbreaking testimonies from the immigrant community. Undocumented young people stepped forward to tell their stories of the horrible impact of not having health coverage, especially when serious illness occurs. They were praised for their courage by committee co-chair Sen. Marilyn Moore.

The final testimony came from Lisa Bergmann, representing the Connecticut Communist Party Winchester/Newhallville Club, who told the committee, “I work in the health care field, supporting unionized food service workers in Connecticut in accessing health benefits. Many of these workers are undocumented. They are paying the same amount in taxes as their co-workers who were born in this country, however they are unable to access state health programs such as Husky.

“During this past year, nearly all of the workers I support in my job were laid off. I was able to support some workers in transitioning to Husky when they lost their jobs.  However, the undocumented workers could not qualify for Husky and were left with no insurance once their employer stopped paying for their coverage.  In these cases, I searched for free clinics for these members, but many free clinics are open only for limited hours and do not have specialized care that is needed for common chronic conditions such as diabetes and cancer.  Some of these members ended up in the hospital soon after their coverage ended due to lack of access to their medication or other routine care.

“Beyond the unionized workforce, our undocumented community is usually doing the hardest jobs that include the fewest employer-paid benefits.  This is the community that needs Husky the most.  If our undocumented neighbors lack access to care for COVID, STI’s, cancer, diabetes, hypertension, etc, our whole community is at higher risk for these illnesses. 

She concluded, “If SB 956 is passed, it would make our entire state safer for everyone.”

The Labor and Public Employees Committee heard testimony in support of establishing workers' compensation presumption for essential workers who contracted COVID-19.

Sal Luciano, president of the CT AFL-CIO explained, “Essential frontline workers have been working nonstop since the start of the pandemic to keep our state running. But as thousands of them contracted COVID-19 on the job, their employers are unfairly denying them critical wage and health benefits through workers’ compensation.

“The current law requires workers to demonstrate that they acquired an illness at work to qualify for benefits...which can take months or even years. But a bill before the Labor Committee today would help our essential workers by creating a presumption that they got sick on the job. Their employers could still contest their workers’ compensation, but the burden of proof now falls on management.”

“Essential workers kept going to work even as the pandemic raged and killed over 7,700 Connecticut residents. Let’s make sure we take care of them when they get sick,” he said.

A press conference at the state capitol on Thursday celebrated the passage of the Crown Act, led by Rep. Robyn Porter, that upholds the dignity and rights of women of color and makes workplace discrimination against women for their hairstyles illegal. Connecticut is the eighth state and first state in 2021 to pass this legislation.

On Monday the Recovery for All Coalition is organizing testimony on two bills that would create a more fair tax structure so that the tax rate of the wealthiest will be increased to equal what the vast majority of residents pay.