Cathy Osten Update:
Economic Growth in Southeastern Connecticut | Representing Our Veterans
Dear Friends,
I hope you are enjoying our Spring weather and the warming temperatures. I'd like to update you on a few legislative and other developments that I believe you'll find of interest.
Best Wishes,
Cathy
Representing Our Veterans
I'm proud to say that The Council of State Governments has invited me to serve as a founding member of its Commission on Military and Veterans Affairs. Because of my role as both a lawmaker and as a former U.S. Army veteran, I am going to share my experiences creating public policy that impacts veterans and their families. I'm hopeful that, working with lawmakers from across the country on both sides of the aisle, we will be able to better serve our veterans who have served us so honorably for decades.
Recognizing Military Reservists
I recently voted for a bill that expands the eligibility for veterans’ specialty license plates and driver’s licenses to include former members of the National Guard and former reservists who otherwise don't qualify for federal veterans' benefits.
This is an appropriate thing to do for these soldiers, especially because ever since 9/11 we have increased our military use of reservists and National Guardsmen almost to the point where they are practically members of the regular army or navy.
Aiding Police Who Respond to Mental Health Crisis Calls
This week, I joined the Senate in unanimously passing legislation that will require police officer training on strategies like crisis intervention, which will help them better respond to calls involving individuals experiencing mental health issues. The bill also will develop recommendations on how police officers and social workers can better work together. The bill will require the Police Officer Standards and Training Council to add crisis intervention strategies to officer training, better preparing them to interact with people in crisis who have mental illnesses. Officers are often the first responders to most mental health crises due to a national lack of mental health crisis services; these steps will help them with these sometimes challenging encounters.
Economic Growth in Southeastern Connecticut
Last week I joined Norwich Mayor Peter Nystrom, Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz and others to celebrate an $11.3 million state grant to help pay for the construction of a new 2,700-foot access road from the area of Exit 18 off I-395 to the 384-acre Business Park North in Norwich.
The money comes from the state Community Investment Fund, which I voted to create in 2021. The fund is designed to jumpstart development in cities like Norwich, which was once an industrial and manufacturing powerhouse.
This new access road will help connect Norwich's second business park with the thousands of new jobs in the area that are being created by the building of submarines at Electric Boat in Groton and in the offshore wind industry at the State Pier in New London.
It’s success stories like this that make me happy to announce that the third round of funding for the Community Investment Fund is now available for cities and towns to apply for. Municipalities, nonprofits and community development corporations serving municipalities and nonprofit arts and culture organizations may apply for capital improvement projects and small business capital programs.