Holly Cheeseman

State Representative – 37th District

HARTFORD – State Representative Holly Cheeseman (R-37) and State Senator Paul Formica (R-20) are inviting constituents to meet with them at the East Lyme Town Hall or the Salem Town Office Building to discuss what’s happening at the Capitol this session. The lawmakers will be reviewing the major issues they are currently facing in the House and Senate, and the status of the state budget. They encourage constituents to attend if they have any questions or concerns about state government.

EAST LYME
When: Wednesday, February 20, 2019
8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
Where: East Lyme Town Hall
Conference Room #1
108 Pennsylvania Avenue, Niantic, CT

SALEM
When: Wednesday, February 20, 2019
5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. (please note updated time)
Where: Salem Town Office Building
Upper Meeting Room
270 Hartford Road, Salem, CT (more…)

This Thursday, February 7th, East Lyme High School is hosting a Dream It, Be It Career Support for Girls Night with Soroptimist International from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Soroptimist International is a federation that offers social and economic empowerment programs to women and girls; striving to ensure that they will always have the resources and opportunities to reach their full potential and live their dreams.

I will be participating in the event, and look forward to speaking with my young constituents about my career path, and hopefully answering any questions they have about theirs.

For more information and/or to register, please contact Deb Moshier-Dunn of the Connecticut Shoreline Soroptimist Club at debm0727@sbcglobal.net or 860-444-9247.

Proposes New Legislation to the General Assembly

HARTFORD — State Representative Holly Cheeseman (R-37) has proposed more bills to Legislative leaders; this time, they concern our students and public health policies.

Bills submitted by Rep. Cheeseman that were referred to the Education and Higher Education & Employment Advancement Committees largely aim to financially support our schools, protect our students and help our Boards of Education run more efficiently. The specific bills include:

• House Bill (H.B.) 5074: Would reduce costs to school districts related to the mandatory behavior management training required of school personnel.
• H.B. 5077: Would lower the reimbursement threshold for special education costs from 4.5 the average pupil cost to 3 times the average pupil cost, and remove the cap on refunds so that grants can be fully funded
• H.B. 5078: Would remove duplicative reporting requirements on school districts and require the Department of Education to develop a database for boards of education to communicate with one another.
• H.B. 5079: Would eliminate unfunded mandates on school districts.
• H.B. 5086: Would create an incentive grant program for school districts to regionalize their transportation services by providing funds for them to purchase vans.
• H.B. 5087: Would permit a school district to reduce its minimum budget requirement in an amount that reflects any actual decline in student enrollment.
• H.B. 5113: Would require public and private institutions of higher education to establish a policy regarding free speech on campus that is in accordance with federal and state constitutional protections.

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Proposes New Legislation to the General Assembly

HARTFORD — All proposals for new laws in the State of Connecticut were due to legislative leaders on Friday, January 18^th. State Representative Holly Cheeseman (R-37) submitted a few bills that would protect Connecticut taxpayers, save them money, and reduce the reach and inefficiencies of our government.

All bill proposals in the General Assembly are considered by legislative committees, and potentially brought to a public hearing, before being raised to the House and Senate for a vote. To read more about the bills that Rep. Cheeseman has proposed or co-sponsored this session, visit her website at www.repcheeseman.com and click on the “Legislation” tab. If you are interested in sharing your opinion on a bill, information on how to testify at a hearing or via email is available at www.cga.ct.gov.

Rep. Cheeseman proposed House Bill (H.B.) 5703, which would allow consumers to be able to use cash as payment in Connecticut businesses. This bill has been referred to the General Law Committee, on which Rep. Cheeseman serves as the lead House Republican. Email testimony to gltestimony@cga.ct.gov.

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With this weekend’s impending storm, Connecticut’s cold weather emergency protocol will be activated from noon on Sunday, January 20th through noon on Wednesday, January 23rd.

United Way of Connecticut 2-1-1 provides 24 hour cold weather resources to those in need. Though there are no warming centers in Southeastern Connecticut, please know that the closest center is located in Middletown at the Columbus House. Please click here for more information on hours and eligibility. In addition, please note that libraries, senior centers and other public locations are good places to keep warm or seek shelter.

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EAST LYME – Gianni Vora, a 6th grader from East Lyme, has entered C-SPAN’s nationwide StudentCam documentary competition that asks what it means to be an American. Vora’s video explores the history of America and discovers that it is not only “America the Beautiful,” but also “America the Resilient.” As a part of his documentary, he interviews State Representative Holly Cheeseman (R-37), asking how women’s voting rights and political leadership make America a better place. For her response, please see the video below.

StudentCam is C-SPAN’s annual national video documentary competition that encourages students to think critically about issues that affect our communities and nation. In 2018, more than 200 student and teacher competition winners across the country were awarded a total of $100,000 in prize money. For more information, visit www.studentcam.org.

Proudly Serving Third Year as Committee Member

HARTFORD — In preparation for her second term as State Representative of East Lyme and Salem, Rep. Holly Cheeseman (R-37) submitted her committee assignment requests to Legislative leaders in December – including one to return to the Energy and Technology Committee. This week, Rep. Cheeseman attended her first Energy and Technology meeting and discovered that she is the only woman serving on the committee.

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EAST LYME – Il Pomod’Oro, a local restaurant and pizzeria located on Boston Post Road, has officially been open for just over a year. To congratulate owner Petrit Marku and his family on this milestone, State Representative Holly Cheeseman (R-37) joined their celebration earlier this week. Rep. Cheeseman expressed gratitude for their contribution to Niantic’s economy upon bringing their successful business, and job opportunities, to the community.

(L to R) East Lyme First Selectman Mark Nickerson, Rep. Cheeseman, Il Pomod’Oro owner Petrit Marku and his son, Brenden.

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Receives Committee Leadership Assignment

HARTFORD — State Representative Holly Cheeseman (R-37) joined legislative colleagues today, on Opening Day of the 2019 Legislative Session, and was sworn in to her second term at the State Capitol. She will serve for two more years as the House Representative for the 37^th General Assembly District of East Lyme and Salem.

“I sincerely thank my constituents for their continued support over the past two years,” said Rep. Cheeseman. “I am eager to get back to work in Hartford, and will persist in putting my community’s safety, well-being and leading interests first. We have a wonderful district here in East Lyme and Salem, and its residents deserve the best from their state government. Please feel free to reach out to me any time with questions, concerns, and ideas for new legislation. I love hearing from you.”

To follow Rep. Cheeseman’s proposed and supported legislation, visit her website (www.repcheeseman.com) and click on the “Legislation” tab, or sign up for her email updates. To follow committee meetings and House debates as they unfold live on Connecticut’s public affairs television network, CT-N, tune your TV to channel 23 in East Lyme and 97 in Salem, or stream the proceedings online at www.ctn.state.ct.us.

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