Posted on January 9, 2019
HARTFORD — State Representative Kathleen McCarty (R-38) joined legislative colleagues today, on Opening Day of the 2019 Legislative Session, and was sworn in to her third term at the State Capitol. She will serve for two more years as the House Representative for the 38th General Assembly District of Waterford and a portion of Montville.
To follow Rep. McCarty’s proposed and supported legislation, visit her website (www.repmccarty.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, or stream the proceedings online at www.ctn.state.ct.us.
This “long” session allows for bills on a variety of issues to be introduced, debated and voted on in committees and legislative chambers. Most importantly, the General Assembly will be facing significant budget challenges during the 2019 Legislative Session. House and Senate Republican budget priorities for the 2019 session continue to include implementing long-term structural changes to restore sustainability and predictability to the budget, and the “Prioritize Progress” transportation plan to fund and protect transportation dollars without tolls or tax increases.
Rep. McCarty has also received her legislative committee assignments for this term. She has been appointed as Ranking Member of the Education Committee, which has cognizance of all matters relating to the Department of Education; local and regional boards of education and the substantive law of collective bargaining covering teachers and professional employees of such boards; vocational rehabilitation; the Commission on the Arts; and libraries, museums and historical and cultural associations. As Ranking Member of this Committee, Rep. McCarty will lead her caucus members on these issues.
In addition, she will again serve on the Appropriations and Public Health Committees. The Appropriations Committee holds jurisdiction over all appropriations and the budgets of state agencies, including state employees’ salaries, benefits and retirement, teachers’ retirement and veterans’ pensions and collective bargaining agreements and arbitration awards for all state employees. The Public Health Committee deals with programs and matters relating to health, emergency medical services, licensing boards, nursing homes, pure food and drugs, mental health, controlled substances, treatment of substance abuse.
“I am grateful and looking forward to returning to the Capitol for my fifth legislation session,” said Rep. McCarty. “It has been a true privilege and honor serving my district over the past four years. I will continue to work very hard to represent all of my constituents and their best interests during this upcoming term. I am particularly honored to be serving as Ranking Member of the Education Committee. As a parent, former educator and long-standing Board of Education member and chairwoman, I value the importance of a quality education for all of Connecticut’s school children. I am looking forward to working in a non-partisan manner with committee members and other stakeholders to ensure that education is kept in the forefront of public policy. It is essential that all students are prepared for success in meeting the challenges of higher education or the workplace. I will also continue to prioritize and support improvements to healthcare and services to seniors, individuals with disabilities and mental health challenges.”
Rep. McCarty can be reached at Kathleen.McCarty@housegop.ct.gov or 800-842-1423. Constituents can also reach her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/repmccarty.
The 2019 Regular Legislative Session will adjourn at midnight on June 5th.
