HARTFORD, CT (WFSB) – Tolls could be a tough sell for many here in Connecticut, but some are trying to make them a little more palatable.

One lawmaker is proposing a discount for low income residents.

There are a few plans out there, including one by Governor Lamont.

The state needs revenue and tolls are one way to get it.

Another lawmaker is proposing a discount for people with low incomes and those on a fixed income such as the elderly.

“My position on electronic tolling is very clear. We are going to focus on just on those big tractor trailer trucks and that will raise something like 250 million dollars, something I think I can get through this legislature,” said Governor Ned Lamont.

In his first state of the state address, Lamont announced major transportation improvements. He supports tolls but only on big trucks.

Some Republicans say they don’t like tolls in any form.

“We’ve had very little details. We range from 82 gantries to the amount of money it will raise, all of it is speculation,” said Senator Tony Hwang.

Republicans say there are other ways to pay for transportation, prioritizing what they borrow money for, but that could mean less money for cities and towns.

As for details, we may learn more when Lamont makes his budget address next week.

Read the full article here

WESTPORT — Hoping to demonstrate a united front, a group of state legislators, local officials and environmental activists held a beach news conference Saturday afternoon focused on banning single-use plastic bags in Connecticut.

Westport was the first municipality in the state to do so, 10 years ago, and several involved with that fight, including state Rep. Jonathan Steinberg, D-Westport, spoke Saturday of its importance.

“I do believe it is important to bring all the shareholders into this dialogue,” noted State Sen. Tony Hwang, R-Fairfield, noting the manufacturing of the single-use bags was poor business.

“I’m fully supportive of (a statewide ban) … for the environment, but for good business as well,” he said.

Read the Full Article HERE

On Wednesday, February 13th, the Transportation Committee will consider HB 7098, a raised bill concerned with all commuter rail infrastructure projects. State Senator Tony Hwang (R-28) released the following statement insisting fully operational Positive Train Control is a necessary component of this legislation.

“Metro-North Railroad is part of the way of life in southwestern Connecticut. Every day, thousands of residents rumble over its tracks for work, school, or to head into New York City for a show or a ballgame. Like the other parts of our daily lives, we want Metro-North to be efficient and, most importantly, safe. We don’t want to have to worry when we travel. Ten years ago, Congress passed legislation that all railroads in the United States must install Positive Train Control (PTC), a life-saving system that helps avoid deadly rail accidents, on their railways.

A computerized network of GPS, sensors, transmitters and other equipment that reduces the potential for human error, PTC could have prevented multiple rail accidents in the years since Congress instructed Metro North to act. The U.S. Government gave the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) $1 Billion to complete the task on all the rail lines they oversee, including Metro-North. A decade later, it’s still not finished.

In recent conversations with Metro-North leadership as well as CT DOT, I have been told that metro north has been fully installed, but is not yet fully operational.

I penned a letter to Metro-North President Catherine Rinaldi, as well as an op-ed to the Hearst CT NewsTimes on September 7th, asking Metro-North leadership to answer this important question:

What is the plan to get PTC fully operational as quickly as possible and When?

Unfortunately, we learned that although Metro-North’s PTC system would be installed by the December 31st 2018 deadline, the system will not be “fully operational.” In her response, Metro-North President Catherine Rinaldi stated she is “highly confident” that metro-north will have met the four required criteria to be approved for an “alternative schedule for PTC implementation” that gives them until 2020 to have the system fully operational.

A two-year delay? That is unacceptable and deeply troubling. Neither Metro-North nor CT DOT seem to grasp the urgency with which they need to act to ensure it is fully operational.

Passenger and worker safety, not meeting arbitrary deadlines, should be Metro-North’s and our CT Department of Transportation’s top priority in Commuter Rail service. We know PTC will improve railway safety. CT DOT and Metro-North needs to get this done. No excuses.  No more delays. It’s about our money, our safety, and our rail line. We want accountability and action.

As Sarah E. Feinberg, [then] administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration, said in 2016, “Every day that passes without PTC (Positive Train Control), we risk adding another preventable accident to a list that is already too long.” If the FRA administrator was that concerned, I am and our legislature should be too.”

For anyone wishing to submit testimony in support of this legislation, please write an email to me (tony.hwang@cga.ct.gov) and to the Transportation Committee (tratestimony@cga.ct.gov) with the subject heading “Vote Yes to Pass HB 7098 – Implement Positive Train Control”

Just last month, Apple iPhone and Mac users were shocked to hear that a glitch in the device’s FaceTime app allows anyone calling to use the recipient’s phone to eavesdrop. The glitch allows anyone to place a FaceTime call to any number, and even without the recipient accepting the call, the caller could gain access to the recipient’s microphone and even a live feed of the recipient’s front-facing camera.

This is an incredibly concerning breach of privacy, and highlights the need for government and private sector to coordinate and cooperate to ensure individual user privacy as well as the security of government and corporate entities.

State Senator Tony Hwang has introduced a bill to the CT General Assembly that, if passed, would establish the Office of the Cybersecurity Czar within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP). This bill will enhance and broaden the scope of our current Chief Cybersecurity Risk Officer beyond the Department of Administrative Services focusing on governmental and homeland security. This bill stipulates that the position would have the responsibility to develop policies, suggestions, and resources that will address the needs of (1) National and State Homeland Security including security of utilities and infrastructure, (2) Corporate Cybersecurity to protect trade secrets and clients’ data privacy, and (3) protection for individual consumer’s personal data and application security.

SB 709 – AN ACT CREATING A DIVISION OF CYBER SECURITY WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES AND PUBLIC PROTECTION

“It is time that our state has a dedicated group of people that deals with every level of cybersecurity in our state. We know that the pervasiveness of cyberspace and the World Wide Web has created opportunities for criminal and possible terror tactics to operate within it. Our personal and business dependency on unruly digital and cyber technology pose a real threat to the security of our state and the safety of Connecticut residents,” said Senator Hwang. “Government institutions, major corporations and individuals have suffered from hacking, and I believe the creation of this position within DESPP is a necessary step towards confronting the problems we are facing now and will continue to face in the future.”

“I envision this senior cybersecurity position to have the vision and responsibility to consult with and advise the Governor, the Legislature, state agencies, and private companies in the state to develop and implement a more integrated approach to protecting our cyber space, in addition to creating very clear recommendations and accessible resources for individuals,” Hwang continued. “It should be in everyone’s interest to protect our own and each other’s information, data, finances, etc. and the person who fills this position would have the expertise and the mandate to ensure we are all on the same page in this pursuit.”

This legislation has been reserved for a subject matter public hearing on February 14^th at 11:00am. For any individuals, agency officials, and private sector professionals wishing to testify on this bill, please contact my office to arrange in-person testimony or send a copy of your written testimony to the Public Safety and Security Committee (pstestimony@cga.ct.gov) and to my office (tony.hwang@cga.ct.gov) with the subject line: “Vote to Pass SB 709 – Make CT Secure”

Read the article in the Fairfield Citizen here

State Senator Tony Hwang (R-28), Senate Ranking Member on Higher Education & Employment Advancement Committee released the following statement in regard to the announcement by the University of Connecticut that the Board of Trustees had selected Katsouleas to be the 16th President of the University

“I would like to extend my most sincere congratulations to Thomas Katsouleas for his unanimous selection to be the new President of the University of Connecticut. Mr. Katsouleas is clearly an excellent fit for UConn, as a dedicated research scientist and focus entrepreneurial public/private collaboration, these are critical skills to lead our flagship state university,” said Senator Hwang.

“UConn has experienced some difficult times recently, as the state struggles to balance our budget and provide stability and appropriate financial assistance to its’ academic and community mission. However, the University has continued to offer academic and athletic excellence to it’s students, and I look forward to working closely with Mr. Katsouleas to ensure that UConn has what it needs to continue to be an economic and educational driver for this state. I hope especially to work with him on encouraging students to live and work in Connecticut after graduation. There are so many opportunities here, and we need to do our best to not only help develop these young adults but also provide them with the opportunity to find a good, high-paying job, an affordable place to live, and a community to enjoy.”

“I would also like to extend my thanks to UConn’s outgoing President, Susan Herbst, who did an admirable job during a very difficult time for the state and for the University. I appreciate her hard work and her willingness to make difficult decisions during her tenure. I will want wish her continued success.”

I am excited to work with new DOT nominee Joe Giulietti, a former executive of Metro North, to foster a reinvigorated relationship between Connecticut and our MTA partners. Rail lines in Fairfield county are a part of everyday life for so many of my constituents, but have been neglected, slow and in disrepair for far too long. I am encouraged that our new Transportation Commissioner comes from such a rich background of railway management experience who understands what needs to be done to improve the safety, speed, and reliability of Connecticut’s railways.

An integral part of that renewed infrastructure is the full implementation of Positive Train Control, a mechanized system of warnings and safety nets that will significantly increase commuter safety. Metro North has been slow in both its implementation and reporting of this system it is mandated to install, and I am hoping that Acting Commissioner Giulietti can assist in pressuring Metro North to finish this decade-long process.

Take a look at the footage from the Transportation Committee hearing yesterday where I had a chance to speak on these issues.

State Senator Tony Hwang announced today that the Legislature’s Aging Committee has raised the following bills to be considered by the committee.

State Senator Tony Hwang (R-28) proposed four bill concepts to the Aging Committee that were raised during Aging Committee meeting. These bills include increased funding for aging-in-place initiatives, expanded eligibility for Alzheimer’s respite care, an income tax deduction for long-term care insurance premiums, and increased financial assistance for grandparents and non-parent relatives raising children. The bills are scheduled for a public hearing on February 14th at 10:30am.

• HB 6170 – AN ACT INCREASING FUNDING FOR AGING IN PLACE INITIATIVES.
• SB 563 – AN ACT CONCERNING AN INCOME TAX DEDUCTION FOR LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE PREMIUMS.
• HB 6169 – AN ACT INCREASING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR GRANDPARENTS AND OTHER NONPARENT RELATIVES RAISING NEEDY CHILDREN.
• HB 6173 – AN ACT EXPANDING ELIGIBILITY FOR THE ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE RESPITE CARE PROGRAM.

“We need to invest in our caregivers. Many of them are not professionals, and are not being paid for the thousands of hours of personal care they provide every year. People should be allowed to live their later years at home, and not have to move into a retirement home or assisted living center,” said Hwang. “And that option shouldn’t be accompanied by such immense financial pressure. In these times of tough budgets, we still need to prioritize caring for our most vulnerable populations, especially our seniors who have lived, worked, and paid taxes to the state of Connecticut their whole lives.”

As a former Vice-Chair of the Aging Committee, Senator Hwang remains an effective and staunch advocate for senior issues, and is committed to ensuring that Connecticut’s valued seniors have all the resources and support to live their life with the dignity and respect they deserve.

Senator Hwang was one of the most outspoken advocates last year when the budget for the Medicare Savings Program, which helps seniors pay for certain healthcare expenses, was cut in half and helped successfully restore those funds before any damage was done. He was also able to introduce and pass greater protections for seniors inquiring about reverse mortgages, exempt social security income up to $100,000 for joint filers, and bring the estate and gift tax rates to parity with federal law.

“Caring for our loved ones can be incredibly difficult, and we should incentivize and reward those caregivers. If these bills are approved, I strongly believe that they will reduce the financial burden many face when caring for their family, and I am proud to still be leading the charge on these issues.”

All four of the above bills are scheduled for a public hearing on Thursday, February 14, 2019 at 10:30 AM in Room 1B of the LOB. To submit written testimony, email me at Tony.Hwang@cga.ct.gov and also copy to agetestimony@cga.ct.gov. If you wish to testify in person, please contact our office to coordinate your arrival at the Legislative Office Building at the CT State Capitol (860) 240-8805.

Aging Committee Public Hearing Agenda – Feb. 14th

On Wednesday, January 30th Sen. Hwang met with Christina Allen and Scott Smith of the Veterans Administration in Connecticut to release a public service announcement about mental health resources and support for Veterans, their families, and caregivers.

24/7 crisis line: 1-800-273-8255, then press 1. (for veterans, family members and their caregivers)

The crisis line can also be found online at www.veteranscrisisline.net.

24/7 psychiatric emergency room at their West Haven Facility

950 Campbell Avenue
West Haven, CT 06516