Public Policy & Advocacy
What We Stand For
CAFCA and Connecticut’s Community Action Agencies (CAAs) are committed to advocating for public policies that advance social justice and economic opportunity for all.
We believe everyone deserves the opportunity to realize their potential and fully participate in society, the economy, and their community.
The Promise of Community Action:
“Community Action changes people’s lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live. We care about the entire community, and we are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other.”
CAFCA collaborates with local, state, and federal community partners to help address the causes and conditions of poverty.
Positions & Priorities
National Partners
Legislative Testimony
2025 Legislative Testimony
2024 Legislative Testimony
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- Governor’s Proposed FY 2025 Midterm Budget Adjustments – Department of Labor – February 21, 2024
- Governor’s Proposed FY 2025 Midterm Budget Adjustments – Department of Social Services – February 21, 2024
- Governor’s Proposed FY 2025 Midterm Budget Adjustments, Office of Early Childhood – February 15, 2024
- HB 5048 – Governor’s Proposed FY 2025 Midterm Budget Adjustments for Human Service Agencies – February 21, 2024
- Senate Bill 374: An Act Concerning Equalizing Rates Of Pay For Nonprofit Provider Workers – March 26, 2024
- SB 432 An Act Concerning State Contracts with Nonprofit Human Services Providers – March 18, 2024
- House Bill 5426: An Act Concerning Fuel Vendor Reimbursement Under The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program – March 14, 2024
- Senate Bill 364: An Act Concerning Supplemental Nutrition Assistance – March 14, 2024
- In support of Senate Bill 36: An Act Establishing A Refundable Child Tax Credit & H.B. 5113: An Act Increasing the Highest Marginal Rate of the Personal Income Tax and Establishing a Capital Gains Surcharge to Provide Funding for Certain Child-Related, Municipal and Higher Education Initiatives – March 6, 2024
- Senate Bill 36: An Act Establishing A Refundable Child Tax Credit – March 6, 2024
- House Bill 5369: An Act Concerning a Benefits Cliff Pilot Program – March 5, 2024
- House Bill 5040: An Act Establishing a Child Tax Credit Against the Personal Income Tax, House Bill 5044: An Act Establishing a Child Tax Credit Against the Personal Income Tax, and House Bill 5034: An Act Establishing a Child Tax Credit Against the Personal Income Tax – February 13, 2024
2023 Legislative Testimony
- CAFCA SSBG Allocation Plan Testimony, Sept 2023
- CAFCA Testimony - CSBG Allocation Plan, Sept 2023
- Senate Bill 981: An Act Concerning Revenue Items to Implement the Governor's Budget - April 3, 2023
- House Bill 6890: An Act Concerning Transit-Oriented Communities - March 15, 2023 (Watch our testimony, beginning at the 4:15:30 mark)
- Senate Bill 10: An Act Promoting Access to Affordable Prescription Drugs, Health Care Coverage, Transparency in Health Care Costs, Home and Community-Based Support for Vulnerable Persons, and Rights Regarding Gender Identity and Expression (Section 11) - March 9, 2023
- Senate Bill 1053: An Act Establishing a Task Force to Study and Make Recommendations Concerning the Elderly Nutrition Program - March 7, 2023 (Watch our testimony, beginning at the 4:27:00 mark)
- House Bill 6659: An Act Concerning the State Budget for the Biennium Ending June 30, 2025 and Making Appropriations Therefor (Human Services Provisions) - March 1, 2023 (Watch our testimony, beginning at the 7:07:45 mark)
- Senate Bill 991: An Act Concerning Medicaid Reimbursement for Community Health Workers - February 28, 2023 (Watch our testimony, beginning at the 6:49:00 mark)
- Senate Bill 1052: An Act Concerning Area Agencies on Aging - February 28, 2023
- House Bill 6703: An Act Concerning the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program - February 28, 2023
- House Bill 6612: An Act Concerning Nonprofit Health and Human Services Providers - February 28, 2023
- Senate Bill 772: An Act Increasing the Applicable Percentage of the Earned Income Tax Credit - February 27, 2023 (Watch our testimony, beginning at the 14:20 mark)
- Senate Bill 771: An Act Establishing a Refundable Child Tax Credit - February 27, 2023
- House Bill 6659: An Act Concerning the State Budget for the Biennium Ending June 30, 2025 and Making Appropriations Therefor (Baby Bonds) - February 16, 2023 (Watch our testimony, beginning at the 14:10 mark)
- House Bill 5538: An Act Concerning the Providing of Paper Copies of Periodic Statements by Financial Institutions - February 10, 2023
- House Bill 5537: An Act Concerning Requests for Documentation from Banks Made Pursuant to Applications for Social Services - February 10, 2023
- House Bill 5781: An Act Concerning a Study of the Needs of Senior Citizens - February 2, 2023 (Watch our testimony, beginning at the 22:45 mark)
- House Bill 6554: An Act Appropriating Funds for Certain Homelessness Programs - February 2, 2023
2022 Legislative Testimony
- Public Hearing on the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Allocation Plan for FFY 23 - September 28, 2022
- Public Hearing on the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) Allocation Plan for FFY 23 - September 28, 2022
- Public Hearing on the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Block Grant Allocation Plan for FFY 2023 – August 29, 2022
- Public Hearing on the Proposed Amendment to the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) Block Grant Allocation Plan for FFY 2023 – August 29, 2022
- Senate Bill 487: An Act Establishing the Infant and Toddler Early Care and Family Support Initiative - March 30, 2022 (Watch our testimony at the 4:33 mark)
- Senate Bill 464: An Act Concerning the Failure to File for Certain Grand List Exemptions - March 25, 2022
- House Bill 5431: An Act Concerning Funding Received by the State Under the Federal American Rescue Plan Act - March 18, 2022 (Watch our testimony at the 2:13 mark)
- House Bill 5403: An Act Establishing a Child Tax Credit Against the Personal Income Tax - March 15, 2022 (Watch our testimony at the 2:33 mark)
- Senate Bill 383: An Act Increasing the Applicable Percentage of the Earned Income Tax Credit - March 15, 2022 (Watch our testimony at the 2:33 mark)
- House Bill 5429: An Act Concerning Transit-Oriented Development - March 14, 2022 (Watch our testimony at the 2:26 mark)
- House Bill 5342: An Act Concerning Membership of the Low-Income Energy Advisory Board - March 10, 2022 (Watch our testimony at the 3:31 mark)
- House Bill 5315: An Act Establishing a Financial Wellness Trust Fund and Authorizing the Treasurer to Establish a Center for Financial Wellness - March 10, 2022 (Watch our testimony at the 3:51 mark)
- Senate Bill 289: An Act Concerning Oversight and Funding of the Connecticut Fatherhood Initiative - March 8, 2022
- Senate Bill 29: An Act Concerning the Earned Income Tax Credit - March 3, 2022 (Watch our testimony at the 5:15 mark)
- Senate Bill 168: An Act Establishing a Right to Housing - March 1, 2022
- Senate Bill 201: An Act Establishing The Healthy Housing Assistance Pilot Program - March 1, 2022
- House Bill 5040: An Act Concerning the Governor's Budget Recommendations for Human Services - March 1, 2022 (Watch our testimony at the 4:18 mark)
- House Bill 5231: An Act Concerning Data Collection to Prevent Malnutrition among Senior Citizens - March 1, 2022 (Watch our testimony at the 4:18 mark)
- Public Hearing on the Governor’s Proposed FY ’23 Budget Adjustments Issues Related to Human Services - February 23, 2022 (Watch our testimony at the 6:54 mark)
- Public Hearing on the Governor’s Proposed FY ’23 Budget Adjustments Issues Related to the Office of Early Childhood - February 17, 2022
- Public Hearing on the Governor’s Proposed FY ’23 Budget Adjustments Issues Related to Conservation & Development - February 15, 2022
- Informational Hearing on the Continuation of Emergency Declarations and Limited Executive Orders - February 8, 2022
2021 Legislative Testimony
- Public Hearing on the Social Services Block Grant Allocation Plan for FY ’22 – September 21, 2021
- Public Hearing on the Community Services Block Grant Allocation Plan for FFY 22 – September 21, 2021
- Public Hearing on the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) Block Grant Allocation Plan for FFY 2022 – August 20, 2021
- Public Hearing on the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Block Grant Allocation Plan for FFY 2022 – August 20, 2021
- Senate Bill 1100: An Act Concerning the Failure to File for Certain Grand List Exemptions – April 20, 2021
- House Bill 6666: An Act Concerning the Department of Public Health’s Recommendations Regarding Various Revisions to the Public Health Statutes – March 29, 2021
- House Bill 6662: An Act Declaring Racism as a Public Health Crisis and Establishing the Commission on Racial Equity in Public Health – March 26, 2021
- Senate Bill 340: An Act Concerning Funding for Housing Services – March 26, 2021
- Senate Bill 178: An Act Increasing the Applicable Percentage of The Earned Income Tax Credit – March 17, 2021
- Senate Bill 1024: An Act Concerning Zoning Authority, Certain Design Guidelines, Qualifications of Certain Land Use Officials and Certain Sewage Disposal Systems – March 15, 2021
- House Bill 6227: An Act Establishing a Task Force to Study Work-Based Learning Opportunities in Industries with a Hiring Need in the State – March 9, 2021
- House Bill 6442: An Act Concerning Equitable Access to Broadband – March 9, 2021
- Senate Bill 958: An Act Allowing Certain Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Beneficiaries to Use Electronic Benefit Transfer Cards at Participating Restaurants – March 4, 2021
- House Bill 6519: An Act Concerning Data Collection to Prevent Malnutrition Among Senior Citizens – March 4, 2021
- Appropriations Testimony on Governor’s Proposed FY 2022-2023 Budget for Human Services Agencies – March 3, 2021
- Senate Bill 881: An Act Concerning Workforce Development – March 2, 2021
- House Bill 6471: An Act Establishing a Public-Private Partnership to Deliver Cost-Effective Human Services and Deter Fraud – February 23, 2021
- Senate Bill 912: An Act Concerning Funding and Oversight of Fatherhood Initiatives – February 23, 2021
- Senate Bill 86: An Act Appropriating Funds for Housing Resources for the Homeless and to Prevent Homelessness – February 18, 2021
- Senate Bill 804: An Act Concerning Inclusion in Certain Communities – February 18, 2021
- House Bill 5681: An Act Concerning Municipal Opportunity Reimbursement and Educational Equity – February 18, 2021
- Senate Bill 764: An Act Concerning Medicaid Providers – February 16, 2021
- Senate Bill 873 – An Act Mitigating Adverse Tax Consequences Resulting from Employees Working Remotely During Covid-19, and Concerning the Removal of Liens on the Property of Public Assistance Beneficiaries and a Three-Tiered Grants In Lieu Of Taxes Program – February 16, 2021
- House Bill 6416-An Act Concerning the Removal of Liens on the Property of Public Assistance Beneficiaries – February 16, 2021
- House Bill 6103-An Act Concerning Property Tax Exemptions for Property Used for Charitable Purposes – February 3, 2021
2020 Legislative Testimony
- Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Allocation Plan for 2020-2021 & CSBG CARES Act Supplemental – August 26, 2020
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Allocation Plan for 2020-2021 – August 26, 2020
- Senate Bill 346: An Act Concerning Public Options for Health Care in Connecticut – March 5, 2020
- Senate Bill 248: An Act Concerning Access to Identity Documents by Homeless Youth and Young Adults – March 6, 2020
- House Bill 5220: An Act Expanding Eligibility in the Care4Kids Program to Parents Participating In an Even Start Program or Enrolled in Certain Secondary Education Programs – March 6, 2020
- House Bill 5222: An Act Expanding Eligibility in the Care4Kids Program for Homeless Families – March 6, 2020
- Senate Bill 273: An Act Creating a Task Force to Consider Dual Delivery of State-Administered Human Services by Community Nonprofit Agencies – March 5, 2020
- House Bill 5308, An Act Requiring the Department of Social Services to Work With the United States Department of Agriculture to Explore Certain Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Options – March 5, 2020
- Senate Bill 175, An Act Concerning Electricity Shut Off Notifications – February 27, 2020
- Governor’s Proposed Midterm Budget Adjustments: Human Services – February 19, 2020
- Governor’s Proposed Midterm Budget Adjustments: Office of Early Childhood – February 13, 2020
- Governor’s Proposed Midterm Budget Adjustments: Department of Housing – February 11, 2020