da/si 1 Senate January 6, 2021 CONNECTICUT GENERAL ASSEMBLY SENATE Wednesday, January 6, 2021 On Wednesday after the first Monday of January, A.D., 2021, the date by the Constitution of the State of Connecticut for the meeting of the General Assembly, the Senate was called to order by Secretary of State Dennis Merrill on the South Lawn of the Capitol due to COVID-19 pandemic. The Senate convened in the Senate Chamber in Hartford at 10:04 a.m. Secretary of State Dennis Merrill in the Chair. The Senate was called to order by the Secretary of the State, Dennis Merrill. THE CHAIR: Good morning. I hereby call this chilly, unusual session to order. By the power vested in me by Connecticut General Statute Section 2-1, I, Dennis Merrill, Secretary of the State, acting as President of the Senate, call to order the 2021 Senate of the Connecticut General Assembly. Let us please join together for prayer. Senate Chaplain Rabbi Philip Lazowski. SENATE CHAPLAIN RABBI PHILIP LAZOWSKI: Thank you. Our thought for today is from Exodus 15:26, "I the Lord am your healer." Friends, we have not seen each other since the onset of this terrible pandemic, which has taken so many lives here in da/si 2 Senate January 6, 2021 Connecticut, around the nation and around the world. According to The Hartford Courant, as of January 3rd, 2021, in the State of Connecticut, we have lost 6,099 lives to the virus. Everyone knows a family who has seen loss as a result of this terrible sickness. As we begin the new season of the Connecticut Senate, let us pause a moment of silence for the dead and let us pray for comfort for all their mourners. A moment of silence. O Merciful God on High, bring under the soft sheltering wings of Your Divine Presence of the souls of the women, men and youth who have perished in this terrible coronavirus pandemic. To those who suffer with illness, we ask for healing. Strengthen the hands of the caregivers, the doctors, the nurses and health workers who extend themselves every day on behalf of the afflicted and all our responders. Grant them strength, protection, and success. Guide and bless the newly elected Senators and the returned Senators. Bless them all. Keep them in good health, as they may work together to pass wise laws, guide the Senate -- guide the Senate to address the urgent and important issues of caring for the most vulnerable and restoring livelihoods of workers and businesspeople who stand at the brink of disaster. Open their hearts and minds of this body to protect and restore the sick, the poor and the needy. Bless the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, Martin Looney, and all the Members of the Senate to work together wisely and effectively to legislate for the good of the people. da/si 3 Senate January 6, 2021 Bless the Governor, Ned Lamont and the Lieutenant Governor, Susan Bysiewicz to govern, to restore prosperity and security to all the people of Connecticut. May this time be remembered in the years to come as a moment when we came together to work, to heal our society and serve the common good. Hear us as we pray and let us all say amen. THE CHAIR: Amen. Thank you, Rabbi. Now please direct your attention to our nation's flag for the Pledge of Allegiance. SENATORS: I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One Nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. THE CHAIR: Thank you very much. You may take your seats and I will now call the roll of the Senate. Please speak up if you are present. District 1, John W. Fonfara; District 2, Douglas McCrory; District 3, Saud Anwar; District 4, Steve Cassano; District 5, Derek Slap; District 6, Rick Lopes; District 7, John A. Kissel; District 8, Kevin D. Witkos; District 9, Matt Lesser; District 10, Gary Winfield; District 11, Martin M. Looney; District 12, Christine Cohen; District 13, Mary Abrams; District 14, James Maroney; District 15, Joan V. Hartley; District 16, Rob Sampson; District da/si 4 Senate January 6, 2021 17, Jorge Cabrera. District 18, Heather Somers; District 19, Catherine A. Osten; District 20, Paul M. Formica; District 21, Kevin C. Kelly. District 22 Marilyn Moore. Marilyn Moore. Okay, not present. District 23, Dennis Bradley; District 24, Julie Kushner; District 25, Bob Duff; District 26, Will Haskell; District 27, vacant; District 28, Tony Hwang; District 29, Mae Flexer; District 30, Craig Miner; District 31, Henri Martin; District 32, Eric Berthel. District 33, Norm Needleman. Norm Needleman. Okay. District 34, Paul Cicarella. District 35, Dan Champagne; District 36, Alexandra Kasser. All right, there are -- I’ll go back and just check three not present. Is that correct? Marilyn Moore, Norm Needleman, all right. All right, now, we will come to the Oath of Office. So, if you remain standing, please raise your right hands for the Oath of Office. You do solemnly swear that you will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Connecticut, so long as you continue a citizen thereof and that you will faithfully discharge, according to law, the duties of the Office of Senator to the best of your abilities, so help you God. SENATORS: I do. THE CHAIR: da/si 5 Senate January 6, 2021 Congratulations to everyone. (Applause) Thank you. All right, you may be seated. The next order of business will be the election of the Senate Clerk. The President Pro Tempore Elect will place the name of Michael Jefferson in nomination. [Inaudible] Thank you very much. Would anyone else like to remark or place another name in nomination? I see no further remarks. There being no further nominations, I declare the nominations closed. Michael Jefferson is elected Clerk of the Senate by acclamation. Congratulations, Mr. Jefferson. (Applause) Now you need to come forward for the Oath of Office. Okay. You do solemnly swear that you will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Connecticut, so long as you continue a citizen thereof, and that you will faithfully discharge according to law the duties of office of Senate Clerk, to the best of your abilities, so help you God? THE CLERK: I do. THE CHAIR: Congratulations, sir. (Applause) THE CLERK: da/si 6 Senate January 6, 2021 Thank you. As Senate Clerk, I now appoint Americo Carchia as my Assistant. Assistant Clerk of the Senate, will you come forth, raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear that you will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Connecticut, so long as you continue a citizen thereof, and that you will faithfully discharge, according to law, the duties of the Office of Assistant Senate Clerk to the best of your abilities, so help you God? ASSISTANT CLERK: I do. THE CLERK: Thank you. (Applause) THE CHAIR: Thank you very much. ASSISTANT CLERK: Thank you. THE CHAIR: Now, I will now entertain nominations for President Pro Tempore of the State Senate. Senator Duff. SENATOR BOB DUFF (25TH): Good morning, everybody, and congratulations to our new Senators and our returning Senators. Thank you, da/si 7 Senate January 6, 2021 Madam Secretary and congratulations to our Clerk and our Assistant Clerk. And it gives me great pleasure and honor to nominate Senator Martin Looney for another term as our Senate President Pro Tempore. I've had the great privilege and honor of being the Majority Leader under Senate President Martin Looney for the last six years and I look forward to continuing another two years under his leadership. Senator Looney cares about everyone in our state, not just those in New Haven and his district, and speaks for the voiceless in our state. He's someone who has spent his life dedicated to public service and for the betterment of the people of the State of Connecticut. This is Senator Looney's 41st Session and one that is -- has had remarkable accomplishments over that time. And so, it is in the best interest of this body and the State of Connecticut to continue to have Senator Looney as our Senate President Pro Tempore. Thank you so much. THE CHAIR: Thank you, Senator Duff. Do we have a second? Senator Kelly. SENATOR KEVIN KELLY (21TH): Thank you very much, and congratulations to all Senators and happy new year to everybody who is present with us this morning. On this eve of a very interesting, and I'm going to say a very challenging legislative session, I too da/si 8 Senate January 6, 2021 rise in support of the nomination of Senator Looney as the President Pro Tempore. I have had the opportunity and privilege to be a Senator for the past ten years and have seen his leadership, and I certainly hope that I have the same type of relationship that I know my predecessor had with Senator Looney. He is somebody who believes very, very dearly that this is a very collegial and collaborative institution and that we are all honored and privileged to serve not only in that institution but under his leadership. So, I look forward to working with him and all the voices of the Senate to make sure that we advance the causes of our state and make it a better place to live, work and raise a family. Thank you.