Ned Lamont

Connecticut has one of the strongest public health infrastructures in the nation, and we will continue to lead regardless of shifts in Washington. To address emerging threats like Hantavirus or Ebola, we are ready to take the lead if needed, with state-level surveillance and rapid response. Our Department of Public Health (DPH) can rely on our world-class health institutions here, from UConn Health to Yale.

I have worked to strengthen our local health departments, expand healthcare access, and protect public health. After the Trump administration tried to cut more than $150 million of our public health funding, we want to be ready for any challenges that might arise. We have invested in our state public health laboratory to ensure we have cutting-edge diagnostic capabilities right here in Connecticut.

Above all, we know, public health is built on trust; After the pandemic, we learned being honest, transparent, and explaining clearly and plainly what is needed is critical. I will continue our transparent, data-driven communications to combat misinformation.

Connecticut’s research universities, like UConn and Yale, are the economic engines of our state. When federal funding falters, Connecticut must step up through direct state investment and smart public-private partnerships. We recently approved $35 million in grant research funding for Uconn and Uconn health to fill in from cuts from the Trump Administration, and we will continue to do so.

We have to be creative. We have implemented matching grants and venture capital initiatives—like Connecticut Innovations— that have been very successful. The goal is to keep these institutions moving forward, bringing new ideas, and sparking new startups.

This research then connects with the state’s core economic strengths: bioscience, green energy, and advanced manufacturing. We have programs like the Technology Incubator Program, that ensures that breakthroughs made in Connecticut labs turn into businesses that stay in Connecticut. They in turn create the kind of highly skilled jobs we need, and give us the edge to keep our state at the forefront of global innovation. We don’t just want to train the best minds; we want them building their futures right here.

There’s no sugarcoating it: energy costs in Connecticut are too high, and it impacts our families and our economic competitiveness. My strategy focuses on two pillars: strict utility accountability and aggressive source diversification.

First, we are holding utilities like Eversource and UI accountable. I recently introduced a proposal that would add an affordability standard for utilities, have to deliver on service to renew their franchises, and have them implement cost-reduction technologies.

Second, we must reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. We’ve secured the future of the Millstone Nuclear Power Station, and we are aggressively expanding into offshore wind and solar. By scaling up regional clean energy procurement and upgrading our grid infrastructure, we will stabilize long-term costs, reduce our reliance on volatile fossil fuels, and achieve our mandate of a 100% zero-carbon electricity supply. Clean energy isn’t just an environmental necessity; it’s an economic one.

Protecting Connecticut’s environment means safeguarding both our natural beauty and the health of our residents. Clean air and clean water are fundamental rights, and our policies ensure a healthier, more sustainable Connecticut for generations to come.

First, we know climate change is already here, so we have to invest in resilience, particularly for our vulnerable coastal communities facing rising sea levels and intense storms. We are using federal funding when possible, but we know many communities cannot wait for a new administration. We need to be ready to fill those gaps at the state level.

We are also aggressively tackling legacy industrial pollution. Through our Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), we have streamlined brownfield remediation, turning contaminated urban sites into vibrant, economic spaces. Transportation is a major driver in carbon emissions, we are making historic investments in public transit and electrification.

The rapidly developing technology of artificial intelligence has the potential of enhancing productivity, fostering innovation, and driving efficiency across nearly all industries. It also carries significant risks for workers, as it can potentially erode accountability, representation, and labor protections.

Generally speaking, I want workers to learn how to use AI as a tool in how they can do their work more efficiently. AI should not be used by management to displace workers. We must position our economy to take advantage of artificial intelligence’s many breakthrough opportunities, while ensuring that this powerful technology is also used safely and responsibly, without hurting worker’s rights.

This session, I supported and signed legislation regulating automated monitoring and surveillance for warehouse workers. In addition, I worked with Senator Maroney to pass legislation that makes sure workers know when AI is used to make employment-related decisions. Humans should be making the final decision in that process. The legislation also makes sure that employers cannot use AI to try to avoid our anti-discrimination laws.