CT State Rep. McCarthy Vahey Appointed Chair Of House Committee

News release from the Connecticut House Democrats:

FAIRFIELD, CT — Rep. Cristin McCarthy Vahey (D-Fairfield, Bridgeport) was appointed as House Chair of the Public Health Committee by Speaker Matt Ritter and Majority Leader Jason Rojas, her second term as Chair of the committee.

“It is an honor to be reappointed as House chair of the Public Health Committee,” Rep. McCarthy Vahey said. “The public health functions of government, things we often take for granted, bring us clean water, safe food, disease prevention, and health promotion. As we continue our work on access to affordable healthcare, mental health, gun violence prevention, and opioids, we will not lose sight of the necessity of those core public health functions. We will push back on any effort to weaken our public health infrastructure. Thank you to Speaker Ritter and Majority Leader Rojas for their faith in me to lead this important committee.”

"Rep. McCarthy Vahey will champion public health policies that put Connecticut residents’ health above the national fray," Speaker Ritter said. "We live in a time where protecting public health is critical. Vaccines save lives and reproductive healthcare is a right - These are Connecticut public health values.”

“Matters of public health are among the most important that the legislature has reasonability for considering and responding to. Rep. McCarthy Vahey, with a graduate degree in social work, has a deep appreciation and understanding of how public health affects the well-being of not only individuals, but entire communities and the state,” Majority Leader Rojas said. “The Public Health Committee has oversight responsibility for the Departments of Public Health; Mental Health and Addiction Services; Developmental Services and the Office of Health Care Access. From ensuring safe drinking water, to monitoring the quality of nursing home care to ensuring the sustainability of our healthcare delivery system, Rep. McCarthy Vahey has the experience, capacity, and work ethic to continue this key role in the legislature.”

As a social worker and long-time co-chair of Fairfield CARES Community Coalition, Rep. McCarthy Vahey has spent over a decade working on youth wellness promotion and substance misuse prevention.

Rep. McCarthy Vahey represents the 133rd District, which includes Fairfield and Bridgeport.