State Representative David K. Labriola honored the memory of American servicemen and women who died defending our country’s freedom in a Memorial Day address in Oxford after the town’s annual parade.

Representative Labriola also presented an American flag to the town that has flown over the state capitol in Hartford as a finale to Oxford’s Memorial Day observances.

“Memorial Day is a very important time for all of us,” said Representative Labriola, R-131^st District. “It is when we pause and reflect on the fact that the freedom many Americans take for granted is worth so much that those we honor today were willing to die for it.”

“It is a day to reaffirm our commitment to defending our country’s freedom and our way of life,” Representative Labriola said. “The greatest honor we can pay to our fallen heroes is to ensure they did not die in vain – that the sacrifices they made on behalf of our nation and our people – for you and I – are never forgotten.”

“It is my hope that when we look upon the flag I presented to First Selectman Mary Ann Drayton-Rogers flying in front of Town Hall, that we all say a silent prayer for the men and women of Oxford who died in defense of our country; to protect those who now are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan; and to thank our friends, neighbors and family members who fought for our country in past wars,” Representative Labriola said.

State Representatives Kevin M. DelGobbo and David K. Labriola, and state Senators Joan V. Hartley and Joseph J. Crisco Jr. today announced they have gained approval of a measure that will help provide financial assistance for Naugatuck’s Renaissance Place economic development project.The measure was included in legislation (House Bill 5936) that passed the state House of Representatives and the state Senate Wednesday.

Specifically, the bill authorizes the Department of Economic and Community Development, the Connecticut Development Authority and Connecticut Innovations Inc. to provide up to $30 million in financial assistance to the Naugatuck Economic Development Corporation for the project. The legislation authorizes Naugatuck to proceed with efforts to obtain bond funding for the project, the legislators said.

The measure requires that any financial assistance over $10 million in any two-year period be subject to final review and approval by the state legislature and its Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee.

“We are extremely pleased to have achieved this key milestone for the Renaissance Place project,” said Representative DelGobbo, R-Naugatuck. “Gaining approval for this measure involved an incredible effort on the part of the entire Naugatuck delegation.”

“I was pleased to have the opportunity to work to pass legislation, which provided the Borough of Naugatuck the authorization necessary to seek the funds,” aid Senator Hartley, D-15th District. “This was an important step in the process. However we need to continue to move forward on this most crucial initiative, which will have such significant value to the overall economy of the borough.”

“This measure will enable the Borough of Naugatuck to move forward on the historic Renaissance Place project,” said Representative Labriola, R-131st District. “We worked together in a bipartisan manner to gain approval for this critical legislation.”

“This is a great team effort to help obtain funding for this project that is really related to the future of Naugatuck, and of great benefit to the residents of that community,” said Senator Crisco, D-17th District.

Measure would Give More People Option of Long Term Home Care Alternative to Nursing Homes                   

A bill that significantly widens the eligibility criteria for a program that enables people who need long-term health care to receive it at home rather than at nursing homes received final legislative approval today from the state House of Representatives, said state Representatives Kevin M. DelGobbo, Anthony J. D’Amelio, and David K. Labriola, all of whom cosponsored the bill.

The legislation (Senate Bill 561) was forwarded to Governor M. Jodi Rell to be signed into law.

“I’m incredibly pleased that this initiative is moving forward,” said Representative DelGobbo, R-Naugatuck, one of the principal co-authors of the bill. “This legislation sets the state on the path of dramatically improving the options seniors and other people with long-term care needs will have.”

“We made history today in Connecticut,” said Representative Labriola, R-131^st District. “This landmark legislation will help citizens throughout the state receive health care in the place they cherish most – their homes. I want to thank Joe Stango of Southbury and my constituent Bob Veillette of Naugatuck, for their leadership in advocating for this issue.”

“Many of us have loved ones who need long-term health care and have had no alternative to nursing homes,” said Representative D’Amelio, R-71^st District. “If they had the option of home care instead, most would have chosen that alternative. The measure we approved today will make that option a reality for thousands of Connecticut residents who want to be cared for at home rather than being placed in nursing homes. I’d like to thank Joe Stango and his wife Maria for their efforts on behalf of this legislation. The ‘Money follows the Person’ bill shows that we can accomplish great things for the State of Connecticut when we work together in a bipartisan way”

Mr. Stango, who worked for the legislation for years on behalf of his elderly mother, and Mr. Veillette, who was paralyzed by a stroke, were responsible for gathering thousands of signatures from Connecticut residents in support of the measure, and organized the appearance of several dozen residents who attended and testified in favor of the bill at a public hearing conducted by the state legislature’s Human Services Committee in March.

The legislation will:

• Increase the number of individuals who can be served under the state’s plan for participating in the federal ‘Money Follows the Person’ demonstration program from 700 to 5,000.
• Require the Department of Social Services to develop and implement a plan to be known as the Money follows the Person II, which will significantly expand the eligibility criteria for the program to enable people who formerly would not have qualified for home care services to receive them.
• Create a special account to hold and utilize the additional reimbursement funds (a 25 percent increase) the state will receive from the federal government to implement the program. The funds will he used to improve and enhance the infrastructure necessary for long-term care services in the state.