Jillian Gilchrest (D-West Hartford) has been named House chair of the Human Services Committee.

By Ronni Newton

Speaker of the House Matt Ritter (D-Hartford) and House Majority Leader Jason Rojas (D-East Hartford, Manchester) announced Wednesday that Jillian Gilchrest (D-West Hartford), who was recently re-elected to her third term, will serve as House chair of the Human Services Committee.

“Jillian is a proven leader in our caucus,” Ritter said in statement. “I know she will seize this opportunity and work incredibly hard on policy that impacts some of our state’s most vulnerable residents.”

“Throughout her professional career, and in her role as a legislator, Rep. Gilchrest has built a reputation of being a fierce advocate for Connecticut’s most vulnerable populations,” Rojas said in a statement. “In many ways she is the conscience of our House Democratic Caucus. She is hyper-focused on prevention, and accessible and inclusive systems that truly meet the needs of people and families. The Human Services Committee will continue to have a key role in ensuring we rebuild our social safety net to meet individual’s basic needs. I’m confident Rep. Gilchrest will bring the compassion, empathy, and experience needed to serve as an effective leader of this committee.”

Gilchrest expressed her appreciation for the appointment. “The Human Services Committee oversees all matters relating to the Department of Social Services, and the Departments of Aging and Disability Services. This includes Connecticut’s Medicaid Program, which covers 22% of the state’s population including one-third of Connecticut children and four in 10 Connecticut births. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Legislature, the Department of Social Services, and the many professionals who provide care throughout Connecticut to ensure that our state can provide residents with the health care and support services they need.”

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