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From Day One of my Administration, I vowed to fix the student loan system and make sure higher education is a pathway to the middle class – not a barrier to opportunity. Already, my Administration has cancelled student debt for 3.6 million Americans through various actions – delivering lifechanging relief to students and families, and we created the most affordable student loan repayment plan ever: the SAVE plan.

I am proud that my Administration is implementing one of the most impactful provisions of the SAVE plan nearly six months ahead of schedule. Starting next month, borrowers enrolled in SAVE who took out less than $12,000 in loans and have been in repayment for 10 years will get their remaining student debt cancelled immediately. This action will particularly help community college borrowers, low-income borrowers, and those struggling to repay their loans. And, it’s part of our ongoing efforts to act as quickly as possible to give more borrowers breathing room so they can get out from under the burden of student loan debt, move on with their lives and pursue their dreams.

I encourage all borrowers who may be eligible for early debt cancellation to sign up for the SAVE plan at studentaid.gov. Already, 6.9 million borrowers are enrolled in the plan, and 3.9 million have a $0 monthly payment.

Today’s announcement builds on all we’ve been able to achieve for students and student loan borrowers in the past few years.  This includes: fixing the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program so that borrowers who go into public service get the debt relief they’re entitled to under the law; achieving the largest increases in Pell Grants in over a decade to help families who earn less than roughly $60,000 a year; and holding colleges accountable for leaving students with unaffordable debts. And, in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision on our student debt relief plan, we are continuing to pursue an alternative path to deliver student debt relief to as many borrowers as possible as quickly as possible. I won’t back down from using every tool at our disposal to get student loan borrowers the relief they need to reach their dreams.

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Mayhem 8 main event Justin Biggs vs Jimmy Williams Feb 16 Myrtle Beach get your tickets now eventbrite.com or Beast Boxing.

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President Biden and Black voters are discussed by Charlamagne Tha God, co-host of “The Breakfast Club,” and Angela Rye, co-host of “Native Land Pod,” as Biden tries to shore up support among African-Americans. "I may talk about Joe Biden and his shortcomings, but I also say Donald Trump is the end of democracy as we know it,” Charlamagne Tha God tells Joy Reid.

charlamagnethagod #thebreakfastclub #angelarye

A Secret Meeting Led Gayle King & Charles Barkley To Agree To Host “King Charles” On CNN

Collab Spring 2024 Accelerator

Collab is taking applications for its Spring 2024 Business Accelerator Program. This free, 12-week course will provide education, mentoring, and technical assistance to aspiring entrepreneurs who want to build unique businesses to create positive change. For questions, please email Collab, or to apply by the March 10 deadline, please visit Collab New Haven. 

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he is establishing a panel of agency heads within his administration that will be known as the Connecticut Interagency Council on Homelessness and will be responsible for collaborating on a multi-agency approach that strengthen the state’s homelessness prevention and response efforts.

The council will consist of leaders of state agencies that are responsible for housing and intervention support services. It will build upon existing efforts already undertaken by several state agencies, including the Department of Housing, the Department of Social Services, and the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.

“Everyone should have access to a safe, warm place to call home,” Governor Lamont said. “State and local governments, along with our nonprofit partners, need the resources available to them to ensure that fewer people face the possibility of becoming homeless. Between building new housing units, addressing mental health issues, improving access to education and health care, and increasing job support, this issue must be addressed in a holistic manner.”

The governor is tasking the group with focusing its work on three main goals:

1. Strengthening current programs: The council will apply specific knowledge of individual programming to unite policies across state agencies in a way that considers the whole individual – from refining recommendations on improving health and human services for people experiencing homelessness to strengthening housing stability and creating more affordable housing across the state.
2. Improving the effectiveness of the homelessness response system: Perspectives of all state agencies will be considered in sharing and planning new approaches to help connect people experiencing homelessness to services more effectively. This includes immediate assistance for people experiencing homelessness, such as support for emergency shelters and investments in housing stability.
3. Meeting the demands of housing: The council will collaborate on maximizing the use of funding for housing assistance, increasing the supply of permanent supportive housing, improving the effectiveness of rapid rehousing, and evaluating and finding solutions for expanded access to safe and affordable housing for all with an interagency approach of tailoring support to each individual’s specific needs.

Governor Lamont is appointing Housing Commissioner Seila Mosquera-Bruno to serve as the council’s chairperson. Leaders from the following offices will serve as members:

• The Department of Housing
• The Department of Aging and Disability Services
• The Department of Children and Families
• The Department of Correction
• The Department of Labor
• The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
• The Department of Social Services
• The Department of Veterans Affairs
• The Office of Policy and Management
• The Court Support Services Division of the Judicial Branch
• The Connecticut Housing Finance Authority

Additionally, leaders from the following offices will serve as ad hoc members:

• The Department of Developmental Services
• The Department of Economic and Community Development
• The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection
• The Department of Public Health
• The Office of Early Childhood
• The State Department of Education
• The Department of Transportation
• The Department of Higher Education

Governor Lamont is specifically asking the council’s members to uplift the voices of those closest to the issue of homelessness and consider the personal experiences and recommendations of those facing barriers to housing across the state. Additionally, he is asking the council to establish an advisory committee for practitioners and advocates to provide ongoing feedback to state agencies.

Staff from the Office of the Governor will work with legislators in the Connecticut General Assembly on behalf of the council to ensure that the state’s latest challenges and opportunities are understood and addressed in a coordinated and collaborative manner.

Twitter: @GovNedLamont

Facebook: Office of Governor Ned Lamont

HARTFORD, Connecticut – On Wednesday afternoon, Connecticut’s Investment Advisory Council (IAC) convened their first meeting of 2024 at the State Office Building in Hartford. State Treasurer Erick Russell opened the meeting by announcing more than $1.1 billion in investment commitments in the private credit and real estate portfolios of the Connecticut Retirement Plans and Trust Funds (CRPTF). 

In private credit, the Treasurer committed $125 million to ICG North America Credit Partners Fund III LP and $200 million to ICG Liquid Credit Strategies, including ICG Global Loan Fund and ICG Global Total Credit Fund.

Treasurer Russell also announced two European credit investment commitments. He will direct €150 million to ICG Europe Mid-Market Fund II SCSp and €150 million to a customized co-investment program. This equates to approximately $328 million total, at the current exchange rate.

In the state’s real estate portfolio, Treasurer Russell announced his decision to commit $125 million to Penzance DC Real Estate Fund III LP, $200 million to Stonepeak Infrastructure Fund V LP, and $125 million to Homestead Capital USA Farmland Fund IV, LP.

These investment decisions were based on input and feedback the Treasurer received during the November 2023 meeting of the IAC.

“I’m pleased to kick off 2024 with this slate of investment commitments,” said Treasurer Russell. “These European opportunities, in particular, represent prudent diversification of our private credit portfolio. I’m grateful to the IAC for their collaboration and input in these decisions.” 

Also in Wednesday’s meeting, the IAC received several updates from the Treasurer’s investment team. These included an update on Global Equity positioning and outlook, the currency overlay strategy for the Public Markets, a review of the Short-Term Investment Fund (STIF), and a presentation of the CRPTF rebalancing process.

Additionally, Principal Investment Officers Mark Evans and Denise Stake provided an overview of the recommended pacing plans for the Private Equity, Private Credit, Real Estate, and Infrastructure/Natural Resource Asset Classes.

The IAC is comprised of volunteer members who are responsible for providing advice to the State Treasurer on performance benchmarks, investment and shareholder policy, and institutional investment procedures for the CRPTF. It includes both ex-officio members and members who are appointed by the Governor and legislative leaders. To learn more about the IAC, visit portal.ct.gov/OTT/About-the-Treasury/Advisory-Council.

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