State Senator Edith G. Prague

Senator Prague has represented the residents of the 19th Senatorial District since 1994. The district boundaries include the towns of Andover, Bozrah, Columbia, Franklin, Hebron, Lebanon, Ledyard, Lisbon, Sprague, a portion of Montville, and the city of Norwich. Prior to her tenure as Senator, she served for eight years in the state House of Representatives and was Commissioner of the now-defunct State Department on Aging.

As Commissioner, she established a statewide health insurance program, originally called H.I.C.A.P. and now operating under the name CHOICES, offering counseling to all seniors who have questions about insurance coverage through the Area Agencies on Aging. She was instrumental in helping to establish the first Assisted Living Facilities in the state.

Senator Prague continues her leadership role as the Senate Chair of the Labor and Public Employees Committee, which has cognizance over matters concerning all state employees as well as state labor law governing the private sector. She is also the vice Chair of the Select Committee on Aging. She serves on the Appropriations Committee and the Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee as well.

Professional experience:

• State legislator; former Commissioner, State Department on Aging
• Medical Social Worker, Natchaug Valley Community Health Agency
• Licensed Certified Health Insurance Consultant
• Interim Administrative Assistant, Horace Porter School
• School Teacher

Service positions:

• Incorporator, Manchester Memorial Hospital
• Honorary Chairperson of the American Cancer Drive
• Member, Drug & Alcohol Council
• Honorary Chairperson of the United Way of Windham
• Delegate to the White House Conference on Aging
• Member of the Alumni Foundation of Eastern Connecticut State University
• Dean’s Advisory Committee at the UConn School of Social Work
• Board of Directors of WACAP Community Health Clinic
• Board of Trustees, Windham Hospital
• Columbia Board of Education

Awards:

• 2004 Outstanding Currently-Elected Woman Official—The Women’s Campaign School at Yale University
• Legislator of the Year (2003)—Connecticut Assisted Living Association
• Alice Paul Award—Connecticut Chapter, National Organization for Women (NOW)
• Leading the Way Award—SEIU Connecticut State Council
• Annual Angel Award—A Different Perspective, Inc.
• Connecticut Conservation Officers Association
• Legislator of the Year—CT Bicycle Coalition
• The Carol Rosenwald Award—Long Term Care Ombudsman Program
• Outstanding Legislator: 2003—Uniformed Professional Firefighters Assoc. of CT
• Breath of Life Award—American Lung Association of Connecticut
• Friends of Labor Award—The Protective Services Employees Coalition
• Center for Medicare Advocacy
• Eleanor Roosevelt Humanities Award
• Civil Justice Award from the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association
• Outstanding Commitment Award—Connecticut State Council of Machinists
• Leon RisCassi—Theodore Koskoff Civil Justice Award
• Distinguished Service Award from the UConn School of Allied Health
• Certificate of Appreciation from End Hunger CT! Recognition
• National Commission on Drunk Driving
• Connecticut Association of Home Care
• University of Connecticut
• American Association of University Women
• Manchester Chapter of B’Nai B’rith
• Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars
• National Association of Social Workers

Recognition:

• National Commission Against Drunk Driving
• Connecticut Removal of Intoxicated Drivers (RID)
• New Haven County Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)
• Connecticut Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD
• Government Leaders Against Drunk Driving (GLADD)
• Association of Retired Teachers
• McSweeney Senior Center
• Soroptimist International of the Americas
• Connecticut Primary Care Association
• Eastern Connecticut State University
• Eastern Connecticut Resource Conservation Development Area, Inc.
• Connecticut Fireman’s Association
• The New London County Chapter of the Connecticut Medical Society

Education:

• B.S. (Education)—Eastern Connecticut State University
• M.S.W.—University of Connecticut School of Social Work

Senator Prague, a resident of Columbia, is the mother of four daughters, Susan, Shelley, Benay and Joanne, and the grandmother of four, Sam, Nathan, Josh, and Matthew.