The General Assembly's Public Health Committee has handled some of the most emotional and hotly contested issues of the session. 

Lawmakers held a 24-hour public hearing filled by parents opposed to vaccines.  Some of those same parents rallied outside the state capitol as lawmakers voted to end religious exemptions to school vaccine requirements .

Some legislators on the panel choked up as they described their personal experiences with the loss of loved ones during debate on a failed bill that would have allowed terminally ill patients to request life-ending medication. 

The day before the show, the committee's leader presented a bill to the state Senate that promotes a different way of looking at racism -- As a public health crisis.  

This hour, we speak to that committee leader.

Guests:

Mary Daugherty Abrams -- State Senator Co-chair of the General Assembly’s Public Health Committee. She is a Democrat who represents Cheshire, Meriden, Middletown, Middlefield, and Rockfall.

Christine Stuart -- Owner and editor in chief of Connecticut News Junkie and a reporter for NBC Connecticut. 

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