{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"House\", state = \"CT\" and year = 2023 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-courtney-statement-president-bidens-signing-fy24-national-defense", "Rep. Courtney Statement on President Biden\u2019s Signing of the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act", "2023-12-22", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "NORWICH, CT \u2013 Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) issued the following statement after President Biden signed the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act into law \u2013 the 63rd consecutive year in a row the annual defense authorization bill has been signed into law. Last week, Rep. Courtney, the Ranking Member of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, joined a bipartisan coalition in the House to pass the FY24 NDAA by a vote of 310-118.\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s signing of the bill codifies the tireless efforts of a bipartisan coalition to strengthen our national security and support our servicemembers and their families,\u201d Courtney said. \u201cOf particular note, the bill provides a 5.2% pay increase \u2013 the highest increase in decades \u2013 for active duty, national guard, reserve, and civilian personnel at the Department of Defense. That increase will go into effect on January 1, 2024, regardless of whether a defense appropriations bill has passed, and benefits the thousands of military personnel across Connecticut. In eastern Connecticut, home of 9,000 military personnel at Groton Sub Base, this is welcome news. I thank President Biden for his support of this year\u2019s bill.\u201d\n\nTo read more about House passage of the FY24 NDAA, clickhere.\n\nTo read more about the priorities Rep. Courtney secured to support eastern Connecticut, click here.\n\nTo read more about the priorities Rep. Courtney secured to support our seapower capabilities, click here.\n\nTo read more about the priorities Rep. Courtney secured to support the AUKUS mission, click here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/statement-congresswoman-delauro-ongoing-israel-hamas-war", "Statement of Congresswoman DeLauro on Ongoing Israel-Hamas War", "2023-12-21", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "NEW HAVEN, CT \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro released the following statement:\n\n\u201cOn October 7, Israel faced the most devastating terrorist attack in its history. I continue to stand with Israel in the wake of this horror and unequivocally support its right to defend itself and defeat Hamas. I have also long said, even before this current conflict, that it is imperative that we create the conditions for peace and a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinian people.\n\n\u201cPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu\u2019s government is allowing unacceptable loss of civilian lives and humanitarian and health crises that is producing growing hunger and starvation on his watch. That has to stop.\n\n\u201cNetanyahu has also made clear that he wants Palestinians to play no role in Gaza\u2019s governance and has shown no intention of ending settler violence that further oppresses Palestinians. Therefore, I strongly support Secretary Blinken\u2019s urgent efforts to lay the ground work for a two-state solution.\n\n\u201cI am calling for a sustained pause in fighting so Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government protect civilians and get a dramatic, immediate increase in delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. This pause must include the release of hostages from Hamas.\n\n\u201cEveryone will be hurt if Hamas remains in control of Gaza. However, this war is against Hamas \u2013 not the Palestinian people \u2013 and it cannot end in an indefinite Israeli occupation of Gaza. I will work to make sure the moment the violence ceases, that all our efforts move toward the creation of a Palestinian state.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://himes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=408C0CE0-ADED-4E4A-BE7D-37197E237B26", "Himes, Simmons announce $2.73 million to upgrade Stamford hurricane protection barrier and pump stations", "2023-12-20", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "James A. Himes", "H001047", "himes.house.gov", "himes", "https://himes.house.gov/press-releases", "page_html", "Stamford, CT \u2013 Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04) and Mayor Caroline Simmons announced that Stamford would receive a $2.73 million Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to upgrade the city\u2019s hurricane protection barrier and pump stations.\n\n\u201cWith climate change driving increasingly frequent and intense storms towards Connecticut, it is more important than ever for our coastal communities to have the proper infrastructure to mitigate damage,\u201d said Congressman Jim Himes. \u201cThis $2.73 million in federal funding will go directly to upgrading Stamford\u2019s aging stormwater pump stations and the hurricane protection barrier so that the thousands of people who live along Stamford\u2019s coastline can sleep peacefully knowing that when the next hurricane or tropical storm strikes, their city\u2019s infrastructure is strong enough to protect their homes and businesses.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Stamford Hurricane Barrier provides critical protection against hurricanes to 600 acres across the city,\u201d said Mayor Caroline Simmons. \u201cI want to thank Congressman Himes and our federal delegation for their advocacy and support for this critical funding. It will provide emergency power generators for the pump stations and upgrade the aging pumps and electrical equipment to comply with current building codes, enhancing our protection and resiliency against storms.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-03-30T11:08:25Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-courtney-votes-send-annual-defense-bill-president-bidens-desk", "Rep. Courtney Votes to Send Annual Defense Bill to President Biden\u2019s Desk", "2023-12-14", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Rep. Joe Courtney voted to pass the final FY24 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and send the bill to the President\u2019s desk for the 63rd consecutive year. The bill passed 310 to 118.\n\nAs Ranking Member of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee and a member of the Conference Committee that negotiated the final bill, Rep. Courtney secured new forms of support for American servicemembers and their families, authorized a record level of funding for shipbuilding and submarine procurement, and cleared the pathway to execute the AUKUS mission.\n\n\u201cThe passage of the negotiated FY24 NDAA is the result of a careful, months-long assessment of our national security needs and the increasingly challenging global security environment. Democrats and Republicans worked together to build on the President\u2019s budget request and advance a bill which delivers results for America\u2019s servicemembers,\u201d Courtney said. \u201cAs Ranking Member on the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, I helped secure historic investments in shipbuilding and the submarine industrial base. This funding is critical to meeting Navy fleet requirements and clearing the pathway to fulfilling the trilateral AUKUS agreement. At a time when division and partisanship continue to be the prevailing narratives around Congress, the NDAA is proof that bipartisan compromise is the only viable path forward.\n\n\u201cFor eastern Connecticut, the FY24 NDAA bill will help maintain our region\u2019s role as the submarine capitol of the world and strengthen the nationwide submarine industrial base. It authorizes full funding for both the Virginia-class and Columbia-class programs \u2013 and provides the Navy with the authority to exceed the two-per-year build rate for Virginia-class submarines. That\u2019s coupled with continued, steady investments in submarine suppliers, shipyard infrastructure, and workforce development initiatives,\u201d Courtney continued.\n\n\u201cThe inclusion of the historic AUKUS provisions in the NDAA will rebalance deterrence in the Indo-Pacific in favor of free, democratic nations that today are being pressurized by the aggressive actions of the world\u2019s biggest Navy, namely the Chinese PLAN. The intent of AUKUS is to guarantee the peace and freedom of navigation that has prevailed in that part of the world for the last 78 years. This year\u2019s NDAA will be long remembered for this effort,\u201d Courtney said of the AUKUS mission.\n\n\u201cWhile the NDAA makes strong authorizations to ensure our national security, House Republicans are adjourning Congress without allowing a vote on supplemental funding for the tools and equipment Ukraine needs to stop Putin. As I have said before, the consequences of failure in Ukraine would be devastating to all nations. I know from my time on the House Armed Services Committee that anything less than full-throated support for Ukraine plays directly into Putin\u2019s hand. I will continue to do all I can to ensure Ukraine's success, and the defeat of Putin and his regime, in this fight,\u201d Courtney concluded.\n\nTo read more about the priorities Rep. Courtney secured to support eastern Connecticut, click here.\n\nTo read more about the priorities Rep. Courtney secured to support our seapower capabilities, click here.\n\nTo read more about the priorities Rep. Courtney secured to support the AUKUS mission, click here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-house-passage-national-defense-authorization-act", "DeLauro Statement on House Passage of National Defense Authorization Act", "2023-12-14", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) voted to pass the National Defense Authorization Act, legislation that authorizes investments to strengthen our national security and support our troops. The legislation now heads to President Biden\u2019s desk to be signed into law.\n\n\u201cI am proud to support this year\u2019s National Defense Authorization Act, which authorizes investments in the core strength of our national defense: service members, civilian workers, and their families,\u201d said Congresswoman DeLauro. \u201cIt also supports our domestic industrial base, particularly the union workforce right here in Connecticut, while strengthening our military readiness through support to our allies and partners and paving the way for investments in innovation and technology. I am also pleased that 147 House Republicans just voted to authorize the funding levels determined under the bipartisan budget agreement, and I look forward to Speaker Johnson taking that bills passage as a sign that it is time to move forward with appropriations bills under those levels. We must immediately get to work negotiating a final 2024 defense funding bill.\u201d\n\nThis bill authorizes funding for key projects that grow and sustain thousands of jobs in Connecticut:\n\nCH-53K Helicopters \u2013 funding to build 15 Sikorsky helicopters.\n\nBlackhawk Helicopters \u2013 funding to build 50 Sikorsky Blackhawk.\n\nF135 Engine Modernization \u2013$431 million for the F135 Engine Core Upgrade.\n\nVirginia-class Submarine \u2013 $10.3 billion to support the two-per-year build rate of Virginia-class submarines along with $7.1 billion in 2024 for two submarines and $3.2 billion in support of future submarine construction in 2025 and 2026.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=57A75646-119D-4E84-A9B3-4CC51CFF9FAD", "Hayes Applauds USDA Announcement of Final Rule to Increase Access to Baby Formula During a Shortage", "2023-12-14", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Jahana Hayes", "H001081", "hayes.house.gov", "hayes", "https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculturepublished a final rule codifying provisions of the Access to Baby Formula Act of 2022, legislation led byCongresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) during the height of the 2022 baby formula shortage in the United States.\n\n\u201cWhen the baby formula shortage began last year, many parents were left wondering how they would feed their children. For parents enrolled in WIC, there was an added pressure of having to purchase specific formula based on program requirements. I know first-hand how critical WIC is to families, but the shortage revealed how dangerous those limitations can be,\u201d said Congresswoman Jahana Hayes, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Foreign Agriculture, and Horticulture. \u201cMy Access to Baby Formula Act and the new USDA rule, will help families in the face of crisis. This rule helps strengthen a program that has historically been associated with improved infant health outcomes and reduced infant mortality.\u201d\n\n\u201cAll families in America should be able to keep their children fed and healthy. Regrettably, the devastating shortage of infant formula last year disproportionately hurt families that rely on WIC benefits to secure infant formula, leaving them with few options to purchase safe formula for their infants,\u201d said Congressman Bobby Scott, Ranking Member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee.\n\n\u201cThat is why Congresswoman Hayes and I led House passage of the bipartisan Access to Baby Formula Act of 2022 to ensure that\u2014during public health emergencies, supply chain disruptions, product recalls, and other emergencies\u2014families relying on WIC can use their benefits to purchase any safe infant formula products available on the shelves.\n\n\u201cWith today\u2019s final rule, our nation\u2019s families can rest assured that, in times of crisis, they will be able to continue providing their infants with the nutrition they need. I applaud the Biden administration for faithfully implementing this law and ensuring that\u2014no matter the circumstances\u2014we support our most vulnerable families and infants.\u201d\n\nThe Access to Baby Formula Act amended the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to:\n\nEstablish a waiver authority to address emergencies, disasters, and supply chain disruptions by ensuring states that contract with companies for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) can secure supplies from additional manufacturers.\n\nWaive requirements that can slow down the process to get formula back on the shelves, without sacrificing safety standards.\n\nStrengthen coordination and information sharing between the Secretary of Agriculture and Secretary of Health and Human Services regarding any supply chain disruption, including supplemental food recalls.\n\nThe final USDA rule will:\n\nAdd requirements to State agency infant formula cost containment contracts.\n\nEstablish waiver authority to the Secretary of Agriculture to address certain emergencies, disasters, and supply chain disruptions impacting WIC.\n\nRequire WIC State agencies to develop a plan of alternate operating procedures, commonly referred to as a disaster plan.\n\nApproximately half of the baby formula purchased in the United States is purchased through the WIC program. During a crisis, it is essential we have an infrastructure in place to help families feed their newborn babies and infants.\n\nCongresswoman Hayes worked hard to ensure the Access to Baby Formula Act of 2022 passed in the House of Representatives with strong bipartisan support \u2013 a vote of 413-9. The legislation passed in the Senate unanimously by voice vote and was signed into law by President Joe Biden in May of 2022.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://himes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=7C50BF26-3C03-4FB9-9A6E-6275ECB5F672", "Himes Votes to Pass National Defense Authorization Act of 2024", "2023-12-14", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "James A. Himes", "H001047", "himes.house.gov", "himes", "https://himes.house.gov/press-releases", "page_html", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, the United States House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2024. The NDAA funds the United States\u2019 defense related programs and is one of the major pieces of legislation that Congress passes annually. This year, the bill includes $886 billion in discretionary spending for national security related programs, including significant investments in defense industrial base suppliers and technology from Connecticut based companies.\n\n\u201cThis year, with our allies in Ukraine and Israel still reeling from violent attacks, a robust defense program is more critical than ever,\u201d said Congressman Jim Himes. \u201cThe 2024 National Defense Authorization Act bolsters our traditional military presence while also investing in modern technology to combat the ever-evolving threats to our nation. I am particularly glad that this legislation contains significant funds for Connecticut-based companies, expanding our state\u2019s role as a leader in defense technology development and bringing jobs to our district.\u201d\n\nThe National Defense Authorization Act of 2024 invests billions of dollars in funding for Connecticut companies. This includes:\n\nA significant investment in the U.S. submarine industrial base as part of the AUKUS pact between the U.S., U.K., and Australia;\n\nThe first increment of funding for the second boat in the Columbia-class program;\n\nThe purchase of:\n\n83 F-35 aircraft for the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps\n\n15 CH-53K heavy lift helicopters for the Marine Corps\n\n24 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters for the Army\n\n26 UH-60 L and V Black Hawk helicopters for the Army\n\n2 Combat Rescue Helicopters for the Air Force\n\n2 Virginia- Class Submarines.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-03-30T11:08:25Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-courtney-votes-advance-bipartisan-bills-expand-americans-access", "Rep. Courtney Votes to Advance Bipartisan Bills to Expand Americans\u2019 Access to Workforce Training", "2023-12-13", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Yesterday, Rep. Joe Courtney, a senior member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, voted to advance two bills out of the Committee that will help workers access affordable, high-quality training and ensure employers have access to a strong talent-pipeline. As the manufacturing supply chain rapidly expands across eastern Connecticut, these bills are critical for workers and employers in the region.\n\nThe bipartisan A Stronger Workforce for America Act makes critical improvements to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) that will expand the skills development provided under the law, strengthen the relationship between employers and the workforce system, and put more Americans on the pathway to successful careers.\n\nThe Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act provides opportunities for students and workers looking to gain skills in high-demand fields by allowing Pell Grants to support students enrolled in high-quality, short-term workforce programs that will lead to career advancement.\n\n\u201cWorkforce training is the backbone of eastern Connecticut\u2019s economy. Since 2016, more than 4,000 workers in eastern CT have graduated from the WIOA-funded Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative, leading them to high-quality careers at Electric Boat and suppliers across the region. Unfortunately, while the U.S. labor force has grown by roughly half over the past four decades, federal spending on workforce development has fallen by two-thirds,\u201d said Rep. Joe Courtney. \u201cThe bills I enthusiastically voted for today will deliver overdue investments in WIOA-funded programs, make training opportunities more affordable for learners, and ensure employers can access high-quality candidates for years to come. As our local economy, particularly the submarine industrial base, rapidly expands, these bills will help ensure we have a workforce that can meet the moment.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe passage of this bill by the House Education and Workforce Committee is an important first step toward updating our nation\u2019s primary federal workforce development legislation. The draft proposal contains several elements that address shortcomings in the current law while adding innovative approaches, including concepts that have been critical to the success of our award-winning Eastern CT Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Connecticut Workforce Development Council and our federal congressional delegation to refine the elements of the draft that require modification to optimize our system\u2019s capacity to promote economic growth and equitable opportunity,\u201d said Michael Nogelo, President and CEO of Eastern CT Workforce Investment Board.\n\nSince coming to Congress, Courtney has been a champion for WIOA programs, like Connecticut\u2019s Eastern Workforce Investment Board\u2019s (EWIB) Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative, and has worked to increase federal funding to expand the programs\u2019 reach, which has paid dividends in eastern Connecticut. Earlier this year, Bloomberg News featured how Groton, CT has successfully leveraged WIOA to help workers across the region gain in-demand skills and help employers, like Electric Boat, recruit qualified candidates into rewarding careers.\n\nA Stronger Workforce for America Act:\n\nUpgrades the skills of American workers.\n\no Dedicates 50 percent of the adult and dislocated worker funding toward upskilling workers through \u201cindividual training accounts\u201d (ITAs) and on-the-job learning while redirecting an existing funding stream toward ITAs for displaced workers.\n\no Prioritizes employer-led initiatives that equip workers with the skill sets to fill jobs in critical industries and help the currently employed workforce upskill to avoid displacement and advance their careers.\n\nDelivers greater efficiency and accountability to WIOA programs.\n\no Streamlines the \u201celigible training provider list\u201d to focus on outcomes and ensure eligible programs are aligned with the skill and hiring demands of employers.\n\no Strengthens and fully implements the performance accountability system in the law to hold states and local workforce boards accountable for achieving positive labor market outcomes for program participants.\n\nStrengthens pathways to economic opportunity.\n\no Places a greater emphasis on work-based learning for youth, codifies and strengthens a program to help individuals released from incarceration transition back to employment and access career pathways, and strengthens workforce education programs at community colleges that align with in-demand jobs.\n\nFuels innovation for a skills-based economy.\n\no Establishes a demonstration authority to provide several states and local workforce boards the flexibility to reimagine their workforce system and innovate in pursuit of better outcomes.\n\no Facilitates skills-based hiring by validating workers\u2019 competencies gained through prior experience and authorizing state and local boards to provide technical assistance to employers on implementing skills-based hiring practices.\n\nThe Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act:\n\nHelps low-income students participate in short-term programs to move into a job quickly.\n\nCreates a quality assurance system for Workforce Pell Grant programs\u2014allowing any institution of higher education to participate as long as they meet all the requirements.\n\nGuarantees that program prices are aligned with economic value, so students and taxpayers receive a positive return on investment.\n\nEnsures programs provide students with relevant education and competencies necessary for employment in in-demand industries.\n\nOutlines a process for recognized accreditors to oversee Workforce Pell programs at the institutions they accredit and supports the on-ramp of new expert accreditors to oversee Workforce Pell programs, minimizing the time it will take to implement Workforce Pell fully.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=E104D7F7-E0B7-4AD6-82E9-0027199B3792", "Hayes Introduces Original Legislation to Launch and Expand Violence Intervention Programs in Schools", "2023-12-13", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Jahana Hayes", "H001081", "hayes.house.gov", "hayes", "https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05), introduced the School Violence Prevention Act, which provides organizations grants to create or expand school-based programs to support children at the highest risk for involvement in gun violence. In Connecticut, juveniles make up 16.7% of Weapons Violation arrests.\n\nAn estimated three million children witness a shooting each year. These traumatic incidents have been linked to poor academic performance including lower grades and increased absences from school in comparison to their peers. Those who have been exposed to violence are more likely to engage in crime as adolescents as well.\n\n\u201cUnder my legislation, kids who are at risk for involvement in gun violence would receive education-based programs that address gun violence,\u201d said Congresswoman Hayes. \u201cInstances of gun violence committed by children often stem from a deep cycle of violence. Without intervention, these tragedies will persist. By connecting youth to mental health professionals, counselors, and mentors, and increasing healthy community engagement we can better address the root causes of violence and stop the escalation to devastating tragedies. The School Violence Prevention Act builds on years of community violence intervention efforts, expanding those same strategies into schools will keep students safe.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is unconscionable that guns are the number one cause of death for children and teens 19 and younger. Keeping children safe in all the places they may be harmed\u2014and especially in school\u2014is critical. We thank Representative Hayes for introducing the School Violence Prevention Act to invest in programs that will help protect the children who are most at risk of gun violence,\u201d said Adzi Vokhiwa, GIFFORDS Federal Affairs Director.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s abhorrent that guns are now the number one killer of American children and teens. Congress must pass a set of comprehensive policies including the School Violence Prevention Act to reduce gun deaths and injuries among children. Children from all corners of our nation deserve to feel safe in their schools and grow up without getting shot,\" said Po Murray, Chairwoman of Newtown Action Alliance.\n\nTo qualify for grants funded by the School Violence Prevention Act, organizations must facilitate partnerships between youth and their communities, increase teacher professional development for trauma support services, and use evidence-based programming that is effective at preventing or reducing violence among children.\n\nFor years, firearms have been the leading cause of death among children and teens ages 1-19. Firearm homicide rates are highest among teens and young adults ages 15-34 and among Black, American Indian, Alaska Native, and Hispanic populations.\n\nIn the 118th Congress, as Deputy Whip of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, Congresswoman Hayes has prioritized addressing the growing issue of gun violence on school grounds.\n\nIn May, the Congresswoman introduced the School Shooting Safety and Preparedness Act to allow the public and policy makers to gain a complete, accurate picture of gun violence in and around school campuses and provide actionable data to help prevent these tragic incidents.\n\nIn order to urge House Republican Leadership to address the gun violence crisis, Congresswoman Hayes also signed three discharge petitions in an effort to force a vote on three common sense gun violence prevention measures \u2013 the Bipartisan Background Checks Act, Enhanced Background Checks Act, and the Assault Weapons Ban.\n\nRead the full text of the bill HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-passes-reps-courtney-houchins-bipartisan-bill-lower-prescription", "House Passes Reps. Courtney, Houchin\u2019s Bipartisan Bill to Lower Prescription Drug Costs", "2023-12-12", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, the House passed the bipartisan Lower Costs, More Transparency Act which included legislation led by Reps. Joe Courtney (D-CT) and Erin Houchin (R-IN) that shines a light on the fees Americans pay at the pharmacy counter.\n\nPharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) are the middlemen between pharmacies, drugmakers, and health insurers who negotiate the price Americans pay for prescription drugs. Currently, PBMs are not complying with the rules that require they disclose the profits they make from deals with drug companies, often leading to bonuses for PBMs and higher costs for patients.\n\nThe lawmakers\u2019 legislation strengthens requirements to ensure PBMs disclose their compensation and business practices to health care plan fiduciaries (those responsible for administering employee-sponsored health care). Employers and their employees deserve to know that the insurance products they are buying were negotiated in their best interests.\n\n\u201cAs Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis said, \u2018sunlight is the best disinfectant\u2019 to fight corruption. This bipartisan legislation takes an important step to achieving that goal by improving the transparency of the middlemen, or PBMs, who set prescription drug costs,\u201d said Congressman Courtney. \u201cI am pleased the House took decisive action to pass Rep. Houchin\u2019s and my bill, and ensure employer sponsored insurance gives patients access to care and treatment that is valuable to them, not to commercial entities.\u201d\n\n\u201cI was proud to introduce the Hidden Fees Disclosure Act with Representative Courtney and am glad to see its inclusion in the Lower Cost, More Transparency Act. This bipartisan legislation is the first step toward affordability in healthcare. Prescription drug pricing is among the issues I hear about most from constituents. We can\u2019t drive down cost without the benefit of full transparency. I look forward to continuing our work together on healthcare affordability. Until that is achieved, I\u2019ll keep contending on behalf of patients in the ninth district,\u201d said Congresswoman Houchin.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=B4869EAB-4D77-4C88-B6F4-96FEC40BEAA9", "Hayes Joins 115 House Members in Requesting Increased Home Heating Assistance Funding for Connecticut Families", "2023-12-12", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Jahana Hayes", "H001081", "hayes.house.gov", "hayes", "https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) joined 115 House members in a letter to House and Senate Leadership requesting increased funding totaling $1.6 billion for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In Connecticut, eligible households typically receive benefits ranging from $180 to $530 paid directly to the utility or fuel provider.\n\nThe request comes as the Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations bill presented by House Republicans proposes a roughly a 65% percent cut to the program.\n\n\u201cAccording to recent reports, approximately 424,000 Connecticut households face unaffordable home energy costs. For these families, LIHEAP is a critical lifeline that prevents them from making the impossible choice between buying groceries, keeping the lights on, or heating their home,\u201d said Congresswoman Hayes (CT-05). \u201cI joined my colleagues in requesting additional LIHEAP funding in any government funding bill to ensure all Connecticut families can have a warm home every winter.\u201d\n\nIn Fiscal Year 2023, the LIHEAP program distributed a total of more than $4.5 billion in home heating assistance to families across the United States, including $100 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding and an additional $1 billion from the government funding package passed in September 2022.\n\nDespite significant federal investment, LIHEAP continues to be underfunded, with just 20 percent of eligible households currently receiving assistance through the program.\n\nConnecticut was recently awarded a total of $7,081,189.00 in LIHEAP funding for this winter, including $70,040,439 in formula funding and an additional $2,040,750 from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. To assist households seeking to determine their eligibility for LIHEAP funding, HHS recently released a tool in English, Spanish, traditional Chinese, and simplified Chinese for households to quickly determine their eligibility.\n\nA copy of the request sent can be accessed HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-casey-introduce-eviction-prevention-act", "DeLauro, Casey Introduce Eviction Prevention Act", "2023-12-11", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) and Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced the Eviction Prevention Act, legislation that would help low-income individuals get access to legal counsel if they are being evicted.\n\n\u201cIt cannot be understated how devastating an eviction can be for individuals or families.\u201d said Congresswoman DeLauro. \u201cI understand it very well, as my family and I were evicted when I was growing up. Eviction turned our world upside down, and I know all too well how it can completely upend someone\u2019s life. That is why I am so proud to introduce the Eviction Prevention Act with Senator Casey, legislation that will help individuals facing eviction get connected with legal counsel that can help them and their families stay housed. My home state of Connecticut has already enacted a Right to Counsel and in just a short amount of time, we have kept people in their home. The Eviction Prevention Act would build on this success and expand this critically needed program nationwide.\u201d\n\n\u201cFar too many Americans are at an increased risk of eviction and homelessness because they don\u2019t have access to legal representation to help them and advocate for them,\u201d said Senator Casey. \u201cThis bill will help families stay housed and level the playing field between tenants and landlords. It\u2019s past time we devoted more federal resources to helping families in Pennsylvania and across the Nation keep a roof over their heads.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe National Housing Law Project is pleased to endorse Representative DeLauro and Senator Casey\u2019s Eviction Prevention Act. The US affordable housing crisis is reaching a fever pitch, and evictions have risen above pre-pandemic levels. As renters navigate this dangerous market, they increasingly face rent gauging, significant rent burden, and frequent and unjust evictions. And they are taking on these challenges without adequate representation in housing court. The Eviction Prevention Act would authorize new grants to provide representation to tenants, create the nation\u2019s first federal evictions database, and generate a government report on the evictions landscape in America. The bill is essential to understanding the depth of our evictions crisis and necessary to reduce future evictions.\u201d \u2013 Shamus Roller, Executive Director of National Housing Law Project.\n\n\u201cEven before the pandemic, millions of the lowest-income and most marginalized households were just one financial shock away from falling behind on their rent, losing their homes, and, in worst cases, experiencing homelessness. Today, many of these same households are even more precariously housed,\u201d stated Diane Yentel, president and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition. \u201cThe long-standing eviction crisis \u2013 which predominantly harms Black women \u2013 underscores the need for both urgent action and long-term solutions, including the \u2018Eviction Prevention Act\u201d from Representative DeLauro and Senator Casey.\u201d\n\nThe legislation is endorsed by National Low Income Housing Coalition, National Coalition for a Civil Right to Counsel, National League of Cities, Public Justice, A Way Home Aerica, Community Legal Services Philadelphia, the Connecticut Fair Housing Center, and True Colors United.\n\nA Connecticut renter facing eviction is 49 percent less likely to be forced to leave their home if they have a lawyer. Sadly, only seven percent of tenants in Connecticut have a lawyer representing them in eviction proceedings. A Connecticut program offering free legal representation to low-income tenants facing evictions saved the state millions it would have otherwise spent on emergency shelters.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-courtney-annual-defense-bill-advances-aukus-trilateral-security", "Rep. Courtney: Annual Defense Bill Advances AUKUS Trilateral Security Agreement", "2023-12-07", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) issued the following statement upon the completion and release of the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by the House and Senate Conference Committee. The bill includes authorization for the transfer of Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines to Australia, the training of Australian private sector defense personnel, the integration of Australian financial contributions to the U.S. defense industrial base, and the sharing of technology and information between the three nations to safely streamline security cooperation. The bill also includes a provision for the Navy to enter into a contract for up to 13 Virginia-class submarines in the next contract.\n\n\u201cAfter weeks of negotiations within the NDAA Conference Committee and over a year of advocacy from Canberra to Washington, the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act reported out today advances the AUKUS trilateral security agreement. For the first time since the launch of the USS Nautilus in 1958, this NDAA authorizes the US Navy to sell three conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines to another nation\u2014our steadfast ally Australia. In addition, it streamlines technology sharing among the three AUKUS allies under the umbrella of the Defense Production Act to strengthen deterrence in the Indo-Pacific. Lastly, it includes authority for the Navy to purchase up to 13 Virginia-class submarines in the next block contract which will guarantee a steady demand to boost production capacity and thus meet our fleet requirements.\n\n\u201cI thank leaders of the Armed Services and Foreign Affairs committees, as well as Australian Ambassador Kevin Rudd and UK Ambassador Dame Karen Pierce, for their advocacy and unwavering support of my efforts to see these provisions included in the final FY24 NDAA.\n\n\u201cI urge my colleagues to join me in voting for this bill on the House floor and sending it to the President\u2019s desk for the 63rd consecutive year. At a time when division and partisanship continue to be the prevailing narratives around Congress, the National Defense Authorization Act proves that we can work together to ensure our national security and support our allies.\u201d\n\nText of the conference report can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=3B58B068-32B0-4648-8A18-CFA0EBE2C87C", "Hayes Statement on Vote to Censure Representative Bowman", "2023-12-07", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Jahana Hayes", "H001081", "hayes.house.gov", "hayes", "https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, following the vote to Censure Representative Jamaal Bowman (NY-16), Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) released the following statement:\n\n\u201cToday, I voted YEA on a resolution to censure Representative Jamaal Bowman for pulling a fire alarm in the Cannon House Office Building on September 30th, 2023. While I disagree with the decision of the Republican majority to put the resolution on the House Floor, and the watering down of the censure process, I believe what Representative Bowman did was wrong and as Members of Congress we should be held to a higher standard.\n\nRepresentative Bowman has been a champion on educational issues, and we have worked side by side to advance childcare, healthcare and access for students and I look forward to continuing our work on the Committee of Education and the Workforce to address the historic underfunding in our K-12 schools, the teacher shortage, and many of the other issues plaguing our nation's education system.\n\nIn my hometown of Waterbury, Connecticut, we continue to mourn the lives of two firefighters who died, and another who was seriously injured, when their fire truck slammed into a tree while racing to respond to a false alarm. I have spent the better part of the last decade, working with the families of those firefighters and the Waterbury community, to honor their memory and educate our children on the work of first responders.\n\nAfter the vote, I met with Representative Bowman and had the opportunity to share with him the work of the Rivera-Hughes Memorial Foundation, which was created to memorialize Waterbury Firefighters Heriberto \"Eddie\" Rivera & Howard Hughes and empower youth toward positive academic, social, and healthy outcomes by offering afterschool programs, summer camps, job hunting seminars, and high school internships.\n\nWhile there may be some who do not understand this vote, I cannot set an example for these children by saying one thing to them and doing another \u2013 and party affiliation should not matter. Representative Bowman has expressed interest in supporting the work of the Rivera-Hughes Foundation and I look forward to making that contact.\n\nI wish the Republican majority would stop with these nonsense, political theatre votes and begin to work on behalf of the American people.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-courtney-co-sponsors-bipartisan-legislation-address-immigration", "Rep. Courtney Co-Sponsors Bipartisan Legislation to Address Immigration Crisis", "2023-12-06", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) issued the following statement after co-sponsoring the bipartisan Dignity Act to fix our nation\u2019s broken immigration system. This historic bill is the first serious bipartisan immigration solution proposed by Congress in over a decade.\n\n\u201cOn both sides of the political aisle, there is widespread agreement that the present immigration system is broken\u2014morally and economically.\n\n\u201cPeople seeking a new life in the United States have been met with unnavigable processes and, at times, cruel treatment. As a nation founded by refugees with a legal system centered on due process, we must ensure immigrants have a humane and achievable path to legal permanent residency and citizenship.\n\n\u201cIn eastern Connecticut, farmers, restaurants, and hotels struggle to hire legal immigrant workers, families and spouses of U.S. citizens are needlessly separated, and foreign students educated at universities in Connecticut and across the nation are caught in the maze of contradictory rules that have not been updated to respond to the current immigration crisis since the 1980s.\n\n\u201cSince then, both parties have offered their own reform policies to no avail, reaffirming that a bipartisan pathway is the only way forward in a divided government to responsibly address our overburdened immigration system and the ongoing humanitarian crisis.\n\n\u201cCongress must find commonsense agreement, which is why I have joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers to co-sponsor the Dignity Act\u2014the only bipartisan, comprehensive immigration reform bill introduced in the House this Congress\u2014led by Congresswomen Veronica Escobar (D-TX) and Mar\u00eda Elvira Salazar (R-FL).\n\n\u201cWhile this bill reflects bipartisan compromises, it takes meaningful steps to improve the currently dismantled asylum system which has overwhelmed border communities; offer a reliable path to legal permanent residency and eventually U.S. citizenship; provide resources for effective and focused enforcement of our immigration laws; and target investments for updated technology to prevent the flow of fentanyl and other illegal substances.\n\n\u201cOur nation has a checkered history of welcoming new immigrants, but I believe our country is stronger because of the recurring infusion of energy and talent immigrants bring. The Dignity Act is important progress in our work to make our nation\u2019s immigration system fair, humane, and well-functioning.\n\nFor a one-pager on the Dignity Act, click here.\n\nFor a more detailed summary of the Dignity Act, click here.\n\nFor a section-by-section breakdown of the Dignity Act, click here.\n\nFor the full text of the bill, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-courtney-responds-new-actions-address-sexual-misconduct-coast-guard", "Rep. Courtney Responds to New Actions to Address Sexual Misconduct at Coast Guard Academy", "2023-12-06", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) issued the following statement after the Coast Guard released a new report, requested by top Coast Guard chief Admiral Fagan, providing recommendations for internal actions to address and prevent sexual misconduct at the Coast Guard Academy and ensure cases are properly investigated.\n\n\u201cAdmiral Fagan\u2019s release of the Accountability and Transparency Review represents a healthy course correction for the Coast Guard in dealing with this persistent problem affecting the service. This clearly demonstrates a fundamental change in leadership, and I strongly support the Commandant\u2019s vision for how the service prevents and responds to incidents of sexual assault and harassment. Notably, the report recommends implementing the \u201cSafe-to-Report\u201d framework which prevents cadets from punishment for minor offenses, like violating curfew, under the Uniform Code of Military Justice when reporting an incident of sexual assault. This policy is perfectly aligned with legislation I introduced earlier this year, and which was codified for other military academies two years ago. I will continue to work with the Coast Guard to ensure that codification will be enacted in the upcoming Coast Guard Authorization Act in the 118th Congress.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=F8A6C843-020B-4C3E-A92E-D61EE88CF606", "Hayes, Markey Introduce Bicameral Legislation to Reauthorize Vital Educational and Workforce Development Program for Vulnerable Youth", "2023-12-06", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Jahana Hayes", "H001081", "hayes.house.gov", "hayes", "https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) and Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) introduced the YouthBuild for the Future Act to reauthorize the YouthBuild program, a national program that equips opportunity youth \u2013 people ages 16 to 24 who are disconnected from school and work opportunities \u2013 to education, employment, and leadership skills.\n\nYouthBuild services more than 5,000 opportunity youth in more than 40 states, including Connecticut. Participants often left school without a diploma and are homeless, foster care youth, migrants, disabled, or an offender.\n\n\u201cEach year, YouthBuild helps thousands of youth earn their high school diploma while learning skills in trades like construction, healthcare, information technology, and logistics,\u201d said Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05). \u201cThe YouthBuild for the Future Act improves and invests in the job training program to allow more disadvantaged, rural, and low-income youth in the Fifth to confidently join the workforce and have successful futures.\u201d\n\n\u201cYoung people are left to carry the weight of generational and systemic failures,\u201d said Senator Markey (D-MA). \u201cYouthBuild helps lift those burdens by investing in young people\u2019s potential and offering them the resources, opportunities, and support to succeed. The investment works: YouthBuild has allowed thousands of young people in Massachusetts and around the country to access life-changing education and workforce development training while serving their communities. Just as YouthBuild champions young people\u2019s potential, Congress must champion YouthBuild.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, the YouthBuild for the Future Act will:\n\nReserve grants for programs serving rural and Tribal communities;\n\nExtend the allowed period of follow-up services to 24 months;\n\nExpedite the provision of services to out-of-school youth by reducing the waiting period to the minimum amount possible;\n\nAllow funding for participant meals;\n\nAllow grantees to count YouthBuild funds towards the matching requirement under the National Community Service Act; and\n\nRequire States to share Unemployment Insurance wage data with YouthBuild programs.\n\n\u201cIn YouthBuild programs across the country, young people create the next best versions of themselves through skills training, workforce development and education reconnection,\u201d said John Valverde, President and CEO of YouthBuild USA. \u201cLives are changed, careers are grown and America is strengthened when they gain access to these resources. It is our continued duty to unleash the leadership and untapped potential all around us.\u201d\n\n\u201cService Year Alliance is happy to support the YouthBuild for the Future Act to reauthorize YouthBuild and implement common-sense policy solutions to improve the YouthBuild experience for opportunity youth and local programs,\u201d said Kristen Bennett, CEO of Service Year Alliance. \u201cIn addition to changes that will provide increased services and benefits for YouthBuild participants, the Act will allow funding from the Department of Labor to be used as match for AmeriCorps grants - a desperately needed change that will strengthen YouthBuild programs across the country and increase opportunities for young people. Service years through YouthBuild transform young people\u2019s lives and strengthen communities; Service Year Alliance applauds Representative Hayes for sponsoring the YouthBuild for the Future Act.\u201d\n\n\u201cYouthBuild provides a much-needed opportunity for thousands of young people who are too often overlooked as valuable members of society. Securing YouthBuild funding is critical for our country\u2019s future,\u201d said Terry Moran, Executive Director of Massachusetts YouthBuild Coalition.\n\n\u201cThe New North Citizen\u2019s Council\u2019s leadership team and our Connecticut River Valley YouthBuild Program is fully supportive of Senator Markey\u2019s YouthBuild for The Future Act. We believe that these much needed modifications to the pre-existing legislation will enhance our services in a way that will be extremely beneficial to the young people that we serve,\u201d said Isaiah Delmoral, Co-Director of NNCC Youth Services.\n\nRead the full text of the bill here.\n\nThis bill was included in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2022, which passed the House during the 117th Congress. YouthBuild taps into the tremendous potential of young people in our country. These critical updates ensure more youth finishing their education, finding work, and leading happier, safer lives.\n\nEndorsements: YouthBuild USA, The Forum for Youth Investment, Service Year Alliance, The Corps Network, Voices for National Service, Jobs for the Future, National Youth Employment Coalition, Center for Law and Social Policy, Northwest Regional Investment Board, Massachusetts YouthBuild Coalition, and New North Citizen's Council Youth Services\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-courtney-statement-aukus-ministerial-announcement", "Rep. Courtney Statement on AUKUS Ministerial Announcement", "2023-12-01", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) issued the following statement following a joint statement from Lloyd J. Austin, U.S. Secretary of Defense, the Honourable Richard Marles MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense, Australia, and the Right Honourable Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for Defence, United Kingdom, on action steps on the trilateral AUKUS security mission.\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s meeting between U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, and Secretary of State for Defence Grant Shapps, demonstrates the clear progress our three nations have made in executing the AUKUS \u201cOptimal Pathway\u201d announced in March of this year and reaffirms the leaders\u2019 ironclad commitment to ensuring peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.\n\n\u201cThe announcement is tangible evidence that the trilateral mission is moving forward to recapitalize Australia\u2019s submarine fleet with conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines at the earliest date possible while upholding the highest standards of stewardship and transparency through continued and constant communication with the International Atomic Energy Agency. The announcement also provides a clear framework for future Australian submariners to continue their important education at Nuclear Power School as well as U.S. Submarine School at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, CT, deepening the relationship between Connecticut and Australia.\n\n\u201cThe leaders were also right to acknowledge the importance of the AUKUS enabling legislation that is before the U.S. Congress \u2018to ensure the success\u2019 of the mission. I will continue to press my colleagues to pass enabling legislation as part of the FY24 annual defense bill.\n\n\u201cThe leaders\u2019 commitment to safely leveraging the expertise and resources of each ally in the AUKUS security agreement will also ensure we have the advanced technologies to strengthen our military capabilities and streamline our ability to secure stability and prosperity in the region without prohibitive roadblocks.\n\n\u201cI commend U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin, Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, and U.K. Secretary of State for Defence Grant Shapps, for continuing to achieve milestones at a cadence that demonstrates their unwavering commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.\u201d\n\nThe announcement is also coupled with the State Department\u2019s decision to clear a potential $2 billion sale of AUKUS-related training and training devices to Australia in support of enhancing their workforce\u2019s capacity to safely operate and sustain their future submarine program.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-courtney-statement-heartbreaking-infuriating-death-aviv-atzili", "Rep. Courtney Statement on the \u2018Heartbreaking, Infuriating\u2019 Death of Aviv Atzili", "2023-11-30", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "November 30, 2023\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) issued the following statement after Kibbutz Nir Oz announced that Aviv Atzili, husband of Liat Beinin, was killed in the October 7 attack on Israel. \u201cToday\u2019s news that Liat Beinin\u2019s husband, Aviv Atzili, was killed by Hamas attackers at the Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7 is heartbreaking and infuriating. The willful inability of Hamas to account for its despicable assault left Aviv\u2019s family totally in the dark about his whereabouts over the last seven weeks. The relief Liat and her family in Israel and Connecticut experienced upon her release is now buried in grief. As Liat\u2019s father powerfully stated, \u2018Revenge, anger \u2013 certainly not religious fanaticism\u2014are not parts of a viable agenda to end this nonsense in the Middle East. This can\u2019t go on like this.\u2019.\u201d ###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/release-american-eastern-connecticut-ties-held-hostage-hamas-brings", "Release of American with Eastern Connecticut Ties Held Hostage by Hamas Brings Relief", "2023-11-29", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "November 29, 2023\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, the second American citizen, Liat Beinin, a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen, has been released after being kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz during the attack on October 7. Liat\u2019s family lives in Waterford and are active members of eastern Connecticut\u2019s Jewish community. \u201cMy Beinin family from Israel spent five days in eastern Connecticut with us this August. We grew very close to them as they walked with us in Harkness Park, dined with us, and shared birthdays with us over lobster in Noank. As soon as we heard of their capture we reached out to our Congressman, Joe Courtney and he did everything possible to keep Liat and Aviv\u2019s capture high on the agenda of the State Department and the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem. We cannot thank him and his staff enough for their dedication and diligence in the efforts to free the hostages,\u201d said Jerry Fischer of Waterford and the former executive director of the Jewish Federation of Eastern Connecticut. \u201cAfter several weeks in captivity, it is a relief to see Liat Beinin back in safe hands. I applaud President Biden and his Administration for their steadfast commitment to brokering the deal that made Liat\u2019s release possible. While this is surely joyous news to her loved ones in eastern Connecticut, who my office connected with the US State Department, we will continue assisting the family with locating and returning her husband Aviv Atzili who was also kidnapped,\u201d said Rep. Joe Courtney. \u201cI am wishing Liat and her family comfort as they reunite and join them in praying for Aviv\u2019s safety.\u201d ###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-hostage-release-and-humanitarian-pause-gaza", "DeLauro Statement on Hostage Release and Humanitarian Pause in Gaza", "2023-11-22", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) released a statement:\n\n\u201cI am relieved that dozens of hostages will be released and returning to their homes. I also welcome a humanitarian pause in Gaza to allow humanitarian partners to distribute urgently needed supplies \u2013 like water, food, medicine, and shelter \u2013 into the region so innocent civilians caught in the middle of the conflict get the aid they need to weather this crisis. In the coming weeks, I will continue to push for the safe release of all hostages held by Hamas and will work to get vital humanitarian assistance into Gaza as soon as possible.\n\n\u201cI believe that we must create the conditions for lasting peace and a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinian people. That means we must end Hamas\u2019s ongoing terror in the region. Everyone will be hurt if Hamas remains in control of Gaza. However, this war is against Hamas. The Palestinian people are not Hamas, and they have lost communities, neighborhoods, and loved ones because of this conflict and Hamas\u2019s atrocities.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=1ABA56CD-155D-40A9-860D-CF649963DD26", "Hayes Statement on Deal to Pause Fighting and Release Hostages in Gaza", "2023-11-22", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Jahana Hayes", "H001081", "hayes.house.gov", "hayes", "https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WATERBURY \u2013 Today, following the news of a four-day temporary cease-fire in Gaza and the release of 50 hostages, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) issued the following statement:\n\n\"The humanitarian pause in Gaza announced yesterday is an important step in the right direction. This four-day pause will allow for the safe return of 50 civilian women and children and for a large number of humanitarian convoys and relief aid, including fuel designated for Gaza, to pass into the region. I thank the Biden Administration for their work in helping to facilitate this agreement and urge continued vigorous efforts to find a peaceful solution for the Israeli and Palestinian people, the release of the remaining hostages, and the defeat of Hamas.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://himes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=B6901E86-7408-4DC0-8CA3-77C038C2795A", "Himes Statement on Release of Hostages and Humanitarian Pause", "2023-11-22", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "James A. Himes", "H001047", "himes.house.gov", "himes", "https://himes.house.gov/press-releases", "page_html", "Washington, DC \u2014 Today, Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04) issued the following statement regarding the release of 50 hostages being held by Hamas and the humanitarian pause in Gaza:\n\n\u201cI am deeply relieved by the news of a deal to free these hostages, and the accompanying pause of violence in the region. The civilian loss since the horrific attack on October 7th has been devastating. I am hopeful that this agreement represents a meaningful first step towards an improved humanitarian situation in Gaza even as Israel defends itself from a continued threat of Hamas terrorism.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-03-30T11:08:25Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-courtney-applauds-congressional-action-ensuring-continued-funding", "Rep. Courtney Applauds Congressional Action Ensuring Continued Funding for Submarine Industrial Base, Columbia-class Submarine Program", "2023-11-16", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) issued the following statement after the House and Senate passed a Continuing Resolution which ensures continued production of the Columbia-class submarine program and submarine industrial base.\n\n\u201cLast night, with the Senate\u2019s 87-11 vote, Congress sent a Continuing Resolution to the President\u2019s desk to avert a government shutdown and ensure critical programs and services remain online, including submarine construction and the submarine industrial base.\n\n\u201cThe measure includes continuous support for the Columbia-class submarine program by extending funds for construction of the USS Wisconsin, while also providing an additional $3.3 billion for the Navy to procure materials with extended delivery times\u2014or long-lead materials\u2014to prepare for construction of future Columbia-class boats. Importantly, the measure also sustains critical investments in the submarine industrial base to ensure shipyards can continue recruiting and training workers, modernizing their facilities, and sizing up production across the supply chain.\n\n\u201cIn eastern Connecticut, this means that Electric Boat\u2019s talented workforce and aggressive hiring goals will not skip a beat in carrying out their crucial mission to deliver for the Navy\u2019s future fleet of submarines.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-courtney-marks-two-year-anniversary-federal-infrastructure-law", "Rep. Courtney Marks Two Year Anniversary of Federal Infrastructure Law", "2023-11-15", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Rep. Joe Courtney marked the second anniversary since President Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law and highlighted projects across the region made possible by the new law.\n\n\u201cThe Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is allowing towns in every corner of eastern Connecticut to make critical projects a reality that have been on the \u201cto-do\u201d list for years. From fixing roads and bridges, to upgrading airports, expanding broadband, creating new housing, and much more, the Infrastructure Law is making eastern Connecticut safer and more resilient for decades to come \u2013 all while creating thousands of good paying jobs. As our region attracts more businesses and a record number of new employees, the infrastructure law is also pivotal in ensuring we can expand infrastructure to meet growing demand,\u201d said Rep. Joe Courtney.\n\nSince enactment, the federal government has announced $4 billion in funding from the federal infrastructure law for 114 specific projects across the state of Connecticut. Thanks to Rep. Courtney\u2019s ongoing advocacy and urging, $3.7 billion of federal funding will support projects across the Second Congressional District. For example:\n\nTransforming transit infrastructure in downtown New London\n\nExpanding access to broadband\n\nPreserving the Long Island Sound\n\nImproving regional airports\n\nRepairing the Gold Star Bridge\n\nReplacing the CT River Bridge\n\nRemoving lead pipes from water infrastructure\n\nRepairing Forge Hill Road Bridge\n\nTransforming abandoned land into residential and commercial space\n\nExpanding EV charging networks\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/extreme-gop-spending-cuts-would-kick-1900-connecticut-teachers-out", "Extreme GOP Spending Cuts Would Kick 1,900 Connecticut Teachers Out of Classroom", "2023-11-14", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, House Republicans brought an extreme partisan funding bill to the House floor that decimates K-12 education and does not meaningfully prevent a government shutdown before the November 17 deadline.\n\nThe 2024 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies appropriations bill (H.R. 5894), cuts funding by 80 percent for Title I education funding\u2014which will butcher the public-school budgets of 95 percent of K-12 schools in eastern Connecticut. Congressman Courtney released a new report that demonstrates the devastating consequences of the cuts for almost all 69 school districts in Connecticut\u2019s Second Congressional District.\n\n\u201cHouse Republicans\u2019 education funding bill is exactly the opposite of what our region needs to give students a chance to succeed in life. An 80 percent cut to funding means slashing staff, increasing class sizes, and decreasing resources to almost every K-12 student in eastern Connecticut. In fact, this measure would lead to 1,900 Connecticut teachers losing their job,\u201d said Rep. Joe Courtney, a senior member of the House Education and Workforce Committee. \u201cThis bill sends a clear message that Speaker Johnson is unwilling to prevent a government shutdown and put forth a serious budget that can actually pass. Bipartisanship is the only proven method to govern in a closely divided Congress\u2014not partisan spending bills like the one before us today.\u201d\n\nRead how the proposed cuts will hurt school districts across the region here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-courtney-votes-avert-government-shutdown", "Rep. Courtney Votes to Avert Government Shutdown", "2023-11-14", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) issued the following statement after voting for a short-term spending package that allows the federal government to remain open.\n\n\u201cToday, I joined a collation of Democrats and Republicans to avert a government shutdown and ensure the services eastern Connecticut residents rely on remain uninterrupted. In eastern Connecticut, the short-term spending bill will also ensure that federal employees, including roughly 9,000 sailors and officers at the Groton submarine base, will not have their pay disrupted, as well the Coast Guard Academy staff in New London. Their important work will continue uninterrupted.\n\n\u201cImportantly, this package continues support for the Columbia-class submarine program by extending funds for construction of the USS Wisconsin and providing an additional $3.3 billion for the Navy to procure long-lead materials, while sustaining critical investments in the submarine industrial base. This is a critical exception for the Navy\u2019s number one acquisition priority that will ensure construction remains on schedule as our shipyards and suppliers dramatically ramp up capacity.\n\n\u201cTo pass a full fiscal year budget and ensure we meet the needs of Americans and our allies, the House leadership must return to the established center-left, center-right coalition that prevented a default on the full faith and credit of the US Treasury notes in May and prevented a shutdown on September 30. As I have said before, this bipartisan path is the only proven way to govern in a closely divided Congress.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=C219B333-444A-4DA6-97F6-239A3D02C135", "Hayes Statement Following Vote on Continuing Resolution to Fund the Government Through Early 2024", "2023-11-14", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Jahana Hayes", "H001081", "hayes.house.gov", "hayes", "https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013 Today, following the House vote to pass the Further Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2024, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) issued the following statement:\n\n\u201cToday, I voted to pass the Continuing Resolution to avert a government shutdown.\n\nThe laddered continuing resolution will fund Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Energy and Water Development, Agriculture, Rural Development, and the Food and Drug Administration until January 19th, 2024.\n\nThe Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, Defense, Financial Services and General Government, Homeland Security, Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Legislative Branch, State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs will be funded until February 2nd, 2024.\n\nAdditionally, this proposal will extend the Farm Bill through September 30th, 2024, at current spending levels.\n\n209 Democrats and 127 Republicans voted in support of this funding bill. Once again House Democrats came together to ensure our government does not shut down. However, despite pushing the deadlines into early next year, the threat of a shutdown continues to loom and the confidence and stability of our nation remains at stake.\n\nThe Republican majority cannot continue to legislate in this way with the threat of a shutdown or funding cliff every few months.\n\nI remain committed to working to pass appropriations bills focused on fully funding the government, investing in working families, and keeping our nation safe.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-celebrates-womens-health-research-initiative", "DeLauro Celebrates Women\u2019s Health Research Initiative", "2023-11-13", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) released a statement praising the White House Initiative on Women\u2019s Health Research. Announced by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, the initiative seeks to fundamentally change how the United States approaches research on women\u2019s health with the goal of improving health outcomes and the lives of women across the country.\n\nDr. Carolyn Mazure, a constituent of Congresswoman DeLauro and a doctor at Yale-New Haven, will chair the initiative. In 1998, Dr. Mazure created Women\u2019s Health Research at Yale, an interdisciplinary research center that has been a national leader for research, sharing health information, and more on women\u2019s health and the interplay of gender, health, and sex.\n\n\u201cWhen I first came to Congress, we had to fight to get women included in the health research trials at the National Institutes of Health,\u201d said Congresswoman DeLauro. \u201cA novel concept at the time, the inclusion of women in these health trials led to breakthroughs in disease research and improved health outcomes for millions of American women. Dr. Carolyn Mazure has been a trusted ally and friend in this fight. She came to me when I took the pen of the Labor-HHS-Education appropriations subcommittee, and said the Office of Research on Women\u2019s Health (ORWH) needed a line item to significantly increase resources for this Office. So that is what I did, and we have grown the Office\u2019s funding to more than $64 million and empowered ORWH with grant-making authority in my time as Chair of the subcommittee. That is why I am so proud that the Biden administration is leading the charge to improve health outcomes for a new generation of American women. I applaud them for taking this step forward and will work closely with the administration to support this new initiative.\u201d\n\nThe Initiative charges federal agencies with a number of directives, including:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-congressman-brian-higgins-decision-not-seek-re", "DeLauro Statement on Congressman Brian Higgins Decision to Not Seek Re-Election", "2023-11-13", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) released a statement following news that Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) will leave Congress in February 2024.\n\n\u201cSince being elected to Congress 19 years ago, Congressman Higgins has been a close ally and good friend in the work of serving the hardworking people of the United States. He has accomplished so much on behalf of our nation\u2019s veterans, transportation safety, and strengthening America\u2019s crumbling infrastructure by moving needed, bipartisan investments into law.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=20E2588D-368A-4E8F-AB6C-DD85E0003174", "FACT SHEET: Fighting For Our Veterans, Hayes Prioritizes Veterans and Military Families", "2023-11-10", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Jahana Hayes", "H001081", "hayes.house.gov", "hayes", "https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Since taking office, Congresswoman Hayes (CT-05) has secured the inclusion of essential resources for veterans and military families in broader legislation signed into law by both Democratic and Republican administrations.\n\nVA Mental Health Staffing Act \u2013 requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to submit a plan to address the staffing of mental health providers at its facilities. Among other elements, the plan must address the filling of any open positions.\n\nH.R. 8145 \u2013 requires the VA and the Office of Personnel Management to develop an occupational series for licensed professional mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists of the Department of Veterans Affairs.\n\nSurviving Families Benefit Expansion Act - authorizes monthly Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for surviving spouses who remarry after the age of 55.\n\nPalomares Veterans Act - removes barriers to compensation for the veterans who responded to the 1966 nuclear accident in Palomares, Spain.\n\nIn the 118th Congress, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) introduced key legislation to address an issue voiced by veterans and military families in the Fifth District.\n\nThe bipartisan, bicameral Caring for Survivors Act of 2023, would adjust monthly benefits for family members and survivors of veterans who lost their lives in service to the United States by increasing Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC).\n\nThe Waterbury District Office of Congresswoman Hayes is also the only Purple Heart Congressional Office in all of New England \u2013 recognizing the dedication of Congresswoman Hayes and her office to veterans and their families.\n\nThis year, the office has opened 85 military and veteran-related cases and closed 82. Since taking office in 2019, 469 military and veteran-related cases have been successfully resolved, spanning nearly all 41 towns in the Fifth District.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/after-years-advocacy-rep-courtney-celebrates-over-826-million-federal", "After Years of Advocacy, Rep. Courtney Celebrates Over $826 Million Federal Grant to Rebuild CT River Bridge", "2023-11-06", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "NORWICH, CT \u2013 Today, Rep. Joe Courtney alongside the Connecticut Congressional delegation and state leaders announced the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded Amtrak an $826,645,100 grant to support the replacement of the 116-year-old Connecticut River Bridge between Old Saybrook and Old Lyme, Connecticut. The funding will allow Amtrak to build a modern and resilient new moveable bridge immediately south of the existing structure.\n\nThe grant comes after Rep. Courtney led years of advocacy to urge the federal government to deliver funding to rebuild the bridge. In addition to the $826 million grant announced today, over the past three years, Rep. Courtney has secured over $130.4 million for this project.\n\n\u201cThis long overdue transformational grant for the Connecticut River Bridge comes after a determination in 2006 that the bridge was \u2018structurally deficient\u2019 and repair work was no longer capable of keeping it functional,\u201d Courtney stated. \u201cDespite chronic underfunding of Amtrak\u2019s capital accounts, I have worked with my colleagues in the Connecticut delegation since 2007 to secure initial funding of $130.4 million for design and planning of this project.\u201d\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s announcement of an additional $826 million federal grant ensures that the entire construction phase will be fully funded, and not delayed any more by incremental piecemeal grants,\" Courtney continued. \"This development will provide a stable horizon for contractors to acquire materials and workforce and is a testament to the importance of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed in 2021 that provided a historic level of resources to Amtrak. Make no mistake \u2013 this monumental investment was only possible because of this law. When this new bridge is finished, rail traffic will be safer and faster for passengers on the Northeast Corridor-Acela Express, Northeast Regional, and Shoreline East, as well as freight traffic. It is a generational investment for the most heavily traveled rail system in America that will pay dividends for decades to come.\u201d\n\nThe replacement bridge would maintain the two-track configuration and existing channel location and provide a bascule moveable span with additional vertical clearance for maritime traffic. The bridge serves the Northeast Corridor main line and is used by Amtrak\u2019s intercity services, Connecticut Shoreline East commuter service, and freight operators. The new structure will improve safety, reliability, and increase operating speed for all operators.\n\nOver the Years: Rep. Courtney Leads Works to Rehabilitate Connecticut River Bridge\n\nJuly 2020: Rep. Courtney sent a Congressional letter urging the Federal Railroad Administration to approve Amtrak\u2019s and Connecticut Department of Transportation\u2019s FY20 request for federal funding through the Federal State Partnership for the State of Good Repair program to support repairs to the Connecticut River Bridge project.\n\nOctober 2020: After requesting that the Federal Railroad Administration fund this work, Rep. Courtney hosted a press conference with Senator Blumenthal to announce a $62.5 million federal grant through the Federal State Partnership for the State of Good Repair program to replace the Connecticut River Bridge between Old Saybrook and Old Lyme, CT that carries Amtrak and Shoreline East Trains.\n\nJune 2021: Rep. Courtney led a Congressional letter in support of a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) for construction on the CT River Bridge. As Courtney said, \u201ca PLA can bring the benefit of a highly skilled, reliable workforce, with predictable wage rates and uniform training. It also fosters high quality job training and apprenticeships for young workers which is key to solving the \u201cskills gap\u201d challenge our nation faces.\u201d\n\nJune 2021: Amtrak responded to Rep. Courtney\u2019s letter and confirmed that they will be using a PLA for work on the Connecticut River Bridge project.\n\nFebruary 2022: After the passage of the federal infrastructure law, Rep. Courtney led a Congressional letter to the Federal Railroad Administration, Amtrak, the Northeast Corridor Commission, and the Connecticut Department of Transportation urging them to prioritize repairs to the Connecticut River Bridge as they review funding requests for the federal infrastructure law. In the letter, Rep. Courtney requests that the Connecticut River Bridge be included as a priority project.\n\nMarch 2022: Rep. Courtney sent a Congressional letter to urge the Department of Transportation to approve Amtrak\u2019s and Connecticut Department of Transportation\u2019s FY21 request for additional funding through the Federal State Partnership for the State of Good Repair program.\n\nAugust 2022: Rep. Courtney announced that Amtrak and Connecticut Department of Transportation had been awarded the requested $65.2 million grant from the federal infrastructure law to support the replacement of the existing Amtrak-owned Connecticut River Bridge between Old Saybrook and Old Lyme and support upgrades on the New Haven Line.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-durbin-send-letter-urging-department-education-recoup-funds", "DeLauro, Durbin Send Letter Urging Department of Education to Recoup Funds from Predatory, For-Profit Colleges University of Phoenix and Ashford University", "2023-11-06", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) sent a letter to the Department of Education urging them to recoup funds from for-profit colleges University of Phoenix and Ashford University after the agency cancelled student debts for borrowers that were defrauded by those institutions.\n\n\u201cFor far too long, predatory for-profit colleges like Ashford and Phoenix have preyed on students, especially veterans, students of color, and low-income students,\u201d the lawmakers wrote. \u201c\u2026We [therefore] urge the Department to aggressively recoup funds from these institutions. This would send a strong warning signal to other predatory for-profit colleges that there are substantial financial consequences for defrauding students.\u201d\n\nFor years, DeLauro and Durbin had advocated for stronger Borrower Defense regulations to protect student borrowers. Through this mechanism, the Department could recoup funds for borrowers defrauded by University of Phoenix and Ashford University.\n\n\u201cWe also urge the Department to continue providing accessible and streamlined avenues for other defrauded borrowers who attended Ashford and Phoenix to receive relief through borrower defense to repayment,\u201d the lawmakers continued. \u201c\u2026Finally, we urge the Department to review whether Ashford and Phoenix\u2014each of which has engaged in extensive and sustained misconduct that has violated Department regulations, including the prohibition on making substantial misrepresentations to students\u2014continue to remain eligible for federal student aid... It is time for the Department to hold these predatory schools accountable.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=BC29598B-27B1-4821-A9A8-79BFBBB68AD1", "Hayes, Schiff Introduce Legislation to Ensure Every Connecticut K-12 Student Can Access Free Mobile Vision Services", "2023-11-06", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Jahana Hayes", "H001081", "hayes.house.gov", "hayes", "https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) and Congressman Adam Schiff (CA-30) reintroduced the See the Board Act, legislation directing the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to make grants available for nonprofit organizations that provide free, mobile vision services for students in public elementary and secondary schools. Approximately, twelve percent of children in the Fifth District live below the poverty line and may struggle to access affordable eye care services.\n\n\u201cVisually impaired students who lack access to optometry services are at risk of struggling to learn and falling behind in school. According to the American Optometric Association, school-aged children should receive their first eye exam before first grade and annually thereafter. Many families are in serious need of affordable vision and eye care.\u201d said Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05). \u201cThis legislation aims to eliminate barriers and allow children to concentrate and stay engaged. The See the Board Act will bring mobile vision services directly to schools in underserved communities and ensure children receive critical vision care.\u201d\n\n\u201cNo child should be prevented from experiencing the full benefits of an education because they cannot see the board at the front of their classroom. We know that too many working families can\u2019t afford to miss work to travel for an eye doctor\u2019s appointment or simply can\u2019t afford to seek this care for their kids. My See the Board Act will ensure that cost is not a barrier for K-12 students by bringing no-cost vision care directly to them,\u201d said Congressman Adam Schiff (CA-30).\n\nDue to a lack of access to critical vision care, it is estimated that over 2 million students nationwide go to school each day without the glasses they need to fully participate in class, negatively impacting their learning experience. Children with uncorrected vision are more likely to perform poorly in school and face lower self-confidence.\n\nAdditionally, eye doctors are seeing more kids needing glasses earlier in their lives. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, since 1971, cases of nearsightedness in the U.S. nearly doubled to 42 percent.\n\nThe See the Board Act is co-sponsored by Representatives Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.), Cori Bush (D-Mo.), Andre Carson (D-Ind.), Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), Hank Johnson (D-Ga.), Grace Napolitano (D-Calif.), Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Penn.), Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii), David Trone (D-Md.), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.).\n\nRead the full text of the bill here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://himes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=45BB73F4-107F-4663-BF22-471EEEB4061D", "Himes Celebrates Nearly $500 Million to Replace Two Bridges", "2023-11-06", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "James A. Himes", "H001047", "himes.house.gov", "himes", "https://himes.house.gov/press-releases", "page_html", "Washington, DC \u2014 Today, Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04) announced that the Federal Railroad Administration has awarded $488.2 million for the replacement of Norwalk\u2019s WALK Bridge and Westport\u2019s Saugatuck River Bridge. This funding is allocated through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and comes as part of nearly $2 billion to be delivered to 10 projects across Connecticut.\n\n\u201cAfter years in Congress fighting for federal money to upgrade and replace Norwalk\u2019s WALK Bridge and the Westport Saugatuck River Bridge, I am elated to have helped secure nearly $500 million to bring these projects across the finish line,\u201d said Congressman Himes. \u201cI spend much of my time as a Representative thinking about how to modernize the rail systems and bridges in our community, but the best part about receiving a grant like this is knowing that eventually my constituents won\u2019t have to think about infrastructure at all. Rather than worrying about traffic delays or train disruptions, commuters will be free to think about that big project at work, an upcoming homework assignment, or whatever else matters most in their lives.\u201d\n\nConnecticut will receive a total of $1,998,799,600 in funding for 10 projects. The grants to be delivered to Connecticut\u2019s Fourth Congressional District include:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-03-30T11:08:25Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-courtney-mourns-loss-ct-nurse-killed-job-calls-passage-health-care", "Rep. Courtney Mourns Loss of CT Nurse Killed on the Job, Calls for Passage of Health Care Safety Legislation", "2023-11-02", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), a senior member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, issued the following statement after Brooklyn resident and visiting nurse Joyce Grayson was murdered on the job while performing an at-home visit in Willimantic.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m praying for Joyce Grayson\u2019s family as they mourn this heartbreaking loss. Ms. Grayson was a devoted mother and health care worker, and an eastern Connecticut native and resident who was tragically murdered while caring for her patient. Violence against health care workers, especially the extreme crime committed against Ms. Grayson, is deplorable and we must take action to institute safeguards that prevent harassment, injury, and death against those who care for us,\u201d said Rep. Joe Courtney. \u201cIn Congress, I am continuing to work to advance my bipartisan Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act to achieve that goal. This legislation would put proven proactive measures in place in health care settings, including for at-home visits, to prevent violence before it happens. Tragic incidents like the one witnessed in Willimantic this week serves as a devastating reminder of the urgency this bill demands.\u201d\n\nBackground\n\nViolence against health care and social service workers has been exacerbated by the pandemic, and tragic incidents like these are on the rise nationwide.\n\nRep. Courtney\u2019s Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act is a bipartisan bill that would help curb assaults taking place against this critical workforce by directing OSHA to issue a standard requiring health care and social service employers to write and implement a workplace violence prevention plan to protect their employees from violent incidents. In April 2021, the House voted to pass the bill by a margin of 254-166\u2014an even greater bipartisan majority than when similar legislation introduced by Courtney passed the House in 2019. Courtney\u2019s bill has drawn endorsements from a host of health care and social service professionals and from unions representing workers in these sectors, including the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the AFL-CIO, the American Nurses Association, and many others. It has also drawn official support from the Biden Administration.\n\nOn May 12, Rep. Courtney\u2019s bill was officially introduced to the U.S. Senate by Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) as S. 4182, where it awaits a vote.\n\nTo read more, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-courtney-readout-meeting-australian-deputy-prime-minister-marles", "Rep. Courtney Readout of Meeting with Australian Deputy Prime Minister Marles and Chief of the Royal Australian Navy", "2023-11-02", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) issued the following statement after his meeting yesterday with Australia\u2019s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, Richard Marles, and Chief of the Royal Australian Navy, Mark Hammond.\n\n\u201cIt was a pleasure to host Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and Chief of the Royal Australian Navy Vice Admiral Mark Hammond on Capitol Hill to discuss our nations\u2019 work to execute the AUKUS mission. The leaders shared their ongoing efforts to dramatically increase Australia\u2019s submarine industrial base capability to fully partner with the United States and the UK in their joint effort to rebalance the security environment in the Indo-Pacific. We discussed efforts by the U.S. Congress to reciprocate the Australian Parliament\u2019s strong bipartisan commitment to enable AUKUS. As Ranking Member of the Seapower Subcommittee, which has been at the epicenter of the effort to incorporate AUKUS authorities in the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, this meeting reenforced the determination of both Deputy Prime Minister Marles\u2019 efforts to enable AUKUS in the Canberra Parliament as well as our Subcommittee\u2019s work. Finally, the visit today, just days after Prime Minister Albanese\u2019s official state visit, underscores Australia\u2019s clear-eyed understanding of the U.S. Congress\u2019 critical role in executing AUKUS and preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-courtney-speaker-johnsons-disappointing-one-sided-bill-falls-far", "Rep. Courtney: Speaker Johnson\u2019s Disappointing, One-Sided Bill Falls Far Short of the Gravity of This Moment", "2023-11-02", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) issued the following statement on Speaker Johnson\u2019s proposed supplemental funding bill for Israel. Notably, Speaker Johnson\u2019s bill does not include any humanitarian aid or support for Ukraine and forces aid to be contingent on rescinding funding for the Internal Revenue Service.\n\n\u201cAs the House reconvenes this week with a new Speaker, it should be focused on immediate, emergency measures to secure the release of innocent Israeli hostages, violently seized by Hamas, as well as resources and a plan, including a humanitarian pause, to protect innocent Palestinians, who had no part in Hamas\u2019s unprovoked attack. President Biden\u2019s request for an emergency supplemental which includes security assistance for Israel and humanitarian aid for Gaza, strikes the right balance between both goals. Speaker Johnson\u2019s disappointing, one-sided bill falls far short of the gravity of this moment. Stuffing a totally unrelated IRS provision that only benefits big corporations and the super-rich is not only a cheap giveaway to special interest groups, but sets a dangerous precedent by forcing emergency aid to be contingent on cuts to other programs. It\u2019s time the House Republican majority stops putting politics above the survival of innocent lives.\u201d\n\nJ Street, a pro-Israel organization, came out in strong opposition of Speaker Johnson\u2019s proposal.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=0421743D-6152-4DCB-9D76-ED8C6036A7AE", "Hayes Statement on the Israel Supplemental Appropriations Act Vote", "2023-11-02", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Jahana Hayes", "H001081", "hayes.house.gov", "hayes", "https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "\"Today, the House of Representatives considered an aid package for Israel. This legislation, brought forth by Speaker Mike Johnson, provides $14.3 billion for foreign military financing and to replenish Israel\u2019s air and missile defense systems, including the Iron Dome, David\u2019s Sling, and the Iron Beam. However, the legislation falls short and does not include any funds to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.\n\nPresident Biden has put forth a $106 billion supplemental funding package. His proposal provides much-needed aid to our allies in Israel, Ukraine, and the Indo-Pacific, strengthens border protection, and makes available $10 billion for humanitarian assistance. This comprehensive bipartisan plan is the most appropriate path forward to fortify our national security, support our allies, and bolster humanitarian assistance.\n\nThe need for additional aid to Israel is clear- however, the dire need for humanitarian aid for thousands of innocent Palestinian civilians in Gaza who have been cut off from food, water, medicine, and fuel, and continued support for Ukraine as it combats ongoing Russian aggression cannot be understated or ignored.\n\nThroughout my tenure in Congress, I have consistently voted to support supplemental aid to Israel because of our shared democratic and strategic values and my appreciation for the critical role Israel plays in the region. However, I cannot in good conscience support a supplemental package that does not acknowledge the innocent civilians in Gaza caught in this war incited by Hamas.\n\nIt is with a heavy heart that I voted no to H.R.6126, the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024, the aid package brought before the House of Representatives. This bill is exploiting a moment when we are seeing an unprecedented rise in antisemitism and, for the first time, conditioning emergency aid.\n\nI continue to support Israel\u2019s right to exist and defend herself in the fight against Hamas and will remain committed to thoughtfully considering any legislation that promotes that end. I will also continue to advocate for the millions of innocent Palestinian civilians living in Gaza and, for the delivery of much-needed aid into the Gaza Strip and continued negotiations for the release of hostages being held by Hamas.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=E07DEC41-62A3-4902-9B56-69FAD0C6A74A", "Connecticut Delegation and Governor Lamont Announce Federal Approval of $70.9 Million Broadband Infrastructure Plan Boosted by the American Rescue Plan", "2023-11-02", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Jahana Hayes", "H001081", "hayes.house.gov", "hayes", "https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05), fellow members of the Connecticut Congressional Delegation, and Governor Ned Lamont announced today the U.S. Department of Treasury approved a state plan to invest a $70.9 million federal grant to upgrade network and cybersecurity infrastructure in the Connecticut Education Network (CEN).\n\nThis grant \u2013 funded by the American Rescue Plan through the Capital Projects Fund \u2013 will connect up to 170 community anchor organizations to CEN, and expand public WiFi service.\n\nThe plan, entitled \u201cCEN Connect,\u201d is comprised of three parts: CEN Next Generation Infrastructure (NGI); CEN Connect Municipalities, Libraries and Charter Schools; and CEN Connect Community WiFi.\n\nThis project will bring 100 gigabit per second network capability to every Connecticut community and serve as the platform to ensure ample internet bandwidth, capacity, and essential cyber security services are available to each community anchor institution (CAI) and open access member.\n\n\u201cHundreds of thousands of Connecticut residents lack access to affordable high-speed internet connection. My district has one of the lowest connectivity rates in the state. This federal investment in CEN Connect will update our infrastructure and support our workforce and healthcare system. Broadband is essential, and our state has been waiting for additional bold assistance to increase access to safe modern internet service. For over two years, the American Rescue Plan has delivered and transformed our communities. This is the next step forward to the long-term goal of ensuring all Americans have strong and reliable internet connection,\u201d said Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05).\n\n\u201cInvestments through CEN Connect are investments in Connecticut\u2019s ability to deliver and support workforce development, digital government, learning, innovation, and health and human services. The CEN cyber infrastructure contributes to a healthy broadband ecosystem for Connecticut and represents the ultimate shared service platform for our anchor institutions to connect, aggregate, collaborate, and improve services across the state,\u201d said Governor Ned Lamont.\n\n\u201cThis historic investment in broadband infrastructure \u2013 connecting essential institutions to reliable high-speed internet \u2013 will help bring Connecticut communication into the 21st Century. Broadband is not a luxury \u2013 it\u2019s an essential need and this funding is critical for supporting our workforce, government services, and online learning tools. I applaud Governor Lamont for his commitment to expanding connectivity and I\u2019ll fight for programs that bolster broadband infrastructure,\u201d saidU.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).\n\n\u201cAccess to reliable, high-speed internet is a basic necessity, and CEN Connect is a comprehensive plan to ensure people in every corner of the state can get online. It\u2019s great to see dollars from the American Rescue Plan support this project and continue to pay dividends in Connecticut,\u201d said U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT).\n\n\u201cBroadband is no longer a luxury \u2013 it\u2019s a necessity. When Congressional Democrats enacted the American Rescue Plan in March 2021, we invested in the Capital Projects Fund so that local communities could more easily connect to the digital world. Today\u2019s investment in Connecticut\u2019s broadband infrastructure, made possible by the American Rescue Plan, will power opportunities for learners, employers, and educators across the state. These investments are particularly important for the rural communities I represent across eastern Connecticut,\u201d said Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02).\n\n\u201cIn the year 2023 every single Connecticut resident should have access to high-speed internet, and I\u2019m glad to see the American Rescue Plan Act that I supported providing dollars to close the digital divide and invest in our broadband system. As the ranking member on the House Intelligence Committee, I am acutely aware of the threats posed by cybercriminals to local governments, school systems and libraries, and I\u2019m extremely pleased that these funds are also going to help Connecticut beef up its cybersecurity infrastructure,\u201d said Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04).\n\n\u201cCEN Connect is an amazing opportunity to ensure every anchor institution in every corner of the state has access to advanced network services and help the CEN continue to serve as the platform for transformative technology delivery for years to come,\u201d said Ryan Kocsondy, director of the CEN.\n\nIn 2021, Congresswoman Hayes and the Connecticut Congressional delegation voted to pass the American Rescue Plan, aimed at delivering economic relief for American families. The legislation allocated $10 billion for states, territories, and Tribes to cover the cost of projects focused on increasing access to broadband.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://himes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=28929712-C7CC-4244-A992-1D31ECD00484", "Himes Statement Opposing Censures of Members of the House", "2023-11-01", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "James A. Himes", "H001047", "himes.house.gov", "himes", "https://himes.house.gov/press-releases", "page_html", "Washington, DC \u2014 Today, Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04) issued the following statement opposing legislation to censure Representatives Rashida Tlaib and Marjorie Taylor Greene:\n\n\u201cToday, freedom of expression everywhere is under threat. Illiberal hall monitors on the Left and the Right are suppressing books, artists, and \u2018objectionable\u2019 opinions and speakers. Freedom of expression, no matter how unpopular, must not be censored or officially sanctioned. The remedy for bad speech is more speech.\n\n\u201cSadly, censure resolutions are coming before the House today which would censure two members of the House, Rep. Rashida Tlaib and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene for things which they have said. That is wrong. It contributes to the further erosion of our democratic system. I will oppose both.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-03-30T11:08:25Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-calls-humanitarian-pause-and-hostage-releases-israel-hamas-war", "DeLauro Calls for Humanitarian Pause and Hostage Releases in Israel-Hamas War", "2023-10-31", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) called for a pause in the Israel-Hamas war to facilitate the disbursement of humanitarian aid to Gaza and the release of hostages:\n\n\u201cTwenty-three days ago, Israel faced the most devastating terrorist attack in its history. Over 1,400 Israelis were killed and over 5,000 were injured. Hamas\u2019s surprise attack inflicted horrific violence on innocent civilians, forever separated families, and resulted in the capture of over 200 hostages \u2013 some of which are Americans. Hamas\u2019s attack has created a humanitarian crisis for civilians living in Gaza. That is why I am calling for a humanitarian pause in the fighting to allow for the restoration of power and water in the region and the rapid, safe, and uninterrupted distribution of humanitarian aid, including food, water, medicine, and fuel, to innocent civilians. I am also urging the unconditional release of all remaining hostages.\n\n\u201cI strongly believe that we must end Hamas\u2019s ongoing terror in the region to create a lasting peace. Everyone will be hurt if Hamas remains in control of Gaza. However, this war is against Hamas. The Palestinian people are not Hamas, and they sadly have lost communities, neighborhoods, and loved ones because of this conflict and Hamas\u2019s atrocities. I strongly believe Israel has the right to defend itself and protect its citizens in accordance with international law.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-congressman-earl-blumenauer", "DeLauro Statement on Congressman Earl Blumenauer", "2023-10-31", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "NEW HAVEN, CT \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) released the following statement on Congressman Earl Blumenauer\u2019s (OR-03) announcement that he will not seek re-election for the 119th Congress:\n\n\u201cSince coming to Congress in 1996, Congressman Earl Blumenauer has been a tireless advocate for the people of Oregon, and before that as a State representative, County Commissioner, and City Councilman. Earl was also one of my closest partners in Congress, and a dear friend.\n\n\u201cHe has been a creative and effective legislator, leading with intelligence and passion. As the Chairman of the Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, he successfully fought to ensure that American workers and the environment were protected in the U.S. Mexico Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA)\u2014which I was proud to have worked alongside him for as part of the USMCA Working Group. In addition to leading on trade issues, Earl has been a champion for rebuilding our nation\u2019s infrastructure, protecting public lands, taking action on climate change, and addressing criminal justice reform. And of course, his leadership of the Congressional Bike Caucus helped bring the issue of safer streets to the center of how Congress thinks about transportation.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=C94493E3-1235-4439-8D27-90DEC28E1C39", "Hayes, Blumenthal, Murphy Announce $11.6 Million In Federal Funding for Meriden Flood Resilience Project", "2023-10-31", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Jahana Hayes", "H001081", "hayes.house.gov", "hayes", "https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WATERBURY \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) and U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) announced two federal grants for the Fifth District from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) totaling $11,645,250. The funding will help alleviate the flooding of Harbor Brook in the City of Meriden.\n\n\"I am pleased the City of Meriden will receive over $11 million in FEMA funding for the Harbor Brook Flood Resilience project. The grant will cover 75% of the cost of the project and fund ongoing efforts to reduce flooding along Harbor Brook. An additional $480,000 was also awarded to support staff assigned to the project, \" said Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05). \"Meriden is no stranger to flooding and residents know the devastating impacts flooding has on communities. Efforts like this by the Biden Administration are felt directly by communities most affected.\"\n\n\u201cThis federal funding will help address the longtime issue of flooding that has impacted Meriden for over a century. I applaud FEMA for supporting this critical mitigation project along Harbor Brook \u2013 helping to revitalize Meriden\u2019s downtown and making the city more resilient to flooding. I have long advocated for flood mitigation funds for Meriden and will continue to support their efforts to make the city safer for residents,\u201d said Senator Blumenthal (D-CT).\n\n\u201cThis project to mitigate flooding along Harbor Brook has been in the works for a very long time, and I\u2019m glad this $11.6 million in federal funding will help get it across the finish line. It\u2019s going to make a major difference for the homes and local businesses that are constantly at risk of flood damage in downtown Meriden. As Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee that funds FEMA, I\u2019ll continue pushing to support programs that help towns in Connecticut become more resilient,\u201d said Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT).\n\nThe funding from FEMA will support $11,165,250 million of the City\u2019s $14.7 million total project cost. The project includes channel realignment and profile adjustment, removing two undersized bridges that constrict water flow, floodproofing buildings along the river, creating riparian floodplain and wildlife habitat, modifying impacted utilities, and installing a waterfront trail system. An additional $480,000 grant from FEMA will fund costs for the administration and management of this project.\n\nImprovements will be made along an 1,800 foot stretch of Harbor Brook spanning from Cooper Street in downtown Meriden to the Amtrak railroad near Colony Street.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=A2A924E3-025F-4CC2-8CC9-E574B03B6952", "Hayes, Connecticut Congressional Delegation Announce More Than $1.7 Million for Traffic and Road Safety Improvements and Studies", "2023-10-30", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Jahana Hayes", "H001081", "hayes.house.gov", "hayes", "https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WATERBURY \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05), U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) and U.S. Representatives John B. Larson (D-CT), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), and Jim Himes (D-CT) announced $1.74 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to support six traffic safety projects across Connecticut, including more than $400,000 for two Fifth District projects in the Naugatuck Valley and the Town of Newtown.\n\nThe funds are awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program established to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries.\n\nTraffic fatalities are the leading cause of death for Americans under 54, killing over 100 people every day.\n\n\u201cThe historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocated $5 billion to the Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program. Connecticut will receive over $1 million to address critical roadway issues and make our communities safer,\u201d said Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05). \u201cThe Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments has been awarded over $300,000 to support the Vision Zero Action Plan, aimed at reducing deaths and serious injuries from traffic crashes, and Newtown is set to receive $80,000 to help create a transportation safety action plan. We fought hard for this win. Now, residents in my district will see change in their communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cMore people are dying on Connecticut\u2019s roadways than ever before, and this $1.7 million in federal funding will help towns plan and make serious safety improvements to prevent these senseless tragedies from occurring,\u201d said Senator Richard Blumenthal. \u201cThese critical projects target traffic and roadway issues at the local level so that Connecticut motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists can feel safer on the roads.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery year during my Walk across the state, I\u2019m reminded of how many roads in Connecticut are unsafe for pedestrians. It\u2019s unacceptable that pedestrian fatalities in our state are at a 40-year high when we know how to prevent these deaths. This $1.75 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help towns across the state develop actionable plans to make their streets safer for pedestrians, bikers, and drivers,\u201d said Senator Chris Murphy.\n\nThe Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was not only about rebuilding America\u2019s crumbling infrastructure, it was about improving transportation safety,\u201d said Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03). \u201cAccident rates in Connecticut are on the rise, and residents need safer communities. With this funding, the Naugatuck Council of Government will begin to enact their Vision Zero Action Plan which will create more accessible and inclusive transportation options aimed at making our communities walkable, healthy, and safer while supporting growth and opportunity.\"\n\nOur state has lost hundreds of drivers, passengers, and pedestrians to tragic roadway incidents over the last two years,\u201d said Congressman John Larson (CT-01). \u201cThe Connecticut delegation worked hard to secure funding in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to make traffic safety improvements that will save lives. These resources will allow West Hartford, Winchester, and Newington to adopt community-wide approaches to ensure safety on the roads, including through new infrastructure upgrades and technologies.\u201d\n\n\u201cSafer streets will make commuting more accessible, equitable, and enjoyable for Connecticut residents,\u201d said Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04). \u201cI\u2019m thrilled that the Town of Greenwich and the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments are receiving federal funds to develop plans that prioritize preventing traffic accidents and providing safe roads for pedestrians and bikers.\u201d\n\nThe funding announced today will support the following regional and local projects:\n\n$320,064 to the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments for the NVCOG Vision Zero Action Plan Update\n\n$200,000 to the Town of Winchester for the SS4A Action Plan for the Town of Winchester\n\n$80,000 to the Town of Newington for the SS4A Supplemental Planning Grant for the Cedar Street Corridor\n\n$80,000 to the Town of Newtown for the Newtown Comprehensive Safe Streets Community Action Plan\n\n$400,000 to the Town of Greenwich for the SS4A Planning Grant to Create A Transportation Safety Action Plan\n\n$669,007 for the Town of West Hartford for the Speed Management Pilot Program\n\nThe SS4A program supports the goal of zero deaths and serious injuries on our nation\u2019s roadways. This comes at a time when traffic fatalities are at the highest level in decades.\n\nPreviously, in November of 2021, Congresswoman Hayes voted to pass the historic bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) aimed to create high-paying jobs, and help to repair and improve Connecticut's highways, bridges, rail, public transportation, and water infrastructure.\n\nIn February of 2023, the Congresswoman joined the Connecticut delegation to announce more than $2.4 million in funding from the IIJA would go toward six traffic safety projects across Connecticut \u2013 including $200,000 for the city of Torrington to develop a comprehensive safety action plan.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-applauds-president-bidens-support-relief-farmers-impacted", "Courtney, Larson, DeLauro, Balint Applaud President Biden\u2019s Support for Relief for Farmers Impacted by Severe Weather", "2023-10-27", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "NORWICH, CT - Today, Reps. Joe Courtney (CT-02), John B. Larson (CT-01), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), and Becca Balint (VT-AL) applauded President Biden for heeding their calls to deliver emergency relief to help northeast farmers recover from devastating crop damage and loss they faced due to severe frost and flooding earlier this year.\n\n\u201cThis past year, our farmers dealt with hours of record-freezing temperatures in May \u2013 right during our peak growing season \u2013 only to have extreme flooding impacting those same operations less than two months later. These same family farms were impacted by a serious drought last summer that caused significant losses, all while the agriculture industry as a whole tried to recover from the changing economy and world after the COVID-19 pandemic. That\u2019s why last year, I led the Connecticut delegation in securing emergency disaster assistance for our farmers, and this year, I again worked with my colleagues in Connecticut to lead the charge in securing a commitment from the Biden Administration to support emergency disaster assistance for agricultural producers,\u201d said Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-02).\n\n\u201cDue to the severe weather we faced earlier this year, many farms have lost hundreds of acres of crops and people have been put out of work,\u201d said Larson. \u201cExisting federal programs are not enough to meet the needs of New England farms. I worked with Connecticut farmers and my colleagues across the region to find a solution that meets the moment and am thrilled to announce President Biden\u2019s support for direct, emergency relief. It is now up to Congress to act swiftly to approve his request. Our farmers have waited long enough to get the relief they need and deserve.\u201d\n\n\u201cFarmers in Connecticut are experiencing widespread harm due to recent extreme weather events such as severe drought and unprecedented flooding,\u201d said Congresswoman DeLauro. \u201cAs Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, I was pleased the President included this relief in his supplemental funding request to Congress. I will fight to secure federal support for the USDA Emergency Relief Program, which provides relief to our farmers in the form of financial assistance and expedited disaster relief payments. I will continue to work with our local communities and farmers to ensure that they get the help they need to rebuild, recover, and move forward. This issue is critical to my district and to our region\u2019s agriculture industry.\"\n\n\u201cAfter this year's severe weather and devastating floods, New England farmers need resources to fight climate change and protect their land,\u201d said Rep. Becca Balint. \u201cThe President\u2019s requested support is critical in Vermont\u2019s response and recovery process. I\u2019m proud to join my colleagues in applauding the President\u2019s support for emergency aid and now it\u2019s time for Congress to step up and approve this request.\u201d\n\nNew England farms faced more than $50 million in damage as a result of frost and severe flooding earlier this year, impacting approximately 4,000 acres of farmland in Connecticut, and over 27,000 acres in Vermont. Last week, Larson, Courtney, and Balint led 13 lawmakers requesting President Biden\u2019s support for emergency aid. This week, the President included relief for farmers in the domestic supplemental funding request he sent to Congress.\n\nFull text of the lawmakers\u2019 letter is available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-cammack-courtney-fitzpatrick-introduce-bipartisan-resolution-0", "DeLauro, Cammack, Courtney, Fitzpatrick Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Honoring the Nation\u2019s First Responders Day", "2023-10-27", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03), Kat Cammack (R-FL-03), Joe Courtney (D-CT-02), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01) introduced a resolution celebrating October 28 as Honoring the Nation\u2019s First Responders Day.\n\n\u201cWhen Americans find themselves in an emergency and in need of assistance, it is our nation\u2019s first responders who stand on the front line ready to respond,\u201d said Congresswoman DeLauro. \u201cWhether they be firefighters, emergency medical technician, paramedics, or our brave law enforcement officers, first responders hold communities together, protect neighborhoods, and save lives. I am glad to lead my colleagues on a bipartisan resolution celebrating Honoring the Nation\u2019s First Responders Day.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m honored to lead this resolution with my colleagues to honor our first responders. As the wife of a firefighter/paramedic and SWAT medic, this resolution is personal for me,\u201d said Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL-03). \u201cThe men and women of our first responder community across the nation work tirelessly to keep our communities safe. They run toward danger when the rest of us run away from it and we should be tremendously grateful for their service and sacrifices each day. Imagining a world without them isn\u2019t possible, and we thank you for all you do and will always stand with you.\u201d\n\n\u201cFirst responders, whether providing support after a natural disaster or caring for communities after tragic events like we saw this week in Maine, are the first on the scene to assist their communities in times of duress, said Rep. Courtney (CT-02). \u201cI continue to advocate for the necessary resources for our First Responders to carry out their mission and stay safe on the job. This Resolution is merely a display of gratitude and appreciation for our some of our most critical community partners.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a formal federal law enforcement officer and former EMT, I know that our firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency medical technicians, and paramedics are often the first to arrive and the last to leave the scene of any emergency,\u201d said Congressman Fitzpatrick, co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus. \u201cWithout question, the millions of heroic Americans that serve and risk their lives for our communities in this way each day deserve our appreciation. I am glad to join my colleagues in recognizing the contribution and public service of our first responders, and remain committed to continuing to secure more resources in support of their missions.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=8F763919-A684-4B23-86D0-F8FF75E03859", "Hayes Joins Task Force Effort to Push Republican Leadership to Address the Gun Violence Epidemic", "2023-10-27", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Jahana Hayes", "H001081", "hayes.house.gov", "hayes", "https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05), the Deputy Whip of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, signed a letter urging action on legislation to prevent gun violence.\n\nFor years, Congresswoman Hayes and House Democrats have worked with survivors of gun violence, prioritized gun safety, and introduced legislation to make communities safer.\n\nFollowing the mass shooting in Maine, Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, responded saying, \u201cThis is a dark time in America. \u2026Prayer is appropriate in a time like this.\u201d\n\nSpeaker Johnson also averted questions on gun legislation he would support and said now \u201cis not the time to be talking about legislation.\u201d\n\nIn 2023 Congresswoman Hayes:\n\nLed the reintroduction of the Handgun Permit to Purchase Act, legislation to incentivize state and local governments to implement permit to purchase laws that require individuals to obtain a license before purchasing a handgun.\n\nIntroduced the School Shooting Safety and Preparedness Act to allow the public and policymakers to gain a complete, accurate picture of gun violence in and around school campuses and provide actionable data to help prevent these tragic incidents.\n\nSigned three discharge petitions to force a vote on common sense gun violence prevention measures \u2013 the Bipartisan Background Checks Act, Enhanced Background Checks Act, and the Assault Weapons Ban.\n\nIt is far past time, but not too late, to address the issue of gun violence.\n\nCongresswoman Hayes joined fellow members of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force leadership team to release a statement which says in part, \u201cUnder the Republican-led House of Representatives, there have been ZERO votes on bills that would protect our communities from the impact of gun violence\u2026In the last Congress, House Democrats passed 11 gun violence prevention bills ranging from the Bipartisan Background Checks Act and a federal Red Flag Law to an Assault Weapon Ban and stronger safe storage laws. House Democrats have been tirelessly working to keep our communities safe,\u201d\n\nRead the full statement from Gun Violence Prevention Task Force leadership here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-sullivan-durbin-gallagher-host-prime-minister-albanese-meeting", "Courtney, Sullivan, Durbin, Gallagher Host Prime Minister Albanese for Meeting with Congressional Leaders, Members", "2023-10-26", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, the Friends of Australia Caucus, led by Reps. Joe Courtney and Mike Gallagher, and Sens. Dan Sullivan and Dick Durbin, hosted Prime Minister Albanese of Australia for a breakfast meeting with House and Senate Committee leaders on Armed Services and Foreign Affairs. This was an opportunity for top Congressional leaders with jurisdiction over different parts of the AUKUS mission to have a dialogue with the Prime Minister on efforts to execute the trilateral security agreement.\n\nFollowing the meeting, the Co-Chairs hosted over 60 members of the House and Senate for a reception to hear directly from and meet the Prime Minister.\n\n\u201cPrime Minister Albanese\u2019s trip to Capitol Hill was critical in emphasizing the importance of the AUKUS enabling legislation that came out of the \u2018Optimal Pathway\u2019, which was announced by the three heads of government last March. As Prime Minister Albanese said in this morning\u2019s meeting, there\u2019s a true bipartisan commitment to AUKUS in Australia. The strong showing of Members from both parties across the House and Senate, as well as Committee leaders responsible for advancing AUKUS legislation, underscores that there is also a strong bipartisan commitment in the U.S. Congress to execute this vital security agreement. I look forward to building on the momentum that was very clear this morning and advance enabling legislation through this year\u2019s National Defense Authorization Act,\u201d Rep. Joe Courtney said (D-CT).\n\n\u201cIt is an honor to host the Prime Minister of Australia, one of America\u2019s closest allies and a vital a partner in the pursuit of a free, open and secure Indo-Pacific,\u201d Senator Sullivan said (R-AK). \u201cOur countries face the most dangerous period since World War II, led by a new axis of authoritarian aggressors\u2014the dictators in Moscow, Tehran, and Beijing. To succeed in this challenging environment, America and Australia must take advantage of the extraordinary advantages we have relative to these dictatorships: our lethal militaries, our world-class resources, our dynamic economies, our global network of allies, our democratic values and our commitment to liberty. If we stand firmly together in countering this axis, I am convinced we will succeed.\u201d\n\n\u201cPrime Minister Albanese\u2019s visit allows us to celebrate over 100 years of U.S.-Australia \u2018mateship,\u2019 bound by shared values and a commitment to democracy and international rule of law. As a Co-Chair of the Friends of Australia Caucus, I have been pleased to support the AUKUS partnership, which will develop cutting-edge capabilities mutually beneficial to the U.S., Australia, and the UK. With so many global challenges, it is reassuring to have friends like Australia to stand with us and I look forward to our diplomatic partnership for years to come,\u201d Senator Durbin said (D-IL).\n\n\u201cThe AUKUS alliance is a game-changer that will play a critical role in deterring CCP aggression and protecting the Free World\u2019s interests in the Indo-Pacific. Today\u2019s meeting demonstrated the bipartisan and bicameral support for building on the successes of this alliance by taking steps to enhance our submarine industrial base for our subsea goals and reform ITAR. We have no more trustworthy nor capable ally than our mates in Australia and must move with a sense of urgency to ensure the AUKUS framework has the tools and resources it needs to reach the next level,\u201d Rep. Gallagher said (R-WI).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/child-labor-violations-skyrocket-delauro-casey-murray-introduce", "As Child Labor Violations Skyrocket, DeLauro, Casey, Murray, Introduce Legislation to Combat Child Labor Exploitation", "2023-10-26", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "New datashow companies employed 5,792 children in violation of child labor law in FY23\n\nSince 2019, child labor violations have increased roughly 88 percent\n\nNew bill would strengthen labor law, give Department of Labor greater enforcement power\n\nToday, U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-3) along with U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Patty Murray (D-WA) introduced legislation to protect children from exploitative child labor practices and hold the companies and individuals who take advantage of them accountable. The Children Harmed in Life-threatening or Dangerous(CHILD) Labor Act strengthens our ability to combat child labor by cracking down on employers who violate child labor laws with stronger penalties and allowing children who have been seriously injured to sue their employers. The bill also expands child labor provisions to hold suppliers and subcontractors throughout the supply chain responsible and authorizes the Department of Labor to label goods that are produced with child labor.\n\n\u201cSince 2019, we have seen a substantial increase in child labor violations. As Top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, I have been committed to giving the Department of Labor the necessary resources to investigate these incidents and have fought for increases at the Department\u2019s Wage and Hour Division and the Office of the Solicitor to ensure oversight officials can investigate child labor violation claims,\u201d said Congresswoman DeLauro. \u201cMany of these children come from vulnerable backgrounds and are being taken advantage of by a system that should be taking care of them. These children are usually invisible in their communities, work long hours for little to no pay, and are frequently abused and deprived of any chance to play or go to school. The need is clear: we need legislation to safeguard children from exploitative labor practices that hurt their development and strip them of a childhood. Children do not belong in factories working for companies under oppressive conditions. The CHILDLabor Act would strengthen child labor laws and hold companies that exploit the labor of children accountable.\u201d\n\n\u201cChildren do not belong in factories or working during hours when they should be studying, spending time with their families, or simply being children. Yet too many bad actors get away with forcing kids to work long hours and under dangerous conditions,\u201d said Senator Casey. \u201cIt is long past time we bring our child labor laws into the 21stcentury and fight back against the employers, contractors, and subcontractors that violate them.\u201d\n\n\u201cOver the past few years, we have seen an alarming rise in instances of illegal and dangerous child labor\u2014last year, a record number of businesses in Washington state were cited for childlabor violations. We\u2019re talking about kids, many of them migrant children, in abusive and extraordinarily dangerous work environments; kids working the night shift around heavy equipment and in unsafe conditions with no real recourse when they are harmed, and barely any accountability on the part of companies who break child labor law. This has to change,\u201d said Senator Murray.\u201cI\u2019m grateful for the serious reporting that has helped shine a light on this growing problem, and the many victims who have courageously come forward to share their stories\u2014but it\u2019s going to take real action at the federal level to crack down on illegal and exploitative childlabor, which has in many cases caused gruesome injuries and even death. This is about protecting vulnerable children from exploitation and abuse\u2014there\u2019s no reason Congress shouldn\u2019t be able to act.\u201d\n\nSince becoming the Top Democrat on the Labor Health and Human Services Appropriations subcommittee, DeLauro has increased funding for the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor \u2013 the agency responsible for the enforcement of child labor violations \u2013 by $31 million. In April 2023, she led a Member-level briefing on the current state of child labor with principals from the Department of Labor.\n\nCongresswoman DeLauro, a founding member of the Child Labor Prevention Task Force, also previously introduced the Children Don\u2019t Belong on Tobacco Farms Act. This legislation would prohibit children under the age of 18 from workingin tobacco fields and coming into direct contact with tobacco plants or dried tobacco leaves by deeming this type of work as oppressive child labor. She has been fighting to stop the abuse of companies that exploit children for their labor.\n\nThe CHILD Labor Act would protect children by enhancing the Fair Labor Standards Act to hold liable contractors or subcontractors for child labor violations in the same manner as the employer who employs the oppressive child labor; increase the civil penalty amount for childlabor violations from $11,000 to $151,380\u2014or 10 times the inflation adjusted amount; increase the criminal penalty fine from $10,000 to $750,000; require any person who violates child labor provisions to be liable to each employee affected by the violation in an amount no less than $75,000; and require federal contracts to contain child labor provisions that prohibit the use of oppressive child labor.\n\nThe legislation would also authorize the Secretary of Labor to affix warning labels to goods manufactured with oppressive child labor, to issue a stop work order to any person in violation of child labor provisions, and require the Secretary to report to Congress data and recommendations concerning overall trends for work-related injuries, illnesses, or deaths to congress on an annual basis.\n\nThe bill is endorsed by the National Employment Law Project (NELP), ChildLabor Coalition, National Consumers League, and the Center for Law & Social Policy (CLASP).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/icymi-groton-ct-serves-national-example-us-training-system", "ICYMI: Groton, CT Serves as National Example of US Training System", "2023-10-25", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Yesterday, Bloomberg featured how Groton, CT has successfully leveraged the federal workforce training system\u2014the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)\u2014to help workers in eastern Connecticut gain in-demand skills and help employers, like Electric Boat, recruit qualified candidates into rewarding careers.\n\nAs a senior member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, Congressman Courtney has been a champion for WIOA and has worked to increase federal funding for WIOA programs to expand their reach.\n\nBloomberg Law: Worker Skills Gap Fuels Fight Over $3 Billion US Training System\n\nRebecca Rainey and Diego Areas Munhoz\n\nBloomberg Law\n\nThe air inside the Groton, Conn., classroom where Givens Louis-Jean clutched a blow torch hung even thicker than the September heatwave simmering outside.\n\nStill, Louis-Jean felt blessed. This welding class was more rewarding than his last job, as a mover, or the community college courses he looked back on as a waste of time.\n\n\u201cThey weren\u2019t teaching me something I was going to use in life,\u201d he explained, sparks flying, as he welded two pieces of metal.\n\nCompleting his 10-week training will earn Louis-Jean a job interview at General Dynamics Electric Boat, a local submarine manufacturer. The 20-year-old is among nearly 4,000 workers hired into such jobs over the last six years through eastern Connecticut\u2019s Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative, in trades that on average pay close to $31 an hour.\n\nPrograms like the Pipeline Initiative only exist because of federal funding through a little-known law called the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, which sets up and funds local boards to help train and place skilled workers. Passed in 2014, it combined federal training programs dating back decades; these days, more than $3 billion flows through the system.\n\nBefore the battle over an elected speaker paralyzed the House, lawmakers were working to reauthorize the law, even as skeptics questioned the effectiveness of a program originally intended to be the country\u2019s workforce development backbone.\n\nBetween 2019 and mid-2020, about 30% of the enrollees in WIOA\u2019s core programs were still looking for work months after finishing their training, its records show. For the plan year ending July 2021\u2014the latest year on record, but also one upended by the pandemic\u2014nearly 60% of the participants struggled to find work.\n\nDemocrats and Republicans have diverged on the best path forward for the program, but lawmakers on both sides share concerns about how much of its funding is spent exclusively for training, a lack of accountability, and just too much bureaucracy.\n\n\u201cWe can improve outcomes by cutting back the wasteful and inefficient bureaucracy,\u201d Rep. Burgess Owens (R-Utah.) said during a September hearing on WIOA.\n\nThe review comes as employers are desperate for high-skilled workers in a competitive labor market still churning from the effects of the pandemic. US job openings rose to 9.6 million at the beginning of September, with postings increasing in manufacturing sectors.\n\nThe long-held thinking that a four-year college degree is the pathway to economic success is also being challenged as states and businesses drop degree requirements and major companies like IBM Corp. and Boeing Co. urge Congress to invest in reskilling the American workforce.\n\nWith the House struggles over its leadership and government funding, passage of major pieces of legislation in the coming months remains an open question. But a carefully crafted WIOA reauthorization could fulfill employers\u2019 voracious search for new workers, and revamp the job pipeline to serve an economy experiencing major shifts stirred by technology, Democratic Rep. Joe Courtney said.\n\n\u201cPart of that problem is the skills gap, and what\u2019s the most efficient way to close it? \u201d said Courtney, who represents the Connecticut district where the manufacturing pipeline has thrived. \u201cI\u2019m all for higher education and all that. But there\u2019s just no question that WIOA can, in a pretty rapid way, help solve that problem.\u201d\n\nReagan-Era Roots\n\nThe law we now call WIOA was the successor of the Workforce Investment Act signed in 1998 by President Bill Clinton, which itself replaced a Reagan-era workforce development system.\n\nBroadly, the goal of each has been the same: deliver job training through a network of \u201cworkforce boards\u201d composed of representatives from local businesses, unions, government, and other groups\u2014people with their fingers on the pulse of their community\u2019s specific economic needs.\n\nIn eastern Connecticut, for instance, the 28-member board and council includes elected mayors and selectmen, as well as a technical high school principal, a pharmaceuticals executive, the head of a local carpenters\u2019 union, and a bank vice president. On top of that, there\u2019s a management staff of 12.\n\nThe boards help establish and manage local job centers, the brick-and-mortar locations where staffers help unemployed or under-employed workers with every job-related need, from unemployment insurance to veteran benefits.\n\nEligible applicants choose from a list of training providers and programs that have been approved by their local board. Once a job-seeker starts their training, the board deposits funds to cover the cost of the classes for that student in what\u2019s known as their \u201cindividual training account.\u201d\n\nBut getting the dollars allocated by Congress down to trainees like Louis-Jean is an unwieldy process.\n\nThe billions set aside annually for the program run through the US Department of Labor, which takes a share for administrative expenses then allocates the rest to states based on metrics like population and unemployment rates.\n\nFrom there, governors first take 15% of the funds for their statewide workforce development initiatives and divide the rest among the local boards, who decide which training programs to support. How much they spend on actual skills training, versus ancillary services designed to help job-seekers, is up to them.\n\nOf the roughly $3 billion set aside for 2021 primarily for youth and adult workforce development under WIOA, only $547 million went directly to training services. Another $1.3 billion was spent on \u201ccareer services,\u201d which include intake at a job center, verifying an individual\u2019s eligiblity for training, and job searching, among other assistance, according to DOL records.\n\nThe myriad of steps and lack of effective performance measures for the program has sparked complaints that it\u2019s gotten too bloated and is slowed by bureaucratic hurdles.\n\n\u201cOverly prescriptive requirements act like a wet blanket on the whole system, stifling modernization, flexibility, and efficiency,\u201d said Burgess, a member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.\n\nFor example, an audit released last month by the DOL\u2019s inspector general found that federal officials failed to ensure that New Jersey workforce boards were verifying that all recipients and training providers of more than $100 million of the state\u2019s WIOA funding were actually eligible for the money.\n\nOf particular concern, two New Jersey programs had no system in place to document how they spent more than $6.9 million in WIOA grants, according to the report.\n\nThe size and scope of the local workforce boards is another problem, said Rosemary Lahasky, senior director of government affairs at education technology group Cengage.\n\nWIOA requires boards to have specific kinds of members, but doesn\u2019t dictate how many. That\u2019s resulted in boards with too many participants, which makes decision-making more inefficient, she added.\n\nThe physical jurisdictions covered by each workforce board are also outdated and might not reflect current market needs, according to Lahasky, who served on the House Education and the Workforce panel during the 2014 WIOA passage.\n\nBusinesses, schools, and other groups that want to offer training under WIOA must also navigate a patchwork of confusing and sometimes conflicting state-by-state eligibility rules.\n\nFurther muddying the picture is the lack of clear and uniform performance measures. The Labor Department\u2019s Employment and Training Administration this year waived performance measure requirements to allow state agencies more time to implement pieces of the law\u2014nearly a decade after its passage.\n\nThe administration said it was concerned the baseline data it had planned to collect from states wouldn\u2019t present \u201cconsistently reliable results,\u201d which some saw as reinforcing the program\u2019s flaws.\n\n\u201cThe Department of Labor cannot and should not be putting out guidance that says \u2018Hey, by the way, we\u2019re going to waive some performance measures because we need an orderly transition from a law that was passed nine years ago,\u2019\u201d said John Pallasch, who ran the DOL training office during the Trump administration. \u201cI can\u2019t overstate enough what message that sends to the states: Hey, performance isn\u2019t that important. Don\u2019t worry about it.\u2019 \u201d\n\nPowering a Community\n\nNestled along Connecticut\u2019s Thames River, the town of Groton is home to a little over 9,000 residents. Electric Boat Company, founded in 1899 and incorporated into General Dynamics in the 1950s, built US warships during both World Wars, and now, several ballistic-missile submarine projects for the Navy.\n\nThe stream of military contracts creates a constant need for skilled workers.\n\nThose economic forces led the company in 2016 to partner with the Eastern Connecticut Workforce Investment Board, which connected Electric Boat with Three Rivers Community College and other local schools to provide the training. From there, the Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative was born.\n\n\u201cWe could not be hiring the numbers of people that we are without it,\u201d said Courtney Murphy, director of talent acquisition, workforce development and compensation at Electric Boat.\n\nProgram classes cover skills ranging from welding, machining, and shipbuilding to planning and design, said Bret Jacobson, director of the apprenticeship center involved in the manufacturing pipeline program. \u201cA lot of the skills are transferable,\u201d he added.\n\nMichael Nogelo, president of eastern Connecticut\u2019s workforce investment board, said it receives funding from different streams\u2014including Defense Department programs\u2014but WIOA funding is the foundational structure for all of its job training.\n\nConnecticut as a whole will receive a little more than $35 million for WIOA\u2019s core job training programs in 2023. Leaders behind the Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative acknowledged that the job demand from Electric Boat has been key to their success.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s not going to succeed if you\u2019re trying to fill 100 jobs,\u201d said Chris Jewell, president of a steel fabrication supplier for Electric Boat and a member of the local workforce board. \u201cYou\u2019ve got to be trying to fill thousands of jobs for it to succeed.\u201d\n\nLooking Ahead\n\nThe Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hasn\u2019t examined much of WIOA this year, so all eyes are on the House.\n\nThere, the Education and the Workforce Committee has held several WIOA hearings, and a Republican aide said a draft of the reauthorization bill could come this fall.\n\nDemocrats and Republicans agree on the need to reform training provider lists, minimize the bureaucracy, and ensure more funding for actual job training, as opposed to other services for trainees.\n\nChairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) also wants to impose more accountability measures and shrink the bureaucratic pipeline to avoid waste.\n\nUnder WIOA, states are supposed to be subject to corrective actions, even fiscal sanctions, for failing to meet defined performance metrics. Some haven\u2019t been held to those standards and still are allowed to participate, committee Republicans say.\n\nResearchers at the Harvard Project Workforce also highlighted concerns this year with the lack of reliable performance data being collected by the federal government.\n\n\u201cThe net result is a highly fragmented system, where strong programs are not differentiated from weak ones, and where incentives for high-performing providers to participate in WIOA are limited,\u201d wrote researchers David Deming, Alexis Gable, Rachel Lipson, and Ark\u0101dijs Zvaigzne.\n\nThey said that ensuring quality in WIOA training programs would require \u201cmore frequent communication with local providers, including site visits,\u201d a prospect that would require more time and money.\n\nRep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.) is focused on making the WIOA individual training accounts mandatory spending in the federal budget, which would eliminate a future need for Congress to reauthorize the law and almost certainly lead to annual increases in program funding.\n\nVice President Kamala Harris introduced legislation that would have made individual training accounts mandatory spending when she represented California in the Senate, but the bill never gained traction.\n\nCurrent leaders at the DOL\u2019s training administration say they\u2019re eager to work with lawmakers on a reauthorization, acknowledging some of the concerns raised by the program\u2019s critics.\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s a reason why this bill needs to be reauthorized every every five years,\u201d Brent Parton, ETA\u2019s acting assistant secretary, said in an interview. \u201cLast time it was signed we were in a very different labor market, a very different economy than we are now. And if this is the nation\u2019s premier workforce investment system, we need to constantly be reevaluating at the federal, at the state, and the local level.\u201d\n\nWIOA doesn\u2019t deliver the workforce training by itself, it\u2019s merely a \u201cfunding mechanism,\u201d Parton emphasized, adding that it\u2019s dependent on \u201chigh-quality\u201d training programs being formed through partnerships at the local level.\n\nThe outlook for a WIOA reauthorization still is rosier than it has been in recent years. \u201cIt\u2019s a top issue for companies across the country, so I just think there\u2019s a lot of things behind this to help this get across the line,\u201d said Lahasky.\n\nWhat\u2019s unclear is how significant the changes will be, particularly with the uncertainty in Congress. House Republicans have been reluctant to increase government funding, and would be very skeptical of a new mandatory spending program.\n\nWithout a reauthorization and broader reforms to WIOA, programs like the Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative will have to work with fewer resources each year as inflation eats away at at the flat funding provided by Congress. And some much-needed training programs may never get off the ground.\n\nIn Groton, those relying on the training funds worry that Washington will slow them down.\n\n\u201cDon\u2019t mess with WIOA here,\u201d Jacobson said, \u201cbecause it works.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-courtney-election-new-house-speaker", "Rep. Courtney on Election of New House Speaker", "2023-10-25", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) issued the following statement following the election of Mike Johnson as the 56th Speaker of the House\u2014the third in line for President of the United States.\n\n\u201cAs critical priorities stack up, like passing a federal budget and delivering aid to our allies Ukraine and Israel, it is blindingly obvious that we need a Speaker of the House who understands that a bipartisan approach is the only way a divided Congress can meet these challenges successfully.\n\n\u201cFor example, last May, a coalition of Democrats and Republicans came together to avert a catastrophic default on the full faith and credit of our Treasury notes. More recently, a similar coalition came together in September to keep the federal government open until November 17.\n\n\u201cOver the last 22 days, Leader Jeffries, with my support, offered to join hands with the Republican majority to create a bipartisan path forward for a basic level of communication and collaboration to achieve stability.\n\n\u201cWith the election of Speaker Mike Johnson, it is not clear that path will be followed. I certainly reaffirm that the offer still stands. I hope as the serious mantle of his new role sinks in, he will understand that to be successful he must rise above polarized factionalism that has bedeviled the 118th Congress.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-new-speaker-house-mike-johnson", "DeLauro Statement on New Speaker of the House Mike Johnson", "2023-10-25", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) released a statement after Congressman Mike Johnson (R-LA-04) was elected Speaker of the House by the Republican Conference.\n\n\u201cFor 22 days the House has been frozen because of House Republicans\u2019 inability to elect a Speaker of the House. For 22 days, we have been unable to consider legislation that would lower the cost of living, support our democratic allies in Israel and Ukraine, or secure our border. The government runs out of funding on November 17, and House Republicans have wasted time we could have spent legislating.\n\n\u201cFinally, after nearly a month of chaos, House Republicans have chosen to elevate to the office of Speaker of the House one of their more extreme members, Mike Johnson. This is someone once described as the \u2018most important architect\u2019 of the Electoral College challenge to Biden being elected President. These were the same objections that challenged President Biden\u2019s legitimate election to President and gave rise to the Capitol attack on January 6.\n\n\u201cAs a Member of Congress, Johnson pushed for extreme policies that undermine the rights of Americans. He voted to overturn the election of Joe Biden. He co-sponsored an amendment that would ban abortion in all 50 states, even in the case of rape. And he has said, the effort to balance the federal budget must include addressing the cost of Social Security and Medicare.\n\n\u201cBut I welcome an end to the chaos and hope that we will get back to the budget agreement and both parties and both the House and Senate working to pass bipartisan appropriation bills.\n\n\u201cGovernment funding legislation runs through November 17. It will require Democrats and Republicans to work across the aisle in both the House and Senate to ensure we fund the government for 2024. I will work with Speaker Johnson where I can, and I will push back strongly on policies that would hurt hard-working Americans.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=5FF57C98-37DA-4C3D-8B2D-22A418F26222", "Hayes Joins Connecticut Delegation to Announce $72 Million in Low-income Heating Assistance Funding for Connecticut", "2023-10-25", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Jahana Hayes", "H001081", "hayes.house.gov", "hayes", "https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) and Members of the Connecticut Congressional delegation announced Connecticut will receive $72,081,189 from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) ahead of winter.\n\n\u201cAhead of the winter season, many low-income families in Connecticut are wondering how they will heat their homes. I am happy that Connecticut will receive over $72 million in Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding,\" said Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05). \"This assistance will ease one of the many burdens expressed by underserved communities and allow them to prioritize other bills. I will continue to advocate for additional funding for this vital resource which is proven to lower utility costs and prevent shut-offs across our state.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis $72 million is desperately needed and arriving at just the right time. In Connecticut and across the nation, there is surging demand for heating assistance,\u201d said Senator Richard Blumenthal. \u201cI am thrilled HHS released these funds so that Connecticut families can keep the heat on as temperatures drop ahead of winter. No family should have to choose between staying warm through the winter or putting food on the table.\u201d\n\n\u201cThousands of Connecticut families and seniors rely on LIHEAP to keep their lights on and their homes warm when temperatures drop. Every winter, we see a surge in demand for this program, and as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I\u2019m focused on securing as much funding as possible to ensure Connecticut families don\u2019t have to choose between paying their energy bill and putting food on the table. This $72 million is just the first batch of funding our state will receive, and I\u2019ll continue to work with my colleagues in the delegation to make sure families in Connecticut stay safe and warm this winter,\u201d said Senator Murphy.\n\n\u201cThe rising cost of living puts a squeeze on families\u2019 finances, forcing them to make difficult choices between putting food on the table, keeping the lights on, or ensuring they can heat their homes during the colder months,\u201d said Congresswoman DeLauro (CT-03). \u201cLIHEAP gives families needed financial security. As Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, I am proud to have secured $72 million for the program to help Connecticut families keep their heat on. LIHEAP ensures their homes stay warm during the winter months and that they can continue to provide for their families without having to make difficult decisions between what bills to pay or not to pay. I will note this is the only first allocation of LIHEAP funding, and I am committed to working with my Congressional colleagues and our state partners to provide additional resources so no household goes cold this winter.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs temperatures drop, LIHEAP funding is a lifeline for thousands of Connecticut families to heat their homes,\u201d said Congressman Larson. \u201cWhile House Republicans continue to propose deep cuts to LIHEAP and other critical programs, the Connecticut delegation has worked hard to secure funding so households in our state have the support they need to keep the heat on this fall and winter. We will keep fighting for the resources Connecticut needs for residents to stay warm and in their homes without breaking the bank.\u201d\n\n\u201cLIHEAP is an essential lifeline that helps many eastern Connecticut residents lower their energy costs in the winter. With colder months around the corner, we know demand will again be high for this critical help, and today\u2019s announcement will help funding levels meet the demands of those in need. I also encourage Governor Lamont and the state legislature to consider using additional state funds to support the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program if the needs of Connecticut residents exceed the federal LIHEAP allocation.\u201d said Congressman Courtney.\n\n\u201cWith winter just around the corner, this $72 million of LIHEAP funding offers critical assistance to those struggling to afford their energy bills. Adequate heating is a necessity, not a luxury, and I am proud to help deliver this federal support to ensure all of Connecticut\u2019s residents are able to stay safe and warm through the colder months.\u201d said Congressman Jim Himes.\n\nThe U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Office of Community Services (OCS) at the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), announced the release of $3.7 billion in LIHEAP funding to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, three territories, and more than 125 tribes. This amount includes the regular block grant appropriation and an additional $100 million appropriated from President Biden\u2019s Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).\n\nConnecticut was awarded a total of $72,081,189 to assist low-income families ahead of the winter season. This includes:\n\n$70,040,439 from the regular LIHEAP block grant funding\n\n$2,040,750 in funding appropriated for FY2024 from IIJA\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://himes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=D8E4C0D3-56A5-4BCA-9DCF-E37811A5BFA1", "Himes Statement on New Speaker of the House", "2023-10-25", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "James A. Himes", "H001047", "himes.house.gov", "himes", "https://himes.house.gov/press-releases", "page_html", "Washington, DC \u2014 Today, Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04) issued the following statement on the election of Representative Mike Johnson (R-LA) as Speaker of the House of Representatives:\n\n\u201cOur country cannot be governed without a Speaker of the House, so I am relieved that Republicans have finally elected a new leader. However, I am deeply concerned by Congressman Mike Johnson\u2019s record of election denial and attacks on reproductive rights.\n\n\u201cMy top priority remains representing the people of Connecticut\u2019s Fourth District. Despite our ideological differences, I will continue working to find bipartisan compromise wherever it best serves my constituents\u2019 interests.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-03-30T11:08:25Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-courtney-celebrates-new-london-educator-named-connecticuts-teacher", "Rep. Courtney Celebrates New London Educator Named Connecticut\u2019s Teacher of the Year", "2023-10-24", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) issued the following statement after Governor Lamont and Commissioner Russell-Tucker announced Kiana Foster-Mauro, a fourth-grade teacher at Nathan Hale Arts Magnet School, as the 2024 Connecticut Teacher of the Year \u2013 the state\u2019s highest recognition honoring extraordinary teachers.\n\n\u201cCongratulations to New London\u2019s own Kiana Foster-Mauro for her well-earned distinction as Connecticut\u2019s Teacher of the Year. This high-honor reflects Ms. Foster-Mauro\u2019s commitment to creating a sense of belonging for her students and ensuring every student can succeed. It also is a testament to the City of New London school system which retooled its magnet schools so successfully,\u201d said Rep. Joe Courtney. \u201cConnecticut has a track-record of excellent educators and school districts across the state which make CT a great place to call home. It\u2019s great to see Ms. Foster-Mauro and Nathan Hale Arts Magnet School continue that tradition of excellence.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/connecticut-delegation-announces-72-million-home-energy-assistance", "Connecticut Delegation Announces $72 Million in Home Energy Assistance Funding for State", "2023-10-24", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Members of Connecticut\u2019s Congressional delegation announced that Connecticut will receive $72,081,189 from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) ahead of the winter season.\n\n\u201cThe rising cost of living puts a squeeze on families\u2019 finances, forcing them to make difficult choices between putting food on the table, keeping the lights on, or ensuring they can heat their homes during the colder months,\u201d said Congresswoman DeLauro. \u201cLIHEAP gives families needed financial security. As Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, I am proud to have secured $72 million for the program to help Connecticut families keep their heat on. LIHEAP ensures their homes stay warm during the winter months and that they can continue to provide for their families without having to make difficult decisions between what bills to pay or not to pay. I will note this is the only first allocation of LIHEAP funding, and I am committed to working with my Congressional colleagues and our state partners to provide additional resources so no household goes cold this winter.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis $72 million is desperately needed and arriving at just the right time. In Connecticut and across the nation, there is surging demand for heating assistance,\u201d said Senator Richard Blumenthal. \u201cI am thrilled HHS released these funds so that Connecticut families can keep the heat on as temperatures drop ahead of winter. No family should have to choose between staying warm through the winter or putting food on the table.\u201d\n\n\u201cThousands of Connecticut families and seniors rely on LIHEAP to keep their lights on and their homes warm when temperatures drop. Every winter, we see a surge in demand for this program, and as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I\u2019m focused on securing as much funding as possible to ensure Connecticut families don\u2019t have to choose between paying their energy bill and putting food on the table. This $72 million is just the first batch of funding our state will receive, and I\u2019ll continue to work with my colleagues in the delegation to make sure families in Connecticut stay safe and warm this winter,\u201d said Senator Murphy.\n\n\u201cAs temperatures drop, LIHEAP funding is a lifeline for thousands of Connecticut families to heat their homes,\u201d said Congressman Larson. \u201cWhile House Republicans continue to propose deep cuts to LIHEAP and other critical programs, the Connecticut delegation has worked hard to secure funding so households in our state have the support they need to keep the heat on this fall and winter. We will keep fighting for the resources Connecticut needs for residents to stay warm and in their homes without breaking the bank.\u201d\n\n\u201cLIHEAP is an essential lifeline that helps many eastern Connecticut residents lower their energy costs in the winter. With colder months around the corner, we know demand will again be high for this critical help, and today\u2019s announcement will help funding levels meet the demands of those in need. I also encourage Governor Lamont and the state legislature to consider using additional state funds to support the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program if the needs of Connecticut residents exceed the federal LIHEAP allocation.\u201d said Congressman Courtney.\n\n\u201cWith winter just around the corner, this $72 million of LIHEAP funding offers critical assistance to those struggling to afford their energy bills. Adequate heating is a necessity, not a luxury, and I am proud to help deliver this federal support to ensure all of Connecticut\u2019s residents are able to stay safe and warm through the colder months.\u201d said Congressman Jim Himes.\n\n\u201cAhead of the winter season, many low-income families in Connecticut are wondering how they will heat their homes. I am happy that Connecticut will receive over $72 million in Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding,\" said Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05). \"This assistance will ease one of the many burdens expressed by underserved communities and allow them to prioritize other bills. I will continue to advocate for additional funding for this vital resource which is proven to lower utility costs and prevent shut-offs across our state.\u201d\n\nThe U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Office of Community Services (OCS) at the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), announced the release of $3.7 billion in LIHEAP funding to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, three territories, and more than 125 tribes. This amount includes the regular block grant appropriation and an additional $100 million appropriated from President Biden\u2019s Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).\n\nConnecticut was awarded a total of $72,081,189 to assist low-income families ahead of the winter season. This includes:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-courtney-applauds-president-bidens-34b-request-strengthen-submarine", "Rep. Courtney Applauds President Biden\u2019s $3.4B Request to Strengthen Submarine Force", "2023-10-20", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) issued the following statement after the Biden Administration requested $3.4 billion from Congress to strengthen the U.S. Navy\u2019s submarine fleet and the submarine industrial base. The request is part of a larger national security package to support Ukraine, Israel, the U.S. border, and the Indo Pacific region.\n\n\u201cPresident Biden\u2019s $3.4 billion request to strengthen the Navy\u2019s submarine fleet and our submarine industrial base underscores the Administration\u2019s clear-eyed commitment to growing U.S. undersea supremacy. This request will not only help the industrial base increase production and capacity to ensure the Navy can meet its own fleet requirements but also position the AUKUS mission for success. With Prime Minister Albanese\u2019s official visit to the United States in just a few days, President Biden is proving, once again, that the U.S. has an unwavering commitment to the trilateral security agreement and maintaining peace in the Indo Pacific.\n\n\u201cThe $3.4 billion request comes after my ongoing work with the U.S. Navy and industry to identify meaningful avenues to direct resources and expand capacity across the enterprise on top of the record investments the Seapower Subcommittee authorized in the submarine industrial base since FY 2018. Those investment have already improved operational availability, expanded the workforce, and strengthened businesses across the supply chain.\n\n\u201cI also applaud President Biden\u2019s inclusion of significant resources to bolster our national security at the border, support our allies Ukraine and Israel as they respond to horrific assaults on their nations, and address the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Gaza to help meet civilians\u2019 basic needs.\n\n\u201cIn order to advance President Biden\u2019s request, my Democratic colleagues and I continue to stand united and ready to negotiate with the Republican majority to find a bipartisan forward and ensure the Republicans\u2019 infighting does not stall this urgent business.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-humanitarian-crisis-gaza", "DeLauro Statement on Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza", "2023-10-19", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Congresswoman DeLauro (CT-03) released the following statement on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza:\n\n\u201cIsrael has our unequivocal support as they seek to defeat Hamas. While they engage in that effort, they should take every precaution to protect innocent lives. As we work to ensure Israel receives the resources it needs to defend itself, I will work to ensure the Palestinian people quickly receive the humanitarian aid they need to survive.\n\n\u201cI am glad the Biden administration has announced that it will immediately provide $100 million in humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank. As the Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, I have also given strong support to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the primary agency responsible for Palestinian refugees across the region. In last year\u2019s budget, we were able to secure an additional $75 million to address extraordinary food needs in Gaza. This will help get needed support directly to the innocent and displaced civilians caught in the middle of this conflict, particularly those in southern Gaza, and will ensure they have access to clean water, food, medical care, and other essential needs.\n\n\u201cThe Palestinian people are not Hamas. This war is against Hamas, not the Palestinian people. Palestinians have also lost communities and even loved ones because of Hamas\u2019s atrocities. Hamas militias were firing rockets right by a hospital, which confirms that the status quo is not tenable. Everyone will be hurt if Hamas remains in control of Gaza.\n\n\u201cI believe the people of Gaza deserve a better future. Peace must be our ultimate goal and a two-state solution. That means a big change in policy. I have urged an end to aggressive settlement expansion that is undermining the Palestinian Authority.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-biden-administration-legal-settlement-trump-family", "DeLauro Statement on Biden Administration Legal Settlement on Trump Family Separations", "2023-10-17", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) released a statement on the Biden administration reaching an agreement regarding the more than 4,000 children that were separated from their families by the Trump administration. The agreement would, among other things, allow families to live and work in the U.S. for three years while receiving housing, mental health, and legal assistance to apply for asylum.\n\n\u201cThe Trump administration\u2019s cruel separation of children from their families at the border was immoral to its core. These children were escaping violence, only to have further cruelty thrust upon them after crossing our border in search of a better life. This was child abuse. These separations were wrong and had negative psychological and physical impacts on families.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-courtney-celebrates-commissioning-uss-rickover", "Rep. Courtney Celebrates Commissioning of the USS Rickover", "2023-10-14", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), Ranking Member of the House Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, issued the following statement after the U.S. Navy Commissioned the USS Rickover, a Virginia-class submarine which was built by the talented workers at Electric Boat in Groton, Connecticut. Watch the Congressman\u2019s remarks and the ceremony live here at 10:00am.\n\n\u201cToday marks an important milestone for EB shipbuilders, Navy leaders and Sailors, and the state of our U.S. submarine fleet as we celebrate the commissioning of the USS Hyman Rickover. Since its christening in July 2021, Electric Boat\u2019s shipbuilders and Captain Matthew Beach and his crew have not taken their eye off the ball, and relentlessly worked to get this submarine delivered to the Navy\u2019s fleet.\n\n\u201cThey are part of a new generation of shipbuilders and sailors who commissioned two Virginia submarines last year, OREGON and MONTANA, and will launch two more submarines in rapid succession \u2013 RICKOVER today and NEW JERSEY in the coming months. What\u2019s more, 13 Virginia subs are in the production queue after these vessels. All this comes on the heels of last week\u2019s ratification of a five-year labor contract with Groton\u2019s Metal Trades Council, which will invigorate the historic hiring surge at Electric Boat\u2019s shipyard.\n\n\u201cThis year alone, EB has hired 4,400 workers into our shipyards here in Southern New England, well on their way to the calendar year hiring goal of 5,750 \u2013 a goal that is the largest in the company\u2019s 120-year history by far.\n\n\u201cAs these patriots enter the workforce at Electric Boat \u2013 many of whom are Gen Z and millennials \u2013 Admiral Rickover\u2019s passionate advocacy for America to raise its education standards still resonates as never before. Today\u2019s successful launch of this technological wonder is a testament to this new workforce, not only because of the diversity of their rich talent pool, but also because of their proficiency in science, technology, engineering, and math.\n\n\u201cThis is a great day for the Navy, our shipbuilders, international allies and partners, and veterans, to renew Admiral Rickover\u2019s legacy of excellence. And to the crew, congratulations on a job well done, and best wishes as you embark your journey to do great things for our nation.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-applauds-19m-federal-contract-thayermahan", "Courtney Applauds $19M Federal Contract for ThayerMahan", "2023-10-13", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Rep. Joe Courtney applauded the new $19 million Department of Defense contract awarded to ThayerMahan of Groton, Connecticut to sustain the Navy\u2019s and Marine Corps\u2019 undersea and maritime advantage. The contract will allow ThayerMahan to continue developing autonomous maritime sensing technology.\n\n\u201cThis federal contract will help strengthen the Navy\u2019s and Marine Corp\u2019s eyes and ears undersea through advanced and innovative autonomous maritime systems, which will be a critical capability in the 21st century. There\u2019s no question that ThayerMahan is a leader in this work, which is why my office and I have long advocated for this Groton-based company to receive federal contracts like this. Congratulations to ThayerMahan and your skilled employees who are leading the design, engineering, and operation of this critical technology,\u201d said Rep. Joe Courtney, Ranking Member of the House Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee.\n\n\u201cWe appreciate the continued support and confidence of the Office of Naval Research as we help generate much needed undersea sensing capacity to sustain our undersea advantage. We are also thankful for the critical role played by Congressman Joe Courtney and his staff. They are a big reason why Southeastern Connecticut is the epicenter of undersea innovation,\u201d said ThayerMahan CEO Mike Connor.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/op-ed-rep-courtney-breaking-defense", "Op-Ed by Rep. Courtney in Breaking Defense", "2023-10-12", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Rep. Joe Courtney, Ranking Member of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, penned an op-ed in Breaking Defense in response to recent commentary in the Wall Street Journal that casted doubt on the U.S. submarine fleet and used outdated and inaccurate information to support its claims.\n\nAs Ranking Member Courtney said, our submarine fleet is \u201cthe most advanced, extensive, and capable in the world\u2026We are on the path to continue to deliver an unmatched fleet\u2026 assuming precious Navy dollars continue to be invested in the industrial base just as they were during the Cold War.\u201d\n\nRead the full op-ed here in Breaking Defense News.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://himes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=46F075E4-515B-4B39-8551-69C7F1B03DCF", "Himes Statement on Terrorist Attack Against Israel", "2023-10-10", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "James A. Himes", "H001047", "himes.house.gov", "himes", "https://himes.house.gov/press-releases", "page_html", "Washington, DC \u2014 I am sickened by the horrific attack by Hamas terrorists against the people of Israel. Thousands of innocent civilians, including American citizens, have lost their lives to this brutal, unprovoked violence. Many more have been injured or lost family members and friends. Israel can and will defend itself, and the United States will remain steadfast in our support.\n\nAs Ranking Member of the House Intelligence Committee, I have been in close contact with the Administration and the Intelligence Community throughout the weekend. We continue work to unconditionally support our strongest Middle Eastern ally.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-03-30T11:08:25Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/statement-honorable-congresswoman-delauro-terrorist-attacks-israel", "Statement of the Honorable Congresswoman DeLauro on Terrorist Attacks on Israel", "2023-10-07", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) released a statement on the ongoing attacks in Israel.\n\n\u201cI am devastated by Hamas\u2019s unconscionable and unprecedented attacks on innocent civilians in Israel, which include taking children, women, and elderly people hostage. My heart breaks for the families being subjected to horrific violence \u2013 many of those families to which our community here in New Haven is deeply and personally connected. I know many of us here have children, friends, cousins, parents, aunts, and uncles in Israel. We are all worried about their safety and praying for a swift end to the terrorist attacks. I strongly stand by our ally Israel and unequivocally support its right to defend itself.\n\n\u201cThis vicious assault was backed by Iran, which has publicly praised the attacks. This is sinister. An anti-democratic government is funding terrorists to attack a democratic government. Now more than ever, it is vital the United States does not walk away from its global commitment to defend democracy.\n\n\u201cI have been in touch with the President of Israel Isaac Herzog and Ambassador Michael Herzog, and have been briefed by senior officials from the Departments of State and Defense. I have expressed my strong support for Israel as it responds to these terrorist attacks and am proud that the United States has moved military assets to the Eastern Mediterranean.\n\n\u201cWhile legislative activity in the House of Representatives remains frozen until Republicans have selected a Speaker, as Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, I am intent on ensuring we do everything we can to provide the humanitarian and military assistance that is necessary for Israel to recover from this devastation and continue to defend itself. My office here in New Haven is working to help United States citizens overseas. We will continue working closely with the Department of State to help connect those seeking assistance to the U.S. Embassy in Israel, and I have requested and will soon receive a classified briefing on the situation.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-courtney-announces-congressional-office-staff-changes", "Rep. Courtney Announces Congressional Office Staff Changes", "2023-10-03", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC\u2014Today, Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-2) announced that Ayanti Grant and Maria Costigan have been promoted to Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff, respectively, after his longtime aide and Chief, Neil McKiernan, departed to purse an opportunity in the private sector at the end of September.\n\nAyanti Grant, a long-serving member of Courtney\u2019s staff and most recently the District Director, will serve as his new Chief of Staff effective October 1, 2023, and will remain based in Norwich, Connecticut. Maria Costigan, most recently Courtney\u2019s Legislative Director, will serve as Deputy Chief of Staff based in his Washington, DC office.\n\n\u201cNeil has been a force for good in the House of Representatives over these past 20 years. His institutional knowledge of Congress, his legislative skills, and his tenacity to serve the people of our district are things I hold closely. We owe a great deal of gratitude to staff like Neil who dedicate themselves and put in the legwork to advance our district and national priorities,\u201d Courtney said.\n\n\u201cI have the utmost confidence in both Ayanti and Maria as they take the helm in my office. Ayanti has been with me since I began serving in Congress. Her deep understanding of and connection to our community positions her to serve my office and our district with the excellence it demands. Maria has also been a critical member of my team whose empathy and strong understanding of policymaking has allowed me to deliver for my constituents time and time again. Together, they will be central actors in fulfilling our commitment to the Second Congressional District\u201d Courtney continued.\n\n\u201cIt has truly been a privilege to serve Congressman Courtney and the Second Congressional District for over 16 years. I am honored by his confidence in my ability to lead the office towards a new chapter of public service. With Maria Costigan as Deputy Chief of Staff, we will certainly continue to build on the legacy of the office,\u201d Grant said.\n\n\u201cI am grateful and appreciative of this opportunity to continue serving Congressman Courtney and the people of eastern Connecticut. The team he has built works every day with their priorities in mind. With his leadership and that of our Chief of Staff Ayanti Grant, we will continue to work hard and serve the district well,\u201d Costigan said.\n\n\u201cSupporting Joe\u2019s efforts on behalf of eastern Connecticut for the last 17 years has truly been an honor of a lifetime,\u201d McKiernan said. \u201cWhen Joe first brought me on to his team, he promised that we\u2019d get a lot done for eastern Connecticut and have a great time doing it \u2013 and I\u2019m so grateful that every day since has lived up to that promise. I\u2019m especially thrilled that Ayanti and Maria, who have both been instrumental partners to me over the last several years, will step in from here. Joe and the second district are incredibly well-served with these two dedicated leaders at the helm.\u201d\n\nAyanti Grant is a longtime member of Courtney\u2019s team, having worked with the office since 2007, first as a Field Representative & Caseworker focusing on immigration, then as District Director since 2014. As Chief of Staff, Grant will oversee Congressman Courtney\u2019s congressional office operations in Connecticut and Washington, DC. Grant was profiled in The Day in 2021 about her work for Courtney and the district.\n\nMaria Costigan has been part of Courtney\u2019s team since 2014, joining first as his Scheduler and Executive Assistant, then later becoming a Legislative Assistant focused on health policy in 2016 before being promoted to Legislative Director in 2020. Maria will oversee operations in Courtney\u2019s Washington, DC office as Deputy Chief of Staff.\n\nNeil McKiernan served as a Congressional staffer for 20 years. He was with Courtney\u2019s office since 2007, first as a Military Legislative Assistant supporting Courtney\u2019s work on the House Armed Services Committee before being promoted to Legislative Director in 2009 and then Chief of Staff in 2016. Before his work with Courtney, Neil was a Legislative Assistant for Congressman John Larson (CT-01) from 2004 to 2007 and a Staff Assistant for Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (CA-39) in 2003. Neil is a native of West Hartford, Connecticut, and lives in Alexandria, Virginia, with his wife Kristen and daughters Caroline and Ellery.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-courtney-statement-motion-vacate", "Rep. Courtney Statement on Motion to Vacate", "2023-10-03", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC -- Rep. Joe Courtney made the following statement on the vote to remove Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House:\n\n\u201cThroughout my time in Congress, I have repeatedly found common ground with Republicans to get real results for eastern Connecticut.\n\n\u201cFor example, last May, I voted with Speaker McCarthy to prevent a catastrophic default on the full faith and credit of our nation, as well as a bipartisan blueprint for the 2024 federal budget that cut the deficit. The ink was barely dry on that measure and he abandoned his commitment to it, in order to placate extreme Republicans in his caucus. This fecklessness led us to the brink of a government shutdown, which once again Democrats had to intervene in order save him from himself.\n\n\u201cIn July, when the House Armed Services Committee passed the annual defense bill 58-1, extreme Republicans turned against it on the House floor, and once again, Speaker McCarthy abandoned that bipartisan path and jammed it with poison pills to satisfy the far right.\n\n\u201cThe Motion to Vacate today is the latest consequence of extreme Republicans\u2019 choke hold on the rules of the People\u2019s House that McCarthy endorsed last January which are feeding a civil war in the Majority caucus. It is clear that a bipartisan pathway in a closely divided House is needed to stabilize the Congress. Such a pathway would enable a center left and center right coalition to do the people\u2019s business. Kevin McCarthy has signaled repeatedly he is unwilling to follow that solution. For that reason, I voted \u2018yes\u2019 on the Republican Motion to Vacate the Chair.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-vote-remove-mccarthy-house-speaker", "DeLauro Statement on Vote to Remove McCarthy as House Speaker", "2023-10-03", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) released a statement in response to the House of Representatives voting to remove Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House.\n\n\u201cThis is a solemn day for the House of Representatives. Instead of working on legislation that helps Americans deal with rising costs, raises wages, or protects vital programs like Social Security and Medicare, our chamber has once again been paralyzed by House Republican extremism.\n\n\u201cSince January, Kevin McCarthy has allowed the extreme right-wing in his party to disrupt our work as legislators, pursue baseless investigations into President Biden, and bring an end to any work they deem too bipartisan. Week after week, this institution has endured legislative chaos and uncertainty. They brought our nation to the brink of default in May, and they brought our government to the brink of a shutdown last weekend. Time and time again, House Republicans have proven themselves incapable of governing \u2013 and that has consequences.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-vote-remove-mccarthy-house-speaker-0", "DeLauro Statement on Vote to Remove McCarthy as House Speaker", "2023-10-03", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) released a statement in response to the House of Representatives voting to remove Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House.\n\n\u201cThis is a solemn day for the House of Representatives. Instead of working on legislation that helps Americans deal with rising costs, raises wages, or protects vital programs like Social Security and Medicare, our chamber has once again been paralyzed by House Republican extremism.\n\n\u201cSince January, Kevin McCarthy has allowed the extreme right-wing in his party to disrupt our work as legislators, pursue baseless investigations into President Biden, and bring an end to any work they deem too bipartisan. Week after week, this institution has endured legislative chaos and uncertainty. They brought our nation to the brink of default in May, and they brought our government to the brink of a shutdown last weekend. Time and time again, House Republicans have proven themselves incapable of governing \u2013 and that has consequences.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=E6419B5A-EBCD-4064-B596-6055ED467603", "Hayes Statement on Motion to Vacate the Chair", "2023-10-03", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Jahana Hayes", "H001081", "hayes.house.gov", "hayes", "https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, following the House vote to remove Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) issued the following statement:\n\n\u201cAs a history teacher, an American and someone who believes wholeheartedly in government this day is chilling. For months we have witnessed the inability to govern by the House Republican majority, and now the chaos of their conference has come to a climax in the worst possible way. All of our institutions are being tested and I pray that Republicans will work with Democrats to elect a Speaker of the House and find a path forward that keeps our government working for the American people.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://himes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=76014C4C-2835-472B-9D25-B81CFCF4ADC7", "Himes Statement on Motion to Vacate the Chair", "2023-10-03", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "James A. Himes", "H001047", "himes.house.gov", "himes", "https://himes.house.gov/press-releases", "page_html", "Washington, DC \u2014 Today, Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04) issued the following statement on the vote to remove Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House.\n\n\u201cLast week, Democrats averted a government shutdown by supporting a Republican stop-gap bill which would otherwise have failed. With that vote, we proved once again that bipartisanship, not performative infighting, is the key to strong government.\n\n\u201cIt is time for Republicans to stop catering to the radical extremes of their caucus, and instead reach across the aisle to pass moderate, thoughtful legislation that focuses on helping Americans. I hope that, after this historic vote to remove the Speaker, the House can move towards more productive pursuits with that purpose in mind.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-03-30T11:08:25Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/continuing-resolution-ensures-columbia-submarine-construction-stays", "Continuing Resolution Ensures Columbia Submarine Construction Stays on Track", "2023-10-02", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 On Saturday, Congress passed a bipartisan stop-gap measure that not only averted a catastrophic shutdown, but also included $621 million to continue construction on the USS Wisconsin, a Columbia-class submarine.\n\n\u201cA government shutdown would have had catastrophic consequences on families across the nation and halted progress on construction of the Columbia-class submarine. This would have debilitated our aggressive efforts to replace the retiring Ohio-class submarines with the Columbia-class on schedule and meet the Navy\u2019s fleet requirements.\n\n\u201cThankfully, the bipartisan stop-gap measure we passed over the weekend not only averted a shutdown, but continued funding for the Columbia submarine construction program at Electric Boat. The continuing resolution includes $621 million for continuous production of the USS Wisconsin submarine, the second in the Columbia-class. With this funding, Electric Boat\u2019s talented shipbuilders can continue their work and ensure the Wisconsin is delivered on time,\u201d Rep. Joe Courtney said.\n\nRead Rep. Courtney\u2019s full statement on passage of the continuing resolution here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-courtney-joins-bipartisan-coalition-avert-government-shutdown", "Rep. Courtney Joins Bipartisan Coalition to Avert Government Shutdown", "2023-09-30", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) issued the following statement after voting to pass a bipartisan continuing resolution to avert a government shutdown and sustain government spending at the FY23 levels for 45 days. The measure passed 335-91.\n\n\u201cFor months, I\u2019ve been calling for a bipartisan approach in the House to avert a government shutdown\u2014 just as we did in May through the Fiscal Responsibility Act. Instead, extreme factions of the House Republican caucus drove our nation to the brink of shutdown and stoked panic and chaos.\n\n\u201cToday, at the eleventh hour, House Republicans finally headed our calls and brought a bipartisan stop gap measure to a vote.\n\n\u201cLike any compromise, it is not perfect. After careful review, I did join a broad coalition of Democrats and Republicans to ensure our government can remain open for the next 45 days and deliver the services Americans rely on. In eastern Connecticut, it will also ensure that roughly 9,000 sailors and officers at the Groton submarine base will not have their pay disrupted, as well the Coast Guard Academy staff in New London. Their important work will continue uninterrupted.\n\n\u201cAlso, the bill includes essential funding to support disaster relief and provides funding for the FAA to keep air travel safe for passengers. It also continues funding for the Columbia submarine construction program at Electric Boat. The continuing resolution includes $621 million for continuous production of the USS Wisconsin submarine, the second in the Columbia-class.\n\n\u201cI urge the Senate to move swiftly and adopt this measure, too. Moving forward, we must continue working in a bipartisan way to pass a long-term spending solution that meets the needs of students, workers, and families across eastern Connecticut.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=CDAD181B-D282-41E5-9F15-EF1464C4C4E8", "Hayes Statement Following Vote on a 45 Day Continuing Resolution to Fund the Government and Avoid a Shutdown", "2023-09-30", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Jahana Hayes", "H001081", "hayes.house.gov", "hayes", "https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, following the House vote on a 45-day short-term spending bill, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) issued the following statement:\n\n\u201cToday, I voted to pass a continuing resolution to keep the government funded for 45 days and avoid a government shutdown, while we continue to work on appropriations bills. Almost half of the Republican conference voted against the bill brought to the floor by Speaker McCarthy. In the final tally of 335-91 \u2013 House Democrats were the people who stood firm on behalf of the American people.\n\nOn background, Democrats and Republicans negotiated an agreement in May to serve as a framework for funding the government. McCarthy quickly walked back the terms of that agreement in the first seven days. We are in this eleventh hour position because of the chaos, confusion and disfunction on full display in the Republican conference.\n\nDemocrats did not get everything we wanted in this bill but in a Republican majority, Speaker McCarthy ultimately decides what is brought to the floor. After much delay, Republicans put a bill on the floor to avoid a shutdown and 90 of the 221 Republican members voted against their own bill to fund the government.\n\nOnce again House Democrats have had to come to the rescue to push back against this extreme agenda and ensure we are doing all we can to help the American people.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://himes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=AE945A1E-B338-4CC0-82C3-20B7AB738B63", "Himes Statement on Vote to Prevent Government Shutdown", "2023-09-30", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "James A. Himes", "H001047", "himes.house.gov", "himes", "https://himes.house.gov/press-releases", "page_html", "Washington, DC \u2014 Today, Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04) issued the following statement after voting to pass a 45-day continuing resolution to avert a government shutdown:\n\n\u201cAs elected officials we must do everything in our power to keep the government open and working for the American people. Today, Democrats bailed out badly divided Republicans by voting nearly unanimously for a continuing resolution to prevent a shutdown. This stopgap measure was a monumental improvement from the Republicans\u2019 original, extreme legislation which attacked our countries\u2019 most vulnerable, slashing funding for food benefits, disaster relief, and education programs. Today, we proved that bipartisanship is the key to good policymaking. I am proud of the work my fellow Democrats and I have done to right what would otherwise have been a deeply problematic bill.\n\n\u201cWhile I remain concerned by my Republican colleagues\u2019 decision to withhold funding for Ukraine, I am confident that its exclusion from this stopgap measure will not interrupt ongoing aid, and I am committed to assuring that aid to brave Ukrainians is included in the final appropriations bill later this year.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-03-30T11:08:25Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-senator-dianne-feinstein", "DeLauro Statement on Senator Dianne Feinstein", "2023-09-29", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro released a statement following news that California Senator Dianne Feinstein had passed away.\n\n\u201cI am saddened by the news of the death of Senator Dianne Feinstein. Senator Feinstein was a dedicated public servant and an icon in American politics. Her unwavering commitment to justice, her tireless advocacy for commonsense gun control legislation, and her remarkable ability to bridge division in the Senate made her an inspiration to many, including myself.\n\n\u201cA trailblazer for gun violence prevention, she authored the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban, removing dangerous weapons of war from our communities and saving countless lives. She never faltered in her efforts to pass comprehensive gun control legislation to make our communities safer, and I was proud to stand with her in that fight.\n\n\u201cIt was an honor to have been a partner to Senator Feinstein in her fight to improve the lives of working families and middle-class Americans. We fought to secure equal pay for women and united together to move policies that improve public health.\n\n\u201cAs the longest-serving woman in the Senate, she broke barriers for women in government. She mentored women working in politics, pushed for legislation that promotes gender equality, and used her platform to encourage more women to seek elected office. She understood the importance of diverse voices in shaping lasting policy that helps the American people\u2014and our nation is better-off because of her decades of public service.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-department-educations-final-gainful-employment-rule", "DeLauro Statement on Department of Education\u2019s Final Gainful Employment Rule", "2023-09-28", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) released a statement in response to the Biden Administration\u2019s Education Department releasing a final rule on gainful employment, which will help protect students from predatory for-profit colleges.\n\n\u201cI applaud the Biden administration for reinstating a strong gainful employment (GE) rule, which will protect student borrowers from low-quality, high-cost degree programs at predatory for-profit colleges. Though for-profit colleges enroll only 10 percent of students, their scam programs are responsible for half of all student loan defaults. When this final rule goes into effect, I look forward to working with the Department of Education to make sure its strong provisions are rigorously enforced.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=828FF5F5-882C-4396-897F-FDD917553967", "While House Republicans Work to Cut WIC Funding, Hayes Leads Legislation to Increase WIC Enrollment for Pregnant Women, Moms, Infants, and Young Children in Connecticut", "2023-09-27", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Jahana Hayes", "H001081", "hayes.house.gov", "hayes", "https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Ahead of a potential government shutdown \u2013 which could put nearly 7 million women and children WIC recipients at risk of losing benefits \u2013 Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Foreign Agriculture and Horticulture, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05), re-introduced the WIC for Kids Act, legislation to eliminate enrollment barriers to Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) for millions of pregnant women, mothers, and children.\n\nHouse Republicans continue to debate funding cuts with less than 3 days until a government shutdown and each proposal by House Republicans actively attacks WIC and other vital programs for families. Once the shutdown takes effect, the 7 million women and children, who count on WIC would be turned away from grocery store checkouts in a matter of days.\n\n\u201cWhile House Republicans fight amongst themselves to advance extremist policies, House Democrats are focused on solutions consistent with our values to keep the government open and assist the most vulnerable members of our communities,\u201d said Congresswoman Jahana Hayes. \u201cMillions of mothers and children who are eligible for WIC do not access the program. In fact, only 50.2% of those eligible are currently enrolled. Removing undue barriers will connect more mothers and children to WIC and provide the nutrition necessary for early development.\u201d\n\nCongresswoman Hayes first introduced the WIC for Kids Act in the 117th Congress.\n\nThe most recent United States Department of Agriculture data indicates nearly half of WIC-eligible individuals in Connecticut participate in the program. Overall, only 50.2 percent of eligible Americans participate in WIC.\n\nOf the 47,236 WIC recipients in Connecticut:\n\n9,990 are women.\n\n25,609 are children.\n\n11,637 are infants.\n\nWIC is a cost-effective investment in families that leads to healthier infants, more nutritious diets and better health care for children. Unfortunately, there are nearly 6 million low-income mothers and children who are eligible for WIC who cannot access their benefits.\n\nLow participation and retention are due in part to the prolonged process of recertification, which can be time-consuming and cumbersome. Evidence suggests that bringing in income and residency documentation for initial and subsequent WIC certifications may cause some families to drop out of the program or choose not to participate in the first place.\n\nEnrolling in WIC through adjunctive eligibility, on the other hand, takes about one minute and simply requires a WIC client to present their Medicaid card or demonstrate receipt of SNAP or TANF benefits.\n\nSpecifically, the WIC for Kids Act grants automatic eligibility for WIC for mothers and children who:\n\nReside in a household in which a member participates in SNAP.\n\nParticipate in Children\u2019s Health Insurance Program.\n\nParticipate in Head Start or reside in a household in which one or more children are enrolled in Head Start.\n\nReside in a household that participates in Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations.\n\nAre members of a family of a pregnant woman, postpartum woman, infant, or child that receives medical assistance from Medicaid or the Children\u2019s Health Insurance Program.\n\nThe bill also allows for certification periods to be adjusted to help align family certification periods and directs states to include a plan on how they will serve kinship families as part of their state plans.\n\nThe WIC for Kids Act is cosponsored by:\n\nAdams, Alma (D-NC12), Bowman, Jamaal (D-NY16), Courtney, Joe (D-CT2), DeSaulnier, Mark (D-CA10), Grijalva, Ra\u00fal (D-AZ7), Jayapal, Pramila (D-WA7), McBath, Lucy (D-GA7), Takano, Mark (D-CA39), Wilson, Frederica (D-FL24), Leger Fernandez, Teresa (D-NM3), Barrag\u00e1n, Nanette (D-CA44), Brown, Shontel (D-OH11), Bush, Cori (D-MO1), Carbajal, Salud (D-CA24), Carson, Andr\u00e9 (D-IN7), Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila (D-FL20), Chu, Judy (D-CA28), Cohen, Steve (D-TN9), Crockett, Jasmine (D-TX30), C\u00e1rdenas, Tony (D-CA29), Davis, Danny (D-IL7), DeLauro, Rosa (D-CT3), Dean, Madeleine (D-PA4), Doggett, Lloyd (D-TX37), Garc\u00eda, Jes\u00fas \u201cChuy\u201d (D-IL4), Goldman, Dan (D-NY10), Gomez, Jimmy (D-CA34), Himes, James \u201cJim\u201d (D-CT4), Horsford, Steven (D-NV4), Hoyle, Valerie (D-OR4), Jackson Lee, Sheila (D-TX18), Jackson, Jonathan (D-IL1), Jacobs, Sara (D-CA51), Johnson, Henry C. \u201cHank\u201d (D-GA4), Kamlager-Dove, Sydney (D-CA37) , Kaptur, Marcy (D-OH9), Keating, William R. (D-MA9), Larson, John (D-CT1), Lee, Barbara (D-CA12), McGarvey, Morgan (D-KY3), McGovern, James \u201cJim\u201d (D-MA2), Moore, Gwen (D-WI4), Mullin, Kevin (D-CA15), Napolitano, Grace (D-CA31, Norton, Eleanor (D-DC), Payne, Donald (D-NJ10), Pocan, Mark (D-WI2), Salinas, Andrea (D-OR6), Scanlon, Mary (D-PA5), Sewell, Terri (D-AL7), Thanedar, Shri (D-MI13), Titus, Dina (D-NV1), Tlaib, Rashida (D-MI12), Tokuda, Jill (D-HI2), Torres, Ritchie (D-NY15), Vel\u00e1zquez, Nydia (D-NY7), Watson Coleman, Bonnie (D-NJ12), Williams, Nikema (D-GA5), Kuster, Ann (D-NH2), Peltola, Mary (D-AK)\n\nFull text of the bill can be found here.\n\n\"The Connecticut Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics supports the WIC for Kids Act which connects families to the WIC program, improves food security and ultimately the nutritional status of families in Connecticut. We thank Representative Hayes for her strong commitment to nutrition,\" said Teresa Dotson, President-Elect of the Connecticut Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.\n\n\"The WIC for Kids Act represents a pivotal step towards creating a more inclusive and accessible system of support for families across the country,\u201d said Christy Gleason, Vice President of Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns at Save the Children. \u201cThis legislation not only streamlines the WIC application process but also allows eligible children to stay on the program longer and reduces the administrative burden for families who already receive other eligibility-based federal support. We enthusiastically endorse this bill which will fortify the incredibly important WIC program and help ensure all children and mothers will have access to the necessary resources for a healthy future.\"\n\n\u201cWIC is a key federal nutrition program that reduces food insecurity, improves dietary intake, addresses obesity and improves other health outcomes,\u201d said registered dietitian nutritionist Lauri Wright, the 2023-2024 President of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. \u201cThe WIC For Kids Act would help reach more women, infants and children with nutrient-dense supplemental food, nutrition education including breastfeeding promotion and support, and referrals to health and social services.\u201d\n\n\"WIC is a powerful evidence-based program that delivers vital resources and services to moms and kids across the country, yet too many people continue to face barriers to participate,\" said Lisa Davis, senior vice president of Share Our Strength\u2019s No Kid Hungry campaign. \"This bill helps to remove those barriers and streamlines eligibility so more families can benefit from the nutrition and security WIC provides.\"\n\nEndorsements: Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Advocates for Children of New Jersey, Alliance to End Hunger, American Heart Association, American Muslim Health Professionals, Association of State Public Health Nutritionists, BCDI Philadelphia & Vicinity, Bread for the World, Bridgeport Prospers, Connecticut Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Connecticut Alliance of Foster and Adoptive Families, Connecticut FoodShare, Educare Learning Network, End Hunger CT!, Farmers Market Coalition, First Focus Campaign for Children, Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), Hawai\u2018i Children\u2019s Action Network Speaks!, Healthy Black Pregnancies, Institute for Child Success, International Fresh Produce Association, Jewish Federation Association of Connecticut, Kansas Action for Children, Kidzone South Haven, Lena Pope, MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, March for Moms, National Milk Producers Federation, National WIC Association, Nebraska Head Start Association, Parents as Teachers, Raising Illinois, Save the Children, School Nutrition Association, Share Our Strength, She Leads Justice, South Carolina Program for Infant/Toddler Care, Start Early, StriveTogether, The Alliance of Children & Families, The Boston Foundation, The Children's Advocacy Alliance, The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), The National Family Support Network, The Union of Concerned Scientists, Together for Hope, UnidosUS, United Way of Coastal and Western Connecticut, Waterbury Bridge to Success, White Center Parent Ambassadors, ZERO TO THREE\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-courtney-lead-follow-or-get-out-way", "Rep. Courtney: Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way", "2023-09-26", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, five days until the federal government shuts down, Rep. Joe Courtney went to the House Floor to urge bipartisan action to ensure federal workers and servicemembers receive pay without interruption and Americans have sustained access to the services they rely on.\n\n\u201cEastern Connecticut residents remember the pop-up food pantries in New London during the 2019 government shutdown and the financial consequences the shutdown had on servicemembers and their families.\n\n\u201cThis potential shutdown is total unnecessary, unfair, and will wreak havoc across the country. There is a pathway, there is a road map. And we know that because at the end of the May when we passed the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which avoided a default on the full faith and credit of this country, Democrats and Republicans came together to pass the measure 314-117. We came together to avoid a default, and we must do it again to avoid a shutdown and do the work for the American people.\n\n\u201cMister Speaker, as we approach the deadline, lawmakers should be thinking about an old military saying: lead, follow, or get out of the way.\u201d\n\nWatch the full floor speech here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-banks-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-secure-us-supply-chains", "DeLauro, Banks Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Secure U.S. Supply Chains", "2023-09-26", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) and Jim Banks (R-IN-03) introduced the bipartisan SHIELD Act. This legislation would establish an Office of Economic and Security Preparedness and Resilience to set priorities to ensure resilient United States supply chains and robust domestic production in sectors vital to national security. It would help eliminate supply chain dependency on China and is inspired by a recommendation from the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission\u2019s 2022 Annual Report to Congress.\n\n\u201cOur overdependence on foreign manufacturing has hampered our ability to quickly respond to supply chain challenges and meet the needs of America and its citizens,\u201d said Congresswoman DeLauro. \u201cThere is no reason we should depend on foreign adversaries for essential goods \u2013 from technology, to critical minerals, to ingredients for our lifesaving drugs. The SHIELD Act is needed legislation that will safeguard our supply chains from China and the CCP, and provide the United States with the tools needed to help chart a path to outcompete China.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs the COVID-19 pandemic made horribly clear, America\u2019s reliance on China for making basic things like medicine and critical minerals is a huge liability,\u201d said Congressman Banks. \u201cOur bill would shine a light on where other such vulnerabilities exist and help revitalize our industrial base to fix them.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis legislation will help the U.S. government identify and address two dangerous vulnerabilities: excessive dependence on imports of parts and materials critical to the nation\u2019s security and inadequate domestic capacity to produce the large quantities of arms and equipment that might be needed to fight and win a future war.\u201d \u2013 Aaron Friedberg, Co-Director, Center for International Security Studies at Princeton University.\n\n\u201cAAM applauds the bipartisan work of Representatives DeLauro and Banks for their legislation to address supply chain vulnerabilities, particularly where China\u2019s Communist Party poses a threat,\u201d said Scott Paul, President of the Alliance for American Manufacturing. \u201cRecent supply chain disruptions have made clear that the United States must act to shore up critical manufacturing supply chains and reduce our reliance on China to safeguard our security. We should no longer question whether China will weaponize its supply chains and our reliance upon them to its advantage. The CCP has already demonstrated an ability and willingness to do just that. The creation of this office to set supply chain priorities and boost domestic production in key sectors is an important step to further strengthen American Manufacturing.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-passing-usw-international-president-tom-conway", "DeLauro Statement on the Passing of USW International President Tom Conway", "2023-09-26", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) released a statement on the passing of United Steel Workers (USW) International President Tom Conway.\n\n\u201cThroughout his entire life, Tom Conway never backed down from fighting for workers. From his start as a USW Local 6787 activist in 1978 to his tenure as USW International president since 2019, Tom championed workers every day. As the leader of USW, he fought for better jobs for over 800,000 workers in North America. An extremely skilled negotiator, he boldly went up against some of the country\u2019s biggest corporations on behalf of working people\u2014tirelessly advocating for fair trade and the protection and creation of good-paying American jobs. My thoughts and prayers are with Tom\u2019s family. To all the members of USW, I stand in solidarity. Tom\u2019s legacy of championing the dignity of workers continues on with you.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/ranking-member-courtney-celebrates-delivery-first-multi-mission-vessel", "Ranking Member Courtney Celebrates Delivery of First Multi-Mission Vessel to SUNY", "2023-09-22", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) issued the following statement to mark the delivery of the EMPIRE STATE, a National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV), to SUNY Maritime College. The EMPIRE is the first of five ships to be delivered as part of the NSMV program, which was authorized in 2016 by the House Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee under Ranking Member Courtney\u2019s leadership.\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s delivery of the EMPIRE STATE to SUNY is a powerful example of the capability and ingenuity of American shipbuilders, showing that our nation can develop, construct, and deliver capable and affordable ships to meet some of the most pressing shipbuilding needs of our nation. The innovative model we have proven here today is one that can, and must, be put to use building more ships that will create more jobs while ensuring the security of our nation.\n\n\u201cThis milestone would not be possible without the dedicated shipbuilders at Philly shipyard, leaders of the Maritime Administration, Congress, and especially SUNY Maritime College President, Dr. Mike Alfultis. Together, Mike and I made the case for the NSMV program to Congress, secured bipartisan support for the effort in the House Armed Services Committee, and secured the authorization for the program in law. This is a great day for SUNY Maritime, the Maritime Administration, our shipbuilding industry, and our nation.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-lee-introduce-legislation-address-diaper-need", "DeLauro, Lee Introduce Legislation to Address Diaper Need", "2023-09-21", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Representatives Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) and Barbara Lee (CA-12) introduced legislation to address diaper need in the United States. The End Diaper Need Act of 2023 would create a $100 million demonstration program for distributing free diapers and diapering products in states, communities, and nonprofits around the nation to help reduce the diaper need in low-income families and underserved communities. The members also introduced a resolution that hails the week of September 18 as National Diaper Need Awareness Week.\n\n\u201cFamilies across the United States are struggling with the rising cost of living and stagnant wages that do not keep up with their expenses. Sadly, one in three families do not have enough diapers to keep their children clean and healthy,\u201d said Congresswoman DeLauro. \u201cWe cannot allow that to continue. That is why I introduced the End Diaper Need Act with Congresswoman Lee, to provide families with supports that provide them with financial security. I am also proud to join her in expressing our gratitude to local diaper banks and distribution programs that help support children who need diapers. I will always fight to ensure families have the resources they need to thrive.\u201d\n\n\"Parents deal with enough stress - basic childcare necessities like diapering supplies should not be another contributor,\" Congresswoman Barbara Lee said. \u201cSince before the pandemic, millions more people have fallen into poverty, creating severe challenges for families across the country to afford basic necessities like diapers. Low-income families with infants spend 14% of their income on diapers alone \u2013 that is unacceptable. It is past time for Congress to provide this basic need to improve the health and well being for millions of children.\u201d\n\n\u201cCongresswoman DeLauro knows that diapers matter. She was the first Congressional leader to champion efforts to end diaper need in the U.S. and to support diaper bank programs. Our movement would not be where it is without her hard work,\u201d said National Diaper Bank Network CEO Joanne Samuel Goldblum. \u201cI am so grateful for her tireless advocacy and so pleased that the End Diaper Need Act has been reintroduced during National Diaper Need Awareness Week. Once again, Rep. DeLauro has given people who care about children something to celebrate.\u201d\n\nThe text of the End Diaper Need Act of 2023 can be found here. The text of the National Diaper Bank Need Awareness Week resolution can be found here.\n\nWhen she was Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, Congresswoman DeLauro helped establish the Diaper Distribution Demonstration and Research Pilot, or the Diaper Distribution Pilot. The pilot program helps provide grants to Diaper Banks and Distributors to serve families through a robust network of community partners that helps provide anti-poverty services.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=1C6AF2C8-AE8E-4051-9B31-9AF6AA35F871", "Hayes Processes 150 Applications During Passport Day Event", "2023-09-21", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Jahana Hayes", "H001081", "hayes.house.gov", "hayes", "https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "SEE MORE\n\nWATERBURY \u2013 On Sunday, September 17, 2023, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) joined the U.S. Department of State and the City of Waterbury to host a Passport Day in recognition of September being Passport Awareness Month.\n\nOver the last year, there have been reports of increased processing time of 10-13 weeks for passports. The State Department is currently receiving approximately 400,000 passport applications each week.\n\nLocal events like this provide assistance with renewing or applying for a passport. In total 150 passport applications were processed, allowing attendees the ability to plan for upcoming international travel. The event follows the Passport Day held in the Waterbury office of Congresswoman Hayes in April, where over 100 applications were processed.\n\n\u201cPassport Day was incredibly successful. Over 150 passport applications were processed in 4 hours, with 90 of those applications being first-time applicants,\u201d said Congresswoman Hayes. \u201cI want to thank my wonderful staff and the Department of State for swiftly assisting constituents. Moving forward, my office will continue to stand ready to help with emergency passport issues and all other casework.\u201d\n\n\u201cEverything went very smoothly. We were walk-ins, as it was pretty full up and we got in and out in less than an hour. So, thank you, Congresswoman Hayes,\u201d said Thomas, a Waterbury resident.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-courtney-applauds-two-eastern-connecticut-schools-being-named", "Rep. Courtney Applauds Two Eastern Connecticut Schools on Being Named National Blue Ribbon Schools", "2023-09-20", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Education announced Groton\u2019s Marine Science Magnet High School and Vernon\u2019s Skinner Road School as 2023 National Blue Ribbon Schools.\n\n\u201cCongratulations to Groton\u2019s Marine Science Magnet High School and Vernon\u2019s Skinner Road School for being named a 2023 National Blue Ribbon School. This recognition is a testament to the excellent educators, school leaders, staff, and families who help these schools and students excel. I applaud Principals Tara Amatrudo and Bryan Kerachsky for this well-deserved recognition, and Vernon Superintendent Dr. Joseph Macary and LEARN Executive Director Katherine Ericson for leading school communities that have been home to multiple National Blue Ribbon Schools over the years. I look forward to continuing delivering support to help eastern Connecticut\u2019s K-12 schools thrive.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-courtney-celebrates-ribbon-cutting-miracle-league-field-northern-ct", "Rep. Courtney Celebrates Ribbon Cutting of Miracle League Field of Northern CT", "2023-09-20", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) issued the following statement to celebrate the ribbon cutting ceremony of the Miracle League Field of Northern Connecticut\u2014a project made possible in part by a $175,000 federal grant from the American Rescue Plan. The Office of Congressman Courtney presented the Miracle League Field of Northern Connecticut with a U.S. flag during today\u2019s ribbon cutting ceremony.\n\n\u201cCongratulations to the Town of Vernon for the opening of Miracle League Field of Northern Connecticut\u2014a crown jewel of recreation and opportunity for children and visitors of all abilities. Today\u2019s ribbon cutting ceremony is the culmination of hard work and the persistence of grassroot organizers, town officials, and Steve Leibowitz, the president of Miracle Field, and his team. I am pleased that a $175,000 federal American Rescue Plan grant could help make this project a reality and look forward to enjoying the field alongside eastern Connecticut residents for years to come.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-valadao-brown-introduce-bipartisan-fresh-produce-procurement", "DeLauro, Valadao, Brown Introduce Bipartisan Fresh Produce Procurement Reform Act", "2023-09-20", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) and David G. Valadao (R-CA-22) along with Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) introduced the bipartisan Fresh Produce Procurement Reform Act, legislation that would increase and improve the United States Department of Agriculture\u2019s (USDA) procurement of fresh fruits and vegetables. The bill would require USDA to partner with growers, distributors, and food hubs to provide fresh, U.S.-grown fruits and vegetables to community organizations like schools, local food pantries, and youth organizations while prioritizing socially disadvantaged farmers and entities, regional food inequities, and local and regional food systems.\n\n\u201cFar too many families across the United States do not have readily available access to high-quality fresh fruits and vegetables,\u201d said Congresswoman DeLauro. \u201cThe USDA\u2019s Commodity Procurement program buys more than $3 billion in domestically produced foods annually and helps drive important reforms across our food system. That is why I am introducing the Fresh Produce Procurement Reform Act with Senator Sherrod Brown and Congressman David Valadao. This will allow our diverse local and regional supply chains the opportunity to distribute U.S.-grown fresh produce to those in need.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe need to ensure our food insecure residents in the Central Valley have access to the fresh, nutritious fruits and vegetables we grow right in our own backyard,\u201d said Congressman Valadao. \u201cThis bill not only helps our neighbors in need, but it also helps our domestic agriculture sector by ensuring the produce they grow is being put to good use. I\u2019m proud to join my colleagues to introduce this bipartisan bill that will strengthen our agriculture economy and make fresh produce more widely available to those in need.\u201d\n\n\u201cImproving access to local fruits and vegetables is a win-win for Ohio farmers and residents,\u201d said Senator Brown. \u201cNot only does this bill make it easier for Ohio residents to access local produce, but it will also help create shorter American supply chains, ensuring Ohio small family farmers and businesses keep more of their money in their community.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe demand for fresh fruits and vegetables for those serving the nutrition insecure remains high but the existing model limits both the suppliers and varieties offered to consumers,\u201d said Mollie Van Lieu, International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) Vice President of Nutrition and Health. \u201cIFPA thanks Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Reps. DeLauro (D, CT-3) and Valadao (R,CA-22) for their leadership on this bill which will unlock our diverse and local supply chains to distribute more U.S grown fresh produce to those who need it most.\u201d\n\n\u201cSince the first round of Farmers to Families Food Box, Senator Brown and Representatives DeLauro and Valadao have been champions of identifying opportunities for small and mid-sized farms to successfully compete in federal procurement program,\u201d said Hannah Quigley Policy Specialist for the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC). Fresh Produce Procurement Reform Act offers a pathway to create new market opportunities for small farmers, food hubs, and distributors while increasing access to nutritious, fresh produce. \u201c\n\nCurrently, USDA\u2019s existing model for food procurement makes it difficult for highly perishable fresh fruits and vegetables to be procured and delivered to clients in a timely manner. Additionally, the food options are limited to five fresh produce varieties.\n\nSimultaneously, strong demand exists for fresh fruit and vegetables from community-based organizations and food banks that serve those experiencing hunger, including those that do not have access to existing programs, such as The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP).\n\nThe Fresh Produce Procurement Reform Act would:\n\nProvide USDA with an additional tool to partner with existing growers and fresh produce distributors to procure a greater amount of fresh fruits and vegetables\n\nDistribute U.S.-grown fresh fruits and vegetables to local food banks, schools, youth-serving organizations, tribal governments, and other nonprofit community members serving nutrition insecure populations.\n\nStrengthen access to a wide variety of U.S.-grown fresh fruits and vegetables to recipients in need by including at least seven types of U.S.-grown fresh fruits in vegetables to vulnerable communities living in poverty.\n\nProvide opportunities for a wider variety of high-quality produce sourced, packed, and distributed from growers and distributors of all sizes, including veteran, women-owned, and socially disadvantaged members of the agriculture community.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=334A949B-5030-433E-A19E-80D17F785026", "Labor Leaders Introduce Bill to Open Training Opportunities for Disconnected Youth in Connecticut", "2023-09-20", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Jahana Hayes", "H001081", "hayes.house.gov", "hayes", "https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Education and the Workforce Committee Vice Ranking Member, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05), joined Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member, Congressman Robert C. \u201cBobby\u201d Scott (VA-03), Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee Ranking Member, Congresswoman Federica Wilson (FL-24), and Congressman Jes\u00fas \u201cChuy\u201d Garc\u00eda (IL-04), to introduce the Opening Doors for Youth Act of 2023 (ODYA). This legislation addresses the challenges facing youth who become disconnected from both school and work.\n\nResearchers estimate there were nearly five million young people, ages of 16-24, disconnected from school and work in 2020 and that this number is a significant underestimate. These young people\u2014often referred to as \u201copportunity youth\u201d\u2014disproportionately come from communities marked by poverty, racial segregation, high adult unemployment, and low adult educational attainment.\n\nAccording to the National Youth Employment Coalition, in the 5th District of Connecticut, 11% of individuals ages 16-24 are \u201copportunity youth.\u201d Delivering funding for opportunity youth in the Fifth would help reconnect over 1,000 young people to their communities.\n\nTheir communities often lack strong school systems, afterschool programs, access to professional networks, and an adequate supply of entry-level jobs for youth. As a result, far too many young people disconnect from school and work. This disconnection imposes significant costs on affected young people, their communities, and the overall economy.\n\n\u201cAccess to community-based programs to build skills outside of the classroom can be essential for the success of young adults across our nation. By giving young people the opportunity to learn skills through summer and year-round employment, they will forge greater connections to the community and boost the economy,\u201d said Vice Ranking Member Jahana Hayes (CT-05). \u201cYoung people from underserved neighborhoods are often labeled before being given the chance to define what success means. It is our responsibility to usher them towards healthy productive spaces to ease the transition from the classroom to the workplace.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is our responsibility to ensure that all our nation\u2019s young people have the opportunity to thrive\u2014not just survive. The Opening Doors for Youth Act provides youth with a solid foundation of education and early work experience, as well as the skills they need to get on the path toward a good job and rewarding career. Investments made in youth employment programs not only provide youth across the country with their first jobs, but they also help employers build high-quality talent pipelines, and save our communities billions in spending down the road. I look forward to working with my Republican colleagues to ensure this legislation is included in any bipartisan Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act reauthorization,\u201d said Ranking Member Robert C. \u201cBobby\u201d Scott (VA-03).\n\n\u201cAs a lifelong advocate for our nation's youth, I believe every young person deserves a fair chance to succeed. From my early days as an educator to my present role in Congress, I've witnessed the untapped potential our children possess. I\u2019m proud to support the Opening Doors for Youth Act and take a crucial step towards breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for our young people to flourish, ensuring that no child's future is limited by circumstances beyond their control. This investment in their future will steer them toward limitless growth and success while helping dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline in communities across America,\u201d said Ranking Member Frederica Wilson (FL-24).\n\n\u201cFor as long as I\u2019ve been involved in organizing and public service, we\u2019ve been fighting for investments in our communities and opportunities for youth. I support the Opening Doors for Youth Act to reinvest in out-of-school, out-of-work opportunity youth, and in doing so, help create new pathways toward economic justice,\u201d said Congressman Garc\u00eda (IL-04).\n\nThe Opening Doors for Youth Act invests $6.75 billion over six years to help at-risk and opportunity youth gain their first employment opportunities and develop opportunities to successfully transition from school to work.\n\nThe legislation:\n\nHelps in-school youth access summer employment opportunities to remain connected to the education system and avoid involvement in the criminal and juvenile justice system;\n\nProvides out-of-school youth with year-round work experiences and work-readiness skills that are vital to longer-term improved employment outcomes; and\n\nEstablishes and expands youth employment programs through community-based organizations that provide at-risk and opportunity youth with comprehensive pathways to remain connected or reconnect to education and training systems in addition to the supportive services needed to overcome individual barriers to reconnection.\n\nTo read the bill text for Opening Doors for Youth Act of 2023, clickhere.\n\nTo read the fact sheet for Opening Doors for Youth Act of 2023, clickhere.\n\nTo read the section-by-section for Opening Doors for Youth Act of 2023, clickhere.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-warren-reintroduce-schedules-work-act-0", "DeLauro, Warren Reintroduce Schedules That Work Act", "2023-09-19", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) reintroduced the Schedules That Work Act. This legislation would help ensure that employees have more certainty about their work schedules and incomes. It addresses unstable, unpredictable, and opaque scheduling practices, like placing workers \u201con-call\u201d with no guarantee of work hours, scheduling them for \u201csplit shifts\u201d of non-consecutive hours, sending working home early without pay when demand is low, and punishing workers who request schedule changes.\n\n\u201cIn today\u2019s economy, the reality of most working people is that they live paycheck to paycheck,\u201d said Congresswoman DeLauro. \u201cThey need economic security, and the peace of mind that the hours they work any given week will pay them enough to make ends meet and provide for themselves and their families. That is why I am proud to join my colleague Senator Warren in reintroducing the Schedules That Work Act so we can protect workers from abusive scheduling practices and ensure that all hardworking Americans achieve stability and security in their jobs.\u201d\n\n\u201cHarmful scheduling practices make it a nightmare for hourly workers \u2013 many of whom are parents of young children \u2013 to arrange child care, feed their families, and pay the bills,\u201d Senator Warren said. \u201cI\u2019m proud to join Congresswoman DeLauro on the Schedules That Work Act because workers need to regain control over their work schedules to build economic security for themselves and their families.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhen workers don\u2019t know when or how much they\u2019ll work each week, it becomes impossible to make a budget, secure reliable child care, schedule doctor\u2019s appointments, or otherwise plan their lives,\u201d said Emily Martin, National Women\u2019s Law Center Vice President for Education & Workplace Justice. \u201cBut for millions of people\u2014especially women and people of color\u2014this instability is a daily reality due to employer scheduling practices that ignore workers\u2019 needs, and this is particularly true for part-time workers. The Schedules That Work Act and the Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights will change this dynamic, granting working people more control over their work hours and creating more stability for families and employers alike.\u201d\n\n\u201cAt Amazon, I work a backbreaking job for poor pay with an unpredictable schedule. My hours are often cut when the company \u2018flexes down\u2019 my shift, and it\u2019s difficult to make ends meet and provide for my family. I have two daughters and four grandchildren who I lose out on spending precious time with because of my erratic schedule. But I\u2019m not the only one. For millions of Americans, this is their reality,\u201d said United for Respect leader and Amazon warehouse worker Karen Crawford. \u201cWorkers across the country are facing a crisis. We deserve predictable schedules and real respect on the job. With these bills in Congress, hope is now on the horizon, and we have an opportunity to change the lives of millions of people by giving them a voice in their schedules and improving their economic security.\u201d\n\n\u201cThrough our free and confidential legal helpline, we are constantly hearing from workers who are subjected to unpredictable and unfair scheduling practices, resulting in a lack of adequate pay, hours, and benefits that make caring for themselves and loved ones and staying afloat impossible,\u201d saidCo-Founder and Co-President of A Better Balance Sherry Leiwant. \u201cIn particular, unfair scheduling practices particularly impact families with children and younger workers because it is nearly impossible to arrange child care or pursue educational opportunities that can lead to advancement when schedules are unpredictable. Low wage workers and workers of color in industries like retail, food service and building maintenance where employers commonly post schedules with little notice, make last minute shift changes, vary schedules wildly from week-to-week, and require employees to be on call are especially affected. At the same time, part-time workers, many of whom work full-time hours by piecing together several jobs or who work part-time so they can provide care to their families are too often treated like second class workers, paid less and deprived of benefits like health insurance and paid leave. The Schedules That Work Act and Part Time Workers Bill of Rights\u2014reintroduced in Congress today\u2014would extend a lifeline to workers and improve the well-being of families by giving employees more of a say in their work schedules and ensuring part-time workers get the pay and benefits they deserve. We thank Senator Warren, Representative DeLauro, and Representative Schakowsky for their leadership on this legislation and continued commitment to this country's working families.\"\n\n\u201cOur members have fought and organized tirelessly for workers who desperately need job security and fair workweeks that mean stable and predictable work schedules, part-time parity, and stable incomes in our communities across the country. We\u2019re thrilled that Senator Elizabeth Warren is throwing her political weight along with Representatives Rosa DeLauro and Jan Schakowsky behind two bills to bring these vital protections to workers throughout the U.S.\u201d Analilia Mejia, Co-Executive Director of the Center for Popular Democracy.\n\nFew workplaces provide the stability and security workers need. Often, workers experience last-minute shift cancellations that deprive them of vital income and work \"clopening\" shifts that leave little time to commute and rest between shifts.\n\nThe Schedules That Work Act curbs these harmful practices by giving workers a voice in their schedules and helping people meet their responsibilities at work and at home. This legislation protects workers who ask for schedule changes from retaliation, and it requires employers to consider their requests. For retail, food service, and cleaning occupations, it requires employers to provide schedules two weeks in advance. The legislation also provides compensation to these employees when their schedules change abruptly, or they are assigned to particularly difficult shifts, including split shifts and call-in shifts.\n\nThe bill also expands these same protections to hospitality and warehouse workers, and establishes a right to rest between shifts \u2013 protecting workers from being forced to work a closing shift one night and the opening shift the next day \u2013 and compensating them adequately if they voluntarily do so. The bill also requires employers to compensate employees if schedules are not posted two weeks in advance, or if there are changes to the schedule within the two-week period.\n\nThe Schedules That Work Act is endorsed bv 9to5, A Better Balance, Action for Children, AFL-CIO, African American Health Alliance, All-Options, American Association of University Women, American Federation of Teachers, Americans for Democratic Action (ADA), Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO, BreastfeedLA, Caring Across Generations, Catch Fire Movement, Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR), Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), Center for Popular Democracy, CenterLink: The Community of LGBT Centers, CenterLink: The Community of LGBTQ Centers, Chicago Foundation for Women, Child Care Aware of America, Children's Defense Fund, Citizen Action of New York, Coalition for Social Justice, Coalition of Labor Union Women, AFL-CIO, Coalition on Human Needs, Colorado Center on Law and Policy, Colorado Fiscal Institute, Connecticut Women's Education and Legal Fund (CWEALF), Economic Opportunity Institute, Economic Policy Institute, Empowering Pacific Islander Communities, Equal Rights Advocates, Every Texan, Faith in Public Life, Family Values @ Work, Florida Policy Institute, Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, Healthy Nourishment, LLC, Indiana Community Action Poverty Institute, Institute for Women's Policy Research, Jobs With Justice, Justice for Migrant Women, Kentucky Equal Justice Center, Legal Aid at Work, Legal Momentum, The Women's Legal Defense and Education Fund, Maine Center for Economic Policy, MANA, A National Latina Organization, MomsRising, National Black Worker Center, National CAPACD- National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development, National Center for Law and Economic Justice, National Council of Jewish Women, National Education Association, National Employment Law Project, National Employment Lawyers Association, National Immigration Law Center, National Organization for Women, National Partnership for Women & Families, National Women's Law Center, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies, NextGen America, North Carolina Justice Center, Oxfam America, Philadelphia Coalition of Labor Union Women, Poligon Education Fund, Public Justice Center, ROC United, Service Employees International Union, She Leads Justice, Shriver Center on Poverty Law, Sojourners-SojoAction, Start Early, Sugar Law Center for Economic & Social Justice, TakeAction Minnesota, The National Domestic Violence Hotline, The Workers Circle, United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, United for Respect, We All Rise, Women and Girls Foundation of Southwest PA, Women Employed, Women's Fund of Rhode Island, Women's Law Project, Women's Media Center, Workplace Fairness, YWCA of the University of Illinois, YWCA USA, ZERO TO THREE\n\nThe full text of the legislation is here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=C2993121-A51C-47E8-9674-7BB9A0DB6967", "Hayes, Gallego, Adams, and Houlahan Introduce Bill to Strengthen Connecticut\u2019s Teacher Workforce", "2023-09-19", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Jahana Hayes", "H001081", "hayes.house.gov", "hayes", "https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Vice Ranking Member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Congressman Ruben Gallego (AZ-03), Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12), and Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) reintroduced the Teacher Diversity and Retention Act, to invest in and expand the teacher workforce in Connecticut and across the country.\n\nThe Teacher Diversity and Retention Act would authorize two grant programs to fortify teacher recruitment and training programs. The first would provide an infusion of funds for teacher training programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), and other Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs). The second would expand teacher preparation programs that provide dual certification in special education, social and emotional learning competencies, and behavior management so that teaching candidates are better prepared to meet the needs of all students.\n\n\u201cWhile the student population continues to become more diverse, educator ranks are drastically falling behind. At a time of unprecedented teaching shortages, it is essential that schools have the ability to recruit and retain educators who reflect the communities and students they serve,\u201d said Congresswoman Hayes (CT-05). \u201cTeachers of color are critical in closing the achievement gap for students. This legislation aims to fortify the educator pipeline and position students for long-term success. I thank my colleagues Rep. Gallego, Adams, and Houlahan, for their leadership and I look forward to working together to strengthen our educator workforce.\u201d\n\n\u201cToo many Arizona students are in over-crowded classrooms or are being taught by teachers who aren\u2019t fully qualified. We must address this teacher shortage for our kids\u2019 future and our state\u2019s economic future,\u201d said Congressman Ruben Gallego (AZ-03). \u201cI\u2019m proud to reintroduce this bill that will support teacher training programs at Arizona\u2019s public universities and schools like Din\u00e9 College. By training teachers right here in Arizona, we can help ensure our teachers can understand and meet the unique needs of Arizona students.\u201d\n\n\u201cHalf of Black public school teachers in our classrooms graduated from a Historically Black College or University,\u201d said Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12), founder and co-chair of the Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus. \u201cHBCUs, Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), and other Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) are essential partners for increasing the diversity of classroom faculty. I\u2019m proud to introduce the Teacher Diversity and Retention Act with my colleagues so we can empower these institutions to train the next generation of public school teachers.\u201d\n\n\u201cBefore I was elected to Congress, I proudly served in Teach for America as a chemistry teacher in North Philadelphia,\u201d said Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06). \u201cAs much as I loved my students and was inspired by my work, I was frequently disappointed in the lack of diversity among my fellow instructors and, subsequently, the lack of diverse role models for my students. As we know, you can\u2019t be what you can\u2019t see. The Teacher Diversity and Retention Act seeks to ensure that our educators are as richly diverse as our communities and country, and I am honored to help reintroduce it.\u201d\n\nThe members first introduced this legislation in the 117th Congress.\n\nIn the 118th Congress, the Congresswoman has introduced legislation to expand access to free school meals, address school shootings, fight food insecurity for college students, and strengthen environmental education. Additionally, she delivered $8.8 million in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding for 28 zero-emission buses in Connecticut. This legislation builds on the efforts of Congresswoman Hayes to ensure students and educators are set up for success when they enter the classroom.\n\nFull text of the legislation can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-blumenthal-beatty-introduce-legislation-address-mold-problems", "Courtney, Blumenthal, Beatty Introduce Legislation to Address Mold Problems at Branford Manor, Improve Housing Safety Nationwide", "2023-09-18", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "NORWICH, CT \u2013 Today, in the wake of ongoing mold problems at Branford Manor Apartments in Groton, CT, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03) introduced bicameral legislation to improve the health, safety, and habitability of our country\u2019s federally-assisted housing.\n\nThe legislation comes after tenants at Branford Manor, a federally-assisted apartment complex in Groton, CT, cited dangerous and unlivable conditions due to mold. Although the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development\u2019s (HUD) new inspection regimen, published this year, has prioritized the potential dangers of mold, more federal action is needed to protect the public from mold and other environmental health hazards.\n\nThe Healthy at Home Act of 2023 would hold bad actors accountable, improve tenant education, provide financial support to building owners working to improve building safety, set standards to prevent and detect safety hazards like mold, and more.\n\n\u201cBranford Manor residents, who have endured unsafe conditions, like mold, in their apartments, have petitioned local, state, and federal officials to reform out of date laws that are woefully inadequate. The fact that Branford Manor passed a recent HUD inspection is a powerful example of how the system is broken and screaming out for change. I applaud the Department of Housing and Urban Development for taking critical steps recently to improve tenants\u2019 health and safety at home, but Congressional action is clearly needed. The Healthy at Home Act of 2023 provides structural changes to prevent unhealthy conditions. The strong support from national housing advocates for this measure validates the efforts of Branford Manor tenants that the system needs to change,\u201d said Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-02).\n\n\u201cThis important initiative\u2014 inspired by Connecticut\u2019s Branford Manor residents\u2014 will help make homes healthier throughout the nation. Our Healthy at Home Act requires strong standards for preventing, detecting and remediating indoor mold so that no one has to endure intolerable and unhealthy living conditions. An enforceable, effective standard is key to tenant health and safety,\u201d said Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).\n\n\u201cThe Healthy at Home Act of 2023 is a bill that prioritizes safety and mitigates risks for tenants who deserve to live healthy and prosperous day to day lives in their homes,\u201d said Congresswoman Beatty (OH-03), a member of the House Financial Services Committee, which has oversight over housing and urban development. \u201cAccess to safe and affordable housing is the hallmark of the American dream that my constituents across Central Ohio and Americans across the United States should be afforded. This legislation offers the accountability and transparency for states to disclose health and safety concerns, as well as improve the overall housing habitability. I\u2019m proud to support this legislation with my colleagues, Congressman Joe Courtney and Senator Richard Blumenthal.\u201d\n\nFor years, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development worked to change the existing inspection protocols and standards through a rulemaking process. On July 15, the Department announced their final inspection standards which, at Congressman Courtney\u2019s urging, classified mold-like substances as a \u201clife threatening deficiency,\u201d which ensures mold is treated like the serious problem it is during inspections.\n\nEven still, the Healthy at Home Act of 2023 is critical to codifying improved standards for residential buildings to protect against mold and protect residents from health and safety risks.\n\nSpecifically, the bill would:\n\nsupport research and standard-setting on mold and mold mitigation;\n\nprovide federal funding to support building owners as they seek to make the changes needed to improve a building\u2019s safety for tenants;\n\ncreate minimum housing stock quality requirements for federally-assisted housing;\n\ncreate an education campaign for tenants and landlords to reduce health risks; and\n\nincentivize states to disclose health and safety concerns in the building to future residents.\n\nThe bill is endorsed by 22 organizations, including the National Housing Law Project, the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, the American Academy of PAs, the American Lung Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National League of Cities, the Change the Air Foundation, the National Low Income Housing Coalition, and the National Center for Healthy Housing.\n\n\u201cThe serious impact of mold and water damage on Americans\u2019 health has been overlooked for too long. Exposure to these unhealthy environments can cause significant physical, emotional, and financial hardship to those living within them. Change the Air Foundation applauds Congressman Courtney and Senator Blumenthal for championing the Healthy at Home Act of 2023, critical indoor air quality legislation that will provide updated research, standard-setting, accountability, financial support, and education for both tenants and building owners. It\u2019s time to put mold on the same playing field as lead, asbestos, and radon and give it the attention it deserves,\u201d said Brandon Chappo, Director of Public Policy, Change the Air Foundation.\n\n\u201cIndoor mold can cause serious respiratory problems for people with mold allergy and allergic asthma,\u201d says Lynda Mitchell, CEO of Allergy & Asthma Network. \u201cMany people are unaware that mold, hidden inside walls or ceilings in their homes, may be the cause of their allergy or asthma symptoms. We are excited to see indoor mold addressed in this important legislation. We support mold education and research in communities and mitigation efforts to reduce mold in homes and apartments, especially those impacted by flooding due to severe weather.\u201d\n\nClick here to read a fact sheet.\n\nClick here to read a section-by-section.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-courtney-applauds-517m-federal-contract-awarded-electric-boat", "Rep. Courtney Applauds $517M Federal Contract Awarded to Electric Boat to Accelerate Repairs of Attack Submarines", "2023-09-18", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "NORWICH, CT \u2013 Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) issued the following statement after the U.S. Navy awarded Electric Boat a $517,248,825 contract to provide unique parts and specialized materials for the Virginia-class submarine program, supporting efforts to improve operational availability of our attack submarine fleet. The award funding was authorized by the FY23 National Defense Authorization Act, which Courtney helped pass as the Committee\u2019s then-Chairman of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee.\n\n\u201cElectric Boat\u2019s new $517 million award from the U.S. Navy, coupled with the company\u2019s record-large workforce, will help turbocharge the Navy\u2019s critical mission to improve the lagging operational availability of existing Virginia-class submarines.\n\n\u201cWith this new funding, EB will help build a surplus of parts and materials required for submarine maintenance, so that our public shipyards have more spare parts readily available even before maintenance is required. Accelerating the turnaround time for submarine repairs is one of the highest needs of the Navy. This award demonstrates that the Navy and Congress are serious about achieving an 80 percent availability rate for the attack submarine fleet. Once again, this award serves as a testament to Electric Boat\u2019s skilled shipbuilders and their track record of delivering excellence not only for production but also submarine repairs and maintenance.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-courtney-and-lalota-introduce-bipartisan-bill-protect-long-island", "Reps. Courtney and LaLota Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Protect the Long Island Sound", "2023-09-18", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "NORWICH, CT - Last week, Reps. Joe Courtney (CT-03) and Nick LaLota (NY-01) , Co-Chairs of the Long Island Sound Caucus, introduced the bipartisan Long Island Sound Stewardship and Restoration Act, which would reauthorize the Long Island Sound Program through 2028 to ensure the protection and preservation of the Sound.\n\nThis is the House companion to legislation introduced by Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).\n\n\u201cThe Long Island Sound is a unique ecological resource for eastern Connecticut and is home to a vast array of economic activities in our region. This legislation reauthorizes the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Long Island Sound Program which will ensure the Sound remains a valuable resource for generations to come,\u201d said Courtney. \u201cLast year our region secured an historic new investment for the Long Island Sound from the federal Infrastructure Law and the FY23 government spending package. Reauthorizing the Long Island Sound Program ensures Congress can continue to invest in the preservation and protection of this special region.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs the Co-Chair of the Long Island Sound Caucus, I am proud to introduce the Long Island Sound Stewardship and Restoration Act. The Long Island Sound is not just a body of water; it's a way of life for our community,\u201d said LaLota. \u201cThis legislation underscores the vital importance of preserving this natural treasure, not only for our environment but for the thriving fishing industry that sustains Long Island's economy. Together, we can ensure the continued health and prosperity of Long Island Sound, a resource that defines our region and sustains our livelihoods.\u201d\n\nCongressman Courtney has worked to conserve and protect waterways and natural heritage areas in eastern Connecticut and the region throughout his career. In 2007, the House voted to pass Courtney\u2019s legislation to secure Wild and Scenic protections for Eightmile River, which is an integral part of the Long Island Sound Watershed. It was the first bill he introduced upon being elected to Congress.\n\nMore recently, Courtney has helped secure new protections and federal funding to help conserve eastern Connecticut\u2019s natural heritage for generations to come. For example, in the 2023 federal budget passed in December 2022, Courtney voted to secure $40 million for the Long Island Sound Geographic Program\u2014an increase of $8 million over the previous year\u2019s funding levels.\n\nIn 2019, President Donald Trump signed into law a public lands package that included the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Wild and Scenic River Act\u2014a bill Courtney helped introduce that designates several waterways within the 300-square mile watershed as part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Courtney\u2019s bill officially made the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed eligible for federal funding through the National Park Service\u2019s (NPS) Wild and Scenic Rivers Program to carry out preservation, conservation, and environmental stewardship activities. The 2023 federal budget also included $5.3 million for NPS\u2019s Wild and Scenic Rivers Program.\n\nTo read the full text of the Long Island Sound Stewardship and Restoration Act, click HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://himes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=7F560A17-FB39-48F2-828D-B01A55FF2A62", "Himes Statement on the Release of Morad Tahbaz from Iranian Detention", "2023-09-18", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "James A. Himes", "H001047", "himes.house.gov", "himes", "https://himes.house.gov/press-releases", "page_html", "Washington, DC \u2014 Today, Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04) issued the following statement regarding the release of Morad Tahbaz, a constituent of Connecticut\u2019s Fourth Congressional District, from wrongful detention in Iran:\n\n\u201cI am overjoyed to hear that, after almost six years of wrongful detention in Iran, Morad Tahbaz can finally return home to Connecticut. Morad is a father, a cancer survivor, and a wildlife conservationist who was unjustly charged while working to protect endangered wildlife in Iran.\n\n\u201cThis news brings tremendous relief for Morad\u2019s children, Roxanne, Tara, and Teymoor, who have been their father\u2019s fiercest advocates, and for his wife Vida who has been barred from leaving Iran until now. After nearly six years of tireless work to secure Morad\u2019s release from Evin prison and the return of both Morad and Vida to the United States, I am delighted that the Tahbaz family will finally be reunited. I remain ready to support the family through their reentry and adjustment into American life.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-03-30T11:08:25Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/connecticut-congressional-delegation-governor-lamont-general-evon", "Connecticut Congressional Delegation, Governor Lamont, General Evon Applaud Air Force Decision to Base New C-130J Aircrafts at Bradley Air National Guard Base", "2023-09-14", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, the Air National Guard and the U.S. Air Force selected Connecticut\u2019s 103rd Airlift Wing based at Bradley Air National Guard Base as one of four units to receive a squadron of eight C-130J aircraft. The new aircraft will replace the unit\u2019s current inventory of C-130H aircraft.\n\nThe decision comes after years of advocacy by the Connecticut Congressional Delegation, Connecticut\u2019s Adjutant General Major, General Evon, and Governor Ned Lamont, as well as over $100 million of Congressional investments over the past decade to improve the infrastructure at Bradley Air National Guard Base. The 32 new aircraft that will be stationed at the four bases were added by Congress in the Fiscal Year 2022 and 2023 budgets.\n\n\u201cAs we mark the 100th anniversary of the establishment of Connecticut\u2019s \u2018Flying Yankees,\u2019 the Air Force\u2019s basing decision announced today ensures an enduring future for Connecticut\u2019s air guard. C-130J\u2019s are the state-of-the-art global platforms for airlift, working hard all over the U.S. and in the Indo Pacific and European theaters\u201d Rep. Joe Courtney said. \u201cAs Ranking Member of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee with oversight over Air Force and Air National Guard airlift programs, including the C-130J basing process, I, along with my Connecticut colleagues, personally raised the issue with Air Force leadership including Secretary Kendall and advocated on behalf of our National Guard personnel in Connecticut for the Air National Guard to select Bradley as a basing location for these new aircraft. Today\u2019s decision is a result of that advocacy and steady, persistent work to upgrade the base infrastructure that General Evon, his predecessor, Thad Martin, and their talented team have executed over the last decade. This is a proud day for our state.\u201d\n\nThe recapitalization of our tactical airlift fleet ensures that Connecticut\u2019s Flying Yankees have an essential flying mission well into the future, provides job security for our airmen, and secures the unit\u2019s viability for future generations,\u201d said Maj. Gen. Francis J. Evon, adjutant general of the Connecticut National Guard. \u201cWe applaud the tireless efforts of Connecticut\u2019s congressional delegation in advocating on behalf of the Connecticut Air National Guard. The 103rd Airlift Wing proactively modernized Bradley Air National Guard Base over the last 10 years to be ready to accept these aircraft as soon as they are available. This decision is a testament to the hard work and unparalleled performance of the Flying Yankees, who just celebrated their centennial, and sets them up for success in their next 100 years.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis announcement is big news for Connecticut and for Connecticut\u2019s Flying Yankees. This decision reflects the confidence that the Air National Guard and the U.S. Air Force have in the Flying Yankees and the airmen and airwomen of the 103rd Airlift Wing. It is fitting that Connecticut, a leading aerospace state, will now have the most modern platform for this critical flying Guard Base mission. On behalf of the State of Connecticut, I express my gratitude to the Biden administration, Defense Secretary Austin, Air Force Secretary Kendall, and Air National Guard Director Lt. General Loh for selecting the Connecticut National Guard to receive these aircraft. I also commend Major General Evon on his leadership and ongoing efforts to enhance the abilities of the Connecticut National Guard,\u201d said Governor Lamont.\n\n\u201cThis fantastic news for Connecticut is a testament to the world class Bradley Air National Guard Base. This top notch facility, which is a national model for other Air National Guard Bases, will be a perfect home for the C-130J. With this recognition, Connecticut continues its proud history of supporting our military as it executes crucial missions and ensures our national security,\u201d said Senator Richard Blumenthal.\n\n\u201cThis is huge news for the CT Air National Guard and the future of the Flying Yankees. Connecticut has spent years investing in Bradley Air National Guard Base to ensure its position as the best candidate for C-130J basing, and today\u2019s decision is proof that the hard work of our delegation, General Evon, and Governor Lamont paid off. As a member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, I was proud to fight for the funding for these new planes and look forward to their arrival,\u201dsaid Senator Chris Murphy.\n\n\u201cAfter more than a decade of preparation, including millions in federal funding we secured in Congress to expand operations and improve the hangar at the Bradley Air National Guard Base, the nationally recognized 103rd Airlift Wing is well-positioned to base new C-130J aircraft,\u201d said Rep. John B. Larson. \u201cToday\u2019s announcement will ensure the Connecticut Air National Guard has the equipment they need to continue their critical mission, which has included hurricane relief efforts, support during presidential visits, and joint NATO exercises. I applaud Rep. Courtney for his tireless advocacy on this issue, leading the entire Congressional delegation in our efforts to urge the Air Force to support Connecticut service members by making this decision.\u201d\n\n\u201cI applaud the Air Force\u2019s decision in selecting Bradley Air National Guard Base as the home for the C-130J,\u201d said Rep. Rosa DeLauro. \u201cConnecticut\u2019s workforce is well equipped to deliver on maintaining and staging this aircraft which, in turn provides economic impacts that cascade throughout the entire state economy. As the Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, I know how important the Air Force\u2019s efforts are and they have my absolute support. I will always fight to ensure our military aircraft are well-equipped and best positioned to respond to threats to our national security while safeguarding the well-being of the men and women who serve in the US Air Force.\"\n\n\u201cThe Airmen of the 103rd Airlift Wing deserve the most advanced aircraft offered, and I am pleased that the Bradley Air National Guard Base in Connecticut has been selected as a preferred location for C-130Js. This upgrade will allow the CT Air National Guard to continue humanitarian missions, disaster relief, deployments, and joint exercises with our NATO allies,\u201d said Rep. Jim Himes.\n\n\u201cThe Connecticut Air National Guard continues to be a leader in support missions for Connecticut, New England, and the country. I thank the Air Force for selecting Bradley Air National Guard Base as a preferred location to base new C-130J aircraft. This selection recognizes the hard work of men and women of the 103rd Airlift Wing, also known as the \u2018Flying Yankees,\u2019\u201d said Rep. Jahana Hayes.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-gallagher-celebrate-two-year-anniversary-aukus-mission", "Courtney, Gallagher Celebrate Two Year Anniversary of AUKUS Mission", "2023-09-14", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) and Congressman Mike Gallagher, Co-Chairs of the AUKUS Working Group and Friends of Australia Caucus, issued the following joint statement to mark the two-year anniversary of the trilateral security agreement between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.\n\n\u201cThis week marks two years since the historic announcement of the trilateral AUKUS security agreement and a path to ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific. Since September of 2021, bipartisan lawmakers in Congress and the Administration have worked together to fulfil the AUKUS mission through record investments in the submarine industrial base, legislation to clear legal roadblocks, development of next-generation technologies, and ongoing engagements with our partners and allies.\n\n\u201cThese efforts are already paying dividends. Shipyards and submarine suppliers across the nation are aggressively hiring and working to meet demand; the first wave of Australian sailors graduated from Nuclear Power School in South Carolina, thanks to our enabling legislation; and our Australian and British counterparts are making strategic investments in support of the unbreakable alliance to strengthen maritime security in the Indo-Pacific.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is time to turbocharge AUKUS to achieve near-term deterrence effects. While we have seen great progress, we have significant work ahead to deliver on AUKUS goals by the \u2018earliest possible date\u2019 edict, namely passing and sending Pilar 1 and Pillar 2 enabling legislation to the President\u2019s desk--and adequately resourcing what enables AUKUS\u2019s success. Together, we will continue working expeditiously with our colleagues and partners to achieve that goal, and ensure both our Navy and the AUKUS mission are prepared to deter the security challenges in the Indo-Pacific.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=CD583622-9A29-46BB-9B9A-97D0203AFF26", "Hayes, Grijalva, Booker Introduce Bicameral Legislation to Strengthen Environment Education and Sustainability Literacy In Schools", "2023-09-14", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Jahana Hayes", "H001081", "hayes.house.gov", "hayes", "https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 This week, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Congressman Ra\u00fal Grijalva (AZ-07) and Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.), introduced the bicameral Green Ribbon Act, legislation to promote environmental education, health and wellness, and sustainability literacy in schools across the United States. The legislation would build upon the ED-Green Ribbon Schools Program, which was established in 2011 by the U.S. Department of Education.\n\nThe U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) is a public engagement initiative for school sustainability structured as a federal recognition award. ED-GRS celebrates these schools, districts, postsecondary institutions, and early learning centers\u2019 cost-saving, health-promoting, and performance-enhancing sustainability practices by bringing more attention to their work. Since its inception, the program recognized schools excelling in environmental leadership, health and wellness, and sustainability literacy. With over 700 schools awarded, including more than 40% from resource-constrained areas, the program incentivizes the adoption of environmentally friendly practices within the national education system.\n\n\u201cMaking long-term investments in building a cleaner, healthier future now is more critical than ever. Since 2013, 20 Connecticut schools have been recognized as Green Ribbon Schools for their leadership in green practices and initiatives. So many schools in our communities are dedicated to implementing and maintaining school sustainability efforts,\u201d said Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05). \u201cExpanding the Green Ribbon Schools program through the Green Ribbon Act would encourage more students, faculty and administrators to begin to incorporate sustainable practices in schools, especially those in underserved communities.\u201d\n\n\"We must ensure schools are better able to adopt environmentally friendly practices which will help foster a healthier learning environment for our children,\" said Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ). \"This bicameral legislation will expand on the successes of the ED-Green Ribbon Schools Program so more schools, especially those from underserved communities, can provide all students with access to facilities that promote a better environment for health and learning. By recognizing the vital role of sustainability practices and incentivizing schools to adopt environmentally friendly standards, we can help create a greener future for all.\"\n\n\u201cThe Green Ribbon Award currently serves as a popular public engagement initiative for school sustainability and helps to curb climate impacts, however, it\u2019s critical we open this program to additional participants,\u201d said Congressman Ra\u00fal Grijalva (AZ-07). \u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to co-lead the Green Ribbon Act which will extend the current program to other learning institutions like museums and zoos as well as strengthen the pipeline of participation. Together, we can work to improve conservation efforts, support health and wellness and encourage environmental and sustainability literacy at institutions across the country.\u201d\n\nThe Green Ribbon Act includes three major components, supported by $10 million in funding, to enhance the impact of this vital program:\n\nState Grant Program: This would provide grants to state departments of education, empowering them to increase their capacity to engage eligible entities in the pursuit of becoming green school. Further, it ensures that not less than 40% of funds are dedicated to supporting under-resourced schools, ensuring that all communities have an opportunity to participate in this initiative.\n\nExtends Grants to Nonformal Learning Institutions: Extend the program to include awards for nonformal learning institutions (museums, libraries, zoos and aquaria, etc.), with the award program managed by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Experts estimate that more than 70% of all learning takes place in these nonformal learning settings, underscoring the importance of their inclusion in this program.\n\nGreen Ribbon School Award Program: This would allocate funding to the U.S. Department of Education to provide small, $10,000 honorariums to each winning entity, enabling them to travel to accept the award and/or for use on green school programming. Additionally, funding will support schools operated or funded by the Bureau of Indian Education.\n\nOffice of School Infrastructure and Sustainability: This would establish an office within the U.S. Department of Education, tasked with providing in-house facilities and sustainability expertise across the department's activities. This office will play a pivotal role in the execution of the Green Ribbon Schools program, further elevating its impact.\n\n\u201cFor the past 12 years, schools, districts, and universities have committed time and effort to pursuing the Green Ribbon Schools designation by reducing environmental impact, increasing health and wellness, and teaching their students about sustainability,\u201d said Anisa Heming, Director of the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council. \u201cThe Green Ribbon Act recognizes their outstanding efforts and gives this valuable program the resources it needs to expand and succeed.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs students grow up in a changing world and climate, we want them to think critically and give them access to as much knowledge as possible, including exposing them to ideas and skills about climate policy, which impacts and interests them. Public schools are perfectly positioned to provide intentional, experiential learning to help students understand the realities of climate change and engage them in solutions. The Green Ribbon Schools Act will help strengthen public schools\u2019 and educators\u2019 ability to do just that: provide students with the hands-on experience they need for a future career, college or life in a world grappling with climate change. This bill will expand the successful Green Ribbon program to increase access and provide needed funding to support schools as they engage students through problem-solving, critical-thinking, teamwork and learning by doing so that they\u2019re directly involved in the process of creating sustainable and healthier schools,\u201d said Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers.\n\n\u201cAs extreme weather events continue impacting communities across the nation and our students demand leaders take actions to address climate change, the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools program helps promote sustainability, STEM education, health and wellness, and reduction in environmental impacts across schools and school buildings. Thanks to these efforts, students are being prepared with the skills needed to take part in the green jobs revolution and to build stronger, sustainable economies and more active, engaged, and healthy communities. Over the last several years, the National Education Association (NEA) has been proud of many of our members\u2019 schools that were named Green Ribbon Schools award winners, as educators and students have worked together to make their schools and communities more resilient. That is why NEA applauds Rep. Jahana Hayes and Rep. Rau\u00b4l M. Grijalva on introducing the Green Ribbon Act, which will allow the Department of Education to continue and expand this important work,\u201d said National Education Association President Becky Pringle.\n\n\u201cIn an era of climate misinformation, Green Ribbon schools are doing the crucial work of advancing climate literacy and building the future generation of young conservationists and climate champions,\u201d said Abby Tinsley, Vice President for Conservation Policy at the National Wildlife Federation. \u201cWe are grateful for Congresswoman Hayes\u2019 leadership in expanding the reach of the program so that more young people can benefit from sustainable, healthy schools with expanded environmental learning opportunities.\u201d\n\nThe legislation is endorsed by the following organizations: American Federation of Teachers, Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council, Campaign for Environmental Literacy, National Education Association, National Wildlife Federation, Action for the Climate Emergency, American Alliance of Museums, American Association for State and Local History, American Institute of Architects, American Public Gardens Association, Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, Association of African American Museums, Association of Science and Technology Centers, Association of Science Museum Directors, Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Captain Planet Foundation, EcoRise, Go Green Initiative, Green Schools National Network, Green Schoolyards America, Hip Hop Caucus, International WELL Building Institute, National Center for Science Education, National Indian Education Association, National Science Teaching Association, New Buildings Institute, North American Association for Environmental Education, Parliament of the World's Religions, SEI (Strategic Energy Innovations), State Education and Environment Roundtable, Sunrise Movement, Sustainable Forestry Initiative/Project Learning Tree, 21st Century School Fund, The Cloud Institute for Sustainability Education, The Wild Center, UndauntedK12, US Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development, Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, Alliance for New Jersey Environmental Education, Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education, Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation, Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education, Connecticut Green LEAF, Connecticut Outdoor & Environmental Education Association, Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education, Massachusetts Environmental Education Society, New Hampshire Environmental Educators, Pacific Education Institute, Portland State University Digital City Testbed Center, Rhode Island Environmental Education Association, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, Ten Strands, and White Mountain Nature and Wildlife Center and Connecticut Education Association (CEA).\n\nThe full text of the bill can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://himes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=523D410D-E126-41B5-B3DB-6ED65CCFF949", "Himes Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Americans from Foreign Spyware Attacks", "2023-09-14", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "James A. Himes", "H001047", "himes.house.gov", "himes", "https://himes.house.gov/press-releases", "page_html", "Washington, DC \u2014 Today, Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04), along with Congressmen Mike Turner (OH-10), Chris Stewart (UT-02), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), and Rick Crawford (AR-01), introduced the Protecting Americans from Foreign Commercial Spyware Act. This bipartisan legislation would amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to restrict assistance to central governments credibly believed to have used foreign commercial spyware to target U.S. persons.\n\n\u201cThe United States must take a firm stand against the targeting of our citizens by spyware,\u201d said Congressman Jim Himes. \u201cThis legislation sends a clear signal to our foreign governments that this type of invasive behavior will not be tolerated and will come at the cost of our economic support. I have long advocated for broader international guardrails around commercial spyware and am glad to bring this bill to the Floor with strong bipartisan support.\u201d\n\n\u201cNow more than ever, the American people need to be shielded from bad actors seeking to access their personal information. Our bipartisan legislation will safeguard U.S. national security and protect individuals\u2019 data from foreign and commercial spyware,\u201d said Congressman Mike Turner.\n\nCongressman Himes is Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. He previously led a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo urging them to take critical steps to address the growing national security threat to U.S. citizens and residents posed by foreign commercial spyware.\n\nYou can read the full text here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-03-30T11:08:25Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-clark-murray-sanders-colleagues-introduce-bill-extend-vital", "DELAURO, CLARK, MURRAY, SANDERS, COLLEAGUES INTRODUCE BILL TO EXTEND VITAL CHILD CARE FUNDING AND SAVE MILLIONS OF FAMILIES' CHILD CARE SPOTS AS FUNDING CLIFF LOOMS", "2023-09-13", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Democrats saved the childcare sector from collapse during the pandemic with vital stabilization funding\u2014which helped 220,000 providers stay afloat and serve as many as 10 million kids\u2014but with funding set to expire September 30, the childcare sector may once again be pushed to the brink, with potentially dire consequences for families and our economy\n\nThe Child Care Stabilization Act would extend vital stabilization funding to prevent a potential crisis for families and our economy by ensuring childcare providers can continue serving families across the country\n\nToday, Representative Rosa DeLauro (CT-3), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5), Representative Bobby Scott (VA-3), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, and Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-1), Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ-11), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), and Jamaal Bowman, Ed.D. (NY-16) along with Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, introduced the Child Care Stabilization Act to extend vital federal child care stabilization funding\u2014which is set to expire at the end of this month\u2014and ensure that child care providers can keep their doors open and continue serving children and families in every part of the country.\n\nWhen the pandemic pushed the already-fragile child care sector to the brink of collapse, Democrats in Congress responded by delivering historic federal investments to save the sector from collapse and prevent families from losing their child care spots\u2014including $24 billion in child care stabilization funding. The funding has made an enormous difference for families across the country\u2014keeping 220,000 child care providers afloat over the last few years and saving child care slots for up to 10 million kids nationwide\u2014but it is set to run out on September 30, 2023, threatening to once again push the sector to the brink, with dire consequences for families and our nation\u2019s economy.\n\nThe Child Care Stabilization Act would prevent a potential crisis when funding expires at the end of the month by providing $16 billion in mandatory funding each year for the next five years to continue the successful Child Care Stabilization Grant program. This investment would ensure child care providers continue to receive a stable and reliable source of funding to help them deliver high-quality and affordable child care for working families across the country.\n\n\u201cWhen parents go to work, they need affordable and reliable child care,\u201d said Ranking Member DeLauro. \u201cAs the Top Democrat on the Labor Health and Human Services Subcommittee on Appropriations, I understand this intimately and have worked hard to increase the annual appropriation to the Child Care and Development Block Grant by more than 52 percent over the last 4 years. We must work to safeguard and strengthen these investments so families can thrive. That is why I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing the Child Care Stabilization Act, legislation that will extend grants to help support the child care industry and ensure that children and families have access to the child care they need.\u201d\n\n\u201cDuring the pandemic, Democrats answered the call of parents and providers and invested $39 billion into our child care system. This historic relief funding allowed parents to return to work, businesses to survive, and our economy to recover,\u201d said Democratic Whip Clark. \u201cWe can\u2019t turn back now. Child care is economic infrastructure\u2014it is critical to growing the economy by growing the middle class. We must urgently enact the Child Care Stabilization Act to protect the financial security of families and workers and maintain our progress in the fight for affordable, high-quality care for all.\u201d\n\n\u201cThere was a child care crisis even before the pandemic\u2014and failing to extend these critical investments from the American Rescue Plan will push child care even further out of reach for millions of families and jeopardize our strong economic recovery,\u201d said Senator Murray. \u201cThis is an urgent economic priority at every level: child care is what allows parents to go to work, businesses to hire workers, and it\u2019s an investment in our kids\u2019 futures. The child care industry holds up every sector of our economy\u2014and Congress must act now.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe have a child care crisis in America that we have got to address. If Congress does not act soon, over 3 million kids are in danger of losing their child care slots, over 230,000 child care workers could lose their jobs, and child care facilities all over our country could be forced to close their doors,\u201d said Senator Sanders. \u201cThat would be unacceptable. In the richest country in the history of the world, we can and we must make sure that every kid in America has access to high quality, affordable child care. If we can afford to spend over $1 trillion on tax breaks for the top one percent and large corporations making record-breaking profits, we can afford to provide working class families with the child care they desperately need. This legislation is needed now more than ever.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s families are facing a child care crisis \u2013 and is imperative that we step up to stop it. Ensuring access to affordable and accessible child care is essential; as our economy strengthens under President Biden, we need to continue to ensure all Americans \u2013 especially women \u2013 can access the workforce, a critical aspect of which is reliable access to dependable child care,\u201d said Leader Schumer. \u201cThe Child Care Stabilization Act will avert the nightmare scenario too many American families stay up at night worrying about by providing mandatory funding to support high-quality childcare. As Majority Leader, I will always fight for America\u2019s children and families.\u201d\n\n\u201cToo many families are struggling to find reliable, affordable child care or preschool and feel like they\u2019re on their own. The child care crisis predated the pandemic, but the funding provided in the American Rescue Plan kept centers afloat during their darkest hours,\u201d said Senator Casey. \u201cWithout new investments, parents will have a harder time finding care, which in turn impacts businesses and local economies. It\u2019s time for the government to step up and set up our kids and families for success by making a meaningful investment in child care and the child care workforce.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe lack of affordable child care in America is holding our families, workers, and economy back,\u201d said Senator Kaine. \u201cParents are locked out of the workforce because they can\u2019t find care for their kids. Workers who are passionate about child care are being squeezed out of their field because they can\u2019t pay their bills. If we let critical child care stabilization funding expire, things are only going to get worse. Millions of families who will otherwise lose their child care are depending on Congress passing this legislation to extend these urgently-needed funds.\u201d\n\n\u201cAcross the country, affordable child care is out of reach for too many families, stopping parents from getting back to work, hurting our economy, and preventing kids from getting the strong start they deserve,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cI was proud to help address this crisis and expand access to child care with the American Rescue Plan, delivering long-overdue relief for providers and middle-class families. But now, that progress is on the line. We must pass this legislation to lower costs for working families, help Wisconsin businesses meet the demand for workers, and grow our economy.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress provided critical funding to save the child care sector from collapse and ensure access to affordable child care for working families. This essential relief was a powerful reminder that, when we invest in affordable child care, we improve the strength and future of children, workers, and our economy,\u201d said Ranking Member Scott. \u201cRegrettably, the lack of affordable child care often forces Americans to choose between their careers and caring for their children. The most recent poverty data from the Census Bureau underscore the importance of continuing policies that help families make ends meet. Now is not the time for Congress to abandon the federal investments that kept child care centers afloat and helped families find affordable care. We must pass the Child Care Stabilization Act and provide sustained funding that will support child care workers, expand access to high-quality learning, and empower parents to pursue rewarding careers.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs the federal child care funding cliff quickly approaches, the Child Care Stabilization Act will protect economic security for New Jersey parents and help keep the doors open for more than 1,000 child care centers across the Garden State,\u201d said Representative Sherrill. \u201cWe know that child care isn\u2019t just a women\u2019s issue \u2014 it\u2019s an economic issue for families and businesses alike. As a mother of four school-age children, I know firsthand many of the challenges parents navigate when searching for affordable child care, and I\u2019m going to continue fighting for them to bring costs down and keep doors open across New Jersey.\u201d\n\n\u201cAsk any parent in America, and they'll tell you that the cost of child care is expensive and out of reach for too many families, disproportionately burdening women who often bear the primary responsibility for childcare. I founded the first-ever Congressional Dads Caucus to do our part to bring fathers' voices to the fight for legislation that uplifts working families\u2014and affordable, accessible, and high-quality child care is an essential part of our agenda,\u201d said Representative Gomez. \u201cOur bill would prevent looming child care funding cliffs that could cause 3.2 million children to lose child care and jeopardize the jobs of 232,000 child care workers. For families' economic success and stability, and for our nation's economy as a whole, we call on House Republicans to join us in extending this funding and making child care affordable for every parent.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis is an emergency,\u201d said Representative Bonamici. \u201cChild care stabilization grants have been essential for child care providers and the families they serve, and without the grants hundreds of providers will likely close and millions of children could lose their child care slots. This funding demonstrated that federal investment can increase access to quality, affordable child care. We cannot let this funding expire. I\u2019m helping to lead the Child Care Stabilization Act to extend these grants because it\u2019s a good investment for children, families, and the economy.\u201d\n\n\u201cHouse Republicans\u2019 silence and inaction on the impending child care cliff is deafening. In San Diego, it\u2019s already incredibly hard to find and afford child care, but allowing this crucial funding to expire would worsen the already-dire crisis and hurt women the most,\u201d said Representative Jacobs. \u201cIt would force caregivers to leave the workforce and child care providers to close their doors, stifling the economic progress that we\u2019ve made since the pandemic. That\u2019s why we need to immediately pass the Child Care Stabilization Act to protect these jobs, this essential care, and our economic recovery. This is so much bigger than politics and I hope our Republican colleagues will join us in immediately passing our bill and extending this emergency child care support.\u201d\n\n\u201cThanks to the American Rescue Plan we were able to save thousands of child care programs and maintain the support and access that they offered for families, but those programs are at risk yet again,\u201d said Representative Bowman. \u201cWe know how critical child care is for supporting our kids\u2019 cognitive development and unlocking their brilliance over the long-term, as well as for strengthening whole families and communities. As we continue to recover from the pandemic and build an America that works for all people, we must prioritize the programs that millions rely on so that our kids, families, and economy can thrive. That means maintaining and expanding our investments in child care so that we are not faced with a social and economic disaster caused by leaving 3 million kids without care. I\u2019m proud to join Whip Clark in protecting American families by introducing the Child Care Stabilization Act. With this legislation, we can continue to grow the child care sector and prevent a crisis for families and care workers alike.\u201d\n\nUnless action is taken to extend funding for the child care sector, families, providers, and our entire economy will feel the consequences\u2014with fewer families able to find and afford the child care they need to go to work and thrive. A report released by Senators Sanders and Murray in May details how, when stabilization funding expires at the end of the month, child care programs may have to serve fewer children or be forced to raise tuition for families or cut wages for child care workers, who are already paid poverty-level wages.\n\nA separate analysis from The Century Foundation finds that if Congress does not provide additional funding for the nation\u2019s child care sector, more than 70,000 child care programs\u2014one-third of those supported by stabilization funding\u2014could close, causing approximately 3.2 million children to lose their child care spots and jeopardizing jobs for 232,000 child care workers. The loss in tax and business revenue could cost states $10.6 billion in economic activity per year. Additionally, millions of parents will likely leave the workforce or reduce their hours, which could cost families an estimated $9 billion each year in lost earnings.\n\n35 Senators are original cosponsors of the legislation, including: Senators Murray, Sanders, Schumer, Baldwin, Blumenthal, Booker, Brown, Cardin, Casey, Cortez Masto, Duckworth, Durbin, Fetterman, Gillibrand, Heinrich, Hirono, Kaine, King, Klobuchar, Luj\u00e1n, Markey, Menendez, Merkley, Murphy, Padilla, Reed, Shaheen, Smith, Stabenow, Van Hollen, Warnock, Warren, Welch, Whitehouse, and Wyden.\n\n78 Representatives are original cosponsors of the legislation, including: Representatives Katherine Clark, Rosa DeLauro, Bobby Scott, Suzanne Bonamici, Jamaal Bowman, Jimmy Gomez, Sara Jacobs, Mikie Sherrill, Alma Adams, Becca Balint, Nanette Diaz Barrag\u00e1n, Shontel Brown, Julia Brownley, Nikki Budzinski, Cori Bush, Yadira Caraveo, Salud Carbajal, Troy Carter, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Yvette Clarke, Gerald Connolly, Angie Craig, Jasmine Crockett, Henry Cuellar, Danny Davis, Donald Davis, Veronica Escobar, Lois Frankel, Josh Gottheimer, Ra\u00fal Grijalva, Jahana Hayes, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Sheila Jackson Lee, Pramila Jayapal, Andy Kim, Annie Kuster, Greg Landsman, Barbara Lee, Zoe Lofgren, Stephen Lynch, Seth Magaziner, Kathy Manning, Lucy McBath, Jennifer McClellan, Betty McCollum, Morgan McGarvey, Rob Menendez, Gwen Moore, Jared Moskowitz, Kevin Mullin, Jerrold Nadler, Richard Neal, Donald Norcross, Scott Peters, Brittany Pettersen, Chellie Pingree, Mark Pocan, Katie Porter, Ayanna Pressley, Jamie Raskin, Deborah Ross, Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, Andrea Salinas, John Sarbanes, Mary Gay Scanlon, Jan Schakowsky, Adam Schiff, Terri Sewell, Mark Takano, Rashida Tlaib, Jill Tokuda, Paul Tonko, Lori Trahan, David Trone, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Jennifer Wexton, Susan Wild, and Nikema Williams.\n\nThe Child Care Stabilization Act is endorsed by: National Women\u2019s Law Center (NWLC), Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), ZERO TO THREE, National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), Children\u2019s Defense Fund, Save the Children, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), National Association for Family Child Care, Child Care for Every Family Network, Family Values at Work, Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy, MomsRising/MamasConPoder, Oxfam America, All Our Kin, Community Change Action, Prevent Child Abuse America, American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO, Small Business Majority, First Focus Campaign for Children, Parents Together Action, Prevent Child Abuse America, United Parent Leaders Action Network (UPLAN), YWCA-USA.\n\n\u201cThe entire country depends on child care. The clock is ticking. Congress must act before stabilization grants expire on September 30,\u201d said Lorella Praeli, Co-President at Community Change Action. \u201cThe situation will worsen when another round of ARPA funds for child care expire in 2024. If Congress doesn't act now, child care slots will disappear, child care providers and parents will be at risk for losing their jobs, and there will be more instability in every facet of our lives. As always women, especially women of color, and our kids will be hit the hardest. Our families, youngest kids, and the childcare workforce need a lifeboat. These grants saved nearly 10 million child care slots and protected more than 1 million child care jobs. The choice to pass the Childcare Stabilization Act should be easy.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe initial childcare stabilization funds were a lifeline for entrepreneurs working to keep their doors open during the pandemic,\u201d said John Arensmeyer, Founder & CEO, Small Business Majority. \u201cThese funds proved critical for small business childcare providers, as well as small employers struggling to maintain their workforce. Allowing these childcare investments to expire will disrupt the entire small business community, disproportionately impacting under-resourced and rural small businesses. We proudly support the Child Care Stabilization Act, which will allocate the funding needed to stave off the looming childcare crisis while supporting working parents and small business owners alike.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur nation\u2019s child care system is on the verge of collapse and after years of underinvestment, and the stress of the pandemic, millions of working families will be left with few or no options for quality child care. This is not a situation where we can or should simply accept that fate,\u201d said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. \u201cWorking people need solutions and lawmakers must come together immediately to take action and pass the Child Care Stabilization Act now.\u201d\n\n\u201cSEIU members are proud to stand with Senator Murray and Senator Sanders who are listening to early childhood educators and families across the country,\u201d said SEIU International President Mary Kay Henry. \u201cThe Child Care Stabilization Act can help our country avert the worst of disasters looming over working families by ensuring that children and those caring for them have the child care they need and can avoid disruptions to their lives. This bill also helps ensure childcare workers can continue to use their power to push states to raise standards for the workforce and quality of care.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe are grateful to Sens. Murray and Sanders and Rep. Clark and their colleagues for introducing the Child Care Stabilization Act, a bill that tackles head-on the challenges facing our nation\u2019s child care system,\u201d said Bruce Lesley, President, First Focus Campaign for Children. \u201cThis bill would provide a solid foundation for high-quality, affordable and accessible child care \u2014 the kind of system that supports children, families and child care professionals. The kind of system we all want \u2014 and know we can have, if Congress makes the good choices that support the best interests of children.\u201d\n\n\u201cInvestments in the child care sector during COVID led states to make critical improvements in child care affordability, access, and support to providers. But that progress is at risk unless Congress provides additional funding,\u201d said Indivar Dutta-Gupta, President and Executive Director at the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP). \u201cWithout added resources, we will further exacerbate long-standing inequities in the child care system and compromise positive improvements. We welcome the Child Care Stabilization Act as an essential solution that would prevent working families from losing access to care and allow states to continue building toward a system that really works for children, families, and providers\u2014and the economy as a whole.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Child Care Stabilization Act would help families across the country escape some of the most devastating impacts of the child care cliff and extend a lifeline to parents and providers,\u201d said Julie Kashen, Director of Women\u2019s Economic Justice and Senior Fellow at the Century Foundation. \u201cWe know how important it is for children and families, not to mention our economy, to have reliable, affordable child care in every community\u2014and to pay the people who do that vital work a living wage because without them, there is no child care system. I am grateful for Senator Murray, Chairman Sanders, Leader Schumer, Representatives Clark and DeLauro for their leadership on this bill and their partnership in fighting for federal child care investments that our children and their families need to thrive.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Child Care Stabilization Act is direly needed by families all over the country, to protect the child care of three million children and keep 70,000 child care providers open,\u201d said Nicole Jorwic, Chief of Campaigns and Advocacy at Caring Across Generations. \u201cWe deserve to live in a country where children and caregivers have community, support, and fully funded solutions for all their care needs. Supporting the Child Care Stabilization Act and investing in a better child care system will help millions access the care they deserve, provide good child care jobs, contribute to family stability and financial security, and benefit the economy.\u201d\n\n\u201cEarly educators, including those caring for children in home-based settings, are facing a crippling loss of funding at the end of this month of September. The Child Care Stabilization Act would provide much-needed resources to prevent millions of families from losing access to child care and thousands of programs from being forced to close their doors,\u201d said Erica Phillips, Executive Director of the National Association for Family Child Care. \u201cThe National Association for Family Child Care is grateful to Senators Patty Murray and Bernie Sanders as well as Representatives Katherine Clark and Rosa Delauro for their unwavering support and especially leading this legislation that would make critical investments in our nation\u2019s child care system and prevent a crisis.\u201d\n\n\u201cLast fall, more than 12,000 early educators and providers shared with NAEYC the widespread and critical impact that child care stabilization funding had in sustaining their programs and supporting their staff, as well as their anxieties about what would happen to their programs and the families they serve when that funding ran out. With stabilization funding officially expiring at the end of this month, and with many programs having already received their last round of support, we are already seeing their fears play out in real time\u2014early educators are leaving to find other jobs as wages stagnate, programs are closing their doors for good, and families are facing increased challenges in accessing affordable, high-quality care,\u201d said Michelle Kang, NAEYC Chief Executive Officer. \u201cThe Child Care Stabilization Act addresses these concerns head-on by extending funding for a program that we already know has worked to keep high-quality early educators open and equipped to serve young children and their families in communities across the country. We thank Senators Murray and Sanders, and Representatives Clark, DeLauro, Scott, Bonamici, Bowman, Gomez, Jacobs, and Sherrill for their leadership in introducing this critically needed legislation, and we look forward to working with them and all Members of Congress who care about the needs of young children and their families to ensure early educators have the supports they need to help families and communities thrive.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe $52 billion in pandemic-era federal supplemental funding helped hundreds of thousands of child care educators, including family child care educators and small business owners, keep their doors open and serve working families with high-quality, flexible care in recent years,\u201d said Jessica Sager, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of All Our Kin. \u201cIf these resources are allowed to expire without any sort of remedy, millions of children and their families around the country will lose access to care, as many of these small businesses will be forced to close. The Child Care Stabilization Act would ensure families, especially those from low-income backgrounds, have access to care for their families, and therefore the ability to stay in the workforce. Our leaders must step up and ensure children and families have access to the crucial high-quality early education opportunities that are key to their development and empower them for success later in life.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmerican families are already feeling the pinch of rising costs. Unfortunately, when federal funding for child care runs out this month, parents are going to be forced to pay more or cut back at work, hurting families and our economy,\u201d said Sondra Goldschein, Executive Director of the Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy. \u201cThe Child Care Stabilization Act would stave off the worst impacts of the child care funding cliff and make sure working families have the tools and opportunities they need to build a good life. We\u2019re thankful to those who have championed this critical legislation and urge Congress to send it to the president\u2019s desk.\u201d\n\n\u201cNow is not the time to play politics with our children\u2019s futures. When the COVID childcare stabilization funds expire, this nation will go over a childcare cliff that will see 3.2 million children lose their child care and 70,000 child care centers closed,\u201d said Josephine Kalipeni, Executive Director of Family Values @ Work. \u201cWe are at a pivotal moment in this nation\u2019s history. Will Congress make permanent investments in child care to show working families they value them and their contributions? Or will they refuse to act, displaying a cowardice that will cost children, their families, and the economy? Care work is everyone\u2019s work. We demand that all of our legislators promote care in policy and practice; that they demonstrate the power of care by prioritizing the needs of children and working families. The Child Care Stabilization Act is a strong first step to prevent the childcare cliff, but we also need the creation of a stronger social support network that ensures that all of the resources needed to take time to care\u2013\u2013including paid leave with job security and progressive wage replacement, and affordable childcare\u2013are available to all. We call on all political leaders to take action. This is an issue that impacts all families\u2013no matter how they vote, where they work, or where they live.\u201d\n\n\u201cYWCAs around the country can attest to the disastrous consequences child care providers and the families they care for will face if Congress fails to invest the resources needed to avert the child care cliff and stabilize funding for this essential sector of our economy and our communities,\u201d said Margaret Mitchell, CEO of YWCA USA. \u201cChild care providers are the backbone of our economy, and it is time we recognize their value by swiftly passing the Child Care Stabilization Act.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Child Care Stabilization Act will ensure that the most vulnerable families across the country can continue to access critical child care services, without interruption,\u201d said Javier Mart\u00ednez, Managing Director of National Policy, Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors. \u201cThe risk of more than 3 million families losing child care overnight will reverberate throughout the economy and result in unspeakable hardship to American families, far and wide.\u201d\n\n\u201cAccess to high-quality childcare is a significant stressor for parents of young children across our country,\u201d said Melissa Merrick, President and CEO of Prevent Child Abuse America. \u201cThis is especially true for families with less access to resources. The Child Care Stabilization Act will ensure that childcare is available to more parents so they can stay employed without the worry of their children being nurtured and cared for.\u201d\n\nA one-pager on the Child Care Stabilization Act is available HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-new-child-poverty-data-us-census-bureau", "DeLauro Statement on New Child Poverty Data from US Census Bureau", "2023-09-12", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) released a statement in response to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau that shows failure to extend the expanded, monthly Child Tax Credit contributed to the childhood poverty rate increasing by nearly 140% in a single year \u2013 the largest increase on record.\n\n\u201cThere has been no modern policy that has been as successful as the expanded, monthly Child Tax Credit. Millions of children were lifted out of poverty, hunger was cut by 26 percent, and families were provided with unprecedented economic security. Families used this money to pay for housing, food, child care so they could go to work, and other basic essentials of everyday life. Moreover, for every $1 invested, the Child Tax Credit provided $8 in social and economic benefits.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:35:26Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 318, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"chamber\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "House", "p1": "CT", "p2": "2023"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=CT&year=2023", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 318, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=CT&year=2023&party=Democrat", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=CT&year=2023", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 318, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=CT&year=2023", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=CT&year=2023", "results": [{"value": "CT", "label": "CT", "count": 318, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&year=2023", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=CT&year=2023", "results": [{"value": "2023", "label": "2023", "count": 318, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=CT", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2023-09-12,https~3A~2F~2Fdelauro~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fmedia-center~2Fpress-releases~2Fdelauro-statement-new-child-poverty-data-us-census-bureau", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=CT&year=2023&_next=2023-09-12%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fdelauro~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fmedia-center~2Fpress-releases~2Fdelauro-statement-new-child-poverty-data-us-census-bureau&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 232.950571924448, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}