{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where state = \"CT\" and year = 2014 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/view/senator-murphys-year-in-review-2014", "Senator Murphy's Year in Review 2014", "2014-12-31", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator Murphy's Year in Review 2014 \n            Despite the gridlock in Washington, we were able to achieve some big wins for the state of Connecticut this year. From job training to preschool funding, inf...\n            \n                \n                    \n                       \t\n        \t\t\t\t\n                        \n                            \n                                \n                                \n                                    \n                                    \n                                    \n                                \n                                \n        \t\t\t\t\t\t\n                            \n                        \n                        \n    \t\t\t\t\t\t\n                            \t\n    \t\t\t\t\t\t\n    \t\t\t\t\t\n                    \n                \n            \n        \t\n            \n            \n            \n                \n                \n                \n                \n                    \n                   \tSee Video on YouTube\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n                    \nCopy Link", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_contentview=articleid=1784:delauro-applauds-over-11-million-in-additional-sandy-funds-for-3rd-congressional-districtcatid=2:press-releasesItemid=21", "DeLauro Applauds Over $11 Million in Additional Sandy Funds for 3rd Congressional District", "2014-12-29", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) released the following statement in response to the Senate passing the Republicans\u2019 bill cutting taxes for millionaires, billionaires, and corporations while raising taxes on middle class families.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://esty.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-elizabeth-esty-releases-her-annual-end-of-year-report", "Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty Releases Her Annual End-of-Year Report", "2014-12-29", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Elizabeth Esty", "E000293", "esty.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty\u2019s (CT-05) bipartisan Women in Aerospace Education Act (H.R. 4254) passed the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee by voice vote this morning. The bill would encourage universities applying for Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship grants, which are designed to cover the cost of STEM-degree seeking students who intend to teach in rural and lower income school districts, to incorporate aerospace programs at the National Laboratories and NASA Centers into their teacher training experience. Esty, along with Rep. Steve Knight (CA-25), introduced the legislation to encourage more women to participate in the STEM fields.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_contentview=articleid=1785:delauro-on-bloomberg-ingersoll-rand-reportcatid=2:press-releasesItemid=21", "DeLauro on Bloomberg Ingersoll-Rand Report", "2014-12-22", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) released the following statement in response to the Senate passing the Republicans\u2019 bill cutting taxes for millionaires, billionaires, and corporations while raising taxes on middle class families.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://esty.house.gov//media-center/in-the-news/connecticut-schools-chosen-for-farm-to-cafeteria-program", "Connecticut Schools Chosen for Farm-to-Cafeteria Program", "2014-12-22", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Elizabeth Esty", "E000293", "esty.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty won re-election to the 5th District last November.\nThis hour, the Connecticut Democrat stops by our studios. We wade through national politics and find out what issues top her agenda on Capitol Hill.\u00a0\nDo you have a question for Congresswoman Esty? We want to hear from you, too.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://himes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=A05B0D95-DD11-4D19-8E09-62832DEE3FB4", "Himes: New Report Underscores Need for Transportation Investments", "2014-12-22", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "James A. Himes", "H001047", "himes.house.gov", "himes", "https://himes.house.gov/press-releases", "page_html", "Stamford, CT \u2014 Congressman Jim Himes (CT-4) today highlighted a new report that shows how the average driver in the Bridgeport-Stamford area loses almost $1,900 annually due to roads that are congested, deteriorated and unsafe. Himes said the report, released today by the national transportation group TRIP, underscores the need for long-term federal transportation investments to create jobs and improve the safety and efficiency of Connecticut's highway and transit networks.\n\n\"This report shows how our region's deteriorated, overburdened transportation system continues to drain precious time and money from Fairfield County commuters and businesses,\u201d Himes said. \u201cOur transportation infrastructure is the foundation on which we build economic growth and create jobs, and we can't afford to neglect it any longer. We need a long-term transportation bill that invests in our crumbling roads, bridges and railways to ensure the safety of our people and make our economy more competitive.\u201d\n\nConnecticut drivers lose $4.2 billion each year due to the inadequate condition of the state\u2019s roads and bridges, according to the TRIP report. In the Bridgeport-Stamford area, drivers lose $1,885 annually. The study also found that 41 percent of Connecticut's major urban roads and highways are in poor condition, and more than one-third of the state's bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete.\n\nThe TRIP report found that traffic congestion in the Bridgeport-Stamford corridor costs each driver 42 hours a year in delays and $902 annually in lost time and wasted fuel.\n\n\u201cThis report does an excellent job quantifying what motorists all over Connecticut can tell you first hand\u2014that our roads and bridges are in need of repair. Governor Malloy has announced that transportation will be a top priority in 2015, and for very good reason. Rebuilding our transportation infrastructure will support a great many jobs, and is essential to the health of our economy and our quality of life,\u201d said Connecticut State Sen. Bob Duff (Norwalk).\n\n\u201cConnecticut\u2019s business community is backing Governor Malloy\u2019s commitment to put the state\u2019s transportation system front and center in his second term,\u201d said Jack Condlin, president and CEO of the Stamford Chamber of Commerce. \"Connecticut is doing its part to address our transportation challenges. We need our federal partners to do their part by passing a long-range federal transportation bill.\u201d\n\n\u201cThese conditions are only going to worsen if greater funding is not made available at the state and federal levels,\u201d said Will Wilkins, TRIP\u2019s executive director. \u201cCongress can help by approving a long-term federal surface transportation program that provides adequate funding levels, based on a reliable funding source. If not, Connecticut is going to see its future federal funding threatened, resulting in fewer road and bridge repair projects, loss of jobs and a burden on the state\u2019s economy.\u201d\n\nThe efficiency of Connecticut\u2019s transportation system, particularly its highways, is vital to the health of the state\u2019s economy. The Federal Highway Administration estimates that each dollar invested in road, highway and bridge improvements results in an average benefit of $5.20 in the form of reduced vehicle maintenance costs, reduced delays, reduced fuel consumption, improved safety, reduced road and bridge maintenance costs and reduced emissions as a result of improved traffic flow.\n\nThe federal surface transportation program is a critical source of funding in Connecticut. From 2008 to 2012, the federal government provided $1.76 for road improvements in Connecticut for every dollar the state paid in federal motor fees. In July, Congress approved an eight-month extension of the federal surface transportation program, which will now run through May 31, 2015. The legislation will also transfer nearly $11 billion into the Highway Trust Fund to preserve existing levels of highway and public transportation investment through the end of May 2015.\n\nIn Congress, Himes is an original cosponsor of legislation that would establish a National Infrastructure Bank (H.R. 2553), which would use federal dollars to leverage private investment through loans and guarantees. This proposal offers a new way to objectively fund our nation\u2019s critical infrastructure projects at a time when fiscal constraints at all levels of government are making financing by conventional means difficult.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-03-30T11:08:25Z"], ["http://esty.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/blumenthal-delauro-courtney-himes-esty-15-senators-and-representatives", "Blumenthal, DeLauro, Courtney, Himes, Esty, 15 Senators and Representatives Call for Increased Consumer Protections in Medicare Advantage Plans", "2014-12-19", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Elizabeth Esty", "E000293", "esty.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Hartford, CT) \u2013 U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and U.S. Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), Joe Courtney (D-Conn.), Jim Himes (D-Conn.) and Elizabeth Esty (D-Conn.) today called for increased consumer protections in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. In a letter to Marilyn Tavenner, Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), they urged her to require MA plans fix their provider networks before next year\u2019s annual open enrollment period. Doing so would ensure patients will not have to worry about abruptly and unfairly being cut off from the doctors they know and trust.\n\u201cOver the last year, thousands of doctors and other providers have been removed without cause from MA plan networks, needlessly disrupting the care of seniors across the country,\u201d\u00a0the members wrote.\u00a0\u201cThis blatant bait and switch should not be allowed. Therefore we urge you to require that MA plans to fix their provider networks in advance of the annual open enrollment period in you FY 2016 call letter. This will allow Medicare Advantage enrollees to select a plan with a provider network that meets their needs. It will also give MA enrollees security in knowing that their providers cannot be dropped from the network in between enrollment periods.\u201d\nThe writers also outlined several steps Tavenner could take in the event CMS refuses the common sense request, including: a special enrollment period, more advance notice to enrollees about changes in their provider network and up to date provider directories.\nIn addition to Sen. Blumenthal and Reps. DeLauro, Courtney, Himes and Esty, the letter is signed by Sens. Sherrod Brown and Rand Paul and Reps. Steve Cohen, Adam Schiff, Lloyld Doggett, Charles Rangel, Keith Ellison, Doris Matsui, Barbara Lee, Brian Higgins, Chellie Pingree, Lois Frankel, Lujan Grisham, Mark Takano, and Ted Deutch.\nThe full text of the letter is below:\n\u00a0\nDecember 19, 2014\n\u00a0\nMarilyn Tavenner\nAdministrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services\nThe U.S. Department of Health and Human Services  \n  200 Independence Avenue, S.W.  \n  Washington, D.C. 20201\nDear Administrator Tavenner:\nWe are writing to ask that you increase consumer protections in the Medicare Advantage (MA) plan offerings in the Fiscal Year 2016 Call Letter. Past Call Letters have reflected a willingness by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to make changes to requirements regarding adequate notice to consumers about provider networks in these plans and offering better options for seniors who have had changes foisted on them mid-plan year. While we appreciate your attention to this matter, we believe much more must be done to provide potential enrollees with adequate information to make decisions about MA plans.\nOver the last year, thousands of doctors and other providers have been removed without cause from MA plan networks, needlessly disrupting the care of seniors across the country. \u00a0This blatant bait and switch should not be allowed.\u00a0 Therefore we urge you to require that MA plans to fix their provider networks in advance of the annual open enrollment period in you FY 2016 call letter.\u00a0 This will allow Medicare Advantage enrollees to select a plan with a provider network that meets their needs.\u00a0 It will also give MA enrollees security in knowing that their providers cannot be dropped from the network in between enrollment periods.\nIf MA Plans continue to be allowed to drop providers during the middle of the plan year, we have several suggestions that we believe are necessary to provide fairness to seniors and should be included in the 2016 Call Letter.\nSpecial Enrollment Periods.\u00a0 We understand that Medicare traditionally provides services rather than access to specific providers; however, because the very nature of MA plans relies on the use of specific networks of providers within plans, CMS has a responsibility to ensure that enrollees will receive the plan as advertised.\u00a0 If CMS continues to allow insurers to make changes to provider networks mid-plan year, the Agency must strengthen the Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for subscribers whose provider has been dropped, allowing them to change their plan.\nCriteria for Special Enrollment Periods.\u00a0 CMS should define the \u201csignificant\u201d provider changes that would make an enrollee eligible for a SEP in a way that reflects the needs of individuals, allowing\u00a0 beneficiaries to change plans if their providers who were a part of the network when they signed up for a specific plan are no longer in-network. At the same time, we ask the agency to carefully monitor the use of such SEPs and any related marketing by health plans, to minimize gaming and other discriminatory practices. These policy changes will preserve beneficiary choice and minimize disruptions in care continuity.\nNotice to Enrollees.\u00a0 Adequate notice is essential to making sure that seniors can make informed decisions about how to utilize Medicare to fit their needs.\u00a0\u00a0 CMS\u2019 notice to enrollees through the Annual Notice of Change continues to inadequately inform enrollees about the status of provider networks and whether individual providers are still in-network. At a minimum, we urge CMS to adopt the proposal that was initially presented in last year\u2019s draft Call Letter of notifying enrollees 60 days rather than 30 days before the open enrollment period of any changes to the provider network.\nUp to Date and Practical Directories.\u00a0CMS must ensure that provider directories, particularly those that are available online, are kept up to date and provide accurate information to enrollees on office addresses, specialty information, languages the providers speak, and whether providers are accepting new patients. Furthermore, CMS should make all provider directories more useable by linking them to the Plan Finder.\nNetwork Standards.\u00a0 Finally, CMS should consider applying network standards for other plans to MA plans. Requiring essential community providers would help ensure that provider networks are indeed adequate to meet the needs of enrollees. Most importantly, the CMS commitment to active annual review of Medicare-Medicaid Plans should be applied to all MA plans. The aggressive changes to plans that have affected our communities over the past few years are simply unacceptable. Additional oversight by CMS of plans that serve the Medicare population is vital to making sure that the plans that seniors select during open enrollment are not gutted by insurers at a time when seniors are left with no options or recourse.\u00a0\nWe look forward to working together with you on implementing these ideas and others that will better protect seniors. Thank you very much for your attention to this matter.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-delauro-courtney-himes-esty-15-senators-and-representatives-call-for-increased-consumer-protections-in-medicare-advantage-plans", "Blumenthal, DeLauro, Courtney, Himes, Esty, 15 Senators and Representatives Call for Increased Consumer Protections in Medicare Advantage Plans", "2014-12-19", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(Hartford, CT) \u2013 U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and U.S. Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), Joe Courtney (D-Conn.), Jim Himes (D-Conn.) and Elizabeth Esty (D-Conn.) today called for increased consumer protections in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. In a letter to Marilyn Tavenner, Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), they urged her to require MA plans fix their provider networks before next year\u2019s annual open enrollment period. Doing so would ensure patients will not have to worry about abruptly and unfairly being cut off from the doctors they know and trust.\r\n\u201cOver the last year, thousands of doctors and other providers have been removed without cause from MA plan networks, needlessly disrupting the care of seniors across the country,\u201d the members wrote. \u201cThis blatant bait and switch should not be allowed. Therefore we urge you to require that MA plans to fix their provider networks in advance of the annual open enrollment period in you FY 2016 call letter. This will allow Medicare Advantage enrollees to select a plan with a provider network that meets their needs. It will also give MA enrollees security in knowing that their providers cannot be dropped from the network in between enrollment periods.\u201d\r\nThe writers also outlined several steps Tavenner could take in the event CMS refuses the common sense request, including: a special enrollment period, more advance notice to enrollees about changes in their provider network and up to date provider directories.\r\nIn addition to Sen. Blumenthal and Reps. DeLauro, Courtney, Himes and Esty, the letter is signed by Sens. Sherrod Brown and Rand Paul and Reps. Steve Cohen, Adam Schiff, Lloyld Doggett, Charles Rangel, Keith Ellison, Doris Matsui, Barbara Lee, Brian Higgins, Chellie Pingree, Lois Frankel, Lujan Grisham, Mark Takano, and Ted Deutch.\r\nThe full text of the letter is below:\r\nDecember 19, 2014\r\nMarilyn Tavenner\r\nAdministrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services\r\nThe U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 200 Independence Avenue, S.W.  Washington, D.C. 20201\r\nDear Administrator Tavenner:\r\nWe are writing to ask that you increase consumer protections in the Medicare Advantage (MA) plan offerings in the Fiscal Year 2016 Call Letter. Past Call Letters have reflected a willingness by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to make changes to requirements regarding adequate notice to consumers about provider networks in these plans and offering better options for seniors who have had changes foisted on them mid-plan year. While we appreciate your attention to this matter, we believe much more must be done to provide potential enrollees with adequate information to make decisions about MA plans.\r\nOver the last year, thousands of doctors and other providers have been removed without cause from MA plan networks, needlessly disrupting the care of seniors across the country. \u00a0This blatant bait and switch should not be allowed.\u00a0 Therefore we urge you to require that MA plans to fix their provider networks in advance of the annual open enrollment period in you FY 2016 call letter.\u00a0 This will allow Medicare Advantage enrollees to select a plan with a provider network that meets their needs.\u00a0 It will also give MA enrollees security in knowing that their providers cannot be dropped from the network in between enrollment periods.\r\nIf MA Plans continue to be allowed to drop providers during the middle of the plan year, we have several suggestions that we believe are necessary to provide fairness to seniors and should be included in the 2016 Call Letter.\u00a0\r\nSpecial Enrollment Periods.\u00a0 We understand that Medicare traditionally provides services rather than access to specific providers; however, because the very nature of MA plans relies on the use of specific networks of providers within plans, CMS has a responsibility to ensure that enrollees will receive the plan as advertised.\u00a0 If CMS continues to allow insurers to make changes to provider networks mid-plan year, the Agency must strengthen the Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for subscribers whose provider has been dropped, allowing them to change their plan.\r\nCriteria for Special Enrollment Periods.\u00a0 CMS should define the \u201csignificant\u201d provider changes that would make an enrollee eligible for a SEP in a way that reflects the needs of individuals, allowing\u00a0 beneficiaries to change plans if their providers who were a part of the network when they signed up for a specific plan are no longer in-network. At the same time, we ask the agency to carefully monitor the use of such SEPs and any related marketing by health plans, to minimize gaming and other discriminatory practices. These policy changes will preserve beneficiary choice and minimize disruptions in care continuity.\r\nNotice to Enrollees.\u00a0 Adequate notice is essential to making sure that seniors can make informed decisions about how to utilize Medicare to fit their needs.\u00a0\u00a0 CMS\u2019 notice to enrollees through the Annual Notice of Change continues to inadequately inform enrollees about the status of provider networks and whether individual providers are still in-network. At a minimum, we urge CMS to adopt the proposal that was initially presented in last year\u2019s draft Call Letter of notifying enrollees 60 days rather than 30 days before the open enrollment period of any changes to the provider network.\r\nUp to Date and Practical Directories.\u00a0 CMS must ensure that provider directories, particularly those that are available online, are kept up to date and provide accurate information to enrollees on office addresses, specialty information, languages the providers speak, and whether providers are accepting new patients. Furthermore, CMS should make all provider directories more useable by linking them to the Plan Finder.\r\nNetwork Standards.\u00a0 Finally, CMS should consider applying network standards for other plans to MA plans. Requiring essential community providers would help ensure that provider networks are indeed adequate to meet the needs of enrollees. Most importantly, the CMS commitment to active annual review of Medicare-Medicaid Plans should be applied to all MA plans. The aggressive changes to plans that have affected our communities over the past few years are simply unacceptable. Additional oversight by CMS of plans that serve the Medicare population is vital to making sure that the plans that seniors select during open enrollment are not gutted by insurers at a time when seniors are left with no options or recourse.\u00a0\r\nWe look forward to working together with you on implementing these ideas and others that will better protect seniors. Thank you very much for your attention to this matter.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/in-the-news/lawmakers-celebrate-bill-that-would-help-families-with-autistic-children", "Lawmakers Celebrate Bill That Would Help Families With Autistic Children", "2014-12-19", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Lawmakers Celebrate Bill That Would Help Families With Autistic Children\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n                \r\n            \r\n            \r\n            \r\n                \r\n                    By:\u00a0\r\n                    Tara Joyce\r\n                \r\n            \r\n\r\n                \r\n                \r\n                \r\n            Friday, December 19, 2014\r\n            \n\t\n\r\n            \r\n            On Friday in Hartford, U.S. Senators Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal along with Congressmen John Larson and Elizabeth Esty celebrated the bipartisan passage of the ABLE Act. ABLE, which stands for Achieving a Better Life Experience, is aimed at easing the impact autism has on families across the country.\r\n  \u201cThe able act allows for families to put aside money, tax free, so it can grow and then be taken out to pay for expenses such as education or housing,\u201d said Sen. Murphy.\r\n  It is a bill Shannon Knall, a Simsbury native and Autism Speaks Connecticut Advocacy Chair, has been waiting for. Knall\u2019s son Jack is autistic and she knows firsthand how hard looking ahead can be.\r\n  \u201cOne of the issues I often talk about when I speak about autism is that we have little to no opportunity to plan for our future,\u201d said Knall.\r\n  According to Sen. Blumenthal, the bill was one of the most popular in Congress and now Knall is thanking them for their support.\r\n  \u201cThey said that our families matter, our children are important, that there future is a priority,\u201d said Knall.  The bill is now waiting for President Obama\u2019s signature. He is expected to sign it before the end of the year.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-schatz-issue-statement-on-department-of-educations-college-ratings-system", "MURPHY, SCHATZ ISSUE STATEMENT ON DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONS COLLEGE RATINGS SYSTEM", "2014-12-19", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "MURPHY, SCHATZ ISSUE STATEMENT ON DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION\u2019S COLLEGE RATINGS SYSTEM\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFriday, December 19, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON \u2013Today, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) released the following statement regarding the Department of Education\u2019s College Ratings System public notice:\r\n\u201cIn order for students to get a high quality and affordable education, colleges need to be more transparent about costs and outcomes, and accountable when they aren\u2019t. That's why we introduced the College Affordability and Innovation Act last January. As student debt loads climb ever higher, and college costs continue to skyrocket, students need to be able to make informed decisions about the best place for them to get a quality education. While neither final nor perfect, the proposed ratings system released today focuses on recognizing degree granting institutions that are making college more affordable, more accessible, and delivering a high quality education for all students. That should be celebrated, and we applaud the administration for taking this thoughtful step. In response, colleges should step up to the challenge and use new, innovative practices to reduce costs and deliver quality. This is another good step toward accountability and transparency, and we look forward to working with the administration and the higher education community to make this system even better for students of all backgrounds.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-applauds-cfpb-action-against-predatory-lenders-targeting-military-servicemembers", "Blumenthal Applauds CFPB Action Against Predatory Lenders Targeting Military Servicemembers", "2014-12-18", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Blumenthal Applauds CFPB Action Against Predatory Lenders Targeting Military Servicemembers\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Tweet\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tThursday, December 18, 2014\n\t\t\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n(Hartford, CT) \u2013 U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) today released the following statement after the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) took action against Freedom Stores, Inc., Freedom Acceptance Corporation, and Military Credit Services LLC for illegal debt collection practices against servicemembers. In March and August, Senator Blumenthal led letters calling for CFPB to use its enforcement authority to crack down on companies that abuse judicial and administrative processes to harass service members, exactly the conduct these entities are accused of engaging in. Senator Blumenthal has also repeatedly called on the Department of Defense to reform its allotment system, which the companies appear to have used to collect from servicemembers.\r\n\u201cI applaud the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for responding to my request that they do more to protect our brave men and women in uniform from abusive lending practices.\r\n\u201cThis case points to a broader problem: unscrupulous creditors appear to have used the Defense Department\u2019s own payroll system to prey on servicemembers by garnishing their pay without giving them an adequate opportunity to contest a debt. I call on the Pentagon to immediately reconsider its process for garnishing servicemember pay to ensure that servicemembers\u2019 rights are protected. The Defense Department should stop serving as a collection agency for predatory lenders.\u201d\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Contact\n\t\t\t\t\tJosh Zembik (DC) - 202-224-6452 Josh_Zembik@blumenthal.senate.gov Elizabeth Benton (CT) - 860-729-3589 Elizabeth_Benton@blumenthal.senate.gov", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-statement-on-senate-passage-of-tax-extenders-bill", "Blumenthal Statement On Senate Passage Of Tax Extenders Bill", "2014-12-18", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Blumenthal Statement On Senate Passage Of Tax Extenders Bill\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Tweet\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tThursday, December 18, 2014\n\t\t\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n(Washington, DC) \u2013 U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) today released the following statement on the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014, which the Senate passed before adjourning this week:\r\n\u201cI am pleased that Connecticut taxpayers can now be certain of their ability to rely on important tax provisions for this year. In particular, Connecticut\u2019s business community will benefit from a tax credit for research and development, which will help spur important innovations, and from a deduction for the full cost of new business equipment. I have also heard from many of my constituents about how important a number of individual tax provisions are to them, and I am glad that they will be able to rest easier this holiday season knowing that those have passed as well. The tax extenders package will protect homeowners whose mortgage debt is forgiven from having to pay taxes on that amount. This legislation also provides important tax benefits for teachers who purchase school supplies out of pocket, property owners who seek to conserve their land, and retirees who wish to make charitable distributions from their retirement accounts.\r\n\u201cI look forward to working with my colleagues toward more forward-looking tax legislation that will provide stability and allow taxpayers to plan, rather than relying on retroactive, last-minute extensions. And I hope that discussions in the next Congress about comprehensive tax reform will center on protecting working and middle-class families and encouraging innovation and investment in American jobs.\u201d\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Contact\n\t\t\t\t\tJosh Zembik (DC) - 202-224-6452 Josh_Zembik@blumenthal.senate.gov Elizabeth Benton (CT) - 860-729-3589 Elizabeth_Benton@blumenthal.senate.gov", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://himes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=538A30CA-6D48-4F6D-AD2D-FBC971EFF616", "Himes, DeLauro, Blumenthal, Courtney, Esty Call for Increased Consumer Protections in Medicare Advantage Plans", "2014-12-18", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "James A. Himes", "H001047", "himes.house.gov", "himes", "https://himes.house.gov/press-releases", "page_html", "WASHINGTON, DC\u2014Representatives Jim Himes, Rosa DeLauro, Joe Courtney and Elizabeth Esty, and Senator Richard Blumenthal today called for increased consumer protections in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. In a letter to Marilyn Tavenner, Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), they urged her to require MA plans fix their provider networks before next year\u2019s annual open enrollment period. Doing so would ensure patients will not have to worry about abruptly and unfairly being cut off from the doctors they know and trust.\n\nTheir letter can be read in its entirety below.\n\n\u201cOver the last year, thousands of doctors and other providers have been removed without cause from MA plan networks, needlessly disrupting the care of seniors across the country,\u201d the members wrote. \u201cThis blatant bait and switch should not be allowed. Therefore we urge you to require that MA plans to fix their provider networks in advance of the annual open enrollment period in you FY 2016 call letter. This will allow Medicare Advantage enrollees to select a plan with a provider network that meets their needs. It will also give MA enrollees security in knowing that their providers cannot be dropped from the network in between enrollment periods.\u201d\n\nThe writers also outlined several steps Tavenner could take in the event CMS refuses the common sense request, including: a special enrollment period, more advance notice to enrollees about changes in their provider network and up to date provider directories.\n\nDecember 19, 2014\n\nDear Administrator Tavenner:\n\nWe are writing to ask that you increase consumer protections in the Medicare Advantage (MA) plan offerings in the Fiscal Year 2016 Call Letter. Past Call Letters have reflected a willingness by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to make changes to requirements regarding adequate notice to consumers about provider networks in these plans and offering better options for seniors who have had changes foisted on them mid-plan year. While we appreciate your attention to this matter, we believe much more must be done to provide potential enrollees with adequate information to make decisions about MA plans.\n\nOver the last year, thousands of doctors and other providers have been removed without cause from MA plan networks, needlessly disrupting the care of seniors across the country. This blatant bait and switch should not be allowed. Therefore we urge you to require that MA plans to fix their provider networks in advance of the annual open enrollment period in you FY 2016 call letter. This will allow Medicare Advantage enrollees to select a plan with a provider network that meets their needs. It will also give MA enrollees security in knowing that their providers cannot be dropped from the network in between enrollment periods.\n\nIf MA Plans continue to be allowed to drop providers during the middle of the plan year, we have several suggestions that we believe are necessary to provide fairness to seniors and should be included in the 2016 Call Letter.\n\nSpecial Enrollment Periods. We understand that Medicare traditionally provides services rather than access to specific providers; however, because the very nature of MA plans relies on the use of specific networks of providers within plans, CMS has a responsibility to ensure that enrollees will receive the plan as advertised. If CMS continues to allow insurers to make changes to provider networks mid-plan year, the Agency must strengthen the Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for subscribers whose provider has been dropped, allowing them to change their plan.\n\nCriteria for Special Enrollment Periods. CMS should define the \u201csignificant\u201d provider changes that would make an enrollee eligible for a SEP in a way that reflects the needs of individuals, allowing beneficiaries to change plans if their providers who were a part of the network when they signed up for a specific plan are no longer in-network. At the same time, we ask the agency to carefully monitor the use of such SEPs and any related marketing by health plans, to minimize gaming and other discriminatory practices. These policy changes will preserve beneficiary choice and minimize disruptions in care continuity.\n\nNotice to Enrollees. Adequate notice is essential to making sure that seniors can make informed decisions about how to utilize Medicare to fit their needs. CMS\u2019 notice to enrollees through the Annual Notice of Change continues to inadequately inform enrollees about the status of provider networks and whether individual providers are still in-network. At a minimum, we urge CMS to adopt the proposal that was initially presented in last year\u2019s draft Call Letter of notifying enrollees 60 days rather than 30 days before the open enrollment period of any changes to the provider network.\n\nUp to Date and Practical Directories. CMS must ensure that provider directories, particularly those that are available online, are kept up to date and provide accurate information to enrollees on office addresses, specialty information, languages the providers speak, and whether providers are accepting new patients. Furthermore, CMS should make all provider directories more useable by linking them to the Plan Finder.\n\nNetwork Standards. Finally, CMS should consider applying network standards for other plans to MA plans. Requiring essential community providers would help ensure that provider networks are indeed adequate to meet the needs of enrollees. Most importantly, the CMS commitment to active annual review of Medicare-Medicaid Plans should be applied to all MA plans. The aggressive changes to plans that have affected our communities over the past few years are simply unacceptable. Additional oversight by CMS of plans that serve the Medicare population is vital to making sure that the plans that seniors select during open enrollment are not gutted by insurers at a time when seniors are left with no options or recourse.\n\nWe look forward to working together with you on implementing these ideas and others that will better protect seniors. Thank you very much for your attention to this matter.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-03-30T11:08:25Z"], ["http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_contentview=articleid=1777:lt-gov-wyman-gov-malloy-congressional-delegation-applauds-45-million-healthcare-award-to-ctcatid=2:press-releasesItemid=21", "LT. Gov. Wyman, Gov. Malloy, Congressional Delegation Applauds $45 Million Healthcare Award To CT", "2014-12-17", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) released the following statement in response to the Senate passing the Republicans\u2019 bill cutting taxes for millionaires, billionaires, and corporations while raising taxes on middle class families.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-issues-statement-on-pura-final-decision-to-increase-clandp-fixed-charge", "Blumenthal Issues Statement on PURA Final Decision to Increase CL&P Fixed Charge", "2014-12-17", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Blumenthal Issues Statement on PURA Final Decision to Increase CL&P Fixed Charge\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Tweet\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWednesday, December 17, 2014\n\t\t\t(Hartford, CT) - U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) issued the following statement today in response to the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority\u2019s final decision granting Connecticut Light and Power an over 20 percent increase in its fixed charge, while also providing the public utility a more than 9 percent guaranteed rate of return.\r\n\r\n\u201cAfter sustained public outcry, PURA\u2019s decision today to grant Connecticut Light and Power a more than 20 percent increase in its fixed rate charge is disappointing and unconscionable. CL&P\u2019s fixed charge for residential users will now be the highest in New England, an unacceptable distinction with serious consequences for Connecticut ratepayers\u2014most notably low-income and elderly users. This fee will hit consumers before they even turn on a single light, discouraging and devaluing conservation and efficiency measures and damaging our economy. With PURA signaling future increases, efforts to combat additional fixed rate increases must continue before this disturbing decision becomes a dire trend,\u201d Blumenthal said.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Contact\n\t\t\t\t\tElizabeth Benton (CT) - 860-729-3589 Elizabeth_Benton@blumenthal.senate.gov", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-statement-on-release-of-alan-gross-normalization-of-relations-with-cuba", "Blumenthal Statement On Release Of Alan Gross, Normalization Of Relations With Cuba", "2014-12-17", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Blumenthal Statement On Release Of Alan Gross, Normalization Of Relations With Cuba\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Tweet\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWednesday, December 17, 2014\n\t\t\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) today released the following statement on the release of Alan Gross, an American aid worker imprisoned by the Castro regime in Cuba, and on the President\u2019s announcement on normalization of trade and travel relations with the country:\r\n\u201cI welcome home Alan Gross from his illegal and unjust imprisonment in Cuba. Many in Congress \u2013 including myself \u2013 have said there could be no normalization of relations with Cuba without his release.\u00a0\r\n\u201cCuba continues to be oppressed by a dictatorial regime, denying essential rights and freedoms. I welcome any trade and diplomatic discussions currently underway to advance freedom and rights for the Cuban people, and I will carefully review any recommendations to change our relationship with Cuba on that basis.\u201d\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Contact\n\t\t\t\t\tJosh Zembik (DC) - 202-224-6452 Josh_Zembik@blumenthal.senate.gov Elizabeth Benton (CT) - 860-729-3589 Elizabeth_Benton@blumenthal.senate.gov", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://himes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=3815AE6F-CD76-44AA-8487-DDEB0238C64D", "Himes Urges Long-Term Extension of Commuter Tax Benefit", "2014-12-17", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "James A. Himes", "H001047", "himes.house.gov", "himes", "https://himes.house.gov/press-releases", "page_html", "Washington, DC \u2014 Congressman Jim Himes (CT-4) issued the following statement on legislation Congress cleared this week to retroactively increase a tax benefit that helps thousands of employees in Connecticut save money on their commute to and from work. Himes has pushed to restore and increase the benefit, which was included in a larger package (H.R. 5771) that allows individuals and businesses to claim dozens of lapsed tax breaks for the current 2014 tax year. The bill now awaits President Obama\u2019s signature.\n\n\"The commuter tax benefit helps thousands of Fairfield County families save money on their commute,\u201d Himes said. \u201cWith Metro-North fares set to rise again next year, this benefit has become even more important for Southwest Connecticut residents who depend on mass transit and already face a high cost of living. While I'm pleased Congress provided a retroactive increase, I\u2019ll keep pushing for a long-term solution so that commuters aren\u2019t forced to deal with this uncertainty every year. We ought to be encouraging \u2013 not discouraging \u2013 people to use public transportation so we can reduce traffic on our roads and improve our environment, and that's what this tax benefit does.\u201d\n\nThe bill retroactively increases the monthly mass-transit tax benefit to $250 per month for 2014, putting it on par with the current monthly parking benefit. The mass-transit provision expired at the end of 2013, reducing the pre-tax savings from $240 to just $130 in 2014. Meanwhile, commuters who drive to work have been eligible to set aside as much as $250 per month, up from $245 in 2013, for pre-tax parking expenses.\n\nHimes has consistently fought to restore the transit benefit. He is a cosponsor of the Commuter Parity Act (H.R. 2288), which would permanently extend the parity between parking and transit and allow for annual cost-of-living adjustments.\n\nAbout 3 million commuters nationwide take advantage of the transit portion of the commuter benefit program, according to Commuter Benefits Work for Us, a transportation advocacy group.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-03-30T11:08:25Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-statement-on-us-cuba-relations", "MURPHY STATEMENT ON US-CUBA RELATIONS", "2014-12-17", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "MURPHY STATEMENT ON US-CUBA RELATIONS\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tMurphy: New engagement and dialogue is more likely to succeed than isolationist policies of the last fifty years\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWednesday, December 17, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) released the following statement after President Obama announced the release of Alan Gross and efforts to normalize trade and travel relations between the United States and Cuba.\r\nI applaud President Obama\u2019s announcement today that the United States will finally take steps to re-establish diplomatic relations with Cuba.\u00a0 Decades of embargo and isolation have not worked to bring fundamental change to Cuba and have instead become a source of friction between the United States and our partners in the Western Hemisphere and across the globe. \r\nIt is high time that we take a different approach to bring democracy and prosperity to the people of Cuba.\u00a0 The changes announced by the President today \u2013 including increased people-to-people ties and expanded commerce - should help to empower the people of Cuba to improve their lives.\u00a0 While these new policies will not bring change overnight, I am optimistic that this new engagement and dialogue is more likely to succeed than our hard-line, isolationist policies of the last fifty years. In any event, I look forward to carefully reviewing the details of this policy in the Foreign Relations Committee early in the next session of Congress. \r\nI am also pleased that Alan Gross has been released from prison in Cuba and is finally back home with his family.\u00a0 Cuba has a long way to go, but today marks an important first step in what I hope will be a much brighter future between the peoples of the United States and Cuba.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/congressional-delegation-lt-gov-wyman-gov-malloy-applauds-45-million-healthcare-award-to-connecticut", "CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, LT. GOV. WYMAN, GOV. MALLOY APPLAUDS $45 MILLION HEALTHCARE AWARD TO CONNECTICUT", "2014-12-16", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, LT. GOV. WYMAN, GOV. MALLOY APPLAUDS $45 MILLION HEALTHCARE AWARD TO CONNECTICUT\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tAffordable Care Act Funding Will Improve Accessibility and Affordability\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, December 16, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(HARTFORD, CT) \u2013 The state\u2019s Congressional delegation,\u00a0Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman, and Governor Dannel P. Malloy,\u00a0applauded the announcement today by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarding Connecticut $45 million to test health care payment and delivery models. This funding builds upon the State Innovation Model (SIM) design grant that Connecticut received in March 2013 to develop a State Healthcare Innovation Plan, which was completed in December 2013.\r\n\u201cIn many ways, Connecticut is a proof of concept for the Affordable Care Act. Through committed leadership at the state and federal levels, we have shown that the law can be transformative for individuals and health care providers,\u201d\u00a0said Senator Chris Murphy.\u00a0\u201cOur exchange has been one of the most successful and well-run in the country and I\u2019m thrilled that this new funding, for which I was proud to advocate, will give Connecticut the opportunity to once again be a leader. For too long, the health care delivery system in our country has prioritized quantity of services rather than quality. This initiative will demonstrate that by focusing on primary care and rewarding health outcomes will not only mean cost savings over time but also a healthier population.\u201d\r\n\u201cThis substantial federal grant continues Connecticut\u2019s national leadership in health care payment reform, and will bring improvements in care and health equity to all aspects of the healthcare system,\u201d\u00a0said Senator Richard Blumenthal.\u00a0\u201cConnecticut is leading the nation in innovations to transform access to quality healthcare nationwide\u2014delivering better care at lower costs.\u201d\r\n\u201cThis is excellent news for Connecticut and our residents,\u201d said Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman, Chair of the Healthcare Cabinet. \u201cI thank President Obama and HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell for their support of state-led initiatives to enhance quality, affordable healthcare; and our Congressional delegation for their advocacy on behalf of the state\u2019s application. In particular, I commend the efforts by Mark Schaefer and the Healthcare Innovation team who developed a winning model that emphasizes quality of care\u2014absolutely critical to furthering a strong and vibrant state.\u201d\r\n\u201cThis funding is great news for Connecticut because it's an important part of continuing our efforts to increase access to quality healthcare,\u201d said Governor Malloy. \u201cConnecticut has been at the forefront of implementing affordable, accessible coverage. When it comes down to it, these efforts are really about improving the quality of life for the people of our state.\u201d\r\nThe SIM grant will support the ongoing work of the Malloy Administration to improve access to healthcare and behavioral health treatment, and strengthen healthcare delivery by emphasizing quality of care and outcomes.\r\n\u201cWe could not be more pleased to be awarded a State Innovation Model Test Grant. This award represents the completion of a monumental two-year effort that saw unprecedented collaboration between our various stakeholders,\u201d said Dr. Mark Schaefer, Director of Healthcare Innovation. \u201cWe still have a great deal of work ahead, but I am confident that with the continued efforts of our team and the support of our stakeholders we will improve the lives of the residents of our state. I\u2019m grateful for the terrific leadership of Vicki Veltri and the Office of the Healthcare Advocate, which developed the foundation for these much needed reforms.\u201d\r\nConnecticut\u2019s plan includes more than $6 million to measure and improve community health and health equity, address increasing rates of obesity and diabetes, and strengthen primary care. The state also plans to implement a Medicaid Quality Improvement Shared Savings Program designed to reward providers that invest in delivering better quality care, more equitable care, and a better care experience for Medicaid beneficiaries.\r\n\u201cThis grant will improve coordinated care, shift the focus onto personal healthcare goals, and make the quality and cost of treatment more transparent,\u201d said Dr. Tom Raskauskas, Healthcare Innovation Steering Committee member and CEO/President, St. Vincent's Health Partners, Inc. \u201cHelping patients take charge of their healthcare is key\u2014 making it easier to communicate with their doctors and build expert coordinated care teams to ensure they have the tools to set healthcare goals and reach them.\u201d\r\n\u201cConnecticut has a long tradition of being a center for innovation in health care,\u201d said Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro. \u201cThis grant, made possible by the Affordable Care Act, will help improve the way we deliver healthcare in Connecticut. Congratulations to the State of Connecticut for winning this award. I look forward to seeing how Connecticut families benefit from improved health care quality and lower costs.\u201d\r\n\"Under the leadership of Governor Malloy, Connecticut has been nationally recognized as being at the forefront of healthcare reform,\" said Congressman John B. Larson. \u201cI applaud the efforts of our Governor, Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman, the Office of the Healthcare Advocate and many others for their efforts to obtain this award. As implementation of this funding begins, I look forward to seeing Connecticut continue to engage stakeholders throughout our health care community to make this a success.\u201d\r\n\"The single most important thing we can do for our nation's long-term fiscal stability is to rein in the cost of healthcare,\u201d said Congressman Jim Himes. \u201cThis grant will build on the Affordable Care Act by supporting innovative programs designed to help reduce health care costs, save money for individuals and the government, and improve the delivery of care. I was pleased to help push for this grant and I look forward to supporting Connecticut\u2019s continued progress in improving our health care system.\"\r\n\u201cConnecticut has always been a leader in providing high-quality healthcare services, and today\u2019s grant will help our state continue to expand access to affordable care,\u201d said Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty. \u201cI want to thank Secretary Burwell for her investment in our endeavors. This grant will go a long way in improving the delivery of care, particularly with additional residency opportunities for primary care providers. I commend Governor Malloy, Lt. Governor Wyman, the Office of the Healthcare Advocate, and Mark Schaefer and the entire Healthcare Innovation team for their commitment to a successful implementation of the Affordable Care Act here in our state. I look forward to continuing to work with them to ensure that every Connecticut resident can access high-quality, timely, and affordable healthcare.\u201d\r\n\u201cI am very pleased to see recognition that reform of the healthcare delivery system means opportunity for all to improve their health\u2014particularly so for those that have experienced compromised health outcomes due to inequities in the system,\u201d said Patricia Baker, Healthcare Innovation Steering Committee member and President and CEO of the Connecticut Health Foundation. \u201cConnecticut seized this opportunity to ensure this transformation is charged with eliminating health inequities in our state. This grant is a tremendous step forward in building an equitable health care delivery system for the residents of Connecticut.\u201d\r\n\"We are committed to partnering with Connecticut to advance the goals we all share: better care, smarter spending, and, ultimately, healthier people,\" said HHS Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell. \"We're seeing states do some very innovative things when it comes to improving the ways we deliver care, pay providers, and distribute information. These funds will support Connecticut in integrating and coordinating the many elements of health care \u2013 including Medicaid, Medicare, public health, and private health care delivery systems \u2013 to the benefit of patients, businesses, and taxpayers alike.\"\r\nNationwide, 11 states were awarded over $620 million in federal funds funded by the Affordable Care Act to test health care payment and service delivery models that will improve health care quality and lower costs.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-statement-on-senate-passage-of-tax-extenders-passage", "MURPHY STATEMENT ON SENATE PASSAGE OF TAX EXTENDERS PASSAGE", "2014-12-16", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "MURPHY STATEMENT ON SENATE PASSAGE OF TAX EXTENDERS PASSAGE\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, December 16, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) released the following statement after the Senate voted to pass the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014:\r\nThe tax extenders package that my colleagues and I passed today falls far short of ideal, but it provides certainty for the thousands of families and businesses in Connecticut and across the country that are counting on these provisions. I\u2019m disappointed that Congress failed to make progress toward comprehensive tax reform, but many of these provisions were too important to allow to lapse: from tax incentives for property owners who choose to conserve their land, to the critical deduction for charitable giving, to the research and development tax credit that helps businesses invest in new ideas.\r\nHowever, I am glad that the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act, which I cosponsored, will also be signed into law as part of the package, and that families will now be able to create tax-free accounts to save for the long-term care of their disabled family members. I\u2019m hopeful that this victory will drive significant progress in the fight to pass the Keeping All Students Safe Act \u2013 a bill that I introduced to ensure the effective implementation of positive behavioral interventions in our nations\u2019 schools.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-statement-on-talibans-heinous-murder-of-innocent-pakistani-students", "MURPHY STATEMENT ON TALIBANS HEINOUS MURDER OF INNOCENT PAKISTANI STUDENTS", "2014-12-16", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "MURPHY STATEMENT ON TALIBAN\u2019S HEINOUS MURDER OF INNOCENT PAKISTANI STUDENTS\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, December 16, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) released the following statement in response to the Pakistani Taliban\u2019s brutal attack on a military-run school in northwestern Pakistan:\r\nThe brutal slaughter of more than 140 innocent civilians, mostly school children, by the Taliban in Peshawar, Pakistan shocks the conscience. My heart goes out to the victims and their families, to the people of Pakistan and to the Pakistani community in Connecticut and across the United States. The senseless murder of innocent children, whether at a school in Pakistan or here in the United States, ranks among the most heinous and cowardly acts of depravity. The Taliban have once again demonstrated that they have nothing to offer but violence and fear. The United States today stands together with the people of Pakistan in their efforts to counter extremism and to build a better future for their children.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_contentview=articleid=1775:delauro-pingree-amendment-to-ban-chinese-chicken-from-school-lunches-included-in-omnibus-funding-billcatid=2:press-releasesItemid=21", "DeLauro, Pingree Amendment to Ban Chinese Chicken from School Lunches Included In Omnibus Funding Bill", "2014-12-15", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) released the following statement in response to the Senate passing the Republicans\u2019 bill cutting taxes for millionaires, billionaires, and corporations while raising taxes on middle class families.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://esty.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-elizabeth-esty-applauds-senate-confirmation-of-dr-vivek", "Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty Applauds Senate Confirmation of Dr. Vivek Murthy as New Surgeon General", "2014-12-15", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Elizabeth Esty", "E000293", "esty.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty\u2019s (CT-05) bipartisan Women in Aerospace Education Act (H.R. 4254) passed the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee by voice vote this morning. The bill would encourage universities applying for Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship grants, which are designed to cover the cost of STEM-degree seeking students who intend to teach in rural and lower income school districts, to incorporate aerospace programs at the National Laboratories and NASA Centers into their teacher training experience. Esty, along with Rep. Steve Knight (CA-25), introduced the legislation to encourage more women to participate in the STEM fields.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://larson.house.gov/index.php/news/press-releases/1936-coltsville-national-historical-park-act", "Coltsville National Historical Park Act", "2014-12-15", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "John Larson", "L000557", "larson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington \u2013 Today, Rep. John B. Larson joined Senators Blumenthal,\u00a0Murphy\u00a0and Mayor of Hartford Pedro Segarra\u00a0in applauding passage of the Coltsville National Historical Park Act in the U.S. Senate. Following passage in the U.S. House of Representatives last week, the Act now heads to the President\u2019s desk for his signature. \u201cToday marks the culmination of more than a decade of work to preserve the legacy of American innovation and manufacturing that is Coltsville. Connecticut is the cradle of our industrial revolution. The designation made possible by this Act would not only honor the groundbreaking work of Samuel and Elizabeth Colt, but provides Connecticut greater and much-deserved representation in our National Park system. While it has received wide support on both sides of the aisle, I am most excited to bring this news home to the Hartford community and my constituents who will ultimately reap the cultural and economic benefits that will come from Coltsville\u2019s designation as a National Historical Park,\u201d said Congressman John B. Larson. \u201cI commend the hard work of several Mayors, Representatives, Senators and community leaders on this legislation and Governor Malloy for his continued support of Coltsville,\u201d Larson continued. \u201cI want to especially thank Senators Dodd and Lieberman for their determination in starting this process and Senators Blumenthal and Murphy for carrying the torch and seeing it through final passage. There is still work left to see this designation come to fruition and I look forward to working with the National Park Service and continuing efforts with stakeholders throughout our community along with federal, state and local officials to ensure Coltsville is preserved for generations to come.\u201d \"This monumental milestone will drive economic growth and new jobs all around Connecticut by making Coltsville a magnificent, magnetic destination and history hub. \u00a0Coltsville will be a national monument to Connecticut's vital role in the industrial revolution and American manufacturing, which helped make our state the arsenal of democracy. \u00a0Designation as a National Park will spur tourism, housing, commerce, and economic development in Hartford-- and stand as a lasting living legacy to the ingenuity, vision and grit of Sam and Elizabeth Colt, as inventors and entrepreneurs and patriots.I am tremendously grateful to Congressman Larson for his unwavering commitment to Coltsville, and to Senators Dodd and Lieberman who advocated powerfully for this provision for years before me. As a member of the Armed Services Committee who negotiated the final agreement, I was proud to be part of the team that finally carried this worthy designation across the finish line,\u201d said Senator Richard Blumenthal. \u201cOnce a dream, now on the verge of reality, Connecticut is about to have a new national park. Years and years of hard work have gone into this effort, and with this designation, Hartford's Coltsville will get the national recognition it deserves, allowing future generations to appreciate Connecticut\u2019s powerful role in advancing the industrial revolution and strengthening manufacturing in the United States. I\u2019m proud to have helped get this bill through the Senate with Senator Blumenthal, but we all have John Larson to thank when it is signed into law. His crusade of over a decade to get this done will be taught in classrooms as an example of persistence, persistence, and more persistence, paying off in the end,\u201d said Senator Chris Murphy. \"The Colt Manufacturing facility played a critical role in our national defense and promoted the spirit of American business ingenuity around the world,\" said Mayor Pedro Segarra. \"This monumental decision will help shape an ongoing renaissance in the City of Hartford, lead to long-term job growth in the region and increase focus on heritage tourism in our state. I want to sincerely applaud and acknowledge Congressman John Larson of his consistent leadership on this issue and Senators Blumenthal and Murphy for always supporting the advancement of Connecticut's Capital City. \" Coltsville was the Hartford, Connecticut home of Samuel Colt\u2019s industrial enterprise, the Colt Fire Arms Company. In Hartford, Samuel Colt developed the use of the assembly line and highly mechanized techniques that set the stage for mass production of the bicycle, the typewriter, the automobile, and the jet engine. Colt manufacturing not only transformed the firearms industry but was a major contributor to the industrial revolution by pioneering the use of interchangeable parts and precision manufacturing. The site was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2008. Once the bill is signed into law, the National Park Service will initiate the process of implementing the legislation and will lead the process of establishing a park.\u00a0The Coltsville National Historical Park Act (H.R. 1259/S.615) is known as an \u2018authorization bill\u2019, a common and important step in the establishment of other National Parks nationwide. As an authorization bill, the establishment of a National Park at Coltsville is contingent upon meeting the conditions set out in the legislation, as well as the development of a management plan and funding from federal and non-federal sources.\n###\n\u00a0\nIn the News:\nHartford Courant EDITORIAL:\u00a0Coltsville Finally A National Historic Park\nThe Day:\u00a0Moving closer to Coltsville Park, Hartford", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-statement-on-confirmation-of-dr-vivek-murthy", "Blumenthal Statement On Confirmation Of Dr. Vivek Murthy", "2014-12-15", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Blumenthal Statement On Confirmation Of Dr. Vivek Murthy\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Tweet\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tMonday, December 15, 2014\n\t\t\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nMurthy Will Be Country\u2019s\u00a0 First Senate-Confirmed Surgeon General Since July 2013\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) today released the following statement after the Senate confirmed Dr. Vivek Murthy to be the Surgeon General of the United States. There has been no full-time, Senate-confirmed Surgeon General since July 2013 when Dr. Regina Benjamin resigned.\u00a0\r\n\u201cDoctor Vivek Murthy is a supremely qualified doctor, and he will be a strong and effective Surgeon General. There were no serious questions about his experience or expertise on public health issues. Unfortunately, the NRA has spun a specious smokescreen \u2013 even in the face of an Ebola public health crisis \u2013 working shamefully and tirelessly to block him simply because he stated the obvious fact that gun violence is a public health issue. Despite the NRA\u2019s negative onslaught, today the United States gets a great surgeon general and a superbly qualified public health leader.\u201d\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Contact\n\t\t\t\t\tJosh Zembik (DC) - 202-224-6452 Josh_Zembik@blumenthal.senate.gov Elizabeth Benton (CT) - 860-729-3589 Elizabeth_Benton@blumenthal.senate.gov", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-statement-on-metro-north-announcement-of-sleep-apnea-tests-for-engineers", "Blumenthal Statement On Metro-North Announcement Of Sleep Apnea Tests For Engineers", "2014-12-15", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Blumenthal Statement On Metro-North Announcement Of Sleep Apnea Tests For Engineers\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Tweet\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tMonday, December 15, 2014\n\t\t\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) today released the following statement after Metro-North Railroad announced the beginning of a new pilot program to screen all locomotive engineers for sleep apnea, which played a critical role in the crash at Spuyten Duyvil in December 2013.\r\n\u201cThis step is progress \u2013 an urgently needed safety system that I've repeatedly urged.\u00a0The testing needs to be more than temporary, so I call on Metro-North to commit to and implement immediately a permanent, effective testing regimen as recommended by the National Transportation Safety Board.\u00a0Sadly, had this type of testing been in place the medical condition that caused a train engineer to fall into a sleeplike \u2018daze\u2019 and crash at Spuyten Duyvil in December 2013 likely would have been caught \u2013 and lives would have been saved.\u00a0I also renew my call that the Federal Railroad Administration move forward immediately with implementing a Fatigue Risk Management System for railroads, which will further help curb dangerous conditions tied to sleep disorders.\u201d\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Contact\n\t\t\t\t\tJosh Zembik (DC) - 202-224-6452 Josh_Zembik@blumenthal.senate.gov Elizabeth Benton (CT) - 860-729-3589 Elizabeth_Benton@blumenthal.senate.gov", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/in-the-news/us-sen-murphy-keeps-up-fight-for-gun-control-two-years-after-sandy-hook", "U.S. Sen. Murphy Keeps Up Fight For Gun Control Two Years After Sandy Hook", "2014-12-15", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Sen. Murphy Keeps Up Fight For Gun Control Two Years After Sandy Hook\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n                \r\n            \r\n            \r\n            \r\n                \r\n                    By:\u00a0\r\n                    Nicole Briggs\r\n                \r\n            \r\n\r\n                \r\n                \r\n                \r\n            Monday, December 15, 2014\r\n            \n\t\n\r\n            \r\n            FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. \u2013 Two years after the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre that killed 20 children and six adults on Dec. 14, 2012, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) is making sure nobody forgets that day, or any of the victims killed by violence, reports CNN.\r\nFor the past two years Murphy has related stories of violence to the Senate, calling his speeches, \u201cVoices of Victims,\u201d relaying who the victims were, where they lived and what they did in life, hoping that by personalizing the victims of gun violence, Congress will take note according to the report.\r\n\"There's no more personal issue than gun violence; every one of these stories is a life lost,\" said Murphy. \"I'm hoping that over the long term, as I tell these stories that it will help to open people's eyes.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-highlights-local-connecticut-manufacturer-united-gear-and-machine-company-inc-as-murphys-monday-manufacturer", "MURPHY HIGHLIGHTS LOCAL CONNECTICUT MANUFACTURER, UNITED GEAR  MACHINE COMPANY, INC., AS MURPHYS MONDAY MANUFACTURER", "2014-12-15", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "MURPHY HIGHLIGHTS LOCAL CONNECTICUT MANUFACTURER, UNITED GEAR & MACHINE COMPANY, INC., AS \u201cMURPHY\u2019S MONDAY MANUFACTURER\u201d\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, December 15, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tSUFFIELD \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) announced that United Gear & Machine Company, Inc. will be recognized as \u201cMurphy\u2019s Monday Manufacturer\u201d. United Gear is a 60-year-old, family-run manufacturer that serves the military and commercial aerospace industries. The company has operated out of Suffield since its inception in 1954. Today, the manufacturer, which is run by the Malec family, employs 11 Connecticut residents, many of whom have been with the company for more than three decades.\r\nUnited Gear recently expanded its manufacturing and inspection capabilities, which has made it increasingly competitive throughout Connecticut and across the United States. In fact, Connecticut\u2019s aerospace and defense companies \u2013 including Boeing, Sikorsky, Kaman, Pratt & Whitney, and Bell Helicopter \u2013 rely on United Gear\u2019s expertise for parts and services. Because United Gear is widely recognized for its precision manufacturing, the company will receive a unique AS9100 certification identifying it as a quality manufacturer with very specific and detail-oriented management and inspection systems.\r\nEarlier this year, United Gear was awarded 1st place in the Hartford Business Journal\u2019s 2nd Annual Family Business Awards. The three generations of company owners were proud to have achieved such an honor, and thanked their dedicated and skilled team of employees, who are all considered to be part of the family.  \u201cUnited Gear has continuously supported and \u2018united\u2019 countless communities across Connecticut. Over the last 60 years, the men and women at United Gear have provided Connecticut residents with meaningful and long-term employment, and they have made it possible for other Connecticut manufacturers, like Sikorsky and Pratt & Whitney, to thrive. I\u2019d like to thank United Gear for enabling so many people and businesses in Connecticut to succeed, and for making our great state home to the United Gear family,\u201d said Murphy.\r\n\u201cConnecticut has a unique place in the manufacturing industry because so many great aerospace companies are based here and it\u2019s been a pleasure to work with them all for so many years,\u201d said William Malec, President and Owner of United Gear. \u201cOn a more personal note, Connecticut has been my home my entire life and I am proud of where I come from, the work I do and of being able to give back to the state that has offered so much to me and my family. Because Connecticut has afforded me the ability to have a strong, successful business, I was \u2013 and am \u2013 able to raise my family and build my life in this wonderful state!\u201d\r\nThe manufacturing industry plays a crucial role throughout Connecticut communities, creating new jobs and accelerating our state\u2019s economic recovery. Today, Connecticut\u2019s 4,602 manufacturers account for 10.2% of the state\u2019s jobs and 87% of the state\u2019s total exports. In order to protect and grow manufacturing jobs in Connecticut, Murphy has introduced two pieces of legislation that aim to strengthen existing standards and prioritize the purchase of American-made goods, the 21st Century Buy American Act and the American Jobs Matter Act.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-statement-on-confirmation-of-dr-vivek-murthy-as-us-surgeon-general", "MURPHY STATEMENT ON CONFIRMATION OF DR. VIVEK MURTHY AS U.S. SURGEON GENERAL", "2014-12-15", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "MURPHY STATEMENT ON CONFIRMATION OF DR. VIVEK MURTHY AS U.S. SURGEON GENERAL\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tMurthy confirmed after over a year of political objections by gun lobby\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, December 15, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) released the following statement on the confirmation of Dr. Vivek Murthy as U.S. Surgeon General. Murthy received his M.B.A. and M.D. from Yale University.\r\nOver the last 17 months, our country has been without a surgeon general -- all because of the political agenda of a handful of conservative political activists. It\u2019s outrageous that, because of some common-sense statements Dr. Murthy made related to gun violence, we were left without one of our most visible and senior public health officials in the middle of the Ebola crisis. Today\u2019s vote was a proud stand against the fear and confusion propagated by these extreme groups and their allies in Congress. \r\nNo one should be surprised that the individuals nominated by President Obama to serve in his administration share many of his views. The surprise is that some chose to put their political agenda ahead of public safety and public health in blocking Dr. Murthy\u2019s nomination. The road to confirming Dr. Murthy has been long and bumpy, but today\u2019s result is great news for the country and people in Connecticut. I\u2019ve been a vocal advocate for Dr. Murthy for months. His qualifications and dedication in the service of improving public health in this country are admirable, and his Connecticut education doesn\u2019t hurt either. We can move forward today knowing that our public health preparedness is stronger with Dr. Murthy at the helm. \r\nWe should also be grateful to the thousands of men and women, many of them health professionals, who made their voices heard in support of Dr. Murthy. Their advocacy for Dr. Murthy as our nation\u2019s \u201ctop doc\u201d is a huge reason why we can now call him Surgeon General. \r\nMurphy recently wrote an op-ed in the Huffington Post expressing his support for Dr. Murthy\u2019s nomination.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://esty.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-elizabeth-esty-s-statement-on-the-two-year-anniversary-of", "Congresswoman Elizabeth Estys Reflections on the Two-Year Anniversary of the Tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School", "2014-12-14", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Elizabeth Esty", "E000293", "esty.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty\u2019s (CT-05) bipartisan Women in Aerospace Education Act (H.R. 4254) passed the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee by voice vote this morning. The bill would encourage universities applying for Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship grants, which are designed to cover the cost of STEM-degree seeking students who intend to teach in rural and lower income school districts, to incorporate aerospace programs at the National Laboratories and NASA Centers into their teacher training experience. Esty, along with Rep. Steve Knight (CA-25), introduced the legislation to encourage more women to participate in the STEM fields.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-statement-on-omnibus-vote", "Blumenthal Statement On Omnibus Vote", "2014-12-13", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Blumenthal Statement On Omnibus Vote\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Tweet\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tSaturday, December 13, 2014\n\t\t\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) today released the following statement after voting against the omnibus appropriations bill.\r\n\u201cThe spending bill fortunately keeps the government open and has a number of positive provisions, including some I helped to achieve. It includes increased funds to fight the Ebola epidemic, funding for the Combat Rescue Helicopter, $12 million in grants to fight sexual assault on college campuses, and allowances for advance mandatory funding for veterans benefits.\r\n\u201cSadly, slipped into this measure at the last moment were massive special interest giveaways rolling back taxpayer protections against risky financial maneuvers by banks, reversing transportation safety rules, undercutting pension rights, and opening huge loopholes for billionaires to increase their influence on political campaigns and candidates. That is why I voted against this flawed measure - poisoned by special favors\u00a0flagrantly\u00a0contrary to the public interest.\u00a0\r\n\u201cSuch provisions are unwise, unfair and unacceptable, snuck into the bill without debate or public scrutiny.\u00a0\r\n\u201cI object to packing such poison pills into a critical bill designed to keep our government functioning.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Contact\n\t\t\t\t\tJosh Zembik (DC) - 202-224-6452 Josh_Zembik@blumenthal.senate.gov Elizabeth Benton (CT) - 860-729-3589 Elizabeth_Benton@blumenthal.senate.gov", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://himes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=C767CC53-6E25-4EDE-A0A9-A3FE8EE6540E", "Himes Statement on Anniversary of Newtown Tragedy", "2014-12-13", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "James A. Himes", "H001047", "himes.house.gov", "himes", "https://himes.house.gov/press-releases", "page_html", "WASHINGTON, DC\u2014 Congressman Jim Himes (CT-4) released the following statement today on the second anniversary of the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown.\n\n\"Two years ago, 20 children and six courageous educators were murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary School. My thoughts and prayers are with these innocent victims, their families and the Newtown community on this somber anniversary.\n\n\"The massacre in Newtown that December day was a heartbreaking example of our nation\u2019s epidemic of gun violence. Two years on, gun violence continues unabated at our schools, workplaces, houses of worship and shopping centers \u2013 places where Americans should feel safe. It is shameful that Congress has failed to take meaningful action to curb this scourge of violence that continues to ravage our communities. We must keep pushing Congress to pass common-sense legislation to keep guns out of the hands of criminals, children and the mentally ill, while preserving our Second Amendment rights. The victims of Sandy Hook \u2013 and all those who have been affected by gun violence before and since then \u2013 deserve no less.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-03-30T11:08:25Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/in-the-news/coltsville-national-historical-park-wins-final-approval", "Coltsville National Historical Park Wins Final Approval", "2014-12-13", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Coltsville National Historical Park Wins Final Approval\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n                \r\n            \r\n            \r\n            \r\n                \r\n                    By:\u00a0\r\n                    Gregory B. Hladky\r\n                \r\n            \r\n\r\n                \r\n                \r\n                \r\n            Saturday, December 13, 2014\r\n            \n\t\n\r\n            \r\n            HARTFORD \u2014 Final congressional approval came Friday for the creation of a Coltsville National Historical Park dedicated to the accomplishments of Samuel Colt and the role that his firearms and factory played in the Industrial Revolution.\r\nPlans for the new national historical park include a 10,000-square-foot visitor center in the old Colt factory under the iconic blue onion dome in Hartford. An elevator and observation platform would give visitors a view of the factory floors below and allow people to visit the dome itself. It's unclear how soon the historical park might open.\r\n\"Today marks the culmination of more than a decade of work to preserve the legacy of American innovation and manufacturing that is Coltsville,\" said U.S. Rep. John Larson, D-1st District, who led the effort to create a national historical park in Hartford. \"There is still work left to see this designation come to fruition, and I look forward to working with the National Park Service.\"\r\nFunding for Coltsville was contained in a $577 billion defense bill approved Friday by the U.S. Senate. The legislation had already cleared the House of Representatives.\r\nLarson and Connecticut's two U.S. senators, Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, said they would work to ensure that the National Park Service budget contains money for the Coltsville project. Larson said that federal, state and local officials will also need to work together to provide a detailed plan for the park.\r\n\"Everybody's on the same page, everybody's pulling in the same direction,\" said Larson, who was attending a celebratory party Friday at Coltsville.\r\nIn response to questions about the possibility that it might take years for the park to open, Larson said he doesn't know what the timetable will be, but that efforts would \"begin immediately\" to make it happen as soon as possible.\r\nHartford Mayor Pedro Segarra also applauded the federal approval, noting that the city has already contributed more than $7 million for Coltsville improvements, including $5 million in state bond funds for additional residential units in the South Armory building and $2 million for streetscape work.\r\nBy some estimates, the planned park could eventually draw 200,000 visitors a year, but one Connecticut historian said it is likely to take years for Coltsville to achieve that sort of popularity.\r\nThe space for the visitor center would be provided in Colt's East Armory by its developers, CG Management, and the project's largest investor, Chevron TCI, an arm of the oil giant, according to CG's owner, Lawrence Dooley.\r\nIn March, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that creation of a 260-acre Coltsville National Park would cost taxpayers about $9 million over five years for planning, building restoration and landscaping. The area was designated as a national historic landmark in 2008 and advocates have been lobbying hard to win national park status.\r\n\"This will be a great step for Connecticut and for Hartford,\" said Blumenthal, praising the efforts of the state's congressional delegation. He said that Larson \"deserves the lion's share of the credit.\"\r\nBlumenthal said that a Coltsville National Historical Park \"will drive economic growth \u2026 for Hartford and Connecticut\" through a combination of tourism, housing development and commerce.\r\nMurphy called congressional approval of the park \"a dream come true for Connecticut.\"\r\nA major difference between a national park such as Yosemite or Acadia, and national historical parks like the one in Lowell, Mass., or what's planned for Coltsville, has to do with size. Most national parks tend to be tens of thousands of acres of open space, while historical parks are normally far smaller and dedicated to a specific theme.\r\nHopes for the Coltsville park go far beyond the East Armory factory building where Colt created his landmark revolver, the \"gun that won the West,\" and a manufacturing system that changed American industry.\r\nThe proposed park is also expected to include Hartford's Colt Park, as well as the residence of Samuel and Elizabeth Colt, called Armsmear, and the Church of the Good Shepherd and neighboring gardens. Many of the buildings that would become part of the national park are now in private hands.\r\nHartford officials say the goal is to transform the area around Coltsville and Colt Park. There are schools next to Colt Park, but also sections of rundown housing, bland industrial buildings and streets with a reputation for drugs and prostitution, a reputation that Coltsville supporters believe can be changed.\r\n\"It would create a neighborhood where people can come and recognize \u2026 the character and historical significance of Colt and Hartford,\" said Thomas Deller, the city's director of development services.\r\n\"Think of Lowell, Mass.,\" Deller said, citing the national historical park in that city that preserves the textile mills that made Lowell a center of manufacturing in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Deller said that the eventual site of the Lowell national park started out as nothing more than \"a bunch of rundown, underutilized mills,\" but is now a thriving tourist and education center.\r\n\"In many ways, what we're trying to achieve at Coltsville is the same sort of thing,\" Deller said.\r\nRichard Malley, head of research and collections for the Connecticut Historical Society, called the proposed Coltsville National Park \"a long-term project. \u2026 It won't happen overnight.\" Malley said the park in Lowell \"took years and years to get to the point where it was recognized as a model for interpreting industrial and cultural history.\"\r\nMalley said he believes that the Coltsville project can tell \"an important story\" about \"the impact of the Industrial Revolution in Connecticut and elsewhere. ... I think it can symbolize the whole process of innovation in the 19th and 20th centuries.\"\r\nFriday's U.S. Senate vote was the culmination of years of lobbying by Connecticut's congressional delegation, state and local officials and historians.\r\nIn a 2009 federal study on the feasibility of creating a Coltsville national park, the researchers noted that the Museum of Connecticut History and Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art \"have collections of Colt firearms, machinery and memorabilia related to Samuel and Elizabeth Colt and Colt Firearms Company.\"\r\n\"Both museums have indicated an interest in participating in a collaborative effort to interpret Coltsville in partnership with the National Park Service,\" the report noted.\r\nMalley said that the Museum of Connecticut History has the most important Colt firearms collection in existence.\r\nAccording to the study, creating a Coltsville National Historical Park would offer a \"unique opportunity\" to offer visitors a learning experience about firearms manufacturing and the roles of Samuel and Elizabeth Colt in transforming American industry.\r\nSuch a museum would also provide educational experiences about the precision technology developed by Colt and its impact on everything from the making of sewing machines to automobiles. The park would also emphasize the importance of Samuel Colt as an entrepreneur and his skill in marketing his products, as well as showing \"life on an urban industrial community,\" the authors of the report concluded.\r\n\"We're very excited,\" said Dooley, owner of the managing partner of the Coltsville development project. He said it now appears that this historical section of Hartford \"is getting the recognition it absolutely deserves.\"\r\nChevron TCI (which stands for tax credit investor) has \"committed significant resources, not only in tax credit investments but in equity investments,\" Dooley said.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/_murphy-statement-on-senate-passage-of-omnibus-legislation-to-fund-the-government-connecticut-priorities", "MURPHY STATEMENT ON SENATE PASSAGE OF OMNIBUS LEGISLATION TO FUND THE GOVERNMENT, CONNECTICUT PRIORITIES", "2014-12-13", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "MURPHY STATEMENT ON SENATE PASSAGE OF OMNIBUS LEGISLATION TO FUND THE GOVERNMENT, CONNECTICUT PRIORITIES\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tSaturday, December 13, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) released the following statement on passage of the omnibus appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2015. This bill will fund government operations through September, 2015. Voting for the budget bill today was a tough decision for me. The process that led to this package is another unfortunate example of the dysfunction that has become the norm in Congress, and I\u2019m unhappy with a number of the unrelated policy provisions that were dropped in at the last minute. I\u2019m particularly troubled by a measure that will likely lead to reduced benefits for thousands of beneficiaries of multiemployer pension plans. In short, this is no way to conduct policy, and as an incoming member of the Appropriations Committee, I intend to work with my colleagues in the next Congress to try to reverse the worst of these provisions. But the alternative to passing this bill would be worse\u2014 another short-term continuing resolution or a government shutdown. Either would inflict real pain on millions of people in Connecticut and across the country. And while there are a number of things I disagree with in this bill, there are also incredibly important priorities that must not be left behind. For one, the bill appropriates billions of dollars to fight Ebola here and overseas\u2014funding that is nothing short of critical to combat this public health nightmare. If this bill fails, the U.S. cannot fight Ebola effectively.\u00a0 The bill also supports Connecticut\u2019s economy in major ways, including even more funding than the President originally requested for critical defense programs that are the lifeblood of Connecticut\u2019s economy. This bill will surge manufacturing with more Blackhawk helicopters, F135 engines for the Joint Strike Fighter and research and development for new submarines and Combat Rescue Helicopters. For the hardworking men and women in Connecticut\u2019s defense industry, it\u2019s a bigger win than we even expected. Important initiatives to establish advanced manufacturing centers to help grow Connecticut\u2019s next generation of manufacturing industries, and provisions that will support conservation efforts in Connecticut and elsewhere, are further reason to endorse this bill. The bottom line, however, is that Congress needs to stop lurching from manufactured crisis to manufactured crisis. Once again, members of the Senate were faced with a take-it-or-leave-it deal at the last minute. Because we don\u2019t work together like we should, it\u2019s become nearly impossible to pass appropriations bills on time and to fund the government in a responsible way. It is my sincere hope that next year will see an end to brinksmanship and a return to regular order\u2014and working toward that goal will be one of my top priorities as a new member of the Appropriations Committee next Congress.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_contentview=articleid=1774:delauro-statement-on-second-anniversary-of-sandy-hook-shootingscatid=2:press-releasesItemid=21", "DeLauro Statement on Second Anniversary of Sandy Hook Shootings", "2014-12-12", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) released the following statement in response to the Senate passing the Republicans\u2019 bill cutting taxes for millionaires, billionaires, and corporations while raising taxes on middle class families.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://esty.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/esty-blumenthal-murphy-announce-775000-federal-grant-to-newtown", "Esty, Blumenthal, Murphy Announce $775,000 Federal Grant to Newtown", "2014-12-12", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Elizabeth Esty", "E000293", "esty.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty\u2019s (CT-05) bipartisan Women in Aerospace Education Act (H.R. 4254) passed the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee by voice vote this morning. The bill would encourage universities applying for Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship grants, which are designed to cover the cost of STEM-degree seeking students who intend to teach in rural and lower income school districts, to incorporate aerospace programs at the National Laboratories and NASA Centers into their teacher training experience. Esty, along with Rep. Steve Knight (CA-25), introduced the legislation to encourage more women to participate in the STEM fields.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-statement-on-final-passage-of-defense-authorization", "Blumenthal Statement On Final Passage Of Defense Authorization", "2014-12-12", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Blumenthal Statement On Final Passage Of Defense Authorization\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Tweet\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tFriday, December 12, 2014\n\t\t\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n(Washington, D.C.) - U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee Airland Subcommittee, today released the following statement upon final passage in an 89-11 vote of the FY15 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which sets policy and spending levels for the Department of Defense.\r\n\u201cToday\u2019s vote is a victory for our nation and for Connecticut\u2014for Coltsville, for our state\u2019s proud defense industry, for our men and women in uniform who serve and sacrifice for our country, and for our national security. This landmark bill will expand jobs here and nationwide through smart, sustained investment in Connecticut\u2019s industrial base, which continues to produce the most advanced, capable weapon systems available worldwide.\r\n\u201cToday\u2019s vote means workers at Electric Boat will continue to build two Virginia-class submarines a year, workers at Pratt & Whitney will build the engines for more than 30 Joint Strike Fighters, and workers at Sikorsky will build more than 100 helicopters to ensure that our servicemen and women have the best equipment in the world.\r\n\u201cAdditionally today\u2019s vote brings new critical protections for victims of military sexual assault and an enhanced role for mental health professionals to ensure the fair treatment of military personnel during discharge and dismissal processes. Today\u2019s vote also brings expansion of the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa program to allow Afghans who bravely served as interpreters and translators alongside our servicemen and women the opportunities they deserve to relocate and escape harm and retribution in their homeland. These are provisions I helped to lead, and I am proud of their inclusion in this comprehensive measure.\u201d\r\nThe measure supports the following priority programs that Blumenthal fought to support:\u00a0\r\n\u00a0The bill establishes a new unit of the National Park System within the Coltsville Historic District\r\n\r\nThe bill authorizes $5.9 billion for the procurement of two Virginia-class submarines.\u00a0Additionally, $1.3 billion is authorized for further research and development into the Ohio-class replacement program.\u00a0\r\nThe bill will authorize $5.9 billion in total funding for the continued development of the Joint Strike Fighter program, to include the acquisition of 34 JSF aircraft, powered by Pratt & Whitney engines. Specifically, the bill includes funding for 26 F-35As for the Air Force, six F-35Bs for the Marine Corps, and two Navy F-35Cs.\r\nThe bill will authorize over $2.4 billion in funding to procure Sikorsky helicopters, to include 85 UH-60 Black Hawks, 29 MH-60R Seahawks and 8 MH-60S Knighthawks.\u00a0 This represents a budget request increase of $103 million to procure six additional UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters in order to modernize the Army National Guard.\u00a0 Additionally, the budget authorizes an additional $573 million in research and development of the Marine Corps CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter.\r\nThe bill authorizes $351 million for the Iron Dome missile defense system.\r\nThe bill authorizes $37.3 million for M4 carbines to support the Kurdish and Iraqi security forces combat ISIL.\u00a0\r\nThe bill authorizes $16.3 million for a C-130 Fuel and Corrosion Center at Bradley Air National Guard Base in Connecticut.\r\nThe bill prohibits the retirement of the U-2 reconnaissance aircraft.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Contact\n\t\t\t\t\tJosh Zembik (DC) - 202-224-6452 Josh_Zembik@blumenthal.senate.gov Elizabeth Benton (CT) - 860-729-3589 Elizabeth_Benton@blumenthal.senate.gov", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-to-serve-as-ranking-member-of-senate-veterans-affairs-committee", "Blumenthal To Serve As Ranking Member of Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee", "2014-12-12", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Blumenthal To Serve As Ranking Member of Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Tweet\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tFriday, December 12, 2014\n\t\t\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nSenator To Continue Serving On Armed Services, Judiciary, Commerce, and Aging Committees\r\n(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) today announced that he will serve as the Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee when the 114th Congress convenes in January. In addition to his new role on the Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee, Blumenthal will maintain his positions on four additional committees: Armed Services, Judiciary, Commerce, and Aging.\r\n\u201cNo obligation is more sacred than the debt we owe our military men and women. As the number of veterans grows dramatically and our nation winds down wars, our former servicemen and women will face challenges, visible and invisible wounds of war, issues of access to care, and basic questions of navigating the Department of Veterans Affairs. These veterans, and their needs, are diverse and varied, encompassing men and women of widely different ages, eras, and circumstances. The challenges are immense, and I am honored to be leading the effort to tackle them. Protecting veterans has been a priority throughout my career, and I am looking forward to working with my colleagues in both parties on the committee to make our veterans\u2019 transition to civilian life as seamless as possible.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Contact\n\t\t\t\t\tJosh Zembik (DC) - 202-224-6452 Josh_Zembik@blumenthal.senate.gov Elizabeth Benton (CT) - 860-729-3589 Elizabeth_Benton@blumenthal.senate.gov", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/coltsville-national-historical-park-act", "Coltsville National Historical Park Act", "2014-12-12", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "John Larson", "L000557", "larson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington  Today, Rep. John B. Larson joined Senators Blumenthal,Murphyand Mayor of Hartford Pedro Segarrain applauding passage of the Coltsville National Historical Park Act in the U.S. Senate. Following passage in the U.S. House of Representatives last week, the Act now heads to the President's desk for his signature. Today marks the culmination of more than a decade of work to preserve the legacy of American innovation and manufacturing that is Coltsville. Connecticut is the cradle of our industrial revolution. The designation made possible by this Act would not only honor the groundbreaking work of Samuel and Elizabeth Colt, but provides Connecticut greater and much-deserved representation in our National Park system. While it has received wide support on both sides of the aisle, I am most excited to bring this news home to the Hartford community and my constituents who will ultimately reap the cultural and economic benefits that will come from Coltsville's designation as a National Historical Park, said Congressman John B. Larson. I commend the hard work of several Mayors, Representatives, Senators and community leaders on this legislation and Governor Malloy for his continued support of Coltsville, Larson continued. I want to especially thank Senators Dodd and Lieberman for their determination in starting this process and Senators Blumenthal and Murphy for carrying the torch and seeing it through final passage. There is still work left to see this designation come to fruition and I look forward to working with the National Park Service and continuing efforts with stakeholders throughout our community along with federal, state and local officials to ensure Coltsville is preserved for generations to come. \"This monumental milestone will drive economic growth and new jobs all around Connecticut by making Coltsville a magnificent, magnetic destination and history hub. Coltsville will be a national monument to Connecticut's vital role in the industrial revolution and American manufacturing, which helped make our state the arsenal of democracy. Designation as a National Park will spur tourism, housing, commerce, and economic development in Hartford-- and stand as a lasting living legacy to the ingenuity, vision and grit of Sam and Elizabeth Colt, as inventors and entrepreneurs and patriots.I am tremendously grateful to Congressman Larson for his unwavering commitment to Coltsville, and to Senators Dodd and Lieberman who advocated powerfully for this provision for years before me. As a member of the Armed Services Committee who negotiated the final agreement, I was proud to be part of the team that finally carried this worthy designation across the finish line, said Senator Richard Blumenthal. Once a dream, now on the verge of reality, Connecticut is about to have a new national park. Years and years of hard work have gone into this effort, and with this designation, Hartford's Coltsville will get the national recognition it deserves, allowing future generations to appreciate Connecticut's powerful role in advancing the industrial revolution and strengthening manufacturing in the United States. I'm proud to have helped get this bill through the Senate with Senator Blumenthal, but we all have John Larson to thank when it is signed into law. His crusade of over a decade to get this done will be taught in classrooms as an example of persistence, persistence, and more persistence, paying off in the end, said Senator Chris Murphy. \"The Colt Manufacturing facility played a critical role in our national defense and promoted the spirit of American business ingenuity around the world,\" said Mayor Pedro Segarra. \"This monumental decision will help shape an ongoing renaissance in the City of Hartford, lead to long-term job growth in the region and increase focus on heritage tourism in our state. I want to sincerely applaud and acknowledge Congressman John Larson of his consistent leadership on this issue and Senators Blumenthal and Murphy for always supporting the advancement of Connecticut's Capital City. \" Coltsville was the Hartford, Connecticut home of Samuel Colt's industrial enterprise, the Colt Fire Arms Company. In Hartford, Samuel Colt developed the use of the assembly line and highly mechanized techniques that set the stage for mass production of the bicycle, the typewriter, the automobile, and the jet engine. Colt manufacturing not only transformed the firearms industry but was a major contributor to the industrial revolution by pioneering the use of interchangeable parts and precision manufacturing. The site was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2008. Once the bill is signed into law, the National Park Service will initiate the process of implementing the legislation and will lead the process of establishing a park.The Coltsville National Historical Park Act (H.R. 1259/S.615) is known as an authorization bill', a common and important step in the establishment of other National Parks nationwide. As an authorization bill, the establishment of a National Park at Coltsville is contingent upon meeting the conditions set out in the legislation, as well as the development of a management plan and funding from federal and non-federal sources.\n###\n\nIn the News:\nHartford Courant EDITORIAL:Coltsville Finally A National Historic Park\nThe Day:Moving closer to Coltsville Park, Hartford", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/in-the-news/chris-murphy-dedicates-day-to-acts-of-kindness-to-honor-newtown-victims", "Chris Murphy Dedicates Day To Acts Of Kindness To Honor Newtown Victims", "2014-12-12", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Chris Murphy Dedicates Day To Acts Of Kindness To Honor Newtown Victims\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n                \r\n            \r\n            \r\n            \r\n                \r\n                    By:\u00a0\r\n                    Jennifer Bendery\r\n                \r\n            \r\n\r\n                \r\n                \r\n                \r\n            Friday, December 12, 2014\r\n            \n\t\n\r\n            \r\n            WASHINGTON -- As the anniversary of the Newtown shootings approaches, one of Connecticut's senators decided to do something different to honor the memory of those who lost their lives: spend his day on small acts of kindness.\r\nInspired by a Newtown student who performed 26 acts of kindness, each one representing a child or teacher killed by gunman Adam Lanza, Sen. Chris Murphy (D) spent an entire day driving around the state performing the same number of acts. He documented his activities on Twitter, with photos and thoughts about each of the small gestures taken to make someone's day a little better.\r\nSee below for Murphy's tweets about how he spent his day, which included filling strangers' parking meters and buying coffee for people behind him in line at a Dunkin Donuts drive-thru.\r\nI was inspired by Newtown student Ashley Peterson and others who performed#26acts\u00a0of random kindness in memory of Sandy Hook.\r\nSo I've decided to spend the whole day doing 26 small acts of random kindness all over CT.\r\nHope that others will follow, by doing small acts of kindness throughout the month of December.\r\n1. Kicked off the day by leaving a small\u00a0@StopandShop\u00a0gift card for my\u00a0@USPSletter carrier in the mailbox to say thank you\u00a0#26Acts\r\n2. Bought coffee for the car behind me in the\u00a0@DunkinDonuts\u00a0drive through line#26acts\u00a0pic.twitter.com/CixMwnpQsX\r\n3. Parking tickets stink. So I added time to expiring meters in downtown Bridgeport.\u00a0#26acts\u00a0https://t.co/49EMYHWgNV\r\n4. Thanks to @Goodwillntl for all the great work u do! Dropped off a few coats.pic.twitter.com/GRzuWHjM6k\r\n5.\u00a0@chazandaj\u00a0toy drive is today. Amazing event each yr. Dropped off some Legos (CT company!).\u00a0pic.twitter.com/Wg4sCMyOEj\r\n6,7. Donated food to St. Paul & St. James pantry, got coffee for guys on the New Haven green.\r\nLatest\u00a0#26acts\u00a0included book donations in Middletown, coffee for DMV workers, playing board games at Colchester senior center.\r\nThanks to\u00a0@ctchildrens\u00a0for making stop number 10 so special.\u00a0#26actspic.twitter.com/yaAdYjRdgv\r\nLearning lots today. Gave donuts to our office parking attendant, told me he lived in Somali refugee camp from age 5-15. Whoa.\u00a0#26acts\r\n2 pizzas for our everyday heroes at\u00a0@hfdfiredept\u00a0Engine 11.\u00a0#26actspic.twitter.com/hmOV7Sj9di\r\n#26acts\u00a0update: paid for laundry for family at Hartford laundromat; coffee for Wethersfield library workers; made donation to\u00a0@cthumane\r\nBest\u00a0#26acts\u00a0of day? Number 18: delivering flowers to my Mom who is laid up w an ankle injury.\r\nThis was fun. Handed out Westfarms gift cards to the employees at the mall Sbarro's.\u00a0pic.twitter.com/F5IZVAh2Dh\r\nLatest\u00a0#26acts: bought a round of drinks at the Waterbury VFW bar, pizza for Waterbury police, a tank of gas for a random stranger.\r\nLast round of\u00a0#26acts\u00a0included donation to\u00a0@WFP, letting my staff go 45 min early, coffee for our building's security guards.\r\nFinished\u00a0#26acts\u00a0in\u00a0#Newtown. Lit a candle at St. Rose. Whispered a little prayer.\u00a0pic.twitter.com/hH1WBj3OcO", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/in-the-news/murphy-wins-seat-on-senate-appropriations-committee", "Murphy wins seat on Senate Appropriations Committee", "2014-12-12", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Murphy wins seat on Senate Appropriations Committee\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n                \r\n            \r\n            \r\n            \r\n                \r\n                    By:\u00a0\r\n                    Ana Radelat\r\n                \r\n            \r\n\r\n                \r\n                \r\n                \r\n            Friday, December 12, 2014\r\n            \n\t\n\r\n            \r\n            Washington \u2013 Sen. Chris Murphy, who is still in his freshman term in the Senate, has been given a seat on the Senate Appropriations Committee in the next Congress, a powerful panel that decides all spending issues and is responsible for the budget that funds all federal departments and programs.\r\n\u201cJoining the Appropriations Committee has been a priority for me since I joined the Senate, and I'm honored to have won a slot in just my third year here,\u201d Murphy said. \u201cThe Appropriations Committee is so vital to Connecticut\u2014 it makes decisions on how much money is spent on submarines, helicopters and jet engines for our military, and it funds work on Connecticut's interstates and rail lines.\u201d\r\nMurphy also tweeted he's the first Connecticut senator to sit on an appropriations panel in nearly 30 years.\r\nFellow Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal, meanwhile, tweeted that he will be the top Democrat on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee next year.\r\nMurphy and Blumenthal will be in the minority next year because the GOP seized control of that chamber in the last election. Still, membership on the Appropriations Committee affords Murphy a chance to influence spending on projects that may have an impact on Connecticut.\r\nMurphy said he will retain his seats on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension (HELP) Committee, and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. But he will lose his seat on the Joint Economic Committee.\r\nThe Democrats' loss of the Senate means the party will have fewer seats on each committee in the next Congress and the GOP will have more.\r\nBut a rash of Democratic retirements, and electoral losses has eliminated a number of members on the committee, including Sens. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Tom Harkin of Iowa, Mark Begich of Alaska and Tim Johnson allowed Democratic leaders to seat Murphy on the panel.\r\nMurphy has also won a seat on the Democratic Steering Committee in the next Congress. The committee helps the party\u2019s leadership forge the Senate Democrats' agenda, message and strategy.\r\nMurphy has distinguished himself in the Democratic Party by volunteering to serve as the Senate Democrats' chief defender of the Affordable Care Act in the 113th Congress.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/in-the-news/sandy-hook-2-years-later-one-senators-push-for-gun-control", "Sandy Hook 2 years later: One senator's push for gun control", "2014-12-12", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sandy Hook 2 years later: One senator's push for gun control\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n                \r\n            \r\n            \r\n            \r\n                \r\n                    By:\u00a0\r\n                    Ashley Codianni\r\n                \r\n            \r\n\r\n                \r\n                \r\n                \r\n            Friday, December 12, 2014\r\n            \n\t\n\r\n            \r\n            Washington (CNN) -- Sunday marks the second anniversary of the Sandy Hook massacre that killed twenty children and six teachers on December 14, 2012. And though Congress hasn't passed any gun reform laws in its wake, there's one senator who's made it his mission to persistently push for changes, even when no one's listening.\r\nFor the past two years, Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy, a Democrat, has been traveling to the Senate floor, month after month, to detail the growing numbers of people killed by gun violence. He calls these speeches, \"Voices of Victims.\"\r\nAsked what drives him to continually make his plea, he said it's to keep \"the drum beat up on the Senate floor.\"\r\nTo him, telling victim's stories, identifying who they were, what they enjoyed, where they lived, personalizes the issue and hopefully makes it harder for his colleagues and state lawmakers to ignore.\r\n\"There's no more personal issue than gun violence; every one of these stories is a life lost,\" he said. \"I'm hoping that over the long term, as I tell these stories, that it will help to open people's eyes.\"\r\n\"It is beyond comprehension that Congress is watching this epidemic of school shootings and chooses to do nothing,\" Murphy added.\r\nMurphy's uphill battle for comprehensive gun control reform, however, is met with significant challenges. Since the shooting at Sandy Hook, and the many that followed, there's been no legislation on the issue. After a failed vote on a bill that would have broadened background checks for gun purchasers in April 2013, there's been no sign of any additional legislation.\r\nAnd with Republicans maintaining the House and winning the Senate as a result of the midterm election, Murphy's push for gun control legislation and background checks hasn't gotten any easier. Incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is a staunch supporter of the National Rifle Association and 90 percent of NRA-backed candidates won their seats during midterm elections.\r\n\"[The NRA] is absolutely pulling one over on their members,\" Murphy said. \"The NRA was for background checks a decade ago, and they changed their position, despite the fact that their members support background checks.\"\r\nA new Pew survey released earlier this week indicates additional challenges for gun control advocates. According to the survey, the number of people supporting gun rights now offsets those who support gun control with 52 percent of Americans siding with gun rights, and 46 percent siding with gun control.\r\nOn Wednesday, Murphy acknowledged the challenges for achieving gun control legislation with the Republican-led Congress during a Senate floor speech, but hinted he might be finding a new way to challenge the issue.\r\n\"I get it that we're not going to get a background checks bill passed through the Senate in the next two years, but why not work on mental health funding?\" he asked.\r\nEither way, Murphy is not giving up. He acknowledged that fighting for stricter gun laws is a lifelong campaign for the families affected by Sandy Hook.\r\n\"It gives me hope that if I stick with this, families will stick with this alongside me,\" he said.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/in-the-news/senate-democrats-lock-in-key-committee-memberships", "Senate Democrats lock in key committee memberships", "2014-12-12", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senate Democrats lock in key committee memberships\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n                \r\n            \r\n            \r\n            \r\n                \r\n                    By:\u00a0\r\n                    Vicki Needham\r\n                \r\n            \r\n\r\n                \r\n                \r\n                \r\n            Friday, December 12, 2014\r\n            \n\t\n\r\n            \r\n            The congressional merry-go-round of committee changes continued on Friday with Senate Democrats locking in their choices for the 114th Congress.\r\nWith Republicans set to take a 54-46 majority in the Senate next year, Democrats will lose a seat or two on each panel.\r\nDemocrats are losing two seats seats on Appropriations, Banking, Budget and the Joint Economic Committee.  They are losing only one seat on Finance and Small Business.\r\nIn one of the more interesting moves, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) will become the ranking member on the Senate Budget Committee.\r\nSanders is moving into the slot because Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) opted to take top Democrat's job on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee.\r\nSens. Bill Nelson (Fla.) and Chris Coons (Del.) are leaving the committee for other jobs.\r\nThe powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, which was hard hit by a mix of retirements and election-year losses, is picking up three new members \u2014 Sens. Brian Schatz (Hawaii), Tammy Baldwin (Wis.) and Chris Murphy (Conn.).\r\nMurphy tweeted that he is the first senator from Connecticut to serve on the committee in nearly 30 years.\r\nSen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) is moving into the top Democratic slot after serving as the chairwoman of the panel.\r\nOn the Senate Banking Committee, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) is taking over ranking member duties.\r\nIndiana Sen. Joe Donnelly is joining the panel and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) is leaving for a seat on Senate Commerce.\r\nManchin signaled last month that he was willing to move off Senate Banking so Sen.-elect Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) could join the panel.\r\nCapito has spent time on the House Financial Services Committee during her tenure there.\r\nRepublicans are expected to release their committee memberships next week.\r\nSenate Finance is standing pat, losing only retiring Sen. Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia. As expected, Chairman Ron Wyden of Oregon is sliding into the ranking member's seat next year.\r\nOn the Joint Economic Committee, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (Minn.) is movin into the ranking member's job while Sen.-elect Gary Peters of Michigan, who is coming from the House, is joining the panel.\r\nMurphy and Sanders are departing the committee.\r\nFinally, Sen. Ben Cardin (Md.) will become the top Democrat on the Small Business Committee, taking over for Sen. Maria Cantwell (Wash.), who is moving into the ranking slot on the Energy panel.\r\nThe committee is welcoming three new members \u2014 Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, Coons and Peters.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-statement-on-final-passage-of-the-national-defense-authorization-act", "MURPHY STATEMENT ON FINAL PASSAGE OF THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT", "2014-12-12", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "MURPHY STATEMENT ON FINAL PASSAGE OF THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tBill will designate Hartford\u2019s Coltsville as a national park\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFriday, December 12, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) released the following statement on final passage of the FY2015 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).\r\nA large spending authorization bill like the NDAA will always have a lot to be happy about, and a lot to be displeased with too. The inclusion of a provision authorizing U.S. military assistance to Syrian rebel opposition groups is of particular concern, which is why I worked with Senator Schatz on an amendment to strike that language. Unfortunately, that amendment was ultimately not considered, but I supported the overall bill because of several very important provisions for Connecticut, all of which I fought hard to have included in this package. From funding for the submarines made by Electric Boat in Groton, to the Joint Strike Fighter engines built by Pratt & Whitney in Middletown, to Sikorsky\u2019s helicopters in Stratford, this bill not only provides cutting edge military hardware for our Armed Forces, but is also an acclamation of the thousands of men and women who have made Connecticut manufacturing the best in the nation. I fought tooth and nail for each of these provisions on behalf of Connecticut manufacturers, and I couldn\u2019t be more proud of today\u2019s result. The NDAA also supports Connecticut veterans and service members in big ways. For one, we can celebrate authorization to construct a new Connecticut Air National Guard maintenance facility at Bradley International Airport. This facility will support the eight C-130s that recently became the mainstay of the Connecticut\u2019s Air National Guard. The bill also includes increased resources for veterans\u2019 mental health, something I\u2019ve been pushing passionately for alongside mental health advocates across Connecticut. By supporting mental health services for veterans, we\u2019re recognizing the important fact that mental health treatment can save lives and prevent other unfortunate outcomes \u2013 like veterans\u2019 homelessness \u2013 that result from untreated mental health issues. Finally, I\u2019m glad that a provision to designate Coltsville as a national park was included in this package. Years and years of hard work have gone into this effort, and with this designation, Hartford's Coltsville will get the national recognition it deserves, allowing future generations to appreciate Connecticut\u2019s powerful role in advancing the industrial revolution and strengthening manufacturing in the United States. I\u2019m proud to have helped get this bill through the Senate with Senator Blumenthal, but we all have John Larson to thank when it is signed into law. His crusade of over a decade to get this done will be taught in classrooms as an example of persistence, persistence, and more persistence, paying off in the end. It\u2019s an honor to fight every single day for people in Connecticut. Today is a great day for our state, and I\u2019m so proud that hard work paid off in this NDAA so that Connecticut gets support it deserves. The measure supports the following Connecticut programs:\r\n \r\nThe bill authorizes $5.9 billion for the procurement of two Virginia-class submarines.\u00a0\r\nThe bill fully supports the Block IV multiyear contract completed earlier this year to build ten submarines between 2014-2018 at a rate of two per year.\r\nThe bill establishes a \"National Sea-based Deterrence Fund\" to finance the construction of new submarines to replace today's Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines.\r\n$1.3 billion is authorized for further research and development into the Ohio-class replacement and\r\nThe bill authorizes $132 million for development of the Virginia Payload Module.\r\nThe bill authorizes $5.9 billion in total funding for the continued development of the Joint Strike Fighter program, to include the acquisition of 34 JSF aircraft, powered by Pratt & Whitney engines.\r\nSpecifically, the bill includes funding for 26 F-35As for the Air Force, six F-35Bs for the Marine Corps, and two Navy F-35Cs.\r\nThe bill authorizes over $2.4 billion in funding to procure Sikorsky helicopters, to include 85 UH-60 Black Hawks, 29 MH-60R Seahawks and 8 MH-60S Knighthawks.\u00a0\r\nThis represents a budget request increase of $103 million to procure six additional UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters in order to modernize the Army National Guard.\u00a0\r\nThe bill authorizes $573 million in research and development of the Marine Corps CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter.\r\nThe bill authorizes $351 million for the Israeli Iron Dome missile defense system.\r\nThe bill authorizes $37.3 million for M4 carbines to support the Kurdish and Iraqi security forces combat ISIL (CT based manufacturing).\r\nThe bill authorizes an additional $450M for the production of five E/A-18 Growlers (CT components).\r\nThe bill authorizes $16.3 million for construction of the C-130 Fuel Cell and Corrosion Control Facility at Bradley International Airport to support the new 8 C-130 in the Connecticut Air National Guard.\r\n \r\nSupport to Military Personnel and their Families\r\n \r\nThe bill authorizes a 1 percent across-the-board pay raise for all members of the uniformed services, except all flag officers.\r\nThe bill provides for continued changes to the scourge of sexual assault in the military, including increasing access to special victims\u2019 counsel and enhancement of victims\u2019 rights.\r\nThe bill requires that mental health professionals participate in boards for correction of military records and on boards for review of discharge or dismissal for all members of the armed forces.\u00a0\r\nThe bill authorizes a pilot program be established to assist members of the military obtain civilian employment upon discharge from service.\r\nThe bill also directs the military services to enable service members to obtain professional credentials to help translate military training and skills into civilian occupations.\r\n \r\nOther Priorities:\r\n \r\nThe bill authorizes the Department of Defense to clean up unexploded ordnance on Puerto Rico\u2019s Culebra Island, previously a US Navy live-fire range. Senator Murphy has been a strong supporter of cleaning up this island for the safety of the resident of Culebra.\r\nThe bill increases to 4,000 the number of special immigrant visas available to be issued to former interpreters and translators who served for at least one year alongside United States military personnel in Afghanistan.\u00a0\r\nThe bill includes provisions forbidding the Department of Defense from entering into contract with Russian helicopter manufacturer, Rosoboronexport, a known munitions supplier to Bashar Al-Assad and the Syrian regime.\r\nThe bill prohibits the Army from carrying out sweeping cuts to the Army National Guard and freezes Army National Guard force structure in place until an independent commission can assess the validity of the Army\u2019s proposed cost savings.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-wins-seat-on-senate-appropriations-committee", "MURPHY WINS SEAT ON SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE", "2014-12-12", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "MURPHY WINS SEAT ON SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tMurphy becomes first Connecticut Senator to serve on Appropriations Committee in almost 28 years; Also selected to join Senate Democratic Steering & Outreach Committee; will continue to serve on U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, and U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFriday, December 12, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) announced he will join two new U.S. Senate Committees in the 114th Congress. Murphy will join the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations, which is responsible for funding all of the federal government\u2019s agencies, departments, and organizations. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, Murphy will focus on securing funding for Connecticut\u2019s priorities, such as defense manufacturing, transportation infrastructure, and federal safety net programs. Murphy will also be a strong voice in pushing back against Republican attempts to defund the Affordable Care Act, anti-gun violence programs, and U.S. diplomatic efforts abroad. Connecticut has not had a U.S. Senator on the Appropriations Committee since 1987.\r\n  Murphy will also join the Senate Democratic Steering & Outreach Committee. This Committee helps drive the Democratic agenda in the U.S. Senate by convening advocacy groups, intergovernmental organizations, and members of Congress around key policy priorities, like universal health care, comprehensive immigration reform, and affordable higher education.\r\nJoining the Appropriations Committee has been a priority for me since I joined the Senate, and I'm honored to have won a slot in just my third year here. The Appropriations Committee is so vital to Connecticut - it makes decisions on how much money is spent on submarines, helicopters, and jet engines for our military, and it funds work on Connecticut's interstates and rail lines.\r\nI\u2019m also excited to serve on the prestigious Senate Democratic Steering & Outreach Committee. Democrats had a lot to learn from the last campaign cycle, and this is the place where we can reevaluate our approach to our priorities. I\u2019m looking forward to working with Senate leadership and a host of advocacy groups as a member of this committee so we can identify the best ways for Democrats to fight for the middle class.\r\nFinally, it\u2019s a privilege to be able to continue my service on the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee, and the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee. These two committee assignments have been perfect places from which to fight for Connecticut, and I thank Senator Reid for his confidence in me to continue my work to fight for the Affordable Care Act, and a foreign policy that prioritizes diplomacy over military aggression.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_contentview=articleid=1773:delauro-announces-opposition-to-cromnibus-funding-legislationcatid=2:press-releasesItemid=21", "DeLauro Announces Opposition to Cromnibus Funding Legislation", "2014-12-11", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) released the following statement in response to the Senate passing the Republicans\u2019 bill cutting taxes for millionaires, billionaires, and corporations while raising taxes on middle class families.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://esty.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-elizabeth-esty-s-statement-on-the-omnibus-appropriations-0", "Congresswoman Elizabeth Estys Statement on the Omnibus Appropriations Bill", "2014-12-11", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Elizabeth Esty", "E000293", "esty.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty\u2019s (CT-05) bipartisan Women in Aerospace Education Act (H.R. 4254) passed the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee by voice vote this morning. The bill would encourage universities applying for Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship grants, which are designed to cover the cost of STEM-degree seeking students who intend to teach in rural and lower income school districts, to incorporate aerospace programs at the National Laboratories and NASA Centers into their teacher training experience. Esty, along with Rep. Steve Knight (CA-25), introduced the legislation to encourage more women to participate in the STEM fields.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-issues-statement-on-yale-study-reporting-a-quarter-of-connecticut-high-schoolers-have-tried-e-cigarettes", "Blumenthal Issues Statement on Yale Study Reporting a Quarter of Connecticut High Schoolers Have Tried E-Cigarettes", "2014-12-11", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Blumenthal Issues Statement on Yale Study Reporting a Quarter of Connecticut High Schoolers Have Tried E-Cigarettes\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Tweet\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tThursday, December 11, 2014\n\t\t\t(Hartford, CT) \u2013 U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) issued the following statement in response to a Yale School of Medicine study that found a quarter of Connecticut high school students have tried an e-cigarette.\r\n\u201cThese findings are deeply troubling, signaling chronic health problems ahead for thousands of Connecticut youth. Our nation\u2019s timid and tepid regulations are failing to protect children, who are being callously lured into a lifetime of addiction by tobacco companies who continue to entice youth with cynically flavored e-cigarettes. This study confirms and amplifies earlier research that shows children who have not previously used traditional tobacco products are experimenting with e-cigarettes\u2014a glaring alarm bell that should serve as a call to action to lawmakers and regulators. We must act swiftly and strongly to protect children from this growing health scourge,\u201d Blumenthal said.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Contact\n\t\t\t\t\tJosh Zembik (DC) - 202-224-6452 Josh_Zembik@blumenthal.senate.gov Elizabeth Benton (CT) - 860-729-3589 Elizabeth_Benton@blumenthal.senate.gov", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-statement-on-bureau-of-justice-statistics-report-on-campus-sexual-assault", "Blumenthal Statement On Bureau Of Justice Statistics Report On Campus Sexual Assault", "2014-12-11", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Blumenthal Statement On Bureau Of Justice Statistics Report On Campus Sexual Assault\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Tweet\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tThursday, December 11, 2014\n\t\t\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) today released the following statement on a new Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) report on campus sexual assault. The BJS report uses data from the National Crime Victimization Survey to compare the rate of sexual assault between female students and nonstudents. Its findings say that the rate of sexual assault is 1.2 times higher for nonstudents than students, and also that students are less likely to report sexual assault to the police when compared to nonstudents.\r\n\u201cThis report unfairly and inaccurately demeans the severity and scope of campus sexual assault by understating its frequency,\u201d said Sen. Blumenthal. \u201cThe report threatens to cause even less reporting of this horrendous crime than the 80 percent unreported to police now \u2013 potentially belittling and dismissing the problem.\u201d\r\nSenator Blumenthal has hosted fourteen roundtables on campus sexual assault at schools across Connecticut. Those roundtables informed both a comprehensive report calling for a College Sexual Assault Bill of Rights and bipartisan legislation, the Campus Accountability and Safety Act, which Blumenthal co-led with his colleagues Senators Gillibrand and McCaskill.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Contact\n\t\t\t\t\tJosh Zembik (DC) - 202-224-6452 Josh_Zembik@blumenthal.senate.gov Elizabeth Benton (CT) - 860-729-3589 Elizabeth_Benton@blumenthal.senate.gov", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-statement-on-senate-cloture-vote-on-defense-authorization", "Blumenthal Statement On Senate Cloture Vote On Defense Authorization", "2014-12-11", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Blumenthal Statement On Senate Cloture Vote On Defense Authorization\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Tweet\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tThursday, December 11, 2014\n\t\t\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee Airland Subcommittee, today released the following statement after the Senate invoked cloture \u2013 a procedural step \u2013 on the FY15 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which sets policy and spending levels for the Department of Defense. The Senate is expected to vote on the NDAA on Friday.\r\n\u201cThis bill brings us to the brink of a momentous victory at Coltsville, which will finally achieve National Park designation,\u201d said Sen. Blumenthal.\u00a0\r\n\u201cBy clearing this important procedural hurdle, the NDAA moves closer to becoming law, and defense programs that are critical to our national security and Connecticut\u2019s industrial base move closer to reality. Because of this bill, workers at Electric Boat will continue to build two Virginia-class submarines a year, workers at Pratt & Whitney will build the engines for more than 30 Joint Strike Fighters, and workers at Sikorsky will build more than 100 helicopters to ensure that our servicemen and women have the best equipment in the world I will fight strongly for approval of this very significant measure for Connecticut and our national security.\u201d\r\nThe measure supports the following priority programs that Blumenthal fought to support:\u00a0\r\nThe bill establish a new unit of the National Park System within the Coltsville Historic District\r\n\r\nThe bill authorizes $5.9 billion for the procurement of two Virginia-class submarines.\u00a0Additionally, $1.3 billion is authorized for further research and development into the Ohio-class replacement program.\u00a0\r\nThe bill will authorize $5.9 billion in total funding for the continued development of the Joint Strike Fighter program, to include the acquisition of 34 JSF aircraft, powered by Pratt & Whitney engines. Specifically, the bill includes funding for 26 F-35As for the Air Force, six F-35Bs for the Marine Corps, and two Navy F-35Cs.\r\nThe bill will authorize over $2.4 billion in funding to procure Sikorsky helicopters, to include 85 UH-60 Black Hawks, 29 MH-60R Seahawks and 8 MH-60S Knighthawks.\u00a0 This represents a budget request increase of $103 million to procure six additional UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters in order to modernize the Army National Guard.\u00a0 Additionally, the budget authorizes an additional $573 million in research and development of the Marine Corps CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter.\r\nThe bill authorizes $351 million for the Iron Dome missile defense system.\r\nThe bill authorizes $37.3 million for M4 carbines to support the Kurdish and Iraqi security forces combat ISIL.\u00a0\r\nThe bill authorizes $16.3 million for a C-130 Fuel and Corrosion Center at Bradley Air National Guard Base in Connecticut.\r\nThe bill prohibits the retirement of the U-2 reconnaissance aircraft.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Contact\n\t\t\t\t\tJosh Zembik (DC) - 202-224-6452 Josh_Zembik@blumenthal.senate.gov Elizabeth Benton (CT) - 860-729-3589 Elizabeth_Benton@blumenthal.senate.gov", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/senate-passes-blumenthal-bill-to-require-states-to-report-number-of-people-who-die-in-police-custody-each-year", "Senate Passes Blumenthal Bill To Require States To Report Number Of People Who Die In Police Custody Each Year", "2014-12-11", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senate Passes Blumenthal Bill To Require States To Report Number Of People Who Die In Police Custody Each Year\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Tweet\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tThursday, December 11, 2014\n\t\t\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) today applauded last night\u2019s Senate passage of the Death in Custody Reporting Act, bipartisan legislation he sponsored to require states to report to the U.S. Department of Justice how many individuals die each year while in police custody or during the course of an arrest. The House of Representatives approved the Death in Custody Reporting Act by voice vote on December 12, 2013, and the bill now goes to the President for his signature.\r\n\u201cTragic controversies in Ferguson and Staten Island have undercut trust and understanding between law enforcement and the communities they serve,\u201d said Sen. Blumenthal. \u201cThousands have taken to the streets to protest what they see as unpunished criminal conduct by police. Alarmingly, on an issue this profoundly important and potentially explosive, there is no reliable data on the overall scope of the problem. The stark, staggering fact is that the nation has no reliable idea how many Americans die during arrests or police custody each year. This legislation will fix that unacceptable factual gap. It will ensure that the nation knows exactly how many Americans die in custody, and it will give the information needed to strengthen trust at every level.\u201d\u00a0\r\nRep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), the sponsor of the House version of the bill, said: \u201cIt is clear that the federal government needs to exercise greater oversight of federal, state and local law enforcement personnel to ensure that they are protecting and serving our citizens. To aid in that measure, we need data on deaths that occur within our criminal justice system.\u00a0 Without accurate data, it is nearly impossible to identify variables that lead to an unnecessary and unacceptable risk of individuals dying in custody or during an arrest.\u00a0 The passage of the Death in Custody Reporting Act will make this information available, so policymakers will be in a position to enact initiatives that will reduce incidences of avoidable deaths in our criminal justice system.\u00a0 I appreciate the assistance of Senator Blumenthal and Senator Paul in working with me to pass this important bill before the end of this Congress.\u201d\r\nSenate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) said: \u201cAt a time when our Nation is having an important conversation about police encounters that result in the loss of life, we know that hundreds of police-related deaths are unaccounted for in federal statistics. Too many communities across our country are losing faith in our justice system.\u00a0 This bill provides a step towards accountability, and it is my hope that it may ultimately lead to restoring some measure of trust in these communities.\u201d\u00a0\r\nSen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), a cosponsor of the Senate bill, said: \"Passage of this bill is an important step in Congress assessing and reforming our criminal justice system. As a result, we will for the first time get a true picture of the extent and circumstances of deaths in the criminal justice system. I congratulate Rep. Scott and Sen. Blumenthal on passing this bill and will continue working with them on other necessary reforms.\"\u00a0\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Contact\n\t\t\t\t\tJosh Zembik (DC) - 202-224-6452 Josh_Zembik@blumenthal.senate.gov Elizabeth Benton (CT) - 860-729-3589 Elizabeth_Benton@blumenthal.senate.gov", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/senate-passes-death-in-custody-reporting-act", "Senate Passes Death In Custody Reporting Act", "2014-12-11", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and U.S. Representative Bobby Scott (D-Va.) today applauded last night\u2019s Senate passage of the Death in Custody Reporting Act, bipartisan legislation which requires states to report to the U.S. Department of Justice how many individuals die each year while in police custody or during the course of an arrest. The House of Representatives approved the Death in Custody Reporting Act by voice vote on December 12, 2013, and the bill now goes to the President for his signature.\r\n\u201cTragic controversies in Ferguson and Staten Island have undercut trust and understanding between law enforcement and the communities they serve,\u201d said Sen. Blumenthal. \u201cThousands have taken to the streets to protest what they see as unpunished criminal conduct by police. Alarmingly, on an issue this profoundly important and potentially explosive, there is no reliable data on the overall scope of the problem. The stark, staggering fact is that the nation has no reliable idea how many Americans die during arrests or police custody each year. This legislation will fix that unacceptable factual gap. It will ensure that the nation knows exactly how many Americans die in custody, and it will give the information needed to strengthen trust at every level.\u201d\r\nRep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), the sponsor of the House version of the bill, said: \u201cIt is clear that the federal government needs to exercise greater oversight of federal, state and local law enforcement personnel to ensure that they are protecting and serving our citizens. To aid in that measure, we need data on deaths that occur within our criminal justice system.\u00a0 Without accurate data, it is nearly impossible to identify variables that lead to an unnecessary and unacceptable risk of individuals dying in custody or during an arrest.\u00a0 The passage of the Death in Custody Reporting Act will make this information available, so policymakers will be in a position to enact initiatives that will reduce incidences of avoidable deaths in our criminal justice system.\u00a0 I appreciate the assistance of Senator Blumenthal and Senator Paul in working with me to pass this important bill before the end of this Congress.\u201d\r\nSenate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) said: \u201cAt a time when our Nation is having an important conversation about police encounters that result in the loss of life, we know that hundreds of police-related deaths are unaccounted for in federal statistics. Too many communities across our country are losing faith in our justice system.\u00a0 This bill provides a step towards accountability, and it is my hope that it may ultimately lead to restoring some measure of trust in these communities.\u201d\r\nSen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), a cosponsor of the Senate bill, said: \"Passage of this bill is an important step in Congress assessing and reforming our criminal justice system. As a result, we will for the first time get a true picture of the extent and circumstances of deaths in the criminal justice system. I congratulate Rep. Scott and Sen. Blumenthal on passing this bill and will continue working with them on other necessary reforms.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-2015-consolidated-and-further-continuing-appropriations-act", "Larson on 2015 Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act", "2014-12-11", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "John Larson", "L000557", "larson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement today: This measure was rushed to the floor with little time for members to review and included numerous problematic policy provisions unrelated to the appropriations process.\n\"From language that could potentially increase health insurance premiums to alterations to the Dodd-Frank law, this bill was filled with provisions that do not belong in a bill that is simply supposed to fund our government. This flawed legislation also included a provision to allow wealthy donors to contribute hundreds of thousands of additional dollars to political parties than previously allowed and a last minute deal on multiemployer pension plans that groups like the AARP, IAM, the Teamsters and others have raised serious concerns with. Rather than a long-term solution, this bill also only provided temporary funding for the Department of Homeland Security, holding a vital part of our national security hostage for purely political reasons. On these issues and many others, the American people deserve a full and open debate rather than an eleventh hour deal rushed through at the end of the year. I am extremely disappointed in the process today but remain committed to working on the most pressing issues facing our country, jobs and the economy.\"\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-statement-on-vote-for-aumf-in-senate-foreign-relations-committee", "MURPHY STATEMENT ON VOTE FOR AUMF IN SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE", "2014-12-11", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "MURPHY STATEMENT ON VOTE FOR AUMF IN SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, December 11, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) released the following statement on his vote in the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee in favor of a limited authorization for use of military force (AUMF) against ISIL. Murphy's provision requiring the administration to provide Congress with a clear political and diplomatic strategy was included in the AUMF.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\r\nSince September, the United States has been engaged in a military campaign against ISIL without explicit authorization from the Congress. I have said from the beginning that the President does not have unlimited power to wage war, and that only Congress can authorize it. I am pleased that today the Senate Foreign Relations Committee finally lived up to our Constitutional responsibility by debating and voting on an AUMF against ISIL.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\r\nI supported this AUMF because, while I agree with President Obama that ISIL is a threat that must be confronted, I strongly believe that we must put strict limits on the use of force to ensure that the United States does not get entangled in another endless war in the Middle East. This AUMF is time-limited and prevents ground combat operations by U.S. troops. It also includes a provision I authored requiring the executive branch to submit a comprehensive strategy that sets forth the political, diplomatic, and military objectives of the United States, and a clear end goal and exit strategy. As the President himself said, \u201cwe cannot do for Iraqis what they must do for themselves, nor can we take the place of Arab partners in securing their region.\u201d Our use of military force can only be a shaping mechanism giving space to achieve the ultimate goal of political stability in the region\u2014it cannot be a replacement for the hard work of political and sectarian reconciliation and improved governance that must take place.\r\n\u00a0\r\nFurther, this AUMF sunsets the two previous authorizations from 2001 and 2002 that have been used as legal justification for continued hostilities around the world. Those authorizations are woefully out-of-date and were never intended to apply to a new conflict with different aggressors and in additional countries\u00a0more than a decade later. If this or a future president believes there is a new terrorist threat requiring a military response, they should have to make the case to the Congress and the American people.\r\n\u00a0\r\nIt is past time that we learn from the mistakes of our recent history, and recognize that open-ended military campaigns waged against an amorphous terrorist threat may create more enemies than they eliminate. Yes, we must confront an enemy like ISIL, but military force is neither a strategy nor a goal in and of itself, and must only be used in the context of broader political and diplomatic objectives. We cannot continue to authorize unlimited war, and it is completely within Congress\u2019s constitutional bounds to place statutory limits on the military action we endorse.\u00a0It is ultimately up to the Congress to reassert its constitutional role in foreign policy\u2014a role it has abdicated for too long.\u00a0The Foreign Relations Committee took a big step in that direction today.\r\n\u00a0\r\nBut this bill is not likely to be voted on by the full Congress before we recess.\u00a0 That is regrettable, as we should not leave this critical issue unfinished before adjourning.\u00a0I will continue to urge the leaders of the Senate to bring this AUMF up for a vote on the Senate floor as soon as possible.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://esty.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-elizabeth-esty-applauds-increased-funding-for-the-nation-0", "Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty Applauds Increased Funding for the National Criminal Background Checks System", "2014-12-10", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Elizabeth Esty", "E000293", "esty.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty\u2019s (CT-05) bipartisan Women in Aerospace Education Act (H.R. 4254) passed the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee by voice vote this morning. The bill would encourage universities applying for Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship grants, which are designed to cover the cost of STEM-degree seeking students who intend to teach in rural and lower income school districts, to incorporate aerospace programs at the National Laboratories and NASA Centers into their teacher training experience. Esty, along with Rep. Steve Knight (CA-25), introduced the legislation to encourage more women to participate in the STEM fields.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://esty.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-elizabeth-esty-applauds-increased-funding-for-the-national", "Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty Applauds Increased Funding for the National Criminal Background Checks System", "2014-12-10", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Elizabeth Esty", "E000293", "esty.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty\u2019s (CT-05) bipartisan Women in Aerospace Education Act (H.R. 4254) passed the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee by voice vote this morning. The bill would encourage universities applying for Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship grants, which are designed to cover the cost of STEM-degree seeking students who intend to teach in rural and lower income school districts, to incorporate aerospace programs at the National Laboratories and NASA Centers into their teacher training experience. Esty, along with Rep. Steve Knight (CA-25), introduced the legislation to encourage more women to participate in the STEM fields.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://esty.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-elizabeth-esty-applauds-passage-of-bipartisan-bill-to", "Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty Applauds Passage of Bipartisan Bill to Protect Taxpayers from Terrorism Risk", "2014-12-10", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Elizabeth Esty", "E000293", "esty.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty\u2019s (CT-05) bipartisan Women in Aerospace Education Act (H.R. 4254) passed the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee by voice vote this morning. The bill would encourage universities applying for Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship grants, which are designed to cover the cost of STEM-degree seeking students who intend to teach in rural and lower income school districts, to incorporate aerospace programs at the National Laboratories and NASA Centers into their teacher training experience. Esty, along with Rep. Steve Knight (CA-25), introduced the legislation to encourage more women to participate in the STEM fields.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/as-mazda-expands-recall-blumenthal-markey-call-on-takata-to-release-details-of-safety-testing-used-on-defective-airbags", "As Mazda Expands Recall, Blumenthal, Markey Call On Takata To Release Details Of Safety Testing Used On Defective Airbags", "2014-12-10", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) today wrote to Takata Corporation Chairman and CEO Shigehisa Takada, calling on the manufacturer of defective airbags to release documents and information about the company\u2019s adherence to industry standards on design and performance for airbag inflators.\r\n\u201cAs Mazda expands its recall to include more models with Takata airbags, it has become more important than ever to understand the root cause of this deadly defect,\u201d said Blumenthal and Markey. \u201cIndustry testing standards are supposed to guard against the kinds defects in Takata\u2019s airbags that have killed or injured a growing number of drivers. We want to know if those procedures were followed, if the results were provided to Mazda, Honda and other manufacturers and if so, whether the tests need to be made more stringent to better protect the lives of consumers.\u201d \u00a0\r\nFull text of the Senators\u2019 letter to Takata is below, and as a PDF here:\r\nDecember 10, 2014\r\nMr. Shigehisa Takada\r\nChairman and CEO\r\nTakata Corporation\r\nARK Hills South Tower\r\n4-5 Roppongi 1-Chome\r\nMinato-ku, Tokyo, 106-8488\r\nJapan\r\nDear Mr. Takada:\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We write seeking documents and information regarding Takata\u2019s adherence to industry standards on the design and performance of airbag inflators. These specifications, known as USCAR24, were developed by the United States Council on Automotive Research (USCAR), a consortium consisting of General Motors Company, Chrysler Group LLC, and Ford Motor Company. Although not required by federal law, the specifications are known to be widely required by the U.S. car manufacturers for which you are a supplier.\r\nIt is striking that these specifications seem to predict the nature of Takata\u2019s airbag defect. While the public is only just learning that an airbag is capable of exploding into metal shards that can blind, injure, or kill, the authors of USCAR24 seem to demonstrate clear understanding of this potential scenario.\r\nDuring the recent Senate Commerce hearing on the defective Takata airbags, Mr. Hiroshi Shimizu suggested that the problem is likely a combination of inflator aging, exposure to high humidity, and production problems. However, USCAR24 should have guarded against the inflators failing due to aging or high humidity, and any production problems should have been quickly spotted and rectified through standard quality control measures. As you should know, USCAR24 requires inflators to undergo comprehensive testing in a variety of extreme conditions. For example, in order to pass USCAR24, an inflator must pass the high humidity and heat age test, designed to, \u201cevaluate inflator resistance to temperature aging in an environment of high humidity.\u201d Since Takata airbags are thought to be more susceptible to deploying violently in high humidity environments, this test seems particularly critical. Other tests that seem highly relevant to testing for the suspected defect with Takata airbags include the humidity resistance test, leak test, and a variety of aging tests.\r\nMany questions have also been raised recently regarding Takata\u2019s choice of ammonium nitrate in its propellant formula, but concerns regarding the stability of this chemical have long been known. In fact, under the propellant stability requirement of USCAR24, propellants containing ammonium nitrate are \u201crequired to undergo added stability evaluation for propellant strength and burn rate stability.\u201d It is also well established in the scientific literature and among experts that ammonium nitrate has a tendency to attract and absorb moisture. Given this known property, it would be especially important for inflators to pass stringent tests that make sure the propellant is properly sealed off from potential outside moisture. Hermeticity\u2014the quality of being airtight and waterproof\u2014is a core requirement in the specifications.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We have been deeply troubled by Takata\u2019s apparent inability to pinpoint the root cause of many of the incidents involving the defective airbags. A decade has passed since Takata learned of the first fatality involving a ruptured airbag and it is unacceptable that Takata continues to maintain its complete lack of awareness regarding the cause of the defect associated with many of the incidents. Without a root cause, we have no closure on why airbags are rupturing.\u00a0\r\nAs Takata speeds up its production lines to supply parts to repair the recalled vehicles, it is more critical than ever that Takata act aggressively to determine the root cause. Understanding the root cause is crucial for safety regulators and auto manufacturers to figure out the best path forward for ensuring the safety of all drivers and passengers. Therefore, we write with many questions regarding the role of USCAR24 in the design, testing, and production of Takata inflators, with the hope that this may help shed light on the root cause of the defect. Please provide answers to the following questions by December 22, 2014:\r\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Did Takata test all of its driver and passenger-side airbag inflator designs in accordance with USCAR24 specifications?\r\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Did Takata provide the complete test results to the car manufacturers Takata supplied with airbags? If yes, please provide complete testing observations and results from when the airbags were first designed, as well for any subsequent redesigns. These should include, but not be limited to, the Design Verification Report, Design Failure Modes and Effects Analysis, Production Validation Report, and Process Failure Modes and Effects Analysis. Date of all test results should be clearly indicated. Please also specify the version (i.e. year) of USCAR24 specifications used and the name of any third parties employed to conduct this testing. Please also specify the version (i.e. year) of USCAR24 specifications used and the name of any third parties employed to conduct this testing. If no, please explain why no testing was conducted or provided.\r\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Car manufacturers are responsible for signing off on any deviations from the precise test procedures outlined in the specifications, as well as the additional tests required for propellants containing ammonium nitrate. Were any deviations from USCAR24 specifications considered or permitted by manufacturers? If so, please provide all documentation related to such consideration or permission. Did Takata consult with car manufacturers in all such cases? What, if any, additional testing did Takata conduct to evaluate the stability of its ammonium nitrate based propellant? Please provide all documentation related to communications with manufacturers on such issues.\r\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Which car manufacturers required documentation showing that Takata inflator passed USCAR24 specifications? Does Takata have a policy for providing car manufacturers with complete USCAR24 testing results? Please describe Takata\u2019s procedures.\r\n5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 If Takata inflators fully passed USCAR24 tests, please provide your understanding of how Takata airbags, which are suspected to explode in humid environments, could have been able to pass USCAR24.\r\n6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What is Takata\u2019s most current understanding on the root cause of the defect?\r\nThis information will also help us all better understand how critical industry standards can be better enforced and designed to serve the American public and prioritize public safety. Thank you for your prompt attention to this grave and serious matter.\r\nSincerely,\r\n___________________________\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ___________________________\r\nRichard Blumenthal\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Edward J. Markey\r\nUnited States Senator\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 United States Senator", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://himes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=50BBB985-C390-4F88-8D58-E987E30C404E", "Himes Statement on Year-End Government Funding Agreement", "2014-12-10", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "James A. Himes", "H001047", "himes.house.gov", "himes", "https://himes.house.gov/press-releases", "page_html", "Washington, DC \u2014 Congressman Jim Himes (CT-4) issued the following statement after voting in favor of bipartisan legislation that would keep most of the federal government funded through September 2015.\n\n\u201cI believe it's extremely important to avoid another disastrous government shutdown. For the last year, I've heard from constituents of all political stripes about the need for Congress to make government work. If we\u2019re going to restore functionality to our government, then Congress needs to compromise, and that's what this bipartisan agreement does. It is by no means perfect. There are a lot of good things in this bill - it boosts funding for key financial regulators, preserves funding for Pell Grants and strengthens our ability to curb the spread of Ebola, to name a few. But there are also things in this agreement that I find objectionable, including its provisions that weaken our campaign finance regulations and roll back Clean Water Act protections. At the end of the day, I believe the good in this bill outweighs the aspects I disagree with, and it meets Congress' responsibility to ensure our government stays open to meet the needs of the American people.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-03-30T11:08:25Z"], ["https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-passage-terrorism-risk-insurance-act", "Larson on Passage of Terrorism Risk Insurance Act", "2014-12-10", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "John Larson", "L000557", "larson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement today on passage of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act, S. 2244, in the U.S. House of Representatives: Today, Congress provided needed certainty to main street businesses and communities across the country that insurance would be available to help them recover in the event of terrorist attacks. The losses and financial impact of September 11th devastated the economy and overwhelmed businesses struggling to rebuild with insurance policies unprepared for a terrorist attack. The loss of affordable insurance halted the construction and development of major metropolitan areas as well as recovery around ground zero. In order to help jumpstart the economy, Congress came together in 2002 to provide the federal support necessary to allow insurance companies to continue offering financial assistance to families, businesses, cities, universities, sports leagues, and the construction industry. While it is our hope that this kind of terrorism insurance claim never needs to be fulfilled, we cannot afford to keep businesses suspended in uncertainty and taxpayers on the hook for the total cost of an attack. Providing a government backstop to the work of private insurers in these circumstances is both necessary and fiscally responsible. By reauthorizing TRIA today, we are continuing to provide the security of insurance to developers, building owners and families in the event of a terrorist incident while drastically lowering the ability of those who wish to disrupt our economy through terrorist means. The Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act extends TRIA for six years, providing government assistance in industry losses of over $200 million resulting from a terrorist attack.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141211052839/http://esty.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/connecticut-wins-competitve-federal-grant-to-expand-high-quality", "Connecticut Wins Competitve Federal Grant to Expand High-Quality Preschool", "2014-12-10", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Elizabeth Esty", "E000293", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "(HARTFORD, CT) \u2013 Governor Dannel P. Malloy and Connecticut\u2019s Congressional delegation today announced that Connecticut has been awarded nearly $12.5 million in discretionary federal funding to expand high-quality preschool. The funding was awarded by the U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services through a competitive grant process and was announced today by Secretary Burwell of the Department of Health and Human Services and Secretary Duncan of the Department of Education.\nConnecticut\u2019s application aligns with the state\u2019s strong existing preschool infrastructure to expand access to high-quality state-funded preschool programs for 428 children and to improve the quality of state-funded preschool programs for another 284 children, for a total of 712 four-year-olds who are at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Line in 14 high-need communities. The 14 communities are Bridgeport, Derby, East Haven, Griswold, Groton, Hamden, Hebron, Killingly, Manchester, Naugatuck, Seymour, Torrington, Vernon, and Wolcott.\nThe 14 communities participating in the expansion will have high-quality preschool programs which:\n offer comprehensive services to children and families;\n\toffer teacher compensation equal to K-12 teachers;\n\tdeepen family engagement practices at the local level;\n\tforge a seamless birth-through-third-grade continuum at the local level; and\n\thave an enhanced professional development system offering more targeted and individualized coaching, mentoring and consultation designed to meet the unique needs of programs and teachers within the programs.\n \u201cAs a mother of three children, I know how important access to quality education is for our children, especially during their early, formative years,\u201d said Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (CT-5). \u201cUnder the leadership of Governor Malloy, Connecticut has significantly expanded preschool opportunities for families. I want to thank Secretary Burwell and Secretary Duncan for their meaningful investment in the future of Connecticut children, and I look forward to continuing to work with them to ensure that every family has access to high-quality, affordable early childhood education.\u201d\nThirteen out of 27 states that applied for competitive grants to expand high-quality preschool programs were awarded over $170 million in federal funding. In addition to Connecticut, the states that received funding are Arkansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont and Virginia.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/connecticut-wins-competitive-federal-grant-to-expand-high-quality-preschool", "CONNECTICUT WINS COMPETITIVE FEDERAL GRANT TO EXPAND HIGH-QUALITY PRESCHOOL", "2014-12-10", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "CONNECTICUT WINS COMPETITIVE FEDERAL GRANT TO EXPAND HIGH-QUALITY PRESCHOOL\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWednesday, December 10, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tHARTFORD \u2013 Connecticut\u2019s Congressional delegation and Governor Dannel P. Malloy\u00a0today announced that Connecticut has been awarded nearly $12.5 million in discretionary federal funding to expand high-quality preschool. The funding was awarded by the U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services through a competitive grant process and was announced today by Secretary Burwell of the Department of Health and Human Services and Secretary Duncan of the Department of Education.\r\n\u201cMy kids are 3 and 6 years old, so right now, my family is particularly appreciative of everything early childhood education does to improve a kid\u2019s well-being\u201d said U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.). \u201cCountless studies have shown that these early years are critical for a kid\u2019s development and success in the long run, so I\u2019m thrilled that Connecticut will now be able to expand the high-quality preschool programs that all families should have access to. I\u2019d like to thank the Department of Education for working so closely with us to secure this funding and for investing in the educational success of kids across Connecticut.\u201d\r\n\u201cEarly childhood education, and the dedicated teachers who serve in those classrooms, enrich the lives of our youngest citizens and their families,\u201d said Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.). \u201cThe investment literally pays of over a lifetime and is a cornerstone of our efforts to close the achievement gap, combat poverty and provide all kids with opportunities to thrive. Low-income children in Derby, East Haven, Hamden, Naugatuck and Seymour should have the same opportunities as their peers and this grant is one step towards ensuring that happens.\u201d\r\n\u201cAccess to high-quality preschool is one of the most important foundations for lifelong success, and Connecticut has long been a leader in this area,\u201d said U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.). \u201cToday\u2019s substantial federal award will give 428 additional children in underserved communities the early start they need to enter kindergarten ready to learn and thrive.\u201d\r\n\u201cEvery child deserves a high-quality education. I applaud Governor Malloy for his tireless commitment to early childhood education and know this grant will further enhance the efforts he has already set in motion,\u201d said Congressman John B. Larson (D-Conn.). \u201cProviding our children access to high-quality education at an early age should be a top priority for the nation. I am proud to see Connecticut leading the way in achieving the goal of accessible early education for every child and I look forward to seeing the impact of this grant in our communities.\u201d\r\n\u201cAccess to quality early childhood education is a proven strategy to help children succeed in school from the day they enter kindergarten until the day they graduate high school,\u201d said Congressman Joe Courtney (D-Conn.). \u201cThis federal funding will expand on the progress already happening in Connecticut to increase early childhood education, and as a member of the House Education Committee, I will continue to work with my colleagues to ensure that every child has the opportunity to get a great education.\u201d\r\n\u201cEarly childhood education programs are some of the smartest investments we can make as a nation to help children succeed and improve our communities,\u201d said Congressman Jim Himes (D-Conn.). \u201cI was proud to join the state and the city of Bridgeport in pushing for this grant, which will boost the number of pre-school spots for low and middle-income children in Bridgeport. I will keep urging Congress to pass legislation I've introduced - modeled on successful efforts in Bridgeport \u2013 to expand and improve early education across the country.\u201d\r\n\u201cAs a mother of three children, I know how important access to quality education is for our children, especially during their early, formative years,\u201d said Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (D-Conn.). \u201cUnder the leadership of Governor Malloy, Connecticut has significantly expanded preschool opportunities for families. I want to thank Secretary Burwell and Secretary Duncan for their meaningful investment in the future of Connecticut children, and I look forward to continuing to work with them to ensure that every family has access to high-quality, affordable early childhood education.\u201d\r\n\u201cWe have a fundamental responsibility to provide an opportunity for all children to succeed, and one of the best ways to do that is to make sure they have access to a high-quality early learning experience,\u201d said Governor Malloy. \u201cI commend President Obama, Secretary Burwell and Secretary Duncan for their leadership in this effort, and I thank them for their confidence in Connecticut in making this award. These federal funds will allow us to expand high-quality preschool to serve over 400 additional children and improve the quality of preschool for nearly 300 more children in low-income families, giving them the necessary foundation to succeed in school and life. I\u2019d like to thank the Office of Early Childhood and all of our community partners who worked hard on this application and are helping us transform how we address early childhood education in Connecticut.\u201d\r\n\u201cToday is a great day for Connecticut children,\u201d said Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman. \u201cThis federal award signifies Connecticut\u2019s commitment to better serve our youngest children. Hundreds of additional children across our state will now have a shot at the early start they need to be successful in school and life. We are grateful to the Obama Administration, Secretary Burwell and Secretary Duncan for recognizing our efforts to increase access to high-quality early educational opportunities and for their support of Connecticut children.\u201d\r\nConnecticut\u2019s application aligns with the state\u2019s strong existing preschool infrastructure to expand access to high-quality state-funded preschool programs for 428 children and to improve the quality of state-funded preschool programs for another 284 children, for a total of 712 four-year-olds who are at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Line in 14 high-need communities. The 14 communities are Bridgeport, Derby, East Haven, Griswold, Groton, Hamden, Hebron, Killingly, Manchester, Naugatuck, Seymour, Torrington, Vernon, and Wolcott.\r\n\u201cThis opportunity to use federal funding to expand high-quality preschool in Connecticut comes at a time when we are making great strides toward achieving universal access to preschool for our state\u2019s young children,\u201d stated Dr. Myra Jones-Taylor, Commissioner for the Office of Early Childhood. \u201cThis grant will bring us yet another step closer to making high-quality preschool available for all of our children and closer to closing the achievement gap.\u201d\r\nThe 14 communities participating in the expansion will have high-quality preschool programs which:\r\n\u2022 offer comprehensive services to children and families;  \u2022 offer teacher compensation equal to K-12 teachers;  \u2022 deepen family engagement practices at the local level;  \u2022 forge a seamless birth-through-third-grade continuum at the local level; and  \u2022 have an enhanced professional development system offering more targeted and individualized coaching, mentoring and consultation designed to meet the unique needs of programs and teachers within the programs.\r\nGovernor Malloy added, \u201cI also thank our entire Congressional Delegation, particularly Congresswoman DeLauro, who is the senior Democrat on the Appropriations subcommittee responsible for both departments and who secured funding for this program in last year\u2019s omnibus appropriations act.\u201d\r\nThirteen out of 27 states that applied for competitive grants to expand high-quality preschool programs were awarded over $170 million in federal funding. In addition to Connecticut, the states that received funding are Arkansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont and Virginia.\r\nIn June, Governor Malloy announced the allocation of an additional 1,020 additional School Readiness opportunities for low-income children in 46 towns and cities throughout Connecticut. The increase is part of a five-year plan to expand state-funded preschool to serve a total of 4,010 more low-income children by 2019. In 2012, Governor Malloy approved a similar expansion of 1,000 School Readiness opportunities for children throughout the state.\r\nIn addition, Public Act 14-41 established the Connecticut Smart Start Program which is intended to expand preschool opportunities for low-income children in public schools. Connecticut Smart Start will provide grants in FY15 for the renovation of existing public school classrooms to accommodate public preschool programs. Proposals for Smart Start funding are due from local and regional boards of education on December 19.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-harkin-announce-students-before-profits-act", "MURPHY, HARKIN ANNOUNCE STUDENTS BEFORE PROFITS ACT", "2014-12-10", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "MURPHY, HARKIN ANNOUNCE \u201cSTUDENTS BEFORE PROFITS ACT\u201d\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tWill continue the effort to hold for-profit colleges accountable \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWednesday, December 10, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) announced that he introduced the Students Before Profits Act to help protect students from deceptive practices and bad actors in the for-profit college sector. Drafted jointly with HELP Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), the Students Before Profits Act will put power back in students\u2019 hands by allowing them to make better informed decisions about what school to attend, while also holding subpar schools accountable. The bill would help to address many of the issues identified in the groundbreaking 2012 investigation of for-profit colleges Harkin led as Chairman of the HELP Committee.\r\n\u201cWhile some for-profit schools are doing a good job of delivering a quality education in innovative ways, too many are putting their bottom lines ahead of students\u2019 best interests,\u201d said Murphy. \u201cWhen schools leave students with worthless degrees and saddled with debt, while getting the vast majority of their revenue from taxpayer dollars, they need to be held accountable by the federal government. The Students Before Profits Act will let students know what they\u2019re getting from their college, and ensure that there are consequences when schools aren\u2019t transparent about costs, accreditation, job placement, and other metrics. I\u2019m proud to have worked on this important bill with Chairman Harkin, who has been such a champion on this issue for so many years, and I will keep fighting for students in the next Congress.\u201d\r\n\u201cMy investigation made clear that taxpayers have been making a huge annual investment in for-profit colleges that continue to leave millions of students with high debt but little increased earning potential,\u201d Harkin said. \u201cI am proud to cosponsor the Students Before Profits Act, a bill that takes concrete steps to hold for-profit colleges accountable for their students\u2019 success. This bill builds upon provisions included in my Higher Education Affordability Act, and I am encouraged to see that strong champions in the next Congress will continue to work of ensuring that for-profit higher education companies are accountable to students and taxpayers alike. Senator Murphy has been a strong partner in this effort and his advocacy and action in the next Congress will help continue the work the HELP Committee has led to ensure every family has access to a quality, affordable education.\u201d\r\nFor too long, some for-profit schools have failed America\u2019s neediest students, despite the fact that the majority of their revenue comes from federal dollars. The for-profit college industry enrolls just 13% of all postsecondary school students, but accounts for nearly half of all student loan defaults across the country. In addition to crippling amounts of student loan debt, too many students leave a for-profit college with worthless credits and degrees, and, ultimately, dismal job prospects upon graduation \u2013 if they can afford to complete their course load. In fact, 72% of for-profit programs produce graduates who earn less, on average, than high school dropouts.\r\nInstead of using the majority of taxpayer and tuition dollars for academia, for-profit colleges allocate about 23% of revenue to recruiting and marketing, 19% to profit, and just 17% to academic instruction. This track record sets students up for failure, not the success they deserve.\r\nThe Students Before Profits Act will help protect students from the worst for-profit colleges. By making sure that students have access to important and accurate information and data, strengthening oversight and regulation, and holding schools accountable for violations and poor performance, we can help ensure that taxpayer dollars are being well spent, and that students are receiving a quality, affordable education.\r\nThe Students Before Profits Act will:\r\n \r\nEstablish a Risk Sharing Commission to develop recommendations detailing how schools should be held financially responsible for poor student outcomes, increasing federal accountability of financial aid;\r\n\r\nAuthorize Enhanced Civil Penalties on institutions and their executive officers if it is determined the institution misrepresented its cost, admission requirements, completion rates, employment prospects, default rates, etc\u2026and ensure at least half of those penalties are deposited into a Student Relief fund to bolster consumer protections for students;\r\nEnsure Transparency on Default Rate Manipulation by requiring any school with a default rate above 30% share their plan to lower defaults directly with current students and by requiring any school found to have engaged in default rate manipulation through forbearance abuse or by branching campuses have its rate recalculated.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://himes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=89C4E0EE-F36B-4BA6-83AC-3DA55AA9A138", "Connecticut Wins Competitive Grant to Expand High-Quality Preschool", "2014-12-09", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "James A. Himes", "H001047", "himes.house.gov", "himes", "https://himes.house.gov/press-releases", "page_html", "Washington, DC \u2013 Connecticut\u2019s congressional delegation and Governor Dannel P. Malloy today announced that Connecticut has been awarded nearly $12.5 million in discretionary federal funding to expand high-quality preschool. The funding was awarded by the U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services through a competitive grant process and was announced today by Secretary Burwell of the Department of Health and Human Services and Secretary Duncan of the Department of Education.\n\n\u201cEarly childhood education programs are some of the smartest investments we can make as a nation to help children succeed and improve our communities,\u201d said Congressman Jim Himes (D-Conn.). \u201cI was proud to join the state and the city of Bridgeport in pushing for this grant, which will boost the number of pre-school spots for low and middle-income children in Bridgeport. I will keep urging Congress to pass legislation I've introduced - modeled on successful efforts in Bridgeport \u2013 to expand and improve early education across the country.\u201d\n\n\u201cMy kids are 3 and 6 years old, so right now, my family is particularly appreciative of everything early childhood education does to improve a kid\u2019s well-being\u201d said U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.). \u201cCountless studies have shown that these early years are critical for a kid\u2019s development and success in the long run, so I\u2019m thrilled that Connecticut will now be able to expand the high-quality preschool programs that all families should have access to. I\u2019d like to thank the Department of Education for working so closely with us to secure this funding and for investing in the educational success of kids across Connecticut.\u201d\n\n\u201cAccess to high-quality preschool is one of the most important foundations for lifelong success, and Connecticut has long been a leader in this area,\u201d said U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.). \u201cToday\u2019s substantial federal award will give 428 additional children in underserved communities the early start they need to enter kindergarten ready to learn and thrive.\u201d\n\n\u201cEarly childhood education, and the dedicated teachers who serve in those classrooms, enrich the lives of our youngest citizens and their families,\u201d said Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.). \u201cThe investment literally pays of over a lifetime and is a cornerstone of our efforts to close the achievement gap, combat poverty and provide all kids with opportunities to thrive. Low-income children in Derby, East Haven, Hamden, Naugatuck and Seymour should have the same opportunities as their peers and this grant is one step towards ensuring that happens.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery child deserves a high-quality education. I applaud Governor Malloy for his tireless commitment to early childhood education and know this grant will further enhance the efforts he has already set in motion,\u201d said Congressman John B. Larson (D-Conn.). \u201cProviding our children access to high-quality education at an early age should be a top priority for the nation. I am proud to see Connecticut leading the way in achieving the goal of accessible early education for every child and I look forward to seeing the impact of this grant in our communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cAccess to quality early childhood education is a proven strategy to help children succeed in school from the day they enter kindergarten until the day they graduate high school,\u201d said Congressman Joe Courtney (D-Conn.). \u201cThis federal funding will expand on the progress already happening in Connecticut to increase early childhood education, and as a member of the House Education Committee, I will continue to work with my colleagues to ensure that every child has the opportunity to get a great education.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a mother of three children, I know how important access to quality education is for our children, especially during their early, formative years,\u201d said Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (D-Conn.). \u201cUnder the leadership of Governor Malloy, Connecticut has significantly expanded preschool opportunities for families. I want to thank Secretary Burwell and Secretary Duncan for their meaningful investment in the future of Connecticut children, and I look forward to continuing to work with them to ensure that every family has access to high-quality, affordable early childhood education.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe have a fundamental responsibility to provide an opportunity for all children to succeed, and one of the best ways to do that is to make sure they have access to a high-quality early learning experience,\u201d said Governor Malloy. \u201cI commend President Obama, Secretary Burwell and Secretary Duncan for their leadership in this effort, and I thank them for their confidence in Connecticut in making this award. These federal funds will allow us to expand high-quality preschool to serve over 400 additional children and improve the quality of preschool for nearly 300 more children in low-income families, giving them the necessary foundation to succeed in school and life. I\u2019d like to thank the Office of Early Childhood and all of our community partners who worked hard on this application and are helping us transform how we address early childhood education in Connecticut.\u201d\n\n\u201cToday is a great day for Connecticut children,\u201d said Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman. \u201cThis federal award signifies Connecticut\u2019s commitment to better serve our youngest children. Hundreds of additional children across our state will now have a shot at the early start they need to be successful in school and life. We are grateful to the Obama Administration, Secretary Burwell and Secretary Duncan for recognizing our efforts to increase access to high-quality early educational opportunities and for their support of Connecticut children.\u201d\n\nConnecticut\u2019s application aligns with the state\u2019s strong existing preschool infrastructure to expand access to high-quality state-funded preschool programs for 428 children and to improve the quality of state-funded preschool programs for another 284 children, for a total of 712 four-year-olds who are at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Line in 14 high-need communities. The 14 communities are Bridgeport, Derby, East Haven, Griswold, Groton, Hamden, Hebron, Killingly, Manchester, Naugatuck, Seymour, Torrington, Vernon, and Wolcott.\n\n\u201cThis opportunity to use federal funding to expand high-quality preschool in Connecticut comes at a time when we are making great strides toward achieving universal access to preschool for our state\u2019s young children,\u201d stated Dr. Myra Jones-Taylor, Commissioner for the Office of Early Childhood. \u201cThis grant will bring us yet another step closer to making high-quality preschool available for all of our children and closer to closing the achievement gap.\u201d\n\nThe 14 communities participating in the expansion will have high-quality preschool programs which:\n\noffer comprehensive services to children and families;\n\noffer teacher compensation equal to K-12 teachers;\n\ndeepen family engagement practices at the local level;\n\nforge a seamless birth-through-third-grade continuum at the local level; and\n\nhave an enhanced professional development system offering more targeted and individualized coaching, mentoring and consultation designed to meet the unique needs of programs and teachers within the programs.\n\nGovernor Malloy added, \u201cI also thank our entire Congressional Delegation, particularly Congresswoman DeLauro, who is the senior Democrat on the Appropriations subcommittee responsible for both departments and who secured funding for this program in last year\u2019s omnibus appropriations act.\u201d\n\nThirteen out of 27 states that applied for competitive grants to expand high-quality preschool programs were awarded over $170 million in federal funding. In addition to Connecticut, the states that received funding are Arkansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont and Virginia.\n\nIn June, Governor Malloy announced the allocation of an additional 1,020 additional School Readiness opportunities for low-income children in 46 towns and cities throughout Connecticut. The increase is part of a five-year plan to expand state-funded preschool to serve a total of 4,010 more low-income children by 2019. In 2012, Governor Malloy approved a similar expansion of 1,000 School Readiness opportunities for children throughout the state.\n\nIn addition, Public Act 14-41 established the Connecticut Smart Start Program which is intended to expand preschool opportunities for low-income children in public schools. Connecticut Smart Start will provide grants in FY15 for the renovation of existing public school classrooms to accommodate public preschool programs. Proposals for Smart Start funding are due from local and regional boards of education on December 19.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-03-30T11:08:25Z"], ["https://nyti.ms/1AbuMGn", "SENATE DEMOCRATS: PASSAGE OF AFFORDABLE CARE ACT WAS OPEN AND TRANSPARENT, WITH HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF PUBLIC HEARINGS AND DOZENS OF COMMITTEE MEETINGS  AFTER PASSAGE OF LAW, HEALTH CARE COSTS AND INSURANCE NUMBERS ARE PROOF THAT ACA WORKS", "2014-12-09", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "nyti.ms", null, null, "legacy", "SENATE DEMOCRATS: PASSAGE OF AFFORDABLE CARE ACT WAS OPEN AND TRANSPARENT, WITH HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF PUBLIC HEARINGS AND DOZENS OF COMMITTEE MEETINGS \u2013 AFTER PASSAGE OF LAW, HEALTH CARE COSTS AND INSURANCE NUMBERS ARE PROOF THAT ACA WORKS\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tSenator Chris Murphy, Leader Of Senate Democrats\u2019 #ACAWorks Campaign: Claiming The Process Was Anything Less Than Completely Transparent Is Misleading And Political\u2026 Republicans Should Listen To The Public, Drop Their Crusade To Repeal The Affordable Care Act\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, December 9, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON \u2013 Today, as House Republicans continue to vow to repeal the Affordable Care Act and hold a hearing titled, \u201cExamining ObamaCare Transparency Failures\u201d, Senate Democrats released data and key points refuting Republican claims and demonstrating the clear transparency of the process that led to the passage of the ACA. Today\u2019s hearing comes after the latest ACA enrollment numbers show a solid start in the first week of 2015\u2019s open enrollment period and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services\u2019 release of a new report showing that healthcare spending in the U.S. grew last year at the lowest rate ever recorded, in part due to the ACA. As more reports of the positive effects of the ACA are announced, Republicans, however, continue to promise a vote to repeal the law and strip away affordable coverage from millions of Americans and put insurance companies back in charge.\r\n\u00a0\u201cToday\u2019s ludicrous hearing in the House of Representatives is just the latest example of Republicans doing whatever it takes to strip affordable health care from millions of people in Connecticut and across America who want and need it,\u201d said U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) leader of the Senate Democrats\u2019 #ACAworks campaign. \u201cThe idea that the Affordable Care Act was drafted behind closed doors is false. Between the dozens of hours-long public meetings in the Senate HELP and Finance committees, as well as the countless hours House members spent debating the bill in the Energy & Commerce, Ways & Means, and Education & Labor committees, members of Congress actually spent a historically high amount of time on this legislation. Claiming the process was anything less than completely transparent is misleading and political. If Republicans want to improve health care in this country, they should listen to the public, drop their crusade to repeal the Affordable Care Act and instead work with Democrats to make it even better.\u201d\r\n\u00a0Contrary to Republican claims, the process that led to the passage of the Affordable Care Act was one of the most transparent in our nation\u2019s history. Below is a selection of points to refute many claims House Republicans are expected to make at today\u2019s hearing.\r\n\u00a0FACT: The ACA had a historic number of hours of debate and amendments during Committee development of the legislations. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\r\n \r\nThe House process spanned three committees \u2013 Energy and Commerce, Ways and means, and Education and Labor \u2013 with dozens of hearings over many months.\r\nSpecifically, the House held 79 bipartisan hearings and markups on the health reform bill over the period of an entire year.\r\nHouse members spent nearly 100 hours in hearings, heard from 181 witnesses from both sides of the aisle, considered 239 amendments (both Democratic and Republican), and accepted 121 amendments.\r\n \r\nFACT: The Senate held dozens of public meetings and hearings in both the Finance and HELP Committees and accepted hundreds of Republican amendments.\r\n \r\nThe HELP Committee held 14 bipartisan roundtables, 13 bipartisan hearings, and 20 bipartisan walkthroughs on health reform.\r\nThe HELP Committee considered nearly 300 amendments and accepted more than 160 Republican amendments.\r\nThe Finance Committee held 17 roundtables, summits, and hearings on health reform. The Finance Committee also held 13 member meetings and walkthroughs and 38 meetings and negotiations for a total of 53 meetings on health reform. [Senate Finance Committee, 5/3/10]\r\nThe Finance Committee held a seven-day markup of the bill, the longest Finance Committee markup in 22 years, resulting in a bipartisan 14-to-9 vote to approve the bill. [Senate Finance Committee, 5/3/10]\r\nThe Finance Committee markup resulted in 41 amendments to revise the bill, including 18 by unanimous consent or without objection. [Senate Finance Committee, 10/13/09]\r\n \r\n\u00a0FACT: The financing of the ACA\u2019s coverage provisions was well known and debated.\r\nWhen the bill came to the floor, the Senate spent 25 consecutive days in session on health reform, the second longest consecutive session in history. In total, the Senate spent more than 160 hours considering the health reform legislation. \r\n \r\nThe non-partisan Congressional Budget Office issued many reports on the Affordable Care Act\u2019s financing, clearly showing that revenue would be raised by the personal responsibility provision, also known at the individual mandate or free-rider penalty, in every case that it described the law\u2019s coverage provisions. [CBO, 12/10; The Washington Post, 9/24/14; ASPE, 9/24/14]\r\nCBO also wrote extensively about how a properly-functioning insurance market would work as designed under the ACA. The entire purpose of insurance is to balance out the risk of healthy and non-healthy enrollees; anyone who believes that this point was avoided during debate of the ACA was simply not paying attention to advocates of the law as they described it during the many public hearings the law received.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/in-advance-of-foreign-relations-committee-vote-murphy-calls-for-commonsense-restrictions-on-aumf-to-defeat-isil", "IN ADVANCE OF FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE VOTE, MURPHY CALLS FOR COMMONSENSE RESTRICTIONS ON AUMF TO DEFEAT ISIL", "2014-12-09", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "IN ADVANCE OF FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE VOTE, MURPHY CALLS FOR COMMONSENSE RESTRICTIONS ON AUMF TO DEFEAT ISIL\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\u201cThe U.S. needs to learn from the mistakes of ten years of disastrous war policy in Iraq\u2026 That is why a new AUMF must have commonsense restrictions on force, recognizing the failings of the past\u201d\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, December 9, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on European Affairs, released the following statement after today\u2019s hearing titled \u201cAuthorization for the Use of Military Force Against ISIL\u201d.\r\nToday\u2019s hearing with Secretary Kerry underscored the need for an authorization for the use of military force (AUMF) against ISIL. For too long, Congress hasn\u2019t fulfilled its constitutional obligation to the public and engaged in a debate over an AUMF, but I\u2019m glad we\u2019re finally having those discussions, which I\u2019ve called for since last summer. Congress needs to reassert its role in foreign affairs, and we should never kick the can down the road on questions of war.\r\nThe U.S. needs to learn from the mistakes of ten years of disastrous war policy in Iraq. Indeed, it was the misguided invasion of Iraq and mismanagement of the ensuing conflict that helped create ISIL in the first place. If nothing else, we should have learned by now that the massive deployment of ground forces in the Middle East creates more enemies than it eliminates.\r\nThat is why I believe a new AUMF authorizing action against ISIL must have commonsense restrictions on force recognizing the failings of the past. I am glad that Secretary Kerry expressed a willingness to engage in a discussion about these types of limitations during his testimony today. But the time is now to pass an AUMF, and we shouldn't let potentially endless backroom negotiations stand in the way of Congress fulfilling its constitutional duty to authorize war before the end of the 2014 session.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-torture-covert-wars-and-illegal-surveillance-more-often-than-not-harm-not-enhance-our-national-security", "MURPHY: TORTURE, COVERT WARS  ILLEGAL SURVEILLANCE MORE OFTEN THAN NOT HARM, NOT ENHANCE, OUR NATIONAL SECURITY", "2014-12-09", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "MURPHY: TORTURE, COVERT WARS & ILLEGAL SURVEILLANCE MORE OFTEN THAN NOT HARM, NOT ENHANCE, OUR NATIONAL SECURITY\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\u201cCongress needs to step up and reclaim its role as a co-equal branch to the executive in setting American foreign policy\u201d\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, December 9, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON \u2013 Today U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) released the following statement in response to the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee\u2019s report on the CIA\u2019s detention and interrogation program.\r\nThis report makes clear what we\u2019ve known for years. The \u2018enhanced interrogation\u2019 techniques used by the Central Intelligence Agency in the years after 9/11 clearly constitute torture, and should never have been authorized by an agency of the U.S. government. Chairwoman Feinstein and her staff have worked tirelessly to reveal the details of this program to the public, and I applaud their efforts. The CIA\u2019s obstructionism and interference with a Congressional investigation have only demonstrated the urgent need for more robust oversight of our nation\u2019s intelligence programs. \r\nNow, it is important that this report does not go to the shelf to collect dust. Congress needs to step up and reclaim its role as a co-equal branch to the executive in setting American foreign policy. Torture, covert wars, and illegal surveillance more often than not harm, not enhance, our national security. America cannot be the world\u2019s leader on civil liberties and human rights if our actions don\u2019t match our rhetoric. When this gulf exists between what we claim to stand for, and what the world sees us do, it creates bulletin board material for extremist groups in their effort to recruit against us.\r\nCongress needs to set a new course for this country in the world \u2013 a course that recognizes the mistakes of the past, like our torture practices of the past decade, and builds a better path for the future.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_contentview=articleid=1770:delauro-statement-on-trans-pacific-partnership-negotiationscatid=2:press-releasesItemid=21", "DeLauro Statement on Trans-Pacific Partnership Negotiations", "2014-12-08", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) released the following statement in response to the Senate passing the Republicans\u2019 bill cutting taxes for millionaires, billionaires, and corporations while raising taxes on middle class families.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-highlights-local-connecticut-manufacturer-alinabal-holdings-inc-as-murphys-monday-manufacturer", "MURPHY HIGHLIGHTS LOCAL CONNECTICUT MANUFACTURER, ALINABAL HOLDINGS INC., AS MURPHYS MONDAY MANUFACTURER", "2014-12-08", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "MURPHY HIGHLIGHTS LOCAL CONNECTICUT MANUFACTURER, ALINABAL HOLDINGS INC., AS \u201cMURPHY\u2019S MONDAY MANUFACTURER\u201d\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, December 8, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tMILFORD \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) announced that Alinabal Holdings, Inc. will be recognized as \u201cMurphy\u2019s Monday Manufacturer\u201d. Founded in 1960, the Alinabal Group of Milford is a diversified manufacturer with four distinct business divisions that manufacture products for the defense, aerospace, industrial, recreational, and medical industries. Alinabal\u2019s 325 employees work out of three facilities \u2013 two in Milford and one in Kensington \u2013 and across more than 200,000 square feet of manufacturing and warehouse space.\r\nThe manufacturer\u2019s four business units - Practical Automation, Inc., DACO Instruments, Engineered Products Group, and Motion Transfer Devices \u2013 serve prominent Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies, as well as the U.S. government. They are recognized around the world for producing a variety of items, such as thermal printers used in ticketing kiosk applications, advanced optical shutters and high performance indicators used in aviation applications, precision stampings and mechanical assemblies, rod end bearings, linkage assemblies, and custom motion transfer solutions.\r\nAlinabal takes pride in their commitment to quality, which is implemented through their \u201cAlinabal Total Improvement Process\u201d(ATIP). The manufacturer established the ATIP to ensure that they constantly strive to improve the quality of work-life for their employees, employees\u2019 growth and skills, the processes by which products are developed, and the service that they provide their customers. The company\u2019s 55 years of dedication to progress and improvement among employees have undoubtedly led to their great success.  \u201cIf you\u2019ve ever withdrawn money from an ATM, purchased a movie ticket from an automated kiosk, printed an airplane ticket, driven an ATV or motorcycle, mowed the lawn, or used fitness equipment, then chances are, you\u2019ve used an Alinabal product\u201d, said Murphy. \u201cThe ubiquity of Alinabal devices is spectacular, but it\u2019s Alinabal\u2019s persistent pursuit of employee satisfaction that makes them so unique. I\u2019m proud that Connecticut is home to such a respectable company, and I\u2019m excited to recognize them as one of our state\u2019s distinct manufacturers.\u201d \u201cAlinabal businesses face strong domestic and global competition on a daily basis,\u201d said Michael Murphy, Vice President and General Manager of Alinabal. \u201cWe are extremely proud of our dedicated employees, who have eagerly embraced Continuous Improvement as the key to maintaining competitiveness, improving our products and services, and exceeding customer expectations.\u201d\r\nThe manufacturing industry plays a crucial role throughout Connecticut communities, creating new jobs and accelerating our state\u2019s economic recovery. Today, Connecticut\u2019s 4,602 manufacturers account for 10.2% of the state\u2019s jobs and 87% of the state\u2019s total exports. In order to protect and grow manufacturing jobs in Connecticut, Murphy has introduced two pieces of legislation that aim to strengthen existing standards and prioritize the purchase of American-made goods, the 21st Century Buy American Act and the American Jobs Matter Act.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/in-the-news/sen-chris-murphys-26-acts-of-kindness", "Sen. Chris Murphys 26 acts of kindness", "2014-12-06", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sen. Chris Murphy\u2019s 26 acts of kindness\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n                \r\n            \r\n            \r\n            \r\n                \r\n                    By:\u00a0\r\n                    Beau Berman\r\n                \r\n            \r\n\r\n                \r\n                \r\n                \r\n            Saturday, December 6, 2014\r\n            \n\t\n\r\n            \r\n            WATERBURY- Sen. Chris Murphy decided to deliver 26 acts of kindness in honor of Newtown on Friday. The initiative to do small acts of kindness for those around you was inspired by a Newtown student named Ashley Peterson.\r\nMurphy started the day by placing a gift card in his mailbox for his letter carrier.\r\nThen he bought coffee for those in the car behind him at Dunkin Donuts. He added time to expiring parking meters in Bridgeport. He also brought coffee for security guards, paid for someone\u2019s laundry bill in Hartford and gave pizza to firefighters.\r\nFox CT caught up with Murphy in Waterbury, where he filled up a man\u2019s gas tank and said hello to veterans at the local VFW Post 201.\r\nHe ended the day in Newtown completing his 26th act of kindness\u2013lighting a candle at church and whispering a prayer.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-blumenthal-applaud-senate-passage-of-honor-flight-act", "MURPHY, BLUMENTHAL APPLAUD SENATE PASSAGE OF HONOR FLIGHT ACT", "2014-12-06", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "MURPHY, BLUMENTHAL APPLAUD SENATE PASSAGE OF HONOR FLIGHT ACT\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tMURPHY'S BILL, THE HONOR FLIGHT ACT, PASSES HOUSE AND SENATE, NOW HEADS TO PRESIDENT OBAMA\u2019S DESK\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tSaturday, December 6, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tHARTFORD \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) released the following statement after the U.S. Senate passed the Honor Flight Act (H.R. 4812) which he introduced in the Senate. The Honor Flight Act, which was introduced in the House by U.S. Congressman Cedric Richmond (D-La.), will cut down on cumbersome pre-flight screening processes for elderly veterans who participate in the Honor Flight Network - an organization that arranges free trips for U.S. military veterans to visit the DC memorial of the war in which they served. The bill now heads to the President\u2019s desk to be signed into law. U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) is an original cosponsor of Murphy's bill.\r\n\"I introduced this bill when I heard that some older veterans were reluctant to take part in the Honor Flight program because they feared having to deal with the hassle of the TSA process,\u201d said Murphy. \u201cI\u2019m thrilled that the House and the Senate worked so quickly to ensure that the thousands of men and women, in Connecticut and across the nation, who served our country will now be able to visit the memorials constructed in their honor with dignity and pride. This bill \u2013 which I\u2019ve been proud to champion with Representative Richmond \u2013 is a small but significant signal of respect to our veterans who participate in the Honor Flight program.\"\r\n\"These brave warriors deserve to be honored and trusted while flying in recognition of their immense service to our nation. Having waited decades to see the memorials erected in their honor-- these heroes have earned a trip unencumbered by unnecessary impediments,\" said Blumenthal.  Currently, the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) works with the Honor Flight Network to expedite the pre-flight screening process for Honor Flight program participants. But this partnership is not written into law and can change at any time, forcing Honor Flight veterans to endure a cumbersome screening process.\r\nThe Honor Flight Act will codify the current partnership into law, ensuring that our veterans can continue to benefit from expedited screening processes and enjoy their visit to the memorials honoring their service.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://esty.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/rep-elizabeth-esty-announces-federal-grants-to-the-hill-stead-museum-in", "Rep. Elizabeth Esty Announces Federal Grants to the Hill-Stead Museum in Farmington and the Sharon Historical Society", "2014-12-05", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Elizabeth Esty", "E000293", "esty.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty\u2019s (CT-05) bipartisan Women in Aerospace Education Act (H.R. 4254) passed the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee by voice vote this morning. The bill would encourage universities applying for Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship grants, which are designed to cover the cost of STEM-degree seeking students who intend to teach in rural and lower income school districts, to incorporate aerospace programs at the National Laboratories and NASA Centers into their teacher training experience. Esty, along with Rep. Steve Knight (CA-25), introduced the legislation to encourage more women to participate in the STEM fields.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-statement-on-nomination-of-ashton-carter-to-serve-as-secretary-of-defense", "Blumenthal Statement On Nomination Of Ashton Carter To Serve As Secretary Of Defense", "2014-12-05", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Blumenthal Statement On Nomination Of Ashton Carter To Serve As Secretary Of Defense\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Tweet\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tFriday, December 5, 2014\n\t\t\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n(Hartford, CT) \u2013 U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee Subcommittee on Airland, today released the following statement after President Obama nominated Ashton Carter to be the next Secretary of Defense:\r\n\u201cAsh Carter knows the Pentagon inside and out and is a solid choice to lead the Department of Defense and advise the President on military policy. As the former undersecretary of defense for acquisition, he is a real professional who digs and drills down on questions. I have worked with Ash Carter in the past on vital programs, such as the Joint Strike Fighter and the expedited fielding of enhanced body armor to protect our troops in Afghanistan. And I look forward to working with him as he does more to reform the contracting process to eliminate waste and fraud. The enormous challenges ahead at the Pentagon require forceful and thoughtful leadership and resolve.\u201d\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Contact\n\t\t\t\t\tJosh Zembik (DC) - 202-224-6452 Josh_Zembik@blumenthal.senate.gov Elizabeth Benton (CT) - 860-729-3589 Elizabeth_Benton@blumenthal.senate.gov", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141206051655/http://esty.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/housing-nonprofit-receives-50k-grant", "Housing nonprofit receives $50k grant", "2014-12-05", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Elizabeth Esty", "E000293", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "NEW MILFORD - A local arm of a national nonprofit that has rehabilitated nearly 200 homes in Litchfield County over the past decade has been awarded a $50,000 federal grant to help fund its efforts. Rebuilding Together of Litchfield County, was notified Thursday it will receive a Housing Preservation Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to pay for repairs and renovations to homes of low-income families and senior citizens living in Litchfield County. Ceia Webb, executive director, said the grant is the largest single grant the nonprofit has received. \u201cThis grant will go a long way in supporting their mission of building stronger, more resilient communities here in Litchfield County,\u201d said Rep. Elizabeth H. Esty D-Cheshire. Each year 15 to 17 applications are submitted either directly or through local social service agencies for repairs. Webb said only about 10 percent of the applications are rejected and when that happens it is because the project is solely cosmetic, the applicant doesn't own the home or the owner can afford the repairs. \u201cIf you don't like the color of your house, oh too bad,\u201d Webb said. \u201cCosmetics are not OK. Warm, dry safe are our key words. If it is going to help you be warm, dry and safe you are probably going to be good.\u201d Emergency repairs such as a new furnace are handled as they come in. \u201cYou can't say wait until April,\u201d Webb said. Webb said she recently received the 183rd application. In October, Rebuilding Together, helped a Plymouth family upgrade its four-room home on Lake Plymouth so pipes don't freeze in the winter. Webb said volunteers work most on projects specific to elderly who need preventive measures done in bathrooms. They replace vanities with pedestal sinks so they are wheelchair accessible and they install walk in showers for people who cannot get over the side of a standard tub shower safely. Recently they rebuilt a chimney and shingled a roof. When the shingles came off the workers found sheathing was rotten and under that they found two rafters were also rotten so they replaced the roof, sheathing and rotten rafters. In other homes old windows have been replaced with new insulated windows. Webb said the organization, which has a board of directors, has as many as 100 volunteers who turn out over two weekends in April when the bulk of the annual projects are tackled.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/in-the-news/another-step-towards-a-national-park-in-hartford", "Another Step Towards a National Park in Hartford", "2014-12-05", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Another Step Towards a National Park in Hartford\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n                \r\n            \r\n            \r\n            \r\n                \r\n                    By:\u00a0\r\n                    Johnna Kaplan\r\n                \r\n            \r\n\r\n                \r\n                \r\n                \r\n            Friday, December 5, 2014\r\n            \n\t\n\r\n            \r\n            On Friday, December 5, the House of Representatives approved the Coltsville National Historical Park Act as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA.) The bill was introduced by Rep. John Larson, whose district includes Hartford, and co-sponsored by Connecticut\u2019s other four congressional representatives. It would allow for the creation of a new national historic park centered around the former Colt Firearms Manufacturing Company in Hartford\u2019s Coltsville Historic District.\r\nIn a statement, Congressman Larson said, \u201cToday\u2019s vote in the U.S. House of Representatives marks a step forward for Coltsville becoming a national park\u2026I am proud of the efforts of the community I represent. For more than a decade, community, historic, cultural, and literary organizations along with not-for-profits and for-profits have persisted in assuring the legacy of Samuel and Elizabeth Colt would become a national historic destination here in Hartford, Connecticut on the banks of a national historic river.\u201d\r\nSenators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, who introduced and co-sponsored the bill in the Senate, also released a statement, saying \u201cToday\u2019s vote is a huge win for Coltsville, Hartford and the state of Connecticut, and we look forward to leading this measure to a victory in the Senate next week. Coltsville is a historic gem, enshrining Colt\u2019s powerful role in advancing the industrial revolution and manufacturing in Connecticut and nationwide. Designation as a national park will help ensure that generations to come have the opportunity to visit and learn about this important part of our state\u2019s history.\u201d\r\nThe Coltsville National Historical Park Act is the most recent attempt to have Coltville recognized as a national park, an effort which began over a decade ago. The NDAA, which Larson described as \u201cthe first major park service and lands bill since 2009,\u201d will now move to the Senate.\r\nCurrently, Connecticut\u2019s only national park is the Weir Farm National Historic Site on the border of Wilton and Ridgefield.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/in-the-news/murphy-grows-into-his-job", "Murphy grows into his job", "2014-12-05", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Murphy grows into his job\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n                \r\n                Youth, inexperience don\u2019t keep senator from speaking out\r\n                \r\n            \r\n            \r\n            \r\n                \r\n                    By:\u00a0\r\n                    Connor Radnovich\r\n                \r\n            \r\n\r\n                \r\n                \r\n                \r\n            Friday, December 5, 2014\r\n            \n\t\n\r\n            \r\n            On a grimy CT Transit bus heading toward Bloomfield, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy leans forward on the edge of his seat, listening intently to a woman with a black and white polka-dot scarf around her head and pink Uggs on her feet.\r\nHe\u2019s just asked her what he should be focusing on in Congress.\r\n\u201cGuns,\u201d she says, her tired face wearing more age than its 26 years. The woman, who identified herself only as Tiheesha, says the neighborhood she lives in is dangerous, and she fears for her child\u2019s safety. Tiheesha thinks more regulation of guns is critical.\r\nA woman in the back of the bus voices the same concern. But she tells Murphy what would really help is giving kids some economic hope.\r\nFor nearly an hour on this rainy Monday night, Murphy asks the same question of bus commuters: \u201cWhat should I be doing?\u201d\r\nOn the city bus, you don\u2019t hear about the issues blaring over cable news. The concerns that dominate this rolling forum are housing, education, safety and jobs.\r\nEvery time he visits his home state, Murphy schedules time to ride a city bus and talk to the people he meets. He figures he\u2019s done nearly 20 of the rides since last summer.\r\n\u201cPeople taking the bus in Hartford don\u2019t have a lobbyist, so you have to find them if you want to hear their voices.\u201d  U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn.\r\nJust two years into a six-year Senate term, Murphy seems as comfortable and articulate on the bus as he is in the halls of power in Washington. And D.C. isn\u2019t going to get any more comfortable soon, as he and his fellow Democrats will be in the minority come 2015.\r\n\u201cPart of the problem with Washington is that it\u2019s easy to get disconnected from regular people,\u201d Murphy said. \u201cPeople taking the bus in Hartford don\u2019t have a lobbyist, so you have to find them if you want to hear their voices.\u201d\r\nUndoubtedly one thing on the minds of people on buses in Connecticut this month is the Sandy Hook shooting, as its two-year anniversary approaches.\r\nBefore the tragedy, Murphy hadn\u2019t spent much time on gun regulation. Afterward, it became a focus.\r\nHe said the worst day of his career in public service was April 17, 2013 \u2014 the day any chance for substantive gun control laws died in the Senate.\r\nHis wish list includes expanded background checks, outlawing high-capacity magazines and banning assault rifles.\r\nNone of that has any real chance of becoming law for the foreseeable future.\r\n\u201cI\u2019m going to still press for legislative changes, but I\u2019m under no illusion that we\u2019re going to pass a background checks bill in the next two years,\u201d Murphy said.\r\nWhat they cannot do is abandon the fight, said the senior senator from Connecticut, Richard Blumenthal.\r\n\u201cThe effort has to be sustained and relentless, and (Murphy) has devoted time and energy,\u201d Blumenthal said. \u201cWe\u2019ve done basically this whole effort as a team.\u201d\r\nBlumenthal called his relationship with Murphy a \u201cseamless partnership,\u201d where they work together on many issues, including the environment, mental-health care and sexual assault.\r\n\u201cUltimately, we\u2019ll get to a place where we\u2019re powerful enough to take on the NRA in the halls of Congress,\u201d Murphy said. \u201cI\u2019m young. I only get a six-year term, but I\u2019m planning to be around the Senate long enough to beat the gun lobby.\u201d\r\nHe is young. In fact, he is the youngest member of the current Senate \u2014 a position he has become familiar with over the years.\r\nAt 25, he was elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives, defeating 14-year incumbent Angelo Fusco. Four years later, he ran for the state Senate and won. After two terms there, he ran against 12-term Republican incumbent Nancy Johnson in 2006 for the U.S. House of Representatives and defeated her by 12 points. Finally, Murphy was elected two years ago, at age 39, to the U.S. Senate as its youngest member.\r\n\u201cI\u2019ve always been playing from behind as far as age and experience are concerned,\u201d Murphy said.\r\nHe has combatted that by working to achieve expertise in individual fields. He was the co-chairman of the Public Health Committee in the Connecticut Senate at 29, becoming useful despite his age because he understood how Medicaid was financed.\r\n\u201cChris was absolutely an authority in health care,\u201d said state Sen. Gayle Slossberg, D-Milford, who was Murphy\u2019s vice chairwoman on the committee in 2005. \u201cHe had a point of view that was based on facts and evidence. You know Chris had done his homework.\u201d\r\nU.S. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., said Murphy provides a fresh voice to the Senate \u2014 one that\u2019s knowledgeable and articulate.\r\n\u201cWe don\u2019t always agree, but I always sincerely want to listen what he has to say,\u201d Corker said. \u201cHaving people like Chris Murphy in the Senate causes us to have a place for real debate.\u201d\r\nMurphy will lose the \u201cyoungest\u201d title in January, as two freshman Republican senators will be younger than he is: Tom Cotton from Arkansas and Cory Gardner from Colorado.\r\nIt\u2019s a label he is happy to relinquish.\r\n\u201cYou can\u2019t build a career on being the youngest,\u201d Murphy said.\r\nHis relative lack of age and experience hasn\u2019t kept him from jumping in on some of the most contentious issues in Washington.\r\nIn addition to his work on gun laws, Murphy has become a steadfast and vocal defender of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.\r\nAlong with Sens. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., Murphy is one of the leading defenders of Obamacare on the Senate floor.\r\n\u201cHe\u2019s a tremendous fighter for what he believes in,\u201d Stabenow said. \u201cBut he\u2019s able to speak in a way that shows his understanding and his commitment.\u201d\r\nStabenow said Murphy plays a critical leadership role in sharing positive stories that have come out of the new health care law.\r\n\u201cHe is one of the few Democrats willing to go to the floor ... and I think you have to respect that,\u201d said Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., who often debates the law with Murphy on the floor.\r\nBarrasso is a member of the Subcommittee on European Affairs of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which Murphy chairs.\r\nThe two work closely on the committee and have traveled to Ukraine together, which gave them the opportunity to know each other better.\r\n\u201cHe\u2019s very smart and an effective communicator and he cares a lot about the people in Connecticut,\u201d Barrasso said.\r\nWhile Murphy may be in lockstep with Obama on health care, they often diverge on foreign policy.\r\nHe was public and adamant in his disagreement of the United States\u2019 decision to arm and train Syrian rebels to fight the Islamic State group, though he does agree the Islamic State should be confronted.\r\nHe doesn\u2019t think the administration fully grasps how damaging this country\u2019s surveillance program is to its perceptions overseas. And he is wary of military actions being taken outside the purview of Congress.\r\nTo Murphy, the most important foreign-policy issue\r\n\u2014 and another departure from the administration\r\n\u2014 is how much money the United States spends on military funding versus humanitarian aid.\r\nHe believes offering aid to at least the same level as the country offers military support should be a priority, and one that does not get a lot of attention in the current foreign policy atmosphere in Washington.\r\n\u201cThere are places in which the progressive foreign policy community needs to create a proactive vision that stands as an alternative to what John McCain offers, what Rand Paul offers and what President Obama offers,\u201d Murphy said.\r\nBack in Connecticut, as expected, foreign policy didn\u2019t come up at all during the bus ride. But, to Murphy\u2019s chagrin, his party will soon lose the ability to act on the issues he did hear about.\r\nIssues like gun control and immigration are probably going to have to wait a few years before they are seriously considered again.\r\n\u201cYou just have to recognize what you can get done and what you can\u2019t get done and be realistic about what\u2019s possible,\u201d Murphy said.\r\nSo what is possible?\r\nA lot of that is up to incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Murphy said.\r\n\u201cHopefully we\u2019re not going to spend two years trying to repeal the Affordable Care Act and reverse the president\u2019s immigration orders and gut the Clean Air Act,\u201d Murphy said. \u201cIf that\u2019s what\u2019s on the Senate floor, we\u2019re not going to get anything done.\u201d\r\nThere are some key issues that have bipartisan support, including tax reform and mental-health care, he said.\r\nBut, he adds, there is peril in an intentional blockade by Democrats looking to reclaim the majority in 2016.\r\n\u201cThe danger is that Democrats repeat the obstruction of Republicans because they think that\u2019s the way to get back in power. And that will be tempting,\u201d Murphy said. \u201cIt will be tempting for Democrats to say, \u2018Well, let\u2019s just shut down the process and we\u2019ll get elected two years from now.\u2019 That would be a terrible outcome from this election.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-blumenthal-issue-statement-on-language-in-ndaa-to-establish-coltsville-as-national-park", "MURPHY, BLUMENTHAL ISSUE STATEMENT ON LANGUAGE IN NDAA TO ESTABLISH COLTSVILLE AS NATIONAL PARK", "2014-12-05", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "MURPHY, BLUMENTHAL ISSUE STATEMENT ON LANGUAGE IN NDAA TO ESTABLISH COLTSVILLE AS NATIONAL PARK\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFriday, December 5, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tHartford \u2013 U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.)\u00a0issued a statement today after the House of Representatives approved the FY15 National Defense Authorization Act with language to establish a new unit of the National Park System within the Coltsville Historic District:\r\n\u201cToday\u2019s vote is a huge win for Coltsville, Hartford and the state of Connecticut, and we look forward to leading this measure to a victory in the Senate next week. Coltsville is a historic gem, enshrining Colt\u2019s powerful role in advancing the industrial revolution and manufacturing in Connecticut and nationwide. Designation as a national park will help ensure that generations to come have the opportunity to visit and learn about this important part of our state\u2019s history.\r\nCongressman Larson's leadership on this effort has been extraordinary and we are proud to have him at the helm. John has been working over a decade on this designation and today's passage is a credit to thousands of hours he has put into this crusade. It won't be easy to bring it across the finish line but we will do everything we can to support John's efforts,\u201d\u00a0Murphy and Blumenthal said.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_contentview=articleid=1767:delauro-applauds-national-endowment-for-the-humanities-grants-for-wesleyan-universitycatid=2:press-releasesItemid=21", "DeLauro Applauds National Endowment for the Humanities Grants for Wesleyan University", "2014-12-04", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) released the following statement in response to the Senate passing the Republicans\u2019 bill cutting taxes for millionaires, billionaires, and corporations while raising taxes on middle class families.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_contentview=articleid=1768:delauro-introduces-legislation-to-bolster-government-response-to-public-health-emergenciescatid=2:press-releasesItemid=21", "DeLauro Introduces Legislation to Bolster Government Response to Public Health Emergencies", "2014-12-04", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) released the following statement in response to the Senate passing the Republicans\u2019 bill cutting taxes for millionaires, billionaires, and corporations while raising taxes on middle class families.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_contentview=articleid=1769:leading-members-of-congress-call-for-real-and-meaningful-labor-protections-in-tppcatid=2:press-releasesItemid=21", "Leading Members of Congress Call for Real and Meaningful Labor Protections in TPP", "2014-12-04", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) released the following statement in response to the Senate passing the Republicans\u2019 bill cutting taxes for millionaires, billionaires, and corporations while raising taxes on middle class families.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://esty.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/esty-blumenthal-murphy-announce-federal-grant-to-help-rebuild-low-income", "Esty, Blumenthal, Murphy Announce Federal Grant to Help Rebuild Low-Income Housing in Litchfield County", "2014-12-04", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Elizabeth Esty", "E000293", "esty.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty\u2019s (CT-05) bipartisan Women in Aerospace Education Act (H.R. 4254) passed the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee by voice vote this morning. The bill would encourage universities applying for Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship grants, which are designed to cover the cost of STEM-degree seeking students who intend to teach in rural and lower income school districts, to incorporate aerospace programs at the National Laboratories and NASA Centers into their teacher training experience. Esty, along with Rep. Steve Knight (CA-25), introduced the legislation to encourage more women to participate in the STEM fields.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-applauds-house-passage-of-national-defense-authorization", "Blumenthal Applauds House Passage Of National Defense Authorization", "2014-12-04", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Blumenthal Applauds House Passage Of National Defense Authorization\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Tweet\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tThursday, December 4, 2014\n\t\t\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee Airland Subcommittee, today applauded House passage of the FY15 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which sets policy and spending levels for the Department of Defense. The Senate is expected to consider the NDAA next week.\r\n\u201cThe NDAA funds defense programs that are both critical to our national security and essential components of Connecticut\u2019s industrial base. Because of this bill, workers at Electric Boat will continue to build two Virginia-class submarines a year, workers at Pratt & Whitney will build the engines for 34 Joint Strike Fighters, and workers at Sikorsky will build more than 100 helicopters to ensure that our servicemen and women have the best equipment in the world,\u201d said Sen. Blumenthal. \u201cI am pleased this bill supports the men and women in uniform who serve and sacrifice for our nation.\r\n\u201cI will fight strongly for approval of this very significant measure for Connecticut and our national security when it reaches the Senate next week. I am particularly pleased the Congress has recognized the contributions made by our Connecticut workforce to our national security by approving the products and weapons systems made in our state.\u201d\r\nThe measure supports the following priority programs that Blumenthal fought to support:\u00a0\r\n\r\nThe bill authorizes $5.9 billion for the procurement of two Virginia-class submarines.\u00a0Additionally, $1.3 billion is authorized for further research and development into the Ohio-class replacement program.\u00a0\r\nThe bill will authorize $5.9 billion in total funding for the continued development of the Joint Strike Fighter program, to include the acquisition of 34 JSF aircraft, powered by Pratt & Whitney engines. Specifically, the bill includes funding for 26 F-35As for the Air Force, six F-35Bs for the Marine Corps, and two Navy F-35Cs.\r\nThe bill will authorize over $2.4 billion in funding to procure Sikorsky helicopters, to include 85 UH-60 Black Hawks, 29 MH-60R Seahawks and 8 MH-60S Knighthawks.\u00a0 This represents a budget request increase of $103 million to procure six additional UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters in order to modernize the Army National Guard.\u00a0 Additionally, the budget authorizes an additional $573 million in research and development of the Marine Corps CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter.\r\nThe bill authorizes $351 million for the Iron Dome missile defense system.\r\nThe bill authorizes $37.3 million for M4 carbines to support the Kurdish and Iraqi security forces combat ISIL.\u00a0\r\nThe bill authorizes $16.3 million for a C-130 Fuel and Corrosion Center at Bradley Air National Guard Base in Connecticut.\r\nThe bill prohibits the retirement of the U-2 reconnaissance aircraft.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Contact\n\t\t\t\t\tJosh Zembik (DC) - 202-224-6452 Josh_Zembik@blumenthal.senate.gov Elizabeth Benton (CT) - 860-729-3589 Elizabeth_Benton@blumenthal.senate.gov", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-house-passage-coltsville-national-historical-park-act", "Larson on House Passage of Coltsville National Historical Park Act", "2014-12-04", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "John Larson", "L000557", "larson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement tonight: Today's vote in the U.S. House of Representatives marks a step forward for Coltsville becoming a national park. \"The House approved today, along with the NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act), the first major park service and lands bill since 2009. It has both bipartisan and bicameral support and demonstrates that Democrats and Republicans can work together for the common good of the nation. \"I am proud of the efforts of the community I represent. For more than a decade, community, historic, cultural, and literary organizations along with not-for-profits and for-profits have persisted in assuring the legacy of Samuel and Elizabeth Colt would become a national historic destination here in Hartford, Connecticut on the banks of a national historic river. \"I commend the efforts of three Mayors of the City of Hartford, four United States Senators and especially Senators Blumenthal and Murphy who - as cosponsors of this bill - have worked tirelessly to honor the history of American manufacturing and innovation, the State of Connecticut, the City of Hartford and the entire region.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141206052424/http://esty.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/usda-grant-helps-rebuild-homes-for-litchfield-countys-elderly", "USDA grant helps rebuild homes for Litchfield County's elderly", "2014-12-04", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Elizabeth Esty", "E000293", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "NEW MILFORD -- Ceia Webb has high praise for the U.S. Department of Agriculture for its assistance in meeting the needs of low-income senior citizens in Litchfield\u00a0County.\nWebb is executive director of Rebuilding Together of Litchfield County, and her organization has received a $50,000 Housing Preservation Grant through the USDA to help with its\u00a0outreach.\nThe grant can only be applied to work on homes in the rural areas of Litchfield County and is not available in Watertown and Torrington because the USDA classifies them as\u00a0cities.\n\"We are very thrilled with receiving these funds,\" Webb said Thursday. \"This is a huge benefit to us. The grant is being used for repairing and renovating the homes of older, single-family homes of people 60 and\u00a0over.\"\nRebuilding Together of Litchfield County is based in New Milford. It is an affiliate of Rebuilding Together, a national nonprofit volunteer\u00a0organization.\nIt works to preserve and revitalize low-income homes, focusing on the households of the elderly, disabled and residents in those categories who are supporting young\u00a0children.\nWebb said during the last eight to 10 weeks, her organization has installed a handicap access ramp at the Kent home of an elderly, mentally disabled couple in conjunction with the Kent Community Foundation.\nIt just completed work on a home in South Kent where the roof had been damaged in an ice storm last winter and the chimney needed to be replaced. That homeowner, a woman in her late 60s, is having hip replacement\u00a0surgery.\n\"We knew the funds were coming, so we undertook the projects,\" Webb said. \"We've had local masons and contractors working with us on these projects at reduced\u00a0fees.\"\nThe South Kent home was the 179th house Rebuilding Together of Litchfield County has renovated and/or repaired over the last 10\u00a0years.\n\"With the cold winter upon us, many families and seniors are struggling to make necessary repairs to keep them safe in their homes,\" said U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty, D-Conn., who announced the grant award along with Connecticut U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy.\n\"This grant will go a long way in supporting Rebuilding Together of Litchfield County's mission of building stronger, more resilient communities here in Litchfield County,\" Esty\u00a0added.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-blumenthal-esty-announce-federal-grant-to-help-rebuild-low-income-housing-in-litchfield-county", "MURPHY, BLUMENTHAL, ESTY ANNOUNCE FEDERAL GRANT TO HELP REBUILD LOW-INCOME HOUSING IN LITCHFIELD COUNTY", "2014-12-04", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "MURPHY, BLUMENTHAL, ESTY ANNOUNCE FEDERAL GRANT TO HELP REBUILD LOW-INCOME HOUSING IN LITCHFIELD COUNTY\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tRebuilding Together of Litchfield County Will Receive a $50,000 USDA Housing Preservation Grant\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, December 4, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tNEW MILFORD \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and\u00a0Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and U.S. Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (D-Conn.) announced that Rebuilding Together of Litchfield County will receive a $50,000 Housing Preservation Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The funds will help low-income families in rural areas in Litchfield County renovate and repair their homes to alleviate health and safety concerns.\r\n\u201cThanks to the hard work of Rebuilding Together of Litchfield, Connecticut families can have comfort in knowing that their homes are safe to live in. The USDA\u2019s grant will help Rebuilding Together provide low-income households with the home improvements they need - whether it\u2019s a new roof or a wheelchair ramp - and I\u2019m grateful for their efforts to prioritize the well-being of our communities,\u201d said Senator Murphy.\r\n\u201cSafe and affordable housing is a fundamental human need. I applaud Rebuilding Together for their longtime dedication to ensuring that all Litchfield County residents\u2014particularly the elderly, disabled and those with young children\u2014have the assistance and support they need to preserve and restore the safety and security of their own homes. I welcome this significant federal investment, and look forward to supporting additional efforts in the future,\u201d said Senator Blumenthal.\r\n\u201cWith the cold winter upon us, many families and seniors are struggling to make necessary repairs to keep them safe in their homes. Thank you to everyone at Rebuilding Together of Litchfield County for your commitment to helping folks and empowering them to live independently. This grant will go a long way in supporting their mission of building stronger, more resilient communities here in Litchfield County,\u201d said Congresswoman Esty.\r\n\u201cWe are very thrilled with the announcements of these funds. This is a huge benefit to us to be able to have funds which can be used in Litchfield County in the rural areas. The grant will be used for repairing and renovating the homes of older, single family homes, people 60 and over and who have very low or low incomes and who are Litchfield county residents,\u201d said Ceia Webb, Executive Director of Rebuilding Together of Litchfield County.\r\nRebuilding Together of Litchfield County, which is based in New Milford, is an affiliate of the national non-profit volunteer organization, Rebuilding Together. The organization works to preserve and revitalize low income homes, focusing on the households of the elderly, disabled, and those supporting young children. The group plans to use this grant to fix roofs on several seniors\u2019 houses and build a ramp for an individual with physical disabilities.\r\nThe USDA\u2019s Housing Preservation Grant program provides grants to sponsoring organizations for the repair or rehabilitation of low-income housing. The grants are competitive and are made available in areas where there is a concentration of need.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-statement-on-foreign-relations-committee-commitment-to-debate-and-vote-on-aumf-to-defeat-isil", "MURPHY STATEMENT ON FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE COMMITMENT TO DEBATE AND VOTE ON AUMF TO DEFEAT ISIL", "2014-12-04", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "MURPHY STATEMENT ON FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE COMMITMENT TO DEBATE AND VOTE ON AUMF TO DEFEAT ISIL\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, December 4, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON \u2013Today, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Chairman of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on European Affairs, released the following statement regarding Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Menendez\u2019s decision to hold a debate and vote on legislation to authorize the use of military force against ISIL.\r\nI continue to strongly believe that Congress must debate and vote on an authorization for the use of military force against ISIL. The constitution vests the Congress with the exclusive power to declare war, and we cannot abdicate this responsibility that we are entrusted with by the American people, especially our men and women in uniform. The existing AUMFs are over a decade old and out-of-date, and not applicable to the current fight against ISIL. While the President\u2019s Article II authorities allow him to protect the nation from imminent threats, this does not include waging a protracted new war in the Middle East.  I am heartened that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) today decided to debate an AUMF next week and exercise our constitutional duties. I have long been calling for such a debate, including last month when the president announced his desire to work with the Congress to craft a new AUMF.  There is likely to be disagreement in the Congress about the best course of action against ISIL and about the provisions of a new AUMF. Some members of the SFRC have argued that it is unconstitutional and unprecedented to impose any restrictions on the executive branch in an AUMF, such as a limitation on the use of ground troops. But in fact, just last year, in August 2013, the SFRC voted in favor of an AUMF that imposed strict limitations on the executive branch -- allowing the President only to target Bashar al-Assad\u2019s weapons of mass destruction in Syria and only after certain conditions were met.  I believe that the United States must protect our vital national security interests. But we would do a disservice to the American people if we simply gave the executive branch a blank check authorization that allows our country to get dragged into an open-ended engagement with no clear end or objectives. I look forward to a serious debate next week on this critical issue for our country.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://esty.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/rep-elizabeth-esty-applauds-today-s-passage-of-the-able-act-that-helps", "Rep. Elizabeth Esty Applauds Todays Passage of the ABLE Act that Helps Individuals with Disabilities and Their Families", "2014-12-03", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Elizabeth Esty", "E000293", "esty.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty\u2019s (CT-05) bipartisan Women in Aerospace Education Act (H.R. 4254) passed the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee by voice vote this morning. The bill would encourage universities applying for Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship grants, which are designed to cover the cost of STEM-degree seeking students who intend to teach in rural and lower income school districts, to incorporate aerospace programs at the National Laboratories and NASA Centers into their teacher training experience. Esty, along with Rep. Steve Knight (CA-25), introduced the legislation to encourage more women to participate in the STEM fields.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-applauds-passage-able-act", "Larson Applauds Passage of ABLE Act", "2014-12-03", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "John Larson", "L000557", "larson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington- Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement today on the passage of H.R. 647, The ABLE Act of 2014, in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Act would create new savings accounts, known as a 529-ABLE Plan, that would allow families that have a child or children with disabilities save money tax-free to help pay for future costs associated with their child's disability. For years I have heard from constituents like Andrew and Tamara Selinger of West Hartford advocate not only on behalf of their own family, but families across the nation who have children with disabilities. With two children diagnosed with Fragile X Syndrome, the Selingers simply want the same opportunities as other families with existing 529 plans  to have a savings mechanism that would enhance their children's lives without minimizing services they already receive, said Larson. I've also heard from individuals like Bob and Rosie Shea, Shannon Knall from my local Autism Speaks Chapter, and many other families and groups advocate on behalf of individuals with disabilities. Their passionate message is clear  this legislation is important not only for their children, but for children across Connecticut and the country. Despite the partisan rancor that often dominates Washington, passage of this measure shows that we can come together in a meaningful way to help the American people. I commend the efforts of my colleagues Representative Ander Crenshaw and Representative Chris Van Hollen for their leadership and steadfast commitment to moving this legislation forward. I've been proud to join the hundreds of members of Congress who've supported it as a cosponsor for a number of sessions and applaud its passage in the House today. The 529-ABLE Plans are similar to other 529 plans currently utilized by families to save for education costs. Larson has long advocated for passage of the ABLE Act, previously voting to pass it out of the Ways & Means Committee earlier this year.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-passage-house-tax-extenders-measure", "Larson on Passage of House Tax Extenders Measure", "2014-12-03", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "John Larson", "L000557", "larson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement today on the passage of H.R. 5771, the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014': For nearly a year, businesses and individuals across the nation have been lost in the void between expired or expiring tax credits and a Congress unwilling to work together. While the short-term bill passed in the House today was the only option short of inaction, my priority remains tax reform to provide certainty for the American people. I am proud to have fought for many aspects of today's measure, including the bipartisan Research and Development Tax Credit that has long helped Connecticut businesses and manufacturers create jobs and lead the way in innovation. I am also pleased to see the passage of mortgage debt forgiveness provisions that ensure Americans are not taxed on mortgage debt they have already cancelled. I remain disappointed, however, that the bill put to a vote only provides retroactive and short sighted relief. More than 500 local and national organizations have urged the extension, enhancement or permanency of a number of tax provisions including Feeding America, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Habitat for Humanity and more. From the business community and charitable organizations to nonprofits and working families, these tax provisions are crucial across the board. I am disappointed that, despite having the ability to work together towards a solution, Congress could not get a longer-term deal done.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/in-the-news/families-of-uss-oklahoma-sailors-want-navy-to-respect-their-wishes", "Families of U.S.S. Oklahoma Sailors Want Navy to Respect Their Wishes", "2014-12-03", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Families of U.S.S. Oklahoma Sailors Want Navy to Respect Their Wishes\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n                \r\n            \r\n            \r\n            \r\n                \r\n                    By:\u00a0\r\n                    LUCY NALPATHANCHIL\r\n                \r\n            \r\n\r\n                \r\n                \r\n                \r\n            Wednesday, December 3, 2014\r\n            \n\t\n\r\n            \r\n            This Sunday marks the 73rd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Thousands of Americans died that day, including over 400 sailors aboard the U.S.S. Oklahoma. Guilford resident Tom Gray and his family thought their relative, Edwin Hopkins, was one of the missing.\r\nHopkins was Tom Gray's second cousin, part of a large family from New Hampshire. Gray never met him, but he knows a lot about him.\r\nGray recalled the painful story in his family's history. \"When you grow up with it and you feel the angst in the house when it comes up, it's something that won't go away,\" he said.\r\nHopkins was 18 years old when he enlisted in the Navy. He died just a year later, in 1941, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. He was a fireman on the battleship, and was likely below deck when the Oklahoma was torpedoed.\r\nBecause Hopkins was missing in action, his mother never fully absorbed the news, believing that he had amnesia, and would one day come home. Gray said she held onto that hope until she died. \"Part of the sadness of this is that neither of his parents ever realized he was discovered,\" he said. \"His brother was 90 when he died in February of 2008, and we [got] the call in March.\"\r\nThat call was from a member of an organization made up of the families of sailors who died aboard the U.S.S. Oklahoma.\r\nThe member told Gray's cousin, Faye Hopkins Boar, about research by a Pearl Harbor veteran. The veteran, Ray Emory, discovered that 27 sailors who were buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (the Punchbowl) and listed as Unknown had actually been identified by the Navy in 1943. Edwin Hopkins was one of them.\r\nThe U.S. Navy opened a casket in 2003, and returned five sailors to their families. Since then, it has refused additional requests, saying it doesn't want to disturb any more graves.  At his Guilford home, Gray leafed through a thick green binder filled with information about the 27 sailors. \"What is on here is the actual reports from the Navy,\" he said.\r\nSince 2008, Gray and his cousin, Hopkins Boar, have been collecting the declassified information and pages of correspondence between his family and the Navy, including details about the graves. He pointed to a copy of a handwritten diagram from the late 1940s.\r\n\"This is a list,\" Gray said. \"P-1003, the exact grave where my cousin is buried -- there are two caskets in that grave site. There are five individuals in that casket. We know all of the names of the people that are in there with him.\"\r\nOne of them is Kenneth Jane, also a Fireman Third Class who served on the U.S.S. Oklahoma. His nephew, Long Island resident Kenneth Schultz, was named after him.\r\n\"Everybody in our family believed he had perished,\" Schultz said. \"It was just completely amazing to go all these years without knowing this, and then finding this information out.\"\r\nGray and Schultz have joined other members of the Oklahoma family who have been writing the U.S. Navy, asking for the identified remains to be disinterred, and sent back to those families who want them.\r\nThe Navy opened up one of those caskets in 2003, and returned five sailors to their families. Since then, the Navy has refused additional requests, saying it doesn't want to disturb any more graves.\r\nLast year, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy heard Gray's story, and led a coalition of senators to request that the family's wishes be honored.\r\nMurphy said he heard back from the Department of Defense that there would be a review, but the families have heard nothing since. \"I'm glad the Department of Defense is being very careful about this,\" he said. \"No one should take lightly the issue of exhuming remains and identifying them -- but for far too long, you have a set of families who aren't able to visit their loved ones' graves, and we can solve that.\"\r\nThe senator is asking the DOD to give the families an answer by the end of this year.\r\nGray said he isn't giving up, either. He reads from one of several letters he has sent to the Navy. \"Our family has done all that it's been asked in service to this country, including sacrificing a beloved 18-year-old boy,\" he said. \"My family and I feel we owe it to my cousin not to give up, just as you owe it to all 22 unknown sailors to fulfill your responsibility to bring these heroes home.\"\r\nThe families say they deserve to give their relatives a proper burial.\r\nNavy Commander Amy Derrick-Frost of the Department of Defense responded to a request for comment with the following statement:\r\n\"The review is still underway. As part of the review, the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy (USD(P)) and the Department of the Navy (DON) are in active discussions on how best to fulfill our Nation's commitment to those who perished aboard the Oklahoma and their families. We expect a decision on the matter early next year.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_contentview=articleid=1765:delauro-applauds-new-usda-farm-to-school-grant-for-connecticutcatid=2:press-releasesItemid=21", "DeLauro Applauds New USDA Farm to School Grant for Connecticut", "2014-12-02", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) released the following statement in response to the Senate passing the Republicans\u2019 bill cutting taxes for millionaires, billionaires, and corporations while raising taxes on middle class families.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/connecticut-congressional-delegation-announces-11-grants-from-the-national-endowment-for-the-arts", "Connecticut Congressional Delegation Announces 11 Grants From The National Endowment For The Arts", "2014-12-02", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Connecticut Congressional Delegation Announces 11 Grants From The National Endowment For The Arts\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Tweet\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tTuesday, December 2, 2014\n\t\t\t(Hartford, CT) -\u00a0 The Connecticut Congressional Delegation today announced 11 grants from the National Endowment for the Arts to support the arts and creativity in communities across the state. The competitive grants were among 1,118 awarded nationwide and were selected from a pool of 3,455 applicants.\r\n\u201cFrom music education and public art to provocative theater and international festivals, these grants will help enrich and enliven communities across Connecticut. Whether it is in the classroom, on the street, or in our parks, museums and theaters, the arts play a vital role in shaping our understanding of who we are as a community. Connecticut is a better place because of the outstanding talent, commitment and creativity of our artists. We look forward to continuing to support and advance their work, as well as opportunities to inspire and foster our next generation of artists, thinkers and dreamers,\u201d the delegation stated.\r\nA full list of grantees is listed below.\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nOrganization Name\r\n\r\n\r\nGrant Amount\r\n\r\n\r\nCity\r\n\r\n\r\nProject Description\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nLitchfield Performing Arts, Inc.\r\n\r\n\r\n$\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 20,000\r\n\r\n\r\nLitchfield\r\n\r\n\r\nResidential and day students of different ages and skill levels will participate in the multi-week program held at the Canterbury School in New Milford, Connecticut. While the focus is on collaborative and improvisational music-making and performance, the core curriculum may include combo coaching, music theory, composition, as well as electives such as ear training and sight reading. All students are expected to participate in jam sessions, weekly concerts, and perform at the festival. Instructors include as many as 40 internationally renowned musicians such as Don Braden, Vincent Gardner, Charli Persip, Claudio Roditi,\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nHartBeat Ensemble\r\n\r\n\r\n$\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 10,000\r\n\r\n\r\nHartford\r\n\r\n\r\nThe play will depict the American political climate of the late 1950s and early 1960s through the lens of two significant artists of the time - James Baldwin and Lorraine Hansberry. Following their careers as artists, their call to social activism, and the challenges of balancing an artistic career with politics, Baldwin and Hansberry's lives provide a look at a rich period of political and social upheaval that resonates 50 years later. The play will be directed by Brian Jennings.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nEugene O'Neill Memorial Theater Center, Inc.\r\n\r\n\r\n$\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 55,000\r\n\r\n\r\nWaterford\r\n\r\n\r\nThe project will include the creation and development of new plays and musical theater works by emerging and mid-career artists. Approximately 1,600 manuscripts will be received through an open submission process that will culminate in the selection of seven to ten plays and two to four musicals. The scripts will receive a rehearsal period and staged readings that will be open to the public.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nConnecticut College\r\n\r\n\r\n$\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 10,000\r\n\r\n\r\nNew London\r\n\r\n\r\nThe college will present diverse productions in contemporary and classical dance and music for audiences from southeastern Connecticut and southwest Rhode Island. Artists will include jazz violinist Regina Carter and Doug Varone and Dancers.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nI-Park Foundation, Inc.\r\n\r\n\r\n$\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 10,000\r\n\r\n\r\nEast Haddam\r\n\r\n\r\nThe residencies and symposium will focus on site-specific, temporary art. The public symposium will be presented on the I-Park campus and will serve artists working in various creative disciplines, the academic community, and the general public. During the residency and exhibition, filmmakers will document the art in progress as well as the finished works.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nNew Haven International Festival of Arts & Ideas, Inc.\r\n\r\n\r\n$\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 65,000\r\n\r\n\r\nNew Haven\r\n\r\n\r\nFeatured projects will include \"From Bach to Bebop,\" by Imani Winds with Jeff Scott (New York) and poetry by A.B. Spellman (Washington, D.C.), and \"Eve\" from singer-songwriter Angelique Kidjo (Benin) with guest African artists. The festival also will present \"Song of the Jasmine\" by Ragamala Dance (Minneapolis) and jazz saxophonist/composer Rudresh Mahanthappa (New York), and the Mark Morris Dance Group's (Brooklyn) \"Acis and Galatea.\".\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWesleyan University\r\n\r\n\r\n$\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 20,000\r\n\r\n\r\nMiddletown\r\n\r\n\r\nArtists may include Chicago's Lucky Plush, Seattle's Zoe/Juniper, and Chicago- and New York-based Darrell Jones. Engagement programs will be tailored to each artist to embed his or her work across the campus. The series also will include a commissioned work by Austin-based Allison Orr, who will work with Wesleyan's College of the Environment and the Middletown community to draw attention to environmental sustainability through the creation of a site-specific community-based work. The performances and residency activities will happen on campus and in the surrounding community.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWesleyan University\r\n\r\n\r\n$\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 25,000\r\n\r\n\r\nMiddletown\r\n\r\n\r\nPoets to be published include Honoree Jeffers, Rae Armantrout, Heather Christle, Jean Day, Marta del Pozo Ortea, and Evie Shockley. The books will be available in both print and digital formats, and accompanied by online readers for teachers, students, and general readers.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nYale University\r\n\r\n\r\n$\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 40,000\r\n\r\n\r\nNew Haven\r\n\r\n\r\nCommissioned by Yale Rep, the play follows a quartet of characters whose lives become entangled after a fateful blind date between a young woman finishing cancer treatments and an Internet celebrity who is about to sell his identity to a corporation. The play will be directed by Jackson Gay. Callaghan will be in residence at the theater through the rehearsal process, and will collaborate with Gay and the dramaturgical staff on the ongoing refinement of the text.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nConnecticut Players Foundation, Inc.\r\n\r\n\r\n$\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 10,000\r\n\r\n\r\nNew Haven\r\n\r\n\r\nLong Wharf Theatre will feature fully produced mini-runs of plays by emerging and established playwrights such as \"Forever,\" written and performed by Dael Orlandersmith, and \"Rodney King,\" a one-man show by Roger Guenveur Smith. Additional festival programming such as staged readings of works-in-progress, post-show conversations, and communitywide conversations will be hosted by the New Haven Free Public Library.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nSilvermine Guild of Artists, Inc.\r\n\r\n\r\n$\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 25,000\r\n\r\n\r\nNew Canaan\r\n\r\n\r\nEvents will include performances by musicians Caladh Nua (Ireland), multidisciplinary animation and performance artist Miwa Matreyek (United States), and a new co-commissioned work from collaborators Bridgman/Packer Dance (United States) and filmmaker Peter Bobrow (United States). Silvermine also will present Arts Fest, a free, outdoor festival of music, dance, and the visual arts, featuring hip-hop and percussion troupe Street Beat(United States).\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Contact\n\t\t\t\t\tElizabeth Benton (Blumenthal) - 860-729-3589", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/in-wake-of-nfl-failure-to-address-domestic-violence-blumenthal-introduces-legislation-to-end-permanent-anti-trust-exemption-for-professional-sports-leagues", "In Wake Of NFL Failure To Address Domestic Violence, Blumenthal Introduces Legislation To End Permanent Anti-Trust Exemption For Professional Sports Leagues", "2014-12-02", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "SPORTS Act Would Make Anti-Trust Exemption Renewable Every Five Years, Conditioned On Leagues Acting Consistently With Public Trust\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) today introduced the Sustained Promotion Of Responsibility In Team Sports (SPORTS) Act, which would sunset the four major professional sports leagues\u2019 (NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA) permanent anti-trust exemption, and replace it with an every-five-years reauthorization conditioned on the leagues acting consistently with the public trust their special status requires. Largely unchanged since 1961, these exemptions have provided significant financial support and other benefits for the leagues regardless of their actions.\r\nUnder the SPORTS Act, the leagues\u2019 antitrust exemptions would sunset one year after the bill\u2019s enactment. Before the exemptions sunset, Congress will go through an expedited process\u2014comparable to the budget reconciliation process\u2014that guarantees an up or down vote on a five year reauthorization.\r\n\u201cWhen young people see athletes committing acts of violence, and when those acts are excused, glossed over, and given pathetically weak punishments, they learn that domestic violence is not taken seriously,\u201d said Sen. Blumenthal. \u201cThey learn that they will not be taken seriously if they report abuse. They learn that they can get away with committing abuse against others. The country affords these teams their special status because of their special role in American culture, but that doesn\u2019t give them the right to abuse this privilege. The era of the blank check for sports leagues must end.\r\n\u201cI appreciate the words from the leagues at today\u2019s Commerce Committee hearing, but words are easy. Actions are hard. So far the leagues\u2019 actions have been inadequate and unaccountable. Sunsetting the antitrust exemption helps assure accountability for stronger sanctions against domestic violence and aid to organizations that assist survivors of domestic violence.\u201d\r\nThe SPORTS Act creates a process that will repeat every time the exemptions are set to sunset, creating a system in which Congress has an up-or-down, majority vote on reauthorization every five years. There will be no filibusters or other dilatory tactics that could delay a reauthorization and inappropriately disrupt the leagues\u2019 operations. And there will be no amendments, so no unjustified policy changes will move through as part of this potentially must-pass legislation.\r\nNinety-five days before each exemption is scheduled to sunset, a special commission, composed of heads of Executive Branch offices with jurisdiction over issues relevant to the leagues, will provide Congress with a report regarding the leagues\u2019 behavior. In particular, the Commission\u2019s report will discuss how the leagues have treated their employees and how they have responded to inappropriate conduct by their employees and owners. The Commission\u2019s report will ensure that before Congress decides whether to grant the leagues a public benefit\u2014their antitrust exemptions\u2014it has access to a thorough, fair, and honest assessment of whether the leagues have served or harmed the public interest.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-connecticut-congressional-delegation-announces-11-grants-national", "Larson, Connecticut Congressional Delegation Announces 11 Grants from the National Endowment for the Arts", "2014-12-02", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "John Larson", "L000557", "larson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Hartford, CT- The Connecticut Congressional Delegation today announced 11 grants from the National Endowment for the Arts to support the arts and creativity in communities across the state. The competitive grants were among 1,118 awarded nationwide and were selected from a pool of 3,455 applicants. From music education and public art to provocative theater and international festivals, these grants will help enrich and enliven communities across Connecticut. Whether it is in the classroom, on the street, or in our parks, museums and theaters, the arts play a vital role in shaping our understanding of who we are as a community. Connecticut is a better place because of the outstanding talent, commitment and creativity of our artists. We look forward to continuing to support and advance their work, as well as opportunities to inspire and foster our next generation of artists, thinkers and dreamers, the delegation stated. A full list of grantees is listed below.\n\t\t\t\tOrganization Name\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tGrant Amount\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tCity\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tProject Description\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\tLitchfield Performing Arts, Inc.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t$20,000\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tLitchfield\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tResidential and day students of different ages and skill levels will participate in the multi-week program held at the Canterbury School in New Milford, Connecticut. While the focus is on collaborative and improvisational music-making and performance, the core curriculum may include combo coaching, music theory, composition, as well as electives such as ear training and sight reading. All students are expected to participate in jam sessions, weekly concerts, and perform at the festival. Instructors include as many as 40 internationally renowned musicians such as Don Braden, Vincent Gardner, Charli Persip, Claudio Roditi,\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\tHartBeat Ensemble\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t$10,000\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tHartford\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe play will depict the American political climate of the late 1950s and early 1960s through the lens of two significant artists of the time - James Baldwin and Lorraine Hansberry. Following their careers as artists, their call to social activism, and the challenges of balancing an artistic career with politics, Baldwin and Hansberry's lives provide a look at a rich period of political and social upheaval that resonates 50 years later. The play will be directed by Brian Jennings.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\tEugene O'Neill Memorial Theater Center, Inc.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t$55,000\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWaterford\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe project will include the creation and development of new plays and musical theater works by emerging and mid-career artists. Approximately 1,600 manuscripts will be received through an open submission process that will culminate in the selection of seven to ten plays and two to four musicals. The scripts will receive a rehearsal period and staged readings that will be open to the public.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\tConnecticut College\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t$10,000\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tNew London\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe college will present diverse productions in contemporary and classical dance and music for audiences from southeastern Connecticut and southwest Rhode Island. Artists will include jazz violinist Regina Carter and Doug Varone and Dancers.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\tI-Park Foundation, Inc.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t$10,000\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tEast Haddam\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe residencies and symposium will focus on site-specific, temporary art. The public symposium will be presented on the I-Park campus and will serve artists working in various creative disciplines, the academic community, and the general public. During the residency and exhibition, filmmakers will document the art in progress as well as the finished works.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\tNew Haven International Festival of Arts & Ideas, Inc.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t$65,000\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tNew Haven\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFeatured projects will include \"From Bach to Bebop,\" by Imani Winds with Jeff Scott (New York) and poetry by A.B. Spellman (Washington, D.C.), and \"Eve\" from singer-songwriter Angelique Kidjo (Benin) with guest African artists. The festival also will present \"Song of the Jasmine\" by Ragamala Dance (Minneapolis) and jazz saxophonist/composer Rudresh Mahanthappa (New York), and the Mark Morris Dance Group's (Brooklyn) \"Acis and Galatea.\".\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWesleyan University\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t$20,000\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMiddletown\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tArtists may include Chicago's Lucky Plush, Seattle's Zoe/Juniper, and Chicago- and New York-based Darrell Jones. Engagement programs will be tailored to each artist to embed his or her work across the campus. The series also will include a commissioned work by Austin-based Allison Orr, who will work with Wesleyan's College of the Environment and the Middletown community to draw attention to environmental sustainability through the creation of a site-specific community-based work. The performances and residency activities will happen on campus and in the surrounding community.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWesleyan University\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t$25,000\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMiddletown\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPoets to be published include Honoree Jeffers, Rae Armantrout, Heather Christle, Jean Day, Marta del Pozo Ortea, and Evie Shockley. The books will be available in both print and digital formats, and accompanied by online readers for teachers, students, and general readers.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\tYale University\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t$40,000\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tNew Haven\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tCommissioned by Yale Rep, the play follows a quartet of characters whose lives become entangled after a fateful blind date between a young woman finishing cancer treatments and an Internet celebrity who is about to sell his identity to a corporation. The play will be directed by Jackson Gay. Callaghan will be in residence at the theater through the rehearsal process, and will collaborate with Gay and the dramaturgical staff on the ongoing refinement of the text.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\tConnecticut Players Foundation, Inc.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t$10,000\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tNew Haven\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tLong Wharf Theatre will feature fully produced mini-runs of plays by emerging and established playwrights such as \"Forever,\" written and performed by Dael Orlandersmith, and \"Rodney King,\" a one-man show by Roger Guenveur Smith. Additional festival programming such as staged readings of works-in-progress, post-show conversations, and communitywide conversations will be hosted by the New Haven Free Public Library.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\tSilvermine Guild of Artists, Inc.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t$25,000\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tNew Canaan\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tEvents will include performances by musicians Caladh Nua (Ireland), multidisciplinary animation and performance artist Miwa Matreyek (United States), and a new co-commissioned work from collaborators Bridgman/Packer Dance (United States) and filmmaker Peter Bobrow (United States). Silvermine also will present Arts Fest, a free, outdoor festival of music, dance, and the visual arts, featuring hip-hop and percussion troupe Street Beat(United States).", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_contentview=articleid=1762:delauro-carrington-in-connecticut-the-face-of-hunger-may-surprise-youcatid=2:press-releasesItemid=21", "DeLauro, Carrington: In Connecticut, the Face of Hunger May Surprise You", "2014-12-01", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) released the following statement in response to the Senate passing the Republicans\u2019 bill cutting taxes for millionaires, billionaires, and corporations while raising taxes on middle class families.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-issues-statement-on-pura-draft-decision-to-increase-clandp-fixed-charge", "Blumenthal Issues Statement on PURA Draft Decision to Increase CL&P Fixed Charge", "2014-12-01", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Blumenthal Issues Statement on PURA Draft Decision to Increase CL&P Fixed Charge\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Tweet\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tMonday, December 1, 2014\n\t\t\t(Hartford, CT) - U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) issued the following statement today in response to the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority\u2019s draft decision granting Connecticut Light and Power an over 20 percent increase in its fixed charge, while also providing the public utility a more than 9 percent guaranteed rate of return.\r\n\u201cThis draft decision is unconscionable and unacceptable, granting CL&P a more than 20 percent increase in its fixed rate charge in defiance of the sustained, broad public outcry from consumers. \u00a0A fixed charge of $19.25\u2014with signals for future increases\u2014would make CL&P\u2019s residential charge the highest in New England. This fee would hit consumers before they even turn on a single light, discouraging and devaluing conservation and efficiency efforts. Connecticut residents\u2014most notably low-income and elderly residents\u2014cannot afford and should not be asked to finance a nine percent-plus guaranteed rate of return for CL&P,\u201d Blumenthal said.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Contact\n\t\t\t\t\tElizabeth Benton (CT) - 860-729-3589 Elizabeth_Benton@blumenthal.senate.gov", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-to-call-on-the-boy-scouts-of-america-to-end-partnership-with-the-right-decisions-right-now-youth-tobacco-prevention-program", "Blumenthal to Call On The Boy Scouts of America to End Partnership With the Right Decisions Right Now Youth Tobacco Prevention Program", "2014-12-01", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Blumenthal to Call On The Boy Scouts of America to End Partnership With the Right Decisions Right Now Youth Tobacco Prevention Program\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Tweet\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tMonday, December 1, 2014\n\t\t\t(Washington, DC) \u2013 At 1:15 p.m. today, November 25 in Room 1A of the Hartford Legislative Office Building U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal will call on the President of the Boy Scouts of America, Secretary Robert Gates to reconsider the organization\u2019s partnership with the Right Decisions Right Now (RDRN) youth tobacco prevention program. The RDRN program is funded by the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. Basic economics suggest that it is in these companies\u2019 best financial interest to continue to attract new smokers, and thus big tobacco companies have shown a history of sponsoring ineffective tobacco prevention and education programs. The RDRN program was found to have the same ineffective qualities as other big tobacco prevention programs by a federal court.\r\nU.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), and Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), sent a letter to the Boy Scouts calling the program a \u201cwolf in sheep\u2019s clothing\u201d designed to make it appear that tobacco companies are no longer targeting their products to children.  In October, Senator Blumenthal called on the National School Boards Association to end its partnership with the RDRN program, and the association responded affirmatively and dissolved their partnership with the program. The Senators are now writing to the Boy Scouts of America to ask them to reconsider their partnership with the RDRN program, as it has been proven to be nothing more than a PR campaign in disguise as a youth tobacco prevention program.\r\n\r\n\u201cA wolf in sheep\u2019s clothing, big tobacco has a history of using and promoting ineffective prevention and education programs. Indeed, this RDRN program was one of several described as such a program in a federal court opinion. Evidence from the vast amount of research into scientifically proven methods of preventing youth smoking clearly demonstrates that programs such as the RDRN are little more than PR campaigns designed to make it look like tobacco companies have turned over a new leaf and are no longer targeting their products to children,\u201d Blumenthal, Brown and Harkin state in the letter.\r\n   \u201cWe urge the Boy Scouts of America to immediately end its harmful partnership with\u00a0R.J. Reynolds to promote the company's sham 'youth tobacco prevention' program,\u201d said Matthew L. Myers, President of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.\u00a0\u201cThe U.S. Surgeon General, the National Cancer Institute, a federal judge and scientific studies have found that tobacco industry 'prevention programs' are ineffective and may even encourage kids to smoke.\u00a0 The real reason Reynolds and other tobacco companies offer these programs is not to reduce youth smoking.\u00a0 Rather, it is to create the illusion they are part of the solution to the tobacco problem when in fact they continue to addict our children and to fight real solutions.\u201d \u201cWe're grateful to Senator Blumenthal for his leadership on this important issue,\u201d said Robin Koval, CEO and President of Legacy. \u201cLike us, the Senator recognizes that there is an inherent contradiction between the values the Boy Scouts stand for and those that the tobacco industry demonstrate,\u201d she said.\u00a0\u201cWe must be single-minded if we want to effectively safeguard our kids --who RJ Reynolds themselves labeled as 'replacement smokers' for the 1,200 adult smokers who die daily -- from the continuing and very real threat of tobacco-related disease,\u201d she added.\r\nThe full text of the letter is below:\r\nNovember 14, 2014\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\nSecretary Robert Gates\r\nPresident\r\nBoy Scouts of America\r\n1325 West Walnut Hill Lane\r\nIrving, Texas 75015-2079\r\n\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\r\nDear Mr. Secretary:\r\n\u00a0\r\nWe write with grave concern about the Boy Scouts of America\u2019s ongoing partnership with the Right Decisions Right Now (RDRN) youth tobacco prevention program. We support proven interventions to prevent young people from starting to use nicotine products, which too often leads to a lifetime of addiction fraught with health risks. However, the RDRN program has not proven to be effective. We urge you to reconsider this decision to partner with RDRN and to explore other options for helping prevent young people from becoming addicted to nicotine.\r\n\u00a0\r\nThe RDRN program is funded by the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. With adult smoking rates down to about 18.1 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tobacco companies have had to be creative about ensuring that they have new customers. Basic economics suggest it is in these companies\u2019 best financial interest to attract new smokers. This basic fact should immediately raise red flags about whether they are truly invested in effective methods to prevent or cease smoking.\r\n\u00a0\r\nA wolf in sheep\u2019s clothing, big tobacco has a history of using and promoting ineffective prevention and education programs. Indeed, this RDRN program was one of several described as such a program in a federal court opinion. Evidence from the vast amount of research into scientifically proven methods of preventing youth smoking clearly demonstrates that programs such as the RDRN are little more than PR campaigns designed to make it look like tobacco companies have turned over a new leaf and are no longer targeting their products to children.\r\n\u00a0\r\nFurther, although the website describing the RDRN program has been updated to suggest there is some benefit to adults who stop smoking, there are no provisions in this program to educate older students. Finally, this program fails to emphasize the increased rate of death from smoking \u2013 both serious concerns that were raised in the final federal court opinion. Yet, R.J. Reynolds continues to promote their program, selectively using some CDC data in some of their materials to suggest legitimacy while downplaying even more damaging findings, such as the fact that cigarette smoking accounts for one in every five deaths each year. The Boy Scouts of America\u2019s partnership with the program, which has already resulted in about 12,000 scouts taking R.J. Reynolds\u2019s \u201cpledge,\u201d further serves to legitimize the disingenuous efforts of big tobacco.\r\n\u00a0\r\nWe urge you to work with public health advocates about more effective steps you could take to discourage boy scouts from smoking than the ineffective RDRN program. The Research-Tested Intervention Programs database from the National Cancer Institute offers examples of research-tested programs and the National Institute on Drug Abuse\u2019s Mind Over Matter\u2014Tobacco Addiction materials can provide the Boy Scouts with more effective educational materials related to tobacco prevention education. Better options exist, and we fear that promoting the RDRN program could set us back decades in the fight against youth smoking. Please immediately end your partnership with R.J. Reynolds and eliminate the new patch you have created for scouts who have completed the program. The Boy Scouts, and all American youth, deserve more than a PR campaign.\r\n\u00a0\r\nSincerely,\r\n\u00a0\r\nRichard Blumenthal   United States Senate Sherrod Brown   United States Senate Tom Harkin   United States Senate\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Contact\n\t\t\t\t\tJosh Zembik (DC) - 202-224-6452 Josh_Zembik@blumenthal.senate.gov Elizabeth Benton (CT) - 860-729-3589 Elizabeth_Benton@blumenthal.senate.gov", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/following-connecticut-action-blumenthal-urges-health-and-human-services-to-recommend-life-saving-newborn-screening-nationwide", "Following Connecticut Action, Blumenthal Urges Health and Human Services to Recommend Life-Saving Newborn Screening Nationwide", "2014-12-01", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Following Connecticut Action, Blumenthal Urges Health and Human Services to Recommend Life-Saving Newborn Screening Nationwide\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Tweet\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tAdrenoleukodystrophy Affects 1 in 17,000 People; Early Screening Gives Best Chance for Healthy Life\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tMonday, December 1, 2014\n\t\t\t(Hartford, CT) \u2013 U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) today issued a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell urging that the Department add to its list of recommended newborn screenings a test for Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD). ALD affects 1 in 17,000 people and most severely affects boys and men. Early screening that gives babies the chance to receive immediate treatment before symptoms develop provides the best chance for a healthy life.\r\n\r\nLast year, Connecticut passed a law requiring health institutions screen newborns for ALD, but similar protections do not exist for babies nationwide.\r\n\r\nALD is a genetic disorder that first manifests itself as a behavioral disorder, with affected children showing signs of withdrawal, difficulty concentrating, vision problems and coordination issues. Because children with ALD are frequently misdiagnosed and not screened at birth, acute symptoms of ALD often progress quickly, including blindness, deafness, seizures, loss of muscle control and progressive dementia.\r\n\u00a0\r\n\u201cAlthough Connecticut has taken important steps to put this screening in place, efforts to implement this requirement in other states has been hindered by the lack of a federal mandate for an ALD screening,\u201d Blumenthal states in the letter. \u201cALD is a condition that should be screened for at birth in order to give affected children a fighting chance to live a full life.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\r\n\"It is vital to get this test in place as soon as possible. It is proven to be truly lifesaving. Early detection will allow for treatment, setting these boys up for a normal and healthy life. We want to prevent other boys and families affected by ALD from facing the devastating, and life-changing challenges Brian has endured. We look forward to a day when no child will experience the effects of this insidious disease,\u201d said Jean Kelley, a Branford resident and mother of ALD patient Brian Kelley and key advocate for the state\u2019s screening law.\r\n\u00a0\r\nThe full text of the letter follows:\r\n\u00a0\r\nNovember 26, 2014\r\n\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\r\nThe Honorable Sylvia Burwell\r\nSecretary of Health and Human Services\r\nDepartment of Health and Human Services\r\n200 Independence Avenue, SW\r\nWashington, D.C. 20201\r\n\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\r\nDear Secretary Burwell:\r\n\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I am writing today in support of the recommendation that Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) be added to the\u00a0Recommended Uniform Screening Panel\u00a0(RUSP). Newborn screenings are critical to ensuring children born in the United States are tested for rare disorders for which there are life-saving treatments available.\r\n\u00a0\r\nConnecticut is currently implementing Public Act 13-242,\u00a0\u201cAn Act Concerning Newborn Screening for Adrenoleukodystrophy,\u201d which requires all health institutions to screen newborns for ALD.\u00a0As you know, ALD is a genetic\u00a0disease that destroys myelin, the protective sheath that surrounds the brain's neurons, which are the nerve cells that allow us to think and to control our muscles. ALD affects 1 in 17,000 people and most severely affects boys and men.\u00a0Screenings would allow for affected babies to receive immediate treatment, before symptoms develop, and have the best chance at a healthy life. Although Connecticut has taken important steps to put this screening in place, efforts to implement this requirement in other states has been hindered by the lack of a federal mandate for an ALD screening.\r\n\u00a0\r\nThe Discretionary Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders in Newborns and Children (DACHDNC)\u00a0is tasked with advising and making recommendations to you in an effort to\u00a0reduce morbidity and mortality in newborns and children who have, or are at risk for, heritable disorders. Specifically, DACHDNC provides recommendations on what disorders should be added to the Uniform Screening Panel. This is an immensely important role that impacts the health of American\u2019s children, as an estimated 235 babies will be born this year with ALD.\u00a0Despite being nominated to be a part of the RUSP in both 2012 and 2013, ALD has not\u00a0yet\u00a0been included. I understand that\u00a0that an advisory group has been named to review the possibility of including ALD on the RUSP. I ask for your full support in ensuring that\u00a0it is\u00a0reviewed and\u00a0included as soon as possible.\r\n\u00a0\r\nALD is a condition that should be screened for at birth in order to give affected children a fighting chance to live a full life. The RUSP has the responsibility of recommending disorders to be screened and HHS has the authority to make the final determinations.\u00a0I appreciate your consideration of my request that ALD be approved and added to the RUSP and I respectfully request a timeline for the RUSP's process. Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions.\r\n\u00a0\r\nSincerely, \r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \r\nRichard Blumenthal\r\nUnited States Senate\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Contact\n\t\t\t\t\tJosh Zembik (DC) - 202-224-6452 Josh_Zembik@blumenthal.senate.gov Elizabeth Benton (CT) - 860-729-3589 Elizabeth_Benton@blumenthal.senate.gov", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-highlights-local-connecticut-manufacturer-austin-organs-inc-as-murphys-monday-manufacturer", "MURPHY HIGHLIGHTS LOCAL CONNECTICUT MANUFACTURER, AUSTIN ORGANS, INC., AS MURPHYS MONDAY MANUFACTURER", "2014-12-01", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "MURPHY HIGHLIGHTS LOCAL CONNECTICUT MANUFACTURER, AUSTIN ORGANS, INC., AS \u201cMURPHY\u2019S MONDAY MANUFACTURER\u201d\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, December 1, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tHARTFORD \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) announced that Austin Organs, Inc. will be recognized as \u201cMurphy\u2019s Monday Manufacturer\u201d. In 1893, brothers John T. Austin and Basil G. Austin established the Austin Organ Company with financial backing from Hartford businessmen. Just 6 years later, the manufacturer \u2013 which was renamed Austin Organs, Inc. during the height of the Great Depression - moved to its current location along Hartford\u2019s Woodland Street, where it has operated from for the last 115 years.  Austin Organs, Inc. designs, builds, services, and repairs pipes and organs. To date, the manufacturer has built 2,796 pipe organs which have been installed in churches, synagogues, concert halls, and schools around the world. Their instruments are played in famous venues like the Irvine Auditorium at the University of Pennsylvania, Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing, and Connecticut\u2019s own Horace Bushnell Memorial Hall in Hartford. Just last year, Austin Organs completed the construction of one of Washington, D.C.\u2019s largest instruments, an organ for the First Baptist Church of the City of Washington, D.C. The organ has 5 keyboards, 118 ranks, and approximately 7,000 pipes.  Austin Organs has experienced significant growth since it was acquired by Michael B. Fazio and Richard G. Taylor in 2005. The new owners take pride in their team of more than 20 Connecticut residents, and recognize that the hard work and dedication of their employees have largely contributed to the company\u2019s worldwide success. \u201cFor more than a century, Austin Organs has invested in our great state of Connecticut. They have created jobs and a name for themselves around the world, which is good news for Connecticut\u2019s workers and economy. I\u2019m grateful for Austin Organs\u2019 commitment and loyalty to Hartford, and I\u2019m proud to recognize the company as Murphy\u2019s Monday Manufacturer,\u201d said Murphy. \"Austin Organs has proven itself in service to churches, schools and other institutions for more than a century,\u201d said Mike Fazio, President and Tonal Director of Austin Organs, Inc. \u201cWe are proud to have a strong presence in the state of Connecticut, and, with God\u2019s help, we will continue to expand and grow into the next generation.\"\u00a0\r\nThe manufacturing industry plays a crucial role throughout Connecticut communities, creating new jobs and accelerating our state\u2019s economic recovery. Today, Connecticut\u2019s 4,602 manufacturers account for 10.2% of the state\u2019s jobs and 87% of the state\u2019s total exports. In order to protect and grow manufacturing jobs in Connecticut, Murphy has introduced two pieces of legislation that aim to strengthen existing standards and prioritize the purchase of American-made goods, the 21st Century Buy American Act and the American Jobs Matter Act.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141205224441/http://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-statement-on-fra-advisory-on-redundant-signal-protection", "Blumenthal Statement On FRA Advisory On Redundant Signal Protection", "2014-11-25", "2014", "2014-11", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Tuesday, November 25, 2014\n\t\t\t\n(Hartford, CT) \u2013 U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, today released the following statement after the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) released a rail safety advisory concerning redundant signal protection. More than six years ago, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) urged the FRA \u2013 the federal agency responsible for rail safety \u2013 to require that railroads use redundant signal protection technology, such as shunting, to prevent railroad employees from being struck and killed by trains. According to the NTSB, this technology would likely have saved the life of Robert Luden in West Haven in May 2013 \u2013 as well as other railroad workers in the years before and after the NTSB first issued its recommendation.\n\u201cAfter years of inexplicable delay and inexcusable foot-dragging in failing to mandate life-saving redundant signal technology, the FRA has issued an anemic advisory devoid of any real teeth or substance. The FRA has issued no requirements whatsoever. It has \u2013 yet again \u2013 avoided and ducked its responsibility to issue regulations. Its advisory is little more than a meek, underwhelming set of suggestions that are vague on technology and short on substance and detail, lacking any real discussion on shunting and other redundant safety devices.\n\u201cSadly and insultingly, the FRA seems ignorant as to where Robert Luden was killed, stating his death occurred in Danbury, nearly 35 miles from where it actually happened in West Haven.\n\u201cThe FRA must be compelled to do its job of making our railroads safe and reliable and issue the numerous regulations that have been irresponsibly withheld \u2013 and some illegally delayed. Only regulations have the force of law, and FRA advisories are essentially unenforceable.\n\u201cAgain, I call on the president to immediately appoint a new leader at the FRA, who can end an era of regulatory capture and take action to protect lives. And I urge Congress to approve legislation requiring safety technology, as mandated in my rail safety bill.\u201d\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Contact\n\t\t\t\t\tJosh Zembik (DC) - 202-224-6452 Josh_Zembik@blumenthal.senate.gov Elizabeth Benton (CT) - 860-729-3589 Elizabeth_Benton@blumenthal.senate.gov", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 1289, "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 \"state\" = :p0 and \"year\" = :p1 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "CT", "p1": "2014"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=CT&year=2014", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 1289, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=CT&year=2014&party=Democrat", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=CT&year=2014", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 1289, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=CT&year=2014&chamber=House", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=CT&year=2014", "results": [{"value": "CT", "label": "CT", "count": 1289, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?year=2014", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=CT&year=2014", "results": [{"value": "2014", "label": "2014", "count": 1289, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=CT", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2014-11-25,https~3A~2F~2Fweb~2Earchive~2Eorg~2Fweb~2F20141205224441~2Fhttp~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Eblumenthal~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fnewsroom~2Fpress~2Frelease~2Fblumenthal-statement-on-fra-advisory-on-redundant-signal-protection", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=CT&year=2014&_next=2014-11-25%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fweb~2Earchive~2Eorg~2Fweb~2F20141205224441~2Fhttp~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Eblumenthal~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fnewsroom~2Fpress~2Frelease~2Fblumenthal-statement-on-fra-advisory-on-redundant-signal-protection&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 227.3663468658924, "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"}