{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where state = \"CT\" and year = 2022 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-releases-2022-end-of-year-report", "Murphy Releases 2022 End of Year Report", "2022-12-30", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "HARTFORD\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) released his year-end report outlining the work he\u2019s done for Connecticut residents during 2022:\n\n\u201c2022 was Congress\u2019s most productive year in decades. Personally, I was able to pass nearly a dozen pieces of legislation I authored and introduced to help people in Connecticut. This report captures just a glimpse of everything we\u2019ve been able to accomplish. Breaking a thirty year political logjam, we passed a historic piece of gun safety legislation that has already saved lives. We took action to lower drug costs, tackle the climate crisis, invest in mental health, supercharge American manufacturing, and deliver millions in federal funding for our state. It\u2019s my honor to represent the people of Connecticut every day in the Senate, and I look forward to continuing to work together in 2023.\u201d\n\nClick here to download Senator Murphy\u2019s 2022 Year in Review and here to watch his 2022 Year in Review video.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/over-158-million-federal-resources-awarded-gold-star-bridge", "Over $158 Million in Federal Resources Awarded for Gold Star Bridge Rehabilitation, Courtney Announces", "2022-12-29", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) released the following statement after the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) announced a new federal grant award of $158,150,000 to support ongoing repairs and upgrades to the Gold Star Bridge in New London. The new federal resources are being awarded through the department\u2019s Bridge Investment Program, and were made possible by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which Rep. Courtney voted to pass.\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s announcement by the Federal Highway Administration that Connecticut\u2019s largest passenger and truck bridge\u2014the Thames River Gold Star Bridge\u2014has been awarded $158 million for a long overdue rehabilitation is another example of the 2021 Infrastructure Law\u2019s positive impact on eastern Connecticut,\u201d said Rep. Courtney. \u201cPreliminary work at Gold Star started last summer by members of the local Ironworkers Union, and this award will ensure that follow on structural work on the north bound lane will occur. With this upgrade, the bridge will be able to safely tolerate higher weight vehicles, which is a benefit to all motorists, and will reduce truck traffic on local roads, which is more congested right now due to present weight restrictions. This award is a win-win for good paying jobs in the region, and safer traffic flow.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/connecticut-delegation-statement-sikorsky-flraa-protest", "Connecticut Delegation Statement on Sikorsky FLRAA Protest", "2022-12-29", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "STRATFORD, CT \u2013House Appropriations Chair Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), Congressman John Larson (CT-01), Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04), and Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) released the following statement on the announcement of Sikorsky challenging the Army decision on FLRAA:\n\n\u201cToday Sikorsky has made the decision to protest the Army\u2019s recent award on Future Long Range Assault (FLRAA) Aircraft.\n\n\u201cThe public, Members of Congress, and most importantly, the workers at Sikorsky, are entitled to a robust, fair, and clear process. Our National security and Connecticut jobs are on the line.\n\n\"Despite direct engagement with the Army, we as Members of Congress have not yet been able to get the answers that we need regarding how the Army came to their original decision on FLRAA. This is unacceptable.\n\n\"We are hopeful that this protest action and the forthcoming process will shed light on the Army\u2019s decision making, and that the highest level of fidelity is conducted throughout.\u201d\n\n\"We will not relent in our shared mission to ensure that Stratford continues to build the helicopters of the future, and that good paying jobs stay in Connecticut.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=A7C063AF-D076-48CF-98E9-FEDD2723F309", "Hayes Secures $23 Million for the Fifth and Historical Housatonic River Wild and Scenic Designation", "2022-12-29", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Jahana Hayes", "H001081", "hayes.house.gov", "hayes", "https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) secured more than $23 million dollars for 15 community projects in the final 2023 appropriations government funding package. This funding responds directly to many of the most pressing needs throughout the region and supports projects that were less likely to receive funding from any other sources. For the second time, every project submitted to the House Committee on Appropriations by Congresswoman Hayes was included in the final budget.\n\nAdditionally, Hayes legislation to create a U.S. National Park Service protective designation for the 41 miles of the Housatonic River which runs through Sharon, Canaan, Cornwall, Salisbury, New Milford, Kent, and North Canaan, was also approved. The designation will allocate federal resources to the towns along the river to bolster conservation efforts and promote recreation in the Northwest Corner.\n\n\u201cThroughout the appropriations process, I never stopped fighting for the Fifth and I am thrilled to have secured more than $23 million in federal funding to bolster local projects. From communications upgrades for law enforcement to facility infrastructure for community health centers to laying the groundwork to restore CT Rail from Danbury to New York City, this funding will have a lasting impact for all who live and visit the region,\u201d said Congresswoman Hayes. \u201cFurther, after years of community organizing and advocacy, the Housatonic River will now be designated as a National Wild and Scenic River. The designation is not just symbolic; it provides critical funding to protect the rich ecosystem along the 41 miles of the river and support local recreation in the surrounding towns.\u201d\n\nCongresswoman Hayes championed funding for 15 projects to directly benefit Fifth District residents. These include:\n\nWATERBURY: $4,000,000 for the renovation of Fulton Park Pool\n\nWATERTOWN: $3,375,000 for police department radio communications upgrades\n\nWATERTOWN: $3,000,000 for Main Street safety audit\n\nWATERBURY: $2,265,000 for education technology equipment, including computers for public schools\n\nNEW FAIRFIELD: $2,100,000 for the police department emergency communications system upgrade\n\nDANBURY: $2,000,000 for the Southeast, New York to Danbury, CT Rail Link environmental impact statement\n\nDANBURY: $2,000,000 for facilities and equipment at Connecticut Institute for Communities, Inc.,\n\nFARMINGTON: $1,000,000 for K-12 STEM education programs at the University of Connecticut Health Center\n\nNEW BRITAIN: $1,000,000 for facilities and equipment at Klingberg Family Centers, Incorporated\n\nLITCHFIELD: $750,000 for expanding agricultural education, afterschool and behavioral health services for youth at Connecticut Junior Republic\n\nFALLS VILLAGE: $750,000 for affordable housing infrastructure at River Road Homes\n\nCHESHIRE: $625,000 for a fire protection system at Ball & Socket Arts, Inc.\n\nWATERBURY: $172,000 for expanding the Police Activity League Program\n\nNEW BRITAIN: $150,000 for training and outreach programs, services, and literacy supports for under-resourced communities at the United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut\n\nNEW BRITAIN: $50,000 for the childcare business incubator program\n\nThe government funding package provides critical federal investments in government programs and services to ease the burden of rising costs on families and support communities by tackling some of the biggest challenges in the short and long term. Specifically, the government funding bill:\n\nLOWERS THE COST OF LIVING: Reduces costs by expanding child care and early learning programs to more working families, investing in America\u2019s K-12 public schools, making college more affordable, bolstering our public health infrastructure, and protecting consumers.\n\nCREATES BETTER-PAYING JOBS: Creates better-paying jobs by putting people to work rebuilding our infrastructure, helping small businesses grow and thrive, fostering the green energy jobs of tomorrow, and supporting high-quality job training and apprenticeship programs so every American can contribute and succeed.\n\nHELPS COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES IN NEED: Supports people struggling to make ends meet by strengthening nutrition assistance, funding more affordable housing, fighting urgent health disparities, supporting our Veterans, and investing in rural broadband.\n\nKEEPS OUR NATION AND OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE: Strengthens our national security and keeps our communities safe with robust defense funding for training and equipment to prepare for future threats and support our allies in their efforts to defend democracy and investments in diplomacy and global development, our public health infrastructure, cybersecurity, local, state, and federal law enforcement, and funding for responsible border and maritime security.\n\nPROTECTS OUR ENVIRONMENT: Confronts the threat of climate change through environmental enforcement and environmental justice efforts, historic investments in clean energy and climate science, and leadership in the global fight against climate change.\n\nFUNDS COMMUNITY PROJECTS: Responds directly to pressing needs in the Fifth District by fostering the economic development that makes communities healthier, safer, and stronger through community projects.\n\nA detailed summary of the legislation is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-highlights-stamfords-nourishedrx-as-innovator-of-the-month", "Murphy Highlights Stamford's NourishedRx as \"Innovator of the Month\"", "2022-12-29", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "HARTFORD\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) announced that NourishedRx, based in Stamford, was named December\u2019s \u201cInnovator of the Month.\u201d Founded in 2019, NourishedRx is a woman-owned company that bridges the gap between health care and nutrition through its AI-enabled platform, which matches individuals facing diet sensitive chronic health conditions or nutrition insecurity with highly personalized food solutions and nutrition consultations. NourishedRx has also established partnerships with multiple Medicare Advantage and Managed Medicaid plans to provide its services as part of an all-encompassing healthcare solution.\n\n\u201cAccess to nutritious foods is key to improving health outcomes. That\u2019s why the team at NourishedRx is working to better integrate nutrition with health care through their evidence-based, AI-enabled platform. I\u2019m proud to recognize their innovative approach toward addressing food insecurity, and look forward to their continued growth in Connecticut,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n\u201cBuilding our company in Connecticut has been wonderful. We\u2019re grateful for the support and partnership of Connecticut Innovations and have enjoyed being part of UConn Technology Incubator Program (TIP). Being in CT is definitely helping us on our way to achieving our mission of improving lives, enhancing health equity and bending the health care cost curve,\u201d said Lauren Driscoll, Founder and CEO of NourishedRx.\n\nMurphy believes entrepreneurship and innovation are the building blocks for a strong economy. In the U.S. Senate, he has introduced legislation to incentivize angel investors to put more money into startup companies\u2014the Angel Tax Credit Act. Startup companies create an average of 2 million jobs each year.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-cornyn-applaud-help-find-the-missing-act-signed-into-law", "Murphy, Cornyn Applaud Help Find the Missing Act Signed Into Law", "2022-12-27", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) on Tuesday released the following statements after President Biden signed into law the Help Find the Missing Act, or \u201cBilly\u2019s Law\u201d, legislation to close loopholes in America\u2019s missing persons systems by streamlining the missing persons reporting process and ensuring that law enforcement databases are more accessible and comprehensive.\n\nThe bill was co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), John. Hoeven (R-N.D.), and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.). U.S. Representative Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.-05) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.\n\n\u201cWhen I first met Jan and Bill almost 15 years ago, I was inspired by their determination to fix a missing persons system that had repeatedly failed them during the search for their son Billy. I\u2019m so proud to have worked with Senator Cornyn, Congresswoman Hayes, the Smolinskis, the family of Gabby Petito, and countless others to finally get this bill to the president\u2019s desk. This is a big deal that is going to ensure the thousands of other families with missing loved ones won\u2019t face the same obstacles going forward,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n\u201cFor families who have exhausted all possible leads to find their loved one, improving the missing persons reporting process is essential,\u201d said Cornyn. \u201cThis legislation will ensure local law enforcement can work swiftly and comprehensively to deliver justice to the families and friends of the missing, and I am proud of the bipartisan support that pushed this bill across the finish line.\u201d\n\nBilly's Law was originally introduced in the House of Representatives in 2009 by then-Congressman Chris Murphy. The bill was conceived by Janice and Bill Smolinski of Cheshire, Connecticut, after their 31-year-old son Billy went missing from Waterbury, Connecticut. While working with law enforcement to locate their missing son, the Smolinskis faced countless systemic challenges, most significantly the incomplete and uncoordinated federal databases for missing persons and unidentified remains. Billy's Law was introduced to address those challenges and help ensure that the tens of thousands of American families whose loved ones go missing each year do not experience the same hurdles faced by the Smolinskis.\n\nFull text of the bill is available here.\n\nA section-by-section of the bill is available here.\n\nA one-pager of the bill is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-secures-funding-increased-us-navy-shipbuilding-and-submarine", "Courtney Secures Funding for Increased U.S. Navy Shipbuilding and Submarine Construction in Final FY 2023 Omnibus", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "December 23, 2022\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), Chairman of the House Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, voted to pass the FY 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 2617) a bipartisan spending bill that will fund the federal government through September 30, 2023. The bill was passed in the House by a vote of 225-201, and now moves to the President\u2019s desk to be signed into law.\n\nRep. Courtney is Chairman of the House Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, which oversees all U.S. Navy shipbuilding and is tasked with ensuring a strong and capable U.S. Navy. On December 8, the House voted to pass the final National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2023, which the Seapower Subcommittee helped craft and authorizes new forms of support for American servicemembers, as well as continued funding for an increased amount of shipbuilding, submarine procurement and research efforts, continued support for Ukraine, and more. Now, the 2023 Omnibus provides full funding to back Courtney and the Seapower Subcommittee\u2019s top priorities in the 2023 NDAA, delivering on behalf of the U.S. Navy and eastern Connecticut\u2019s manufacturing workforce and supply chain.\n\n\u201cAt a time when many people wonder whether Congress can still work together to get big things done for our country, passage of our bipartisan NDAA followed back-to-back by passage of the bipartisan 2023 Omnibus should come as hard evidence that it can,\u201d said Chairman Courtney. \u201cAmerica\u2019s national security priorities around the world have an impact here at home every day\u2014on our democracy, our economy, and our everyday lives. That\u2019s why it was so important to ensure we got the Defense Authorization across the finish line for the 62nd year in a row this year. Our NDAA focused heavily on supplying our Navy and Armed Services with their most important priorities\u2014from increased submarine construction and shipbuilding, to historic new support to strengthen the workforce we need to get it all done, and lots more\u2014and now the 2023 budget backs those authorizations up with full funding. It\u2019s no secret that eastern Connecticut has a huge role to play in accomplishing many of the submarine and defense manufacturing opportunities that are provided in our 2023 budget, and I\u2019m proud that we got it done on a bipartisan basis. This is a great bill for servicemembers and their families, for shipbuilders and our supply chain, and for eastern Connecticut.\u201d\n\nDefense and Submarine Priorities\n\nSubmarines and Undersea Capabilities\u2014The 2023 Omnibus provides a total of $14.5 billion for U.S. Navy submarine construction, procurement, and research & development priorities, including:\n\nVirginia-class Submarine \u2014 $6.5 billion to support the sustained two-per-year build rate of new Virginia-class submarines, with $4.5 billion for two submarines in 2023 and $2 billion in advance procurement to support future construction of submarines in 2024 and 2025.\n\nColumbia-class Submarine \u2014 $3.1 billion in support of the second year of funding for the first Columbia-class submarine, and $2.8 billion in advanced procurement to support construction of follow-on submarines in the program through procurement of long lead materials, reducing risk and sustaining the timely delivery of submarines to the fleet.\n\nComponent Procurement \u2014 $975 million for components critical to new construction and sustainment of submarines, including support equipment, batteries, acoustic systems, communications equipment, and training modules.\n\nSubmarine Industrial Base and Workforce Development \u2014 The bill includes unprecedented investment in the submarine industrial base, including $541 million for submarine supplier development, workforce development, shipyard infrastructure, and strategic outsourcing specifically for the Columbia-class submarine program, and $207 million to support submarine workforce development initiatives.\n\nSubmarine Research and Development \u2014 $1.2 billion in research and development of future submarines, including $316 million for developing capabilities of the next block of Virginia-class submarines, and about $140 million for SSN(X), the planned future follow-on to the Virginia-class program. These efforts are essential to ensuring the health of the design and engineering workforce at Electric Boat.\n\nThe bill also includes other Courtney-led provisions to augment undersea priorities such as:\n\nInfrastructure Upgrades at SUBASE New London \u2014 fully funds $15.5 million for a military construction project at SUBASE New London, which will relocate the existing underwater electromagnetic measurement system due to planned construction of a floating dry dock at Electric Boat in support of the Columbia-class submarine program. The current system is used to determine if submarines need degaussing or magnetic silencing to protect from undersea mines.\n\nAcademic Partnerships for Undersea Research \u2014$25 million, an effort driven by the House Armed Services Committee, to support partnerships with academic institutions conducting research on undersea capabilities, such as the National Institute for Undersea Vehicle Technology, a collaborative program between the University of Connecticut and the University of Rhode Island.\n\nAdvanced Submarine Control \u2014 $8.5 million for a Courtney priority for research and development efforts improving low-speed dynamic maneuverability for the next block of Virginia-class submarines and beyond, like those currently underway at Progeny Systems in Groton.\n\nAdditional Eastern Connecticut Defense Priorities\n\nNational Coast Guard Museum \u2014 Fully funds the Coast Guard\u2019s request of $20 million supporting continued work on developing exhibits and artifact displays at future National Coast Guard Museum in New London. This funding will be combined with $25 million provided at Courtney\u2019s request to the Coast Guard to date.\n\nDefense Impact Aid \u2014 Funds $60 million for the DOD supplemental impact aid program, which provides support to local school districts with high proportions of military children, including Groton and Ledyard public schools. This program is in addition to the primary Impact Aid program funded through the Department of Education, which does not fall within the jurisdiction of the House Armed Services Committee.\n\nSupport for the Connecticut National Guard \u2014 Supports an increase of 16 C-130J Super Hercules airlift aircraft to continue modernization of the Air National Guard\u2019s C-130 units and adds $60.7 million for NP2000 propeller modernization upgrades for aircraft that have not been outfitted with new, more powerful propellers. The 130th Airlift Wing of the Connecticut Air National Guard flies the C-130H, an older model aircraft.\n\nF-35 Joint Strike Fighter \u2014 Supports procurement of 61 F-35 aircraft, which are supported by Pratt & Whitney, for the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps.\n\nF135 Engine Modernization \u2014 Supports an increase of $75 million for F135 engine enhancement and modernization to provide improved thrust and capability needed for future iterations of F-35 aircraft, built at Pratt & Whitney.\n\nBlackhawks \u2014 Supports an increase of 10 UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters over the budget request, bringing the total number authorized to 35 helicopters for the Army National Guard, built at Sikorsky.\n\nCH-53K \u2014 Supports an increase of 2 CH-53K heavy-lift helicopters, bringing the total to 12 aircraft for the Marine Corps, built at Sikorsky.\n\nCombat Rescue Helicopter \u2014 Supports an increase of 10 Combat Rescue Helicopters, built at Sikorsky, bringing the total number of aircraft to 20 for the Air Force.\n\nOther Notable Provisions\n\nEnsuring the Health of Our Veterans \u2014 The final agreement includes $5 billion to fully fund implementation of the Honoring Our PACT Act in 2023 in order to address increased demand for health care and benefits, and to accomplish the expedited implementation schedule announced by the Biden Administration.\n\nA pay raise for servicemembers \u2014 Fully funds the 2023 NDAA\u2019s authorization of a 4.6% pay increase for all American military personnel.\n\nBasic Allowance for Housing \u2014 Provides an increase of $1.2 billion for BAH to offset rising living expenses, spread out across the services and their active duty, reserve, and guard components.\n\nBasic Allowance for Subsistence \u2014 Provides an increase of $328 million for the Basic Allowance for Subsistence, a program designed to pay for the costs of servicemembers meals when dining at their permanent duty station, to offset the higher cost of food prices.\n\nBasic Needs Allowance \u2014 Provides an additional $12.1 million for a BAH supplement to eligible servicemembers with dependents, building on the 2023 NDAA\u2019s increased threshold up to 150% of the federal poverty line.\n\nCommissaries \u2014 Provides an increase of $224 million to fully fund DoD commissaries to help cut the costs of groceries for servicemembers and their families.\n\nContinued Support for Ukraine\n\nOn the heels of President Zelenskyy\u2019s address to Congress, the Consolidated Appropriations Act includes $45 billion in emergency funding for Ukraine, as they continue to repel Russia\u2019s unlawful invasion and head into the winter months. Key priorities include:\n\nUkraine Security Assistance Initiative \u2014 Provides $9 billion for training, equipment, defense articles, and supplies, which has proved critical to Ukraine\u2019s success.\n\nUnited States European Command \u2014 Provides nearly $7 billion for the United States to continue mission support and logistics services in the European Area of Responsibility.\n\nHumanitarian Assistance \u2014 Provides $2 billion to support humanitarian initiatives for Internally Displaced Persons within Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees.\n\nChildren and Families \u2014 Provides $2 billion for resettlement and other support activities such as emergency housing, job training, and case management for Ukrainian arrivals.\n\nContinued Oversight \u2014 Provides $19.5 million in funds to the Department of Defense and Department of State to continue oversight of response activities and requires the DOD to report on enhanced end-use monitoring of defense articles sent to Ukraine. Also included is $7.5 million for the Government Accountability Office to conduct oversight on funds obligated in this bill and prior measures.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-votes-pass-2023-consolidated-appropriations-act-spending-bill", "Courtney Votes to Pass 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act, a Spending Bill that Includes Important Support and Investments in Eastern Connecticut", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "December 23, 2022\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) voted to pass the FY 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 2617), a bipartisan omnibus spending package that includes all twelve annual federal appropriations bills and will fund the federal government through September 30, 2023. The bill was passed by the House by a vote of 225-201 and now moves to the President\u2019s desk to be signed into law.\n\n\"It took some tough sledding to get here, but after months of negotiations and late nights to complete the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act, the final result is a budget that focuses heavily on eastern Connecticut,\u201d said Congressman Courtney. \u201cPeople in eastern Connecticut want to see Congress work together and get our jobs done, and I think we met those expectations with the 2023 Omnibus. In addition to refueling critical programs that are relied on by seniors, families, farmers, small businesses and many others in our region, the 2023 budget also includes over $21 million in direct funding that my office secured for fifteen local projects in towns throughout CT-02. Our budget fully funds the major submarine manufacturing opportunities and other priorities included in this year\u2019s Defense Authorization, it will help ramp-up workforce development and apprenticeship programs that have already been operating successfully in our region, and it provides new support to America\u2019s seniors, working families, and veterans. We also worked hard to ensure that the 2023 budget includes increased support for federal home energy assistance to help folks lower costs and stay warm this winter, and to make sure it contained funding specifically to support our farmers who have been impacted by severe drought conditions.\u201d\n\n\u201cFollowing President Zelenskyy\u2019s address to a Joint Session of Congress on Wednesday, the 2023 budget also includes expansive new support for our Ukrainian allies, including training, equipment, defense articles and other supplies, and it takes steps to ensure that we are conducting thorough oversight of all of it,\u201d Courtney continued. \u201cI was proud to help craft and pass a budget that supports our nations\u2019 shared interest in the defense of democracy and that provides such a strong boost to our towns and our region, and I\u2019m glad that we got it done on a bipartisan basis.\u201d\n\nEastern Connecticut Priorities and Initiatives\n\nThe Consolidated Appropriations Act includes funding for several priorities and projects that were secured specifically by Rep. Courtney\u2014both as Chairman of the House Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, which oversees all U.S. Navy shipbuilding, and as part of his Community Project Funding requests for 2023.\n\nTargeted Funding for Community Projects \u2014 Includes $21.5 million for 15 Community Project Requests throughout eastern Connecticut that were specifically requested by Rep. Courtney. These projects, requested earlier this year by local officials and non-profits, range from improving local health care services, to supporting local police and first responders, to expanding local trail networks and improving local libraries, and more. For more information on each of Courtney\u2019s 15 Community Project Requests, click here.\n\nSupport Submarine Construction and Development of Undersea Capabilities \u2014Includes expansive support for sustained submarine construction and procurement\u2014a total of $12.8 billion. That total includes $6.5 billion to support the sustained two-per-year build rate of new Virginia-class submarines, and $3.1 billion to support the second year of funding for the first-ever Columbia-class submarine. These provisions were secured by Rep. Courtney, Chairman of the House Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, and his colleagues in the 2023 NDAA, and are fully supported by the 2023 Omnibus. For more information, click here.\n\nSupporting the Submarine Workforce and Industrial Base \u2014 Includes $541 million for submarine supplier development, workforce development, shipyard infrastructure, and strategic outsourcing specifically for the Columbia-class program, and $207 million to support submarine workforce development initiatives.\n\nNew Support for SUBASE New London \u2014 Provides $15.5 million to relocate the base\u2019s existing underwater electromagnetic measurement system in the Thames River. The move is necessary due to planned construction of a floating dry dock at Electric Boat in support of the Columbia-class submarine program. The current system is used to determine if submarines need degaussing or magnetic silencing to protect from undersea mines.\n\nAcademic Partnerships for Undersea Research \u2014 Fully funds Courtney\u2019s request for $25 million to support Navy partnerships with academic institutions conducting research on undersea capabilities, such as the National Institute for Undersea Vehicle Technology (NIUVT), a collaborative undersea research program between the University of Connecticut and the University of Rhode Island.\n\nAdditional Funding for Federal Energy Assistance Programs \u2014 Includes $4 billion in base-level funding for the federal Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which represents an increase of $200 million over 2022 enacted levels. The bill also includes an additional $1 billion in emergency LIHEAP funding, for a total of $5 billion included for LIHEAP in the 2023 Omnibus. With this spending package, Congress has now provided a total of $6 billion for LIHEAP in 2023: $4 billion in base-level funding and $1 billion in emergency funding included in the Omnibus, and $1 billion in supplemental LIHEAP funding which Rep. Courtney led the effort to secure in the FY 2023 Continuing Resolution, passed in September. Click here to read more.\n\nHelping Farmers Hit by Drought and Extreme Weather \u2014 The bill includes $3.7 billion for the USDA Emergency Relief program, which helps farmers offset losses of revenue, quality, or production losses of crops resulting from droughts and other extreme weather conditions. Rep. Courtney led the Connecticut and Rhode Island Congressional Delegations in requesting this funding to support Agricultural producers in Southern New England\u2014click here to read more.\n\nNational Coast Guard Museum \u2014 Fully funds the Coast Guard\u2019s request of $20 million to continue developing exhibits and artifact displays for the future National Coast Guard Museum in New London. This funding will be combined with $25 million previously provided at Courtney\u2019s request to the Coast Guard, as well as $50 million allocated in 2022 to support construction of the museum\n\nCrumbling Foundations Research \u2014 Rep. Courtney\u2019s request to provide $4 million specifically to the University of Connecticut (UConn) to complete their research on pyrrhotite in concrete aggregate. UConn has previously been awarded multiple grants to collaborate with NIST on this work. In addition to the $4 million that Rep. Courtney secured for UConn, Rep. Courtney also secured $750,000 for NIST to research testing, a risk-rating scale, and mitigation strategies for concrete structures that may not have yet developed cracking but contain pyrrhotite.\n\nImpact Aid \u2014 Includes $1.6 billion for the U.S. Department of Education\u2019s Impact Aid program, which provides support to local school districts with high proportions of military connected students and students who live on tribal lands, including Groton and Ledyard public schools. This represents a $61 million increase over 2022 levels. The measure also includes the full $60 million requested by Rep. Courtney to support the DOD Supplemental Impact Aid program, which directs additional support to school districts with high proportion so military-connected students.\n\nPreserving Eastern Connecticut\u2019s Natural Heritage \u2014 The final agreement includes $40 million for the Long Island Sound Geographic Program in FY 2023, an increase of $8.6 million from FY 2022. It also includes $3 million to support the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge, which spans Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont, and $5.3 million for the Partnership Wild and Scenic Rivers Program, which helps protect local waterways like the Eightmile River and the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed.\n\nPermanent Conservation of Plum Island \u2014 Includes language requested by Courtney expressing support for the permanent conservation of Plum Island following the decontamination and closure of the existing animal disease facility by the Department of Homeland Security, as well as $13.5 million to help DHS clean up the island in support of future preservation. Courtney has long championed the preservation of Plum Island, and earlier this year urged President Biden and Interior Secretary Haaland to use all available tools to ensure the permanent protection and management of Plum Island.\n\nSupport for Spent Nuclear Fuel Disposal \u2014 Provides $53 million for nuclear waste management and directs the Department of Energy to move forward to identify a site for a federal interim storage facility using a consent-based approach. This will help DOE continue efforts to identify an interim storage site that can host spent nuclear fuel from CT. Recently, Courtney hosted Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm and Assistant Secretary for the Office of Nuclear Energy Kathryn Huff in CT-02. In addition to visiting Connecticut Yankee in Haddam Neck and Millstone in Waterford, Secretary Granholm and Dr. Huff provided an update on the Department\u2019s efforts to identify interim storage sites for spent nuclear fuel, and heard from local stakeholders about the need to remove it from Connecticut.\n\nFunding for Working Families, Workforce Development, Veterans, and More\n\nEnsuring the Health of Our Veterans \u2014 Includes $5 billion to fully fund implementation of the Honoring Our PACT Act, which Courtney helped pass into law in July of this year, to address increased demand for health care and benefits and support the expedited implementation schedule announced by the Biden Administration.\n\nSpecial Education \u2014 Special education received $15.5 billion, an increase of $934 million over FY 2022 funding levels. This includes an increase of $850 million for Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B Grants to States, for a total of $14.2 billion.\n\nExpansion of Pell Grants \u2014 Provides $24.6 billion for Federal student aid programs, an increase of $34 million above the FY 2022 enacted level. Within this amount is $7,395 for the maximum Pell Grant. This $500 increase is the largest increase in the maximum award in more than a decade.\n\nCareer, Technical, and Adult Education \u2014 Provides $2.2 billion for Career, Technical and Adult Education, an increase of $100 million above the FY 2022 enacted level. This amount includes $1.4 billion for CTE State Grants, an increase of $50 million over 2022 levels.\n\nRegistered Apprenticeships \u2014 Provides a total of $285 million for Registered Apprenticeship programs nationwide, a $50 million increase over FY 2022 enacted levels.\n\nWIOA State Grants \u2014 Includes $2.9 billion for the Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act State Grant program, which supports a variety of workforce and career development opportunities nationwide.\n\nCommunity Based Services \u2014 $770 million for the Community Services Block Grant program, an increase of $15 million over FY 2022 levels.\n\nCommunity Health Centers \u2014 $1.9 billion to support the nationwide Community Health Center Program, an increase of $100 million over 2022 enacted levels.\n\nState Opioid Response Grants \u2014 $1.5 billion for nationwide State Opioid Response Grants, a $50 million increase over 2022 levels.\n\nDrug Free Communities Program \u2014 $109 million for the nationwide Drug Free Communities Program, a $3 million increase from 2022.\n\nAssistance to Firefighters and Local Fire Stations \u2014 $360 million for the federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program, which helps support fire stations and first responders across eastern Connecticut with important equipment purchases, necessary training, capital investment, and more.\n\nContinued Support for Ukraine\n\nOn the heels of President Zelenskyy\u2019s address to Congress, the Consolidated Appropriations Act includes $45 billion in emergency funding for Ukraine, as they continue to repel Russia\u2019s unlawful invasion and head into the winter months. Key priorities include:\n\nUkraine Security Assistance Initiative \u2014 Provides $9 billion for training, equipment, defense articles, and supplies, which has proved critical to Ukraine\u2019s success.\n\nUnited States European Command \u2014 Provides nearly $7 billion for the United States to continue mission support and logistics services in the European Area of Responsibility.\n\nHumanitarian Assistance \u2014 Provides $2 billion to support humanitarian initiatives for Internally Displaced Persons within Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees.\n\nChildren and Families \u2014 Provides $2 billion for resettlement and other support activities such as emergency housing, job training, and case management for Ukrainian arrivals.\n\nContinued Oversight \u2014 Provides $19.5 million in funds to the Department of Defense and Department of State to continue oversight of response activities and requires the DOD to report on enhanced end-use monitoring of defense articles sent to Ukraine. Also included is $7.5 million for the Government Accountability Office to conduct oversight on funds obligated in this bill and prior measures.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/final-2023-spending-package-includes-215-million-15-courtney-requested", "Final 2023 Spending Package Includes $21.5 Million for 15 Courtney-Requested Projects Throughout Eastern Connecticut", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "December 23, 2022\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) voted to pass the FY 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 2617), a bipartisan spending package that includes all twelve annual federal appropriations bills, and will keep America open for business through September 30, 2023. The agreement includes funding for a wide range of eastern Connecticut priorities that Rep. Courtney helped to secure\u2014click here to read more. Now that the bill has been passed by the House, it will move on to the President\u2019s desk for signature.\n\nPassage of the 2023 Omnibus marks the second consecutive year that Congress has approved specific, targeted funding for local projects requested by Members of Congress, known as \u201cCommunity Project Funding.\u201d After working closely with second district towns, leaders, and non-profit organizations, Rep. Courtney requested and secured funding for fifteen local projects throughout eastern Connecticut in the full 2023 spending agreement. Now, Courtney\u2019s Community Project requests will help complete and support local initiatives in towns like Canterbury, Coventry, East Hampton, Groton, Madison, Mansfield, Plainfield, Stonington, the Quiet Corner, and more.\n\n\u201cThe government funding package we passed today includes funding specifically for important projects that many of our towns and community partners otherwise couldn\u2019t afford,\u201d said Rep. Courtney. \u201cFrom improved childcare services, to new affordable housing opportunities, to infrastructure upgrades that will support our fishing industry on the shoreline, and protect our environment while preparing for growth in north central Connecticut. My office worked side-by-side with local leaders in town governments and the nonprofit sector to secure funding for these local projects, and we worked hard to win support for these critical initiatives. It took tough sledding to get this budget finally completed, and I want to thank House Appropriations Chair Rep. Rosa DeLauro for her leadership carrying it across the finish line. The final 2023 funding package targets support straight to some of our most important local priorities, and that\u2019s great news for eastern Connecticut.\u201d\n\nIn addition to the $21.5 million for 15 projects initiated in the House by Rep. Courtney, the final measure also includes $9.7 million for 12 other projects throughout CT-02 that were initiated by Senators Blumenthal and Murphy, for a total of 27 funded projects at $31.2 million. Click here for a map of projects funded in CT-02 by the 2023 Omnibus.\n\nTargeted Support for Fifteen Local Projects\n\nThe Consolidated Appropriations Act includes funding Rep. Courtney secured for local projects throughout eastern Connecticut. All fifteen of Courtney\u2019s 2023 Community Project Funding requests were approved by the House Appropriations Committee, and today, funding for those projects was officially passed as part of H.R. 2617. Courtney\u2019s 2023 project requests will bring over $21.5 million in targeted federal investments home to CT-02, and will be used to:\n\nCanterbury, CT: Provide New Space for Children\u2019s Learning\u2014Rep. Courtney secured funding to construct a children\u2019s play and learning center at the Canterbury Public Library in Canterbury, CT ($480,000)\n\n\u201cLibrary services are more important than ever, and having the resources to finally construct a space specifically for kids to learn, socialize, and play will be a real benefit to so many families in our community. We have been glad to work with Rep. Courtney and his team to go after this funding opportunity, and we\u2019re very excited about today\u2019s step forward on making it final.\u201d \u2014 Beth Delaney, Director of the Canterbury Public Library\n\nCoventry, CT: Protect Our Environment, and Prepare for Development\u2014Rep. Courtney secured funding to extend existing sanitary sewers from the Town of Bolton into the Town of Coventry along CT Route 44, reducing the potential for groundwater contamination and facilitating redevelopment of commercial properties nearby ($1,500,000)\n\n\u201cWe are excited that this long-standing project to address sewer needs on Route 44 is moving forward due to the efforts of Congressman Courtney. The project will resolve outstanding septic issues and allow appropriate development of our busiest street. Our Water Pollution control authority looks forward to working with our regional partners to swiftly move this project from concept to construction.\u201d \u2014 John Elsesser, Town Manager of Coventry, CT\n\nEast Hampton, CT: Improve Local Trail Networks\u2014One of Rep. Courtney\u2019s project requests will help complete the last remaining gap in 112-mile Air Line Trail with construction of a new wooden boardwalk in East Hampton, CT ($1,400,000)\n\n\u201cThis project has been in motion for several years. We\u2019ve overcome a few speedbumps when it comes to things like Army Corps permitting and other logistics, we worked our way to the point where the ultimate bridge design was reviewed and approved by the Army Corps, and now going out and securing funding for construction has been one of our final goals for the project. It\u2019s a real treat to see the funding aspect moving forward in the federal budget, and to finally be in a situation where we see light at the end of the tunnel\u2014we\u2019re grateful for that, and we\u2019re ready to go once the funding approval comes through. Completion of the new Air Line Trail boardwalk is going to make hundreds of thousands of people happy.\u201d \u2014 Jeremy Hall, Director of Parks and Recreation in East Hampton, CT\n\nGroton, CT: Improve Childcare Services for Local Families\u2014Courtney secured funding to replace outdated modular buildings at TVCCA\u2019s Childcare Center in Groton, CT ($3,000,000)\n\n\u201cIt is incredibly important for children and families in Groton to have a state-of-the-art early childhood center\u2014the social, emotional, and educational development that takes place in these classrooms is so beneficial for our youngest learners, and a huge source of support for many of our region\u2019s parents and families. Congressman Courtney\u2019s office has been a phenomenal partner in supporting our work at TVCCA for years, and we have been so pleased to combine our efforts in going after this new federal funding opportunity. This project would have a tangible and positive impact for children and families in our Groton community, and we are ready to keep working with Congressman Courtney and his team to make it final.\u201d \u2014 Deborah Monahan, Chief Executive Officer of TVCCA\n\nHebron, CT: Upgrade and Expand Services to Individuals with Disabilities\u2014Courtney worked with the Easterseals of Oak Hill to secure funding to upgrade their Hemlocks Center facilities, located in Hebron, CT. The project will enable Easterseals to expand services, and to fund capital improvements and accessibility upgrades to better serve individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities ($1,800,000)\n\n\u201cThese much needed funds will have a transformational impact on the services we provide for individuals with disabilities at the Hemlocks Center. Thanks to the efforts of Representatives Courtney and DeLauro, Easterseals of Oak Hill will be newly situated to offer yearlong education and outdoor recreation opportunities to the children and adults we serve. We are so excited to move forward creating a center of excellence; increasing opportunities for nature-based person-centered learning and recreation.\u201d \u2014 Barry Simon, President & CEO of Oak Hill\n\nLebanon, CT: Repair and Upgrade Facilities Serving Men with Addiction and Mental Health Issues\u2014Courtney secured funding to help the Southeastern Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc., (SCADD) to make repairs and upgrades to residential and treatment facilities in Lebanon, CT that serve men with addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders. Funding will help SCADD to upgrade food service facilities, replace outdated communications equipment, and make necessary roof and sewer repairs ($915,000)\n\n\u201cThe resources provided by the Community Project Funding program will allow our agency to make critical infrastructure improvements that have been overdue for many years. We are so grateful for the commitment Joe Courtney has demonstrated to the citizens of Southeastern Connecticut and his recognition that access to substance abuse and mental health treatment for vulnerable populations is vital for the health and wellbeing of our community. Thank you, Joe, for understanding that recovery is possible!\u201d \u2014 Stacey Lawton, CEO of Southeastern Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc.\n\nMadison, CT: Enhance Capabilities for First Responders in Madison\u2014Courtney also secured funding to support the Town of Madison\u2019s Emergency Operations Center Project. These resources will be used to help construct an emergency operations center in Madison, which will be built as an addition to the Madison Fire Station ($2,500,000)\n\n\u201cThis is very exciting news, this grant will allow Madison to construct a state of the art emergency operations center which will enhance our response capabilities to natural disasters and other emergencies, making the Town of Madison safer for it\u2019s residents and emergency services personnel.\u201d \u2014 Samuel DeBurra, Director of Operations, Fire Marshal, and Emergency Management Director for the Town of Madison\n\nMansfield, CT: Expand Affordable Housing Opportunities\u2014Courtney also secured funding to renovate an existing structure to be included as part of a 42-unit affordable housing rehabilitation project in Mansfield, CT ($300,000)\n\n\u201cThe Mansfield Nonprofit Development Corporation has been working on bringing additional affordable housing to the Mansfield community for years. Funding for this renovation is one piece of a larger affordable housing project that has yet to be funded. This will help complete the funding for the entire 42-unit project.\u201d \u2014 Kathy Ward, President of the Mansfield Nonprofit Housing Development Corporation\n\nNew London and Southeast Connecticut: Expand Mental Health Care Opportunities in Local Schools\u2014Courtney secured funding to enable the Child and Family Agency of Southeastern CT to hire five new, full-time, master\u2019s level mental health clinicians. The funding will help place mental health clinicians in classrooms in high-need communities in the New London, Groton, Waterford, and Ledyard communities ($693,000)\n\n\u201cThe pandemic has had a devastating impact on the mental health of families and young children throughout our region. This grant will enable us to provide essential behavioral health resources to help our youngest children and their families to thrive.\u201d \u2014 Dr. Allison Blake, CEO of the Child & Family Agency of Southeastern CT, Inc.\n\nNortheast Connecticut: Expand Services for Women Escaping Domestic Violence\u2014Another of Rep. Courtney\u2019s project requests will provide funding to renovate, upgrade, and expand a United Services, Inc.\u2019s Domestic Violence Shelter serving northeast Connecticut, providing more beds, more private space for occupants, and improved ADA accessibility ($1,000,000)\n\n\u201cUnited Services Domestic Violence Shelter provides a safe place for women, men and children fleeing abuse and seeking to rebuild their lives. We are grateful to Congressman Courtney for his support of a long overdue renovation to one of our shelters.\u201d \u2014 Diane L. Manning, President/CEO of United Services\n\nPlainfield, CT: Make Upgrades to the Quinebaug River Trail\u2014Courtney secured funding that will enable the design, permitting, and construction of a new, multi-use, 1.6-mile trail in Plainfield, CT ($2,200,000)\n\n\u201cThis is such an important project for Plainfield, the Region, and the 15 states, 450 cities, and 3,000 miles that make up the Federally recognized East Coast Greenway. The Town is extremely grateful to Joe for all of his efforts to move this project forward at the federal level, and to CT DOT and CT DEEP for playing a critical role in completing the 200 miles of the ECG in CT.\u201d \u2014 Mary Ann Chinatti, Town Planner of Plainfield, CT\n\nSomers, CT: Protect Our Environment, and Upgrade Local Water Infrastructure\u2014Courtney also secured funding to make upgrades and improve operations at the Wastewater Pollution Control Facility in Somers, CT ($945,000)\n\n\u201cThe Somers WPCA believes that clean water is a resource which all of us share and must be protected. We would like to thank Rep. Courtney and his staff for helping us secure funding to repair the Somersville wastewater treatment facility. This grant will help us improve water quality in the Scantic, while at the same time avoid placing a large cost burden on the residents of Somersville. The Somers WPCA also thanks Somers First Selectman Tim Keeney for his support and Matt Jermine of Weston & Sampson for engineering expertise on this project.\u201d \u2014 Dan Parisi, Town of Somers Superintendent\n\nStonington, CT: Support the Local Fishing Industry with Infrastructure Upgrades\u2014Courtney secured funding that will enable the start of major maintenance and upgrades to the Fisherman\u2019s Dock in Stonington, CT ($900,000)\n\n\u201cWe are so grateful for this funding opportunity. It will enable us to invest in essential maintenance needed at our Town Dock, which serves the last major commercial fishing community in Connecticut and related wholesale businesses. Stonington has a longstanding history of supporting our local fishermen and women and we want to be sure we are doing everything we can to protect their future.\u201d \u2014 Stonington First Selectwoman Daniele Chesebrough\n\nStorrs, CT: Fund Research into Mitigation Strategies for the Crumbling Foundations Crisis\u2014Rep. Courtney has led the effort to help homeowners impacted by the crumbling foundations crisis from the start, and has helped secure a variety of new resources both to directly support homeowners, and to conduct research on how to mitigate the crisis. The 2023 Omnibus includes his request to provide direct funding to the University of Connecticut so that they can continue their research into the effects of the mineral pyrrhotite in concrete ($4,000,000)\n\n\u201cThis critical funding will help UConn continue in its work to offer assessments that are quick, accurate, and minimally intrusive for Connecticut residents whose homes may have been built with the problematic concrete blend. As the state\u2019s land-grant higher education institution, UConn is committed to using the expertise in the School of Engineering\u2019s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering to address real-world issues such as these.\u201d \u2014 Dr. Radenka Maric, President of the University of Connecticut\n\nPresident Maric added: \u201cUConn\u2019s experts will work on standards for acceptable levels of pyrrhotite in concrete aggregate, as well as detection, prevention, and remedial tools. We are immensely grateful to Representative Courtney and the Connecticut Congressional Delegation for securing funding to allow us to continue to conduct this critical work, and to be a trusted resource for our state\u2019s affected homeowners as we navigate this complex issue together.\u201d\n\nSuffield, CT: Support New Equipment Purchases at the Suffield Police Department\u2014Courtney secured funding to help the Suffield Police Department purchase a new Computer Aided Dispatch and Records Management System. The new equipment will allow the Town of Suffield\u2019s emergency services, including Police, Fire, and EMS, to better serve the community by enabling better recordkeeping, data collection, and data analysis to inform police and emergency service operations ($180,000)\n\n\u201cThe Town of Suffield Police and Fire Department, as well as the Suffield Volunteer Ambulance Association are grateful for the efforts of Representative Joe Courtney and First Selectman Moll in assisting with approval of this grant. The grant provides the funding for a much needed upgrade to our Computer Aided Dispatch-Records Management System which will greatly improve public safety services and allow for more efficient operations in our community. Moreover, the new technology will assist the Police Department with achieving its accreditation obligations under the recently passed Police Accountability Bill. We are thankful for funding opportunities like this as they allow smaller communities like Suffield to better meet national standards of best practices in law enforcement.\u201d \u2014 Suffield Police Department Chief James Canon\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-leads-passage-bipartisan-government-funding-legislation", "DeLauro Leads Passage of Bipartisan Government Funding Legislation", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "December 23, 2022\n\nHouse Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today celebrated passage of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, legislation consisting of all 12 fiscal year 2023 appropriations bills, along with supplemental funding to support Ukraine and aid states in their disaster recovery efforts. The investments provided by this legislation will help working and middle-class families in Connecticut and across the nation with the rising cost of living, support small businesses, and protect workers.\n\n\u201cPeople are living paycheck to paycheck,\u201d said Chair DeLauro. \u201cBy providing a 9.3 percent increase in non-defense funding for domestic programs, we make critical strides in our work to invest in the American people and help them get ahead and stay ahead for generations to come. The package makes needed investments in programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and other life sustaining programs that improve food safety, strengthen our supply chains, and protect older and younger Americans by funding resources they depend on. I am proud to have led the bipartisan negotiations for the House that produced government funding legislation that will support working people and look forward to President Biden signing this legislation into law.\u201d\n\nAmong the investments Chair DeLauro secured for Connecticut, this funding bill:\n\nInvests a total of $5 billion into the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), including the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program to help families keep their heat on this winter season;\n\nProtects workers by boosting National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) funding to $299 million, $25 million over the 2022 enacted level (and the first funding increase for the NLRB since fiscal year 2010); funding the Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) at $632 million, an increase of $20 million over the 2022 enacted level; and investing $260 million in the Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, an increase of $9 million over the 2022 enacted level;\n\nProvides $45 billion in emergency funding to support the Ukrainian peopleand defend global democracy in the wake of Russia\u2019s unprovoked attack on Ukraine;\n\nIncludes $27 billion in emergency funding to respond to the devastation that natural disasters and extreme weather events have left behind and help American families, small businesses, and entire communities recover;\n\nCreates high-paying jobs, with $1.8 billion for 12 CH-53K helicopters, restores the shortfall of all 19 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, $991 million for 35 UH/HH\u201360M Blackhawk helicopters, and $75 million toward F135 Engine Core Upgrade (ECU) for the F-35 Lightning II;\n\nSupports key early childhood programs, investing $8 billion in the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) an increase of $1.9 billion over the 2022 enacted level, $12 billion for Head Start an increase of $960 million over the 2022 enacted level, and $315 million for Preschool Development Grants, an increase of $25 million over the 2022 enacted level;\n\nStrengthens K-12 Education with vital investments in Title I, Education for the Disadvantaged at $18.4 billion, an increase of $850 million over the 2022 enacted level, $14.2 billion for IDEA Grants to States, Part B, an increase of $850 million over the 2022 enacted level, continued robust increases in Social Emotional Learning Initiatives, including $150 million for Full Service Community Schools, an increase of $75 million over the 2022 enacted level and nearly increasing this investment tenfold since DeLauro became Chair of the subcommittee, and quadruples existing funding for the National American History and Civics National Activities Program;\n\nHelps students and young Americans get ahead with critical funding for Higher Education, including an increase to the maximum Pell Grant award by $500 and $1 billion for the Aid for Institutional Development, including:\n\n$396 million for Historically Black Colleges and Universities,\n\n$228 million for Hispanic Serving Institutions,\n\nand $50 million for a new program to provide HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs with Research and Development infrastructure grants;\n\nKeeps American workers competitive, with needed investments in job training, including $2.9 billion for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act State Grants, and $285 million for Registered Apprenticeships;\n\nStrengthens community college training grants, investing $65 million in this program. DeLauro created this program in fiscal year 2020 appropriations;\n\nHelps Americans find a job, with $375 million for reemployment services;\n\nPropels health research forward, with $47.5 billion for the National Institutes of Health, $1.5 billion for Advanced Research Project Agency for Health (ARPA-H) and $950 million for Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) for cutting edge research that will save lives and cure disease;\n\nImproves mental health services and save the lives of veterans and young Americans by investing $502 million in the 9-8-8 lifeline and behavioral health services,$987 million for the Mental Health Block Grant, $1.9 billion for the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant, $385 million for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, and $94 million for the National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative;\n\nInvests $350 million, an increase of $150 million above the 2022 enacted level, for public health infrastructure and capacity nationwide;\n\nEnhances tracking of public health data, with $175 million for Public Health Data Modernization and $293 million for Global Public Health Protection;\n\nAddresses our maternal health crisis by providing historic investments, including:\n\n$823 million in HRSA's Maternal and Child Health Block Grant which funds\u2014\n\nMaternal Mental Health Hotline;\n\nState Maternal Health Innovation Grants;\n\nand Grants to Minority-Serving Institutions; $145 million for HRSA's Healthy Start\n\n$10 million for HRSA Screening and Treatment for Maternal Depression;\n\n$108 million for CDC Safe Motherhood/Infant Health; and\n\n$7 million for the Office of Minority Health \u2013 Achieving Equitable Maternal Health Outcomes \u2013 for a new initiative;\n\nImproves American health by investing $1.9 billion in Community Health Centersand $2.6 billion for the Ryan White HIV/AIDS;\n\nSupports our seniors by boosting operating expenses at the Social Security Administration to $14 billion and providing $1.1 billion for Senior Nutrition programs;\n\nSupports American community service and public and civics education with needed investments in National and Community Service and Public Services, including $557 million for AmeriCorps, $535 million for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and $295 million for the Institute for Museum and Library Services;\n\nIn addition to this funding, the bill also includes:\n\nThe creation of a nationwide permanent Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Program so that 29 million kids can get healthy, nutritious meals throughout the summer. The program would grant providers the flexibility to serve food in non-congregate settings in certain rural areas, allowing programs to meet kids where they are.\n\nLast year, nearly 100,000 children in Connecticut, including more than 20,000 in CT-3, experienced food insecurity. These provisions would significantly decrease food insecurity among children during the critical months when school is out, and when many lose access to the reliable, nutritious meals they receive each day at school.\n\nA plan to combat EBT skimming to help families who have had their SNAP benefits stolen, a problem experienced by Connecticut families.\n\nThe Anti-Money Laundering Whistleblower Improvement Act, which enhances protections for whistleblowers who report illegal money laundering.\n\nThe Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, legislation that would provide reasonable accommodation for pregnant workers and strengthen the economic security of pregnant and parenting workers and their families.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-secures-269-million-community-project-funding-government", "DeLauro Secures $26.9 Million in Community Project Funding in Government Funding Legislation", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Chair of the House Appropriations Committee Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today announced that she secured $26,940,403 in funding for local projects in Connecticut\u2019s Third Congressional District in the final fiscal year 2023 funding bill that is heading to President Biden\u2019s desk for signature. DeLauro led reinstituting the process for community funding projects in the 2022 spending bill, giving Members of Congress the opportunity to direct spending to projects in their district for the first time in more than 10 years.\n\n\u201cI am pleased to announce that several projects in our community will be receiving needed financial support,\u201d said Chair DeLauro. \u201cAs Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, I fought to bring back community project funding last year and to make the process more transparent with new requirements that ensure the funding is responsibly directed. Congressmembers know their communities best, and I am pleased that we can once again direct spending directly to our districts. This funding will go to local infrastructure projects, foster community development, invest in childcare, build climate resiliency, and help our health care centers adequately support patient medical needs. I am incredibly thankful to all the dedicated community groups across Connecticut's Third Congressional District that provided requests to make a difference for our communities.\u201d\n\nListed below is a summary of the fifteen projects Chair DeLauro has submitted to the House Appropriations Committee, along with quotes from the sponsoring organizations. Projects are listed in alphabetical order:\n\nCity of Ansonia:\n\nThis project will remove contaminated hazardous materials within the building and demolish the remaining structure and remove and dispose of all regulated materials throughout the SHW Casting Company.\n\n\u201cI am very grateful for the work Congresswoman DeLauro and the congressional staff have done to support our efforts to revitalize our long vacant and defunct factory buildings in the heart of our downtown. These sites were once the lifeblood of our communities. Rosa cares about our residents and it shows!\u201d said City of Ansonia Mayor David Cassetti.\n\nTown of Bethany:\n\nThis project will renovate and upgrade the Bethany Town Hall building that is over 60 years old.\n\n\"Having Congressman DeLauro's support for this project increases the potential for this transformative effort to succeed,\" said Paula Cofrancesco, First Selectman of the Town of Bethany. \"Without her support of this funding these renovations and upgrades on behalf of residents of the Town of Bethany would not be possible.\n\nTown of Branford:\n\nThe Connecticut Hospice relocated in 2000 to a building formerly occupied by the Echlin Corporation for twenty years. Renovations at that time did not upgrade essential building infrastructure that has since become critical to operations of the Hospice inpatient facility and home care headquarters. The requested funding for improvements are exceptionally important during times of emergencies resulting from natural disaster so that CT Hospice does not have to relocate patients from its Branford headquarters.\n\n\u201cThe Connecticut Hospice is deeply grateful for Congresswoman DeLauro\u2019s Community Project Funding,\u201d said Barbara Pearce. \u201cIt will provide for needed improvements and upgrades to our inpatient facility in Branford. The grant will support initiatives that will enable our hospice to remain as a pre-eminent institution in our field, and to continue our mission to patients and families.\u201c\n\nTown of Hamden:\n\nThe project will replace HVAC units and controls currently in service at the Town of Hamden Government Center to improve energy efficiency and reduce the Town's carbon footprint.\n\n\u201cCongresswoman Rosa DeLauro's support for energy efficiency upgrades to the Hamden Government Center will enable Hamden to make needed repairs that will improve the working conditions of Town employees and make for a more comfortable building for our residents to visit all while decreasing our impact on the environment. Without Rosa\u2019s strong support, this would not be possible,\u201d said Town of Hamden Mayor Lauren Garrett.\n\nBorough of Naugatuck:\n\nThis project will assist child care renovation and expansion to serve the community's needs.\n\n\u201cThe Naugatuck YMCA is overjoyed with being chosen by Rosa DeLauro and her team. We cannot thank her and her team enough for believing in the work that the Naugatuck YMCA is doing in our communities. We\u2019re passionate in supporting families and individuals with everything from child care to swim lessons and everything in-between. Support from this grant will allow the Y to bridge the gaps and focus on families and individuals primarily with child care,\u201d said Naugatuck YMCA Chief Executive Officer Mark LaFortune.\n\nCity of New Haven\n\nDowntown Evening Soup Kitchen, Inc. (DESK):\n\nThis project will provide services for people experiencing homelessness, including: daytime drop-in services with basic needs provision and onsite outreach and case management; healthcare services in a fully-equipped medical clinic staffed by Cornell Scott Hill Health Center's Homeless Healthcare Department; a commercial kitchen providing freshly prepared meals; and a new elevator and HVAC system.\n\n\"Through the Community Project Funding program, our agency will be able to quickly complete the renovations of our new Drop-in & Resource Center for people experiencing unsheltered homelessness, including the outfitting of a full medical clinic to serve unhoused individuals specifically,\" said Steve Werlin, Executive Director of Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen in New Haven. \"With more than 250 people living on the streets of our city, this new facility will provide immediate, lifesaving services alongside next-level services that will help people move beyond homelessness and toward overall stabilization and improved personal wellbeing, while alleviating a variety of public health concerns and freeing space in local emergency departments. As a result, it's an important benefit for the individuals we serve, as well as a major cost saver for the broader community,\u201d said Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen Executive Director Steve Werlin.\n\nFair Haven Community Health Clinic:\n\nThe Fair Haven Community Health Care expansion project at 374 Grand Avenue will increase the availability of primary medical and behavioral health care for all, but especially the underserved, at risk and low income families who otherwise have no access to quality affordable health care. The proposed construction will be at the corner of James Street and Grand Avenue, the entryway to the Fair Haven neighborhood, adjacent to the existing health center. The existing facility is over 100 years old and no longer able to grow with the needs of the community. These funds will be used to support the design and construction of a new 33,500 square foot health center including exam rooms, lab, pharmacy and community meeting space; with additional space, we will be able to expand the number of clinicians and appointments currently available.\n\n\u201cThis award is a game changer for our community. It will allow us to move forward with building a state-of-the-art health center both FOR and BY the community. The lasting impact both socially and economically is immeasurable. Jobs with benefits and training programs will be created in expanding medical care and construction services. Congresswoman DeLauro has dedicated her life to improving the lives of those less fortunate and this funding is but another resounding example of her empathy and compassion,\u201d said Suzanne Lagarde MD MBA FACP, Chief Executive Officer Fair Haven Community Health Care\n\nLeadership, Education and Athletic in Partnership, Inc.:\n\nThis project will include construction and capital improvements to the 100-year-old LEAP Roslyn Milstein Meyer Community Center at 31 Jefferson Street serving New Haven's young people.\n\n\"We are grateful for Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro\u2019s support for LEAP and our city\u2019s children. This Omnibus legislation allows our historic 100-year-old community center to thrive for another 100 years but greener, more accessible, and with even more robust opportunities for youth and families. By addressing critical repairs and maintenance needs, this investment ensures that young people will grow into the leaders we know they are. Thank you to Rosa, her hard-working team, Senators Blumenthal and Murphy and the whole Connecticut congressional delegation for standing up for kids and our neighborhoods!\" said LEAP Executive Director Henry Fernandez.\n\nWilbur Cross High School:\n\nThis project will upgrade and expand the athletic complex at Wilbur Cross High School in New Haven, CT. Design and operation of the campus will be primarily for high school students with general community access during non-school use times, consisting with citywide protocol for open school and facilities.\n\n\"These funds will help support the refurbishment of the outdoor athletic fields at Wilbur Cross High School \u2013 New Haven's largest public school \u2013 and will be a tremendous benefit for the school community and the entire city at-large,\" said City of New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker. \"Students and residents will soon have the opportunity to enjoy updated athletic fields for a variety of sports and recreational activities, serving as an wonderful recreational resource for years to come.\n\nTown of North Haven:\n\nThis project will restore and renovate the Martha Culver House/Museum to make the property accessible for residents of North Haven and the greater New Haven region to attend and learn about the history of North Haven.\n\n\u201cWe are very thankful for the efforts of our Congresswoman, Rosa DeLauro, for helping the town of North Haven be awarded $600,000 for our Martha Culver House. The Martha Culver House is part of a rich heritage here in town and this money will allow us to refurbish the interior of this historical building and turn the building into a museum and gathering place where children can do field trips to visit, and where our senior citizens and our residents can visit to enjoy the historical aspect of North Haven\u2019s past. We are very grateful,\u201d said Town of North Haven First Selectman Mike Freda.\n\nTown of Middlefield:\n\nThis project will provide funding for a central facility from which leaders can coordinate and direct emergency efforts and is essential for emergency response and recovery. Currently, the town has no Emergency Operation Center for coordination of police, fire, medical, and incident management resources.\n\n\u201cThe Town of Middlefield is so thankful to receive this grant of $2.22 million for an Emergency Operations Center. This grant goes a long way toward funding what is one of the largest projects our town has ever undertaken. There is broad support in our community for this project to replace our 50 year old fire house with a modern emergency operations center. Middlefield is a small rural community supported by many volunteers, including our 45 volunteer firefighters. Representative Rosa DeLauro\u2019s ongoing and continued support of Middlefield\u2019s numerous volunteers is invaluable to the success of our community.\u201d said First Selectman Bob Yamartino.\n\nCity of Milford:\n\nConnecticut Audubon Society (CAS) Coastal Center at Milford Point\n\nThis project will enable the expansion of CAS's hands-on school, afterschool, and summer science enrichment programs that support teachers in implementing Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) in a multidisciplinary format. This support would enable the expansion of this program across K-5 grades, provide afterschool and summer science enrichment programs, and expand the high school/college mentorship/career training program that CAS launched in 2021 in Norwalk schools.\n\n\u201cWe are honored and grateful that Congresswoman DeLauro selected our Modernization and Technology Enhancement Project at the Milford Point Coastal Center for funding,\u201d said Connecticut Audubon Executive Director Patrick Comins. \u201cThis project will let us expand hands-on school, afterschool, and summer science enrichment programs. Those programs support teachers as they implement Next Generation Science Standards in a multidisciplinary format. The Coastal Center will serve as a teacher training hub supporting education programs across four additional Connecticut Audubon regions and centers. Congresswoman DeLauro understands the needs our students, and the community, have for science education and access to nature. Connecticut Audubon is pleased and proud to answer these needs.\u201d\n\nTown of Seymour and Beacon Falls:\n\nThis project will install and construct a road and all infrastructure needed to support economic development of nearly 200 acres of land located along Route 8 and the Waterbury Rail Line.\n\n\u201cThis critical funding for Seymour and Beacon Falls is the springboard for what will be the largest public private partnership in the Valley, spurring retail and economic growth in the Valley. We are grateful to Congresswoman DeLauro and the congressional delegation for recognizing the importance of this project for Seymour and the entire Valley,\u201d said Town of Seymour First Selectwoman Anne Drugonis.\n\nTown of Stratford:\n\nThis project will provide Flood Protection Measures for the Stratford Water Pollution Control Facility (WPCF). The upgraded piping and pumping would increase the capacity of the station to pump treated effluent during storm events. Specifically, federal funding would enable the Town of Stratford to refortify an existing dike around the WPCF, upgrade stormwater piping and upgrade the stormwater pump station all to prevent open flows of untreated sewage that result from flooding.\n\n\u201cWe are thrilled to receive $4,135,622 to support Flood Protection Measures at Stratford\u2019s Water Pollution Control Facility. As a costal municipality at the base of the Housatonic River we face challenges with flooding that span the entire town. This investment from our federal government will greatly enhance our mitigation efforts here in Stratford and we appreciate Congresswoman DeLauro\u2019s support in securing this funding,\u201d said Stratford Mayor Laura R. Hoydick.\n\nTown of Wallingford:\n\nThis project will assist Aquatics Center addition to the Wallingford Family YMCA- West Side Branch to teach swim lessons, water therapy, Parkinson water classes, water aerobics, member and community lap swim, competitive swimming, family time, water polo and more.\n\n\"Our \u2018Just add Water' Aquatics Center vision is to inspire the community to achieve their goals as a first time swimmer, water therapy participant, or competitive athlete,\" said Executive Director of Wallingford Family YMCA Sean Doherty. \"Our pools provide the opportunity to strengthen the body, while building character. Our pools are a place where the Greater Wallingford Community can come together and will change the lives of everyone, as no one is ever turned away due to the inability to pay. On behalf of the Wallingford Family YMCA Board of Directors, staff, members and participants we thank Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro and her office for their support of our vision to \u2018Just Add Water'!\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://himes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=715F065E-EDFC-4D4D-9DC9-F0D9BDEFE401", "Himes Votes to Fund Government, Deliver Billions to Connecticut", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "James A. Himes", "H001047", "himes.house.gov", "himes", "https://himes.house.gov/press-releases", "page_html", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04) voted to pass the Fiscal Year 2023 omnibus appropriations agreement. The bill, which passed the House of Representatives with a bipartisan vote of 225-201, includes billions of dollars for Connecticut, with nearly $24 million for community projects secured by Congressman Himes that will benefit the Fourth District.\n\n\u201cI am thrilled that this year\u2019s omnibus includes funding for the fourteen projects that I fought for,\u201d said Rep. Himes, \u201cand that this legislation will make a substantive impact for families throughout Southwest Connecticut. These funds are an investment not only in our state\u2019s infrastructure, but in our women owned businesses, our recovering veterans, our district\u2019s working families, our schoolchildren, and many more. I was proud to vote for this legislation today, and look forward to seeing it signed into law by President Biden.\u201d\n\nConnecticut\u2019s Fourth Congressional District will receive a total of $23,925,351, for 14 community projects advocated for by Congressman Himes. These include:\n\n$5,500,000 for the City of Norwalk to revitalize the Norwalk City Center through the implementation of a more comprehensive and balanced transportation system;\n\n$3,000,000 for the City of Stamford to design and construct a new satellite of the Ferguson Library system on the East Side of the city;\n\n$2,000,000 for the Women\u2019s Business Development Council to expand technical assistance and microgrants for women-owned businesses in the district;\n\n$2,000,000 for the Southwest Community Health Center to construct a health center site within the Wakeman Boys & Girls Clubhouse which would provide a full range of health care services including primary medical care, behavioral health, and dental services;\n\n$2,000,000 for the Riverbrook Regional YMCA\n\n$1,976,691 for Baldwin Holdings to construct three townhouses to be occupied by families that participate in the Housing Choice Voucher Project-Based Program;\n\n$1,425,000 for the Town of Wilton to enhance the storm sewer system surrounding the stadium turf at the Wilton High School Sports Complex;\n\n$1,323,660 for Norwalk Public Schools to create a new K-12 Marine Science Pathway in partnership with the Maritime Aquarium;\n\n$1,000,000 for ProjectRISE to provide unemployed and underemployed women of color with the digital skills training and behavioral health programming, nutrition, and strategies to address anxiety and stress;\n\n$1,000,000 for Family Center Inc., to expand the School-Based Health Center program sites at Stamford High School and Turn of River Middle School;\n\n$1,000,000 for the City of Stamford\u2019s Bioswales Initiative to remove motor oils, gasoline, antifreeze, brake dust, fertilizers, pesticides, and sediment from runoff before these contaminants reach the storm drain;\n\n$750,000 for the Applied Behavioral Rehabilitation Institute to renovate the current Homes for the Brave facility, including the installation of an elevator to serve Veterans with limited mobility;\n\n$750,000 for the Town of Trumbull to build a multi-use Veterans and Community Center to support the region\u2019s veterans, small businesses, civic groups, and residents.\n\n$200,000 for the Western Connecticut Council of Governments to develop the sanitary sewer infrastructure serving the Branchville and Georgetown sections of the Towns of Ridgefield and Redding, respectively.\n\nThe omnibus also contains a series of provisions that will benefit Connecticut\u2019s families, infrastructure, and environment. These include:\n\nOver $40 million to restore and protect the Long Island Sound\u2019s vast array of plants, animals, and habitats;\n\n$8.02 billion, a 30% increase in funding, for the Child Care and Development Block Grant Program, which offers financial assistance for low-income families struggling with child care;\n\n$5 billion for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help with rising energy costs.\n\n###\n\nCongressman Jim Himes represents Connecticut\u2019s 4th District, which includes the communities of Bridgeport, Darien, Easton, Fairfield, Greenwich, Monroe, New Canaan, Norwalk, Oxford, Redding, Ridgefield, Shelton, Stamford, Trumbull, Weston, Westport, and Wilton.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-03-30T11:08:25Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-and-houses-vote-bill-protect-last-green-valley-will-finally-be", "With Courtney and the House\u2019s Vote, Bill to Protect The Last Green Valley will Finally be Signed Into Law", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) voted to pass the National Heritage Act (S. 1942). The bipartisan bill was included the House-passed Protecting America\u2019s Wilderness and Public Lands Act (H.R. 803) and will establish a National Heritage Area (NHA) System to standardize the process for studying and establishing new National Heritage Areas, provide millions of acres of public land with new and lasting protections, and end the current system of piecemeal NHA reauthorizations, providing for a single re-authorization of appropriations for fifteen years (through 2037).\n\nFor eastern Connecticut\u2019s natural treasures like The Last Green Valley\u2014whose federal NHA authorization was set to expire in 2023\u2014the bill is particularly important. S. 1942 includes a new long-term reauthorization for The Last Green Valley and the Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Areas in Connecticut and Massachusetts, and for others across the country, and will ensure it retains federal support for the next fifteen years to operate effectively and continue conservation efforts.\n\n\u201cAt the same time that demand for accessible open spaces is sky-high across the country right now, we were on the edge of losing critical federal support for one of eastern Connecticut\u2019s most important natural preservation areas. Passage of the National Heritage Act today gives The Last Green Valley the long-term reauthorization we\u2019ve been pressing towards for over two years now,\u201d said Congressman Courtney. \u201cFamilies, classrooms, business outings, and lots of others have all been flocking to the trails and natural setting that places like The Last Green Valley have to offer. Heritage areas like these aren\u2019t just great investments for keeping our land open and green, they also create jobs, establish travel destinations, and they\u2019re a smart long-term investment. Connecticut knows that investments in our open spaces provide real dividends for taxpayers, and I\u2019m proud that after years of working alongside Lois Bruinooge and her team at The Last Green Valley, as well as Senator Chris Murphy and our colleagues in the Connecticut Delegation, that we finally secured another fifteen years of federal support for The Last Green Valley and for our region\u2019s other Natural Heritage Areas.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe are grateful for Rep. Courtney\u2019s unwavering support and commitment to help secure passage of the National Heritage Area Act,\u201d said Lois Bruinooge, Executive Director of The Last Green Valley. \u201cThe Last Green Valley, like heritage areas around the country, strengthens communities and embody the best ideas in public-private partnerships. With this long-term reauthorization, we can sharpen our focus to better promote and conserve our natural, historic and cultural resources for future generations to enjoy.\n\nCourtney has long supported conservation efforts in eastern Connecticut and the region\u2014from The Last Green Valley and Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Areas, to Plum Island, to the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed, and more. In 2020, Courtney led a coalition of New England representatives in introducing legislation to save The Last Green Valley and Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Areas through a 15-year reauthorization, similar to the Protecting America\u2019s Wilderness and Public Lands Act, which passed the House in February 2021, and to today\u2019s National Heritage Act.\n\nIn February of 2020 and March of 2021, Rep. Courtney and Senator Chris Murphy introduced bicameral legislation that sought to save The Last Green Valley and the Upper Housatonic National Heritage Areas from losing critical federal support. Click here to read more.\n\nThe Last Green Valley encompasses 35 towns stretching from eastern Connecticut to Massachusetts, with 26 towns in Connecticut. The Last Green Valley was first designated as a National Heritage Corridor by Congress in 1994 because of the region\u2019s unique natural, cultural, historic, and scenic resources. The area is still 84% forest and farm and is the last stretch of dark night sky in the coastal sprawl between Boston and Washington, D.C.\n\nThe Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area includes 29 towns, stretching 964 square miles from western Connecticut to Massachusetts along the Housatonic River watershed. The Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area was first designated as a National Heritage Area by Congress in 2006 to preserve natural and historical resources, and to improve the economy in the area. There are over 50 sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places within the heritage area.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-commerce-announce-nearly-100-million-expand-opportunities", "DeLauro, Commerce Announce Nearly $100 Million to Expand Opportunities for Minority Businesses", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Chair of the House Appropriations Committee Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today announced the launch of the Capital Readiness Program grant competition with the U.S. Department of Commerce. This program would dedicate $93.5 million to help minority and other underserved entrepreneurs launch and scale their businesses.\n\n\u201cThe new program launched by U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Raimondo will help provide resources and tools, like childcare, that will help more people from underrepresented backgrounds launch and scale businesses,\u201d said Chair DeLauro. \u201cI know how essential supporting diversity is to a thriving society and economy.I want to applaud Secretary Raimondo for leading the charge to expand opportunity to minority-owned businesses and will work to support this important work in the Congress.\u201d\n\nThe Capital Readiness Program will provide funding to incubators and accelerators across the country, with expertise to assist and train minority and other underserved entrepreneurs seeking resources, tools, and technical assistance to start or scale their businesses in high-growth industries such as healthcare, climate resilient technology, asset management, infrastructure, and more.This program, administered by the Minority Business Development Agency, marks the largest program of its kind in the history of the Commerce Department.\n\nBusinesses owned by women of color represent one of the fastest growing sectors in the economy. However, structural barriers persist, preventing many women from starting their own businesses and accessing capital, childcare solutions, and peer networks. The Capital Readiness Program will provide the curriculum, tools, and resources to minority entrepreneurs to access capital and funding, and connect them to subject matter experts, vendors and peer support to help start or scale their business.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-applauds-funding-for-connecticut-priorities-support-for-mental-health-electoral-count-reform-act-gun-violence-prevention-in-fy23-omnibus-appropriations-bill-passed-by-senate-today", "Murphy Applauds Funding For Connecticut Priorities, Support For Mental Health, Electoral Count Reform Act, Gun Violence Prevention In Fy23 Omnibus Appropriations Bill Passed By Senate Today", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Murphy Applauds Funding For Connecticut Priorities, Support For Mental Health, Electoral Count Reform Act, Gun Violence Prevention In Fy23 Omnibus Appropriations Bill Passed By Senate Today\n\nWASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, on Wednesday released the following statement after U.S. Senate passage of the fiscal year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations bill, which will support Connecticut priorities, make investments in gun violence prevention, increase access to mental health care, fund programs for under-resourced communities, promote national security, and make important reforms to the Electoral Count Act of 1887.\n\n\u201cPart of my job on the Appropriations Committee is making sure the budget we write funds Connecticut priorities. On top of the $236 million for local projects in Connecticut, this budget makes major investments in upgrading the Northeast Corridor, combating gun violence, supporting schools and under-resourced communities, and giving Connecticut manufacturers a major boost. It also includes my legislation to ensure the Housatonic River and the Highlands are protected for generations to come. This bill includes bipartisan mental health legislation I authored with a Republican colleague \u2013 reauthorizing and expanding many of the programs we created in 2016 \u2013 and also sends a clear signal that the United States remains steadfast in our support for the people of Ukraine, who have spent the last ten months at war,\u201d said Murphy.\n\nMurphy added: \u201cI\u2019m also proud to have helped write the bipartisan legislation included in this bill that will reform the archaic process Congress uses to certify presidential elections and safeguard against future attempts to overturn the results of a fair election. Reforming the electoral count process won\u2019t protect American democracy from all the threats we face, but it will help restore faith in our elections.\u201d\n\nMurphy, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, released a statement on the fiscal year 2023 Homeland Security bill. Murphy and Blumenthal applauded inclusion of $236 million for community-based projects in Connecticut, including over $100 million for 99 projects requested by Murphy and Blumenthal.\n\nSome highlights of the omnibus appropriations bill:\n\nUpgrading the Northeast Corridor: Building upon the $30 billion for the Northeast Corridor in the bipartisan infrastructure law, Murphy supported the inclusion of more funding to modernize rail in Connecticut, including:\n\n$1.86 billion in funding opportunities to help modernize the Northeast Corridor, including:\n\n$1.26 billion for Amtrak improvements and operations on the Northeast Corridor.\n\n$100 million for the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail, to support major capital projects.\n\nNearly $500 million for the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements program to fund projects that improve safety, efficiency, and reliability of passenger rail.\n\nConserving Open Space and Protecting Small Farms in Connecticut: To protect more of Connecticut\u2019s natural beauty and small farms, Murphy secured the following:\n\nPassage of the Housatonic Wild and Scenic River Act which designates 41 miles of the Housatonic River as Wild and Scenic. Proposed by Murphy, this designation will make federal resources available to protect the river and to support recreation.\n\nPassage of the Highlands Conservation Reauthorization Act, proposed by Murphy, to reauthorize the Highlands Conservation Act through fiscal year 2028. This reauthorization extends protections and provides $10 million to conserve 3.5 million acres of land in CT, NJ, PA, and NY.\n\nNew funding for agriculture disaster aid, which Senator Murphy advocated for in order to assist forage farmers who cannot access traditional crop insurance or disaster aid programs.\n\n$7 million for the Acer Access and Development Program, which provides grants to maple syrup producers in Connecticut.\n\n$918 million for the Natural Resource Conservation Service to support on-farm conservation, water quality, and soil health projects.\n\nProtecting Retirement Savings: More and more, private equity firms looking to turn a quick profit are buying pension liabilities, transferring them to riskier investments, and removing important protections for pensioners and their retirement savings. To protect retirees from greedy corporations playing games with their pensions, Murphy secured the inclusion of his Pension Risk Transfer Accountability Act, which directs the U.S. Department of Labor, for the first time in almost thirty years, to review existing protections and guidance and to report its findings to Congress.\n\nProtecting Long Island Sound: The Long Island Sound is a multi-trillion dollar asset to Connecticut, and Murphy secured the inclusion of federal funding to protect and support the health of the Sound, including:\n\n$40.2 million to improve water quality, restore coastal habitats, and protect shoreline in Long Island Sound. This is an $8.6 million increase from last year and comes on top of the $106 million over five years that was allocated for this program in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.\n\n$6.35 billion for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an increase of $323.9 million over last year, which includes funding for a number of programs that protect Connecticut coastlines and help manage our fisheries. The bill also includes an additional $657 million for disaster funding at NOAA that can support address the impacts of natural disasters on our coasts and fisheries. This includes the following increases Senator Murphy championed:\n\n$32.5 million for the National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS), a $2.8 million increase from last year. This account will fund the newly created NERRS in Southeastern Connecticut that Senator Murphy helped create and open earlier this year.\n\n$19 million for NOAA aquaculture research, a $1 million increase from last year, that will help support the work of Milford Lab.\n\n$80 million \u2013 a $4 million increase \u2013 for the National Sea Grant College Program and $14 million for Sea Grant Aquaculture Research.\n\nCombating Gun Violence: Murphy successfully fought to secure funding for gun violence prevention efforts, including:\n\n$50 million for a Community-based Violence Intervention and Prevention Grant Program at the Department of Justice. This is on top of the $250 million over five years that Senator Murphy secured for this work in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.\n\n$25 million for gun violence research at the Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health.\n\n$125 million for the FBI\u2019s operation of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). This is on top of the $100 million that Senator Murphy secured for NICS in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.\n\n$95 million for grants to states to upload criminal and mental health records to NICS on top of the $200 million for the same purposes in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.\n\nInvesting in Mental Health: Murphy, a leader in the Senate on expanding access to mental health care, supported the inclusion of:\n\n$191.1 million for the Employee Benefits Security Administration, an increase of $5.6 million from FY22, to strengthen oversight over mental health parity laws.\n\n$1.01 billion for Mental Health Block Grants, a $150 million increase over FY22.\n\n$25 million for Graduate Psychology Education, a $5 million increase over FY22.\n\n$55.877 million for Primary and Behavioral Health Care Integration.\n\nSupporting Under-Resourced Communities: Murphy supported the inclusion of federal funding to support historically under-resourced communities and address education, economic, and health disparities, including:\n\n$18.4 billion for Title I Grants, an increase of $850 million over last year, to help school districts that serve a significant number of students living in poverty.\n\n$15.2 billion for IDEA Part B State Grants, representing an increase of $904 million over last year, to help schools provide services to students with disabilities.\n\n$20.3 billion for early childhood education programs, representing an increase of $2.8 billion over last year, which includes $12 billion for Head Start (an increase of $960 million), $8 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (an increase of $1.85 billion), and $315 million for Preschool Development Grants (an increase of $25 million).\n\nRaising the maximum Pell Grant award by $500 to $7,395, which represents the largest increase in more than a decade to help low-income students afford postsecondary education.\n\n$129 million for the Magnet School Assistance Program, a $15 million increase, to support the creation of diverse and high-quality magnet schools.\n\n$1.3 billion for Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers, a $40 million increase, to support the creation of community learning centers that provide after-school and summer enrichment opportunities for students who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools.\n\n$1.4 billion for Title IV-A Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants, in addition to the $1 billion provided in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, to provide all students with a well-rounded education and support safe and inclusive school climates.\n\n$8 million to the CDC to address health disparities and inequities around the Social Determinants of Health.\n\n$19.516 million for SAMHSA\u2019s Minority Fellowship Program to help expand the number of racial and ethnic minorities in the behavioral health workforce, an increase of $3.347 million over FY22.\n\n$400 million for Juvenile Justice program at the Department of Justice, a $40 million increase from last year.\n\n$560 million for the Legal Service Corporation, a $71 million increase over last year. The bill also includes $20 million to provide emergency legal aid in the wake of recent natural disasters.\n\n$30.2 billion for Tenant-based Rental Assistance to continue to serve very low- and extremely low-income households nationwide and $14.9 billion for Project-based Rental Assistance, an increase of $1 billion above FY22.\n\n$1.5 billion for the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, which will lead to the construction of nearly 10,000 new rental and homebuyer units.\n\n$3.63 billion for Homeless Assistance Grants, an increase of $420 million above FY22.\n\n$14.1 billion for the Social Security Administration\u2019s administrative expenses, an increase of $785 million over FY22\u2014the largest increase in more than a decade. This supports the administration of Social Security benefits for over 70 million Americans, including processing over 8 million retirement and disability claims annually.\n\nPartnering with Connecticut\u2019s Defense Manufacturers: Murphy supported federal funding that will benefit Connecticut\u2019s defense and manufacturing industries, including:\n\n$4.5 billion for full funding for two Virginia Class fast attack submarines.\n\n$3.1 billion for full funding for the Columbia Class ballistic missile submarine\n\n$1.8 billion in additional funding for the F-35 program to restore nineteen total aircraft.\n\n$1.7 billion in additional funding for sixteen C-130J aircraft, to modernize 2 Air National Guard operational units.\n\n$570 million for ten additional Combat Rescue Helicopters to restore production to a total of twenty aircraft, in line with the previous year\u2019s plan.\n\n$273 million for ten additional UH-60M aircraft for the Army National Guard.\n\n$250 million for two additional CH-53K heavy lift aircraft.\n\n$220.4 million for the Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion program.\n\n$200 million for additional funding for F135 engine spares.\n\n$60 million in additional funding for C-130H 8-Bladed Propeller Upgrade (NP2000).\n\n$25 million in additional funding for Academic Partnerships for Submarine & Undersea Vehicle Research & Manufacturing.\n\n$20 million in additional funding for Small Satellite Tech.\n\n$20 million in additional funding for Versatile Rotary Engine Systems.\n\n$15 million in additional funding for Digital Enterprise Technology for the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle.\n\n$13 million in additional funding for laser metal deposition powder for turbine engine component restoration.\n\n$10 million in additional funding for Multi-Mission Helicopter Upgrade Development.\n\n$9.5 million in additional funding for Emergency Power and Cooling Technology Demonstration.\n\n$8.5 million in additional funding for Precision maneuvering units.\n\n$8 million in additional funding for Deployable Surveillance Systems: Deep Water Active.\n\n$4 million in additional funding for Lunar Surface Based Situational Awareness Network.\n\n$5 million in additional funding for laser peening of jet engines.\n\n$3 million in additional funding for Next Generation Digital Design and Manufacturing for U.S. Army Combat Vehicles.\n\n$3 million in additional funding for Innovative Biomaterials for Combat Wound Care.\n\nSending Aid to Ukraine: Murphy, a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, supported $45 billion in funding for the people of Ukraine, bringing the total amount of emergency supplemental funding for Ukraine to $112.3 billion since Russia\u2019s invasion in February. The new funding in the Omnibus Appropriations bill includes:\n\n$11.9 billion to replenish U.S. military equipment provided to Ukraine.\n\n$9.3 billion for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative to bolster the Ukrainian military.\n\n$6.98 billion for U.S. European Command operations in support of Ukraine and NATO Allies.\n\n$13.37 billion in economic assistance, including budgetary support for the Government of Ukraine.\n\n$2.47 billion in humanitarian assistance, including funding for emergency food assistance and health care, as well as support for refugees fleeing Ukraine and other vulnerable populations.\n\n$2.4 billion to support the resettlement and other support services for Ukrainian arrivals and refugees through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.\n\n$166 million for the Department of State and USAID in support of their response to the situation in Ukraine.\n\n$126.3 million to prepare for and respond to potential nuclear and radiological incidents in Ukraine.\n\n$50 million for USAID\u2019s Food for Peace program.\n\n$13.5 million for the Department of State and USAID Inspector General, $6 million for the Department of Defense Inspector General, and $7.5 million for the Government Accountability Office to conduct oversight and end-use monitoring of equipment sent to Ukraine.\n\nSupporting the People of Puerto Rico: The funding package includes historic investments to support the people of Puerto Rico, by:\n\nExtending the increased Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) for Puerto Rico through the end of 2027 at 76%, which will help Puerto Rico avert its Medicaid funding cliff. This would permit the largest-ever allocations to Puerto Rico\u2019s Medicaid program in history.\n\nProviding additional funding for disaster relief and preparedness, including $1 billion to help rebuild Puerto Rico\u2019s energy grid.\n\nPromoting Progressive Foreign Policy and National Security: Murphy also supported the inclusion of funding to support global health and climate change mitigation efforts, invest in the Development Finance Corporation, and provide increased assistance to important allies and strategic priorities. The bill includes:\n\n$1 billion for the Development Finance Corporation to invest in development overseas, an increase of $302 million over FY22.\n\n$2 billion to address the climate crisis and other environmental issues.\n\n$10.5 billion to invest in global health and the prevention of future pandemics, an increase of $670 million from FY22. This includes $900 million for global health security, a $200 million increase from FY22, to support the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria.\n\n$1.51 billion for International Security Cooperation Programs, a $200 million increase from FY22.\n\n$500 million for Israeli cooperative research and development programs, a $200 increase from FY22, including modernization of Israel\u2019s Short Range Ballistic Missile Defense Program and Arrow-3.\n\nIncreased assistance for Ukraine, Lebanon, and the West Bank and Gaza.\n\n$225 million for the Baltic Security Initiative, an increase of $69.5 million, and an additional $153 million for security cooperation programs, with a particular focus on critical European allies in light of Russia\u2019s continued aggression.\n\nImplementing Billy\u2019s Law: Murphy secured $3.6 million for the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, an increase of nearly $1 million from last year. NAMUS is a federally run clearinghouse for missing, unidentified, and unclaimed persons.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-blumenthal-announce-236-million-in-funding-for-connecticut-projects-in-omnibus-appropriations-bill", "Murphy, Blumenthal Announce $236 Million in Funding for Connecticut Projects in Omnibus Appropriations Bill", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Murphy, Blumenthal Announce $236 Million in Funding for Connecticut Projects in Omnibus Appropriations Bill\n\nWASHINGTON\u2014U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) on Wednesday announced the inclusion of more than $236 million in the fiscal year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations bill passed by the U.S. Senate today. The bill, once passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and signed into law by President Biden, will fund 99 congressionally directed spending projects requested by Murphy and Blumenthal.\n\n\u201cThis was the year of getting things done for Connecticut, and I\u2019m so proud that we are bringing home $236 million more for community-based projects in our state. This funding will help reduce gun violence in our communities, support small businesses and workforce development, improve water infrastructure, increase access to mental health services, and ensure the resiliency of our coastline communities. These investments are the result of thousands of conversations I\u2019ve had with people across Connecticut, and they\u2019re going to have a real positive impact on our communities,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n\u201cThese targeted specific grants are a fantastic new year win for our state. Connecticut can now count on hundreds of millions of dollars for our most urgent needs\u2014from reducing gun violence to increasing affordable housing to providing critical mental health services. This infusion of funds will be transformative for our state\u2019s economic growth and quality of life. Think of them as smart, strategic investments, producing major dividends in health, education, roads, bridges and more. These projects will undoubtedly strengthen our communities and I am proud to have worked alongside Senator Murphy to deliver these invaluable investments to Connecticut,\u201d said Blumenthal.\n\nIn the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, there is more than $102 million for Connecticut projects, including:\n\n$12 million the Connecticut Department of Transportation to support track speed improvements on the New Haven Line as part of their TIME for CT project\n\n$7 million to expand and improve the Shoreline Greenway Trail in New Haven\n\n$5 million for construction to realign Lafayette Circle in Bridgeport\n\n$1.4 million to replacement of 10 signals at critical locations on state and local routes within Waterbury\u2019s downtown\n\n$3.4 million for design and construction of a multi-use path, sidewalk, and three pedestrian bridges in Oxford on Route 67\n\n$2 million for the City of New London to support ongoing construction of a Community & Recreation Center\n\n$2 million for the Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County to construct affordable housing in Bridgeport\n\n$420,000 for the Waterbury Housing Authority to complete the demolition of blighted structures in the West Grove St. area as they work towards constructing affordable housing in that area\n\n$4.5 million for Hall Neighborhood House to construct a new wing at its site in the East Side of Bridgeport\n\n$98,000 for Community Renewal Team to renovate bathrooms at a family shelter in East Hartford\n\n$642,000 for Chrysalis Center for renovations at veterans housing facilities in Rockville and Vernon\n\nIn the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, there is $48,582 million for Connecticut workforce development, health, and education projects, including:\n\n$204,000 for 4-H Education Center at Auerfarm for workforce development summer programming for students with disabilities\n\n$54,000 for CCARC, Inc. for job training programs that serve individuals with disabilities\n\n$76,000 Youth Business Initiative, Inc. for funding for middle school career and life skills programs\n\n$200,000 for the City of Bridgeport to support the modernization and transition of the Bridgeport Health Department record management system\n\n$200,000 for the City of Bridgeport to support the modernization of the IT system in the communicable disease clinic\n\n$1,500,000 for the City of Hartford for the sexually transmitted infection clinic\n\n$100,000 for Community Child Guidance Clinic to replace the roof at its mental health center and a therapeutic day school\n\n$1,800,000 for Connecticut Children's Medical Center for a perinatal care center\n\n$255,000 for Connecticut Counseling Centers Inc. for a food prescription program in the Danbury area\n\n$630,000 for Continuum of Care, Inc. for renovations at a veterans residential PTSD treatment program\n\n$2,000,000 for Cure Rare Disease to support the renovation of laboratory space that is used for research into rare diseases\n\n$1,800,000 for InterCommunity, Inc. to expand a primary and behavioral health care facility in Hartford\n\n$500,000 for Keystone House Inc. for renovations at three group homes for adults with a mental health diagnosis\n\n$350,000 for LifeBridge Community Services, Inc. for an elevator replacement\n\n$175,000 for MARC of Manchester for facilities and equipment improvements\n\n$325,000 for McCall Foundation, Inc. for renovations at an intermediate residential treatment program\n\n$1,000,000 for Optimus Health Care, Inc. for renovations at a federally qualified health center\n\n$207,000 for Reliance Health, Inc. for renovations at nine mental health facilities in Eastern Connecticut\n\n$43,000 for The Connection, Inc. to support renovations to a residential substance-use treatment center\n\n$1,100,000 for The Village for Families and Children for facilities renovations\n\n$980,000 for Wheeler Clinic, Inc. for a new health care facility in Bristol\n\n$100,000 for YWCA Greenwich Sexual Assault Services for the design of a new program space\n\n$1,500,000 for Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery to support five recovery community centers\n\n$200,000 for The Connection, Inc. for mental health, substance use, and behavioral health services training\n\n$1,122,000 for The Governor's Prevention Partnership to train community and youth leaders in substance use prevention\n\n$25,000 for The Greater Bridgeport Opportunities Industrialization Center, Inc. for youth mental health programming, including equipment\n\n$100,000 for Bridgeport Youth Lacrosse Inc. for recreational programming and support for low income families\n\n$216,000 for Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence for a therapy support program for children affected by domestic violence\n\n$462,000 for Fairfield County\u2019s Community Foundation for economic inequality and mobility research\n\n$50,000 for Saint Joseph Parenting Center in Stamford for services for families and children at risk of child abuse and neglect\n\n$1,050,000 for United Way of Western Connecticut for a nutrition services program\n\n$2,000,000 for the Bridgeport Board of Education for in-person and virtual library programs, including purchase of books, materials and virtual library resources\n\n$730,000 for East Hartford Public Schools for the Manufacturing Academy and Internship program, including purchase of equipment\n\n$305,000 for the Hartford Public Library for educational programs for immigrant, refugee and English learner students\n\n$100,000 for Hartford Stage to expand arts-based summer education programming\n\n$218,000 for NAFI Connecticut, Inc. for a career readiness initiative\n\n$150,000 for New Haven Reads Community Book Bank for Structured Literacy programming\n\n$125,000 for Regional Youth Adult Social Action Partnership for social-emotional learning initiative within Bridgeport Public Schools\n\n$361,000 for SoundWaters, Inc. for after-school and extracurricular programming\n\n$259,000 for Waterbury Public Schools to improve wireless access and connections\n\n$326,000 for the University of New Haven for the Center for Consumer Protection and Cybersecurity Project\n\nIn the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, there is $18,345,000 million for Connecticut projects including:\n\n$3 million for the City of Bridgeport Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) for design of the West Side Wastewater Treatment Plant Project\n\n$1.6 million for the Torrington Water Pollution Control Authority for resiliency upgrades at Harris Drive Pump Station\n\n$2.5 million for the Metropolitan District Commission for to construct of a new water transmission main to supply drinking water to East Hartford, South Windsor, Glastonbury, and Portland\n\n$500,000 for the City of Bridgeport to restore the Perry Memorial Arch\n\n$1.2 million for the School Hill Water Association to connect 31 homes and 87 residents to the Connecticut water system\n\n$280,000 for two awards to Save the Sound to construct green storm water infrastructure in Hamden town center and in Bridgeport\n\n$200,000 for the Town of Monroe for replacement of Monroe\u2019s Senior Center septic tank\n\n$1.6 million for two awards to the Norwich Public Utilities that will complete a sewer gravity pipe lining project and an emergency water interconnection between Groton and Norwich water systems\n\n$300,000 for the Antiquarian and Landmarks Society for Restoration & Interpretation for renovations at Nathan Hale Homestead\n\n$111,000 for the Mystic Seaport Museum to restore the 1866 National Historic Landmark Vessel Emma C. Berry\n\n$192,000 for two awards to the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments for a tree canopy assessment and regional open space inventory\n\n$154,000 for Groundwork Bridgeport to support a urban forestry project\n\n$3.363 million for two awards to the South Central Regional Water Authority for HVAC and electrical improvements at Lake Gaillard Water Treatment Plan and a generator replacement at a well treatment facility in Seymour\n\nIn the Homeland Security Appropriations bill, there is $11.962 million for Connecticut priorities including:\n\n$656,000 to support improvements at the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services & Public Protection State Interagency Coordination Center\n\n$1.025 million for the City of Hartford for a flood mitigation project\n\n$742,000 for the City of Bridgeport for a community flood scoping project\n\n$708,000 for the Town of Old Lyme for an emergency operations center\n\nIn the Agriculture Appropriations bill, there is $6.236 million in funding for Connecticut, including:\n\n$2.53 million for the Town of Winchester help replace an old public works garage\n\n$2.75 million for the Town of East Windsor to renovate the East Windsor Scout Hall Youth Center and streamline town services for seniors and low-income residents\n\n$206,000 for the Connecticut Agriculture Experiment Station to monitor tick populations and tick-borne pathogens\n\nIn the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill, there is $6.175 million to support Connecticut small businesses, including:\n\n$2 million for the Women's Business Development Council to fund staffing and new offices that allow the organization to expand its programming to more women-owned businesses in Connecticut\n\n$550,000 for Connecticut Resource Conservation & Development Area to create a Connecticut Veteran Farmer Educational Resource Hub\n\n$400,000 for CLiCK Inc. to make infrastructure improvements at their food hub in Willimantic\n\n$1 million for Connecticut Historical Society to digitize tens of thousands of records from the American revolution\n\nIn the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, there is $35.244 million for Connecticut projects, including:\n\n$2.39 million for Greenwave to launch the Connecticut Kelp Innovation Center\n\n$650,000 for the Sea Research Foundation to establish the Blue Economy Career Development Center\n\n$2.218 million for the City of New London to purchase new emergency communications equipment\n\n$500,000 for the City of Bridgeport to purchase forensic technology\n\n$930,000 for the City of Waterbury to support its Real-Time Crime and Pandemic Center\n\n$152,000 for two awards to the Town of Bloomfield to upgrade to police car cruiser cameras and purchase equipment for its police training room\n\n$250,000 for the City of Stamford to purchase training equipment for a Regional Police Academy\n\n$850,000 for the Town of Winchester to purchase new radios for police and emergency services\n\n$237,000 for Regional Youth Adult Social Action Partnership to support ongoing work to reduce gun violence in Bridgeport\n\n$67,000 for Congregations Organized for a New Connecticut to support firearm safety and reduce gun violence in New Haven area and across Connecticut\n\n$1 million for the University of New Haven to support its Community-Based Gun Violence Reduction Project\n\nIn the Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill, there is $8.145 million for Connecticut, including $2.48 million in Congressionally Directed Spending to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to make water infrastructure improvements across the state:\n\n$380,000 for USACE operations and maintenance work in Branford Harbor\n\n$500,000 for USACE operations and maintenance work in Guilford Harbor\n\n$600,000 for USACE operations and maintenance work in Stony Creek Harbor\n\n$1 million for the Town of Madison to make energy efficiency upgrades at an emergency shelter\n\n$1.9 million to for the Town of Manchester to support energy efficiency upgrades at two public schools in\n\n$2 million for the City of Stamford to upgrade the network of inefficient, high-pressure sodium-based streetlights to energy-saving LEDs streetlights\n\n$165,000 for Children's Community Development Center to install solar panels that will provide electricity to three childcare centers in Westport\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-blumenthal-applaud-senate-approval-of-sara-bronins-nomination-to-serve-as-advisory-council-on-historic-preservation", "Murphy, Blumenthal Applaud Senate Approval of Sara Bronin's Nomination to Serve as Chair of Advisory Council on Historic Preservation", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) applauded Senate confirmation of Sara Bronin\u2019s nomination to chair the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.\n\n\u201cSara Bronin is an architect, attorney, and nationally-recognized expert on historic preservation \u2013 there is no one better suited to serve as chair of this council. I\u2019m proud of the work she\u2019s done to advance equity in Connecticut and the city of Hartford, and I\u2019m confident she will bring the same expertise and passion to this new role. I\u2019m thrilled to see her confirmed by the full Senate,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n\u201cSara Bronin\u2019s extraordinary expertise and experience as a preservation advocate and steward will make her an outstanding chair of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation,\u201d said Blumenthal. \u201cHer commitment to this vital cause is demonstrated convincingly by her championing vulnerable community assets across Connecticut. In this new role, she will take this work to a national level.\u201d\n\nAs chair of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, Bronin will lead the agency in addressing policy issues, directing program initiatives, and making recommendations regarding historic preservation, enhancement, and sustainable use of our nation\u2019s diverse historic resources to the President, Congress, and heads of other federal agencies.\n\nLast September, Blumenthal and Murphy introduced Bronin before her Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Hearing.\n\nSara Bronin is a Mexican-American architect, attorney, professor, and policymaker whose interdisciplinary work focuses on how law and policy can foster more equitable, sustainable, well-designed, and connected places. She is a Professor of the Cornell College of Architecture, Art, and Planning, an Associated Faculty Member of the Cornell Law School, and a Faculty Fellow of the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability. Bronin is also an elected member of the American Law Institute and leads the research team behind the groundbreaking Connecticut Zoning Atlas, the first interactive GIS map of all of the zoning regulations in a single state.\n\nBronin is a board member of Latinos in Heritage Conservation, an advisor for the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Sustainable Development Code, and the founder of Desegregate Connecticut, a coalition that successfully advanced the first major statewide zoning reforms in several decades. Previously, she chaired Preservation Connecticut, served on the city of Hartford historic preservation commission, and led Hartford\u2019s nationally-recognized efforts to adopt a climate action plan and city plan, and to overhaul the zoning code. Bronin holds a J.D. from Yale Law School (Harry S Truman Scholarship), M.Sc. from the University of Oxford (Rhodes Scholarship), and B.Architecture/B.A. from the University of Texas. While in law school, she clerked for then-Judge Sonia Sotomayor on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/connecticut-and-rhode-island-congressional-delegations-seek-more-support-for-farmers-impacted-by-drought-in-new-omnibus-bill", "Connecticut and Rhode Island Congressional Delegations Seek More Support for Farmers Impacted by Drought in New Omnibus Bill", "2022-12-21", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON,\u2014As Congress works to finalize the FY 2023 Omnibus appropriations package, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and U.S. Representative Joe Courtney (D-Conn.-02), and the Connecticut and Rhode Island Congressional Delegations are pressing for additional funding to assist New England livestock feed producers and other farmers impacted by severe drought conditions. Today, Courtney and Murphy shared a letter they sent to House and Senate appropriators along with Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Reps. David Cicilline (D-R.I.-01), Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.-05), Jim Himes (D-Conn.-04), Jim Langevin (D-R.I.-02) and John B. Larson (D-Conn.-01), urging them to replenish funds for critical USDA disaster relief programs and to expand relief to cover farmers\u2019 losses in 2022, in addition to 2021 and 2020. Click here to read the full letter.\n\nIn August, the USDA announced a primary agricultural disaster designation for counties Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island due to severe drought conditions. The designation allowed many farmers and producers to access critical disaster relief loans through the USDA\u2019s Farm Service Agency (FSA), as well as other important USDA relief programs. However, in their letter, the coalition highlighted that certain critical producers still need assistance:\n\n\u201cWe are thankful that these various [USDA] programs are available to help impacted producers in our States, but we are concerned that some producers have been left out of this assistance. Specifically, livestock forage (feed) producers are in dire need of help.\u201d\n\nAccording to the FSA\u2019s Connecticut Division and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, the drought has impacted the availability of feed and silage for agricultural producers. Some have reported losses of average hay production as high as 55%. The FSA warns that this could cause large price increases for many agricultural products this winter, and that the regional feed shortage will have ripple effects on local dairy enterprises.\n\nThe coalition noted that this presents a particularly difficult challenge to New England agricultural producers, many of whom have found themselves ineligible for FSA and USDA programs meant to provide relief in these sorts of emergencies:\n\n\u201cAlthough FSA operates assistance programs that support producers who grow forage for their own livestock if they are grazing livestock, New England has many producers who have livestock but do not graze, and many others who grow forage for sale to other livestock producers and therefore are also not eligible to participate in forage-related assistance programs.\u201d\n\n\u201cMany other federal programs that exist to help producers with drought and emergency situations are similarly unavailable to forage producers impacted by drought. In discussions with USDA, our staff recently learned that forage producers are also ineligible for assistance under Emergency Relief Program authorities, as the ERP only covers losses from 2020 and 2021.\u201d\n\nTo protect New England\u2019s dairy farming heritage and family farm businesses, and to prevent farming land from being sold-off for alternative uses, the Connecticut and Rhode Island Congressional delegations are urging House and Senate appropriators to replenish funds from the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) and expand ERP authorities to cover losses incurred in 2022, as well as in 2021 and 2020, in the FY 2023 Omnibus appropriations package.\n\nMore details on the FY 2023 Omnibus appropriations package will be available soon. Click here to read the coalition\u2019s full letter.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-courtney-statement-appointment-former-australian-prime-minister", "Rep. Courtney Statement on Appointment of Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd as Ambassador of Australia to the United States", "2022-12-20", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) made the following statement after Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd will serve as the next Ambassador of Australia to the United States.\n\n\u201cToday, the Albanese government made a powerful statement on the importance of the U.S.-Australia alliance by choosing former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd as the new Ambassador to the U.S.,\u201d said Rep. Courtney. \u201cHis high profile and wide experience ensures that our nations\u2019 common priority of supporting a healthy rules-based order will continue and deepen. Heartiest congratulations to Mr. Rudd, who I believe will receive a warm welcome on Capitol Hill.\u201d\n\nCourtney added, \u201cThank you to outgoing Ambassador Arthur Sinodinos for your outstanding work across two U.S. administrations and a global pandemic\u2014extraordinary service during extraordinary times.\u201d\n\nRep. Courtney is the Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces. He is also the Founder and Chairman of the bipartisan AUKUS Working Group, and of the Congressional Friends of Australia Caucus.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-adams-introduce-legislation-to-promote-gender-equity-in-sports", "Murphy, Adams Introduce Legislation to Promote Gender Equity in Sports", "2022-12-20", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, and U.S. Representative Alma Adams (D-N.C.-12), a member of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor, on Tuesday introduced legislation to promote gender equity in college and K-12 sports. The Fair Play for Women Act would promote fairness and equity in participation opportunities and institutional support for women's and girls' sports programs, ensure transparency and public reporting of data by college and K-12 athletic programs, hold athletic programs and athletic associations more accountable for Title IX violations and discriminatory treatment, and improve education and awareness of Title IX rights among college and K-12 athletes as well as athletics staff. U.S. Representatives Lori Trahan (D-Mass.-03) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.-01) co-sponsored the legislation.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s no secret there\u2019s still a huge gap in resources and opportunities between women\u2019s sports and men\u2019s sports \u2013 it\u2019s a Title IX violation hiding in plain sight. Our bill would ensure sports programs for women and girls finally get the support they\u2019re entitled to, increase transparency and accountability of schools and athletic associations, and make sure athletes are aware of their Title IX rights and how to exercise them. I\u2019m proud to be working with Representatives Adams, Trahan, and Bonamici on this important piece of legislation to fulfill the promise of Title IX in college and K-12 athletics,\u201dsaid Murphy.\n\n\u201cI am proud to introduce the Fair Play for Women Act, which would make updates to the Title IX to address gaps in the law and keep Title IX strong for generations of women to come,\u201d said Adams. \u201cAs a legislator for three decades, high school athlete, and a college professor at a women\u2019s college for more than 40 years, I have fought not only to support Title IX and its positive impact on college athletics and other collegiate programs, but also to make sure the law continues to give women the opportunities we deserve. As a mother and grandmother, I want to make sure that my granddaughters and their friends grow up in a world where they are empowered to succeed.\n\n\u201cThe students of today and tomorrow deserve a level playing field, an equitable collegiate experience, and freedom from discrimination and harassment. I am committed to working alongside my colleagues, like Senators Murphy and Feinstein and Representative Trahan to pass this meaningful legislation to update Title IX, and renew its promise to keep women at the table and on the field,\u201d concluded Adams.\n\n\u201cGlaring loopholes in Title IX have been hurting women athletes for decades. As women\u2019s sports continue gaining in popularity, it\u2019s time to make sure that the system of college athletics finally works for the athletes who power it,\u201d said Trahan. \u201cI wish women athletes had protections like those in the Fair Play for Women Act when I was playing volleyball, and it\u2019s on all of us to make sure future generations never go without them again. I\u2019m proud to partner with Senator Murphy and Congresswomen Adams and Bonamici to introduce this long overdue legislation. For my daughters and every young girl who dreams of playing college sports one day, we must get this done.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe have made remarkable progress toward gender equity in sports since Title IX became law 50 years ago, but we still have more to do to end discrimination in athletic programs,\u201d said Bonamici. \u201cToo many girls and women lack opportunities to compete and many have subpar facilities, equipment, and support. The Fair Play for Women Act will increase oversight of athletic programs and hold them accountable for Title IX violations, as well as help educate athletes about their rights.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe FAIR PLAY FOR WOMEN ACT will fundamentally strengthen TITLE IX through better education, stronger enforcement and greater transparency in data and reporting. We are proud of the role that our young VIS Advocates have played in creating this important step towards equality in sport for all. With the VOICES of the girls at the center, this Bill will spark conversations which will positively impact girls and women in sport for generations to come,\u201d said Stef Strack, Founder & CEO VOICEINSPORT & VOICEINSPORT FOUNDATION.\n\n\u201cWe applaud Senator Murphy for sponsoring the Fair Play for Women Act,\u201d said Andrew Zimbalist, President of the Drake Group. \"The Act would strengthen existing statutes that require colleges and universities to publicly report data demonstrating their compliance with the athletics provisions of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and, for the first time, it extends such reporting requirements to elementary and secondary schools with athletic programs. Parents and athletes should be able to easily access such data on the internet so that there is a factual basis for demanding that their educational institutions address inequities. The Act would also correct participant counting and other inaccuracies that exist in current reporting mandates and would require more detailed financial reporting related to athletics financial aid where male athletes are more likely to be awarded larger scholarship packages on more preferential terms.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, the Fair Play for Women Act would:\n\nExpand reporting requirements of college and K-12 athletics data and make all information easily accessible to the public. The bill would establish a one-stop shop for key athletics data by expanding the scope and detail of reporting requirements among colleges, extending these requirements to include athletic programs at elementary and secondary schools, and requiring the Secretary of Education to house all data on the same public website. Further, the bill requires athletic programs to certify the data they submit and report how they are claiming Title IX compliance, and requires an annual public report by the Department of Education on gender equity and Title IX compliance. These provisions will help weed out reporting tricks by programs to skirt Title IX compliance and make it easier for athletes and stakeholders to evaluate persisting gaps in athletic programs.\n\nHold athletic programs and athletic associations like the NCAA more accountable for Title IX violations and discriminatory treatment. The bill would codify that intercollegiate athletic associations, including the NCAA and athletic conferences, shall not discriminate on the basis of sex. Further, it would provide a private right of action for all Title IX claims and lawsuits, making it easier for athletes to push for change at their schools. The bill would also authorize the Department of Education to levy fines on colleges that are found non-compliant with Title IX, along with requiring submission of publicly available plans to remedy violations, providing more tools to compel Title IX compliance.\n\nImprove education and awareness of Title IX rights among athletes, staff, and stakeholders. The bill would require Title IX trainings on an annual basis for all athletes, Title IX coordinators, and athletic department and athletic association staff. Further, the bill would establish a public database of all Title IX coordinators at colleges and K-12 schools, included in the one-stop shop for athletics data. These provisions will ensure all people involved with college and K-12 athletics understand what Title IX compliance means and what students\u2019 rights are under the law.\n\nA one-pager is available here.\n\nA section by section is available here.\n\nMurphy along with U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and U.S. Representatives Lori Trahan (D-Mass.-03) and Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.-16) introduced the College Athlete Right to Organize Act, legislation to provide collective bargaining rights for college athletes. Murphy and Trahan also wrote the College Athlete Economic Freedom Act, which grants unrestricted rights to college athletes over the use of their name, image, and likeness.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-announces-subcommittee-on-homeland-security-fiscal-year-2023-appropriations-bill", "Murphy Announces Subcommittee On Homeland Security Fiscal Year 2023 Appropriations Bill", "2022-12-20", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013The fiscal year 2023 Homeland Security bill provides a total discretionary level of $60.7 billion, which is $3.2 billion more than the fiscal year 2022 enacted level. The bill supports critical steps to: help communities both recover from disasters and rebuild for resiliency; combat the flow of illegal firearms and narcotics while facilitating legitimate trade and travel; disrupt forced labor through increased enforcement to detect and seize goods manufactured through modern day slavery; and create a more humane and safe environment for both noncitizens seeking asylum and our nation\u2019s dedicated front-line law enforcement managing our borders.\n\nU.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Chair of the Subcommittee on Homeland Security, said:\n\n\u201cIf we\u2019re going to ensure the Department of Homeland Security has the resources it needs to tackle threats to our national security and manage our borders we need to pass a full year budget. This bill is a reasonable compromise, and I\u2019m proud of the investments it would make in the responsible management of our border, the protection of our nation from cyber threats, and the protection of our coastlines and airports. Also, for the first time ever, this bill includes dedicated funding to stop the flow of illegal firearms going south across our border. It's time for Republicans to step up and get our government off endless, hurtful continuing resolutions, and I look forward to working across the aisle to get this done.\u201d\n\nKey Points & Highlights\n\nInvestments at DHS with a Global Impact: Domestic investments at DHS have the potential to result in global impacts across a number of key challenges facing the world in areas ranging from climate change, forced labor, and trafficking of narcotics and firearms.\n\n\u00b7 Building Environmental Resiliency. The bill includes $45 million for Coast Guard investments to expand operations in the Indo-Pacific in order to promote economic prosperity, environmental resiliency, and lawful access to the region\u2019s maritime environment. It will also build regional nations\u2019 abilities to support international law, including with respect to Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing that depletes the world\u2019s ocean resources.\n\n\u00b7 The bill also includes $312.75 million (+$37.25 million; 13.5 percent increase) for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) RiskMap program. This program maps the Nation\u2019s waterways, and will help produce flood hazard data to ensure that Federal investment in buildings and infrastructure are more resilient against current and future flood risk and support local government hazard mitigation planning and protecting against the real-world impacts of climate change.\n\n\u00b7 Disrupting the Flow of Drugs and Firearms. Dedicated funding is provided to build outbound operations at land ports of entry with the goal of identifying and seizing firearms and money exiting the U.S. as a result from the sale of narcotics. In addition $60 million is provided to hire 125 Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers and mission support staff and $70 million to strengthen non-intrusive inspection systems that will significantly improve the scanning of vehicles and cargo entering the U.S. using artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities to detect and seize harmful items. Furthermore, $10 million is provided to support and expand investigations by Homeland Security Investigations, the Department\u2019s lead investigative agency, in response to illicit content that is detected through NII deployed at the border.\n\n\u00b7 Combatting Forced Labor. The bill provides $101 million (+$51 million; 108 percent increase) to support efforts to prevent the importation into the U.S. of merchandise mined, produced or manufactured, wholly or in part, in any foreign country by forced labor\u2014including forced or indentured child labor. Providing the tools and capabilities to assist in the identification and seizure of such items will strike a blow at the forces behind these abhorrent actions.\n\n\u00b7 Establishing a New Wildlife Trafficking Unit at HSI. The bill provides $7.5 million to establish and formalize a new unit at Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) to prevent wildlife trafficking. This is a critical investment to protect the economy, environment, and to assist in disrupting the flow of resources that support other illicit conduct. The Wildlife Trafficking Unit at HSI will coordinate with government and private sectors to enhance investigative expertise, analytical support, and to develop the next generation of investigators to investigate and disrupt this heinous crime.\n\nSupporting TSA Pay Parity: The bill includes $398 million to bring the TSA workforce pay on par with the rest of the federal workforce. This puts the TSA in a favorable position to address recruiting and retention issues while the agency works to respond to an increase in travel volumes and competes with other federal agencies and with other competitive job opportunities at federalized airports.\n\nRebuilding the Refugee Program at United States Citizenship and Immigration Services: The bill includes $133 million to meet the refugee admissions goal of 125,000 for fiscal year 2023, a critical investment that will save the lives of children and families across the globe and bring economic prosperity to the United States. Until now, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services was the only federal agency not appropriated the necessary funds to participate in the refugee program, despite the fact that at least three separate federal agencies are involved in the day-to-day operations. This investment could not have come at a better time. The end of 2021 saw nearly 90 million people forcibly displaced due to persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations and other disasters. War, famine and disaster, from Ukraine to Yemen, means now, more than ever, America must demonstrate its commitment to security, prosperity and safety. Supporting the refugee program is one meaningful step.\n\nFederal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) Grant Programs: The bill includes $3.9 billion (+$249 million; 7 percent increase) for grants and training to SLTT entities. FEMA grants help communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from both manmade and natural threats, including hurricanes, terrorist attacks, wildfires, and more. The bill provides additional funding for nonprofits, such as faith-based houses of worship, as threats to these institutions persist (+$55 million; 22 percent increase). It also increases funding for flood plain mapping efforts to enable informed decision-making for public and private projects (+$37.25 million; 14 percent increase). Grant programs are funded as follows:\n\n\u00b7 $520 million for State Homeland Security, of which $90 million is for Operation Stonegarden and $15 million is for tribal security;\n\n\u00b7 $615 million for the Urban Area Security Initiative;\n\n\u00b7 $305 million for the Nonprofit Security;\n\n\u00b7 $105 million for Public Transportation Security, of which $10 million is for Amtrak and $2 million is for Bus Security;\n\n\u00b7 $100 million for Port Security;\n\n\u00b7 $720 million for Assistance to Firefighter and SAFER;\n\n\u00b7 $355 million for Emergency Management Performance;\n\n\u00b7 $313 million for Flood Hazard Mapping and Risk Analysis;\n\n\u00b7 $130 million for Emergency Food and Shelter;\n\n\u00b7 $56 million for Next Generation Warning System;\n\n\u00b7 $12 million for Regional Catastrophic Preparedness;\n\n\u00b7 $316 million for training, including $58 million for the U.S. Fire Administration and $31 million for the Emergency Management Institute;\n\n\u00b7 $800 million (by transfer) for the Shelter and Services Program;\n\n\u00b7 $20 million (by transfer) for Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention; and\n\n\u00b7 $20 million (by transfer) for Alternatives to Detention Case Management.\n\nInvesting in the United States Coast Guard (USCG): The bill includes $11.6 billion for USCG operations and assets (+$140 million). The USCG total includes $83 million for increased fuel costs that are needed to maintain surface and air operations; and $1.7 billion for major acquisitions investments, including $918 million for vessels, $238 million for aircraft, and $415 million for shore facilities that directly support the USCG mission. This mission includes search and rescue, drug interdiction, marine safety and environmental protection, and fisheries enforcement.\n\nResources for a More Humane and Safe Environment Along our Borders: Funding is provided to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to assist state and local governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) partners, and federal law enforcement in response to the high level of noncitizens arriving at the southwest border. The majority of these noncitizens are seeking asylum or otherwise fleeing corrupt regimes and the impacts of natural disasters in their home countries. Within CBP, funding is provided to give Border Patrol additional capacity and capabilities to support agents including funds for temporary soft-sided facilities, transportation, and personnel support, which will reduce overcrowding at facilities and allow agents to return to the field faster.\n\nAdditionally, funding is provided for humanitarian assistance that bolsters the operational capabilities of the U.S. Border Patrol. This new grant program, CBP\u2019s Shelter and Services Program, joins a suite of tools available to CBP to help manage the border. It invests federal dollars directly into state and local governments and NGOs who work with federal personnel at the border to provide life-saving humanitarian assistance, including shelter and transportation, allowing CBP to reduce overcrowding and minimize the need for additional temporary holding space. Further, resources are included for ICE for non-detention border management, including for medical costs for noncitizens in custody and transportation requirements.\n\nIn order to better inform Congress about the resource requirements to create a more humane environment for both noncitizens encountered on the border and the federal law enforcement charged with securing our border, the bill includes language directing the Secretary to ensure the development of projections of encounters at the southwest border (broken out by single adults, families, and unaccompanied children) and to share such projections with the Attorney General, and the Secretaries of Health and Human Services and State. The Secretary is also directed to use such projections to estimate future workload, identify requirements associated with that workload, and develop cost estimates for those requirements in order to inform budget justifications provided to Congress.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-reintroduces-bill-to-forgive-student-loan-debt-for-beginning-farmers", "Murphy Reintroduces Bill to Forgive Student Loan Debt for Beginning Farmers", "2022-12-19", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, on Monday reintroduced the Student Loan Forgiveness for Farmers and Ranchers Act, legislation to create a loan forgiveness program for beginning farmers and ranchers, as well as women, veteran, and minority farmers. Student loan debt is a major hurdle for beginning farmers, and this legislation would serve as an incentive for farmers to enter\u2014and stay\u2014in the agricultural industry, and strengthen opportunities to grow successful businesses. U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) co-sponsored the legislation.\n\n\u201cStarting and maintaining a new farm is tough, expensive work. Too often, young farmers are saddled with thousands in student loan debt and can\u2019t afford to make the investments necessary for success. Connecticut farms are key to the health of our rural communities and the future of food security, and this legislation would help more people start and stay in farming,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n\"The Student Loan Forgiveness for Farmers and Ranchers Act provides a path out of debt for many young and beginning farmers who haven't been able to see one before. Held back by existing debt making financing complicated-- on top of climate crisis, input, and living costs-- passing this act will open the possibility of becoming a full-time farmer and/or rancher to many who would be, but for having repayment of existing loans in their way. National Young Farmers Coalition supports Senator Murphy's commitment to easing some of the unprecedented debt burden currently hindering our next generation of food growing to feed our communities and protect the land as its stewards,\u201d said Vanessa Garcia Polanco, Policy Campaigns Co-Director, National Young Farmers Coalition.\n\nIn Connecticut, approximately 30% of producers are considered \u201cbeginning farmers,\u201d meaning they are operating a farm with less than 10 years of experience.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-applauds-inclusion-of-diplomatic-security-and-support-act-in-ndaa-passage", "Murphy Applauds Inclusion of Diplomatic Security and Support Act in NDAA Passage", "2022-12-16", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2014U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Thursday applauded the inclusion of the Diplomatic Support and Security Act as part of the Department of State Authorization Act, which was included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2022:\n\n\u201cMany of the conflicts we\u2019re facing overseas have complicated political and economic roots and cannot be solved through military force. Our highly skilled and capable troops are trained as fighters \u2013 not diplomats. It\u2019s time to get the State Department out of its bunker mentality, and I\u2019m glad this bipartisan legislation will ensure we take full advantage of every tool in our foreign policy toolkit,\u201d said Murphy.\n\nEarlier this week, Murphy highlighted consequences of the United States continuing to ignore the value of nonmilitary foreign policy tools while our adversaries increase investments in development finance, international media, energy, and diplomacy.\n\nLast March, Murphy introduced the Expeditionary Diplomacy Act, legislation to ensure we have sufficient diplomatic and political expertise on the ground in fragile states and conflict zones. The committee-passed version of the Diplomatic Support and Security Act included in the NDAA merges elements of the Expeditionary Diplomacy Act and related legislation introduced by Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho).\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=DEB98CED-27C3-4615-9A09-898E95496CB1", "House Passes Hayes Bill to Find Missing Persons", "2022-12-15", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Jahana Hayes", "H001081", "hayes.house.gov", "hayes", "https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 The U.S. House of Representatives voted 422-4 to pass the Help Find the Missing Act, also known as \u201cBilly\u2019s Law,\u201d legislation led by Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05), to support efforts to solve missing persons cases by closing the gaps in law enforcement databases through improved coordination across federal, state, local, and non-profit agencies. Each year, tens of thousands of Americans go missing \u2013 leaving loved ones to navigate a complicated system, often without answers. Unlike with missing children, federal law does not mandate law enforcement to report missing adults or unidentified bodies.\n\nThe Senate companion bill, sponsored by Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and cosponsored by Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) previously passed under unanimous consent in the Senate. Billy\u2019s Law now heads to the desk of President Joe Biden for his signature.\n\nBilly\u2019s Law was inspired by Janice Smolinski of Cheshire, Connecticut, after her 31-year-old son, Billy, went missing in Waterbury, Connecticut. While working with law enforcement to locate her missing son, Smolinski was met with systemic challenges. This legislation was introduced to curb those obstacles by streamlining the missing persons reporting process.\n\n\u201cEach year, nearly half a million people go missing and tragically, many of them will never see their loved ones again. Yet over 40,000 sets of unidentified human remains are either held at coroners\u2019 offices or disposed of after going unclaimed. Due to gaps in databases, missing persons and unidentified remains are rarely matched,\u201d said Congresswoman Hayes. \u201cBilly\u2019s Law will strengthen cross communication among agency databases and provide guidance for local law enforcement agencies, medical examiners, and coroners on how to best handle missing persons cases. No family should have to face a complicated and disjointed system in order to find their loved one. This legislation will help bring home the missing and offer closure to the families of those who will never return home. I extend my sincere thanks to Senator Murphy for his commitment and partnership in moving this legislation forward.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, the Help Find the Missing Act would:\n\nDirect the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to continue to operate the National Missing Persons and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs), providing a missing persons/unidentified remains database to which the public can contribute and access;\n\nConnect NamUs with the FBI\u2019s National Crime Information Center (NCIC) in order to create more comprehensive missing persons and unidentified remains databases and streamlining the reporting process for local law enforcement;\n\nExpand current law by requiring missing children be reported to NamUs (they already must be reported to NCIC); and\n\nRequire DOJ to issue guidelines and best practices on handling missing persons and unidentified remains cases in order to empower law enforcement, medical examiners and coroners to help find the missing.\n\nEndorsing organizations include: the Consortium of Forensic Science Organizations, American Academy of Forensic Sciences, American Society of Crime Lab Directors, National Association of Medical Examiners, National Association of Police Organizations, International Association of Identification, Society of Forensic Toxicologists, American Board of Forensic Toxicologists, Fraternal Order of Police, National Association of Medical Examiners, The Doe Network, and LostNMissing.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/billys-law-passes-house-heads-to-presidents-desk", "Billy\u2019s Law Passes House, Heads to President\u2019s Desk", "2022-12-15", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Wednesday applauded House passage of the bipartisan Help Find the Missing Act or \u201cBilly\u2019s Law,\u201d which will now be sent to the President\u2019s desk for his signature. This legislation, which passed the Senate last week, will close loopholes in America\u2019s missing persons systems by streamlining the missing persons reporting process and ensuring that law enforcement databases are more accessible and comprehensive. U.S. Representative Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.-05) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.\n\n\u201cThis moment has been 15 years in the making, and I\u2019m so proud that thanks to the Smolinskis\u2019 persistence, Billy\u2019s Law is headed for the President\u2019s desk to be signed into law. This legislation will ensure that families facing the uncertainty and heartache of a loved one\u2019s disappearance are no longer burdened by unnecessary obstacles in their search for answers and closure,\u201d said Murphy.\n\nBilly's Law was originally introduced in the House of Representatives in 2009 by then-Congressman Chris Murphy. The bill was conceived by Janice and Bill Smolinski of Cheshire, Connecticut, after their 31-year-old son Billy went missing from Waterbury, Connecticut. While working with law enforcement to locate their missing son, the Smolinskis faced countless systemic challenges, most significantly the incomplete and uncoordinated federal databases for missing persons and unidentified remains. Billy's Law was introduced to address those challenges and help ensure that the tens of thousands of American families whose loved ones go missing each year do not experience the same hurdles faced by the Smolinskis.\n\nFull text of the bill is available here.\n\nA section-by-section of the bill is available here.\n\nA one-pager of the bill is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/connecticut-delegation-nvcog-save-sound-announce-federal-funding", "CONNECTICUT DELEGATION, NVCOG & SAVE THE SOUND ANNOUNCE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR REMOVAL OF KINNEYTOWN DAM", "2022-12-14", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Representatives Rosa DeLauro, Jim Himes and Jahana Hayes and U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy today announced that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is expected to award the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments up to $15 million to remove the Kinneytown Dam.\n\nThe recommended funding will allow NVCOG and its partners to finally achieve a longstanding environmental goal of restoring abundant fish passage from Long Island Sound up the Naugatuck River \u2014 improving the sound\u2019s ecological diversity and fish stock. To receive the funding NVCOG must demonstrate compliance with certain program conditions.\n\nThe removal will open 29 miles of river for blueback herring, American shad, and alewife, as well as 28 tributary miles for American eel. The restoration of a free-flowing Naugatuck River will also be a boon to the economies of the Naugatuck River Valley towns and allow for the natural flow of sediment to Long Island Sound to resume, which would greatly benefit Connecticut\u2019s thriving shellfish industry.\n\n\u201cThis grant is a great win for Connecticut\u2019s environment and a major victory for the Naugatuck Valley. All the Kinneytown Dam has done for years is prevent fish from getting up river \u2014 hampering ecological diversity and hamstringing the health of the Naugatuck River. Removing this dam means fish passage will be restored and the benefits will ripple all the way down to Long Island Sound,\u201d Blumenthal said. \u201cI\u2019m thrilled that after so many years of fighting alongside our coalition of advocates and environmental groups, we delivered this major benefit to the Naugatuck Valley.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe removal of the Kinneytown Dam is a huge win for the health of the Naugatuck River, the fish and wildlife who depend on it, and the communities whose economic growth has been stunted for years. I\u2019m grateful to the advocates who have led the charge on this and proud that thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we can finally get rid of this blighted and harmful dam once and for all,\u201d said Sen. Murphy.\n\n\u201cFor far too long, the deterioration of the Kinneytown Dam has been a major barrier to fish migration along the Naugatuck River and a source of great concern to the community of Seymour and their downstream neighbors. I have been proud to work with the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments and local officials in their efforts to address the issues at Kinneytown,\u201d said Rep. DeLauro. \u201cWith this funding, made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments and our regional and state partners can further their work in restoring the Naugatuck River. The removal of the dam will not only restore natural fish migration, but also reduce flood risks to communities both up and downstream of the project as well as improve recreational boating and fishing along the Naugatuck River.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor far too long, the Kinneytown Dam has hampered efforts to revitalize the Naugatuck River. I\u2019m pleased that funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will make it possible to remove this dam, restore safe and effective fish migration along the Naugatuck River to the Long Island Sound, and provide for our region\u2019s long-term economic and environmental vitality,\u201d said Rep. Himes.\n\n\u201cThe Naugatuck Valley is home to a rich, biodiverse ecosystem that has suffered from years of inaction. Thanks to the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Kinneytown Dam will be restored, ensuring safe, timely and effective fish passage is established and migratory fish can return to the Naugatuck River. This funding is the culmination of the dedication and perseverance of our congressional delegation, state and local leaders, and the community. Restoration of the Naugatuck River will bolster fish migration to the Long Island Sound and provide economic opportunity throughout Connecticut. I will continue working alongside our partners to further our shared environmental goals,\u201d said Rep. Hayes.\n\n\u201cThe work that our coalition has done over the past several years has shown that removal of Kinneytown Dam is the only sensible way forward, and the most beneficial course for our region. The opportunity to take control of the facility at no cost has recently presented itself. This funding from NOAA comes at the perfect time. It will allow NVCOG and our partners to seize that opportunity, and begin the work that will lead to the complete removal of Kinneytown Dam,\u201d said Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments Executive Director Rick Dunne\n\n\u201cThe removal of the Kinneytown Dam is a critical step in restoring the Naugatuck River to its rightful place as an asset to the Naugatuck Valley communities. This funding recommendation is a huge step in the right direction, and we thank our Congressional delegation for their support of this important initiative. Fish must be able to migrate up the Naugatuck River so that we can finally reap the benefits of the public investments that have been made in river restoration,\u201d said Waterbury Mayor Neil M. O\u2019Leary and Chairman of the NVCOG.\n\n\"The Naugatuck River, which once flowed different colors each day, is getting significant attention from the federal government,\" said Laura Wildman, Save the Sound Director of Ecological Restoration. \"This is exciting for me because my involvement in this river started over two decades ago, when I was a project engineer focused on removing five upstream dams. Being able to finally address the first barrier on the system with Save the Sound feels very fitting and fulfilling. Our entire organization, particularly our legal team, has been tirelessly advocating for successful fish passage at Kinneytown Dam for years. This funding ensures that this once industrial sewer will return to the life-supporting, swiftly-flowing river that initially cascaded down the Naugatuck Valley.\"\n\nIn 1996, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) issued and began implementing a plan to restore fish migration up the Naugatuck River, one of the chief waterways in Central Connecticut. Fish passage had been blocked for many years by a myriad of dams and hydroelectric facilities built during the industrial and post-industrial age. Over time, the majority of these obstructions to fish passage have been removed \u2014 only the Kinneytown Dam, the lowest dam on the Naugatuck River, remains.\n\nThe Kinneytown Dam is part of two very small hydroelectric facilities under the oversight of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Since 1983, FERC has required the provision of adequate fish passage, yet the current and most recent owners have failed to take any meaningful steps toward restoring robust fish passage. In 2020, Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) noted that between 2003 and 2013 the average annual fish count through the Kinneytown Dam was a meager 892. Since 2013 \u2014 after the Ansonia power plant went offline \u2014 the average fish count plunged even further to 159 fish.\n\nFor the past three years, a consortium of local and state government leaders and environmental groups \u2014 strongly supported by the Connecticut congressional delegation\u2014 have been pushing to take down the dam and restore the fish passage.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-tenth-anniversary-sandy-hook", "DeLauro Statement on the Tenth Anniversary of Sandy Hook", "2022-12-14", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) released the following statement on the tenth anniversary of the Sandy Hook mass shooting in Newtown, Connecticut:\n\n\u201cToday, we honor the families, the survivors, and the lives of the beautiful souls we lost ten years ago in Newtown.\n\n\u201cWe lost 26 students and teachers in an unspeakable tragedy on that cold December day. These were babies. Newtown parents continue to bear the weight of losing out on precious moments with their children that they will never get back. And while we mark another year without the sons and daughters we lost, we know that their spirits live on through the resilience of Newtown.\n\n\u201cAs we mark the tenth anniversary of this tragedy that forever changed our community, our state, and our country, we must honor the memory of those children we lost and families torn apart by taking action. No one should ever have to experience the devastating loss of a child or a family member to preventable gun violence.\n\n\u201cIt is the responsibility of Congress to protect Americans \u2013 we must enact more commonsense gun violence prevention laws and save lives. Inaction is unacceptable.\n\n\u201cEach and every day, countless American communities are subjected to this carnage. We have seen 623 mass shootings this year, which have tragically resulted in 653 deaths. As a nation, we cannot afford to become desensitized to gun violence. We cannot afford to lose another life.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=DAEC25C3-8B3C-48FC-BF11-14F6380F9366", "Connecticut Delegation, NVCOG & Save The Sound Announce Federal Funding For Removal Of Kinneytown Dam", "2022-12-14", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Jahana Hayes", "H001081", "hayes.house.gov", "hayes", "https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "HARTFORD \u2013 U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, and U.S. Representatives Rosa DeLauro, Jim Himes and Jahana Hayes today announced that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is expected to award the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments up to $15 million to remove the Kinneytown Dam.\n\nThe recommended funding will allow NVCOG and its partners to finally achieve a longstanding environmental goal of restoring abundant fish passage from Long Island Sound up the Naugatuck River \u2014 improving the sound\u2019s ecological diversity and fish stock. To receive the funding NVCOG must demonstrate compliance with certain program conditions.\n\nThe removal will open 29 miles of river for blueback herring, American shad, and alewife, as well as 28 tributary miles for American eel. The restoration of a free-flowing Naugatuck River will also be a boon to the economies of the Naugatuck River Valley towns and allow for the natural flow of sediment to Long Island Sound to resume, which would greatly benefit Connecticut\u2019s thriving shellfish industry.\n\n\u201cThis grant is a great win for Connecticut\u2019s environment and a major victory for the Naugatuck Valley. All the Kinneytown Dam has done for years is prevent fish from getting up river \u2014 hampering ecological diversity and hamstringing the health of the Naugatuck River. Removing this dam means fish passage will be restored and the benefits will ripple all the way down to Long Island Sound,\u201d Blumenthal said. \u201cI\u2019m thrilled that after so many years of fighting alongside our coalition of advocates and environmental groups, we delivered this major benefit to the Naugatuck Valley.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe removal of the Kinneytown Dam is a huge win for the health of the Naugatuck River, the fish and wildlife who depend on it, and the communities whose economic growth has been stunted for years. I\u2019m grateful to the advocates who have led the charge on this and proud that thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we can finally get rid of this blighted and harmful dam once and for all,\u201d said Sen. Murphy.\n\n\u201cFor far too long, the deterioration of the Kinneytown Dam has been a major barrier to fish migration along the Naugatuck River and a source of great concern to the community of Seymour and their downstream neighbors. I have been proud to work with the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments and local officials in their efforts to address the issues at Kinneytown,\u201d said Rep. DeLauro. \u201cWith this funding, made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments and our regional and state partners can further their work in restoring the Naugatuck River. The removal of the dam will not only restore natural fish migration, but also reduce flood risks to communities both up and downstream of the project as well as improve recreational boating and fishing along the Naugatuck River.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor far too long, the Kinneytown Dam has hampered efforts to revitalize the Naugatuck River. I\u2019m pleased that funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will make it possible to remove this dam, restore safe and effective fish migration along the Naugatuck River to the Long Island Sound, and provide for our region\u2019s long-term economic and environmental vitality,\u201d said Rep. Himes.\n\n\u201cThe Naugatuck Valley is home to a rich, biodiverse ecosystem that has suffered from years of inaction. Thanks to the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Kinneytown Dam will be restored, ensuring safe, timely and effective fish passage is established and migratory fish can return to the Naugatuck River. This funding is the culmination of the dedication and perseverance of our congressional delegation, state and local leaders, and the community. Restoration of the Naugatuck River will bolster fish migration to the Long Island Sound and provide economic opportunity throughout Connecticut. I will continue working alongside our partners to further our shared environmental goals,\u201d said Rep. Hayes.\n\n\u201cThe work that our coalition has done over the past several years has shown that removal of Kinneytown Dam is the only sensible way forward, and the most beneficial course for our region. The opportunity to take control of the facility at no cost has recently presented itself. This funding from NOAA comes at the perfect time. It will allow NVCOG and our partners to seize that opportunity, and begin the work that will lead to the complete removal of Kinneytown Dam,\u201d said Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments Executive Director Rick Dunne\n\n\u201cThe removal of the Kinneytown Dam is a critical step in restoring the Naugatuck River to its rightful place as an asset to the Naugatuck Valley communities. This funding recommendation is a huge step in the right direction, and we thank our Congressional delegation for their support of this important initiative. Fish must be able to migrate up the Naugatuck River so that we can finally reap the benefits of the public investments that have been made in river restoration,\u201d said Waterbury Mayor Neil M. O\u2019Leary and Chairman of the NVCOG.\n\n\"The Naugatuck River, which once flowed different colors each day, is getting significant attention from the federal government,\" said Laura Wildman, Save the Sound Director of Ecological Restoration. \"This is exciting for me because my involvement in this river started over two decades ago, when I was a project engineer focused on removing five upstream dams. Being able to finally address the first barrier on the system with Save the Sound feels very fitting and fulfilling. Our entire organization, particularly our legal team, has been tirelessly advocating for successful fish passage at Kinneytown Dam for years. This funding ensures that this once industrial sewer will return to the life-supporting, swiftly-flowing river that initially cascaded down the Naugatuck Valley.\"\n\nIn 1996, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) issued and began implementing a plan to restore fish migration up the Naugatuck River, one of the chief waterways in Central Connecticut. Fish passage had been blocked for many years by a myriad of dams and hydroelectric facilities built during the industrial and post-industrial age. Over time, the majority of these obstructions to fish passage have been removed \u2014 only the Kinneytown Dam, the lowest dam on the Naugatuck River, remains.\n\nThe Kinneytown Dam is part of two very small hydroelectric facilities under the oversight of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Since 1983, FERC has required the provision of adequate fish passage, yet the current and most recent owners have failed to take any meaningful steps toward restoring robust fish passage. In 2020, Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) noted that between 2003 and 2013 the average annual fish count through the Kinneytown Dam was a meager 892. Since 2013 \u2014 after the Ansonia power plant went offline \u2014 the average fish count plunged even further to 159 fish.\n\nFor the past three years, a consortium of local and state government leaders and environmental groups \u2014 strongly supported by the Connecticut congressional delegation\u2014 have been pushing to take down the dam and restore the fish passage.\n\nThis funding will allow for the removal of the Kinneytown Dam Facility, which includes both the Kinneytown Dam and the Canal Reservoir Dam. The dams are safety hazards due to potential for public injury and high risk of facility failure. The dam removal will reduce the flood risk to communities upstream and downstream of the project. Public river access points are being planned for both sites, improving opportunities for boating and river use.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://himes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=F1C52CDB-3943-4F1E-8E22-FDECBD2C700C", "Himes Statement on the Tenth Anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting", "2022-12-14", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "James A. Himes", "H001047", "himes.house.gov", "himes", "https://himes.house.gov/press-releases", "page_html", "Washington, DC\u2014Today, Congressman Jim Himes released the following statement marking ten years since the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut:\n\n\u201cTen years later, the loss of twenty schoolchildren and six educators in Newtown, Connecticut continues to weigh heavy on our hearts. We will never stop mourning the innocent victims, nor forget the horrific violence that robbed them of their futures. What\u2019s more, our nation has never had a moment to catch our breath in the ongoing deluge of gun violence.\n\n\u201cEach day, more communities are ravaged by shootings, more families are broken, and more lives are lost. This carnage does not end until we agree that enough is enough. Last summer, Congress finally took a step forward by advancing the first gun safety legislation in decades. These commonsense policies are a welcome reprieve from years of inaction on protecting the American people from the scourge of gun violence, but as we have seen in the last few months, they are insufficient to keep our communities safe.\n\n\u201cWe can and must do more. For the children and teachers of Sandy Hook Elementary, for the families of those we\u2019ve lost, and for all those whose lives have been upended by this senseless violence, I will keep fighting.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-03-30T11:08:25Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-condemns-government-of-iran-urges-passage-of-resolution-supporting-protestors", "Murphy Condemns Government of Iran, Urges Passage of Resolution Supporting Protestors", "2022-12-14", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism, on Wednesday condemned Iran\u2019s public executions and called for swift passage of a resolution commending the bravery, courage, and resolve of the women and men of Iran demonstrating in more than 80 cities and risking their safety to speak out against the Iranian regime's human rights abuses.\n\n\u201cI strongly condemn the gruesome public executions carried out by Iran, which serve as a harsh reminder of the nature of this regime. More than 16,000 Iranian protestors have been detained \u2013 mostly young people and women, who have been at the forefront of this movement \u2013 and at least eleven are currently facing the death sentence. The courage of the Iranian people putting their lives at risk for freedom is nothing short of extraordinary. The Senate should pass this bipartisan resolution to demand justice and make sure the world doesn\u2019t lose focus on the horrific abuses taking place in Iran. Just as we stood together with the people of Ukraine during their revolution of dignity, the United States must continue standing with the people of Iran and call on Iranian authorities to immediately end their violence against protestors and release all unjustly detained citizens,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-statement-on-tenth-anniversary-of-sandy-hook", "Murphy Statement on Tenth Anniversary of Sandy Hook", "2022-12-14", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2014U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Wednesday released the following statement on the tenth anniversary of the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School:\n\n\"The nation is a different place, ten years since twenty innocent children and six dedicated educators were senselessly killed inside Sandy Hook Elementary School. Mostly today, I will think of all the greatness and beauty that was robbed from this world, when these promising lives were cut short. Mostly, I will spend my day today sending every good thought I have to the family members who lost loved ones that day, to the survivors of the shooting, to the first responders, and to the community of Newtown that will never be the same. But also today, I will be thankful. I will be thankful for all the good that has resulted from this horror. Those parents, and the community of Newtown, have chosen to rise from that tragedy and build dozens of efforts that have changed lives for the better all over our nation. And many in Newtown have helped build the modern anti-gun violence movement, that finally this summer achieved the first federal gun safety bill in almost thirty years.\n\n\u201cToday, I'm so sad for what we lost. But I'm also so inspired and hopeful for all the grace and kindness that has grown out of tragedy, and for all that will come in the future.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-fitzpatrick-katie-couric-introduce-find-it-early-act-2022", "DeLauro, Fitzpatrick, Katie Couric Introduce Find It Early Act of 2022", "2022-12-13", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), and award-winning journalist Katie Couric introduced their legislation, the Find It Early Act. This bill would ensure all health insurance plans cover screening and diagnostic mammograms and breast ultrasounds and MRIs with no cost-sharing.\n\n\u201cIt means a great deal to me to join Katie Couric, Congressman Fitzpatrick, and all of the breast cancer advocates here to talk about what we must do to detect breast cancer early and save women\u2019s lives,\u201d said Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro. \u201cAs we all know, when it comes to surviving cancer, early detection is key \u2013 as 99 percent of women who receive an early diagnosis survive it. That is why today I am introducing the Find It Early Act, which would mandate all insurance providers to cover additional screenings including diagnostic mammograms, breast ultrasounds, and breast MRIs, with no cost-sharing.\u201d\n\n\u201cLike one in eight women, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. On June 21, 2022, -- that became my reality. I feel incredibly fortunate that I was diagnosed early, but so many women find out too late. We must strengthen breast cancer awareness, specifically for women with dense breasts like me,\u201d said Katie Couric. \u201cBreast cancer is treatable, and 99 percent of women who are diagnosed early survive. That is why everyone needs to get screened. The Find It Early Act is a critical step toward bettering access to these life-saving screenings. I am incredibly thankful to Congresswoman DeLauro and Congressman Fitzpatrick for joining with me in this effort to save millions of lives.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Find It Early Act is a step in the right direction towards preventing and eliminating breast cancer across the country,\u201d said Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick. \u201cI am proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation alongside Rep. DeLauro that will improve access to life saving screenings and increase the chances for early detection for all women.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor far too long, we have made people pay hundreds to thousands of dollars to access the vital breast imaging they require. This has often resulted in delayed diagnosis, whether they need the imaging due to a high risk of breast cancer, a previous breast cancer diagnosis or as follow-up to a suspicious finding on a screening mammogram,\u201d said Molly Guthrie, Vice President of Policy and Advocacy at Susan G. Komen. \u201cThe Find It Early Act means more breast cancers can be caught earlier because people will no longer be forced to pay out of pocket for this testing. We applaud Representatives Rosa DeLauro and Brian Fitzpatrick for their work to make access to necessary breast imaging more affordable and accessible.\u201d\n\n\u201cAt DenseBreast-info we hear from women all the time who find out they have dense breasts and that they would benefit from additional screening, but then discover they have to navigate getting approvals from their insurance providers - and begina frustrating cycle of phone calls, denials, appeals and more phone calls,\u201d said JoAnn Pushkin, Executive Director of DenseBreast-info, Inc. \u201cThe Find it Early Act will help ensure that when a woman is told that her mammogram might not be enough \u2013 she will not have to struggle to pay for additional imaging, or choose between household bills and a recommended test, or spread the cost of an MRI over one year, and skip the next year because the cost of the exam has strained her budget.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is my pleasure to give a voice on behalf of many hundreds of dense breast cancer patients who have become advocates across this country to say THANK YOU Congresswoman DeLauro,\u201d said Joseph J. Cappello, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Are You Dense Advocacy, Inc. \u201cWe thank you for taking the initiative as a leader in our 18-year battle, by demanding the FDA take action on the new MQSA rule by the end of this month. Your leadership will save many hundreds of lives across the nation.\u201d\n\n\u201cStudy after study has shown that early detection of breast cancer saves lives,\u201d said Dr. Rachel Brem, Chief Medical Officer, Brem Foundation to Defeat Breast Cancer; Vice Chair of Radiology and Director Breast Imaging Center, GW Hospital. \u201cStill, a variety of barriers exist for women, preventing them from accessing essential screening and detecting cancers early. The bipartisan Find It Early Act will require private and government insurers to cover the exorbitant out of pocket costs often faced by high risk women who require screenings such as ultrasound and MRI to diagnose their cancer - removing this \u2018hidden cost\u2019 of breast cancer diagnosis.\u201d\n\nUnfortunately, when follow-up and additional screenings are needed because of their breast density, family history, or for any other reason, depending on their health insurance, the majority of women are forced to pay out of pocket for these additional screenings, which can cost more than $1,000. As a result, many who cannot afford this cost will choose to delay or forego these additional tests, which and that decision to delay screening can lead to later stage diagnosis. The Find It Early Act would ensure all health insurance plans cover screening and diagnostic mammograms and breast ultrasounds and MRIs with no cost-sharing.\n\nIn October, DeLauro asked the FDA to provide an update within the week on the status of the development of the breast density notification rule. The FDA\u2019s response arrived shortly after, acknowledging that the Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA) final rule would publish before the end of the 2022 calendar year or early 2023.\n\nDeLauro and Fitzpatrick previously worked together on the Breast Density and Mammography Reporting Act that directs the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to issue a nationwide reporting standard to require all mammography reports to include an assessment of breast density. This policy change was included in the Fiscal Year 2020 Consolidated Appropriations Act and is expected to be released by the end of this year or early next year.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/-murphy-op-ed-americas-epidemic-of-loneliness-is-a-crisis-policymakers-need-to-take-seriously", "Murphy Op-Ed: America's Epidemic of Loneliness is a Crisis Policymakers Need to Take Seriously", "2022-12-13", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) authored an op-ed for The Bulwark on the epidemic of loneliness, why it should matter to policymakers, and policy solutions Congress should pursue. Despite being more connected than ever through social media and virtual communication, Americans are experiencing higher levels of aloneness (fewer social contacts) and higher levels of loneliness (feelings of isolation), and Murphy argues that the modern neoliberal American order has exacerbated these trends.\n\nMurphy highlighted the two most significant factors contributing to America\u2019s epidemic of loneliness. On technology and social media, Murphy wrote: \u201cFirst, for all the promise of technology to more seamlessly connect us to peers and new friends, it has in fact left many Americans\u2014especially young people\u2014feeling more alone than ever. Put simply, we have learned that digital communication cannot replace the value of in-person experience\u2026 Further, the use of social media, which once seemed to promise an antidote to loneliness, can create resentments that further breed feelings of isolation.\u201d\n\nOn the second factor driving loneliness, the erosion of local communities: \u201cPersonal meaning often comes from the groupings we create or join, and connection through institutions helps us construct an identity and sense of purpose. It\u2019s both the connection and the meaning derived from group identity that matters. But many large trends have badly weakened local institutions. Among them is globalization, which has drained local economies and diminished the local cultures that facilitate connection, identity, and meaning.\u201d\n\nMurphy laid out potential policy solutions decrease American isolation, starting with legislation to rein in Big Tech: \u201cFirst, why not acknowledge that the consequences of technology\u2019s unstinting advance are not value-neutral, and steer technology companies toward products that breed happiness, not anxiety and loneliness? I know this sounds like a herculean task, but there are already efforts underway to better protect children from the dangers of online addiction by increasing the minimum age of children that technology companies can target with their products. Other legislation seeks to increase social media and tech companies\u2019 legal liability for the damage their products are doing to our kids.\u201d\n\nTo revitalize local communities, Murphy proposed: \u201cA new strategy of economic nationalism\u2014working to bring key industries with good paying, full-time jobs back to the United States\u2014is a good place to begin. In western Connecticut, citizens proudly called themselves citizens of the Brass City, the Silver City, the Hardware City, and the Hat City. Identity and meaning were created by an association with the industrial character of places because those jobs paid wages that could sustain an entire family\u2014generation after generation.\u201d\n\nMurphy continued: \u201cEnsuring that one full-time job provides an adequate living wage would, in and of itself, help these institutions by freeing up more time for Americans to participate in non-work activities\u2026But we need to do more than just create additional free time. Federal, state, and local government should consider more direct subsidies for community institutions, civic groups, and local newspapers, in addition to reining in the neo-monopolies that put so many local grocery stores, booksellers, and the like out of business.\u201d\n\n\u201c[T]oday, social isolation threatens devastating consequences for the social fabric of our nation. It will be some time before we understand all causes of, and treatments for, this growing catastrophe. But talking frankly about the crisis, its consequences, and potential solutions, is a vital first step,\u201d Murphy concluded.\n\nRead the full op-ed here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-baldwin-bipartisan-group-of-senators-call-on-fda-to-support-farmers-goals-of-reducing-enteric-methane-emissions", "Murphy, Baldwin, Bipartisan Group of Senators Call on FDA to Support Farmers' Goals of Reducing Enteric Methane Emissions", "2022-12-12", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) joined U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and a bipartisan group of Senate colleagues in a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) encouraging the agency to review the role that animal feed additives play in achieving the Biden Administration\u2019s goal of halving economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 2030 in order to reach net zero by 2050.\n\nIn their letter, the Senators note that the FDA has not yet approved any feed additives to achieve this goal despite the potential for these products to provide farmers with additional tools to reduce a large share of their operations\u2019 GHG footprint and create a level playing field with their European and Brazilian competitors.\n\n\u201cThe FDA must work to review the role that animal feed additives play in lowering enteric emissions so that farmers have more resources at their disposal to achieve their proposed GHG reductions and compete on a global scale with producers who already have access to feed additives,\u201d wrote the Senators.\n\nThe letter was co-led by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), and also signed by Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.).\n\nFull text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Dr. Califf:\n\nWe write to you today regarding the Food and Drug Administration\u2019s (FDA) role in achieving President Biden\u2019s goal of halving economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 2030 in order to reach net zero by 2050. Meeting these targets will require innovation and coordination with industry from every federal agency, and the FDA is uniquely positioned to provide climate solutions to the agriculture industry in reducing enteric methane emissions.\n\nBoth the dairy and cattle industries have committed to reducing the climate impact of their farming operations over the next 20-30 years. To meet their commitments, farmers are subscribing to conventional climate and land management programs offered by the United States Department of Agriculture. However, these programs do not address the nearly one third of operations\u2019 emissions resulting from enteric methane. Enteric methane emissions are currently being addressed by our agricultural competitors in the European Union and Brazil through feed additives, but farmers in the U.S. do not have this option.\n\nThe FDA has not yet approved any feed additives to meet this need, in part due to agency\u2019s initial discretionary decision to regulate some potential feed ingredients within the animal drug process instead of the food additives process. Though both the animal drug and the Food Additive Petition (FAP) processes must demonstrate product efficacy and safety in human and animal reviews, the FAP route can be completed in 2-3 years, where the drug route can be completed in 8-10 years. Furthermore, if products are regulated as foods, they should be authorized and explicitly approved by FDA\u2019s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM).\n\nFeed additives aimed at reducing enteric methane emissions would give farmers another tool to reduce a large share of their GHG footprint and create a level playing field with their European and Brazilian competitors as they work towards their sustainability goals. We encourage the FDA to review the role that animal feed additives approved by CVM are poised to play in helping achieve these goals, and we appreciate your attention to this important issue.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/following-deadly-shooting-home-health-care-worker-rep-courtney-urges", "Following Deadly Shooting of Home Health Care Worker, Rep. Courtney Urges the Senate to Bring the Bipartisan Workplace Violence Prevention Bill to a Vote", "2022-12-09", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 Today, U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-02) renewed his call for Congress to help curb rising rates of on-the-job violence taking place against health care and social service workers. Specifically, Rep. Courtney is urging the U.S. Senate to pass the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act (H.R. 1195/S. 4182)\u2014a bipartisan bill introduced by Rep. Courtney, which has already been passed in the House and would take commonsense steps to ensure America\u2019s nurses, EMTs, doctors, emergency responders, social workers, and other health care professionals are better protected while at work. The call comes following last week\u2019s deadly shooting of Douglas Brant, a home health care worker in Spokane, Washington. Mr. Brant was murdered while on the job as a visiting nurse serving senior patients.\n\nThe Workplace Violence Prevention Act has already been passed by the U.S. House of Representatives\u2014twice. The bill was first passed by the House in 2019 with strong bipartisan support, and was passed again during the current 117th Congress with even more bipartisan support than the first time. The bill was introduced to the U.S. Senate this year on May 12 in honor of National Nurses Week, where it still awaits a vote.\n\n\u201cIt didn\u2019t take long for the heartbreaking news out of Spokane, Washington last week to reach eastern Connecticut. Tragedies like these occur nationwide, and they send shockwaves through our nation\u2019s health care workforce\u2014they know better than anyone the sort of danger they face, and that it\u2019s grown worse since 2020,\u201d said Congressman Courtney. \u201cI\u2019ve been married to a nurse practitioner for over thirty years, I\u2019ve worked alongside Connecticut\u2019s nurses ever since I came to Congress, and we\u2019ve pressed forward time and again to address the growing crisis of on-the-job violence facing our health care workers. Nurses didn\u2019t join the profession to take abuse, and the best way to support them and to retain and recruit qualified health care professionals is to ensure they don't have to worry about getting physically assaulted, or worse, at work. That\u2019s what the Workplace Violence Prevention bill is all about. We\u2019ve voted to pass this legislation twice now in the House of Representatives, both times on a strongly bipartisan basis, and it\u2019s long past time that the Senate follows our lead and gets this done so that America\u2019s health care workers are better cared for while they\u2019re working to care for us.\u201d\n\nBackground\n\nViolence against health care and social service workers has been exacerbated by the pandemic, and tragic incidents like these are on the rise nationwide. In 2019, a nurse in Baton Rouge, LA was murdered by a patient in the psychiatric ward where she worked. In 2021, a man opened fire at a clinic in Buffalo, MN, killing one person and wounding four others. This summer, two health care workers were stabbed while on the job at a hospital in St. Louis, MO.\n\nRep. Courtney\u2019s Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act is a bipartisan bill that would help curb assaults taking place against this critical workforce by directing OSHA to issue a standard requiring health care and social service employers to write and implement a workplace violence prevention plan to protect their employees from violent incidents. In April 2021, the House voted to pass the bill by a margin of 254-166\u2014an even greater bipartisan majority than when similar legislation introduced by Courtney passed the House in 2019. Courtney\u2019s bill has drawn endorsements from a host of health care and social service professionals and from unions representing workers in these sectors, including the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the AFL-CIO, the American Nurses Association, and many others. It has also drawn official support from the Biden Administration.\n\nOn May 12, Rep. Courtney\u2019s bill was officially introduced to the U.S. Senate by Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) as S. 4182, where it awaits a vote.\n\nTo read more, click here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-announces-32-million-centers-disease-control-and-prevention-cdc", "DeLauro Announces $32 Million Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Grant to Support Connecticut Healthcare Workforce Development", "2022-12-09", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "House Appropriations Chair Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) announced that a $32,253,484 grant has been awarded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to the Connecticut Department of Public Health to support the agency\u2019s newly launched Office of Public Health Workforce Development Program.\n\n\u201cConnecticut\u2019s public health workforce is an anchor to our communities,\u201d said Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro. \u201cAs Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, and Chair of the subcommittee that funds the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, I created this grant program to invest in our state and local public health departments, to support the existing workforce that day in and day out protects the health of our communities, and to create a pipeline for the next generation of public health workers. If there is one thing we have learned throughout the COVID-19 pandemic over the last three years, it is that our nation\u2019s public health infrastructure is fragile, and we were not prepared to respond to public health emergencies of this magnitude. And it was not because of the workforce, but it was because of inadequate investments over many years in our public health infrastructure. I am excited to see this funding come to Connecticut. We must not continue the cycle of crisis to complacency in public health funding.\u201d\n\nDeLauro created the Strengthening the U.S. Public Health Infrastructure, Workforce, and Data Systems Grant Program as a part of the American Rescue Plan to provide a historic investment to support our nation\u2019s critical public health infrastructure needs. This grant is the bedrock for CDC\u2019s new public health infrastructure work to ensure that every community has the services, systems, and workforce to protect and promote health. A critical aspect of the grant funding is its flexibility so grantees, like Connecticut, can respond to their most critical needs.\n\nGoals of the Office of Public Health Workforce Development include:\n\nWorking with academic leaders in existing public health programs at public and private colleges and universities in Connecticut to ensure that they have the resources they need to deliver academic training and coursework:\n\nThat is up to date\n\nIncludes cross-cutting content addressing health equity and mental health\n\nAligns with the current standards for public health professional training\n\nProduces graduates that are work-ready\n\nDeveloping a new Public Health Training Academy to coordinate and provide continuing education and upskilling of state, local, and non-profit public health workers.\n\nImproving pathways from enrollment to employment through more standardized and widely available experiential learning opportunities (i.e., internships, fellowships, apprenticeships) at public health agencies.\n\nIncreasing mental health supports for public health workers by developing an integrated program focused on worker physical and mental health protections, trauma-informed leadership, and an overall \u2018culture of care\u2019 that is accessible, translatable, and implementable at state, local, and non-profit public health agencies in Connecticut.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-lamont-delegation-announce-32-million-federal-grant-to-support-workforce-development-in-public-health", "Murphy, Lamont, Delegation Announce $32 Million Federal Grant to Support Workforce Development in Public Health", "2022-12-09", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "HARTFORD \u2013 U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Governor Ned Lamont today announced that the Connecticut Department of Public Health has been awarded a $32,253,484 grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that will be used to support the state agency\u2019s newly launched Office of Public Heath Workforce Development.\n\nThe initiative was created by Public Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani, MD, in August and is operating directly out of her office. It will have a broad focus on ensuring that the workforce development needs at state, local, and nonprofit public health agencies are met, specifically regarding future pipeline development academic and professional training, standards of practice, and workforce diversification.\n\nThe federal funding was awarded through the CDC\u2019s Strengthening U.S. Public Health Infrastructure, Workforce, and Data Systems grant, which is a groundbreaking investment that supports critical public health infrastructure needs of jurisdictions across the United States.\n\nThe governor made the announcement during a news conference that was held at Gateway Community College in New Haven, which is one of the schools of the Connecticut State College and Universities (CSCU) system that will be developing new pathways to public health care careers with new associates degree and certificate programs in public health.\n\n\u201cThe COVID-19 pandemic made clear that our ability to respond to public health threats hinges on the people in our local, state, and federal health departments. From day one, they have been in the trenches, working tirelessly to keep our families and communities safe. This grant will help support these dedicated public servants and ensure we have the workforce we need to respond to future public health emergencies,\u201d said Senator Murphy.\n\n\u201cThis is a first-of-its-kind investment of more than $32 million over the next five years that will specifically and directly support the Connecticut public health workforce,\u201d Governor Lamont said. \u201cAdditionally, more than $12 million from this grant will be distributed directly to local health departments to assist them with supporting their infrastructure, their own workforce development, and their needs for post-COVID-19 recovery and rebuilding.\u201d\n\n\u201cAll our local health departments have been the boots on the ground and an invaluable resource to us as a department and to their communities throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,\u201d Commissioner Juthani said. \u201cWe are very happy to have them partner with us in this initiative. In addition to supporting all the great public health workers currently working in our state, this money will also be used to build the pipeline of future public health workers who will be ready and able to respond to new and emerging public health threats.\u201d\n\nCommissioner Juthani added that the Department of Public Health will be working with academic partners to ensure that the existing public health education landscape in Connecticut continues to produce a sufficiently sized, well-trained, and diverse workforce to address the needs of communities throughout the state.\n\n\u201cThe COVID-19 pandemic highlighted just how important our health care workers are \u2013 going above and beyond to help others every day,\u201d U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal said. \u201cThis significant investment will support the work our health care heroes are already doing on the ground and help Connecticut grow its public health work force. I am so pleased that the CDC awarded Connecticut this funding and I will keep fighting for more resources to ensure the health and safety of our communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cUnder Governor Lamont\u2019s leadership, Connecticut has been a leader in pandemic recovery, and this historic investment in our state\u2019s public health workforce and infrastructure will pay dividends in the years to come,\u201d U.S. Representative John B. Larson (CT-01) said. \u201cIt is especially critical that funding will directly support the local health departments who best know the unique needs in each of their communities. I am committed to supporting efforts to bolster public health preparedness so we can come out of this pandemic stronger than before. I was proud to stand with Chairwoman DeLauro and the entire Connecticut delegation to support this grant program aimed at doing just that.\u201d\n\n\u201cInvesting in a stronger, more skilled workforce to power our economy and improve people\u2019s lives was one of the most important goals of the American Rescue Plan Act, and there\u2019s no better sector to focus these efforts on right now than public health,\u201d U.S. Representative Joe Courtney (CT-02) said. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to do more to care for and train up the next generation of qualified health care professionals that we need to help prevent illness and treat it. There are already some promising health care training programs in the district at Three Rivers Community College that have demonstrated that an accelerated curriculum for hospital staffing does work, and that\u2019s exactly the sort of effort this grant program was intended to support. I\u2019m glad to see these resources coming home to Connecticut to bolster our public health infrastructure and workforce.\u201d\n\nSome other goals of the Office of Public Health Workforce Development include:\n\nWorking with academic leaders in existing public health programs at public and private colleges and universities in Connecticut to ensure that they have the resources they need to deliver academic training and coursework that:\n\nIs up-to-date;\n\nIncludes cross-cutting content addressing health equity and mental health;\n\nAligns with the current standards for public health professional training; and\n\nProduces graduates that are work-ready.\n\nDeveloping a new Public Health Training Academy to coordinate and provide continuing education and upskilling of state, local, and non-profit public health workers.\n\nImproving pathways from enrollment to employment through more standardized and widely available experiential learning opportunities (i.e., internships, fellowships, apprenticeships) at public health agencies.\n\nIncreasing mental health supports for public health workers by developing an integrated program focused on worker physical and mental health protections, trauma-informed leadership, and an overall \u201cculture of care\u201d that is accessible, translatable, and implementable at state, local, and nonprofit public health agencies in Connecticut.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-we-are-on-a-glide-path-to-pass-an-847-billion-defense-budget-through-a-fundamentally-broken-and-worrying-process", "Murphy: We Are On A Glide Path to Pass An $847 Billion Defense Budget Through A Fundamentally Broken and Worrying Process", "2022-12-09", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia and Counterterrorism and a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, spoke on the U.S. Senate floor to highlight the broken Senate floor process through which the U.S. Senate held no debate or votes on amendments this year but still added over 2,400 pages of non-defense policy to the final National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Murphy also highlighted the consequences of the United States continuing to ignore the value of nonmilitary foreign policy tools while our adversaries increase investments in development finance, international media, energy, and diplomacy.\n\nMurphy laid out why the current NDAA process is broken and ineffective: \u201cThe first thing that happens \u2013 particularly this year \u2013 is that many, many big, important pieces of policy get added to the defense bill. Some of them are good policy, but some of them aren't. But there is no democratic process in which members of this body get to review what's added to the defense bill. There's no notification of rank and file members so that we can provide input. Now again, as I understand it, the Armed Services Committee doesn't want to be in this position. They'd rather just have a vote on their original bill, as we did for decades until just recently, when all of this extra policy got added to the defense bill. But because today there are so few avenues for that other legislation to find a path through the floor, in large part because Republicans are using the filibuster to clog up the floor of the Senate, the defense bill becomes this kind of evacuation helicopter, carrying all the passengers that can fit in it.\u201d\n\nMurphy continued: \u201cFor the first time this year, there are more pages in the defense bill dedicated to non-defense items, than to defense items. Now, this might be acceptable if senators could offer amendments on the floor, remove parts of the bill we don't like, make other parts better. At least have our day. The other new normal here is that there's going to be zero amendments, amendment votes, likely, in the Senate debate. Now it's the same problem. There's a handful of Republicans here who don't want to legislate and so they are likely going to refuse to give consent to vote on amendments. And plus, as I mentioned, they clog up the floor with filibuster votes, which means that you can't get big important pieces of legislation done, and so they all find their way onto the defense bill.\u201d\n\nOn the need to increase our investment in nonmilitary foreign policy tools: \u201cAs our adversaries try to undermine democracy and rule of law and use their energy and technology resources to win allies, we simply don't have the means to keep up [with] another asymmetric advantage for our competitors. We have no dedicated anti-corruption or technology or energy policy corps within our Foreign Service. It's not because we don't need this capacity. It's just because we can't afford it. We lament this asymmetric advantage that other countries have on non-defense capabilities, but it is just a choice.\u201d\n\nMurphy cited several examples of Russia and China\u2019s asymmetric advantage, including: \u201cHere's an example, the budget for RT, just one of Putin's international television online news operations: $2.8 billion. The budget for the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which funds all of our overseas broadcasting: $1 billion. How do you compete with those kinds of funding discrepancies?\u201d\n\n\u201cAmerican foreign policy today suffers from a crippling lack of imagination. American leaders complain about these asymmetric threats, but refuse to acknowledge that this asymmetry exists only because we choose to do this: pass an $847 billion defense budget with a 10% one-year increase and do nothing at the same time to build the real capacities necessary to keep up with our adversaries \u2013 investments in nonmilitary tools of influence,\u201d Murphy concluded. \u201cAsymmetry \u2014 it's a choice. It's a choice for our adversaries and it's a choice for us. And it is a consequence of our entire budget for development aid, anti-propaganda efforts, democracy promotion, human rights advancement, humanitarian assistance, and diplomacy being about the same size as the one-year increase in the defense budget.\u201d\n\nLast year, Murphy proposed a significant increase to the international affairs budget for Fiscal Year 2022 to better address America\u2019s national security challenges. Investing in 21st Century Diplomacy calls for a $12 billion increase, directing the funding toward three specific challenges: (1) competing with China; (2) preparing for the next pandemic in a post COVID-19-era; and (3) fighting climate change. In 2017, Murphy proposed doubling the State Department budget over five years to develop stronger capacities to respond to contemporary challenges in his white paper Rethinking the Battlefield.\n\nA full transcript of his remarks can be found below:\n\n\u201c$847 billion is a lot of money to spend on anything in one year, even in Washington terms. It's enough money, for instance, to make sure that not a single child goes hungry anywhere in the world ever again.\n\n\u201cIt's enough money to end homelessness in America, provide free preschool and college for every American, build high speed rail between every American city, make childcare free for families.\n\n\u201cFrankly, come up with five problems that plague parts of the world or parts of the country, design a solution, and you could probably solve all five for a year for $847 billion.\n\n\u201cHere's another number that's big: $80 billion. That's smaller than $847 billion, but it's still a lot of money. For $80 billion you could build a high speed railroad from New York to Washington, you could build 4,000 brand new, state-of-the-art high schools, and underserved communities, or you could hire \u2013 wait for it \u2013 a million new public school teachers.\n\n\u201cHere's why I tell you this. Next week, likely this body is apparently going to be on a glide path to pass an $847 billion defense budget authorization for the current fiscal year. That is an $80 billion increase over last year. That's a 10% increase in just one year. And there has been very little public debate.\n\n\u201cAnd there's going to be very little debate on this floor over whether this is a good idea, about whether we should spend $80 billion on this or whether that $80 billion would be spent better on something else.\n\n\u201cThere's no debate, and there's going to be little debate here in part because the process of passing this bill is pretty broken. Thanks to Senator Reed, the Armed Services Committee is a functioning committee. The Democrats and Republicans on that committee write this bill together with an open amendment process. If you're a member of the Armed Services Committee, thanks to Senator Reed and Senator Inhofe\u2019s leadership, you have a lot of opportunities to weigh in on the size and scope of the U.S. defense budget.\n\n\u201cBut the problem begins once the bill leaves the Armed Services Committee. Then the bill kind of disappears and gets changed. That's not Chairman Reed's fault. That's our collective decision to endorse that process.\n\n\u201cThe first thing that happens \u2013 particularly this year \u2013 is that many, many big, important pieces of policy get added to the defense bill. Some of them are good policy, but some of them aren't. But there is no democratic process in which members of this body get to review what's added to the defense bill.\n\n\u201cThere's no notification of rank and file members so that we can provide input. Now again, as I understand it, the Armed Services Committee doesn't want to be in this position. They'd rather just have a vote on their original bill, as we did for decades until just recently, when all of this extra policy got added to the defense bill.\n\n\u201cBut because today there are so few avenues for that other legislation to find a path through the floor, in large part because Republicans are using the filibuster to clog up the floor of the Senate, the defense bill becomes this kind of evacuation helicopter, carrying all the passengers that can fit in it.\n\n\u201cFor the first time this year, there are more pages in the defense bill dedicated to non-defense items, than to defense items. Now, this might be acceptable if senators could offer amendments on the floor, remove parts of the bill we don't like, make other parts better. At least have our day.\n\n\u201cThe other new normal here is that there's going to be zero amendments, amendment votes, likely, in the Senate debate. Now it's the same problem. There's a handful of Republicans here who don't want to legislate and so they are likely going to refuse to give consent to vote on amendments. And plus, as I mentioned, they clog up the floor with filibuster votes, which means that you can't get big, important pieces of legislation done, and so they all find their way onto the defense bill.\n\n\u201cBut I just want to plead with my colleagues for a moment that there is a better way to do this. We don't have to look too far in the past to see what a real debate on a defense bill could look like. And I just want all of my colleagues to think about how much more interesting this place would be, how much healthier the Senate would be, if we could have debates on defense bills that looked like they did just 20 years ago.\n\n\u201cSo I was just curious, so I literally just picked a year out of a hat from a slightly different generation in the Senate. I swear, I didn't cherry pick the year. I just went back to 2000. The year 2000, right, a nice, convenient date for the fiscal year 2000 defense bill debate, which by the way, happened in May, not in December, the Senate took roll call votes on 13 amendments.\n\n\u201cThere were many amendments on contested controversial policy that got full debate and full votes. And there are a whole bunch of other amendments that got voice votes in the Senate. But on the amendments that got full debates on the Senate floor and roll call votes, there was an 87 to 12 vote on the legality of a new NATO strategic plan, a 49 to 50 vote to compel information from the Secretary of Health and Human Services on welfare reform, 48 to 52 on a war powers resolution for the war in the Balkans, 90 to zero on a measure to encourage Balkan War Crimes prosecution, 52-47 on a contested military promotion case, 40 to 60 to authorize a new round of base closures, 44 to 56 on nuclear weapon retirement policy, 49 to 51 and then 51 to 49 to remove restrictions on prison labor products, 49 to 51 to remove restrictions on abortions on DoD property, 21 to 77 to limit funding for the Balkan War, 11 to 87 to limit the costs of the F-18 program, and 98-0 to support sanctions on Libya.\n\n\u201cThat's a lot of debate on really important foreign policy and national security policy on the floor of the Senate. And that is virtually unthinkable in the modern Senate and we're all poorer for it. Back then every Senator, not just leadership, saw themselves as having a co-equal responsibility to set us defense policy, and they required the process on the floor to reflect that belief.\n\n\u201cIn just that one year, 2000, senators took three votes on the Balkan War, vote on fighter costs, vote on base closures, sanctions, military promotions. I go through this exercise just to explain to my colleagues, it just doesn't have to be like this. Those of us not on the Armed Services Committee or not in leadership don't have to be relegated to 70 rubber stamps with virtually no ability to have meaningful real time impact on the bill once it emerges from committee.\n\n\u201cBut I make this point for another reason as well. When there is limited debate and limited input from rank and file members on a bill this big, on policy this important, I would argue that we miss the opportunity to be able to step back from this year-to-year creep of existing policy, and ask ourselves: are we doing it right? Are we spending hundreds of billions of dollars in a way that actually protects this country and our national interests? Or are we simply continuing down a path, continuing to invest and over-invest in weapons of war and underinvest in the tools that are necessary to prevent war?\n\n\u201c$847 billion is a ton of money, but so is $80 billion, this year's increase in authorized defense spending. Now, let me say this, there's no doubt that there are legions of meritorious programs in this defense budget. Frankly, I publicly and proudly support many programs that are built and constructed in Connecticut. Our submarine fleet, our helicopters, our fighter engines. Why? Because I really do believe that the United States is the world's defender of democracy, the defender of the rule of law, the defender of international norms and free navigation. We have to be the world leader in kinetic, hard military power.\n\n\u201cUkraine is an example of why conventional military might and still matters. Big nations like Russia and China are not content any longer to stay inside their boxes. They are, like pre-World War II times, seeking to revise their borders through invasion. And while the United States is currently at no risk of being invaded ourselves, we do still have a responsibility to step up and help others, to help reinforce that post-World War II order to ensure that wars of aggression do not become normalized.\n\n\u201cBut that post-World War II order is under threat not just because countries like Russia and China are using or threatening to use their militaries with alarming new frequency. The lion's share of threats to the United States and threats to world stability are often referred to not as conventional military threats, but what is commonly referred to as asymmetric threats. This generally means they are threats that cannot be addressed just through military power, air power, armies, nuclear weapons, the kinds of things that are funded in this defense bill. Let me give you some examples.\n\n\u201cThousands of pages of think tank reports and endless hours of congressional testimony are dedicated to this lament that China's influence around the world is growing due to its willingness to aggressively invest in developing economies, critical mineral supplies and supply chain routes. For instance, today, China owns over 100 different international ports. They own 100 ports outside of China in 60 different countries. A new study revealed that China's development bank lend more money in Sub-Saharan Africa than the development banks of the United States, Germany, Japan and France combined. Now to fix this, we need to be growing the size of U.S. development finance, but it is like pulling teeth to get Congress to extend the authorities or borrowing and capital limitations of the U.S. Development Finance Corporation.\n\n\u201cLast year, DFC announced that it had lent more money than any year before \u2014 $7.4 billion. Now that\u2019s a lot of money, $7.4 billion. This July, China's largest development bank announced that its six month total for a targeted set of urban infrastructure loans in the developing world, just a tiny piece of their overall portfolio, was $27 billion. U.S. development finance isn't even playing in the same ballpark as Chinese development finance.\n\n\u201cHere's another example of asymmetric power. It's kind of clich\u00e9 these days to remind policymakers that information is power. But Ukraine's democracy is not just under attack from a foreign army, it is also under attack from misinformation. China, Russia, Iran, non-state actors, they are spending billions of dollars all over the world spreading messages into democracies to try to create division and undermine faith in the rule of law. That controversy around Colin Kaepernick's protest? That was mostly a creation of 500 Russian internet bots, who posted an incredible 12,000 tweets, inflaming public opinion.\n\n\u201cChina's global disinformation campaign is equally robust. For instance, the largest backer of Philippines President, former President Rodrigo Duterte\u2019s illegal assassination campaign: Chinese social media firms. But once again, the United States just chooses asymmetry by letting these countries \u2013 Russia and China and others \u2013 dominate the information space.\n\n\u201cHere's an example, the budget for RT, just one of Putin's international television online news operations: $2.8 billion. The budget for the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which funds all of our overseas broadcasting, $1 billion. How do you compete with those kinds of funding discrepancies?\n\n\u201cHere's one more example. A few years ago I was in Dublin, coincidentally at the same time of a major telecommunications contract tender in Ireland. Ireland was making this key decision to award its internet backbone to a European firm or to Huawei, the Chinese communications conglomerate. I was told by a very competent, but frankly very overwhelmed defense attach\u00e9 assigned to our Irish embassy that over the prior few months, the Chinese Embassy had grown by leaps and bounds as dozens of new Chinese diplomats and provocateurs arrived in town to try to help sway the award for Huawei.\n\n\u201cNow matched up against this legion of Chinese diplomats was this one guy, our single defense attach\u00e9, maybe supported by a couple diplomats in the embassy. He was competent, but he had no background in telecommunications policy. And frankly, really nobody else there did either. And no extra help was on the way.\n\n\u201cThe same phenomenon plays out with energy projects. Other nations seamlessly integrate their energy resources with their diplomatic and national security efforts. There's no separation between the Middle East oil and their foreign politics, the same for Russia or Iran or Venezuela. But U.S. energy executives are not representing the U.S. government, which means our diplomats are on their own in conducting energy policy, which means they have an enormous amount of catching up to do against these other petro powers.\n\n\u201cBut for the first time, today, the U.S. is not the leading country when it comes to diplomatic posts around the world. That distinction now belongs to \u2013 guess who? \u2013 China. As our adversaries try to undermine democracy and rule of law and use their energy and technology resources to win allies, we simply don't have the means to keep up another asymmetric advantage for our competitors.\n\n\u201cWe have no dedicated anti-corruption or technology or energy policy corps within our Foreign Service. It's not because we don't need this capacity. It's just because we can't afford it. We lament this asymmetric advantage that other countries have on non-defense capabilities, but it is just a choice. It's a choice because we pass, year after year, these massive defense bills, and then we choose not to increase the capabilities that would actually protect us: the investments in nonmilitary capabilities.\n\n\u201cListen, I get it, I know this bill is going to pass. But why on earth aren\u2019t we spending more time asking the tough questions about whether the balance of our spending on national security is right-sized to the actual threats the United States and our democratic allies face? Yes, the Ukraine war is worth fighting, and it is expensive. But does it really make sense to spend 847 times more money on conventional military tools than we spend on winning the information war? Does it really make sense to add 10% to the defense budget while doing nothing to increase the size of our international development bank? Do we really think that we are adequately responding to the actual array of threats posed to this country with the spending allocation that ends up with America having 11,000 diplomats total and 12,000 employees of military grocery stores?\n\n\u201cAmerican foreign policy today suffers from a crippling lack of imagination. American leaders complain about these asymmetric threats, but refuse to acknowledge that this asymmetry exists only because we choose to do this: pass an $847 billion defense budget with a 10% one-year increase and do nothing at the same time to build the real capacities necessary to keep up with our adversaries: investments in nonmilitary tools of influence.\n\n\u201cWe could decide, this Congress could decide, to build a massive modern International Development Bank. We could decide, this Congress could decide, not to let RT dominate the international information space. We can decide, all of us in this Congress, to have enough diplomats around the world to be able to fight the fights that matter to us.\n\n\u201cWe should imagine this world in which we fight toe-to-toe with Chinese and the Russians and other adversaries in the development, information, technology, energy and diplomatic spheres. We should imagine that world and then put in place a plan to achieve it.\n\n\u201cAsymmetry \u2014 it's a choice. It's a choice for our adversaries and it's a choice for us. And it is a consequence of our entire budget for development aid, anti-propaganda efforts, democracy promotion, human rights advancement, humanitarian assistance, and diplomacy being about the same size as the one-year increase in the defense budget.\n\n\u201c$847 billion is a lot of money to spend without a real debate on the Senate floor, without the ability to offer amendments. I think this country would be better off, I think our security would be better protected, if we just took a step back, asked some hard questions about how we allocate money within our national security budget, and took the time to have a real floor debate with real input about it all. I yield the floor.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-secures-historic-funding-submarine-construction-workforce-0", "Courtney Secures Historic Funding for Submarine Construction, Workforce Development, Shipyard Recapitalization, and More in Final 2023 NDAA", "2022-12-08", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "December 8, 2022\n\nThe NDAA includes Courtney\u2019s provisions supporting the U.S. Navy, eastern CT, the AUKUS alliance, and more\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2014 Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces, voted to pass the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) (H.R. 7776). The House passed the 2023 NDAA in a bipartisan vote of 350-80, and it will now move on to the Senate for final consideration before being signed into law by the President.\n\n\u201cThe House of Representatives came together today for the 62nd year in a row to pass a bipartisan defense authorization for the United States. Many people wonder whether Congress can still work together to get big things done for our country\u2014well here\u2019s hard evidence that it can,\u201d said Congressman Courtney. \u201cThe NDAA provides our nation with the resources we need to assure our allies, deter conflict, and protect our homeland. Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution charges Congress with the responsibility to \u2018provide and maintain a Navy,\u2019 and as Chairman of the Seapower Subcommittee, our panel\u2019s work emphatically adhered to that mission by expanding the shipbuilding budget request from 8 to 11, making well-informed and independent decisions about the needs of our sea services and our industrial base.\u201d\n\nThe 2023 NDAA authorizes new forms of support for American servicemembers and their families, as well as continued funding for a historic amount of shipbuilding and submarine procurement and research efforts. Also included is a Courtney-authored provision to address our sealift capacity by authorizing the Maritime Administration (MARAD) to carry out the design and construction of a new build sealift program of up to 10 ships for the National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF) - built at US shipyards by American workers. It also includes a Courtney-authored amendment to strengthen the AUKUS defense alliance\u2014a provision that comes directly from Rep. Courtney\u2019s U.S.-Australia Submarine Officer Pipeline Act that will ensure Australia\u2019s Navy is trained and ready to pilot their nuclear-powered submarine fleet of the future.\n\n\u201cThe final 2023 NDAA also puts a strong emphasis on building out our long-term naval and shipbuilding efforts, which comes at a particularly exciting time for eastern Connecticut,\u201d Rep. Courtney added. \u201cI\u2019ve worked in bipartisan fashion for years to increase submarine production in our region, and to build up the skilled workforce needed to produce it, have culminated in a massive expansion of the Groton shipyard and the local manufacturing supply chain that supports it. With all that already in place, and with the strong shipbuilding demand signals coming from our own Navy and through new partnerships like AUKUS, the 2023 NDAA makes sure we\u2019ll keep the momentum going strong\u2014both in terms of increasing submarine production, and in growing the skilled workforce and industrial base we need to build them.\u201d\n\nRead below for more information on Courtney-led and Second District priorities included in the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act.\n\nEastern Connecticut Priorities Included in the 2023 NDAA\n\nSubmarines and Undersea Capabilities\u2014The HASC-passed NDAA authorizes a total of $14.7 billion for submarine procurement, repair, and research & development priorities including:\n\nVirginia-class Submarine\u2014Authorizes $6.5 billion to support the sustained two-per-year build rate of new Virginia-class submarines with $4.5 billion for two submarines in 2023 and $2 billion in advance procurement to support future construction of submarines in 2024 and 2025.\n\nColumbia-class Submarine\u2014Authorizes $3.1 billion in support of the second year of funding for the first Columbia class submarine and $2.8 billion in advanced procurement to support the second, in line with the contract announced in June 2020.\n\nSubmarine Industrial Base and Workforce Development\u2014The agreement fully authorizes the budget request of $750 million for submarine industrial base investments $541 million for submarine supplier development, shipyard infrastructure, strategic outsourcing, and technology opportunities, as well as $227 million to support workforce development initiatives. To meet the broader needs of our shipbuilding industry as we grow our fleet, the agreement also creates special incentives in Navy shipbuilding contracts for workforce development initiatives like talent pipeline programs, retention efforts, and on-the-job training to develop key manufacturing skills for the next generation of shipbuilders. Courtney has long championed efforts to bolster workforce development efforts to support submarine construction, such as the Eastern Connecticut Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative, and recently highlighted his push to focus attention on this issue in an op-ed.\n\nSubmarine Research and Development\u2014The bill authorizes over $1.3 billion in research and development of future submarine capabilities, including a $188.9 million increase for developing capabilities for the next block of submarines, and about $144 million to develop the SSN(X), the planned future follow-on to the Virginia-class. These efforts are vital to sustaining the health of the design and engineering workforce at Electric Boat.\n\nAcademic Partnerships for Undersea Research\u2014The bill authorizes $20 million to support partnerships with academic institutions conducting research on undersea capabilities, such as the National Institute for Undersea Vehicle Technology, a collaborative program between the University of Connecticut and the University of Rhode Island.\n\nDefense Impact Aid\u2014Authorizes $50 million requested by Courtney for the DOD supplemental impact aid program, which provides support to local school districts with high proportions of military children, including Groton public schools. This program is in addition to the primary Impact Aid program funded through the Department of Education, which does not fall within the jurisdiction of the House Armed Services Committee.\n\nNaval Submarine Base New London\u2014Authorizes $15.5 million for a military construction project to relocate the existing underwater electromagnetic measurement system due to planned construction of a floating dry dock at Electric Boat in support of the Columbia-class submarine program. The current system is used to determine if submarines need degaussing or magnetic silencing to protect from undersea mines.\n\nDOD Microelectronics\u2014Authorizes an additional $8 million for the Department of Defense to continue development and procurement of advanced technologies and critical materials required for a variety of DOD systems, like those produced at TTM Technologies in Stafford and Stafford Springs.\n\nSeapower and Projection Forces\n\nShipbuilding\u2014Following the subcommittee's bipartisan work to examine shipbuilding industrial capacity and Navy force structure requirements, the bill as amended authorizes 11 battle force ships, three more than the budget request, including:\n\nTwo Virginia-class submarines\n\nThree DDG 51 Arleigh Burke destroyers. The measure also includes multiyear procurement authority for up to 15 destroyers in the next block contract.\n\nOne guided missile Frigate (FFG)\n\nOne Landing Platform Dock (LPD) Flight II\n\nOne John Lewis Class T-AO fleet oiler\n\nOne T-ATS towing, salvage, and rescue ship\n\nTwo Expeditionary Medical Ships (EMS)\n\nAdditionally, the bill increased the Navy's resources for shipbuilding and ship maintenance by authorizing additional funding to include:\n\n$250 million for large surface combatant shipyard infrastructure\n\n$250 million for Advance Procurement of LPD-33 Flight II\n\n$289 million for Advance Procurement of LHD-10\n\n$77 million to procure a third destroyer in FY24\n\nSealift & Maritime\u2014The bill includes several Courtney-led provisions to prioritize the recapitalization and expansion of critical sealift capabilities:\n\nDomestic Design and Construction Program\u2014The bill includes a provision authored by Courtney to require the Maritime Administration to carry out a program to complete the design and construction in United States shipyards of up to 10 sealift vessels for use in the National defense Reserve Fleet.\n\nTanker Security Program (TSP)\u2014The bill fully authorizes the budget request of $60 million for the new Tanker Security Program and authorizes the program to increase to $120 million in FY24. This program was created by the Seapower Subcommittee in the FY21 NDAA to address critical gaps in at-sea refueling and logistics.\n\nAircraft and Projection Forces Capabilities:\n\nB-21 Raider\u2014Fully supports investments for the B-21 Raider to begin initial low-rate production and continue research and development efforts for an advanced suite of capabilities in future aircraft.\n\nKC-46A\u2014Fully supports the budget request of 15 KC-46 aerial refueling tanker aircraft to support Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and partner-nation receivers.\n\nV-22 Osprey\u2014Authorizes $212 million for two V-22 aircraft.\n\nKC-130J\u2014Authorizes $699.1 million for five KC-130J aircraft, two for the Marine Corps and three for the Navy.\n\nE-2D Hawkeye\u2014Authorizes $1.2 billion for 7 E-2D aircraft, two above the budget request.\n\nTactical Airlift & Aerial Refueling\u2014Maintains statutory floors for the Air Force's fleet of C-130 tactical airlift aircraft and aerial refueling tankers in support of requirements established by the Department of Defense.\n\nSupport for the AUKUS Alliance\n\nAs founder and co-chair of both the Friends of Australia Caucus and the newly formed AUKUS Working Group, Courtney authored an amendment to this year's NDAA that will support the success of AUKUS by helping ensure Australia's Navy is ready to pilot nuclear-powered submarines upon delivery. It is the first-ever official action by the U.S. Congress in support of the new AUKUS alliance:\n\nSubmariner Training Pipeline\u2014The bill includes a Courtney provision that would require the Secretary of Defense to establish a training program for Royal Australian Navy submarine officers to begin training at Navy Nuclear Propulsion School and eventually be assigned to duty on an operational U.S. submarine in support of the trilateral partnership between the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia announced by the Biden Administration last September. This provision was adopted to the NDAA from Rep. Courtney's U.S.-Australia Submarine Officer Pipeline Act, a bill he introduced in June.\n\nAdditional Connecticut Aerospace Priorities\n\nF-35 Joint Strike Fighter\u2014Authorizes procurement of 69 F-35 aircraft for the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps, eight aircraft above the budget request.\n\nBlackhawks\u2014Authorizes an increase of 2 UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters over the budget request, bringing the total number authorized to 27 helicopters for the Army National Guard, built at Sikorsky.\n\nCH53-K\u2014Authorizes an increase of 2 CH-53K heavy lift helicopters, bringing the total to 12 aircraft for the Marine Corps, built at Sikorsky.\n\nCombat Rescue Helicopter\u2014 Authorizes an increase of 10 Combat Rescue Helicopters, bringing the total number of aircraft to 20 for the Air Force, built at Sikorsky. The bill also includes a Courtney-authored amendment from the House Full Committee markup to prohibit the Air Force from using FY23 funds for shutdown or planned shutdown activities for the aircraft's production line.\n\nCT National Guard\u2014Authorizes an increase of $107 million for modernization of Air National Guard C-130H airlift aircraft, which includes avionics and cockpit upgrades to replace aging, unreliable equipment and add capability enhancements.\n\nSupport for Servicemembers and Their Families\n\nPay Raise\u2014Authorizes a 4.6% pay increase for all military personnel.\n\nBasic Allowance for Housing \u2013 Authorizes an increase of $494 million for the DoD to increase servicemember housing allowance by 2%.\n\nBasic Needs Allowance \u2013 Increases the threshold to be eligible for the Basic Needs Allowance, now up to 150% of the federal poverty line.\n\nCommissaries \u2013 Authorizes an increase of $224 million to fully fund DoD commissaries to help cut the costs of groceries for servicemembers.\n\nOther Notable Provisions\n\nUkraine\u2014The bill includes several provisions related to Ukraine, including a $500 million increase to the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which has been critical in providing resources to Ukraine. The bill also authorizes an additional $2.1 billion for the European Defense Initiative and invests in additional capabilities that support deterrence in the European Command area of operations.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-votes-protect-americans-right-same-sex-and-interracial", "Courtney Votes to Protect American\u2019s Right to Same-Sex and Interracial Marriage as House Passes the Respect for Marriage Act", "2022-12-08", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) voted to pass legislation in the House of Representatives that would uphold marriage equality for same-sex and interracial couples. The Respect for Marriage Act (H.R. 8404) enshrines protections guaranteed to Americans through U.S. Supreme Court decisions such as Obergefell v. Hodges and Loving v. Virginia in federal law. The bill also repeals the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act. The House originally passed the Respect for Marriage Act in July with bipartisan support. After the Senate passed an altered version of the legislation last week, the House passed it again with bipartisan support, and it will now be sent to the President\u2019s desk to be signed into law.\n\n\u201cAfter the Supreme Court\u2019s divisive, radical decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, other long-settled Court precedents on Americans\u2019 right to privacy were thrown into doubt, since the rationale of Dobbs striking down \u2018unenumerated rights\u2019 could easily be extended beyond reproductive choice. In passing the Respect for Marriage Act, Congress has taken action and protected same-sex and interracial couples\u2019 right to marry under federal law,\u201d said Rep. Courtney. \u201cNow, any future attempt by the Court to turn the clock back decades and strip people of these fundamental rights has been preemptively thwarted by this legislation. I\u2019m proud to help pass the Respect for Marriage Act and look forward to the President signing it into law.\u201d\n\nIn his concurring opinion to June\u2019s Dobbs v. Jackson Women\u2019s Health Organization decision, Justice Clarence Thomas explicitly called on the Supreme Court to reconsider its decisions protecting same-sex marriage and other unenumerated rights. Thomas wrote that although nothing in the Dobbs decision \u201cshould be understood to cast doubt on precedents that do not concern abortion [\u2026] in future cases, we should reconsider all of this Court\u2019s substantive due process precedents, including Griswold, Lawrence, and Obergefell.\u201d Extremists seized on this opinion and began an effort to strip same-sex couples of their right to marry. An analysis from the Pew Research Center determined that without the Court's upholding of Obergefell, most states would revive a prohibition on same-sex marriage without immediate legislative action. 35 states ban same-sex marriage in their constitutions, state law, or both, according to the analysis\u2014all were invalidated by the 2015 Obergefell ruling, and all would kick back in should the Supreme Court overturn the right to same-sex marriage. Although Justice Thomas did not mention Loving v. Virginia or the right to interracial marriage in his opinion, that right relies on the same unenumerated privacy rights as the right to same-sex marriage, and could be vulnerable to legal challenge.\n\nThe Respect for Marriage Act would codify the right to same-sex and interracial marriage guaranteed by Obergefell into law. Specifically, the bill would:\n\nRequire the federal government to recognize a marriage between two individuals if the marriage was valid in the state where it was performed\n\nProhibit state officials from denying recognition of an out-of-state marriage on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity or national origin.\n\nProtect all religious liberty and conscience protections available under the Constitution or Federal law\n\nThe Respect for Marriage Act would not:\n\nRequire a state to issue marriage licenses contrary to state law\n\nThe Respect for Marriage Act is supported by national organizations including ACLU, Center for American Progress, Equality Federation, Family Equality, Freedom for All Americans, GLAD, Human Rights Campaign, Lambda Legal, National Black Justice Coalition, National Center for Lesbian Rights, National Women\u2019s Law Center and PFLAG.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-courtney-gallagher-kilmer-and-moore-secure-first-ever-support", "Reps. Courtney, Gallagher, Kilmer, and Moore Secure the First-Ever Support for AUKUS from the U.S. Congress in the 2023 NDAA", "2022-12-08", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 Today, U.S. Representatives Joe Courtney (CT-02), Mike Gallagher (WI-08), Derek Kilmer (WA-06), and Blake Moore (UT-01), co-chairs of the bipartisan AUKUS Working Group, voted to pass the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The 2023 NDAA was passed in the House by a vote of 350-80, and includes a robust amount of support for America\u2019s Navy and Armed Services, as well as for our military personnel and defense industrial base. Click here to read more.\n\nThis year\u2019s defense authorization also marks a historic \u201cfirst\u201d: the 2023 NDAA includes the U.S. Congress\u2019s first-ever provision in support of the AUKUS defense alliance. The undersea defense partnership between the U.S., the United Kingdom, and Australia is the most significant national security alliance that America has entered in generations, and the NDAA includes an amendment that will help ensure Australia\u2019s Navy is trained and ready to pilot their nuclear-powered submarine fleet of the future. The amendment was authored by Rep. Courtney, and as Co-Chairs of the AUKUS Working Group, Courtney, Gallagher, Kilmer, and Moore worked together to ensure it was included in the 2023 NDAA.\n\n\"As this year\u2019s AUSMIN meetings conclude, I\u2019m more bullish than ever on importance of our AUKUS undersea alliance, and on the seminal role it will play in our nations\u2019 histories,\u201d said Rep. Courtney. \u201cThe Indo-Pacific region has become increasingly important for the national security priorities of America and its allies, making it critical that AUKUS is implemented successfully. That\u2019s going to require the help of Congress, and today, as the House voted to pass the NDAA, the AUKUS Working Group led the way in taking the very first step by the U.S. Congress towards making AUKUS a success. The amendment we worked to include in the 2023 NDAA will help ensure that Royal Australian Navy officers are ready to pilot these world-beating submarines expertly upon arrival. There\u2019s still a lot more work ahead to develop the way forward for our nations to meet the near- and long-term goals of AUKUS, and it\u2019s far too early to rule anything in or out, but with bipartisan wins like these I\u2019m confident that we\u2019ll be able to overcome any challenges along the way.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe NDAA gave Congress its first chance to strengthen the AUKUS partnership, and with the leadership of Rep. Courtney, the AUKUS Working Group was able to ensure this opportunity didn\u2019t go to waste. This provision will play a critical role in ensuring our allies have the training and resources they need to meet the challenges of the 21st century, and will no doubt make the AUKUS even stronger than it is today,\u201d said Rep. Gallagher.\n\n\u201cIn 2022, our strategic alliances and partnerships across the globe are more important than ever \u2013 that\u2019s why I\u2019m encouraged to see that this year\u2019s National Defense Authorization Act includes a key provision that our working group supported,\u201d said Rep. Kilmer. \u201cFacilitating a pipeline to help strengthen the Australian Navy makes a whole lot of sense. Doing so also helps strengthen the AUKUS Alliance and our security partnership in the Indo-Pacific.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am thrilled the 2023 NDAA recognizes the important work of AUKUS to bolster the special relationship between the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom and enhance our shared global security efforts,\u201d said Rep. Moore. \u201cThis year\u2019s defense authorization includes a new training pipeline between Australia\u2019s Navy and our own, which will facilitate a safe, effective and rapid fielding of their nuclear-powered submarine fleet. This is just the beginning of a new era in global maritime defense cooperation. My colleagues and I look forward to continue fostering this critical alliance in defense of the rules based international order and freedom across our nations.\u201d\n\nThe AUKUS Working Group\u2019s bipartisan provision in the final 2023 NDAA will support the success of AUKUS by helping ensure Australia\u2019s Navy is ready to pilot nuclear-powered submarine technology upon delivery by:\n\nEstablishing a Submariner Training Pipeline\u2014The bill includes a provision that would require the Secretary of Defense to establish a training program for Royal Australian Navy submarine officers to begin training at Navy Nuclear Propulsion School and eventually be assigned to duty on an operational U.S. submarine in support of the trilateral partnership between the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia announced by the Biden Administration last September. This provision was adopted to the NDAA from Rep. Courtney\u2019s U.S.-Australia Submarine Officer Pipeline Act, a bill he introduced in June.\n\nThe AUKUS Working Group, also known as the AUKUS Caucus, was established to serve as the primary panel in the U.S. Congress for implementation and collaboration on the new undersea alliance. Reps. Courtney and Gallagher helped announce the formation of the panel in April. Click here to read more.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-reagan-udall-foundation-report", "DeLauro Statement on Reagan-Udall Foundation Report", "2022-12-08", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Chair of the House Appropriations Committee Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today released a statement in response to an evaluation produced by the Reagan-Udall Foundation which conducted a review of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) food program.\n\n\u201cI have said for many years that food safety is a second-class citizen at the Food and Drug Administration, primarily as a consequence of agency culture. When FDA announced that the Reagan-Udall Foundation would be evaluating the food program and potential structural changes at the FDA, I cautiously welcomed the news as I did not want to maintain the status quo. After reviewing the report, I can say that I am pleased by the number of recommendations outlined by the Foundation that FDA can take to strengthen food safety at the agency.\n\n\u201cNotably, the report calls for the appointment of a Deputy Commissioner for Foods, which I have called for since the start of the infant formula shortage. This is an action FDA could take today that would centralize food safety at the agency and ensure that one individual, who is properly credentialed, is overseeing the food program at FDA. Reagan-Udall\u2019s evaluation also suggests the creation of a single food safety agency under the jurisdiction of the Department of Health and Human Services, which I have similarly proposed in a bill I introduced with my colleague Senator Durbin.\n\n\u201cHere\u2019s the bottom line: moving forward we need urgency, transparency, and engagement from FDA. I want to know that they are moving forward quickly to remedy the structural and cultural issues that have plagued the agency for far too long and harmed our food safety response. I want to know how they are moving forward in the decision-making process, what proposed recommendations in the report they intend to implement, a timeline of action, and what resources they would need to implement the structural changes. And finally, I want to know that the FDA Commissioner is depending on the advice of the food safety experts and that he is engaging in a meaningful way with stakeholders on this issue.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-votes-protect-same-sex-interracial-marriages", "DeLauro Votes to Protect Same-Sex & Interracial Marriages", "2022-12-08", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today released a statement following House passage of the Respect for Marriage Act, legislation that would protect same-sex marriages and interracial marriages under federal law.\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s action by Congress represents a determination to protect these civil rights that have been earned through generations of persistence,\u201d said DeLauro. \u201cI applaud the Congress for moving on a bipartisan basis to protect same-sex marriages and interracial marriages under federal law. I urge President Biden to waste no time in signing this critical civil rights legislation into law, so that millions can have the peace that their marriages are not in danger of being made void.\u201d\n\nThe bipartisan Respect for Marriage Act would require the federal government to recognize a marriage between two individuals if the marriage was valid in the state where it was performed. Second, the bill would guarantee that valid marriages between two individuals are given full faith and credit, regardless of the couple\u2019s sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://himes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=A8C52CD9-76AC-4B02-86F2-142192CFAE02", "House Passes National Defense Authorization Act with Himes Support", "2022-12-08", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "James A. Himes", "H001047", "himes.house.gov", "himes", "https://himes.house.gov/press-releases", "page_html", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, the United States House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2023. The NDAA funds defense and related programs and is one of the largest pieces of legislation that Congress passes each year. This year, the bill includes $847.3 billion in discretionary spending for our national defense.\n\n\u201cI consider funding our national defense programs to keep this country safe to be one of our most important responsibilities as Members of Congress,\u201d said Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04). \u201cThis legislation is a critical investment in protecting American families, as well as a commitment to ongoing innovation, a strong and diverse workforce, and the longevity of our global security.\u201d\n\nThe NDAA includes the fiscal year 2023 Intelligence Authorization Act (IAA), which was approved by the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, of which Rep. Himes is a senior member. The IAA includes provisions to enhance Congressional oversight of the intelligence community, ensure the ongoing innovation and adoption of new technologies, and protect the United States from foreign commercial spyware and other counterintelligence threats.\n\n\u201cIt is, of course, essential to keep our military strong,\u201d said Rep. Himes, \u201cbut as global threats evolve so must our understanding of national security. The IAA invests in a wide range of intelligence programs and capabilities to ensure we keep pace with our adversaries in the coming years.\u201d\n\nThe NDAA also contains significant funds for Connecticut-based companies that employ thousands of workers. These include the purchase of:\n\n69 F-35 aircrafts for the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps;\n\n27 UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters for the Army National Guard;\n\n12 CH-53K heavy lift helicopters for the Marine Corps;\n\n20 Combat Rescue Helicopters for the Air Force.\n\nIn addition, the NDAA contains several provisions related to Ukraine, including committing $500 million to the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative and $2.1 billion to the European Defense Initiative. The bill also addresses concerns around oversight of U.S. assistance to Ukraine by requiring a comprehensive assessment of existing oversight arrangements. Rep. Himes visited Ukraine in October, and has been a strong advocate for increased funding to combat the Russian war.\n\nFor more information or with any questions, contact Nora Kohli at Nora.Kohli@mail.house.gov\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-03-30T11:08:25Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/after-years-of-advocacy-senate-passes-billys-law", "After Years of Advocacy, Senate Passes 'Billy's Law'", "2022-12-08", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Thursday applauded Senate passage of the bipartisan Help Find the Missing Act or \u201cBilly\u2019s Law.\u201d This legislation will close loopholes in America\u2019s missing persons systems by streamlining the missing persons reporting process and ensuring that law enforcement databases are more accessible and comprehensive.\n\nBilly's Law was originally introduced in the House of Representatives in 2009 by then-Congressman Chris Murphy. The bill was conceived by Janice and Bill Smolinski of Cheshire, Connecticut, after their 31-year-old son Billy went missing from Waterbury, Connecticut. While working with law enforcement to locate her missing son, the Smolinskis faced countless systemic challenges, most significantly federal databases about missing persons and unidentified remains that were incomplete and uncoordinated. Billy's Law was introduced to address those challenges and help ensure that the tens of thousands of American families whose loved ones go missing each year do not experience the same hurdles faced by the Smolinskis.\n\n\u201cI met the Smolinskis when I was first elected to Congress. I was outraged by the obstacles they faced in searching for their missing son Billy and inspired by their determined fight for change. There are thousands of families like the Smolinskis who are forced to navigate a broken missing persons system while dealing with the unthinkable heartache of a loved one\u2019s disappearance. I\u2019ve introduced this commonsense fix every Congress since 2009, and I\u2019m grateful to my colleagues, Billy\u2019s family, the family of Gabby Petito, and countless other families searching for their loved ones for their efforts to get this bill across the finish line in the Senate. I look forward to this legislation passing in the House and heading to the President\u2019s desk,\u201d said Murphy.\n\nFull text of the bill is available here.\n\nA section-by-section of the bill is available here.\n\nA one-pager of the bill is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-blumenthal-delauro-himes-announce-13-million-in-federal-funding-for-connecticut-coastal-resiliency-projects", "Murphy, Blumenthal, DeLauro, Himes Announce $1.3 Million in Federal Funding for Connecticut Coastal Resiliency Projects", "2022-12-08", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2014U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.-03), and U.S. Representative Jim Himes (D-Conn.-04) announced three costal resiliency projects in Connecticut have been selected to receive grants from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), totaling more than $1 million. These grants were awarded through the National Coastal Resiliency Fund, which received $492 million in funding over five years from Congress through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed in 2021.\n\n\u201cConnecticut\u2019s shoreline is vital to the economic success and identity of our state, but climate change presents an increasingly dangerous threat to our coastal communities. Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we can now fund projects that will ensure those communities are safe and resilient, and the shoreline remains an asset for Connecticut for generations to come,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n\u201cConnecticut\u2019s shoreline communities must be prepared and equipped to withstand extreme weather and the ever-growing threat of climate change. I am proud to have fought for these investments in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to preserve and enhance our state\u2019s coastal habitats and reduce the impacts of flooding and erosion. These critical projects will make our communities stronger and help protect them from the devastating impacts of climate change,\u201d said Blumenthal.\n\n\u201cWith global warming an ever increasing crisis, coastal resiliency projects are vital to protecting families, natural resources, and animals in Connecticut,\u201d said DeLauro. \u201cIn Connecticut\u2019s Third Congressional District, I am proud to see the City of West Haven awarded a grant for Assessing Nature-Based Solutions to Mitigate Flood Impacts along the Cove River (CT). The Cove River connects several regions in Connecticut and requires us to address the threat of floods with real solutions \u2013 it is a valuable component of our community. These grants are welcome and will help move our work forward to safeguard our waters and strengthen flood mitigation capabilities here in Connecticut.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe past Congress has been the most effective ever in addressing climate change, and these grants, powered by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, are a prime example of how recent legislation is making our towns and cities safer and more sustainable. Communities along Connecticut\u2019s coast have felt firsthand the devastating effects of natural disasters, and I am excited and relieved that they will be receiving this federal funding to better prepare for the future,\u201d said Himes.\n\nThe National Coastal Resiliency Fund awarded grants to the following projects:\n\n\u00b7 $612,000 for the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection to expand the state\u2019s nature-based resilience capacity.\n\n\u00b7 $508,000 for the City of West Haven to conduct analysis and targeted public engagement to identify nature-based solutions along the Cove River.\n\n\u00b7 $211,000 to the City of Norwalk to create a city-wide flood resilience plan and provide a framework of nature-based solutions to improve community resilience and enhance coastal habitat.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/connecticut-and-rhode-island-congressional-delegations-seek-more", "Connecticut and Rhode Island Congressional Delegations Seek More Support for Farmers Impacted by Drought in New Omnibus Bill", "2022-12-06", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 As Congress works to finalize the FY 2023 Omnibus appropriations package, Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-02), Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), and the Connecticut and Rhode Island Congressional Delegations are pressing for additional funding to assist New England livestock feed producers and other farmers impacted by severe drought conditions. Today, Courtney and Murphy shared a letter they sent to House and Senate appropriators along with Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Reps. David Cicilline (RI-01), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Jim Himes (CT-04), Jim Langevin (RI-02) and John B. Larson (CT-01), urging them to replenish funds for critical USDA disaster relief programs and to expand relief to cover farmers\u2019 losses in 2022, in addition to 2021 and 2020. Click here to read the full letter.\n\nIn August, the USDA announced a primary agricultural disaster designation for counties Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island due to severe drought conditions. The designation allowed many farmers and producers to access critical disaster relief loans through the USDA\u2019s Farm Service Agency (FSA), as well as other important USDA relief programs. However, in their letter, the coalition highlighted that certain critical producers still need assistance:\n\n\u201cWe are thankful that these various [USDA] programs are available to help impacted producers in our States, but we are concerned that some producers have been left out of this assistance. Specifically, livestock forage (feed) producers are in dire need of help.\u201d\n\nAccording to the FSA\u2019s Connecticut Division and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, the drought has impacted the availability of feed and silage for agricultural producers. Some have reported losses of average hay production as high as 55%. The FSA warns that this could cause large price increases for many agricultural products this winter, and that the regional feed shortage will have ripple effects on local dairy enterprises.\n\nThe coalition noted that this presents a particularly difficult challenge to New England agricultural producers, many of whom have found themselves ineligible for FSA and USDA programs meant to provide relief in these sorts of emergencies:\n\n\u201cAlthough FSA operates assistance programs that support producers who grow forage for their own livestock if they are grazing livestock, New England has many producers who have livestock but do not graze, and many others who grow forage for sale to other livestock producers and therefore are also not eligible to participate in forage-related assistance programs.\u201d\n\n\u201cMany other federal programs that exist to help producers with drought and emergency situations are similarly unavailable to forage producers impacted by drought. In discussions with USDA, our staff recently learned that forage producers are also ineligible for assistance under Emergency Relief Program authorities, as the ERP only covers losses from 2020 and 2021.\u201d\n\nTo protect New England\u2019s dairy farming heritage and family farm businesses, and to prevent farming land from being sold-off for alternative uses, the Connecticut and Rhode Island Congressional delegations are urging House and Senate appropriators to replenish funds from the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) and expand ERP authorities to cover losses incurred in 2022, as well as in 2021 and 2020, in the FY 2023 Omnibus appropriations package.\n\nMore details on the FY 2023 Omnibus appropriations package will be available soon. Click here to read the coalition\u2019s full letter.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-statement-awarding-future-long-range-assault-aircraft-contract", "Courtney Statement on Awarding of Future Long Range Assault Aircraft Contract by the U.S. Army", "2022-12-06", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, released the following statement in response to the U.S. Army\u2019s announcement regarding the awarding of the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft contract:\n\n\u201cSikorsky has a long, proven track record of producing the most capable helicopters of any country on earth. The Blackhawk helicopter has been the workhorse platform for our military and our allies for decades. The Army\u2019s decision to not select them for the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) contract was perplexing, to say the least,\u201d said Rep. Courtney. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot at stake for our servicemembers and the American taxpayer and right now, and as a member of the House Armed Services Committee I\u2019ve closely overseen major contract decisions like this over the years\u2014some that have been overturned on closer scrutiny. I will be working closely with Rosa DeLauro and the Connecticut delegation to press the Army to provide much more clarity on how they came to this decision as soon as possible.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-awarding-future-long-range-assault-aircraft-contract", "DeLauro Statement on Awarding of Future Long Range Assault Aircraft Contract by the U.S. Army", "2022-12-06", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "NEW HAVEN, CT \u2013 House Appropriations Chair Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) released the following statement in response to the announcement made today by the U.S. Army regarding the awarding of the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft contract:\n\n\u201cI am disappointed that Sikorsky was not selected for the Army\u2019s Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) Contract. Sikorsky makes the best helicopters in the world and is one of the largest employers in Connecticut. Sikorsky and their employees are the lifeblood of our community. Their defense manufacturing plays a critical role in helping the men and women of our armed services carry out their duties safely. I intend to receive briefings from the Army to better understand how and why the decision was made. I will continue to fight like hell to ensure Sikorsky, and other organizations and companies in Connecticut, receive funding opportunities that support our workers and our economy \u2014 and that ultimately preserve jobs.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-highlights-east-hartfords-vrsim-as-innovator-of-the-month", "Murphy Highlights East Hartford's VRSim as \"Innovator of the Month\"", "2022-12-05", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "HARTFORD\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) announced that VRSim, based in East Hartford, was named November\u2019s \u201cInnovator of the Month.\u201d VRSim is a leading provider of virtual reality (VR) training solutions for skilled trades. Since 2001, VRSim has been a pioneer of practical applications of VR training, with existing products available for paint and coating application (SimSpray\u00ae), welding (VRTEX\u00ae), construction trades (SimBuild\u2122), and an all-new CNA/Patient Care Skills system (VRNA\u2122) to be later released. These systems are equipped with intuitive and immersive training that feature kinesthetic activity, built-in progress tracking, skills assessments, scoring, feedback, and instructional guidance. These training solutions have been used in programs for high schools, technical colleges, vocational training and workforce development initiatives to equip workers with the skills necessary to secure jobs and succeed in fields like manufacturing, construction, robotics, and healthcare.\n\n\u201cInvesting in workforce development is crucial to growing our economy. The team at VRSim is developing new tools to help give workers in Connecticut the skills they need to secure good-paying jobs. I\u2019m proud to recognize their innovative work, and look forward to seeing their growth in our state,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n\u201cEast Hartford has served our team well as the world headquarters of VRSim. We know we can count on the community and leaders to support us with resources and services so that we are able to put forth the best products in our industry,\u201d said Matthew Wallace, CEO and President of VRSim.\n\nThe company demonstrates their commitment to the local community through educational outreach and industry partnerships; most recently with the East Hartford Public Schools, who plan to introduce VRNA as part of their health sciences CTE program in the coming months.\n\nMurphy believes entrepreneurship and innovation are the building blocks for a strong economy. In the U.S. Senate, he has introduced two bipartisan pieces of legislation to incentivize angel investors to put more money into startup companies\u2014the Angel Tax Credit Act and the Helping Angels Lead Our Startups (HALOS) Act. Startup companies create an average of 2 million jobs each year.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-larson-courtney-applaud-dod-award-f135-modernization", "DeLauro, Larson, Courtney Applaud DOD Award for F135 Modernization", "2022-12-02", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. - Today, House Appropriations Chair Rosa DeLauro, Reps. John B. Larson (CT-01), and Joe Courtney (CT-02) celebrated a Department of Defense announcement awarding Pratt and Whitney $114,500,000 for F135 modernization.\n\n\u201cThe F135 is the most advanced, reliable and capable fighter engine the world has ever known,\u201d said Larson. \u201cFor the last decade, the Pratt & Whitney engine has exceeded expectations and powered the aircraft through three major air vehicle and weapons payloads upgrades. Now is the time to invest in its modernization and the good paying union jobs in Connecticut that it supports. I am proud to have worked with my colleagues from Connecticut to appropriate this money.\u201d\n\n\u201cPratt & Whitney is one of the foremost leaders in advanced technology and defense manufacturing,\u201d said DeLauro. \u201cThe recent announcement will protect good paying union jobs in Connecticut, while providing a much needed charge to our economy. Pratt & Whitney employs more than 11,000 people in East Hartford and Middletown and is a core component of our state\u2019s economy. I was proud to fight for this investment in F135 modernization, and you have my word that I will always fight to keep these jobs in Connecticut.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a senior member of the Armed Services Committee, I am proud to support critical modernization investments in the F135 engine\u2014not only because it will help us maintain a critical advantage by enabling advanced capabilities in future blocks of the aircraft, but also because it supports hundreds of rewarding careers throughout our state,\u201d said Rep. Courtney. \u201cThose jobs aren\u2019t only at Pratt & Whitney. We\u2019ve got dozens of suppliers in eastern Connecticut who support production of the F135 engine, and when employers like Pratt & Whitney put in the work to earn these sorts of major contracts it also means success for our local defense manufacturing suppliers. As the demand signal from our Armed Services for new technologies continues to grow stronger, I will remain laser-focused on ensuring that our state continues to take full advantage of opportunities like these.\u201d\n\nIn March, Appropriations Chairwoman DeLauro and Reps. Larson and Courtney fought for and passed funding for F135 modernization efforts. Work on the F135 supports 27,000 jobs across Connecticut and results in more than half a billion dollars of direct spend in the state.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=9D4791C5-928E-4323-9FD1-CD03BDBF7BD4", "Hayes, Dingell, Ross, Casey, Hirono Introduce Bill To Strengthen Protections Against Sexual Harassment, Discrimination In Education", "2022-12-02", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Jahana Hayes", "H001081", "hayes.house.gov", "hayes", "https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12) and Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) introduced legislation to strengthen civil rights protections against harassment in schools. The Students\u2019 Access to Freedom & Educational Rights Act (SAFER) Act would amend the burdensome standards for harassment lawsuits brought under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) and create additional protections for students who experience sex-based harassment. The SAFER Act aims to repair years of damage to Title IX, including actions by the Trump Administration to strip away many protections for student sexual assault survivors and court rulings that have increased the burden on young people seeking justice even as standards for workplace sexual assault lawsuits remain less onerous. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) introduced the companion legislation in the Senate.\n\n\u201cFifty years ago, Title IX was enacted to protect educational opportunities for all students. Despite the significant progress made on this issue, pervasive discrimination continues to hinder learning experiences and threaten the success of students,\u201d said Congresswoman Hayes. \u201cEvery student, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, disability, or age, deserves to feel safe in the classroom. The SAFER Act builds upon the spirit of Title IX by establishing stronger civil rights protections so students may thrive in school free from harassment or discrimination.\u201d\n\n\u201cStudents should be able to learn, compete, and succeed in safe and welcoming environments, but our nation\u2019s federally funded education programs too often fail to live up to this promise. Student survivors should have access to the tools they need to seek justice, not encounter new obstacles that exacerbate the trauma, fear, and isolation they may be experiencing,\u201d said Congresswoman Dingell. \u201cWith the SAFER Act, we can do more to protect students from the threat of harassment and ensure educational institutions better respond to the needs of survivors.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe must do more to address the epidemic of sexual assault and harassment that has plagued our campuses for far too long,\u201d said Congresswoman Ross. \u201cStudents who have endured unspeakable trauma should not face unnecessary and burdensome hurdles that prevent them from reporting their abuse and seeking justice. I\u2019m honored to join Representatives Hayes and Dingell as well as Senators Casey and Hirono in introducing this important legislation. I look forward to continuing our work to protect student survivors.\u201d\n\n\u201cSo many students who endure sexual harassment or assault experience isolation, fear, and difficulty focusing on their education as they process a traumatic ordeal. To add insult to injury, students who report their experiences face an uphill battle to seek justice,\u201d said Senator Casey. \u201cWe cannot go backwards. School should be a safe place, from early education all the way to institutions of higher learning. The SAFER Act would protect the civil rights of students across the country and help them feel safe and supported as they pursue their education.\u201d\n\n\u201cFifty years ago, Title IX was signed into law to guarantee every student\u2019s right to a quality, equitable education, regardless of their sex,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cBut despite the progress Title IX has created, too many students\u2014especially LGBTQ+ students, pregnant and parenting students, students of color, and students with disabilities\u2014are still deprived the full protections of the law. The SAFER Act will strengthen enforcement of Title IX at schools and create important protections for survivors of harassment and assault on campus. This legislation will move us closer to fulfilling our promise of ensuring every student can get the quality education they deserve.\u201d\n\nDecades ago, Congress established strong protections against discrimination, including Title IX, as well as Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin; Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits discrimination based on disability; and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, which prohibits age discrimination.\n\nSupreme Court rulings in Gebser v. Lago Vista Independent School District and Davis v. Monroe County Board of Education have created standards for Title IX sexual harassment lawsuits that increased the burden on the plaintiff. These standards have made it more difficult for students to be protected from sex-based harassment and have influenced other civil rights laws, making civil rights enforcement against discrimination on the basis of race, disability, and age more difficult as well.\n\nThe Students\u2019 Access to Freedom & Educational Rights Act (SAFER) Act would ensure all students receiving a federally-funded education, from kindergarten to post-secondary, are truly protected from discrimination and afforded the equal educational opportunities to which they are entitled. Specifically, this bill would:\n\nAmend Title IX, Title VI, Section 504 and the Age Discrimination Act to remove unreasonably burdensome standards for private harassment lawsuits for money damages.\n\nStrengthen protections against harassment based on sex (including harassment based on sexual orientation, gender identity, sex characteristics, pregnancy, childbirth, a medical condition related to pregnancy or childbirth, and sex stereotypes), race, national origin, color, disability, age and intersectional forms of harassment.\n\nPreserve the right for schools to request a religious exemption under Title IX while requiring transparency when such an exemption is requested.\n\nRequire the development and administration of a climate survey on K-12 students\u2019 experiences with domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, and stalking.\n\nImprove institutional supports for students who initiate complaints of sex-based harassment.\n\nEstablish training requirements and a grant program to ensure Title IX coordinators are in place and school staff are well-equipped to foster a safe educational environment.\n\nThe SAFER Act is supported by more than 70 organizations, including the National Women\u2019s Law Center, Know Your IX, It\u2019s On Us, Human Rights Campaign, and the National Disability Rights Network.\n\nFatima Goss Graves, President and CEO of the National Women\u2019s Law Center said, \u201cFifty years have passed since Title IX was enacted and five years have passed since survivors around the world said, \u2018Me too,\u2019 but there is still much to be done to fulfill the law\u2019s promise and the calls for action. Courts continue to make it difficult for survivors to achieve justice, especially when their schools fail to treat harassment seriously. The SAFER Act seeks to end this cycle, and bring us closer to securing equal educational opportunities for all by ensuring schools take steps to protect students who have experienced harassment. We are thrilled to support this critical legislation that recognizes all students deserve to learn and thrive, free from discriminatory harassment.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-van-hollen-reintroduce-legislation-to-protect-consumers-from-medical-debt", "Murphy, Van Hollen Reintroduce Legislation to Protect Consumers from Medical Debt", "2022-11-30", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2014U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) on Wednesday reintroduced legislation to strengthen consumer protections and reform medical debt practices. The Strengthening Consumer Protections and Medical Debt Transparency Act would put in place standard practices to make sure that health care entities communicate with consumers about any debt that is owed and cap the annual interest rate growth for medical debt. The legislation also directs the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to create a public database to collect information from health care entities about their debt collection practices.\n\n\u201cForcing people to go bankrupt just because they get sick is immoral - plain and simple,\u201d said Murphy. \u201cWe need to shed light on the hospitals out there who are abusing patients with overly aggressive debt collection practices. I hope we can get our legislation to increase transparency and reform hospital practices across the finish line.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhen folks are sick or in the hospital the last thing they should be worried about is whether they\u2019ll lose their house or their wages for seeking care. But for many Americans these concerns are top of mind as medical debt has taken a devastating toll on hard-working families. I\u2019m proud to team up with Senator Murphy to enhance consumer protections and stop the unjust, exploitative practices used to collect medical debt. This legislation puts safeguards in place to ensure transparency, cap interest rates, and keep the focus on patients\u2019 health and wellbeing so they can get the care they need,\u201d said Van Hollen.\n\nA report from the Kaiser Family Foundation this summer found that medical debt was a widespread issue impacting an estimated 41% of Americans \u2014 or about 100 million adults. The report also found that in their efforts to pay what was owed, adults report making \u201ca number of sacrifices and enduring substantial financial consequences.\u201d And those with lower incomes and people of color were more likely to report being contacted by collection agencies, being denied subsequent care, or changing their housing situation to pay down their medical debt.\n\nThe Strengthening Consumer Protections and Medical Debt Transparency Act would require that:\n\nThe Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) create a publicly available database of annual reporting from hospitals, freestanding facilities, and large provider practices with information about whether they use collection agents, the process for assigning debt to a collection agent, and the number of Extraordinary Collection Actions, as defined by the IRS, they have initiated. HHS will maintain a public list of any health care entity that does not submit the required information each year.\n\nMedical debt interest rates should be capped at the annual rate set by the federal post-judgment interest rate or 5 percentage points annual growth, whichever is lower, to protect patients from uncontrolled rate increases that multiply debts.\n\nBefore an entity can send debt into collections, health care entities should ensure that all insurance coverage appeals have been resolved and determine whether the patient qualifies for assistance.\n\nHealth care entities, or their contracted debt collection agencies, shall not enter into extraordinary collection until 180 days after an initial bill is sent and the debtor\u2019s identity has been confirmed.\n\nHealth care entities provide the patient with an itemized statement of the debt owed as well as detailed receipts of payments made within 30 days.\n\nA health care entity or its agent who fail to comply with changes under the Act is liable to the patient for actual damages and up to $1,000. In the case of a class action suit, damages are the amount each plaintiff could have recovered, not to exceed $2 million. If the patient is successful, then attorney\u2019s fees and other costs also can be recovered.\n\nThe Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issue a biennial report on medical debt and review the public database for its application to the CFPB\u2019s risk supervision program.\n\n\"Medical debt has reached epidemic proportions in our country. The UCONN Health Disparities Institute has been working tirelessly to understand its root causes, to measure it and to shed light on its devastating consequences on peoples' health, their financial wellbeing and on widening healthcare disparities among people of color,\u201d said Victor G. Villagra, MD with University of Connecticut\u2019s Health Disparities Institute. \u201cBut in the absence of a federal law that requires public reporting of debt collection practices by hospitals and other healthcare entities finding reliable data can greatly hamper such efforts. We are grateful to Sens. Chris Murphy and Chris Van Hollen for introducing this bill. It not only provides for a transparent public source of information but coupled with previous legislation against garnishment of debtors' wages for COVID-19 related debt, it introduces broader consumer protections such as requiring timely, itemized, lay-person understandable explanations of what is owed and a sensible cap on interest rates charged. Medical debt is the only source of involuntary debt plaguing Americans; this bill could not be more welcomed.\"\n\n\u201cMedical debt is different from all other forms of debt. Medical care is involuntary and not optional. Also, patients usually have no way of knowing the price before they buy. That\u2019s why people who owe medical debt deserve the additional, common sense protections proposed in this bill, such as an itemized statement, or having the debt collector verify that there is no charity care or other aid program that could help the family. Families struggling with the physical and emotional toll of serious disease or injury deserve to be treated with basic fairness and dignity by medical debt collectors, and this bill goes a long way toward making that a reality in Connecticut and all over America,\u201d said Ted Doolittle, Connecticut\u2019s State Healthcare Advocate.\n\n\u201cWe applaud Senators Murphy and Van Hollen for taking steps to limit the use of aggressive medical debt collection practices for people struggling to pay unaffordable health care costs. These collection actions disproportionately harm people of color who are more likely to have medical debt because they face unfair and discriminatory barriers to health and economic security,\u201d said Emily Stewart, executive director of Community Catalyst. \u201cThis legislation would extend protections to millions of hard-working people who had the misfortune of getting sick while having inadequate insurance.\u201d\n\n\"Medical debt is hurting families across the country, and falls even more heavily on people of color. Senator Murphy and Senator Van Hollen are championing fair, common-sense reforms to help patients get back on their feet after a health crisis and to protect families from punitive consequences of medical debt,\" said Jenifer Bosco, Attorney, National Consumer Law Center.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/as-temperatures-drop-murphy-blumenthal-leahy-sanders-king-urge-energy-secretary-granholm-to-develop-a-plan-to-prevent-energy-disruptions-in-new-england", "As Temperatures Drop, Murphy, Blumenthal, Leahy, Sanders, King Urge Energy Secretary Granholm to Develop a Plan to Prevent Energy Disruptions in New England", "2022-11-29", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013As the winter months approach, U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Angus King (I-Maine) on Tuesday urged the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to proactively develop a plan to prevent energy disruption and price hikes. In a letter to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, the senators ask the Secretary to work with stakeholders to mitigate the risk of price hikes and a shortage of natural gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and heating oil.\n\n\u201cISO New England, the region\u2019s grid operator, has warned that colder-than-usual conditions could put the reliability of the grid at risk - perhaps even leading to extreme measures like rolling blackouts. This could be devastating, particularly during the coldest days of winter. While the region\u2019s overreliance on natural gas has long been an issue, the continued global disruption caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine means the risk is more urgent than ever,\u201d the senators wrote.\n\nThe senators continued: \u201cEven if the lights stay on throughout our winter months, the price instability caused by the region\u2019s reliance on the spot market could have devastating impacts on New England residents who already face some of the highest energy costs in the continental U.S.\u201d\n\n\u201cGiven the gravity of these concerns, we urge you to convene key stakeholders, including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), ISO New England, New England governors, public utility officials, generators, suppliers, and utilities to mitigate these risks. Additionally, we ask that you leverage resources within the Department of Energy to identify barriers to bringing non-fossil fuel energy online as quickly as possible. Lastly, we ask that you work across the Executive Branch to review the emergency powers available to the Department of Energy and other agencies to ensure New England has the resources needed to get through the winter without major supply disruptions or price spikes,\u201d the senators concluded.\n\nRead the full letter below or here:\n\nDear Secretary Granholm,\n\nWith the upcoming winter season comes a real threat to energy reliability for residents and businesses in New England. Global events caused by Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine are exacerbating the risk that the region will not have the fuel supplies needed to maintain heat and power during an extended cold snap. We write to ask that you work with federal, regional, state, and local stakeholders to identify actions available to prevent energy disruption during the coldest months of the year.\n\nLeaders in the region are working hard to reduce our reliance on natural gas by bringing clean energy resources like offshore wind and hydropower online, and the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act will be a huge boost to those efforts. Replacing fossil fuels with clean energy alternatives is the only way to ensure adequate supply and to achieve U.S. energy independence. Building out this new, carbon-free generation, however, will take time. As a result, the region remains reliant on natural gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and heating oil to bridge supply gaps during the coldest stretch of New England winters.\n\nISO New England, the region\u2019s grid operator, has warned that colder-than-usual conditions could put the reliability of the grid at risk - perhaps even leading to extreme measures like rolling blackouts. This could be devastating, particularly during the coldest days of winter. While the region\u2019s overreliance on natural gas has long been an issue, the continued global disruption caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine means the risk is more urgent than ever. In retaliation for Western sanctions following the invasion, Russia has weaponized energy supplies, reducing gas exports to Europe by 88% compared to 2021. This had led European nations to seek supplies elsewhere, further tightening the global supply. As a result, New England states will face serious challenges as they seek to secure LNG supply.\n\nEven if the lights stay on throughout our winter months, the price instability caused by the region\u2019s reliance on the spot market could have devastating impacts on New England residents who already face some of the highest energy costs in the continental U.S.\n\nGiven the gravity of these concerns, we urge you to convene key stakeholders, including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), ISO New England, New England governors, public utility officials, generators, suppliers, and utilities to mitigate these risks. Additionally, we ask that you leverage resources within the Department of Energy to identify barriers to bringing non-fossil fuel energy online as quickly as possible. Lastly, we ask that you work across the Executive Branch to review the emergency powers available to the Department of Energy and other agencies to ensure New England has the resources needed to get through the winter without major supply disruptions or price spikes. We stand ready and willing to assist you in any way.\n\nWe appreciate your attention to these concerns and look forward to working with you on this critical issue\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-applauds-senate-passage-of-respect-for-marriage-act", "Murphy Applauds Senate Passage of Respect for Marriage Act", "2022-11-29", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Tuesday released the following statement after the U.S. Senate passed the Respect for Marriage Act, legislation to protect federal marriage equality for same-sex and interracial couples and repeals the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act:\n\n\u201cEvery person deserves the right to marry who they love. Thankfully, this is the clear consensus position in America today, and it\u2019s why marriage equality has been the law of the land in Connecticut for over a decade. This legislation is unfortunately necessary to protect marriage equality from increasingly radical Republican judges and ensure that no one faces discrimination because of who they married.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-roybal-allard-statement-mccarthys-unfounded-call-resignation", "DeLauro, Roybal-Allard Statement on McCarthy\u2019s Unfounded Call for the Resignation of Mayorkas", "2022-11-28", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014House Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) and Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA-40) released the following statement on Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy\u2019s call for Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to resign and threat to impeach him:\n\n\u201cWe strongly condemn the statement today by Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy calling for the resignation of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and threatening his impeachment by House Republicans in the 118th Congress.\n\n\u201cSecretary Mayorkas has steadfastly led the Department through significant challenges over the last two years, including managing the flow of migrants across the southwest border while treating migrants fairly and humanely. At the same time, he has aggressively led the effort to combat cross-border smuggling operations and improve border security through the deployment of advanced technologies and support for the frontline workforce. He has also pushed hard to relieve Border Patrol Agents from migrant processing duties so they can spend more of their time doing what they were hired to do \u2013 patrol the border.\n\n\u201cIt is unfortunate that Republican obstructionism has for decades stood in the way of opening up legal pathways for migrants to come to the United States to take jobs that U.S. employers are unable to fill. It is simply unjust for House Republicans to blame the Secretary \u2013 and by extension the DHS workforce \u2013 for problems that are being continuously perpetuated by Republican intransigence. And it is unjust for House Republicans to once again engage in political theatrics instead of working with Democrats to address the many challenges facing the American people.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-urges-noaa-to-incorporate-connecticut-stakeholder-feedback-in-bipartisan-infrastructure-law-and-inflation-reduction-act-implementation", "Murphy Urges NOAA to Incorporate Connecticut Stakeholder Feedback in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act Implementation", "2022-11-28", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2014U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) sent a letter to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sharing feedback he received from stakeholders on ways to improve NOAA\u2019s implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act. The agency has historically provided funding for shovel-ready projects that protect coasts, improve water quality, and support shoreline communities.\n\nTo improve implementation of funds provided in this legislation, Murphy encouraged NOAA to do the following:\n\n1. Extend application windows to allow potential grant recipients to prepare the strongest possible applications, ensuring the projects NOAA eventually funds will be more impactful and shovel-ready.\n\n2. Continue to provide funding for research, data, and evaluation that will be critical to identifying the areas of greatest need, the most effective project designs, and promoting best practices.\n\n3. Emphasize and fund capacity building of state agencies, research programs, institutions of higher education, and non-profit entities to better help states and town implement these new investments and execute the policy changes envisioned in these bills.\n\n\u201cI appreciate your consideration of these perspectives and your agency\u2019s ongoing partnership. The activities and projects funded through both the IIJA and the IRA will help protect our coasts, support fisheries, and improve water quality for years to come,\u201d he wrote.\n\nFull text of the letter is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-on-state-of-the-union-we-need-to-have-a-conversation-about-the-60-percent-of-counties-refusing-to-implement-gun-safety-laws", "Murphy On State of the Union: We Need To Have A Conversation About The 60 Percent Of Counties Refusing To Implement Gun Safety Laws", "2022-11-27", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Sunday joined CNN\u2019s State of the Union with Dana Bash to discuss next steps for the gun violence prevention movement in the wake of the tragic shootings in Colorado and Virginia.\n\nOn the potential to pass an assault weapons ban, Murphy said: \u201cI'm glad that President Biden is going to be pushing us to take a vote on an assault weapons ban. The House has already passed it. It's sitting in front of the Senate. Does it have 60 votes in the Senate right now? Probably not. But let's see if we can try to get that number as close to 60 as possible. If we don't have the votes, then we'll talk to Senator Schumer and maybe come back next year with maybe an additional senator and see if we can do better.\u201d\n\nMurphy continued: \u201cIf we passed an assault weapons ban, we would see less mass shootings in this country. Yes, there are already tens of thousands of assault weapons on the street. Nobody's talking about taking those weapons away from individuals. We're just talking about stopping new sales, but if you look at some of the most high profile mass shootings in the last couple of years, many of those mass shooters bought the weapon just days before carrying out the crime. And so if those weapons were no longer commercially available, only in possession of those who had bought them previously, I think a lot of mass shootings would have been prevented.\u201d\n\nMurphy highlighted that Colorado Springs is a so-called \u201cSecond Amendment sanctuary\u201d county, which means they refuse to implement state and federal gun safety laws like Colorado\u2019s red flag law. Murphy proposed requiring counties to certify that they enforce state and federal gun laws in order to be eligible for Department of Justice (DOJ) Byrne JAG grants: \u201cThe majority of counties in this country have declared that they are not going to enforce state and federal gun laws. They have decided that they are going to essentially refuse to implement laws that are on the books. That is a growing problem in this country\u2026I think we have to have a conversation about whether we can continue to fund law enforcement in states where they are refusing to implement these gun laws. I'll talk to my colleagues about what our approach should be to this problem, but 60% of counties in this country are refusing to implement the nation's gun laws. We've got to do something about that.\u201d\n\nOn the upcoming 10th anniversary of the Sandy Hook shooting and the toll gun violence takes on a community, Murphy said: \u201cYou have to understand that communities that go through a mass shooting like this, Sandy Hook, Uvalde, now Colorado Springs, they're never the same. And Newtown will never ever be the same. Yes, it brings some measure of peace that we have passed legislation now that will at least provide a little bit of downward pressure on the number of shootings in this country. But every single holiday when there's an empty seat at the table for those families in Sandy Hook or frankly families in Hartford or New Haven or Bridgeport who have lost victims to gun violence, it's another reminder of just how unique this epidemic is in the United States.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-pallone-call-on-biden-administration-to-swiftly-deliver-funding-to-promote-coastal-resilience", "Murphy, Pallone Call on Biden Administration to Swiftly Deliver Funding to Promote Coastal Resilience", "2022-11-22", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and U.S. Representative Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-N.J.-06) on Tuesday urged the Biden Administration to quickly implement investments in living shoreline projects from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Inflation Reduction Act. In a letter to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Administrator Richard W. Spinrad, Murphy and Pallone called on the agency to use the funding allocated in the laws to directly support projects that will protect and restore coastal and marine habitats. The investments in living shoreline projects from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Inflation Reduction Act are modeled on a bill that Murphy and Pallone introduced in 2021.\n\n\u201cWe are proud of this immense investment to build community and ecosystem resilience to climate change while bolstering our economy. We urge you to dedicate the necessary resources that will ensure the swift implementation of these critical investments in our coastal communities,\u201d Murphy and Pallone wrote. \u201cCongress has provided NOAA with a historic opportunity to protect American coastal communities and our precious ecosystems from climate change threats. We urge you to prioritize nature-based coastal resilience efforts, like living shoreline infrastructure and research, as you create plans for this significant funding.\u201d\n\nLiving shoreline infrastructure projects use natural materials and systems, including dunes, wetlands, and oyster reefs to support the natural flood resilience of healthy shoreline ecosystems. Natural infrastructure is cost-effective, adaptable to changing environmental conditions, and can help improve water quality and wildlife habitat protection. NOAA received $3 billion through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and $2.8 billion through the Inflation Reduction Act to build living shoreline projects and conduct research on best practices.\n\nA copy of the letter is available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-op-ed-with-conservation-law-foundation-president-progressive-cannot-be-afraid-to-start-the-conversation-on-permitting-reform", "Murphy Op-Ed with Conservation Law Foundation President: Progressive Cannot Be Afraid to Start the Conversation on Permitting Reform", "2022-11-21", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) authored an op-ed in the Boston Globe with Brad Campbell, president of the Conservation Law Foundation, to make the case for a progressive vision of permitting reform. Murphy and Campbell argue that the United States needs to reform its permitting process in order to meet the urgency of the climate crisis and realize the full potential of the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.\n\n\u201cThe recently passed Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law have the potential to accelerate the urgent shift to clean energy demanded by the climate crisis. They can help shore up failing and unsafe infrastructure holding back our economy, and begin to remedy the injustices that communities of color and low income have suffered at the hands of government \u2014 from major highways cutting through the heart of communities to unsafe drinking water,\u201d Murphy and Campbell wrote. \u201cBut it is impossible to realize this potential without addressing the nation\u2019s failing regulatory infrastructure. Outdated and unwieldy review and permitting processes hinder our ability to meet the urgency of the climate crisis and bog down much-needed projects in delays and litigation that fail to safeguard the communities and the natural resources they\u2019re designed to protect.\u201d\n\nOn the currently inefficient permitting process, Murphy and Campbell wrote: \u201cIt can take a decade to permit and build offshore wind, clean transportation, and major electric transmission. This is as unacceptable as it is unnecessary. While permitting is not the only source of delay, it is virtually impossible to build out essential infrastructure and clean energy under the current approach to federal, state, and local project review and approvals. Pretending otherwise sacrifices any claim the United States has to global climate leadership and any hope for the communities hit first and worst by pollution and climate risk from fossil fuels.\u201d\n\nMurphy and Campbell concluded: \u201cRather than idealize the status quo, we need to imagine and build consensus around reforms that lead to quicker, better decisions and elevate substantive protections over procedural parrying. Transitioning to clean energy and achieving climate justice require hard choices, and progressives and environmentalists need to recognize that those choices are necessary. The work to achieve a cleaner, more equitable future will not be possible unless we lead the cause of permitting reform and stop ceding that ground to the opposition. Otherwise, our hopes for timely and just climate action, rational infrastructure choices, and healthier communities using the new resources Congress has just provided will be crushed under the slow-moving wheels of a broken system.\u201d\n\nRead the full op-ed below:\n\nThe recently passed Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law have the potential to accelerate the urgent shift to clean energy demanded by the climate crisis. They can help shore up failing and unsafe infrastructure holding back our economy, and begin to remedy the injustices that communities of color and low income have suffered at the hands of government \u2014 from major highways cutting through the heart of communities to unsafe drinking water.\n\nBut it is impossible to realize this potential without addressing the nation\u2019s failing regulatory infrastructure. Outdated and unwieldy review and permitting processes hinder our ability to meet the urgency of the climate crisis and bog down much-needed projects in delays and litigation that fail to safeguard the communities and the natural resources they\u2019re designed to protect.\n\nThe subject of permitting reform has long been caught in an all-too-familiar crossfire. Fossil fuel interests and other industry lobbyists generate endless proposals under the mantle of \u201creform\u201d that would weaken the standards and protections necessary to avert climate catastrophe and safeguard our health and environment. Environmental groups and other progressives reflexively defend the status quo as sacrosanct or easily fixed by tweaks to bureaucratic practice.\n\nThe permitting reform proposal Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia offered earlier this year reprised this pattern, sending both sides back to their corners and frustrating any truly inclusive, bipartisan dialogue about improving the current system. But now that the White House has signaled it wants permitting reform taken up during Congress\u2019s lame duck session, there is an opportunity for all sides to work together to craft a more effective bill.\n\nProgressives cannot be afraid to begin this conversation. A recent report by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory found that to meet President Biden\u2019s commitment to fully decarbonize the electric grid by 2035, the United States will have to more than quadruple the pace at which it is deploying renewable energy technologies while building extensive supporting transmission infrastructure. A Princeton study suggests that 80 percent of the emissions reductions promised by the IRA will be lost if we do not accelerate the buildout of clean energy and transmission.\n\nAnd that\u2019s just in the energy sector. To have any hope of modernizing the nation\u2019s transportation sector, we have to invest in mass transit alternatives to gas-powered vehicles while reconnecting communities that have been divided by ill-conceived projects. Trips between certain points on the Northeast Corridor, our nation\u2019s busiest rail line, take more time today than in the 1980s due to chronic underinvestment and these bureaucratic obstacles. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law committed more than $864 billion to address these issues, but without serious efforts to make these projects faster and cheaper, we will fail to make best use of this investment.\n\nIt can take a decade to permit and build offshore wind, clean transportation, and major electric transmission. This is as unacceptable as it is unnecessary. While permitting is not the only source of delay, it is virtually impossible to build out essential infrastructure and clean energy under the current approach to federal, state, and local project review and approvals. Pretending otherwise sacrifices any claim the United States has to global climate leadership and any hope for the communities hit first and worst by pollution and climate risk from fossil fuels.\n\nThe current system has its virtues. Environmental and community groups have been able to stop many destructive projects through the scrutiny and public involvement mandated by current law. Judicial review, while a source of delays, has provided a key safeguard in the current system.\n\nUnfortunately, the fossil fuel industry and well-heeled interests have too often co-opted the process to their advantage. They are able to overwhelm, out-lawyer, and outlast under-resourced advocacy and community groups while deploying far more money and influence. Look no further than New England: In Massachusetts, fossil fuel interests are funding spurious litigation under the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act to stop offshore wind projects. In Connecticut, the opposition to efforts to upgrade the Northeast Rail Corridor comes most often from wealthy landowners, not environmental groups or low-income citizens.\n\nRather than idealize the status quo, we need to imagine and build consensus around reforms that lead to quicker, better decisions and elevate substantive protections over procedural parrying. Transitioning to clean energy and achieving climate justice require hard choices, and progressives and environmentalists need to recognize that those choices are necessary. The work to achieve a cleaner, more equitable future will not be possible unless we lead the cause of permitting reform and stop ceding that ground to the opposition.\n\nOtherwise, our hopes for timely and just climate action, rational infrastructure choices, and healthier communities using the new resources Congress has just provided will be crushed under the slow-moving wheels of a broken system.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-statement-speaker-pelosis-decision-not-seek-new-term-house", "Courtney Statement on Speaker Pelosi\u2019s Decision to Not Seek New Term as House Democratic Leader", "2022-11-17", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) made the following statement after Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the first woman to ever serve as Speaker of the House, announced that she will step down from House Democratic Leadership after more than two decades.\n\n\u201cSpeaker Pelosi\u2019s decision to step aside from the upcoming Leadership election is a moment of history that deserves our nation\u2019s honor and respect. She made history from Day One as the first woman to serve as Speaker, and she kept making history as she guided the enactment of countless laws that will leave a gigantic imprint on American society,\u201d said Congressman Courtney. \u201cOne of the most important was passage of the Affordable Care Act, which outlawed barriers to health care for patients with pre-existing conditions, prevented young adults from being removed from family insurance, and expanded coverage to tens of millions of Americans. That would be a lifetime achievement for most of us, but Speaker Pelosi\u2019s work extended far beyond that one measure. Passage of Medicare prescription drug relief, a 21st Century Infrastructure law, a re-negotiated USMCA trade agreement, the post 9-11 G.I. Bill, Public Service Loan Forgiveness for student loan borrowers\u2014these are just some of her achievements, and the list goes on and on.\u201d\n\n\u201cI had a chance to work with the Speaker to secure bipartisan passage of the Student Loan Certainty Act, repeal of the Cadillac Tax, and shipbuilding authorizations and budgets that have created historic economic growth in Eastern Connecticut,\u201d Rep. Courtney continued. \u201cI also joined the Speaker on two overseas trips to the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium, and a visit to London, Dublin and Belfast to defend the Good Friday Peace Accords. On both trips, the high regard that Speaker Pelosi was held in by world leaders was tangible from all political quarters. I am sure that all her deep experience and judgment will enrich the work of the House for the 118th Congress.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-speaker-pelosis-historic-leadership", "DeLauro Statement on Speaker Pelosi\u2019s Historic Leadership", "2022-11-17", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Chair of the House Appropriations Committee Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today released a statement in response to Speaker Nancy Pelosi\u2019s announcement that she would be stepping down from House Democratic leadership.\n\n\u201cSpeaker Nancy Pelosi is an undeniable force, and to me, a dear friend, confidante, and ally. First, I have to say thank you, on behalf of myself, my constituents, and the whole of the nation to my friend Speaker Nancy Pelosi. For over two decades, she has led House Democrats with unmatched tenacity, judgment, and success. She made history as the first woman to serve as Speaker, but she will go down in history as the most effective Speaker to ever serve our nation \u2013 man or woman.\n\n\u201cWhen I first joined the Appropriations Committee, Chairwoman Nita Lowey, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and I were referred to as the \u2018DeLoSi\u2019s\u2019\u2014a band of women who fought for women\u2019s health at a time when women\u2019s issues were on the fringe of our political discourse. She has remained a close friend and ally since that time, and I have been honored to work with her as we fought together to deliver a brighter future for women, children, and families.\n\n\u201cThis has been the core drive for Speaker Pelosi\u2019s work in Congress. Chief among her accomplishments is her work with President Obama to expand affordable healthcare to millions under the Affordable Care Act, which has led to better health outcomes for Americans and drastically lowered our uninsured rate.\n\n\u201cSpeaker Pelosi stood strong in the fight to protect American\u2019s civil rights. Since the start of her congressional career, she has been a fierce advocate for LGBTQ+ Americans, fighting for research, care, treatment, prevention and to secure for a cure for HIV/AIDS since the start of that epidemic, and working to repeal Don\u2019t Ask, Don\u2019t Tell. She led House passage of the Respect for Marriage Act, legislation that would protect same-sex marriage that is expected to become law before the end of the year. She has also fought for the equal treatment of women \u2013 working with me to pass the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act which helped push forward the work to provide equal pay for equal work. She led passage of the Women\u2019s Health Protection Act several times in the House, which would enshrine Roe v. Wade into law and protect the right to choose.\n\n\u201cShe has supported House Democrats\u2019 work to redirect how the government invests, working with me and my Democratic colleagues on the House Appropriations Committee to deliver investments that help Americans deal with the rising cost of living, afford their homes, and pay for essentials like prescription drugs, healthcare, food, and childcare.\n\n\u201cSpeaker Pelosi was instrumental in our response to the COVID-19 pandemic, working to deliver billions in pandemic aid that produced an effective vaccine against COVID-19 and saved our economy and innumerable small businesses. She was also instrumental in working with me to enact an expanded Child Tax Credit under the American Rescue Plan, which nearly cut child poverty in half in just a year.\n\n\u201cTo lower costs for working people and combat the climate crisis, she led us in passage of the historic Inflation Reduction Act. This legislation gave the government the power to negotiate the price of prescription drugs for the first time, which will ensure our seniors can afford the lifesaving drugs they need. She also helped enact legislation that would rebuild America\u2019s ailing roads, bridges, ports, and waterways by spearheading House passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which will strengthen our supply chains, make us more resilient to disasters, and bring our transportation into the 21st century.\n\n\u201cWhile Speaker Pelosi leaves the leadership, she will remain in Congress to serve the people of California\u2019s 12th congressional district, and I look forward to our continued work together to deliver for America\u2019s children, seniors, and families. Congratulations on an incredible run as our leader, Nancy. You leave big pumps to fill!\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-usda-announce-new-rule-special-supplemental-nutrition-program", "DeLauro, USDA Announce New Rule for Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children", "2022-11-17", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today announced with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) a new rule that would expand flexibilities under the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program.\n\n\u201cWIC reaches over 6 million mothers, infants, and children \u2013 and is a vital toll in our work to end hunger in the United States,\u201d said DeLauro. \u201cIt is evidence and science based, and delivers life sustaining outcomes for moms and babies. The rule announced today will build on the National Strategy released at the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, and offer more choice and flexibility to program participants. I am especially proud that it extends the increases in the cash value voucher, which we established in the pandemic response bills and which I maintained through our government funding bills as Chair of the House Appropriations Committee. I thank my friend Secretary Vilsack for his work to produce this rule that will move forward our work to end hunger.\u201d\n\nThe rule proposed by USDA today would support the purchasing of healthier foods, like fruits and vegetables, by increasing the amount provided and the varieties available for purchase. Congress implemented a significant boost to the benefit provided to WIC participants for purchasing fruits and vegetables under pandemic relief packages, and Chair DeLauro has maintained these increases in her government funding bills.\n\nOther proposed changes include, but are not limited to:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-readout-of-meeting-with-nominee-for-ambassador-to-russia", "Murphy Readout of Meeting with Nominee for Ambassador to Russia", "2022-11-17", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Thursday released the following statement after meeting with Ambassador Lynne Tracy, nominee for Ambassador to Russia:\n\n\u201cMaintaining clear communication channels with Russia is critical to our efforts to prevent further escalation in Ukraine and to advocate on behalf of U.S. citizens who are being wrongfully detained. I was glad to meet with Ambassador Tracy to discuss the essential role she will play at our embassy in Moscow and the importance of continued U.S. support for Ukraine in the face of ongoing Russian aggression. We also discussed the impact of Russia\u2019s war on Ukraine in the South Caucasus, where Ambassador Tracy has spent the past three years serving in Armenia. She is eminently qualified for this post, and her swift confirmation is more important than ever,\u201d said Murphy.\n\nEarlier this week, Murphy spoke at a U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on U.S. policy in the Caucasus.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-blumenthal-statements-on-proposed-projects-for-northeast-corridor-rail-improvement", "Murphy, Blumenthal Statements on Proposed Projects for Northeast Corridor Rail Improvement", "2022-11-16", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2014U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) on Wednesday released the following statements on the Federal Railroad Administration\u2019s (FRA) submission of projects for the Northeast Corridor (NEC) Inventory. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed last year provided more than $20 billion in funding for a sequence of projects aimed at modernizing NEC service. This initial group of projects will reduce the backlog of repairs for existing rail lines, improve performance, and expand or establish new intercity passenger rail service along the Northeast Corridor.\n\n\u201cThese projects represent a giant step forward in our ongoing efforts to reduce travel times and make the NEC rail system more efficient. Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we now have a strategy for how to best improve the NEC over the next 5 years that maximizes every single taxpayer dollar and ensures we have a plan in place to see these projects through to the end,\u201d Murphy said.\n\n\u201cThe Northeast Corridor is the engine that moves our state\u2019s economy. The Federal Railroad Administration has taken one step further towards unlocking access to $24 billion in infrastructure funding that could be used to bring faster, safer rail services to Connecticut residents,\u201d Blumenthal said.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-discusses-us-policy-in-the-caucasus-and-balkans", "Murphy Discusses U.S. Policy in the Caucasus and Balkans", "2022-11-16", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2014U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) spoke on Wednesday at a U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on U.S. policy in the Caucasus with Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Karen Donfried.\n\nMurphy asked about the Turkey-Armenia relationship and the role the United States should play: I wanted to ask a broad question about Turkey\u2019s role in the region. Obviously, we know their historic role backing Azerbaijan. There doesn\u2019t appear to be evidence that they explicitly supported Azerbaijan\u2019s latest provocations. But they have also begun an interesting dialogue with Armenia that could ultimately be very important with Russia's preoccupation in Ukraine. Turkey obviously has a vacuum that they can fill. They\u2019ve been more active than ever since 2020. Talk a little bit if you would, Secretary Donfried, about Turkey\u2019s role in the region, and specifically on this question of Turkey-Armenia normalization.\u201d\n\nMurphy highlighted the potential role Azerbaijan could play in reducing Europe\u2019s reliance on Russian energy: \u201cI have often thought that we have gotten the balance wrong when it comes to promoting human rights and democracy in countries that have large oil reservoirs. But this is a country that now has more pipeline capacity than it did ten or twenty years ago. What\u2019s the future of Azerbaijani energy with respect to diversifying away from Russian energy in and around the region? And how does this factor into the decisions that we make about how to approach some of these thornier issues of Azerbaijani conduct in the region?\n\nMurphy urged the State Department to stay engaged in ongoing discussions between Serbia and Kosovo: \u201cWe\u2019ve got some real potential bumps in the road coming up with the implementation of the license plate agreement in Kosovo. Again, I would just urge the Department to play as active a role as possible in the continued discussions between Serbia and Kosovo. We have for a long time, for good reason, have relied on the Europeans to take the lead, the Germans specifically. I think that there is more reason now than ever for the United States to step in.\u201d\n\nIn September, Murphy released a statement on reports of hostilities along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. In April, Murphy participated in a bipartisan congressional delegation with U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) to the Balkans to convey continued U.S. support for its allies amid Russian aggression against Ukraine and the implications for European security in the region.\n\nYou can read Murphy\u2019s full exchange with Donfried:\n\nMURPHY: \u201cThank you very much Mr. Chairman. Good to see you both. I wanted to ask a broad question about Turkey\u2019s role in the region. Obviously, we know their historic role backing Azerbaijan. There doesn\u2019t appear to be evidence that they explicitly supported Azerbaijan\u2019s latest provocations. But they have also begun an interesting dialogue with Armenia that could ultimately be very important with Russia's preoccupation in Ukraine. Turkey obviously has a vacuum that they can fill. They\u2019ve been more active than ever since 2020.\n\n\u201cTalk a little bit if you would, Secretary Donfried, about Turkey\u2019s role in the region, and specifically on this question of Turkey-Armenia normalization. What\u2019s the role the United States can play to facilitate that? Are we best to just sit back and watch? Is there some kind of active role that we can play?\n\nDONFRIED: \u201cWell, thanks a lot for that question, Senator Murphy. And you\u2019re right to have us think about the other actors in the region, and Turkey is a critical one. You\u2019re right to remark on the close relationship between Turkey and Azerbaijan, but I also appreciate your focus on Turkey-Armenia relations.\n\n\u201cWe very much support normalization between Armenia and Turkey. And we have spoken at length with the Turks about this, and I do believe there is a deep Turkish commitment to move forward on this, which also augurs well for broader peace in the region.\n\n\u201cAnd what we\u2019ve seen is both Turkey and Armenia have appointed special envoys for normalization and they\u2019ve met multiple times, they have agreed on initial confidence building measures. We are encouraging both sides to move forward on those. They need to implement the measures that they\u2019ve agreed to. So our role here is one of encouraging that, and we are hopeful that we will see progress. Because I do think it is part of the puzzle of the south Caucasus about how you get to a sustainable peace in the region.\n\nMURPHY: \u201cLet me just ask a question, I\u2019m sorry if it\u2019s been covered already. Obviously, the backdrop to our relationship with Azerbaijan is their increasing role as a supplier of energy to neighbors and into Europe. I have often thought that we have gotten the balance wrong when it comes to promoting human rights and democracy in countries that have large oil reservoirs. But this is a country that now has more pipeline capacity than it did ten or twenty years ago.\n\n\u201cWhat\u2019s the future of Azerbaijani energy with respect to diversifying away from Russian energy in and around the region? And how does this factor into the decisions that we make about how to approach some of these thornier issues of Azerbaijani conduct in the region?\n\nDONFRIED: \u201cSo, the energy picture in Europe, as we\u2019ve all seen over the past eight and a half months has changed fundamentally. The United States for a long time has been arguing that Russia is not a reliable supplier of energy for Europe.\n\n\u201cNot all of our European allies and partners agreed with that assessment prior to February 24. I would say all of them today agree with that assessment. We have long been a voice promoting energy diversification and we\u2019re seeing all of these countries that were overly dependent on Russia looking for other sources. And in that context, Azerbaijan is playing a very important role, and I think will continue to play a very important role.\n\n\u201cThat said, it doesn\u2019t mean that we turn a blind eye to our concerns about human rights in Azerbaijan. And I said it in my opening statement, I\u2019ll say it again, we regularly urge Azerbaijan\u2019s government to respect human rights and the fundamental freedoms necessary to realize the full potential of Azerbaijan\u2019s people. I believe it is in our national security interest for us to be promoting human rights and democracy in Azerbaijan, and we will continue to do so. Thanks.\n\nMURPHY: \u201cThank you for that. I won\u2019t ask a question. I\u2019m running out of time. But I\u2019ll just note, I just left this committee meeting to meet with the relatively new leader of one of the opposition parties in Kosovo who is in town, who I think maybe got the chance to see Deputy Secretary Escobar.\n\n\u201cOn the other side of the Black Sea, are the Balkan region. We\u2019ve got some real potential bumps in the road coming up with the implementation of the license plate agreement in Kosovo. Again, I would just urge the Department to play as active a role as possible in the continued discussions between Serbia and Kosovo. We have for a long time, for good reason, have relied on the Europeans to take the lead, the Germans specifically. I think that there is more reason now than ever for the United States to step in. I don\u2019t think you\u2019ll see as active or as effective diplomacy from Europe, and the need has never been greater given what could happen in the coming months in the Serb regions of Kosovo.\n\n\u201cSo again, just a plea to maintain real direct involvement from the State Department in those very tricky negotiations and talks. So thank you, Mr. Chairman.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-blumenthal-booker-introduce-bicameral-bill-curb-unhealthy-food", "DELAURO, BLUMENTHAL & BOOKER INTRODUCE BICAMERAL BILL TO CURB UNHEALTHY FOOD & BEVERAGE MARKETING TARGETING KIDS", "2022-11-15", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced bicameral legislation to prevent the aggressive marketing of junk food and sugary beverages directed at children. In the last thirty years, obesity rates have doubled among children and tripled among adolescents. The Stop Subsidizing Childhood Obesity Act of 2022 would end the federal tax subsidy that allows companies to deduct expenses for marketing and advertising goods of poor nutritional value. The legislation would also use the revenue generated from eliminating the subsidy to provide healthy snacks for children at low-income schools through the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s (USDA) Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program.\n\n\u201cAmerican children are not meeting basic nutritional goals because of companies that aggressively market unhealthy food and sugary beverages to children,\u201d said DeLauro. \u201cThis aggressive marketing includes the food, beverage, and restaurant companies that spend nearly $14 billion per year on marketing in the United States, with more than 80% of the advertising promoting unhealthy food choices. On top of that, they get a tax write off for these advertising practices that hurt our children\u2019s health and earn them billions in revenue. We face dual obesity and diabetes epidemics. It is time we do our part to stop it. In tandem with the national strategy of the White House Conference on Hunger Nutrition, and Health, the Stop Subsidizing Childhood Obesity Act assists with achieving the goal to address the marketing of unhealthy foods by closing the tax loophole that companies use to advertise these products to children. Congress must act, and by doing so, we will help children make the right nutritional choices and stop letting companies off the hook for advertising that negatively impacts children\u2019s nutritional health.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis legislation will prevent the multi-billion dollar junk food industry from profiting off children and contributing to our nation\u2019s obesity epidemic,\u201d said Blumenthal. \u201cFor too long, companies have harmed the diets, development, and health of our kids by bombarding them with advertisements for unhealthy products. Our measure will stop subsidizing a practice that harms American children and fuels health disparities. I\u2019m proud to join Representative DeLauro and Senator Booker in this important effort to hold junk food marketers accountable while simultaneously investing in healthy school meals.\u201d\n\n\u201cBig food companies advertise their junk food products to our children, taking advantage of how children are forming lifelong food preferences and exacerbating our nation\u2019s childhood obesity crisis. Companies also disproportionately target these advertisements to children of color, which drives health disparities,\u201d said Booker. \u201cTaxpayers should not be subsidizing the marketing of junk food products to children. This bill would close the tax loophole that allows companies to deduct the cost of promoting foods of poor nutritional value to our children.\u201d\n\nAccording to the University of Connecticut\u2019s Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health, food, beverage, and restaurant companies spend nearly $14 billion a year on food marketing through television, movies, video games, toys and other means, and more than 80 percent were for products that are high in fat, sugar, and salt. A report from the National Academy of Medicine showed that exposure to this advertising, which is often seen by children, impacted their food choices, purchase requests, diets, and health. Communities of color have been especially impacted, with Black and Hispanic youth having higher rates of obesity.\n\nThe Stop Subsidizing Childhood Obesity Act of 2022 would amend the federal tax code by removing a deduction for advertising and marketing directed at children to promote the consumption of food of poor nutritional quality. The revenue generated from ending the subsidy would be used to supplement funding for the USDA\u2019s Fruit and Vegetable Program, which provides fresh fruit and vegetable-based snacks to students in low-income schools. According to a study funded by the NIH, eliminating this tax subsidy would reduce childhood obesity rates by 5-7 percent and save about $350 million in health care costs over ten years.\n\nThe Stop Subsidizing Childhood Obesity Act is endorsed by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI).\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s bad enough that the push for growth and profits incentivizes food companies to market ultra-processed junk foods to children, but it is outright perverse for our tax code to further incentivize such marketing by making these expenses tax deductible,\u201d said CSPI President Dr. Peter G. Lurie. \u201cCompanies spend on the order of $2 billion a year marketing food to children. This isn\u2019t charity we\u2019re talking about\u2014it\u2019s marketing that affects kids\u2019 health, and not activity worthy of a tax write-off. This legislation sponsored by Senator Blumenthal and Appropriations Chairwoman DeLauro can help spur food marketing in a healthy direction and raise revenue simultaneously\u2014something we hope both parties should be able to support.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-pingree-announce-gao-report-food-safety-food-and-drug", "DeLauro, Pingree Announce GAO Report on Food Safety at Food and Drug Administration", "2022-11-10", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Report identifies how food safety can be strengthened at FDA\n\nU.S. Representatives Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) and Chellie Pingree (ME-01) today announced that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report in response to their request that the GAO examine food contamination by chemical substances in our food.\n\n\u201cLet me be clear - these are forever chemicals that do not break down and may have a detrimental impact on the health of Americans,\u201d said DeLauro. \u201cAnd over time, according to the Food and Drug Administration\u2019s (FDA) Total Diet Study (TDS), these chemicals can be found in a variety of food products. We need action to address this issue because the health of the American people should always come first.\u201d\n\n\u201cFrom drinking water and soil to pre-packaged food at the grocery store, \u2018forever chemical\u2019 contamination is a growing public health concern for Mainers and people across the country,\u201d Congresswoman Pingree said. \u201cAlongside Congresswoman DeLauro, I pushed for this Government Accountability Office report to determine what actions are being taken at the federal level to evaluate the prevalence and risk of chemical food contamination. While Maine is leading the nation in our response to the PFAS crisis, GAO\u2019s report and recommendations equips Congress with crucial insights into the FDA\u2019s oversight of chemicals used in food processing and packaging so we can protect our communities nationwide against PFAS contamination.\u201d\n\nThe report entitled \u201cFDA Oversight of Substances Used in Manufacturing, Packaging, and Transporting Food Could Be Strengthened\u201d reviews FDA oversight of indirect food additives. It identifies how food processing and packaging can lead to contamination of food and may pose health risks.\n\nFood processing and packaging can introduce non-food substances that may pose a health risk into food. FDA reviews information on the safety of the substances used for packaging before their first use, and as new information becomes available, FDA will reevaluate its use based on the new information. However, FDA does not have the specific authority to require companies to provide information that the agency may need for such reviews \u2013 so re-evaluation can take time or in many cases, may not be possible.\n\nThe GAO makes two recommendations to the FDA in the report: 1) request specific legal authority from Congress to compel companies to provide the information needed to reassess the safety of substances and 2) track the dates of the last reviews for all food contact substances to allow FDA to readily identify substances that warrant post-market review.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-pingree-announce-gao-report-food-safety-food-and-drug-0", "DeLauro, Pingree Announce GAO Report on Food Safety at Food and Drug Administration", "2022-11-10", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Report identifies how food safety can be strengthened at FDA\n\nU.S. Representatives Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) and Chellie Pingree (ME-01) today announced that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report in response to their request that the GAO examine food contamination by chemical substances in our food.\n\n\u201cLet me be clear - these are forever chemicals that do not break down and may have a detrimental impact on the health of Americans,\u201d said DeLauro. \u201cAnd over time, according to the Food and Drug Administration\u2019s (FDA) Total Diet Study (TDS), these chemicals can be found in a variety of food products. We need action to address this issue because the health of the American people should always come first.\u201d\n\n\u201cFrom drinking water and soil to pre-packaged food at the grocery store, \u2018forever chemical\u2019 contamination is a growing public health concern for Mainers and people across the country,\u201d Congresswoman Pingree said. \u201cAlongside Congresswoman DeLauro, I pushed for this Government Accountability Office report to determine what actions are being taken at the federal level to evaluate the prevalence and risk of chemical food contamination. While Maine is leading the nation in our response to the PFAS crisis, GAO\u2019s report and recommendations equips Congress with crucial insights into the FDA\u2019s oversight of chemicals used in food processing and packaging so we can protect our communities nationwide against PFAS contamination.\u201d\n\nThe report entitled \u201cFDA Oversight of Substances Used in Manufacturing, Packaging, and Transporting Food Could Be Strengthened\u201d reviews FDA oversight of indirect food additives. It identifies how food processing and packaging can lead to contamination of food and may pose health risks.\n\nFood processing and packaging can introduce non-food substances that may pose a health risk into food. FDA reviews information on the safety of the substances used for packaging before their first use, and as new information becomes available, FDA will reevaluate its use based on the new information. However, FDA does not have the specific authority to require companies to provide information that the agency may need for such reviews \u2013 so re-evaluation can take time or in many cases, may not be possible.\n\nThe GAO makes two recommendations to the FDA in the report: 1) request specific legal authority from Congress to compel companies to provide the information needed to reassess the safety of substances and 2) track the dates of the last reviews for all food contact substances to allow FDA to readily identify substances that warrant post-market review.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-new-haven-fire-fighter-thomas-mieles", "DeLauro Statement on New Haven Fire Fighter Thomas Mieles", "2022-11-03", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) released the following statement on the passing of New Haven Fire Fighter Thomas Mieles.\n\n\u201cI am saddened by the news that Fire Fighter Thomas Mieles has died in a tragic accident. Thomas was young with so much life ahead of him, starting his firefighting career at 27 years old in January 2022. This is a big loss for our community, and I extend my condolences to Thomas\u2019 family, loved ones, and his colleagues in the New Haven Fire Department. Thomas will be dearly missed.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/after-successfully-re-stocking-liheap-energy-assistance-program", "After Successfully Re-Stocking LIHEAP Energy Assistance Program, Courtney Announces $86 Million in New Support for Connecticut Households", "2022-11-02", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC\u2014Today, with winter quickly approaching, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) helped announce that the State of Connecticut will be re-supplied with $86 million through the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help local families offset higher home heating and energy costs. These renewed resources to the popular home energy assistance program come following the recent passage of the stop-gap funding bill in Congress, which included $1 billion to re-supply LIHEAP\u2014an effort that was led by Rep. Courtney. Of today\u2019s total $86 million, nearly 20% ($19.5 million) comes thanks to that successful effort.\n\n\u201cLIHEAP has come in handy for lots of households in eastern Connecticut, and with colder weather just around the corner we needed to re-fuel it so that it\u2019s there when people need it this winter,\u201d said Rep. Courtney. \u201cRe-stocking the LIHEAP program was always going to be the fastest, most direct way to help people lower their energy costs this winter, and that\u2019s why we pressed so hard for it starting earlier this fall. After helping to lead this effort in the House, and after pulling bipartisan support from across the country together for this approach, it\u2019s great to see our work finally make it across the finish line and home to Connecticut. This is going to provide real, tangible support for people in our region this winter, and thanks to new program rules there are more households than ever that qualify. My office is ready to help anyone in eastern Connecticut who is interested in this support.\u201d\n\nIn Connecticut, federal LIHEAP funding is dispersed through the highly utilized Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP), which provides homeowners with direct assistance to help lower the cost of heating and home energy use. LIHEAP eligibility has been expanded recently so that programs like CEAP can assist even more people, and making Rep. Courtney\u2019s successful effort even more impactful.\n\nOf the $86 million in total re-supplied LIHEAP funding, $64 million comes from standard LIHEAP block grant funding, $1.9 million comes from funding appropriated for FY 2023 through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), and $19.5 million of it\u2014roughly 22% of the total amount\u2014comes from Rep. Courtney\u2019s successful effort to re-stock LIHEAP.\n\nClick here to read more.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-merkley-cicilline-keating-colleagues-call-on-administration-to-center-human-rights-ahead-of-cop27-in-egypt", "Murphy, Merkley, Cicilline, Keating, Colleagues Call On Administration To Center Human Rights Ahead Of Cop27 In Egypt", "2022-11-02", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism, and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Environment and Public Works Committees, and U.S. Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.-01), Chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Middle East, North Africa, and Global Counterterrorism, and U.S. Rep. Bill Keating (D-M.A.-09), Chairman of the U.S House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe, Energy, the Environment and Cyber led 52 of their colleagues in a letter to President Biden urging the Administration to raise human rights concerns with the Egyptian government ahead of COP27.\n\n\u201cWe are therefore deeply troubled by the message it sends to the world that the Egyptian government is hosting COP27 while imprisoning tens of thousands of political prisoners \u2013 including many environmental activists. With the world\u2019s attention on Sharm el-Sheikh this month, COP27 presents a unique opportunity for the United States to press the Egyptian government to release these activists and demonstrate its commitment to inclusive engagement with the full range of stakeholders on climate solutions,\u201d the lawmakers wrote.\n\nThe lawmakers highlighted Egypt\u2019s egregious human rights violations, including widespread arbitrary detentions, restrictions on members of the media and non-governmental organizations, and the government\u2019s crackdown on political opponents. They also called attention to the important role that civil society organizations play in the global fight against climate change, through promoting government accountability, connecting grassroots efforts across the globe, and translating climate policies to the broader population. In October, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights criticized Egypt for cracking down on civil society and creating a \u201cclimate of fear for Egyptian civil society organizations to engage visibly at the COP27.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers also recognized that the Global South \u2013 including the Middle East and North Africa \u2013 is disproportionally affected by climate change, particularly the most vulnerable populations. While Egypt has demonstrated leadership on issues like water scarcity, rising sea levels, air pollution, and record high temperatures, its efforts are hindered by a refusal to allow meaningful participation of environmental and civil society groups, activists, and those most impacted by the climate crisis.\n\n\u201cWe urge the Administration to engage the Egyptian government to allow the full participation of civil society throughout this year\u2019s summit. This includes ensuring that both participants and observers, including groups critical of the government, have access to engage and express their positions freely at COP27. This simply cannot occur with the unprecedented detention of leading environmental activists and prominent political prisoners,\u201d said the legislators.\n\nThe lawmakers also urged the Administration to call for the release of specific political prisoners.\n\nThe letter was signed by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Thomas Carper (D-Del.), Christopher Coons (D-Del.), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Bernard Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.). It was also signed by U.S. House Representatives Karen Bass (D-Calif.), Donald Beyer (D-Va.), Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.), Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.), Tony C\u00e1rdenas (D-Calif.), Andr\u00e9 Carson (Ind.), Kathy Castor (D-Fla.), Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), David Cicilline (D-R.I.), Gerald Connolly (D-Va.), Jason Crow (D-Colo.), Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas.), Jes\u00fas Garc\u00eda (D-Ill.), Ra\u00fal Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.), William Keating (D-Mass.), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Andy Levin (D-Mich), Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), Tom Malinowski (D-N.J.), James McGovern (D-Mass.), Grace Meng (D-N.Y.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-District of Columbia), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.), Janice Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Albio Sires (D-N.J.), Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Dina Titus (D-Nev.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich), Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.), Juan Vargas (D-Calif.), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Susan Wild (D-Pa.), and Nikema Williams (D-Ga.)", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-joins-mayor-passero-mohawk-northeast-president-allan-heinke", "Courtney Joins Mayor Passero, Mohawk Northeast President Allan Heinke, and Others to Announce New Port Infrastructure Investment Coming to New London", "2022-10-31", "2022", "2022-10", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "New London, CT\u2014Today, Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-02) joined New London Mayor Mike Passero, Allan Heinke (President, Mohawk Northeast), Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and others to announce a new $7 million federal Port Infrastructure Development Program grant award for the City of New London and Mohawk Northeast, Inc. The award represents a major new investment in eastern Connecticut\u2019s local economy, and will support rapidly increasing activity in the region\u2019s maritime sector for decades to come by helping to develop and construct a modern marine terminal that joins freight rail access to Mohawk\u2019s deep-water wharf and adjacent manufacturing activity\u2014a highly productive feature that current regional terminals lack.\n\nThe federal Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) was first authorized by Rep. Courtney and his colleagues on the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) in 2020 under the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The program is operated by U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD), and grants are extremely competitive. Rep. Courtney\u2019s office has been working directly with Mohawk Northeast to pursue funding for this project for three consecutive years, first in 2020 and again in 2021. After Rep. Courtney helped pass the new Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)\u2014which provided $450 million for the PIDP program in 2022\u2014his office worked with Mohawk to pursue the grant award for a third time this year, and were successful.\n\n\u201cThis Port Infrastructure grant award is the result of consistent bipartisan work, and it\u2019s a huge win for continued economic success and job growth in our region,\u201d said Rep. Courtney. \u201cWe\u2019re seeing a ton of exciting activity in eastern Connecticut, and none of it\u2019s happening by accident\u2014in fact, when it comes to today\u2019s grant award, my colleagues and I on the House Armed Services Committee helped originate the Port Infrastructure Development Program back in 2020 specifically for use-cases like this in New London. Too many of America\u2019s ports have been neglected for too long, and we\u2019ve seen the drag that can create on our economy while other ports around the world are modernizing at a rapid clip. Modernizing our own ports has become an economic and national security imperative, and this is a perfect example of why we created the PIDP program in the first place: to ramp-up capabilities at America\u2019s smaller, critical ports like these. My office has been working directly with Mohawk Northeast for three years to go after this funding, and I want to congratulate Mohawk Northeast President Allan Heinke and his entire team for stepping back up to the plate and earning it.\u201d\n\n\u201cOn behalf of everyone at Mohawk Northeast, we want to say \u2018Thank You\u2019 to all of the organizations involved in the awarding of this grant,\u201d said Allan Heinke, president of Mohawk Northeast, Inc. \u201cWe are extremely excited to be involved in this opportunity to add to the strength and vibrancy of the New London waterfront. Mohawk is perfectly poised to provide the manpower and expertise to create the vision that we\u2019ve all had for so long. We are grateful that we will be part of a project that will provide economic strength and job creation for the city of New London, the region, and the entire state of Connecticut for years to come. Mohawk Northeast is ready to dig into this critical new project, and we are grateful for this MARAD grant.\u201d\n\n\u201cFrom enhanced submarine construction to clean energy production, we\u2019re already seeing a serious uptick in economic activity on our waterfront, and today\u2019s announcement of $7 million in new federal Port Infrastructure development funding is going to help us keep that growth and momentum going strong,\u201d said New London Mayor Mike Passero. \u201cMohawk\u2019s Groton facility has already been the center for lots of increased activity on our waterfront and in the maritime sector, and with federal funding finally in place now to help us develop a modernized marine facility\u2014connecting the deep-water wharf and all the manufacturing activity that takes place there to freight rail access\u2014it\u2019s going to really ramp our capabilities up, and help us attract even more growth and career opportunities. Thank you to Congressman Joe Courtney for working with us to every step of the way to support this grant application and this opportunity for New London, and congratulations to Mohawk Northeast on earning this exciting opportunity.\u201d\n\n\u201cNew England Central Railroad (NECR) congratulates Mohawk on this grant award,\u201d said Len Wagner, president of NECR. \u201cThe ensuing infrastructure improvements will help to create a more viable rail-to-water transload facility in Connecticut and facilitate additional growth in New London.\u201d\n\nThe Port Infrastructure Development Program, and Today\u2019s Award\n\nA rendered image displaying where upcoming port infrastructure activity will take place in New London was shared at today\u2019s press conference. For more detailed information, contact Rep. Courtney\u2019s office.\n\nAs a member of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Courtney helped authorize the federal Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) for the first time in the 2020 NDAA. The program was funded $255 million that year, specifically to award grants to make improvements to facilities within, or outside of and directly related to operations of coastal seaports, inland river ports, and Great Lakes ports. Rep. Courtney\u2019s office first worked with the City of New London and Mohawk Northeast to pursue this grant funding that same year in 2020, but the application was not awarded by MARAD.\n\nRep. Courtney\u2019s office worked with the City of New London and Mohawk Northeast again in 2021 to pursue federal PIDP funding. The PIDP program was funded at a level of $230 million for FY 2021, and Rep. Courtney helped to facilitate several letters of support for the New London and Mohawk Northeast\u2019s grant application, which was submitted in July of 2021. MARAD announced that year\u2019s awardees in December 2021, and the application was again not selected.\n\nIn November of 2021, Rep. Courtney voted to pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which provided increased infrastructure funding for a wide range of important projects nationwide in FY 2022 and over the next four years. The IIJA included $450 million for the PIDP program in FY 2022\u2014a $195 million increase over 2021 levels. The FY 2022 budget, passed in March, also appropriated an additional $235 million for the PIDP program this year, bringing the total PIDP funding level for FY 2022 to $684 million\u2014the largest single-year amount in the history of the program.\n\nIn March of 2022, Rep. Courtney\u2019s office encouraged the City of New London and Mohawk Northeast to again pursue port development funding through the PIDP. The application was submitted in May of this year, and this time it was successful\u2014the City of New London and Mohawk Northeast, Inc. will officially be awarded with $7 million in grants through the federal Port Infrastructure Development Program. The funding will be used to design and construct a modern marine terminal at Mohawk Northeast, Inc., connecting freight rail access to Mohawk\u2019s deep-water wharf and adjacent large-scale manufacturing activity. The project will help improve marine commerce and spur continued growth along the waterfront and in the New London region.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-blumenthal-courtney-himes-local-leaders-announce-17-million-in-grants-for-improvements-to-ports-in-new-london-and-bridgeport", "Murphy, Blumenthal, Courtney, Himes, Local Leaders Announce $17 Million in Grants for Improvements to Ports in New London and Bridgeport", "2022-10-31", "2022", "2022-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "HARTFORD\u2014U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn,), and U.S. Representatives Joe Courtney (D-Conn.-02) and Jim Himes (D-Conn.-04) on Monday announced $17 million in grants from the MARAD FY22 Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) for the City of New London Port Infrastructure Development Project and the Bridgeport Port Authority Project. The grants will support the design and construction of a wind port in Bridgeport, and fund projects aimed at improving and expanding the ports in both Bridgeport and New London.\n\n\u201cThe ports in New London and Bridgeport are big job creating engines for our state, and this funding is a huge investment in the continuing development of our port cities. With these grants, our state will continue to grow as a center of commerce and help our country move toward a cleaner energy future,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n\u201cWind energy is good for the environment and Connecticut\u2019s economy. These Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds will improve port facilities to accommodate wind energy. New London and Bridgeport will continue to lead on this critical economic sector. I am proud to have fought for this funding to support our coastal economic hubs,\u201d said Blumenthal.\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s Port Infrastructure grant award is the result of consistent bipartisan work, and it\u2019s a huge win for continued economic success and job growth in our region. We\u2019re seeing a ton of exciting economic activity in eastern Connecticut, and none of it\u2019s happening by accident\u2014in fact, when it comes to today\u2019s grant award, my colleagues and I on the House Armed Services Committee helped originate the Port Infrastructure Development Program back in 2020 specifically for use-cases like this in New London. Too many of America\u2019s ports have been neglected for too long, and we\u2019ve seen the drag that can create on our economy while other ports around the world are modernizing at a rapid clip. Modernizing our own ports has become an economic and national security imperative, and today\u2019s announcement is a perfect example of why we created the PIDP program in the first place: to ramp-up capabilities at America\u2019s smaller, critical ports like these. My office has been working directly with Mohawk Northeast for three years to go after this funding, and I want to congratulate Mohawk Northeast President Allan Heinke and his entire team for stepping back up to the plate and earning it,\u201d said Courtney.\n\n\u201cI am extremely proud to help bring home over $10 million in federal funding for the Bridgeport harbor. The projects involved will not only make the harbor safer, greener, and more accessible, but also create hundreds of jobs in the community and lead to long-term economic benefits across the region. I am especially excited about the creation of an off-shore wind port, which will help launch Connecticut forward as a leader in renewable energy,\u201d said Himes.\n\n\u201cThis is great news for the continued development of Bridgeport Harbor. This is another prime example of public and private partnerships working together to achieve success. I would like to acknowledge and thank the Bridgeport Port Authority, Bridgeport Boat Works, LLC, and Congressman Himes, Senator Blumenthal, and Senator Murphy\u2019s offices for their joint effort to obtain this $11 million dollars Federal Port Grant,\u201d said Bridgeport Mayor Ganim.\n\n\"This investment in Bridgeport's port infrastructure will help create hundreds of jobs in our region and generate millions in direct economic benefits. I am so thankful to the Bridgeport Harbor Commission, the East End NRZ, Connecticut's congressional delegation, Rep. Himes, Senator Blumenthal, and Senator Murphy, for supporting this extremely competitive grant application. This transformative grant award will help continue to unlock Bridgeport Harbor's enormous untapped potential to serve as an economic hub for the region and the State of Connecticut,\" said Robert Christoph, Jr., Steelpointe Developer.\n\n\"This announcement will ensure that Bridgeport plays a pivotal role in the emerging wind industry in our region. Thank you to the Bridgeport Port Authority for partnering with Bridgeport Boatworks to make this application a success. Thank you to Rep. Himes, Rep. DeLauro, Senator Blumenthal, and Senator Murphy for their hard-fought efforts to bring these much-needed resources to Bridgeport Harbor,\" said Harry Boardsen, Owner, Bridgeport Boatworks.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-highlights-guilfords-quantum-si-as-innovator-of-the-month", "Murphy Highlights Guilford\u2019s Quantum-Si as \u201cinnovator of the Month\u201d", "2022-10-31", "2022", "2022-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "HARTFORD\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) announced that Quantum-Si, based in Guilford, was named October\u2019s \u201cInnovator of the Month.\u201d Quantum-Si is a life sciences company that has developed a next-generation, single molecule protein sequencing technology powered by a first-of-its-kind semiconductor chip in order to advance drug discovery and diagnostics beyond what has been possible with DNA sequencing.\n\n\u201cQuantum-Si\u2019s exciting application of semiconductor chip technology to identify protein structures puts it at the cutting edge of scientific research, disease diagnosis, and therapeutic discovery. Innovative companies like this are part of the reason why jumpstarting our domestic semiconductor industry with the CHIPs and Science Act is so important. I look forward to Quantum-Si\u2019s continued growth in Connecticut,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n\u201cDNA sequencing enabled great advances in the biomedical community\u2019s understanding of the role of genes in human disease, but proteins actually carry out most functions in our bodies. New methods for precise measurement of proteins are key to the next era of research into diseases and how to treat them. Our next-generation protein sequencing technology will be an indispensable tool in accelerating life science research by allowing the parallel cataloging of many proteins using a small, accessible benchtop instrument for the deepest insights into the human body,\u201d said Brian Reed, Head of Research at Quantum-Si.\n\nHeadquartered in Connecticut, Quantum-Si is part of the startup accelerator 4 Catalyzer, dedicated to maximizing societal impact through transformative medical innovation. Founded by world-renowned scientist and entrepreneur Dr. Jonathan Rothberg, Quantum-Si recently became the first company demonstrating protein sequencing technology to be published by a major peer-reviewed journal with its paper debut in Science, the academic journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.\n\nMurphy believes entrepreneurship and innovation are the building blocks for a strong economy. In the U.S. Senate, he has introduced two bipartisan pieces of legislation to incentivize angel investors to put more money into startup companies\u2014the Angel Tax Credit Act and the Helping Angels Lead Our Startups (HALOS) Act. Startup companies create an average of 2 million jobs each year.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-requests-review-of-foreign-stake-in-acquisition-of-twitter-inc", "Murphy Requests Review of Foreign Stake in Acquisition of Twitter, Inc.", "2022-10-31", "2022", "2022-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia and Counterterrorism, on Monday sent a letter to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), requesting an immediate investigation into the potential national security concerns arising from the recent takeover of Twitter, Inc. by Elon Musk and a number of foreign private investors, including members of the Saudi Arabian royal family and the kingdom of Qatar.\n\n\u201cAs you know, CFIUS has the responsibility to review transactions that could result in an American business being controlled by a foreign person. However, CFIUS must also review non-controlling investments in certain sensitive US businesses, including companies that develop critical technologies and businesses that possess sensitive personal data on US citizens. The purpose of these reviews is clear: to protect the national security interests of the United States and American citizens,\u201d he wrote.\n\nMurphy called attention to Saudi Arabia\u2019s repression of free speech and political dissent inside and outside of the Kingdom\u2019s borders, including the brutal murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Murphy referenced allegations by federal prosecutors in 2019 that Saudi Arabia recruited Twitter employees to mine Twitter\u2019s internal systems for personal information about known Saudi critics and thousands of other Twitter users, in violation of U.S. law. Twitter also suspended 88,000 accounts tied to a disinformation campaign backed by the Saudi government after an internal investigation. Murphy directed the committee to examine the degree to which Saudi influence over Twitter\u2019s operations or access to user data could be used to silence critics and activists, or further state-sponsored disinformation campaigns.\n\n\u201cIn addition, federal and state government officials rely on Twitter to be a reliable medium to communicate vital information to the public. The possibility that a foreign power may now be able to influence the ability of the White House or a Governor to communicate with constituents must be thoroughly examined,\u201d Murphy wrote.\n\nFull text of the letter is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-courtney-and-first-selectman-hanson-highlight-upcoming-repairs", "Rep. Courtney and First Selectman Hanson Highlight Upcoming Repairs to the Forge Hill Road Bridge, Funded by the IIJA", "2022-10-28", "2022", "2022-10", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "NORWICH, CT \u2014 Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) and First Selectman Tracey Hanson (Voluntown) met up to highlight the announcement of a long-awaited local infrastructure project: repairs and upgrades to the 101-year-old Fort Hill Road Bridge in Voluntown. The bridge was recently slated for repair work thanks to newly increased infrastructure funding for Connecticut under the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The Forge Hill Road Bridge is currently considered a \u201cnon-conforming\u201d bridge by the CT Department of Transportation (DOT), putting it at risk for total closure. Although the repair project has long been on the CT DOT\u2019s \u201cto-do\u201d list, a lack of funding at the state and local levels has kept the project from moving forward\u2014until now.\n\nRep. Courtney voted to pass the IIJA in November 2021, and it\u2019s supplying the State of Connecticut with increased infrastructure funding over the next 4 years to help complete a wide range of projects\u2014including more than $112 million for bridge repair in 2022. With IIJA funding now in place, work on the Forge Hill Road Bridge is expected to begin in 2024. The total estimated cost of the project is approximately $2.6 million, with federal IIJA funding covering 80% of the total cost, and state funding covering the remaining 20%.\n\n\u201cThe Forge Hill Bridge might look small, but the cost of replacing it was a large burden for our small town,\u201d said First Selectman Tracey Hanson. \u201cThe 80% federal, and 20% state funding we are receiving relieves our residents of a tax burden that could have been felt for years.\u201d\n\n\u201cI voted to pass the new Infrastructure Law last November, and over the course of 2022 we\u2019ve seen work in eastern Connecticut getting seriously dialed-up,\u201d said Rep. Courtney. \u201cSome are big, high-profile projects like the Gold Star Bridge in Groton-New London, or the Swing Bridge in East Haddam, but for small towns like Voluntown, repairs to the \u2018non-conforming\u2019 100-year-old Forge Hill Bridge are the sort of long-term investments that really pay dividends for our towns and our local economy. We rely on infrastructure like this for all sorts of commerce and movement of goods and people, but when our oldest bridges are in need of repair it can often prove too costly for our towns to take on by themselves. That was the case with the Forge Hill Road Bridge project\u2014it\u2019s been on the \u2018to-do\u2019 list for a long time, and it was coming close to closure due to needed repair work. Thanks to the IIJA, that\u2019s not going to happen. The Infrastructure bill is now fueling 80% of this project, resulting in real local jobs, a serious investment in our local economy, and now at no cost to the Town of Voluntown. It\u2019s great to see our region continuing to thrive.\u201d\n\nOriginally built in 1921, the 101-year-old Forge Hill Road Bridge is currently considered \u201cnon-conforming\u201d by CT DOT, putting it at risk for total closure. A lack of funding has kept the project out of reach for the Town of Voluntown and for CT DOT, until Rep. Courtney and the U.S. Congress voted to pass the IIJA. Now, with plussed up infrastructure funding\u2014including $112 million for bridge repair this year in 2022\u2014long-awaited repairs to the Forge Hill Road Bridge are slated to take place from 2024-2025.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-holds-press-conference-breast-cancer-awareness-highlighting", "DeLauro Holds Press Conference on Breast Cancer Awareness, Highlighting Find It Early Act at the Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness in Derby", "2022-10-24", "2022", "2022-10", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "House Appropriations Chair Rosa DeLauro held a press conference with breast cancer awareness advocates and medical professionals at Griffin Health in Derby to highlight the timeline she secured for nationwide reporting standard in the Breast Density and Mammography Reporting Act and her soon-to-be introduced Find It Early Act.\n\nEarlier this month, DeLauro asked the FDA to provide an update within the week on the status of the development of the breast density notification rule. The FDA\u2019s response arrived shortly after, acknowledging that the Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA) final rule would publish before the end of the 2022 calendar year or early 2023.\n\n\u201cIt means a great deal to me to join Griffin Health and all of the breast cancer advocates here at the Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness to talk about what we must do to detect breast cancer early and save women\u2019s lives,\u201d said Chair DeLauro. \u201cI introduced the Breast Density and Mammography Reporting Act, based on Connecticut\u2019s law, requiring the information women and their health care providers receive after a mammogram includes a patient\u2019s relative breast density and the need for additional screenings to find breast cancer. As we all know, when it comes to surviving cancer, early detection is key \u2013 as 99 percent of women who receive an early diagnosis survive it. Let me be clear: women\u2019s lives are at stake. That is why I will be introducing the Find It Early Act that would mandate all insurance coverage to cover screening and diagnostic mammograms, breast ultrasounds, and breast MRIs, with no cost-sharing.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re proud to support greater access to leading technology, heightened awareness of the importance of early screening, and increased insurance coverage for important diagnostic tests, including mammograms, breast ultrasounds, and breast MRIs, as access to these technologies has had a positive impact on reducing breast cancer rates. The Valley had one of the highest breast cancer rates in the nation, and thanks to an evolution over past 20 years, that included advancements in technology, legislative support, and community awareness, we now have one of the lowest breast cancer rates in the nation. We feel that increasing access to breast cancer screening and treatment will help to continue this positive trend,\u201d said Christine Cooper, Assistant Vice President, Diagnostic Services at Griffin Hospital.\n\n\u201cAt Griffin, our patient-centered care philosophy empowers patients with access to health information and education throughout their entire care experience. It\u2019s what drives our personalized treatment plans, and is the reason why we advocated for Connecticut to be the first state to pass a law requiring that women and their providers receive information regarding their breast density after receiving a mammogram. When reviewing a mammogram, healthy fatty breast tissue looks almost black on a mammogram, and potentially harmful cells, such as breast masses and tumors, appear white on a mammogram. Dense breast tissue also appears white on a mammogram, which can mask or hide the presence of cancerous cells. We\u2019re grateful for the impact that The Breast Density and Mammography Reporting Act has had on helping ensure women with dense breasts receive the necessary additional screenings, including breast ultrasound and breast MRI, to help identify potentially harmful breast tissue,\u201d said Denise Barajas, MD, Medical Director, Center for Cancer Care and Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness at Griffin Hospital\n\n\u201cAt Representative Rosa DeLauro\u2019s press conference yesterday, she showed to us advocates, she has a complete grasp of the issue of breast density. She has become the legislative leader, demanding the FDA take action on the new MQSA rule by the end of December, 2022. Her leadership of early detection will literally save many hundreds of lives across the nation,\u201d said Joseph Cappello, Director and Co-Founder of Are You Dense Advocacy, Inc.\n\n\u201cThe Find It Early Act, along with the FDA Regulation to provide uniform Federal language regarding Dense Breast Tissue Notification, will revolutionize the way Breast Cancer will be diagnosed by way of the earliest possible detection. In Connecticut I championed CT Public Act 22-90, the gold standard in the nation for the earliest possible early detection of both breast and ovarian cancer, with no financial barriers, no out-of-pocket costs for both screening and diagnostic mammograms, ultrasounds and MRI's. Cheers and applause for Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro. She is an amazing warrior for the most critical women's health Issue, which, in my opinion, as a 10-year breast cancer survivor is breast cancer, said Jan Kritzman, Breast Cancer Patient-Advocate.\n\n\u201cThis legislation makes life saving screening and diagnostic testing available to all women across the country, rather than the present patchwork of state legislation, that poses barriers to access because of cost. All American women should have the same opportunity to saving their lives with breast cancer screening without socioeconomic discrimination. This is most important in women who are at the highest risk of developing breast cancer. State laws do not protect the Medicare population who, especially women in their 70s and 80s, who have the highest incidence of breast cancer. As well, women who are at high risk of developing breast cancer, including women with a strong family history of breast cancer, women with genetic mutations, women with a male family member with breast cancer, women with previous radiation exposure, women with previous premalignant breast biopsies, who the American Cancer Society recommends screening MRIs, based on evidence based research, are frequently denied access because of cost. Congresswoman DeLauro\u2019s federal legislation will help save lives of all American women by eliminating the cost of prohibitive deductibles or copays,\u201d said Dr. Kristen Zarfos, Medical Director of the Karl J. Krapek, Sr. Comprehensive Women\u2019s Health Center with Trinity Health Of New England Medical Group at Saint Francis Hospital\n\n\u201cI am really proud of the landmark bipartisan legislation we recently passed in Connecticut regarding coverage for breast cancer screening. It put us on the map as a gold star example of how we recognize and prioritize coverage for those with dense breast tissue. But there are gaps at the federal level that do not provide for coverage under Medicare, Medicaid, large employers, and self-insured accounts. Congresswoman DeLauro\u2019s introduction of the Find it Early Act will be critical to insuring that no person will have to forgo simple life-saving screenings because of the cost,\u201d said State Representative Dorinda Borer.\n\nThe Breast Density and Mammography Reporting Act requires the Food and Drug Administration to issue a nationwide reporting standard to ensure the information women and their health care providers receive after a mammogram includes a patient\u2019s relative breast density and what additional screenings should be considered. The denser a woman\u2019s breast, the more likely it is she will have breast cancer, but the more difficult it is to spot cancer on a mammogram, which means additional screenings are recommended. That is why early detection, and notification of whether a woman has dense breasts or not, is key.\n\nThe Find It Early Act would mandate all insurance coverage to cover screening and diagnostic mammograms, breast ultrasounds, and breast MRIs, with no cost-sharing.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:34:28Z"], ["https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=C250797B-F14D-4815-A5E0-008F8C7F4938", "Speaker Pelosi Appoints Congresswoman Hayes to National Historical Publications And Records Commission", "2022-10-24", "2022", "2022-10", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Jahana Hayes", "H001081", "hayes.house.gov", "hayes", "https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Speaker Nancy Pelosi has appointed Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) to serve as representative of the House on the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC), a panel charged with promoting American democracy by supporting the preservation of the most treasured historical documents.\n\n\u201cI am honored to be designated by Speaker Pelosi as the representative of the House on the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. For fifteen years, I helped deepen my students' understanding of the most consequential moments of our nation's history through a wealth of primary source documents,\u201d said Congresswoman Hayes. \"In many ways this appointment continues the work I began in the classroom of preserving and promoting our democracy. I am grateful for the confidence and support of Speaker Pelosi and look forward to working with the Commission in preserving our nation\u2019s history for generations to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs Speaker, I am proud to appoint Congresswoman Jahana Hayes to serve as the House\u2019s voice on the National Historical Publications and Records Commission,\u201d Speaker Pelosi said. \u201cAlways a history teacher at heart, Congresswoman Hayes knows firsthand the importance of telling the entirety of America\u2019s story and passing the lessons of our past onto the next generation. For nearly nine decades, the NHPRC has advanced that mission \u2013 helping preserve the stories of those who came before us so that we might forge an ever-brighter future for our children. Congresswoman Hayes will bring invaluable insight and deep-seated passion to the NHPRC\u2019s vital work: inspiring our future leaders and strengthening the fabric of our democracy.\u201d\n\nThe NHPRC is a statutory body affiliated with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), established by Congress in 1934 to promote understanding of American\u2019s democracy, history, and culture through preservation of its documentary heritage. The 15-member Commission is chaired by the Archivist of the United States and is composed of representatives from all three branches of the Federal Government, including one U.S. Representative selected by the Speaker of the House.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:34:28Z"], ["https://himes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=3F38F854-2E87-451C-8BF1-5074BA55FDDF", "Himes Leads Bipartisan Delegation to Ukraine", "2022-10-23", "2022", "2022-10", "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 (D-CT) yesterday returned from leading a bipartisan delegation of House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Members and staff to the country of Ukraine. He was joined by Ranking Member Mike Turner (R-OH) and Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-CA).\n\nThe delegation began in Warsaw, where they received military and defense briefings from Embassy officials. They then travelled to Rzeszow and Kyiv to talk with soldiers, including those from Connecticut, consult with local diplomats and officials on the impact of the War, and meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ukrainian leaders.\n\n\u201cThe Ukrainian people did not intend to be heroes, but were peaceful citizens who answered the call to arms and rose up in defense of themselves, their neighbors, and their nation,\u201d said Rep. Himes. \u201cI was deeply honored to meet with some of these brave soldiers, and with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy: a beacon of resilience against Putin\u2019s violent onslaught. We were able to discuss the full effect of the invasion, the necessity of global support, and the path forward towards Ukrainian victory.\n\n\u201cThe United States will always be on the side of democracy, and this bipartisan delegation represents our unwavering commitment to helping the Ukrainian people win this fight. Congress must continue to provide the military assistance necessary to defend against Russian oppression, not only to protect our strategic ally but to further our global security interests.\u201d\n\nFor more information, contact Nora Kohli at Nora.Kohli@mail.house.gov\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-03-30T11:08:25Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-abbott-formula-recall", "DeLauro Statement on Abbott Formula Recall", "2022-10-20", "2022", "2022-10", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Chair of the House Appropriations Committee Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today released a statement in response to news that Abbott Nutrition had initiated recalls on its Similac formula manufactured at a facility in Columbus, OH.\n\n\"We face a serious problem in this country. How is it that one company, that controls 43 percent of the market, is able to have several product recalls on infant formula within the same year? Infant formula should be the safest product on the market, and facilities that manufacture it should meet the highest standards of safety.\n\n\"And, again, Abbott skirts responsibility and downplays the situation by saying, \u2018This recall equates to less than one day's worth of the total number of ounces of infant formula fed in the U.S. and is not expected to impact the overall U.S. infant formula supply.' Let me be clear\u2014every feeding and every day is worth a lot to families who are trying to feed their babies with safe formula.\n\n\"Abbott has repeatedly failed to meet even the most basic food safety standards, resulting in product recall after product recall of a life sustaining product that families desperately need. This must change. As I have said before, I will be introducing legislation before the end of the year that supports small, domestic businesses that manufacture infant formula so they can compete with giants like Abbott.\n\n\"Here's the bottom line \u2013 we cannot choose between safety and supply. I am fighting like hell to get our shelves restocked with infant formula, but it must be safe, and it must be reliable. I will not stand for lax safety practices that lead to the selling of a contaminated product, recalls, and subsequent shortages. Enough is enough.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:34:28Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-applauds-funding-from-bipartisan-safer-communities-act-to-expand-behavioral-health-clinics-nationwide", "Murphy Applauds Funding From Bipartisan Safer Communities Act To Expand Behavioral Health Clinics Nationwide", "2022-10-20", "2022", "2022-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, on Tuesday released the following statement on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services\u2019 (HHS) announcement of an additional $15 million funded by Murphy\u2019s Bipartisan Safer Communities Act for states to develop and transform Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) to address the country\u2019s mental health crisis. CCBHCs provide crisis services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and serve anyone who requests care for mental health or substance use, regardless of their ability to pay.\n\n\u201cCertified Community Behavioral Health Clinics meet people where they are and help ensure everyone can access and afford the mental health care they need. This new funding from the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act is going to expand a model that has already proven itself successful and will support ongoing work to improve mental health care in Connecticut. I\u2019m proud to see these dollars start making a difference in communities across the country,\u201d said Murphy.\n\nA one-pager on the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:34:28Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-blumenthal-bipartisan-group-of-senators-urge-release-of-liheap-home-heating-aid", "Murphy, Blumenthal, Bipartisan Group of Senators Urge Release of LIHEAP Home Heating Aid", "2022-10-20", "2022", "2022-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) sent a letter with a bipartisan coalition of 31 U.S. senators urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to release funds for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) as swiftly and at the highest level as possible.\n\n\u201cGiven the alarming increase in energy costs that is forecast for this winter, we worked to secure an additional $1 billion in emergency funding for LIHEAP in the recently enacted short-term CR. It is critical that this funding, as well as the significant base funding available under the CR, is distributed as quickly as possible so it reaches these households in time for the winter heating season,\u201d said the lawmakers.\n\nLIHEAP is administered by states and accessed through local Community Action Agencies. Eligibility for LIHEAP is based on income, family size, and the availability of resources. Senior citizens and those receiving Social Security Disability or SSI benefits are encouraged to apply as early as possible, but applications will be open to everyone through spring of 2023 \u2014 or until the funding is exhausted.\n\nThe senators wrote that the federal LIHEAP funding is a crucial lifeline that assists low-income households and seniors on fixed incomes in paying their energy bills and staying safe during the winter.\n\nEarlier this month, Murphy and Blumenthal helped secure $1 billion in LIHEAP funding in the Continuing Resolution to fund the government. This will translate to an estimated $21 million for Connecticut\u2019s LIHEAP program.\n\nIn addition to Murphy and Blumenthal, the letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Robert Casey, Jr. (D-Pa.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Tina Smith (D-MN), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Angus King, Jr. (I-Maine), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-N.M.).\n\nFull text of the letter is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:34:28Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-blumenthal-lead-colleagues-in-urging-doj-and-atf-to-clarify_enforce-ghost-guns-rule", "Murphy, Blumenthal Lead Colleagues in Urging DOJ & ATF to Clarify & Enforce Ghost Guns Rule", "2022-10-20", "2022", "2022-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), led a group of fourteen senators in urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to issue enforcement guidance and clarify the recently finalized Ghost Gun Rule.\n\n\u201cThe Ghost Gun Rule was promulgated to stop the proliferation of ghost guns, mitigate the threat these firearms pose to our communities, and help law enforcement\u2014at every level\u2014do their jobs\u2026 It is now incumbent upon the Department and ATF to see that it is enforced\u2014and enforced strongly,\u201d said the lawmakers.\n\nThe rule regulates unfinished frames and receivers that are the core components used to construct ghost guns, which have become the preferred instruments for criminals and violent extremists and pose a severe threat to the public and law enforcement. Ghost gun companies have attempted to avoid the rule\u2019s restrictions by claiming that they can still legally sell \u201cnearly-complete\u201d frames and receivers as standalone products, without tools and other materials to complete a ghost gun, without running afoul of the new rule.\n\n\u201cThese companies have adopted the position that selling nearly-complete frames and receivers without the tools (commonly known as jigs) or instructions to complete them means that their products are not firearms under federal law,\u201d the senators wrote to Attorney General Merrick Garland and ATF Director Steven Dettelbach. \u201cOf the 100 companies previously known to sell unserialized and nearly-complete frames and receivers, dozens remain engaged in that business,\u201d said the senators.\n\nThe number of ghost guns recovered at potential crime scenes has grown exponentially, jumping from 1,758 in 2016 to 19,344 in 2021 alone. That these firearms are untraceable only makes it more difficult for law enforcement to develop leads and solve crimes. Between January 1, 2016, and March 4, 2021, ATF attempted to trace almost 23,946 recovered ghost guns, but could only complete 151 traces.\n\nIn addition to these nearly-complete frames and receivers, the senators noted that many companies have also been selling standalone tools and equipment with directions to help purchasers complete the firearms. With these untraceable, dangerous weapons still accessible to those who wish to cause harm, the senators called for stronger enforcement of the rule.\n\n\u201cThe final rule, however, is clear and unambiguous: a nearly-complete frame or receiver is a firearm. The rule does not cover only frames and receivers sold as part of a kit, but also frames and receivers that can be readily completed. Indeed, enforcing the rule only against sellers of kits would be a colossal loophole,\u201d said the legislators.\n\nIn addition to Blumenthal and Murphy, the letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:34:28Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-on-cnni-the-saudis-cant-separate-the-economics-of-oil-from-the-politics-of-oil", "Murphy on CNNi: The Saudis Can't Separate the Economics of Oil from the Politics of Oil", "2022-10-20", "2022", "2022-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia and Counterterrorism and a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Wednesday joined CNN International\u2019s Connect the World with Becky Anderson to discuss re-evaluating the U.S-Saudi relationship.\n\nOn whether Saudi Arabia should still be considered an ally, Murphy said: \u201cI\u2019ve been arguing for the better part of the last decade that we should reorient our relationship with Saudi Arabia. For a long time, they were a very imperfect ally and I think we now have to ask ourselves whether they are an ally at all.\u201d\n\nMurphy continued: \u201cWe have looked the other way when it comes to their human rights abuses, their war in Yemen because we assumed when the chips were down, when there was a global emergency, the Saudis would choose to support us \u2014 not to support the Russians or the Chinese. And so, I think when a partner like this turns their back on you, you have to make decisions about whether you want to still be in the same kind of business\u2026I just think it's time for us to figure out whether there\u2019s a better way to deploy our defense assets, rather than using them to support a country that doesn\u2019t seem to have our interests at heart.\u201d\n\nMurphy argued that the Saudis don\u2019t make decisions on oil production independent of political motives: \u201cThe Saudis can\u2019t separate the economics of oil from the politics of oil. They can\u2019t do that because it is the economics of oil, it is the revenue from that oil that is allowing the Russians to perpetuate a campaign that is killing thousands of civilians inside of Ukraine. It is the revenue from that oil that has allowed for the Saudis to perpetuate a campaign inside Yemen that has killed thousands of civilians.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:34:28Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-statement-on-recalibrating-our-military-assistance-to-saudi-arabia", "Murphy Statement on Recalibrating Our Military Assistance to Saudi Arabia", "2022-10-20", "2022", "2022-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia and Counterterrorism and a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Thursday released the following statement on immediate steps the U.S. should take to recalibrate our military assistance to Saudi Arabia:\n\n\u201cI support calls to freeze new military aid to Saudi Arabia. We should also take swift steps in the near term that will provide immediate help to Ukraine and our allies in eastern Europe. The U.S. should suspend the sale of Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) to Saudi Arabia and repurpose these missiles to Ukraine, which could use them with the newly provided National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) to protect its territory and population from Russia\u2019s criminal bombardments.\n\n\u201cFor several years, the U.S. military has deployed Patriot missile defense batteries to Saudi Arabia to help defend oil infrastructure against missile and drone attacks. These advanced air and missile defense systems should be re-deployed to bolster the defenses of eastern flank NATO allies like Poland and Romania\u2014or transferred to our Ukrainian partners.\n\n\u201cPolicy decisions have consequences, and these steps would right-size with relationship with Saudi Arabia and help Ukraine.\u201d\n\nAhead of President Biden\u2019s trip to Saudi Arabia this summer, Murphy authored an op-ed for Foreign Policy to lay out why the United States needs to rethink its relationship with Saudi Arabia. Earlier this week, Murphy joined CNN\u2019s State of the Union to discuss the OPEC+ announcement that it would cut oil production by two million barrels a day.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:34:28Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-statement-on-shooting-of-bristol-police-officers", "Murphy Statement on Shooting of Bristol Police Officers", "2022-10-20", "2022", "2022-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) released the following statement after the devastating news that two Bristol Police Officers were shot and killed in the line of duty last night, and a third officer was shot and seriously injured:\n\n\u201cI am devastated by the news that two Bristol police officers, Sergeant Dustin Demonte and Officer Alex Hamzy, were killed last night while heroically serving their community, and a third officer is severely injured. My thoughts are with their families, friends, and fellow officers as they grieve this senseless tragedy.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:34:28Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-secures-timeline-fda-rollout-breast-density-notification-rule", "DeLauro Secures Timeline from FDA on Rollout of Breast Density Notification Rule", "2022-10-17", "2022", "2022-10", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Chair of the House Appropriations Committee Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today announced that she secured a timeline from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the rollout of their new breast density notification rule, which would require providers to notify women if they have dense breasts and on the need for additional screenings to find breast cancer.\n\n\"After three years, I am pleased that the FDA has finally communicated that they believe they will be able to roll out a rule requiring providers to notify women of whether they have dense breasts, what this means for their risk of breast cancer, and the importance of speaking with a health care provider about breast density,\" said Chair DeLauro. \"40 percent of women over 40 have dense breasts, and their risk of breast cancer is much higher. When it comes to surviving cancer, early detection is key, as 99 percent of women who receive an early diagnosis survive it. I was proud to help enact the Breast Density and Mammography Reporting Act, which required FDA to develop this policy. Let me be clear: women's lives are at stake. I urge the FDA to move swiftly to release the final rule before the end of the year.\"\n\nLast week, DeLauro asked the FDA to provide an update within the week on the status of the development of the breast density notification rule. The FDA's response arrived shortly after, acknowledging that the Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA) final rule would publish before the end of the 2022 calendar year or early 2023.\n\nAs the lead Democrat on the Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, DeLauro fought for the inclusion of the Breast Density Mammography Act in the 2019 funding bill to require FDA to develop this rule. This legislation was signed into law on February 15, 2019.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-applauds-usda-proposal-reduce-salmonella-illnesses-poultry", "DeLauro Applauds USDA Proposal to Reduce Salmonella Illnesses from Poultry", "2022-10-14", "2022", "2022-10", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Chair of the House Appropriations Committee Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today released a statement applauding a new proposal announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to reduce salmonella illnesses resulting from the consumption of poultry.\n\n\"I applaud the USDA, under the leadership of Secretary Tom Vilsack, for taking this action to keep contaminated foods off the market,\" said Chair DeLauro. \"Every year, over one million Americans are made sick because of salmonella contamination and one fifth of those cases stem from chicken or turkey. It is time to ensure food manufacturers are held to the highest standard. With this proposal, poultry processing plants would be required to test poultry for salmonella before slaughter. Requiring interventions and pathogen control throughout the slaughter and processing of poultry and preventing contaminated product from eventually reaching the market is a no brainer. I am pleased the USDA is taking this step to strengthen food safety standards at poultry processing plants, and I hope the USDA works quickly to adopt these new measures to protect the safety and health of the public.\"\n\nUnder the new proposal from USDA, poultry processing plants would be required to test incoming flocks for salmonella before slaughter and document the salmonella levels before entering an establishment. The requirement will incentivize plants to implement preharvest interventions and other measures to reduce the salmonella load in the final poultry product.\n\nAccording to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC),Salmonella bacteria cause about 1.35 million infections, 26,500 hospitalizations, and 420 deaths in the United States every year. Salmonella is widespread in chicken in part because of the often crowded and unsanitary conditions in which they are raised. A Consumer Reports investigation found almost one-third of ground chicken samples tested contained salmonella.\n\nDeLauro has introduced legislation in the past, such as the Pathogen Reduction and Testing Reform Act, that would strengthen the ability of the USDA to keep Americans safe from contaminated meat, poultry, and eggs. Among other reforms, the bill would define Salmonella strains that are associated with serious illness or death, or that are drug-resistant, to be an adulterant in poultry. This change in definition would subject such contaminated products to the USDA's mandatory recall authority.\n\nAs Chair of the Food Safety Caucus, Chair DeLauro works to prevent foodborne illnesses that are spread because of lax safety practices, corporate greed, and slowed responses to contaminated products.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=E1DB3530-B189-4FD2-A732-5F1073606CDA", "Hayes Warns About Social Security Scammers", "2022-10-14", "2022", "2022-10", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Jahana Hayes", "H001081", "hayes.house.gov", "hayes", "https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WATERBURY \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) released the following statement after the Social Security Administration announced beneficiaries will receive an 8.7% increase in benefits in 2023.\n\n\u201cYesterday, the Social Security Administration announced benefits will increase by 8.7% in 2023. That means more than 65 million seniors will see an additional $140 per month in their Social Security check. This is welcome news and will have a tremendous impact on my constituents in Connecticut,\u201d said Congresswoman Hayes. \u201cUnfortunately, this announcement has also presented an opportunity for scammers and bad actors who try to take advantage of seniors. My office has already begun to hear from constituents about these fraudulent calls. The Social Security Administration will not contact beneficiaries about this announcement by phone and will never ask for a Social Security number or bank account information as a means of verification.\n\nThe Social Security Administration will send notice about this increase to beneficiaries by mail. You may also access information about benefits through your \u201cmy Social Security\u201d account online at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-unveils-prescription-drug-savings-report-connecticut-s-third", "DeLauro Unveils Prescription Drug Savings Report for Connecticut\u2019s Third Congressional District", "2022-10-13", "2022", "2022-10", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Data highlights how the Inflation Reduction Act will lower cost of prescription drugs in CT-03\n\nChair of the House Appropriations Committee Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today released a report prepared by the Democratic staff of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform highlighting how the Inflation Reduction Act will help seniors better afford the cost of prescription drugs. She unveiled the report at Tower Lane in New Haven on Wednesday, October 12.\n\n\"American seniors are living paycheck to paycheck \u2013 grappling with rising food, energy, and housing costs that are impacting working- and middle-class Americans everywhere,\" said Chair DeLauro. \"Our seniors, many of whom are on a fixed income, are feeling the economic pinch caused by inflation right now. That is why I am committed to finding solutions in Congress to support our seniors. In fact, the recently enacted Inflation Reduction Act will take historic steps to lower prescription drug and health care costs by finally allowing Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices, capping the price of insulin at $35 a month, and setting a $2,000 annual out-of-pocket cap for prescription drug costs. This will lower prescription drug costs for tens of thousands of seniors, and I promise I will always fight to enact policies that bring down costs for hardworking seniors and families.\"\n\n\"The Towers thanks Congresswoman DeLauro. We were so appreciative for the time and discussion about the Inflation Reduction Act. Our residents were grateful for the Congresswoman's time and were thankful to have a robust discussion surrounding the issues that matter most to our seniors.\" \u2013 Gustave Keach-Longo, President and CEO of the Towers at Tower Lane.\n\n\"We appreciate the work that Congresswoman DeLauro has done on the Inflation Reduction Act. Expanding insurance coverage and lowering prescription drug costs are critical for older adults who on fixed incomes. Decisions to pay for rent or food rather than life-sustaining prescriptions should not be routine for older adults.\" \u2013 Melissa Lang, President and CEO of Agency on Aging of South Central CT.\n\nBig corporations are raising prices and squeezing far too many Americans. That's why Democrats are taking action to lower costs for American families. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 contains critical reforms to lower prescription drug prices and help Americans struggling to afford their medications.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-visits-true-care-pharmacy-and-receives-flu-vaccine-new-haven", "DeLauro Visits True-Care Pharmacy and Receives Flu Vaccine in New Haven", "2022-10-12", "2022", "2022-10", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa L. DeLauro", "D000216", "delauro.house.gov", "delauro", "https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "NEW HAVEN, CT \u2013 House Appropriations Chair Rosa DeLauro visited True-Care Pharmacy to receive her flu vaccination in New Haven. True-Care Pharmacy is a locally-owned community pharmacy dedicated to providing outstanding customer service at an affordable price.\n\n\"Local pharmacies provide convenience, ease of access, and personalized care to the communities they serve \u2013 especially here in New Haven,\" said Chair DeLauro. \"I am thankful to the True-Care Pharmacy staff for providing me with my flu vaccine \u2013 I encourage everyone to receive one this fall to keep you and your loved ones safe. True-Care Pharmacy is a locally owned pharmacy here on Whalley Avenue that provides a range of services including free prescription delivery, COVID-19 boosters, blood pressure testing, and more. True-Care knows this community intimately and wants to do everything they can to provide personalized service to our seniors and the vulnerable. Health care costs are on the rise, and I am working to ensure local pharmacies, and the communities they serve, have the supports they need to thrive. I was proud to vote for the Inflation Reduction Act that is lowering prescription drug costs and health care premiums for Connecticut's seniors and working families.\"\n\n\"True-Care Pharmacy is at the forefront of delivering personalized services to keep the community healthy. We provide free in-home consultation, immunizations, and on-time medications. Join us today to experience the \u2018True-Care' you deserve,\" said True-Care Pharmacy Manager Victor Fok.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-shaheen-wicker-tillis-urge-biden-administration-to-establish-us-policy-toward-bosnia-and-herzegovina-as-eufor-mandate-renewal-deadline-approaches", "Murphy, Shaheen, Wicker, Tillis Urge Biden Administration To Establish U.S. Policy Toward Bosnia And Herzegovina As EUFOR Mandate Renewal Deadline Approaches", "2022-10-12", "2022", "2022-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) sent a letter this week to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, on the importance of the European Union Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUFOR) mandate and the development of a comprehensive strategy towards Bosnia and Herzegovina.\n\n\u201cThe fragility of the peace established under the Dayton Peace Accords is evident and alarming. Vladimir Putin\u2019s war in Ukraine has emboldened actors in Bosnia and Herzegovina who have long been supported by the Kremlin and other external actors, and the risk of violence cannot be ignored. The United States must focus on maintaining peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina,\u201d the senators wrote.\n\nThe senators went on to underscore the importance of the EUFOR mandate, which has helped keep the peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina following the end of the war in 1995. The number of NATO troops in the region under the mandate has steadily decreased. Amid precarious political dynamics in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the lawmakers argue that a more concerted strategic response from European Union (EU) member states, the United Kingdom and the United States is necessary to sufficiently source the EUFOR Althea Mission.\n\n\u201cRussia continues to claim the Western Balkans as within its sphere of influence, and Russian officials have issued numerous statements of support for regional actors opposed to both European integration and NATO. The United States must not turn a blind eye to these threats; we must demonstrate our commitment to European security by maintaining an effective presence in the Balkans as we continue to respond to Russia\u2019s unprovoked war in Ukraine,\u201d said the lawmakers.\n\nIn closing, the senators urged the Biden administration to develop a strategy, in coordination with NATO and the EU, for how to maintain a peacekeeping force in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the event of a Russian veto of the EUFOR mandate.\n\nIn April, Murphy, Shaheen, and Tillis traveled to the Western Balkans, including Bosnia and Herzegovina. Murphy also co-sponsored the Western Balkans Democracy and Prosperity Act, which would support economic development in the region through initiatives on infrastructure, trade and anti-corruption, including codification of sanctions to deter destabilizing activity in the Western Balkans.\n\nFull text of the letter is availablehere.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-cornyn-blumenthal-hoeven-tillis-introduce-bipartisan-help-find-the-missing-act", "Murphy, Cornyn, Blumenthal, Hoeven, Tillis Introduce Bipartisan Help Find the Missing Act", "2022-10-11", "2022", "2022-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2014U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) on Thursday introduced the bipartisan Help Find the Missing Act or \u201cBilly\u2019s Law.\u201d This legislation would close loopholes in America\u2019s missing persons systems by streamlining the missing persons reporting process and ensuring that law enforcement databases are more accessible and comprehensive.\n\nBilly's Law was originally introduced in 2009 by then-Congressman Chris Murphy. The bill was inspired by Janice Smolinski of Cheshire, Connecticut, after her 31-year-old son Billy went missing from Waterbury, Connecticut. While working with law enforcement to locate her missing son, Smolinski faced countless systemic challenges. Billy's Law was introduced to address those challenges and help ensure that the tens of thousands of American families whose loved ones go missing each year do not experience the same hurdles faced by the Smolinskis.\n\n\u201cThere are thousands of families like the Smolinskis who are forced to endure the crushing uncertainty of a missing loved one and then end up victimized all over again by a missing persons system that doesn't allow families to participate in the search for their family member. There\u2019s no excuse for the inefficiencies of the current process, which won\u2019t allow databases to communicate with each other. Billy\u2019s Law is a simple, commonsense fix that I first introduced in the House in 2009, and I won\u2019t stop pushing until we get it done,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n\u201cNobody should ever have to wonder about the fate of their missing child or loved one, but tragically, this is a reality for far too many,\u201d said Cornyn. \u201cBy improving the missing persons reporting process and improving coordination, this legislation ensures that local law enforcement can work swiftly and comprehensively to deliver justice to the families and friends of the missing.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur bipartisan measure will bolster resources for law enforcement officials as they help families with the search for missing loved ones. Patchwork reporting and loopholes in our national databases have impeded efforts to provide families with critical information. With a streamlined reporting process and increased funding, Billy\u2019s Law will strengthen future searches and help bring closure to countless families,\u201d said Blumenthal.\n\n\u201cThis legislation is about ensuring we have a missing persons reporting system that works, so that law enforcement and families can locate and find missing persons,\u201d said Hoeven. \u201cThis is a common-sense fix. Updating and streamlining these databases will be a helpful improvement for officers, families and communities searching for their loved ones.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe reintroduction of Billy's Law gives hope and encouragement during times of heartache and not knowing. Loved ones spend every day desperately searching for answers as to where their loved ones are and to possibly get the resolution needed. NamUs is a very important tool utilized by law enforcement, coroners, and medical examiners to help bring loved ones home or identify the unidentified. This legislation would relieve stress during these hard days and we are grateful to Senator Murphy for the attention and reintroduction of this much needed bill,\u201d said Janice Smolinski.\n\n\u201cThe only thing worse than losing a child, is losing your child and not bringing them home. We, as parents of a child who was missing and left murdered out in the wilderness, believe everyone deserves the same resources to help find their missing loved one. Tara, Niki, Jim and I have met and spoken with many leaders on missing persons cases and this bill in our opinion is long overdue. The Help Find The Missing Act gives two enormously important databases the ability to communicate vital info on finding everyone\u2019s missing family and friends as well as giving every state the connectivity to assist in reuniting your loved ones and bring them home faster,\u201d said Joe Petito, father of Gabby Petito.\n\nSpecifically, the Help Find the Missing Act would:\n\nAuthorize and ensure funding for the National Missing Persons and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs), created in 2007 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to provide a missing persons/unidentified database to which the public can contribute and access;\n\nConnect NamUs with the FBI\u2019s National Crime Information Center (NCIC) in order to create more comprehensive missing persons and unidentified remains databases and streamlining the reporting process for local law enforcement;\n\nExpand current law by requiring missing children be reported to NamUs (they already must be reported to NCIC);\n\nCreate an incentive grants program to help states, local law enforcement, medical examiners, and coroners report missing persons and unidentified remains to NCIC and NamUs;\n\nRequire DOJ to issue guidelines and best practices on handling missing persons and unidentified remains cases in order to empower law enforcement, medical examiners and coroners to help find the missing.\n\nThis legislation is endorsed by the Consortium of Forensic Science Organizations, American Academy of Forensic Sciences, American Society of Crime Lab Directors, National Association of Medical Examiners, International Association of Identification, Society of Forensic Toxicologists, American Board of Forensic Toxicologists, Fraternal Order of Police, National Association of Medical Examiners, Doe Network, Families of Homicide Victims and Missing Persons, and LostNMissing.\n\nFull text of the bill is available here.\n\nA section-by-section of the bill is available here.\n\nA one-pager of the bill is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-discusses-competition-with-china-support-for-nato-at-warsaw-security-forum", "Murphy Discusses Competition with China, Support for NATO at Warsaw Security Forum", "2022-10-11", "2022", "2022-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WARSAW\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee and co-chair of the Senate Poland Caucus, on Tuesday spoke on a panel at the Warsaw Security Forum about the importance of the transatlantic alliance and opportunities to work together in the face of Russian and Chinese aggression. Murphy was joined by Helena Carreiras, Portugal\u2019s Minister of Defense, and Ben Wallace, the U.K.\u2019s Secretary of State for Defense.\n\nOn working with Europe to compete with China, Murphy said: \u201cThis is a moment in which I think we have to be realistic about the opportunities that frankly come with the great power competition, not just the downsides. I mean, listen, I think the future of relations with China run through our ability to build seamless cooperation between the United States and Europe. And so, I am gladdened by our increasing discussions around trade and technology. If we\u2019re going to have an industrial policy in the United States, which I think we are on our way towards, it makes no sense to do that unilaterally. We should be building a common industrial policy with Europe. It doesn\u2019t make sense for Europe to move out way ahead of us on technology regulation, [it\u2019s] better for us to set the standard together. So, I think China delights when we are setting different standards, when we are creating parallel industrial policies. I think they know they\u2019re in for a much rougher ride when we\u2019re acting together.\n\n\u201cAnd frankly, to this question we were discussing before about how you present an offer to countries that right now are allured by the free money with no strings attached from China: creating a seamless market between the United States and Europe, creating an easy plug-in to the transatlantic\u2026 as an alternative to economic reliance with China is the future as well,\u201d Murphy added.\n\nMurphy highlighted the importance of investing in economic development and diplomacy as foreign policy tools: \u201cIn Africa, I think we\u2019re viewing the consequence of the United States continuing to look at the continent through a security-only lens. We have spent five times as much money padding the budgets of security agencies as we do trying to midwife economic development, as we do trying to fight corruption and build good governance. And we end up funding security forces that are corrupt, that are abusing their own people, giving opportunities to Russians and the Chinese to come in and fill the vacuum. And so, while I agree that this is a moment where we have to understand the need to bolster our conventional defensive capabilities, it\u2019s also a reminder that we simply don\u2019t have the economic development and pro-democracy tools that we need to have in places like Africa.\u201d\n\nOn Trump\u2019s failed rhetoric against support for Ukraine and his \"America First\" agenda, Murphy said: \u201cI think what's interesting is that in real time, to give you a little bit of a sense of what's happening in American politics today, President Trump is market testing his old messages of criticism and hostility to the transatlantic alliance. Some of his allies are sort of putting out messages of skepticism about continuing to fund Ukraine. But they're not landing\u2026Americans see in a brand new way the value of this alliance. These attacks, which I think were successful in the past, on the value of staying true to the alliance, I just don\u2019t think work the way that they might have six years ago. And so yes, I think in many ways, Vladimir Putin and his attack on Ukraine has renewed Americans vigor for the alliance and I think has diminished the impact politically of candidates who might think that they can score points by trying to argue for America's resources to come back home.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-highlights-bristols-movia-robotics-as-innovator-of-the-month", "Murphy Highlights Bristol's MOVIA Robotics as \"Innovator of the Month\"", "2022-10-11", "2022", "2022-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "HARTFORD\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) announced that MOVIA Robotics, based in Bristol, was named September\u2019s \u201cInnovator of the Month.\u201d Founded in 2010, MOVIA is a collaborative robotics company building systems and software to help people on the autism spectrum learn and grow using robotic technology. Their products \u2013 HomePal\u2122 for family use, Teacher\u2019s Aide\u2122 for school use, and TheraPal\u2122 for clinician use \u2013 incorporate several robot models and provide evidence-based Robot-Assisted Instruction (RAI) to meet the individualized needs and learning goals of those with ASD.\n\n\u201cToo often people on the autism spectrum \u2013 especially children \u2013 aren\u2019t given the support they need to succeed. The team at MOVIA is changing the game through their innovative, evidence-based robots that help kids learn, grow, and build their confidence. I look forward to seeing their continued growth in the state,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n\u201cWe are developing our products to help close the gap between the needs of people with autism and the tools available to their parents, teachers, and clinicians. Using evidence-based practices from education and autism therapy, combined with the interactive and engaging capabilities of robotics and AI, we aim to make it easier for those with special needs and the community that supports them to achieve their goals. Our goal is to make affordable and accessible tools that help the community and make a difference by improving the quality of life for these challenged individuals,\u201d said Timothy Gifford, Founder and President of MOVIA Robotics.\n\n\"We are excited to be helping people and changing their lives. MOVIA currently has over 400 systems around the world at schools, clinics, youth organizations, care facilities, and homes. Our RAI system is an alternative way for individuals to learn \u2013 it meets them where they are and empowers those who serve them,\u201d said Muniba Masood, MOVIA\u2019s Chief Executive Officer. \u201cWhen we see sheer joy on the face of a child or adult practicing a skill, and then having the confidence to use what they have learned during a social interaction, it makes what we do so worthwhile!\u201d\n\nMurphy believes entrepreneurship and innovation are the building blocks for a strong economy. In the U.S. Senate, he has introduced two bipartisan pieces of legislation to incentivize angel investors to put more money into startup companies\u2014the Angel Tax Credit Act and the Helping Angels Lead Our Startups (HALOS) Act. Startup companies create an average of 2 million jobs each year.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-on-state-of-the-union-its-time-to-admit-the-saudis-are-not-looking-out-for-us", "Murphy on State of the Union: It's Time to Admit the Saudis Are Not Looking Out for Us", "2022-10-11", "2022", "2022-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia and Counterterrorism and a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Sunday joined CNN\u2019s State of the Union with Jake Tapper to discuss Russian aggression, the need to re-evaluate America\u2019s relationship with Saudi Arabia, and protests in Iran.\n\nOn the threat of nuclear conflict with Russia, Murphy said: \u201cI think the President is right to raise the risk of nuclear conflict because Vladimir Putin is increasingly getting pushed into a corner\u2026This is a dangerous man, and the United States has to be ready for Putin to use a tactical nuclear weapon. I agree, I don\u2019t think there are any signs that he is going to do that imminently, and it\u2019s important for us to send signs about what the consequences would be should he make that choice.\u201d\n\nOn Putin\u2019s ultimate responsibility for the conflict, Murphy said: \u201cThis war can end if Vladimir Putin decides to get his troops and personnel out of Ukraine. He made the decision to invade a sovereign neighboring country and the blood today and tomorrow is on his hands\u2026I think as long as we communicate the lines that we are not willing to cross then the danger for escalation lessens. But I don't want to get into a world in which we start blaming ourselves for escalation. This is Putin's war, and it's his decision as to whether it ends.\u201d\n\nOn his longstanding calls for the U.S. to make a wholesale re-evaluation of the U.S.\u2013Saudi relationship, Murphy said: \u201cWe sell massive amounts of arms to the Saudis. I think we need to rethink those sales. I think we need to lift the exemption that we have given this OPEC+ cartel from US price fixing liability. I think we need to look at our troop presence in the Middle East and Saudi Arabia.\n\nMurphy continued: \u201cI mean, listen, for years, we have looked the other way as Saudi Arabia has chopped up journalists, has engaged in massive political repression. For one reason \u2013 we wanted to know that when the chips were down, when there was a global crisis, that the Saudis would choose us instead of Russia. Well, they didn't. They chose Russia. They chose to back up the Russians, drive up oil prices, which could have the potential to fracture our Ukraine coalition, and there's got to be consequences for that\u2026So I just think it's time to admit that the Saudis are not looking out for us.\u201d\n\nOn U.S. support of human rights protesters in Iran, Murphy said: \u201cI think the President's taking the right steps. So the President has sanctioned the vast swath of Iranian leaders who have been leading this repression, he is working to try to make sure that communications are restored. We obviously have a limited ability to operate inside Iran. It\u2019s not as if the United States has a big presence there with which to try to facilitate this unrest. But I think the President has very clearly signaled \u2013 and Congress should clearly signal \u2013 that we stand on the side of these protesters. This is a unique moment in Iran right now. And we should be doing everything we can to try to make sure that the people can get what they want.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-statement-on-republican-filibuster-of-the-disclose-act", "Murphy Statement on Republican Filibuster of the DISCLOSE Act", "2022-10-11", "2022", "2022-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Thursday released the following statement after Senate Republicans blocked consideration of the Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light On Spending in Elections Act (DISCLOSE), legislation to require organizations spending money in federal elections to disclose their donors:\n\n\u201cThis feels pretty basic \u2013 for democracy to work, Americans have to know who is behind the millions and millions of dollars being spent to block progress on lowering health care costs, tackling climate change, protecting reproductive rights, and making sure big corporations pay their fair share. Billionaires and special interests pour money into American politics, picking winners and losers while hiding their identities behind innocuously-named political action committees. This is terrible for our nation. The DISCLOSE Act would lift this veil of secrecy and let the American public see who is responsible for the uncontrolled spending that poisons our politics. It\u2019s disappointing \u2013 albeit unsurprising \u2013 that Republicans blocked a commonsense way to bring greater transparency to elections,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-to-travel-to-warsaw-security-forum", "Murphy to Travel to Warsaw Security Forum", "2022-10-11", "2022", "2022-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee and co-chair of the U.S. Senate Poland Caucus, will travel to Poland for the Warsaw Security Forum. Murphy will participate in a panel with Helena Carreiras, Portugal\u2019s Minister of Defense, and Ben Wallace, the United Kingdom\u2019s Secretary of State for Defense, titled \u201cGazing at Each Other or Facing the Same Direction: Reviving the Transatlantic Alliance in Times of War in Europe.\u201d Murphy will also meet with elected officials and participate in a conversation about democratic resilience with the mayor of Warsaw.\n\n\u201cAs a proud Polish-American and the Co-Chair of the U.S.-Poland Caucus, it\u2019s been amazing to watch Poland step up and do its part to support Ukraine in its time of peril. As Russia grows increasingly desperate, the past seven months have demonstrated the strength and effectiveness of transatlantic cooperation. This conference of American and European leaders is a great chance to continue planning for Ukraine\u2019s success and make sure we are on the same page on other mutual challenges,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-votes-to-keep-government-open-fund-heating-assistance-program-and-aid-to-ukraine", "Murphy Votes to Keep Government Open, Fund Heating Assistance Program and Aid to Ukraine", "2022-10-11", "2022", "2022-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, on Thursday released the following statement after the U.S. Senate passed the Continuing Resolution to fund the government until December 16:\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s our job to make sure the federal government stays open and is able to serve the American people. Today\u2019s continuing resolution includes LIHEAP funding that will help thousands of people in Connecticut afford to keep their homes warm as temperatures begin to drop. It also provides billions in disaster recovery aid to communities across America and reaffirms our commitment to support the people of Ukraine as they defend their country. But these stopgap measures only get us so far, and we need to pass a real budget,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 409, "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": "2022"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=CT&year=2022", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 409, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=CT&year=2022&party=Democrat", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=CT&year=2022", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 355, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=CT&year=2022&chamber=House", "selected": false}, {"value": "Senate", "label": "Senate", "count": 54, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=CT&year=2022&chamber=Senate", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=CT&year=2022", "results": [{"value": "CT", "label": "CT", "count": 409, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?year=2022", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=CT&year=2022", "results": [{"value": "2022", "label": "2022", "count": 409, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=CT", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2022-10-11,https~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Emurphy~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fnewsroom~2Fpress-releases~2Fmurphy-votes-to-keep-government-open-fund-heating-assistance-program-and-aid-to-ukraine", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=CT&year=2022&_next=2022-10-11%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Emurphy~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fnewsroom~2Fpress-releases~2Fmurphy-votes-to-keep-government-open-fund-heating-assistance-program-and-aid-to-ukraine&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 251.38957309536636, "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"}