url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at 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 – 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’s Bridge Investment Program, and were made possible by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which Rep. Courtney voted to pass. “Today’s announcement by the Federal Highway Administration that Connecticut’s largest passenger and truck bridge—the Thames River Gold Star Bridge—has been awarded $158 million for a long overdue rehabilitation is another example of the 2021 Infrastructure Law’s positive impact on eastern Connecticut,” said Rep. Courtney. “Preliminary 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.” ###",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 –House 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: “Today Sikorsky has made the decision to protest the Army’s recent award on Future Long Range Assault (FLRAA) Aircraft. “The 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. ""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. ""We are hopeful that this protest action and the forthcoming process will shed light on the Army’s decision making, and that the highest level of fidelity is conducted throughout.” ""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.”",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 – 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. Additionally, 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. “Throughout 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,” said Congresswoman Hayes. “Further, 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.” Congresswoman Hayes championed funding for 15 projects to directly benefit Fifth District residents. These include: WATERBURY: $4,000,000 for the renovation of Fulton Park Pool WATERTOWN: $3,375,000 for police department radio communications upgrades WATERTOWN: $3,000,000 for Main Street safety audit WATERBURY: $2,265,000 for education technology equipment, including computers for public schools NEW FAIRFIELD: $2,100,000 for the police department emergency communications system upgrade DANBURY: $2,000,000 for the Southeast, New York to Danbury, CT Rail Link environmental impact statement DANBURY: $2,000,000 for facilities and equipment at Connecticut Institute for Communities, Inc., FARMINGTON: $1,000,000 for K-12 STEM education programs at the University of Connecticut Health Center NEW BRITAIN: $1,000,000 for facilities and equipment at Klingberg Family Centers, Incorporated LITCHFIELD: $750,000 for expanding agricultural education, afterschool and behavioral health services for youth at Connecticut Junior Republic FALLS VILLAGE: $750,000 for affordable housing infrastructure at River Road Homes CHESHIRE: $625,000 for a fire protection system at Ball & Socket Arts, Inc. WATERBURY: $172,000 for expanding the Police Activity League Program NEW 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 NEW BRITAIN: $50,000 for the childcare business incubator program The 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: LOWERS THE COST OF LIVING: Reduces costs by expanding child care and early learning programs to more working families, investing in America’s K-12 public schools, making college more affordable, bolstering our public health infrastructure, and protecting consumers. CREATES 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. HELPS 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. KEEPS 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. PROTECTS 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. FUNDS 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. A detailed summary of the legislation is available here. ###",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 WASHINGTON, DC – 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’s desk to be signed into law. Rep. 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’s top priorities in the 2023 NDAA, delivering on behalf of the U.S. Navy and eastern Connecticut’s manufacturing workforce and supply chain. “At 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,” said Chairman Courtney. “America’s national security priorities around the world have an impact here at home every day—on our democracy, our economy, and our everyday lives. That’s 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—from increased submarine construction and shipbuilding, to historic new support to strengthen the workforce we need to get it all done, and lots more—and now the 2023 budget backs those authorizations up with full funding. It’s 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’m 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.” Defense and Submarine Priorities Submarines and Undersea Capabilities—The 2023 Omnibus provides a total of $14.5 billion for U.S. Navy submarine construction, procurement, and research & development priorities, including: Virginia-class Submarine — $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. Columbia-class Submarine — $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. Component Procurement — $975 million for components critical to new construction and sustainment of submarines, including support equipment, batteries, acoustic systems, communications equipment, and training modules. Submarine Industrial Base and Workforce Development — 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. Submarine Research and Development — $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. The bill also includes other Courtney-led provisions to augment undersea priorities such as: Infrastructure Upgrades at SUBASE New London — 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. Academic Partnerships for Undersea Research —$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. Advanced Submarine Control — $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. Additional Eastern Connecticut Defense Priorities National Coast Guard Museum — Fully funds the Coast Guard’s 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’s request to the Coast Guard to date. Defense Impact Aid — 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. Support for the Connecticut National Guard — Supports an increase of 16 C-130J Super Hercules airlift aircraft to continue modernization of the Air National Guard’s 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. F-35 Joint Strike Fighter — Supports procurement of 61 F-35 aircraft, which are supported by Pratt & Whitney, for the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps. F135 Engine Modernization — 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. Blackhawks — 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. CH-53K — Supports an increase of 2 CH-53K heavy-lift helicopters, bringing the total to 12 aircraft for the Marine Corps, built at Sikorsky. Combat Rescue Helicopter — Supports an increase of 10 Combat Rescue Helicopters, built at Sikorsky, bringing the total number of aircraft to 20 for the Air Force. Other Notable Provisions Ensuring the Health of Our Veterans — 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. A pay raise for servicemembers — Fully funds the 2023 NDAA’s authorization of a 4.6% pay increase for all American military personnel. Basic Allowance for Housing — 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. Basic Allowance for Subsistence — 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. Basic Needs Allowance — Provides an additional $12.1 million for a BAH supplement to eligible servicemembers with dependents, building on the 2023 NDAA’s increased threshold up to 150% of the federal poverty line. Commissaries — Provides an increase of $224 million to fully fund DoD commissaries to help cut the costs of groceries for servicemembers and their families. Continued Support for Ukraine On the heels of President Zelenskyy’s address to Congress, the Consolidated Appropriations Act includes $45 billion in emergency funding for Ukraine, as they continue to repel Russia’s unlawful invasion and head into the winter months. Key priorities include: Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative — Provides $9 billion for training, equipment, defense articles, and supplies, which has proved critical to Ukraine’s success. United States European Command — Provides nearly $7 billion for the United States to continue mission support and logistics services in the European Area of Responsibility. Humanitarian Assistance — Provides $2 billion to support humanitarian initiatives for Internally Displaced Persons within Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees. Children and Families — Provides $2 billion for resettlement and other support activities such as emergency housing, job training, and case management for Ukrainian arrivals. Continued Oversight — 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. ###",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 WASHINGTON, DC – 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’s desk to be signed into law. ""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,” said Congressman Courtney. “People 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’s 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’s 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.” “Following President Zelenskyy’s 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,” Courtney continued. “I was proud to help craft and pass a budget that supports our nations’ shared interest in the defense of democracy and that provides such a strong boost to our towns and our region, and I’m glad that we got it done on a bipartisan basis.” Eastern Connecticut Priorities and Initiatives The Consolidated Appropriations Act includes funding for several priorities and projects that were secured specifically by Rep. Courtney—both 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. Targeted Funding for Community Projects — 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’s 15 Community Project Requests, click here. Support Submarine Construction and Development of Undersea Capabilities —Includes expansive support for sustained submarine construction and procurement—a 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. Supporting the Submarine Workforce and Industrial Base — 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. New Support for SUBASE New London — Provides $15.5 million to relocate the base’s 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. Academic Partnerships for Undersea Research — Fully funds Courtney’s 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. Additional Funding for Federal Energy Assistance Programs — 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. Helping Farmers Hit by Drought and Extreme Weather — 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—click here to read more. National Coast Guard Museum — Fully funds the Coast Guard’s 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’s request to the Coast Guard, as well as $50 million allocated in 2022 to support construction of the museum Crumbling Foundations Research — Rep. Courtney’s 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. Impact Aid — Includes $1.6 billion for the U.S. Department of Education’s 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. Preserving Eastern Connecticut’s Natural Heritage — 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. Permanent Conservation of Plum Island — 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. Support for Spent Nuclear Fuel Disposal — 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’s efforts to identify interim storage sites for spent nuclear fuel, and heard from local stakeholders about the need to remove it from Connecticut. Funding for Working Families, Workforce Development, Veterans, and More Ensuring the Health of Our Veterans — 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. Special Education — 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. Expansion of Pell Grants — 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. Career, Technical, and Adult Education — 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. Registered Apprenticeships — Provides a total of $285 million for Registered Apprenticeship programs nationwide, a $50 million increase over FY 2022 enacted levels. WIOA State Grants — 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. Community Based Services — $770 million for the Community Services Block Grant program, an increase of $15 million over FY 2022 levels. Community Health Centers — $1.9 billion to support the nationwide Community Health Center Program, an increase of $100 million over 2022 enacted levels. State Opioid Response Grants — $1.5 billion for nationwide State Opioid Response Grants, a $50 million increase over 2022 levels. Drug Free Communities Program — $109 million for the nationwide Drug Free Communities Program, a $3 million increase from 2022. Assistance to Firefighters and Local Fire Stations — $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. Continued Support for Ukraine On the heels of President Zelenskyy’s address to Congress, the Consolidated Appropriations Act includes $45 billion in emergency funding for Ukraine, as they continue to repel Russia’s unlawful invasion and head into the winter months. Key priorities include: Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative — Provides $9 billion for training, equipment, defense articles, and supplies, which has proved critical to Ukraine’s success. United States European Command — Provides nearly $7 billion for the United States to continue mission support and logistics services in the European Area of Responsibility. Humanitarian Assistance — Provides $2 billion to support humanitarian initiatives for Internally Displaced Persons within Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees. Children and Families — Provides $2 billion for resettlement and other support activities such as emergency housing, job training, and case management for Ukrainian arrivals. Continued Oversight — 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. ###",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 WASHINGTON, DC – 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—click here to read more. Now that the bill has been passed by the House, it will move on to the President’s desk for signature. Passage 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 “Community Project Funding.” 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’s 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. “The government funding package we passed today includes funding specifically for important projects that many of our towns and community partners otherwise couldn’t afford,” said Rep. Courtney. “From 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’s great news for eastern Connecticut.” In 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. Targeted Support for Fifteen Local Projects The Consolidated Appropriations Act includes funding Rep. Courtney secured for local projects throughout eastern Connecticut. All fifteen of Courtney’s 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’s 2023 project requests will bring over $21.5 million in targeted federal investments home to CT-02, and will be used to: Canterbury, CT: Provide New Space for Children’s Learning—Rep. Courtney secured funding to construct a children’s play and learning center at the Canterbury Public Library in Canterbury, CT ($480,000) “Library 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’re very excited about today’s step forward on making it final.” — Beth Delaney, Director of the Canterbury Public Library Coventry, CT: Protect Our Environment, and Prepare for Development—Rep. 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) “We 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.” — John Elsesser, Town Manager of Coventry, CT East Hampton, CT: Improve Local Trail Networks—One of Rep. Courtney’s 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) “This project has been in motion for several years. We’ve 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’s 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—we’re grateful for that, and we’re 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.” — Jeremy Hall, Director of Parks and Recreation in East Hampton, CT Groton, CT: Improve Childcare Services for Local Families—Courtney secured funding to replace outdated modular buildings at TVCCA’s Childcare Center in Groton, CT ($3,000,000) “It is incredibly important for children and families in Groton to have a state-of-the-art early childhood center—the 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’s parents and families. Congressman Courtney’s 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.” — Deborah Monahan, Chief Executive Officer of TVCCA Hebron, CT: Upgrade and Expand Services to Individuals with Disabilities—Courtney 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) “These 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.” — Barry Simon, President & CEO of Oak Hill Lebanon, CT: Repair and Upgrade Facilities Serving Men with Addiction and Mental Health Issues—Courtney 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) “The 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!” — Stacey Lawton, CEO of Southeastern Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. Madison, CT: Enhance Capabilities for First Responders in Madison—Courtney also secured funding to support the Town of Madison’s 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) “This 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’s residents and emergency services personnel.” — Samuel DeBurra, Director of Operations, Fire Marshal, and Emergency Management Director for the Town of Madison Mansfield, CT: Expand Affordable Housing Opportunities—Courtney 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) “The 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.” — Kathy Ward, President of the Mansfield Nonprofit Housing Development Corporation New London and Southeast Connecticut: Expand Mental Health Care Opportunities in Local Schools—Courtney secured funding to enable the Child and Family Agency of Southeastern CT to hire five new, full-time, master’s 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) “The 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.” — Dr. Allison Blake, CEO of the Child & Family Agency of Southeastern CT, Inc. Northeast Connecticut: Expand Services for Women Escaping Domestic Violence—Another of Rep. Courtney’s project requests will provide funding to renovate, upgrade, and expand a United Services, Inc.’s Domestic Violence Shelter serving northeast Connecticut, providing more beds, more private space for occupants, and improved ADA accessibility ($1,000,000) “United 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.” — Diane L. Manning, President/CEO of United Services Plainfield, CT: Make Upgrades to the Quinebaug River Trail—Courtney 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) “This 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.” — Mary Ann Chinatti, Town Planner of Plainfield, CT Somers, CT: Protect Our Environment, and Upgrade Local Water Infrastructure—Courtney also secured funding to make upgrades and improve operations at the Wastewater Pollution Control Facility in Somers, CT ($945,000) “The 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.” — Dan Parisi, Town of Somers Superintendent Stonington, CT: Support the Local Fishing Industry with Infrastructure Upgrades—Courtney secured funding that will enable the start of major maintenance and upgrades to the Fisherman’s Dock in Stonington, CT ($900,000) “We 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.” — Stonington First Selectwoman Daniele Chesebrough Storrs, CT: Fund Research into Mitigation Strategies for the Crumbling Foundations Crisis—Rep. 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) “This 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’s land-grant higher education institution, UConn is committed to using the expertise in the School of Engineering’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering to address real-world issues such as these.” — Dr. Radenka Maric, President of the University of Connecticut President Maric added: “UConn’s 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’s affected homeowners as we navigate this complex issue together.” Suffield, CT: Support New Equipment Purchases at the Suffield Police Department—Courtney 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’s 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) “The 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.” — Suffield Police Department Chief James Canon ###",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 House 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. “People are living paycheck to paycheck,” said Chair DeLauro. “By 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.” Among the investments Chair DeLauro secured for Connecticut, this funding bill: Invests 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; Protects 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; Provides $45 billion in emergency funding to support the Ukrainian peopleand defend global democracy in the wake of Russia’s unprovoked attack on Ukraine; Includes $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; Creates 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–60M Blackhawk helicopters, and $75 million toward F135 Engine Core Upgrade (ECU) for the F-35 Lightning II; Supports 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; Strengthens 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; Helps 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: $396 million for Historically Black Colleges and Universities, $228 million for Hispanic Serving Institutions, and $50 million for a new program to provide HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs with Research and Development infrastructure grants; Keeps 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; Strengthens community college training grants, investing $65 million in this program. DeLauro created this program in fiscal year 2020 appropriations; Helps Americans find a job, with $375 million for reemployment services; Propels 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; Improves 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; Invests $350 million, an increase of $150 million above the 2022 enacted level, for public health infrastructure and capacity nationwide; Enhances tracking of public health data, with $175 million for Public Health Data Modernization and $293 million for Global Public Health Protection; Addresses our maternal health crisis by providing historic investments, including: $823 million in HRSA's Maternal and Child Health Block Grant which funds— Maternal Mental Health Hotline; State Maternal Health Innovation Grants; and Grants to Minority-Serving Institutions; $145 million for HRSA's Healthy Start $10 million for HRSA Screening and Treatment for Maternal Depression; $108 million for CDC Safe Motherhood/Infant Health; and $7 million for the Office of Minority Health – Achieving Equitable Maternal Health Outcomes – for a new initiative; Improves American health by investing $1.9 billion in Community Health Centersand $2.6 billion for the Ryan White HIV/AIDS; Supports our seniors by boosting operating expenses at the Social Security Administration to $14 billion and providing $1.1 billion for Senior Nutrition programs; Supports 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; In addition to this funding, the bill also includes: The 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. Last 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. A plan to combat EBT skimming to help families who have had their SNAP benefits stolen, a problem experienced by Connecticut families. The Anti-Money Laundering Whistleblower Improvement Act, which enhances protections for whistleblowers who report illegal money laundering. The 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’s Third Congressional District in the final fiscal year 2023 funding bill that is heading to President Biden’s 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. “I am pleased to announce that several projects in our community will be receiving needed financial support,” said Chair DeLauro. “As 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.” Listed 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: City of Ansonia: This 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. “I 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!” said City of Ansonia Mayor David Cassetti. Town of Bethany: This project will renovate and upgrade the Bethany Town Hall building that is over 60 years old. ""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. Town of Branford: The 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. “The Connecticut Hospice is deeply grateful for Congresswoman DeLauro’s Community Project Funding,” said Barbara Pearce. “It 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.“ Town of Hamden: The 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. “Congresswoman 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’s strong support, this would not be possible,” said Town of Hamden Mayor Lauren Garrett. Borough of Naugatuck: This project will assist child care renovation and expansion to serve the community's needs. “The 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’re 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,” said Naugatuck YMCA Chief Executive Officer Mark LaFortune. City of New Haven Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen, Inc. (DESK): This 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. ""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,” said Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen Executive Director Steve Werlin. Fair Haven Community Health Clinic: The 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. “This 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,” said Suzanne Lagarde MD MBA FACP, Chief Executive Officer Fair Haven Community Health Care Leadership, Education and Athletic in Partnership, Inc.: This 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. ""We are grateful for Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro’s support for LEAP and our city’s 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. Wilbur Cross High School: This 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. ""These funds will help support the refurbishment of the outdoor athletic fields at Wilbur Cross High School – New Haven's largest public school – 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. Town of North Haven: This 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. “We 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’s past. We are very grateful,” said Town of North Haven First Selectman Mike Freda. Town of Middlefield: This 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. “The 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’s ongoing and continued support of Middlefield’s numerous volunteers is invaluable to the success of our community.” said First Selectman Bob Yamartino. City of Milford: Connecticut Audubon Society (CAS) Coastal Center at Milford Point This 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. “We are honored and grateful that Congresswoman DeLauro selected our Modernization and Technology Enhancement Project at the Milford Point Coastal Center for funding,” said Connecticut Audubon Executive Director Patrick Comins. “This 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.” Town of Seymour and Beacon Falls: This 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. “This 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,” said Town of Seymour First Selectwoman Anne Drugonis. Town of Stratford: This 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. “We are thrilled to receive $4,135,622 to support Flood Protection Measures at Stratford’s 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’s support in securing this funding,” said Stratford Mayor Laura R. Hoydick. Town of Wallingford: This 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. ""Our ‘Just 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 ‘Just 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 – 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. “I am thrilled that this year’s omnibus includes funding for the fourteen projects that I fought for,” said Rep. Himes, “and that this legislation will make a substantive impact for families throughout Southwest Connecticut. These funds are an investment not only in our state’s infrastructure, but in our women owned businesses, our recovering veterans, our district’s 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.” Connecticut’s Fourth Congressional District will receive a total of $23,925,351, for 14 community projects advocated for by Congressman Himes. These include: $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; $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; $2,000,000 for the Women’s Business Development Council to expand technical assistance and microgrants for women-owned businesses in the district; $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; $2,000,000 for the Riverbrook Regional YMCA $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; $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; $1,323,660 for Norwalk Public Schools to create a new K-12 Marine Science Pathway in partnership with the Maritime Aquarium; $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; $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; $1,000,000 for the City of Stamford’s Bioswales Initiative to remove motor oils, gasoline, antifreeze, brake dust, fertilizers, pesticides, and sediment from runoff before these contaminants reach the storm drain; $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; $750,000 for the Town of Trumbull to build a multi-use Veterans and Community Center to support the region’s veterans, small businesses, civic groups, and residents. $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. The omnibus also contains a series of provisions that will benefit Connecticut’s families, infrastructure, and environment. These include: Over $40 million to restore and protect the Long Island Sound’s vast array of plants, animals, and habitats; $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; $5 billion for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help with rising energy costs. ### Congressman Jim Himes represents Connecticut’s 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’s 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 — 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’s 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). For eastern Connecticut’s natural treasures like The Last Green Valley—whose federal NHA authorization was set to expire in 2023—the 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. “At 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’s most important natural preservation areas. Passage of the National Heritage Act today gives The Last Green Valley the long-term reauthorization we’ve been pressing towards for over two years now,” said Congressman Courtney. “Families, 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’t just great investments for keeping our land open and green, they also create jobs, establish travel destinations, and they’re a smart long-term investment. Connecticut knows that investments in our open spaces provide real dividends for taxpayers, and I’m 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’s other Natural Heritage Areas.” “We are grateful for Rep. Courtney’s unwavering support and commitment to help secure passage of the National Heritage Area Act,” said Lois Bruinooge, Executive Director of The Last Green Valley. “The 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. Courtney has long supported conservation efforts in eastern Connecticut and the region—from 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’s Wilderness and Public Lands Act, which passed the House in February 2021, and to today’s National Heritage Act. In 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. The 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’s 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. The 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. ###",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. “The 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,” said Chair DeLauro. “I 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.” The 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. Businesses 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://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 – 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. “Today, 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.,” said Rep. Courtney. “His high profile and wide experience ensures that our nations’ 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.” Courtney added, “Thank you to outgoing Ambassador Arthur Sinodinos for your outstanding work across two U.S. administrations and a global pandemic—extraordinary service during extraordinary times.” Rep. 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. ###",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 – The U.S. House of Representatives voted 422-4 to pass the Help Find the Missing Act, also known as “Billy’s Law,” 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 – 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. The 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’s Law now heads to the desk of President Joe Biden for his signature. Billy’s 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. “Each 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’ offices or disposed of after going unclaimed. Due to gaps in databases, missing persons and unidentified remains are rarely matched,” said Congresswoman Hayes. “Billy’s 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.” Specifically, the Help Find the Missing Act would: Direct 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; Connect NamUs with the FBI’s 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; Expand current law by requiring missing children be reported to NamUs (they already must be reported to NCIC); and Require 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. Endorsing 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. ###",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. The 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 — improving the sound’s ecological diversity and fish stock. To receive the funding NVCOG must demonstrate compliance with certain program conditions. The 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’s thriving shellfish industry. “This grant is a great win for Connecticut’s environment and a major victory for the Naugatuck Valley. All the Kinneytown Dam has done for years is prevent fish from getting up river — 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,” Blumenthal said. “I’m 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.” “The 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’m 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,” said Sen. Murphy. “For 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,” said Rep. DeLauro. “With 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.” “For far too long, the Kinneytown Dam has hampered efforts to revitalize the Naugatuck River. I’m 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’s long-term economic and environmental vitality,” said Rep. Himes. “The 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,” said Rep. Hayes. “The 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,” said Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments Executive Director Rick Dunne “The 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,” said Waterbury Mayor Neil M. O’Leary and Chairman of the NVCOG. ""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."" In 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 — only the Kinneytown Dam, the lowest dam on the Naugatuck River, remains. The 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 — after the Ansonia power plant went offline — the average fish count plunged even further to 159 fish. For the past three years, a consortium of local and state government leaders and environmental groups — strongly supported by the Connecticut congressional delegation— 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: “Today, we honor the families, the survivors, and the lives of the beautiful souls we lost ten years ago in Newtown. “We 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. “As 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. “It is the responsibility of Congress to protect Americans – we must enact more commonsense gun violence prevention laws and save lives. Inaction is unacceptable. “Each 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 – 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. The 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 — improving the sound’s ecological diversity and fish stock. To receive the funding NVCOG must demonstrate compliance with certain program conditions. The 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’s thriving shellfish industry. “This grant is a great win for Connecticut’s environment and a major victory for the Naugatuck Valley. All the Kinneytown Dam has done for years is prevent fish from getting up river — 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,” Blumenthal said. “I’m 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.” “The 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’m 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,” said Sen. Murphy. “For 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,” said Rep. DeLauro. “With 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.” “For far too long, the Kinneytown Dam has hampered efforts to revitalize the Naugatuck River. I’m 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’s long-term economic and environmental vitality,” said Rep. Himes. “The 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,” said Rep. Hayes. “The 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,” said Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments Executive Director Rick Dunne “The 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,” said Waterbury Mayor Neil M. O’Leary and Chairman of the NVCOG. ""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."" In 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 — only the Kinneytown Dam, the lowest dam on the Naugatuck River, remains. The 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 — after the Ansonia power plant went offline — the average fish count plunged even further to 159 fish. For the past three years, a consortium of local and state government leaders and environmental groups — strongly supported by the Connecticut congressional delegation— have been pushing to take down the dam and restore the fish passage. This 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—Today, Congressman Jim Himes released the following statement marking ten years since the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut: “Ten 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’s more, our nation has never had a moment to catch our breath in the ongoing deluge of gun violence. “Each 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. “We can and must do more. For the children and teachers of Sandy Hook Elementary, for the families of those we’ve lost, and for all those whose lives have been upended by this senseless violence, I will keep fighting.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-03-30T11:08:25Z 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. “It 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’s lives,” said Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro. “As we all know, when it comes to surviving cancer, early detection is key – 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.” “Like 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,” said Katie Couric. “Breast 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.” “The Find It Early Act is a step in the right direction towards preventing and eliminating breast cancer across the country,” said Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick. “I 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.” “For 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,” said Molly Guthrie, Vice President of Policy and Advocacy at Susan G. Komen. “The 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.” “At 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,” said JoAnn Pushkin, Executive Director of DenseBreast-info, Inc. “The Find it Early Act will help ensure that when a woman is told that her mammogram might not be enough – 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.” “It 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,” said Joseph J. Cappello, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Are You Dense Advocacy, Inc. “We 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.” “Study after study has shown that early detection of breast cancer saves lives,” said Dr. Rachel Brem, Chief Medical Officer, Brem Foundation to Defeat Breast Cancer; Vice Chair of Radiology and Director Breast Imaging Center, GW Hospital. “Still, 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 ‘hidden cost’ of breast cancer diagnosis.” Unfortunately, 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. In 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’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. DeLauro 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://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 — 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)—a bipartisan bill introduced by Rep. Courtney, which has already been passed in the House and would take commonsense steps to ensure America’s nurses, EMTs, doctors, emergency responders, social workers, and other health care professionals are better protected while at work. The call comes following last week’s 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. The Workplace Violence Prevention Act has already been passed by the U.S. House of Representatives—twice. 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. “It didn’t 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’s health care workforce—they know better than anyone the sort of danger they face, and that it’s grown worse since 2020,” said Congressman Courtney. “I’ve been married to a nurse practitioner for over thirty years, I’ve worked alongside Connecticut’s nurses ever since I came to Congress, and we’ve pressed forward time and again to address the growing crisis of on-the-job violence facing our health care workers. Nurses didn’t 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’s what the Workplace Violence Prevention bill is all about. We’ve voted to pass this legislation twice now in the House of Representatives, both times on a strongly bipartisan basis, and it’s long past time that the Senate follows our lead and gets this done so that America’s health care workers are better cared for while they’re working to care for us.” Background Violence 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. Rep. Courtney’s 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—an even greater bipartisan majority than when similar legislation introduced by Courtney passed the House in 2019. Courtney’s 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. On May 12, Rep. Courtney’s bill was officially introduced to the U.S. Senate by Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) as S. 4182, where it awaits a vote. To read more, click here. ###",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’s newly launched Office of Public Health Workforce Development Program. “Connecticut’s public health workforce is an anchor to our communities,” said Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro. “As 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’s 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.” DeLauro 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’s critical public health infrastructure needs. This grant is the bedrock for CDC’s 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. Goals of the Office of Public Health Workforce Development include: Working 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 is up to date Includes cross-cutting content addressing health equity and mental health Aligns with the current standards for public health professional training Produces graduates that are work-ready Developing a new Public Health Training Academy to coordinate and provide continuing education and upskilling of state, local, and non-profit public health workers. Improving pathways from enrollment to employment through more standardized and widely available experiential learning opportunities (i.e., internships, fellowships, apprenticeships) at public health agencies. Increasing 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 ‘culture of care’ that is accessible, translatable, and implementable at state, local, and non-profit public health agencies in Connecticut. # # #",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 The NDAA includes Courtney’s provisions supporting the U.S. Navy, eastern CT, the AUKUS alliance, and more WASHINGTON, DC — 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. “The 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—well here’s hard evidence that it can,” said Congressman Courtney. “The 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 ‘provide and maintain a Navy,’ and as Chairman of the Seapower Subcommittee, our panel’s 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.” The 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—a provision that comes directly from Rep. Courtney’s U.S.-Australia Submarine Officer Pipeline Act that will ensure Australia’s Navy is trained and ready to pilot their nuclear-powered submarine fleet of the future. “The 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,” Rep. Courtney added. “I’ve 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’ll keep the momentum going strong—both in terms of increasing submarine production, and in growing the skilled workforce and industrial base we need to build them.” Read below for more information on Courtney-led and Second District priorities included in the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act. Eastern Connecticut Priorities Included in the 2023 NDAA Submarines and Undersea Capabilities—The HASC-passed NDAA authorizes a total of $14.7 billion for submarine procurement, repair, and research & development priorities including: Virginia-class Submarine—Authorizes $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. Columbia-class Submarine—Authorizes $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. Submarine Industrial Base and Workforce Development—The 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. Submarine Research and Development—The 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. Academic Partnerships for Undersea Research—The 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. Defense Impact Aid—Authorizes $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. Naval Submarine Base New London—Authorizes $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. DOD Microelectronics—Authorizes 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. Seapower and Projection Forces Shipbuilding—Following 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: Two Virginia-class submarines Three DDG 51 Arleigh Burke destroyers. The measure also includes multiyear procurement authority for up to 15 destroyers in the next block contract. One guided missile Frigate (FFG) One Landing Platform Dock (LPD) Flight II One John Lewis Class T-AO fleet oiler One T-ATS towing, salvage, and rescue ship Two Expeditionary Medical Ships (EMS) Additionally, the bill increased the Navy's resources for shipbuilding and ship maintenance by authorizing additional funding to include: $250 million for large surface combatant shipyard infrastructure $250 million for Advance Procurement of LPD-33 Flight II $289 million for Advance Procurement of LHD-10 $77 million to procure a third destroyer in FY24 Sealift & Maritime—The bill includes several Courtney-led provisions to prioritize the recapitalization and expansion of critical sealift capabilities: Domestic Design and Construction Program—The 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. Tanker Security Program (TSP)—The 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. Aircraft and Projection Forces Capabilities: B-21 Raider—Fully 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. KC-46A—Fully supports the budget request of 15 KC-46 aerial refueling tanker aircraft to support Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and partner-nation receivers. V-22 Osprey—Authorizes $212 million for two V-22 aircraft. KC-130J—Authorizes $699.1 million for five KC-130J aircraft, two for the Marine Corps and three for the Navy. E-2D Hawkeye—Authorizes $1.2 billion for 7 E-2D aircraft, two above the budget request. Tactical Airlift & Aerial Refueling—Maintains 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. Support for the AUKUS Alliance As 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: Submariner Training Pipeline—The 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. Additional Connecticut Aerospace Priorities F-35 Joint Strike Fighter—Authorizes procurement of 69 F-35 aircraft for the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps, eight aircraft above the budget request. Blackhawks—Authorizes 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. CH53-K—Authorizes an increase of 2 CH-53K heavy lift helicopters, bringing the total to 12 aircraft for the Marine Corps, built at Sikorsky. Combat Rescue Helicopter— 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. CT National Guard—Authorizes 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. Support for Servicemembers and Their Families Pay Raise—Authorizes a 4.6% pay increase for all military personnel. Basic Allowance for Housing – Authorizes an increase of $494 million for the DoD to increase servicemember housing allowance by 2%. Basic Needs Allowance – Increases the threshold to be eligible for the Basic Needs Allowance, now up to 150% of the federal poverty line. Commissaries – Authorizes an increase of $224 million to fully fund DoD commissaries to help cut the costs of groceries for servicemembers. Other Notable Provisions Ukraine—The 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. ###",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’s 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 – 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’s desk to be signed into law. “After the Supreme Court’s divisive, radical decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, other long-settled Court precedents on Americans’ right to privacy were thrown into doubt, since the rationale of Dobbs striking down ‘unenumerated rights’ 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’ right to marry under federal law,” said Rep. Courtney. “Now, 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’m proud to help pass the Respect for Marriage Act and look forward to the President signing it into law.” In his concurring opinion to June’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s 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 “should be understood to cast doubt on precedents that do not concern abortion […] in future cases, we should reconsider all of this Court’s substantive due process precedents, including Griswold, Lawrence, and Obergefell.” 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—all 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. The Respect for Marriage Act would codify the right to same-sex and interracial marriage guaranteed by Obergefell into law. Specifically, the bill would: Require the federal government to recognize a marriage between two individuals if the marriage was valid in the state where it was performed Prohibit state officials from denying recognition of an out-of-state marriage on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity or national origin. Protect all religious liberty and conscience protections available under the Constitution or Federal law The Respect for Marriage Act would not: Require a state to issue marriage licenses contrary to state law The 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’s Law Center and PFLAG. ###",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 — 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’s Navy and Armed Services, as well as for our military personnel and defense industrial base. Click here to read more. This year’s defense authorization also marks a historic “first”: the 2023 NDAA includes the U.S. Congress’s 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’s 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. ""As this year’s AUSMIN meetings conclude, I’m more bullish than ever on importance of our AUKUS undersea alliance, and on the seminal role it will play in our nations’ histories,” said Rep. Courtney. “The 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’s 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’s 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’s far too early to rule anything in or out, but with bipartisan wins like these I’m confident that we’ll be able to overcome any challenges along the way.” “The 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’t 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,” said Rep. Gallagher. “In 2022, our strategic alliances and partnerships across the globe are more important than ever – that’s why I’m encouraged to see that this year’s National Defense Authorization Act includes a key provision that our working group supported,” said Rep. Kilmer. “Facilitating 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.” “I 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,” said Rep. Moore. “This year’s defense authorization includes a new training pipeline between Australia’s 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.” The AUKUS Working Group’s bipartisan provision in the final 2023 NDAA will support the success of AUKUS by helping ensure Australia’s Navy is ready to pilot nuclear-powered submarine technology upon delivery by: Establishing a Submariner Training Pipeline—The 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’s U.S.-Australia Submarine Officer Pipeline Act, a bill he introduced in June. The 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. ###",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. “I 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. “Notably, 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’s 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. “Here’s 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. “Today’s action by Congress represents a determination to protect these civil rights that have been earned through generations of persistence,” said DeLauro. “I 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.” The 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’s 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 – 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. “I consider funding our national defense programs to keep this country safe to be one of our most important responsibilities as Members of Congress,” said Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04). “This 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.” The 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. “It is, of course, essential to keep our military strong,” said Rep. Himes, “but 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.” The NDAA also contains significant funds for Connecticut-based companies that employ thousands of workers. These include the purchase of: 69 F-35 aircrafts for the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps; 27 UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters for the Army National Guard; 12 CH-53K heavy lift helicopters for the Marine Corps; 20 Combat Rescue Helicopters for the Air Force. In 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. For more information or with any questions, contact Nora Kohli at Nora.Kohli@mail.house.gov ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-03-30T11:08:25Z 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 — 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’ losses in 2022, in addition to 2021 and 2020. Click here to read the full letter. In 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’s 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: “We 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.” According to the FSA’s 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. The 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: “Although 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.” “Many 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.” To protect New England’s 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. More details on the FY 2023 Omnibus appropriations package will be available soon. Click here to read the coalition’s full letter. ###",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 – 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’s announcement regarding the awarding of the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft contract: “Sikorsky 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’s decision to not select them for the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) contract was perplexing, to say the least,” said Rep. Courtney. “There’s 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’ve closely overseen major contract decisions like this over the years—some 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.” ###",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 – 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: “I am disappointed that Sikorsky was not selected for the Army’s 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 — and that ultimately preserve jobs.”",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. “The F135 is the most advanced, reliable and capable fighter engine the world has ever known,” said Larson. “For 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.” “Pratt & Whitney is one of the foremost leaders in advanced technology and defense manufacturing,” said DeLauro. “The 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’s 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.” “As a senior member of the Armed Services Committee, I am proud to support critical modernization investments in the F135 engine—not 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,” said Rep. Courtney. “Those jobs aren’t only at Pratt & Whitney. We’ve 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.” In 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 – 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’ 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. “Fifty 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,” said Congresswoman Hayes. “Every 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.” “Students should be able to learn, compete, and succeed in safe and welcoming environments, but our nation’s 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,” said Congresswoman Dingell. “With 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.” “We must do more to address the epidemic of sexual assault and harassment that has plagued our campuses for far too long,” said Congresswoman Ross. “Students who have endured unspeakable trauma should not face unnecessary and burdensome hurdles that prevent them from reporting their abuse and seeking justice. I’m 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.” “So 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,” said Senator Casey. “We 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.” “Fifty years ago, Title IX was signed into law to guarantee every student’s right to a quality, equitable education, regardless of their sex,” said Senator Hirono. “But despite the progress Title IX has created, too many students—especially LGBTQ+ students, pregnant and parenting students, students of color, and students with disabilities—are 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.” Decades 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. Supreme 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. The Students’ 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: Amend Title IX, Title VI, Section 504 and the Age Discrimination Act to remove unreasonably burdensome standards for private harassment lawsuits for money damages. Strengthen 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. Preserve the right for schools to request a religious exemption under Title IX while requiring transparency when such an exemption is requested. Require the development and administration of a climate survey on K-12 students’ experiences with domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, and stalking. Improve institutional supports for students who initiate complaints of sex-based harassment. Establish 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. The SAFER Act is supported by more than 70 organizations, including the National Women’s Law Center, Know Your IX, It’s On Us, Human Rights Campaign, and the National Disability Rights Network. Fatima Goss Graves, President and CEO of the National Women’s Law Center said, “Fifty years have passed since Title IX was enacted and five years have passed since survivors around the world said, ‘Me too,’ but there is still much to be done to fulfill the law’s 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.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-roybal-allard-statement-mccarthys-unfounded-call-resignation,"DeLauro, Roybal-Allard Statement on McCarthy’s 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 —House 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’s call for Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to resign and threat to impeach him: “We 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. “Secretary 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 – patrol the border. “It 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 – and by extension the DHS workforce – 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.”",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’s 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 — 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. “Speaker Pelosi’s decision to step aside from the upcoming Leadership election is a moment of history that deserves our nation’s 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,” said Congressman Courtney. “One 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’s 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—these are just some of her achievements, and the list goes on and on.” “I 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,” Rep. Courtney continued. “I 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.” ###",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’s 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’s announcement that she would be stepping down from House Democratic leadership. “Speaker 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 – man or woman. “When I first joined the Appropriations Committee, Chairwoman Nita Lowey, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and I were referred to as the ‘DeLoSi’s’—a band of women who fought for women’s health at a time when women’s 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. “This has been the core drive for Speaker Pelosi’s 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. “Speaker Pelosi stood strong in the fight to protect American’s 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’t Ask, Don’t 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 – 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’s Health Protection Act several times in the House, which would enshrine Roe v. Wade into law and protect the right to choose. “She has supported House Democrats’ 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. “Speaker 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. “To 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’s 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. “While Speaker Pelosi leaves the leadership, she will remain in Congress to serve the people of California’s 12th congressional district, and I look forward to our continued work together to deliver for America’s children, seniors, and families. Congratulations on an incredible run as our leader, Nancy. You leave big pumps to fill!”",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. “WIC reaches over 6 million mothers, infants, and children – and is a vital toll in our work to end hunger in the United States,” said DeLauro. “It 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.” The 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. Other proposed changes include, but are not limited to:",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’s (USDA) Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. “American children are not meeting basic nutritional goals because of companies that aggressively market unhealthy food and sugary beverages to children,” said DeLauro. “This 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’s 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’s nutritional health.” “This legislation will prevent the multi-billion dollar junk food industry from profiting off children and contributing to our nation’s obesity epidemic,” said Blumenthal. “For 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’m 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.” “Big food companies advertise their junk food products to our children, taking advantage of how children are forming lifelong food preferences and exacerbating our nation’s childhood obesity crisis. Companies also disproportionately target these advertisements to children of color, which drives health disparities,” said Booker. “Taxpayers 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.” According to the University of Connecticut’s 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. The 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’s 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. The Stop Subsidizing Childhood Obesity Act is endorsed by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). “It’s 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,” said CSPI President Dr. Peter G. Lurie. “Companies spend on the order of $2 billion a year marketing food to children. This isn’t charity we’re talking about—it’s marketing that affects kids’ 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—something we hope both parties should be able to support.”",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 U.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. “Let me be clear - these are forever chemicals that do not break down and may have a detrimental impact on the health of Americans,” said DeLauro. “And over time, according to the Food and Drug Administration’s (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.” “From drinking water and soil to pre-packaged food at the grocery store, ‘forever chemical’ contamination is a growing public health concern for Mainers and people across the country,” Congresswoman Pingree said. “Alongside 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’s report and recommendations equips Congress with crucial insights into the FDA’s oversight of chemicals used in food processing and packaging so we can protect our communities nationwide against PFAS contamination.” The report entitled “FDA Oversight of Substances Used in Manufacturing, Packaging, and Transporting Food Could Be Strengthened” 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. Food 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 – so re-evaluation can take time or in many cases, may not be possible. The 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 U.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. “Let me be clear - these are forever chemicals that do not break down and may have a detrimental impact on the health of Americans,” said DeLauro. “And over time, according to the Food and Drug Administration’s (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.” “From drinking water and soil to pre-packaged food at the grocery store, ‘forever chemical’ contamination is a growing public health concern for Mainers and people across the country,” Congresswoman Pingree said. “Alongside 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’s report and recommendations equips Congress with crucial insights into the FDA’s oversight of chemicals used in food processing and packaging so we can protect our communities nationwide against PFAS contamination.” The report entitled “FDA Oversight of Substances Used in Manufacturing, Packaging, and Transporting Food Could Be Strengthened” 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. Food 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 – so re-evaluation can take time or in many cases, may not be possible. The 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. “I 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’ family, loved ones, and his colleagues in the New Haven Fire Department. Thomas will be dearly missed.”",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—Today, 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—an effort that was led by Rep. Courtney. Of today’s total $86 million, nearly 20% ($19.5 million) comes thanks to that successful effort. “LIHEAP 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’s there when people need it this winter,” said Rep. Courtney. “Re-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’s 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’s 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.” In 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’s successful effort even more impactful. Of 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—roughly 22% of the total amount—comes from Rep. Courtney’s successful effort to re-stock LIHEAP. Click here to read more. ###",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—Today, 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’s local economy, and will support rapidly increasing activity in the region’s maritime sector for decades to come by helping to develop and construct a modern marine terminal that joins freight rail access to Mohawk’s deep-water wharf and adjacent manufacturing activity—a highly productive feature that current regional terminals lack. The 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’s 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)—which provided $450 million for the PIDP program in 2022—his office worked with Mohawk to pursue the grant award for a third time this year, and were successful. “This Port Infrastructure grant award is the result of consistent bipartisan work, and it’s a huge win for continued economic success and job growth in our region,” said Rep. Courtney. “We’re seeing a ton of exciting activity in eastern Connecticut, and none of it’s happening by accident—in fact, when it comes to today’s 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’s ports have been neglected for too long, and we’ve 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’s 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.” “On behalf of everyone at Mohawk Northeast, we want to say ‘Thank You’ to all of the organizations involved in the awarding of this grant,” said Allan Heinke, president of Mohawk Northeast, Inc. “We 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’ve 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.” “From enhanced submarine construction to clean energy production, we’re already seeing a serious uptick in economic activity on our waterfront, and today’s announcement of $7 million in new federal Port Infrastructure development funding is going to help us keep that growth and momentum going strong,” said New London Mayor Mike Passero. “Mohawk’s 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—connecting the deep-water wharf and all the manufacturing activity that takes place there to freight rail access—it’s 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.” “New England Central Railroad (NECR) congratulates Mohawk on this grant award,” said Len Wagner, president of NECR. “The ensuing infrastructure improvements will help to create a more viable rail-to-water transload facility in Connecticut and facilitate additional growth in New London.” The Port Infrastructure Development Program, and Today’s Award A rendered image displaying where upcoming port infrastructure activity will take place in New London was shared at today’s press conference. For more detailed information, contact Rep. Courtney’s office. As 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’s 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. Rep. Courtney’s 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’s grant application, which was submitted in July of 2021. MARAD announced that year’s awardees in December 2021, and the application was again not selected. In 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—a $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—the largest single-year amount in the history of the program. In March of 2022, Rep. Courtney’s 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—the 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’s 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. ###",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 — 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 “non-conforming” 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’s “to-do” list, a lack of funding at the state and local levels has kept the project from moving forward—until now. Rep. Courtney voted to pass the IIJA in November 2021, and it’s supplying the State of Connecticut with increased infrastructure funding over the next 4 years to help complete a wide range of projects—including 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%. “The Forge Hill Bridge might look small, but the cost of replacing it was a large burden for our small town,” said First Selectman Tracey Hanson. “The 80% federal, and 20% state funding we are receiving relieves our residents of a tax burden that could have been felt for years.” “I voted to pass the new Infrastructure Law last November, and over the course of 2022 we’ve seen work in eastern Connecticut getting seriously dialed-up,” said Rep. Courtney. “Some 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 ‘non-conforming’ 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—it’s been on the ‘to-do’ list for a long time, and it was coming close to closure due to needed repair work. Thanks to the IIJA, that’s 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’s great to see our region continuing to thrive.” Originally built in 1921, the 101-year-old Forge Hill Road Bridge is currently considered “non-conforming” 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—including $112 million for bridge repair this year in 2022—long-awaited repairs to the Forge Hill Road Bridge are slated to take place from 2024-2025. ###",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. Earlier 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’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. “It 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’s lives,” said Chair DeLauro. “I introduced the Breast Density and Mammography Reporting Act, based on Connecticut’s law, requiring the information women and their health care providers receive after a mammogram includes a patient’s 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 – as 99 percent of women who receive an early diagnosis survive it. Let me be clear: women’s 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.” “We’re 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,” said Christine Cooper, Assistant Vice President, Diagnostic Services at Griffin Hospital. “At Griffin, our patient-centered care philosophy empowers patients with access to health information and education throughout their entire care experience. It’s 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’re 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,” said Denise Barajas, MD, Medical Director, Center for Cancer Care and Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness at Griffin Hospital “At Representative Rosa DeLauro’s 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,” said Joseph Cappello, Director and Co-Founder of Are You Dense Advocacy, Inc. “The 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. “This 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’s federal legislation will help save lives of all American women by eliminating the cost of prohibitive deductibles or copays,” said Dr. Kristen Zarfos, Medical Director of the Karl J. Krapek, Sr. Comprehensive Women’s Health Center with Trinity Health Of New England Medical Group at Saint Francis Hospital “I 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’s 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,” said State Representative Dorinda Borer. The 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’s relative breast density and what additional screenings should be considered. The denser a woman’s 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. The 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 – 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. “I 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,” 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’s history for generations to come.” “As Speaker, I am proud to appoint Congresswoman Jahana Hayes to serve as the House’s voice on the National Historical Publications and Records Commission,” Speaker Pelosi said. “Always a history teacher at heart, Congresswoman Hayes knows firsthand the importance of telling the entirety of America’s story and passing the lessons of our past onto the next generation. For nearly nine decades, the NHPRC has advanced that mission – 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’s vital work: inspiring our future leaders and strengthening the fabric of our democracy.” The NHPRC is a statutory body affiliated with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), established by Congress in 1934 to promote understanding of American’s 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— 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). The 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. “The 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,” said Rep. Himes. “I was deeply honored to meet with some of these brave soldiers, and with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy: a beacon of resilience against Putin’s 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. “The 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.” For more information, contact Nora Kohli at Nora.Kohli@mail.house.gov ###",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. ""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. ""And, again, Abbott skirts responsibility and downplays the situation by saying, ‘This 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—every feeding and every day is worth a lot to families who are trying to feed their babies with safe formula. ""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. ""Here's the bottom line – 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://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. ""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."" Last 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. As 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. ""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."" Under 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. According 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. DeLauro 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. As 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 – 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. “Yesterday, 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,” said Congresswoman Hayes. “Unfortunately, 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. The Social Security Administration will send notice about this increase to beneficiaries by mail. You may also access information about benefits through your “my Social Security” 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’s 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 Chair 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. ""American seniors are living paycheck to paycheck – 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."" ""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."" – Gustave Keach-Longo, President and CEO of the Towers at Tower Lane. ""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."" – Melissa Lang, President and CEO of Agency on Aging of South Central CT. Big 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 – 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. ""Local pharmacies provide convenience, ease of access, and personalized care to the communities they serve – especially here in New Haven,"" said Chair DeLauro. ""I am thankful to the True-Care Pharmacy staff for providing me with my flu vaccine – 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."" ""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 ‘True-Care' you deserve,"" said True-Care Pharmacy Manager Victor Fok.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-officer-involved-shooting-new-haven,DeLauro Statement on Officer Involved Shooting in New Haven,2022-10-07,2022,2022-10,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 issued a statement in response to an officer involved shooting in New Haven late last night. ""I want to first thank Officer Chad Curry for his bravery and outstanding public service. Every day our officers put their lives on the line, responding to emergencies throughout our communities without knowing what they might be walking into. That is exactly what happened to Officer Curry last night. I am relieved that he suffered no life-threatening injuries and has been released from the hospital, and I applaud New Haven and Hartford police departments for successfully apprehending the suspected shooter this afternoon. Throughout the nation, crime is on the rise, and our brave police officers stand on the frontline. I promise I will always stand by brave officers like Officer Curry, who keep our communities safe and secure.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-welcomes-us-navy-contract-electric-boat-lead-yard-services,Courtney Welcomes U.S. Navy Contract to Electric Boat for Lead Yard Services on Virginia-Class Program,2022-10-04,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,courtney,https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"NORWICH, CT — Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee on Seapower and Projection Forces, welcomed a new U.S. Navy contract awarded to General Dynamics Electric Boat (EB) for Lead Yard Support, Development Studies, and Design Efforts related the Virginia-class submarines. In light of Chairman Courtney’s efforts to grow the Virginia-class program—including his work to institute the two-per-year construction cadence, and to save the second sub from elimination in 2020—this contract represents additional investment on top of a previously awarded contract in 2019, and allows Electric Boat to continue services as the lead yard on research and development efforts to maintain development efforts on Virginia-class submarines. The contract award is valued at $532,921,125, with modification options to bring the cumulative value to $813,720,300. Click here to read more. “Success takes persistent effort, and it doesn’t happen overnight—that’s true in any industry, and it’s certainly the case when it comes to the booming growth at the shipyard in Groton, and in our skilled manufacturing sectors,” said Chairman Courtney. “This U.S. Navy contract award is a direct result of all the growth and success eastern Connecticut’s shipbuilding and manufacturing sectors have been seeing lately. We’ve kept Virginia-class submarine construction going strong, even staving off an attempt to eliminate an entire sub back in 2020, we’ve kept our skilled manufacturing workforce growing at an impressive pace, and this recent award represents an additional investment on top of a contract the Navy previously awarded in 2019 to support submarine design and construction in Groton. Years of bipartisan work on the Seapower Subcommittee and an immense amount of grassroots effort to grow eastern Connecticut’s workforce training pipelines are paying dividends for our region, and I’m excited to keep it going as we complete the FY 2023 NDAA.” The Seapower Subcommittee has jurisdiction over all U.S. Navy shipbuilding, and Rep. Courtney has served as its Chairman since January 2019. U.S. Navy submarine construction has boomed under Courtney’s leadership—he was key in establishing the two-per-year construction cadence of VA-class submarines; he helped authorize the historic $22.2 billion Block V multi-year procurement contract for VA-class subs, awarded to EB in 2019; and he was instrumental in the development of the new Columbia-class submarine program, which is now officially underway. In 2020, Chairman Courtney also led the bipartisan effort to block the Trump Administration’s attempt to eliminate construction of an entire Virginia-class submarine in FY 2021. After a year’s worth of work, Courtney’s bipartisan effort prevailed—construction of the Second Submarine was saved, and the contract was awarded to EB in March 2021. Click here to read more. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=C94C66DE-8703-401F-A762-2335A818B199,Hayes to Host Vice President Harris in Fifth District,2022-10-03,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,CT,Jahana Hayes,H001081,hayes.house.gov,hayes,https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WATERBURY – Today, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) released the following statement ahead of hosting Vice President Kamala Harris at Central Connecticut State University on Wednesday, October 5, 2022. While in New Britain, Vice President Harris and Congresswoman Hayes will be joined by Alexis McGill Johnson, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, for a moderated conversation. “It is an honor to host Vice President Kamala Harris in the Fifth District. I have worked closely with Vice President Harris during her time in the Senate on various legislative issues, and she continues to be a strong partner in the Administration. The upcoming visit will highlight federal action being taken to defend access to reproductive care. During a time when the rights of women are being threatened, having the full support of the Biden-Harris Administration is critical in paving a way forward where every woman has the freedom to make her own healthcare decisions,” said Congresswoman Hayes. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtneys-effort-re-fuel-liheap-energy-assistance-program-will-be,Courtney’s Effort to Re-Fuel LIHEAP Energy Assistance Program will be Signed Into Law as Part of Stop-Gap Funding Bill,2022-09-30,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,courtney,https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) voted to pass H.R. 6833, the Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act (CR). The bill provides stop-gap funding that will avoid a government shutdown, and will keep federal programs operating through December 16, 2022 as Congress works to finalize the FY 2023 budget. In addition, the CR includes funding for several other key priorities, like relief funding for Florida, Puerto Rico, and other communities hit by disaster; resources to respond to the water crisis in Jackson, Mississippi; and new support to power the fight for freedom in Ukraine. The final CR also includes funding for an effort that was led by Rep. Courtney: $1 billion to resupply the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) as colder months are on the horizon. Federal LIHEAP funding is fueling the 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 this stop-gap funding will help ensure that support is there when people need it. The House passed the CR in a vote of 230-201, and now the bill will be signed into law. “As colder months are on the horizon and with energy costs still too high for some families, passage of this stop-gap budget resolution was particularly important,” said Rep. Courtney. “It was clear from talking with people in eastern Connecticut that Congress needed to refuel the LIHEAP program, which is providing direct support right now to help lower home heating and energy costs. With the fiscal year ending tonight and a final 2023 budget still being finalized, we needed to make sure that support to lower home energy costs will still be there when people need it this winter. After leading this effort in the House, and after pulling together bipartisan support from across the country, it’s great to see our work make it across the finish line. This is going to provide real support to lots of families in eastern Connecticut.” Highlights of H.R. 6833 In addition to stop-gap funding to continue the operation of vital federal agencies—including education, health, housing, and public safety programs—the CR includes new funding to help Americans lower home heating and energy costs, to help communities recover from recent natural disasters, to support America’s partners in Ukraine, to support our veterans, and more. Highlights include: A Courtney-Led Effort: New Resources to Lower Home Energy Costs—At Rep. Courtney and his colleagues’ insistence, the CR now includes $1 billion in additional funding for LIHEAP. This is a higher amount than the $500 proposed by the White House, in keeping with Rep. Courtney’s request. Relief for Communities Impacted by Natural Disaster—The CR includes language that allows the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to obligate up to the full-year amount available under the CR for the Disaster Relief Fund if needed to respond to declared disasters, such as Hurricane Ian in Florida, Hurricane Fiona in Puerto Rico, and a severe storm, flooding, and landslides in Alaska. Relief for the Water Crisis in Jackson, Mississippi—The bill includes $20 million for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements previously authorized for Jackson, Mississippi. Increased Support for America’s Veterans—The CR includes several forms of support for America’s veterans. For FY23 and FY24, the bill authorizes $420 million to assist nonprofits that provide housing services to veterans, and $52 million for a program to help provide homeless veterans and veterans in supportive housing services with skills training, counseling, and job placement. It also extends a pilot program to reimburse veterans for transportation costs associated with in-person mental health visits and appointments at Vet Centers, as well as support for other programs that assist veterans who are homeless, or suffering from serious mental illness. Resources to Support the Fight for Freedom in Ukraine—The legislation includes $12.3 billion in assistance related to Ukraine, including training, equipment, weapons, logistics support, and direct financial support for the government of Ukraine. It also includes important safeguards for this funding, including $2 million for the Department of Defense Inspector General to monitor these funds and report to Congress. Resources to Continue Resettling Afghan Evacuees—The CR authorizes the Department of Defense to utilize up to $3 billion for the State Department to support continued efforts to resettle Afghan evacuees and partners in safe areas, including the United States. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/new-forecast-shows-how-federal-funding-fueling-growth-ewib-and-powering,New Forecast Shows How Federal Funding is Fueling Growth at EWIB and Powering Eastern CT’s Manufacturing Workforce,2022-09-30,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,courtney,https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"NORWICH, CT—Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) shared new information that shows how funding authorized by Congress is fueling growth in eastern Connecticut’s skilled manufacturing workforce through the Eastern CT Workforce Investment Board’s (EWIB) Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative (MPI). Rep. Courtney helped kick-start the MPI with its first federal funding in 2015, and since then the program has gone on to receive national recognition while placing over 2,700 graduates into high-skill, high-pay careers. Now, with so much new work opportunity at hand and on the horizon through increased submarine construction, new infrastructure projects, and more, Courtney has helped authorize new funding to help EWIB meet the booming level of demand for skills training. According to financial forecasts released by EWIB for 2023, the workforce investment board is forecasting a total budget of $30.9 million in funding, nearly 60% of which is allocated to expand the MPI program and train more workers in eastern CT and across the state. Of that total $30.9 million, more than 70% is federal funding authorized by Rep. Courtney and the U.S. Congress, and $15.3 million of it comes directly from the American Rescue Plan Act. “The MPI and the success of it has been a true testament to what can be done when you blend federal, state, and private dollars together to change the landscape of the workforce in our region. It all started with a federal grant supported by Congressman Courtney, and now the program continues to garner his support some seven years later. We are proud to have him as a partner on these initiatives and look forward to seeing these programs continue to expand,” stated Christopher Jewell, EWIB Chair. “When you look at where we started, it’s pretty incredible to see how much success our workforce and manufacturing sector have had over the past few years,” said Rep. Courtney. “The MPI began in 2015 with a $5 million grant my office helped secure—fast forward to 2022, where the MPI has placed over 2,700 people into great new careers, and it’s obvious our skills training programs have silenced nearly everyone who doubted that we could become one of America’s strongest, most dynamic manufacturing hubs. Our workforce is booming, and that’s not happening in a vacuum—there’s more demand for the MPI because there’s so much new work opportunity coming down the pike through increased submarine construction, new infrastructure projects, clean energy manufacturing, and more. The MPI is what’s helped grow our workforce so that we can take on all these opportunities, and I’m proud keep fueling it today so that we can keep rising to the challenge.” In 2015, Rep. Courtney helped kick-start EWIB’s MPI with its first-ever federal grant funding—an award of $6 million. The MPI has grown quite a bit since then, and it’s helped place thousands of people in new manufacturing careers. In FY 2023, EWIB forecasts a total budget of $30.9 million to carry out its skills training and job placement programming. 71.4% of that total amount ($22.1 million) comes from federal funding authorized by Rep. Courtney and the U.S. Congress—including $15.3 million in grant awards through the American Rescue Plan Act. The Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which Rep. Courtney helps to craft as a member of the House Education and Labor Committee, represents the majority of the balance of federal funding. Support through the American Rescue Plan has boosted support for EWIB and the MPI this year, and they will use the new American Rescue Plan funding specifically to: Launch a New Statewide Application Portal—EWIB will build a new skills training application portal based on already successful MPI principles, that can be utilized statewide ($1,782,691) Expand MPI Skills Training Opportunities Beyond Eastern CT—EWIB will work to expand the footprint of the MPI program across the entire state ($7,850,000) Expand Skills Training and Job Placement into New Industries—Funding will be used to implement MPI principles into 4 new industry sectors ($1,359,644) Focus on Job Training for Youth, and for the Health Care Industry—EWIB was awarded funding through the American Rescue Plan’s Good Jobs Challenge, and will use this funding specifically to expand their Youth MPI program, which currently operates at several high schools throughout CT-02, and to expand skills training opportunities specifically for the health care sector ($4,102,888) Help Provide Summer Jobs and Skills Training to Young People—EWIB will also use Rescue Plan funding to supplement its Summer Youth Employment efforts, particularly in New London and Norwich ($205,805) ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-leads-bipartisan-women-s-caucus-highlighting-ovarian-cancer,DeLauro Leads Bipartisan Women’s Caucus in Highlighting Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month,2022-09-30,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,CT,Rosa L. DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,delauro,https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"PHOTO HERE Chair of the House Appropriations Committee Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) yesterday led her colleagues in the Bipartisan Women's Caucus in highlighting September as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. ""The fight against ovarian cancer is very personal to me,"" said Chair DeLauro. ""I am a more than 30 year survivor of ovarian cancer. My cancer was detected in its earliest stages during an unrelated doctors visit. I consider myself lucky that it was caught and treated early, but so many women are not as fortunate. We must do all we can to raise awareness and increase early detection, which is why I was proud to lead my colleagues in the House Bipartisan Women's Caucus to raise awareness for the risks of this disease."" September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. This year, nearly 20,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Hard to detect and frequently discovered in advanced stages, this disease is often deadly for many women. Structural barriers inhibit access to quality and affordable health care, and documented disparities in treatment can lead to higher mortality rates for Black women and elderly women in particular. ""As Chair of the Appropriations Committee, I am fighting for strong investments in medical research to combat ovarian cancer and programs that raise awareness of ovarian cancer amongst patients and health providers,"" continued DeLauro. ""Moreover, I am fighting to enact policies like paid family and medical leave so that women who must seek treatment are not also forced out of the workplace to do so. There is a powerful role Congress can play in this fight, and I'm proud to have strong partners in this effort in the House."" A 36-year ovarian cancer survivor, Congresswoman DeLauro is the sponsor of Johanna's Law Reauthorization that passed the House in November 2021, as a part of the PREVENT HPV Cancers Act. As Chair of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, DeLauro has ensured continued funding for Johanna's Law, providing $37 million over the last four years.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-lee-introduce-diaper-bank-awareness-week-resolution-0,"DeLauro, Lee Introduce Diaper Bank Awareness Week Resolution",2022-09-30,2022,2022-09,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 Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) and Co-Chair of the Majority Leader Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity Barbara Lee (CA-13) today introduced a resolution hailing the week of September 26th as National Diaper Need Awareness Week. ""One in three families do not have enough diapers to keep their children clean, dry, and healthy,"" said Chair DeLauro. ""In one of the richest countries on earth, that is totally unacceptable. I am thrilled to join with my friend and colleague Congresswoman Barbara Lee to express our gratitude for local banks and distribution programs and encourage Americans to continue to donate generously to support their local diaper bank and children who are in need."" ""One in three families cannot afford diapers, and nearly half of families have opted to delay changing their child's diaper to extend their supply,"" said Congresswoman Lee. ""We must do more to ensure that millions of families throughout our country have access to necessities for their children. I am proud to introduce this bill with my colleague Congresswoman DeLauro to ensure that families have the resources and support they need.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-food-and-drug-administration-decision-extend,DeLauro Statement on Food and Drug Administration Decision to Extend Enforcement Discretion of Foreign Infant Formula Products,2022-09-30,2022,2022-09,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 announcement from the Food and Drug Administration decision to extend enforcement discretion until January 6 and create a pathway for foreign manufacturers to continue marketing in the U.S. permanently. ""Let me be clear, I understand the need to boost our supply of infant formula very well. For months, Americans across the nation have sent me photos of the shelves at their local grocery stores, and the images show that the shortage persists in many areas in the country. ""I am fighting to get safe infant formula back on the shelves – period. However, I am focused on supporting domestic small businesses and U.S. manufacturers to boost the domestic supply and development of safe infant formula – building a resilient market here in the United States and not relying on foreign manufacturers who have not been cleared through the extensive and critical pre-market approval safety process. That is why I will soon introduce legislation to increase competition in the U.S. infant formula market and give domestic infant formula manufacturers and small businesses the tools they need to boost supply and compete with giant corporations. ""I encourage the Food and Drug Administration to join with me in doing its part to support U.S. manufacturers of infant formula.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-legal-challenge-against-connecticut-s-assault-0,DeLauro Statement on Legal Challenge Against Connecticut’s Assault Weapons Ban,2022-09-30,2022,2022-09,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 today released a statement in response to a federal lawsuit filed by the Connecticut Citizens Defense League seeking to repeal the assault weapons ban in Connecticut. ""Mass shootings are becoming far too familiar in the United States, and assault rifles are often the weapon of choice. We want our communities to be safer – free of criminals and the threat of gun violence. To move us closer to that goal, Connecticut implemented a ban on assault weapons. Now, it faces a legal challenge that would make our communities less safe and allow for the sale of weapons of war in our state. That is unacceptable. ""We need a federal ban on assault weapons – period. Until then, we must raise the age to purchase one of these weapons from 18 to 21. We cannot allow mass shootings to be commonplace. ""I am confident that Attorney General William Tong will deter this challenge that threatens the safety of our communities.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://himes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=162E5921-3093-4414-8B16-C719D176C700,House Intelligence Committee Members Call for Action On Foreign Commercial Spyware Risks to Americans,2022-09-30,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,CT,James A. Himes,H001047,himes.house.gov,himes,https://himes.house.gov/press-releases,page_html,"WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04), along with a bipartisan group of 14 colleagues on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, sent a letter to Secretary of State Blinken and Secretary of Commerce Raimondo urging them to take critical steps to address the growing national security threat to U.S. citizens and residents posed by foreign commercial spyware. “We are deeply concerned by the unethical uses of this technology, particularly when it targets U.S. citizens and residents,” the letter read. “As part of our continuing oversight, we request that you provide specific details as to the steps the State and Commerce Departments are taking not only to protect U.S. citizens and residents, but also to hold accountable companies that proliferate this malicious weapon and foreign governments that are misusing it.” The letter acknowledged that these departments have made efforts to mitigate the damage, such as adding some adversarial spyware companies to the Commerce Department’s Entity List, but emphasized the need for increased action to protect U.S. citizens and residents from becoming targets of this technology. “We recognize that spyware is not going away; it will almost inevitably evolve and become more readily available, cheaper, and more widely used,” the letter continued. “We are gravely concerned that this technology will become accessible to non-state actors, such as terrorist groups, criminal cartels, or paramilitary groups and militias. A whole of government response is necessary to combat this rapidly emerging threat to the privacy of everyday Americans. We encourage you to apply pressure, particularly on those foreign governments that are recipients of U.S. assistance and continue to abuse this technology or use it to target U.S. citizens and residents.” This letter follows both an open committee hearing on foreign commercial technology and the inclusion of multiple bipartisan provisions in the Fiscal Year 2023 Intelligence Authorization Act, which the committee approved unanimously in July. These provisions direct classified reporting requirements and additional resources to the Intelligence Community, as well as grant additional authority to the Director of National Intelligence and the President to bar or sanction foreign commercial spyware firms. The letter was signed by House Intelligence Committee Members Jim Himes (D-CT), Jackie Speier (D-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Val Butler Demings (D-FL), Jason Crow (D-CO), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Peter Welch (D-VT), Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Chris Stewart (R-UT), Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY), Jim Cooper (D-TN), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), and André Carson (D-IN). For more information, contact Nora Kohli at nora.kohli@mail.house.gov. The full text of the letter can be found below, or viewed here. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Dear Secretary Blinken and Secretary Raimondo, In July, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) held an open hearing on the substantial national security risks and civil liberties challenges posed by foreign commercial cyber surveillance technology (commonly referred to as spyware). We heard testimony from three witnesses, including Carine Kanimba, a U.S. citizen and daughter of Rwandan activist Paul Rusesabagina, who was a target of foreign commercial spyware that was able to track her movements, correspondence, and even likely record her private conversations with U.S. and foreign officials. Forensic analysis has also revealed that the family members and friends of journalist Jamal Khashoggi were targeted with spyware in the months leading up to his brutal murder. We are deeply concerned by the unethical uses of this technology, particularly when it targets U.S. citizens and residents. As part of our continuing oversight, we request that you provide specific details as to the steps the State and Commerce Departments are taking not only to protect U.S. citizens and residents, but also to hold accountable companies that proliferate this malicious weapon and foreign governments that are misusing it. The Fiscal Year 2023 Intelligence Authorization Act (IAA), passed out of our committee on a unanimous bipartisan basis. The bill includes a major new provision to address the threat of commercial spyware. In addition to directing classified reporting requirements and additional resources to the Intelligence Community, the bill would provide authority for the Director of National Intelligence to bar any IC contract with foreign spyware companies and authorizes the President to put in place sanctions on foreign commercial spyware firms that target the IC. We need to prevent foreign governments, that now have the ability to access information on an individual’s phone, tablet, or computer, undetected, from misusing this tool and violating the privacy of U.S. citizens. Toward that end, we strongly urge you to take steps to protect our citizens from becoming targets of this easily exploited technology including by monitoring the activities of spyware companies added to the Commerce Department’s Entity List, as well as adding other companies that abuse this technology to this list, suspending U.S. foreign assistance to foreign governments that target Americans with foreign commercial spyware, and working with democratic countries to ban the import and use of such spyware. We request that you take necessary steps and provide us with timely updates on how the Department of State is addressing these threats. Although some foreign governments have used commercial spyware within the bounds of their constitutions and rule of law, over the past year there have been numerous reports that many governments are exploiting this technology to target opposition leaders, activists and human rights defenders, journalists, civil society leaders, businesspeople, academics, and foreign leaders. As a consortium of researchers recently highlighted in a public letter to you and other Cabinet officials, some of these abuses appear to have occurred even after the Commerce Department added several spyware companies, including NSO Group, to its Entity List. State and Commerce must be vigilant in monitoring the abuses of companies on the Entity List, ensuring they are not evading the bans, and work together to add other spyware companies to the list if they meet the criteria. However, the Entity List designation is not enough. We recognize that spyware is not going away; it will almost inevitably evolve and become more readily available, cheaper, and more widely used. We are gravely concerned that this technology will become accessible to non-state actors, such as terrorist groups, criminal cartels, or paramilitary groups and militias. A whole of government response is necessary to combat this rapidly emerging threat to the privacy of everyday Americans. We encourage you to apply pressure, particularly on those foreign governments that are recipients of U.S. assistance and continue to abuse this technology or use it to target U.S. citizens and residents. The American people’s tax dollars should not be going to foreign governments that target our own people. We also are gravely concerned by public reports that foreign commercial spyware has been used against U.S. diplomats overseas. This attack may have put at risk individuals who engage with our diplomats on a regular basis and underscores the counterintelligence threat to U.S. government personnel and systems posed by this weapon. We request that you detail publicly any instance in which foreign spyware has been used against our diplomats, and what steps State is taking to confront these unacceptable abuses, including by imposing costs on foreign governments or persons that targeted our personnel. Even as the threat posed by spyware is rapidly evolving, we believe there is a window of opportunity to prevent its further spread and misuse. Consistent with State’s efforts to counter transnational repression, we encourage you to bring together democratic countries on the margins of other international convenings, including the United Nations General Assembly this month and the Biden Administration’s second Summit for Democracy later this year, to reach an understanding to ban the use of foreign commercial spyware. Such a strong message would dissuade investors from backing spyware companies and complement efforts by U.S. technology companies to protect the privacy of billions of people. We look forward to receiving more information on what steps are being taken on this line of effort. Clear and determined action needs to be taken to send the unequivocal message to foreign governments who have acquired commercial spyware that the targeting of Americans and exploitation of this technology will not be tolerated. We appreciate your attention to the pressing and sensitive matter of protecting U.S. citizens and defending our national security interests. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-03-30T11:08:25Z https://himes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=45B18DCA-5539-4316-B0BF-52085C6E8D14,Himes Statement on Illegitimate Annexation of Ukrainian Territory,2022-09-30,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,CT,James A. Himes,H001047,himes.house.gov,himes,https://himes.house.gov/press-releases,page_html,"WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04), released the following statement on Putin’s announcement that Russia will annex the Ukrainian territories of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia following the recent illegitimate and unlawful referendums. “The United States has made clear: we will not tolerate the illegal seizure of Ukrainian land by Vladimir Putin. The sham referenda overseen and enforced by Moscow officials do not represent the will of the people and serve only to further his violent authoritarian regime. “I strongly support the additional sanctions imposed today by President Biden, and am committed to working with my colleagues in Congress to provide the necessary additional funding for Ukraine’s defensive efforts. But we must go further to ensure this behavior is penalized at a global scale. The United States should cut off military and economic aid to any country that recognizes the falsely annexed territories as part of Russia. “I encourage the international community to join the United States in rejection of Putin's claims of Ukrainian sovereign territory, so that he is held fully accountable for his continued violation of international law.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-03-30T11:08:25Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-and-pascrell-statement-senate-banking-committee-urging-action,DeLauro and Pascrell Statement to Senate Banking Committee Urging Action on Outbound Investment,2022-09-29,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,CT,Rosa L. DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,delauro,https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"DeLauro and Pascrell, leaders of outbound investment legislation, urge Senate Banking Committee support for bipartisan and bicameral action that will safeguard national security, protect supply chains Today, Representatives Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT-03) and Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) submitted a statement for the record in support of their legislation, the National Critical Capabilities Defense Act (NCCDA) ahead of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Chair Sherrod Brown's (D-OH) hearing ""Examining Outbound Investment"". In a July hearing before this committee, Chair Brown committed to working with colleagues to address the issue of outbound investment in a vehicle separate from the CHIPS package, which has now been signed into law. ""We cannot be weak-kneed when it comes to standing up to our adversaries, starting with Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin. We must take all necessary steps to protect the United States supply chain and our national security from foreign adversaries,"" the lawmakers wrote. ""While we are encouraged by support from the Biden Administration on this issue and have encouraged executive action, we continue to believe that statutory provisions, like the NCCDA, are essential to safeguard our Nation's critical capabilities, national security, and American workers."" The National Critical Capabilities Defense Act would establish an interagency outbound investment review committee in order to better understand the vulnerabilities created in U.S. supply chains as private industries continue to offshore critical capabilities to the People's Republic of China (PRC), the Russian Federation and other foreign adversaries.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=75CFF7CE-3AE5-4B23-86DD-FCE6D292F571,House Passes Student Mental Health Package Which Includes Hayes Bill,2022-09-29,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,CT,Jahana Hayes,H001081,hayes.house.gov,hayes,https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WATCH: Congresswoman Hayes Floor Remarks WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) voted for the Mental Health Matters Act to provide school-based support to address the alarming mental health crisis plaguing the nation. The comprehensive package aims to support the behavioral health of children and school staff, strengthen school-based behavioral health, and ensure access to mental health and substance use disorder for the school community. The Supporting Trauma-Informed Education Practices Act, led by Congresswoman Hayes, to bolster trauma support services and school based mental health care was included in the final text. The bill authorizes grant opportunities to improve the way schools address the complex needs of students coping with the devastating impact of COVID-19 and other adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) such as parental addiction, abuse, and witnessing violence. “The mental health crisis in this country, particularly for young people has reached a tipping point. In 2020, three million teenagers reported having serious thoughts of suicide as their routines were disrupted, their families suffered, and they faced uncertain futures.” said Congresswoman Hayes. “Together, the Mental Health Matters Act and my Supporting Trauma-Informed Education Practices Act provides resources and support for students, educators, and school staff to heal and recover safely.” The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of students are not yet completely understood, yet they are expected to have long-term consequences for social and emotional well-being. Additionally, the surging opioid crisis has affected more than two million children and adolescents in the United States, tearing apart many families across Connecticut’s Fifth District. The Supporting Trauma-Informed Education Practices Act would: Develop or improve prevention, screening, referral, treatment, and support services to students; Implement schoolwide positive behavioral interventions and supports or other trauma-informed models of support; Provide professional development to teachers, teacher assistants, school leaders, specialized instructional support personnel, and mental health professionals; and Engage with families and communities to increase child and youth trauma awareness. More information on the Mental Health Matters Act can be found here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-white-house-conference-hunger-nutrition-and-health,"DeLauro Statement on White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health & National Strategy on Hunger",2022-09-28,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,CT,Rosa L. DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,delauro,https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"For video of Rep. DeLauro's panel remarks at the conference, click here For video of President Joe Biden on the Child Tax Credit, click here Chair of the House Appropriations Committee Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today released a statement in response to the Biden Administration's Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health and their recently announced National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, which is being released in tandem with the conference. ""First, I want to applaud the President and my colleagues House Rules Chair Jim McGovern, Senate HELP and LHHS Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Patty Murray, Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow, Senator Cory Booker, and House LHHS Subcommittee Ranking Member Tom Cole for their work to secure funding for this conference in the FY22 federal spending package. For the first time in 50 years, we are gathering to discuss the important business of ending hunger. I am pleased that in tandem with the conference, the Biden administration has released a National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. ""Now, the question following the conference is where do we go from here? I believe we need to advance a number of policies, including extending the WIC eligibility for children until their sixth birthday or first day of kindergarten and expand WIC so that benefits do not lapse; raise the SNAP minimum benefit to at least $30 and expand D-SNAP for the territories; expand free school meals to every child; support local food systems; improve front of package labeling; and expand Food is Medicine opportunities. ""However, the policy I believe would be most effective in meeting the moment is the expanded, improved, and monthly Child Tax Credit that I helped secure in the American Rescue Plan. I am glad to see the White House call for making the expanded and improved Child Tax Credit permanent. These Child Tax Credit payments drove the largest decrease in the child poverty rate in history. Moreover, these monthly payments strongly reduced food insufficiency, leading to a 26 percent decline in food insufficiency among low-income households. ""All in all, the National Strategy represents a model to ensure Americans have access to healthy, nutritious foods, and that families have the resources necessary to keep food on the tables and pay their bills. I will work closely with my colleagues in Congress and the Biden Administration to implement this strategy, and finally end hunger in the U.S.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=1CC2BA93-3F36-47E9-878F-7CD08C954C63,Chairwoman Hayes to Attend First White House Conference on Hunger in Over 50 Years,2022-09-28,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,CT,Jahana Hayes,H001081,hayes.house.gov,hayes,https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Chairwoman of the Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations Subcommittee on the House of Agriculture Committee, will join President Joe Biden, government leaders, and community partners for the first White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in fifty three years to accelerate food security programs and drive transformative change to end hunger in the United States. The conference will focus on initiatives to end hunger, improve nutrition and physical activity, and close the disparities surrounding them. Chairwoman Hayes led the effort in calling for and securing $2.5 million to fund the conference. Further, seven pieces of legislation authored by Chairwoman Hayes are included in the Biden-Harris Administration National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health which will serve as the playbook to end hunger. “In 1969, the first White House Conference on Food, Nutrition, and Health helped galvanize and expand critical life-sustaining programs, including school lunches and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Today, over fifty years later, leaders from across the nation are gathered to strategize once again to end hunger,” said Chairwoman Hayes. “Food insecurity persists due to outdated benefit levels, food deserts, underfunding, barriers between communities and local agricultural producers, and lack of outreach or nutrition education. I am thrilled to see my legislation incorporated into the Biden-Harris national strategy. This conference will bring critical insight into how we can build upon these policies and directly target the root causes of hunger and food insecurity. I sincerely thank President Biden and Chairman Jim McGovern for their partnership in making the White House Conference on Hunger a reality. I look forward to continuing this work to keep our communities healthy, fed, and safe.” The Hayes bills incorporated into the Administration National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health include: The School Hunger Elimination Act to directly certify all school-age children receiving Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for the National School Lunch Program. The Scratch Cooked Meals for Students Act to expand the practice of farm to school meals in schools. The School Modernization and Efficient Access to Lunches for Students (MEALS) Act to direct the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide grants and technical assistance for states and tribal organizations to improve their direct certification processes for the National School Lunch Program and opens the time frame for schools to elect and gather eligibility data for the Community Eligibility Provision that permits schools in high-poverty areas to serve free meals to all enrolled students without the need for applications. The Closing the College Hunger Gap Act to require the Department of Education (ED) to collect data on food and housing insecurity of college students and compile data on student eligibility under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The WIC for Kids Act to simplify the WIC eligibility process by extending automatic income eligibility to participants in Head Start, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and certain nutrition programs. The Caregivers, Access, and Responsible Expansion for Kids Act to extend eligibility for the National School Lunch Program and school breakfast program of the USDA to children who are cared for by someone other than their parents. The Student Food Security Act to increase low-income college students eligibility for SNAP, increases outreach, required ED to collect data on food and housing security, creates a SNAP student hunger demonstration program that would allow students to use their SNAP benefits at on-campus dining facilitates and establishes a $1 billion per year grant program to help institutions of higher education identify and meet the food and housing needs of their students. The goal of the conference is to drive solutions to end hunger and promote healthy eating to reduce diet-related diseases – including heart disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes – which are some of the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. The toll of food insecurity and these diseases is not distributed equally, disproportionately impacting underserved communities, including communities of color, people living in rural areas, people who are differently abled, older adults, LGBTQ+ people, military families, and military veterans. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtneys-effort-increase-liheap-funding-included-new-government,Courtney’s Effort to Increase LIHEAP Funding Included in New Government Funding Bill,2022-09-27,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,courtney,https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"NORWICH, CT — Today, after leading the effort in Congress to provide more resources to help Americans lower their home heating costs, Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-02) highlighted the substantial increase in funding that has now been proposed for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in the Continuing Appropriations Act (CR) for FY 2022. As winter approaches, funding for LIHEAP is important for households in eastern Connecticut, and under new guidelines, more households than ever are eligible for the support. The CR would fund the federal government through December 16, 2022. At Rep. Courtney and his colleagues’ insistence, the CR now includes $1 billion in additional funding for LIHEAP—a higher amount than the $500 million proposed by the White House, in keeping with Rep. Courtney’s request. “It’s clear from talking with local families and from working with groups like TVCCA that we need to re-supply LIHEAP at the highest possible level as we head into the winter,” said Rep. Courtney. “LIHEAP has already helped people lower heating and energy costs this year, we know demand will remain high as it gets colder, and we need to make sure it’s there when people need it. Strengthening LIHEAP is the best and most direct way to provide people with support to lower their home energy costs, and under new guidelines there are more households than ever that now qualify for the assistance. Glad to see that our effort to strengthen LIHEAP has been successful so far—we’re going to keep working in bipartisan fashion until it becomes final.” In Connecticut, federal LIHEAP funding is currently fueling the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP), which provides homeowners with direct assistance to help lower the cost of heating and home energy use. The LIHEAP program has received increased overall funding recently thanks to bills like the American Rescue Plan and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which has enabled programs like CEAP to be expanded and assist even more people. Additional funding for LIHEAP would provide even more home energy assistance to people throughout the region. With colder months and the end of the fiscal year on the horizon, Rep. Courtney led 18 representatives from the Connecticut and New England Congressional Delegations in writing to U.S. House and Senate Appropriators urging them to include additional funding for LIHEAP in this week’s stop-gap government funding package. Click here to read the full letter. In August, Rep. Courtney joined another bipartisan calling for emergency funding to LIHEAP for the winter season. Courtney has also kept in touch with local Community Action Agencies in eastern Connecticut, including the Thames Valley Council for Community Action (TVCCA) who work to raise awareness and help residents apply for energy assistance through LIHEAP. Earlier this month, Courtney met with TVCCA Executive Director Deborah Monahan and representatives of local home heating oil supplier Viking Fuel in Norwich to provide an update on newly expanded assistance for homeowners through the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP), which is funded by LIHEAP. Click here to watch the full update. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/new-savings-medicare-part-b-beneficiaries-announced-after-rep-courtneys,New Savings for Medicare Part B Beneficiaries Announced After Rep. Courtney’s Year-Long Effort Prevails,2022-09-27,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,courtney,https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"NORWICH, CT — Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) announced that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will officially lower costs for Medicare Part B beneficiaries in 2023. The update comes after CMS’s release of 2023 Medicare Parts A and B Premiums and Deductibles, which notes that Medicare Part B beneficiaries will see a 3% reduction in monthly premium costs and a 3% reduction in their deductibles starting in January 2023. The price reduction is a sharp reversal from the price hike that beneficiaries saw in 2022, and it represents the first lowered premium for Medicare Part B beneficiaries in a decade, since 2011. These reduced costs are being delivered following Rep. Courtney’s effort to compel CMS to re-evaluate its 2022 Medicare Part B price hike, which was brought on by the skyrocketing price of a new Alzheimer’s drug called Aduhelm. After the price of Aduhelm was subsequently cut in half by its manufacturer, Courtney began pressing U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra to re-evaluate 14.5% Medicare Part B premium hike—which was the largest in the history of the program. Now, these savings will be returned to Medicare Part B beneficiaries throughout the year in 2023, and they’ll compliment other new forms of lowered costs for seniors and families. “Seniors who rely on Medicare Part B haven’t seen a lowered premium rate in ten years—this is a great win for them, and it’s a complete one-eighty from the price hike we fought back against in 2022,” said Rep. Courtney. “The Medicare Part B price increase announced in November 2021 couldn’t have come at a worse time, and we’ve been working ever since then to get it reversed—especially after we found out that the driving force behind the increase wound up being blunted. Shifting the rudder over at CMS isn’t a small task, but we kept at it, and now these lowered costs are going to mean savings for seniors throughout 2023. Coupled with other new forms of lowered costs through bills like the Inflation Reduction Act, as well as with a new COLA adjustment coming up soon, these reduced premiums will really add to the mosaic of cost savings that Congress has authorized for seniors and families moving forward.” In its report, CMS shared the following information: Reduced Premium Cost—The standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B enrollees will be $164.90 for 2023, a decrease of $5.20 (3%) from $170.10 in 2022. A Lowered Deductible—The annual deductible for all Medicare Part B beneficiaries is $226 in 2023, a decrease of $7 (3%) in 2022. For more, read the CMS fact sheet on Medicare Part B premiums and deductibles. Seniors and other Medicare Part B beneficiaries will begin seeing these savings in January 2023—and they’ll be coupled with other new forms of lowered costs being delivered to seniors and families through bills like the Inflation Reeducation Act, and more. For example, under the Inflation Reduction Act, HHS will be able to start negotiating for lower drug prices under Medicare Part B and Part D for the first time ever starting in 2023. The bill will also prohibit drug companies from raising prices on Medicare beneficiaries at a rate faster than inflation starting in 2023, and will cap the cost of insulin at $35/month for Medicare beneficiaries starting in 2023. Click here to read more. Leading the Effort to Lower Costs for Medicare Part B Beneficiaries In November 2021, CMS announced a 14.5% price hike for Medicare Part B beneficiaries starting in 2022—the largest premium increase in the history of the program. The price increase was brought on by the skyrocketing price of a new Alzheimer’s drug, “Aduhelm”, initially priced at $56,000 per year by its manufacturer. The high price point, combined with the unknown size of patient population, resulted in CMS actuaries announcing the 14.5% increase in 2022 Part B premiums. However, after the price hike was announced, the price of Aduhelm was drastically reduced by its manufacturer from $56,000 to $28,000 per year. With this information in-hand, Rep. Courtney began leading the push to reverse the price increase: January 19, 2022—Rep. Courtney led a coalition of 31 Members of Congress in writing to Secretary Becerra, encouraging HHS to conduct a complete review of CMS actuarial data to determine whether the Medicare Part B premium hike could be blunted or reversed immediately. Click here to read more. February 17, 2022—Courtney authored an op-ed for The Hill newspaper highlighting the need to reverse the 2022 Part B premium price hike: The Driving Force Behind Medicare Part B’s Price Increase Was Blunted—The Price Hike Should Be, Too. March 18, 2022—Courtney welcomed an update from HHS and Secretary Becerra that CMS was actively reassessing Medicare Part B premiums for 2022, and exploring options on lowering costs so that seniors don’t pay more than necessary after the price reduction of Aduhelm. Click here to read more. April 6, 2022—In a full House Education and Labor Committee hearing, Courtney continued pressing Secretary Becerra for an update on how the department will lower costs for seniors now that the driving force behind the Medicare Part B premium increase had been blunted. “We’re in April right now,” Courtney said at the hearing, “can you give us an update in terms of whether or not there is going to be, hopefully, some commonsense adjustment […]?” Click here to watch. May 27, 2022—CMS released a report on its reassessment of Medicare Part B premium payments, which acknowledged that program spending had been lower-than-expected after the price of Aduhelm was reduced. The report recommended that the cost savings be passed on to Medicare Part B program participants in the 2023 premium calculation. Click here to read more. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/supporters-outbound-investment-legislation-urge-administration-take,"Supporters of Outbound Investment Legislation Urge Administration to Take Executive Action to Safeguard National Security, Protect Supply Chains",2022-09-27,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,CT,Rosa L. DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,delauro,https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Today, U.S. Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Victoria Spartz (R-IN), along with Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), John Cornyn (R-TX) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY), are sending a letter urging the Biden Administration to take immediate action to safeguard national security and supply chain resiliency on outbound investments to foreign adversaries. As supporters of legislation that would establish an outbound investment screen, the signatories are pushing for President Biden to issue an Executive Order to protect American workers and advance U.S. national and economic security interests. ""When we cede our manufacturing power and technological know-how to foreign adversaries, we are hurting our economy, our global competitiveness, American workers, industry and national security. Government action on this front is long overdue to address the scope and magnitude of these serious risks we face as a country,"" the members of Congress wrote. The National Critical Capabilities Defense Act would establish an interagency outbound investment review committee in order to better understand the vulnerabilities created in U.S. supply chains as private industries continue to offshore critical capabilities to China and other foreign adversaries. Full text of the letter is below and a signed PDF is HERE. September 27, 2022 President Biden The White House Dear President Biden: We write to you as the bipartisan and bicameral supporters of the National Critical Capabilities Defense Act (S. 1854 and H.R. 6323). We championed this legislation to enhance visibility on supply chain vulnerabilities and to prevent the offshoring of critical production capacity and intellectual property to our foreign adversaries, including the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Russian Federation, that threatens American workers and our national security. Through input and support received from stakeholders and your Administration, the sponsors are revising this bill to help the U.S. government strengthen national security and ensure the resilience of our critical supply chains through increased transparency and oversight over outbound investments. We appreciate your Administration's support for our efforts. While we believe that this revised legislation provides the U.S. with the strongest foundation to compete in a global economy, American workers, businesses and our national security cannot afford to wait. As deliberations continue in Congress, we urge your Administration to move forward with executive action—which can then be bolstered by statutory provisions—to safeguard our national security and supply chain resiliency on outbound investments to foreign adversaries. This is how the oversight of inbound foreign investment was initially established—Executive Order. This is an effort we have long supported and advocated for as lawmakers. Such action should include robust stakeholder engagement and congressional input and oversight from the committees of jurisdiction to provide certainty and clarity for all involved. The pandemic shined a spotlight on just how exposed U.S. supply chains are and the severe cost of relying on foreign adversaries for our Nation's critical capabilities. The PRC, for example, has an egregious track record of promoting intellectual property theft and forced technology transfer. While this unsettling trend is not new, we know action is needed to address vulnerabilities for many sectors of our economy so that we can advance U.S. national and economic security interests. When we cede our manufacturing power and technological know-how to foreign adversaries, we are hurting our economy, our global competitiveness, American workers, industry and national security. Government action on this front is long overdue to address the scope and magnitude of these serious risks we face as a country. Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to working with the Administration to safeguard our Nation's critical capabilities. We hope that you will keep us updated about the Administration's proposals on this important effort as they are being developed. Sincerely,",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-announces-2-million-us-department-health-and-human-services,DeLauro Announces $2 million in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Grants for Behavioral Health Clinics in Milford and Ansonia,2022-09-26,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,CT,Rosa L. DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,delauro,https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Today, House Appropriations Chair Rosa DeLauro announced BH Care, Inc. and Bridges Healthcare Inc. were both awarded $1 million for their Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC). The grant will allow BH Care to enhance access to care by expanding staff support, adopt a team-based approach to all services, track crisis services, and expand their services to additional unduplicated individuals. With these grant funds, Bridges will be funding ""Project Engage,"" a project focused on four key initiatives; increasing community engagement, expanding the use of the Bridges' Wellness on Wheels mobile unit, promoting use of their West Haven and Stratford locations, and expanding their Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Team. ""Investing in behavioral health clinics is vital – mental health disorders are increasingly common through our communities. No person should be left to fight these battles alone,"" said Chair DeLauro. ""Our communities need safe, nurturing, and supportive services. Behavioral health clinics like BH Care and Bridges Healthcare are providing Connecticut's families with person-centered recovery services that provide the life-saving care people deserve. Health care includes mental and behavioral health care – we must ensure that no one faces barriers to treatment."" ""We are grateful for the continued investment in the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic system. Connecticut's designated Local Mental Health Authorities have the unique expertise to support children, adults, and families who are struggling with mental illness, substance use, and co-occurring disorders. This funding will allow us to enhance and expand our programming to better meet the growing need in our communities,"" said President and CEO of BH, Care. Inc. Roberta Cook. ""We are excited to be recipients of this grant and that Bridges will be able to provide increased access to services at our newest West Haven and Stratford sites to address the growing demand of mental health and substance use services. We are committed to addressing health disparities in the communities we serve and this will allow us to implement a number of community engagement efforts to help facilitate more access to services to individuals in underserved areas,"" said Jennifer Fiorillo, President & CEO, Bridges Healthcare. ""What does this mean to a family seeking treatment from Bridges? Well, it means access to the kind of quality care that is in tune with their cultural, spiritual, and personalized needs. As a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic, our clients can know that they are receiving services from an agency that meets a higher standard of care that is designated by SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,""Debra Gannon, Project Director for CCBHC, Bridges Healthcare. A Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic is designed to ensure access to coordinated comprehensive behavioral health care. CCBHCs are required to serve anyone who requests care for mental health or substance use disorder, regardless of their ability to pay, place of residence, or age - including developmentally appropriate care for children and youth.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-hurricane-fiona-puerto-rico-power-outages,"DeLauro Statement on Hurricane Fiona, Puerto Rico Power Outages",2022-09-24,2022,2022-09,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 on Hurricane Fiona and the ongoing power outages in Puerto Rico. ""First, I want to extend my strong support and deepest condolences to the people of Puerto Rico, many of whom have been injured, displaced, or tragically lost as result of Hurricane Fiona. ""Over one million Puerto Ricans are without power because of the damage caused by the storm. We must act swiftly to get them the resources they need to recover. My staff and I are in close contact with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The FEMA Administrator was in Puerto Rico this week meeting with the Governor and other officials while the Agency is coordinating the Federal response and assessing damage to determine what will be needed to support their recovery.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-votes-fund-police,DeLauro Votes to Fund the Police,2022-09-22,2022,2022-09,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 voted in support of several bills to ensure that police departments across the nation have the resources necessary to operate with efficiency and better community safety. ""Violent crime is impacting every community in this country,"" said Chair DeLauro. ""That is why we are acting on needed legislation, like the Invest to Protect Act, which funds local police departments by investing in tools to prevent crime and improve training. I am fighting to making communities safer and give our trusted local law enforcement the tools they need to prevent crime, protect our communities, and improve public safety."" DeLauro and House Democrats passed a package of four public safety and policing bills to enhance public safety and support local law enforcement, including: HR 6448, Invest to Protect Act, which creates a new grant program for small police departments for police officer training and access to mental health resources as well as for improving recruitment and retention, authorizing $60 million a year through FY 2027; HR 5768, Violent Incident Clearance & Technological Methods Act, which creates a new grant program within the Justice Department's Office of Justice Programs to help police departments clear (i.e., close) open cases involving homicides, rapes, sexual assaults, kidnaping and non-fatal shootings, authorizing $100 million a year through FY 2032; HR 8542, Mental Health Justice Act, which creates a new HHS grant program to send mental health professionals instead of police officers to respond to certain types of mental health emergencies, authorizing a total of $250 million through FY 2027; and HR 4118, Break the Cycle of Violence Act, which creates new grant programs in the Health and Human Services (HHS) and Labor departments to support community-based violence intervention initiatives, authorizing a total of $6.5 billion through Fiscal Year (FY) 2029.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=90294D38-CEC8-4B26-85B8-3D72DB89EEBB,Hayes Votes to Fund Local Law Enforcement and Improve Public Safety,2022-09-22,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,CT,Jahana Hayes,H001081,hayes.house.gov,hayes,https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) voted to pass a robust public safety package to prevent crime, save lives, and advance justice. Together, the four bills address the growing needs of local law enforcement agencies and rebuild trust between communities and police. “Today, I voted to provide police departments in the Fifth District with robust funding and training to keep themselves and our communities safe while also addressing the root causes of crime through intervention programs and mental health supports. This package builds upon the historic progress we have forged this Congress to ensure the safety of children and families. I remain fully committed to improving public safety and building trust within our communities,” said Congresswoman Hayes. The package includes: The Invest to Protect Act to make targeted investments in local police departments with fewer than 125 officers, ensuring police officers in smaller communities have the resources and training necessary to keep themselves and their communities safe. These investments include funds for training, body cameras, mental health supports, recruitment, and retention. The Break the Cycle of Violence Act to provide federal grants to communities for evidence-based community violence intervention and prevention programs designed to interrupt cycles of violence. The Mental Health Justice Act to allow states and local governments to train and dispatch mental health professionals to respond, instead of law enforcement officers, to emergencies that involve people with behavioral health needs. The Violent Incident Clearance and Technological Investigative Methods (VICTIM) Act to establish a grant program at the Department of Justice to help State, Tribal, and local enforcement agencies improve their clearance rates for homicides and non-fatal shootings. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/over-136000-federal-funding-awarded-columbia-volunteer-fire-department,"Over $136,000 in Federal Funding Awarded to the Columbia Volunteer Fire Department, Courtney Announces",2022-09-20,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,courtney,https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded a new federal grant totaling more than $136,000 to the Columbia Volunteer Fire Department. The new grant award was dispersed through FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program, and will enable the department to purchase new Firefighter Breathing Apparatuses—the foundational tool that protects firefighters airways and lungs from toxic gas and harmful particles during a fire. “The Columbia men and women that make up the dedicated group of volunteers that serves our community would like to thank Congressman Courtney for his support and FEMA for awarding the Columbia Volunteer Fire Department Inc. this Assistance to Firefighters Grant,” said Columbia Volunteer Fire Department Chief Steve Postemsky. “This ongoing support provided to small community fire departments is greatly appreciated. This grant will help us to acquire new air packs (SCBAs) that will be expiring next year. The AFG funding removes a large burden from the town and taxpayers that small communities like ours depend on.” “The Columbia Volunteer Fire Department is essential to the town’s safety and wellbeing of our residents and in return we feel it is vital that we provide the fire department with the necessary equipment needed to deliver important lifesaving services,” said Steven Everett, First Selectman of the Town of Columbia. “We are appreciative of Congressman Courtney’s level of support and FEMA for awarding the funds for this crucial equipment.” “These are highly competitive federal grant dollars, and the Columbia Volunteer Fire Department deserves a lot of credit for going out there and successfully competing for them,” said Rep. Courtney. “They were up against fire departments across the country for this grant award, they put together a strong application, and it’s great now to see more federal resources coming home to support our local first responders. This grant award means that the Columbia fire department can purchase 18 new air packs—an essential tool that our firefighters need to protect themselves while carrying out their work. We’ve welcomed home more than $1.7 million in new federal funding for our firefighters recently, and I’m glad I could lend my support to the Columbia Volunteer Fire Department’s grant application.” FEMA will present the Columbia Volunteer Fire Department an AFG award of $136,019.04, specifically to support the purchase of 18 new firefighter breathing apparatuses. Federal AFG awards have become highly competitive over the years and are competed for by fire departments throughout nationwide. On March 3, Rep. Courtney wrote to Chris Logan, Assistant Administrator for Grant Programs at FEMA, to weigh in with strong support for the Columbia Volunteer Fire Department’s AFG grant application: “Columbia Fire Department constitutes 34 volunteers who serve the town of Columbia, serving more than 5,000 residents and protecting several sites of significant infrastructure. The fire fighters of Columbia face risks with any fire call, however, they are burdened with the risk due to outdated and noncompliant SCBA air pack units. “The CVFD is responsible for responding to emergency affected infrastructure sites such as State Routes 6 and 66, rail lines operated by Worchester-Providence Railroad, and a natural gas pipeline that supplies a significant portion of gas to the Northeast. It is of utter necessity that these firefighters possess functioning equipment, especially considering the implications that fire damage to these sites hold. The fire department is requesting the grant in order to purchase 18 SCBA air pack units, one of the most vital pieces of equipment. CVFD strives to property maintain their units, but the reliability of the equipment decreases over time and needs to be replaced in order to be PPE compliant, and, above all else, protect these volunteers. “The Columbia Volunteer Fire Department provides indispensable services to its community and surrounding departments, and to continue to do so they must be able to sufficiently protect their firefighters’ wellbeing. For this reason, I urge you to award full funding to this application.” To read the full letter, click here. Today’s AFG award to the Columbia Fire Department represents the third round of federal support that Rep. Courtney has announced recently for local fire departments. On August 31st, Courtney shared that federal AFG awards totaling more than $887,000 would be awarded to five eastern CT fire departments in Chester, Preston, New London, Norwich, and West Stafford. That grant award helped local departments purchase essential new safety equipment, lifesaving medical devices, necessary firefighter training, and more. On September 9th, Courtney announced the largest federal AFG award in eastern Connecticut since 2001—an award of over $739,000 for the City of Groton that will support several local fire stations, including the City of Groton, the Center Groton Fire District, the Groton Long Point Fire Association, the Mystic Fire District, the Noank Fire District, the Old Mystic Fire Department, and the Poquonnock Bridge Fire District. The award will fund the purchase of an upgraded emergency communications system, enabling firefighters and first responders throughout Groton to integrate with the State of Connecticut’s state-of-the-art, statewide emergency notifications system. Today’s announcement brings the total amount of new federal support for eastern Connecticut firefighters to more than $1.76 million in just the last month. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=A42DB725-509F-42C7-9085-FFBD2A0B9131,Hayes Waterbury Office Named Purple Heart Congressional Office for Excellence in Veterans Assistance,2022-09-20,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,CT,Jahana Hayes,H001081,hayes.house.gov,hayes,https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WATERBURY – Today, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) shared that her Waterbury District Office has been named a Purple Heart Congressional Office and listed along the national Purple Heart Trail. The symbolic and honorary system of roads, highways, bridges, and buildings gives tribute to those awarded the Purple Heart medal and their sacrifice. This distinction, presented by the Military Order of the Purple Heart, recognizes the dedication of Congresswoman Hayes and her office to veterans and their families. The Fifth Congressional District Office is the only Purple Heart Congressional Office in all of New England. “I am deeply grateful my congressional office is listed alongside a network of landmarks across 45 states in honor of our combat wounded veterans and their commitment to serving our nation. Through providing quality constituent services and championing impactive legislation, I have worked tirelessly on behalf of those who have served. As a Purple Heart Congressional Office, my Waterbury Office will stand as a trusted location for service persons in need of help,” said Congresswoman Hayes. “I am committed to honoring the service of our veterans by ensuring they can access the care and benefits they have earned. Since 2019, my office has assisted over 400 veterans, secured nearly $3.8 million in overdue benefits for veterans and their families, and nominated 68 students to our nation’s military academies. I offer my sincerest thanks to the Department of Connecticut Military Order of the Purple Heart for bestowing this honor upon my office and partnering to assist the veterans of the Fifth District.” In addition to constituent services, Congresswoman Hayes has introduced nine pieces of original veteran legislation, four of which have been signed into law by President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, as part of larger legislative packages. The legislation include:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/connecticuts-crumbling-foundations-captive-reaches-600-family-milestone,Connecticut’s Crumbling Foundations Captive Reaches the 600-Family Milestone,2022-09-14,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,courtney,https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) joined Michael Maglaras, Superintendent of the Connecticut Foundations Solutions Indemnity Company, Inc. (CFSIC), and Governor Ned Lamont in announcing a major milestone in the effort to support homeowners impacted by the crumbling foundations crisis. As of today, CFSIC has officially placed 600 local families back into homes with safe and secure foundations since its launch on January 10, 2019. The 600th home milestone was reached as foundation remediation was completed at the home of Anna Hyde in Ellington, CT. “With claimant Anna Hyde of Ellington, who originally applied to the program on August 29, 2019, and who was very patient with this process, we have our 600th completed foundation,” said Maglaras. “This is an important day in the history of CFSIC, and for Anna, and an important day for all the victims of the crumbling foundations natural disaster.” “The Superintendent himself phoned me personally this morning to offer congratulations,” said homeowner Anna Hyde. “I have to say that the Superintendent and his whole team, particularly my wonderful claim adjuster Nicole Carrozza, made this process seamless and a happy one for me. I am so grateful to the State of Connecticut and to CFSIC."" “We’ve had great cooperation from Governor Lamont and his staff,” added Steve Werbner, CFSIC President. “They believe in what we’re doing, and they realize the deep economic and human impact of CFSIC’s success.” “When the crumbling foundations crisis burst in 2016, the milestone of repairing 600 homes seemed beyond reach,” said Rep. Courtney. “The General Assembly, Governor Lamont, and CFSIC deserve great credit for taking bold action to provide direct funding to homeowners and communities. Working closely with Mike Maglaras and CFSIC, my office ensured the IRS ruled that CFSIC grants for repairs were not taxable, and secured funding for foundations testing from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, as well as the U.S. Department of Housing and Development. There are still many homes at risk from pyrrhotite damage, and it is critical that local, state, and federal partners redouble our efforts to accomplish the mission of CFSIC, namely to stabilize the home and real estate markets in Connecticut that have been ravaged by this insidious defective concrete.” “The crumbling foundation issue has not only posed a safety concern, but it also has had the potential to be economically damaging to the northeastern region as a whole, regardless of whether your own personal home is among those that have been impacted,” said Governor Lamont. “I am glad that the state has been able to partner with 600 homeowners to address this issue and help bring some security to their homes and their lives – it was the right thing to do. I appreciate Mike Maglaras and his team for what they have done at CFSIC.” To date, CFSIC has paid out nearly $100 million in foundation remediations, as well as reimbursements for work already performed. Today’s completion of repairs marks 600 foundations replaced, and CFSIC estimates that it will reach its 1000th home in the next 18 months. CFSIC has heard from more than 2,200 claimants since its launch on January 10, 2019. To learn more about CFSIC, click here. Rep. Courtney has worked to help Connecticut residents impacted by crumbling foundations ever since the crisis emerged. He has worked to secure a variety of resources at the federal and state level to research and address the problem, and to assist residents with testing and repairs, including: Support for Local Crumbling Foundations Testing Assistance — In 2016, due to the advocacy of Rep. Courtney’s office, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) made clear that the State of Connecticut could use its allocation of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for various efforts to assist people with crumbling foundations, including testing. In Congress, Courtney has voted consistently to provide strong support to the federal CDBG program. That support, combined with HUD’s 2016 guidance, led to the creation of the federally funded pyrrhotite testing program currently operating in Vernon, Ellington, and Stafford. The program covers the cost of testing residential foundations for the presence of the mineral pyrrhotite. Courtney announced a $480,000 grant award to fuel the program in 2019, the state has provided close to $1 million in federally allocated CDBG funds, and the program is still supporting people today—recently, it was extended through February 28, 2023. Securing Non-Profit Status for CFSIC — In March of 2019, Courtney worked to help CFSIC achieve designation as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). With that tax-exempt status, CFSIC has been able to leverage public and private resources to help eastern Connecticut homeowners impacted by the crumbling foundations crisis, and in turn to help stabilize the local housing and real estate market. Additionally, due to CFSIC’s 501(c)(3) status, CFSIC has been the beneficiary of thousands of dollars in philanthropic donations to support crumbling foundations remediation. Securing Additional Tax Relief for Impacted Homeowners — In April of 2019, Reps. Courtney and John Larson (CT-01) secured clarification from the IRS that enabled homeowners impacted by the crumbling foundations crisis to receive additional tax relief and allowed them to claim the federal casualty loss deduction for costs not covered by CFSIC. In a letter, the IRS confirmed that if the repaired structures was damaged by the crumbling foundation or needed to be damaged or destroyed to repair the foundation, the cost of the repair of this item would be eligible for federal tax relief under the Revenue Procedures that the IRS had published in 2017 and 2018. The IRS clarification came following a letter Rep. Courtney wrote to IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig on February 28, 2019 requesting this clarification. Protecting Assistance to Homeowners from Federal Taxation — Additionally, Courtney worked to ensure that beneficiaries of CFSIC assistance would not have to pay federal income taxes on the funds received from CFSIC for crumbling foundations remediation. In 2020, after receiving a formal inquiry from Congressman Courtney, the IRS issued new guidance clarifying that financial assistance paid to eastern Connecticut homeowners through CFSIC—including payments from CFSIC to contractors on behalf of homeowners, and reimbursements paid to homeowners—would not be treated as taxable income in the year the payment reimbursed or paid. This clarification saved individual homeowners tens of thousands of dollars and provided peace of mind for claimants waiting to receive the assistance. Supporting Research Efforts that Provide Real Benefits — In Congress, Courtney has worked on complementary efforts to ensure that federal funds would be supporting the work of CFSIC and all crumbling foundations remediation activities in Connecticut. Specifically, since 2020, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has received $5.5 million to support crumbling foundations research, of which UConn has received $1.76 million as a grantee to support this week. Today, federally funded work at UConn is helping researchers capture information on the premature degradation of concrete foundations that contain pyrrhotite, and to build a risk assessment scale so that we know how much pyrrhotite actually must be present before a property is deemed unmarketable. The research has also expanded free concrete testing opportunities for Connecticut residents. For example, condominium owners at the Willington Ridge Condos were able to have testing paid for with 100% federal funding thanks to this research, which otherwise would have cost them tens of thousands of dollars out-of-pocket. In 2021, the Willington Ridge Condos became the first condominiums in Connecticut to be raised for crumbling foundations repairs. Targeted Financial Assistance for Impacted Homeowners — Most recently, Courtney secured $2 million in targeted funding in the 2022 federal budget that will provide impacted homeowners with direct financial assistance. The 2022 budget included ten different “Community Project Requests” submitted by Rep. Courtney for efforts throughout eastern Connecticut, including for crumbling foundations assistance. Rep. Courtney worked directly with towns in north central Connecticut to craft the project request, and now that the budget has been signed into law, it will become available specifically to assist homeowners with crumbling foundations remediation and repair. Rep. Courtney’s office will be providing more information on how to apply for this direct assistance soon. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-courtney-and-pingree-lead-new-effort-press-additional-home-energy,Reps. Courtney and Pingree Lead New Effort to Press for Additional Home Energy Assistance Funding,2022-09-14,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,courtney,https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Reps. Joe Courtney (CT-02) and Chellie Pingree (ME-01) led a coalition of representatives from the Connecticut and New England Congressional Delegations in writing to the U.S. House and Senate Appropriations Committees, urging them to include additional funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in the upcoming government funding package. As winter approaches, funding for LIHEAP is important for households in eastern Connecticut and throughout New England. In writing to press for additional LIHEAP funding, Courtney and Pingree were joined by 17 other Members of Congress, including Reps. David Cicilline (RI-01), Richard Neil (MA-01), Ann McLane Kuster (NH-02), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Jim Langevin (RI-02), Bill Keating (MA-09), Jim Himes (CT-04), Jake Auchincloss (MA-04), Jared Golden (ME-02), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Peter Welch (VT-AL), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Chris Pappas (NH-01), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), John Larson (CT-01), and Jim McGovern (MA-02). Click here to read the full letter. In Connecticut, federal LIHEAP funding is currently fueling the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP), which provides homeowners with direct assistance to help lower the cost of heating and home energy use. The LIHEAP program has received increased overall funding recently thanks to bills like the American Rescue Plan and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which has enabled programs like CEAP to be expanded and assist even more people. Additional funding for the LIHEAP program would provide even more home energy assistance to people throughout the region. In their letter, Courtney, Pingree, and the New England Delegation members noted that the prices of electricity, natural gas, and heating oil remain high—a problem particularly for regions of the country that rely on heating and cooling assistance as winter approaches. Specifically, they stated: “As members of the New England delegation, we urge the Committee to include additional funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in the upcoming continuing resolution. After spending the last several weeks speaking with constituents in our districts, it is apparent that the highest possible supplemental funding level is needed to support heating needs in the winter season across the nation and particularly in New England. “We greatly appreciate the Committee’s proposed increase for the annual appropriation for LIHEAP for Fiscal Year 2023 […] but we urge the committee to ensure that the final level of emergency funding reflects the acute needs of regions that rely on heating and cooling assistance. “The United States has experienced severe energy shortages and price increases due to a variety of factors including the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Severe weather in the upcoming months could make this shortage even worse. […] “These shortages contribute to the high prices which are having significant impacts on our region’s electric, heating oil, and natural gas customers. […] These increased costs will strain the finances of vulnerable families, forcing many to fall behind on their utility bills and make other difficult financial decisions. “Even under normal circumstances, LIHEAP provides vital assistance for families across the country who need assistance with their heating and cooling costs and their home energy bills. With the current energy crisis in New England, it is even more important that Congress meets the needs of families that rely on LIHEAP to afford their energy bills. We urge the Committee to meet the demand of New England and the rest of the nation by appropriating emergency supplemental funding for LIHEAP in the upcoming continuing resolution.” To read Rep. Courtney and Rep. Pingree’s full letter in support of LIHEAP, click here. In August, Rep. Courtney joined another bipartisan calling for emergency funding to LIHEAP for the winter season. Courtney has also kept in touch with local Community Action Agencies in eastern Connecticut, including the Thames Valley Council for Community Action (TVCCA) who work to raise awareness and help local residents apply for energy assistance through LIHEAP. Last week, Courtney met with TVCCA Executive Director Deborah Monahan and representatives of local home heating oil supplier Viking Fuel in Norwich to provide an update on newly expanded assistance for homeowners through the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP), which is funded by LIHEAP. Click here to watch the full update. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=2BE32245-51C9-4D54-9011-891741AC7EBA,Hayes: National Abortion Ban is About Controlling Women's Bodies,2022-09-14,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,CT,Jahana Hayes,H001081,hayes.house.gov,hayes,https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05), member of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, released the following statement after Congressional Republicans introduced legislation to ban abortion nationwide after 15 weeks: “In June, the Supreme Court reversed decades of precedent when they overturned Roe v. Wade. Congressional Republicans have maintained decisions regarding abortion are something best left to the states. However, Congressional Republicans in both the Senate and House of Representatives introduced legislation this week to ban abortion nationwide after 15 weeks. These bills already have the support of over 100 Republicans in Congress and that number continues to grow. This legislation to ban abortion nationwide makes it clear this was never an issue of states’ rights. This has always been about controlling women’s bodies and criminalizing healthcare for women in need,” said Congresswoman Hayes. “Abortion is healthcare and healthcare is a fundamental right. I will continue to oppose any effort to undermine access to this vital care.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-bennet-brown-booker-delbene-torres-statement-extending-expanded,"DeLauro, Bennet, Brown, Booker, DelBene, Torres Statement on Extending the Expanded Child Tax Credit Before Year End",2022-09-13,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,CT,Rosa L. DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,delauro,https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Today, as new data from the Census Bureau showed that child poverty dropped to a record low in 2021 in large part as a result of the expanded Child Tax Credit, U.S. Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), and Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) alongside U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), released the following statement: ""Today's Census data confirms that the expanded Child Tax Credit worked: it allowed the hard work of tens of millions of parents to pay off and helped them keep up with the cost of living, dramatically reducing child poverty and hunger. We should have never allowed this critical program to lapse, and we should not extend corporate tax breaks at the end of this year without also extending the expanded Child Tax Credit."" Today, the Census Bureau released new data demonstrating the profound impact the expanded Child Tax Credit had, enabling families to keep up with the cost of living and fighting poverty, hunger, and homelessness last year. New data reveals that:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/fire-departments-groton-receive-over-739000-new-federal-funding-nearly,"Fire Departments in Groton Receive Over $739,000 in New Federal Funding, Nearly Doubling Recent Support for Local Firefighters",2022-09-09,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,courtney,https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"NORWICH, CT—Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded a new federal grant of $739,569 to the City of Groton that will support several local districts, including the City of Groton, the Center Groton Fire District, the Groton Long Point Fire Association, the Mystic Fire District, the Noank Fire District, the Old Mystic Fire Department, and the Poquonnock Bridge Fire District. The new firefighters’ grant award will also benefit the Mystic River Ambulance Association and the Groton Ambulance Association. Today’s new grant award was dispersed through Round 4 of FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program. It is the largest single AFG award in eastern Connecticut since 2001. The federal grant will fund the purchase of an upgraded emergency communications system that will enable firefighters and first responders throughout Groton to integrate with the State of Connecticut’s state-of-the-art, statewide emergency notifications system—which includes Next-Generation 9-1-1 services (NG911), the Connecticut Land Mobile Radio Network, enhanced communications frequency coordination for public safety, and more. “This grant will allow for enhanced communications among firefighters and emergency medical personnel within the fire districts serving the Town and City of Groton, along with portions of the Town of Stonington,” said City of Groton Deputy Fire Chief Ted Sargent. “In addition, the new radio equipment will allow for communications with local police departments in Groton and Stonington during large scale events. The awarding of this grant was successful due to the cooperation of each of the agencies that participated in the grant application—now, this new emergency communications system will only further enhance our collaborative efforts.” “The importance of communications cannot be understated,” said Chief Jeffrey Post of the Center Groton Fire Department. “During emergencies, accurate and timely information needs to be relayed, and this new radio system will enhance the coverage and efficiency of the speed and accuracy of that information. Special thanks to Deputy Chief Ted Sargent for his diligence on this project.” “This grant will enable all of our Groton area fire departments to shift to the Connecticut Land Mobile Radio Network, dramatically improving our emergency radio communications,” said Chief Arnie Lotring of the Groton Long Point Volunteer Fire Company. “The shift to the new system will ensure resilient, reliable and secure emergency communications well into the future.” “We’ve announced a great new round of federal Assistance to Firefighters grants recently, and this award for our fire departments in Groton is the biggest of the crop—it’s actually the largest AFG award we’ve seen in eastern Connecticut since 2001,” said Rep. Courtney. “Earlier this year, our bipartisan bill to enhance benefits for police officers, firefighters, and fire police was signed into law—an important boost for our first responders, and one that will really help our towns when it comes to retaining and recruiting dedicated public service workers we rely on. Now, this new round of federal grants represents another important source of support, and a huge step forward because it’s going to let our firefighters in Groton sync-up with the enhanced statewide emergency communications system. That sort of upgrade is going to make their jobs easier, it’s going to make their work faster and more efficient, and that’s going to result in safer communities for all of us—it’s a smart, targeted investment. I want to congratulate our local fire districts, and especially Chief Tompkins and Deputy Chief Ted Sargent of the City of Groton Fire Department, for their diligent work in earning this highly competitive federal funding.” The City of Groton will receive a federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) award of $739,569 to upgrade radio and telecommunications equipment for five local fire districts, enabling them to utilize the state’s enhanced emergency notifications system and NG911 services. Specifically, the funding will facilitate the purchase of new vehicle and base station radios, as well as new portable and mobile radio repeaters, for firefighters serving at the Center Groton Fire District, the Groton Long Point Fire Association, the Mystic Fire District, the Noank Fire District, the Old Mystic Fire Department, and the Poquonnock Bridge Fire District, and for first responders at Mystic River Ambulance Association and Groton Ambulance Association. Today’s grant award nearly doubles the new federal funding Rep. Courtney has recently announced for firefighters in eastern Connecticut. Last week, Courtney announced over $887,000 in AFG grants to five local fire departments in Chester, Preston, New London, Norwich, and Stafford. Those five AFG awards will assist the departments in purchasing essential new safety equipment and lifesaving medical devices, and to carry out necessary firefighter training. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://himes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=B7757515-EE43-4E17-9D06-299ACE7A4D5B,Himes To Hold September Town Halls,2022-09-08,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,CT,James A. Himes,H001047,himes.house.gov,himes,https://himes.house.gov/press-releases,page_html,"BRIDGEPORT, CT—Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04) announced the following town hall meetings over the coming week: Wilton, CT Where: Wilton High School, Clune Auditorium, 395 Danbury Rd., Wilton, CT When: Saturday, September 10 at 10:30 a.m Darien, CT Where: Darien Town Hall, 2 Renshaw Rd., Darien, CT When: Saturday, September 10 at 3:30 p.m Bridgeport, CT Where: Paier College, Arnold Bernhard Arts & Humanities Center, 505 University Ave., When: Monday, September 12 at 5:30 p.m ***Members of the press are welcome at the town halls and are an important part of Congressman Himes’ efforts to ensure citizens who can’t attend in person are able to stay informed. Reporters, especially those with camera hookups, should plan on arriving early to set up. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-03-30T11:08:25Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-over-40-house-democrats-call-better-engagement-congress-public,"DeLauro & Over 40 House Democrats Call for Better Engagement with Congress, Public on Proposed Indo-Pacific and Americas Trade Deals Ahead of IPEF Ministerial",2022-09-07,2022,2022-09,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), Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), along with 42 House Democrats including 6 Committee Chairs today sent a letter to the Biden Administration requesting that the agencies involved in negotiations on the recently announced Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) and Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity (APEP) engage in robust consultation with Congress and outside stakeholders. The letter urges the administration to learn from the failures of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). It comes as United States is set to host the first in person Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) Ministerial in Los Angeles, California on September 8-9, 2022. ""We urge you to consider the lessons of past trade negotiations that too often were conducted in secret, with members of Congress, workers and their unions, environmentalists, and consumer advocates largely unable to review text and ensure their interests were addressed,"" the lawmakers wrote. ""…If negotiations on IPEF and APEP proceed, we urge you to ensure that any agreement benefits American workers, not corporate offshoring, and to provide Congress and the public with clearer insight into your approach to the negotiation process, including through robust consultation throughout the process and congressional approval of any binding commitments."" The proposed partners for IPEF include nations such as Vietnam and Malaysia with autocratic governments, terrible human and labor rights practices, and poor environmental protections. While the Office of U.S. Trade Representative has committed to including strong labor standards, including country-specific provisions where needed, other agencies have yet to make a similar commitment.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-extremist-judge-s-attack-aca-s-preventive-services,DeLauro Statement on Extremist Judge’s Attack on the ACA’s Preventive Services including PrEP Medication and Birth Control,2022-09-07,2022,2022-09,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 following news that a Texas judge ruled that employers can deny coverage for preventive health services guaranteed under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) including PrEP, a life-saving drug therapy to prevent HIV/AIDS; birth control; routine cancer screenings; and depression screenings. ""As a thirty-five-year ovarian cancer survivor, I am outraged that this judge would take us back to the days before the ACA when individuals suffered pain and even death because coverage for routine cancer screenings were not guaranteed without cost-sharing. The data is overwhelmingly clear that reinstating cost-sharing for preventive services for the more than 167.5 million who rely on private health insurance, as many will choose to forego these services because of the cost. Preventive health services not only save lives, but they prevent more costly treatments and hospitalization. ""For years, PrEP has been a key tool in our fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic – a disease that does not discriminate. It prevents the spread of HIV and save lives. There is no good reason for an employer to be able to deny an employee coverage of this vital healthcare service. ""This ruling comes months after the unprecedented overturning of Roe v. Wade, and shows that conservatives on the bench are on the march to overturn a number of hard won freedoms earned by Americans. ""This decision is reckless and strips away life saving drugs. I promise to stand firm against their attacks with my Democratic colleagues in Congress. We will not go back.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-courtney-announces-over-887000-new-federal-support-five-eastern,"Rep. Courtney Announces Over $887,000 in New Federal Support for Five Eastern Connecticut Fire Stations",2022-09-02,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,courtney,https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"NORWICH, CT—Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded a new round federal grants totaling more than $887,000 to five eastern Connecticut fire departments in Chester, Preston, New London, Norwich, and Stafford. Each of the new federal awards were dispersed through FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program, and will assist the departments in purchasing essential new safety equipment and lifesaving medical devices, to carry out necessary firefighter training, and more. “It comes as an awesome relief to get this federal Assistance to Firefighters grant award, because we’ve had a serious need to replace our department’s breathing apparatuses—they’ve really aged,” said Chester Hose Company Fire Chief James Grzybowski. “Funding like this, which allows us to re-stock and re-supply critical equipment, is important for our department and for the entire Town of Chester, and it helps keeps our firefighters safe when they’re working hard to protect our community.” “With our department having minimum staffing when responding to incidents, these CPR Compression Devices will help us save lives,” said Poquetanuck Volunteer Fire Department Chief Keith Wucik. “Being awarded the AFG allows us to make this purchase that otherwise would not be possible with budget constraints.” “These funds will be used to host a Fire Instructor class for our members who do not currently hold this certification,” said New London Fire Department Chief Thomas Curcio. “The new AFG funding will also be utilized to help make us compliant with OSHA-required ‘live burn training’ at the Eastern Connecticut Fire School in Willimantic. With these grant dollars, we’ll be able to backfill and cover overtime costs—a really important investment for our department.” “Receiving this grant funding is a huge benefit to the Fire Officers and Firefighters of the City of Norwich Fire Department,” said Chief Tracy Montoya of the Norwich Fire Department. “The grant will provide Fire Officers and Firefighters with training and certification in three focused areas. The first area is to provide training in rapid Intervention techniques and procedures that are used to rescue firefighters in the event of becoming trapped or disorientated in a fire. The City of Norwich Fire Department often responds to provide a rapid intervention team during fires and this grant will provide training to keep up with the latest techniques and challenges that firefighters endure. The two other areas include training in Pump and Aerial Operations. Both courses will include certification in those two specific areas of expertise.” “On the heels of newly enhanced benefits for firefighters and police officers through the bipartisan Protecting Our First Responders Act, this new round of federal AFG grants represents another important source of support for our firefighters and fire stations,” said Rep. Courtney. “We’ve got to support our first responders right now, and the Assistance to Firefighters grant program is a versatile tool that does that by helping firefighters purchase everything from essential lifesaving equipment to important training. These are highly sought-after grant awards that fire stations nationwide all compete for, and it’s great to see the funding coming home to support eastern Connecticut after our local stations put in the work to go after it. Congratulations to all five of our local fire departments.” The Chester Hose Company will receive an AFG grant award of $127,428.57, and will use it to support the purchase of new Firefighter Breathing Apparatuses, which are essential for protecting firefighters against toxic gas and harmful particulates resulting from fires. In Preston, the Poquetanuck Volunteer Fire Department will receive an AFG award of $45,714.28. They will use the new federal funding to purchase CPR Compression Devices. This technology offers a safer, more efficient way of getting someone whose heart has stopped to start back up again, and helps the fire department save lives. The West Stafford Fire Department will use their AFG grant award of $18,571.42 to purchase a new washer and dryer for the department’s firefighting gear, which need to be washed thoroughly of potentially harmful residuals. The New London Fire Department received an AFG grant award of $95,545.45, and the Norwich Fire Department received an AFG grant award of $379,901.34. Both departments will use the new federal funding to support the completion of necessary training for their firefighters. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-centers-disease-control-and-prevention-internal,DeLauro Statement on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Internal Organization Review,2022-09-01,2022,2022-09,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 applauded the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for releasing a report from their internal organization review. ""First, I want to commend the CDC Director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, for leading the charge on conducting an agencywide review that will position CDC to better respond to emerging public health threats, collect data, and keep Americans better informed and healthy,"" said Chair DeLauro. ""Dr. Walensky has listened and has already announced a number of changes to the agency's public health response so that we ensure our response both equitably protects and promotes the health of the American people."" Chair DeLauro's fiscal year (FY) 2023 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) appropriations bill aligns with key recommendations from the internal review, as it supports the strengthening of core public health capabilities at CDC, including increased funding for CDC laboratories, public health data modernization, and investments in our public health workforce. As Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, DeLauro established the public health data modernization program in her FY 2020 LHHS federal spending bill to modernize and integrate in real-time public health data systems with CDC, State, territorial, local, and tribal partners. She also established the public health infrastructure and capacity program under the FY 2022 federal spending bill to help turn the tide on the nation's public health capacity.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-thompson-introduce-bipartisan-bill-improve-rehab-therapy,"Courtney, Thompson Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Rehab Therapy for Medicare Patients",2022-08-26,2022,2022-08,Democrat,House,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,courtney,https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Reps. Joe Courtney (CT-02) and Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15) introduced a new bipartisan bill that would support America’s seniors by preserving expanded access to skilled rehabilitation therapies for Medicare patients, even after the existing Public Health Emergency (PHE) is lifted. The Access to Inpatient Rehabilitation Therapy Act would ensure that all inpatient rehabilitation hospital patients can continue to benefit from a patient-centered, interdisciplinary care plan even after the end of the PHE. “When recovering from an injury or disabling medical event it is crucial that a patient be able to receive the types of rehabilitation services that their care team recommends. The current ‘intensity of therapy’ requirement unfairly limits the care that seniors and people with disabilities are able to access,” said Rep. Courtney. “This bill is a small but important change to Medicare to ensure that when a physician believes a patient needs a certain type of treatment, that patient can get it. I appreciate that so many patient advocates came forward to advocate for this change, and I am glad to be working with my colleague Rep. GT Thompson to fix this problem.” ""As a former Rehabilitation Services Manager and Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, I was honored to work with patients facing life-changing disease and disability for nearly three decades. The effectiveness of care involves the proper mix, frequency and intensity of medically necessary physician prescribed therapy.” Rep. Thompson said. “I am pleased to reintroduce bipartisan legislation that will ensure Medicare empowers physicians to exercise their medical judgement and therapy professionals to deliver the best possible care for patients recovering from accidents or illness.” “Just as no two people are exactly alike, no two brain injuries are exactly alike. People with brain injuries need a comprehensive, diverse set of therapies when in the post-acute rehabilitation stage of their treatment,” said Brain Injury Association of American President & CEO Susan Connors. “This bill will go a long way towards protecting meaningful patient access to the gold standard of rehabilitation therapy, including a mix of skilled therapeutic modalities that will help patients enhance their recovery.” “Inpatient rehabilitation care allows for patients to access an intensive, multidisciplinary treatment plan led by a rehabilitation physician in order to meet the complex needs of IRF patients,” said American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation President Deborah Venesy, MD. “We are grateful to Representatives Courtney and Thompson for their leadership in introducing the Access to Inpatient Rehabilitation Therapy Act to ensure that the full spectrum of skilled therapy is readily available to patients based on their unique medical and functional needs.” ""Patients in inpatient rehabilitation hospitals should receive the skilled therapy services they need based on their specific condition, not based on arbitrary regulations,” stated American Therapeutic Recreation Association Executive Director, Dr. Brent Wolfe. “This bill will go a long way towards protecting a mix of skilled therapeutic modalities, including recreational therapy, that will help restore and rehabilitate a person’s level of functioning and independence in life activities.” “The Center for Medicare Advocacy supports this important step towards ensuring that Medicare beneficiaries who need intensive, multidisciplinary rehabilitation can receive the right therapies in the right setting,” said Judith Stein, Executive Director, Center for Medicare Advocacy. Under the ongoing PHE, Medicare beneficiaries who need Inpatient Rehabilitation Therapy are not required to meet certain requirements to have their time in an Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital covered by Medicare. However, once the PHE waiver comes to an end, Medicare will begin again imposing restrictions on the types of therapies that count towards their “intensity of therapy” requirement, potentially limiting the types of therapies a patient could receive. Under Medicare rules, a patient must benefit from at least three hours of skilled rehabilitation therapy per day in order to qualify for Medicare coverage of their stay in an inpatient rehab facility. This new legislation would expand the types of therapy that count toward this requirement—such as recreational therapy and respiratory therapy—ensuring that patients can access care that their physicians believe will aid them on the road to recovery. Patients who are recovering from illnesses such as brain injuries, amputations, or strokes need a range of rehabilitation therapies to enable their safe return home. Once the Public Health Emergency ends, Medicare rules will unfairly limit the types of therapies that these patients could receive by failing to count them towards their “intensity of therapy requirement”. The legislation is endorsed by the American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, the American Medical Rehabilitation Providers Association, the American Therapeutic Recreation Association, the Brain Injury Association of America, the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses, the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, the National Association of State Head Injury Administrators, and the United Spinal Association.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=AF17FFE8-1984-4DF4-BE0D-CCA61581E093,Hayes Statement on Biden Administration Action to Address Student Loan Debt Crisis,2022-08-25,2022,2022-08,Democrat,House,CT,Jahana Hayes,H001081,hayes.house.gov,hayes,https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WATERBURY – Today, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05), member of the House Committee on Education and Labor, released the following statement after the announcement by the Biden Administration regarding student loan debt relief. “Today, the President delivered on his promise to millions struggling under the devastating weight of student loan debt and interest. Many of my constituents have shared their student loan horror stories and demanded reform to a system that puts profit over the promise of education,” said Congresswoman Hayes. “I am grateful for the leadership of President Biden to address the immense student debt crisis and help families succeed in challenging economic conditions. These reforms will have a lasting impact on Connecticut residents and impact those that need it most. I have pushed for a response to this crisis from the Administration, and I will continue to work with my colleagues to decrease the burden of student loan debt, reform the financial aid system, and make higher education more affordable.” The Biden Administration Student Debt Relief plan will: Provide targeted debt relief to address the financial harms of the pandemic. The Department of Education will provide up to $20,000 in debt cancellation to Pell Grant recipients with loans held by the Department of Education, and up to $10,000 in debt cancellation to non-Pell Grant recipients. Borrowers are eligible for this relief if their individual income is less than $125,000 ($250,000 for married couples). No high-income individual or high-income household above these thresholds will benefit from this action. To ensure a smooth transition to repayment and prevent unnecessary defaults, the pause on federal student loan repayment will be extended one final time through December 31, 2022. Borrowers should expect to resume payment in January 2023. Make the student loan system more manageable for current and future borrowers by: Cutting monthly payments in half for undergraduate loans. The Department of Education is proposing a new income-driven repayment plan that protects more low-income borrowers from making any payments and caps monthly payments for undergraduate loans at 5% of a borrower’s discretionary income—half of the rate that borrowers must pay now under most existing plans. This means that the average annual student loan payment will be lowered by more than $1,000 for both current and future borrowers. Fixing the broken Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program by proposing a rule that borrowers who have worked at a nonprofit, in the military, or in federal, state, tribal, or local government, receive appropriate credit toward loan forgiveness. These improvements will build on temporary changes the Department of Education has already made to PSLF, under which more than 175,000 public servants have already had more than $10 billion in loan forgiveness approved. Protect future students and taxpayers by reducing the cost of college and holding schools accountable when they hike up prices. The Biden Administration and Congresswoman Hayes have championed the largest increase to Pell Grants in over a decade and one of the largest one-time influxes to colleges and universities. To further reduce the cost of college, they will continue to fight to double the maximum Pell Grant and make community college free. Meanwhile, colleges have an obligation to keep prices reasonable and ensure borrowers get value for their investments, not debt they cannot afford. The Department of Education is announcing new efforts to ensure student borrowers get value for their college costs. If all borrowers claim the relief they are entitled to, these actions will: Provide relief to up to 43 million borrowers, including cancelling the full remaining balance for roughly 20 million borrowers. Target relief dollars to low- and middle-income borrowers. The Department of Education estimates that, among borrowers who are no longer in school, nearly 90% of relief dollars will go to those earning less than $75,000 a year. No individual making more than $125,000 or household making more than $250,000 – the top 5% of incomes in the United States – will receive relief. Help borrowers of all ages. The Department of Education estimates that, among borrowers who are eligible for relief, 21% are 25 years and under and 44% are ages 26-39. More than a third are borrowers age 40 and up, including 5% of borrowers who are senior citizens. Advance racial equity. By targeting relief to borrowers with the highest economic need, the Administration’s actions are likely to help narrow the racial wealth gap. Black students are more likely to have to borrow for school and more likely to take out larger loans. Black borrowers are twice as likely to have received Pell Grants compared to their white peers. Other borrowers of color are also more likely than their peers to receive Pell Grants. That is why an Urban Institute study found that debt forgiveness programs targeting those who received Pell Grants while in college will advance racial equity.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-applauds-biden-administration-action-student-loans-0,DeLauro Applauds Biden Administration Action on Student Loans,2022-08-24,2022,2022-08,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 following President Biden's announcement of his student debt plan. ""Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. The biggest corporations are using their money to rig the game, and costs are on the rise. ""I applaud President Biden for taking a necessary step today to level the playing field for working Americans by cancelling $10,000 in student debt for borrowers who earn under $125,000 a year and up to $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients. This will completely wipe out debt for millions of borrowers and give many the economic security they need to invest in a small business, buy a home, or simply just take care of their families. ""Today's announcement builds on historic actions by the Biden administration to provide student debt relief to borrowers in need. By discharging loans for borrowers ripped off by for-profit colleges, making administrative improvements to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, and canceling loans for permanently disabled borrowers, the President has already approved $36 billion in student loan relief. In addition, the Biden administration is drafting improvements to income-driven repayment programs, including proposals I have pushed for in my Affordable Loans for Any Student Act, so that no borrower has to struggle to make monthly payments. ""Democrats in Congress and President Biden are delivering on commitments to make college more affordable, make student loan repayment manageable, provide relief for those in need, and hold predatory colleges accountable for ripping off students. Americans need a government that works for working families and the vulnerable – not one that answers to the wealthiest and biggest corporations. Today's announcement is a huge step toward dealing working Americans back in.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-requests-update-ag-garland-johnson-johnson-grand-jury,DeLauro Requests Update from AG Garland on Johnson & Johnson Grand Jury,2022-08-24,2022,2022-08,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 sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland requesting that he provide an update on the federal grand jury that reportedly has been impaneled to look into potential ""criminal activities"" by Johnson and Johnson (J&J) related to talcum powder products. The letter can be found here. ""Johnson and Johnson knew their talcum powder products increase the risk of ovarian cancer as early as the late 60s,"" said Chair DeLauro. ""There is evidence that J&J engaged in a premeditated assault on women of color when marketing these products. This is an unacceptable example of corporate greed, putting profits above the very lives of its most trusting customers, women. As an ovarian cancer survivor, I know the pain and anguish and fear that these women have gone through and are experiencing now. There is an added layer of horror when you understand that many of these women were being targeted with asbestos because of their race. It is unconscionable."" Thousands of individuals have been harmed as a result of J&J withholding information about the negative health effects of Talc powder from its customers. In many cases, individuals have died. In September 2020, Congresswoman DeLauro wrote to the then CEO of Johnson & Johnson, Alex Gorsky, demanding the company recall all Talc based baby powder products and demanded that J&J stop all marketing and sales of this product around the world, specifically to women. Most recently, the Congresswoman was made aware that in 1992 and in 2004, J&J specifically targeted African American and Hispanic women to increase their sales of a product that J&J knew contained asbestos, a carcinogen. Thousands of men and women could also develop mesothelioma because of the asbestos in J&J's baby powder and shower products. As DeLauro outlines in her letter to Attorney General Garland, J&J has sought bankruptcy protection through what is known as the ""Texas Two-Step,"" a procedure used by companies to dump liabilities in a newly created subsidiary, all while shielding their ongoing businesses from the burdens of bankruptcy.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-ukrainian-independence-day,DeLauro Statement on Ukrainian Independence Day,2022-08-24,2022,2022-08,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 today released a statement celebrating Ukrainian Independence Day, commemorating Ukraine's 1991 Declaration of Independence which established the nation as an independent state separate from the former Soviet Union. ""Today, on Ukrainian Independence Day, I echo President Volodymyr Zelensky in honoring the free people of independent Ukraine. The Ukrainian people are fighting in an unprovoked war against a tyrannical Putin. But Putin has not won. The struggle continues, and Ukraine remains independent, with its free people standing strong against Russian incursions of their sovereignty and freedom. ""For six months now, the people of Ukraine have been locked in an unjust war with a brutal dictator hellbent on stripping their hard-earned freedoms away. And for six months, the Ukrainian people have held the line, defending their independence, their families, and their land. Their determination to preserve their independence is something to behold. ""I proudly stand with the free people of independent Ukraine, today and every day. I will continue to work to ensure that Ukraine has the tools it needs to defend itself against Russian aggression and preserve its independence for generations to come. We will lend you our support as you fight to preserve your nation, and ultimately, your freedom, in this war. The world is united. Happy Independence Day to Ukraine!""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-announces-new-federal-funding-support-coastal-security-and,Courtney Announces New Federal Funding to Support Coastal Security and Maritime Safety in Mystic and New London,2022-08-19,2022,2022-08,Democrat,House,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,courtney,https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"NORWICH, CT – Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) announced the award of four federal grants totaling $296,732 that will assist with coastal security and safety preparedness efforts in eastern Connecticut on the Long Island Sound. The three grants were awarded to the Mystic Fire Department, the New London Fire Department, and Cross Sound Ferry Services through the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Port Security Grant Program, and will assist agencies with important projects like maintaining fire boat vessels, upgrading maritime surveillance and cybersecurity systems, and purchasing water rescue equipment. In June, Courtney wrote to Christopher Logan, Acting Administrator for the FEMA Grant Programs Directorate, to specifically highlight the Mystic Fire Department’s application for Port Security Grant funding. The Mystic Fire Department is the only agency in the region that operates a marine vessel equipped with both a fire pump and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives (CBRNE) detection equipment, Courtney noted to FEMA, and the Department needed access to funding to maintain the vessel and continue to provide vital services. Today’s grant award provides that funding—click here to read more. “Grant awards like these are really invaluable, not just for us but for all our partners in the New London Marine Group—the Norwich and New London Fire Departments, Groton Long Point, the Waterford Fire Department, and others,” said Mystic Fire Department Chief Anthony Manfredi. “Our work is a collaborative effort, and it includes our local police and Coast Guard as well, so keeping the fire boat in the water and off the sidelines for maintenance is something that makes a difference not just for our department, but for lots of our partners and surrounding communities. I’m proud of the work our team did to successfully go after this federal Port Security Grant award, and we were glad to have the support of Congressman Courtney when our application was under consideration in this very competitive process.” “This week, Cross Sound Ferry was awarded $249,276 through the FY 2022 Port Security Grant Program to support three security projects: Sustainment and Enhancement of Surveillance Systems aboard ferries and at ferry terminals; Improved Cyber Security for the ferry system; and Active Shooter/Active Threat Training for ferry crews,” said Cross Sound Ferry Vice President Adam Wronowski. “These projects strengthen resiliency, improve response capabilities, and mitigate risk for the marine transportation system.” “The DHS announcement today of Port Security Awards for key maritime enterprises in Southeastern Connecticut is a critical investment to harden ferry cyber defenses, as well as to extend the service life of public safety vessels that save lives,” said Rep. Courtney. “Port Security Grants are distributed on a competitive basis, with applications coming in from all across the country. Cross Sound Ferry, the Mystic Fire Department, and the City of New London—working with local partners in the Coast Guard and Homeland Security—did an outstanding job to make these awards possible. Congratulations to our firefighters and to Chief Anthony Manfredi of Mystic, Chief Tony Cursio of New London, and to Adam Wronowki, Rich MacMurray, and the entire team at Cross Sound Ferry on earning these important federal grant awards.” In Mystic, a federal Port Security Grant of $24,000 will be awarded to the Mystic Fire Department. The funding will help them sustain operations and perform necessary maintenance on the department’s fire boat for a 36-month period, assuring the vessel will be ready to respond to emergencies on the Long Island Sound, the New London Harbor, and adjacent local coastal waterways. The Mystic Fire Department has highlighted the maintenance of the vessel’s chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high-yield explosives (CBRNE) detection equipment and 1,500 GPM fire pump as areas of particular importance. The City of New London will receive a $23,456 Port Security Grant award for the New London Fire Department. The Department will use the funding to purchase new water rescue equipment, and for backfill associated with the use of other equipment. Cross Sound Ferry Services will receive two federal Port Security Grants. The first, totaling $168,960, will be used for sustainment and upgrades for 10 ferries and 2 ferry terminals. Improvements include replacing digital video recorders, cameras, routers, and surveillance systems aboard ferries, as well as the sustainment and maintenance of surveillance systems at two ferry terminals. The second Port Security Grant, totaling $80,316, will fund 3-year contracts to support cybersecurity operations for the ferry system. The first contract is for a Cybersecurity Operations Center (SOC) that will monitor, protect, and respond to events within their secure networks. The second is for an Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR) system that monitors and protects end user stations. The third supports employee cybersecurity training. The DHS Port Security Grant program plays an important role in the implementation of the National Preparedness System by supporting the building, sustainment and delivery of core capabilities essential to achieving the National Preparedness Goal of a secure and resilient nation. To learn more, click here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-announces-625000-prevent-youth-substance-misuse-naugatuck,"DeLauro Announces $625,000 to Prevent Youth Substance Misuse in Naugatuck",2022-08-19,2022,2022-08,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) announced the Step Up Naugy Prevention Coalition was awarded a Fiscal Year 2022 Drug-Free Communities Support Program (DFC) grant for $625,000 by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. The funding will build the readiness and resources of the coalition and strengthen community collaboration in support of local efforts to prevent youth substance misuse. ""Substance misuse among youth is devastating our communities, exacerbated by pandemic isolation, anxiety and depression, and lack of support,"" said Chair DeLauro. ""Step Up Naugy is one of many needed community organizations that are expanding access to youth substance misuse prevention and treatment services, provider education, and increasing public awareness. This federal grant leverages the abilities of our local leaders to educate our youth, raise public awareness about available resources, and take tangible action to combat this epidemic sweeping through our communities. We know that stopping substance misuse before it begins is the most effective way to protect our loved ones and save lives."" ""We're thrilled to be able to bring these financial resources to Naugatuck, and even more so for the positive impact that Step Up Naugy will continue to have through empowering our most important resource – our community members. Please join us in ""stepping up"" to help keep Naugatuck youth safe, healthy, and drug-free,"" said Naugatuck Youth Services, Inc. Executive Kristin Mabrouk. The Step Up Naugy Coalition was one of 99 applicants through a competitive, peer-reviewed process. The DFC awards represent an investment by the Biden-Harris Administration of approximately $12.4 million in youth substance use prevention in communities across the country. At a time when the overdose epidemic continues to affect communities across the country, DFC-funded coalitions are making significant declines in prevalence of past 30-day youth drug use. The DFC Program is funded and administered by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), with program support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Read the Biden-Harris Administration's inaugural National Drug Control Strategy HERE. Read the fact sheet on the Strategy HERE. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-announces-federal-assistance-firefighters-grants-middletown-and,DeLauro Announces Federal Assistance to Firefighters Grants for Middletown and West Haven,2022-08-19,2022,2022-08,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 a total of $287,422 in Assistance to Firefighters Grants for the Connecticut State Fire Training Academy in Middletown and City of West Haven Fire Department-Allingtown to enhance existing firefighting abilities and greater protect the people of Connecticut's Third Congressional District. ""Ensuring that our firefighters have the best equipment is critical to protecting the people of Connecticut from the devastating impacts of fires and other emergencies. Those on the frontlines need and deserve adequate protection from fire and fire-related hazards,"" said Chair DeLauro. ""These critical grants will prepare our first responders for the lifesaving work of fighting and preventing fires. Firefighters, volunteer firefighters, paramedics, and emergency medical technicians work every day to protect us, and this federal funding plays an important role in guaranteeing they have the tools to protect themselves and the health and safety of the public."" ""I would like to convey to Congresswoman DeLauro how much I, as the entire fire service does, appreciate all of her efforts in securing much needed additional funding to purchase vital equipment needed for fire departments to meet their mission goals"" said City of West Haven-Allingtown Fire Department Chief Michael R. Terenzio. ""Brave men and women who become Firefighters are able to meet the challenges presented by emergencies they are called to mitigate by being properly and appropriately trained, and equipped to do so. The funding we were just awarded will enable us to replace a 32-year-old Self Contained Breathing Apparatus bottle refill station that includes a 6000-psi compressor, compressed air storage bottles, and breathing air filters to ensure firefighters are provided with reliable, uncontaminated breathing air needed to enter into toxic atmospheres commonly encountered at fire and other emergencies. The current aging system has suffered numerous mechanical failures and is becoming non-cost effective to continually repair it."" ""We are grateful to Congresswomen DeLauro and Connecticut's Congressional delegation for their continued support and championing the FEMA AFG program,"" said Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection Commission on Fire Prevention & Control State Fire Administrator Jeff J. Morrissette. ""Since 2001, the AFG program has provided millions of dollars to aid Connecticut fire departments and the state's fire academy to obtain critically needed resources necessary for protecting the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards. This year's award to the Connecticut Fire Academy will allow replacement of near obsolete PPE used by our instructional staff as well as the purchase of simulator technology to be used in training our state's fire officers and firefighters."" This funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will support the following projects: Connecticut State Fire Training Academy in Middletown, CT, received $220,755.57 for firefighter turnout gear and a firefighter training simulator. The City of West Haven Fire Department-Allingtown in West Haven, CT, received $66,666.66 for a breathing air compressor and breathing apparatus refill system. The AFG program is part of a coordinated ongoing effort by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Department of Homeland Security to improve the nation's ability to respond to emergency situations.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-courtney-join-admiral-linda-fagan-and-us-coast-guard-leadership,"DeLauro, Courtney Join Admiral Linda Fagan and U.S. Coast Guard Leadership as Construction on First-Ever Coast Guard Museum Begins",2022-08-19,2022,2022-08,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) joined U.S. Representative Joe Courtney (CT-02), Admiral Linda L. Fagan, U.S. Coast Guard Commandant, New London Mayor Michael Passero, other elected officials, and representatives from the National Coast Guard Museum Association for the Keel Laying Ceremony of the historic U.S. Coast Guard Museum. After years of working to establish New London as the site of the museum, today's Keel Laying Ceremony marks the official start of construction on the nation's first-ever U.S. Coast Guard Museum. Each U.S. military branch has a dedicated museum to honor their history and service—except for the Coast Guard. Reps. Courtney and DeLauro have worked alongside the Connecticut Congressional Delegation for years to support construction of an official U.S. Coast Guard Museum, and to establish New London as its rightful home. Under the leadership of Congresswoman DeLauro, Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, this year's FY 2022 federal spending package dedicated $50 million towards construction of the museum in the heart of New London, CT—one of the final pillars needed for construction to officially begin today. ""This museum will preserve and honor the heritage, traditions, and history of the U.S. Coast Guard – and the service of the defenders of the nation and enforcers of the seas,"" said Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro. ""As Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, I strongly believe that just as their service never wavers, our support of the U.S. Coast Guard and all of our armed forces must be just as resolute and unwavering. I am proud that this year's federal spending package included $50 million for the construction of the U.S. Coast Guard Museum. This institution will bring these acts of heroism to life, along with the significance, history, culture, and values of the Service. It gives me great pleasure to mark the beginning of this museum's construction – this is a befitting honor to our heroes for their bravery and devotion to duty."" ""The U.S. Coast Guard is our nation's oldest military branch, and they are America's only service branch without a museum dedicated to their legacy. With the resources we secured in the 2022 budget, that's finally changing—construction is now underway on our nation's first ever U.S. Coast Guard museum,"" said Congressman Courtney. ""I've been proud to stand alongside our Coast Guard leaders in support of this museum and its rightful placement in New London, and to press the effort forward with necessary support in Congress, but this could not have happened without the steady guidance of Congresswoman DeLauro as Chair of the House Appropriations Committee. With her leadership, and with the strong support by Senator Murphy, a $50 million federal investment is what finally pushed this over the starting line. Congratulations to Admiral Fagan, and to all the men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard, past and present, for reaching this milestone."" The FY 2022 federal spending package included long-sought federal support to kickstart construction of the U.S. Coast Guard Museum. The 2022 federal budget included $50 million in appropriations for construction of the museum, bringing federal investment to a total of $70 million. The bill also adopted Rep. Courtney's request for $5 million in federal funds to continue supporting development of exhibits and preservation of artifacts at the future museum in New London.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/connecticut-river-bridge-set-receive-long-awaited-upgrades-under-new,"Connecticut River Bridge Set to Receive Long-Awaited Upgrades Under New Infrastructure Law, Courtney Announces",2022-08-18,2022,2022-08,Democrat,House,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,courtney,https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"NORWICH, CT – Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) announced that the 115-year-old Connecticut River Bridge is set to receive a long-awaited upgrade, thanks to new funding through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Under the IIJA, Connecticut will receive two grants totaling $85.2 million from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for rail improvement projects on the Northeast Corridor. The first grant, in the amount of $65.2 million, will support the replacement of the existing Amtrak-owned Connecticut River Bridge between Old Saybrook and Old Lyme. The second grant will support upgrades on the New Haven Line. The Connecticut River Bridge was built in 1907. Age and deterioration to the bridge have caused significant delays to both rail and maritime traffic. The IIJA included a total of $66 billion over 5 years to address Amtrak’s backlog of improvement projects, including $30 billion to modernize the Northeast Corridor—the largest investment in passenger rail since the creation of Amtrak 50 years ago. “This is exactly the long overdue, transformative project that our region and rail users have sought for decades,” said Rep. Courtney. “The recently enacted infrastructure law’s investment in Amtrak means this 115-year-old rail bridge will finally be replaced. A new, modern span is going to mean a safer, faster transit over the Connecticut river, as well as improved maritime traffic that has struggled with chronic breakdowns of the existing drawbridge. Major projects like this have been ‘in the queue’ for years awaiting funding. Passage of the IIJA solved that problem for Amtrak.” “The Connecticut River Bridge has long-been identified as a place where, if improvements are made, speeds can increase along Shore Line East. With the recently added electric trains, the SLE service continues to receive important investments that improve services,” said CTDOT Commissioner Joe Giulietti. “Investing in rail infrastructure means speeding up trains, improving services, and increasing safety. These projects are happening more quickly because of increased Federal dollars coming to Connecticut through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Thank you to Governor Lamont, Congressman Courtney, and the entire Congressional delegation for the continued support and investments in public transportation.” The IIJA included substantial investments for Connecticut’s mass transit systems that would expand access and cut down on commuting time. The bill will provide a 41% increase in Connecticut’s mass transit fund, enabling improvements in rail service, safety, and speed that have been out of reach for decades. The IIJA also invests $66 billion over five years to eliminate Amtrak’s maintenance backlog, including $30 billion specifically to modernize and upgrade the Northeast Corridor. The Connecticut River Bridge was completed 115 years ago in 1907, and is the oldest moveable bridge between New Haven, CT and Boston, MA. Today, the bridge poses a significant risk of long-term disruption to the Northeast Corridor due to its age and condition. It serves the Northeast Corridor main line and is used by Amtrak’s intercity service, Shore Line East commuter rail service, and freight operators. In February, Courtney wrote to Amtrak Administrator Amit Bose, Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner, and others to encourage the prioritization of the replacement of the Connecticut River Bridge a prime candidate for these IIJA repair dollars. In March, Courtney was joined by Senators Richard Blumenthal (CT) and Chris Murphy (CT), and by Rep. Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) in writing to U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to express strong support for the Connecticut River Bridge Replacement Project, encouraging him to consider it for funding through the FRA. Today’s IIJA grant award of $65.2 million will support completion of the replacement of the existing Connecticut River Bridge with a modern and resilient new moveable bridge. The project will improve safety, reliability, and trip time, and delays from bridge openings will also be significantly reduced. Maximum speeds will increase from 45 miles per hour on the current span up to 70 miles per hour. The replacement bridge will maintain the two-track configuration and existing channel location and provide a moveable span with additional vertical clearance for maritime traffic. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-hayes-blumenthal-murphy-announce-231-million-raise-grant-city,"DeLauro, Hayes, Blumenthal, Murphy Announce $23.1 Million RAISE Grant for City of Waterbury Transportation Infrastructure",2022-08-17,2022,2022-08,Democrat,House,CT,Rosa L. DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,delauro,https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"House Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro, U.S. Representative Jahana Hayes, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, and U.S. Senator Chris Murphy announced a $23.1 million Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Grant for the City of Waterbury's section of the Naugatuck Greenway Trail, West Main Street Renovation and Streetscaping Improvements, and the addition of electrical vehicle charging stations at the Downtown Waterbury Train Station. ""The funding that is coming to the City of Waterbury for the modernization and construction of its Greenway Trail, streetscaping improvements, and addition of electrical vehicle charging stations is profound"" said Chair DeLauro. ""The work that goes into building a safer, more accessible, and sustainable city will provide a pipeline of technical jobs for residents not just in Waterbury, but across Connecticut. I was proud to author a letter of support for these projects that will improve infrastructure, boost local economies by closing vehicle charging deserts, and preserving the health and recreation of our trails."" ""I am pleased to see significant federal dollars coming back to Waterbury to help revitalize the city landscape and create an economic and environmental hub. This grant award is the epitome of collaboration at the local and federal level, as the entire CT delegation worked diligently with the U.S. Department of Transportation and local leaders to secure these funds. I will continue to make every effort to bolster support for our communities, expand access to green spaces and revitalize strategic economic zones,"" said Congresswoman Hayes. ""This blockbuster grant builds significantly on past federal investments and I am pleased to see continued substantial investments being made in the City of Waterbury to preserve open space, enhance electric vehicle infrastructure, and improve downtown streetscaping,"" said U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal. ""Unlocking and developing Waterbury's enormous potential for economic growth and green infrastructure should be a federal priority. This federal funding will help revitalize the city's landscape and aid in several green infrastructure projects. I am proud to have worked with the entire Connecticut congressional delegation and the U.S. Department of Transportation to bring these critical funds to Waterbury."" ""The city of Waterbury put together a great plan to repurpose old manufacturing warehouses and factories to create a new greenway, build affordable housing, and boost the economy. I'm glad to see them receive significant federal funding to make these improvements and increase accessibility,"" said U.S. Senator Chris Murphy. ""I'd like to thank our amazing federal delegation, each of whom has supported Waterbury and the region in every possible way,"" said City of Waterbury Mayor Neil O'Leary. ""I would also like to thank Governor Lamont, CT-DOT, NVCOG, and WDC for reminding us of what can be accomplished in our region and state when we all work together. This funding for Waterbury puts us firmly on track to implement the transformational vision for our city's future."" The U.S. Department of Transportation RAISE program helps communities around the country carry out projects with significant local or regional impact.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-votes-pass-inflation-reduction-act-delivering-lower-drug-costs,"Courtney Votes to Pass the Inflation Reduction Act, Delivering Lower Drug Costs, More Good Jobs, and Next-Gen Energy Production",2022-08-12,2022,2022-08,Democrat,House,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,courtney,https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) voted to pass the Inflation Reduction Act (Senate Amendment to H.R. 5376), a long-sought legislative effort that will lower health care and prescription drug expenses, reduce energy costs, and lower carbon emissions. The bill was passed by Rep. Courtney and the U.S. House of Representatives today by a vote of 220-207, and will now head to the White House to be signed into law. “The Inflation Reduction Act is going to benefit seniors, families, farmers, and so many of our small businesses and communities across eastern Connecticut,” said Congressman Courtney. “It lowers drug costs for seniors by finally giving Medicare the authority to negotiate lower costs from drug manufacturers—a proven policy used for decades in the VA that will strengthen the solvency of the Medicare Trust Fund. It invests in new incentives for farmers, homeowners, and small businesses to cut energy costs and carbon emissions. All of these reforms are paid for, and the bill cuts the federal deficit—that has been verified by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, the highly respected Committee for a Responsible Budget, and by multiple former Treasury Secretaries from both Republican and Democratic Administrations.” The Inflation Reduction Act includes provisions that will lower kitchen table costs for families, advance clean energy production and manufacturing in the U.S., and help create millions of good-paying jobs while lowering carbon emissions. Below is an overview of some of the key provisions included in the bill. Lowering Health Care Costs for Seniors and Families The Inflation Reduction Act will reduce the cost of health care and prescription medication for millions of Americans. The bill locks in lower health care premiums by extending Affordable Care Act subsidies, finally allows Medicare to negotiate for lower drug prices, and more. Health care highlights of the Inflation Reduction Act include: Empowering Medicare to Negotiate Drug Prices—For the first time ever, the bill enables Medicare to begin negotiating directly for the price of prescription drugs. This provision is projected to lower the prices of approximately 100 prescription drugs over the next decade, and to save more than $100 billion. $2,000 Out-Of-Pocket Cap on Part D Drugs—The bill caps out-of-pocket costs for Medicare Part D patients and individuals with disabilities on Medicare at $2,000 per year, with the option to break that amount into affordable monthly payments. A Cap on Insulin Costs for Medicare Beneficiaries—For Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes, the bill caps out-of-pocket spending on insulin products at $35 per month, starting in 2023. An Inflation Rebate for Seniors on Medicare—Under this bill, if drug companies raise prices in Medicare faster than the rate of inflation, they must pay rebates back to Medicare for the difference, beginning in October 2022. Extending Enhanced ACA Premium Subsidies—Extends enhanced ACA premium subsidies passed under the American Rescue Plan Act for 3 years. The most significant credits for Americans with household income between 100% to 400% of the federal poverty level (FPL), as well as expanded eligibility to families above the 400% FPL, were set to expire at the end of 2022. Lowering Energy Costs for Consumers The Inflation Reduction Act will lower energy costs for American consumers in the near-term with direct support to U.S. families and households, investments in home energy efficiency, and in in the long-run through investments in next-generation energy technology. The bill’s energy cost reduction provisions include: Consumer Home Energy Rebate Programs—Provides $9 billion in consumer home energy rebate programs, focused on low-income consumers, to electrify home appliances and for energy efficient retrofits. Consumer Tax Credits to Make Homes Energy Efficient—Provides 10 years of consumer tax credits to make homes energy efficient and able to run on clean energy, making heat pumps, rooftop solar, electric HVAC, and water heaters more affordable. Solar Tax Credits—Restores a 30% tax credit for residential solar systems, making it applicable to panels installed in 2022, and extends the program to Jan. 1, 2034. Tax Credits for Home Improvements—Provides resources for Americans to receive tax credits to cover up to 30% of the costs of home improvements that reduce energy leakage, such as updated doors, windows, insulation, and other weatherization measures. Consumer Tax Credits to Buy Used or New Clean Vehicles—Provides a $4,000 consumer tax credit for lower- and middle-income individuals to buy used clean vehicles, and up to $7,000 tax credit to buy new clean vehicles. The new EV tax credits would be limited to trucks, vans, and SUVs with a suggested retail price of no more than $80,000 and to cars priced at no more than $55,000. Next-Generation Energy Production & Domestic Manufacturing The Inflation Reduction Act makes investments to enhance energy reliability and cleaner domestic energy production in the U.S., as well as to advance research and development of next-generation energy sources—all of which will lead to greater American energy independence, more domestic manufacturing jobs, and lower costs at home. The bill’s energy production and manufacturing provisions include: Production and Investment Tax Credits—The bill provides production and investment tax credits to accelerate U.S. manufacturing of electric vehicles, solar panels, wind turbines, batteries, and critical minerals processing, with an total investment of approximately $40 billion. Defense Production Act—Provides $500 million in Defense Production Act funding to support heat pump manufacturing and critical minerals processing. Domestic Manufacturing—Provides $2 billion for grants to retool existing auto manufacturing facilities to manufacture clean vehicles, ensuring that auto manufacturing jobs stay in the communities that depend on them. Financing for Energy Infrastructure, Next Generation Technologies, and Tribal Energy Projects—Provides loans and loan guarantees for more than $300 billion in clean energy infrastructure, advanced technologies, and transmission projects in across the United States, including in historical energy producing communities and on Tribal lands. Supporting Offshore Wind—Makes $100 million available to support the optimized integration of energy generated from offshore wind, and lifts the offshore wind moratorium in the southeastern U.S. and Eastern Gulf. Investing in Our National Laboratories—The bill provides $2 billion for National Labs to accelerate breakthrough energy research in nuclear, fusion, and other emerging technologies. Lowering Carbon Emissions The investments in the Inflation Reduction Act will reduce carbon emissions in several important sectors—electricity production, transportation, industrial manufacturing, buildings and homes, and agriculture. The Inflation Reduction Act’s provisions to reduce carbon emissions include: Tax Credits for Clean Sources of Electricity and Energy Storage—Provides tax credits for clean sources of electricity and energy storage and roughly $30 billion in targeted grant and loan programs for states and electric utilities to accelerate the transition to clean electricity. Tax Credits and Grants for Clean Fuels and Clean Commercial Vehicles—Provides tax credits and grants for clean fuels and clean commercial vehicles to reduce emissions from all parts of the transportation sector. Grants and Tax Credits to Reduce Emissions from Industrial Manufacturing—Provides grants and tax credits to reduce emissions from industrial and manufacturing processes, including almost $6 billion for a new Advanced Industrial Facilities Deployment Program to reduce emissions from energy intensive industrial and manufacturing facilities like chemical and cement plants. Clean Vehicle Procurement—Provides over $9 billion for Federal procurement of American-made clean technologies to create a stable market for clean products, including $3 billion for the U.S. Postal Service to purchase zero-emissions vehicles. Direct Support for American Farmers—The bill includes $20 billion to expand USDA farm conservation programs and technical assistance, and $20 billion to grow USDA rural energy and forestry programs over the next 10 years. Several of these USDA programs have already made a positive impact throughout CT-02, including the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), and more. Methane Emissions Fee—The bill establishes a Methane Emissions Reduction Program to reduce the leaks from the production and distribution of natural gas. The new fee on methane emissions from oil and gas projects would cost methane emitters nearly $6.4 billion through fiscal 2031, the CBO estimated. Fact-Checking Myths About the Inflation Reduction Act",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-votes-pass-inflation-reduction-act,DeLauro Votes to Pass Inflation Reduction Act,2022-08-12,2022,2022-08,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 following her vote in support of the Inflation Reduction Act, legislation that would lower the cost of health care, tackle the climate crisis, and rein in corporate greed while reducing inflation. ""For years, Americans have faced rising costs at grocery stores, pharmacies, and in recent months, at the gas pump. Today, we sent the Inflation Reduction Act to President Biden's desk to be signed into law so we can provide necessary relief to hardworking people across the country. ""The Inflation Reduction Act takes historic steps to reduce the deficit and fight inflation, invest in domestic energy production and manufacturing, and tackle the climate crisis by reducing carbon emissions by roughly 40 percent by 2030. The bill will also lower prescription drug and health care costs by finally allowing Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices and extending the expanded Affordable Care Act program for three years. ""Notably, this legislation makes sure that the biggest corporations and billionaires pay taxes. It establishes a 15 percent corporate minimum tax and invests in Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax enforcement to ensure that the biggest corporations, the ultra-wealthy, and rich tax cheats pay their fair share. Large corporations have been using inflation as an excuse to abuse their market power, jacking up prices for American consumers at the grocery store, the pharmacy, and at the gas pump. This law puts taxpayer dollars back into the pockets of working families. ""Although the legislation does not include an extension of the expanded Child Tax Credit as I have fought for, Democrats will make Republican opposition an issue in the election, and it will be at the top of Democratic priorities going forward. As I have said before, as American families face rising costs, the expanded Child Tax Credit is one of our best tools to help them face these challenges. ""The Inflation Reduction Act is a needed first step. We will lower costs for necessities, lower emissions while fighting the climate crisis, and force big corporations to pay tax.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=6943EB30-9016-4ACA-B74C-DA4F659AFCB1,Hayes Votes to Reduce Inflation and Decrease Costs for Connecticut Families,2022-08-12,2022,2022-08,Democrat,House,CT,Jahana Hayes,H001081,hayes.house.gov,hayes,https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) voted to pass the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, a legislative package to fight inflation, lower prescription costs, invest in domestic energy production and manufacturing, and reduce carbon emissions. “Today, the House took an incredible step forward to building a healthier, cleaner, and fairer future for families across my district,” said Congresswoman Hayes. “my constituents are concerned about medical costs, the environment and cost of living. The Inflation Reduction Act will provide help to these families by fighting inflation, lowering health care costs, fighting climate change and reducing our carbon footprint. The effects of this legislation will improve the lives of millions struggling to afford day-to-day costs and future generations who will see the impacts of reduced carbon emissions and affordable prescription drugs. This legislation will also work to ensure our tax system is fair and equitable and corporations and the wealthiest Americans are paying their fair share. I support these groundbreaking policies and look forward to the President signing this bill into law.” The Inflation Reduction Act will lower costs, create millions of good-paying jobs delivering the most significant action on climate in history, and dramatically reduce the deficit. The bill: Lowers the cost of health care and prescription drugs: reduces the cost of health care for millions by extending Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced subsidies for three years, locking in lower health care premiums that save 13 million people an average of $800 a year and lowering drug prices. For the first time ever, Medicare will be empowered to negotiate the price of prescription drugs; requires drug companies to pay Medicare rebates if they raise prices faster than the rate of inflation starting in October 2022; and creates a new out-of-pocket cap for Part D drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries of $2,000 a year, starting in 2025. Lowers the deficit and reduces inflation: makes a historic down payment on deficit reduction of approximately $300 billion to fight inflation. Invests in efforts to fight climate change and reduce carbon emissions: includes approximately $370 billion in investments addressing climate change – the single biggest climate investment in U.S. history, and works to reduce carbon emissions by roughly 40 percent by 2030. 126 of the top economists in the country — including seven Nobel Laureates — wrote the Inflation Reduction Act “will fight inflation and lower costs for American families while setting the stage for strong, stable, and broadly-shared long-term economic growth.” Below is an overview of many of the key provisions in this historic legislation – including health care, climate, and tax provisions. HEALTH CARE Key Provisions: Empowering Medicare to Negotiate Drug Prices: For the first time, empowers Medicare to negotiate prices for the highest cost single-source drugs in Medicare, a policy that Democrats have been trying to enact for years. The provisions save more than $100 billion over 10 years. It allows Medicare to negotiate lower prices for about 100 drugs over the next decade: 10 high-cost drugs beginning in 2026, 15 additional drugs in both 2027 and 2028, and 20 more in 2029 and thereafter. The Secretary must negotiate a price that is no more than the 75 percent of the non-federal Average Manufacturer Price, a price that is used by the Department of Defense and others. An Inflation Rebate for Seniors on Medicare: Over the past 20 years, price increases for brand-name drugs in Medicare Part D have risen at more than twice the rate of inflation. Under this bill, if drug companies raise prices in Medicare faster than the rate of inflation, they must pay rebates back to Medicare for the difference, beginning in October 2022. New $2,000 Out-Of-Pocket Cap for Part D Drugs for Seniors on Medicare: Caps Part D out-of-pocket drug costs at $2,000 a year for seniors and individuals with disabilities on Medicare, starting in 2025. Caps Insulin Costs at $35 A Month for Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities on Medicare: Caps Medicare beneficiaries’ insulin costs at $35 a month. Lowers Premiums in ACA Marketplaces for 13 Million Americans: Extends enhanced ACA subsidies for three years, through 2025. Without these provisions, these enhanced ACA subsidies would expire in January, causing increases in the premiums Americans would pay who are in the ACA marketplace and leading roughly 3 million Americans to lose their health coverage. ENERGY SECURITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE INVESTMENTS Key Provisions: Lower Consumer Energy Costs Consumer Home Energy Rebate Programs: Provides $9 billion in consumer home energy rebate programs, focused on low-income consumers, to electrify home appliances and for energy efficient retrofits. 10 Years of Consumer Tax Credits to Make Homes Energy Efficient: Provides 10 years of consumer tax credits to make homes energy efficient and run on clean energy, making heat pumps, rooftop solar, electric HVAC, and water heaters more affordable. Consumer Tax Credits to Buy Used or New Clean Vehicles: Provides a $4,000 consumer tax credit for lower/middle income individuals to buy used clean vehicles, and up to $7,000 tax credit to buy new clean vehicles. $1 Billion Grant Program to Make Housing More Energy Efficient: $1 billion grant program to make affordable housing more energy efficient. Methane Emissions Reduction Program: Leaked or intentionally wasted natural gas never makes its way to customers, but they are nevertheless stuck with the bill. The Methane Emission Reduction Program will ensure consumers no longer pay for wasted energy. American Energy Security and Domestic Manufacturing The bill will support energy reliability and cleaner energy production coupled with historic investments in American clean energy manufacturing. It includes over $60 billion for clean energy manufacturing in the United States across the full supply chain of clean energy and transportation technologies. These manufacturing incentives will help alleviate inflation and reduce the risk of future price shocks by bringing down the cost of clean energy and clean vehicles and relieving supply chain bottlenecks. Decarbonize the Economy The investments in the bill will reduce emissions in every sector of the economy, substantially reducing emissions from electricity production, transportation, industrial manufacturing, buildings, and agriculture. Invest in Communities and Environmental Justice Building on regular engagement with Environmental Justice leaders from across the country, this package includes over $60 billion in environmental justice priorities to drive investments into disadvantaged communities. Some of the highlight include: Farmers, Forestland Owners, and Resilient Rural Communities The bill will make historic investments to ensure that rural communities are at the forefront of climate solutions. The investments affirm the central role of agricultural producers and forest landowners in our climate solutions by investing in climate-smart agriculture, forest restoration and land conservation. It also makes significant investments in clean energy development in disadvantaged communities. TAXES The bill will make sure the biggest corporations and ultra-wealthy pay their fair share, and is paid for by strengthening Internal Revenue Service (IRS) enforcement against those not paying their fair share, closing tax loopholes, and implementing a 15 percent corporate minimum tax – which applies only to the 150 corporations making earning over $1 billion in profits that pay less than 15% in taxes. There will be no new taxes on families making $400,000 or less and no new taxes on small businesses; not one middle class person filling out their taxes will find they are facing higher taxes or higher tax rates.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z https://himes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=E6F0E2F8-63FA-4207-B174-943CB04AA5AA,Himes Statement on Release of Mar-a-Lago Warrant,2022-08-12,2022,2022-08,Democrat,House,CT,James A. Himes,H001047,himes.house.gov,himes,https://himes.house.gov/press-releases,page_html,"Washington, DC— Today, Rep. Jim Himes (CT-04) released the following statement on the public release of the search warrant for former President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property. “As a member of the Intelligence Committee, I am deeply concerned by this week’s revelations around the improper handling of classified documents. While we do not know all the details, it is clear that, through negligence or malice, the actions of the former President present a significant risk to the national security of our country. “The removal of classified documents from secure environments does not only pose an immense security threat, but has very real implications for the Americans who are actively serving our country. When enemies obtain sensitive information, our intelligence agents in the field are directly exposed to capture, torture, and execution. I am profoundly troubled, yet unsurprised, to see the former President act with such disregard for the wellbeing of those individuals who risk their lives for this country every day. “I stand in full support of the men and women of the FBI and the Department of Justice and am grateful to Attorney General Merrick Garland for his strong leadership in this investigation.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-03-30T11:08:25Z