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://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-applauds-announcement-former-chief-staff-lee-slater-named-special,"Larson Applauds Announcement that Former Chief of Staff, Lee Slater, is Named as Special Assistant to President-elect Biden",2020-12-30,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,John Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Hartford, CT Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) applauded the announcement that his former Chief of Staff, Lee Slater, has been named as a Special Assistant to President-elect Biden. I am thrilled that Lee Slater as been named as a Special Assistant to President-elect Biden. I've had the pleasure of knowing Lee for more than a decade and having him as my Chief of Staff for nearly five years. Over the course of his career, Lee has earned the respect of members throughout the Caucus who turn to him for advice on the floor and in the Ways and Means Committee. Lee embodies what it means to be a public servant from his work in the House, his tours in Afghanistan and Iraq in the Army, and now onto the White House. I know Lee will serve President-elect Biden and the American people well, said Larson. Slater has served on Larson's staff from 2008 to 2017. He served as his Chief of Staff from March 2012 to January 2017. Since 2017, Slater has served Director of Outreach and Member Services for the Ways and Means Committee, on which Larson sits. He previously worked for Congressman Jason Altmire of Pennsylvania, and served in the United States Army Reserves, including deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from the University of Pittsburgh. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-presents-glastonbury-student-congressional-award-0,Larson Presents Glastonbury Student with Congressional Award,2020-12-30,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,John Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Hartford, CT - Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) presented Jay Srivastava, a student from Glastonbury, CT with a Bronze and Silver Congressional Award Medal. I'm honored to congratulate Jay and present him with the Bronze and Silver Congressional Award today. Jay has proven to be selfless and resilient. His dedication in continuing to challenge himself and his commitment to community service is inspiring to see in someone so young. I'm proud to have Jay in the First Congressional District. I am excited to see all the wonderful things he will continue to do in the future, said Larson. Jay is receiving the Bronze and Silver Congressional Award medal for achieving his goals in voluntary public service, personal development, personal fitness, and expedition/exploration. To complete his Voluntary Public Service, Jay volunteered through the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) to serve his community and honor the service of our veterans. He also volunteered helping middle school children with their homework and Math and English work. Jay has also accomplished his personal goals by participating in aircraft build project to learn about aviation, improved his speed for the 5K, and took the lead on planning a family trip to Ecuador where he had to organize his return home when his trip was interrupted by the COVID19 pandemic. The Congressional Award was established by Congress in 1979. It recognizes students who have committed to bettering and challenging themselves and to give back to their local communities.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-trump-signing-coronavirus-relief-and-omnibus-spending,DeLauro Statement on Trump Signing Coronavirus Relief and Omnibus Spending Package,2020-12-28,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"NEW HAVEN, CT Chair-designate of the House Appropriations Committee Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) issued this statement after President Trump's belated signing of H.R. 133, the bipartisan coronavirus relief bill and omnibus spending package: This economic relief and omnibus spending package will help the American people begin to recover and rebuild. From investments in our schools and child care industry to food assistance for hard-working families to investments in our workforce and critical protections for our environment and natural resources, this bill creates opportunities and allows our communities to build back better. This bill should have been signed without this unnecessary delay, as soon as it passed the Senate. This relief must be implemented immediately so people can worry less about their unemployment benefits, their next meal, the future of their small business, and the potential of being evicted from their home. Today, my Republican colleagues in the House will have the chance to join Democrats in the fight to put money in the pockets of Americans. I hope that they listen to the people and support the increase of direct payments to $2,000. The coronavirus relief included in this package is a start, but I am committed to fighting for more relief to support families and help our businesses recover. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and the Biden-Harris Administration to pass additional coronavirus relief so our communities can rebuild stronger and more prosperous.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-votes-override-defense-bill-veto-president-trump,Larson Votes to Override Defense Bill Veto by President Trump,2020-12-28,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,John Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) voted to override President Trump's veto of the FY2021 National Defense Authorization Act. Today the House of Representatives came together to override the President's veto of the National Defense Authorization Act. President Trump's veto blocks a pay raise for our troops, hurts Connecticut manufacturers, and jeopardizes our national security. This bipartisan bill was vetoed over something that has nothing to do with our national defense, in a reckless last act by an outgoing President. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-house-republicans-denying-american-people-2000,"DeLauro Statement on House Republicans Denying the American People $2,000 in Economic Impact Payments",2020-12-24,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"DeLauro: The American People have had enough of these games NEW HAVEN, CT Chair-designate of the House Appropriations Committee Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) issued this statement on House Republicans blocking Democrats' Unanimous Consent request to increase economic impact payments to $2,000: As families look ahead to 2021 and search for joy this holiday season, they are again met with more of the same from this administration and Republicans: lofty promises, confusion, and inaction. The American people have had enough of these games. I, and my fellow Democrats in both the House and the Senate, fought for $2,000 payments. We know the value of these checks as families fend off eviction and fight to put food on the table. Republicans fought us every step of the way to $600, a fight the President had the opportunity to be a part of. I am ashamed of my Republican colleagues in the House for blocking this Unanimous Consent request and look forward to voting in favor of the standalone bill to increase these critical payments.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-statement-president-trump-s-decision-veto-ndaa-and-defund-us,Courtney Statement on President Trumps Decision to Veto the NDAA and Defund U.S. Armed Forces,2020-12-23,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,,,legacy,"VERNON, CT Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces, issued the following statement today after President Donald Trump vetoed the overwhelmingly bipartisan 2021 National Defense Authorization Act in a move to defund the United States Armed Forces and deny a pay raise American troops: President Trump's veto, and the incoherent statement that accompanied it, is exactly the wrong thing for servicemembers, their families, veterans, and critical programs for our national defensespecifically including cyber and Navy shipbuilding, said Chairman Courtney. The bill he trashed is the product of a full year of bipartisan work that strengthens deterrence in the Indo-Pacific with a groundbreaking Pacific Defense Initiative that our allies strongly support, a revamping of cyber defense to counter Russia's brazen hacking, and new protections for victims of Agent Orange. In every respect, his veto statement is disconnected from the facts and it leaves the financial security of our men and women in uniform in limbo, which is an outrage. I look forward to joining my colleagues on Monday to override this irresponsible action in accordance with the Constitution. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://himes.house.gov/informacion,Recursos de Coronavirus,2020-12-23,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Jim Himes,H001047,himes.house.gov,,,legacy,"Incluye pagos de estmulo para familias de estatus mixto, tanto de forma prospectiva como retroactiva. Aunque esto no proporciona pagos en efectivo para todos los inmigrantes declarantes de impuestos, esto es una gran victoria. Financiacin de muros a nivel FY 20 (1.375b) y ninguna autoridad de transferencia especfica de la pared, por lo que se aplica un lmite del 10%. Un pequeo aument a la financiacin de CBP. Los niveles de gasto de detencin y de ICE han bajado desde el ao 20. Camas de detencin financiadas a 34K camas. Pero esto es dos veces el nivel de las camas actuales en uso- 17K en uso actualmente, mientras que se estn siendo financiadas 34K. No hay financiacin para agentes fronterizos o agentes de seguridad de inmigracin. Incluye una extensin de un ao del programa de ajuste Liberiano. 5 millones para el programa ATD dirigido por FEMA. Aumenta la financiacin de presentaciones de orientacin legal.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-statement-nomination-dr-miguel-cardona-serve-next-us-secretary,Courtney Statement on the Nomination of Dr. Miguel Cardona to serve as Next U.S. Secretary of Education,2020-12-22,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,,,legacy,"VERNON, CT Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), a senior member of the House Education and Labor Committee, made the following statement today after President-elect Joe Biden announced that Dr. Miguel Cardona, a former classroom teacher and current Connecticut Education Commissioner, will be nominated to serve as the 12th Secretary of Education. President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris should be commended for this outstanding pick for Secretary of Education, said Congressman Courtney. Doctor Cardona brings a powerful personal story of the importance of education in his life, which began in difficult circumstances. He brings also twenty years of experience working in the classrooms of our public schools. He knows what it means to lead and inspire real teachers, students and parentsthat's why he was named statewide Principal of the Year in Connecticut, which from its beginnings has made strong investments in public education. Congratulations to Doctor Cardona and his family on this exciting announcement. I know it comes following years of hard work and late nights, and I look forward as a member of the House Education and Labor Committee to working with him for a more successful, inclusive department of education. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-looks-ahead-strong-partnership-miguel-cardona-president-elect,"DeLauro Looks Ahead to Strong Partnership with Miguel Cardona, President-elect Biden's Nominee for Education Secretary",2020-12-22,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"NEW HAVEN, CT Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Chair-designate of the House Appropriations Committee and Chair of the subcommittee that determines federal funding for education issued the following statement on Miguel Cardona's nomination forEducation Secretary: Connecticut native, former public school teacher, and a proven champion for students, Miguel Cardona will be a strong partner as we work to recover from both the pandemic and the past four years under an administration that undermined public education and critical protections for students. I have seen firsthand Miguel Cardona's ability to bridge divides, a skill that will be critical in the coming months. As chair of the subcommittee that determines U.S. spending on education, I am thrilled to have an ally in this fight for families that hails from Connecticut. I look forward to getting to work to accomplish our shared desire to increase school funding and provide for students at all levels.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-delegation-delauro-larson-courtney-himes-hayes-secure-historic,"House Delegation, DeLauro, Larson, Courtney, Himes, Hayes, Secure Historic Victories for Connecticut in Omnibus Spending Package",2020-12-22,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"Legislation invests in programs at the center of Connecticut's health and economic crises HARTFORD, CT Representatives Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), John B. Larson (CT-01), Joe Courtney (CT-02), Jim Himes (CT-04), and Jahana Hayes (CT-05) secured historic investments for Connecticut in the fiscal year 2021 omnibus spending package and coronavirus relief deal. This legislation, which originated in the House and is expected to be signed into law, provides critical coronavirus relief, invests in the programs at the center of the country's health and economic crises, creates jobs in Connecticut, and supports working families. The coronavirus pandemic has devastated so many Connecticut families and shuttered countless businesses, said Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro. From investments in Connecticut's schools and child care industry to food assistance for hard-working families to investments in our workforce and critical protections for our environment and natural resources, this bill creates opportunities and allows our communities to build back better. The coronavirus relief included in this package is a start, but we are committed to fighting for more relief to support families and help our businesses recover. I am grateful for Connecticut's strong delegation and our ability to unite and deliver real results for our state. This year's omnibus spending package included many major victories for Connecticut, including a tax benefit for volunteer First Responders, a boost for Connecticut's defense manufacturing, funding for Hartford's federal courthouse, and research into crumbling foundations. It also included vital funding for COVID relief (including enhanced unemployment benefits and money for testing and vaccines), our public schools, food assistance programs, and energy assistance. These funding increases will help Connecticut families and communities during these difficult times, said Congressman John B. Larson. In the new year, the Connecticut Congressional Delegation, spearheaded by the new Appropriations Chair, our own Rosa DeLauro, will continue to work hard for the citizens of Connecticut. I'm proud as always to work alongside my colleagues in the Connecticut delegation to bring back resources and funding to help Connecticut families and businesses, said Congressman Jim Himes. From environmental protection and economic development to investment in education and aid for working families, this bill reflects our Connecticut priorities and values. We will continue to work for our constituents in the new year with a new President and a new Chair of the Appropriations Committee, Connecticut's own Representative Rosa DeLauro, to bring even more support home. Last night's omnibus spending package makes key investments in eastern Connecticut, and we've got the House's hard work to thank for it, said Congressman Courtney. Full restoration of the second Virginia-class submarine, support for homeowners impacted by crumbling foundations, critical support for K-12 schoolsthese are all provisions that the House demanded, and that we fought to advance throughout the year step-by-step. The final bill includes the House Seapower Subcommittee's top-target of restoring the second sub, it contains the House's higher levels of support for pyrrhotite research and for programs like CDBG, it authorizes the House's months-long effort to provide new Title I funding for K-12 schools to help keep teachers and students safe, and more. The House has continued to get the job done all year long, and it resulted in a final spending bill that will help families, workers, schools, and many others across our state. From expanding child nutrition and SNAP benefits to combat food insecurity, to providing federal funding for Title I grants for Local Education Agencies, to increasing the maximum Pell Grant for students, this bill will provide desperately needed relief to Connecticut and invest in our communities, said Congresswoman Jahana Hayes.""A realistic budget was critical heading into 2021 as we continue to grapple with the coronavirus pandemic and the challenges it has created. I am pleased to work with my colleagues in the Connecticut delegation to bring back critical funding to help the people of our state."" Among the many far-reaching investments, this spending bill: Provides Coronavirus Relief for Connecticut's families and businesses by restoring the enhanced federal unemployment insurance bump with an additional $300 per week and including $284 billion for a second round of PPP loans for businesses nationwide. The relief portion of this bill also provides $10 billion to support our nation's child care industry and $13 billion in emergency food assistance, including a temporary boost to the monthly food stamp benefit. Protects Connecticut's environment and natural resources, investing $18.9 million in the cleanup of Plum Island and repealing a mandate that this natural treasure be sold. Invests in the revitalization of the Long Island Sound by including $30.4 million, an increase of $9.4 million over FY20 for the Long Island Sound. The Sound is a cultural and economic center for Connecticut, and the House delegation has been fighting tirelessly to restore its natural beauty and preserve it for future generations. Creates high-paying jobs, with $1.1 billion for 9 CH-53Ks, 2 more than requested in the President's fiscal year 2021 budget, $9.6 billion for purchase of 96 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, and $6.8 billion for the Virginia class submarine program (including restoration of funding for a second submarine) and $4.1 billion for Ohio Replacement. Connecticut's House delegation fought hard to secure these significant wins. Invests in Connecticut's infrastructure with $2 billion for Amtrak, equal to the 2020 enacted level and $1.1 billion above the President's budget request, and $700 million for Northeast Corridor Grants, equal to the 2020 enacted level and $375 million above the President's budget request. Supports volunteer first responders by making the Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act (VRIPA) permanent. VRIPA exempts from taxation the nominal recruitment and retention benefits volunteer firefighters and emergency medical services (EMS) personnel receive from their communities. Supports special needs students with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Special Education Grants. The bill provides $12.9 billion, an increase of $173 million over FY2020, to support students who need more specialized support and networks in schools across Connecticut and the country. Keeps our families safer after the horror of the shooting eight years ago at Sandy Hook Elementary that left 26 innocent people dead, forever changing our state. The Connecticut delegation stands as united as any in the country to fight against the gun lobby and call for commonsense gun-safety legislation to keep our children and communities safe. This bill contains $25 million of continued funding for the Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health to research gun violence, a vital first step Provides energy assistance to Connecticut families, as families throughout Connecticut struggle with unemployment and other economic challenges during the pandemic. Many are struggling to pay utility bills. The spending package funds the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) with $3.8 billion, an increase of $10 million from FY 2020, to help keep Connecticut families warm. Restores the Federal Courthouse in Hartford, Connecticut, with $135.5 million in federal investments. This funding was included after Senate Republicans only included funding for the Federal Courthouse in Chattanooga, Tennessee, despite Hartford ranking first on the Federal Judiciary Courthouse Project Priorities list for the second year in a row. Failure to include funding for Hartford would have been the first time Congress overrode the Judiciary's recommendation. Funds Crumbling Foundations Research, with $2 million to support continued research by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) into the effects of pyrrhotite on concrete aggregate, the same dollar amount the House voted to approve in July. Supports the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, by including the House's funding level of $3.5 billion for Community Development Block Grants, $50 million above the 2020 enacted level. Supports our region's submarine industrial base, by fully funding the House Seapower Subcommittee's effort to restore construction of a second Virginia-class submarine with $2.6 billionmatching both the final NDAA and the House-passed defense funding billand by initiating construction on the first Columbia-class submarine. Helps K-12 Schools and Higher Education Institutions Respond to COVID-19, with $54.3 billion for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund, and $22.7 billion for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund. These programs assist schools like the University of Connecticut, Mitchell College, Connecticut College, Eastern Connecticut State University, and community colleges and K-12 institutions throughout Connecticut with school facilities repairs and improvements like heating, ventilation, air conditioning systems, and more amid COVID-19. We are proud of these critical investments and know that in partnership with the Biden-Harrison Administration, Connecticut is poised to build back stronger in 2021, the Connecticut House Delegation. These wins for our state foster hope for strong advancements for our children and families and position Connecticut as a leader in recovering and rebuilding."" The text of the spending package, H.R. 133, is available here. A division-by-division summary of the appropriations provisions is here. A division-by-division summary of the coronavirus relief provisions is here. A division-by-division of the authorizing matters is here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://himes.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/intelligence-authorization-himes-provisions-included-end-year-package,Intelligence Authorization with Himes Provisions Included in End of Year Package,2020-12-22,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Jim Himes,H001047,himes.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, DC Last night, the House of Representatives passed the annual Intelligence Authorization Act (IAA) as part of the end-of-year package that included government funding for the coming year and coronavirus-relief spending. The IAA authorizesthe United States' IntelligenceCommunities (IC)programs and budget. Several provisions included in the funding bill were adapted from initiatives and bills championed by Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04), who serves as the Chairman of the Strategic Technologies and Advanced Research (STAR) Subcommittee of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. As a member of the Intelligence Committee, I spend much of my time thinking about our national security and how to stay one step ahead of our geopolitical rivals, said Himes. The most recent Sunburst hack, which appears to originate from Russia, shows that we must always be vigilant because those who would harm us never rest. That's why I am pleased that many proposals that will enhanceour cybersecurity made it into the IAA. The bill includes: A requirement that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence submit a report to Congresson research and development for scientific and technological advancementsof foreign adversariesthat impact the national security of the United States. And provide insight on cooperation/collaboration with allies Authority for theIntelligence Community (IC) toestablish relationships with academic institutions to enhance the skill set of the future IC workforce, in particular as it relates to science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics. Adoption of several of the Cyberspace Solarium proposals, including how the IC interacts with the private sector and operators of critical infrastructure concerning foreign cybersecurity threats. Contains language indicating that the IC should consolidate its artificial intelligence research and development activities and requires the DNI to identify such areas. In October of this year, the STAR Subcommittee released a report, Rightly Scaled, Carefully Open, Infinitely Agile: Reconfiguring to Win the Innovation Race in the Intelligence Community, which examinedthe need for the United States Government to prioritize a strategic approach to the innovation and technology sectorand made recommendations to enhance the IC's approach to innovation. The Intelligence Authorization is a chance for us to show both friend and foe that we're going to put the time and resources into cybersecurity and cyberdefense, Himes continued. The investment we make now will mean the difference between continued American dominance well into the 21st Century and beyond, or a world where we lose a step to our adversaries with potentially disastrous consequences. With any questions, contact Patrick Malone at Patrick.malone@mail.house.gov.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-delegation-larson-delauro-courtney-himes-hayes-secure-historic,"House Delegation, Larson, DeLauro Courtney, Himes, Hayes, Secure Historic Victories for Connecticut in Omnibus Spending Package",2020-12-22,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,John Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,,,legacy,"HARTFORD, CT Representatives John B. Larson (CT-01), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Joe Courtney (CT-02), Jim Himes (CT-04), and Jahana Hayes (CT-05) secured historic investments for Connecticut in the fiscal year 2021 omnibus spending package and coronavirus relief deal.This legislation, which originated in the House and is expected to be signed into law, provides critical coronavirus relief, invests in the programs at the center of the country's health and economic crises, creates jobs in Connecticut, and supports working families. This year's omnibus spending package included many major victories for Connecticut, including a tax benefit for volunteer First Responders, a boost for Connecticut's defense manufacturing, funding for Hartford's federal courthouse, and research into crumbling foundations. It also included vital funding for COVID relief (including enhanced unemployment benefits and money for testing and vaccines), our public schools, food assistance programs, and energy assistance. These funding increases will help Connecticut families and communities during these difficult times,said Congressman John B. Larson.In the new year, the Connecticut Congressional Delegation, spearheaded by the new Appropriations Chair, our own Rosa DeLauro, will continue to work hard for the citizens of Connecticut. The coronavirus pandemic has devastated so many Connecticut families and shuttered countless businesses, said Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro. From investments in Connecticut's schools and child care industry to food assistance for hard-working families to investments in our workforce and critical protections for our environment and natural resources, this bill creates opportunities and allows our communities to build back better. The coronavirus relief included in this package is a start, but we are committed to fighting for more relief to support families and help our businesses recover. I am grateful for Connecticut's strong delegation and our ability to unite and deliver real results for our state. I'm proud as always to work alongside my colleagues in the Connecticut delegation to bring back resources and funding to help Connecticut families and businesses, said Congressman Jim Himes. From environmental protection and economic development to investment in education and aid for working families, this bill reflects our Connecticut priorities and values. We will continue to work for our constituents in the new year with a new President and a new Chair of the Appropriations Committee, Connecticut's own Representative Rosa DeLauro, to bring even more support home. Last night's omnibus spending package makes key investments in eastern Connecticut, and we've got the House's hard work to thank for it, said Congressman Courtney. Full restoration of the second Virginia-class submarine, support for homeowners impacted by crumbling foundations, critical support for K-12 schoolsthese are all provisions that the House demanded, and that we fought to advance throughout the year step-by-step. The final bill includes the House Seapower Subcommittee's top-target of restoring the second sub, it contains the House's higher levels of support for pyrrhotite research and for programs like CDBG, it authorizes the House's months-long effort to provide new Title I funding for K-12 schools to help keep teachers and students safe, and more. The House has continued to get the job done all year long, and it resulted in a final spending bill that will help families, workers, schools, and many others across our state. From expanding child nutrition and SNAP benefits to combat food insecurity, to providing federal funding for Title I grants for Local Education Agencies, to increasing the maximum Pell Grant for students, this bill will provide desperately needed relief to Connecticut and invest in our communities, said Congresswoman Jahana Hayes. A realistic budget was critical heading into 2021 as we continue to grapple with the coronavirus pandemic and the challenges it has created. I am pleased to work with my colleagues in the Connecticut delegation to bring back critical funding to help the people of our state. Among the many far-reaching investments, this spending bill: Provides Coronavirus Relief for Connecticut's families and businesses by restoring the enhanced federal unemployment insurance bump with an additional $300 per week and including $284 billion for a second round of PPP loans for businesses nationwide. The relief portion of this bill also provides $10 billion to support our nation's child care industry and $13 billion in emergency food assistance, including a temporary boost to the monthly food stamp benefit. Helps K-12 Schools and Higher Education Institutions Respond to COVID-19 with $54.3 billion for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund, and $22.7 billion for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund. These programs assist schools like the University of Connecticut, Mitchell College, Connecticut College, Eastern Connecticut State University, and community colleges and K-12 institutions throughout Connecticut with school facilities repairs and improvements like heating, ventilation, air conditioning systems, and more amid COVID-19. Protects Connecticut's environment and natural resources, investing $18.9 million in the cleanup of Plum Island and repealing a mandate that this natural treasure be sold. Invests in the revitalization of the Long Island Sound by including $30.4 million, an increase of $9.4 million over FY20 for the Long Island Sound. The Sound is a cultural and economic center for Connecticut, and the House delegation has been fighting tirelessly to restore its natural beauty and preserve it for future generations. Creates high-paying jobs, with $1.1 billion for 9 CH-53Ks, 2 more than requested in the President's fiscal year 2021 budget, $9.6 billion for purchase of 96 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, and $6.8 billion for the Virginia class submarine program (including restoration of funding for a second submarine) and $4.1 billion for Ohio Replacement. Connecticut's House delegation fought hard to secure these significant wins. Invests in Connecticut's infrastructure with $2 billion for Amtrak, equal to the 2020 enacted level and $1.1 billion above the President's budget request, and $700 million for Northeast Corridor Grants, equal to the 2020 enacted level and $375 million above the President's budget request. Supports volunteer first responders by making the Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act (VRIPA) permanent. VRIPA exempts from taxation the nominal recruitment and retention benefits volunteer firefighters and emergency medical services (EMS) personnel receive from their communities. Supports special needs students with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Special Education Grants. The bill provides $12.9 billion, an increase of $173 million over FY2020, to support students who need more specialized support and networks in schools across Connecticut and the country. Keeps our families safer after the horror of the shooting eight years ago at Sandy Hook Elementary that left 26 innocent people dead, forever changing our state. The Connecticut delegation stands as united as any in the country to fight against the gun lobby and call for commonsense gun-safety legislation to keep our children and communities safe. This bill contains $25 million of continued funding for the Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health to research gun violence, a vital first step. Provides energy assistance to Connecticut families, as families throughout Connecticut struggle with unemployment and other economic challenges during the pandemic. Many are struggling to pay utility bills. The spending package funds the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) with $3.8 billion, an increase of $10 million from FY 2020, to help keep Connecticut families warm. Restores the Federal Courthouse in Hartford, Connecticut, with $135.5 million in federal investments. This funding was included after Senate Republicans only included funding for the Federal Courthouse in Chattanooga, Tennessee, despite Hartford ranking first on the Federal Judiciary Courthouse Project Priorities list for the second year in a row. Failure to include funding for Hartford would have been the first time Congress overrode the Judiciary's recommendation. Funds Crumbling Foundations Research with $2 million to support continued research by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) into the effects of pyrrhotite on concrete aggregate, the same dollar amount the House voted to approve in July. Supports the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program by including the House's funding level of $3.5 billion for Community Development Block Grants, $50 million above the 2020 enacted level. Supports our region's submarine industrial base by fully funding the House Seapower Subcommittee's effort to restore construction of a second Virginia-class submarine with $2.6 billionmatching both the final NDAA and the House-passed defense funding billand by initiating construction on the first Columbia-class submarine. We are proud of these critical investments and know that in partnership with the Biden-Harrison Administration, Connecticut is poised to build back stronger in 2021, said the Connecticut House Delegation. These wins for our state foster hope for strong advancements for our children and families and position Connecticut as a leader in recovering and rebuilding. The text of the spending package, H.R. 133, is available here. A division-by-division summary of the appropriations provisions is here. A division-by-division summary of the coronavirus relief provisions is here. A division-by-division of the authorizing matters is here. # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-applauds-nomination-miguel-cardona-education-secretary,Larson Applauds Nomination of Miguel Cardona as Education Secretary,2020-12-22,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,John Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Hartford, CT Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) applauded the nomination of Connecticut Commissioner of Education, Dr. Miguel Cardona to serve as Education Secretary in the Biden-Harris Administration. Dr. Miguel Cardona is an outstanding choice for Education Secretary.I'm excited to see a fellow Central Connecticut State University alum and teacher join the Biden Administration. Dr. Cardona hasbeen a fantastic leader oftheConnecticut Department of Education, especially during the pandemic. I know he will doan excellentjobas theU.S.Secretary of Education.It willbenice to have someone who values public education once again leading us nationally.Congratulations Dr. Cardona! ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-statement-passing-former-bridgeport-state-senator-ed-gomes,Larson Statement on Passing of Former Bridgeport State Senator Ed Gomes,2020-12-22,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,John Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Hartford, CT Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement on the passing of former Bridgeport State Senator Ed Gomes: Senator Ed Gomes was a strong fighter for Bridgeport families. A dedicated and passionate public servant, Senator Gomes was a force in the Connecticut State Senate and fought tirelessly to improve the lives of working families in Bridgeport and across the state. My thoughts and prayers are with his family during this time. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-tax-benefit-volunteer-first-responders-made-permanent,Larson Tax Benefit for Volunteer First Responders Made Permanent,2020-12-22,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,John Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. Last night, the House passedHR 133, the FY 2021 omnibus, whichmadeRep. John B. Larson's (CT-01)Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act (VRIPA)permanent. VRIPA exempts from taxation thenominal recruitment and retentionbenefits volunteer firefighters and emergency medical services (EMS) personnel receive from their communities. Every day, but especially in the midst of this raging pandemic, volunteer first responders go above and beyond to help and protect our neighborhoods. Volunteer first responders' service annually produces approximately $140 billion in cost savings to our communities, yet these brave volunteers have been forced to pay federal taxes for their uniforms and other nominal benefits that their communities bestow in return. I have been fighting for this relief since I took office. In 2007 a similar provision was made temporary, and I vowed once we came back into the majority, we would make this tax benefit permanent. I am very proud the permanent tax exemption for these benefits is included the relief package. This commonsense, bipartisan legislation eases the burden placed upon our volunteer first responders who already sacrifice so much, said Larson. No secret, volunteerism is decreasing all over America, including South Windsor, CT. With the decrease in volunteerism, there also has been an increase, specifically for Firefighters, with NFPA (National Fire Protections Associations) standards and requirements and related Department demands, making it even harder to recruit and retain members of a volunteer Fire Department. With Communities such as South Windsor, we are blessed as they offer many incentives to help with these issues only to find that some of the incentives were taxable income and withholding. Thanks to the efforts of Congressman Larson and a few others, the VRIPA helps minimize these tax burdens on our members. With this Act now standing as permanent', this incentive protection will certainly assist with recruitment efforts for years to come, said Kevin E. Cooney, South Windsor Fire Chief. The IAFC sincerely thanks Representative Larson for his dedication to protecting volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel by securing permanent reauthorization of the Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act. For more than 10 years, Rep. Larson has persevered to ensure volunteer first responders are not taxed on the uniforms and other nominal benefits they receive for serving their communities. The IAFC applauds Representative Larson and his colleagues for taking this decisive step to ensure volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel are not unfairly penalized for their service, especially during this critical public health emergency, said Chief Richard R.Carrizzo, CFO, President and Chairman of the Board of the International Association of Fire Chiefs. This is really great news for volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue personnel and departments across the nation, said National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) chair Steve Hirsch. Taxing volunteer benefits reduces their incentive value and creates administrative burdens for smaller agencies in particular. Extending VRIPA permanently will make it easy for departments to plan and take full advantage of the exemption. I'd like to thank Representatives John Larson and Mike Kelly, Senators Susan Collins and Ben Cardin, and all of the cosponsors of VRIPA in the House and Senate for their dogged support in getting this critical legislation into the year-end legislative package! ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-votes-pass-omnibus-spending-bill-provides-covid-19-aid-protects,"Courtney Votes to Pass Omnibus Spending Bill that Provides COVID-19 Aid, Protects Plum Island and More",2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02)voted to pass the2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act(H.R.133), a bipartisan omnibus agreementthat includeslong-awaitedCOVID-19relief provisions, andthatwould avoid a looming government shutdown. The agreementincludes relief provisions that the House hasfought for months to secure throughbills like the HEROES Act, includinga new round of forgivable PPP loans, strong support for restaurants and other small businesses, enhanced unemployment insurance, new rental assistance, and much more.H.R. 133 passed the House with strong bipartisan support, and is expected to receive a vote in the Senate later this evening. Theomnibusagreementalsofundsthe federal governmentthroughSeptember 30, 2021. In addition to therestoration of a fully funded second Virginia-class submarine that Courtney has championed this year, thebillcontainsseveral key priorities for eastern Connecticut, includinglanguage that reflects legislation introduced by Courtney,Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY)and otherstosavePlum Islandbyofficiallyrepealingthe lawmandatingitssale.The House has voted forfive years in a rowto repeal the law that mandates the sale ofthe island. Today's omnibusagreementforced the issue in the Senate, andwill protect Plum Islandonce and for all. My office works with families, small businesses, and othersthroughouteastern Connecticut every day who need more help during COVID-19they don't needspecial treatment, theyjustneed Congressto work together and do their job,said Rep. Courtney.Today, the Houseledthe wayonceagain toauthorizenew, bipartisan COVID-19relief. The new omnibus package will be a shot in the arm to the Unemployment Insurance program, will resupply and expand opportunities forrestaurants and other businesses who rely on PPP, EIDL and otherloans, andincludes numerous other crucial assistance like paid sick leave, rental assistance,helpful new tax credits for families and small businesses, and much more. H.R. 133will alsoavoid a costly government shutdown at what is perhaps the worst possible time for it,Courtney continued.Thebillincludes numerous provisions we championed in the Houseon behalf of eastern Connecticutlike our bill to save Plum Island,support for pyrrhotite research and for programs like CDBG that canprovidecrumbling foundations remediation, and full funding to construct the second Virginia-class sub in 2021andit's thanks to the waywe worked across the aisle in the Houseall year longtosecure our prioritiesinthe final package. The Senatehasn'tpassed acomprehensive COVID-19 relief package since March.It's takenninemonthsfor themto come back to the table, and they haven't come nearly as far as the House did when wepassedthe HEROES Act, but this billmakes important investments in eastern Connecticut and itwill provideimmediaterelief to millions of Americanswho need it now.Now that the House has passed the bill, the Senate and President need to move quickly to enact it. H.R. 133includes resources that are urgently needed to address the national response to COVID-19 and to the economic fallout it has caused, suchas: Acceleration ofvaccine distributionand crushing the coronavirusThe bipartisan relief package provides billions in urgently needed funds to accelerate the free and equitable distribution of safe vaccines to as many Americans as possibleas soon as possible, to implement a strong national testing and tracing strategy, and to support our heroic health care workers and providers. Strong support forrestaurants and othersmall businessThe relief package secures critical funding and policy changes to help small businessesand nonprofits recover from the pandemic.H.R. 133includes over $284 billion for first and second forgivable PPP loans, expanded PPP eligibility for nonprofits and local newspapers, TV and radio broadcasters, key modifications to PPP to serve the smallest businesses and struggling non-profits and better assist independent restaurants, and includes $15 billion in dedicated funding for live venues, independent movie theaters, and cultural institutions. The agreement also includes $20 billion for targeted EIDL Grants which are critical to many smaller businesses on Main Street. Rental assistanceThe new relief packagesecures$25 billion in critically needed rental assistance for families struggling to stay in their homes and an extension of the eviction moratorium. Direct payment checksThe bill includesa new round of direct payments worth up to $600per adult and child, also ensuring that mixed-status families receive payments. Strengthened Earned Income Tax Credit & Child Tax CreditThe agreement helps ensure that families who faced unemployment or reduced wages during the pandemic are able to receive a strong tax credit based on their 2019 income, preserving these vital income supports for vulnerable families. Supports paid sick leaveThe agreement provides a tax credit to support employers offering paid sick leave, based on theFamilies FirstActframework. Employee Retention Tax CreditThe agreement extends and improves the Employee Retention Tax Credit to help keep workers injobs during coronavirus closures or reduced revenue. Enhanced Unemployment Insurance benefitsH.R. 133 avertsthe sudden expiration of Unemployment Insurance benefits for millionsof Americans,and addsa $300 per week UI enhancement for Americans out of work. Nutrition assistance for hungry familiesThe agreement provides$13 billion in increased SNAP and child nutrition benefits to help relieve the historic hunger crisis that has left up to 17 million children food insecure. Education and child careThebillprovides $82 billion in fundingto state, school districtsand colleges, including support for HVAC repair and replacement to mitigate virus transmission and reopen classrooms, and $10 billion for child care assistance to help get parents back to work and keep child care providers open. H.R. 133will also fundfederal agencies and programs throughFiscal Year 2021.In addition tothe House's bill to savePlum Island, theagreementalsoincludesCourtney's amendment to supportcontinuedresearch into the Crumbling Foundations crisis, strong support for the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, thefull dollar amount to back Courtney's effort to restore construction of the second Virginia-class submarine in 2021,and more.Key priorities for eastern Connecticut included in the omnibus spending package include: Supporting our region's submarine industrial base The final agreement includes several priorities that Courtney fought to include, including $2.6 billion to fully funding the restoration of a second Virginia-class submarine and matching the both the final NDAA and House-passe defense funding bill, initiating the construction of the first Columbia-class submarine, providing $130 million to support critical submarine suppliers, $20 million to augment submarine workforce development programs, and $14 million to support critical academic research in undersea technologies conducted by institutions like the University of Connecticut. Preservation ofPlum IslandThe omnibus spending agreement includes language that reflects bipartisan legislation co-introduced by Rep. Courtney to preserve Plum Island and officially repeal the law mandating its sale. The House has voted for five consecutiveyears torepeal the law that mandates the sale of Plum Island,as outlined in Courtney'slegislation. Funding for Crumbling Foundations Research The final spending agreementincludes Rep. Courtney's amendment to provide$2 million to support continued researchby the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)into the effects of pyrrhotite on concrete aggregate,the samedollar amountthe House voted to approve in July. National Coast Guard MuseumAdopts 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. Defense Impact Aid Provides$50 million for the DOD supplemental impact aid program, which provides support to communities like Groton with high proportions of military children in their schools.The DOD Impact Aid program is in addition to the primary Impact Aid program funded through the Department of Education. New Support for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program The bill includes$3.5 billion for Community Development Block Grants, $50 million above the 2020 enactedlevel. The President's budget request proposed eliminating this program. Putting an End to Surprise BillingThe package includes bipartisan, bicameral legislation that will end surprise billing for emergency and scheduled care. Water Resources DevelopmentThe agreement includes the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act of 2020, creating good-paying jobs strengthening and improving the vital water infrastructure that Americans rely on while unlocking the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund. HistoricExpansion of Pell GrantsThe package includes the largest expansion of Pell Grant recipients in over a decade, reaching 500,000 new recipients and ensuring more than 1.5 million students will now receive the maximum benefit. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/second-virginia-class-submarine-fully-funded-bipartisan-omnibus-spending,Second Virginia-Class Submarine is Fully Funded in Bipartisan Omnibus Spending Package,2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Rep. Joe Courtney's (CT-02) year-long effort to fully restore construction of a second Virginia-class submarine in 2021 has officially been included in the final negotiated omnibus spending package released today. As Chairman of the House Armed ServicesSeapowerand Projection Forces Subcommittee, Courtney has led the bipartisan effort to restore the second submarine since February, when the White House submitted ashipbuilding budget request to Congress that called for the removal of the second submarine and for the fewest number of combatant vessels in over a decade.The House and Senate areexpected tovoteon the measure today. The Trump Administration's shipbuilding budget request would have robbed an entire submarine from the Navy's toolbox, and undermined the workforce not just at Electric Boat but in countless manufacturing shops across our country,said Chairman Courtney.Since February, we worked non-stop to restore the two-per-year submarine program of record in the final 2021 NDAA, and last week we sent that bill to the President's desk for signature with veto-proof majorities. Today is another big step forward in the final push to ensure that we're building two Virginia with its inclusion in the omnibus spending package. As soon as I was entrusted with the gavel of theSeapowerSubcommittee at the outset of the 116thCongress, I made it a priority to work in-tandem and across the aisle with our colleagues on the House Appropriations Committee to deliver for our U.S. Navy and for eastern Connecticut. I want to thank Congressmen Pete Visclosky and Ken Calvert, the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, for recognizing the national security value that has been placed by Navy leaders in this submarine, and for working to back our full restoration in the final omnibus spending package. Now it's time to move forward and get the bill done. The restoration of this submarine is a victory for the thousands of men and women who work hard every single day building the most capable submarines in the world. Thanks to this decisive bipartisan result, this submarine will serve our nation's defense for decades to comea lasting impact that all of us who worked so hard to get this done can be proud of. On December 8th, the House and Senate bothvoted to pass the final 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by overwhelming bipartisan majorities335-78 in the House, and 84-13 in the Senate. Included in the 2021 NDAA was Rep. Courtney and theSeapowerSubcommittee's provision to reverse the Trump Administration's budget proposal, and fully restore construction of two Virginia-class submarines in 2021. That provision is backed by full funding in the omnibus spending bill released today. Navy leadership has listed the restoration of a fully funded second FY21 Virginia-class submarine as its top unfunded budget priority this fiscal year. During hearings this year in theSeapowersubcommittee, Navy officials confirmed to Courtney that there is industrial base capacity to support the second submarine, that doing so reduces risk in the ramp up on Columbia construction, and that not restoring the submarine in 2021 will make it challenging to replace that submarine in a future year. Courtney's effort to restore the second submarine has also drawn support from sea service advocacy groups and labor unions including theNavy League, the Submarine Industrial Base Coalition, the International Association of Machinists and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IAMAW), and more. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-secures-critical-protections-children-against-e-cigarettes,DeLauro Secures Critical Protections for Children against E-Cigarettes in the Federal Spending Package,2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"DeLauro's legislation, the Preventing Online Sales of E-Cigarettes Act, is included in the fiscal year 2021 omnibus spending bill WASHINGTON, DC Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Chair of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, secured the historic inclusion of her legislation, the Preventing Online Sales of E-Cigarettes Act, in the fiscal year 2021 spending bill. The legislation would require in-person age verification upon delivery of online purchases of e-cigarette and vapingproducts. The inclusion of these critical protections against the online sale of e-cigarettes to children will prevent countless illnesses and save lives, said Congresswoman DeLauro. This bill's enactment will mark the end of a battle I have fought to close the loophole that allows online e-cigarette vendors to sell to customers without verifying their age at the point of delivery. This is another critical step to ending the youth vaping epidemic, one of the many challenges worsened by the spread of COVID-19. I look forward to this legislation passing both the House and the Senate and to the President enacting these much-needed protections. DeLauro first introduced this legislation in 2015. In October 2019, DeLauro held a hearing in the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee on the emerging public health threat of e-cigarettes. More information and a video of her hearing can be found here. More information on the fiscal year 2021 omnibus spending bill is available here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-emergency-coronavirus-relief-agreement,DeLauro Statement on Emergency Coronavirus Relief Agreement,2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"In Connecticut, one in three small businesses have closed their doors and families are desperate for relief, and this relief package finally provides critical help WASHINGTON, DC Appropriations Committee Chair-designate and Chair of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) issued the following statement on the emergency coronavirus relief agreement: Tonight, we will pass this economic relief package that the American people desperately need. Republicans grudgingly came to the table, and the result is a much smaller package of relief, but we cannot lose sight of the important successes and historic investments Democrats fought to secure. Despite Republicans' intention to block any mandatory paid sick leave, this legislation provides workers with nearly $2 billion to maintain the paid leave option and restores the enhanced federal unemployment insurance bump that provides an additional $300 per week for all workers receiving unemployment benefits. This is not what we proposed but gives people needed help now. This bill provides for hard-working Americans by including direct payments and $13 billion in emergency food assistance, including a temporary boost to the monthly food stamp benefit, a marker I set in March. The rental assistance will certainly help families that are struggling, as well as an extension of the eviction moratorium, but we have already seen a rise in evictions throughout New England, during a time when families need safe and stable housing. Wall Street Journal reported yesterday that about one in three small businesses have closed their doors in Connecticut as a result of the pandemic. This is devastating for Connecticut's families and economy which is why we fought hard to include $284 billion for a second round of PPP loans. Additionally, there is $10 billion for child care, which is woefully inadequate. The child care industry since June has discussed needing $10 billion per month. If we cannot make families feel that their kids are going to be safe and secure, in their child care setting, we are not going to get our economy back on track, and the funding in this agreement is not nearly enough. This package is a critical first step forward that will help ameliorate the damage of the virus, but it is just thata step. While vital relief, this cannot be the end of the story. From inadequate investments to completely missing funding for our state and local governments, it is nowhere near what Congress must provide American families. When we return in 2021, we must resume these negotiations and work with the Biden-Harris Administration to fill in the gaps of this package so the American people can rebuild and recover from this historic crisis. A summary of the COVID-19 emergency relief agreement can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-passes-spending-package-includes-delauro-s-labor-health-and-human,"House Passes Spending Package, Includes DeLauros Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill",2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"Legislation invests in the programs at the center of the country's health and economic crises WASHINGTON, DC Today, the House passed the fiscal year 2021 omnibus spending agreement that includes historic investments secured by Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Appropriations Committee Chair-designate and Chair of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee. This legislation invests in the programs at the center of the country's health and economic crises and addresses labor, health, and education disparities across Connecticut and throughout the country. The pandemic has exhausted our nation's health care industry and exposed gaping holes in our health care infrastructure, said Congresswoman DeLauro. The Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education portion of this bill supports our nation's programs that will be critical to recovering from this pandemic and helping working families thrive. From Early Head Start to Social Security to CDC and NIH, they touch individuals and families throughout their lives. They create opportunity and allow America to realize its values and promise. Paired with the emergency relief included in this package, historic investments in these programs will help our nation build back better. Among the many far-reaching investments, DeLauro's Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education portion of the spending bill provides: Support for working people to find good-paying jobs with $9.4 billion for the Employment Training Administration and robust funding for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act State Grants and Registered Apprenticeships. This includes $185 million for Registered Apprenticeships and new bill language that requires the participation of equity intermediaries and business and labor industry partner intermediaries. This language is critical to providing opportunities to build a more diverse workforce. This bill not only helps working people find employment but also helps states meet the unprecedented demand for Unemployment Insurance. Critical investments for worker protection agencies including an increase of $10 million for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). With workers asked to perform their duties during a pandemic, this funding will be critical to protecting their rights and holding employers accountable. Approximately $97 billion for programs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, an increase of $2.1 billion above the enacted level for 2020. These federal investments, and the increase of $1.25 billion for the National Institutes of Health, will help advance lifesaving medical research, combat opioid addiction and the HIV/AIDS epidemic, support food safety, address maternal health disparities, and find solutions to prevent gun violence. Investments in early childhood programs with an increase of $220 million, $10.7 billion for Head Start and $5.9 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant. For our children to thrive, we must support them at this vulnerable time of crucial development, especially when the twin health and economic crises we are facing have either disrupted their lives or exposed them to hardship, poverty, hunger, or trauma. An increase for Title I grants of $227 million above the fiscal year 2020 enacted level, to $16.5 billion. This is the cornerstone of all federal K-12 programs to help address disparities in resources across school districts. The President's budget shamefully proposed eliminating this program, but the House has instead bolstered this vital resource. The bill also includes language amending the General Education Provisions Act to eliminate the last remaining prohibition on using federal funds for transportation costs to carry out school desegregation efforts. Historic investments in the Historically Black College and University Capital Financing Program by providing $48.6 million, an increase of $2 million of fiscal year 2020. This legislation also discharges loans made to HBCUs, providing $1.34 billion in relief. This package also includes the other fiscal year 2021 spending bills. From key investments to protect the air we breathe and the water we drink, to critical investments in our infrastructure, to strategic investments in defense to meet the complex challenges we're facing around the world, this spending bill invests in the American people, said Congresswoman DeLauro. This legislation shows that we are committed to moving our country forward. In addition to investments in the workforce, health, and education, this spending package includes: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies The DeLauro-led, $90 million in funding for the WIC breastfeeding peer counselor program, representing a record funding level. Historic funding for child nutrition programs, including approximately $552 million for the Summer Food Service Program to ensure low-income children continue to receive nutritious meals when school is not in session. In addition, the bill provides $42 million for the Summer EBT program, $30 million for school kitchen equipment grants, and $21 million for the WIC farmers market nutrition program. $1.97 billion for International Food Aid, including $1.74 billion for Food for Peace grants and $230 million for McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program this represents the highest-ever level of funding for these two vital programs. Commerce-Justice-Science $484 million for the Byrne JAG Program to provide states, tribes, and local governments with critical funding to support a range of program areas including law enforcement, prosecution, indigent defense, courts, crime prevention and education. $386 million for Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office), the component of the U.S. Department of Justice responsible for advancing the practice of community policing by the nation's state, local, territorial, and tribal law enforcement agencies through information and grant resources. $132 million for the STOP School Violence Act to improve school security by providing students and teachers with the tools they need to recognize, respond quickly to, and prevent acts of violence. Resources to investigate the use of Pyrrhotite in concrete and allocate $2 million to support partnerships with academic institutions like the University of Connecticut to understand how these materials contribute to making infrastructure unsound. In our home state of Connecticut, homeowners, businesses, schools, and local municipalities are struggling to address the widespread problem of crumbling concrete due to the mineral pyrrhotite. This bill supports the research needed to understand these critical issues facing our state. Defense $1.1 billion for 9 CH-53Ks, 2 more than requested in the President's fiscal year 2021 budget. I fought hard to secure this significant win for Sikorsky and Connecticut's workers. $35 million for ovarian cancer research. Funding to fully restore construction of a second Virginia-class submarine. Energy and Water Development Increased funding for the Army Corps of Engineers, provides $7.8 billion in total, a $145 million increase of FY20. Language that prevents reorganization of Army Corps or the transfer of Army Corps functions to other agencies Financial Service and General Government $135.5 million for acquisition and construction of the United States District Court, District of Connecticut, that is currently located in the Abraham A. Ribicoff Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Hartford, CT. Homeland Security Language that reminds FEMA that debris on private property can cause health and safety risks and can be costly for residents. This language encourages FEMA to consider the costs of debris removal from private property when making recommendations on disaster declarations and eligibility determinations. $720 million for the Assistance to Firefighter Grant Program, anincrease in $365 million, to help firefighters and other first responders obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other resources necessary for protecting the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards. $360 million for the Staffer for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grants, to provides funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations to help them increase or maintain the number of trained, ""front line"" firefighters available in their communities. Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies $30.4 million for the Environmental Protection Agency's Long Island Sound Geographic Program. This is a $9.4 million increase from FY20 and represents a record funding level. $15.23 million for the National Scenic Trail (NST) System, including $160k for the New England National Scenic Trail. This is a $800,000 increase over FY20 for the entire system, and a $30,000 increase for the New England NST. Increases of $5.25 million for both the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Each one will be funded at $167.5 million. Transportation-Housing and Urban Development More than $13.1 million for new and continuing studies and demonstration evaluations at HUD, including: A qualitative study of how publicly available data on rental property health and safety violations impact landlord and renter behavior. This language is based on Congresswoman DeLauro's Know Your Home Act. Feasibility study to explore how to collect different local policies related to evictions and a statistical effort relating to the creation of an evictions database, including how information is collected, consistent with civil rights protections, to understand eviction trends by classes protected under the Fair Housing Act. This language is based on Congresswoman DeLauro's Know Your Home Act and We Need Eviction Data Now Act. $2 billion for Amtrak, equal the 2020 enacted level and $1.1 billion above the President's budget request. $700 million for Northeast Corridor Grants, equal to the 2020 enacted level and $375 million above the President's budget request. A division-by-division summary of the appropriations provisions is here. DeLauro's statement on the coronavirus relief agreement included in this spending package is here. Her statement on the inclusion of her bill, the Preventing Online Sales of E-Cigarettes Act is here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://himes.house.gov/coronavirus,The American Rescue Plan Act & Other Coronavirus Resources,2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Jim Himes,H001047,himes.house.gov,,,legacy,"This page will be updated as the federal government releases guidance concerning the implementation of this bill. Friends, After months of negotiations and compromise, Congress has passed a new round of Coronavirus relief. While this bill will provide much-needed aid to the American people, it is my sincere hope that we are able to provide more assistance in the new year with a new president. At the beginning of the pandemic, my team and I worked to answer many of your frequently asked questions. I hope that this updated guide will help you and your neighbors understand the contents of Congress's latest relief package. Please sign-up for my newsletter, the CDC's Subscription Service, and Governor Lamont's news updates to receive the latest information about COVID-19 and governmental action. Sincerely, Jim Omnibus and Coronavirus Relief Package What assistance is available to individuals and families? Direct Payments Click here for answers regarding the Second Round of Economic Impact Payments Provides for immediate, direct cash payments to lower-and middle-income Americans of $600 for each adult and $600 for each dependent under age 17, beginning to phase out at an annual income of $75,000 for an individual and $150,000 for a household. Eligibility requirements mirror those under the CARES Act (e.g., you must have a work-eligible social security number) Corrects CARES Act language to authorize $600 for each citizen in a mixed-status family. Mixed-status families, where a U.S. citizen files his or her taxes jointly with a non-citizen, were ineligible for Economic Impact Payments under the CARES Act. These families can also now claim the original CARES Act Economic Impact Payment on their 2020 return in 2021. Unemployment Boosts Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) by $300 for 11 weeks. FPUC is a federally funded weekly plus-up that is available to anyone receiving at least $1 of unemployment insurance Extends Pandemic Unemployment Assistance extended for 11 weeks. PUA makes individuals who do not qualify for regular unemployment compensation, like self-employed workers, independent contractors, and gig workers, eligible for assistance. Extends Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation for 11 weeks. PEUC allows states to provide 13 additional weeks of unemployment benefits to individuals who previously received unemployment benefits but exhausted those benefits. Provides an extra $100 (on top of $300) to mixed earners who earned income from both W-2 and non-W-2 jobs Housing Assistance Extends the eviction moratorium authorized under the CARES Act through January 2021 Provides $25 billion in rental relief funding This money will be used to cover missed rent, utilities, and other costs accrued since the pandemic started Funds will be funneled through a new program at the Treasury Department and intermediated by state and local agencies To access the funds, renters will apply and state agencies will send payments directly to landlords Landlords can also apply directly for assistance but will be required to notify the tenant that they are doing so and obtain the tenant's consent To qualify, households must meet these qualifications: Have a household income of no more than 80% of the area median income (AMI) as defined by the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development have one or more members who can demonstrate a risk of homelessness or housing instability; AND have one or more members who qualify for unemployment benefits or experienced financial hardship due, directly or indirectly, to the pandemic Food Assistance Increases SNAP's monthly benefits for 6-months Suspends work requirements for SNAP-eligible college students while work-study programs may not be operating during COVID emergency Provides supplemental $400 million for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), which assists food banks Provides an additional $13 million for Commodity Supplemental Food Program Increases funding for Meals on Wheels by $175 million What relief is available to small businesses and non-profits? Paycheck Protection Program Reopens the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) with another $284.5 billion in funding. Second Draw of PPP The bill allows the hardest hit small businesses to obtain a second PPP loan. To qualify for another forgivable loan, an eligible business must have 300 or fewer employees and demonstrate at least a 25 percent reduction in gross revenues between comparable quarters in 2019 and 2020. Second draw loans are limited to $2 million. Expanded PPP Eligibility Local newspapers, television broadcasters, radio stations, and certain 501(6)c non-profits and Destination Marketing Organizations with 300 or fewer employees can receive funding. Supports Payroll Expenditures Borrowers receive full loan forgiveness if they spend at least 60 percent of their PPP second draw loan on payroll costs over any time period between 8 weeks and 24 weeks. PPP Expansion for Restaurants Eligible employers can take out loans equal to 3.5 times payroll, instead of the normal 2.5 times Forgiveness Changes Forgivable expenses now include supplier costs on existing contracts and purchase orders, the costs for perishable goods at any time, costs relating to worker safety, and technology operations expenditures such as software expenses. The bill also streamlines the loan forgiveness process for loans of $150K or less Deductibility for Expenses Paid with PPP Loan Proceeds The bill clarifies that expenses paid with forgiven PPP loans are indeed tax-deductible. In addition, the bill clarifies again that forgiven loans do not count as income. What support is available for businesses beyond PPP? Support for Live Venues, Theaters, Museums, and Zoos The package creates a $15 billion Independent Live Venue Operators Fund to provide grants to venues that have experienced significant revenue losses. It would direct the SBA to make grants to eligible venues equal to the lesser of either 45 percent of their operating costs from calendar year 2019 or $10 million. Recipients could use these grants for rent, utilities, mortgage obligations, PPE procurement, payments to contractors, regular maintenance, administrative costs, taxes, operating leases, insurance, and capital expenditures related to meeting state, local, or federal social distancing guidelines incurred during the pandemic. Venue operators who receive a grant through the Fund cannot receive additional PPP monies. Targeted Economic Injury Disaster Loan Advance Program The bill appropriates $20 billion for the EIDL Advance program only for businesses in low-income areas, which are areas with poverty rates greater than 20% and median family incomes are 80% of the average for the state. These grants provide an emergency advance of up to $10,000 to small businesses and private non-profits harmed by COVID-19. The advance does not need to be repaid, and may be used to keep employees on payroll, pay for sick leave, meet increased production costs due to supply chain disruptions, or pay business obligations, including debts, rent and mortgage payments.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://himes.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-passes-coronavirus-relief-package-himes-support,House Passes Coronavirus Relief Package with Himes Support,2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Jim Himes,H001047,himes.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, DC Today, Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04) voted for the coronavirus relief package that has been the subject of long negotiations between the House and Senate. Previously, the House had passed its own version of a coronavirus relief package, the HEROES Act, on May 15, 220 days ago. If you need assistance with access to unemployment services, stimulus payments, business aid, or any other federal program, please contact Congressman Himes's offices at (202)225-5541 or (203)333-6600 or go online here. It was absolutely necessary to get this compromise done before Congress left for the year, said Himes. Families' suffering and need have only gotten worse as this pandemic has dragged on. The final bill we came away with is not perfect, but it contains vital aid for individuals and small businesses without giving away the store to giant corporations. Notable provisions in the bill include: Economic Impact (Direct) Payments (EIP): Congress included EIP provisions that will provide one time payments of $600 per eligible adult and $600 per eligible dependent under the age of 17 Eligibility for this provision is the same as in the CARES Act: All single taxpayers with an adjusted gross income up to $75,000 filing single or $150,000 filing jointly receive the full benefit. The benefit tapers off until it is completely eliminated for those making more than $99,000 filing single/$198,000 filing jointly at a rate of 5%. Requires a work-eligible social security number. Unlike the CARES Act, mixed-status families, where one spouse is a citizen and the other is not, ARE eligible for payments for each citizen in the family. This change is retroactive, so mixed-status families will be able to claim the original EIP when they file their 2020 tax return in 2021. Unemployment Insurance (UI): The bill includes supplemented unemployment insurance for both gig and non-gig extended for 11 weeks (through March 14th). Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation is extended for 11 weeks (through March 14th) at $300 per week. This means everyone who is receiving at least $1 in unemployment insurance per week including those on PUA will receive an additional $300. Unemployment insurance under the bill will include an extra $100 (on top of $300) for mixed earners -- workers who earned income from both W-2 and non-W2 jobs. Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) The PPP lending program is continued with $284.5 billion dollars in funding to provide forgivable loans to small businesses. It includes set asides for smaller borrowers/underserved communities, including small businesses with fewer than 10 employees. $15 billion is reserved for loans made by small community lenders (community banks/credit unions). $15 billion has been designated for Community Development Financial Institutions and Minority Depository Institutions. The set aside exists to ensure money reaches low-income and underserved communities. The bill will allow businesses that were especially hard hit by the pandemic to apply for a second PPP loan. To qualify a firm must have 300 or fewer employees AND had revenue loss of at least 25% in any quarter of 2020. PPP is expanded to include 501(c)(6) non-profit organizations, includes simplified loan forgiveness for loans under $150,000, and changes the calculations for restaurants to allow them to take loans at 350% of payroll instead of 250%. The administration of this provision should be very similar to the administration of the first round of PPP, and logistics and processes should become clearer over the coming days. Interested businesses should contact their financial institutions with questions about application or qualification for the program. Rental Assistance: The bill provides $25B in rental relief funding to eligible households in a program to be administered by states. Eligible uses include rent, rental arrears, necessary utilities, and arrears of necessary utilities. Renters will apply for the assistance and state agencies will send the payment directly to landlord. Landlords can also apply directly for assistance but will be required to notify the tenant that assistance is being provided on their behalf and obtain the tenant's consent. Eligible households are defined as renters who: Have a household income not more than 80 percent of the area median income (AMI); have one or more household members who can demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability; and have one or more household members who qualify for unemployment benefits or experienced financial hardship due, directly or indirectly, to the pandemic. Food Aid: The bill contains $13 billion in nutrition assistance including a 15% percent increase in Supplemental Assistance Nutrition Program (SNAP) benefits for 6 months, $400 million for the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), $4.6 billion to extend Pandemic EBT program (P-EBT) to child care facilities and schools to provide free and reduced-price meals to children who qualify, and $175 million for Meals on Wheels. Other Provisions: The bill contains $82 billion in funding for colleges and schools, including support for HVAC repair and replacement to mitigate virus transmission and reopen classrooms. The bill includes $10 billion for childcare assistance to help get parents back to work and keep childcare providers open. Transportation assistance including $14 billion for transit, $10 billion for state highways, and $2 billion for airports. We're beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel as vaccination ramps up in Connecticut and across the country, said Himes. But the pandemic is not over. With thousands of people still dying every day and millions of our neighbors out of work and businesses shuttering at a fast pace, intervention is necessary to keep people in their homes, keep food on the table, keep the lights and heat on, and put us in a better position for a fast recovery. Again, if you need assistance with access to unemployment services, stimulus payment, business aid, or any other federal program, please contact Congressman Himes's offices at (202)225-5541 or (203)333-6600 or go online here. For more information or with any questions, please email Patrick Malone at Patrick.malone@mail.house.gov.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/ct-delegation-announces-victory-plum-island,CT Delegation Announces Victory For Plum Island,2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,John Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,,,legacy,"CT DELEGATION ANNOUNCES VICTORY FOR PLUM ISLAND [WASHINGTON, DC] Members of the Connecticut Delegation, including U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Murphy (D-CT) and U.S. Representatives Rosa DeLauro (CT-3), John Larson (CT-1), and Joe Courtney (CT-2), today announced that the omnibus budget package repeals a mandate that be sold and $18.9 million will be allocated for cleanup. Today we can finally and fully celebrate preserving Plum Island. This exquisite environmental treasure has been spared a headlong rush to sell to the highest bidder. We will continue to fight to preserve this special gem from future development. Plum Island is a unique environmental resource that is home to hundreds of species of wildlife and numerous important historical sites that must be preserved for future generations to enjoy. I thank Connecticut's environmental advocates, including Save the Sound and The Nature Conservancy for their tireless work in this effort. I also thank my colleagues from the New York and Connecticut delegations for their partnership in securing this important provision, said Blumenthal. It's taken years of work to get this done, but finally, we've stopped the shortsighted plan to sell Plum Island to the highest bidder. Plum Island is so important, both ecologically and historically, and I'm proud to stand with my colleagues in the Connecticut and New York delegations who have worked tirelessly with me to get this repeal across the finish line, said Murphy. This is a tremendous victory for Plum Island and the people of Connecticut, and it is in large part thanks to the hard work and advocacy of the local groups fighting to protect this ecological treasure. Plum Island is home to a rare natural ecosystem that should never be up for sale to the highest bidder. Congress has an obligation to protect this island and its natural resources. That is why as a leader on the House Appropriations Committee, and now the Chair-elect, I fought to include this language in the fiscal year 2021 spending bill to preserve Plum Island and prohibit the mandatory sale of this ecological treasure. I urge my colleagues to join me in ensuring this rich environment is protected well into the future, said DeLauro. The House has successfully and unanimously passed our legislation to preserve Plum Island for five years in a row, and the final negotiated omnibus spending package released today will get the job done once and for all. Plum Island is an ecological treasure, and for over a decade the Connecticut and New York delegation members have been working across the aisle and across the Long Island Sound to get this across the finish line. It's time to move forward and pass this bipartisan deal that will protect Plum Island, and get more relief out the door to thousands in eastern Connecticut who need it, said Courtney Blocking developers from buying up Plum Island is a big win for Connecticut and conservation efforts. This win wouldn't have happened without the hard work of local conservationists. I'm glad Plum Island will preserved for years to come, said Larson. The fight to preserve the island, located in Long Island Sound between Connecticut and New York, began in 2008 when the federal government announced that that island was slated for public sale as part of the planned relocation of the Plum Island Animal Disease Center to Kansas. The island is home to numerous flora and fauna that are essential to the region's ecosystem, including piping plovers, roseate terns, and grey and harbor seals. The provision, included in the omnibus package, is a modified version of Blumenthal's Plum Island Conservation Act, cosponsored by Murphy, and the Plum Island Preservation Act, cosponsored by DeLauro, Larson, and Courtney. With passage of this provision, the GSA would be allowed to transfer government land such as Plum Island to another federal agency, state or local government, or private steward allowing for appropriate and due consideration of all stakeholders. The provision also requires that any future transfer must incorporate the whole island as one unit, instead of a piecemeal approach.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-covid-relief-package-step-forward-more-urgently-needed,"Larson: COVID Relief Package is a Step Forward, but More is Urgently Needed",2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,John Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01)voted for thebipartisan COVID relief package and released the following statement: This relief package, while a step forward, should have been passed months ago. House Democrats first passed the Heroes Act in May;at the same time, Majority LeaderMitch McConnellcalled for a pause'and Senate Republicans refused to act until now. More than 315,000 Americans havedied fromCOVID-19.Experts have said if we hadmadealarger investment in testing and tracing, many of these deaths could have been prevented.Millions of Americans are unemployed and many are facing food insecurity.Our state and local governments, including first responders, have been on the frontlines of this pandemicbutare being left out of this relief package.Wecan and we must do more. As I have said before, we cannot get the economy up and running until we conquer the virus.Today's relief package makessignificant investments in,testing and tracing efforts,vaccines and therapeutics, medical suppliesand funding for underserved communities, all of which arecritical to conquering this pandemic. This packageprovides help forthe millions of Americans who are struggling right now.Itstrengthenscritical programs for those who are unemployed by extending and enhancing unemployment insurance and rental assistance. It also offers $600 in direct payments tolow andmoderate incomeAmericans andincludes a $13 billion increase in food assistance programs to help the millions of families facing food insecurity. Thisbillalso includes vital funding for small businesses, including specific funding for arts and cultural programs and smaller businesses whoweren't able to access the initial relief funding. To Stop the Virus and Treat Patients with COVID,the bill includes: Almost $23 billionforvaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics and supplies; More than$22 billion for testing,tracing, and containmentto stop the virus from spreading; Additional $3 billion for hospitals, community health centers, physicians and other providers to test, treat and care for COVID patients;and $22 billion to help underserved communities tackle this health crisis. To Helpthose hurt by COVID's Impact on the Economy, the billprovides: Extension offederalunemployment benefits, including benefits for self employed workers,untilMarch 14thandadds $300/week inunemploymentbenefits; Up to $600 per adult and child in direct payments to low and moderate income Americans; Additional $25 billion in rental and utility assistance and an extension the eviction mortarium through January 31; An additional $13 billion in food assistance programs; Additional $284 billion for a second round of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), including expanded eligibility for nonprofits, hospitals, local media outlets, and modificationstohelprestaurants, arts and cultural programs, live venues and other small businesses; Additional$20 billion for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) to help smaller businesses; Additional$3.5 billion to resume debt relief paymentsof principal and interest on small business loans guaranteed by SBA; An extension ofcreditfor employers who providepaid family and medical leaveas well asa tax credit foremployerswho offer paid sick leave; Extensionandexpansion ofthe Employee Retention Tax Credit to help employers keep employees on the job during COVID closures or reduced revenue; $10 Billionassistance for child care and child care providers; and, Over $700 million for Connecticut K-12 schools and higher education institutions. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-delauro-blumenthal-and-murphy-secure-1355-million-hartford,"Larson, DeLauro, Blumenthal, and Murphy Secure $135.5 Million for Hartford Courthouse",2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,John Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,,,legacy,"DeLauro, Blumenthal, Murphy, and Larson Secure $135.5 Million for Hartford Courthouse WASHINGTON, DC Chair-designate of the House Appropriations Committee Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Congressman John Larson (CT-01) today secured $135.5 million for the restoration of the Federal Courthouse in Hartford, Connecticut, in the fiscal year 2021 omnibus spending package. This funding was included after Senate Republicans only included funding for the Federal Courthouse in Chattanooga, Tennessee, despite Hartford ranking first on the Federal Judiciary Courthouse Project Priorities list for the second year in a row. Failure to include funding for Hartford would have been the first time Congress overrode the Judiciary's recommendation. I was proud to work with my colleagues and utilize my position on the Appropriations Committee to protect this funding for the federal courthouse in Hartford, said Congresswoman DeLauro. When it became clear that the Hartford funding was in trouble of receiving nothing because of an egregious and frankly unfair earmark inserted by Senate Republicans, the delegation was able to come together to make it right to ensure Hartford received its fair share. The 57-year-old U.S. District Courthouse in Hartford has simply outlived its sell-by date. There are major structural problems and its design makes providing court security very difficult. A new courthouse will bring judicial civil and criminal operations into the 21st century, said Senator Blumenthal. The Connecticut district court judges and their staff are to be commended for their dedication to ensuring modern, safe courts. The Connecticut Congressional delegation has been united in our support for this funding, bringing this critical improvement one major step closer to fruition. This is a big deal, said Senator Murphy. Hartford needs a new federal courthouse and the bill we passed today includes funding to start that project. The $135 million we secured will create construction jobs in Connecticut and build a space that will be safer for judges, jurors, plaintiffs, and defendants. The federal judiciary has found that the federal courthouse in Hartford is the most outdated in the country, said Congressman Larson. I'm proud that the Connecticut Congressional Delegation were all able to work together to secure this vital funding to get this project moving. The text of the spending package, H.R. 133, is available here. A division-by-division summary of the appropriations provisions is here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-year-end-funding-bill-will-support-our-communities-during,Larson: Year-End Funding Bill Will Support Our Communities During Pandemic,2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,John Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) votedH.R. 133, the FY 2021 omnibus. I'm proud to vote for this funding package that will support our communities during this pandemic.Included in this legislation is funding for 96 F-35Joint Strike Fighters. The manufacturing of the F-35 supports92smalltomediumsuppliersandover sixteen thousandjobsin State of Connecticut. During these tough economic times, this funding will help spur our local economy. Additionally, the package includes vital investments into our local communities. At time when many Americans are facing historic food insecurity, we're providing robust funding increases to food assistance programs. It also makes significant investments in public education and our schools. Notably, this year's bill includes critical legislation to put patients first and end surprise medicalbilling. For too long, patients havebornethe brunt of the cost for seeking emergency medical care or unknowingly seeing an out-of-network provider. This will no longer happen after today's legislation is enacted. Part of this package included my legislation, the Know Your Provider Act, requiring insurance companieskeepup to dateproviderdirectoriesfor theircustomers. Thispackagewill alsoresult in a meaningful increase inrenewableenergy across our country. From extending tax credits that havebeenproven tosupport green energy deployment, to making amassiveinvestment in grid modernization and renewableenergyand storage research, this legislationmeans more jobs and a cleanerenergy infrastructure. Other provisions included inthe bill: Provides$243.2 billion in funding for Department of Veterans Affairs, including $90 billion for medical careand pre-funds additional $94.2 billionforVAmedical programsinthe Fiscal Year 2022. Increase in IRS taxpayer customer services. Increases funding for NationalInstitute ofHealthincluding forresearchonAlzheimers, AIDS/HIV, Downs Syndrome. Increase in funding forthe Center for Disease Controland public health agencies across the country. Increase in Substance Abuse programs, including mental health services. Increase in funds for Community Health Centers. Increase in the maximum Pell Grant amount to keep pace with inflation. Increase in funding for Head Start and the Child Care Development Block Grant. Increase in funding for K-12 education. CT Manufacturing Prioritiesinclude: $9.6 billion for purchase of 96 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters $3 billion for continued development of B-21 Long Range Strike Bomber $6.8 billion for the Virginia class submarine programand$4.1 billion for Ohio Replacement $2.7 billion for 15 KC-46A Tankers $862million for 42 UH-60 Blackhawks $1.1 billion for purchase of 9 CH-53K Heavy Lift Helicopters $786 million to purchase 5 E-2D ADV Hawkeye $1.1 billion for procurement of 19 Combat Search and Rescue Helicopters $578 million for 5 VH-92 Presidential Helicopters $7 million fordevelopment of K-MAX unmanned heavy lift helicopter ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-nationwide-covid-19-vaccine-cutback-direct-result,"DeLauro Statement on Nationwide COVID-19 Vaccine Cutback, Direct Result of an Inadequate Distribution Plan",2020-12-18,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"Connecticut is expected to receive about a 13% cut from previous estimates, 12,000 fewer doses WASHINGTON, DC Appropriations Committee Chair-designate and Chair of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) issued the following statement on reports that many states will be receiving 25-40% fewer coronavirus vaccine doses next week than was originally anticipated: This confusion and disruption to distribution are exactly why I, and so many of my colleagues and public health experts, have been calling for a vaccine distribution plan since the beginning of the pandemic. We knew the vaccine was coming, and with real leadership and organization from the White House, issues like this could have been avoided. States cannot possibly plan to successfully reach all communities if they cannot rely on the federal government for accurate numbers. Connecticut is expected to receive 12,000 fewer doses next week than we originally anticipated which threatens to alter the distribution timeline. An undertaking of this kind requires a plan and clear communication. In addition to continuing to call for a clear plan informed by accurate numbers, I am committed to fighting for the state and local funding needed for our states to quickly and efficiently distribute vaccines to all communities.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-mcconnell-and-senate-republicans-need-accept-deal-let-us-vote,"Larson: McConnell and Senate Republicans Need to Accept the Deal, Let Us Vote on COVID Relief",2020-12-18,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,John Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, DC - Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement on COVID relief negotiations: Unemployment benefits run out in less than a week, while millions of Americans face food insecurity this holiday season. Meanwhile, Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans keep delaying COVID relief negotiations. Americans have been waiting for another COVID relief package since March. They need help and they need it now. Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans need to do what's right for once and agree to the bipartisan deal without attaching a poison pill and let us vote! ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-welcomes-new-members-house-appropriations-committee-117th,DeLauro Welcomes New Members of the House Appropriations Committee for the 117th Congress,2020-12-17,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Chair-designate Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) issued the following statement welcoming the new appointments to the House Appropriations Committee for the 117th Congress, Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Congressman Josh Harder (CA-10), Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03), Congressman David Trone (MD-06), Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14), and Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (VA-10): We have our work cut out for us in the 117th Congress, and I am confident my colleagues, Representatives Espaillat, Harder, Lee, Trone, Underwood, and Wexton, are up to the task. Each of them has a proven track record of never shying away from a fight on behalf of hard-working families. Their strong voices and unwavering commitment to creating opportunities will be an invaluable addition to the Appropriations Committee. I look forward to working with them in the years to come and know that our partnerships will give us the opportunity to give every person a chance at a better life.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://himes.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-jim-himes-announces-722653-assistance-firefighters-grants,"Congressman Jim Himes announces $722,653 in Assistance to Firefighters Grants for Southwest Connecticut Fire Departments",2020-12-17,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Jim Himes,H001047,himes.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04) announced thatfourfire departments in Southwest Connecticutwill receiveAssistance To Firefighters Grants (AFG) totaling$722,654fromthe Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The grants, awarded totheBridgeport,Fairfield,Oxford, andSheltonFire Departments, will ensure Southwest Connecticutfiredepartments have the training and resources they need to provide life-saving services. Public investment in our fire departments willimprovethe safety of our community for years to come, said Congressman Jim Himes. The brave men and women who staff our fire departments deserve the most up-to-date equipment and training to save lives and keep themselves safe. I'm happy to see federal funding protecting the life and safety of Southwest Connecticut residents. The department has seen record turnover and many of our newer Officers (Lieutenants and Captains) are new in their role, said ChiefThode,Fire Chief of the Bridgeport Fire Department.This grant will allow us to train our officers in everything from Firefighter safety, leadership, management skills even report writing. The continued support and advocacy of Congressman Himes allows Bridgeport Firefighters access to some of the top levels of training that they would not normally have access to. Along with Sen Blumenthal and Murphy, the Connecticut Fire Service is truly fortunate to have such an active and effective Federal Delegation. The Fire Act Grant for these Automatic External Defibrillators and Cardiac Compression Devicesensures that wherever you are in Fairfield,you will never be more that 4 minutesaway from the best pre hospital care possible, said Denis McCarthy, Fire Chief of the Fairfield Fire Department.Our Firefighters are trained and equipped to provide the absolute best chance of a positive outcome for those who suffer a trauma or medical emergency. We are grateful to Congressman Himes for his continued support of the Fire Act Grant program. In this case that support translates to saving lives. The personal protective equipment provided by the AFG- S award will help to ensure that our 256 volunteer firefighters of the Shelton Fire Department will continue to be well protected as we adapt to all challenges placed upon America's first responders, saidFrancis T. Jones III, Fire Chief of the Shelton Fire Department. Today's, fire service requires an all hazard response team. As a team the Shelton Fire Department and Echo Hose Ambulance responds to fires, rescues, hazardous materials incidents, technical situations, natural disasters, and now pandemics. As we do each and every day our combined emergency services shall continue to meet these challenges to assist our community by the support of our elected local, state and federal leadership all working together to support America's fist responders of Fire, EMS and Police. According to FEMA,theAssistance To Firefighters Grant works to meet the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and non-affiliated emergency medical service organizations.Click here to learn more about AFG. Fire Department AFG GrantAmount Bridgeport $601,727 Fairfield $53,483 Oxford $6,714 Shelton $60,729 ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://himes.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-passes-himes-bill-designate-weir-farm-national-historical-park,House Passes Himes Bill to Designate Weir Farm as National Historical Park,2020-12-17,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Jim Himes,H001047,himes.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, DC Today, the United States House of Representatives passed a bill authored by Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04) that would change the designation of Weir Farm in Wilton and Ridgefield from a National Historical Site to a National Historical Park. The change will better represent Weir's complex cultural, natural and recreational offerings to the public. This prestigious status will also reflect the increased visitation, collaboration with partners, and public programming since the park's original designation. Walking through Weir Farm in any season is a quintessentially Connecticut experience, said Himes. It's a beautiful, extensive site that gives visitors perspective into an important period in American art, as well as a much-needed space to reconnect with our natural world. ""The Friends of Weir Farm are proud to be part of the initiative, along with the Weir Farm Art Alliance, and Congressman Himes, to propose the redesignation in the House of Representatives to Weir Farm National Historical Park, said Liz Castagna, Vice President of Friends of Weir Farm. We believe that the passage of the bill for this new name truly represents the wide range of cultural, historical and recreational resources that the park offers to the public."" The Weir Farm National Historical Site Establishment Act of 1990, which made the farm Connecticut's first national park, focused on preserving a limited part of the Weir property. Now, the vast holdings include more than 15 buildings spread out over nearly 75 acres including a vast collection of American art, orchards and landscapes, trails, gardens, miles of stone walls, and Weir Pond. Since its designation as a Historic Site, many of the park's landscapes and resources have been rehabilitated and restored to their original state, which inspired artists like Julian Alden Weir, Mahonri Mackintosh Young, and Charles Sperry Andrews. While we work on large government funding bills and coronavirus relief efforts in Congress, we must never forget to sustain the arts, protect our natural spaces, and plan for a brighter future, continued Himes. Americans will soon once again travel the country and explore its National Parks. Elevating Weir Farm to the status it deserves will help draw visitors and share the unique beauty and history of Southwest Connecticut. Passage of a Senate version led by Connecticut Senators Blumenthal and Murphy is expected as early as tomorrow. Please contact Patrick Malone at Patrick.malone@mail.house.gov with any questions. A copy of the full bill is attached.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-davis-demand-social-security-administration-forgive-extra,"Larson, Davis Demand Social Security Administration Forgive Extra Benefits Paid Due to COVID-19",2020-12-17,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,John Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. Today, House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee Chairman John B. Larson (D-CT) and Worker and Family Support Subcommittee Chairman Danny K. Davis (D-IL) sent a letter to Social Security Administration (SSA) Commissioner Andrew Saul demanding that SSA forgive repayment of extra benefits paid to Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This fall, SSA began notifying beneficiaries about these extra benefit payments, which were paid through no fault of their own. SSA also set up a limited process for some beneficiaries to have repayment of their COVID-19 overpayments forgiven. However there have been widespread reports that many beneficiaries have been unable to access even this limited relief. With the clock ticking, we urge SSA to immediately extend and expand the streamlined waiver process, providing all beneficiaries with immediate, automatic relief from COVID-19 overpayments. We also request that you provide us with detailed information on SSA's actions and any relief that has been provided, to date, wrote Larson and Davis. It is unfair and unjust for SSA to allow any hurdles to prevent beneficiaries from accessing relief from these COVID-19 overpayments, continued Larson and Davis. We urge SSA to immediately provide automatic relief for all beneficiaries with a COVID-19 overpayment, regardless of whether or not they apply for relief. The full letter can be viewed here. A prior letter from Ways and Means Committee Democratic leaders can be viewed here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-statement-electoral-college-vote-affirm-joe-biden-46th,Courtney Statement on Electoral College Vote to Affirm Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States,2020-12-16,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,,,legacy,"VERNON, CT Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-02) issuedthe following statement this evening afterelectors inall fifty states had officiallycast their ballotsin theformal Electoral College process,affirming Joe Biden's election as the 46thPresident of the United States. Tonight's finalvotebyElectoral College membersfrom across the U.S. confirms, as mandated by the U.S. Constitution, that Joe Biden has been elected the 46thPresident of the United States,said Courtney.In the remaining days of the 117thCongress we should work together to help a smooth transition to President-elect Biden as past Congresses have doneforthe good of the country. In the next few days we will work to enact new COVID-19 aidforthe millions of Americans whose health and safety are still in dire risk of illness and financial harm.Congratulationsonce again toPresident-electJoe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harrisnow that the people have spoken, let's get to work. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-passed-va-improvement-bill-includes-provision-advance-courtney-0,"House-Passed VA Improvement Bill Includes Provision to Advance Courtney Effort on Agent Orange Fairness, Now Heads to White House for Signature",2020-12-16,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) and the House of Representatives votedto passH.R. 7105, theVeterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act. The bipartisanbillincludes aprovision thatwillmove the ball forwardandcontribute to aneffortRep. Courtney has worked for years toadvancethrough theAgent Orange Fairness Act(H.R.566)by mandating a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on repealing the onerous manifestation requirementsfrom certain diseases which the VA has linked to Agent Orange exposure.Under current law, veterans must demonstrate that the symptoms of certain diseases developed within just a year of exposure in order to receive the care and compensation they deserve. Rep. Courtney's billwould eliminatethese unfair requirementsandgrantpresumptivebenefits toall servicemembers whocame into contact with this herbicide,andH.R. 7105will help to support that effort through a mandated GAO report.H.R. 7105passed the House today byvoice vote, and will now be sent to the President's desk for signature. Click hereto watch Rep. Courtney's full remarks ahead of today's vote Veterans are required to show that these illnesses manifested themselves within one year of exposure in order to get VA help,said Courtney, ahead of today's vote.Only one problemfifty years ago, when service members were handling this poison, the U.S. government never disclosed how dangerous it was. When it's toxicity was finally recognized decades later, the one-year clock to prove manifestation had long expired. It is the ultimate Catch-22. Section 2011 would not exist but for the tireless work of Vietnam vet Gerry Wright of Andover, Connecticut who has crisscrossed America, rounding up support for abolishing this rule. No lobbyists, no super PACs, just old-fashioned citizen involvement.CongratulationsGerryyou are a true patriot. I urge support of this bill. Rep. Courtneyoriginallyintroduced the Agent Orange Exposure Fairness Act in July 2018 after working with Gerry Wright, a Vietnam veteran from Andover, Connecticut, who has travelled across the country to raise awareness on this issue and has gathered thousands of signatures in support of making changes to these requirements.Most recently, Courtney re-introduced the bill on January 15th, 2019the first bill he introducedto the 116thCongress. The Agent Orange Exposure Fairness Act has gained more bipartisan co-sponsors through each Congress, and has gained support frommajorveterans service organizations (VSOs) across the country. Courtneyhad credited Gerry Wright with much of that success, stating that thebill would not be possible without the tireless efforts of[]Mr. Gerry Wright, who has singlehandedly crisscrossed the country to raise the alarm about untreated Agent Orange cases.Courtney has welcomed support for the Agent Orange Fairness Act from organizations includingtheVietnam Veterans of America,Disabled American Veterans,AMVETS,theFleet Reserve Officers Association, and more. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-report-serious-concerns-mexican-labor-reforms,DeLauro Statement on Report of Serious Concerns with Mexican Labor Reforms,2020-12-16,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Chair-elect of the House Appropriations Committee and a key member of Speaker Pelosi's Trade Working Group, issued the following statement on the Independent Mexico Labor Expert Board's (IMLEB) first report that raises concerns with Mexican labor practices: The creation of this first interim report from IMLEB, as required by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, represents an important step of monitoring and evaluating the implementation of Mexico's labor reform and compliance with its labor obligations. The report highlights much of what we already know to be serious issues with the treatment of workers in Mexico and raises concerns that much of what was agreed upon under USMCA, such as the rights of Mexico's workers to unionize and bargain without fear of retaliation, has yet to be implemented. Passage of the USMCA was just a small step in raising the standard of living and advancing worker's rights in Mexico. The real work in implementation and oversight must continue. The United States will continue to play a vital role to ensure leaders in Mexico are taking the necessary steps to implement and comply with labor law reforms. I look forward to working closely with Katherine Tai and the Biden-Harris Administration to conduct oversight and ensure Mexico upholds its end of the bargain.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-statement-electoral-college-vote-affirm-joe-biden-46th-0,Courtney Statement on Electoral College Vote to Affirm Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States,2020-12-14,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,,,legacy,"VERNON, CT Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-02) issuedthe following statement this evening afterelectors inall fifty states had officiallycast their ballotsin theformal Electoral College process,affirming Joe Biden's election as the 46thPresident of the United States. Tonight's finalvotebyElectoral College membersfrom across the U.S. confirms, as mandated by the U.S. Constitution, that Joe Biden has been elected the 46thPresident of the United States,said Courtney.In the remaining days of the 117thCongress we should work together to help a smooth transition to President-elect Biden as past Congresses have doneforthe good of the country. In the next few days we will work to enact new COVID-19 aidforthe millions of Americans whose health and safety are still in dire risk of illness and financial harm.Congratulationsonce again toPresident-electJoe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harrisnow that the people have spoken, let's get to work. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://himes.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-himes-announces-500000-grant-oxford-prevent-school-shootings,"Congressman Himes announces $500,000 grant to Oxford to prevent school shootings and improve campus security",2020-12-14,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Jim Himes,H001047,himes.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04) announced that the Town of Oxford will receive a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Community Oriented Policing Services. The grant will create aSecurity Operations Center with three personnel monitoring the four campusesduring schools hours.Additionally, the grant will also allow fora mass notification system that will allow schools to lockdown in seconds. After the heartbreaking mass shootings in Newtown, Parkland, SantaFe and others,wemust take additional security measuresto keep our children safe, said Congressman Jim Himes. These new security protocols will keepintrudersfrom enteringany of the four Oxford schools. Additional resources for monitoring school campuses will also prevent bullying or illegal activitiesfrom taking place on campus. I'mglad federaldollars are going towardskeep Oxford students safe. ""I thank the Oxford Board of Education, Board of Finance, Board of Selectman, and of course Congressman Himes for prompt action to address this security upgrade to protect our school children. We will all continue to be vigilant to ensure and enhance school safety,"" saidSelectman George Temple. According to the Town of Oxford, these funds will be used for their school security project, which will include the implementation of a mass notification system as well as the development of a Security Operations Center. These enhancements, which complement additional ongoing security measures, will improve system-wide communication and monitoring capabilities within the Oxford school system. Students, parents, faculty, community leaders, and first responders will benefit from real-time information in emergency situations. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-applauds-agreement-end-surprise-medical-billing,Larson Applauds Agreement to End Surprise Medical Billing,2020-12-14,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,John Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Hartford, CT Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) applauded the announcement that a bipartisan, bicameral agreement has been reached to end surprise medical billing, putting patients first. The No Surprises Act will end surprise medical billing that millions of Americans experience every year after receiving unexpected out-of-network medical care. Approximately one in six hospital visits result in a surprise medical bill. This bipartisan legislation will stop that from happening and put patients first. Congress now must take swift action and put an end to surprise billing, said Larson. The bipartisan, bicameral agreement protects patients and establishes a fair payment dispute resolution process including: Holds patients harmless from surprise medical bills, including from air ambulance providers, by ensuring they are only responsible for their in-network cost-sharing amounts, including deductibles, in both emergency situations and certain non-emergency situations where patients do not have the ability to choose an in-network provider. Prohibits certain out-of-network providers from balance billing patients unless the provider gives the patient notice of their network status and an estimate of charges 72 hours prior to receiving out-of-network services and the patient provides consent to receive out-of-network care. Creates a framework that takes patients out of the middle, and allows health care providers and insurers to resolve payment disputes without involving the patient. Under the agreement, insurers will make a payment to the provider that is determined either through negotiation between the parties or an independent dispute resolution (IDR) process. There is no minimum payment threshold to enter IDR, and claims may be batched together to ease administrative burdens. If the parties choose to utilize the IDR process, both parties would each submit an offer to the independent arbiter. When choosing between the two offers the arbiter is required to consider the median in-network rate, information related to the training and experience of the provider, the market share of the parties, previous contracting history between the parties, complexity of the services provided, and any other information submitted by the parties. Following an IDR process, the party that initiated the dispute may not take the same party to arbitration for the same item or service for 90-days following a determination by the arbitrator. However, all claims that occur during the 90-day period are eligible for IDR after the 90-days. Provides additional consumer protections when insurance companies change networks, including a transition of care for people with complex care needs and appeal rights for consumers. Empowers consumers by providing a true and honest cost estimate that describes which providers will deliver their treatment, the cost of services, and provider network status. Legislative text is available HERE. Section-by-section is available HERE. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-scheduler-sarah-gianni-named-unsung-hero-capitol-hill,"Larson Scheduler, Sarah Gianni, Named Unsung Hero of Capitol Hill",2020-12-14,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,John Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Hartford, CT Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) applauded the announcement that his Washington D.C. Scheduler and Executive Assistant and West Hartford native, Sarah Gianni, was named an Unsung Hero of Capitol Hill by the Ripon Society and Franklin Center for Global Policy Exchange. Sarah Gianni goes above and beyond each and every day for our office and the people of Connecticut's First District. She truly is an Unsung Hero of Capitol Hill and this is a well-deserved recognition. I'm very proud of all that Sarah has accomplished and grateful to have her as a part of our team, Larson. It is an honor to be recognized by the Ripon Society and Franklin Center, especially during such an unprecedented year. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to serve my home district, and I look forward to the work that we will continue to accomplish in the 117th Congress, said Gianni. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-announces-more-18-million-federal-funding-eastern-connecticut,Courtney Announces more than $1.8 Million in Federal Funding for Eastern Connecticut Drug Free Communities and Addiction Intervention Programs,2020-12-11,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,,,legacy,"NORWICH, CT Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) announced that thefederalOffice of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) will award a round offederal grants totaling $1,875,000tosupport addiction prevention and recoveryeffortsin Colchester, East Hampton, Ledyard, and Old Lyme.The grant awards were dispersed through ONDCP's Drug Free CommunitiesSupportprogram, and will provide continuingfunding to strengthen infrastructure among local partners to create and sustain a reduction in local youth substance abuse. Communities in eastern Connecticut are facing a collision of epidemics right now,said Congressman Courtney.The opioid epidemic has hurt so many families in our region, and it'sfed on the strained resources and increased isolationduring COVID.These organizations are working to save livestheirserviceis essential, they'vecontinued to careforpeople in our communities even while resources have grown more and more strained, and thisnew funding will helpsupport their mission.I was glad my office could help support applicationsforthese awards, andI'll keep working across the aisle to secure more COVID-19 relief aidforthe families, workers, and small businesses in eastern Connecticut who need it. This is an outstanding opportunityforour community, and it is reflective of the important work the Colchester Youth First Coalition has committed to carrying out,said Colchester First Selectman Mary Bylone.It shows that despite the global pandemic, they are focused on meeting the needs of our youth. We are so excited to see the work they will be able to do with this type of funding. Good newsforthe Town, the Prevention Partnership and, most important, the community,said Easthampton Town Manager David Cox. I am honored to serve on the East Hampton Prevention Partnership as co-chair and lookforward to our future. We will make positive decisions regarding the funding of this grant, keeping our youth population informed about the use of drugs and alcohol. This federal grant will ensure our programming, as we work together with our town,said Barbara Moore, East Hampton Town Council and East Hampton Prevention Partnership Co-chair. TheTownof Colchester will receive a$625,000grant award to support the Youth FIRST Coalition.TheTown of East Hampton will also receive$625,000in funding to supportthe East Hampton Prevention Partnership. The Town of Ledyard will receive a$125,000grant awardto assist the Ledyard Prevention Coalition, and the Town of Lyme will receive$500,000in federal grant funding to support the Lyme-Old Lyme Prevention Coalition.Each of the new grant awards were dispersed through ONDCP's Drug Free Communities Support program, which was establishedto mobilize communities to prevent youth substance use.Click hereto learn more. In July,the New York Timesreported that drug overdose deaths in America were resurging to record levels, and that the coronavirus pandemic was complicating and perhaps worsening the opioid epidemic. In Connecticut, from January to July of 2020, there wasa 20% increasein unintentional drug overdose deaths compared to the same timeframe in 2019. This summer, Courtney and his staff worked with the towns ofColchesterandEast Hamptonto help secure today's grant awards, writing to ONDCP Director DebraHoury(MD, MPH) in support of both towns' applications to utilize Drug Free Communities funding. In October, Courtney hosted eastern Connecticut health care providers, addiction prevention experts, and leaders in the fight against the opioid epidemicfora virtual roundtable discussionon substance use prevention, treatment and recovery efforts amid COVID-19. On that call, Courtney notified participants of two federal grant awards totaling $250,000 to support prevention efforts in Norwich, Andover, Hebron, and Marlborough. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-applauds-biden-nomination-katherine-tai-united-states-trade,Larson Applauds Biden Nomination of Katherine Tai for United States Trade Representative,2020-12-11,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,John Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Hartford, CT Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) applauded President-elect Biden's nomination of Katherine Tai for the United States Trade Representative. Katherine Tai is an outstanding choice by President-elect Biden for the United States Trade Representative. Having worked with her on the Ways and Means Committee and during the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement negotiations, I've seen first-hand the skillset, experience, and values she will bring to the job. With Chairman Neal, Ms. Tai helped craft a new trade agreement that's better for working Americans. She is highly respected on both sides of the aisle and is the right person to implement the Biden Administration's pro-worker trade agenda, said Larson. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-larson-introduce-pandemic-supplies-production-act,"COURTNEY, LARSON, INTRODUCE THE PANDEMIC SUPPLIES PRODUCTION ACT",2020-12-10,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. TodayReps. John B. Larson (CT-01) and Joe Courtney (CT-02)introduced thePandemic Supplies Production Actto nationalize the production and distribution of essential supplies to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. As we fight through this second surge of COVID-19 we need to make sure we have the supplies to combat the virus. The Pandemic Supplies Production Act would not only boost production of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), tests, therapeutics and the vaccine when its available, but it will also centralize the distribution of these supplies by utilizing the Defense Logistics Agency. We need national leadership on this, not 50 different solutions. More than 280,000 Americans have already died from this virus, including more than 5,000 citizens of Connecticut. As experts have stated, having a national testing and equipment plan earlier in the pandemic could have prevented many deaths. We cannot wait any longer, we have to act now, saidRep.Larson. There has been spectacular progress made in the effort to develop a vaccine against COVID-19, but we need to make sure our supply chain is ready to deploy a vaccineimmediately. If we don't have the support network to help distribute vaccines across the country, or to ramp up production of critical PPE and hospital supplies, then we're not going to be ready,said Rep. Courtney. We need the harness the strength of the federal government to help establish that support network and defeat the virus, and Rep. Larson has helped lead the way in kicking our federal response into gear. The Pandemic Supplies Production Act would finally beef up the role of the federal government in ramping up supplies production, and in overcoming serious logistical challenges in delivering vaccines and supplies nationwide. I'm proud to join Rep. Larson in this important effort to help our communities overcome COVID-19. Larson and Courtney previouslyannouncedthe legislation in November. Reps. Jim Himes (CT-04) and Jahana Hayes (CT-05) also cosponsored the legislation. The Pandemic Supplies Production Actwill: Assess and identify the private sector's capacity to produce needed equipment, supplies, therapeutics, and vaccines; Invoke the Defense Production Act to the extent necessary to match the supply and capacity needed to meet the demandforventilators, masks, medical supplies, other essential personal protective equipment, therapeutics, and vaccines needed to address the COVID-19 crisis and future pandemics; Require weekly reports be submitted to Congress on the status of the equipment and supplies distribution plan, the available resources and the production of equipment, ventilators, and medical protective gear, therapeutics, and vaccines; Establish the Defense Logistics Agency as the lead on acquisition and distribution of therapeutics, vaccines, PPE, and other critical supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic; Mandate that the Director of the Defense Logistics Agency establish and maintain an online system through which states and local governments affected by a covered emergency may submit requestsforcovered items and establish proceduresforfulfilling requests; Require reporting on the needs of the domestic manufacturing baseforthe mass production of a vaccine and other supplies; and Mandate an assessment of the identified needs, personnel and funding requirements, and timelines and milestones of operationsforthe response and recovery efforts of the Defense Logistics Agency during this pandemic or any future pandemic. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-announces-more-507-million-sikorsky-aircraft-corporation,DeLauro Announces More Than $507 Million for Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation,2020-12-10,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"Full Funding for Program Year 5 of the Blackhawk Multi-Year IX Program Work will be Performed in Stratford, Keeping Jobs in Connecticut STRATFORD, CT Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), House Appropriations Committee Chair-designate, today announced Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation in Stratford, Connecticut, has been awarded $507,036,949 through the Department of the Army for production, engineering, and service of the Blackhawk. Blackhawk helicopters play a critical role in helping the men and women of our armed services carry out their duties safely, said Congresswoman DeLauro. I am thrilled that this additional funding will continue the construction of the Blackhawk in our backyard, at Lockheed Sikorsky, home of the world's best helicopters. As I take on my new role as Chair of the full Appropriations Committee in the 117th Congress, I will continue to fight to create jobs in Connecticut's Third Congressional District and invest in our local economy. This modification to an existing contract provides full funding of Program Year 5 of the Blackhawk Multi-Year IX Program bringing the cumulative total of this contract to $6,280,755,015. The work from this contact will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-nomination-katherine-tai-us-trade-representative,DeLauro Statement on the Nomination of Katherine Tai as U.S. Trade Representative,2020-12-10,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) issued the following statement on Katherine Tai's nomination as U.S. Trade Representative: Katherine Tai is a friend and a trusted advisor. As a member of Speaker Pelosi's USMCA Trade Working Group, Katherine Tai and I worked hand in hand to re-negotiate the new NAFTA alongside my colleagues. We traveled to Mexico in July 2019 to meet with Mexican President Lpez Obrador to discuss the importance of raising labor standards and enforcement provisions in any new agreement that would support and protect worker's rights. We met with workers in San Luis Potosi to hear about workplace conditions and the challenges to democratically unionizing in Mexico. We had tough conversations and negotiations with the outgoing administration, and Katherine was an invaluable asset on every issue under consideration, every step of the way. Through all the battles we've fought, I've witnessed firsthand Katherine's strength, integrity, and commitment to creating better lives for working families. I am grateful to President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris for this appointment. Katherine Tai's nomination will be the first step toward ensuring our trade agreements protect workers, the environment, and the creation of American jobs.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-passes-bill-ensure-post-kidney-transplant-medication-covered,House Passes Bill to Ensure Post-Kidney Transplant Medication is Covered by Medicare,2020-12-10,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,John Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. This week the House passed H.R. 2477, the Beneficiary Enrollment Notification and Eligibility Simplification (BENES) Act of 2019. Larson led the passage of the bill on the House floor. The BENES Act included H.R. 5534, Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act, which extends Medicare coverage of essential immunosuppressant drugs for kidney transplant patients. The legislation was supported by health care advocates. Click here to see Larson's remarks. I'm proud to have supported the BENES Act to ensure kidney transplant patients have access to the immunosuppressant drugs that they need. I have heard from the Hartford Hospital Kidney Transplant Group and the National Kidney Foundation how vitally important this legislation is and am so pleased it was included in the BENES Act, said Larson. As a Transplant Recipient, I appreciate Representative Larson's support of extending coverage of immunosuppressive drugs for the life of a kidney transplant. I applaud the House for passing this important bill, because kidney patients like me should not have to choose between paying the rent or keeping their kidney. This bill will help many patients, and I am thankful for its passage, said Armand Halter, a local National Kidney Foundation Advocate. After many years of tireless advocacy on behalf of kidney patients, NKF is proud that the US House of Representatives has extended coverage of immunosuppressive drugs for the life of a kidney transplant. This bill will ensure that kidney patients do not need to choose between rent, food, and keeping their kidney, and will help ensure increased availability of organs for others in need of a transplant. This is a great day for the kidney community, and we are thankful to our Congressional champions for their support and prioritization of this critical legislation, Kevin Longino, CEO, National Kidney Foundation and a kidney transplant patient. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-courtney-introduce-pandemic-supplies-production-act,"Larson, Courtney Introduce the Pandemic Supplies Production Act",2020-12-10,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,John Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. Today Reps. John B. Larson (CT-01) and Joe Courtney (CT-02) introduced the Pandemic Supplies Production Act to nationalize the production and distribution of essential supplies to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. As we fight through this second surge of COVID-19 we need to make sure we have the supplies to combat the virus. The Pandemic Supplies Production Act would not only boost production of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), tests, therapeutics and the vaccine when its available, but it will also centralize the distribution of these supplies by utilizing the Defense Logistics Agency. We need national leadership on this, not 50 different solutions. More than 280,000 Americans have already died from this virus, including more than 5,000 citizens of Connecticut. As experts have stated, having a national testing and equipment plan earlier in the pandemic could have prevented many deaths. We cannot wait any longer, we have to act now, said Rep. Larson. There has been spectacular progress made in the effort to develop a vaccine against COVID-19, but we need to make sure our supply chain is ready to deploy a vaccine immediately. If we don't have the support network to help distribute vaccines across the country, or to ramp up production of critical PPE and hospital supplies, then we're not going to be ready, said Rep. Courtney. We need the harness the strength of the federal government to help establish that support network and defeat the virus, and Rep. Larson has helped lead the way in kicking our federal response into gear. The Pandemic Supplies Production Act would finally beef up the role of the federal government in ramping up supplies production, and in overcoming serious logistical challenges in delivering vaccines and supplies nationwide. I'm proud to join Rep. Larson in this important effort to help our communities overcome COVID-19. Larson and Courtney previously announced the legislation in November. Reps. Jim Himes (CT-04) and Jahana Hayes (CT-05) also cosponsored the legislation. The Pandemic Supplies Production Act will: Assess and identify the private sector's capacity to produce needed equipment, supplies, therapeutics, and vaccines; Invoke the Defense Production Act to the extent necessary to match the supply and capacity needed to meet the demand for ventilators, masks, medical supplies, other essential personal protective equipment, therapeutics, and vaccines needed to address the COVID-19 crisis and future pandemics; Require weekly reports be submitted to Congress on the status of the equipment and supplies distribution plan, the available resources and the production of equipment, ventilators, and medical protective gear, therapeutics, and vaccines; Establish the Defense Logistics Agency as the lead on acquisition and distribution of therapeutics, vaccines, PPE, and other critical supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic; Mandate that the Director of the Defense Logistics Agency establish and maintain an online system through which states and local governments affected by a covered emergency may submit requests for covered items and establish procedures for fulfilling requests; Require reporting on the needs of the domestic manufacturing base for the mass production of a vaccine and other supplies; and Mandate an assessment of the identified needs, personnel and funding requirements, and timelines and milestones of operations for the response and recovery efforts of the Defense Logistics Agency during this pandemic or any future pandemic. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-shooting-waterbury-police-officer,DeLauro Statement on the Shooting of a Waterbury Police Officer,2020-12-09,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"WATERBURY, C.T. Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) issued the following statement after a Waterbury police officer was shot in the chest during a stolen motor vehicle investigation: Every day, our police officers put on their uniforms knowing they are risking their lives. I am saddened by the shooting of a Waterbury police officer yesterday and humbled by his sacrifice and service to the community. I am relieved to hear that the police officer is in stable condition and has been released from the hospital. I continue to pray for his full and speedy recovery and for his family and friends as they heal from this trauma.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://himes.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-passes-national-defense-authorization-himes-support,House Passes National Defense Authorization with Himes Support,2020-12-09,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Jim Himes,H001047,himes.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, DC Today, the United States House of Representatives passed the conference report accompanying the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The NDAA funds defense and related programs and is usually one of the largest pieces of legislation that Congress passes each year. This year, the bill includes $732 billion in discretionary spending for our national defense for FY 2021, including approximately $69 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO). Providing funding for our troops and our national defense is one of our most important responsibilities in Congress, said Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04). This bill ensures the security of Americans, provides the investments in innovation and industry to keep usahead of our rivals, and supports Connecticut workers. Finally, we honor our ideals by making our armed forces more diverse, more responsible to our veterans and soldiers, and more able to face future threats. Himes sponsored an amendment that was included in the bill that would increase Congressional oversight of foreign nationals investing in the United States. National security oversight is one of Congress's most essential functions, said Himes. Defending against financial incursions is essential because any vulnerability can be exploited. This bipartisan amendment tightens our oversight mechanisms and closes loopholes, showing that Congress is acting in comprehensive defense of national interests. The NDAA also contains significant funds for Connecticut-based companies, employing thousands of workers. This includes: $8.7 billion for the procurement of 93 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters. $898 million for procurement of 60 UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters built by Sikorsky. $800 million for procurement of 7 new CH-53K Marine heavy-lift helicopters built by Sikorsky. $909 million for procurement of 16 HH-60W Air Force search and rescue helicopters built by Sikorsky. $589 million for procurement of 5 VH-92A aircraft, which will be the next-generation presidential helicopter. $6.8 billion for the Virginia class submarine program, an increase of $2.6 billion over the budget request to restore a second submarine in 2021. $4 billion to initiate construction of the new Columbia-class submarine. The Navy recently announced the award of $10.3 billion in contracting options for the first two submarines in the program to Electric Boat. $2.8 billion for continued development of the B-21 Raider. Pratt & Whitney is a partner in the next-generation long range strike bomber program. $2.7 billion for 15 KC-46A tanker aircraft, which are powered by Pratt & Whitney engines. C-130H Modernization $134 million for additional upgrades for engines, propellers and other systems on the aircraft. $7 million to continue development of the KMAX Unmanned Helicopter and unmanned logistics capabilities with the CQ-24A helicopter manufactured by Bloomfield-based Kaman Aerospace. $20millionto support training programs to help support expansion of the skilled submarine workforce. $10 million to support partnerships with academic institutions that conduct research on undersea unmanned warfare and energy technology, such as the National Institute for Undersea Vehicle Technology, a collaborative program between the University of Connecticut and the University of Rhode Island. In addition, the NDAA contains provisions that provide for a three percent pay raise for military personnel, invests in pandemic preparedness, increases diversity in the armed forces, and removes Confederate names from American military facilities. President Trump has made threats to veto the bill, at first because of the inclusion of the provision to remove Confederate names, and later because it did not include an unrelated provision that would remove protections that currently exist for social media platforms from being held liable for user-generated content. Congressman Himes stands ready to support our troops and military and override the President's veto should he attempt to follow through on the threat. For more information or with any questions, contact Patrick Malone at Patrick.malone@mail.house.gov. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-ways-and-means-democrats-find-trump-administration-s-approach,"Larson, Ways and Means Democrats Find Trump Administrations Approach to Ecuador Negotiations Deeply Troubling",2020-12-09,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,John Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) and Ways and Means Democrats, led by Committee Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA) and Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Chairman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), raised concerns to U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Robert E. Lighthizer regarding the Trump Administration's hasty trade negotiations with Ecuador and failure to consult with Congress as part of that process. Yesterday, Ambassador Lighthizer signed a new Protocol on Trade Rules and Transparency, updating the U.S.- Ecuador Trade and Investment Council Agreement. Though the Ways and Means members expressed their support for active engagement with Ecuador, they noted that they found the timing, speed, and manner of the Administration's approach to be deeply troubling. On November 19, USTR issued a statement outlining the United States and Ecuador's intention to conclude a negotiation regarding certain trade rules and transparency before the end of this year, wrote the lawmakers. These negotiations appear to have only recently been initiated, yet you concluded an agreement with your Ecuadorian counterparts yesterday, December 8. Thus, nearly the whole negotiation, if not its entirety, was conducted after the U.S. presidential election occurred and in less than two months. The members acknowledged that Ecuador is an important trading partner of the United States and is a key economic, diplomatic, and strategic actor in Latin America, but stressed that proactive work with the nation must be deliberative, thoughtful, and take into account the wide range of bilateral issues between the countries and the priorities of the U.S. government. Specific issues of concern the Ways and Means Democrats raised in their letter include Ecuador's: Long history of deforestation and engaging in harmful fishing practices, including illegal, unreported or unregulated fishing activities; Ineffective enforcement of labor rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining; Over-dependence on China, including $5 billion in debt owed to the nation; and Treatment of basic human rights, including the use of excessive force against demonstrators. Consultations with Congress would have presented the appropriate forum to grapple with these issues and the ability to work together to develop an effective approach to negotiations with Ecuador, added the members. In our view, the Administration's failure to consult Congress is against its own interests. Lasting and meaningful trade agreements rely on congressional input and support. We urge the Administration to immediately engage with Congress to develop a negotiating strategy that effectively responds to the key issues in the U.S.-Ecuador relationship. Full text of the letter is available HERE. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/final-2021-ndaa-nears-completion-house-votes-pass-bipartisan-ndaa,Final 2021 NDAA Nears Completion as House Votes to Pass Bipartisan NDAA Conference Report,2020-12-08,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee onSeapowerand Projection Forces,made the following statement today after the House voted in overwhelming bipartisan fashion to pass theconference report to accompany theFiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act. Courtney wasa core conferee appointed to the committee responsible for negotiating the final bill, andledtheSeapowerand Projection ForcesSubcommitteeinsecuring some of the final package's most importantprovisions.The House passed the final conferenced version of the NDAA today by a vote of 335-78-1. The FY21 NDAA conference report provides support forRep.Courtney'sbipartisan effort to restore full funding for the construction of the second Virginia-class submarinea vessel that the Navy listed as itsmost important unfunded priorityin 2021and includes many other important provisions. The final, conferenced NDAA also includes Rep. Courtney's amendmentstosupport academic partnerships for undersea research like those at UConn,to authorize $50 million for the DOD supplementalImpactAidProgram which supports public school districts like Groton and Ledyard, to prioritize working with U.S. allies to protectcritical materials, and much more. Today,the House voted to seal the deal. Thefinal negotiated version of the 2021 NDAA includes theSeapowerSubcommittee's year-long effort tobuck the Trump Budget andfully restoreconstruction of the second Virginia-class submarine, itsets course onthedecades-longjourney to see the new Columbia-class program through to completion,and it providessteadfastsupport to our men and women in uniform and to eastern Connecticut's manufacturing sector,said Congressman Courtney.This isa strong, bipartisanconference report,it's embedded with some of the most important priorities of theSeapowerSubcommittee, andthe House came togethertodayto pass thefinalconferencereportin a bipartisan landslide. As Iget readyto close out myfirst termas Chairman of theSeapowerSubcommittee, I'mparticularly pleased with what we were able to achieve in this year's NDAAwhile up against a global pandemic, and an Administration seeminglydeterminedto weakenthe Navy's shipbuilding plan.Our final bill doesn't just reverse theWhite House's budget request on submarines,it also provides the final authorizations needed to move full steam ahead on the Navy's most important next-generation acquisition priority: the Columbia-class submarine program.The Virginia-class submarine we successfully restored to the NDAA will be in the water for the next forty years, and shipbuilders in Groton will be developing the Columbia-class for the next thirty yearsthese aren't just priorities for our U.S. Navy, they're generational opportunities for thousands of manufacturers and engineers in eastern Connecticut. The final agreement we passed today also authorizes an across-the-board pay raise for our troops, supports critical airlift platforms operated by National Guardforces across theU.S., and much more.These are the sorts of bipartisan achievements that are at risk when the President lobs out nonsensical veto threatsour Navy's top priorities, pay raises forour soldiers,opportunities for American manufacturers, and more.I was proud to negotiate this final bipartisan NDAA and to advance it one last time today in the House. There's no excuse for the President to not sign this bill, and we're moving forward to get the job done. Key provisions that Courtney championed in the 2021 NDAA Seapowerand Projection Forces PrioritiesAs Chairman of theSeapowerand Projection Forces Subcommittee, Courtney has advocated for Navy, Air Force and maritime priorities important to Connecticut and the nation.Virginia Class Submarine The report authorizes $6.8 billion for the Virginia class submarine program, an increase of $2.6 billion over the budget request thatCourtney secured to restore a second submarine in 2021. The Trump Administration requested just one submarine in 2021, breaking the steady two a year build rate that has been in place since 2011 and undermining efforts to address looming shortfalls in the submarine fleet.Columbia-Class Ballistic Missile Submarines The report authorizes $4 billion to initiate construction of the new Columbia-class submarine. Last month, the Navy announced the award of $10.3 billion in contracting options for the first two submarines in the program to Electric Boat. The report also includes Courtney's provision to authorize incremental funding for these submarines within the National Sea Based Deterrence Fund, which will ensure the cost-effective and efficient construction of this important program.Submarine Workforce and Development Training Authorizes $20 million to support training programs to help support expansion of the skilled submarine workforce as the industrial base ramps up construction of new submarines. Courtney has strongly supported workforce development efforts in the region to support hiring at Electric Boat and the supply chain through programs like the Eastern Connecticut Manufacturing Pipeline.Long Range Strike Bomber The report fully supports the requested $2.8 billion for continued development of the B-21 Raider. Pratt & Whitney is a partner in the next-generation long range strike bomber program.KC-46APegasus The report authorizes $2.7 billion for 15 KC-46A tanker aircraft, which are powered by Pratt & Whitney engines. The agreement also mandates that the Secretary of the Air Force develop a complete, permanent solution to the KC-46 remote visual system (RVS) operation limitations, submitting the solution Congress no later than February 1, 2021.C-130H Modernization The measure continues Congressman Courtney's efforts to accelerate the modernization of the C-130H cargo aircraft fleet, like those flown by the Connecticut Air National Guard. In addition to fully supporting the efforts to upgrade and modernize the avionics of the fleet, the bill authorizes $134 million for additional upgrades for engines, propellers and other systems on the aircraft beyond the President's request.P-8 Poseidon The report authorizes $1.4 billion for 8 P-8Poseidonaircraft, the Navy's newest maritime, patrol and reconnaissance aircraft. This will bring the Navy closer to the warfighting requirement of 138 aircraft and ensure the continued modernization of the Navy Reserves' legacy P-3 fleet.KMAX Unmanned Helicopter The report authorizes $7 million to continue development of unmanned logistics capabilities with the CQ-24A helicopter manufactured by Bloomfield-based Kaman Aerospace.Navy Shipbuilding-- Overall, the report authorizes more than $22 billion to procure 9 new battle force ships, two more than the budget request, in. The budget requested one of the lowest levels of new ships in nearly a decade and did not include the long range shipbuilding plan required by law to provide insight into future plans to grow the fleet.Courtney pressed Defense Secretary MarkEsperon his failure to abide by the law in a hearing earlier this year. The final agreement also includes language Courtney authored to restrict some funding for the Office of Secretary of Defense until the 30-year shipbuilding plan is delivered, and prohibits the retirement of any Navy vessel until the Secretary of Defense provides a Navy force structure assessment.Recapitalization of our Domestic Sealift Capabilities The report includes several Courtney-led investments in the recapitalization of our domestic sealift and maritime response capabilities. These includes authorizing the purchase of additional used vessels to replace aging sealift ships but rejecting a Defense Department request to eliminate the requirement to initiate a domestic new build ship. The bill also authorizes a new Tanker Security Program to address the alarming gap in at-sea logistics, authorizes the fourth National Security Multi-Mission Vessel and authorizes a $180millionincrease in funding for the Maritime Security Program to address theimpactof COVID-19 pandemic on our domestic shipping fleet. Additional Courtney priorities included Rare Earth Minerals the report includes an amendment Courtney authored that requires the Secretary of Defense to prioritize the acquisition of strategic and critical materials from U.S. and allied sources ensuring the continued protection of our national defense supply chains. These types of minerals and materials are used in everything from cell phones to the joint strike fighter and a secured supply chain of these materials is of utmost importance to national security.Academic Partnerships for Undersea Research The report authorizes $10 million to support partnerships with academic institutions that conduct research on undersea unmanned warfare and energy technology, such as the National Institute for Undersea Vehicle Technology, a collaborative program between the University of Connecticut and the University of Rhode Island. During debate on the bill in the House, Courtney and Rep. James Langevin (D-RI) passed an amendment to increase funding for this effort from $5 million to $10 million.Joint Strike Fighter The report provides $8.7 billion for the procurement of 93 F-35s and includes additional flexibility to procure additional aircraft within the authorized amount if production savings are found and if prime suppliers remain on-schedule.UH-60Blackhawks The report authorizes nearly $1 billion for60UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters, an increase over the budget request, built by Sikorsky.CH-53KKing Stallion The report authorizes $800 million for procurement of 7 new Ch-53K Marine heavy-lift helicopters, built by Sikorsky.Combat Search and Rescue Helicopter The report supports the Administration's request for $909 million for procurement of 16 HH-60W Air Force search and rescue helicopters built by Sikorsky.VH-92A Presidential Helicopter The report supports the Administration's request for $589 million for procurement of 5 aircraft, which will be the next-generation presidential helicopter.Ukraine authorizes $250 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.DODImpactAid authorizes $50 million for the DOD supplementalimpactaidprogram, which provides support to local school districts with high proportions of military children, including Groton public schools. This program is in addition to the primaryImpactAidprogram funded through the Department of Education, which does not fall within the jurisdiction of the House Armed Services Committee.Coast Guard Reauthorization the agreement includes the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act, bipartisan legislation to further strengthen our nation's Coast Guard by enhancing navigation and maritime safety, authorizing new family leave and child care policies, and increasing gender and racial diversity in the Coast Guard Academy in New London and across the ranks. Other Notable Provisions Renaming Confederate Military Installations The agreement includes an amendment that Courtney cosponsored that establishes an independent commission to make binding recommendations to the Secretary of Defense for the modification or removal of all names, symbols, displays, monuments, and paraphernalia that honor or commemorate the Confederate States of America or any person who served voluntarily with the Confederate States of America from all assets of the DoD.Limitations on Funds to Remove Active Duty Troops from Germany The agreement bars the Department from using any funds authorized by Congress to reduce the number of active duty troops stationed in Germany until DOD submits a report to Congress certifying that any reduction would not undermine the security of the U.S. or our allies in the region.BRAC The report does not authorize a base closing round.Military Pay Raise The report provides a 3.0% pay raise for the military, in line with a statutory requirement to keep pace with private sector wage growth.Agent Orange Exposure Benefits the report adds additional diseases to Section 1116(a)(2) of Title 38, USC including Parkinsonism, bladder cancer, and hypothyroidism to the list of diseases associated with exposure to certain herbicide agents. The report would also mandate that the Department of Veterans Affairs provide benefits to veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange and later diagnosed with these afflictions.Climate Change Resiliency The agreement requires a report updating Congress on the implementation of provisions from the FY2020 NDAA related to installation master planning, updates to installation building codes, sea-level rise modeling, and climate assessment tools. The final agreement would also require DoD to submit a report on its greenhouse gas emission for the last 10 years.Pacific Deterrence Initiative the report authorizes a new Pacific Deterrence Initiative to reassure allies and partners of U.S. commitment to the region and to enhance congressional oversight of military activities throughout the area of responsibility.Defense Community Infrastructure Program Authorizes $50 million for the program, allowing DOD to help states and local governments fund off-base infrastructure projects that support operations and the base community. Infrastructure improvements could include transportation projects, schools, first responder facilities, and utility projects. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/chairwoman-delauro-statement-hearing-hyde-amendment-impact-women-0,"Chairwoman DeLauro Statement at Hearing on Hyde Amendment, The Impact on Women Seeking an Abortion but are Denied Because of an Inability to Pay",2020-12-08,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Chair of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, delivered the following remarks at the Subcommittee's hearing examining the impact of the Hyde Amendment on women's rights andeconomic security: The subcommittee will come to order. Good morning. Welcome to our witnesses. Today, we are going to examine the impact on women seeking an abortion but are denied because of an inability to pay. Roe vs. Wade is the law of the land, yet, for too long some women in this country have been denied their right to an abortion. The Hyde amendment is a discriminatory policy. For more than 40 years, it has been routinely extended every year as a legislative rider but the time has come in this current moment to reckon with the norm, with the status quo, and view it through the lens of how it impacts communities of color. Connecticut's Medicaid program has covered abortion services using state funding since 1986 based on a Connecticut Superior Court decision. To date, that decision has never been appealed. Eight other states provide funding for abortion pursuant to a court order, while seven fund abortions voluntarily all using state dollars. However, thirty-three states and the District of Columbia deny state funding to women seeking access to abortion. As a result, the millions of economically insecure women in these states are hostage to their geography. For the women in these states covered by Medicaid, the Hyde amendment has a tremendous impact on their economic, mental, and physical well-being. We know that without insurance coverage of abortion, a legal healthcare procedure, they face costs of more than $500 on average but can exceed $1,000 dollars depending on where they live and the type of abortion. This does not include out-of-pocket expenses like childcare, time off from work, and travel. These costs are prohibitive for too many women. One study found even in a state like California that uses its own funds to provide coverage, because these providers are typically concentrated in urban areas, rural patients have had to travel more than 50 miles to obtain an abortion. A study published in the January 2020 edition of the American Journal of Public Health found that more than seventy-five percent of requests to an online telemedicine abortion service hailed from states with hostile restrictions, including the Hyde amendment, with cost being the most common barrier. The landmark Turnaway Study, led by Dr. Diana Greene-Foster, a demographer of the University of California-San Francisco who evaluates the effectiveness of family planning policies and the effect of unintended pregnancy on women's lives, found that women's health and wellbeing suffer serious consequences after being denied a wanted abortion.This was the largest study to examine women's experiences with abortion and unwanted pregnancy in the United States with the goal to understand the mental health, physical health, and socioeconomic consequences of receiving an abortion compared to carrying an unwanted pregnancy to term. It found the following. For women denied an abortion despite wanting one because it was the right decision for themselves and their families, women being forced to carry an unwanted pregnancy to term are four times more likely to live below the Federal Poverty Level. Women are more likely to experience serious complications at the end of their unwanted pregnancy including eclampsia and death contributing to the maternal mortality rate in this country that should be embarrassing and unacceptable to everyone participating today. These women denied an abortion are more likely to stay with an abusive partner. These women who were denied a safe and legal medical procedure are more likely to suffer anxiety, loss of self-esteem, and less likely to have aspirational plans for their futures after being denied an abortion. Finally, the Turnaway Study found that being denied has serious implications for the existing children in the family. And who is being harmed the most by the Hyde amendment and being forced to continue unwanted pregnancies? More than half, 58 percent, of the women affected by the Hyde Amendmentare women of color almost one-third, 31 percent, are Black, 27 percent Latina, nearly one-fifth, 19 percent, Asian Americans and Pacific Islander women, as well as indigenous women also covered by Medicaid. While the Labor, HHS, Education bill has carried the Hyde amendment every year since 1976, this is the last year. The inequities in our country's health care system that have been exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic all further expose the impact of the Hyde Amendment. All these issues deny the humanity of people of color and their ability to do well for their families and communities. Now is the time to empower all women to be able to make deeply personal life decisions without politicians inserting themselves into the doctor's office. To ensure that regardless of geography all women are treated fairly and equally. And to improve women's health. Thank you all for being here and for lending your expertise. Before I turn to our witnesses, however, let me turn to my friend, Ranking Member Cole, for any remarks he would like to make.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/chairwoman-delauro-statement-hearing-hyde-amendment-impact-women-seeking,"Chairwoman DeLauro Statement at Hearing on Hyde Amendment, The Impact on Women Seeking an Abortion but are Denied Because of an Inability to Pay",2020-12-08,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Chair of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, delivered the following remarks at the Subcommittee's hearing examining the impact of the Hyde Amendment on women's rights andeconomic security: The subcommittee will come to order. Good morning. Welcome to our witnesses. Today, we are going to examine the impact on women seeking an abortion but are denied because of an inability to pay. Roe vs. Wade is the law of the land, yet, for too long some women in this country have been denied their right to an abortion. The Hyde amendment is a discriminatory policy. For more than 40 years, it has been routinely extended every year as a legislative rider but the time has come in this current moment to reckon with the norm, with the status quo, and view it through the lens of how it impacts communities of color. Connecticut's Medicaid program has covered abortion services using state funding since 1986 based on a Connecticut Superior Court decision. To date, that decision has never been appealed. Eight other states provide funding for abortion pursuant to a court order, while seven fund abortions voluntarily all using state dollars. However, thirty-three states and the District of Columbia deny state funding to women seeking access to abortion. As a result, the millions of economically insecure women in these states are hostage to their geography. For the women in these states covered by Medicaid, the Hyde amendment has a tremendous impact on their economic, mental, and physical well-being. We know that without insurance coverage of abortion, a legal healthcare procedure, they face costs of more than $500 on average but can exceed $1,000 dollars depending on where they live and the type of abortion. This does not include out-of-pocket expenses like childcare, time off from work, and travel. These costs are prohibitive for too many women. One study found even in a state like California that uses its own funds to provide coverage, because these providers are typically concentrated in urban areas, rural patients have had to travel more than 50 miles to obtain an abortion. A study published in the January 2020 edition of the American Journal of Public Health found that more than seventy-five percent of requests to an online telemedicine abortion service hailed from states with hostile restrictions, including the Hyde amendment, with cost being the most common barrier. The landmark Turnaway Study, led by Dr. Diana Greene-Foster, a demographer of the University of California-San Francisco who evaluates the effectiveness of family planning policies and the effect of unintended pregnancy on women's lives, found that women's health and wellbeing suffer serious consequences after being denied a wanted abortion.This was the largest study to examine women's experiences with abortion and unwanted pregnancy in the United States with the goal to understand the mental health, physical health, and socioeconomic consequences of receiving an abortion compared to carrying an unwanted pregnancy to term. It found the following. For women denied an abortion despite wanting one because it was the right decision for themselves and their families, women being forced to carry an unwanted pregnancy to term are four times more likely to live below the Federal Poverty Level. Women are more likely to experience serious complications at the end of their unwanted pregnancy including eclampsia and death contributing to the maternal mortality rate in this country that should be embarrassing and unacceptable to everyone participating today. These women denied an abortion are more likely to stay with an abusive partner. These women who were denied a safe and legal medical procedure are more likely to suffer anxiety, loss of self-esteem, and less likely to have aspirational plans for their futures after being denied an abortion. Finally, the Turnaway Study found that being denied has serious implications for the existing children in the family. And who is being harmed the most by the Hyde amendment and being forced to continue unwanted pregnancies? More than half, 58 percent, of the women affected by the Hyde Amendmentare women of color almost one-third, 31 percent, are Black, 27 percent Latina, nearly one-fifth, 19 percent, Asian Americans and Pacific Islander women, as well as indigenous women also covered by Medicaid. While the Labor, HHS, Education bill has carried the Hyde amendment every year since 1976, this is the last year. The inequities in our country's health care system that have been exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic all further expose the impact of the Hyde Amendment. All these issues deny the humanity of people of color and their ability to do well for their families and communities. Now is the time to empower all women to be able to make deeply personal life decisions without politicians inserting themselves into the doctor's office. To ensure that regardless of geography all women are treated fairly and equally. And to improve women's health. Thank you all for being here and for lending your expertise. Before I turn to our witnesses, however, let me turn to my friend, Ranking Member Cole, for any remarks he would like to make.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-health-appropriations-subcommittee-examine-hyde-amendment-s,"DeLauro, Health Appropriations Subcommittee Examine Hyde Amendments Impact on Womens Rights and Economic Security",2020-12-08,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Chair of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, held a hearing today to examine the Hyde Amendment, a legislative rider originally included in the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies spending bill in fiscal year 1976. The Hyde Amendment denies Medicaid coverage on abortion. Through the Subcommittee Members' questions and witness testimony, the hearing, titled The Impact on Women Seeking an Abortion but are Denied Because of an Inability to Pay, shed light on how the Hyde Amendment has been used to deny coverage for federal employees and their dependents, military service members, Native Americans, Peace Corps volunteers, immigrants, and residents of Washington, D.C. The harm of this denial of coverage falls hardest on people struggling financially, who are more likely to be women of color, young women, immigrants, and LGBTQ people. The Hyde Amendment is a discriminatory policy, said Congresswoman DeLauro. For more than 40 years, it has been routinely extended every year as a legislative rider but the time has come in this current moment to reckon with the norm, with the status quo, and view it through the lens of how it impacts communities of color. Now is the time to ensure that women of color and all women have access to the reproductive health they deserve. I thank my colleagues and our witnesses for joining me in holding this hearing and taking this critical first step in ending the inclusion of this policy in federal spending legislation. I commend Chair DeLauro for holding this hearing to discuss the harmful impact of the Hyde Amendment, said House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita M. Lowey. We don't talk about what federal policies mean for a woman sitting in a doctor's office, in fear of the risks to her own health or financial security. We don't talk enough about how to help her. The truth is, that woman has been discriminated against by the laws of her country, just because of her income. That this continues to happen in 2020 is a disgrace. For too long, the racist and discriminatory Hyde Amendment has restricted access to reproductive care for low-income women and women of color. Access to reproductive care should never depend on your zip code or income,said Congresswoman Barbara Lee.Repealing the Hyde Amendment is long overdue, and a critical step toward racial justice.I'm appreciative of Chairwoman DeLauro's leadership to ensure women everywhere have access tocoverage for all pregnancy-related health care, including abortion. Today's necessary hearing proves once again that the Hyde Amendment is a blatant to attempt to deny communities of color and low-income communities' access to reproductive healthcare, said Congressman Mark Pocan. For over 40 years, the discriminatory Hyde Amendment has prohibited people who receive their health insurance through the federal governmentincluding those on Medicaid, Medicare, members of the military, indigenous people, and those who are incarcerated or in ICE Custodyfrom receiving coverage for an abortion. The EACH Woman Act is a necessary step forward to affirm that abortions are necessary healthcare, and no one should be denied coverage because of their zip code or paycheck. The time to end the Hyde Amendment is now. This global pandemic has put a spotlight on policies rooted in inequity, and the Hyde Amendment is no exception, said Congresswoman Katherine Clark. 1 in 3 jobs held by women have been designated as essential, and women are the sole or co-breadwinner in two-thirds of families with children. Yet, Hyde prevents women in poverty and many women of color from having autonomy over their bodies and stability in their lives. Our path to rebuilding a stronger, more inclusive America must include repealing this dangerous and discriminatory policy. Women, not their elected officials, should be fully in charge of their reproductive health, said Congresswoman Lois Frankel. The Hyde Amendment disproportionately endangers low-income women and women of color who bear the brunt of the burden when states impose their own abortion restrictions. The Hyde Amendment boils down to a tax on women who cannot afford private health insurance, and it hits women of color especially hard, said Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman. When we talk about the need to correct systemic racism, it includes policies like Hyde. This rule takes basic decisions these women should be able to make about their health away from them purely because of how they get their healthcare; it says to them that it's not their doctor or themselves, but a body overwhelmingly made up of white men that knows best. We have to stop denying these women the level of care that any other American can get, and that they too deserve. I'm grateful to Chairwoman-elect DeLauro for elevating this issue. Black and Brown women are disproportionately likely to be insured through Medicaid and therefore subject to the Hyde Amendment's restrictions, said Dr. Herminia Palacio, CEO and President of the Guttmacher Institute. In 2018, 31% of Black women and 27% of Hispanic women aged 1544 are enrolled in Medicaid, compared with 16% of White women. These Medicaid enrollment patterns are themselves the legacy of oppressive laws and policies too expansive to cover in this testimony; I will only note that the evidence linking structural racism to social and economic inequality is abundant. As our country undergoes a racial reckoning, I want to be clear: The Hyde Amendment is a racist policy. However any of us feel about abortion, politicians should not be allowed to deny someone's health coverage for it just because they are struggling to get by, said Amanda Beatriz Williams, Executive Director of the Lilith Fund for Reproductive Equity. Unfortunately, that's exactly what Congress has done for the last 44 years through the Hyde Amendment. Across the country, the Hyde Amendment has had devastating impacts for people unable to make ends meet who are more likely to be women of color LGBTQ people, immigrants, and young people. And for too many, coverage bans like the Hyde Amendment can act as defacto bans on abortion altogether. The Hyde Amendment denies my patients the ability to make decisions about their bodies and their pregnancies entirely because of where they live and how much money they make, Jamila Perritt, President and CEO of Physicians for Reproductive Health. More than 177,000 people in the District are federal employees, 7.56 percent of the federal workforce, and are unable to access this essential coverage because they get their health insurance through the government For the patients I care for, many of whom are living paycheck to paycheck, the cost of reproductive health care and additional expenses such as childcare, transportation, and time away from work can be insurmountable, making access to care impossible. The full hearing can be found here. DeLauro's full remarks can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://himes.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-himes-announces-4690100-grant-stamford-hospital-assist-cost,"Congressman Himes announces $4,690,100 grant to Stamford Hospital to assist in the cost of COVID-19 response",2020-12-08,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Jim Himes,H001047,himes.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04) announced that through Stamford Hospital, Stamford Health will receive a$4,690,100grant from theFederal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The grant will reimburse Stamford Hospital for their emergency response to COVID-19,includingan alternativetreatment site,drive through testing,designated staff,PPEand plexiglassfor health care workers, as well as additional hospital beds, tents, and ventilators. Additionally,thegrant willensure the hospital can continue to effectively respond to the pandemic in the months ahead. Ensuring our health providers are well-funded is essential to combatting this pandemic and keeping our community safe, said Himes. When ourcommunity was hit hard in the first few months of this virus, organizations like Stamford Health werecrucial in treating patients and saving lives. As we prepare for a surge in cases, it's more important than ever that hospitalscanhandle all patients who need treatment.Additionally, health care workersare our community's heroes, so it is essential they have theprotection they need to keep themselves safe. The $4.69 million FEMA grant is very meaningful to Stamford Health, said KathleenSilard, President & CEO, Stamford Health.Now more than ever, our healthcare system needs to be financially strong to care for the communities we serve. Stamford Health is well prepared to handle the rise of COVID-19 cases. We've also taken many steps to ensure the safety of our staff and patients as we continue to provide routine healthcare services. We are not out of the woods just yet, but I am hopeful for the future. We are deeply appreciative of the federal government, Congressman Himes and our US Senators who have provided critical assistance throughout this pandemic. According to Stamford Health, the award provides $4,690,100.70 in federal funding to Stamford Hospital for Emergency Protective Measures as a result of FEMA-DR-4500-CT (COVID-19 Pandemic Disaster Declaration). The total cost ofStamford Health's responseis $6,253,467, and the hospital is being reimbursed $4,690,100.70, which is 75% of the cost. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://himes.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/himes-lowey-applaud-inclusion-byram-river-project-wrda,"Himes, Lowey Applaud Inclusion of Byram River Project in WRDA",2020-12-08,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Jim Himes,H001047,himes.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, DC Today, the United States House of Representatives passed the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (WRDA). The bill authorizes U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to begin navigation, flood control, storm damage, and other water-related infrastructure projects. Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04) and House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey (NY-17) supported the bill. Included in WRDA is the authorization of the Byram River Basin Flood Risk Management project. The Byram River runs for approximately 14 miles through Lowey and Himes' districts in Southeast New York and Southwest Connecticut. Because it is prone to damaging flooding, local and federal officials have called for years for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to look at ways to mitigate or prevent flooding. The plan approved as part of WRDA proposes removing and replacing two bridges in Port Chester, New York in order to reduce restrictions to river flow. ""Chairwoman Lowey and I are excited that this year's WRDA authorizes the Byram River Basin Flood Risk Management project, because flooding has been a serious concern for homeowners and businesses alike in Greenwich for decades, said Himes. As we continue to see more frequent extreme weather events due to climate change, our coastal areas and rivers that are vulnerable to flooding need their infrastructure updated significantly. This plan will not only provide flood relief, but help efforts to restore the River's habitat to a more natural environment and improve resiliency for future storms. Congressman Himes and I are pleased that flood prevention infrastructure along the river will be updated through the WRDA, said Congresswoman Lowey. Recent history has shown us the devastating impact the Byram River can have on our communities when it floods, and the effects of climate change could only worsen that impact. Authorizing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to begin flood mitigation projects on the Byram River is an important step in protecting our homes, businesses and environment. For more information or with any questions, contact Jane Richter at Jane.richter@mail.house.gov (Lowey) or Patrick Malone at Patrick.malone@mail.house.gov (Himes). ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-during-these-difficult-times-ndaa-will-strengthen-connecticut-s,"Larson: During These Difficult Times, NDAA Will Strengthen Connecticuts Manufacturing",2020-12-08,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,John Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement after voting for the FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that includes increases for multiple defense programs based in Connecticut. During these difficult times, the FY2021 NDAA provides a much-needed 3 percent raise for our troops and boosts defense manufacturing in Connecticut. These increases support thousands of jobs and help our economy. This would not have happened without the work of Rep. Joe Courtney who leads the fight for Connecticut in the Armed Services Committee and is a member of the conference committee. ""The NDAA includes a nearly $2 billion increase in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program. Last year the program supported more than 92 suppliers in the state, 16,500 jobs, and had an economic impact of $1.7 billion. Thanks to Rep. Courtney, the Virginia class submarine program also saw a $1.3 billion increase and the restoration of a second submarine which was listed by the Navy as its number one unfunded priority, yet was cut by the President's budget. Submarine programs support more than 367 suppliers and have an $864 million economic impact in the state. Connecticut's First District is also the largest supplier for Sikorsky helicopters which supports more than 126 suppliers and has a $166 million economic impact across the state. The President's veto threat on something unrelated to our national defense, puts our national security at risk. For the past 59 years the NDAA has been approved on a bipartisan basis, as it is going to be again today. The President should sign this bill into law with no delay. Highlights of Connecticut's defense manufacturing priorities: $10.6 billion for purchase of 93 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, advanced procurement, modifications to existing fighters, spares, and continued development (a $1.7 billion increase over last year's authorized amount). $2.8 billion for B-21 Raider development. $6.8 billion for the Virginia class submarine program, including restoration of a second submarine removed by the President's budget (a $1.3 billion increase over last year's authorized amount). $2.7 billion for 12 KC-46A Tankers (a $500 million increase over last year's authorized amount). $4.5 billion for the Ohio Replacement Submarine (a $2.7 billion increase over last year's authorized amount). $986 million for UH-60 Blackhawks. $1 billion for CH-53K Heavy Lift Helicopters (a $193 million increase over last year's authorized amount). $734 million for E-2D ADV Hawkeyes. $1 billion for Combat Search and Rescue Helicopters (a $124 million increase over last year's authorized amount). $589 million for VH-92 Presidential helicopters (a $58 million increase over last year's authorized amount). $7 million for research and development of the unmanned K-MAX helicopter. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-votes-legislation-help-als-patients-secure-social-security,Larson Votes for Legislation to Help ALS Patients Secure Social Security Disability Benefits Quicker,2020-12-08,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,John Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. Today, House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee Chairman John B. Larson (CT-01) voted for theALS Disability Insurance Access Act of 2019. The bill removes the five month waiting period for ALS patients to apply for benefits. The bill passed the Senate last week and will head to the President's desk to sign into law.Click here to view Rep. Larson's remarks. Remarks as Prepared ALS is a devastating and cruel disease.There is no cure for ALS, and ALS always leads to a premature death. On average, people live only two to five years after getting a diagnosis of ALS. Earlier this year I lost my dear friend and former Chief of Staff Elliot Ginsberg to ALS and previously lost my dear friend Dan Jones. Every year, approximately 5,000 Americans are diagnosed with ALS.Over time, people with ALS lose their ability to speak, eat, move, and even to breathe. They are unable to work due to their severe disabilities, and they lose their jobs and their employer-based health insurance. Recognizing the devastating nature of ALS, in 2000 Congress passed bipartisan legislation that waived the 24-month waiting period for Medicare for people with ALS. Today we consider the ALS Disability Insurance Access Act of 2019.This bipartisan legislation will end the five-month waiting period for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits for people with ALS. I thank Representative Seth Moulton who has been a champion on this issue, along with the 305 Members of the House of Representatives who have cosponsored Rep. Moulton's bill.I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of the ALS Disability Insurance Access Act of 2019. Our actions today will provide people with ALS with quicker access to the Social Security and Medicare benefits they have earned.I wouldalsolike to commend my colleague on the House Ways and Means Committee, Bill Pascrell, for his passionate leadership and untiring advocacy on behalf of those suffering with Huntington's disease, a terrible disease which affects children as well as adults. Today we are passing this bill for people with ALS. But we know there are many devastating diseases such as Huntington's and Metastatic Breast Cancer which also deserve the same benefit and have bills in Congress providing just that. We need a solution for everyone. People with the kinds of severe diseases and disabilities that qualify them for Social Security really need the benefits they have earned, as soon as possible. I hope that in the next Congress we can try to help everyone, by doing as I and others have proposed, to eliminate these waiting periods across the board. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-s-bipartisan-bill-protect-educational-impact-aid-public-schools,Courtneys Bipartisan Bill to Protect Educational Impact Aid for Public Schools Amid COVID-19 is Signed Into Law,2020-12-07,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today,Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) announced that his bipartisan bill to safeguard Educational Impact Aid for military andTribal Nationsschoolchildren amid the pandemicwas signed into law.CourtneyfirstintroducedtheImpact Aid Coronavirus Relief Act (H.R. 8075)on August 25th andsuccessfully builtstrong bipartisan support for the legislation,even amid thewidely reported-oninability for the Senate to find agreement on any other form of COVID-19 relief. Courtney's H.R. 8075waspassedby unanimous consentin theU.S.House of Representatives onOctober5th.The Impact Aid Coronavirus Relief Act waspassed in the U.S. Senateone month later, on November5th, again by unanimous consent.Today it was signed into law at the White House. 2020 has been an extremely difficult year for K-12 public education. The Impact Aid Coronavirus Relief Act will provide much needed stability for school districts which have unique student populations, said Rep. Courtney. School districts like Groton and Ledyard with military families are at risk of losing federal impact assistance as a consequence of adopting remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ledyard School Superintendent Jason Hartling and Groton Superintendent Michael Graner were instrumental in bringing this issue forward to my office, which resulted in the introduction of the legislation. Other school districts serving military bases, Native American tribes, and migrant farm workers joined their effort to lobby their members of Congress, and all of the support culminated in the enactment of this bill. I want to salute Rep. Dusty Johnson from South Dakota for joining me to introduce this bipartisan bill, and for all of our colleagues who supported our effort. As we near the end of 2020, it's clear that our nation needs broad-based COVID relief. I was proud to lead the charge on securing this targeted relief for our eastern Connecticut schoolsit's a good win and a step in the right direction, and I'll keep working hard to secure more. Rep. Courtney's Impact Aid Coronavirus Relief Act isone of onlya handful of COVID-19 relief bill to be signed into law since Congress passed the CARES Act in March. Courtneywas joined by Rep. Dusty Johnson (SD-AL) as an original co-sponsor ofThe Impact Aid Coronavirus Relief Act, and has welcomed support for the bill from eastern Connecticut School Superintendents Dr. Michael Graner, Ph.D. (Groton Public Schools) and Jason Hartling (Ledyard Public Schools). Rep. Courtney is a senior member of the House Education and Labor Committee, and of the House Armed Services Committee.On October 8th, following passage of H.R. 8075 bill in the House, Courtney met with Dr. Michael Graner, Superintendent of Groton Public Schools, and Jason Hartling, Superintendent of Ledyard Public Schools, to discuss their need for more federal support amid COVID-19, and the status of the bill in the Senate.This bill is enormously important to Groton; the Town depends on the Impact Aid Grant to support the education of over 1,000 military dependents,stated Groton Public Schools Superintendent Michael Graner.Click hereto learn more. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-applauds-nomination-xavier-becerra-serve-secretary-health-and,Larson Applauds Nomination of Xavier Becerra to Serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services,2020-12-07,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,John Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) applauded President-elect Biden's nomination of California Attorney General Xavier Becerra for Secretary of Health and Human Services. Becerra served as Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus when Larson served as Chair of the Democratic Caucus. They both served on the Ways and Means Committee together as well. We need a strong leader heading the Department of Health and Human Services during this pandemic, and President-elect Biden will have that in Attorney General Becerra. I had the pleasure of serving with Attorney General Becerra on the Ways and Means Committee and while I was Chair of the Democratic Caucus. He will be a strong advocate for all Americans as we fight for quality and affordable health care for all, said Larson. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/neal-larson-and-davis-statement-trump-administration-s-latest-attack,"Neal, Larson, and Davis Statement on Trump Administrations Latest Attack on Social Security Benefits",2020-12-07,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,John Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA), Social Security Subcommittee Chairman John B. Larson (D-CT), and Worker and Family Support Subcommittee Chairman Danny K. Davis (D-IL)released the following statement regarding news that a draft proposed rule that would narrow the eligibility criteria for Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability benefits has been sent by the Social Security Administration to the Office of Management and Budget for review: Yet again, the Trump Administration is going out of its way to make it harder for people to qualify for the Social Security disability benefits they have earned. Already, fewer than four in 10 applicants are found eligible for Social Security disability benefits, even after all levels of appeal. This rule would reportedly further restrict eligibility for approximately 500,000 Americans, making it even harder for older, severely disabled people to access the essential income they're qualified to receive.It is outrageous and cruel that at the eleventh hour and in the middle of a pandemic the Trump Administration is trying to advance yet another harmful cut to Social Security benefits for the most vulnerable Americans. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-statement-fy-2021-national-defense-authorization-conference,Courtney Statement on the FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Conference Report,2020-12-04,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee onSeapowerand Projection Forces,issuedthefollowing statement ontheconference reportto accompany the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) (H.R. 6395), the 60thconsecutive, annualdefense authorization package.The FY21 NDAA conference report provides support for Courtney and the HouseSeapowerand Projection ForcesSubcommittee's bipartisan effort to restore full funding for the construction of the second Virginia-class submarinea vessel that the Navy listed as itsmost importantunfunded priority in 2021and includes many other important provisions. ""Thefact that we are on path to pass the NDAA for the 60thconsecutive year exemplifies thebipartisannature of the House Armed Services Committee.I'm proud of the way we came together once againto get the job done forboth the security of our nation and ourmen and women in uniform,saidChairmanCourtney.We were up against some unprecedented challenges this yearincluding a global pandemic, and anadministration that started this process with the weakest shipbuilding plan in over a decade, andit isending with nonsensicalveto threatsbut we've worked together across the aisle every step of the way. The final NDAA that our conference committee producedadds an additional $3.5 billion to the anemic shipbuilding proposal we received from this administration, and it capitalizes on eastern Connecticut's defense manufacturing sector inmajor ways. I'm particularly pleased that our bipartisan, bicameralconference committee negotiations yielded a final NDAA that retainedmanyof the House's most important priorities this year.Restoring construction of an entire submarine was a big win, but our final NDAAdoes a lot more than that. The finalagreementalso authorizes an across-the-board pay raise for ourtroops,supports criticalairliftplatformsoperated bytheConnecticut National Guard,provides strong continuedbacking for important academic partnerships in undersea research like those at UConn, and much more.We've workedtogetherfrom start tofinish toensure our priorities would be included in a final NDAA, and that was proved today when our final bill was easily delivered out of Conference Committee. Congressman Adam Smith, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee,andRep. Mac Thornberry, our Ranking Member, deservea lot of creditfor settingthe tone and leadingthe way in this year'ssuccessfuleffort to produceabipartisandefense authorization.Our final NDAArestores the second Virginia-class submarine, supports the Columbia-class program, and does right by our men and women in uniform in eastern Connecticut and all around the globe. I was proud to put my signature on this final conference report, and I'm looking forward to passing this bill once and for all. In July, the House Armed Services Committeevoted 56-0to authorize the 2021 NDAA for final consideration and the full House followed suit on July 21st, passing the bill in a strong bipartisan vote of 295-125.Last month, Courtney was named a core conferee to negotiate the final conference report to accompany the FY 2021 NDAA by Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Key provisions that Courtney championed in the 2021 NDAA Seapowerand Projection Forces Priorities As Chairman of theSeapowerand Projection Forces Subcommittee, Courtney has advocated for Navy, Air Force and maritime priorities important to Connecticut and the nation. Virginia Class Submarine Thereportauthorizes $6.8 billion for the Virginia class submarine program, an increase of $2.6 billion over the budget request thatCourtney secured to restore a second submarine in 2021. The Trump Administration requested just one submarine in 2021, breaking the steady two a year build rate that has been in place since 2011 and undermining efforts to address looming shortfalls in the submarine fleet. Columbia-Class Ballistic Missile Submarines Thereportauthorizes $4 billion to initiate construction of the new Columbia-class submarine. Lastmonth, the Navy announced the award of $10.3 billion in contracting options for the first two submarines in the program to Electric Boat. Thereportalso includes Courtney's provision to authorize incremental funding for these submarines within the National Sea Based Deterrence Fund, which will ensure the cost-effective and efficient construction of this important program. Submarine Workforce and Development Training Authorizes $20 million to support training programs to help support expansion of the skilled submarine workforce as the industrial base ramps up construction of new submarines. Courtney has strongly supported workforce development efforts in the region to support hiring at Electric Boat and the supply chain through programs like the Eastern Connecticut Manufacturing Pipeline. Long Range Strike Bomber Thereportfully supports the requested $2.8 billion for continued development of the B-21 Raider. Pratt & Whitney is a partner in the next-generation long range strike bomber program. KC-46A Tanker Thereportauthorizes $2.7billion for15KC-46A tanker aircraft, which are powered by Pratt & Whitney engines.The agreement also mandates that the Secretary of the Air Force developa complete, permanent solution to the KC-46 remote visual system (RVS) operation limitations,submitting the solutionCongressno later than February 1, 2021. C-130H Modernization The measure continues Congressman Courtney's efforts to accelerate the modernization of the C-130H cargo aircraft fleet, like those flown by the Connecticut Air National Guard. In addition to fully supporting the efforts to upgrade and modernize the avionics of the fleet, the bill authorizes $134million for additional upgrades for engines, propellers and other systems on the aircraft beyond the President's request. P-8 PoseidonThe report authorizes $1.4 billion for 8 P-8Poseidons, the Navy's newest maritime, patrol and reconnaissance aircraft. Thiswillbring the Navy closer to thewarfightingrequirement of 138 aircraftand ensure the continued modernizationof the NavyReserves'legacyP-3 fleet. KMAX Unmanned Helicopter Thereportauthorizes $7 million to continue development of unmanned logistics capabilities with the CQ-24A helicopter manufactured by Bloomfield-based Kaman Aerospace. Navy Shipbuilding-- Overall, thereportauthorizes more than $22 billion to procure 9 new battle force ships, two more than the budget request, in. The budget requested one of the lowest levels of new ships in nearly a decade and did not include the long range shipbuilding plan required by law to provide insight into future plans to grow the fleet.Courtney pressed Defense Secretary Mark Esperon his failure to abide by the law in a hearing earlier this year.Thefinal agreement alsoincludes language Courtney authored to restrict some funding for the Office of Secretary of Defense until the 30-year shipbuilding plan is delivered, and prohibits the retirement of any Navy vessel until the Secretary of Defense provides a Navy force structure assessment. Recapitalization of our Domestic Sealift Capabilities Thereportincludes several Courtney-led investments in the recapitalization of our domestic sealift and maritime response capabilities. These includes authorizing the purchase of additional used vessels to replace aging sealift ships but rejecting a Defense Department request to eliminate the requirement to initiate a domestic new build ship.The bill also authorizes a new Tanker Security Program to address the alarming gap in at-sea logistics, authorizes the fourth National Security Multi-Mission Vessel and authorizesa$180,000,000 increase in fundingfor the Maritime Security Program to address the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on our domestic shipping fleet. Additional Courtney priorities included: Rare Earth Mineralsthe report includesan amendmentCourtney authoredthat requires the Secretary of Defense to prioritize the acquisition ofstrategic and criticalmaterials from U.S. and allied sources ensuring the continued protection of our national defense supply chains. These types of minerals and materials are used in everything from cell phones to the joint strike fighter and a secured supply chain of these materials is of utmost importance to national security. Academic Partnerships for Undersea Research Thereportauthorizes $10 million to support partnerships with academic institutions that conduct research on undersea unmanned warfare and energy technology, such as the National Institute for Undersea Vehicle Technology, a collaborative program between the University of Connecticut and the University of Rhode Island. During debate on the billin the House, Courtney and Rep. James Langevin (D-RI) passed an amendment to increase funding for this effort from $5 million to $10 million. Joint Strike Fighter Thereportprovides $8.7 billionfor the procurement of93F-35s and includes additional flexibility to procure additional aircraft within the authorized amount if production savings are found and if prime suppliers remain on-schedule. Blackhawks Thereportauthorizes nearly $1 billion for71UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters,an increase overthe budget request, built by Sikorsky. CH-53K Thereportauthorizes $800 millionfor procurement of 7 new Ch-53K Marine heavy-lift helicopters, built by Sikorsky. Combat Search and Rescue Helicopter Thereportsupports the Administration's request for $909million for procurement of 16 HH-60W Air Force search and rescue helicopters built by Sikorsky. VH-92A Presidential Helicopter Thereportsupports the Administration's request for $589million for procurement of 5 aircraft, which will be the next-generation presidential helicopter. Ukraine authorizes $250 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. DOD Impact Aid authorizes $50 million 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. Coast Guard Reauthorization the agreement includes the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act, bipartisan legislation to further strengthen our nation's Coast Guard by enhancing navigation and maritime safety, authorizing new family leave and child care policies, and increasing gender and racial diversity in the Coast Guard Academy in New London and across the ranks. Other Notable Provisions Renaming Confederate Military Installations Theagreementincludes an amendmentthat Courtney cosponsoredthat establishes an independent commission to make binding recommendations to the Secretary of Defense for the modification or removal of all names, symbols, displays, monuments, and paraphernalia that honor or commemorate the Confederate States of America or any person who served voluntarily with the Confederate States of America from all assets of the DoD. Limitations on Funds to Remove Active Duty Troops from Germany Theagreementbars the Department from using any funds authorized by Congress to reduce the number of active duty troops stationed in Germany until DOD submits a report to Congress certifying that any reduction would not undermine the security of the U.S. or our allies in the region. BRAC Thereportdoes not authorize a base closing round. Military Pay Raise Thereportprovides a 3.0% pay raise for the military, in line with a statutory requirement to keep pace with private sector wage growth. Agent OrangeExposure Benefits the report adds additional diseases to Section 1116(a)(2) of Title 38, USC including Parkinsonism, bladder cancer, and hypothyroidism to the list of diseases associated with exposure to certain herbicide agents.The report would also mandate that the Department of Veterans Affairs provide benefits to veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange and later diagnosed with these afflictions. Climate Change Resiliency Theagreementrequiresa report updating Congress on the implementation of provisions from the FY2020 NDAArelated to installation master planning, updates toinstallation building codes, sea-level rise modeling, and climate assessment tools.The final agreement would also require DoD to submit a report on its greenhouse gas emission for the last 10 years. Pacific Deterrence Initiative the report authorizes anewPacific Deterrence Initiative to reassure allies and partners of U.S.commitmentto the regionandto enhance congressional oversight of military activitiesthroughout the area of responsibility. Defense Community Infrastructure Program Authorizes $50 million for the program, allowing DOD to help states and local governments fund off-base infrastructure projects that support operations and the base community. Infrastructure improvements could include transportation projects, schools, first responder facilities, and utility projects. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-tribune-publishing-should-reverse-decision-close-hartford-courant,Larson: Tribune Publishing Should Reverse Decision to Close Hartford Courant Newsroom on Broad Street,2020-12-04,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,John Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Hartford, CT Today Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement after Tribune Publishing announced that it would be permanently closing the Hartford Courant newsroom at 285 Broad Street in Hartford at the end of the year. The Hartford Courant is America's oldest continuously published paper. Over its more than 250 year history the newspaper has broken countless stories, and continues to be the paper of record in Connecticut. Over the past several years, reporters and readers have experienced severe cuts to staffing, and today it was announced they will be losing their newsroom. This announcement is very disappointing and I hope Tribune Publishing reverses this decision, said Larson. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/caucus-overwhelmingly-chose-delauro-chair-appropriations-committee-117th,Caucus Overwhelmingly Chose DeLauro To Chair Appropriations Committee in the 117th Congress,2020-12-03,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"First from Connecticut to Hold the Position WASHINGTON The House Democratic Caucus overwhelmingly elected Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) to be the Chair of the House Appropriations Committee in the 117th Congress today. DeLauro currently chairs the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee. DeLauro had received the endorsement of more than two-thirds of the Steering and Policy Committee, as well as a broad range of organizations representing all elements of the Democratic Party and progressive movement including numerous major unions and leaders in education, labor, and women and children's protection and advancement. In response to their vote, DeLauro issued this statement: Serving in this role will be one of the greatest honors of my life, and I am eager to get to work and responsibly fund our government in a way that meets the needs of this moment. Thank you to my colleagues who have given me this opportunity to serve and to all of my supporters who believe in me and what this institution can achieve for the American people. It is a unique time. We are in the middle of a health and economic crisis that must be addressed, communities of color face systemic racism, and we welcome a President with a mandate for change, yet we may still face gridlock. As House Appropriations Chair, I am prepared to deliver the boldest progress possible for Connecticut and families across the country in the next Congress. Each Member of Congress represents vastly different districts which each face unique challenges, we are united by our desire to stop the spread of this pandemic, create economic recovery, deliver results for the hardworking families struggling across the country, and address the systemic racial inequities to make America more just and equal. Together is the only way forward. With President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris and in partnership with our Democratic and Republican colleagues, we will reach the light at the end of this tunnel and implement changes that move communities and families forward.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-delauro-s-selection-appropriations-chair-historic-moment,Larson: DeLauros Selection as Appropriations Chair is a Historic Moment for Connecticut,2020-12-03,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,John Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement after the House Democratic Caucus voted for Rep. Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) to be chosen as the Chair of the House Appropriations Committee in the 117thCongress. I extend my congratulations to Rosaon this outstandingaccomplishment.This is a historic first for Connecticut. Not since Jonathan Trumbull waselectedSpeaker of the House has Connecticut held such an important position in the United States Congress. Rosa is the first member of Connecticut to be Chair of the Appropriations Committee.With Rosa DeLauro now Chair of the Appropriations Committee, Richard Neal ofSpringfield,Massachusetts Chair of the Ways and Means Committee, and Jim McGovern of Massachusetts Chair of the Rules Committee,New Englandis now the most influential region in the country. Rosa's dedicationand persistencein alwaysfighting for the people of Connecticut and the least among us across this great nationis unparalleled.She was recognized and rewarded by her peers with an overwhelming election. Rosa will beacriticalplayerworking withthe Biden Administration and bringing us through this COVID pandemic, andputtingthe country back to work.It is an honor to serve alongside of herand see the faith that her colleagueshave in bestowing this Chairmanship in her very capable hands.Congratulations Rosa, you've made us all very proud! ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-ways-and-means-democrats-demand-irs-resolve-all-outstanding-eip,"Larson, Ways and Means Democrats Demand IRS Resolve All Outstanding EIP Inquiries Before the End of the Year",2020-12-03,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,John Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) joined fellow Ways and Means Democrats, led by Committee Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA) and Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ),to demand that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) resolve all remaining inquiries on economic impact payments (EIPs) before the end of the year. In their letter to IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig, the lawmakers also requested that the IRS keep the EIP mailbox for congressional offices open through the end of the next filing season. The tool was created after congressional offices were inundated with requests from desperate constituents seeking a more direct pathway to IRS assistance during the COVID-19 crisis. Though the Committee appreciates the IRS's belated efforts to address constituent inquiries, we were very troubled to learn that, in a matter of days, the IRS will shut down the mailbox, a vital resource for congressional offices to communicate with the IRS, the Ways and Means Democrats emphasized to Commissioner Rettig. The IRS abruptly announced that it would stop accepting new inquiries on Monday, November 30 and would cease work on all open inquiries by December 10. Constituents with unresolved issues, including non-filers, will be forced to file a 2020 tax return to claim a recovery rebate credit. For some constituents, the unresolved issues may well continue to impact their claims next year, and they will have to start over with the IRS from scratch. This is not right. An EIP of $1200, $2400, or more can be a lifeline for a family in severe financial distress, especially at this time of year, the lawmakers stressed. Therefore, we urge the IRS to keep the EIP mailbox open through the end of the 2021 filing season. This not only will enable the IRS to continue addressing existing constituent inquiries and making payments through December 31, 2020 but will also allow the IRS to assist additional constituents who encounter issues when trying to claim a recovery rebate credit on their 2020 tax return. In conclusion, the Ways and Means Democrats cautioned the IRS that: Based on lessons that should have been learned this year, the IRS should foresee that constituents' issues will not vanish when the new filing season starts. The full letter is available HERE. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-leads-call-for-virtual-exam-software-companies-to-improve-equity-accessibility-and-privacy-for-students-amid-troubling-reports,"Blumenthal Leads Call for Virtual Exam Software Companies to Improve Equity, Accessibility & Privacy for Students Amid Troubling Reports",2020-12-03,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Blumenthal Leads Call for Virtual Exam Software Companies to Improve Equity, Accessibility & Privacy for Students Amid Troubling Reports Print Tweet Students of color and students with disabilities have reported major issues in using the software of leading online testing platforms | Senators raised concerns about the safety & privacy of students' personal data & information collected by the companies Thursday, December 3, 2020 [WASHINGTON, D.C.] U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) led a group of six senators in pressing three of the largest virtual testing companies used by schools and testing administrators amid the COVID-19 pandemic ExamSoft, Proctorio, and ProctorUto address alarming equity, accessibility, and privacy issues faced by students using the platforms. Recent reports indicate students, particularly students of color and those with disabilities, have had severe issues using the software, been locked out of tests, or wrongly accused of cheating. For example, students of color and students wearing religious clothing like headscarves reported the software failed to recognize their facial features and they were temporarily barred from access. Students have run head on into the shortcomings of these technologiesshortcomings that fall heavily on vulnerable communities and perpetuate discriminatory biases, wrote the senators in the letter to ExamSoft. Similar letters were sent to Proctorio and ProctorU. It is critical that bias, including racial and gender disparities, be addressed expeditiously to ensure that our students of color are not facing additional barriers in their fields. The senators raised major concerns about the companies' accommodations for students with disabilities, for example those with facial tic disorders or muscle reflexes, who may be flagged by the software as suspicious or cheating, and virtual proctors unprepared to accommodate students with disabilities. We are concerned that the software has not been designed to be inclusive and mindful of all students' needs and proctors are not getting the training or information they need to adequately work with and oversee students taking the exams, the senators continued. The senators also expressed alarm over the safety and privacy of students who are being recorded and observed by virtual proctors, are required to install intrusive software on their personal computers, and provide extensive personal information about their homes and health to the companies, writing: Students relying on your software to further their education have put a great deal of trust in you to reserve their privacy. You must be able to demonstrate that you are respecting students' privacy. The letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tina Smith (D-MN), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Cory Booker (D-NJ). A copy of the full letter to ExamSoft is available here and below. December 3, 2020 Mr. Sebastian Vos Chief Executive Officer, ExamSoft 5001 LBJ Freeway Suite 700 Dallas, Texas 75244 Dear Mr. Vos, We write regarding the privacy, accessibility, and equity of students and professionals using your testing software, ExamSoft. As education has shifted online in response to COVID-19, schools and professional licensing programs have turned to software solutions for tests and professional exams. However, according to recent media reports and personal stories, students particularly students of color and with disabilities have faced alarming issues in using the software, been locked out of tests, or wrongly accused of cheating. We write to request information on the steps that your company has taken to protect the civil rights of students and ensure that ExamSoft is not creating barriers for students' futures. ExamSoft and similar remote testing products have filled gaps in distance learning and have been used by colleges, universities, and state boards of examiners to conduct online test sessions, such as midterms or professional certifications. Importantly, such products offer teachers and administrators features that claim to protect against cheating and to monitor the testing environment. For example, many products use facial recognition through the test-taker's webcam to determine whether they are paying attention, leaving the computer area, or looking elsewhere. For those suspected of cheating, the ramifications can be consequential, such as receiving failing grades or being forced to retake the test in person. As we have seen far too often, students have run head on into the shortcomings of these technologiesshortcomings that fall heavily on vulnerable communities and perpetuate discriminatory biases. Students of color, and students wearing religious dress, like headscarves, have reported issues with the software's inability to recognize their facial features, temporarily barring them from accessing the software. Three students taking the bar exam, one using Proctorio to take a university exam, and two using ExamSoftpublicly shared their frustrating experiences struggling with facial identification.[1],[2] It is critical that bias, including racial and gender disparities, be addressed expeditiously to ensure that our students of color are not facing additional barriers in their fields. Just as alarmingly, students have reported egregious situations in which monitoring features have flagged individuals with disabilities or physical conditions, such as tic disorders or muscle reflexes, as suspicious, and in which virtual proctors failed to accommodate students' disabilities.[3] One student using Proctorio was concerned that her tic disorder would be flagged by the software as cheating, since it happens frequently in high stress situations, like testing.[4] In addition, one student using ProctorU described a scenario in which the virtual proctor failed to recognize that the student was eligible for accommodations based on their disability, an ADHD diagnosis, forcing the student to present their documentation, not once, but twice: once at the beginning of the exam period and a second time when the exam system glitched.[5] These instances expose three issues plaguing individuals with disabilities: software that incorrectly flags their disability as cheating, software glitches that may impede or interrupt their performance, and unprepared or ill-trained proctors who are not familiar with students' accommodations. We are concerned that the software has not been designed to be inclusive and mindful of all students' needs and proctors are not getting the training or information they need to adequately work with and oversee students taking the exams. Finally, there remain concerns with student safety and privacy. Students are not only expected to sit for exams that are being recorded or observed by an unknown virtual proctor, but also install intrusive software and provide extensive personal information such as images of their home, photos of their identification, and personal information regarding their disabilities. While all this information can be useful for maintaining integrity in testing and ensuring that student needs are being met, questions remain about where and how this data is being used before, during, and after tests, by both your company, the virtual proctors, and testing administrators. Students relying on your software to further their education have put a great deal of trust in you to reserve their privacy. You must be able to demonstrate that you are respecting students' privacy. We all know that midterms, finals, and board exams are stressful for students, even more so during a pandemic that has upended lives and taken a significant toll on young adults' mental health. Faulty testing and false accusations are not only an added source of stress for test takers during this time, but also can be a barrier to success that can have real-life economic and social consequences, including unemployment and failure to graduate on time. As schools continue to find options to keep students and teachers safe during this pandemic, virtual learning and remote testing will remain a predominant choice for schools. In fact, remote testing could remain with us well beyond this global emergency. However, Congress has recognized this profound responsibility to protect privacy and equity in education through the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the Higher Education Act, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and it is critical that virtual testing systems and other education software platforms abide by these laws. We must ensure that testing protocols are not leaving students behind, particularly students of color and those learning with disabilities. We ask that you respond to the following questions: What features and technologies does your product offer to schools and test administrations to detect student's attention, identify possible cheating, and otherwise monitor the test environment? What steps have you taken to ensure that any features related to test monitoring is accurate for all students regardless of any religious dress, like headscarves, they may be wearing, skin tone, gender, hairstyle, and other physical characteristics? How do you measure and review this accuracy? What steps have you taken to ensure that any features related to test monitoring is accurate for individuals with disabilities, muscle conditions, or other traits? How do you measure and review this accuracy? What processes, policies, or information are in place or provided to administrators to accommodate test takers whose physical characteristics could create problems with the testing software? What steps do you take to ensure your virtual proctors are adequately trained and informed of students' needs? What steps have you taken to ensure adherence and compliance with federal and state laws governing student privacy and accessibility for individuals with disabilities, such as FERPA, the ADA, and HEA, which the institutions you may have contracts with are required to abide by? How have you communicated and coordinated with institutions of higher education to ensure that your software is in compliance? How many complaints have you received from students and test takers in regards to facial recognition tied to either their race or gender identification? How can a student lodge such a complaint and what is the process for addressing potential problems? How long do you keep students' personal information, including video recordings, which you collect during the exam? Are you using or sharing this data for any purpose beyond the authorization and proctoring of the test, including to train your machine learning algorithms? Given that finals at colleges and universities are fast approaching, I would ask that you respond to this letter no later than December 17th, 2020. Thank you, -30- [1] Swauger, Shea. Software That Monitors Students during Tests Perpetuates Inequality and Violates Their Privacy. MIT Technology Review, August 7, 2020. https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/08/07/1006132/software-algorithms-proctoring-online-tests-ai-ethics/. [2] Patil, Anushka, and Jonah Engel Bromwich. How It Feels When Software Watches You Take Tests. New York Times, September 29, 2020. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/29/style/testing-schools-proctorio.html. [3] Patil, Anushka, and Jonah Engel Bromwich. How It Feels When Software Watches You Take Tests. New York Times, September 29, 2020. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/29/style/testing-schools-proctorio.html. [4] Patil, Anushka, and Jonah Engel Bromwich. How It Feels When Software Watches You Take Tests. New York Times, September 29, 2020. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/29/style/testing-schools-proctorio.html. [5] Patil, Anushka, and Jonah Engel Bromwich. How It Feels When Software Watches You Take Tests. New York Times, September 29, 2020. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/29/style/testing-schools-proctorio.html.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-courtney-statement-national-defense-authorization-act,Rep. Courtney Statement on the National Defense Authorization Act,2020-12-02,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,,,legacy,"NORWICH, CTToday, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces, issued the following statement regarding President Trump's veto threat against the FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) if repeal of Section 230 of the federal communications code is not added to the bill. The scope of a bipartisan conference committee's work is clearly and strictly limited to the language of the bills that already passed out of the House and Senate,said Congressman Courtney.The two bipartisan NDAA bills that passed earlier this year, that's our only source materialnot new, extraneous, non-germane amendments. Section 230 of the federal communications code has absolutely no connection to the National Defense Authorization, or to the year-long proceedings in the House and Senate where we hammered out these bipartisan bills. The bipartisan NDAA our conference committee is working to finalize includes hundreds of priorities for all of our service branches, important provisions for U.S. servicemembers, and we passed both bills with veto-proof majorities.This is a debate that should occur at the Energy and Commerce Committee, not the Armed Services Committee, and it's one that should never be used to disrupt the safety and security ofour men and women in uniform. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://larson.house.gov/media-center/op-eds-and-letters/congress-must-act-protect-and-expand-social-security-benefits,Congress must act to protect and expand Social Security benefits,2020-12-02,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,John Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,,,legacy,"This piece originally appeared in The Hill on December 2, 2020. Social Security is our nation's number one financial security and anti-poverty program. Over its 85 years it has never missed a payment and has been the foundation for Americans' retirement. As the country continues to fight the ever-worsening coronavirus pandemic and having elected a new President and Congress, the urgent need to protect and expand Social Security benefits must be addressed. 64 million Americans currently receive benefits and 178 million workers are paying into Social Security with each and every paycheck, expecting that Social Security will be there when they need it. As President-elect Biden has said, Social Security is a sacred obligation that Congress must uphold. Some say we can't afford to protect and expand Social Security now, during a global pandemic. However, those most harmed by the pandemic the elderly, people of color, and especially women of color are the same ones who rely on Social Security the most, and they desperately need a temporary emergency benefit increase. As Chairman of the Social Security Subcommittee and co-chair of the Expand Social Security Caucus, I will again introduce an emergency bill to increase benefits for Social Security recipients during the pandemic and to fix an anomaly which will cut benefits significantly for those born in 1960, who are retiring in 2022, if Congress does not act. This anomaly is due to the sudden drop in wages caused by COVID-19, which affects the formula the Social Security Administration uses to calculate benefits. We will also reintroduce a revised version of the Security 2100 Act in the 117th Congress, to improve benefits and ensure solvency for at least 75 years. We will again reach out to the Republicans, seeking their constructive support, in the hope that they will join us in aiding those most impacted by this virus. We are glad that President-elect Biden campaigned on both protecting and expanding Social Security and has called it a sacred trust. We look forward to working with the Biden Administration, honoring that sacred trust, and incorporating his ideas into the Social Security 2100 Act. Let's be clear: COVID-19 further exposed the disparities that already existed before the pandemic. As John Lewis pointed out, Social Security is also a civil rights issue and an economic development issue that is critical to women, millennials, and veterans. According to leading economists, enhancing Social Security will help stimulate the economy. In 2014, Social Security benefits contributed $1.6 trillion to the national economy. People don't hoard these benefits, they spend them and put the money right back into their local communities. This is a stimulus we need during this pandemic! This should be an issue that brings us together. The virus doesn't attack your political affiliation; whether you're Democrat or Republican, the pandemic affects us all. We need to unite and fight back. More than 100 organizations support the Social Security 2100 Act including Social Security Works, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, NAACP, National Organization for Women, and Latinos for a Secure Retirement. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget has also commended the bill. We can and we must ensure Social Security's solvency without cutting benefits or raising the retirement age. We have to act now to ensure American's number one economic security program is strengthened and secured for future generations. No one gets wealthy on Social Security. It's the nation's lifeline and an earned benefit that provides only about $18,000 a year to an average retiree. 10,000 baby boomers a day become eligible for Social Security. But Congress hasn't acted to strengthen the program in 37 years. Five million of our fellow Americans have paid into the program but receive a payment that's below the poverty level. Members of Congress should ask themselves, could they live on that? This is in our hands and it is on our watch. Congress needs to act. Larson represents the 1st District of Connecticut and is chairman of the Social Security Subcommittee and co-chair of the Expand Social Security Caucus.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-introduces-bill-to-improve-end-of-life-care,Blumenthal Introduces Bill to Improve End-of-Life Care,2020-12-02,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Blumenthal Introduces Bill to Improve End-of-Life Care Print Tweet The Compassionate Care Act would help Americans make end-of-life and advance care plans to ensure their wishes are followed Wednesday, December 2, 2020 [WASHINGTON, D.C.] U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced legislation to promote advance care planning and end-of-life care to ensure patients get the care they want and that is right for them. Few Americans have plans in place in case they become severely ill, but due to the pandemic, more Americans of all ages are thinking about end-of-life care and seeking advice on advance care planning. The Compassionate Care Act would provide federal support to educate patients and providers, develop core end-of-life quality measures, and expand access to advance care planning via telehealth. This bill will help Americans have the difficult but necessary conversations about end-of-life care, said Blumenthal. The COVID-19 pandemic has reminded Americans of all ages of the importance to have a plan in place in case of severe illness or death.By promoting end-of-life care through public awareness, expanding telehealth services, and working with physicians, we can ensure that not one more person is robbed of making critical life or death decisions for themselves during this pandemic and beyond. Among other provisions, the Compassionate Care Act would: Establish guidelines for advance care planning between health providers and patients; Launch a National Public Awareness Campaign that would encourage patients and providers to make end-of-life plans; Direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop education resources for providers to engage with patients, work with providers, state boards of medicine, and clinical associations to develop advance care education resources, and solicit feedback from providers and develop quality measures; Improve access to advance care planning by expanding telehealth options for providers and patients; and, Facilitate a study on a national advanced care planning registry that would allow patients to transfer their advanced directives from state to state. This legislation has been endorsed by more than a dozen health care organizations, including Compassion & Choices, the Coalition to Transform Advanced Care (C-TAC), National Partnership for Healthcare & Hospice Innovation (NPHI), National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), American Heart Association, and the Connecticut Long Term Ombudsman Program. The coronavirus pandemic underscores the need to improve our advance care planning policies so that doctors and families are not put in the devastating position of having to make uninformed life-altering care decisions, said president & CEO of Compassion & Choices Kim Callinan, the nation's largest and oldest end-of-life care advocacy organization. We will work with Senator Blumenthal to secure congressional support to pass this crucial legislation, which would increase the likelihood that patient preferences, not provider bias, determine the care one receives at life's end. As the country continues to face the spread of the Coronavirus, advance care planning and palliative care is more important than ever, Executive Directorof C-TAC Jon Broyles. We applaud Senator Blumenthal for his legislation, which will help ensure access to advance care planning conversations and high-quality serious illness care, especially for the sickest and most vulnerable among us. By creating innovative training and education supports on these issues, The Compassionate Care Act will help prepare and equip the provider workforce to always keep patients and their families at the center of their care. The advanced and serious illness, palliative care, and hospice community have always been at the forefront of meeting the needs of those who are most vulnerable and their families and caregivers, said NPHI President & CEO Tom Koutsoumpas. The current pandemic has only served to highlight how critical it is to further support these providers and models of care. On behalf of NPHI, we would like to thank Senator Blumenthal for his continued leadership in offering these supports, especially through the Compassionate Care Act. This bill will truly make a difference in supporting community-based, not-for-profit hospices across the country as we look to tackle the impact of the pandemic and beyond, particularly through the expanded use of telehealth. The Compassionate Care Act would help ensure patients receive the kinds of care they want when facing serious illness and the end of life, said NHPCO President and CEO Edo Banach. We applaud Senator Blumenthal's leadership in advancing access to vital advance care planning, which centers the role of the patient and family in end of life care decision-making. The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) applauds Sen. Blumenthal (D-CT) for his longstanding support of patients and families facing advanced and terminal illness, and for his recent introduction of the Compassions Care Act, said NAHC President Bill Dombi. Advance care planning is essential to ensuring that an individual's care preferences are understood and honored during serious illness and at the end of life. The Compassionate Care Act, if enacted, would create a valuable national infrastructure to support broader public understanding of the importance of advance care planning, increase the availability of education for practitioners and develop guidelines and quality measures for effective advance care plans. In short, the legislation provides a thoughtful, comprehensive, and responsible framework for improving our nation's approach to advance care planning. Consumer awareness of the importance of advance care planning as well as an understanding of the array of care options at the end of life is critical, a truth we have only seen magnified by the COVID-19 pandemic, said President and CEO of LeadingAge and Acting President and CEO of Visiting Nurse Associations of America and ElevatingHOME Katie Smith Sloan. This important legislation provides much-needed resources to develop educational programs, initiatives and strategies for both consumers and providers that will ensure greater access to and understanding of advance care planning and end-of-life care. LeadingAge and our partners, the Visiting Nurse Associations of America and ElevatingHOME are pleased to support The Compassionate Care Act. We thank Senator Blumenthal for his work on this important legislation and look forward to working with him on advancing these important priorities. It is incredibly important that all individuals have the ability to receive end-of-life planning resources and have the right to direct their health care decisions, said Connecticut State Long Term Care Ombudsman Mairead Painter. The reintroduction of the Compassionate Care Act would support efforts to assure individuals that their right to decide for themselves would be honored by those entrusted to their care. Promoting an open dialogue among health care providers, residents, and families regarding the options available during this phase of life will improve the overall quality of end-of-life care for all. The COVID-19 pandemic has put our country through a stress test on many levels, said Executive Director of the Connecticut Center for Patient Safety Lisa Freeman. It has also overwhelmingly and disproportionately impacted individuals with complex and serious illnesses in terms of medical complications and higher death rates. The Connecticut Center for Patient Safety represents the patient voice and promotes patient safety and high-quality health care. The Compassionate Care Act addresses and helps close the disparity that COVID-19 has highlighted amongst our more vulnerable populations. We thank Senator Blumenthal and his colleagues who are supporting this critically important legislation. The full text of the legislation can be found here and the summary can be found here. -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-courtney-prepares-end-quarantine-doctor-s-approval,Rep. Courtney Prepares to End Quarantine with Doctors Approval,2020-12-01,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,,,legacy,"VERNON, CTToday, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) issued an update following last week's announcement that he had tested positive for COVID-19. Courtney has remained on the job while quarantining and recovering at home in eastern Connecticut, and is expected to return to Washington this week for votes and other official duties following clearance from his doctor. I've continued to work remotely while recovering at home in Vernon, and I'm glad to report that my doctor has officially cleared me to end quarantine and to resume work in-person,said Rep. Courtney.My team's work for eastern Connecticut hasn't slowed down in the past two weeks, and there's more coming up fast on the horizon. We're expecting to finalize negotiations this week on the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act; my bipartisan COVID-19 relief bill to protect educational impact aid funding for military schoolchildren is expected to be signed into law; the House is working to complete a spending package containing several important items for our region; and much more. A clean bill of health from my doctor means that I'll be able to travel to Washington, DC to resume this work in person, and I'm grateful for our medical professionals and for my family who helped me to stay on the path towards a successful recovery. My experience with COVID-19 was thankfully a relatively mild one, and my family and I are grateful that was the case. But that has not been the experience of hundreds of thousands of other Americans. As we near the end of 2020, while American families are struggling and hospital beds are filling up, it's clear that folks need more assistanceour health care workers, our local small businesses and restaurants, working families uncertain about the future, and so many others. It is imperative that Congress and the White House, in the final weeks of the lame duck session, find a way to approve emergency COVID relief which is screaming out for action. I want to thank all the staff at UConn Health Center for their care, my wife Audrey and daughter Elizabeth who did so much to keep my isolation secure, and all who reached out with encouragement and well-wishes since my diagnosis. It meant a great deal to my family and me, and it was another strong reminder of the tight-knit community we have here in eastern Connecticuta community that I am proud to represent every single day. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/members-of-congress-file-bipartisan-supreme-court-amicus-brief-in-support-of-human-trafficking-victims,Members of Congress File Bipartisan Supreme Court Amicus Brief in Support of Human Trafficking Victims,2020-12-01,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Members of Congress File Bipartisan Supreme Court Amicus Brief in Support of Human Trafficking Victims Print Tweet Tuesday, December 1, 2020 [WASHINGTON, D.C.] U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and U.S. Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ) led a bipartisan group of 21 members of Congress in filing an amicus brief supporting victims of human trafficking in their case against two corporations Nestl USA and Cargill alleged to have knowingly aided and abetted the abuse of child slaves trafficked to work on cacao farms in Cte d'Ivoire. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the case today. The brief was joined by U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Chris Coons (D-DE), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and U.S. Representatives Joaquin Castro (D-TX), David Cicilline (D-RI), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Tom Malinowski (D-NJ), Tony Crdenas (D-CA), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Jerry Nadler (D-NY), Bobby Scott (D-VA), and Nydia Velzquez (D-NY). The members of Congress' amicus brief focuses on the extensive and bipartisan efforts by Congress to eradicate human trafficking, forced labor, and all forms of modern day slavery, most notably through the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPRA), authored by Rep. Smith. The legislation, passed by Congress in 2000 and strengthened through subsequent reauthorizations, criminalizes sex and labor trafficking, creates a federal civil remedy for victims of human trafficking, and expands the law to allow for civil and criminal liability for forced labor committed internationally. The amicus brief argues that the TVPRA is the correct guidepost to determine Congress' views on human trafficking and that the law does not preclude trafficking victims from bringing a lawsuit in the U.S. under the Alien Tort Statue (ATS), emphasizing that Congress intends the liability for those who benefit from trafficking and forced labor, explicitly including corporations, to be extensive. Any consideration of congressional policy must begin with the [Trafficking Victims Protection Act]the culmination of longstanding, bi-partisan congressional efforts to eradicate human trafficking and forced labor. The statute underscores Congress' determination that the prohibition of these crimes is specific, universal, and obligatory, the members of Congress wrote in their brief. [T]here is nothing in the TVPRA that would preclude recognition of a civil action for aiding and abetting child slavery under the ATS. The TVPRA's broad civil liability provision is one of Congress' many chosen tools in its battle against the global scourge of human trafficking, which Congress has zealously sought to combat. The amicus brief was filed in support of human trafficking victims in two ongoing lawsuits brought under the ATS, which enables federal courts to hear lawsuits filed by non-U.S. citizens for wrongs violating international law. In the original cases filed against Nestl USA and Cargill, former child slaves allege that they were trafficked from Mali to Cte d'Ivoire, forced to work without pay for twelve to fourteen hours a day, given minimal food and shelter, and subjected to physical abuse. Those who tried to escape say they were beaten and tortured. The full text of the amicus brief is available here. -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-biden-harris-nomination-neera-tanden-director-office,DeLauro Statement on Biden-Harris Nomination of Neera Tanden for Director of the Office of Management and Budget,2020-11-30,2020,2020-11,Democrat,Senate,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Chair of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, issued this statement after President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris announced the selection of Neera Tanden for Director of the Office of Management and Budget: The economic team President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris have assembled is made up of experienced and accomplished trailblazers that are more than prepared to tackle the crises facing our nation. I am grateful Neera Tanden, someone I have long trusted as a partner in the fight to support working families and broad-based economic growth, will lead OMB through this critical transition. With shared priorities like increasing funds and access to food assistance programs like SNAP, universal health care for all through Medicare for America and expanding and improving the Child Tax Credit through the American Family Act, I look forward to working closely with Tanden to implement critical legislation we have long fought to pass. The American people win with Tanden at the head of OMB. Together, this economic team inspires hope for a brighter tomorrow and an economy that expands opportunity for every American family. # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-statement-retirement-news-8-s-mark-davis,Larson Statement on the Retirement of News 8s Mark Davis,2020-11-30,2020,2020-11,Democrat,Senate,CT,John Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Hartford, CT Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement after it was announced that Mark Davis, the Chief Political Correspondent for News 8 is retiring after more than 50 years in broadcast journalism and nearly 37 years at News 8. Mark Davis has been a legend in political journalism in Connecticut over the course of my career. He asked the tough questions but was always fair, forthright, and focused. I wish him and his wife Betsy the best as he begins his retirement, said Larson.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-statement-omb-request-second-virginia-class-submarine,Courtney Statement on OMB Request for Second Virginia Class Submarine,2020-11-25,2020,2020-11,Democrat,Senate,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,,,legacy,"VERNON, CT Congressman Joe Courtney, Chairman of the HouseSeapowerand Projection Forces Subcommittee, today welcomed the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) request to Congress to fully fund a second Virginia Class submarine in the 2021 defense appropriations bill. I'm pleased that the Trump Administration hasfinally recognized whattheHouse of Representatives and theDepartment of the Navy alreadyknewthedecision to fund a secondVirginia-class submarine andto sustain the two-a-yearbuild rateis in the best interest ofournational security,Chairman Courtney said.OMB and the White House's proposal last February to cut a submarine in the 2021 budget was a short-sighted decision and should have never been in the budget in the first place.Thankfully, the bipartisan work we've done over the last ten months in the House-passed defense authorization and appropriations bills to fully fund a second submarine already provides a viable, paid-for path towards reversing the damage OMB itself created. While today's belated, last-minute support from the White House is helpful,it's really just tapping a putt on the lip of the cup that the U.S. House Defense Committees got to the hole. Background: The FY21 budget requested one Virginia-class submarine, breaking the two-per-year build rate that has been in place since 2011. Since 2018, Congress has allocated $1.1 billion for the second submarine including an additional $200 million just last year to support the sustained two-per-year build rate and in language approved in the 2020 NDAA, which directed the Navy to submit a budget that supports a two-submarine budget in 2021. On a bipartisan basis, Congress has panned the proposal to eliminate the second submarine. The Navy's unfunded priority list ranked the fully funded restoration of the second 2021 Virginia-class submarine as the service's top priority. In March, Courtney led 111 members in urging the House Appropriations Committee to support restoration of the second submarine. The letter notes that ""The proposal to request one attack submarine is contrary to the National Defense Strategy, the needs of our combatant commanders, and a decade of Congressional action in support of a steady two-a-year build rate. The 112 members that joined this request represent 32 states, over 14,000 suppliers, and over $10 billion in manufacturing and support activity in the submarine supply chain. In testimony before the House and Senate Armed Services Committee, Defense Department and Navy leaders stated that the submarine was subject to late-stage funding shifts, and that they were not involved in the decision to eliminate this submarine from the budget. In response to questioning from Chairman Courtney, Chief of Naval operations Admiral Michael Gilday stated that If you asked me, if I could give you another ship today, what would it be? It would be a Virginia-class submarine. Navy acquisition chief JamesGeurtsaffirmed to Chairman Courtney the readiness of the industrial base to support the second 2021 submarine, telling the subcommittee that I'm confident that they can execute the ship. In response to questioning from Chairman Courtney, SecretaryGuertstold theSeapowerSubcommittee that This is the year I would say we need to either add that ship in this year, or then we'll just have to work on that at the start of Block VI."" On March 5, Courtney questioned Assistant Secretary of the Navy James F.Geurtsabout the submarine budget. After confirming the Assistant Secretary's confidence in the shipbuilders at EB, Chairman Courtney focused his questioning on the budget proposal's potential impact on the Columbia-class submarine program. In response, he testified that I think submarine construction is very sensitive to cadence. And the number one thing we can do is stability, and get on a cadence...If we cut short, and have a large gap at the end of Block V before having Block VI move in and Columbia start up, that will be a risk to execution not only in Virginia but in Columbia. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/chairman-courtney-statement-air-force-c-130j-basing-decision,Chairman Courtney Statement on Air Force C-130J Basing Decision,2020-11-24,2020,2020-11,Democrat,Senate,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,,,legacy,"VERNON, CT Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), Chairman of the HouseSeapowerand Projection Forces Subcommittee, today issued the following statement in response to the Air Force's strategic basing decision for new C-130J aircraft for the Air National Guard. For months now,basing candidate sites in Connecticut and seven other states have waiting anxiously foroutcome of this process.These states deserve a consistent, impartial,and apolitical process that judges each site by the meritsand that is not what they got, unfortunately. As I have relayed to senior Air Force leaders repeatedly in recent months, there have been serious concerns raised from around the country that the Air Force's criteria changed during the latter stages of the evaluation process. To make matters worse, the Air Force without the slightest warning added a fourth site, assigning aircraft not yet approved by Congress tobe based inGeorgia. This surprise movewas never once included in the Air Forces basing plans shared with our committee over the last two years, and it taints this process in the midst of a presidential transition and two special elections in Georgia. That frankly does not pass the smell test. Each year, Congress works on a bipartisan basis to authorize and fund critical modernization upgrades and aircraft recapitalization needs for our Air National Guard cargo aircraft fleet that are left unmet by the Air Force. We do this because of the critical nature of the mission they serve and the important work they do for their states and our nation.The very least we should expect is a basing process that allocates these critical aircraft in an unbiased way and I am disappointed that the Air Force did not meet that necessary and low bar. Background: InMarch, the Air Force notified Congress of its intention to conduct a strategic basing process to base 24 C-130J aircraft at three new sites. Eight locations were considered, including Bradley Airport in Connecticut. A decision was planned by September. In September, the Air Force notified Congress that additional analysis was needed to select the three candidate locations. In separate calls in September and October, Chairman Courtney raised concerns with Air Force Secretary Barrett, Air Force Chief of Staff Brown, andDirector,Air National GuardLohthat therewas the appearance of inconsistency with the selection criteria, with sites initially told that cost and capacity i.e. the ability to support the new aircraft without significant funding and upgrades were the primary criteria to be considered. In the announcement today, a fourth site was added that allocates yet-to-be-approved aircraft in the FY21 defense authorization and appropriations bills to Georgia. A fourth site and additional aircraft were never previously part of the basing process until this very late stage.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-statement-rep-courtney-covid-19-diagnosis,Larson Statement on Rep. Courtney COVID-19 Diagnosis,2020-11-23,2020,2020-11,Democrat,Senate,CT,John Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Hartford, CT Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement: Our thoughts and prayers are with Rep. Courtney and his family over this Thanksgiving Holiday for a speedy and healthy recovery. I know like all of us in the delegation and Congress we are thankful for his leadership for the 2nd Congressional District, the State, our armed services, and a grateful nation he so nobly serves. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-issues-statement-after-testing-positive-covid-19,Courtney Issues Statement After Testing Positive for COVID-19,2020-11-22,2020,2020-11,Democrat,Senate,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,,,legacy,"VERNON, CT Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) issued the following statement this evening shortly after testing positive for COVID-19: Last week, I learned that I was inadvertently exposed to someone who would later test positive for COVID-19, although they weren't aware of their positive status at the time, said Courtney. Upon learning of that initial exposure, I immediately began following the strict isolation guidelines laid out by the CDC and by my doctor while I waited to get a coronavirus test. After my first test came back negative, I continued to isolate but began to experience mild symptoms. I got another test and, this evening I was notified that the second test came back positive. I've got a lot of confidence in my treating doctor and in my teamour work for eastern Connecticut will continue as always, and I'll keep performing my duties in a safe, remote fashion while isolated at my home. This experience reinforces my strong belief that right now, we need to be doing our part to help our communities by listening to the experts at the CDCwe've got to remain vigilant about wearing masks, social distancing, and the basic essentials like washing our hands frequently. There are folks in eastern Connecticut working hard every day to help our region through this pandemic, and following the CDC's guidelines is the best way we can support their efforts here on the ground. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-votes-expand-apprenticeship-programs-critical-ct-manufacturing,"Larson Votes to Expand Apprenticeship Programs, Critical to CT Manufacturing",2020-11-20,2020,2020-11,Democrat,Senate,CT,John Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) voted for the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020 that would create 1 million new apprenticeships across the country. Apprenticeships are critical to strengthening Connecticut's manufacturing ecosystem. That's why I support the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020 to create 1 million new apprenticeships. Registered apprenticeships have been the most successful federal workforce training program and they allow workers to learn on the job while being paid. Connecticut currently has more than 5,000 active apprenticeships and this new investment will expand those opportunities, said Larson.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-trump-administration-single-handedly-preventing,DeLauro Statement on Trump Administration Single-Handedly Preventing Migrant Families Separated at the Border from Receiving Mental Health Services,2020-11-19,2020,2020-11,Democrat,Senate,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Chair of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, issued this statement on reports that Trump White House adviser Stephen Miller killed a DOJ-supported deal to pay for mental health care for migrant families separated at the border: The Trump administration's, specifically Stephen Miller's, hate and cruelty knows no bounds. Stephen Miller's refusal to accept a deal that included mental health services for children and families ultimately resulted in a judge ordering the government to pay $14 million, $6 million more than the original deal. From family separation to the inadequate living conditions, refusal to vaccinate children, and widespread abuse, the extent of the shameful, abhorrent government-sponsored child abuse committed by this administration is beyond the pale. Taxpayer dollars should never have been used to carry out these policies. Administration officials responsible for this must be held accountable.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-applauds-decision-noaa-uphold-eb-s-permit-application-begin,Courtney Applauds Decision by NOAA to Uphold EBs Permit Application to Begin Utilizing ELDS,2020-11-18,2020,2020-11,Democrat,Senate,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DCCongressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee onSeapower and Projection Forces, released the following statement today afterthe National Oceanic and AtmosphericAdministration (NOAA)ruled to uphold General Dynamics Electric Boat's (EB) application with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineersto lawfully utilize the Eastern Long Island SoundDisposal Site (ELDS) for dredged materials.NOAA's decision will allow dredging work that is essential to EB's new SouthYard Assembly Buildingwhich will house upcoming construction for the new Columbia-class Submarine programto move forward,despite lingering, unfoundedlegal challenges to the ELDS levied by the State of New York. Therehas been a groundswell of input from small marinas, local and state officials, large stakeholders like Submarine Naval Base New London,Electric Boat, and many others, all strongly in favor of the sound selection of the ELDS,said Congressman Courtney.Today's decision by NOAAshouldn't come as a surprisethe EPA under President Obama took painstaking care to document both the environmental and economic impacts of the ELDS,the selection has been upheld in court,and approval of EB's permit application was criticaltonational security as the South Yard Assembly Building will house construction of the next-generation Columbia-class submarine.Nonetheless, following several failed and drawn-out legal challenges by the State of New York, thedecisionto approve EB's permitand put the ELDS to useis a welcome one. I'll continue to work with my colleagues in the Connecticut and Rhode Island delegations to ensure that the lawful, sound selection of the ELDS is upheld once and for all for the benefit of our region. The NOAA decision, which wasissued on Monday,soundly rejects New York's objections to Electric Boat's use of the ELDS for necessary dredging to support the Navy's Columbia class program.In its decision, NOAA cited Navy input that""If EBC is unable to proceed with the proposed action, the COLUMBIA program will be negatively impacted by a delayed construction schedule and an increase in costs. The Navy further warned thatthe use of any other site other than ELDS will not allow the dredging effort to be completed in the available dredging window, directly resulting in a delay to the required delivery of the first COLUMBIA Class submarine. For eastern Connecticut, dredging activity is essential to everything from boating and fishing, to submarine launch and construction, and moreand the ELDS is critical to that activity. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued its final designation establishing the ELDS in2017 under the ObamaAdministrationfollowing years of years of intense environmental reviews, robust public engagement, and diligent consideration of all views about the future of dredging in the region. The State of New York has levied several failed legal challenges against the environmentally sound selection of the ELDS. Most recently, in July,Rep. Courtney and Connecticut Attorney General William Tong applauded a ruling from theU.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York ruled to uphold the lawful selection of the ELDS for dredged materials.Click hereto read more.OnSeptember 18, 2020, the State of New York filed a motion indicating its intention to appeal this decision, continuing its effortstooverturnmore than a decade's worth of work andblock the use of the ELDS. Rep. Courtney has worked for years to help build support amongst stakeholders across New England for the environmentally sound selection of the ELDS, and forEB's 2019 permit application with the U.S. Army Corps of EngineersthatwouldallowEB to place dredged material in the ELDS.In November of 2019, Courtney led a letter signed by the entire Connecticut and Rhode Island Congressional delegationsexpressing their continued strong support for the ELDS, and for EB's permit applicationthe approval of which was critical not just to eastern Connecticut's economy, but also to U.S. national security.Click hereto read Rep. Courtney's letter. Background On January 11, 2016,after a 10-year collaborative processinvolving the EPA, the Army Corps of Engineers, the State of New York and the State of Connecticut, theDredged Material Management Plan (DMMP) for the region,was finalized. On December 6, 2016, EPA published its final ELDS selection rule in the federal register On August 17, 2017, the New York Department of State (DOS) filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court challenging EPA's final rule designating the ELDS Rep. Courtney organized the first stakeholders meeting to discuss Connecticut stakeholders' response to the lawsuit onOctober 19, 2017 In June of 2019, amid the ongoing legal challenge levied by the State of New York, Electric Boat submitted a permit application to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requesting permission to utilize the ELDS as it worked to complete construction of the new South Yard Assembly Buildinga programcritical to U.S. national security, and to eastern Connecticut's manufacturing sector In November of 2019, Courtney led the Connecticut and Rhode Island Congressional delegations in a letter to Gen. ToddSemonite(Commanding General & Chief of Engineers, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) and to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler, expressing their support for EB's permit application. According to the rules of the DMMP for the region, New York State had until December 27, 2019 to respond to EB's proposal to make use of the ELDS. On December 27, 2019, the New York DOSissuedan objection to EB's permit application. OnJanuary 24, 2020, Electric Boat filed an appealwith the US Department of Commerce through NOAA, the agencyresponsiblefor adjudicatinginterstate disputes about coastal resources. Following continued input throughout 2020, NOAA ruled on November 16, 2020 to uphold EB'spermit applicationon the basis of national security.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-appointed-panel-tasked-negotiating-final-fy2021-defense,Courtney Appointed to Panel Tasked with Negotiating the Final FY2021 Defense Authorization,2020-11-18,2020,2020-11,Democrat,Senate,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DCCongressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), Chairman of the House Armed ServicesSubcommittee onSeapowerand Projection Forces,wastodayappointed to the conference committee for the FY2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which sets the federal budget for the Department of Defense for theupcomingfiscal year 2021. The bill authorizes billions of dollars of investments forthe U.S. Navy, and forkey defensemanufacturingprioritiesineastern Connecticut and throughoutthestate. In a year of absolute uncertainty, theTrumpAdministration's original proposal tohave America construct the fewest number of combatant vessels in over a decade, and toeliminate construction of an entire Virginia-class submarinein the process,remains one of the most puzzling aspects,said Chairman Courtney.TheSeapowerSubcommittee has direct oversight of U.S. Navy shipbuildingour panel istasked withproviding our Navy with an unrivaled fleet that will meet our country's national security needs, andthe last-minute maneuvers that led to that submarine being removed from the plan defied everything we had heard in recent years about the need to increase our undersea capabilitiesand maintain a steady construction cadence. We got the job done in the House, and we did it on a bipartisan basis.Our bill authorized the full dollar amount needed to construct both Virginia-class submarines in 2021an authorization that's not only important to meeting the needs of our U.S. Navy, but also tothe health of our defense manufacturing sector in eastern Connecticut.We've got favorablewinds at our backs as wemove into conference to reconcile the differences between our bill and the Senate's version, and I'll keep working to find bipartisan support for this and other priorities to ensure that our region is well-positioned in the final product. The House-passed version of the NDAA, H.R.6395,is the onlydefense authorization bill that includes full funding to restore construction of the second Virginia-class submarine in 2021a vessel that was missing from the Trump Administration's February budget proposal, and which the U.S. Navy quickly identified as its most important unfunded priority in 2021.Since then,ChairmanCourtney has led thechargeto build bipartisan supportto restoreit. OnJuly 2nd, theHouse Armed ServicesCommitteevoted 56-0 to approveH.R. 6395, which included Chairman Courtneyand theSeapowerSubcommittee'sprovision to authorize the full $6.8 billion for construction of two Virginia-class submarines$2.6 billion more than the President's budget request called for, and $2.1 billionmore than was authorized in the Senate's FY21 NDAA. On July 21st, the FY21 NDAA passed the House of Representatives on a bipartisan basis. Key provisions that Courtney championed in theHouse's2021 NDAA Seapowerand Projection Forces Priorities: As Chairman of theSeapowerand Projection Forces Subcommittee, Courtney has advocated for Navy, Air Force and maritime priorities important to Connecticut and the nation. Virginia Class Submarine The bill authorizes $6.8 billion for the Virginia class submarine program, an increase of $2.6 billion over the budget request that Courtney secured to restore a second submarine in 2021. The Trump Administration requested just one submarine in 2021, breaking the steady two a year build rate that has been in place since 2011 and undermining efforts to address looming shortfalls in the submarine fleet. Navy leadership has listed the restoration of a fully funded second FY21 Virginia-class submarine as its top unfunded budget priority this fiscal year. During hearings this year, Navy officials confirmed to Courtney that there is industrial base capacity to support the second submarine, that doing so reduces risk in the ramp up on Columbia construction, and that not restoring the submarine in 2021 will make it challenging to replace that submarine in a future year. Since 2018, Congress has allocated $1.1 billion for the second submarine. Columbia-Class Ballistic Missile Submarines The bill authorizes $4 billion to initiate construction of the new Columbia-class submarine.This month, the Navy announced the award of $10.3 billion in contracting options for the first two submarines in the program to Electric Boat. The bill also includes Courtney's provision to authorize incremental funding for these submarines within the National Sea Based Deterrence Fund, which will ensure the cost-effective and efficient construction of this important program. Submarine Workforce and Development Training Authorizes $20 million to support training programs to help support expansion of the skilled submarine workforce as the industrial base ramps up construction of new submarines. Courtney has strongly supported workforce development efforts in the region to support hiring at Electric Boat and the supply chain through programs like the Eastern Connecticut Manufacturing Pipeline. Acceleration of Submarine Capabilities Authorizes over $283 million for continued design improvements for future submarines, which includes an additional $23 million Courtney sought to expand development of future undersea capabilities. This funding would help sustain the design and engineering workforce at Electric Boat as the work on the Columbia and Virginia Payload Modules shifts from design to construction. Long Range Strike Bomber The bill fully supports the requested $2.8 billion for continued development of the B-21 Raider. Pratt & Whitney is a partner in the next-generation long range strike bomber program. KC-46A Tanker The bill authorizes $2.2 billion for 12 KC-46A tanker aircraft, which are powered by Pratt & Whitney engines. C-130H Modernization The measure continues Congressman Courtney's efforts to accelerate the modernization of the C-130H cargo aircraft fleet, like those flown by the Connecticut Air National Guard. In addition to fully supporting the efforts to upgrade and modernize the avionics of the fleet, the bill authorizes $136 million for additional upgrades for engines, propellers and other systems on the aircraft beyond the President's request. The bill also includes Courtney's language prohibiting proposed retirements of the tactical airlift fleet. KMAX Unmanned Helicopter The bill authorizes $7 million to continue development of unmanned logistics capabilities with the CQ-24A helicopter manufactured by Bloomfield-based Kaman Aerospace. Navy ShipbuildingOverall, the bill authorizes more than $22 billion to procure 9 new battle force ships, two more than the budget request, in. The budget requested one of the lowest levels of new ships in nearly a decade and did not include the long-range shipbuilding plan required by law to provide insight into future plans to grow the fleet. Courtney pressed Defense Secretary Mark Esper on his failure to abide by the law in a hearing earlier this year. The bill passed in committee includes language Courtney authored to restrict some funding for the Office of Secretary of Defense until the 30-year shipbuilding plan is delivered, and prohibits the retirement of any Navy vessel until the Secretary of Defense provides a Navy force structure assessment. Recapitalization of our Domestic Sealift Capabilities The bill includes several Courtney-led investments in the recapitalization of our domestic sealift and maritime response capabilities. These includes authorizing the purchase of additional used vessels to replace aging sealift ships but rejecting a Defense Department request to eliminate the requirement to initiate a domestic new build ship. The bill also again authorizes a new Tanker Security Program to address the alarming gap in at-sea logistics, authorizes the fourth National Security Multi-Mission Vessel and authorizes an increase in funding for the Maritime Security Program to address the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on our domestic shipping fleet. Additional Courtney priorities included: Rare Earth Minerals Courtney passed an amendment that requires the Secretary of Defense to prioritize the acquisition of rare earth minerals materials from U.S. and allied sources ensuring the continued protection of our national defense supply chains. These types of minerals and materials are used in everything from cell phones to the joint strike fighter and a secured supply chain of these materials is of utmost importance to national security. Academic Partnerships for Undersea Research The bill authorizes $10 million to support partnerships with academic institutions that conduct research on undersea unmanned warfare and energy technology, such as the National Institute for Undersea Vehicle Technology, a collaborative program between the University of Connecticut and the University of Rhode Island. During debate on the bill, Courtney and Rep. James Langevin (D-RI) passed an amendment to increase funding for this effort from $5 million to $10 million. Joint Strike Fighter The bill provides $799 million for the procurement of 79 F-35s and includes additional flexibility to procure additional aircraft within the authorized amount if production savings are found and if prime suppliers remain on-schedule. Blackhawks The bill authorizes nearly $1 billion for 60 UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters, equal to the budget request, built by Sikorsky. CH-53K The bill authorizes $1 billion for procurement of 7 new CH-53K Marine heavy-lift helicopters, built by Sikorsky. Combat Search and Rescue Helicopter The bill supports the Administration's request for $973 million for procurement of 16 HH-60W Air Force search and rescue helicopters built by Sikorsky. VH-92A Presidential Helicopter The bill supports the Administration's request for $610 million for procurement of 5 aircraft, which will be the next-generation presidential helicopter. Ukraine authorizes $250 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. DOD Impact Aid authorizes $50 million 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. Other Notable Provisions Renaming Confederate Military Installations The bill includes a provision that Courtney cosponsored that would require the Department to begin the process of identifying and renaming military installations that currently honor political or military leadership of any armed rebellion against the U.S. Limitations on Funds to Remove Active Duty Troops from Germany The bill bars the Department from using any funds authorized by Congress to reduce the number of active duty troops stationed in Germany until DOD submits a report to Congress certifying that any reduction would not undermine the security of the U.S. or our allies in the region. BRAC The bill does not authorize a base closing round. Military Pay Raise The bill provides a 3.0% pay raise for the military, in line with a statutory requirement to keep pace with private sector wage growth. Climate Change Resiliency The bill requires DOD to consider the potential effects of climate change on military installations in current and future military construction projects to ensure responsible energy use and resilience against possible future extreme weather events and when fuel supplies are disrupted. Defense Community Infrastructure Program Authorizes $50 million for the program, allowing DOD to help states and local governments fund off-base infrastructure projects that support operations and the base community. Infrastructure improvements could include transportation projects, schools, first responder facilities, and utility projects. Reduces the Environmental and Health Risks of Fluorinated Compounds around Military Installations The bill includes several provisions which relate to PFAS, including a provision that mandates that the Department notify Congress when there has been an uncontrolled release of fluorinated firefighting foam (which contain PFAS) at military installations and would also require the department to survey and report on non-fighting agent technologies that will aid in phasing out the use of PFAS in fighting equipment.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://himes.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-himes-announces-666273-grant-saint-joseph-parenting-center,"Congressman Himes announces $666,273 grant to Saint Joseph Parenting Center to promote healthy homes",2020-11-18,2020,2020-11,Democrat,Senate,CT,Jim Himes,H001047,himes.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04) announced that Saint Joseph Parenting Centerin Stamfordwill receive a$666,273grant from theU.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The grant willwork to foster healthy homesthrough fatherhood courses and parenting resources. Giving parents thetools andtrainingthey need to create a stable homeis a crucial firststep to ensuring childrengrow upemotionallyand physically healthy, said Congressman Jim Himes. During this pandemic,childrenarespending more time at home, making it importantthat parents foster asafe environment for their children'sintellectualand socialeducation. I'm thrilled thatSaint Joseph Parenting Centeris receiving federal resources topromotehealthy marriages and healthy families. We are extremely grateful to receive the Fatherhood FIRE grant as it will bolster our existing 24/7 Dads Program. As a new awardee, this funding will enable us to promote and sustain healthy marriages, strengthen positive father-child engagement, and improve employment and economic stability said SJPC Executive Director Rhonda R. Neal.Servicing primarily Lower Fairfield County, Saint Joseph Parenting Center's mission is to strengthen families that are at risk of child abuse and neglect by providing parent education and resource support. Unfortunately, we have seen an increase in child abuse and neglect during the COVID-19 pandemic as parents struggle with job loss, the stress of working from home and having to care for children who cannot go to school during the day, and other issues. This grant will enable SJPC to empower more dads with the parenting education and economic support that they need during this challenging time and beyond in a safe and accessible way using our new virtual online platform. According to the Department of Health and Human Services,The Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood programs work to strengthen families, promote responsible parenting, and improve family economic stability. The program's goal is to foster economically secure households and communities for the well-being and long-term success of children and familiesthroughbuildingstronger relationships, marriages, father-child engagement, and families.Click here to learn more. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-and-house-representatives-pass-bipartisan-bill-provide-483,Courtney and House of Representatives Pass Bipartisan Bill to Provide $483 Million in Funding for Sea Grant,2020-11-17,2020,2020-11,Democrat,Senate,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DCLast night, Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-02) and the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass the bipartisan National Sea Grant College Program Amendments Act of 2020 (S. 910), which authorizes $483 million over four years for the National Sea Grant College Program.Across the nation, thirty-three universities, including the University of Connecticut, participate in the National Sea Grant Programa federal-state partnership that provides critical services to a wide range of constituents in every coastal and Great Lakes state, and U.S. territories.The Sea Grant program works with local shellfish farmers, fishermen, and other businesses in coastal economies to grow and sustain their business models by connecting them to local resources to share best practices, and helping them navigate state and federal coastal zone management regulations through technical assistance. UCONN's Connecticut Sea Grant program has worked to support our local fishermen and shellfish farmers for years,said Congressman Courtney.And that's not allthe work that Director De Guise and his team are doing at the Avery Point campus impacts everything from the seafood sector, to coastal resilience and the health of coastal and marine ecosystems, the workforce pipeline for jobs related to coastal and marine environments, and more. Our bipartisan reauthorization provides reassurance for all of the industries who depend on the services of Connecticut Sea Grant, and it couldn't have come at a better time while our shellfish farmers, fishermen, and many others need continued support through COVID-19. The services provided by Sea Grant are important for both economic and environmental outcomes in our communities, and our stakeholders will find reassurance in the reauthorization of the program, given all the uncertainty that is going on at so many levels these days,saidSylvain De Guise, D.M.V., Ph.D, Director of the Connecticut Sea Grant CollegeProgram. Rep. Courtney is a strong supporter of the National Sea Grant College Program, and of the Connecticut Sea Grant (CTSG) program at the University of Connecticut. Most recently, in March, Courtney led a bipartisan letter to House Appropriators along with Rep. Lee Zeldin (NY-01) and 96 other Members of Congres in support of the National Sea Grant College Program and Sea Grant Aquaculture, which are important to shoreline states throughout the country. In their letter to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, Courtney and the bipartisan coalition noted thatThe National Sea Grant Program is a known job creator that is highly leveraged to maximize the effectiveness of federal investment.To read their full letter,click here. Courtney was also an original co-sponsor of the House's primary bill to reauthorize the Sea Grant programH.R. 2405, the National Sea Grant College Program Amendments Act. The House voted to pass H.R. 2405 in December 2019 as part of a larger legislative package in H.R. 729. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://himes.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-himes-announces-125000-grant-members-credit-union-increase-fairfield,"Rep. Himes Announces $125,000 grant to Members Credit Union to increase Fairfield County residents access to the financial resources",2020-11-17,2020,2020-11,Democrat,Senate,CT,Jim Himes,H001047,himes.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04) announced thatMembers Credit Union will receive a $125,000 grant from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Community Development Financial Institutions(CDFI)Fund.Members Credit Union has receivednationalrecognition, including theJuntosAvanzamos(Together We Advance) designation in 2017,for it's outreach to the Hispanic community.The grant willincreaseFairfield County residents'access tothe Members Credit Union by placing an ATM in Stamford. EnsuringConnecticut residentshave access to their financial institutionswill make it easier for constituents toaccess resources and the financial tools needed during this time. said Himes. The pandemic has disproportionatelyhurtHispanic Americans across the country, so it is especiallyimportantthat Members Credit Unionwill use this grantfor essential outreach.I look forward to working with Members Credit Union and other community organizations to combat the economic consequences of COVID-19. Since becoming aJuntosAvanzamoscredit union, our outreach in Stamford has exceeded our expectations, said KathyChartier,President of the Members Credit Union. We offer financial counseling and no cost/low cost financial savings and loan services to Hispanic immigrants, both documented and undocumented. We have learned that while we are meeting their counseling and borrowing needs it is difficult for them to use our transaction services. Many are paid in cash and it is difficult for them to come to our only location in Cos Cob to make their deposits. We received this grant for the purpose of placing a deposit taking ATM in an area of Stamford that is convenient for our immigrant and low income members, to make cash deposits into their Members Credit Union account and take full advantage of our services. We are grateful for this opportunity to better serve our Stamford members who depend on us to improve the quality of their financial lives. According to Members Credit Union, the organization was started in Greenwich in 1935 and became a community credit union in 2002.Click here to learn more about Members Credit Union. According to the Department of Treasury,theCDFI Program Technical Assistance Grant will enable CDFIs to increase lending and investment activity in low-income and economically distressed communities across the nation. FortheFiscalYear (FY) 2020 funding round of the CDFI Program,127 organizations received awards totaling $15.8 million.Click here to learn more about the CDFI Program Technical Assistance Grant. ##",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://himes.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-himes-announces-344000-grant-partnership-end-human-trafficking,"Rep. Himes Announces $344,000 grant to Partnership to End Human Trafficking to combat human trafficking",2020-11-17,2020,2020-11,Democrat,Senate,CT,Jim Himes,H001047,himes.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04) announced thatthePartnership to End Human Trafficking (PEHT)will receive a$344,005grant from theU.S. Department of Justice, Office For Victims of Crimes. The grantwill allow PEHT to partner with community organizations to improve the identification oftraffickedindividualsandtoexpand comprehensive services to human-trafficking victims. Far too often, workers are lured to the U.S. by the promise ofwell-paying jobs and a better future, only to be coerced into unbearable conditions, including domestic servitude or prostitution rings, said Congressman Jim Himes. It's horrific that this happens anywherein the country,let alonein our ownbackyard. I'm glad that PEHT is receiving the federal resources needed toaddress the atrocity of human trafficking inFairfield County. PEHT is so excited to have received this grant award from the Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crimes to build capacity and to provide comprehensive services for victims of human trafficking in the Fairfield County Region of Connecticut saidJamieManirakiza, PEHT's Executive Director. We are currently opening a home for survivors of sex trafficking in the region, and this grant comes at an opportune time to increase our efforts in identification and response for victims of human trafficking in the community. Through this OVC award, we will work to collaborate with existing community partners to make a greater impact in Fairfield County, as we seek to come alongside survivors of this horrific crime. Furthermore, we believe that our two-year trauma-informed and survivor informed transitional home for adult women survivors of trafficking, will fill in a gap in services in Fairfield County for this vulnerable population. PEHT will partner with Love146, another anti-human trafficking non-profit, The Salvation Army Bloom Initiative to develop capacity to strengthen anti-human trafficking services through the provision of culturally appropriate, trauma-informed, comprehensive, and survivor-informed services in collaboration with local partners, develop a training plan with partners to increase victim identification in the Fairfield county region through outreach activities and targeted trainings, develop a strong referral network of anti-human trafficking service providers (including law enforcement and new and existing non-profit partners) that will meet the essential needs of each individual survivor; and constantly improve our service delivery through data collection and evaluation.Click here to learn more about PEHT. ##",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-statement-new-court-ruling-ordering-va-make-retroactive,Courtney Statement on New Court Ruling Ordering VA to Make Retroactive Payments to Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans and Their Survivors,2020-11-16,2020,2020-11,Democrat,Senate,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,,,legacy,"VERNON, CT Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) released the following statement today after the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that theyhave no plans tochallenge aNovember 5thFederal District Courtrulingthat ordersthe VA to make retroactive payments to Blue Water Navy Vietnam veterans and their survivors. The ruling comes following the passage and signing into lawof the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act(H.R.299)in 2019,whichRep. Courtney co-introducedandthat codified VA eligibility for many veterans exposed to Agent Orange to finally receive the benefits they deserved.Thenew rulingwillensure thatthe VA not only grantsveterans filing new Agent Orange-related claims the benefits they have earned,as outlined in H.R.299,butthat they also identify andaward benefits and compensation to veterans and their estates who could have potentially filed claims in years past. This is a real victory for so many of our Vietnam veterans and their familieswho have fought tooth and nail for years to simply be granted the benefits theyrightfullyearned and deserve,said Congressman Courtney.Passage of our bipartisan Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act last yearfinallyopenedthe door,andthis newruling will ensure that thousands moreveteransand their familiesget the caretheyneedand the compensation they deserveafter years of being wrongfully denied.It's also encouraging tohear the VBA express that they intend to comply immediately with this new court decisionVBA ChiefPaul Lawrence has already stated that they're prepared to begin identifying eligible veterans and their families who could have been eligible for claims in the past. There's more work ahead to ensure that all veterans who encountered Agent Orange during their service get the compensation that our nation owes to them and their families.We were able to move the ball forward for them on a bipartisan basis this year,and much of that is thanks to Gerry Wright, a Vietnam Veteran from Andover who is a tireless, nationwide advocate for these servicemembers, and who I've been proud to call my friend for years.I'm looking forward to continuing toadvance these effortsalongside Gerry, our VSOs, and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle aswe move ahead. The NVSLPhas already estimated that this new decision couldlead tobenefits and payments forup to15,000 vets and their families,Courtney continued,Eastern Connecticut is home to so many of our Vietnam vets, and my teamis ready to assist any veteran or family member interested in learning more about these benefits. My team hasn't stopped working during COVID-19, and we're ready to help. In a November 5th ruling, Federal District Judge WilliamAlsupordered the VA to begin making retroactive payments to Vietnam veterans and their families who were wrongfully denied benefits for exposure to Agent Orange.The National Veterans Legal Services Program(NVSLP)has estimated that the new ruling could impact between 2,000 and 15,000 veterans and their families, and thatit could lead to each of thempotentiallyreceiving an average of $28,000 in retroactive disability and death benefits.Click here to read more from Military.com. Rep. Courtney has worked for years to provide Vietnam Veterans who came into contact with Agent Orange the health care benefits they deserve. He helped introduce the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act (H.R. 299) to the 116thCongress in January 2019, and he has been a lead co-sponsor of the bill every session since the 112th Congress. In March 2019, H.R. 299 was passed in the House of Representatives by a vote of 410-0. Courtney applauded the Senate for taking up the House's version of the bill in June 2019. The Senate passed the House's bill that same month, and H.R. 299 was signed into law on June 25th, 2019. As of October 31st, 2020, the VA has provided over 25,900 families with more than $696 million in health care benefits for service-connected injuries related to Agent Orange.Click here to read more. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-endorsed-chair-appropriations-major-unions-leaders-education,"DeLauro Endorsed for Chair of Appropriations by Major Unions, Leaders in Education, Labor, Women and Childrens Protection and Advancement",2020-11-16,2020,2020-11,Democrat,Senate,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"Critical Partners in Work to Secure a Better Tomorrow Express Confidence in DeLauro's Leadership, Ability to Unite Congress for the People WASHINGTON Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), issued this statement thanking major union and organization leaders for their partnership and confidence in her ability to chair the House Appropriations Committee in the 117th Congress: We have our work cut out for us, but Congress cannot do it alone. As the United States continues to battle a pandemicwe have made little progress in defeating, fight to end racism in a real and meaningful way, and invest in our workers and families to repair our economy, we have to work together. Elected officials at every level need strong partnerships not just with their colleagues on the other side of the aisle but with the unions, organizations, and community groups doing the work on the ground. I am incredibly grateful to have the support of so many leaders who have been fighting for our communities for decades. These leaders embody the strength, tenacity, and selflessness that we will need to succeed. I have admired, learned from, and grown with them and know we will be successful in implementing many of the policies we crafted together. I am humbled and honored. Onward, together, toward a brighter future for all. Congresswoman DeLauro received the endorsements of AFT President Randi Weingarten, NEA President Becky Pringle, AFL-CIO President Richard L. Trumka, NWLC President Fatima Goss Graves, National Partnership President Debra Ness, and many others: AFL-CIO, Richard Trumka AFT, Randi Weingarten Afterschool Alliance, Jodi Grant American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Communications Workers of America (CWA), Dan Mauer Council for Opportunity in Education, Kim Jones First Focus on Children, Bruce Lesley Linchpin Strategies, Catriona Macdonald Little Lobbyists, Elena Hung National Partnership for Women & Families, Debra Ness National Women's Law Center (NWLC), Fatima Gross Graves NEA, Becky Pringle SEIU, Mary Kay Henry ZERO TO THREE, Matthew Melmed",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-statement-explosion-west-haven-va-medical-center,Courtney Statement on Explosion at the West Haven VA Medical Center,2020-11-13,2020,2020-11,Democrat,Senate,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,,,legacy,"NORWICH, CTRep. Joe Courtney (CT-02) released the following statement regarding the explosion that occurred this morning at the West Haven VA Medical Center: I am praying for all of those injured and involved in the explosion that occurred at the West Haven VA Medical Center this morning. My heart goes out to the VA center staff, our veterans, and all of the families who were impacted by this tragedy. My office and I are in touch with VA officials and local authorities as they continue to work to conduct an investigation, and we are monitoring the situation closely. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-calls-secretary-scalia-recuse-himself-anti-discrimination-action,DeLauro Calls for Secretary Scalia to Recuse Himself from Anti-Discrimination Action Against the Oracle Corporation,2020-11-13,2020,2020-11,Democrat,Senate,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"Additionally, DeLauro Urges Scalia to Order the Recusal of Deputy Secretary Pizzella and Solicitor O'Scannlain DeLauro in a letter to Secretary Scalia: The American people need to have confidence that its law enforcement officials are making decisions based on the rule of lawnot to advance the interests of a politically connected few. WASHINGTON, DC Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Chair of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, sent a letter to United States Department of Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia urging him to recuse himself from all matters related to the Department's anti-discrimination law enforcement action against the Oracle Corporation. The letter also urges the recusal of Deputy Secretary of Labor Patrick Pizzella and Solicitor of Labor Kate O'Scannlain from all matters related to that Oracle's enforcement. This letter follows DeLauro'sAugust 24, 2020, letterto Acting Inspector General Turner on reports of political interference in the reassignment of Regional Solicitor for San Francisco Janet Herold. In her letter, DeLauro wrote, In September 2020, OSC made an initial determination that there were reasonable grounds' to believe that Ms. Herold's involuntary reassignment was retaliatory and sought a stay of the reassignment. Based on my review of the evidence in this matter, I share the OSC's assessment that Ms. Herold's reassignment may be retaliatory, particularly because your office has yet to provide a satisfactory explanation for her transfer. The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) is currently investigating allegations by Regional Solicitor for the San Francisco Office Janet Herold that Secretary Scalia and Deputy Secretary Pizzella retaliated against her by involuntarily reassigning her because of her objections to Secretary Scalia's improper involvement in the Oracle anti-discrimination enforcement action. The American people need to have confidence that its law enforcement officials are making decisions based on the rule of lawnot to advance the interests of a politically connected few, DeLauro continued. Your recusal, along with that of the Deputy Secretary and the Solicitor of Labor, will ensure that there is no question as to the integrity of the Department's handling of this important enforcement action. The full text of the letter is below. A PDF copy is availablehere. Dear Secretary Scalia: I write to urge you to recuse yourself from all matters related to the Department of Labor's anti-discrimination law enforcement action against the Oracle Corporation. I also urge you to order the recusal of Deputy Secretary of Labor Patrick Pizzella and Solicitor of Labor Kate O'Scannlain from all matters related to that action. As you know, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) is currently investigating allegations by Regional Solicitor for the San Francisco Office Janet Herold that you and Deputy Secretary Pizzella retaliated against her by involuntarily reassigning her from the Office of the Solicitor to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration because of her objections to your improper involvement in the Oracle enforcement action. It has been reported that your improper involvement included communications between Oracle and you through a former legal colleague who served as a go-between, and that this former colleague called you at home to discuss Oracle's interest in a settlement, ensuring that the communication did not appear in government logs. Solicitor of Labor O'Scannlain is also reported to have facilitated your improper involvement in the Oracle enforcement action and to have carried out the forced reassignment directed by you and Deputy Secretary Pizzella. In September 2020, OSC made an initial determination that there were reasonable grounds to believe that Ms. Herold's involuntary reassignment was retaliatory and sought a stay of the reassignment. Based on my review of the evidence in this matter, I share the OSC's assessment that Ms. Herold's reassignment may be retaliatory, particularly because your office has yet to provide a satisfactory explanation for her transfer. In light of the alleged misconduct related to the Oracle enforcement action by the Department's three highest-ranking appointees and the ongoing OSC investigation, it is imperative that the Department's actions in the Oracle enforcement action are beyond impeachment. The American people need to have confidence that its law enforcement officials are making decisions based on the rule of lawnot to advance the interests of a politically connected few. Going forward you must refrain from any direct or indirect participation in or influence over any of the Department's actions related to the Oracle enforcement action, including its upcoming decision regarding whether to appeal the recent recommended order from the administrative law judge. Your recusal, along with that of the Deputy Secretary and the Solicitor of Labor, will ensure that there is no question as to the integrity of the Department's handling of this important enforcement action. Sincerely, Rosa L. DeLauro Chair Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies House Committee on Appropriations",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-davis-slam-trump-proposal-would-harm-social-security-disability,"Larson, Davis Slam Trump Proposal that Would Harm Social Security Disability Beneficiaries Attempting to Return to Work",2020-11-13,2020,2020-11,Democrat,Senate,CT,John Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. Today, House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee Chairman John B. Larson (D-CT) and Worker and Family Support Subcommittee Chairman Danny K. Davis (D-IL) sent a letter directing the U.S. Department of Labor to halt consideration of a proposed transfer of the Ticket to Work program from the Social Security Administration to the U.S. Department of Labor. The Ticket to Work program provides services to help Social Security and Supplemental Security Income disability beneficiaries who are attempting to return to work. In 1999, Congress placed the new Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency program (Ticket program) under the Social Security Administration (SSA), because of the close coordination between SSA and program participants, including beneficiaries and service providers, that is essential to the operation of the Ticket Program. Nothing has changed to warrant a transfer to the Department of Labor (DOL), wrote Larson and Davis. By law, the Department of Labor does not administer the Ticket program, continued Larson and Davis. We do not intend to consider legislation to remove the administration of the Ticket program from SSA and place it at DOL. We therefore expect the Department to halt any further consideration of this inappropriate and detrimental proposal. The full letter can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-s-bill-protect-educational-impact-aid-military-schoolchildren,"Courtneys Bill to Protect Educational Impact Aid for Military Schoolchildren Passes Senate, Delivered to White House for Signature",2020-11-12,2020,2020-11,Democrat,Senate,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,,,legacy,"NORWICH, CT Today, Congressman Joe Courtney's (CT-02) bipartisan bill to safeguard Educational Impact Aid for military schoolchildren amid the pandemic was passed by unanimous consent in the U.S. Senate, and delivered to the White House to be signed into law. Rep. Courtney's Impact Aid Coronavirus Relief Act (H.R. 8472) would ensure that Federal Impact Aid for public school districts with high concentrations of children of U.S. servicemembers will not be adversely affected by COVID-19. Courtney's bipartisan bill was first introduced on August 25th, and was passed in the House by unanimous consent on October 2nd. Eastern Connecticut is home to lots of military families with school-aged children, and their schools were at risk of losing this federal support at the worst possible time due to COVID-19, said Congressman Courtney. Without our bipartisan bill, schools like Groton and Ledyard in particular would have lost significant funding, and would have essentially been penalized for their decision to adopt remote and hybrid learning. Our eastern Connecticut schools absolutely could not afford to lose this funding for military schoolchildren, especially while local budgets are stretched so thin due to the pandemic. I'm grateful to my partner Rep. Dusty Johnson from Oklahoma for joining me to introduce this bipartisan bill, and for all our colleagues who helped work across the aisle to get this done. We're looking forward to getting a final signature on this important win for our local schools. Amid the complexity of returning to school this fall, many schools are worried that they will be unable to get an accurate headcount of eligible students, and that they will receive less funding than they deserve from the Impact Aid program as a result. Courtney's bipartisan bill requires the U.S. Department of Education to use last year's census of children of servicemembers when calculating the funding amount that local school districts will receive for the new 2021 school year. Rep. Courtney is a senior member of the House Education and Labor Committee, and of the House Armed Services Committee. He first introduced H.R. 8472 on August 25th, and was joined by Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) as an original co-sponsor. The Impact Aid Coronavirus Relief Act was passed in the House by unanimous consent on Friday, October 2nd. Today, the Senate voted by unanimous consent to pass S. 4063, the Senate companion to Rep. Courtney's House bill, and the legislation was delivered to the White House for signature. On October 8th, following passage of Courtney's bill in the House, Courtney met with Dr. Michael Graner, Superintendent of Groton Public Schools, and Jason Hartling, Superintendent of Ledyard Public Schools, to discuss their need for more federal support amid COVID-19, and the status of the bill in the Senate. This bill is enormously important to Groton; the Town depends on the Impact Aid Grant to support the education of over 1,000 military dependents, stated Groton Public Schools Superintendent Michael Graner. Click here to learn more. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-endorsed-fatima-goss-graves-president-and-ceo-national-women-s,"DeLauro Endorsed by Fatima Goss Graves, President and CEO of National Womens Law Center, for Chair of Appropriations in the 117th Congress",2020-11-12,2020,2020-11,Democrat,Senate,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"Fatima Goss Graves: We look forward to fighting along your side as the next Chair of the Appropriations Committee for the future that we all deserve. WASHINGTON, DC Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Chair of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, received the endorsement of Fatima Goss Graves, President and CEO of National Women's Law Center (NWLC) for Chair of the Appropriations Committee in the 117th Congress. Fatima Goss Graves is a dynamic, effective champion for women and families, and her confidence in my leadership means the world to me, said DeLauro. As a steadfast partner in the fight to invest in women in ways that meet the unique needs of this moment, Ms. Goss Graves' leadership is essential to helping our nation recover from the past four years, defeat the coronavirus pandemic, and create lasting change in a broad set of issues central to advancing opportunities for women and girls. Together, we will eliminate barriers and lift women and their families. The road ahead will not be easy, said Goss Graves. It will require investing in families, raising wages, and ensuring pay is more equal. It means addressing the care crisis before us a crisis that is foundational for our families and any economic recovery. It will require showing up for our access to health care, especially reproductive health care, which for too many people across the country is at a crisis level. It will take leadership that can move beyond false debates between progressives and moderates and put people first. I've had the chance to work with Representative DeLauro over the years as she fought with us to invest in and stabilize child care, on equal pay, for fair schedules, and paid leave, and a budget that serves women and families. We must invest in women in ways that meet the moment. In the midst of this pandemic, during uprisings around racial and gender justice we need leadership to get us through; she has put a marker down: Last summer she said: We are in a moment to reckon with the norm, with tradition and view it through the lens of racial justice. That means harmful policies like the discriminatory Hyde Amendment restriction on abortion have to go.' DeLauro said it herself in the last annual appropriations fight: [a]lthough the bill includes the Hyde amendment this year, let me be clear, we will fight to remove the Hyde amendment,' Goss Graves continued. We look forward to fighting along your side as the next Chair of the Appropriations Committee for the future that we all deserve. NWLC President Goss Graves' endorsement of Congresswoman DeLauro to be the next Chair of the House Appropriations Committee follows the endorsements of AFT President Randi Weingarten, NEA President Becky Pringle, AFL-CIO President Richard L. Trumka, and many others.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://larson.house.gov/media-center/op-eds-and-letters/what-we-need-do-next-defeat-covid-and-unify-country,What we need to do next to defeat COVID and unify the country,2020-11-12,2020,2020-11,Democrat,Senate,CT,John Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,,,legacy,"By Reps. John Larson and Joe Courtney This piece orginally appeared in The Hill on November 12, 2020. In a time of crisis, the United States has always come together! We are now in the midst of a war! We are fighting a common enemy that gives no quarter and that attacks indiscriminately. It cares not if you are Republican or Democrat. Our enemy is COVID-19. We need congressional action, an all-out effort to turn the tide of this war. We have already lost more than 238,000 Americans to the virus, which has infected more than 9 million Americans and caused unprecedented economic harm. Winning this war requires a national effort not 50 individual states fighting their own battles, but 50 UNITED states working in coordination. We can do this by adopting a strategic plan directed by Congress and developed by our scientists, doctors, and experts. No country is better equipped to defeat this virus than the United States. We have the resources, the doctors and experts, and the most resilient people. We know wearing masks and social distancing works. Now we need to enact legislation to deal with this crisis. Given the resources at our disposal there is no better organization than the U.S. military to execute the national coordination and logistical mobilization that will be required. Congress needs to act by supplying adequate use of resources so the military can carry out the mission. We need to initiate and direct the president to use the Defense Production Act to authorize the production of ventilators, N-95 respirator masks, and all necessary personal protective equipment. The Defense Production Act was created in during the Korean War to be used in times in crisis to expand the production of the materials and supplies to protect our country. This pandemic is global and threatens our national wellbeing. We must ensure a national production of materials that are essential to helping our frontline workers combat this virus. Our frontline troops are our doctors, nurses, health care aides, first responders, and grocery clerks. We must ensure that our troops have the protective gear they need and that there are enough tests and equipment to conduct the tracing and treatment required to secure the health and well-being of our citizens. To achieve this, we need an organized and efficient system to deliver the supplies and tests produced. There will be a vaccine, and when there is, it will need to be distributed efficiently and equitably across all 50 states, from big cities to rolling farms, and from coast to coast. Efforts like this will take the logistical expertise that the U.S. military is trained to execute and carry out. The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) is the Department of Defense's logistics support agency whose mission is the acquisition, storage, and distribution of materials for our military across the nation and around the globe. They are situated strategically throughout the country. That's why congressional action directing the Defense Logistics Agency in conjunction with the National Guard, governors, and mayors to distribute the vaccine, PPE, and other medical supplies is needed. Through the DLA we can secure a national supply chain and ensure we have the resources needed to reach all Americans in a timely manner. Increasing the production of supplies, nationalizing the supply chain, continuing to wear masks, and social distance will defeat this common enemy and overcome this crisis. We implore Democrats and Republican members to come together as a Congress and act, demonstrating by example to the world how to contain, control, and defeat COVID-19. We need to put everything else aside and put the health of the American people and the health of our economy first .... and get this done. John Larson represents Connecticut's 1st District and Joe Courtney represents Connecticut's 2nd District.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-statement-release-senate-defense-appropriations-bill-without,Courtney Statement on Release of Senate Defense Appropriations Bill Without Full Funding for Restoration of Second 2021 Virginia Class Submarine,2020-11-10,2020,2020-11,Democrat,Senate,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,,,legacy,"Norwich, CT Congressman Joe Courtney(CT-02), Chairman of the HouseSeapowerand Projection Forces Subcommittee, released the following statementaftertheSenate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defensereleased its draft Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 defense appropriations bill. The bill released today provides $472 million in partialfundingforconstruction ofthe secondVirginia-classsubmarinein FY21, while the House-passed NDAA and defense appropriations measures would fully fund the effort. Over the last ten years, sworn testimony before the Congress from combatant commanders, outside defense experts and Navy leadership has been unanimousthe Navy needs more submarines, Chairman Courtney said. The Trump Administration's last-minute and uninformed decision to remove a second 2021 Virginia class submarine from the budget this year capsized the two-per-year program of record for Virginia submarines that has been supported by Congress since 2011. Last July, the House took decisive action to reverse that decision, and fully support the Navy's top 2021 unfunded priorityrestoring the submarine that was axed. The Senate plan released today does not fix the problem, Courtney continued. It's proposed partial funding in 2021 is unworkable given the shipyard's schedules in future years for the Virginia and Columbia programs. Over and over again, Navy leaders such as Assistant Secretary Geurts and CNO Michael Gilday have testified at Committee that the best way to feasibly build this submarine is to fully fund it in 2021. The House NDAA and Defense Appropriations did the hard work of paying for this priority within the 2021 budget caps, and passed these bills on the floor of the full Housesomething which has not occurred in the Senate, even at the Committee level. As we continue our NDAA conference negotiations and work towards a final spending bill, I will continue towork with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and the Capitol to underscore the urgency of this issue for our navy and our nation. Over the last month, several organizations have expressed their strong support for fully funding the restorationof the second 2021 Virginia class submarine: Navy League of the United States:While we understand the intent of the Senate's choice to authorize advanced procurement funding only, we are concerned by several outstanding issues. First, we cannot predict the budget outlook for the coming years with any certainty, and funding this hull may be difficult with the current economic outlook. Now is the time to provide these funds, not later. International Association ofMachinistsand Aerospace Workers:The restoration of funding for this second submarine would provide the Navy with the resources it needs to continue rebuilding our nation's dwindling fleet of fast-attack submarines, bolster our domestic industrial base, and create high-quality jobs in the U.S. shipbuilding industry. International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers:The procurement authorization for an adequate number of Virginia-class submarines strengthens our defense capabilities, the American industrial base, and the nationwide supply chain capabilities that drive domestic employment. The non-procurement of the second Virginia-class submarine potentially affects the future efforts of the Columbia-class sub. The President's budget request included $4.2 billion for the Virginia class submarine, which included only one Virginia class submarine in 2021. While the House-passed authorization and appropriations bills support full restoration of a second 2021 submarine in line with the Navy's top unfunded requirement, the Senate NDAA includes only $472 million above the request, for a total of $4.6 billion, for long lead materials for a future additional submarine. Background: The FY21 budget requested one Virginia-class submarine, breaking the two-per-year build rate that has been in place since 2011. Since 2018, Congress has allocated $1.1 billion for the second submarine including an additional $200 million just last year to support the sustained two-per-year build rate and in language approved in the 2020 NDAA, which directed the Navy to submit a budget that supports a two-submarine budget in 2021. On a bipartisan basis,Congress has panned the proposal to eliminate the second submarine. TheNavy's unfunded priority listranked thefully fundedrestoration of the second 2021 Virginia-class submarine as the service's top priority. In March,Courtney led 111 membersin urging the House Appropriations Committee to support restoration of the second submarine. The letter notes that ""The proposal to request one attack submarine is contrary to the National Defense Strategy, the needs of our combatant commanders, and a decade of Congressional action in support of a steady two-a-year build rate. The 112 members that joined this request represent 32 states, over 14,000 suppliers, and over $10 billion in manufacturing and support activity in the submarine supply chain. In testimony before the House and Senate Armed Services Committee, Defense Department and Navy leaders stated that the submarine was subject to late-stage funding shifts, and that they were not involved in the decision to eliminate this submarine from the budget.In response to questioning from Chairman Courtney,Chief of Naval operations Admiral Michael Gilday statedthatIf you asked me, if I could give you another ship today, what would it be? It would be a Virginia-class submarine. Navy acquisition chief James Geurts affirmed to Chairman Courtney the readiness of the industrial baseto support the second 2021 submarine, telling the subcommittee that I'm confident that they can execute the ship.In response to questioning from Chairman Courtney, SecretaryGuertstold theSeapowerSubcommittee thatThis is the year I would say we need to either add that ship in this year, or then we'll just have to work on that at the start of Block VI."" On March 5, Courtney questionedAssistant Secretary of the Navy James F.Geurtsabout the submarine budget. After confirming the Assistant Secretary's confidence in the shipbuilders at EB, Chairman Courtney focused his questioning on the budget proposal's potential impact on the Columbia-class submarine program. In response, he testified that I think submarine construction is very sensitive to cadence. And the number one thing we can do is stability, and get on a cadence...If we cut short, and have a large gap at the end of Block V before having Block VI move in and Columbia start up, that will be a risk to execution not only in Virginia but in Columbia. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-and-tillis-introduce-bipartisan-bicameral-legislation-to-help-veterans-with-legal-claims-against-va,"Blumenthal & Tillis Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Help Veterans With Legal Claims Against VA",2020-11-10,2020,2020-11,Democrat,Senate,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Blumenthal & Tillis Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Help Veterans With Legal Claims Against VA Print Tweet Tuesday, November 10, 2020 [WASHINGTON, DC] U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Thom Tillis (R-NC), members of the Senate Armed Services and Veterans' Affairs Committees, introduced the Brian Tally VA Employment Transparency Act today, bipartisan legislation requiring the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide explicit, timely information in response to legal claims filed by veterans against the VA. The senators' legislation is named after Marine Veteran Brian Tally, who was unable to file a medical malpractice claim against his doctor because the VA failed to inform him until after the statute of limitations had passed that his doctor was a contractor and his claim needed to be filed in state court, leaving him with no legal recourse. This bipartisan, bicameral bill will rectify the VA's gross administrative neglect and restore legal options to our country's veterans when they are wronged by the VA or a VA contractor, said Blumenthal. It is simply unacceptable that the VA is failing to properly notify our country's veterans about their options when they file legal claims, essentially robbing them of their rights. Veterans must have the ability to seek legal recourse in cases of medical malpractice or other negligence period. Our veterans deserve the highest quality of care, regardless of where they receive that care or who provides it. Unfortunately, medical malpractice remains an issue at hospitals across the country, and veterans should havedue process rights if they experience malpractice,said Tillis. This bill ensures that veterans have the information they need to receive justice, whether they were treated by a VA employee or a contractor, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to get this bill signed into law. ""I am incredibly honored to have Senator Blumenthal take the Senate lead on this landmark Veteran legislation and introduce this extraordinary VA accountability and transparency bill that will protect all Veterans who seek treatment at VA Hospitals and Clinics, said Tally. We have energetically and positively engaged Congress and have sought out motivated members of the Senate to be a Champion for all Veterans. We are honored that Senators Blumenthal and Tillis have both answered this call to service, in a bi-partisan fashion.They are playing a monumental role in effectively closing a 74 year VA legal loophole that has destroyed the lives of Veterans and their families for generations! I look forward to working with the Senate VA Committee, Senate Republicans, and Senate Democrats to ensure the successful passage of the Brian Tally VA Employment Transparency Act. Together as one, we can, and we will see this through!"" Blumenthal and Tillis' legislation would require that, within 30 days of a claim being filed, the VA notify the veteran filing the claim about the importance of getting legal counsel and the employment status of the person they are filing the claim against. If this person is a contractor, the VA would also need to inform the veteran about the importance of obtaining legal advice as to the statute of limitations in the state in which the claim arose. This bill is a companion to bipartisan legislation introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in September 2019, led by U.S. Representatives Mike Levin (D-CA) and Mark Meadows (R-NC). Veterans who have sacrificed for our country deserve the highest quality health care, and they should have every opportunity to seek recourse if they are harmed as a result of substandard medical treatment, said Levin. The VA Employment Transparency Act ensures that veterans have the information they need to make timely decisions about their legal options so they never experience what Brian Tally went through. I am proud that this important bill passed unanimously through the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, and I am very grateful for Senator Blumenthal's partnership in the Senate. The full text of the legislation can be found here. -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-endorsed-afl-cio-chair-appropriations-117th-congress,DeLauro Endorsed by AFL-CIO for Chair of Appropriations in the 117th Congress,2020-11-09,2020,2020-11,Democrat,Senate,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) issued this statement thanking Richard L. Trumka, President of the 12.5 million-member American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFLCIO), for his support: Last week, President Richard Trumka delivered remarks that ended with a sentiment that will guide our work this Congress: We're powerful. We're united. And we're ready for change.' With the spread of COVID-19, Richard Trumka has never backed down from a fight for our workers, many of whom became poorer in this pandemic as billionaires saw their wealth expand. I am inspired by Richard Trumka, honored to have his support, and grateful for AFL-CIO's continued partnership. With Election Day behind us, we must all embody Richard Trumka's fighting spirit and focus our energy on living up to the promises we made to the people. We must fight not simply for an end to this pandemic and for full recovery from the past four years but for investments that create a better future for our workers and their families. AFL-CIO's endorsement of Congresswoman DeLauro to be the next Chair of the House Appropriations Committee follows the endorsements of AFT President Randi Weingarten, NEA President Becky Pringle, and many others.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-courtney-introduce-legislation-nationalize-production,"Larson, Courtney to Introduce Legislation to Nationalize Production & Distribution of Pandemic Supplies",2020-11-09,2020,2020-11,Democrat,Senate,CT,John Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Hartford, CT Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) announced that he and Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-02) will be introducing legislation to nationalize the production and distribution of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), medical supplies, testing, vaccines and more to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. We are in the midst of a war against COVID. It's time for our country to come together to defeat this virus. We need national leadership. States shouldn't have to fight each other for supplies. By utilizing the Defense Production Act, we can work with the private sector to manufacture the necessary supplies. The Defense Logistics Agency can work hand in hand with Governors, Mayors, and the private sector to distribute the supplies and vaccines across the country. I'm pleased that President-elect Biden has established a COVID Task Force and Congress must work with him to move our nation forward, said Larson. Defeating the virus has always hinged on harnessing the strength of the federal government, a strategy that thus far has been underutilized said Congressman Courtney. While the private sector has been a crucial partner in COVID response, it is clear that the logistical and organization power of the federal government can play a bigger role in crushing the virus. For example, today's announcement that Pfizer's vaccine candidate is reported to be ninety percent effective is spectacular progress, but Pfizer's vaccine comes with the logistical challenge of supercold storage requirements. Existing distribution chains can't handle this requirement, but improving the role of the federal government can ensure that challenges like these are addressed in a systematic way that ensures equity nationwide. I'm proud to join Rep. John Larson in this important effort to help our communities overcome COVID-19, and am grateful for his continued leadership on this issue. The legislation will: Assess and identify the private sector's capacity to produce needed equipment; Invoke the Defense Production Act to the extent necessary to match the supply and capacity needed to meet the demand for ventilators, masks and other essential personal protective equipment needed to address the COVID-19 crisis; Requires weekly reports be submitted to Congress on the status of the equipment distribution plan, the available resources and the production of equipment, ventilators, and medical protective gear; Establishes the Defense Logistics Agency as the lead on procurement and distribution of vaccine, PPE, and other critical supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic; Designates the Director of the Defense Logistics Agency as the head of the COVID19 Joint Acquisition Task Force; Mandates that the Director of the Defense Logistics Agency establish and maintain an online system through which states and local governments affected by a covered emergency may submit requests for covered items and establish procedures for fulfilling requests; Requires reporting on the needs of the domestic manufacturing base for the mass production of a vaccine; and Mandates an assessment of the identified needs, personnel and funding requirements, and timelines and milestones of operations for the response and recovery efforts of the Defense Logistics Agency and the Joint Acquisition Taskforce during the pandemic. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-statement-associated-press-fox-news-cnn-nbc-and-more-announce,"Courtney Statement as the Associated Press, Fox News, CNN, NBC, and More Announce the Election of Joseph R. Biden as the 46th President of the United States of America",2020-11-07,2020,2020-11,Democrat,Senate,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,,,legacy,"VERNON, CT Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) issued the following statement after the Associated Press, Fox News, CNN, NBC, and many more reported thatJoseph R. Bidenhas been elected to serve as the 46thPresident of the United States of America. This year,even in the face of an unprecedented global pandemic, Americanscame out to vote in record numbers,said Congressman Courtney.COVID-19 couldn't stop the American people from exercising their right to vote at the ballot box, and with morepeoplevoting inthis year'sPresidential Election than in any other in history, the will of the people couldn't have been more emphatically expressed. Eastern Connecticut was part of that movementover 370,000 votes were cast in the Second District, the highest ever recorded. Hard working, patriotic election officials across the country deserve tremendous credit for their stellar workunder extraordinary circumstances to ensure a fair and smooth election. Congratulations to President-elect Joe Biden on running a campaign that overwhelmingly reflected the values of the hard-working people here in eastern Connecticutone that was focused on the issues, and on bringing the American people together from both sides of the aisle to tackle the biggest challenges facing us today. It is time to embrace the result that, like in any election, one side has prevailed.The peaceful transfer of power is a cornerstone of this nation, our history, and our democracy.America is ready to moveforwardwitha new President, and to beginthe hard but necessary work of uniting our country.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-election-president-elect-joe-biden-and-vice-president,DeLauro Statement the Election of President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris,2020-11-07,2020,2020-11,Democrat,Senate,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) issued this statement on the election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris: Today the American people won. Democracy won. By showing up in record numbers to vote for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, Americans sent a clear message that they want leaders that will build a better tomorrow, foster unity, and fight for working families and our most vulnerable. Included in President-Elect Biden's plans are critical pieces of legislation I have been tirelessly working to passthe Child Tax Credit and equal pay for women among themthat finally see a clear path to becoming the law of the land. We have our work cut out for us, and the road to recovery is long, but Biden and Harris have a plan to lead us to a brighter tomorrow. Together, Democrats will deliver on our promises and create a better future for all. Today, we celebrate this historic victory.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/chairman-courtney-statement-navy-awards-contract-construct-first-ever,Chairman Courtney Statement as Navy Awards Contract to Construct First Ever Columbia-Class Submarine to Grotons Electric Boat,2020-11-05,2020,2020-11,Democrat,Senate,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,,,legacy,"VERNON, CT Today,Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee onSeapowerand Projection Forces, released the following statement after the U.S. Navy officially awardedGeneral Dynamics Electric Boat the contract to construct the first ever, next-generation Columbia-class submarine. Courtney hasled and shepherded the creation of the Columbia-class program from bow to stern, beginning in2008 when he secured $8 million to initiate the first design conceptstudiesfor a new sea-based deterrent submarine.Today's contract award was made possible by a provision that Rep. Courtney worked to include in the House's short-term budget extension (H.R. 8337),click hereto learn more. Earlier today, Assistant Secretary of the Navy James F. Geurts provided Chairman Courtney's Seapower Subcommittee staff with a direct briefing on the new contract award. The Seapower Subcommittee has direct oversight of U.S. Navy shipbuilding, and as Chairman, Rep. Courtney has continued to build strong bipartisan support to see the Columbia-class Program through to launch. Today's announcement makes the hard work, planning and advocacy for this generational program real,said Chairman Courtney.This isn't just amilestone forthe shipbuilders at EBthe Columbia-classprogram willalsobe amajor opportunity for industry partners up and down the supply chainfor years to come, and a foundational piece for our region's economic future.Generations of shipbuilders and manufacturers will get their start working on this multi-decade program,and it's anexcitingtime to get more people into the pipeline for the jobs and opportunities that will come with the start of this effort. Thisaward was a long time coming, butitdidn't come without some challenges late in the game,Courtney added.Just a few weeks ago,we worked toensurethat thecontinuingresolution which prevented agovernmentshutdown included the funding the Navy needed to issue the contract on time. Despite the strong bipartisan support for Columbia,thiswasn't a givenIand other members of the Connecticut and Rhode Islanddelegationshad tomake the case to the House leadership to include this provision. Our case prevailed, and the House bill, which was later passed by the Senate September 30, 2020, ensured that the Navy had everything it needed to make today'sannouncementpossible. As Chairman of the HouseSeapowerand Projection Forces Subcommittee with oversight of the Columbia program, I'll continue to do all I can to ensure that our shipbuilders and our Navy have the tools and support they need to make this program a success. Iknow thatthe hard-workingmen and women of Electric Boat are up to the job. Today's contract award will see construction officially begin on the new Columbia-class submarine program beginning this fall of 2020, as planned. The award to begin construction wasonly made possible thanks to a provision that Chairman Courtney worked to include in the short-term Continuing Appropriations Act (CR) (H.R. 8337), which passed the House on September 22ndand funds the federal government through December 11, 2020. Chairman Courtney's provision in the House-version of the CR provided the specific authorizations necessary for the Navy to award a contract and begin construction on a new program under a short-term budget extensionwhich is not typical under an ordinary CR. Background on Chairman Courtney's Support for the Columbia-Class Submarine Program: In 2008, Courtney helped secure $8 million to initiate the first design and concept studies for a new sea-based strategic deterrent submarine. At the time, and for the first time in 50 years, Electric Boat was not actively designing a new submarine, raising concerns about the future viability of the design workforce and the viability of a new sea-based deterrence submarine. Courtney championed the creation of the National Sea-Based Deterrence Fund (NSBDF) in 2015 to finance the construction of the Columbia-class by providing the Department of Defense flexibility and authority to allocate funds from across the budget into this account to elevate the importance of the Columbia program as critical to our national security. The FY16 NDAA provided additional authorities within the NSBDF including incremental funding, advanced procurement, Economic Order Quantity (EOQ), and clarified that reprogramming authority provided in the creation of the fund in the year previous extended to the entire Department of Defense, not just the Navy. In 2014, Courtney worked with the EWIB and EB to secure funding for the Eastern Connecticut Manufacturing Pipeline, a program that identifies underemployed adults, veterans, and tech savvy students to contribute to the submarine industry. By working in concert with local high schools, community colleges, trade schools, and American Job Centers, the manufacturing Pipeline Initiative has placed 1,350 people in jobs, with over 1,100 of them supporting submarine construction since its inception. In September 2019, Courtney helped break ground at Electric Boat's new South Yard Assembly Building, the new production facility designed specifically for the construction of the Columbia-class. In June 2020, Courtney helped announcethe award of the Columbia-class construction contract to EB. In September 2020, Courtneyvoted to passthe short-term CR that included his provision that ensuredColumbia-class construction would begin on timethisyear, as scheduled.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z