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://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-highlights-infosys-as-murphys-innovator-of-the-month-for-its-investment-in-hartford,MURPHY HIGHLIGHTS INFOSYS AS MURPHYS INNOVATOR OF THE MONTH FOR ITS INVESTMENT IN HARTFORD,2018-12-27,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"MURPHY HIGHLIGHTS INFOSYS AS MURPHY'S INNOVATOR OF THE MONTH FOR ITS INVESTMENT IN HARTFORD Thursday, December 27, 2018 WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.)announced on Thursday that Infosys, a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting company, is Murphy's Innovator of the Month. Earlier this month, Infosys inaugurated its Technology and Innovation Hub in Hartford, the latest milestone in the company's effort to accelerate innovation for Connecticut enterprises and hire 1,000 American workers in the state by 2023.The Hartford Hub will have a focus on insurance, health care and manufacturing and serve as Infosys' global Hub for Infosys' InsurTech and HealthTech efforts. Infosys chose to expand its presence in Hartford due to the city's position as the Insurance Capital of the World and Connecticut's world-renowned academic institutions. To help its clients throughout the New England region with their digital transformations, Infosys is co-locating, co-innovating and co-creating alongside themincreasing the need for training and recruiting local talent. As part of its hiring commitment and broader workforce development efforts in Connecticut, Infosys recently partnered with Trinity College to create new educational programs that prepare liberal arts students for the digital workplace of the future. Infosys' partnership with the liberal arts college will leverage Trinity College's new space in downtown Hartford, showcasing technology and blending face-to-face personalized learning with Infosys' virtual learning platform, Infosys LEX. Infosys picked the right place to open their Technology and Innovation Hub. For years, Governor-elect Lamont has been working with Infosys leadership to bring them to Hartford, and I'm so glad they made this investment, said Murphy. Connecticut is home to the best students and innovators in the country. Infosys' partnership with Trinity makes sure students will be in a great position to work in the expanding digital workplace. I'm excited to work with Infosys and happy to welcome them to Connecticut. We are humbled and honored to be recognized by Senator Murphy for our ongoing contributions to the State of Connecticut, said Ravi Kumar, President, Infosys. We look forward to continue working with our partners in Hartford and throughout the state and hope to transform Hartford into a technology hub and a destination for the technology workers of the future. I am delighted that Infosys has been recognized as a leading innovator.It's a forward-looking organization, which values learning and providing transformative experiences. We value those things at Trinity, too, and we're proud of the close partnership we're forging with Infosys to build a unique talent pool that draws on the power of a liberal arts education.From its leadership's vision to its investments in Hartford's success, this is very well-deserved recognition for Infosys,said Joanne Berger-Sweeney, President of Trinity College. Murphy believes entrepreneurship and innovation are building blocks for a strong economy. In the U.S. Senate, he has introduced two bipartisan pieces of legislation to incentivize angel investors to put more money into startup companies the Angel Tax Credit Actand theHelping Angels Lead Our Startups (HALOS) Act. Startup companies create an average of 2 million jobs each year. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-delauro-lead-bipartisan-push-for-funding-to-improve-long-island-sound,"MURPHY, DELAURO LEAD BIPARTISAN PUSH FOR FUNDING TO IMPROVE LONG ISLAND SOUND",2018-12-26,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"MURPHY, DELAURO LEAD BIPARTISAN PUSH FOR FUNDING TO IMPROVE LONG ISLAND SOUND Wednesday, December 26, 2018 WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S Representative Rosa DeLauro (CT-3), a member of the U.S. House of Representative Appropriations Committee, on Wednesday led 9 colleagues in sending a letter to President Trump to request robust funding for the Long Island Sound Geographic Program in his budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2020.The members requested $20 million to fund critical improvements to water quality and restore habitat around the Sound watershed. As you work to complete your final Fiscal Year 2020 budget, we urge you to fund the Long Island Sound Geographic Program at $20 million, the members wrote. The Sound is a proven economic driver in the northeast, generating at least $17 billion to the regional economy from transportation, fishing, and recreational activities it supports. If we consider the status quo acceptable the Long Island Sound and the coastline we know today will not be recognizable to the next generation, the members added. The Long Island Sound Geographic Program assists with conservation and pollution mitigation in the greater northeast. Last year, new projects improved wastewater cleanup and assisted with nitrogen removal. Joining Murphy and DeLauro in this letter were their colleagues U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), and U.S. Representatives Jim Himes (CT-4), Lee Zeldin (NY-1), John Larson (CT-1), Joe Courtney (CT-2), Peter King (NY-2), and Thomas Suozzi (NY-3) The full text of the letter can be found below and here. Dear President Trump: As you work to complete your final Fiscal Year 2020 budget, we urge you to fund the Long Island Sound Geographic Program at $20 million. This year, Congress reauthorized the Long Island Sound Restoration and Stewardship Act, which allows Congress to allocate up to a $65 million a year in grants for Long Island Sound. Our request of $20 million is less than a third of the full allocation, yet will support numerous local efforts to improve water quality and restore shoreline habitats. The Long Island Sound estuary spans more than 1,300 square miles of coastline in Connecticut and New York, yet the Long Island Sound watershed cover 16,000 square miles across six New England states. The Sound is a proven economic driver in the northeast, generating at least $17 billion to the regional economy from transportation, fishing, and recreational activities it supports. Long Island Sound Geographic Program funding has allowed local communities across the watershed to make significant progress in improving the Sound. In the most recent award year, projects spanned four states and included funding for building environmentally friendly coastal resiliency structures, monitoring water quality, constructing fishways, reducing nitrogen pollution, and protecting marine life. If we consider the status quo acceptable, the Long Island Sound and the coastline we know today will not be recognizable to the next generation. As a result, the vibrant business community and economic activity the Sounds supports will dwindle. Thank you for your attention to this request and we encourage you to request $20 million for the program in your final Fiscal Year 2020 budget. Sincerely, ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/hill-house-lawmakers-look-reassure-australia-after-mattis-resignation,The Hill: House lawmakers look to reassure Australia after Mattis resignation,2018-12-24,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,,,legacy,"A bipartisan group of House lawmakers is reaching out to Australia to reassure the U.S. ally following the announced resignation of Defense Secretary James Mattis. In a letter spearheaded by Reps. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.) and Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) and sent by Australian Ambassador Joe Hockey, members of the Congressional Friends of Australia Caucus stressed the importance of the alliance between the countries after Mattis said he would leave the Trump administration. We therefore share many Australians' concerns about Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis's recent announcement that he will step down from his position in February 2019, they wrote in Friday's letter obtained by The Hill. Secretary Mattis has been a stalwart proponent of American leadership and a free and open Indo-Pacific, both which have benefitted the United States and Australia for decades. He has also been an advocate for maintaining and strengthening America's alliances and partnerships around the world, including with Australia. Mattis's departure date has since been moved up to Jan. 1. The congressional group cited Mattis's resignation letter, which stated the United States, while an indispensable nation in the free world, can't protect its interests without alliances with countries with common goals and values. [W]e are writing to strongly reaffirm our agreement with Secretary Mattis that it is in the United States' enduring interest to maintain and strengthen our alliances, built of shared values and shared interests, particularly in the case of our special relationship with Australia, the lawmakers wrote. Moving forward, we want to extend our deep and sincere commitment to maintain America's special bond and alliance with your country. In addition to Courtney and Gallagher, the letter was signed by House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) and ranking member Adam Smith (D-Wash.), as well as Reps. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), John Larson (D-Conn.), Pete King (R-N.Y.), Ed Perlmutter (D-Colo.), Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio), Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), Paul Cook (R-Calif.), Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), Bradley Byrne (R-Ala.), Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.), John Shimkus (R-Ill.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) Hank Johnson Jr. (D-Ga.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.), Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) and Donald Norcross (D-N.J.). Mattis announced his resignation on Thursday after the White House announced it planned to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria a move Mattis strongly opposed.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-statement-on-government-shutdown,MURPHY STATEMENT ON GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN,2018-12-22,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"MURPHY STATEMENT ON GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN Saturday, December 22, 2018 WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Saturday released a statement after the deadline for a partial government shutdown passed. Negotiators from the White House and Congress couldn't come to an agreement after the president went back on his word and opposed a continuing resolution. This Wednesday, the U.S. Senate voted unanimously to fund the government through February 8th, 2019 without funding for a border wall. On December 11th, President Trump vowed to take blame for shutting the government down if Congress didn't fund the wall. This is so stupid. Congress and the White House had a bipartisan agreement to fully fund the government, but now we're in a shutdown because the president threw a tantrum about his border wall that no one on the border even wants and he promised Mexico would pay for, said Murphy. Republicans in Congress should be embarrassed. They're two years into a governing majority and still have no idea what they're doing. No wonder voters wanted a change. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-statement-impending-partial-government-shutdown,Courtney Statement on Impending Partial Government Shutdown,2018-12-21,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, DC Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) issued the following statement on the ongoing debate over the looming partial government shutdown: Shutting down nearly a quarter of our government is a costly, destructive and pointless exercise. After months of conflicting statements, the President's last-minute gamble to leverage a shutdown to extract demands for his border wall will only create chaos and uncertainty in agencies across our government. Unfortunately, eastern Connecticut will feel the impact of a shutdown first hand. Among many examples, the United States Coast Guard is going to be the one military service that takes the hardest hit as many will continue to serve and protect our nation even as they will not receive pay. Speaker Ryan can end this farce today. He should allow the House to take up the clean funding compromise that passed the Senate unanimously and put this avoidable and unnecessary episode to an immediate end. Debate about any other separate issues, like the construction of a border wall, will have plenty of time to be considered in the new year under regular order. According to the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB), about 1,500 federal employees working for the agencies facing a shutdown tonight work or reside in Connecticut as of June 2018. It is not known at this time how many would be deemed essential or be furloughed during a shutdown. (source: https://www.fedscope.opm.gov/) Department of Agriculture 138 Department of Commerce 129 Department of Justice 265 Department of Homeland Security 421 (of which 321 are connected to the Coast Guard) Department of Housing and Urban Development 45 Department of the Interior 65 Department of State 29 Department of Transportation 177 Department of the Treasury 153 National Credit Union Administration 13 Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation 20 General Services Administration 16 Small Business Administration 12 Under the law, federal employees subject to furlough during a shutdown would need Congress to approve back pay. Courtney is an original cosponsor of legislation, H.R. 7368, introduced yesterday by Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) to provide for the retroactive compensation of Federal employees furloughed during a Government shutdown. # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-shutdown-throws-our-country-further-chaos,Larson: This Shutdown Throws Our Country into Further Chaos,2018-12-21,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,John Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement on the impending government shutdown: Border security is imperative in our nation, however building a $5 billion wall is not the answer and not the security measures our country would need. This funding is a waste of American taxpayers' hard-earned money. Between Secretary Mattis resigning, the President pulling troops out of Syria and Afghanistan, and the stock market plunging, the President's decision to have a government shutdown over a border wall is throwing our country into chaos. This is not the way to run our country. Rep. Will Hurd, a Republican from Texas, who has the largest amount of border in his district, 820 miles, and is a former CIA agent, called the border wall a fallacy and said, It's not how many miles of a wall that is going to keep us safe, it's are we keeping bad people and drugs out of our country? And the best way to do that is with technology and manpower. Building a wall from sea to shining sea is the most expensive and least effective way to do border security.' We need to listen to the experts, like Rep. Hurd, fund the government, and invest in actual effective ways to protect our borders.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-releases-2018-end-of-year-report,MURPHY RELEASES 2018 END OF YEAR REPORT,2018-12-21,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"MURPHY RELEASES 2018 END OF YEAR REPORT Friday, December 21, 2018 WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) released his year-end report on Friday outlining the work he's done for Connecticut residents this year. I'm really proud of the work my office was able to do this year. My bills expanding mental health care for veterans, combatting the opioid crisis, and improving the background check system were signed into law. Working with our delegation, I brought back millions of dollars in federal funding for job training programs, health care services, and upgrades to our roads and rails. My office helped thousands of residents with their issues with the federal government, returning hundreds of thousands of dollars in owed Social Security and veterans benefits, said Murphy. I've spent this year fighting for Connecticut values. Unfortunately, too often, President Trump's dangerous actions and divisive rhetoric threatened so many of those values. Sometimes I was successful in standing up to the Trump administration, other times I was not. But through it all, my work was driven by what I heard, loud and clear, from Connecticut residents at town hall meetings, during my walk across the state, and through the calls and letters sent to my office. This feedback helps me be a better senator, and I couldn't do this job without it. This year, three of Murphy's bills were signed into law the bipartisan Fix NICS Act to improve the background check system, the Recovery COACH Act to help people in recovery from substance abuse, and the Honor Our Commitment Act, which provides access to mental health care for more than 500,000 veterans who were previously ineligible. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, he secured millions of dollars in federal funding to grow jobs in Connecticut. Throughout the year, Murphy traveled across the state, holding 130 town halls, roundtables, and listening sessions with Connecticut residents. He also responded to over 210,000 calls, letter and emails, and helped over 5,300 Connecticut residents with federal casework issues, returning over $967,000 in savings from federal agencies, including owed veterans benefits and Social Security payments. Click here to download the full 2018 Year in Review report",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-introduces-bill-block-new-usda-proposed-rule-undermining-snap,DeLauro Introduces Bill to Block New USDA Proposed Rule Undermining SNAP,2018-12-20,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC (December 20, 2018) Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today introduced the Protect SNAP Act, which would prevent the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) from implementing stricter work requirement under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). DeLauro's bill follows a new USDA proposal that would restrict millions of Americans' access to SNAPAmerica's leading anti-hunger program. Today's USDA proposal is immoral at its core and betrays decades of bipartisan support for SNAP. President Trump's cruelty could not be clearer: passing trillions in tax cuts for millionaires, billionaires, and corporationson top of the massive giveaways to corporate agribusinesses in the 2018 farm billwhile taking food assistance away from the unemployed. The Administration's own data shows it will put millions of Americans at risk of going hungry and cut SNAP by billions of dollars. The Trump Administration is shamelessly picking up where House Republicans left off because they could not get this passed in Congress. Instead of listening to the will of the American people, Secretary Purdue has decided to jam through a regulation that punishes people for being poor. That is unconscionable. We cannot cut off this vital lifeline by rigging SNAP against the very people who the program was created to help. People who are food insecure deserve access to food, not further stigmatization. Congress should pass the Protect SNAP Act immediately to reinforce its authority and intent on this issue. Earlier this year, DeLauro led a letter of 110 House Democrats telling Farm Bill conferees to reject changes to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. DeLauro is a senior Democrat on the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-rejects-another-republican-tax-bill-leaves-working-americans-tab,Larson Rejects Another Republican Tax Bill That Leaves Working Americans With The Tab,2018-12-20,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,John Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement after voting NO on another Republican tax proposal that was jammed through the House of Representatives. Once again, the Republicans have steamrolled another tax bill through the House, absent of any public hearings, expert testimony or constructive debate. This last-ditch effort was reminiscent of last year's GOP tax bill that was created behind closed doors without regular order and in a partisan fashion. Rather than addressing the crucial failure of their tax agenda to provide hard-working, middle-class families any kind of relief, the House Republicans have instead chosen to force this bill through without any regard for the American people. The party of so-called fiscal conservatism has now increased the national debt even further with this extra tax bill by more than $100 billion, with no way to pay for it. This bill doubles down on their efforts to line the pockets of the wealthy with tax breaks at the expense of middle class families and our nation's deficit, said Larson.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-statement-secretary-mattis-resignation-announcement,Larson Statement on Secretary Mattis Resignation Announcement,2018-12-20,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,John Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. After it was announced that Defense Secretary James Mattis was resigning in February, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement: James Mattis has served his country with honor and distinction. He is the most highly regarded member of the Trump Cabinet. His knowledge, his ability, his respect, his idealism, and values, have given our allies around the world the confidence that is needed in any administration. A lifetime of service underscored by love of country, honor, and duty, have made him the standup of the Trump Administration. This a great loss for the country. We can only wish him the best. I have nothing but respect for Secretary Mattis and his achievements. I only regret that his absence makes an administration that turns over cabinet members at an unprecedented rate, more unstable, in a time globally, militarily, and economically where we need the stability and leadership of people like James Mattis.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-votes-bipartisan-criminal-justice-reform,Larson Votes for Bipartisan Criminal Justice Reform,2018-12-20,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,John Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington DC Today, Congressman John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement in response to the House of Representatives passing the bipartisan The First Step Act, a bill that takes sensible steps to reforming our criminal justice system. I was pleased to have voted for The First Step Act as that is exactly what it is, a first step in reforming our antiquated federal criminal justice system. This bipartisan package reduces sentences for non-violent crimes, provides redemption opportunities for low-risk inmates who want to turn their lives around, and incorporates vital education, rehabilitation and training programs to ensure successful reentry into society. The First Step Act shows when both parties in Congress work together we can pass real solutions for the American people. This was truly a step in the right direction for prison reform, said Larson.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-durbin-shaheen-schumer-press-us-ambassador-to-hungary-on-democratic-backsliding-,"MURPHY, DURBIN, SHAHEEN, SCHUMER PRESS U.S. AMBASSADOR TO HUNGARY ON DEMOCRATIC BACKSLIDING",2018-12-20,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"MURPHY, DURBIN, SHAHEEN, SCHUMER PRESS U.S. AMBASSADOR TO HUNGARY ON DEMOCRATIC BACKSLIDING Thursday, December 20, 2018 WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Thursday joined U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) in pressing the U.S. Ambassador to Hungary David Cornstein over their mounting concerns with democratic backsliding in Hungary, including the most recent forced expulsion of the American-accredited Central European University (CEU). CEU enjoys considerable bipartisan support in Congress given its commitment to open society and critical thinking in a former Soviet Bloc nation still consolidating its democratic gains.Murphy previously led a bipartisan effort urging Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbn and the Hungarian government to keep CEU in Budapest. This petty and counterproductive move by the Hungarian government comes on the heels of increased intimidation and shrinking of the country's free press. While we appreciate the challenge of engaging the Viktor Orban regime, such moves by his government are antithetical to key American democratic values and international norms and do not go unnoticed in the United States Congress, the members wrote in a letter to Ambassador Cornstein. The last few years have seen deeply troublingly and brazen efforts to undermine the country's judiciary as well as access to independent media in Hungary.Just recently, more than a dozen owners gave 400 news websites, newspapers, television channels, and radio stations to a front group run by Orban loyalists.The members also expressed concern over Hungary's seeming leanings toward Moscow, including its refusal to extradite to the U.S. two Russians wanted for selling arms to drug cartels and harboring of pro-Russian, ex-Macedonian prime minister Nikola Gruevski, a fugitive facing prison at home over corruption charges. U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) joined Murphy, Durbin, Shaheen, and Schumer in sending the letter. Full text of the letter is available here and below: December 20, 2018 Dear Ambassador Cornstein: We write to express our mounting concern over democratic backsliding in Hungary, including the most recent forced expulsion of the Central European University (CEU). This petty and counterproductive move by the Hungarian government comes on the heels of increased intimidation and shrinking of the country's free press. While we appreciate the challenge of engaging the Viktor Orban regime, such moves by his government are antithetical to key American democratic values and international norms and do not go unnoticed in the United States Congress. The Central European University enjoys considerable bipartisan support in Congressand for obvious reasonsgiven its commitment to open society and critical thinking in a former Soviet Bloc nation still consolidating its democratic gains. As such, we were deeply disturbed by reports that you did not wield sufficientU.S. leverage over Hungary to try to achieve a better outcome and instead tried to blame the university for its ouster. Our understanding is that CEU attempted to comply with bullying legislation targeting foreign academic institutions by establishing a program at New York's Bard College, astep Orban's government refuses to acknowledge. In the end, there should have been a way for the United States to find a more suitable solution to such a government vendetta that adheres to American values and serves Hungarian students hoping for a top education. Similarly, the last few years have seen deeply troublingly and brazen efforts toundermine access to independent media in Hungary. Just recently, more than a dozen owners gave 400 news websites, newspapers, television channels, and radio stations to a front group run by Orban loyalists. Taking from the tired autocrat playbook, Orban is obviously trying to silence those critical of his government or unwilling to serve as regime mouthpieces. Lastly, we are troubled by Hungary's seeming leanings toward Moscow, including itsrefusal to extradite to the United States two Russians wanted for selling arms to drug cartels and harboring of pro-Russian, ex-Macedonian prime minister Nikola Gruevski, a fugitive facing prison at home over corruption charges. We have many shared interests in our important relationship with Hungary. Nevertheless, we expect these shared interests to be pursued with underlying core American democratic values. Sincerely, ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-us-should-get-out-of-syria-but-trumps-botched-withdrawal-announcement-makes-us-weaker,"MURPHY: U.S. SHOULD GET OUT OF SYRIA, BUT TRUMPS BOTCHED WITHDRAWAL ANNOUNCEMENT MAKES U.S. WEAKER",2018-12-20,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"MURPHY: U.S. SHOULD GET OUT OF SYRIA, BUT TRUMP'S BOTCHED WITHDRAWAL ANNOUNCEMENT MAKES U.S. WEAKER Thursday, December 20, 2018 Murphy: [This was] an announcement, a statement made on Twitter and no rollout of a plan for how the United States is going to continue to try to keep the peace WASHINGTON Last night, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, delivered remarks on the floor of the U.S. Senate on President Trump's decision to withdraw the remaining 2,000 U.S. troops in Syria. Although Murphy has been a critic of the U.S. military involvement in Syria and has called on Congress to reclaim its war-making authority and debate a new Authorization of Use of Military Force (AMUF), during his remarks he criticized the President for making a ham-handed announcement of withdrawal without a sound strategy to complete the mission. I thought this was a bad idea from the start, Murphy said. Our troop presence in Syria is not authorized by Congress. Murphy continued to argue that the U.S. presence failed to accomplish its objectives. We should admit that we have just prolonged [the war] it instead of trying to end it. I agree with many of the criticisms that my Republican friends who have come down to the floor have complained about. This was done in a ham-handed manner that makes us weaker in the world. But forgive me if I have a few questions about why my Republican friends chose to speak up only now with questions about the president's Syria policy, Murphy later added. Many members of the Republican Party still cling to this outdated, empirically disproved fantastic notion that the American military can solve complicated, convoluted political problems in the Middle East. Now, we have amazing men and women in the Armed Forces, but there are limits to what they can do, and history, especially the history of the last 15 years, tells us that big U.S. military presence in the Middle East often creates as many problems as it solves. The full text of Murphy's remarks is below: Thank you very much, Mr. President. Mr. President, I come to the floor today to speak briefly about the president's announcement today that he is going to be withdrawing 2,000 American troops from Syria. Now, let me be clear, I thought this was a bad idea from the start, primarily because our troop presence in Syria is not authorized by Congress. We have had that debate in many forums here, but I believe that this Congress has never authorized the United States military to engage in hostilities against ISIS. It is, I think, an extrapolation of the 2001 AMUF that simply belies common sense. And so, we should never endorse military activity overseas, no matter what we think about the merits if it's not authorized by this body, but we have also seen over and over again that our relatively meager military presence in the Middle East has never been enough to change the political realities on the ground. The training mission was a disaster. The weapons we gave to the rebels ended up in the hands of the people that we were fighting. And ultimately we never had enough firepower there to be able to meaningfully change the balance of power. But I will concede that the way that the president went about making this decision makes our country an even bigger laughingstock than it already is in the region. And frankly that's pretty hard, because everybody is asking questions right now about why we pretended that we were going to protect our Kurdish partners in the region if on the eve of the Turkish offensive against the Kurds we decide to pull out. It makes absolutely no sense to pretend for literal months and months and months that we were going to be the bulwark to protect the Kurds against the Turks, and then right on the precipice of the Turkish offensive, we leave. Why would anybody believe us in the future if we give them our word? And again, I'm speaking as someone who didn't support the intervention in the first place, but once you have made that commitment, why not follow it through? Second, why pull the rug out from under our diplomats in the region? It's very clear that neither Jim Jeffries nor Brett McGurk knew anything about this. In fact, they were just making plans and suggestions weeks ago to increase our military involvement in the region. And now they are having to explain why 2,000 troops are leaving. If you're going to make a decision like this, make sure the people who are working for you know about it. And third, why announce this pullout without answering any questions about it or announcing an alternative strategy? Total darkness from the national security team. An announcement, a statement made on Twitter and no rollout of a plan for how the United States is going to continue to try to keep the peace. So I agree with many of the criticisms that my Republican friends who have come down to the floor have complained about. This was done in a ham-handed manner that makes us weaker in the world. But forgive me if I have a few questions about why my Republican friends chose to speak up only now with questions about the president's Syria policy. Where was this outrage when the President of the United States froze millions of dollars in humanitarian funding that could have saved lives on the ground in Syria? If you care so deeply about the future of Syria, why weren't the Republicans lighting up social media down on this floor complaining about the fact that the president refused to forward badly needed humanitarian dollars to the region? Where was the outrage when the president effectively pulled the United States out of the peace process? Remember, the United States under the Obama administration, whatever you think about Obama's strategy, was in the peace processwas a partner to try to figure out a way forward for Syria. Donald Trump, as has been his strategy internationally, pulled us out of that diplomatic conversation, left the diplomatic playing field to the Iranians, to the Russians, and to the Turks. Where was the outrage when the United States walked away from the negotiating table? How about the shutdown of the refugee program? Once again, if your focus is on the cataclysm of humanitarian disaster on the ground in Syria, why weren't there all sorts of members of the Republican Party coming down to the floor and complaining when the president decided to not allow any more Syrian refugees, those fleeing terror and torture to come to the United States? What about outrage over the fact that the president proposed cutting the State Department by 40%, the State Department that's going to be in the driver's seat when we eventually get to the point of putting Syria back together politically? Why is there outrage only today? Well, here is the answer, I think, and it worries me. I think there is outrage today because many members of the Republican Party still cling to this outdated, empirically disproved, fantastic notion that the American military can solve complicated, convoluted political problems in the Middle East. Now, we have amazing men and women in the Armed Forces, but there are limits to what they can do, and history, especially the history of the last 15 years, tells us that big U.S. military presence in the Middle East often creates as many problems as it solves. And the Republicans who were complaining about this make it sound as if we had a couple divisions in Syria. We didn't. We had 2,000 troops. We had 2,000 troops compared to the hundreds of thousands of troops fighting on behalf of the Syrian regime, the Iranian militias, the Kurdish forces, the rebel forces, the remnants of ISIS's forces. 2,000 troops isn't enough to bluff. It isn't enough to gain a negotiating foothold. It is frankly just enough to keep faking it in Syria, doing just enough militarily to say that we're doing something to be able to sleep at night while never actually doing anything sufficient to change the balance of power. That has been the story of both President Obama and President Trump's policy in Syria. We do just enough to convince the rebels that they should keep going but never enough to actually tackle Bashar al-Assad. All we have done is keep the civil war running and running and running. And I have really terrible news for y'all. Assad is going to win this war. He was always going to win this war because the folks that were on his side had much bigger equities, Russia and Iran, than the folks that were on the side of the rebels. Now, that really stinks that Bashar al-Assad is going to win, but you have to make policy based on the real world, not on some world that you imagine. And these neoconservatives, they are still even after 4,000 Americans were killed in Iraq and 30,000 were wounded, they're still clinging to this notion that a couple thousand U.S. troops are going to be able to solve the problems in Syria. Listen, I get it. Restraint in the face of evil is really hard stuff, but hubris in the face of evil is worse. And so what should we be doing? I won't spend too much time on this, but we should get out of the civil war. We should admit that we have just prolonged it instead of trying to end it. We should keep working with our partners and keep using air power to keep ISIS on the run. We should rescue Syrians with a generous refugee program, both helping our partners in the Middle East, rescue Syrians and bringing them to the United States when they pass our vetting program. And we should stop angering our allies all over the world, but particularly in that region and get back into the diplomatic game. And finally we should stop believing that our only leverage in negotiations in Syria or anywhere else in the world is military force. Put up a promise of massive investment in Syria after a peace deal is signed, likely frankly costing a fraction of what we spend in Iraq, and you will discover that you will quickly get a seat at that table again. But it's time that we give up on this notion that these brave, capable American soldiers can fix these complicated these tribal, political, economic, and religious problems in the Middle East. They are brave and they are capable, but there are things they can do and there are things they can't do. And every time that we put our troops in situations where they are doomed to fail, when we are not prepared to give them the resources to succeed, as was always the case in Syria, spare me this notion that 2,000 American troops are going to be able to fix Syria. Every time that we put them in situations where they can't win, we undermine American influence, and we undermine the power of our military. I don't agree with how the president did this. Once you have made that commitment, boy, it doesn't make a lot of sense to pull the rug out from under our partners right as the tough stuff starts to come. I don't agree that he didn't do it in consultation with anybody in this place or anybody on the national security team. I think his announcement today is ham-handed and embarrassing, but his instincts aren't entirely wrong. On the question of what American troops can and can't do in the Middle East, -- I can't believe I'm saying this -- I think the president may have learned more than many of my friends in the Senate have. I yield back. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/view/murphy-delivers-remarks-after-president-trump-announce-withdrawing-us-troops-from-syria,Murphy delivers remarks after President Trump announce withdrawing U.S. troops from Syria,2018-12-20,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"hartford Colt Gateway 120 Huyshope Avenue Suite 401 Hartford, CT 06106 P: (860) 549-8463 F: (860) 524-5091 Get Directions",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/day-courtney-announces-federal-grant-submarine-supply-chain-group-groton,The Day: Courtney announces federal grant for submarine supply chain group in Groton,2018-12-19,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, announced a $62,100 grant Tuesday from the federal Economic Development Agency to the Naval & Maritime Consortium, formerly known as the Connecticut Undersea Supply Chain Consortium, headquartered in Groton. The consortium, a partnership between the University of Connecticut and Thames River Innovation Place, is a network of companies that collectively addresses challenges, shares solutions, collaborates on opportunities, and capitalizes on the growing undersea supply chain. ""Our region and our state are preparing for tremendous growth in submarine construction work in the coming years and we need a robust supply chain to help meet the challenge,""Courtney said in a statement. The grant will be used to establish an economic development planning framework, process, and strategy that supports private capital investment and job creation in the region, a news release from Courtney's office says. Courtney currently serves as the ranking member of the House Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, which oversees Navy shipbuilding and submarine construction and development programs. [...] Read the full article at TheDay.com",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-announces-federal-grant-naval-and-maritime-supply-chain,COURTNEY ANNOUNCES FEDERAL GRANT FOR NAVAL AND MARITIME SUPPLY CHAIN CONSORTIUM,2018-12-19,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, DC Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) announced the award of a $62,100 federal Economic Development Agency (EDA) grant to the Naval & Maritime Consortium (formerly known as the Connecticut Undersea Supply Chain Consortium). The consortium, a partnership between the University of Connecticut and Thames River Innovation Place, is a network of companies that collectively addresses challenges, shares solutions, collaborates on opportunities, and capitalizes on the growing undersea supply chain. Our region and our state are preparing for tremendous growth in submarine construction work in the coming years and we need a robust supply chain to help meet the challenge, said Courtney. It's all hands on deck to make sure we are ready to provide the manufacturing capability, the skilled workforce and the innovation that will get us there. I am proud to work with partners such as UCONN and the Thames River Innovation Place to accomplish this important and exciting goal. UConn Engineering is very excited to be working with the newly established Naval & Maritime Consortium and all our other partners in Groton as part of the Thames River Innovation Place project supported by CTNEXT, said Kazem Kazerounian, Dean of the UCONN School of Engineering. The new grant from the EDA Technical Assistance program will allow us to accelerate our activities focusing on assisting the naval supply chain across Connecticut. The Naval & Maritime Consortium is thrilled to be acknowledged by the EDA as an investment opportunity that will benefit our region and state, said Alexandra Halvordson, head of the Naval & Maritime Consortium. We are growing quickly as we prepare for new industry expansions, and we look forward to using these funds to support and grow a stronger maritime supply chain. According to the EDA, this federal grant will be used to establish an economic development planning framework, process, and strategy that supports private capital investment and job creation in the region. In November, Congressman Courtney spoke at the launch of the Naval & Maritime Consortium at UCONN Avery Point and highlighted the tremendous growth in submarine construction work at Electric Boat and through the supply chain. Read more here: https://www.theday.com/article/20181109/BIZ02/181109459/. Courtney currently serves as the ranking member of the House Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, which oversees Navy shipbuilding and submarine construction and development programs. # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-schakowsky-introduce-medicare-america,"DeLauro, Schakowsky Introduce Medicare for America",2018-12-19,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC (December 19, 2018) Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) and Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) today introduced the Medicare for America Act, a new healthcare bill that would ensure universal, high-quality, affordable health coverage by making Medicare accessible to all Americans and expanding the program's covered benefits and services. The Medicare for America plan includes coverage for prescription drugs, dental, vision, and hearing services, as well as long-term supports and services for seniors and Americans living with disabilities. Medicare for America achieves universal coverage while preserving quality employer-sponsored insurance for those who have it and are satisfied. Americans who are uninsured or do not have employer-sponsored insuranceincluding those on the individual marketwould be auto-enrolled into Medicare for America. Healthcare affects the lives of every American, yet our current system fails far too many of them each day, said Congresswoman DeLauro. From exorbitant premiums and deductibles to skimpy plans that do not cover the essentials, healthcare in America is complex and costly when you need it. Even worse, the gains Americans secured through the Affordable Care Actsuch as coverage for those with pre-existing conditions and Medicaid expansionare under attack from President Trump and Congressional Republicans, who say one thing publicly while they work to dismantle healthcare coverage. This is not the path we should be on. But we cannot just stay on the defensivepeople's lives are at stake, continued DeLauro. An individual's zip code should not determine their benefits, as our current healthcare system is largely a patchwork of what states cover under Medicaid and state mandates for private insurance. That is why we must continue to fight until every American has healthcare coverage they can afford and that meets their needs. Through Medicare for America, we can finally ensure that all Americans have the same robust benefits and services package. One of the largest drivers of healthcare costs in the United States is the cost of prescription drugs. Currently, the United States government is banned from negotiating prescription drug prices under Medicare, which keeps prices artificially high for millions of Americans. Medicare for America will finally remove that ban, and if negotiations fail, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will use the prices paid by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or the average price of these drugs in Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) nations. Every person in America deserves quality, affordable, and comprehensive healthcare, said Congresswoman Schakowsky. That is why I am so proud to join Representative DeLauro in introducing Medicare For America. Now more than ever, we must look into every way to address the problems in our healthcare system. This bill goes a long way to strengthen Medicare and provide excellent healthcare to all Americans. As a member of the Medicare for All Caucus, I believe this bill is an important step to expanding coverage to reducing out-of-pocket healthcare costs and covering important services like long-term care and prescription drugs. Medicare for America offers a simple, transparent cost structure. Individuals will have a $350 deductible and $3,500 maximum out-of-pocket spending. For households, their deductible will be $500 and $5,000 maximum out-of-pocket spending. Medicare for America also ensures coverage is affordable for all by capping individual and household premiums at 9.69 percent of their monthly income. Individuals or families making less than 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level will not pay a premium, have to meet a deductible, or have a maximum out-of-pocket spending. Individuals or families between 200 percent and 600 percent of the Federal Poverty Level will receive subsidies to lower their contribution to the premium. Medicare for America sets a new standard for universal health care that's affordable, universal, comprehensiveand possible, said Jacob S. Hacker, Stanley Resor Professor of Political Science and Director of the Institution for Social and Policy Studies at Yale University. It not only builds on the best aspects of Medicare; it also improves the program for those now within it so it can be a secure foundation for quality coverage for all Americans for generations to come. Health care is a fundamental human right and the foundation of economic security for all people, said Neera Tanden, CEO of the Center for American Progress Action Fund. Medicare for America' is an important contribution to the debate over how to improve our health care system. By making an enhanced Medicare program available to all Americans, Medicare for America' would guarantee universal health care and dramatically lower out-of-pocket costs. The legislation would ensure that every American, no matter where he or she lives, is no longer subject to Republican sabotage or the whims of insurance companies. Currently, there is incredibly limited access to long-term supports and supports in Medicare and private insurance, leaving Medicaid to be the primary payer of these services and supports. With an emphasis on home and community-based settings, Medicare for America establishes and guarantees access to long-term support and services. The Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities is thankful to Representative DeLauro and Representative Schakowsky for introducing a healthcare reform bill that recognizes that all must mean all, people and services, said Kim Musheno, Chair of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities. We appreciate that the bill includes a benefit for community-based long term supports and services. These services are imperative for people with disabilities and older adults to live healthy lives in their communities. The Arc is grateful that Representative DeLauro and Representative Schakowsky have included a robust Long Term Supports and Services benefit, with an emphasis on community-based services in this bill, said Nicole Jorwic, Director of Rights Policy for The Arc of the United States. It is imperative that any healthcare reform include these services, that are vital to the lives of people with intellectual disabilities and their families. The Medicare for America Act's legislative text can be found here, and a brief summary can be found here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-hhs-fingerprinting-policy-change,DeLauro Statement on HHS Fingerprinting Policy Change,2018-12-19,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC (December 19, 2018) Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today released the following statement after the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced it will reverse course and cease fingerprinting all household members of sponsors who have come forward to take care of unaccompanied children. The latest news from HHS is a positive step toward beginning to unravel its misguided fingerprinting policy, which has prolonged the trauma thousands of children in its custody face. Still, the heart of this harmful policy is still in place.HHS should focus on providing the best care for these children, not be used as an immigration enforcement tool by fingerprinting sponsors when there are no red flags and then sharing that information with ICE. This process endangers children and will perpetuate their detention in HHS shelters. As the lead Democrat on the Appropriations Subcommittee that has oversight over HHS's care for these children, I will not sit back and enable this Administration's harmful child abuse policies. Earlier this month, DeLauro called for the immediate closure of the Tornillo tent city facility, which currently holds nearly 3,000 unaccompanied children. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/following-investigation-murphy-demands-trump-administration-comply-with-buy-american-laws,"FOLLOWING INVESTIGATION, MURPHY DEMANDS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION COMPLY WITH BUY AMERICAN LAWS",2018-12-19,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"FOLLOWING INVESTIGATION, MURPHY DEMANDS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION COMPLY WITH BUY AMERICAN LAWS Murphy-initiated GAO investigation found that the federal government violated Buy American laws & spent $18 million on foreign-made aircraft parts Wednesday, December 19, 2018 WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), ranking member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch, on Wednesday responded to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report outlining violations from several executive agencies regarding the Buy American Act and steps the executive branch can take to make sure these agencies are in full compliance of the law. The report found multiple occasions where the U.S. Departments of Defense (DoD), Health and Human Services (HHS), Homeland Security (DHS), and Veterans Affairs (VA), incorrectly recorded or misrepresented information related to the Buy American Act. For example, DHS incorrectly stated that an $18 million contract was spent on aircraft accessories manufactured in the United States, even though the parts were made by a foreign company. Last year, Murphy requested the Comptroller General of the United States Gene L. Dodaro and his office investigate U.S. government compliance with laws and regulations such as theBuy American Actand theBerry Amendment that require U.S. agencies to prioritize the purchase of American-made goods over the purchase of foreign-made goods. I am tired of our government sending taxpayer dollars overseas for goods they can buy here at home. I requested this report because I've seen how blatantly the federal government violates Buy American laws. Unfortunately, it hasn't stopped. The GAO just found out that the Trump administration spent $18 million on foreign aircraft parts that we should have bought from U.S. manufacturers. Connecticut manufacturers are the best at what they do and deserve to have an opportunity to compete for these contracts, said Murphy. These laws are in place for a reason. If President Trump is serious when he says America first', his administration must get serious about complying with laws that help our manufacturers make products to defend our country. Murphy, the author of theBuyAmerican.gov Actand theAmerican Jobs Matter Act,has been a longtime advocate for closing loopholes in our broken Buy American laws.In 2016, he met with then-DoD Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Frank Kendall after a similar report outlining violations at DoD that may have cost American manufacturers more than $200 billion in business over five years. Earlier this year, Murphy convinced DoD increase transparency and critical protections against the U.S. government purchase of foreign-made unmanned aerial systems, or drones. The manufacturing industry plays a crucial role throughout Connecticut communities, creating new jobs and accelerating our state's economic recovery. Today, Connecticut's 4,602 manufacturers account for 10.2% of the state's jobs and 87% of the state's total exports. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-statement-on-withdrawal-of-us-troops-in-syria,MURPHY STATEMENT ON WITHDRAWAL OF U.S. TROOPS IN SYRIA,2018-12-19,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"MURPHY STATEMENT ON WITHDRAWAL OF U.S. TROOPS IN SYRIA Wednesday, December 19, 2018 WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement on Wednesday after reports that President Trump will pull the remaining 2,000 U.S. troops out of Syria. America's military presence in Syria has always been too little to make a decisive difference but just enough to prolong the fighting. Our half-hearted military commitment made no sense from the start - we went into this war without legal authorization or realistic objectives, and discounted the American people's clear aversion to getting involved in another quagmire in the Middle East, said Murphy. This devastating civil war has since killed more than half a million people and forced millions more to flee their homes and seek safety and shelter abroad. The Trump administration's policy of prolonging the violence in Syria while locking people inside and refusing to allow refugees to come to the United States is morally repugnant and has without a doubt made us less safe. I support withdrawing troops, but we must also rejoin a diplomatic process that the Trump administration has left to other powers, and we need a surge in humanitarian relief.That's the only way we can protect the Syrian people against a Turkish incursion or regime reprisals.Right now, the Trump administration has no Syria strategy - no military strategy, no diplomatic strategy, no humanitarian strategy.That's unconscionable. Murphy hascalledon Congress to reclaim its war-making authority and debate a new Authorization for Use of Military Force. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-roybal-allard-call-enforcement-child-labor-laws,"DeLauro, Roybal-Allard Call for Enforcement of Child Labor Laws",2018-12-18,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC (December 18, 2018) Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) and Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40) today sent a letter to the Department of Labor (DOL) Acting Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division Bryan Jarrett calling for a comprehensive DOL strategy to enforce child labor laws. Their letter follows a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) studycommissioned at their requestwhich found that child labor accounts for a devastatingly high amount of work-related fatalities in the United States, especially in the agricultural sector. More than 75 years after the passage of the Fair Labor Standards Act, which strengthened protections for America's most vulnerable children, serious violations persist for child laborers working on farms in the United States, said the Members. Despite employing a small percentage of working children, the data concludes that the agriculture sector is responsible for over half of the 452 work-related fatalities among children during the duration of the study. Moreover, the study conducted by GAO revealed that although the agricultural sector surpasses all industries for most work-related fatalities, it ranks just fifth for most Wage and Hour violations. We are therefore concerned that your agency lacks strategic enforcement to ensure there is proper accountability for violations, as logic dictates that the sector responsible for the most deaths by far would also commit the most violations, continued the Members. Oversight provided by the Department of Labor is necessary to protect the welfare of children in the workforce, especially in the agriculture sector where a disproportionate number of children are being killed. We request a comprehensive strategy to address this gap in enforcement no later than April 2019. DeLauro is the lead Democrat on the Appropriations Subcommittee responsible for funding the DOL, and Roybal-Allard also serves as a member of the Subcommittee. A copy of the signed letter can be found here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-trump-administration-school-safety-commission-report,DeLauro Statement on Trump Administration School Safety Commission Report,2018-12-18,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC (December 18, 2018) Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today released the following statement after the Trump Administration's Federal Commission on School Safety released its final report. This report is nothing but a bait and switch from President Trump and Secretary DeVos. After the terrible tragedy of the Parkland shooting, the President promised a roomful of students and an anxious nation that he would take action to reduce gun violence in our schools. Instead, his commissionchaired by Secretary DeVossidesteps the issue of guns, fails to advance real solutions to keep our students safe, blames the media, and serves as a Trojan horse for rollbacks that would hurt students. The hypocrisy of the commission's report is egregious. Secretary DeVos used public dollars to conduct a sham review of solutions to gun violence, while Republicans strenuously fight to block the federal government from doing real research into this issue. The epidemic of gun violencewhich has hurt or killed thousands of American childrenis a public health crisis that demands serious investigation. Our nation's children and their families deserve action, not empty rhetoric as the Trump administration gives another gift to the gun lobby. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-applauds-senate-passage-of-the-first-step-act,MURPHY APPLAUDS SENATE PASSAGE OF THE FIRST STEP ACT,2018-12-18,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"MURPHY APPLAUDS SENATE PASSAGE OF THE FIRST STEP ACT Tuesday, December 18, 2018 WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Tuesday applauded the passage of the FIRST STEP Act, a bipartisan criminal justice bill aimed at reforming federal prisons and sentencing laws. This is the first time in years that Congress has passed meaningful criminal justice reform legislation. Everyone knows our country's criminal justice system is broken. This bill is a good step toward correcting it by reducing some of the lengthy sentences given to nonviolent offenders as part of misguided War on Drugs' policies. The bipartisan work that went into this bill shows that Congress can still be a place where Republicans and Democrats come together to solve problems, said Murphy. The FIRST STEP Act includes policies to tackle mass incarceration and reduce sentencing, including: Retroactively applying the Fair Sentencing Act, which reduced the disparity in punishment between crack cocaine and the powered substance, to those sentenced for drug offenses before 2010 Gives judges the ability to ease mandatory minimum sentence by enhancing the safety valve for nonviolent drug offenders Prohibits the shackling of pregnant women and requires health care products be provided to incarcerated women Creates a new earned time credit, which allows eligible prisoners to earn credit towards early placement in a halfway house, home confinement, or limited supervised release by participating in recidivism-reduction programs or productive activities. Murphy has been a supporter of reforming our criminal justice system. This year, the At-Risk Youth Medicaid Protection Act Murphy introduced with U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.), legislation to ensure that children who spend time in the juvenile justice system continue to receive much-needed health care coverage and treatments immediately after their release from custody, was signed into law. Murphy is also a co-sponsor of the Beyond the Box for Higher Education Act, legislation that would encourage colleges and universities to remove criminal and juvenile justice questions from their admissions applications and give more Americans a chance to earn a higher education. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-blasts-trump-devos-school-safety-report-that-includes-arming-teachers-rolling-back-school-discipline-reforms,"MURPHY BLASTS TRUMP, DEVOS SCHOOL SAFETY REPORT THAT INCLUDES ARMING TEACHERS, ROLLING BACK SCHOOL DISCIPLINE REFORMS",2018-12-18,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"MURPHY BLASTS TRUMP, DEVOS SCHOOL SAFETY REPORT THAT INCLUDES ARMING TEACHERS, ROLLING BACK SCHOOL DISCIPLINE REFORMS Tuesday, December 18, 2018 WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, on Tuesday blasted the Federal Commission on School Safety, led by U.S. Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, for issuing recommendations that include proposals on arming teachers and gutting civil rights protections. The Commission was established in the aftermath of the school shooting in Parkland, Florida. Teachers don't want this. Parents don't want this. Only Betsy DeVos, President Trump, and the gun industry think the best way to stop a school shooting is to load schools up with guns. Arming teachers and rolling back school discipline reforms won't make our kids any safer. It's nonsensical and dangerous, said Murphy. We know what will make our schools safer. We need to give schools resources to support educators and meaningfully help struggling students. And we need to tighten our gun laws to make sure that criminals don't have access to guns and that no one can walk into a school with a weapon of war. Murphy has been a vocal opponent of using federal education funds intended to address school climate issues to purchase firearms for teachers. In August, he introduced an amendment to block the Department of Education from doing so. Murphy has also been a steadfast proponent for reforming school discipline policies. The Every Student Succeeds Act, which was passed into law by President Obama, included a provision spearheaded by Murphy that requires states to submit report cards on school climate and safety, including rates of suspensions, expulsions, school-related arrests, and referrals to law enforcement. States are also required to submit plans for how they will reduce the use of discipline practices that threaten student safety, including seclusion and restraint. Suspension and expulsion disproportionately effects students of color and students with disabilities. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-statement-on-trump-administration-announcement-banning-bump-stocks,MURPHY STATEMENT ON TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCEMENT BANNING BUMP STOCKS,2018-12-18,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"MURPHY STATEMENT ON TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCEMENT BANNING BUMP STOCKS Tuesday, December 18, 2018 WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) released a statement following President Trump's announcement that his administration will officially ban bump stock devices, which allow semi-automatic weapons to be modified to fire at the rate of automatic weapons. I'm happy the Trump administration is finally doing this, but nobody should get a pat on the back for doing away with these mass killing devices. This should have been done a long time ago. Bump stocks have enabled murderers to kill hundreds of innocent Americans and they were used exactly as directed. How many more lives do we have to lose before Congress decides it's not okay? said Murphy. Frankly, there is significant risk in doing this administratively. Gun companies will likely sue, and if Republicans actually cared about banning bump stocks, they would pass legislation making it crystal clear that the government has the authority to ban these devices. Since his time in the Senate, Murphy has been a vocal critic of our nation's gun laws, and authored the Background Check Expansion Act to expand federal background checks to the sale or transfer of all firearms by private sellers, with certain reasonable exceptions. Murphy also co-authored the bipartisan Fix NICS Act with U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas), which would ensure federal and state authorities accurately report relevant criminal history records to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. Murphy also joined U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) to introduce the Automatic Gun Fire Prevention Act, a bill to close a loophole that allows people to use bump-stocks to turn semi-automatic weapons to automatic weapons. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-highlights-bristol-manufacturer-novo-precision-as-this-weeks-murphys-monday-manufacturer,"MURPHY HIGHLIGHTS BRISTOL MANUFACTURER, NOVO PRECISION, AS THIS WEEKS MURPHYS MONDAY MANUFACTURER",2018-12-17,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"MURPHY HIGHLIGHTS BRISTOL MANUFACTURER, NOVO PRECISION, AS THIS WEEK'S MURPHY'S MONDAY MANUFACTURER Monday, December 17, 2018 WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) announced that precision wires and machine manufacturer Novo Precision, LLC in Bristol is this week's ""Murphy's Monday Manufacturer.""Novo Precision specializes in manufacturing that serves global markets with medical staples and clips, cut-to-length wire products and precision machine components. The company can be traced back to 1981, but Novo Precision in its current form was founded in 2014. Novo Precision employs 41 people and works out of two facilities in Bristol: a 20,000 square foot headquarters and a 20,000 square foot facility purchased this year to give the company more space to grow. Novo sells machines to companies around the world like UTC, Snap-On, and Abbot Medical, and works with several large medical companies like Medtronic, ConMed, and Boston Scientific. The company is active in the Bristol community as well, frequently partnering with Bristol Technical School and Connecticut State Apprenticeship Program. Novo Precision continues to grow and expand. They recently launched a new project in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning industry. The project has the potential to add 10-15 jobs in the next six months and was designed by their engineers in cooperation with MicroCare, a company in New Britain. 90% of the components are purchased locally from companies in Connecticut, and 100% are purchased in the United States. In 2019, the company plans to develop the Novo Research and Development Center. This will enable them to develop new products and capabilities to add to their current equipment line. Murphy visited Novo Precision in October and toured the facility with President Bill Hazard. I was thrilled to visit Novo Precision this fall and was very impressed by the innovative products Bill and his team have been working on. And their commitment to buying products right here in Connecticut is crucial to growing our economy, said Murphy. Novo is still young, but they have already proven why Connecticut is home to the best manufacturing has to offer. I am excited to see what they come up with next. We are looking forward to continued growth over the next several years. Novo Precision will continue to invest in our people, processes, and in developing new products. Both the City of Bristol & State of Connecticut have been great partners in supporting our growth through matching fund programs, real estate abatements, and their apprenticeship program. The manufacturing economy is also in a pro-U.S. resurgence which has benefited us greatly, said Bill Hazzard, president of Novo Precision. The manufacturing industry plays a crucial role throughout Connecticut communities, creating new jobs and accelerating the state's economic recovery. Today, Connecticut's 4,600 manufacturers account for 10% of the state's jobs and 87% of the state's total exports. In order to protect and grow manufacturing jobs in Connecticut, Murphy has introduced two pieces of legislation that aim to strengthen existing standards and prioritize the purchase of American-made goods, the BuyAmerican.gov Act and the American Jobs Matter Act. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-texas-court-aca-ruling,DeLauro Statement on Texas Court ACA Ruling,2018-12-15,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC (December 15, 2018) Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today released the following statement after a federal judge in Texas ruled the Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional. President Trump and Republican Party officials across the country have long been on the warpath to rip healthcare coverage away from tens of millions of Americans helped by the Affordable Care Actincluding those who were previously discriminated against due to pre-existing conditions. The Texas Court's decision brought their relentless, immoral pursuit one step closer. But they will not have the last word. Every American deserves high-quality, affordable health coverage. Basic decency tells us that should not even be up for debate, let alone the subject of endless court battles and campaigning. But the Party of Trump disagrees, and they have shown time and again they will stop at nothing to take away protections from Americansfrom allowing deceptive junk plans to be sold to increasing premiums for millions of Americans and destabilizing healthcare marketplaces. That is not the direction our country should be heading in, and House Democrats refuse to stand idly by. We will take action to bring affordable health coverage to every American. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-court-ruling-attack-people-pre-existing-conditions,Larson: Court Ruling is an Attack on People with Pre-Existing Conditions,2018-12-15,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,John Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Hartford, CT - Congressman John B. Larson (CT-01) denounced the ruling from a U.S. District Court Judge in Texas yesterday, striking down the Affordable Care Act (ACA). ""Yesterday's reckless and cruel court decision is an attack on the 133 million Americans with pre-existing conditions and the millions more who have benefited from the ACA's consumer protections, premium subsidies, and Medicaid expansion. The Republican Attorneys General's attack and the Trump Administration's refusal to defend the ACA, as well as its public support of the lawsuit, has endangered the gains we have made in protecting people's care and goes against the voices of the American people who spoke up when Republicans tried to repeal the ACA,"" said Larson. ""This cruel decision will be appealed and the House will take immediate action in the new year to strengthen the patient protections in the ACA andjoin our Democratic Attorneys General, including from Connecticut, in formally intervening in the appeals process. We will fight on behalf of the American people and protect those with pre-existing conditions. In Connecticut, more than 100,000 people have already re-enrolled in coverage for 2019 and for those who haven't, there is still time to sign up. Open enrollment for Access Health Connecticut is still open until for 2019, to get coverage starting January 1st, you must sign up tonight before midnight, for coverage starting February 1st, you have until January 15th to enroll. The court decision does not impact current coverage or enrollment for 2019. For more information and to enroll, please visit:https://www.accesshealthct.com/AHCT/LandingPageCTHIX ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-republicans-just-blew-up-our-health-care-system,MURPHY: REPUBLICANS JUST BLEW UP OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM,2018-12-14,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"MURPHY: REPUBLICANS JUST BLEW UP OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM Friday, December 14, 2018 WASHINGTON U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, on Friday released a statement following a ruling in the case Texas v. United States. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor throws out the 2010 Affordable Care Act in its entirety, throwing the American health care system into chaos in the midst of open enrollment. This is a five alarm fire -- Republicans just blew up our health care system. The anti-health care zealots in the Republican Party are intentionally ripping health care away from the working poor, increasing costs on seniors, and making insurance harder to afford for people with preexisting conditions, said Murphy. Don't be fooled, this rests one hundred percent on the shoulders of President Trump and Republicans in Congress who empower him. Trump took the extraordinary step of sending his lawyers to argue to end health coverage for 20 million people and he got his wish. Not a single Senate Republican challenged him, and now they own this disaster as much as he does,Murphy added. This summer, Murphy warned of conservatives' efforts to exploit the courts to dismantle protections for people with preexisting conditions. The new priority for those that oppose the Affordable Care Act and the protections that are built in it for Americans who are sick or have ever been sick, the new strategy is to use the court system as a reason to try to invalidate the protections in the law for people with preexisting conditions, protections, by the way, that Republicans said that they supported during the debate over the Affordable Care Act. The case is currently before the district court level. It's Texas v. United States, and it has drawn interest because of an exceptional decision by the Trump administration. The Trump administration has decided to weigh in on behalf of the petitioners, abandoning the traditional role of the executive to defend a statute. Traditionally an executive will defend a statute regardless of whether they support it or not because who will support the statute if not the United States government. In this case the Trump administration is going to court to argue that the United States congress cannot, under the constitution, provide protection to people with preexisting condition against discrimination and rate increases are from insurance companies, he said at the time. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-statement-on-the-6th-anniversary-of-the-sandy-hook-shooting-,MURPHY STATEMENT ON THE 6TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SANDY HOOK SHOOTING,2018-12-14,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"MURPHY STATEMENT ON THE 6TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SANDY HOOK SHOOTING Friday, December 14, 2018 WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) issued the following statement on Friday on the sixth anniversary of the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Today is an awful day. I'll think a lot about my youngest son, who went off to his first grade classroom this morning, as I remember the precious children and brave educators whose lives were unimaginably taken six years ago. I've had the honor of representing, and becoming friends with, many of the families of the victims, said Murphy. Nothing we do can ever bring those kids back, butwe should be inspired by Newtown's efforts to make the world a kinder, more loving place. We can reach out to one another and help those in need. This morning, I'm delivering meals to families in need in New Haven. I hope everyone takes some time to do their own act of kindness big or small in their communities. We will never stop remembering, and honoring, and fighting for the lives senseless lost six years ago. We have to keep going. For me, that means I will never give up trying to change our broken gun laws to keep our kids safe from gun violence. A national movement for stronger gun laws started six years ago today, and today I feel more confident than ever before that Congress will listen and act on changing our gun laws next year. We would not be here without the voices of so many of the family members from Newtown who want us to honor their loved ones with action, Murphy added. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-farm-bill-makes-strides-american-farmers-and-families,Larson: Farm Bill Makes Strides for American Farmers and Families,2018-12-13,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,John Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. Today, Congressman John Larson (CT-01) released the following statement, after the House of Representatives passed the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018. I was pleased to vote in favor of the 2018 Farm Bill which was spared from the addition of unnecessary work requirements for thousands of First District residents that utilize the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Those requirements would have cut benefits for our most vulnerable who rely on SNAP. This legislation was an example of what can be achieved when two sides of the aisle come together and work on behalf of the country, farmers and families. I would also like to commend Congressman Joe Courtney for fighting for improvements to the dairy insurance program, which is so important to the small dairy farmers in Connecticut, said Larson.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-harris-merkley-and-klobuchar-introduce-bill-to-end-predatory-price-gouging-on-lifesaving-drugs,"Blumenthal, Harris, Merkley & Klobuchar Introduce Bill To End Predatory Price Gouging On Lifesaving Drugs",2018-12-13,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Blumenthal, Harris, Merkley & Klobuchar Introduce Bill To End Predatory Price Gouging On Lifesaving Drugs Print Tweet The CURE High Drug Prices Act would give HHS authority to block pharmaceutical companies' unjustified price increases on drugs. Legislation supported by Patients for Affordable Drugs Now, Families USA, Center for Medicare Advocacy, Consumer Reports, and Public Citizen. Thursday, December 13, 2018 [WASHINGTON, D.C.] Following new reports on the pervasive nature of Big Pharma's predatory pricing practices, including on lifesaving opioid overdose drugs, and the impact on American patients, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced the Curbing Unreasonable Rises and Excessively (CURE) High Drug Prices Act today to prohibit unjustified drug price increases and give the Department of Health and Human Services authority to block such increases and reimburse consumers who were harmed. High prescription drug prices have become an increasingly unavoidable reality for Americans, with Americans spending more on prescription drugs $1,100 per person each year than any other nation. Predatory pricing is one of the key factors. The price of EpiPens rose by 500 percent over just 10 years. The average price of insulin doubled from 2012 to 2016, despite being over 100 years old and made by three manufacturers. This price gouging has real impacts on Americans' health. Earlier this year, Yale researchers found that one in four patients to cut back or skip doses. This bill will empower the federal government to do more than just name and shame' pharmaceutical companies into doing the right thing, said Blumenthal. There's no reason insulin, EpiPens, naloxone, or other lifesaving drugs should cost astronomically higher today than when they were first brought to market. Giving HHS the authority to turn back exploitive price increases will help reduce delayed treatment and the extreme financial burden American families have had to shoulder due to Big Pharma's greed. Blumenthal has consistently called for federal action against unconscionable drug price spikes, and demanded investigations into the skyrocketing costs of EpiPen Auto-Injectors, naloxone, and IV saline. Blumenthal has previously written to the Securities and Exchange Commission in an effort to increase drug price transparency and hold pharmaceutical companies accountable to their shareholders and the public. He also supports legislation that would allow the federal government to negotiate lower drug prices. This summer, Blumenthal held a series of meetings and town halls with families, seniors and medical experts at health centers and senior centers across Connecticut on a series of common sense measures to drive down the cost of pharmaceutical drugs, including the CURE High Drug Prices Act. With too many seniors and working families already struggling to keep up with the rising cost of health care, it is unacceptable for drug companies' predatory pricing practices to limit access to lifesaving medicine, said Harris. I'm proud to join with my colleagues on this legislation that would prohibit price gouging for all drugs covered by federal health care programs and give HHS and DOJsignificant enforcement ability over excessive drug price increases. We can and we must do more to ensure that every American has access to affordable, quality health care. Americans are being ripped off on the cost of prescription drugs, with Wall Street profiteers acquiring the rights to key medicines and jacking up prices by tens or even hundreds of times what was charged previously, said Merkley. This outrageous practice has to end. Unjustified, blatant price-gouging has no place in our medical system. It's time to protect patients from these predatory schemes. The skyrocketing costs of prescription drugs have made many lifesaving drugs unaffordable and inaccessible for the patients who need them. This legislation will empower the Department of Health and Human Services to investigate massive price increases, pay back consumers who were forced to buy medication at an unbearable cost, and punish corporations who place profit above patient health, said Klobuchar. The legislation has the support of leading consumer health and protection groups, including Patients for Affordable Drugs Now, Families USA, Center for Medicare Advocacy, Consumer Reports, and Public Citizen. Every day we hear from patients suffering under soaring drug prices. We are grateful to Senator Blumenthal and others for introducing the CURE High Drug Prices Act, which would hold pharmaceutical corporations accountable for out-of-control price gouging, said David Mitchell, cancer patient and founder of Patients For Affordable Drugs Now. We are hopeful that Senators on both sides of the aisle will join Senators Blumenthal, Harris, Merkley, and Klobuchar in moving this important bill forward. High and climbing prescription drug prices threaten the health and well-being of millions throughout the United States, including children, seniors, people with disabilities, and low-wage workers. Price gouging,' an abusive practice in which drug companies drastically increase prices, makes this problem even worse. Drug companies need to be held accountable when they are racking up obscene profits by overcharging consumers who can't survive without their medicine, said Eliot Fishman, Senior Director of Health Policy for Families USA. The CURE High Drug Prices Act would prohibit these drastic drug price increases by requiring HHS to monitor price increases and hold manufacturers responsible for any unjustified hike. This legislation is a bold and important step in stopping drug companies from continuing to impose outrageous costs on America's families. Price gouging by pharmaceutical manufacturers forces untenable choices on consumers, putting their household finances in jeopardy, and risking their health and even their life, said Dena Mendelsohn, Senior Policy Counsel for Consumer Reports. This bill strikes a fair balance, by allowing legitimate cost-justified prescription drug price increases, but stopping the unjust exploitation of consumers who depend on a drug and have nowhere else to go. Rising drug prices are a problem for all of us, but especially Medicare beneficiaries, who are older or disabled by definition.We applaud Senator Blumenthal and others for introducing the CURE High Drug Prices Act which would address price gouging on the part of pharmaceutical manufacturers, said Judith Stein, Executive Director of the Center for Medicare Advocacy. People cannot access needed prescription drugs if they cannot afford them. This is an important reform for families nationwide. Big Pharma has made repeated price spiking central to its business model; drug companies' steep price increases every year, or six months, for their monopoly-protected products cause prices to skyrocket over a matter of years. Consumers are left with the unacceptable choice: pay extortionate prices, or go without. That's why Public Citizen is so pleased to support Senator Blumenthal's vital CURE High Drug Prices bill, said Robert Weissman, President of Public Citizen. It would crack down on the worst price-gouging companies, and force them to return their ill-gotten gains to consumers. The Cure High Drug Prices Act The CURE High Drug Prices Act would require pharmaceutical companies to submit justification to HHS for any price increases of: 10 percent or more over the preceding year; 20 percent or more over the preceding three years; and, 30 percent or more over the preceding five years. If HHS found the price increase to be unreasonable, it could require the company to: Reimburse consumers and payors, including Medicare and Medicaid; Lower the price back down to its original price before the price gouging for up to one year; and, Pay a civil penalty up to three times the excessive amount the manufacturer received as a result of price gouging. HHS could also refer the matter to the Department of Justice for enforcement. The full text of the legislation can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-renews-call-for-us-to-end-involvement-in-war-in-yemen-urges-senate-to-pass-war-powers-resolution,"MURPHY RENEWS CALL FOR U.S. TO END INVOLVEMENT IN WAR IN YEMEN, URGES SENATE TO PASS WAR POWERS RESOLUTION",2018-12-13,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"MURPHY RENEWS CALL FOR U.S. TO END INVOLVEMENT IN WAR IN YEMEN, URGES SENATE TO PASS WAR POWERS RESOLUTION Thursday, December 13, 2018 WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Wednesday delivered remarks on the floor of the U.S. Senate calling on his colleagues to support the bipartisan joint resolution he introduced with U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) to end U.S. involvement in the war in Yemen. The resolution would remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities between the Saudi-led coalition and the Houthis in Yemen pursuant to the War Powers Resolution. During his remarks, Murphy called attention to the devastating humanitarian consequences this war has caused, noting the thousands of children who have died from starvation and diseases. Last month, the U.S. Senate voted 63-37 to begin debate on the resolution. This was the first time since the War Powers Act became law in 1973 that the U.S. Senate successful passed a resolution pursuant to the law. I have stood here before with posters of malnourished children with distended bellies, 85,000 of them have died from malnutrition or disease Murphy said. The world's worst outbreak of cholera is happening as we speak. 10,000 Yemenis have died from warfare, from bombings or siege campaigns. If it is likely that our ally is perpetuating war crimes in Saudi Arabia, then we cannot be a part of that. The United States cannot be part of a bombing campaign that may be, probably is intentionally making life miserable for the people inside of that country, Murphy added. The full text of Murphy's remarks is below: Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, I come to the floor today to join many of my colleagues in support of passage of the underlying resolution. I was pleased to be one of the original cosponsors, along with the presiding officer and with Senator Sanders, amongst many others, and this is clearly not the first time that I've been to the floor to talk about the crisis inside Yemen and the broader crisis with respect to our relationship with Saudi Arabia that has grown worse and worse, especially in the last several months. And I want to thank Senator Menendez and Senator Corker for taking this incredibly seriously, especially since the death of Jamal Khashoggi who was a resident of the United States here ostensibly under our protection. I am hopeful that we are going to get another big bipartisan vote when this comes up for final passage. And so I want to reiterate some of the reasons why I think this is incredibly important. First, let me state what I hope is obvious, even for those of us who have been critics of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is a very important ally of the United States. It is an important partner for stability in the region. We continue to engage in an important counterterrorism intelligence-sharing relationship with Saudi Arabia. They have helped us track down some very bad people. We have helped them track down some very bad people, Sunni extremists, separate and aside from the argument as to where that movement gets some of its the seed funding, is out to get the Saudi regime just like they are out to get the United States. Second it's important to note something that we take for granted in the region. This is this now long-term detente that has existed between the Gulf states and Israel. Something that did not used to be something you could rely on. In fact, one of the most serious foreign policy debates this Senate ever had was on the sale of AWACS to Saudi Arabia back in the 1980s. The objection then was that by empowering Saudi Arabia, you were hurting Israel and Israeli security. No one would make that argument today because Saudi Arabia has been a good partner in trying to figure out a way to calm the tensions in the region, and, of course, to try to provide some balance in the region with the Iranian regime on the other side continuing to this day to use inflammatory and dangerous rhetoric about the future of Israel. And so this is an important partnership, and I have no interest in blowing it up. I have no interest in walking away from it. But you are not obligated to follow your friend into every misadventure they propose. When your buddy jumps into a pool of man-eating sharks, you don't have to jump with him. There is a point at which you say enough is enough. Now, I came to this floor three years ago and suggested that time had already come. Mohammed bin Salman, who is the Crown Prince and the effective leader of the country has steered the foreign policy of Saudi Arabia off the rails. And folks seem to have noticed when he started rounding up his political opponents and killing one of them in a consulate in Turkey, but this has been ongoing. Look back to the kidnapping of the Lebanese prime minister, the blockade of Qatar without any heads up to the United States, the wholesale imprisonment of hundreds of his family members until there was a payoff the size of which was big enough to let some of them out. This is a foreign policy that is no longer in the best interest of the United States and cannot be papered over by a handful of domestic policy reforms that are, in fact, intended to try to distract us from the aggressive nature of the Saudi's foreign policy in the region. Of course, the worst example of their regional behavior going off the rails is Yemen. And I don't want to restate the case here. I think Senator Sanders did a great job of it. I have stood here before with posters of malnourished children with distended bellies, 85,000 of them have died from malnutrition or disease. The world's worst outbreak of cholera is happening as we speak. 10,000 Yemenis have died from warfare, form bombings or siege campaigns. About two-thirds to three-quarters of those are as a result of the Saudi side of the civil war, but let's make clear there's some really bad actors on the Houthi side as well. Part of the reason that the humanitarian aid can't get to where it needs to get to is because of the Houthis are stopping it from getting it into the areas that they control today. And so, the Saudis bear the majority of the responsibility for the humanitarian nightmare, but there is enough to be spread around. I'm appreciative that many of my colleagues are willing to stand up for this resolution today to end the war in Yemen. I wish that it weren't because of the death of one journalist because there have been tens of thousands that have died inside Yemen, and their lives are just as important, just as worthwhile as Jamal Khashoggi's life was, as tragic as that was. But there is a connection between the two, which is why I've actually argued that this resolution is in some way, shape, or form a response to the death of Jamal Khashoggi for those that are primarily concerned with that atrocity, and here's how I link the two. What the Saudis did for two weeks was lie to us, right, in the most bald faced way possible. They told us that Jamal Khashoggi had left the consulate, that he got out of there alive, that they didn't know what happened. When of course they knew the entire time that they had killed him, that they had murdered him, that they had dismembered his body. We now know that the Crown Prince had multiple contacts all throughout the day with the team of operatives that did it. And yet they thought we were so dumb or so weak or some combination of the two that they could just lie to us about it. That was an eye opener for a lot of people here who were long-term supporters of the Saudi relationship. Because they knew we had troubles, they knew that sometimes our interests didn't align but they thought that the most important things that allies did with each other was tell the truth, especially when the truth was so easy to discover outside of your bilateral relationship. And then all of a sudden the Saudis lied to us for two weeks, for two weeks, and finally come around to telling the truth because everybody knew that they weren't. And so it made a lot of people here think, well, wait a second, maybe the Saudis haven't been telling us the truth about what they've been doing inside Yemen. Because, a lot of my friends have been supporting the bombing campaign in Yemen. Why? Because the Saudis said, we're hitting these civilians by accident. Those water treatment plants that have been blowing up, we didn't mean to hit them. That cholera treatment facility inside the humanitarian compound that was just a bomb that went into the wrong place. Or we thought there were some bad guys in it and it didn't turn out that there was. It turns out the Saudis weren't telling us the truth about what they were doing in Yemen. They were hitting civilian targets on purpose, they did have an intentional campaign of trying to create misery. I'm not saying every single one of those school buses, or those hospitals, or those churches, or weddings was an attempt to kill civilians and civilians only, but we have been in that targeting center long enough to know -- to know that they have known for a long time what they have been doing, hitting a lot of people who have nothing to do with the attacks against Saudi Arabia. Maybe, if the Saudis were willing to lie to us about what happened to Jamal Khashoggi, they haven't been straight with us as to what's happening inside Yemen. Because if the United States is being used to intentionally hit civilians, then we are complicit in war crimes. And I hate to tell my colleagues that is essentially what the United Nations found in their most recent report on the Saudi bombing campaign. They were careful about their words, but they came to the conclusion that it was likely that the Saudi conduct inside Yemen would amount to war crimes under international law. If it is likely that our ally is perpetuating war crimes in Saudi Arabia, then we cannot be a part of that. The United States cannot be part of a bombing campaign that may be, probably is intentionally making life miserable for the people inside of that country. And so I would argue that this resolution is an appropriate response if you are only concerned about Jamal Khashoggi because it is a way to make clear that if you lie to the United States there are consequences. It is also a way to say to the Crown Prince that we are not going to be partners with you in your most important foreign policy endeavor, the war inside Yemen, if you are not being straight with us about this or other matters. If you care just about what happened to that journalist, this is still an important vote for you to cast, and I get it that some people have issues with the mechanism by which we get here, the War Powers Resolution. I understand that it is new, that it hasn't been tested before, but I believe that this is the right moment to have this debate and to have this vote. And so I'm hoping that we're going to come to a conclusion here as quickly as we can in which we maintain bipartisan consensus. I just joined several of my colleagues upstairs to express our desire. This isn't the beginning and the end of our debate about what to do with Saudi Arabia moving forward. I support Senator Menendez and Senator Young's legislation to take some additional steps to halt arm sales. I support imposing sanctions on the individuals that are responsible for this crime, but I would also hope that all of us take a little bit of time over the holidays to really think about how we reset this relationship in the region and how we send a signal to the world that there is no relationship in which we are the junior partner, certainly not with Saudi Arabia. And if Saudi Arabia can push us around like they have over the course of the last several years, and in particular the last several months, then it sends a signal to lots of other countries that they can do the same thing. That they can murder U.S. residents and suffer almost no consequences, that they can bomb civilians with our ammunitions and suffer no consequences. This is not just a message about the Saudi relationship, this is a message how the United States is going to interact with lots of other junior partners around the world as well. Saudi Arabia needs us a lot more than we need them and we need to remind folks of that over and over and over again. Spare me this nonsense that they are going to start buying Russian jets or Chinese military hardware. If you think that those countries can protect you better than the United States, take a chance. If you think the Saudis are really going to stop selling oil to the United States? Do you think that they are going to walk away from their primary breadwinner just because we said we don't want to be engaged in this particular military campaign? I'm willing to take that chance. We're the major partner in this relationship and it is time we start acting like it. And if this administration isn't going to act like it, than this Congress has to act like it. As Senator Graham said, Sometimes Congress has to go its own way. Sometimes Congress has to reorient American foreign policy when an administration will not. And with respect to this bilateral relationship, with respect to this egregious, unconscionable military operation inside Yemen, it's time for Congress to step up and right something that today is very, very wrong, and I appreciate all of the great work that Senator Sanders and Senator Lee have done as partners in this. Again, I appreciate the chair and the ranking member for helping guide us through this debate as painlessly as possible. I look forward to coming to the floor again before final passage and look forward to another big bipartisan vote for this. I yield the floor. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-passes-murphys-resolution-to-remove-us-forces-from-saudi-led-war-in-yemen,SENATE PASSES MURPHYS RESOLUTION TO REMOVE U.S. FORCES FROM SAUDI-LED WAR IN YEMEN,2018-12-13,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"SENATE PASSES MURPHY'S RESOLUTION TO REMOVE U.S. FORCES FROM SAUDI-LED WAR IN YEMEN Thursday, December 13, 2018 WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Thursday released a statement following today's vote passing the bipartisan joint resolution he introduced with U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) that would remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities between the Saudi-led coalition and the Houthis in Yemen pursuant to the War Powers Act. Last month, the U.S. Senate voted 63-37 to begin debate on the resolution. This was the first time since the War Powers Act became law in 1973 that the U.S. Senate successfully passed a resolution pursuant to the law. With this vote, Saudi Arabia just lost the support of Congress for their disastrous war in Yemen. A bipartisan majority spoke with one voice that the status quo is over and we will no longer accept the war crimes being committed in our name, said Murphy. The momentum is on one side, and it's only growing. Congress has woken up to the reality that the Saudi-led Coalition is using U.S. military support to kill thousands of civilians, bomb hospitals, block humanitarian aid, and arm radical militias. The Saudis are important partners, but they need to realize that our partnership is not a blank check for them to fund extremists and murder civilians. Since the beginning of this conflict in 2015, Murphy has been a vocal critic of the United States' support for the Saudi-led civil war in Yemen, and called on his colleagues to pass legislation to remove U.S. Armed Forces. The conflict has led to devastating humanitarian consequences and a security vacuum that has empowered terrorist groups, like ISIS and al Qaeda, to grow stronger in the region. Murphy hasrepeatedlyexpressed concern that U.S. participation in Saudi Arabia's military actions against Houthi rebels in Yemen threatens our own national security interests. As a result of U.S. involvement assisting Saudi Arabia, we are potentially radicalizing young Yemenis against America and assisting in the starvation of hundreds of thousands of Yemeni citizens. After the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Turkey in October, Murphy reiterated his call for the suspension of military support for the Saudi-led campaign. He echoed his call in an op-ed in the Washington Post. In September, Murphyrenewedhis call to cease support for the Saudi-led campaign following a United Nations report that found continued human rights violations. Earlier this year, Murphyintroducedan amendment to the FY 2019 Department of Defense Appropriations bill that would cut off United States' support for the Saudi Arabia-led coalition's war in Yemen until the Secretary of Defense certified that the coalition's air campaign is not violating international law and U.S. policy. Senate Republicansobjectedto voting on Murphy's amendment. Murphyintroducedsimilar legislation last year. The resolution passed the U.S. Senate 56-41 and will now go to the U.S. House of Representatives for consideration. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-supports-farm-bill-critical-provisions-eastern-connecticut,COURTNEY SUPPORTS FARM BILL WITH CRITICAL PROVISIONS FOR EASTERN CONNECTICUT AGRICULTURE,2018-12-12,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) voted in support of the Agriculture Improvements Act of 2018a five-year authorization of agriculture commodity and nutrition programs that the House passed on Thursdayby a vote of 369-47. The Farm Bill will now head to the President's desk for signature. The passage of this bill is welcome news throughout eastern Connecticut. This farm bill agreement includes many important provisions aimed at providing support and a level playing field for established crops and farm commodities in our region, while breaking down barriers to developing others, Courtney said. One of the most existing areas of opportunity in this measure is the expansion of industrial hemp production, which I have long seen as a tremendous opportunity to grow our agricultural sector in Connecticut. As important, this bill maintains the status quo for nutrition assistance programs that faced deep cuts in the initial House version, prioritizes substance abuse recovery programs within the Rural Development title, and expands land conservation programs. Together, this is a good package for eastern Connecticut. As a former member of the House Agriculture Committee, Courtney is keenly aware of the needs of farmers and the food insecure across eastern Connecticut. Notably, the 2018 Farm Bill legalizes industrial hemp production in the United States, which will kickstart a new wave of agriculture production in Connecticut. The Farm Bill also accounts for regional disparities in dairy production costs by supporting smaller producers and covering larger margins. Further, this legislation left out harmful stringent work requirement proposals that sought to block nutrition assistance from the neediest Americans. Improvements for Dairy Farmers The 2018 Farm Bill builds on the structure of the Margin Protection Program, renaming it the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program. Through the DMC program, producers may purchase up to $9.50 margin coverage, which should benefit northeast farmers when looking at regional disparities in feed and operating expenses. Further, the producer premiums associated with the new DMC program are much lower on the first five million pounds of production than both the House and Senate draft billsa nod to the traditional smaller farms across New England. Eastern Connecticut dairy producers tend to operate on much slimmer margins, and increasing the national margin for coverage will provide much-needed additional support. James Smith of Cushman Farms in Franklin said: This is great news for northeast dairy farmers. We know that the farm bill has leveled the playing field for us. In an effort to address milk prices in a flooded market, this Farm Bill will allow producers to be paid for donating extra milk to food banks through the Commodity Credit Corporation. The Farm Bill also requires a feed price survey that will examine if regional feed costs are representative of the national average used for dairy assistance calculations. Anecdotally, Connecticut farmers pay a much higher feed cost than the national average, and Courtney has be pushing back against current calculations for years. Protecting Nutrition Assistance Programs The 2018 Farm Bill rejects draft proposals that would impose harmful work requirements on recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The nutrition title of the Farm Bill represents one of the biggest compromises of this legislation, and protecting the fundamental structure of funding of SNAP was critical for passage. ""We are thankful for the bipartisan passage of the 2018 Farm Bill. As advocates for individuals and families, we are grateful to see the elimination of any work mandate on SNAP benefit eligibility. Many of those who utilize SNAP are currently working, but not making enough to make ends meet-SNAP benefits help fill that gap. For those recipients who are not working, many times it is because they cannot, due to age or disability. SNAP benefits become a lifeline to insure quality nutrition for themselves and their families, said Deborah Monahan, Executive Director, Thames Valley Council for Community Action. Our staff have seen SNAP benefits assist individuals and families struggling through difficult circumstances. A work mandate could have been detrimental to the utilization of the SNAP program. Now many families can count on SNAP to put food on their table and that reduces hunger in our communities. Food insecurity in Vernon and surrounding communities is wide-spread, said David O'Rourke, CEO of Hockanum Valley Community Council. SNAP benefits provide an a integral safety net those who are elderly and disabled, along with those who underemployed. Limiting access through something like a work mandate would only further harm those that the program aims to help. Legalizing Industrial Hemp for Agriculture Production One of the most exciting provisions in the 2018 Farm Bill is the legalization of industrial hemp nationwide. Building on a pilot program authorized through the 2014 Farm Bill with Courtney's strong support, this legislation will help spur growth in Connecticut's economy through the collaboration of agriculture and entrepreneurial stakeholders. Courtney has long been a supporter of expanding industrial hemp farming, and is a cosponsor of the bipartisan Hemp Farming Act of 2018 to legalize hemp farming and production. Industrial hemp is an incredibly versatile crop. These are over 25,000 different uses for industrial hemp, which brings in an estimated $580 million in annual sales in the U.S. Hemp farming is widely seen in Connecticut as an existing opportunity to expand our agricultural markets. Jeff Wentzel, founding member of the CT Hemp Association,said: The CT Hemp Industry Association is happy to see the legalization of hemp cultivation as part of the 2018 Farm Bill. The prior Farm Bill created a legal pathway to hemp farming through State research pilot programs and 40 states created hemp programs to allow their farmers to grow industrial hemp. The 2018 Farm Bill goes further in removing industrial hemp from any Controlled Substance schedule but also includes things like farm insurance and USDA research grants. We look forward to working with the CT Dept of Agriculture to create fair, common sense regulations appropriate for Connecticut so farmers in our state can take advantage of this new cash crop. # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-passage-2018-farm-bill,DeLauro Statement on Passage of the 2018 Farm Bill,2018-12-12,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC (December 12, 2018) Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today released the following statement after voting in favor of the 2018 Farm Bill conference report. Over the past year, I have seen an outpouring of support to protect SNAP from immoral cuts and onerous work requirements. Because of this fight to protect our nation's leading anti-hunger program, those structural changes and benefit cuts were not included in the final bill. That is no small accomplishment, and something we should all be proud of. Nevertheless, we must remember that this battle is far from over. USDA Secretary Perdue has not been shy about his intentions to push work requirements through the rulemaking process. But this billits evolution due to the tireless work of so many around the countrymakes Congress's intent clear. Secretary Purdue should respect that. On the whole, the 2018 Farm Bill protects working families and grants American farmers and ranchers the continued certainty that comes from the agricultural safety net. That means that Connecticut dairy farmerswho have been hit hard by persistent low milk priceswill finally have the added support they deserve. It also means expanded research investments for organic agriculture to create sustainable, local food systems. While I am disappointed this bill fails to reform subsidy programs that disproportionately benefit rich agribusinesses over small family farms, this bipartisan compromise will help to ensure Connecticut farmers are protected and Connecticut families do not go hungry. That is why I voted for this bill. Earlier this year, DeLauro led a letter of 110 House Democrats telling Farm Bill conferees to reject changes to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. DeLauro is a senior Democrat on the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/view/murphy-delivers-floor-speech-ahead-of-yemen-resolution-vote,Murphy Delivers Floor Speech Ahead Of Yemen Resolution Vote,2018-12-12,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"hartford Colt Gateway 120 Huyshope Avenue Suite 401 Hartford, CT 06106 P: (860) 549-8463 F: (860) 524-5091 Get Directions",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-s-bill-protect-patient-access-complex-rehabilitation-technologies,Larsons Bill to Protect Patient Access to Complex Rehabilitation Technologies (CRT) Passes House,2018-12-11,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,John Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. Today, Congressman John Larson (CT-01) released the following statement, after the House of Representatives passed the Improving Medicaid Programs and Opportunities for Eligible Beneficiaries (IMPROVE) Act (H.R. 7217), which included Larson'sbill, H.R. 3730. Larson's bill would help protect Medicare beneficiaries' access to specialized, medically-necessary wheelchair accessories by restoring appropriate payment rates to the businesses that supply CRT manual wheelchair accessories. The bill's Republican co-lead is Rep. Lee Zeldin of New York and it had over 100 bipartisan cosponsors. I am thrilled that the IMPROVE Act passed the House today with overwhelming bipartisan support. This legislation will help companies,like Rocky Hill's, Numotion,providepeople suffering from degenerative diseases like ALS or who have become paralyzedwiththeneeded equipment toprovide them with the tools to live their lives with maximum mobility and independence. I want to thank Rep. Zeldin for all of his hard work and we look forward to its passage in the Senate, said Larson. Background on the CRT Issue: In 2008, Congress passed the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA), which excluded CRT wheelchairs and accessories from the CMS' competitive bid process. In November 2014, CMS issued a rule that ignored Congressional intent and would have reduced payments and harmed patient access to CRT wheelchair accessories. This rule was delayed multiple times by Congress through legislation, but only temporarily. Reps. Larson and Zeldin introduced H.R. 1361 (an earlier iteration of H.R. 3730) to protect CRT wheelchair accessories (power or manual) from having their reimbursement rates reduced. On July 23, 2017,CMS agreed to make the changes the Zeldin/Larson bill called for, but only for CRT power wheelchair accessories. Therefore, the members introduced H.R. 3730 to protect reimbursement rates and patients' continued access to CRT manual wheelchair accessories. These efforts have also been supported by the ALS Association, Muscular Dystrophy Association, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Paralyzed Veterans of America, VetsFirst, and the United Spinal Association. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-passes-farm-bill-with-murphy-led-initiatives-to-help-connecticut-farmers,SENATE PASSES FARM BILL WITH MURPHY-LED INITIATIVES TO HELP CONNECTICUT FARMERS,2018-12-11,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"SENATE PASSES FARM BILL WITH MURPHY-LED INITIATIVES TO HELP CONNECTICUT FARMERS This Year, Murphy Launched His Our Farm Bill Listening Campaign To Make Sure Feedback from Connecticut Farmers Was Included In The Farm Bill Bipartisan Bill Includes Multiple Murphy-Backed Provisions To Help Beginning Farmers, Dairy Farmers, and Shellfish Farmers Tuesday, December 11, 2018 WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) applauded the passage of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, also known as the Farm Bill, in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday. Through his Our Farm Bill online listening campaign and tours of farms across the state, Murphy worked closely with Connecticut farmers and advocates to include their feedback in the final legislation. The Farm Bill includes Murphy's bipartisanCentury Farm Actthat recognizes farms that have been in continuous operation for 100 or more years and proposals from Murphy'sLocal Cheese Promotion and Dairy Support Act. The legislation also includes assistance to beginning farmers and dairy farmers, and expands opportunities for organic agriculture and shellfish farmersall of which were advocated for by Murphy. The bill also rejects Republican attempts to slash food assistance programs, add dangerous work requirements for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients, and gut conservation programs. This year, I launched my Our Farm Bill' listening campaign and traveled across the state visiting with farmers to make sure Connecticut farmers had a voice in this Farm Bill. I'm really grateful for every person in Connecticut who met with me, wrote to me, or called my office. This final bill includes their feedback, said Murphy. The Farm Bill makes big improvements to programs that help struggling dairy farmers, and that's a big deal for our state. And the bill helps new, young farmers, who are driving the farming boom in Connecticut. We also successfully fought back against Republican attempts to gut food assistance so that families who rely on SNAP have access to more healthy food and won't be going hungry this winter. There's a lot more we need to do, like cut wasteful subsidies to big agri-businesses, but we avoided the most dangerous Republican proposals in this final bill. Specifically, the Farm Bill includes the following provisions advocated for by Murphy: Murphy's bipartisan Century Farm Actthat recognizes farms that have been in continuous operation for 100 or more years Proposals from Murphy's Local Cheese Promotion and Dairy Support Actthat increases the opportunities available to dairy farmers to process their milk into higher value products Protections for the SNAP program, which helps put food on the table for over 437,000 individuals across Connecticut, and policy changes that help SNAP recipients access healthier food options Improvements to dairy insurance programs and a new dairy donation program that will pay farmers to donate their extra milk Support for socially disadvantaged, veteran, and new and beginning farmers by creating permanent mandatory baseline funding to help the next generation of farmers Changes to crop insurance options for shellfish farmers that ensure shellfish farmers have access to cost-effective crop insurance Permeant funding for value-added production and local food programs through the new Local Agriculture Market Program Permanent funding for organic research and offers cost-share assistance to help farmers switch to organics A reauthorization of the Acer Access and Development Program, which Murphy secured increased funding for in annual spending bills, to support the growth of the maple syrup producers ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-highlights-meriden-chocolate-manufacturer-thompson-chocolate-as-this-weeks-murphys-monday-manufacturer,"MURPHY HIGHLIGHTS MERIDEN CHOCOLATE MANUFACTURER, THOMPSON CHOCOLATE, AS THIS WEEKS MURPHYS MONDAY MANUFACTURER",2018-12-10,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"MURPHY HIGHLIGHTS MERIDEN CHOCOLATE MANUFACTURER, THOMPSON CHOCOLATE, AS THIS WEEK'S MURPHY'S MONDAY MANUFACTURER Monday, December 10, 2018 WASHINGTON As Connecticut families begin to purchase chocolate treats and other candy ahead of the holiday season, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) announced that chocolate manufacturer Thompson Chocolate in Meriden is this week's ""Murphy's Monday Manufacturer.""Thompson Chocolate specializes in traditional and themed chocolates, such as large Santas, dreidels, gold coins, Easter bunnies and eggs, and many other foiled seasonal chocolate novelties. Founded in 1879 by William H. Thompson, who had a desire to learn more about the confectionary industry, Thompson Chocolate became one of America's first chocolate companies. These treats can be found on the shelves of nationally-recognized stores like Whole Foods and Vitamin Shoppe. Thompson Chocolate has been making chocolate in Meriden since it was founded about 140 years ago, but moved to its current location at 80 South Vine Street in 1973, where they employ over 100 people in a 120,000 square-foot facility. Thompson Chocolate produces more than 2 million pounds of chocolate annually. For nearly 140 years, Thompson Chocolate has been a household name around the country, and their savory sweets are made right here in Connecticut, said Murphy. Thompson Chocolate has remained true to their Connecticut roots and Made in America' business model, which has stood the test of time. I'm happy to highlight their work. We are proud to manufacturer a local product with real, quality ingredients for our customers. We take pride in knowing that our chocolate is putting smiles on people's faces across the country. Many of our dedicated employees have been with us for decades, helping produce some of the finest chocolate products in the nation, said Kevin Scarpati, Sales and Marketing Manager for Thompson Chocolate. The manufacturing industry plays a crucial role throughout Connecticut communities, creating new jobs and accelerating the state's economic recovery. Today, Connecticut's 4,600 manufacturers account for 10% of the state's jobs and 87% of the state's total exports. In order to protect and grow manufacturing jobs in Connecticut, Murphy has introduced two pieces of legislation that aim to strengthen existing standards and prioritize the purchase of American-made goods, the BuyAmerican.gov Act and the American Jobs Matter Act. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-warren-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-honor-wwii-cadet-nurses,"MURPHY, WARREN INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION TO HONOR WWII CADET NURSES",2018-12-10,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"MURPHY, WARREN INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION TO HONOR WWII CADET NURSES Monday, December 10, 2018 WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) joined legislation led by U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) that would recognize the service of the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps. A bipartisan group of senators introduced the U.S Cadet Nurse Corps Service Recognition Act, a bill to honor women who served in the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps during WWII with honorary veteran status. The bill, which was introduced on Friday on National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, would recognize former Cadet Nurses' service to our country and provide them with honorable discharges, ribbon and medal privileges, and burial privileges. ""The nurses who sacrificed in World War II served their country and earned our eternal gratitude,"" said Murphy. ""This bill rights a wrong, and grants recognition to the Nurse Corps members who saved servicemembers lives and helped them return home."" ""Cadet Nurses served our country bravely in World War II, and they deserve our utmost thanks and respect. When our country needed them most, they stepped up to answer the call of duty,"" said Warren. ""Honoring veterans is not a partisan issue; it's something we are all called to do as Americans. I'm proud to introduce the Nurse Corps Service Recognition Act to ensure that Cadet Nurses who served in World War II receive the recognition they deserve."" In the midst of WWII, a severe shortage of trained nurses threatened the nation's ability to meet domestic and military medical needs. In response, Congress established the Cadet Nurse Corps, an integrated, uniformed service of the Public Health Administration, in 1943. The Cadet Nurse Corps provided young women with expedited nursing education in exchange for ""service in essential nursing for the duration of the war."" In total, nearly 120,000 women completed the Corps' rigorous training. Cadet Nurses served in military hospitals, VA hospitals, private hospitals, public health agencies, and public hospitals. In 1944, the Federal Security Agency identified ""national recognition for rendering a vital war service"" as a privilege of service in the Corps. Cadet Nurse Elizabeth ""Betty"" Beecher was one of those 120,000 women. She trained to become a Cadet Nurse in Boston, Massachusetts, then served as a nurse at a Staten Island, N.Y., marine hospital near the end of WWII. ""We prevented a total collapse of the health care system,"" she said. ""Had we not stepped up and volunteered and enlisted in the Corps, I'm afraid the country would have been demoralized and our boys would have come home to a sick country."" The U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps Service Recognition Act would: Provide Cadet Nurses with veteran's status, with an honorable discharge from service where merited; Provide Cadet Nurses with burial benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs; and Allow the Secretary of Defense to provide honorably discharged Cadet Nurses with a service medal. The bill has been endorsed by the American Nurses Association, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the American Organization of Nurse Executives. In addition to Murphy and Warren, the bill is supported by U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine), Angus King (I-Maine), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), and Robert Menendez (D-N.J.). The bill will be introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (D-IL) and Congressman Greg Gianforte (R-MT). Full text of the resolution can be found here ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-urges-osha-investigation-sanderson-farms-workplace-safety,DeLauro Urges OSHA Investigation into Sanderson Farms Workplace Safety,2018-12-07,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC (December 7, 2018)- Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today sent a letter to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Loren Sweatt urging an investigation into alleged workplace safety violations at Sanderson Farms poultry plant in Bryan, Texas. The letter follows an investigative report in The Guardian that stated workers on the processing lines are being denied the right to use the bathroom. When workers are on the processing lines, it is often for 4 to 5 consecutive hours. According to this article, the company pressures supervisors to deny bathroom breaks and, as a result, some workers have accidents on themselves, DeLauro wrote. Moreover, it reports that some workers are refusing to drink any water, despite the grueling nature of the work, in case they might have to use the restroom. In addition, the reported allegations are consistent with findings in a recent GAO report, which found the workers in meat and poultry workers feel intimidated about reporting health and safety violations, particularly about their access to bathrooms in their plants, DeLauro continued. I urge the agency to investigate these claims in the plant in Bryan, Texas and to conduct an inspection where compliance offices speak not only with management, but workers and their representatives. All workers have the right to a safe workplace and no worker should have to sacrifice their health for a paycheck. A signed copy of the letter can be found here. DeLauro is the lead Democrat on the Appropriations Subcommittee responsible for funding the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-condemns-usda-rollback-school-nutrition-standards,DeLauro Condemns USDA Rollback of School Nutrition Standards,2018-12-06,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC (December 6, 2018)- Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today released the following statement following the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) move to finalize the rollback of nutrition standards for school meals across the country. USDA's final rule would weaken whole-grain-rich requirements, eliminate sodium reduction goals, and allow higher-calorie and sugary milk. By finalizing this Administration's rollback of school nutrition standards, Secretary Perdue has once again shown his commitment to special interests over the health of our nation's children. School meal nutrition standards were enacted on a bipartisan basis to bring school meals up to date with the latest science and ensure kids have the nutrition they need to learn. Today's action will only hinder the hard-won progress we have made on childhood obesity and malnutrition. That is unacceptable. Despite USDA's mantra that this move gives school officials flexibility, the final rule will only undermine child nutrition by allowing school meals with fewer whole grains, more sodium, and added sugar that our kids do not need. USDA should immediately reverse this decision and work with schools to protect our children's health and well-being. DeLauro and other House Democrats first criticized USDA's plans to rollback school meal standards in May 2017. DeLauro is a senior Democrat on the Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the USDA. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-joins-victims-and-survivors-of-gun-violence-to-call-for-congressional-action,MURPHY JOINS VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF GUN VIOLENCE TO CALL FOR CONGRESSIONAL ACTION,2018-12-06,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"MURPHY JOINS VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF GUN VIOLENCE TO CALL FOR CONGRESSIONAL ACTION What we know is that we are winning every single day that we grow this movement politically, every day that you have the courage to tell your stories. Thursday, December 6, 2018 Click here to view video of Murphy's remarks. WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) joined U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), U.S. Representatives Elizabeth Esty (CT-5) and Mike Thompson (CA-5), Newtown Action Alliance, Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, Women's March, Giffords, and victims' families and gun violence survivors for a press conference to demand action on gun violence prevention. During the press conference, Murphy thanked the families of survivors and victims of gun violence for sharing their stories, and implored his colleagues in Congress to act on gun violence prevention. Murphy also predicted the newly-elected Democratically controlled U.S. House of Representatives will pass gun violence prevention legislation in the 116th Congress. The call to action took place the morning after the 6th annual National Vigil for All Victims of Gun Violence at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, commemorating the sixth anniversary of the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, as well as the 600,000 American victims and survivors of gun violence since December 2012. The press conference was attended by family members of victims from mass shootings in Aurora, and Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, as well as shootings in Chicago, Houston, and Santa Fe. The real thanks is to all the folks who are standing with us. We are just constantly in awe of your ability to grieve and advocate at the same time. We wish you didn't have to do this, year after year, but as we said last night, and we repeat today, this is a social change movement of epic proportion and no social change movement of any significance or consequence in this country has succeeded overnight. Murphy said. It takes years and years. It takes both setbacks and small victories. But there is no way to chart the modern history of the anti-gun violence movement over the course of the last six years other than to tell a story of our side getting stronger and stronger, and the forces of status quo getting weaker and weaker, Murphy added. The full text of Murphy's remarks is below: Thank you very much Po, thank you to Newtown Action Alliance for continuing to lead this vigil and this important event. The real thanks is to all the folks who are standing with us. We are just constantly in awe of your ability to grieve and advocate at the same time. We wish you didn't have to do this, year after year, but as we said last night, and we repeat today, this is a social change movement of epic proportion and no social change movement of any significance or consequence in this country has succeeded overnight. It takes years and years. It takes both setbacks and small victories. But there is no way to chart the modern history of the anti-gun violence movement over the course of the last six years other than to tell a story of our side getting stronger and stronger, and the forces of status quo getting weaker and weaker. And Dick said it right, this election was a referendum on the issue of gun violence. More candidates put themselves out there as champions of change on gun violence than ever before. In a district that the whole world was watching in Georgia a year ago in a special election that Democrats lost with a very capable candidate, we nominated in the general election a survivor, Lucy McBath, who lost her son, who ran in a conservative district with her number one issue being her story of perseverance and her desire to make a change and she won. We didn't just win in the states on the coasts or the northeast and the west. We won with gun violence champions in Colorado, in Texas, in Georgia, in Florida. This is a winning issue everywhere. And it has taken the political class a half a decade to catch up but they are finally there. Now we will get a bill passed through the House of Representatives with the help of the people behind me. We do not yet have the votes necessary today to get everything we want passed through the United States Senate. But what we know is that we are winning, right, every single day that we grow this movement politically, every day that you have the courage to tell your stories, we are winning more and more and more. Dick and I looked at some polling data in our caucus last week that said that for people voting for Democrats in the 2018 election the number one issue was healthcare the number two issue was guns. Not taxes, not the economy, not education, not all sorts of other things that are really important that used to be number two, and three, and four in the polls. The number two reason why people came out and voted for Democratic candidates around the country was their positions on measures that would make sure that fewer of these pictures have to displayed at events like this. And so I'm just here to say thank you, I am here to say thank you to all the organizations that make this movement possible. To say thank you for all of the work that you do to allow us to increasingly be successful in this cause. And we are blessed to have a great coalition, and blessed to now have you know, dozens and dozens of new members of Congress who want to stand here at these events, who want to be leaders on this issue. Mike and Elizabeth have lead the gun violence task force in the House of Representatives, they can speak about this but they aren't going to have enough room, they aren't going to have enough seats in the room for all of the people who want to join them in their work. And that happened because of you, not because of us. And for that on this 6th anniversary of this vigil, I am greatly thankful. Thank you all. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/view/lawmakers-join-victims-and-survivors-of-gun-violence-call-for-congressional-action,Lawmakers Join Victims and Survivors of Gun Violence Call for Congressional Action,2018-12-06,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Lawmakers Join Victims and Survivors of Gun Violence Call for Congressional Action U.S. Senators Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal, and U.S Representatives Elizabeth Esty and Mike Thompson will join Newton Action Alliance, Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, States United to Prevent Gun Violence, Women's March, Giffords, and victims' families and gun violence survivors for a press conference to demand action on gun violence prevention.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/view/newtown-action-alliance-press-conference,Newtown Action Alliance Press Conference,2018-12-06,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"hartford Colt Gateway 120 Huyshope Avenue Suite 401 Hartford, CT 06106 P: (860) 549-8463 F: (860) 524-5091 Get Directions",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-blumenthal-statement-on-inspector-general-report-regarding-coast-guard-academy,"MURPHY, BLUMENTHAL STATEMENT ON INSPECTOR GENERAL REPORT REGARDING COAST GUARD ACADEMY",2018-12-05,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"MURPHY, BLUMENTHAL STATEMENT ON INSPECTOR GENERAL REPORT REGARDING COAST GUARD ACADEMY Wednesday, December 5, 2018 (Hartford, CT) U.S. SenatorsChris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) issued the following joint statement in response to a report by the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Homeland Security finding evidence that the Coast Guard Academy retaliated against a whistleblower who reported racial bias: The Inspector General's report is a damning indictment of the Coast Guard Academy's handling of racial discrimination and harassment. It is consistent with what we have heard from constituents prompting our original call for action from the Academy.We fully expect immediate, thorough and transparent steps to change this atmosphere of racial hostility and hold Academy staff and officers accountable for their actions.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-cohen-statement-xpo-logistics-new-pregnancy-accommodation-policy,"DeLauro, Cohen Statement on XPO Logistics New Pregnancy Accommodation Policy",2018-12-04,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC (December 4, 2018) Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) and Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today issued the following statements on XPO Logistics's intention to implement a new pregnancy care policy. DeLauro, Cohen, and 95 Members wrote to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce to hold a hearing on the allegations of mistreatment of employees at XPO Logistics facilities around the country. XPO's announcement is a welcome first step to ensure pregnant workers are provided the appropriate accommodations for their health and the health of their baby, said Congresswoman DeLauro.All workers deserve to be treated with dignity and respect by their employers, not discriminated against and mistreated until their health is at risk. I look forward to ensuring the company makes good on these policies and I urge other companies to follow suit. I'm encouraged that XPO Logistics has made good on its commitment to me when we met in Memphis to make substantive reforms, said Congressman Cohen. I believe this is a step in the right direction, but we must continue to ensure that all workers are treated fairly, that the law reflects that and that companies across the country adhere to these core American values. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-requests-salmonella-testing-records-linked-jbs-ground-beef,DeLauro Requests Salmonella Testing Records Linked to JBS Ground Beef Recall,2018-12-04,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC (December 4, 2018)- Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today released the following statement after sending a letter to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue regarding the expanded ground beef recall. USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)announced that an additional 5.1 million pounds of ground beef has been recalled due to Salmonella contaminationbringing the total recalled amount to more than 12 million pounds. As of November 15, the outbreak has caused 246 illnesses across 25 states. Today's expanded ground beef recalltwo months after the initial recallunderscores USDA's failure to take their regulatory responsibility seriously. That is unacceptable and has put people across the country at unnecessary risk to foodborne illnesses. As a result, I have requested the Salmonella testing records associated with the JBS Tolleson facility from the last 52 weeks. This request should help to shed light on the inadequacies of USDA's testing standards that have led to the scale of this outbreak. Our government's policies should create confidence in our nation's food supply, not subject families to months-long recalls that make them doubt the safety of their food. DeLauro first raised the alarm on USDA's inadequate ground beef safety standards following the initial announcement of this recall. She serves as chair of the Congressional Food Safety Caucus and is a senior Democrat on the Appropriations Subcommittee responsible for funding the USDA. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-roybal-allard-call-immediate-closure-tornillo-tent-city-facility,"DeLauro, Roybal-Allard Call for Immediate Closure of Tornillo Tent City Facility",2018-12-04,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC (December 4, 2018) Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) and Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40) today sent a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen calling for the immediate closure of Tornillo, a tent city facility for child migrants. The Trump administration has expanded capacity and extended the contract for this so-called temporary shelter multiple times this year despite prevalent issues at the facility that put children at risk. By using Tornillo, the Trump administration is circumventing long-held standards for the care of children established by the Flores Settlement Agreement and the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act. We are particularly concerned by the November 27, 2018 Office of Inspector General (OIG) memorandum and subsequent media reports exposing that the Administration has waived child abuse and neglect checks for more than 2,000 staff members and allowed employees and contractors without FBI fingerprint checks to be in regular and close contact with children, wrote the Members. The OIG memorandum also showed that the facility has dangerously low mental health staffing ratios. The choice former Office of Refugee Resettlement Director Scott Lloyd made not to conduct staff background checks can cause potential abuse and neglect of these kids,' according to Colleen Kraft, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics. The Department's decision to allow a 1:100 clinician-to-child ratio is especially alarming given that these children have likely already experienced significant trauma,' according to the OIG memorandum, which questions how such low staffing levels could allow for proper mental health care. It is clear the Administration's actions are putting thousands of children in danger. For these reasons, we call for the immediate closure of the Tornillo facility, continued the Members. As the top Democrats on the subcommittees that fund the Departments of Health and Human Services and Homeland Security, we will be conducting strict oversight in the new Congress on the Administration's care of migrant children and will be looking closely at limiting the Administration's ability to perpetuate the mistreatment of these children. A copy of the signed letter can be found here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/connecticut-congressional-delegation-applauds-17-million-federal-funding,Connecticut Congressional Delegation Applauds 1.7 Million in Federal Funding for Long Island Sound Conservation Efforts,2018-12-04,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,John Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,,,legacy,"(Hartford, CT)Today, the Connecticut Congressional Delegation applauded $1,737,289 in funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Long Island Sound Futures Fund (LISFF) to help improve the health and ecosystem of Long Island Sound by spurring efforts to reduce pollution, increase fish diversity and population and enhance greater understanding of Long Island Sound's ecology. The funds will be used by local organizations and municipalities across Connecticut to support critical conservation projects that benefit the Long Island Sound. The EPA funding will be matched by each grantee. These federal dollars will help local organizations and municipalities make important improvements to benefit the Sound's resiliency and unique ecosystem. With climate change becoming an increasing threat to Connecticut's shoreline-- this funding, along with continued community efforts and advocacy, is needed now more than ever. We remain committed to fighting for the Long Island Sound on a federal level to ensure the Sound remains an environmental treasure, recreational destination, and economic powerhouse for years to come. Today's funding would not be possible without the advocates who work tirelessly to protect and preserve the Long Island Sound every single day, said the delegation. The LISFF program combines funds from the EPA and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. This year, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont will receive 36 grants totaling $2.57 million. To date, the LISFF has invested $19.6 million in 416 projects. A detailed breakdown of the funding for Connecticut is below, courtesy of the U.S. EPA's Long Island Sound Office. LONG ISLAND SOUND FUTURES FUND 2018 PROJECTS CONNECTICUT A Fishway for Pages Millpond Dam (CT) Connecticut Fund for the Environment/Save the Sound Project Area: Farm River, North Branford, Connecticut LISFF Grant: $249,947; Matching Funds: $250,000 Connecticut Fund for the Environment/Save the Sound will construct a steeppass fishway opening 5.35 river miles and 4.25 lake acres of fish habitat for alewife, blueback herring and American eel in North Branford, Connecticut. The project will complete the restoration of this riverine migratory corridor to Long Island Sound for the first time in 300 years. Hepburn Living Shoreline Project (CT) Lynde Point Land Trust Project Area: A 456 linear foot segment of coast on Long Island Sound east of the Katherine Hepburn Estate and west of the mouth of the Connecticut River, Borough of Fenwick, Old Saybrook, Connecticut LISFF Grant: $250,000; Matching Funds: $477,438 The Lynde Point Land Trust will construct a living shoreline along an eroding barrier spit on Long Island Sound in Fenwick, Connecticut. The project will provide protection for the nearby community and a 10-acre tidal marsh protecting from storms and rising waters. A Fishway for the Railroad Pond Dam (CT) Town of Berlin Project Area: Mattabesset River, Berlin, Connecticut LISFF Grant: $250,000; Matching Funds: $147,800 The Town of Berlin will install a fishway at the Railroad Pond Dam in Berlin, Connecticut. The fishway will remove an impediment to passage and open a 12-acre pond and river for fish to pass to Long Island Sound including alewife, blueback herring, sea lamprey and American eel. Planning for Two Fish Passage Projects in Southeastern Connecticut (CT) Connecticut Fund for the Environment/Save the Sound Project Area: Whitford Pond Dam, Whitford Brook, a Mystic River tributary, Stonington, Alewife Cove Dam, Fenger Brook, an Alewife Cove tributary, Waterford, Connecticut LISFF Grant: $99,987; Matching Funds: $100,000 Connecticut Fund for the Environment/Save the Sound will develop engineered designs for fishways at Whitford Pond Dam in Stonington and at Alewife Cove Dam in Waterford, Connecticut. The project will set the stage to provide 4.2 miles of access to spawning, rearing and refuge habitat along two riverine migratory corridors valuable to Long Island Sound diadromous and freshwater fish such as alewife, blueback herring, brook trout, American eel and American shad. Shewville Dam Fishway Design Project (CT) Eastern Connecticut Conservation District Project Area: Shewville Dam and Shewville Brook, Ledyard, Connecticut LISFF Grant: $74,133; Matching Funds: $80,000 The Eastern Connecticut Conservation District will prepare an engineered plan for a steeppass fishway on the Shewville Dam and Shewville Brook in Ledyard, Connecticut. The project will set the stage for the installation of a fishway that will reconnect 4.3 river miles and 152 acres of lake for alewife migration to all historic upstream habitat along a river corridor of Long Island Sound. Addressing the Problem of Microplastics in Long Island Sound Harbors (CT) Center for Environmental Sciences & Engineering and Institute for Materials Science, University of Connecticut Project Area: Four Long Island Sound Harbors: Greenwich, Stamford, Darien and West Haven, and University of Connecticut (UCONN), Storrs, Connecticut LISFF Grant: $99,999; Matching Funds: $99,893 University of Connecticut will investigate microplastics and the impact of this type of pollution in the western Long Island Sound harbors in Connecticut. The project will develop a model monitoring program to assess the extent and impact of microplastic pollution on the water, sediment and oysters of Long Island Sound, educate approximately 100 government and public stakeholders about the problem, and develop management recommendations to address the problem around the Sound. Disconnecting Downspouts and Connecting Partners in the West River Watershed (CT) Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven Project Area: The east side of the West River from its northern border to New Haven Harbor, Connecticut LISFF Grant: $84,035; Matching Funds: $140,000 Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven will install 1,000 square feet of Green Infrastructure improvements at residential sites in New Haven, Connecticut. The project will prevent 108,000 gallons of stormwater pollution annually from flowing into the West River and Long Island Sound. SoundWaters Bioextraction Seaweed Farm (CT) SoundWaters Project Area: Greenwich and Stamford Harbors, Connecticut LISFF Grant: $38,307; Matching Funds: $31,534 SoundWaters will install a seaweed farm to bioextract pollution from Greenwich Harbor in Connecticut. The project will educate students, teachers and the public about the benefits of bioextraction through seaweed aquaculture in the waters of Long Island Sound. Bright Green Hartford: Residential Rainwater Management for A Greener, Cleaner and Healthier Hartford (CT) City of Hartford Project Area: City of Hartford, Connecticut LISFF Grant: $177,310; Matching Funds: $89,700 The City of Hartford will provide residents with green infrastructure tools including downspout diverters, rain barrels and street trees in Hartford, Connecticut. The project will reduce 1.8 million gallons of stormwater runoff annually flowing into the Connecticut River and Long Island Sound. Community-driven Nitrogen Action Planning for Southeastern Connecticut Harbors and Bays (CT) The Nature Conservancy, Connecticut Project Area: Mystic River Embayment, Stony Brook/Frontal Fisher's Island Sound, and Pawcatuck River Embayment, Connecticut LISFF Grant: $40,862; Matching Funds: $40,862 The Nature Conservancy, Connecticut will develop a nitrogen action plan for harbors and bays in southeastern Connecticut. The project will identify and prioritize activities to reduce nitrogen pollution entering southeastern Connecticut waters and Long Island Sound. Developing a Natural Resource and Watershed Plan for New London (CT) City of New London Project Area: City of New London, Connecticut LISFF Grants: $35,000; Matching Funds: $21,500 The City of New London will conduct an assessment of the current condition of the city's natural resources and watershed health. This project will develop a plan which provides a concrete vision for a sustainable and resilient urban shoreline community. Water Quality Monitoring to Improve Fairfield County Waterways and Long Island Sound (CT) Earthplace The Nature Discovery Center, Inc. Project Area: Belden Hill Brook, Deep Brook, Farm Creek, Muddy Brook, Pequonnock River, Pootatuck River, Pussy Willow Brook, Sasco Brook, Saugatuck River, and Silvermine River, Five Mile River Harbor, Norwalk Harbor and Saugatuck Harbor, Connecticut LISFF Grant: $74,493; Matching Funds: $59,594 Earthplace The Nature Discovery Center, Inc. will conduct water quality monitoring to help improve 10 waterways affected by pollution in Fairfield County, Connecticut. The water quality data collected through this project will be used to inform local government actions to reduce sewage pollution into Long Island Sound. Urban Oases: Community-based Education, Conservation and Outreach to Enhance Habitats around Long Island Sound (CT) Connecticut Audubon Society Project Area: City of New Haven and Town of Hamden, Connecticut LISFF Grant: $44,918; Matching Funds: $46,426 Connecticut Audubon Society will engage teachers, students and community members to enhance urban green spaces in the City of New Haven and Town of Hamden, Connecticut. The project will engage 12,000 people in local environmental education to increase the availability of habitat in urban parks and schoolyards for migrating birds and other wildlife. Rain and Pollinator Gardens for Schools in the Connecticut River Estuary (CT) Connecticut Audubon Society Project Area: Essex, Deep River and Chester, Connecticut LISFF Grant: $15,443; Matching Funds: $12,014 Connecticut Audubon Society will guide student-led planning and installation of rain and pollinator gardens at schools in the Connecticut River Estuary including Essex, Deep River and Chester, Connecticut. This project will enhance existing schoolyard habitats, adding features that reduce 4,675 gallons of stormwater pollution annually while providing students and teachers with an example of sustainable conservation action for Long Island Sound. Schooner Coastal Exploration, Stewardship, and Environmental Education about Long Island Sound (CT) New Haven Land Trust Project Area: Long Wharf Nature Preserve, Quinnipiac Meadows Nature Preserve and New Haven Harbor, New Haven, Connecticut LISFF Grant: $45,000; Matching Funds: $79,000 New Haven Land Trust will provide hands-on educational programming for underserved youth and families through summer camp, on-the-water programs, public education and outreach events, and school-based programs focusing on protection of Long Island Sound water and land resources in New Haven, Connecticut. This project will increase appreciation and awareness of and provide sustainable recreational activities to the Sound for over 800 people. Stormwater Management Programs to Improve Water Quality in New Haven and Long Island Sound (CT) Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven Project Area: Newhallville Neighborhood, New Haven, Connecticut LISFF Grant: $14,398; Matching Funds: $43,335 Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven will develop classroom-based programs and community-based, volunteer-driven environmental events in New Haven, Connecticut. The project will educate local residents about how to reduce stormwater from their homes into the West River and Long Island Sound. Engaging New Landscaping Professionals in Non-toxic Landscaping Practices for Long Island Sound (CT) The Northeast Organic Farming Association of Connecticut Project Area: Goodwin College, East Hartford, Connecticut LISFF Grant: $44,937; Matching Funds: $23,200 The Northeast Organic Farming Association of Connecticut will host two educational courses on non-toxic property management practices that reduce non-point source pollution entering Long Island Sound. This project will provide training for approximately 70 local landscapers in English and Spanish to help them transition to practices that decrease common fertilizer, phosphorous and pesticide used to reduce overall nitrogen pollution from entering Long Island Sound. Sound Discoveries Education through Exploration (CT) Mystic Aquarium Project Area: Mystic Aquarium, Denison Pequotesepos Nature Center and Avalonia Land Conservancy, Mystic, Connecticut LISFF Grant: $8,651; Matching Funds: $5,973 Mystic Aquarium will host an experiential and hands-on environmental education program to immerse students and families in the habitats of Long Island Sound in Mystic, Connecticut. The project will increase knowledge about the natural resources of Long Island Sound and actions people can take to improve it. CONNECTICUT AND NEW YORK Producing and Implementing a Community-supported Long Island Sound Blue Plan (CT, NY) The Nature Conservancy, Connecticut Project Area: Coastal communities in Connecticut and New York that border Long Island Sound LISFF Grant: $44,986; Matching Funds: $51,904 The Nature Conservancy, Connecticut will finalize the Long Island Sound Blue Plan in Connecticut and New York. The project will create a community supported plan to protect marine life in Long Island Sound. Partnering for Marine Debris & Trash Prevention and Animal Rescue around Long Island Sound (CT, NY) Mystic Aquarium Project Area: Mystic, New London, Norwich and Hartford, Connecticut; Fisher's Island, New York LISFF Grant: $44,587; Matching Funds: $46,062 Mystic Aquarium will offer education and stewardship opportunities that focus on the impact of marine debris on marine species, engaging coastal and non-coastal community members in Connecticut and New York. The project will increase public awareness to reduce marine debris, trash and fishing gear from entering Long Island Sound. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-democratic-colleagues-urge-us-news-to-consider-a-schools-role-in-spurring-social-mobility-in-2020-college-rankings,"MURPHY, DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES URGE U.S. NEWS TO CONSIDER A SCHOOLS ROLE IN SPURRING SOCIAL MOBILITY IN 2020 COLLEGE RANKINGS",2018-12-03,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"MURPHY, DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES URGE U.S. NEWS TO CONSIDER A SCHOOL'S ROLE IN SPURRING SOCIAL MOBILITY IN 2020 COLLEGE RANKINGS Monday, December 3, 2018 WASHINGTON U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) today sent a letter urging U.S. News & World Report to further change their methodology for college rankings by more expansively considering a school's diversity, inclusion, and representation. U.S. News may claim that it now adequately addresses economic diversity by adjusting its new Pell metrics by the share of the student body receiving such grants. But this adjustment still leaves in the background the question of how widely schools open their doors to such students, the senators wrote. Moreover, it fails to consider the importance of diversity, inclusion, and representation in its own right.At the schools U.S. News rates most highly, this approach means the heart of the problem remains inadequately considered. Without an exclusive metric assessing the access a college or university provides to historically underrepresented students, deep inequities will continue to be masked. The letter is available here and is copied below. December 3, 2018 Mr. Brian Kelly Editor U.S. News & World Report 1050 Thomas Jefferson St NW Washington, DC 20007 Dear Mr. Kelly: We write regarding the recent updates to the 2019 U.S. News & World Report (U.S. News) Best Colleges Rankings. While the 2019 edition includes modest improvements to reflect colleges' role in boosting social mobility, we urge you to consider further changes to your methodology by more expansively considering a school's diversity, inclusion, and representation. We join others in questioning whether the changes represent a true embrace of social mobility, as your ranking system still fails to consider the extent to which colleges enroll historically underrepresented students. As the leading mass media ranking outlet, we fear U.S. News continues to create a perverse incentive for schools to adopt or maintain policies that perpetuate social and economic inequalities. We urge U.S. News to comprehensively update its rankings to recognize the colleges that transform the lives of millions of historically underrepresented students and their families instead of the privileged few. America's best colleges and universities are those that look like America, educate all of our students, and prepare them for a diverse and global workforce. As the primary mass media arbiter of college prestige relied upon by many students, families, and colleges, U.S. News has an obligation to assess American higher education fairly. U.S. News should acknowledge and correct for the role its rankings have played in fueling the collegiate arms race and preserving regressive admission policies like legacy enrollment and early decision. This approach prioritizes prestige and exacerbates America's deeply ingrained and racialized wealth disparities. We appreciate that U.S. News has taken a first step this year in the consideration of low-income students by accounting for both the graduation rate of Pell Grant recipients at an institution and whether a college graduates those students at the same rate as their peers. Colleges should urgently work to close gaps in access to and outcomes at their campuses, and we are grateful that U.S. News has incorporated measurements of that work into its rankings for the first time. Those two indicators, however, each make up only 2.5 percent of the ranking's methodology. While the new indicators are a noble start, they amount to a negligible change and pale in comparison to the substantial weight given to identifying wealthy and exclusive collegesregardless of whether they serve a broad cross section of America's students. Sixty-five percent of a school's ranking is still based on a vague measure of expert opinion (20 percent), faculty resources (20 percent), student excellence (10 percent), student spending (10 percent), and alumni giving (5 percent). Additionally, U.S. News made very narrow changes to the metrics that value prestige, such as eliminating the acceptance rate metric that before comprised only 1.25 percent of the formula and reducing the weight on standardized test scores by a fraction of a percentage point. Inevitably, ranking systems reflect their creators' views about what makes for a good college. In the end, even after these tweaks, U.S. News's methodology reflects an assumption that a college's success in fundraising matters to its quality as much as its success in serving students from every walk of American life. We believe judgments like that are indefensible. U.S. News may claim that it now adequately addresses economic diversity by adjusting its new Pell metrics by the share of the student body receiving such grants. But this adjustment still leaves in the background the question of how widely schools open their doors to such students. Moreover, it fails to consider the importance of diversity, inclusion, and representation in its own right. At the schools U.S. News rates most highly, this approach means the heart of the problem remains inadequately considered. Without an exclusive metric assessing the access a college or university provides to historically underrepresented students, deep inequities will continue to be masked. For example, the nation's most selective colleges currently enroll only 14 percent Pell students and have a median endowment of $1.2 billion, but we know that 40 percent of all high school graduates are low-income, and of those that score in the top 10 percent of the ACT, 20 percent are low-income. Meanwhile, the thousands of colleges doing the hard work of enrolling and supporting underrepresented students have a median endowment just one-hundredth the size of their more selective peers$10 million. While this year's changes are steps in the right direction, they fall short of truly acting to recognize collegesincluding many of our nation's minority-serving institutions and community collegesthat serve as our country's engines of social mobility and incent others to do so. We encourage U.S. News to take that next and more meaningful stride. As our country's public conversation again grapples with the repercussions of stark wealth inequalityincluding the tremendous overrepresentation of alumni from elite high schools, colleges, and law schools across all three branches of our federal government and in other powerful positions of leadershipour nation's wealthiest colleges must face public scrutiny and accountability for the role they play in either alleviating or cementing income inequality. We urge U.S. News to use its influential platform to better align its rankings with the three longstanding goals behind federal financial aid: improving college access, supporting student success, and providing every talented student a pathway to economic stability and meaningful participation in our country's economic, social, and civic life. Doing so will provide colleges and universities with a single, clear roadmap for how to pursue academic excellence and how diversity, inclusion, and representation are key indicators of the extent to which a college contributes to those goals. We all have a stake in combatting rising social immobility and providing a fair pathway of opportunity for all. We ask that U.S. News make further improvements in next year's 2020 Best Colleges Rankings and build on its initial steps to address a college's role in spurring social mobility. We hope that U.S. News will work hard to recognize the colleges that educate America's diverse students and prepare the next generation of diverse American leaders. We look forward to your response. Sincerely, ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-highlights-new-britain-manufacturer-admill-machine-as-this-weeks-murphys-monday-manufacturer,"MURPHY HIGHLIGHTS NEW BRITAIN MANUFACTURER, ADMILL MACHINE, AS THIS WEEKS MURPHYS MONDAY MANUFACTURER",2018-12-03,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"MURPHY HIGHLIGHTS NEW BRITAIN MANUFACTURER, ADMILL MACHINE, AS THIS WEEK'S MURPHY'S MONDAY MANUFACTURER Monday, December 3, 2018 WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) announced precision machine and aerospace manufacturer Admill Machine in New Britain is this week's ""Murphy's Monday Manufacturer.""Founded in 1988, Admill Machine specializes in complex 3D milling, turning, and wire EDM. Their focus on lean manufacturing practices has allowed them to develop cellular manufacturing and flow lines that have kept them competitive in this global market place. Their products support the aerospace and power generation industries, and their largest customers are Pratt & Whitney and ITP Aero. The company has 140 employees and works out of two facilities in New Britain: a 36,000 square foot headquarters and a 19,000 square foot plant that opened this year during their 30th anniversary. Admill is active in the New Britain community, routinelyworking with Central Connecticut State University's engineering program to provide internship and work opportunities to students. The company has averaged 30% yearly growth over the past 3 years, and with the current demands in the aircraft industry, does not expect to slow down. The aerospace industry in Connecticut is booming, and it's because of companies like Admill Machine. Admill manufacturers aircraft parts and equipment used to keep our country safe. I want to congratulate them on celebrating 30 years of manufacturing and service to New Britain, said Murphy. Admill Machine benefits greatly by being in Aerospace Alley'. Most everything that we would require to fulfill an OEM requirement can be found within a 70 mile radius of New Britain. This includes raw materials, coatings, heat treat, etc. The collection of expertise in our small area cannot be matched in the same size anywhere in the world, said Bob Murphy, Sales Manager. The manufacturing industry plays a crucial role throughout Connecticut communities, creating new jobs and accelerating the state's economic recovery. Today, Connecticut's 4,600 manufacturers account for 10% of the state's jobs and 87% of the state's total exports. In order to protect and grow manufacturing jobs in Connecticut, Murphy has introduced two pieces of legislation that aim to strengthen existing standards and prioritize the purchase of American-made goods, the BuyAmerican.gov Act and the American Jobs Matter Act. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-statement-passing-president-george-hw-bush,Larson Statement on the Passing of President George H.W. Bush,2018-12-01,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,CT,John Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Hartford, CT - Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement on the passing of President George H.W. Bush. The country lost a great American with the passing of President Bush. Throughout his time in office and afterwards, he always exemplified the dignity of the Office of the President of the United States. He had a stellar career dedicated to public service from his time in the military to his Presidency and beyond. Our nation will deeply miss him and mourn him. My sympathies go out to President George W. Bush and the entire Bush family. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-anniversary-rally-nelson-pinos,DeLauro Statement On Anniversary Rally For Nelson Pinos,2018-11-30,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"NEW HAVEN, CT (November 30, 2018) Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today released the following statement marking the one-year anniversary of New Haven resident Nelson Pinos seeking sanctuary at the First and Summerfield United Methodist Church. We are a nation of immigrants, not cruelty. Yet the emotional burden the Trump administration has placed on Nelson Pinos and his family over the last year is the height of cruelty, and does nothing to fix our nation's broken immigration system. President Trump often says his administration targets dangerous criminals and felons. Mr. Pinos is neither. He is a New Haven resident and father of three who has contributed to our community for decades: working hard, paying his taxes, taking care of his wife and three children, and has no criminal record. He deserves to stay here in the United States. Where are our values? It is inhumane to force people into hiding like this. Instead of deporting productive members of our community who have lived here for decades, we should be working on comprehensive immigration reform that secures our border, protects Americans workers, and, crucially, creates a path to citizenship for the law-abiding. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-unanimously-passes-murphy-johnson-resolution-condemning-russian-aggression-against-ukraine,"SENATE UNANIMOUSLY PASSES MURPHY, JOHNSON RESOLUTION CONDEMNING RUSSIAN AGGRESSION AGAINST UKRAINE",2018-11-30,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"SENATE UNANIMOUSLY PASSES MURPHY, JOHNSON RESOLUTION CONDEMNING RUSSIAN AGGRESSION AGAINST UKRAINE Friday, November 30, 2018 WASHINGTON The U.S. Senate on Thursday unanimously approved a resolution condemning Russia's recent attack on Ukrainian vessels in the Kerch Strait and calling for the immediate release of all Ukrainian sailors. U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), the ranking member and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation,introduced the resolution earlier this week. The Senate took action and sent a clear message to Putin that his government's aggression against Ukraine in the Sea of Azov will not be tolerated. We strongly condemn any military action taken by Russia to unilaterally rewrite international rules, said Murphy. Vladimir Putin is testing the West, and he needs to know we will not stand for this sort of provocation. I am pleased the Senate spoke with one voice to reaffirm our support for the Ukrainian people, the Ukrainian government and Ukraine's territorial integrity and make it clear that Russia's aggression cannot be tolerated, said Johnson. Full text of the resolution can be found here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-ahead-trump-s-planned-nafta-20-text-signing,DeLauro Statement Ahead of Trumps Planned NAFTA 2.0 Text Signing,2018-11-29,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC (November 29, 2018) Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today released the following statement ahead of President Trump's planned signing of the NAFTA 2.0 text. From GM's recent announcement indicating the closure of American manufacturing plants to the Bic plant, the Phillips facility, and Ansonia Copper and Brass in my own district, we have seen the damage that bad trade policies can do by encouraging companies to move production out of the United States. We have seen this since NAFTA was signed into law, which I opposed at the time. Yet, despite Trump's rhetoric describing the continued loss of manufacturing jobs as American carnage' since the beginning of his Presidency, it does not seem he has learned anything. The NAFTA 2.0 text he is planning to sign tomorrow would not help end the outsourcing incentives that have hollowed out communities across the country. In its current form, this deal is far from being one that helps working people across North America. As I and my fellow Democrats have said all along, the final package must remove the current outsourcing incentives, raise wages for American workers, include strong labor and environmental standards with swift and certain enforcement mechanisms, and ensure our nation's food safety. Those are some of the key standards by which we must judge this deal in order to ensure it protects jobs across the country. Falling short for American workers is not a viable option. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-va-refusal-repay-underpaid-gi-bill-benefits,DeLauro Statement on VA Refusal to Repay Underpaid GI Bill Benefits,2018-11-29,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC (November 29, 2018)Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03)released the following statement upon reports that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) would not be reimbursing veterans who were paid less in GI Bill benefits than they were promised. After weeks of issues and promises to make veterans whole, VA officials are going back on their word. That is unacceptable. GI benefits help student veterans go back to school and keep a roof over their head after they put their lives on the line for our country. In return for their service and sacrifice, they deserve the benefits they were promised by the federal government. The VA needs to fix the problem immediatelyand Congress needs to step up to ensure that happens. That is what the veterans contacting my office have told me. My office has reached out to our local colleges and universities regarding the GI Bill issues, but if any veterans are continuing to experience difficulties related to their benefits please contact my New Haven office immediately for assistance at 203-562-3718. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/-murphy-johnson-lead-resolution-condemning-russian-aggression-against-ukraine,"MURPHY, JOHNSON LEAD RESOLUTION CONDEMNING RUSSIAN AGGRESSION AGAINST UKRAINE",2018-11-28,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"MURPHY, JOHNSON LEAD RESOLUTION CONDEMNING RUSSIAN AGGRESSION AGAINST UKRAINE Wednesday, November 28, 2018 WASHINGTON U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), ranking member and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation, on Tuesday introduced a resolution condemning Russia's recent attack on Ukrainian vessels in the Kerch Strait and calling for the immediate release of all Ukrainian sailors. Joining Murphy and Johnson as cosponsors of the resolution are U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.). Full resolution text can be found here and below. Condemning Russia's provocative actions in the Kerch Strait against the Ukrainian navy Whereas, on November 24, 2018, Ukraine commemorated the 85th anniversary of the Ukrainian Famine of 19321933, known as the Holodomor, in which millions of Ukrainians perished under Soviet policies designed to break Ukrainian resistance to Soviet communist rule and forced collectivization; Whereas, on November 25, 2018, Russian Federation military forces fired on three Ukrainian Navy vessels attempting to transit the Kerch Strait between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov; Whereas the three Ukrainian ships were seized by Russian Federation forces, and Ukrainian government officials stated that at least six of the 24 captured Ukrainian sailors were wounded in the incident; Whereas the Russian Federation's seizure of the Ukrainian vessels is a blatant violation of its commitments under international law and a 2003 Agreement between the Russian Federation and Ukraine on cooperation in the use of the sea of Azov and the strait of Kerch; Whereas, on May 15, 2018, the Government of the Russian Federation completed construction of a road and rail bridge over the Kerch Strait, connecting Russia with Crimea in Ukraine, and has systematically harassed Ukrainian and international shipping transiting between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov; Whereas, in March 2014, Russian Federation forces invaded and occupied Ukraine's Crimean peninsula, in full contravention of the Russian Federation's commitments under the United Nations Charter and the Helsinki Final Act condemning the threat or use of force as means of altering international borders; Whereas the Government of the Russian Federation has increased considerably its military presence in occupied Crimea since 2014, including increasing military personnel to an estimated 28,00029,000, adding six new submarines and three frigates to the Black Seas Fleet, and deploying S400 long-range air defense battalions; Whereas the Government of the Russian Federation continues its efforts to destabilize eastern Ukraine, bears responsibility for the ongoing conflict that has cost the lives of over 10,000 Ukrainians, and recently orchestrated illegitimate leadership elections in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions; Whereas Section 1234 of Public Law 115-91 authorizes the Secretary of Defense in coordination with the Secretary of State to provide appropriate security assistance to the Ukrainian Armed Forces; and Whereas, on July 25, 2018, Secretary of State Michael Pompeo issued the Crimea Declaration, cementing United States nonrecognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea and calling upon Russia to uphold its commitments under international law regarding the territorial integrity of other states: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate (1) strongly condemns the provocative actions of the Government of the Russian Federation in the Kerch Strait against the Ukrainian navy; (2) calls upon the Government of Russia to immediately release all Ukrainian crew members and vessels and to cease its harassment of Ukrainian and international shipping transiting the Kerch Strait; (3) stresses that the behavior of the Government of the Russian Federation is destabilizing for the entire region and invites further escalations; (4) urges members of the international community to unite in opposition to the actions of the Government of the Russian Federation in the Kerch Strait, as they infringe upon fundamental principles of international law affecting all nations; (5) welcomes and affirms Secretary of State Pompeo's Crimea Declaration announcing United States policy to never recognize Russia's attempted annexation of Crimea; and (6) reaffirms the unwavering support of the people and the Government of the United States for the people of Ukraine and Ukraine's territorial integrity. (7) calls upon the President and the entire Administration to implement an all of government approach to forcefully express opposition to the Russian Federation's November 25, 2018 attack on Ukrainian forces at every opportunity. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-help-democrats-call-for-a-hearing-on-nominee-for-critical-education-department-post,"MURPHY, HELP DEMOCRATS CALL FOR A HEARING ON NOMINEE FOR CRITICAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT POST",2018-11-28,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"MURPHY, HELP DEMOCRATS CALL FOR A HEARING ON NOMINEE FOR CRITICAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT POST Wednesday, November 28, 2018 WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, joined U.S Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and his fellow Democrats on HELP, Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), and Tim Kaine (D-Va.), in sending a letter to Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-Wash.) to request a hearing on the nomination of Robert Bob L. King to become the Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education at the United States Department of Education. As student debt continues to rise, and as college becomes more and more unaffordable and inaccessible for hardworking Americans, it is critical that the Senate confirm someone for this important post with a specific and compelling vision for the role the Department should play in helping Americans struggling with student loan debt and making college more affordable, accessible, and accountable to students and taxpayers, and safe for all students, the members wrote. The American people deserve to know where Mr. King stands on these issues. The Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education has critical leadership and oversight responsibilities for the three major program units in the Department's Office of Postsecondary Education: Higher Education Programs; International and Foreign Language Education; and Policy, Planning and Innovation. These program units administer grant programs focused on college readiness, campus-based child care, graduate fellowships, and programs supporting low income, first-generation students, and individuals with disabilities, including federal TRIO and GEAR UP programs. This office also oversees higher education accreditation at the Department and administers the review process for accreditation agencies to ensure that federally-recognized accreditors adequately perform their quality assurance and Title IV gatekeeping responsibilities in accordance with federal standards and regulations. The Education Department has recently been the subject of widespread criticism for its decision to fully re-instate Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS), the controversial gatekeeper of for-profit schools. Last year, Murphy reintroduced the Students Before Profits Act, a bill to protect students from deceptive practices and bad actors in the for-profit college sector. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-highlights-new-haven-innovator-my-gene-counsel-as-murphys-innovator-of-the-month,"MURPHY HIGHLIGHTS NEW HAVEN INNOVATOR, MY GENE COUNSEL, AS MURPHYS INNOVATOR OF THE MONTH",2018-11-28,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"MURPHY HIGHLIGHTS NEW HAVEN INNOVATOR, MY GENE COUNSEL, AS MURPHY'S INNOVATOR OF THE MONTH Wednesday, November 28, 2018 WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.)announced on Wednesday that My Gene Counsel, a digital genetic counseling company in New Haven, is Murphy's Innovator of the Month. During their run as Director and Assistant Director of Yale School of Medicine's Cancer Genetic Counseling Program, respectively, Ellen Matloff and Danielle Bonadies began to notice trends in the field of genomics: many patientswerehaving genetic testing without the involvement of a certified genetic counselor and many patients' genetic test results were being misinterpreted. After realizing there were no existing scalable solutions to provide consumers with accurate, updating genetic information,Ellen and Danielle created My Gene Counsel. My Gene Counsel is a digital platform that provides consumers with a way to understand and use their genetic test results. This system also provides updates to consumers who may have had testing months, years, or decades earlier, so they can learn how medical management recommendations have changed, when results were reclassified, and if they are candidates for clinical trials. My Gene Counsel recently went live with their hereditary cancer product for patients who've had genetic testing, and will be live with their cardiac products and health care provider products in early 2019. My Gene Counsel currently has four full-time employees and is based in New Haven. My Gene Counsel chose to work in Connecticut because it's a hub for genomics with several companies, labs, and schools in the state leading the charge in this area. My Gene Counsel partners with local schools and groups to spread the word about genetic counseling and testing to attract young people of diverse backgrounds into the field of genomics. My Gene Counsel is proof that Connecticut is home to the best innovators in the world. Ellen and Danielle are leading the way in genomics, creating a platform for folks to stay up to date on their genetic testing results, while also training the next generation of students in this growing industry. I'm happy to highlight My Gene Counsel as my Innovator of the Month, and I look forward to seeing this company continue to grow, said Murphy. I feel fortunate to be an entrepreneur in the State of Connecticut, which has a rich history of genomics innovation, and a strong network of talented STEM students and colleagues from which we draw for our hires,said Ellen Matloff, President and CEO of My Gene Counsel. Murphy believes entrepreneurship and innovation are building blocks for a strong economy. In the U.S. Senate, he has introduced two bipartisan pieces of legislation to incentivize angel investors to put more money into startup companies the Angel Tax Credit Actand theHelping Angels Lead Our Startups (HALOS) Act. Startup companies create an average of 2 million jobs each year. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-statement-after-senate-advances-war-powers-resolution-to-end-us-involvement-in-war-in-yemen,MURPHY STATEMENT AFTER SENATE ADVANCES WAR POWERS RESOLUTION TO END U.S. INVOLVEMENT IN WAR IN YEMEN,2018-11-28,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"MURPHY STATEMENT AFTER SENATE ADVANCES WAR POWERS RESOLUTION TO END U.S. INVOLVEMENT IN WAR IN YEMEN Wednesday, November 28, 2018 WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Wednesday released a statement following today's vote to advance the bipartisan joint resolution he introduced with U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) that would remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities between the Saudi-led coalition and the Houthis in Yemen pursuant to the War Powers Act. Earlier today, Murphy delivered remarks on the floor of the U.S. Senate urging his colleagues to support his resolution to end U.S. involvement in this humanitarian crisis. The Saudis are our ally, but we don't blindly support our friends when their values and interests conflict with ours.The Saudi war in Yemen has gone off the rails and their disregard for human life has become impossible to ignore.Today's breakthrough vote in the Senate is a signal to the administration that they must quickly reorient their policy toward Saudi Arabia or Congress will do it for them,"" said Murphy. ""I'm gratified by how much bipartisan support we got for today's motion. Just two years ago, only 27 Senators supported a narrower measure to block a single arms sale. Fast forward to today where a bipartisan group of 63 Senators stood up to Saudi Arabia and the administration to advance legislation that would immediately end U.S. military participation in the war in Yemen, Murphy continued. For years, Murphy has been a vocal critic of U.S. Support for the Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen that has led to devastating humanitarian consequences and a security vacuum that has empowered terrorist groups. Murphy has repeatedly expressed concern that U.S. participation in Saudi Arabia's military actions against Houthi rebels in Yemen threatens our own national security interests. Last month, after Jamal Khashoggi was killed at the Saudi consulate in Turkey, Murphyreiteratedhis call for the suspension of military support for the Saudi-led campaign. He echoed his calls in an op-ed in theWashington Post. In September, Murphyrenewedhis call to cease support for the Saudi-led campaign following a United Nations report that found continued human rights violations. Earlier this year, Murphyintroducedan amendment to the FY 2019 Department of Defense Appropriations bill that would cut off United States' support for the Saudi Arabia-led coalition's war in Yemen until the Secretary of Defense certified that the coalition's air campaign is not violating international law and U.S. policy. Senate Republicansobjectedto voting on Murphy's amendment. Murphyintroducedsimilar legislation last year. The resolution passed by a vote of 63-37. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-urges-us-to-end-involvement-in-war-in-yemen,MURPHY URGES U.S. TO END INVOLVEMENT IN WAR IN YEMEN,2018-11-28,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"MURPHY URGES U.S. TO END INVOLVEMENT IN WAR IN YEMEN Murphy: It can't get much worse than it is today, and there's no evidence that the U.S. participation in this campaign has made it better. Wednesday, November 28, 2018 WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Wednesday delivered remarks on the floor of the U.S. Senate urging his colleagues to support the bipartisan joint resolution he introduced with U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) to end U.S. involvement in the war in Yemen. The resolution would remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities between the Saudi-led coalition and the Houthis in Yemen pursuant to the War Powers Resolution. During his remarks, Murphy called attention to the devastating humanitarian consequences this war has caused, noting the thousands of children who have died from starvation and diseases, and the over 22 million people in the country who cannot live without humanitarian assistance. We need to shake up the stalemate that exists today. We need to send a signal that the United States is not okay with the way that the Saudis have perpetuated this war. Frankly, the way they have lied to us over the course of the last several months about other things that they are doing to quell dissent in and around the kingdom. We need to send a message, but we also need to get the United States out of a conflict right now that is doing no benefit to American national security and has become a nightmare for people who are stuck in Yemen today. I'd urge passage of the resolution,Murphy said in his speech. The full text of Murphy's remarks is below: I want to speak very briefly on behalf of the resolution being offered today by Senator Sanders, Senator Lee, myself, and several others. I want to encourage my colleagues to support it. And I want to use my brief time to respond to some of the arguments that the administration has made over the course of the last few days as to why we should not stand together as a body and say that without a congressional declaration of war, the United States cannot and should not be involved in a disastrous civil war in Yemen. This is as important a vote as we will take here in the Senate. Lives are at stake. Lives are in the balance. I don't need to repeat everything that Senator Sanders and others have said about the humanitarian catastrophe that exists inside that country, but this is different than other famines. This is other than different cholera outbreaks. This is different than other humanitarian nightmares in which tens of thousands of children are losing theirlives,because we are not just a spectator in Yemen. We are a participant. The bombing campaign that is causing the worst humanitarian nightmare in the world today is caused by a military campaign of which the United States is a major player and participant. And so we have something to say here today about whether or not this civil war ends. We have something to say here about whether this Congress is going to allow the administration to continue to perpetuate a war that has had no debate here in the United States Congress. So let me take the four arguments that the administration uses to try to argue against our resolution and talk to you a little bit about them. The first argument that was made probably most clearly in secretary Pompeo's op-ed inThe Wall Street Journalthis morning is that the real issue here is it's not Saudi Arabia, it's Iran and that if we do not continue to support the Saudi bombing campaign inside Yemen that the result will be that Iran wins in the region.Well, first, that exhibits a third-grade understanding of the Middle East. The Middle East is not a zero-sum game between the Saudis and the Iranians. Every time you do something that is potentially disadvantageous to the Saudis, it doesn't result in an equal-size benefit for the Iranians. In fact, it may be that both countries are doing things that are deleterious to American National Security. It may be that we want to pick and choose when we engage with the Saudis and when we don't engage with the Saudis. Just because we choose not to engage in one particular aspect of Saudi foreign policy does not mean that that equals a gift to the Iranians. And yet that's what Secretary Pompeo would have you believe; that if we don't blindly support the Saudi civil war inside Yemen, then that is a win for the Iranians. Well, the reality is while this civil war has been occurring, al Qaeda and ISIShasgotten stronger, more numerous. In fact, the greatest threat to the American homeland today comes from the wing of al Qaeda that is inside Yemen. And so this civil war that we have been helping to perpetuate is actually making our most sacred enemy even stronger inside that country. Second, there has to be a line that crossed in which our ally has gone too far that we're not willing to follow.Clearlythat has happened inside Saudi Arabia. As they intentionally bomb schools and hospitals and school buses. Just because we stand up and say, we are not willing to support you, Saudi Arabia, in your targeted bombing of civilians thatdoesnot equally gift to Iran. We are still able to decide when we engage and when we don't engage, even with our allies. Second, a lot of folks seem to believe that there is some command-and-control relationship between the Iranians and Houthis. They are certainly tied together. There arecertainlyweapons, capabilities that have been gifted, granted to the Houthis by the Iranians. But the Houthis are not Hezbollah. Right? This is not a group of fighters that Iran controls. And in fact as the civil war goes on and on, gets deeper and deeper, the Houthis and Iranians get closer and closer together. So as we continue to just feed enough support to the Saudis to keep the civil war going, we are actually, we are actually perpetuating the very end thatseekto avoid, which is the merger of the Iranian regime and the Houthi rebels. They are becomingclosedand closer the longer and longer the United States becomes engaged in this conflict. The Middle East is not a zero-sum game. You do not have to unconditionally back the Saudis in everything they ask of us simply because you don't like the Iranians. That's not how the Middle East works. You can pick and choose the places in which you back up your ally. At no cost to your campaign to try to delegitimize and reduce the influence of Iran. Second, the claim is that this resolution, if it were to pass, would hurt negotiations that are scheduled for next month. False. Exactly the opposite, for two reasons. One, the Saudis need to understand that our support is not unconditional. That they actually have to bend at the negotiating table. Right now they don't believe they have to do that. In fact, they have been, more often than not over the course of this civil war, the reluctant party in these negotiations because they believe that if negotiations fall apart and they return to a state of military hostilities, the United States will give them whatever they need. It's really important right now for the Saudis, as they head into that negotiation, to understand that if these negotiations don't succeed, that there are consequences. Second, the idea that the Houthis are ready to give up the fight, that they are tired, is also false. There is no evidence of that. The Houthis don't believe that the negotiation is real and so they are prepared to just fight it out. If the Houthis believe that the United States is an honest broker here, that there is some point at which we are unwilling to follow the Saudis into battle as they continue to deliberately attack civilians inside Yemen, then the Houthis are actually more willing to sit and talk at the negotiating table. Showing that there is some conditionality to our support for the Saudis, that there is some line on war crimes that they cross that is too far, actually is helpful in getting both of these parties closer together at the negotiating table. Third, the claim is made that if this resolution were to pass, it would hurt our work against al Qaeda and ISIS. Absolutely false. Inside this resolution is an exclusion, what we say is if there is an existing authorization for war inside Yemen, that this resolution does not erase it. There is an existing authorization for any campaign, anywhere in the world, that the United States launches against al Qaeda. The administration and the prior administration, the Obama administration, have expanded the 9/11 AUMF to cover ISIS as well. So nothing in this resolution hurts our ability to go after al Qaeda and ISIS inside Yemen.All of those operations can continue even if this were to pass and become law. But, second, al Qaeda has been growing in strength. ISIS had no foothold in Yemen before this civil war. They are stronger today than they were three years ago, because once again,likewe did in Iraq for ten years, like we're doing in Syria, we are giving just enough help to the Saudis to keep the civil war going without actually ever being willing to give enough force so as to be dispositive on the ground. All we are doing is lengthening the civil war, right? Nature abhors a vacuum. In the vacuum that is created by that civil war, especially in the vast, ungovernable portions of Yemen, al Qaeda takes advantage. ISIS continues to grow. Every day that we continue to just keep this thing going, our sworn Sunni extremist enemies are getting stronger. Lastly, the argument is made that if the United States is not involved with the Saudis, the humanitarian nightmare would be worse. How could it be worse? How is that a justification? 85,000 children under the age of five have died of starvation and disease. 22 million people in the country, three-quarters of the population, cannot live without humanitarian assistance. The world's worst cholera epidemic in the history of the world is happening right now inside that country. Why? Because the Saudis have been deliberately hitting the water treatment facilities. I'm not making this up. I'm not making this up. They've been targeting the water treatment facilities, so you can't get clean water, so people get cholera. Today humanitarian supplies have been reduced by 50% into the port of Hudaydah because as we speak the Saudis, with U.S. Support, are bombing all around Hudaydah and humanitarian agencies have cut off many of the supplies that they would traditionally send into that capital. The humanitarian nightmare is getting worse right now as we speak today because this civil war continues to go on and on. It can't get much worse than it is today, and there's no evidence that the U.S. participation in this campaign has made it better. In fact, since we have been sitting inside these targeting centers with U.S. personnel helping the Saudis pick targets, more civilians have been killed, more civilians have been killed, not less. We actually pulled out of the targeting centers at the end of the Obama administration. The Obama administration made a determination in 2016 that we were potentially committing war crimes by being with the Saudis as they were choosing to hit the water treatment facilities and so they pulled our people out. There's no evidence that during the time that we were not in the targeting centers, the Saudis were hitting more civilian targets. In fact, the evidence tells us that the deeper we get involved in the targeting decisions, the more they hit civilian targets. There's a perfectly reasonable explanation for that. So long as they have the United States inside the tent, they have moral cover for hitting civilian targets. They can useus-- they can use us to say, well, the United Stateswerethere, right? They were inside the room when these decisions were made. So it can't be that we're doing the kind of damage that you say we are. The evidence suggests -- the evidence doesn't suggest the contrary. The evidence says that the contrary is true. 160% increase in civilians being killed just this year versus last year. So the Middle East isn't a zero-sum game. The passage of this resolution does not empower Iran. We are not obligated to follow the Saudis into every mistake that they make. This resolution will not hurt negotiations. It will help negotiations by showing that the United States is going to be an honest broker here. The Houthis are bad, bad players. They've killed a lot of people. They've done a lot of damage inside that country. This is not just a question of what the Saudis have done. 70% of the civilians have been killed by Saudi bombs. But the Houthis need to be held to account for what they've done as well. We need to be a broker of peace. This resolution will help us be a broker of peace. Third, al Qaeda and ISIS can still be confronted, even if this resolution passes, and the quicker this civil war ends, the less power they have. And, fourth, maybe theoretically things could be worse. Maybe we could have 185,000 children under five die starvation and disease, but that is not a justification to just stay the course. We need to shake up we need to shake up the stalemate that exists today. We need to send a signal that the United States is not okay with the way that the Saudis have perpetuated this war. Frankly, the way they have lied to us over the course of the last several months about other things that they are doing to quell dissent in and around the kingdom. We need to send a message, but we also need to get the United States out of a conflict right now that is doing no benefit to American national security and has become a nightmare for people who are stuck in Yemen today. I'd urge passage of the resolution and yield the floor. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/view/murphy-delivers-floor-speech-on-yemen,Murphy Delivers Floor Speech on Yemen,2018-11-28,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"hartford Colt Gateway 120 Huyshope Avenue Suite 401 Hartford, CT 06106 P: (860) 549-8463 F: (860) 524-5091 Get Directions",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-fda-industry-agreement-romaine-lettuce-labeling,DeLauro Statement on FDA-Industry Agreement on Romaine Lettuce Labeling,2018-11-27,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC (November 27, 2018) Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03)released the following statement regarding the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) announcement of an FDA-industry agreement on voluntary labeling for romaine lettuce. The agreement that the FDA and industry reached on voluntaryrather than requiredlabeling where romaine lettuce is grown and when it was harvested is not meaningful action to prevent further outbreaks. This agreement misses the crux of the issue: what should our federal agencies be doing to keep Americans' food safe? While such labeling may help to reduce the size and scope of future outbreaks, these labels will have no impact on ensuring contaminated food does not make it to grocery store shelves in the first place. As such, the announcement is nothing more than a distraction that changes the discussion away from what the FDA should be doing as a regulatory agency. The safety of our nation's food should not be left up to big corporations. It is long past time the FDA steps up and prevent future outbreaks instead of having industry regulate itself. That means addressing structural inadequacies within the produce industry by enforcing all parts of the Food Safety Modernization Actincluding agricultural water testing. Through FSMA, Congress aimed to change the nature of our food safety system from reactive to proactive. Yet, despite being signed into law more than seven years ago, major deficiencies persist. That is unacceptable. The FDA needs to implement these changes immediately so families know they food they are buying is safe. DeLauro serves as chair of the Congressional Food Safety Caucus and is a senior Democrat on the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-statement-passing-13th-librarian-congress-dr-james-billington,"Larson Statement on the Passing of 13th Librarian of Congress, Dr. James Billington",2018-11-26,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,CT,John Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Hartford, CT - Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement upon the news of the passing of Dr. James Billington, who served as the 13th Librarian of Congress. Larson worked closely with Dr. Billington as Ranking Member of the House Administration Committee. I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. James Billington. Working with him was like working with a mixture of Gandolf and Dumbledore, because of his knowledge and wisdom. He was the sage of the nation, the epitome of intellect, grace, and class. He was all that you would want in the Librarian of Congress, the gate keeper of truth and the cumulative knowledge of the nation's heritage, culture, and literature. Dr. Billington was a national treasure and this is a great loss to the country, said Larson. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-johnson-statement-on-escalating-tensions-between-russia-and-ukraine,"MURPHY, JOHNSON STATEMENT ON ESCALATING TENSIONS BETWEEN RUSSIA AND UKRAINE",2018-11-26,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"MURPHY, JOHNSON STATEMENT ON ESCALATING TENSIONS BETWEEN RUSSIA AND UKRAINE Monday, November 26, 2018 WASHINGTON U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), ranking member and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation, issued the following joint statement regarding escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine: We strongly condemn the Russian Federation's attack on Ukrainian vessels in the Kerch Strait and increasingly aggressive actions in the Sea of Azov. Russia must swiftly release all Ukrainian crew members and vessels, cease the disruption of Ukrainian and international shipping, and allow unhindered access through the Kerch Strait and in the Sea of Azov. We continue to support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and their right to freedom of navigation. Russia cannot rewrite international rules by force. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-urges-us-navy-to-increase-submarine-maintenance-at-private-shipyards-like-electric-boat-following-report-that-backlog-cost-taxpayers-15-billion_-,MURPHY URGES U.S. NAVY TO INCREASE SUBMARINE MAINTENANCE AT PRIVATE SHIPYARDS LIKE ELECTRIC BOAT FOLLOWING REPORT THAT BACKLOG COST TAXPAYERS $1.5 BILLION,2018-11-26,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"MURPHY URGES U.S. NAVY TO INCREASE SUBMARINE MAINTENANCE AT PRIVATE SHIPYARDS LIKE ELECTRIC BOAT FOLLOWING REPORT THAT BACKLOG COST TAXPAYERS $1.5 BILLION Monday, November 26, 2018 WASHINGTON Following a non-partisan Government Accountability Office (GAO)report that found that delays in maintenance of submarines cost taxpayers $1.5 billion in the last ten years, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations and Appropriations Committees, on Monday urged the U.S. Navy to address the costlymaintenancebacklog. Specifically, Murphy called on the U.S.Navy to use private shipyards, like Electric Boat in Groton, Connecticut, to complete the work. This report should be a wake-up call for the Navy. The Navy's maintenance work for submarines can't only be done at public shipyards, said Murphy. The men and women who work at Electric Boat are the best at what they do. The only way we can make sure we have a submarine forceready to take our national security challenges head on and save taxpayers money is to make sure that trained workerslike those at Electric Boatcan help address the backlog of maintenance work. During a U.S. Senate Appropriations Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee hearing earlier this year, Murphy pressed Vice Admiral Dixon R. Smith of the U.S. Navyto better utilize private shipyards, like Electric Boat, to address the backlog of maintenance for submarines. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/journal-inquirer-bill-introduced-protect-health-care-social-service-workers,"Journal Inquirer: Bill introduced to protect health care, social service workers from violence",2018-11-21,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Rep. Joseph D. Courtney, D-2nd District, recently introduced legislation aimed at reducing increasing rates of on-the-job violence experienced by health care and social service workers. The Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act directs the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to establish a standard requiring health care and social service employers to write and implement a workplace violence prevention plan to protect employees from violent incidents. In a release announcing the legislation, Courtney, a senior member of the House Education and Workforce Committee, said that each year, health care and social service workers face violence, often from patients and their families. This legislation compels OSHA to do what employees, safety experts, and members of Congress have been calling for for years, to create an enforceable standard to ensure that employers are taking these risks seriously, and creating safe workplaces that their employees deserve, he said. According to the release, a 2016 U.S. Government Accountability Office study found that rates of violence against health care workers are up to 12 times higher than rates for the overall workforce, and 70 percent of nonfatal workplace assaults in 2016 occurred in the health care and social assistance sectors. The release also said that recently released data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics found a sharp increase in serious injuries as a result of workplace violence among health care workers last year. Front line employees in these settings interact with a range of patients, clients, and their families, often with little training or direction for how to prevent or handle interactions that become violent, the release said. According to the release, the introduced legislation would ensure that health care and social service workplaces adopt proven prevention techniques and are prepared to respond in the tragic event of a violent incident. In 2013, Courtney asked the GAO to study trends in health care workplace violence and identify options for OSHA to curtail it, the release says. In 2015, Courtney and other members asked OSHA to develop a workplace safety standard to protect health care workers from rising on-the-job violence. OSHA had agreed to undertake rulemaking on health care workplace violence, but action has stalled under the Trump administration. Several health care and social service workers, unions, and other organizations applauded the legislation, including Helene Andrews, a registered nurse from Newtown. Andrews said that during her last eight years of work, she suffered three assaults, which resulted in three major surgeries, lengthy recoveries, and residual pain and disabilities that she's still dealing with. Preventing violent workplace injuries should be given the highest priority, and I salute Rep. Joe Courtney for his efforts, she said. [...] Read more at JournalInquirer.com",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-hhs-report-detailing-family-separation-costs,DeLauro Statement on HHS Report Detailing Family Separation Costs,2018-11-21,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DCCongresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03)released the following statement regarding a new report to Congress from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on the Trump administration's policy of family separation, as required by her amendment to the Fiscal Year 2019 Department of Health and Human Services Appropriations Act. This report on the status of reunifying children with their families and how much the Trump Administration's government-sanctioned child abuse has cost taxpayers is the first step towards holding those responsible accountable. After months of requesting this information to no avail, we now know that this debacle has cost upwards of $80 millionmore than $30,000 on average for every child that was separated from their family. That is outrageous, and the Administration never should have implemented such a cruel policy, much less shifted $80 million from critical programs such as Head Start, HIV/AIDS treatment, or cancer research to pay for it. Still, there are many questions that remain. What is going to be the effect on the children whose parents were deported or made the tragic decision to waive reunification because they fear for their child's safety in their home country? What exactly were the offenses of the 30 parents who are not eligible to be reunited? It has been at least seven months since the Trump administration began traumatizing thousands of families and they still have not fully resolved this tragedy. I will continue to press the Administration for answers over the coming days and in the new Congress. A full copy of the report can be found here. DeLauro is the lead Democrat on the Appropriations subcommittee responsible for funding the Department of Health and Human Services. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-e-coli-outbreak-linked-romaine-lettuce,DeLauro Statement on E. coli Outbreak Linked to Romaine Lettuce,2018-11-20,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DCCongresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03)released the following statement after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned the public to avoid eating romaine lettuce due to an E. coli outbreak that has caused 32 people to fall in at 11 states, including Connecticut. This is the third E. coli related outbreak linked to romaine lettuce just this year. That is unacceptable. While I welcome the broad announcement from the CDC to warn consumers to avoid eating romaine lettuce in all forms, the agency and FDA have clearly not learned their lesson from previous outbreaks. We must do better. Instead, the Trump administration has shown that food safety is not a priority by delaying crucial provisions of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)like the produce safety rule and shortchanging food safety resources through their budget requests. Making food safety a priority would be a significant step toward ensuring the food Americans buy and feed to their families is safe. DeLauro serves as chair of the Congressional Food Safety Caucus, and is a senior Democrat on the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/senators-demand-justification-for-deployment-of-active-duty-troops-to-the-border,Senators Demand Justification for Deployment of Active Duty Troops to the Border,2018-11-20,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Senators Demand Justification for Deployment of Active Duty Troops to the Border Print Tweet Disproportionate military response to the migrant caravan casts servicemembers as pawns in a political agenda Tuesday, November 20, 2018 [WASHINGTON, DC] Today, a group of twelve senators led by U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) wrote Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis to raise concerns regarding the the overt politicization of the military and the lack of evidence to justify the deployment of active duty troops to confront the migrant caravan before the midterm elections. Thousands of active duty troops were sent to the U.S.-Mexico border in the days before the 2018 midterm elections, where they remain. Such capricious partisanship and manipulation of military troops for electoral gain does a dangerous disservice to our men and women in uniform, the senators wrote. In today's letter, the senators demanded justification for the politically motivated mission's misuse of active duty servicemembers and waste of Department of Defense resources. Although reports yesterday indicated that servicemembers deployed to the U.S.-Mexico border might be brought home as early as this week, earlier today, an Army spokesperson cast doubt on that timeline and indicated that personnel may instead be moved to California. Additional reports today also indicate that President Trump may grant troops on the border a force protection mandate. Today's letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Kamala D. Harris (D-CA), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR). The full text of today's letter is available here and copied below. November 20, 2018 The Honorable James N. Mattis Secretary of Defense 1000 Defense Pentagon Washington, DC 20301-1000 Dear Secretary Mattis: We are deeply disturbed by the overt politicization of the military and the lack of evidence to justify the deployment of active duty troops to confront the migrant caravan before the midterm elections. This politically-motivated mission misuses active duty servicemembers and wastes Department of Defense (DOD) resources, both of which could compromise military readiness in the face of a true national security threat and heighten the risk of a confrontation between asylum-seekers and armed servicemembers. We request a NORTHCOM briefing and written justification for deploying up to 15,000 active duty troops to the border. In the absence of such justification, we urge you to curb the unprecedented escalation of DOD involvement in immigration enforcement and end unnecessary deployments to support Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) activities. On October 29, 2018, NORTHCOM issued an inflammatory fragmentary order (FRAGO) that exaggerated the migrant threat and contradicted intelligence assessments reported to have been released the same day. The FRAGO asserted: the security of the United States is imperiled by a drastic surge of illegal drugs, dangerous gang activity and extension illegal immigration threatens the safety of citizens and undermines the rule of law. But, according to press reports, a NORTHCOM assessment emphasized that the number of migrants arriving at the border is likely to decrease as the caravan approaches the United States, and that DOD does not anticipate terrorist infiltration or significant criminal gang involvement. Rather than a drastic surge in illegal activity, the reported assessments and historical trends indicate a potential humanitarian crisis instead. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) emphasized that over 270 migrants have criminal histories, but an anonymous senior Defense Department official was quoted in the press acknowledging that the Department has yet to receive confirmation of these claims. Although the incendiary FRAGO language is clearly inconsistent with the reported security conditions and intelligence assessments, active duty troops established vehicle convoys and tent cities to provide the same logistical, clerical, and support jobs that National Guard units deployed to the border already perform. It is unclear why thousands of active duty troops are needed to provide additional logistical support to process a dwindling caravan of asylum seekers, particularly given that the troops deployed are likely to substantially outnumber the incoming migrants. There is also a clear lack of proof to support assertions that American national security is imperiled by these asylum-seekers or that current migration patterns represent a point of crisis. Our concerns about this seemingly disproportionate military response to the migrant caravan are amplified by the obvious political agenda at play. Both the deployment timing and mission name reveal a blatant partisan ploy. In response to President Trump's promise to send the real military to secure our borders, approximately 5,200 active duty troops were deployed to support Operation Faithful Patriot by November 5, 2018 the day before the midterm elections. But by November 7, 2018, the Pentagon announced the mission would be re-named border support given that Faithful Patriot conveyed undeniably political undertones. Such capricious partisanship and manipulation of military troops for electoral gain does a dangerous disservice to our men and women in uniform. Servicemembers must never be used as pawns in a political agenda a practice that will undoubtedly and irreparably harm servicemember morale. DOD must account for both the end state and objectives of this mission and provide written justification for the use of active duty troops at the southwest border. We request a final cost estimate for the mission, the defense budget account or source that will fund this deployment, and a timeline for any CBP reimbursement of DOD expenditures. Further, DOD must publicize measurements of effectiveness and performance, document any DOD role in policy implementation, and provide written confirmation that this diversion of DOD resources will not compromise the ability of U.S. Armed Forces to respond to real national security threats. As Secretary of Defense, we urge you to protect the apolitical, non-partisan nature of the U.S. Armed Forces and advocate for military strategy that will protect this country against national security threats. In addition to a NORTHCOM briefing to be scheduled no later than Thursday, December 6, 2018, we request any written intelligence or threat assessments that justify the deployment of active duty troops to the border, or any documented verification to support the assertions that the migrant caravan jeopardizes U.S. national security. Unless DOD is able to provide irrefutable justification for active duty servicemembers' support to CBP, we encourage you to refrain from extending the deployments of active duty servicemembers currently stationed at the border or deploying additional units. Thank you for your immediate attention to this issue and we look forward to your response.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/business-insurance-house-bill-aims-address-workplace-violence-health-care,Business Insurance: House bill aims to address workplace violence in health care,2018-11-19,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,,,legacy,"A bill that would compel the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration to issue a standard requiring health care and social service employers to write and implement workplace violence prevention plans was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on Friday. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-Conn., introduced H.R. 7141 the Workplace Violence Prevention in Health Care and Social Services Act in response to increasing rates of workplace violence against health care professionals, according to a statement issued on Friday. We expect health care and social service employees to care for us in our times of need, but we know that each year, these men and women are faced with rising rates of violence, often from patients and their families, Rep. Courtney said in a statement. This legislation compels OSHA to do what employees, safety experts and members of Congress have been calling for years create an enforceable standard to ensure that employers are taking these risks seriously and creating safe workplaces that their employees deserve. OSHA does not currently have a specific standard for workplace violence prevention, but the agency has utilized the Occupational Safety and Health Act's general duty clause to cite health care employers for not protecting their employees from violent workplace incidents and continues to do so under the Trump administration, according to workplace safety experts. [...] Read the full story at BusinessInsurance.com",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/house-democrats-introduce-bill-protect-millions-health-care-workers,House Democrats introduce a bill to protect millions of health care workers,2018-11-19,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,,,legacy,"A group of House Democrats introduced a bill on Friday to help protect millions of nurses and other health care workers from the high rates of violence they experience on the job. The new bill, called theWorkplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act, would require hospitals, nursing homes, rehab centers, mental health providers, and jails to develop a workplace safety plan to protect their workers from violence they experience at the hands of patients a surprisingly common phenomenon. The bill would also require employers to record and investigate all complaints of violence, and prohibits retaliation against employees who call 911. In 2016, health care and social service workers suffered 69 percent of all workplace violence injuries,according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and were nearly five times more likely to experience violence on the job than the average US worker. They aremore likely to get injured at workthan even police officers and prison guards. Nurses suffer in particular. Registered nurses are often threatened, punched, kicked, beaten, and assaulted on the job, sometimes with deadly consequences, said Jean Ross, a registered nurse and co-president of the National Nurses United labor union, in a statement to Vox. The union has been pushing for federal legislation for years. The bill, which is sponsored by Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT), would essentially turn into law current guidelines from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration at the Department of Labor. A hospital's violence prevention plan could involve hiring more security guards, installing surveillance cameras, and training staff in how to respond to violent incidents. The rule covers all employees, whether hired directly by a hospital or employed as subcontractors. Violence against health care workers is a national problem There are currently no federal rules that require that hospitals attempt to protect nurses from violence in the workplace, though some states have passed them on their own. In October 2016, California passed the toughest rules in the country, requiring health care employers to develop tailored violence prevention plans for each workplace with employees' input. But the problem is not unique to California. Between 2005 and 2014, there was a110 percent spikein the rate of violent incidents reported against health care workers. In one informal survey, as many as one in four nurses suggested that they had been attacked at work between 2013 and 2014 alone. Patients often kick, scratch, and grab them, and in rare cases, even kill them. I also spoke to several nurses about their experiencesfor the Atlanticin 2016: Rose Parma, a registered nurse in California's Central Valley, says ... patients have spit on her, slapped her, and even threatened her life during the five years she has worked as a hospital nurse. But it reached an intolerable level about a year into her career, when a delirious patient kicked her so hard in the pelvis that she slammed into a glass wall and fell to the ground. She was two months pregnant. The pain was not as shocking as her supervisor's response when she reported the incident. The manager seemed so surprised and said Has this never happened to you? Is this really the first time?' As if it weren't a big deal, Parma says. The manager then told Parma she would see her the next day at work. I literally thought I was going to die [during the attack], and they didn't even offer me counseling. (Her baby survived.) Nurses say that not only do employers expect them to put up with violence on the job, but they often get punished if they call the police. And it keeps happening. In 2017, health care and social service workers were still more likely to experience violent injuries than those in any other industry. Which is why Reps. Courtney and Ro Khanna (D-CA) and some of their colleagues decided congressional action is needed. This legislation compels OSHA to do what employees, safety experts, and Members of Congress have been calling for years create an enforceable standard to ensure that employers are taking these risks seriously, and creating safe workplaces that their employees deserve, said Courtney in a statement provided to Vox.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/ranking-member-courtney-statement-gao-s-submarine-maintenance-report,Ranking Member Courtney Statement on GAOs Submarine Maintenance Report,2018-11-19,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, DC Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), Ranking Member of the House Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, responded to a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on submarine readiness shortfalls:The GAO's report is a sobering assessment of the challenges facing our undersea forces. While demand for our undersea fleet and its unique capabilities continues to rise as reflected in the 2016 Force Structure Assessment, delays in maintaining our existing fleet are exacerbating the growing shortfall in our submarine force structure. This report makes clear that the Navy must do more to fully utilize the capacity of our private shipyards to reduce the backlog in submarine repair work something I have repeatedly urged the Navy to act on. It is long past time for a return to a one shipyard approach to meeting the challenge of maintaining and repairing our submarines so that they can get back to sea doing the important missions we need them to do.Each year, military leaders testify before the House Armed Services Committee about their urgent need for undersea capabilities and their concern about the looming shortfall in our attack submarine fleet. Addressing this challenge will take a comprehensive approach of boosting construction rates where possible, inserting new capabilities and technology into the fleet when available, and effectively managing the maintenance of our existing fleet. As we prepare for a new congress next year, these issues will be at the forefront of my work on the subcommittee. Click here to review the report: https://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-19-229 Among the findings in the GAO report issued today: GAO's analysis of Navy maintenance data shows that between fiscal year 2008 and 2018, attack submarines have incurred 10,363 days of idle time and maintenance delays as a result of delays in getting into and out of the shipyards. Of the total, GAO found that since fiscal year 2008, 14 attack submarines have spent a combined 61 months (1,891 days) idling while waiting to enter shipyards for maintenance. While the public shipyards have operated above capacity for the past several years, attack submarine maintenance delays are getting longer and idle time is increasing. Since fiscal year 2008 the Navy has spent more than $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2018 constant dollars on attack submarines sitting idle while waiting to enter the shipyards, and on those delayed in completing their maintenance at the shipyards; The Navy expects the maintenance backlogs at the public shipyards to continue. GAO estimated that the Navy will incur approximately $266 million in operating and support costs in fiscal year 2018 constant dollars for idle submarines from fiscal year 2018 through fiscal year 2023, as well as additional depot maintenance delays. The Navy may have options to mitigate idle time and maintenance delays. For example, officials at the private shipyardsGeneral Dynamics Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls Industries-Newport News Shipbuildingtold GAO that they will have available capacity for repair work for at least the next 5 years. Although the Navy has shifted about 8 million man-hours in attack submarine maintenance to private shipyards over the past 5 years, it has done so sporadically, having decided to do so in some cases only after experiencing lengthy periods of idle time. According to private shipyard officials, the sporadic shifts in workload have resulted in repair workload gaps that have disrupted private shipyard workforce, performance, and capital investmentcreating costs that are ultimately borne in part by the Navy. As Ranking Member of the Seapower Subcommittee and a member of the Readiness Subcommittee, Courtney has consistently called for action by the Navy and the Administration to address the looming shortfall in attack submarine force structure. For instance, he has regularly questioned naval officials on the management of submarine repair availabilities and lack of utilization of private shipyard capacity to augment the capacity of our public shipyards. In addition, he has authored legislation in the 2018 and 2019 National Defense Authorization Acts to encourage the Navy to expand the upcoming multi-year procurement contract to increase the number of attack submarines in the shipbuilding plan. # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-whitehouse-and-hirono-challenge-unlawful-appointment-of-matthew-whitaker-as-acting-attorney-general,"Blumenthal, Whitehouse & Hirono Challenge Unlawful Appointment of Matthew Whitaker As Acting Attorney General",2018-11-19,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Blumenthal, Whitehouse & Hirono Challenge Unlawful Appointment of Matthew Whitaker As Acting Attorney General Print Tweet In a complaint filed today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Senators lay out the constitutional case for their authority to provide advice & consent on who serves as U.S. Attorney General Monday, November 19, 2018 [WASHINGTON, DC] Today, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia challenging the constitutionality of President Donald Trump's appointment of Matthew Whitaker as the Acting Attorney General. On November 7, President Trump appointed Whitaker to oversee the Department of Justice including the Special Counsel's investigation in violation of the Constitution's Appointments Clause. The Senators' complaint asks the Court to declareWhitaker's appointment unconstitutional and to enjoin him from serving as, or carrying out the duties of, Acting Attorney General. Two non-partisan, non-profit law firms represent the Senators in this case: Protect Democracy and the Constitutional Accountability Center. The Constitution's Appointments Clause requires that the Senate confirm high-level federal government officials, including the Attorney General, before they exercise the duties of the office. The Framers included this requirement to ensure that senior administration officials receive scrutiny by the American people's representatives in Congress. The Appointments Clause is also meant to prevent the President, in the words of Alexander Hamilton in Federalist 76, from appointing officers with no other merit than that ofpossessing the necessary insignificance and pliancy to render them the obsequious instruments of his pleasure. Installing Matthew Whitaker so flagrantly defies constitutional law that any viewer of School House Rock would recognize it. Americans prize a system of checks and balances, which President Trump's dictatorial appointment betrays, Blumenthal said. President Trump is denying Senators our constitutional obligation and opportunity to do our job: scrutinizing the nomination of our nation's top law enforcement official. The reason is simple: Whitaker would never pass the advice and consent test. In selecting a so-called constitutional nobody and thwarting every Senator's constitutional duty, Trump leaves us no choice but to seek recourse through the courts. ""The stakes are too high to allow the president to install an unconfirmed lackey to lead the Department of Justice a lackey whose stated purpose, apparently, is undermining a major investigation into the president. Unless the courts intercede, this troubling move creates a plain road map for persistent and deliberate evasion by the executive branch of the Senate's constitutionally mandated advice and consent. Indeed, this appointment appears planned to accomplish that goal, said Whitehouse. Donald Trump cannot subvert the Constitution to protect himself and evade accountability. We want the court to make clear that the Senate must confirm Matthew Whitaker's appointment as Acting Attorney Generalotherwise this temporary appointment violates the Constitution's Appointments Clause. Without exception for President Trump's allies, principal officers who report directly to the President must be subject to a hearing and confirmed by the Senate, said Hirono. Because President Trump has denied the Senate the opportunity to consider whether Matthew Whitaker is fit to serve as a principal Officer of the United States, the full scope of concerns about Acting Attorney General Whitaker is unknown. However, issues that have come to light through public reporting underscore the importance of the Senate's constitutional responsibility to offer advice and consent before high-level executive administrators assume office. President Trump's violation of the Constitution's Appointments Clause, unilaterally preventing members of the Senate from voting on whether or not to consent to Matthew Whitaker serving as a principal Officer, leaves Senators no choice but to seek a remedy through the courts. Anne Tindall, Counsel at Protect Democracy, a non-partisan non-profit whose attorneys are representing the Senators in this case, said, Under the legal theory currently being advanced by the White House, the President could elevate a family member who worked for an agency to lead it without Senate confirmation. The prospect that the Attorney General might seek to serve the President, rather than the American people, reaffirms the importance of a confirmation process that follows the Constitution. President Trump has shown utter disregard for the bedrock constitutional plan for top executive branch officials to receive the advice and consent of the Senate before taking office, added Elizabeth Wydra, President of Constitutional Accountability Center, a public interest think tank and law firm dedicated to promoting the progressive promise of the Constitution's text, history, and values. The prospect that a president's high-level executive branch appointments would be influenced by personal, rather than public, interests is one key reason why the nation's Founders required such appointees to receive the advice and consent of the Senate in the first place.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/support-grows-for-keeping-all-students-safe-act,SUPPORT GROWS FOR KEEPING ALL STUDENTS SAFE ACT,2018-11-19,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"SUPPORT GROWS FOR KEEPING ALL STUDENTS SAFE ACT Monday, November 19, 2018 WASHINGTON Last week, U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and U.S. Representatives Don Beyer (VA-8) and Bobby Scott (VA-3), introduced the Keeping All Students Safe Act (KASSA), which would protect students from the dangers of seclusion and restraint. If enacted, the law would establish strong federal standards to prohibit the use of seclusion and to limitrestraint in federally funded schools, improve the safety of students and school staff, and ensure parents are informed when their child is physically restrained. Murray is ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Murphy is a member of the committee. Scott is ranking member of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and the Workforce. Support for the legislation has continued to grow since the members introduced it last week. Here is what leading organizations are saying about the Keeping All Students Safe Act: The Alliance to Prevent Restraint, Aversive Interventions, and Seclusion (APRAIS): Restraint and seclusion are dangerous practices that cause students trauma and have resulted in injury, and even death. School personnel can also be injured when imposing restraint and seclusion. Though the use of restraint and seclusion is widespread, national data indicates that students with disabilities are roughly 20 times more likely than their peers without disabilities to be restrained and/or secluded. All of our nation's students deserve better We applaud your leadership in authoring and promoting the Keeping All Students Safe Act. We look forward to working with you and your staff to help pass this important legislation. The Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Inc.: COPAA writes to express strong support for the introduction of the Keeping All Students Safe Act. We appreciate your leadership in proposing legislation that prohibits seclusion and seeks to prevent and limit the use of restraint in schools. This bill, if enacted, would considerably strengthen protections in every state and ensure the safety of all students and school personnel. The Arc: The Arc is pleased that this legislation bans the most dangerous restraints and limits physical restraints to emergency situations, and that it requires parental notification when restraint occurs. The Arc also greatly appreciates that that for the first time, the House and Senate bills ban seclusion. The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN): The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) writes in strong support of the Keeping All Students Safe Act (KASSA). We appreciate your leadership and recognition that a federal bill which bans seclusion and places very narrow parameters on allowable circumstances for physical restraint is paramount to ensuring that all students are able to learn in a safe school environment. Additionally, NDRN applauds the prevention of problematic behavior through use of de-escalation techniques, conflict management, and evidence-based positive behavioral interventions and supports contained within KASSA. Below is a complete list of organizations supporting the bill: AUCD The Arc American Association of People with Disabilities Autism Society of America Autistic Self Advocacy Network Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law Center for Public Representation Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund Family Alliance to Stop Abuse and Neglect National Alliance on Mental Illness National Autism Association National Center for Special Education in Charter Schools National Center for Learning Disabilities National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE) National Disability Rights Network National Down Syndrome Congress Respectability Law Center SPAN Parent Advocacy Network TASH National PTA ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-introduces-legislation-reduce-violence-against-health-care-and,Courtney Introduces Legislation to Reduce Violence Against Health Care and Social Service Workers,2018-11-16,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Congressman Joe Courtney, (CT-02), a senior member of the House Education and Workforce Committee, introduced legislation aimed at curtailing rising rates of on the job violence facing health care and social service employees such as nurses, physicians, emergency responders, medical assistants, and social service workers. The Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act, H.R. 7141, directs the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to issue a standard requiring health care and social service employers to write and implement a workplace violence prevention plan to prevent and protect employees from violent incidents. We expect health care and social service employees to care for us in our times of need, but we know that each year, these men and women are faced with rising rates of violence, often from patients and their families, said Courtney. This legislation compels OSHA to do what employees, safety experts, and Members of Congress have been calling for years create an enforceable standard to ensure that employers are taking these risks seriously, and creating safe workplaces that their employees deserve. Workplace violence against health care and social service workers continues to affect those who dedicate their lives to caring for others, said Bobby Scott (VA-03), Ranking Member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce. This bill helps address this growing problem by requiring the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to set an enforceable standard that will protect workers from preventable acts of workplace violence. I am grateful to Rep. Courtney for his leadership on this bill and will work to give this legislation the urgent attention that it deserves. The Workplace Violence Prevention in Health Care and Social Services Act is endorsed by American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO, AFSCME, American Federation of Government Employees, International Association of Fire Fighters, National Nurses United, United Steelworkers, and Public Citizen. Original cosponsors of the bill introduced today are Robert C. Bobby Scott, Ranking Member of the House Education and Worforce Committee; Mark Takano, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections; Suzanne Bonamici; Robert A. Brady; Rosa DeLauro; Eleanor Holmes Norton; Sheila Jackson Lee; Ro Khanna; Jan Schakowsky; Frederica Wilson;Carol Shea-Porter; Albio Sires; Mark DeSaulnier; John B. Larson; Donald Payne Jr.; Jim Himes; Mark Pocan; David N. Cicilline; Adriano Espaillat and Donald Norcross. Click here for a Section by Section of the legislation. Click here for bill text. Background Incidents of violence against health care and social service workers is on the rise. A 2016 GAO study reported that rates of violence against health care workers are up to 12 times higher than rates for the overall workforce, and 70% of nonfatal workplace assaults in 2016 occurred in the health care and social assistance sectors. Recently released data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics found a sharp increase in serious injuries as a result of workplace violence among health care workers last year. Front line employees in these settings interact with a range of patients, clients, and their families, often with little training or direction for how to prevent or handle interactions that become violent. The Workplace Violence Prevention in Health Care and Social Services Act would ensure that health care and social service workplaces adopt proven prevention techniques and are prepared to respond in the tragic event of a violent incident. In 2013, Courtney requested that the Government Accountability Office study the trends in healthcare workplace violence and identify options for OSHA to curtail it, and in 2015 he and other members asked OSHA to develop a workplace safety standard to protect health care workers from this rising violence. In recent years, OSHA agreed to undergo rulemaking on health care workplace violence, but action has stalled under the Trump Administration. In the absence of voluntary action from OSHA, this legislation is necessary to ensure that nurses, doctors, medical assistants, emergency personnel, and social service workers are not subjected to needless preventable acts of violence on the job. Support for the Legislation: ""I am pleased that Representative Joe Courtney has introduced legislation to reduce workplace violence. Legislation to protect healthcare and social service workers from violence is long overdue, said Helene Andrews, RN of Newtown, CT. During the last eight years that I worked, I was assaulted three times, including on my last day of work. The three assaults resulted in three major surgeries and in lengthy and painful recoveries each time. I suffered for months with each injury and still have residual pain and disabilities. Preventing violent workplace injuries should be given the highest priority, and I salute Rep. Joe Courtney for his efforts."" Recent patient violence against staff at my hospital has led to nurses with broken jaws, open facial wounds, back injuries requiring surgery, and injuries from a chair being smashed over a nurse's head, said Judy Danella, a registered nurse and member of the United Steelworkers union at a hospital in New Jersey. Injuries from combative patients shouldn't just be part of the job. Health care workers need strong protections so they can provide quality patient care without fear of violence and injury. As a union of healthcare professionals and educators, we welcome this legislation as it outlines protections and specific safety standards for the people who care for the sick, treat the injured, and work in other front line care jobs. Millions of Americans in the healthcare profession go to work every day care for the sick, the elderly and mentally ill, yet they don't feel safe or protected themselves from the preventable and often tragic workplace-related assaults that occur in hospitals and other healthcare-related settings. With this bill, we can change that,"" said American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten. This bill shatters the dangerous myth that workplace violence is essentially random, unpredictable and therefore unavoidable. We applaud Congressmen Scott and Courtney for pressing for a federal OSHA standard that will call upon employers to identify the clear patterns and risk factors that put mental health professionals, hospital and EMS workers, and too many others at a high risk of experiencing workplace violence. AFSCME members in these professions work hard every day to make their communities healthier and stronger, and for that they deserve respect and protection on the job, said AFSCME President Lee Saunders. We applaud Rep. Courtney and the cosponsors of the Health Care and Social Service Workers Act for listening to the concerns of workers and moving forward with legislation that will prevent injuries and save lives, said Co-President of National Nurses United, Jean Ross, RN. Registered Nurses are often threatened, punched, kicked, beaten, and assaulted on the job, sometimes with deadly consequences. Many of these incidents would be preventable if this legislation was enacted. Under this proposed federal standard, employers would need to develop comprehensive workplace violence prevention plans that are implemented at all times, and ensure that health care and social service workers are directly involved in the development, implementation and assessment of these plans. We look forward to working with Congress to pass this legislation and ensure a comprehensive workplace violence prevention standard to protect health care and social service workers and our patients, clients and their families. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-condemns-devos-s-new-campus-sexual-misconduct-rules,DeLauro Condemns DeVoss New Campus Sexual Misconduct Rules,2018-11-16,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC (November 16, 2018)Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today released the following statement regarding U.S. Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos's newly proposed campus sexual assault rules. In the ongoing battle to eradicate sexual assault from college campuses, Secretary Betsy DeVos is on the side of those accused rather than the victims. I do not say that lightlythere is no other way to interpret these newly proposed rules, which remove policies that hold perpetrators accountable and help ensure schools are maintaining a safe environment for their students. Unfortunately, these new rules follow DeVos's pattern of rolling back Title IX protections the previous administration's created to address sexual assault by investigating matters in a prompt, impartial, and equitable manner. Survivors of sexual assault deserve betterstarting with the same protections as accused students in sexual assault proceedings and to live and learn in a community free of sexual violence. Betsy DeVos is failing them in this regard, and if she does not get this right in the final rule, Congress needs to step up to return the proper balance. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-statement-on-devos-proposal-to-gut-campus-sexual-assault-protections,Blumenthal Statement on DeVos Proposal to Gut Campus Sexual Assault Protections,2018-11-16,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Blumenthal Statement on DeVos Proposal to Gut Campus Sexual Assault Protections Print Tweet Friday, November 16, 2018 [Washington, DC] U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) issued the following statement today in response to proposed Title X enforcement guidance from Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos that would gut campus sexual assault protections. The Trump Administration's destructive proposal to gut existing Title IX enforcement guidance seems designed to protect universities from responsibility, rather than students from sexual assault. We should be holding schools accountable for their policies to ensure a safe campus for everyonenot letting them off the hook. Our students and survivors deserve better, and I will work with my colleagues to prevent its finalization, Blumenthal said.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-antibiotic-resistant-salmonella-outbreak-linked-turkey,DeLauro Statement on Antibiotic-Resistant Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Turkey,2018-11-15,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC (November 15, 2018) Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today released the following statement regarding the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) response to the ongoing antibiotic resistant Salmonella outbreak linked to raw turkey products, which has caused more than 160 illnesses and one death across 35 states. The public entrusts the USDA to keep our nation's meat and poultry products safe. That is what makes the ongoing Salmonella outbreak so troubling. Congress and the public have no indication that the USDA is any closer to resolving this outbreak today than they were nearly one year ago when the first illness was reported. Instead of providing more informationlike naming implicated plantsthe USDA has attacked consumer safety advocates for seeking answers. That is wrong, and it is not the type of behavior a government agency or its employees should be engaged in. This outbreak is just another example of the USDA putting corporate interests over the health of American families. That is why I have long advocated for changes to food safety law that would define antibiotic-resistant Salmonella as an adulterant in poultry products. Congress needs to act on this bill immediately. More than that, with Thanksgiving just one week away, the public deserves transparency from the USDA and to know if their families are being put at risk. DeLauro's legislation, the Pathogen Reduction and Testing Reform Act, would strengthen the ability of the USDA to keep Americans safe from contaminated meat, poultry, and eggs. Among other reforms, the bill would define Salmonella strains that are associated with serious illness or death, or that are drug-resistant, to be an adulterant in poultry. This change in definition would subject such contaminated products to the USDA's mandatory recall authority. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-fda-actions-targeting-youth-access-e-cigarettes,DeLauro Statement on FDA Actions Targeting Youth Access to E-Cigarettes,2018-11-15,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC (November 15, 2018) Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today released the following statement regarding the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) actions to prevent youth access to flavored tobacco products. Today's actions from the FDA fall short of what is needed to tackle the crisis level of e-cigarette use among teens. Manufacturers and retailers need to know that the federal government is not going to let our children become addicted to nicotine as previous generations have. To meet that important goal, the FDA needs to ban all e-cigarette flavors, ensure retailersboth online and brick and mortarare keeping children from illegally buy e-cigarettes, and enforce premarket product reviews so manufacturers are held accountable for the consequences of their devices. Our children's health is at stake. Earlier this year, DeLauro re-introduced the Stop Tobacco Sales to Youth Act, which would close federal loopholes to keep children safe from tobacco products by requiring that Internet and mail order sales of e-cigarettes are treated the same way as traditional tobacco products. Under federal law, people can buy cigars, hookah, and e-cigarettes online, by mail, or on the phone, without facing any age verification requirements. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-markey-and-wyden-query-mobile-carriers-about-throttling-practices,"Blumenthal, Markey & Wyden Query Mobile Carriers About Throttling Practices",2018-11-15,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Blumenthal, Markey & Wyden Query Mobile Carriers About Throttling Practices Print Tweet Recent research alleges violations of net neutrality principles in slowing down select internet traffic Thursday, November 15, 2018 (Washington, D.C.) Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today sent letters to AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile after a recent study revealed the companies were slowing down certain services on their networks. A study using data collected from an app called Wehe showed that each mobile carrier has been throttling at least one video streaming service. The research indicated that Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime, and NBC Sports have all been subject to throttling. All online traffic should be treated equally, and internet service providers should not discriminate against particular content or applications for competitive advantage purposes or otherwise, write the Senators in their letters. A copy of the letters can be found HERE. In their letters, the Senators ask for responses to questions that include: Has your company put into practice policies to throttle or prioritize internet traffic for consumers? What is the purpose of these policies? Are consumers able to opt-in or opt-out of traffic differentiation? Does a customer's choice change the price or affect their service, such as data allocation or requiring a different plan? How do you determine which network traffic receives faster or slower treatment? Is it based on content, behavior, or IP address? In December 2017, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) repealed its net neutrality rules that prohibitedthrottlingand other discriminatory practices. Senator Markey introduced aCongressional Review Act resolution, co-sponsored by Blumenthal, to reinstate those rules in February 2018. The resolution waspassedby the Senate on a bi-partisan basis in May, and is being debated in the House of Representatives.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-statement-on-fda-flavored-tobacco-products-proposal,Blumenthal Statement on FDA Flavored Tobacco Products Proposal,2018-11-15,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Blumenthal Statement on FDA Flavored Tobacco Products Proposal Print Tweet Thursday, November 15, 2018 [WASHINGTON, DC] U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) issued the following statement after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced today it would move to ban menthol flavoring in combustible tobacco products like cigarettes and ban all flavored cigars, proposals Blumenthal has long supported: Through slick marketing tactics and the use of flavors, e-cigarette manufacturers like Juul have targeted our childrencopying the predatory playbook Big Tobacco used with menthol and other flavored products to lure generations of Americans, particularly African Americans, into lifetimes of addiction. As a longtime proponent of aggressive FDA action against these despicable companies, and the deadly and dangerous products they peddle for profit, I commend the FDA for finally moving forward with common sense solutionsbut more can and must be done to reverse and end this public health epidemic. For far too long, these despicable companies have had free rein to carry out a coordinated and concerted campaign to get our kids hooked on deadly and dangerous products.FDA has waited too long to do too little. It must move with a sense of urgency to finalize these important proposals andto truly save children from this scourgecompletely ban flavored e-cigarettes regardless of where they are sold. FDA also announced a limited ban on the sale of certain e-cigarette flavors, allowing flavors to remain on the market in some stores and online under yet-to-be detailed age verification requirements. Blumenthal has long demanded FDA go further by banning all e-cigarette flavors.FDA's announcement comes as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released dreadful findings in its 2018 National Youth Tobacco Survey: E-cigarette use increased by 78 percent amongst teenagers and 48 percent amongst middle schoolers last year, along with increases in overall tobacco use by young people after years of decline.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-after-sanctions-us-must-halt-all-military-support-for-saudi-war-in-yemen-,"MURPHY: AFTER SANCTIONS, U.S. MUST HALT ALL MILITARY SUPPORT FOR SAUDI WAR IN YEMEN",2018-11-15,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"MURPHY: AFTER SANCTIONS, U.S. MUST HALT ALL MILITARY SUPPORT FOR SAUDI WAR IN YEMEN Thursday, November 15, 2018 WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Thursday released a statement following the Trump administration's announcement of new sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act on Saudi Arabian officials in the aftermath of the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Last month, Murphy joined colleagues U.S. Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with several other members in writing a letter to President Trump to trigger an investigation and Global Magnitsky sanctions determination regarding the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi. The sanctions against individuals who murdered Jamal Khashoggi are a good first step, and I'm glad the administration is complying with the Global Magnitsky legislation. But strikingly absent from this announcement are the people or the person who ordered the attack. We can't blindly accept the results of a Saudi-led inquiry to determine who to hold responsible. If the American response starts and ends with placing sanctions on a handful of low-level officials, we are letting Saudi Arabia off the hook for kidnapping and murdering a Washington Post writer. That's unacceptable, said Murphy. Throughout the Khashoggi aftermath and for three years in Yemen, Saudi Arabia has played the U.S. for fools. They routinely and intentionally murdered and starved innocent people and then lied or misled us, right to our faces. As I've been saying for years, the only acceptable response is to halt all offensive weapons sales and military support for the Saudi-led coalition's war in Yemen. I will join several other colleagues to introduce a resolution in the coming weeks to do just that, Murphy added. Under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, the president upon receipt of a letter from the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee must make a determination to impose sanctions with respect to a foreign person responsible for extrajudicial killings, torture, or other gross violations of internationally recognized human rights violations against individuals who seek to obtain, exercise, defend, or promote human rights and freedoms, including freedom of expression. For years, Murphy has been a vocal critic of U.S. support for the Saudi-led military campaignsin Yemen that has led to devastating humanitarian consequences and a security vacuum that has empowered terrorist groups. Murphy hasrepeatedlyexpressed concern that U.S. participation in Saudi Arabia's military actions against Houthi rebels in Yemen threatens our own national security interests. Last month, after Khashoggi was killed at the Saudi consulate in Turkey, Murphyreiteratedhis call for the suspension of military support for the Saudi-led campaign. He echoed his calls in an op-ed in theWashington Post. In September, Murphyrenewedhis call to cease support for the Saudi-led campaign following a United Nations report that found continued human rights violations. Earlier this year, Murphyintroducedan amendment to the FY 2019 Department of Defense Appropriations bill that would cut off United States' support for the Saudi Arabia-led coalition's war in Yemen until the Secretary of Defense certified that the coalition's air campaign is not violating international law and U.S. policy. Senate Republicansobjectedto voting on Murphy's amendment. Murphyintroducedsimilar legislation last year. Murphy has introduced abipartisan resolutionwith U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) to end unauthorized U.S. military involvement in Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen. In June, Murphy and colleagues sent alettercalling on the Trump administration to take action before an attack on the port of Hudaydah. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/ranking-member-courtney-statement-defense-strategy-commission-report,Ranking Member Courtney Statement on Defense Strategy Commission Report,2018-11-14,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, DC Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), Ranking Member of the House Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, issued the following statement following the release of a congressionally-directed report by the Commission on the National Defense Strategy for the United States: The report published this week paints a stark picture that our nation's strategic advantage is severely at risk, Ranking Member Courtney said. The report also makes clear that the Administration's 2018 National Defense Strategy lacks the depth and coherence necessary to link our military strategy to the resources needed to address the national security challenges our country is facing today. The report presents an invaluable second opinion' on the direction the Department of Defense and Congress should take in the coming years. I am unsurprised to see that the Commission's report states that the Navy's two top priorities in the near- to mid-term should be increasing the size of our undersea force and dramatically recapitalizing our military sealift fleet. As Ranking Member of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, I have consistently raised these issues through hearings and legislation to make it clear that our current shipbuilding plan will not address our undersea requirements in a strategically-meaningful amount of time. This report should serves as a clear warning to the Navy, Defense Department leadership and the administration that we must change course before it is too late. As we move into a new Congress and a new majority, I intend to remain laser focused on these critical capabilities which play central roles in our nation's ability to project power and deter our strategic competitors. The Commission on the National Defense Strategy for the United States was established by Congress in the Fiscal Year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act to evaluate and make recommendations with respect to the national defense strategy for the United States. Among the bipartisan Commission's findings and recommendations: On the strategic environment: In 2018, this Commission believes that America has reached the point of a full-blown national security crisis. The U.S. military remains the strongest in the world, but the number and geographic diversity of security challenges, the technical sophistication of U.S. rivals and adversaries, and other factors mean that America's military capabilities are insufficient to address the growing dangers the country faces. America is courting unacceptable risk to its own national security, and to the stability and prosperity of the global environment from which it has benefitted so much. On the inadequacy of the 2018 National Defense Strategy: The Commission applauds the priority the NDS places on competition with China and Russia as the central dynamic in shaping and sizing U.S. military forces and in U.S. defense strategy more broadly. The Commission is nonetheless skeptical that DOD has the attendant plans, concepts, and resources needed to meet the defense objectives established in the NDS, and we are concerned that there is not a coherent approach for implementing the NDS across the entire DOD enterprise. On the importance of submarines and military sealift to US national security: Protecting U.S. interests from China and Russia will require additional investment in the submarine fleet [] Given the distances involved in the Indo-Pacific region, the United States will also need to expand and modernize its logistics capacity, particularly its tanker, strategic airlift, and military sealift fleets. On the Navy's priority investments: The Navy, likewise, will have to grow. As China and, to a lesser extent, Russia invest in their undersea capabilities, the United States must expand its submarine fleet. Yet the NDS and associated shipbuilding plan do not provide for that growth; under current plans, there will actually be a reduction in the number of submarines over the next decade. Moreover, to project and sustain combat power into the Western Pacific and other theaters, the Navy must dramatically recapitalize and expand its military sealift forces. On Iran: Following the U.S. departure from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, for example, the potential for conflict in the Middle Eastwhich was already risingis probably greater than before. On the effect of tax cuts on defense spending: As for revenues, over the past two decades there have been several significant tax cuts (President Bush's 2001 and 2003 tax cuts, President Obama's payroll tax cuts, and President Trump's 2017 tax reform bill) that have decreased resources available to fund defense and address broader fiscal challenges. # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-applauds-senate-passage-of-coast-guard-reauthorization-bill,Blumenthal Applauds Senate Passage of Coast Guard Reauthorization Bill,2018-11-14,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Blumenthal Applauds Senate Passage of Coast Guard Reauthorization Bill Print Tweet Senate Passes Bill to Lift Prohibition on Use of Federal Funds for Construction of National Coast Guard Museum, Increase Maritime Security, and Improve Operations in New London, CT Wednesday, November 14, 2018 [WASHINGTON, DC] Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, applauded Senate passage of legislation to authorize funding for the U.S. Coast Guard, including important investments that will support jobs in Connecticut. The bill now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives for final passage. This bipartisan legislation will help the Coast Guard update its aging fleet, improve personnel training, and bolster maritime security, said Blumenthal. For more than two centuries, the Coast Guard has called Connecticut home and contributed to the vitality of our communities and economy. This bill is a major win for our state and nationit will ensure the Coast Guard remains strong and continues to employ thousands in Connecticut. This bill reauthorizes funding for critical Coast Guard operations through Fiscal Year 2019, at a total of $20.7 billion over two years. This represents a 13.7 percent increase from the last two-year authorization billensuring increased resources for Coast Guard operations in New London, Connecticut. It also includes language Blumenthal worked to secure that authorizes significant federal funding for the construction and design of the National Coast Guard Museum in New London, Connecticut. For years, Congress has prohibited the Coast Guard from spending funds to build the Coast Guard Museum.Blumenthal fought vigorously against the prohibition, and in 2015 based on his effortsalong with U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) and U.S. Representative Joe Courtney (D-CT)federal funds were permitted to be used for operations and maintenance of the museum and limited efforts like building exhibits and displays for Coast Guard artifacts. Based on that provision, Congress provided $5 million to the museum in a spending bill that became law last year. The ban on use of federal funds for actual brick and mortar construction, however, has continued. The language Blumenthal secured in the Coast Guard reauthorization bill expands the Coast Guard's flexibility to use funds for bigger, larger-scale construction efforts. The language will ensure the Coast Guard can properly invest in the museum, and that in turn will bolster private sector fundraising efforts and demonstrate that Congress fully backs this important monument to the tens of thousands of men and women who have served in the Coast Guard. The Senate bill also includes important provisions to assist the Coast Guard in its efforts to combat criminal trafficking and smuggling and modernize its Arctic fleet, including an internal review of the requirements necessary to ensure the safety and security of the region. As a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over the Coast Guard, Blumenthal helped shepherd the bill through the Senate.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/-us-senate-passes-bill-supporting-us-coast-guard,U.S. SENATE PASSES BILL SUPPORTING U.S. COAST GUARD,2018-11-14,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. SENATE PASSES BILL SUPPORTING U.S. COAST GUARD Wednesday, November 14, 2018 WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) released the following statement on Wednesday on the U.S. Senate passage of the U.S. Coast Guard Authorization bill. Murphy, a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, has advocated for robust investment for the U.S. Coast Guard to support service members in their mission to secure maritime borders, respond to local and national emergencies, and protect our nation's economic and environmental interests. Murphy also worked with U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) to include provisions that support the National Coast Guard Museum in New London by repealing current prohibitions that prevent federal funding from being used on engineering and design of the museum. Connecticut is the proud home of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and I've continuously advocated for support for the men and women of our Coast Guard. This bipartisan bill helps make sure they have the support they need to continue protecting our coasts and waterways. I'm particularly proud to say that Senator Blumenthal and I convinced Congress to cut red tape to help the National Coast Guard Museum in New London become a reality, and I will keep using my seat on the Appropriations Committee to secure the funding for the museum, said Murphy. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-and-blumenthal-along-with-new-england-delegation-unveil-resolution-honoring-boston-red-sox-world-series-victory,MURPHY AND BLUMENTHAL ALONG WITH NEW ENGLAND DELEGATION UNVEIL RESOLUTION HONORING BOSTON RED SOX WORLD SERIES VICTORY,2018-11-14,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"MURPHY AND BLUMENTHAL ALONG WITH NEW ENGLAND DELEGATION UNVEIL RESOLUTION HONORING BOSTON RED SOX WORLD SERIES VICTORY Resolution Congratulates Red Sox on Fourth World Series Title in Fifteen Years Wednesday, November 14, 2018 WASHINGTON U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) joined Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and members of the New England congressional delegation on Wednesday in introducing a resolution to congratulate the Boston Red Sox on their 2018 World Series victory against the Los Angeles Dodgers.The resolution, which recognizes the Red Sox players, coaching staff, and management for their contributions to the team's historic season, thanks the world champions for their dedication to New England and all of Red Sox Nation. Joining Senators Murphy, Blumenthal, Warren, and Markey in introducing the resolution are Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Angus King (I-Maine), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), and Susan Collins (R-Maine), along with Representatives Richard E. Neal (D-Mass.), James P. McGovern (D-Mass.) Stephen F. Lynch (D-Mass.), Joseph P. Kennedy III (D-Mass.), Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), and Seth Moulton (D-Mass.). I became a diehard Red Sox fan in 1978 and cried myself to sleep the night of Game 6 in 1986. I've had a lot of lows as a Red Sox fan, but what an amazing run since 2004. This team had such a dominating season, and I'm proud to honor their incredible World Series win, said Murphy. Not everyone in Connecticut belongs to Red Sox Nation, but we can all agree that the Boston Red Sox had an incredible successful season. Throughout the year, the team demonstrated a sense of deep compassion and caring for their diverse community of fans, including supporting those in Puerto Rico devastated by Hurricane Maria, said Blumenthal. Yankees fans are looking forward to next year's rematch, but in the meantime, I join my colleagues in congratulating the Red Sox for bringing the Pennant back to New England. The Red Sox, who mean so much to the Commonwealth and to our communities throughout New England, have been a symbol of Boston's strength and resilience for years, said Warren.I'm honored every day to represent the people of Massachusetts and the values that we stand for, and I'm especially proud to congratulate the Red Sox organization for an outstanding and historic season. Go Sox! October belongs to the Boston Red Sox, and now names like Mookie and Price and Sale and Cora and Pearce will be forever cemented in the lore of Massachusetts sports history, said Markey. The Boston Red Sox dedication to winning starts with players and continues through its manager and ownership, and I am proud of the team's commitment to excellence both on and off the field. I congratulate them on this world championship season, and celebrate that pitchers and catchers report in just three months! The full text of the resolution is available here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-top-democrats-unveil-bill-to-protect-students-from-seclusion-and-restraint-practices-,"MURPHY, TOP DEMOCRATS UNVEIL BILL TO PROTECT STUDENTS FROM SECLUSION AND RESTRAINT PRACTICES",2018-11-14,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"MURPHY, TOP DEMOCRATS UNVEIL BILL TO PROTECT STUDENTS FROM SECLUSION AND RESTRAINT PRACTICES Wednesday, November 14, 2018 WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, joined U.S. Representatives Don Beyer (VA-8) and Bobby Scott (VA-3), ranking member of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and the Workforce, and U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.), ranking member of HELP, on Wednesday in introducing the Keeping All Students Safe Act to protect students from the dangers of seclusion and restraint at school. The legislation would make it illegal for any school receiving taxpayer dollars to seclude children. The legislation also limits the use of physical restraint to instances when it is necessary for the safety of students and teachers. The bill would establish minimum safety standards in schools, require states to monitor the law's implementation, and increase transparency and oversight to prevent future abuse of students. ""It's barbaric for schools to confine students alone in locked rooms, or to use abusive methods to restrain little children. Treating school kids this way should not be tolerated in America. Period, said Murphy. Our bill would establish strong federal standards to keep students safe, while giving school staff alternatives to respond to challenging situations in the right way. I look forward to working with students and advocates to advance this important piece of legislation. No child should be afraid for their safety when they go to school. All too often students are subjected to abusive discipline techniques, which disproportionately affects minority and students with disabilities. A majority of states have already instituted bans on seclusion and inappropriate restraint in the classroom, and it is time we do so nationwide, said Beyer. The Keeping All Students Safe Act will safeguard students from these incidents of harmful discipline by setting minimum safety standards for schools and by providing training and support to school personnel. It is my duty as a parent, and all our duties as members of our communities, to keep kids safe whenever and wherever we can. Every school should be a safe and welcoming place where all students can get a quality education. Unfortunately, despite evidence that seclusion and restraint practices make schools less safe, thousands of students are still subjected to these disproven methods of discipline, said Scott. While it is encouraging that some states have begun to prohibit or limit the use of seclusion and restraint, it is important that Congress pass the Keeping All Students Safe Act, which would establish a nationwide minimum safety standard. Moreover, this legislation would provide states and teachers the support they need to improve their schools' culture by using only evidence-based interventions. I'm proud to cosponsor the Keeping All Students Safe Act to curb the use of dangerous practices like seclusion and restraint, which are not only harmful, but have lasting effects on students, said Murray. These practices are disproportionally used on students with disabilities and children of color, so I'm pleased this bill starts to address the inequities in education that hold so many students back from reaching their full potential. We must keep working to ensure every student is able to learn in a safe and supportive environmentno matter where they live, how they learn, or how much money their parents make. The legislation refers to key facts and findings that reveal a concerning history of seclusion and restraint of students in schools, including a 2009 Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigation that revealed hundreds of incidents of child abuse in schools as a result of seclusion and restraint practices that disproportionately impacted children with disabilities and children of color. FACT SHEET: Keeping All Students Safe Act SECTION BY SECTION: Keeping All Students Safe Act ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/blumenthal-murphy-push-for-funding-to-strengthen-security-at-places-of-worship,"BLUMENTHAL, MURPHY PUSH FOR FUNDING TO STRENGTHEN SECURITY AT PLACES OF WORSHIP",2018-11-13,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"BLUMENTHAL, MURPHY PUSH FOR FUNDING TO STRENGTHEN SECURITY AT PLACES OF WORSHIP Critical program on track to be cut by more than 40 percent, Blumenthal and Murphy urge appropriators to reverse course Tuesday, November 13, 2018 (Hartford, CT)Today, U.S. SenatorsChris Murphy (D-CT), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), sent a letter to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security urging the committee to maintain funding at $60 million for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) to help strengthen security at places of worship. Currently, the funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security's next fiscal year includes cuts to nonprofit security grants by more than 40 percent at $35 million. New data from the Department of Justice shows hate crimes in America rose 17 percent last year with an even larger increase in anti-Semitic attacks, rising 37 percent in 2017. The recent shooting is one in a long history of violence against places of worship and unfortunately there is no indication that these heinous attacks will end, Blumenthal and Murphy wrote in the letter. NSGP plays an important role in helping secure places of worship and at-risk nonprofits and could be the difference between a close call and yet another tragedy. This letter follows a recent tragic attack at the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where eleven people were killed and seven injured. The NSGP program helps nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of a terrorist attack make physical security upgrades and promotes emergency preparedness coordination and collaboration activities between responders at the state and local level, as well as public and private community representatives. It is imperative to bolster security for our religious communities in the face of persistent threats of violence. We strongly urge the committee to reverse course and maintain funding at $60 million for FEMA's Nonprofit Security Grant Program in FY 2019, the Senators continued. Between the Pittsburgh tragedy and new data from the FBI which states hate crimes in the U.S. jumped 17 percent in 2017, including a 37 percent spike in crimes targeting Jews and Jewish institutions. Funding is needed more than ever to harden our Jewish institutions against a future attack,"" said Jewish Federation Associates of Connecticut (JFACT) Executive Director, Michael Bloom. The full text of the letter can be found here and below. November 13, 2018 The Honorable Shelley Moore CapitoChairmanSubcommittee on Homeland SecurityU.S. Senate Appropriations Committee131 Dirksen Senate Office BuildingWashington, DC 20510 The Honorable Jon TesterRanking MemberSubcommittee on Homeland SecurityU.S. Senate Appropriations Committee128 Dirksen Senate Office BuildingWashington, DC 20510 Dear Chairman Capito and Ranking Member Tester: As you continue to finalize the Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 appropriations bill for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, we write urging you to maintain funding at the FY 2018 level of $60 million for Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP). In light of the tragic attack at the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, it is essential for places of worship to have access to grant funding to strengthen their security. The recent shooting is one in a long history of violence against places of worship and unfortunately there is no indication that these heinous attacks will end. NSGP plays an important role in helping secure places of worship and at-risk nonprofits and could be the difference between a close call and yet another tragedy. NSGP provides funding support to nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of a terrorist attack to make physical security upgrades. The program also promotes emergency preparedness coordination and collaboration activities between responders at the state and local level, as well as public and private community representatives. Implementing the core capabilities of the National Preparedness System is essential to achieving success in the five mission areas to prevent, protect, mitigate, respond, and recover and is critical to a secure and resilient nation. For some communities, success may only be possible to achieve with funding provided by NSGP. The current Senate FY 2019 Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill includes cuts to nonprofit security grants by more than 40 percent at $35 million, thereby significantly limiting access to resources for at-risk nonprofit institutions. It is imperative to bolster security for our religious communities in the face of persistent threats of violence. We strongly urge the committee to reverse course and maintain funding at $60 million for FEMA's Nonprofit Security Grant Program in FY 2019. We thank you for your attention to this critical matter. Sincerely, __________________________ __________________________ RICHARD BLUMENTHAL CHRISTOPHER S. MURPHY United States Senate United States Senate",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-re-iterates-call-senate-action-house-passed-blue-water-navy,Courtney Re-iterates call for Senate Action on House-Passed Blue Water Navy Legislation,2018-11-12,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,,,legacy,"Norwich, CT As we celebrate Veterans Day, Representative Joe Courtney (CT-02) renewed his call for Senate action on the House-passed Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act (H.R. 299). Courtney is the lead Democratic co-sponsor of this legislation in the House, and has advocated strongly for passage of this long overdue effort to provide fairness for veterans exposed to Agent Orange. Blue Water Navy Vietnam war veterans have already waited far too long for recognition of the medical conditions they have suffered due to exposure to the Agent Orange toxin, Courtney said. The House worked for months to negotiate a bipartisan compromise that passed the House unanimously in June and which the Senate has had nearly five months to consider. As we honor and celebrate the contributions our veterans have made this Veterans Day, it is critical that we remember our Blue Water Navy Vietnam veterans and honor their sacrifices by providing the care and compensation they clearly and fairly deserve. It is time for the Senate to act. With time running out to pass H.R. 299 in the 115th Congress, Rep. Courtney has twice written to the Chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, Senator Johnny Isakson of Georgia, urging him to allow the bill to move forward and some to the floor of the Senate for a vote. In September, Courtney joined H.R. 299 co-lead Rep. David Valadao (R-CA) and 115 other Members of Congress in writing to Chairman Isakson and calling into question aspects of the Veterans Administration's stated opposition to the bill. You can read a copy of the letter here. In October, Courtney joined House Veterans Affairs Committee Ranking Member Tim Walz (D-MN) again urging Chairman Isakson to allow the bill to move forward. That letter noted the significant, good faith, bipartisan effort that Members of the House made to find agreeable sources of funding care and compensation for Blue Water Navy Veterans and ultimately led to the House's unanimous vote of 382-0 in favor of H.R. 299 in June. You can read a copy of the letter here. # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/ahead-veterans-day-courtney-announces-american-legion-endorsement-agent,"Ahead of Veterans Day, Courtney Announces American Legion Endorsement of Agent Orange Exposure Fairness Act",2018-11-09,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,,,legacy,"Norwich, CT In advance of Veterans Day, Representative Joe Courtney (CT-02) announced that the American Legion has endorsed the Agent Orange Exposure Fairness Act (H.R. 6566), legislation he has introduced to remove onerous manifestation requirements from certain diseases, which the VA has linked to Agent Orange exposure. Rep. Courtney introduced his bill in July after working with Gerry Wright, a Vietnam veteran from Andover, Connecticut who has traveled across the country to raise awareness on Agent Orange exposure and has gathered thousands of signatures in support of making changes to these requirements. Ensuring fairness for all veterans exposed to Agent Orange is not just good policy it's the right thing to do for those who served in harm's way. The support of the American Legion sends a powerful message about need the for action to get veterans like Gerry Wright and so many others the long overdue care and support they deserve, Courtney said. I wish to thank the American Legion for their endorsement of HR 6566. Once passed, this will help the surviving Vietnam and Korean Veterans with treatment and compensation. I'm grateful and thankful for their support, Gerry Wright stated. Under current law and regulations, veterans must demonstrate that the symptoms of certain diseases developed within a year of exposure in order to receive the care and compensation they deserve. Rep. Courtney's bill eliminates these exclusive and unfair requirements to include all servicemembers who were exposed to the pesticide, granting them access the benefits they're entitled to. In a letter to Courtney dated November 7, 2018, Brett Reistad, National Commander of the American Legion, wrote: On behalf of the nearly 2 million members of The American Legion, I am pleased to express support for H.R. 6566 the Agent Orange Exposure Fairness Act, as currently written. Manifest periods required for presumptions of service-connected disabilities create avoidable legal struggles for veterans exposed to certain herbicide agents in Korea from 1968-1971, and Vietnam from 1961-1971. Unreasonable and punitive onset dates result in the loss of earned disability compensation, and in some cases, medical treatment for veterans. Removal of the manifestation period required for the presumptions of service connection for chloracne, porphyria cutanea tarda, as well as acute and subacute peripheral neuropathy ensures veterans who were exposed to these chemicals are provided with the benefits and healthcare they deserve. Click here for the full letter from the American Legion. # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-ending-refueling-mission-in-yemen-is-the-right-move-but-its-only-one-of-many-steps-this-administration-must-take-to-end-american-support-for-the-saudis-disastrous-immoral-bombing-campaign,"MURPHY: ENDING REFUELING MISSION IN YEMEN IS THE RIGHT MOVE, BUT IT'S ONLY ONE OF MANY STEPS THIS ADMINISTRATION MUST TAKE TO END AMERICAN SUPPORT FOR THE SAUDIS' DISASTROUS, IMMORAL BOMBING CAMPAIGN",2018-11-09,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"MURPHY: ENDING REFUELING MISSION IN YEMEN IS THE RIGHT MOVE, BUT IT'S ONLY ONE OF MANY STEPS THIS ADMINISTRATION MUST TAKE TO END AMERICAN SUPPORT FOR THE SAUDIS' DISASTROUS, IMMORAL BOMBING CAMPAIGN Friday, November 9, 2018 WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Friday reiterated his call for the United States to cease weapons sales and military support for the Saudi Arabia-led coalition's war in Yemen following news outlets reported that the Trump administration would halt refueling missions. For years, the United States has sold weapons to Saudi Arabia and offered targeting and refueling assistance as American-made bombs were sent to kill thousands of innocent people, including children. The U.S. has radicalized entire generations because there was an American imprint on every civilian murdered there, said Murphy. By finally ending refueling missions for Saudi bombers, the Trump administration is admitting our joint operation in Yemen has been a disaster.So why only cut off refueling support? Why are we still helping the Saudis with targeting? Why are we still selling them the bombs at a discount?Now that it's no longer a secret that the war in Yemen is a national security and humanitarian nightmare, we need to get all the way out. I will join several other colleagues to introduce a resolution in the coming weeks to do just that. For years, Murphy has been a vocal critic of U.S. support for the Saudi-led military campaigns in Yemen that has led to devastating humanitarian consequences and a security vacuum that has empowered terrorist groups. Murphy hasrepeatedlyexpressed concern that U.S. participation in Saudi Arabia's military actions against Houthi rebels in Yemen threatens our own national security interests. Last month, after journalist and Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi was killed at the Saudi consulate in Turkey, Murphy reiterated his call for the suspension of military support for the Saudi-led campaign. He echoed his calls in an op-ed in the Washington Post. In September, Murphy renewed his call to cease support for the Saudi-led campaign following a United Nations report that found continued human rights violations. Earlier this year, Murphy introduced an amendment to the FY 2019 Department of Defense Appropriations bill that would cut off United States' support for the Saudi Arabia-led coalition's war in Yemen until the Secretary of Defense certified that the coalition's air campaign is not violating international law and US policy. Senate Republicans objected to voting on Murphy's amendment. Murphyintroduced similar legislation last year. Murphy has introduced abipartisan resolutionwith U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) to end unauthorized U.S. military involvement in Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen. In June, Murphy and colleagues sent a letter calling on the Trump administration to take action before an attack on the port of Hudaydah. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-president-trump-firing-ag-jeff-sessions,DeLauro Statement on President Trump Firing of AG Jeff Sessions,2018-11-08,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"NEW HAVEN, CT (November 8, 2018) Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today released the following statement in response to President Trump forcing Attorney General Jeff Sessions to resign. From day one of the Special Counsel's investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 election and possible collusion with the Trump campaign, President Trump has been looking to oust Robert Mueller. Make no mistake, that is why he fired Attorney General Jeff Sessionsto try and gain control over an investigation which has resulted in dozens of people being indicted, including some of his closest aides. Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker's credibility and oversight of the Special Counsel's investigation are compromised. Sessions's interim replacement has made numerous statements and media appearances in which he has called the investigation a 'witch hunt.' The American people deserve to know the facts, and it is crucial that the Congress acts to protect the Special Counsel's investigation and prevent future assaults on our democracy. This investigation must conclude when it is complete, not when it is expedient for the President. DeLauro is a cosponsor of the Special Counsel Independence Protection Act and the Special Counsel Transparency Act, which would limit President Trump's ability to fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-statement-on-thousand-oaks-shooting,MURPHY STATEMENT ON THOUSAND OAKS SHOOTING,2018-11-08,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"MURPHY STATEMENT ON THOUSAND OAKS SHOOTING Thursday, November 8, 2018 WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Thursday released a statement following the mass shooting that took place overnight at a nightclub in Thousand Oaks, California. My heart breaks for the victims and their families, and for the survivors of this trauma. I know firsthand how radiating waves of grief caused by tragedies can forever change the community. They need our love and support, not just today but for months and years, said Murphy. These twelve people were murdered last night for one reason nothing stopped a homicidal madman from getting his hands on a gun with a high-capacity magazine. We're still learning what happened and how, but let's put to rest the gun lobby propaganda that flooding this country with more and more guns will mean fewer mass murders. There was security, there was a good guy with a gun, and they did everything they could but they could not stop this horror, Murphy added. I beg my colleagues if you are serious about making communities safer and protecting police officers, help us strengthen background checks and close loopholes that we know will save lives, Murphy concluded. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-presents-bristol-vietnam-veteran-service-medals,Larson Presents Bristol Vietnam Veteran with Service Medals,2018-11-05,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,CT,John Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Bristol, CT Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) presented Bristol resident and U.S. Marine Corps Veteran Gary Wycko with his service medals. Wycko served during the Vietnam War from 1966 to 1968. Larson presented Wycko with his Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service medal with one Bronze Campaign Star and the Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Gallantry Cross Color with palm and frame) ribbon bar. The Vietnam War reminds us of the distinction between the warrior and the war, said Larson. Vietnam veterans served our country bravely and sacrificed greatly for our freedom, but came home to a public largely indifferent to their struggles. We must never let that happen again. Veterans, like Gary Wycko exemplify the meaning of service.I was honored to present Mr. Wycko with his medals today and to express gratitude on behalf of our nation.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-urges-connecticut-residents-to-sign-up-for-health-care-during-open-enrollment,MURPHY URGES CONNECTICUT RESIDENTS TO SIGN UP FOR HEALTH CARE DURING OPEN ENROLLMENT,2018-11-01,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"MURPHY URGES CONNECTICUT RESIDENTS TO SIGN UP FOR HEALTH CARE DURING OPEN ENROLLMENT Thursday, November 1, 2018 WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, on Thursday urged people in Connecticut to take advantage of Access Health CT's open enrollment period. Today through December 15, individuals and families can enroll in, re-enroll in, or change a 2019 health insurance plan. Beginning today, people in Connecticut and around the country can go online and choose a health plan that works for them and their families. We've been fortunate in Connecticut because policymakers and Access Health CT have put patients first, said Murphy. That's not easy these days, because President Trump and Republicans in Congress have done everything they can to sabotage health insurance markets, which is wreaking havoc on premiums across the country and jeopardizing care for people with pre-existing conditions. People in Connecticut know insurance is only worth a damn if it's there when you need it, and that's why I'll keep doing everything I can to defend families' health care. Murphy has been a critic of the Trump administration's continued sabotage of the American health care system. The Trump administration has taken numerous steps to weaken the health care system by expanding junk insurance plans that don't have to cover a minimum set of benefits and that don't protect people with pre-existing conditions. Additionally, the president has cut the open enrollment period in half and slashed funding for public awareness efforts and navigators to help people learn about their options and sign up for health care coverage. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press/suffield-police-department-and-community-health-resources-chr-announce-new-initiative-to-effectively-address-mental-health-emergencies,SUFFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT AND COMMUNITY HEALTH RESOURCES (CHR) ANNOUNCE NEW INITIATIVE TO EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH EMERGENCIES,2018-11-01,2018,2018-11,Democrat,House,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,,,legacy,"SUFFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT AND COMMUNITY HEALTH RESOURCES (CHR) ANNOUNCE NEW INITIATIVE TO EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH EMERGENCIES Collaborative Effort Also Includes Police Departments from East Windsor, East Granby and Windsor Locks with the Connecticut Alliance to Benefit Law Enforcement (CABLE) Thursday, November 1, 2018 SUFFIELD The Town of Suffield Police Department, in partnership with behavioral healthcare agency Community Health Resources (CHR) and police departments from East Windsor, East Granby and Windsor Locks, today announced it has been awarded a five-year, $1.6 million federal grant to more effectively address mental health emergencies, including opioid overdoses, in north-central Connecticut. Special emphasis will be placed on meeting the behavioral healthcare needs of veterans. This grant strengthens our partnership with CHR and will allow for a specially trained mental health clinician to work side-by-side with police officers when responding to calls from people in mental health emergencies, including opioid use and overdose situations, said Suffield Police Captain Christopher McKee. The funding will also allow us to vastly expand crisis intervention training for police officers in Suffield and surrounding towns. I'm glad I could help Suffield receive federal support to aid those suffering from serious mental illness. Too often, people in crisis can't get the help they need and end up in the criminal justice system, but mental illness is not a crime our police officers and first responders shouldn't be put in that position. Having a crisis worker on hand will go a long way in helping people in the community with mental illness and substance abuse issues get the help they need before it's too late,said U.S. Senator Christopher Murphy of Connecticut. Captain McKee mirrored Senator Murphy's comments stating Those in crisis, whether they are suicidal, addicted or experiencing a mental health emergency, should be diverted from the criminal justice system and hospitals and instead, be connected with appropriate, compassionate and community-based providers like CHR. Funding for this innovative partnership comes from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and is part of far reaching efforts to address the national opioid use epidemic. Parts of Connecticut including the north-central region have been especially hard hit by the epidemic. Data collected for the grant application shows a significant increase in opioid deaths in Suffield, East Windsor, East Granby and Windsor Locks in recent years, proving that rural towns have not been immune to the devastation caused by opioid use. Furthermore, this four-town region has four-times as many suicides per year as the state average. Because of these troubling statistics, police officers are routinely called to situations that they may not be the best resource equipped to handle, McKee explained. Working side-by-side with trained clinicians from CHR will ensure that people in crisis will immediately get the care they need. Plus, the additional training for officers throughout the region, provided by the Connecticut Alliance to Benefit Law Enforcement (CABLE) and others will help us to respond swiftly and appropriately to people in need. We have so much respect for the work of the police departments in our region and look forward to working closely with them said Karen Hanley, LCSW, who will coordinate CHR's efforts related to the grant and currently oversees CHR's Mobile Crisis Response Team in the region. She will also work with all of the police departments in the collaborative to conduct crisis intervention trainings for law enforcement officers. Together, we can save and improve lives in the region, she said. Summary: Grant Name: North Central Connecticut Diversion Team Funder: U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) through its Law Enforcement and Behavioral Health Partnerships for Early Diversion program Amount: $1.6 million over five years What: Funding will effectively divert individuals with serious mental illness or co-occurring disorders from the criminal justice system and hospitals into appropriate, community-based behavioral healthcare services at CHR. Who: The grant targets the towns of Suffield, East Windsor, East Granby and Windsor Locks, all of which are rural towns with high rates of mental health crises, substance use and opioid use disorders and rising rates of suicide. What: Services provided will include on-site crisis services from a mental health clinician who will respond to calls with police officers and expanded training for police officers to help them recognize and triage services for people in emotional distress. Partners: Police departments, CHR and a community-led Oversight Committee that will provide guidance throughout the course of the grant. Services: Expect to provide personalized care and linkages to services to those affected by mental illness, addictions, opioid use addictions and more, in towns throughout the region. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/ct-house-delegation-releases-new-pre-existing-conditions-report-showing,"CT House Delegation Releases New Pre-Existing Conditions Report Showing 168,000 in CT May Lose Coverage or See Premium Increases Due to Trump",2018-10-31,2018,2018-10,Democrat,House,CT,Rosa DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,,,legacy,"NEW HAVEN, CT (October 31, 2018) Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Congressman John Larson (CT-01), Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04), and Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (CT-05) released the following statements on a new House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Committee report, which shows that 168,000 people in Connecticut could be denied coverage or see drastic premium increases due to the Trump Administration's actions to undermine the Affordable Care Act. By refusing to defend the 2010 law in federal court and failing to offer any alternative proposals to protect individuals, the Trump Administration is putting women, seniors, and those with pre-existing conditions at great risk of losing coverage. Guaranteeing access to health care for the millions of Americans living with pre-existing conditions has been one of the most important legislative victories for the American people since the passage of Medicare and Medicaid. It has been lifesaving, said Congresswoman DeLauro. Yet Republicans have voted more than 70 times to repeal these protections for millions of Americansincluding 35,000 in the Third District alone. That is unconscionable. We must continue defending those with pre-existing conditions, as my colleagues and I in the Congress from Connecticut have done every single day. It is the smart thing to do and the right thing to do. The Affordable Care Act put in desperately needed protections for Americans with pre-existing conditions such as cancer, or asthma, or diabetes, who had previously been charged more for health insurance or outright denied coverage. Those protections also helped women, who used to have to pay more for health coverage, and reduced premiums for our older generations. Yet, the Republicans who could not repeal the law and never had a real plan to replace it have now simply chosen to sabotage it. I will continue to fight for patient rights on the Ways and Means Committee to ensure that every person in the First District can get the coverage they need, without discrimination based on age, gender, or pre-existing conditions, said Congressman Larson. Despite what Republicans and the Trump Administration may say, their actions clearly demonstrate a disregard for people with pre-existing conditions, said Congressman Courtney. If Trump is successful, tens of thousands of eastern Connecticut residents would lose their coverage or face premium hikes. We know that full coverage for chronic and pre-existing health conditions can mean the difference between financial stability and bankruptcy, which is why these provisions are among the most important in the ACA. We won't go back to a time when a cancer diagnosis could mean financial ruin, or childhood asthma meant a 50% mark up. 168,000 people in CT are at risk of losing their coverage including 45,000 in the 4th District alone, said Congressman Himes. Our delegation will continue to fight to protect Connecticut families against the sustained Republican attacks to strip away their care, especially as those same politicians try to rewrite history about their past efforts to dismantle the entire system. Sick people need help. They need healthcare. Those are our values. ""Everywhere I go in Connecticut, I hear from people who are afraid that they will be collateral damage in the Trump Administration's crusade to undermine the Affordable Care Act, said Congresswoman Esty. The Affordable Care Act prevents insurance companies from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions, ends lifetime limits on coverage, provides free preventive care, and allows young adults to remain on a parent's insurance until the age of 26. Attempts to undermine the Affordable Care Act puts politics before American lives. Without the Affordable Care Act, people with pre-existing conditions will lose the protection they have and risk facing bankrupting medical bills, as all too many Americans did before the Affordable Care Act. People who are struggling with addiction or mental illness risk not receiving the treatment they need to restore their lives. And parents could once again be forced to make a gut-wrenching choice between keeping their life savings and keeping their child alive. We cannot allow this to happen. I am committed to ensuring that families throughout Connecticut continue to have access to quality, affordable health care. The Democratic Staff of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee's report, Trump Administration Actions Threaten People with Pre-Existing Conditions, can be found here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z