WASHINGTON, March 5 -- Sen. Christopher Murphy, D-Connecticut, issued the following floor statement on March 4, 2021: * * * U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Thursday spoke on the U.S. Senate floor in support of the American Rescue Plan, which is currently being considered by the Senate. The overwhelmingly popular legislation includes federal relief to increase vaccine production and distribution, safely reopen schools, provide direct payments to individuals and dependents, help state and  more

WASHINGTON, March 2 -- Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, issued the following joint statement with Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut: * * * U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), authors of the Families Belong Together Act, issued the following joint statement after the Biden-Harris administration's announcement to allow families separated by the Trump administration the option to reunite in the United States: "We commend the Biden-Harris admin  more

WASHINGTON, March 3 -- Rep. Joe Courtney, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release: Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) issued the following statement after the VA Connecticut Healthcare System announced that it will be offering COVID-19 vaccinations to all enrolled veterans, regardless of age, effective March 1, 2021. VA Connecticut Director Alfred Montoya issued the announcement yesterday afternoon, indicating that a steady supply of vaccines and a strong demand for vaccination opportuni  more

WASHINGTON, March 5 -- Rep. Joe Courtney, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release: Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) joined the House of Representatives in voting to pass H.R. 1, the For the People Act, a package of pro-democracy and anti-corruption reforms that would protect clean and fair elections, promote election integrity and ensure election security, remove dark money from politics, impose a higher standard of ethics for elected officials, and more. Rep. Courtney is a co-sponsor   more

WASHINGTON, March 1 -- Rep. Joe Courtney, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release: Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) voted to pass The American Rescue Plan Act (H.R. 1319), a bill that would authorize comprehensive, long-awaited and urgently needed funding to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic and to help Americans build back from the economic fallout it has caused. The American Rescue Plan Act would commit more than $20 billion to establish a national COVID-19 vaccination program and to im  more

WASHINGTON, March 3 -- Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-Connecticut, issued the following statement: * * * House Appropriations Committee Chair and Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) issued the following statement after the United States Senate confirmed Dr. Miguel Cardona of Connecticut as the Secretary of the United States Department of Education. "I am thrilled that Dr. Miguel Cardona was confirmed today by the U.  more

WASHINGTON, March 5 -- Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-Connecticut, issued the following statement: * * * House Appropriations Committee Chair and Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) issued the following statement after the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Chairmen for Doctrine and for Pro-Life urged people to choose the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines over the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. "It is uncons  more

WASHINGTON, March 2 -- Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-Connecticut, issued the following statement: * * * House Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) released the following statement on the House passage of the American Rescue Plan, coronavirus relief legislation to end the spread of COVID-19 and provide direct relief to families and communities: "This week, we marked the horrific milestone of 500,000 lives lost in the United States. With this rescue package, House Democrats are taking   more

WASHINGTON, March 5 -- Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Connecticut, chair of the House Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on March 4, 2021: * * * House Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) released the following statement on the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB): "Neera Tanden is a skilled public servant and a close ally in our shared fight for working families. While I am disappointed her nomination was withdrawn, she will remain a trusted part  more

WASHINGTON, March 2 -- Rep. Jahana Hayes, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) released the following statement after the United States Senate confirmed Dr. Miguel Cardona of Meriden, Connecticut, as the 12th Secretary of Education, in a vote of 64 to 33. "I am incredibly grateful to see this Department led by an educator who will focus on students," said Congresswoman Hayes. "A native of Connecticut's Fifth District, who grew up in public housi  more

WASHINGTON, March 3 -- Rep. Jahana Hayes, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) released the following statement after the reintroduction of H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act. "Gun safety is an issue that is deeply personal for me," said Congresswoman Hayes. "Universal background checks are supported by over 90% of Americans. This is not a partisan issue. This is a commonsense solution to a problem that effects every community across th  more

WASHINGTON, March 5 -- Rep. Jahana Hayes, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) released the following statement after the passage of H.R. 1, the For the People Act, in the House of Representatives. The historic reform package aims to reduce the role of money in politics, strengthen election security, and return electoral power back to the American people. "As Americans, our most basic and fundamental right is the right to vote. Elections must be   more

WASHINGTON, March 5 -- Rep. Jahana Hayes, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release: This week, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) voted for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021. This crucial piece of legislation is designed to provide much needed training, resources, and oversight of law enforcement agencies, while protecting communities that have been subjected to disproportionate levels of police violence. "Today, the House took a step forward in addressing police account  more

WASHINGTON, March 1 -- Rep. Jahana Hayes, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) released the following statement regarding the advancement of H.R.1319, the American Rescue Plan Act, a $1.9 trillion proposal to facilitate the United States recovery from the economic and health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. This historic package invests in our schools and our workers, proves direct relief payments to individuals, and resources for families to sur  more

WASHINGTON, March 6 -- Rep. Jim Himes, D-Connecticut, issued the following statement: * * * Politico reported President Biden's willingness to work with Congress to wind down or end authorizations for the use of military force (AUMF) that were passed in the wake of the September 11th attacks and in the lead up to the Iraq War. The reporting comes in the wake of Senators Tim Kaine (D. Va.) and Todd Young (R. Ind.) introducing legislation to repeal the AUMFs. Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04), who r  more

WASHINGTON, March 2 -- Rep. Jim Himes, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release: Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04) introduced The Reclamation of War Powers Act, a bill that would explicitly return the power to declare and wage war back to Congress, as the Constitution requires. "The power to make war is explicitly granted to Congress in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution," said Himes. "But, in recent years, Congress has given up more and more of this responsibility, imbuing the Presi  more

WASHINGTON, March 2 -- Rep. John B. Larson, D-Connecticut, issued the following statement: * * * Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) applauded the Senate's confirmation of Miguel Cardona as the Secretary of Education. Cardona is Meriden native, Central Connecticut State University alum, and most recently served as Connecticut's Commissioner of Education. "Congratulations to Secretary Cardona on his confirmation today. I'm proud and excited to have a fellow public school teacher and Central grad as Se  more

WASHINGTON, March 1 -- Rep. John B. Larson, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release: Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) voted for H.R. 1319, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, a transformative landmark bill which implements President Biden's urgently needed plan. The package will provide $1.9 trillion in critical COVID relief to aid Americans and to crush the virus. "President Biden's transformative American Rescue Plan will provide direct aid to municipal governments and individuals in n  more

WASHINGTON, March 5 -- Rep. John B. Larson, D-Connecticut, issued the following statement on March 3, 2021: * * * Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) voted for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. "After the murder of George Floyd last May, the nation rose up demanding needed change. Sadly, this is not an isolated incident and far too many Black Americans become victims of police brutality and systemic injustice. "In response to this horrific tragedy, the House passed the George Floyd Justice i  more

WASHINGTON, March 5 -- Rep. John B. Larson, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release: Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) voted for HR 1, the For the People Act. "Our democracy is under attack. In 2016, we saw foreign governments interfere in the presidential election. And today, after we witnessed record turnout that flipped several red states to blue, Republican-led state legislatures are trying to make it harder for Americans to vote. The enactment of the For the People Act will help us pro  more

WASHINGTON, March 6 -- Rep. John B. Larson, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release: House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee Chairman John B. Larson (D-CT), Worker and Family Support Subcommittee Chairman Danny K. Davis (D-IL), and Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ) called for the immediate removal of the Commissioner of Social Security, Andrew Saul, and the Deputy Commissioner, David Black, who were both appointed by former President Trump. "Andrew Sa  more

WASHINGTON, March 6 -- Rep. John B. Larson, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release: The Social Security Administration (SSA) must be transparent in its customer service policies during the COVID-19 pandemic, write House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee Chairman John B. Larson (D-CT), Social Security Subcommittee Ranking Member Tom Reed (R-NY), Worker and Family Support Subcommittee Chairman Danny K. Davis (D-IL), and Worker and Family Support Subcommittee Ranking Member Jac  more

WASHINGTON, March 5 -- Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Connecticut, chair of the House Appropriations Committee, issued the following news release on March 4, 2021: In a new letter, House Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03), Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chair Matt Cartwright (D-PA-08), and Democratic Members of the House Appropriations Committee today urged President Biden to nominate Shalanda Young as Director of the Office of the Management and Budget.   more

WASHINGTON, March 5 -- Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-Connecticut, issued the following joint statement with Reps. Suzan DelBene, D-Washington, and Ritchie Torres, D-New York: * * * U.S. Representatives Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), and Ritchie Torres (NY-15) issued the following statement after President Biden signaled his support for permanently expanding and improving the Child Tax Credit. "While we wholeheartedly support the American Rescue Plan's one-year expansion of the Child T  more

WASHINGTON, March 5 -- Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Washington, issued the following joint statement with Reps. Rosa DeLauro, D-Connecticut, and Ritchie Torres, D-New York: * * * U.S. Representatives Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), and Ritchie Torres (NY-15) issued the following statement after President Biden signaled his support for permanently expanding and improving the Child Tax Credit. "While we wholeheartedly support the American Rescue Plan's one-year expansion of the Child Tax   more

WASHINGTON, March 6 -- Rep. John B. Larson, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release: Rep. John Larson (CT-01) Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03), and Rep. Bruce Westerman (AR-04) announced they are introducing bipartisan legislation to provide fair reimbursements for firefighters, emergency medical services (EMS), and other medical first responders. Currently, Medicare reimbursements are not provided to firefighters and medical first responders for supplies and services they provide if they trea  more

WASHINGTON, March 4 -- Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release on March 1, 2021: U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) led a group of 39 senators in introducing legislation to stop the use of unfair forced arbitration clauses, which are widely used to limit Americans' access to justice. The FAIR (Forced Arbitration Injustice Repeal) Act would eliminate forced arbitration clauses in consumer, antitrust, employment, and civil rights cases, and would allow consum  more

WASHINGTON, March 6 -- Sen. Christopher Murphy, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, on Friday applauded inclusion of a dedicated set-aside in the education funding in the COVID-19 relief package for summer enrichment programs. Murphy has been a vocal proponent of providing dedicated funding for summer programs and the need to provide kids with enrichment opportunities   more

WASHINGTON, March 4 -- Sen. Christopher Murphy, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Wednesday released a report with the Truman Center for National Policy that presents groundbreaking recommendations to achieve one of the Biden administration's most urgent diplomatic priorities: transforming the State Department into a more just, equitable, and innovative institution. Murphy led the Tr  more

WASHINGTON, March 4 -- Sen. Christopher Murphy, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Wednesday issued the following statement on First Lady Dr. Jill Biden's visit to Meriden, Connecticut: "It's been quite a few days for Connecticut's world class school system. Earlier this week, the Senate confirmed my friend and Meriden native Dr. Miguel Cardona to lead our country's education policy as Secretary of Education. And now we get a visit from ano  more

WASHINGTON, March 3 -- Sen. Christopher Murphy, D-Connecticut, issued the following op-ed to the Hearst CT: * * * As Summer Fast Approaches, We Must Put Our Children's Wellness First U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, authored an op-ed in Hearst CT to make the case for funding for summer enrichment programs in the COVID-19 relief bill. In the op-ed, Murphy stressed the social and emotional toll the pandemic has tak  more

WASHINGTON, March 3 -- Sen. Christopher Murphy, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release on March 2, 2021: U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) led 45 senators, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), on Tuesday in reintroducing the Background Check Expansion Act to expand federal background checks to all gun sales. Under current federal law, unlicensed or private s  more

WASHINGTON, March 5 -- Sen. Christopher Murphy, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release on March 4, 2021: Today U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced legislation with twenty-two of their Senate colleagues to close a current loophole that allows gun sales to proceed if a background check is not completed after 72 hours, even if the gun buyer is not legally allowed to purchase a gun. The gap in existing la  more