WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 -- Rep. Jahana Hayes, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release: Yesterday, the House Committee on Education and Labor released H.R. 4674, the College Affordability Act, a bold bill reauthorizing the Higher Education Act. The College Affordability Act includes 15 bills supported by Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05). This once-a-decade comprehensive overhaul of the United States' higher education system makes significant improvements focused on lowering the cost of c  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release: * * * - Legislation would provide greater certainty and stability to hourly and low-wage workers * * * Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, announced plans to reintroduce the Schedules Tha  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- Rep. Jahana Hayes, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release: Last week, United States Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) and Congressman Mark Takano (CA-41) introduced H.R. 4647, the Teacher Debt Relief Act. This critical piece of legislation incentivizes the recruitment and retention of teachers by streamlining existing student debt relief and loan forgiveness programs. Under federal law, educators are eligible for some debt relief after five years of service. H  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 11 -- 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 Friday authored an op-ed in Buzzfeed detailing the Trump administration's systematic abandonment of Ukraine that started long before the July 25th call at the center of the House impeachment inquiry. Murphy wrote: "It is right for the American political class to be focused on the July 25th call between  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- 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 Thursday joined Vox's Worldly podcast for a conversation about Syria, Ukraine and progressive foreign policy. Murphy recently penned a piece for the Atlantic in which he makes the case that a new Democratic administration needs a new foreign policy toolkit to advance our values and interests abroad. Mu  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- 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 Thursday introduced a resolution that affirms the importance of access to safe, quality education--including protection from attacks on schools--for children in conflict zones. U.S. Representatives Nita Lowey (D-NY-17) and Steve Chabot (R-OH-1) introduced the House version of this resolution in April.   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 -- Sen. Christopher Murphy, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release: At a U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on U.S.-Iran policy, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Wednesday pressed U.S. Department of State Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook on meetings he had with Rudy Giuliani to help remove Iranian sanctions to help Turkish banker Reza Zarrab. Murphy also pressed Hook on whether the administration's maximum pressure campaign toward Iran   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- Sen. Christopher Murphy, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) this week introduced the Workforce Mobility Act, bipartisan legislation to limit the use of non-compete agreements that negatively impact American workers. Murphy and Young recently led a bipartisan Senate letter urging the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate the use and abuse of non-competes. An alarming 40 percent of   more

HARTFORD, Connecticut, Oct. 18 -- Sen. Christopher Murphy, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release: * * * - Bipartisan Workforce Mobility Act Bans Use of Non-Compete Agreements in Employment Contracts to Build a Stronger Economy * * * U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, Friday held a press conference touting newly introduced bipartisan legislation to protect American workers. Earlier this week Murphy intr  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 -- Rep. Joe Courtney, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release: Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) announced that the American Veterans (AMVETS) organization has endorsed his bill, the bipartisan Agent Orange Exposure Fairness Act (H.R. 566). Rep. Courtney reintroduced the Agent Orange Exposure Fairness Act at the outset of the 116th Congress to remove burdensome manifestation requirements from certain diseases that the VA has linked to Agent Orange exposure. Re  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- Rep. Joe Courtney, D-Connecticut, issued the following statement on the death of Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Maryland: "The passing of Elijah Cummings is a terrible loss for his family and community, and for our country. "He was a deeply principled person who conducted himself with the highest ethics and dignity. "I worked with him on Coast Guard and immigration oversight, and saw how he treated everyone he dealt with: with respect and compassion. He will be sorely missed,  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 -- Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-Connecticut, chair of the House Appropriations subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education, issued the following statement on the introduction of the College Affordability Act: "I am delighted to see a meaningful and comprehensive proposal to revamp the Higher Education Act, the College Affordability Act. Although I am still reviewing the bill as introduced by my good friend Bobby Scott and my colleagues on the Education and Labo  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-Connecticut, issued the following statement on the death of Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Maryland, chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee: "I am heartbroken by the passing of my colleague and dear friend Congressman Elijah Cummings. For more than three decades, he served the people of Maryland and our country with honor and dignity. "Elijah knew the power of this institution and leveraged it every single day. Above all else, he knew why h  more

WATERBURY, Connecticut, Oct. 16 -- Rep. Jahana Hayes, D-Connecticut, issued the following statement after the Central Connecticut State University released documents showcasing almost a decade's worth of investigations into alleged sexual misconduct: "I am deeply troubled by the information contained in the released CCSU report and my heart breaks for the victims. "Sexual harassment has no place anywhere in our society, and particularly not in places of learning. "I will continue to monitor t  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 -- Rep. Jahana Hayes, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release: Last week, United States Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) introduced H.R. 4669, the Maximizing Drug Coverage for Low-Income Seniors Act. This bill seeks to improve the Medicare enrollment process and lower skyrocketing out-of-pocket costs by ensuring beneficiaries are enrolled in the Part D plan which best meets their needs. This is done by establishing an "intelligent assignment" process for low-incom  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 -- Rep. Jim Himes, D-Connecticut, issued the following statement after House passage of the resolution (H.J.Res 77) opposing the decision to end U.S. efforts to prevent Turkish military operations against Syrian Kurdish forces in Northeast Syria. "Donald Trump's disastrous abandonment of our Kurdish allies is a betrayal of the most fundamental principles of American foreign policy. "If we leave our friends to be slaughtered, sacrificing what's right for what's popular with   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- Rep. John B. Larson, D-Connecticut, issued the following statement on the death of Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Maryland: "Today is a sad day for America. Elijah Cummings was a fighter for his beloved Baltimore and for democracy. "He always put his district and the American people first in his work. "I am honored to be able to call him a dear friend and colleague for the past 20 years. "I send my deepest condolences to his wife and my friend, Dr. Maya Rockeymoore Cummings  more

HARTFORD, Connecticut, Oct. 10 -- Rep. John B. Larson, D-Connecticut, chairman of the House Ways and Means subcommittee on Social Security, issued the following statement after the Social Security Administration announced that there will be a 1.6 percent cost-of-living-adjustment for Social Security benefits received beginning in January 2020: "Today's announcement of a 1.6 percent Social Security cost-of-living adjustment affects 63 million seniors, people with disabilities, and others who cou  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- Rep. John B. Larson, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release: Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) advocated for lower prescription drug prices at the Ways and Means Committee hearing, Investing in the U.S. Health System by Lowering Drug Prices, Reducing Out-of-Pocket Costs, and Improving Medicare Benefits. "Almost every American has either found a prescription drug to be unaffordable for themselves or for a loved one. An 88 year old woman from Connecticut who has  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 -- Reps. Kelly Armstrong, R-North Dakota, and Rosa L. DeLauro, D-Connecticut, issued the following statements after the House Judiciary Committee passed the Preventing Online Sales of E-Cigarettes to Children Act (H.R. 3942) by a voice vote: "Youth vaping is at epidemic levels across the country. One in four high school students use e-cigarettes, and every week we see more data from the CDC showing vaping's impact on people of all ages: thousands of illnesses and dozens of d  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 -- Reps. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-Connecticut, and Kelly Armstrong, R-North Dakota, issued the following statements after the House Judiciary Committee passed the Preventing Online Sales of E-Cigarettes to Children Act (H.R. 3942) by a voice vote: "Youth vaping is at epidemic levels across the country. One in four high school students use e-cigarettes, and every week we see more data from the CDC showing vaping's impact on people of all ages: thousands of illnesses and dozens of d  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 -- Sen. Christopher Murphy, D-Connecticut, issued the following statement: U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Tuesday met with the Charge d'Affaires of Brazil to the United States Ambassador Nestor Forster, Jr. Murphy pressed Forster about efforts undertaken by the Brazilian government to curb the fires in the Amazon region. Murphy released the following statement after the meeting: "I appreciated the opportunity  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- Sen. Christopher Murphy, D-Connecticut, issued the following statement after the Senate failed to pass a Congressional Review Act resolution that would roll back the Environmental Protection Agency's affordable clean energy rule: "Climate change threatens our planet and national security. By not passing this resolution, we're allowing this administration to unravel years of progress we've made to protect our air and water and to curb carbon emissions. "We're also all bu  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- Sen. Christopher Murphy, D-Connecticut, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia and Counterterrorism, issued the following statement after the U.S. and Turkey announced a five-day ceasefire: "There isn't any response but to be grateful for a temporary pause of the massacre taking place by Turkish forces in northern Syria. But let's be clear: this essentially gives Erdogan everything he wants - it ratifies a Turk  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 -- Sen. Christopher Murphy, D-Connecticut, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement on sanctions on Turkey: "No one but Trump is to blame for the chaos Turkey has unleashed in Syria, and we all need to acknowledge it will be difficult to put the genie back in the bottle at this point. It's absurd that Trump is now sanctioning Turkey for an invasion that he invited and announced. No one should fall for this attempted about-face. "Con  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- Sen. Christopher Murphy, D-Connecticut, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement on White House admitting to a quid pro quo on Ukrainian military aid: "The White House Chief of Staff just openly admitted that the Trump administration was holding up military aid for Ukraine to get them to investigate President Trump's political opponents. "That's the definition of a quid pro quo and it echoes what current and former administration  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- 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 delivered a speech on the U.S. Senate floor in which he addressed the global scope of the damage Trump's foreign policy is causing and asked why the Republican party is so keen on protecting him. Murphy surveyed the world--from Ukraine, to Syria, and Venezuela--to show that every corner of the  more