Dear Friends, 

In Congress, I’ve been working with my colleagues to deliver federal funding for our communities that support local projects, from preventing gun violence to protecting access to clean water and training the next generation of health care professionals.  

I secured $500,000 in new federal funding for Mothers United Against Violence’s Victim Impact Project to continue their efforts to prevent gun violence and support survivors in the Greater Hartford area. I’m proud to work alongside this great organization to help them work hand-in-hand with local law enforcement to build trust and keep communities safe, while also providing supportive services to victims, survivors, and families impacted by gun violence. You can watch my press conference announcing this new investment below. 

Unfortunately, Connecticut is no stranger to PFAS ‘forever chemicals,’ after 50,000 gallons of PFAS foam spilled into the Farmington River in 2019. We have been working hard to ensure everyone has access to clean and safe drinking water, and I was glad to deliver $3 million in new federal funding for the Southington Water Department to construct a new treatment facility to remove dangerous PFAS chemicals from the town’s water supply. I will continue to work with our local partners to support critical projects and ensure the safety of our drinking water. 

Southington Town Councilor David Zoni, Rep. Larson, Board of Water Commissioners President Bob Berkmoes, Water Department Superintendent Doug Arndt, and Assistant Superintendent Al Fiorillo 

Nearly four years ago, our entire state mourned the loss of two Bristol police officers who were killed in the line of duty – Sgt. Dustin DeMonte and Officer Alex Hamzy. Since then, I have been working with local officials to keep our first responders safe on the job and better equip officers for active shooters. Thanks to their partnership, including the work of Officer Alec Iurato, I secured $3.15 million in federal funding to build a first-of-its-kind active shooter training facility for police officers, and emergency response training for firefighters in Bristol. This will serve as a resource for departments across New England and New York. I will continue to fight to ensure our first responders have access to the equipment and training they need to keep themselves and our communities safe. Watch my press conference on the funding announcement below to hear from Bristol first responders about the new, planned facility.  

We are currently facing a nationwide healthcare worker shortage. We need to make it easier for more people to become certified health care professionals, to help fill this gap and ensure patients get the care they need. I announced $1 million in new federal funding for Hartford’s Harriott Community Healthcare Academy, that helps train and certify Certified Nursing Assistants in less than five weeks. The program also provides mentorship, career counseling, and wrap-around support. With this new federal investment, Harriott will expand into the Blue Hills neighborhood and the town of Bloomfield. I am also working in Congress to address the nationwide health care worker shortage. We need to pass the Pathways to Health Careers Act that will authorize and increase funding for the Health Profession Opportunity Grant Program (HPOG), which will help train and hire new health care workers across the country. 

Harriott Community Health Initiative President Sasa Harriott, Harriott Healthcare Academy students, Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam, and Rep. Larson 

Last week, I joined Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz, Senator Richard Blumenthal, and Rep. Joe Courtney in Windsor to announce new federal funding for Easterseals Capital Region and Eastern Connecticut. This will support their ongoing work to connect veterans with mental health care, housing support, and employment assistance, while also working to prevent veteran suicides. Thanks to this funding we secured in Congress, they will now be able to serve 35,000 veterans in the Greater Hartford area at their new facility. Our veterans served our nation with honor and deserve access to the resources and support they need when they return home. 

View Fox 61’s coverage of Easterseals’ suicide prevention work here. 

I will keep working to secure federal funding to support local projects and organizations that deliver for our communities. To follow what I’m working on both in Washington and in Connecticut, visit my Facebook page, follow me on Twitter, or follow me on Instagram.     

Regards,

John B. Larson
Member of Congress