Dear Friends, 

This week, President Trump called for the annihilation of the entire Iranian civilization, in an escalation of his illegal war. That statement should be incredibly appalling and disturbing to everyone. His increasingly erratic behavior is putting the safety and security of the American people and our troops at risk. I introduced articles of impeachment against President Trump to demand accountability. Enough is enough. I have also called on the Vice President and the Cabinet to put duty over party and invoke the 25th Amendment, to remove this rogue president from office. We must act now. 

I continue to hear from so many of you – not only on the issue of impeachment – but the impact of the Trump Administration’s cuts to the programs and services our communities rely on. On Monday, Senator Chris Murphy and I held a roundtable with workers, retirees, and advocates, to discuss the Trump Administration’s cuts to Social Security. Since President Trump took office, more than 7,000 workers have been cut from the Social Security Administration – a 13 percent cut. Today, Social Security has a smaller workforce than it did in 1967, when it served 52 million fewer beneficiaries. We heard directly from workers like Christine, who have seen firsthand how these cuts are preventing Americans from accessing the benefits they earned. I’ve introduced legislation to reverse these cuts and am leading a bipartisan coalition to invest in customer service at the Social Security Administration and end this staffing crisis. You can watch our roundtable discussion below. 

From Windsor and Wethersfield to Southington, I have been meeting with residents to hear their concerns about the future of programs like Medicare, home heating assistance, and nutrition benefits. Our seniors deserve to retire with dignity, and every family should have the support they need to put food on the table. The President released his budget request last week – and it includes massive cuts to pay for his war in Iran. His plan would eliminate home heating assistance for 100,000 Connecticut households, slash food assistance for mothers and babies, cut $11 billion in investments for affordable housing, and gut training programs that help young people and seniors secure good-paying jobs. I’m fighting against these cuts and am working to expand these programs so everyone has the chance to succeed. 

Rep. Larson speaks with residents in Southington 

As we fight these disastrous cuts, I will keep working with local leaders and my colleagues in Congress to secure funding for projects that support our communities. Last week, I was proud to announce $500,000 in new federal funding for the Hartford Public Library. This funding will support renovation and restoration efforts ahead of an anticipated full reopening later this year. Libraries are vital part of our communities, and I’m glad the library will be able to reopen with expanded access to homelessness assistance, summer meals for children, and adult education and workforce services.

Rep. Larson, Hartford Public Library President & CEO Bridget E. Quinn, and Mayor Arunan Arulampalam 

On Wednesday, I also announced $550,000 for Our Piece of the Pie to connect youth in Greater Hartford to mentorship and job training opportunities. For a decade, Our Piece of the Pie, led by Hector Rivera, has provided the support systems young people need to succeed. I will continue to work with leaders like Mayor Arunan Arulampalam and local organizations to support teens and young adults and set them up for a bright future. 

Rep. Larson at Our Piece of the Pie in Hartford 

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