Dear Friends,

As I head back to Washington for the next legislative session, I’d like to update you on some of my recent work in the First District. In the beginning of March, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan into law, a $1.9 trillion COVID relief package. I am proud to have worked with my colleagues to provide this desperately needed relief that puts shots in peoples’ arms and money in peoples’ pockets. Here are some highlights from the last three weeks: 

• On March 23rd, I joined a tele-town hall with Hartford Mayor Bronin and the City Council to discuss the American Rescue Plan and important funding opportunities for our community.  
• I testified at the House Budget Committee hearing to discuss just how important it is to our country to protect and expand Social Security now. You can watch my remarks here.
• My office hosted a tele-town hall on March 25th with Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz, who announced our state was able to open vaccination appointments to everyone 16 and older. To join one of my virtual town halls in the future, visit larson.house.gov/live. 
• Then, I joined local leaders in Rocky Hill to announce the town received $2.8 million from the American Rescue Plan! Every CT-01 town is  receiving critical funding and resources from the American Rescue Plan, which I am proud to have fought for. 
• Even with the focus on the American Rescue Plan, I am still fighting for our local priorities. On March 31st, I met with the towns of East Hartford and Manchester to talk about preserving and improving the Hockanum Linear Park Trail. 

• That same day, I joined St. Francis Hospital to announce a $1.3 million federal grant to the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protections. They can use this grant money to make it easier for prescribers and pharmacists to track and prevent abuse of opioids. 
• On April 1st,  I was proud to join Governor Lamont and Connecticut Office of Early Childhood Commissioner Bye to announce $277 million from the American Rescue Plan to support affordable child care programs for families in CT. 

• I also sent a letter, along with my colleagues on the Ways and Means Committee, demanding that Social Security Administration Commissioner Andrew Saul transfer data files immediately to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) so that the IRS could distribute economic impact payments to the nearly 30 million Social Security and Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries who were still waiting. While I am disappointed these payments were late, I am grateful to everyone who called my office to inform me of this issue and to everyone who worked to accelerate the payments.  
• I introduced legislation on April 1st to overturn a harmful Trump regulation, which would deprive Social Security beneficiaries of their right to due process in an appeals proceeding. 
• On April 8th, I went to Charter Oak Health Center with CT Treasurer Wooden to announce the $4 million from the American Rescue Plan to help the health center vaccinate, test, and treat those who are hardest to reach, directly addressing health and racial inequities. 

After traveling the District and speaking to constituents about the American Rescue Plan, I am headed back to Washington to work on  President Biden’s infrastructure plan, Social Security, and other priorities for the district and the state. 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