Dear Friends,

Over the past couple of months, I wrapped up a busy work period in Washington and then headed home. Check out some of the highlights from the summer in Southwest Connecticut.

Stopping by summer camps

I visited Neighborhood Studios, a non-profit school of the arts that provides dance, music, theater, and art programs for children in collaboration with the Bridgeport Public School system. At Camp Hart, children with disabilities focus on movement, drumming, and improving literacy skills. I’m thrilled to see federal funds from the National Endowment of the Arts go to this important cause.

My next stop was at the Horizons camp at New Canaan Country School, where students from Norwalk and Stamford public schools continue learning outside of the traditional school year. Horizons supports academic achievement and healthy youth development, prioritizing students experiencing academic and/or social-emotional distress.

Finally, I visited the Darien Nature Center Camp, which gives children aged four to nine the chance to explore the great outdoors and learn about sustainability, plants, and wildlife. As an avid fisherman and hiker, I am heartened to see the next generation share my love for our beautiful trails, waters, and animals.

Enjoying a visit to Horizons camp at New Canaan Country School.

Supporting justice-impacted families

I met with the team at Family ReEntry, a subdivision of Community Resources for Justice (CRJ), to discuss opportunities for federal support in mentoring programs. Family ReEntry seeks to break cycles of violence, crime, and incarceration by providing individualized case management and support services to clients and their families. Ultimately, these services empower previously incarcerated individuals and those at risk with the tools to be self-sufficient and contribute positively to their families and the community.

City Councilman Ernie Newton showed me around the new Bridgeport Re-entry Welcome Center, a centralized hub to coordinate reintegration and reduce recidivism among people returning from incarceration in our community. Career Resources, Inc. (CRI) in collaboration with the Recovery Network of Programs (RNP) launched this project with the assistance of over $2 million in federal funding.

Visiting the Family ReEntry Center in Bridgeport.

Checking in with local businesses

One of the most rewarding parts of my job is securing federal funds for organizations in Southwest Connecticut. I’m excited to see funding from the historic American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which President Biden signed into law in March 2021, go toward businesses in our district.

I went to Preventative Healthcare Solutions in Bridgeport, a minority-owned and -operated integrated healthcare center focused on providing affordable and viable alternative healthcare for the treatment of disease, injury, and preventative healthcare. The outstanding clinic staff gave me a tour of the premises and showed me how over $17,000 in federal ARPA funds is helping to improve the building’s infrastructure, security, and advertising.

Mayor Rilling of Norwalk showed me around local businesses that have benefitted from ARPA funds. We had a great time checking out Jean’s Closet and Salon Être in the heart of downtown SoNo. I’m grateful that ARPA funding empowered these key businesses to remain active amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and that our cities continue to flourish.

Touring Jean’s Closet (above) and Salon Être (below) with Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling.

Providing premier care for our veterans and seniors

Here in Southwest Connecticut, we pride ourselves on taking care of nearly 25,000 veterans who risked their lives in service of our country. In addition to expanding veterans’ access to benefits by helping to pass the Honoring our PACT Act last Congress, I visited the recently opened Stamford Veterans Resource Center in Old Town Hall. This one-stop shop is a place where veterans and their families can gather, access peer-to-peer support programs, attend yoga and meditation classes, and connect with government officials.

I also toured the Cannondale Campus in Wilton, which includes the Greens at Cannondale and Wilton Meadows and has served our community’s elderly for over 15 years. The Greens at Cannondale is Southwest Connecticut’s premier assisted living and memory care facility and works to enhance the quality of life for our aging loved ones. Wilton Meadows provides 24-hour nursing care to individuals with a wide range of complex medical conditions, including specialized care for recovery from surgery and illness.

Visiting the Stamford Veterans Resource Center with local officials.

Biking across our historic district

Summer sun means perfect weather for a long bike ride. I joined the good people at Connecticut Innovations for one day of their Tour de Connecticut bike tour, including a stop at the Barnum Museum in Bridgeport. The museum building now has a National Historic Landmark designation from the National Park Service and U.S. Department of the Interior.

I’m proud to have helped secure federal grants for the restoration of the Barnum Museum’s signature windows and digitization projects and I’m glad our district’s rich history is earning the recognition it deserves. The Barnum Museum is Bridgeport’s first National Historic Landmark site, but here’s hoping it won’t be the last.

Celebrating the Barnum Museum, now a National Historic Landmark.

As always, I’m here to serve you. If you’re having trouble with a federal agency, please do not hesitate to call my office at (203) 333-6600. 

Sincerely,

Jim