Dear Friends,

Happy New Year! It is an honor to represent you in Congress. As we look ahead to 2024, I want to update you on some of the progress we accomplished together over the last year.

I worked hard to secure new resources to launch workforce training programs like BristolWorks! and Career ConneCT to help Connecticut get back to work. Today, unemployment is at its lowest rate in more than 50 years, and 14 million new jobs have been created since President Biden took office.  

Rep. Larson joins state and local leaders at the opening of BristolWorks! 

The F135 engine, built right here in Connecticut, is the most advanced, reliable, and capable production fighter engine the world has ever known. In the face of opposition from special interest groups supporting a costly alternative engine, I led a coalition of machinists and bipartisan Members of Congress in support of engine modernization. The Pentagon announced in December that it intends to award sole source contracts for F135 modernization to Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, saving taxpayers tens of billions of dollars and protecting thousands of manufacturing jobs in our state. 

Rep. Larson visits Jarvis Airfoil, an F135 supplier, in Portland 

After passing the Inflation Reduction Act to lower drug costs and health care premiums for Americans, new savings became available for Medicare beneficiaries in 2023, including a $35/month cap on the price of insulin and no-cost recommended vaccines for all seniors. Today, four out five Americans who sign up for a health care plan during open enrollment can find coverage for $10/month or less.

Rep. Larson discusses new prescription drug savings with seniors in Middletown   

I worked with my colleagues in Congress to support our veterans by expanding health care eligibility and dedicating new resources to improve claims processing. This past year, the VA set all-time records for care and benefits, delivering benefits to more than 1.5 million veterans and survivors, processing nearly 2 million claims, and screening a record 4.6 million veterans for toxic exposure. 

Rep. Larson and Korean War Veteran James Shelmerdine 

Nearly a decade after my legislation to officially establish Coltsville as a National Park was signed into law, we announced the last major milestone needed for establishment. The park will bolster the economic growth at the Colt Complex and ensure visitors can appreciate and learn about the legacy of Coltsville, which cemented Hartford as a manufacturing hub and one of the birthplaces of the Industrial Revolution.

Rep. Larson and National Park Service officials at the Colt Complex in Hartford  

I send my best wishes to you and your loved ones for a happy, healthy, and peaceful new year. 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