Dear John,

Welcome to your Weekly Wrap, a recap of the week in Congress and highlights of my work.

Last week, I spent time in Plymouth and Litchfield, where critical infrastructure improvement projects are taking shape. These projects include water treatment efforts and facility upgrades. Each of these projects are supported by federal resources through Member directed Community Project Funding. 

Additionally, as we celebrate National Small Business Week, I spent time celebrating Connecticut’s small business success. XCalliber, a Brookfield-based manufacturing company, has been named Small Business Exporter of the Year by the Small Business Administration (SBA), and Torrco is a fourth-generation distribution company with over 100 years of operation in the local community. Also receiving well-deserved recognition by the SBA is Aquila’s Nest Vineyards in Newtown, which has been named Small Business Manufacturer of the Year.

Finally, I am including an update on our 3rd Passport Day.

For my full recap, please read below.

Plymouth Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA)

On Tuesday, I visited the Plymouth Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA), the entity responsible for the maintenance and repair of the Town of Plymouth sewer system.

Plymouth WPCA will receive nearly 1 million in Community Project Funding, which I helped secure through the Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations process. The funding will support the phosphorous reduction efforts conducted at the facility.  Specifically, the funds will aid in the modification of water treatment systems and support the purchase of new equipment critical to meeting nitrogen removal requirements outlined by the state of Connecticut. 

To learn more about the Plymouth Water Pollution Control Facility Phosphorous Reduction Upgrade Project, click here.

Infrastructure Improvements in Litchfield 

On Wednesday, I spent the morning in Litchfield listening to first responders discuss the need for improvements to the Litchfield Volunteer Ambulance (LVA) facility. Additionally, I visited the Litchfield Water Pollution Control Authority,  where American Rescue Plan Act funding is being used for critical facility repairs. 

Litchfield Volunteer Ambulance (LVA)

Litchfield Volunteer Ambulance (LVA) is the primary emergency medical service (EMS) provider for the towns of Litchfield, Northfield, and Morris – responding to over 1,400 calls per year. LVA is a critical lifeline of support for these communities as it provides mutual aid coverage to the surrounding towns, EMS training, and offers transportation to patients traveling to and from local assisted living facilities.

Unfortunately, LVA’s facility is in desperate need of repair. Groundwater has infiltrated the building, created moldy conditions, and damaged electrical fixtures. Chemical leakage has also resulted in the loss of supplies like personal protective equipment and radios.

Last week, I visited the Litchfield Volunteer Ambulance headquarters to see how $500,000 in Community Project Funding will be used to upgrade the aging facility. During my visit, I had the opportunity to hear directly from local first responders about the need for continued investments in our firefighters and EMS workers.

Litchfield Water Pollution Control Authority

I continued my day in Litchfield at the Litchfield Water Pollution Control Authority, where funding provided by the American Rescue Plan Act is supporting facility upgrades. These upgrades include a UV disinfectant system, water filtration systems, and a flood resilience study.

With the increased rainfall, the facility is accumulating more water than usual, which is causing treated and untreated water to mix. The Litchfield Water Pollution Control Authority is hoping to leverage federal funding to support projects that would remedy this issue.

My visits to both the Litchfield and Plymouth Water Pollution Control Facilities made clear that water is critical infrastructure.

Touring Torrco

Founded in Waterbury over 100 years ago as Brass City Plumbing, Torrco is a fourth-generation family-owned business that distributes plumbing, piping, and HVAC parts and supplies. With 13 locations, Torrco currently serves Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, and New York.

On Tuesday, I visited Torrco’s Waterbury Headquarters for a facility tour to learn more about the success of this Connecticut small business.

During my visit, we discussed ways to continue fostering a strong workforce, opportunities for energy investments, and the role of trade schools in building the next-generation workforce. 

Excellence at Xcalliber

The celebration of Connecticut small business success continued in Brookfield at Xcalliber. 

In 1984, Anthony DeFeo founded DeFeo Manufacturing, a company dedicated to providing cost-effective replacement parts for Allison Transmissions.  In 2015, DeFeo Manufacturing launched a new product line of performance parts - Xcalliber. In the years since, Xcalliber has had significant success, as its parts and transmissions can be found in over 50 countries spanning all 7 continents.

On Tuesday, the Small Business Administration (SBA) awarded Xcalliber with the Small Business Exporter of the Year Award. 

As we celebrate National Small Business Week, I join the SBA, federal, state, and local leaders in extending congratulations to Anthony DeFeo, President and founder of DeFeo Manufacturing and Xcalliber, on this well-deserved award. 

Thank you for your contributions to the Brookfield community and our state.

Also receiving well-deserved recognition by the Small Business Administration (SBA) are Neviana Zhgaba and Ardian Llomi, owners of Aquila’s Nest Vineyards in Newtown. The two have been named Connecticut Small Business Manufacturer of the Year. 

Serving as a place of gathering for the community since 2020, Aquila’s Nest Vineyards also received the US Chamber of Commerce Top 70 Small Businesses in America Award in 2023. 

Passport Day!

Last week, we hosted our 3rd Passport Day in collaboration with the U.S. Department of State (DOS). In just 4 hours, we processed more than 75 applications. 

I especially want to thank the Danbury War Memorial and the DOS for your help in putting together another successful event.

If you were not able to attend the event and still need assistance with a passport issue or navigating another federal agency, you can contact my office at (860) 223-8412, and a member of my casework team would be happy to help. 

And that’s a wrap!

Jahana Hayes

Member of Congress