Dear Friends,

I wanted to update you on some of my recent work in Washington, D.C. and the district that may be of help to you.

Here at home, I joined the Song Family at the 4th Annual Keep Kids Safe Connecticut Gun Buyback and Gun Safe Giveaway Day. Community events like this keep our communities and our children safe. Enough is enough – it is time we pass common sense gun safety measures like Ethan’s Law, which would require gun owners to safely and securely store their firearms.                                                  

I also welcomed the House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries to the African American Leaders Forum in New Haven. During our discussion, we spoke about the importance of lowering the cost of living for working and middle-class families. Whether it be the price of groceries, prescription drugs, or housing, Leader Jeffries and I are committed to fighting for lower costs and a better future for all. 

In Woodbridge, I was happy to award Marrakech, Inc. with $1,100,000 which I helped secure through Community Project Funding. Since 1971, the not-for-profit Marrakech has provided critical human services to our community including for individuals with intellectual and development disabilities, those in need of employment support, and individuals living with mental illness and substance use disorders. These funds will create a safer, more accessible facility for the individuals and families Marrakech serves. You can learn more about this specific project by clicking here.

I also had the privilege to mark the start of Domestic Violence Prevention Month with Community Health Center (CHC) Connecticut and Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CTCADV). We discussed our progress since the passage of the Violence Against Women Act in 1994 and celebrated the profound impact it has had on women’s safety. We are so proud of the women strong enough to share their stories and must continue to move towards preventing acts of violence against women. As the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to fight for the highest funding levels possible for crisis intervention services, housing supports, and domestic violence prevention programs.

In North Haven, I toured the Schnieder Electric Center for Innovation, Manufacturing, and Design. This building is truly marvelous, and I am so grateful to celebrate the opening of such an impressive center. This is going to be a game changer for developing technology that will help us modernize the electrical grid, bridging progress and sustainability right here in Connecticut.    

This October, I celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month. Hispanic and Latino Americans make up nearly 20% of our district. We are fortunate to have so many Hispanic and Latino leaders in our own community, and I am proud to highlight them now and throughout the year. I am honored to recognize Joe Rodriguez and Norma Rodriguez as Latino leaders in our community. To learn more about their impact and work, please click here.

I also commemorated Italian Heritage Month – another opportunity for many of us to celebrate who and where we came from. It is also about honoring the perseverance of our ancestors, who arrived here with few possessions, but a wealth of values, history, and ideas for a better future. Growing up in Wooster Square—the heart of New Haven’s Italian American community—I learned the value of hard work, faith, family, responsibility, and community. Today, I am happy to see our community continue to thrive.

Earlier last month, I joined the team at Connecticut Public Broadcasting to discuss the high cost of child care and housing Americans are facing. Far too many families are struggling today – we must support our families and the child care providers who nurture our future. You can listen to a highlight from the show by clicking here.

As a reminder: In October, FEMA declared the flooding on August 18th a Major Disaster. Whether you are an individual or a business you should first file a claim with your private insurance, then file for assistance with FEMA by clicking here or visit one of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) two Business Recovery Centers (BRCs) in Connecticut, including one in Oxford Town Hall. SBA is opening the centers, and FEMA will be soon to follow, to assist Connecticut businesses and residents with losses due to the severe storm, flooding, landslides, and mudslides that impacted our communities in August. Scheduling an appointment is best - to do so please click here. The deadline to apply for FEMA assistance is November 19th, so please apply if you haven’t already!

In Case You Missed It (ICYMI): Congratulations to the 2025 Connecticut Teacher of the Year, Ms. Julia Miller of New Haven. Julia teaches civics at the Metropolitan Business Academy in New Haven. We thank her for her passion and the bright future for children she helps to create every day. 

I will continue my efforts in Congress to get results for the families and communities of the Third District. Should you have any questions or if I can assist you with a federal agency, please contact my District office at 203-562-3718. 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. 

                                                   Sincerely,
                                                   Member of Congress