Dear Friends, 

In Congress, I am committed to delivering federal funding to support working families and strengthen our communities – and will never back down from the fight to protect your hard-earned benefits and the programs our communities rely on.

I worked with my colleagues to ensure our kids can access nutritious meals while school is out of session and joined state and local leaders this week to announce new investments in outdoor recreation and our libraries.

Summer Meals for Our Kids   

According to Connecticut Foodshare, 17% of our state’s children are food insecure. During the summer months, many kids are left without the breakfasts and lunches provided during the school year. No child should go hungry in the United States of America. I’ve been proud to support programs in Congress that close this hunger gap and support families in need:  

• Summer EBT is now available. Eligible families can receive extra benefits to purchase groceries while school is out of session. To learn more about eligibility and enroll, call 1-844-503-6871 or visit the Connecticut Department of Social Services website here. 
• Any child under the age of 18 can visit a federally funded Summer Meals site for no-cost breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks. Visit CTSummerMeals.org to find a site near you. 

Restoring Hartford Public Library 

Two years after the main branch suffered catastrophic flooding, it was great to visit Hartford Public Library to celebrate the launch of their “Restore, Renew, and Reimagine” campaign. Our libraries offer more than just books – they are community spaces for residents of all ages – and in Hartford, that includes immigration and citizenship services, employment training, and youth leadership programs. I have been focused on supporting these efforts in Congress, including $10.5 million to support the construction and opening of the Albany Avenue and Barbour Street branches, and a federal grant to expand the library’s citizenship instruction and naturalization application services through The American Place. I have also submitted a request for new funding for library restoration efforts in this coming year’s federal budget. 

Rep. Larson, Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam, Hartford Public Library President & CEO Bridget Quinn, Governor Ned Lamont, Chief Administrative Officer for Global Atlantic Financial Group Dan O’Shea, Ritu Paliwal Barna, and Hartford City Council President Shirley Surgeon 

Recapturing the Riverfront 

Yesterday, I joined Governor Lamont and Mayor Arunan Arulampalam to celebrate new funding for outdoor recreation, including Hartford’s Riverfront Park. Along with significant state funding, I worked to secure $900,000 in Congressionally directed funds to reconnect the North End with the Connecticut River and construct the Joe Marfuggi Riverwalk, as well as $2.4 million in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. I have long been an advocate of efforts to recapture our riverfront and will continue to work with my colleagues to invest in recreation and economic opportunity along the river.

Rep. Larson with Governor Lamont, Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam, and Riverfront Recapture    

If you have any questions or need assistance, please reach out to my office at 860-278-8888. We are here to help. 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