Dear Friend,

     I wanted to take an opportunity to update you on my recent work during the month of November in Washington, D.C., and Connecticut.     

     Please rest assured, I will continue to use my voice as your Representative to speak up and not back down from the fight against devastating cuts to crucial programs proposed by the Trump administration and Congressional Republicans. For a more detailed look at what the Republicans’ “Big, Beautiful Law” and government shutdown means for you or your loved ones, please subscribe to our eNewsletter here. My office will continue to send out the most updated information.

     I was glad to visit New Haven’s very own Christian Community Action food pantry to discuss how Trump is cutting food assistance from families in New Haven, where over 30,000 residents rely on it. It is crucial when hardworking families are struggling to put food on the table, we stick up for each other as a community. Mayor Justin Elicker, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, and others sued the Trump Administration for this violation of the law, and the courts agreed.

     Trump must abide by the law and continue to fund SNAP, though he is now threatening to withhold funding from Democratic states. This is why I will continue to fight and stand up to the Administration’s illegal actions. To read my full statement on the Trump Administration’s refusal to pay full food stamp benefits during the government shutdown last month after multiple court orders and unnecessary delays, click here.

     With the expiration of crucial Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits impacting millions of Americans, I made sure to meet with those on the frontlines of this health crisis– hospital leaders in our state. These cuts are leading to dramatic premium increases and will only force Americans to go without health insurance to come into hospitals sicker and they will unfortunately die. I am fighting for health care because lives are on the line.

     If you have been impacted by recent Affordable Care Act tax credit cuts, let us know by filling out this form. If you or your loved ones have questions or need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact my district office in New Haven at (203) 562-3718 – my staff and I will do whatever we can to assist you.

     I was proud to reintroduce the bipartisan Find It Early Act. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation would ensure all health insurance plans cover screening and diagnostic breast imaging with no extra cost to patients. That includes mammograms, ultrasounds and breast ultrasounds, and MRIs. This will remove financial barriers that keep too many women from early detection.

     I heard from advocates and survivors who are fearful of what Trump’s cuts to health care would mean for patients. Early detection is key to surviving breast cancer, but detection is not guaranteed for those who are uninsured or unable to access affordable screenings.

     As the top Democrat of the House Appropriations Committee, I negotiated with leadership on crucial funding for agencies. When Republicans wanted to leave out funding for the Toxic Exposures Fund to uphold the promise we made to veterans, I stood against it. My goal is to ensure those who have served in our nation and been exposed to toxic substances have support they can count on.

     I led a letter with 104 of my Democratic colleagues urging the U.S. Trade Representative to negotiate for stronger protections for U.S. workers, consumers, small businesses, and farmers in the upcoming six-year review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), enacted in 2020 as the successor agreement to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). To read my full letter, click here.

     I also sent a letter to the Food and Drug Administration requesting all the inspection reports available for ByHeart, an infant formula manufacturer, after over 50 infants from 19 states that have been hospitalized for infant botulism. This is a rare but serious illness in babies under one year old that can cause paralysis and breathing failure. There must never be a question in parents’ minds whether the formula they give to their children is safe. You can read my full letter here. I will be announcing additional actions on this outbreak soon.

     In New Haven, I stopped by Vinnie’s Italian Importing to highlight the effects of the disastrous proposed 107% tariffs on Italian pasta. The Trump Administration’s reckless tariff policies are already raising costs for consumers and businesses across the country and in our community. As Co-Chair of the Italian American Congressional Delegation (IACD), I led a bipartisan letter to the Trump Administration urging them to reverse these harmful tariffs. You can read my full letter here.

     I celebrated the groundbreaking of Middlefield’s new public safety facility – a result of years of cooperation between residents, first responders, and elected officials. I was proud to secure $2.25 million for this project to improve emergency response and coordination.

     On November 18, I voted to compel the Administration to release the Epstein files. These survivors deserve justice, and I will continue to do everything I can to ensure that the truth is finally public.

     Trump’s efforts to dismantle the Department of Education are a disgrace and will hurt working families the most. I strongly oppose the Trump Administration’s continued efforts to move six Education Department offices to different agencies. To read my full statement on the Administration’s renewed attempts to dismantle this crucial department, click here.

     Farmers and working families are struggling to make ends meet. Trump’s trade wars are only making matters worse. On November 20, I led 32 members in a letter to the Trump Administration to include small and specialty crop farms in any federal effort to provide economic relief for farm losses due to President Trump’s trade wars. To read the full letter, click here.

     Social Security is an earned benefit – not a bargaining chip. I was proud to join Reps. John Larson and Debbie Wasserman Schultz in fighting back against Trump’s plan to deny benefits to many Americans over 50. Thankfully, Trump backed down after this fight, and Social Security recipients can breathe a little easier.

     On Transgender Day of Remembrance, I remembered and honored the lives of those in the transgender community that have been lost due to hate and violence. With my colleagues in the Equality Caucus, I am committed to combatting hate and ending the scourge of anti-trans violence. I will always fight back against Republican efforts to scapegoat marginalized communities to distract from their governing failures.

     I was proud to lead an effort with Ranking Member James Clyburn alongside 204 of my House colleagues in a letter to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner requesting the Department work with Congress to prevent 170,000 people from losing their homes in the dead of winter. HUD’s Continuum of Care program is one of the nation’s largest and most effective programs in combatting homelessness. More than 750,000 veterans, unaccompanied youth, people with disabilities, victims of domestic violence, and other struggling Americans rely on its support across the country. To read the entire letter, click here.

     In Case You Missed It: I am proud to stand in solidarity with Teamsters at Connecticut Distributors who are striking after stalled negotiations and anti-union actions. All workers deserve the freedom to join a union. Keep up the fight for fair wages, benefits, and dignity!

                                                                                               Sincerely,