I'm proud to support John Larson this year. As President of the Greater Hartford Young Democrats, his sponsorship of the ACTION for National Service Act is something I'm particularly excited about.
Among other things, it reduces the burden of student loan debt by ensuring that young people who serve two full terms of national service (through programs like Americorps) are rewarded with an educational benefit equal to four years of average in-state tuition where their college is located. As anyone paying back their student loans will tell you, this is a game-changer. It provides a pathway to free higher education while incentivizing young people to contribute to their communities through disaster relief efforts, education initiatives, and public works projects.
On a personal note, though, it's Congressman Larson's leadership on gun violence that matters most to me this election cycle. He's been an outspoken advocate for gun control in Congress. In 2016, he led a sit-in in the well of the House with Rep. John Lewis to force a vote on gun control measures in the wake of the Orlando nightclub shooting.
He also co-sponsored the Resources for Victims of Gun Violence Act of 2019, which establishes an advisory council to support victims of gun violence to identify, promote, coordinate, and disseminate information, resources, and best practices to help victims of gun violence:
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meet their medical, financial, educational, workplace, housing, transportation, assistive technology, and accessibility needs;
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maintain their mental health and emotional well-being;
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seek legal redress for their injuries and protection against any ongoing threats to their safety; and,
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access government programs, services, and benefits for which they may be eligible or to which they may be entitled.
My family has experienced firsthand the trauma associated with gun violence. The damage it inflicts spans generations, and alters it permanently. Providing greater resources to the victims of gun violence - of which there are unfortunately far too many - is something our cities, our state, and our nation are in dire need of.
That’s why I’m supporting John Larson tomorrow, November 3rd. I hope you’ll join me.
