Connecticut's U.S. senators didn't hold back with their comments when it came to Amtrak spending approved by the U.S. House of Representatives. "No matter what Speaker Boehner says, a cut for Amtrak jeopardizes lives," said Sen. Chris Murphy.When asked about whether increased funding for infrastructure and technology upgrades for Amtrak would have... Read More about Murphy, Blumenthal Fire Back at Boehner Over Amtrak Spending

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — It’s been said repeatedly that Positive Train Control, or PTC, could’ve prevented the Amtrak train derailment in Philadelphia. Senator Richard Blumenthal is proposing a plan to radically overhaul rail safety throughout the country and make PTC an immediate reality. “This four-point plan will be a... Read More about Lawmakers call for overhaul of rail safety system

HARTFORD — Saying that a fatal train crash in Philadelphia this week was preventable, Connecticut's two U.S. senators called Friday for increased funding and safety improvements for Amtrak to prevent future tragedies. U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal outlined a four-point plan to prompt Congress to take action after the crash that killed eight... Read More about Senators Call For Train Safety Improvements; House Committee Plans Hearings

A bill introduced by federal lawmakers from Connecticut is intended to make college cheaper. Sen. Chris Murphy and Rep. Jim Himes, both D-Conn., on Friday introduced the College Affordability and Innovation Act. If approved, the bill would give federal funding to schools that give degrees in less time, so students would pay less. Colleges could... Read More about Murphy, Himes champion bill to cut college costs

Today, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee, called on Congress to boost rail safety and infrastructure funding for Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor. In the wake of this week’s train derailment in Pennsylvania, Murphy stressed his... Read More about Murphy calls for new Northeast corridor safety fund

Ms. Werenko’s period 5 and 7 writing classes Skyped with Senator Chris Murphy on Wednesday, May 13th. Students did research in February on the topic of veterans with PTSD and how dogs can help. After visiting Senator Murphy’s website and learning about his concern for vets, we realized that Senator Murphy could be our audience. Then all... Read More about Share Print Tyrrell Class Skypes with Senator Murphy

Senate Democrats are renewing their push for paid sick leave, but Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said they are not “wildly optimistic” that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) will schedule a vote on the Healthy Families Act anytime soon. “We have not seen yet that it’s a priority for Republican leadership,” he... Read More about Paid leave not a priority for GOP, Dem says

HARTFORD >> Legislative changes and increased training of school staff could help to reduce the incidence of children being restrained and secluded in schools, a panel of state officials said Friday at a forum hosted by U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn.The roundtable discussion was organized in response to a February report by the state Office... Read More about Plans emerge to reduce restraint use in schools

WASHINGTON -- Construction of the new Danbury federal prison for women will begin this summer, U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch told a Senate panel Thursday under questioning by U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn. "I regret to say I'm hesitant to offer (a completion estimate), having seen several federal construction projects in my day," Lynch said... Read More about Women's prison construction to start this summer

GUILFORD–December 7, 1941 is remembered as the day the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. On that fateful day, 429 soldiers were killed aboard the USS Oklahoma, which remained submerged for two years until it was raised and the remains of 388 sailors were recovered. But they remained buried, many in unmarked graves in Hawaii, until... Read More about Guilford man assists in returning remains of 388 WWII veterans to their families

Candlewood Lake Authority Chairwoman Phyllis Schaer said she was glad to hear this week that FirstLight Power Resources has agreed to restore its full $50,000 contribution to the authority for the coming fiscal year. "I think it's wonderful," Schaer said Thursday. "I'm glad we were all able to come to the table and work together for the good of the... Read More about FirstLight recommits to $50,000 contribution to Candlewood Lake Authority

The owner of Candlewood Lake, the largest lake in Connecticut, has agreed to restore a $50,000 contribution to the Candlewood Lake Authority for next fiscal year, starting in July, according to a release. During a conference wall with U.S. Sens Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal and Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty, FirstLight Power Resources parent... Read More about FirstLight to restore funding to Candlewood Lake

Washington – Sen. Chris Murphy on Thursday questioned Attorney General Loretta Lynch on the failure to begin construction of a new facility on the grounds of the federal prison in Danbury that would allow about 200 female inmates to return to Connecticut, where they had been incarcerated until last year. Lynch said she expected ground... Read More about Murphy questions AG on failure to build Danbury prison facility

U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy has hailed the passage of legislation to enact what he calls a “permanent doc fix.” This major, bipartisan legislative plan repeals the Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate for physician reimbursement under Medicare and extends funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program and community health centers... Read More about Sen. Murphy hails ‘doc fix’ legislation

The town has been awarded a $1,302,225 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant to replace the Saugatuck Bridge, First Selectman Jim Marpe announced Tuesday. Following the recent announcement of the Pre-Disaster Mitigation grant from FEMA to fully replace the wooden bridge on Harbor Road leading to the town’s Saugatuck Island... Read More about Town gets $1.3 million FEMA grant to replace Saugatuck Bridge

HARTFORD >> Legislative changes and increased training of school staff could help to reduce the incidence of children being restrained and secluded in schools, a panel of state officials said Friday at a forum hosted by U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn. The roundtable discussion was organized in response to a February report by the state Office... Read More about Murphy: Reforms proposed to reduce restraints, seclusion in American schools

Sen. Chris Murphy said during a roundtable discussion that "it's unacceptable that 30,000 kids get restrained each year in schools" and wants to mandate training for use of seclusion rooms. The junior Senator referenced a study completed last year by the Office of the Child Advocate that estimated 2,500 students receive the bulk of the thousands of... Read More about Senator Wants Mandatory Seclusion Room Training at Schools

HARTFORD — A 3-mile swath of north Hartford has been named a federal Promise Zone, a designation that local leaders hope will spark an infusion of manpower and money to one of the capital city's neediest areas. City and federal officials announced the designation for the Clay Arsenal, Northeast and Upper Albany neighborhoods at a press... Read More about Hartford's North End Designated Federal 'Promise Zone'

Hartford's North End is getting a big boost from its new designation as a federal Promise Zone. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced the designation Tuesday morning during a news conference in one of the targeted neighborhoods. As a Promise Zone, the city will get preferential treatment for any grants it applies for that... Read More about Hartford's North End Gets Promise Zone Designation

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy recently praised the latest step in partnership between the United States and Poland. Murphy, a Democrat and member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee and co-chairman of the bipartisan U.S. Senate Caucus on Poland, applauded Poland’s plan to purchase the Patriot missile defense systems... Read More about Murphy praises Poland’s decision to buy Patriot missiles from Raytheon