WASHINGTON–U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) announced the inclusion of $25.68 million for Connecticut Congressionally Directed Spending projects in the Fiscal Year 2024 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill.

Committee passage is the first step in the process, and funding will only be made available when the bill is passed by Congress and signed into law. Murphy and Blumenthal are committed to pushing for passage and ensuring Connecticut priorities are reflected in the final spending package.

“The appropriations process gives lawmakers a rare opportunity to directly provide local organizations the resources they need to do what they do best – serve their communities. I’m proud that this bill funds projects to expand access to mental health care, give kids better educational opportunities, and help more people get the training they need to secure good-paying jobs. These are major investments that will make a big difference to families and workers across Connecticut, and I look forward to getting this bill across the finish line,” said Murphy.

“These projects will help bolster job training and educational resources that will open doors to opportunity—and success—for many. To address the urgent need for mental health resources in Connecticut, much of this funding will be invested in mental and behavioral health care, addiction services, and critical infrastructure improvements. I am proud to support these projects and urge their swift final passage,” said Blumenthal.

Connecticut projects in the Committee-passed Fiscal Year 2024 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill include:

  • $350,000 for Connecticut NAACP to support its One Million Jobs Campaign, which creates a supportive pipeline into well-paid jobs for individuals impacted by the criminal justice system
  • $876,000 for Capital Workforce Partners Inc. for its On-Ramps to Infrastructure program, which provides training opportunities for jobs in the infrastructure sector
  • $150,000 for CitySeed to support a culinary training program serving refugees and immigrants
  • $1,188,000 for Workforce Alliance to establish a Healthcare Advancement Program (HCAP) to help individuals enter careers in the healthcare industry
  • $1,403,000 for Klingberg Family Centers, in partnership with, CIL Community Resources Inc., to renovate youth and family mental health facility after flood damage
  • $5,000,000 for the City of Waterbury to equip mobile school-based health centers
  • $232,000 for Community Health and Wellness Center of Greater Torrington to purchase equipment for a rural health center in North Canaan
  • $156,000 for the Hartford Gay and Lesbian Health Collective to upgrade its dental clinic
  • $2,000,000 for Regional Hospice and Home Care of Western Connecticut to construct a child-focused wing at the Center for Comfort Care & Healing in Danbury
  • $750,000 for Stamford Health to expand its inpatient adult psychiatric unit
  • $449,000 for The Jackson Laboratory for equipment at an endometriosis laboratory
  • $616,000 for Catholic Charities to expand its Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for individuals with substance abuse and co-occurring disorders
  • $1,398,000 for Mid Fairfield Child Guidance Center to hire bilingual care coordinators and clinicians
  • $500,000 for Mothers United Against Violence for trauma support and mental health services
  • $330,000 for Staywell Health Center for a support the work of the Greater Waterbury Health Partnership program
  • $335,000 for United Community and Family Servicers to expand its medication assisted therapy program
  • $150,000 for Annie C. Courtney Foundation to provide job training opportunities for justice involved foster youth
  • $355,000 for R Kids to support work of its Resiliency Center, which is a trauma-focused day care center  
  • $1,274,000 for Saint Francis Hospital to fund a community health worker program
  • $230,000 for TEAM Inc to run a health food access program
  • $706,000 for Bridgeport Public Schools to create support teams of social workers and school counselors to help address social-emotional and mental health needs of students
  • $200,000 for Building One Community to expand afterschool enrichment programming for low-income immigrant youth
  • $1,500,000 for the New Haven Public Schools to support its BioCity Academy
  • $1,162,000 for Clifford W. Beers Guidance Clinic to improve mental health services within Hamden Public Schools
  • $1,875,000 for Danbury Public Schools to support a curriculum redesign project
  • $155,000 for Make the Road CT to improve college access for youth from historically underserved communities
  • $570,000 for Mystic Seaport Museum to support its mentoring and STEM education youth programming
  • $264,000 for Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Waterbury and Bridge to Success to serve disengaged and marginalized youth adversely effected by the COVID-19 pandemic
  • $750,000 for Our Piece of the Pie to provide young adults in foster care with academic support, life skills, college exploration opportunities, and job readiness training
  • $200,000 for Stamford Public Education Foundation to fund its summer start program, a summer program for early learners
  • $59,000 for The Ethan Miller Song Foundation to fund a firearm safety curriculum
  • $85,000 for the Waterbury School District to hire an attendance coordinator
  • $300,000 for the University of Hartford to fund a collaboration with school districts to create innovative pathways to teacher certification 
  • $116,000 for Hartford Promise to fund an unpaid internship support program

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