WASHINGTON–U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) on Tuesday announced the inclusion of $94.4 million for Connecticut Congressionally Directed Spending projects in six bills posted by the Senate Appropriations Committee on Monday. While these bills are not yet final, and funding will only be made available when these appropriations bills are passed by Congress and signed into law, the Committee’s selection of these projects is an important first step in securing federal dollars for Connecticut priorities. Murphy and Blumenthal are committed to pushing for passage of these six appropriations bills, in addition to six others that have also been released, and ensuring that Connecticut interests are reflected in the final spending package.
“As a member of the Appropriations Committee, my priority is making sure Connecticut’s interests are reflected in the budget we write. The federal dollars in these bills promote economic growth and workforce development, upgrade our infrastructure, support coastal resilience, and invest in community institutions like hospitals and schools. Now we need Republicans to do their job and come to the table to pass annual appropriations bills for FY 2022, so that we can deliver for all of our communities. The projects included in these bills make critical investments in the future of Connecticut, and I’ll continue fighting to get this over this finish line,” said Murphy.
“This announcement is an essential first step to delivering investments for projects and organizations that provide vital services in every community in Connecticut. From child care to job creation to transportation this funding is what the people of our state have asked me to fight for in Congress. While Senator Murphy and I are advocating for these projects, not only for Connecticut but similar programs nationwide, Republicans refuse to negotiate – instead preferring to fight for their own political future, rather than fighting for the future benefit of Americans. As a result, there is a chance that government continues operating at last year’s funding levels, and projects such as these would not be funded. I hope Republicans will listen to their constituents and return to the negotiating table. I will continue fighting for these investments that are a lynchpin for Connecticut’s future,” said Blumenthal.
In the Committee-posted Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, there is $33.391 million for Connecticut projects, including:
· $15 million for the Walk Bridge repair project in Norwalk
· $200,000 for the Mothers United Against Violence impact project in Hartford
· $500,000 for Youth Continuum to provide services for homeless youth
· $1.72 million for low-income senior housing renovations at Butter Brook Apartments in New Milford
· $2 million for the Capitol Regional Council of Governments for crumbling foundation remediation assistance and $175,000 for Connecticut Foundation Solutions Indemnity Company to conduct a study of crumbling foundations in public buildings
· $2 million for recidivism training at Economic Development Corporation of New Haven
· $500,000 for a No Freeze shelter in Windham
· $2.996 million for affordable housing development in New Haven/Hamden
· $2.5 million for enhancements to Milford Boys and Girls Club
· $75,000 to purchase a housing facility for foster youth in Waterbury
· $725,000 for coastal resiliency project in Groton
· $5 million to ConnDOT for reconstruction of Route 34 in Derby
In the Committee-posted Commerce, Justice, Science, and Relation Agencies Appropriations bill, there is $9.389 million for Connecticut projects, including:
· $1.398 million for the City of Hartford to fund a Youth Violence Prevention and Intervention Program
· $3.499 million for the Town of Fairfield to fund an emergency radio network system upgrade
· $750,000 for public safety communication system upgrades in North Branford
· $983,000 for public safety communication system upgrades in Wilton
· $70,000 for police department technology upgrades in Simsbury
· $120,000 for the Forensic Science Training program at the University of New Haven
· $569,000 for The Maritime Aquarium for Long Island Sound clean up
· $2 million for UCONN’s Ecological Modeling Institute
In the Committee-posted Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, there is $34.594 million for Connecticut projects, including:
· $25,000 for Applied Behavioral Rehabilitation Institute for vocational and educational programming for veterans
· $25,000 for Beat the Streets Community Center for career development services
· $3000,000 for Opportunities Industrialization Center for job training services
· $370,000 for Goodwill of Southern New England for workforce development and reintegration services
· $513,000 for the City of Stamford for pre-apprenticeship training services
· $593,000 for Capital Workforce Partners for integrated basic education and skills training
· $650,000 for Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board for workforce development activities
· $823,000 for the Workforce Alliance Inc. for information technology professional development and guided pathways for disconnected youth
· $368,000 for Connecticut Council of Family Services Agencies to improve mental health care access for children
· $1,200,000 for United Way of Western CT to serve low-income families
· $50,000 for The American Dream Foundation to serve meals to low-income seniors
· $1.029 million to Bridges Healthcare for critical infrastructure upgrades
· $97,000 for Charter Oak Cultural Center for facilities upgrades and to create a new training center
· $75,000 for the YWCA of Greenwich for facilities upgrades
· $650,00 for Cornell Scott Hill Health Center for facility system upgrades
· $900,000 for facility and equipment upgrades Johnson Memorial Hospital
· $900,000 for facility upgrades at the University of Saint Joseph
· $1,2000,000 for facilities and equipment upgrades at Community Mental Health Affiliates, Inc
· $1,200,000 for facilities and equipment upgrades at Gaylord Hospital
· $16,000 for Pelletier Wellness Center at Liberation Programs, Inc. for renovations
· $218,000 for equipment at University of New Haven
· $1,150,000 for equipment for a manufacturing training center at Goodwin University
· $48,000 for Oddfellows Community Playhouse Youth Theater, serving at-risk youth
· $65,000 for childcare certification at YWCA of Greenwich
· $100,000 for youth anti-violence activities at Compass Youth Collaborative
· $100,000 for Re-Center for Race Equity in Education for equity centered professional development
· $105,000 for United Way of Greater Waterbury for afterschool programming
· $250,000 for literacy programming through Reading is Fundamental in Stamford
· $275,000 for teacher residency programming through Capitol Region Education Council
· $382,000 for Bridge to Success Community Partnerships for community school partnerships
· $1,600,000 for the Children’s Museum for STEAM education, including equipment
· $137,000 for family focused recovery services at Liberation Programs
· $200,000 for rural mental and behavioral health services at Southeastern Regional Action Council
· $270,000 for opioid abuse treatment at Alliance for Living
· $461,000 for behavioral health services at United Services
In the Committee-posted Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, there is $10.295 million for Connecticut projects to upgrade and invest in water treatment and waste disposal.
· $500,000 for upgrades within Coltsville National Park
· $2.5 million for Metropolitan District Commission for waste treatment facility upgrades in Hartford
· $375,000 for Save the Sound for distributed green infrastructure across the watersheds of New Haven Harbor
· $2 million for Lake Saltonstall Water Treatment Plant electrical upgrades projects
· $1.8 million for water and sewer transmission pipes in Manchester
· $720,000 for River Road pumping station upgrades in Stonington
· $2.24 million for two waste water treatment projects in Bethel
· $160,000 for waste and sludge disposal in West Haven
In the Committee-posted Homeland Security Appropriations bill, there is $5.073 million to support coastal resilience, emergency preparedness, and climate adaptation across Connecticut.
· $1.5 million for the Connecticut Department of Transportation to replace bridge in Middletown
· $189,000 for Capitol Region Council of Governments to fund their Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
· $2.3 million for resilience and climate adaptation planning efforts through Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation
· $84,000 for an emergency operations center upgrades in South Windsor
· $1 million for a new Emergency Operations Center in Newington
In the Committee-posted Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill, there is $1.694 million to support Connecticut small businesses.
· $948,000 for digitizing record in the Connecticut archives
· $100,000 for the Black Business Alliance
· $406,000 for the Quinnipiac University Community Entrepreneurship Academy and Clinic
· $240,000 for a small business resource center in Thompson
In August, Murphy and Blumenthal announced $5 million for a soil survey on the Long Island Sound in the Agriculture Appropriations bill, $17 million for the Connecticut Air National Guard Aircraft Support Equipment and Vehicle Maintenance facility at Bradley International Airport in the Military Construction and Veterans Administration bill, and $2.81 million for Saugatuck River dredging, $288,000 for a co-generation system at the Tower Foundation in New Haven, $200,000 for the Hartford-East Hartford Levee Feasibility Study on repairs in the Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill.
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