Dear Friend,

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

     I hosted a livestream with my Democratic colleagues to highlight how Elon Musk and President Trump are stealing taxpayer dollars intended for American families and businesses. To watch a recording of the press conference, click here.

     As you may know, the Trump Administration has proposed illegal cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which will have dangerous consequences for our planet, communities, and our overall public health. I joined Senators Murray and Merkley and Congresswoman Pingree in writing to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin to express our concerns and demand answers and accountability. You can read our letter here.

     Last month I celebrated Black History Month, a month where Black Americans are honored and recognized for their extraordinary achievements in every part of American life, culture, and history. Our country is a better place because of the contributions of Black Americans.

     In New Haven, I celebrated funding for the Connecticut Early Head Start program, which I have always fought to fund as the top Democrat of the House Appropriations Committee. While the Trump Administration puts these funds at risk, please rest assured I will continue to fight against this illegal, chaotic power grab. You can watch news coverage of my visit here.

     I hosted two tele-town halls in the month of February to address Trump’s illegal funding freeze and proposed cuts on public education in Connecticut. If you were unable to attend, please click here to listen to the recording. I also spoke out against Trump’s proposed education cuts and plans to dismantle the Department of Education at a recent House Appropriations hearing; you can watch highlights here.

     As Putin’s unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine continues, Ukraine needs our support to defeat Russia’s assault more than ever. I continue to stand by and fight for democracy to prevail in Ukraine. You can read my statement on Trump’s pro-Putin meltdown here.

     In case it was not clear, President Trump and Republicans are advancing a budget that provides massive tax breaks for billionaires and big business while raising the taxes of everyday Americans and gutting healthcare for children and seniors. They don’t want to lower costs. They want to enrich their billionaire donors. I spoke to defend essential funding for programs like Medicaid and SNAP, that millions depend on. You can watch my remarks on the House floor here. I also spoke on the House floor about the threats to funding at Common Ground High School, which has resulted in the layoffs of 71 youth workers and the disruption of students’ education. You can watch my remarks here.

     As Common Ground junior Kris Lebron Romero said about working with Haven’s Harvest, this crucial work to redirect discarded edible food to those in our community deepens connections to the community we call home. I will continue to fight against these illegal efforts to steal funds appropriated by Congress. You can read my Congressional Record Statement on Kris and Common Ground here.

     The Trump Administration’s recent order to restrict federal agencies’ communications and collaboration and lack of response to the worsening H5N1 avian flu outbreak has harmed the response to prevent the spread of bird flu. I led a letter with 84 of my Democratic colleagues to the Trump Administration demanding swift action to completely lift the pause on external communications by public health agencies, increase inter-agency collaboration, and make sure every critical state is a part of the National Milk Testing Strategy (NMTS). To read the full letter, click here.

     I have also fought to safeguard the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a popular consumer watchdog that actively protects Americans from being scammed and exploited by big banks, predatory payday lenders, and more. There is a reason why four out of five Americans support the CFPB (including 77% of Republicans) — since it was created, the CFPB has returned more than $21 billion directly back to consumers. I joined with 202 of my Democratic colleagues to defend the CFPB and its work in court, and signed a letter to then-Acting Director Bessent with 80 of my Democratic colleagues to address these concerns, which you can read here.

     In West Haven, I stood with our federal employees to recognize those who have lost their jobs under the Trump Administration’s illegal firings, including 6,000 veterans. I will continue to stand with our workers and fight these unlawful attacks. President Trump’s lawyer claimed these veterans were not to fit to serve in government, but they were fit enough to put their lives on the line. I will not let him abandon our veterans.

     ICYMI: The New Haven Free Public Library is holding multiple events for our community to get help they need. Click here for more information on federally-funded programs such as one-on-one meeting with social workers, free tax preparation for those who make under $67,000, or a passport application.

     I will continue my efforts in Congress to get results for the families and communities of the Third District. Should you have any questions or if I can assist you with a federal agency, please contact my District office at 203-562-3718. To follow what I'm working on both in Washington and in Connecticut, visit my Facebook page, or follow me on Twitter, Bluesky, or Instagram. You can also now sign up to receive SMS updates here.

Sincerely,

        Member of Congress