Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro News Feed http://delauro.house.gov/ Fri, 05 Dec 2014 20:21:51 GMT FeedCreator 1.8.0-dev (info@mypapit.net) Leading Members of Congress Call for Real and Meaningful Labor Protections in TPP http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1769:leading-members-of-congress-call-for-real-and-meaningful-labor-protections-in-tpp&catid=2:press-releases&Itemid=21 WASHINGTON, DC—Four leading members of Congress today called on United States Trade Representative Michael Froman to ensure “real, meaningfully enforceable labor protections” are included in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Democratic Representatives Rosa DeLauro, George Miller, Loretta Sanchez and Mark Pocan also requested a status update from Ambassador Froman so they can better understand what measures and assurances are being discussed as part of the TPP negotiations, which have been conducted largely in secret.

“Free trade agreements with nations that violate international child labor and forced labor standards not only undermine our moral authority, but they also capitalize on the lack of oversight and regulation in developing nations,” the representatives wrote to Ambassador Froman. “Here in this country, we have fought hard to protect our workers, yet, our free trade policy undermines those protections by sending American jobs to countries that do not play by the rules…The opportunity to get an education and a good paying job are not only American dreams, but global dreams. We have a responsibility to ensure that under no circumstances is it acceptable for children to work in sweatshops to produce the goods we consume. We can and must do better.”

This past Monday the Department of Labor’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs released their annual List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor report. Vietnam, Mexico, Peru, and Malaysia, one-third of the nations included in the TPP, were all cited for labor abuses in the report. Vietnam was also one of only four countries in the world cited for using both forced and child labor in their apparel sector.

Representatives of the TPP countries will meet in Washington, DC next week to hold the latest round of negotiations.


###

]]>
Thu, 04 Dec 2014 21:13:14 GMT http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1769:leading-members-of-congress-call-for-real-and-meaningful-labor-protections-in-tpp&catid=2:press-releases&Itemid=21
DeLauro Introduces Legislation to Bolster Government Response to Public Health Emergencies http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1768:delauro-introduces-legislation-to-bolster-government-response-to-public-health-emergencies&catid=2:press-releases&Itemid=21 WASHINGTON, DC—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) today introduced legislation to bolster the government’s response to future public health emergencies. The Public Health Emergency Preparedness Act would provide $5 billion for the Public Health Emergency Fund.

“As we have seen with the recent Ebola outbreak, a robust public health infrastructure is critical to responding to public health emergencies. Unfortunately my Republican colleagues have refused to make this a priority, putting our public health at risk. We need to fully fund the Administration’s Ebola request and provide the resources to respond to future threats, through legislation like the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Act.

“The Public Health Emergency Fund has largely been ignored, and that needs to end. Not using every resource available to deal with issues like H1N1, Ebola, or Enterovirus D68 is an abdication of our responsibilities. I have introduced the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Act to ensure that, even when naysayers claim we do not have a penny to spare, our public health infrastructure has the support it needs to protect the American people.”

The Public Health Emergency Fund was established in 1983 and has only been funded twice. Resources in the fund are to be disbursed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services upon declaration of a public health emergency, similar to how the Disaster Relief Fund alleviates state and local needs after a natural disaster.

DeLauro is the senior Democrat on the subcommittee responsible for funding the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). She has repeatedly called for increased funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health, and other critical pieces of our public health infrastructure. Since 2010, both of those agencies, as well as the HHS Hospital Preparedness program, have seen cuts to their budgets, once adjusted for inflation. A table of the cuts can be viewed here.


###

]]>
Thu, 04 Dec 2014 19:46:38 GMT http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1768:delauro-introduces-legislation-to-bolster-government-response-to-public-health-emergencies&catid=2:press-releases&Itemid=21
DeLauro Applauds National Endowment for the Humanities Grants for Wesleyan University http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1767:delauro-applauds-national-endowment-for-the-humanities-grants-for-wesleyan-university&catid=2:press-releases&Itemid=21 WASHINGTON, DC—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) today released the following statement applauding two new National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grants for Wesleyan University in Middletown.

“I am delighted to extend my congratulations to Wesleyan University and its accomplished educators," said DeLauro. "The awarding of these competitive grants is a testament to the college’s fine educational work in our community. I am grateful to the NEH for continuing to support research and public engagement around the humanities. I look forward to the great successes that will be born out of both of these awards.”

The grants are as follows:

$50,400 for the Fellowships for College Teachers and Independent Scholars project Modality and Logic in Early Analytic Philosophy

$33,600 for the Fellowships for Advanced Research on Japan project Environmental Politics in East Asia: Strategies that Work

“We are delighted that the NEH has recognized the work of Professors Shieh and Haddad with these highly prestigious fellowships,” said Wesleyan’s President Michael Roth.  “The NEH is an important source of support for the advanced research done by our scholar-teachers here at Wesleyan, and we are thrilled with this good news.”

Mary Alice Haddad, Associate Professor of Government and recipient of the Fellowships for Advanced Research on Japan grant, said: “Japan has experienced some of the world’s most intense environmental crises and taken leadership roles in finding solutions.  The NEH Fellowship for Advanced Social Science Research on Japan will enable me to examine the ways that Japan’s experience has served as a model for encouraging better environmental behavior among individuals, corporations, and governments in East Asia and the world.”

Sanford Shieh, Associate Professor of Philosophy and recipient of the Fellowships for College Teachers and Independent Scholars grant, said: “The modal concepts of necessity and possibility are deeply entrenched in contemporary analytic philosophy, as are the methods and theories of modern logic.  The NEH Fellowship for College Teachers and Independent Scholars will enable me to provide a re-examination of the philosophical status of modality and logic, by investigating their historical roots in the origins of the analytic tradition.  I am extremely grateful to the NEH for making it possible for me to bring this project to completion, and to Wesleyan for affording the wonderful environment in which I could nurture it for the past seven years.


###

]]>
Thu, 04 Dec 2014 17:02:45 GMT http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1767:delauro-applauds-national-endowment-for-the-humanities-grants-for-wesleyan-university&catid=2:press-releases&Itemid=21
DeLauro Applauds Labor Department Rule Protecting LGBT Employees http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1766:delauro-applauds-labor-department-rule-protecting-lgbt-employees&catid=2:press-releases&Itemid=21 WASHINGTON, DC—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) today issued the following statement applauding implementation of a final rule from the Department of Labor protecting LGBT employees. The rule prohibits federal contractors from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

“This rule is an important step towards ending discrimination against LGBT employees. People in the workplace should only be judged based on the quality of their work, not because of who they are or who they love. I applaud Secretary Perez and President Obama for ensuring all employees of federal contractors will be treated with dignity and respect, and look forward to a day when that is true for everyone, regardless of where they work.”

DeLauro is a cosponsor of the bipartisan Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) and a member of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus.

ENDA would establish basic workplace protections to prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Currently only 18 states and the District of Columbia prohibit discrimination on bases of sexual orientation and gender identity, and an additional three states prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. ENDA would provide a basic level of protection against workplace discrimination in a manner modeled closely on Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and would apply to private employers as well as local, state, and federal government employers.


###

]]>
Wed, 03 Dec 2014 22:00:13 GMT http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1766:delauro-applauds-labor-department-rule-protecting-lgbt-employees&catid=2:press-releases&Itemid=21
DeLauro Applauds New USDA Farm to School Grant for Connecticut http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1765:delauro-applauds-new-usda-farm-to-school-grant-for-connecticut&catid=2:press-releases&Itemid=21 WASHINGTON, DC—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) today applauded Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack’s announcement that the U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded Connecticut a $14,000 grant to host a state-wide conference to share best practices and bring together farm to school practitioners from across the state. That grant is part of more than $5 million in grants for 82 projects that connect school cafeterias with local farmers and ranchers through the Farm to School Program.

“Connecticut’s grant is just one example of how these farm to school grants are giving states across America the funding necessary to push innovative approaches to providing children with access to healthier local foods. I wholeheartedly believe the farm to school efforts that these grants support are an integral part of improving child nutrition, and is one of the key components of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act that Congress passed in 2010,” said DeLauro.

The Connecticut Food Systems Alliance and the Connecticut School Garden Resource Center will present a statewide conference this spring. The theme will be “Cafeterias and School Gardens: Where Does Our Food Come From?” and will bring together over 250 farm to school and school garden practitioners, leaders, educators, and volunteers to share best practices, build professional networks, discuss new approaches and resources, explore evaluation techniques, and celebrate innovation and outstanding achievement.

“We are delighted to be able to host an event in 2015 that brings together both school food service directors and school garden educators to work together to improve school food environments,” said Jiff Martin, Sustainable Food Systems Educator at UConn Extension.

“Over the past few years, there have been organizations and volunteers developing innovative school garden and school food programs across Connecticut.  This grant provides an important opportunity for these stakeholders to come together to share challenges and best practices while exploring how to collaborate toward increasing the impact of their respective programs on the health, well-being and academic achievement of our children” said Melissa Spear, Executive Director at Common Ground.


###

]]>
Tue, 02 Dec 2014 21:25:37 GMT http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1765:delauro-applauds-new-usda-farm-to-school-grant-for-connecticut&catid=2:press-releases&Itemid=21
Connecticut Congressional Delegation Announces 11 Grants From The National Endowment For The Arts http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1764:connecticut-congressional-delegation-announces-11-grants-from-the-national-endowment-for-the-arts&catid=2:press-releases&Itemid=21 HARTFORD, CT -  The Connecticut Congressional Delegation today announced 11 grants from the National Endowment for the Arts to support the arts and creativity in communities across the state. The competitive grants were among 1,118 awarded nationwide and were selected from a pool of 3,455 applicants.
 
“From music education and public art to provocative theater and international festivals, these grants will help enrich and enliven communities across Connecticut. Whether it is in the classroom, on the street, or in our parks, museums and theaters, the arts play a vital role in shaping our understanding of who we are as a community. Connecticut is a better place because of the outstanding talent, commitment and creativity of our artists. We look forward to continuing to support and advance their work, as well as opportunities to inspire and foster our next generation of artists, thinkers and dreamers,” the delegation stated.
 
A full list of grantees is listed below.
 
 
Litchfield Performing Arts, Inc.    $        20,000    Litchfield    Residential and day students of different ages and skill levels will participate in the multi-week program held at the Canterbury School in New Milford, Connecticut. While the focus is on collaborative and improvisational music-making and performance, the core curriculum may include combo coaching, music theory, composition, as well as electives such as ear training and sight reading. All students are expected to participate in jam sessions, weekly concerts, and perform at the festival. Instructors include as many as 40 internationally renowned musicians such as Don Braden, Vincent Gardner, Charli Persip, Claudio Roditi,


HartBeat Ensemble    $        10,000    Hartford    The play will depict the American political climate of the late 1950s and early 1960s through the lens of two significant artists of the time - James Baldwin and Lorraine Hansberry. Following their careers as artists, their call to social activism, and the challenges of balancing an artistic career with politics, Baldwin and Hansberry's lives provide a look at a rich period of political and social upheaval that resonates 50 years later. The play will be directed by Brian Jennings.


Eugene O'Neill Memorial Theater Center, Inc.    $        55,000    Waterford    The project will include the creation and development of new plays and musical theater works by emerging and mid-career artists. Approximately 1,600 manuscripts will be received through an open submission process that will culminate in the selection of seven to ten plays and two to four musicals. The scripts will receive a rehearsal period and staged readings that will be open to the public.


Connecticut College    $        10,000    New London    The college will present diverse productions in contemporary and classical dance and music for audiences from southeastern Connecticut and southwest Rhode Island. Artists will include jazz violinist Regina Carter and Doug Varone and Dancers.


I-Park Foundation, Inc.    $        10,000    East Haddam    The residencies and symposium will focus on site-specific, temporary art. The public symposium will be presented on the I-Park campus and will serve artists working in various creative disciplines, the academic community, and the general public. During the residency and exhibition, filmmakers will document the art in progress as well as the finished works.


New Haven International Festival of Arts & Ideas, Inc.    $        65,000    New Haven    Featured projects will include "From Bach to Bebop," by Imani Winds with Jeff Scott (New York) and poetry by A.B. Spellman (Washington, D.C.), and "Eve" from singer-songwriter Angelique Kidjo (Benin) with guest African artists. The festival also will present "Song of the Jasmine" by Ragamala Dance (Minneapolis) and jazz saxophonist/composer Rudresh Mahanthappa (New York), and the Mark Morris Dance Group's (Brooklyn) "Acis and Galatea."


Wesleyan University    $        20,000    Middletown    Artists may include Chicago's Lucky Plush, Seattle's Zoe/Juniper, and Chicago- and New York-based Darrell Jones. Engagement programs will be tailored to each artist to embed his or her work across the campus. The series also will include a commissioned work by Austin-based Allison Orr, who will work with Wesleyan's College of the Environment and the Middletown community to draw attention to environmental sustainability through the creation of a site-specific community-based work. The performances and residency activities will happen on campus and in the surrounding community.


Wesleyan University    $        25,000    Middletown    Poets to be published include Honoree Jeffers, Rae Armantrout, Heather Christle, Jean Day, Marta del Pozo Ortea, and Evie Shockley. The books will be available in both print and digital formats, and accompanied by online readers for teachers, students, and general readers.


Yale University    $        40,000    New Haven    Commissioned by Yale Rep, the play follows a quartet of characters whose lives become entangled after a fateful blind date between a young woman finishing cancer treatments and an Internet celebrity who is about to sell his identity to a corporation. The play will be directed by Jackson Gay. Callaghan will be in residence at the theater through the rehearsal process, and will collaborate with Gay and the dramaturgical staff on the ongoing refinement of the text.


Connecticut Players Foundation, Inc.    $        10,000    New Haven    Long Wharf Theatre will feature fully produced mini-runs of plays by emerging and established playwrights such as "Forever," written and performed by Dael Orlandersmith, and "Rodney King," a one-man show by Roger Guenveur Smith. Additional festival programming such as staged readings of works-in-progress, post-show conversations, and communitywide conversations will be hosted by the New Haven Free Public Library.


Silvermine Guild of Artists, Inc.    $        25,000    New Canaan    Events will include performances by musicians Caladh Nua (Ireland), multidisciplinary animation and performance artist Miwa Matreyek (United States), and a new co-commissioned work from collaborators Bridgman/Packer Dance (United States) and filmmaker Peter Bobrow (United States). Silvermine also will present Arts Fest, a free, outdoor festival of music, dance, and the visual arts, featuring hip-hop and percussion troupe Street Beat(United States).


###

]]>
Tue, 02 Dec 2014 16:02:10 GMT http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1764:connecticut-congressional-delegation-announces-11-grants-from-the-national-endowment-for-the-arts&catid=2:press-releases&Itemid=21
DeLauro Stands behind Chefs’ Call for Passage of GMO Labeling Legislation http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1763:delauro-stands-behind-chefs-call-for-passage-of-gmo-labeling-legislation&catid=2:press-releases&Itemid=21 Is a Co-Sponsor of Genetically Engineered Food Right-to-Know Act

WASHINGTON, DC—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) today stood behind the call of Tom Colicchio and over 700 other chefs for passage of the Genetically Engineered Food Right-to-Know Act. DeLauro is a co-sponsor of the legislation, which would require genetically engineered food to be clearly labeled.

“Consumers have a right to know the facts about the foods they buy, so they can better make healthy and informed choices. The Genetically Engineered Food Right-to-Know Act would ensure that foods that have been genetically engineered, or have ingredients that are genetically engineered, are adequately labeled.

“However you feel about genetically modified or engineered food, families should have the opportunity to know what is in the food they are buying and where it came from. Americans have a right to know, and the marketplace works better when consumers can make more informed choices. Over 90 percent of Americans agree. We should listen to our constituents and pass this legislation without further delay.”


###

]]>
Tue, 02 Dec 2014 15:58:54 GMT http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1763:delauro-stands-behind-chefs-call-for-passage-of-gmo-labeling-legislation&catid=2:press-releases&Itemid=21
DeLauro, Carrington: In Connecticut, the Face of Hunger May Surprise You http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1762:delauro-carrington-in-connecticut-the-face-of-hunger-may-surprise-you&catid=2:press-releases&Itemid=21 NEW HAVEN, CT--As families make plans to gather for Thanksgiving celebrations across the state, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) and Connecticut Food Bank President & CEO Nancy Carrington are highlighting hunger in Connecticut and the continued need for food for struggling families in Connecticut.
 
“Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the traditional season of giving,” DeLauro said. “As we continue efforts to end hunger in Connecticut and across America, our local food banks and communities help bridge the gap for thousands of Connecticut children, adults and seniors.
 
In August, Feeding America, the nation’s largest provider of charitable food assistance to low-income Americans, released their report Hunger in America 2014 (online here).  A total of 190 of Connecticut Food Bank’s food-assistance programs participated in the study.
 
“This report shines a light on the realities of hunger for many Connecticut families,” DeLauro continued. “While we often think of hunger as a problem of the very poor, this report demonstrates that there is a real need beyond those pre-conceived notions. The realities of those struggling with hunger, the ‘faces of hunger in Connecticut,’ would surprise most. More than half of Connecticut Food Bank Clients do not qualify to receive aide through government assistance programs.  These are working families who are simply not able to make ends meet.”
 
“While the study results may be shocking for some to learn how pervasive hunger is in Connecticut, our network of nearly 700 food-assistance programs who are in the fight against hunger every day are not surprised,” said Carrington. “Many of our neighbors who are seeking food assistance have jobs, raise families, work toward education and struggle with health problems, like all of us. Too often, our clients also have to make difficult trade-offs to get enough food for their families.”
 
In September, DeLauro joined End Hunger Connecticut!, the New Haven Food Policy Council, the Community Alliance for Research and Engagement at Yale and the Center for Hunger-Free Communities at Drexel University to host the New Haven opening of ‘Witnesses to Hunger’ at City Hall. ‘Witnesses to Hunger’ is a national project featuring original photography and first-hand accounts from parents who have experienced hunger and poverty.

For more information about the Connecticut Food Bank visit www.ctfoodbank.org.

 
 
###

]]>
Mon, 01 Dec 2014 15:28:31 GMT http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1762:delauro-carrington-in-connecticut-the-face-of-hunger-may-surprise-you&catid=2:press-releases&Itemid=21
DeLauro Applauds Robust Menu Labeling Final Rule http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1761:delauro-applauds-robust-menu-labeling-final-rule&catid=2:press-releases&Itemid=21 NEW HAVEN, CT— Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) released the following statement today applauding the Obama Administration for issuing a robust final rule on menu labeling. In August she called on Office of Management and Budget Director Shaun Donovan to respect congressional intent and issue a strong final rule.

“I applaud the Administration for issuing a strong rule and, while I am still reading the final version, it looks very much in line with congressional intent. Americans eat nearly half their meals and snacks outside of their homes, and research shows that many of these foods have more calories and poorer nutritional quality than those prepared at home. Calorie and nutrition transparency is crucial for empowering consumers to make healthy choices, and is one tool to address our public health crises of obesity and diabetes.

“When we passed the Affordable Care Act, I said ‘Americans will now be able to make more informed choices about the food they are eating’ because the law set requirements for restaurant and retail settings. Today I am glad to see that promise fulfilled. Now we must stand strong against the inevitable industry push back and efforts to overturn this common sense step to make nutrition information more readily available to consumers.”

DeLauro was the chief sponsor of menu labeling legislation for nearly a decade, and authored the provision in the Affordable Care Act that is resulting in chain restaurants across the country coming clean about how many calories are in the food they sell.


###

]]>
Mon, 01 Dec 2014 14:28:06 GMT http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1761:delauro-applauds-robust-menu-labeling-final-rule&catid=2:press-releases&Itemid=21
DeLauro Statement on New United Technologies Chairman and CEO Gregory Hayes http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1760:delauro-statement-on-new-united-technologies-chairman-and-ceo-gregory-hayes&catid=2:press-releases&Itemid=21 NEW HAVEN, CT—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) released the following statement today on the retirement of United Technologies (UTC) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Louis R. Chênevert. Gregory J. Hayes, UTC’s Chief Financial Officer has been named the new Chairman and CEO.

“I want to congratulate Gregory Hayes on being named the new UTC Chairman and CEO. Manufacturing has always been the lynchpin of Connecticut’s economy and UTC, with Pratt and Sikorsky, is a crucial part of that. The high-skilled, well-paying jobs at these companies are the backbone of Connecticut’s economy.

“I look forward to working with Gregory Hayes to ensure that we continue to invest in cutting-edge aerospace and defense manufacturing for decades to come. Louis Chênevert and I always had a good working relationship, and I wish him the best.”


###

]]>
Mon, 24 Nov 2014 19:26:07 GMT http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1760:delauro-statement-on-new-united-technologies-chairman-and-ceo-gregory-hayes&catid=2:press-releases&Itemid=21
DeLauro to OMB: Finalize Food Safety Rules to Protect the Public Health http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1759:delauro-to-omb-finalize-food-safety-rules-to-protect-the-public-health&catid=2:press-releases&Itemid=21 NEW HAVEN, CT—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) today urged Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Shaun Donovan to finalize two pending food safety rules. The Mechanically Tenderized Beef Products rule and a rule regarding added solutions in meat and poultry products must be finished before the end of this year otherwise they will be delayed until at least 2018, due to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) requirements on labeling meat and poultry products.

“A 2008 study conducted by USDA indicated that approximately 50 million pounds of mechanically tenderized beef products were sold every month,” DeLauro wrote to Donovan. “These products do not currently have to be labeled so consumers do not know that they are different, present different risks, and require different preparation than whole cuts of beef…Solutions added to a raw product to enhance flavor or texture may increase sodium levels and change other nutritional content of the products. Consumers, particularly those concerned about added sodium in their diet, need clear labeling…I urge you to publish and implement the final rules quickly so American consumers will no longer be left in the dark.”

The letter can be read in its entirety here. DeLauro recently urged USDA to send the mechanically tenderized beef rule to OMB so it could be finalized before the end of this year.

In her letter, DeLauro also pointed out the unacceptably long time that both rules have been under consideration. USDA raised the issue of properly labeling mechanically tenderized beef as far back as 2008. The issues surrounding added solutions were brought to USDA’s attention nearly a decade ago.

While USDA and OMB have dragged their feet on these rules, other countries have taken action and initiated labeling changes. For example, Canada requires labeling both some meat and poultry products with added solutions, and mechanically tenderized beef products.


###

]]>
Mon, 24 Nov 2014 16:00:31 GMT http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1759:delauro-to-omb-finalize-food-safety-rules-to-protect-the-public-health&catid=2:press-releases&Itemid=21
DeLauro Statement on President Obama’s Immigration Executive Action http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1758:delauro-statement-on-president-obama-s-immigration-executive-action&catid=2:press-releases&Itemid=21 WASHINGTON, DC—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) released the following statement today on President Obama’s announcement he will take executive action on immigration. The move will allow an estimated five million people to come out of the shadows and get right with the law without fear of deportation.

“I applaud the President for taking action. Prioritizing who is eligible to stay in our country is the right thing to do. We should be cracking down on felons, not families; convicts, not children.

“However, executive action is no substitute for congressional action. The Senate passed a bill in an overwhelmingly bipartisan fashion over 500 days ago, yet the House of Representatives has refused to act in any form. That is wrong. We have a responsibility. Congress needs to act.”


###

]]>
Fri, 21 Nov 2014 15:16:23 GMT http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1758:delauro-statement-on-president-obama-s-immigration-executive-action&catid=2:press-releases&Itemid=21
DeLauro Congratulates Victor Allen Bolden on Confirmation to be United States District Judge for the District of Connecticut http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1757:delauro-congratulates-victor-allen-bolden-on-confirmation-to-be-united-states-district-judge-for-the-district-of-connecticut&catid=2:press-releases&Itemid=21 WASHINGTON, DC—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) released the following statement today lauding Senate confirmation of Victor Allen Bolden to be United States District Judge for the District of Connecticut. Bolden currently serves as Corporation Counsel for the City of New Haven, a position he has held since 2009.

“Congratulations are in order for Victor, who will be a fine, impartial judge for all Connecticut residents. While the City of New Haven will miss him, we appreciate both his professional service and civic involvement. Best of luck to Victor in this next phase of his career.”


###

]]>
Thu, 20 Nov 2014 21:53:24 GMT http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1757:delauro-congratulates-victor-allen-bolden-on-confirmation-to-be-united-states-district-judge-for-the-district-of-connecticut&catid=2:press-releases&Itemid=21
DeLauro Introduces Resolution to Designate “End Child Slavery Week” http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1756:delauro-introduces-resolution-to-designate-end-child-slavery-week&catid=2:press-releases&Itemid=21 WASHINGTON, DC—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) released the following statement today marking the beginning of “End Child Slavery Week.” DeLauro also introduced a resolution today designating November 20 to November 26, 2014 as “End Child Slavery Week.” The purpose of this week is to raise awareness of human rights abuses against children and to acknowledge the global fight against child slavery and child labor.

“Today, there are an estimated 168 million child laborers across the globe. These young boys and girls often work in hazardous conditions in fields like mining, agriculture, manufacturing, and domestic work where their health, safety, and moral development are negatively impacted. Six million of these children are forced into slave labor or sexual exploitation. These children are sometimes chained to looms to weave carpets, kidnapped to fight in adult wars, forced to leave school to pick cotton, or sold to brothels. This is unconscionable.

“As a global community, we must work to end human rights abuses against children, and dedicate our energy and resources to fighting against child slavery and child labor. We must continue to build upon the efforts of courageous individuals like 2014 Nobel Peace Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi and fight to give a voice to the most vulnerable members of society. No child should be forced to live in slavery when they should be in school and protected from all forms of exploitation.”  

The Department of Labor has identified 134 goods sold in the United States that are produced with forced or child labor in 70 countries.

DeLauro is the senior Democrat on the subcommittee responsible for funding the Department of Education and the Department of Labor. She is a longtime advocate for increasing access to education, ending child trafficking and child sex exploitation, and strengthening U.S. and international labor laws.  

Last October, DeLauro introduced a resolution committing Members of Congress in the fight against domestic trafficking. That resolution, declaring “Our Daughters Are Not For Sale,” currently has 84 cosponsors, from both sides of the aisle. It condemns child trafficking and sexual exploitation, and encourages law enforcement to help victims and end these practices for good.


###

]]>
Thu, 20 Nov 2014 18:38:48 GMT http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1756:delauro-introduces-resolution-to-designate-end-child-slavery-week&catid=2:press-releases&Itemid=21
Beverage Companies Spent $866 Million Advertising Unhealthy Drinks Last Year Alone http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1755:beverage-companies-spent-866-million-advertising-unhealthy-drinks-last-year-alone&catid=2:press-releases&Itemid=21 Heavily Targeted Children and Teens

WASHINGTON, DC— Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) issued the following statement today in response to the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity’s report on sugary drink nutrition and marketing, Sugary Drink FACTS 2014.

“Over the past 30 years we have seen a substantial increase in obesity and diabetes in the United States, a trend that is particularly alarming among our children. Research shows that food and beverage marketing is an important factor contributing to children’s poor diets, obesity and diabetes, and undermines parents’ influence on their children’s diet and healthy eating. The associated medical expenses are driving healthcare costs higher and even reducing the number of potential military recruits. And this report makes clear that beverage companies continue to aggressively target advertising of unhealthy drinks to our children and adolescents.

“This is atrocious. We must keep working to address the dual epidemics of diabetes and obesity and the evidence is clear that sugar-sweetened beverages are a key contributor to the problem. The Federal Trade Commission has reported that the overwhelming majority of foods and beverages marketed to children are of poor nutritional quality. The agency must continue its important work so we know where to focus our resources. The Interagency Working Group on Food Marketed to Children has issued guidelines for the food industry’s marketing methods, which aim to help children make healthier food choices. The Rudd Center’s report provides further evidence that we must do more to address this public health issue.”

DeLauro has introduced legislation (H.R. 2831) which would end deductions for marketing food of poor nutritional quality directed at children and the SWEET Act (H.R. 5279) which would impose a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages.


###

]]>
Wed, 19 Nov 2014 22:51:36 GMT http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1755:beverage-companies-spent-866-million-advertising-unhealthy-drinks-last-year-alone&catid=2:press-releases&Itemid=21
Co-Chairs of Congressional Long Island Sound Caucus Applaud $1.3 Million to Improve Health of the Sound http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1754:co-chairs-of-congressional-long-island-sound-caucus-applaud-1-3-million-to-improve-health-of-the-sound&catid=2:press-releases&Itemid=21 WASHINGTON, DC—Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Steve Israel (D-NY), co-chairs of the Congressional Long Island Sound Caucus today applauded the news that $1,313,671 in federal grants has been awarded to improve the health of the Long Island Sound. The 22 grants are going to community groups and local governments for conservation, water quality projects and coastal restoration, among other uses.

“The Sound is a critical economic, recreational and environmental resource,” DeLauro said. “These waters are a regional and national treasure. Community organizations and local governments play a crucial role in making sure they will be a clean and healthy ecosystem for future generations to enjoy. I congratulate all of the grant recipients and look forward to seeing the fruits of their labor continue for years to come.”

Israel said: “Preserving Long Island Sound is critical to the health of this region. I congratulate all the grant recipients, and I’m excited to see the great work they will do. I am especially proud that Sea Cliff, in my Congressional district, has received recognition and support for its efforts to improve the health of this critical ecosystem. Rep. DeLauro and I will continue to fight to protect the Sound and ensure that it remains protected for all to enjoy.”

The grants are being awarded by the Long Island Sound Futures Fund, a public-private program that combines resources from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Long Island Sound Funders Collaborative and the Dissolved Oxygen Environmental Benefit Fund.

The grants are as follows. The full description of what each award is for can be found here.


•    $150,000 for The Nature Conservancy
•    $150,000 for the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation
•    $149,971.20 for New Haven Urban Resources Initiative
•    $118,000 for the City Parks Foundation
•    $99,156 for the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
•    $86,892.20 for the American Farmland Trust
•    $76,158 for Audubon Connecticut (two separate grants)
•    $60,000 for Peconic Growth Inc.
•    $55,000 for the Incorporated Village of Sea Cliff, New York
•    $51,307.10 for the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Connecticut, Inc.
•    $45,316.22 for Sea Research Foundation Inc.
•    $37,500 for the Connecticut Fund for the Environment
•    $35,000 for Solar Youth Inc.
•    $34,993.89 for the Connecticut River Museum
•    $34,149 for Earthplace—The Nature Discovery Center, Inc.
•    $32,788.75 for the Azuero Earth Project DBA Perfect Earth Project
•    $10, 000.02 for the Citizens Campaign for the Environment
•    $9,999.62 for the Bronx River Alliance
•    $9,052.31 for the Alley Pond Environmental Center
•    $8,982.20 for the Sea Research Foundation, Inc.
•    $4,546 for the Town of East Lyme


###

]]>
Wed, 19 Nov 2014 21:19:23 GMT http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1754:co-chairs-of-congressional-long-island-sound-caucus-applaud-1-3-million-to-improve-health-of-the-sound&catid=2:press-releases&Itemid=21
Connecticut Delegation Applauds 14 Grants To Support Preservation And Restoration Of Long Island Sound http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1753:connecticut-delegation-applauds-14-grants-to-support-preservation-and-restoration-of-long-island-sound&catid=2:press-releases&Itemid=21 HARTFORD, CT - The Connecticut congressional delegation today applauded fourteen grants from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Long Island Sound Futures Fund supporting preservation and restoration of the Long Island Sound in communities across the state. The grants, ranging from $4,546 to teach students in East Lyme about methods to reduce stormwater pollution to $150,000 to the Nature Conservancy to restore six acres of floodplain and wetland along the Eightmile River in Lyme.


U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said: “The Long Island Sound and its waterways are among the state and nation’s most precious natural resources. The Futures Fund provides invaluable support to local non-profits and researchers who serve as tireless caretakers and stewards of the Sound in their communities across the state. From wildlife restoration to public outreach and education, these projects will help ensure that generations to come can continue to enjoy the Sound’s unparalleled beauty and benefit from vital role it plays in supporting our state and region’s economy.”


U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said: "Long Island Sound is a proven economic driver for Connecticut, generating billions of dollars annually for the state, and has defined Connecticut’s traditions and values for hundreds of years. We need to prioritize federal investment for the preservation of Long Island Sound –  not only for the millions of people who currently rely on it for work and recreation, but for future generations as well. The funding announced today will be hugely beneficial for people across Connecticut because it will teach them to be better environmental stewards, as well as give them confidence in Long Island Sound’s long term health."

“The Sound is a critical economic, recreational and environmental resource,” Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) said. “These waters are a regional and national treasure. Community organizations and local governments play a crucial role in making sure they will be a clean and healthy ecosystem for future generations to enjoy. I congratulate all of the grant recipients and look forward to seeing the fruits of their labor continue for years to come.”

Congressman Joe Courtney (D-2) said: “Protecting and preserving the Long Island Sound is one of my top priorities in Congress. Investments like these are instrumental to protecting and raising awareness about the unique ecosystem along Connecticut’s coast, and a key part of our regional economy. This announcement is good news for the Sound, and I will keep working with my colleagues in the Connecticut and New York delegations to do all we can to protect the Sound in the future.”

Congressman Jim Himes (CT-4) said: “The Long Island Sound is an incredible natural resource and we must continue our efforts to protect the surrounding ecosystem and preserve it for the enjoyment of future generations. These grants from the Long Island Sound Futures Fund are a smart investment that will help do just that, while supporting community organizations and educational opportunities for our students.”

Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (CT-5) said: “The Long Island Sound Futures Fund supports innovative conservation projects and promotes community partnerships with the goal of restoring the Long Island Sound. I’m proud to help announce today’s grants, particularly the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Connecticut’s grant for green infrastructure projects at Naugatuck Valley Community College (NVCC) in Waterbury. NVCC students will install a rain garden and stormwater capture and filtration system, preparing them with technical skills and teaching them key conservation and environmental protection principles. Connecticut continues to lead the country in developing and utilizing green infrastructure and technology, and projects like this will help make sure that our students are prepared with the skills they need for 21st century jobs.”

Additional grants include:

•        $149,999.33 to Connecticut Fund for the Environment to open 4.1 stream miles and restore eight acres of habitat along Whitford Brook in Old Mystic.

•        $45,316.22 to the Sea Research Foundation to restore one acre of freshwater wetland and salt march and .6 acres of grassland and dunes at Dodge Paddock and Beal Preserve in Stonington.

•        $41,159 to the National Audubon Society for bird and beach stewardship at Pleasure Beach in Bridgeport.

•        $149,971 for the New Haven Urban Resources Initiative to engage students, ex-offenders and the New Haven community in installation of bioretention swales and rain garden green infrastructure in New Haven.

•        $51,307.10 for the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Connecticut to install green infrastructure projects at Naugatuck Valley Community College in Waterbury and Three Rivers Community College in Norwich.

•        $99,156 for the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science to issue ecosystem health report cards for the Long Island Sound watershed in New York and Connecticut.

•        $34,999 for the National Audubon Society to build schoolyard habitat outdoor classrooms in Stamford, New Haven and Greenwich.

•        $35,000 for Solar Youth to run a Long Island Sound-themed Leaders-In-Training program for 7th and 8th grade students.

•        $34,993.89 for the Connecticut River Museum in Essex to support an exhibit and discovery lab on invasive species degrading the Long Island Sound.

•        $10,000.02 to the Citizens Campaign for the Environment to educate Bridgeport residents about the negative environmental impacts of flushing unused medications.

•        $8,982.20 to Sea Research Foundation to host Eco Splash, a weeklong environmental awareness event in Mystic focused on the Long Island Sound.

•        $34,149 for Earthplace- the Nature Discovery Center to teach high school students to monitor pollution sources and remediate concerns in Monroe, Darien and Ridgefield.

NFWF's Long Island Sound Futures Fund supports projects in local communities that aim to protect and restore the Long Island Sound. It unites federal and state agencies, foundations and corporations to achieve high-priority conservation objectives. Funded activities demonstrate a real, on-the-ground commitment to securing a healthy future for the Long Island Sound.


###

]]>
Wed, 19 Nov 2014 21:07:56 GMT http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1753:connecticut-delegation-applauds-14-grants-to-support-preservation-and-restoration-of-long-island-sound&catid=2:press-releases&Itemid=21
DeLauro Applauds $1.3 Billion in Contract Modifications for Sikorsky http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1752:delauro-applauds-1-3-billion-in-contract-modifications-for-sikorsky&catid=2:press-releases&Itemid=21 NEW HAVEN, CT – Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) released the following statement on the news $1.3 billion in contract modifications has been awarded for 102 helicopters. The 102 consist of 41 Black Hawks, 37 Sea Hawks and 24 Pave Hawks. Primary assembly will take place at Sikorsky headquarters in Stratford.  

“As the Arsenal of the Republic, Connecticut has always played a role in developing cutting edge aerospace defense products. We benefit from the highly skilled workers not only at Sikorsky, but also the long supply chain throughout the state.  I worked hard to secure this funding for Sikorsky helicopters, and will continue to fight to keep good paying jobs right here in Connecticut.”

A staunch advocate of Sikorsky and Pratt & Whitney, DeLauro has made fighting for Connecticut’s manufacturers a pillar of her time in Congress.


###

]]>
Tue, 18 Nov 2014 22:50:44 GMT http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1752:delauro-applauds-1-3-billion-in-contract-modifications-for-sikorsky&catid=2:press-releases&Itemid=21
DeLauro Responds to Consumer Reports Guidelines on Arsenic in Rice http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1751:delauro-responds-to-consumer-reports-guidelines-on-arsenic-in-rice&catid=2:press-releases&Itemid=21 WASHINGTON, DC—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) responded today to new Consumer Reports guidelines on how much rice is safe for consumption. This builds on a previous report revealing alarmingly high levels of arsenic in rice and rice-based products, such as cereal.

The guidelines are meant to help adults and children reduce their exposure to arsenic without eliminating rice. They include limiting consumption of hot rice cereal or rice pasta by children and recommending children under five not replace milk with rice drinks. Consumer Reports also released an analysis showing that the inorganic arsenic content of rice varies greatly by the type of rice and where it was grown.

“The fact that high levels of inorganic arsenic, a known carcinogen, are present in rice, cereal and other everyday foods is outrageous. I applaud Consumer Reports for doing such important research and developing the new consumption guidelines to help us all make safer, more informed choices.

“I wholeheartedly agree with Consumer Union’s call for the Food and Drug Administration to address the risks we face from arsenic in our rice and other grains. This is not the first time we have been alerted to the dangers of arsenic, and the bottom line remains that the federal government simply must to more to ensure our food supply is safe. We have an obligation to every American family, especially our children, to do so.”

In 2012, DeLauro introduced The R.I.C.E (Reducing food-based Inorganic and organic Compounds Exposure Act) Act which would require the Food and Drug Administration to set a maximum permissible level of arsenic in rice and food containing rice. DeLauro plans to introduce a similar bill in the 114th Congress.


###

]]>
Tue, 18 Nov 2014 20:22:15 GMT http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1751:delauro-responds-to-consumer-reports-guidelines-on-arsenic-in-rice&catid=2:press-releases&Itemid=21
DeLauro, Harp Kick off Second Year of Access Health CT in New Haven http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1750:delauro-harp-kick-off-second-year-of-access-health-ct-in-new-haven&catid=2:press-releases&Itemid=21 NEW HAVEN, CT—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) and New Haven Mayor Toni N. Harp today hosted the New Haven kick off of Access Health CT (AHCT)’s second year. The 2014-2015 open enrollment period for all health care marketplaces runs through February 15. Access Health CT had one of the most successful inaugural years of any marketplace in the country, with the state’s uninsured rate cut nearly in half, from 7.9 percent to 4.0 percent. Over 280,000 people have enrolled in a health insurance plan or Medicaid through Access Health CT.

“One of the proudest votes I have ever cast was for the Affordable Care Act and I am delighted to see its reforms continue to be implemented across Connecticut, and the country,” DeLauro said. “Families now have more choices and access to quality, affordable health insurance plans than ever before. If you did not sign up for health insurance last year, please, go to accesshealthct.gov, take a look at your options and see what type of financial assistance is available. Make sure you and your family are covered.”

“Healthcare coverage is something I encourage all New Haven residents to consider – made so much easier now by the Affordable Care Act – because it not only helps residents stay prepared for medical emergencies, it promotes better overall health through preventative care and early diagnoses of problems,” Harp said. “Healthier residents, by definition, also place a reduced burden on our local healthcare delivery system, reducing the overall cost of healthcare in our city.”

This year, Access Health CT faces new challenges which require new approaches,” said Jason Madrak, AHCT Chief Marketing Officer. “We have a much smaller, more specific group to reach, so we’re employing a much more targeted outreach campaign. That includes partnering with the Connecticut Health Foundation to provide in-person assistance in communities where there are higher rates of uninsured residents.”

In addition to the New Haven and New Britain enrollment centers people can also visit one of the soon-to-be announced Community Enrollment Partners that will be located across the state. Community organizations will also have staff available to work one-on-one with people who want to sign up. In New Haven those organizations are: the Agency on Aging of South Central Connecticut, Christian Community Action, the Community Action Agency of New Haven and Pequeñas Ligas Hispanas de New Haven.

Nationally more than 12.8 million people gained health care coverage thanks to the Affordable Care Act. Approximately 140,000 people Connecticut residents still lack health insurance.


###

]]>
Mon, 17 Nov 2014 18:00:07 GMT http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1750:delauro-harp-kick-off-second-year-of-access-health-ct-in-new-haven&catid=2:press-releases&Itemid=21