For Immediate Release:
December 10, 2009
Contact: Paul Mounds 860-278-8888
Larson’s Local Priorities in Arts, Education, and Health Care Pass the House
Washington, DC- Today, U.S. Congressman John B. Larson (CT-01) announced the House of Representatives passed legislation to provide over $1.7 million in funding to support local projects in education, health care, and the arts. The funding was provided in broad legislation that invests in the growth of our economy, provides educational opportunities to our youth and adults, and enhances the overall health of our communities.
“In order to stimulate our economy, we must make targeted investments in projects that will create jobs, help train the workforce of the future, and improve the health services of our community. The legislation passed by Congress today will provide these great organizations and institutions in our region with the tools to champion the causes that sustain economic growth and well-being of our communities,” said Congressman Larson.
The programs that will receive funding in this legislation include:
The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts- $100,000
The Bushnell Center’s K-12 arts-in-education program opens pathways to learning through the arts for students who struggle in traditional classroom settings. This program will help ensure that our underserved children don’t miss out on that key piece of their education.
Capital Workforce Partners - Young Parents Program- $300,000
Young families, where parents are under 25 years old, have a greater chance of falling into poverty and relying on state services than the rest of the population. With dwindling state resources to support these young families, the Young Parents Program helps transition and train parents for more productive and successful careers. Funding this program will help relieve the costs of poverty on our state budget and give these families the promise of good careers and a brighter future.
Connecticut Children's Medical Center-$325,000
Funding for the Children’s Medical Center will go to build a new state-of-the art Clinical Care Center to treat children with cancer and blood disease. The center, when complete, will create an optimal family-centered, multidisciplinary setting in which to treat our kids.
Goodwin College- $175,000
Combining two of the most important issues of the day, the economy and the environment, this funding would help Goodwin College develop an undergraduate level environmental studies program. Students in the program will go on to pursue jobs in areas that will help preserve our environment and grow our local economy. Jobs in the environmental sciences are expected to grow 25% by 2016.
Hartford Hospital-$325,000
Hartford Hospital is a recognized leader in the treatment of stroke and vascular disease. To maintain that status, create local jobs and improve care for critical patients, funding for the hospital would help construct a new neuro-interventional radiology suite to serve patients suffering from an acute stroke.
Saint Joseph College-$175,000
Saint Joseph College’s school of pharmacy will expand professional and entry level job opportunities in Connecticut by training students for local jobs. When the school opens in Downtown Hartford in 2010, it will give its population of largely minority, female and first generation college students the opportunity to build a successful and rewarding career in the health care industry.
University of Connecticut School of Law-$365,000
The University of Connecticut will use this funding to establish a Center for Energy and Environmental Law to prepare our attorneys to navigate the complicated legal workings that changes in the energy industry are likely to create. The source of our energy and development of alternative energies is one of the most important economic issues our state and our nation faces.
These projects were included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2010 that makes targeted investments in areas that will rebuild our economy and keep our country safe. The legislation also increased funding for infrastructure, health and education to immediately create jobs while investing in our local communities and workforce for the long term.
The legislation will now go on to the Senate for final passage and then the White House for the President’s signature.
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