Rep. Larson's Work During the 2021-2022 Congressional Session

Legislation that Delivers For the American Public:

Working with President Biden and the House Democratic Majority, Rep. Larson has worked to deliver historic wins to deliver for the American People. Here are some of the key bills that have been signed into law this Congress:

American Rescue Plan:

COVID Relief: During the worst ravages of the pandemic, Congressman Larson helped author and pass the American Rescue Plan to put money in people’s pockets, vaccinations in arms, and kids back in school. This is the largest relief bill in our country’s history. Here are just some of the American Rescue Plan provisions that came right to Connecticut:

Stimulus Checks – Provided federal payments of $1,400 to individuals earning $75,000 or less to over one and a half million Connecticut residents.

Affordable Healthcare – More than 33,000 households in Connecticut saved over $4.5 million through American Rescue Plan tax credits on the Access Health CT marketplace for health insurance. In the First Congressional District, there was an average annual savings of $1,174 per household.
Tax Cuts for Families - Expanded the Child Tax Credit, providing monthly payments up to $3,600 a child benefiting 77% of children in CT-01 and lifting 7,800 children out of poverty.
Rental Assistance – Created a new federal program paying up to $10,000 in rental assistance to help renters and landlords as well as $125 million to assist homeowners with their mortgages.
Unemployment Benefits - Extended federal unemployment benefit supplemental payments of $300 per week on top of standard state benefit levels to help those who lost their jobs due to the pandemic and made self-employed and gig workers eligible for the first time.
Small Business Relief – Brought home to Connecticut federal funds to help small businesses and restaurants weather the pandemic in the amount of $10 billion in Paycheck Protection Program payments, more than $125 million in Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Program grants, and $301 million in Restaurant Revitalization Fund grant payments.

Funding for Schools and Municipalities – In the First Congressional District alone, the Rescue Plan provided $567 million in federal funding directly to the towns to fund critical services such as fire and police and schools so children could return to school safely.

Bipartisan Safer Communities Act:

The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act is commonsense legislation to protect America’s children, make schools safer, and reduce the threat of violence across America. It is the first package of gun safety package in decades to become law.

Gun Violence Prevention – Creates incentives for states to adopt red flag laws, closes the boyfriend loophole, increases penalties for straw purchasing, expands the scope of sellers that need to register as a firearms dealer, enhances background checks for people under the age of 21, and funds anti-violence community initiatives.
Mental Health – Supports expansion of the community behavioral health center model, improves access to mental health resources for children in Medicaid and CHIP, increases access to telehealth mental health resources, and expands provider training in mental health, suicide prevention, and crisis and trauma intervention.
School Safety - Supports expansion of mental health and intervention programs in school, funds improvements in school-wide learning conditions and extracurricular activities, and provides funding for school safety programs.

CHIPS and Science Act:

The CHIPS and Science Act is a bipartisan investment in American semiconductor components to end the chip shortage, lower costs for families, and create hundreds of thousands of union jobs.

Semiconductor Chips and Wireless Supply Chain – Provides $54.2 billion in incentives and assistance to build, expand, or modernize domestic facilities, workforce, and equipment for semiconductor fabrication, assembly, testing, packaging, research, and development. Also, it provides funds for development of wireless technology.
Research and Innovation – Provides the largest five-year investment in public R&D in US history, builds new technology hubs across the country, and combats illicit foreign theft of US research.

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act:

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is the largest investment in infrastructure in our nation’s history. In total, at least $6 billion has been announced for Connecticut alone.

Roads and Bridges – Connecticut is expected to receive $4.1 billion for highways and bridges over the next five years, funding needed to address the state’s 248 bridges and 2,154 miles of highway in poor condition.
Internet Access – At least $100 million will come to Connecticut to increase broadband coverage. Additionally, the bill creates a new Affordable Connectivity Program which cuts internet bills by up to $30 a month for low income households. Already, over 117,000 families are enrolled in the program.
Safe Drinking Water – Thanks to this bill, Connecticut has received over $75 million for water infrastructure including lead pipe replacement.
Electric Vehicle Charging – In order to build out a national network of electric vehicle chargers, $7.5 billion will be invested nationwide. Connecticut will receive $8 million this year alone.
Public Transit – As part of the largest investment in public transit in our nation’s history, Connecticut will receive over $1.3 billion over five years to improve our transportation network.
Airports – As part of a $25 billion national investment in our nation’s airport’s, Bradley has already been awarded $20 million to expand their terminal to reduce delays, increase accessibility, and improve energy efficiency and passenger experience.
Resiliency – The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes a historic investment to help our communities become more resilient against the impacts of climate change and cyber attacks. In 2022 alone, Connecticut was awarded $40 million for these activities.

PACT Act:

The PACT Act is bipartisan legislation to deliver on President Biden’s commitment to ensure that toxic-exposed veterans will get the support they need from their government and that they have access to the benefits they have earned.

Healthcare for Post-9/11 Combat Veterans – Extends VA enrollment window from 5 to 10 years, and creates a special one-year open enrollment period.
Support for Burn Pit and Toxic Chemical Exposure Conditions – Adds 23 specific conditions that will make veterans and their survivors automatically eligible for benefits, speeding up the process to receive the financial and health care support they are due.
Relief for Vietnam Veterans – Expands coverage for illnesses related to Agent Orange exposure including expanding eligible exposure sites.
Support for Survivors – Makes it possible for eligible survivors to gain benefits they may have been previously denied from, including monthly compensation, health care, and education benefits.
Improves the VA – Invests in resources to more effectively deliver for veterans, including workforce and infrastructure needs as well as improved training for toxic-exposure care.

Inflation Reduction Act (Health Care):

The Inflation Reduction Act is landmark legislation to lower costs for families and seniors while dramatically lowering the federal deficit.

Medicare Drug Negotiation – For the first time ever, Medicare will be empowered and required to negotiate drug prices.
More Affordable Health Insurance – Extends the enhanced Affordable Care Act Marketplace subsidies included in the American Rescue Plan through 2025, supporting 65,000 Connecticut residents and saving an average of $220 per month.
Penalizes Prescription Drug Cost Hikes –Requires that drug manufactures pay a rebate to the government if their costs to Medicare recipients rise above inflation, limiting price increases for on the public and private market.
Eliminates Medicare Part D Catastrophic Threshold – Under current law, seniors with Catastrophic coverage under Medicare Part D must pay 5% coinsurance after paying $7,050 Out of Pocket. This coinsurance will be eliminated, benefiting an estimate 16,000 Connecticut seniors.
Eliminates Cost Sharing for Vaccines under Medicare Part D – Eliminates Medicare Part D cost sharing under Medicare Part D. The average vaccine cost is $47 and can be as high as $100.
Caps Senior Insulin Costs – Medicare recipients will have their insulin costs capped at $35 per month, a 35% average saving for Part D Beneficiaries.
Caps Senior Drug Costs – Adds a $2,000 cap on Medicare Part D spending. Nearly 20,000 Connecticut beneficiaries spend over this amount annually.

Inflation Reduction Act (Environment):

The Inflation Reduction Act invests $370 billion in combatting climate change, the largest investment in our nation’s history. With this funding, we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by the end of this decade.

Extends and Creates Critical Tax Incentives to Increase Deployment of Clean Energy: Critical tax credits for established and emerging clean energy technologies will lead to greater deployment and lower emissions while driving down energy costs and creating jobs. The legislation includes Rep. Larson’s legislation to support Clean Hydrogen Production, a critical industry for our environment and Connecticut’s manufacturing economy.
Overturns Supreme Court Decision Gutting the EPA: Includes language responding to a Supreme Court decision that the EPA did not have the authority to regulate greenhouse gasses without Congress’s explicit consent. This bill does just that, giving the EPA the authority to take necessary actions to address climate emissions.
Creates Energy Savings for Consumers: Provides billions of dollars in rebates and tax credits for consumers to take action to lower their energy costs, including for energy efficient appliances, rooftop solar and other residential power generation, and new and used electric vehicles.
Invests in Cleaner Communities – Includes:
- $1 billion to make affordable housing more energy efficient,
- $3 billion to reconnect divided communities, like Hartford’s 84/91 Interchange,
- $3 billion for Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grants to invest in projects that address environmental and public health harms,
- $1 billion for clean heavy-duty vehicles, like school and transit buses and garbage trucks.

Butch Lewis Act:

Due to factors beyond their control, many union members with multiemployer pension plans were at risk of losing their retirement benefits due to their plans going insolvent. The Butch Lewis Act ensures that these retirement benefits are now no longer at risk.

Addressing the Baby Formula Shortage:

Rep. Larson has lead efforts to address the baby formula shortage by bosting production and lowering costs.

The Formula Act: Signed into law in July 2022, this law temporarily suspends tariffs on imported infant formula through 2022.
The Bulk Formula to Retail Shelves Act: Signed into law in October, this law temporarily suspends tariffs on a key component used to produce formula domestically.

Student Loan Forgiveness:

In August, 2022, President Biden announced student debt relief and additional reforms. Rep. Larson is a cosponsor of H. Res. 100, which calls on the President to use his executive authority to forgive student loan debt and has introduced ACTION for National Service to ensure young people who serve two full terms of service are rewarded with an educational benefit equal to four years of average in-state tuition.

Loan Forbearance:Under President Biden’s leadership, all federal student loans have been placed under forbearance until the end of 2022.
Loan Forgiveness:All borrowers earning under $125,000 will have up to $10,000 in student loans forgiven. Those who received Pell Grants during their college career will receive an additional $10,000, for a total of $20,000 of forgiveness.
Long Term Reform: The Biden Administration is working to support borrowers with additional debt. This includes ensuring that no borrower will pay over 5% of discretionary income for undergraduate loans, down from 10% on previous plans, guaranteeing no one making the annual equivalent of $15 an hour or less will be required to make a monthly payment, and more.

Funding Priorities for the First District:

As part of the Appropriations Bills passed by the House, Rep. Larson secured over $6 million in funding for key needs in the district such as reconnecting Hartford, fixing our levee system, and addressing gun violence and hunger. You can read about them here.

House Passed Legislation:

Here are just some of the key bills Rep. Larson has voted for that have been passed by the House this Congress:

Protecting Voting Rights – Rep. Larson fought to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, which would restore the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the For the People Act, which would strengthen voting rights, get big money out of politics, and protect our elections from foreign interference. Together these two bills would increase, instead of hinder, Americans’ ability to choose who represents them.

Addressing Gun Violence - As a leader in the fight against gun violence who led the sit-in on the House floor demanding action, Rep. Larson helped pass the Bipartisan Background Checks Act which would require background checks on all gun sales, a common-sense way to keep guns out of the wrong hands.

Justice in Policing - The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which Rep. Larson voted to pass in the House, would transform policing in our country to take a step towards ending the racial injustice in our criminal justice system and at the same time keeping our communities safe.

Protecting Reproductive Freedom – After the Supreme Court’s shameful ruling to overturn 50 years of precedent and end the constitutional right to an abortion, Rep. Larson continues to fight for women’s rights and voted to pass the federal statutory right for health care providers to offer abortion care and the federal right for patients to receive that care, free from state restrictions.

Equal Pay for Equal Work - As an ardent supporter of women’s equality, Rep. Larson supports the Paycheck Fairness Act to combat the wage discrimination women face across the country.

Protect DREAMERS – Rep. Larson has long fought to protect dreamers and voted for the American Dream and Promise Act to provide the approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children a pathway to permanent legal status and citizenship.

Opposing Foreign Wars - Rep. Larson voted against the Iraq war, voted to bring our troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan, and voted to repeal the President’s broad authority to use our military without specific Congressional authorization (2001 and 2002 AUMFs).

Protecting the LGBTQ+ Community – As a member of the LGBTQ Caucus in Congress, Rep. Larson supported and voted for The Equality Act, which would ban discrimination against people based on sexual orientation and gender identity. He also voted for the Respect for Marriage Act, which would protect marriage equality under federal law, ensuring it is protected from any future Supreme Court decisions.

Protecting and Enhancing Social Security:

Representative Larson was appointed Chair of the House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee in 2019 when the Democrats took back the House. As Chair, he is the recognized champion in the House fighting to protect and enhance Social Security as an earned benefit that each and every worker pays for in their paychecks. He is the author of the leading Social Security bill in the House, the Social Security 2100: A Sacred Trust Act, to provide additional benefits for current and future beneficiaries with almost 200 cosponsors. You can read more about this legislation here.

In addition to his lead bill, Rep. Larson has also led efforts to:

Boost Social Security benefits for those most in need during the COVID pandemic.
Fight for funding for the Social Security Administration to maintain high levels of customer service and reduce the disability hearings backlog.
Work to eliminate harmful rules the Trump Administration put in place to deprive beneficiaries of disability benefits.

Provide Americans who contribute to Social Security a mailed annual statement, so they know how much in benefits they are earning. These benefits protect Americans in retirement or in case of disability or the death of a spouse or parent.

Click here to see our 2021 work.

To see what federal dollars and resources Rep. Larson has brought to Connecticut’s capital city, Hartford, click here.

See what federal dollars Rep. Larson brought to these CT-01 towns below.

- Berlin

- Bristol