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In an effort to gather information and disseminate it to those affected, U.S. Rep. John Larson held a roundtable discussion at the Glastonbury Town Hall, on July 31, about what the state and federal government is doing to aid farms affected by the recent flooding, and what could be done better.

Several business people, town leaders, and farmers from several towns were in attendance.

Over the last two years, drought, frost and now flooding have hit Connecticut farms, and as weather-related disasters become more common, the farmers are pushing Congress to fix a crop insurance program they say hasn’t worked for them.

With the federal farm bill, an omnibus package of farm programs and funding passed by Congress every five years, up for renewal this year, the legislation could offer an avenue for changes to the insurance program.

Standing in front of a flooded field in South Glastonbury, top state officials pledged Monday to find money to help farmers whose crops have been devastated in recent days by flooding.

Just weeks ago, drought required Kevin Bassette to irrigate rows of lettuce, radishes, kale, Chinese cabbage and pickling cucumbers his family grows in Glastonbury on the Connecticut River’s fertile floodplain.

He didn’t complain. Given a choice of drought or deluge, Bassette would opt for drought. “I prefer bone dry,” he said. “You can always add water. You can’t take it away.”

HARTFORD, CT — One Hartford neighborhood badly in need of transportation infrastructure help is getting just that — $19 million worth for a program that aims to improve motorist, pedestriab and bicycle safety.

U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and U.S. Rep. John Larson, D-1st District, announced a $19 million Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Grant for the City of Hartford’s North Main Street Streetscape and Multimodal Transportation Project.

NORTH CENTRAL, CT — U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT) Tuesday led the charge to announce what he termed a bipartisan bill called the Casualty Loss Deduction Restoration Act – legislation that would deliver financial relief to Americans who suffered losses from unexpected disasters, including crumbling foundations caused by the mineral pyrrhotite.

The discovery of hundreds of deteriorating basements and foundations in northeastern and north central Connecticut has changed lives, and galvanized state and federal leaders to help.

One of the Congress people who has led the charge visited the district with word of more assistance, and research aimed at solving this monumental problem.

A now defunct concrete company in the area made concrete that experts say had a naturally occurring mineral (pyrrhotite) that causes basement walls to crack and expand when exposed to air and water.

EAST HARTFORD - Firefighters in town will get new training and equipment thanks to a $533,000 federal grant.

U.S. Rep. John Larson, D-1st District, Mayor Mike Walsh, and fire department members announced the funding, received through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program, at an event Wednesday morning.