Hearing From You
Since President Trump took office, his administration’s actions have created uncertainty for residents of Connecticut’s First District and Americans across the country. At the Social Security Administration, 7,000 staff have been cut, leading to increased wait times, reduced access to services, and the closure of field and hearing offices. Now, a bill is moving through Congress that would cut Medicare, Medicaid, and SNAP nutrition benefits to pay for tax cuts, likely to disproportionately benefit the wealthy.
Rep. Larson is hearing directly from constituents about how these policies, cuts, and proposals are impacting them. You can share your story with Rep. Larson here.
Here are some stories from your neighbors across Connecticut’s First District:
Social Security
Georgia from Southington
“My husband and I live on [Social Security]. We are retired and in our 70s. If [Social Security] is cut in any direction and we don't receive our checks each month, we will be in trouble. We have no children and no one else to help us out. With all the other price increases in electric, food, insurance, it is already difficult. We have both worked for over 40 years and have paid into it. We deserve this. It is not a gift!”
Donald from Bloomfield
“My wife and I have been retired for more than ten years. We rely on Social Security for a large part of our retirement income. Losing that coverage would put us in financial jeopardy. We're comfortably well
off now and able to help others. Without our Social Security, we might be forced to ask for help, instead of able to give it.”
Karen from Bristol
“I am 70 years old. I survive on Social Security. My rent takes the majority of my check. I am also on SNAP. Trump wants to dictate what we can and cannot spend with OUR benefits.”
Medicare
Donald from Wethersfield
"I’m 77 years old with health issues including heart, arthritis, colitis, and need a walker to walk or stand. I’ve had 11 hospital admissions in 14 years, all but one by ambulance. I take 14 medications. Cuts to my Medicare or Social Security, which I paid for all my life, would be fatal."
Carol from Wethersfield
"My husband and I are on Medicare. I have osteoporosis and a cutaneous t-cell lymphoma, called mycosis fungoides. I am frequently at one doctor or another. Without Medicare, I can’t imagine how we would pay for all my treatments or how we would pay for any prescriptions. My husband is still working but plans on retiring soon. I am retired. We NEED our Medicare benefits in full to continue to live and be self-sufficient in our home that we have worked so hard for."
Medicaid
Charles from East Windsor
“As the Chief of EMS for East Windsor Ambulance, I witness firsthand the challenges individuals face when it comes to managing medical expenses. Medicaid plays a vital role in ensuring that patients have access to necessary medical care. Maintaining robust support for Medicaid is essential. Even minor reductions could have serious consequences, potentially discouraging individuals from seeking care, which may affect their health outcomes.”
Rena from East Hartford
“My daughter has a rare neurological disorder that you cannot plan for. She is loved and an active participant in our community and is on Social Security disability and Husky. Without her health care benefits, she would go without much needed medication, new wheelchairs when needed, [and] medical supplies.”
Susan from Southington
“My mother is a 90-year-old MS patient who is totally disabled. She is able to still live in my childhood home along with my father, who is also 90. They both hope to spend whatever time they have left in their home together. If she were to lose any of her Medicare or her Medicaid benefits, I truly don’t know what would happen to either one of them.”
Russell from Bristol
“I have a daughter who had a major stroke about two years ago. She's fully paralyzed on her left side and has very little control of her daily necessities. She's in a nursing home because that is the level of care she needs and is totally dependent on Medicaid. I don't know how she could possibly get by without it.”
SNAP Nutrition Benefits
Maria from Berlin
“I am a volunteer with the SNAP program at CT Foodshare. We help thousands of people get the food they need for their families. Without SNAP, these people (including seniors and children) would not be able to eat nutritious food. This is not how one of the wealthiest nations should treat its people.”
Rhonda from Windsor
“Cutting food assistance and services for seniors would affect my mother who is 97 years old. She does not receive a lot from Social Security and her pension. What she does receive goes toward her daycare program and care at home. Seniors need to be able to have food and receive services. What will happen to them if these needs are not met?”
Sharon from West Hartford
“I have been teaching for 20 years. In my current position, many teachers, including myself, bring in healthy snacks for our students EVERY DAY. It's not unusual for us to hear students say, 'I had cereal for my last three meals.' If SNAP benefits are cut, thousands of children and their families will suffer from malnutrition or hunger and therefore will become sick more often. We can’t build healthy, educated adults who are active in their communities from underfed kids.”
Jaclyn from Newington
“I am appalled by the Trump Administration’s attempts to undermine social benefits in our country. I have friends and family who rely on these programs. One of my friends is disabled and cannot work and relies on Husky for their medical care and SNAP for buying groceries. Losing these programs would be a huge burden to her and her family.”
Federal Funding Cuts
Derek from Rocky Hill
“My team and I are a nonprofit building software tools for farmers and ranchers to manage their land sustainably. The tools we are building will help ranchers monitor whether they are overgrazing or to help farmers decide what sort of fertilizer is best for their crops. We were counting on grants from the government to continue working in 2025. If we don't receive funding, we will, in all likelihood, lose our jobs.”
Stephen from West Hartford
“I and faculty, students and staff in my department conduct research funded by large grants awarded by the National Institutes of Health aimed at understanding human biology and ameliorating disease. Having these federal grants suspended without notice will have a devastating impact as research programs will have to stop and staff will go without pay. These are not the types of studies that can just be restarted on a whim as was evident when we had to shut down during the COVID pandemic and many laboratories lost months of work. The studies funded by grants from the NIH are essential to the well-being of all Americans.”
Elisabeth from Wethersfield
“Please do not let President Trump stop funding [shelters], which are desperately trying to end homelessness in our great state of Connecticut. We leverage government funds to help us achieve our mission. The federal funding represents 26% and 17%, respectively of these organizations' total budget. We will not be able to sustain our work without it.”