In the News
They come every year to the same place, an urban hospital that treats gun trauma and, in 2020, tests for a novel coronavirus. It sits in a census tract where 90% of the residents are black or Hispanic, 40% live in poverty and 15% of the apartments are vacant.
A doctor introduces the speakers, the politicians and mothers of dead children come to mark National Gun Violence Awareness Day. It fell this year on the 52nd anniversary of the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy as he celebrated a presidential primary win.
Washington – The U.S. House late Friday approved a massive, $3 trillion coronavirus spending package that would, among other things, provide a second round of $1,200 stimulus checks, $200 billion in hazard pay for essential workers – including those at Electric Boat shipyards– and extend the federal $600-per-week unemployment benefits for six more months.
The HEROES Act, was approved on a 208-199 vote, with the unanimous support of Connecticut's House members, all Democrats.
The Democratic chairmen of two House panels are scrutinizing a State Department plan to overhaul Social Security that they say unfairly takes away Americans' entitlement benefits in exchange for a quick cash payment.
WASHINGTON DC (WFSB) - A bill aimed at creating bonds, such as those made during World War II, to help fund the federal government's public coronavirus response will be introduced on Wednesday.
Rep. John Larson, who represents Connecticut's 1st District, called it the Victory Bonds Act of 2020.
The bill will direct the Department of the Treasury to create government savings bonds, with all revenue directed to funding the federal government's public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic and support for small businesses.
Congressman John Larson is the only member of the Connecticut congressional delegation asked to be part of the "Opening Up America Again" congressional group assembled by President Donald Trump. This group is a sprawling and nominally bipartisan assemblage that features three times as many Republicans as Democrats.
"As public health experts and most notably, Dr. Fauci have stated, the COVID-19 pandemic is first and foremost a health crisis, which has devastated the economy," Larson said in a statement.
He said the health and economic issues need to be addressed head on and at the same time.
n Friday afternoon the Hartford Business Journal and New Haven BIZ presented a timely webinar, The CARES Act and the PPP: Where Are We Today, and What Can Businesses Expect Tomorrow?
The federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a $350 billion emergency package to rescue small businesses, on April 3 began accepting applications from beleaguered companies throughout Connecticut and the nation.
The PPP is a cornerstone of the government's $2 trillion stimulus plan to help the economy deal with the commercial consequences of the global coronavirus pandemic.
WASHINGTON — Social Security beneficiaries will now automatically receive their coronavirus stimulus checks after a change made by the Trump administration late Wednesday night.
Lawmakers on Wednesday decried a policy enacted by the Internal Revenue Service earlier this week that would have required Social Security beneficiaries to file a simple tax return to receive the benefit although many of the beneficiaries — mostly seniors and the disabled — are not normally required to pay taxes.
As Americans respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, what should elected officials be doing to protect public health? Today, we talk with Connecticut 1st District congressman John Larson. As coronavirus spreads, how will lawmakers do their jobs? Do you have a questions for Rep Larson?