Larson Meets with East Hartford Fire Chief, Highlights Recovery Act Funding for New Fire Department

For Immediate Release: April 29, 2010

Contact: Paul Mounds: 860-278-8888

Larson Meets with East Hartford Fire Chief, Highlights Recovery Act Funding for New Fire Department

Washington, DC- Today, U.S. Congressman John B. Larson welcomed Chief John Oates of the East Hartford Fire Department to Washington, DC. Last year, Congressman Larson was influential in securing almost $3.5 million in Recovery Act funding for the fire department to support the construction of a new fire station. Local fire chiefs and administrators from Connecticut joined Chief Oates in his meeting with Congressman Larson.

"It was a pleasure speaking with Chief Oates today. I wanted to personally to thank him and the men and women of the fire department for their unfaltering service on behalf of the families and communities in East Hartford," said Congressman Larson. "I was honored to support the Department's application for funding to support the new fire department as it will immediately create jobs and support the overall safety of the town and its residents in the long term."

Congressman Larson supported the town's grant application with a letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), pointing out that the project met all of the requirements of an ideal Recovery Act Program. Vice President Biden visited East Hartford to officially announce funding for the project in December 2009. The plan to build a new fire department was in the works for more than five years and the town expects to begin construction in the spring.

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