Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) secured more than $23 million dollars for 15 community projects in the final 2023 appropriations government funding package. This funding responds directly to many of the most pressing needs throughout the region and supports projects that were less likely to receive funding from any other sources. For the second time, every project submitted to the House Committee on Appropriations by Congresswoman Hayes was included in the final budget.

Additionally, Hayes legislation to create a U.S. National Park Service protective designation for the 41 miles of the Housatonic River which runs through Sharon, Canaan, Cornwall, Salisbury, New Milford, Kent, and North Canaan, was also approved. The designation will allocate federal resources to the towns along the river to bolster conservation efforts and promote recreation in the Northwest Corner. 

“Throughout the appropriations process, I never stopped fighting for the Fifth and I am thrilled to have secured more than $23 million in federal funding to bolster local projects. From communications upgrades for law enforcement to facility infrastructure for community health centers to laying the groundwork to restore CT Rail from Danbury to New York City, this funding will have a lasting impact for all who live and visit the region,” said Congresswoman Hayes. “Further, after years of community organizing and advocacy, the Housatonic River will now be designated as a National Wild and Scenic River. The designation is not just symbolic; it provides critical funding to protect the rich ecosystem along the 41 miles of the river and support local recreation in the surrounding towns.”

Congresswoman Hayes championed funding for 15 projects to directly benefit Fifth District residents. These include:

• WATERBURY: $4,000,000 for the renovation of Fulton Park Pool
• WATERTOWN: $3,375,000 for police department radio communications upgrades
• WATERTOWN: $3,000,000 for Main Street safety audit
• WATERBURY: $2,265,000 for education technology equipment, including computers for public schools
• NEW FAIRFIELD: $2,100,000 for the police department emergency communications system upgrade
• DANBURY: $2,000,000 for the Southeast, New York to Danbury, CT Rail Link environmental impact statement
• DANBURY: $2,000,000 for facilities and equipment at Connecticut Institute for Communities, Inc.,
• FARMINGTON: $1,000,000 for K-12 STEM education programs at the University of Connecticut Health Center
• NEW BRITAIN: $1,000,000 for facilities and equipment at Klingberg Family Centers, Incorporated
• LITCHFIELD: $750,000 for expanding agricultural education, afterschool and behavioral health services for youth at Connecticut Junior Republic 
• FALLS VILLAGE: $750,000 for affordable housing infrastructure at River Road Homes
• CHESHIRE: $625,000 for a fire protection system at Ball & Socket Arts, Inc.
• WATERBURY: $172,000 for expanding the Police Activity League Program
• NEW BRITAIN: $150,000 for training and outreach programs, services, and literacy supports for under-resourced communities at the United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut
• NEW BRITAIN: $50,000 for the childcare business incubator program

The government funding package provides critical federal investments in government programs and services to ease the burden of rising costs on families and support communities by tackling some of the biggest challenges in the short and long term. Specifically, the government funding bill:

• LOWERS THE COST OF LIVING: Reduces costs by expanding child care and early learning programs to more working families, investing in America’s K-12 public schools, making college more affordable, bolstering our public health infrastructure, and protecting consumers.
• CREATES BETTER-PAYING JOBS: Creates better-paying jobs by putting people to work rebuilding our infrastructure, helping small businesses grow and thrive, fostering the green energy jobs of tomorrow, and supporting high-quality job training and apprenticeship programs so every American can contribute and succeed.
• HELPS COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES IN NEED: Supports people struggling to make ends meet by strengthening nutrition assistance, funding more affordable housing, fighting urgent health disparities, supporting our Veterans, and investing in rural broadband.
• KEEPS OUR NATION AND OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE: Strengthens our national security and keeps our communities safe with robust defense funding for training and equipment to prepare for future threats and support our allies in their efforts to defend democracy and investments in diplomacy and global development, our public health infrastructure, cybersecurity, local, state, and federal law enforcement, and funding for responsible border and maritime security.
• PROTECTS OUR ENVIRONMENT: Confronts the threat of climate change through environmental enforcement and environmental justice efforts, historic investments in clean energy and climate science, and leadership in the global fight against climate change.
• FUNDS COMMUNITY PROJECTS: Responds directly to pressing needs in the Fifth District by fostering the economic development that makes communities healthier, safer, and stronger through community projects.

A detailed summary of the legislation is available here.

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