Congressman John B. Larson proudly represents Connecticut's First District. Now in his twelfth term, John sits on the influential House Ways and Means Committee—including the Subcommittee on Tax Policy and the Social Security Subcommittee, where he serves as the Chairman. Throughout his time in Congress, John has proven himself a staunch advocate for Connecticut's working families, our manufacturing and small business ecosystem, and commonsense solutions for the problems Americans face everyday.
Born and raised in the federal housing project of Mayberry Village in East Hartford, John is fond of saying he is the product of public housing, public education, and public service. His father, Raymond, worked for Pratt & Whitney, while his mother, Pauline, served on the Town Council. John graduated from East Hartford High School in 1967 and from Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) in 1971.
We owe a debt of gratitude to the brave members of the military who sacrifice so much to serve our country. While we will never be able to fully repay them for their service, it is imperative we do all we can to care for them. Today, Congressman Larson remains dedicated to providing our veterans with access to the highest level of service and care.
Too many veterans receive delayed or inadequate care from underfunded and mismanaged programs. Previously, Congress has acted to address these shortfalls, expanding and improving the Department of Veterans Affairs and looking at ways to address their claims backlog. In addition, the passage of the GI Bill for the 21st Century modernized the GI program to guarantee access to a four-year education for those who have served our country. For more information for those who qualify, please visit their website or call 1-888-GI BILL-1 (1-888-442-4551) to determine eligibility for benefits.
Congressman Larson, after hearing from a mother of a National Guard member, wrote legislation to reimburse troops for body armor purchased in Iraq and Afghanistan between September 11, 2001 and December 31, 2003. This legislation was signed into law as part of the 2005 National Defense Authorization Act. Furthermore, he helped fight for and pass critical veteran provisions in the American Rescue Plan signed into law in March 2021. This includes funding to reduce COVID-19 related backlogs at the VA, bolstering the VA's supply chain modernization efforts, funding for upgrading State Veterans Homes, funding for 12 months of retraining assistance for unemployed veterans, and prohibiting veteran's copayments during the pandemic.
In Connecticut, Congressman Larson maintains an active Veteran and Military Advisory Council with whom he regularly meets to gain feedback on issues and questions from our veteran community. Congressman Larson also employs veterans on his staff who understand the challenges that exist for our soldiers at home. Please reach out to his district office at 860-278-8888 with any questions or concerns related to VA benefits and healthcare.
Congressman Larson also began the Veterans History Project in Connecticut, documenting the experiences of military personnel from all ranks and all branches of service as well the contributions of civilian volunteers, support staff, and war industry workers. This project interviewed Vietnam Veteran and Hartford leader Steve Harris in partnership with the History Project at CCSU, recording Mr. Harris' oral history of his experience before, during and after the Vietnam War in Hartford Office.
Military families have also sacrificed so much and deserve nothing less than our full commitment to them. That's why Congressman Larson has worked to provide greater access to behavioral health treatment for military children with Autism. His bill, the Caring for Military Kids with Autism Act requires TRICARE – the military healthcare program – to provide greater access to treatment for military kids with Autism. This bill was signed into law and was subsequently extended through 2023. If you have a question regarding veterans benefits please call 860-278-8888. Our office can assist you with any specific inquiries to the Veterans Administration.
Military Medals
In the First District, Congressman Larson also works to ensure our veterans have received the medals they earned defending our freedom. From WWII veterans to those who have returned from the Operation Iraqi Freedom, Larson and his staff are available to help service members and their families find and receive military medals. If you have a question regarding military medals please call 860-278-8888.
The First Congressional District will soon be home to Connecticut's first national historical park: the ColtsvilleNational Historical Park.
Driving into Connecticut's Capitol City you will undoubtedly notice the bright blue and white, onion shaped dome on the side of I-91. This well-known local architecture marks an area known as Coltsville, where Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company once thrived. Coltsville includes Colt Park, the former home of Samuel and Elizabeth Colt, housing used by factory workers, armories where firearms and other products were manufactured, and more.
Beginning in 1855, Sam and Elizabeth Colt created a community around manufacturing in Hartford, widely recognized as one of the birthplaces of the industrial revolution. Following the death of her husband, Elizabeth Colt became the first woman to lead a top five manufacturing company, was one of the first industrialists to implement firewalls, and developed an apprenticeship program that spawned the typewriter, the automobile, and ultimately the airplane engine.
Timeline of Congressman Larson's Efforts on Coltsville
In Washington, Representative Larson is leading the effort to authorize the establishment of Coltsville as a National Historical Park. In 2014, President Obama signed Representative Larson'sColtsville National Historical Park Act into law, as part of the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act (P.L.113-291). Since then, stakeholders including Rep. Larson, the City of Hartford, the National Park Service and current building and land owners are working together to complete the transfer of property to the federal government. When this final step is completed,Coltsville will formally be established as a National Historic Park.
The establishment of Coltsville as a National Historical Park fulfills a long-term goal envisioned by Hartford Mayor Mike Peters and shared by the Sheldon/Charter Oak neighborhood, the city, the state and countless community stakeholders. Coltsville not only preserves a crucial piece of Connecticut history, it also benefits the local and regional economy through economic development, tourism and job creation. Studies by the National Park Service point to over $12 billion dollars spent annually with more than 177,000 jobs created in regions surrounding National Parks. The Connecticut Economic Resource Center estimates that development at Coltsville already accounts for more than 1,000 jobs and an economic impact of over $177 million with the potential for 2,500 jobs and an economic impact of over $350 million as a result of tourism and continued development bolstered by park establishment.
It is crucial everyone has access to high-quality education at all levels. As a former teacher, Representative Larson knows the importance of education and is working to ensure every student has access to what they need to succeed.  
During Rep. Larson's time in the Connecticut State Senate, he worked with Dr. Ed Zigler, a visionary fighting for education and families. Rep. Larson's legislation creating a pilot for Family Resource Centers, which were eventually expanded across the state, was based on Dr. Zigler's model for "school-based or school-linked childcare and family support services designed to promote the optimal growth and development of children beginning at birth." Now, he continues this fight to ensure all students have the resources to thrive.
Pre-Kingergarten:
Research shows the best way to lay a strong foundation for learning is giving students access to pre-kindergarten. All students benefit from starting school earlier but the impacts are particularly pronounced for lower-income students. Universal Pre-K is a necessary tool to lower the achievement gap.
Parents must be able to send their children to the preschool setting of their choice—from public schools to childcare providers to Head Start—leading to lifelong educational benefits, allowing more parents to go back to work, and building a stronger foundation for Connecticut's future economic competitiveness.
K-12:
All of our children deserve a safe and quality education, and the future of our country depends on keeping up with global competition. Rep. Larson is fighting to ensure the federal government is supporting our children and their educators.  
Our schools, like much of our national infrastructure, are in desperate need of repair. It is estimated there is $46 billion
 in work that must be done to bring them up to adequacy. Rep. Larson introduced the America Wins Act, a bill that would provide $30 billion over ten years for education infrastructure.
Above all, schools must be a safe and secure environment for students and teachers. Unfortunately, Congress has abdicated its responsibility to take action. Gun violence is a complex issue but the answer is not allowing guns into our schools. For more information on Rep. Larson's gun violence prevention efforts, see here.  
College Education: 
The cost of college is skyrocketing, putting higher education out of reach for some and saddling others with decades of student debt. Not only is this a burden on individuals but it's a drag on our economy. 
Rep. Larson has supported numerous pieces of legislation to forgive student debt and make college more affordable for future students. Additionally, Rep. Larson introduced the ACTION for National Service Act, which would give all students access to higher education. For every year of service an individual gives the country through a program like AmeriCorps, the person would receive funding equivalent to two years of state school tuition to be used for tuition payments or student loan repayment. For more information about ACTION for National Service, see here.
Manufacturing is part of our DNA in Connecticut. From the time of Sam and Elizabeth Colt—who developed a community around manufacturing and an apprenticeship program that would eventually spawn the typewriter, the automobile and ultimately the jet engine—Connecticut has been on the forefront of innovation, technology and advanced manufacturing.
From East Hartford to Barkhamsted, the First Congressional District is proud to boast some of the world's leading manufacturers that employee thousands of residents while also helping to drive our economy. While these industries are here to stay, it is crucial to our economy that they continue employing Connecticut residents.
Today, there are thousands of unfilled manufacturing jobs across the state, a number expected to rise as a generation exits the workforce. Rep. Larson is working to bring our manufacturers, government and academia together to develop new ways to ensure Connecticut has the workforce of the future. As part of that effort, Rep. Larson announced a new partnership between Goodwin College, local manufacturers, and government that will help our newest generation of manufacturers and machinists enter these successful industries.
Manufacturers and machinists are the foundation of some of the biggest industries in Connecticut. Rep. Larson is committed to supporting our manufacturers and the jobs that come, not only from the manufacturers, but also the service jobs that they create.
Yankee Ingenuity and a tradition of manufacturing expertise have - for generations - positioned Connecticut as a leader in Defense Manufacturing. Thousands of Connecticut residents work on programs associated with protecting our democracy and tens of thousands more are affected by the work that occurs across our state.
Congressman Larson remains focused on working both sides of the aisle to ensure the viability of these programs, and protecting the defense and manufacturing based associated with it in Connecticut.
The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, powered by the Pratt & Whitney F135 engine, represents the future of our nation’s air supremacy and a key component to our foreign policy. Not only will the United States buy more than 2,400 F-35s for use by the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps, but we’ll sell hundreds more to our allies across the globe.
Here in Connecticut, the work associated with Pratt & Whitney’s F135 engine will support thousands of new jobs at Pratt and the hundreds of small and medium sized business that comprise the backbone of our state’s industrial base. This aircraft and its engine will truly reinvigorate the Connecticut aerospace industry and provide work for our next generation of machinists.
In 2011, after years of work in both the House and Senate, Congressman Larson led a successful bipartisan effort to eliminate what was commonly referred to as the Alternate Engine from the Joint Strike Fighter program. The Alternate Engine was a second, duplicative engine program for the Joint Strike Fighter that had been funded for years against the will of Presidents Bush and Obama and Secretaries of Defense Rumsfield and Gates.
Eliminating the Alternate Engine remains one of my most significant accomplishments because of what it means for our state and our workforce. Pratt & Whitney is now the only supplier of engines to the Joint Strike Fighter program. For Connecticut and our Machinists, this means that our highly-skilled, highly trained workforce will continue to work on the military’s most advanced programs for decades to come. By some estimates, Larson’s work is believed to have locked in more than $100 billion in business for Pratt & Whitney and their suppliers over the next 30 years.
In Congress, Congressman Larson is committed to educating his colleagues on the importance of the Joint Strike Fighter program and was honored to be named the Co-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Joint Strike Fighter Caucus in 2013.
Along with Republican Co-chair, Congresswoman Kay Granger, Larson is ensuring that members of Congress have a full understanding of the important role the Joint Strike Fighter program plays in national security and the impact that any changes to the program can have on our readiness and our industrial base. Already, more than 90 of his colleagues have joined the Caucus.
The scientific evidence is clear: climate change poses an existential threat. This crisis cannot wait. We must act now to ensure we have healthy and safe planet. Just as importantly, investing in green energy will create good paying jobs right here in Connecticut.
Rep. Larson is leading the fight in Congress to take meaningful action on climate change. He is the author of the America Wins Act, which would lower carbon emissions by taxing polluters and investing in infrastructure and clean energy. He proudly supports President Biden's Build Back Better Act, which would be the largest investment in clean energy and fighting the climate crisis in history. As a cosponsor of the Green New Deal, he supports tackling change while creating good paying jobs for all Americans.
Rep. Larson has long been a climate champion. In 2007, he was appointed by Speaker Pelosi to serve on the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming. He is also pushing for a larger investment in green energy and is the founder of the House Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Caucus. He has successfully fought for federal incentives like the Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which supports the deployment of green technologies like fuel cells, wind, and solar.
Rep. Larson also takes action against pollutants that threaten our health, including PFAS Chemicals and is a member of the Congressional PFAS Task Force. He is a cosponsor of legislation and amendments that would require federal agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Defense, to take the threats posed by these chemicals seriously.
Throughout his career in Congress, Rep. Larson has continually fought for free and fair elections for the American people.  He was an early proponent of publicly financed congressional campaigns to put the power of our elections in the hands of the people instead of wealthy individuals and big corporations. His work has been recognized by good government groups such as Common Cause and Demos.
In the 2013, Rep. Larson was appointed by the Speaker of the House to serve as Chairman of the Task Force on Election Reform, leading the Democratic Caucus' efforts to shed light on the impact of the Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United v. FEC. This U.S. Supreme Court decision on Citizens United opened a Pandora's Box of unintended consequences by allowing nearly unlimited money to flow into our elections. 
Since then, Rep. Larson has cosponsored constitutional amendments that would reverse this disastrous ruling. Such amendments would once again empower Congress to enact strong campaign finance laws such as limiting large contributions and governing campaign spending. 
He believes it is critical Congress stand up and confront any attempt to make it harder for Americans to exercise their right to vote— whether though restrictive identification laws, selective elimination of neighborhood polling places, or cutting back on early voting opportunities which are particularly important to young, working class, and minority voters. He is working with his Democratic colleagues to restore the Voting Rights Act, which was gutted by a misguided Supreme Court Ruling.  Rep. Larson has co-sponsored and voted for the Protecting Our Democracy Act, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the For the People Act, which would work together to protect elections in our country.
We cannot allow our society to lose ground in our quest for equality by giving up the hard-won gains of the last generation. The right to vote is fundamental to retaining a free and open government that works on behalf of all Americans.
Though years have passed since the horrific murder of twenty school children and six faculty members at Sandy Hook Elementary School, here in Connecticut that tragedy remains at the forefront of our minds—especially when discussing the epidemic of gun violence plaguing our country. Since that day in 2012, the United States has experienced a rash of mass shooting events and mourned the loss of tens-of-thousands of adults and children to gun violence on our streets. Rep. Larson will continue to work with Mothers United Against Violence, Hartford Communities That Care, and other local organizations on the front-line that provide services to our communities in the midst of these tragedies and who work tirelessly to try to prevent them.
Rep. Larson believes in commonsense proposals that most Americans agree can fight gun violence and save countless lives across the country. The commonsense proposals that Rep. Larson fights for are: universal background checks, ammunition limitations for firearm magazines, penalty enhancements for straw-purchasing a firearm, closing the boyfriend and Charleston loopholes, banning the sale of military-style assault weapons, and providing additional counseling and support for youth impacted by urban violence. In 2016, in the aftermath of the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, he co-led a historic sit-in on the House Floor with his former colleague Representative John Lewis, demanding a vote on the Bipartisan Background Checks Act.
Health care is a right not a privilege. Rep. Larson has been focused on ensuring every American has affordable healthcare. Now, with the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, more real progress is being made.
Protect and Expand the Affordable Care Act
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) was a major step toward making this goal a reality. Rep. Larson led this initiative as Chair of the House Democratic Caucus during months of debate over the ACA in 2009 and 2010. He fought to keep important provisions that would protect people with preexisting conditions, hold insurance companies accountable, and help families achieve the peace of mind of affordable health insurance. The Affordable Care Act drastically reduced the number of people in the United States without health insurance coverage, including a 41% reduction in Connecticut's rate of insured residents in the first few years after coming into effect.
Rep. Larson believes we can an build on the ACA to improve the program. As a Member of the Ways and Means Committee, Larson helped pass legislation to increase ACA tax credits as part of the American Rescue Plan. Doing so saved Connecticut families an average of $2,650. He heard from one constituent who said, “I was paying $1,300 a month for my health care premiums, now I’m paying $20 a month. With the savings I have, I can now optimistically put aside the money I need to educate my two daughters."
The Inflation Reduction Act has renewed these tax credits through 2025, giving more certainty and peace of mind to Connecticut families.
He is also a supporter of creating a “public option" which would create a government run health care option to ensure there is always a quality, affordable health care plan available and to create market competition to drive the costs down on all plans. Rep. Larson voted for the public option during the creation of the Affordable Care Act and helped author and introduce the Medicare-X Choice Act (H.R.1227), which would create a new public option that would be available as part of the Affordable Care Act.
Lowering Drug Prices
Rep. Larson has been a longstanding champion of driving down the cost of prescription drugs by allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices and has introduced legislation that would do so throughout his career. Medicare is required by law to pay for prescription drugs at the rate set by drug companies, despite private insurance negotiating the prices they’re willing to pay for their beneficiaries. This prohibition allows drug companies to drive up costs for everyone, not just seniors. Thanks to the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, this will now change. For the first time ever, the government will be required to negotiate lower drug prices.
The Inflation Reduction Act also includes other new provisions to lower drug prices, including a new $2,000 out of pocket maximum for Medicare Part D recipients and penalties if drug prices rise over inflation.
Expanding Medicare
Medicare is one of the most successful social programs in the United States. Rep. Larson supports proposals to strengthen and expand Medicare.
We need to do all we can to make sure the seniors receiving Medicare get the benefits they need to thrive, which includes ensuring services meet the needs of beneficiaries. Rep. Larson supports adding hearing, dental, and vision benefits to Medicare.
Rep. Larson also supports lowering the age of those able to participate in Medicare. He is a cosponsor of the Improving Medicare Coverage Act (H.R. 5165), which would lower the Medicare eligibility age to 60. He also helped author and introduce the Medicare Buy-In and Health Stabilization Act (H.R.2881), which would allow those between 50 and 64 to choose to "buy in” to Medicare as their health insurance plan. These proposals would give more Americans access to the benefits of Medicare and increase affordability for the private market by increasing overall health.
America is proudly a country of immigrants. Diversity is our strength, and together we can build a strong economy and community for our families. Unfortunately, our current immigration system is broken and in need of reform. It is long past time for Congress to enact comprehensive immigration reform that addresses issues from protecting DREAMers to border security and humanitarian issues. Rep. Larson has long supported providing DREAMers with protections and a pathway to permanent legal status and citizenship.
As a nation of immigrants, we must find a way to address immigration in a compassionate manner. Congress must work on bipartisan and common-sense solutions to do so.
Strengthening job creation is the most important part of reducing our deficit and improving our economy after the enormous impact the COVID-19 pandemic. In Washington, Rep. Larson has led the charge to bring and retain jobs in Connecticut.
In Connecticut, many jobs depend on our strong manufacturing base. That's why Congressman Larson has fought to support Connecticut manufacturers and is working to maintain and improve our manufacturing workforce. The inclusion of additional F-35 engines and strong support for helicopters and submarines in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) are just a few examples of Rep. Larson's recent work to strengthen manufacturing in the First Congressional District and beyond. From East Hartford to Torrington, he stands in support of Connecticut's manufacturers.
Today, more than ever, Rep. Larson views every issue through the lens of job creation and worker protections. Although Connecticut is making strides to ensure every worker a living wage, Rep. Larson supports the $15 federal minimum wage so every American can work towards financial security. For years, he has been committed to securing paid federal family and medical leave so hardworking Americans do not have to choose between caring for their families and paying their bills. Rep. Larson and House Democrats are committed to developing a fair and balanced plan to increase job creation.
For 87 years, the Federal Government has kept the promise to all Americans: if they contribute to Social Security with each and every paycheck, they would be able to retire with dignity. President Biden has called this promise a "sacred trust."
It is Congress' responsibility to keep that promise and to safeguard Social Security for all Americans. Congress must also ensure the benefits keep up with Americans' expenses – today, tomorrow, and forever.
That's why, as Chairman of the House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee, Rep. Larson authored the Social Security 2100: A Sacred Trust.
Increases Benefits
Benefit bump for current and new Social Security beneficiaries – Provides an increase for all beneficiaries (receiving retirement, disability or dependent benefits) equivalent to an average of 2% of benefits to make up for inadequate Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA) since 1983. The US faces a retirement crisis and a modest boost in benefits strengthens the one leg of the retirement system that is universal and the most reliable: Social Security.
Protection against inflation – Improves the annual Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) formula to better reflect the costs incurred by seniors through adopting what's called a "CPI-E formula." This provision will help seniors who spend a greater portion of their income on health care and other necessities. Improved inflation protection will especially help older retirees, people of color, and widows who are more likely to rely on Social Security benefits as they age.
Protects low-income workers – Five million seniors currently live in poverty. No one who paid into the system over a lifetime should retire into poverty. The new minimum benefit will be set at 25% above the poverty line and would be tied to wage levels to ensure that the minimum benefit does not fall behind.
Improves Social Security benefits for widows and widowers in two income households so they are not penalized for having two incomes.
Repeals the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) that currently reduces Social Security benefits for many public servants, including teachers.
Ends the 5-month waiting period to receive disability benefits, so those with ALS or other severe disabilities no longer have to wait.
Provides caregiver credits toward Social Security wages to ensure caregivers are not penalized in retirement for taking time out of the workforce to care for children or other dependents.
Extends Social Security dependent benefits for students to age 26 and for part-time students.
Increases access to Social Security dependent benefits for children who live with grandparents or other relatives.
Requires SSA to mail annual statements to all workers – The bill requires SSA to mail annual statements showing the FICA contributions workers make and projections for their benefits in the future. This will help workers prepare for retirement, disability or in the event of an untimely death. Currently, SSA makes this information available only on its website mySSA.com.
Prevents unwarranted closures of SSA field offices – The bill will improve customer service by making it more difficult to close field offices, which are used by many seniors to file claims and discuss questions about their benefits.
Improves access to legal representation for people seeking long term disability benefits.
Strengthens the Trust Fund
Have millionaires and billionaires pay the same rate as everyone else – Presently, payroll taxes are not collected on an individual's wages over $142,800. This legislation would apply the payroll tax to wages above $400,000 so the wealthy pay the same rate as someone earning $50,000 a year. This provision would only affect the top 0.4% of wage earners.
Extends the solvency of Social Security – This bill makes a significant contribution toward the program's solvency, making up more than half the shortfall in the Social Security Trust Funds.
Social Security Trust Fund Established – Social Security provides all-in-one retirement, survivor, and disability benefits funded through the dedicated FICA contribution paid by workers. There are technically two trust funds, Old-Age and Survivors (OASI) and Disability Insurance (DI), and that are usually referred to as the Social Security Trust Fund. This provision combines the OASI & DI trust funds into one Social Security Trust Fund, to ensure that all benefits will be paid.
Connecticut faces significant infrastructure challenges. The I-84 highway in Hartford is badly congested and is currently the #1 chokehold in Connecticut and New England. It splits Hartford in two—cutting off residents and businesses in the North End from the rest of the city. At the same time, I-91 has deprived Hartford of waterfront property along the Connecticut River that could otherwise be used for recreation or development. The mixmaster in East Hartford similarly takes up valuable land that could be used for community development and housing.
Rather than taking a piecemeal approach, we need a comprehensive plan to address our region's challenges.  That's why local leaders and Rep. Larson have proposed a new solution called "Hartford400" to resolve traffic bottlenecks, reunite Hartford, recapture the Connecticut Riverfront, and repair our crumbling levees.
In November 2021, with Rep. Larson's effort, Congress passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which sends $6 trillion to Connecticut for our infrastructure needs. This will provide funding directly to Connecticut Department of Transportation's work to make this vision a reality.
America's Call to Improve Opportunities Now (ACTION) for National Service Act
One Pager | Bill Text | Endorsing Organizations
National and community service helps hundreds of thousands of Americans each year through disaster relief efforts, education initiatives, infrastructure and public works projects, public healthcare and outreach, and countless other fields. Currently, service organizations turn away more applicants than they accept—and communities in need of their assistance sometimes have to go without. John Larson and Jack Reed have a plan to change that.
America's Call to Improve Opportunities Now (ACTION) for National Service Actwould achieve the following goals:
1. Reduce the burden of student loan debt by ensuring young people who serve two full terms of service are rewarded with an educational benefit equal to four years of average in-state tuition where their college is located.
2. Ensure that educational benefit is exempt from federal taxes.
3. Advance national and community service as a civic and national priority by elevating the Corporation of National & Community Service (CNCS) to a new Cabinet-level agency
4. Support at least one million full-time federal service positions a year—providing all who wish to serve the opportunity to do so.
5. Increase access to national service opportunities by raising Americorps living stipend amounts.
6. Create a 21st Century American Service Outreach Program to notify eligible individuals about opportunities to serve.
7. Creates a Civilian Climate Corps to help communities adapt to and fight against climate change.
Right now, less than 1% of the nation serves in the military, AmeriCorps, and the Peace Corps combined—but not through lack of interest. In 2012, AmeriCorps alone received nearly 600,000 applications, but was forced to turn away nearly 80% of those who just wanted to make a difference in their communities. Americans who wish to serve should be encouraged to do so, and we have the power to do that.
The ongoing public health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has turned Americans' lives upside down. Millions have fallen ill, and families have experienced the devastating loss of losing a loved one. Many lost their jobs or had their hours cut back making it difficult to put food on the table. School children had their learning interrupted in addition to suffering from the social and mental health impact of remote learning. Small businesses have closed or lost significant revenues.
I have worked hard in Washington along with my colleagues to help Americans during the pandemic by providing funding to put shots in arms, money in people's pockets, and children safely back in school.
Please sign up for my newsletter here, if you would like to get email updates on how I am working in Washington to help my constituents during the pandemic. As always, my office stands ready to assist. Please call my Hartford office at 860-278-8888 or send us an email here. 
For the latest information on COVID-19 from the Center for Disease Control, please visit their website here. For the latest on COVID-19 from the State of Connecticut, please visit their website here. 
Connecticut's 2-1-1 COVID info hotline is available 24-hours a day, 7 days a week. The hotline is for general coronavirus questions (such as utility assistance, food, housing, childcare, after school programs, elder care, crisis intervention, experiencing homelessness). Additionally, you can visit Connecticut's Coronavirus resource page here. 
For a summary of what Congress has done to help Americans during the pandemic, please visit here. 
Many homeowners in parts of our state have discovered that their home foundations are crumbling due to a mineral called pyrrhotite in the concrete used to pour their homes' foundations.
Over the past few years, Representative Larson has worked side-by-side with Representative Joe Courtney (CT-02), Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) and local, state, and federal stakeholders to find solutions for Connecticut homeowners affected by this terrible issue.
Congressional efforts have been focused on two areas: federalstudiesand tax relief.
Beginning in 2016, Reps. Larson and Courtney began consulting with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Treasury Department staff, including then-IRS Commissioner John Koskinen, then-National Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olson,Department of Treasury Assistant Secretary for Tax Policy David Kautterand Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin. As a result of these meetings, on November 22, 2017, the IRS issued Rev. Proc. 2017-60
to enact a "safe harbor" for the treatment of crumbling foundation-related repair costs as a "casualty loss" deduction from a taxpayer's taxable income under Section 165 of the Internal Revenue Code.
Unfortunately, the Republican tax law passed in 2017 temporarily limits the casualty loss deduction until 2025, excluding homeowners with crumbling foundations. Under the law, only taxpayers who suffer damage related to a presidentially-declared Stafford Act disaster may deduct their property-casualty losses. In order to mitigate this change, Representatives Larson, Courtney, and Neal (MA-01) were able to obtain guidance from the IRS to extend the period of time that homeowners would have to claim crumbling foundation related repairs on their federal taxes. Under the new guidance, homeowners will now have through the end of 2020 to make qualified repairs to their home and until April 2021 to claim those repairs on an amended 2017 federal tax return.
Rep. Larson is working to pass a permanent fix for the casualty-loss provision. He joined Congressman Courtney to introduce H.R. 3251, which would repeal the temporary ban on using the casualty-loss deduction. On June 20, 2019, Rep. Larson secured Ways and Means Committee Chairman Neal's on the record commitment that the Committee would address the casualty loss issue.
Federal Action:
Working with Senators Murphy and Blumenthal (D-CT) and Representative Courtney, Rep. Larson was able to secure three federal studies as part of the federal appropriations process:
A Government Accountability Office (GAO) study to examine the financial impact of pyrrhotite in concrete home foundations. When completed, this study will provide an estimate ofthe financial toll due to crumbling foundations. The study will also examine responsive actions already taken to mitigate this impact and present any additional actions the federal government can take in order to further do so. This study was directed as part of a FY19 government appropriations law (P.L. 116-6) and is expected to be completed in the first half of 2020.
A U.S. Geological Survey to develop a map showing pyrrhotite occurrences across the United States. The results of this research will lead to a greater understanding of other areas that mayexperience crumbling foundations in the future. This study was directed as part of a FY19 government appropriations law (P.L. 116-6) and is expected to be completed in early 2020.
A National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) study to research the effects of the mineral pyrrhotite on concrete aggregate. NIST is the leading federal expert in cement and concrete standards and will develop a cost-effective and standard testing method for at-risk homes and other structures for the presence of the mineral pyrrhotite. The study will also result in the creation of a risk-rating scale so that homeowners, businesses, and local government have a better understanding of what quantity of pyrrhotite poses a danger to their foundations' structural integrity. These results will provide much needed information to towns and homeowners who currently have no way of accurately accessing their properties' risk of collapse and potential impact on property value. This study was funded in an FY20 government appropriations law (P.L. 116-93).
Rep. John B. Larson, (CT-01), along with Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-02), and Rep. Brian Higgins (NY-26), introduced the "Medicare Buy-In and Health Care Stabilization Act" (HR 3748), a bill that improves on the successes of the Medicare program and provides Americans (ages 50-64) a new option for affordable, quality healthcare. The Act will offer people in this age group the new option to buy-in to Medicare thus avoiding the increase in premiums that older Americans often face. Additionally, working Americans who receive employer sponsored coverage (ages 50-64) who wish to buy into the program would have the option to do so, and their employers could continue to contribute to their premiums pre-tax, a win-win for those employers and employees.
Congressman John B. Larson proudly represents Connecticut's First District. As a lifetime East Hartford resident raised in public housing and attended public schools, he is dedicated to serving his community. That’s why he is fighting hard to serve the working families and people of Connecticut. Here are some of his accomplishments so far during this session of Congress as well as his priorities for the First District in Congress:
Serving the First District of Connecticut
American Rescue Plan: COVID Relief: During the worst ravages of the pandemic, Congressman Larson helped author and pass the American Rescue Plan to put money in people’s pockets, vaccinations in arms, and kids back in school. This is the largest relief bill in our country’s history. Here are just some of the American Rescue Plan provisions that came right to Connecticut:
Stimulus Checks – Provided federal payments of $1,400 to individuals earning $75,000 or less to over one and a half million Connecticut residents
Affordable Healthcare – More than 33,000 households in Connecticut saved over $4.5 million through American Rescue Plan tax credits on the Access Health CT marketplace for health insurance. In the First Congressional District there was an average annual savings of $1,174 per household.
Tax Cuts for Families - Expanded the Child Tax Credit, providing monthly payments up to $3,600 a child benefiting 77% of children in CT-01 and lifting 7,800 children out of poverty
Rental Assistance – Created a new federal program paying up to $10,000 in rental assistance to help renters and landlords, as well as $125 million to assist homeowners with their mortgages
Unemployment Benefits - Extended federal unemployment benefit supplemental payments of $300 per week on top of standard state benefit levels to help those who lost their jobs due to the pandemic and made self-employed and gig workers eligible for the first time
Small Business Relief – Brought home to Connecticut federal funds to help small businesses and restaurants weather the pandemic in the amount of $10 billion in Paycheck Protection Program payments, more than $125 million in Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Program grants, and $301 million in Restaurant Revitalization Fund grant payments.  
Funding for Schools and Municipalities – In the First Congressional District alone, the Rescue Plan provided $567 million in federal funding directly to the towns to fund critical services such as fire and police and schools so children could return to school safely.
If you are wondering how much your town/city and schools received in funding, click here.
Here to Help: One of Rep. Larson’s most important responsibilities is hearing directly from First District residents and helping them navigate federal agencies. His staff work hard each day to help constituents get their VA benefits, track down their tax refunds, obtain their visas, and much more.
Throughout this session of Congress, Rep. Larson has held over 90 public events, including 12 town halls to hear from constituents on issues of concern and to keep them up to date with what’s going on in Washington.
This Congress, his staff has helped over 1,000 constituents navigate federal agencies with cases ranging from solving problems with immigration, Social Security and Medicare, Small Business, IRS and VA issues.
His office has helped secure $200 billion in federal grants, contracts, and tax credits for vital projects in the First District, including over $100 million this Congress.
Getting Results for the First District Manufacturing Base: Rep. Larson has continued to advance critical priorities that fuel the First District’s manufacturing base and bolster our national security.
Rep. Larson has continued to secure federal funding for critical programs such as planes, submarines, and helicopters that support over $1 billion in economic activity and jobs in the First District alone.
Thousands of manufacturing jobs in the First District have been sustained through the national defense sector of aerospace. This was critical to keeping aerospace workers on the job during while the commercial aviation industry suffered during the pandemic. No union machinists at Pratt and Whitney were laid off because of the work on F135, the engine that powers the F-35. The F-35 supports more than 6,000 jobs and 41 suppliers in the First District, resulting in $750 million in economic activity.
House Majority Delivering to the American People: Alongside the House Democratic majority, Rep. Larson has helped to advance critical policies bills that will deliver to the American people. Here are just some of the key bills Rep. Larson has voted for that have been passed by the House this Congress:
COVID Relief - The American Rescue Plan, a historic relief bill, delivered over $10 billion in federal funds to Connecticut alone, putting money in people’s pockets, vaccinations in arms, and kids back in school.
Rebuild America’s Infrastructure – The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will send over $6 billion federal dollars to Connecticut to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure including helping improve the I-84/I-91 interchange (the number one bottleneck in New England), fund intermodal transportation and public transit, and fix the Hartford levees, together achieving a 50-year goal of recapturing the riverfront.
Combatting Climate Change - As a member of the Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Larson helped author the GREEN Act, which would drive down the cost of green technologies, lowering carbon emissions. He also helped write and pass out of the Ways and Means Committee the Build Back Better Act, which is the largest investment in addressing climate change in our nation’s history.
Funding Priorities for the First District - As part of the Appropriations Bills passed by the House, Rep. Larson secured over $6 million in funding for key needs in the district such as reconnecting Hartford, fixing our levee system, and addressing gun violence and hunger. You can read about them here. He also voted to increase funding for education, job training, and veteran’s health care, which you can read more about here.
Protecting Voting Rights – Following his work leading the task force on campaign finance reform, Rep. Larson fought to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, which would restore the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the For the People Act, which would strengthen voting rights, get big money out of politics, and protect our elections from foreign interference. Together these two bills would increase, instead of hinder, Americans’ ability to choose who represents them.
Addressing Gun Violence – As a leader in the fight against gun violence who led the sit-in on the House floor demanding action, Rep. Larson helped pass the Bipartisan Background Checks Act which would require background checks on all gun sales, a common-sense way to keep guns out of the wrong hands.
Justice in Policing - The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which Rep. Larson voted to pass in the House, would transform policing in our country to take a step towards ending the racial injustice in our criminal justice system and at the same time keeping our communities safe.
Protecting Reproductive Freedom – As states across the country are trying to put unconstitutional restrictions on women’s health care, Rep. Larson continues to fight for women’s rights and voted to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act to remove barriers and reject these illegal attacks on abortion access.
Lowering Prescription Drug Prices – Rep. Larson cosponsored the Elijah Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, which included his legislation to allow Medicare to finally negotiate lower drug prices and would save money for Medicare beneficiaries as well as Americans with private insurance.
Equal Pay for Equal Work - As an ardent supporter of women’s equality, Rep. Larson supports the Paycheck Fairness Act to combat the wage discrimination women face across the country.
Protect DREAMERS – Rep. Larson has long fought to protect dreamers and voted for the American Dream and Promise Act to provide the approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children a pathway to permanent legal status and citizenship.
Opposing Foreign Wars – Rep. Larson voted against the Iraq war, voted to bring our troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan, and voted to repeal the President’s broad authority to use our military without specific Congressional authorization (2001 and 2002 AUMFs).
National Defense Authorization Act – Rep. Larson fought for First District priorities in the National Defense Authorization Act, including helping to address PFAS contaminations, $1 billion to secure our nation’s cyberspace, billions of dollars for CT manufacturing priorities, and more.
Protecting the LGBTQ+ Community – As a member of the LGBTQ Caucus in Congress, Rep. Larson supported and voted for The Equality Act, which would ban discrimination against people based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Protecting and Enhancing Social Security: Representative Larson was appointed Chair of the House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee in 2019 when the Democrats took back the House. As Chair, he is the recognized champion in the House fighting to protect and enhance Social Security as an earned benefit that each and every worker pays for in their paychecks. He is the author of the leading Social Security bill in the House, the Social Security 2100: A Sacred Trust Act, to provide additional benefits for current and future beneficiaries with almost 200 cosponsors. You can read more about this legislation here.
In addition to his lead bill, Rep. Larson has also led efforts to:
Boost Social Security benefits for those most in need during the COVID pandemic.
Fight for funding for the Social Security Administration to maintain high levels of customer service and reduce the disability hearings backlog.
Work to eliminate harmful rules the Trump Administration put in place to deprive beneficiaries of disability benefits.
Provide Americans who contribute to Social Security a mailed annual statement, so they know how much in benefits they are earning. These benefits protect Americans in retirement or in case of disability or the death of a spouse or parent.
Click here to see our 2021 work.
To see what federal dollars and resources Rep. Larson has brought to Connecticut’s capital city, Hartford, click here.
See what federal dollars Rep. Larson brought to these CT-01 towns below.
- Berlin
- Bristol
- Cromwell
- Granby
- Hartland
- Portland
- Windsor
- Winsted
Rep. Larson is fighting for fair tax reform.
The current Republican Plan, released in November 2017 is the opposite of that, it its an attack on Connecticut's Middle-Class. Read what Rep.
Bill Text | Brochure | Fact Sheet
The America Wins Act (HR 4142) would invest over $1 trillion in the nation's infrastructure over 10 years, creating millions of jobs, and providing a boost to the economy and the middle class that is sorely needed. This bill is fully paid for by taxing harmful pollution, with a portion of the revenue reserved to be passed to consumers in the form of a tax rebate and dedicated funding for frontline communities.
The United States, which was once the envy of the world – from our roads, bridges, highways, and airports – is now facing an infrastructure crisis. The American Society of Civil Engineers gives the state of our infrastructure a grade of "D+" and estimates that all levels of government will have to invest an additional $2 trillion over the next decade if we're going to avoid falling further behind. This presents us with an extraordinary opportunity to make the investments we will need to rebuild the country and to put the nation back to work. That is why the America Wins Act provides a dedicated revenue stream to invest $1.2 trillion in infrastructure over the next decade. From roads, bridges, tunnels, transit systems, rail, airports, clean drinking water, levees, broadband, schools, public housing, and energy transmission, this legislation will transform the country and set us up for long-term economic success. In every state and every Congressional district, there are badly needed infrastructure projects that are stuck sitting in the pipeline because of a lack of funding. The America Wins Act will make these types of projects a reality.
The America Wins Act is estimated to raise $2.3 trillion over 10 years through un upstream tax on the carbon-content of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas. All of the revenue raised will be placed in a trust fund, administered by US Treasury, in order to be solely used for investing in the nation's infrastructure, providing the American people with a consumer tax rebate, and dedicated funding for programs to support communities transitioning from a carbon dependent economy and communities most heavily impacted by climate change and carbon pollution.
We simply can't afford to let the nation's infrastructure crumble further into disrepair if the United States is going to maintain its status as the world's leading economy. We have to rebuild our infrastructure and we have to have the courage to pay for it. An investment of this magnitude will have the benefit of creating between 13 million and 22 million jobs over the next decade. This is a jobs program for the middle class, it's a tax rebate for consumers, it shores up the pensions of coal miners, and it improves the quality of the air we breathe. This is a win-win-win-win.
Many homeowners in parts of our state have discovered that their home foundations are crumbling due to a mineral called pyrrhotite in the concrete used to pour their homes’ foundations.
Over the past few years, I have worked side-by-side with Representative Joe Courtney (CT-02) and local, state, and federal stakeholders to find solutions for Connecticut homeowners affected by this terrible issue.
Most recently, after working with the IRS and Department of Treasury for several years, we were able to help secure direct federal tax relief for homeowners, allowing them to deduct the cost of foundation repairs under “casualty loss” rules. Read the latest Revenue Procedure here: Rev. Proc 2018-14
Homeowners should consult with a qualified tax preparer (and/or contact the resources below) to see if they qualify for this deduction and determine how to use it on their 2017 tax return or on future returns. Fortunately, some homeowners facing this devastating situation will now be able to see tax relief that wasn’t previously available. While this form of federal tax relief is not a silver bullet for all affected homeowners, I remain committed to working with local, state, and federal partners in ensuring we are looking at every possible solution to help all homeowners.
Background:
After hearing from residents and visiting affected homes in South Windsor with Mayor Dr. Saud Anwar of the South Windsor Town Council and Commissioner Jonathan Harris of the Department of Consumer Protection, I joined efforts with Rep. Courtney to see what could be done on the federal level to assist homeowners.
Starting in 2016, we conducted research on the process of issuing a revenue procedure for crumbling foundation relief and began outreach to IRS staff to learn more about the limits of IRS policy in this area.
In May 2017, we consulted with then-IRS Commissioner John Koskinen, who supported the idea of utilizing the casualty loss deduction and agreed to weigh in with Treasury. The former Commissioner remained engaged on the issue even as his term as IRS Commissioner ended in 2017.
As a member of the House Ways & Means Committee, I had the opportunity to discuss the plight of Connecticut homeowners with National Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olson, who agreed to intercede on behalf of affected residents when she testified before the committee in May 2017. We then wrote to Ms. Olson, urging the application of the casualty loss deduction to the crumbling foundation situation. In her response, she indicated support for the effort and shared the proposal that her office submitted to the Treasury and the IRS for priority consideration.
After getting support from Koskinen and Olson, we submitted a letter to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin requesting a meeting to discuss possible federal tax relief for the homeowners who have been harmed by crumbling foundations. The Treasury Department’s Office of Tax Policy has the authority to make a decision on providing such tax relief.
We also enlisted the support of Congressman Richard Neal, the Ranking Member of the House Ways and Means Committee, who weighed in on behalf of the request with Secretary Mnuchin.
In September, we met with Secretary Mnuchin and Assistant Secretary for Tax Policy David Kautter at the Department of the Treasury headquarters in Washington, D.C. to discuss assistance for north-central Connecticut residents affected by crumbling concrete foundation. We requested that Treasury issue an IRS revenue procedure that allows homeowners to deduct foundation repair costs from their federal taxes.
In a September 26 follow up letter to Mr. Kautter, we provided additional information to help guide the department’s consideration of their request.
In November 2017, we were pleased announce that the IRS issued Rev. Proc. 2017-60 to enact a “safe harbor” for the treatment of crumbling foundation-related repair costs as a “casualty loss” deduction from a taxpayer's taxable income under Section 165 of the Internal Revenue Code.
Passage of New Tax Law
However, the passage of the new Republican tax law in December temporarily limits the applicability of Section 165 casualty loss deductions. Under the law, beginning in tax year 2018 only taxpayers who suffer damage related to a presidentially-declared Stafford Act disaster may deduct their property-casualty losses. We urged the IRS to develop additional transitional relief that could help homeowners in 2018 and beyond, as many did not have the opportunity to complete repairs in between the release of the revenue procedure in November and the passage of the Republican tax law in December 2017.
In February 2018, Reps. Courtney, Neal, and I were pleased to announce updated guidance from the IRS to extend the period of time that homeowners would have to claim crumbling foundation related repairs on their federal taxes. Under the new guidance, homeowners will now have through the end of 2020 to make qualified repairs to their home and until April 2021 to claim those repairs on an amended 2017 federal tax return.