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.
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.