BLUMENTHAL: Sen. Richard Blumenthal joined a number of other legislators to sponsor legislation that would stop government-funded “slavery” abroad. The legislators say that residents of third world countries are recruited and misled by contractors and subcontractors funded by the State and Defense Departments.
The legislation targets those contractors by forcing compliance plans on the companies.
“Modern-day slavery by government contractors - unknowingly funded by American taxpayers - is unconscionable and intolerable,” said Blumenthal. “Current law prohibiting human trafficking is insufficient and ineffective, failing to prevent or punish abuses. By increasing preventative scrutiny and investigation, this legislation will stop egregious human rights abuses on U.S. military bases, increasing security for our troops, and preventing waste of taxpayer dollars."
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LIEBERMAN: U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman tweeted: “We must begin to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from power plants-- the nation’s largest source of emissions.” The Environmental Protection Agency outlined standards for new power plants.
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DELAURO: In an address to superintendents in Washington D.C. today, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, CT-3, spoke frankly about the fiscal challenges facing school funding.
“As superintendents on the front lines, you know exactly what [budget cuts] mean,” she said. They mean overcrowded classrooms and overworked teachers. They mean further cuts to after-school programs, arts, sports, and even key subjects like history. And they may even mean more drastic changes. Many school districts have switched to four-day weeks to save money. And, of course, more layoffs mean more unemployment and more economic misery."
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HIMES: A bipartisan bill making it easier for private companies to raise money passed the House of Representatives by a 380-41 margin. U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, CT-4, voted in support of the bill.
“This bipartisan effort will improve the business climate and, in turn, create jobs,” Himes said. “This new law will put more decisions in the hands of business owners so they can continue to grow while easing into the responsibilities associated with increasing the number of people who have invested in the company.”
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MURPHY: U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy, CT-5, tweeted about “Great news for homeless veterans.” Forty vouchers from the Department of Housing and Urban Development and Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing are coming to benefit the Waterbury area.
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“Eye on the Beltway” is a new feature on your local Patch that looks each day at the activities of elected officials in our nation’s capitol from your town and other parts of southwestern Connecticut.
Those officials are:
- Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
- Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT)
- Rep. Rosa DeLauro (CT-3), a Democrat representing Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Branford, Derby, Durham, East Haven, Guilford, Hamden, Middlefield, Middletown, Milford, Naugatuck, New Haven, North Branford, North Haven, Orange, Prospect, Seymour, Shelton, Stratford, Wallingford, Waterbury, West Haven and Woodbridge.
- Rep. Jim Himes (CT-4), a Democrat representing Bridgeport, Darien, Easton, Fairfield, Greenwich, Monroe, New Canaan, Norwalk, Oxford, Redding, Ridgefield, Shelton (part), Stamford, Trumbull, Weston, Westport and Wilton.
- Rep. Chris Murphy (CT-5), a Democrat representing Avon, Bethel, Bethlehem, Bridgewater, Brookfield, Burlington, Canaan, Canton, Cheshire, Cornwall, Danbury, Farmington, Goshen, Harwinton, Kent, Litchfield, Meriden, Middlebury, Morris, New Britain, New Fairfield, New Milford, Newtown, Norfolk, North Canaan, Plainville, Plymouth, Roxbury, Salisbury, Sharon, Sherman, Simsbury, Southbury, Thomaston, Torrington (part), Warren, Washington, Waterbury (part), Watertown, Wolcott and Woodbury.
