Congressman Larson met with seniors at the Southington Senior Center on December 18 to discuss the new Medicare reform law.

Congressman Larson was joined by East Hartford Mayor Tim Larson and State Representative Melody Currey in presenting Raymond Bain of East Hartford with medals he earned for his service in World War II.  Mr. Bain was accompanied by his wife Marie and daughter Maria.

Congressman Larson joined Baker Salsbury, Director of East Hartford Health and Social Services, Mary Martin, the town's Grants and Lease Administrator, Mayor Timothy Larson, and Julie Fagan, HUD's Hartford Field Office Director as the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded a $3 million federal grant to East Hartford to fund a lead-based paint hazard control program.  Read more about the grant.

Congressman Larson met with Manchester Community College President Jonathan Daube, Great Path Academy School Principal Kathleen Carter, and Great Path students at the announcement of a $600,000 federal grant for the magnet school.

On September 22, Congressman Larson was joined by Congresswoman Nancy Johnson and Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez for the announcement of a $500,000 federal grant program to improve the delivery of unemployment services in the Capital Region.  Read more about the grant.

Congressman Larson met with recipients of the Silver Star Medal for actions in Operation Iraqi Freedom who were visiting Washington to meet with the President.  Standing on the Congressman's right is MSG Patrick Quinn from Cromwell.

Congressman Larson met with participants in the American Legion's Boys and Girls Nation civic leadership program.  David DeAngelis of North Haven, Carey Nadeau of Cromwell, Mark Schneider of South Windsor and Carolina Lescano of Stamford are high school students who were chosen to represent Connecticut at the group's annual nationwide meeting and field trip. 

Congressman Larson visited the Middle East in August to meet with U.S. administrators, troops, and foreign leaders to assess the situation in Iraq.

Congressman Larson met with nearly 150 constituents at a forum on September 2 at West Hartford Town Hall to discuss his recent trip to the Middle East and the military operations in Iraq.

During the Congressional recess in August, Congressman Larson took the opportunity to visit a Head Start program administered by the Community Renewal Team (CRT) in Hartford.  Larson visited to highlight the importance of the program for young children in the face of efforts to convert it into a block grant program that reduces accountability and oversight. (Photo credit: CRT/"India Blue," Hartford, CT)

Many thanks to our summer interns in Congressman Larson's Washington office: Aaron Kleinman, Brittany Coppage, and Neil McKiernan, all from West Hartford.  We hope they don't forget the extravaganza of mail and grande mochas.

On July 17, Congressman Larson met with high school students from Newington and Greenwich visiting Washington.

Congressman Larson met with members of the Connecticut 4-H on July 9.  They were participating in the Citizenship Washington Focus program to give youths a closer look at the political process.

Congressman Larson held a forum on June 29 at West Hartford Town Hall to discuss the costs of prescription drugs and the debate in Congress over Medicare reform.

On June 26, Congressman Larson met with Katelyn Jennings, a student at Windsor High School.  Katelyn was in Washington after winning the National Peace Essay Contest in Connecticut.

At the 153rd Undergraduate Commencement of Central Connecticut State University, Congressman Larson (Class of 1972) delivered remarks on the state of public service in America.  CCSU President Richard Judd is seated next to the Congressman.

Congressman Larson met with students from Bloomfield and Windsor representing Connecticut in the National History Day competition.  The winners were: Colleen McMahon, James McMahon, Samantha Spear, Rachel Waddell, Sarah McMahon, and Jennifer Kirschner.

Congressman Larson's Washington and District staff gathered in Washington in May to review and discuss the Congressman's agenda for the 108th Congress.

Students from Solomon Schechter Day School in West Hartford visited Washington, DC on May 6 and stopped by to meet Congressman Larson.

On April 25, Congressman Larson and Senator Chris Dodd announced the introduction of legislation to prevent the IRS from taxing the compensation awarded to local volunteer firefighters and emergency medical responders for service to their communities.  They were joined by Fire Chief Phil Crombie and members of the South Windsor Volunteer Fire Department.

Mayor Timothy Larson, Congressman Larson, State Senator Gary LeBeau, and State Representative Michael Christ gave medals to John Hollis (U.S. Navy 1959-1962) of East Hartford for his service aboard the USS Essex, which blockaded Cuba during the 1962 missile crisis.

Congressman Larson held a series of forums for first responders in the District, including this one in Winsted on April 23.  The goal of the forums was to hear from municipal first responders on what areas of help they need most, as well as talking on the role of his office in homeland security issues.

During the Congressional recess in April, Congressman Larson traveled the First Congressional District to speak with constituents, including this group at the Granby Senior Center.

On April 17, Congressman Larson met with students at Southington High School, one of the new towns in the First Congressional District, to speak about foreign policy and other current events.

Congressman Larson hosted the 22nd Annual Congressional Arts Competition on April 3 at Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford.  Thirty-one students from seven high schools across the First Congressional District.  Mark Schneider of South Windsor High School (top) won first place and his artwork, "The Date," will hang in the U.S. Capitol with the winners from across the nation.  Katherine Pelkey of Windsor High School (below) won third place.  Her untitled oil painting will hang in Congressman Larson's office in Hartford.

On March 28, Congressman Larson joined with the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) at the announcement of Operation Uplink.  The VFW and corporate sponsors have joined together to provide military personnel and hospitalized veterans with phone cards so that they can stay in touch with friends and family.  You can learn more about the program at the Operation Uplink website.

Congressman Larson held a town hall meeting attended by over fifty constituents in New Hartford on March 24 to discuss the conflict with Iraq and other foreign policy matters.

Congressman Larson participated in a fuel cell technology forum held at the State Capitol in Hartford on March 7.  Larson met with state legislators and industry and academic leaders to promote the further development of fuel cells in Connecticut.

On March 7, Congressman Larson met with Dutch Point area neighborhood residents, the Coalition to Strengthen the Sheldon/Charter Oak Neighborhood, the Community Builders, and John Wardlaw, Director of the Hartford Housing Authority.  Congressman Larson recently helped obtain a $20 million Hope VI grant for the Dutch Point area.

On February 26, Congressman Larson received an award from the Disabled American Veterans Greater Hartford Chapter 12 "in recognition of and great appreciation for your outstanding commitment to serving America's veterans."  On the same day, Larson reintroduced the 21st Century Veterans Equitable Treatment Act to improve access to healthcare for veterans.

Congressman Larson met with students from East Hartford and Granby visiting Washington as part of the Close Up Program.  Larson discussed a number of key current issues and took questions from the students.

Congressman Larson held another town hall meeting on February 20 to discuss U.S. foreign policy focusing on possible military action in Iraq, the role of the United Nations and North Korea.

Congressman Larson met with the Granby Chamber of Commerce on February 19 as part of his ongoing effort to meet and greet with constituents of the ten new towns he represents due to the recent Congressional redistricting.

On February 18, Congressman Larson was joined by Bristol Mayor Frank Nicastro for the opening of satellite District office in Bristol Town Hall.  The office is on the first floor and is open for regular office hours on a part time basis. It is staffed by one of the Congressman's district aides who handles casework and constituent calls. The office will be open every Tuesday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm except the second Tuesday of each month, when it will be open from 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm to coincide with Town Council meetings and accommodate constituents who need to meet with a staff member outside of regular business hours.

Congressman Larson visited John F. Kennedy Middle School in Southington on January 16.  Southington is one of ten new towns in Connecticut's First Congressional District.