RELEASE: LARSON, HERNÁNDEZ, OCASIO-CORTEZ, AND HOUSE DEMOCRATS LAUNCH INVESTIGATION INTO TRUMP ADMINISTRATION MISUSE OF PUERTO RICO ENERGY RESILIENCE FUND
Perosino, Charles
For Immediate Release:
April 24, 2026
Contact:
Charles Perosino 202-209-3828
Hartford, CT – Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) announced the launch of an investigation into the Trump Administration’s decision to strip funding for solar panels and backup batteries from Puerto Rican families and redirect the funds to bail out a fossil fuel company in bankruptcy.
Today’s announcement follows yesterday’s visit by the Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico to Hartford, where Congressmen Larson and Pablo José Hernández (PR-AL) heard firsthand from Frog Hollow residents and small business owners on the impact of high prices, including the President’s costly tariffs and rising energy bills.
Rep. Larson and Congressman Pablo José Hernández (PR-AL) visit the Park Street Library @ The Lyric in Hartford
“I am proud to represent one of the largest Puerto Rican communities on the mainland in Congress — where we welcomed as many as 13,000 evacuees in the wake of Hurricane Maria. It is shameful that after Congress approved $1 billion to hurricane-proof Puerto Rico’s power sources, Trump officials pulled that funding from families in need to bail out a failing fossil fuel company,” said Larson. “Puerto Rico’s residents, especially those in low-income households and rural areas, deserve secure and reliable energy sources, especially when disaster strikes. I will continue to work with my friend and colleague, Congressman Hernández, who I was honored to welcome to Hartford this week, and all my Democratic colleagues to demand answers and accountability. The Department of Energy must answer for this shameful and potentially illegal bait-and-switch that will leave families in the dark.”
In September 2025, DOE pulled $365 million slated to help 175 small health care facilities serving 300,000 patients and apartment and condo buildings home to more than 400,000 residents in Puerto Rico. On January 9th of this year, DOE rescinded another $350 million dedicated to homes with people with disabilities, very low-income households, and families whose lights are the last to be turned back on after a disaster.
Larson joined Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Jared Huffman (CA-02), Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández (PR-AL), Rep. Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), along with 41 other Democrats, to press the Department of Energy (DOE) for answers, demanding a full Congressional briefing no later than April 30th, as the first step in their investigation.
“We write to raise concerns about the Department of Energy’s (DOE) decision to strip post-disaster energy security from people in Puerto Rico with disabilities, very low-income households, rural health care facilities, and residents in communities that are the hardest to re-energize after a disaster,” the members wrote. “DOE’s lack of transparency, wasteful reuse of the funding, disregard for congressional intent, and potentially illegal cancellation of contracts—combined with the resulting increase in energy poverty and loss of energy security—raise serious questions about the Department’s uses of the Puerto Rico-Energy Resilience Fund (ERF).”
“It has now been over a year since the ERF money was initially frozen; the new projects that are reported to receive the money have still not been determined, much less started construction,” the members continued. “Had those solar projects been allowed to proceed, most would already be providing energy security for thousands of vulnerable families and megawatts of reliable electricity for the grid that desperately needs it.”
View the members’ full letter to U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright HERE.
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Connect with Congressman Larson Online:
Perosino, Charles
East Hartford, CT – Today, Reps. John B. Larson (CT-01), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), and Joe Courtney (CT-02) applauded a $369 million contract modification for Pratt & Whitney announced by the U.S. Navy. This new commitment from the federal government will support the construction of 138 new F135 engines, built in East Hartford and Middletown, Connecticut, over the next five years. Today’s announcement follows a $3.8 billion contract modification to support the production of F135 engines earlier this month.
“Our delegation has proudly stood together to secure record investments in the Pratt & Whitney F135, ensuring Pratt & Whitney remains the sole engine provider for the F35 fighter jet, and supporting contracts to build an additional 138 engines right here in Connecticut over the next five years,” the members said. “We remain committed to our state’s manufacturing workforce – at Pratt & Whitney, Sikorsky, Electric Boat, or the more than one hundred suppliers scattered across our state. Connecticut workers will continue to power our armed forces and allies with state-of-the-art technology and equipment – keeping the eagle flying for years to come.”
Perosino, Charles
For Immediate Release:
April 29, 2026
Contact:
Charles Perosino 202-209-3828
Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) blasted the Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision in Louisiana v. Callais, which effectively gives the green light for states to ignore Voting Rights Act redistricting requirements. Today’s decision comes on the heels of Republican mid-decade Congressional redistricting efforts in Texas, Missouri, North Carolina, and Florida, aimed at eliminating majority-Black and Hispanic districts. Larson called on Congress to respond by passing the Redistricting Reform Act he introduced in September with Rep. Zoe Lofgren (CA-18) to ban mid-decade redistricting and require states to establish independent redistricting commissions.
“As Republican mid-decade redistricting games dilute the voices of Black and Hispanic voters before our very eyes, the Supreme Court just poured gas on the fire by gutting yet another section of the Voting Rights Act,” said Larson. “Lawmakers in Texas, Missouri, and North Carolina have already enacted new Congressional maps eliminating a number of majority-minority districts. If Congress does not step in to stop these Jim Crow racial gerrymanders, Black voters in the South could be left with little to no representation in the United States House of Representatives by the end of this decade. We cannot sit on the sidelines. As my late friend, colleague, and seatmate, John Lewis would say, now is the time for some good trouble. We must act to restore the Voting Rights Act and end the redistricting war playing out across the country, so every American’s voice can be heard at the ballot box.”
Perosino, Charles
Larson Opposes $70 Billion Republican Blank Check for ICE
Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) opposed Republicans’ budget resolution advancing a $70 billion blank check for ICE and Border Patrol. Last month, the Senate unanimously voted to provide funding to ensure pay for TSA and the Coast Guard, but House Republicans have refused to hold a vote – refusing to fund paychecks for TSA officers and members of the Coast Guard unless billions in new funding is approved for ICE. Larson has called for disbanding ICE and diverting their funding to build more affordable housing and lower healthcare costs. He also introduced the Make America Govern Again (MAGA) Act to ensure all civilian and military personnel get paid during an agency shutdown, while withholding pay for Members of Congress, the President, the Vice President, and members of the Cabinet.
“Last year, Republicans gave ICE a $75 billion slush fund, transforming the agency into Donald Trump’s personal army in essence,” said Larson. “We have seen agents execute U.S. citizens in the streets, snatch mothers from their children in our communities, and use excessive force against peaceful protesters. Now, they want to pass another $70 billion for this cruel and lawless agenda – holding up pay for our hard-working TSA officers and Coast Guard until ICE gets another blank check. I have opposed ICE since its inception. They don’t need more funding – they need to be disbanded. Congress should focus on paying our civil servants and troops and taking on the high prices squeezing families thanks to the failed Trump agenda, not billions for ICE. Democrats are ready to act for the American people.”
Perosino, Charles
For Immediate Release:
April 30, 2026
Contact:
Charles Perosino 202-209-3828
Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) opposed Republicans’ farm bill that cuts assistance for farmers by $1 billion and cements $187 billion in cuts to SNAP nutrition benefits laid out in the so-called ‘Big Beautiful Bill.’ In Connecticut’s First District, more than 45,000 households receive SNAP, including households with children, seniors, and disabled workers.
“This Farm Bill does nothing to lower the high grocery costs squeezing families or deliver the financial support our local growers need,” said Larson. “It is a backdoor scheme to hand out more tax breaks for the rich. Since Republicans forced through their tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy last July, 33,000 people in Connecticut have lost the SNAP benefits they rely on to put food on the table. I have already heard from local growers in my district who are struggling, but this bill would also slash $1 billion in assistance to help them cover their rising operational costs. Whether it is food assistance for our most vulnerable or the support our farmers need to feed our communities, this bill has nothing for working-class Americans. I will continue fighting with my Democratic colleagues to restore the cuts squeezing our families and deliver the aid our farmers deserve.”
Perosino, Charles
Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) issued the following statement after the House passed a funding bill to ensure TSA agents, FEMA personnel, and members of the Coast Guard are paid, while rejecting Republican demands to hand ICE another blank check as part of any funding deal. Larson has called for disbanding ICE and diverting their funding to build more affordable housing and lower healthcare costs.
“After refusing to ensure pay for our TSA agents, FEMA workers, and Coast Guard, the House finally relented and passed the same bill the Senate passed unanimously more than a month ago,” said Larson. “I’m proud of Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro for leading the fight to ensure our civil servants and troops will be paid without providing more money to advance Donald Trump’s cruel immigration agenda. ICE has become Trump’s secret police force, in essence, and continues to evade any form of accountability from the American people. They do not need any more funding. They need to be disbanded! I have opposed the agency since its inception and will keep fighting to hold them accountable to keep our residents safe.”
Perosino, Charles
Washington, D.C. – Today, House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee Ranking Member John B. Larson (CT-01) introduced a Resolution of Inquiry with Ways and Means Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (MA-01) and Democrats on the Ways and Means Committee to compel President Trump to hand over documents to Congress relating to a whistleblower allegation that a ‘DOGE’ staffer bragged about copying confidential records from the Social Security Administration onto a thumb drive for personal use and profit in the private sector.
The confidential information that the ‘DOGE’ staffer reportedly claimed to have taken from the agency included Social Security numbers, places and dates of birth, citizenship, race and ethnicity, and parents’ names. The Resolution of Inquiry would compel the Trump Administration to produce all records, correspondence, and call logs related to this whistleblower report.
“This is yet another appalling whistleblower report to come out of Social Security, revealing the extent of potential criminal activity by ‘DOGE’ employees and the theft of personal data,” said Larson. “The American people’s trust and privacy have been gravely violated, and they deserve answers. For more than a year, Ranking Member Neal and I have been demanding the truth from Elon Musk’s ‘DOGE’ and the Trump officials who gave them access to confidential records they should have never been allowed to access. Rather than hold this administration accountable, House Republicans have stood in the way of our inquiries, going so far as to change the House rules to prevent us from bringing these measures forward. We will not give up this fight. It is important to have a clear and detailed accounting of ‘DOGE’ wrongdoing, a full investigation, and criminal charges if the law was violated.”
“The more that’s uncovered about DOGE, the more alarming this situation becomes,” said Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal. “All of the facts must come to light, and the American people deserve answers about who accessed their information, how it was used, where it was taken, and whether it’s been exploited in the time since. That’s why this Resolution of Inquiry is so important, and while House Republicans continue obstructing the truth, Ways and Means Democrats will continue fighting to get the answers the people deserve.”
This is the fourth Resolution of Inquiry Ranking Member Larson has introduced to demand accountability from ‘DOGE.’ In March 2025, Larson and Neal introduced a Resolution of Inquiry to demand answers about ‘DOGE’ activity at Social Security. In September 2025, Larson and Neal introduced a Resolution of Inquiry compelling information about ‘DOGE’ access to Social Security’s databases. In February, Larson and Neal introduced a Resolution of Inquiry probing for information about the potential ‘DOGE’ election interference scheme at Social Security.
Larson and Neal also introduced the Protecting Americans’ Social Security Data Act to prevent ‘DOGE’ and other political appointees and Special Government Employees from accessing private and confidential data at the Social Security Administration and penalties for privacy violations relating to data misuse.
Full text of the Resolution of Inquiry is available HERE.
Perosino, Charles
For Immediate Release:
May 1, 2026
Contact:
Charles Perosino 202-209-3828
Larson Condemns ‘DOGE’ Public Release of Social Security Numbers of Doctors and Medical Providers
East Hartford, CT – Today, House Social Security Subcommittee Ranking Member John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement after the Washington Post revealed that ‘DOGE’ officials at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) launched a portal that publicly disclosed the Social Security numbers of some doctors and medical providers.
“For more than a year, ‘DOGE’ employees have had their hands on your personal data – Social Security numbers, home addresses, income histories, and even medical records,” said Larson. “They have uploaded Americans’ most sensitive information to a potentially unsecure cloud, schemed to use it with political groups to overturn elections, and even reportedly bragged about copying Social Security databases onto a thumb drive for personal use. Last night, we learned that Medicare officials publicly disclosed the Social Security numbers of physicians and other health care providers through an online portal. Time and time again, we have demanded hearings in the United States Congress and introduced Resolutions of Inquiry to compel ‘DOGE’ to come forward and answer for their actions. The Republican majority has stood in the way, even going as far as changing House rules to prevent us from advancing our inquiries and protect these bad actors from accountability. If these criminal allegations are not enough for Republicans to investigate, where will they draw the line?”
Ranking Member Larson has introduced four Resolutions of Inquiry to demand answers from ‘DOGE’ and other Trump officials on their use of personal data at the Social Security Administration. He also introduced the Protecting Americans’ Social Security Data Act to prevent political appointees and special government employees like DOGE from accessing private and confidential data at the Social Security Administration and increase penalties for privacy violations relating to data misuse.
Perosino, Charles
For Immediate Release:
May 7, 2026
Contact:
Charles Perosino 202-209-3828
Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) introduced the Assault Weapons Financing Accountability Act to ban the use of predatory Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) payment plans for purchasing assault weapons and ghost gun kits that can be used to build them.
Banning the use of these instant financing options for assault weapons and ghost gun kits is an essential step to getting these weapons of war off our streets and preventing tragedies before they occur. Buy Now, Pay Later schemes allow shooters to immediately take possession of these weapons of war without exchanging any money. Firms like Credova have been known for aggressively advertising this payment option for firearms in the United States. In 2022, Rep. Larson led a letter to Credova CEO Dusty Wunderlich requesting information about the use of Credova’s Buy Now, Pay Later services to finance online purchases for guns, ammunitions, and firearm accessories.
“Connecticut is no stranger to the scourge of gun violence plaguing our nation,” said Larson. “Nearly 14 years ago, we lost 26 innocent lives in the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary. Since then, gun violence has ripped apart more communities and families across our nation. Enough is enough. We are introducing commonsense legislation to ban buy now, pay later plans for assault weapons, which have become popular among mass shooters as a way to instantly finance and purchase their weapons. I will continue to work with advocates and my colleagues to do more, so no American has to fear going to school, their place of worship, or the grocery store.”
“‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ schemes for assault weapons threaten public safety by facilitating impulsive and reckless purchases of extremely dangerous firearms,” said Mark Collins, Director of Federal Policy at Brady: United Against Gun Violence. “These financing programs allow young individuals with little-to-no credit history to easily acquire weapons of war, maximizing gun industry profits at the expense of arming would-be mass shooters. Brady thanks Representative Larson for introducing the Assault Weapon Financing Accountability Act, which will end this predatory practice and bring us one step closer to freeing America from gun violence.”
"Most of the deadliest mass shootings in our nation's history have been committed using assault weapons,” said Emma Brown, Executive Director at GIFFORDS. “These are not guns that should be purchased with the same kind of payment plans consumers use for televisions and holiday presents. This bill will make it harder for dangerous people to get instant access to assault weapons (without ever intending to pay for them). We urge Congress to swiftly pass this important piece of legislation."
In June 2016, following the Pulse nightclub shooting, Rep. Larson and his colleagues staged a sit-in on the House floor to demand action on gun violence prevention, shutting down the House for 26 hours. Rep. Larson supports the Bipartisan Background Checks Act to establish universal background checks for firearms transfers, an Assault Weapons Ban, and Rep. Rosa DeLauro’s bill to create safe firearm storage standards and protect minors.
Original cosponsors of the Assault Weapons Financing Accountability Act include Reps. Julia Brownley (CA-26), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Scott Peters (CA-50), Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Frederica Wilson (FL-24).
Full bill text is available HERE.
Perosino, Charles
Larson Applauds Court Ruling Striking Down Second Trump Attempt to Impose Global Tariffs
East Hartford, CT – Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01), a member of the House Trade Subcommittee, released the following statement after the U.S. Trade Court struck down President Trump’s second attempt to impose tariffs on goods imported into the United States from across the globe. After the Supreme Court ruled in February that the President could not use emergency powers to impose tariffs, he attempted to reimpose them under other dubious authorities.
“The Supreme Court already rebuked the President's costly tariffs, but Donald Trump sees our Constitution as a mere suggestion to follow, and not the law of the land,” said Larson. “As families are squeezed by sky-high grocery bills and gas prices, his latest round of tariffs is only pouring salt in the wound. The average household has already had nearly $2,000 stolen from them by this administration, and they should not have to pay a penny more. President Trump must comply with the law by ending his illegal tax on the American people and getting families and small businesses the refunds they are owed.”
According to the Yale Budget Lab, the average household paid more than $1,700 last year thanks to President Trump’s tariffs. As a member of the House Trade Subcommittee, Larson helped introduce legislation to suspend many of President Trump’s tariffs and require Congress to vote before new tariffs can go into effect.
Following the Supreme Court’s ruling in February, he joined Rep. Steven Horsford (NV-04) to introduce the RELIEF Act, requiring automatic refunds of tariffs and customs duties paid by small and family-owned businesses. Larson and Horsford also wrote to the CEOs of ten major retailers to ensure the tariff refunds they receive from the federal government are passed on to their customers.
Kurzawa, Caroline
For Immediate Release:
May 12, 2026
Contact:
Caroline Kurzawa 202-503-5382
Washington, D.C. - Today, House Social Security Subcommittee Ranking Member John B. Larson (CT-01) wrote to U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Mehmet Oz, pressing for answers after ‘DOGE’ officials at CMS launched a portal that publicly disclosed the Social Security numbers of some doctors and medical providers.
“The Trump Administration's 'DOGE' cronies have been combing through the American people’s personal records for over a year, and they cannot be trusted,” said Larson. “Since then, we’ve learned of their work to use data to help overturn elections, and now, the public disclosure of physicians’ individual Social Security numbers. I have demanded hearings, requested subpoenas, and introduced Resolutions of Inquiry to compel these bad actors to come forward and come clean. From Elon Musk to Dr. Oz, Trump officials have not only obstructed our probes, but they have enabled ‘DOGE’ at every step of the way. Americans deserve answers for this unforgiveable privacy breach that put doctors across the country as grave risk of identity theft.”
Ranking Member Larson was joined by Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (MA-01), Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), and Oversight Subcommittee Ranking Member Terri A. Sewell (AL-07).
“The mere fact that this sensitive information was sitting on a public website for an unknown period of time raises significant concerns about identity theft for the providers subject to the breach, as well as broader concerns about this Administration’s handling of sensitive information,” the lawmakers wrote. “This is the exact type of data that bad actors have used to defraud the Medicare program, and while the agency is working to remedy the problem, the harm has already been done.”
“Ways and Means Democrats have repeatedly raised alarm over the Administration’s reckless mishandling of highly sensitive Social Security data, sending multiple letters to the Social Security Administration (SSA) and introducing Resolutions of Inquiry to compel transparency when our requests for information went unanswered. Not only have the responses we have received from our letters been far from satisfactory, but they have also revealed a lack of concern regarding the privacy of Americans’ personal data and the integrity of our public programs,” they continued.
The Ranking Members demanded an immediate briefing on this “unforgiveable” data breach, and answers to the following questions:
- When and how did CMS and/or Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) staff become aware of the data breach?
- What was/is the relationship with CMS, HHS, and DOGE in developing and maintaining the provider directory website? Were/are DOGE staff involved? If so, please describe the nature of their involvement.
- What contractors were used, if any, to develop or maintain the provider directory?
- Did staff know about the data breach before being alerted by reporters at The Washington Post?
- How long did it take before CMS staff removed the SSNs and other sensitive information from the Medicare provider directory website?
- How many providers were exposed to this data breach? What has been the process for contacting these providers to alert them to the breach?
- What sort of remedies is the Administration offering the providers who may have potentially had their identities stolen as a result of the CMS data breach?
- What steps is CMS taking to ensure that fraudsters will not take advantage of the recklessness of exposing provider SSNs?
- Were any other data inappropriately posted on the provider directory website? If so, which data?
- What is CMS doing to ensure this type of episode does not happen again?
Their full letter to Secretary Kennedy and Administrator Oz is available HERE.
Perosino, Charles
For Immediate Release:
May 13, 2026
Contact:
Charles Perosino 202-209-3828
Larson Statement on the Passing of Former Connecticut First Lady Natalie ‘Nikki’ O’Neill
Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement on the passing of former Connecticut First Lady Nikki O’Neill.
“I am deeply saddened to hear about Nikki O’Neill’s passing, a down-to-earth and gracious First Lady of the State of Connecticut,” said Larson. “As First Lady, she served our state with honor alongside Governor O’Neill. I was proud to work hand-in-hand with Nikki during my time in the State Senate to uplift Connecticut residents and support communities across our state. She followed a call to public service – serving in the classroom as a teacher in East Hartford – to help educate the next generation of leaders. She had a great appreciation for the arts and literature, opening the doors of the Governor’s Residence to artists and filling the library with books by Connecticut authors. Most of all, she led with grace and dignity, and she will be greatly missed. I send my deepest condolences to the O’Neill family and their loved ones during this difficult time.”
Perosino, Charles
For Immediate Release:
May 14, 2026
Contact:
Charles Perosino 202-209-3828
Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) joined Reps. Ilhan Omar (MN-05) and Jim McGovern (MA-02), and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), to announce the introduction of the Universal School Meals Program Act. Their bill would offer free breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack to every student in America, regardless of income, eliminate school meal debt, and incentivize the use of locally grown food in schools. This follows the approval of Connecticut’s newest budget that provides $12 million for universal free school breakfast.
The Republican budget passed last year cuts the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by $186 billion, reducing or eliminating benefits for 34,000 Connecticut residents. In Connecticut’s First District, more than 45,000 households receive SNAP nutrition benefits, with 42.2% of those households reporting a child under 18 in the residence.
“As a former public-school teacher, I know how important it is for children to have the nutrition they need to be successful,” said Larson. “In the wealthiest nation in the world, no child should go hungry. Students should be able to focus on what they are learning in the classroom, not where their next meal will come from. I’m proud to team up with my colleagues to build on the progress we made in Connecticut this year and bring universal school meals nationwide. Taking food out of the mouths of children is flat-out cruel. That is what Donald Trump and the Republicans did last year by slashing SNAP and funding for school meals to pay for tax breaks for their billionaire buddies. I’ll continue to work on commonsense solutions that feed our children and families, and invest in the Americans who need our help the most, not the wealthy and well-connected.”
“It is outrageous that, while the billionaire class has never had it so good, one in five children will go hungry in America this year,” said Sanders. “The United States is the richest country in the history of the world. Nobody should be going hungry. And what we learned during the pandemic is that a universal approach to school meals works and helps kids do better in school. States across the country continue to prove this every day. It is time for Congress to reinstate universal school meals at the national level to finally ensure no student goes hungry.”
“No child should have to sit in a classroom hungry or worried about where their next meal will come from,” said Omar. “As a former nutrition educator and someone who experienced hunger firsthand, this fight is deeply personal to me. I have always believed you must feed kids’ bellies before you can feed their brains. That is why I am proud to partner again with Bernie Sanders to introduce the Universal School Meals Program Act, which would provide free breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks to students year-round. Universal school meals are not a luxury—they are a necessity.”
"School meals improve food security, health outcomes, and academic performance—simply put, they help kids succeed. Several states—including my home state of Massachusetts—have permanently implemented free universal school meals, helping expand access to breakfasts and lunches for all students. It has been hugely successful in increasing participation, reducing stigma, and making life a little easier and more affordable for families,” said McGovern. “It is long past time we permanently implement universal school meals nationwide and increase reimbursement rates to ensure every student can go to school knowing they have two healthy meals to fuel their learning.”
The Universal School Meals Program Act would:
- Provide free breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack to every student — regardless of income.
- Eliminate school meal debt for every public-school student in America by reimbursing schools.
- Increase the reimbursement rate for schools to get closer to the actual cost of producing meals.
- Incentivize schools to buy from local farms, bringing food from nearby farms into schools while supporting local economies.
- Expand access to summer meals to all children and increase SUN Bucks (Summer EBT) for lower-income children.
- Strengthen and expand the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) to allow three meals and a snack each day, eliminate the two-tiered reimbursement rate for CACFP, and allow childcare providers to receive the highest reimbursement rate regardless of income.
Full bill text is available HERE.
A summary of the Universal School Meals Program Act is available HERE.
Perosino, Charles
Larson Votes to Withdraw U.S. Forces from Iran and End Trump’s Illegal War
Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) voted for a war powers resolution to withdraw U.S. forces from Iran for the third time, following Trump’s threats to annihilate an “entire civilization.” Last month, Larson called on President Trump to recant this threat to the Iranian people and end this war, which was not authorized by Congress. He has also filed articles of impeachment against the President of the United States and U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, for their conduct in direct contravention of Article I of the U.S. Constitution and the War Powers Resolution.
“Last month, Trump called for the annihilation of an ‘entire civilization.’ Words matter, and this President may believe he is above the law, but we will continue to hold him accountable for his illegal war,” said Larson. “He has waged this illegal war for more than 60 days and still refuses to come before Congress to authorize military force in Iran or even provide any information about the mission or exit strategy. He is failing to abide by his oath of office, and Republicans are letting it happen – once again siding with Donald Trump over the Constitution. The President owes answers to Congress, the American people, our troops, and the families of the thirteen servicemembers who have died. As Americans face higher costs at the gas pump, Democrats will continue to sound the alarm about this abuse of power and fight to end this chaos before our Armed Forces become entangled in another forever war in the Middle East.”
This is the third time Larson has voted to withdraw U.S. forces from Iran, including votes in March and April. In January, Larson voted to withdraw U.S. forces from hostilities with Venezuela after Trump authorized operations there without prior Congressional approval. Larson also voted against the Iraq War in 2002.
Perosino, Charles
For Immediate Release:
May 18, 2026
Contact:
Charles Perosino 202-209-3828
Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) joined with his fellow Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee and Judiciary Committee, filing a brief urging U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams to dismiss Trump v. IRS and fully scrutinize the settlement agreement announced this morning by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). He also announced new legislation requiring Congressional approval before DOJ can spend taxpayer dollars on any legal settlement resolving a case involving the President, the President’s immediate family, or any business entity they own or control.
“Never in our nation’s history has a sitting President sought a settlement with the government he leads, until now,” said Larson. “He is trying to fleece taxpayers out of over a billion dollars by strong-arming officials into a settlement for his own businesses and even trying to redirect taxpayer funds to convicted fraudsters and January 6th insurrectionists that he pardoned. Money deducted from your paycheck to fund our government should never go to Donald Trump’s bank account or payoffs to his MAGA allies. Whether it’s billion-dollar corporations screwing over their customers or billionaire presidents trying to make a quick buck off the American people, we cannot stand by. The courts must reject this weaponization of our legal system to enrich his friends, and I will be introducing legislation to require explicit Congressional approval before any of your money can be spent on this dirty deal.”
In January, President Trump filed an unprecedented lawsuit, demanding $10 billion in damages for alleged mishandling of tax data at the IRS he oversees. Never in the history of the United States has a sitting President sought a monetary settlement from the government he leads—let alone one totaling many billions of dollars in taxpayer funds. As the Department of Justice attempts to move forward with this $1.7 billion settlement, which could include taxpayer-funded payouts to January 6th insurrectionists and business entities owned by President Trump and his family, the Democratic lawmakers filed an urgent court brief calling for the dismissal of this frivolous and opportunistic lawsuit.
Earlier this year, Larson also introduced the Prevent Presidential Profiteering Act with House Tax Subcommittee Ranking Member Mike Thompson (CA-04) to block the President’s lawsuit by imposing a 100% tax on any civil settlement awarded to the President, the President’s immediate family, or any business entity they own or control.
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Perosino, Charles
For Immediate Release:
May 19, 2026
Contact:
Charles Perosino 202-209-3828
Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) offered two amendments to ensure a fair contracting process and a Project Labor Agreement for construction of the new Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum. Larson has been a strong supporter of the bipartisan effort in Congress to build a Women’s History Museum and a National Museum of the American Latino. Republicans walked away from this process, attempting to give President Trump unprecedented power over the Women’s History Museum, including the erasure of all transgender representation, and rejecting the Latino museum entirely. Republicans on the House Rules Committee voted as a bloc to reject Larson’s amendments, overcoming Democratic objections to this hijacked process for political gain.
Following revelations that Donald Trump pushed a $7 million no-bid contract to somebody who worked on his swimming pools, in an effort to turn the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool blue, Larson’s first amendment would prohibit the Board of Regents and other Federal agencies from awarding contracts for the planning, design, or construction of a building for the Museum unless they provide full and open competition. Full text is available HERE.
“As Donald Trump continues to try to fleece taxpayers out of billions of dollars to pay off his companies, fund his golden ballroom, and create a Reflecting Pool rush job for his business ally, Congress must protect the bidding process from these corrupt dealings,” said Larson. “My amendment will save taxpayer dollars and make sure the best possible museum is built by ensuring a full and open competition for this contract. Shamefully, my Republican colleagues voted to reject this common-sense, good government amendment, and continue to enable Trump's endless grift.”
Larson’s second amendment would require any entity responsible for building or construction activity for the Museum to enter into a Project Labor Agreement (PLA). Rep. Larson recently helped negotiate a federal determination requiring a PLA for the federal courthouse project in Hartford – securing hundreds of good-paying, union construction jobs in the city. Full text is available HERE.
“Big Business and their allies at all levels, from city halls to the White House, will always try to cut labor out of the bidding process for construction jobs,” Larson continued. “Elected leaders should never use their influence to deny good-paying, union jobs to the people they are sworn to serve. Our amendment will make sure the President and his hand-picked allies overseeing the construction of the Women’s History Museum cannot put their thumb on the scale. Requiring a Project Labor Agreement is a key step for workers to be fairly compensated, and ensure the project is cost effective and completed on time. While my amendment was rejected today, I will not stop fighting for the pay, benefits, and contracts our workers deserve.”
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Perosino, Charles
For Immediate Release:
May 20, 2026
Contact:
Charles Perosino 202-209-3828
Larson and Ways and Means Democrats Introduce SLUSH FUND Act to Tax Presidential Settlements at 100%
Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) announced new legislation to prevent sitting presidents from profiting off of lawsuits against their own government with Tax Subcommittee Ranking Member Mike Thompson (CA-04) and Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (MA-01).
The SLUSH FUND Act would tax the President’s unethical $1.8 billion slush fund settlement with the IRS meant to benefit January 6th rioters and other MAGA allies at 100 percent, rightfully returning taxpayers’ money back to the people of the United States. The legislation also imposes an additional 50 percent penalty on any willful attempt to avoid or evade the tax. This week, Larson announced plans to introduce legislation to require Congressional approval before the Department of Justice can spend taxpayer dollars on any legal settlement resolving a case involving the President, the President’s immediate family, or any business entity they own or control. When President Trump first filed his lawsuit against the IRS, Larson and Thompson introduced the Prevent Presidential Profiteering Act to preemptively block the President and his allies from collecting any settlement arising from the case.
“The President should be focused on public service, not personal gain and profit,” said Larson. “Never in our nation’s history has a sitting president sought a settlement against their own government. Hardworking American taxpayers should not have to write blank checks to Trump, his cronies, and violent January 6th insurrectionists who attacked our Capitol. We cannot allow Donald Trump to continue to treat the American people like his next get-rich-quick scheme. Not a single penny of your money should be siphoned off to his pockets. Our bill will keep taxpayer funding where it belongs, not in the hands of the Trump family and convicted criminals who support them.”
“This president continues to use the Office of the Presidency for personal gain, including by suing the federal government to line the pockets of January 6th insurrectionists who attacked law enforcement and tried to overturn our democratic election. That’s unacceptable,” said Tax Subcommittee Ranking Member Mike Thompson. “My legislation ensures if a sitting president sues our government while in office, they get taxed 100 percent on any money paid through a trial or settlement.”
“Donald Trump has turned the presidency into a personal profit center using taxpayer dollars to reward the same extremists who attacked our democracy on January 6th, and enrich his family empire, all while Republicans look the other way,” said Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal. “If the President wants to run a corrupt slush fund for insurrectionists and political cronies, the American people shouldn’t be forced to bankroll it.”
View full bill text HERE.
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Perosino, Charles
Larson Statement on the Passing of former Congressman Barney Frank
Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement on the passing of former Congressman Barney Frank.
“Barney Frank’s quick wit, humor, and razor-sharp intellect are still remembered in the halls of Congress today – but most notably, his enormous contributions to our country,” said Larson. “He was a strong advocate for LGBTQ+ equality, religious freedom, and economic justice, leading the charge with Chris Dodd to rein in Wall Street and rescue our financial system from collapse in the wake of a global crisis. As the first Member of Congress to openly come out as gay, he had the courage to stand up for what was right, even when he was standing alone – and he never gave up. Barney will be dearly missed as both a giant of the House of Representatives and a relentless fighter for the American people. I send my deepest condolences to his husband Jim, sister Ann, and all of his loved ones. It was a true honor to know Barney Frank as both a dear friend and colleague.”
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Perosino, Charles
Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) voted for the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act to increase the supply of housing nationwide, expanding access to affordable housing and homeownership for hardworking American families.
“Growing up in Mayberry Village in East Hartford, my parents worked hard to afford and eventually own their home,” said Larson. “Unfortunately, today, as interest rates continue to skyrocket and the cost of living rises, the dream of homeownership feels increasingly out of reach for our nation’s young people, especially as residents are even getting priced out of their rentals. We should be making it easier for families to realize the dream of homeownership, allowing them to plant roots in their communities and contribute to local economy. The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is a critical first step that I am proud to support. This bill will spur rapid housing construction and expand access to affordable housing and homeownership opportunities, while putting real protections in place to protect renters from greedy, corporate landlords. I will continue to focus on common-sense solutions to build more homes and bring down costs, including a Renter Tax Credit and new incentives to power the housing boom our nation needs.”
Among many bipartisan reforms to build more housing and drive down costs, the 21st Century Road to Housing Act:
- Provides grants to local governments for the development of pre-reviewed construction plans that comply with zoning rules, and developing guidance to help communities clear regulatory barriers and build housing quickly
- Streamlines the review process for federally supported housing, including home construction, rehabilitation, and development
- Increases the Federal Housing Administration’s (FHA) outdated multifamily loan limits and expanding access to FHA-backed mortgages under $100,000
- Allows Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to be used for the construction of new, affordable housing and increasing the cap on community investments by banks, including affordable housing projects, from 15% to 20%
- Excludes veterans’ disability benefits from income eligibility calculations for the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) program and CDBG assistance
A full summary of the House-passed 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is available HERE.
In February, Larson voted for the original House version of this bipartisan bill. Last year, Rep. Larson introduced the Neighborhood Homes Investment Act to spur the development of 500,000 affordable single-family homes over the next decade, and the Revitalizing Downtowns and Main Streets Act to incentivize the conversion of existing vacant and underutilized office buildings in cities like Hartford into new housing He also joined a group of his Democratic colleagues to introduce the American Affordability Act, which would create the first-ever monthly Renter Tax Credit and a First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit to help low- and middle-income earners.
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Perosino, Charles
For Immediate Release:
May 21, 2026
Contact:
Charles Perosino 202-209-3828
Republicans Block Larson-Led Amendment to Protect Disability Benefits from Trump’s Cuts
Washington, D.C. – Today, House Social Security Subcommittee Ranking Member John B. Larson (CT-01) offered an amendment to protect against cuts to disability benefits for some of America’s most vulnerable. The amendment would also prevent the Trump Administration from raiding SSA’s customer service budget to run their “demonstration projects.” In President Trump’s first administration, he attempted to use the same “demonstration projects” the Ways and Means Committee approved today to cut Social Security disability benefits by $50 billion.
Last year, Ranking Member Larson worked with his colleagues to fight back against and halt Trump’s plan to create one of the largest ever cuts to Social Security disability benefits.
Watch Ranking Member Larson’s remarks here.
“This bill would give the Trump Administration the ability to conduct experiments or demonstrations to help disability beneficiaries return to the workforce,” said Larson. “They want us to give them this flexibility while just last year, they tried to cut hundreds of thousands of people off of disability benefits. That's a deep and abiding concern. That's why I have an amendment that would add guardrails to Social Security's demonstration authority to protect both beneficiaries and applicants from benefit cuts. It would require that no demonstration program could result in people's benefits being lower than current law, and no demonstration could be used to deny eligibility to applicants who would be approved for SSDI under current law.”
Read Ranking Member Larson’s full remarks below.
“This bill would give the Trump Administration the ability to conduct experiments or demonstrations to help disability beneficiaries return to the workforce. They want us to give them this flexibility while just last year, they tried to cut hundreds of thousands of people off of disability benefits. That's a deep and abiding concern. Mr. Chairman, I do not believe that we can give this administration the flexibility that it seeks to throw people off of their benefits, especially since this majority has made it crystal clear they don't wish to conduct any oversight over their actions at SSA. We still haven't had ‘DOGE’ before this committee after two bombshell whistleblower allegations that those copied all of SSA’s data to a potentially vulnerable cloud, and that a former ‘DOGE’ staffer bragged about copying the agency's data to a thumb drive for personal profit. Nor did they testify after the administration admitted in court that ‘DOGE’ staff signed an agreement with an outside political advocacy group to use SSA data to overturn election results. That's why I have an amendment that would add guardrails to Social Security's demonstration authority to protect both beneficiaries and applicants from benefit cuts.
“It would require that no demonstration program could result in people's benefits being lower than current law, and no demonstration could be used to deny eligibility to applicants who would be approved for SSDI under current law. Essentially, these provisions would prevent the administration from being able to abuse this authority and cut people's benefits. Mr. Chairman, the amendment would also require the Social Security Administration to notify the public about any planned demonstrations, and to provide the same opportunities for public comment as under the Administration Procedures Act. This would add much needed transparency and a vital opportunity for the public to voice any concerns.
“Finally, Mr. Chairman, my amendment would retain current law that allows Social Security to use Disability Trust Fund dollars for the administration's cost of any demonstration. This provision has existed since 1980, and its continued use will ensure that [if] SSA operates a demonstration, it will not take away from the agency's customer service funding. SSA’s operating expenses are already less than 1% of their total budget. That is the level of efficiency seen nowhere else. Private insurance companies operate at around 20% administrative costs. Accounting for inflation, SSA’s administrative funding has fallen 21% since 2010. At the same time, the agency is serving a record number of beneficiaries, more than 70 million, with an additional 10,000 baby boomers a day retiring. We cannot further cut into that underfunded customer service budget for the Trump Administration's demonstration programs. Mr. Chairman, this should be a pretty common-sense amendment. No administration should be able to use the demonstrations programs to throw people off their benefits, and we should keep the agency's customer service funding intact. On average, my colleagues on the other side of the dais have more than 18,000 disability beneficiaries in their district.
“I've already submitted that for the record, Mr. Chairman, and I hope everyone will take a look at their own district. I'm happy to supply them with a card as well on that. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I yield back.”
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Perosino, Charles
Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) voted against H.R. 1041, Republican legislation that would weaken the background check system and put veterans in danger. Approximately 4,600 veterans die by firearm suicide every year, and the veteran firearm suicide rate has increased by 58 percent over the past two decades.
“The gun violence epidemic continues to plague our nation – it is the leading cause of death for children, and nearly 5,000 of our veterans lose their lives to firearm suicide every year,” said Larson. “Democrats are ready to enact common-sense reforms, like universal background checks and an assault weapons ban, to prevent violence and keep our communities safe. Instead, Republicans voted to make it easier for veterans at risk of suicide to get their hands on deadly firearms. The bill we voted on today is a threat to the safety of our veterans and communities across the country. We should all be able to come together to support veterans in crisis with the mental health care they need, while protecting everyone from this endless scourge of gun violence.”
H.R. 1041 would prevent the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) from transmitting information to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) when the VA appoints a fiduciary as a result of a diagnosed mental illness or severe injury preventing a beneficiary from managing their own affairs – undermining a system put in place to protect veterans and those around them, and making it harder to conduct accurate background checks before firearms are purchased. It would also retroactively remove all veterans on the NICS list due to VA reporting without any consideration to the veteran’s circumstances.
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Perosino, Charles
Larson Slams Republican Refusal to End Trump’s Illegal War in Iran
Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement after House Republicans pulled a privileged war powers resolution from consideration after determining they didn’t have enough Republican votes to block it.
“Republicans knew Democrats would win today’s vote to end Trump’s illegal war in Iran today, so they pulled the resolution from consideration,” said Larson. “That’s not democracy. That’s cowardice. U.S. servicemembers have died, and families are being squeezed at the gas pump, but Republicans will do anything to keep Trump’s war games going at taxpayers’ expense. The President must come before Congress to explain the mission and the exit strategy, as he is required to do under the War Powers Act. He is not above the law! When will Republicans remember their oath to the Constitution? It’s time to end this war before our troops become involved in yet another never-ending conflict in the Middle East.”
Larson voted for a war powers resolution last week, one in March and one in April. In January, Larson voted to withdraw U.S. forces from hostilities with Venezuela after Trump authorized operations there without prior Congressional approval. Larson also voted against the Iraq War in 2002.
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Perosino, Charles
For Immediate Release:
May 28, 2026
Contact:
Charles Perosino 202-209-3828
East Hartford, CT – Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) and Rep. Don Beyer (VA-08) announced plans to introduce the Arlington National Cemetery Viewshed Protection Act. Their bill would block the construction of Trump’s proposed 250-foot “Triumphal Arch” planned for Memorial Circle, between Washington, D.C., and the Arlington National Cemetery. Today’s announcement follows a vote from Trump appointees on the Commission of Fine Arts to approve designs for the project, and the President’s plan to circumvent the law by not seeking Congressional approval.
View Rep. Larson’s remarks on Trump’s arch here.
“From emblazoning his likeness on currency to putting his name on the Kennedy Center, Donald Trump will do just about anything with your taxpayer dollars to feed his fragile ego,” said Larson. “He is a narcissistic nihilist—plain and simple. His newest scheme is a 250-foot arch dedicated to himself, overlooking the sacred grounds of Arlington National Cemetery. We should be honoring our veterans at Arlington, not building a vanity project to make Donald Trump feel better. He has no legal right to build this gaudy monument to honor himself, but we know he has no regard for our rule of law. It’s why he appointed his cronies to greenlight this project! I’m proud to work with Rep. Beyer to block this arch from ever seeing the light of day. We will continue fighting to stop this insult to our veterans and massive waste of your taxpayer dollars.”
“Arlington National Cemetery is sacred ground, the resting place for some of our nation’s greatest heroes,” said Beyer. “It is unthinkable that we would desecrate this hallowed space to build a monument to Donald Trump’s ego. Trump’s vanity project would waste taxpayer money, brazenly violate existing law, and become yet another vehicle for his corruption. The Administration has also given no consideration to potential harmful effects on the region including impacts on air safety and traffic on major roadways. Worst of all, Trump is not trying to build this arch to commemorate national heroes, servicemembers who lie in Arlington National Cemetery, or to celebrate freedom. He did not dedicate it to the American people or our country’s greatness. Asked who this arch is for, Trump said, simply: ‘me.’ Congress must draw the line at dishonoring our fallen with such naked displays of narcissism, and I therefore call on all members of both parties to join our efforts to block this arch.”
Trump’s proposed arch is plainly illegal under the Commemorative Works Act, which requires Congressional approval for memorials on federal land in or near D.C. The Arlington National Cemetery Viewshed Protection Act would:
- Explicitly prohibit construction of a triumphal arch within Lady Bird Johnson Park, the small island between Arlington Memorial Cemetery and the Potomac River;
- Permanently prohibit the use of federal funds for such an arch; and
- Prohibit the construction of such an arch or similarly-disruptive and non-Congressionally approved structures on any National Park Service lands within the National Capital Region.
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Perosino, Charles
For Immediate Release:
May 29, 2026
Contact:
Charles Perosino 202-209-3828
Larson Applauds Court Order Blocking Taxpayer-Funded Payouts to Trump Allies
East Hartford, CT – Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) applauded a federal court order blocking the disbursement of taxpayer funding to Trump allies as part of a settlement agreement in Trump v. IRS, the President’s unprecedented lawsuit demanding nearly $2 billion in payouts to himself, his businesses, and his allies, included convicted fraudsters and violent rioters who participated in the January 6th insurrection.
“President Trump has shown the American people that he will do just about anything to enrich himself with their tax dollars—while doing nothing to make life more affordable for families,” said Larson. “He already commandeered a sham settlement for his own businesses, convicted fraudsters, and even violent insurrectionists he pardoned. I am glad to see the courts step in to block this scam and will continue to work in Congress to ensure that not a single penny is siphoned off to Donald Trump’s pockets or any of his MAGA allies. Whether it’s billion-dollar corporations screwing over their customers or billionaire presidents trying to make a quick buck off the American people, we cannot stand by. I have already introduced urgent legislation to block the use of taxpayer funds for this settlement and will be introducing another measure to force Congress to vote before any of your money can be spent.”
Last week, Larson introduced the SLUSH FUND Act with his fellow Democrats on the Ways and Means Committee to tax the President’s unethical $1.8 billion slush fund settlement with the IRS meant to benefit January 6th rioters and other MAGA allies at 100 percent, rightfully returning taxpayers’ money back to the people of the United States. He also announced plans to introduce legislation to require Congressional approval before the Department of Justice can spend taxpayer dollars on any legal settlement resolving a case involving the President, the President’s immediate family, or any business entity they own or control.
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Perosino, Charles
Larson Commends Court Order Reversing Trump Desecration of the Kennedy Center
East Hartford, CT – Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) applauded a court ruling removing Donald Trump’s name from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and reopening the living memorial, on what would have been President Kennedy’s 109th birthday.
“As we mark President John F. Kennedy’s 109th birthday, I want to applaud Judge Cooper for making the right decision—ending President Trump’s illegal desecration of the Kennedy Center,” said Larson. “President Kennedy was a war hero and president who actually put the American people first. He was the furthest thing from Donald Trump one could imagine. I want to thank my colleague, Joyce Beatty, who sits on the board of the Kennedy Center, for standing up and challenging this president in court. While he may seek to place his name above our beloved former President, he will never have the impact, grace, or long-lasting legacy of John Fitzgerald Kennedy.”
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Perosino, Charles
For Immediate Release:
June 1, 2026
Contact:
Charles Perosino 202-209-3828
East Hartford, CT – Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) applauded today’s Superior Court decision in Amadasun v. Armstrong, allowing South Windsor Councilman-elect Harrison Amadasun to rightfully take the seat he was elected to last November. Following his election to the South Windsor Town Council, officials blocked him from being rightfully seated on the Council by illegally citing a revision to the Town Charter that is not due to go into effect until 2027, instead seating a Republican candidate who received almost 1,000 fewer votes than Amadasun.
“Congratulations to Councilman-elect Amadasun on today’s hard-fought victory,” said Larson. “Voters spoke last November and dutifully elected him to serve on the South Windsor Town Council, before he was illegally blocked from assuming office. Free and fair elections are under attack across our country, but today’s court victory shows that democracy must always prevail. We will continue to fight tooth and nail against any attempt to subvert the will of the people. I look forward to Harrison’s swearing in tonight and congratulate him on his seat, where I know he will get right to work for the people of South Windsor – as he should have been allowed to do months ago.”
In January, Rep. Larson applauded the Connecticut Supreme Court’s decision to take the case to trial. Rep. Larson also submitted public testimony in support of Councilman-elect Harrison Amadasun’s bid to be seated as the rightful winner at the South Windsor Town Council meeting on January 5th.
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Perosino, Charles
East Hartford, CT – Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement after the Trump Administration announced it would be pausing plans to create a $1.8 billion slush fund for Trump family members, January 6th insurrectionists, convicted fraudsters, and other MAGA allies. This follows a Friday court order that blocked the taxpayer-funded payout from moving forward.
“Seems like Trump and his buddies have finally seen the writing on the wall—cutting yourself a $2 billion check does not sit so well with taxpayers struggling to make ends meet, but this fight is far from over,” said Larson. “I may have been born at night but not last night. I know Trump and his cronies will continue working to find a way to get their taxpayer-funded settlement, no matter what the courts say. Public service should be about serving the people, not strong-arming sweetheart deals for personal gain and profit. Whether it’s billion-dollar corporations screwing over their customers or billionaire presidents trying to make a quick buck off the American people, we cannot stand idly by. We must act now to block this rogue president from enriching himself on the American people’s dime. I will be introducing legislation to require Congressional approval before this settlement can move forward in any form – ensuring no public funds are siphoned into Donald Trump’s pocket, and no agreement can protect him and his family from facing accountability for dodging their taxes.”
Last month, Larson introduced the SLUSH FUND Act with his fellow Democrats on the Ways and Means Committee to tax the President’s unethical $1.8 billion slush fund settlement with the IRS meant to benefit January 6th rioters and other MAGA allies at 100 percent, rightfully returning taxpayers’ money back to the people of the United States. He also announced plans to introduce legislation to require Congressional approval before the Department of Justice can spend taxpayer dollars on any legal settlement resolving a case involving the President, the President’s immediate family, or any business entity they own or control.
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Perosino, Charles
For Immediate Release:
June 3, 2026
Contact:
Charles Perosino 202-209-3828
East Hartford, CT – Today, House Social Security Subcommittee Ranking Member John B. Larson (CT-01) and Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) led 74 House Democrats demanding answers from the Social Security Administration (SSA) on the impact of the Trump Administration’s staffing cuts.
Earlier this year, in an attempt to cover up high phone wait time, SSA reassigned employees from its Disability Adjudication, Financial and Management, Field Office Services, Risk and Quality, Digital Services, and Chief Information Officer units to assist in monitoring its public call-in phone line. These staffing changes have resulted in poorer services for beneficiaries, including reduced in-person services, office closures, and service delays. Reassigned employees are also receiving less-than-adequate training, often only receiving three hours of training before being assigned to phone duties the same day, and are unable to professionally handle cases for individuals in crisis or with time-sensitive needs.
“We write to express our deep concern with the Social Security Administration’s decision to
reassign thousands of Social Security Administration (SSA) employees away from their primary, essential duties in order to address excessive wait times on SSA’s toll-free number for customer service,” the members wrote. “While we understand the need
to reduce wait times for calls, the blanket reassignment of personnel from other high-priority tasks appears to have exacerbated backlogs and extended overdue processing times in other critical areas of the SSA.”
“These employee reassignments have the potential to cause massive service delays and add to SSA’s already overwhelming case backlog, which stands at 6 million pending cases at SSA processing centers and 12 million transactions in field offices,” the members continued. “While on paper, the reassignment may shorten wait times for calls regarding unprocessed claims and paperwork, if the people responsible for processing those claims are unable to do their jobs, it will only delay the receipt of benefits and lead to worse outcomes for the individuals SSA is meant to serve.”
The members requested information regarding the impact of the staff changes, including:
1. What does the training given to displaced staff include?
2. What impact does SSA project the staff reassignments will have on field office appointment times?
3. What has the impact of this reassignment been on caller satisfaction rates?
4. What other assessments is the SSA conducting to track the efficacy and impact of reassignments?
Read the full letter here.
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Perosino, Charles
Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) led a coalition of New England Democrats urging the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to reject the New England Transmission Owners’ (NETOs) recent request to increase their profit margins, a plan that would further raise utility costs on New England ratepayers. Last month, Eversource, a member of the NETO, announced a planned 11% rate increase starting next July.
“As the weather heats up, we should be making it more affordable for families to keep their homes cool—not pad the pockets of utility executive with baseless rate increases,” said Larson. “Electricity bills are skyrocketing because of failed Trump policies at the federal level and profiteering by New England Transmission Owners, including a new request to increase their profit margins, a move that would further raise costs for ratepayers. While state leaders in Connecticut try to beat back Eversource’s burdensome 11% rate increase, I’m proud to lead a coalition of Democrats from across New England to oppose this new plan. Billion-dollar corporations and conglomerates have no right to prioritize their own greed at the expense of the people they claim to serve.”
Larson’s letter was cosigned by Reps. Gabe Amo (RI-01), Becca Balint (VT-AL), Joe Courtney (CT-02), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), Seth Magaziner (RI-02), Seth Moulton (MA-06), and Chris Pappas (NH-01).
“We write to express our opposition to the New England Transmission Owners’ (NETOs) April 30 request to increase their profit margins at the expense of the families and businesses we represent,” the members wrote. “We proudly echo the concerns that the governors of our six states have already raised in service of our constituents and urge you to deny this request.”
“Keeping a watchful eye on affordability is a key responsibility as more Americans struggle with the rising cost of living, in particular, utility bills. FERC shares that responsibility as it oversees the levers of utility pricing. Electricity experienced the fifth-fastest price inflation among common household consumption categories, rising 40.4 percent since November 2019,” the members continued. “This proposed increase would come on the backs of our already strained small businesses and hardworking families.”
View the letter HERE or below.
We write to express our opposition to the New England Transmission Owners’ (NETOs) April 30 request to increase their profit margins at the expense of the families and businesses we represent. We proudly echo the concerns that the governors of our six states have already raised in service of our constituents and urge you to deny this request.
The NETOs’ request to increase their return on equity (ROE) to 11.39 percent is extremely inappropriate given Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)’s March 2026 ruling that they had been overcharging ratepayers for more than a decade. In the ruling, FERC lowered NETOs’ authorized ROE to 9.57 from the 10.57% they had been charging. Transmission rates in New England are more than double the average in other markets, and our utility costs are the highest in the nation, all while our investor-owned utilities show huge profit margins to their shareholders.
Members of Congress must look out for our constituents, both families and small businesses. Keeping a watchful eye on affordability is a key responsibility as more Americans struggle with the rising cost of living, in particular, utility bills. FERC shares that responsibility as it oversees the levers of utility pricing. Electricity experienced the fifth-fastest price inflation among common household consumption categories, rising 40.4 percent since November 2019. In New England, electricity prices in the fall of 2025 were 170 percent higher than the national average, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Allowing NETO to increase its profit margin would put our states at a distinct disadvantage, impairing our economic competitiveness.
With these compounding concerns, we respectfully ask the Commission to consider the harmful effects of the requested increase on ratepayers and reject the NETOs’ proposal. This proposed increase would come on the backs of our already strained small businesses and hardworking families.
Finally, we stand with our governors and urge the Commission to ensure that any future proposed changes to the NETOs’ ROE only be approved if they carefully balance and reflect current financial market conditions, regional economic realities, and the overarching need to protect ratepayers from unjustified cost increases. In this role, FERC can ensure that cost increases occur to the long-term benefit of the ratepayers.
Thank you for your consideration of this matter and for your continued commitment to ensuring energy pricing that helps our constituents.
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Perosino, Charles
As Fuel Costs Continue to Rise, Larson Votes to End Trump’s Illegal War in Iran
Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) voted for a war powers resolution to end Trump’s illegal war in Iran. Four Republicans voted with Democrats to rebuke the President’s unauthorized use of military force, the first time since 2020 that the House of Representatives passed a war powers resolution. Larson also filed articles of impeachment against President Trump and U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth for waging war in Iran in direct contravention of the United States Constitution and international law.
View Rep. Larson’s reaction to the war powers vote.
“Trump’s illegal war in Iran is leading to skyrocketing gas prices, squeezing families’ wallets and making it more difficult for them to make ends meet,” said Larson. “President Trump may view the Constitution as a suggestion, but that does not change the facts, nor does it change the responsibility of the Congress to keep him in check. By refusing to come before us for approval to wage war in Iran, as he is required to under the War Powers Act, he has failed his oath of office. I was glad to see a handful of my Republican colleagues finally join Democrats to stand up. This president is not fit for office—his illegal war must come to an end. We cannot stand by and let our troops become entangled in another forever war in the Middle East.”
Last month, Larson slammed Republicans for pulling the war powers resolution from the House floor. He has voted three times this year to withdraw forces from Iran, most recently in May. In January, Larson voted to withdraw U.S. forces from hostilities with Venezuela after Trump authorized operations there without prior Congressional approval. Larson also voted against the Iraq War in 2002.
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Kurzawa, Caroline
For Immediate Release:
June 3, 2026
Contact:
Caroline Kurzawa 202-503-5382
Washington, D.C.– Today, House Social Security Subcommittee Ranking Member John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement reacting to a new report from the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB), that was featured in CBS News, illustrating how Congress’ failure to act to protect Social Security will impact Americans with automatic benefit cuts in 2032. In Connecticut alone, the average resident on Social Security will see their monthly benefit cut by $556, affecting 17.9% of the population, and resulting in the loss of 1.1% of the state’s GDP.
View Ranking Member Larson’s reaction to the reporting from CBS News.
“This report confirms what we have known for years now – if Congress fails to act, people across this country will face an automatic benefit cut of more than 20% – and Connecticut residents will be hit the hardest,” said Larson. “Instead of working with Democrats to avoid this cut, Donald Trump and Republicans continue to undermine Social Security – cutting staff and closing offices, threatening to raise the retirement age, and rummaging through your private data in their mission to privatize your hard-earned benefits. Democrats have a plan to not only protect Social Security from these cuts, but enhance benefits to keep pace with rising costs. Instead of handing millionaires and billionaires another tax cut they do not need, Elon Musk, Donald Trump, and their wealthy friends need to finally pay their fair share, just like everyone else. It is time to act.”
The CRFB released a report on June 3rd illustrating how Americans in every state would be impacted if Congress fails to act and allows the Social Security trust funds to become insolvent. The benefit cuts could amount to more than $500 a month on average for more than half of the states, impact more than 15% of the population in nearly all states, and exceed 1% of GDP in 40 states.
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Perosino, Charles
For Immediate Release:
June 4, 2026
Contact:
Charles Perosino 202-209-3828
Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) grilled Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on gas prices during a Ways and Means Committee hearing. Larson is a cosponsor of the Gas Price Relief Act to suspend the gas tax and offset costs by suspending gas and oil company tax breaks when the national average is more than $3.99 per gallon – which would lower prices at the pump now. This week, the national average is $4.24 a gallon.
During the hearing, Larson secured an agreement with the Secretary to move forward on a plan to suspend the gas tax and give Americans the relief they need. Last night, Larson also voted for the war powers resolution to end the war in Iran.
Watch Rep. Larson’s full remarks here.
“People hear a lot of rhetoric, etcetera, but that doesn't pay their grocery bills, that doesn't pay their heating costs, that doesn't put fuel in their tanks, that doesn't help them get through the day-to-day grind of their lives,” said Larson. “Secretary Bessent didn’t come here today with a plan – he wanted a standing ovation for Trump’s failed policies. He didn’t get anything close – but we left today’s hearing with a commitment to lower gas prices. Democrats have put forward a plan to suspend the gas tax and provide relief at the pump for families now. Now that we have support from the White House, we should get it done. When will Republican leadership call a vote?”
Read the full transcript of Rep. Larson’s remarks below.
Larson: Thank you. And thank you, Secretary, for joining us here today. It's always kind of unusual when you start a hearing and are instructed of what you can say or can't say in an open and free democracy. But having said that, you mentioned in your testimony core inflation a couple of times. What's the difference between core inflation and inflation?
Bessent: It is in general, energy prices and food prices, which are much more fast moving. And I would say that energy prices will roll down when this Iran conflict ends.
Larson: So, is gasoline considered part of core inflation?
Bessent: Yes, sir.
Larson: It is. So, core inflation reflects gasoline prices?
Bessent: Core inflation reflects the underlying trend in inflation and whether that inflation has become endemic to the system, as it did during President Biden’s term.
Larson: Has the war in Iran had anything to do with core inflation?
Bessent: Sir?
Larson: Does the war in Iran have anything to do with core inflation? Oh, you can't answer that either? Or are we precluded from asking that?
Bessent: Well, I'm not sure what the question is.
Larson: Let me make it as simple as I can. Does the war in Iran? Are you with me? Has the war in Iran caused rising gas prices?
Bessent: Well, again, that is the regular inflation and gas prices have gone up, which I believe will be temporary.
Larson: So, gas prices have gone up, but you believe they're temporary.
Bessent: Core inflation has dropped 0.5% since President Trump came to office.
Larson: Geez. You know, when I'm home in my district, I'm going to just tell those people, geez, you know what? You've missed this whole thing. Don't you understand core inflation? You guys are better off! I mean, these gas prices, I don't know what you people are thinking out there, for God's sake. You should be doing cartwheels in the street over the price of gas. So, what is the administration's plan to lower gas prices?
Bessent: We've taken many steps.
Larson: Are you in favor of eliminating the gas tax?
Bessent: We have moved to...
Larson: Are you in favor of eliminating the gas tax?
Bessent: We would like to work with...
Larson: Are you able to answer that or is that not answerable either?
Bessent: Well, if I'm not interrupted, I can, Congressman.
Larson: Well, I'm waiting for your answer.
Bessent: We have moved. We have asked Congress to move to eliminate the gas tax. That is done through statute.
Larson: You have moved that? So, you're in favor of eliminating the gas tax?
Bessent: We have asked for that.
Larson: So, we can join bipartisan-ly today because you're in favor of it to eliminate the gas tax.
Bessent: Again, the White House has asked for it, sir.
Larson: They have? Why isn't it before the committee for a vote?
Bessent: I don't run the agenda.
Larson: Well, it's good to hear that we're in favor of something that we can work on bipartisan-ly that will help relieve people who need it the most. Forgive me, but people in my district aren't doing cartwheels over this economy. They haven't seen the impact that you claim that they're all receiving. People hear a lot of rhetoric, etcetera, but that doesn't pay their grocery bills, that doesn't pay their heating costs, that doesn't put fuel in their tanks, that doesn't help them get through the day-to-day grind of their lives, and so, coming here and filling us with platitude and telling us how great we will should be to the Trump Administration for everything that it's done...Is this war responsible for any of this?
Bessent: Congressman, food at home is up 2.5% since President Trump took office.
Larson: Are we at war currently?
Bessent: ...which is twice that much every year under the Biden Administration.
Larson: Are we at war currently?
Bessent: The conflict has been halted.
Larson: The conflict has been halted. So, we're not at war? So, our military is not involved? We're not at war?
Bessent: Again, if you would like for me to call the Secretary of War, I can ask. I'm the Secretary of Treasury.
Larson: So as part of the administration and as part of this, we're not at war. How in God's name, if we can't answer any questions at all, and, I don't know, maybe there were special orders where we're not allowed to answer these questions, or not. We ought to make that clear. Are we at war or not? I'm asking in relation to the cost of [oil and gas going up]. That hasn’t risen? Has it risen because of the war?
Bessent: It did rise because of the conflict. Yes, sir.
Larson: The conflict. So that's what we call it. Our people go into battle and lose their lives, and you call it conflict.
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Perosino, Charles
Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) voted against House Republicans’ partisan agriculture funding bill that raises costs for farmers, slashes WIC nutrition assistance for women and children, and includes a controversial “license to discriminate” against LGBTQ+ Americans.
“While I hear firsthand from farmers in my district who are being crushed by rising costs, Republicans are pushing through a funding bill to slash support for local growers, raise prices even further, and advance a divisive culture war agenda,” said Larson. “To add insult to injury, this bill not only continues the historic cuts to SNAP nutrition benefits Republicans passed last year—they are now taking aim at WIC, leaving women and children without access to fresh fruits and vegetables. That’s flat-out cruel. We should be working to support our nation’s hardworking farmers and expand access to locally grown nutritious food. I oppose these attacks on American families and growers and will keep fighting to lower costs, strengthen our nation’s agricultural economy, and ensure no American goes hungry.”
Under this funding bill, Connecticut would see the following impacts to grants and loans that support rural communities:
- $481,000 cut to Rural Water and Waste Disposal Grant funding – a 44% cut
- $41,000 cut to Rural Business Development Grant funding – a 28% cut
- $1,844,000 cut to Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Loan funding – a 50% cut
Their bill also cuts staffing at Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices, slashes funding for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) by $200 million, and includes a “license to discriminate” provision that would effectively allow organizations receiving federal funding to deny benefits and services to LGBTQ+ Americans. Larson offered an amendment with Rep. Angie Craig (MN-02) to remove this poison pill – which was rejected by Republicans on the House Rules Committee.
View a fact sheet on the agriculture appropriations bill HERE.
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Perosino, Charles
For Immediate Release:
June 5, 2026
Contact:
Charles Perosino 202-209-3828
Larson, Neal, Advocates Sound the Alarm on the Danger of Automatic Benefit Cuts to Social Security
Washington, D.C. – Today, House Social Security Subcommittee Ranking Member (CT-01), House Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (MA-01), and Social Security advocates joined together to highlight the danger of automatic benefit cuts following a new report.
The report, featured in CBS News, illustrates how Congress’ failure to act to protect Social Security would impact Americans with automatic average benefit cut of $500 in 2032. In Connecticut alone, the average resident on Social Security would see their monthly benefit cut by $556, affecting 17.9% of the population, and resulting in the loss of 1.1% of the state’s GDP. While House Democrats are united behind not only protecting Social Security, but enhancing benefits by making the wealthy pay their fair share, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and MAGA leaders like Senator Ted Cruz have admitted their new “Trump Accounts” are a ‘backdoor for privatizing Social Security,’ and President Trump’s hand-picked Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano, a former Wall Street CEO, revealed that the Trump Administration was open to raising the retirement age, a 7% cut to benefits for every year it’s raised.
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Perosino, Charles
For Immediate Release:
June 9, 2026
Contact:
Charles Perosino 202-209-3828
Washington, D.C. – Today, House Social Security Subcommittee Ranking Member John B. Larson (CT-01), Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (MA-01), and Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Lloyd Doggett (TX-37) released the following statement on the 2026 Social Security and Medicare trustees report:
“Throughout a lifetime of hard work and playing by the rules, Social Security and Medicare make it possible for every senior to have a shot at retiring with dignity and peace of mind. For generations, these programs have delivered, standing tall as central pillars of our retirement and health care systems.
“Today’s report demonstrates the urgent need for Congress to act to protect Social Security and Medicare. Instead of joining Democrats to protect and enhance these programs, Donald Trump and Republicans are busy sabotaging them. After DOGE took a wrecking ball to the Social Security Administration under false pretenses, all Americans got were slashed customer service and their most personal data put at risk—without a penny saved. Combined with their sole legislative achievement pricing millions out of coverage and putting Medicare on the chopping block, there is no greater threat to Americans’ wellbeing than Republican governance.
“That’s because for Republicans it’s not about improvement but rather undermining functionality and the public’s trust. We’ve seen whistleblower after whistleblower show us the disdain the Administration has for the people. Whether it’s mishandling their private data, exposing Social Security numbers on a Medicare portal, or a scrapped plan to mark millions of living people as dead to force them out of the country, with each revelation the Trump Administration displays more cruelty and incompetence.
“Republicans have long sought to destroy Social Security and Medicare but have always been met with an unwavering Democratic fight preventing it from happening. We’ve never allowed them to take away a lifetime of hard work from America’s seniors, and that won’t stop for every retiree to come. Democrats are ready to act to protect Medicare and strengthen Social Security by making the wealthy finally pay their fair share, so every American can retire with dignity.”
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Perosino, Charles
Larson Votes Against $70 Billion Blank Check to ICE
Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) voted against the Republican budget that hands another $70 billion to ICE and Border Patrol, with no guardrails, oversight, or accountability. Larson has called for disbanding ICE and diverting their funding to build more affordable housing and lower healthcare costs.
“After cutting healthcare and food assistance to supercharge ICE with a budget larger than most nations' militaries, Republicans just voted to hand them another $70 billion – without a penny to make life more affordable for working families,” said Larson. “ICE has been transformed into Donald Trump’s personal army, descending upon our communities to terrorize immigrant families, execute U.S. citizens in the streets, and snatch mothers from their children. I have opposed this out-of-control agency since its inception and will not vote to give them another dime. They don’t need more funding – they need to be disbanded. As families continue to be squeezed by rising prices, Republicans need to stop rolling over for Donald Trump's lawless administration and stand up for their constituents. Democrats are ready to act for the American people.”
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