Constitution State News

WASHINGTON–U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) announced the inclusion of $9.768 million for Connecticut Congressionally Directed Spending projects in the Fiscal Year 2024 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. The bill also includes funding for gun violence prevention efforts, climate resilience, and crumbling foundations.

Committee passage is the first step in the process, and funding will only be made available when the bill is passed by Congress and signed into law. Murphy and Blumenthal are committed to pushing for passage and ensuring Connecticut priorities are reflected in the final spending package.

“This bill is full of big wins that will keep Connecticut safe, including more than $4 million to support domestic violence survivors and community violence intervention programs in Connecticut. Thanks in part to funding from the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, it also includes $105 million for violence intervention programs across the country. I’m proud that we also secured funding to expand access to mental health and protect our shoreline, and I Iook forward to getting this bill to the President’s desk,” said Murphy.

“Each of these grants marks a major message of support for the missions and management of these projects. These major federal investments will have far-reaching impacts on the safety and well-being of our communities – providing critical support for community violence intervention, youth services, behavioral health care, and resources for victims of domestic violence. This funding will also help preserve Connecticut’s treasured coastal habitats, making them more resilient to climate change. I am proud to support these projects and will urge inclusion of these funds in this year’s budget,” said Blumenthal.

Connecticut projects in the Committee-passed Fiscal Year 2024 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill include: 

• $2.696 million to the National Audubon Society for a resiliency and sustainability project within Hammonasset Beach State Park
• $600,000 for public safety radio equipment upgrades in Clinton
• $4.204 million for the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence to provide services to victims of domestic violence across Connecticut
• $137,000 for COMPASS Youth Collaborative’s youth violence intervention program
• $450,000 to build libraries at 4 correctional centers across Connecticut through Freedom Reads
• $577,000 for Roca Inc. to support their programs serving young women impacted by violence, abuse, trafficking and exploitation
• $990,000 for Justice Education Center initiative on girls basketball, mental health and violence prevention
• $114,000 for a social worker to work with those experiencing mental illness in Madison

The bill also includes funding for Connecticut priorities, including: 

• $5 million for the National Missing Persons and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs), a $1.5 million increase over last year, which will help ensure that the improvements Billy’s Law made to our missing persons database can be fully implemented
• $129 million for the National Instant Criminal Background Checks System (NICS) Initiative Grants, of which $40 million is provided through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act
• $105 million for community violence intervention and prevention, of which $50 million is provided through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.
• $750,000 for pyrrhotite testing and mitigation research at the National Institute for Standards and Technology. This funding will help develop standards for testing for pyrrhotite in foundations and assist homeowners dealing with crumbling foundations.
• $24 million for aquaculture activities at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a $5 million increase from last year. This funding will go to support aquaculture research and staff at Milford Lab.
• $33 million for the National Estuarine Research Reserve system, which will support Connecticut’s new estuarine research reserve site in Eastern Connecticut

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