Washington, D.C.- Connecticut is poised to receive more than $2.1 million to strengthen worker re-training programs, improve quality healthcare and bolster educational initiatives under legislation that was given final approval by the Senate Appropriations Committee today, Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Joe Lieberman (D-CT) announced.

The Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations bill, which is expected to be voted on by the full Senate in the coming months, provides funding for important initiatives like the Klingberg Family Centers in New Britain, the City of New Haven’s Youth@Work Project, and the Hartford Public School system to expand their English as a Second Language (ESL) Program. Furthermore, the bill supports funding initiatives such as teacher re-training programs within the Connecticut State University system and the Arts Education Community Engagement Program at the Bushnell in Hartford.

"People in Connecticut will benefit greatly from this support," Dodd said. "By providing better health care, jobs, educational opportunities and a commitment to the arts, we can help build a stronger and better future for our state."

"I'm grateful the Senate has given the green light for funding for leading arts, health care and educational programs," Lieberman said. "The funding will help to improve the health of and increase the educational opportunity for all citizens of this great state.”

Funding for children’s hospitals graduate programs was cut by 33%, from $297 million to $200 million dollars.  This funding is vital to the training of thousand of pediatric residents across the country that are committing to a career in the health care of children which requires high-level quality training.  The Senators will fight against this cut in education funds for children’s hospitals when the Labor HHS Appropriations Bill comes to the Senate floor.

Funding totals for Connecticut projects in the Labor-Health and Human Services Senate Appropriations Bill are as follows:

• $600,000 for Klingberg Family Centers in New Britain
• $200,000 for the City of New Haven’s Youth@Work Project
• $500,000 for Day Kimball Hospital for equipment
• $100,000 for the Hartford Public Schools to expand their English as a Second Language Program
• $500,000 for CT State University system for the Statewide Teacher Training Initiative
• $250,000 for The Bushnell Center for Performing Arts for their Arts Education Community Engagement Program

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