March 28, 2008

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) visited Norwich on Friday to announce the federal funding he secured for construction of the Norwich Intermodal Transportation Center, currently in the final stages of development.  Dodd joined Mayor Ben Lathrop to discuss the need for improvements to the city’s wastewater treatment plant, which may pose a threat to the environmental well-being of the Thames Estuary in southeastern Connecticut.  Dodd first met with Mayor Lathrop to discuss these initiatives when the Mayor visited Washington, D.C. in January.   The city of Norwich is seeking federal funding for the Sound Norwich Wastewater Project in the Fiscal Year 2009 Interior Appropriations bill and has also requested additional funds for the transportation center in the Transportation-Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill.  

February 15, 2008

Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) announced that the fire departments of Old Mystic and Willington Hill will be awarded with over $180,000 in federal grants. These awards were made possible as part of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program’s Fire Prevention & Safety Grant initiative, administered by the U.S. Fire Administration. In 2007, the AFG program awarded approximately $490 million in grants nationwide to enhance first-responder organizations.

January 18, 2008

Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) announced today that more than $200,000 in federal grants was awarded to Connecticut fire departments in the towns of Oakdale, Beacon Falls, and Sandy Hook. The grants were made possible through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program’s Fire Prevention & Safety Grant initiative, administered by the U.S. Fire Administration.

November 6, 2007

Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Joe Lieberman (I-CT) announced today that an additional $588 million for submarine construction has been included in the 2008 Defense Appropriations conference report released by the Appropriations Committee today.  The funding will help to increase Virginia-Class submarine production to two submarines per year by 2010 – two years earlier than originally planned by the Navy.  These new funds, which will be used to begin the procurement of critical materials at the Electric Boat shipyards, will impact thousands of jobs throughout Connecticut, especially in the southeast region of the state.    

September 12, 2007

Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) today announced the approval of the 2008 Defense Appropriations Bill by a key Senate panel which includes substantial funding for Connecticut’s defense industry.  This bill, which was unanimously approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee, contained significant additional funds that will increase submarine production to two submarines per year by 2010 – two years earlier than originally planned by the Navy.  This funding impacts thousands of jobs throughout Connecticut, especially in the southeast region of the state.  The bill also includes substantial investments in current defense systems and research and development activities to ensure U.S. soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines are outfitted with the quality resources they need to perform their missions

Mohegan Fire Company Receives $143,771 in

Homeland Security Funds

September 7, 2007

Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) today announced a federal grant to Mohegan Fire Company, totaling $143,771. The funds, distributed by the Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program, will enable Connecticut firefighters to enhance their emergency response capabilities. In fiscal year 2007, the AFG program will award approximately $490 million to fire and EMS departments across America.

June 20, 2007

The Senate Appropriations Committee recently approved legislation that will provide $25.5 million to upgrade and modernize Connecticut military facilities, Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Joe Lieberman (D-CT) announced today. The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2008, which will now head to the Senate floor for consideration, allocates $64.7 billion for U.S. veterans and for building and maintenance of Department of Defense facilities.

May 9, 2007

Senators Chris Dodd, D-Conn., and Joe Lieberman, ID-Conn., announced Wednesday that Connecticut will receive more than $1.3 million in port and transit security grants from the Infrastructure Protection Program within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Bridgeport will receive $869,181, New London, $296,250, and New Haven, $45,703 in port security grant funding. New Britain will receive $129,892 and Rocky Hill $14,163 in grants for bus security. Connecticut will also participate in a $61-million transit security grant program for the New York City metropolitan area.


“Port and transportation security are critical to protecting Connecticut and the rest of our nation,” Dodd said. “These grants will help improve detection of dangerous materials and deal with potential threats. I am pleased that the Department of Homeland Security has provided Connecticut with a much-needed increase in funding for these crucial activities, and hope that we can continue to work with our neighbors to ensure the security of all of our citizens.”


“These grants are essential to strengthening the security of Connecticut’s ports and public transportation systems. The port security grants for Bridgeport, New London and New Haven will help keep dangerous materials out of the country. The bus security grants for New Britain and Rocky Hill will help with screening, explosives detection, and disaster-response exercises so that the citizens of Connecticut can travel peacefully and safely,” Lieberman said. “I also urge New York and the Metropolitan Transit Authority to work closely with Connecticut Department of Transportation officials to make sure that  the entire region's shared transit system, including those portions that run through Connecticut ,are adequately secured through the transit security grant that will go to the tri-state area.”


The funding for Bridgeport, New London and New Haven is part of the federal Port Security Grant (PSG) Program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).  This year’s port security grants for Connecticut total $1,211,134 – a nearly 83 percent increase over last year’s funding level. The grants are intended to help protect critical infrastructure from terrorism, especially explosives and non-conventional threats that would seriously disrupt commerce and cause a significant loss of life.


The grants for New Britain and Rocky Hill are part of the Intracity Bus Security Grant Program (IBSGP) also administered by FEMA. The grants are used for explosives detection, passenger screening, bus facility security improvements, and better communications among vehicles.

 

May 5, 2007

On the 15^th anniversary of the U.S. Senate’s historic vote to save the Navy’s submarine force, Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) today issued a statement to be read by Representative Joe Courtney (D-CT) at the commissioning of the USS Hawaii at Naval Submarine Base New London.

September 29, 2006

 

WASHINGTON – The Senate today approved the 2007 Defense Appropriations Conference Report, which has already been approved by the House of Representatives and is expected to be signed by the President.  Due to the efforts of Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Joe Lieberman (D-CT), the bill supports Connecticut’s defense industry, particularly in the critical areas of submarine research and technology.  In addition to boosting Connecticut’s economy, the funding will help ensure that U.S. soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines are outfitted with the resources they need to perform their missions.