John B. Larson

Of inquiry requesting the President of the United States to furnish certain information to the House of Representatives relating to access to and usage of NUMIDENT, death information, and other personally identifiable information in the possession of the Social Security Administration by an individual acting for or on behalf of the Department of Government Efficiency.

in committee

Impeaching Donald J. Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors.

in committee

ACTION for National Service Act

in committee

“Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, during this weeks Ways and Means Committee hearing, I had the opportunity to speak about Jeff Flaks, President and Chief Executive officer of Hartford HealthCare. During this hearing, I said: ``I want to note the CEO of Hartford Hospital, in my home state, Jeff Flaks. This is a CEO who goes out in the winter and finds people that are homeless, sleeping under bridges, etc., and brings them back to the only place that they will have refuge and care.'' Jeff is an extraordinarily leader in the healthcare industry and I am proud to have him working in my district. I include in the Record an article from the Hartford Courant about Hartford Hospital's new facility. This tower will be on the cutting edge of medicine and will ensure that residents of Central Connecticut continue to get first rate care. I thank the team at Hartford Healthcare for their work to make this plan a reality. CT Hospital's $950M Tower Is a Whopper, `Most Advanced' in Nation. What it will Look Like and When. (By Kenneth R. Gosselin) A $1 billion-plus investment in Hartford Hospital over the next decade is spurring an unprecedented building boom not seen in the hospital's 172-year history--with its centerpiece now coming squarely into focus: a $950 million in-patient and surgical tower that will not only give the hospital a more prominent place in the city's skyline but, hospital leaders say, among hospitals across the country. The tower, expected to open in 2031, will rise 14 stories, double the height of the next tallest building on the 70-acre campus. The tower will be built on a one-acre patch now used for valet parking near the corner of Seymour and Jefferson streets, its half a million square feet of space so massive that the upper floors will need to be built out over the top of the neighboring Jefferson Building. Construction on the tower is expected to begin next year and will include 216 private-room patient beds--increasingly sought for hospital stays--20 surgical areas organized around recovery rooms and specialties by floor, all outfitted with cutting-edge technology. ``So this is a massive investment in the future of Hartford Hospital,'' said Jeffrey A. Flaks, president and chief executive of Hartford HealthCare, the parent of Hartford Hospital and seven others in Connecticut. ``And this building will be the most advanced, most sophisticated hospital building anywhere in the country.'' Hartford HealthCare's plans to spend more than $1 billion over a decade at Hartford Hospital have been well-known since at least the end of 2024, with a new, in-patient tower considered a significant part of those plans. But the specifics weren't disclosed until now, as financing is falling into place. The reshaping of the hospital's campus seeks to strike a balance among lifting the hospital's national profile, providing more efficiently for the health care needs of the local community and recognizing the reality of an aging population that needs increasingly sophisticated care. The hospital's $1 billion-plus plan also includes other major projects, some already in construction. The projects include a much-needed expansion of the hospital's emergency department; a Hartford HealthCare-Go Health urgent care center with more services than is typical; and a 1,600-space parking garage that is part of a larger ``arrival center'' with a restaurant and conference space for up to 500. The hospital also intends to launch the redevelopment of three historic structures at the northeast corner of Washington and Jefferson streets later this year. The project will anchor a growing presence of community clinic space in historic structures along the north side of Jefferson Street. ``This is a generational moment for us,'' Flaks said. ``This will position us for decades to come.'' Flaks comments on the details of the new tower came in an interview with The Courant prior to a public announcement Saturday at Hartford HealthCare's annual Black & Red Gala fundraiser, the hospital's largest of the year. The in-patient tower has been part of the hospital planning since at least 2021 when an $80 million addition to the Bliss Building was completed, adding critical care space. The addition came on the heels of the 2016 opening of the $150 million Bone & Joint Institute orthopedic center. Both projects helped reshape not only the hospital's expanding capabilities but were intended to project a modern image of a destination for increasingly sophisticated health care. In addition to new technology, the planned tower will increase the percentage of overall private rooms from the hospital's current 60% to about 80%, hospital officials said The hospital now has 867 patient beds. Flaks said the projects will be financed primarily through bond funding supported by the corporation's endowment and other philanthropic gifts. `A variety of options' The expansion and reorganization of the hospital's emergency department comes as it annually trea”

2026-04-30 · Healthcare

“Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Robert A. Kret on the occasion of his retirement after an extraordinary 35- year career in museum leadership, historic preservation, and public service. It is especially fitting that Rob retires at this pivotal moment in our Nation's history, as the United States prepares to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence. At a time when our country is reflecting on its past and looking toward its future, Rob's lifelong work preserving history, elevating community stories, and strengthening civic institutions has never been more important. His imprint on the museum field, and particularly on the role of state and local history organizations at this crucial national juncture, will endure for generations. Throughout his distinguished career, Rob Kret has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to preserving our shared history, expanding access to culture, and ensuring that museums remain vibrant institutions that educate and inspire future generations. Most recently, Rob has served with distinction as the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History, a role he assumed in 2019. During his tenure, he guided the institution through a period of remarkable growth and transformation. Under his leadership, the Museum successfully navigated the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, completed a strategic rebranding and name change, broadened statewide and national awareness, and launched significant expansion planning efforts. Thanks to Rob's vision and dedication, annual visitation grew to more than 100,000 visitors, contributed revenue increased substantially, and both the Board of Trustees and professional staff expanded and diversified. He also helped secure two Community Project Funding awards totaling $2 million, strengthening the Museum's ability to preserve and share Connecticut's rich and diverse stories. Through his efforts, the Connecticut Museum has become an even more dynamic and relevant institution as it celebrated its historic 200th anniversary as the Nation's 7th oldest history organization. Importantly, Rob has been a leading voice in highlighting the indispensable role that state and local history organizations will play in the upcoming America's 250th anniversary as the institutions best positioned to connect Americans to our Nation's story and preserve it for generations to come. He has helped remind the Nation that the story of America is not told only through national landmarks or famous figures, but through the towns, neighborhoods, cultural institutions, and communities whose histories collectively define our democracy. His leadership has elevated the importance of investing in historical societies, museums, and archives so that every community can see itself reflected in this once-in-a-generation commemoration. Before coming to Connecticut, Rob brought decades of leadership experience to some of the Nation's most respected cultural institutions. He served as Executive Director of the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he oversaw major capital projects, strengthened collections stewardship, and expanded public engagement. Earlier in his career, he led the Hunter Museum of American Art in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the Miami University Art Museum in Ohio, the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Wisconsin, and the Ella Sharp Museum in Michigan. In each role, he left institutions stronger, more sustainable, and better positioned to serve their communities. Rob's career has been marked not only by administrative excellence, but by a deep belief that museums are essential civic spaces--places where communities can see themselves reflected, where history is preserved with honesty and care, and where curiosity can flourish. His leadership has helped countless people connect more deeply with art, culture, and history. As Rob steps into retirement, we recognize not only his many accomplishments, but also the integrity, wisdom, and generosity with which he has led. We thank him for his decades of service and for the lasting legacy he leaves in Connecticut and across the museum field. On behalf of the United States Congress, I extend my sincere congratulations to Robert A. Kret on his retirement and offer my best wishes for health, happiness, and continued success in the years ahead. ____________________”

2026-04-29 · Government Reform

“Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I regrettably missed a vote on January 21, 2026. Had I been present, I would have voted: Nay on Roll Call No. 38, on passage of H.J. Res. 140, Providing for congressional disapproval under Chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management relating to Public Land Order No. 7917 for Withdrawal of Federal Lands; Cook, Lake, and Saint Louis Counties, MN. ____________________”

2026-01-22 · Government Reform