Rep. Leeper Visits White House To Discuss Federal Impact On Fairfield

Information from the Connecticut General Assembly:

FAIRFIELD, CT — State Representative Jennifer Leeper (D-Fairfield, Southport) visited the White House on Wednesday to discuss the impact that the Biden/Harris Administration’s policies have had in Fairfield and the state of Connecticut, including on community businesses, education, and infrastructure.

The visit was part of a White House event series titled “Communities in Action,” a gathering of local elected leaders, business owners, non-profit advocates, laborers, and more who work to leverage the Administration’s investment in creating and expanding opportunity for working and middle class families.

While both Connecticut and Rhode Island were represented at Wednesday’s forum, Rep. Leeper focused on the impact the Biden/Harris policies have had on Connecticut and specifically, Fairfield.

Through the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the state is set to receive $4.1B over the next five years to upgrade roads and strengthen bridges with $1.6B already allocated and another $53M to build out Electric Vehicle charging infrastructure. The funding package also includes $200M to improve water and sewer capacity and infrastructure.

Connecticut’s labor market has also shown progress, through the addition of 104,000 jobs since January 2021, while also seeing a drop in the state’s unemployment rate to 4% - down three points since January 2021.

“Through the Biden/Harris Administration's deployment of emergency pandemic funds, Fairfield and Connecticut have seen:

• businesses keep employees on their payrolls,
• our beloved Fairfield Theater Company successfully keep their doors open,
• air filters in our schools, to ensure we can safely get students back in buildings to learn at their best,
• playground upgrades throughout town, or
• the Summer Boost program to address learning loss,

the Administration has contributed billions to our state during a historically difficult period,” Rep. Leeper said.

In addition, Connecticut will continue to benefit from:

• the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law investing in roads, rail, and bridges;
• the Inflation Reduction Act delivering historic investments in green technologies and jobs helping to meet Connecticut’s clean air goals;
• the CHIPS Act bolstering American manufacturing – the backbone of Connecticut’s economy;
• the PACT Act ensuring veterans get the care they’ve earned; and
• the Safer Communities Act, the first common sense gun reforms in 30 years.

“While the past several years have been historically challenging, both domestically and globally, and tested our faith in government institutions, our investment of federal funds has had a positive and meaningful impact on our community,” Rep. Leeper said. “Along with other state leaders, I am grateful to the Biden/Harris Administration for their generous invitation, and for the work they strive to achieve on behalf of Fairfield, Connecticut, and the entire country.”

In addition to discussing the Administration’s impact on Connecticut, Rep. Leeper also took advantage of being at the White House to advocate directly on energy policy and its impact on utility rates.

“As we are working toward an electric future, we need to be thinking 5, 10, 30 years down the road on how we build out our electric infrastructure and ensure we establish a regulatory framework that is looking out for ratepayers when it comes to transmission. We need to fix the status quo so that our clean air goals do not come at the expense of our communities,” Rep. Leeper said.

Rep. Leeper represents the 132nd District, which includes Fairfield and Southport.