Murphy To Meet Constituents In New Britain Saturday, Jan. 10
Donations For Food Bank To Be Collected

Less than a week after the opening of the 111th Congress, U.S. Rep Chris Murphy will be back in New Britain Saturday, January 10th, to meet and greet constituents and collect non-perishable food donations.

Murphy, who garnered 80 percent of the vote in the city on Nov. 4th, plans to be at the New Britain Stop & Shop on West Main Street at 2 p.m. on one of his regular listening stops in the 41-town 5th Congressional District. Non-perishable food items for a newly-opened pantry in the city will be welcome.

Focus To Be Health Care In 2nd Term

Murphy is beginning a second term and he immediately indicates that health care will be a priority in the current session with his appointment to the Energy and Commerce Committee. In a statement released today, Murphy's office announced the additional assignment of serving on the Energy and Commerce Committee's Health Subcommittee. In the state Senate, Murphy served as Co-Chair of the General Assembly's Public Health Committee

According to Murphy's office, "the influential subcommittee will be responsible for crafting landmark health legislation, extending health benefits to millions of America's children, unlocking the promise of stem cell research, and ensuring America's food and drug safety."

Said Murphy: "This subcommittee will be the epicenter of any health care reform debate in the coming Congress, and I am thrilled to have the chance to be at the table to represent Connecticut in these deliberations.

"I am pleased to have the chance to continue the work I started in Hartford, as the Chair of the Public Health Committee. Now more than ever, as our economy is teetering and we are seeing its ugly cracks, we have to make changes that will pay off in the long run. And an investment in a universal and cost efficient health care system will go a long way toward improving the lives of families and the balance sheets of businesses.

"I am looking forward to working with the members of this influential subcommittee - some of the brightest minds in the nation - to make our vision for equal access to quality, affordable health care a reality."

Photo: Rep. Murphy and Ward 3 Alderwoman Shirley Black on the campaign trail

More information is available at http://chrismurphy.house.gov/