WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (D-Conn.) applauded a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime to support victims, first responders and members of the Newtown community in the wake of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. This funding, which will be distributed by the Connecticut Judicial Branch, will reimburse costs incurred by those organizations that provided crisis intervention services, trauma-informed care, select victim-related law enforcement support and costs incurred in moving students from Sandy Hook to a new school location.

“The Newtown community has been tested to the very limits of human grief over the past year, and we have an obligation to ensure that all those who sacrificed so much on December 14th have the support they need to heal from this unspeakable tragedy,” the members said. “We are grateful for the Department of Justice's action today in response to the horror of the Sandy Hook School shooting. While this grant provides some relief to the people of Newtown, they will continue to need our support in the coming months and years, and we will be advocating for them every step of the way.”