Lisa Hagen // CTMirror.org

Towns and cities across Connecticut are set to see a major windfall from the $1.7 trillion bill to fund the federal government. More than 170 projects were approved for Connecticut and tucked into the federal funding bill that passed Congress. The total amount for the state is upwards of $236 million — a number that greatly exceeds the previous year.

Democrats believe they’ve on the verge of passing one of the most significant bills of President Joe Biden’s administration. But a major provision that was a high priority for Connecticut was taken out as the party needed to slim down the legislation: funding for child care.

The U.S. Senate passed legislation on Tuesday night that will expand benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits and toxins while serving, ending an impasse initiated by Republicans that delayed passage of the bill for almost a week.