Legislative Files, 1971-1974

Consist of letters, telegrams, postcards, petitions, press releases, brochures and publications by non-governmental organizations, original copies of House of Representative legislative bills, reports from various governmental departments and agencies. The series is arranged alphabetically into legislation subject files such as agriculture, banking and currency, budget, civil rights, civil service, education, the economy, energy, the environment, foreign affairs, health, labor issues, the military, the post office, Social Security, taxes, transportation, and veterans. The series is especially strong in material about veterans' affairs, President Richard Nixon's impeachment, gas prices and fuel shortages, family planning and birth control, the availability of food stamps for workers on strike, and education legislation. Of special interest are the files on family planning and control, as this was the year of the Supreme Court's decision on Roe v. Wade. Included are Grasso's responses to pro-life organizations and individuals thanking them for sharing their views, and tells them she too understands the "sanctity of human life." Grasso also wrote that she disagreed with the Supreme Court's decision on the legalization of abortion, however "this decision is the law of the land," so it had to be obeyed. Since Grasso served on the House Veterans Affairs Committee, the series contains a large amount of materials on veterans' affairs and bills in that area that she worked on. An example is the Veterans Education Assistance Act, which she cosponsored and helped draft. Other topics are of concern to residents of Connecticut such as grain shortages, Amtrak route changes, the preservation of the Housatonic River Valley and the Shepaug River, funding for social programs and schools. Some material relates to legislation that Grasso drafted and sponsored, such as the establishment of a legislative Small Business Committee in the House of Representatives, the Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act of 1973, the Clean Elections Act, and a bill to lower the eligibility age for full widows benefits from 65 to 55. The series includes correspondence from members of unions, professional organization and lobby groups in support of legislation in committee or up for vote on the floor. Also included is her correspondence with other members of Congress requesting support for their legislation, and thanking her for the votes of support. Frequent correspondents include members of Congress, Earl Butz, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Mayor of the City of New Haven Honorable Bartholomew F. Guida, Governor of Connecticut Thomas J. Meskill (R), White House officials, the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), the New England Caucus, and Dorothy McCaffrey from the Center for Information on America in Washington, Ct.. Included are Grasso's floor statements for the 92nd and 93rd sessions of Congress as printed in the House Record.