The AHEC program was developed by Congress in 1971. Cecil Tengatenga, CT AHEC’s associate director, echoed how Connecticut legislative offices value CT AHEC as a trusted resource and welcome opportunities to learn about how CT AHEC is addressing current and future healthcare workforce shortages through targeted education, training, and workforce development initiatives. CT AHEC also coordinated its advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill with AHEC leaders from across New England, reinforcing a shared regional message on healthcare workforce shortages, educational pathways, and the importance of sustained federal investment in workforce development programs. Alyssa McClain, president of the CT AHEC Network’s Health Education Center in Norwich, was clear that these legislative relationships are a priority. Dariene DuBois-Plante, CT AHEC’s administrative officer, emphasized the value of the legislative staff hearing directly from students involved in CT AHEC programming, which reached 18,000 participants overall last year.