Economy & Jobs

NORWICH, CT—Friday, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-2)  joined Rachael Johnston, a real estate broker, and Evan Preston, State Director of ConnPIRG, to call for action on Courtney’s bill, H.R. 1434, the Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act.

Norwich, CT—Today, Congressman Joe Courtney released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Labor announced a $1.2 million grant to Connecticut’s “Shared Work Program” to help keep employees on the job during downturns in their company’s business.

 

“Helping employers retain valuable workers during a downturn in business is the best way to keep those employees connected to a job, rather than face the total loss of a layoff,” Congressman Courtney said. “I applaud Secretary Perez for awarding these funds, which will bolster our fragile recovery.

WASHINGTON—Last night, the Senate approved a House-passed legislative package of “tax extenders” for 2014, sending the bill to President Obama for his signature. Today, Congressman Joe Courtney highlighted the inclusion of a provision that protects struggling homeowners from severe tax penalties after a short sale, mortgage restructuring or foreclosure. Without renewal of the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act, distressed homeowners would have incurred income taxes on mortgage debt forgiven in such a transaction—an expensive proposition for families already facing financial distress.