Public Safety & Homeland Security

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Courtney Statement on President Trump's National Emergency Declaration

February 15, 2019 Press Release

NORWICH, CT – Today, Representative Joe Courtney (CT-02), a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement on President Trump’s declaration of a national emergency and plans to divert critical military construction funding to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border.

Courtney Reacts to President Trump’s Announcement to Accept Deal to Temporarily End Partial Government Shutdown, Continue Border Security Negotiations Separately

January 25, 2019 Press Release

Washington – Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces, released the following statement on President Trump and Republicans’ decision to accept a deal to temporarily reopen the federal government following 35 days of a partial government shutdown:

Congressman Courtney Responds to President Trump’s Proposal to Adjudicate Deportations in Exchange for Border Wall Funding

January 19, 2019 Press Release

Vernon, CT –Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) issued the following statement after President Donald Trump’s speech today:

Congressman Courtney Votes to Fund Coast Guard, End Partial Government Shutdown

January 17, 2019 Press Release

“This week I took three more votes to end the partial government shutdown,” said Congressman Courtney. “We’ve voted in the House nine times to get the government re-opened immediately, and yet the Senate have not acted once to end the shutdown. There’s no excuse for the Senate to use procedural maneuvers to avoid their responsibility to restore critical public services for the nation, including the men and women of the Coast Guard who protect our national security, overseas and at home.”

New London firefighters awarded $250,000 for rope training, safety enhancements

August 16, 2018 In The News

New London — Federal money is aiding the city fire department in taking preventative measures against cancer rates, as well as training for technical rescues in anticipation of upcoming work under the Gold Star Memorial Bridge.

U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney announced the department was awarded a $251,799 grant from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The city is contributing $25,179.

AFTER FLORIDA SHOOTING, COURTNEY CALLS ON EDUCATION COMMITTEE TO HOLD HEARINGS, POINTS TO GOP HYPOCRISY ON MENTAL HEALTH FOCUS

February 16, 2018 Press Release

“We need to recognize that there is nothing normal about American’s gun violence crisis,” said Courtney. “When it comes to global statistics, no other developed country even comes close to equaling the United States in terms of raw gun deaths and shooting rampages – the U.S. stands alone."

Courtney, Thompson Launch Bipartisan Push for Fire Police Benefits

October 3, 2017 Press Release

Courtney and Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA-5) introduced the Fire Police Fairness Act, bipartisan legislation that would extend public safety officer death benefits to fire police. Fire police officers provide unique and varying emergency response services in several states, including Connecticut and Pennsylvania. Because there is no uniform national designation for fire police, many of these public servants face additional hurdles in accessing benefits that other public safety officers receive.

Courtney Touts Federal Grant Funding To Support The Hiring Of New Fire Fighters In New London

August 31, 2017 Press Release

“This grant funding is great news for the New London Fire Department,” said Courtney. “Not only does the New London Fire Department oversee one of the most densely populated municipalities in eastern Connecticut, it also supports the operations of departments in other local communities across our region through mutual-aid. They are also responsible for protecting a large stock of older homes and buildings that necessitate a larger and better-equipped force than departments serving other communities. I commend Mayor Michael Passero and Fire Chief Henry Kydd, Jr. for working closely with my office during the grant application process. Their support was critical in helping to secure this award.”

Courtney Calls For Action On The Opioid Epidemic As Trump Declines To Classify It As A 'National Emergency'

August 9, 2017 Press Release

“Despite President Trump’s insistence that he is taking action against the rising tide of opioid addiction, all of his activates thus far have shown exactly the opposite - that he is not doing enough,” said Courtney. “Last week, his own commission recommended he declare the growing prescription opioid and heroin epidemic a national emergency. Yesterday, he declined to take any new actions or allocate any new funding. The national death toll is growing by the day and President Trump essentially told the commission to take a walk. I have spent a great deal of time meeting with families and first responders over the last two-years to learn more about this crisis and the message from them could not be clearer. They need new resources and more funding to fight back and save lives – it is that simple. There is not enough money either for law enforcement activities or for treatment beds. We need to end the stigma against drug addiction and start treating this epidemic like the public health emergency it is.”

House Members Urge Tillerson To Allow Afghan Students To Visit U.S. For Robotics Competition

July 11, 2017 Press Release

“We are alarmed by recent media reports that your Department chose to deny visas to six Afghan girls traveling to the United States for FIRST Global, an international robotics challenge to be held in Washington,” wrote the members. “Barring these hardworking, creative young women from a competition premised on global connection and innovation runs counter to the State Department’s mission of fostering security and stability through peace. The work of diplomacy is not limited to embassies and consulates; the United States engages with individuals abroad precisely because these individual relationships are the key to stability and development. Indeed, as the world’s leader of scientific innovation and research, inviting the world’s best and brightest to support our research efforts enhances our ability to expand knowledge in all fields, whether robotics or medicine, art or engineering, mathematics or history. In particular, supporting women’s education initiatives has been a vital component of our diplomacy and has been proven to enhance stability and speed development more than almost any policy focus."