Veterans & Military Personnel

“Incredibly, on Friday, with one stroke of the pen, President Trump slammed the door shut on that program because he cancelled all visa programs from Iraq. If anyone could imagine a more demoralizing way to undercut the anti-ISIL alliance at such a critical time, Friday’s order won the prize and we are hearing from military commanders who are over there in Iraq talking about the blowback that’s come from our allies that were literally underway in real operations in real time. We in Congress need to stop this order for the sake of our standing in the world as a beacon of hope and freedom, and if for nothing else, to support our troops and our allies in harm’s way.”

“One of the top priorities for my staff and I is to work one-on-one with constituents who struggle with federal agencies,” said Courtney. “Almost every day we hear from a local resident who faces a crisis in their life because government red tape prevents them from receiving their hard-earned benefits. Whether we are helping to secure retroactive benefits for a retired veteran, or helping a young family obtain a mortgage modification, each of these cases is about more than a dollar figure – they are real people trying to make ends meet, and I am proud that we are able to help make that happen. I urge any eastern Connecticut resident facing difficulty when working with the federal government to contact my office to see if we can be of assistance.”

“I applaud this move by the VA, streamlining the process for our veterans in need of care for their hearing and sight,” said Courtney. “These are the kinds of improvements that the VA has needed to implement, and I am glad to see them moving toward giving our veterans what they deserve: the finest care as promptly as possible.”

“This development will resolve once and for all the home port for the U.S. Coast Guard Band while allowing it to move forward with its goal of increasing the band’s national visibility to better promote the Coast Guard’s service to our country,” said Courtney. “This announcement is also good news for band members and their families who are longtime residents of southeastern Connecticut and would have been faced with the difficult choice of uprooting or retiring from the Coast Guard altogether. I want to thank Admiral Zukunft and his staff for their thoughtful deliberations, and for regularly making themselves available throughout this process. I was able to meet personally with the Admiral on several occasions to discuss why I believe it is so important for the band to remain here in eastern Connecticut near the Coast Guard Academy. I am very pleased that the band will continue to call our region home for generations to come.”

“I am honored to recognize the service and sacrifice of eastern Connecticut veterans who took part in the UN peacekeeping mission during the Korean War,” said Courtney. “While they served long ago, their role has not been forgotten in either this country, or in South Korea which bestowed the Korean Ambassador for Peace Medals I presented to them today. It is important that we take this opportunity to honor and remember the service of these veterans in front of their families and their communities.”

“The VA’s recent decision to continue to deny care and benefits to “Blue Water” Vietnam Veterans makes clear that Congress must take action to finally fix this problem,” wrote Courtney. “That is why I urge you to pass the bipartisan Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act (HR 969), of which I am an original cosponsor, to ensure that all those who served on naval ships in the waters surrounding Vietnam – and exposed to Agent Orange – get the care and support they deserve.”

“I am very pleased that Manny has joined our team as the new military and veterans’ representative for the Second District,” said Courtney. “Manny devoted his life to serving his country during thirty-plus years working on submarines for the United States Navy. Now, he has agreed to come out of retirement once more to serve his fellow veterans as an advocate and caseworker in our Norwich office. I know Manny will be an incredible asset to the veterans of eastern Connecticut over the coming years, and I cannot thank him enough for accepting this responsibility on their behalf.”