In The News

Despite the federal government lowering a tariff affecting U.S. newspapers, local stakeholders and public officials would like to see the border tax eliminated altogether. Last week, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced final determinations in the antidumping duty and countervailing duty investigations of imports of uncoated groundwood paper, also known as newsprint, from Canada resulting in a reduction on the tariff, previously capped at 22.16 percent to a rate capped at 16.88 percent.

Courtney hosted veterans representing several area organizations for a monthly veterans advisory board meeting at his district office in Norwich. In attendance at the meeting was the commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs Thomas J. Saadi, who addressed the group with updates from his department and responded to questions. Specifically, Courtney spoke about current issues that he said are important for Norwich area veterans, including declaring his strong opposition to a July 12 policy change from the Department of Defense that will prevent service members with greater than 16 years of service from transferring their Post-9/11 G.I. Bill benefits to eligible family members. “To scale back this benefit, it’s really blindsiding to people,” Courtney said.

The Navy’s newest submarine will make Groton its home after its Sept. 29 commissioning, which U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, said is seven months earlier than originally planned. Electric Boat already won a contract to perform maintenance on the USS Indiana, a Virginia-class, fast-attack submarine, beginning in November. The work will correct any defects found during so-called "shakedown" testing before the submarine is deployed.