Press Releases
October 25, 2016
“With work continuing to ramp-up at Electric Boat and across the network of nearly five-hundred part suppliers that support work at the shipyard, we need an all-hands-on-deck effort to make sure we are training enough to new workers to fill these positions,” said Courtney. “After watching this program come together over the past year and a half since receiving the grant funding, I’m very pleased that effort has proved even more successful than we initially hoped it would be. This success did not come easily; it took a dedicated effort led by the Eastern Connecticut Workforce Investment Board, our community colleges, and Electric Boat. Their work is already paying off, as the first pipeline class has exceeded expectations, and I was glad to hear past and present students share what a positive experience the program has been for them. It will play a key role in bringing growth to our region.”
Issues:
Economy & Jobs
October 21, 2016
"Without access to an ELDS, it is expected that transporting dredged materials to other sites, like the Rhode Island Disposal Site, will increase carbon emissions from ships and risk of dredged material spills as transport distance is extended,” wrote the members. “Moreover, the use of the Rhode Island Sound Disposal Site's limited capacity for Long Island Sound dredging will have cascading effects on projects throughout Southern New England. Our states have been responsibly dredging in eastern Long Island Sound for over 30 years, which was recently confirmed with an A- rating on the 2016 Long Island Sound Report Card.
Issues:
Economy & Jobs
Energy & Environment
October 18, 2016
“Our dairy farmers have been hit extremely hard by low farm milk prices that have sharply reduced incomes,” wrote the members. “Globally-depressed prices are hurting U.S. farmers, and leaving the dairy industry with few options to deal with the glut of low-price milk on global markets. These dairy farms make up the backbone of our rural economy, and farms both large and small act as economic drivers, providing local jobs and supporting a wide array of other businesses. If we have any hope for our rural economies to rebound and grow economically, we must act quickly to address the financial crisis hitting the nation’s dairy farms.”
Issues:
Agriculture
October 7, 2016
“As I have said before, I am committed to investigating every source of federal assistance that can be used to assist homeowners in northeastern Connecticut with crumbling foundations. Now I am working with partners on the ground in Connecticut to make sure that we can smooth the glide-path for these resources into our local towns,” said Courtney. “This is a complicated issue and no single source of funding is going to solve this entire problem. We need an all-hands-on-deck approach to this crisis and after meeting with the Capital Regions Council of Governments earlier this week - it was clear that they get it. I look forward to continuing to work closely with CRCOG as they pursue ways to address the crumbling foundations issue and seek resources, such as federal funding like the type I identified at HUD to help homeowner sand community facing this difficult challenge.”
September 29, 2016
“The Old Stonington Wharf is an historic treasure and the town deserves the chance to restore it for future generations to enjoy,” said Courtney. “Unfortunately, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has allowed this historic landmark to deteriorate over the years without regular maintenance and repairs. I applaud the hard working local officials including Task Force Chair Peter Tacy, Stonington First Selectman Rob Simmons and retiring State-Senator Andy Maynard, for putting a plan of action in place to get the work done. I was pleased that the House passed my amendment today, and I will continue to press my colleagues in the House and Senate to make sure it is included in the final version after the bills have been conferenced."
Issues:
Transportation & Infrastructure
September 28, 2016
“The Census Bureau reports that the number of uninsured in eastern Connecticut’s Second District stood at 3.6% in 2015, down from 4.7% in 2014,” said Courtney. “These numbers are more impressive when compared to 2013 when the Connecticut health insurance exchange went live. At that time, the uninsured rate stood at 7.2%, which meant that thousands of residents – including children and working age adults were shut out of coverage due high costs and other barriers such as suffering from a preexisting condition. The Second District now has the lowest number of uninsured of all five Connecticut congressional districts, and that is due in large part to the hard work of community volunteers at health centers, hospitals, libraries and senior centers who have helped so many to find coverage.”
Issues:
Health Care
September 21, 2016
Thank you Mr. Chairman, and thank you to our witnesses for testifying before this subcommittee today. I look forward to your candid remarks, and we can use this opportunity to take a hard look at the difficult choice our country faces in this critical region of the world.
September 21, 2016
WASHINGTON, D.C. —Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) released a letter from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) indicating that Connecticut municipalities may have a path to pursue federal grant funding to address repairs associated with crumbling foundations.
September 21, 2016
“It has been both a pleasure and an honor working with Rear Admiral Trussler during his time as the first commanding officer of the Undersea Warfighting Development Center,” said Courtney. “Admiral Trussler had a huge challenge coming into the role, both in starting up the UWDC and bringing a flag officer back to Submarine Base New London. He succeeded on all accounts, making the UWDC a recognized force throughout the Navy and in further emphasizing the key role that the base plays in meeting our nation’s top national security challenges. I truly appreciate all he has done for us here in eastern Connecticut and the contributions he will continue to make in his new role in Washington."
Issues:
Defense & National Security
September 14, 2016
“The modernization and recapitalization of our nation’s fighters, bombers, tankers, and airlift platforms has been an ongoing area of interest and concern for this panel. These aircraft perform vital missions essential to national security and support our military’s operations around the globe. However, these legacy aircraft are now more frequently having their lifetimes extended, flying much longer than original designs intended -- and are often older than the crews and pilots who operate and maintain them. Consequently, the Air Force must be prepared to confront a growing number of challenges in ensuring that these platforms remain airborne despite their age."
Issues:
Defense & National Security