Press Releases

“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.”

“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."

“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.”

“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."

“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."

“Advanced manufacturing opportunities in aerospace, maritime, and even healthcare are happening from coast to coast, and the question of the day for many employers is whether our education and job training systems are ready to fill the need. Recent updates to K-12 and job training programs signed into law by President Obama in 2014 and 2015 built a positive platform to address this challenge, and passage of this bill for tech school programs will add to that capability."