Press Releases

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Joe Courtney today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded the Connecticut Department of Agriculture $429,936 in Specialty Crop Block Grants (SCBG) to help Connecticut farmers strengthen the market for specialty crops. In all, the Connecticut Department of Agriculture secured nine grants, including: partnering with Wholesome Wave to double the amount of SNAP benefits low income residents are able to use at farmer's markets; and funding to partner with the Connecticut Farm Bureau Association, Inc.

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Joe Courtney today urged eastern Connecticut residents who were affected by Tropical Storm Irene to apply for disaster assistance, even if they are covered by insurance. According to the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA), more than 4,000 Connecticut residents have already applied for disaster assistance. Officials believe, however, that there may be more disaster-affected individuals who have not applied because they think their damages do not warrant coverage.

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Joe Courtney today applauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) approval of Disaster Assistance to Tolland, Windham and Hartford Counties. The counties were declared eligible because they are contiguous to Massachusetts counties that were declared Primary Natural Disaster Areas as a result of Tropical Storm Irene.

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Joe Courtney today announced that the Mystic Fire Department secured $700,000in federal funding from the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA's Port Security Grant Program (PSGP). The funding will be used for a fire boat with large pumping capacity, rescue, and hazardous materials response capabilities, which will be ported in Mystic and available to respond to regional emergencies.

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Joe Courtney today announced that two small agricultural businesses in East Haddam and Preston have secured a combined $117,071 in federal grants through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). Ballek's Garden Center of East Haddam and Preston's T&C Greenhouses secured $71,853 and $45,218, respectively. The funding will be used to purchase and install renewable-energy systems and make energy-efficiency improvements.

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Joe Courtney today announced that LIUNA Training in Pomfret has secured a $187,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration to train unemployed and underemployed Connecticut workers for jobs in the energy efficiency and green construction industry.

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Joe Courtney, and Senators Joe Lieberman and Richard Blumenthal today announced $5,302,900 in federal funds to upgrade railroad track to the Providence, Worcester, and Willimantic freight rail line. The upgrades will increase operating speeds and make movement of freight shipments more efficient.

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Joe Courtney tonight released the following statement after President Obama's jobs speech to a joint session of Congress:

"Washington's focus veered off course with the unnecessary, distracting debate over the debt ceiling. With today's speech, we are rightly focusing where we should have all along: on creating jobs and protecting our economic recovery.