Media Center

“We are encouraged that the EPA was able to help locate a central site for the disposal of dredged materials in eastern Long Island Sound and look forward to public input to ensure the site will protect both the scenic beauty and biological diversity of the area,” the lawmakers said. “Long Island Sound waterways contribute more than $9 billion annually to our economic output in Connecticut, and maintaining navigable shipping channels is critical to the long-term health of our regional economy. From the New London Submarine Base to family-owned marinas, thousands of residents across our state depend on reliable access to local waterways for their livelihoods. We are particularly pleased that the EPA clearly articulates processes that will mitigate any harm to the environment and to the region’s fish and shellfish stocks.”

“This is a good bill for the defense priorities of our region and state, and I am proud to have worked on a bipartisan basis to pass it” said Courtney. “From fully supporting the submarine construction that is fueling our economic recovery in eastern Connecticut, to restoring critical gaps in aircraft production levels and investment in our state’s ‘Flying Yankees’, this measure makes a solid investment in Connecticut while meeting the security needs of our nation. As the ranking member of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee that played a key role in crafting the bill, I am proud of the strong bipartisan support this bill provides for the hard working men and women across Connecticut who go to work every day in support our nation’s defense."

“As a longtime champion of Connecticut’s “Flying Yankees,” I am pleased that this measure will support the last major piece of their transition to their new C-130 flying mission,” said Courtney. “On the House Armed Services Committee I have worked hard, along with my colleagues in the Connecticut Congressional Delegation, to end years of uncertainty for the unit by securing a relevant and enduring mission for our Air National Guard. This small air terminal will provide the facilities they need to fully support that mission, and coupled with the long-term avionics upgrades I have supported, this measure continues to ensure a bright future for the Flying Yankees.”

As recent events around the world clearly demonstrate, the presence and capabilities of our forces on, below and above the seas are in higher demand than at any other time in recent history. Yet, as this subcommittee knows all too well, these forces are under significant pressure in meeting growing operational needs and keeping pace with developments around the world in the face of limited resources.

“The Two-Midnight Rule was not a solution to the observation crisis for hundreds of thousands of Medicare patients across the nation,” said Courtney. “The arbitrary coding of observation status is plunging families into a Medicare black hole financially and medically. While I am pleased they have ditched the Two-Midnight Rule, it is time for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to join the 56 other organizations and 118 bipartisan cosponsors in supporting passage of my bill, the Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2015.”

The shortfalls we will face are largely the result of decisions made in previous decades which we cannot undo in a single year. What we can do, is continue to work in a bipartisan way to address our current and future shipbuilding needs going forward. I am proud that this panel has a record of doing so, and I look forward to sustaining that record. Your input is vital as we prepare to mark up the 2017 defense authorization bill and continue to build the fleet we need for the future.