Media Center

“What I think is of concern is you just released new funding through HRSA to community health centers which is much appreciated, but there is no request for emergency funding this year. When you look at Zika [virus] and OCO funding this year, which Chairmen Kline and I will be voting on is billions of dollars in emergency funding for our overseas military operations on the Armed Services Committee, but when you look at that compared to a problem where we are losing 28,000 people per year."

“It is imperative that we support young physicians who want to specialize in underserved medical fields, especially those related to pediatric services,” said Courtney. “We know that there is interest among medical students to enter these fields, but the high cost of obtaining a medical degree often necessitates that they enter a more lucrative specialty. By providing an option for physicians to receive student loan repayments for practicing in an underserved field, my bill would incentivize medical students to enter these high-need areas. I am proud to be working with Rep. Collins, and groups like the Arthritis Foundation, to bring attention to the need for pediatric specialists in underserved fields. I am honored to be receiving the Arthritis Foundation Advocacy Leadership Award tonight. “

“Today the Senate was able to come together and vote nearly unanimously on a bill which will have a meaningful impact on the growing prescription opioid and heroin abuse crisis – and the House must do the same,” said Courtney. “I urge Speaker Ryan to recognize that our country remains in the grip of a drug abuse epidemic, and that the states urgently need assistance from the federal government in order to properly address this public health emergency. I also hope that the House will consider my bill which would provide an additional $600 million dollars in emergency supplemental funding to address both the law enforcement and public health aspects of drug abuse across our country."

“I can sympathize with the frustration of maple farmers who are angry that large companies and corporations are getting away with blatantly misrepresenting their products as containing maple syrup when they do not,” said Courtney. “The process to produce authentic maple syrup is both time and labor intensive, as it actually involves concentrating the sap of maple trees to produce maple sugar. Genuine maple syrup has a high value because consumers are willing to seek out, and pay a premium for the natural product containing 100 percent tree sap. When a company sells an inferior product made of corn-syrup or artificial flavoring and calls it maple, they are actually stealing from the livelihoods of farmers who count on the income made from producing real maple syrup."

“This was a great opportunity to speak directly with local selectmen, fire chiefs, nonprofits, and other community leaders from across the district about the benefits of working with the USDA-Rural Development program,” said Courtney. “All too often, rural communities do not have access to the credit necessary to begin long-term projects like bridges, schools, or municipal complexes, and these loans and grants provided through the USDA ensure eastern Connecticut towns do not get left behind. During the reauthorization of the Farm Bill in 2014, I worked hard to maintain rural development eligibility in Connecticut by ensuring the definition of rural included small communities in Eastern Connecticut. I want to thank all of our local leaders who came out to learn more about the grant program, and I look forward to working with them to obtain additional grant funding for our district this year.”

“I am honored to recognize the service and sacrifice of eastern Connecticut veterans who took part in the UN peacekeeping mission during the Korean War,” said Courtney. “While they served long ago, their role has not been forgotten in either this country, or in South Korea which bestowed the Korean Ambassador for Peace Medals I presented to them today. It is important that we take this opportunity to honor and remember the service of these veterans in front of their families and their communities.”

“The long range strike bomber is a critical program for our nation, and I can think of no better supplier for its engines than the hard working men and women of Pratty & Whitney”, said Ranking Member Courtney. “Once again, Connecticut has been called on to play a key role in a high priority national security effort – and I know that Pratt, its workers, and the state-wide network of suppliers that supports them are equal to the task. This is a good day for our state, and I proud to be working on the subcommittee to ensure the success of the B-21 program.”

“My resolution is calling on the Senate to ratify the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea treaty once and for all,” said Courtney. “As our country continues to challenge excessive maritime claims in the South China Sea, or jockey for standing in the increasingly competitive Arctic region, we risk being left on the sidelines during these important negotiations unless we are a party to this agreement. The UNCLOS treaty has long been supported by presidents and leaders from both parties, and while 166 countries and the European Union have already ratified it, the U.S. is part of a small group of nations including North Korea, Iran, Syria, Libya, and Venezuela that have not done so. Our military leaders need this treaty ratified in order to maintain free and open access to waterways across the globe, as Admiral Harris and General Breedlove said just like week during two different House Armed Service Committee hearings. I want to thank Congressman Young for joining me as a lead cosponsor of this critical effort.”