Media Center

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Joe Courtney has written to the commissioners of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), urging them to undertake overdue action to implement rules that will reduce the influence of speculators in the energy market and rein in escalating gas prices. Although the CFTC voted in October of 2011 to impose position limits in the commodities market, implementation of the limits is contingent upon stalled action on related rule-making and definition-setting.

WASHINGTON, DC – Representatives Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) and Joe Courtney (CT-2) praised the award of two grants to Connecticut from the United States Department of Labor for technical skills training. The Workforce Alliance, Inc. in New Haven received a $4.97 million grant and the Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board, Inc. in Waterbury received a $5 million grant to provide workers education, training, and job placement assistance in high-growth industries like advanced manufacturing and technology.

Washington, D.C. -- Today, Congressman Joe Courtney sat down with students, faculty, and administration officials at UConn to discuss his legislation to prevent an increase in Stafford student loan rates for undergraduate students. The discussion included personal stories from students facing tens of thousands of dollars in debt after graduation.

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Joe Courtney on THURSDAY, February 23, at 4:00 p.m. UConn will hold a roundtable and press availability with UConn students to highlight his ongoing effort to prevent the interest rates on certain student loans from doubling on July 1. Without Congressional action, rates on subsidized Stafford student loans – one of the few programs that is affordable for students and families – will double, from 3.4 to 6.8 percent. Congressman Courtney has introduced legislation to keep the rate at 3.4 percent. Courtney's legislation, H.R.

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Joe Courtney on WEDNESDAY, February 22, will host two forums with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Regional Director Christie Hager to discuss the successes and continued implementation of the Affordable Care Act. According to data released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) this month, eastern Connecticut seniors saved $ 5,001,408 on prescription drugs in 2011 as a result of the Affordable Care Act.

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Joe Courtney today applauded the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) rejection of Rhode Island's request to levy tolls on I-95 traffic just across the border from North Stonington. After Rhode Island applied for the pilot program last year, Congressman Courtney wrote to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood expressing his strong opposition to and serious concerns about the proposal.

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Joe Courtney today announced that his Norwich district office will be relocating to nearby office space at the Mercantile Exchange Building – 55 Main St. – in Norwich. The new location is just one block from the office's current location, but is more accessible, has more storage and meeting space, and provides better security for staff and constituents visiting the office.

WASHINGTON, DC - Senators Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Congressman Joe Courtney (D-CT) – members of the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, respectively – today released the following statement after the announcement of the President's budget request and Future Years Defense Program.