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Dear Friend,
After a busy week in Congress, I’m back home in eastern Connecticut and here with an update on bills I’ve re-introduced, federal funding in support of the arts, and more.
First, I want to share that I’ve been in touch with the Connecticut Department of Transportation and state officials regarding the tragic incident today on the Gold Star Bridge. Thank you to all the first responders who quickly responded to the scene and secured the area.
Re-Introducing My Bill to Curb Violence Against Health & Social Service Workers
Health care and social service workers continue to face the highest rates of injuries caused by workplace violence of any industry – and incidents are on the rise. Health care workers make up more than three quarters of all workplace violence nationwide and are almost four times more likely to suffer a serious injury from workplace violence than workers in any other workplace center. Between 2006 and 2020, the risk of violence for health care and social workers increased by 70%.
On Tuesday, I led a bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers in re-introducing the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act. This bill would ensure employers in the industry take proven steps to address the crisis and prevent workplace violence before it happens. Specifically, it would compel the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to do what employees, safety experts, and Members of Congress have been calling for for years – develop an enforceable standard to ensure that employers are creating the safe workplaces their employees deserve, sooner rather than later.
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| Click here to read more about Rep. Courtney's re-introduction of the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act |
I have been tracking the issue of violence against health care workers for a decade. No worker—especially those we rely on for care—should be killed or injured on the job. For the safety of workers and the health of Americans, it’s past time to advance our legislation to curb workplace violence.
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| Click here to learn more about Rep. Courtney's work to address workplace violence in the health care and social service industry |
Read more about this week’s re-introduction of the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act here and read more about the background of the bill and my work on this issue here.
Continuing my Work with Eastern CT Farmers to Secure our Region’s Agricultural Future
It’s a great honor to represent Connecticut’s most rural Congressional District, CT-02. Farming is at the center of eastern Connecticut’s identity and it’s one of my top priorities to continue to make this a great place for farmers to start and grow their businesses – now and for decades to come. I keep in close touch with local farmers, hearing about the challenges they face and the priorities they would like to see included in the upcoming 2023 Farm Bill – legislation that Congress is required to take up every five years. One of the most pressing issues our agriculture industry faces is the declining numbers of small, local farms, and the rising average age of farmers. Today, the average age of farmers in America is 57 years old and farmers over the age of 65 outnumber those under the age of 35 by 6 to 1. This is a serious problem in terms of the sustainability of food production in the U.S., which we all depend on. Now more than ever, we need to be focused on supporting our next generation of farmers. On Wednesday, I joined a bipartisan group of colleagues to re-introduce the Young Farmer Success Act.
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| Click here to watch Rep. Courtney break down the bipartisan Young Farmer Success Act |
The Young Farmer Success Act will incentivize young people to enter agricultural professions by making them eligible for student debt relief through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. The federal PSLF program was created in 2007 and allows public servants like police officers, teachers, and military servicemembers to have their student loans forgiven after making 10 years of income-based payments towards their loans.
Farmers grow our food, steward our land, and are a key pillar of rural economies. That’s true public service, and my bipartisan colleagues and I believe they should be included in the PSLF program.
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| Today, Rep. Courtney visited Cloverleigh Farm in Columbia. He worked with owner and young farmer Susan Mitchell and the National Young Farmers Coalition to reintroduce the Young Farmer Success Act |
I’ve worked closely with eastern Connecticut farmer Susan Mitchell to introduce the Young Farmer Success Act. Susan is the owner and operator of Cloverleigh Farm in Columbia, and an excellent advocate for our state’s farming businesses as an active member of the National Young Farmer Coalition. I recently met with Susan and other Connecticut young farmers on their visit to Congress, and today, I stopped by Cloverleigh Farm to update her on our bill introduction and speak about more work ahead to address the challenges farmers in our region face – namely land access for food production.
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| Rep. Courtney and Susan Mitchell were joined at Cloverleigh Farm by (left to right) Kip Kolesinskas, American Farmland Trust, Dominic Rowland, a UConn student farmer at Spring Valley Student Farm, and Brittany Hall, a new farmer and the owner of Beets & Blossoms in East Hampton |
My team and I will stay in close touch with Susan and many more eastern Connecticut farmers as Congress prepares to take up the Farm Bill later this year. I see this as a good opportunity to get the Young Farmer Success Act and other important legislation for our agriculture sector across the finish line. Click here to learn more about the Young Farmer Success Act and don’t hesitate to call my office with more questions about the bill and my work on behalf of eastern CT farmers.
Federal Funding is Supporting Eastern CT’s Thriving Arts & Entertainment Scene
We have a vibrant arts and entertainment scene in eastern Connecticut. It’s driven by many fantastic artists and entrepreneurs – and bolstered by federal funding in support of the arts. My team keeps close track of grant funding opportunities for organizations in the Second District and works with groups through the application process.
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Last week, Rep. Courtney visited Artreach, a performing arts organization which his office worked with to secure federal funding in support of their upcoming productions. Courtney and his Grants and Special Projects Coordinator Julia McGrath were joined by Artreach Executive Director Rebecca Atkins, Vice President Debra Lehman, Associate Director Emma Palzere-Rae, and Event Coordinator Carin Estey
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I recently visited Artreach in Norwich, an organization using the performing arts to address the growing mental health crisis. My Norwich office worked closely with Artreach to help them secure funding from the National Endowment for the Arts and the American Rescue Plan. I caught up with them on how these resources are being put to use in their upcoming theater project.
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| Rep. Courtney's office works closely with arts and entertainment organizations to identify and apply for federal grant funding opportunities |
In 2022, the Second District received 958 grants and subgrants – equaling nearly $2 billion in federal funding. Grant programs have supported institutions like the Mystic Seaport Museum, the Lyman Allyn Art Museum, the Goodspeed Opera House, Artreach, and more. Click below for more information on federal grant programs for the arts.You can also get in touch with my Grants and Special Projects Coordinator by giving my Norwich office a call or by email at [email protected].
- Click here to learn more about the National Endowment for the Arts
- Click here to learn more about the Institute of Museum and Library Services
A quick reminder that there’s just one week left to submit works of art for the 2023 Congressional Art Competition. All high school students in Connecticut’s Second District can submit original works of art – including paintings, drawings, collages, photography, digital art, and more! Works must be dropped off or delivered to either my Norwich or Enfield offices by April, 29th. On May 9th my office will host a CT-02 Art Show at Three Rivers Community College in Norwich to showcase all of the works submitted. At the show, a winning work will be selected and later hung in the Capitol building alongside works from all other Congressional districts. For detailed submission requirements and directions, click here. Don’t hesitate to give my Norwich office a call at (860) 886-0139 to learn more.
A Busy Week in the House Armed Services Committee
It was a busy week on the House Armed Services Committee – and I’m here to share a few updates on the AUKUS agreement and the Army’s Black Hawk helicopter program.
On Tuesday, the Navy released a 30-year shipbuilding plan which takes encouraging steps to realize the centerpiece of the AUKUS agreement: providing Australia with a conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarine program. The shipbuilding plan includes building additional Virginia-class submarines in the 2030s, which will ensure we make good on the AUKUS agreement while also sustaining our Navy’s own required undersea fleet. As I wrote about in last week’s update, the increase in shipbuilding demand is paired with historic investments in our submarine industrial base to ensure shipyards are able to meet the challenge. Also on Tuesday, I joined my colleagues at a hearing on security challenges in the Indo-Pacific. There I asked the Navy’s Indo-Pacific Commander Admiral John Aquilino about the action Congress will need to take to deliver on AUKUS. Click below to watch.
On Wednesday, I questioned top Army leaders to learn more about the future of the Black Hawk program. While I shared my concerns and had many questions about the Army’s decision not to select Sikorsky for the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft contract, the Secretary of the Army and General James McConville made clear that Black Hawk’s Sikorsky manufactures will continue to be key in the Army Fleet for years to come. Click below to watch.
My Staff Receives Recognition for their Work Serving Veterans
Very proud to share this news. This week in Willimantic, my Military and Veterans Representative Manuel Meneses, received much-deserved recognition from the Eastern CT Veterans Center for his above-and-beyond work to serve veterans in the Second District.
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| In Willimantic, Rep. Courtney's Military and Veterans Representative, Manuel Menses received an award from the Eastern Connecticut Veterans Community Center in recognition of his service to the veteran community |
Manny works out of my Norwich office but is active in every corner of CT-02. We’re lucky to be home to more former servicemembers than any other district in our state, and Manny performs highly skilled, critical work to meet their needs.. Whether it’s securing health or financial benefits at the VA, tracking down lost service medals, or providing updates on new legislation for veterans, Manny is the example of a dedicated public servant! One of the best ways for veterans to get connected to resources is through the Veterans Coffeehouses. Last week, I stopped by the Norwich Veterans Coffeehouse to catch up with Veterans on the PACT Act and other updates on my legislative work.
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| Last week, Rep. Courtney visited the Norwich Veterans Coffeehouse to provide a legislative update to veterans and their family members |
To get in touch with Manny, call my Norwich office at (860) 886-0139.
Thanks for taking some time to read my update. If we can be of any assistance, don't hesitate to give my Norwich office a call at (860) 886-0139. Have a great weekend!
Sincerely,
Joe Courtney
Member of Congress
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