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Dear Friend,
After a packed week of visits across Connecticut's Second District, I'm here with an update on investments to expand child care, new grants for shipyards, and lots more. As always, thanks for starting you weekend here with me.
Federal Investments in Child Care are Critical for Children, Parents, and Our Growing Communities
Early childhood education and child care programs are a critical resource to young families. They provide kids with a strong foundation for future success and parents with a place to keep their kids safe while at work. We’re preparing for huge growth in our region’s workforce, and a key part of our efforts need to be focused on expanding capacity at our child care centers. This week, I made two visits which really underscore the importance of continued federal funding for child care programs.
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| Today, Rep. Courtney visited the TVCCA Childhood Preschool Center in Groton. He worked with CEO Deb Monahan (left) and COO Megan Brown to secure Community Project funding for a new child care facility. Currently, TVCCA works with limited space and resources to meet huge demand for infant and toddler care in Groton. |
Today, I visited the Thames Valley Council for Community Action’s (TVCCA) Childhood and Preschool Center in Groton. In the 2023 federal budget, I secured $3 million in Community Project funding for their initiative to build a new Childcare Center in Groton. Now that the funds have been signed into law, I visited CEO Deb Monahan and COO Megan Brown for an update on their work at the current Childhood and Preschool Center and the critical need for improvements. The current facility consists of 3 town-owned modular buildings which TVCCA has retrofitted into 7 classrooms where they provide accredited, affordable, and comprehensive childcare and preschool education programs for children. They’re doing excellent work, but must expand to meet rising needs from young families. TVCCA’s new facility will increase capacity from 16 infant and toddler slots to 60 – which they tell me will immediately fill up.
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| Click here to read more about each of Rep. Courtney's 15 2023 Community Projects in eastern Connecticut |
On Wednesday, I stopped by the Windham Early Childhood Center to discuss the support federal funding provides to the Head Start programs offered at the facility. Head start programs are nationwide and free – providing services to children and families through age five. The federal government funds Head Start through the Department of Health and Human Services and in the 2023 budget, we boosted its support by nearly $1 billion – along with a nearly $2 billion increase for other child care grants. I’m working to see their funding increased further in the next budget, but House leadership has recently put forward draconian cuts to child care. Under House Republicans’ proposal, 200,000 students nationwide would lose access to Head Start – including 1,400 here in Connecticut. At a time when we’re focused on filling job openings and meeting workforce challenges for decades to come, federal investments in childcare are vital – for children, families, and the health of our communities as a whole.
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| On Wednesday, Rep. Courtney visited the Windham Early Childhood Center to discuss the importance of the federally-funded Head Start program for eastern Connecticut families. Courtney also read the book "Bob and Otto" to a group of students |
Thank you to the team at TVCCA Childhood and Preschool Center in Groton and to Windham Early Childhood Center Director Aliki Caraganis, EASTCONN Executive Director Eric Protulis, and EASTCONN Head Start Director Kim Mansfield for hosting me this week to discuss our child care in eastern Connecticut, and the pressing need to expand access to more families through federal investment.
New Federal Grants Awarded to Southeastern CT Shipyards
Exciting news for our maritime economy! On Tuesday, we announced two federal Maritime Administration (MARAD) Small Shipyard Grants are heading to the Thames Shipyard & Repair Co. and the Mystic Seaport Museum totaling nearly $525K. These grants are a powerful vote of confidence in the hard work the shipyards perform every day in southeastern Connecticut. The funding will allow them to make equipment upgrades, ultimately increasing their capacity and workforce to service vessels. I visited both shipyards on Tuesday to catch up on the grant award and their work.
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| On Tuesday, Rep. Courtney joined Thames Shipyard & Repair Co. Owner and President John Wronowski (left) and Owner and Vice President Adam Wronowski (right) to announce an over $300K federal MARAD grant for the shipyard |
In New London, the Thames Shipyard & Repair Co. will use the grant to purchase new equipment to help prolong a ship’s longevity. The Mystic Seaport Museum will purchase new equipment to help them complete their work more safely and effectively.
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| Then, Rep. Courtney joined Mystic Seaport Museum President Peter Armstrong, Vice President for Museum Operations Shannon McKenzie, Vice President for Watercraft Preservation and Programs Chris Gasiorek, Shipwright Walt Ansel, Stonington First Selectwoman Danielle Chesebrough, and others to announce a nearly $215K federal MARAD grant for the shipyard |
The application process is very competitive, and the Thames Shipyard and the Mystic Seaport Museum put together excellent projects which I was proud to support. This is the type of federal investment in our communities which will really pay dividends for years to come. Click here to learn more about the MARAD grant program.
Norwich Tech Graduates Join Eastern CT Employers on National Signing Day
With over 9.6 million job openings nationwide and record-high annual hiring goals at Electric Boat, career and technical education (CTE) programs are more important than ever before. CTE provides young people with opportunities to acquire skills for rewarding careers in in-demand industries. On Thursday, I joined students, teachers, and local employers at Norwich Technical High School for National Signing Day – a nationwide event to mark students’ transition from career and technical education programs into high-skill jobs. Almost like the NFL Draft, the students signed their intent to accept job offers with their family, employer and teachers applauding with a large crowd joining in. With an excellent foundation thanks to great teachers at Norwich Tech, these students have the skills to fill openings and meet the needs of eastern CT employers. Congratulations to the students and their families – it took lots of effort and hard work to get here and an exciting future is now ahead.
The passion of Principal Donald Concascia, his amazing staff, and the students and parents was an inspiration. The Norwich Tech “Warriors” are closing America’s skills gap to help build a 21st century economy for our nation. Go Warriors!
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| On Thursday, Rep. Courtney joined students, parents, teachers, and local employers at Norwich Technology High School for National Signing Day |
In Congress, I’m working to expand apprenticeship programs and CTE in our region and ensure that students have access to these opportunities for decades to come. In the 2023 federal spending package, I helped to increase federal funding for career and technical education by $100 million – funding that will help Norwich Tech increase its capacity.
Despite this increase, CTE funding levels are below where they were nearly two decades ago – adjusted for inflation. I’m working with a bipartisan group of colleagues in requesting a long-overdue funding increase in the 2024 budget. If we are serious about ensuring students have access to rewarding career and employers have access to highly-qualified candidates, we’ve got to substantially increase federal support for CTE programs.
The American Rescue Plan Delivers: Expanding In-School Mental Health Care & Counseling in Preston
Earlier this year, we announced $5 million in new American Rescue Plan resources that are helping more schools in eastern Connecticut expand their mental health care and counseling services for students. On Tuesday, I visited Preston Plains Middle School to discuss how the school district will use $226K in federal funding to hire more in-school mental health workers.
At Preston Plains Middle School, I met with Superintendent Dr. Roy Seitsignger, middle school psychologist Olof Sigmarsdottir, and school social worker Jessica Boucher. They made clear that this grant would allow Preston Schools to take tremendous strides in not only increasing support for high school students but also ensuring that all K-12 students have access to the mental health support they need. I was also pleased to hear that this funding will allow the school’s mental health professionals to continue and expand their outreach to parents and families. As we know, students thrive when schools and families work together. I look forward to seeing how this funding improves student well-being under the leadership of Dr. Seitsinger, Mrs. Sigmarsdottir, and Mrs. Boucher.
American Rescue Plan resources will also help expand mental health care and counseling at schools in Hebron, Mansfield, Eastford, East Haddam, East Hampton, and Stonington. A great win for our schools and our communities.
Updating Seniors in Griswold on Lower Health Care Costs
On Monday, I visited the spectacular new Griswold Senior Center to answer people’s questions on Congress’ work to lower health care costs through the Medicare Reform Bill we passed last year. After the event, I spoke to a constituent who told me she used to pay between $120-$150/month for her insulin medication and is now saving hundreds thanks to the $35/month insulin price cap we included in the bill. These are long-awaited savings for thousands of seniors in eastern CT. In fact, in the Second District, an estimated 5,800 seniors receive insulin through Medicare, and nationwide, one-third of program beneficiaries have diabetes and rely on this life-sustaining medication. I was proud to help pass the Medicare Reform Bill last August and make this medication more affordable.
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| This week, Rep. Courtney visited the Griswold Senior Center to provide an update on the 2022 medicare reform bill and its provisions to lower costs for beneficiaries |
Additional critical provisions are rolling out in the coming years. Starting in 2025, out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for seniors will be capped at $2,000/year and over the next six years, dozens of drugs will have their costs lowered through Medicare price negotiations. Read more about the Medicare Reform Bill and other cost-cutting wins we’ve secured for seniors in Congress here.
Thank you to Tina Flack, Griswold Senior Center Director, and your amazing staff and volunteers for the invitation to listen and share concerns. And congratulations again on the opening of the new facility!
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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