|
Dear Friend,
After a busy week in Congress, I’m back home in eastern Connecticut. Here with an update on federal investments in Madison, new resources to combat substance misuse among young people, and lots more. As always, thanks for starting your weekend here with me.
Visiting Federally Funded Public Safety and Recreation Projects in Madison
I recently made a few stops in Madison with local officials to discuss how federal investments are being deployed to boost public safety and create vibrant recreation spaces. As one of my 2023 Community Projects, I secured $2.5 million to construct a new Emergency Response Center. This will be an addition to the Madison Hose Company, and really enhance first responders’ ability to work efficiently. Now that the funding has been signed into law, I visited with Madison Fire Marshall & Emergency Management Director Sam DeBurra and First Selectwoman Peggy Lyons to catch up on the project and see the space where the new center will be built.
 |
| Last week, Rep. Courtney visited the Madison to meet with Fire Marshall & Emergency Management Director Sam DeBurra, First Selectwoman Peggy Lyons, Selectman Al Goldberg, and officers of the Madison Hose Co. They worked together to secure $2.5 million in federal Community Project funding to build a new Emergency Response Center. |
To stay prepared for emergency situations, this long-overdue new center will provide space for equipment to remain at the ready, outside of the regional flood area. It could also be used to dispatch emergency services as a backup solution to the Madison Communications Center. These are major improvements to operations in town, but they’re costly. With targeted federal support for this project, Madison will be able to build the center and enhance the work of our first responders.
 |
| Click here to read more about Rep. Courtney's 2023 Community Projects. |
Madison also received over $5.3 million in federal funds through the American Rescue Plan, and it’s been put to use on projects all over town – new turnout gear for the fire department, long-overdue improvements at its American Legion Hall, and upgrades to the amazing Senior Center’s Meals on Wheels program. During my visit last week, I saw how Madison has also deployed Rescue Plan funding to finish work on a handicap accessible playground at the town-owned Surf Club and the new, fenced dog park – which is set to open in the Salt Meadow Park on May 20th.
 |
| Rep. Courtney joined First Selectwoman Lyons, Director of Beach and Recreation Services Austin Hall, and Selectman Al Goldberg to tour the Surf Club playground. Madison used American Rescue Plan funding to complete work on the playground. |
These projects are excellent examples of how federal resources through the American Rescue Plan have allowed our towns to build healthier communities. Thanks to First Selectwoman Lyons, Director of Beach and Recreation Services Austin Hall, Selectman Al Goldberg, and Salt Meadow Park Chair Alex Wetmore for updating me on how some of the funds are being deployed.
 |
| At the new dog park in Salt Meadow Park, Rep. Courtney was joined by Salt Meadow Park Chair Alex Wetmore. Madison used American Rescue Plan funds to complete the dog park, which is set to open on May 20th. |
New Resources to Stem Substance Misuse Among Young People
The crises we’re facing in mental health and substance misuse continues to plague our region. The tragedies it causes are felt in all our communities. It is a top priority of mine in Congress to bring home federal resources to help us take on the issue. I keep in close touch with local organizations working hard on this effort, and on Monday, I led a roundtable at Three Rivers Community College in Norwich alongside the Governor’s Prevention Partnership.
At the roundtable, we discussed the over $730K grant from the US Department of Justice coming to support GPP’s work to stem opioid and other drug misuse among young people.
 |
| On Monday, Courtney joined a roundtable discussion in Norwich with Governor’s Prevention Partnership Co-Presdients Kelly Juleson and Roland Harmon, Director of Program Planning and Implementation Deborah Lake, and representatives from the Southeastern Regional Action Council (SEARAC), the Norwich Prevention Council, Groton Alliance for Substance Use Prevention, New London Youth Affairs, and New London Public Schools. |
Any first responder will tell you that drug overdoses continue to plague our region. This week’s announcement will beef up partnerships among youth service bureaus, school officials, and student age peer-to-peer leaders to prevent vaping, drug, and alcohol use.
 |
| The Governor's Prevention Partnership Program will receive a $730K grant from the US Department of Justice. |
Thanks the Governor’s Prevention Partnership for joining me to discuss how this new round of federal funding will support their work.
A Coventry Dairy Farm Opens New Equipment to Cut Emissions & Provide Clean Energy
It was beautiful day in Coventry to celebrate the opening of Hytone Farm’s new Anaerobic Digester! The digester breaks down manure and food waste – cutting greenhouse gas emissions at the dairy farm and providing renewable energy to New Britain (enough to power 600 homes). Investments like this really pay dividends for farmers and our communities, but they come with high up-front costs. Eastern Connecticut farmers, including Hytone Farm, use USDA grant programs to make these investments possible.
 |
| On Monday, Rep. Courtney joined Hytone Farm Owner Greg Peracchio and Ag-Grid Energy CEO Rashi Akki, CT Lt. Governor Bysiewicz, CT Ag Commissioner Hurlburt, Coventry Town Council Chairwoman Lisa Thomas, and more state, local, and USDA officials for the ribbon cutting of the dairy farm's new Anaerobic Digester. |
Unfortunately, House Republicans are now trying to roll that expansion back. As the representative from eastern Connecticut – an agricultural hub for our region – any proposal which would make such harmful cuts for farming businesses is a non-starter for me.
Thanks to Hytone Farm Owner Greg Peracchio and Ag-Grid Energy CEO Rashi Akki for welcoming me, Lieutenant Governor Bysiewicz, CT Ag Commissioner Hurlburt, Coventry Town Council Chairwoman Lisa Thomas, and more state, local, and USDA officials to this exciting event for eastern Connecticut’s farming future.
 |
| Last year, Rep. Courtney helped pass the Inflation Reduction Act, which invested in and expanded USDA programs used by eastern CT farmers to reduce overhead and input costs and use new and emerging methods of farming and food production. Click here to read more. |
Calling for Passage of Legislation to Expand Job Training in Eastern Connecticut
Thanks to federal investments, our economy has made a record comeback and created millions of good paying jobs – 9.6 million current job openings, 253,000 new jobs added in April, and an eye-popping goal at Electric Boat of 5,750 new hires in 2023 alone. Many of these new jobs are focused in the metal trades, and we need to ensure that workers have the skills they need to succeed in these positions. This week, in a House Education and Workforce Committee hearing, I made clear that we cannot wait to pass the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. This bill will deliver the funding our communities need to boost workforce training opportunities.
As the school year wraps up, young graduates from eastern Connecticut’s career and technical education high school programs are making the transition to good-paying, rewarding careers. In case you missed it, I attended National Signing Day at Norwich Technical High School last week, and saw firsthand the excitement from students, families, educators, and employers. The energy of the event was really similar to professional sports drafts with rapturous applause filling the auditorium after students signed-on with local employers.
The Norwich Bulletin did a great job of highlighting the graduating Norwich Tech students. Click here to read the story. I’m committed to ensuring that even more young people in eastern Connecticut have access to these programs. Passing the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity would help us achieve just that.
Op-Ed: McCarthy Must Heed Reagan's Warning on the Debt Ceiling – China is Watching
After months of warnings, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has officially set a deadline: If Congress fails to act by June 1, the United States will default on its debt. Instead of acting on this stark message, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy continues to willfully force the United States to stare down the barrel of impending default to leverage passage of an extreme wish list of conservative policies. These policies include cuts to veterans benefits, child care, food safety, job training programs, support for farmers, and more.
 |
| Click here to read Rep. Courtney's Op-Ed in The Hill. |
The Speaker should remember that a default on the debt will have vast harmful global consequences for our nation and supports China's work to undermine the U.S. dollar's hard-won position as the world’s “reserve currency”. That's why Congress voted 78 times since 1960 to raise the debt ceiling – 18 times under Ronald Reagan. I wrote about the urgent need for McCarthy to heed the warnings of Democrats and Republicans—including Trump—and raise the debt limit with a clean bill now. Read my op-ed published in The Hill here.
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.
Sincerely,
Joe Courtney
Member of Congress
|
