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Dear Friend,
After another packed week, I’m here with an update on news from eastern Connecticut and Congress. Thanks as always for starting your weekend here with me.
Christening the Future USS IOWA (SSN 797)
Last Saturday, we celebrated the christening of the future USS IOWA (SSN 797) at Electric Boat in Groton. This marked another pivotal moment for the Virginia-class submarine program. Last year, two Virginias were commissioned – Oregon and Montana. Later this year two more – Rickover and New Jersey – will be commissioned as well. After Saturday’s ceremony, Iowa and USS Massachusetts will be on deck for launch in the near future. Naysayers and hand wringers have mindlessly second guessed the productivity and capacity of the U.S. submarine industrial base, and this steady cadence is a strong rebuttal.
The completion of work on a U.S. Navy submarine represents intense investment and collaboration between the Navy, Congress, and most importantly, eastern Connecticut’s world-class shipbuilders – the engineers, designers, and metal trades magicians. Electric Boat has obviously met the call, and based on my frequent visits to job fairs, trade schools, pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship graduations, Connecticut’s young, talented, and growing workforce is just getting started to meet a workload that will extend to the late 2030s.
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| Click here to watch Rep. Courtney's remarks at the USS IOWA christening ceremony. |
We’re also in a pivotal time for the submarine’s role as our nation embarks on the trilateral AUKUS security agreement with Australia and the United Kingdom. The presence of Australian officials at the Christening ceremony made it clear that Australia knows the important role eastern Connecticut’s shipbuilders play in the success of AUKUS.
The USS IOWA is yet another piece of tangible evidence of what shipbuilder and Navy sailor persistence and talent can accomplish. Best wishes to the Iowa’s crew on your sea trials and we hope to see you soon for commissioning and launch.
Securing Support for Servicemembers, eastern Connecticut’s Defense Industry
On Wednesday, I joined my colleagues on the House Armed Services Committee to advance the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) – the annual bill which sets spending for the Department of Defense and our Armed Forces. This came after a careful, months-long assessment of our national security needs and the increasingly challenging global security environment.
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| On Wednesday, Rep. Courtney joined his colleagues on the House Armed Services Committee to advance the 2024 National Defense Authorization through the committee. |
As Ranking member of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, I helped craft a 2024 NDAA that will maintain our region’s role as the submarine capitol of the world and strengthen our entire defense industrial base. Read more below.
Importantly, my bill, the Sergeant First Class Michael Clark TRICARE Reserve Parity Act was included as part of the 2024 NDAA. Following the tragic death of Bolton’s Sergeant Clark, his family was informed that their health care costs would increase significantly due to a gap in coverage under TRICARE. I introduced this bill to right this wrong for families of fallen National Guard and Reserve personnel. Now that it’s included within the NDAA, it has a clear pathway to full passage on the House floor.
By advancing the 2024 NDAA with a vote of 58-1, the Armed Services Committee once again showed what Congress can accomplish when Democrats and Republicans work together. I’m proud of the good bipartisan wins we secured for the Navy, servicemembers, our allies, and eastern Connecticut shipbuilders. Now that it’s advanced through the committee, I look forward to House passage of NDAA.
Congratulating 2023 Service Academy Nominees
Each year, it’s a great honor to nominate eastern Connecticut students to attend Military Service Academies. Last Saturday, I hosted 2023 nominees in my Norwich office and congratulated them on taking this step toward serving our nation.
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| In 2023, Rep. Courtney nominated five students from Connecticut's Second District to attend Military Service Academies: Anthony Purcell (U.S. Naval Academy), Tait Gaudet (U.S. Military Academy), Jacob Kenney (U.S. Merchant Marine Academy), Joseph Montazella (U.S. Merchant Marine Academy), Joseph Morgan (U.S. Merchant Marine Academy). |
Service Academies open all sorts of opportunities for students – during their service and long after it’s finished. It took lots of hard work to get here, and I wish Anthony Purcell, Tait Gaudet, Jacob Kenney, Joseph Montazella, and Joseph Morgan all the best.
Learn more about Service Academy nominations here.
President Jimmy Carter Has Lived a Life of Service with a Special Connection to Eastern CT
Earlier this year, former President Jimmy Carter and the Carter family announced he was entering hospice care. In eastern Connecticut and across the nation, we continue to pray for the Carters. Our region shares a special connection with President Carter, forged during his time spent serving in our Navy’s Submarine Force at Submarine Base New London and the Groton Submarine School. In fact, SUBASE New London remains the home of the Submarine Force today thanks in part to former President Carter and his lasting appreciation for our state.
This week, I spoke on the House floor to recognize Jimmy Carter’s lifelong devotion to service and compassion. Click below to watch.
Hosting the 2023 Congressional Art Competition Winner in Washington, DC
The Congressional Art Competition is an exciting showcase of the talent and creativity present among eastern Connecticut high school students. This spring, my office once again accepted submissions from across the Second District and hosted an art show in Norwich to showcase their projects.
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| In April, Rep. Courtney's office hosted the 41st annual Congressional Art Competition reception in Norwich |
This week, I had the pleasure of welcoming the 2023 Art Competition winner, Tolland's Sulan Zhang, to my Washington, DC office. Sulan’s fantastic work, “Rose and Thorn”, was just put on display in the U.S. Capitol building alongside works from across the country, and she visited to see it there in person.
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| As the 2023 Art Congressional Competition Winner for CT-02, Sulan Zhang's work "Rose and Thorn" (right) will be displayed in the Capitol building for one year |
Congratulations to Sulan, and to all of the students who submitted works in the 2023 CT-02 Art Competition!
June is Gun Violence Awareness Month
Nationwide, gun violence continues to plague communities and destroy lives. Over 100 Americans lose their lives to gun violence every day, and in 2023 alone, there have been over 275 mass shootings so far.
June is Gun Violence Awareness month, and recently, I hosted advocates from Mothers United Against Violence for an update on their work to prevent gun violence in Connecticut and discuss my legislative work in Congress.
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| Earlier this month, Rep. Courtney met with the Connecticut gun violence prevention group Mothers United Against Violence to discuss their work in the state and his legislative work in Congress |
We can’t wait any longer to advance comprehensive gun safety laws through Congress and get them signed into law. I’ve been working to bring many of the commonsense laws we have here in Connecticut to the federal level. Last year in the House, we passed legislation to crack down on gun trafficking and straw purchases, close the “ghost gun” loophole, strengthen safe storage requirements, and restore the nationwide ban on military-style assault weapons – which was formerly in place throughout our country during one of the most prosperous and low-crime points in American history.
While those priorities were frustratingly never passed by the Senate, Congress did pass the Safer Communities Act – which enhances background checks and supports state-level red flag laws. This bill broke through after decades of inaction, and it is already paying dividends in our communities. Last week, a $3.4 million grant from the Safer Communities Act was awarded to Connecticut to enhance public safety and expand capacity of our judicial system.
Thank you to Henrietta Beckman, Deb Davis, and Rev. Henry Brown from Mothers United Against Violence for meeting with me and for your hard work in our state to save lives.
Thank you 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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