Dear Friend, 

I hope you’re doing well.  

On Saturday, after careful review, I voted with a broad coalition of 335 Democrats and Republicans to prevent a shutdown through a continuing resolution. The stop gap measure ensures our government can remain open for the next 45 days and deliver the services Americans rely on. 

On Saturday, Rep. Courtney joined 334 Democrats and Republicans to pass a stop gap funding bill which ensures the federal government will remain open and operational for 45 days

For months, I’ve been calling for a bipartisan approach in the House to avert the catastrophic impacts of a shutdown – just as a we did in May through the Fiscal Responsibility Act to prevent a default on the full faith and credit of our country. Instead, extreme factions of the House Republican caucus drove our nation to the brink of a shutdown and stoked panic and chaos.  
 
On Saturday, at the eleventh house, House Republicans finally headed our calls and brought the bipartisan continuing resolution to a vote. Following House passage of the bill, the Senate passed it by a vote of 88-9 and President Biden signed it into law before the 11:59PM deadline. Now, we must continue working together to pass a bipartisan government funding bill for the entire 2024 fiscal year and avoid another unnecessary crisis. 
 
Here in eastern Connecticut, the continuing resolution ensures roughly 9,000 sailors and officers at the Groton submarine base will not have their pay disrupted, as well the Coast Guard Academy staff in New London. Their important work will continue uninterrupted. 
 
It also includes essential funding to support disaster relief, keep air travel safe for passengers, and continue Columbia submarine construction program at Electric Boat.  

Keeping the Columbia Submarine Program on Track

A government shutdown would have had catastrophic consequences for our U.S. Navy by halting progress on construction of the Columbia-class submarine, the USS Wisconsin. Electric Boat shipbuilders are working hard to replace the retiring Ohio-class submarines with the Columbia-class on schedule and meet the Navy’s fleet requirements. 
 
Thankfully, the bipartisan stop-gap funding bill we passed on Saturday also continued funding for the Columbia submarine construction program at Electric Boat.  The continuing resolution includes $621 million for continuous production of the USS Wisconsin submarine, the second in the Columbia-class. With this funding, Electric Boat’s talented shipbuilders can continue their work and ensure the Wisconsin is delivered on time. 

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.

Sincerely,

Joe Courtney
Member of Congress

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