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Dear Friend,
After a busy week in Congress, I just arrived back home in eastern Connecticut. Here with an update on recent visits I made in the Second District and my continued work to support eastern Connecticut shipbuilders. As always, thanks for starting your weekend here with me.
Bringing Local Produce to East Hampton School Meals
In East Hampton, Memorial School’s first-ever Farm Day brought out local farmers to teach students about food production. I joined to hear from East Hampton School District Director of Food and Nutrition Jennifer Bove on their success bringing locally grown food to school cafeterias.
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| Last Friday, Rep. Courtney visited Memorial School's Farm Day and met with students and school officials, including Director of Curriculum and Instruction Mary Clark (center right) and Director of Food and Nutrition Jennifer Bove (right) |
Farming is at the center of eastern Connecticut’s identity, and I’ve always worked to help build connections between our communities and local farmers. With the help of federal funding passed by Congress, East Hampton Public Schools has created a successful farm to school program – bringing food grown from nearby to school meals. This fall, 90% of produce in East Hampton school meals comes from within 20 miles of the school district.
Farm to school programs benefit our entire communities, and eastern Connecticut’s thriving agriculture industry makes us primed to implement the programs. Thanks to Jennifer Bove and Superintendent Paul Smith for updating me on how they’ve used federal funding to expand farm to school in East Hampton.
Updating Bradley International TSA Agents on my Work to Prevent a Government Shutdown
The short-term government funding bill which Congress passed on September 30th expires on November 17th, putting us just two weeks away from another deadline to prevent a government shutdown. I'm doing everything I can avert a shutdown and pass a long-term spending bill through a bipartisan agreement. With the holiday travel season just around the corner, I’m acutely aware of how a potential government shutdown would affect our airports.
On Monday, I visited Bradley International Airport to meet with TSA agents and hear the great improvements they’ve made to passenger safety and experience, thanks to in part of federal investments. In the event of a government shutdown, TSA agents’ paychecks would be withheld until the government re-opens. Federal employees would receive backpay, but when many workers are living paycheck to paycheck, one missed pay period is unacceptable. During our conversation, I reaffirmed my commitment to preventing a shutdown and passing a long-term government funding package.
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| Click here to read more about Rep. Courtney's visit to Bradley International Airport security in CT News Junkie. |
Highlighting the Historic Labor Contract Between Electric Boat & the Metal Trades Council
Earlier this month, Electric Boat and the Metal Trades Council, which represents individual unions making up over 3,400 skilled metal trades workers at Electric Boat, reached a historic five-year labor contract agreement. In Congress, members understand the vital work eastern Connecticut shipbuilders perform for the U.S. Navy. On Wednesday, I spoke on the House floor to highlight the new labor contract, which comes during a time of surging demand for submarine production from the U.S. Navy. Click below to watch.
As I shared in an update earlier this month, the five-year labor contract brings the largest wage package in over 30 years. For entry-level workers at Electric Boat, starting wages will rise over the course of the contract from $20.59/hour to $43.21/hour. The agreement also provides a one-time $2,500 contribution to employees’ 401k retirement savings account, a package of health benefits, and more.
Young people are being hired by leaps and bounds at Electric Boat’s shipyard – current hiring in 2023 alone sits at almost 4,700. Thanks to the leadership of Metal Trade Council President Peter Baker and EB’s President of Human Resources Shawn Coyne, this five-year agreement signals that an entry level shipbuilding position in eastern Connecticut is not just a job but a career with a strong economic future for themselves and their families.
Meeting with Australian Partners
Following Australian Prime Minister Albanese’s visit to Congress, this week I meet with representatives from the Australian government to discuss our nations’ joint work to execute on the AUKUS mission. On Wednesday, I hosted Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles and Chief of the Royal Australian Navy Mark Hammond. Then, on Thursday, Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) and I welcomed a delegation of six members from the Australian Parliament.
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| Rep. Courtney and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles. |
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| Left to right: Josh Wilson MP, Meryl Swanson MP, Mark Coulton MP, Rep. Mike Gallagher, Rep. Joe Courtney, Melissa Price MP, and Zali Steggall MP |
In both meetings, we discussed bipartisan efforts underway in Congress to reciprocate the Australian government’s commitment to AUKUS. With less than two months remaining in 2023, Congress must pass key AUKUS-enabling legislation and the President’s request for continued investment in the submarine industrial base.
Shipbuilding is a long game, and getting these packages over the line and signed into law now will send a strong signal that we can meet the Navy’s undersea fleet requirements and support AUKUS. There's no question that this legislation will boost the work of shipbuilders. As Vice Admiral William Houston stated during a Seapower Subcomittee hearing last week, AUKUS will “uplift our industrial base”.
A Federally Funded Housing Redevelopment in Enfield
Federal investments are powering new housing complexes across the Second District. On Monday, I visited one in Enfield. The Tobacco Valley Development Corporation will use a $7 million federal grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to redevelop the Enfield Manor complex in 99 new housing units.
I joined HUD New England’s Suzanne Piacentini, Town Manager Ellen Zoppo-Sassu, Mayor Bob Cressotti, Executive Director of Enfield Housing Authority Scott Bertrand, and more to receive an update on the project. The redevelopment is shovel ready, and with federal and state investment, it will help the Town of Enfield meet its housing needs.
Medicare Open Enrollment is Underway
Medicare open enrollment is here! From now until January 15th, Connecticut residents can enroll for 2024 Medicare coverage through Access Health CT. Visit AccessHealthCT.com for free online help with enrollment. For coverage beginning on January 1st, residents must apply by December 15th.
Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, the cost of insulin is now capped at no more than $35 per month for Medicare beneficiaries, and adult recommended vaccines – including the shingles vaccine – are provided at no cost. Just last year, the shingles vaccine cost some seniors nearly $200 dollars. The Inflation Reduction Act is delivering these lower costs and more for Medicare beneficiaries in the coming years. Finally, seniors will no longer be forced to pay 2 and a half times more than the rest of the world for the medications they need.
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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