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Dear Friend,
This week, I returned to Congress to continue legislative work in 2024. Amid political divisions in Washington, I'm fighting for eastern Connecticut's priorities and want to share an update on recent visits I made around the Second District. Thanks for starting your weekend here with me.
Local Partnerships to Combat the Addiction Crisis
Fighting back against the addiction crisis takes a collective effort from on-the-ground organizations. My office and I work with local groups and law enforcement agencies to secure the federal support they need to keep people safe and help individuals recover from substance misuse. On Tuesday, I joined the Norwich Task Force for their monthly meeting. The group includes recovery coaches, health care professionals, police, and more local leaders with the goal of preventing drug overdose deaths. We discussed the impact of federal resources I’ve secured and where additional investments are needed.
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One of the proven, effective programs in preventing overdose deaths is Reliance Health’s Recovery Coaches program. Recovery Coaches provide personal support and a pathway to recovery for community members. In 2022, I secured federal Community Project Funding for Reliance Health to hire two additional Recovery Coaches and expand the program’s reach. In the year since hiring the new coaches, the program has doubled the amount of community members reached and overdose deaths in Norwich have been cut in half. I’m committed to securing the additional resources Reliance Health needs to continue to save lives.
I keep in close touch with the Norwich Police Department and Chief Daley to hear about their work preventing drug trafficking. We must step up apprehension of drugs at the southern border, and I’m working in Congress to provide the Border Patrol with increased resources and new technology to do so.
Last week, I visited the Southeastern Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (SCADD) at their facility in New London. SCADD’s treatment centers provide people struggling with substance use disorder a place to recover and get back to their lives. In New London, the organization is using federal American Rescue Plan funding to expand and make renovations to their facility. In 2023, I secured federal Community Project Funding for improvements to SCADD’s facility in Lebanon. Increased need for treatment has stretched SCADD’s capacity, and this federal funding will help them overcome that challenge.
Thank you to SCADD and the Norwich Task Force for updating me on their efforts to keep people healthy and prevent tragedies.
Honoring the Distinguished Career of Admiral Frank Caldwell
This week, I joined the Change of Command & Retirement Ceremony for Adm. Frank Caldwell. After over eight years serving as the Director of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program and an amazing 42-year career in the Navy, Adm. Caldwell will retire this month.
Adm. Caldwell’s outstanding dedication and expertise will leave a momentous, far-reaching legacy – fittingly capped by the groundbreaking AUKUS security agreement. As both Ranking Member and Chair of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, I have had a front row seat to Admiral Caldwell’s impact, and on Wednesday, I entered a statement into the Congressional Record to honor his distinguished service. Click here to read.
Westbrook High School Receives National Recognition & Federal Support for Career & Technical Education
On Monday, I visited another local comprehensive high school that is receiving national recognition and federal support for its work to provide students with pathways to quality careers after graduation.
Westbrook High School is a semi-finalist for the Department of Education’s Career Z Challenge. The prize competition was created with funding we passed in Congress. It recognizes high schools for their improvements in career and technical education and provides them with federal resources to continue growth. Principle Tara Winch and College and Career Readiness Coordinator Leslie Carson updated me on how they will use the federal support and partnerships with local employers to expand opportunities for students.
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All students at Westbrook High School select a career pathway and enroll in elective courses in conjunction with traditional coursework. Notably, 75% of seniors are taking part in internships that align with their career pathway. These opportunities are created with input from business leaders and local employers, ensuring students are gaining valuable skills and experiences, and our region meets its workforce demands. For example, the school’s welding program has partnered with Electric Boat and are preparing to open an expanded and renovated welding lab this spring.
Congratulations to Westbrook High School on becoming a Career Z Challenge semi-finalist. In Congress and on the House Education and Workforce Committee, I’m working to expand the reach of career and technical education to more students through grants and programs like the Career Z Challenge.
Bringing Professional Health Care to Students
Ensuring all students have swift access to professional physical and mental health care helps meet families’ needs and keeps students on track. Ledyard High School recently opened a new school-based health center using some of the district's federal American Rescue Plan funds. It was a pleasure to meet with its talented clinicians and Ledyard School officials who spearheaded this effort.
The Ledyard HS health center is operated by the Child & Family Agency of Southeastern CT. Beyond the scope of a traditional school nurse’s office, the new center provides comprehensive primary care to students, regardless of a family’s insurance coverage.
It's common knowledge that young people need better access to mental health care, and the need was made worse during the pandemic. American Rescue Plan funding has been put to use across Connecticut for school districts to hire and retain school mental health workers.
Thank you to Ledyard School’s Nurse Practitioner Lisa Wrubel, Mental Health Clinician Kathryn Balestracci, Superintendent Jay Hartling and Child & Family Agency’s CEO Lisa Otto and COO Erin Saylor for updating me on their work to bring care to students during a time of rising need.
Working with New First Selectmen in Middlesex County
On Monday, I sat down for a meeting with new Middlesex County First Selectmen – Cindy Lignar from Chester, Carol Doak-Jones from Deep River, and Eric Couture from Killingworth. They recently entered office, and we discussed their towns’ priorities.
Ensuring my office and I are good partners to our towns is critical to my work in Congress. I look forward to working with First Selectmen Lignar, Doak-Jones, and Couture to deliver results for Chester, Deep River, Killingworth.
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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