|
Dear Friend,
It’s been a busy week in Congress. I’m here with an update on House-passage of a bipartisan tax relief bill and a few recent visits I made in eastern Connecticut. Thanks for starting your weekend here with me.
Passing a Bipartisan Tax Bill to Bring Relief for Families & Small Businesses
Great news. On Wednesday, the House voted to pass a bipartisan tax relief bill which will address real problems for American families and workers. In spite of record low productivity in the House of Representatives since the start of the 118th Congress, it’s our duty as Members of Congress to find bipartisan measures like the tax reforms included in this bill that will help this country. Earlier in the week, I spoke on the House floor in support of the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act. Watch below.
In Plainfield, Westminster Tool is a shining example of why this bill is so important. The family-owned small business manufacturers medical devices and aerospace equipment for the U.S. Air Force and the Navy. Westminster Tool uses new manufacturing technology to complete this important work and were hit hard by the bad 2017 law which raise their tax bill by 355%.
Now, thanks leadership by Rep. John Larson on the House Ways & Means Committee, the research and development tax deduction has been restored in this new bill. I visited Westminster Tool to meet with the owners, the Coombs family, and discuss how this will help them and other small businesses in our region get back on track in terms of innovation – which is so important for us to keep ahead of our global competitors, and create good, skilled jobs.
 |
| Left: Westminster Tool Vice President Hillary Thomas. Last week, Rep. Courtney visited Westminster Tool to meet with owners, the Coombs family, President of the Eastern Connecticut Manufacturing Alliance Chris Jewell, and more local business leaders |
Importantly, this bipartisan tax bill will also deliver economic relief to working and middle-class families. It brings back the Expanded Child Tax Credit – which we first instituted in the American Rescue Plan in 2021 but expired at the end of that year. While this expanded tax credit is smaller in scope than what we hoped for, it’s estimated that it will help lift nearly half a million children out of poverty nationwide and reach 16,000 children in Connecticut’s Second District. That is a huge step forward and will give families’ wallets more breathing room.
In eastern Connecticut and across the nation, we have a need for more housing supply. The Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act expands the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) – which will encourage more investment by developers to build more mixed-income housing.
With the second year of the 118th Congress underway, I’m glad that we’ve started by passing this overwhelmingly bipartisan legislation that will benefit Americans. The Senate should do the same swiftly and send it to the President’s desk to be signed into law.
Touring Ellis Tech High School in Killingly
Career & technical education opens all sorts of opportunities for young people in eastern Connecticut. Last week, I had a fantastic tour of classrooms at Ellis Tech High School in Killingly. School Director of Counseling and Admissions Martha Rainey and I spoke with students and teachers in masonry, automotive, electrical, electronics and robotics, precision manufacturing, and culinary classes.
The positive energy at Ellis was really impressive, driven by the pride of career-based learning. The skills and experiences high school students acquire in these programs can lead to quality jobs right after graduation and provide value later in life or in other pathways. Interest in career and technical education from students and families remains high, and to allow eastern Connecticut schools to expand their programs, I’m continuing to push for increased federal investment – supporting students and teachers and growing our skilled workforce.
Thank you to Martha Rainey and the great students and faculty at Ellis Tech for welcoming me!
Meeting with Workers at Prysmian in Willimantic
Across the Second District, manufacturers are taking on increased work tied to the surge in submarine construction. In Willimantic, cable manufacturer Prysmian has a large facility with 200 employees. Their cables have wide-reaching uses, including for U.S. Navy submarines.
I visited last week to meet with employees and catch up on their work as a submarine supplier. In the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, we secured significant federal investment for the submarine supplier base.
A New Clean Energy Installation at the Groton Sub Base
I strongly support an "all of the above" approach when it comes to expanding energy production and lowering costs here in Connecticut. New clean energy technology from Connecticut companies like FuelCell Energy can be a piece to the puzzle alongside more established sources.
The Groton Sub Base is home to a FuelCell Energy installation which provides clean, hydrogen-produced energy for the base’s grid resiliency & microgrid platform. The installation recently reached its full output, and I visited last week for a tour with Sub Base Commander Captain Kenneth Curtain, FuelCell CEO Jason Few, FuelCell VP of Project Management Thomas Judge. I’m eager to see how potential future applications of the tech can benefit our communities and cut carbon emissions.
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
|
