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Dear Friend,
It’s been a packed week in eastern Connecticut, and I’m here with an update on rising employment in our region, the Affordable Connectivity program, and lots more. As always, that's for starting your weekend here with me.
Australian Submarine Officers Arrive in Groton for Training
On Tuesday, three Australian Navy submarine officers began Submarine Officer Basic Course at the Groton Submarine Base – after they graduated from nuclear power training last month. We welcomed the submariners to Groton last week. They are the first group of Australians to enter the training pipeline we created for AUKUS and established by passing the FY23 National Defense Authorization Act.
During their visit to the Submarine Force Museum, we walked over to the USS Nautilus. Our nation made history in 1954 by launching the Nautilus, the world’s first nuclear propelled submarine. Now, we are preparing to share this technology for the second time ever, with our steadfast ally Australia through the AUKUS agreement.
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| Rep. Courtney with Australian Submarine Officers at the USS Nautilus. |
Internet for All: Working to Save the Affordable Connectivity Program
I don’t need to tell you that internet is a vital resource for us all. It connects us to opportunities and healthcare, helps us stay up to date, and keeps us in touch with family and friends. Everyone should have access to internet at a cost they can afford.
The Affordable Connectivity Program was created by the Infrastructure Law which I helped pass in 2021. The program partners with internet service companies to provide low-cost internet at $30/month to those who need it. Nationwide, 1 in 6 households are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program – 31,000 households in eastern Connecticut alone. 50 percent of all enrollees are active-duty military families.
Unfortunately, unless Congress acts, the program will end this spring due to lack of funding, and an estimated 75 percent of enrolled households could face internet service loss or disruption without the program.
I’m working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to fully fund the Affordable Connectivity Program. On Monday, I joined program enrollees, librarians, and internet service providers at the East Lyme public library to discuss the importance of low-cost internet.
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| Click here to watch coverage of the press conference. |
I’m hopeful that, with bipartisan support, we can pass legislation to keep the Affordable Connectivity Program online. I support the bipartisan Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act, and last week, I joined my Republican Colleague Marc Molinaro (R-N.Y.) for an interview on the program’s upcoming cliff and our work to avoid it. Watch below.
Electric Boat to Hire 5,000 More Workers in 2024
On Thursday, I joined southeastern Connecticut community leaders to provide an update on federal investments in the submarine industrial base – and hear from Electric Boat President Kevin Grainey on projections for 2024.
In 2023, Electric Boat hired over 5,300 workers between their Groton and Quonset Point, Rhode Island shipyards. In 2024, they aim to hire another 5,000 new workers. Importantly, thanks to the leadership with the Metal Trades Council, a historic five-year labor agreement with Electric Boat will bring significant wage increases for EB employees – making it clear that new hires are entering a career in shipbuilding, not just a job.
Hiring at the Groton shipyard has driven significant employment growth in our region. In 2023, employment in New London County rose by 3.2%, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. That’s by far the most growth of any area in Connecticut and makes our region a hotspot on the nationwide map. Importantly, new jobs created in shipbuilding have a spiderweb effect of growing our local economy. For almost every job created in defense manufacturing, another job is created in another industry.
Federal Investments in Middlesex County Amid Frustrating Times in Washington
Thank you to the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce for hosting me on Tuesday to discuss federal investments in our region, my work to address workforce challenges, and the frustrating times we are experiencing in Washington.
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| Rep. Courtney joins the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce. |
Despite low productivity under House leadership, recent wins in Congress have come through bipartisan compromise. We must return to the center-left, center-right pathway to address our nation’s needs – strengthen national security, bring order to the southern border, and lower costs.
Second Anniversary of Russia's Illegal Invasion
Tomorrow marks two years since Russia began a full scale invasion of Ukraine. It has also been 10 years since Russia illegally seized the Crimean Peninsula.
Today, I hosted Ukraine American Veterans, Doctors United for Ukraine, and the Ukrainian National Home of Hartford to discuss legislation they championed in 2023 to support injured Ukrainian soldiers.
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In 2009, I helped pass legislation in the National Defense Authorization Act to create a Center of Excellence at the Pentagon to address traumatic brain injuries (TBI), PTSD, and other injuries stemming from service in the U.S. military. Since then, the U.S. has developed sophisticated ways to diagnose and treat these debilitating wounds of war.
In this year’s National Defense Authorization Act, I led legislation in the U.S. House authorizing the Secretary of Defense to create a partnership with the government of Ukraine to share this expertise to help their soldiers who are experiencing TBI, PTSD, and other mental health conditions. Unfortunately, extreme opponents of any aid to Ukraine opposed this benign measure, requiring a spirited debate on the House Floor. My amendment prevailed 358-70.
Today, I extended my thanks to the Ukrainian American Veterans whose advocacy helped ensure this legislation was signed into law.
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| Today in Norwich, Rep. Courtney was joined by Ukrainian American Veterans Carl Harvey, Myron Melnyk, Ihor Rudko, Donald Zalucky, Paul Bzowyckyj, and Roman Zelez, Assistant Professor at the Yale School of Medicine Andrey Zinchuk, MD, MHS, Ukrainian Nation Home of Hartford Director Myron Kolinsky, and Lviv Resident Nadiya Ivantsiv |
There’s no question that Ukraine is in desperate need for Congress to act and deliver more aid. Doing so is not just an imperative in protecting democracies abroad—but protecting our own.
In Congress, I am calling on Speaker Johnson to bring up the national security supplemental which will deliver $60 billion in aid – $40 billion of which will be invested directly into factories across the United States who manufacture equipment.
Celebrating 20 Years of the Windham Recovery Center
On Tuesday, we celebrated 20 years of the Windham Recovery Center.
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| Click here to watch a video highlighting 20 years of the Windham Recovery Center. |
Recovery centers like this are crucial to combating the addiction crisis. They provide people struggling with a chance to reclaim their lives and move forward. Our region has been hit especially hard by opioid addiction and overdose deaths. In New London County, we received encouraging news this month that overdose deaths fell by 50% in 2023, thanks to the work of local groups after we reached a tragic record number of deaths in 2021.
In addition to cutting the flow of fentanyl into our nation through ports of entry at the southern border, I'm working in Washington to provide eastern Connecticut organizations, like the Windham Recovery Center, with federal support so they can meet the needs of our residents.
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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