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Dear Friend,
It's been a busy week in Congress and eastern Connecticut. I'm here with an update on a new tax fairness initiative, Community Project funding in our towns, and lots more. As always, thanks for starting your weekend here with me.
Making Sure the Wealthy Pay Their Fair Share
We’re less than a month away from the April 15th tax filing deadline. This is certainly not a joyful or happy date – no one likes to think too much about filing taxes. Despite this, 85% of all Americans pay their taxes on time. For most others, extensions are requested for legitimate reasons. Astonishingly, there are also many high-income individuals who completely ignore tax filing and do not pay any taxes at all. Thanks to funding we passed in Congress, the IRS is putting an end to this.
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| Click here to watch Rep. Courtney's floor speech on tax fairness. |
Recently, the IRS announced a new non-filer initiative – made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act which Congress passed in 2022 – to ensure 125,000 wealthy individuals who have failed to file tax returns in years since 2017, pay their fair share. All 125,000 people on this list earn more than $400,000/year and this new initiative will not target anyone who earns less than that amount.
This IRS initiative is only possible because of funding Congress provided in the Inflation Reduction Act. For years, Republican controlled Congresses cut funding to the IRS which meant it could only run its non-filer program sporadically. Now, with new resources from the Inflation Reduction Act, the non-filer program will allow the IRS to work on behalf of the hard-working Americans who have born the financial cost of wealthy tax cheats. Ensuring they pay their fair share will lower the deficit and is fundamental to a fair and just society.
A Steady Procurement Rate is Critical for the Navy and Connecticut
On Monday, the President released his Fiscal Year 2025 budget request to Congress. In this initial step of the annual budget process, the administration only requested funding for construction of one Virginia-class submarine – rather than the two submarines per-year we have funded consistently since 2011. Presidents have done this before. From Obama in 2013 to Trump in 2020, I’ve stopped them every time and kept the two-per-year procurement rate steady.
My office has also been in close contact with leadership at Electric Boat and they have confirmed that the hiring goal for 2024 of 5,200 new hires will not be affected by this FY25 request.
Bipartisan leaders in House and Senate agree that this administration’s proposal to cut a submarine that has already been partially paid for and built makes little or no sense. At the end of the day, Congress has the sole authority in the Constitution to “provide and maintain a Navy”. That’s exactly what we will work to do through the FY2025 budget process.
In January, as the Ranking Member on the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcomittee, I led a letter with House Armed Services Committee leaders Chairman Rodgers (R-AL), Ranking Member Smith (D-WA), and Seapower Subcommittee Chairman Kelly (R-MS), cautioning President Biden and his administration to maintain a two-per-year procurement rate in their request. I’m disappointed that our warning was not heeded but am ready to work through the FY2025 budget process to deliver funding for two Virginia-class submarines that meet the needs of our Navy, our shipbuilders, and the AUKUS security agreement.
Hosting Australian Deputy Head of Mission Paul Myler in Connecticut
On Thursday, I had the pleasure of welcoming the Australian Embassy’s Deputy Head of Mission Paul Myler to Connecticut. We met with Governor Lamont to discuss our state's importance to AUKUS, visited UConn’s National Institute for Undersea Vehicle Technology in Storrs, and sat down with the World Affairs Council of Connecticut for a discussion on China and AUKUS. Click below to watch.
There’s no question that our state is playing a significant role in making the AUKUS security agreement a success. Between Australian submarine officers training at the Groton Sub Base, the sale of three Virginia-class submarines to the Australian Navy, and the sharing of shipbuilding expertise, our state is a huge part of AUKUS now and will continue to be for the coming years and decades. The Australian Government recognizes that and has accordingly committed to a historic $3 billion investment into the U.S. submarine industrial base.
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| Rep. Courtney and Dep. Head of Mission Myler meet with Governor Lamont. |
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| Rep. Courtney and Dep. Head of Mission Paul Myler visit UConn's National Institute for Undersea Vehicle Technology Program. |
Federal Funding Secured for Suffield & Stafford
Last week, I was excited to share that I secured over $11 million in federal funding for 15 Community Projects in the Second District. Our towns and local organizations worked diligently to request this funding, and now that it has been signed into law, I visited two recipients to catch up on the good news and the work ahead.
First, I stopped by the Suffield Wastewater Treatment Plant’s Stony Brook Interceptor. At nearly 50 years old, the interceptor needs to be rehabilitated for continued safe operations at the plant. It’s a costly undertaking for the town, so as 2024 Community Project, I’m bringing home $960k in federal funds to make it possible.
I joined Water Pollution Control Authority Superintendent Jamie Kreller, Chief Operator Alex Kaminski, the talented staff of Suffield Water Pollution Control, First Selectman Colin Moll, and other town officials to discuss how these upgrades will benefit town residents.
Then, I paid a visit to the Stafford’s Warren Memorial Town Hall building. I secured $500k in federal Community Project funding for the town to make ADA improvements to the 100-year-old building. With this federal grant and investment from its own town budget, Stafford will add a new two-stop elevator, handicapped parking spaces, improved parking lot signage, and two handicapped bathrooms.
With these ADA upgrades, the building will meet accessibility needs for all residents to access critical services and attend community events. Thanks to First Selectman Bill Morrison and Director of Grants and Community Development Amber Wakely for updating me on the path forward for this project and better future ahead for an accessible town hall building.
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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