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Dear Friend,
It’s been a packed week in Congress and I’m here with an update on the latest Virginia-class submarine, wins for education in the Fiscal Year 2024 budget, and lots more.
Thanks for starting your weekend here with me. Go Huskies!
Christening the 26th Virginia-Class Submarine
Electric Boat is hiring a historic number of new workers – driven by a plan going back eight years, supported by Congress, industry, and the metal trade unions, to recruit, train, and retain new workers. The hiring surge is showing results.
On Saturday, we christened the USS Idaho, the 26th Virginia-class submarine. The Idaho christening is in the middle of a growing tempo for the Virginia program:
- June 2023: USS Iowa christening
- October 2023: USS Rickover delivery
- March 2024: USS Idaho christening
- 2024: USS New Jersey Delivery
- 2025: USS Massachusetts christening (projected)
It’s true that pandemic-related retirements and other effects slowed production, but a new generation of shipbuilders in picking up the pace. With all of the challenges facing our nation and our allies, particularly our AUKUS ally Australia, now is not the time to falter in our commitment to steady Virginia submarine procurement.
Significant Wins for Education Funding in FY2024 Budget
Today, I joined a strong coalition of Democrats and Republicans to pass the final Fiscal Year 2024 government funding package – including funding for the Department of Education. This bill makes strong investments in education, child care, and job training – a complete reversal from where budget negotiations were four months ago.
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| Rep. Courtney joined a strong bipartisan group of 286 Members of Congress to pass the final Fiscal Year 2024 government funding package. |
Back in November, the House GOP passed an education budget that decimated funding for Title I schools by 80 percent, cut funding for programs that benefit schools in military communities like Groton and Ledyard, flat funded special education for the first in over a decade, and slashed Head Start funding.
As a senior member of the Education and Workforce Committee, I joined House Democrats, led by my friend, colleague, and Ranking Member of the Appropriations Committee Rep. Rosa DeLauro, to fight off these cuts and worked with Republicans to at least maintain, if not boost funding where we could. This is no small feat in a closely divided Congress and will pay huge dividends for our educators, students, and parents in eastern Connecticut.
Supporting Maple Farmers
Eastern Connecticut is home to many hard-working maple syrup producers. They’re part of our region’s agricultural heritage, and we need to do everything we can to support them.
Last week, I introduced the MAPLE Act, a bipartisan bill which would expand the market for maple syrup producers and improve seniors’ access to fresh products through the Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition Program.
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| Left to right: CT Department of Agriculture Commissioner Bryan Hurlburt, Rep. Courtney, Wilkinson Farm Owners Mat Wilkinson, Cindy Wilkinson, Molly Wilkinson, Abby Wilkinson. |
After announcing the bill, I visited the Wilkinson Farm in Columbia with Connecticut Department of Agriculture Commissioner Bryan Hurlburt. The Wilkinson Farm is a seven-generation, family-run operation. Owners Mat and Cindy Wilkinson updated us on the challenges their business has faced. Despite those challenges, the Wilkinsons, and a wide variety of a food producers in eastern Connecticut, persevere and continue to provide local food for our communities. In Congress, I’m continuing to fight for bipartisan legislation like the MAPLE Act to provide the support they need.
Protecting Coast Guard Cadets
This week, we took a significant step forward in protecting Coast Guard Academy cadets when they report sexual assault. On Wednesday, the House Transportation Committee, which has jurisdiction over the U.S. Coast Guard and Coast Guard Academy, advanced my Safe-to-Report legislation as part of the Coast Guard Authorization Act. My bill would prevent Coast Guard Academy cadets from punishment for minor offenses when reporting an incident of sexual assault.
The serious issue of sexual assault across the Coast Guard was brought to light because of courageous cadets and faculty who raised this to my office’s attention in 2018. For years, I’ve worked to institute safeguards to prevent and address sexual assault across the Coast Guard. My bill would codify the Safe-to-Report protections that students already have at all other military academies for CGA students.
I commend Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Lisa Fagan for adopting this policy even before Congress acted, and I’m hopeful that with the strong bipartisan support we saw in Committee (53-3!), Congress can deliver the protections CGA students need.
An Update on the Affordable Connectivity Program
I continue to hear from eastern Connecticut residents who are concerned about the impending cliff for the Affordable Connectivity Program. If Congress, does not act, the program will run out of funding later this spring.
Keeping the ACP online is a top bipartisan priority for me – 1 in 8 households in Connecticut rely on it for affordable internet service. This week, I reiterated calls for the program to receive the full funding it needs. Click here to read the bipartisan letter my colleagues and I sent to House and Senate leaders.
14 Year Anniversary of the Affordable Care Act
Tomorrow marks 14 years since the Affordable Care Act was signed into law. More Americans than ever before are getting covered through the ACA marketplace, including record enrollments in Connecticut.
Since coming to Congress, I’ve always fought to lower health care costs and fend off GOP efforts to repeal this life-saving coverage. In 2022, I helped pass Affordable Care Act subsidies within the Inflation Reduction Act which have lowered ACA premiums by an average of hundreds of dollars a year for Connecticut residents.
We must continue to make health care costs affordable for everyone. Today's anniversary is a good reminder of what Congress can deliver when we commit to that goal.
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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