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Dear Friend,
It’s been a busy week in eastern Connecticut. Here with an update on dredging work in Clinton, eliminating junk fees, and lots more. As always, thanks for starting your weekend here with me.
Army Crops of Engineers in the Second District Sustaining the Town of Clinton's Maritime Economy
Harbors and waterways are pillars of economic activity for our shoreline towns. A build-up of silt can severely cut down on their capacity.
In the Clinton Harbor, silt build-up made channel "hot spots" almost impassable. Over the last two weeks in the Town of Clinton, work is now underway following months of discussions between my office and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers urging them to bring their resources to the harbor and take on this long overdue dredging to clear its federal channel.
Yesterday, I visited the ship with Clinton Town Manager Michelle Benivegna, Army Corps New England District Colonel Justin R. Pabis, and Army Corps Project Manager Olivia Beaulieu. We toured the Murden and received an update on the work. In just two weeks, the Murden has dredged down to 8 feet.
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| Clean silt dredged by the Murden has been deposited at Hammonasset beach in Madison, which chronically suffers from beach erosion. |
Back in 2022, the Town of Clinton reached out to my office to help push for this project to get on the Army Corps’ list. After Congress passed the Infrastructure Law in 2021, the bill provided an influx of over $17 billion to the Army Corps, which greatly expanded their ability to take on projects like this.
After months of our advocacy, in the Spring of last year, the Army Corps allocated $1 million in Infrastructure Law funding for the highest priority dredging work in the Clinton Harbor. Once the Murden's schedule opened up, we heard in May that it would arrive in Clinton this month.
This round of dredging is addressing the entrance to the harbor. A full dredge will take place in the future, and I will continue to press for the federal resources needed to complete it.
Addressing the Need for Child Care in Northeast CT
To meet the needs of a growing workforce in eastern Connecticut, I’m working in Congress to expand access to high-quality, affordable child care for working families. Child care is a critical resource for all working parents, but for too many, it’s inaccessible because of location, cost, or unavailable slots.
On Tuesday, I visited the Westview Health Center’s child care center in Dayville for a tour. Then, we had a discussion with parents, local business leaders, and child care providers on the need for child care to support growth in our region.
The Westview Health Center opened its child care center to provide the service to its employees and the surrounding community. During our tour, we visited classrooms ranging from toddler-age to pre-K. The center opened in 2023 and is currently at its capacity with 72 children enrolled. The center has a long waitlist, which is not unique and highlights the pressing need for its service.
It’s clear from our discussion and tour that the Westview Child Care Center has a great team working to meet the needs for both employees and families in northeastern Connecticut. The center’s long waitlist is a clear signal that we have a great deal of work to do to increase access to care. In Congress, I’m working to pass legislation that makes it easier for more businesses to start child care centers like Westview's.
I look forward to continuing working with partners across eastern Connecticut to ensure that every family can access early childhood care. Thanks to the entire Westview organization, as well as the Northeaster CT Chamber of Commerce, for welcoming me for a tour and hosting the important conversation.
Taking On Junk Fees
I know that too many people in eastern Connecticut are struggling to get by with the cost of living at no fault of their own. I’m laser focused on working with my colleagues whenever and wherever possible to cut costs and protect Americans from surprise and excessive fees.
On Monday, Senator Richard Blumenthal and I joined concert goers at the Garde Arts Center in New London to discuss our efforts in Congress to eliminate hidden junk fees and protect consumers. Hidden junk fees take money out of people’s pockets, and as Groton resident Jason Sattler explained on Monday, it’s not just a few dollars – it can be hundreds.
In the House, I recently helped pass the bipartisan TICKET Act – a bill which would require all event ticket sellers to display the total ticket price, including all required fees, in any advertisement, marketing, or promotional materials. There’s more work to be done, but transparency will go a long way in ensuring consumers won’t get stuck with surprise fess.
Celebrating Juneteenth
On Wednesday, we celebrated Juneteenth. This new national holiday, enacted in 2021, commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. The day provides our nation with an important pause in daily affairs to reflect on the harm caused by slavery, the courageous struggle to abolish it, and the continuing need to "make a more perfect Union". On Juneteenth, we celebrate the freedoms won, but also look ahead to the work we have left expanding and defending them, particularly the right to vote.
In Norwich, I joined the Norwich NAACP and state, city officials for the city's 35th annual Juneteenth Commemoration Ceremony. Back in 1989, Norwich was the first city in Connecticut to commemorate Juneteenth. At the event, we recognized Rev. Dr. Terrylyn L. Curry Avery with the 2024 Daniel D. Jenkins, Jr. Memorial Award. She is a tireless leader in the continued fight against racism.
Enrolling Local Veterans in VA PACT Act Benefits
Congress passed the largest expansion in Veterans’ health care ever through the PACT Act in 2022. Last weekend, veterans across the Quiet Corner got enrolled in VA PACT Act benefits as well connected to other valuable services at the annual “Veterans Stand Down”.
This annual event began over 15 years ago at the Rocky Hill Veterans home with the mission to bring veterans together and connect them to services and their communities. Thanks to the Danielson Veterans Coffee House, in the last few years, Stand Down has taken place in the Quiet Corner at Quinebaug Valley Community College.
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| Left to right: Vietnam Veteran and Bronze Medal Recipient Alan Joslin (USN, Ret.), Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Rob Welch, and Rep. Joe Courtney |
It was great to attend this year’s event alongside Connecticut’s VA Commissioner, Rob Welch, and Manny Meneses (USN, Ret.), my Military and Veterans Representative, who hosted a booth at the event and connected many veterans attending to the services we can provide.
If you or a family member need help with the VA, tracking down lost service medals, or other veteran-related services, give my Norwich office a call at (860) 886-0139 and ask to speak to Manny.
Signed Into Law: Protecting Children and Supporting Families
Finally, this week, some good news out of a narrowly divided Congress. On Monday, President Biden signed the Missing Children’s Assistance Reauthorization Act into law, a bill which I co-led in the House with Rep. Aaron Bean (R-FL). In April, we passed the bill in the House by a vote of 406 to 0.
Now that the bill is signed into law, we are ensuring the Notional Center for Missing and Exploited Children has the latest, up-to-date resources it needs to continue protecting children and supporting families, which is particularly important today as more children and falling victim to predatory online practices.
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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