Dear Friend, 

After a busy week in Congress, I'm back home in eastern Connecticut. Here with an update on improving access to mental health care for students, Submarine School graduates, and lots more. As always, thanks for starting your weekend here with me. 

Mental Health Resources for Students

By now, it’s common knowledge that America’s youth need improved access to mental health care and counseling. In recent years, there has been an alarming rise in poor mental health among teenagers nationwide. Connecticut has deployed federal funding I secured in Congress to address this issue with professional care in schools.

Last week, I visited Windham Public School’s summer program, where American Rescue Plan funding is being used to provide professional mental health care and counseling. 

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Superintendent Dr. Tracy Youngberg and her team are hard at work this July. The mental health resource for students is keeping learning on track and getting them grade-level ready ahead of the fall semester. Thank you to Dr. Youngberg, her staff, and all of the students in the summer program for welcoming me. The dedication of Windham Public Schools is admirable. 

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Windham Public Schools is one of 36 school districts and summer programs across Connecticut who have received federal American Rescue Plan funding to support mental health programming students during the summer months in 2023 and 2024.

The Next Generation of Submarine Officers

Today, we celebrated the next generation of leaders in our Navy’s submarine force. I joined the Navy's Basic Enlisted Submarine School's graduation ceremony at the Groton Sub Base. The class of 66 sailors includes nine from the Royal Australian Navy – a historic first for AUKUS.

These sailors, both U.S. and Australian, will be an enduring part of our strategic deterrence strategy, and our advantage in the undersea domain. 

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Rep. Courtney joined Commander of the Submarine School Captain Matthew Fanning, Assistant Naval Attaché for the Australian Embassy Commander Chris Emonson, and graduating Royal Australian Navy sailors Leading Seaman Brent, Able Seaman Marcus, Able Seaman Eldon, Able Seaman Cale, Able Seaman Christian, Able Seaman Angus, Able Seaman Nicholas, Able Seaman Nathaniel, and Seaman MacKinley.

This class of graduates is yet another step forward for the AUKUS security agreement, and an example of the significant role that the eastern Connecticut community will play in its success. The nine Australian Navy Sub School graduates are the first cohort of the new AUKUS training pipeline I established in Congress with the bipartisan U.S.-Australia Submarine Officer Pipeline Act. 

Congratulations to all 66 Sub School graduates! 

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Looking Back at First Social Security Check

Last Friday, I visited the Stafford Senior Center to answer questions about my work in Congress to lower drug costs for seniors and protect Social Security. During our conversation, I shared the story of Ida May Fuller, the first Social Security recipient, shown below on the left.

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In 1940, Ms. Fuller received Social Security check #00-000-001. She didn't expect it, but stopped into the Rutland, Vermont Social Security office because she knew she had been paying into “something called Social Security and [she] wanted to ask the people in Rutland about it.”

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84 years after Ida received her check, over 164,000 people in Connecticut's Second District now receive Social Security. It's past time for Congress to enhance benefits and ensure the program remains reliable for decades to come. We must pass Rep. John Larson's bill, Social Security 2100.


Catching Up with Woodstock Dairy Farmers

As the Co-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Dairy Caucus, I’m committed to making eastern CT dairy farmers' voices heard in Washington. Last Friday, I stopped by Fairholm Farm in Woodstock to meet with owner Jon Hermonot and Fairvue Farm owner Paul Miller. 

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We discussed the recent action taken by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to fix a 2018 milk pricing change, which had been shortchanging dairy farmers in New England. I led the push for the Department to make this update and fairly compensate farmers. 

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During the visit, I also made a stop at the Fairholm Farm store and picked up an outstanding steak for dinner!


Expanding STEM Education for Middle School Students

The UConn-Navy STEM program opens up all sorts of opportunities for younger students. Last week, I visited the SPARK and Explore Engineering summer program in Storrs, where middle school girls, mostly from Connecticut, were on campus for a couple of weeks to learn how STEM skills can open the door to fantastic career opportunities.

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The program is designed by Navy, the UConn school of Engineering, and the University of Rhode Island, with contributions from the Electric Boat shipyard. In Congress, I’ve helped secure funding for it in Department of Defense budgets. 

Thanks to the very bright, impressive students and instructors for hosting me.  

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Visiting a Submarine Supplier in North Branford

Manufacturers across the entire state are seeing the benefits of the submarine boon. Last week, I joined my friend and colleague, Rep. Rosa DeLauro in the neighboring 3rd Congressional District for a visit to sub supplier Prime Technology. President Luis Lluberes gave us a spirited brief on business operations and the slew of work on deck through the Virginia and Columbia Class programs.  

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There are 351 submarine suppliers in Connecticut, many of them small manufacturing businesses. Alongside record hiring at the Groton shipyard, these suppliers need more skilled workers too. On Monday, I spoke on the House Floor to mark the launch of the new Hire Hartford initiative – a federally funded jobs and training program to expand submarine industrial base hiring in the capital region. Watch below. 

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Eastern Connecticut Represented on Team USA 

Exciting news: Eastern Connecticut is represented at the Olympics!

Old Lyme's Liam Corrigan is in the Team USA boat for the Men's Four Rowing competition. This is Liam's second Olympics – he rowed for Team USA in the 2020 Olympics. His quest for gold begins this Sunday, July 28th, at 6:50AM ET. Go Liam!

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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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