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Dear Friend,
It’s Joe Courtney. After a busy week in Congress, I’m back home in eastern Connecticut. Here with exciting news from Tourtellotte High School in Thompson and lots more from the week. As always, thanks for starting your weekend here with me.
Tourtellotte Memorial High School Opens a Groundbreaking Welding Lab
Last Friday, I helped launch Tourtellotte Memorial High School's new, cutting-edge welding lab – part of the school's "Career Pathways" program.
The lab expands capacity for the school's welding class from 8 to 50 students. It's made possible by over $100,000 in funding provided by Congress for the Navy's Submarine Industrial Base account and the U.S. Department of Education's Perkins Grant Program.
Thanks to a partnership between Thompson Public Schools, Electric Boat, and other local employers, this welding lab is designed to provide students with in-demand skills for immediate access to good-paying jobs. Kudos to Thompson Public Schools Superintendent Melinda Smith, Electric Boat, and the American Welding Society. As a comprehensive high school, Tourtellotte's effort is a pioneering model which other public high schools can and will follow.
Watch: With Support from Congress, Connecticut’s Submarine Industrial Base Delivers Results
Tomorrow, the 23rd Virginia-class submarine, the USS New Jersey will be commissioned in northern New Jersey. In the coming months, two more Virginia class submarines, the USS IOWA and the USS MASSACHUSETTS will be delivered to the Navy, all while work is underway on the new Columbia class ballistic submarine fleet.
With funding provided Congress, eastern Connecticut’s submarine industrial base and training programs are delivering results for our bold shipbuilding plan. On Wednesday, I spoke on the House floor to highlight Tourtellotte’s new welding lab and recent visits I’ve made to submarine suppliers. Watch below.
Protecting Social Security Benefits for Public Servants
In eastern Connecticut and across the country, people reply on Social Security to retire with dignity. But for many hard-working teachers, fire fighters, police officers and other publican servants, the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) are shortchanging their benefits.
This week, I signed a discharge petition which would require a House vote on House Resolution 82, the Social Security Fairness Act. The bill would repeal the WEP and GPO. These are regressive taxes on public servants' Social Security benefits, instituted by Congress several decades ago under then-President Ronald Reagan to address Social Security solvency issues.
I've consistently advocated for legislation to restore fairness for public servants to the Social Security program, and I've been a repeated cosponsor of the Social Security Fairness Act. The Discharge Petition which I signed this week must reach 218 signatures to force a vote on the House floor. As of today, September 13th, it has 172 signatures.
Standing Up Against Proposed Taxes on Employer-Sponsored Health Care Plans
Project 2025, a blueprint for a second Trump presidency which is drafted by some of the former President's closest allies and former advisors, calls for reinstating a tax on employer-sponsored health insurance plan. Make no mistake, this is a disastrous proposal which would raise taxes for up to 150 million Americans on employer-sponsored plans. Its intended effect is to steer Americans out of high-quality health plans into unregulated plans with no consumer protections.
I've led the charge to scrap this proposal before, and I'll do it again. On Tuesday, in a House Education and Workforce Committee hearing, I asked Republican witnesses if they supported this proposal. They emphatically did not.
Also in Tuesday's hearing, I made clear that every American should reap the benefits of lower prescription drug costs made possible by Medicare drug price negotiation. It's time for Congress to pass the Lower Drug Costs for American Families Act.
In case you missed it, last month, Medicare announced the new negotiated prices for 10 widely-used prescription drugs. Price negotiation was finally made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, and the result is lower Rx drug costs by up to 80%.
Discussing Available Federal Support with Local Farmers
Agriculture is at the center of eastern Connecticut’s identity. I’m committed to helping our farms stay in business and access new markets.
Last weekend, I joined the American Farmland Trust and lots of local farmers at Graywall Farms in Lebanon. We discussed available support for local farmers through federal USDA programs.
Visiting Access Agency in Danielson
Last Friday, I joined the Access Community Action Agency for a visit to their new facility in Danielson.
Situated at 254 Broad St, the former home of St. Albans Episcopal Church, Access Agency plans to host expanded resources for people across our region at the new facility, including increased housing opportunities, expanded food distribution services, and partnerships with other important service organizations.
During my visit, the team walked me through the facility's emergency shelter and food pantry. Access Agency's staff is dedicated to providing support for local community members in need. This new site in Danielson will serve our region well.
Visiting TEEG in Thompson
Last Friday, I also met with Anne Miller and her amazing staff at TEEG in Thompson, who provide critical help to families in need across northeastern Connecticut. Anne's term as Director is winding down, but she has in place a solid, talented staff that provide a variety of social services for neighbors in crisis. TEEG has strong community support and credibility which is a testament to people who make a difference every day.
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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