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Dear Friend,
It's Joe Courtney. After a busy week in Congress, I’m here with an update on the CT Army National Guard’s return to Quiet Corner and lots more from the week. As always, thanks for starting your weekend here with me.
"Topping Off" the CT Army National Guard's Putnam Readiness Center
After years of hard work on the federal and state levels, the Connecticut Army National Guard Readiness Center is currently under construction in Putnam. The new, 37,000 square foot readiness facility will bring our state’s reserve force back to northeastern Connecticut, and on Tuesday, we celebrated the construction’s “topping off” – the placing of the final I beam on the structure’s roof.
It’s so exciting to see this next milestone in the journey to get this facility built. With $17.5 million authorized by the House Armed Services Committee in 2021 providing the lion’s share of the construction costs, my office worked hand in hand with the CT National Guard and Major General Francis Evon to bring this facility to life.
The former CT Guard armory was closed in 2005 by the BRAC Commission, eliminating any Guard presence in the Quiet Corner. Now, the Guard is back – and back where it belongs in a part of a Connecticut where the community and its strong veteran population will support it, nurture it, and cherish it for decades to come.
Calling for a Bipartisan Government Funding Package
On Wednesday, a bipartisan coalition in the House voted down a flawed short-term government spending bill which would have harmed submarine construction, military families, and veterans. The bill would have failed to provide sufficient funding to maintain medical care operations for veterans through the 2025 fiscal year and blocked the U.S. Navy from starting new construction, resulting in unnecessary delays and higher costs.
Funding the federal government is a basic responsibility of Congress under Article One of the Constitution. In eastern Connecticut, it is particularly important to protect the livelihoods of countless federal employees, including the 9,000 Navy sailors and officers at the Groton submarine base, and thousands of Coast Guard Academy personnel performing great work for our nation.
With the start of a new fiscal year on October 1st, it is clear that a short-term continuing resolution is needed in order to allow time for final passage of a full-year budget and to keep government open. House Speaker Johnson must sit down and have a grown-up conversation with both sides of the aisle to quickly pass a measure with bipartisan support that keeps the government open.
Helping Military Servicemembers Access Loan Relief
There is no one more deserving of our gratitude and support than our armed servicemembers. That’s why Congressman Dusty Johnson (R-SD) and I have reintroduced bipartisan legislation to ensure servicemembers on deployment receive the full benefit of Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), a program designed to ease the burden of student debt.
Currently, if an eligible servicemember enrolled in PSLF chooses to put their loans into deferment or forbearance during a deployment, those periods do not count as PSLF-qualifying payments. This means servicemembers need to exceed the required 10 years of service before qualifying for student loan forgiveness.
Servicemembers deserve the full benefit of student loan forgiveness, and the Recognizing Military Service in PSLF Act will help them get that. Our bill has been endorsed by Psych Armor, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Vietnam Veterans of America, Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), Elizabeth Dole Foundation, and the National Military Family Association.
Renovating Apartments in Willimantic
Renovating existing housing is a key piece to solving the shortage of high-quality, affordable homes. The Willimantic Housing Authority has received federal funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to renovate 52 kitchens at John Ashton Towers.
I’ve long supported this HUD program and successfully funded it in the 2024 budget. On Monday, I joined Director of the Willimantic Housing Authority Kim Haddad and Treasurer of the Housing Authority's Board of Commissioners Avery Lenhart for a visit to the apartment building. Kitchens will be renovated with new plumbing, cabinets, countertops, sinks, rangehoods, and appliances.
Sterling Family Day
Sterling Family Day was a blast last weekend. There were so many great vendors and organizations. I had the chance to catch up with the Sterling Garden Club, the Last Green Valley, and the Griswold Veterans Coffeehouse.
Visiting the Connecticut Equestrian Center
Supporting eastern Connecticut’s small business is of the utmost importance to me. On Monday, I visited the Connecticut Equestrian Center in Coventry to hear how they have used federal USDA grants to lower their operating costs. With a Rural Energy for America grant, the Center installed a new solar energy system that has brought their electricity bill to $0.
Back in 2022, I helped expand the USDA’s Rural Energy for America grant program to reach more businesses in eastern Connecticut. Our farmers and other rural business use these programs to adopt climate-friendly technology. Thank you to Equestrian Center owners Richard Von Hirschberg and Athene von Hirschberg for updating me on their operation in Coventry.
Renew Passports Online!
Good news! U.S. citizens can now renew their passports online at travel.state.gov/renewonline.
Renewing online is secure and available 24/7. It’s still important to plan ahead and renew well in advance of travel.
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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