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Dear Friend,
After another busy week in eastern Connecticut, I'm here with an update on modernizing the Groton Sub Base, making it easier to cancel subscriptions, and lots more. As always, thanks for starting your weekend here with me.
A Critical Upgrade for Sub Base New London
As Ranking Member of the Seapower Subcommittee, I’ve had the honor of working with the Navy to improve and modernize Sub Base New London. This week, we celebrated a critical upgrade for America’s oldest and largest submarine base.
On Wednesday, I joined the ribbon cutting for the Sub Base’s new Micro-grid platform, which provides the Base with in an independently generated electricity source. Grid vulnerability was cited in the 2005 BRAC Commission’s effort to close the base. With the new Micro-grid, even if the wider grid experiences an outage, the Base’s critical mission to deploy combat ready submarines can continue uninterrupted.
This 10-plus year project is a perfect example of the strong partnership between local, state, and federal officials and private industry to upgrade Sub Base New London. The 9,000 sailors stationed in Groton are at the heart of our Navy’s maritime dominance. Congratulations to Sub Base Commander Captain Ken Curtin, Assistant Secretary of the Navy Meredith Berger, and Rear Admiral Carl Lahti for reaching this milestone.
Our work to execute the Base’s modernization plans continues – including expanding its waterfront piers to accommodate the next generation of Navy submarines, new weapons magazines for future Navy mutations, and new operations facilities. These upgrades will enable our nation’s finest submarine base to accomplish its mission for decades to come.
Visiting the Ledyard Veterans Coffeehouse
Last week, I joined the Ledyard Veterans Coffeehouse to provide an update on the latest veterans news from Congress. Top of mind was recent action Congress took to ensure benefit payments remain reliable.
Since Congress passed the Honoring Our PACT Act in 2022, record numbers of veterans have applied for VA benefits. In July, the VA announced a funding shortfall caused by a surge in PACT Act-related benefits. Congress provided additional funding last month, successfully averting an interruption in benefit payments.
Meeting with Manufacturers at Quinebaug Valley Community College
Eastern Connecticut businesses, schools, and workforce training programs are driving the manufacturing industry forward with innovative technology and programs. Today, during Manufacturing Month, I visited Quinebaug Valley Community College's 9th annual Manufacture Your Future. Area high school students had the opportunity learn about advanced manufacturing and mechatronics programs, led by its Director Steve LaPointe, at QVCC and participate in hands-on workshops with local businesses.
One of the many businesses in attendance today was Electric Boat hiring team. Last year, EB hired over 5,300 new workers – a hiring surge that made the Norwich-New London area the fast growing job market in Connecticut. This year, they've continued to hire at an aggressive pace – 893 job openings today – to meet the demand of the bold shipbuilding plan we've launched in Congress, which now includes 19 Virginia and Columbia class submarines in the pipeline. The Electric Boat hiring team is reaching out across eastern Connecticut to meet their hiring goals.
Visiting the Nest Coffee House in Deep River
On Wednesday, I had a great visit at the Nest Coffee House in Deep River. The Nest serves as a new employment program operated by the nonprofit "A Little Compassion" to provide job experience for neurodiverse young adults with autism, intellectual/developmental disabilities, and related disorders.
I spoke with Nest Intern Tali Merola and Barista Kade Slocombe about their experience in the program and with A Little Compassion Executive Director Bill Furgueson about how I can support Nest in Congress.
Marking Red Ribbon Week
This week is Red Ribbon Week, a long-running drug prevention campaign launched by the National Family Partnership in response to the tragic death of DEA Special Agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena. Here in eastern Connecticut, the Montville Young Marines are marking this week by wearing Red Ribbons, now a symbol of drug use prevention.
Bravo to these students for taking part in the prevention campaign. Eastern Connecticut communities have felt the tragic impact of the addiction crisis, and grassroots prevention efforts that I have helped fund have been critical to reversing the trend. In fact, according to the Connecticut Department of Health, unintentional overdose deaths in 2023 fell by 43 percent in New London County compared to 2022.
I discussed local and federal efforts to reduce overdose deaths – and the critical work we have ahead – on the House Floor earlier this year. Watch below.
Making it Easier to Cancel Subscriptions
Have you ever been stuck on the phone trying to cancel a paid subscription?
Thanks to a new rule from the Federal Trade Commission, cancelling a subscription service will be as simple and easy as signing up for the service. It’s called “click-to-cancel".
It's great to see an advancement like this in consumer protections at a time when so many Americans are struggling with a high cost of living. In Congress, I am working whenever and wherever possible to lower costs. I'm a co-sponsor of legislation to prevent corporate price gouging and eliminate hidden junk fees.
Helping Local Businesses Meet Cyber Security Needs
Eastern Connecticut is home to hundreds of small business manufacturers who are critical for our nation's defense industry supply chain. Ensuring they are protected from cyber security threats is vital for national security.
On Tuesday, I joined the CT APEX Accelerator and the Eastern Advanced Manufacturing Alliance at the Montville American Jobs Center for a cyber security workshop.
Cyber security is complex. This workshop was an opportunity for small businesses to navigate the issue and ensure their cyber security meets the Department of Defense's standards. Thanks to the CT APEX Accelerator and the Eastern Advance Manufacturing Alliance for hosting me to kick the event off.
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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