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Dear Friend,
I just wrapped up another busy week in eastern Connecticut. Here with an update on the National Coast Guard Museum in New London, addressing the crisis of veteran suicide, and more. Thank you for starting your weekend here with me.
Moving Toward the National Coast Guard Museum
After a decades-long effort to make it a reality, the National Coast Guard Museum will be a powerful, iconic addition to downtown New London. The deserved and long-overdue museum will showcase the rich history of our nation’s oldest sea service and welcome visitors from far and wide – right at the heart of the economic boom happening along the Thames River.
Construction on the museum is going strong with an anticipated grand opening in 2026. On Tuesday, I joined the Coast Guard Museum Association, New London Mayor Mike Passero, the Connecticut Congressional Delegation, and Coast Guard officials to provide an update on the project to the New London community at the Garde Arts Center.
In Congress, I’ve supported this project every step of the way with my colleagues in the Congressional delegation. In 2022, we reached a major milestone by securing $50 million in the federal budget for the museum, working in tandem with Coast Guard Museum Association and the Coast Guard.
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| Rep. Courtney speaks with USCG Vice Commandant – ADM Kevin Lunday. |
This summer, the Museum Association approved a $40 million bid for the next phase of construction, ensuring it moves right along schedule toward the 2026 opening. With an anticipated 10 to 12 million dollars of economic impact, partnerships with local school districts, and 300,000 total visitors per year, the museum will be another foundation of Connecticut's maritime heritage for years to come.
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| A rendering of the future National Coast Guard Museum. |
Addressing the Scourge of Veteran Suicide
Easterseals Veterans Rally Point in Norwich does critical work to support the health and well-being of eastern Connecticut's veterans. My office recently worked alongside Easterseals to secure $462,000 in federal grant funding to address the critical crisis of veteran suicide. On Thursday, I joined Easterseals to highlight the award and their life-saving Suicide Prevention Initiative.
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| Left to right: Rep. Courtney, Easterseals President Robin Sharp, Interim Deputy Director of VA Connecticut Ed Payton, Commissioner of the CT Dept. of Veterans Affairs Ron Welch, and Easterseals Director of Military Services Lori Marriott |
Veteran suicide is one of the most devastating issues our nation faces. This grant funding comes through the Department of Veterans Affairs Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program. With that support, Easterseals will use its deep, meaningful community relationships to coordinate comprehensive mental health care for eastern Connecticut veterans.
Thank you to Easterseals President Robin Sharp, Director of Military Services Lori Marriott, and the entire Easterseals team for the excellent services they provide in the part of our state with the largest concentration of veterans. Since opening their fantastic facility in 2021, Easterseals has recorded 24,000 visits.
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| Event speakers joined by Korean War Army Veteran Walter Way (center) |
Encouragingly, after Congress passed the COMPACT Act in 2020, 50,000 veterans received no-cost emergency mental health care at VA and private facilities in 2023. And since 2022, the Veterans Crisis Line (dial 988 then press 1) has answered over 1.6 million calls, a 22.7% increase in calls per day since its launch. These numbers mean more veterans are getting the care they need. We have much more work to do to address this crisis.
Opening New Housing in Madison
On Monday, I joined Madison First Selectwoman Peggy Lyons, the Hope Partnership, and Caleb Group for the ribbon cutting for the new Wellington at Madison Apartment complex, which brings online 27 high-quality and affordable homes to the shoreline. The project was made possible by federal tax credits for new construction, which I voted to expand this year in a bipartisan bill which passed the House.
One of the top cost-of-living issues Americans face is the high cost of housing. Nationwide, the cost to own a home or rent, is out of reach for too many families. The most effective way to lower costs across the board is to increase our supply of housing. Simply put, we need to get going to build more homes.
Kudos to Madison for recognizing this need for the long term good of the community and embracing this attractive high quality project. Here in eastern Connecticut, I’m working with home builders to help get their shovels in the ground with tax credit support from Congress. There is growing consensus that we need to build more like Wellington to meet our housing needs.
Reminder: Early Voting is Still Available this Weekend
It’s election time, eastern Connecticut! Casting a vote and participating in our elections is the number one way we can shape our country’s future. This year, for the first time, we can cast our ballots early in Connecticut.
Early voting is underway now and open through this weekend. Early voting locations are open from 10am to 6pm, both Saturday and Sunday. Voting closes on Monday before re-opening on Tuesday, November 5th, for election day. To find your early voting location, click here.
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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