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Dear Friend,
It's Joe Courtney. I'm back home in eastern Connecticut after a busy week in Congress. Here with an update on new infrastructure funding for the Cross Sound Ferry, brining fairness to Social Security, and lots more.
A Great Honor from a Close Ally to Eastern CT
Eastern Connecticut and Australia share an ironclad mateship through the AUKUS security agreement. Even at 11,646 miles apart (from the Groton Sub Base to HMAS Sterling Naval Base in Perth), our connection is only getting closer. Australia submariners are currently training at the Groton sub school and the historic sale of three Virginia-class submarines to Australia is on the horizon. In Congress, we’ve built strong bipartisan support for the AUKUS mission and passed critical AUKUS-enabling legislation.
This week, I had the great honor of receiving an appointment as an Honorary Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia from my friend, Australian Ambassador to the U.S., Dr. Kevin Rudd. We were joined by a bipartisan contingent from the Congressional Friends of Australia Caucus. Our work continues to advance AUKUS and our two nations’ alliance.
Ambassador Rudd is an outstanding partner for eastern Connecticut. Earlier this year, he joined me in eastern Connecticut for a visit to the Groton shipyard. Under the AUKUS agreement, the Australian Government will invest $3 billion into the United States submarine industrial base. With Kevin serving as Ambassador and building strong bipartisan relationships across the U.S., eastern Connecticut’s path forward in AUKUS could not be brighter.
Improving the Cross Sound Ferry
Huge news. The Cross Sound Ferry is set to receive $3.9 million from the Maritime Administration to make significant ferry terminal improvements in New London.
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| Cross Sound Ferry Terminal improvements made possible by this grant award involve the construction of a new bulkhead, relocation and installation of new mooring dolphins, construction and installation of two new ferry ramps, a slip, as well as a floating loading platform, and re-sheeting of a section of the existing bulkhead. |
This project will be a key piece to downtown New London's intermodal transit hub. My office was pleased to work closely with the great team at the Cross Sound Ferry to secure this grant, which is distributed nationwide and on a very competitive basis. Kudos to Cross Sound Ferry owners John and Adam Wronowski and Vice President Rich MacMurrary on receiving this well-deserved funding.
This grant comes through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act – a bill which I helped pass in Congress and was signed into law three years ago today. The “IIJA” is a five-year investment to revitalize America’s infrastructure. In its first three years, we’ve brought home funding for long-overdue projects, and I’m continuing to work with our towns and local stakeholders to take more projects off of the “to-do” list.
Calling for More Support for Small Farms
Small farms in Connecticut have felt the devastating impact of natural disasters over the last several years. In the final weeks of 2024, I’m working with my colleagues in the Connecticut delegation to provide the immediate and long-term aid they need. This week, we sent two letters to Congressional leaders and the Presidential administration, calling for emergency relief funding and the inclusion of our bill, the Save our Small Farms Act, in the upcoming Farm Bill Reauthorization.
Eastern Connecticut is the most rural part of our state, with a healthy, sizable cross section of producers and farmers. I’ve heard from many of them on the consequences of damaging weather events that have impacted their livelihoods and caused many farms to go under. Now more than ever, Congress must act to deliver emergency assistance, build a robust safety net for small farms, and expand access to federal crop insurance for small farms. I’m hopeful that our calls will receive bipartisan attention.
Passed: The Social Security Fairness Act
This week, I voted to pass the Social Security Fairness Act (House Resolution 82), a bill which would repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). These are regressive taxes on public servants’ Social Security benefits. Since they were instituted in the 1980s, they have been shortchanging benefits for teachers, firefighters, police officers, and many other public servants.
I have consistently supported legislation to restore fairness for public servants in the Social Security program. I’ve been a repeated co-sponsor of the Social Security Fairness Act, and in September, I signed a discharge petition which forced the House to vote on this bill.
I’m glad to say that the Social Security Fairness Act passed the House with strong bipartisan support. Next, the Senate must pass it too.
Recognizing the Service of Electric Boat President Kevin Graney
In his five years serving as President of Electric Boat, Stonington’s Kevin Graney has overseen generational change, record hiring, and dramatically improved efficiency at the Groton shipyard. Kevin is set to retire from his role on December 1st, and on Tuesday, I spoke on the House floor to thank Kevin for his remarkable service to our nation.
Celebrating 249 Years of the U.S. Marine Corps
On November 10th, we celebrated the 249th birthday of the United States Marine Corps. While much of my time in Congress is dedicated to submarines, as Ranking Member of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, I've also had the honor to work with leadership and members of U.S. Marine Corps to ensure this amazing service branch receives the support it needs to carry out its mission.
On Thursday, I had the honor of serving as the guest of honor to celebrate the service’s 249th birthday alongside Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps General Christopher Mahoney and retired Four Star U.S. Marine Corps General and current U.S. Congressman from Michigan Jack Bergman. To the generations of Marines who have worn the uniform: thank you for your service.
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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