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Dear Friend,
It's Joe Courtney. After a packed week in Washington, I’m back home in eastern Connecticut. Here with an update on final passage of the annual defense bill, a major step toward giving Scotland a single zip code, and lots more. As always, thanks for starting your weekend here with me.
Improving Quality of Life for Servicemembers & Funding Two Virginia-Class Submarines
This week, for the 64th consecutive year, the House completed final passage of the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This is a critical bill for eastern Connecticut’s shipbuilders, manufacturers, and the thousands servicemembers and military families who call our region home.
In June, I sat down with servicemembers and spouses at the Groton Sub Base to brief them on the transformational quality of life improvements that we were working to include in this year’s NDAA – with a heavy focus on junior enlisted servicemember pay and housing assistance and pay for military families. There’s no question that these long overdue reforms will improve eastern Connecticut military families' quality of life.
The FY2025 NDAA authorizes funding for two Virginia-class submarines, full funding for the Columbia-class program, and wage increases for Electric Boat workers.
Next week, the Navy will receive delivery of the USS Iowa, which follows commissioning of the USS New Jersey in September. Next year, the USS Massachusetts and the USS Idaho are both on deck for delivery. To maintain momentum for shipbuilders and suppliers, we must move forward with the strong demand signal authorized in this NDAA.
A Major Step Toward a Single Zip Code for Scotland
The voices of Scotland residents have been heard loud and clear in Washington. On Wednesday, the House passed H.R. 8753, a bill to give Scotland, CT and 44 other small towns nationwide a single zip code.
Earlier this year, Senator Chris Murphy and I introduced a standalone bill to solve Scotland’s ridiculous postal service issue: six zip codes for a town of less than 1,600 people. Now, with our bill included in this larger House-passed bill, we are one-step closer solving this Monty Python-esque absurdity once and for all.
In a time of so much gridlock and division, it’s great to see this grassroots effort break through thanks to advocacy by Scotland residents and local leaders – First Selectman Dana Barrow and Former First Selectman Gary Greenberg. I will continue working with Senator Murphy to see this bill through the Senate and to the President’s desk for signature. The hardworking, taxpaying citizens of Scotland deserve to get the same level of postal service as every other community.
Protecting Our Waterways & Improving the Groton Sub Base
Great news for Connecticut's shoreline towns. On Tuesday, the House passed the final version of the Water Resources and Development Act of 2024. This bill includes my environmental provisions to protect and strengthen eastern Connecticut's waterways and shoreline as well as my provision to upgrade the Groton Sub Base piers for future Virginia-class submarines.
Invasive hydrilla plants have been a longtime concern for eastern Connecticut towns. The final version of the Water Resources and Development Act ensures the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will address this issue. I will continue working to ensure eastern Connecticut's water conservation and infrastructure projects are prioritized on the federal level.
12 Years Since the Sandy Hook Elementary School Tragedy
Tomorrow, December 14th, will mark 12 years since the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy – a loss that will never be forgotten.
On Thursday, I joined the Newtown Action Alliance and my colleagues in the Connecticut delegation to send a clear message: our mission to end gun violence continues. Even amid difficult political times in Washington, we will work whenever and wherever possible to save lives. Thank you to the brave survivors and families for their courageous advocacy in Washington to end the senseless scourge of gun violence.
Thanks 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.
Sincerely,
Joe Courtney
Member of Congress
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