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Dear Friend,
It’s Joe Courtney. Here with an update on the latest news from the week and more from Washington and eastern Connecticut. As always, thanks for starting your weekend here with me.
Discussing Impacts of the Funding Freeze with the Last Green Valley Inc.
The Last Green Valley makes up 35 towns in northeastern Connecticut and southcentral Massachusetts. As a congressionally designated National Heritage Corridor, it receives federal funding to support outdoor recreation events, drive economic activity in our towns, and preserve our region’s rural heritage.
In 2022, we secured a 15-year reauthorization for the Last Green Valley’s National Heritage Corridor designation, which meant steady federal support for the foreseeable future.
Unfortunately, President Trump’s freeze on federal funding temporarily cut off the Last Green Valley’s access to congressionally appropriated funding from the Department of Interior. Thankfully, their access to funds as since been restored. I recently welcomed Last Green Valley Inc. Executive Director Lois Bruinooge to my Washington, DC office to discuss the uncertainty the funding freeze put them in. Watch here.
My office continues to field calls from Second District residents who are concerned by Trump Administration actions, and I remain in close touch with eastern Connecticut organizations impacted by President Trump's unprecedented amount of executive orders. Last week, over 10,000 people joined my telephone town hall with Connecticut's Attorney General William Tong. You can watch the recording of the town hall here.
For the latest news, don't hesitate can call my Washington office at 202-225-2076. Many of President Trump's executive orders are being challenged in federal courts. This tracker provides the status of those challenges.
Visiting Australian & New Zealand Allies to Discuss AUKUS
This week, I joined a bipartisan delegation to Australia and New Zealand led by the House Armed Services Committee.
Eastern Connecticut and Australia share a special Navy connection with the AUKUS security agreement. The Armed Services and the Seapower Subcommittee, where I serve as Ranking Member, enacted AUKUS legislation and are committed to making AUKUS a success.
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| We met with the Governor of Victoria Margaret Elaine Gardner and Australian Navy Vice Admiral Jonathan Mead, who has visited me in Washington numerous times. |
Under AUKUS, Australia has committed to a $3 billion investment into the U.S. submarine industrial base. This historic support from a great ally was made possible by the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act. It will go toward our workforce development, supply chains, and facility improvements. Last month, Australia delivered the first installment of the investment, $500 million. This unique initiative, along with ongoing joint training in Groton, will have long lasting impact in the region. Our bipartisan delegation met with Australian Navy and Members of Parliament to discuss this great news.
The tangible evidence of AUKUS’ success doesn’t stop there. Australian Navy sailors who have graduated submarine school at the Groton Sub Base – a training pipeline created by my bipartisan NDAA amendment with former Rep. Mike Gallagher – are now serving aboard and piloting Virginia-class submarines. We also heard about new partnerships between Connecticut shipbuilders and Australian companies, who will support the critical work of Connecticut small business manufacturers in our supply chain.
Both Australia and New Zealand are counting on U.S. leadership, especially in the undersea domain, to deter aggression and intimidation from China. Under the new Presidential Administration, bipartisan support for AUKUS remains strong. Seapower Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Trent Kelly and I recently sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, urging the Department of Defense to quickly deliver the funding to the submarine industrial base.
Since fiscal year 2018, Congress has invested over $10 billion into the submarine industrial base through annual defense bills. And thanks to AUKUS and our bipartisan work on the seapower subcommittee, there is more support on the way.
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| During our trip, I reconnected with AJ Bremner, a former intern in my office who is now the Assistant Director-General in the Strategic and Military Analysis Branch of Australia's Office of National Intelligence. |
Meeting with the Connecticut Civil Air Patrol
Last week, I had a great meeting with Connecticut Civil Air Patrol cadets. The Civil Air Patrol is a congressionally chartered, federally supported civilian non-profit organization. Its volunteer force is made up of cadets aged 12-21 and senior members aged 21+.
The Connecticut Wing provides cadets with aerospace education/training and teaches leadership skills – and performs various domestic emergency services. The Wing is headquartered in Middletown, with squadrons across our state, including in Danielson and Groton. During our meeting, we discussed how Congress can support their mission in the annual National Defense Authorization Act.
Very glad to welcome these cadets to my Washington office. I also had the honor of nominating CAP cadet Thelma Grogan from Groton (second from the right in the photo above) for a potential appointment to attend the U.S. Naval Academy next fall.
Interviewing a Navy WWII Veteran
I recently had the honor of speaking with Colchester’s Jake Finkelstein, a 102-year-old Navy WWII veteran. Jake and I discussed his service which began as a radioman. On December 7th, 1941, he was on duty at the Department of the Navy building in Washington, DC when the message came over the radio “Air raid on Pearl x This is no drill".
During World War II, Jake served in the Battle of Okinawa aboard the USS Montauk. His service to his country earned him multiple honors, including the American Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Combat Action Ribbon.
After his service, Jake worked in the Naval Electronic Systems Command as a civilian, where he was based at the Groton Sub Base. He retired from the Navy in 1984 and still calls eastern Connecticut home today.
Thank you to Jake and to the Finkelstein family for joining our conversation. The recording will be available at a later date via the Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project.
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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