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Dear Friend,
It’s Joe Courtney. After a busy week in Washington, I'm back home in eastern Connecticut. Here with an update on the latest news from the week. As always, thanks for starting your weekend here with me.
Urging Against Medicaid Cuts & a Tax Cut for the Ultra-Wealthy
This week, House Republicans narrowly passed a 10-year budget bill which includes an $880 million cut to Medicaid to pay for tax cuts that heavily favor the top 1%. What’s worse is the bill increases the deficit by $2.8 trillion above the existing deficit. That doesn’t add up for eastern Connecticut. It’s a pro-billionaire, anti-worker budget. I voted no.
Before the vote, I spoke on the House floor, urging against this bill. Watch here.
I know the national debt is a serious concern for many people in eastern Connecticut. Recklessly blowing it up by trillions to pay for a tax cut for the ultra-wealthy is inexcusable. I’ll work with anyone, Republican or Democrat, to grow our nation’s economy, lower costs, and cut waste. Cutting the Medicaid program, which provides health care to nearly 800,000 people in Connecticut – 72 million nationwide – and critical funding to our hospitals, is absolutely not the way to do it.
After House passage, this bill heads to the Senate, where Senators have already passed their own version of the budget bill. It remains unclear which version President Trump wants to sign into law. As always, don’t hesitate to call my office with your input on the bill. Your feedback shapes my work.
A Passionate Advocate for Veterans in Connecticut and Nationwide
Eastern Connecticut is home to more veterans than any other part of our state. We are lucky to have a thriving community of veterans who advocate for improved support and services.
On Wednesday, I had the honor of introducing my friend, Jim LaCoursiere, the National Commander of The American Legion, at a Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing. Jim is a longtime advocate and leader in eastern Connecticut’s veteran community, the former Commander of Post 91 in Moosup. There is no one better to serve millions of veterans nationwide as the American Legion’s National Commander.
Then, today, I joined a group of veterans at the Groton Veterans Coffeehouse. The group had serious concerns about the Trump Administration's cutting of $2 billion in Department of Veterans Affairs contracts. Thankfully, after strong pushback from The American Legion and more veterans service organizations, the Administration reversed its decision.
Pushing Back Against Elon Musk & DOGE's Purge of Federal Workers
Eastern Connecticut is home 10,500 hardworking federal employees, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is nearly twice as many as any other Congressional District in our state. From civilian employees at SUBASE New London to the Social Security Administration and the IRS taxpayer assistance centers, eastern Connecticut’s federal employees carry out critical work every day to support our way of life. I’m committed to supporting them.
Appallingly, federal workers have been relentlessly pressured by Elon Musk and DOGE. They have been subject to unjustified firings and damaging lies about their work. In the past month, 30,000 federal workers have been fired.
Last week, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced a plan to fire thousands of probationary workers at the Department of Defense. This could include firefighters at the Groton Submarine Base. These firefighters are dedicated workers who provide critical safety services, not bureaucratic excess. Yesterday, I sent a letter to Secretary Hegseth expressing my deep concern over his plan and its potential impact at the Sub Base.
In Congress, I joined over 100 of my colleagues to call our Elon Musk's "Five Things" email and ensure federal employees were not terminated if they did not respond to his ill-conceived demand. I am also pushing to advance the Protect Veteran Jobs Act and the Support Veteran Civil Servants Act and the Saving Civil Service Act to stop political attacks on dedicated, critical federal employees.
My office and I are ready to support any federal worker who has been laid off. If you have been impacted by the Trump Administration's federal workforce purge, I encourage you to share your story. Resources for impacted workers are available at courtney.house.gov/fedworkers.
Calling on the Trump Administration to Release Promised Support for Farmers
Farming is at the center of eastern Connecticut's identity. I’m committed to helping our farms stay in business and expand their markets.
Back in 2022, Congress expanded USDA grant programs that help farmers lower costs by installing clean energy technology. These grants are particularly impactful in New England because of our colder climate. Farmers across eastern Connecticut have received support through the programs, but now, the Trump Administration has frozen the grants and left farmers nationwide on the hook for millions. The Trump Administration must release all funds promised to farmers.
Red Lights Flashing on the Future of the Economy
In its first month, chaotic economic policies from the Trump Administration have fostered uncertainty into the U.S. economy. We are now seeing clear warning signs that the economy is getting worse, not better. Consumer confidence is down, costs of manufacturing are skyrocketing, and inflation is rising due to Trump’s tariffs.
I urged my colleagues to pay attention to these warning signs, particularly as tariffs on aluminum and steel, as well as all goods from Mexico and Canada, are set to take place in the coming weeks which will make things worse, not better. The American people want us to grow the economy and lower costs – chaos and uncertainty will do the opposite.
Rallying for Ukraine
This past Monday marked three years since Putin’s unprovoked, illegal invasion of Ukraine. The Ukrainian people have bravely defended their sovereignty in a devastating war.
On Sunday, at the State Capitol in Hartford, I joined Ukrainian Americans to demonstrate the urgent need to support Ukraine, particularly as President Trump throws the nation under the bus by calling President Zelenskyy a dictator, appallingly berating President him in the Oval Office, and excluding Ukraine from negotiations that will determine their future. Shameful. We must stand by our Ukrainian allies.
AUKUS in Action
This week, the USS Minnesota arrived in Western Australia, the first of two Virginia class submarines that will to port at the Australian Navy base HMAS Stirling in 2025. This is yet another real-life example of AUKUS in action. It's important step in increasing our Navy's presence in the Indo-Pacific and preparing Australia to operate conventionally armed, nuclear powered submarines.
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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