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Dear Friend,
I just wrapped up a packed week here in eastern Connecticut. Here with an update on new jobs for graduating high school students, my work to protect Medicaid from GOP-proposed cuts, and lots more.
First, I want to share my thoughts on President Trump’s new executive order to dismantle the Department of Education. It will directly impact schools at every level in eastern Connecticut and weaken our nation’s future workforce. This is a huge overreach of Presidential power.
In just the last year, Thompson and Westbrook High Schools used Department of Education financial assistance – “Perkins” Grants – to open new and expanded welding labs. 95% of K-12 public schools in the Second District depend on federal Title I funding administered by the Department. And the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, which is also powered by the Department, cleared student loans for 1,600 public servants in the Second District in the last three years. Dismantling the Department of Education puts all of this support for eastern Connecticut at risk.
As the President admitted, he does not have the authority to abolish the Department. It was created by an act of Congress in the 1970s, and, as a member of the House Education and Workforce Committee, I will work to ensure that future generations of U.S. children, regardless of where they live, have the tools they need to succeed in life, which is at the core of the Department’s mission.
Now, more news from the week.
High School Seniors Interview for Jobs at Electric Boat
Submarine construction is surging to historic levels. Under a bold shipbuilding plan launched by Congress, total submarine construction yard tonnage is near its highest ever since World War II. That’s creating good career opportunities for young people in eastern Connecticut.
On Tuesday, I joined high school seniors and teachers at Ellis Tech in Killingly for an Electric Boat job application day. Students had on-the-spot interviews in the school library – a testament to the quality career and technical education at eastern Connecticut schools.
To meet the demand of Congress’s shipbuilding plan, Electric Boat is planning to hire 3,000 new workers in 2025, which would bring total hires over 12,000 in three years. Our local workforce training programs are making the hiring surge possible. I’m fighting in Congress to protect the federal support that the programs rely on from the Department of Labor and the Department of Education. Thanks to the teachers and students at Ellis Tech for welcoming me this week!
Fighting Tooth and Nail to Protect Medicaid
Last month, the House Republican majority passed a 10-year budget bill which would cut Medicaid funding by $880 billion (according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office) among other outrageously unfair and fiscally irresponsible measures. Medicaid provides essential health care to 932,771 people in Connecticut and critical funding to nursing homes, community health centers, and hospitals. It’s not hyperbolic to say that this funding cut puts Connecticut on the verge of a health care crisis.
Today, I held a town hall at the Windham Senior Center to provide an update on how I am fighting tooth and nail to protect Medicaid.
42% of births in Connecticut are covered by Medicaid. At Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam, which serves the most rural part of our state, over 50% of births are covered by Medicaid. I visited Day Kimball on Tuesday to discuss how I’m working to protect health care for Connecticut’s rural communities in response to these House-passed Medicaid cuts.
Later on Tuesday, I joined a huge crowd at the State Capitol in Hartford to voice strong opposition to these drastic cuts. Nationwide, Medicaid provides essential care from birth to the end of life. Slashing it to pay for tax cuts for Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and the top 1% will bankrupt hospitals and harm patients. We are fighting back.
Denouncing Cuts to Senior and Veteran Services
Today, I joined the Thames Valley Council for Community Action (TVCCA) to call out the Trump Administration's cuts to AmeriCorps Seniors funding. Last week, TVCCA was informed that AmeriCorps Seniors funding would be cut off on March 31st. This would mean the elimination of TVCCA's Retired and Senior Volunteer program (RSVP), which organizes a network of around 200 seniors in Connecticut to serve other seniors. RSVP hosts the popular Veterans Coffee Houses, a network for eastern Connecticut's veterans to build community and be connected to critical services.
If you put all of the federal budget on the pie chart, AmeriCorps Seniors' budget would be microscopic. But the positive impact it has on people's lives is enormous. These are the types of efficient investments the government should be prioritizing. The free reign Elon Musk and DOGE have been given to slash services without oversight is irresponsible and cruel.
Holding a Town Hall for Workers in Groton
On Wednesday night, I joined Connecticut AFL-CIO for a town hall in Groton. There is so much uncertainty right now caused by President Trump’s policies: a tariff war, tanking retirement accounts, threats to cut job training and workplace safety, Medicaid cuts, and Elon Musk slashing services with no oversight. I’m fighting every day in Congress to steer us out of this chaos.
A Small Business Faces the Chaos of Tariff Policies
President Trump’s tariff policies have thrown our economy into chaos and uncertainty. Grocery and housing prices are rising, consumer confidence is down, and the stock market is tanking. Local small businesses are dealing with the impacts. On Monday, I visited Angelini Wine in Centerbrook – a wholesale seller of domestic and imported wines, steeped in Italian heritage.
Last week, President Trump threatened a 200% tariff on European alcohol imports as part of the trade war that he launched against the European Union. This threat is causing serious uncertainty for Angelini Wine, which on it's own can lead to delays and rising costs for consumers. I'm a co-sponsor of legislation in Congress to end the tariff war. Small business cannot afford the current tariff purgatory imposed by President Trump's policies.
Visiting an Innovative Concrete Manufacturer in Danielson
Eastern Connecticut is a hub for manufacturing across multiple industries. On Tuesday, I visited CarbonBuilt, a concrete manufacturer which produces affordable, innovative ultra-low carbon cinder blocks at their facility in Danielson. Chief Sustainability Officer Cindy McLaughlin and their team gave me a facility tour of this long time factory that is being revamped and repurposed, and briefed me on their plans to move their entire corporate headquarters from California to Connecticut. I met the hardworking staff who are very committed to this venture. This is an exciting new enterprise – welcome, CarbonBuilt, to Connecticut’s Quiet Corner!
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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