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Dear Friend,
It’s Joe Courtney. After another busy week in Washington, I’m back home in eastern Connecticut. Here with an update on two major wins for eastern Connecticut shipbuilders and lots more from the week. As always, thanks for starting your weekend here with me.
Welcome News for Eastern CT Shipbuilders
This week, Congress and the Navy delivered two major wins for eastern Connecticut shipbuilders: funding for two more Virginia class submarines and a wage increase for shipyard workers.
Last year, my colleagues and I on the Seapower Subcommittee spearheaded an effort to secure a wage improvement for shipyard workers. Congress passed the improvement in December, and now, it will be a boost to shipyard workers in southern New England.
Momentum continues to grow for Virginia class submarine construction. Last month, we celebrated the commissioning of the USS IOWA, and over the next two years, there are four more Virginia class submarines set for delivery to the Navy.
This new funding for two more Virginia subs will keep growth at our shipyards and in our supply chains strong. I’m confident that Electric Boat’s record hiring along with historic investments from Congress to strengthen the submarine industrial base will allow Groton’s talented shipbuilders to meet the demand signal from Congress and the Navy.
High School Students Showcase Welding Skills
With submarine construction surging, there are so many manufacturing career opportunities for young people in eastern Connecticut. A new generation of shipbuilders is skilling up with career and technical education.
On Monday, I joined a welding competition hosted by Project MFG at Grasso Tech. Students from Grasso Tech, Bristol Tech, Cheney Tech, Tourtellotte Memorial High School, Westbrook High School, Lyman High School, and CharihoTECH in Rhode Island competed against each other and showcased their welding skills.
After the competition, students joined employers and industry leaders to learn about careers in submarine shipbuilding and the shipbuilding supply chain. Kudos to these students for being at the forefront of our region's revitalized manufacturing industry. They’re an impressive example of the success of career and technical education in our region, and I know they’ll do great things.
Introducing Bills to Protect Workers & Improve Care
This past Monday, our nation commemorated Workers Memorial Day, a day to remember and honor those tragically killed on the job. Every worker deserves a safe workplace that ensures they return home safely. The Occupation Safety and Health Act, known as OSHA, has helped protect Americans for generations, but far too many workers are still facing injury, illness, or death on the job every day.
This week, with Ranking Member of the House Education and Workforce Committee Rep. Bobby Scott, I reintroduced the Protecting America’s Workers Act, a bill to meaningfully strengthen and modernize OSHA for the first time in over 50 years. In a moment when Elon Musk’s DOGE is slashing, not improving worker protections, Congress must pass this bill.
Federal employees represent a major portion of America’s workforce, including here in eastern Connecticut. Yesterday, with the Chairman of the Education and Workforce Committee Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI), I reintroduced a bill to make it easier for federal workers to receive treatment for work-related injuries.
Currently, under the Federal Employees Compensation Act, federal workers are banned from receiving treatment for work-related injuries from physician assistants and nurse practitioners for federal worker compensation cases. Our bipartisan bill would allow them to do so, get healthy, and get back on the job sooner – that includes the 1,000 federal workers at the Groton Sub Base, from firefighters to police officers and crane operators. It’s a commonsense tweak to current law, and I look forward to getting it across the finish line this year.
Discussing the Impact of Medicaid Cuts in Connecticut
The non-profit Easterseals provides critical veterans’ services at their Veterans Rally Point in Norwich and year-round special needs programs for children at Camp Hemlocks in Hebron. On Tuesday, I met with Easterseals for an update on their work and to discuss the impact of the GOP’s planned cuts to Medicaid.
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| Left to right: Easterseals of Greater Waterbury President and CEO Leonard Cipollone, Easterseals Capital Region & Eastern Connecticut President and CEO Robin Sharp, Rep. Courtney, and Oak Hill VP of Public Policy Bruce Stovall |
A majority of the people Easterseals serves receive care through Medicaid, known as HUSKY in Connecticut. Nationwide, 1 in 2 children with disabilities and 1 in 4 adults with disabilities rely on Medicaid. According to the nonpartisan Congressional budget office, the GOP's 10-year budget plan leaves no other option than to cut Medicaid funding $880 billion. In Connecticut, this would undoubtedly mean cuts to health care services. That's unacceptable.
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| In 2022, Rep. Courtney worked with Easterseals of Oak Hill to secure federal Community Project funding for facility upgrades and expanded services are their Camp Hemlocks campus in Hebron. |
I've fought against these Medicaid cuts every step of the way in Congress, and I'm continuing to urge my colleagues across the aisle to change course. Thanks to Easterseals for coming to Washington this week to advocate against the cuts, and for all of the outstanding services they deliver to our communities.
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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