|
Dear Friend,
It’s Joe Courtney. Here to share an update on the latest news from Congress and at home in eastern Connecticut. As always, thanks for starting your weekend here with me.
Explaining the Budget Bill
There has been a lot of discussion this week about the 10-year budget bill being moved through committees in the House of Representatives. Unfortunately, House Republicans have taken a one-sided partisan path on crafting the bill at a time when both parties could have worked together.
I continue to receive many calls and messages from Connecticut’s Second District residents who are seriously concerned by the budget bill. I wanted to take five minutes to explain what’s in the bill: a tax break for the wealthiest Americans and big cuts to health care and food programs. Watch here.
Today, in a chaotic turn of events, the budget bill was voted down in the House Budget Committee by far right members of the Republican caucus.
There’s a better way to do this. I’m urging my colleagues to work together to create a fair tax system where the top 1% and top .01% pay their fair share and to protect basic needs programs like Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, and SNAP.
Following today's Budget Committee vote, the initial timeline for vote on the House floor has been delayed. I will continue to share updates. Don’t hesitate to call my office.
Keeping People Fed & Supporting Farmers
The New London Community Meal Center helps keep its community fed with quality meals. To provide fresh, locally grown food, the meal center has partnered with local farms using the USDA’s Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement (LFPA) Program. In March, the USDA abruptly cancelled the LFPA Program and clawed back funding that would have kept it running for the next two years.
On Monday, I visited the New London Community Meal Center with Connecticut Commissioner of Agriculture Bryan Hurlburt to discuss the real life impacts of the program cut with Executive Director MaryAnn Martinez and local farmers Baylee Drown of Long Table Farm (Lyme, CT) and Pete Higgins of Stone Acres Farm (Stonington, CT).
Supporting our meal centers and food banks to purchase food directly from local farmers is a true win-win to keep people fed and small farmers solvent. At a time when food costs are high, cutting back food programs is totally inexcusable.
Protecting & Expanding Child Care
Access to affordable and reliable child care is absolutely essential for all working families. But too many in eastern Connecticut live in day care deserts. I’ve heard from parents who have had to leave their jobs, from providers who are struggling to meet demand, and from employers who need to fill jobs. I’m committed to expanding access to child care in every corner of the Second District.
On Monday, I visited the Thames Valley Council on Community Action (TVCCA) child care center in New London to discuss the crisis of child care access with TVCCA CEO Josh Kelly and TVCCA Head Start Director Jenna Eldredge.
TVCCA and many other child care centers across our state are supported by federal funding through the Head Start program. Unfortunately, cuts to the Head Start program under the Trump Administration recently led to the closure of the Boston Regional Office which serves our state. After public outcry, the Trump Administration is now backing away from it's proposal to eliminate Head Start. I'm working in Congress to not just protect Head Start, but expand it. Investing in child care is an investment in our communities’ future.
During Police Week, Welcoming Enfield PD Officers to Washington
This week is National Police Week. Law enforcement work tirelessly to keep our communities safe. As the son of an FBI agent, I have deep respect for the hard work frontline law enforcement perform around the clock for the people of the Second District. Securing federal funds for equipment upgrades in the Byrne Justice grants and Community Project earmarks is a top priority for my office.
During National Police Week, officers from the Enfield Police Department biked nearly 300 miles in 3 days from New Jersey to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC. The ride was part of the Police Unity Tour in honor of officers killed in the line of duty. After the ride, I welcomed the group to my office. Congratulations on the impressive feat and thank you for ensuring the sacrifice of fallen officers is not forgotten.
Celebrating the Center for Medicare Advocacy's Judy Stein
On Wednesday, I joined my colleagues in the Connecticut delegation and former U.S. Senator Chris Dodd to celebrate Judy Stein and her career as Founder and Director of Center for Medicare Advocacy. She has now transitioned into a Senior Advisor role for CMA.
Judy has been a fierce advocate for Connecticut’s seniors and people with disabilities, and a strong partner to improve Medicare. Notably, Judy was a leader in the effort to finally empower Medicare to negotiate for lower drug costs in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, and we’ve worked together to end surprise billing through the arbitrary Medicare policy of “observation status”. Thank you, Judy, for your decades of tireless work.
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
|
