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Dear Friend,
It’s Joe Courtney. After a busy week in eastern Connecticut, I’m here to share an update on health care services, the National Coast Guard Museum, and lots more. As always, thanks for starting your week here with me.
Amid Historic Cuts, Closing Gaps to Health Care in Northeastern CT
Health care services are already stretched thin, especially in rural communities. The $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid and Affordable Care Act that President Trump signed into law last month will create huge new gaps in coverage.
In Willimantic, Generations Health is working to close gaps in care with a new mobile health unit. On Tuesday, I joined Generations Family Health Center CEO Missy Meyers and her team to celebrate the ribbon cutting of the new van.
The new mobile health unit is critical in sprawling eastern Connecticut where the “tyranny of distance” makes access to health care particularly challenging. The operating costs of the van are covered with 2024 approved federal grant funds, which will maintain access to health care and dental services. Thanks to CEO Missy Meyers and the entire Generations team for their non-stop efforts to deliver care in the most rural part of our state.
Another Great Vernon National Night Out
Once again the Vernon Police Department hosted a great Vernon Night Out, a nationwide event to connect communities to men and women in law enforcement. Special kudos to Vernon Police Chief Mark Petruzzi, Assistant Fire Chief Rob Babcock, and the entire Vernon Fire Department. At the event, I had the chance to talk with Laurel Leibowitz, who, with her husband Steve, led the construction of the Vernon Miracle League Field, a multiuse field that allows children with disabilities to play baseball, soccer, lacrosse, and other sports. I also had the chance to meet Vernon Boy Scout Troop 2020, pictured below.
Thanks to towns across the Second District who hosted National Night Outs this week. It’s such a great event to build relationships between local law enforcement and the people they serve.
In Case You Missed It: New Funding Secured to Keep Virginia-class Build Rate at Two-Per-Year
Last month, I successfully secured new funding for Virginia-class submarines in the annual defense bill. Amid a hiring surge at the Groton shipyard over the past three years, eastern Connecticut shipbuilders are driving momentum for the Virginia program. A funding shortfall caused by the chaotic 2026 budget process threatened to derail that momentum, so I worked across the aisle on the House Armed Services Committee to secure this funding plus-up. There’s more work ahead to ensure Congress and the Navy provide shipbuilders with the support they need in the 2026 budget.
Supporting Veteran Farmers
Eastern Connecticut is both the agricultural hub of Connecticut and the part of our state with the largest veteran community. On Monday, I joined the second annual Veterans Farmers’ Market in Rocky Hill alongside Connecticut Resources Conservation and Development’s Agriculture Programs Director Amanda Jonhson, CT Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Ron Welch, CT SBA Director Catherine Marx, Rocky Hill Mayor Lisa Moratta, and more state leaders. The event is part of CT RC&D’s “CT Veteran Grown” initiative which provides business support to veteran farmers across our state.
The farmers’ market offered lots of fresh food from veteran farmers, including lettuce, tomatoes, and maple syrup from Wilkinson Farm in Columbia, a variety of produce from Ahlberg Grassroots Farm in Glastonbury, vegetables, flowers, and eggs from Field Engineer Farm in Columbia, and beef from Grijalva Cattle Co. in North Stonington. The veteran-owned Saults Cuisine food truck from Tolland served up burgers, tacos, and Mexican-Asian fusion.
There’s no question that Congress should do more to support small business farmers and veterans, especially as the Trump Administration’s USDA cuts staff and grant funding for farmers and the Department of Veterans Affairs makes the largest staff cuts in the Department’s history. I won’t stop working to support eastern Connecticut’s small farming businesses and expand services for our large veteran community.
New Executive Order Undermines Towns’s Efforts to Combat Homelessness
Homelessness is a housing issue. But while President Trump cuts housing support services and expansion, he just signed a new executive order to criminalize homelessness. This is significant federal overreach and undermines the hard work of our towns’ to prevent homelessness. On Monday, I joined Connecticut leaders at the State Capitol to voice strong opposition to President Trump’s executive order.
We need to build more housing nationwide to meet demand and work with local law enforcement and service providers to bolster support for those in need. Criminalizing homelessness fails to address the root causes of this issue and will not benefit our towns.
Exciting Progress on the National Coast Guard Museum
With the arrival of a huge new crane this week, steel is in the air at the site of the future National Coast Guard Museum. I visited the construction site on the New London waterfront this week and received a project update from John Metcalf (USCG Ret.) of the Museum Association. Construction is quickly moving forward with the new crane on site.
Touring New Housing in Tolland
I’m working with our towns and homebuilders to build more housing so we can lower costs across the board. On Tuesday, I visited the new Field Stone Ridge development in Tolland. Homebuilders Eric Santini Jr. and Kevin Santini gave me a tour of the community which will include 240 townhomes at 10 Fieldstone Commons.
Congress has a role to play in getting shovels in the ground on housing construction. Unfortunately, the Administration's tariffs are now raising the cost of homebuilding materials – potentially raising the building cost per home by $10,900, according to the National Association of Home Builders.
I’m a co-sponsor of the bipartisan Trade Review Act to stop these chaotic tariff policies that are hurting our economy, and I’m continuing to push for commonsense ways to incentivize new construction and rehabilitate older structures. When we build more and meet demand, housing costs go down.
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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