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Dear Friend,
It’s Joe Courtney. Here to share the latest news from this week.
First, I want to share an update on a potential government shutdown.
If the White House and Congress do not reach a bipartisan agreement to fund federal operations by September 30th, the government will enter a shutdown, with federal agencies operating in a diminished capacity.
We can avoid this through bipartisan compromise on a funding bill that secures 60 votes in the Senate which will prevent both a shutdown and the looming hike to health care costs by maintaining longstanding Affordable Care Act tax credits.
While Republicans currently control the White House and hold majorities in the House and the Senate, tight margins and the rules of Congress require both parties to work together to pass a funding bill.
Bipartisan compromise is the only way to avert a shutdown. Partisan brinksmanship, refusing to negotiate, refusing to convene the House, and threats to layoff hardworking public servants are totally counter productive with so much on the line for our nation.
If the government does enter a shutdown, my office will remain open to serve you.
The Local Impacts of Health Care Cuts
This week, I crisscrossed the Second District to meet with health care providers and discuss the impacts of health care cuts in President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill”.
In Westbrook, I visited Lumibility’s “Birth to Three” program, which provides essential early intervention services for children with disabilities, paid for by Medicaid. These services are now at risk due the Big Beautiful Bill’s $1 trillion cut to Medicaid, all so the ultra-wealthy can receive a tax break.
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At Lumbility, I met with CEO Denise Daviau, COO George Reid-Perry Kidsteps Deputy Program Manager Julie Hall, the Dunn and Cauette families, Adult Services Deputy Program Manager Amber DeFelice, CT Nonprofit Alliance Senior Policy Advisor Julia Wilcox, and more Lumibility staff.
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In Norwich, I visited Eastern Connecticut Oncology and Hematology, a cancer and blood disorder treatment provider. The American Cancer Society has spoken out forcefully against the health care cuts in the Big Beautiful Bill, saying that “the bill will undo decades of progress in the fight against cancer.”
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| Thank you Dr. Dinesh Kapur and his amazing staff at Eastern Connecticut Oncology and Hematology for updating me on their continued work to provide local treatment for patients in eastern Connecticut. |
Then in Norwich, I met with AFT CT nurses from Backus Hospital in Norwich and Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London. The Medicaid cuts in the Big Beautiful Bill are estimated to leave 10 million people nationwide newly uninsured. Hospitals have warned that this will put huge stress on emergency rooms and force hospitals to scale back services for everyone or even close entirely.
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| Thank you to President of the Backus Federation of Nurses AFT CT Local 5149 Heather Brauth, Vice President of AFT CT John Brady, and the nurses from Backus Hospital and Lawrence + Memorial Hospital for meeting with me. |
Finally, in Enfield, I visited Parkway Pavilion Health and Rehabilitation Center. Medicaid cuts will hit nursing homes nationwide hard. Medicaid is the primary payer for over 6 in 10 nursing home residents.
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Thank you to President and CEO of the Connecticut Association of Health Care Facilities Matt Barrett, Parkway Pavilion Executive Director Ursula Affainie, Director of Clinical Services Joanie Antico, RN, and more Parkway Pavilion staff for meeting with me.
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It's not too late to stop the impacts of these health care cuts. Congress can and must reverse them. I'm continuing to urge my colleagues to listen to the warnings we are hearing from health care providers in our communities.
Federal Judge Orders Work to Resume on Revolution Wind Project
Good news. On Tuesday, a federal district court judge granted a preliminary injunction on the Trump Administration's halt work order on the Revolution Wind project. Now, work can resume on the 80% complete offshore wind project.
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| Joining New London Mayor Passero, Governor Lamont, Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee, more local officials, and union workers at State Pier New London, where wind turbines are assembled for the Revolution Wind project. |
This swift decision is a victory for commonsense. The multi-billion dollar Revolution Wind project was fully permitted with input from the Pentagon. It is not a national security problem. This same issue was debated in the U.S. House on September 10th, and commonsense prevailed by a vote of 224-209.
The Department of the Interior should take the hint from this preliminary injunction and let the thousands of union construction workers finish the job.
New Water Infrastructure Investment for Groton
More good news. Groton is set to receive $5.7 million in federal funding to replace over 2.2 miles of water main pipes. Upgrading water infrastructure is the cornerstone of economic development. This investment, which comes through the Department of Defense’s Defense Community Infrastructure Program, will benefit the entire Groton community and boost Submarine Base New London’s readiness capacity. It’s yet another investment to support the Sub Base’s ability to carry out its critical mission for the U.S. Navy, and it reinforces Groton’s long-term role as the home of the Navy submarine fleet.
More recent investments for the Sub Base include pier expansion projects to accommodate future, longer Virginia-class submarines, and a $7.7 million investment from the State of Connecticut to replace floating piers for small craft and an aging boat ramp. Last year, after a decade of work on the local, state, and federal levels, Sub Base New London launched its new micro-grid, which ensures energy resiliency at the base. As Ranking Member of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, I’m committed to delivering support for continued modernization and facility upgrades for Submarine Base New London.
A Bittersweet Goodbye to Captain Kenneth Curtin
Today, I had the great honor of joining the change of command ceremony for Captain Kenneth Curtin, the 53rd Commanding Officer of Submarine Base New London. In his four years as Commanding Officer, Captain Curtin has overseen an extremely eventful, demanding time for the Submarine Base. His steadfast leadership guided the base through that time in a superb professional fashion. He has been a terrific partner to Congress and the State of Connecticut in bringing continued investments to modernize the base. Sub School has also hosted the first cohort of Australian Navy Sailors training up for AUKUS. It's bittersweet to say goodbye to Captain Curtin, and I look forward to Captain Craig E. Litty’s leadership as incoming Commanding Officer.
A Boost to Public Safety in Madison
On Monday, we celebrated the groundbreaking of the Town of Madison’s new emergency operations center, an addition to the Madison Hose Co. #1 Fire House. Back in 2022, I worked with First Selectwoman Peggy Lyons to successfully secure $2.5 million in federal “Community Project” funding for construction of the new emergency operations center. Its addition will improve response time and safety for first responders.
A New Nursing Lab at Eastern CT State University
On Wednesday, I joined the ribbon cutting for Hartford HealthCare’s and Eastern Connecticut State University’s new state-of-the-art nursing simulation center at Windham Hospital. The center will be used as part of the school’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, which launched last year. We were joined by over 80 nursing students. An exciting day for the critical effort to connect students to health care careers in Connecticut.
Reminder: Submit Service Academy Applications by October 31st
Nominating students from Connecticut’s Second District to attend our nation’s military service academies is one of the great honors of my job. Fall 2025 applications for service academy nominations must be submitted to my Norwich office no later than 5:00pm on Friday, October 31st. To learn more and access the application form, click here.
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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