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Dear Friend,
It's Joe Courtney.
We are on week five of the government shutdown. The path to end it with a bipartisan agreement is clear, but unfortunately, Speaker Johnson continues to keep lawmakers away from Washington. It has been 42 days since the House of Representatives was last in session.
Americans are feeling the impacts of the shutdown and inaction by Congress. We must get back to work immediately and compromise on a bipartisan bill to reopen the government.
Starting tomorrow, November 1st, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has willfully chosen to cut off $6 billion in SNAP benefits. At a time when the cost of groceries continues to rise, cutting off food assistance is heartless and out of touch.
Last week, I visited Easterseals Veterans Rally Point's food pantry in Norwich. Senior Director of Military Services & Philanthropy Lori Marriott (USA, Ret.) and the volunteer staff shared that their pantry and St. Vincent de Paul Place in Norwich have experienced a sharp uptick in of our neighbors in need.
Today, I visited the Gemma Moran Food Center in New London, a food hub that supplies 67 food pantries and 6 mobile food pantries in eastern Connecticut. The warehouse is the heartbeat of local food pantries, and they are getting direct feedback on the surge in demand.
I strongly support legal action taken by Connecticut and 24 other states to force the USDA to keep SNAP benefits online. The lawsuit is based on the simple fact that the USDA legal council has ruled numerous times that $6 billion in contingency funds are available to be used for SNAP benefits during a government shutdown. This afternoon, two federal courts ruled against the Trump Administration SNAP cutoff. These rulings will hopefully release contingency funds to restore the flow of SNAP benefits.
It would be a far better use of time and effort if the Administration convened bipartisan negotiations to resolve the budget impasse and fully reopen the government. In addition, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson should reopen the House of Representatives so that an agreement can be enacted.
Connecticut residents in need of food assistance can call 211 or visit ctfoodshare.org/get-help. Do not hesitate to reach out to my Norwich office for resources and support. Call us at (860) 886-0139.
Last Saturday, we christened the USS UTAH (SSN 801), the 28th Virginia-class submarine. There are now 18 Navy submarines in the construction pipeline – 15 Virginia submarines and 3 Columbia submarines. The demand signal has never been higher, and eastern Connecticut’s world-class shipbuilders are rising to deliver results.
A major driver of the demand signal is the AUKUS agreement, which includes the sale of U.S. Virginia-class submarines to Australia in the 2030s. AUKUS is happening in real time too. This week, the Groton-built USS Vermont docked at HMAS Stirling Naval Base in Perth, Australia.
The Vermont’s crew includes 121 talented U.S. Navy sailors and 13 Australian Navy sailors, some of who were trained at Sub Base New London. Even from 10,000 miles away, eastern Connecticut is making AUKUS happen.
Open enrollment for Access Health CT health care plans begins tomorrow, November 1st. This year, 142,000 people in Connecticut are facing a steep increase to their premium costs due Congress’ failure to maintain longstanding Affordable Care Act tax credits. For many people, the cost increase is not just unaffordable, it's impossible.
My office continues to hear from constituents who have received official notice of their 2026 premium increases from Access Health CT. Today, I spoke with Diane from Danielson, whose premiums are nearly doubling from $460/month to $820/month. Congress cannot wait to pass a budget that prevents this health care cost hike.
This week, I had a "goodbye" meeting with New Zealand Ambassador Rosemary Banks, a longtime friend and highly talented diplomat. After years of strengthening the U.S.-New Zealand partnership here in Washington, Ambassador departs her post this week. Thank you for your dedicated service, Ambassador Banks, at a time when our nation’s alliances with our longtime Pacific partners are so critical.
Thank you for taking some time to read my update. If my office can be of any assistance during the government shutdown, do not hesitate to call us at (860) 886-0139.
Sincerely,
Joe Courtney
Member of Congress
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