Dear Friend, 

It's Joe Courtney. I'm here to share an update on a seriously flawed funding deal, a milestone for construction of the National Coast Guard Museum, and more from the week. As always, thanks for starting your weekend here with me.

This week, Congress passed a seriously flawed, backroom funding deal to end the government shutdown. The Senate deal abandons health care support for 24 million Americans by cutting out Affordable Care Act tax credits that have been on the books for four years. 

The refusal to maintain premium help in the middle of open enrollment for 2026 Affordable Care Act plans for middle class families, small businesses, and self employed workers is a terrible blow to affordable health care in eastern Connecticut. 

Kristin McShane, a Norwich small business owner for 20 years, shared that her family’s health plan will jump from $800/month to $1,900/month in 2026 because Congress has failed to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits.

At town hall meetings in recent weeks, both in person and by phone and streaming, I heard stories of skyrocketing premiums from Enfield to Danielson to Norwich and Stonington. The elimination of insurance tax credits in this funding deal now sets up those cost hikes to take effect, with the first payment for 2026 plans due on December 15th. 

Families are looking at 100%, 300%, and even higher cost increases. Some are planning to draw down 401k retirement funds (with a tax penalty!) to pay the higher costs. Others will just gamble and go uninsured. Insurance brokers from Groton to Ellington who I have visited during this enrollment season described the same brutal stories.

Before the House voted on the continuing resolution, I explained why it's a bad deal for eastern Connecticut. Watch here.

The battle to lower costs is not over because the issue of higher costs continues to hit Americans' budgets. I will keep putting spotlight on the hard working, tax paying victims of this feckless choice, which turns the clock back on affordable insurance.

 On Monday in New London, we celebrated the “topping off” of the future National Coast Guard Museum. The ceremony marks the raising of the final structural beam of the Museum building and recognizes the hard work of the contractors such as A/Z Corporation and Berlin Steel, the Connecticut Building Trades, such as the carpenters and operating engineers, who have been working around the clock to complete this building.  

The City of New London eagerly awaits the Coast Guard Museum’s completion and looks forward to welcoming visitors looking for another great reason to visit eastern Connecticut. 

At Monday’s ceremony and every time I visit the construction site, the enthusiasm of the dedicated workers is palpable, and the “topping off” marks the rapid, tangible progress of construction. My heartiest congratulations to all involved in the labor and planning to reach this milestone.

On Tuesday, I had the honor of joining the Columbia Veterans Day Celebration alongside First Selectman and retired U.S. Navy Masterchief Operation Specialist Steven Everett, retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel John Pires, and retired U.S. Army Major James Locke. Columbia Scout Troop 162 led a presentation of the U.S. flag and Melissa Rood sang a wonderful National Anthem. Thank you to the Columbia residents who joined us at the ceremony in Yeomans Hall, and thank you to everyone in Connecticut’s Second District who gathered on Veterans Day to honor those who served. 

Left: with Kristen Locke (USAF, Ret.) and James Locke (USA, Ret.).

I continue to hear from eastern Connecticut residents who are rightfully demanding transparency on the U.S. Department of Justice’s investigation into the heinous crimes of Jeffery Epstein – including any accomplices. 

This week, after months of stonewalling, a discharge petition to force a vote on releasing the Epstein case files reached the needed 218 signatures. Next week, the House is expected to vote on releasing the Epstein files. I was one of the first signers of this discharge petition and I will vote YES on the Epstein Files Transparency Act. 

Congress must pass a binding law to force the Department of Justice to release the Epstein files in a manner that provides transparency and protects survivors. 

Thank you for taking some time to read my update. If my office can be of any assistance, do not hesitate to call us at (860) 886-0139. 

Sincerely,

Joe Courtney
Member of Congress

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