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Dear Friend,
After a busy week in eastern Connecticut, I’m here with a quick update on federal funding for our towns, expanded health care for veterans, and more. Thanks for starting your weekend here with me.
Visiting Community Projects in Suffield and Somers
You may have heard that the 2023 budget Congress passed at the end of last year includes targeted federal funding for Community Projects across Connecticut’s Second District – 27 projects totaling $32.1 million in federal resources. My team and I worked side by side with our towns and community partners to secure these funds, and we’re really excited to continue our work now that the funds have been signed into law along with the 2023 budget. This week, I made visits to catch up on two of our projects in Suffield and Somers.
Keeping emergency services equipment and technology up to date is critical for public safety in our towns. With 2023 Community Project Funding my office worked to secure, the Suffield Police Department is set to receive $180,000 to improve their dispatch and records management system. I stopped by the department this week to meet with Chief James Canon and his impressive team of talented officers and staff to catch up on the disbursement process now that the funding has been signed into law. The new system will bring Suffield up to nationwide standards, and will help the town’s emergency services—including Police, Fire, and EMS—to better serve our community. It was made possible because of these federal resources.
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| On Tuesday, Rep. Courtney visited the Suffield Police Department to catch up with Chief James Canon and his team of officers on the Community Project funding they worked to secure for an upgraded dispatch and records management system |
This week, I also visited the Somers Wastewater Pollution Control Facility. As one of my 2023 Community Projects, the town is receiving $945,000 in funding to make upgrades and improve operations at their 40-year-old wastewater treatment plant. For several years, wastewater that is not adequately disinfected has been entering the Scantic River. The upgrades needed to fix this are expensive, but with the federal funding, the Town of Somers will finally be able to make them. Thanks to First Selectman Tim Keeney and Director of Land Use/WPCA Superintendent Dan Parisi for showing me around the facility and updating me on the project.
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| On Tuesday, Rep. Courtney visited Somers First Selectman Tim Keeney (left) and Director of Land Use/WPCA Superintendent Dan Parisi (left in right photo) to catch up on Community Project funding secured for the Somers Wastewater Pollution Control Facility |
Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Norwich and New London
Last weekend, I joined friends and neighbors in Norwich and New London to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and to celebrate a new generation committed to service and leadership. On Friday, I attended the Norwich NAACP’s 38th annual luncheon honoring Dr. King. As always, it was an inspirational event, especially to meet and congratulate this year’s amazing class of Terell T. Wilson Memorial Scholarship Award winners: Alyssa Newson (who serves as Treasurer for the Norwich NAACP Robertsine Duncan Youth Council) and Wadler Saint Justin (Gold Medal winner of the Norwich Afro-American, Cultural, Technological, and Scientific Olympics).
This scholarship was designed to recognize outstanding seniors and to help them take their next step towards careers that will benefit our communities, and you couldn’t find two young people who demonstrate the necessary qualities of leadership and commitment more than Wadler and Alyssa. Congratulations to them on being recognized with this year’s scholarship award!
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| Last Friday, Rep. Courtney joined the Norwich NAACP for the 38th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Luncheon |
On Monday, I joined local leaders in New London for the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day March from City Hall to the New London Courthouse. Dr. King lived by the American values of equality, justice, and service, and he courageously inspired others to do the same. I was grateful to spend the day celebrating his life alongside members of our community who value these same principles.
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| On Monday, Rep. Courtney joined other elected officials and community leaders for New London's annual Martin Luther King Day March |
A Permanent Home for the Windham Veterans Coffeehouse
Great news in Willimantic today. This morning, I joined the official ribbon-cutting of the new, permanent home for the Windham Veterans Coffeehouse in the re-done and much-improved Willimantic Senior Center. This weekly gathering is a fantastic way for local Veterans to come together, discuss pressing issues, and often, to share information about the benefits services available to them. Veterans Coffeehouses are a thriving movement around eastern Connecticut and continue to be a great resource for our large Veteran community. In Willimantic, we had some very good news to share on emergency mental health care services for Veterans. Starting this week, Veterans experiencing suicidal crises can now receive no-cost emergency mental health care at VA or private healthcare facilities. That’s a huge barrier removed for Veterans accessing care when they need it, and it was made possible by the bipartisan COMPACT Act – signed into law in 2020. We have a lot more work to do to limit Veteran deaths by suicide across the country, and this is an important step.
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| Today, Rep. Courtney and his Military and Veterans' Representative Manuel Meneses joined State Reps Tammy Nuccio, Anthony Nolan, and Tim Ackert, State Senator Mae Flexer, President and CEO of the Windham Region Chamber of Commerce Diana Nadeau, and more for the ribbon-cutting of the new home for the Windham Veterans Coffeehouse |
I also shared an update on the Honoring Our PACT Act. This long-overdue bill was finally signed into law last year, and now, it’s important that every Veteran, their families, and their caregivers are aware of the new services available to them at the VA. The PACT Act expands VA health care and benefits for nearly 3.5 million Veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances, and since it was signed into law in August, over 730,000 Veterans have received toxic exposure screenings made possible by the law, with nearly 39% of those Veterans reporting a concern of exposure. Thankfully, the VA has sped up the initial timeline for the rollout of many PACT Act benefits. As of the day the bill was signed into law, all conditions in the PACT Act are presumptive. The VA also began processing PACT Act related claims for terminally ill Veterans last month – earlier than initially planned. For more information about the Honor Our PACT Act, visit VA.gov/PACT.
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| The Windham Veterans Coffeehouse is an important resource for local veterans to share information about benefits and services available to them at the VA |
Joining Shipbuilding Leaders for an Update on Our Industrial Base
On Tuesday, I joined the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) Program at their workshop in Mystic to provide an update on our workforce needs when it comes to shipbuilding. The 2023 budget we passed last month invests $768 million for submarine industrial base improvements – including targeted funding for supplier development, shipyard infrastructure, and workforce development to meet the demands of the Columbia and Virginia class programs. I’ve worked in bipartisan fashion for years to increase submarine production in our region, and these investments are going to keep the momentum going strong.
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| On Tuesday, Rep. Courtney joined the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Program to provide an update on workforce needs and new investments in the 2023 budget passed last month |
Here in eastern Connecticut, our submarine industrial base has always risen to meet shipbuilding demands, but the new national security priorities of our Navy and allies around the globe are sending a clear signal: we’ve got to double down on Registered Apprenticeships and workforce development programs. On the Seapower Subcommittee and the Education and Labor Committee, I’ll continue my bipartisan work to expand them.
An Aerospace Manufacturer in Plainfield Unveils New Equipment
On Wednesday, I visited aerospace manufacturer Westminster Tool in Plainfield for the ribbon-cutting of their new 3D metal printing equipment. Westminster Tool is one of many small business manufactures in eastern Connecticut who are leading the industry in making use of new technology and workforce development programs to grow their business. They’ve received grant funding from our state’s Additive Manufacturing Adoption Program (AMAP) to help bring 3D metal printing technology into their facility, and they hire new employees from the federally funded Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative (MPI).
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| On Wednesday, Rep. Courtney visited small business manufacturer Westminster Tool in Plainfield for the ribbon cutting of their new metal 3D printing equipment |
The need to strengthen manufacturing supply chains extends far beyond submarines. Just last year, Finland – a close ally and soon-to-be NATO member – ordered 64 F-35 jets from the U.S. to replace its aging fleet. Meeting our own security needs and supporting our allies is a massive task for our supply chains, and alongside apprenticeships and workforce development programs, the adoption of new technology will be critical to getting the job done. Thanks to President & Owner Ray Coombs, Talent Development Manager Hannah Coombs, and the entire team at Westminster Tool for showing me around the facility and updating me on their workforce development efforts.
Thanks as always 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. Have a great weekend!
Sincerely,
Joe Courtney
Member of Congress
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