Dear Friend, 

After a busy week in Washington, I’m back home in eastern Connecticut and here with an update on federal funding to support mental health in our schools, a new class of shipbuilders in Groton, and lots more. Thanks as always for starting your weekend here with me.

Expanding Mental Health Resources for Students 

The issue of access to mental health services for young people has persisted for years, and it has gotten worse since the pandemic. Last month, we announced $5 million in new American Rescue Plan resources that are going to help us start reversing that trend at schools throughout eastern CT, including in East Hampton. Under the American Rescue Plan, the East Hampton School District is set to receive over $238,000 to hire and maintain school-based counselors and mental health workers, including a full-time school psychologist, through the 2025 school year. I visited East Hampton High School last week to discuss the good news with students. 

Last week, Rep. Courtney visited East Hampton High School to discuss a new American Rescue Plan grant which will allow the school to hire a full-time school psychologist, providing students with the mental health care resources they need

At East Hampton High School, I met with young people who are ending the stigma of seeking support and treatment for our mental health. They spoke candidly about the personal struggles that many students face, and the pressing need for expanded services for them and their peers. Many described the difficulty they faced accessing mental health care. With this new federal funding, East Hampton schools will be able to hire professional staff and provide their students with the mental health resources and support systems they deserve.    

On his visit, Rep. Courtney was joined by East Hampton Schools Superintendent Paul Smith, Director of Curriculum Mary Clark, Director of Pupil Services Rod Mosier, East Hampton HS Principal Eric Verner, Teacher Kristen Keska, students and more

Bolstering mental health support in our schools isn’t only a great thing for our students—it's also important for their families, and for the teachers who serve them. It’s great to see these American Rescue Plan resources coming home to support our youth in East Hampton, and the funding is also going to help expand counseling and mental health at schools in Hebron, Mansfield, Eastford, East Haddam, and in Stonington. It's a great win for our schools and our communities. A big thank you to the excellent faculty at East Hampton High School and the great, hard-working students for welcoming me to discuss this vital funding.  

Catching Up with Norwich Seniors on New Health Savings 

Last week, I stopped by the Norwich Senior Center to update people on some key cost savers that kicked-in at the start of this year for seniors, and lots more that are coming down the road thanks to the Medicare reform bill (H.R. 5376) that Congress passed last year. For years, the high cost of prescription drugs has forced many seniors to make difficult decisions about their health and their finances. Now that Congress has finally acted to bring down those costs, significant relief is on the way. Under the Medicare reform bill, the price of insulin is now capped at $35/month for Medicare beneficiaries. For the nearly one third of beneficiaries with diabetes, that price reduction will save them hundreds of dollars each month. The move has also put pressure on private drugmakers to lower the cost of the off-patent drug for all people who use it. This week, Eli Lilly announced it was also capping out-of-pocket costs for Insulin at $35/month. It’s great to see a private company follow suit after Congress acted, but make no mistake: every American should have access to Insulin at that price. I’m committed to making that the law. 

The Inflation Reduction Act (H.R. 5376), also known as the Medicare Reform Bill, included several major forms of health care savings for America’s seniors and others on Medicare. Click here to read more.

Also in effect this year, is a new price cap will prohibit drug costs from being jacked up at a rate faster than inflation, and for the first time in over a decade, the monthly Medicare Part B premium has been reduced by 3%, or $5.20. That reduction came after I pressed the Department of Health and Human Services to recalculate the premiums with updated drug price and scope of use information, and it’s going to mean less money is taken out of Social Security checks – which are now bigger thanks to an 8.7% 2023 Cost-of-Living Adjustment. Others—like a cap on out-of-pocket costs—will start in 2025. Click here for more information on health care savings here now, and others on the way under the Medicare Reform Bill. 

In Norwich, I also updated people on my work to protect Social Security and Medicare benefits amid the current political battle over raising the debt ceiling. A shocking majority of Republicans have attempted to brand Social Security as an “entitlement”. We know that’s not true. Social Security is an insurance program, and I reminded my colleagues of that in a recent floor speech. Watch here. 

Congratulations to a New Class of Talented Shipbuilders 

Last Thursday, we celebrated 64 carpenters, metal workers, and other shipbuilders who successfully completed Electric Boat’s 2-year apprenticeship program. These careers are in high demand, and these men and women worked hard and gained the skills necessary to go after them. The jobs they’re taking on are critical to the U.S. Navy, and they also provide a great way of life for workers and their families. Between the increasing demand signal for submarines and the steady resources being provided by Congress, there are more and more openings popping up at Electric Boat. After adding 3,700 new employees in 2022, EB announced that they are seeking to hire 5,750 new employees in 2023 alone. That uptick comes through a continued 2-per-year build rate on Virginia-class submarines and construction of the first two Columbia-class submarines, and now, it’s a top priority of mine to boost support for apprenticeship programs and workforce development to meet the demand and create opportunities. 

At last week's EB Apprenticeship graduation ceremony Rep. Courtney was joined by members of Electric Boat including Kevin Graney (President), James Gildart (VP of Groton Operations), Chad Babcock (MDA President of the Apprentice Alumni Association), Emil Casciano (VP of Nuclear Ops and Fleet Support), Mike Bibalo (Apprentice School Representative), union representatives William Louis (MDA Union), Pete Baker (MTC Union), and Paul Jarry (Carpenter Union) and 64 graduates from the apprenticeship program

In my work on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Education and Workforce Committee, we’ve secured significant increases in federal funding for workforce development efforts in eastern Connecticut. One of the key programs connecting people to careers in shipbuilding is the Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative (MPI) – which is operated by the Eastern CT Workforce Investment Board (EWIB). In 2023, EWIB anticipates it will operate with a budget of about $31 million, with more than 70% of it coming from federal funding that we’ve provided in Congress. Since I helped kick-start the MPI in 2015, it’s graduated over 2,700 workers and continues to grow, bringing training opportunities to people of all backgrounds and skill-levels in eastern Connecticut. This plus-up in federal support to the program is going to keep that growth going. 

EWIB projects a $31 million operating budget in 2023, more than 70% of which comes from federal funding

Increased submarine construction isn’t just creating opportunities at the shipyard—it’s fueling growth at hundreds of our local manufacturing suppliers throughout eastern CT. They’re hiring on lots of skilled workers for new careers, and there’s also tons of new job opportunities in our region thanks to the activity we’re seeing in clean energy production, infrastructure development, and more. There's huge demand for a skilled workforce, and it’s been great to see EWIB working to match that demand by expanding their classes with federal funding. This year, EWIB’s MPI is projected to host 82 total training classes—their highest-ever number of classes, 40% more than last year, and a far cry from the number they have hosted dating back to 2017. These investments are going to continue, and I’m looking forward to working with EB, management, labor, supply companies, and with EWIB to ensure our thriving workforce ecosystem is sustained.

Meeting with New London's Overdose Action Team 

Ending the addiction crisis is going to take collaborative efforts from community-based groups in our towns. There are lots of people working hard to stop the most dangerous drugs from entering our communities and providing care to those struggling with substance use disorder, and I keep in close touch with them. I recently visited the Overdose Action Team – a joint effort by the City of New London, Alliance for Living, and Ledge Light Health District. They’re working to limit overdose deaths in the city through evidence-based prevention and treatment. I heard about some of their success, but also about the need for resources to stem the demand for newer, extremely dangerous substances that are causing overdoses.  

Last week, Rep. Courtney met with Overdose Action Team members (left to right) Jen Muggeo (Deputy Director of Ledge Light Health District), Jeanne Milstein (New London Director of Human Services), Kelly Thompson (CEO of Alliance for Living), and Scout LoPriore (Harm Reduction Director at Alliance for Living) to discuss their work combating the addiction crisis in New London

The Overdose Action Team’s work is boosted by federal funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which had its budget increased by Congress in 2022 and again in the 2023 Omnibus. I’m committed to securing more federal resources to fight back against this crisis and save lives in eastern Connecticut. Last year, I worked together with the Southeastern Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence to secure $915,000 in the 2023 Omnibus for their residential treatment facility in Lebanon. I also worked with Reliance Health in the 2022 budget process to secure $125,000 for their Recovery Coaches program which provides people with a substance use disorder with a path to recovery. Reliance Health also works with the Norwich Police Department to prevent overdose deaths in the city.  

The groups that make up the Overdose Action Team received federal funding from SAMHSA to boost their work. Rep. Courtney voted with his colleagues to increase SAMHSA's budget in 2022 and again in 2023

Whether it's rural, suburban, or urban, every part of America is feeling the tragic presence of addiction. In recent years, there’s been bipartisan support in Congress to provide our communities with the resources they need to save lives. I’m ready to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to keep that work up in the new Congress. 

Jimmy Carter's Legacy Lives on in Eastern CT

Right now, the world is lifting up prayers and best wishes for former President Jimmy Carter, who remains in hospice care. His life has been devoted to basic principles of service to others and compassion for those who need help, and here in eastern Connecticut there remains a particular appreciation for his legacy.  

Many people know Submarine Base New London as a pillar of our state. It is integral to the Navy’s undersea fleet, and with 9,000+ sailors and officers it’s the largest military installation in New England. What many people don’t know though is that SUBASE New London stands today thanks in part to former President Jimmy Carter. He was stationed there as an up-and-coming sailor and submariner, and although he eventually left Connecticut, he never forgot our state.

Then Lieutenant Jimmy Carter (USN) in the main control room of the USS Barracuda between June and October 1952. Source: US Navy

I wrote a short piece for the CT Mirror last week that tells the story of how in 2005, President Carter shocked the political leadership in his home state of Georgia and defended SUBASE New London from closure. Check it out here.

Thanks for taking some time to ready 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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