Dear Friend, 

It’s been a busy week in eastern Connecticut and in Congress, and I’m here with an update on a few stops I made in Willimantic and the first legislation passed in the 118th Congress in support of the AUKUS security agreement. Thanks as always for starting your weekend here with me. 

A New Substance Abuse Disorder Treatment Center in Eastern Connecticut

On Tuesday, I visited the brand-new Ridge Recovery Center in Willimantic. Work on the new recovery center is still being wrapped up, as you can see from the photos, but soon they’ll be providing top-notch treatment right here in eastern CT for people struggling with addiction and substance abuse disorder. The center will operate as part of the Rushford/Hartford Healthcare network, and I was given a tour by Hartford Healthcare Senior Vice Presidents Jim O’Dea and Kristie Scott, Medical Director Dr. J. Craig Allen, and others who are working hard to expand recovery services for people in Willimantic. Highlights of the new facility include 70 private suits, each with a single room, bathroom, and living space. It also has private meeting rooms, a comfortable dining room, a fitness center, offices, large indoor gathering areas, and outdoor spaces and trails on 50 peaceful acres in Willimantic.   

On Tuesday, Rep. Courtney joined (left to right) Hartford Health Care Senior Vice President of Behavioral Health Network James O'Dea, Senior Vice President of Clinical Operations Kristie Scott, Medicare Director Dr. Craig Allen for a tour of the new Ridge Recovery Center in Willimantic

New recovery options close to home are needed for many families eastern Connecticut. The 8 inpatient treatment centers currently operating within 25 miles of Willimantic all have limited bed capacity – a reminder of the current addiction crisis we face. My team and I are working to secure federal resources for treatment facilities in the Second District because they’re vital to the health of our communities, and it’s clear their work can reach more people in need.

The Ridge Recovery Center will be a much needed addition to substance use disorder treatment center options in eastern Connecticut – with 70 private suites and excellent common spaces

In the 2023 federal budget, which was signed into law in December, I worked with the Southeastern Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence (SCADD) to secure $915,000 for their residential treatment facility in Lebanon. With those resources, SCADD will make critical repairs and upgrades to their five-building, 110-bed facility. The 2023 budget also increased the budget of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which provides support to groups on the ground in our towns working to stem tragic overdose deaths. I keep in close touch with these groups and treatment facilities, and make sure their voices are heard in Congress. 

The Willimantic Fire Department Upgrade their Equipment with Federal Grant Funding  

Firefighters take on a lot of risks to keep our communities safe, and it’s important that they’re using up-to-date equipment so that they can work efficiently and return home to their families. On Tuesday, I visited the Willimantic Fire Department to see firsthand how they’ve used federal funding from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program to upgrade some of their most critical tools.   

On Tuesday, Rep. Courtney and Mayor Tom DeVivo met with Deputy Fire Chief Ronald Palmer and his team of firefighters at the Willimantic Fire Department for an update on new equipment they recently purchased with federal AFG funding.

In 2021, Willimantic was awarded $37,604 in AFG funding to purchase new confined space rescue equipment. Pictured below, firefighters use these tools in emergency situations like building collapses and vehicle extractions. These investments will support our first responders for years to come, but they can be costly and can really put a significant strain on our local towns' budgets. The AFG program is what makes these investments possible for our fire stations. AFG grants are highly competitive and sought-after nationwide, but the Willimantic Fire Department put together a great application to go out and earned this funding, and now it’s going to benefit the entire town. Big thanks to Deputy Fire Chief Ronald Palmer, Sr., and his hardworking team for updating me on their work with this new equipment.  

The Willimantic Fire Department used federal AFG funding to purchase new confined space rescue equipment. In 2022, fire stations in the Second District received over $1.7 million in AFG funds to make these types of investments.

Securing federal resources for our fire stations and all eastern Connecticut first responders is one of my top priorities, and I was proud to support the Willimantic Fire Department’s application for this funding. Assistance to Firefighters Grants are being used by fire stations across the Second District to make much needed equipment upgrades right now. In 2022, Second District fire stations received over $1.7 million in federal funding, and that was complimented by lots of other big wins for eastern Connecticut first responders. Check out a quick rundown below: 

Visiting Submarine Supplier Micro Precision

I also had a chance to visit Windham manufacturer Micro Precision this week, where they provide machining, assembly, and testing for components that are critical to U.S. Navy submarines. With 2 Virginia-class submarines per year, continued construction on the new Columbia fleet, and new work on the horizon to support our Australian allies, shipbuilding in eastern CT could reach near all-time highs over the next decade. That’s already creating thousands of job openings in Groton, and it’s huge news for local suppliers like Micro Precision. General Manager Andrew Livingston and his highly skilled team are working hard to keep up with increased work orders, and it’s great to see them thriving. 

There’s no room for error in shipbuilding—when our submariners are taking on national security missions in oceans around the globe, it’s the work of these top-tier manufacturers that’s keeping them safe and helping ensure their success.

On Tuesday, Rep. Courtney visited Micro Precision to meet with General Manager Andrew Livingston and the team of highly skilled manufacturers, including Jose Ceron (left)

Increased shipbuilding is an opportunity for suppliers as much as it is for shipyards, but it comes with some challenges. Working with my colleagues on the Seapower Subcommittee, I’ve ensured that federal investment in our submarine industrial base goes upstream to manufacturers like Micro Precision. In the 2023 Defense Authorization, we secured $280 million for submarine supplier development nationwide, and in his 2024 budget request, the President doubled down on that historic investment, emphasizing the Submarine Industrial Base and upstream suppliers as critical to our national security. Planned nationwide investment for submarine suppliers through 2027 is over $600 million, and that’s coupled with reinvestments in eastern CT's hugely successful Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative. Thanks to Micro Precision’s Andrew Livingston, CEO of parent-company Nautilus Integrated Solutions James Waters and their entire team for having us out this week—they’re doing an outstanding job, and I’m ready to keep working in bipartisan fashion to provide them with the support they need to keep growing. 

Increased submarine construction is creating more work opportunities for Micro Precision and the manufacturers in Windham are working hard to meet the challenge

Honoring a Career of Service to Connecticut and Our Nation

On Monday evening, I had the pleasure of joining Major General Francis Evon, Commanding General of the CT National Guard, for the “pinning on” at the ceremony marking the promotion of Brien Horan—a lifelong friend and devoted public servant—to the rank of Brigadier General on Connecticut’s military retired list. 

On Monday, Rep. Courtney and his wife Audrey joined Major General Francis Evon (left), for the promotion ceremony of now Brigadier General Brien Horan (center) at the headquarters of the Connecticut Army National Guard in Hartford. They were joined by members of Brigadier General Horan's family.

Brigadier General Horan and I have known each other since high school and Latin mass altar boy days. Inspired by his parents’ own service to Connecticut and our nation, Brien has led a long, distinguished career of public service spanning over 40 years – including active duty service in Europe during the Cold War, using his legal expertise as a Colonel in the Army Reserve, as a foreign service officer for the State Department, and on the Governor’s Military Staff. I wish him a heartfelt congratulations on becoming a general officer – an honor that represents not just a promotion, but a recognition of his lifetime of service. Read more about Brigadier General Horan by clicking here.

The wonderful ceremony was held at the headquarters of the Connecticut Army National Guard in Hartford. It's always an honor to visit and meet with the dedicated men and women who work there. Thank you to all of them for hosting us, and congratulations to Brigadier General Brien Horan!

Congress Shows Strong Bipartisan Support for AUKUS

Finally, a quick update following the recent announcement on the path forward for the historic AUKUS security agreement. ICYMI, President Biden joined the Prime Ministers of Australia and the UK, Anthony Albanese and Rishi Sunak, to reveal details on the path forward for the AUKUS. I joined the three heads of state for the announcement in San Diego, and am excited about the role eastern Connecticut will play in delivering on the goals laid out. I stopped Fox61 last week to break down everything there is to know about AUKUS and eastern Connecticut’s role in it—click below to watch. 

Click here to watch Rep. Courtney's interview with Fox 61 on what the AUKUS agreement means for eastern Connecticut

The Courant’s Ed Mahony also published a piece detailing what the AUKUS partnership could mean in terms of increased shipbuilding and career opportunities in eastern CT. Check it out below: 

Click here to read more in the Courant

I’ve been asked a lot over the past weeks about whether political divisions could pose a risk to delivering on AUKUS’ bold goals. Since the original announcement of the agreement, there has been strong bipartisan support led by the four chairs of the AUKUS Working Group. This week, the House delivered another reminder of that support by passing the first legislation of the 118th Congress in support of AUKUS by a vote of 393-4. The centerpiece of AUKUS is enhancing our allies’ undersea capabilities with nuclear propulsion technology, but our commitment to shared security reaches further. The bill we passed this week would help speed up the sharing of our advanced security capabilities with Australia in areas like quantum computing, cyber technology, artificial intelligence, hypersonics, and more—all important aspects of making AUKUS a success. It's great to see such overwhelming support in the House for strengthening our partnership with Australia. Congressional action to remove export control barriers is going to be required to deliver on the goals of AUKUS, and this week's vote is a perfect example of the strong backing the security alliance has from both sides of aisle.

“The goals of the AUKUS plan will require laser-like focus to remove any barriers that might occur from our system of export controls,” said Rep. Courtney. Watch his full remarks 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, and go Huskies!

Sincerely,

Joe Courtney
Member of Congress

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