|
Dear Friend,
I’m here with an update on legislation I introduced this week to address a pressing issue for America’s veterans, transformational Infrastructure Law funding to improve train service in southeastern Connecticut, and more. Thanks for starting your weekend here with me.
Observing Veterans Day
Tomorrow, on Veterans Day, we honor those who wore our nation’s uniform and recognize the sacrifices they’ve made to keep us safe. I have the honor of representing over 46,000 veterans in Congress – the largest veteran community of any Congressional District in Connecticut – and my office and I will always work alongside them to connect them to benefits, meet their needs, and address their priorities. Right now, we’re in the midst the largest expansion of veterans’ health care and benefits in the history of the VA: the rollout of the Honoring Our PACT Act. Since the bill was signed into law, nearly 2,000 veterans in Connecticut’s Second District have filed claims for PACT Act benefits. Veterans and survivors can visit VA.gov/PACT to learn more and file a claim online.
 |
In Congress, I’m committed to working with my colleagues to address the serious challenges our veteran community faces. Tragically, veterans disproportionately suffer from opioid addiction and overdose, and in recent years, overdose mortality rates have risen staggeringly. On Thursday, Rep. Greg Murphy (R-NC) and I reintroduced the Veteran HOPE Act – a bill which would direct federal resources to investigate the crisis of veteran overdose deaths and use VA records to better understand risk factors to help prevent lethal overdoses. The opioid epidemic has plagued communities nationwide, and in eastern Connecticut, vital efforts are underway in our communities to stem the crisis here. The Veteran HOPE Act would provide important support that works, and I’m glad to partner with Rep. Murphy to move it forward with bipartisan support.
As always, veterans and their family members can reach out to my Norwich office for assistance in obtaining earned benefits. For Department of Veterans Affairs health care
& claim support, service medals, military records, & more give us a call at (860) 886-0139. To all the brave men and women in the Second District who have served and sacrificed for our country – thank you.
 |
| Today, Rep. Courtney joined Quinebaug Valley Community College's Veterans Day ceremony |
Transformational Funding for Train Service in Connecticut
Excellent news for train service in Connecticut. On Monday, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced an $826.6 million grant, funded by the Infrastructure Law, to fully replace the 116-year-old Connecticut River Bridge with a new, modern, resilient bridge immediately south of the existing structure. This is a generational investment for the most heavily traveled rail system in America. When the new bridge is completed, rail service will be safer and faster for passengers on Amtrak’s Acela and Northeast Regional and CTRail’s Shoreline East, as well as freight traffic.
Make no mistake – this would not be possible without the Infrastructure Law which Congress passed in 2021 and is paying dividends for Connecticut now and for decades to come.
 |
| Rep. Courtney has secured over $957 million in total funding since 2020 to improve passenger & freight rail service over the bridge. Click here for a full timeline of his work |
This grant funding is long-overdue. In 2006, the bridge was deemed ‘structurally deficient’ and repair work was no longer capable of keeping it functional. Since then, I’ve led years of advocacy to urge the federal government to deliver funding to rebuild the bridge. In addition to the $826 million announced this week, over the past three years, I’ve secured over $130.4 million for this project. Now, with the construction phase fully funded, it’s full speed ahead toward a new bridge and greatly improved service.
With this exciting announcement, I’d like to hear more about your experiences with train service in southern Connecticut. Your input helps shape my work.
Have you been impacted by delayed train service along Connecticut’s shoreline?
Hosting Australian Ambassador Kevin Rudd in Southeastern Connecticut
On Monday, I welcomed Australian Ambassador to the U.S., Kevin Rudd, to southeastern Connecticut for a visit to Electric Boat’s Groton shipyard. This follows recent meetings with our Australian allies in Congress – headlined by Prime Minister Albanese’s landmark visit last month. As our two nations embark on the AUKUS agreement, the Aussies understand that there is no workforce more proficient than the women and men of Electric Boat to provide necessary expertise. It was exciting to join the Ambassador in his tour of the USS Idaho (under construction in the background of the photo below) to share the story of high quality education and job training that makes it all possible.
 |
The Eastern CT Workforce Investment Board’s Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative (MPI) is a shining example of how federal resources can be put to use to strengthen a critical workforce – meeting the needs of employers and creating opportunities for job seekers. Workforce development programs in eastern Connecticut are fueled in part by federal funding from the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). To ensure successful training programs can continue to play a key role in meeting our region’s workforce needs, Congress must re-authorize WIOA and double down on proven successful programs like the MPI. Click below to read more about my work as a senior member of the House Education and Workforce Committee to reauthorize WIOA.
Working to Avoid a Government Shutdown
Unfortunately, our nation is again just days away from another funding deadline to avoid a government shutdown. Last September, I joined a bipartisan coalition to keep the government open, in the hope that with a new Speaker we could see similar bipartisan movement to a full fiscal year spending plan. Unfortunately, rather than using that 6 week extension to hammer out a deal with the Senate and the White House – along the lines of spending caps former Speaker McCarthy agreed to – no such movement has occurred. In fact, there has been no outreach from Speaker Johnson to the 213 member Minority Caucus at all.
I’m disappointed that the new Republican leadership discarded last May's spending deal that would cut the deficit by a trillion dollars and preserve critical services. Instead, the House spent precious time debating partisan spending bills that make ridiculous cuts to clean drinking water, transit programs, and homeowner tax credits for clean energy to name a few. They also are demanding a Social Security and Medicare commission aimed at cutting benefits. Two of the bills debated this week were pulled from the floor because the Speaker could not get enough votes from his own Caucus. In the meantime, the clock is ticking towards a November 17th shutdown.
With Thanksgiving fast approaching, I’m reminding my colleagues of the catastrophic consequences a government shutdown would have on the American people and many families in eastern Connecticut. Critical programs families rely on would go offline, and federal employees – including military servicemembers – would miss paychecks. That’s unacceptable, and House leadership must return to the established center-left, center-right pathway to keep the government open with a long-term funding package or a continuing resolution which continues federal agencies’ funding at their current level.
A Day of Free Medical Care for Connecticut Residents
Thank you to the over 1,500 health care workers who made Hartford Healthcare’s Medical Mission Day of Service a success! Last Saturday, one-day events were held across Connecticut, and I stopped by the Willimantic location to meet with volunteers and attendees.
Volunteer medical professionals provided no-cost services including behavioral health screenings, lab tests, medical screening for diabetes and cholesterol, prescriptions, vaccinations, pediatric services, and more. Free resources for community members in need like food and clothing, glasses, and haircuts were also provided. Across Connecticut, the volunteers served 2,400 attendees – including over 400 at the Willimantic and Norwich locations.
Update: Key Dates for Health Care Open Enrollment Periods
Open enrollment is happening now for both Medicare and Access Health CT plans. Below, please see updated information on how to learn more or enroll. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call my Senior Constituent Services Caseworker, Karen Weseliza, in my Enfield Office at (860) 741-6011.
- Medicare open enrollment is now open until December 7, 2023. During this time, people with Medicare can compare coverage options, like Traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage, choose health and drug plans for 2024, and see how the Inflation Reduction Act is already helping them save money on health care costs. Visit medicare.gov to enroll or learn more.
- Access Health CT open enrollment is now open through January 15, 2024. Customers must enroll on or before December 15, 2023 for coverage to begin January 1, 2024. Customers who enroll between December 16, 2023 and January 15, 2024 will have coverage starting February 1, 2024. Visit this webpage to enroll.
Thank you 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
|