Dear Friend, 

I want to wish a happy Hanukkah to eastern Connecticut’s Jewish community. May this time be filled with peace, light, and joy.

I’m back home in eastern Connecticut, and here with an update on new federal funding for Long Island Sound preservation projects and breakthrough legislation to support Connecticut’s defense industry, our Australian allies, and U.S. shipbuilders. Thanks for starting your weekend here with me.

New Federal Funding to Protect the Long Island Sound

On Monday, I joined the Environmental Protection Agency and the Long Island Sound Caucus to announce $12 million in new federal grant funding for projects across the Long Island Sound. The Long Island Sound Future Fund grants come through the EPA and are highly competitive. The 39 projects receiving funding are rigorously vetted and will make a serious impact in efforts to preserve the Sound for decades to come.

Click here to read more in the Day.

Connecticut’s long, population-dense shoreline makes protecting the Long Island Sound a top priority – both as a host for economic activity and an environmental treasure. Across Connecticut and New York, projects awarded funding this week will prevent a total of 2.7 million gallons of stormwater and 101,000, pounds of nitrogen from flowing into the Sound. Much of our region is really one big watershed, and I’m particularly excited that farms upstream in Ellington and North Stonington have been awarded grant funding to prevent pollutants from entering our waterways, too.

Projects will also remove 120 tons of debris from the Sound, kickstart planning for restoration of 880 acres of coastal fish and wildlife habitat, and expand environmental education programs to increase awareness of how we can all do our part to keep the Long Island Sound healthy.

In Congress, I’ve always worked with my colleagues on both sides of aisle to deliver resources for the Long Island Sound. I’m glad that we’ve continued to do so on the bipartisan Long Island Sound Caucus with my Co-Chair Rep. Nick LaLota (R-NY) amidst a deeply divided 118th Congress. Thank you to New England EPA Regional Administrator David Cash, Director of the EPA LIS Office Mark Tedesco, EPA Region 2 Administrator Lisa Garcia, and my colleagues in Congress for joining me to make Monday’s exciting announcement. I look forward seeing the great work the grant awardees embark on.

A Historic Breakthrough for the AUKUS Agreement

Yesterday, following weeks of diligent work between leaders in the House and the Senate, which I was a part of, the Conference Committee tasked with negotiations released the final FY24 National Defense Authorization Act, which takes historic steps to advance the AUKUS security agreement and support eastern CT. For the first time since the launch of the USS Nautilus in 1958, this NDAA authorizes the US Navy to sell three conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines to another nation – our steadfast ally Australia. This is historic news for both nations and for eastern Connecticut shipbuilders, who will play a critical role in delivering on this transfer. 

Left: Rep. Courtney meets with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese Click here to read more in the Day.

The FY24 NDAA also authorizes the US Navy to purchase up to 13 Virginia-class submarines in the next block contract which will guarantee a steady demand to boost production capacity in our shipyards through continued investment in the submarine industrial base.

The next step for Congress is for full passage in the House and the Senate. I urge my colleagues to join me in doing so in a bipartisan fashion and send it to the President’s desk to be signed into law for the 63rd consecutive year. Passing the National Defense Authorization Act proves that both parties Congress can work together to ensure our national security and support our allies.

Condemning and Confronting Antisemitism

Following Hamas’ unprovoked attack on the Israeli people on October 7th, there has been a disturbing rise in antisemitism here in the United States – particularly on college campuses. The Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights has opened investigations into colleges and universities on their response to recent antisemitic and Islamophobic acts of hate taking place on their campuses. On Tuesday, the House Education and Workforce Committee held a hearing to address the crisis, as well. Our Committee has a responsibility to ensure students are safe on college campuses, and, as I reminded my colleagues in the hearing, that requires fully funding the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights. Watch below.

Click here to watch.

I also joined my colleagues this week in supporting a resolution to condemn antisemitism. At a time when Jewish students and the entire Jewish community are counting on their Representatives to stand up against hate, this resolution sent a clear signal that antisemitism has no place in America.

Simultaneously, there’s been a dangerous and unacceptable rise is Islamophobia. During my remarks in Tuesday’s hearing, I highlighted the recent tragic shooting of a Palestinian student studying at Trinity College here in Connecticut. Tahseen Ali Ahmad was visiting Burlington, Vermont with two friends, both also Palestinian students studying in the United States, when they were shot by an assailant while walking to a relative’s home.

This cowardly attack is another example of how critical the work of the civil rights offices at the Department of Education and the Department of Justice is in this moment. Shockingly, amid ongoing talks in Congress over the FY24 budget, the House majority has proposed a 25% cut the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights. That’s unacceptable. When addressing the rise in hate we have seen in the past two months, budgets will make a real difference in protecting our students.

Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

Yesterday, December 7th, marked 82 years since the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. That day changed the course of our history, and this week, we remember the 2,403 servicemembers and civilians who lost their lives in the attack and those who bravely answered the call to serve in World War II in the years after. 

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.

Sincerely,

Joe Courtney
Member of Congress

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