Joe Courtney
DEastern Connecticut needs more quality affordable homes to meet demand and lower costs. Yesterday, I sat down with housing advocates, home builders, and realtors to talk about the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, a bipartisan bill that became law this summer. The bill makes long-overdue reforms to clear pathways to new housing construction. Now, Congress must follow through with robust investment that capitalizes on the reforms made by the ROAD to Housing Act.
Last month, the CT Insurance Department officially approved an 11.3% average rate increase in 2027 for state-regulated, individual and small business health care coverage plans. Rx drug costs make up 30% of a Connecticut health care premium dollar. That amount has doubled since 2010. This trend screams out for action. Congress needs to pass the Lowering Drug Costs for American Families Act, a bill to empower Medicare to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies for lower Rx drug costs not just for Americans 65 and older, but for all Americans on employer-based plans and individual ACA marketplace plans (Access Health CT here in Connecticut). By lowering drug costs for working-age Americans, Congress would bring down health insurance premiums across the board. It's simple, and it will work. Read more in my op-ed in the Day: https://t.co/ucwfATmo8p
Happy Birthday to the U.S. Navy! To all Navy sailors and aviators, thank you for serving with honor, courage, and commitment. Article One, Section Eight of the Constitution, clearly states, “Congress shall provide and maintain a Navy” — that power is NOT vested in the President, or the Navy, for that matter. As Ranking Member of the Seapower Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee that passed authority for the largest submarine construction contract in history, I am committed to building and maintaining a fleet for the future.
A special day for the Submarine Capital of the World. On Friday, I joined the Groton community for the groundbreaking of the USS Groton Sail Monument at the Groton Public Library. Electric Boat employees have contributed over 25,000 training hours towards restoring the USS Groton’s sail, rudder, and planes. Thank you to the USS Groton Sail Foundation and everyone helping to build this tribute to Groton’s proud submarine heritage.
If you’ve been at an event with me this year, you’ve probably seen me holding this submarine construction tonnage chart from the U.S. Navy. It shows that today, in 2026, we are near peak submarine production going back to 1952, and in the coming years, production will ramp up significantly and continue for decades. Through a region-wide skills training movement, eastern CT’s workforce is answering our nation’s call for a next-generation submarine workforce.
Back in 2024, I worked with the Town of Madison to secure $2.5 million in federal Community Project funding for a new emergency operations center at Madison Hose Company No. 1. Yesterday, I joined First Selectwoman Peggy Lyons, Fire Chief Robert Kyttle, Executive Director of Operations for Emergency Management Sam DeBurra, and State Sen. Christine Cohen to mark the opening of the new dedicated space to coordinate emergency response. Thank you to these local leaders for their years of work to make this boost to public safety in Madison happen. The good news doesn’t stop there. The Madison Hose Company No. 1 was also just awarded a new federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant for firefighter turnout gear, another round of federal support for the town’s first responders.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Every survivor deserves safety and support. If you or someone you know is in need of help, call the National DV Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788. It's free and confidential, and it's open 24/7.
To keep up with thousands of new jobs at Electric Boat, I’m working with local leaders to support community infrastructure projects in southeastern CT. https://t.co/mOIk09mJuw
It was great to visit Stafford High School’s very impressive career pathways program today with First Selectman Bill Morrison. Students and teachers gave me a tour of architectural drafting, construction, welding, and photography classes, which are part of the 13 career pathways offered at the school. Thank you to Superintendent Sugarman, Principal Pellica, the teachers and school leaders who are connecting talented students with their interests and prepare for careers.
With the growing number of incidents involving rogue AI agents, Congress must pass commonsense safeguards to protect the public. Last week, I officially became a cosponsor of the bipartisan AI Kill Switch Act, a bill to establish third-party protections against rogue AI agents. We need safeguards that ensure AI remains under human control.
Thanks to Access Community Action Agency for briefing me on their work ensuring people’s basic food and home heating needs are met. They are seeing a spike in need from local families due to high food costs, federal cuts to food assistance, and surging home heating prices due to the war in Iran. Congress must reverse the SNAP cuts made in the Big Ugly Bill. We also urgently need to increase home energy assistance funding as homeowners are going to fill their tanks this fall.
Today is World Teachers’ Day! Teachers help students discover their strengths and see new possibilities in their futures. Thank you to eastern Connecticut’s wonderful teachers for the hard work you bring to our classrooms every day. https://t.co/DCkDkI8POH
Exciting news in Lebanon. On Tuesday, I joined students and faculty at Lyman Memorial High School for the launch of the school’s new welding lab and welding career pathway program. The excitement from students to learn welding speaks to the skills training movement happening across our region as we see the historic surge in submarine production for the U.S. Navy. As a Member of the Education and Workforce Committee, I'm fighting to increase Perkins funding to expand career and technical education in our schools and connect students to quality careers in eastern Connecticut.
Reminder: CT farmers who faced losses caused by severe weather in 2023 & 2024 can apply for USDA disaster relief funding through the CT Dep. of Agriculture. The deadline to apply for Round One of aid is this Wednesday (10/7). Learn more & apply here: https://t.co/cqK3Ujf2gq
It was great to meet with Enfield business leaders last week to discuss major projects like the Enfield Train Station and pressing issues like pollution in the Connecticut River. Enfield is the largest town in the Second Congressional District, and I’m committed to working with town leaders and local businesses to grow its economy.
Investing in water infrastructure is essential to removing pollution from the Connecticut River. On Thursday, I joined the Metropolitan District (MDC) for the ribbon-cutting of the new South Hartford Conveyance and Storage Tunnel (SHCST) Pump Station that will prevent sewage overflows from spilling into the Connecticut River during heavy rain events. Downstream from Hartford, river towns in the Second Congressional District will benefit greatly from the elimination of sewage overflows. There is more work to be done. Upstream from Hartford, Connecticut towns continue to be impacted by sewage overflows into the Connecticut River from Massachusetts towns and cities. As Congress prepares for the next infrastructure bill, I’m fighting to boost investments in water infrastructure projects to clean up our region’s waterways.
NORWICH, CT – Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), Ranking Member of the House Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee and a senior Member of the House Education and Workforce Committee, highlighted recent contract awards for two defense manufacturers in Connecticut’s Second District. This week, TTM Technologies in Stafford Springs was awarded 6% of a $511 million contract for their work on the Navy’s SPY-6 radar systems. In July, TTM Technologies also received 6% of a $1.809 billion contract for their work on SPY-6 radar systems. TTM Technologies employs roughly 1,000 people between its Stafford and Stafford Springs facilities, which produce electronic systems for the aerospace, space, and maritime defense industries. Last month, Electric Boat was awarded three contracts totaling $239 million for continued work for the Virginia-class submarine program. Following July’s $76.6 billion contract awards to Electric Boat for construction of nine Block VI Virginia-class submarine and five Build II Columbia-class submarines, September’s contracts are smaller, incremental awards to support the entire Virginia-class submarine program. Virginia-class submarines, Columbia-class submarines, and all U.S. Navy ships that the SPY-6 radar system operates on are authorized by the House Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee. “These new contract awards are further proof that the growth of Connecticut’s defense manufacturing industry is not just a blip on the shoreline; it’s a wide-reaching enterprise driving our region’s long-term economic growth,” Courtney said. “On the heels of this summer’s record-breaking submarine contracts for Electric Boat, the work to support our region’s defense manufacturers isn’t finished. In particular, the Seapower Subcommittee and the Education and Workforce Committee must expand investments in the successful skills training pipelines that have grown Connecticut’s next-generation manufacturing workforce." ###
The Lisbon Fire Department is receiving a new Assistance to Firefighters Grant replace its forestry truck, which has been in use since the 1960s, has no airbags, and is difficult to find replacement parts for. The forestry truck is used to fight difficult-to-reach fires that require driving through dense forested areas. I joined Fire Chief Dave Gifford, Assistant Chief Greg DeVore, President Billy Cobb, and First Selectman Tom Sparkman to discuss the new grant, which is one of seven grants awarded last week to fire departments across eastern Connecticut. Congratulations to the Lisbon Fire Department and Asst. Chief DeVore who led the AFG grant application. Back in 2024, the Lisbon Fire Department and I worked together to secure federal Community Project funding for new uniform decontamination equipment, which is also serving neighboring departments through their mutual aid network.
Admiral Rickover and President Carter’s deep friendship forged in Groton, CT — “The Submarine Capitol of the World.” Happy birthday, Mr. President. https://t.co/k2iHzGXeVL
Building more quality and affordable homes is the number one way to lower housing costs. In Griswold, I joined state and local leaders to mark the groundbreaking of Oak Tree Village II, a federally supported development that will add 60 mixed-income apartments. I recently supported passage of the “Road to Housing” bill, which will help spur more housing construction to meet community demand.
With the harm of data center overdevelopment clear, the government should not be giving big tech companies tax breaks to build them. https://t.co/5jsoTLbuBg
The Scotland Volunteer Fire Department is receiving a new federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant for wildland firefighting personal protective equipment. I visited to discuss the grant award with First Selectman Dana Barrow Jr., Deputy Fire Chief Michael Gurnack of the Scotland Volunteer Fire Department, Chief Bob Tardiff of the Baltic Fire Company #1, and Chief Rich Schenk of the Hampton Fire Company. The wildfire firefighting PPE will also benefit firefighters in Baltic, Canterbury, Hampton, North Windham, South Windham, and Windham Center.
Eastern CT’s job market has grown 33% faster than the state wide average. This summer’s $76.6B Navy submarine contract award to Electric Boat as squashed any idea that this is just a blip. These contracts have locked in decades of work at the Groton shipyard and at supply chain manufacturers across our region. As Ranking Member of the Seapower Subcommittee and a Member of the Education and Workforce Committee, I’m working to double down on eastern CT’s successful skills training programs, like the Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative, to fill thousands of new jobs.
When firefighters answer a call, reliable equipment is essential. In Hebron, a new federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant will support equipment upgrades at the Hebron Town Fire Department. I visited yesterday to meet with Fire Chief Peter Starkel to discuss this new funding and the Fire Department’s tireless work to keep people safe.
With families in our region feeling squeezed by food and energy costs, Catholic Charities in Norwich helps people get the support they need. Yesterday, I visited members of their team to hear the impacts they’re seeing from federal cuts to food assistance under the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill,” and their work to connect people to home energy assistance before the winter months. In Congress, I’m fighting to increase federal energy assistance funding so people don’t go cold this winter.