Dear Friend, 

It’s Joe Courtney. After another busy week, I'm here with an update on the latest news from Congress and at home in eastern Connecticut. As always, thanks for starting your weekend here with me. 

The Remembering the D-Day Invasion

Today, on the 81st anniversary of the D-Day invasion, we remember the immense bravery of the allied troops who landed on the beaches of Normandy to free Europe from Nazi control. Above all, we honor the 2,500 American lives lost on the longest day. D-Day’s legacy sends a powerful reminder to the world: the U.S. and our allies will always stand up for democracy around the globe. 

A Packed Town Hall in Madison

Thank you to everyone who joined my town hall in Madison on Monday. This was my eighth town hall of 2025, and it was a packed house – standing room only. 

People shared their serious concerns about the partisan 10-year budget bill, the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” and the cuts it makes to Medicaid, Medicare, and the ACA. After the town hall, on Tuesday, I spoke on the House floor to call out these cuts and more reckless parts of the bill. Watch here. 

According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, the huge health care cuts included in the bill would kick 15 million Americans off of their health insurance, including 21,000 in eastern Connecticut alone. Incredibly, after gutting health care programs, the bill adds trillions to the deficit on top of the $36 trillion in national debt we already have today. And for what? To give a tax break to the top 1%. 

The House GOP Majority passed this bill in the dead of night last month, but the fight is far from over. I’m continuing to push for a better bipartisan path forward: ensuring the top 1% and top .01% pay their fair share, reducing the national debt, and lowering costs for American families. 

Collective Bargaining Rebuilds Defense Manufacturing

In case you missed it last month, Groton shipyard MDA-UAW union members ratified a new labor contract with Electric Boat which includes record wage increases. And at the same time, the EB Metal Trades Council and Carpenters Union 2023 labor contracts were reopened, and over 2,700 members received a comparable boost in hourly rates.

These wage increases were made possible by Congress when we passed funding specifically designated to increase wages for submarine industrial base workers. Groton shipbuilders are the best of the best, and they are rising to meet a historic demand for U.S. Navy submarine construction. On the Seapower Subcommittee, which I co-lead, we made securing this wage increase a top priority. 

These completed labor agreements are clear examples of how collective bargaining can effectively address one of our nation’s most pressing challenges: rebuilding America’s manufacturing industrial base. I wrote more in the CT Mirror:

Fighting to Protect Funding for Connecticut Public Schools  

Magnet schools are top performing public schools, and their specialized programs offer families expanded choice in education. U.S. News and World Report ranks East Hartford's Connecticut IB Academy as the #1 high school in our state and Groton's Marine Science Magnet High School as #3. 

Unfortunately, President Trump's new budget request to Congress completely eliminates Education Department magnet school funding. On Wednesday, in the House Education and Workforce Committee hearing, I pressed Secretary of Education Linda McMahon on these ludicrous cuts. 

Visiting a New London Small Business with the Women's Business Development Council

The Women’s Business Development Council supports entrepreneurs across Connecticut launch and grow their businesses. The WBDC has made a big difference in New London, and on Monday, I joined them for a visit to Lashes by Lee, owned by Hope Lee. 

WBDC’s work in eastern Connecticut has supported so many of the small businesses that make our towns great, unique places to live and visit. Unfortunately, President Trump’s new budget request to Congress would eliminate SBA support for women’s business centers like the WBDC. That’s working against growing our economy, and I will fight against the cut in Congress. 

Urging Action to Protect Health Care Workers 

Health care workers continue to face the highest rates of on the job violence of any industry. This is a life and death issue, and I'm continuing to lead the charge in Congress to implement nationwide safety standards for this critical workforce. An OSHA standard to address the crisis has bipartisan support, but has now been pending at the Labor Department through three Presidential administrations. 

On Thursday, in a House Education and Workforce Hearing, I implored Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer for a commitment to move forward with the OSHA standard and protect health care workers. 

Congress must pass my bipartisan bill, the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act. It has strong support from health care and social service organizations, as well as unions representing workers in these sectors.

Meeting with Connecticut Realtors 

On Tuesday, I had a great meeting with a big crowd of Connecticut realtors. We discussed the pressing need to expand our region’s housing supply to bring down costs and the continued work to address the crumbling concrete foundations crisis. 

Greeting Ellington Students During Their Visit to the Capitol

On Wednesday, I had the chance to meet with eighth grade students from Ellington Middle School on their annual trip to Washington, DC. We discussed my work here in Washington and the issues that matter most in eastern Connecticut. It is always an honor to welcome students to our nation's capital! 

Thanks 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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