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Dear Friend,
It’s Joe Courtney. After another busy week, I'm here with an update on my continued work in Congress to support eastern Connecticut shipbuilders and lots more from the week. As always, thanks for starting your weekend here with me.
Fighting for a Budget that Meets Shipbuilders Needs
Eastern Connecticut shipbuilders and suppliers rely on steady federal shipbuilding budgets to invest in hiring, supply chains, and facilities. Those investments and submarine industrial base funding from Congress are driving strong momentum for Virginia class submarine construction alongside construction of the first Columbia class submarines. Between 2025 and 2027, six Virginia class submarines are set to be delivered to the Navy.
As Ranking Member of the House Seapower Subcommittee, I’m continuing to work in a bipartisan fashion to deliver the federal budget our shipbuilders need. Just last month, 2024 Congressional funds provided an historic boost to the non executive workforce wages, to strengthen hiring and retention at the Groton shipyard. Unfortunately, President Trump’s annual budget request to Congress, the first step in the budget process, is months late and the information we do have about his plan includes a significant cut to shipbuilding funding and only one Virginia class submarine, not two.
On Thursday, in a House Armed Services Committee hearing with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, I reminded him that if we are going to deliver on the shared goal of strengthening the submarine industrial base, we need on time budgets and stability in procurement.
Connecticut's 2nd District Art Competition Winner
Congratulations to Emma Rustichelli, Connecticut's 2nd District 2025 Congressional Art Competition winner! Emma is a junior at Woodstock Academy. Her work Pigne "Pinecones" is now on display with hundreds of other winners in the U.S. Capitol!
There is so much creative talent in eastern Connecticut high schools. It’s a joy every year to see the excellent Art Competition submissions from across our district. Thank you to all of the students who participated in 2025!
Building More Homes
On Wednesday, I met with a big group of Connecticut homebuilders to discuss how we can continue working together to build more homes in eastern Connecticut. All hardworking people should be able to afford a home, but for too many, rising costs have made it unattainable. When we increase supply, costs go down. Congress has a role to make that happen, and I strongly support bipartisan incentives to get shovels in the ground on new housing construction.
Protecting Alzheimer's Research
On Tuesday, I met with Second District advocates from the Alzheimer's Association to discuss how Congress can support people living with the disease and their caregivers. Federal funding makes Alzheimer's and dementia research possible. Amid ongoing cuts to CDC research under the Trump Administration, I will continue fighting to protect NIH research and for passage of the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act.
Protecting Children's Hospitals from Medicaid Cuts
Also on Wednesday, I welcomed the Bright family from Madison to my office with Yale Children’s Hospital. We discussed the urgent need to protect Medicaid funding. The “One Big Beautiful Bill” (the partisan budget bill) makes huge cuts to Medicaid to pay for a tax break for the ultra-wealthy. These cuts to our nation’s largest health care program will have devastating affects on our hospitals, particularly children’s hospitals. A majority of a families they serve rely on Medicaid. The fight against these cuts is not over. I’m fighting for a better bipartisan path forward.
Remembering the Officers Who Safeguarded Our Republic
Law enforcement officers safeguarded our republic on January 6th, 2021. President Trump may have pardoned the violent criminals who attacked these brave officers, but we must never forget the truth, the facts, the history of what happened on that day. This plaque honors all of the local, state, and federal department that responded on the day of infamy. It’s up to all of us.
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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