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Dear Friend,
It’s Joe Courtney. After a busy week in Congress, I'm back home in eastern Connecticut. Here with an update on new funding to maintain a two-per-year build rate for Virginia-class submarines and more local news from eastern Connecticut.
Through Chaos in Washington, New Funding to Keep Virginia-Class Submarines at Two-Per-Year
Great news. On Tuesday, as part of the House Armed Services Committee “markup” of the annual National Defense Authorization Act, my bipartisan resolution to add new funding for Virginia-class submarines was adopted into the bill. At a critical moment for the U.S. Navy Submarine force, the funding boost will maintain a two-per-year build rate for Virginia-class subs. There is more work ahead.
Eastern Connecticut shipbuilders and suppliers rely on steady federal budgets to deliver results for the Navy. Unfortunately, they have not gotten that this year. President Trump’s chaotic 2026 budget process left a significant shortfall in Virginia-class submarine funding. Once again, the House Armed Services Committed showed itself to be sturdy haven of bipartisanship in addressing this shortfall, but more work is still needed. I will continue working in Congress to ensure the final Fiscal Year 2026 defense budget meets the needs of our servicemembers and the defense industrial base.
Calling for Transparency
This week, the House of Representatives had the chance to pass a bipartisan enforceable law that would get the bottom of the FBI investigation of Jeffrey Epstein. Instead, Speaker Johnson tried to deflect accountability with a meaningless non-biding House resolution. President Trump, Vice President Vance, and Attorney General Pam Bondi promised full transparency of the Epstein investigation. They've now done a 180 degree turn. If House Republicans are serious about transparency, they should allow us to vote on real legislation that would release the Epstein files by law.
The Putnam Elks Celebrate 125 Years
Last weekend, I joined the Putnam Elks Community Day. It was a special day to celebrate Putnam Lodge of Elks 574’s 125th anniversary. A ceremony was led by Putnam Elks Exalted Ruler Marcel Morissette alongside Putnam Mayor Barney Seney, Past President of the State Association for the Elks Sean Essier, and District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler of Grand Lodge Michael Stewart. Thank you to the Elks for all they've done for the Putnam community over 125 years.
The CT National Guard's Putnam Readiness Center Nears Completion
While in Putnam, I also stopped by the under-construction Connecticut National Guard Putnam Readiness Center to see its progress.
The Connecticut Guard Armory in Putnam was closed by the BRAC Commission, eliminating any Guard presence in the Quiet Corner. After years of hard work on the state and federal levels, in 2021, the House Armed Services Committee authorized $19 million for the new Readiness Center which provided the majority of construction funding. My office worked hand in hand with the CT National Guard and Major General Evon to make the new Readiness Center a reality. It won't be long before the Guard is back in the Quiet Corner!
Supporting Recovery Services
The Southeastern Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence’s (SCADD) Lebanon Pines facility provides residential treatment services for men with substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders. In 2022, I worked with SCADD to secure $915,000 in federal Community Project funding for facility upgrades at the facility. Using the funding, SCADD has replaced the septic system and is underway with kitchen storage renovations and roof replacements on six buildings, five of which have been completed.
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| A "shovel photo" at the replaced septic system with SCADD Board of Directors Vice-Chairman Colleen Sullivan, Chairman Tim Gilman, COO Maria Sullivan, Representative Mark DeCaprio, CEO Stacey Lawton, Steven Coit of Coit Excavating, CFO Alan Aleia, Green Valley Design Architect Marilyn Ackerman, Deputy Chief of Clinical Operations Lynne Ruelle, Nurse Manager Ashland Hayes, Director of Residential Services Rosann Rafala, Chief Human Resources Officer Cheri Golia, Deputy Chief of Operations Katie Ramos, CSO Jennifer Chadukiewicz, and Director of Facilities Peter Rafala. |
Investing in SCADD’s Lebanon Pines facility is exactly the type of project that federal Community Project funding is intended for. A small institution like SCADD would normally never be heard in Washington. Now, thanks to this funding that we worked together to secure, SCADD is able to make much needed investments in their facility that helps so many in our region toward recovery.
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| A tour of SCADD's facilities. |
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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