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Dear Friend,
It’s Joe Courtney. Here to share an update on the latest news from the week in eastern Connecticut. As always, thanks for starting your weekend here with me.
Fighting Back Against a Devastating Hit to Our Local Economy
Last Friday, without any warning, the Trump Administration placed a halt work order on the Revolution Wind energy project, which is 80% complete.
This is a devastating hit to the southern New England economy. If it stands, the order will lead to the termination of approximately 200 jobs and cancel a much-needed expansion of energy capacity for Connecticut, which was negotiated at a rate below other current wind energy projects. I’m working with the Revolution Wind project contractor Ørsted, New London Mayor Passero, Connecticut state leaders, the Rhode Island Congressional delegation, and my colleagues in the Connecticut Congressional delegation to reverse this order.
At the foundation of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s justification for the order is a claim of national security “concerns”. Well, here are the facts. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management already analyzed and resolved all national security issues for the projects with the Coast Guard, the Navy, and NORAD in a 2023 Record of Decision. Yesterday, I sent a letter to the Acting Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, pressing for answers. Hundreds of jobs are hanging in the balance. People deserve clarity on the Trump Administration’s reasoning behind this order.
The Local Impacts of Health Care Cuts in the "Big Beautiful Bill"
Last month, President Trump signed into law his “Big Beautiful Bill” which cuts Medicaid by nearly $1 trillion while extending huge tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires. The bill increases the deficit so drastically that it will also trigger $500 billion in cuts to Medicare, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Last week, I visited Vernon Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center to discuss the impacts these Medicaid and Medicare cuts will have on patients, their staff, and the services they provide.
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| Joining Mark Gottlieb, Managing Partner at Atlas Healthcare CT, Lori Ryan, VP of Business Development at Atlas Healthcare CT, Sara Goldberg, Regional Director of Clinical Services at Atlas Health Care, Amy Pellerin, Administrator of Vernon Rehab and Healthcare Center, Raquel Hyman, Director of Nursing at Vernon Rehab and Healthcare Center, Melissa Schakowsky, Vice President of Government Affairs at the Ambassadors Group for a tour of Vernon Rehab and Healthcare Center. |
During my visit, we also discussed my bill, the Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2025, which would fix an arbitrary Medicare policy that excludes coverage of skilled nursing care for certain patients, resulting in exorbitant and unexpected out-of-pocket costs. At a time when access to health care is already stretched thin, we should be focusing on expanding access and lowering costs.
Celebrating Workers
Happy Labor Day weekend! Eastern Connecticut’s manufacturing sector is setting the standard for the nation. Our workforce training pipelines have provided thousands of students and job seekers with in-demand skills and connected them with high-quality careers. Our labor unions are delivering results for workers through collective bargaining.
Now, we must reinvest in the federal programs that power our training pipelines and support workers on the job. I’m fighting back against the Trump Administration's proposed cuts in funding to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). We cannot let our region’s momentum stall. I’m committed to ensuring more workers can reap the benefits of great manufacturing careers.
ICYMI: A Record Wage Improvement for Eastern CT Shipbuilders
In case you missed this good news from earlier in the summer, Groton shipbuilders are now seeing a record wage improvement in their paycheck made possible through funding provided by Congress and hard-fought collective bargaining negotiations.
I recently headed down to the Thames River to celebrate this well deserved pay raise for thousands of workers and their families. Collective bargaining is rebuilding America’s workforce. This pay raise is benefiting workers now and will be a huge boost to growing our submarine building workforce.
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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