|
Dear Friend,
It's Joe Courtney.
We are now in the fourth week of the government shutdown. I’m here with an update on the clear path to end this impasse and more from the week. Please do not hesitate to contact my office for support and resources during the government shutdown.
Despite the fact that Speaker Johnson has shut down the House of Representatives for 35 days, we are just days away from a cliff for our health care system. If it goes unaddressed, thousands of people in Connecticut and millions nationwide will see their health care costs skyrocket into being completely unaffordable or impossible.
Today in Middletown, I joined my colleagues in the Connecticut Congressional delegation to call for Congress now to prevent this by maintaining Affordable Care Act tax credits in a funding bill to reopen the government. We were joined by Kristin McShane – a Norwich resident and a small business owner. If Congress fails to act, Kristin and her husband Charlie will see their family health insurance premium go up from $800/month to $1,800/month next year. Kristin received notice of the premium hike from Access Health CT this week.
Health care has been too expensive for too long. If the White House can find enough money during a government shutdown to bailout Argentina and build a new ballroom, they can work with Congress to extend these health care tax credits. 78% of Americans support extending the tax credits, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. This is not an impossible impasse. We must end this shutdown and prevent the health care cost hike.
On Wednesday, I met with Access Agency in Willimantic to discuss the impacts of the government shutdown on the people they serve. Access Agency is a one stop shop for energy assistance, food, health care, housing, and employment services. If this government shutdown drags on, families will lose access to the food assistance they rely on.
To make things worse, the Trump Administration is using the shutdown as an opportunity to layoff federal employees who help Access Agency operate and serve families. It’s cruel and counterproductive. We must end this shutdown through good faith bipartisan negotiation.
Tomorrow in Groton, we will mark the christening of the USS UTAH, the 28th Virginia-class submarine. This christening continues a drum-beat construction tempo of Virginia submarines, made possible by investments into the supplier chain, shipyard expansion, and a wage improvement for shipyard workers.
Later this year, the future USS MASSACHUSSETTS and the USS IDAHO will be commissioned into the submarine force. In 2026, the USS ARKANSAS and the UTAH are also expected to be delivered. In total, there are now 15 Virginia-class submarines in the pipeline for construction, as well as 3 Columbia-class submarines. Congress’ demand signal for submarines is at an all-time high.
Congratulations to UTAH ships manager Hannah Holman and all of the world-class shipbuilders who played a role in constructing this technological marvel. With christening complete, the UTAH now heads to sea trials under the leadership of Cmdr. Christopher Hornung and his crew.
This week, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Washington, D.C. for bipartisan meetings with U.S. leaders. The result was a clear, full-throated endorsement of key AUKUS provisions, including the sale of Virginia-class submarines to Australia in the 2030s.
Eastern Connecticut shipbuilders and suppliers will play a central role in delivering on AUKUS, and I’m committed to delivering the continued investments they need from Congress they need to meet the demand.
Yesterday, I joined Connecticut leaders and Electric Boat to mark the acquisition of Waterford’s Crystal Mall by the shipbuilder. This is another expansion by Electric Boat to meet demand from Congress and the Navy, and example of the pivotal role southeastern Connecticut plays in strengthening America’s national security – now and for years to come.
Improving access to health care in northeastern Connecticut, the most rural part of our state, is a top priority for me in Congress. For years, services have been stretched thin, and now, they are at even greater risk due to the health care cuts in President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill”. This week, I met with Community Health Resources in Willimantic and Day Kimball Health to discuss the need to reverse these cuts.
 |
| Meeting with Community Health Resources in Willimantic |
Community Health Resources is the most comprehensive, non-profit behavioral health care provider in our state. Their largest outpatient offices are in Manchester and Enfield, with smaller offices throughout central and eastern Connecticut. At their Willimantic location, we discussed the devastating impact that the nearly $1 trillion cut to Medicaid in the Big Beautiful Bill will have the patients they serve.
 |
| Meeting with Day Kimball Health |
Home health care is already struggling. Now, the huge health care cuts in President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” will strip back services even further. In Plainfield, Day Kimball Health and I discussed their Healthcare at Home division, which provides care for patients across northeastern CT. There are always more patients to serve, but as a result of Trump Administration cuts, reaching them will only get harder.
Thank you for taking some time to read my update. If my office can be of any assistance during the government shutdown, do not hesitate to call us at (860) 886-0139.
Sincerely,
Joe Courtney
Member of Congress
|
