A MAJOR SURGE INEASTERN CTMANUFACTURING
As Chairman of the HouseSeapower Subcommittee, whichoversees Navy shipbuilding, Rep.Courtney has secured criticalbipartisan support for our region’ssubmarine industrial base andmanufacturing sector.
Mid-Year Legislative Update
An Overview of Our Workfor Eastern ConnecticutFamilies, Workers,Veterans, and More
REP. JOE COURTNEY
Serving
Connecticut
s
Second
District
• Courtney led a bipartisan coalition in theHouse to secure authorization and fundingto
restore a second Virginia-classsubmarine in the 2021 budget
, reversing aTrump Administration plan to break thetwo-a-year build rate.• In June, the
Navy awarded a $10.3billion contract award to construct thefirst two Columbia-class submarines at EB
— a major investment in the future of ourregion that Courtney has long championed.The House also passed Courtney’s proposalto provide new authority that ensures thecost-effective purchase of these first twosubmarines.
SUMMER 2020
SUMMER 2020
SUPPORTING OUR REGION'S VETERANS
Rep. Courtney has worked acrossthe aisle to ensure that ourveterans have the support and carethey deserve by:
America has faced unprecedentedchallenges this year, and easternConnecticut hasrisen to meet every one of them.
• On July 17, the U.S. District Court in Brooklyn, NY,issued a
final decision in a dredging case vital to CT’smaritime economy
. Courtney worked with the EPA for8 years to create the workable, environmentally soundplan to select the ELDS, and he organized maritimestakeholders to help guide the judge’s decision whenthat selection was challenged. The decision wasessential to everything from boating and fishing tosubmarine launch and construction.• Helping secure
a new, largerlocation for the New London VAOutpatient Clinic (CBOC)
for easternConnecticut veterans. The CBOC’snew lease award will keep it centrallylocated in New London and providesnearly 16,000 sq. ft. of space toprovide care and services for ourveterans.•
Defending veteran students who have been defrauded by for-profit colleges.
Courtney helped pass bipartisan legislation, supported by the American Legion andmany other veterans groups, to protect these students from bad actors — the bill wasunfortunately vetoed by President Trump.
SUMMER 2020
ADDRESSING THECRUMBLINGFOUNDATIONS CRISIS
Congressman Courtney hascontinued working to ensure easternConnecticut gets the support it needsto address the crumbling foundationscrisis by:
LOWERING THE COSTOF HIGHER ED
Many people and families in easternConnecticut are working to pay offstudent loans. CongressmanCourtney is working to support them.
• Securing clarification from theIRS that
financial assistance paidto eastern CT homeownersthrough CFSIC will not betreated as taxable income
— amajor update, and just in time fortax filing season.• Working to include
threebipartisan crumbling foundationsprovisions in the MovingForward Act
that would expandaccess to federal funding to helphomeowners address pyrrhotitedamage; extend the “casualtyloss” tax deduction for concreterepairs; and authorize funding tohelp schools with crumblingfoundations, such as Birch Grovein Tolland.• Securing $3 million in federal funds, plus $1.5million last year, for
research to develop newsolutions for repairing homes impacted bypyrrhotite.
• This summer, Courtney introduced a bill thatwould let Americans
refinance their legacystudent loans down to the current low rate of2.7%
. Today, Americans can refinance theirdebt on mortgages and car and motorcycleloans — this bill would give Americans withstudent loans the same opportunity.