Congratulations to Democrats across eastern Connecticut
Democrats swept victories in many races throughout Connecticut last night, taking back control of many local boards of selectmen and town councils. Big gains were made as Democratic candidates beat out Republican incumbents or won open seats.
I want to congratulate all of our successful candidates who ran highly organized campaigns and worked tirelessly over the past several months. You deserve this hard fought victory! For those who were not successful, the strong efforts you and your supporters made getting out the vote will build the organizational foundation for future victories. I know how frustrating that experience is having been there in my first race for congress in 2002 when I lost. There will be other opportunities and the work that was invested will pay off down the road.
I want to thank the Democratic Town Committees who spearheaded efforts throughout the 2nd District by holding fundraisers, organizing phone banks at headquarters, and stood at the polls yesterday. You made a major difference this year running strong races in towns such as Clinton, New London, Coventry, Putnam and Stonington to name just a few. The DTCs were joined this year by the Democratic State Central Committee, who put in an unprecedented effort to help many key municipal races achieve victory.
Additionally, I want to thank the many volunteers who spent time knocking on doors, making phone calls, and handing out literature. You have helped shape the political landscape of your community by helping the Democratic candidates win the ballot.
I know the momentum achieved by Democrats in Connecticut this year will continue as we approach the 2012 elections. These victories have sent a clear message to our opponents that voters are seeking candidates ready to offer solutions – not partisan bickering.
I thank you all for proving once again your ability to put out your best effort to move our state and our country forward.
In the News: Joe and key armed services leader tout long-term security of SUBASE
House Armed Services Committee Member: Groton Sub Base Likely To Stay Open
Submarine Fleet Will Be “Critical” To National Security
June 7, 2011
U.S. Rep. Adam Smith, a ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, said Monday that despite the challenging economic times, he believes that Groton’s Naval Submarine Base has become a military facility that is likely to endure.“The sub base, having survived the most recent (base review) process, has now been built up, is much more (a) cornerstone of our national security strategy and is much more likely to be here for the long-term,” he said.
He said later, “I think that we’ve made our decisions. This is where we build our subs.”
U.S. Rep. Joseph Courtney invited Smith to Groton to tour Naval Submarine Base New London and Electric Boat, and highlight the work being done that allowed submarines to be produced ahead of schedule.
Smith said he was impressed by the manufacturing improvements.
“The way they’ve been able to shrink the time that it takes the time to complete a submarine, I mean, the talent that they’ve applied to these problems is saving us money and also producing a first-class product,” he said. “I was very pleased with what I saw.”
The two saw the training equipment at the sub base, the technology center of Electric Boat, the area where command systems for submarines are tested, and the main assembly building at EB. They also went aboard the Mississippi.
Courtney, who sits on the House Armed Services Committee, said he was encouraged by construction taking place at the base.
“Every time I go there, there’s something new,” he said.
The sub base recently broke ground on a $2.48 million addition to Nimitz Hall, which will include a high-tech submarine simulator that teaches officers and crews how to navigate waters.
Smith said he recognizes the importance of maintaining a skilled workforce to handle technical jobs and leaves with a more complete understanding of work being done so he can argue the case.
“It’s a very complicated picture in terms of figuring out what our national security needs are going to be long term,” Smith said. “But I think one thing is very clear: Our submarine fleet is gong to be critical to that. It is the one piece of equipment we have that can go anywhere in the world and be relatively invulnerable.”
In the News: Joe’s Troops to Teachers bill a “win-win” opportunity
From the Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
“Troops to Teachers” Provides A Win-Win Opportunity
Yesterday, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) helped secure support for an amendment she sponsored with Reps. Joe Courtney (D-CT) and Tom Petri (R-WI) to expand the existing Troops to Teachers (TTT) program. The amendment to the FY 2012 National Defense Authorization Act would reduce existing eligibility requirements in TTT, thereby opening the program to more Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.“With their proven service, diverse backgrounds, and leadership traits, our nation’s veterans can serve their country again by serving as teachers in our country’s most vulnerable schools,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “I have seen firsthand the success of this program by visiting teachers in my district who returned from service and used the program’s stipend to help pay for teaching certification classes and exams. This amendment is a win-win for our veterans and our students.”
The Troops to Teachers program, originally created in 1994, provides qualified troops with financial incentives to teach in the nation’s neediest schools, but unfortunately only included a relatively small number of districts nationwide. Since its inception, TTT has placed over 12,000 veterans in our nation’s classrooms.
The amendment, if passed, reduces the threshold of service requirements for those who have served since 9/11 from six years to four years, making many Iraq and Afghanistan veterans eligible for the program’s $5,000 education stipend. This amendment is designed to allow participants to teach at any school that receives Title I funds, and result in a 49-percent increase in the number of schools eligible for TTT.
The amendment also establishes a Troops to Teachers Advisory Board to be composed of the DOD director of the program, a representative from the Department of Education and representatives from state TTT offices and veterans service organizations. This board would develop best practices for improving recruitment of eligible service members into the program, increase awareness within eligible school systems, and coordinate the goals of the program with other federal, state, and local education needs and programs.
The board will also address the need to improve awareness of the program, both to eligible members of the military and to communities with a need for highly skilled teachers in key subject areas. It will be required to prepare an annual report to Congress on key elements of the program, including the number of participants in the program, what subjects they are teaching, and where they are serving.
The Amendment mirrors legislation introduced Monday by Reps. Matsui, Petri and Courtney, H.R. 1974, the Post-9/11 Troops to Teachers Enhancement Act.
To see Congresswoman Matsui’s prepared remarks for debate on the House floor in support of the Courtney/Petri/Matsui Amendment, please click HERE.
In the News: Joe introduces missing children bill
House members introduce missing-children bill
By Bernie BeckerA bipartisan group of lawmakers announced they were introducing legislation that would give the IRS greater leeway to help find missing children.
As it stands, the IRS can only share tax-return information for limited reasons. The new measure would give law enforcement access to that data in the case of a missing child.
“Information that could help bring an abducted child home is sitting right under our noses, yet we don’t empower law enforcement to use it,” Rep. Pete Stark (D-Calif.), one of the bill’s sponsors, said in a statement.
Reps. Patrick Tiberi (R-Ohio), the chairman of the House Ways and Means subcommittee that deals with taxes, Joe Courtney (D-Conn.) and Erik Paulsen (R-Minn.) are also backers of the House measure.
The bill comes several months after a couple of bills on the topic were introduced in the Senate: one from Sens. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), the other from Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and John Cornyn (R-Texas).
Klobuchar attended a Wednesday event with House lawmakers to announce their new bill.
According to a release on that measure, the Treasury Department found in a limited sample that about 1 out of 3 children abducted by a parent had their Social Security number used in a tax return, which often could have told law enforcement the child’s new address.
In all, 200,000 or so children a year are abducted by a family member.
Release: Courtney donates political contributions to eastern Connecticut charities
VERNON, CT – Congressman Joe Courtney today announced that he donated $1,000 in political contributions he received from Congressman Anthony Weiner in 2007 to eastern Connecticut charities. Courtney donated the contributions to Hockanum Valley Community Council and St. Vincent de Paul Place.
