Working for Connecticut

Getting our Economy Back on Track

• Led two international economic trade missions to connect Connecticut companies with export opportunities abroad to grow jobs at home.

“The national goal must be a trade surplus, and that means selling more products abroad. That is why 2nd District Rep. Joe Courtney’s second economic trade mission within a year, announced Monday, is a good use of the congressman’s time.“  New London Day, 3/2/10

• Increased submarine production to two a year starting in 2011 and expand work on the replacement of the Ohio class submarine, which will stabilize the workforce and add hundreds of jobs at Electric Boat.

“Courtney understands the importance of the region’s military infrastructure. From his position on the Armed Services Committee, he obtained the necessary funding to increase submarine production at Electric Boat, thus preserving critical manufacturing jobs in Eastern Connecticut.”  Norwich Bulletin, 11/2/08

“The credit for these new, high-paying jobs belongs to U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, and U.S. Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman, I-Conn.  In 2008, Courtney and Lieberman, both members of their respective chambers’ Armed Services Committee, secured $8.2 million to provide the initial seed money for the design of the next generation of Ohio-class SSBN submarines, the Navy’s Trident subs. The next year, 2009, Courtney and Lieberman secured the $495 million for expanded research, development and conceptual studies of the program — thus creating the need for Electric Boat to expand its engineering and design department.”  Norwich Bulletin, 6/26/2010.

• Secured more than $80 million to invest in the infrastructure and future of Subase New London.
• Launched bipartisan Dairy Caucus in Congress to support our region’s dairy farmers and stood with commercial fishermen through tough times.
• Led the effort to extend the successful Homebuyer Tax Credit, which has boosted home sales in Connecticut.
• Won Army Corps dredging of Clinton and Westbrook harbors to sustain commercial and recreational boating industry crucial to shoreline jobs.

“The economy of Westbrook is very dependent on having that channel open,” said [Westbrook Republican First Selectman Noel] Bishop this week, adding that the planning of the project has been a collaborative effort among, among others, representatives from the office of U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, state Sen. Eileen Daily, D-Westbrook, state Rep. Brian O’Connor, the DEP, the Army Corps, employees of the town’s harbor district and with Willie Fritz, Clinton’s first selectman.”  Hartford Courant, 5/19/10.

• Supported legislation to preserve access to a critical home loan program for rural areas in eastern Connecticut.
• Defeated misguided effort to omit our region’s small towns from a rural development program for local infrastructure and economic development.
• Secured funding and tax breaks clean energy efficient technologies to grow jobs in eastern Connecticut and reduce our nation’s dependence on foreign oil.

Fueling the Small Business Engine

• Secured funding for small business incubation centers to help entrepreneurs launch businesses.

“When Brian Armstrong of Lisbon was trying to start his own business helping people with disabilities, called the Synergy Center Corp., his kids proved a distraction. But now, his cubicle at the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut is a respite, one of seven small-business offices made possible by an incubator program financed with a special federal appropriation of $174,898 secured by U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District.“  New London Day, 4/20/10.

• Introduced legislation to unfreeze access to credit for small businesses looking to grow and hire.
• Helped pass new tax credits that are now available to help small businesses provide affordable health care to their employees.
• Enacted new tax credits to help small businesses hire new employees.

Taking Wall Street to Task

• Stood up to the leadership of own party as only Connecticut Congressman to oppose Wall Street bailout because it lacked accountability and did not help Main Street.

“While Rep. Courtney opposed the $700 billion financial rescue package this newspaper only reluctantly endorsed, the congressman’s opposition was principled. He objected because the rescue bill did nothing for struggling mortgage holders…”  New London Day, 10/18/08.

• Protected consumers from irresponsible financial industry practices through a Wall Street reform bill that will reign in risky investments that put our economy at risk.
• Helped pass a strong new law to protect individuals from unfair credit card company practices.

Sticking up for Middle Class

• On Education and Labor Committee, helped craft historic new investments in higher education affordability by ending private student loan subsidies and increasing access to Pell Grants.
• Led the charge in Congress to roll back huge tax increases on health insurance plans that would have unfairly targeted middle class families and older workers.
• Supported middle class tax cuts through Recovery Act for thousands of families in Connecticut.

Delivering Long Overdue Health Care Reform

• Worked to craft historic health reform legislation in Congress that will provide eastern Connecticut families with affordable, reliable coverage that is there when they need it.
• Introduced and passed legislation to end the unfair practice of denying people health coverage because of a “pre-existing” condition.
• Reversed two years of obstruction of the Bush Administration in passing an expansion of the Children’s health insurance program.

Earning Seniors’ Trust

• Closed the Medicare Part D “donut hole” left open by President Bush and Republican Congress.
• Protected Medicare from risky privatization schemes and extended the solvency of Medicare for at least another decade through the health reform law.
• Authored bipartisan legislation to make long-term insurance premiums more affordable for seniors and their families, and improve financial retirement planning options.