Norwich Bulletin: Courtney, Murtha Key in Getting Sub Funding

A freshman Democratic congressman and an ex-Marine from Pennsylvania's landlocked 12th District are receiving credit for securing seed money for an anticipated doubling of submarine production at Electric Boat.

U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, had made building two Virginia-class submarines per year a priority, seeking $588 million for advance procurement of parts and components. Tuesday morning, President Bush signed the bill into law.

Even Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell credited the congressman.

“This is great news for Connecticut’s defense industry, and I applaud the successful efforts of Congressman Courtney,” Rell said. “This funding impacts thousands of jobs in southeastern Connecticut and throughout the state. An increase in submarine production is important for Connecticut’s economy, and it is important for the nation’s military readiness.”

When the Senate bill appropriated $100 million less, Courtney credited U.S. Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., chairman of the defense subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, with delivering.

“The $588 million was definitely the better number for Groton,” Courtney said. “John Murtha showed he is a staunch ally of our district by holding the line in the (House-Senate) conference committee.”

“I wholeheartedly support increasing our Navy’s shipbuilding program, and in particular the successful Virginia-class submarine,” Murtha said Tuesday. “Our military needs a 300-ship Navy, and I believe that producing two submarines per year is good for our nation, good for our Navy and good for our domestic industrial base.”

Murtha visited EB along with Courtney and U.S. Rep. John Larson, D-1st District, in April.

“When I visited Electric Boat with Congressmen Courtney and Larson, I saw firsthand Groton’s capability, innovation and enthusiasm,” Murtha said. “From this visit, along with discussions with both the Navy and Joe Courtney, I became convinced that we must increase our submarine production, and that we must start immediately.”

Norwich Bulletin, by Michael Gannon, 11/14/07