REPRESENTATIVE JOE COURTNEY (CT-2)
HIGHLIGHTED 2007 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Congressman Joe Courtney has proven to be an effective voice for the families and industry of Connecticut’s Second Congressional District during his first year in Congress. The Congressman haschampioned the priorities of Connecticut in Washington, DC, and his major accomplishments arehighlighted below.
EDUCATION
• College Cost Reduction -- Congress enacted the largest investment in higher education since the 1944 GI Bill – the College Cost Reduction and Access Act (P.L. 110-84). As a member of the
Education and Labor Committee, Congressman Courtney offered an amendment in Committee
that added an additional $900 million to the Pell Grant program. The CCRAA:
o Cuts student loan interest rates in half over the next four years and increases the
maximum Pell Grant scholarship by nearly $1,100 over the next five years
o Rewards public service with loan forgiveness after 10 years and makes sure that
borrowers never pay more than 15 percent of their income on loan repayment.
o Sends to Connecticut an additional $130 million in Pell funds and CT students could see
a $4,500 savings from the interest rate cut.
• Higher Education Act -- the Education and Labor Committee approved a bill to reauthorize the
Higher Education Act which had not been reauthorized since 1998. Language from the
ACCESS bill that Congressman Courtney introduced was included in the underlying bill as was
language to enable more low-income students to receive tutoring through the Jumpstart program.
The Access Act (H.R. 4075):
o Encourages states to partner with colleges, philanthropic organizations, private
corporations and mentoring programs to provide financial assistance to low-income
students to attend college.
DEFENSE
• Submarine Funding – Southeastern Connecticut has fought for years to increase procurement of Virginia-class submarines to two per year. Since his first day in office, Congressman Courtney
worked with key leaders in Congress to make the case that both our nation’s security and our
domestic submarine industry needed a more robust submarine force.
Thanks to his efforts, in 2007 Congress approved funding for the first time that buys the longlead materials necessary for increasing submarine production to two a year starting in 2011 – one year earlier than planned by the Navy. Congressman Courtney also proved himself an effective advocate for the “Submarine Capitol of the World” by securing $5 million for Electric Boat to start developing the concepts of the next strategic missile submarine and $21.5 million in new construction at Sub Base New London – the largest amount secured by a single Congressman in at least a decade.
• Iraq Oversight – As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, Congressman Courtney has provided much needed oversight of the President’s strategy in Iraq. He has steadfastly opposed giving the President a blank check in Iraq by supporting measures to bring
accountability to the Administration’s misguided policies and reduce the strain of repeated
deployments on our men and women in uniform. Congressman Courtney also traveled to Iraq
in May 2007 to see first hand the challenges our troops face on the front lines.
• National Guard – Congressman Courtney has worked to ease the strain on the National Guard,
which is straining after years of repeated deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. From his
position on the House Armed Services Committee, he has helped passed measures to strengthen
the voice of the National Guard within the Department of Defense, provide nearly $1 billion to
replace National Guard equipment lost or damaged in Iraq, and increase the time that members
of the National Guard and Reserve have at home between deployments. In addition, he led the
fight in the House to keep the Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA) program on track – which is critical to
the future of the Connecticut Air National Guard’s “Flying Yankees.”
VETERANS
• Veterans Funding – Congressman Courtney and the 110th Congress reversed years of stagnant
veterans budgets for veterans care and benefits by providing the largest increase in veterans’
funding in the 77-year history of the VA. This historic increase also includes the first increase in
the disabled veterans mileage reimbursement since 1977, which Congressman Courtney fought
for on behalf of the veterans of eastern Connecticut.
• Wounded Warrior Transition -- Congressman Courtney is leading the fight in Congress to
improve our wounded warriors’ transition home by introducing legislation (H.R 3191) which
requires the Department of Defense to provide contact information of a wounded service
member to the state veterans’ affairs department in the state in which they intend to reside after their medical separation from the Armed Forces.
• Bixler Post Office – Based on strong community support and advocacy in Suffield, Congressman
Courtney introduced a bill (P.L. 110-126) to name the Suffield Post Office after Corporal
Stephen R. Bixler, who was killed in Iraq. The bill was signed into law by the President on
November 30, 2007.
HEALTH CARE
• Medicare Part D Improvement -- Congressman Courtney introduced The Medicare Part D
Improvement Act of 2007 (H.R. 2056) to remove unjust financial penalties inherent in the
Medicare Part D prescription drug program.
• Increasing Access to Health Care -- Congressman Courtney introduced the Preexisting
Condition Exclusion Patient Protection Act of 2007 (H.R. 2833) to ensure that individuals who
suffer from chronic, disabling, and life-threatening conditions have access to comprehensive,
meaningful, and affordable health insurance coverage.
• Expanding Medical Research -- Congressman Courtney is leading the charge to expand federal
funding and options for medical research by cosponsoring the Investment in America Act of
2007 (H.R. 2138) to make the research and development tax credit permanent and was part of a
coalition to successfully increase funding for the National Institute of Health.
ECONOMY
• Middle Class Tax Cuts & Minimum Wage Increase – Rep. Courtney cosponsored more than 20
targeted tax breaks including a $1.3 billion tax credit package aimed at strengthening America’s
small businesses (H.R. 976, the Small Business Tax Relief Act). This is a cornerstone of the
Fiscal Year 2008 budget, which extends the child tax credit; extends the 10 percent individual
income bracket; provides marriage penalty relief; and creates a tax-cut for an estimated 23
million Americans by establishing a fix for the Alternative Minimum Tax.
• Congressman Courtney cosponsored and voted in favor of the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007.
The first raise in the federal minimum wage in over a decade was signed into law as part of the
Iraq Supplemental Bill (May 2007).
• Congressman Courtney voted in favor of H.R. 3996, the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2007,
which provides a one-year patch to prevent 26 million households from Alternative Minimum
Tax liability. He twice voted in favor of revenue neutral AMT relief earlier, but both measures,
H.R. 3996 and H.R. 4351 failed due to threats by Senate Republicans and President Bush.
ENERGY
• Price Fairness -- Congressman Courtney and the entire CT delegation tasked the Government
Accountability Office (GAO) to examine domestic oil refining capacity and the demand and
price of gasoline. Concerned by the rising price of oil and the inability of federal agencies to
regulate much of the energy futures markets, Congressman Courtney cosponsored the PUMP Act (H.R. 594) that would extend the CFTC authority to most energy transactions.
• Energy Assistance -- Congressman Courtney has called on President Bush to increase the Low
Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) budget and to expeditiously release funds.
Congress passed, and the President signed, an energy bill that boosts investment in alternative
energy sources, technology and efficiency and increases fuel economy standards for the first time
in more than 30 years. Congressman Courtney helped establish the Green Schools Caucus to
support efforts to make schools more energy efficient.
• Congressman Courtney offered an amendment to the FY 2008 Energy and Water Appropriations bill to require that no funds be used to further review the application process for Broadwater.
ENVIRONMENT
• Eightmile River - Congressman Courtney’s first bill introduced as a Member of the 110th
Congress was the Eightmile River bill (H.R. 986) to designate the river as part of the Wild and
Scenic Rivers System. Although the bill had broad bipartisan support in Connecticut,
Congressman Courtney withstood a minority of partisan opposition to the bill in the House of
Representatives and shepherded it through. It now awaits action in the Senate.
• Quinebaug and Shetucket Heritage Corridor - Congressman Courtney also introduced a bill to
extend the authorization and appropriation level for the Quinebaug and Shetucket Heritage
Corridor (H.R. 1949).
• Congressman Courtney cosponsored legislation to curb greenhouse gas emissions by more than
80 percent by 2050.
AGRICULTURE
• Congressman Courtney cosponsored an agriculture bill prioritizing the needs of Northeast
farmers (H.R. 2144), including a strong Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) program,
conservation programs and specialty crop programs. Many items in H.R. 2144 were included in
the comprehensive Farm Bill, awaiting conference negotiations.
TRANSPORTATION
• Congressman Courtney has worked to move the completion of Route 11 forward by holding two
Executive Committee meetings in 2007. These critical meetings brought together key
stakeholders from the local, state and federal levels of government to talk openly about the
challenges ahead and work to move the project forward. During the past year, the Final
Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) was completed and published and the Record of
Decision and financial plan is in the process of being completed.
• Congressman Courtney also wrote to President Bush requesting that a champion be assigned to
the Route 11 project, a seat that has been long vacant. In response, Robert DeHaan of the
Federal Department of Transportation was assigned to fill the role of Champion for the Route 11
project.
APPROPRIATIONS
Rep. Courtney secured federal funding the following important priorities for eastern Connecticut.
Agriculture
• $2M for agricultural and research programs at University of Connecticut;
• $750,000 for avian influenza outbreak education;
• $357,000 for New England farmers to conserve land and improve productivity
Commerce/Justice/Science
• $658,000 – Essex, Paul and Lisa Program -- support victims/survivors of commercial sexual exploitation;
• $239,000 -- Windham Dispatch Center – equipment and technology upgrades;
• $282,000 – Immersion Presents After School Program at Mystic Aquarium
• National Undersea Research Program at Avery Point – will get a share of $10 M total
Energy and Water
• $4.4 M – Old Saybrook, North Cove Harbor Dredging;
• $187,000 – Groton, Mystic River Dredging – sampling of sediment;
• $3.5 M – Long Island Sound, Dredged Materials Management Plan;
• $98,000 – Connecticut River Watershed Study, Nature Conservancy;
• $93,000 for Westbrook Dredging
Financial Services
• $282,000 – University of CT, Avery Point. Technology incubation program;
Homeland Security
• $4M – University of CT, National Transportation Security Center of Excellence;
Interior
• $711,000 – Putnam, QSHC (estimated from total funding);
• $492,000 – Colchester Flatbrook Road Booster station;
• $295,000 – Enfield Sanitary Sewer Inflow Elimination program;
• $698,000 – Westbrook, McKinney Refuge Menunketesuck Salt meadow Land Acquisition;
• $1.9 M – East Haddam, Conte Refuge Land Acquisition;
• $4.4 M – Long Island Sound Restoration for cleanup and coastal preservation;
• $689,000 – Water Systems Council at EPA for nationwide rural water training programs;
Labor/HHS/Education
• $263,000 – Norwich, English Language Learner Instruction;
• $239,000 – Enfield, Asnuntuck Community College – expansion of manufacturing program;
• $239,000 – Stafford Springs, Johnson Memorial Hospital, renovation of Emergency Dept.;
• $239,000 – Amistad America Atlantic Freedom Tour;
• $72,000 – New London, DNA EpiCenter – program development for students and teachers;
Military Construction
• $11.9 M – Groton, Subase New London – watercraft Operations Small Craft Facility;
• $9.2M – Groton, Subase New London – Submarine Learning Facility;
Transportation
• $980,000 – Groton, Mystic River Bridge rehabilitation;
• $490,000 – Mansfield Intermodal Center;
• $196,000 – Willington, Senior Housing development;
• $196,000 – Vernon, Amerbelle Textiles repair;
• $98,000 – Enfield, Streetscape enhancements in the Thompsonville section
CONSTITUENT SERVICE HIGHLIGHTS HUMAN SERVICES
Congressman Courtney assisted a retired couple from Vernon who did not receive their state or federal income tax refund. The Congressman called the Connecticut State Special Revenue, and they reissued the state refund check. He then contacted the IRS and got the needed form 3911 form filled out by the constituents and they reissued the check.
Congressman Courtney aided a New London resident who had recently had surgery and could no longer access her public housing apartment without a ramp. She had been forced to stay in a rehab facility while waiting for weeks for a ramp to be installed. The Congressman’s office worked with the Housing Authority and a ramp was installed within days so she could go home for the holidays.
Courtney helped an elderly woman from Uncasville who was upset that this year her home heating assistance was considerably less than last year. It was especially difficult for her to pay for the oil because the cost had increased so dramatically. After the Congressman requested a review of her application, the Agency discovered they had inadvertently recorded her “yearly” income as her “monthly” income. When they corrected the mistake, she was eligible for another oil delivery.
EDUCATION
Congressman Courtney assisted a constituent from Enfield whose student loan company had made over a dozen errors on her payment history, amounting to hundreds of dollars of extra interest accrued. The lender had refused to set the record straight after several phone calls from the constituent. After an inquiry from Congressman Courtney, the lender corrected all 13 mistakes and issued the constituent an apology.
Courtney assisted a Korean War Veteran from Norwich who contacted the Congressman’s office
because he had dropped out of high school at 17 to join the army and had never received his high school diploma. The veteran was approaching his 75th birthday and he regretted that he had never completed high school. Congressman Courtney contacted the veteran’s alma mater and inquired about the constituent’s student record. Both the Congressman and the veteran were delighted to learn that he was eligible for a high school diploma, which was presented to the constituent at a special ceremony on Veterans Day.
Congressman Courtney assisted a disabled constituent from Norwich who was being harassed with collection calls from her student loan lender. After reviewing her student loan terms, the Congressman determined that she was eligible for a full discharge of her student loans based on her total and permanent disability. In the end, the lender forgave the constituent $8,000 worth of student loan debt.
IMMIGRATION/PASSPORTS/VISAS
Congressman Courtney assisted a businessman from Durham who had continually encountered a
problem with TSA. For the last two years, an individual with a name similar to the constituent appeared on the "NO FLY" list. The similarity of the names caused the constituent to be delayed and searched every time he traveled. Congressman Courtney contacted TSA and obtained the information needed to resolve the issue for the constituent. The constituent completed the necessary documentation, and he has not encountered a problem with TSA since.
Congressman Courtney ensured that a family from Madison, which included four children, received their passports in time for their family vacation. The family had submitted their applications six months earlier; however, one week before the scheduled date of departure the passports were not completed.
Congressman Courtney contacted the appropriate passport facility, requested that the passports be expedited, and mailed overnight to the constituents.
Congressman Courtney assisted a student from Old Lyme with obtaining a passport and a student visa to participate in the study abroad program offered by his school. The student was unable to provide his school with the documentation required to complete the process by their established deadline, and was left on his own to obtain the necessary travel documentation. Congressman Courtney contacted the local passport agency and requested that the student’s passport application be expedited. Congressman Courtney then assisted the student with securing an appointment at the Italian Embassy in order for him
to obtain a visa. The student successfully made it to Italy in time for orientation.
VETERANS
Congressman Courtney assisted a Vietnam veteran with a long-standing claim for post-traumatic stress disorder to receive a one-hundred percent service connected disability because his symptoms made it impossible for him to work. Congressman Courtney worked with the VA benefits office to expedite his successful claim based on financial hardship.
Congressman Courtney assisted a woman who returned from a tour of service in Iraq and moved into the Second District of Connecticut to live with family members. Concerned for her well-being, members of her family contacted the Congressman. He was able to meet with the veteran and her family members and direct them to councilors in the local community and the Vet Center for follow-up care and also direct her to resources to file claims for service-connected disability payments.
There was a need for veterans in the second district to obtain transportation to medical appointments
within the VA system. Congressman Courtney worked with the VA healthcare system and
representatives from disabled American veterans, the VFW, and the Foreign Legion to place a van in Southeastern Connecticut and also locate volunteer drivers for the van. This allows veterans who are unable to provide their own transportation to receive rides to VA healthcare appointments.
Representative Courtney passed a new law honoring Corporal Stephen Bixler, who was killed in Iraq. The Suffield Post Office will be rededicated to bear his name.
A constituent from Willimantic served heroically in World War II, but he never received the recognitionhe had earned for injuries sustained during combat. Through the work of Congressman Courtney’soffice, he was finally presented his long overdue Purple Heart and Bronze Medal after 60 years.
A constituent from Uncasville fought for two decades without results to see a penny of his Vietnam War connected disability benefit. After meeting with Congressman Courtney’s office, Francis and his wife received a retroactive benefit of $31,000.
