Sub funding increase advances, New London Day

Sub funding increase advances

House Defense subcommittee report includes $397.6 million for work on Virginia-class boats

By Jennifer Grogan, New London Day, 31 July 2008

U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney made a beeline through the other representatives on the House floor after a vote Wednesday afternoon to reach the chairman of the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee.

The subcommittee had just released highlights from its version of the fiscal 2009 defense appropriations bill, which is the legislation that allocates money to the Pentagon, and included on the list $397.6 million for the Virginia-class submarine program.

To U.S. Rep. John Murtha, the influential Pennsylvania Democrat who heads the subcommittee, Courtney said, “on behalf of the people of southeastern Connecticut, thank you for believing in us and remaining committed to a program that is good for Connecticut and good for our country.”

Courtney, a Democrat, represents the 2nd District, which includes submarine manufacturer Electric Boat in Groton.

Murtha said he has been impressed with the talent and skill of the work force at Electric Boat, and he called Courtney an “effective advocate for the submarine industry.”

”I'm convinced that moving towards construction of two submarines per year is in the best interest of both our industrial base and national security,” Murtha said in a statement issued Wednesday.

The $487.7 billion bill is $4 billion below the president's budget request and $28.4 billion above last year's total.

”You've heard me say that we must 'look beyond Iraq,' and to this degree the committee has added and redistributed funds that will prepare our military for future threats and future conflicts,” Murtha said.

Electric Boat and Northrop Grumman Newport News in Virginia jointly produce one $2.5 billion submarine a year, a production schedule that will increase to two a year starting in 2011.

The Navy could use the $397.6 million to start building two submarines a year in 2010 or to start work earlier on the second submarine in 2011.

Both the Secretary of the Navy and the chief of Naval Operations said last month that they do not support increasing production of submarines before 2011 because the service has to address a range of threats.

The Navy's plan called for an increase in production in 2012 before Courtney began his successful push last year to accelerate the schedule by increasing the funding for the submarine program.

This year, Courtney wanted to further hasten construction and helped shift $300 million in the budget authorization for buying Navy ships into the Virginia-class submarine account.

He then worked with the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee to further amend the authorization to add another $422 million, for a total of $722 million for the construction of two submarines in both 2010 and 2011.

The Senate version has significantly less money for new construction on Virginia-class submarines, $79 million. The authorization act establishes the policy for funding that is allocated through the appropriations process.

”We always knew that given where the Senate was at, $722 million was going to be the hitting a home run with the bases loaded kind of figure,” Courtney said. “This figure, in this budget, still is an extra-bases hit any way you slice it. This is an extremely tight year.”

Kevin Devine, a vice president at Electric Boat, called the subcommittee's action “another step toward the stability the program requires to produce capable and affordable submarines.”

The appropriations committee must approve the funding, followed by the full House expected in September. The differences between the House and Senate versions will have to be worked out in conference.

Willimantic: Courtney listens to veterans frustration, Norwich Bulletin

Willimantic: Courtney listens to veterans’ frustration

By FRAN MORALES

Norwich Bulletin

July 27, 2008

Willimantic, Conn. — U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, met with more than 50 veterans Saturday to talk about health benefits contained in the proposed Veterans Affairs budget.

Congress is scheduled to take up the 2009 veterans appropriations bill this week.

Veterans at the Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Willimantic vented their frustrations about the Veterans Affairs system and a faltering economy.

Dave Motowidlak, 55, of Canterbury is a veteran of the Vietnam and Gulf wars who struggles with hearing loss and a score of illnesses associated with his time in combat.

He attributed his constant tingling sensation from being exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam.

Motowidlak said he has encountered problems with Veterans Affairs system. He said he has had trouble getting benefits.

“The system is broken and it’s been broken,” he said. “We have too many people hurting.”

Courtney said if the proposed bill passes, it would help veterans like Motowidlak get better service.

The proposed bill provides a total of $47.7 billion in funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs, $2.9 billion more than the president’s request and $4.6 billion more than fiscal year 2008. With this increase, the Veterans Affairs Department can hire 1,400 new claims processors to continue to reduce the claims backlog, helping to reduce delay.

“People should not have to go through a Mickey Mouse process to get approved by claims,” Courtney said.

The budget would also reserve funding to enhance quality care for veterans who have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan, particularly those with post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.

The budget also includes $116 million more to increase availability of new generation prosthetics; $58 million to restore the cuts taken by the department for medical research in trauma, mental health and other areas that are critical to finding the best treatments for veterans and would provide $40 million more to hire additional case workers and medical services needed for homeless veterans.

Courtney to host telephone town hall meeting, Norwich Bulletin

Courtney to host telephone town hall meeting

Norwich Bulletin

U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, will host a telephone town hall meeting from 7:20 p.m. to 8:20 p.m. on Thursday.

Tens of thousands of residents in the district will receive automated calls from Courtney inviting them to participate.

Second District residents who do not get the calls but who wish to participate may do so by calling (877) 229-8493 about five minutes before the scheduled start of the call and dialing the access code 13035.

Residents will be able to ask questions of Courtney, though due to the anticipated number of participants the questions may be limited.

House Passes Bill Honoring Nautilus, The Day

House Passes Bill Honoring Nautilus

By Jennifer Grogan

The Day

July 16, 2008

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a resolution to honor the 50th anniversary of the USS Nautilus' crossing of the North Pole.

Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, introduced the resolution, which the House passed 375 to 0 Monday night, in April. Courtney, in his speech on the House floor, said the “history and the legacy of the Nautilus is not only meaningful to my congressional district, but to the entire submarine force and our nation.”

”Too often the critical achievements of our submarine force, our 'silent service,' go unnoticed,” he said, calling the resolution a way to honor the Nautilus crew and those who supported its journey under the ice cap.

Nautilus (SSN 571) left Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on July 23, 1958, under top-secret orders to conduct Operation Sunshine, the first crossing of the North Pole by a ship. The crew of 116 men reached the North Pole at 11:15 p.m. on Aug. 3, 1958. They received the Presidential Unit Citation, the first ever issued in peacetime.

The resolution states that the Nautilus “completed these significant and laudable achievements during a critical phase of the Cold War, providing a source of inspiration for Americans and raising the hopes of the free world.”

The Nautilus is now part of the U.S. Navy Submarine Force Museum in Groton.

A ceremony to celebrate the anniversary is planned for Aug. 3 at 2 p.m. at the museum. Courtney and Rear Adm. Bruce E. Grooms, commander of Submarine Group Two, are scheduled to speak about the Nautilus' achievements and the Navy's operations in Arctic waters.

Courtney Leads Sullivan In 2nd District Fundraising , The Day

Courtney Leads Sullivan In 2nd District Fundraising

The Day

July 16, 2008

U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, and GOP challenger Sean Sullivan reported their second quarter fundraising Tuesday to the Federal Election Committee.

Courtney maintains a fundraising lead, according to estimates provided by his campaign, adding $335,000 in the quarter to bring the cash total in his campaign fund to more than $1.4 million.

Sullivan picked up the pace from his earlier reports. The former commanding officer of the Naval Submarine Base in Groton raised more than $85,500, and has about $155,000 in cash reserves.

Sullivan, a lawyer from Gales Ferry, has struggled to keep pace with Courtney's financial advantage in his first run for elective office. Courtney, also an attorney and a former state legislator, is seeking re-election following his narrow upset victory over Republican Rep. Rob Simmons in 2006.

- TED MANN

Election 2008: In campaign fundraising race, Courtney leads Sullivan, 9-1

Election 2008: In campaign fundraising race, Courtney leads Sullivan, 9-1

By MICHAEL GANNON

Norwich Bulletin

July 16, 2008

U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney has raised more money in the last three months than his Republican opponent, Sean Sullivan, has during his entire campaign and has about a 9-1 cash-in-hand advantage, according to reports filed Tuesday with the Federal Election Commission.

With 110 days until Election Day, Courtney was preparing to report having more than $1.43 million still in his campaign coffers. Sullivan’s camp is reporting $154,513.04.

Courtney’s campaign issued a statement saying it will report having raised approximately $335,000 in the second quarter of 2008 and approximately $1.845 million for the campaign.

Courtney’s exact figures were not available on the Web site of the Federal Election Commission, but a commission spokeswoman said Tuesday they were not due until midnight.

The freshman congressman used the occasion to state some goals if he wins a second term.

“There is far more work to be done, including developing a sensible approach to reforming our nation’s energy policies and strengthening our economy,” he said.

Sullivan, the former commander of the U.S. Navy Submarine Base in Groton, filed paperwork listing contributions for the quarter ending June 30 at $85,537 and a total of $319,057.10 in contributions for the campaign.

“I am pleased that the donations coming to support our effort are almost exclusively from individual contributors,” Sullivan said in a statement released by his campaign. “ ... and I am honored that they are responding to my call for energy independence, lower taxes and smaller, more economical government.”

By the numbers

Fundraising for the fiscal quarter ending June 30:

Joe Courtney, Democrat

Total contributions: $1.845 million.

2nd quarter contributions: $335,000.

Cash remaining: $1.435 million

Source: Joe Courtney for Congress.


Sean Sullivan, Republican

Total contributions: $319,057.10

2nd quarter contributions: $85,537.

Cash remaining: $154,513.04.

Sources: Federal Election Commission and Sullivan for Congress.

Pratt & Whitney, Boeing back in running for bid, Middletown Press

Pratt & Whitney, Boeing back in running for bid

By: SLOAN BREWSTER

Press staff

Middletown Press

July 10, 2008


U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced Wednesday that the Department of Defense will seek new bids for a contract to replace U.S. Air Force KC-135 refueling tankers.

In a press conference at the Pentagon, Gates told the media the DOD had decided to give Boeing and Pratt & Whitney a second chance to bid on the contract after the Government Accountability Office (GAO) sustained eight of the more than 100 issues Boeing protested when the $35 billion contract to replace the aging tankers was originally awarded to Northrop Grumman/EADS.

The GAO identified "significant errors" with the Air Force's acquisition process, notably its failure to follow its own evaluation criteria.

This decision puts the Boeing plane, built with Pratt & Whitney engines, back into strong contention for the contract. P&WA's main engine assembly plant is along the Connecticut River in Middletown.

"We look forward to working with the new acquisition team as it reopens the competition, but we will also take time to understand the updated solicitation to determine the right path forward for the company," Boeing said in a statement. "It's encouraging that the defense department intends to take steps to ensure a fair and open competition that, among other things, fully accounts for life-cycle costs, such as fuel, to provide the most capable tanker at the best value for the American taxpayer."

U.S. Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-3rd District, was pleased with the annoauncement. "I am confident that the Boeing and Pratt & Whitney team will again put together the best value solution. And in doing so, will prevent the outsourcing of our technology development capabilities and ensure this country retains our competitive edge and continues to be a leader in innovative technology," she said in a statement.

U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, said he will participate in a hearing on the Pentagon's decision before the Air and Land Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee today.

The Pentagon is expected to issue a draft of the revised bid request to the companies by early August. But the competition will proceed as key events in the process are completed, not by a definite timetable, sources said.

In June, DeLauro and Courtney had joined with other members of the state's Congressional delegation as well as Larry McHugh, president of the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce, and representatives from the International Association of Machinists for a rally in celebration of the GAO's ruling against the contract award.
On Wednesday, Pratt & Whitney also supplied a statement:
"With today's announcement by ... Secretary Robert Gates that the new aerial refueling tanker competition will reopen, Pratt & Whitney is ready to support Boeing in meeting the critical needs of the U.S. Air Force customer. The Pratt & Whitney PW 40-60-2 two engine was selected to power the Boeing KC-767 because of its proven reliability and advanced technology."

An Associated Press report was included in this story.

Pratt Gets New Shot At Pentagon Contract, Hartford Courant

Pratt Gets New Shot At Pentagon Contract

By ERIC GERSHON

Courant Staff Writer

July 10, 2008

Bowing to extraordinary pressure from Congress, the Pentagon said Wednesday it will reopen a hotly disputed $35 billion military procurement contest, giving The Boeing Co. and Pratt & Whitney a second chance to supply a new fleet of aerial fuel tankers for the Air Force.

The decision comes three weeks after an independent government auditor harshly criticized the Air Force's handling of the original bidding, which ended in February with an award to a partnership of Northrop Grumman and EADS, the European parent of Airbus, Boeing's main rival.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates made the announcement at an early afternoon press conference at the Pentagon. He said his staff would assume control of "a process that has already gone on far too long."

"My hope would be that when we reach the end of this process we will have a solution, will be able to award a contract and get moving with the contract," Gates said. "There are few programs, particularly long-term procurement programs, in the Department of Defense that are more time-critical than this tanker."

Undersecretary for Defense Acquisition John J. Young Jr., with the help of an advisory committee he appointed, will decide which bidder gets the contract. He will focus on problems cited by the Government Accountability Office in its critique of the Air Force's earlier decision-making.

Northrop has been told to stop working on the tanker project.

"GAO's report was clear in its analysis, and it would be unfair to both the military and to the taxpayer to follow any course other than a new competition," U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman, a Connecticut independent, said in a statement Wednesday.

Pentagon officials hope to issue a revised draft solicitation to the companies later this month or early next month and to decide by the end of the year — a tight deadline for a process that has taken years longer than expected.

"If significant things change — for example, if there is a lot of dialogue about the [request for proposals] — the schedule will gradually slip," Young said. "I mean, it's a day-for-day schedule. That is the best case, to make the source selection decision by the end of the year."

Pratt would provide PW-4000-series engines for Boeing's KC-767 tanker and assemble them in Middletown. The East Hartford-based company has kept a low profile during the fight to reopen the bidding and held to that strategy Wednesday.

In a short statement, the company said it is "ready to support Boeing in meeting the critical needs of the U.S. Air Force customer."

Pratt has never said how many of its jobs hinge on winning the tanker project. But its main union, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, aggressively lobbied Connecticut's congressional delegation for support. The Machinists represent about 4,000 hourly workers at Pratt factories in the state.

Boeing said it is pleased that Gates chose "not to proceed with the contract award to Northrop Grumman/EADS." But the Chicago-based manufacturer remains concerned that the revised solicitation could include changes "that significantly alter the selection criteria as set forth" originally.

"We look forward to working with the new acquisition team as it reopens the competition, but we will also take time to understand the updated solicitation to determine the right path forward for the company," Boeing said in a prepared statement.

Northrop said the Air Force had "already picked the best tanker, and we are confident it will do so again." The company said it was reviewing the Pentagon's decision "to ensure the re-competition will provide both companies a fair opportunity to present the strengths of their proposals."

Northrop offered the Air Force its KC-30 tanker, based on the Airbus A330 commercial aircraft. It is larger than Boeing's KC-767.

In March, shortly after the initial contract award to Northrop, Boeing formally protested, triggering a review by the GAO, the independent investigative arm of Congress. Last month, the GAO produced a report criticizing the Air Force for "significant errors" that might have affected the outcome.

Congressional and commercial allies of Boeing and Pratt railed against awarding the contract to the Northrop-Airbus team, portraying it in starkly nationalistic terms, pointing to EADS' European ownership. The allies also produced draft legislation that would in the future require the military to consider the effect of major contract awards on the U.S. defense manufacturing base.

The GAO said the Air Force failed to abide by stated evaluation guidelines, misled Boeing, used "unreasonable" methods for calculating costs of the two bids, and improperly inflated certain Boeing costs, while giving Northrop undue credit for some parts of its proposal.

The tanker program's value is estimated at $35 billion to $40 billion for 179 aircraft, and billions more if the Air Force ultimately replaces all of its fleet of 500 tankers. The average age of the KC-135, one of two tankers now in use and built by Boeing, is more than 45 years.

Defense analyst Loren Thompson of the Lexington Institute think tank said Pentagon personnel would need to lean heavily on the Air Force for help — despite Gates' decision to strip the Air Force of its decision-making authority.

And given the gravity of the problems the GAO cited in its review of the original contract award process, Thompson said he doubts a thorough and fair review of revised bids can happen by the end of 2008, which coincides with the end of the Bush administration.

"We're going to be spinning our wheels until we have a new president," he said.

Courtney introduces legislation to help long-term care providers, Villager Newspapers

Courtney introduces legislation to help long-term care providers

Bill would help care providers

BY CHENOA PIERCE

VILLAGER STAFF WRITER

July 4, 2008

Thousands of caregivers in the Quiet Corner and across the country will have one less reason to worry if new legislation introduced by Congressman Joe Courtney is passed. On June 11, Courtney held a phone conference to formally announce that he had introduced H.R. 6237, also known as the TLC Act of 2008, that would provide a tax credit to long-term care providers of elderly citizens or children with long-term special care needs. “I think this is a very urgent issue in the country,” Courtney said in a phone interview, noting that the current population is not getting any younger. The legislation would give caregivers a tax break and credit while they are caring for a loved one who needs long-term care. The legislation “provides a tax break for individuals playing long term care premiums and that offers a caregiver tax credit,” according to a press release from Courtney’s office. Currently, the long-term care pro- vided by Medicare is for only a short period of time. According to the Medicare Web site (http://www.medicare.gov), longterm care is defined as “a variety of services that includes medical and non-medical care to people who have chronic illness or disability.” The services provided under that definition “helps meet health or personal needs,” states the site. Once Medicare’s long-term care coverage runs out, those who still need continuous care can apply for Title 19, also known as Medicaid. Title 19 is a government-sponsored healthcare payment plan that pays for the health care needs of a patient after he or she exceeds the allotted payment time of Medicare. There are so many Americans currently on Title 19 that it’s currently costing the country more than education, Courtney said. “[Title 19] is now consuming an even bigger portion” of the budget, according to Courtney.

“The Long-Term Care Initiative provides people with a way to pay for long-term care” without breaking the bank. Courtney also mentioned that the long-term care insurance “helps fill a hole in coverage” for the middle class when it comes to long-term care needs and “reduces the reliance on the Medicaid [Title 19] program, which underpays home health providers by 30 percent.” The issue at hand is one that Courtney said he feels has been ignored.

“I think this is an issue that has been neglected,” he said, adding that he feels that, although the bill may take a while to pass, it is important to get the discussion going now to deal with a problem that will only get worse as time goes on.

Those who will benefit from the Long-Term Care tax credit most will be the middle class of people, according to Courtney. It’s a “promiddle class idea,” he said.

According to the press release, “the tax credit is targeted toward middle class Americans with an adjusted gross income of $150,000 for a joint return and $75,000 for an individual filer.” For every $1,000 a caregiver makes over the $150,000 or $75,000 annually, the credit is reduced by $100.

In 2009, according to the release, the credit will be worth $1,000 and will increase to $3,000 by 2013. The tax credit will provide an incentive for Americans to purchase the long-term care insurance, a service 10 percent of them are eligible for, according to Courtney. “Americans should be looking at long-term care insurance as part of their long-term financial planning,” Courtney stated. “My legislation will provide families a tax break for real savings and allow individuals to save for their futures.”

During his phone interview, Courtney noted that many of the “baby boom” generation and their children do not think about the long-term care insurance because they are trying to pay for college, homes and more. “It’s just not a viable choice for most people,” he said, noting the expenses and adding that he believes his legislation will bring this to the attention of those people and that they will, in turn, purchase the insurance. According to the press release, the bill will “provide for a tax credit for the long-term care insurance premiums” and will provide a tax credit to caregivers providing for the needs of an individual who has long-term care needs — one who has been identified by a physician as needing long-term care for 180 days. The credit may be multiplied if someone is caring for more than one individual with long-term care needs.

One important point is that Courtney has a lot of backing from agencies that provide the services that this bill would help pay for. “This has some pretty strong support from people,” said Courtney. Courtney’s bill has been endorsed by Connecticut Association for Home Care & Hospice, American Health Care Association (AHCA) and Connecticut Association of Health Care Facilities Inc (CAHCF). According to Courtney, the bill has solely been introduced and is currently making the rounds in Washington, seeking co-sponsors and such to get it into action.

Chenoa Pierce may be reached
chenoa@villagernewspapers.com.