US Congressman Joe Courtney: 'We Can Do Better'

By Ellyn Santiago

U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney addressed hundreds of regional business owners at the Chamber of Commerce Eastern Connecticut Business Breakfast Annual Congressional Update Monday morning at the Mystic Seaport’s Latitude 41 speaking primarily about the status of the submarine program, defense contracts and the suffering anticipated by sequestration cuts.   

During his remarks, Courtney pointed to lots of good news for plans for the Virginia Class submarine program and the Ohio replacement program, the latter program, he said, is “going to be around for awhile …decades of work.”   

But the 2nd district Congressman saved his most impassioned points for the suffering wrought by sequestration.   

“When reality hits in terms of the sequester, people should not be bashful about speaking up,” he said.  

Courtney said there should be fervor equal to that which was seen during the fiscal cliff debate and the amount of attention it received. He said people need to apply “external pressure to raise awareness to the damage that’s being done.”   

“It worked when we did the fiscal cliff on January first, in fact the whole world was watching …we protected middle class families from having a tax increase.” 

He encouraged attendees to “speak up” and reach out to Congress. 

“We can do better…a great group like this,” he said can help “move the country forward.”       

Courtney’s bullet points on local defense contracts:   

Virginia Class Submarine 
·      2013 federal budget provides $778 million to restore second 2014 sub and ensure level two-a-year production rate through 2018.   
·      Navy and industry (EB in particular) negotiating a 5-year, 10-ship block buy. This deal is expected to be completed later this year.   
·      The 2014 budget request supports steady 2 per year build rate for next ‘block’ contract.   

Ohio Replacement Program 

·      The 2013 budget fully funds the program at more than $600 million 
·      The 2014 budget requests $1.2 billion for ORP in 2014, another $6 billion through 2018 
·      And the budget calls for a 12-ship program with lead ship construction beginning in 2021 and entering service in 2027.   

Repair and Maintenance of:   

USS Miami 
·      Congress provided $150 million in 2013 for the repair project. Navy allocating $150 million 
·      Electric Boat is currently working on planning, expecting repair contract  later this summer.   

USS Providence 
·      Courtney said the Navy cited the repair of the Providence as a potential sequestration-related cancellation, but is now expected to move forward with the job this summer, albeit with a “reduced scope.”     

Courtney was joined by, among other dignitaries, State Sen. Andrew Maynard, Submarine Base Commander Capt. Marc W. Denno, Electric Boat president Kevin J. Poitras, and Groton City Mayor Marian Galbraith.   

Also in the audience were, among others, Groton Town Manager Mark Oefinger, State Rep. Betsy Ritter, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council chairman Rodney A. Butler and East Lyme First Selectman Paul Formica.