From the news section of Congressman Courtney's website:
January 2008
Rep. Courtney Demands Transparency and Consultation In President's Long-term Military Negotiations with Iraq
January 25, 2008 - Congressman Joe Courtney announced today that he has sent the attached letter to President George W. Bush ahead of the President’s final State of the Union Address. In the letter, Congressman Courtney calls on the White House to work in a transparent manner open to the scrutiny of the Congress i... More
Rep. Courtney, House Again Challenge President’s SCHIP Veto
January 23, 2008 - Congressman Joe Courtney today voted today to override President Bush’s veto of H.R. 3963, Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 (SCHIP). However, with 151 Republicans voting against the override, the SCHIP legislation has once again failed to meet the 2/3 majority needed... More
Historic Increase in Vets' Funding Becomes Reality with Release of Billions in New Funds
January 17, 2008 - Congressman Joe Courtney welcomed the decision by President Bush today to release $3.7 billion in new funding for veterans health care provided late last year by Congress - the single largest increase in veterans’ health care in the 77-year history of the Department of Veterans Affairs. President ... More
October 2007
Rep. Courtney: Veto Override Fails Due to Misplaced Minority Party Priorities
Congressman Supports Override of President’s SCHIP Veto, but Measure Fails Lacking Republican Commitment to Children’s Health Care.
Washington, Oct 18 - Congressman Joe Courtney voted today to override President Bush’s veto of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) reauthorization, more commonly known as HUSKY B in Connecticut. The override needed two-thirds of those voting to support the measure. The final vote was 273 in favor of overriding the veto and 156 against. 154 Republicans voted to support President Bush’s veto.
The SCHIP measure was intended to provide approximately 10 million children nationwide with health care coverage, which includes approximately four million children currently not enrolled in the program.
"The President and his Republican Party showed that they simply cannot be trusted to remedy the health care crisis of this nation," stated Courtney. "The consequences of President Bush’s veto will be felt throughout eastern Connecticut as tens of thousands of children will continue to go without health coverage."
The Democratic-led Congress proposed and passed in both the Senate and House a comprehensive five year, $35 billion reauthorization of the children’s health care program.
On October 3, President Bush vetoed the legislation in opposition to overwhelming public support. The American Medical Association, AARP, the Association of Health Insurance Plans, and PhRMA also support the bill.
Forty-three Governors across the United States, including Connecticut’s own Governor, M. Jodi Rell, support a robust SCHIP program and support the Congress’s efforts.
On a late Friday night in August, the Administration sent a letter to all fifty states announcing unilateral changes to the rules for the SCHIP program. The President’s proposed changes would immediately cut approximately 5,000 of Connecticut’s kids from HUSKY B. Those unfortunate victims of an irresponsible White House policy change would join nearly 74,000 uninsured children in Connecticut.
Children are the least expensive population to cover because much of their health care costs are related to preventive care, rather than treatment for debilitating and chronic illnesses. This has the added bonus of creating long-term savings for our health care system by introducing a healthier population into the mix.
"I will continue to fight for health care for eastern Connecticut’s children who do not have access to the preventive care they need," added Courtney.
Congressman Courtney has refused to accept taxpayer funded health care until all Americans have access to affordable health care coverage.
REP. COURTNEY TESTIFIES ON BEHALF OF VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS’ TAX BREAK
Congressman Advocates for Property Tax Relief for Volunteer Firefighters, Armed Forces
Washington, Oct 17 - Congressman Joe Courtney provided testimony today to a joint subcommittee hearing by the House Ways and Means Committee to advocate on behalf of local firefighters in eastern Connecticut who he says deserve a break on their property taxes from the Internal Revenue Service. The Committee is in the process of creating a package of tax incentives and breaks for first responders and members of our Armed Services called the Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act of 2007.
Congressman Courtney strongly supports the proposal, which he hopes will include Connecticut colleague Rep. John Larson’s proposed bill, H.R. 943, Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act of 2007.
September 2007
Rep. Courtney Welcomes Senate Appropriations Decision to Increase Funding for the Virginia-class Program
September 12, 2007 - Congressman Joe Courtney released the following statement today responding to the Senate Appropriations Committee decision to increase funding for the Virginia-class submarine program: “Senators Dodd and Lieberman have been tireless advocates for increasing our submarine fleet. The funding they have... More
REP. COURTNEY CONDEMNS IRAQI GOVERNMENT FOR FAILURE TO CAPITALIZE ON U.S. TROOP SURGE INTENDED TO PROVIDE ‘TIME AND SPACE’ FOR NATIONAL RECONCILIATION
September 10, 2007 - Congressman Joe Courtney today condemned the Iraqi Parliament and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki for their failure to capitalize on the troop surge, which was intended to provide the time and space necessary to begin a national reconciliation."President Bush and the Iraqi government must begin... More
Rep. Courtney Applauds Passage of College Cost Reduction and Access Act; Moves to President for Signature
September 7, 2007 - Congressman Courtney announced today that the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, H.R. 2669, has cleared both chambers of Congress and will now head to the White House for President George Bush’s signature. The final House vote was 292-97."This is an important victory for America’s students and w... More
Rep. Courtney to Improve, Expand SCHIP Program
Congressman Joins Chairman Emanuel as Original Cosponsor of Healthy Kids Act
Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) announced on March 15 that he was cosponsoring an initiative improving access to health care for Connecticut’s and the nation’s 6.8 million children who currently have no coverage.
The Healthy Kids Act is a comprehensive measure to be introduced in coming weeks to improve access and affordability to quality health care through the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) more commonly known as HUSKY in Connecticut.
"I am proud to be an original cosponsor of the Healthy Kids Act because Connecticut’s and America’s children must have access to first-rate health care," stated Courtney. "Connecticut’s children deserve a healthy start to their lives and I will work tirelessly to make sure that Connecticut has all the tools necessary to help achieve that goal.”
There are 73,421 Connecticut children currently uninsured, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Of those uninsured 49,192 would qualify for Medicaid or HUSKY but are not enrolled. The remaining 24,228 uninsured kids could use the Health Savings Tax Credit help purchase coverage through HUSKY B or another qualified program.
The United States Congress will begin the process of reauthorizing the federal SCHIP this year, which expires in September. The non-partisan and independent Congressional Research Service states that the SCHIP program will need an increase of $13 billion to $15 billion over the next five years to maintain current services to America’s uninsured children and families. President Bush’s current budget seeks a 4 percent cut by requesting only $5 billion over the next five years.
Congressman Courtney on the Walter Reed Scandal
Congressman Courtney's Floor Statement on Bush's Surge
