Joe Courtney

Recognizing the significance of "Community College Month" in April as a celebration of more than 1,000 institutions throughout the United States supporting access to higher education, workforce training, and more, broadly sustaining and advancing the Nation's economic prosperity.

in committee

Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to "William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program".

in committee

Student Loan Interest Elimination Act

in committee

“Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to mourn the passing of a lifelong public servant, Mrs. Natalie ``Nikki'' (Damon) O'Neill. Mrs. O'Neill passed away on Monday, May 18, 2026, at age 90, surrounded by her close friends. She will be sincerely missed and long remembered for her humility, down-to-earth demeanor, decades of service as an elementary school teacher, and commitment as First Lady to former Governor of Connecticut William O'Neill. Born in Leominster, Massachusetts to Alice and George Damon, Mrs. O'Neill was raised alongside her brother, George, Jr., and graduated from Leominster High School in 1954. She pursued higher education, graduating from the University of New Hampshire in 1958 with a Bachelor of Science, and continuing graduate studies at Worcester State Teacher's College, Boston University, University of Hanford, and the University of Connecticut. She met her husband, Korean War Air Force Veteran William ``Bill'' O'Neill, at a party in East Hampton. They married on December 1, 1962, in her hometown. Mrs. O'Neill dedicated herself to public service, beginning her teaching career in Ashby, Massachusetts and East Hartford, Connecticut for two additional years. She continued her passion for teaching schoolchildren as a fifth-grade teacher at East Hampton Center School for 21 years. Over the years, East Hampton became their hometown. Her beloved husband, William, served as a state representative in 1966 and later became lieutenant governor to Governor Ella T. Grasso. When Governor Grasso resigned due to ill health, Bill took over to finish out her term and Nikki wholeheartedly committed herself to serve as First Lady alongside him. Although she left her years of formal teaching behind, in this new role she visited schools across the state, encouraging children to read, and attended career days, school plays, and concerts. Her decade and a day of service as First Lady of Connecticut were marked by her consistent leadership in civic, cultural, and charitable efforts. She served on the advisory board of the Special Olympics and the Connecticut College Children's Cancer Fund, among her many other positions of leadership. She also utilized the Executive residence to patron the arts, displaying over 500 books authored by 200 Connecticut writers, displaying local artists' works, and allowing 118 charities and organizations to host events in her home. Mrs. O'Neill's role in the success of her husband's tenure as Governor of Connecticut was irreplaceable. She believed in true loyalty and gave her full allegiance to her husband throughout and beyond his career as Governor. Her work and dedication allowed Governor O'Neill to flourish in his role. O'Neill's ten years of service as governor were characterized by protecting and expanding the rights of his constituents; he made indelible impact on the towns comprising the 2nd Congressional District. He provided additional resources for individuals with physical and developmental disabilities, began the Governor's Care and Share program which involved state employees in collecting food during the holidays for those in need, and advocated for the Veteran's cemetery in Middletown. Additionally, he championed investments in Connecticut infrastructure, securing a 10-year, $5.5 billion plan to upgrade Connecticut roads and bridges. He never forgot teachers, like his wife, and oversaw the passing of the Educational Enhancement Act, raising teacher salaries and educational standards in the state. That generational uplift of Connecticut's teaching profession has paid massive dividends over the forty years, as Connecticut school children consistently rank in the highest echelon in national reading and mathematics test scores. Governor O'Neill's administration also created one of the first, pioneering prescription drug programs in the country called ConnPACE, that provided lifesaving medicines to seniors at a time when Medicare did not cover outpatient prescription drug coverage. I had the honor of being a newly elected state representative in 1989 when that groundbreaking measure passed. After a decade in the governor's residence, Mrs. O'Neill and her husband moved back to their home in East Hampton. Governor O'Neill passed in 2007 and was buried with military honors at the Veterans Center in Middletown. Mrs. O'Neill always said she relied on her many friends to make life worth living. Mr. Speaker, Mrs. O'Neill's loss is felt by her friends and colleagues across Connecticut and beyond. Her sharp intelligence, humility, wit, and thoughtfulness will be deeply missed by all those who she impacted through her service. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Nikki's life and legacy. ____________________”

2026-05-19 · Government Reform

“Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of Bret Jacobson, who selflessly served our country and retires today from his position as Director of the Manufacturing Apprenticeship Center at CT State Community College Three Rivers. The Manufacturing Apprenticeship Center has innovated various streamlined paths for individuals to pursue a career in advanced manufacturing and possesses a key role in workforce development in Eastern Connecticut. Mr. Jacobson has been a steadfast champion of the Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative (MPI), a nationally recognized manufacturing- focused workforce training program managed by the Manufacturing Apprenticeship Center. Mr. Jacobson utilized a $6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor awarded to Three Rivers in 2016 to create and develop MPI. Now, a decade later, MPI comprises 150 instructors who have taught over 250 classes and prepared more than 2,500 students. Thanks to Mr. Jacobson's leadership and dedication to the program, MPI stands as a national model for workforce development programs. Before joining CT State, Mr. Jacobson led a 30-year career serving in the Coast Guard as a mechanic-by-trade at duty stations in Hawaii, Michigan, and Key West. His final five years of service were spent at the Coast Guard Academy, serving as a Lead Laboratory Technician where he supported Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture students in operating equipment needed for their capstone projects. Mr. Jacobson is a resident of Waterford, Connecticut, and a native of northern Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, as the Member serving the 2nd District of Connecticut, I have had the pleasure of working with Mr. Jacobson to build the Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative in Eastern Connecticut. The program's award-winning success has been recognized both locally and nationally at a time when the demand for skilled metal trades workers is at an historic high level. On behalf of the U.S. House of Representatives and the American people, I express deep gratitude for Mr. Jacobson's contributions during his service with Three Rivers. I join Mr. Jacobson's family, friends, and colleagues in wishing him all the best in retirement. ____________________”

2026-04-30 · Education

“Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an extraordinary constituent and pay special tribute to Lois Bruinooge, who retires from The Last Green Valley, Inc. (TLGV) this month after 20 years of dedicated service to the organization. TLGV is a non-profit organization connecting residents to the Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor, a landscape of farmland and forest spanning 35 towns across Eastern Connecticut and South-central Massachusetts. As TLGV transitions to new leadership under Ms. Francesca Kefalas, I would like to recognize Ms. Lois Bruinooge for her dedication to protecting the Last Green Valley. [[Page E343]] Ms. Bruinooge began her career serving as an environmental lawyer protecting waters and woods with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. She later joined TLGV as a deputy director in 2006 and was promoted to executive director in 2014. Her command of environmental law and leadership drove her to success in spearheading efforts to care for the last stretch of dark night sky between Boston and Washington, D.C. Ms. Bruinooge has led impressive initiatives to educate people about the environment. In 2009, she led the effort to paddle the entire Thames as a part of the TLGV Source to Sea Program. She also expanded TLGV's water quality monitoring, created a trail assessment program, and bald eagle monitoring. Moreover, she encouraged resident and youth participation in TLGV's programming. One of her most impressive accomplishments was organizing the annual Walktober event, attracting up to 120,000 visitors to participate in over 250 hikes, bikes, and paddles each year. Ms. Bruinooge's time at TLGV was one of transformational, positive change for the organization. She forged ties between TLGV and agricultural, land trust, historical, and cultural organizations to build stronger conservation and sustainability efforts. In 2016, TLGV received over $6 million from USDA and millions more from regional programs to preserve their forests. In turn, TLVG has provided over $4 million in grants to local partners. Her collaboration with financial partners has increased revenue, created endowment funds, and heightened investments into environmental conservation. Her passion for outreach, financial expertise, and creativity have set TLGV on a path of undeniable success. Ms. Bruinooge is a graduate of Boston College Law School and a resident of Waterford, Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, as the Member serving the 2nd District of Connecticut, I have had the pleasure of seeing the impact of TLGV on the environment of Eastern Connecticut. On behalf of the U.S. House of Representatives and the American people, I express deep gratitude for Ms. Bruinooge's contributions during her two decades of service with The Last Green Valley. I join Ms. Bruinooge's family, friends, and colleagues in wishing her all the best in her well-deserved retirement. ____________________”

2026-04-20 · Climate