A Week of Reflection, Healing, and Action
On Monday night, I joined the southeastern Connecticut community at Temple Emanu-El in Waterford to mourn the victims of the heinous attack at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh and to start healing as a community. I am thankful to Rabbi Marc Ekstrand, his congregation, and the Jewish Federation of Eastern Connecticut for hosting such a meaningful service of harmony and unity.
All over the district, I’ve heard from constituents who are aghast at the violence that was on display this past weekend in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, this incident is just one of many that have been targeted at the Jewish community in an increasingly anti-Semitic environment in our country. According to the Anti-Defamation League, since the 2016 election, anti-Semitism and harassment have become far more commonplace. Just last year, white supremacists felt emboldened to march with torches in Charlottesville, Virginia chanting anti-Semitic hate speech and incidents of anti-Semitic graffiti and slurs have increased significantly at schools, cemeteries, and houses of worship. In 2017, the Anti-Defamation League saw a 57% increase in anti-Semitic incidents in the United States since the previous year. In Connecticut, anti-Semitic incidents in 2017 were double the number reported in 2016. This is unacceptable.
It is more important than ever that those in positions of power speak out – and make clear to the Jewish community and all Americans that these acts are not – and will not – be tolerated in our country. Members of Congress and those who hold our nation’s highest offices must condemn conspiracy theories and hate speech that lead to this type of violence. It is also essential that we work across the aisle to prevent additional tragedies due to the proliferation of gun violence in our country. Enough is enough.
Highlighting Manufacturing and Workforce Development in Our Region
Earlier this week, I had the chance to stop by a job fair in Mystic hosted by the Eastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce. The event included a long list of community partners and employers, including Foxwoods, Electric Boat, Groton Public Schools, and several small manufacturers.
After visiting the job fair, I joined the Chamber’s panel discussion on workforce development and housing needs in eastern Connecticut. This panel was a great opportunity to discuss the major uptick in job training, employment, and housing needs in our region. Major increases in hiring at Electric Boat and suppliers in eastern Connecticut will in turn lead to more urban development and a boost in the housing market.
One such defense manufacturer in the region in Alpha Q, Inc. – a local aerospace manufacturer in Colchester and a recent participant in September’s U.S.-Australia Defense Summit that took place in Mystic. Alpha Q manufactures large parts for companies like Sikorsky, Rolls Royce, and UTC Aerospace Systems. During my visit, I met with employees, toured the facility, and learned about their advanced aerospace manufacturing technology. Like many companies around the region, Alpha Q is in the process of hiring new employees and massively expanding its floor space.
Throughout the last month, I got the chance to tour so many manufacturers, workforce training programs, and community college programs for manufacturing – and eastern Connecticut has built an incredible model for other parts of the country to look to. I’m excited to highlight the successes of workforce development investments in eastern Connecticut when Congress gavels back into session this fall.
As always thank you for taking a moment to read my weekly update. In addition, don’t forget to set your clocks back an hour this weekend as Daylight Saving Time ends! If you have any questions or concerns about the information in this newsletter, you can contact me through my website or by calling my Norwich district office at 860-886-0139.
Have a great weekend,
Joe Courtney
Member of Congress
