Courtney's district contains a U.S. Navy submarine base and a major construction site used by the Electric Boat Corporation to build submarines. As such, the Democrat has walked in Simmons' footsteps to become a leading advocate for submarine construction, which he argues is essential for his district's economy.
Helped by his seat on the House Armed Services Committee, Courtney has worked closely with Electric Boat management and fellow Connecticut lawmakers to achieve his goal: Double the production of submarines from one to two a year. In the fall of 2007, Courtney and his allies convincedCongress to include $588 million more for submarines than the Pentagon wanted in the 2008 defense bill.
National Security
In 2006, Courtney ran as a critic of the Iraq war. While he argued for scaling back the war and for crafting a plan to withdraw most troops, he opposed calls for an immediate and total withdrawal. In the House, he long remained undecided before supporting legislation setting a phased pullout and he has generally resisted joining his party's strongly anti-war voices.
In 2008, Courtney sided with a narrow majority of Democrats in opposing a bill that expanded the government's surveillance powers following revelations about President Bush's wireless wiretapping program.
Health-Care Reform
A leading voice on health-care issues in the Connecticut legislature, Courtney was behind numerous reform efforts in the early 1990s.
Besides pushing legislation to cut hospital prices and a bill requiring that prescription drug companies reduce their prices to participate in a state-run program, he joined forces with Gov. Lowell P. Weicker (I) and state Senator Kenneth Przybysz (D) to champion a bill aiming to establish universal coverage in Connecticut. The legislation offered few specifics on how to achieve this goal, instead creating a new agency that would have six months to make recommendations for every resident to be enrolled in a plan by 1997.
In Congress, one of the first bills Courtney introduced aimed at reducing the amount of time employees have to wait before insurance covers preexisting conditions. In 2009 and 2010, he supported Democratic efforts to reform the health-care system at the federal level. He insisted that the bill constituted "gradual, moderate, incremental change" that would leave the system "looking much like it looks today." He also supported establishing a public option.
During the legislative debate, Courtney took a leading role in House Democrats' fight against the excise tax on high-cost insurance plans, arguing it "would put a burden on middle-class families." He drafted a letter voicing his opposition and collected the signatures of more than 190 lawmakers.
The Economy
Courtney has supported Democrats' domestic priorities. He backed increasing the minimum wage, Barack Obama's stimulus plan, legislation to strengthen regulations on the financial industry and the Waxman-Markey bill, which sought to address climate change by establishing a cap-and-trade system.
Courtney is a co-sponsor of the Employee Free Choice Act, which would make it easier for unions to organize. In another issue important to labor groups, Courtney opposed a free-trade agreement with Peru in a vote that narrowly divided the Democratic caucus.
In fall2008, Courtney was Connecticut's only representative to oppose the financial rescue plan. Besides criticizing insufficient oversight of the bailout money, he argued that legislators should not give in to panic and act rashly.
Social Issues
A pro-abortion rights lawmaker, Courtney backs funding for stem-cell research and he opposes a ban on late-term abortions. A supporter of gay rights, Courtney favors legalizing same-sex marriage. In Congress, he is a co-sponsor of legislation to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.
Courtney has backed expanding some gun rights. In 2009, he voted to allow people to carry guns in national parks; a narrow majority of his party opposed the measure.
In 2010, he co-sponsored an amendment proposed by Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D-Ind.) and backed by the National Rifle Association that would allow for once-fired small arms cartridge cases to be sold intact.
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