Ranking Member Courtney Opposes Amendment to Annual Defense Bill Which Would Further Delay Offshore Wind Projects

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Yesterday, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), Ranking Member of the House Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, urged his colleagues to oppose an amendment to the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which would require President Trump's Department of Defense to certify all offshore wind projects in the North and Mid-Atlantic within 90 days of the bill's passage, including offshore wind projects already reviewed by the Department of Defense.

"This issue is covered. And having this amendment passed would add an additional layer of delay on [the Revolution Wind] project. Time is the enemy in terms of these working family jobs having their security at a time when our labor market is eroding, and also [this project] will bring lower energy costs to southern New England," Courtney said.

This amendment would prolong the Trump Administration's August 22^nd halt work order for the Revolution Wind project in Connecticut and Rhode Island. The project has already been extensively reviewed and vetted by the Department of Defense as detailed in a 2023 Record of Decision and December 2024 letter from the Department of Defense which states that "the Department of Defense has found that construction of the Revolution Wind project would not have adverse impacts to DoD missions in the area." Yesterday, Courtney called on the Trump Administration to quickly lift its unjustified halt work order.

The House will vote on the amendment (#7) to the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act today.

Watch Congressman Courtney's speech on the House floor.

FULL SPEECH TRANSCRIPT

Mr. Speaker, representing the state of Connecticut, which, today is a site in southern New England of an offshore wind energy project that is nine years into the process, 80% complete with offshore wind turbines already installed, 45 out of 65 turbines that are in the ground, and have gone through exhaustive permitting, including the Department of Defense, in terms of making sure that this project will proceed safely and securely in an area where we have the largest military installation in New England with the New London submarine base, Coast Guard presence that are there. There is no question that this issue of radar interference was exhaustively investigated with the Federal Aviation [Administration], the Air Force and NORAD, all of them were brought into the permitting process.

Mr. Speaker, I have a letter, dated December 2024, which states clearly that the Department of Defense has found that construction of the Revolution Wind project will not have adverse impacts on DoD missions in the area. I ask that it be admitted into record. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Again, this is documentary proof that the concern that's being raised with this amendment is something that is already part of the permitting process. The [Bureau of Ocean Energy Management], signed off on the project. And again, we're about $4 billion into the project. The Trump Administration, on August 22nd put out a work order citing national security concerns. Not a single bit of detail. We have union jobs, laborers, operating engineers, longshoremen that are now totally in limbo in terms of whether or not the good work that they've been doing in compliance with a federal permit and that a project that's been paid for is going to be suspended by issues that don't exist in terms of the process.

This issue is covered. And having this amendment passed would add an additional layer of delay on this project. Time is the enemy in terms of these working family jobs having their security at a time when our labor market is eroding and also will bring lower energy costs to southern New England. I reserve my time.

###