Senator Blumenthal: Week in Review 5/23/25-5/30/25
Supporting Student Loan Borrowers
[Hartford, CT] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) joined higher education leaders and student loan borrowers to demand more assistance for student borrowers and a stop to targeting defaulted borrowers by limiting loan repayment options, eliminating subsidized loans and graduate loan options. These efforts come as thousands of Connecticut students graduate this month and start paying their student loans, and as debt collection resumes nationally.
“What the Administration is doing right now is saying it wants to eliminate waste, but in fact its laying waste to American higher education. It is crippling financially great universities and colleges that offer access to enormous opportunity for the future. It is crippling financially student aid programs that have provided a path to enormous achievement, not just for themselves, but economically for our entire society—a source for new inventions and opportunity. We are literally shrinking and strangling opportunities for millions of students and their families,” said Blumenthal.
With an accompanying video on Twitter/X, Blumenthal called out the House-passed reconciliation budget and the Trump Administration’s policies that are crippling assistance for student borrowers.
“The House-passed reconciliation budget plan—coupled with Trump's draconian policies—will cause massive economic pain for Americans with student loan debt. This plan is a reversal of progress that has created educational opportunities, & I will work to stop it in the Senate,” wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X.
Standing with Pratt & Whitney Machinists
Blumenthal released a statement on the agreement reached by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) and Pratt & Whitney.
“All Americans should be grateful that Pratt machinists— among our most skilled, dedicated defense workers— are returning to their jobs. Their products are vital to our national security, and they deserve fair pay, good pensions, and job security. I was proud to stand with them on picket lines in East Hartford and Middletown, and I admire their perseverance and courage, as well as their extraordinary skill and loyalty,” said Blumenthal.
Before the agreement was reached, Blumenthal joined striking Pratt machinists in Middletown and East Hartford.
Urging Affordable Cancer Screenings & Testing
Blumenthal urged Connecticut residents to get screened for cancer after a new American Cancer Society report shows more young people and women are at risk for the disease. Blumenthal called on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid to cover ultrasounds for breast cancer detection to supplement mammograms which can be less effective for women with dense breast tissue. The National Cancer Institute estimates that approximately 4 out of every 10 women have dense breast tissue and researchers at the Yale Cancer Center found that the efficacy of mammograms can drop from 98% to as low as 30% for women with dense breasts.
“Whatever doctors prescribe ought to be covered—because it will save lives. A lot of women simply can’t afford those enhanced techniques, but it can be the difference between life and death—because catching cancer early is the key to treating it successfully. We know that better screening can catch cancer earlier. Better screening is the key to prevention of more serious cancer, deadly cancer,” said Blumenthal.
Fighting for Environmental Protections
Blumenthal joined environmental advocates to demand $5.5 million in federal funding to address infestations of Hydrilla verticillata, or hydrilla, in the Connecticut River, ahead of the official start of boating season on Memorial Day. Hydrilla is a rapidly-spreading, invasive aquatic species that has been found in the Connecticut River and lakes across the state. An aggressive eradication and management program is necessary to safeguard the Connecticut River as an environmental resource and driver of the local economy. Blumenthal is leading his colleagues in an appropriations letter in support of $5.5 million in federal funding for FY26 to combat hydrilla in the Connecticut River. He has led similar letters of support to fully fund hydrilla research and testing since 2022.
“It is a creepy, creepy monster of a plant—probably the most invasive aquatic plant in the world, and it has invaded Connecticut. It is a plague on the Connecticut River and also our lakes and streams, the coves and tidal basins. It can survive and thrive anywhere because it multiples hideously fast, and it is horrendously harmful. Even for those who may think this is pretty, they should know it poses a dire threat to our boating, fishing, and other recreational industries. It is a threat to tourism. So, it has really costly economic effects as well as environmental impacts. It is a hideous plague that needs to be stopped,” said Blumenthal.
Blumenthal further called for resources to combat the spread of hydrilla on Twitter/X.
“Hydrilla—an invasive, horrendously harmful plant—is plaguing the CT River & other waterways. It directly threatens both our state's wildlife & our boating, fishing, & recreational industries—hurting our environment & our economy. We need federal funding to combat its rapid spread,” wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X.
Celebrating Memorial Day
Blumenthal attended Memorial Day celebrations across the state of Connecticut, including Wethersfield, North Haven, Redding, Monroe, Greenwich, Middletown, Stratford, Orange, and Naugatuck.
“On this uniquely American holiday, we pay tribute to the brave men & women who gave everything to defend our precious freedoms. On Memorial Day, we thank our nation's heroes for their service & sacrifice & dedicate ourselves to honoring them with action,” wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X.
Blumenthal Bulletin
Blumenthal introduced a sweeping military families legislative package.
Blumenthal released the following statement on the DOJ agreement with Boeing to avoid criminal prosecution.
Blumenthal called out big law firms bending the knee to Trump’s demands.
Blumenthal called for scorching Russian sanctions.
Blumenthal slammed the Trump Administration for reneging on promises to our Afghan allies.
Blumenthal condemned VA’s plans for sweeping cuts.
Blumenthal called out Trump for cutting funding that promotes water safety.
Blumenthal slammed Trump for picking unqualified, compromised nominees for Inspector General.
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