Senator Blumenthal: Week in Review 6/13/2025-6/20/2025
Commemorating Juneteenth
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) marked the Juneteenth holiday by attending Juneteenth celebrations across the state of Connecticut.
“Juneteenth stands as a reminder that the pursuit of freedom is hard fought & the work to build a more perfect union isn’t finished. Today we recommit to the ongoing quest for racial justice & equity,” wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X.
“Juneteenth Parade in Middletown was filled with amazing music, crowds, marchers—a wonderful celebration of a historic day. Community leaders came together,” wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X.
“Joyous, eloquent speeches & song at Torrington’s Juneteenth celebration—with flag-raising & richly deserved honors to Rev Angaza & Mrs. Effie Mwando. A call to action,” wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X.
Blumenthal also joined women’s health advocates to highlight how cuts to Medicaid endanger mothers and babies and worsen the Black maternal health crisis. Black women are over three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women. Threatened cuts to Medicaid would further jeopardize Black maternal mortality rates as 65 percent of Black women rely on Medicaid for health coverage during pregnancy and birth.
“The Republican bill, it’s called a reconciliation bill— ‘reconciliation’ is a multisyllable word for cruelty and stupidity. These kinds of cuts are really mean-spirited, and they are stupid because in the long-run, costs of healthcare needs are higher if needs are avoided,” said Blumenthal.
Fighting Against Dangerous Policies & Harmful Cuts
Blumenthal slammed President Donald Trump’s extravagant spending on a parade while cutting services and programs for veterans, servicemembers, and American communities.
“Trump says spending $45+ million on his ‘big, beautiful’ birthday parade is just ‘peanuts.’ For vets he’s fired, it could pay to rehire them. For soldiers, better equipment & training. For vets with invisible wounds, better mental health care,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.
Blumenthal attended rallies in Farmington and Hartford, fighting back against the Trump Administration’s threats to democracy and harmful policies hurting Americans.
“Proud to be at No Kings Rally in Farmington, with hundreds fighting to preserve our democracy. Undeterred by drizzle & dark skies,” wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X.
“Thousands at No Kings Rally in Hartford—saying Hands Off Medicaid, SNAP food assistance, voting rights, civil liberties & more. Vowing to fight back & preserve our democracy,” wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X.
Restricting the Use of Military Force Against Americans at Home
Blumenthal along with U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) led a group of twenty-two senators in introducing legislation to restrict the President’s authority under the 217-year-old Insurrection Act.
The new Insurrection Act of 2025 would reform centuries-old legislation that gives the President broad and vague authority to deploy troops – either with or without the request of a state – to suppress “any insurrection, domestic violence, unlawful combination, or conspiracy.” The current law has been used sparingly by other presidents given the potential for the military to escalate tensions, rather than restore order, during a domestic crisis.
“Americans believe deeply that our military should be used to defend our national security, not to silence peaceful protest at home. I support - and the Constitution protects - free expression and protest when peaceful and nonviolent,” Blumenthal said. “President Trump may not have invoked the Insurrection Act yet, but he has threatened to use our military as an instrument to crush dissent and Congress must act quickly. These urgent reforms would impose oversight and accountability to the President’s broad, virtually unrestricted power to use military force against Americans at home.”
Blumenthal first introduced legislation to restrict the President’s authority under the Insurrection Act in 2020. More information is available here.
Blumenthal further highlighted the need for reforms to the Insurrection Act in order to curb President Trump’s abuse of power on Twitter/X.
“Americans believe deeply that our military should be used to defend our national security, not to silence peaceful protest at home. I support—& the Constitution protects—free expression & protest when peaceful & nonviolent. President Trump may not have invoked the Insurrection Act yet, but he has threatened to use our military as an instrument to crush dissent & Congress must act quickly. These urgent reforms to the Insurrection Act would impose oversight & accountability to the President’s broad, virtually unrestricted power to use military force against Americans at home,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.
At a Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing, Blumenthal pressed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on the Trump Administration’s deployment of active-duty troops in cities across the United States. Blumenthal’s line of questioning comes as President Trump has sent Marines and National Guard troops to Los Angeles in response to protests against a series of immigration raids in the city. In response to Blumenthal’s questions, Hegseth was unable to provide a clear answer about the Administration’s future plans to deploy active-duty military forces in other cities in the United States.
“I have been deeply disturbed and alarmed by the use of active-duty troops, Marines, in Los Angeles. And President Trump has made clear his intention to continue to use the military to suppress dissent and likely inflame tensions there, and elsewhere, all under the guise of enforcing the law. What he is doing may well be illegal. I want to ask you about contingency plans for the use of active duty military in other cities,” said Blumenthal. “I take it from your answer that you do have contingency plans for the use of military in other cities.”
In response to Blumenthal’s remarks, Hegseth said, “We have never and will not illegally deploy troops. All have been under existing and well-established authorities to use troops to support federal law enforcement officers.”
Blumenthal slammed Hegseth for his lack of a definitive answer, saying, “But you do have such plans. I find that answer deeply alarming. So far, there has been no legal justification. It’s been challenged successfully. I think that it will prevail, those challenges will prevail in the courts.”
A video of Blumenthal’s remarks is available here.
On Twitter/X, Blumenthal further called out Secretary Hegseth’s answers during the Hearing regarding the Trump Administration’s future plans to deploy active-duty troops in other cities across the country.
“Sec. Hegseth ducked & dodged my questions about plans for the use of active duty troops in U.S. cities. I demanded that he provide their contingency plans,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.
On the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee
Blumenthal, Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, and U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) introduced the Molly R. Loomis Research for Descendants of Toxic Exposed Veterans Act—legislation to expand research on birth defects among descendants of toxic-exposed veterans.
“Toxic exposures impact our veterans and their kids. By passing the Molly Loomis bill Congress can jumpstart groundbreaking research for them—providing military families with answers to the health challenges they may face as a result of battlefield toxins,” said Blumenthal. “While we know that exposure to Agent Orange and other toxins have long lasting, generational impacts—we know almost nothing about the genetic effect of toxic exposure. Our bill will allow us to study these generational impacts so we can better treat veterans’ loved ones and prevent these exposures.”
Text of the legislation can be found here.
Blumenthal stood with advocates in West Haven to announce the reintroduction of the Molly R. Loomis Research for Descendants of Toxic Exposed Veterans Act. Blumenthal was joined by Molly Loomis, who has spina bifida related to her father’s exposure to Agent Orange, and Jerry Augustine, a Vietnam veteran who has lost two of his children to complications from his Agent Orange exposure.
“Toxic exposures impact our veterans & their kids. By passing the Molly Loomis bill Congress can jumpstart groundbreaking research for them—providing military families with answers to the health challenges they may face as a result of battlefield toxins,” wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X.
Blumenthal joined U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) in introducing bipartisan legislation to better support the mental health needs of veterans and servicemembers as they return home.
“Veterans who have sacrificed so much deserve the highest quality care our country has to offer. Unfortunately, the rate of veterans suicide is both shocking and shameful. I’m proud to support this bipartisan effort, and I’ll continue to fight to reduce this grim number by bolstering the resources veterans desperately need and pushing back on the reckless firings of indispensable VA staff,” said Blumenthal.
Blumenthal Bulletin
Blumenthal released a statement on the Senate passage of the GENIUS Act.
Blumenthal introduced legislation to lower the cost of critical care for opioid use disorders.
Blumenthal introduced a resolution to mark National Elder Abuse Awareness Month and shed light on senior fraud schemes.
Blumenthal applauded workers at Ahlstrom's Windsor Locks facilities for their decision to join the United Steelworkers Union.
Blumenthal slammed Vladimir Putin’s brazen invasion of Ukraine and highlighted the need for a vote on his Russian Sanctions bill.
Blumenthal called for the release of equipment for Ukrainian troops in their fight against Russia’s invasion.
Blumenthal visited Bark & Vine, a local plant shop in New Haven.
Blumenthal attended the CT Veterans Legal Center 2025 Ride For Our Vets Fundraiser.
Blumenthal joined local leaders in Bloomfield to reaffirm and pledge support for increasing the Nonprofit Security Grant Program to at least $500 million.
Blumenthal attended commencement ceremonies at Goodwin University.
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