Senator Blumenthal: Week in Review 6/6/2025-6/13/2025
Joining Students in Fighting Against Republican Cuts to Higher Education
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) hosted a press conference with more than 20 college students—including first-generation students from Yale University, Connecticut State University, and Eastern Connecticut State University—who visited Capitol Hill to advocate against Republicans’ reconciliation bill. The higher education provisions would undermine college affordability and accessibility. If signed into law, Republicans’ reconciliation bill would impose strict borrowing caps on certain loans and eliminate other borrowing programs, such as subsidized loans and the Grad PLUS loan program, altogether.
“This moment is critically important because it shows that students are rising up. They are refusing to sit down and shut up in the face of the most massive assault on American education in history. I know that sounds like an exaggeration but actually, it is true. The Republican “Big Beautiful Bill” is a betrayal of American students, as well as teachers and parents. It really is a dream destroyer. It will cripple a system that has been carefully built over many years to provide the financial support, the educational resources, and the basic legal structure that enables students to fulfill their dreams. America should be investing more in education, not crippling American higher education institutions. America should be helping students, not creating obstacles for them as they pursue the American Dream,” said Blumenthal at the press conference.
A video of the press conference is available here.
On the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee
At a spotlight forum held by Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Blumenthal, stakeholders detailed the timeline, process, and impact of the Trump Administration’s ongoing cancellation of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) contracts, which began earlier this year. Witnesses included employees whose companies had a VA contract cancelled by DOGE, including a veteran-owned small business, an expert in cancer registries which are among the cancelled VA contracts, and an expert in federal contracting oversight and transparency.
Despite multiple requests from Blumenthal and Congressional Democrats, VA Secretary Doug Collins refuses to send Congress the complete and updated list of VA contracts cancelled or proposed for cancellation. During the hearing, witnesses detailed the real-life impact on veterans of the Trump VA’s reckless cancellation of contracts, which appear to have been carried out without any rationale or meaningful analysis.
“We are here because we’ve been stone walled and slow walked,” said Blumenthal. “…The Administration has failed to provide us with basic facts about those contracts, but the staff of the…minority side of the Committee has been doing an investigation. And the results are preliminary, but they are clear that there is no rationale, no underlying principle based on either the merits of the contract, the amount of money, or the effect on veterans for cancelling at least 650 contracts. We have documented those cancellations and they concern veterans suicide, cancer, prosthetics, research, implementation particularly of the PACT Act. They are essential for delivering quality services to our veterans.”
Blumenthal concluded by emphasizing Collins’ continued untruthful narrative surrounding his cancellation of hundreds of VA contracts and pointing to the error-filled data the Trump VA released on May 16: “When we cross checked with public contracting databases, [Collins’] information is fraught with error that at this point I am tempted to say, has to be purposeful...That is the logical conclusion to reach from the kind of stonewalling and inaccuracies that he’s given this Committee. Let me say finally—multiple letters, requests in hearings, and countless emails to VA officials are unavailing so far to produce the truth. Our investigation will continue. We are unearthing some deeply repugnant and concerning aspects of this process. I have to believe the DOGE tech bros are willing to burn down the house because they don’t live in it. They aren’t veterans. They don’t need these services…Most importantly, the Secretary of the VA is refusing to give us information.”
A video of Blumenthal’s remarks can be found here.
With an accompanying video of Twitter/X, Blumenthal further slammed the Trump VA for its deleterious cancellation of VA contracts.
“Our VA investigation has shown 650+ contracts cancelled by Sec Collins on arbitrary, draconian recommendations by Musk’s DOGE tech bros. Our Spotlight Forum dramatically revealed the damage to veteran services—essential & life saving for many—& benefits & compensation. Sec Collins continues to stonewall our requests for basic information, but our investigation will produce facts that veterans deserve. Waste in government should be remedied, but relying on AI & algorithms without individual evaluation is dangerous & destructive,” wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X.
Blumenthal raised concerns about the Trump Administration’s purge of transgender servicemembers and whether impacted servicemembers will be able to receive VA benefits. In a letter to Collins and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Blumenthal pressed the Administration on how it plans to implement its policy discharging transgender servicemembers from branches across the military while protecting their privacy and ability to access the benefits and services they are entitled to after their service.
“Historically, LGBTQ+ servicemembers discharged under similar policies such as ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ often received less than honorable discharges, which have created lasting barriers to accessing VA benefits and services. Many of these veterans continue to seek discharge upgrades decades later. I have worked extensively on addressing these historical inequities and am concerned about the potential for similar issues to arise under this policy’s implementation,” Blumenthal wrote.
Blumenthal concluded, “Historical experience with discriminatory military policies demonstrates the risks of inadequate oversight, leading to decades of remedial legislation and veterans’ benefits complications. This Administration’s abrupt and cruel policy change targeting transgender servicemembers – with its compressed timeline, use of sensitive medical records, and disregard for the valiant service of our nation’s heroes – demands rigorous congressional oversight, which I hope your Departments will comply with.”
The full text of the letter is available here.
Introducing Reforms to the Insurrection Act
At a Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing, Blumenthal raised concerns about the deployment of U.S. National Guard and U.S. Marines to Los Angeles in response to protests against a series of immigration raids in the city.
“I am deeply, deeply concerned about the use of our National Guard and our Marines essentially in what appears to be law enforcement and crowd control. It threatens our civil rights and civil liberties, directly contrary to the doctrine of Posse Comitatus, which is at the core of our constitutional protections. I consider the use of the military in this way a risk to our national security at a time when we need more support and more credibility for the kinds of complicated and challenging tasks we ask our men and women in uniform to do. This escalatory and inflammatory use of military men and women against their fellow citizens threatens to be a stain on their honor and a blow to their support and credibility among Americans,” said Blumenthal.
Blumenthal slammed the forceful removal of Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) from a press conference held by U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, after Padilla attempted to ask questions regarding the Administration’s response to the protests in Los Angeles.
“I couldn’t believe my eyes. This manhandling removal & handcuffing of a US Senator at a public event is absolutely revolting & repugnant to American values. It’s a basic violation of civil rights. Homeland Security personnel are making us less secure. I’m proud of Senator Padilla for asking questions important to his constituents, & we should be asking questions about how this travesty happened,” wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X.
Bolstering Access to Critical Care Under Medicaid
Blumenthal introduced the Disaster Relief Medicaid Act (DRMA) with U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Adam Schiff (D-CA) and U.S. Representatives Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) and Jill Tokuda (D-HI)—bicameral legislation to help maintain access to critical Medicaid-supported services for individuals displaced by natural disasters.
Climate-related disasters are on the rise, increasingly driving millions of people to abandon their homes and relocate with no idea of when they will be able to return. A record-breaking 11 million U.S. residents were forced to relocate after natural disasters in 2024, and recent wildfires in Southern California and Maui have displaced tens of thousands. Since Medicaid is partially funded by the federal government but administered by the state, recipients who are displaced as a result of natural disasters are at risk of losing access to the care they need.
“Our measure ensures that families, seniors, and individuals who are eligible for Medicaid and impacted by emergency relocations are able to continue receiving the care they need,” said Blumenthal. “Evacuees who have to abandon their homes and communities after a natural disaster strikes should not have to worry about whether they will lose access to their health care.”
Legislative text is available here.
Blumenthal Bulletin
Blumenthal released a statement on Israeli Strikes on Iran.
Blumenthal pushed for an independent investigation after a DOGE employee gained access to sensitive Education Department data.
Blumenthal introduced a bill to prevent companies from retaliating against striking workers and terminating their health care.
Blumenthal introduced legislation to streamline veterans’ benefits appeals process.
Blumenthal introduced legislation ensuring veterans who signed secrecy oaths receive full benefits.
Blumenthal joined Joey Contino to discuss his Russia Sanctions bill.
Blumenthal slammed Trump’s partisan nominee for VA Inspector General.
Blumenthal highlighted the anniversary of DACA.
Blumenthal highlighted the need for increased water safety awareness with Stew and Kim Leonard.
Blumenthal called out the Trump Administration’s closure of Job Corps centers in Connecticut.
Blumenthal celebrated the 9th annual Catherine’s Butterfly Party in Newtown, benefiting the animal sanctuary honoring Sandy Hook victim Catherine Violet Hubbard.
Blumenthal commemorated National Gun Violence Awareness Day with Bridgeport Youth Lacrosse as a culmination to their Peace Week
Blumenthal celebrated with crowds and marchers at Middletown’s PrideFest Parade.
Blumenthal joined marchers in West Harford calling for the return of Israeli hostages.
Blumenthal celebrated Juneteenth in Bridgeport at a parade in Seaside Park.
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