Senator Blumenthal: Week in Review 7/3/2025-7/11/2025
Bolstering Support for Ukraine
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) attended the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome to call for increased support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s bloody invasion. While at the conference, Blumenthal attended a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Blumenthal called for a united front of world leaders in defense of Ukraine and highlighted the need for his Russian Sanctions bill.
“Deeply inspired & energized by strong solidarity among European heads of state—hearing from Sen. Graham & me about our Russia Sanctions bill at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome. Powerful commitment to Ukraine’s cause & our legislation. Peace through strength—a clear, unified message from European leaders in support of Ukraine. They know Ukraine’s fight is our fight, because Putin will put other nations in peril if he wins there. Only strength will compel Putin to talk seriously about peace. Momentum building for our Russia Sanctions bill, shown by repeated statements of support from heads of state in Rome at the Ukraine Recovery Conference. Bone crushing sanctions should help halt China, India & Brazil from fueling Russia’s war machine by buying its oil & gas,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.
On the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee
Blumenthal, Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, released a statement following the Trump Administration’s announcement that it will abandon its disastrous plan to fire 83,000 more employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), given the significant amount of VA employees who have already left or will leave the Department by the end of the year.
“This announcement makes clear VA is bleeding employees across the board at an unsustainable rate because of the toxic work environment created by this Administration and DOGE’s slash and trash policies. This is not ‘natural’ attrition, it is not strategic, and it will inevitably impact veterans’ care and benefits—no matter what blanket assurances the VA Secretary hides behind. Make no mistake, this is still a reduction in force—except VA has been able to do it without accountability and transparency to veterans and Congress. It is shameful, and it will continue to ruin veterans’ trust in VA for years to come.”
According to VA’s statement, it is on pace to lose 30,000 employees by the end of the year as a result of Trump and Collins’ hiring freeze, deferred resignations, early retirements, and the significant number of VA staff who have quit since the Trump Administration took office in January 2025.
In a typical year, VA’s workforce has a net gain of 10,000 employees, and this announcement signals a net loss of 30,000 employees. Therefore, VA still stands to lose tens of thousands more employees than ever before—without the accountability and transparency required during an official reduction in force.
Blumenthal further slammed the loss of 30,000 VA employees and the harm that loss will have on veterans’ care and benefits on Twitter/X.
“Sec. Collins is touting a new plan—lose 30K dedicated VA workers, 1/3 of them veterans. Sound familiar? It’s a different number with the same effect—endangering & degrading care & benefits. That 30K includes doctors, nurses & others essential to VA services,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.
Blumenthal spoke on the Senate Floor slamming the chaos and confusion stemming from the Trump Administration’s VA leading to the significant loss of VA employees by the end of the year.
“I'm here to sound the alarm, to make my colleagues aware of the crisis that faces us. It faces the United States of America because of the chaos and confusion that continues at the Veterans Administration and the sliding downward of service that is available to our nation's heroes. On Monday, the VA Secretary, Doug Collins, announced that he would be abandoning his disastrous plan to fire 83,000 VA employees. And the reason is pretty simple, the Trump Administration is set to lose 30,000 employees at the end of the year. That number is incredibly worrisome,” said Blumenthal. “We've already seen some of the effects of this haphazard effort to force hardworking public servants out of the VA, because of a toxic work environment created by this Administration and DOGE’s slash-and-trash policies. VA nurses across the country are having to perform mandatory overtime. Lifesaving clinical trials have been canceled. Veterans are being directed to call the Veterans Crisis Line instead of regular appointments, as mental health providers leave the VA in droves. This announcement by the VA Secretary makes clear that the VA essentially is bleeding employees across the board.”
A video of Blumenthal’s full remarks can be found here.
Blumenthal further highlighted the disastrous effects on veteran care and benefits that will result from the bleeding of VA employees on Twitter/X.
“I spoke on the Senate Floor, because losing 30K dedicated VA workers will be deeply damaging & dangerous to care & benefits. Sec. Collins pulled back his plan to cut 83K employees because of our blistering blowback. Thank you vets & VSO’s,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.
Slamming Trump Administration’s Shuttering of CT Job Corps
Blumenthal visited the New Haven Job Corps Center to reaffirm his strong support for the Job Corps program as the Trump Administration threatens to shutter Job Corps centers and leave approximately 350 Connecticut youth without employment or supportive services. In May, the Trump Administration announced it would be shuttering the centers, leaving hundreds of Connecticut youth without access to their educational, job training, employment, and wraparound services. A federal judge issued a nationwide preliminary injunction to temporarily halt the closure of the centers.
“Shutting down the Job Corps, as the Dept of Labor is trying to do, is cruel & stupid. It hurts CT’s young people like Troy & Nahjayiah who are trying to develop the skills our economy needs & it undermines local businesses. We won’t stop fighting to protect the Job Corps,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.
Urging Summer Safety Measures
Ahead of the Fourth of July holiday, Blumenthal joined the West Hartford Fire Department to offer firework and summer fire safety tips.
“A uniquely American holiday—July 4th, our Independence Day—is all about family, fun, food, &, yes, fireworks. Sadly, every year, too many in CT suffer serious burns & other injuries because of firework carelessness. Holiday joy may turn to tragedy in an instant. Remember: Only sparklers & fountain devices are legal. Use any fireworks with great caution. Don’t mix fireworks with alcohol—a recipe for disaster. Keep them away from children,” wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X.
Blumenthal joined union leaders in Hartford to urge the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to finalize its proposed rule on heat injury and illness prevention. In July of 2024, OSHA announced a proposed rule that would outline steps employers must take to protect indoor and outdoor workers from the risk of heat injury and illness. This rule marks the first major regulation aimed at preventing heat-related deaths on the job. From 1992 to 2022, 986 workers died from exposure to heat in the United States—a number that is expected to increase as summers get hotter.
“Summer weather is getting warmer every year & workers are at increased risk. The time is now for OSHA to finalize much needed rules to prevent heat related injury, illness & death. Employers need to protect their workers with these commonsense measures,” wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X.
Blumenthal joined both the Waterbury Fire Department and the Norwalk Fire Department to warn of the dangers of hot cars as temperatures rise ahead of the summer season. Even on a 70 degree day, the inside of a car can reach 118 degrees after only an hour. Blumenthal demanded that the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) finalize its long overdue rule to require new vehicles be equipped with an alert for drivers to check the rear seat after turning off the engine. This rule is required by Blumenthal’s Helping Overcome Trauma for Children Alone in Rear Seat (HOT CARS) Act, which was included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act signed into law in November 2021. The law required NHTSA to publish a final rule by November 2023.
“The message is very simple. Look before you lock, and buy cars that have devices that warn loudly when a child is left in the car, and you leave it and lock it. A car can become a death trap for a child in a matter of minutes,” said Blumenthal.
Blumenthal Bulletin
Blumenthal introduced a bicameral bill to cut off federal contracts to gun dealers whose firearms are consistently linked to violent crime.
Blumenthal demanded information about the potential impact of United and JetBlue partnership on consumers.
Blumenthal joined the Connecticut Delegation to condemn the Republican budget bill and its harmful effects on Connecticut residents.
Blumenthal celebrated the Fourth of July.
Blumenthal joined veterans in Columbia for the town’s Fourth of July parade
Blumenthal attended Windham’s 40th Boom Box Parade.
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