{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"Senate\", state = \"CT\" and year = 2023 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-on-state-of-the-union-political-leaders-need-to-start-talking-about-the-emotional-state-of-america", "Murphy on State of the Union: Political Leaders Need to Start Talking About the Emotional State of America", "2023-12-31", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Sunday joined CNN\u2019s State of the Union to discuss how government can help tackle the loneliness epidemic and why it\u2019s important for Americans to have a national conversation about rebuilding community and connection.\n\n\u201cLast year, we had more suicides in the United States than in any year in our lifetime. Rising rates of violence. More people taking withdrawal drugs and overdosing. It feels like people are having a harder time finding purpose and meaning than ever before. And part of the reason for that \u2013 a lot of people are lonely and feeling alone. 20 years ago, only 3% of Americans reported having no friends. Today, 12% of Americans say they have not a single friend. We report spending half as much time as we used to on a daily basis with family and friends. We\u2019re withdrawing into ourselves, and with that comes a real sickness, emotionally, spiritually, physically. And it's something that I think political leaders need to start talking about because it impacts everybody in this country on the right and the left. And it's actually a wonderful unifying conversation because everyone in this country is feeling alone,\u201d said Murphy.\n\nOn bipartisan support for regulating social media, Murphy said: \u201cThe social media companies absolutely are determined to protect their addictive technology. Their entire business model is centered around trying to get us to look at our phones six to eight hours a day. They make less money if we're talking to each other rather than looking at our phones. But the good news is this conversation about social media regulation is one that actually brings Republicans and Democrats, the right and the left together. You talk to parents out there \u2013 it really has nothing to do with their ideology as to whether or not they want more help in trying to keep their kids off of TikTok, off of Instagram, especially when they see those sites really taking their children into a dark rabbit hole.\u201d\n\nMurphy discussed how the political discourse is disconnected from what Americans are really feeling: \u201cI think when you don't have leaders that are sticking up for you and plugging into the things that matter most to you, that makes you feel alone, right? You want a champion. You want somebody that understands what you're going through and is fighting for you. That's why I think we have to talk about the emotional state of America because that's a way for political leaders to directly plug into the actual things that people are feeling. And so when we just sort of talk about the price of health care or the unemployment rate \u2013 that isn't directly connected to the spiritual, emotional state of the country in a way a conversation about loneliness or purpose or meaning would be. I know that those are topics that feel very unfamiliar and distant to political leadership, but it actually, I think, would scratch the American public where they itch and make them feel less alone if they thought political leaders were actually talking about the way that they feel.\u201d\n\nMurphy added: \u201cYou can\u2019t just have a conversation simply about how people are feeling. You\u2019ve got to say \u2018how are you feeling,\u2019 and then what can government do to make it better. If you talk about loneliness, part of the policy is social media regulation, but it's also free time and leisure time, right? Giving people the space where they can go join a church or a social club. It's about connection. I want a four-day work week. I want more functional third places. I want more community pools. And I want more vibrant churches. I want places where people can meet. You have to start the conversation around purpose and meaning and connection, but then I think you need to move pretty quickly to policy, but make sure that that's one conversation.\u201d\n\nEarlier this month, Murphy authored an op-ed for the New Republic to make the case for a political realignment oriented around a set of solutions that would address America\u2019s spiritual unspooling and enable Americans to have more economic control over their lives, more social connection, and more moral markets.\n\nMurphy and U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-Pa.) introduced the Addressing Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults (SILO) Act, legislation to establish a grant and training program for community-based organizations working to address social isolation among older adults and adults with disabilities \u2013 two populations at greater risk for loneliness. Earlier this year, Murphy introduced the National Strategy for Social Connection Act, which would create an Office of Social Connection Policy within the White House to work across federal agencies to develop effective strategies for improved social infrastructure and issue national guidelines for social connection similar to existing guidelines on sleep, nutrition, and physical activity. It would also provide funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to better understand the epidemic of social isolation and loneliness.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-and-brauns-bipartisan-slow-down-move-over-resolution-passed-by-the-senate", "Blumenthal & Braun's Bipartisan Slow Down, Move Over Resolution Passed by the Senate", "2023-12-29", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, DC] \u2013 The Senate passed the bipartisan \u201cSlow Down, Move Over\u201d resolution led by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Mike Braun (R-IN). The resolution raises awareness of Slow Down, Move Over state laws to reduce struck-by-vehicle injuries and fatalities and to recognize the important role fire and rescue personnel, emergency medical services personnel, law enforcement officers, tow truck operators, and transportation workers play in road safety.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud the Senate has unanimously passed our bipartisan Slow Down, Move Over resolution,\u201d said Blumenthal. \u201cTragic collisions that injure and kill first responders and roadside assistance workers like Corey Iodice continue to happen. This resolution amplifies the simple yet effective way to keep workers safe on the roads: Slow Down and Move Over.\u201d\n\n\u201cToo many first responders and roadside assistance workers are killed in accidents on our highways,\u201d said Braun. \u201cThis resolution is inspired by Corey Iodice, who was killed in such an accident, and is a reminder to all of us of the simple thing we can do to prevent these accidents: slow down, and move over.\u201d\n\nAll 50 states have Slow Down, Move Over laws that direct motorists to reduce speed or change lanes for stopped emergency and maintenance vehicles. Despite these laws, many motorists are unaware of them and roadside fatalities and injuries continue. On average, an emergency first responder is struck and killed every 4.65 days working on America's roadways, with 51 deaths occurring in 2022.\n\nThe Slow Down, Move Over resolution is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Mark Warner (D-VA), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Jon Tester (D-MT). It is inspired by Corey Iodice, a tow truck operator for his family\u2019s business, who was tragically struck and killed on the Merritt Parkway in Connecticut in 2020 while assisting a driver. Following his death, his sister Cindy Iodice launched Flagman, a non-profit organization focused on raising awareness and educating drivers about the roadside dangers faced by first responders and highway workers.\n\n\u201cEmergency responders are the unsung heroes of our nation\u2019s roads,\u201d said Iodice, \u201cso it\u2019s important to keep the message of Slow Down Move Over in the motoring public\u2019s eye. This resolution does just that. It serves as a clear reminder that emergency responders and highway workers operate in dangerous situations to keep the roads open and safe for the traveling public. Prioritizing their safety is essential.\u201d\n\nThe resolution is supported by a number of organizations, including Towing and Recovery Association of America (TRAA), American Automobile Association (AAA), American Association of State Troopers, American Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, Connecticut Department of Transportation, Eastern Transportation Coalition, Governors Highway Safety Association, International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), National Association of Police Organizations, National Association of State EMS Officials, National District Attorneys Association, National Safety Council, National Sheriff\u2019s Association, and National Volunteer Fire Council.\n\nThe text of the resolution is available here.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-releases-2023-end-of-year-report", "Murphy Releases 2023 End of Year Report", "2023-12-29", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "HARTFORD\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Friday released his End of Year Report outlining the work he\u2019s done for the people of Connecticut during 2023. The report details Murphy\u2019s legislative priorities this year, including implementing the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, tackling the fentanyl crisis, rebuilding community and connection, protecting kids and holding social media companies accountable, supporting workers, making housing more affordable, and more. Murphy also helped deliver billions of federal dollars from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act to create good-paying jobs in Connecticut.\n\nThis year, Murphy and his office:\n\nIntroduced or co-sponsored more than 200 pieces of legislation, including 24 bills or resolutions as the lead sponsor.\n\nCompleted his seventh Walk Across Connecticut: four days, 67 miles, 17 towns, and hundreds of people along the way.\n\nTraveled across the state, hosting 139 town halls, roundtables, listening sessions and more with Connecticut residents.\n\nResponded and reached out to Connecticut residents through over 529,883 calls, emails, and letters.\n\nReturned $3,189,384 to constituents, including owed Social Security payments, veterans\u2019 benefits, tax refunds, and other savings from federal agencies.\n\nHelped over 8,100 constituents work through federal issues and get their owed benefits.\n\nClick here to download Senator Murphy\u2019s 2023 End of Year Report.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-and-markey-call-on-tesla-to-recall-all-vehicle-components-that-pose-known-safety-risks", "Blumenthal & Markey Call on Tesla to Recall All Vehicle Components that Pose Known Safety Risks", "2023-12-27", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, D.C.] \u2013 After alarming reporting on Tesla safety flaws, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Edward J. Markey (D-MA) called on the company to immediately recall all vehicle components that pose a risk to consumers. A recent Reuters investigation revealed that Tesla knows about existing flaws in its cars, including serious issues with steering control and suspension caused by component failures, but conceals the causes of the flaws from U.S. regulators while blaming its customers for them.\n\n\u201cWe write with extreme concern following recent reporting about Tesla\u2019s knowledge of safety flaws in its vehicles and concealment of the causes of these flaws from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA),\u201d wrote Blumenthal and Markey to Tesla co-founder and CEO Elon Musk. \u201cThis reporting puts your statement from January that \u2018Teslas are the safest car on the road\u2019 at stark contrast with reality. We call on you to swiftly recall all Tesla components that pose a safety risk and correct the record with NHTSA to ensure it can properly do its job.\u201d\n\nNHTSA is currently conducting investigations into one suspension connection point, the fore link, and power steering after failures experienced by Tesla drivers. In 2020, Tesla recalled the front suspension aft link and rear suspension upper link in China, suggesting the company is aware of these flaws in its vehicles, but no recall has yet taken place in the U.S. or other countries.\n\n\u201c[W]e are disturbed that you would blame your customers for these failures. Reporting notes that Tesla repeatedly attributed the suspension failures to \u2018vehicle misuse\u2019 or \u2018driver abuse,\u2019 including when justifying to NHTSA why it was not pursuing the aforementioned suspension recall in the United States,\u201d continued the senators. \u201cIt is unacceptable that Tesla would not only attempt to shift the responsibility for the substandard quality of its vehicles to the people purchasing them, but also make that same flawed argument to NHTSA.\u201d\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\nBlumenthal and Markey have long pushed for autonomous vehicle (AV) technology safety. In August 2021, Blumenthal and Markey sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), calling for the agency to launch an investigation into Tesla\u2019s advertising of driving automation systems. The full text of the letter can be found here. In February 2022, Blumenthal and Markey sent a letter to Tesla Co-founder and CEO Elon Musk following numerous reports of dangerous braking flaws in Tesla\u2019s Autopilot and Full Self-Driving systems and amid several federal safety investigations, voicing serious concerns with the implementation of the company\u2019s technology. The full text of the letter to Musk can be found here. In June 2022, Blumenthal and Markey issued a joint statement applauding the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for upgrading its investigation into Tesla\u2019s Autopilot system from a preliminary evaluation to an engineering analysis after identifying additional crashes at first responder sites. In October 2022, Blumenthal and Markey issued a joint statement on a reported DOJ investigation into Tesla\u2019s misleading advertising of driving automation systems. In February 2023, Blumenthal and Markey issued a joint statement on Tesla\u2019s recall of its vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving Beta software due to crash risk, and in December 2023, the senators issued a joint statement on Tesla\u2019s recall of 2 million vehicles with Autosteer, an Autopilot feature.\n\nDecember 27, 2023\n\nMr. Elon Musk\n\nCo-founder and Chief Executive Officer\n\nTesla\n\n3500 Deer Creek Road\n\nPalo Alto, California 94304\n\nDear Mr. Musk,\n\nWe write with extreme concern following recent reporting about Tesla\u2019s knowledge of safety flaws in its vehicles and concealment of the causes of these flaws from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This reporting puts your statement from January that \u201cTeslas are the safest car on the road\u201d at stark contrast with reality.[1] We call on you to swiftly recall all Tesla components that pose a safety risk and correct the record with NHTSA to ensure it can properly do its job.\n\nAn alarming Reuters report last week outlined repeated failures in steering control and suspension parts on Tesla vehicles shortly after purchase. The report detailed complaints about suspension connection points, including fore and aft links, and sudden losses of power steering \u2013 often while a vehicle was in motion.[2] We are encouraged that NHTSA is conducting investigations into the fore link and power steering.[3] However, it appears that Tesla knew about the flaws in its components and failed to take action: in 2020, Tesla recalled the front suspension aft link and rear suspension upper link in China after pressure from regulators, but no such recall occurred in the United States or elsewhere in the world, putting countless Americans and others on the road at undue risk.[4] We urge you to swiftly issue a recall for any component \u2013 power steering, suspension, or otherwise \u2013 that poses a threat to the safe functioning of a vehicle.\n\nMoreover, we are disturbed that you would blame your customers for these failures. Reporting notes that Tesla repeatedly attributed the suspension failures to \u201cvehicle misuse\u201d or \u201cdriver abuse,\u201d including when justifying to NHTSA why it was not pursuing the aforementioned suspension recall in the United States.[5] It is unacceptable that Tesla would not only attempt to shift the responsibility for the substandard quality of its vehicles to the people purchasing them, but also make that same flawed argument to NHTSA. NHTSA exists to ensure roadway safety, but it cannot do its job with incomplete or incorrect information.\n\nIn light of these apparent false and misleading representations, we demand that you correct the record in every respect and that you commit to providing accurate and truthful statements in the future. The credibility and reputation of your company is at stake \u2013 and even more importantly, the safety of motorists and others on the roads.\n\nAs you are well aware, no company is above the law. We appreciate your urgent attention to this important matter, and we await your written response.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/the-voices-behind-the-kids-online-safety-act-lori-schott-from-colorado", "The Voices Behind the Kids Online Safety Act: Lori Schott from Colorado", "2023-12-22", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, D.C.] \u2013 The bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act, led by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), is strongly supported by a broad coalition of parents who have tragically lost their children or whose kids have been severely harmed by Big Tech, young people who want to regain control over their online lives, and experts and advocates who study and see the negative effects of social media firsthand in their communities. The \u201cVoices Behind the Kids Online Safety Act\u201d series will amplify their stories as they call on Congress to pass the legislation to help protect themselves online and to hold Big Tech accountable. The bill has the support of nearly half of the U.S. Senate.\n\nLori Schott\n\nLori Schott\u2019s interview with Denver7\n\nThe full interview & story can be found HERE\n\nThe Schott Family\u2019s Story:\n\nThe Schotts lost Annalee on November 15, 2020. She was just 18 years old when she died by suicide. Her mom, dad and brothers were left brokenhearted, and at a complete loss as to what led her to such a dark place.\u201d\n\nBut as Lori came to learn, Annalee left behind clues.\n\n\u2026\n\nScrolling through the videos, Lori said she found video after video of young people sharing \u2014 and at times glamorizing \u2014 self-harm and self-hate. Many had tens of thousands of likes or more.\n\nLori Schott\u2019s Mission:\n\n\u201cAt that moment is when I decided that pain has to be purpose, that I don\u2019t want to see what happened to our daughter impact any other children,\" Lori said.\n\nStories like Annalee Schott\u2019s have inspired a rare bipartisan mission in Washington, D.C. to hold social media companies accountable for the content their algorithms serve to our young people. The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) is before Congress and has cosponsors from both parties, including Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper.\n\n\u2026\n\nBut in Lori Schott\u2019s eyes, KOSA is a vital first step to making the internet safer for our kids and building her daughter\u2019s legacy. Annalee left her journal entries, Lori said, so we all could \u201csee the impact and to dig down deep to do something about it.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur kids deserve better,\u201d Lori said.\n\nThe full Denver7 story and Lori Schott\u2019s interview with Denver7 can be found here\n\nBlumenthal and Blackburn are the lead sponsors of the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act, which would provide kids and parents with better tools to protect themselves online, hold Big Tech accountable for harms to kids, and provide transparency into black box algorithms.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-tillis-urge-cms-to-clarify-guidance-protect-medicare-advantage-beneficiaries-access-to-long-term-care-facilities", "Murphy, Tillis Urge CMS to Clarify Guidance, Protect Medicare Advantage Beneficiaries' Access to Long Term Care Facilities", "2023-12-22", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, and U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) sent a letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure urging public clarification that critically and chronically ill Medicare Advantage (MA) beneficiaries will have the same access to Long-Term Care Hospital services as traditional Medicare beneficiaries, as required by law. Murphy and Tillis detail how MA plans\u2019 prior authorization practices are used to deny coverage of medically necessary care at Long-Term Care Hospitals (LTCHs).\n\n\u201cLong-Term Care Hospitals (LTCHs) are hospitals that provide specialized care for high-acuity patients who require an extended hospital stay. These facilities are designed to care for severely ill patients who require complex medical treatment, such as mechanical ventilation and wound care. To be recognized as an LTCH, CMS requires hospitals to satisfy the conditions of participation of a short-term acute care hospital (STACH) but have an average Medicare length of stay greater than 25 days. In contrast, the average Medicare length of stay in a STACH is about 5 days,\u201d the senators wrote. \u201cMedicare Advantage beneficiaries are less than half as likely to receive LTCH care compared to traditional Medicare beneficiaries. Recent research suggests that these practices may be worsening the outcomes of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries; a 2021 peer-reviewed study found that delays in the transfer of mechanically ventilated patients to an LTCH decreased a patient\u2019s likelihood of being successfully weaned from the ventilator and breathing on his or her own.\"\n\n\u201cWe have heard concerns from LTCHs in our states, as well as patients, that LTCHs regularly receive denial letters from Medicare Advantage plans stating that an LTCH transfer was not required because the patient could receive all necessary services in the short-term acute care hospital, even though the provider referred the patient to an LTCH and the patient met all of the medical necessity requirements for LTCH care,\u201d the senators added.\n\nThe senators concluded: \u201cWe write to ask CMS to confirm this interpretation is correct and to request such information be publicly clarified to eliminate confusion for Medicare Advantage plans and ensure that LTCHs are treated the same as any other post-acute care provider under the Medicare Advantage regulations. We appreciate CMS\u2019s commitment to improving Medicare Advantage enrollees\u2019 access to Medicare-covered benefits and we look forward to working with you to ensure that Medicare Advantage beneficiaries have access to the services they are entitled to by law.\u201d\n\nFull text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Administrator Brooks-LaSure:\n\nWe thank the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for taking steps to ensure that Medicare Advantage beneficiaries receive the same services they would under traditional Medicare, as required by law. With the Contract Year 2024 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Programs Final Rule (CMS-4201-F) (the Final Rule) taking effect January 1, 2024, we are writing to ensure that critically and chronically ill Medicare Advantage beneficiaries will have the same access to Long-Term Care Hospital services as traditional Medicare beneficiaries.\n\nLong-Term Care Hospitals (LTCHs) are hospitals that provide specialized care for high-acuity patients who require an extended hospital stay. These facilities are designed to care for severely ill patients who require complex medical treatment, such as mechanical ventilation and wound care. To be recognized as an LTCH, CMS requires hospitals to satisfy the conditions of participation of a short-term acute care hospital (STACH) but have an average Medicare length of stay greater than 25 days. In contrast, the average Medicare length of stay in a STACH is about 5 days.\n\nUnfortunately, Medicare Advantage plan prior authorization practices are creating significant barriers to LTCH care for critically and chronically ill patients. A 2022 report by the Department of Health and Human Services\u2019 Office of Inspector General concluded that Medicare Advantage Organizations \u201csometimes delayed or denied Medicare Advantage beneficiaries' access to services, even though the requests met Medicare coverage rules\u201d and that these denials sometimes delayed beneficiaries from receiving medically necessary care or prevented them from receiving the care altogether. Sadly, LTCHs are also subject to this trend. Medicare Advantage beneficiaries are less than half as likely to receive LTCH care compared to traditional Medicare beneficiaries. Recent research suggests that these practices may be worsening the outcomes of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries; a 2021 peer-reviewed study found that delays in the transfer of mechanically ventilated patients to an LTCH decreased a patient\u2019s likelihood of being successfully weaned from the ventilator and breathing on his or her own.\n\nWe were pleased to see CMS respond to these practices by including language in the April 2023 Final Rule that specifies that Medicare Advantage plans must comply with general coverage and benefit conditions included in traditional Medicare coverage policies. The Final Rule also codifies previously released CMS guidance that Medicare Advantage plans must: (1) make medical necessity determinations based on traditional Medicare coverage criteria; 2) consider if a service is reasonable and necessary; 3) consider the patient\u2019s medical history when making medical necessity determinations; and 4) where appropriate, plans\u2019 medical directors must be involved in ensuring the clinical accuracy of medical necessity determinations.\n\nThe statute allows Medicare Advantage plans to create contracted networks, but the Final Rule specifies that Medicare Advantage plans must align with traditional Medicare in terms of covering different provider types and settings. This means that if care can be delivered in more than one way or in more than one setting, and a practitioner has ordered a covered item or service for a Medicare Advantage enrollee, then the Medicare Advantage plan cannot deny coverage. CMS provides the following example in the Final Rule:\n\n\u201c[I]f an MA patient is being discharged from an acute care hospital and the attending physician orders post-acute care at a SNF because the patient requires skilled nursing care on a daily basis in an institutional setting, the MA organization cannot deny coverage for the SNF care and redirect the patient to home health care services unless the patient does not meet the coverage criteria required for SNF care\u2026.\u201d See 88 Fed. Reg. at 22190 (April 12, 2023).\n\nWe have heard concerns from LTCHs in our states, as well as patients, that LTCHs regularly receive denial letters from Medicare Advantage plans stating that an LTCH transfer was not required because the patient could receive all necessary services in the short-term acute care hospital, even though the provider referred the patient to an LTCH, and the patient met all the medical necessity requirements for LTCH care.\n\nBased on the specifications included in the Final Rule and given that 42 CFR \u00a7412.3 covers admissions to an LTCH, we write to ensure that the Final Rule requires Medicare Advantage plans to apply traditional Medicare standards and requirements in assessing prior authorization requests for LTCH admissions. That is, a Medicare Advantage plan \u2013 like a traditional Medicare plan \u2013 cannot deny admission to an LTCH if the patient is being discharged from an acute care hospital, the patient\u2019s attending physician orders post-acute care in an LTCH, and the patient meets the coverage criteria for inpatient admissions under 42 CFR \u00a7412.3.\n\nWe write to ask CMS to confirm this interpretation is correct and to request such information be publicly clarified to eliminate confusion for Medicare Advantage plans and ensure that LTCHs are treated the same as any other post-acute care provider under the Medicare Advantage regulations.\n\nWe appreciate CMS\u2019s commitment to improving Medicare Advantage enrollees\u2019 access to Medicare-covered benefits and we look forward to working with you to ensure that Medicare Advantage beneficiaries have access to the services they are entitled to by law.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-calls-for-justice-thomass-recusal-in-trump-january-6th-case", "Blumenthal Calls for Justice Thomas's Recusal in Trump January 6th Case", "2023-12-20", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, D.C.] \u2013 U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, called on Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts to ensure Justice Clarence Thomas recuses himself in proceedings in United States v. Trump given his wife Ginni Thomas\u2019s efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Blumenthal\u2019s letter comes as the Supreme Court considers special counsel\u2019s request to rule on former President Trump\u2019s immunity in the January 6th case and as Trump has been requested to respond to the Court on an expedited basis.\n\n\u201cI urge you to ensure that Justice Thomas abides by federal statute and the Court\u2019s own Code of Conduct and recuses himself from participating in United States v. Trump,\u201d wrote Blumenthal, citing Eastman v. Thompson as an example of a previous instance in which Justice Thomas had rightly recused himself and calling on Thomas to provide an explanation if he does not recuse himself in this case.\n\n\u201cNo proceeding could be graver than the prosecution of an attempt to undermine our sacred electoral process,\u201d Blumenthal stressed. \u201cJustice will be done only if such a case is heard by judges whose impartiality cannot reasonably be questioned.\u201d\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\nDecember 20, 2023\n\nThe Honorable John G. Roberts, Jr.\n\nChief Justice\n\nSupreme Court of the United States\n\n1 First Street NE\n\nWashington, DC 20543\n\nDear Chief Justice Roberts:\n\nThe Supreme Court is currently weighing whether to decide a critical question in United States v. Trump, a criminal case arising from former President Trump\u2019s role in the January 6th insurrection. Last week, the United States urged the Court to fast-track its consideration of \u201ca fundamental question at the heart of our democracy\u201d: whether former President Trump is immune from charges of conspiring to obstruct the certification of the 2020 electoral vote and overturn the results of the election.[1] The Court has asked former President Trump to respond on an expedited basis\u2014by today at 4:00 PM.\n\nI write to urge you to take appropriate steps to ensure that Justice Clarence Thomas recuses himself from consideration of the petition for certiorari and any future proceedings in United States v. Trump, or otherwise provides the public an \u201cexplanation of [his] recusal decision\u201d[2] showing how his participation comports with judicial ethics and federal law.\n\nThe federal recusal statute requires that any \u201cjustice, judge, or magistrate judge \u2026 shall disqualify himself in any proceeding in which his impartiality might reasonably be questioned.\u201d[3] In addition, recusal is required when a Justice \u201cor his spouse \u2026 is known by the judge to have an interest that could be substantially affected by the outcome of the proceeding; [or i]s to the judge\u2019s knowledge likely to be a material witness in the proceeding.\u201d[4]\n\nIn October, Justice Thomas followed this statute in recusing himself from participating in Eastman v. Thompson.[5] That case concerned whether attorney-client privilege shielded emails by defendant John Eastman regarding strategies to overturn the 2020 election results.[6] Eastman was a personal lawyer to former President Trump who received correspondence from Justice Thomas\u2019s wife, Virginia (\u201cGinni\u201d) Thomas, about efforts to overturn the election.[7] In fact, Mrs. Thomas has been deeply involved in former President Trump\u2019s attempt to overturn the most recent presidential election, including by attending the January 6th rally whose other attendees later stormed the Capitol,[8] sitting on the board of an organization that led the \u201cStop the Steal\u201d movement,[9] and sending dozens of text messages urging White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows to prevent certification of the election results.[10]\n\nGiven Mrs. Thomas\u2019s involvement in challenging the 2020 election results, Justice Thomas\u2019s impartiality in a related case \u201cmight reasonably be questioned,\u201d giving rise, at a minimum, to an appearance of a conflict of interest.[11] Justice Thomas\u2019s recusal in Eastman v. Thompson was therefore proper.\n\nThe same is true in United States v. Trump. Mrs. Thomas\u2019s close interactions with senior Trump administration officials about overturning the 2020 election results\u2014the very subject of the litigation\u2014certainly creates circumstances where Justice Thomas\u2019s \u201cimpartiality might reasonably be questioned.\u201d\n\nThe Supreme Court\u2019s recent adoption of a Code of Conduct only underscores the importance of recusal.[12] Although the Code very unfortunately does not provide any enforcement mechanism, it mirrors the statutory standard for recusal. In lieu of an enforcement mechanism, the Code states that Justices themselves \u201cmust bear the primary responsibility for requiring [appropriate] judicial behavior.\u201d[13] With trust in the Supreme Court near historic lows,[14] the need for this judicial responsibility has never been higher. As the Chief Justice, it is incumbent upon you to assure that the Code is followed to \u201cdispel the misunderstanding\u201d that \u201cJustices \u2026 regard themselves as unrestricted by any ethics rules.\u201d[15]\n\nI urge you to ensure that Justice Thomas abides by federal statute and the Court\u2019s own Code of Conduct and recuses himself from participating in United States v. Trump. No proceeding could be graver than the prosecution of an attempt to undermine our sacred electoral process. Justice will be done only if such a case is heard by judges whose impartiality cannot reasonably be questioned.\n\nSincerely,\n\n[1] Petition for Writ of Certiorari at 2, United States v. Trump (No. 23-3228).\n\n[2] See Letter from Supreme Court Justices to Richard J. Durbin at 2 (Apr. 25, 2023), https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Letter%20to%20Chairman%20Durbin%2004.25.2023.pdf.\n\n[3] 28 U.S.C. \u00a7 455(a).\n\n[4] 28 U.S.C. \u00a7 455(b)(5).\n\n[5] Eastman v. Thompson, No. 22-1138, 2023 WL 6379015 (U.S. Oct. 2, 2023).\n\n[6] Jacqueline Alemany et al., Trump Lawyers Saw Clarence Thomas as Key to Stop Biden Electoral Count, Emails Show, Wash. Post (Nov. 2, 2022), https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/11/02/trump-clarence-thomas-emails.\n\n[7] Id.\n\n[8] Danny Hakim & Jo Becker, Ginni Thomas Says She Attended Jan. 6 Rally, N.Y. Times (Mar. 14, 2022), https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/14/us/politics/ginni-thomas-jan-6-rally.html.\n\n[9] Id.\n\n[10] Bob Woodward & Robert Costa, Virginia Thomas Urged White House Chief to Pursue Unrelenting Efforts to Overturn the 2020 Election, Texts Show, Wash. Post (Mar. 24, 2022), https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/03/24/virginia-thomas-mark-meadows-texts.\n\n[11] 28 U.S.C. \u00a7 455(a).\n\n[12] U.S. Sup. Ct, Code of Conduct for Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States (hereinafter Code of Conduct) (2023), https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/Code-of-Conduct-for-Justices_November_13_2023.pdf\n\n[13] Id. at cmt.\n\n[14] Megan Brenan, Views of Supreme Court Remain Near Record Lows, Gallup (Sept. 29, 2023), https://news.gallup.com/poll/511820/views-supreme-court-remain-near-record-lows.aspx.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-braun-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-conduct-a-new-review-of-currently-approved-opioids", "Murphy, Braun Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Conduct a New Review of Currently Approved Opioids", "2023-12-20", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Mike Braun (R-Ind.), both members of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, on Wednesday introduced bipartisan legislation directing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to establish a plan to review all currently approved opioid medications. The Opioid Review Act would require the FDA to consider information that was not available when the drugs were first approved, such as addiction and overdose rates, and to publish a public report detailing next steps.\n\n\u201cThe United States is five percent of the world\u2019s population, and yet we account for between 70 and 80 percent of the world\u2019s opioid prescriptions. In the years since these drugs were first approved by the FDA, we\u2019ve learned just how addictive they are and far too many families have paid the price. Taking a hard look at whether the current guidance needs updating is one way we can begin to tackle this crisis. I\u2019m glad our bipartisan bill was included in this year\u2019s SUPPORT Act reauthorization, and I\u2019ll keep pushing to ensure it lands on President Biden\u2019s desk,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n\u201cDrug overdose deaths continue to rise in the United States and we urgently need to take action to stop these devastating and preventable deaths. The bipartisan Opioid Review Act would direct the FDA to review approved opioids while considering important public health implications, like addiction and overdose rates,\u201d said Braun.\n\nSpecifically, FDA\u2019s report must be published online and must include:\n\nPublic comment on the FDA\u2019s regulation of opioid drugs\n\nAn explanation of the actions the FDA has already taken to review the effectiveness, safety, benefit-risk profile, and use of approved opioid analgesic drugs\n\nA timeline for an assessment of the potential need for changes in an opioid drugs\u2019 labeling, revised or additional post marketing requirements, enforcement actions, or withdrawals from market\n\nAn overview of the steps that the FDA has taken to support the development and approval of non-addictive medical products intended to treat pain or addiction, and actions planned to further support the development and approval of such products\n\nAn overview of the consideration by the FDA of clinical trial methodologies for analgesic drugs, including the enriched enrollment randomized withdrawal methodology, and the benefits and drawbacks associated with different trial methodologies for such drugs, incorporating any public input received\n\nThe Opioid Review Act was included in committee passage of the SUPPORT Act Reauthorization last week.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/permanent-subcommittee-on-investigations-demands-swift-response-to-inquiry-into-sexual-assault-and-sexual-harassment-at-the-coast-guard-academy", "Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations Demands Swift Response to Inquiry Into Sexual Assault & Sexual Harassment at the Coast Guard Academy", "2023-12-19", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, DC] \u2013 Today, U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI) Chairman Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Ranking Member Ron Johnson (R-WI) demanded that the Coast Guard immediately provide all records responsive to PSI\u2019s probe into sexual assault and harassment at the Coast Guard Academy. This letter follows PSI\u2019s hearing last week with current and former Coast Guard Academy cadets, who experienced sexual assault, sexual harassment, or retaliation at the Academy and in the Coast Guard.\n\n\u201cIt is clear from this testimony, and the Subcommittee\u2019s inquiry to date, that the Coast Guard\u2019s culture of cover-up has allowed sexual assault and sexual harassment to persist for decades, both at the Academy and in the Coast Guard,\u201d wrote Blumenthal and Johnson in a letter to Coast Guard Commandant Linda Fagan. \u201cIt is equally apparent that accountability and systematic change at both the Coast Guard and the Academy are necessary to address past failures and to ensure that future cadets are protected. Full compliance with the Subcommittee\u2019s inquiry is a necessary component of these actions.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou have expressed a commitment to investigate reports of sexual assault and sexual harassment, hold perpetrators accountable, support victims, and be fully transparent with Congress and the American people. It is imperative that you live up to that commitment and ensure that the Coast Guard provides all requested documents and information to the Subcommittee without further delay,\u201d continued the senators. \u201cShould the Coast Guard continue to withhold or redact requested records, PSI will have no choice but to utilize other means to ensure compliance with congressional oversight.\u201d\n\nIn September 2023, PSI opened a bipartisan inquiry into the Coast Guard Academy\u2019s mishandling of sexual assault investigations and its failure to reveal Operation Fouled Anchor, and its associated report, to Congress or the public. The full text of the senators\u2019 initial letter to the Coast Guard is available here.\n\nThe full text of today\u2019s letter can be found here and below.\n\nDecember 19, 2023\n\nThe Honorable Admiral Linda Fagan\n\nCommandant\n\nU.S. Coast Guard\n\n2703 Martin Luther King Junior Avenue, SE\n\nWashington, D.C. 20593\n\nDear Admiral Fagan,\n\nOn September 12, 2023, the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (\u201cPSI\u201d or the \u201cSubcommittee\u201d) sent you a letter as part of an inquiry into the mishandling of sexual assault and sexual harassment cases at the United States Coast Guard Academy (the \u201cAcademy\u201d), as well as the United States Coast Guard\u2019s (the \u201cCoast Guard\u201d) failure to reveal Operation Fouled Anchor, and its associated report, to Congress and the public.[1] In the three months since the Subcommittee\u2019s initial letter was sent, the Coast Guard has failed to provide critical records responsive to our request.\n\nSince launching its inquiry, PSI has received outreach from numerous survivors who have recounted their harrowing experiences of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and retaliation at the Academy and in the Coast Guard. On December 12, 2023, the Subcommittee heard from four of these individuals, who testified that the failures of Coast Guard and Academy leadership amplified the trauma of these events, in some cases leading to mental health struggles, suicide attempts, tarnished or lost relationships, or the decision to leave the Academy.[2] It is clear from this testimony, and the Subcommittee\u2019s inquiry to date, that the Coast Guard\u2019s culture of cover-up has allowed sexual assault and sexual harassment to persist for decades, both at the Academy and in the Coast Guard. It is equally apparent that accountability and systematic change at both the Coast Guard and the Academy are necessary to address past failures and to ensure that future cadets are protected. Full compliance with the Subcommittee\u2019s inquiry is a necessary component of these actions.\n\nYou have expressed a commitment to investigate reports of sexual assault and sexual harassment, hold perpetrators accountable, support victims, and be fully transparent with Congress and the American people.[3] It is imperative that you live up to that commitment and ensure that the Coast Guard provides all requested documents and information to the Subcommittee without further delay. Should the Coast Guard continue to withhold or redact requested records, PSI will have no choice but to utilize other means to ensure compliance with congressional oversight. Please provide all records, without redactions, that are responsive to our requests, including but not limited to unredacted email records related to the decision of whether to disclose Operation Fouled Anchor to Congress and all other items identified in Enclosure A. To ensure that the Subcommittee\u2019s inquiry can continue without further delay, all requested information should be produced by no later than January 19, 2024. Thank you for your attention to this matter.\n\nSincerely,\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-blumenthal-colleagues-push-to-keep-anti-lgbtq-and-anti-abortion-provisions-out-of-critical-government-funding-bills", "Murphy, Blumenthal, Colleagues Push to Keep Anti-LGBTQ+ and Anti-Abortion Provisions Out of Critical Government Funding Bills", "2023-12-19", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) joined 48 of their Senate colleagues in a letter to U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Vice Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) urging them to reject any new poison pill policy riders in the fiscal year 2024 appropriations bills, including the anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-abortion policy provisions that House Republicans inserted into their appropriations bills.\n\n\u201cThe Senate has had tremendous success both passing bipartisan bills in committee and on the Senate floor because these bills are free of new poison pill riders. Unfortunately, the House appropriations bills are filled with new highly partisan provisions, including anti-abortion and anti-LGBTQ+ riders, that should be removed from any final appropriations bills,\u201d write the Senators.\n\nThese poison pill policy riders aim to make changes to laws that would fail to withstand scrutiny of congressional debate by attaching them to \u201cmust-pass\u201d measures like appropriation bills.\n\n\u201cOur country is facing a reproductive health care crisis, one that has been accelerated by the Supreme Court\u2019s extremist decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women\u2019s Health Organization,\u201d the Senators write. \u201cHouse Republicans have proposed several new anti-abortion policy riders. These riders include a provision to force back in place medically unnecessary restrictions on medication abortion, a measure to stop the implementation of the Biden administration\u2019s executive orders to protect access to abortion care, and a measure that would jeopardize access to essential postgraduate medical training in abortion care,\u201d their letter continues.\n\n\u201cHouse Republicans have used the appropriations process to push extremist anti-LGBTQ+ measures, which threaten to disrupt the lives and fundamental dignity of the LGBTQ+ community,\u201d the letter states. \u201cAgainst this backdrop, House Republicans have introduced more than 50 anti-LGBTQ+ provisions across all 12 appropriations bills. These provisions include those allowing the government to discriminate against married same-sex couples as well as language to prevent the administration from enforcing laws to protect LGBTQ+ people from discrimination. Seven of the House\u2019s twelve appropriations bills also contain dangerous riders that ban access to gender-affirming care, which would deprive transgender people of medically necessary and often life-saving healthcare,\u201d the Senators note.\n\nU.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) also signed the letter.\n\nThe letter is endorsed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Guttmacher Institute, Human Rights Campaign, National Center for Transgender Equality, National Council of Jewish Women, National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association, National Women\u2019s Law Center, Physicians for Reproductive Health, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Reproductive Freedom for All (formerly NARAL Pro-Choice America), Whitman-Walker Institute.\n\nFull text of the letter can be found here and follows below:\n\nDear Chair Murray and Vice Chair Collins:\n\nWe write to urge you to keep the FY24 appropriations bills free of any new poison pill policy riders. Partisan, discriminatory, and harmful policy riders have no place in appropriations bills. The Senate has had tremendous success both passing bipartisan bills in committee and on the Senate floor because these bills are free of new poison pill riders. Unfortunately, the House appropriations bills are filled with new highly partisan provisions, including anti-abortion and anti-LGBTQ+ riders, that should be removed from any final appropriations bills.\n\nOur country is facing a reproductive health care crisis, one that has been accelerated by the Supreme Court\u2019s extremist decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women\u2019s Health Organization. As of November 7, 2023, 14 states are enforcing abortion bans at any point in pregnancy and seven states have imposed abortion bans with limits that range from six to 18 weeks. These bans leave 1 in 3 women, as well as transgender and nonbinary people, without access to abortion and disproportionately impact people of color, people with disabilities, young people, people living in rural areas, and people with low incomes.\n\nYet in the midst of this crisis, House Republicans have proposed several new anti-abortion policy riders. These riders include a provision to force back in place medically unnecessary restrictions on medication abortion, a measure to stop the implementation of the Biden administration\u2019s executive orders to protect access to abortion care, and a measure that would jeopardize access to essential postgraduate medical training in abortion care. If adopted, these provisions would seriously undermine pregnant people\u2019s ability to make decisions about their bodies and providers\u2019 ability to provide necessary care.\n\nAt the same time, House Republicans have used the appropriations process to push extremist anti-LGBTQ+ measures, which threaten to disrupt the lives and fundamental dignity of the LGBTQ+ community. Anti-LGBTQ+ legislation is already on the rise; in 2023 alone, more than 575 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced across 41 state legislatures, and more than 80 of those bills have been signed into law.\n\nAgainst this backdrop, House Republicans have introduced more than 50 anti-LGBTQ+ provisions across all 12 appropriations bills. These provisions include those allowing the government to discriminate against married same-sex couples as well as language to prevent the administration from enforcing laws to protect LGBTQ+ people from discrimination. Seven of the House\u2019s twelve appropriations bills also contain dangerous riders that ban access to gender-affirming care, which would deprive transgender people of medically necessary and often life-saving healthcare.\n\nControversial poison pill provisions like those riddled throughout the House appropriations bills will severely undermine Congress\u2019 ability to push forward must-pass funding measures to keep the government open and working for the American people.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/senators-blumenthal-and-markey-applaud-dot-settlement-with-southwest-airlines", "Senators Blumenthal & Markey Applaud DOT Settlement with Southwest Airlines", "2023-12-18", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, D.C.] \u2013 U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Edward J. Markey (D-MA), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced a $140 million settlement with Southwest Airlines over its mass flight cancellations during the 2022 holiday season. As part of the settlement, Southwest will provide $90 million in vouchers to future passengers whose flights are delayed at least three hours due to a problem within Southwest\u2019s control.\n\n\u201cSouthwest made critical mistakes in its response to last year\u2019s holiday meltdown, and this settlement is a clear reminder that passengers must come first when airlines cancel or delay a flight. Although Southwest\u2019s new program to compensate passengers for airline-caused delays is an important step forward, Southwest should provide cash, instead of vouchers, to passengers, and we urge the Transportation Department to require all airlines to adopt similar programs. Consumers should not be forced to cover the costs of airlines\u2019 mistakes.\u201d\n\nIn December 2022, as Southwest canceled thousands of flights, Senators Blumenthal and Markey called on the airline to provide monetary compensation to passengers for the cancellations, in addition to the ticket refunds and reimbursement for hotels, meals, and alternative transportation that Southwest already agreed to provide to impacted customers. In January 2023, they led 13 of their colleagues in a letter to Southwest Airlines CEO Robert E. Jordan seeking answers for its mass flight cancellations. Also in January 2023, Senators Blumenthal and Markey led the introduction of the Airline Passengers\u2019 Bill of Rights and the Forbidding Airlines from Imposing Ridiculous (FAIR) Fees Act, bills to expand protections for air travelers. In March 2023, Senator Markey, along with Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), introduced the Airline Operational Resiliency Act, which would require the U.S. Comptroller General to investigate airlines on their capacity to prepare for and respond to extreme weather events and natural disasters.\n\nIn November 2022, Senators Blumenthal and Markey along with Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) submitted a comment to DOT urging the agency to strengthen its proposed rule on ticket refunds, including requiring airlines to cover secondary costs \u2014 such as hotel rooms, food and drink, and transportation to-and-from the airport \u2014 when an airline causes a flight cancellation or significant delay.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-blumenthal-38-democratic-senators-introduce-resolution-affirming-support-for-fdas-scientific-judgment-that-medication-abortion-is-safe-and-effective", "Murphy, Blumenthal, 38 Democratic Senators Introduce Resolution Affirming Support for FDA's Scientific Judgment that Medication Abortion is Safe and Effective", "2023-12-18", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2014U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) joined 38 of their Democratic Senate colleagues in introducing a resolution in support of equitable, science-based policies governing access to medication abortion.\n\nSince the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, reproductive rights have been increasingly under attack, with more than a dozen states banning or restricting access to abortion care, and anti-abortion extremists attempting to ban medication abortion nationwide. Medication abortion is currently used for over half of all abortions.\n\nThis resolution expresses the sense of Congress that the scientific judgment of the FDA that mifepristone is safe and effective should be respected, and that law and policy governing access to life-saving, time-sensitive medication abortion care in the United States should be equitable and based on science. The resolution affirms that mifepristone is safe and effective, while acknowledging the significant harm that would be posed to both health care providers and patients across the nation if mifepristone were sharply curtailed.\n\nThis action comes as Americans continue to grapple with the reversal of Roe v. Wade, and follows this week\u2019s announcement that the Supreme Court will hear a challenge to medication abortion access.\n\n\u201cMifepristone is a safe, effective drug approved by the FDA more than 20 years ago that millions of women rely on, so it should come as no surprise it\u2019s been chosen as the right wing\u2019s next target. Cutting off access to medication abortion would bring us one step closer to a national abortion ban. I will keep fighting to keep government out of women\u2019s health care,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n\u201cOur resolution resoundingly reaffirms the need for abortion medication to remain accessible. This medication has been used safely and effectively for twenty years, and is the most common form of abortion care. With Republicans imposing draconian restrictions on reproductive care across the country, we must ensure abortion medication remains available to all who need it,\u201d said Blumenthal.\n\n\u201cI am fed up with extremists trying to turn back the clock and deny women reproductive health care \u2013 especially after decades of science that show that medication abortion is safe and effective. Any threat to the accessibility of this drug would be devastating to both health care providers and patients across the country, and Senate Democrats are demonstrating with this resolution that we're determined to fight back,\u201d said Warren.\n\n\u201cIn Wisconsin and across the country, the right to comprehensive health care is under attack. We need to fight on all fronts to restore and protect the freedom of every American to make their own health care decisions, and that includes protecting access to medication abortion. Mifepristone is a safe, effective, and sometimes lifesaving medication, and it\u2019s high time politicians and judges leave women alone and allow Americans to make their own decisions about their health, families, and future,\u201d said Baldwin.\n\n\u201cMAGA Republicans have been clear they\u2019ll stop at nothing to enact a national abortion plan \u2013 even questioning the scientific expertise of FDA. Make no mistake, Mifepristone is safe and effective. And Congress gave FDA the authority to evaluate and ensure the safety and efficacy of drugs. Democrats will never stop fighting for women\u2019s health,\u201d said Schumer.\n\n\"The district court's decision earlier this year to invalidate longstanding approval for mifepristone contradicts scientific evidence and threatens Americans' access to essential health care. Medication abortion remains safe and legal in Colorado, and I'll keep fighting to keep it that way,\u201d said Bennet.\n\n\u201cIn a post-Roe world, we must follow the science and maintain access to lifesaving abortion medication,\u201d said Butler. \u201cGenerations of women are watching their rights get stripped away in real-time, and this resolution underscores the need to protect their reproductive freedom. The Supreme Court must preserve access to essential reproductive health care and the right to bodily autonomy.\u201d\n\n\u201cHealth care decisions should be made between women and their doctors, and we must protect women\u2019s access to all FDA-approved treatments, including Mifepristone,\u201d said Carper. \u201cThis resolution reaffirms that access to lifesaving, time-sensitive medication should be equitable and based on science.\u201d\n\n\u201cMore than two decades ago, the FDA determined mifepristone to be safe and effective. Since then, this medication has been widely and safely used by women to end early stage pregnancies and help manage miscarriages,\u201d said Durbin. \u201cIf the Supreme Court upholds the Fifth Circuit\u2019s decision, which ignored science and the law in turning back the clock on mifepristone regulations, it would upend the FDA review process, jeopardize access to a host of critically important medications, and impose new restrictions on abortions even in states where the procedure remains legal. This Resolution restates the obvious: that the FDA, not politically-motivated organizations, should be trusted to make determinations about what drugs are safe and effective. And that, ultimately, reproductive health care decisions ought to be made between women and their doctors, not politicians or judges.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s plain and simple: abortion is health care, and health care is a human right,\u201d said Markey. \u201cPregnant people and their health care providers are facing escalating attacks on their care including the criminalization of abortions. Our government has a moral obligation to protect not only the right but also the ability to access abortion medication \u2014 safe and effective medication that is backed by science. Let\u2019s keep medical decisions between patients and doctors\u2014not between patients and the GOP.\u201d\n\n\u201cReproductive freedom is a fundamental right, and we must stand resolute in affirming access to lifesaving abortion care,\u201d said Padilla. \u201cWith the Supreme Court and MAGA Republicans constantly threatening longstanding, essential reproductive freedoms, it\u2019s imperative that safe, science-based drugs like mifepristone are equitably accessible and protected to the fullest extent under the rule of law.\u201d\n\n\u201cMifepristone is a safe, effective, and FDA-approved drug. I helped introduce this resolution because it is dangerous to restrict access to this critical medication,\u201d said Stabenow.\n\n\u201cIndividuals\u2019 health care decisions should be grounded in science and made along with their doctors \u2013 not left to the whims of far-right judges and politicians. As Trump-appointed judges and Republican lawmakers continue their ruthless attacks on reproductive freedoms \u2013 and the health care providers and resources that support them \u2013 we will keep fighting to ensure scientifically tested, safe, and effective options remain accessible to everyone who needs them,\u201d said Van Hollen.\n\nThe resolution was also co-sponored by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Angus King (I-Maine), Ron Wyden (D-Wyo.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-N.M.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.).\n\nThe resolution has been endorsed by Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Physicians for Reproductive Health, Power to Decide, National Council of Jewish Women, The Century Foundation\u2019s Health Equity and Reform Team, National Partnership for Women and Families, Guttmacher Institute, Center for Reproductive Rights, Reproductive Freedom for All (formerly NARAL Pro-Choice America), In Our Own Voice: National Black Women\u2019s Reproductive Justice Agenda, and the EMAA Project.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-schumer-lujan-and-tonko-introduce-bicameral-legislation-to-stop-cyber-grinches-from-ruining-kids-holidays", "Blumenthal, Schumer, Luj\u00e1n & Tonko Introduce Bicameral Legislation to Stop Cyber Grinches from Ruining Kids' Holidays", "2023-12-15", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, D.C.] \u2013 With holiday shopping underway, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM), and U.S. Representative Paul Tonko (D-NY) introduced the Stopping Grinch Bots Act. The bicameral bill would prevent use of \u201cbot\u201d technology to quickly buy up entire inventories of popular toys and re-sell them at marked up prices. Third-party sellers use bots to manipulate online sales to buy toys, making inventory shortages worse and price gouging families shopping for the holidays.\n\n\u201cOur measure aims to stop cyber Grinches from stealing the holidays,\u201d said Blumenthal. \u201cNew tools are necessary to block these online grifters from buying up popular toys to resell them to parents at exorbitant prices. We must have zero tolerance for Grinch bots price gouging hot holiday toys.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe cannot allow grinch bots to steal Christmas joy or money from hardworking Americans,\u201d said Schumer. \u201cThese cyber scrooges systematically snatch up popular toys and gifts and then gouge parents who are desperate to get their loved ones the gifts they most want. No American should have to fork over hundreds \u2013 or even thousands \u2013 of excess charges to buy holiday gifts for loved ones, and this critical legislation makes sure that regulators have the tools to go after these bad actors.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs the holiday season hits full swing, too many Americans are left vulnerable to the malicious practices of Grinch bots that manipulate the market and inflate prices,\u201d said Luj\u00e1n. \u201cThe holidays are a time meant to be spent with family and loved ones. Americans should not be stressed financially by online algorithms that hoard high-demand toys and goods and resell them at huge margins. This critical legislation will protect New Mexico families during the holidays and year-round.\u201d\n\n\u201cToo many Americans have felt the disappointment and frustration of losing a popular toy to Grinch Bots \u2014 of spending hours scouring online stores in the hopes of finding an affordable gift or paying exorbitant prices for a single toy,\u201d said Tonko. \u201cThese bots don\u2019t just squeeze consumers, they pose a problem for small businesses, local retailers, and other entrepreneurs trying to ensure they have the best items in stock for their customers. Our Grinch Bots Act works to level the playing field and prevent scalpers from sucking hardworking parents dry this holiday season. Let\u2019s pass this bill at once and ensure that Americans can spend their time this holiday season with their loved ones, not competing with Grinches.\u201d\n\nThe legislation is supported by Consumer Federation of America, Consumer Reports, and the National Consumers League.\n\n\u201cConsumers shouldn\u2019t have to fight armies of bots to buy the products they want from the online retailers they want to do business with,\u201d said Erin Witte, Director of Consumer Protection for Consumer Federation of America. \u201cWe support outlawing sneaky tactics that shady operators use to corner the market on popular items and then charge consumers excessive prices for them.\u201d\n\n\u201cShoppers shouldn't have to compete with unscrupulous cyber Grinches who use automated bots to snatch up hundreds of products in a matter of seconds and re-sell them at outrageous prices,\u201d said Chuck Bell, Advocacy Program Director at Consumer Reports. \u201cThis bill will help stop this predatory practice and create a more level playing field so everyone has a fair chance of buying popular products at reasonable prices when shopping online.\u201d\n\n\u201cCompeting with other shoppers for in-demand gifts is frustrating enough for hard-working families,\u201d said John Breyault, Vice President of Public Policy, Telecommunications, and Fraud for the National Consumers League. \u201cResellers employing bot software can make it almost impossible to check off all the items on consumers\u2019 shopping lists. The Stopping Grinch Bots Act is common-sense consumer protection legislation that gives consumers who just want to buy a present a fair chance against the professional resellers.\u201d\n\nBots are software programs that can automatically spot and snap up inventory on sale online. In seconds, third-party vendors can purchase hundreds of items, squeezing out parents and children. In 2016, Blumenthal, Schumer, and Tonko\u2019s Better Online Ticket Sales Act (BOTS Act) was signed into law to ban \u201cticket bots\u201d that intentionally bypass security measures on online ticketing websites to unfairly outprice individual fans. This new legislation would apply the mechanism of the BOTS Act to e-commerce sites to ban bots bypassing security measures on online retail sites.\n\nThe text of the Senate bill is available here, and the House introduced a similar version of the bill.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-and-schakowsky-introduce-new-bicameral-front-of-package-food-labeling-legislation-to-bolster-americans-health", "Blumenthal & Schakowsky Introduce New Bicameral Front-of-Package Food Labeling Legislation to Bolster Americans' Health", "2023-12-14", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, DC] \u2013 U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) introduced new bicameral legislation to provide American consumers with clear information about the nutritional content of foods and beverages. The Transparency, Readability, Understandability, Truth, and Helpfulness (TRUTH) in Labeling Act would direct the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to develop new front-of-package labels for foods and beverages sold in the United States.\n\n\u201cThis measure ensures foods have clear front-of-package labels that highlight high levels of concerning nutrients,\u201d said Blumenthal. \u201cStandard in many other countries, front-of-package labels help consumers have accurate, interpretive information about the food they buy. With prominently displayed salt, sugar, and saturated fat content, consumers will be able to make healthy choices for themselves and their families.\u201d\n\n\u201cFood companies have led the American people astray for too long. If consumers could see how much sodium, sugar, and saturated fat is in their food, they might think twice about what they are purchasing,\u201d said Schakowsky. \u201cI am proud to introduce the TRUTH in Labeling Act with Senator Blumenthal. Our bill will create a consumer-friendly nutrition labeling system on the front of food packages. A poor diet is one of the leading causes of preventable disease in the U.S. We must do all we can to create transparency in food labeling and empower consumers to make informed dietary decisions.\u201d\n\nA recent survey shows front-of-package nutrition labeling has broad support from U.S. consumers, with 75 percent of respondents in favor of a mandatory front-of-package nutrition labeling policy.\n\nThe TRUTH in Labeling Act amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require a standardized front-of-package nutrition label that helps consumers differentiate between foods of greater or lesser nutritional value. The labels must also show the amount of calories a food contains. With Americans\u2019 consumption of salt, sugar, and saturated fat far exceeding recommended levels and linked to various chronic diseases, the new labels would be required to have clear information about nutrients of concern, including salt, sugar, and saturated fat to help consumers make healthier choices. The Nutrition Facts labels will still be displayed on the back or side of the package. The legislation allows FDA the flexibility to determine the specific format of the labels, but suggests several considerations for their implementation, including enabling consumers to quickly and easily understand the label and encouraging FDA to evaluate the effectiveness of the labeling system.\n\nThe legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Edward J. Markey (D-MA).\n\nThe TRUTH in Labeling Act is endorsed by a number of advocacy groups, including the Center for Science in the Public Interest, Advocates for Children's Diets, Association of SNAP Nutrition Education Administrators, Association of State Public Health Nutritionists, ChangeLab Solutions, Consumer Federation of America, Consumer Reports, Corporate Accountability, Food & Water Watch, Hattie Maw & Pals Foundation, Healthy Food America, Interfaith Public Health Network, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, National Association of School Nurses, National Center for Health Research, Public Health Advocacy Institute, Redstone Global Center for Prevention & Wellness, Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health, Society for Behavioral Medicine, and Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s about time that the United States joins our neighboring countries in adopting simple, mandatory front-of-package nutrition labeling,\u201d said CSPI Executive Director and President, Peter Lurie. \u201cThe TRUTH in Labeling Act will make nutrition information more accessible to all consumers and prompt industry to create healthier foods. We\u2019re thrilled that lawmakers are taking concrete steps to address the epidemic of diet-related disease and to transform our food supply.\u201d\n\nThe Senate version of the bill is available here. A similar version of the bill was introduced in the House.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/connecticut-congressional-delegation-announces-66-million-for-traffic-and-road-safety-improvements_studies", "Connecticut Congressional Delegation Announces $6.6 Million for Traffic & Road Safety Improvements & Studies", "2023-12-14", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[HARTFORD, CT] \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) and U.S. Representatives John B. Larson (D-CT), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Jim Himes (D-CT), and Jahana Hayes (D-CT) announced $6.6 million in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support eight traffic safety projects across Connecticut.\n\nThe funds are awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation\u2019s Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program established to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries.\n\n\u201cThis unprecedented investment will make Connecticut\u2019s roadways safer for all, particularly walkers, cyclists as well as motorists. More people are dying on Connecticut\u2019s roadways than ever before, and this $6.6 million in federal funding will help towns plan and make serious safety improvements to prevent these senseless tragedies,\u201d said Sen. Blumenthal.\n\n\u201cI every year spend a week walking across the state from one end to the other, and so I get to see firsthand how many roads in our state are unsafe for pedestrians. This $6.6 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help towns across the state implement evidence-based solutions to save lives and make their streets safer for pedestrians, bikers, and drivers,\u201d said Sen. Murphy.\n\n\"This federal funding made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is allowing us to support the City of Middletown\u2019s efforts to assure safer, more accessible and inclusive transportation for pedestrians and cyclists across the city\u201d, said Rep. DeLauro. \u201cThis is an investment that will work to eliminate serious and fatal accidents along Middletown\u2019s four main corridors which comprise over 12 miles of roadway and provide primary access to and through Middletown from all four directions. These federal dollars will accommodate and encourage safe multi-modal methods of transportation, and better serve residents - such as children, the elderly, persons with mobility issues, and people living below the poverty line - that rely on methods of transportations other than cars.\u201d\n\n\u201cTraffic and pedestrian safety have unfortunately become a more pressing issue in the past several years, not just in our region, but nationwide. Increased economic activity brings all sorts of new jobs and career opportunities for people in our region, but it also means we may need to re-think local traffic safety plans as our thoroughfares see greater use. This additional round of federal infrastructure funding is going to kick-start efforts in both Glastonbury and across southeastern Connecticut to improve traffic and pedestrian safety in towns throughout eastern Connecticut, and it\u2019s another great example of how the IIJA is paying dividends in eastern CT,\u201d said Rep. Courtney.\n\n\u201cThis is an important investment in eliminating traffic deaths and improving the walkability of our communities. Everyone should feel safe on our streets, whether you are walking, biking or traveling in an automobile. I\u2019m grateful that the City of Hartford and the towns of Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, Middletown, and Glastonbury are receiving federal funding to help address the nationwide rise in traffic deaths. Thanks to the Biden Administration and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Connecticut roads will be safer for everyone who uses them,\u201d said Rep. Larson.\n\n\u201cMiles from my home, people are dying in avoidable traffic accidents because of dangerous intersections and lack of proper signage or traffic markers. That\u2019s why we urgently need the millions of dollars in federal funding headed to our streets and roadways. This investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will mean greater safety for everyone in our communities, from school children in the morning and commuters in the evening to bicyclists on their weekend ride,\u201d said Rep. Jim Himes.\n\n\u201cConnecticut commuters were on my mind when I voted for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Our state will receive over $6 million in funding from the federal Safe Streets for All program to support eight traffic projects. In the Fifth, Danbury will receive a $400,000 Comprehensive Safety Action Plan Grant to outline a path forward for improved commutes. I look forward to working with state and local leaders to make Connecticut roads safe for all commuters,\u201d said Rep. Hayes.\n\n$140,000 for the Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments for a regional transportation safety plan\n\n$624,800 for Wethersfield and Rocky Hill for a Silas Deane Highway Corridor Study in Wethersfield and Rocky Hill, Connecticut\n\n$408,000 for the City of Hartford for sidewalk inventory and safety planning\n\n$720,000 for the Middletown CT Comprehensive Traffic Safety Plan\n\n$400,000 for the City of Danbury, Comprehensive Safety Action Plan Grant\n\n$320,000 for the Town of Ridgefield Comprehensive Safety Action Plan Grant\n\n$3,959,346 for the Western Connecticut Council of Governments for Safety Improvements including new crosswalks, curb extensions, bus stops and speed reduction efforts\n\n$96,000 for the Glastonbury Connecticut Community Road Safety Action Plan\n\nThe SS4A program supports the Department of Transportation\u2019s goal of zero deaths and serious injuries on our nation\u2019s roadways. This comes at a time where traffic fatalities are at the highest level in decades.\n\nIn June 2023, Blumenthal reintroduced the Road to Zero resolution to reduce traffic fatalities and improve roadway safety for drivers, passengers, pedestrians, bicyclists, and others on the road. Introduction of the resolution follows yesterday\u2019s announcement by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that over 9,000 people died in traffic crashes during the first three months of 2023. By improving data collection and promoting access to safe, reliable transportation, the Road to Zero resolution aims to end roadway fatalities by 2050.\n\nTraffic fatalities are the leading cause of death for Americans under 54, killing over 100 people every day.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-blumenthal-colleagues-urge-department-of-education-omb-to-prioritize-funding-for-open-textbook-pilot-in-fiscal-year-2025", "Murphy, Blumenthal, Colleagues Urge Department of Education, OMB to Prioritize Funding for Open Textbook Pilot in Fiscal Year 2025", "2023-12-14", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) on Thursday joined 13 of their colleagues in sending a letter to Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Shalanda Young, urging the agency leaders to include strong funding for the Open Textbooks Pilot (Pilot) in the Biden Administration\u2019s Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) budget request.\n\nThe Pilot is a competitive grant program to support the creation and expansion of open college textbooks \u2013 textbooks that are freely available under an open license, allowing professors, students, researchers, and others to freely access the materials. The grant program aims to significantly reduce the cost of higher education for students.\n\nThe Senators began their letter by emphasizing the importance of open textbooks and how they lower financial barriers to accessing higher education. According to the College Board, the average student at a four-year public college spends roughly $1,240 on books and class supplies. Additionally, U.S. PIRG found in a 2020 survey that 65 percent of students skipped buying a textbook because of the cost, and 90 percent of those students were worried it would affect their grade negatively.\n\n\u201cAs the cost of college continues to rise, it is crucial to ensure college is affordable for all students. With a single textbook potentially costing hundreds of dollars, textbook costs, unlike tuition and other college costs, are often overlooked. However, they can create an unnecessary barrier to attaining a college education,\u201d the Senators wrote. \u201cThe high cost of textbooks disproportionately impacts low-income students and students of color who are unable to purchase required course materials, placing them at an academic disadvantage.\u201d\n\nThe Senators reminded Secretary Cardona and Director Young that open textbooks offer benefits to students and faculty while promoting competition in the textbook market.\n\n\u201cOpen textbooks\u2014education resources that are licensed under an open license and made available free of charge to the public\u2014offer quality, cost-effective alternatives to traditional textbooks. When open textbooks are used, students save money. Further, faculty members have greater flexibility to adapt and customize materials to meet their specific needs. The expanded use of open textbooks also has the potential to promote healthy competition in the traditional textbook market, which would reduce prices overall,\u201d the Senators wrote in the letter.\n\nThe Senators concluded their letter, highlighting the popularity of open textbook programs and urging the Biden Administration to consider the Pilot as a strong priority while drafting the FY25 budget.\n\n\u201cColleges and universities increasingly are seeking to utilize open textbooks programs, such as those supported by the Pilot. Since the creation of the Pilot in FY 2018, the Department of Education has received 69 applications for projects while only being able to fund 18 projects. Further, programs supported by the Pilot are estimated to have saved students $250 million,\u201d the Senators wrote. \u201cAdditional funding would increase these savings for students.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe urge you to continue to work to make college affordable for students by including robust funding for the Pilot in the Administration\u2019s FY 2025 budget request,\u201d the letter concluded.\n\nU.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Angus King (I-Maine), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) also signed the letter.\n\nFull text of the letter is available here and below:\n\nDear Secretary Cardona and Director Young:\n\nWe write to request that you include robust funding for the Open Textbooks Pilot (Pilot) in the Administration\u2019s Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 budget request.\n\nAs the cost of college continues to rise, it is crucial to ensure college is affordable for all students. With a single textbook potentially costing hundreds of dollars, textbook costs, unlike tuition and other college costs, are often overlooked. However, they can create an unnecessary barrier to attaining a college education. According to the College Board, the average student at a four-year public college spends approximately $1,240 on books and supplies. According to a 2020 survey by U.S. PIRG, 65 percent of students skipped buying a textbook because of the cost, and 90 percent of those students were worried it would affect their grade negatively. The high cost of textbooks disproportionately impacts low-income students and students of color who are unable to purchase required course materials, placing them at an academic disadvantage.\n\nOpen textbooks\u2014education resources that are licensed under an open license and made available free of charge to the public\u2014offer quality, cost-effective alternatives to traditional textbooks. When open textbooks are used, students save money. Further, faculty members have greater flexibility to adapt and customize materials to meet their specific needs. The expanded use of open textbooks also has the potential to promote healthy competition in the traditional textbook market, which would reduce prices overall.\n\nColleges and universities increasingly are seeking to utilize open textbooks programs, such as those supported by the Pilot. Since the creation of the Pilot in FY 2018, the Department of Education has received 69 applications for projects while only being able to fund 18 projects. Further, programs supported by the Pilot are estimated to have saved students $250 million. Additional funding would increase these savings for students.\n\nWe urge you to continue to work to make college affordable for students by including robust funding for the Pilot in the Administration\u2019s FY 2025 budget request. Thank you for your consideration.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-kaine-smith-introduce-bill-to-modernize-public-health-data-infrastructure", "Murphy, Kaine, Smith Introduce Bill to Modernize Public Health Data Infrastructure", "2023-12-14", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) reintroduced the Improving Data Accessibility Through Advancements (DATA) in Public Health Act, legislation to modernize our nation\u2019s public health data infrastructure. This bill would increase timely and accurate information sharing between local, state, and federal public health departments to improve our preparedness and response to emerging public health threats.\n\n\u201cAccurate, real-time data is key to an effective public health strategy \u2013 a major lesson learned from the pandemic. This legislation would bring our public health data infrastructure into the 21st century and make sure local, state, and federal public health departments have the information they need to monitor and quickly respond to future emergencies,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n\u201cThe pandemic underscored the importance of having an effective public health data sharing system for tracking cases, responding to public health emergencies, and providing live-saving care for those in need,\u201d said Kaine. \u201cWhile we\u2019ve made some progress to strengthen public health data sharing since COVID, we still have much more to do to better connect local, state, and federal public health systems. The Improving DATA in Public Health Act would help us do that.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe need collaboration across all levels of government to ensure that our public health experts have the information they need to make the best decisions,\u201d said Smith. \u201cAddressing the information gaps in public health data is crucial, and this bill provides a much-needed update to the way local, federal, and tribal authorities communicate, ensuring that we are ready to respond to the next public health crisis and keep our communities safe.\u201d\n\nThe United States\u2019 early response to the COVID-19 pandemic was hindered by gaps in public health data, varying definitions of data across government agencies, and difficulties accessing data. These barriers made it more difficult for health care professionals to access the data they needed to make timely, evidence-based clinical decisions, and prevented public health officials from accurately monitoring and responding to disease outbreaks. Our public health system learned from these gaps in data and we must make permanent these data sharing requirements. The Improving DATA in Public Health Act would help save lives and prepare the U.S. for future public health crises.\n\nSpecifically, the Improving DATA in Public Health Act would improve public health data sharing by:\n\nDirecting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to establish uniform data standards for sharing public health data across local, state, and federal public health systems. Without uniform standards, it\u2019s difficult for federal agencies like the CDC to aggregate public health data and for local and state health systems across the country to respond to public health threats;\n\nAllowing the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to strengthen data sharing processes between public health entities, like health care facilities, laboratories, and public health departments;\n\nCreating a grant program for health care providers, academic medical centers, and state and local public health systems to develop best practices on soliciting demographic information used for public health purposes to strengthen the quality and completeness of demographic data collection; and\n\nEstablishing an advisory committee of experts to ensure that public health data reporting processes are carried out effectively.\n\nFull text of the bill is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-on-the-eleventh-anniversary-of-the-sandy-hook-shooting-the-senate-must-do-more", "Murphy: On the Eleventh Anniversary of the Sandy Hook Shooting, the Senate Must Do More", "2023-12-14", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Thursday spoke on the U.S. Senate floor on the eleventh anniversary of the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School to honor the twenty children and six educators who were senselessly killed that day.\n\n\u201cToday is a day when we are thinking about all of those parents, about all of those brothers and sisters who this morning had to relive the morning that they went through 11 years ago, December 14, 2012, when 20 sets of parents kissed their first graders goodbye. They dropped them off for school. And never ever saw them again,\u201d Murphy said. \u201cIt's a fate that none of us would ever wish on another human being. For those of us who have never experienced the death of a child, there's no way for us to understand what those parents and what those families are going through.\u201d\n\nHe continued: \u201cAnd in Connecticut, we wear our hearts really heavy, but we also get to celebrate all of the things that have happened because so many of these families took their grief and they turned it into action, and they turned it into change. So many of these families have started not-for-profit organizations, have started charities to try to change other people's lives. Many of these families have been deeply engaged in the work of trying to make sure that mass shootings never happen again. There has been a lot of joy and many miracles that have resulted from this awful tragedy. It does not square the moral order of the universe, but it is important to pay tribute to the way in which so many members of the Sandy Hook and Newtown community as well as so many families who are directly affected by this shooting have been able to manage through the grief and perform miracles at the same time.\u201d\n\nOn the work ahead and reasons for hope, Murphy said: \u201cThis is also a day in which I recommit myself to the notion that I, as a member of the United States Senate, have something to contribute to the work necessary to make sure that kids never, ever, ever face this fate again. And today on the 11th anniversary, I have a little bit more hope than I had on the 10th, or the ninth, or the eighth, or the seventh to the sixth, the fifth of the fourth, [the third], the second, or the first anniversary. Why? Because last year, Republicans and Democrats came together in this Senate in the wake of another mass school shooting, tragically reminiscent of Sandy Hook, the shooting in Uvalde, Texas, and we acted. We put aside our political differences. We passed the first serious gun safety measure in 30 years.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd why this year I feel more hopeful and more confident is because we now have data, we now have results in the wake of the passage of last year's legislation. Right now, as we speak, we are tracking for there to be a 12 percent reduction in gun murders in this country from 2022 to 2023. That would be the biggest ever one-year reduction in gun murders in our lifetime,\u201d he added.\n\nMurphy concluded: \u201cSo today is a day when I relive that moment 11 years ago today. It's a day when I reach out to my friends in Sandy Hook to tell them how much of my heart is with them. But this year, on the 11th anniversary, it's a day in which I have confidence that if we continue to do the hard work of changing our gun laws to make it harder for dangerous people to have weapons and harder for anybody to have the most dangerous weapons, the kind of weapons that were used to kill these kids and teachers, than we can save lives. In one year, we've seen the biggest drop in gun murders in our lifetime. It's a result of legislation that we passed, and it is a signal to us of what we can achieve in the future.\u201d\n\nA full transcript of his remarks can be found below:\n\n\u201cA few days ago, I was with one of the parents from Sandy Hook Elementary School who lost her son 11 years ago today. And she talked about this being the time of the year where she starts to spiral.\n\n\u201cToday is a day when we are thinking about all of those parents, about all of those brothers and sisters who this morning had to relive the morning that they went through 11 years ago, December 14, 2012, when 20 sets of parents kissed their first graders goodbye. They dropped them off for school. And never ever saw them again.\n\n\u201cIt's a fate that none of us would ever wish on another human being. For those of us who have never experienced the death of a child, there's no way for us to understand what those parents and what those families are going through.\n\n\u201cOne mother of a child who was lost in Sandy Hook had a tactic that she would use in those early days. She would pretend that her son was just at a friend's house on a playdate. She convinced herself, as best she could, that he wasn't dead, that he was just visiting a friend around the corner. It was the only way that she could clean up the house, get through her daily work.\n\n\u201cBut then all of a sudden, it would come flooding back to her. He wasn't at a friend's house; he wasn't around the corner. He was never ever coming home. The things that you have to do on a daily basis to try to process the loss of a child, they are unfathomable to most of us.\n\n\u201cMr. President, I've kind of run out of things to say about these amazing kids and these amazing adults. The adults who protected them that day, the children who would be turning 18 this year. And in Connecticut, we wear our hearts really heavy, but we also get to celebrate all of the things that have happened because so many of these families took their grief and they turned it into action, and they turned it into change.\n\n\u201cSo many of these families have started not-for-profit organizations, have started charities to try to change other people's lives. Many of these families have been deeply engaged in the work of trying to make sure that mass shootings never happen again.\n\n\u201cThere has been a lot of joy and many miracles that have resulted from this awful tragedy. It does not square the moral order of the universe, but it is important to pay tribute to the way in which so many members of the Sandy Hook and Newtown community as well as so many families who are directly affected by this shooting have been able to manage through the grief and perform miracles at the same time.\n\n\u201cWe just need to make a decision as a country as to whether we want to live in a world in which this carnage continues. This isn't an accident; it isn't bad luck. It's a choice. It's just a choice we've made to put our kids in jeopardy every single day that they go to school. For kids that live in my neighborhood in the south end of Hartford, to put them in jeopardy every day when they walk to and from school. It's a choice that we make, and we could make a different choice.\n\n\u201cSo today is a day for me that I think about all of my friends in Sandy Hook, that I think back on that day being there at the firehouse that was serving as the emergency response hub, being outside the room as parents were told that their children are lying down on the floor of their elementary school.\n\n\u201cBut it's also a day in which I remember that we are not helpless. This is also a day in which I recommit myself to the notion that I, as a member of the United States Senate, have something to contribute to the work necessary to make sure that kids never, ever, ever face this fate again.\n\n\u201cAnd today on the 11th anniversary, I have a little bit more hope than I had on the 10th, or the ninth, or the eighth of the seventh to the sixth, the fifth of the fourth, the second, [the third], or the first anniversary.\n\n\u201cWhy? Because last year, Republicans and Democrats came together in this Senate in the wake of another mass school shooting, tragically reminiscent of Sandy Hook, the shooting in Uvalde, Texas, and we acted. We put aside our political differences. We passed the first serious gun safety measure in 30 years. Even though forces outside of this building opposed it, we decided to come together.\n\n\u201cBecause we thought we had an obligation to make this country safer, to try to make it a little bit less likely that a parent has to wake up on a morning of the anniversary of their child's death and try to figure out how to survive it.\n\n\u201cAnd why this year I feel more hopeful and more confident is because we now have data, we now have results in the wake of the passage of last year's legislation. Right now, as we speak, we are tracking for there to be a 12 percent reduction in gun murders in this country from 2022 to 2023. That would be the biggest ever one-year reduction in gun murders in our lifetime.\n\n\u201cNow, what does that mean? It means that eight or ten fewer people are dying every day from gun violence. What does that mean? 110 rather than 120 people are dying of gun violence. That's not an acceptable result, but it is proof of concept. When we change the laws to honor the death of so many innocents, we prevent the death of innocents in the future.\n\n\u201cSo today is a day when I relive that moment 11 years ago today. It's a day when I reach out to my friends and Sandy Hook to tell them how much of my heart is with them. But this year, on the 11th anniversary, it's a day in which I have confidence that if we continue to do the hard work of changing our gun laws to make it harder for dangerous people to have weapons and harder for anybody to have the most dangerous weapons, the kind of weapons that were used to kill these kids and teachers, that we can save lives.\n\n\u201cIn one year, we've seen the biggest drop in gun murders in our lifetime. It's a result of legislation that we passed, and it is a signal to us of what we can achieve in the future.\n\n\u201cI thank my colleagues for what we did last year. I thank my colleagues for making it possible to show the families in Newtown, the victims of gun violence all across this country what's possible, and on the 11-year mark of that tragedy in Sandy Hook, I compel my friends in the Senate to do more.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-and-markey-joint-statement-on-teslas-recall-of-2-million-vehicles-with-autopilot-system", "Blumenthal & Markey Joint Statement on Tesla's Recall of 2 Million Vehicles with Autopilot System", "2023-12-13", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, D.C.] \u2013 U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Edward J. Markey (D-MA) issued the following joint statement after Tesla recalled more than 2 million of its vehicles equipped with Autosteer, an Autopilot feature, as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigates nearly 1,000 crashes in which Autopilot was reported to be engaged:\n\n\u201cThis recall is critically needed to make Tesla\u2019s cars safer, but it is egregiously overdue. We have long sounded alarms about Tesla exaggerating the true capabilities of Autopilot and other flawed features. We urge NHTSA to continue its investigations to spur necessary recalls, and Tesla to stop misleading drivers and putting the public in great danger.\u201d\n\nBlumenthal and Markey have long pushed for autonomous vehicle (AV) technology safety. In August 2021, Blumenthal and Markey sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), calling for the agency to launch an investigation into Tesla\u2019s advertising of driving automation systems. The full text of the letter can be found here. In February 2022, Blumenthal and Markey sent a letter to Tesla Co-founder and CEO Elon Musk following numerous reports of dangerous braking flaws in Tesla\u2019s Autopilot and Full Self-Driving systems and amid several federal safety investigations, voicing serious concerns with the implementation of the company\u2019s technology. The full text of the letter to Musk can be found here. In June 2022, Blumenthal and Markey issued a joint statement applauding the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for upgrading its investigation into Tesla\u2019s Autopilot system from a preliminary evaluation to an engineering analysis after identifying additional crashes at first responder sites. In October 2022, Blumenthal and Markey issued a joint statement on a reported DOJ investigation into Tesla\u2019s misleading advertising of driving automation systems. In February 2023, Blumenthal and Markey issued a joint statement on Tesla\u2019s recall of its vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving Beta software due to crash risk.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-applauds-wins-for-connecticut-in-senate-passed-national-defense-authorization-bill-bringing-bill-one-step-closer-to-being-signed-into-law", "Blumenthal Applauds Wins for Connecticut in Senate-Passed National Defense Authorization Bill\u2013 Bringing Bill One Step Closer to Being Signed into Law", "2023-12-13", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, D.C.] \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement on the Senate\u2019s approval of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024 conference report, which includes a number of significant provisions he championed to invest in Connecticut\u2019s defense manufacturing workforce and enhance national security. The bill passed by a vote of 87-13 and will now be considered by the House of Representatives.\n\n\u201cHistoric investments in defense platforms made in Connecticut show continued unshakable confidence in our state\u2019s spectacular workforce. This strong bipartisan national security package protects against threats to America now, and in coming years. It underscores a strong commitment to bolstering advanced technologies\u2014submarines, helicopters, and fighter jets\u2014investing in workforce development, and taking care of our military families. I fought for the authorization of the trilateral AUKUS agreement \u2013proving the world-class talent of our workforce in Groton constructing Virginia-class submarines,\u201d said Blumenthal. \u201cI am especially proud to have included provisions named in honor of Connecticut servicemembers \u2013 Sergeant First Class Michael Clark and Seaman Xavier Sandor \u2013 that will make critical improvements to the lives of military families and service men and women.\u201d\n\nAs a member of the Committee tasked with crafting the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024, Blumenthal championed the following provisions to increase jobs and support critical industries in Connecticut:\n\nDelivering Impactful Investments to Connecticut\u2019s Submarine Industrial Base: Blumenthal fiercely advocated for broad funding for Connecticut\u2019s submarine industry that guarantees our nation\u2019s strategic advantages in undersea warfare while growing Connecticut\u2019s jobs and economy. Blumenthal secured:\n\n1. $5.8 billion to fund ongoing design and construction of the Columbia Class ballistic missile submarine, including $400 million for the submarine industrial base workforce development, shipyard infrastructure, supplier development, and technology opportunities that assist the growing demand for investment in these assets.\n\n2. $10.3 billion to fully fund two Virginia Class submarines in Fiscal Year 2024 and additional funding for advanced procurement of two ships in Fiscal Year 2025 and two ships in Fiscal Year 2026; an additional $244 million in industrial base analysis and sustainment support that will ensure continued growth for the submarine industrial base.\n\nBolstering Production of Cutting-Edge Helicopters: Blumenthal pushed for strong funding of helicopters, including the CH-53K King Stallion, HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopter, UH-60M Black Hawk, and Future Vertical Lift Program. Funding of these programs supports continued investments in Sikorsky helicopters and countless other Connecticut businesses that support the helicopter industrial base. Blumenthal secured:\n\n1. $1.698 billion to fund a total of 16 CH-53K King Stallion Helicopters.\n\n2. $48 million for HH-60W capability upgrades and modernization developments.\n\n3. $669 million to fund 24 UH-60M Black Hawk Helicopters.\n\n4. $92 million in UH-60M advanced procurement funding.\n\n5. $153.1 million to fund 26 UH-60L and UH-60V Black Hawk Helicopters.\n\nIncreasing our F-35 Fleet: Blumenthal has prioritized the expansion of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, the only fifth generation fighter in production, which Connecticut\u2019s Pratt and Whitney is the sole engine-manufacturer of. Blumenthal secured:\n\n1. $9.42 billion for 83 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters across the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps.\n\n2. $613 million in F-35 advance procurement funding.\n\nPrioritizing Workforce Development: Blumenthal championed a provision that calls for the Department of Defense to leverage existing relationships with the Joint Defense Manufacturing Council to support workforce development. This effort will lead to additional research and development and increase workforce capacity in areas such as supply chain management and contested logistics.\n\nBlumenthal also fought for key provisions to support servicemembers and improve defense policy, including:\n\nImproving Living Conditions for Sailors: Blumenthal fought for inclusion of the Seaman Xavier Sandor Support Act, which would provide new rules, resources, and conditions for sailors when their ships are in for overhaul or refueling. Specifically, the measure would provide Sailors with a Basic Allowance for Housing and enhanced mental health services. The measure is named in honor of Seaman Recruit Xavier Sandor from Shelton, who passed away last year on the USS George Washington while it underwent extended maintenance overhaul in a shipyard.\n\nIncreasing Servicemember Pay: Blumenthal championed a 5.2 percent pay increase \u2013 the largest in decades \u2013 for our servicemembers and DOD civilians to recognize their sacrifice, impact, and contributions to our national defense.\n\nExtending TRICARE Survivor Benefits for Guard and Reserve Families: Blumenthal secured a provision that would extend the timeline for survivor benefits for Guard and Reserve families from the current six-month window to three years. The measure is based on legislation Blumenthal introduced in honor of Sergeant First Class Michael Clark of Bolton, Connecticut, who died during a training exercise in Georgia last year. Under current law, survivors and their families only retain their health benefits for six months following the death of a servicemember. This provision would amend the existing law to provide parity for Guard and Reserve survivor benefits to that of active-duty personnel.\n\nSupporting Medical Care for Wounded Ukrainians: Blumenthal led the charge for language to expand a program established by a Blumenthal-led provision in last year\u2019s NDAA to provide military trauma care for our allies in Ukraine. This provision would support treatment and rehabilitation for Ukrainians suffering from traumatic extremity injuries, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injuries, amputations, and other mental health conditions suffered as a result of Russian aggression.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/after-statewide-housing-listening-tour-murphy-announces-support-for-five-bills-to-address-housing-crisis", "After Statewide Housing Listening Tour, Murphy Announces Support for Five Bills to Address Housing Crisis", "2023-12-13", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013Following the completion of his statewide housing listening tour, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Wednesday announced his support for a slate of five pieces of legislation aimed at expanding access to affordable housing. The tour included town halls in Windham, Waterbury, Wethersfield, and Fairfield where Murphy gathered feedback from constituents on the unique housing challenges they are facing, including the rising cost of rent, shortage of housing stock and lack of affordable housing, gentrification, blighted homes and poor housing conditions, and barriers to home ownership.\n\n\u201cThe number one issue I hear about all over Connecticut is the cost of housing. That\u2019s why I launched a statewide listening tour to learn more about the challenges facing people in cities, suburbs, and the more rural parts of our state. I talked to renters, homeowners, landlords, and people experiencing homelessness, and while there\u2019s no quick fix, I heard loud and clear that the federal government must do more to find solutions to this nationwide problem. These five bills won\u2019t alone solve the housing crisis, but would help address our country\u2019s massive shortage of affordable housing and provide resources so more families can afford a safe place to live. I\u2019m committed to working with my colleagues in the Senate, the administration, and the state legislature to make sure we are pulling all levers of government to solve this problem,\u201d said Murphy.\n\nMurphy co-sponsored the following bills:\n\nFair Housing Improvement Act: Would expand housing protections for low-income individuals and veterans by designating source of income and veteran status as protected classes\n\nChoice in Affordable Housing Act: Would incentivize landlord participation in the Housing Choice Voucher Section 8 program through one-time incentive payments to landlords, security deposit payments, bonuses to public housing agencies employing landlord liaisons, and other amounts for recruitment\n\nFamily Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act: Would create a new type of housing voucher aimed at ending homelessness among families with children\n\nYes In My Backyard (YIMBY) Act: Would encourage localities to eliminate discriminatory and burdensome zoning and land use policies to increase supply of affordable housing\n\nHousing Alignment and Coordination of Critical and Effective Supportive Health Services (ACCESS) Act: Would direct the Departments of Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and Treasury to issue joint guidance on connecting Medicare beneficiaries to housing-related supports and services\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-op-ed-in-the-new-republic-the-spiritual-unspooling-of-america-a-case-for-political-realignment", "Murphy Op-Ed in the New Republic: The Spiritual Unspooling of America: A Case for Political Realignment", "2023-12-12", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Tuesday authored an op-ed for the New Republic to make the case for a political realignment oriented around a set of solutions that would address America\u2019s spiritual unspooling and enable Americans to have more economic control over their lives, more social connection, and more moral markets. First, Murphy lays out the four sources of our collective unease: a loss of control over economic and family life; an acute loneliness and disconnection from community; a frustration with the pace and nature of technological change; and an exhaustion with suffocating consumerism. Murphy argues Democrats should seize the growing opportunity for left-right convergence to build new coalitions that will advance policies to raise wages, support families, rein in Big Tech, and promote connection.\n\n\u201cI think that rather than continuing this alternating obsession with intractable partisan battles and issues that feel distant from their quality of life, Americans want their political leaders to take a step back and ask two simple questions: What makes a good life, filled with purpose, meaning, and happiness? And what does government need to do\u2014and not do\u2014so that more people have access to this life? If more of us asked these questions, we might find that America is not actually as divided as the outrage industry would have us believe. Indeed, there exists a set of shared feelings and fears, on both the right and the left, that could provide a road map for anyone committed to developing policies that address the spiritual unspooling that is happening in many Americans\u2019 lives,\u201d Murphy wrote.\n\nOn the opportunity to find left-right consensus on a different set of issues than those that have traditionally divided the two parties, Murphy wrote: \u201cTo resolve this growing crisis of spiritual health, I believe Americans badly want our politics to be organized around a shared national project. Instead, our politics today are ordered to serve a set of issues where the two sides\u2014right and left\u2014are hopelessly divided. Abortion and reproductive rights, immigration, and health care are all vital issues, and as a progressive who believes in LGBTQ rights, reproductive freedom, and universal health care, I don\u2019t plan on backing down on any of these fights. But our decision to base our political groupings on these issues masks a potentially massive, hidden alignment between Americans on both the right and left\u2014an alignment that could potentially address the set of spiritual problems I have outlined here. \u201c\n\nHe added: \u201cStill, the fact that growing constituencies on both the right and left\u2014whether secular or religious\u2014are calling for the elevation of nonmarket values and the centering of the common good in our national life suggests an opportunity to find common ground. We should not be so certain that there is not some overlapping space in the Venn diagram of virtues that the right and left hold sacred.\u201d\n\n\u201cMaybe I am hopelessly na\u00efve. Maybe too many on the right are so stubbornly wedded to their anti-gay, anti-choice, pro-gun, or patriarchal views that they will not entertain overtures to join our coalition. Again, I am not suggesting that the left compromise our commitment to equality or justice for women, children, or LGBTQ individuals in order to expand our coalition. What I am proposing is that outreach is worth the try, even if the chances of success are far from certain. What I\u2019m guessing is that some conservative voters who might not agree with me on the question of an assault weapons ban might actually be more concerned with higher wages than with access to AR-15s. Instead of dismissing such people, we should try to win them over,\u201d he wrote.\n\nMurphy concluded: \u201cImagining and executing a political realignment to address our spiritual unspooling will not be easy. But our great nation is coming apart at the seams; too many of our people are unhappy and unfulfilled, ready to be set against their fellow Americans over the slightest grievance by unscrupulous demagogues. Americans on the right and left want a politics built around a new set of issues that can unite, not divide, our nation. A realignment that will infuse vibrancy and relevancy back into our politics is there for taking. We should stop ignoring it.\u201d\n\nRead the full op-ed here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-urges-ftc-investigation-of-vanilla-gift-card-maker-following-reports-of-scams", "Blumenthal Urges FTC Investigation of Vanilla Gift Card Maker Following Reports of Scams", "2023-12-11", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[Hartford, CT] \u2013U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) urging an investigation into the practices of Incomm Financial Services, a payment technology company whose failure to properly secure its Vanilla gift cards have left consumers susceptible to monetary theft.\n\n\u201cIncomm has been aware of this problem for a decade but took no action to improve the packaging design of their cards or to swiftly reimburse victims of card draining,\u201d wrote Blumenthal in a letter to the FTC Chair Lina Khan.\n\nA recent lawsuit filed by the San Francisco City Attorney\u2019s Office (SFCAO), with the help of the San Francisco Affirmative Litigation Project (SFALP) at Yale Law School, reveals that the insecure cardboard packaging makes Vanilla gift cards susceptible to \u201ccard draining,\u201d a criminal practice in which an individual obtains card information without leaving signs of tampering. Once consumers purchase and activate these gift cards at a retail store, fraudsters then empty the card of all funds.\n\nIn the letter, Blumenthal urges the FTC to work with the SFCAO to investigate the business practices of Incomm Financial Services that have led to widespread fraud, including cases in Connecticut.\n\n\u201cThese instances of card draining will likely continue unless Incomm enhances the security features of their prepaid gift cards. As the SFCAO complaint demonstrates, this fraud has impacted Americans across the country, calling for complementary action from the Commission to ensure vigorous enforcement of our consumer protection laws,\u201d Blumenthal wrote.\n\nDuring a press conference in Hartford today, Blumenthal joined Connecticut resident, Lesley Gustafson, a victim of the Vanilla gift card scams, to warn consumers of these common card draining practices.\n\nA copy of the letter can be found here and below and video from today\u2019s press conference can be found here.\n\nDecember 11, 2023\n\nThe Honorable Lina M. Khan\n\nChair\n\nFederal Trade Commission\n\n600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW\n\nWashington, DC 20580\n\nDear Chair Khan,\n\nAs consumers prepare to purchase prepaid gift cards for their friends and family this holiday season, I strongly urge the Federal Trade Commission (Commission) to investigate the practices of Incomm Financial Services (Incomm), a payments technology company whose negligent failure to properly secure its Vanilla gift cards have left consumers susceptible to monetary theft. It is critical that the Commission protect consumers against fraud and significant financial loss by holding Incomm accountable for their unfair and deceptive business practices.\n\nA recent lawsuit filed by the San Francisco City Attorney\u2019s Office (SFCAO) reveals that Incomm failed to secure the packaging of their popular Vanilla gift cards, allowing anyone to obtain a card\u2019s information from beneath its cardboard sleeve. As a result, bad actors targeted consumers through \u201ccard draining,\u201d a practice in which an individual obtains card information without leaving signs of tampering. Once consumers purchase and activate these gift cards at a retail store, fraudsters then empty the card of all funds.\n\nIncomm has been aware of this problem for a decade but took no action to improve the packaging design of their cards or to swiftly reimburse victims of card draining. By contrast, Incomm\u2019s competitors have taken simple and cost-effective measures to protect their gift cards against fraud, such as through tamper proof packaging. Further, Incomm frequently failed to quickly remediate fraud and reimburse consumers for their losses as a result of their negligent failure to adequately protect their Vanilla card. Consumers across the United States, including Connecticut residents, have been victims of this fraudulent action.\n\nIn the past, the Commission has brought enforcement actions and civil suits against financial institutions that have turned a blind eye to consumer fraud, citing violations of the FTC Act among other statutes. For instance, in January 2017, the Commission charged Western Union with failing to implement an anti-fraud policy for their money transfer system, in some cases even facilitating those acts of fraud. More recently in June 2022, the Commission sued Walmart for failing to secure its money transfer system and allowing bad actors to scam consumers out of hundreds of millions of dollars. These examples are no different than the practices of Incomm, whose neglect and refusal to implement improved security features have unjustly harmed consumers.\n\nThese instances of card draining will likely continue unless Incomm enhances the security features of their prepaid gift cards. As the SFCAO complaint demonstrates, this fraud has impacted Americans across the country, calling for complementary action from the Commission to ensure vigorous enforcement of our consumer protection laws at a state and federal level. I therefore urge your agency to coordinate and support the efforts of SFCAO, and to work with them investigate the business practices of Incomm leading to this widespread fraud. It is time we put an end to this practice and offer justice to the consumers who have been harmed as a result.\n\nSincerely,\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/witness-announced-permanent-subcommittee-on-investigations-to-hold-hearing-on-sexual-assault-and-harassment-at-the-coast-guard-academy", "Witness Announced: Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations to Hold Hearing on Sexual Assault and Harassment at the Coast Guard Academy", "2023-12-11", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, DC] \u2013 U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI) Chairman Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Ranking Member Ron Johnson (R-WI) will convene a hearing next Tuesday, December 12, 2023 at 10:00 AM in 562 Dirksen Senate Office Building titled \u201cCoast Guard Academy Whistleblowers: Stories of Sexual Assault and Harassment.\u201d\n\nThe hearing will include testimony from:\n\n\u00b7 Commander Jennifer Yount, United States Coast Guard (Ret.)\n\nUnited States Coast Guard Academy, Class of 1981\n\n\u00b7 Caitlin E. Maro\n\nFormer Member of United States Coast Guard Academy, Class of 2008\n\n\u00b7 Lieutenant Melissa McCafferty, United States Coast Guard (Ret.)\n\nUnited States Coast Guard Academy, Class of 2011\n\n\u00b7 First Class Cadet Kyra Grace Holmstrup, United States Coast Guard\n\nUnited States Coast Guard Academy, Class of 2024\n\n\u00b7 Colonel Lorry Fenner, United States Air Force (Ret.)\n\nDirector of Government Affairs, Service Women\u2019s Action Network\n\nIn September 2023, PSI opened a bipartisan inquiry into the Coast Guard Academy\u2019s mishandling of sexual assault investigations and its failure to disclose the results of its sexual assault investigation to Congress or the public.\n\nThe full text of the senators\u2019 initial letter to the Coast Guard is available here.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-op-ed-with-tim-ryan-people-are-sick-of-feeling-like-their-own-time-no-longer-belongs-to-them", "Murphy Op-Ed with Tim Ryan: People Are Sick of Feeling Like Their Own Time No Longer Belongs to Them", "2023-12-11", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) this weekend authored an op-ed with former U.S. Representative Tim Ryan (D-Ohio-13) for MSNBC making the case for a new economic vision that recognizes the importance of leisure and free time. Thanks in part to longer work hours and wages that haven\u2019t kept up with living standards, Americans have fewer hours to spend with friends and family, engage in hobbies, and build community which comes at a cost to our mental, physical, and spiritual health.\n\n\u201cPeople today feel like they\u2019re stuck on a hamster wheel. As corporate profits soar, wages have failed to keep pace. Millions of Americans juggle multiple jobs to make ends meet. Today, the average worker has to clock 70 hours a week to sustain the same quality of life that 40 hours of work afforded 50 years ago. And for many, cellphones and laptops have made it impossible to ever escape the grip of work, even at home. With one income no longer enough to sustain an average family budget, parents\u2019 days are lengthened by the extra time necessary to shuttle children to and from child care,\u201d Murphy and Ryan wrote.\n\n\u201cLess and less free time leaves Americans feeling more on edge, more anxious, and more alone than ever before. We are disconnected from each other mentally, physically and emotionally, and we witness the ripple effects in the erosion of civility, the growth of fringe politics, and the increase in violence, suicide and overdose rates. The nation\u2019s emotional health is spiraling in part because there is less and less time for leisure and connection,\u201d they continued.\n\nMurphy and Ryan laid out a series of policies to build community and give people back their free time: \u201cTo return to a time when work matters less and leisure matters more, we need to build a new economy where a full-time job provides a living wage. One 40-hour-a-week income should be able to support a family of four. This would assure the worker has adequate free time, and allow one parent in two-parent households, should he or she choose, to be out of the workforce and engaged in full-time family work. The easiest way to reach this goal would be to raise the federal minimum wage. If the federal minimum wage had simply kept up with inflation, today it would be $27 an hour, instead of the current $7.25. Perhaps a nearly $20 increase would be unrealistic, but we need an aggressive effort to help workers make up for all this lost ground.\u201d\n\nThey added: \u201cWe can give unions the boost they need by ensuring federal dollars support union jobs, repealing so-called right-to-work laws that undermine workers, and passing the PRO Act. And we can build on a famous union victory \u2014 the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, which set up the 40-hour workweek.\u201d\n\nOn restoring third places, they wrote: \u201cWe also need a national strategy to reinvest in the physical infrastructure that connects communities. We need public investments and tax incentives to rebuild and reinvigorate old downtowns, expand neighborhood parks and athletic facilities, build bike and walking trails, and clean our waters to encourage outdoor activities like hiking, kayaking and canoeing. In other words, invest in the projects that get people out of their homes and offer opportunities for us to connect with each other in communal spaces \u2014 all while creating a good number of jobs.\u201d\n\n\u201cFinally, we also need to acknowledge that there is a growing industry devoted to exploiting our leisure time. Social media platforms are obsessed with occupying every second of our free time and profiting off the data they collect on us. Recent advancements in AI have only accelerated this trend. In 2013, the average American spent about four hours per week on social media and 6 \u00bd hours per week with close friends. By 2021, we were spending almost 16 hours per week on social media and just 2 hours and 45 minutes with our friends. Regulating social media and artificial intelligence to make these products less addictive can restore leisure time that enhances spiritual health, rather than companies\u2019 bottom lines,\u201d they wrote.\n\nThey concluded: \u201cFor too long, policy has failed to realize the metaphysical value of free time and play \u2014 even for adults. We need a new economic vision that prioritizes leisure and social connection. That\u2019s the only path to recover the spiritual health of our nation.\u201d\n\nRead the full op-ed here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-on-meet-the-press-putin-is-delighting-in-republicans-insistence-we-tie-immigration-reform-to-ukraine-aid", "Murphy on Meet the Press: Putin is Delighting in Republicans' Insistence We Tie Immigration Reform to Ukraine Aid", "2023-12-10", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Sunday joined NBC\u2019s Meet the Press with Kristen Welker to discuss talks with Republicans on immigration reform, the dire situation in Ukraine, and the stakes of the 2024 election.\n\n\u201cFirst, I think it's absolutely tragic that Republicans are tying the resolution of maybe the most difficult issue in American politics, immigration, to support for Ukraine and Israel. Vladimir Putin is delighting right now in Republicans\u2019 insistence that we get a deal on immigration reform. And if we don't, then they are going to allow Vladimir Putin to march into Ukraine and perhaps into Europe. I think this is one of the most dangerous moments that I've ever faced in American politics, and I wish Republicans weren't holding Israel aid and aid to Ukraine hostage to the resolution of immigration reform,\u201d said Murphy.\n\nMurphy continued: \u201cThat being said, we are still in the room trying to deal with Republican demands. We are not going to put Donald Trump's immigration policies into statute. We're not going to do that. That would be bad for the country. But we do need to do something to try to resolve this crisis at the border. We have too many people crossing, too many people that don't have valid asylum claims. And if Republicans are serious about trying to control that crisis, while also still allowing into the country people who are legitimately fleeing terror and torture and violence, then we can come to a resolution.\u201d\n\nOn the state of negotiations, Murphy said: \u201cRight now, Republican demands are unreasonable. They don't actually get Democratic votes. If I were a cynic, I would say that Republicans have decided to tie support for Ukraine to immigration reform because they want Ukraine aid to fail. But, I'm not a cynic. And so we are still trying to resolve some pretty big differences that remain.\u201d\n\n\u201cI think the bottom line for Democrats and the bottom line for my constituents is pretty simple. We don't want to shut off the United States of America to people who are coming here to be rescued from dangerous, miserable circumstances in which their life is in jeopardy. That's the best of America is that you can come here to be rescued from terror and torture. So we are not going to support anything that shuts down the border completely to people who are legitimately coming here to have their lives rescued. But we are willing to talk about tightening some of the rules so that you don't have 10,000 people arriving a day. Our resources are not equipped to be able to handle that number of people. So let's reduce the number of people who are coming here, but let's not shut down the border completely to legitimate claims,\u201d Murphy added.\n\nMurphy highlighted the importance of getting aid to Ukraine in this moment: \u201cIt can change the outcome of this war because at the very same time that we are making a renewed commitment to Ukraine, Russia's ability to continue to fight this war is in jeopardy. You look at the revenues from oil sales, the projections for the next year, Russia is going to have a hard time coming up with the resources necessary to keep this fight going. In the end, will there likely have to be a negotiated solution? Absolutely. But if we cut off Ukraine now, the outcome is certain. The outcome is certain. Ukraine loses this war, maybe not next month, but sometime next year, because Europe will not stick with us if the United States abandons Ukraine. This is a decision moment for Ukraine, for the United States, and for the world.\u201d\n\nOn the stakes of the 2024 presidential election, Murphy said: \u201cWhat I am absolutely certain of is that the American public are going to see a distinct contrast between Joe Biden and Donald Trump and are not going to be interested in a Trump presidency that's going to criminalize abortion, that\u2019s going to give more handouts to billionaires and the wealthy. They're going to see President Biden who has invested in the middle class, who has helped this economy recover. That will be the contrast that will matter to the American people.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-statement-on-advancement-of-national-defense-authorization-bill", "Blumenthal Statement on Advancement of National Defense Authorization Bill", "2023-12-07", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, D.C.] \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement on the completion and release of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024 conference report, which includes a number of significant provisions he championed to invest in Connecticut\u2019s defense manufacturing workforce and enhance national security. The bill will now head to the Senate floor.\n\n\u201cHistoric investments in defense platforms made in Connecticut show continued unshakable confidence in our state\u2019s spectacular workforce,\u201d said Blumenthal. \u201cThis strong bipartisan national security package recognizes threats to America now, and in coming years. It underscores a strong commitment to bolstering advanced technologies\u2014submarines, helicopters, and fighter jets\u2014investing in workforce development, and taking care of our military families. I proudly fought for the authorization of the trilateral AUKUS agreement \u2013proving the world-class talent of our workforce in Groton constructing Virginia-class submarines. I look forward to voting on this bipartisan measure in the coming days, and sending it to President Biden\u2019s desk.\u201d\n\nThe text of the conference report can be found here.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/permanent-subcommittee-on-investigations-to-hold-hearing-on-sexual-assault-and-harassment-at-the-coast-guard-academy", "Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations to Hold Hearing on Sexual Assault and Harassment at the Coast Guard Academy", "2023-12-07", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, DC] \u2013 U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI) Chairman Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Ranking Member Ron Johnson (R-WI) will convene a hearing next Tuesday, December 12, 2023 at 10:00 AM in 562 Dirksen Senate Office Building on \u201cCoast Guard Academy Whistleblowers: Stories of Sexual Assault and Harassment.\u201d\n\nIn September 2023, PSI opened a bipartisan inquiry into the Coast Guard Academy\u2019s mishandling of sexual assault investigations and its failure to disclose the results of its sexual assault investigation to Congress or the public.\n\nThe full text of the senators\u2019 initial letter to the Coast Guard is available here. The witnesses for next week\u2019s hearing will be announced at a later date.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-casey-introduce-bill-to-fight-social-isolation-and-loneliness-among-older-americans", "Murphy, Casey Introduce Bill to Fight Social Isolation and Loneliness Among Older Americans", "2023-12-07", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.) on Thursday introduced the Addressing Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults (SILO) Act, legislation to establish a grant and training program for community-based organizations working to address social isolation among older adults and adults with disabilities \u2013 two populations at greater risk for loneliness.\n\n\"There are tons of local organizations already doing the important work of helping older Americans and adults with disabilities - two gorups most at-risk for social isolation - combat loneliness, and we should be in the business of making sure these programs reach as many people as possible. This legislation would create a new grant program dedicated to supporting community-based organizations focused on helping their neightbors feel a little less alone. It's a simple way the federal government can be a part of the solution,\" said Murphy.\n\n\u201cThe COVID-19 pandemic showed us all just how devastating social isolation can be for our mental and physical health,\u201d said Casey. \u201cHowever, for older Americans and people with disabilities, isolation and loneliness have long been serious issues. The Addressing SILO Act will fund new programs to improve social connection and reduce loneliness among older Americans and help ensure that Americans do not have to spend their golden years isolated and alone.\u201d\n\nMore than 1 in 3 adults aged 45 and older feel lonely, and forty percent of adults with a disability reporting feeling lonely or socially isolated. This comes with serious health impacts, including an increased risk of heart disease and stroke, by 29% and 32% respectively, and an increased risk of developing dementia by approximately 50% in older adults. Social isolation among older adults accounts for an estimated $6.7 billion in annual excess Medicare spending.\n\nSpecifically, the Addressing SILO Act provides $62.5 million in annual funding to support community-based organizations\u2019 work to:\n\nTrain their staff to better address and prevent social isolation and loneliness;\n\nConduct outreach to individuals at-risk for social isolation and loneliness;?\n\nDevelop community-based interventions to mitigate social isolation and loneliness;?\n\nConnect at-risk individuals with social and clinical supports; and??\n\nEvaluate the effectiveness of the programs developed and implemented through the grants.??\n\nEarlier this year, Murphy introduced the National Strategy for Social Connection Act, which would create an Office of Social Connection Policy within the White House to work across federal agencies to develop effective strategies for improved social infrastructure and issue national guidelines for social connection similar to existing guidelines on sleep, nutrition, and physical activity. It would also provide funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to better understand the epidemic of social isolation and loneliness.\n\nA one pager is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-submits-public-comment-in-support-of-doj-rule-to-expand-background-checks", "Murphy Submits Public Comment in Support of DOJ Rule to Expand Background Checks", "2023-12-07", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Thursday submitted a public comment in support of the U.S. Department of Justice\u2019s (DOJ) proposed new rule to specify the definition of \u201cengaged in the business\u201d as a dealer in firearms. Murphy\u2019s Bipartisan Safer Communities Act clarified the definition of who is \u201cengaged in the business\u201d of dealing in firearms as a person doing so with the intent to \u201cpredominately earn a profit.\u201d The proposed rule amends the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives\u2019 (ATF) regulations to conform with the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, clarifying who must register as a federally licensed firearms dealer and conduct background checks on gun sales.\n\nThe public comment period ends today, and the rule is expected to be finalized sometime in the new year.\n\n\u201cI co-led a bipartisan group of members of Congress who negotiated the eventual legislation passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden in June 2022, which included changes to the statute that are the subject of the EITB NPRM. I write in strong support of the proposed rule, which will increase the efficacy of BSCA, strengthen our background check system, and keep firearms out of the hands of individuals who should not have them, exactly as Congress intended when it enacted BSCA,\u201d he wrote.\n\nMurphy highlighted the deadly toll of current loopholes in our background checks system, writing: \u201cUltimately, this resulted in countless firearms sales to persons who should not have had access to a gun, which sadly became a common and deadly occurrence. For example, one study in 2017 found that one in five gun sales occurred outside the background check system, predominantly carried out by individuals who did not believe they were engaged in the business of dealing firearms.\u201d\n\nMurphy, in his role as the lead Democratic negotiator, also made clear Congress\u2019 intent in passing the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, noting: \u201cClearly, Congress meant something when it changed the definition of who was engaged in the business, and merely restating existing law seems inconsistent for the product of a bipartisan negotiation. I made public comments during the BSCA negotiations which helped clarify what that something was and which provided additional clarity about the tough negotiated outcome in BSCA: something substantially less than universal background checks, but something more than current law at the time.\u201d\n\nHe added: \u201cI am pleased to see the ATF propose a rule interpreting this section of the law as a direct result of BSCA negotiations. This rule is an important and necessary step to ensuring our background check system works as effectively as possible. Based on the text alone, it is plainly obvious that this NPRM aligns with our intent in BSCA.\u201d\n\nThe full text of the public comment can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-we-know-background-checks-work-and-90-percent-of-americans-support-them", "Murphy: We Know Background Checks Work and 90 Percent of Americans Support Them", "2023-12-07", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Wednesday spoke on the U.S. Senate floor to seek unanimous consent to pass the Background Check Expansion Act, legislation to expand federal background checks to nearly all gun sales. Senate Republicans blocked his request.\n\n\u201cI have lost count of the number of times I've come down to the floor of the Senate to talk about this immoral anomaly in which you are subject to the risk of death by gunshot wound in the United States at a rate ten times higher than any other high-income nation,\u201d Murphy said.\n\nMurphy highlighted the popularity of background checks among Americans: \u201c90 percent of Americans supporting universal background checks, checks on every gun sale. 89 percent of Republicans, 89 percent of gun owners, 70 percent of the NRA members. Because even the gun owners, even the people who feel so fired up about this issue that they want to come talk to me in the middle of a county fair, we're not disagreeing about that simple policy: just make sure that people who shouldn't have guns don't get their hands on them.\u201d\n\nMurphy detailed how criminals use loopholes in the background checks system to illegally buy guns online or at gun shows: \u201cOne study showed that there were 1.2 million online ads offering firearms for sale that would not require a background check to be done. That same study showed that one in nine prospective buyers of guns online would not pass a background check. That is a rate seven times higher than the denial rate of gun stores. And the reason is that criminals are going online and going to the gun shows because they know they will fail the background check if they go to a brick-and-mortar store.\n\nMurphy continued: \u201cThat's what Seth Ator did. He failed a background check when he tried to purchase a gun in 2014. But he went to a private seller online. He bought a gun, and then he used it to kill seven people and wound 25 others in a mass shooting in Odessa. This is not theoretical. This happens. How do you think all these guns get into our cities? It's because the criminal traffickers who have serious criminal records who can\u2019t buy guns at a brick-and-mortar store go to a state that doesn't have universal checks. The criminals, the traffickers buy the guns online or at a gun show and then they drive them up to Hartford, Connecticut, and they sell them on the black market.\u201d\n\nOn how background checks save lives, Murphy said: \u201cThe data just tells us that people believe in background checks. They want us to pass universal background checks, and the data also tells us that it works. And the numbers vary, but even the least generous studies tell us that in states that have universal background checks like Connecticut, 10 percent less people are dying from gun homicides. And of course my law can\u2019t fully protect the people in my state because those guns get trafficked into Connecticut from states that don't have universal background checks. And so the numbers would be even bigger if we didn't have all these loopholes.\u201d\n\nMurphy concluded: \u201cI got to tell you; something does seem pretty wrong if democracy can't deliver on a 90 percent consensus. And not a 90 percent consensus about whether your road gets paved. A 90 percent consensus on whether kids live or die. 90 percent consensus on an existential question of survival.\u201d\n\nA full transcript of his remarks can be found below:\n\n\u201cI\u2019d like to thank Senator Warnock and others for coming to the floor today to raise this truly existential crisis put it in front of our colleagues. I have lost count of the number of times I've come down to the floor of the Senate to talk about this immoral anomaly in which you are subject to the risk of death by gunshot wound in the United States at a rate ten times higher than any other high-income nation.\n\n\u201cI wish there was a truly complicated set of factors that play into the reason why we have so much more gun violence here than in other nations, but it probably isn't that complicated. We don't have more mental illness in this country. We don't spend less money on law enforcement. We don't have angrier people.\n\n\u201cWe just have a lot more guns, and we are much more permissive in this country about allowing felons, dangerous people, the mentally ill to get their hands on guns. And we are much more permissive around the question of which kind of guns get in the hands of private citizens, especially guns that are designed to kill as many human beings as quickly as possible.\n\n\u201cAs you can imagine, because I have a pretty high profile on this issue when I'm back in my state, I get confronted a lot by supporters of the Second Amendment, NRA members, you know who want to have a conversation with me about why I believe what I believe. And that conversation normally starts with the assumption that I want to take guns away or ammunition away from law abiding gun owners.\n\n\u201cAnd almost without exception, when I get confronted by somebody who wants to talk about guns with me, who comes from that gun rights side of the debate, as quickly as I can get the debate to background checks is when we start agreeing.\n\n\u201cBecause I have found very few of those conversations in Connecticut, where even in the most heated of arguments, we don't find quick agreement on the simple idea that before you buy a gun, you should have to prove that you're not a criminal or you're not seriously mentally ill. Why? Because law abiding gun owners have gone through background checks.\n\n\u201cThey know that in 90 percent of the cases those background checks are processed instantaneously while you are in the store. And for most of the people who are talking to me who aren't mentally ill and don't have criminal histories, that's their only experience \u2013 is that the background check is not a barrier to purchasing a gun.\n\n\u201cAnd so it's just not surprising to me to hear the data that Senator Warnock is talking about. 90 percent of Americans supporting universal background checks, checks on every gun sale. 89 percent of Republicans, 89 percent of gun owners, 70 percent of the NRA members. Because even the gun owners, even the people who feel so fired up about this issue that they want to come talk to me in the middle of a county fair, we're not disagreeing about that simple policy: just make sure that people who shouldn't have guns don't get their hands on them.\n\n\u201cSome people will say, well, it's a hassle. It's an unreasonable barrier. Well, I just told you that in 90 percent of the cases, they're resolved instantaneously. In the ten percent of cases where it takes more than five minutes that's normally because there's something on that person's record that we need to find out. And what we know is that there have been millions of gun purchases that have been denied because felons or seriously mentally ill individuals did try to buy those guns.\n\n\u201cBut we also know that 99 percent of Americans live within ten miles of a gun store. There are 60,000 licensed gun dealers across this country who can perform background checks. That's four times the number of McDonald's restaurants in America. It's just not true that this is an unreasonable restriction of your liberty to just make sure you get a background check before you buy a gun.\n\n\u201cNow, what are we talking about? We're talking about guns that are largely sold online and through gun shows. Because the law today, the federal law, that I think we still all agree on. I don't hear a lot of my Republican colleagues proposing legislation to repeal the requirement that you should get a background check if you go into a gun store. All we're talking about is extending that requirement to the place where a lot of guns are now sold in a way they weren't when we pass the National Instant Criminal Background Check law in the early 90s. Today a lot more guns are sold to gun stores. A lot more guns are sold online.\n\n\u201cAnd the studies that have been done about gun sales online are really troubling. One study showed that there were 1.2 million online ads offering firearms for sale that would not require a background check to be done. That same study showed that one in nine prospective buyers of guns online would not pass a background check. That is a rate seven times higher than the denial rate of gun stores. And the reason is that criminals are going online and going to the gun shows because they know they will fail the background check if they go to a brick-and-mortar store.\n\n\u201cThat's what Seth Ator did. He failed a background check when he tried to purchase a gun in 2014. But he went to a private seller online. He bought a gun, and then he used it to kill seven people and wound 25 others in a mass shooting in Odessa.\n\n\u201cThis is not theoretical. This happens. How do you think all these guns get into our cities? It's because the criminal traffickers who have serious criminal records who can\u2019t buy guns at a brick-and-mortar store go to a state that doesn't have universal checks. The criminals, the traffickers buy the guns online or at a gun show and then they drive them up to Hartford, Connecticut, and they sell them on the black market.\n\n\u201cThe data just tells us that people believe in background checks. They want us to pass universal background checks, and the data also tells us that it works. And the numbers vary, but even the least generous studies tell us that in states that have universal background checks like Connecticut, 10 percent less people are dying from gun homicides. And of course my law can\u2019t fully protect the people in my state because those guns get trafficked into Connecticut from states that don't have universal background checks. And so the numbers would be even bigger if we didn't have all these loopholes.\n\n\u201cAnd so, I agree with Senator Warnock. This just feels like a test of democracy. It really does. How does democracy survive if 90 percent of Americans, 90 percent of Republicans 90 percent of Democrats want something and we can't deliver it?\n\n\u201cYou want to know why people are flirting with autocracy and dictatorship? It's because even when they agree and a 90 percent rate, they can't get what they want from their government. I got to tell you; something does seem pretty wrong if democracy can't deliver on a 90 percent consensus. And not a 90 percent consensus about whether your road gets paved. A 90 percent consensus on whether kids live or die. 90 percent consensus on an existential question of survival.\n\n\u201cAnd so, Mr. President, as in legislative session, I'm going to ask Mr. President that we pass a bill that will require universal background checks in this country. I'm going to ask my colleagues to respect the wishes of 90 percent of Americans and do something that we know works. So I'm going to ask as in legislative session for unanimous consent that the Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. 494 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration. I further ask consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and motion to reconsider be considered made, and laid upon the table.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-raises-serious-concerns-over-weighted-sleep-sacks-and-swaddles-for-infants", "Blumenthal Raises Serious Concerns over Weighted Sleep Sacks & Swaddles for Infants", "2023-12-06", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, D.C.] \u2013 In letters to two weighted sleep sack and swaddle manufacturers, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) raised serious concerns about the products\u2019 safety in light of numerous unverified claims made by the companies, strong opposition from child safety experts, and lack of current government oversight.\n\n\u201cI write today regarding the weighted sleep sacks and swaddles developed and sold by your company, Dreamland Baby,\u201d wrote Blumenthal in a letter to Dreamland Baby founder and CEO Tara Williams. A similar letter was sent to Nested Bean founder and president Manasi Gangan. \u201cThe Dreamland Baby website claims that these products were developed in partnership with pediatricians. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently shared their opposition to weighted sleep products for infants explicitly saying that \u2018weighted swaddle clothing or weighted objects within swaddles are not safe and therefore not recommended.\u2019 That is why I am deeply concerned by your company\u2019s decision to continue selling these products to vulnerable and unsuspecting parents who are \u2018sleep-deprived, stressed and desperate for help,\u2019 all while lacking reputable research to back the safety of these items.\u201d\n\nBlumenthal pointed out several dubious safety claims made by the companies, including the claim by Dreamland Baby that their products \u201cexceed all CPSC standards\u201d and a similar claim by Nested Bean that \u201call Zen Sleep products have undergone extensive tests to meet both mandatory and voluntary safety standards.\u201d Blumenthal emphasized that the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) does not have an existing standard for the use of weighted sleep products for infants and stressed that \u201cthe lack of comprehensive research and testing into the safety of weighted sleep products for infants is troubling.\u201d\n\nBlumenthal further highlighted the alarming lack of thorough research into these products, including comments by Nested Bean founder and president who stated they were hopeful that the AAP would change its opposition once the products were researched more thoroughly.\n\n\u201cIt is clear that there is not yet enough understanding of the impact of weighted sleep products on infants and they should not be marketed as \u2018safe\u2019 especially since medical professionals have expressed such serious concerns,\u201d Blumenthal wrote, asking the companies to answer a series of questions into the research and safety precautions taken during the development of the products.\n\nThe full text of the letter to Dreamland Baby is available here and below. The letter to Nested Bean is available here.\n\nDecember 6, 2023\n\nTara Williams\n\nDreamland Baby\n\n3338 Deer Hollow Drive\n\nDanville, CA 94506\n\nDear Ms. Williams,\n\nI write today regarding the weighted sleep sacks and swaddles developed and sold by your company, Dreamland Baby. The Dreamland Baby website claims that these products were developed in partnership with pediatricians.[1] However, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently shared their opposition to weighted sleep products for infants explicitly saying that \u201cweighted swaddle clothing or weighted objects within swaddles are not safe and therefore not recommended.\u201d[2] That is why I am deeply concerned by your company\u2019s decision to continue selling these products to vulnerable and unsuspecting parents who are \u201csleep-deprived, stressed and desperate for help,\u201d[3] all while lacking reputable research to back the safety of these items.\n\nIn June 2023, the AAP sent a letter to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) urging oversight of weighted sleep products for infants and children. In this letter, they outlined significant health concerns with the use of these products, including the fact that an infant\u2019s ribcage is flexible and not fully ossified so prolonged weight and pressure from these type of products may compress their chest, affecting their breathing and heart rate.[4] Pediatricians have also linked Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) to infants\u2019 inability to startle themselves awake and re-stabilize their system.[5] The deep sleep that is promoted by weighted sleep products may inhibit their natural ability to rouse themselves, putting them at a greater risk for SIDS. Further, infants have small stomachs and are supposed to wake up every few hours to eat. According to the CDC, in their early months, parents should expect infants to feed every 2 to 5 hours.[6] Telling a parent that it is safe for their baby to sleep uninterrupted for hours on end using your products is misleading and harmful.\n\nIn addition to the serious health concerns that have already been raised by the AAP, the lack of comprehensive research and testing into the safety of weighted sleep products for infants is troubling. Your company website claims that the weighted sleep sacks and swaddles are rigorously tested and \u201cexceed all CPSC standards.\u201d The CPSC does not have an existing standard for the use of weighted sleep products on infants. Further, the website states that you are working with researchers on a comprehensive study on the safety and efficacy of weighted sleep products.[7] As you know, the results have not been published or verified. In fact, there has been no evidence in peer-reviewed scientific literature evaluating the safety of weighted sleep products on infants and there have been no published studies regarding their use in an unmonitored setting.[8] Yet your company is actively selling these products, marketing them as safe.\n\nOne of the studies highlighted on your website was published in 2020 and examined the safety and efficacy of weighted sleep products for infants but the focus was specifically on patients in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) who were suffering from neonatal abstinence syndrome. The sample size in this study was small, consisting of 16 infants who were under the weighted blanket for 30-minute sessions with constant supervision.[9] This study did not explain how infants would respond to this pressure over a longer period of time, namely the overnight sleep sessions the weighted sleep sacks are marketed for or how weighted sleep products would affect infants without an underlying condition. The study also acknowledged that additional research with larger sample sizes were necessary, but most importantly, it never advocated or promoted the use of weighted sleep products outside of a hospital setting.\n\nThe lack of adequate research into these products has even been underscored by the founder and president of Nested Bean, another weighted sleep sack company, who stated that they were hopeful that the AAP would change its position on the products once they were researched more thoroughly.[10] It is clear that there is not yet enough understanding of the impact of weighted sleep products on infants and they should not be marketed as \u2018safe\u2019 especially since medical professionals have expressed such serious concerns.\n\nTo better understand the research conducted and safety precautions taken during the development of this product, I request answers to the following questions by December 21st, 2023:\n\nHave you received reports or reviews of incidents, injuries, or deaths resulting from the use of your products, including those that have not been formally reported to the CPSC? If so, please provide the reports for each category of complaints along with the dates of their reporting.\n\nHave you shared any reports of incidents, injuries, or deaths with the CPSC? If so, when?\n\nHow do you follow up with consumers who experience negative incidents?\n\nHave consumers returned products due to incidents or perceived hazards? If so, how many and what were the reasons listed for the return?\n\nWhich medical experts did you consult with when developing these products?\n\nHow many medical experts did you consult?\n\nWhat background and qualifications do these experts possess?\n\nWhat was the nature of the consultation?\n\nDid this consultation include a safety assessment? If so, what did the assessment involve?\n\nWhat were the specific conclusions reached by the experts you consulted?\n\nIf you have conducted research or studies into the efficacy and safety of weighted sleep products for infants, please provided details of the process and outcome including the following: the structure of the study and duration of the study periods, whether these studies were conducted with or without supervision, the pediatric experts who led the research, and any findings or reports that may illustrate the rigor of the study.\n\nWhat information have you relied on to market these products as safe? If sales without injury are one source of information, please explain what safety metrics were used to determine safety when the products were first introduced?\n\nHow many Dreamland Baby products are currently in circulation? What levels of growth do you predict over the next fiscal year?\n\nWhat hospitals are currently using Dreamland Baby products in their NICU?\n\nHave you received any outreach from hospitals using Dreamland Baby products looking to dissolve the partnership given AAP\u2019s recommendations?\n\nAre hospitals recommending the use of Dreamland Baby products to parents or caregivers outside of the hospital setting? (See Exhibit A)\n\nA Google search on November 1, 2023 for \u201cDreamland Baby weighted blanket\u201d resulted in an advertisement that asserts the following: \u201cDreamland Baby is the world\u2019s first safety certified weighted blanket designed for infants.\u201d [See Attachment] Who certified this product and to what standard were they certified?\n\nDoes your product include any information for consumers that would remind them that young infants need to wake up every few hours to feed?\n\nYour design distributes weight throughout the front of the sleep product, up to 10% of the recommended user\u2019s weight. What medical research do you point to that shows that 10% of a newborn\u2019s or infant\u2019s weight is safe in a weighted product?\n\nThank you for your attention to this important matter,\n\nSincerely,\n\n[1] Dreamland Baby, https://dreamlandbabyco.com/pages/faq-producty-safety-and-care\n\n[2] Moon, Rachel, \u201cSleep-Related Infant Deaths: Updated 2022 Recommendations for Reducing Infant Deaths in the Sleep Environment.\u201d (July 2022). https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/150/1/e2022057990/188304/Sleep-Related-Infant-Deaths-Updated-2022?autologincheck=redirected\n\n[3] Dreamland Baby, https://www.dreamlandbaby.co.uk/blogs/news/the-key-benefits-of-weighted-sleep-sacks-for-babies\n\n[4] Khimm, Suzy \u201cWeighted sleep sacks are unsafe for infants, national pediatricians\u2019 group says\u201d (June 16, 2023). https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/weighted-sleep-sacks-american-academy-pediatrics-rcna89469\n\n[5] Kirchner, Lauren \u201cPediatricians Warn That Weighted Baby Blankets, Sleep Sacks, and Swaddles Are Not Safe\u201d (July 26, 2023). https://www.consumerreports.org/babies-kids/child-safety/weighted-baby-blankets-sleep-sacks-swaddles-are-not-safe-a6236206799/\n\n[6] CDC \u201cHow Much and How Often to Breastfeed\u201d https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/infantandtoddlernutrition/breastfeeding/how-much-and-how-often.html#:~:text=First%20Weeks%20and%20Months&text=On%20average%2C%20most%20exclusively%20breastfed,on%20the%20time%20of%20day\n\n[7] Dreamland Baby, https://dreamlandbabyco.com/pages/safety\n\n[8] AAP letter to the CPSC, https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23849624-aap-letter-61523\n\n[9] Hernandez, Joe \u201cWeighted infant sleepwear is meant to help babies rest better. Critics say it\u2019s risky\u201d (July 27, 2023), https://www.npr.org/2023/07/27/1190263995/weighted-infant-sleepwear-safety", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-statement-on-senate-republicans-blocking-national-security-funding-package", "Blumenthal Statement on Senate Republicans Blocking National Security Funding Package", "2023-12-06", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, DC] \u2013 U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) released the following statement after the Senate failed to move ahead with a supplemental funding package for national security priorities, including the war in Ukraine:\n\n\u201cChampagne corks are popping in the Kremlin\u2019s halls \u2013 celebrating this setback for Ukraine\u2019s democracy and ours. I am still hopeful that my colleagues will come together to provide Ukraine with the tools it needs to turn back Russia\u2019s savage assault. If this vote stands and our support falters, Ukraine may well fall and our own national security could be severely endangered. Let\u2019s show Putin that our democracy still works. Not just Russia, but all of our adversaries and allies, indeed the whole world, is watching.\u201d\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-statement-on-the-coast-guards-accountability-and-transparency-review", "Blumenthal Statement on the Coast Guard's Accountability & Transparency Review", "2023-12-06", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, DC] \u2013 U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) released the following statement in response to the U.S. Coast Guard\u2019s Accountability and Transparency Review (ATR) report:\n\n\u201cI support any and all efforts to change the longstanding culture that tolerates and allows sexual harassment, assault, and abuse to persist with impunity at the Coast Guard Academy \u2013 including the recommendations in this report. But the Coast Guard\u2019s \u201cAccountability\u201d task force did not, in fact, recommend any steps to hold accountable past perpetrators or generations of Coast Guard leaders who oversaw and enabled a culture of misconduct and cover-up. This is unacceptable. Perpetrators must know that their actions will be punished, and survivors must know that their accounts will be taken seriously, their safety protected, and that justice will be pursued on their behalf.\u201d\n\nIn September, the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI) opened a bipartisan inquiry into the Coast Guard Academy\u2019s mishandling of sexual assault investigations and its failure to disclose the results of its sexual assault investigation to Congress or the public.\n\nThe full text of the PSI\u2019s initial letter to the Coast Guard is available here.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/videoblumenthal-seeks-passage-of-ethans-law", "***Video***Blumenthal Seeks Passage of Ethan's Law", "2023-12-06", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, D.C.] \u2013 Today on the Senate Floor, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) sought to pass Ethan\u2019s Law, legislation requiring gun owners to safely and securely store their firearms. U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) objected to the unanimous consent request.\n\nLoaded and unlocked guns kill or injure eight children or teens every day. Ethan\u2019s Law would create federal requirements for safe gun storage and establish strong penalties for any violations. The legislation is named in honor of Ethan Song, a teenager from Guilford, Connecticut who was tragically killed in 2018 by an unsecured gun in a neighbor\u2019s home.\n\n\u201cNinety percent of the guns used in unintentional shooting deaths by children were left unlocked and loaded. The numbers are outrageous and depressing. But we can do something and we should do something, and that is why I am here today to urge that we pass a bill that ought to be common ground, bipartisan common ground and show that, in fact, democracy can work, we can pass measures that save lives, that should be bipartisan. There ought to be no Republican v. Democratic debate on this floor or anywhere else,\u201d Blumenthal said on the Senate Floor. \u201cIt ought to be a matter of common sense and common agreement across the aisle.\u201d\n\nVideo of Blumenthal\u2019s remarks is available here. The full transcript is copied below:\n\nYou know, as I listened to the objection of my colleague from Utah, I am really struck by the absurdity and exaggeration involved in opposition to these commonsense measures that would simply save lives.\n\nThe idea that we haven't debated background checks? What could be more untethered to reality? We have debated background checks for as long as I have been in the United States Senate and before then when I was Attorney General seeking to champion universal background checks. We have debated them in the Judiciary Committee ad nauseam.\n\nAnd we have shown through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act that we can break the hold of the gun lobby that is the source of those absurd and ridiculous arguments. Background checks take no guns away from any law-abiding citizen. They simply assure that people who are dangerous to themselves or others don't have them.\n\nThat is the purpose of \u201cred flag\u201d laws, which I have also championed, and many of the other measures that we seek to pass. The repeal of PLCAA which guarantees unbridled immunity to gun manufactures. Ghost guns which we seek to ban because law enforcement finds them so dangerous. And numerous other commonsense measures.\n\nI'm here on behalf of a bill, Ethan's Law, Senate 173, which ought to be common ground for everyone. It simply requires safe storage, and we know that 500 Americans every year, including more than 100 children, die from unintentional firearm injuries, many of them involving weapons that are unsafely stored. There are loaded and unlocked guns in the homes of 4.6 million American children, and many of them perish, because their parents or their neighbor's parents fail to safely store those weapons.\n\nNobody knows it better than Kristen Song. Her son died as a result of an unsafely stored weapon just after his 15th birthday. He was with a friend and a firearm stored in a Tupperware box was used in play by these two young boys. Ethan Song died.\n\nAnd Ethan's Law, which I am seeking to pass by unanimous consent today, is in his memory. It was passed by the state House of Representatives in Connecticut and our state Senate. And 26 states \u2013 red, blue, purple \u2013 already have some form of safe storage and child access prevention laws on the books. We know from the record of these laws in Connecticut that they work, they save lives. And we know also that gun owners believe that safe storage ought to be the law, ought to be required, ought to be mandated so that lives are saved.\n\nIn fact, even the firearms industry, including the National Rifle Association, and the National Shooting Sports Foundation, agree that safe storage is a critical part of responsible gun ownership. The NRA tells gun owners that, quote, strongboxes and security cases are impressive and give quick access to firearms in a defensive situation. The NSSF tells gun owners to, quote, always make absolutely sure that firearms in your home are securely stored, out of the reach of children, and unauthorized persons.\n\nNinety percent of the guns used in unintentional shooting deaths by children were left unlocked and loaded. The numbers are outrageous and depressing. But we can do something and we should do something, and that is why I am here today to urge that we pass a bill that ought to be common ground, bipartisan common ground and show that, in fact, democracy can work, we can pass measures that save lives, that should be bipartisan. There ought to be no Republican v. Democratic debate on this floor or anywhere else. It ought to be a matter of common sense and common agreement across the aisle.\n\nAnd so, as if in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. 173 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration. I further ask that this bill be considered read a third time and passed and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid on the table, no single gun owner will lose a gun, none, as a result of this measure.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-statement-on-failed-vote-to-pass-national-security-supplemental", "Murphy Statement on Failed Vote to Pass National Security Supplemental", "2023-12-06", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Wednesday released the following statement after Senate Republicans blocked passage of the national security supplemental, which included aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, funding for border security, and support for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program:\n\n\u201cRepublicans are playing a dangerous game with the fate of the free world. It's so reckless that they have decided to tie the future of Ukraine and U.S. support for Israel to their hardline demands to shut down the border. The stakes could not be higher, and so I am willing to continue working to find an actual compromise. But it\u2019s time for Republicans to stop playing politics, ditch their unserious proposals, and come to the table with reasonable expectations.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-statement-on-new-coast-guard-accountability-and-transparency-review-report", "Murphy Statement on New Coast Guard Accountability and Transparency Review Report", "2023-12-06", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Chairman of the U.S. Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, on Wednesday released the following statement on release of the U.S. Coast Guard\u2019s Accountability and Transparency Review (ATR) report:\n\n\u201cReleased one week after we learned the Coast Guard spent eight years covering up additional evidence of harassment, discrimination, and assault within the organization, this new report still does not hold anyone accountable for past failures\u2014particularly those at the Coast Guard Academy. It does lay out a modest plan to improve oversight, training, and support for survivors, but a report is nothing more than paper until concrete steps are taken. I look forward to receiving detailed updates from leadership on implementation of these recommendations and their continued commitment to reforming the organization\u2019s culture of cover-up.\u201d\n\nMurphy has a long pushed the U.S. Coast Guard to deal with harassment and bullying at the Coast Guard Academy. Last week, Murphy released a statement on statement on reporting about the Coast Guard\u2019s 2015 \u201cCulture of Respect\u201d study, which details a culture of racism, hazing, discrimination, and sexual assault across the agency and was kept from the public. Earlier this year, Murphy released a statement on the report detailing decades of sexual misconduct at the Coast Guard Academy. In 2019, he criticized the Coast Guard for covering up allegations of harassment and for failing to appear before the U.S. House of Representatives Homeland Security and Oversight Committees investigating the allegations. That same year, following an OIG Whistleblower Retaliation Investigation and other reports of bullying, harassment and retaliation at the United States Coast Guard Academy, Murphy wrote a letter to the Coast Guard Commandant demanding reforms to the Academy\u2019s climate of bullying, harassment and retaliation. In 2018, Murphy along with U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-02) wrote to Admiral Schultz seeking information on racial disparities at the Coast Guard Academy.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/with-support-from-major-labor-unions-and-players-associations-murphy-sanders-warren-reintroduce-legislation-to-strengthen-college-athletes-collective-bargaining-rights", "With Support From Major Labor Unions And Players Associations, Murphy, Sanders, Warren Reintroduce Legislation To Strengthen College Athletes' Collective Bargaining Rights", "2023-12-06", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) on Wednesday reintroduced the College Athlete Right to Organize Act (CARO), legislation that affirms college athletes are employees under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) who are entitled to the right to organize and collectively bargain for fair compensation and better working conditions. CARO would ensure athletes have full freedom to organize at their individual colleges, either by sport or across sports, or organize across colleges to negotiate collective bargaining agreements within their athletic conferences. U.S. Representative Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.-16) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.\n\n\u201cAll the breathless attention on this weekend\u2019s College Football Playoff selection is a reminder that college sports are anything but amateur. There is no college sports industry and its $16 billion in annual revenues without the athletes' labor. It\u2019s past time they get a seat at the negotiating table. Instead of fighting athletes' rights in courts and spending millions on lobbying Congress, the NCAA and its members should start negotiating directly with players on revenue-sharing, health and safety protections, and more. This legislation would make it easier for the athletes to realize their power, form unions, and start to collectively bargain,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n\u201cWe cannot wait for the NCAA to share its billions with the workers who create it,\u201d said Sanders. \u201cAnd those workers are college athletes. The College Athlete Right to Organize Act is a step in the right direction to giving these workers the rights and protections that they deserve.\u201d\n\n\u201cCollege athletes put their lives and well-being on the line to make their schools and the NCAA billions of dollars each year \u2013 of course they should be able to unionize and make sure they\u2019re paid their fair share of that pot. The College Athlete Right to Organize Act is a common sense next step to protect the young workers powering this industry and give them the rights they deserve,\u201d said Warren.\n\n\u201cCollege athletes are workers, period. They are skilled and disciplined young people who deserve so much more than to be treated as sources of revenue by the colleges and universities they attend. Their lack of collective bargaining rights, pay, and ownership of their own image is a labor and civil rights issue that requires our immediate action. The College Athlete Right to Organize Act is the first step in bringing college sports into the 21st century by ensuring college athletes have the right to collectively bargain across teams and conferences, and that they are able to advocate for rights, protections, and compensation commensurate with the value they undeniably provide. College athletics are a billion dollar industry, and it\u2019s time to treat those who make it run with the respect, rights, and pay they deserve,\u201d said Bowman.\n\nThe legislation is newly endorsed by the major professional players associations including the Major League Baseball Players Association, Major League Soccer Players Association, National Basketball Players Association, National Football League Players Association, National Hockey League Players Association, and United Soccer League Players Association. Actors\u2019 Equity Association, American Association of University Professors, AFL-CIO, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, American Federation of Teachers, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers National Employment Law Project, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and United Steelworkers (USW) also endorsed the bill.\n\n\"Collective bargaining has immeasurably benefitted the workers we represent and professional sports as a whole. Athletes enjoy elevated health and safety standards, medical benefits, fair compensation, and other rights both on and off the field. Leagues and teams can negotiate roster construction, player reserve, and other competitive regulations. And fans receive the most compelling entertainment product in the world. The same result is achievable at the collegiate level, and we applaud Sen. Murphy for his continued efforts in support of organizing and collective bargaining,\u201d said the Major League Baseball Players Association, Major League Soccer Players Association, National Basketball Players Association, National Football League Players Association, and National Hockey League Players Association.\n\nU.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-Mo.-5), Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.-10), Hank Johnson (D-Ga.-4), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.-14), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.-5), Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.-3), Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.-13), and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.-12) co-sponsored the legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.\n\nEarlier this year, Murphy also reintroduced the College Athlete Economic Freedom Act, legislation that would establish an unrestricted federal right for college athletes to market their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL).During March Madness, Murphy wrote an op-ed in USA Today warning that college sports will destroy itself if it doesn\u2019t get proactive about reform.\n\nFull text of the bill is available HERE.\n\nFact sheet of the bill is available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-highlights-east-hartfords-skyre-as-innovator-of-the-month", "Murphy Highlights East Hartford's SKYRE as \"Innovator of the Month\"", "2023-12-04", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "HARTFORD\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) announced that SKYRE, based in East Hartford, was named \u201cInnovator of the Month.\u201d SKYRE uses patented electrochemical technology to build innovative, efficient clean energy products, working to decarbonize the energy system through hydrogen recycling, green hydrogen production, and carbon utilization.\n\n\u201cWe need big, bold ideas to tackle the climate crisis, and the team at SKYRE is doing just that. It\u2019s incredible to see how Connecticut\u2019s talented workforce and experience at the forefront of innovation in this industry have helped SKYRE grow and thrive. I\u2019m proud to recognize their work and look forward to seeing all that they accomplish,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n\u201cDecarbonization initiatives are central to the majority of corporate and economic growth strategies. SKYRE's sole mission is to advance decarbonization through electrolysis to reliably produce ultra low-cost green hydrogen and fuels and chemicals. SKYRE's products function at the intersection of clean hydrogen and carbon reduction, helping customers address vital industrial productivity and energy challenges. The foundational technology for hydrogen and fuel cells, originated and refined in Connecticut, was initially developed for manned space flight and nuclear submarines. This rich history has allowed SKYRE to tap into a highly skilled workforce. We're grateful to have access to Connecticut's flagship university, UConn. Its second to none in experiential learning approach, enables us to hire graduates who can seamlessly integrate into our business. And we partner with the outstanding UCONN faculty members whose ideas have advanced our products \u2013 thus introducing new capabilities and improving overall performance. Connecticut's ready access to capital markets \u2013 including various investor networks, institutional funds, and Connecticut Innovations \u2013 has provided us with visibility that wouldn't be possible in other states. This remarkable ecosystem has played a crucial role in our successful growth and innovation journey,\u201d said Trent Molter, founder and CEO of SKYRE.\n\nMurphy believes entrepreneurship and innovation are the building blocks for a strong economy. In the U.S. Senate, he has introduced legislation to incentivize angel investors to put more money into startup companies\u2014the Angel Tax Credit Act and the Helping Angels Lead Our Startups (HALOS) Act. Startup companies create an average of 2 million jobs each year.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-and-murphy-applaud-senate-judiciary-committee-approval-of-district-court-nominee-sarah-russell", "Blumenthal & Murphy Applaud Senate Judiciary Committee Approval of District Court Nominee Sarah Russell", "2023-12-01", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, DC] \u2013 U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) applauded the Senate Judiciary Committee\u2019s approval of Sarah Russell to fill a vacancy on the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut. The Judiciary Committee approved Russell\u2019s nomination yesterday by a vote of 11-10. Russell\u2019s nomination will now advance to the full Senate.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m delighted that the Judiciary Committee has moved Sarah Russell\u2019s nomination to the Senate floor, where she should be confirmed promptly,\u201d said Blumenthal, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. \u201cSarah Russell has been a relentless champion of justice\u2014making legal rights real for countless people needing an advocate, and giving voice to the voiceless and most vulnerable. In both the courtroom and classroom, she has led by example. Throughout her stellar career\u2014as a teacher, public defender, and clinic head\u2014upholding the rule of law has been her life\u2019s work. She has earned esteem from opposing litigants as well as allies, including prosecutors, judges and defense attorneys.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m glad to see Sarah Russell\u2019s nomination to serve on the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut approved by the committee. Her legal expertise, commitment to justice, and experience as a litigator make her extremely qualified for this role, and I look forward to voting for her confirmation,\u201d said Murphy.\n\nBlumenthal introduced Russell before her hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee in November. Video of Blumenthal\u2019s remarks is available here.\n\nSarah Russell has served as a Professor at the Quinnipiac University School of Law since 2011 and as Director of the school\u2019s Legal Clinic since 2019. Prior to her time at Quinnipiac, Russell was a Lecturer at Yale Law School and the Director of the Arthur Liman Public Interest Program. Russell also served as an Assistant Federal Public Defender from 2005 to 2007 and as a Law Clerk for the Honorable Chester J. Straub of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and the Honorable Michael B. Mukasey of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.\n\nRussell is a widely respected member of Connecticut\u2019s legal community, having been appointed by state and federal judges to serve on the Connecticut Sentencing Commission, the Connecticut Committee on Judicial Ethics, and the Federal Grievance Committee. Russell is also an active member of her community, serving on the board of the Hamden Juvenile Review and Connecticut Children\u2019s Museum. Russell received both her undergraduate and law degrees from Yale University.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/icymi-op-ed-the-voices-behind-the-kids-online-safety-act-deb-schmill-from-massachusetts", "ICYMI OP-ED: The Voices Behind the Kids Online Safety Act: Deb Schmill from Massachusetts", "2023-12-01", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, D.C.] \u2013 The bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act, led by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), is strongly supported by a broad coalition of parents who have tragically lost their children or whose kids have been severely harmed by Big Tech, young people who want to regain control over their online lives, and experts and advocates who study and see the negative effects of social media firsthand in their communities. The \u201cVoices Behind the Kids Online Safety Act\u201d series will amplify their stories as they call on Congress to pass the legislation to help protect themselves online and to hold Big Tech accountable. The bill has the support of nearly half of the U.S. Senate.\n\nDeb Schmill\n\nRead Deb Schmill\u2019s full op-ed for the CommonWealth Beacon HERE and below\n\n\u201cMy daughter Becca\u2019s official cause of death is listed as an accidental drug overdose due to fentanyl poisoning. But what led her down this path, and ultimately helped end her life, was social media,\u201d wrote Schmill. \u201cSadly, my family is not alone. Far too many other families have suffered similar losses because of the harms of Big Tech, which has been running a national experiment on our kids for far too long.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor years, these tech companies, including Meta (Facebook, Instagram), Google (YouTube), TikTok, and others have refused to answer to the government or parents like me who must bury their children because of the dangerous and toxic effects of social media. We are finally at a point in which Big Tech may have to answer for its greedy and misguided actions,\u201d Schmill continued. \u201cEach day this legislation is not passed is another opportunity for a cyberbully to push a vulnerable child to suicide, for a child\u2019s attempt at an online prank to turn fatal, and for a teen who is feeling stressed to go online and purchase a counterfeit pill containing fentanyl.\u201d\n\n\u201cBig Tech has hardly ever given us reason to believe it will hold itself accountable. For years they\u2019ve been making business and design decisions that put profit over kids\u2019 and teens\u2019 wellbeing. We finally have a chance to stop them and create a safer, healthier digital world for young people,\u201d wrote Schmill.\n\nDeb Schmill holds a photo of her daughter, Becca, at a recent roundtable with Senators Blumenthal and Blackburn\n\nBlumenthal and Blackburn are the lead sponsors of the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act, which would provide kids and parents with better tools to protect themselves online, hold Big Tech accountable for harms to kids, and provide transparency into black box algorithms.\n\nRead Deb Schmill\u2019s full op-ed below:\n\n\u201cMy daughter Becca\u2019s official cause of death is listed as an accidental drug overdose due to fentanyl poisoning. But what led her down this path, and ultimately helped end her life, was social media. I\u2019ll explain.\n\nAt 15, Becca participated in an online party chat and met a boy who later raped her \u2013 taking a major toll on her mental health and self-esteem. The same year, she was the victim of a cyberbullying incident by her peers \u2013 a very public form of humiliation that leaves permanent scars. For Becca, these wounds never healed.\n\nEventually, Becca found an escape from her pain \u2014 the illicit drugs she could easily access using social media platforms. All of the support from family members, friends, her school counselor, and therapists could not compete. She was able to purchase the drugs that eventually killed her with just a few swipes on her phone. Becca died at age 18.\n\nSadly, my family is not alone. Far too many other families have suffered similar losses because of the harms of Big Tech, which has been running a national experiment on our kids for far too long.\n\nFor years, these tech companies, including Meta (Facebook, Instagram), Google (YouTube), TikTok, and others have refused to answer to the government or parents like me who must bury their children because of the dangerous and toxic effects of social media. We are finally at a point in which Big Tech may have to answer for its greedy and misguided actions.\n\nThe Kids Online Safety Act would put the onus on Big Tech platforms like Google, TikTok and Meta to design their products with kids in mind and protect them. We\u2019ve seen example after example of Big Tech\u2019s awareness of the danger of their products, even straight up lying to Congress about it, and it\u2019s time they bear responsibility for the products they create.\n\nThough the bill has wide, bipartisan support in Congress and sailed out of committee unanimously, standing up to Big Tech is never easy. That\u2019s why I want to thank our Massachusetts senator, Elizabeth Warren, for cosponsoring the bill and fighting to repair a broken status quo that enables social media\u2019s worst harms directed at our children.\n\nInput from child advocates like Fairplay and community stakeholders, including LGBTQ+ groups, has strengthened the bill to ensure that all kids can be safe online. The updated bill boasts support from a range of mental health, pediatric, and children\u2019s safety experts \u2013 including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychological Association.\n\nSocial media companies have known about the dangers on their platforms for many years, but they have decided to prioritize profits over kids\u2019 safety. We can no longer stand by silently as our youth become collateral damage to Big Tech\u2019s greed. It\u2019s time for parents to stand together \u2013 and to demand that Congress pass the Kids Online Safety Act. The tech companies spend millions of dollars on lobbyists to influence our politicians and avoid regulation. It is imperative that we don\u2019t let their voices be the only ones our senators are hearing.\n\nEach day this legislation is not passed is another opportunity for a cyberbully to push a vulnerable child to suicide, for a child\u2019s attempt at an online prank to turn fatal, and for a teen who is feeling stressed to go online and purchase a counterfeit pill containing fentanyl.\n\nBig Tech has hardly ever given us reason to believe it will hold itself accountable. For years they\u2019ve been making business and design decisions that put profit over kids\u2019 and teens\u2019 wellbeing. We finally have a chance to stop them and create a safer, healthier digital world for young people.\n\nAll citizens should call their representatives and ask them to vote the bill into law. Call U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121- all you need is your zip code.\u201d\n\nDeb Schmill is founder and president of the Becca Schmill Foundation.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-how-can-the-richest-country-in-the-world-justify-leaving-working-families-unable-to-afford-child-care", "Murphy: How Can the Richest Country in the World Justify Leaving Working Families Unable to Afford Child Care", "2023-11-30", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, on Wednesday spoke on the U.S. Senate floor about the urgent need for Congress to take action to address the worsening child care crisis.\n\n\u201cWhen you are living on a more modest salary, not a poverty wage, but just a modest, lower- to middle-income salary, your entire world could fall apart if you lose access to a quality child care environment. People have to quit their jobs. They have to move back in with their parents. They have to move their entire family to a different city or a different state. Your entire life gets upended when you can't find care for your child. Because you will upend your entire life for your child. Nothing matters more than making sure that your child is safe,\u201d said Murphy. \u201cAnd so, what we are forcing our families to do, simply because we don't choose to do the right thing and provide funding to make sure that there are affordable, quality child care centers available, is sending our families into unnecessary crisis all over this country.\u201d\n\nMurphy laid out just how dire affording child care can be for a family in Connecticut making $42,000: \u201cLet's say a family makes $42,000, doesn't qualify for our subsidy, is spending $22,000 a year on rent, is spending $15,000 a year on childcare, that's $37,000 a year. They make $42,000. $5,000 left. [$100] a week for everything else. For food, for your cell phone, for your clothes for your kid. If you're making above the rate of subsidy in Connecticut, just the cost of child care and rent, will leave you with just [$100] a week to survive. In the richest, most affluent country in the world, how can we justify leaving families who are doing the right thing, who are working in that position?\u201d\n\nMurphy concluded: \u201cThat's why I'm so glad to be here on the floor with my colleagues pleading with our Republican friends to do the right thing and support the President's proposed plan to support child care, affordable, quality child care in this country for the families I represent Connecticut.\u201d\n\nA full transcript of his remarks can be found below:\n\n\u201cThank you, Madam President. I'm so glad to join my colleagues on the floor today to really emphasize how a family's life falls apart when they don't have access to good child care. I'm one of a handful of parents of young kids. I have no complaints. Obviously my wife and I make enough money so that we've been able to provide quality child care for our kids as we both been working throughout their life.\n\n\u201cBut when you are living on a more modest salary, not a poverty wage, but just a modest, lower to middle income salary, your entire world could fall apart when you lose access to a quality child care environment. People have to quit their jobs. They have to move back in with their parents. They have to move their entire family to a different city or a different state. Your entire life gets upended when you can't find care for your child. Because you will have in your entire life for your child. Nothing matters more than making sure that your child is safe.\n\n\u201cAnd so, what we are forcing our families to do, simply because we don't choose to do the right thing and provide funding to make sure that there are affordable child care qualities available, it is sending our families into unnecessary crisis all over this country.\n\n\u201cIn my state, I've had 124,000 parents report that their work has been disrupted by child care issues. That they've had to leave work. That they have had to leave employments because of interruption in child care. Our child care centers in Connecticut. We're a high cost child care state. We're a high cost state in general. 89 percent of them report that they've had difficulty hiring staff. 60 percent of them say that right now they are understaffed. And 70 percent of them say that they have waitlists for new families, which just shows you that all over Connecticut, we have a total mismatch between the number of slots and the number of families that need those slots.\n\n\u201cAnd of course, that delivers an enormous harm to families but also to our workforce. I met a young woman a few weeks ago who lives in Hartford, and she's got a very young child. They are on the waitlist for a subsidized child care slot. She wants to actually be a child care worker. She wants to help solve the workforce shortage, but she can't get into the workforce. Why? Because she has to stay home to take care of her young child.\n\n\u201cAnd so this cycle that ends up impacting not just families, but our economy writ-large is one that we have to break.\n\n\u201cI just want to leave you with this one last piece of math to just explain how serious the situation is in my state. So in Connecticut, we have a program called Care for Kids. And this is a program that does for lower income families try to give them some subsidy so that they can afford child care. But that program cuts off for a one child family at $41,500 a year in income. Now that's a lower middle income salary in Connecticut. That's a salary that's not unfamiliar in my state.\n\n\u201cLet me just do the very quick math for you. For a family of three, a two bedroom, a one bedroom house can be about $1,800 a month. Child care in Connecticut on average is going to be about $15,000 a year. Total of just the costs for a family that makes just above the threshold to qualify for our subsidy programs. Let's say a family makes $42,000, doesn't qualify for our subsidy, is spending $22,000 a year on rent, is spending $15,000 a year on childcare, that's $37,000 a year. They make $42,000. $5,000 left. [$100] a week for everything else.\n\n\u201cFor food, for your cell phone, for your clothes for your kid. If you're making above the rate of subsidy in Connecticut, just the cost of child care and rent, will leave you with just [$100] a week to survive. In the richest, most affluent country in the world, how can we justify leaving families who are doing the right thing, who are working in that position.\n\n\u201cThat's why I'm so glad to be here on the floor with my colleagues pleading with our Republican friends to do the right thing and support the President's proposed plan to support child care, affordable, quality child care in this country for the families I represent Connecticut.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-statement-on-latest-damning-coast-guard-report", "Murphy Statement on Latest Damning Coast Guard Report", "2023-11-30", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Chairman of the U.S. Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, on Thursday released the following statement on reporting about the Coast Guard\u2019s 2015 \u201cCulture of Respect\u201d study, which details a culture of racism, hazing, discrimination, and sexual assault across the agency and was kept from the public.\n\n\u201cI am in disbelief that we are once again having a conversation about Coast Guard leadership covering up evidence of pervasive harassment, discrimination, racism, sexism, and assault within its organization. How many more of these damning reports have been kept from Congress? This culture to avoidance and cover-up needs to end.\u201d\n\nMurphy has a long pushed the U.S. Coast Guard to deal with harassment and bullying at the Coast Guard Academy. Earlier this year, Murphy released a statement on the report detailing decades of sexual misconduct at the Coast Guard Academy. In 2019, he criticized the Coast Guard for covering up allegations of harassment and for failing to appear before the U.S. House of Representatives Homeland Security and Oversight Committees investigating the allegations. That same year, following an OIG Whistleblower Retaliation Investigation and other reports of bullying, harassment and retaliation at the United States Coast Guard Academy, Murphy wrote a letter to the Coast Guard Commandant demanding reforms to the Academy\u2019s climate of bullying, harassment and retaliation. In 2018, Murphy along with U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and U.S. Representative Joe Courtney (CT-02) wrote to Admiral Schultz seeking information on racial disparities at the Coast Guard Academy.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/icymi-op-ed-the-voices-behind-the-kids-online-safety-act-zamaan-qureshi", "ICYMI OP-ED: The Voices Behind the Kids Online Safety Act: Zamaan Qureshi", "2023-11-29", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, D.C.] \u2013 The bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act, led by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), is strongly supported by a broad coalition of parents who have tragically lost their children or whose kids have been severely harmed by Big Tech, young people who want to regain control over their online lives, and experts and advocates who study and see the negative effects of social media firsthand in their communities. The \u201cVoices Behind the Kids Online Safety Act\u201d series will amplify their stories as they call on Congress to pass the legislation to help protect themselves online and to hold Big Tech accountable. The bill has the support of nearly half of the U.S. Senate.\n\nZamaan Qureshi\n\nRead Zamaan\u2019s full op-ed for The Messenger HERE and below\n\n\u201cAs a young person who\u2019s used Instagram and Facebook for over 10 years, I can say that unwanted sexual advances on these platforms are far from anomalies,\u201d wrote Zamaan in his op-ed.\n\n\u201cWhen I was around 14 years old, I got a follow request and then a DM from someone who I thought was a real person. It was from an Instagram account that appeared to be legitimate \u2014 we had mutual followers, and they claimed to attend a school near me. Yet, it eventually became clear they didn\u2019t talk the way my friends and I did,\u201d Zamaan continued. \u201cI collected screenshots, reported the account (and several duplicates that I had discovered), asked my friends to do the same, and waited. Days later, I got an update: My request to suspend the accounts was denied. According to Instagram, the multiple fake accounts and their suspicious behavior had \u2018not violated Instagram's terms of service.\u2019 In my case, Meta looked the other way, and this person \u2014 whoever it was \u2014 was given free rein to keep contacting and preying on kids like me.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe bottom line is that I and many other younger users have lost faith that Meta will make necessary changes to protect us \u2014 unless lawmakers hold them accountable. Thankfully, despite historic levels of political polarization and congressional dysfunction, over half of the U.S. Senate has coalesced around a bipartisan bill to protect young people online \u2014 the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). KOSA does a number of things, including requiring social platforms to ensure that young users have the strongest-by-default privacy settings, which include reporting mechanisms so teens\u2019 reports of accounts that engage in exploitative behavior are not swept under the rug,\u201d Zamaan wrote.\n\nBlumenthal and Blackburn are the lead sponsors of the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act, which would provide kids and parents with better tools to protect themselves online, hold Big Tech accountable for harms to kids, and provide transparency into black box algorithms.\n\nRead Zamaan\u2019s full op-ed below:\n\n\u201cLast week, the Wall Street Journal unveiled yet another Meta whistleblower who described alleged alarming negligence on behalf of Meta in their efforts to keep kids safe online. Arturo B\u00e9jar, a former safety engineer, brought forward what he says is internal research from Meta that painted a grim picture: 1-in-8 users under the age of 16 said they experienced unwanted sexual advances on the platform. Instead of addressing the problem, Meta reportedly buried the evidence. Last Tuesday, B\u00e9jar was called to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on social media\u2019s impact on the teen mental health crisis.\n\nAs a young person who\u2019s used Instagram and Facebook for over 10 years, I can say that unwanted sexual advances on these platforms are far from anomalies. The reality for too many users is that social media apps seem to have normalized vulgar and unwanted sexual advances as nothing more than \u201csliding into someone\u2019s DMs (direct messages),\u201d and an expected \u2014 but dreaded \u2014 part of the social media experience. Many in my generation \u2014 but particularly young women \u2014 have endured so much of it that they become numb to it. They say, \u201cIf I block him, that could make him angry.\u201d Or, \u201cWe have class together. I don\u2019t want him to say something.\u201dThey not only fear further harassment but also for it to potentially escalate off the platform, even in the form of physical violence.\n\nThis steady drumbeat of sexual harassment online has helped usher in what is called \u201csextortion,\u201d a form of manipulation in which people \u2014 including kids \u2014 are blackmailed or extorted into sending money or nude photos to someone they met online. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, sextortion spiked nearly 98% from 2019 to 2020.\n\nYou would think social media platforms are working overtime to keep harassers and potential predators away from kids, but they seem to be doing the opposite and making it more difficult to report abuse.\n\nIn fact, CNN recently reported on allegations of Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg\u2019s repeated vetoes of initiatives said to be designed to improve the well-being of young people on Meta\u2019s platforms.\n\nAlthough I\u2019ve spent the past three years advocating for tech reform, I\u2019ve struggled to share my own story about what so many of us experience.\n\nWhen I was around 14 years old, I got a follow request and then a DM from someone who I thought was a real person. It was from an Instagram account that appeared to be legitimate \u2014 we had mutual followers, and they claimed to attend a school near me. Yet, it eventually became clear they didn\u2019t talk the way my friends and I did. It was only after exchanging many messages that I realized whoever was on the other side of the account wasn\u2019t who they claimed to be. Upon recognizing what I potentially had saved myself from, I set out to make sure others wouldn\u2019t fall for this account.\n\nI collected screenshots, reported the account (and several duplicates that I had discovered), asked my friends to do the same, and waited. Days later, I got an update: My request to suspend the accounts was denied. According to Instagram, the multiple fake accounts and their suspicious behavior had \u201cnot violated Instagram's terms of service.\u201d In my case, Meta looked the other way, and this person \u2014 whoever it was \u2014 was given free rein to keep contacting and preying on kids like me.\n\nThe ordeal created feelings of fear and embarrassment that, combined, sent me spiraling, asking myself what could have happened or how did i not see the red flags?\n\nMy women-identifying friends are much more open about talking about this kind of stuff. Yet, for many young men, the toxic norms of masculinity (exacerbated by many influencers on social media) make it harder and likely result in the actual number of experiences like mine being far higher than what is reported.\n\nSo, when B\u00e9jar made the findings of his Bad Emotional Experience Findings (BEEF) survey of Meta public last week, I was not surprised at the statistics. Nor were my friends.\n\nWhen B\u00e9jar went to Zuckerberg and Instagram executive Adam Mosseri with the findings of his BEEF survey, he was reportedly undermined and ignored. First, he was told to sanitize his results. When his findings were sent to his colleagues, the team responsible for addressing these problems reportedly got laid off. Even after the survey results were recognized, Meta's actions resulted in a process that appears to actually make it harder for young users to report harassment \u2014 which looks to me like a tactic to improve their internal metrics if the more cumbersome process lowers the number of reports filed.\n\nThe bottom line is that I and many other younger users have lost faith that Meta will make necessary changes to protect us \u2014 unless lawmakers hold them accountable. Thankfully, despite historic levels of political polarization and congressional dysfunction, over half of the U.S. Senate has coalesced around a bipartisan bill to protect young people online \u2014 the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). KOSA does a number of things, including requiring social platforms to ensure that young users have the strongest-by-default privacy settings, which include reporting mechanisms so teens\u2019 reports of accounts that engage in exploitative behavior are not swept under the rug.\n\nI\u2019ve been involved in the policymaking conversations around KOSA since the bill\u2019s first introduction in 2022. Refining the bill has been an iterative process and has included input from many advocacy organizations and community groups to ensure KOSA fulfills its goal of protecting kids online without unintended consequences. Some LGBTQ+ groups, in particular, have raised serious concerns about the legislation, and have helped the bill\u2019s sponsors meaningfully address their concerns.\n\nNot surprisingly, many social media giants oppose the bill. Big Tech, identifying critiques of KOSA as an apparent opportunity to stave off legislation, has exacerbated the growing pains that any bill would go through. The industry seems to be attempting to paint a fundamentally flawed dichotomy: Choose between safe tech or LGBTQ+ kids. But that\u2019s not the case. Progressive stalwarts and champions of LGBTQ+ rights like Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and many more are co-sponsoring the legislation. Fundamentally, this is not a partisan bill nor a partisan issue \u2014 Americans from all across the political spectrum want kids to be able to develop free from exploitation and manipulation online. A whopping 86% of voters support congressional action, and 82% believe social media platforms should be required to take concrete steps to protect young people online, according to a poll by Accountable Tech.\n\nKOSA is a strong starting point that finally puts the onus on Big Tech companies to prevent harm to kids. Navigating and exploring my sexuality while not knowing who to trust online was particularly difficult, and I know I\u2019m not the only one fighting through this.\n\nWe cannot let the Big Tech manipulate the debate and pit us against one another. If Meta whistleblowers aren\u2019t enough, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) should listen to the voices of young people instead. It\u2019s time to bring KOSA to a vote in the Senate \u2014 and hold Big Tech accountable.\u201d\n\nZamaan Qureshi is the co-chair of the youth-led coalition Design It For Us and a policy adviser for the Real Facebook Oversight Board.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/icymi-video-at-senate-judiciary-committee-hearing-on-the-gun-violence-epidemic-blumenthal-and-yale-school-of-public-health-dean-discuss-safe-storage-laws", "ICYMI Video: At Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on the Gun Violence Epidemic, Blumenthal & Yale School of Public Health Dean Discuss Safe Storage Laws", "2023-11-29", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, D.C.] \u2013 At a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee titled, \u201cThe Gun Violence Epidemic: A Public Health Crisis,\u201d U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) spoke with Dr. Megan Ranney, Dean of the Yale School of Public Health in New Haven, Connecticut, about the impact of safe storage laws on reducing gun deaths.\n\n\u201cI was very moved by your description and your testimony of the suicide victim that you tried to save \u2013 one of your first cases involving suicide by the use of firearms. There are loaded and unlocked guns in the homes of 4.6 million American children, like the son of that law enforcement officer you described,\u201d Blumenthal said. \u201cCould you speak to how secured storage helps reduce suicides or other supposedly accidental shootings?\u201d\n\n\u201cObviously, youth can\u2019t legally purchase firearms, so they find a parent's firearm, which many of us think is stored safely, but when you actually ask kids, they all know where their parent has stored their firearm, the same way that our kids all know where all of their birthday presents are stored,\u201d responded Dr. Ranney. \u201cAnd, studies have shown they actually can access it quite quickly. States that have put safe storage laws in place see a 20 to 25 percent decrease in child firearm fatalities.\u201d\n\nIn January 2023, Blumenthal, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) and U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) introduced Ethan\u2019s Law, legislation requiring gun owners to safely and securely store their firearms. The bill is named in honor of Ethan Song, a teenager from Guilford, Connecticut who was tragically killed in 2018 by an unsecured gun in a neighbor\u2019s home. Ethan\u2019s Law would create federal requirements for safe gun storage and establish strong penalties for any violations.\n\nBlumenthal and Dr. Ranney also discussed the benefits of violence intervention programs, like the Yale New Haven Hospital's Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program. Speaking about a similar program based in Chicago, Dr. Ranney observed, \u201crigorous research has shown that the program correlates with decreased arrests for violent crime as well as decreased likelihood of participants being shot.\u201d\n\nVideo of Blumenthal\u2019s exchange with Dr. Ranney is available here. The full text of their exchange is below:\n\nSenator Blumenthal: Thank you to the Chairman and Ranking Member for having this hearing. It may seem repetitive, but we need to continue this work because we face a public health crisis that is only expanding, as you have demonstrated, and we all know, simply measured in deaths and injuries. I've been working on it since the early 1990's when I first became Attorney General in the state of Connecticut. We advocated then for an assault weapons ban, which was passed and challenged in court. I defended it as Attorney General, and we have expanded in Connecticut, on the types of gun violence prevention laws that we have, showing that these laws actually work. They reduce deaths and injuries. Assault weapon bans, background checks, Ethan\u2019s Law, laws providing for safe storage, and other kinds of measures like the red flag statute; Connecticut was the first in the nation to adopt it.\n\nSo, if we take the public health approach that Dr. Ranney has advocated, and we are data-driven, as the medical professionals in this room wearing the white coats use every day, respecting facts, making decisions based on science, I think that we will continue to build on the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which we passed, and showed that we can defeat the gun lobby; that the NRA and its allies are not implacable and vulnerable folks.\n\nDr. Ranney, in your testimony, you mentioned the importance of violent crime as an indicator of potential additional gun violence. I'm struck by the statistic that 41 percent of patients treated for violent injury are reinjured within five years. In other words, there is a cycle here, there is a repetitive phenomenon. I think we can and we should ensure that more victims of violent crimes do not become repeat victims. And, the Yale New Haven hospital\u2019s violence intervention program has been very effective in a number of ways in preventing the kinds of repeat injury after trauma. In your firsthand experience, can you describe how these programs work in practice, and how we can maybe have some common ground in supporting violence intervention programs like the one that Yale New Haven has in practice right now?\n\nDr. Ranney: We are tremendously grateful for the Yale New Haven Health Violence Intervention program, which was started in 2020. I also sit on the board of the nonviolence institute in Providence, Rhode Island, and have worked closely with folks in Chicago and elsewhere in community violence intervention programs. These are some of the programs with growing data behind them.\n\nI\u2019ll particularly highlight the CRED Program led by former Secretary of Education Arne Duncan in Chicago. They provide life skills training, mental health support, as well as community mentorship. And, rigorous research has shown that the program correlates with decreased arrests for violent crime as well as decreased likelihood of participants being shot. Similar statistics are available from programs in Missouri, from programs in D.C., and from elsewhere across the country.\n\nAgain, because of those limitations in the public health approach, which I outline at the beginning, we do still have limited data on how effective they are. We don't have those formal randomized controlled trials, but this combination of providing a caseworker, mental health support, and substance abuse treatment when needed, and helping getting folks into safe housing, help them get education, has a demonstrated effect on both future injury, but also long-term success.\n\nBlumenthal: I was very moved by your description and your testimony of the suicide victim that you tried to save \u2013 one of your first cases involving suicide by the use of firearms. There are loaded and unlocked guns in the homes of 4.6 million American children, like the son of that law enforcement officer you described. I've been an advocate of Ethan's Law, passed in the Connecticut legislature, and introduced here in Congress along with Representative Rosa DeLauro on the House side, which would prohibit unsecured storage of firearms. Could you speak to how secured storage helps reduce suicides or other supposedly accidental shootings?\n\nRanney: Absolutely. So, the majority of youth suicides, and school shootings perpetrated by youth, including an article that just came out today in JAMA, are committed with a family member\u2019s firearm. Obviously, youth can\u2019t legally purchase firearms, so they find a parent's firearm, which many of us think is stored safely, but when you actually ask kids, they all know where their parent has stored their firearm, the same way that our kids all know where all of their birthday presents are stored.\n\nAnd, studies have shown they actually can access it quite quickly. States that have put safe storage laws in place see a 20 to 25 percent decrease in child firearm fatalities. But I will emphasize, the legislation alone is not enough. It needs to be matched with community engagement, with education. Many of the firearm groups I work with are tremendous advocates for safer storage of firearms. There are ways to do this, again, without abrogating gun owner rights.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-blumenthal-himes-announce-47m-grant-from-bipartisan-infrastructure-law-for-new-battery-manufacturing-facility-in-bridgeport", "Murphy, Blumenthal, Himes Announce $47m Grant from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for New Battery Manufacturing Facility in Bridgeport", "2023-11-28", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and U.S. Representative Jim Himes (D-Conn.-04) announced that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has selected a project in Bridgeport to receive $47,528,246 from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to accelerate clean energy manufacturing in Connecticut. The grant will help fund the construction of Nanoramic Laboratories\u2019 new facility in Bridgeport, Connecticut to manufacture lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery electrodes for grid storage. This project is one of the seven selected by DOE for this award.\n\n\u201cThis award is yet another example of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law making transformational investments in Connecticut. A new battery manufacturing facility in Bridgeport is going to create hundreds of good-paying jobs, bring a major economic boost to the community, and help us reach our climate goals. I\u2019ll continue pushing for federal funding that will help ensure our state stays at the forefront of the clean energy economy,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n\u201cThe magnitude of this $47.5 million federal investment is truly breathtaking in importance and impact. It means significant progress in clean energy, manufacturing growth, good jobs, national security and much more. Nanoramic Labs will become a national center for lithium-ion battery development and production\u2014 immensely important to our nation\u2019s future. I\u2019m thrilled by President Biden\u2019s continued commitment to Connecticut innovation and American clean energy,\u201d said Blumenthal.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m extremely pleased to help deliver $47 million in federal funding to an innovative and future-oriented company in Bridgeport. Connecticut has long been a leader in clean energy technology, and this manufacturing facility will further that mission while bringing jobs and opportunity to a formerly industrial community in Southwest Connecticut,\u201d said Himes.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-on-state-of-the-union-this-is-a-president-showing-the-american-people-what-real-leadership-looks-like", "Murphy on State of the Union: This is a President Showing the American People What Real Leadership Looks Like", "2023-11-27", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism, on Sunday joined CNN\u2019s State of the Union to discuss the Israel-Hamas hostage agreement and the rise of antisemitism on college campuses.\n\nMurphy highlighted President Biden\u2019s role in securing the release of at least 50 Israeli hostages: \u201cLet's give credit where credit is due. President Biden and his team worked 24/7 with partners in the region to make sure that this release was possible and to set a framework through which we can see more hostages released. This is a president who is right now showing the American people what real leadership looks like. Hopefully, Hamas will accept the conditions that have been laid down that will allow for more hostages to be released. But if they don't, ultimately Hamas is going to be defeated. That's in Israel's interest. But it's also in the interest of the United States. We do not want terrorist organizations believing they can get away with the kind of murder that Hamas did on October 7.\u201d\n\nOn his call for Israel to do more to minimize civilian harm, Murphy said: \u201cI do believe that the level of civilian harm inside Gaza has been unacceptable and is unsustainable. I think there's both a moral cost to this many civilians, innocent civilians, children often losing their lives, but I think there's a strategic cost. Ultimately, Hamas will get stronger, not weaker in the long run, if all of this civilian death allows them to recruit more effectively and ably inside Gaza.\u201d\n\nOn a two-state future, Murphy said: \u201cMy hope is that when [Israelis] do go to the polls that they choose leadership that is going to make good on the only future that guarantees the survival of a Jewish state in the Middle East, and that is a Palestinian state. Benjamin Netanyahu believed that you could ignore the Palestinians, that you could try to squash their desires for a state, and ultimately that would bring peace to the region of Israel. That's just not the case. Ultimately, the next government is going to have to put us back on a path to have a Palestinian state. That's not easy. But it is the only way forward for Israel is the only way forward for long term peace.\u201d\n\nOn the rise of antisemitism on college campuses: \u201cThere's a direct line between some of the most vicious antisemitic speech happening on our campuses and threats of violence to synagogues and Jewish communities. I ultimately think we need to sort of think really hard about the way in which our young people are receiving information about this conflict. We need to hold accountable the social media sites, in particular TikTok, which is just full of virulent pro-Hamas and antisemitic material. The college campuses need to have a better means of accountability for this kind of hate speech. But we also have to recognize that these young people are getting their information from somewhere, often from a Chinese-controlled social media platform that has in its interest, trying to turn America against each other and one of the means they may be doing that is trying to promote a lot of pretty hateful and divisive material about the conflict in Gaza.\u201d\n\nLast week, Murphy released a statement on the announcement of the Israel-Hamas hostage agreement.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-statement-on-israel-hamas-hostage-agreement", "Murphy Statement on Israel-Hamas Hostage Agreement", "2023-11-22", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "HARTFORD\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism, released the following statement:\n\n\u201cThis agreement represents a huge diplomatic breakthrough and is a testament to President Biden\u2019s leadership and strong relationships in the region. Since Hamas\u2019 horrific terrorist attack on October 7, hundreds of families have lived through the unimaginable nightmare of not knowing where their loved ones are or whether they will ever be returned. This deal will reunite dozens of families and lay the groundwork to bring more hostages home. We must urgently work to ensure everyone single one is released. Meanwhile, innocent Palestinians are struggling to survive the growing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. A four-day pause in the fighting will enable significantly increased amounts of desperately needed humanitarian aid to reach people in need. I am hopeful this agreement will serve as a foundation for a path forward to end this conflict and ensures the long term safety and security of both Israelis and Palestinians.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/fight-against-junk-fees-the-senate-permanent-subcommittee-on-investigations-probes-airlines-on-sky-high-ticket-and-fee-costs", "Fight Against Junk Fees: The Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations Probes Airlines on Sky-High Ticket and Fee Costs", "2023-11-20", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, DC] \u2013 Ahead of the holiday travel season, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chair of the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), announced a new inquiry into five major U.S. airlines, demanding justification for hidden, costly, and confusing junk fees, which cost Americans billions of dollars every year.\n\n\u201cU.S. airlines increasingly charge ancillary fees that obscure the actual cost of air travel\u2026 These itemized fees are often not disclosed to customers until well into the ticket purchasing process or after a ticket has been purchased, making it difficult for customers to know the true, total cost of a ticket and comparison shop prior to purchase,\u201d wrote Blumenthal in his letters to American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and Frontier Airlines.\n\n\u201c[A]irlines charge many of these fees for unavoidable aspects of flying, often for services that were once included in the price of a ticket, such as carrying-on a small bag or sitting next to a minor child. Further, it is not always clear how airlines justify certain fees\u2014such as fees imposed on a reservation change made well in advance of the flight,\u201d Blumenthal continued, stressing that airlines report that these ancillary fees represent a growing and significant portion of their revenue.\n\nBlumenthal requested the companies provide documents and information related to how their fees are affecting consumers, including the reason for the fees, how they are determined, and when they are disclosed to a consumer.\n\nBlumenthal has long been fighting to protect consumers from junk fees. In March, Blumenthal introduced the Junk Fee Prevention Act \u2014 new legislation to eliminate excessive fees and bring transparency to the marketplace as hidden fees cost Americans billions of dollars annually. This PSI action is part of the Subcommittee\u2019s inquiries examining excessive fees imposed on consumers across industries, including airlines.\n\nThe letter to American Airlines is available here and below. Similar letters were sent to United Airlines, Delta Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and Frontier Airlines.\n\nDear Mr. Isom:\n\nU.S. airlines increasingly charge ancillary fees that obscure the actual cost of air travel. The practice of separating the cost of checked and carry-on bags, seat selection, ticket changes, and many other options and services from airfare advertised to customers is often referred to as \u201cunbundling.\u201d[1] These itemized fees are often not disclosed to customers until well into the ticket purchasing process or after a ticket has been purchased, making it difficult for customers to know the true, total cost of a ticket and comparison shop prior to purchase.[2] In fact, airlines charge many of these fees for unavoidable aspects of flying, often for services that were once included in the price of a ticket, such as carrying-on a small bag or sitting next to a minor child.[3] Further, it is not always clear how airlines justify certain fees\u2014such as fees imposed on a reservation change made well in advance of the flight.\n\nAncillary fees are a significant and growing source of revenue for U.S. airlines. For example, between 2018 and 2022, across major U.S. airlines, total reported revenue from baggage fees increased from $4.9 billion to $6.8 billion.[4] According to one report, eight leading U.S. airlines collected an estimated $4.2 billion in seat selection fees in 2022.[5]\n\nPursuant to its authority under Senate Resolution 59 (118th Cong.), the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (\u201cthe Subcommittee\u201d) is reviewing matters relating to how fees imposed on goods and services affect American consumers, including how airlines charge fees for specific options and services apart from the advertised price of airfare. To assist the Subcommittee, please provide the following information and documents by December 11, 2023. Unless specifically stated, the time period covered by this request is January 1, 2018 to the present. For the purposes of this request, the term \u201cAmerican\u201d or \u201cthe Airline\u201d includes, but is not limited to, American Airlines Group, Inc., American Airlines Inc., Envoy Aviation Group, Inc., PSA Airlines, Inc., Piedmont Airlines, Inc., and any other subsidiaries, divisions, partnerships, properties, affiliates, branches, groups, special purpose entities, joint ventures, predecessors, successors, or any other entity in which American Airlines Group, Inc., American Airlines Inc., Envoy Aviation Group, Inc., PSA Airlines, Inc., or Piedmont Airlines, Inc. had or has a controlling interest.\n\n1. State the amount of the fee (or, if the fee amount is dynamic, the range and average amount of the fee[6]) for each of the following products and services:\n\na. Carry-on personal item;[7]\n\nb. Carry-on bag;\n\nc. First checked bag;\n\nd. Second checked bag;\n\ne. Preferred seat;[8]\n\nf. Seat with extra leg room in any cabin including, but not limited to, exit row seats and bulkhead row seats;\n\ng. Advanced seat selection;\n\nh. Flight change or cancellation;\n\ni. Same-day flight change with confirmed seat;\n\nj. Same-day flight change on standby;\n\nk. Redeeming frequent flyer miles or points for air travel; and\n\nl. Redepositing frequent flyer miles or points.\n\n2. For each fee listed pursuant to Request 1 above, please provide:\n\na. The reason for the fee;\n\nb. How the fee amount was determined;\n\nc. The total cost or average cost per passenger incurred by the Airline for providing the service or product for which the fee is charged; and\n\nd. Whether the product or service for which the fee is charged was at any previous time included in the cost of airfare, and, if so, the date when the Airline began charging a separate fee.\n\n3. For each dynamic fee listed pursuant to Request 1 above, please also provide:\n\na. Whether and the extent to which the amount of the fee is determined by algorithms, machine learning, artificial intelligence, or any combination thereof;\n\nb. Any factors that influence the amount of the fee for a specific flight segment or itinerary; and\n\nc. What information a customer must provide during the ticket purchasing process before being informed of the fee amount for their specific itinerary.\n\n4. For each fee listed pursuant to Request 1 above, please provide:\n\na. The point in time at which the fee is disclosed to the customer during the ticket-booking process;\n\nb. Whether the fee is disclosed through and whether a customer may pay the fee when purchasing a ticket through a third-party travel agent using a global distribution system;\n\nc. The circumstances under which the fee may be waived or refunded to the customer, including, but not limited to, whether and the extent to which seat selection fees are waived to accommodate adjacent seats for a child 13 or under and an accompanying adult; and\n\nd. Whether and the extent to which the Airline pays a commission, incentive, or other per-fee compensation to any Airline personnel for assessing or collecting the fee.\n\n5. State the Airline\u2019s total annual revenue, and for each fee listed pursuant to Request 1 above, please provide:\n\na. The total annual revenue from the fee; and\n\nb. The percentage of total annual revenue derived from the fee.\n\n6. All internal policies, memoranda, guidance, decision documents, presentations, business strategy documents, reviews, analyses, and studies referring or relating to decisions on:\n\na. Whether to charge a fee for a product or service that was previously included in the cost of airfare.\n\nb. Whether, when, and how much to increase or decrease fees.\n\nc. Maximizing ancillary fee revenue generally and by use of dynamic pricing.\n\n7. All internal policies, memoranda, guidance, decision documents, presentations, business strategy documents, reviews, analyses, and studies referring or relating to the disclosure or marketing of fees to customers, including, but not limited to, when and how to disclose fees and fee-related changes to customers and website and mobile application user interface design.\n\n8. All reviews, analyses, or studies conducted or relied upon by the Airline to ensure the Airline\u2019s marketing practices, disclosures, and customer interactions related to fees are transparent\u2014or reasonably known and understood by the average customer\u2014and free from unfair and deceptive practices.\n\nTo expedite the Subcommittee\u2019s review, I ask that you submit the material responsive to this request as it becomes available, rather than waiting to provide it all at once. To avoid any unnecessary delays in connection with this production, I ask that you carefully review the attached Procedures for Transmitting Documents to the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. Please contact [REDACTED] with any questions. Thank you for your attention to this request.\n\nSincerely,\n\n[1] Stacey Mumbower, Susan Hotle, & Laurie A. Garrow, Highly debated but still unbundled: The evolution of U.S. airline ancillary products and pricing strategies, J. of Revenue and Pricing Management, May 18, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1057/s41272-022-00388-5; Enhancing Transparency of Airline Ancillary Service Fees, 87 FR 63718, Oct. 20, 2022, https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/10/20/2022-22214/enhancing-transparency-of-airline-ancillary-service-fees.\n\n[2] Brian X. Chen, Watch Out for \u2018Junk\u2019 Fees When Booking Travel Online, N.Y. Times, June 15, 2023, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/15/technology/personaltech/travel-booking-junk-fees.html; see Enhancing Transparency of Airline Ancillary Service Fees, 87 FR 63718, Oct. 20, 2022, https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/10/20/2022-22214/enhancing-transparency-of-airline-ancillary-service-fees.\n\n[3] Mumbower, Hotle, & Garrow, supra note 1; see U.S. Dep\u2019t of Transportation, Airline Customer Service Dashboard, https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/airline-customer-service-dashboard (comparing ten major airlines\u2019 policies on guaranteed adjacent seats for a child 13 or under and an accompanying adult at no additional cost).\n\n[4] Bureau of Transp. Statistics, Baggage Fees by Airline 2018, https://www.bts.gov/baggage-fees-airline-2018; Bureau of Transp. Statistics, Baggage Fees by Airline 2022, https://www.bts.gov/topics/airlines-and-airports/baggage-fees-airline-2022.\n\n[5] Jay Sorensen & Eric Lucas, Airlines Assign Big Revenue Priority to Seat Selection 5, IdeaWorksCompany, May 23, 2023, https://ideaworkscompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Airlines-Assign-Big-Revenue-Priority-to-Seat-Selection.pdf.\n\n[6] \u201cDynamic fee\u201d means a fee generated whenever the Airline \u201ccharge[s] different customers different prices for the same set of products, as a function of an observable state of nature. . .\u201d Mumbower, Hotle, & Garrow, supra note 1. This includes, but is not limited to, a fee for which the amount is determined in whole or in part by algorithms, machine learning, artificial intelligence, or any combination thereof.\n\n[7] \u201cPersonal item\u201d means a small carry-on bag including, but not limited to, a purse, bookbag, briefcase, or other carry-on item capable of being stored in under-seat storage.\n\n[8] \u201cPreferred seat\u201d means a seat in economy class that does not have extra legroom but is located in a desirable area of the aircraft or cabin, including, but not limited to, a window or aisle seat or a seat near the front of the aircraft or cabin.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/incymi-new-polling-shows-overwhelming-public-support-for-the-kids-online-safety-act", "ICYMI: New Polling Shows Overwhelming Public Support for the Kids Online Safety Act", "2023-11-16", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, D.C.] \u2013 In case you missed it, a new poll shows that the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act has overwhelming support from the American public. The poll, released today by Issue One\u2019s Council for Responsible Social Media and Fairplay, found that 86 percent of U.S. voters support the legislation. Support for the bill crosses partisan lines, with 84 percent of Republicans, 92 percent of Democrats, and 81 percent of independents in favor of it. Only 8 percent of poll respondents expressed opposition to KOSA.\n\nThe poll found the public has serious concerns about Big Tech\u2019s harms to kids. Eighty-seven percent of respondents said they believe it is important for the president and Congress to take action to combat social media platforms\u2019 harms. Nearly all voters (94 percent) agreed that mental health challenges facing young people today are a serious problem, and 73 percent blame social media, saying the platforms have had a negative impact on youth mental health over the past two decades.\n\nMore information about the newly released poll can be found here.\n\nU.S. Senators Blumenthal (D-CT) and Blackburn (R-TN) are the lead sponsors of the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act, which would provide kids and parents with better tools to protect themselves online, hold Big Tech accountable for harms to kids, and provide transparency into black box algorithms. The bill has the support of nearly half of the U.S. Senate.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/01/29/2024/blumenthal-statement-on-passage-of-a-continuing-resolution-to-keep-the-government-open", "Blumenthal Statement on Passage of a Continuing Resolution to Keep the Government Open", "2023-11-15", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, D.C.] \u2013 U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) released the following statement today after the Senate voted to approve a Continuing Resolution to fund the government through early next year:\n\n\u201cThis continuing resolution accomplishes the bare minimum \u2013 it keeps the government open and funded \u2013 but it was passed with clear bipartisan majorities and without egregious partisan brinksmanship. I am hopeful that we can move ahead with a full spending bill \u2013 including robust funding for both Israel and Ukraine \u2013 in the same spirit of cooperation.\u201d\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/bipartisan-senators-demand-documents-from-mark-zuckerberg-after-newly-unsealed-court-filing-alleges-meta-hid-evidence-of-harms-to-kids-from-congress-and-public-supporting-whistleblower-testimony", "Bipartisan Senators Demand Documents from Mark Zuckerberg After Newly Unsealed Court Filing Alleges Meta Hid Evidence of Harms to Kids from Congress & Public, Supporting Whistleblower Testimony", "2023-11-15", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, D.C.] \u2013 A bipartisan group of Senators demanded Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg provide documents related to senior executives\u2019 knowledge of the mental and physical health harms associated with its platforms, including Facebook and Instagram. The Senators\u2019 letter follows last week\u2019s hearing with a new Facebook whistleblower and after a newly unsealed complaint filed by the Massachusetts Attorney General against Meta alleged Zuckerberg and other Meta executives knew firsthand the serious harms its products were causing to kids, but failed to act to remedy them and deliberately misled the public and Congress.\n\n\u201cMeta\u2019s representations to the public and in response to Congressional inquiries concealed and misrepresented its extensive knowledge about the threats to young people on its platforms,\u201d wrote U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law, Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Josh Hawley (R-MO), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law.\n\nLast Tuesday, former Facebook executive Arturo B\u00e9jar testified before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law about his efforts to inform Zuckerberg and other Meta executives about alarming internal research data on harmful experiences young people have on Instagram. \u201cRather than act on the stunning findings, Meta hid this information from the public and Congressional oversight while providing misleading statistics, ignoring recommendations to protect teens, and even rolling back safety tools,\u201d continued the Senators.\n\nNewly unredacted allegations in the lawsuit filed by the Massachusetts Attorney General corroborate B\u00e9jar\u2019s testimony, suggesting the mental health risks of Facebook and Instagram were known widely within the company. \u201c[E]xecutives are alleged to have repeatedly made decisions to implement changes to a product that they knew would harm teens and shelved safeguards based on concerns about their impact on revenue,\u201d wrote the Senators, citing excerpts from the unsealed complaint in which Zuckerberg is alleged to have personally vetoed a new safety feature and the company\u2019s continued underinvestment in platform safety staff. \u201cIt now seems clear that the root of Meta\u2019s repeated failure to act to enhance the safety of its products starts at the top.\u201d\n\nThe Senators called on Zuckerberg to provide to Congress directly a number of documents related to safety, including communications with B\u00e9jar and other communications between senior executives cited in the Massachusetts suit.\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\nNovember 14, 2023\n\nMark Zuckerberg\n\nFounder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer\n\nMeta Platforms, Inc.\n\n1 Hacker Way\n\nMenlo Park, CA 94025\n\nDear Mr. Zuckerberg:\n\nWe write seeking documents regarding Meta\u2019s research into, knowledge of, and response to the mental and physical health harms associated with its products, including Facebook and Instagram.\n\nMembers of Congress have repeatedly asked Meta for information on its awareness of threats to young people on its platforms and the measures that it has taken, only to be stonewalled and provided non-responsive or misleading information. For example, in response to a question about teen mental health at a March 2021 House Committee on Energy and Commerce hearing, you testified that \u201coverall, the research that we have seen is that using social apps to connect with other people can have positive mental health benefits and well-being benefits.\u201d[1] In a response to a letter sent in August 2021, when asked a direct question about whether \u201cFacebook\u2019s research ever found that its platforms and products can have a negative effect on children\u2019s and teens\u2019 mental health or well-being,\u201d[2] Facebook responded \u201cwe are not aware of a consensus among studies or experts about how much screen time is \u2018too much.\u2019\u201d[3]\n\nMeta\u2019s representations to the public and in response to Congressional inquiries concealed and misrepresented its extensive knowledge about the threats to young people on its platforms. Whistleblower documents provided to Congress in September 2021 directly contradicted your testimony, finding that a significant amount of teens on Facebook and Instagram \u201chave an addicts\u2019 narrative about their use,\u201d \u201chave only \u2018a little control\u2019 or \u2018no control at all\u2019 over how Instagram makes them feel,\u201d and attribute to it suicidal ideation and body image concerns.[4] Despite these documented disclosures, Meta executives continued to downplay possible harms to young people in Senate hearings and inquiries.\n\nWe are troubled by recent disclosures that shed further light on Meta\u2019s knowledge of the harms its products cause teens and its unwillingness to take appropriate steps to prevent and mitigate these harms. Last Tuesday, former Facebook executive Arturo B\u00e9jar testified before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law about his efforts to inform you and other senior executives at Meta of the dangerous and harmful experiences of teenagers on Instagram based on data collected by its internal researchers. As a result of Mr. B\u00e9jar\u2019s efforts, Meta executives \u2014 including you, Sheryl Sandberg, Meta CTO Chris Cox, and Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri \u2014 knew that over half of Instagram users report having one bad or harmful experience each week, including a quarter of young teens reporting having received unwanted sexual advances. Rather than act on these stunning findings, Meta hid this information from the public and Congressional oversight while providing misleading statistics, ignoring recommendations to protect teens, and even rolling back safety tools.\n\nMr. B\u00e9jar\u2019s testimony and documents were corroborated by newly unsealed allegations in a lawsuit filed by the Massachusetts Attorney General. According to the complaint, the mental health risks of Facebook and Instagram were well-known within Meta. However, executives are alleged to have repeatedly made decisions to implement changes to a product that they knew would harm teens and shelved safeguards based on concerns about their impact on revenue. In one exchange, you are alleged to have personally vetoed a proposal to \u201cdisallow effects that mimic plastic surgery\u201d that had significant support from Meta\u2019s senior management and outside experts, despite a clear warning from Instagram\u2019s Head of Policy that Meta would be \u201cactively encouraging young girls into body dysmorphia.\u201d[5] Additionally, while executives themselves acknowledged \u201cwellbeing work is both understaffed and fragmented,\u201d \u201ccurrently underinvested,\u201d and that Meta had been talking \u201cabout this for a long time but ha[d] made little progress,\u201d[6] proposals to fund wellbeing work were denied, and safety staff has been subsequently cut from Meta. It now seems clear that the root of Meta\u2019s repeated failure to act to enhance the safety of its products starts at the top.\n\nGiven Meta\u2019s apparent willful disregard for, and profiting from threats to, the safety and wellbeing of young people, as well as its misrepresentations to Congress, we write to request the following documents concerning your and other senior executives\u2019 consideration of the requests for additional safety investments and tools detailed in Mr. B\u00e9jar\u2019s testimony and in the complaint filed by the Massachusetts Attorney General. Please provide the following documents no later than November 30, 2023.\n\nAll communications related to Arturo B\u00e9jar\u2019s October 5, 2021 email to Mark Zuckerberg, Sheryl Sandberg, Chris Cox, and Adam Mosseri, including:\n\nAll responses to and forwards of Arturo B\u00e9jar\u2019s email;\n\nAll communication between executives regarding Arturo B\u00e9jar\u2019s email; and\n\nAll communication between executives and other Meta personnel regarding Arturo B\u00e9jar\u2019s email.\n\nAll communications related to Arturo B\u00e9jar\u2019s October 14, 2021, email to Adam Mosseri, including:\n\nAll responses to and forwards of Arturo B\u00e9jar\u2019s email;\n\nAll communication between Meta executives regarding Arturo B\u00e9jar\u2019s email; and\n\nAll communication between executives and other Meta personnel regarding Arturo B\u00e9jar\u2019s email.\n\nAll correspondence related to David Ginsberg\u2019s April 2019 email to Mark Zuckerberg recommending investments to fund additional engineering staff focused on building well-being tools, including:\n\nMr. Ginsburg\u2019s email to Mark Zuckerberg and Susan Li\u2019s response referenced in paragraph 181 of the Massachusetts Attorney General\u2019s complaint;\n\nAll communication between executives regarding Mr. Ginsburg\u2019s email; and\n\nAll communication between Meta executives and other Meta personnel regarding Mr. Ginsburg\u2019s email.\n\nAll correspondence related to the August 2021 outreach from members of Instagram\u2019s Well-Being Team to Nick Clegg and Chris Norton, recommending additional investment and staffing to address \u201c\u2018currently underinvested\u2019 teen well-being areas,\u201d as cited in paragraphs 181-193 of the Massachusetts Attorney General\u2019s complaint, including:\n\nThe Well-Being Team\u2019s initial outreach to Mr. Norton and Mr. Clegg;\n\nMr. Clegg\u2019s forwarding of messages from the Well-Being Team to Mark Zuckerberg and Mr. Clegg\u2019s November 2021 follow-up email to Mr. Zuckerberg;\n\nAll correspondence involving Mr. Zuckerberg and Meta CFO Susan Li concerning the outreach from the Well-Being team;\n\nAll correspondence between Pratiti Raychoudhury, Adam Mosseri, Emily Dalton Smith and Kang-Xing Jin concerning the request; and\n\nAll other correspondence between Meta executives regarding the Well-Being team\u2019s request.\n\nAny documents, memoranda, analyses, or presentations prepared by or for, or shared with, Mark Zuckerberg, Sheryl Sandberg, Chris Cox, Adam Mosseri, Nick Clegg, and Chris Norton concerning the emails and outreach referenced in questions 1 through 4.\n\nA list of any meetings convened to discuss the emails and outreach referenced in questions 1 through 4, specifying when the meetings took place and who attended, along with a copy of any agendas, summaries, or minutes of those meetings.\n\nWe look forward to your prompt response.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-and-bipartisan-group-of-senators-introduce-resolution-supporting-us-efforts-to-deter-iran", "Blumenthal & Bipartisan Group of Senators Introduce Resolution Supporting U.S. Efforts to Deter Iran", "2023-11-15", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[Hartford, CT] \u2013 U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal, Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Katie Britt (R-Alabama), John Thune (R-South Dakota), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada), Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York) introduced a resolution recognizing deterrence is most credible when the President keeps all options on the table, including the use of military force in accordance with constitutional processes, to deter attacks from Iran and its proxies.\n\n\u201cIran is a toxic, malign influence. The purpose of this resolution is very simply to deter Iran by showing we\u2019re behind the president as he seeks to stop the war in Israel from escalating. Iran is responsible for the actions of its surrogates and must pull them back. There is strong bipartisan common ground here at home and consensus in the region: deterrence it is critical to prevent a widening war,\u201d said Blumenthal.\n\n\u201cOur resolution urges the Biden Administration to keep all options on the table, including the military option against Iran, if there is continued escalation against our forces in Syria and Iraq by Iranian proxies or an effort by Hezbollah to expand in the north of Israel, which would also be supported by Iran,\u201d said Graham.\u201cThe bipartisan resolution urges peace, but is prepared to hold Iran accountable for terrorist activities and any escalation. If Iran escalates, the set of targets should be in Iran \u2013 not Syria or Iraq. In addition, our resolution encourages Saudi Arabia and Israel to continue their effort to normalize relations between their two nations. I, along with most in the region, believe the barbaric attack by Hamas was designed to stop this effort, because it would be a nightmare for Iran.\u201d\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s no disputing the malign influence of Iran in the Middle East, nor the role the regime has played in recent attacks on Israel,\u201d said Sullivan. \u201cThere is no Hamas without Iran. There is no Hezbollah without Iran. There are no Houthis without Iran. All of these terrorist organizations are funded, trained and supplied by the Iranians. It\u2019s also important for the American public to remember that, for decades, Iran\u2019s Quds Force and their proxies have targeted and killed American citizens\u2014including wounding or killing over 2,000 American service members. I have been critical of the Biden administration\u2019s policies toward Iran, but today, we are looking forward. This resolution builds on the strong bipartisan support for reimposing a broad suite of sanctions against Iran\u2014including on oil and ballistic missiles\u2014and being prepared to use military force against Iran if they kill Americans.\u201d\n\n\u201cMake no mistake, as the world\u2019s largest state sponsor of terrorism, Iran cannot successfully be appeased. The regime in Tehran funded and trained Hamas before the barbaric October 7 terrorist attacks on Israel, fuels the proxies that have attacked American troops in Iraq and Syria, and continues to funnel resources to Hezbollah, the Houthis, and other terrorist groups across the region. Peace will only come through strength, and this bipartisan resolution sends a clear message that the United States will not tolerate attacks on Americans in the Middle East and across the globe,\u201d said Britt.\n\n\u201cIran is the world\u2019s leading state sponsor of terrorism, and its actions are destabilizing the Middle East,\u201d said Rosen. \u201cIran\u2019s support has been instrumental for terrorist groups like Hamas \u2013 which carried out brutal attacks on innocent Israelis \u2013 and its proxies who attack U.S. troops and pose the greatest threat to their safety. The U.S. must continue to stand with our allies and keep pushing back on Iran\u2019s support of terrorism and attempts to thwart regional normalization and peace.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe must send a strong message of deterrence to Iran as Israel defends themselves following the horrific Hamas terrorist attack on October 7th, and to ensure this war does not further escalate in the Middle East,\u201d said Manchin. \u201cI am proud to join my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to introduce this bipartisan resolution that advocates for meaningful steps to make very clear that the United States will not tolerate Iran\u2019s continued attacks. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I will continue to explore all avenues to stand with Israel and prevent a regional conflict.\u201d\n\nThe resolution:\n\nSupports the President\u2019s efforts to deter the Islamic Republic of Iran, the IRGC, Hamas, Hezbollah, Ansar Allah, PIJ, and other proxies from expanding the ongoing conflict, and recognizes deterrence is most credible when the President keeps all options on the table, including the use of military force in accordance with constitutional processes.\n\nRecognizes Israel\u2019s right to self-defense and its operations to ensure Hamas can never again terrorize innocent Israelis and Palestinians.\n\nEncourages the President to work to secure the safe release and return of all hostages held by Hamas.\n\nCommends the President\u2019s decision to position military and diplomatic assets in the region to deter escalation of the conflict by the Islamic Republic of Iran, the IRGC, Hamas, Hezbollah, Ansar Allah, PIJ, and other proxies of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Iraq or Syria.\n\nRecognizes that all responsible nations agree that Hamas is a terrorist organization that must be fought, dismantled and prevented from having the capacity to further terrorize Israel and the region.\n\nUrges the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Israel, with the support of the United States, to continue diplomatic negotiations to normalize relations and establish lasting peace, prosperity, and stability in the Middle East.\n\nThe full text of the resolution is available here.\n\nSenators Graham, Blumenthal, and Sullivan discussed the resolution on Monday in Washington.\n\nVideo Available Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6MBMfCh8ok&t=2s\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-americas-greatness-is-connected-to-our-willingness-to-lead-in-moments-of-crisis", "Murphy: America's Greatness is Connected to Our Willingness to Lead in Moments of Crisis", "2023-11-15", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Tuesday spoke on the U.S. Senate floor in opposition to a Senate Republican effort that would abandon Ukraine, eliminate all humanitarian aid to Gaza, and protect billionaire tax cheats by cutting funding for the IRS.\n\nOn Republicans\u2019 plan to tie aid to Israel to a giveaway for ultra-rich tax cheats: \u201cI don't think you can ignore the fact that a large swath of the Republican Party is using this crisis in Israel in order to deliver yet another gift to the very small slice of Americans who don't need any more gifts. There are 700 billionaires in this country who have more net worth than 50% of all Americans. The rules are already rigged in favor of the super wealthy. And so the idea that we would facilitate a plan in the House of Representatives to use Israel aid as a means to continue to rig the rules in favor of those ultra-rich Americans is just incredibly distasteful. And it's a signal about where the Republican Party priorities are today.\u201d\n\nMurphy pushed back on Republicans\u2019 fatalistic view of the war in Ukraine and the United States\u2019 ability to help: \u201cAmerica's greatness is connected to our willingness to stand up and lead in moments of crisis. And this is a unique moment of crisis without precedent, which is why it requires the United States to stand against Russia's aggression. Listen, for thousands of years, we know this because you read about it in your history books growing up, for thousands of years prior to the establishment of the post-World-War II order, this world was defined by state-on-state, civilization-on-civilization violence and conflict. People labored under the constant threat that their entire world would be ended by another one of these civilization-on-civilization conflicts.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe live in a very different era today, where we frankly have to be more, not less worried, not permissive and fatalistic about the consequences of re-entering a world and a paradigm in which states enter into conflict against other states. Why? Because we now live in a world filled with weapons of mass destruction. Not just nuclear weapons, but other highly sophisticated weapons,\u201d Murphy added. \u201cAnd so now, this kind of conflict that Russia and Ukraine are engaged in, that's the kind of conflict that can wipe out millions in a day. That's why the United States of America has stood up for the post-World War II order. That's why we have fought and sometimes died to maintain it. And this is the most significant affront to that order. An order that has protected this country. An order that has protected our economy. An order that has saved millions of lives in our lifetime.\n\nMurphy concluded: \u201cIn a short term 'satisfy me now' culture, I understand that many of my Republican [colleagues] get phone calls from their constituents saying 'Ukraine hasn't won this war tomorrow, I\u2019m not interested any longer', but this conflict matters and it matters that we stick with Ukraine. Because if we lose, if we lose, we're living in an entirely new world. The cap is off on state-on-state violence and pretty soon America will be in one of those conflicts with another nuclear nation. We won't be talking about thousands of Ukrainians dying. We will be talking about millions of Americans.\u201d\n\nA full transcript of his remarks can be found below:\n\n\u201cThank you very much, Mr. President. I want to thank Senator Murray and Senator Reed for leading us in this time. I want to make two relatively brief points to that the discussion, and then I'll turn it over to others of my colleagues.\n\n\u201cFirst, I understand that my Republican colleagues want to avoid the question of Republican priorities. The fact of the matter is an Israel only funding bill passed through the House of Representatives and attached to it was a massive giveaway for the richest Americans \u2013 millionaires and billionaires who don't pay their taxes.\n\n\u201cAnd so, as we chart the path forward for a bill that only funds Israel we know that in the House of Representatives it has to be matched with a massive, massive giveaway for millionaires and billionaires. And I don't think you can ignore that fact that a large swath of the Republican Party is using this crisis in Israel in order to deliver yet another gift to the very small slice of Americans who don't need any more gifts.\n\n\u201cThere are 700 billionaires in this country who have more net worth than 50% of all Americans. The rules are already rigged in favor of the super wealthy. And so the idea that we would facilitate a plan in the House of Representatives to use Israel aid as a means to continue to rig the rules in favor of those ultra-rich Americans is just incredibly distasteful. And it's a signal about where the Republican Party priorities are today.\n\n\u201cSecond, I do want to talk about what Senator Vance and others talked about \u2013 about the lazy precedent-referencing, sloganeering that they accuse Democrats of engaging in.\n\n\u201cSo it is correct that what is happening today in Ukraine does not have a modern precedent. Because never before in our lifetime, in the post-World War II order, has a large nuclear nation like Russia invaded another large neighboring nation with the purpose of annexation. What Russia is trying to do is to fundamentally change the rules, fundamentally shift international norms that have been in place since World War II. At the foundation of it is that countries don't change their borders [through] force, through aggression.\n\n\u201cIt is important to understand that these are the rules that undergirded the last 70 years of U.S. growth and U.S. national security. So we don't believe that we should support Ukraine because we just believe that Vladimir Putin is Adolf Hitler. We don't believe we should support Ukraine to perpetuate some slogan about American greatness. No, we believe that we have an interest \u2013 because as the most powerful nation in the world, as the nation that has benefited most from the post-World War II order \u2013 to defend those rules because if we don't, no one else will.\n\n\u201cAnd it just strikes me that my Republican colleagues who have this fatalistic view of what is going to happen in Ukraine just really view America as weak, as impotent, and as [powerless] in the face of this unprecedented aggression from Vladimir Putin.\n\n\u201cAmerica's greatness is connected to our willingness to stand up and lead in moments of crisis. And this is a unique moment of crisis without precedent, which is why it requires the United States to stand against Russia's aggression. Listen for thousands of years, we know this because you read about it in your history books growing up, for thousands of years prior to the establishment of the post-World-War II order, this world was defined by state-on-state, civilization-on-civilization violence and conflict. People labored under the constant threat that their entire world would be ended by another one of these civilization-on-civilization conflicts.\n\n\u201cBut this was back in the time when weapons were crude. They were swords. They were bows and arrows, and then, they were simple firearms. Millions died, but millions also survived. We live in a very different era today, where we frankly have to be more, not less worried, not permissive and fatalistic about the consequences of re-entering a world and a paradigm in which states enter into conflict against other states.\n\n\u201cWhy? Because we now live in a world filled with weapons of mass destruction. Not just nuclear weapons, but other highly sophisticated weapons. And so now, this kind of conflict that Russia and Ukraine are engaged in, that's the kind of conflict that can wipe out millions in a day. That's why the United States of America has stood up for the post-World War II order. That's why we have fought and sometimes died to maintain it. And this is the most significant affront to that order. An order that has protected this country. An order that has protected our economy. An order that has saved millions of lives in our lifetime.\n\n\u201cIt is hard. Ukraine's mission is difficult. In a short term 'satisfy me now' culture, I understand that many of my Republican [colleagues] get phone calls from their constituents saying 'Ukraine hasn't won this war tomorrow, I\u2019m not interested any longer', but this conflict matters and it matters that we stick with Ukraine. Because if we lose, if we lose, we're living in an entirely new world. The cap is off on state-on-state violence and pretty soon America will be in one of those conflicts with another nuclear nation. We won't be talking about thousands of Ukrainians dying. We will be talking about millions of Americans.\n\n\u201cSo I appreciate my colleagues being here today, and I think this is as important as it gets. I think we really are deciding the future of this world and the rules that govern it. And I join my colleagues in objecting to this motion.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-tillis-sinema-reintroduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-support-startups-small-businesses", "Murphy, Tillis, Sinema Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Support Startups, Small Businesses", "2023-11-14", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) on Tuesday reintroduced the Helping Angels Lead Our Startups (HALOS) Act, legislation that would ensure that individuals who want to invest in startups do not face burdensome regulations, and allow those startups to get the investments they need to grow their business and create jobs.\n\nIn order for startups to secure capital and grow their businesses, entrepreneurs commonly attend \u201cdemo days\u201d, or conferences that allow startups to showcase their business model in front of valuable startup investors, such as \u201cangel investors.\u201d\n\nThe HALOS Act would codify provisions finalized in SEC rules to ensure that startups can continue to present at demo days without facing onerous regulations, and instead preserve the same investor vetting process that angel investors have been using at demo days for years. This bipartisan legislation will enable startups to continue to get the investments they need to grow and create new jobs.\n\n\u201cStartups play an important role in Connecticut\u2019s economy, creating hundreds of new jobs each year and securing our state\u2019s future as a national center for innovation. Getting a new business off the ground is tough work and requires capital \u2013 that\u2019s where angel investors come in. This bipartisan legislation will make it easier for local entrepreneurs to get the support they need to grow and thrive,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n\u201cArizona is home to the best growing and innovative startups. Our bill makes it easier for entrepreneurs and small business owners to access investments so they can open their doors, grow our economy, and create strong careers for Arizonans,\u201d said Sinema.\n\n\u201cSmall business investors play a crucial role in allowing start-ups to grow and create more jobs, but too often face unnecessary regulatory requirements that deter investment,\u201d said Tillis. \u201cThis bipartisan legislation will remove burdensome regulations so we can invest in our small business and continue to grow our economy.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-statement-on-supreme-courts-adoption-of-a-code-of-ethics", "Murphy Statement on Supreme Court's Adoption of a Code of Ethics", "2023-11-13", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Monday released the following statement on the Supreme Court\u2019s adoption of a binding code of conduct:\n\n\u201cTrust in the Supreme Court is at an all-time low because justices on this increasingly radical Court have seized every opportunity to roll back racial equality, reproductive rights, LGTBQ rights, and more while hiding their conflicts of interest and accepting luxury vacations and trips on private jets. This new code shows the Chief Justice is beginning to understand the seriousness of having a Supreme Court so lacking in credibility and is a good first step toward restoring public confidence. I have introduced legislation every Congress since 2011 to increase transparency and enforce accountability for the Court, and now is the time to pass the Supreme Court Ethics Act to create an enforcement mechanism for this new code of ethics.\u201d\n\nMurphy has introduced legislation to apply a code of conduct to the Supreme Court every Congress since 2011. Most recently, he introduced the Supreme Court Ethics Act, requiring the Judicial Conference of the United States to create a code of ethical conduct for the Supreme Court of the United States. It would also require the appointment of an Ethics Investigations Counsel and require justices to publicly disclose recusal decisions.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/-murphy-joins-colleagues-in-urging-inclusion-of-full-humanitarian-assistance-in-supplemental-funding-package", "Murphy Joins Colleagues in Urging Inclusion of Full Humanitarian Assistance in Supplemental Funding Package", "2023-11-11", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism, joined 25 colleagues in sending a letter to Democratic and Republican Senate and Appropriations leadership urging the inclusion of the full $10 billion in humanitarian assistance requested by President Biden in the national security supplemental.\n\n\u201cBeyond the moral significance of continuing our country\u2019s tradition as the world\u2019s leader in delivering life-saving humanitarian aid, this assistance promotes global stability and security by helping manage and provide for displaced populations, preventing recruitment to extremism, and mitigating economic pressure on partner governments,\u201d wrote the Senators.\n\nThe letter highlights the ongoing conflicts in Europe and the Middle East and the devastating impacts these global crises have on millions of innocent civilians caught in the middle. The Senators urge U.S. leadership in ensuring aid reaches sick, wounded, and displaced civilians.\n\n\u201cWithout these funds, global efforts led by the United States to address ongoing and expanded crises in Sudan, Nagorno-Karabakh, Burma, Syria, and other humanitarian responses will suffer reductions in support. This would directly threaten U.S. national security and the security of our partners,\u201d the letter continues.\n\nThe letter was signed by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii),Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).\n\nFull text of the letter can be found here and follows below:\n\nDear Majority Leader Schumer, Minority Leader McConnell, Chair Murray, and Vice Chair Collins:\n\nWe urge you to ensure that the final package for the national security supplemental includes the full $10 billion in humanitarian assistance requested by the President, including for refugee and emergency food aid. This funding would roughly match U.S. emergency spending on humanitarian assistance appropriated since the beginning of Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and would come at a time when global needs are only rising. Beyond the moral significance of continuing our country\u2019s tradition as the world\u2019s leader in delivering life-saving humanitarian aid, this assistance promotes global stability and security by helping manage and provide for displaced populations, preventing recruitment to extremism, and mitigating economic pressure on partner governments.\n\nWithout these funds, global efforts led by the United States to address ongoing and expanded crises in Sudan, Nagorno-Karabakh, Burma, Syria, and other humanitarian responses will suffer reductions in support. This would directly threaten U.S. national security and the security of our partners.\n\nIf these funds are not included, U.S. assistance for displaced Ukrainians could be reduced by as much as 75 percent. As you know, Ukrainians have valiantly fought against Vladimir Putin\u2019s unjust and unprovoked invasion of their country. To sustain their heroic struggle, Ukrainians not only need weapons and ammunition, but also basic humanitarian support for the families and communities they are fighting to defend. An estimated 16 million people in Ukraine and more than 6.3 million Ukrainian refugees in the region rely on humanitarian assistance.[1] While other donors have provided the majority of total humanitarian and economic assistance that has been delivered to Ukraine (roughly double U.S. support), U.S. leadership has been critical in this effort. We must continue to lead the way in ensuring aid reaches sick, wounded, and displaced Ukrainians suffering as a result of Putin\u2019s brutality.\n\nAs supporters of a strong U.S.-Israel relationship, we believe Israel has the right and obligation to defend itself against Hamas \u2013 a terrorist organization whose horrific attacks on October 7 and long history of violence against Israelis and Palestinians make clear its total disregard for innocent human life. We also know from our country\u2019s own experiences that protecting civilians and ensuring access to desperately needed food, water, medical care, and shelter for innocent civilians caught in the middle of conflict is critical for strategic success. Preventing Hamas from ever again threatening Israeli lives does not depend solely on Israel\u2019s ability to degrade Hamas militarily. It also requires giving Palestinians hope for a better future, starting with making sure that humanitarian aid continuously reaches vulnerable civilians in Gaza. This is why the United States and our implementing partners, working closely with the Israeli government, undertake extensive oversight procedures so that U.S. assistance flows only to its intended recipients.\n\nThe ongoing conflicts in Europe and the Middle East have impacts beyond their borders. The proliferation of global crises is putting pressure on millions of innocent civilians who are bearing the brunt of the fighting, and key U.S. partners, including in Europe and the Middle East, continue to grapple with how to manage the outbreak of violence in their regions. These realities underscore the importance of the United States maintaining its indispensable leadership role in support of assistance that effectively responds to dire humanitarian needs and prevents further instability.\n\nWe thank you for your consideration of this important request.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-and-colleagues-urge-usda-and-usaid-to-provide-food-aid-to-palestinians-in-gaza", "Murphy And Colleagues Urge USDA And USAID To Provide Food Aid To Palestinians In Gaza", "2023-11-11", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism, Peter Welch (D-Vt.) Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Thomas Vilsack and U.S. Agency for International Development Administrator (USAID) Samantha Power to request the immediate release of crucial food aid administered by the agencies, including from the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust, for Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Programs such as the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust were created to respond to food relief needs internationally in times of crisis.\n\nOver half of Gaza\u2019s population was food-insecure before October 7. The conflict following Hamas\u2019 brutal attack on Israel has displaced one and a half million Gazans and Israel\u2019s limitation of aid trucks has put civilian Palestinians at risk of starvation.\n\n\u201cGaza is home to approximately two million Palestinian civilians, including more than one million children. Since Hamas\u2019s brutal October 7th attacks on Israel, and the ensuing war in Gaza, more than one and a half million Gazans have been displaced. In addition, Israel\u2019s near-total siege of Gaza and the ongoing bombing campaign has turned a humanitarian crisis into a full-blown catastrophe with acute shortages of water, food, medicine, and fuel,\u201d wrote the Senators. \u201cWe need to facilitate and provide additional emergency assistance to Gaza to prevent a deepening of the humanitarian disaster and help save countless lives.\n\n\u201cThough the United States has provided financial assistance for humanitarian relief in Gaza and the West Bank, additional aid is necessary to address the intensifying food emergency faced by Palestinians in Gaza. We should do all we can to alleviate that burden,\u201d the Senators wrote. \u201cWe strongly urge you to utilize the [Bill Emerson Humanitarian] Trust and other available resources to save the lives of Palestinian citizens during this unprecedented time.\u201d\n\nAccording to the United Nations\u2019 World Food Programme (WFP), stocks of some essential food items in Gaza, including rice, vegetable oil, and pulses, are nearing depletion. Even prior to October 7th, 63% of Gazan residents were food insecure, and 80% of Gaza\u2019s population relied on humanitarian assistance. The WFP, which is already facing funding shortages, recently warned that an additional $74 million is needed in the next three months to provide necessary food assistance for Gaza. The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to release resources from the Trust, at the request of the USAID Administrator.\n\nRead the full text of the letter here and below:\n\nDear Secretary Vilsack and Administrator Power,\n\nWe are writing to request the immediate release of resources from the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust, along with other resources available to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), to provide food aid to Palestinians in Gaza. We believe the current situation in Gaza necessitates the utilization of the Trust, which was established to provide emergency assistance for populations facing acute hunger needs, among other resources created to address acute hunger needs.\n\nGaza is home to approximately two million Palestinian civilians, including more than one million children. Since Hamas\u2019s brutal October 7th attacks on Israel, and the ensuing war in Gaza, more than one and a half million Gazans have been displaced. In addition, Israel\u2019s near total siege of Gaza and the ongoing bombing campaign has turned a humanitarian crisis into a full-blown catastrophe with acute shortages of water, food, medicine, and fuel. According to the United Nations\u2019 World Food Programme (WFP), stocks of some essential food items in Gaza, including rice, vegetable oil, and pulses, are nearing depletion. Even prior to October 7th, sixty-three percent of Gazan residents were food insecure, and eighty percent of Gaza\u2019s population relied on humanitarian assistance. We need to facilitate and provide additional emergency assistance to Gaza to prevent a deepening of the humanitarian disaster and help save countless lives.\n\nThe Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust was created to respond to aberrant food security needs in times of unparalleled food crisis abroad. The WFP, which is already facing funding shortages, recently warned that an additional $74 million is needed in the next three months to provide necessary food assistance for Gaza. Though the United States has provided financial assistance for humanitarian relief in Gaza and the West Bank, additional aid is necessary to address the intensifying food emergency faced by Palestinians in Gaza. We should do all we can to alleviate that burden.\n\nThe Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to release resources from the Trust, at the request of the USAID Administrator. We strongly urge you to utilize the Trust and other available resources to save the lives of Palestinian citizens during this unprecedented time. We also ask that your agencies provide a staff-level briefing by Wednesday, November 22nd to explain the steps you have taken, and plan to take, to provide food and other humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-and-colleagues-blast-student-loan-servicer-mohela-following-repeated-billing-mistakes_failure-to-inform-25-million-borrowers-of-payment-deadline", "Blumenthal & Colleagues Blast Student Loan Servicer MOHELA Following Repeated Billing Mistakes & Failure to Inform 2.5 Million Borrowers of Payment Deadline", "2023-11-09", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "(Hartford, CT) \u2013 U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal joined colleagues U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) in sending a letter to Scott Giles, chief executive officer of the Higher Education Loan Authority of Missouri (MOHELA), demanding that the loan servicer immediately update borrowers on its most recent error that resulted in 2.5 million borrowers placed into administrative forbearance.\n\nThe senators also expressed concern that MOHELA has caused confusion and financial distress by failing to inform borrowers on actions taken by the Department of Education to provide additional consumer protections during the administrative forbearance period, and in some cases, peddling contradictory information.\n\nMOHELA services 8 million of the more than 40 million borrowers who have recently returned to repayment after nearly three years of paused payments and interest accrual. MOHELA has made repeated mistakes since the pause was lifted, including using outdated poverty guidelines and billing low-income borrowers\u2019 higher payments than necessary. Recently, MOHELA failed to meet requirements to send billing statements to 2.5 million borrowers on time, leaving 830,000 borrowers delinquent on their loans in the first month of repayment. As a result, the U.S. Department of Education directed MOHELA to place all affected borrowers on administrative forbearance, adjust to zero any interest that accrues during the forbearance, and count time spent in forbearance towards public service loan forgiveness and income-driven repayment plan subsidies.\n\n\u201cThis is not the first time MOHELA has failed to provide clear, timely, and accurate loan-status information to borrowers. We demand that MOHELA immediately update borrowers of its most recent error and the impact on their loans, and take concrete steps to improve overall customer service and communication,\u201d the lawmakers wrote.\n\n\u201cBorrowers rightly rely on MOHELA for timely and accurate loan information to ensure they make timely and accurate loan payments. Your failure to meet this basic and fundamental loan-servicing responsibility places hundreds of thousands of borrowers at risk of financial anxiety and insecurity. MOHELA must get its house in order immediately,\u201d the lawmakers continued.\n\nIn the letter, the lawmakers called on MOHELA to respond to the following questions by November 21, 2023:\n\nPlease describe MOHELA\u2019s planned outreach to borrowers on administrative forbearance regarding:\n\nMOHELA\u2019s errors that resulted in the administrative forbearance;\n\nThe consequences of administrative forbearance;\n\nthe additional protections that the Department has offered to affected borrowers, including zero-interest accrual and credit towards Public Service Loan Forgiveness and Income-Driven Repayment;\n\nthe timeline to transition borrowers off administrative forbearance and back on repayment; and\n\nensuring notice to borrowers at least 21 days ahead of their return to repayment, including the date of their next payment and the amount.\n\nPlease provide copies of all notices, factsheets, customer service scripts, or any other information provided by MOHELA to borrowers regarding these errors, their implications, and how they will be resolved.\n\nHow many borrowers have declined or requested to end their administrative forbearance since October 1, 2023, if they were placed in forbearance for MOHELA\u2019s mistakes rather than as is standard for pending income-driven repayment applications?\n\nHow many complaints about errors with calculating monthly payment amounts has MOHELA received from its borrowers since September 1, 2023?\n\nYour response to our July 18, 2023 letter stated that, to ensure the accurate calculation of monthly payments, MOHELA utilizes \u201ca system of record\u201d that \u201ccalculates the appropriate payment amount based on data, and the calculations are embedded in the system of record to comply for the particular plan for any Income Driven plans or Standard Repayment (Standard, Graduated, etc.), plans.\u201d[1] Given evidence of incorrectly calculated monthly payments, what steps has MOHELA taken to evaluate the system of record or the calculations?\n\nPlease describe how MOHELA obtains the information that it uses to calculate borrowers\u2019 monthly payments and any policies or procedures used to ensure the accuracy and completeness of that information, including whether this information is received from prior student loan servicers as part of any account transfer or whether the information is provided by the Department.\n\nAhead of the return to student loan payment after three years, the senators sent letters to MOHELA and other loan servicers on September 28th and July 19th, requesting information about whether the servicers were prepared to support borrowers amid reports of widespread errors and confusion.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-durbin-colleagues-urge-biden-administration-to-designate-palestinian-territories-for-temporary-protected-status-or-authorize-deferred-enforcement-departure-for-palestinians-in-us", "Murphy, Durbin, Colleagues Urge Biden Administration To Designate Palestinian Territories For Temporary Protected Status Or Authorize Deferred Enforcement Departure For Palestinians In U.S.", "2023-11-09", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia and Counterterrorism, joined U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Chair of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, and 105 of their colleagues in a bicameral letter to President Joe Biden calling on his Administration to designate the Palestinian territories for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and/or authorize Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for Palestinians present in the United States. TPS and DED offer temporary relief from removal and work authorization for eligible foreign nationals already in the United States who are unable to return safely to their home country.\n\n\u201cIn light of ongoing armed conflict, Palestinians already in the United States should not be forced to return to the Palestinian territories, consistent with President Biden\u2019s stated commitment to protecting Palestinian civilians,\u201d the lawmakers wrote.\n\nFollowing the horrific October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas and Israel\u2019s ensuing military response, conditions in the Palestinian territories have greatly deteriorated. According to reports from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), as of November 6, at least 10,000 Palestinians have been killed. This includes more than 4,100 children, which, according to Save the Children, is more than the number of children killed in all of the world\u2019s armed conflicts on an annual basis since 2019. The United Nations reports that almost 1.5 million of Gaza\u2019s population of 2.2 million have been displaced. Thousands are unable to access clean water and nutrition; access to medical care has become increasingly difficult, with some health facilities in Gaza hit by bombardment and many others crippled by a lack of fuel for electricity. And in the West Bank, unrest and settler violence have resulted in the deaths of 149 Palestinians and the forcible displacement of hundreds more.\n\n\u201cGiven these conditions, it is no surprise that the U.S. Department of State extended a Level 4 Travel Advisory for Gaza due to \u2018terrorism, civil unrest and armed conflict\u2019 and a Level 3 Travel Advisory for the West Bank earlier this month for terrorism and civil unrest,\u201d the lawmakers wrote. \u201cProviding TPS and/or authorizing DED would protect Palestinians in the United States from being forced to return to these clearly dangerous conditions.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers\u2019 letter continues, \u201cU.S. Department of State statistics indicate that 7,241 nonimmigrant visas were issued to individuals holding Palestinian Authority (PA) travel documents in 2022, the most recent year for which such data is available. While the number of non-immigrant visas issued cannot provide an exact approximation of the number of Palestinians that would be eligible for TPS or DED, it makes clear that the number of beneficiaries would be small, while the benefit could be lifesaving. TPS or DED would enable Palestinians currently present in the U.S., including students, tourists, and workers, to be protected from a dangerous return to their homeland while affording them the ability to remain safely in the U.S. and to work legally to support themselves and their families.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers\u2019 letter concludes, \u201cAs such, we urge your Administration to designate the Palestinian territories for TPS and/or to authorize DED for Palestinians in the United States without delay.\u201d\n\nAlong with Murphy and Durbin, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.).\n\nThe letter is endorsed by the following organizations: Arab American Institute, African Communities Together, American Civil Liberties Union, American Friends Service Committee, American Immigration Council, American Immigration Lawyers Association, American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, American Muslim Empowerment Network, Americans for Peace Now, America's Voice, Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project, Church World Service, Climate Refugees, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, Communities United for Status & Protection, Every Campus A Refuge, Friends United Meeting, Immigration Hub, Indivisible, International Refugee Assistance Project, J Street, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, MPower Change Action Fund, National Network for Arab American Communities, Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, OneAmerica, People's Action, Refugees International, TPS-DED Administrative Advocacy Coalition, T\u2019ruah, and UndocuBlack Network.\n\nFull text of the letter is available here and below:\n\nDear President Biden:\n\nWe urge your Administration to designate the Palestinian territories for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and/or authorize Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for Palestinians present in the United States. As you know, TPS and DED offer temporary relief from removal and work authorization for eligible foreign nationals who are unable to return safely to their home countries or part of a country. In light of ongoing armed conflict, Palestinians already in the United States should not be forced to return to the Palestinian territories, consistent with President Biden\u2019s stated commitment to protecting Palestinian civilians.\n\nFollowing the horrific October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas and Israel\u2019s ensuing military response, conditions in the Palestinian territories have greatly deteriorated. According to reports from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), as of November 6, at least 10,000 Palestinians have been killed. This includes more than 4,100 children, which, according to Save the Children, is more than the number of children killed in all of the world\u2019s armed conflicts on an annual basis since 2019. The United Nations reports that almost 1.5 million of Gaza\u2019s population of 2.2 million have been displaced of which nearly 725,000 are sheltering in 149 UNRWA [United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East] installations\u201d across the Gaza Strip. Further, OCHA reports at least 42 percent of all housing units in the Gaza strip as damaged or destroyed since October 7. Thousands are unable to access clean water and nutrition; access to medical care has become increasingly difficult, with some health facilities in Gaza hit by bombardment and many others crippled by a lack of fuel for electricity. And in the West Bank, unrest and settler violence have resulted in the deaths of 149 Palestinians and the forcible displacement of hundreds more. Such forcible displacement from the West Bank is of serious concern, and we also share the Administration\u2019s opposition to the \u201cdisplacement of Palestinians from Gaza.\u201d At the same time, we believe that Palestinians currently in the United States who cannot safely return home at this time should have the option of seeking temporary protection.\n\nGiven these conditions, it is no surprise that the U.S. Department of State extended a Level 4 Travel Advisory for Gaza due to \u201cterrorism, civil unrest and armed conflict\u201d and a Level 3 Travel Advisory for the West Bank earlier this month for terrorism and civil unrest. Providing TPS and/or authorizing DED would protect Palestinians in the United States from being forced to return to these clearly dangerous conditions.\n\nThere is precedent for analogous designations. In 1998, there was a designation of only the Province of Kosovo in light of ongoing armed conflict. Montserrat was designated for TPS in 1997 when volcanic eruptions caused nearly two-thirds of its population to flee. At the time, Montserrat was a colony of the United Kingdom, and Montserratians did not enjoy British residency rights or citizenship. Similarly, DED is currently authorized to defer the removal of certain residents of Hong Kong present in the United States.\n\nU.S. Department of State statistics indicate that 7,241 nonimmigrant visas were issued to individuals holding Palestinian Authority (PA) travel documents in 2022, the most recent year for which such data is available. While the number of non-immigrant visas issued cannot provide an exact approximation of the number of Palestinians that would be eligible for TPS or DED, it makes clear that the number of beneficiaries would be small, while the benefit could be lifesaving. TPS or DED would enable Palestinians currently present in the U.S., including students, tourists, and workers, to be protected from a dangerous return to their homeland while affording them the ability to remain safely in the U.S. and to work legally to support themselves and their families.\n\nAs such, we urge your Administration to designate the Palestinian territories for TPS and/or to authorize DED for Palestinians in the United States without delay. Thank you for your consideration of this request.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-and-blackburn-statement-on-unsealed-massachusetts-complaint-against-meta", "Blumenthal & Blackburn Statement on Unsealed Massachusetts Complaint Against Meta", "2023-11-08", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, D.C.] \u2013 U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), lead sponsors of the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act, issued the following joint statement on the newly unredacted complaint filed by the Massachusetts Attorney General against Meta. The Massachusetts complaint is complementary to the lawsuits filed by a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general against Meta for unfair and deceptive practices that harm young people.\n\n\u201cThis damning, newly unsealed complaint alleges that Mark Zuckerberg was directly in charge of Meta\u2019s decisions to put profits over young people\u2019s lives. Zuckerberg reportedly ignored or personally overruled numerous safety concerns and recommendations from other Meta executives and advisors. Among the many disturbing internal communications cited in the complaint, Zuckerberg denied requests to fix problems that were \u2018actively encouraging young girls into body dysmorphia\u2019 and Instagram executives themselves acknowledged their product was unsafe for teens. Instead, Meta staff was fixated on creating a \u2018pipeline\u2019 of teens, remarking internally, \u2018The young ones are the best ones. You want to bring people to your service young and early.\u2019 Meta must immediately make these and other related documents available to the public.\u201d\n\n\u201cMake no mistake: this is Big Tech\u2019s Big Tobacco moment. We now have mounting proof that Zuckerberg and Meta executives know very well how their platforms hurt and endanger kids. Instead of working to fix it, they fail to act, cover it up, and inexcusably mislead the public and Congress\u2014all in the name of profit.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Kids Online Safety Act will finally hold Big Tech accountable and make clear that young people are not a product to enrich executives like Zuckerberg. The time to pass it is now and we will continue pushing for a swift vote on this measure.\u201d\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/icymi-200-advocacy-groups-call-for-senate-floor-vote-on-the-kids-online-safety-act", "ICYMI: 200+ Advocacy Groups Call for Senate Floor Vote on the Kids Online Safety Act", "2023-11-08", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, D.C.] \u2013 In case you missed it, a broad group of 217 advocacy organizations conducted a day of action today to urge Congress to pass the Kids Online Safety Act. The groups represent a coalition of mental health, privacy, suicide prevention, eating disorder, and child sexual abuse prevention experts and advocates. The coalition sent a letter to Senate leadership, calling for bringing the Kids Online Safety Act to the Senate floor for a vote by the end of the year.\n\n\u201cWith this bipartisan legislation, Congress has the potential to significantly improve young people\u2019s wellbeing by transforming the digital environment for children and teens,\u201d the groups, including the American Psychological Association, the Eating Disorders Coalition, Fairplay, Common Sense, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, wrote in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). \u201cAfter numerous hearings and abundant research findings, the evidence is clear of the potential harms social media platforms can have on the brain development and mental health of our nation\u2019s youth, including hazardous substance use, eating disorders, and self-harm.\u201d\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nU.S. Senators Blumenthal (D-CT) and Blackburn (R-TN) are the lead sponsors of the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act, which would provide kids and parents with better tools to protect themselves online, hold Big Tech accountable for harms to kids, and provide transparency into black box algorithms. The bill has the support of nearly half of the U.S. Senate.\n\nNovember 8, 2023\n\nThe Honorable Charles Schumer,\n\nMajority Leader\n\n322 Hart Senate Office Building\n\nWashington, D.C. 20510\n\nThe Honorable Mitch McConnell,\n\nMinority Leader\n\n317 Russell Senate Office Building\n\nWashington, D.C. 20510\n\nDear Majority Leader Schumer and Minority Leader McConnell,\n\nOn behalf of the over 215 undersigned national, state, and local organizations signed below, we are writing to urge you in your leadership capacity to move the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act (S. 1409) as well as strong privacy protections for kids and teens online to the U.S Senate floor for a vote by the end of the year.\n\nAs you know, the bipartisan legislation passed out of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation unanimously on July 27, 2023 and currently has 48 co-sponsors. With this bipartisan legislation, Congress has the potential to significantly improve young people\u2019s wellbeing by transforming the digital environment for children and teens.\n\nOverall, youth have been faced with a growing mental health crisis in recent years. For instance, depression rates for teens doubled between 2009 and 2019. This is happening at a time when suicide is the second leading cause of death for U.S. youth, with one in five teens considering suicide during the pandemic, and eating disorder emergency room admissions for teen girls 12- to 17-years- old doubling since 2019. While declines in youth mental health are attributable to numerous factors, the growing use of social media platforms designed in ways that increase exposure to harmful content and encourage unhealthy patterns of use have contributed to these trends.\n\nAfter numerous hearings and abundant research findings, the evidence is clear of the potential harms social media platforms can have on the brain development and mental health of our nation\u2019s youth, including hazardous substance use, eating disorders, and self-harm. Below are just some of the stark national findings:\n\nInstagram includes 90,000 unique pro-eating disorder accounts with a reach of 20 million followers.\n\nChildren as young as 9 and 10 follow three or more pro-eating disorder accounts.\n\nMeta derives an estimated $230 million annually from pro-eating disorder accounts.\n\nFifty-nine percent of U.S. teens report being bullied on social media, an experience linked to increased risky behaviors such as smoking and increased risk of suicidal ideation.\n\nTwenty-five percent of 9- to 17-year-olds report having had an online sexually explicit interaction with someone they believed to be an adult.\n\nIt has been long established that adolescence is associated with neurological changes that promote cravings for social attention, feedback, and status. Aberrations in our brain growth during these periods may have lifetime implications. While research on associations between social media use is emerging, there are data to suggest possible developmental benefits from online social interaction. However, several distinct lines of inquiry also suggest pathways that link social media use to maladaptive outcomes, including engagement in risky behavior, psychological symptoms, illegal behavior, and aberrant brain development\n\nThe Kids Online Safety Act seeks to hold social media companies accountable after their repeated failures to protect children and adolescents from the practices that make their platforms more harmful. The bill establishes a duty of care for social media companies to protect minors from mental health harms, sexual trafficking, and narcotics. Additionally, the bill requires companies to go through independent, external audits, allows researcher access to platform data assets, and creates substantial youth and parental controls to create a safer digital environment.\n\nThe lack of transparency into the inner workings, policies and measured impacts of these platforms must be addressed now. The impact of social media algorithms on the user experience is woefully understudied due in large part to the lack of visibility by researchers into the data and how algorithms work. The enormity of the youth mental health crisis needs to be addressed as the very real harms of social media are impacting our children today.\n\nThe Kids Online Safety Act of 2023 builds on the version from the 117th Congress by clarifying key definitions and rules to better focus on urgent harms to kids, particularly the harms we know dramatically impact the LGBTQ+ communities.\n\nThe Kids Online Safety Act of 2023 builds on the version from the 117th Congress by clarifying key definitions and rules to better focus on urgent harms to kids, particularly the harms we know dramatically impact the LGBTQ+ communities.\n\nThrough your leadership, you both have the power to contribute to tackling this growing issue through advancing the Kids Online Safety Act and strong privacy protections for kids and teens online, as the wellbeing of future generations depend on it.\n\nWe thank you for your attention to this issue and look forward to continuing to work with you.\n\nSincerely,\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/videoblumenthal-and-murphy-join-senate-colleagues-to-introduce-the-puerto-rico-status-act", "***Video***Blumenthal & Murphy Join Senate Colleagues to Introduce the Puerto Rico Status Act", "2023-11-08", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "A video link to today\u2019s press conference announcing the legislation is available here\n\n[WASHINGTON, D.C.] \u2013 At a press conference today in Washington, DC, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) joined U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi and several colleagues to introduce the Puerto Rico Status Act, legislation that lays out a process for the people of Puerto Rico to determine the future of the island\u2019s political status.\n\n\u201cThis important legislation empowers the people of Puerto Rico to decide what future they want for themselves \u2013 bringing together a wide variety of stakeholders on one path forward,\u201d Blumenthal said. \u201cWhether the people of Puerto Rico choose statehood, independence, or sovereignty, they deserve the full benefits of citizenship.\u201d\n\n\u201cPuerto Rico\u2019s political status is a decision for the people of Puerto Rico. Too often, the Puerto Rican community in Connecticut has watched the federal government fall short of supporting their friends and family on the Island when faced with devastating natural disasters and economic crises. This bill is a commonsense compromise that would ensure Puerto Ricans are no longer relegated to second-class citizenship and are granted the long overdue right to self-determination,\u201d said Murphy.\n\nThe legislation is co-led by U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV). U.S. Representatives Ra\u00fal Grijalva (D-AZ), Nydia M. Vel\u00e1zquez (D-NY), Darren Soto (D-FL), Steny Hoyer (D-MD), and Resident Commissioner Jenniffer Gonz\u00e1lez Col\u00f3n (R-PR) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.\n\nThe Puerto Rico Status Act authorizes a federally sponsored plebiscite to resolve Puerto Rico\u2019s political status. The legislation details the transition to and implementation of a non-territory status for Puerto Rico \u2013 Statehood, Independence, or Sovereignty in Free Association with the United States \u2013 that is chosen by a majority of voters in Puerto Rico. The Puerto Rico Status Act was drafted with extensive input from members of Congress; local elected government officials; citizenship, immigration, and constitutional law experts; and hundreds of residents of Puerto Rico.\n\nMore information on the Puerto Rico Status Act, including a fact sheet, bill text, and one-page explainer of the legislation, can be found here.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-blumenthal-colleagues-introduce-the-puerto-rico-status-act", "Murphy, Blumenthal, Colleagues Introduce the Puerto Rico Status Act", "2023-11-08", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013At a press conference today in Washington, DC, U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and joined U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi and several colleagues to introduce the Puerto Rico Status Act, legislation that lays out a process for the people of Puerto Rico to determine the future of the island\u2019s political status.\n\n\u201cPuerto Rico\u2019s political status is a decision for the people of Puerto Rico. Too often, the Puerto Rican community in Connecticut has watched the federal government fall short of supporting their friends and family on the Island when faced with devastating natural disasters and economic crises. This bill is a commonsense compromise that would ensure Puerto Ricans are no longer relegated to second-class citizenship and are granted the long overdue right to self-determination,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n\u201cThis important legislation empowers the people of Puerto Rico to decide what future they want for themselves \u2013 bringing together a wide variety of stakeholders on one path forward,\u201d Blumenthal said. \u201cWhether the people of Puerto Rico choose statehood, independence, or sovereignty, they deserve the full benefits of citizenship.\u201d\n\nThe legislation is co-led by U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.). U.S. Representatives Ra\u00fal Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Nydia M. Vel\u00e1zquez (D-N.Y.), Darren Soto (D-Fla.), Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), and Resident Commissioner Jenniffer Gonz\u00e1lez Col\u00f3n (R-P.R.) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.\n\nThe Puerto Rico Status Act authorizes a federally sponsored plebiscite to resolve Puerto Rico\u2019s political status. The legislation details the transition to and implementation of a non-territory status for Puerto Rico \u2013 Statehood, Independence, or Sovereignty in Free Association with the United States \u2013 that is chosen by a majority of voters in Puerto Rico. The Puerto Rico Status Act was drafted with extensive input from members of Congress; local elected government officials; citizenship, immigration, and constitutional law experts; and hundreds of residents of Puerto Rico.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-discusses-urgent-need-to-fund-nonprofit-security-grant-program-with-dhs-secretary-mayorkas", "Murphy Discusses Urgent Need to Fund Nonprofit Security Grant Program with DHS Secretary Mayorkas", "2023-11-08", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2014U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, on Wednesday spoke at a U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on the Biden administration\u2019s supplemental request for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Murphy discussed the role of FEMA\u2019s Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) in keeping communities safe as well as the Department\u2019s request for increased USCIS funding to improve efficiency in the asylum system.\n\nAmid the rise in antisemitism and Islamophobia, Murphy raised the importance of increased funding for NSGP: \u201cI know how much you believe in this. I know that you have been very vocal about the incredible increase in antisemitic rhetoric and violence as well as threats of violence against our Muslim communities. This program is badly underfunded compared to the amount of need. Talk to us about the gap that exists right now between the amount of money that's in that account and the amount of demand in particular from synagogues, Jewish community centers, and mosques to upgrade their security.\u201d\n\nMayorkas emphasized the demand for the program: \u201cThe Nonprofit Security Grant Program is tremendously oversubscribed. The demand for these funds from large and small institutions of all faiths far exceeds the amount of funding that we have. And it is critical funding that enables faith based institutions and other nonprofit organizations to secure their facilities \u2013 it\u2019s places of worship, it\u2019s religious schools, and the like \u2013 whether it's personnel, cameras, gating, whatever the needs are in a particular jurisdiction, the demand is extraordinary in all sized institutions.\u201d\n\nOn Congress\u2019s failure to pass any meaningful legislation on immigration in 40 years, Murphy said: \u201cWe have tried many times to engage in that process, most recently in 2013 when we came to a conclusion in the Senate, but Republicans in the House of Representatives refused to take up our measure. This could all be a lot easier if we would decide together to come together and fix part of this problem, half this problem, all of this problem, but most of the complaints here are because these laws haven't been updated in 40 years. And this administration, and every administration has been stuck with a mess caused by congressional inaction. And so this is a little bit of transference, as they say, in the discipline of psychology.\u201d\n\nAs Chairman of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, Murphy has led bipartisan efforts to increase funding for NSGP, calling for additional funding for FEMA\u2019s Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) to be included in any supplemental funding package Congress may consider.\n\nA full transcript of Murphy\u2019s exchange with Secretary Mayorkas:\n\nMURPHY: \u201cThank you for being here to both of you. That\u2019s the first time that I've heard a four second interrupted answer be described as a filibuster. I mean I think the most important part of these hearings is hearing the answers from our witnesses. I don't know that it serves this committee very well to give you literally three seconds to answer very complicated questions before asking the next one.\n\n\u201cAnd so I'm going to ask you a question, Secretary Mayorkas, and I'm going to give you the time to answer it. I think that you get a lot of criticism for implementing the law. It's been 40 years since we've come to a bipartisan agreement on how to change the law. We have tried many times to engage in that process, most recently in 2013 when we came to a conclusion in the Senate, but Republicans in the House of Representatives refused to take up our measure. This could all be a lot easier if we would decide together to come together and fix part of this problem, half this problem, all of this problem, but most of the complaints here are because these laws haven't been updated in 40 years. And this administration, and every administration has been stuck with a mess caused by congressional inaction. And so this is a little bit of transference, as they say, in the discipline of psychology.\n\n\u201cSo you've asked for $745 million for [United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)] in this budget. Typically, when we have been trying to push for money for this account in prior years, and I know this as chairman of the subcommittee that oversees the Department of Homeland Security, it has been Republicans who have pushed back. But tell us the consequences of underfunding USCIS at the level that it is underfunded today. Tell us how your hands are tied to try to efficiently manage the border if you don't have the resources you need to properly do all of the functions that USCIS is engaged in at the border and throughout our legal immigration system. Why is this really important? And why is it important for Republicans and Democrats to come together to support that funding?\n\nMAYORKAS: \u201cSenator, thank you for your inquiry. When we have more asylum officers, and when we have more support personnel to assist them in accomplishing the mission that they are expert in performing, then what we are able to do is drive greater efficiency in the asylum system, including shortening the time in between the time of the credible fear interview and the ultimate adjudication, including in between the time of initial encounter and the credible fear interview.\n\n\u201cWe can conduct more credible fear interviews, and we can advance the system because we have discussed already in this hearing the unacceptable fact that it is far too slow process, the asylum adjudication process, that is because the system is broken. And critically, we are terribly underfunded and under resourced, And this supplemental gets to that latter point.\u201d\n\nMURPHY: \u201cOne of the things my Republican colleagues have talked about in this hearing is adjustments to the asylum standard. And I think that's a legitimate conversation to have, but that will necessitate to the extent that there is more or different work being done by USCIS some pretty significant new resources. And so I just put that on the table for my Republican colleagues who are coming to the table in good faith for a conversation about changing the laws.\n\n\u201cLast question, Secretary Mayorkas, just to talk for a minute about the Nonprofit Security Grant Program. I know how much you believe in this. I know that you have been very vocal about the incredible increase in antisemitic rhetoric and violence as well as threats of violence against our Muslim communities. This program is badly underfunded compared to the amount of need. Talk to us about the gap that exists right now between the amount of money that's in that account and the amount of demand in particular from synagogues, Jewish community centers, and mosques to upgrade their security.\u201d\n\nMAYORKAS: \u201cSenator, very, very quickly. The rise in antisemitism, the latest data point I saw is that it is increased 388% since October 7. The Nonprofit Security Grant Program is tremendously oversubscribed. The demand for these funds from large and small institutions of all faiths far exceeds the amount of funding that we have. And it is critical funding that enables faith based institutions and other nonprofit organizations to secure their facilities \u2013 it\u2019s places of worship, it\u2019s religious schools, and the like \u2013 whether it's personnel, cameras, gating, whatever the needs are in a particular jurisdiction, the demand is extraordinary in all sized institutions.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-joins-van-hollen-schatz-and-reed-in-leading-majority-of-democratic-caucus-in-push-for-more-information-around-strategy-to-defeat-hamas-protection-for-civilians-in-gaza", "Murphy Joins Van Hollen, Schatz, And Reed In Leading Majority Of Democratic Caucus In Push For More Information Around Strategy To Defeat Hamas, Protection For Civilians In Gaza", "2023-11-08", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia and Counterterrorism, on Thursday joined U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), and Jack Reed (D-R.I.) in leading the majority of the Senate Democratic Caucus in a letter to President Biden condemning the brutal terror attacks by Hamas, expressing support for immediate funding to replenish Israel\u2019s defensive systems, and seeking information on two clear U.S. priorities: supporting an Israeli strategy that will effectively degrade and defeat the threat from Hamas and taking all possible measures to protect civilians in Gaza.\n\nIn addition to Murphy, Van Hollen, Schatz, and Reed, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Angus King (I-Maine), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Tammy Baldwin (Wis.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Tim Kaine (D-Va.).\n\n\u201cWe have joined you in condemning the brutal terror attacks that Hamas conducted against Israel and agree with you that Israel has the right to defend itself and hold Hamas accountable. We applaud your actions to secure the release of two American citizens held hostage and support your continued efforts to free the remaining hostages. In the days and weeks since these attacks, you have rightly demonstrated America\u2019s commitment to support Israel in this dark hour,\u201d the Senators begin.\n\nThey continue, \u201cThe attacks of October 7th brought back chilling memories of the United States\u2019 own confrontation with terror twenty-two years ago. In light of our own experience, we want to underscore how critical it is that Israel: (1) learn from the mistakes the United States made in our fight against terrorism by focusing on realistic and achievable military goals; and (2) abide by the laws of war, including the protection of civilians. Doing so also offers Israel the very best chance of success against Hamas in the days and weeks ahead. These steps are also necessary to create the conditions for a lasting peace, including two states for two peoples.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe believe the United States should immediately provide Israel with the funding it needs to replenish its defensive systems, including Iron Dome and other air defense capabilities. But to better understand the efficacy of U.S. funding that supports Israel\u2019s operations inside Gaza, we respectfully ask your team to provide us with information relative to these two clear U.S. priorities: supporting an Israeli strategy that will effectively degrade and defeat the threat from Hamas and taking all possible measures to protect civilians in Gaza,\u201d the Senators write.\n\nThe Senators go on to ask for responses on a series of wide-ranging points, including an assessment of the viability of Israel\u2019s military strategy in Gaza, and whether it prioritizes the release of hostages, whether there is an achievable plan for governing Gaza when the Israeli military operation ends, and if Israel supports the conditions necessary to ultimately achieve a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Senators also ask what specific mechanisms the Administration is putting in place to ensure that Israeli military operations conducted inside Gaza are carried out in accordance with international humanitarian law and to ensure that any U.S.-provided equipment is used in a manner consistent with U.S. law. They request an assessment of whether Israel\u2019s military rules of engagement, particularly regarding mitigation of civilian casualties, align with U.S. policy and practice. And they ask the Administration to seek immediate public assurances from Prime Minister Netanyahu that his coalition government will immediately stop the escalating extremist settler violence directed against unprotected Palestinians there, as well as assurances from President Abbas that his government take steps to quell any violence against Israelis.\n\nLastly, in their letter, the Senators press for answers on how assistance will advance our efforts to engage with Israel, Egypt, and the broader international community to address the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, noting, \u201cwe must not only do our part to provide urgently needed humanitarian relief to Gaza, but also insist that Israel take all necessary measures to help us facilitate such relief to the two million civilians living there, half of them children. That includes fully restoring water, electricity, and communication services, expediting fuel deliveries through already well-established systems for avoiding diversion to Hamas, and opening the Kerem Shalom crossing in southern Israel to increase urgently needed humanitarian relief to Gaza. Aid workers and civilian sites like schools, hospitals, and UN facilities must be protected.\u201d\n\nThey close, \u201cWe support additional assistance to Israel that: 1) aligns with an Israeli strategy that you believe will effectively degrade and defeat the threat from Hamas; 2) prioritizes the release of hostages; 3) advances a viable and achievable military plan that supports a long-term vision for peace, security and Palestinian self-determination in the form of a two-state solution; 4) abides by U.S. and international law, including the protection of civilians; and 5) advances efforts to provide desperately needed humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza. The information requested in this letter will help us assure that U.S support for Israel\u2019s operations inside Gaza achieves these objectives.\u201d\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear President Biden:\n\nWe have joined you in condemning the brutal terror attacks that Hamas conducted against Israel and agree with you that Israel has the right to defend itself and hold Hamas accountable. We applaud your actions to secure the release of two American citizens held hostage and support your continued efforts to free the remaining hostages. In the days and weeks since these attacks, you have rightly demonstrated America\u2019s commitment to support Israel in this dark hour.\n\nThe attacks of October 7th brought back chilling memories of the United States\u2019 own confrontation with terror twenty-two years ago. In light of our own experience, we want to underscore how critical it is that Israel: (1) learn from the mistakes the United States made in our fight against terrorism by focusing on realistic and achievable military goals; and (2) abide by the laws of war, including the protection of civilians. Doing so also offers Israel the very best chance of success against Hamas in the days and weeks ahead. These steps are also necessary to create the conditions for a lasting peace, including two states for two peoples.\n\nWe believe the United States should immediately provide Israel with the funding it needs to replenish its defensive systems, including Iron Dome and other air defense capabilities. But to better understand the efficacy of U.S. funding that supports Israel\u2019s operations inside Gaza, we respectfully ask your team to provide us with information relative to these two clear U.S. priorities: supporting an Israeli strategy that will effectively degrade and defeat the threat from Hamas and taking all possible measures to protect civilians in Gaza.\n\nFirst, it is in America\u2019s interest to ensure that any military plans to fight Hamas do not produce the same strategic mistakes as many U.S. military operations over the past few decades. As we review the Administration\u2019s supplemental request for military assistance to Israel, we respectfully ask that you share with us your assessment of the viability of Israel\u2019s military strategy in Gaza, and whether it prioritizes the release of hostages. We would also like to better understand whether there is an achievable plan for governing Gaza when the Israeli military operation ends. We further seek to understand if Israel supports the conditions necessary to ultimately achieve a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.\n\nSecond, we ask you to inform us about what specific mechanisms you are putting in place to ensure that Israeli military operations conducted inside Gaza are carried out in accordance with international humanitarian law and to ensure that any U.S.-provided equipment is used in a manner consistent with U.S. law. Relatedly, we would like to know your assessment of whether Israel\u2019s military rules of engagement, particularly regarding mitigation of civilian casualties, align with U.S. policy and practice. In addition, to prevent another front from opening in the West Bank, we ask that you obtain public assurances from Prime Minister Netanyahu that his coalition government will immediately stop the escalating extremist settler violence directed against unprotected Palestinians there, as well as assurances from President Abbas that his government take steps to quell any violence against Israelis.\n\nFinally, we request information on how our assistance will advance our efforts to engage with Israel, Egypt, and the broader international community to address the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. As we consider additional military assistance to Israel, we must not only do our part to provide urgently needed humanitarian relief to Gaza, but also insist that Israel take all necessary measures to help us facilitate such relief to the two million civilians living there, half of them children. That includes fully restoring water, electricity, and communication services, expediting fuel deliveries through already well-established systems for avoiding diversion to Hamas, and opening the Kerem Shalom crossing in southern Israel to increase urgently needed humanitarian relief to Gaza. Aid workers and civilian sites like schools, hospitals, and UN facilities must be protected.\n\nWe support additional assistance to Israel that: 1) aligns with an Israeli strategy that you believe will effectively degrade and defeat the threat from Hamas; 2) prioritizes the release of hostages; 3) advances a viable and achievable military plan that supports a long-term vision for peace, security and Palestinian self-determination in the form of a two-state solution; 4) abides by U.S. and international law, including the protection of civilians; and 5) advances efforts to provide desperately needed humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza. The information requested in this letter will help us assure that U.S support for Israel\u2019s operations inside Gaza achieves these objectives.\n\nMr. President, your leadership at this time of crisis has been vital. We appreciate your attention to these urgent matters.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-this-is-an-existential-moment-for-ukraine", "Murphy: This Is an Existential Moment for Ukraine", "2023-11-08", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2014U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Wednesday spoke at a U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on U.S. national security interests in Ukraine. In his question to Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs James O\u2019Brien and Assistant Secretary for Energy Resources Geoffrey Pyatt, Murphy asked how the United States can support Ukraine by making it more difficult for Russia to be able to sustain the current level of their military operation.\n\nMurphy highlighted the urgent need to support Ukraine: \u201cListen, I don't understand the games our Republican friends are playing with Ukraine aid. I think this is an existential moment. We're at the zero hour with respect to Ukraine's needs.\u201d\n\nOn Russia\u2019s reliance on oil and gas revenue to finance its war effort, Murphy said: \u201cRussia started out spending about 4% of GDP on military endeavors. This budget for the upcoming year will have them spending 6% of GDP on their military. That puts them in the top five in the entire world in terms of the percentage of their economy dedicated to military spending. Note that number one on that list is Ukraine, that is spending 33% of its GDP. Thirty-three percent of its GDP on the military. But the IEA projects Russia\u2019s share of globally traded oil is going to fall 50% by 2030, and their net income from gas sales is going to fall from $75 billion to $30 billion. You're spending already 6% of your GDP, and you have a potentially catastrophic fall coming in oil and gas revenue. That is one of the things, maybe the primary factor that may push Russia to the table to try to drive a conclusion to this conflict.\n\nA full transcript of Murphy\u2019s exchange with O\u2019Brien and Pyatt:\n\nMURPHY: \u201cThank you very much, Senator Shaheen. Thanks to all three of you for being here today and for your great work on behalf of the United States in our interest in supporting an independent and sovereign Ukraine.\n\n\u201cListen, I don't understand the games our Republican friends are playing with Ukraine aid. I think this is an existential moment. We're at the zero hour with respect to Ukraine's needs. I want to pass comprehensive bipartisan immigration reform as badly as anyone, but to hold Ukraine hostage to unlocking that very difficult knot is dangerous for us and the world. But I'm there in good faith trying to listen to my Republican friends to try to find a path forward here.\n\n\u201cBut this is really one side of the equation, the support Ukraine needs, and I hope that we find a path in the next two weeks to be able to get Ukraine the supplemental assistance it needs. The other side of this equation is what we can do to make it harder for Russia to be able to sustain this level of operation. And so I wanted to ask maybe both you, Ambassador Pyatt and Ambassador O'Brien, about how Russia's long term prospects look to be able to afford this war and what the United States can do.\n\n\u201cHere\u2019s a note, Russia started out spending about 4% of GDP on military endeavors. This budget for the upcoming year will have them spending 6% of GDP on their military. That puts them in the top five in the entire world in terms of the percentage of their economy dedicated to military spending. Note that number one on that list is Ukraine that is spending 33% of its GDP. Thirty-three percent of its GDP on the military.\n\n\u201cBut the IEA projects Russia\u2019s share of globally traded oil is going to fall by 50% by 2030, and their net income from gas sales is going to fall from $75 billion to $30 billion. You're spending already 6% of your GDP, and you have a potentially catastrophic fall coming in oil and gas revenue. That is one of the things, maybe the primary factor that may push Russia to the table to try to drive a conclusion to this conflict. So what can we do as members of Congress? And how can we support your efforts to continue to make it harder for Russia to finance this war? And how much of that is dependent on our allies in India and our adversaries in China making different decisions than they are today? I'll stop there and ask both of you to comment on that quickly.\n\nPYATT: \u201cSo quickly, Senator, thank you for the question. And you're exactly right, in terms of the structural decline in oil and gas revenue that Russia is confronting. We are working as hard as we can to accelerate that trend. We do that through two mechanisms; One is by accelerating our energy transition, both here in the United States but also globally, as the Biden administration has done through the Inflation Reduction Act to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels.\n\n\u201cBut the other aspect of this is what we are doing systematically to reduce Russia's future energy revenue. Just last week, for instance, we leveled new sanctions against a project in the Arctic, Arctic LNG 2, which is Novatech's flagship LNG project, which Novatech set in motion with the aspiration of developing Russia as the largest LNG exporter in the world. Our objective is to kill that project. And we're doing that through our sanctions working with our partners in the G7 and beyond.\n\n\u201cI think the other aspect of this, and it goes back to Senator Shaheen\u2019s point about the Black Sea, is how we work with the countries that have historically depended on Russia and on Russian energy and have been paying into the Kremlin's resources. We have done that quite successfully in Europe. We need to keep focusing on the on the Asian front. We do that through the price cap coalition. And I think it's important also to recognize that the price cap has worked in its dual objectives of reducing the Kremlin's revenues, while also keeping Russian crude oil on global markets in order not to destabilize further a global energy market that the Kremlin has profoundly destabilized. But let me invite Jim to add.\u201d\n\nO\u2019BRIEN: \u201cI completely agree with what Geoff has just said. I'll try to focus a little more on the future here that Russia's losing its lucrative markets. That's what got it rich enough to afford this war. It's losing out in the sectors of innovation that are going to drive economic development in the future.\n\n\u201cSo we look at this and say, \u2018does it put pressure on Putin to get to the table?\u2019 Well, yes, it does. It's going to take a little time. He started the war with $640 billion in a rainy day fund. By the start of this year, despite record profits last year, he was down around $580 billion. We immobilized $300 billion of that, and he spent down further from there. So that gives him a year, two years maybe of run room on that rainy day fund that all came from selling oil and gas. So that's gone.\n\n\u201cThe second thing is that we don't see Russia able to play in the sectors that are going to drive innovation and economic growth in the future. The areas of quantum mechanics, artificial intelligence, the energy transition, including the new nuclear technologies that are coming on board, and Senator Risch, your work on this I really appreciate because Russia entangled countries in these long term networks of corruption, with generation-long ROSATOM contracts. We're now competing for those again and taking those sectors away from Russia. That changes the long term prospect from what it was.\n\n\u201cThe result of all this is we anticipate that Russia's GDP is going to be at least 20% smaller by 2030 than it would be if Putin had not started this war. So it's a long term strategic loss for him, and it creates a great opportunity for us in a number of important sectors.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-delivers-opening-statement-at-hearing-with-meta-whistleblower", "Blumenthal Delivers Opening Statement at Hearing with Meta Whistleblower", "2023-11-07", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, D.C.] \u2013 U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law, delivered opening remarks at a hearing with whistleblower Arturo Bejar, former Director of Engineering for Protect and Care at Facebook:\n\n\u201cWe are gathered today to hear testimony from a whistleblower, an engineer widely respected and admired in the industry, and not just any expert but an engineer hired specifically by Facebook to help protect against harms to children and make recommendations for making Facebook safer,\u201d said Blumenthal in his introduction of Bejar. \u201cWe have known for more than a decade that rates of teens suffering from suicides, hospitalization for self-harm, and depression have skyrocketed. As he knows, these numbers are more than statistics, they are real people, and his daughter is one of them.\u201d\n\n\u201cHe resoundingly raised an alarm about statistics showing Facebook\u2019s prevalent and pernicious harms to teens. Telling Mark Zuckerberg, for example in a memo, that more than half of Facebook users had bad or harmful experience just within the last week,\u201d Blumenthal continued. \u201cInstead of real reform, he will testify that Facebook engaged in a purposeful public strategy of distraction, denial, and deception. They hid from this Committee and all of Congress, evidence of the harms that they knew was credible. And, they ignored and disregarded recommendations for making the site safer, and they even rolled back some of the existing protections.\u201d\n\nEmphasizing the urgent need for Congressional action, Blumenthal said: \u201cWe can no longer rely on social media's mantra, \u2018Trust us.\u2019 We can no longer depend on its\u2019 putting the blame or responsibility on parents. What is needed now is legislative reform. The Kids Online Safety Act. Senator Blackburn and I have enlisted more than 45 of our colleagues, almost half of the United States Senate, in favor of the Kids Online Safety Act.\u201d\n\nVideo of Blumenthal\u2019s opening remarks can be found here. The full transcript of Blumenthal\u2019s opening statement is available below.\n\nU.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT): This hearing of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Technology, Privacy, and the Law will come to order. Thank you everyone for attending. My thanks to Ranking Member Hawley and particularly the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Dick Durbin for giving us this opportunity. And, he is vitally interested in this topic and I will call on him after Senator Hawley for his remarks. We are gathered today to hear testimony from a whistleblower, an engineer widely respected and admired in the industry, and not just any expert but an engineer hired specifically by Facebook to help protect against harms to children and make recommendations for making Facebook safer.\n\nWe have known for more than a decade that rates of teens suffering from suicides, hospitalization for self-harm, and depression have skyrocketed. As he knows, these numbers are more than statistics, they are real people, and his daughter is one of them. Arturo Bejar is the former Director of Engineering for Protect and Care at Facebook, and he will tell us about the evidence he brought directly to the attention of the top management of Facebook and Meta; Mark Zuckerberg, Sheryl Sandberg, and others, in meetings and memos. He resoundingly raised an alarm about statistics showing Facebook\u2019s prevalent and pernicious harms to teens. Telling Mark Zuckerberg, for example in a memo, that more than half of Facebook users had bad or harmful experience just within the last week. Instead of real reform, he will testify that Facebook engaged in a purposeful public strategy of distraction, denial, and deception. They hid from this Committee and all of Congress, evidence of the harms that they knew was credible. And, they ignored and disregarded recommendations for making the site safer, and they even rolled back some of the existing protections.\n\nNow, Mr. Bejar is not the first or the only whistleblower to come forward. We heard from Frances Haugen, who showed that Facebook's own researchers described Instagram itself as a \u201cperfect storm.\u201d And that it, \u201cexacerbates downward spirals of addiction, eating disorders, and depression.\u201d Mr. Bejar is the first to show in documents, not just in his recollection, but in documents how he warned the top management of Facebook and Instagram of the ongoing harms their products were causing.\n\nWe are going to present those documents for the record, and they show, for example, that over a quarter of young teens, 13 to 15 years old report receiving sexual advances on Instagram. Nearly a third of young teens have seen discrimination based on gender, religion, race, and sexual orientation. A quarter of young teens report having been bullied or threatened, and nearly a quarter of young teens report experiencing feeling worse about themselves, about their bodies, and their social relationships. The type of experiences that lead to serious depression and eating disorders, and when users reported harmful content to Facebook, it took action only 2 percent of the time. Remedies only 2 percent of the time.\n\nThere\u2019s a history here. In August of 2021, Senator Blackburn and I wrote to Facebook about the impact of their products on kids. We asked \u201chas Facebook research ever found that its platforms and products can have a negative effect on children's and teens' mental health or well-being?\u201d Facebook refused to answer. In October 2021 Senator Blackburn and I held a hearing. We heard from Frances Haugen about Instagram\u2019s harms. And on that same day, Mr. Bejar sent an email to Mark Zuckerberg, Sheryl Sandberg, Adam Mosseri, and other executives validating Ms. Haugen's testimony. That email actually demonstrated even greater harms than were then public. A chilling and searing indictment of Instagram and Facebook, and I\u2019m going to ask that it be made part of the record without objection. In December of 2021, Mr. Mosseri then testified to the Committee, to our Subcommittee, after he met with Mr. Bejar discussing these numbers and statistics relating to suicide. And during that hearing, a number of us asked him about Facebook promoting suicide. Mr. Mosseri knew, but he did not disclose, that on a weekly basis, around 7 percent of Facebook users overall encounter content promoting suicide and self-harm, with 13 to 15-year-olds seeing it more often than others. There is a pattern here with Facebook. It hides risk by saying things like \u201cbullying and harassment is only .08 percent of content,\u201d when in reality, Meta executives know that 11 percent of those 13 to 15-year-olds face bullying every single week\u2014every single week on Instagram. And, just to be absolutely clear, that\u2019s millions of children and teenagers.\n\nIt is not just a number. Behind every one of those numbers is a real person, a teenager, a child, whose life is changed, maybe forever, by that searing experience of bullying, eating disorder content, suicide promotion. We can no longer rely on social media's mantra, \u201cTrust us.\u201d We can no longer depend on its\u2019 putting the blame or responsibility on parents. What is needed now is legislative reform. The Kids Online Safety Act. Senator Blackburn and I have enlisted more than 45 of our colleagues, almost half of the United States Senate, in favor of the Kids Online Safety Act.\n\nAnd, the final point I would make is, social media in particular, Facebook, still fails to take these threats seriously. This June, the Wall Street Journal found that Instagram was posting open markets for child-abuse material, even recommending pedophiles to each other. Young teens were being extorted and coerced into sexual acts. Instagram was complicit.\n\nMr. Bejar, you provided Mark Zuckerberg, Adam Mosseri, and others in management with specific recommendations to prevent teens from experiencing this unwanted sexual contact and harassment. Those recommendations were never adopted. You have put your career on the line to come forward. An experienced and trusted industry expert, whose job was to make Facebook safer, and your recommendations were purposefully ignored or disregarded or rejected. I\u2019m just going to remind my colleagues that we\u2019ve heard from young people, as well as parents, about these harms, and one of them told me \u201chow many more children have to die before Congress will do something?\u201d That is why we are here today, and I want to thank all of my colleagues who are present. Truly a bipartisan group on behalf of this cause, and I turn to the Ranking Member, Senator Hawley.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-joins-members-of-congress-in-introducing-legislation-to-prevent-bulk-sales-of-ammunition", "Blumenthal Joins Members of Congress in Introducing Legislation to Prevent Bulk Sales of Ammunition", "2023-11-07", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[Hartford, CT] \u2014 U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) joined U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), U.S. Representative Robert Garcia (D-CA) and U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) to introduce the Ammunition Modernization and Monitoring Oversight (AMMO) Act, legislation that would restrict bulk sales of ammunition, require businesses who sell ammunition to obtain the same federal license as gun dealers, and require businesses to conduct a background check on buyers. Additionally, the legislation would apply the same prohibition on straw purchases for ammunition that currently exists for firearms, restricting individuals from purchasing ammunition to then sell illegally to others and requiring data sharing on ammunition sales. Currently, there is essentially no regulation governing the sales of ammunition. Businesses are not required to possess licenses in order to sell ammo and can sell to any buyer, in any quantity, without a background check, and with no recordkeeping or data sharing.\n\n\u201cRegulating ammunition sales is critical to ending the gun violence epidemic. Ammunition sales should be subject to the same legal requirements as firearm sales, including rigorous background checks. This commonsense measure will save lives by cracking down on illegal trafficking of ammunition and making sure it stays out of the hands of dangerous people,\u201d said Senator Blumenthal.\n\n\u201cThe bottom line is no individual should be buying bulk amounts of ammunition without a federal background check from places like gas stations, pharmacies, and convenience stores \u2013 especially without any sort of regulation and no record of the sale,\u201d said Congressman Garcia. \u201cIf we\u2019re ever going to really take on the gun violence epidemic in this country, we need to regulate ammo accessibility. This bill aims to protect the American public from the devastating violence that occurs when individuals have access to unlimited amounts of weaponry.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe have a moral responsibility to treat gun violence in this country like the crisis it is,\u201d said Senator Elizabeth Warren. \u201cThe Ammunition Modernization and Monitoring Oversight (AMMO) Act is a common-sense step to restrict ammunition sales, strengthen federal oversight of those sales, and help end the epidemic of gun violence in America.\u201d\n\n\u201cNo family should endure the pain of losing a loved one to gun violence,\u201d said Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz. \u201cI'm proud to work with Congressman Robert Garcia and Senator Warren to introduce comprehensive legislation closing the ammunition loophole in our gun safety laws. This bill will save lives.\u201d\n\n\u201cRight now, any person can legally purchase tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition in a single transaction with no questions asked, not even a background check. It defies common sense that individuals can amass a huge amount of munitions with more ease than they can stock up on medication for cold and flu season. By limiting ammunition transactions and requiring dealers to obtain licenses and complete background checks on ammunition sales, the AMMO Act will stop the rapid stockpiling of ammunition and prevent ammunition trafficking which is crucial for preventing gun violence in America. Brady thanks Congressman Garcia and Senator Warren for introducing this legislation to help address the unlawful diversion of ammunition to our streets and across our borders with this supply-side approach to prevent gun violence,\u201d said Kris Brown, President of Brady.\n\n\u201cAs the tragedy in Lewiston underscored, delay equals death when it comes to addressing America\u2019s gun violence crisis. We applaud Rep. Garcia for introducing life-saving legislation that would make ammo dealers abide by the same rules as gun dealers, which is the very definition of common sense,\u201d said John Feinblatt, President of Everytown for Gun Safety.\n\nThe bill prohibits bulk sales of ammunition based on the type of ammo. It specifically limits individuals to 100 rounds for .50 caliber ammo, the most deadly, potent military grade, and 1000 rounds for all other ammunition within a 5-day period. The full text of the bill can be found here.\n\nThe AMMO Act is endorsed by Everytown for Gun Safety, Brady, Giffords, March for Our Lives, Community Justice Action Fund, Newtown Action Alliance, National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (NICJR), Voters of Tomorrow, Sandy Hook Promise, Orange Ribbons for Gun Safety, and Guns Down America.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-releases-documents-provided-by-meta-whistleblower", "Blumenthal Releases Documents Provided by Meta Whistleblower", "2023-11-07", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, D.C.] \u2013 U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law, released documents provided by Meta whistleblower Arturo Bejar.\n\nBlumenthal entered the documents into the record during today\u2019s hearing on \u201cSocial Media and the Teen Mental Health Crisis.\u201d\n\nA link to the documents is available here.\n\nToday\u2019s hearing included testimony from former Director of Engineering for Protect and Care at Facebook, Arturo Bejar.\n\nMr. Bejar\u2019s testimony, as prepared for delivery, is available here.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/videoblumenthal-questions-whistleblower-on-meta-executives-failures-to-address-kids-harms-they-knew-and-were-not-acting-on-it", "***Video***Blumenthal Questions Whistleblower on Meta Executives' Failures to Address Kids' Harms: \"They Knew & Were Not Acting on It\"", "2023-11-07", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, D.C.] \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law, questioned whistleblower Arturo Bejar, former Director of Engineering for Protect and Care at Facebook at a hearing titled \u201cSocial Media and the Teen Mental Health Crisis.\u201d Blumenthal discussed with Bejar the concerns and safety recommendations the whistleblower brought directly to Meta executives; their inexcusable failures to address those harms, denial of problems, and dismantling of safety teams; and the need for legislative action to hold Big Tech accountable through the Kids Online Safety Act, legislation Blumenthal co-authored with U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), which currently has nearly 50 cosponsors in the Senate.\n\nRaising the alarm at Meta\n\nBlumenthal questioned Bejar on the concerns he raised directly to Mark Zuckerberg, Adam Mosseri, Chris Cox, and other Meta executives:\n\nBlumenthal: [Y]ou told me a story about meeting with another senior executive, Chris Cox, Facebook's Chief Product Officer. And it was just was so striking to me that he already knew a lot of the numbers and statistics and evidence of harm you were bringing to Mark Zuckerberg's attention. Why was this meeting so memorable to you?\n\nBejar: [\u2026] I would ask people, \u201cdo you know what percentage of people are experiencing this?\u201d and nobody was able to answer off the top of their head. The first person to do that was Chris Cox. And I found it heartbreaking because it meant that they knew and that they were not acting on it.\n\nBlumenthal: In effect, their expressed caring about teens and safety and protecting children was all a charade, a mockery. They already had the evidence that you are bringing to their attention. They knew about it and they disregarded it, correct?\n\nBejar: Yes, that is correct.\n\nBlumenthal: And then they rejected your recommendations for making Facebook and Instagram safer, correct?\n\nBejar: That is correct.\n\nMeta\u2019s Failures to Design a Safer Product\n\nBlumenthal discussed with Bejar a memo he sent to Mosseri, in which he urged the company to view designing a safer product as an opportunity to lead in the space:\n\nBlumenthal: You made the point, \u201cEveryone in the industry has the same problems right now.\u201d\n\nBejar: Correct.\n\nBlumenthal: You made that point to Mr. Mosseri, and, in effect, urged Meta to be a leader. Instagram and Facebook could be a leader. And, you said \u201cThere is a great product opportunity in figuring out the features that make a community feel safe and supported.\u201d A great product opportunity. In fact, you were inviting them to design a better product that consumers would prefer because it was safer. Correct?\n\nBejar: Correct.\n\n\u2026\n\nBlumenthal: You were appealing to the better instincts of Adam Mosseri and Zuckerberg and the whole team, correct?\n\nBejar: That is correct. I mean, Instagram is a product, like ice cream or a toy or a car. I ask you, how many kids need to get sick from a batch of ice cream or be hurt by a car before there are all manners of investigations?\n\nNeed for Congressional Action & Passing the Kids Online Safety Act\n\nBlumenthal discussed with Bejar the need for Congressional action in light of Meta and other social media companies\u2019 failures to address harms to kids online:\n\nBlumenthal: Do you think that we, the Congress of the United States, should now act? Do you think action is long overdue in this area given the total lack of credibility on the part of social media?\n\nBejar: Yes. My experience after sending that email and seeing what happened afterwards is that they knew. There are things they could do about it. They chose not to do them, and we cannot trust them with our children, and it is time for Congress to act. The evidence I believe is overwhelming.\n\nBlumenthal: Big Tech is the next Big Tobacco\u2026The same kind of addictive product that Big Tobacco peddled to kids, now is advanced to them and promoted and pitched by Big Tech, and we need to break the straitjacket they have imposed through their armies of lobbyists and lawyers.\n\n\u2026\n\nBlumenthal: I am very hopeful we will have not only a vote, but an overwhelmingly positive bipartisan vote in favor of the Kids Online Safety bill. And, I challenge social media and Big Tech to come forward and put your money where your mouth is. Put your actions where your rhetoric is. Support this bill.\n\nFor years, in fact, before our committees, they have said, \u201coh, we want regulation, but just not that regulation.\u201d And, that has been their mantra\u2014 \u201ctrust us.\u201d\n\nNo longer will kids or parents trust social media to impose the right safeguards. And, we want to give them the tools that their products need so the kids can take back their lives online.\n\nVideo of Blumenthal\u2019s questions and comments at the hearing can be found here, here, here, and here.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-on-us-v-rahimi-70-women-are-dying-every-month-at-the-hands-of-an-intimate-partner-we-cannot-let-the-supreme-court-arm-abusers", "Murphy on U.S. v. Rahimi: 70 Women Are Dying Every Month at the Hands of an Intimate Partner, We Cannot Let the Supreme Court Arm Abusers", "2023-11-07", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013As oral arguments in U.S. v. Rahimi (Rahimi) began today, U.S Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) spoke on the U.S. Senate floor to call attention the stakes of this case and what it would mean if the Supreme Court sides with Rahimi and overturns commonsense, popular legislation to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers.\n\nToday, the Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments in Rahimi, a case which could impact whether domestic abusers subject to protection orders have a right to own a gun. Zackey Rahimi was a drug dealer with a history of armed violence towards intimate partners and a history of firing guns in public places. In the winter of 2019, Rahimi had an argument with his girlfriend in a parking lot and when she tried to leave, he grabbed her wrist, knocked her to the ground, threw her into his vehicle, and caused her to hit her head. Upon realizing that a person witnessed the assault, Rahimi retrieved a gun and fired a shot, during which, his girlfriend escaped. After the assault, Rahimi called her and threatened to shoot her if she disclosed the assault. In the spring of 2020, Rahimi was the subject of a restraining order, valid for two years. The court found that Rahimi had committed family violence, that such violence was likely to occur again, and prohibited him from possessing a firearm. He violated the protective order multiple times, in addition to threatening another woman with a gun and participating in five shootings in public places.\n\nMurphy laid out the harrowing scope of domestic abuse in the United States: \u201cI wish this were not true \u2013 it\u2019s true in the United States and nowhere else \u2013 but on average, 70 women across this country are killed each month by a husband or partner. A husband or a boyfriend mostly. And most all of those murders are at the hands of a perpetrator with a firearm. In the United States, women are 21 times more likely to be killed by a gun than women living in any other high income nation. I get that the numbers that we throw round when talking about the gun violence epidemic sometimes can get a little numbing and overwhelming, but that's a really damning, unconscionable statistic.\u201d\n\nMurphy highlighted progress made in last year\u2019s Bipartisan Safer Communities Act: \u201cWe made progress last year because Republicans and Democrats came together and said 'you shouldn't be able to have a gun anywhere in this country if you have a judicial history, if you have a conviction related to domestic violence.' And so, we changed the law. We eliminated something called the 'boyfriend loophole' so that whether you are a spouse or an intimate partner or a dating partner, you now can\u2019t get your hands on a weapon, you can't buy one, you can't have a weapon, if you have been convicted of a domestic violence charge. That was good news. And the reason that we did that, despite the fact that the gun lobby opposed it, is because the American public have just made up their mind on this question. Now in general, on most questions about keeping dangerous weapons away from dangerous people, 80-90% of Americans have already decided that they just would rather we err on the side of caution.\u201d\n\n\u201cBut here's the problem with the state of American politics today. There are now two legislative lawmaking bodies. One of them is the United States Congress. The other is across the street at the Supreme Court,\u201d Murphy said. \u201cAnd so over and over again when an industry or a right wing interest group can't move the laws of Congress in their favor because the American public is so wildly against their priority, they just shift the venue of the fight across the street to the Supreme Court. And that is what is happening right now as we speak on this question of keeping guns away from domestic abusers.\u201d\n\nOn the implications of U.S. v. Rahimi, Murphy said: \u201cIf this case is decided in his favor, it is not just an outrage, it is not just dangerous, it is a frontal assault on democracy. Because what it would say is that the Supreme Court, not the United States Congress, not the elected branch of government, is going to micromanage the decisions as to who can have a gun and who can't have a gun. They will decide who's dangerous and who's not dangerous. And that should make you really nervous if the outcome of this case is to decide that Zackey Rahimi is a responsible individual capable of owning and possessing more weapons.\u201d\n\nMurphy concluded: \u201c[T]his country needs to understand the gravity of the decision that is being made and the wholesale shift that will occur in legislating on the question of gun safety. If Rahimi wins this case, we're no longer in charge. The Supreme Court will now, on a case by case basis, decide who can have a gun and who can\u2019t. Frankly, that's bad for progressives and supporters of gun violence [prevention]. That's bad for conservatives as well. Because once the Supreme Court gets in the business of that kind of micromanaging, we are all out of jobs. We'll just show up to work, punch our clock, but have really nothing to do because they ultimately will pull the strings they will substitute themselves as the new governing, policymaking body in this country. And with the stakes so high for women's safety in this country, with 70 women dying every month at the hands of an intimate partner, we cannot let that happen.\u201d\n\nA full transcript of his remarks can be found below:\n\n\u201cMr. President, I wish this were not true \u2013 it\u2019s true in the United States and nowhere else \u2013 but on average, 70 women across this country are killed each month by a husband or partner. A Husband or a boyfriend mostly. And most all of those murders are at the hands of a perpetrator with a firearm.\n\n\u201cIn the United States, women are 21 times more likely to be killed by a gun than women living in any other high income nation. I get that the numbers that we throw round when talking about the gun violence epidemic sometimes can get a little numbing and overwhelming, but that's a really damning, unconscionable statistic.\n\n\u201cYou live in America as a woman \u2013 the most affluent, most powerful country in the world \u2013 you are not twice as likely to die as women in other countries at the hands of a firearm. You're not five times more likely. You're not 10 times more likely. You are 21 times more likely living in the United States of America to die from a gunshot wound as a woman than women living in any other high income country. I'm not talking about comparing the United States to some war ravaged, developing nation in the middle of civil conflict. I'm talking about comparing the United States to other peer nations. That's unacceptable.\n\n\u201cAnd we made progress last year. We made progress last year because Republicans and Democrats came together and said 'you shouldn't be able to have a gun anywhere in this country if you have a judicial history, if you have a conviction related to domestic violence.' And so, we changed the law. We eliminated something called the 'boyfriend loophole' so that whether you are a spouse or an intimate partner or a dating partner, you now can\u2019t get your hands on a weapon, you can't buy one, you can't have a weapon, if you have been convicted of a domestic violence charge.\n\n\u201cThat was good news. And the reason that we did that, despite the fact that the gun lobby opposed it, is because the American public have just made up their mind on this question. Now in general, on most questions about keeping dangerous weapons away from dangerous people, 80-90% of Americans have already decided that they just would rather we err on the side of caution.\n\n\u201cSpecifically, on this question of prohibiting abusers, domestic abusers, from owning guns: 83% of Americans support that. It's really hard to get 83% of Americans to support a thing in this country. This is maybe the most popular public policy intervention in America today \u2013 stopping domestic abusers from getting firearms.\n\n\u201cAnd so, the gun lobby and the gun industry, which wants to sell weapons to everybody regardless of their criminal status, cannot win that fight here In the United States Senate. They lost that fight last year because the American public have made up their mind. You are likely not getting reelected to Congress from a swing state or a swing district if you are voting against measures to take guns away from domestic abusers.\n\n\u201cBut here's the problem with the state of American politics today. There are now two legislative lawmaking bodies. One of them is the United States Congress. The other is across the street at the Supreme Court. And so over and over again when an industry or a right wing interest group can't move the laws of Congress in their favor because the American public is so wildly against their priority, they just shift the venue of the fight across the street to the Supreme Court. And that is what is happening right now as we speak on this question of keeping guns away from domestic abusers.\n\n\u201cToday, the Supreme Court is hearing the case of United States v. Rahimi. Let me tell you a little bit about Zackey Rahimi. He was a drug dealer. With a history of armed violence towards intimate partners and a history of firing guns in public places. In the winter of 2019, Rahimi had an argument with his girlfriend in a parking lot. She tried to walk away from that argument knowing about his penchant for violence. But he grabbed her wrist, he knocked her to the ground. He then dragged her back to the car, picking her up and throwing her into the vehicle, causing her to hit her head on the side of the vehicle. Upon realizing that a person witnessed the assault where he retrieved a gun and fired a shot into the air during which time his girlfriend escaped.\n\n\u201cIt won't surprise you that his girlfriend went and got a restraining order against him. He was vicious and violent, firing guns in public into the air as a means to threaten her. She went and got a restraining order. That restraining order required Rahimi to be noticed to the criminal background check system so that he couldn't own or buy guns.\n\n\u201c83% of Americans think that's a great idea. Somebody with that kind of dangerous history with an active restraining order against them should not be able to buy a gun or possess guns. That was the law in Texas at the time. It worked for this woman who is being badly abused, and her life was unquestionably under threat.\n\n\u201cRahimi thinks that he should have the guns. He thinks that notwithstanding his long criminal history, the restraining order, that the Constitution requires him, a domestic abuser, to have weapons. And so he has brought a case that has reached the Supreme Court asking to invalidate all laws that keep weapons away from domestic abusers who are subject of restraining orders.\n\n\u201cIf this case is decided in his favor, it is not just an outrage, it is not just dangerous, it is a frontal assault on democracy. Because what it would say is that the Supreme Court, not the United States Congress, not the elected branch of government, is going to micromanage the decisions as to who can have a gun and who can't have a gun. They will decide who's dangerous and who's not dangerous. And that should make you really nervous if the outcome of this case is to decide that Zackey Rahimi is a responsible individual capable of owning and possessing more weapons.\n\n\u201cLater in that year, Rahimi threatened another woman with a gun, which resulted that time in a charge of aggravated assault. Rahimi then participated in five separate shootings \u2013 five separate shootings \u2013 all of which result were in public places. Rahimi was arrested, convicted of possessing a firearm, and he was ultimately sentenced for these crimes for a long time in jail.\n\n\u201cSo restraining orders are designed to look at someone, assess their penchant for violence, and then take guns away from them to protect a spouse or a woman or a girlfriend. Rahimi was violent. He was wildly violent after the restraining order. This is exactly who the law in Texas is designed to protect us from. And yet we are perhaps weeks away from the Supreme Court, invalidating that law, invalidating Connecticut's law, invalidating Georgia\u2019s laws, so that domestic abusers with histories of vicious assault can get their hands back on weapons.\n\n\u201cBut this should come as no surprise to Americans because we have won this fight \u2013 this fight to start moving the laws of this country towards common sense. We want people have a right to own firearms. I believe in the Second Amendment. I believe the Second Amendment protects the right to private gun ownership. I do. But I think that there's a class of individuals, a pretty small class of individuals, who have demonstrated so clearly that they are so dangerous and so irresponsible firearms that they should not have them. It is a small class of individuals. But Zackey Rahimi is clearly in that class, and the idea that we are weeks away from somebody like him being able to get gun again should shake this country to its foundation.\n\n\u201cMaybe the Supreme Court listens to America, maybe they don't. But this country needs to understand the gravity of the decision that is being made and the wholesale shift that will occur in legislating on the question of gun safety.\n\n\u201cIf Rahimi wins this case, we're no longer in charge. The Supreme Court will now on a case by case basis decide who can have a gun and who can\u2019t. Frankly, that's bad for progressives and supporters of gun violence [prevention]. That's bad for conservatives as well. Because once the Supreme Court gets in the business of that kind of micromanaging, we are all out of jobs. We'll just show up to work, punch our clock, but have really nothing to do because they ultimately will pull the strings they will substitute themselves as the new governing, policymaking body in this country.\n\n\u201cAnd with the stakes so high for women's safety in this country, with 70 women dying every month at the hands of an intimate partner, we cannot let that happen. We cannot let that happen.\n\n\u201cI yield the floor.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/vanity-fair-chris-murphy-wants-to-make-america-a-little-less-lonely", "Vanity Fair: Chris Murphy Wants to Make America a Little Less Lonely", "2023-11-07", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Vanity Fair: Chris Murphy Wants to Make America a Little Less Lonely\n\nBy Eric Lutz\n\nNovember 7, 2023\n\n[\u2026] \u201cThere are just real practical impacts to people feeling lonely and disconnected,\u201d Murphy told the crowd of community leaders. \u201cPolitical instability and polarization is driven by people feeling upset and angry when they can\u2019t find positive connection and they go find it in darker, more dangerous places. But I think as I get older, and I get deeper into this job, I just have come to the conclusion that it\u2019s not good enough for me just to kind of adjust the dials of public policy, and as a policymaker I have to step back and ask questions about how people are feeling.\u201d\n\nIf you know Murphy, it\u2019s probably as Capitol Hill\u2019s conscience amid this country\u2019s never-ending plague of gun violence. The guy giving impassioned Senate floor speeches calling on his colleagues to offer more than \u201cthoughts and prayers\u201d to the victims of the latest mass shooting. The guy who, after the Uvalde, Texas, massacre last year, pulled off what might count as a political miracle in this era of profound polarization: the passage of a bipartisan gun safety bill, the most significant such legislation in three decades.\n\nBut Murphy, who was turning 50 that day in Boone, has lately become as passionate about the nation\u2019s need for what he calls a \u201cspiritual renaissance\u201d as he is about his signature issue. He hasn\u2019t abandoned that long-standing fight for a new one; he\u2019s significantly expanded the scope of it. \u201cYou can\u2019t spend 10 years thinking about violence in America,\u201d he had told me a month earlier, in his hideaway office, where he had hashed out much of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, \u201cwithout trying to grapple with the underlying emotional state of a country in which people shoot first and think later.\u201d\n\nThe country appeared to him to be sickened somehow\u2014in the throes of an amorphous ailment manifesting all across our culture and politics. And while the right was offering snake-oil cures, pushed by the most dangerous political huckster in recent American history, it seemed to Murphy that the left was treating the symptoms and ignoring the disease entirely. Worse yet, the malady was threatening to metastasize: Donald Trump was running to reclaim the White House on an explicitly authoritarian platform with help from the Republican allies whose politics of division had contributed to this national disorder. It had become Murphy\u2019s mission, as he put it, to \u201cdiagnose and treat the metaphysical state of America.\u201d\n\nIt\u2019s a big task, one not typically in the job description of a senator. It is also, by his own admission, politically fraught, and his efforts have already been met in some corners with resistance: In July, when he introduced the National Strategy for Social Connection Act\u2014a bill that would, among other things, establish an \u201cOffice of Social Connection Policy\u201d in the White House\u2014the right cast Murphy as a big-government liberal working to mandate friendship through bureaucracy. There was also some suspicion from progressives, who bristled at the outreach to conservatives he considered necessary to his project.\n\nHe is convinced there is a growing \u201crealignment\u201d across the right and left around questions of \u201cfirst principles, the good life,\u201d hints of which can be seen in the skepticism of Big Tech and neoliberalism that has been brewing on different sides of the political spectrum. He was taking something of a political trust fall\u2014and had come to Boone not only in search of solutions, but to begin building a grassroots consensus around loneliness and disillusionment. \u201cSome of what I\u2019m doing is unfamiliar,\u201d he admitted. \u201cWhat I\u2019m trying to do is a little bit outside of the traditional sandbox that we tend to play in.\u201d\n\n[\u2026] There have been decisions by governments that have caused our social fabric to disintegrate,\u201d Murphy told me later, describing more systemic issues weighing on the nation\u2019s psyche. \u201cAnd I think people on the right and the left are really unhappy with that.\u201d\n\nHe had come to this conclusion about a year earlier, not long after the biggest legislative victory of his career. The movement he had arguably been the congressional face of since the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting\u2014which occurred in the Connecticut district he then represented in Congress\u2014had broken a three-decade logjam. The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, and several other Democratic accomplishments in the first stretch of Joe Biden\u2019s presidency, should have been a major cause for celebration. \u201cAnd yet, people weren\u2019t feeling any better,\u201d Murphy recalled. \u201cThe national mood seemed very stuck.\u201d\n\nThe symptoms of that malaise seemed especially acute to him in the lives of kids, who he had seen \u201cdisappearing into their phones\u2026being co-opted by this all-consuming consumer culture.\u201d They seem to \u201cfeel the weight of the world on their shoulders and have less sort of optimism and hope than my generation did,\u201d Murphy told me. \u201cIt\u2019s not a coincidence that I\u2019m thinking a lot more about the emotional health of the country as my kids get closer to adulthood,\u201d he added. \u201cI\u2019m worried about the world that they are walking into.\u201d\n\n[\u2026] \u201cHe was really a backbencher in Congress,\u201d said Gary Rose, a professor of political science at Sacred Heart University who wrote a book on the 2012 Senate race, in which Murphy defeated former WWE CEO Linda McMahon. \u201cHe was not considered a major force.\u201d\n\nSandy Hook changed that. \u201cMy life took a hard about-face,\u201d Murphy wrote in his 2020 book, The Violence Inside Us. \u201cI now had my calling\u2026my mission in life.\u201d He would spend the next decade in the Senate fighting the formidable gun lobby and helping build a movement that is starting to prove equally formidable.\n\n\u201cHe was an extraordinary quarterback,\u201d Senator Cory Booker, one of his closest friends in the Senate, told me. \u201cHe was just a Joe Montana\u2013type tactician working the ball down the field and did something a lot of people can\u2019t speak to as a senator, which is putting points on the board.\u201d Or maybe he was more like a hockey player, with a \u201creal ability to see around corners and see ahead for where the puck is going, not where it is right now,\u201d as Senator Richard Blumenthal, his fellow Nutmegger, described him. Or perhaps more of a point guard? \u201cHe\u2019s been amazing to watch,\u201d says Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, an admirer of Murphy\u2019s who told me his own gun safety activism\u2014which included an impassioned pregame speech after Uvalde\u2014has been inspired by the Connecticut senator. \u201cI think the hope is that we are going to tip the scales as a country, where we can actually get a group of like-minded government officials to make some real change.\u201d\n\nOf course, Murphy remains committed to that change. He\u2019s still in regular contact with grassroots leaders, as well as the Sandy Hook families he met in the immediate aftermath of that tragedy\u2014some of whom he counts among his closest friends. \u201cHe is just as dedicated, just as smart, just as compassionate, just as genuine as the Chris Murphy you see in the United States Senate,\u201d said Mark Barden, whose seven-year-old son, Daniel, was killed at Sandy Hook. \u201cHe just seems like one of the most genuine politicians I\u2019ve ever met,\u201d said Sari Kaufman, a Parkland survivor who was an intern in Murphy\u2019s office at the time of the Uvalde shooting and describes the senator as a personal hero. \u201cIt\u2019s like knowing that you have a teammate in the most important place you can have one.\u201d\n\nBut his political identity is evolving. The success of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act lent him a new degree of political capital, earned him credibility with some Republicans, and has made the senator a key surrogate for Biden\u2019s reelection campaign. The president worked closely with Murphy on the legislation, appearing with him at a June summit the senator hosted in Hartford commemorating the one-year anniversary of its enactment. Murphy is a \u201cnational leader,\u201d Minnesota attorney general Keith Ellison, who served in Congress with Murphy, told me on the sidelines of the Safer Communities Summit in June. \u201cThis guy has it all.\u201d\n\n[\u2026] For the most part, his bill to address social isolation\u2014which, as Jillian Racoosin, executive director of the Coalition to End Social Isolation and Loneliness, said was unprecedented in the United States in its scope\u2014was well-received save for some mockery from the online right. \u201cSenator Murphy\u2019s proposal is an important and needed policy step forward,\u201d Laurie Santos, a professor of psychology at Yale University and host of the popular Happiness Lab podcast, told me. \u201cWe need more leaders in government like Senator Murphy, who recognize just how common and consequential loneliness is and recognize that there is a role for government in helping support communities and building stronger connections,\u201d echoed Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, whose May advisory on loneliness helped form the framework for Murphy\u2019s legislation.\n\nClick here to read the full story.\n\nThis summer, Murphy introduced the National Strategy for Social Connection Act, legislation to combat America\u2019s epidemic of loneliness and promote social connection in our communities. Earlier this year, Murphy co-wrote an op-ed in the Daily Beast with Ian Marcus Corbin, a philosopher at Harvard Medical School and a Senior Fellow at the think tank Capita, to call for a spiritual renaissance in American politics. In April, Murphy also authored an op-ed in TIME with Richard Weissbourd, a Senior Lecturer and the faculty director of the Making Caring Common Project at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, on how America\u2019s obsession with individual success has come at the expense of our sense of community and the collective good. Murphy first outlined the politics of loneliness in a piece for the Bulwark last year.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/connecticut-congressional-delegation-governor-lamont-announce-nearly-2-billion-from-bipartisan-infrastructure-law-for-rail-projects-across-the-state", "Connecticut Congressional Delegation, Governor Lamont Announce Nearly $2 Billion From Bipartisan Infrastructure Law For Rail Projects Across The State", "2023-11-06", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "HARTFORD\u2013U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), U.S. Representatives John Larson (D-Conn.-01), Joe Courtney (D-Conn.-02), Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.-03), Jim Himes (D-Conn.-04), and Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.-5), and Governor Ned Lamont on Monday announced the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has selected 10 projects in Connecticut for a total of nearly $2 billion in federal funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The grants are funded through the Northeast Corridor (NEC) Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program, which received an increase of $24 billion thanks to the IIJA.\n\n\u201cWhen Congress was writing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, my number one priority was making sure any legislation we passed made long-term, historic investments in modernizing the Northeast Corridor. I\u2019m thrilled that Connecticut is receiving $2 billion in federal funding to make our rail system faster, safer, and more advanced. Investing in the future of rail in Connecticut is a no-brainer \u2013 it makes life easier for travelers and commuters, boosts economic growth, creates good-paying jobs, and helps fight the climate crisis. I will always be a champion for the NEC in Washington,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n\u201cThis massive, history-making rail money\u2014 a federal $2 billion investment\u2014 means faster train trips and more good-paying construction jobs for Connecticut. It will be strikingly visible and impactful in our everyday lives\u2014 replacing aged bridges and unsteady tracks, vastly enhancing safety and reliability, promoting more on time, affordable travel. It will empower a transportation transformation, bringing our rail system into the 21st century. Federal investment in our crumbling infrastructure is long overdue, and I\u2019m thrilled that our delegation has fought hard and successfully for dollars our state needs and deserves,\u201d said Blumenthal.\n\n\u201cThe Hartford Line unites the cities of Springfield, Hartford, and New Haven via passenger rail, expanding transit connections and economic opportunity for residents and businesses across our \u2018Knowledge Corridor,\u2019\u201d said Larson. \u201cI am thrilled to announce record infrastructure funding the Connecticut delegation secured for track repairs and expansions across the Northeast Corridor, including more than $100 million dedicated to Hartford Line improvements. These investments will support more frequent and reliable passenger rail service to better connect residents across the region.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis long overdue transformational grant for the Connecticut River Bridge comes after a determination in 2006 that the bridge was \u2018structurally deficient\u2019 and repair work was no longer capable of keeping it functional. Despite chronic underfunding of Amtrak\u2019s capital accounts, I have worked with my colleagues in the Connecticut delegation since 2007 to secure initial funding of $130.4 million for design and planning of this project,\u201d said Courtney. \u201cToday\u2019s announcement of an additional $826 million federal grant ensures that the entire construction phase will be fully funded, and not delayed any more by incremental piecemeal grants. This development will provide a stable horizon for contractors to acquire materials and workforce, and is a testament to the importance of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed in 2021 that provided a historic level of resources to Amtrak. Make no mistake \u2013 this monumental investment was only possible because of this law. When this new bridge is finished, rail traffic will be safer and faster, for passengers on the Northeast Corridor-Acela Express, Northeast Regional, and Shoreline East, as well as freight traffic. It is a generational investment for the most heavily traveled rail system in America that will pay dividends for decades to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud to join Governor Lamont today to celebrate the bold investment of $2 billion in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding across the state of Connecticut,\u201d said DeLauro. \u201cThese upgrades being announced today will ensure that rail infrastructure will continue to be recognized as a critical component in statewide and regional transportation. When I was Chair of the House Appropriations Committee I helped pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act so government could enhance accessibility, mobility, and the customer experience for thousands of New Haven County residents who use this mode of transportation every day. When we invest in our public transit system, we ensure that everyone has access to opportunity which is vital in amplifying economic activity along Connecticut\u2019s shoreline.\u201d\n\n\u201cAfter years in Congress fighting for federal money to upgrade and replace Norwalk\u2019s Walk Bridge and the Westport Saugatuck River Bridge, I am elated to have helped secure nearly $500 million to bring these projects across the finish line. I spend much of my time as a Representative thinking about how to modernize the rail systems and bridges in our community, but the best part about receiving a grant like this is knowing that eventually my constituents won\u2019t have to think about infrastructure at all. Rather than stressing about traffic delays or train disruptions, commuters will be free to think about that big project at work, an upcoming homework assignment, or whatever else matters most in their lives. Today is one of those moments when we get to celebrate real progress that will make a difference for the next hundred years,\u201d said Himes.\n\n\"The monumental investments of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) continue to truly impact the day-to-day life of residents across the state. This time it\u2019s $2 billion for Connecticut rail and bridge projects to connect more communities. Great to see the IIJA transform our state through improved infrastructure and good-paying jobs,\u201d said Hayes.\n\n\u201cPresident Biden\u2019s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continues delivering for Connecticut and the entire region. The Northeast Corridor is the busiest rail line in the nation, and improvements here mean more jobs, continued economic growth, and improved quality of life. Many of our railroad bridges are more than 100 years old, and this major investment of funding ensures that trains can operate with higher speeds and fewer disruptions well into the future. I applaud and thank President Biden and the members of Connecticut\u2019s Congressional delegation for working with our administration to secure this funding for our state,\u201d said Lamont.\n\n\u201cThis grant funding helps address a backlog of major projects and improvements that will help enhance the safety and reliability of rail service, offer operational flexibility, and provide for increased capacity, speed, and efficiencies of rail transportation along the entire Northeast Corridor. Thank you to the FRA for supporting these projects, our Congressional delegation for passing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and thank you to the Governor and state legislature for ensuring we had the matching funds ready to go with our grant applications,\u201d said Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto.\n\nConnecticut will receive a total of $1,998,799,600 in funding for 10 projects, including:\n\n$826.65m for the Connecticut River Bridge Replacement Project\n\nThis project includes construction to replace the existing 116-year-old Connecticut River bridge between Old Saybrook and Old Lyme, CT, with a modern and resilient new moveable bridge immediately to the south of the existing structure. The bridge serves the NEC main line as well as Amtrak\u2019s intercity services, Connecticut Shore Line East commuter service, and freight operators.\n\n$465m for the WALK Bridge Replacement Project\n\nThis project will replace the existing deteriorated bridge with a resilient bridge structure to improve safety and reliability of rail service along the New Haven Line and NEC, while improving navigational capacity and dependability for marine traffic in the Norwalk River.\n\n$245.92m for the Devon Bridge Replacement Project\n\nThis project will provide a safe and reliable bridge crossing for rail over the river and marine navigation under the rail. The Devon Bridge serves as a critical transportation link between Stamford and New Haven on MNR\u2019s New Haven Line and between New York and Boston on Amtrak\u2019s NEC and carries 6,300 passengers every day\n\n$122.8m for the New Haven Line Power Improvement Program\n\nThis project is a phased approach to replace power equipment across three areas of the New Haven Line Power System, including replacement of two signal substations, two balancing substations, and power apparatus at three supply substations.\n\n$119.32m for Devon Bridge Interim Repairs\n\nThis project will ensure the bridge can be structurally reliable until a major rehabilitation or replacement can occur as described in the Devon Bridge Replacement description above.\n\n$104.87m for the Hartford Line Rail Program Double Track Phase 3B Project\n\nThis project will improve three single-track sections (totaling approximately 6.2 miles of track improvements) to double track sections to increase the frequency and speed of passenger rail service and to address the intercity transportation needs of Connecticut, Central Massachusetts, Boston, and Vermont.\n\n$71.65m for the New Haven Line Track Improvement and Mobility Enhancement Part 1 and 3\n\nThis project includes project development and final design for track improvements between mileposts 56.8 and 60.1 on the New Haven Line in Connecticut as well as reconstruction of seven rail overpass bridges and upgrade of all tracks to FRA Class 6 standards, track realignments, installation of a new interlocking, replacement of catenary system components, and railbed drainage improvements\n\n$23.2m for the Saugatuck River Bridge Replacement\n\nThis project will replace the bascule bridge which carries four railroad tracks over the Saugatuck River in Westport, CT, which will improve safety and allow increases to the maximum authorized speed through this section of track.\n\n$15.4m for the New Haven Line Network Infrastructure Upgrade Project\n\nThis project will provide security infrastructure upgrades at stations throughout Metro-North Railroad territory and at Cos Cob bridge and network connectivity at 60 locations by connecting them into the 144-fiber optic back bone.\n\n$4m for the New Haven to Providence Capacity Planning Study\n\nThis project is a planning study for future infrastructure, speed, and capacity improvement options between New Haven, CT and Providence, RI.\n\nThe total NEC Fed-State Partnership investment in Connecticut is more than $1.9 billion and will be supported by nearly $400 million in state funding that Governor Lamont and members of the State Bond Commission voted to approve in October.\n\nIn addition to the $1.1 billion received by CTDOT in this round of grants, the FRA has also provided a Letter of Intent committing upwards of $2 billion for the future construction of the Devon Bridge Replacement Project.\n\nThe U.S. Department of Transportation\u2019s (DOT) Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grant Program funds capital projects that reduce the state of good repair backlog, improve performance, or expand or establish new intercity passenger rail service, including privately operated intercity passenger rail service.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/icymi-politico-i-care-about-it-sen-chris-murphys-battle-against-loneliness", "ICYMI: Politico: 'I care about it\u2019: Sen. Chris Murphy\u2019s battle against loneliness", "2023-11-06", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Politico: \u2018I care about it\u2019: Sen. Chris Murphy\u2019s battle against loneliness\n\nBy Erin Schumaker\n\nNovember 5, 2023\n\nHARTFORD, Conn. \u2014 Sen. Chris Murphy looks at us and doesn\u2019t like what he sees.\n\nWe don\u2019t get out enough and it\u2019s no wonder considering the amount of time we spend on our phones. We haven\u2019t gotten back to our pre-pandemic social routines and it shows: While 1 in 2 Americans reported being lonely prior to 2020, Covid turbocharged the problem.\n\nThe Connecticut Democrat calls loneliness \u201cone of the most important political issues of our time\u201d and he\u2019s at the head of an unspoken alliance of policymakers who see it as a key post-pandemic public health issue. The surgeon general, a Republican House member from small-town Nebraska, and the GOP governor of Utah are among those on a mission to help us reconnect.\n\nThey admit there\u2019s no quick fix, so they are batting around ideas, from funding community groups to regulating social media, as they grapple with how government can help us break out of our malaise.\n\n\u201cI care about it,\u201d Murphy said. \u201cAnd I\u2019m willing to spend the time to try to understand it.\u201d\n\nThis year, Murphy\u2019s written op-eds on isolation and technology. He\u2019s held roundtables. In July, he introduced legislation with fellow Democrat Tina Smith of Minnesota laying out a government strategy to advance social connection, proposing a White House office, an advisory council, and $5 million in research funding.\n\n[\u2026] Murphy explained his philosophy during a two-mile stroll through the business district and decaying south end of his hometown, the state capital, Hartford. He walked along the overgrown sidewalk dotted with Red Stripe beer bottles and talked with anyone on his route about their day-to-day problems, such as being unable to afford housing and needing better jobs.\n\nUnshaven and outfitted in athletic gear for his annual walk across his state, Murphy was emphatic that despite being an imperfect messenger, he felt compelled to lead.\n\n\u201cWhat the government is supposed to do is create the rules of the economy and society, which makes it easier for us all to live happier, healthier, fuller lives,\u201d he said.\n\n[\u2026]Lawmakers need to back up and figure out what\u2019s going on, he said.\n\nA hint came when he published an op-ed on loneliness on the conservative news site The Bulwark last year and got more positive feedback in Connecticut than anything he\u2019d ever written on foreign policy, guns or health care. It made him question his approach as a lawmaker. \u201cIt was a language they understood. Their kids are lonely. They\u2019re feeling lonely,\u201d he told a forum on building connected communities at Harvard in October.\n\nAs Murphy sees it, Americans feel exhausted and overwhelmed. They\u2019re working longer and can\u2019t disconnect from their jobs. They have fewer friends and it\u2019s harder to carve out time for those they do have. They\u2019re exhausted by how fast technology is evolving and the unforeseen mental health impacts of social media, leaving them \u2014 and their kids \u2014 vulnerable.\n\nHe sees an opportunity for bipartisan work in that shared reality.\n\nMurphy\u2019s first attempt at loneliness policy, the \u201cNational Strategy for Social Connection Act,\u201d was born out of those realizations. The bill calls for creating an office of social connection, with a director who would advise the president and create a national strategy combining public health, technology and social infrastructure to foster social connection. An advisory council with members from the departments of Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Labor, Veterans Affairs, Education, Commerce and other agencies would help assess and implement the plan.\n\n[\u2026] \u201cHe and I can make a pretty good team on this,\u201d Murphy said of Murthy, explaining that there\u2019s also a limit to what the surgeon general can do. \u201cHe can\u2019t go out and build a political coalition. He can\u2019t do hand-to-hand combat inside the Congress.\u201d\n\nThere, Murphy sees a need for more social media regulation, economic policy to provide more free time and direct support for the types of social organizations people used to belong to in droves.\n\nWhile he expects difficulty in directing money to barber shops or bowling alleys, he sees growing consensus around regulating social media.\n\nOn that, Murphy has proposed a bipartisan bill with Sens. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Katie Britt (R-Ala.) to regulate teenagers\u2019 access to Facebook, TikTok and other sites, and ban kids younger than 13 from the platforms.\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s no question that it\u2019s not too late to properly regulate social media,\u201d Murphy said. \u201cWe haven\u2019t tried.\u201d\n\nClick here to read the full story.\n\nThis summer, Murphy introduced the National Strategy for Social Connection Act, legislation to combat America\u2019s epidemic of loneliness and promote social connection in our communities. Earlier this year, Murphy co-wrote an op-ed in the Daily Beast with Ian Marcus Corbin, a philosopher at Harvard Medical School and a Senior Fellow at the think tank Capita, to call for a spiritual renaissance in American politics. In April, Murphy also authored an op-ed in TIME with Richard Weissbourd, a Senior Lecturer and the faculty director of the Making Caring Common Project at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, on how America\u2019s obsession with individual success has come at the expense of our sense of community and the collective good. Murphy first outlined the politics of loneliness in a piece for the Bulwark last year.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-and-blackburn-statement-on-facebook-whistleblower-disclosures", "Blumenthal & Blackburn Statement on Facebook Whistleblower Disclosures", "2023-11-03", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, D.C.] \u2013 U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), lead sponsors of the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act, issued the following joint statement on the disclosures made by Facebook whistleblower Arturo Bejar. Both Senators met jointly with Mr. Bejar.\n\n\u201cArturo Bejar has courageously come forward to share new, irrefutable evidence that senior Facebook executives knowingly turned a blind eye to horrific harms to young people on the company\u2019s platforms. From Arturo\u2019s disclosures, we now know that Mark Zuckerberg, Adam Mosseri, and other Meta executives were personally warned that millions of teens face bullying, eating disorder material, illicit drugs, and sexual exploitation, often within minutes of opening the app. Rather than address these deadly harms, Facebook continued to hide this information from the public and Congressional oversight, ignored recommendations to protect teens, rolled back safety tools, and dismantled teams responsible for kids\u2019 safety. Arturo\u2019s first-hand knowledge and damning evidence prove that Meta has put profits ahead of the safety and wellbeing of millions of teenagers, with a deadly toll on young people and families. It is clear that Facebook\u2019s leadership will not act to make its platforms safer for users without a mandate.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur Kids Online Safety Act will finally require the company to put in place real safeguards and tools to give back control to kids and parents online, while ensuring Big Tech accountability. Facebook along with other tech giants have been fighting our legislation with armies of lobbyists, lawyers, and opposition campaigns, but the broad coalition of young people, parents, and experts will win. It is time to say \u2018enough is enough\u2019 to Big Tech and pass the Kids Online Safety Act.\u201d\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-and-booker-reintroduce-federal-firearm-licensing-act", "Blumenthal & Booker Reintroduce Federal Firearm Licensing Act", "2023-11-03", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[Hartford, CT] \u2014 As the toll from the epidemic of gun violence and deadly mass shootings across the country continues to grow, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), reintroduced the Federal Firearm Licensing Act, legislation that would require individuals to obtain a federal firearm license before purchasing or receiving a firearm.\n\nStudies have shown that licensing laws can significantly reduce gun violence in places that have enacted them. For example, according to the Giffords Law Center, Connecticut saw its gun homicide and gun suicide rates decrease by 28 and 33 percent, respectively, after passing a state licensing law. In contrast, after Missouri repealed its firearm licensing law, the state saw a 47 percent increase in its gun homicide rate and 24 percent increase in its gun suicide rate. Licensing laws also enjoy strong support from Americans, with 77% backing the idea according to a Quinnipiac survey from 2019.\n\n\u201cThis common-sense, straightforward measure would require a license to own a gun. States like Connecticut have successfully implemented this very simple standard\u2014requiring a background check and firearm safety training before being able to purchase a firearm. As gun violence continues to horrifically claim innocent lives and with most Americans in support of licensing laws, this is a bill whose time has come,\u201d said Senator Blumenthal.\n\n\u201cThe epidemic of gun violence and mass shootings continues to claim the lives of thousands of innocent Americans every year,\u201d said Senator Booker. \u201cIf you need a license to drive a car, you should need a license to own and use a gun. Data shows that states that have implemented licensing laws have significantly reduced gun-related deaths. This legislation would mirror this common-sense idea at the federal level and enhance public safety by ensuring that individuals seeking to purchase firearms pass a standard background check and are properly trained before obtaining a required license. We are not powerless to stop the carnage in our communities. Meaningful reforms like this will prevent gun violence, save lives, and make our communities safer.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis is simple: in order to buy a deadly weapon, you should be trained and licensed. Right now, you need a license to drive a car, but in some states, you need nothing more than cash to buy a gun. States like Hawai\u2018i with background checks and gun licensing requirements have shown us that this policy is effective in lowering gun-related deaths. Our bill would apply those same commonsense standards on the federal level, which will help keep more communities safe and save lives,\u201d said Senator Schatz.\n\n\u201cThe most recent, devastating mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine is yet another example of the urgent need for meaningful gun reform in this country. Too many Americans are terrified to simply go about living their lives \u2013 sending their kids to school, going to the grocery store, attending a concert \u2013 due to this scourge of gun violence. We are the only nation on earth whose citizens routinely risk getting gunned down when they walk out of their homes. This is an unacceptable reality. We, as legislators, need to step up and protect our communities the best way we can \u2013 with legislation like the Federal Firearm Licensing Act,\u201d said Senator Menendez. \u201cThis legislation requires individuals in the United States to obtain a federal firearm license, receive training and go through a background check before purchasing or receiving a firearm. These are not onerous restrictions; they are just common sense. I am proud to join Senator Booker in cosponsoring this critical, life-saving legislation that prioritizes the safety and well-being of individuals and families in New Jersey and throughout the country.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur nation is awash in guns\u2014just this year alone, there have been more than 500 mass shootings in communities across our country,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cAs we work to combat our nation\u2019s gun violence epidemic, I hope this bill will move us closer to stemming the scourge of gun violence. I\u2019m proud to support the Federal Firearm Licensing Act to help protect our communities from gun violence.\u201d\n\n\u201cToo many families have buried loved ones because of senseless gun violence and it\u2019s long past time for Congress to find the courage to take action on this issue,\u201d said Representative Kim. \u201cI\u2019ve heard from families across our state that we should prevent guns from getting into the wrong hands and take common sense steps like requiring background checks and a license to own a lethal weapon to make our communities safer and save lives. I\u2019m proud to reintroduce this bill in the House and I look forward to working alongside my colleagues in the Senate to get this passed into law so we can deliver the security and freedoms our families deserve.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, the legislation would require:\n\nAn individual to completed firearm safety training, which must include a written test and hands-on training to ensure safe use and accuracy.\n\nAttorney General to conduct a history background check of any individual purchasing a firearm.\n\nThe federal firearm license must be renewed every five years at which point the applicant will have to go through a background check and undergo firearm safety training again. The bill contains a mechanism for the U.S. Department of Justice to revoke a license if an individual poses a danger to themselves or to others. The legislation would require the Federal Bureau of Investigation to regularly conduct checks to ensure that individuals are in compliance with federal license requirements and keep in place requirements that all people purchasing firearms from a federal firearms licensee undergo a background check.\n\nThe legislation is led by U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and cosponsored by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Mazie Hirono (D-HI); and U.S. Representative Andy Kim (D-NJ).\n\nThe full text of the legislation can be found here.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/icymi-op-ed-the-voices-behind-the-kids-online-safety-act-princess-abary-from-california", "ICYMI OP-ED: The Voices Behind the Kids Online Safety Act: Princess Abary from California", "2023-11-03", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, D.C.] \u2013 The bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act, led by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), is strongly supported by a broad coalition of parents who have tragically lost their children or whose kids have been severely harmed by Big Tech, young people who want to regain control over their online lives, and experts and advocates who study and see the negative effects of social media firsthand in their communities. The \u201cVoices Behind the Kids Online Safety Act\u201d series will amplify their stories as they call on Congress to pass the legislation to help protect themselves online and to hold Big Tech accountable. The bill has the support of nearly half of the U.S. Senate.\n\nPrincess Abary, California\n\nRead Princess\u2019s full op-ed for the Bakersfield Californian HERE and below\n\n\u201cI find myself spiraling down rabbit holes that harm my mental health and are being driven by the platforms\u2019 algorithms. I use the tools available to me. I use the \u201cDo Not Suggest\u201d feature and the endless supply of eating disorder and hateful content in my feed never seems to stop. Why is that? Because Big Tech refuses to prioritize the care of its users over its bottom line,\u201d wrote Princess in her op-ed.\n\n\u201cAs a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, it comes as no surprise that our community's children and teens are exposed to cyberbullying and harassment online at significantly higher rates. As a result, we are left increasingly more vulnerable to stalking, sexual exploitation, eating disorders, substance abuse and suicidal ideation. The statistics behind this trend paint an even more somber picture.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe need to find a way to balance the rights of free expression and information with the need to protect vulnerable individuals. It is a complex and nuanced challenge, but against the stark reality that so many of us face every day, we need to make solving it a top priority,\u201d Princess continued.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s where the updated version of the Kids Online Safety Act comes in \u2014 threading the needle between protecting users and preserving freedom of expression.\u201d\n\nBlumenthal and Blackburn are the lead sponsors of the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act, which would provide kids and parents with better tools to protect themselves online, hold Big Tech accountable for harms to kids, and provide transparency into black box algorithms.\n\nRead Princess\u2019s full op-ed below:\n\n\u201cGeneration Z, parents, educators, health professionals and the U.S. surgeon general all agree: We are in the middle of a youth mental crisis, and Big Tech is to blame.\n\nCompanies like Google, TikTok and Meta are flooding the airwaves with reasons why we can\u2019t pass reasonable safety measures for children and teens online, and what\u2019s often missing from the policy debate in the hall of Congress? Voices from my generation about why we need to pass the Kids Online Safety Act, or KOSA, to prevent Big Tech and their algorithms from continuing to do irreparable harm to younger Americans by pushing content that makes us depressed, feel othered and develop unhealthy relationships with our bodies.\n\nToday, being a teenager goes hand in hand with near-constant scrolling through TikTok or Instagram \u2014 digesting whatever their curated algorithms suggest. To us, social media encompasses much more than just keeping up with friends and trends.\n\nBig Tech is everywhere all at once. The platforms are constantly mining our data to maximize screen time to sell us more things. That often entails sending us content that attacks our mental health, which puts LGBTQ+ folks and eating disorder survivors like me in an even more vulnerable position.\n\nI find myself spiraling down rabbit holes that harm my mental health and are being driven by the platforms\u2019 algorithms. I use the tools available to me. I use the \u201cDo Not Suggest\u201d feature and the endless supply of eating disorder and hateful content in my feed never seems to stop. Why is that? Because Big Tech refuses to prioritize the care of its users over its bottom line.\n\nAs a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, it comes as no surprise that our community's children and teens are exposed to cyberbullying and harassment online at significantly higher rates. As a result, we are left increasingly more vulnerable to stalking, sexual exploitation, eating disorders, substance abuse and suicidal ideation. The statistics behind this trend paint an even more somber picture.\n\nRecent studies have proved an astounding 42% of LGBTQ+ youth have seriously considered a suicide attempt, and 1 in 3 young LGBTQ+ people have been sexually harassed online.\n\nAccording to a Media Matters study, for every positive interaction from a queer source, there were four negative interactions from right-wing, bigoted sources. Recently, GLAAD released a social media scorecard showing how the platforms expose LGBTQ+ youth, specifically trans youth, to harassment campaigns.\n\nAs a survivor of both anorexia and bulimia, I\u2019ve experienced trauma at the hands of social media platforms and been rocked as I\u2019ve seen loved ones \u2014 far too young \u2014 fall into the same unhealthy patterns of behavior.\n\nAccording to the Center for Countering Digital Hate, TikTok began recommending eating disorder content within eight minutes of creating a new account and Instagram was found to deluge a new user with eating disorder recommendations within a day. The same organization found the creation of a new teen account on TikTok resulted in the recommendation of suicidal content in under three minutes.\n\nI\u2019ve seen this dynamic play out in tragic ways. My 10-year-old cousin developed an eating disorder after being on the receiving end of a near-relentless barrage of toxic content that reinforces negative body comparisons. Developing and impressionable minds should not be exposed to content that they cannot yet process.\n\nWe are real people. My story and my cousin\u2019s are painful, personal and not unique to just us. My experience should force lawmakers to realize that you cannot have both unlimited freedom and safety.\n\nWe need to find a way to balance the rights of free expression and information with the need to protect vulnerable individuals. It is a complex and nuanced challenge, but against the stark reality that so many of us face every day, we need to make solving it a top priority.\n\nThat\u2019s where the updated version of the Kids Online Safety Act comes in \u2014 threading the needle between protecting users and preserving freedom of expression.\n\nIf passed, KOSA would put the onus on social media platforms to protect their younger users \u2014 rather than blaming minors and their parents for algorithms they cannot control or have no ability to shape. The bill would also require platforms to offer users the option to turn off engagement-based algorithms, restrict messages, create a private profile and create a point of contact for users to report harassment, and the updated duty of care would also require covered platforms to rethink how their algorithms promote negative behaviors such as suicide and suicidal behaviors.\n\nRevisions also clarify the duty of care section so that it uses explicit terms like sexual exploitation, abuse and physical violence (rather than vague or opaque terms). Additionally, the new changes continue to allow access to sexual health information by exempting schools and nonprofit organizations from the bill.\n\nThe updated version of KOSA has helped put many at ease about the true intentions of the bill and is thoughtfully informed by diverse perspectives, including input from the LGBTQ+ community, which is why organizations like GLAAD, HRC and PFLAG have dropped their opposition to the bill.\n\nAll of these requirements work together to create a safe environment for every user on the platform to mitigate the risk of cyberbullying, harassment, suicidal ideation, sexual exploitation and eating disorder behaviors.\n\nI hope lawmakers will listen to the experiences of people in my generation because we have lived in, been raised by and suffered consequences at the hands of unregulated social media.\n\nIn a perfect world, there is a foolproof way to prevent every negative interaction online. We don\u2019t live in that world, but KOSA offers up a beacon of hope and can take us one step closer to finally creating the digital space young people deserve.\u201d\n\nPrincess Abary is a 17-year-old senior at Stockdale High School where she advocates against sexual assault and for mental health awareness both on an off campus. She writes poetry and contributes to her local magazine in hopes of drawing attention to overlooked topics in her community.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-calls-on-israel-to-change-direction-in-gaza-operations", "Murphy Calls on Israel to Change Direction in Gaza Operations", "2023-11-02", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia and Counterterrorism, on Thursday released the following statement:\n\n\u201cAs I have said consistently, Israel has a right and an obligation to defend its people from terror attacks like the horrific events of October 7. The Hamas terrorists who planned and executed those attacks must be held accountable, and the ability of Hamas to carry out similar attacks in the future must be eliminated.\n\n\u201cIt's time for Israel's friends to recognize that the current operational approach is causing an unacceptable level of civilian harm and does not appear likely to achieve the goal of permanently ending the threat from Hamas. As we have learned from America\u2019s own counterterrorism campaigns, disproportionately large numbers of civilian casualties come with a moral cost, but also a strategic cost, as terrorist groups feed off of the grievances caused by civilian harm.\n\n\u201cI share Israel's desire to destroy the threat from Hamas. And I know Israel cares about the impact of this war on innocent Palestinians, even as they track Hamas\u2019s hideouts inside and below mosques, apartment buildings, and schools. But the way in which the current campaign is being waged \u2013 most recently evidenced by the terribly high human cost of the strikes on the Jabalya refugee camp \u2013 suggests that they have not struck the right balance between military necessity and proportionality.\n\n\u201cThe current rate of civilian death inside Gaza is unacceptable and unsustainable. I urge Israel to immediately reconsider its approach and shift to a more deliberate and proportionate counterterrorism campaign, surgically targeting Hamas and Islamic Jihad leaders and terrorist infrastructure while more highly prioritizing the safety of civilians in accordance with the law of armed conflict. This does not mean that Israel should stop fighting Hamas, but it must take concrete steps to end the current widespread harm to innocent people and children inside Gaza.\u201d\n\nLast month, Murphy spoke on the U.S. Senate floor on the importance of supporting Israel in its time of need and avoiding the mistakes the United States has made in our counterterrorism campaigns.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-pressley-reintroduce-bicameral-legislation-to-end-criminalization-of-students-invest-in-counselors-safer-environment-for-kids", "Murphy, Pressley Reintroduce Bicameral Legislation to End Criminalization of Students, Invest in Counselors, Safer Environment for Kids", "2023-11-02", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2014U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, and U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), along with U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.),Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and U.S. Representatives Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) and Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) on Thursday reintroduced legislation that would invest in safe and nurturing school climates that support all students and address over-policing in our nation\u2019s K-12 schools.\n\nResearch shows that the presence of mental and behavioral health personnel in schools, like counselors, social workers, and psychologists improves educational outcomes for kids, specifically by improving attendance and graduation rates while lowering the rates of suspension, expulsion and other disciplinary incidents. Meanwhile, the presence of police in schools leads to an increase in arrests of students \u2014 particularly students of color and students with disabilities \u2014 often for common misbehavior that a school could address without the involvement of law enforcement. The Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act would prohibit the use of federal funds to maintain police presence in schools and instead provide $5 billion in new grant funding to help schools hire more counselors, social workers, and other mental and behavioral health personnel as well as implement services in schools that create positive and safe climates for all students.\n\n\u201cThere is nothing more important than making sure our kids feel safe and supported in the classroom. But right now, too many students, often kids of color or students with disabilities, are arrested by police in schools instead of receiving support that would actually get at the root causes of a child\u2019s behavioral issues. While we\u2019ve seen many school districts across the country make real progress in creating positive learning environments, often by removing police from their hallways, the unfortunate reality is that many schools are reverting back to old disciplinary practices that focus on punishing kids instead of helping them get back on track. We\u2019re reintroducing this legislation because we know putting more counselors and social workers in schools leads to better educational outcomes across the board, and this bill would ensure school districts have the resources they need to make sure school is a safe, nurturing place for every student,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n\u201cFor too long, the presence of police in schools has resulted in our students \u2013 particularly students of color, LGBTQ+ students, and students with disabilities \u2013 being criminalized for normal adolescent behavior. And rather than receiving the resources and support that are proven to help them grow and reach their full potential, these students are unjustly put on a pathway to confinement. The Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act would disrupt the school-to-confinement pathway by shifting federal resources away from school police and investing in culturally responsive nurses, mental health professionals, and other trauma-informed staff. I thank our colleagues for their partnership on this bill and urge Congress to swiftly pass this critical legislation,\u201d said Pressley.\n\n\u201cCounselors, social workers, and educators belong in schools \u2013 not police. Enough is enough. This bill ensures schools adopt policies and practices that bring students in, not push them out. All students \u2013 especially Black and Brown children \u2013 deserve a learning environment that meets their most fundamental needs and allows them to reach their full potential. I\u2019ll continue to fight to make that a reality,\u201d said Warren.\n\n\u201cSchools should serve as a pipeline to advance educational and career opportunities\u2014not prison. The Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act will provide the mental health resources and support necessary for young people, teachers, and communities who have led a nationwide effort for police-free schools. We must continue to fight for essential resources, including counselors and trauma-informed services, so that all students have a healthy and safe learning environments where they can thrive inside and outside the classroom,\u201d said Markey.\n\n\u201cOur youth deserve schools where they are supported, not surveilled and punished. For too long, our education system has relied on punitive disciplinary practices and police presence in schools, disproportionately impacting students of color and other marginalized youth. The research clearly shows that this approach has failed. The time has come for a radically different strategy centered on meeting students' needs and nurturing their growth. I\u2019m proud to join my colleagues in reintroducing a piece of legislation meant to build a more just education system. It is time we change course and invest in mental health professionals to help students thrive,\u201d said Omar.\n\n\"As an organization that is actively fighting the robust school-to-prison pipeline in Waterbury, CT, a school district in the heart of Senator Murphy's district, we applaud his and Representative Pressley's efforts to reintroduce transformational legislation that is long overdue. As a member of a statewide coalition and a national coalition for police free schools we stand in solidarity and support of each other as we call for an end to the over-policing of school campuses and students all over this country and demand increased investments in school staff and programs that increase school safety and improve school climate in ways that police or policing can not,\" said Robert Goodrich, Executive Director of RACCE.\n\n\u201cThe presence of police in our K-12 schools is rooted in racism and prejudice. According to GLSEN\u2019s National School Climate Survey, 82% of LGBTQ+ youth reported feeling unsafe in school \u2013 and criminalizing kids only causes more harm to Black and brown queer students, who are already some of the most marginalized youth in our nation. We must divest from the police and invest in school counselors, social workers, classroom materials, and other programs that show students that we value their well-being,\u201d said Melanie Willingham-Jaggers, Executive Director of GLSEN.\n\n\u201cChildren\u2019s Defense Fund applauds Senator Murphy\u2019s \u2018Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act\u2019, which adds Credible Messengers to the list of school professionals that could be funded under the bill. We need more student supports, like Credible Messengers, who share similar lived experiences with the students they mentor. Such work has proven to be far more effective than over-policing campuses, which often makes Black and Brown students feel unsafe where they are supposed to learn. All children should be able to live with dignity, hope, and joy at school. CDF is excited to continue working with Senator Murphy to build support for this bill,\u201d said Rev. Dr. Starsky Wilson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Children\u2019s Defense Fund.\n\n\u201cThe Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates is pleased to support the Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act and stands with Hill champions, parents and advocates to call for bold action to dismantle the systemic and institutionalized racism deeply embedded in exclusionary discipline policies and policing in schools. We call for an end to the use of harsh discipline; criminalization of students; and the use of law enforcement in schools. Schools must be transformed to promote learning; allow students to form positive and trusting relationships with trained and knowledgeable adults that are supportive of their complex needs; and encourage the use of evidence-based strategies to promote positive behavior. Enacting this legislation would help us achieve these goals and build the capacity of schools in support of all students, including students with disabilities,\u201d said Denise Marshall, CEO for the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA).\n\n\"When we speak with young people about the dreams they have for their lives, they talk about wanting schools where they feel safe, loved, and supported, not punished and policed. The Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act will help to transform schools into the places we all envision for young people by investing in evidence-based practices and support personnel, and ending federal support for harmful school-based law enforcement,\" said Morgan Craven, National Director of Policy, Advocacy, and Community Engagement at the Intercultural Development Research Association.\n\n\u201cAll students deserve to learn and grow in safe, inclusive, and supportive school environments,\u201d said Denise Forte, President and CEO of The Education Trust. \u201cUnfortunately, Black and indigenous students, students with disabilities, and other underserved students not only experience harsher discipline practices in the classroom, but are also more likely to be referred to and arrested by law enforcement. These police interactions have long-term destabilizing consequences. Rather than investing in policies and practices that harden our classrooms and expand the school-to-prison pipeline, we must invest in evidence-based measures that support students\u2019 social, emotional, and academic development. The Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act is critical legislation, and The Education Trust is proud to support it.\u201d\n\nThe Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act would:\n\n\u00b7 Prohibit the use of federal funds for maintaining police in schools: Since 1999, the federal government has spent more than $1 billion to increase the number of police in schools. However, evidence does not show this investment has improved student outcomes and school safety. This legislation would prohibit federal funds from being used to hire or maintain police in K-12 schools, diverting that funding toward other uses related to school safety within applicable grant programs.\n\n\u00b7 Invest billions to help schools hire counselors, social workers, and other trauma-informed support personnel necessary to create safe, supportive learning environments for all students: The legislation helps schools build safe and positive learning cultures by establishing a new $5 billion grant program to support the hiring of counselors, social workers, school psychologists, and other personnel. The grant would also help schools implement programs to improve school climate, such as school-wide positive behavioral interventions and supports, and invest in trauma-informed services and professional development. As more schools move away from policies that criminalize students and push them out of school, this historic investment will ensure districts have the resources to provide students with the supports they need to feel safe in school and thrive.\n\n\u00b7 Incentivize states and school districts to end the criminalization of young people, particularly Black, Native American and Latino students, immigrant students, students with disabilities, LGBTQ+ students and other historically marginalized students, and instead invest in safe and nurturing learning environments where all students thrive.\n\nThe legislation is co-sponsored by U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.-01), Cori Bush (D-Mo.-01), Antonio C\u00e1rdenas (D-Calif.-06), Troy Carter (D-La.-02), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.-20), Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.-09), Ra\u00fal Grijalva (D-Ariz.-03), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas-18), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.-07), Hank Johnson (D-Ga.-04), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.-37), Barbra Lee (D-Calif.-12), Summer Lee (D-Pa.-12), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.-14), Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.-03), Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.-13), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.-12), Nydia Vel\u00e1zquez (D-N.Y.-07), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.-12), and Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.-33).\n\nThis legislation is supported by the Activists With A Purpose Plus, Advancement Project, Advocating 4 Kids Inc, Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint, Alliance for Quality Education, Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools (AROS), American Association of University Women (AAUW), American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), American Humanist Association, AMORC, ARISE, Autistic Self Advocacy Network, Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, Black Organizing Project, Black Swan Academy, Blue Future, Brighton Park Neighborhood Council, Center for Learner Equity, Center for Popular Democracy, Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Children's Defense Fund, Citizen Action of New York, Citizens for Juvenile Justice, COFI/POWER-PAC IL, Committee for Children, Communities United, Community Asset Development Redefining Education (CADRE), Community Organizing And Family Issues, Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities Education Taskforce, Council for Exceptional Children, Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, CT Black & Brown Student Union, Dignity in Schools Campaign, Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund, The Education Trust, EPIC- Ensuring Parole for Incarcerated Citizens, EveryBlackGirl, Inc, Families and Friends of Louisiana's Incarcerated Children, Florida Rising, Freedom, Inc., Georgia Coalition for Equity in Education, Girls Inc., Girls for Gender Equity, GLSEN, GSA Network, Hearing Youth Voices, Heros Advocacy Group, Human Rights Campaign, IDRA, Kickapoo Peace Circle, Latinos Unidos Siempre, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Leaders Igniting Transformation, Lives in the Balance, Maine People's Alliance, Make the Road Nevada, Make the Road New York , Make the Road NJ, MS Coalition to End Corporal Punishment, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities, National Black Justice Coalition, National Black Lives Matter at School, National Black Women's Justice Institute, National Center for Learning Disabilities, National Center For Youth Law, National Disability Rights Network (NDRN), National Education Association, National Juvenile Justice Network, National Parents Union, National Urban League, National Women's Law Center, New Bedford Coalition to Save Our Schools, New Georgia Project, New York Civil Liberties Union, NJ21United, Nollie Jenkins Family Center, Inc., March for Our Lives, Parents Organized for Public Education, Partners for Dignity & Rights, Poverty & Race Research Action Council (PRRAC), Project KnuckleHead, Providence Alliance For Student Safety, Providence Student Union, Providence Youth Student Movement, Public Advocates, Public Justice Center, R.A.C.C.E., Rethink New Orleans, Southern Movement Committee, Stand UP Alaska, Strategies for Youth Inc., Street Democracy, Student Advocacy Center of Michigan, Student Rights Project, Students Deserve, Tennesseans for Non-Violent School Discipline, The Federal School Discipline and Climate Coalition (FedSDC), The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, United Women in Faith.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-discusses-israel-and-ukraine-funding-in-national-security-supplemental-with-secretaries-blinken-and-austin", "Murphy Discusses Israel and Ukraine Funding in National Security Supplemental with Secretaries Blinken and Austin", "2023-11-01", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia and Counterterrorism and a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, on Tuesday spoke at an Appropriations hearing on the Biden Administration\u2019s national security supplemental request with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.\n\nMurphy highlighted the importance of remembering the horrific details of Hamas\u2019 terror attack against Israel on October 7th: \u201cI think it's important that we be absolutely clear the nature of this brutal terrorist attack. I share with you the real worry that in this country and around the world, the memory of October 7th, just a few weeks in our rearview mirror, has disappeared. It's incredibly important for us to remind the world about how our nation was changed after September 11th. And now Israel has been changed as well by this, and how we have an obligation to stand up for them.\u201d\n\nOn helping Israel avoid the mistakes the U.S. has made in our counterterrorism campaigns, Murphy said: \u201c[O]ne of the lessons that we've learned in our counterterrorism operations is that not done well, you can end up creating more terrorists than you kill. In particular, when you are careless about civilian casualties, those civilian casualties become terrorist fuel. They become bulletin board recruiting material for terrorist groups. And so, there's a moral imperative to reduce civilian casualties, but there is also a strategic imperative. And so, I want to ask you whether you have a worry that the nature of the Israeli ground operation and the number of civilians that have been killed and will be killed could end up strengthening Hamas or other affiliated anti-Israel terrorist groups in the long run.\u201d\n\nMurphy raised the urgency of Congress passing funding to support both Israel and Ukraine: \u201cI think the reason why many of us are so worried about splitting Ukraine aid and Israel aid is because there is an urgency, a real urgency in Ukraine right now. And we know that this place has trouble doing one difficult thing, never mind splitting it into two or three. I know that we're careful about talking about the urgency because we don't want to cause panic or damage morale in Ukraine, but I do think we have to be honest with the American people and with this Senate about the consequences of not funding Ukraine.\u201d\n\nIn a question to Secretary Blinken, Murphy asked how the U.S. can ensure we can help get fuel into Gaza and prevent its diversion to Hamas, Blinken said: \u201cWe're working urgently on that. I'll say two things very quickly about it first, Hamas has its own supply stockpile of fuel. If it cared a whit about the people of Gaza, it would make sure itself that it used that fuel to have the hospitals be able to operate, have the incubators stay turned on, etc. But, of course it doesn't. And we have an obligation to do everything we can, if Hamas is not going to do it, to look out for people in Gaza. So, we are working on a mechanism that can get fuel to where it's needed, particularly hospitals, bakeries, desalination plants.\u201d\n\nA full transcript of Murphy, Austin, and Blinken\u2019s exchange can be found below:\n\nMurphy: \u201cLook, Secretary Austin, we know you've been working around the clock to protect our friends in Israel and in Ukraine. Thank you for your work. Thanks for being here.\n\nSecretary Blinken, I want to thank you. At the outset, you described in really horrific detail what happened on October 7th. I think it's important that we be absolutely clear the nature of this brutal terrorist attack. And I share with you, the real worry that in this country and around the world the memory of October 7th, just a few weeks in our rearview mirror, has disappeared. It's incredibly important for us to remind the world about how our nation was changed after September 11th, and now Israel has been changed as well by this, and how we have an obligation to stand up for them.\u201d\n\n\u201cSecretary Austin, I wanted to talk to you, as Senator Schatz did, about the lessons that we've learned in our counterterrorism operations. I note, a story from this weekend in the Washington Post, entitled \u2018U.S. Urges Israel Against Gaza Ground Invasion, Pushes Surgical Campaign.\u2019 I don't want to ask you about the confidential communications you've had with your Israeli counterparts, but one of the lessons that we've learned in our counterterrorism operations is that not done well, you can end up creating more terrorists than you kill. In particular, when you are careless about civilian casualties, those civilian casualties become terrorist fuel. They become bulletin board recruiting material for terrorist groups. And so, there's a moral imperative to reduce civilian casualties, but there is also a strategic imperative. And so, I want to ask you whether you have a worry that the nature of the Israeli ground operation and the number of civilians that have been killed and will be killed could end up strengthening Hamas or other affiliated anti-Israel terrorist groups in the long run.\u201d\n\nAUSTIN: \u201cI agree with everything that you said, Senator, and that is a key lesson that we learned in the fights that we fought over the last 20 years or so. The things that you do on a battlefield, if you're not thoughtful about them, they could create a resistance to your effort that lasts for generations. And so there is an operational and strategic imperative to make sure that we're doing the right things as we outline our objectives and prescribe our techniques about how we're going to go about this. So, we've had those conversations for exactly the reasons that you mentioned.\u201d\n\nMURPHY: \u201cSecretary Austin, in turning to Ukraine, I think the reason why many of us are so worried about splitting Ukraine aid and Israel aid is because there is an urgency, a real urgency in Ukraine right now. And we know that this place has trouble doing one difficult thing, never mind splitting it into two or three. I know that we're careful about talking about the urgency because we don't want to cause panic or damage morale in Ukraine, but I do think we have to be honest with the American people and with this Senate about the consequences of not funding Ukraine.\n\n\u201cAdmiral Rob Bauer of the Netherlands, who you know well, said that the bottom of the barrel is now visible. And so I just want to ask you a pointed question about ammunition. We are really getting to a point very soon where there are not bullets in the guns, and we need to be serious with our colleagues about the consequences for the rank and file soldiers in Ukraine if we don't get this assistance soon. The need is dire, isn't it?\u201d\n\nAUSTIN: \u201cIt absolutely is, Senator. And again, this funds artillery munitions, small arm munitions, you name it, and they desperately need a constant supply of warfighting capability in order to be successful. We would like to see them continue their operations through the winter. I think that\u2019s an imperative. They can't do that if we've caused them to pause because there's a pause on the security assistance that we provide.\u201d\n\nMURPHY: \u201c30 seconds, Secretary Blinken, fuel into Gaza. Do we have a process to deliver fuel into Gaza that assures that it doesn't get diverted to Hamas?\u201d\n\nBLINKEN: \u201cWe're working urgently on that. I'll say two things very quickly about it first, Hamas has its own supply stockpile of fuel. If it cared a whit about the people of Gaza, it would make sure itself that it used that fuel to have the hospitals be able to operate, have the incubators stay turned on, etc. But, of course it doesn't. And we have an obligation to do everything we can, if Hamas is not going to do it, to look out for people in Gaza. So, we are working on a mechanism that can get fuel to where it's needed, particularly hospitals, bakeries, desalination plants.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-murphy-and-hayes-announces-116-million-in-federal-funding-for-meriden-flood-resilience-project", "Blumenthal, Murphy, & Hayes Announces $11.6 Million in Federal Funding for Meriden Flood Resilience Project", "2023-10-31", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[HARTFORD, CT] \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) and U.S. Representative Jahana Hayes (D-CT) announced two federal grants totaling $11,645,250 from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security\u2019s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to alleviate flooding of Harbor Brook in Meriden.\n\nThe funding from FEMA will support $11,165,250 million of the City\u2019s $14.7 million total project cost. The project includes channel realignment and profile adjustment, removing two undersized bridges that constrict water flow, floodproofing buildings along the river, creating riparian floodplain and wildlife habitat, modifying impacted utilities, and installing a waterfront trail system. An additional $480,000 grant from FEMA will fund costs for the administration and management of this project.\n\n\u201cThis federal funding will help address the longtime issue of flooding that has impacted Meriden for over a century. I applaud FEMA for supporting this critical mitigation project along Harbor Brook \u2013 helping to revitalize Meriden\u2019s downtown and making the city more resilient to flooding. I have long advocated for flood mitigation funds for Meriden and will continue to support their efforts to make the city safer for residents,\u201d said Senator Blumenthal.\n\n\u201cThis project to mitigate flooding along Harbor Brook has been in the works for a very long time, and I\u2019m glad this $11.6 million in federal funding will help get it across the finish line. It\u2019s going to make a major difference for the homes and local businesses that are constantly at risk of flood damage in downtown Meriden. As Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee that funds FEMA, I\u2019ll continue pushing to support programs that help towns in Connecticut become more resilient,\u201d said Senator Murphy.\n\n\u201cI am pleased the City of Meriden will receive over $11 million in FEMA funding for the Harbor Brook Flood Resilience project. The grant will cover 75% of the cost of the project and fund ongoing efforts to reduce flooding along Harbor Brook. An additional $480,000 was also awarded to support staff assigned to the project,\u201d\n\nThe improvements will be made along an 1,800 foot stretch of Harbor Brook spanning from Cooper Street in downtown Meriden to the Amtrak railroad near Colony Street.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/photos-and-videothe-voices-behind-the-kids-online-safety-act-maurine-molak-from-texas", "***Photos & Video***The Voices Behind the Kids Online Safety Act: Maurine Molak from Texas", "2023-10-31", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, D.C.] \u2013 The bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act, led by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), is strongly supported by a broad coalition of parents who have tragically lost their children or whose kids have been severely harmed by Big Tech, young people who want to regain control over their online lives, and experts and advocates who study and see the negative effects of social media firsthand in their communities. The \u201cVoices Behind the Kids Online Safety Act\u201d series will amplify their stories as they call on Congress to pass the legislation to help protect themselves online and to hold Big Tech accountable. The bill has the support of nearly half of the U.S. Senate.\n\nMaurine Molak, Texas\n\nView Maurine\u2019s full remarks HERE\n\n\u201cWhat I\u2019ve noticed is that I\u2019m the last person to speak today, but I\u2019m also probably the longest person here. It has been almost 8 years since my son died. To see every single one of these parents after me is devastating and we\u2019ve got to do something now,\u201d said Maurine at the recent roundtable held by Blumenthal and Blackburn with other parents whose children have died or been harmed by Big Tech.\n\nMaurine\u2019s son David had a very unhealthy relationship with technology and was addicted to online gaming and social media. Months into his addiction, he was relentlessly targeted by cyberbullies on Instagram and GroupMe, causing him to completely lose hope. David died by suicide at the age of 16 on Jan 4th, 2016.\n\nBlumenthal and Blackburn are the lead sponsors of the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act, which would provide kids and parents with better tools to protect themselves online, hold Big Tech accountable for harms to kids, and provide transparency into black box algorithms.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-highlights-newingtons-intelligent-cutting-solutions-as-innovator-of-the-month", "Murphy Highlights Newington's Intelligent Cutting Solutions as \"Innovator of the Month\"", "2023-10-31", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "HARTFORD\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) announced that Intelligent Cutting Solutions (ICS), based in Newington, was named \u201cInnovator of the Month.\u201d Founded in July of 2020 by entrepreneurs Ibrahim Ibrahim and Darius Kania, ICS is a state-of-the-art waterjet cutting facility that provides water jet cutting services to Connecticut\u2019s aerospace and defense sectors as well as the automotive, medical, and architecture industries. Their technology cuts through materials up to ten inches thick with superior edge quality and no distortion or damage due to heat.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s great to see one small business in Connecticut help countless others with their services. The team at Intelligent Cutting Solutions understood there was a gap in the market to meet the needs of our state\u2019s aerospace and defense industries. Their waterjet cutting systems are some of the best in business, and I\u2019m proud to recognize ICS for their success and rapid growth since making the big leap to launch a business at the start of a pandemic,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n\u201cWe saw a gap in Connecticut when searching for a reliable water jet cutting vendor, and we filled that gap with state-of-the art water jet cutting and inspection equipment. For years we struggled to find a water jet cutting vendor that can cut parts with aerospace accuracy and provide dimensional certification reports. So, we decided to start Intelligent Cutting Solutions. We just received our sixth water jet machine to keep our lead times low and to have machine redundancy. And our customers love the fact that we are inspecting the parts with laser inspection systems. Because the technology is so accurate nowadays we are able to produce near net shapes that require minimum subsequent processing by our customers,\u201d said Ibrahim Ibrahim of ICS.\n\nMurphy believes entrepreneurship and innovation are the building blocks for a strong economy. In the U.S. Senate, he has introduced legislation to incentivize angel investors to put more money into startup companies\u2014the Angel Tax Credit Act. Startup companies create an average of 2 million jobs each year.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-votes-to-confirm-jack-lew-as-us-ambassador-to-israel", "Murphy Votes to Confirm Jack Lew as U.S. Ambassador to Israel", "2023-10-31", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia and Counterterrorism, on Tuesday released the following statement after the U.S. Senate voted to confirm Jack Lew to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Israel:\n\n\u201cSince October 7th, the Biden administration has been working around the clock to support our ally Israel, negotiate the rescue of hostages held by Hamas, and deliver humanitarian assistance to innocent civilians in Gaza. Having an ambassador on the ground is key to ensuring these efforts are as successful as possible, and I was proud to vote for Jack Lew\u2019s confirmation today,\u201d said Murphy. \u201cIt\u2019s important we have every post that is related to resolving this crisis filled. I will continue to push for the swift confirmation of nominees for U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon and Egypt, the State Department\u2019s Coordinator for Counterterrorism, and the USAID Assistant Administrator for the Middle East. \u201d\n\nLast week, Murphy released a statement after the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted to send the nominations for the U.S. Ambassador to Israel and Egypt to the U.S. Senate floor. Murphyspoke at a U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the nominations hearings of Jack Lew to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Israel. Earlier this month, Murphy called for swift confirmation of key State Department officials in the Middle East, including Ambassador to Israel.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/connecticut-congressional-delegation-announces-more-than-17-million-for-traffic-and-road-safety-improvements_studies", "Connecticut Congressional Delegation Announces More than $1.7 Million for Traffic & Road Safety Improvements & Studies", "2023-10-30", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[HARTFORD, CT] \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) and U.S. Representatives John B. Larson (D-CT), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Jim Himes (D-CT), and Jahana Hayes (D-CT) announced $1.749 million in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support six traffic safety projects across Connecticut.\n\nThe funds are awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation\u2019s Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program established to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries.\n\n\u201cMore people are dying on Connecticut\u2019s roadways than ever before, and this $1.7 million in federal funding will help towns plan and make serious safety improvements to prevent these senseless tragedies from occurring,\u201d said Sen. Richard Blumenthal. \u201cThese critical projects target traffic and roadway issues at the local level so that Connecticut motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists can feel safer on the roads.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery year during my Walk across the state, I\u2019m reminded of how many roads in Connecticut are unsafe for pedestrians. It\u2019s unacceptable that pedestrian fatalities in our state are at a 40-year high when we know how to prevent these deaths. This $1.75 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help towns across the state develop actionable plans to make their streets safer for pedestrians, bikers, and drivers,\u201d said Sen. Chris Murphy.\n\n\u201cThe Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was not only about rebuilding America\u2019s crumbling infrastructure, it was about improving transportation safety,\u201d said Rep. Rosa DeLauro. \u201cAccident rates in Connecticut are on the rise, and residents need safer communities. With this funding, the Naugatuck Council of Government will begin to enact their Vision Zero Action Plan which will create more accessible and inclusive transportation options aimed at making our communities walkable, healthy, and safer while supporting growth and opportunity.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur state has lost hundreds of drivers, passengers, and pedestrians to tragic roadway incidents over the last two years,\u201d said Rep. John Larson. \u201cThe Connecticut delegation worked hard to secure funding in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to make traffic safety improvements that will save lives. These resources will allow West Hartford, Winchester, and Newington to adopt community-wide approaches to ensure safety on the roads, including through new infrastructure upgrades and technologies.\u201d\n\n\u201cSafer streets will make commuting more accessible, equitable, and enjoyable for Connecticut residents,\u201d said Rep. Jim Himes. \u201cI\u2019m thrilled that the Town of Greenwich and the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments are receiving federal funds to develop plans that prioritize preventing traffic accidents and providing safe roads for pedestrians and bikers.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocated $5 billion to the Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program. Connecticut will receive over $1 million to address critical roadway issues and make our communities safer,\u201d said Rep. Jahana Hayes. \u201cThe Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments has been awarded over $300,000 to support the Vision Zero Action Plan, aimed at reducing deaths and serious injuries from traffic crashes, and Newtown is set to receive $80,000 to help create a transportation safety action plan. We fought hard for this win. Now, residents in my district will see change in their communities.\u201d\n\nThe funding announced today will support the following regional and local projects:\n\n$320,064 to the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments for the NVCOG Vision Zero Action Plan Update\n\n$200,000 to the Town of Winchester for the SS4A Action Plan for the Town of Winchester\n\n$80,000 to the Town of Newington for the SS4A Supplemental Planning Grant for the Cedar Street Corridor\n\n$80,000 to the Town of Newtown for the Newtown Comprehensive Safe Streets Community Action Plan\n\n$400,000 to the Town of Greenwich for the SS4A Planning Grant to Create A Transportation Safety Action Plan\n\n$669,007 for the Town of West Hartford for the Speed Management Pilot Program\n\nThe SS4A program supports the Department of Transportation\u2019s goal of zero deaths and serious injuries on our nation\u2019s roadways. This comes at a time where traffic fatalities are at the highest level in decades.\n\nIn June 2023, Blumenthal reintroduced the Road to Zero resolution to reduce traffic fatalities and improve roadway safety for drivers, passengers, pedestrians, bicyclists, and others on the road. Introduction of the resolution follows yesterday\u2019s announcement by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that over 9,000 people died in traffic crashes during the first three months of 2023. By improving data collection and promoting access to safe, reliable transportation, the Road to Zero resolution aims to end roadway fatalities by 2050.\n\nTraffic fatalities are the leading cause of death for Americans under 54, killing over 100 people every day.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/icymiphotos-and-videoicymi-blumenthal_blackburn-hold-roundtable-with-grieving-parents-to-discuss-kids-online-safety", "***ICYMI***Photos & Video***ICYMI: Blumenthal & Blackburn Hold Roundtable with Grieving Parents to Discuss Kids Online Safety", "2023-10-27", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, D.C.] \u2013 This week, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) led a roundtable discussion with parents whose children fell victim to the dangers of social media to discuss the importance of the Kids Online Safety Act and holding Big Tech accountable for their addictive features that intentionally target kids and teens.\n\nMore photos are available here & video is available here.\n\n\u201cThank you for your persistence and for continuing to share your stories. I think it means more than you will ever know,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cBeing able to get this passed \u2014 get KOSA passed \u2014 and putting in place the protections that you all want to see so that you have those tools, just like you\u2019re saying, to protect kids, and putting that responsibility on social media, that duty of care, is so important. I am so grateful that you all are here.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou\u2019re making a difference, have no doubt that you\u2019re making a difference. You\u2019re helping others to avoid what you went through,\u201d said Senator Blumenthal. \u201cWhen the product design kills people, and they know it kills people, they ought to be held accountable.\u201d\n\nSharing their stories with the senators were parents whose children died or were severely impacted by cyberbullying, online extortion attempts, social media challenges, eating disorders, racially-motivated attacks, drug deals, and more \u2014 all of which were facilitated via social media platforms.\n\n\u201cAnonymous apps have always, when they\u2019re marketed to teens, led to cyberbullying because there\u2019s no accountability in a suicide,\u201d said Kristin Bride, mother to Carson who took his own life after receiving tormenting messages from classmates who hid their online identities. \u201cThese dangerous designs just keep coming and coming because there is no duty of care and that\u2019s why I\u2019m doing this work. I don't want to see other kids die and go through what our family has had to endure.\u201d\n\n\u201cRiley died by suicide on March 30, 2021 after he was targeted through Facebook messenger by a sextortionist that got him to send compromising images, and then blackmailed him,\u201d said Mary Rodee, mother to Riley who was lost to suicide. \u201cWe\u2019d had lots of talks about safety\u2026and still, this person from across the world was able to scare my Riley to death. This is not something that teachers or police officers or parents can fight\u2026we really need that duty of care that could have saved my baby.\u201d\n\n\u201cI get online, every week, I re-traumatize myself, and I search for the Choking Challenge,\u201d said Joann Bogard, mother to Mason who died after attempting an online challenge encouraging kids to choke themselves. \u201cI find the videos, I report them with the system that the platforms put in place, and very, very seldom do they take any of them down\u2026It doesn\u2019t go away, and it\u2019s not going away.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhen social media companies say that kids are searching for this content\u2026they are lying and they know it,\u201d said Meg Stuhmer, mother to Carly, who was seriously injured in a 2021 car accident that claimed the life of another teen. \u201cThere\u2019s an algorithm for us as adults, and there\u2019s an algorithm for kids and they are targeting our kids...This is the only [industry] that\u2019s not regulated. It needs to happen, and it should have already happened...KOSA needs to pass.\u201d\n\n\u201cI found out that she had communicated with a gentleman she had met on Instagram who\u2019s a drug dealer,\u201d said Julianna Arnold, mother to Coco who was poisoned by fentanyl in a drug deal that was arranged via social media. \u201cThe social media companies know what\u2019s going on. They are distributing the drugs for the cartels\u2026It would not be possible, and they would not be killing our kids the way they are if they did not have complete access to our young people through these social media channels. KOSA is very important because of the protections and accountability it can place on these social media companies.\u201d\n\n\u201cI firmly believe in KOSA. My daughter survived this, and I\u2019m just thankful for that, but I have a moral responsibility to be here with these parents and fight for KOSA,\u201d said LaQuinta Hernandez, mother to Jasmine who experienced severe online harassment and racist cyberbullying. \u201cUs as parents, there\u2019s only so much we can do. We\u2019re taking on these Big Tech companies, and we need help.\u201d\n\nSenators Blackburn and Blumenthal first introduced the Kids Online Safety Act in February 2022 following reporting and after spearheading a series of five subcommittee hearings with social media companies and advocates on the repeated failures by tech giants to protect kids on their platforms and about the dangers kids face online.\n\nMore photos and videos are available here.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-monopoly-power-is-crushing-the-soul-of-america", "Murphy: Monopoly Power Is Crushing the Soul of America", "2023-10-27", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Friday wrote a Substack post explaining how the massive concentration of economic power in the technology, financial, and media industries over the last forty years has come with both an economic and a spiritual cost for the American people. Murphy lays out how monopolies and anti-competitive markets have not only increased costs and depressed wages for workers, but they have also contributed to \u201cthe unspooling of America.\u201d\n\nMurphy highlighted the powerlessness many Americans feel living in a system where unelected mega-corporations make the rules that govern their daily lives: \u201cCitizens may be frustrated with the quality of their government, but at least they have agency when it comes to who runs public institutions. They get to vote in and out elected leaders, and with that ability comes a feeling of empowerment and control. But increasingly, elected government isn\u2019t making the decisions most critical to the lives of ordinary Americans. Instead, those decisions are made by monopoly or near-monopoly companies, who have so much power as to be nearly immune from government touch, and so much concentrated market share that consumers have no choice but to abide by their rules.\u201d\n\nOn how government can fight back, Murphy wrote: \u201cBut there is good news \u2013 government possesses the tools necessary to unwind concentrated economic power. Some of these tools are old-fashioned regulatory power. For instance, why shouldn\u2019t the rules of how our kids exist online be set by elected government instead of profit-obsessed private companies? Congress could, tomorrow, pass legislation to protect kids online and take back this rule-setting function from the wildly irresponsible hands of TikTok and Meta. Antitrust policy is another important, long dormant tool. Luckily, the Biden Administration has revived this capacity through a newly aggressive Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission. Suddenly, the big private governments are being held accountable by antitrust regulators, and that\u2019s a great thing.\u201d\n\nMurphy concluded: \u201cI care about breaking up monopoly power because it\u2019s good for consumers and workers. Costs are too high and wages are too low for the people I represent in Connecticut, and antitrust policy is an important means to give consumers more power to find lower prices and give workers more power to bargain for higher wages. But I care just as much about the crappy way that a lot of people I represent are feeling today. There are a lot of reasons for America\u2019s spiritual malaise, but this feeling of powerlessness is a big element. And taking power away from private governments and restoring it to consumers and workers, through truly competitive markets, or to citizens, through active government intervention in the economic rule setting, is a way to help replenish the soul of our nation.\u201d\n\nEarlier this week, Murphy hosted the first conversation in new series breaking down the Biden administration\u2019s steps to shift the balance back in favor of the American people, focusing on FTC and DOJ\u2019s recent actions to reshape major sectors like online commerce, internet search, health care, and airlines to the benefit of consumers. Murphy was joined by Bill McGee, Senior Fellow for Aviation and Travel at the American Economic Liberties Project, for a discussion on the DOJ\u2019s lawsuit against the proposed JetBlue-Spirit merger and its potential consequences for consumers, airline workers, and local communities.\n\nRead the full post here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-senators-call-for-humanitarian-pauses-and-hostage-releases-in-israel-hamas-war-echoing-united-states-resolution-at-united-nations", "Murphy, Senators Call for Humanitarian Pauses and Hostage Releases in Israel-Hamas War, Echoing United States Resolution at United Nations", "2023-10-27", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia and Counterterrorism, Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) released the following statement on the Israel-Hamas War:\n\n\u201cIsrael has a right to defend its citizens after Hamas\u2019s terrorist attacks, which have driven the region into turmoil and cost thousands of lives. The war in Gaza has become a humanitarian crisis and has claimed the lives of innocent Palestinians. As the United States put forward at the United Nations, we are calling for humanitarian pauses to allow full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian assistance for civilians and the immediate, unconditional release of all remaining hostages.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-van-hollen-schatz-welch-merkley-lead-22-senate-colleagues-calling-for-fuel-deliveries-to-hospitals-and-water-treatment-centers-in-gaza", "Murphy, Van Hollen, Schatz, Welch, Merkley Lead 22 Senate Colleagues Calling for Fuel Deliveries to Hospitals and Water Treatment Centers in Gaza", "2023-10-27", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia and Counterterrorism, and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) led 22 of their Senate colleagues in releasing the following statement:\n\n\u201cWe condemn Hamas\u2019 horrific terrorist attacks against Israel, for which Israel must hold Hamas accountable. In the course of that endeavor, every effort must be made to protect innocent civilians. Right now, hospitals in Gaza are hours away from running out of fuel that powers ventilators, incubators for babies, and other lifesaving equipment, and diseases are rapidly spreading without power to treat and pump clean drinking water. To prevent a potential health crisis and help save countless lives, we believe it is possible to transport fuel directly to these hospitals, desalination plants, and water pumping stations with full transparency to prevent diversion to Hamas. There are extensive oversight mechanisms in place that will track the fuel deliveries directly to the intended sites where they can be used immediately to prevent the deaths of innocent civilians, including babies and children. We encourage the Biden administration to work with our Israeli, Egyptian, and UN partners to enable these lifesaving deliveries.\u201d\n\nMurphy, Van Hollen, Schatz, Welch, Merkley are joined by U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Cory Booker (D-N.J), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Angus King (I-Maine), Chris Coons (D-Del.), and Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.).\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-statement-on-president-bidens-supplemental-request-for-domestic-funding", "Murphy Statement on President Biden's Supplemental Request for Domestic Funding", "2023-10-26", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee and Chairman of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on President Biden\u2019s request for supplemental funding to support domestic priorities and address urgent needs.\n\n\u201cIt is possible for Congress to both support Ukraine and Israel while also tackling the major, pressing challenges here at home. President Biden\u2019s supplemental request would provide funding to address the urgent needs of families and local communities in Connecticut and across the country.\n\n\u201cThis request includes a new batch of federal dollars to help keep child care costs low for families, while ensuring childcare providers can keep their doors open. It would also bolster our federal response to the fentanyl crisis that has devastated so many communities by providing life-saving overdose prevention and recovery services. Additionally, this request includes emergency disaster funding to help Connecticut farms that were hit hard by historic flooding this summer.\n\n\u201cIn the wake of the Hamas attacks on Israel, we have seen a disturbing rise in anti-Semitism and Islamophobia here at home. I have been calling for an immediate increase in funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, and I\u2019m glad this request includes $200 million to help ensure synagogues, mosques, and other religious institutions have the resource they need to feel secure. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I will fight to make sure this funding becomes a reality.\u201d\n\nEarlier this month, Murphy led a bipartisan group of senators in calling for additional funding for FEMA\u2019s Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) to be included in any supplemental funding package Congress may consider.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-when-leaders-choose-to-make-bullying-lgbtq-kids-a-top-priority-there-are-lethal-consequences", "Murphy: When Leaders Choose to Make Bullying LGBTQ Kids A Top Priority, There Are Lethal Consequences", "2023-10-26", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) spoke on the U.S. Senate floor in opposition to U.S. Senator Roger Marshall\u2019s (R-Kansas) and Senate Republicans\u2019 effort to target LGBTQ children and adults by allowing schools to refuse to serve meals to students who identify as LGBTQ or state agencies to reject applicants for SNAP and other nutrition programs on the basis that they are LGBTQ. The resolution failed by a vote of 50-47.\n\n\u201cIf you're feeding poor kids, it shouldn't matter whether that kid is straight or gay or transgender, whether they're black or white, whether they're Catholic or Protestant. You can't choose not to feed a kid because of their ethnicity, their race, or their sexual orientation. That's just common sense. And I'll guarantee you 90% of Americans agree with that sentiment. The reason we're debating this resolution, though, isn't because there's a problem that needs to be solved. We're debating this resolution because the right wing in this nation has launched a relentless and unceasing campaign to marginalize, demonize, and bully kids who are gay, transgender, or non-binary,\u201d said Murphy.\n\nMurphy highlighted how out of touch these Republican efforts are with what people in America really care about: \u201cA few weeks ago, I finished up my annual Walk across the state of Connecticut. Each year I spend a week walking about 20 miles a day talking to hundreds of people, most of them totally nonpolitical, about what they care about and what they want their leaders to be working on. You know what nobody talked to me about on that walk? Children's sexual orientation. Drag shows in schools. Bathroom labeling. You know what they did talk to me about? Wages not keeping up with costs. The safety of their neighborhoods. Israel. Opioids. Drug costs.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is no wonder the candidacy of Ron DeSantis \u2013 really founded on his relentless similar campaign of attacks against gay kids and adults in Florida \u2013 is floundering. Because even primary voting Republicans think that this obsession that Republicans have with children's sexual orientation or gender identity is just super creepy and super weird. And it has nothing to do with the actual set of problems that this nation is facing,\u201d Murphy added.\n\nMurphy told the story of Seth Walsh, a 13-year-old who died by suicide after relentless bullying for his LGBTQ identity and stressed the fatal consequences of Republican anti-LGBTQ rhetoric: \u201cA recent survey of transgender youth showed that half of them \u2013 52% of them \u2013 have contemplated suicide over the last year. Just think about that for a second. Half of the kids who are transgender come to the conclusion at some point in their young lives, that they would be better off dead, than to live in a world that believes that they are threats to be marginalized or expunged.\u201d\n\nMurphy concluded: \u201cHow small, how tiny do you have to be to reach a position of political leadership and choose to use that position to bully or shame kids like Seth? This campaign of targeting and marginalizing gay and transgender kids trying to convince the country that they are threats to this country \u2013 it's just wrong on the facts. It's wrong morally, and it has lethal consequences. And it should stop.\u201d\n\nA full transcript of his remarks can be found below:\n\n\u201cMr. President, on the merits, this resolution is just absurd. The Department of Agriculture is not as Senator Cruz alleges punishing schools based upon how they label bathrooms or what they teach in health classes. The offenses that Senator Marshall, Senator Cruz are alleging here are just made up.\n\n\u201cWhat the department is saying is simple. If you're feeding poor kids, it shouldn't matter whether that kid is straight or gay or transgender, whether they're black or white, whether they're Catholic or Protestant. You can't choose not to feed a kid because of their ethnicity, their race, or their sexual orientation. That's just common sense. And I'll guarantee you 90% of Americans agree with that sentiment.\n\n\u201cThe reason we're debating this resolution, though, isn't because there's a problem that needs to be solved. We're debating this resolution because the right wing in this nation has launched a relentless and unceasing campaign to marginalize, demonize, and bully kids who are gay, transgender, or non-binary.\n\n\u201cAll across the country where Republican state legislatures are introducing bills designed to demonize gay children, to make people believe that these kids are a threat to others. Hundreds and hundreds of bills all centered on the same lie as this resolution: that it's not okay to be gay, that it's abnormal to be transgender, and that society should rally around efforts to bully and shame these children and their families.\n\n\u201cA few weeks ago, I finished up my annual Walk across the state of Connecticut. Each year I spend a week walking about 20 miles a day talking to hundreds of people, most of them totally nonpolitical, about what they care about and what they want their leaders to be working on.\n\n\u201cYou know what nobody talked to me about on that walk? Children's sexual orientation. Drag shows in schools. Bathroom labeling. You know what they did talk to me about? Wages not keeping up with costs. The safety of their neighborhoods. Israel. Opioids. Drug costs.\n\n\u201cThis obsession that Senator Marshall and Senator Cruz and their right wing allies have with the sexual orientation of our kids is so divorced from what people are actually talking about in this country. It is no wonder the candidacy of Ron DeSantis \u2013 really founded on his relentless similar campaign of attacks against gay kids and adults in Florida \u2013 is floundering. Because even primary voting Republicans think that this obsession that Republicans have with children's sexual orientation or gender identity is just super creepy and super weird. And it has nothing to do with the actual set of problems that this nation is facing.\n\n\u201cBut there is one problem attached to this resolution. There are consequences to what Senator Marshall and Senator Cruz are proposing. When leaders choose to make bullying and marginalizing gay kids a top priority, kids listen. Fuel gets given to their bullies. People like the senators that are sponsoring this resolution, legitimize attacks on gay kids and make those kids feel inferior and alone.\n\n\u201cThe students at Seth Walsh's school, they were systematic in the way that they targeted him because he was gay. They pushed him down the stairs. They kicked him until he was badly bruised. They screened at him. They called him names. No doubt these bullies took direction and inspiration from adults who paved the way who endorsed this kind of behavior.\n\n\u201cAnd then one day after one of these incidents a frightened Seth called his mom and he said, Mom, you got to come get me right now. His mother could feel the fear in his voice. So she grabbed Seth's little brother, they rushed out the door, they went to the school, they brought him home. His mom was so supportive that afternoon. They just sat, and they talked Seth went upstairs. He took a shower to calm himself down. Afterwards, he came downstairs to ask his mom for a pen. told him he was going outside to play with the dogs.\n\n\u201c10 minutes later, his mom went outside to continue this conversation with her son. But it was too late. Seth had hung himself from a tree. And the pen he had asked for was for his suicide note. Seth Walsh was 13 years old.\n\n\u201cA recent survey of transgender youth showed that half of them \u2013 52% of them \u2013 have contemplated suicide over the last year. Just think about that for a second. Half of the kids who are transgender come to the conclusion at some point in their young lives, that they would be better off dead, dead than to live in a world that believes that they are threats to be marginalized or expunged.\n\n\u201cHow small, how tiny do you have to be to reach a position of political leadership and choose to use that position to bully or shame kids like Seth? This campaign of targeting and marginalizing gay and transgender kids trying to convince the country that they are threats to this country \u2013 it's just wrong on the facts. It's wrong morally, and it has lethal consequences. And it should stop.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/connecticut-delegation-announces-72-million-in-home-energy-assistance-funding-for-state", "Connecticut Delegation Announces $72 Million in Home Energy Assistance Funding for State", "2023-10-25", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013Members of Connecticut\u2019s Congressional delegation announced that Connecticut will receive $72,081,189 from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) ahead of the winter season.\n\n\u201cThousands of Connecticut families and seniors rely on LIHEAP to keep their lights on and their homes warm when temperatures drop. Every winter, we see a surge in demand for this program, and as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I\u2019m focused on securing as much funding as possible to ensure Connecticut families don\u2019t have to choose between paying their energy bill and putting food on the table. This $72 million is just the first batch of funding our state will receive, and I\u2019ll continue to work with my colleagues in the delegation to make sure families in Connecticut stay safe and warm this winter,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n\u201cThe rising cost of living puts a squeeze on families\u2019 finances, forcing them to make difficult choices between putting food on the table, keeping the lights on, or ensuring they can heat their homes during the colder months,\u201d said Congresswoman DeLauro. \u201cLIHEAP gives families needed financial security. As Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, I am proud to have secured $72 million for the program to help Connecticut families keep their heat on. LIHEAP ensures their homes stay warm during the winter months and that they can continue to provide for their families without having to make difficult decisions between what bills to pay or not to pay. I will note this is the only first allocation of LIHEAP funding, and I am committed to working with my Congressional colleagues and our state partners to provide additional resources so no household goes cold this winter.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis $72 million is desperately needed and arriving at just the right time. In Connecticut and across the nation, there is surging demand for heating assistance,\u201d said Richard Blumenthal. \u201cI am thrilled HHS released these funds so that Connecticut families can keep the heat on as temperatures drop ahead of winter. No family should have to choose between staying warm through the winter or putting food on the table.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs temperatures drop, LIHEAP funding is a lifeline for thousands of Connecticut families to heat their homes,\u201d said Larson. \u201cWhile House Republicans continue to propose deep cuts to LIHEAP and other critical programs, the Connecticut delegation has worked hard to secure funding so households in our state have the support they need to keep the heat on this fall and winter. We will keep fighting for the resources Connecticut needs for residents to stay warm and in their homes without breaking the bank.\u201d\n\n\u201cLIHEAP is an essential lifeline that helps many eastern Connecticut residents lower their energy costs in the winter. With colder months around the corner, we know demand will again be high for this critical help, and today\u2019s announcement will help funding levels meet the demands of those in need. I also encourage Governor Lamont and the state legislature to consider using additional state funds to support the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program if the needs of Connecticut residents exceed the federal LIHEAP allocation.\u201d said Courtney.\n\n\u201cWith winter just around the corner, this $72 million of LIHEAP funding offers critical assistance to those struggling to afford their energy bills. Adequate heating is a necessity, not a luxury, and I am proud to help deliver this federal support to ensure all of Connecticut\u2019s residents are able to stay safe and warm through the colder months.\u201d said Himes.\n\n\u201cAhead of the winter season, many low-income families in Connecticut are wondering how they will heat their homes. I am happy that Connecticut will receive over $72 million in Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding,\" said Hayes. \"This assistance will ease one of the many burdens expressed by underserved communities and allow them to prioritize other bills. I will continue to advocate for additional funding for this vital resource which is proven to lower utility costs and prevent shut-offs across our state.\u201d\n\nThe U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Office of Community Services (OCS) at the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), announced the release of $3.7 billion in LIHEAP funding to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, three territories, and more than 125 tribes. This amount includes the regular block grant appropriation and an additional $100 million appropriated from President Biden\u2019s Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).\n\nConnecticut was awarded a total of $72,081,189 to assist low-income families ahead of the winter season. This includes:\n\n$70,040,439 from the regular LIHEAP block grant funding\n\n$2,040,750 in funding appropriated for FY2024 from IIJA\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-readout-of-meeting-with-world-food-programme-executive-director-cindy-mccain", "Murphy Readout of Meeting with World Food Programme Executive Director Cindy McCain", "2023-10-25", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia and Counterterrorism, on Thursday released the following statement after meeting with World Food Programme (WFP) Executive Director Cindy McCain:\n\n\u201cThe humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire, and it was important to get an update from WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain on what her organization is seeing on the ground. They have done incredible work to feed half a million Gazans since the start of this crisis and are working to expand operations, but emergency food supplies are dwindling and their entire aid distribution system needs fuel to operate. It is urgent for Israel to allow fuel to reach hospitals, desalination plants, and water pumping stations \u2013 with all of the necessary protocols to prevent diversion \u2013 into Gaza to save the lives of innocent civilians. I will continue pushing for the United States to ensure our humanitarian partners at UNRWA, WFP, and other organizations receive the support necessary to help those fleeing violence.\u201d\n\nLast week, Murphy led 33 of his Senate colleagues in urging the Biden administration to lead the international community in contributing to the United Nations\u2019 emergency appeal of $294 million to address the immediate humanitarian needs in the West Bank and Gaza.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-statement-on-sfrc-vote-to-send-nominations-for-us-ambassador-to-israel-and-egypt-to-senate-floor", "Murphy Statement on SFRC Vote to Send Nominations for U.S. Ambassador to Israel and Egypt to Senate Floor", "2023-10-25", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia and Counterterrorism, on Thursday released the following statement after the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted to send the nominations for the U.S. Ambassador to Israel and Egypt to the U.S. Senate floor for confirmation:\n\n\u201cJack Lew is eminently qualified to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Israel, and his confirmation is critical to our ability to most effectively support our ally, work to prevent a larger conflict in the region, and protect innocent civilians. I look forward to his swift confirmation by the full Senate, but there are several other vacant posts in the region and their confirmation is just as crucial. I\u2019m glad to see the nominee for U.S. Ambassador to Egypt also advance to the Senate floor, and I will continue working with Chairman Cardin and my colleagues on the committee to make sure we have a Senate-confirmed American diplomat in every capital in the region.\u201d\n\nLast week, Murphy spoke at a U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the nominations hearings of Jack Lew to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Israel and Herro Mustafa Garg to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Egypt. Earlier this month, Murphy called for swift confirmation of key State Department officials in the Middle East, including Ambassador to Israel and Egypt. Since then, the Senate has confirmed the ambassadors to Kuwait and Oman.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-statement-on-vote-against-amendment-that-will-increase-veterans-risk-of-suicide-by-firearm", "Murphy Statement on Vote Against Amendment that Will Increase Veterans' Risk of Suicide by Firearm", "2023-10-25", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Wednesday released the following statement after voting in opposition to U.S. Senator John Kennedy\u2019s (R-La.) amendment to the 2024 Fiscal Year Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill that would increase veterans\u2019 risk of suicide by firearms.\n\n\u201cI thought one of the few things we could all agree on is that people experiencing serious mental illness should not be able to buy guns. This amendment will allow every single veteran who is experiencing a mental health crisis, including those who are actively suicidal, to get their hands on a deadly weapon, putting their own life and the lives of others at risk. I made an offer to sit down with Senator Kennedy and work out a compromise, but that offer was not accepted. Instead, the Senate voted on a death sentence for thousands of veterans across this country. More than 6,500 veterans die by firearm suicide every year. We have a duty of care for those who have sacrificed so much for our country, and today we failed them.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-blumenthal-push-to-fund-program-to-lower-cost-of-high-speed-internet", "Murphy, Blumenthal Push to Fund Program to Lower Cost of High-Speed Internet", "2023-10-24", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) joined a group of 32 colleagues in urging Congressional leaders to extend funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program, which provides financial assistance to access high-speed internet for 172,54 households in Connecticut and more than 21 million working families across the nation.\n\n\u201cWe write to urge you to extend funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provides over 21 million working families with financial assistance for broadband access, to help bridge the digital divide so they can continue to afford the broadband services they need for work, school, health care, and more,\u201d wrote the senators. \u201cShould ACP funding not be extended, millions of Americans could be at risk of losing access to broadband.\u201d\n\n\u201cFailing to extend funding would be irresponsible,\u201d they continued. \u201cWe urge you to extend funding for the ACP in a government appropriations package and include a long-term solution that ensures efficient spending of taxpayer dollars.\u201d\n\nThis letter is signed by U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.)Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).\n\nThe full letter can be found HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/two-weeks-out-from-election-day-murphy-urges-hhs-to-add-voter-registration-option-to-healthcaregov", "Two Weeks Out from Election Day, Murphy Urges HHS to Add Voter Registration Option to Healthcare.gov", "2023-10-24", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013Two weeks ahead of Election Day, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, on Tuesday requested an update from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on its implementation of President Biden\u2019s Executive Order from March 2021 requiring federal agencies to expand opportunities to register to vote. In a letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, Murphy urged HHS to incorporate voter registration options into enrollment on Healthcare.gov.\n\n\u201cSpecifically, I write to seek an update on the status of whether voter registration options will be incorporated into Healthcare.gov during enrollment. Given the number of Americans who utilize Healthcare.gov, I strongly encourage HHS to incorporate such an option as soon as possible, especially in light of upcoming national elections,\u201d Murphy wrote.\n\n\u201cOn September 28, 2021, the White House released a \u201cFact Sheet\u201d which detailed steps that agencies have taken, or plan to take, to address the requirements of the March 7th EO. Subsequently, on December 8, 2021, the White House released another \u201cFact Sheet\u201d outlining additional specific actions, including a commitment to making it easier to register to vote by utilizing Healthcare.gov to connect voters to voter registration services and other voter services,\u201d Murphy continued. \u201cAs of today\u2019s date, it does not appear that a voter registration option has been incorporated in the Healthcare.gov enrollment process.\u201d\n\nMurphy concluded: \u201cThe right to vote is the foundation of our democracy, but states around the country are increasingly making it more difficult for Americans to make their voices heard. Ensuring the American people are able to exercise this fundamental right must be a priority, and, in service of that goal, we must offer voters as many opportunities as possible to register.\u201d\n\nFull text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Secretary Becerra,\n\nI write to request an update from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regarding the implementation of Executive Order 14019 which among other things, required federal agencies to consider ways to expand citizens\u2019 opportunities to register to vote and obtain information about the electoral process. Specifically, I write to seek an update on the status of whether voter registration options will be incorporated into Healthcare.gov during enrollment. Given the number of Americans who utilize Healthcare.gov, I strongly encourage HHS to incorporate such an option as soon as possible, especially in light of upcoming national elections.\n\nAs you know, on March 7th, 2021, President Biden signed EO 14019 (March 7th EO)[1] to promote access to voting, simultaneously acknowledging that there are many existing obstacles to exercising the right to vote for countless Americans which ultimately frustrate their right to participate in our democracy. The March 7th EO also required each agency to submit a strategic plan outlining the results of internal reviews examining ways the agency could facilitate additional voter registration and participation consistent with the law. On September 28, 2021, the White House released a \u201cFact Sheet\u201d which detailed steps that agencies have taken, or plan to take, to address the requirements of the March 7th EO[2]. Subsequently, on December 8, 2021, the White House released another \u201cFact Sheet\u201d outlining additional specific actions, including a commitment to making it easier to register to vote by utilizing Healthcare.gov to connect voters to voter registration services and other voter services[3].\n\nAs of today\u2019s date, it does not appear that a voter registration option has been incorporated in the Healthcare.gov enrollment process. The right to vote is the foundation of our democracy, but states around the country are increasingly making it more difficult for Americans to make their voices heard. Ensuring the American people are able to exercise this fundamental right must be a priority, and, in service of that goal, we must offer voters as many opportunities as possible to register. As such, I write to inquire about the status of incorporating a voter registration option on Healthcare.gov.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-and-blackburn-hold-roundtable-with-young-people-to-discuss-online-kids-safety", "Blumenthal & Blackburn Hold Roundtable with Young People to Discuss Online Kids Safety", "2023-10-23", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, D.C.] \u2013 Last week, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) hosted a roundtable with young people\u2014middle schoolers, high schoolers, and college students\u2014to discuss the harms they and their friends are facing online. Blumenthal and Blackburn are the lead sponsors of the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act, which would provide kids and parents with better tools to protect themselves online, hold Big Tech accountable for harms to kids, and provide transparency into black box algorithms.\n\nMore photos are available here and here & video is available here\n\n\u201cYour bearing witness today is so very powerful,\u201d said Blumenthal, welcoming the group, and discussing the Kids Online Safety Act. \u201cWe now have almost 50 co-sponsors. You know, that\u2019s almost half of the United States Senate. That\u2019s virtually unprecedented. And it\u2019s evenly divided: Republicans, Democrats.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs we started looking at what was happening in the virtual space and having hearings, we heard from parents, kids, pediatricians, teachers, principals, child psychologists, and children\u2019s hospitals,\u201d said Blackburn, discussing the drafting of the Kids Online Safety Act and the bipartisan series of hearing the Senators held over the course of two years on Big Tech\u2019s harms. \u201cSo many times they would open up with, \u2018We\u2019ve seen your hearing. We watched it. Can we tell you our story?\u2019 And because of that, we knew this was a problem that needed to be solved.\u201d\n\nSharing young people\u2019s perspective on online issues were a group of middle schoolers, high schoolers, and college students from across the country, including Washington, D.C., Virginia, Tennessee, Florida, and Oregon.\n\n\u201cJust remember that if something abusive happens online, harassment online, exploitation online, it is not your fault,\u201d said 13-year-old Frances Binford-Ross from Oregon. \u201cWe are dealing with so many forces, so many huge forces, and it is so hard to push against them. They have these algorithms that push extreme content on us just for engagement, for likes, comments, follows, anything. They do not care about our wellbeing and they\u2019re not taking accountability for how they\u2019re harming us, or for how they\u2019re harming the future of this country.\u201d\n\n\u201cI identify as a survivor of online exploitation, and the only reason I\u2019m here talking about it is because I don\u2019t want anybody else and their childhood to be for sale, because I was put for sale,\u201d said 26-year-old Olivia Littleton from Florida. \u201cEvery single predator I\u2019ve met that\u2019s extorted me was connected to me through a website or an app, and they would have not had access to me otherwise.\u201d\n\nMore photos are available here and here & video is available here\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/following-disturbing-rise-in-antisemitism-and-hate-crimes-murphy-gillibrand-peters-rosen-announce-push-to-protect-synagogues-mosques-other-religious-institutions", "Following Disturbing Rise in Antisemitism and Hate Crimes, Murphy, Gillibrand, Peters, Rosen Announce Push to Protect Synagogues, Mosques, Other Religious Institutions", "2023-10-20", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013Following a disturbing rise in antisemitism and hate crimes, U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) are calling for additional funding to protect synagogues, Jewish community centers, mosques, and other religious or non-profit institutions that are at high risk of terrorist attacks. In a letter to House and Senate Appropriations Committee leadership, the senators requested that $500 million in funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency\u2019s (FEMA) Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) program be included in the Fiscal Year 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. NSGP provides grant funding to at-risk institutions to strengthen security measures and help make sure everyone can worship without fear.\n\n\u201cIn the wake of the horrific Hamas terror attacks on Israel, I am deeply concerned about the increased threats against synagogues, mosques, and other religious institutions here at home. The Nonprofit Security Grant Program is a crucial resource for places of worship looking to upgrade their security measures and protect their communities. There is bipartisan support for this program, and as Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, I am committed to fighting for a significant increase in federal funding to safeguard against violent extremism and hate,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n\u201cOver the last few years, we have seen a steady and disturbing rise in hate crimes across the country and at home in New York,\u201d said Gillibrand. \u201cAnd as the crisis in the Middle East worsens, we are likely to see threats to Jewish, Muslim, and Arab communities grow. I am calling on Congress to provide $500 million in federal funding to make sure that synagogues, mosques, and other at-risk organizations can upgrade security measures and guard against potential terror attacks. Every American has the right to worship freely and without fear. I\u2019m committed to making sure they can.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery American has a fundamental right to practice their faith and live in their community safely and peacefully,\u201d said Peters. \u201cI\u2019ve repeatedly fought to increase funding for this critical program to help houses of worship\u2014including synagogues, mosques and gurdwaras\u2014as well as other community nonprofits secure their facilities, particularly as the number of hate crimes in our country continues to rise. As hostilities in the Middle East lead to increased tensions at home, I strongly urge my colleagues to fund the program at $500 million to help keep our communities safe.\u201d\n\n\u201cAt a time when anti-Jewish hate crimes are reaching the highest levels in decades, we must take action to protect Americans from the threat of antisemitism,\u201d said Rosen. \u201cIncreased funding for the life-saving Nonprofit Security Grant Program will help ensure synagogues, community centers, and other nonprofits have the resources needed to protect themselves from targeted violence.\u201d\n\nLast year, the FBI recorded more than 11,000 hate crime incidents, the most since it started collecting this data in 1991. This includes 1,124 incidents of anti-Jewish hate crime. Since Hamas launched its attack on Israel, there have been reports of growing antisemitism and antisemitic incidents from around the country, and a recent attack on a Palestinian family in Illinois left a 6-year-old boy dead and his mother hospitalized.\n\nAdditional funding for the NSGP would help protect these and other communities. Organizations can use NSGP funds to invest in a variety of security measures, including installing physical target hardening measures like gates and motion lights, conducting preparedness and prevention planning exercises, and contracting security personnel. In Fiscal Year 2023, NSGP distributed $305 million in funding. Nevertheless, not all organizations that applied for funding received it. The senators\u2019 push would help meet the growing demand.\n\nThe full text of the senators\u2019 letter to House and Senate Appropriations Committee leadership is available here or below:\n\nDear Chairwoman Murray, Ranking Member Collins, Chairwoman Granger, and Ranking Member DeLauro,\n\nThank you for your continued support for the Federal Emergency Management Agency\u2019s (FEMA) Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP). Congress appropriated a record $305 million in funding for the NSGP in FY 2023. This funding was a crucial step towards meeting high demand for these critical security measures. However, the Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel and the escalating conflict have elevated concerns of potential security threats to Jewish, Muslim, and Arab communities and houses of worship across the country. As the war escalates, it must be expected that houses of worship and community centers of all faiths will require greater resources to improve their security. Therefore, as you draft the final Fiscal Year 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations bill, we respectfully request you fund the NSGP at no less than $500 million, with $250 million going towards eligible nonprofits in high-risk urban areas and $250 million going to eligible nonprofits outside such areas.\n\nDomestic terrorism and hate crimes targeted at vulnerable communities are at historic highs. Last May, a white supremacist shot 13 and killed 10 in a predominantly Black neighborhood in Buffalo, New York. In August 2023, a man wielding a swastika-emblazoned rifle killed three Black people at a Dollar General store in Jacksonville, Florida. Earlier this month, a man in Indiana was indicted for sending violent, antisemitic threats to four offices of the Anti-Defamation League. Hate and extremism continue to pose a threat to minority communities and we should ensure that we are able to provide robust support to our constituencies who are threatened by such violence.\n\nWhile we are grateful many law enforcement departments around the country are proactively on high alert for hate crimes stemming from Hamas\u2019 assault on Israel, we are already seeing virulent antisemitism at rallies across the country. Additionally, just this past weekend, a 6-year-old Palestinian American boy was tragically killed and his mother stabbed in what has been charged as a hate crime in response to current events in the Middle East. We are concerned that continued tensions may lead to increased hate crimes against the Jewish, Muslim, Arab and other communities. For these reasons, we respectfully urge you to increase funding for the NSGP in your final bill to a total of $500 million.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 475, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"chamber\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "Senate", "p1": "CT", "p2": "2023"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=CT&year=2023", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 475, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=CT&year=2023&party=Democrat", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=CT&year=2023", "results": [{"value": "Senate", "label": "Senate", "count": 475, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=CT&year=2023", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=CT&year=2023", "results": [{"value": "CT", "label": "CT", "count": 475, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&year=2023", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=CT&year=2023", "results": [{"value": "2023", "label": "2023", "count": 475, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=CT", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2023-10-20,https~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Emurphy~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fnewsroom~2Fpress-releases~2Ffollowing-disturbing-rise-in-antisemitism-and-hate-crimes-murphy-gillibrand-peters-rosen-announce-push-to-protect-synagogues-mosques-other-religious-institutions", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=CT&year=2023&_next=2023-10-20%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Emurphy~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fnewsroom~2Fpress-releases~2Ffollowing-disturbing-rise-in-antisemitism-and-hate-crimes-murphy-gillibrand-peters-rosen-announce-push-to-protect-synagogues-mosques-other-religious-institutions&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 247.27757833898067, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}