{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"Senate\", state = \"CT\" and year = 2024 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-releases-2024-end-of-year-report", "Murphy Releases 2024 End of Year Report", "2024-12-31", "2024", "2024-12", "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 Tuesday released his End of Year Report outlining the work he\u2019s done for the people of Connecticut during 2024. The report details Murphy\u2019s legislative priorities this year, including continuing to implement the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, building more social connection, fighting for 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 367 pieces of legislation, including 68 bills or resolutions as the lead sponsor.\n\nCompleted his eighth Walk Across Connecticut: four days, 64 miles, 16 towns, and hundreds of people along the way.\n\nTraveled across the state, hosting 117 roundtables, listening sessions and more with Connecticut residents.\n\nResponded and reached out to Connecticut residents through over 383,000 calls, emails, and letters.\n\nReturned nearly $2 million to constituents, including owed Social Security payments, veterans\u2019 benefits, tax refunds, and other savings from federal agencies.\n\nHelped over 3,300 constituents work through federal issues and get their owed benefits.\n\nClick here to download Senator Murphy\u2019s 2024 End of Year Report.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-statement-on-the-passing-of-former-president-jimmy-carter", "Blumenthal Statement on the Passing of Former President Jimmy Carter", "2024-12-29", "2024", "2024-12", "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) today released the below statement following the passing of Former President Jimmy Carter:\n\n\u201cJimmy Carter was a public servant for all seasons\u2014leading by example, passionately and unstintingly, over deeply different and sometimes difficult phases of his life and the nation\u2019s.\n\n\u201cThe diversity and longevity of his public service is staggering\u2014as a military officer, Governor and President, home builder, health care activist, and much more. He certainly showed that leadership in elected office is only one of many ways to give back to our great nation. He believed fervently in the opportunity and obligation of every single person to make a difference and better the lives of others. I\u2019ll always be grateful for his appointing me as U.S. Attorney for Connecticut, which is how I first came to know him.\n\n\u201cWhile some disagreed with his political views or positions, none could doubt his sincerity and decency, his faith and humanity. He built a legacy of giving back\u2014personifying the adage that there\u2019s no limit to the good you can do if you don\u2019t care who gets the credit.\u201d\n\nBlumenthal was appointed to be the U.S. Attorney for Connecticut by President Carter and served in that role for four years during the Carter Administration.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/-murphy-statement-on-death-of-president-jimmy-carter", "Murphy Statement on Death of President Jimmy Carter", "2024-12-29", "2024", "2024-12", "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.) released the following statement on the death of President Jimmy Carter:\n\n\u201cFew people have modeled what it means to live a life dedicated to the service of others more than President Jimmy Carter. He led with compassion, humility, and moral clarity even when it came at a political cost. Helping others was his calling, and President Carter didn\u2019t need the White House to change millions of lives. From his work at the Carter Center to volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, he worked every day to build a more just world.\n\n\u201cIn a 1979 speech, President Carter warned the nation we have two paths to choose from \u2013 one toward fragmentation and self-interest and another toward common purpose. It\u2019s a warning that rings true still today.\n\n\u201cMy heart is with the Carter family as the nation mourns the loss of a giant.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/icymi-permanent-subcommittee-on-investigations-releases-report-and-supporting-documents-in-coast-guard-sexual-misconduct-cover-up", "ICYMI: Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations Releases Report & Supporting Documents in Coast Guard Sexual Misconduct Cover-Up", "2024-12-27", "2024", "2024-12", "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) Chair Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Ranking Member Ron Johnson (R-WI) released a bipartisan interim staff report on their inquiry into the Coast Guard\u2019s efforts to conceal the investigation into mishandled cases of sexual assault and harassment at the Coast Guard Academy.\n\nThe report, Coast Guard Efforts to Conceal the Operation Fouled Anchor Investigation from Congress and the Public, includes several newly released documents, among which is an email explaining that then-Commandant Admiral Schultz chose not to affirmatively disclose Operation Fouled Anchor to either Congress or the public based on the continuing nature of the investigation. This email was sent the same day that a briefing by the Coast Guard to Congress on Operation Fouled Anchor was scheduled to take place \u2013 effectively engaging in a cover-up. Additional evidence further suggests that the Coast Guard took affirmative steps to remove references to Operation Fouled Anchor from internal Coast Guard communications which Congress had requested as part of an inquiry into harassment, bullying, and retaliation at the Coast Guard Academy.\n\n\u201cThis report provides additional evidence that the highest levels of Coast Guard leadership engaged in a purposeful and long-term cover-up of widespread sexual assault and harassment allegations at the Coast Guard Academy,\u201d Blumenthal and Johnson said. \u201cThe survivors of this misconduct deserve an explanation, and so does the public.\u201d\n\nBackground on the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations\n\nInquiry into the Coast Guard\n\nIn September 2023, PSI opened a bipartisan inquiry into the Coast Guard\u2019s internal review of sexual assault and harassment cases that occurred between 1990 and 2006, which was called Operation Fouled Anchor. The Subcommittee\u2019s inquiry has focused on the Coast Guard\u2019s original mishandling of these cases and the Coast Guard\u2019s failure to reveal the conclusion of Operation Fouled Anchor, and its associated report, to Congress and the public. The Subcommittee is also examining the ways in which the Coast Guard currently handles reports of sexual assault and harassment.\n\nLast December, the Subcommittee held a hearing in which four current and former Coast Guard Academy cadets testified about the Coast Guard\u2019s mishandling of their cases.\n\nIn February 2024, the Subcommittee released additional documents showing that the Coast Guard was concerned that, should Operation Fouled Anchor be made public, it would \u201crisk the initiation of comprehensive Congressional investigations, hearings, and media interest\u201d and that \u201c[t]he rates of sexual assault reporting have not appreciably changed, calling into question impact of Coast Guard actions taken over the past decade to change CGA climate/etc.\u201d Handwritten notes on one document, which according to the Coast Guard were made by then-Vice Commandant Admiral Charles Ray, state, \u201cProblem is one of the past... .\u201d\n\nIn June, Admiral Linda Fagan, Commandant of the Coast Guard, testified before PSI. In August, Blumenthal released a majority staff report highlighting firsthand accounts of Coast Guard enlisted personnel, officers, and Coast Guard Academy cadets who have experienced sexual assault, harassment, and other forms of misconduct ahead of a field hearing in New London, Connecticut, featuring testimony from two current and three former members of the Coast Guard.\n\nThe full text of the Senators\u2019 initial letter to the Coast Guard is available here. The letter from December 2023 is available here. Video of the Subcommittee\u2019s hearing in December featuring testimony from survivors can be viewed here. The Subcommittee\u2019s February 2024 letter is available here. The Subcommittee\u2019s hearing invitation to Admiral Linda Fagan is available here, and the video of Admiral Fagan\u2019s testimony in June 2024 is available here. The majority staff report highlighting the testimony of survivors of sexual assault and harassment in the Coast Guard is available here. Video of the field hearing in New London is available here.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-statement-on-spending-bill-to-avert-government-shutdown", "Blumenthal Statement on Spending Bill to Avert Government Shutdown", "2024-12-21", "2024", "2024-12", "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) issued the following statement after the Senate passed an end-of-year spending deal that would extend government funding until March 2025:\n\n\u201cThis stopgap spending bill averts a government shutdown\u2019s devastating human consequences reaching every corner of Connecticut and the country. Connecticut\u2019s economy benefits from smart, targeted investments in our future\u2014not from repeated budgetary brinksmanship. This agreement will provide essential disaster aid for local farmers impacted by extreme flooding, safeguard Connecticut\u2019s submarine industry, and fund essential nutrition and public health programs on which so many Connecticut families depend. I pledge to continue the fight to fund vital programs that serve the American people, lower prescription drug costs, and promote economic growth and opportunity.\u201d\n\nThe Continuing Resolution (CR) includes a number of provisions that would benefit Connecticut, including a topline of $2.94 billion in post-disaster investments. Specifically, the CR includes:\n\nDisaster Aid for Connecticut Farmers: The CR includes $20.78 billion in disaster aid for farmers for necessary expenses related to losses of revenue and quality or production of crops. Extreme weather events, including severe floods and unprecedented droughts have devastated Connecticut farms in recent years. In the wake of these events, Blumenthal has authored legislation to improve access to disaster assistance programs and crop insurance for small-sized farms. The CR includes an estimated $22 million in disaster payments and an estimated $1 million in economic assistance payments for Connecticut.\n\nSupport for the Virginia Class Submarine Program: The CR provides $5.69 billion in emergency funds for the Virginia Class Submarine Program, including wage increases for non-executive workers. Blumenthal has fought for increased funding to safeguard Connecticut\u2019s submarine industry and continue steady production of the Virginia Class program.\n\nRelief for Recovering Small Businesses: The CR includes $2.249 billion for the Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loans Program Account to provide relief for small businesses recovering from natural disasters. Currently, 77 disaster loan applications from Connecticut are pending at SBA totaling $6.71 million in aid.\n\nFunding Repairs to Local Roads and Bridges: The CR invests $8.08 billion in the Federal Highway Administration Emergency Relief Program at the Department of Transportation to help communities recovering from natural disasters make necessary repairs. Connecticut could benefit from at least $48 million for emergency funding.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-statement-on-short-term-deal-to-keep-the-government-open-2024", "Murphy Statement on Short-Term Deal to Keep the Government Open", "2024-12-21", "2024", "2024-12", "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.) released the following statement after voting for a short-term deal to keep the government open and deliver disaster aid to impacted communities in Connecticut and across the country.\n\n\u201cThe government almost shut down because the only thing co-presidents Elon Musk and Donald Trump care about is making themselves and their billionaire friends richer \u2013 it\u2019s that simple. The past 48 hours were a hostage-taking exercise that put millions of families in the lurch just days before Christmas, all in the name of raising the debt ceiling so Trump can finance a giant tax break for billionaires in January. And now that Trump and Musk didn\u2019t get their way, they\u2019ve hatched an even more shameful plan to cut Medicare, Medicaid, and veterans benefits by $2.5 trillion instead. This \u2018Billionaire First\u2019 agenda is what we have to look forward to next year.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-and-connolly-introduce-bicameral-legislation-to-protect_expand-national-scenic-trails", "Blumenthal & Connolly Introduce Bicameral Legislation to Protect & Expand National Scenic Trails", "2024-12-20", "2024", "2024-12", "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) and U.S. Representative Gerry Connolly (D-VA) introduced legislation to preserve and expand America\u2019s national trail system. The Complete America\u2019s Great Trails Act gives a tax credit to landowners who voluntarily make land contributions towards the completion of National Scenic Trails, expanding the trail system and protecting the land from development.\n\nConnecticut is home to two of the 11 National Scenic Trails\u2014the Appalachian Trail, which extends 52 miles across the state from Salisbury in the north to Sherman in the south, and the New England Trail, which extends 117 miles across the state from Suffield in the north to Guilford in the south.\n\n\u201cThe system of National Scenic Trails provides access to truly extraordinary landscapes\u2014accessing the beauty of nature and recreational opportunities,\u201d said Blumenthal. \u201cThe Complete America\u2019s Great Trails Act incentivizes landowners to help close gaps in our national trail system, ensuring we protect habitat from encroachment of development while expanding the trails themselves. We owe it to ourselves and to future generations to preserve these treasured spaces.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Complete America\u2019s Great Trails Act will enhance, expand, and protect trails in America\u2019s most treasured places, from Mt. Vernon to Mount St. Helens, by providing landowners with incentives to protect public access and natural landscapes along America\u2019s National Scenic Trails,\u201d said Connolly. \u201cI am proud to lead this effort with Senator Blumenthal and look forward to our continued work together to protect these American treasures for generations to come.\u201d\n\nThe Complete America\u2019s Great Trails Act provides landowners who make a voluntary land contribution towards the completion of the National Scenic Trails with a tax credit equal to the fair market value of the portion of the land, furthering the goal of strengthening the connectivity and improving the maintenance of the trail system.\n\nThe legislation is cosponsored in the Senate by U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).\n\nThe legislation is supported by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association.\n\n\u201cWalking and hiking in nature is a wonderful experience that brings with it many benefits, including good health, time with friends and family, and conserving the environment,\u201d said Andy Bicking, Executive Director of the Connecticut Forest & Park Association, the state\u2019s oldest conservation organization that manages the 825-mile network of Blue-Blazed Hiking Trails. \u201cWe\u2019re grateful for Senator Blumenthal\u2019s leadership in reintroducing the Complete America\u2019s Great Trails Act. The legislation will help protect national trail resources for future generations and secure access to the outdoors for all people.\u201d\n\nThe full text of the bill can be found here.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-statement-on-480-million-for-sikorsky-helicopters", "Blumenthal Statement on $480 Million for Sikorsky Helicopters", "2024-12-20", "2024", "2024-12", "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 (D-CT), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement applauding four awards totaling $480,294,997 for Sikorsky to support the manufacturing of CH-53K and VH-92A helicopters.\n\n\u201cThese blockbuster contracts, providing newest model helicopters, are crucial to key defense capabilities. They are also a boost for Connecticut\u2019s economy and good-paying jobs in our state. They are a testament to the highly skilled Sikorsky workers and supply chain companies who build the world\u2019s finest helicopters. There is an ever increasing urgency to the need for such aircraft. I will continue fighting to deliver contracts to Connecticut\u2019s expert defense manufacturers,\u201d said Blumenthal.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-statement-on-boars-head-response-regarding-deadly-listeria-outbreak", "Blumenthal Statement on Boar's Head Response Regarding Deadly Listeria Outbreak", "2024-12-19", "2024", "2024-12", "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 (D-CT) and Congressional colleagues received a response to the September 30 letter sent to Boar\u2019s Head Provisions Company, Inc. (Boar\u2019s Head) in which they demanded answers about the conditions at the Jarratt, Virginia plant at the center of a nationwide Listeria outbreak. Boar\u2019s Head\u2019s response failed to substantively answer key questions posed by Blumenthal.\n\n\u201cThis Boar\u2019s Head response is an insulting effort to blow off accountability. The public deserves answers, not these evasive dodges. The deadly Listeria outbreak killed 10 people and injured many more, but Boar\u2019s Head refuses to provide any real response about their unsafe and negligent Virginia plant. Their ham-handed approach to a very serious health issue fails to take accountability for the outbreak, provide any clarity on actual plans to prevent a future outbreak, or ease the minds of consumers. With the time for action long overdue, Boar\u2019s Head must at least own up to their actions and failures and provide a real response. I\u2019ll continue to fight for answers and demand real responsibility from all involved in this deadly disaster,\u201d said Blumenthal.\n\nBoar\u2019s Head failed to answer several questions raised in the September 30 letter, including:\n\nNo confirmation if they plan to reopen the Virginia plant at the center of the Listeria outbreak\n\nNo clear commitment to improving plant\u2019s infrastructure or explanation of how Boar\u2019s Head plans to prevent non-compliances in the future\n\nNo response explaining their past food safety policies\n\nNo response on why staff did not act sooner to address food safety concerns or how management will be held accountable\n\nNo response on the frequency Boar\u2019s Head conducted microbial testing\n\nNo response on testing data as requested\n\nNo word if Boar\u2019s Head tested non-contact food surfaces\n\nNo response on whether third party inspections were conducted before the recall\n\nNo response on how HQ handled food safety concerns prior to establishing the new Boar\u2019s Head Food Safety Advisory Council\n\nLimited information on the documented steps of the recall\n\nThe United States Department of Agriculture\u2019s (USDA) Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) announced key reforms this week that were raised in the September 30 letter to the agency. Notable changes include:\n\nFSIS adding broader Listeria species testing to all samples of ready-to-eat product, environmental and food contact surfaces.\n\nFSIS updating its instructions and training for food safety inspectors to better equip the workforce to recognize and highlight systemic problems in a standardized way.\n\nFSIS field supervisors conducting in-person, follow-up visits when systemic issues are identified during a Food Safety Assessment.\n\nFSIS clarifying state and Federal requirements for consistent oversight of Talmadge-Aiken (TA) programs through updated cooperative agreements and instructions.\n\nThe USDA logged 69 instances of \u2018noncompliance\u2019 with federal rules at the Boar\u2019s Head plant in the past year. U.S. inspectors also warned \u201cthat conditions at [the] Boar\u2019s Head plant posed an \u2018imminent threat\u2019 to public health\u201d two years prior to the outbreak. This Listeria outbreak led to at least 60 hospitalizations and 10 deaths across 19 states.\n\nBoar\u2019s Head\u2019s response is available here. The September 30 letter to Boar\u2019s Head can be found here and the letter to the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) can be found here. FSIS has not yet responded.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/icymi-video-senate-passes-blumenthals-legislation-to-advance-management-and-conservation-of-plum-island", "ICYMI Video: Senate Passes Blumenthal's Legislation to Advance Management & Conservation of Plum Island", "2024-12-19", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, D.C.] \u2013 In case you missed it, the Senate unanimously passed legislation authored by U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and cosponsored by U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) to create a long-term solution for management of Plum Island. The Plum Island Preservation Study Act requires the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) to conduct a study to evaluate the national significance of Plum Island and the suitability of designating Plum Island as a unit of DOI. Blumenthal spoke on the Senate floor yesterday in support of the Plum Island Preservation Study Act passing through unanimous consent.\n\n\u201cThank you for giving us this opportunity, and, again, I thank my colleagues for approving all of these unanimous consents on behalf of land and resources that have such great value, like Plum Island, a national treasure,\u201d said Blumenthal.\n\n\u201cThe passage of the Plum Island Preservation Study Act, while not achieving immediate and permanent protection of Plum Island and its nationally significant natural, historic, cultural, and scenic resources, is, nevertheless, a critical step toward achieving this highly worthwhile goal,\u201d said Preserve Plum Island Coalition spokesperson John Turner. \u201cWe applaud all of our Senate and House sponsors for sticking with it and pushing the measure over the finish line. We urge Congress next to expeditiously appropriate funding so the Department of the Interior can undertake the studied assessment which we are confident will find Plum Island worthy of permanent preservation.\u201d\n\n\u201cBravo and thank you Senator Blumenthal! You heard us and have worked tirelessly for many years to promote the preservation of Plum Island,\u201d said Louise Harrison, Save the Sound\u2019s Long Island Project Manager. \u201cThe Plum Island Preservation Study Act sets out a route for the studies and stakeholder collaborations necessary to bring the people\u2019s vision for Plum Island into focus. There is no place like Plum Island; we are thrilled this legislation has passed and look forward to a House bill passing that brings this to full fruition. Moreover, we can\u2019t wait for the day Plum Island is fully preserved.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Nature Conservancy commends Senator Blumenthal, Majority Leader Schumer, and the entire U.S. Senate for approving the Plum Island Preservation Study Act, an important step toward permanently protecting Plum Island,\u201d said Bill Ulfelder, The Nature Conservancy\u2019s New York Executive Director. \u201cJust 100 miles from New York City, Plum Island is a national treasure that provides a myriad of benefits for people and wildlife. We are grateful to Senate Majority Leader Schumer, Senators Blumenthal, Gillibrand, and Murphy, and Congressmembers LaLota and Courtney for their unwavering dedication and leadership in protecting this extraordinary place.\u201d\n\nSituated in Long Island Sound between Connecticut and New York, Plum Island is a federally-owned 840-acre island home to several endangered and vulnerable species. The island also houses the Fort Terry and Plum Island Lighthouses, two locations on the National Register of Historic Places. The Connecticut and New York delegations have been working extensively with DOI, the General Services Administration, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to solidify the future of Plum Island, and this legislation marks landmark progress in the fight to permanently preserve the island.\n\nVideo of Blumenthal\u2019s remarks on the Senate floor is available here. The full text of the Plum Island Preservation Study Act can be found here.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-trump-and-his-billionaire-buddies-want-to-be-in-charge-to-make-themselves-richer-at-our-expense", "Murphy: Trump and His Billionaire Buddies Want to be in Charge to Make Themselves Richer at Our Expense", "2024-12-19", "2024", "2024-12", "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 to call out President-elect Trump\u2019s ongoing plan to crush political dissent and lay the groundwork to transition American democracy into an oligarchy \u2013 all before he is even sworn in. This week alone, House Republicans recommended former Congresswoman Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) be criminally investigated for her work on the Select Committee on the January 6 Attack, Trump sued Iowa pollster Ann Selzer and the Des Moines Register for publishing a poll he didn\u2019t like, and ABC News settled Trump\u2019s bogus defamation lawsuit for $15 million. In his speech, Murphy laid out how these attacks on free speech and the free press, coupled with Trump and his billionaire friends demanding a Christmas government shutdown in exchange for their demands, threaten American democracy as we know it.\n\nMurphy laid out the stakes: \u201cAmerica has been for almost all of our history a functioning, robust democracy where the party or individual in power changes regularly because people hold all the tools necessary to choose their leaders. But that could change in a heartbeat, so quickly, but without any one galvanizing moment that the transition might just be missed by all of us. You could just wake up one day and find out that the rules of democracy have been so rigged that Republicans or the Trump family never, ever lose again, and billionaires get to steal from all of us without any accountability.\u201d\n\n\u201cBut I think it's also equally important to talk about why Donald Trump and Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy and all of his billionaire friends are engaged in this very coordinated early attack, even before he's sworn in, to try to intimidate his political opposition and bully the press. And the reason they are doing this, the reason that they are trying to suppress dissent is because they are preparing to steal from us. Donald Trump and his billionaire buddies want to be in charge of government so that they can make themselves more wealthy at our expense. They want government contracts. They want to privatize government programs. They want to get bigger regulatory breaks. They want lower taxes,\u201d he added. \u201cDonald Trump and his billionaire cronies want government to serve them, but they know the only way they get away with that is if no one holds them accountable. So in order to steal from us, they have to silence political opposition, intimidate activists into submission, and try to get the press to fold. If they do that, then they can get away with using government as a mechanism to enrich themselves.\n\nHe exposed why Trump wants to shut down the government if Congress doesn\u2019t raise the debt ceiling: \u201cWhy do they want to raise the debt ceiling? It's easy. They want to pass a huge tax cut for the billionaires in charge of Donald Trump's government. That's their agenda. Big, big tax cut for billionaires and corporations. But the only way you can do that is if the debt ceiling is raised. The only way you can get away with that is if you can borrow more money on the backs of ordinary, average, everyday people in order to pay for that tax cut. So we're seeing the agenda of the Trump administration before they're even sworn in in front of our eyes. Rig rules in order to make the billionaires richer and telegraph that as your number one priority to Congress.\u201d\n\nMurphy concluded: \u201c\u201cThe survival of our 240-year experiment is facing, right now, one of its most severe tests. I just think it's time that everybody woke up to that and pulled their heads out of the sand.\u201d\n\nA full transcript of Murphy\u2019s remarks can be found below:\n\n\u201cMr. President, I'm on the floor today to talk to my colleagues about something that is happening right in front of our eyes. It's a set of events that aren't random, they\u2019re connected to one another, that threaten to destroy this country that we love. Everybody can see it. But for some reason, maybe the exhaustion of the aftermath of a brutal election, maybe the distraction of the Christmas season, maybe just an instinct to flee instead of fight, there are far too many people that are denying to themselves what they are seeing.\n\n\u201cWhat is happening right now is that Donald Trump and his billionaire advisors are unfolding for the country in real time, a plan to transition this country from a democracy to a restrictive oligarchy where political opposition is silenced, where the media isn't free, and where government just exists to enrich a small cabal of elites that surround the man in charge.\n\n\u201cI know a lot of my colleagues do see how these dots exist and how they connect, and I know in your gut, a lot of you see the specter of the disaster that is coming. But if you don't, I want to spend just a few minutes laying it out. And to make things simple, I'm just going to focus on three events that happened in the last seven days: the recommendation by House Republicans that Trump critic Liz Cheney be subject to criminal prosecution, the lawsuit filed by Trump against an Iowa pollster at an Iowa newspaper, and the decision by ABC to pay Trump $15 million to get rid of a bogus lawsuit.\n\n\u201cFirst, the recommendation from House Republicans that Liz Cheney be prosecuted. Liz Cheney was a member of the January 6 commission that tried to find some accountability for the assault on this Capitol that resulted in people dying, that resulted in an officer with blood running down his face running into this chamber to rescue us before the violent rioters got a hold of us.\n\n\u201cDonald Trump did not like that narrative that he had something to do with, that he inspired the January 6 riot. He doesn't even like the narrative that January 6 was a riot. His events are opened by the January 6 choir in commemoration of the events of that day.\n\n\u201cWhat happened this week is that Donald Trump made good on his promise. He said during the campaign that he was going to use the military, law enforcement, the National Guard to deal with the enemy within. And when asked who the enemy within was, he said Nancy Pelosi, Adam Schiff, Democrats. Now people laughed it off during the campaign because that doesn't happen in America. We don't use law enforcement to lock up your political opposition, but that's exactly what's being recommended when it comes to Liz Cheney. Liz Cheney did nothing criminal. There's not even a whiff of a criminal allegation. She was just in charge of a commission that Donald Trump opposed, but House Republicans, taking orders from Donald Trump, just recommended that the next administration, the next Department of Justice criminally prosecute Liz Cheney. And by the way, Liz Cheney won't be the last. There will be other political opponents of Donald Trump who are referred for prosecution.\n\n\u201cNow that would be laughable today, under an FBI and a Department of Justice that doesn't lock up people for political reasons, but Donald Trump is changing the guard at the FBI. He's putting in someone loyal to him as the next Attorney General, the person he's going to put in at the FBI wrote a book about how important it was to eliminate from government anybody that doesn't line up with the political priorities of the president. He has said that the people who ran fair elections in 2020 should go to jail because if you didn't run an election that resulted in Donald Trump being elected, then you did something wrong.\n\n\u201cThis week, the House recommended Liz Cheney for criminal prosecution. Donald Trump cheered that recommendation, and we are getting ready to vote on an Attorney General and a Director of the FBI who have made clear they are ready to eagerly prosecute Trump's political opponents.\n\n\u201cThis is really important to talk about because this is one of the key ways that democracies fall all around the world. It frankly doesn't take hundreds of political prosecutions. It only takes a handful before ordinary, average Americans just decide that they would be better off staying quiet instead of facing potential harassment or intimidation or a jail sentence for speaking out the way that Liz Cheney did.\n\n\u201cThe second thing that happened in this last week was that Donald Trump filed a lawsuit against a pollster in Iowa. The grounds of the lawsuit are simple. He didn't like the results of the poll. The poll said the Iowa race was close. The poll ended up being wrong, but he is suing the pollster and the newspaper because he was upset that that poll helped galvanize opposition to him. That poll, which suggested that race was close, got a lot of people to donate to his political opponent, gave people in Iowa some hope that maybe a Democrat could win. That's not allowed in Donald Trump's world. It's not allowed in Donald Trump's world for anything to be in service of his political opposition. So he's filing a lawsuit that has no chance of succeeding because he wants to try to intimidate journalists and the press into submission.\n\n\u201cWhether we like it or not, it just is true that maybe in the future, a pollster who has a poll in front of them that shows a race closing, shows a race that's favorable to Democrats won't publicize that poll out of fear of a lawsuit.\n\n\u201cAnd connected to that lawsuit is the third thing I want to talk about, the decision by ABC to pay Donald Trump $15 million to settle a bogus lawsuit, a bogus defamation lawsuit that would have never succeeded in court, but ABC, for whatever reason, decided it would be better for them to just pay Donald Trump to make it go away.\n\n\u201cAnd you are seeing repeated decisions by people in the media to just go along with Donald Trump rather than risk his ire, rather than potentially put their profits at risk if Donald Trump and his regulatory agencies turn against them. You saw Jeff Bezos tell his newspapers not to endorse Kamala Harris. You have seen an effort by Comcast to divest itself from MSNBC. You've seen ABC pay off Donald Trump $15 million. Over and over and over again, you see members of the press starting to decide it's just better not to fight him.\n\n\u201cThese three things taken together show you the playbook. Threaten political opposition with jail, throw a few of them into jail to show you're serious, sue and intimidate and harass anybody that does anything that is helpful to your political opposition, and intimidate and harass the media in the hopes that they will just go away and stop criticizing you.\n\n\u201cI don't think it's a coincidence that during this period of media harassment by Donald Trump, when Liz Cheney was referred for criminal prosecution, all of the headlines played it totally straight. None of the headlines suggested that the criminal prosecution was bogus, was built on lies, was built on no understanding of the law. The headlines just said \u2018Liz Cheney referred for criminal prosecution.\u2019\n\n\u201cI think it's really important that we lay out what's happening here because this is how a democracy vanishes. But I think it's also equally important to talk about why Donald Trump and Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy and all of his billionaire friends are engaged in this very coordinated early attack, even before he's sworn in, to try to intimidate his political opposition and bully the press. And the reason they are doing this, the reason that they are trying to suppress dissent is because they are preparing to steal from us. Donald Trump and his billionaire buddies want to be in charge of government so that they can make themselves more wealthy at our expense. They want government contracts. They want to privatize government programs. They want to get bigger regulatory breaks. They want lower taxes.\n\n\u201cDonald Trump and his billionaire cronies want government to serve them, but they know the only way they get away with that is if no one holds them accountable. So in order to steal from us, they have to silence political opposition, intimidate activists into submission, and try to get the press to fold. If they do that, then they can get away with using government as a mechanism to enrich themselves.\n\n\u201cAnd if you want further proof of their agenda, look what's happening right now today, as we speak, Republicans and Democrats had a deal to keep the government open and operating, to fund much needed disaster assistance, and it was killed yesterday by the two billionaires closest to Donald Trump. And when asked as to what their alternative was, they said raise the debt ceiling. Donald Trump said raise the debt ceiling. You'll have my support for a continuing resolution if you raise the debt ceiling.\n\n\u201cWhy do they want to raise the debt ceiling? It's easy. They want to pass a huge tax cut for the billionaires in charge of Donald Trump's government. That's their agenda. Big, big tax cut for billionaires and corporations. But the only way you can do that is if the debt ceiling is raised. The only way you can get away with that is if you can borrow more money on the backs of ordinary, average, everyday people in order to pay for that tax cut. So we're seeing the agenda of the Trump administration before they're even sworn in in front of our eyes. Rig rules in order to make the billionaires richer and telegraph that as your number one priority to Congress.\n\n\u201cListen, there aren't just democracies and dictatorships in the world. There are dozens of countries that occupy a gray zone in between those poles. Countries where there are still elections, but the media and the political opposition are so weak, weak because they've been beaten into submission by the regime, that the people actually have no power. There are elections, but the same group, the same man, the same family, wins every time.\n\n\u201cAmerica has been for almost all of our history a functioning, robust democracy where the party or individual in power changes regularly because people hold all the tools necessary to choose their leaders. But that could change in a heartbeat, so quickly, but without any one galvanizing moment that the transition might just be missed by all of us. You could just wake up one day and find out that the rules of democracy have been so rigged that Republicans or the Trump family never ever lose again, and billionaires get to steal from all of us without any accountability.\n\n\u201cI know that that sounds hard to believe. I admit that I might be wrong about all of this. America's democracy, it is the longest existing democracy in the history of the world. It has proven to be resilient. It's filled with grit. It has survived challenges before. But like every one of us eventually disappears from this planet, so does every democracy. Every democracy has a last day. And if you look around the world, the steps that lead to the termination of a democracy, the end of self-governance, are shockingly similar from country to country.\n\n\u201cThe wealthy people who control the media and the economy fold into the regime. Better to join than to fight. The citizens get scared of joining up with the opposition movement because they're fearful of harassment. Better to stay quiet than fight. If we don't speak out more loudly and more boldly about the events of the last week, and the way that we are seeing a purposeful, detailed road map constructed by Donald Trump and his billionaire friends to transition democracy to an oligarchy. If we don't fight like hell against these nominees, especially those going to the Department of Justice that will execute this assault on democracy, then our nation very soon could easily befall the same as these other destructed democracies.\n\n\u201cThe survival of our 240-year experiment is facing right now one of its most severe tests. I just think it's time that everybody woke up to that and pulled their heads out of the sand. I yield back.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-and-blackburn-joint-statement-on-house-leaderships-refusal-to-allow-a-vote-on-the-kids-online-safety-act", "Blumenthal & Blackburn Joint Statement on House Leadership's Refusal to Allow a Vote on The Kids Online Safety Act", "2024-12-18", "2024", "2024-12", "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 (D-CT) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) released the following statement on the status of passing the Kids Online Safety Act in the 118th Congress:\n\n\u201cWhile the House has refused to take up the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act, countless children and teens have died from suicide, mental health disorders, predation, bullying, and drug use fostered and fueled by Big Tech.\n\nOne of these victims, Jesse Harrington, was a 15-year-old boy who wanted to be a firefighter and died by suicide in October after becoming addicted to Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok, while the House sat on its hands at the behest of Mark Zuckerberg. The House\u2019s active obstruction of the Kids Online Safety Act will tragically result in the deaths of even more children like Jesse.\n\nTo be clear: the blockade against safeguards and accountability was about padding Big Tech\u2019s financial bottom line, not principle. For nearly four years, we have worked with more than 240 organizations and colleagues across the political spectrum to craft bipartisan legislation to protect children online from Big Tech abuses \u2013 legislation that passed the Senate on a 91-3 vote. Yet falsehoods crafted in Silicon Valley boardrooms and parroted by Washington politicians, along with millions of dollars spent along the way, held up KOSA in the House to advance Meta and Google's goal of profiting off our children.\n\nWe are thankful to Senate leadership, most especially Senators Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, John Thune, Ted Cruz, and Maria Cantwell and the powerful bipartisan coalition that supported KOSA and continues to believe it is necessary. We are grateful for the many free speech advocates who saw through Big Tech's lies and smokescreen, including Elon Musk, Linda Yaccarino, and Donald Trump, Jr. It was House Republican leadership who chose not to move this bill forward despite overwhelming support.\n\nWe will continue the strongly bipartisan fight on the Kids Online Safety Act for the young people and parents across the country that have spoken up and demanded reforms from Big Tech. The American public deserves to know that their families and kids\u2019 lives are more important than Meta and Google\u2019s profits.\u201d \u2013 said Blumenthal and Blackburn.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-and-swalwell-introduce-bicameral-legislation-to-reduce-student-loan-debt-for-public-servants", "Blumenthal & Swalwell Introduce Bicameral Legislation to Reduce Student Loan Debt for Public Servants", "2024-12-18", "2024", "2024-12", "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) and U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell (D-CA) introduced the Strengthening Loan Forgiveness for Public Servants Act, legislation to expand the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF) to provide meaningful student debt relief to teachers, police officers, public health workers, and others who dedicate their careers to public service.\n\n\u201cOur nation\u2019s dedicated public servants make incredible sacrifices for the betterment of our country, and they deserve relief from the immense weight of student debt,\u201d said Blumenthal. \u201cThe Strengthening Loan Forgiveness for Public Servants Act provides a helping hand to the loyal police officers, teachers, and healthcare workers serving our communities and expands opportunities to ease financial burdens\u2014repaying a debt of gratitude to our public servants.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe should support students seeking a career in public service. That\u2019s why I introduced the Strengthening Loan Forgiveness for Public Servants Act,\u201d said Swalwell. \u201cToo often students are prevented from pursuing a career in public service because of crippling college loan debt. This bill seeks to offer student loan forgiveness to teachers, police officers, public health workers and others who dedicate their careers to public service. Incentivizing students to seek public service careers while staying debt free will not only benefit our communities, but also allow students to freely make decisions for their future.\u201d\n\nThe Strengthening Loan Forgiveness for Public Servants Act expands PSLF and eliminates uncertainty for borrowers. The legislation allows borrowers to receive forgiveness for their loans in qualifying intervals, further incentivizing individuals to pursue careers in public service.\n\nThe legislation is cosponsored in the Senate by U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Tina Smith (D-MN).\n\nThe full text of the bill can be found here.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-applauds-final-passage-of-the-national-defense-authorization-bill", "Blumenthal Applauds Final Passage of the National Defense Authorization Bill", "2024-12-18", "2024", "2024-12", "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 applauding the Senate passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025. The NDAA includes a number of provisions championed by Blumenthal that make significant investments in Connecticut\u2019s defense manufacturing workforce, support service members across the Department of Defense, and enhance national security. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 85-14 after passing the House of Representatives last week. The full text of the NDAA is available here. A summary of the NDAA is available here.\n\n\u201cThis landmark bipartisan defense measure bolsters our national security and boosts Connecticut\u2019s economy. We\u2019re redoubling our nation\u2019s commitments to servicemen and women with significant pay raises and programs and keeping faith with our allies and our own defense needs through important investments in subs, ships, artillery, and aircraft to ensure the security of the American people. This bill makes critical investments in advanced technologies and weapon platforms and the talented workforce that build them in Connecticut, showing our state\u2019s central role in our nation\u2019s defense efforts. We also make significant investments in the health and quality of life of servicemembers\u2014resources rightfully earned. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I was proud to fight for these provisions. I look forward to continuing my advocacy,\u201d said Blumenthal.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-murphy-delauro-and-elicker-announce-20-million-for-climate-energy_other-environmental-initiatives-in-new-haven", "Blumenthal, Murphy, DeLauro, & Elicker Announce $20 Million for Climate, Energy & Other Environmental Initiatives in New Haven", "2024-12-18", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[NEW HAVEN, CT] \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Chris Murphy (D-CT), U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), and Mayor Justin Elicker announced $20 million in federal funding for the City of New Haven and twenty partner organizations to advance a series of environmental initiatives designed to mitigate climate change, build resiliency, and reduce pollution in New Haven. The funds are awarded through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s Community Change Grants Program established to reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience, and build community capacity. The Community Change Grants Program is made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act.\n\n\u201cThis significant $20 million investment is a testament to New Haven\u2019s consistent commitment to community climate resilience. New greenways, improved sidewalks, energy upgrades, and more will transform neighborhoods and reduce air pollution in the surrounding community. I\u2019m proud that Inflation Reduction Act funding continues to advance environmental justice across Connecticut,\u201d said Blumenthal.\n\n\u201cThis $20 million in federal funding is a huge win for neighborhoods in New Haven. With this money, the city can invest in new greenways and bike share programs that will make our communities safer to enjoy and energy-efficient upgrades that will reduce household costs for families. These investments will not only improve quality of life today but will help us build a stronger and more sustainable future for New Haven,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n\"Today, we celebrate the $20 million Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grant awarded to the Elm City Climate Collaborative, made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act,\" said DeLauro. \"This funding will empower the City of New Haven and the Greater Dwight Development Corporation (GDDC) to tackle pollution, bolster climate resilience, and address environmental justice challenges. I was happy to support this joint request to the federal government having been engaged in the work that the City and GDDC have done over the years and seeing first-hand the success of their efforts. Protecting our communities from the impacts of climate change is crucial to our shared prosperity, and I am proud to see New Haven and the GDDC spearheading this critical effort.\"\n\n\u201cNew Haven is committed to tackling the challenge of climate change head on and building a greener, healthier, and more resilient city. This grant will help strengthen and support an unprecedented collective effort by the City and 20 partner organizations that will impact thousands of New Haven residents through investments in more energy efficient and cost-efficient homes, more accessible and greener transportation, and more resilient and safer neighborhoods. This effort will also help create good-paying green jobs for individuals today while also educating our children to engage in environmentally sustainable practices in the future,\u201d said Elicker. \u201cThis $20 million award is yet another example of how the Inflation Reduction Act \u2013 championed by Biden-Harris Administration, Senator Blumenthal, Senator Murphy, and Congresswoman DeLauro \u2013 has been a game changer for communities, cities and states across the nation, including New Haven.\u201d\n\nThe City of New Haven and statutory partner Greater Dwight Development Corporation came together with five other community-based organizations to launch the Elm City Climate Collaborative, a community-driven engagement process to mitigate climate change, build resiliency, and reduce pollution in New Haven. The Collaborative grew to twenty partnering organizations, which developed a multi-pronged plan focused on serving the City\u2019s most vulnerable neighborhoods. The effort is designed to accelerate and expand preexisting programs and focus areas that the City and its partners are undertaking to build a greener, healthier, and more resilient city. Together, they submitted a successful grant application, that over the course of the next three years will advance the following initiatives:\n\nGreen and energy efficient homes: Investing in healthy and energy efficient new construction and home retrofits, including weatherization, insulation, heat pump installations, and housing improvements to enable energy efficiency. This includes an estimated 350 buildings that will receive comprehensive energy assessments through Energize CT for energy-efficient and health-related upgrades. The funding will also support grants of up to $100,000 for energy upgrades at new or substantially rehabilitated affordable housing projects.\n\nClimate resilience corridors: Establishing 5,000 feet of new climate resilience corridors that traverse Fair Haven and other neighborhoods. These corridors will create new greenways, walkways and bikeways, including over 1,500 tree plantings, the removal of concrete and asphalt, the installation of permeable sidewalks, and utilization of stormwater capture and diversion technology including specially engineered tree pits.\n\nFood rescue and community composting: Increasing capacity for rescuing food to an estimated 2 million pounds of rescued food annually to help feed the hungry and low-income residents and also diverting over 800 tons of organic material annually to a new community composting hub.\n\nGreen transportation: Expanding the New Haven bike share system, Ride New Haven, to include an additional 100 e-bikes and 100 pedal bikes across a wider network of 10 additional stations in neighborhoods across the city. Currently, there are 32 stations and 100 e-bikes and 100 pedal bikes in the Ride New Haven system.\n\nClimate education: Increasing bicycle safety, recycling, and composting education within school communities to include an additional twenty New Haven Public Schools.\n\nGreen jobs and workforce development: Expanding employment in climate-related jobs across these initiatives, supporting residents participating in high-quality job training opportunities, and supporting New Haven youth in urban agriculture, tree planting and composting.\n\nIn total, the City of New Haven is partnering with 20 collaborating entities as part of the Elm City Climate Collaborative. Other partnering organizations include, the Greater Dwight Development Corporation (statutory partner) and the Beulah Land Development Corporation, Bradley Street Bike Cooperative, Center for Ecotechnology, CitySeed, Community Action Agency of New Haven, DataHaven, Gather New Haven, Greater Dwight Development Corporation, Haven\u2019s Harvest, Junta for Progressive Action, MakeHaven, Newhallville Community Services Development Corporation, New Haven Coalition for Active Transportation, New Haven Ecology Project, St. Luke\u2019s Development Corporation, Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven, Park New Haven, Urban Resources Initiative, Workforce Alliance, and Yale Urban Design Workshop.\n\n\u201cWe, at the Greater Dwight Development Corporation, are thrilled that our application has been selected, and we are excited to partner with the City and other local groups on this project. The City has been very cooperative in working with various non-profits for this application, and the entire process has been collaborative from inception, and we look forward to continuing this partnership,\u201d said Executive Director Linda Townsend Maier. \u201cWe hope to support residents and strengthen the community with these initiatives, and to start a transformative process in how non-profits with varying missions across the city can work together to create a more environmentally sound and economically resilient future.\u201d\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-to-serve-as-ranking-member-of-the-senate-committee-on-veterans-affairs", "Blumenthal to Serve as Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs", "2024-12-18", "2024", "2024-12", "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) announced today that he will become the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Veterans\u2019 Affairs during the upcoming Congress:\n\n\u201cAs the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Veterans\u2019 Affairs I\u2019ll have the honor and leadership opportunity to protect and expand the care and benefits that veterans need and deserve. They\u2019ve earned \u2013 and should receive \u2013 better healthcare, expanded access to education, increased job training opportunities, and more. I thank Chairman Tester for his great work, and I will seek to continue it, especially on implementing the PACT Act. I look forward to working closely with Senator Moran, who has been a terrific legislative partner in the past, and who has shown a deep commitment to serving our nation\u2019s veterans.\u201d\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/new-senate-permanent-subcommittee-on-investigations-majority-staff-report-exposes-failure-to-stop-us-technology-from-fueling-russias-war-machine-and-chinas-ai-arms-race", "New Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations Majority Staff Report Exposes Failure to Stop U.S. Technology from Fueling Russia's War Machine and China's AI Arms Race", "2024-12-18", "2024", "2024-12", "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), Chair of the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), released a Majority staff report revealing how the Department of Commerce\u2019s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has failed to enforce semiconductor export controls, leading to the continued appearance of American-manufactured technology in Russian weapons used in the war in Ukraine and in China\u2019s Artificial Intelligence systems. PSI\u2019s investigation has uncovered how chronic underfunding has undercut the BIS\u2019s ability to fulfill a key national security function\u2014forcing the agency to rely on laughably outdated technology to trace increasingly sophisticated distribution networks. Today\u2019s report stresses the need for additional resources and enforcement action to strengthen our national security and protect against diversion of U.S.-made technology by Russia and China.\n\n\u201cOur present sanction system is a sieve\u2014enabling an illicit flow of technology to Russia that fuels its murderous war on Ukraine,\" said Blumenthal. \"An aggressive crackdown is urgent to make export controls effective against both Russia and China. Lack of resources and effort make current controls a mockery. My PSI investigation calls for an overhaul of sanctions enforcement to protect our national security and technological dominance. I\u2019m calling on the Department of Commerce to take immediate action and crack down on the companies allowing U.S.-made semiconductors to power Russian weapons and Chinese ambition.\u201d\n\nIn September 2023, PSI initiated an inquiry to better understand the prevalence of American-manufactured microchips in Russian weapons systems despite export controls implemented to block Russia from accessing U.S. technology. Earlier this year, PSI Majority staff released a report revealing the U.S.-based semiconductor manufacturers\u2019 laissez-faire attitude toward export control compliance. Today, PSI is releasing its final Majority staff report in the Subcommittee\u2019s inquiry into the U.S. technology fueling Russia\u2019s war machine. A summary of PSI\u2019s key findings is below.\n\nCongress has not provided BIS with adequate funding to fulfill its mission.\n\nBIS\u2019s workload and responsibilities tied to national security have drastically increased since 2010, but its funding has remained mostly stagnant.\n\nBIS lacks funding to conduct enough international end-use checks, a critical tool in enforcing export controls. This has resulted in limited end-use checks in countries that (1) are known to have entities engaged in transshipment of semiconductors to Russia, and (2) were identified in the Subcommittee\u2019s September 10, 2024 report as having substantial increases in imports of U.S.-manufactured semiconductors in 2022 and 2023.\n\nBIS\u2019s core IT systems were created in 2006 and have received only patchwork fixes in the nearly two decades since. BIS cannot afford the modern IT infrastructure needed to analyze the full range of data available to combat efforts at export control diversion.\n\nBIS has failed to fully use its existing authority to enforce export controls.\n\nThe Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and Export Control Reform Act of 2018 (ECRA) give BIS robust and unique powers to implement and enforce export controls. Despite its significant authority, BIS does not require that semiconductor companies\u2019 export control programs contain any specific components.\n\nBIS has never brought significant penalties against companies for violating export controls even when companies knew there was a high probability that the transaction breached or could lead to a breach of the law.\n\nIn a letter to Commerce Secretary Raimondo, Blumenthal referred PSI\u2019s findings and recommendations to the agency and urged BIS to take immediate enforcement action. In his letter, Blumenthal also called on the agency to take steps that ensure these efforts continue in the next administration. Today\u2019s report and letter underscoring the consequences of an underfunded and weakened BIS come as the incoming Trump administration eyes across agency budget cuts. Blumenthal\u2019s letter to Secretary Raimondo is available here. The full staff report detailing PSI\u2019s findings is available here.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-blumenthal-lawmakers-probe-real-estate-firm-easyknock-after-abrupt-closure-demand-answers-for-customers", "Murphy, Blumenthal, Lawmakers Probe Real Estate Firm EasyKnock After Abrupt Closure, Demand Answers for Customers", "2024-12-18", "2024", "2024-12", "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 Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) in sending a letter to the Founder and CEO of EasyKnock\u2014a real estate company that bought people\u2019s homes and turned them into renters\u2014probing the company\u2019s allegedly deceptive and predatory business practices and their impacts on customers, after the company abruptly closed its doors on December 5, 2024. The letter was also signed by Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.).\n\nBefore its recent closure, EasyKnock purchased homes from financially distressed homeowners through its \u201cSell & Stay\u201d program, promising they would \u201c[r]eceive 100% of [their] home\u2019s value without having to move.\u201d However, consumer lawsuits and multiple state attorneys general have alleged that EasyKnock\u2019s deceptive advertising and business practices often left former homeowners far worse off than they were before the company found them, causing homeowners to lose cherished family homes and much of the equity they originally had in them.\n\n\u201cWe are deeply concerned about EasyKnock\u2019s lasting impact on vulnerable homeowners, including homeowners with pending residential sale-leaseback agreements with your company, and the extent to which the company will be handling these agreements in the wake of its abrupt closure earlier this month,\u201d wrote the lawmakers.\n\nAccording to reports, EasyKnock customers rarely received anything close to the full market values of their homes, and the company employed predatory tactics, such as consistent rent increases in spite of a lack of improvements to properties, placing customers in financial positions where they could no longer repurchase their homes.\n\n\u201cAcross America, the allegations against EasyKnock followed a similar pattern: EasyKnock made misleading statements about services to entrap vulnerable homeowners only to break its promises at the expense of working families,\u201d continued the lawmakers.\n\nIn March 2024, the Connecticut Attorney General\u2019s Office launched an investigation into EasyKnock, Inc. over potentially deceptive home sale-leaseback deals.\n\nThis month, EasyKnock abruptly shut down. According to public reports, customers, shocked and confused by the news, were given little explanation of the closure, with one customer reporting that she was notified that a company called NESE Property Management now manages her home.\n\n\u201cEasyKnock\u2019s decision to \u2018shut down\u2019 raises even more questions about how it will handle ongoing agreements and properly compensate homeowners who were negatively affected by the company\u2019s actions,\u201d concluded the lawmakers.\n\nThe senators are requesting information about EasyKnock\u2019s past business practices and its abrupt closure by December 30, 2024.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-leads-democratic-colleagues-in-reintroducing-bicameral-legislation-to-expand-support-for-magnet-schools", "Murphy Leads Democratic Colleagues in Reintroducing Bicameral Legislation to Expand Support for Magnet Schools", "2024-12-18", "2024", "2024-12", "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, along with U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and U.S. Representatives Joe Courtney (D-Conn.), Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.), and Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-Ga.) on Wednesday reintroduced the Magnet Schools Accessibility, Growth, and Nonexclusionary Enrollment Transformation (MAGNET) Act, legislation to strengthen support for magnet schools. The bill would require the federal Magnet Schools Assistance Program (MSAP) grant to prioritize applicants that plan to establish whole-school magnet schools, emphasize inter-district diversity, and propose strategies to improve diversity and academic performance across schools and districts. It would also authorize a new grant program housed under MSAP, the Supplemental Diversity Grant (SDG), which aims to continue supporting the work of existing magnet programs aspiring to improve their diversity-related goals.\n\nMagnet schools are public schools designed to cater to different learning styles and attract a wide range of students from different racial and socioeconomic backgrounds across zip codes. More than 3.5 million students attend magnet schools nationwide, but as school districts become increasingly segregated by race and income, this legislation updates the MSAP grant to expand access to funding and ensure it supports magnet schools with the greatest impact on improving diversity and academic performance. In Connecticut, 86 magnet schools serve nearly 40,000 students in grades pre-K through 12 across 29 districts.\n\n\"Connecticut's magnet schools are proof that desegregating our classrooms improves academic outcomes for everyone,\" said Murphy. \u201cExpanding access to these schools across the country will ensure every kid \u2013 no matter their zip code \u2013 can get a quality education. I\u2019m glad to reintroduce this legislation to support existing magnet schools and help other districts get new programs off the ground.\u201d\n\n\u201cThousands of kids in Connecticut benefit from the diversity and specialized curriculum at magnet schools, and even more students stand to gain access to these educational opportunities with our bill. Expanding resources for magnet schools will give parents even greater choice within the public school system and set more students up for success,\u201d said Blumenthal.\n\n\u201cMagnet schools foster diversity, promote academic excellence, and help provide access to quality learning opportunities regardless of the student\u2019s zip code,\u201d said Booker. \u201cThe MAGNET Act will expand funding for magnet schools that are working to improve diversity so we can ensure students from different racial and socioeconomic backgrounds all have the opportunity to thrive.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a former parent of public school students and a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, ensuring that Virginia\u2019s students have the resources they need to thrive is one of my top priorities,\u201d said Kaine. \u201cI\u2019m proud to be joining with my colleagues in introducing the MAGNET Act, which will help increase racial and socioeconomic diversity in our magnet schools and further strengthen our school districts.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe magnet school model breaks down social barriers to learning in our nation and promotes academic success and healthier communities. Our bill will help establish high-quality successful magnet schools and expand existing programs so all students and families can reap the benefits of a magnet school education,\u201d said Courtney.\n\n\u201cStudents deserve access to high-quality public schools, including magnet programs. Funding constraints and lack of investment often block students from these educational opportunities so we must be creative in our approach to solutions.\u201d said Hayes. \u201cThe MAGNET Act will enable public schools to invest in high-quality programming for more students. This legislation will also create new magnet programs and opportunities for vulnerable and underserved students.\u201d\n\nThe MAGNET Act is endorsed by: American Federation of Teachers (AFT); Capitol Region Education Council; Center for Educational Equity, Teachers College, Columbia University; Civil Rights Project at UCLA; Integrated Schools; Magnet Schools of America; National Coalition on School Diversity; Poverty and Race Research Action Council.\n\nFull text of the bill available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-ricketts-flood-bera-make-bicameral-push-for-gao-study-on-federal-response-to-loneliness-crisis", "Murphy, Ricketts, Flood, Bera Make Bicameral Push For GAO Study On Federal Response To Loneliness Crisis", "2024-12-18", "2024", "2024-12", "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 Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), and U.S. Representatives Mike Flood (R-Neb.) and Ami Bera (D-Calif.), sent a bipartisan, bicameral letter to U.S. Comptroller General Gene Dodaro requesting the Government Accountability Office (GAO) conduct a study on federal programs monitoring loneliness and social isolation. In their letter, the lawmakers underscore the alarming increase in loneliness across the United States and call for standardized data collection and a coordinated approach to address the growing health risks associated with social isolation.\n\n\u201cThe United States is experiencing a crisis of social connection, isolation, and loneliness,\u201d the members wrote. \u201cToday, approximately half of US adults report experiencing loneliness. In 1990, 3% of Americans reported having no close friends; by 2021 that figure had climbed to 12%. The average American spent 8% more time alone in 2019 than they did in 2003. These data points, combined with other research and scholarship, led the Surgeon General to issue a public health advisory on the growing epidemic of loneliness and social isolation.\u201d\n\n\u201cDespite the growing acknowledgement that loneliness and social isolation are a problem, there are still no standardized metrics that allows us to monitor these trends,\u201d the members added. \u201cThe lack of standardization in data collection is largely due to the diversity of definitions that are found in scientific literature, which leads to inconsistencies in how loneliness and isolation are understood and measured. This variety in data collection methods across studies leads to fragmented data that makes it difficult to draw reliable comparisons. Lacking centralized and uniform definitions and protocols to monitor these metrics limits our ability to effectively address and monitor these important public health issues.\u201d\n\nThe full text of the letter is available HERE and below:\n\nDear Comptroller General Dodaro:\n\nWe write to request the Government Accountability Office (GAO) conduct a study to identify which federal programs monitor loneliness and social isolation and how those programs collect and utilize this information. While growing research shows that loneliness is an increasingly common experience with negative effects for individual and societal health, we have a limited understanding of which federal programs are working to address loneliness, how the federal government defines and monitors the prevalence of loneliness, and what strategies agencies are already employing to combat the harmful effects of loneliness.\n\nThe United States is experiencing a crisis of social connection, isolation, and loneliness. Today, approximately half of US adults report experiencing loneliness. In 1990, 3% of Americans reported having no close friends; by 2021 that figure had climbed to 12%. The average American spent 8% more time alone in 2019 than they did in 2003. These data points, combined with other research and scholarship, led the Surgeon General to issue a public health advisory on the growing epidemic of loneliness and social isolation.\n\nHealthy social relationships are the foundation of human happiness, and a lack of social connection can be devastating. The Surgeon General\u2019s advisory outlines the serious health effects associated with disconnection. Studies show that isolation and loneliness increase the risk of heart disease and stroke by 29% and 32% respectively, while also increasing the risk of developing dementia by 50% among older adults.\n\nDespite the growing acknowledgement that loneliness and social isolation are a problem, there are still no standardized metrics that allows us to monitor these trends. The lack of standardization in data collection is largely due to the diversity of definitions that are found in scientific literature, which leads to inconsistencies in how loneliness and isolation are understood and measured. This variety in data collection methods across studies leads to fragmented data that makes it difficult to draw reliable comparisons. Lacking centralized and uniform definitions and protocols to monitor these metrics limits our ability to effectively address and monitor these important public health issues.\n\nTo better understand how the federal government can address the crisis of social isolation, we ask that the GAO to answer the following questions:\n\nWhich federal programs, if any, monitor loneliness and isolation?\n\nHow do these programs define or measure loneliness and isolation, and in what ways do these definitions and measurements vary across programs?\n\nHow do these programs use the information they collect on loneliness and isolation to address these problems or otherwise improve the services they provide?\n\nWhat steps can Congress take to improve the work of agencies in addressing social isolation and loneliness?\n\nWe request answers to these questions by May 1, 2025. Thank you for your attention to this issue.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-and-murphy-join-colleagues-in-introducing-ndaa-amendment-to-protect-military-parents-right-to-health-care-for-their-kids", "Blumenthal & Murphy Join Colleagues in Introducing NDAA Amendment to Protect Military Parents' Right to Health Care for their Kids", "2024-12-17", "2024", "2024-12", "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 (D-CT), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Chris Murphy (D-CT) joined 19 of their colleagues in introducing an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2025 to remove language that would strip away servicemembers\u2019 parental rights to access medically necessary health care for their transgender children. The U.S. House of Representatives-passed NDAA includes language that bans health care for transgender kids and TRICARE patients under the age of 18.\n\n\u201cI have supported and worked hard on the NDAA and its many provisions to enhance and protect our national security as well as Connecticut\u2019s defense industrial base. I have opposed limits on healthcare for families of military personnel. I support this amendment to protect rights of service members and their families to make their own healthcare decisions,\u201d said Blumenthal.\n\n\u201cParents \u2013 not politicians \u2013 are the only people who should be making health care decisions for their children. This amendment would ensure military families have the same rights as every other family to make sure their kids get the care they need. It is unbelievable that in pushing their hateful, anti-LGBTQ agenda, House Republicans want to punish parents serving our country,\u201d said Murphy.\n\nEvery major medical and mental health association in the U.S., representing more than 1.3 million U.S. doctors, supports access to this medically necessary, evidence-based health care for transgender people.\n\nIf the House-passed NDAA becomes law, it is estimated that 6,000 \u2013 7,000 transgender children of servicemembers would not be able to access the health care that their parents had approved.\n\nThe amendment to the FY2025 NDAA would strike Sec. 708 of the House-passed NDAA, which would ban TRICARE from offering medically sound health care for our youngest transgender servicemembers and to transgender military children under 18.\n\nThe amendment, led by Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), is also co-sponsored by Senators Ed Markey (D-MA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Patty Murray (D-WA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tina Smith (D-MN), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), John Fetterman (D-PA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Martin Heinrich (D-NM).\n\nA full version of the amendment is available here.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/concerned-with-public-health-threat-blumenthal-urges-epa-to-issue-final-risk-evaluation-of-formaldehyde", "Concerned with Public Health Threat, Blumenthal Urges EPA to Issue Final Risk Evaluation of Formaldehyde", "2024-12-17", "2024", "2024-12", "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) wrote to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan calling on the EPA to issue a strong, science-based final risk evaluation for formaldehyde, a chemical known to pose serious health risks including cancer. This evaluation would serve as a necessary step to begin work to mitigate the harms of formaldehyde under the Toxic Substances Control Act.\n\n\u201cFormaldehyde is a chemical found in everything from household products to pesticides to motor vehicle exhaust. It has long been known to cause adverse health impacts, including cancer,\u201d wrote Blumenthal. \u201cThe agency\u2019s own science is clear \u2013 formaldehyde is dangerous to human health. Therefore, the agency has an obligation to protect the public from the chemical by following their own science and precedent and concluding the risk is unreasonable.\u201d\n\nBlumenthal emphasized the importance of a strong risk evaluation to protecting the health of Americans, writing, \u201cThroughout your tenure, EPA has been steadfast in upholding its vital mission of protecting human health and the environment. I urge you to continue this commitment and issue a final risk evaluation for formaldehyde that is rooted in the best available science and is as strong as possible \u2013 a critical step toward future regulatory action to mitigate the known risks of the chemical.\u201d\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\nDecember 16, 2024\n\nThe Honorable Michael S. Regan\n\nAdministrator\n\nEnvironmental Protection Agency\n\n1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW\n\nWashington, D.C. 20460\n\nDear Administrator Regan,\n\nI write with concern over the health risks associated with formaldehyde. As highlighted in a recent ProPublica investigation, this chemical is both damaging to human health and near ubiquitous across the country \u2013 a dangerous combination.[1] I urge the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue a strong, science-based final risk evaluation for formaldehyde as soon as possible, a necessary step for the agency to begin work to mitigate its harms under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).\n\nFormaldehyde is a chemical found in everything from household products to pesticides to motor vehicle exhaust.[2] It has long been known to cause adverse health impacts, including cancer. Earlier this year, the agency released the results of the its 2020 Air Toxics Screening Assessment, which found that formaldehyde poses the greatest risk of cancer among all other air pollutants studied.[3] EPA also released a final Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) review, which was over a decade in the making and peer reviewed by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine. Through that rigorous process, the IRIS program established a cancer risk value for formaldehyde \u2013 it is imperative that the agency stand behind this scientifically robust data point in its final risk evaluation.[4]\n\nUnder TSCA, EPA is required to evaluate the risks of chemicals and, if a chemical is found to pose an \u201cunreasonable risk,\u201d the agency must eliminate that risk.[5] While what constitutes an \u201cunreasonable risk\u201d is not defined in statute, the agency has longstanding precedents to help make such a determination. The agency\u2019s benchmark for cancer risk to residents of fenceline communities and others in the general population is 1 in 1 million \u2013 if a chemical is shown to cause cancer in more than one out of every million people, EPA has previously found that to constitute an unreasonable risk. In the case of formaldehyde, EPA\u2019s draft evaluation found cancer risks to the general population from formaldehyde air pollution exceeding this benchmark for most uses of the chemical that are subject to direct regulation under TSCA.[6] Unfortunately, EPA did not take the next logical step and determine that those risks are unreasonable. The agency\u2019s own science is clear \u2013 formaldehyde is dangerous to human health. Therefore, the agency has an obligation to protect the public from the chemical by following their own science and precedent and concluding the risk is unreasonable.\n\nThroughout your tenure, EPA has been steadfast in upholding its vital mission of protecting human health and the environment. I urge you to continue this commitment and issue a final risk evaluation for formaldehyde that is rooted in the best available science and is as strong as possible \u2013 a critical step toward future regulatory action to mitigate the known risks of the chemical.\n\nThank you for your attention to this important matter.\n\nSincerely,\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/online-sports-betting-boom-blumenthal-demands-federal-standards-to-protect-consumers-against-problem-gambling", "Online Sports Betting Boom: Blumenthal Demands Federal Standards to Protect Consumers Against Problem Gambling", "2024-12-17", "2024", "2024-12", "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), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, underscored the public health impacts of the widespread legalization of sports gambling in a hearing titled, \u201cAmerica\u2019s High-Stakes Bet on Legalized Sports Gambling.\u201d As mobile sports betting surges, Blumenthal called for minimum federal standards like those in his Supporting Affordability and Fairness with Every Bet (SAFE Bet) Act to better protect consumers from addictive practices and features of online sportsbooks and gambling platforms.\n\n\u201cWe are in the midst of a sports betting boom that is one of the most severe public health problems today,\u201d said Blumenthal. \u201cIt is the cause of addiction for millions of Americans with severe gambling problems. It is tearing apart families\u2014 literally divorces, abandonment. It is a criminal justice problem, when people get into trouble, and they have to pay back the debts that they owe\u2014when I was U.S. Attorney, I prosecuted extortion and enforcement by the gangs. And of course, it is an unemployment problem, a mental health, behavioral health problem.\u201d\n\nEarlier this year, Blumenthal introduced the SAFE Bet Act alongside Congressman Paul D. Tonko (D-NY), which would require states offering sports betting to meet minimum federal standards in the categories of advertising, affordability and Artificial Intelligence to create a safer, less addictive product. Blumenthal is also the author of the Gambling Addiction Recovery, Investment, and Treatment (GRIT) Act, which sets aside federal funds to help prevent, treat, and study gambling addiction in the United States.\n\nVideo of Blumenthal\u2019s remarks during today\u2019s hearing can be found here. A transcript is available below.\n\nSen. Blumenthal: Thanks, Mr. Chairman. I am very appreciative to you, Mr. Chairman, for holding this hearing and to the witnesses here today\u2014not only for appearing but for your good work and your help to me in drafting the SAFE Bet Act and the GRIT Act. Mr. Whyte, Mr. Levant, Mr. Baker, particularly.\n\nYou know, we are in the midst of a sports betting boom that is one of the most severe public health problems today. It is the cause of addiction for millions of Americans with severe gambling problems. It is tearing apart families\u2014 literally divorces, abandonment. It is a criminal justice problem, when people get into trouble, and they have to pay back the debts that they owe\u2014when I was U.S. Attorney, I prosecuted extortion and enforcement by the gangs. And of course, it is an unemployment problem, a mental health, behavioral health problem.\n\nYou know, the nomenclature and the techniques and the sophistication of the trading practices here make Wall Street look like child's play. The risk-free bet. The throttling. The targeting of losers. Customizing bets to those who are losing and throttling back the winners. I mean, the plethora of techniques is staggering here, all to the benefit of the corporations that are profiting here. And Mr. Baker, as you may know, colleges initially were partners in some of these efforts. I wrote to 66 of them, and they stopped the partnership that promoted gambling on their campuses. And so, there really is a kind of shamelessness here.\n\nI want to ask for your support for the SAFE Bet Act, which would establish minimum national standards. Right now we have a patchwork of halfhearted regulation. The SAFE Bet Act would, in effect, also provide more public health benefits to try to provide some relief to people who are now addicted, and those minimum standards would be set by the Department of Justice. States would still have responsibility, but they would have to meet those minimum standards that would eliminate the kinds of promotions, ads, pitches, and deceptive techniques that right now are so rampant.\n\nSo, let me just ask you in the interest of time, would all of you support the SAFE Bet Act? Let me go down with Mr. Baker first.\n\nGov. Baker: I'm familiar with certain elements of it. I'm not familiar with all of it. I can tell you the elements I am familiar with, we do support. And the one thing I would add to some of the stuff you\u2019ve talked about is when you have 39 states that have legalized sports betting, in every single state the data they collect is different, who they can share it with is different, and how they can\u2014and who they can share it with is different. And so, you have a situation where it is really hard to get kind of a national sense about what\u2019s going on. New Jersey probably has one of the best data collection programs in the country, but I think the data thing in particular should not be underestimated as an opportunity, and I love the fact that your legislation basically prohibits prop bets on college sports. It would save me a lot of running around.\n\nSen. Blumenthal: Mr. Bademosi?\n\nMr. Bademosi: I am not familiar with every detail of the SAFE Bet Act, but in the interest of protecting the health and wellness of the athletes and protecting athletes against universities and these entities that are in partnership with betting companies\u2026 I\u2019ll support it.\n\nSen. Blumenthal: Mr. Whyte?\n\nMr. Whyte: With NCA, there is a lot of details in there that we really like, but because it starts by prohibiting sports betting, at least temporarily, the national council must remain neutral, because we are neutral on legalized gambling.\n\nMr. Rebuck: Senator, I really do not represent here anybody but myself, and my comments and my written testimony and my oral indicate that this is not a good bill to move forward because I believe, after 6.5 years of litigation, to the states to earn rights, constitutional rights to have sports wagering, that we are entitled to do the best we can to regulate and deal with the issues that are highlighted here\u2014which I agree, many of them need to be continued to be dealt with in ways that we can improve upon. That being said, aspects of your bill talk about the need for safeguards, the need for guard rails, the need to work on responsible gaming aspects of reducing the risk of people falling into harm. Those are all shared by every jurisdiction today that engages in gambling. And as you well know, we have 10 right states now, seven of which are represented by members here, that have no sports wagering. No legal sports wagering.\n\nSen. Blumenthal: No legal sports betting. A lot of sports betting illegally. And I appreciate your support. I have run out of time.\n\nMr. Levant: Having helped your office and Congressman Tonko write the bill, my answer is yes, and I'm prepared to answer any questions about why the bill sets appropriate public health standards by the federal government. Thank you.\n\nSen. Blumenthal: Thank you.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-blumenthal-join-colleagues-in-introducing-ndaa-amendment-to-protect-military-parents-right-to-health-care-for-their-kids", "Murphy, Blumenthal Join Colleagues in Introducing NDAA Amendment to Protect Military Parents\u2019 Right to Health Care for Their Kids", "2024-12-17", "2024", "2024-12", "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 19 of their colleagues in introducing an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2025 to remove language that would strip away servicemembers\u2019 parental rights to access medically necessary health care for their transgender children. The U.S. House of Representatives-passed NDAA includes language that bans health care for transgender kids and TRICARE patients under the age of 18.\n\n\u201cParents \u2013 not politicians \u2013 are the only people who should be making health care decisions for their children. This amendment would ensure military families have the same rights as every other family to make sure their kids get the care they need. It is unbelievable that in pushing their hateful, anti-LGBTQ agenda, House Republicans want to punish parents serving our country,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n\u201cI have supported and worked hard on the NDAA and its many provisions to enhance and protect our national security as well as Connecticut\u2019s defense industrial base. I have opposed limits on healthcare for families of military personnel. I support this amendment to protect rights of service members and their families to make their own healthcare decisions,\u201d said Blumenthal.\n\nEvery major medical and mental health association in the U.S., representing more than 1.3 million U.S. doctors, supports access to this medically necessary, evidence-based health care for transgender people.\n\nIf the House-passed NDAA becomes law, it is estimated that 6,000 \u2013 7,000 transgender children of servicemembers would not be able to access the health care that their parents had approved.\n\nThe amendment to the FY2025 NDAA would strike Sec. 708 of the House-passed NDAA, which would ban TRICARE from offering medically sound health care for our youngest transgender servicemembers and to transgender military children under 18.\n\nThe amendment, led by Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), is also co-sponsored by Senators Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.).\n\nA full version of the amendment is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-blumenthal-schatz-colleague-reintroduce-legislation-to-avoid-catastrophic-default", "Murphy, Blumenthal, Schatz, Colleague Reintroduce Legislation to Avoid Catastrophic Default", "2024-12-17", "2024", "2024-12", "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 U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i) and 14 of their Senate colleagues in reintroducing the End the Threat of Default Act, legislation that would permanently remove the threat of a default by repealing the national debt ceiling, an arbitrary limit restricting the amount that the United States Treasury can borrow to pay its debts. In June 2023, the president signed legislation that suspended the statutory debt ceiling until January 2, 2025.\n\n\u201cNo one should have to lose sleep wondering if their Social Security check or military pay will arrive on time just because Congress can\u2019t get its act together,\u201d said Murphy. \u201cBut every time we have to debate raising the debt ceiling, we take an unnecessary gamble with those benefits and with people\u2019s lives. It\u2019s time we put a stop to the political games and bring an end to the debt ceiling once and for all.\u201d\n\n\u201cFailure to increase an arbitrary debt ceiling would lead to a disruption of critical Social Security and Medicare payments, soaring unemployment, and overall economic catastrophe largely impacting vulnerable populations. I\u2019m proud to support the End the Threat of Default Act, which would repeal the national debt ceiling and permanently remove this threat,\u201d said Blumenthal.\n\n\u201cDefaulting on our national debt would be an economic catastrophe for everyone, especially families, veterans, and seniors. Congress has the chance to debate federal spending, and it\u2019s well before the bill comes due,\u201d said Schatz. \u201cWe need to stop playing this dangerous game with the nation\u2019s economy and get rid of the debt ceiling for good.\u201d\n\nA default would be catastrophic and would likely trigger a recession. Military pay, Social Security and Medicare payments, and Treasury bond yields would all be disrupted.\n\nIn practice, the debt limit has no impact on government spending, which is authorized and approved through the federal budget and appropriations process. Instead, the ceiling restricts the U.S. Treasury from paying for expenditures already approved by Congress therefore requiring Congress to constantly raise the ceiling before it is reached. In recent years, this has become a politicized procedure that often leads to threats of defaulting on the government\u2019s obligation to pay its bills.\n\nThe United States is one of only two democratic countries with a statutory debt ceiling, and the only one that could single-handedly cause a global recession. Since 1960, Congress has acted more than 75 times to raise, temporarily extend, or revise the definition of the debt limit. In 2011, the crisis surrounding raising the debt ceiling led credit rating agency Standard & Poor\u2019s to downgrade the U.S. government\u2019s credit rating for the first time ever. Fitch downgraded the U.S. government\u2019s credit rating following debt limit brinksmanship in 2023.\n\nU.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai\u2018i), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Angus King (I-Maine), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), and Jack Reed (D-R.I.) also cosponsored the legislation.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-introduces-legislation-to-prevent-frontover-child-deaths", "Blumenthal Introduces Legislation to Prevent Frontover Child Deaths", "2024-12-16", "2024", "2024-12", "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) announced today the introduction of legislation to prevent child deaths due to frontover incidents. The Standards to Prevent (STOP) Frontovers Act would require all new vehicles to come equipped with cameras, sensors, or other technology to improve drivers\u2019 visibility and perception of kids, pets, and other objects that may be in front of and around their vehicle and avert crashes. Demonstrations by investigative reporters have shown blind zones in front of some cars to be as large as 16 feet, obscuring children from view and putting them at risk of being run over, leading to deaths and injuries.\n\n\u201cThis mandate for detection devices like cameras or sensors will save lives,\u201d said Blumenthal. \u201cLarge blind zones around cars are reportedly resulting in heartbreaking incidents\u2014needlessly killing or severely injuring kids. Safety is not\u2014and should never be\u2014a premium feature only available to those who can afford it; it should be the default. I\u2019m proud to lead the STOP Frontovers Act to require a visibility and perception standard for cars to help prevent tragic, deadly accidents.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs vehicles have become larger, so have front and side blind zones as demonstrated by research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and others,\u201d said Cathy Chase, President of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety. \u201cAs a result, vulnerable road users, especially small children, may not be visible to the driver thus endangering them to be hit by the vehicle. We commend Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) for introducing The STOP Frontovers Act which will require technology in new cars to prevent these crashes and heartbreaking tragedies. The STOP Frontovers Act should be given the \u2018green light\u2019 to better protect all road users.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs American automobiles get bigger, their blindzones follow suit, leading to needless tragedies that can be prevented using readily available technology,\u201d said Michael Brooks, Executive Director of Center for Auto Safety. \u201cThat\u2019s why the Center for Auto Safety is pleased to support the STOP Frontovers Act, which mandates a federal standard to upgrade drivers\u2019 visual perception zones, and improves safety data collection with respect to frontover and backover incidents.\u201d\n\n\u201cTechnology already exists that can use alerts and sensors to prevent the unimaginable,\u201d said Gabe Knight, Senior Policy Analyst at Consumer Reports. \u201cIt\u2019s time for all vehicles, and especially larger trucks and SUVs, to stop the preventable injuries and deaths caused by frontovers. Consumer Reports urges every member of Congress to support the STOP Frontovers Act.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe growing dominance of larger, heavier vehicles like SUVs and pickup trucks\u2014now making up 75-80% of U.S. vehicle sales\u2014has created massive blindzones where drivers can\u2019t see pedestrians,\u201d said Janette Fennell, President of Kids and Car Safety. \u201cImproving visibility through better vehicle design and advanced safety technologies is critical to protecting vulnerable road users. We must act now to address this escalating safety crisis and safeguard pedestrians both on and off our roads.\u201d\n\nThe legislation announced by Blumenthal would require the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to issue a new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) that requires vehicles to be equipped with technology that enables drivers to detect and accordingly respond to objects in front of and around their vehicle to reduce death and injury resulting from frontovers. The measure directs NHTSA to begin the rulemaking process for the standard within one year and issue a final FMVSS one year later. It also requires NHTSA to formally define the term \u201cfrontover\u201d to standardize its definition and allow for more accurate data collection. In addition, the bill directs NHTSA to update its Non-Traffic Surveillance data to more accurately count frontover injuries and deaths to provide critical and more accurate information to the Agency and the public about the prevalence of frontovers.\n\nWhile Congress mandated in 2008 that NHTSA issue a rule to establish rear visibility standards in response to countless backover accidents, no such front or side visibility standards currently exist. Such visibility technology, such as cameras and sensors, is offered by some manufacturers, but usually only on expensive, upgraded models or for an additional fee.\n\nThe STOP Frontovers Act has been endorsed by auto and consumer safety organizations, including Kids and Car Safety, the Center for Auto Safety, Consumer Reports, and Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety.\n\nThe text of the STOP Frontovers Act is available here.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-statement-on-plan-to-lift-syria-sanctions", "Murphy Statement on Plan to Lift Syria Sanctions", "2024-12-16", "2024", "2024-12", "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.), Chair of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia and Counterterrorism, on Monday released the following statement supporting a plan for the U.S. to lift sanctions on Syria:\n\n\u201cSince the collapse of the Assad regime, events are moving quickly to shape the new reality in Syria, and the United States cannot be left on the sideline. Syria's path forward should be determined and led by the Syrian people, but the United States should be actively and directly engaging with the new leadership to help ensure a successful transition and protect key U.S. national security interests.\n\n\u201cThe U.S. troop presence on the ground in Syria and our sanctions are important points of leverage that require us to be at the table. Decisions in Damascus will be made quickly, and too often other powers act as the U.S. wrings it hands over what to do. If it is in our interest to support the goals of the new government, the U.S. should not be stubbornly reluctant to lift decades-old sanctions that were constructed to put pressure on a government that is no longer in power. Most immediately, the U.S. should temporarily suspend sanctions that hamper the much-needed surge in humanitarian assistance and reconstruction that will be necessary to help support the Syrian people in the short term.\n\n\u201cOfficials within HTS have publicly stated their intent to govern inclusively, and Syrians and the world will be watching over the coming months ahead to see whether they intend to follow through on that commitment.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-requests-briefing-on-recent-drone-activity-in-new-england-airspace", "Blumenthal Requests Briefing on Recent Drone Activity in New England Airspace", "2024-12-13", "2024", "2024-12", "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) wrote to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) sharing his concerns regarding the recent reporting of drone activity in the New England airspace, including Connecticut, and requesting a briefing on how the agencies plan to address safety and security concerns.\n\n\u201cThe proliferation of reported drone activities in this region raises significant safety and security concerns for both commercial and private aviation as well as national security concerns,\u201d wrote Blumenthal. \u201cIncidents involving drones interfering with aircraft operations have increased, posing a real and substantial risk to passengers, crews, and others in the vicinity. And, I am particularly concerned about the potential for these unmanned aerial vehicles \u2013 many of which are as large as a car\u2014 to disrupt air traffic and, more alarmingly, to be used maliciously to threaten national security.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is critical that the FAA take immediate and comprehensive action to ensure the safety of the airspace. I therefore request that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) provide briefing regarding a comprehensive plan, coordinated with interagency partners, on addressing these concerns. This briefing should cover all details available regarding these drones as to ownership, operation, impacts on aviation, national security, and privacy,\u201d continued Blumenthal.\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\nDecember 13, 2024\n\nThe Honorable Michael Whitaker The Honorable Christopher A. Wray\n\nAdministrator Director\n\nFederal Aviation Administration Federal Bureau of Investigations\n\nWashington, D.C. Washington, D.C.\n\nThe Honorable Alejandro Mayorkas The Honorable Lloyd Austin\n\nSecretary Secretary\n\nU.S. Department of Homeland Security U.S. Department of Defense\n\nWashington, D.C. Washington D.C.\n\nDear Administrator Whitaker, Director Wray, Secretary Mayorkas, and Secretary Austin\n\nI am writing to express my deep concerns regarding the increased reporting of drone activity in the airspace near New England. As you are aware, these states are home to some of the busiest and most complex airspaces in the country, including those serving major airports such as LaGuardia, John F. Kennedy, Newark Liberty, and others that are vital to the U.S. economy. Some of these drones have been reported over or near Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military research and manufacturing facility.\n\nThe proliferation of reported drone activities in this region raises significant safety and security concerns for both commercial and private aviation as well as national security concerns. As you know, incidents involving drones interfering with aircraft operations have increased, posing a real and substantial risk to passengers, crews, and others in the vicinity. And, I am particularly concerned about the potential for these unmanned aerial vehicles \u2013 many of which are as large as a car-- to disrupt air traffic and, more alarmingly, to be used maliciously to threaten national security. I am also concerned about their potential use for surveillance near military installations or elsewhere, to collect sensitive information\n\nWith the growing number of reported drone activities in this region, it is critical that the FAA take immediate and comprehensive action to ensure the safety of the airspace. I therefore request that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) provide briefing regarding a comprehensive plan, coordinated with interagency partners, on addressing these concerns. This briefing should cover all details available regarding these drones as to ownership, operation, impacts on aviation, national security, and privacy. I request this briefing no later than December 18, 2024. Thank you for your prompt consideration of this request.\n\nSincerely,\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-and-cramer-introduce-legislation-to-improve-vision-care-quality-protect-consumer-choice", "Murphy And Cramer Introduce Legislation To Improve Vision Care Quality, Protect Consumer Choice", "2024-12-13", "2024", "2024-12", "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 Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) introduced the Vision Lab Choice Act of 2024, legislation to allow clinicians to use the medical labs of their choosing and lower costs for both patients and doctors. There are currently just two Vision Benefit Managers (VBMs) that dominate the vision insurance market, providing coverage to two-thirds of Americans with vision benefits. These VBMs often own the frame and lens manufacturers and control which labs an optometrist can use \u2013 a dynamic that has resulted in less autonomy for providers and more limited choices for their patients. The Vision Lab Choice Act of 2024 would amend Title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act to allow optometrists to choose the best labs and suppliers for their practice, ensuring patients receive high-quality, personalized vision care.\n\n\u201cRight now, VBMs control practically every part of the vision industry \u2013 the insurance plans, the manufacturers for frames and lenses, the vision labs \u2013 and they use that power to eliminate choice and drive up costs for doctors and patients,\u201d said Murphy. \u201cThis bill would solve a small piece of that problem by making sure optometrists aren\u2019t forced to use a VBMs preferred vision lab. Instead, they\u2019ll have the freedom to choose labs that lower costs and cut wait times for patients.\u201d\n\n\u201cVision Benefit Managers are often a hurdle to optometrists and eye care specialists providing the best care to their patients,\u201d said Cramer. \u201cExpanding consumer choice benefits patients when service is improved. I joined Senator Murphy in introducing the bipartisan Vision Lab Choice Act of 2024, so doctors will have more autonomy over which labs they work with and where they source their materials.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, the Vision Lab Choice Act of 2024 would:\n\nLimit contracts between vision care providers (e.g., optometrists) and insurers for limited-scope vision benefits to two-year terms; and\n\nProhibit health plans from restricting or limiting doctors\u2019 choice of laboratories and sources or suppliers of vision materials provided to patients\n\nThe bill is endorsed by the American Optometric Association, National Consumers League, Patients Rising, and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) Global Policy Initiative.\n\nFull text of the bill is available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-colleagues-venezuelas-demand-for-freedom-will-not-be-silenced", "Murphy, Colleagues: Venezuela\u2019s Demand for Freedom Will Not Be Silenced", "2024-12-13", "2024", "2024-12", "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 Foreign Relations Committee, along with U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), released the following statement condemning the Maduro regime\u2019s ongoing campaign of intimidation against opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, her family, and peaceful protestors across Venezuela:\n\n\u201cOn July 28, despite arbitrary candidate bans, rampant censorship, and organized intimidation, Nicolas Maduro suffered a resounding electoral defeat by the people of Venezuela. Their overwhelming support for Edmundo Gonz\u00e1lez Urrutia sent a clear message to Maduro, Diosdado Cabello, Padrino Lopez, and all his enablers: state-sponsored violence and disinformation will never silence Venezuela\u2019s cry for freedom. The world has heard this cry, and we will not ignore it.\n\n\u201cWe call on the Maduro regime to immediately release the thousands of political prisoners unjustly held in its custody \u2013 peaceful protestors, women, and children included. The relentless harassment and intimidation of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado and her family are shameless acts of desperation. Maduro must uphold international law, honor Venezuela\u2019s obligations under the Vienna Convention, and end threats to opposition figures who have sought refuge in the Argentine Embassy in Caracas, under the protection of the Brazilian government.\n\n\u201cThe Maduro regime must respect the results of the July 28 election and conduct a peaceful transfer of power to the democratic opposition. While last week\u2019s announcement of a UN Human Rights Council probe into Maduro\u2019s efforts to subvert Venezuela\u2019s election is a welcome step forward, this alone is not enough. The Biden administration and incoming Trump administration must intensify efforts to address the Maduro regime\u2019s abuses, as true accountability and lasting justice are only possible through sustained action. The U.S. Congress remains firmly dedicated to championing policies to support the Venezuelan people in their enduring pursuit of democracy \u2013 a dedication that will never waver.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-murkowski-lead-senate-colleagues-in-calling-for-action-to-lower-costs-improve-services-for-coast-guard-installations", "Murphy, Murkowski Lead Senate Colleagues In Calling For Action To Lower Costs, Improve Services For Coast Guard Installations", "2024-12-13", "2024", "2024-12", "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, and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) led 7 of their Senate colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas urging the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to finalize intergovernmental support agreement (IGSA) authority for the U.S. Coast Guard. Granting this authority will allow the Coast Guard to pursue more efficient, cost-saving service contracts through partnerships with local government entities \u2013 a practice all other military services have been taking advantage of for over a decade.\n\nSince 2013, all military services except for the Coast Guard have been entering IGSAs and coordinating with local and state governments to secure lower-cost contracts for higher-quality services, like waste removal, childcare, and road maintenance. These agreements have delivered millions of dollars in savings, reduced administrative burdens, and improved community relations at military installations across the country \u2013 including Naval Submarine Base New London. Despite a 2023 determination that the Coast Guard is also eligible to use IGSA authority, DHS has yet to issue the formal guidance necessary for Coast Guard facilities, like the Coast Guard Academy, to take advantage of these local contracting agreements and to unlock their many benefits.\n\n\u201cWe appreciate DHS\u2019s attention to IGSA authority and the benefits it can deliver the Coast Guard and local communities, including expanded educational offerings for local children, increased employment options for military spouses, and greater opportunities for small businesses,\u201d the senators wrote. \u201cHowever, we are concerned by the delay in issuing IGSA guidance and procedures for the Coast Guard, and we worry that unless DHS leadership quickly addresses this disparity, our Coast Guard communities could be left waiting to see these agreements\u2019 benefits for years more. While DHS has many competing demands and procedures that differ from the DOD, we feel strongly that the department should prioritize finalizing the IGSA authority that promises to deliver the Coast Guard enhanced mission effectiveness, efficiencies, or economies of scale \u2013 especially at a moment when arbitrary budget constraints and increasing global threats are forcing the service to do more with less.\u201d\n\n\u201cWith this in mind, we urge you and your department to act quickly in the weeks ahead to incorporate best practices from other services using IGSAs, to formalize effective internal approval processes with all necessary safeguards, and to equip the Coast Guard and local governments to take full advantage of these agreements wherever mutually beneficial,\u201d the senators continued.\n\nThe senators concluded: \u201cBased on the successful use of IGSAs by other military services, we believe that the Coast Guard and local communities stand to benefit greatly from the cost savings, administrative efficiency, and improved local relationships that these agreements can deliver. Our constituents, inside and outside the service, look forward to swift action by DHS in issuing IGSA authority and unlocking the improved installation services, cost efficiency, and business opportunities that Coast Guard communities are asking for and deserve.\u201d\n\nU.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Angus King (I-Maine), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Mark Warner (D-Va.) also signed the letter.\n\nFull text of the letter is available HERE and below:\n\nDear Secretary Mayorkas,\n\nWe write today to urge your department to move expeditiously to equip the U.S. Coast Guard to enter cost-effective, mutually beneficial intergovernmental support agreements (IGSAs) with state and local governments. We understand the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been assessing Coast Guard IGSA authority for years now, and while we appreciate the need to deliberate and set clear, effective procedures, we encourage DHS to complete this process as soon as possible and unlock the enhanced cost savings, mission effectiveness, and local relations that IGSAs can deliver Coast Guard installations and their neighboring communities.\n\nIn 2013, Congress authorized military services to enter into IGSAs with local and state governments to support installation services, as long as these sole-source agreements provided financial benefits or improved mission effectiveness. This FY 2013 NDAA-passed provision (10 U.S. Code \u00a7 2679) aimed to rein in the military\u2019s installation support costs, and it has delivered clear successes: using thorough vetting processes, services have approved over 170 IGSAs across nearly 100 installations for services ranging from waste removal to public transportation to fire response to animal control.[i] A 2018 GAO report studied eight IGSAs and found just those agreements generating financial benefits of at least $9 million \u2013 not to mention the less tangible benefits of reduced administrative time, increased service efficiency and quality, and improved relationships with surrounding communities.\n\nWhile the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, and Navy have benefited from IGSA benefits, the Coast Guard has unfortunately yet to receive the guidance from DHS needed to approve these agreements and unlock key cost savings, improved efficiency, and higher-quality services. We understand that DHS and Coast Guard leadership agree that 10 U.S. Code \u00a7 2679 offered the Coast Guard IGSA authority, as it did the other services in 2013, but DHS has gone slower than DOD in issuing the guidelines and approval processes required to initiate IGSAs.\n\nWe appreciate DHS\u2019s attention to IGSA authority and the benefits it can deliver the Coast Guard and local communities, including expanded educational offerings for local children, increased employment options for military spouses, and greater opportunities for small businesses. However, we are concerned by the delay in issuing IGSA guidance and procedures for the Coast Guard, and we worry that unless DHS leadership decides to act fast, our Coast Guard communities could be left waiting to see these agreements\u2019 benefits for years more. While DHS has many competing demands and procedures that differ from DOD, we feel strongly that the department should prioritize finalizing the IGSA authority that promises to deliver the Coast Guard enhanced mission effectiveness, efficiencies, or economies of scale \u2013 especially at a moment when budget constraints and increasing global threats are forcing the service to do more with less.\n\nAs part of the IGSA implementation effort, we also expect that you will ensure the FY26 budget request reflects an increase to the Coast Guard\u2019s Operations & Support budget. We view this as essential to not create another unfunded task for the Coast Guard which would compound the disparities that exist between the Coast Guard and other branches of the military.\n\nWith this in mind, we urge you and your department to act quickly in the weeks ahead to incorporate best practices from other services using IGSAs, to formalize effective internal approval processes with all necessary safeguards, and to equip the Coast Guard and local governments to take full advantage of these agreements wherever mutually beneficial. We also request answers to the questions below no later than 21 days from the date of this letter:\n\nWhat specific constraints is DHS facing in finalizing and issuing IGSA authority for the Coast Guard, if any?\n\nWhat specific benefits does DHS expect IGSA authority to deliver to the Coast Guard?\n\nWhat concerns, if any, does DHS have about issuing IGSA authority to the Coast Guard?\n\nFor what specific types of services does DHS expect the Coast Guard to use IGSAs?\n\nHow is DHS engaging the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and DHS agencies to learn from their experiences with IGSAs and to develop guidance and approval processes based on their successes and lessons learned?\n\nWhat guardrails is DHS planning to incorporate into its IGSA guidance and internal approval processes to ensure such agreements prioritize Coast Guard installations\u2019 enhanced mission effectiveness, efficiencies, or economies of scale?\n\nHow is DHS and the Coast Guard planning to collect and monitor information on the financial and nonfinancial benefits of implemented IGSAs, in order to ensure accountability and improvement of procedures over time?\n\nBased on the successful use of IGSAs by other military services, we believe that the Coast Guard and local communities stand to benefit greatly from the cost savings, administrative efficiency, and improved local relationships that these agreements can deliver. Our constituents, inside and outside the service, look forward to swift action by DHS in issuing IGSA authority and unlocking the improved installation services, cost efficiency, and business opportunities that Coast Guard communities are asking for and deserve.\n\nWe appreciate your close attention to this matter and look forward to your response.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T22:32:39Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-applauds-senate-passage-of-legislation-to-combat-loneliness-amongst-older-adults", "Murphy Applauds Senate Passage Of Legislation To Combat Loneliness Amongst Older Adults", "2024-12-12", "2024", "2024-12", "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 (HELP), applauded the passage of the National Resource Center for Engaging Older Adults Act, legislation Murphy introduced to reduce loneliness and improve quality of life for older adults. The National Resource Center for Engaging Older Adults is an effort to increase the social engagement of older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers by expanding and enhancing services that promote social connection. Murphy\u2019s legislation would support the Center\u2019s work to provide resources and programming to Area Agencies on Aging and community-based organizations like libraries and senior centers. The bill passed the Senate unanimously as part of a reauthorization of the Older Americans Act and passed the HELP Committee by a bipartisan vote earlier this year.\n\n\u201cThe National Resource Center for Engaging Older Adults helps places like local libraries and senior centers reach out to two of the most socially isolated groups \u2014 adults with disabilities and seniors. Nothing is more important for finding happiness and fulfillment in life than having quality relationships with other people. I\u2019m proud we got this done, and I\u2019ll continue to look for ways the federal government can support local places that build community,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-baldwin-booker-40-senators-no-new-anti-lgbtq-anti-abortion-provisions-in-must-pass-government-funding-bills", "Murphy, Baldwin, Booker, 40+ Senators: No New Anti-LGBTQ, Anti-Abortion Provisions in Must-Pass Government Funding Bills", "2024-12-12", "2024", "2024-12", "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.) joined U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) who led a group of over 40 Senators to urge Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Vice Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) to keep any new dangerous, hyper-partisan policy provisions that would curtail the freedoms of women and LGBTQ individuals out of must-pass government funding legislation. House Republicans inserted so-called \u2018poison pill\u2019 provisions, which would otherwise fail the scrutiny of congressional debate, into critical government funding bills that require broad, bipartisan consensus to pass.\n\nThe senators wrote, \u201cDangerous poison pill provisions like those included in the FY25 House appropriations bills will severely undermine Congress\u2019 ability to push forward must-pass legislation and keep the government open and working for the American people. As such, we urge you to reject these extremist riders from the final FY25 appropriations bills.\u201d\n\nThe senators\u2019 letter is endorsed by Human Rights Campaign, National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association, ACLU, Guttmacher Institute, Whitman-Walker Institute, National Council of Jewish Women, National Women\u2019s Law Center, Reproductive Freedom for All, Power to Decide, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Advocates for Trans Equality, and Physicians for Reproductive Health.\n\nFull text of the letter can be found by clicking here and follows below:\n\nDear Chair Murray and Vice Chair Collins:\n\nWe write to urge you to keep the FY25 appropriations bills free of any new poison pill policy riders. Partisan, discriminatory, and harmful policy riders have no place in must-pass legislation such as appropriations bills. In the recent past, the Senate has had success passing bipartisan bills in committee because these bills did not contain new poison pill riders. Unfortunately, in FY25, the House has included more than 55 new anti-abortion and anti-LGBTQ+ riders in its appropriations bills, which we urge you to reject from any final FY25 appropriations bills.\n\nIn the more than two years since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in Dobbs v. Jackson Women\u2019s Health Organization, our country has experienced a reproductive health care crisis. As of December 3, 2024, 13 states have banned abortion entirely, and 7 states have banned abortion anywhere from 6 to 18 weeks. Republicans have also attempted to ban medication abortion, which accounts for nearly two-thirds of all abortions in the United States. 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\nDespite the dangerous consequences of the bans and the overwhelming support for access to abortion, House Republicans have continued to propose extremist anti-abortion policy riders in their appropriations bills. These new riders include a measure to stop the implementation of the Biden administration\u2019s executive orders to protect access to abortion care in the wake of Dobbs, a provision that would interfere with essential postgraduate medical training in abortion care, and a provision that would restrict access to abortion and fertility care for servicemembers, veterans, and their families. If adopted, these provisions would dramatically undermine people\u2019s ability to make decisions about their bodies, lives, and futures and providers\u2019 ability to deliver necessary reproductive health care.\n\nHouse Republicans have also used the FY25 appropriations process to push extremist and unpopular anti- LGBTQ+ measures, which threaten the lives and fundamental dignity of LGBTQ+ communities. Anti- LGBTQ+ legislation is being introduced across the country; in 2024 alone, more than 574 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced across 42 state legislatures.\n\nAgainst this backdrop, House Republicans have introduced more than 50 anti-LGBTQ+ provisions across all 12 appropriations bills. This includes provisions in every appropriations bill that would allow people and organizations, including those that receive taxpayer funds, to discriminate against LGBTQ+ people and several provisions that would prevent the administration from enforcing executive orders and laws to protect LGBTQ+ people from discrimination. Half of the House\u2019s appropriations bills also contain dangerous riders that severely restrict access to gender-affirming care, which would deprive transgender people of critical, medically necessary, evidence-based, and often life-saving healthcare. Among those who would be impacted by these riders are the more than 134,000 transgender veterans who rely on the Veterans\u2019 Affairs Administration for their healthcare.\n\nDangerous poison pill provisions like those included in the FY25 House appropriations bills will severely undermine Congress\u2019 ability to push forward must-pass legislation and keep the government open and working for the American people. As such, we urge you to reject these extremist riders from the final FY25 appropriations bills.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-smith-lujan-reintroduce-legislation-giving-the-us-department-of-labor-more-tools-to-enforce-mental-health-parity-laws", "Murphy, Smith, Luj\u00e1n Reintroduce Legislation Giving The U.S. Department Of Labor More Tools To Enforce Mental Health Parity Laws", "2024-12-12", "2024", "2024-12", "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, along with U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.) on Thursday reintroduced the Parity Enforcement Act, legislation to hold insurance companies accountable and give the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) the authority to assess civil monetary penalties for violations of mental health parity requirements. This new authority would incentivize compliance and strengthen the protections of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act.\n\n\u201cDespite the fact that insurance companies are required by law to cover mental health the same way they cover physical health, insurers continue to find new ways to dodge compliance and deny coverage of care so they can pad their profits. This is a simple bill to give the Department of Labor the power to enforce mental health parity laws and help ensure patients get the mental health care they need,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n\u201cWe need to treat mental health with the same urgency we treat physical health, and that means making sure everyone has access to the care they need,\u201d said Smith. \u201cBy law, insurance companies are required to provide mental health care as they provide physical health care, yet they continue to find ways to dodge compliance and deny coverage. This bill gives the federal government the teeth they need to hold insurance companies accountable when they don\u2019t follow the law and bring us one step closer to ensuring that everyone has access to quality, affordable mental health care.\u201d\n\n\"Mental health treatment deserves the same seriousness that physical injury demands. The law demands it and yet far too many Americans go without mental health and behavioral health care because there is not parity for these essential services,\u201d said Luj\u00e1n. \u201cEnforcing mental health parity laws is crucial to holding insurance providers accountable and ensuring compliance. I\u2019m proud to join Senators Murphy and Smith in reintroducing this legislation to strengthen mental health parity enforcement, empower the Department of Labor to address violations, and expand access to life-saving treatments.\"\n\nThe bill is endorsed by the American Society of Addiction Medicine, the American Psychiatric Association, Inseparable, and the Kennedy Forum.\n\n\u201cEnding discriminatory insurer practices is critical to increasing access to evidence-based treatment for substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions. The American Society of Addiction Medicine fully supports the Parity Enforcement Act of 2024, which would provide much-needed enforcement of existing federal parity law and help more Americans access the comprehensive addiction care they need,\u201d said Dr. Brian Hurley, president of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM).\n\n\"Every American should have the ability to access high-quality and effective mental health and substance use disorder care,\" said Marketa M. Wills, M.D., M.B.A., CEO and Medical Director of the American Psychiatric Association (APA). \"APA applauds Senator Murphy\u2019s work to ensure access to care by empowering the Department of Labor to enforce mental health parity law and impose civil monetary penalties on health plans and insurers in violation.\"\n\n\"We commend Senator Chris Murphy for introducing the Parity Enforcement Act,\" said Laurel Stine, J.D., M.A., Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. \"This much-needed bill will help prevent suicide by supporting enforcement of existing mental health parity laws, making mental health care and substance use treatment more affordable and accessible for all.\"\n\nFull text of the bill is available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-who-would-the-sandy-hook-kids-be-today", "Murphy: Who Would The Sandy Hook Kids Be Today?", "2024-12-12", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2014Ahead of the twelfth anniversary of the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Thursday spoke on the U.S. Senate floor to honor the twenty children and six educators who were senselessly killed that day and the impact of America\u2019s gun violence epidemic.\n\n\"I never really know what to say every year when I come down here to give this speech, but because this is the year that those kids would have been going to college and voting for the first time, this year of transition into adulthood, it's worth thinking about who they would be today and what amazing things they might be getting ready to do in their adulthood,\u201d Murphy said.\n\nMurphy reflected on a few of the young lives lost that day: \u201cCatherine Hubbard, as early as preschool, just adored animals. And she knew, even when she was six years old, that her purpose in life was to protect animals. She would catch butterflies and put them in her hand, and whisper to them, \u2018tell your friends that I am kind.\u2019 Then she'd let them go. She made business cards \u2013 she's six! She made business cards for Catherine's Animal Shelter, because she knew that was what she was going to do. She was going to save animals as an adult. Chase Kowalski was a jock. He loved to run, swim, bike. So much so that that year that he died, when he was six years old, he asked his parents to find him a triathlon to compete in. He's six! You wonder what triathlon, training for a triathlon\u2014he ran in that triathlon, he swam in that triathlon, he biked in that triathlon, and he won his age group. That kind of indomitable spirit, the willingness to tackle challenges so big, that's a recipe for success in life. What would Chase Kowalski be getting ready to do right now? What big challenges in the world would he see as an opportunity to confront? What a difference might he be making in the world, having displayed those really rare characteristics as a six-year-old? Emilie Parker was a super talented artist who didn't travel anywhere without her colored pencils and her markers. She just wanted to do art wherever she was. She was very attuned to kids around her who weren't feeling well, who were feeling sad, and her immediate instinct when she would run into a friend who wasn't feeling good that day was to paint them a picture or draw them a picture to make them feel better.\n\nHe continued: \u201c[W]hat would Catherine, and what would Chase, and what would Emilie have done with their lives had they lived? What would all of these other beautiful girls and boys, their teachers, have done with their lives, had they been here today? It's just unthinkable how many lives are cut off, how much genius is extinguished, how much change could have benefited all of us because we live in a world in which 100 mainly young men and women in their teens and twenties lose their lives every day? But I'm here to tell you that that's not the extent of the story. Because it's not just those who die who have their potential extinguished.\u201d\n\nOn how living in violent neighborhoods impacts children, Murphy said: \u201cI have a group of middle schoolers that I sort of call my \u2018neighborhood kitchen cabinet,\u2019 and I go and meet with them every month or so to get their feedback on what needs to be better about our neighborhood that we live in. And they regularly tell me that for them school is the safe place. It's their walk to and from school, it's the weekends, where they don't feel safe. And when you have millions of children in this country who experience that exposure to violence on a daily basis\u2014in Birmingham, Alabama, 58% of people live within a quarter mile of a recent fatal shooting; in New Haven, same number, 58% of people live within a quarter mile of a fatal shooting\u2014when that's your daily reality, whether you survive the year or not, your brain is impacted, as a child, in a way that robs you of the basic skills for life's success: resiliency, grit.\u201d\n\nMurphy continued: \u201cI wish I knew what all these kids ended up being, where they were going to college, what their dreams were becoming. But make no mistake, the potential that we are losing in this country because of the choice we make here not to make combating gun violence a priority, it is extinguishing the potential, not of a hundred people a day\u2014those that lose their lives\u2014but literally of tens of thousands, and it's just a choice we make.\u201d\n\nA full transcript of his remarks can be found below:\n\n\u201cMr. President, earlier today I got to spend a little time with a close friend of mine, Sam Saylor. And as I was talking to Sam\u2014a resident of Hartford, Connecticut, the city in which I live\u2014 I was thinking about who his son, Shane, might be today.\n\n\u201cShane had a tough life. Shane was born with a birth defect in which one of his arms was essentially inoperable. He grew up in really poor circumstances. He was often bullied. But Shane had a spirit about him\u2014a fighting spirit, sometimes, that the got him in trouble\u2014but a spirit to rise above his circumstances, to do something with his life. His mom\u2014a strong mom\u2014and Sam, his dad, clearly gave him a vision of what his life could be, such that when he was 20 years old, he had started a small business.\n\n\u201cHe was buying cars that needed to be rehabbed and fixed up. He would do that. And he would sell them to make a little bit of a profit\u2014 an extraordinarily endeavor for a kid who had lived that kind of life, who had had those kinds of obstacles. Twelve years later, Shane would have been in his early 30's today. What would Shane have been doing? Would he be running an auto body shop, would he be an active member of his community, would he be making a difference in the way his father and mother have?\n\n\u201cShane could have been a life changer. But he's not, because on October 20th, twelve years ago, Shane died. Shane died when he was selling one of these cars. He was meeting a prospective buyer. He brought his girlfriend along and one of the group of kids who was with the buyer said something mean or coarse about Shane's girlfriend. Some words were exchanged. Shane, as he sometimes did, threw a punch. In the other group's car, there happened to be an illegal gun. They were furious that Shane had thrown that punch. They went and got that gun. They shot Shane dead in cold blood. Shane's mom got there before he died at the scene. He died at the hospital. I just think about who Shane would be today, what great things he would be doing.\n\n\u201cTwo months later the entire world woke up to the epidemic of gun violence in this country. Shane's murder happened on October 20th, 2012, and then, on December 14th, 2012, the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School happened. Twenty first graders and six educators lost their lives. I never really know what to say every year when I come down here to give this speech, but because this is the year that those kids would have been going to college and voting for the first time, this year of transition into adulthood, it's worth thinking about who they would be today and what amazing things they might be getting ready to do in their adulthood.\n\n\u201cCatherine Hubbard, as early as preschool, just adored animals. And she knew, even when she was six years old, that her purpose in life was to protect animals. She would catch butterflies and put them in her hand, and whisper to them, \u2018tell your friends that I am kind.\u2019 Then she'd let them go. She made business cards \u2013 she's six! She made business cards for Catherine's Animal Shelter, because she knew that was what she was going to do. She was going to save animals as an adult.\n\n\u201cChase Kowalski was a jock. He loved to run, swim, bike. So much so that that year that he died, when he was six years old, he asked his parents to find him a triathlon to compete in. He's six! You wonder what triathlon, training for a triathlon\u2014he ran in that triathlon, he swam in that triathlon, he biked in that triathlon, and he won his age group. That kind of indomitable spirit, the willingness to tackle challenges so big, that's a recipe for success in life. What would Chase Kowalski be getting ready to do right now? What big challenges in the world would he see as an opportunity to confront? What a difference might he be making in the world, having displayed those really rare characteristics as a six-year-old?\n\n\u201cEmilie Parker was a super talented artist who didn't travel anywhere without her colored pencils and her markers. She just wanted to do art wherever she was. She was very attuned to kids around her who weren't feeling well, who were feeling sad, and her immediate instinct when she would run into a friend who wasn't feeling good that day was to paint them a picture or draw them a picture to make them feel better.\n\n\u201cThis month, the Catherine Hubbard Animal Sanctuary broke ground on what will become Catherine's Learning Barn. And over the last ten years, the not-for-profit her parents set up in her name has conducted thousands of opportunities and workshops for kids to commune with animals. There is a Race for Chase kids triathlon today, and so there are children all over Connecticut who are learning how to overcome obstacles by racing in their first triathlon, named after Chase. And the Emilie Parker Art Connection has helped support arts programs that are under siege with local budget cuts. Not just in Connecticut, but all over the country, kids are getting to experience art because of the Emilie Parker Art Connection.\n\n\u201cThat's a lovely story. The triathlon, the animal sanctuary, the arts programming. But what would Catherine, and what would Chase, and what would Emilie have done with their lives had they lived? What would all of these other beautiful girls and boys, their teachers, have done with their lives, had they been here today?\n\n\u201cIt's just unthinkable how many lives are cut off, how much genius is extinguished, how much change could have benefited all of us because we live in a world in which 100 mainly young men and women in their teens and twenties lose their lives every day? But I'm here to tell you that that's not the extent of the story. Because it's not just those who die who have their potential extinguished.\n\n\u201cI live in the south end of Hartford. The presiding officer lives in a neighborhood with high rates of violence. And he knows as well as I do the biology that impacts kids who wake up every single day fearing for their lives. I have a group of middle schoolers that I sort of call my \u2018neighborhood kitchen cabinet,\u2019 and I go and meet with them every month or so to get their feedback on what needs to be better about our neighborhood that we live in. And they regularly tell me that for them school is the safe place. It's their walk to and from school, it's the weekends, where they don't feel safe. And when you have millions of children in this country who experience that exposure to violence on a daily basis\u2014in Birmingham, Alabama, 58% of people live within a quarter mile of a recent fatal shooting; in New Haven, same number, 58% of people live within a quarter mile of a fatal shooting\u2014when that's your daily reality, whether you survive the year or not, your brain is impacted, as a child, in a way that robs you of the basic skills for life's success: resiliency, grit.\n\n\u201cIt's not a coincidence that all the low-performing schools in this country are in the violent neighborhoods. It's hard to learn, impossible, for those kids who see gun violence on a daily basis. And so I wish I knew what Shane would be as an adult. I wish I knew what all these kids ended up being, where they were going to college, what their dreams were becoming. But make no mistake, the potential that we are losing in this country because of the choice we make here not to make combating gun violence a priority, it is extinguishing the potential, not of a hundred people a day\u2014those that lose their lives\u2014but literally of tens of thousands, and it's just a choice we make.\n\n\u201cShane's first small business was a water selling business. He asked his dad one summer if he could just set up a little stand and sell bottled water to people in the neighborhood. And so his dad fronted him the money, bought him one of those big Costco packs of bottled water, and Shane set out his little stand to sell the water in a neighborhood where whether he knew it or not he was already exposed to levels of trauma due to the loss of life that was happening almost every weekend that summer in Hartford, Connecticut. And he put a sign in front of his table. He named his business \u2018Shane Oliver Sells.\u2019 And he wrote the acronym, S.O.S. When you send out an S.O.S. call, right, it's your last chance, right? You're on that boat, you've tried everything\u2014you\u2019ve tried bailing it out, you\u2019ve tried restarting the engine, you\u2019ve tried plugging the hole. You're done. The only thing left is to signal that S.O.S. call so that somebody in charge will come and rescue you.\n\n\u201cI don't know if Shane knew or didn't know what his acronym meant, but Shane Oliver sat out there every day in a neighborhood plagued by gun violence with a sign that said S.O.S. And it is representative of the millions of kids all across this country who every single day are sending out an S.O.S. signal to the adults that are supposed to protect them, that are supposed to show up here every day and make it a priority that something like this never, ever happens again. Where the kids that live in my neighborhood never ever fear for their lives walking from their home to school. That S.O.S. call is being sent out from thousands of neighborhoods all across this country, here. That call is being delivered to us. It's been twelve years since we lost these beautiful children and the adults that protected them, and it's about time that we respond to that plea for help. I yield the floor.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-courtney-applaud-unanimous-house-passage-of-scotland-zip-code-solution", "Murphy, Courtney Applaud Unanimous House Passage of Scotland Zip Code Solution", "2024-12-11", "2024", "2024-12", "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.) and U.S. Representative Joe Courtney (D-Conn.-02) on Wednesday celebrated the unanimous passage of H.R. 8753 by the U.S. House of Representatives. The bipartisan legislation includes a provision requiring the U.S. Postal Service to assign a single ZIP code to the town of Scotland, Connecticut.\n\nScotland, a town of just 600 residences, has six zip-codes, often leading to misplaced packages, difficulty requesting mail-in ballots, and uncertainty about where to send students to school. In March, Murphy and Courtney joined forces to introduce bicameral legislation (H.R. 7800 and S. 4052) to direct the USPS to assign Scotland a single zip code. On November 21st, the House Committee on Oversight and Reform approved the House bill, 40-0, as part of a larger package (H.R. 8753), sponsored by Rep. Boebert (R-CO), to address zip-code issues for Americans in 45 towns nationwide.\n\n\u201cThe people of Scotland have suffered long enough from the logistical nightmare of having six zip codes for one town. It\u2019s great news the House passed this bill, and I\u2019m doing everything I can to make sure the Senate does the same,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n\u201cWith passage of this bill, the voices of Scotland residents have been heard loud and clear in Washington and we are one step closer to once and for all solving this Monty Python-esque absurdity. Senator Murphy and I will continue working together to get this bill through the Senate and to the President\u2019s desk for signature. The hardworking, taxpaying citizens of Scotland deserve to get the same level of postal service as every other community,\u201d said Courtney.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-and-hawley-demand-answers-regarding-anthems-draconian-policy-capping-anesthesia-coverage-for-patients", "Blumenthal & Hawley Demand Answers Regarding Anthem's \"Draconian\" Policy Capping Anesthesia Coverage for Patients", "2024-12-10", "2024", "2024-12", "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. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) wrote Elevance CEO Gail Koziara Boudreaux demanding answers from the company regarding a recent policy change in states including Connecticut and Missouri denying coverage for anesthesia care if a surgery or procedure goes beyond specific time limits pre-determined by the health insurance provider. Anthem announced the new policy earlier this year, and then rescinded it after facing public outcry. Anthem is a subsidiary of Elevance.\n\n\u201cAs you are well aware, health care providers are sworn to act in the best interest of their patient and are the only individuals in an operating room singularly focused on providing quality, sometimes life-saving medical care. Therefore, without strong documentation to the contrary, it was absurd for Anthem to presume that the anesthesia care being provided to patients needed to be restricted through Anthem-imposed time caps,\u201d wrote the Senators.\n\nBlumenthal and Hawley are seeking a commitment from Anthem that the company will not enact a similar anesthesia policy going forward, writing, \u201cIn the interest of patients\u2019 health and safety nationwide, we demand answers regarding this ill-conceived policy and clear, direct assurances that a policy cutting off full anesthesia coverage mid-procedure will not be re-considered or re-imposed.\u201d\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\nDecember 10, 2024\n\nGail Koziara Boudreaux\n\nChief Executive Officer\n\nElevance\n\n220 Virginia Ave\n\nIndianapolis, Indiana 46203\n\nDear Ms. Boudreaux,\n\nWe write with deep concern over recently published reports of a new draconian policy adopted by Anthem in several states, including Connecticut and Missouri, which would limit beneficiary coverage for anesthesiology services during surgical procedures if such surgery goes beyond time limits that are unilaterally set by Anthem. Since this policy was announced \u2013 and only because of public outrage \u2013 Anthem claims it will not move forward with the policy. In the interest of patients\u2019 health and safety nationwide, we demand answers regarding this ill-conceived policy and clear, direct assurances that a policy cutting off full anesthesia coverage mid-procedure will not be re-considered or re-imposed.\n\nLast week, it was reported that Anthem planned to enact a one-size-fits-all approach to anesthesia care in states like Connecticut and Missouri that would cut off coverage if anesthesia was needed for longer than Anthem deemed necessary. This policy led to outrage from patients and their providers, who could now be on the hook for increased medical costs simply because medical professionals provided appropriate care. As you are well aware, health care providers are sworn to act in the best interest of their patient and are the only individuals in an operating room singularly focused on providing quality, sometimes life-saving medical care. Therefore, without strong documentation to the contrary, it was absurd for Anthem to presume that the anesthesia care being provided to patients needed to be restricted through Anthem-imposed time caps.\n\nAfter significant public outrage, Anthem said it would not move forward with the new policy, claiming there was \u201csignificant widespread misinformation.\u201d[1] Still, patients and providers have pressing questions about the policy and its potential impact. In an effort to correct the alleged \u201csignificant widespread misinformation,\u201d and to put patients and providers at ease, we are demanding that Anthem immediately commit, in writing, to covering any medically necessary anesthesia services and provide an immediate response to the direct questions below:\n\nCan you confirm that all Anthem policies proposing to cap anesthesia coverage times have been rescinded?\n\nCan you confirm that no Anthem policies are currently in effect that cap anesthesia coverage times?\n\nCan you confirm that Anthem will not again consider imposing a policy that limits anesthesia coverage times?\n\nFurther, please answer the more detailed questions below to provide transparency to the public, your beneficiaries, and providers by December 20, 2024:\n\nWhy did Anthem propose a policy capping anesthesia coverage times? Please provide any documentation finding such a policy was necessary to protect patient care.\n\nAnthem stated that \u201cit never was and never will be the policy of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield to not pay for medically necessary anesthesia services.\u201d[2]\n\nUnder the proposed (and now rescinded) policy, what would happen if a procedure using anesthesia went over Anthem\u2019s approved time limit?\n\nHow does Anthem define \u201cmedically necessary anesthesia services\u201d?\n\nWould it be possible under Anthem\u2019s policy for \u201cmedically necessary anesthesia services\u201d to only be deemed \u201cmedically necessary\u201d for a set amount of time?\n\nAnthem stated that the \u201cproposed update to the policy was only designed to clarify the appropriateness of anesthesia consistent with well-established clinical guidelines.\u201d[3]\n\nPlease explain why clarification was necessary.\n\nIf it was never Anthem\u2019s policy to not pay for medically necessary anesthesia services, what was the goal \u2013 and intended outcome \u2013 of the clarification?\n\nWhat well-established clinical guidelines Anthem was seeking to follow?\n\nDid these clinical guidelines recommend cutting off beneficiary coverage after a certain time limit was reached?\n\nDid Anthem consider how this policy could adversely impact beneficiaries, either medically or financially? If so, please provide detailed information as to how you considered the medical and financial impacts and what you found. If not, please explain why not.\n\nHow did Anthem decide which states to impose this policy in, and why were Connecticut and Missouri included?\n\nWe look forward to your response.\n\nSincerely,\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-larson-himes-governor-lamont-announce-98-million-in-federal-grants-to-benefit-municipal-parks-in-bridgeport-bristol-and-stamford", "Murphy, Larson, Himes, Governor Lamont Announce $9.8 Million In Federal Grants To Benefit Municipal Parks In Bridgeport, Bristol, And Stamford", "2024-12-09", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "HARTFORD\u2014U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and U.S. Representatives John Larson (D-Conn.-01) and Jim Himes (D-Conn-04) joined Governor Ned Lamont and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) to announce that the cities of Bridgeport, Bristol, and Stamford will receive more than $9.8 million in competitive federal funding to benefit four municipal park development projects in each city. The funds are provided through the Land and Water Conservation Fund \u2013 Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership grants program (LWCF-ORLP), a nationally competitive program that provides matching grants to cities for park projects in underserved communities.\n\n\u201cPublic parks are one of the few places where people in the community can come together, spend time outdoors, and connect with friends and neighbors,\u201d said Murphy. \u201cThis $9 million in federal funding will help create a new park in Bridgeport and support upgrades to Rockwell, Boccuzzi, and Cummings Parks in Bristol and Stamford, giving Connecticut families more opportunities to enjoy fun outdoor activities like hiking, picnicking, and kayaking for years to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cConnecticut families should have access to high-quality parks where they can come together, stay active, and enjoy the outdoors, regardless of where they live,\u201d said Blumenthal. \u201cThis $9.8 million in federal funding expands access to parks in Bridgeport, Bristol, and Stamford, and I will continue fighting for federal investments to reinvigorate and develop Connecticut\u2019s outdoor spaces.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am glad to see nearly $2 million coming to Bristol through the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund to make long overdue repairs and improvements to Rockwell Park,\u201d said Larson. \u201cThis funding will modernize amenities, upgrade facilities, expand park hours, and improve access. I will continue to work with the entire Connecticut delegation and our partners at the state and local levels to secure investments like these that preserve access to outdoor spaces and offer new recreational opportunities for residents.\u201d\n\n\u201cInvesting in urban parks is a no brainer,\u201d said Himes. \u201cThey provide places for families to gather and children to play, as well as help improve air quality and lower temperatures in our cities. This nearly $8 million investment will tangibly impact people\u2019s lives in Stamford and Bridgeport by transforming these public lands into beautiful, accessible areas of recreation where communities can come together and rejoice in all the outdoors has to offer.\u201d\n\n\u201cGreat parks and safe outdoor places for our communities enhances the great quality of life we have here in Connecticut,\u201d said Lamont. \u201cI thank our Congressional delegation and federal agency partners for their efforts to secure this important funding for our state. This is a great example of federal, state, and local governments working together to accomplish big things for the residents of our state.\u201d\n\nBridgeport receives $1 million for Sliver by the River\n\nBridgeport is receiving $1,062,454 for its project called Sliver by the River that will transform a vacant lot into a three-acre riverside park. The park will feature a kayak launch, fishing pier, playscape, shade pavilion, terraced lawn with seating, lighting, and native plantings. This is the pilot project for Bridgeport\u2019s initiative to create an interconnected series of waterfront parks and amenities along the 22 miles of riverfront area within the city. The city\u2019s application was developed through a partnership with the City of Bridgeport and the Trust for Public Land, with initial input and technical support from the National Park Service\u2019s Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance group (RTCA).\n\nBristol receives $1.9 million for Rockwell Park\n\nBristol is receiving $1,930,000 for long-overdue improvements to modernize Rockwell Park, often considered the crown jewel of the City of Bristol system of parks. Significant renovations have not been made to the park in almost 20 years, and currently many of the facilities incur massive maintenance costs to keep safe for the public. Some facilities are even on the verge of being unusable. With this award, the city will renovate popular and heavily utilized amenities within the 105-acre park, including the splash park, playgrounds, outdoor pool, and bathhouse. The award will also allow for ADA improvements on existing trails and Fraser Field, new basketball court lighting, installation of a new fitness track, and improvements to the existing 18-hole disc golf course. These improvements will modernize existing park amenities, improve visitor experiences and expand park hours and accessibility in Bristol\u2019s most heavily visited park.\n\nStamford receives $6.8 million for Boccuzzi Park, Cummings Park, West Beach\n\nStamford will receive funding for two separate projects. For improvements to Boccuzzi Park, it will receive $1,811,075. Improvements will include the addition of a splash pad, the creation of a new multi-use field and event space, as well as a new dog park and basketball court. The city will also upgrade its existing children\u2019s playground, create additional parking and install new landscaping throughout the park. For improvements at Cummings Park and West Beach, Stamford will receive $5,000,000. The city will resurface and expand parking lots, renovate restrooms and park maintenance facilities, install tennis/pickleball courts, a softball field and convert an unused parking lot into a playscape area. Many of these repairs are needed from damage created by Superstorm Sandy. The city will also add a scour wall to protect facilities from future storms, replace the eroded beach promenade, and renovate outdoor showers as well as a lifeguard storage area. The improvements will also include landscaping with native plants throughout both facilities.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-statement-on-the-fall-of-bashar-al-assads-regime-in-syria", "Murphy Statement On The Fall Of Bashar Al-Assad's Regime In Syria", "2024-12-08", "2024", "2024-12", "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.), Chair of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia and Counterterrorism, on Sunday released a statement following reports that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad resigned and fled the country after armed rebels took control of the capital city of Damascus:\n\n\u201cFor more than two decades, the regime of Bashar al-Assad, and of his father who ruled before him, has relied on brutality and oppression to cling to power, torturing and jailing activists and political dissidents, mercilessly killing hundreds of thousands of Syrians, and forcing millions more to flee their homes and country. The toppling of his regime represents a watershed moment for the Syrian people, who now have an opportunity to shape a better future. We know that too often, hopeful revolutions have given way to new power struggles, and there are serious concerns about the nature of some of the groups who have swept into power. Decisions by the new de facto authorities and the willingness of the international community to play a constructive role in Syria will be critical going forward. I urge all parties to support an inclusive political process that protects the rights of all Syrian communities and works towards a free, secure democratic future.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-calls-on-ftc-to-protect-concertgoers-and-venues-from-holiday-ticket-scalpers-urges-strong-enforcement-action", "Blumenthal Calls on FTC to Protect Concertgoers & Venues From Holiday Ticket Scalpers, Urges Strong Enforcement Action", "2024-12-06", "2024", "2024-12", "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) today called on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate and take strong enforcement action against deceptive and unlawful practices in the live event ticketing market, including through vigorous enforcement of the Better Online Tickets Sales Act (BOTS Act). The BOTS Act, enacted in December 2016, bans \u201cticket bots\u201d that bypass security measures on online ticketing websites to outprice individual fans. Since then, the FTC has only enforced the BOTS Act once. In a letter to FTC Chair Lina Khan, Blumenthal urged the agency to enforce existing consumer protection laws and protect concertgoers and small venues from predatory ticketing schemes amid holiday ticket sales.\n\n\u201cHigh-profile ticketing failures, such as Ticketmaster\u2019s mishandling of Taylor Swift\u2019s Eras Tour, have brought renewed attention to the persistent and pervasive issue of scalpers and misleading marketplaces. Concertgoers are increasingly competing with well-resourced scalpers, who crowd out real fans with automated bots to buy out seats for even small, local shows,\u201d wrote Blumenthal.\n\n\u201cAnd, while many venues do all they can to stop bots from buying up their inventory, small and independent venues are outmatched in the arms race against scalper\u2019s sophisticated circumvention and impersonation schemes,\u201d Blumenthal continued. \u201cThis struggle to fend off bots and other anti-consumer practices by scalpers also reinforces the market power of large venues and dominant ticket sales platforms, such as Live Nation/Ticketmaster, when independent venues find themselves unable to protect real consumers\u2019 access themselves.\u201d\n\n\u201cI urge the Federal Trade Commission to vigorously enforce our consumer protection laws in the live event market, including the BOTS Act, to protect concertgoers and venues from predatory ticketing schemes,\u201d Blumenthal concluded.\n\nThe full text of Blumenthal\u2019s letter to the FTC is available here and below:\n\nDecember 6, 2024\n\nThe Honorable Lina M. Khan\n\nChair\n\nFederal Trade Commission\n\n600 Pennsylvania Ave NW\n\nWashington, D.C. 20580\n\nDear Chair Khan,\n\nI write to urge the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate and bring enforcement actions against deceptive and unlawful practices in the live event ticketing market, including through vigorously enforcing the Better Online Tickets Sales Act (BOTS Act).\n\nHigh-profile ticketing failures, such as Ticketmaster\u2019s mishandling of Taylor Swift\u2019s Eras Tour, have brought renewed attention to the persistent and pervasive issue of scalpers and misleading marketplaces. Concertgoers are increasingly competing with well-resourced scalpers, who crowd out real fans with automated bots to buy out seats for even small, local shows. Those scalpers often then resell tickets at starkly inflated prices, sometimes multiple times their price, on shady marketplaces that look like the original venue\u2019s site in their branding and search results, often using sponsored ads to appear ahead of the actual venue\u2019s website. As a result, consumers might not be aware they are buying from a scalper or that tickets are still available at face value \u2014 or even that a seller does not possess the ticket the buyer is trying to purchase (\u201cspeculative ticketing\u201d).\n\nDeceptive and unlawful ticket scalping harms consumers, concert venues, and artists. Concert venues suffer when abusive scalping leads to empty seats and undersold shows, and when fans are irate because a scalper leads the consumer to think they are buying directly from the venue and overcharges or fails to deliver on promised tickets.\n\nAnd, while many venues do all they can to stop bots from buying up their inventory, small and independent venues are outmatched in the arms race against scalper\u2019s sophisticated circumvention and impersonation schemes.[1] This struggle to fend off bots and other anti-consumer practices by scalpers also reinforces the market power of large venues and dominant ticket sales platforms, such as Live Nation/Ticketmaster, when independent venues find themselves unable to protect real consumers\u2019 access themselves.\n\nThe BOTS Act made it illegal for scalpers to use bots to bypass the security measures and other limitations that ticket sales platforms put in place to ensure that real fans can get access to tickets. The Federal Trade Commission Act\u2019s prohibition on \u2018unfair or deceptive acts or practices\u2019 in commerce also makes it unlawful for marketplaces and sellers to deceptively impersonate concert venues and falsely claim to possess tickets in their speculative sales. Regrettably, however, despite the BOTS Act\u2019s enactment in December 2016, the FTC has only taken action once, against three ticket brokers in January 2021. This lack of deterrence from the underenforcement of the BOTS Act has fostered a sense of impunity, inviting more scalpers with more sophisticated schemes, driving up prices for consumers, and creating a minefield of scams.\n\nI urge the Federal Trade Commission to vigorously enforce our consumer protection laws in the live event market, including the BOTS Act, to protect concertgoers and venues from predatory ticketing schemes. I additionally request that the FTC provide a briefing about its consumer protection efforts in ticketing market, including work to warn consumers, enforcement actions, and recommendations for strengthening our laws on ticketing, no later than December 20, 2024.\n\nThank you for your attention to this matter.\n\nSincerely,\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/icymi-video-blumenthal-questions-us-postmaster-general-dejoy-on-the-future", "ICYMI Video: Blumenthal Questions U.S. Postmaster General DeJoy on the Future of Unused or Underutilized Postal Service Sites in Connecticut", "2024-12-06", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[HARTFORD, CT] \u2013 In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), a member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, questioned U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy yesterday on unused or underutilized United States Postal Service (USPS) sites in Connecticut that are negatively affecting small businesses, economic development, and local residents.\n\nIn Ridgefield, Connecticut, an often vacant USPS parking lot remains a problem for the town, surrounding businesses, and Ridgefield residents, who cannot use the parking lot to visit other businesses. The lot is underutilized or not used at all for USPS business despite claims from USPS that the parking lot is necessary \u201cduring our peak holiday season when mail and package volumes dramatically increase.\u201d During today\u2019s hearing, Blumenthal presented DeJoy with a photograph of the clearly empty lot from December of last year. In 2021, Ridgefield\u2019s mail-handling operations moved to the USPS annex in Danbury, dramatically reducing operations.\n\nBlumenthal pressed DeJoy to commit to looking into the issue and consider selling unused or underutilized Connecticut sites which would result in more revenue for the USPS.\n\n\u201cIn Norwalk, they are in the process of redeveloping their downtown now in real time. In Milford, they are redeveloping a downtown. They want to provide you with reasonable alternatives for the postal property, if it ever is going to be used. I could go through a number of towns where in real time, right now there are businesses, taxpayer interests, and your customers at stake. Why can't we move on some of these properties rather than the Post Office in effect stonewalling the people of Connecticut?\u201d asked Blumenthal.\n\nPostmaster General DeJoy committed to joining Blumenthal in Connecticut to visit the Ridgefield Postal Service site, among other unused or underutilized sites. Blumenthal followed up on DeJoy\u2019s commitment sending him a formal invitation letter to join him in a visit to Ridgefield during the winter holiday season.\n\nVideo of Blumenthal and Post Master General DeJoy\u2019s exchange can be found here. A transcript is available below.\n\nBlumenthal: Thanks for having this hearing, thank you, Mr. Dejoy, for being here today.\n\nWhen you were last here in April, you and I talked a little bit about Ridgefield, Connecticut\u2014a small town, but important to me and the people of Connecticut, along with other towns where the United States Postal Service has property that is essentially unused and where in fact the Postal Service could save some money\u2014maybe not billions of dollars but every penny saved, as you know from your business experience, is important to corporation. When we spoke in April, you promised to look into the Ridgefield property personally, but all you did afterward was cite a September 2023 letter from one of your government relations people, Scott Slusher. Is he still with you?\n\nDeJoy: Yes.\n\nBlumenthal: Is he here today?\n\nDeJoy: Yes.\n\nBlumenthal: Good morning, Mr. Slusher. Mr. Slusher told me in that letter, \u201cDuring our peak holiday season when mail and package volumes dramatically increase, the lot will be needed to accommodate the foreseeable needs of our customers and the additional seasonal employees we employ to meet those needs.\u201d When was the last time, Mr. Dejoy, you visited Ridgefield, Connecticut?\n\nDeJoy: I don\u2019t know that I\u2019ve ever been to Ridgefield, Connecticut.\n\nBlumenthal: Has Mr. Slusher ever visited? I take it from your non-answer that he hasn\u2019t.\n\nDeJoy: If you\u2019re asking me if Mr. Slusher\u2014I don\u2019t keep up with the travel.\n\nBlumenthal: You don\u2019t know? No.\n\nLet me show you a photo of that lot. Last December, December 27, during the peak holiday season. It\u2019s empty. It\u2019s empty every day in December. It\u2019s empty every day\u2014every day\u2014 during the year. That lot is unused. The small businesses on Main Street want to make that lot available for parking\u2014they don\u2019t want to take anything away from the United States Postal Service\u2014and the non-responsiveness\u2014I\u2019m tempted to say stonewalling\u2014of the Postal Service in response to their and my request, the town of Ridgefield, so that that property can be used for parking, enabling more customers for those small businesses on Main Street, I think is really unacceptable. Will you come to Ridgefield?\n\nDeJoy: Sure.\n\nBlumenthal: We\u2019ll set it up with your office during the peak holiday season.\n\nDeJoy: I make trips, people invite me. I\u2019ll come to Ridgefield.\n\nBlumenthal: You\u2019ll love Ridgefield. It\u2019s especially beautiful in the peak holiday season. And while you\u2019re in Ridgefield, maybe we could also visit Milford, Norwalk, East Hartford, where there are properties that could be sold by the Postal Service that are essentially unused\u2014the Postal Service could make some money\u2014and right now, it is essentially refusing even to respond as you have done essentially on Ridgefield.\n\nDeJoy: First of all, I will take the whole tour. I\u2019ll come up. But, we are in a process\u2014we have these requests throughout the whole nation, and we are in a process of looking at 31,000 facilities across the nation trying to determine what we are going to stay in and not stay in, where we are going to park electric vehicles, and so forth. So we are in a status of evaluation. Okay? We will get through this as we work through our whole network where our sorting and delivery centers are going to be, what are retail configurations are going to look like, and so forth. And then that will be the time for us to move out in terms of looking at the monetization.\n\nBlumenthal: But the problem is, Mr. Dejoy\u2014and I apologize for interrupting, but my time is limited as you all know\u2014that in Norwalk, they are in the process of redeveloping their downtown. Now. In real time.\n\nDeJoy: Senator, that is everywhere\u2014\n\nBlumenthal: In Milford, they are redeveloping a downtown. They want to provide you with reasonable alternatives for the Postal property, if it ever is going to be used. In Litchfield\u2014I mean, I could go through a number of towns where in real time, right now, there are businesses and taxpayer interests, and your customers are at stake. Why can't we move on some of these properties right away, rather than the Post Office, in effect, with all due respect, stonewalling the people of Connecticut?\n\nDeJoy: I don\u2019t know that we are\u2014 I do believe that we need to, and have started a process to, engage. I just was with a couple Congressmen in their towns looking at some of these projects. I do think we need to get into a better dialogue, more meaningful dialogue, with local constituents, quicker in terms of the decisions that we need to make and the reasons why we can\u2019t relinquish or can relinquish the property. I think we need to get better at that. It does not change the answer, in many, many cases, because we do need many of these properties. So, I don\u2019t know, I mean, do you want me to look into this further?\n\nBlumenthal: Well, you promised to look into it in April.\n\nDeJoy: And we gave you an answer.\n\nBlumenthal: And you gave me an answer to refer to a September 2023 letter, which frankly, I find insulting.\n\nDeJoy: Well why do you find it insulting? If we feel we need the property? We need the property, we need the property.\n\nBlumenthal: Because what you say is absolutely untrue, that it is used in the peak holiday season. And if anybody paid attention, gave it the slightest care \u2013\n\nDeJoy: That is not true. Because, Senator, when I got here, we added a thousand locations during peak to do deliveries. Because of some of the changes that we have made in our operational processes, that is coming down. That might have been, we ran a lot of additional operations during the peak season that were crazy and costly and deteriorated service. So in our process\u2014I am now emptying buildings all over the country, but this is a process, I can\u2019t just\u2026\n\nBlumenthal: Well, the process seems to be never ending.\n\nDeJoy: Exactly.\n\nBlumenthal: And the lack of an end means the Post Office, the United States Postal Service, is deprived of revenue that it needs, and it means insulting the people of the United States, who have an interest\u2014your customers, not only in that revenue but also in the most effective use of property that belongs to the United States Postal Service. So I welcome your willingness to come visit.\n\nDeJoy: Senator, if I give up a bill, I get booted out of a retail center where I am paying, let\u2019s say, $300,000 a year. You know what the price of that is for me to go some place else today? Like $3 million a year. So I have to be careful with what we do with this real estate. There\u2019s significant increases in value and also a whole cartel of opportunists that we have dealt with over the years at the Postal Service with regard to the centers, so that property in a downtown, if you want a Post Office or Postal Service, we are going through making\u2013\n\nBlumenthal: Are you aware that the Post Office moved out of Ridgefield? The office is no longer there. I would suggest that you really look into, as you promised you would do, the situation there personally, maybe ask\u2014\n\nDeJoy: Get rid of him.\n\nBlumenthal: \u2014Mr. Slusher to do an advanced visit so that you can be prepared when you come with me, and I appreciate your willingness to do so, but time is not on our side when it comes to those small businesses, whether it\u2019s in Ridgefield or the interests of towns, Milford, Norwalk, Litchfield, East Hartford, where the property interests are not used properly. I apologize for going over my time, Mr. Chairman.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-calls-for-expansion-of-darfur-arms-embargo", "Murphy Calls For Expansion Of Darfur Arms Embargo", "2024-12-06", "2024", "2024-12", "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 Foreign Relations Committee, on Friday released the following statement on the need to expand the Darfur arms embargo during the United States\u2019 presidency of the UN Security Council:\n\n\u201cAs the United States assumes the Presidency of the UN Security Council this month, I strongly support Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield\u2019s commitment to using our role to shine a spotlight on the humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan. While our Mission works with partners to set the Council\u2019s agenda for December, we must make it a priority to enforce the Darfur arms embargo and further expand it to cover the entirety of Sudan.\n\nWhile I am grateful the Security Council recently unanimously decided to extend the embargo until September 2025, combatants on both sides of the conflict continue to receive a steady flow of weapons and ammunition from all corners of the country. In turn, both the RSF and SAF use these weapons to continue their brutal campaigns and terrorize innocent civilians. The foreign governments and businesses responsible for violating the embargo, including the United Arab Emirates and Russia, are directly responsible for perpetuating the horrific conflict, which has killed tens of thousands of civilians and become the most severe displacement crisis in the world. The Security Council must step up to expand the embargo and take the necessary steps to hold those responsible for violating it accountable. With December\u2019s presidency, I hope the United States will use all leverage at our disposal to end the bloodshed and bring this devastating conflict to a close.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-calls-on-senate-armed-services-committee-leadership-to-request-hegseth-records-from-veterans-groups", "Blumenthal Calls on Senate Armed Services Committee Leadership to Request Hegseth Records from Veterans Groups", "2024-12-05", "2024", "2024-12", "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), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, wrote Chairman Jack Reed (D-RI) and Ranking Member Roger Wicker (R-MI) requesting that the Committee \u201censure that Concerned Veterans of America (CVA) and the Veterans for Freedom (V.F.F.) preserve and produce all financial records and correspondence, particularly concerning credit card transactions, relating to Peter Hegseth\u2019s tenure at these organizations to the Committee for review.\u201d\n\nEarlier this week, public reporting revealed that the nominee to lead the Department of Defense was removed from leadership positions at both Concerned Veterans of America and the Veterans for Freedom following significant misconduct and financial mismanagement.\n\nThe full text of Blumenthal\u2019s letter is available here and copied below.\n\nDear Chairman Reed and Ranking Member Wicker,\n\nIn light of recent reporting alleging gross misconduct and financial mismanagement on the part of President-elect Trump\u2019s nominee for Secretary of Defense, Peter Hegseth, I request that prior to scheduling any confirmation hearing, the Committee ensure that Concerned Veterans of America (CVA) and the Veterans for Freedom (V.F.F.) preserve and produce all financial records and correspondence, particularly concerning credit card transactions, relating to Peter Hegseth\u2019s tenure at these organizations to the Committee for review.\n\nAccusations of Mr. Hegseth\u2019s serious financial abuse and gross misconduct as the Executive Director of V.F.F. from 2007 to 2011 and again as the Executive Director of CVA from 2013 to 2016 make it imperative that the Committee have access to all relevant documentation to assess these claims prior to the Committee considering his nomination. This request includes but is not limited to credit card records, tax filings, receipts, performance reviews, and revenue reports.\n\nThank you for your consideration of my request.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-blumenthal-larson-courtney-delauro-colleagues-call-on-department-of-education-to-discharge-loans-for-defrauded-borrowers", "Murphy, Blumenthal, Larson, Courtney, DeLauro, Colleagues Call On Department Of Education To Discharge Loans For Defrauded Borrowers", "2024-12-05", "2024", "2024-12", "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, on Wednesday joined U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and U.S. Representatives John Larson (D-Conn.-01), Joe Courtney (D-Conn.-02), and Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.-03) in calling on the U.S. Department of Education to discharge student loan debt for hundreds of thousands of students who were defrauded by predatory schools. During the first Trump administration, defrauded borrowers\u2019 applications for debt relief were left to languish for years, and if reviewed, were often denied. In their letter today, the lawmakers called for the Department to use its authority to immediately discharge debt.\n\nSince 2022, the Department has announced group discharges for more than 1.2 million individuals who attended schools that engaged in documented fraud and misconduct, including ITT Technical Institute and Corinthian Colleges. Yet, hundreds of thousands of borrowers are still awaiting their discharges. Many additional borrowers are eligible for borrower defense group discharge because they attended schools for which the Department possesses evidence of fraud and misconduct; 400,000 borrowers have submitted individual applications for borrower defense discharges that the Department has yet to process.\n\n\u201cThe Biden administration has demonstrated a commitment to supporting student borrowers and mitigating the devastating impact of student loan debt, including issuing targeted debt relief to hundreds of thousands of borrowers defrauded by predatory higher education institutions,\u201d the lawmakers wrote.\n\nThe lawmakers continued: \u201cWe urge the Department of Education to follow through on its commitment by immediately processing debt discharges for borrowers already approved for relief; issuing additional discharges for students who attended institutions with documented histories of predatory practices; and processing any outstanding borrower defense applications.\u201d\n\nU.S. Senators Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), and Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.) also signed the letter.\n\nIn the House of Representatives, U.S. Representatives Maxine Waters (D-Calif.-43), Andr\u00e9 Carson (D-Ind.-07), Danny K. Davis (D-Ill.-07), Robin L. Kelly (D-Ill.-02), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.-09), Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.-15), Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.-13), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.-07), Julia Brownley (D-Calif.-26), Erica Lee Carter (D-Texas-18), Gwen S. Moore (D-Wis.-04), Barbara Lee (D-Calif.-12), Joaquin Castro (D-Texas-20), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.-05), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.-12), Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss.-02), Alma S. Adams Ph.D. (D-N.C.-12), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.-20), Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.-15), Cori Bush (D-Mo.-01), Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.-06), Greg Casar (D-Texas-35), Mark Takano (D-Calif.-39), Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.-10), Mark DeSaulnier (D-Calif.-10), Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.-07), Delia C. Ramirez (D-Ill.-03), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.-14), Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.-12), Nydia M. Vel\u00e1zquez (D-N.Y.-07), Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.-24), Lucy McBath (D-Ga.-07), Jes\u00fas G. \u201cChuy\u201d Garc\u00eda (D-Ill.-04), Summer L. Lee (D-Pa.-12), Yvette D. Clarke (D-N.Y.-09), Al Green (D-Texas-09), Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.-14), Dwight Evans (D-Pa.-03), Frederica S. Wilson (D-Fla.-17), Hank Johnson (D-Ga.-04), Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.-01), Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.-14), LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.-10), Ra\u00fal M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.-07), Adam Smith (D-Wash.-09), Sylvia R. Garcia (D-Texas-29), Nanette Diaz Barrag\u00e1n (D-Calif.-44), Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio-03), Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.-13), Jennifer L. McClellan (D-Va.-04), Sean Casten (D-Ill.-06), Grace Meng (D-N.Y.-06), Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.-34), Nikema Williams (D-Ga.-05), and Robert Garcia (D-Calif.-42) also signed the letter.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available HERE and below:\n\nDear Secretary Cardona,\n\nThe Biden administration has demonstrated a commitment to supporting student borrowers and mitigating the devastating impact of student loan debt, including issuing targeted debt relief to hundreds of thousands of borrowers defrauded by predatory higher education institutions. We urge the Department of Education (Department) to follow through on its commitment by immediately processing debt discharges for borrowers already approved for relief; issuing additional discharges for students who attended institutions with documented histories of predatory practices; and processing any outstanding borrower defense applications.\n\nToo many student borrowers have been preyed on by predatory schools, most of which are for-profit colleges. These for-profit colleges have a long history of disproportionately enrolling veterans, low-income students, students of color, homeless students, and first-generation college students and falsely promising high-quality jobs after graduation. Unfortunately, too many of these borrowers were saddled with debilitating debt, often without a degree to show for it. Debt has forced many of these borrowers to put their economic lives on hold, forgoing buying homes and starting families.\n\nThe Department must take three concrete steps to help these student borrowers.\n\nFirst, the Department must immediately discharge the student loans for the hundreds of thousands of students who the Department has already committed to providing borrower defense debt relief. Since 2022, the Department has announced group discharges for more than 1.2 million individuals who attended schools that engaged in documented fraud and misconduct, including:\n\nArt Institutes \u2013 317,000 students (May 2024)\n\nPhoenix University \u2013 1,200 students (September 2023)\n\nAshford University \u2013 2,300 students (August 2023)\n\nCollegeAmerica \u2013 7,400 students (July 2023)\n\nWestwood College \u2013 79,000 students (August 2022)\n\nITT Technical Institute \u2013 208,000 students (August 2022)\n\nKaplan Career Institute \u2013 100 students (August 2022)\n\nCorinthian Colleges \u2013 560,000 students (June 2022)\n\nMarinello Schools of Beauty \u2013 28,200 students (April 2022)\n\nDeVry University \u2013 1,800 students (February 2022)\n\nMinnesota School of Business/Globe University \u2013 270 students (July 2021)\n\nHowever, according to recent court filings, hundreds of thousands of these borrowers still await relief. For example, as of October 31, 2024, more than 25 percent of Corinthian Colleges\u2019 borrowers await their discharges, and many others await promised refunds of amounts previously paid. The Department must immediately process debt relief for these borrowers.\n\nSecond, the Department must use its authority under the Higher Education Act to issue group discharges for the millions of borrowers who attended other institutions with documented histories of predatory practices. These institutions are included in the appendix. The Department should promptly issue findings and utilize its authority to fully discharge the student loan balances of borrowers who attended the schools listed. Substantial evidence of misconduct already exists for each of these schools. Defrauded students should not be left holding the bag for institutions that no longer exist.\n\nThird, the Department must process any remaining applications for borrower defense discharge. These borrowers completed an onerous application to demonstrate that they were victims of fraud, but the Department has yet to act. Though the Department has not shared its number with Congress or the public, an estimated 400,000 borrowers have pending applications for borrower defense discharge. By processing existing group discharges and issuing findings for additional group discharges, the Department will eliminate much of the backlog in remaining borrower defense applications, efficiently delivering relief. Additionally, the Department must process any remaining borrower defense applications as soon as possible.\n\nUnder the previous Trump Administration, borrowers\u2019 applications were allowed to languish for years. If their application was reviewed, borrowers often were denied and granted no relief. Then-Education Secretary DeVos denied nearly 130,000 borrower defense applications. It is imperative that the Department provide immediate relief to borrowers. Borrowers who attended fraudulent schools and have struggled with debt for years, or even decades, cannot afford to wait any longer. We thank you for your attention to this urgent issue and look forward to working together to ensure that all students who were victims of predatory practices receive relief.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-calls-on-dot-and-treasury-to-investigate-airlines-junk-fee-tactics", "Blumenthal Calls on DOT and Treasury to Investigate Airlines' Junk Fee Tactics", "2024-12-04", "2024", "2024-12", "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), Chair of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), today urged the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the U.S. Department of Treasury to review major airlines\u2019 tactics to boost revenue from excessive ancillary or \u201cjunk\u201d fees, which have resulted in higher costs and negative experiences for consumers. Last week, Blumenthal released a Majority staff report today\u2019s PSI hearing\n\nPointing to the Subcommittee\u2019s finding that Frontier and Spirit airlines paid $26 million in combined incentive payments to gate agents and other personnel between 2022 and 2023 to enforce airline bag policies that boost airline revenue, Blumenthal wrote to Secretary Buttigieg, \u201cI write to request that the DOT review the Subcommittee\u2019s report, which is enclosed with this letter, and conduct a thorough investigation into Frontier and Spirit\u2019s policies, practices, and training surrounding the payment of incentives to gate agents and others charged with applying discretion in the application of bag policies. I further urge that, if the DOT determines that either Frontier or Spirit have engaged in unfair or deceptive practices in their implementation of ancillary incentive payments, it should prohibit the practices in question and access civil penalties if appropriate.\u201d\n\nBlumenthal also urged DOT to consider PSI\u2019s findings as it pursues its inquiry into the state of competition in air travel with the Department of Justice, \u201cThe Subcommittee\u2019s investigation of American Airlines, Delta, United, Frontier, and Spirit, which together control 60% of the domestic air travel market, also revealed how the decline in airline competition has harmed American consumers. Airline industry consolidation over the past 20 years has left a handful of major airlines that implement ancillary fee increases in lock step, often leaving customers no way to avoid certain fees.\u201d\n\nIn his letter to Secretary Yellen, Blumenthal called on the department to ensure uniform application of the transportation excise tax, writing, \u201cThe Subcommittee found that the five airlines collected $12.4 billion in combined revenue from seat fees between 2018 and 2023, that Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines paid $26 million in combined incentive payments to gate agents and other personnel between 2022 and 2023 to enforce airline bag policies, and that some airlines appear to avoid the 7.5% transportation excise tax by deeming some ticket costs to be ancillary fees.\u201d\n\nThe full text of Blumenthal\u2019s letter to Treasury is available here. The full text of Blumenthal\u2019s letter to DOT is available here and below:\n\nDecember 4, 2024\n\nVIA E-MAIL\n\nThe Honorable Pete Buttigieg\n\nU.S. Secretary of Transportation\n\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\n\nWashington, DC 20590\n\nDear Secretary Buttigieg:\n\nOn November 26, 2024, the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (\u201cPSI\u201d or \u201cthe Subcommittee\u201d) released a report titled \u201cThe Sky\u2019s the Limit \u2013 The Rise of Junk Fees in American Travel.\u201d The report details the findings of the Subcommittee\u2019s year-long investigation into fees airlines charge for products and services that were once included in the price of a ticket (\u201cancillary fees\u201d) at five major U.S. airlines: American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Frontier Airlines, and Spirit Airlines. The Subcommittee found that the five airlines collected $12.4 billion in combined revenue from seat fees between 2018 and 2023, that some airlines appear to avoid the 7.5% transportation excise tax by deeming some ticket costs to be ancillary fees, and that Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines paid $26 million in combined incentive payments to gate agents and other personnel between 2022 and 2023 to enforce airline bag policies. The Subcommittee\u2019s findings suggest that Frontier and Spirit\u2019s incentive payments to gate agents may inappropriately encourage abuse of discretion when it comes to deciding whether a passenger has complied with airline bag policies, potentially forcing customers to choose between paying an unjust bag fee or missing their flight.\n\nI write to request that the Department of Transportation (\u201cDOT\u201d) review the Subcommittee\u2019s report, which is enclosed with this letter, and conduct a thorough investigation into Frontier and Spirit\u2019s policies, practices, and training surrounding the payment of incentives to gate agents and others charged with applying discretion in the application of bag policies. I further urge that, if the DOT determines that either Frontier or Spirit have engaged in unfair or deceptive practices in their implementation of ancillary incentive payments, it should prohibit the practices in question and access civil penalties if appropriate.\n\nThe Subcommittee\u2019s investigation of American Airlines, Delta, United, Frontier, and Spirit, which together control 60% of the domestic air travel market, also revealed how the decline in airline competition has harmed American consumers. Airline industry consolidation over the past 20 years has left a handful of major airlines that implement ancillary fee increases in lock step, often leaving customers no way to avoid certain fees. Pursuant to the DOT\u2019s October 24, 2024, Request for Information on Competition in Air Transportation, I request that the DOT consider the Subcommittee\u2019s findings and recommendations as it pursues its public inquiry into the state of competition in air travel together with the Department of Justice. To this end, please include the Subcommittee\u2019s report in the inquiry\u2019s public docket. Thank you for your attention to this matter.\n\nSincerely,\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-delivers-opening-statement-at-hearing-with-airline-executives-on-junk-fees", "Blumenthal Delivers Opening Statement at Hearing with Airline Executives on Junk Fees", "2024-12-04", "2024", "2024-12", "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), Chair of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), delivered opening remarks at today\u2019s hearing on \u201cThe Sky\u2019s the Limit \u2013 New Revelations About Airline Fees.\u201d Prior to the hearing, Blumenthal wrote to the U.S. Department of Transportation and the U.S. Department of Treasury referring PSI\u2019s findings from its investigation into airline junk fees and urging the agencies to take action to protect consumers.\n\n\u201cLast week was the busiest, or certainly one of the busiest, of our travel weekends,\u201d Blumenthal said. \u201c18 million people in the air, and many of them frustrated and infuriated, not just by delays and cancellations\u2014some of them inevitable\u2014but by fees that seemed to be sky high with no prospect of landing. In fact, they feel with more than understandable justification that they are piggy banks to be shaken down by these skyrocketing fees that seem to have no connection to any costs that the airlines incur. In fact, our investigation shows they have no connection to actual costs that the airlines are bearing.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe five airlines here today generated $25.3 billion in checked bag fees over the past six years. In fact, airlines have forced parents to choose between sitting apart from their minor children and paying an extra fee,\u201d Blumenthal continued.\n\nBlumenthal underscored the findings of PSI\u2019s investigation into airline junk fees as published in last week\u2019s Majority staff report, \u201cOur investigation found that in 2023 alone, American, Delta, United, Frontier, and Spirit collected more than $3 billion in seat fees. Only seat fees. That is not airfare. That is just fees for booking a specific seat in advance or selecting a slightly better seat. And that\u2019s an increase of 50% from 2018, just six years ago.\u201d\n\nBlumenthal concluded by calling for action to lower costs for consumers, increase price transparency, and review the state of competition within the airline industry, \u201cFirst of all, more must be done to address the rising cost of air travel and to empower passengers, beginning with greater transparency. The billions of dollars that airlines make in seat fees and other unreported fees must be disclosed to the public.\u201d\n\nVideo of Blumenthal\u2019s opening remarks can be found here. The full transcript of Blumenthal\u2019s statement is available below.\n\nChair Blumenthal: This Hearing of the Subcommittee on Investigations will come to order. I want to welcome our witnesses, my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. Senator Johnson had a conflict this morning, so we welcome Senator Marshall as the Ranking Member, and thank you, Senator Hassan, for being here as well. I want to put into the record right away, two letters that I have written to Secretary of Treasury Yellen and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg asking for investigation of potential violations of law that have been uncovered in the course of our investigation. They relate to possible avoidance of excise taxes on airline fares and potential violations of the consumer protection laws insofar as deceptive and misleading practices may have occurred. Those investigations will be\u2014those letters will be part of our record without objection.\n\nLast week was the busiest, or certainly one of the busiest, of our travel weekends. 18 million people in the air, and many of them frustrated and infuriated, not just by delays and cancellations\u2014some of them inevitable\u2014 but by fees that seemed to be sky high with no prospect of landing. In fact, they feel with more than understandable justification that they are piggy banks to be shaken down by these skyrocketing fees that seem to have no connection to any costs that the airlines incur. In fact, our investigation shows they have no connection to actual costs that the airlines are bearing.\n\nFee revenue, in fact, is skyrocketing, and these consumers feel it. Passengers now are forced to pay extra for almost everything. If you want to reserve a seat, there is a fee for that. If you want to change or cancel your reservation, there is a fee for that. If you want to travel with a bag, there is a fee for that, too.\n\nThe five airlines here today generated $25.3 billion in checked bag fees over the past six years. In fact, airlines have forced parents to choose between sitting apart from their minor children and paying an extra fee. We passed a law last May prohibiting those kinds of fees. The comment period closed in May, and the DOT has yet to issue a final rule that implements that new law. But in the meantime, the airlines should have respected the intent of Congress eliminating it, and frankly, the Department of Transportation ought to issue that final rule right now. Get it done. No more delay.\n\nNow I know the airlines say that they offer lower fares and more choices. But the fact of the matter is that those lower fares, the so-called economy class, are basically for people to travel with no more than the shirt on their back and the underwear and socks they have on. The fees that they inevitably incur when they have to carry a bag on are often confused, complicated, and inconsistent. And they are concealed in a way that defeat efforts to do comparison shopping, which is the essence of competition.\n\nAirlines often conceal these fees, making that kind of comparison shopping difficult if not impossible, and more travelers are searching for tickets without knowing what the final price will be until they pay it, and some are surprised by concealed charges at the moment they are about to board at the gate.\n\nAirlines call the practice of separately charging for every little thing, \u201cunbundling.\u201d Frustrated passengers have a different word for it\u2014they call it junk. Sometimes they use another four-letter word, and understandably they feel that sense of frustration and anger.\n\nFor the past year, our Subcommittee, the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, has been investigating how five of the most prominent airlines have used these fees to change the way Americans travel. American, Delta, and United are together responsible for a majority of all domestic air travel. I think it is about 60%. With Southwest, that figure is close to 70%. And Frontier and Spirit, while smaller, have pioneered new methods of charging their customers. Some of their latest practices, like targeting individual passengers with pricing algorithms, are likely spreading to other airlines, which is the pattern in the industry. The smaller airlines experiment with a new tactic, and it is then mimicked or adopted by the larger ones.\n\nOur investigation found that in 2023 alone, American, Delta, United, Frontier, and Spirit collected more than $3 billion in seat fees. Only seat fees. That is not airfare. That is just fees for booking a specific seat in advance or selecting a slightly better seat. And that\u2019s an increase of 50% from 2018, just six years ago. In fact, we found that over the past six years, the five airlines we investigated made more than $12.4 billion from the many seat fees that they charge.\n\nNow I know there are going to be claims in your testimony of rising costs. But, we found that for checked bags, the fees are unconnected to any costs in transporting them, and it is obvious that assigning paid seats is pure profit. You do not have to create new seats on a specific flight when you charge more.\n\nWe obtained internal documents showing that Frontier paid $10 to its gate agents every time you identify, or they identified, a passenger whose free personal item is large enough to qualify as a carry-on bag, requiring a fee up to $99. In other words, a bounty bag program. $10, an incentive payment, so that the consumer would pay up to $99 to carry on a bag. I call it a bounty bag program, and Spirit has one too. When we asked Frontier about this program, they accused customers who don\u2019t pay for carry-on bags of \"Stealing from the airline.\" It is not surprising given that Frontier has estimated this program would generate $40 million in extra revenue in just its first year.\n\nThis hostile view of their customers certainly leaves no doubt why complaints are surging. Our investigation also found that airlines benefit by making information about the fees they charge obscure and confusing. One airline even admitted in our investigation that they hide seat fees from customers until late in the booking process because doing so leads to more customers completing their purchase. Keeping this information hidden from customers is working out very well for the airlines, not so much the customers. Last year, seat fees accounted for $1.3 billion in revenue for United\u2014even more than the $1.2 billion they earned from charging for bags.\n\nTravelers are quite simply fed up with hidden sky-high fees, and they are right to worry about the future. Our investigation found airlines are exploring new ways to charge customized fees to each passenger using algorithms and maybe even AI. This type of consumer-specific pricing will make it much easier for airlines to discriminate against particular passengers and to raise fares and fees for those airlines that the consumers are suspected to be able to pay more. Once again, the airlines are racing to put profits above all else.\n\nLet me conclude by talking a little bit about what has to be done. First of all, more must be done to address the rising cost of air travel and to empower passengers, beginning with greater transparency. The billions of dollars that airlines make in seat fees and other unreported fees must be disclosed to the public. The Department of Transportation must swiftly implement Congress\u2019s mandate that parents be allowed to sit next to their children without extra fees attached. There is no excuse for additional delay. It ought to be done by the end of this year.\n\nWe have to pass legislation, including the Airline Passenger Bill of Rights and the Fair Fees Act, which the airline industry has spent millions to lobby against. And, on the issue of transparency, I want to know from these witnesses why they are in court blocking a bill that was passed by Congress, a law that we approved that requires greater transparency. The Fifth Circuit United States Court has blocked implementation because of that lawsuit brought by your airline companies. If you are in favor of transparency, why go to court blocking a transparency law? It makes no sense. And I hope that our witnesses will address those efforts, and in fact commit, to lift the lawsuit\u2019s injunction.\n\nWe also have to continue to investigate the deceptive and potentially illegal conduct that our investigation has revealed, and I hope that we\u2019ll have a prompt response from the Secretaries of Treasury and Transportation to my requests for investigation.\n\nFinally, at the root of the problem is a lack of competition. I have opposed some of these consolidations, the acquisitions, and mergers that have occurred. Airlines charge these fees because they can. Consolidation has enabled four airlines to control nearly 70% of the market. Major carriers march in lockstep on these fees, and we need a review of whether something has to be done to provide for more competition among airlines in this industry.\n\nSo, thank you to the witnesses for being here today. Frankly, I hope that your responses to our questions will be comprehensive and forthright because each of your airlines, unfortunately, engaged in some measure of stonewalling our investigation, and I hope you understand the public deserves answers, and I hope you will provide them. Thank you, and I will turn it to Senator Marshall.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-blumenthal-applaud-senate-passage-of-bipartisan-slow-down-move-over-resolution", "Murphy, Blumenthal Applaud Senate Passage of Bipartisan Slow Down, Move Over Resolution", "2024-12-04", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "HARTFORD\u2014U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) applauded Senate passage of the bipartisan Slow Down, Move Over resolution, which 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. The resolution is inspired by Corey Iodice, a tow truck operator, who was tragically struck and killed on the Merritt Parkway in Connecticut in 2020 while assisting a driver.\n\n\u201cWhen I walk across the state every year, I see firsthand how reckless driving endangers everyone on the road, especially our law enforcement, emergency personnel, and transportation workers,\u201d said Murphy. \u201cWith roadway deaths on the rise in Connecticut, this bipartisan resolution is a reminder of why Slow Down, Move Over laws are so important to helping prevent the tragedies that have already taken far too many lives.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis year, State Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier, Andrew DiDomenico, Jose Diaz Nieves, and Corey Iodice will be absent from family holiday dinner tables. They tragically lost their lives on Connecticut roads, and so many other preventable deaths and injuries occur on our roadways every year,\u201d said Blumenthal. \u201cToday, I\u2019m proud that the Senate has passed this bipartisan resolution to promote greater adherence and stronger enforcement of Slow Down, Move Over laws to prevent these tragic deaths.\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. Still, many motorists are unaware of them and roadside fatalities and injuries continue. In 2023, 45 traffic incident management responders were killed in the United States due to roadside collisions.\n\nU.S. Senators Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) also cosponsored the resolution. The resolution is also 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 (AFSCME), Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, Connecticut Department of Transportation, Eastern Transportation Coalition, Governors Highway Safety Association, International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), National Association of Police Organizations, National Association of State EMS Officials, National Safety Council, and Flagman.\n\nThe text of the resolution is available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-blumenthal-introduce-legislation-to-strengthen-labor-protections-for-minor-league-baseball-players", "Murphy, Blumenthal Introduce Legislation To Strengthen Labor Protections For Minor League Baseball Players", "2024-12-04", "2024", "2024-12", "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.) introduced the Fair Ball Act, legislation that would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to ensure minor league baseball players receive minimum wage and overtime protections, unless they are already protected under a collective bargaining agreement. The bill seeks to repeal provisions of the 2018 Save America\u2019s Pastime Act, which exempted teams from adhering to federal minimum wage and overtime requirements, while encouraging MLB to uphold collective bargaining agreements and ensuring those exemptions cannot be used as leverage in future negotiations.\n\n\u201cConnecticut fans know how much minor league teams like the Hartford Yard Goats mean to our communities,\u201d said Murphy. \u201cBut for years, the athletes who work hard to make it all possible have been left behind by outdated and unfair labor laws. The Fair Ball Act is about righting a wrong and making sure minor league players get the fair pay and protections they deserve.\u201d\n\n\u201cMinor League Baseball players deserve to be fairly compensated when their determination, diligence, and discipline drive millions in revenue for MLB owners,\u201d said Blumenthal. \u201cUnfortunately, MLB has worked vigorously to lobby for loopholes to avoid paying a minimum wage. I\u2019m proud to support the Fair Ball Act which will shore up protections for Minor League Baseball players ensuring they receive fair compensation and that they\u2019re able to continue fighting for increased wages and benefits.\u201d\n\nIn 2018, Major League Baseball successfully lobbied for legislation to shield itself from a class-action lawsuit alleging the league and its teams violated federal and state wage and hour laws. The league argued that 2018 legislation would protect Minor League teams from being contracted only to contract dozens of Minor League Baseball teams just two years later.\n\nThe new Fair Ball Act would help protect Minor League players and the gains they have made to earn a living wage as a result of their historic unionization under the Major League Baseball Players Association in 2022 and subsequent collective bargaining agreement with Major League Baseball.\n\nU.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Peter Welch (D-Vt), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) also cosponsored the legislation.\n\nThe legislation is endorsed by the Major League Baseball Players Association, American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, and the National Employment Law Project.\n\nThe text of the legislation is available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-highlights-watertowns-koster-keunen-as-innovator-of-the-month", "Murphy Highlights Watertown's Koster Keunen As \"Innovator Of The Month\"", "2024-12-04", "2024", "2024-12", "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 on Wednesday that Koster Keunen, based in Watertown, was named \u201cInnovator of the Month\u201d for its leadership in natural wax production and technology. Founded in 1852, Koster Keunen specializes in the ethical development, processing, and manufacturing of wax ingredients and derivatives. The company pioneered the world\u2019s first certified, 100% sustainably sourced beeswax and operates its Watertown facility with a 660kW solar array, offsetting nearly 900 tons of carbon emissions each year.\n\n\u201cKoster Keunen\u2019s innovation and commitment to sustainability highlights the power of Connecticut businesses to lead on a global scale. I\u2019m proud to recognize this family-owned business for its pioneering efforts to create ethical, environmentally friendly solutions and pave the way for better working conditions around the world,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n\u201cThis award is a testament to the values that have guided my family and our company for five generations. It's a recognition of our deep-rooted commitment to sustainability, community empowerment, and ethical business practices. To be acknowledged on a global stage for these efforts is truly humbling,\u201d said John Koster, President of Koster Keunen. \u201cAt Koster Keunen, we believe innovation is the driving force behind sustainability and creating positive global impact. We are proud to be a Connecticut-based company, contributing to the state's rich legacy of ingenuity and environmental stewardship.\u201d\n\nKoster Keunen was awarded the 2024 U.S. Secretary of State Award for Corporate Excellence in Innovation to Strengthen Communities, which recognizes U.S. companies that uphold high standards of ethical conduct, promote human rights and community development, and demonstrate environmental and social responsibility in their overseas operations. The recognition shines a spotlight on the positive impact Koster Keunen has made all over the world, where the company has partnered with local communities to empower local entrepreneurs and promote sustainable beekeeping practices.\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", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-statement-on-developments-in-south-korea", "Murphy Statement On Developments In South Korea", "2024-12-03", "2024", "2024-12", "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 Foreign Relations Committee, on Tuesday released the following statement on the developments in South Korea:\n\n\u201cPresident Yoon\u2019s decision to declare martial law and deploy troops to the parliament was extraordinarily misguided and the National Assembly was right to quickly vote to reverse it. In declaring martial law, President Yoon aimed to bypass democratic processes and crush political dissent. South Korea has long been one of our most important allies, but this was a deeply troubling move by President Yoon, and I am glad the country\u2019s institutions moved quickly to condemn it.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-statement-on-new-democratic-leadership-position", "Murphy Statement On New Democratic Leadership Position", "2024-12-03", "2024", "2024-12", "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 released the following statement after the Senate Democratic caucus voted to appoint him to the position of Deputy Conference Secretary within the Senate Democratic leadership team.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m grateful to have a seat at the table as we chart the path forward for our party. In no uncertain terms, the American people sent us a message in November. If we want to win back working-class voters, we need to change how we fight and how we communicate. I look forward to working with Leader Schumer and the rest of the leadership team as we work to build a coalition to fight back against Trump's billionaire agenda in the upcoming Congress.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-on-meet-the-press-this-cabinet-is-donald-trump-and-the-billionaire-class-using-government-to-enrich-themselves-at-the-cost-of-the-american-people", "Murphy On Meet The Press: This Cabinet Is Donald Trump And The Billionaire Class Using Government To Enrich Themselves At The Cost Of The American People", "2024-12-01", "2024", "2024-12", "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 News\u2019s Meet the Press with Kristen Welker to discuss President-elect Donald Trump\u2019s cabinet nominations. Murphy also discussed the path forward for the Democratic Party and the importance of shifting power away from billionaires and corporations and back to the American people.\n\nOn President-elect Trump\u2019s nomination of Kash Patel to serve as Director of the FBI, Murphy said: \u201cI will vote no, and I will organize not just my colleagues, but the American public to understand what's happening here. Donald Trump told the American public during the campaign that he was going to turn the Department of Justice into a political operation, an arm of the White House, to destroy his political opponents, right. He said that the greatest threat to America is the enemy within. And who he said was the enemy within was us \u2013 was journalists, were his political opponents. Kash Patel\u2019s only qualification is [that] he agrees with Donald Trump that the Department of Justice should serve to punish, lock up, and intimidate Donald Trump's political opponents.\n\nMurphy continued: \u201cThe cost to the American public is pretty simple. The Department of Justice and the FBI [are] supposed to be there to go after drug traffickers, gun smugglers, to go after corrupt Wall Street financiers. Instead, the Department of Justice is going to serve Donald Trump's political interests. That's what Kash Patel has said he thinks the Department of Justice and the FBI should do, and that's why Republicans and Democrats should be examining how damaging this nomination could be to American democracy.\u201d\n\nMurphy highlighted the fact that Trump is using his cabinet nominations to help enrich his billionaire friends: \u201cWhat worries me about this cabinet is that it is essentially putting the billionaire class in charge of American government. The net worth of Donald Trump's nominees is greater than 169 countries. The folks that are being nominated to run the Department of Commerce, Treasury, Education, they don't understand what regular people are going through. All they see government as good for is enriching themselves and their billionaire friends, and so that is what the story of this cabinet is. It\u2019s Donald Trump and the billionaire class taking over government to enrich themselves and screw everybody else in this country.\u201d\n\nOn Donald Trump\u2019s threats to levy tariffs against China and Canada: \u201cWhat we know is that Donald Trump has no idea how to use tariffs in order to create American jobs. He did impose tariffs during his four years in office, and we lost manufacturing jobs. Joe Biden knew how to use tariffs in coordination with subsidies and incentives for domestic manufacturing, such that while he was president, we grew manufacturing jobs. The headline here is that Donald Trump's entire economic policy is going to be about a massive tax break for those billionaires that are in charge of his cabinet. The tariffs are a distraction from what the real agenda is going to be - to be able to use government in order to dramatically increase the wealth of his Cabinet and the friends of that cabinet. Those tariffs, if they're not used properly, are just going to raise costs on ordinary Americans, while the billionaires get off scot-free.\u201d\n\nOn a memo Murphy recently published calling on Democrats to embrace a more populist agenda, he said: \u201cI think we have to talk about power \u2013 who has it and who doesn't have it. I think some of the most important things that Joe Biden did were taking on the big corporations, going after their monopoly power, helping consumers with some of the really egregious fees and gimmicks that those companies used to hurt us\u2026 I think Democrats need to be much more aggressive in making this case that that power has been concentrated, and it needs to be returned to regular Americans. And that we need to be able to invite a lot of different Americans into that conversation, regardless of whether they line up with Democrats on every single social and cultural issue. Let's build a bigger tent.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/icymi-following-blumenthal-tester-takano-push-va-moves-to-cover-k-2-veterans-sicked-by-uranium-radiation", "ICYMI: Following Blumenthal, Tester, Takano Push, VA Moves to Cover K-2 Veterans Sicked by Uranium Radiation", "2024-11-08", "2024", "2024-11", "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, following sustained oversight efforts from U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Jon Tester (D-MT) and U.S. Representative Mark Takano (D-CA), the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced it has begun an expedited process to expand the presumptive conditions associated with service at the Karshi Khanabad (K-2) Air Base in Uzbekistan. VA intends to establish service-connected presumptive benefits for veterans who served at K-2 in order to make it easier for K-2 veterans suffering from a litany of cancers, immunological disorders, and other health conditions to receive earned benefits.\n\nVA\u2019s move to expand toxic-exposed benefits for K-2 veterans follows Blumenthal, Tester, and Takano\u2019s push on VA Secretary McDonough last month, where they called on the Secretary directly to use authorities granted to the Department by the PACT Act to ensure K-2 veterans exposed to radiation receive the benefits they have earned.\n\n\u201cK-2 veterans deserve comprehensive care and benefits \u2013 without exception,\u201d Blumenthal said. \u201cThis action from the Department of Veterans Affairs marks important and commendable progress in doing right by them and ensuring they receive proper health care. I look forward to the continued action of the VA in honoring the service and sacrifice of all veterans, and especially those who served at Karshi Khanabad who suffer from exposure to toxins and poisons, by providing access to the treatment and care they have rightfully earned.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery veteran exposed to toxins during their military service deserves access to the benefits and health care they earned and were promised,\u201d Tester said. \u201cWe fought alongside veterans to pass the PACT Act and ensure that was the case for generations of toxic-exposed veterans. I\u2019m encouraged VA is now using this law to add new presumptive benefits for K-2 veterans exposed to toxic substances. And I\u2019ll keep holding VA accountable to continue taking the necessary and immediate steps to do right by K-2 veterans.\u201d\n\n\u201cVeterans who served at Karshi Khanabad (K-2) Air Base in Uzbekistan are still not receiving the benefits they are entitled to,\u201d Takano said. \u201cThat is why we called on VA for a revaluation of the contaminants veterans were exposed to during their time at K-2. These veterans have waited decades for benefits that should have been granted a long time ago. I applaud VA's announcement today and hope it means that we will see an expedited presumptive for contaminants exposure at K-2 very soon.\u201d\n\nFollowing the lawmakers\u2019 call, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough directed VA to use an accelerated PACT Act presumptive process to recognize additional presumptions related to service at K-2. The Secretary indicated it is his expectation that VA will complete it as quickly as possible. He also announced VA will begin the rulemaking process to make bladder, urethra, and other genitourinary tract cancers presumptive conditions for veterans who served at K-2, and all veterans exposed to toxic burn pits.\n\nK-2 was a military base in Uzbekistan where some of the first servicemembers were deployed in the Global War on Terror, and was a former chemical weapons site contaminated with uranium. After hearing from K-2 veterans suffering from radiation-exposure illnesses and reporting confirming uranium was found at K-2, Blumenthal, Tester, and Takano pushed VA leadership in October to use authorities from the PACT Act to expand coverage for veterans exposed to radiation at K-2. The PACT Act provided VA resources and authorities it is now using to further expand the list of presumptive toxic exposure-related service-connected disabilities.\n\nBlumenthal, Tester, and Takano\u2019s efforts to ensure K-2 veterans suffering from radiation exposure-related conditions have received support from K-2 veterans and stakeholders.\n\n\u201cThe Stronghold Freedom Foundation is grateful that the VA has acknowledged that more needs to be done when it comes to care for veterans who deployed and transited Camp Stronghold Freedom, Karshi-Khanabad (K2), Uzbekistan, and we look forward to continue working with the VA to ensure all gaps are closed so all veterans and their families are ensured the care and recognition they deserve,\u201d said Matt Erpelding, Executive Director, Stronghold Freedom Foundation. \u201cIn October 2001, 23 years ago, the first boots were on the ground in response to the events of 9/11, the time for continued discussion is over and the time for impactful action is now.\u201d\n\n\u201cThough much work remains, the VFW applauds the significant progress described by Secretary McDonough regarding K2 veterans,\u201d said Nancy Springer, VFW Associate Director, National Legislative Service. \u201cAs some of our first deployers after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, these service members arrived overseas ready to do battle with a deadly enemy. Undeterred by the toxic conditions in which they found themselves, they accomplished their mission but returned home to fight another battle against illness and disability caused by that service. We commend the Secretary\u2019s actions to expand access to health care for K2 veterans to ease their burdens in obtaining just compensation, and to accelerate the process to determine additional presumption of service connections including any attributable to ionizing radiation.\u201d\n\n\u201cSecretary McDonough\u2019s announcement today that VA will be establishing presumptives for K2 veterans is a clear win for veterans who endured toxic exposures at the former Soviet base in Uzbekistan more than two decades ago,\u201d said Randy Reese, DAV Washington Headquarters Executive Director. \u201cWe were very encouraged that he said VA is not only working on establishing presumptives for K2 veterans who develop bladder cancer, multiple myeloma, leukemia, and Gulf War Illness, but also laid out his intention to establish a presumption of service connection for every condition associated with deployment to K2. This development confirms and expands on what the Secretary committed to Senator Jon Tester, Congressman Mark Takano and others in a letter last week and is another important step toward keeping our promise to K2 veterans exposed to toxic and radioactive substances. While today\u2019s announcement by the Secretary is a major milestone towards providing justice to K2 veterans, DAV will continue to engage VA, leaders in Congress, and other veteran stakeholders to ensure that every veteran injured or made ill by exposure to deadly toxins and environmental hazards receives the health care and benefits they have already earned through their service.\u201d\n\nIn addition to creating a framework for the establishment of future presumptions of service connection related to toxic exposure, the PACT Act provides health care for Post-9/11 combat veterans; expanded VA\u2019s list of health conditions presumed to be caused by toxic exposures which opens the door to additional benefits for veterans; and improved resources to support claims processing.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:07:06Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-highlights-sheltons-aspira-womens-health-as-innovator-of-the-month", "Murphy Highlights Shelton's Aspira Women's Health As \"Innovator Of The Month\"", "2024-11-04", "2024", "2024-11", "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.) announced on Monday that Aspira Women\u2019s Health, a bio-analytical company based in Shelton, was named \u201cInnovator of the Month\u201d for its leadership in the development of blood tests that aid in the detection of ovarian cancer. The company\u2019s flagship products, OvaWatch and Ova1Plus, employ AI technology towards effective ovarian cancer risk assessment and drive higher standard of care for women with ovarian masses. Last month, Aspira was awarded $10 million in federal funding to develop a non-invasive blood test to detect endometriosis, which is currently diagnosed through invasive surgery.\n\n\u201cFor decades, underinvestment in women\u2019s health has meant that women and girls simply aren\u2019t getting access to the treatments and care they deserve. I\u2019m proud to see Aspira\u2019s cutting-edge biomedical research positioning Connecticut as a leader in women\u2019s healthcare and improving lives through earlier risk assessment, more accurate diagnoses, and innovative, personalized care,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n\u201cWe are honored to be Innovator of the Month and proud to represent Connecticut on the national women\u2019s healthcare stage. For far too long, women have been forced to resort to surgical interventions for diagnosis of gynecologic diseases. Aspira aims to change that. We believe all women deserve the opportunity to make healthcare decisions based on facts instead of fear,\u201d said Nicole Sandford, CEO of Aspira Women\u2019s Health. \u201cEndometriosis is a chronic condition that impacts as many as six million women in the United States alone. It alters nearly every facet of a patient\u2019s life, many of whom must wait years for a diagnosis. We believe Aspira is uniquely qualified to solve this problem. Our diagnostic solutions focus on a data-driven approach and powerful AI-enabled algorithms that offer noninvasive alternatives to aid in the detection of gynecologic disease. Our suite of blood tests to assess ovarian cancer risk in women with masses which have been ordered by healthcare providers more than 200,000 times. We believe this experience and experience is critical for the development of a noninvasive endometriosis test.\u201d\n\nAspira Women\u2019s Health Inc. is dedicated to the discovery, development, and commercialization of noninvasive, AI-powered tests to aid in the diagnosis of gynecologic diseases. OvaWatch\u00ae and Ova1Plus\u00ae are offered to clinicians as OvaSuiteSM. Together, they provide the only comprehensive portfolio of blood tests to aid in the detection of ovarian cancer risk for the 1.2+ million American women diagnosed with an adnexal mass each year. OvaWatch provides a negative predictive value of 99% and is used to assess ovarian cancer risk for women where initial clinical assessment indicates the mass is indeterminate or benign, and thus surgery may be premature or unnecessary. Ova1Plus is a reflex process of two FDA-cleared tests, Ova1\u00ae and Overa\u00ae, to assess the risk of ovarian malignancy in women with an adnexal mass planned for surgery.\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", "2026-04-07T22:07:06Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-calls-for-ftc-investigation-into-misleading-claims-made-by-manufacturers-of-bulletproof-school-supplies", "Blumenthal Calls for FTC Investigation into Misleading Claims Made by Manufacturers of Bulletproof School Supplies", "2024-11-01", "2024", "2024-11", "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) today called on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate seemingly deceptive advertising practices of manufacturers producing allegedly bulletproof school supplies. According to recent reporting from The New York Times, manufacturers of such products, including bulletproof pencil cases, binders, and backpack inserts, have touted certification by the National Institute of Justice, which neither tests nor certifies school products of any kind. Blumenthal is urging the FTC to take action, as these false marketing claims may give parents a false sense of security and potentially divert resources and attention away from solutions that are proven to help keep kids safe.\n\n\u201cWhile it is tragic that school supplies that purport to protect our children from gun violence in the classroom are necessary, at least 139 instances of gunfire have occurred on K-12 school grounds so far in 2024 alone. Eager to protect their children, parents are paying high prices, such as $185 for a pencil case and $149 for a \u2018bulletproof backpack insert.\u2019 And costs are even higher for school districts: desks marketed as bulletproof can cost up to ten times the price of a standard desk,\u201d wrote Blumenthal in a letter to FTC Chair Lina Khan.\n\n\u201cThese unsupported claims of U.S. government approval suggest that these companies are interested in profit, not children\u2019s safety,\u201d Blumenthal concluded. \u201cI ask that the Commission investigate these companies to determine whether any unlawful, unfair, or deceptive advertising practices are taking place. Parents deserve better than false promises of security for their children.\u201d\n\nIn addition to calling for an FTC investigation, Blumenthal wrote to more than a dozen companies that have made seemingly deceptive advertising claims, seeking information about the safety and certifications of their products. Blumenthal\u2019s letters to these companies are available here.\n\nThe full text of Blumenthal\u2019s letter to the FTC is available here and below:\n\nNovember 1, 2024\n\nThe Honorable Lina Khan\n\nChair\n\nFederal Trade Commission\n\n600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW\n\nWashington, D.C. 20580\n\nDear Chair Khan,\n\nI write with serious concerns about the seemingly deceptive advertising practices of numerous companies regarding their allegedly bulletproof school supplies. In recent months, millions of children across America went back to school. School districts prepared their classrooms and parents took their children shopping for supplies. Sadly, this increasingly means purchasing products that promise to keep children safe from gun violence.[1]\n\nWhile it is tragic that school supplies that purport to protect our children from gun violence in the classroom are necessary, at least 139 instances of gunfire have occurred on K-12 school grounds so far in 2024 alone.[2] Eager to protect their children, parents are paying high prices, such as $185 for a pencil case and $149 for a \u201cbulletproof backpack insert.\u201d[3] And costs are even higher for school districts: desks marketed as bulletproof can cost up to ten times the price of a standard desk.[4]\n\nYet the manufacturers of these products frequently claim certifications that their products have not actually received.[5] Particularly worrying are false claims of certification by the National Institute of Justice, an agency of the U.S. Department of Justice, which neither tests nor certifies school products of any kind.[6] These phony certifications help justify the steep prices for \u201cbulletproof\u201d products while giving parents a fraudulent and unearned sense of security.\n\nMyriad firms claim their backpack inserts, binders, pencil cases, and other school supplies provide NIJ-rated protection. For example, Premier Body Armor claims its \u201cPremier Body Armor Level IIIA Ballistic 3-Ring Binder Cover\u201d is \u201c[t]ested to meet the NIJ ballistic standards for Level IIIA.\u201d[7] The Premier Body Armor \u201cUniversal Fit Level III+ Rifle-Rated Backpack Insert\u201d is described as \u201c[t]ested to meet the NIJ 0101.06 ballistic standard.\u201d[8] Bullet Blocker\u2019s \u201cNIJ IIIA Bulletproof Tactical Organizer\u201d is allegedly \u201c[t]ested to the NIJ IIIA standards stopping a 357 Magnum, 44 Magnum, 9mm, .45 caliber hollow point ammunition and more.\u201d[9] And Hardwire claims its \u201cBulletproof Clipboard Level 3A\u201d features \u201cNIJ Level 3A protection.\u201d[10]\n\nSimilar claims are made by Safe Life Defense, RTS Tactical, Atomic Defense, White Horse Defense, Level-4 Armor, Leatherback Gear, Armored Republic, UARM, Bulletproof Zone, Citizen Armor, BulletSafe, and more.[11]\n\nThese unsupported claims of U.S. government approval suggest that these companies are interested in profit, not children\u2019s safety. And false promises with expensive price tags risk diverting resources and attention of school districts and parents away from solutions that are proven to help keep kids safe. I ask that the Commission investigate these companies to determine whether any unlawful, unfair, or deceptive advertising practices are taking place. Parents deserve better than false promises of security for their children.\n\nThank you for your attention to this important matter, and I look forward to your response.\n\nSincerely,\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:07:06Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-calls-for-review-of-icc-prosecutors-decision-to-apply-for-arrest-warrants-for-israeli-prime-minister-and-minister-of-defense", "Blumenthal Calls for Review of ICC Prosecutor's Decision to Apply for Arrest Warrants for Israeli Prime Minister and Minister of Defense", "2024-11-01", "2024", "2024-11", "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) today joined U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Ben Cardin (D-MD), John Thune (R-SD), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and John Fetterman (D-PA) in calling for an investigation into misconduct allegations against International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Karim A.A. Khan. In a letter to the Assembly of States Parties (ASP), the governing body of the ICC, the Senators raised concerns regarding Prosecutor Khan\u2019s decision to apply for arrest warrants for Israel\u2019s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant.\n\nThe Senators wrote, \u201cWe write you today with great concern regarding the inappropriate actions taken by Prosecutor Karim A.A. Khan in his decision to seek arrest warrants for the duly elected Prime Minister and Defense Minister of the State of Israel. As the oversight body of the International Criminal Court (ICC) with the power to appoint and remove the Prosecutor, we implore you to exercise the authority granted to you by the Rome Statute to investigate the highly irregular and potentially illegal actions by the Prosecutor in this case.\u201d\n\nThe Senators continued, \u201cFirst, Prosecutor Khan did not comply with the law when he applied for arrest warrants against Israeli government officials\u2026 we received notification that members of Prosecutor Khan\u2019s team were scheduled to meet with legal representatives for the State of Israel on May 20 in Israel. To our astonishment, however, members of the Prosecutor\u2019s office never boarded the plane to Israel and the meeting was abruptly canceled just a few hours before it was to take place... Prosecutor Khan\u2019s abrupt cancelation and his announcement of an application for arrest warrants on that same day have always been perplexing, and stand in stark contrast to the assurances we received from his office that there would be meaningful consultations with Israel, as required by the letter and spirit of the Rome Statute.\u201d\n\nThe Senators continued, \u201cSecond, in addition to these legal concerns regarding Prosecutor Khan\u2019s application for warrants against Israeli officials, there is a cloud hanging over the Prosecutor and his office. It has come to light recently through numerous media reports\u2014particularly an Associated Press (AP) story dated October 25, 2024\u2014that allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct against Prosecutor Khan emerged earlier this year, around the time he decided not to send his team to meet with Israeli legal representatives and announced a warrant application instead\u2026 If the allegations are substantiated, we urge the Assembly to take all necessary steps available under its authority\u2014up to and including holding a vote for his removal\u2014and to consider the implications on the investigations led by Prosecutor Khan. Transparency is of utmost importance regarding the allegations against Prosecutor Khan. We urge the body to take this seriously.\u201d\n\nThe Senators concluded, \u201cAny action by the Court regarding arrest warrants for Israeli officials without the benefit of a completed investigation into the serious allegations hanging over Prosecutor Khan would cast doubt on the Court\u2019s actions, and jeopardize the credibility of the ICC more broadly. We urge you to consider seriously the concerns we have raised.\u201d\n\nThe full text of today\u2019s letter is available here.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:07:06Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/icymi-video-blumenthal-sounds-alarm-on-medicare-advantage-insurers-denying-critical-care-for-vulnerable-seniors", "ICYMI Video: Blumenthal Sounds Alarm on Medicare Advantage Insurers Denying Critical Care for Vulnerable Seniors", "2024-11-01", "2024", "2024-11", "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, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chair of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), released a Majority staff report detailing how the nation\u2019s three largest Medicare Advantage insurers\u2014UnitedHealthcare, Humana, and CVS\u2014are intentionally using prior authorization to boost profits by denying-post acute care. In a recent video, Blumenthal highlights how these insurers continue to deny critical treatments and care to vulnerable seniors and the urgent need for accountability and reform of the harmful practices of insurers.\n\n\u201cInsurance companies say that prior authorization is meant to prevent unnecessary medical services. But the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations has obtained new data and internal documents from the largest Medicare Advantage insurers that discredits these contentions. In fact, despite alarm and criticism in recent years about abuses and excesses, insurers have continued to deny care to vulnerable seniors \u2013 simply to make more money,\u201d said Blumenthal in the video.\n\n\u201cReform is imperative and urgent. Federal regulators need better information to identify misconduct and root out abuse. They should make sure that emerging technologies are used to help providers and empower patients, not line the pockets of insurers,\u201d continued Blumenthal. \u201cMajor improvements to prior authorization procedures are absolutely necessary. Regulators shouldn\u2019t have to be looking over insurers\u2019 shoulders every time a senior citizen falls or suffers a stroke. But federal oversight and intervention is necessary if these companies can\u2019t do better for patients, and put them ahead of profits.\u201d\n\nClick HERE for the full video of PSI Chair Blumenthal discussing the report\n\nIn May 2023, PSI launched its investigation by seeking documents and information from UnitedHealthcare, Humana, and CVS\u2014three insurers who together cover nearly 60 percent of all Medicare Advantage enrollees. This report presents new findings based on the more than 280,000 pages of documents obtained from these three companies to date. Through its inquiry, PSI found that between 2019 and 2022, UnitedHealthcare, Humana, and CVS each denied prior authorization requests for post-acute care at far higher rates than they did for other types of care, resulting in diminished access to post-acute care for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries.\n\nThe Subcommittee continues to investigate the use of predictive technologies by Medicare Advantages insurers. The full Majority staff report detailing PSI\u2019s findings thus far is available here.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:07:06Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-blumenthal-larson-delauro-announce-250000-to-prevent-pollution", "Murphy, Blumenthal, Larson, DeLauro Announce $250,000 To Prevent Pollution", "2024-11-01", "2024", "2024-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "EAST HARTFORD\u2014U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and U.S. Representatives John Larson (D-Conn.-01) and Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.-03) announced the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) has been selected to receive $250,000 in federal grants to provide technical assistance to help Connecticut businesses develop and adopt pollution prevention practices in local communities.\n\nCT DEEP will partner with the Toxic Use Reduction Institute at University of Massachusetts Lowell to identify safer cleaning and sanitizing products for craft beverage manufacturers in Connecticutto reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, solid and hazardous waste, water pollution and toxic chemicals. CT DEEP will also continue to work with other New England states to offer the BetterBev recognition program, which incentivizes businesses to carry out pollution reduction measures. Facilities in or adjacent to communities with environmental justice concerns will be prioritized.\n\n\u201cWe won\u2019t achieve our climate goals unless everybody is involved in the fight, but small businesses often face greater barriers to making the upfront investments for cleaner practices. By providing direct technical support to Connecticut\u2019s local craft beverage manufacturers, this $250,000 in federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help small business owners across our state adopt more sustainable, cost-effective practices that reduce harmful emissions, strengthen our economy, and safeguard the health of our communities for generations to come,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n\u201cThis investment in greener craft breweries and wineries will help them be even more successful as environmental stewards. With greater technical aid, beverage businesses can expand consumer appeal by reducing pollution and protecting natural resources. It\u2019s a boost for our economy and environment,\u201d said Blumenthal.\n\n\u201cAddressing pollution at the source is key to protecting community health and taking on the threat of climate change,\u201d said Larson. \u201cI have been proud to work with the entire Connecticut Congressional delegation to deliver federal funding for projects to combat pollution and ensure all communities have access to clean air and water. This funding will support ongoing work at the state and local level to invest in innovative solutions that protect our environment, combat pollution, and help reduce energy bills.\u201d\n\n\"Thanks to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, CT DEEP can bolster its work with businesses across our state to reduce pollution,\u201d said DeLauro. \u201cThese funds will help drive economic growth and ensure Connecticut leads the way in combatting pollution. The climate crisis is here, and it is an existential threat. We must do all we can to reduce pollution and protect our planet for generations to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery community deserves clean air, safe water, and a healthy environment\u2014and pollution prevention grants help achieve that by reducing waste at the source. By adopting smarter and innovative practices that limit the use of toxic materials and conserve resources, these investments are helping our partners to support New England businesses to cut costs, grow sustainably, and protect the environment,\u201d said EPA Regional Administrator David W. Cash. \u201cThanks to the Biden-Harris Administration, together we\u2019re creating lasting benefits for local economies and ensuring that environmental progress and economic growth go hand in hand and reach all communities, including those that need it most. That's Investing in America.\u201d\n\nEPA\u2019s Pollution Prevention Grant Program advances President Biden\u2019s Justice40 Initiative, which set a goal to deliver 40% of the overall benefits from certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. In total, EPA has announced 48 selectees across the country that will collectively receive nearly $19 million in grants to support states, Tribal Nations, and U.S. territories in providing technical assistance to businesses to develop and adopt pollution prevention (P2) practices in local communities. This includes any practice that reduces, eliminates, or prevents pollution at its source prior to recycling, treatment, or disposal. Thanks to President Biden\u2019s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, nearly half of the funds awarded this year were made available with no cost share/match requirement.\n\nBetween 2011-2022, EPA\u2019s Pollution Prevention program issued over 500 grants totaling more than $54 million, which have helped businesses identify, develop, and adopt P2 approaches. These approaches have resulted in 31.9 billion kWh in energy savings, eliminated 20.8 million metric tons of greenhouse gases, saved 52 billion gallons of water, reduced 1 billion pounds of hazardous materials, and saved businesses more than $2.3 billion.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:07:06Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-congressional-delegation-announce-39-million-in-clean-ports-investments-to-reduce-emissions-improve-public-health-in-southern-connecticut", "Murphy, Congressional Delegation Announce $39 Million In Clean Ports Investments To Reduce Emissions, Improve Public Health In Southern Connecticut", "2024-11-01", "2024", "2024-11", "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 Appropriations Committee, and U.S. SenatorRichard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) on Friday joined U.S. Representatives Joe Courtney (D-Conn.-02) and Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.-03) to announce that the Connecticut Port Authority and Gateway Terminal, in partnership with the New Haven Port Authority, have been selected to receive nearly $40 million in total through EPA\u2019s Clean Ports Program to support the deployment of zero-emission port equipment and infrastructure.\n\n\u201cOur ports are the driving force behind Connecticut\u2019s blue economy, but the diesel-powered equipment we use to move goods through them is polluting nearby communities and taking a toll on public health. By replacing aging, polluting equipment with cleaner, zero-emission alternatives, this $39 million in federal funding will help keep ports in New Haven and New London running smoothly while improving quality of life, creating good-paying jobs, and moving us closer to achieving our climate goals,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n\u201cThis milestone investment will make our ports cleaner and healthier \u2013 using zero-emission equipment. Stopping air pollution while modernizing and enhancing port facilities is a gigantic win for both our environment and economy. Communities around the ports will have better air and jobs,\u201d said Blumenthal.\n\n\u201cThe redevelopment and modernization of State Pier New London in 2019 dramatically increased its square footage and weight bearing capacity, with an eye to both increased cargo activity, as well as wind turbine assembly. With this $5 million new federal investment funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, the pier can now install zero-emission power equipment so that docked ships can power onboard services. This upgrade will keep New London State Pier competitive with the maritime industry and protect water quality in the Thames River,\u201d said Courtney.\n\n\u201cI am pleased to announce that Gateway Terminals and the Connecticut Port Authority will receive vital grant funding that will reduce diesel emissions, lower health risks and noise pollution for port workers and near-port communities, and decrease pollution in the Long Island Sound,\" said DeLauro. \u201cIn New Haven, Gateway Terminal will be using this funding to replace four aging diesel-powered cranes with all-electric machines, deploy 10 all-electric tractors for terminal drayage services, and install solar infrastructure. These efforts will reduce their reliance on the electric grid and the need for fossil fuel dependency while greatly improving air quality for residents of the City.\u201d\n\nThe grants are funded by President Biden\u2019s Inflation Reduction Act and will advance environmental justice by reducing diesel air pollution from U.S. ports and near surrounding communities while promoting good-paying and union jobs that help America\u2019s ports thrive.\n\nThe Connecticut Port Authority has been selected to receive an anticipated $5,357,103 to acquire a mobile shore power unit and install supporting shore power infrastructure at the New London State Pier. The project will reduce diesel emissions by providing power to vessels at berth, enabling docked marine vessels to connect to the local electric grid to power onboard services instead of running their diesel engines, thereby decreasing health risks and noise pollution for port workers and the near-port communities. The State Pier was recently upgraded to enable it to serve as a marshalling port for offshore wind facility operations. CPA will engage stakeholders in New London to increase public awareness education, and ongoing communication. A workforce training program developed in coordination with unions and other stakeholders will help prepare the local labor force to fill high-quality jobs created by this project.\n\nEnstructure New Haven Holdings\u2019 Gateway Terminal, in partnership with the New Haven Port Authority in Connecticut, has been selected to receive an anticipated $34,032,340 for the purchase and deployment of zero-emission cargo handling equipment with supporting charging infrastructure, as well as rooftop solar generation and battery energy storage systems to supplement grid power for the mobile equipment. The project also includes scrapping several pieces of diesel-powered cargo handling equipment to reduce air pollution at the port and in the surrounding area. Training on the all-electric equipment will be provided to the existing workforce, and the community will be engaged in project implementation and in sourcing workers for new good-paying jobs. Gateway recently joined Green Marine, a voluntary environmental benchmarking and continuous improvement program, which requires participants to annually measure, certify and publish their performance indicators, including emissions reduction and community relations.\n\nEPA\u2019s Clean Ports Program advances President Biden\u2019s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to deliver 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. Disadvantaged communities will benefit from cleaner air and access to high quality jobs that will be created to operate zero emissions technologies at ports.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:07:06Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-connecticut-delegation-announce-778-million-in-home-energy-assistance-funding", "Murphy, Connecticut Delegation Announce $77.8 Million In Home Energy Assistance Funding", "2024-11-01", "2024", "2024-11", "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 Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) on Friday joined 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-05) to announce Connecticut will receive $77,834,656 from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help reduce heating costs for low-income families in Connecticut ahead of the winter season. This is the first allocation of LIHEAP dollars this season.\n\n\u201cFor too many families in Connecticut, falling temperatures mean having to choose between heating your home or putting food on the table. This $77.8 million in LIHEAP funding will help ease that burden for households feeling the strain of rising energy costs this winter, and as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I\u2019ll keep working with our delegation to ensure Connecticut families continue to have the support they need so they don\u2019t have to make those difficult choices,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n\u201cThis home heating aid is desperately needed by families who face a frigid winter without fuel for basic warmth,\u201d said Blumenthal. \u201cWith $77.8 million, many families will be assured this basic necessity. Every day, I see and speak to people struggling to make ends meet and worrying about financial hardships and challenges. I\u2019ll fight for more federal support for LIHEAP and other programs that help them with essential needs.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs we approach the winter months, we must ensure all families are able to heat their homes without breaking the bank,\u201d said Larson. \u201cThanks to the steadfast leadership of Rep. Rosa DeLauro on the Appropriations Committee, I am thrilled to join the entire Connecticut delegation to announce $77.8 million in new funding to help families afford their energy bills. We will continue to work together to ensure Connecticut residents can get the assistance they need this season.\u201d\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s no question high energy costs are pinching homeowners\u2019 wallets. As we head into the colder months, this $77 million federal investment in heating and energy assistance will bring welcomed relief to Connecticut residents,\" said Courtney.\n\n\u201cHigh costs are spreading families thin,\u201d said DeLauro. \u201cNo family should have to choose between keeping their home warm during the colder months, keeping their lights on, or putting food on the table. As Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, I secured $77.8 million for the program to help Connecticut\u2019s families keep warm this season. Every family deserves warmth. I am committed to ensuring no household goes cold this winter.\u201d\n\n\u201cToo many families have to worry about rising energy costs that make it increasingly difficult to pay their heating bills and keep their children warm in the coming months,\u201d said Himes. \u201cLIHEAP offers a lifeline to struggling Americans to ensure every home offers a reprieve from our cold New England winter. I am proud to help deliver nearly $78 million to Connecticut in federal funding, including over $4 million from President Biden\u2019s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.\u201d\n\n\u201cLIHEAP is a lifeline for many families faced with rising heating costs. I am delighted $77.8 million is coming back to Connecticut to help families stay warm this winter,\u201d said Hayes. \u201cThis assistance will help to ease the burden of high heating costs. In Congress, I will continue to advocate for additional funding for this vital resource, which lowers utility costs and prevents shut offs across Connecticut.\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 $3.6 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 $100.1 million appropriated from President Biden\u2019s Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).\n\nConnecticut was awarded a total of $77,834,656 to assist low-income families ahead of the winter season. This includes:\n\n$73,556,784 from the regular LIHEAP block grant funding\n\n$4,273,891 in funding appropriated for FY2025 from IIJA and $3,981 in LIHEAP dollars the state returned in FY23\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:07:06Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-warns-of-hazardous-chemicals-found-in-acne-products-calls-on-fda-to-take-action", "Blumenthal Warns of Hazardous Chemicals Found in Acne Products, Calls on FDA to Take Action", "2024-10-31", "2024", "2024-10", "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) today called on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take swift action regarding dangerously high levels of benzene, a known hormone disruptor and carcinogen, found in popular acne treatment products from brands like Clearasil, Proactiv, and CVS Health. In a letter to FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf, Blumenthal urged the agency to update industry guidelines for manufacturers using benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as an active ingredient and immediately inform consumers of the significant health risks posed by benzene in degraded BPO products. Blumenthal\u2019s letter follows a recent study from Valisure that found some products contained levels more than 18 times the FDA conditional limit for benzene at room temperature and over 800 times the conditional limit at elevated temperatures.\n\n\u201cI am alarmed by recent reports and a new study that found high levels of benzene, a known hormone disruptor and carcinogen, in popular acne treatment products from brands like Clearasil, Proactiv, and CVS Health. In March 2023 a study from Valisure, an independent quality assurance company, revealed that products containing benzoyl peroxide (BPO) \u2018are fundamentally unstable and can generate unacceptably high levels of benzene,\u2019\u201d Blumenthal wrote.\n\nBlumenthal warned of the health risks associated with exposure to high levels of benzene, \u201cAs you know, benzene is one of the most commonly used chemicals in the United States but it is also strongly linked to higher risks of cancer, specifically leukemia and other blood related conditions. In the short term, exposure to benzene can lead to problems with the nervous system causing drowsiness, headaches, or tremors.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is imperative that FDA take immediate action to address these troubling findings and prevent future health issues. In light of these test results, it is clear that FDA must conduct a thorough review of BPO products and promulgate clearer regulations on the use of BPO, its storage protocols, and generally regarding benzene in consumer products,\u201d Blumenthal concluded.\n\nThe full text of Blumenthal\u2019s letter is available here\n\nOctober 31, 2024\n\nDr. Robert Califf\n\nCommissioner of Food and Drugs\n\nU.S. Food and Drug Administration\n\n10903 New Hampshire Ave\n\nSilver Spring, MD 20993-0002\n\nDear Commissioner Califf,\n\nI am alarmed by recent reports and a new study that found high levels of benzene, a known hormone disruptor and carcinogen,[1] in popular acne treatment products from brands like Clearasil, Proactiv, and CVS Health.[2], [3] In March 2023 a study from Valisure, an independent quality assurance company, revealed that products containing benzoyl peroxide (BPO) \u201care fundamentally unstable and can generate unacceptably high levels of benzene\u201d.[4], [5] Some of the products tested by Valisure contained levels \u201c18 times the amount of the potent carcinogen allowed [conditionally] in U.S. drugs\u201d when tested at room temperature in off-the-shelf products, and \u201cover 800 times the [conditional]\u2026 limit\u201d when tested at elevated temperatures. I call on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take action to update industry guidelines for manufacturers using BPO as an active ingredient and immediately inform consumers of the significant health risks posed by benzene in degraded BPO products. For example, leading dermatologists[6] and medical associations like the American Acne and Rosacea Society have already advised consumers to store \u201c BPO products\u2026 at refrigerator temperature which at least theoretically can reduce degradation of BPO to benzene.\u201d[7]\n\nAs you know, benzene is one of the most commonly used chemicals in the United States but it is also strongly linked to higher risks of cancer, specifically leukemia and other blood related conditions.[8] In the short term, exposure to benzene can lead to problems with the nervous system causing drowsiness, headaches, or tremors. In addition to its links to cancer, long-term benzene exposure can also cause anemia and low white blood cell counts.[9] As such, the use of benzene is highly regulated by the FDA, Environmental Protection Agency, and the Occupational Health and Safety Administration.[10], [11] Last year, the FDA warned manufacturers to avoid using benzene in the manufacturing process but issued a conditional limit of 2 parts per million when its use is unavoidable to produce a drug product with a significant therapeutic advance.[12] However, it appears that some manufacturers are improperly taking this guidance out of context. For example, the manufacturer of Banana Boat sunscreen recently argued that \u201cproducts containing less than 2 ppm of benzene are safe\u201d, but the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals disagreed, ruling that \u201ccharacterizing such products as safe runs counter to the [FDA\u2019s] caveat-laden guidance.[13] The FDA must update and better clarify its guidance to prevent manufacturers from using misguided loopholes on the presence of benzene in drug products.\n\nValisure has previously conducted testing on the presence of benzene in other products like sunscreen, hand sanitizer, and dry shampoo.[14] In those cases, the benzene was linked to contamination from raw materials during the manufacturing process. In this case, there is no raw material contamination and the benzene is accumulating from the degradation of the BPO active ingredient. This raises significant concerns over the safety of these products and the use of BPO altogether.\n\nWhile the FDA has released information on benzene contamination in other consumer products, the agency has not addressed the safety risk caused by the degradation of BPO into benzene.[15] In the meantime, these products continue to be sold and used by countless Americans on a daily basis. This is especially true for young people that may be seeking treatment for the acne they develop during puberty. Exposure to benzene could be detrimental to their health and development.\n\nIt is imperative that FDA take immediate action to address these troubling findings and prevent future health issues. In light of these test results, it is clear that FDA must conduct a thorough review of BPO products and promulgate clearer regulations on the use of BPO, its storage protocols, and generally regarding benzene in consumer products. Additionally, FDA must take the necessary actions to ensure that consumers are made aware of the risk that these products pose and ensure that manufacturers are likewise taking the appropriate actions to investigate and recall products with unacceptable levels of benzene. Valisure has filed a citizen\u2019s petition urging the agency to recall and suspend the sale of products containing benzoyl peroxide given the drug\u2019s propensity to form the known carcinogen benzene, they have also asked FDA to conduct an investigation regarding these products, provide information to the public on potential harms, update industry guidance, support the increasing number of independent drug quality testing programs in the United States including by the Department of Defense,[16] and more.[17] We urge FDA to heed these suggestions to protect public health.\n\nThank you for your attention to this urgent matter.\n\nSincerely,\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-op-ed-for-the-financial-times-breaking-up-concentrated-economic-power-must-be-a-foreign-policy-priority", "Murphy Op-Ed For The Financial Times: Breaking Up Concentrated Economic Power Must Be A Foreign Policy Priority", "2024-10-29", "2024", "2024-10", "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 Foreign Relations Committee, on Tuesday authored an op-ed for the Financial Times arguing that American foreign and domestic policies must align to break up concentrated economic power and revitalize local communities. Pointing to the Biden-Harris administration\u2019s work to break up corporate monopolies, rebuild local economies, and create a new industrial policy, Murphy called for America\u2019s foreign policy to be similarly reshaped.\n\nMurphy described how the Biden-Harris Administration\u2019s decision at the World Trade Organization to block new data transit rules reflects a larger effort to combat the consequences of neoliberalism: \u201cThey saw the negotiations through the prism of America\u2019s twin crises of alienation and the concentration of economic power. While all the key economic indicators point to a country that has bounced back from the pandemic, rates of addiction, self-harm and political extremism continue to rise as more Americans report feeling unhappy and disconnected from their communities. This alienation is the wreckage left in the wake of a half century of shared, bipartisan faith in economic neoliberalism \u2014 the doctrine that unrestricted free trade and market forces would best uphold the public good. The unchecked gobbling up of economic power by a few large corporations has left us with broken supply chains and uncompetitive markets.\u201d\n\nMurphy underscored the need for a post-neoliberal foreign policy that aims to break up concentrated global economic power, protect fair trade, and breathe life back into local communities: \u201cTrade agreements should be put to a simple test: will the terms concentrate or distribute private economic power? When new rules clearly give large global companies too much power over workers and citizens in individual nation states, then the answer must be to rewrite or reject them, as demonstrated by Tai. A post-neoliberal foreign policy must also challenge the ability of state-run economies to rig the rules of the global marketplace. Too often US foreign policy is focused on military threats. Yes, China and Russia present conventional military threats to global order; but America must expend equal effort on confronting our adversaries\u2019 growing economic influence. This should involve speeding up renewable energy adoption to weaken the power of Russia and other petro-dictatorships and continued work to contest Chinese dominance of critical supply chains for products such as solar panels or advanced batteries.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur foreign policy must also buttress growing bipartisan efforts to create a new industrial and commercial approach rooted in localism,\u201d Murphy continued. \u201cAmericans do not want to be part of a homogenized, flattened global economy. They want vibrant local economies where worker power is prioritized over shareholder power, community wellness prevails over the cult of efficiency, and values such as generosity and fairness matter more than greed and excess. Through carefully constructed tariffs and subsidies for domestic manufacturing and research and development, foreign and trade policy can be the vehicle for this change.\u201d\n\nMurphy concluded: \u201cAmericans will continue to lose faith in their country\u2019s democracy if we do not marry foreign and domestic policy in an effort to prioritize the common good over shameless profit-seeking. That decision at the WTO to rethink global data rules offers proof that the Biden-Harris administration understands the scale of the crisis the America faces and that it has laid the foundations of a coherent way forward for US foreign policy. The next generation of national security leaders must now build on and finish this work.\u201d\n\nRead the full op-ed here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-blumenthal-31-colleagues-urge-biden-to-continue-bold-executive-action-to-lower-housing-costs", "Murphy, Blumenthal, 31 Colleagues Urge Biden To Continue Bold Executive Action To Lower Housing Costs", "2024-10-28", "2024", "2024-10", "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 31 other members of Congress in sending a letter to President Joe Biden applauding his actions to confront the housing crisis and proposing additional executive actions to lower the cost of housing.\n\n\u201cUnder your leadership, the Biden-Harris Administration has taken important steps to protect renters from predatory corporate landlords and to make home purchases and refinancing more affordable,\u201d the members wrote. \u201cBut there is even more that can be done using executive agencies\u2019 existing statutory authority.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers recommend the Administration and federal agencies take the following actions:\n\nPrice Gouging Protections: In order to safeguard tenants from rising rents at the hands of corporate landlords who have been caught price gouging their tenants, FHFA can condition all Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac multifamily loans on a set of price gouging protections, source of income protections, anti-eviction regulations, and habitability and accessibility improvements.\n\nTackle Junk Fees: To address the hidden junk fees that can create thousands of dollars in additional costs for renters and homeowners, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) should finalize its proposed rule to ban junk fees and continue to investigate unfair and deceptive practices by corporate landlords. Additionally, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) should address anticompetitive closing costs and junk fees, lowering closing costs for home mortgages and making homeownership more accessible.\n\nLower Credit Report Costs: As the Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) enjoys a near monopoly in the credit scoring market, the Department of Justice (DOJ) should investigate whether the company is violating antitrust law, and the CFPB should explore potential remedies to exploding credit reporting costs, including a cap on fees that credit reporting agencies can charge and interoperability requirements that would allow consumers to move their credit scores without new fees.\n\nPromote Housing Development on Federal Property: Federal agencies can work to reform Title V of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance program so that federal property can more easily be leased by affordable housing providers who are serving people experiencing homelessness.\n\nThe United States is facing a severe affordable housing crisis, with an estimated gap of 7.3 million housing units affordable and available to the lowest-income households. Already, the Biden-Harris Administration has taken bold steps to protect tenants from predatory corporate landlords, including the Blueprint for a Renters Bill of Rights, rent-hike protections in Low-Income Housing Tax Credit properties, and support for anti-price-gouging measures in properties owned by corporate landlords. The Administration has also worked to increase housing supply, including through grants to incentivize the production of affordable housing and more.\n\n\u201cWe strongly encourage you to cement your legacy by addressing one of the most pressing economic issues of our time and take swift action to create more housing and lower housing costs for Americans everywhere,\u201d the members concluded.\n\nU.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) also signed the letter.\n\nU.S. Representatives Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.), Katie Porter (D-Calif.), Becca Balint (D-Vt.), Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Alma Adams (D-N.C.), Nikema Williams (D-Ga.), Cori Bush (D-Mo.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Nydia Vel\u00e1zquez (D-N.Y.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Sylvia R. Garcia (D-Texas), Delia C. Ramirez (D-Ill.), Jes\u00fas G. \"Chuy\" Garc\u00eda (D-Ill.), Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), Summer Lee (D-Pa.), Greg Casar (D-Texas), Andr\u00e9 Carson (D-Ind.), Ra\u00fal Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.), Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.), and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) also signed the letter.\n\nThe letter was endorsed by the Tenant Union Federation, National Housing Law Project, National Low Income Housing Coalition, National Homelessness Law Center, and Americans for Financial Reform.\n\nFull text of the letter is available HERE and below:\n\nDear President Biden,\n\nWe write today to thank you for your historic work to expand tenant protections and lower the cost of housing and to encourage you to take further action before your term ends. Under your leadership, the Biden-Harris Administration has taken important steps to protect renters from predatory corporate landlords and to make home purchases and refinancing more affordable. But there is even more that can be done using executive agencies\u2019 existing statutory authority. We offer the following recommendations to address the high cost of housing felt by millions of Americans.\n\nThe United States is facing a severe affordable housing crisis, with an estimated gap of 7.3 million housing units affordable and available to the lowest-income households. Currently, there are fewer than four affordable rental homes for every ten extremely low-income renters. Housing costs continue to be the largest budget item for many American households each month, burdening renters and making homeownership unaffordable for too many.\n\nWe applaud the Biden-Harris Administration\u2019s bold steps to protect tenants from predatory corporate landlords including the Blueprint for a Renters Bill of Rights, rent-hike protections in Low-Income Housing Tax Credit properties, and support for anti-price-gouging measures in properties owned by corporate landlords.\n\nThe Administration and independent agencies have also taken significant strides toward increasing housing supply and lowering housing costs for all Americans. We support the Federal Housing Finance Agency\u2019s (FHFA) pilot program to waive title insurance on certain refinances, which could save thousands of homeowners up to $1,500, lower upfront fees, and make refinancing more accessible. We also appreciate the Administration\u2019s robust support for the Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing program and the PRICE Program, important grant programs to incentivize the production of affordable housing in communities across the country.\n\nIn the remaining months of your Administration, we urge you to take additional actions, including in the four areas outlined below, to reduce housing costs for American families.\n\nPrice Gouging Protections\n\nAccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, rents have risen 26 percent nationally since early 2020. A limited patchwork of tenants\u2019 rights at the local, state, and federal levels leaves tenants with very few protections in the face of rising rents, while corporate landlords have been caught hiking rents well beyond the pace of inflation. While you have called for anti-price-gouging measures for corporate landlords, there are additional steps FHFA can take to tackle rent hikes. FHFA has the authority to condition all Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac multifamily loans on a set of price gouging protections, source of income protections, anti-eviction regulations, and habitability and accessibility improvements. Senate and House leaders \u2013 including Senate Majority Leader Schumer, Senator Brown, and Representative Waters \u2013 have called on FHFA to protect renters, and these policy ideas have been further endorsed by economists, local elected officials, policy experts, labor unions and civil rights advocates.\n\nTackling Junk Fees\n\nHidden junk fees can create thousands of dollars in additional costs for renters and homeowners, adding significant stress to households. Junk fees can increase a tenant\u2019s risk of eviction for nonpayment of rent and the likelihood that tenants accumulate rental debt, hindering their ability to obtain housing in the future.\n\nThe Federal Trade Commission (FTC) should finalize its proposed rule to ban junk fees and continue to investigate unfair and deceptive practices by corporate landlords. This work would build upon the FTC\u2019s recent efforts to fight algorithmic price fixing and collusion by landlords in the rental market. In particular, the FTC should include rental housing businesses in the definition of \u201cbusiness\u201d as part of its junk fees rule so that renters are protected from the rental housing junk fees that landlords arbitrarily impose.\n\nThe Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) should also continue its work to tackle junk fees in the housing market. Already, the CFPB has taken an important step forward by launching an inquiry into junk fees that are increasing mortgage closing costs. A CFPB analysis found that median total loan closing costs for home mortgages increased by over 36% between 2021 and 2023. Upon the conclusion of its inquiry, the CFPB should pursue rulemaking based on its findings to address anticompetitive closing costs and junk fees, lowering closing costs for home mortgages and making homeownership more accessible.\n\nLowering Credit Report Costs\n\nWhen someone in America wants to buy a home, a mortgage lender must purchase a credit score to evaluate the consumer\u2019s creditworthiness. When renters apply for housing, landlords use credit scores to evaluate whether to extend a lease to the household. Today, there is one company that enjoys a near monopoly in the credit scoring market: the Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO). Since 2022, the cost to obtain a score from FICO has increased by as much as 400%, a cost that is often passed on to consumers.\n\nThe Department of Justice (DOJ) and CFPB should address anti-competitive behavior in the credit scoring market that jacks up prices for consumers. The DOJ should investigate whether FICO and others are engaging in behavior that violates federal antitrust law. And the CFPB should explore potential remedies to exploding credit reporting costs, including a cap on fees that credit reporting agencies can charge and interoperability requirements that would allow consumers to move their credit scores without new fees. FHFA has already taken action to promote competition among the credit bureaus and increase accuracy in credit scoring by transitioning to a \u201cbi-merge\u201d system that requires two, instead of three, credit reports from the nationwide credit reporting agencies. But the Administration can and should do more to lower credit reporting costs for everyday Americans.\n\nPromoting Housing Development on Federal Property\n\nTitle V of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance program was designed to direct surplus federal property to affordable housing providers serving people experiencing homelessness. Yet, between 2016 and 2023, only 11 properties were leased to nonprofits under this authority, and two in three applications were denied by the federal government.\n\nTo address these problems, the General Services Administration, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Department of Health and Human Services should finalize proposed reforms to Title V without delay. In particular, we recommend that the agencies end the practice of requiring an affordable housing provider demonstrate full funding for a project before a Title V lease can be approved. Because the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) requires applicants to prove they have site control before approving funding, affordable housing providers reliant on LIHTC are often functionally excluded from Title V leases. To help Title V achieve its full potential, we urge the agencies to abandon the full-funding requirement for Title V leases and permit letters of intent or financing commitments as sufficient evidence of an applicant\u2019s ability to obtain financing if applying under a program such as LIHTC.\n\n* * *\n\nWe strongly encourage you to cement your legacy by addressing one of the most pressing economic issues of our time and take swift action to create more housing and lower housing costs for Americans everywhere.\n\nWe thank you for your attention to this important matter.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-blumenthal-kaine-lead-colleagues-in-engaging-administration-on-proposal-to-address-submarine-production-delays", "Murphy, Blumenthal, Kaine Lead Colleagues In Engaging Administration On Proposal To Address Submarine Production Delays", "2024-10-28", "2024", "2024-10", "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.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) on Friday led a bipartisan group of their Senate colleagues in asking the Biden Administration to address funding shortfalls for submarine programs as they consider funding levels for Fiscal Year 2025. In two separate letters to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Shalanda Young and Department of the Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro, the lawmakers also urged the Administration to carefully assess the merits of the proposed Shipbuilder Accountability and Workforce Support (SAWS) agreement\u2014which would restructure how the Navy pays for submarines\u2014as a potential solution to address delays and get the programs back on track.\n\nWhile Congress has invested over $2.3 billion between 2018 and 2023 and an additional $3 billion this year as part of a national security supplemental in the nation\u2019s submarine industrial base, the Virginia-class and Columbia-class submarine programs face significant delays and are expected to be over budget. The on-time completion of Virginia-class submarines, which are built in Virginia and Connecticut, is especially critical to the fulfillment of the Australia-United Kingdom-United States (AUKUS) trilateral partnership, through which the United States will sell at least two submarines to Australia to bolster security in the Indo-Pacific.\n\n\u201cThe United States\u2019 submarine programs provide our nation an undersea advantage that is critical to our national security,\u201d the members wrote. \u201cBased on the information available so far, the Shipbuilder Accountability and Workforce Support (SAWS) agreement strikes us as a promising approach to ensure our submarine industrial base rises to the occasion, accelerates submarine production, and fully meets the critical and building demand on U.S. shipyards\u2026 We request that you give all due consideration to this initiative, while ensuring it includes the accountability and leverage measures necessary to ensure our federal investments in submarine production go as far as possible in getting these critical programs on track.\u201d\n\nThe members continued: \u201cIt is our understanding that over months of conversation Pentagon leadership, the Navy, and industry reached an agreement to maximize use of taxpayer funding for construction of the next tranche of Columbia-class and Virginia-class submarines \u2013 including by raising wages to attract and retain America\u2019s skilled and organized shipyard workforce, addressing rising costs, and advancing much-needed infrastructure investments, all to improve program reliability and schedule.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe therefore urge more consistent communication with Congress and with OMB so that all parties clearly understand the Navy\u2019s position on SAWS and overall plans to get our nation\u2019s submarine production on track,\u201d the members concluded. \u201cIt is critical that our submarine programs be on schedule and on budget.\u201d\n\nU.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Angus King (I-Maine), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), and Mark R. Warner (D-Va.) also signed the letter.\n\nThe letter to OMB is available here. The letter to the Navy is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-congressional-delegation-governor-lamont-announce-fema-amends-major-disaster-declaration-for-august-storm-to-include-public-assistance-program", "Murphy, Congressional Delegation, Governor Lamont Announce FEMA Amends Major Disaster Declaration For August Storm To Include Public Assistance Program", "2024-10-28", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "HARTFORD\u2014U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and U.S. Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.-03), Jim Himes (D-Conn.-04) and Jahana Hayes (D-Conn-05) joined Governor Ned Lamont on Monday to announce that the major disaster declaration President Joe Biden approved for Fairfield County, Litchfield County, and New Haven County as a result of the historic rainfall and extreme flooding on August 18, 2024 has been amended to include the governor\u2019s request for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance Program.\n\nApproval of this program means that municipal governments within those three counties, as well as Connecticut state government and certain nonprofit organizations, are now eligible to apply for federal reimbursement of 75% of the costs associated with repairing and rebuilding uninsured damage to public infrastructure caused by the storm \u2013 such as roads, bridges, rail lines, schools, parks, and other facilities \u2013 and the costs associated with their emergency response and protective measures.\n\nPreviously, the declaration was approved to include the Individual Assistance Program \u2013 which makes federal disaster funding available to individuals to cover the costs of uninsured damage to private property and other related emergency actions \u2013 and the Hazard Mitigation Program, which supports state and local governments with the costs of taking actions that can reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property from natural disasters. The initial declaration also brought Small Business Administration loan assistance to eligible businesses and individuals.\n\nIn his application to FEMA, Governor Lamont estimated that state and local governments in these counties experienced roughly $14.3 million in damage to public infrastructure from this storm, with much of the damage impacting the transportation system, such as state and local roads and bridges, as well as the Waterbury Branch Line of Metro-North Railroad\u2019s New Haven Line.\n\n\u201cThis announcement is good news for so many in Connecticut still recovering from the devastation caused by the August flooding. No amount of money will undo the damage done, but these federal dollars will help ease the burden placed on our communities and provide assistance to towns working to restore roads, bridges, rail and other essential infrastructure across our state. I\u2019m grateful to the Biden-Harris Administration and Governor Lamont for their swift action and dedication to supporting our communities during this challenging time,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n\u201cApproval of this program will be a relief to many towns that experienced significant damage to public infrastructure from this storm, especially to roads and bridges that were completely destroyed and needed swift rebuilding to ensure that residents who live in these areas have access to critical routes. The Biden-Harris administration has been extremely helpful in their response to this unprecedented flooding event, and I thank FEMA and the Small Business Administration for their on-the-ground actions in Connecticut to help our residents and businesses recover. I also thank the members of Connecticut\u2019s Congressional delegation for helping our state secure this declaration and the associated resources it provides,\u201d said Lamont.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve been holding our breath for this decision. In my multiple visits to towns hard hit by catastrophic flooding, I\u2019ve seen the huge costs and consequences of rebuilding that such historic federal aid will support. It will enable public assets like roads and bridges to be rebuilt \u2013 better and stronger for the new weather normal \u2013 sparing Connecticut taxpayers most of the fiscal burden. It\u2019s a day well worth the wait. Our state will be more resilient with less financial burden,\u201d said Blumenthal.\n\n\u201cThe inclusion of the Public Assistance Program in this disaster declaration is a crucial step in helping Connecticut communities recover and rebuild. With this, local governments can now access federal support to cover the costs of restoring essential public infrastructure damaged by the storm. Roads, bridges, and other critical public infrastructure connect us to our workplaces, schools, and our families. Rebuilding them is key to our recovery. This support from FEMA means that our towns won\u2019t have to bear the financial strain alone. I will continue to fight to ensure our communities receive the resources they need to recover,\u201d said DeLauro.\n\n\u201cSo many in southwest Connecticut are still rebuilding from August\u2019s devastating flooding. I was glad to help bring federal disaster relief to repair the damage and support families in need of assistance, and I\u2019m thrilled that the program has been expanded to offer additional aid without raising property taxes. With this change, our towns will have access to the resources they need to restore roads, bridges, and other critical public infrastructure that Connecticut\u2019s families depend on. Thank you to the Biden-Harris administration, Governor Lamont, and my Congressional colleagues for their continued efforts to support this disaster recovery effort,\u201d said Himes.\n\n\u201cAmending the major disaster declaration will unlock federal reimbursement resources for municipalities, state government and eligible nonprofits \u2013 reducing the financial burden in addition to restoring critical infrastructure. When Connecticut was impacted by record flooding, we received swift support from our federal partners. I remain grateful to the Biden-Harris administration for the continued support our residents, businesses, and communities have received to rebuild and recover,\u201d said Hayes.\n\nSo far under this declaration, FEMA has approved more than $8 million in federal disaster assistance to Connecticut residents through the Individual Assistance Program. The deadline for residents to apply for the Individual Assistance Program is November 19, 2024.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-introduces-the-safe-for-survivors-act-to-provide-economic-security-for-domestic-violence-survivors", "Blumenthal Introduces the SAFE for Survivors Act to Provide Economic Security for Domestic Violence Survivors", "2024-10-24", "2024", "2024-10", "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 (D-CT) joined Senate colleagues in introducing the Security and Financial Empowerment (SAFE) for Survivors Act to establish provisions that promote the safety and security of survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, gender-based violence, and stalking.\n\n\u201cFinancial injury is common to almost every instance of domestic violence. It perpetuates physical and emotional harm by forcing survivors to stay with their abuser,\u201d said Blumenthal on Thursday at a press conference in Hartford. \u201cThe SAFE for Survivors Act is an effort to empower survivors. \u201d\n\nThe 2024 SAFE for Survivors Act allows victims to take time off from work without fear of penalty, requires that employers provide reasonable accommodations to assist survivors dealing with the aftermath of violence, provides access to unemployment benefits for survivors, and establishes insurance protections to support survivors\u2013ensuring that victims are not punished for their abusers\u2019 crimes.\n\nOne in four women in the U.S. experience physical violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime and one in four women report an attempted or completed rape during their lifetime. Individuals who experience intimate partner violence, sexual assault, gender-based violence and stalking often find that abuse and threats follow them from home into the workplace. This type of violence has direct consequences for survivors\u2019 economic security, which can affect their ability to recover, provide for their families, and remove themselves from dangerous situations.\n\nAccording to the Domestic Violence Hotline, domestic violence issues lead to nearly 8 million lost days of paid work each year, the equivalent of over 32,000 full-time jobs.\n\nHighlights of the 2024 SAFE Act include:\n\nIncreased Access to Leave\n\nThe SAFE for Survivors Act allows victims to take time off from work\u201440 days of leave, ten of which must be paid\u2014without penalty in order to contend with the consequences of gender-based violence, including attending court appearances, seeking legal assistance, and getting help with safety planning. For too many victims, access to these essential services can mean the difference between life and death.\n\nEnhanced Workplace Protections\n\nThe SAFE for Survivors Act prohibits discriminatory employment practices in connection with survivors of domestic or sexual violence and requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to assist survivor dealing with the aftermath of violence.\n\nAccess to Unemployment Benefits\n\nThe SAFE for Survivors Act allows victims in every state access to unemployment benefits if they are fired or forced to leave their job because of abuse.\n\nInsurance Protections for Survivors\n\nThe SAFE for Survivors Act prohibits denial or restriction of insurance coverage based on the status of the applicant or insured regarding abuse or abuse related claims, ensuring that victims are not punished for their abusers\u2019 crimes.\n\nIn addition to Blumenthal, the SAFE for Survivors Act is led by U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and cosponsored by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Bob Casey (D-PA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).\n\nIn the House of Representatives, the SAFE for Survivors Act is led by Representatives Debbie Dingell (MI-06) and Gwen Moore (WI-04) and cosponsored by Representatives Ann Kuster (NH-02), Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Raul Grijalva (AZ-07), and Barbara Lee (CA-12)\n\nA section by section of the SAFE for Survivors Act is available here.\n\nBill text is available here.\n\nVideo of Blumenthal\u2019s remarks in Hartford can be found here.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-murphy-and-congressional-democrats-file-amicus-brief-urging-ninth-circuit-court-to-affirm-that-emtala-requires-hospitals-to-provide-emergency-stabilizing-care-including-abortion-care-preempts-idahos-draconian-abortion-ban", "Blumenthal, Murphy, & Congressional Democrats File Amicus Brief Urging Ninth Circuit Court to Affirm that EMTALA Requires Hospitals to Provide Emergency Stabilizing Care Including Abortion Care, Preempts Idaho's Draconian Abortion Ban", "2024-10-24", "2024", "2024-10", "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 (D-CT) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) joined 257 members of Congress in submitting an amicus brief to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in Moyle v. United States and Idaho v. United States, two consolidated cases concerning the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) under consideration by the en banc Ninth Circuit. EMTALA is a federal law that requires hospitals that receive Medicare funding to provide necessary \u201cstabilizing treatment\u201d to patients experiencing medical emergencies, which can include abortion care.\n\nAfter the Dobbs decision in 2022, a draconian anti-abortion law in Idaho went into effect that makes it a felony for a doctor to terminate a patient\u2019s pregnancy unless it is \u201cnecessary\u201d to prevent the patient\u2019s death. The United States sued the State of Idaho, arguing that the state\u2019s law is preempted by EMTALA in those circumstances in which abortion may not be necessary to prevent imminent death, but still constitutes the necessary stabilizing treatment for a patient\u2019s emergency medical condition. The district court agreed; it held that in those limited, but critically important situations, EMTALA requires Medicare-participating hospitals to provide abortion as an emergency medical treatment. Idaho Republicans appealed that ruling to the Supreme Court, which lifted the injunction and took the case in January\u2014in March, 258 Members filed an amicus brief, asking the Supreme Court to affirm the district court decision. In June, the Supreme Court dismissed the case but without a ruling on the merits, sending the case back to the Ninth Circuit Court and reinstating the district court\u2019s injunction.\n\nIn their brief in support of the Justice Department, the lawmakers ask the Ninth Circuit to uphold the district court\u2019s ruling. They argue that the congressional intent, text, and history of EMTALA make clear that covered hospitals must provide abortion care when it is the necessary stabilizing treatment for a patient\u2019s emergency medical condition, and that EMTALA preempts Idaho\u2019s abortion ban in emergency situations that present a serious threat to a patient\u2019s health.\n\n\u201c[T]he 99th Congress passed EMTALA to ensure that every person who visits a Medicare-funded hospital with an \u2018emergency medical condition\u2019 is offered stabilizing treatment,\u201d the Members write in their amicus brief. \u201cCongress chose broad language for that mandate, requiring hospitals that participate in the Medicare program to provide \u2018such treatment as may be required to stabilize the medical condition.\u2019\u2026 That text\u2014untouched by Congress for the past three decades\u2014makes clear that in situations in which a doctor determines that abortion constitutes the \u2018[n]ecessary stabilizing treatment\u2019 for a pregnant patient, federal law requires the hospital to offer it. Yet Idaho has made providing that care a felony, in direct contravention of EMTALA\u2019s mandate.\u201d\n\nImportantly, the Members note that in this case, \u201cRespecting the supremacy of federal law is about more than just protecting our system of government; it is about protecting people\u2019s lives. If this Court allows Idaho\u2019s near-total abortion ban to supersede federal law, pregnant patients in Idaho will continue to be denied appropriate medical treatment, placing them at heightened risk for medical complications and severe adverse health outcomes\u2026 And health care providers, unwilling to let Idaho\u2019s law override their medical judgment regarding their patients\u2019 best interests, will continue their exile from Idaho, creating maternity-care \u2018deserts\u2019 all over the state.\u201d The Members point to numerous reports of OB/GYNs leaving Idaho en masse since the state\u2019s abortion ban went into effect\u2014Idaho has since lost fifty-five percent of its maternal-fetal medicine specialists and three rural hospitals have shut down maternity services altogether.\n\n\u201cThese are not hypothetical scenarios. Because Idaho\u2019s abortion ban contains no clear exceptions for the \u201cemergency medical conditions\u201d covered by EMTALA, it forces physicians to wait until their patients are on the verge of death before providing abortion care. The result in other states with similar laws has been \u2018significant maternal morbidity,\u2019\u201d the Members continued, pointing to harrowing reports of pregnant women with severe health complications being denied necessary abortion care, including an Idaho woman who was flown to Utah for an abortion while hemorrhaging, leaking amniotic fluid, and terrified that she would not survive to care for her two other children. \u201cFederal law does not allow Idaho to endanger the lives of its residents in this way.\u201d\n\nIn their brief, the Members also clarify that the references to \u201cunborn child\u201d in EMTALA were intended to expand hospitals\u2019 obligations with respect to providing stabilizing treatment\u2014not contract them or take away the obligation to provide abortion care in certain circumstances.\n\nThe Members\u2019 brief also counters an argument from Idaho and its amici that the Supremacy Clause does not apply in this case because EMTALA was passed using Spending Clause authority, and therefore acts only as a condition on Medicare funding. The Members make clear that all laws passed by Congress are entitled to preemption\u2014regardless of their source of constitutional authority\u2014and states cannot pass laws that make it impossible for private parties to accept federal funding, inhibiting the purpose of the federal law.\n\n\u201cEMTALA requires abortion when necessary to stabilize a patient with an emergency medical condition, Idaho\u2019s near-total abortion ban is preempted to the extent that it prevents doctors from providing that care,\u201d the Members added. \u201cThis Court should reject Appellants\u2019 novel theory that EMTALA is not entitled to preemptive effect because it was enacted pursuant to Congress\u2019s spending power. Under the Supremacy Clause, all \u2018the constitutional laws enacted by congress,\u2019 constitute \u2018the supreme Law of the Land,\u2019. As the Supreme Court has repeatedly held, the principle of federal supremacy applies to laws passed pursuant to Congress\u2019s spending authority no less than it does to laws effectuating other enumerated powers.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn sum, EMTALA plainly requires hospitals that participate in the Medicare program to provide abortion care when, in a doctor\u2019s medical judgment, it constitutes the \u2018[n]ecessary stabilizing treatment\u2019 for a patient\u2019s \u2018emergency medical condition,\u2019\u201d the Members continued.\n\nThe lawmakers conclude by asking the Ninth Circuit to affirm the district court\u2019s decision that EMTALA requires Medicare-participating hospitals to provide abortion care when it is necessary as emergency medical treatment.\n\nIn the Senate, the amicus brief was also signed by U.S. Senators Schumer, Murray, Wyden, Durbin, Baldwin, Bennet, Booker, Brown, Butler, Cantwell, Cardin, Carper, Casey Jr., Coons, Cortez Masto, Duckworth, Gillibrand, Hassan, Heinrich, Helmy, Hickenlooper, Hirono, Kaine, Kelly, King Jr., Klobuchar, Luj\u00e1n, Markey, Merkley, Padilla, Peters, Reed, Rosen, Sanders, Schatz, Shaheen, Sinema, Smith, Stabenow, Tester, Van Hollen, Warner, Warnock, Warren, Welch, Whitehouse.\n\nThe brief was also signed by 211 U.S. Representatives in the House.\n\nThe lawmakers\u2019 amicus brief to the Supreme Court can be read in full here.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-blumenthal-colleagues-demand-stellantis-keep-its-promises-to-autoworkers", "Murphy, Blumenthal, Colleagues Demand Stellantis Keep Its Promises To Autoworkers", "2024-10-24", "2024", "2024-10", "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 Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) joined U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders and 20 of their Senate colleagues in sending a letter to Stellantis\u2014the giant automotive manufacturer responsible for common car brands like Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep. In their letter, the senators called on Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares to honor the collective bargaining agreement signed last year with the United Auto Workers (UAW) and the promises the company made to strengthen and expand good-paying union jobs in America.\n\n\u201cWe are writing to express our growing concerns about the failure of Stellantis, under your leadership, to honor the commitments it made to the United Auto Workers (UAW) in last year\u2019s collective bargaining agreement\u2026\u201d the senators wrote. \u201cWe urge Stellantis not to renege on the promises it made to American autoworkers and to provide details on the timelines for these investments.\u201d\n\nIn the contract ratified last year, Stellantis committed to make nearly $19 billion in new investments and product commitments in the U.S., including:\n\nRe-opening the plant in Belvidere, Illinois that was \u201cindefinitely idled\u201d last year;\n\nEstablishing a parts and customer care Mega Hub in Belvidere;\n\nContinuing to manufacture the Dodge Durango in Detroit through 2025; and\n\nManufacturing the next generation Dodge Durango in Detroit starting in 2026.\n\nInstead, Stellantis has taken actions that undermine the commitments made to the UAW and leave \u201cbehind thousands of American workers who built the company into the auto giant it is today,\u201d the senators wrote. These actions may include moving the next generation Dodge Durango out of the U.S. and into \u201clow-cost\u201d countries like Mexico, as well as delaying planned investments to reopen and expand the Belvidere assembly plant.\n\nThis year, Stellantis has spent over $8 billion on stock buybacks and dividends to benefit its wealthy executives and stockholders. During the first six months of this year, Stellantis has generated over $6 billion in profits, making it one of the most profitable auto companies in the world. The company has also benefited from billions of dollars in financial assistance from American taxpayers and the federal government. In July, the Department of Energy announced Stellantis would receive nearly $335 million in federal dollars to support Belvidere Assembly Plant\u2019s conversion to electric vehicle production.\n\n\u201cLast year, while blue collar auto workers in Belvidere were being laid off indefinitely, you were able to receive a 56 percent pay raise, boosting your total compensation to $39.5 million, which made you the highest paid executive among traditional auto companies,\u201d the senators continued. \u201cWe believe that if Stellantis can afford to spend over $8 billion this year on stock buybacks and dividends, it can live up to the contractual commitments it made to the UAW. This is especially true given the billions of dollars in financial assistance American taxpayers have spent to support your company and the enormous sacrifices autoworkers have been forced to make over many decades.\u201d\n\nU.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) also signed the letter.\n\nThe full letter is available HERE and below.\n\nDear Mr. Tavares:\n\nWe are writing to express our growing concerns about the failure of Stellantis, under your leadership, to honor the commitments it made to the United Auto Workers (UAW) in last year\u2019s collective bargaining agreement.\n\nIn that contract, ratified by UAW members, Stellantis committed to \u201cestablish long-term stability and job security\u201d for its workforce. The agreement includes nearly $19 billion in new investment and product commitments in the United States, including promises to:\n\nRe-open the plant in Belvidere, Illinois that was \u201cindefinitely idled\u201d last year;\n\nEstablish a parts and customer care Mega Hub in Belvidere;\n\nContinue to manufacture the Dodge Durango in Detroit through 2025; and\n\nManufacture the next generation Dodge Durango in Detroit starting in 2026.\n\nWe are deeply concerned that Stellantis is not keeping the promises it made to strengthen and expand good-paying union jobs in America.\n\nSpecifically, Stellantis is now delaying planned investments to reopen and expand the Belvidere assembly plant, leaving behind thousands of American workers who built the company into the auto giant it is today. We are also concerned with reporting that Stellantis is planning to move production of the next generation Dodge Durango out of the United States, after previously announcing layoffs that threaten the economic security and well-being of thousands of autoworkers. Moreover, Stellantis has stated publicly that it plans to source 80 percent of supply from \u201clow-cost countries\u201d like Mexico. By your own admission, Stellantis\u2019s growth plan hinges on shifting \u201cindustrial production into cost competitive countries\u201d like Mexico, where workers are making substandard wages. These actions violate the obligations Stellantis made to the UAW. We urge Stellantis not to renege on the promises it made to American autoworkers and to provide details on the timelines for these investments.\n\nThis year, Stellantis has spent over $8 billion on stock buybacks and dividends to benefit its wealthy executives and stockholders. Last year, while blue collar auto workers in Belvidere were being laid off indefinitely, you were able to receive a 56 percent pay raise boosting your total compensation to $39.5 million, which made you the highest paid executive among traditional auto companies. During the first six months of this year, Stellantis has generated over $6 billion in profits, making it one of the most profitable auto companies in the world.\n\nWe believe that if Stellantis can afford to spend over $8 billion this year on stock buybacks and dividends, it can live up to the contractual commitments it made to the UAW. This is especially true given the billions of dollars in financial assistance American taxpayers have spent to support your company and the enormous sacrifices autoworkers have been forced to make over many decades.\n\nFor example, the Department of Energy announced in July that nearly $335 million in federal dollars would be going to supporting Belvidere Assembly Plant\u2019s conversion to electric vehicle production. With hundreds of millions of dollars of federal support going towards ensuring strong union jobs stay in the U.S., Stellantis must honor the promises it made to UAW workers and the Belvidere community.\n\nWe urge you to deliver on the commitments you made to the UAW in your 2023 national agreement without further delay.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-blumenthal-congressional-democrats-file-amicus-brief-urging-ninth-circuit-court-to-affirm-emtala-requires-hospitals-to-provide-emergency-stabilizing-care-preempts-draconian-abortion-ban", "Murphy, Blumenthal, Congressional Democrats File Amicus Brief Urging Ninth Circuit Court To Affirm EMTALA Requires Hospitals To Provide Emergency Stabilizing Care, Preempts Draconian Abortion Ban", "2024-10-24", "2024", "2024-10", "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 257 Democratic members of Congress in submitting an amicus brief to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in Moyle v. United States and Idaho v. United States, two consolidated cases concerning the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) under consideration by the en banc Ninth Circuit. EMTALA is a federal law that requires hospitals that receive Medicare funding to provide necessary \u201cstabilizing treatment\u201d to patients experiencing medical emergencies, which can include abortion care.\n\nAfter the Dobbs decision in 2022, a draconian anti-abortion law in Idaho went into effect that makes it a felony for a doctor to terminate a patient\u2019s pregnancy unless it is \u201cnecessary\u201d to prevent the patient\u2019s death. The United States sued the State of Idaho, arguing that the state\u2019s law is preempted by EMTALA in those circumstances in which abortion may not be necessary to prevent imminent death, but still constitutes the necessary stabilizing treatment for a patient\u2019s emergency medical condition. The district court agreed; it held that in those limited, but critically important situations, EMTALA requires Medicare-participating hospitals to provide abortion as an emergency medical treatment. Idaho Republicans appealed that ruling to the Supreme Court, which lifted the injunction and took the case in January\u2014in March, Murphy and Blumenthal joined 256 other members of Congress in filing an amicus brief asking the Supreme Court to affirm the district court decision. In June, the Supreme Court dismissed the case but without a ruling on the merits, sending the case back to the Ninth Circuit Court and reinstating the district court\u2019s injunction.\n\nIn their brief in support of the Justice Department, the lawmakers ask the Ninth Circuit to uphold the district court\u2019s ruling. They argue that the congressional intent, text, and history of EMTALA make clear that covered hospitals must provide abortion care when it is the necessary stabilizing treatment for a patient\u2019s emergency medical condition, and that EMTALA preempts Idaho\u2019s abortion ban in emergency situations that present a serious threat to a patient\u2019s health.\n\n\u201cRespecting the supremacy of federal law is about more than just protecting our system of government; it is about protecting people\u2019s lives,\u201d the members wrote. \u201cIf this Court allows Idaho\u2019s near-total abortion ban to supersede federal law, pregnant patients in Idaho will continue to be denied appropriate medical treatment, placing them at heightened risk for medical complications and severe adverse health outcomes\u2026 And health care providers, unwilling to let Idaho\u2019s law override their medical judgment regarding their patients\u2019 best interests, will continue their exile from Idaho, creating maternity-care \u2018deserts\u2019 all over the state.\u201d The members point to numerous reports of OB/GYNs leaving Idaho en masse since the state\u2019s abortion ban went into effect\u2014Idaho has since lost fifty-five percent of its maternal-fetal medicine specialists and three rural hospitals have shut down maternity services altogether.\n\n\u201cThese are not hypothetical scenarios. Because Idaho\u2019s abortion ban contains no clear exceptions for the \u2018emergency medical conditions\u2019 covered by EMTALA, it forces physicians to wait until their patients are on the verge of death before providing abortion care. The result in other states with similar laws has been \u2018significant maternal morbidity,\u2019\u201d the members continued, highlighting harrowing reports of pregnant women with severe health complications being denied necessary abortion care, including an Idaho woman who was flown to Utah for an abortion while hemorrhaging, leaking amniotic fluid, and terrified that she would not survive to care for her two other children. \u201cFederal law does not allow Idaho to endanger the lives of its residents in this way.\u201d\n\nIn their brief, the members also clarify that the references to \u201cunborn child\u201d in EMTALA were intended to expand hospitals\u2019 obligations with respect to providing stabilizing treatment\u2014not contract them or take away the obligation to provide abortion care in certain circumstances.\n\nThe members\u2019 brief also counters an argument from Idaho and its amici that the Supremacy Clause does not apply in this case because EMTALA was passed using Spending Clause authority, and therefore acts only as a condition on Medicare funding. The members make clear that all laws passed by Congress are entitled to preemption\u2014regardless of their source of constitutional authority\u2014and states cannot pass laws that make it impossible for private parties to accept federal funding, inhibiting the purpose of the federal law.\n\n\u201cEMTALA requires abortion when necessary to stabilize a patient with an emergency medical condition, Idaho\u2019s near-total abortion ban is preempted to the extent that it prevents doctors from providing that care,\u201d the members added. \u201cThis Court should reject Appellants\u2019 novel theory that EMTALA is not entitled to preemptive effect because it was enacted pursuant to Congress\u2019s spending power. Under the Supremacy Clause, all \u2018the constitutional laws enacted by congress,\u2019 constitute \u2018the supreme Law of the Land,\u2019. As the Supreme Court has repeatedly held, the principle of federal supremacy applies to laws passed pursuant to Congress\u2019s spending authority no less than it does to laws effectuating other enumerated powers.\u201d\n\nThe members conclude by asking the Ninth Circuit to affirm the district court\u2019s decision that EMTALA requires Medicare-participating hospitals to provide abortion care when it is necessary as emergency medical treatment.\n\nU.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Bob Casey Jr. (D-Pa.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Paul Helmy (D-Calif.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Angus King Jr. (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), 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.), Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), 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.) also signed the amicus brief.\n\nIn the House, the brief was signed by 211 U.S. Representatives.\n\nThe members\u2019 amicus brief to the Supreme Court can be read in full HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-to-cosponsor-legislation-to-hold-georgian-officials-accountable-for-corruption-human-rights-abuses-and-anti-democratic-efforts", "Murphy To Cosponsor Legislation To Hold Georgian Officials Accountable For Corruption, Human Rights Abuses, And Anti-Democratic Efforts", "2024-10-23", "2024", "2024-10", "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 Foreign Relations Committee, on Tuesday announced his intention to join U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Jim Risch (R-Id.) in introducing the Georgian People\u2019s Act, legislation that would hold Georgian government officials and individuals responsible for corruption, human rights abuses, and efforts to advance the foreign influence law or facilitate its passage.\n\nThe legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), and U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Dan Sullivan (R-Ark.), Angus King (I-Maine), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and George Helmy (D-N.J.) have also requested to join the Senators\u2019 Georgian People\u2019s Act when the Senate reconvenes in November.\n\n\u201cRussia\u2019s use of corruption, propaganda and violence doesn\u2019t just threaten Georgia\u2019s future as a strong, independent nation\u2014it puts the entire international order at risk of collapse,\u201d said Murphy. \u201cAs Putin and his cronies try to undermine Georgia\u2019s democracy and impose a government that will do their bidding, this bipartisan legislation makes clear the United States stands firmly with the Georgian people who overwhelmingly support democracy and a future in Europe.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m pleased that a number of my Senate colleagues recognize the urgency of the situation in Georgia and have agreed to cosponsor the Georgian People\u2019s Act in the U.S. Senate,\u201d said Shaheen. \u201cTogether, we\u2019re sending a strong message that there is robust bipartisan support for our legislation and our posture towards Georgia and support for the Georgian people\u2019s Euro-Atlantic aspirations will remain unchanged no matter which party controls Washington.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis bill sends a strong message from Congress that the U.S. is united behind the Georgian people as they pursue a future in the transatlantic community,\u201d said Risch. \u201cWe recognize the Georgian people\u2019s desire for European integration and are committed to making U.S. policy that supports the opportunity for them achieve it.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Georgian government\u2019s embrace of pro-Russian policies and away from a Euro-Atlantic future is concerning,\u201d said Tillis. \u201cI am proud to co-sponsor this bill to hold the Georgian government officials accountable and reaffirm the U.S. support for the Georgian people.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Georgian government\u2019s shift towards Russia\u2019s authoritarian regime and away from its European partners is alarming,\u201d said Cornyn. \u201cThis legislation would hold Georgia\u2019s corrupt leaders accountable and signal to the Georgian people that the U.S. stands with them in their pursuit of a Euro-Atlantic future.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhile the Georgian people have demonstrated overwhelming support for a democratic future, their government has become increasingly under Russia\u2019s influence\u2014most recently passing a law to restrict civil society and free speech,\u201d said Romney. \u201cOur legislation would hold Georgian government officials responsible for corruption and demonstrate the United States\u2019 commitment to the Georgian people\u2019s fight for democracy and rule of law.\u201d\n\n\u201cA free, secure, sovereign Georgia, aligned with the US and its allies is in the national interest, both of Georgia and the United States,\u201d said Sullivan. \u201cGeorgia\u2019s apparent drift back into Russia\u2019s orbit is bad for the stability of the region. No one understands this better than the Georgian people themselves. According to polling from the International Republican Institute, 90% of Georgians want their nation to be part of the Western, free World, not the Russian World.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe United States stands with the Georgian people and their pursuit of a Euro-Atlantic future. The Georgian government\u2019s recent efforts to align with Russia reject the desires of Georgians and pose a significant threat. Our bipartisan bill would hold Georgian government officials accountable for corruption and express our support for the transatlantic aspirations of the Georgian people,\u201d said Young.\n\nFull text of the legislation is available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-and-warren-highlight-impact-of-private-equitys-growing-influence-in-health-care-on-vulnerable-populations", "Blumenthal & Warren Highlight Impact of Private Equity's Growing Influence in Health Care on Vulnerable Populations", "2024-10-22", "2024", "2024-10", "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. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) called on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to continue taking aggressive action to protect patients from the detrimental effects of private equity (PE) involvement in health care. In a letter to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, the Senators raised concerns about PE\u2019s expanding ownership of health care entities, which is directly related to degrading standards of care for particularly vulnerable populations, such as wheelchair users.\n\nThe Senators wrote, \u201cPE\u2019s involvement in health care markets has exacerbated problems related to surprise medical billing, inadequate staffing and training, and a lack of oversight and due process. We appreciate the HHS action to make PE ownership of nursing homes more transparent, but we remain concerned about PE\u2019s pervasive and expanding influence in other health care industries.\u201d\n\nThe Senators pointed to the challenges wheelchair users face, which are emblematic of the challenges related to PE involvement in the health care industry more broadly, \u201cCurrently, wheelchair users seeking to repair their equipment face significant barriers as a result of a wheelchair supply market that is largely controlled by two PE-owned companies \u2014 National Seating and Mobility (NSM) and Numotion \u2014 which fail to provide adequate support for timely repairs.\u201d\n\nThe Senators continued, \u201cPE companies are structurally motivated to focus time and money on selling wheelchairs at the expense of investing more resources in repairs and customer service. Companies make thousands of dollars in profit from the sale of modern wheelchairs: NSM\u2019s annual revenue as of June 2023, for example, was close to $700 million. However, these companies lose money on repairs, just as car manufacturers routinely lose money on repairs during the warranty period \u2014 it is an inherent part of the business.\u201d\n\n\u201cHHS can and must do more to help combat the misalignment of PE\u2019s short-term profit incentives with the well-being of our nation\u2019s most vulnerable populations,\u201d the Senators concluded.\n\nIn today\u2019s letter, the Senators requested additional information from HHS on its ability to address harms facing vulnerable populations as a result of PE\u2019s expanding influence, and what, if any, additional authorities the Department may need to further target PE ownership of health care entities. The full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\nOctober 22, 2024\n\nXavier Becerra\n\nSecretary\n\nU.S. Department of Health and Human Services\n\n200 Independence Avenue, S.W.\n\nWashington, D.C. 20201\n\nDear Secretary Becerra,\n\nWe are writing to you regarding alarming trends in the health care industry related to the growing influence of private equity (PE) and the directly-related decline in standards of care for particularly vulnerable populations. PE\u2019s involvement in health care markets has exacerbated problems related to surprise medical billing, inadequate staffing and training, and a lack of oversight and due process.[1] We appreciate the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) action to make PE ownership of nursing homes more transparent, but we remain concerned about PE\u2019s pervasive and expanding influence in other health care industries. Therefore, we urge HHS to continue taking aggressive action to protect patients from the detrimental effects of PE involvement in health care. Further, we request additional information on HHS\u2019s ability to address such harms and what, if any, additional authorities your Department needs to further target PE ownership of health care entities.\n\nWe are especially concerned by the problems wheelchair users face, which are emblematic of challenges related to PE involvement in the health care industry more broadly. Currently, wheelchair users seeking to repair their equipment face significant barriers as a result of a wheelchair supply market that is largely controlled by two PE-owned companies \u2014 National Seating and Mobility (NSM)[2] and Numotion[3]\u2014 which fail to provide adequate support for timely repairs.[4] Results from informal surveys presented to a wheelchair repair task force in Connecticut found that, of 73 manual and power wheelchair users surveyed between November 2022 and January 2023, 76 percent said it took an average of at least one month to repair or replace equipment after they contacted their vendor.[5] A 2016 survey of Massachusetts consumers by the Disability Law Center showed that 45% of respondents experienced delays in repairs; 40% could not get a status report; 55% were unable to leave their house during repairs, and 31% were unable to get to work during repairs.\n\nFor the nation\u2019s roughly 5.5 million wheelchair users, repairs that take weeks are the norm, leading many to be trapped at home and at risk for other detrimental effects.[6] For example, among people who have waited for wheelchair repairs, 42% experienced a negative consequence, such as being unable to get out of bed.[7] Repair delays have also led to injuries, hospitalizations, and death.[8] This is especially dire for individuals who rely on power wheelchairs to survive. These individuals, almost all of whom have severe disabilities and most of whom have low incomes, typically have little to no bargaining or market power relative to the two large PE companies which dominate the industry. And, absent government intervention, the level of consumer protection for them is at a very low minimum.\n\nFaced with extensive complaints regarding their poor performance in conducting timely repairs, the wheelchair industry points to delays caused by other entities. The companies often cite the process of obtaining insurance authorization, supply chain problems, and labor shortages. But recent data provided by the industry itself shows that, on average, 60-82% of the total delay days are due entirely to the industry\u2019s inability to conduct timely in-home assessments and in-home repairs after all prior authorization has been obtained and all parts have been received.[9] In addition, delays related to the supply chain are partly attributable to business decisions in recent years to minimize warehouse storage and keep fewer parts on hand, even when otherwise required by law.[10]\n\nThe wheelchair industry has also blamed delays on short-staffing and seems to believe the solution is to force individuals with broken wheelchairs to bring their wheelchairs and themselves to the companies\u2019 limited shop locations.[11] However, industry representatives have acknowledged that people with the necessary skills to work as wheelchair repair technicians exist in sufficient numbers in the labor market,[12] and, even in the best of circumstances, it is alarming to expect disabled individuals who are dependent on a wheelchair for mobility to transport themselves and their broken wheelchairs to a shop miles from home, particularly when shop staff is prohibited from assisting consumers in transferring out of their wheelchairs. This is why wheelchair suppliers in Connecticut and Massachusetts, before being acquired by PE, always prioritized in-home repair services.[13] Yet, the industry has continued to push this problematic policy instead of hiring sufficient repair staff \u2013 despite availability from within the existing labor market \u2013 to conduct timely in-home repairs, causing additional harm to a highly vulnerable set of health consumers.\n\nThese excuses do not address the underlying problem that many experts have identified: PE companies are structurally motivated to focus time and money on selling wheelchairs at the expense of investing more resources in repairs and customer service.[14] Companies make thousands of dollars in profit from the sale of modern wheelchairs: NSM\u2019s annual revenue as of June 2023, for example, was close to $700 million.[15] However, these companies lose money on repairs, just as car manufacturers routinely lose money on repairs during the warranty period \u2013 it is an inherent part of the business.\n\nThe problems facing the wheelchair industry, with just two large PE-owned companies dominating the market as they gobble up smaller companies throughout the states, are illustrative of the powerful negative impact of PE in the health care industry overall. In a letter that we wrote to the CEO of U.S. Anesthesia Partners (USAP), we highlighted the excessive power wielded by USAP and its multibillion-dollar PE parent company, Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe, in the anesthesia industry. USAP\u2019s aggressive \u201croll-up\u201d strategy is emblematic of the broader trend of PE firms using anticompetitive practices to build up monopoly power in the health care sector, which has led to a decline in quality of care and higher costs for patients.[16] Other academic research suggests that ownership of nursing facilities by private equity companies and other types of investment firms is often associated with worse resident outcomes and increased mortality rates, prompting concerns about the quality of care offered by PE-owned facilities and other types of investment firms more broadly.[17]\n\nThe harms of PE involvement in health care are well documented. We appreciate HHS\u2019s critical oversight of the health care sector in light of recent concerns related to the expansion of PE investment. In particular, we commend HHS\u2019s final rule requiring nursing homes enrolled in Medicare or Medicaid to disclose additional information regarding their owners, operators, and management, as well as the entities that exercise financial control over the facilities.[18] Rules that increase ownership transparency in health care are critical to understanding just how expansive PE networks are in the industry, especially in light of growing concerns related to health care accessibility for particularly vulnerable populations.\n\nAdditionally, we commend the Administration for initiating a cross-government inquiry on the impact of corporate greed in health care.[19] The information gathered by the Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Justice, and HHS will be critical to the oversight of these conglomerates and the work needed to scale back their harmful impact on patients. We are also appreciative of the recently-released joint HHS-OIG General Compliance Program Guidance for Healthcare Industry, which is consistent with HHS\u2019s trend toward greater scrutiny of private equity investment in health care.[20] However, as part of a voluntary, nonbinding compliance program, we are concerned that it will incentivize little, if any, change on the part of PE firms.\n\nHHS can and must do more to help combat the misalignment of PE\u2019s short-term profit incentives with the well-being of our nation\u2019s most vulnerable populations. To understand the ways in which HHS is investigating long-standing problems associated with PE\u2019s involvement across our entire health care system, including with respect to wheelchair manufacturing and repairs, we ask that you provide answers to the following questions no later than November 8, 2024:\n\nPlease describe additional action HHS plans to take to:\n\nAddress the concerns of wheelchair users \u2013 in consultation with wheelchair user advocates who are experiencing harmful and degrading standards of care from NSM and Numotion because of long delays in obtaining needed repairs \u2013 by setting and enforcing, for all Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP enrollees, maximum numbers of days a patient must wait before the manufacturer or repair company:\n\ni. conducts a requested in-home assessment;\n\nii. provides a loaner wheelchair during repairs, when beneficial to consumers[21]; and\n\niii. performs in-home repairs after any necessary prior authorizations have been obtained and any ordered parts have been received.\n\nProactively investigate the quality of service provided to wheelchair users by NSM and Numotion and compare against non-PE-owned suppliers.\n\nRequire disclosure of the ownership arrangements of all PE-owned health care providers and suppliers participating in federal programs such as Medicare and Medicaid and ensure that patients are made aware when PE firms acquire their health care provider or supplier.[22]\n\nIncrease scrutiny of health outcomes in PE-owned firms across the entire health care sector.\n\nHow does HHS understand the relationship between (a) the lack of timely repairs by the two PE-controlled suppliers and (b) the increasing rates at which wheelchair parts are breaking?[23]\n\nPlease describe HHS\u2019s plans to examine the impact of the industry\u2019s choice of having limited repair resources on the speed and cost of wheelchair repairs.\n\nPlease describe HHS\u2019s plans to examine the relationship, if any, between lack of timely repairs and the high reported rate of wheelchair parts breaking.\n\nHow has HHS collaborated with the Department of Justice to integrate antitrust concerns into HHS OIG\u2019s investigation of our health care sector since the announcement of the agencies\u2019 partnership to protect health care markets in December 2022?[24]\n\nWhat collaborations have there been with the Federal Trade Commission to investigate anti-competitive actions by PE-owned health care firms and their owners?\n\nWhat, if any, additional agency collaborations is HHS pursuing to further mitigate the negative impacts of PE ownership in the health care industry?\n\nDoes HHS need additional authorities to address harmful PE involvement in health care? If so, please describe what authorities are necessary.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-colleagues-release-report-on-vote-counting-process-for-november-election", "Murphy, Colleagues Release Report On Vote Counting Process For November Election", "2024-10-22", "2024", "2024-10", "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 Tuesday joined U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), and Tammy Duckworth (D-Il.) in releasing a report summarizing what to expect on Election Day and encouraging voters to cast their ballot.\n\nWith the general election well underway in every state across the country, Senate Democrats have a clear message for the American people, which is to vote and cast their ballot as early as possible. As significant numbers of Americans choose to vote by mail, the report explains why it\u2019s still possible that, in some states, the outcome might not be known on November 5th, in part because states differ in whether they allow mail-in ballots to be processed ahead of Election Day and whether ballots must be received by Election Day or postmarked by Election Day. The report also makes clear that voter intimidation is illegal and federal law prohibits coercing or threatening anyone in order to interfere with their right to vote.\n\nA copy of the report can be found HERE.\n\n\u201cAs Donald Trump bets on chaos, division, and lies to fuel his campaign and get back into the White House, it\u2019s on us to see through his fearmongering and stand up for our democracy. So vote early, vote by mail, vote in person\u2014but vote. The future of our country depends on us rejecting fear and misinformation and making our voices heard,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n\u201cThe right to vote is fundamental to our democracy, and we must do everything we can to protect it and uphold the integrity of the election process. That means pushing back on efforts to sow chaos during election season. As this report explains, it also means making sure that Americans know that it is possible that the outcome in some states will not be known on November 5th. While some states have expedited their counting requirements since 2020, we should be prepared to be patient about results in places where counting ballots may take longer. Americans should keep making their voices heard at the ballot box,\u201d said Klobuchar.\n\n\u201cJust like 2020, Donald Trump and his allies continue to refuse to commit to accepting the results of the election if he loses while pushing dangerous and divisive rhetoric to sow discord and undermine confidence in our election process. Americans losing faith in the results of our elections doesn\u2019t just risk another January 6th but puts our very democracy at risk,\u201d said Schumer. \u201cSenate Democrats remain committed to ensuring all Americans can vote without fear or intimidation.\u201d\n\n\u201cFormer President Trump's dangerous rhetoric threatens to further divide our country and sow real potential for violence like we saw up close on January 6, 2021. Our elections are the foundation of American democracy. Protecting them should be the top priority for everyone who cares about the future of our country. Election officials, courts, and elected leaders must be accountable for upholding that principle,\u201d said Heinrich.\n\n\u201cThere is no greater responsibility, or honor, as an American than exercising your right to vote. Our free, fair voting systems and our peaceful transitions of powers are two of the hallmarks that have separated America from authoritarianism for centuries now\u2014and that will carry on far beyond this November, despite Donald Trump's desperate, sad attempts to sow seeds of chaos and distrust in our electoral processes. The most powerful defense against creeping autocracy in America is to make our voices heard at the ballot box\u2014because carrying out our most sacred duty as citizens is the best way we can ensure remain a government of, by and for the people,\u201d said Duckworth.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-connecticut-congressional-delegation-and-governor-lamont-announce-125-million-for-i-91-i-691-route-15-interchange-reconfiguration", "Murphy, Connecticut Congressional Delegation and Governor Lamont Announce $125 Million For I-91, I-691, Route 15 Interchange Reconfiguration", "2024-10-21", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "HARTFORD\u2014U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and U.S. Representatives John Larson (D-Conn.-01), Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.-03), and Jahana Hayes (D-Conn-05) joined Governor Ned Lamont and Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto to announce $125 million in federal funding from the Biden-Harris Administration\u2019s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support Phase 3 of the construction project reconfiguring the highway interchange that connects Interstate 91, Interstate 691, and Route 15 in Meriden.\n\nThis interchange is one of the most congested, outdated, and crash prone highway corridors in Connecticut, and the state leaders have been unified in working to secure federal funding that will enable the state to complete a major reconfiguration of this area.\n\nCTDOT is currently constructing the second of the project\u2019s three phases. The project\u2019s overall goal is to reduce congestion and improve safety by eliminating dangerous weaving points, correcting roadway geometry, and adding multi-lane exits. Upon completion of Phase 3 in 2030, the project will see the replacement and rehabilitation of several bridges and the addition and extension of auxiliary lanes to reduce crashes and improve traffic flow.\n\n\u201cGetting through the congestion on I-91, I-691, and Route 15 has become a daily headache for Connecticut drivers. This $125 million in federal dollars from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help realign ramps, replace aging bridges, improve drainage, and support other long-needed infrastructure upgrades that streamline the flow of traffic, create good-paying jobs, and ensure a safer, smoother commute for thousands of people,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n\u201cI am proud that a historic $125 million in federal funding will support the reconfiguration of one of Connecticut\u2019s most congested interchanges. This redesign will provide relief to the countless motorists who pass through every day and provide much-needed infrastructure upgrades. I will continue fighting to deliver federal investments to Connecticut that make our roads and highways more safe and secure,\u201d said Blumenthal.\n\n\u201cThis is another victory for Connecticut. When my fellow Congressional members and I worked on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, we understood the law\u2019s potential to benefit communities throughout the state. With funding now in place for Phase 3 of the reconfiguration of Interstate 91, Interstate 691, and Route 15, we are generating well-paying jobs, fixing bridges, expanding traffic lanes on I-91, making our roads safer, and enhancing road conditions,\u201d said DeLauro.\n\n\u201cReconfiguring the I-91, I-691, Route 15 interchange will reduce traffic and increase safety for drivers. I am delighted to see another federal investment awarded to move this project forward. Investing in modernizing infrastructure benefits communities, and I will continue to work with my Congressional colleagues to prioritize more projects that deliver for Connecticut,\u201d said Hayes.\n\n\u201cConnecticut has some of the most congested and dangerous highways and interchanges in America. I worked with the entire Connecticut Congressional delegation to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law so we can cut down on traffic congestion, repair aging roads and bridges, and support good-paying union jobs. I applaud Governor Lamont and Commissioner Eucalitto for their ongoing commitment to improving our infrastructure and revitalizing our communities, and I look forward to continuing to work with them to support projects across the state, including the Greater Hartford area, that accomplish those goals,\u201d said Larson.\n\n\u201cThis area of highway is one of the most heavily congested in Connecticut and our administration has made its reconfiguration a priority because it\u2019s about time that we do something about the backups, crashes, and delays that this oddly designed section of roadway causes nearly every day. This is a major reconfiguration of a very heavily traveled area and it\u2019s going to take some time to complete, but ultimately central Connecticut will benefit from finally easing the congestion on these highways. We\u2019re able to execute this project thanks to the funding released by President Biden\u2019s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and I applaud Connecticut\u2019s outstanding Congressional delegation for not only helping to get this law passed but also working to ensure that our state benefits from it in a major way. I thank the Biden-Harris administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation for working with our administration to secure the funding for this important project,\u201d said Lamont.\n\n\u201cImproving safety is our number one priority at CTDOT and it is the number one goal of this project. Without federal support from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, projects like this can sit idle for decades while Connecticut pays the price. We are thankful to Governor Lamont and the state legislature for ensuring we had matching funds to secure this grant, appreciative of our Congressional delegation for its steadfast advocacy, and grateful to our partners at USDOT who allow us to dream big once again,\u201d said Eucalitto.\n\nThe cost of the project\u2019s first phase totaled $80 million and was entirely funded by the state. The second phase is supported by a combination of $50 million in state funding and $200 million federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The third phase will be supported by the $125 million federal grant announced today, as well as additional state funding. Combined, the expenditure for all three phases is anticipated to be more than $500 million.\n\nThis project includes a project labor agreement with the building trades, providing good-paying jobs and workforce development training for the next generation of workers.\n\nThe first phase began in early 2023 and is aimed at repairing bridges, adding a lane of traffic to I-91, and making related road improvements. This includes:\n\nRealigning and reconfiguring the ramp from I-691 eastbound to I-91 northbound (Exit 1A old Exit 11) to two lanes to meet traffic demand.\n\nBridge replacement due to the proposed ramp realignment.\n\nAdding an auxiliary lane on I-91 northbound to relieve congestion and improve safety caused by a steep uphill grade.\n\nThis second phase began in June and includes:\n\nAdding a new two-lane exit ramp from Route 15 northbound to I-91 northbound to reduce traffic congestion on the Exit 68 N-E ramp.\n\nClosing the existing Exit 17 ramp from I-91 northbound to Route 15 northbound and re-routing traffic to Exit 16 to provide a two-lane exit ramp with a right-side traffic merge onto Route 15 northbound.\n\nReconfiguring the existing Exit 68W ramp from Route 15 northbound to I-691 westbound to two lanes.\n\nReconfiguring the acceleration and deceleration lanes to provide adequate traffic weaving distances to improve safety.\n\nThe third phase will include:\n\nA new two-lane exit ramp from Route 15 southbound to I-91 southbound to reduce traffic congestion on the existing Exit 67 ramp.\n\nA new two-lane I-91 southbound ramp to Route 15 southbound to reduce traffic congestion on the existing Exit 17 ramp.\n\nReconfiguring the ramp from I-691 eastbound to Route 15 southbound (Exit 10) to two lanes.\n\nReconfiguring the ramp from I-91 southbound to I-691 westbound (Exit 18) to two lanes.\n\nLearn more about the project, get the latest updates, and subscribe to construction alerts by visiting the project\u2019s website HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-shaheen-van-hollen-kaine-issue-statement-expressing-concern-about-escalation-of-violence-in-lebanon", "Murphy, Shaheen, Van Hollen, Kaine Issue Statement Expressing Concern About Escalation Of Violence In Lebanon", "2024-10-21", "2024", "2024-10", "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 Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia and Counterterrorism, and U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.), released the following joint statement regarding the deteriorating situation in Lebanon:\n\n\u201cOver the past few weeks, there has been a concerning escalation of violence in Lebanon, which has resulted in the deaths of hundreds, the displacement of over one million civilians and unacceptable attacks on United Nations peacekeepers.\n\n\u201cThere is no question that Israel has a right to defend itself from terrorism on its northern border and that Hezbollah is a terrorist organization whose actions have led to Lebanese, American and Israeli deaths. By preventing the formation of a functioning government, Hezbollah has exacerbated an economic crisis and perpetuated the suffering of everyday Lebanese citizens. We also assert firmly that Iran must be stopped from supplying Hezbollah with resources and weapons, which is essential to securing peace on the border and ensuring that Israelis in the north can return safely to their homes.\n\n\u201cAt the same time, the Israel Defense Forces have an obligation to conduct their operations in a way that limits civilian harm and does not impede humanitarian access. We also strongly condemn the attacks against United Nations peacekeepers who operate in Lebanon under UN Security Council resolutions 1701 and 2749. Peacekeepers must be allowed to fulfill their mission of ensuring peace along the Blue Line.\n\n\u201cWe must work towards de-escalation and implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 in Lebanon while also urging all parties involved to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and hostage release deal. We must do all we can to prevent further civilian casualties, dangerous destabilization and expansion of this conflict into a full-out war.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-young-urge-president-biden-to-protect-undersea-cables-from-china-russia", "Murphy, Young Urge President Biden To Protect Undersea Cables From China, Russia", "2024-10-21", "2024", "2024-10", "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 Todd Young (R-Ind.), members of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Monday led 6 of their Senate colleagues in sending a bipartisan letter to President Biden expressing concerns about the security of the global network of undersea communications and energy cables upon which American workers and businesses rely.\n\nMore than 95% of international internet traffic travels via these undersea cables, resulting in trillions of dollars in financial transactions each day. The locations of these cables are often openly published to prevent accidental damage.\n\nAs American companies look to expand and invest in this critical infrastructure, it is imperative that the United States has a complete understanding of existing vulnerabilities, especially those that impact our economic and national security.\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s adversaries have been developing their capabilities to attack or disrupt critical undersea infrastructure. There is a long tradition, dating back well over a century, of belligerents attacking their opponents\u2019 underwater communications lines in the first phase of a conflict,\u201d the senators wrote. \u201cGiven these threats and challenges, it is imperative that the United States undertake a review of existing vulnerabilities to global undersea cable infrastructure, including the threat of sabotage by Russia as well as the growing role of the People\u2019s Republic of China in cable laying and repair. If we are truly to deepen vital commercial and security relationships with willing partners and allies, this must be a national priority.\u201d\n\nU.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) also signed the letter.\n\nFull text of the letter is available HERE and below:\n\nDear Mr. President:\n\nWe write to you to express our concern about the security of global undersea communications and energy cables, especially those that impact America\u2019s economic and national security and that of our allies and partners. As you are well aware, more than 95% of international internet traffic travels via undersea cables, including trillions of dollars in financial transactions each day. Moreover, the exact locations of most of these cables are openly published in order to reduce the likelihood of accidental damage from ships\u2019 anchors or fishing activities. Internet and telecommunications providers, including American firms, intend to invest billions of dollars in expanding the global network of undersea communications cables. Additionally, energy transmission cables are proliferating as governments look to new sources of electricity generation.\n\nAmerica\u2019s adversaries have been developing their capabilities to attack or disrupt critical undersea infrastructure. There is a long tradition, dating back well over a century, of belligerents attacking their opponents\u2019 underwater communications lines in the first phase of a conflict. For example, in both World Wars, Britain\u2019s first naval actions were to cut the telegraph cables connecting Germany to the Americas, and in 1918 a German U-boat severed lines connecting New York to both Nova Scotia and Panama. In addition to this kind of overt, kinetic attack, the nature of undersea infrastructure increases the feasibility of gray zone actions with plausible deniability. It is difficult to distinguish between an accident and a deliberate action on the seabed, and more difficult still to confirm who conducted such an action. On top of this, because this infrastructure is privately owned by commercial enterprises, repairs are the responsibility of these private companies, which are likely not prepared to maintain them under wartime conditions and are likely to seek the most cost-effective repair and maintenance options\u2014even if that option is owned or operated by a foreign adversary or strategic competitor.\n\nGiven these threats and challenges, it is imperative that the United States undertake a review of existing vulnerabilities to global undersea cable infrastructure, including the threat of sabotage by Russia as well as the growing role of the People\u2019s Republic of China in cable laying and repair. If we are truly to deepen vital commercial and security relationships with willing partners and allies, this must be a national priority. We respectfully request that you provide responses to the following questions and direct senior administration officials to brief Members of Congress, including members of relevant committees of jurisdiction, on your plans and the resources and authorities needed to carry them out.\n\nWhat is your Administration\u2019s overall strategy to guarantee the security of America\u2019s undersea infrastructure and to promote the security of that of our allies and partners?\n\nThe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 established the Cable Security Fleet (CSF). If authorized and sufficiently funded, what would be your assessment of the ideal size of the U.S.-flagged and -operated cable laying and repair vessel fleet to ensure sufficient cable repair capacity during a conflict or national emergency? How can the United States work with trusted allies and partners for additional capacity to support the expansion and repair of trusted undersea cable networks?\n\nWhat is the Administration\u2019s strategy to encourage other nations to choose trusted suppliers in their selection of undersea cable manufacturers, particularly in any nation of concern or which may be vulnerable to coercion or covert action by America\u2019s adversaries?\n\nHow is the Administration working with the private sector to ensure that commercial enterprises\u2019 investments in undersea cables align with U.S. national security priorities?\n\nHow do you intend to protect the physical security of undersea cables in the open ocean, including through any interpretation of customary international law?\n\nHow is the Administration working multilaterally to collectively enhance security and monitor potential threats to undersea infrastructure, including through NATO, the Quad, and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity?\n\nThank you for your prompt attention to this request. As Congress works to continue its oversight of national security, it is vital that we understand the current state of the information backbone of our economy and efforts to protect it.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/senate-permanent-subcommittee-on-investigations-releases-majority-staff-report-exposing-medicare-advantage-insurers-refusal-of-care-for-vulnerable-seniors", "Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations Releases Majority Staff Report Exposing Medicare Advantage Insurers' Refusal of Care for Vulnerable Seniors", "2024-10-17", "2024", "2024-10", "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), Chair of the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), released a Majority staff report today detailing the Subcommittee\u2019s findings thus far in its investigation into the barriers facing seniors enrolled in Medicare Advantage in accessing care. PSI\u2019s Majority staff report reveals how the nation\u2019s three largest Medicare Advantage insurers\u2014UnitedHealthcare, Humana, and CVS\u2014use prior authorization to target stays in skilled nursing facilities, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, and long-term acute care hospitals in order to boost their profits.\n\n\u201cInsurance companies say that prior authorization is meant to prevent unnecessary medical services. But the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations has obtained new data and internal documents from the largest Medicare Advantage insurers that discredit these contentions,\u201d said Blumenthal. \u201cIn fact, despite alarm and criticism in recent years about abuses and excesses, insurers have continued to deny care to vulnerable seniors\u2014simply to make more money. Our Subcommittee even found evidence of insurers expanding this practice in recent years.\u201d\n\nOn May 17, 2023, PSI launched its investigation by seeking documents and information from three insurers who together cover nearly 60 percent of all Medicare Advantage enrollees. Today\u2019s report presents new findings based on the more than 280,000 pages of documents obtained from these three companies to date.\n\nThrough its inquiry, PSI found that between 2019 and 2022, UnitedHealthcare, Humana, and CVS each denied prior authorization requests for post-acute care at far higher rates than they did for other types of care, resulting in diminished access to post-acute care for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries. A summary of PSI\u2019s key findings is below.\n\nUnitedHealthcare\u2019s Prior Authorization Denial Rate for Post-Acute Care Surged as the Insurer Increasingly Implemented Automated Prior Authorization Processes\n\nAccording to documents obtained from PSI\u2019s investigation, UnitedHealthcare\u2019s prior authorization denial rate surged from 10.9 percent in 2020, to 16.3 percent in 2021, to 22.7 percent in 2022. During this time, multiple initiatives were implemented to automate the process.\n\nThe company continues to implement initiatives to automate the process. In December of 2022, a UnitedHealthcare working group met to explore how to use AI and \u201cmachine learning\u201d to predict which denials of post-acute care cases were likely to be appealed.\n\nCVS Saw a Consistent Correlation Between Increasing Prior Authorization Requirements and Expanding Savings\n\nCVS\u2019s prior authorization denial rate for post-acute care remained relatively stable during the period reviewed. However, the number of post-acute care service requests CVS subjected to prior authorization increased by 57.5 percent, far higher than the company\u2019s roughly 40 percent growth in enrollment during that period.\n\nFacing pressure to cut costs in the Medicare Advantage division, in April 2021, CVS deployed \u201cPost-Acute Analytics,\u201d which used artificial intelligence to reduce the amount of money spent on skilled nursing facilities. A presentation for a March 2022 meeting devoted to prior authorization automation indicated that the insurer had \u201cdeprioritized\u201d a plan to reduce the volume of prior authorization because the loss of savings was \u201ctoo large to move forward.\u201d\n\nHumana\u2019s Denial Rate for Long-Term Acute Care Hospitals, The Most Expensive Type of Post-Acute Care, Grew By 54 Percent Between 2020 And 2022\n\nDocuments obtained by the Subcommittee show that following Humana\u2019s relaxing of some prior authorization requirements during the pandemic, two presentations by a senior medical director were given at the company about how requests for long-term acute care hospitals should be evaluated. These presentations, from November and December 2021, included strategies for explaining denials to providers.\n\nEvidence obtained by the Subcommittee to date does not indicate the extent to which Humana may be using automation or predictive technologies to deny prior authorization requests. However, the company has contracted with naviHealth since 2017, and Humana policies suggest contractors may have had greater latitude about predictive technologies.\n\nThe Subcommittee continues to investigate the use of predictive technologies by Medicare Advantage insurers. The full Majority staff report detailing PSI\u2019s findings thus far is available here.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-statement-on-death-of-yahya-sinwar", "Murphy Statement On Death Of Yahya Sinwar", "2024-10-17", "2024", "2024-10", "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 Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia and Counterterrorism, on Thursday released the following statement on the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.\n\n\u201cYahya Sinwar was a brutal U.S.-designated terrorist and the mastermind of the October 7th terror attacks. His death provides an important measure of justice for the 1,200 innocent Israelis murdered that day, their families, and the more than 100 hostages still being held in Gaza. With Sinwar\u2019s death, Hamas\u2019s military command structure has been decimated and the group no longer has the capability to stage another attack like October 7th. It is time to redouble efforts to secure an agreement to end this war and bring home all of the hostages.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/boars-head-linked-listeria-outbreak-blumenthal-announces-federal-investigation-into-usda-response", "Boar's Head-Linked Listeria Outbreak: Blumenthal Announces Federal Investigation into USDA Response", "2024-10-15", "2024", "2024-10", "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 below statement today on U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Inspector General (IG) Phyllis Fong opening an investigation into the agency\u2019s handling of repeated sanitary violations found at the Virginia Boar\u2019s Head plant linked to a deadly nationwide Listeria outbreak.\n\n\u201cI welcome the Inspector General heeding my call for investigation of USDA\u2019s abject failure to protect consumers against fatally contaminated Boar\u2019s Head products,\u201d said Blumenthal. \u201cUSDA took virtually no action\u2014allowing Boar\u2019s Head to continue business as usual at its chronically unsanitary Virginia plant\u2014despite finding repeated serious violations. The Virginia plant should have been shut down years ago before people got sick or died from Listeria. The IG investigation is a vital first step to assure accountability and prevent such deadly mistakes from happening again.\u201d\n\n\"When we discovered the failures within the Food and Drug Administration's response to credible reports of contaiminated infant formula leading to the 2022 crisis, I swiftly requested an OIG investigation to understand where the FDA fell short,\" said Congresswoman DeLauro. \"Thanks to that investigation, we have a much clearer account of FDA's missteps. This will help us prevent similar issues in the future. In the same vein, I applaud USDA OIG Fong for opening an investigation to understand how the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) failed to act on repeated reports of 'noncompliance' with federal rules and poor facility conditions at Boar's Head, ultimately leading to a recall of Listeria-contaminated products in which ten lives were lost. To prevent future food safety crises, we must get to the bottom of what went wrong.\"\n\nOn September 5, 2024, Blumenthal wrote to IG Fong urging an investigation into USDA\u2019s handling of previous safety violations at the Boar\u2019s Head plant in Jarratt, Virginia, following reports that the plant was permitted to continue operating even after government inspectors found dozens of instances of \u201cnoncompliance\u201d with federal food safety rules and reported disturbing conditions at the plant.\n\nThe IG investigation announced today will determine if proper corrective and enforcement actions for reported noncompliances at the Boar\u2019s Head plant were implemented; and if the agency has an effective process to identify, elevate, and address recurring noncompliances reported at State-inspected establishments to reduce the risk of adulterated products from entering the food supply.\n\nOn September 26, 2024, Blumenthal and U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) wrote to USDA Secretary Thomas Vilsack and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Attorney General (AG) Merrick Garland calling on USDA to work closely with DOJ to determine whether to bring criminal charges against Boar\u2019s Head for their responsibility in the outbreak. Blumenthal and DeLauro also urged USDA to strengthen its Listeria prevention protocols and investigate other Boar\u2019s Head locations for safety violations.\n\nBlumenthal\u2019s letter to IG Fong is available here. Blumenthal and DeLauro\u2019s to Secretary Vilsack and AG Garland is available here.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-statement-on-deteriorating-humanitarian-situation-in-gaza", "Murphy Statement On Deteriorating Humanitarian Situation In Gaza", "2024-10-15", "2024", "2024-10", "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 Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia and Counterterrorism, on Tuesday released a statement following reports that no food aid has entered northern Gaza in more than two weeks, putting one million displaced Palestinians at risk of starvation. On Sunday, the Biden Administration sent a letter to senior Israeli officials warning that if conditions in Gaza do not improve within 30 days, the U.S. may consider restricting military assistance to Israel.\n\n\u201cI am deeply disturbed by the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and it is vital for Israel to take immediate steps to improve these nightmarish conditions. Despite some improvements by Israeli authorities earlier this year, the amount of humanitarian aid reaching desperate Palestinians has fallen to new lows at a time when needs are higher than ever. After more than a year of conflict, the actions required to surge humanitarian aid into Gaza are both known and achievable \u2013 as demonstrated by the recent successful campaign to vaccinate more than half a million Palestinian children against polio. The way Israel conducts this war matters, and the Israeli government has to do more to guarantee the safety of humanitarian aid workers and ensure sufficient aid is reaching Palestinians across all parts of Gaza. Israel, along with every other recipient of U.S. military aid, is required to abide by international humanitarian law for that assistance to continue. The Biden-Harris Administration took the right step this week by laying out clear changes that Israel must make in the next 30 days to stay in compliance with U.S. law.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-and-blackburn-demand-tiktok-documents", "Blumenthal & Blackburn Demand TikTok Documents", "2024-10-11", "2024", "2024-10", "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. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), authors of the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act, wrote TikTok CEO Shou Chew requesting \u201cdocuments, communications, and research held by TikTok regarding the safety of minors on its platform.\u201d The request follows reports of a court filing from the Kentucky Attorney General\u2019s Office revealing TikTok executives\u2019 awareness of the platform\u2019s harm to young people and subsequent disregard of the mental and physical dangers the platform poses to children and teens.\n\nThe Senators wrote, \u201cTikTok has knowingly designed their products in a manner that can cause substantial harm to kids\u2014including fostering destructive addiction and amplifying child sexual exploitation. Rather than address these risks, TikTok instead seemingly misled the public about the safety of its platform.\u201d\n\nThe Senators continued, \u201cThese new disclosures highlight the pervasive and alarming failures of TikTok and other online platforms to protect kids and the pressing need for federal rules to require accountability, safeguards, and transparency, such as those required in the Senate-passed Kids Online Safety Act.\u201d\n\nIn today\u2019s letters, the Senators requested that TikTok provide documents and information previously produced to the Kentucky Attorney General\u2019s Office and other states Attorneys General.\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\nOctober 11, 2024\n\nMr. Shou Zi Chew\n\nChief Executive Officer\n\nTikTok Inc.\n\n5800 Bristol Parkway\n\nCulver City, California 90230\n\nDear Mr. Chew:\n\nWe write in response to shocking revelations of TikTok\u2019s awareness of, and indifference to, its platform\u2019s substantial harm to children and teens, and to demand documents, communications, and research held by TikTok regarding the safety of minors on its platform. According to information contained in a court filing from the Kentucky Attorney General\u2019s Office, TikTok has knowingly designed their products in a manner that can cause substantial harm to kids \u2013 including fostering destructive addiction and amplifying child sexual exploitation.[1] Rather than address these risks, TikTok instead seemingly misled the public about the safety of its platform.[2]\n\nAmong the appalling revelations apparently reflected in documents TikTok produced to the Kentucky AG: TikTok users can exhibit signs of addiction after just 35 minutes of use and that addiction can lead to significant mental health impacts; its moderation efforts fail to catch a substantial amount of child sexual exploitation material and the promotion of pedophilia, and that it instructed its staff to turn a blind eye to underage users.[3] Moreover, according to the disclosures, TikTok held out announcements of new safety tools that its own executives knew were ineffective because they were \u201cuseful in a good talking point\u201d against concerns from the public and policymakers.[4]\n\nThese new disclosures highlight the pervasive and alarming failures of TikTok and other online platforms to protect kids and the pressing need for federal rules to require accountability, safeguards, and transparency, such as those required in the Senate-passed Kids Online Safety Act. In light of these outrageous disclosures, we request all documents and information that TikTok has previously produced to the Kentucky Attorney General\u2019s Office and other states Attorneys General no later than October 25, 2024.\n\nWe look forward to your prompt response.\n\nSincerely,\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-highlights-stamfords-kibu-as-innovator-of-the-month", "Murphy Highlights Stamford's Kibu As \"Innovator Of The Month\"", "2024-10-11", "2024", "2024-10", "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 on Tuesday that Kibu, a disability provider platform based in Stamford, was named \u201cInnovator of the Month.\u201d Kibu provides high-impact online content to support and empower people with disabilities, including classes in fitness, life skills, community engagement and professional development. The company also connects disability providers with tools for data management, note taking, and attendance.\n\n\u201cOur communities are strongest when every person has the resources to achieve their full potential. Kibu\u2019s online platform is transforming lives by breaking down barriers for people with disabilities, helping people become more independent, and giving service providers the tools they need to make a real impact. I\u2019m proud to recognize Kibu\u2019s important contributions to fostering a more inclusive future for our state, and I look forward to seeing all that they accomplish,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n\u201cKibu is built on the belief that innovation starts with understanding the unique challenges that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities face every day. By providing tools that empower both individuals and organizations, we\u2019re helping to create a future where technology closes gaps, rather than creating them. It\u2019s exciting to be innovating right here in Connecticut, where the community and ecosystem truly support the growth of businesses that make an impact,\u201d said Daniel Caridi, CEO of Kibu.\n\nDaniel Caridi began volunteering for this community shortly after graduating college in 2019, formally launching the Kibu platform in 2022. Today, Kibu works with disability providers across 26 states.\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", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-murphy-courtney-himes-and-hayes-announce-over-16-million-for-lead-free-homes", "Blumenthal, Murphy, Courtney, Himes, & Hayes Announce Over $16 Million for Lead-Free Homes", "2024-10-09", "2024", "2024-10", "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 Joe Courtney (CT-02), Jim Himes (CT-04), and Jahana Hayes (CT-05) announced over $16 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to protect children under the age of six years old from lead poisoning. The funds are awarded through HUD\u2019s Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Grant Program.\n\n\u201cOver $16 million will protect families across Connecticut from exposure to the pernicious poison that is lead in their homes. Lead poisoning causes detrimental and irreversible damage, especially to children. Currently, more than 1,000 Connecticut children are affected by lead each year and I am proud that federal funding will work to address this dire crisis,\u201d said Blumenthal.\n\n\u201cInvesting in lead paint removal will protect our communities from the lifelong, devastating effects of lead poisoning. This $16 million in funding will help mitigate lead-based paint hazards in older homes, maintain affordable housing, and provide resources to ensure families in Bridgeport, Norwich, and Waterbury can address other health and safety concerns. There is no safe level of lead exposure, and I will keep fighting to ensure everyone in our state has a safe and healthy place to call home,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n\u201cMy office and I were pleased to lead the federal effort to advocate on the City of Norwich\u2019s behalf and bring the federal funding home to ensure less children are exposed to the serious dangers of lead paint. The federal funding award is a clear testament to the outstanding work executed by the City, Wayne Sharkey, and his team, and the hours and hours they spent on this application to continue their live-saving work,\u201d said Courtney.\n\n\u201cMany New England homes and apartments were constructed well before we knew how dangerous lead paint exposure can be, especially for young children. The over $6 million in federal funding Bridgeport will receive will allow the city to expand its remediation efforts and help ensure children are no longer exposed to lead paint\u2019s harmful effects. When coupled with the Governor\u2019s Lead Free CT Campaign, this investment brings us closer to eliminating lead contaminants in Connecticut once and for all,\u201d said Himes.\n\nThe federal funding announced today will address lead-based paint hazards in the following municipalities:\n\nThe City of Waterbury will receive $7,000,000.\n\nThe City of Bridgeport will receive $6,006,105.\n\nThe City of Norwich will receive $3,157,991.\n\nThe Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Grant Program helps transform communities by fixing older housing, preserving affordable housing, and improving communities and the health of children and families in these communities. In addition to addressing lead-based paint hazards, HUD also offers healthy homes supplemental funding to address other housing related health and safety issues while addressing the lead-based paint.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-blumenthal-courtney-himes-hayes-announce-over-16-million-for-lead-free-homes", "Murphy, Blumenthal, Courtney, Himes, Hayes Announce Over $16 Million For Lead-Free Homes", "2024-10-09", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "HARTFORD\u2014U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and U.S. Representatives Joe Courtney (D-Conn.-02), Jim Himes (D-Conn.-04), and Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.-05) on Wednesday announced over $16 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to protect children under the age of six years old from lead poisoning. The funds are awarded through HUD\u2019s Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Grant Program.\n\n\u201cInvesting in lead paint removal will protect our communities from the lifelong, devastating effects of lead poisoning. This $16 million in funding will help mitigate lead-based paint hazards in older homes, maintain affordable housing, and provide resources to ensure families in Bridgeport, Norwich, and Waterbury can address other health and safety concerns. There is no safe level of lead exposure, and I will keep fighting to ensure everyone in our state has a safe and healthy place to call home,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n\u201cOver $16 million will protect families across Connecticut from exposure to the pernicious poison that is lead in their homes. Lead poisoning causes detrimental and irreversible damage, especially to children. Currently, more than 1,000 Connecticut children are affected by lead each year and I am proud that federal funding will work to address this dire crisis,\u201d said Blumenthal.\n\n\u201cMy office and I were pleased to lead the federal effort to advocate on the City of Norwich\u2019s behalf and bring the federal funding home to ensure less children are exposed to the serious dangers of lead paint. The federal funding award is a clear testament to the outstanding work executed by the City, Wayne Sharkey, and his team, and the hours and hours they spent on this application to continue their live-saving work,\u201d said Courtney.\n\n\u201cMany New England homes and apartments were constructed well before we knew how dangerous lead paint exposure can be, especially for young children. The over $6 million in federal funding Bridgeport will receive will allow the city to expand its remediation efforts and help ensure children are no longer exposed to lead paint\u2019s harmful effects. When coupled with the Governor\u2019s Lead Free CT Campaign, this investment brings us closer to eliminating lead contaminants in Connecticut once and for all,\u201d said Himes.\n\nThe federal funding announced today will address lead-based paint hazards in the following municipalities:\n\nThe City of Waterbury will receive $7,000,000.\n\nThe City of Bridgeport will receive $6,006,105.\n\nThe City of Norwich will receive $3,157,991.\n\nThe Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Grant Program helps transform communities by fixing older housing, preserving affordable housing, and improving communities and the health of children and families in these communities. In addition to addressing lead-based paint hazards, HUD also offers healthy homes supplemental funding to address other housing related health and safety issues while addressing the lead-based paint.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-seeks-dot-guidance-to-improve-roadway-safety-and-address-traffic-fatalities-in-letter-to-secretary-buttigieg", "Murphy Seeks DOT Guidance To Improve Roadway Safety And Address Traffic Fatalities In Letter To Secretary Buttigieg", "2024-10-09", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "HARTFORD\u2014U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Wednesday sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg asking for details on the Department of Transportation\u2019s (DOT) efforts to improve roadway safety. Murphy referenced the recent tragic deaths of Connecticut Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier and ConnDOT worker Andrew DiDomenico, as well as his own Walk Across Connecticut, where he saw dangerous driving conditions firsthand. Expressing concern over rising traffic fatalities in Connecticut, Murphy requested additional information on specific measures being implemented, strategies to address dangerous driving behaviors, and how federal and state governments can collaborate to enhance roadway safety.\n\n\"There have been 245 traffic fatalities in Connecticut so far this year, including a law enforcement officer and a state employee,\" Murphy wrote. \"In May, Connecticut Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier was struck and killed in the line of duty while working at a traffic stop on Interstate 84. In July, a Connecticut Department of Transportation worker, Andrew DiDomenico, died after being struck by a vehicle on Interstate 91. While these two accidents garnered significant attention across the state, there are many more families dealing with the pain of losing a loved one in a traffic accident.\"\n\nMurphy continued: \u201cMy office and I regularly hear from constituents about roadway safety. The primary issues identified are drivers traveling at high speed, ignoring traffic signs, and driving while distracted. During my annual walk across Connecticut, I spoke with a group of road construction workers who told me that they are noticing an uptick in dangerous driving behavior. I also regularly meet with a group of middle school children who advise me on a range of policy issues, and in our conversations these students regularly who tell me how reckless driving can make their walk to school scary and more dangerous. While I understand there is no perfect policy solution or initiative that will eliminate traffic accidents completely, I am writing to inquire what more can be done to protect people on our roadways and seek your Department\u2019s expert opinion on best practices to decrease roadway fatalities.\u201d\n\nFull text of the letter is available HERE and below:\n\nDear Secretary Buttigieg,\n\nI am writing to inquire about the Department of Transportation\u2019s work on highway safety. Unfortunately, as you are aware, there were 169 traffic fatalities in Connecticut during the first half of 2024. This year, Connecticut has also been devastated by several high-profile roadway fatalities. In May, Connecticut Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier was struck and killed in the line of duty while working at a traffic stop on Interstate 84. In July, a Connecticut Department of Transportation worker, Andrew DiDomenico, died after being struck by a vehicle on Interstate 91. While these two accidents garnered significant attention across the state, there are many more families dealing with the pain of losing a loved one in a traffic accident.\n\nMy office and I regularly hear from constituents about roadway safety. The primary issues identified are drivers traveling at high speed, ignoring traffic signs, and driving while distracted. During my annual walk across Connecticut, I spoke with a group of road construction workers who told me that they are noticing an uptick in dangerous driving behavior. I also regularly meet with a group of middle school children who advise me on a range of policy issues, and in our conversations these students regularly who tell me how reckless driving can make their walk to school scary and more dangerous.\n\nWhile I understand there is no perfect policy solution or initiative that will eliminate traffic accidents completely, I am writing to inquire what more can be done to protect people on our roadways and seek your Department\u2019s expert opinion on best practices to decrease roadway fatalities. To that end, I am requesting your answers and input on the following questions:\n\nWhat specific measures is the Department of Transportation implementing under the National Roadway Safety Strategy to address the alarming rise in traffic fatalities, particularly in Northeast states like Connecticut?\n\nWhat strategies are being developed to combat issues such as high-speed driving, ignoring traffic signs, and distracted driving? Are there any new initiatives on these issues forthcoming?\n\nHas there been an increase in accidents involving young or less experienced drivers? What targeted programs or campaigns does the Department plan to introduce to improve their safety on the roads?\n\nHow is the Department of Transportation engaging with local communities, such as schools and construction sites, to gather insights on roadway safety concerns and to promote safer driving practices?\n\nHow can state governments like Connecticut better collaborate with the federal government to enhance roadway safety and address specific local concerns?\n\nWhat additional actions can Congress take to better enable your agency to address this issue?\n\nThank you for your attention to this important matter. I look forward to continuing to work with you to build safer roadways that improve safety and the travel experience for the American people.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-graham-celebrate-tenth-annual-national-hydrogen-and-fuel-cell-day", "Blumenthal, Graham Celebrate Tenth Annual National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day", "2024-10-08", "2024", "2024-10", "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 Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Co-Chairs of the Senate Hydrogen Fuel Cell Caucus, released the following statements in celebration of National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day as designated by a resolution passed by the Senate last month.\n\n\u201cThis day recognizes the immense economic and environmental benefits the hydrogen and fuel cell industry generates for our nation,\u201d said Senator Blumenthal. \u201cCutting-edge fuel cell and hydrogen technologies bolster our energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, boost job creation, and strengthen our power grid. I\u2019m proud to join my colleagues in marking National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day and celebrating the remarkable innovation and progress made in this industry.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud to lead my colleagues in commemorating National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day,\u201d said Senator Graham. \u201cHydrogen and fuel cell technologies are boosting manufacturing and economic growth in South Carolina and across the country.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs we celebrate the tenth iteration of National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day, I can\u2019t help but to marvel at the growth of the industry over this last decade,\u201d said Frank Wolak, President and CEO of the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association (FCHEA). \u201cFrom increased R&D funding across federal and state agencies to large scale demonstration projects like the Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs, hydrogen is firmly established not only as an indispensable tool in our clean energy toolbox, but also as a key driver of economic growth. FCHEA and our diverse and committed member companies look forward to continuing this momentum into the next ten years.\u201d\n\nFuel cells utilize hydrogen and hydrogen-rich fuels without combustion to generate electricity in a way that is clean, efficient, and quiet. For decades, the United States has been a leader in the development of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, which were instrumental in the development of a manned space program, allowing long-term spaceflight which culminated with America putting a man on the moon. Fuel cell systems across the country are currently generating clean power for vehicles, forklifts, utilities, businesses, and homes by providing reliable and resilient power, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and helping to increase America\u2019s energy security and clean energy future.\n\nThe resolution designating October 8, 2024, as National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day was sponsored by Senators Blumenthal and Graham and cosponsored by U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Chris Coons (D-DE).\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-and-graham-travel-to-israel", "Blumenthal & Graham Travel to Israel", "2024-10-07", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[JERUSALEM, ISRAEL] \u2013 One year since Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing hundreds and taking more hostage, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) traveled to Israel to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior government and military leadership.\n\n\u201cToday in Israel, the pain and grief are deep and moving. A strong, thriving Israel is essential to America\u2019s own national security,\u201d Blumenthal said. \u201cWe reiterated our commitment to bring home all the hostages \u2013 including those brutally murdered. I hope that diplomacy may achieve a cessation of fighting, leading to the return of the hostages, and a path toward normalizing relations in the region, along with humanitarian aid and rebuilding.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m in Israel today on this first solemn anniversary of Hamas\u2019 horrific attack on Israel with my good friend, Senator Blumenthal. October 7, 2023 is the day that will live in infamy among the Israeli people. We are here together to share their pain and to try to find a way forward for the region,\u201d said Graham. \u201cThis is one of the most important trips I\u2019ve ever taken, and it is my hope that Hamas\u2019 barbaric October 7 attack will not stop the march toward peace.\u201d\n\nAdditional details regarding the trip will be available in the coming days.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-statement-on-anniversary-of-october-7th-attacks", "Murphy Statement On Anniversary Of October 7th Attacks", "2024-10-07", "2024", "2024-10", "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 Monday released the following statement on the one-year anniversary of Hamas\u2019 terrorist attack on Israel.\n\n\u201cOne year ago today, on the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, Hamas terrorists launched a brutal attack on Israel, mercilessly killing 1,195 people and taking 251 others hostage. What happened on October 7th was unconscionable, and Hamas must be held accountable. My heart remains with those grieving the loss of their family members and friends, and those still waiting for their loved ones\u2019 return, as well as every member of the Jewish community, which has faced a disgusting rise in antisemitism over the past year. The United States will always stand with the people of Israel against any and all threats. The path to long-term security for the Israeli people remains a diplomatic solution that ensures the safe return of the hostages, an end to this war, and a two-state future.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-statement-on-results-of-tunisian-presidential-election", "Murphy Statement On Results Of Tunisian Presidential Election", "2024-10-07", "2024", "2024-10", "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 Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia and Counterterrorism, on Monday released the following statement on the results of the presidential election in Tunisia.\n\n\u201cFor years, President Saied has systematically dismantled Tunisia\u2019s democracy by gutting independent checks and balances and rigging the rules to prevent any real competition. The outcome of this election was determined a long time ago and marks the completion of his plan to restore dictatorship to Tunisia. Today\u2019s \u201cvictory\u201d \u2013 with a dismal 29% voter turnout - shows just how disenchanted the Tunisian people are with Saied\u2019s rule and his unwillingness to meaningfully address the country\u2019s spiraling economy. The United States should continue its support of the Tunisian people, civil society, and independent media in hopes for a brighter future.\u201d\n\nIn June, Murphy chaired a hearing on President Biden\u2019s FY25 funding request for the Middle East and North Africa, where he raised questions on U.S. policy towards Tunisia and urged support for civil society groups.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-statement-on-approval-of-major-disaster-declaration-for-counties-impacted-by-last-months-flooding", "Murphy Statement On Approval Of Major Disaster Declaration For Counties Impacted By Last Month's Flooding", "2024-10-03", "2024", "2024-10", "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.) on Friday released the following statement on President Biden\u2019s approval of a major disaster declaration due to last month\u2019s flooding in western Connecticut.\n\n\u201cLast month\u2019s flooding was catastrophic for so many towns, families, and local businesses, and it will require the might of the federal government to begin to recover and rebuild. I spoke with FEMA Administrator Criswell about the magnitude of devastation and dire challenges Connecticut would face without federal assistance, and my staff and I have stayed in contact with FEMA and the White House to make sure those who suffered losses get the support they need. I\u2019m grateful to the Biden administration for approving a partial major disaster declaration that will begin to unlock millions of dollars for FEMA Individual Assistance Program (IA) applicants in Fairfield, Litchfield, and New Haven Counties. My office will continue to closely monitor the Governor\u2019s request for Public Assistance (PA) federal funding and work to ensure that the FEMA IA funding is released as quickly as possible.\"\n\nMurphy, along with the rest of the congressional delegation, sent a letter urging President Biden to approve this declaration.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-statement-on-nlrbs-complaint-calling-out-amazon-for-illegally-refusing-to-bargain-with-workers", "Murphy Statement On NLRB's Complaint Calling Out Amazon For Illegally Refusing To Bargain With Workers", "2024-10-03", "2024", "2024-10", "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, on Thursday released a statement on the National Labor Relations Board\u2019s (NLRB) complaint against Amazon accusing the company of illegally refusing to negotiate with Teamsters representing delivery drivers employed by one of its Delivery Service Partners (DSP). In its complaint, the NLRB claims Amazon violated its responsibility as a joint employer of its delivery drivers by taking retaliatory and threatening action against employees and terminating its contract with the DSP after the drivers unionized.\n\n\"Amazon has made billions on the backs of the hard-working drivers who deliver their packages, but when those drivers tried to organize for better wages and working conditions, the company refused to negotiate and eventually fired them. For years, Amazon has hidden behind this absurd claim that drivers delivering Amazon packages in Amazon-branded vans\u2014even wearing Amazon-branded vests\u2014 aren\u2019t Amazon employees in order to avoid being held responsible for their safety and well-being. The NLRB has already determined that Amazon is a joint-employer of these drivers, and this complaint is a really important step in holding Amazon and other greedy corporations accountable and protecting workers\u2019 right to negotiate for the fair pay, safe conditions, and dignified employment they deserve,\u201d said Murphy.\n\nIn August, Murphy released a statement applauding the NLRB\u2019s finding that Amazon is a joint employer of its delivery drivers. In January, Murphy led a bipartisan letter to Amazon CEO Andy Jassy demanding information about the Delivery Service Partner (DSP) program, including Amazon\u2019s justification for refusing to bargain with union representatives of DSP employees and requiring DSPs to sign non-poaching agreements. After receiving a response from Amazon that was unresponsive to the questions asked, at odds with publicly available data and reporting, and apparently self-contradictory, Murphy led 33 of his colleagues in calling on Amazon to provide the information requested by the members. In early August, Murphy and Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.-12) led 25 of their colleagues in Congress in sending a letter to the NLRB encouraging the Board to reach a decision in several key cases of unfair labor practices brought against Amazon by delivery drivers across the country.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-hyde-smith-murray-urge-swift-ice-pact-implementation-to-boost-us-shipbuilding-and-bolster-security-in-polar-regions", "Murphy, Hyde-Smith, Murray Urge Swift ICE Pact Implementation To Boost U.S. Shipbuilding And Bolster Security In Polar Regions", "2024-10-02", "2024", "2024-10", "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, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, on Wednesday joined U.S. Senators Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) in sending a bipartisan letter to President Biden expressing support for robust, thoughtful, and timely implementation of the recently announced Icebreaker Collaboration Effort, or ICE Pact\u2014a trilateral partnership with Finland and Canada to work together on the production of polar icebreakers and other capabilities. In their letter, the senators underscored the strategic importance of deepening cooperation with America\u2019s allies, strengthening the domestic shipbuilding industry, and addressing mounting Russian and Chinese activity in the Arctic and Antarctic regions. The senators welcomed initial steps taken by the Biden-Harris Administration and NATO to take on these challenges and urged collaboration with Congress to ensure the entire federal government is coordinating to maximize the success of ICE Pact.\n\nThe senators pointed to the threat posed by Russia and China\u2019s growing presence in the region: \u201cIn response to the changing physical environment and growing international pressure following its invasion of Ukraine, Russia has significantly built up its military footprint in the Arctic and re-opened several Soviet-era military bases. China, often in close coordination with Russia, has made critical investments to enable exploitation of natural resources above the Arctic Circle. In 2018, China put forth its own ambitious Arctic Policy and subsequently referenced the Arctic in its Five-Year Plan released in 2021 for the first time. Chinese fishing fleets have also repeatedly engaged in illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing off the coast of Alaska, which must be deterred to preserve local ecosystems critical to domestic communities.\u201d\n\nThe senators emphasized the importance of working with allies and partners to build domestic shipbuilding capacity and ensure regional stability: \u201cIn this moment of geopolitical upheaval, it is critical for the United States and our allies to be proactive in rising together to meet difficult challenges in the Arctic and Antarctic. Year-round presence and situational awareness in these areas is critical to enforcing the rules-based order in the high-latitudes, protecting freedom of navigation, and ensuring that natural resource extraction abides by environmental rules and regulations. A reliable icebreaker fleet operated by the U.S. and our allies is critical to achieving these strategic objectives, especially in the Arctic Circle.\u201d\n\nThe senators continued: \u201cBy combining American industrial strength with the icebreaker design and shipbuilding experience of Finnish and Canadian partners, we see great potential in ICE Pact to bolster international collaboration in the Arctic and Antarctic broadly. The Pact holds promise for better meeting U.S. and NATO maritime security needs in the Arctic and polar regions, especially as efforts to produce the Polar Security Cutter fleet continue. Increased NATO icebreaker presence has the potential to free up maritime assets assigned to patrols near the Arctic and allow U.S. cutters and ships to support additional missions below the Arctic Circle \u2013 including scientific research, search and rescue, and protection of maritime resources. If executed properly, the Pact will allow us to avoid being outpaced by foreign adversaries in icebreaker capabilities, and to enhance the industrial, scientific, and maritime heft of the United States and our allies.\u201d\n\nFull text of the letter is available HERE and below:\n\nPresident Biden,\n\nWe write to express our support for a robust, thoughtful, and timely implementation of the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort, or ICE Pact, announced at the Washington NATO summit in July. This trilateral partnership with Canada and Finland has great potential to deepen cooperation with key allies, to strengthen our domestic shipbuilding industry and workforce, and to advance U.S. and allied security interests and international law in the Arctic and polar regions. We hope to work with your Administration to ensure the entire federal government is organized behind maximizing the success of ICE Pact.\n\nAs areas increasingly impacted by mounting Russian and Chinese activity, the Arctic and Antarctic regions\u2019 strategic importance to the United States is growing. Warming temperatures are significantly altering the physical landscapes at the North and South Poles, opening new maritime lanes for international traffic, impacting seasons for recreational travel, and disrupting native wildlife habitats.\n\nIn response to the changing physical environment and growing international pressure following its invasion of Ukraine, Russia has significantly built up its military footprint in the Arctic and re-opened several Soviet-era military bases. China, often in close coordination with Russia, has made critical investments to enable exploitation of natural resources above the Arctic Circle. In 2018, China put forth its own ambitious Arctic Policy and subsequently referenced the Arctic in its Five-Year Plan released in 2021 for the first time. Chinese fishing fleets have also repeatedly engaged in illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing off the coast of Alaska, which must be deterred to preserve local ecosystems critical to domestic communities.\n\nIn this moment of geopolitical upheaval, it is critical for the United States and our allies to be proactive in rising together to meet difficult challenges in the Arctic and Antarctic. Year-round presence and situational awareness in these areas is critical to enforcing the rules-based order in the high-latitudes, protecting freedom of navigation, and ensuring that natural resource extraction abides by environmental rules and regulations. A reliable icebreaker fleet operated by the U.S. and our allies is critical to achieving these strategic objectives, especially in the Arctic Circle.\n\nWe welcome initial steps taken by your Administration and NATO to address these challenges and pressing needs. The Department of Defense\u2019s 2024 Arctic Strategy laid out a useful roadmap for enhancing U.S. and allied capabilities and preserving stability in the Arctic region \u2013 and was conveniently released just after Finland and Sweden\u2019s accession to NATO brought 7 of 8 Arctic countries into the Alliance. ICE Pact was then rolled out on July 11, 2024, and built on that strategy, seizing the new opportunities brought by NATO\u2019s enhanced Arctic presence and tapping into the expertise of our partners.\n\nICE Pact has the potential to build upon this foundation and become a key trilateral partnership between the United States, Canada, and Finland that deepens collaboration on national security matters in the polar and Arctic regions. As laid out in its announcement, the Pact\u2019s central focus will be a joint effort to build top-of-the-line polar icebreakers by pooling and sharing expertise. The partnership aims to strengthen the shipbuilding industry of each country and to generate good jobs at shipyards and related businesses all over, while meeting key national security needs in which the United States and NATO allies have been lagging. According to U.S. Coast Guard data, Russia currently possesses 36 government-owned and operated icebreakers while China \u2013 despite not being an Arctic nation \u2013 has a fleet of four. By comparison, the United States has just two operational polar icebreakers and has been far too slow in advancing our polar icebreaker recapitalization. Without sufficient icebreaker capacity, the U.S. Coast Guard is often forced to divert assets needed elsewhere to meet Arctic mission needs.\n\nBy combining American industrial strength with the icebreaker design and shipbuilding experience of Finnish and Canadian partners, we see great potential in ICE Pact to bolster international collaboration in the Arctic and Antarctic broadly. The Pact holds promise for better meeting U.S. and NATO maritime security needs in the Arctic and polar regions, especially as efforts to produce the Polar Security Cutter fleet continue. Increased NATO icebreaker presence has the potential to free up maritime assets assigned to patrols near the Arctic and allow U.S. cutters and ships to support additional missions below the Arctic Circle \u2013 including scientific research, search and rescue, and protection of maritime resources. If executed properly, the Pact will allow us to avoid being outpaced by foreign adversaries in icebreaker capabilities, and to enhance the industrial, scientific, and maritime heft of the United States and our allies.\n\nAs work is underway with Canadian and Finnish counterparts to flesh out the Pact\u2019s details, we want to ensure the initiative achieves its fullest potential \u2013 with strong coordination across the U.S. federal government. To this end, we respectfully request responses to the following questions no later than 45 days from today to inform Congress\u2019s work on related authorization and funding issues:\n\nWhat is the Pact\u2019s anticipated long-term impact to U.S. shipbuilding capacity and how will collaboration with Canadian and Finnish shipbuilders improve the efficiency and resiliency of our shipbuilding industrial base?\n\nHow will ICE Pact impact the procurement plan and construction timeline for the Polar Security Cutter program, as well as other U.S. Coast Guard shipbuilding programs? What are the potential benefits of ICE Pact to furthering existing and future Coast Guard shipbuilding efforts?\n\nHow will the ICE Pact initiative align with NATO\u2019s current icebreaker capability requirements, and will it be necessary to revise these targets in future budget cycles to encourage Allies and partners to purchase icebreakers built in American, Canadian, or Finnish shipyards?\n\nWhat is the Administration\u2019s plan to solicit and incorporate feedback from all relevant stakeholders \u2013 including but not limited to the U.S. shipbuilding industry, workforce representatives, the Coast Guard-Navy Integrated Program Office, the Coast Guard, and the Department of Homeland Security \u2013 throughout negotiations over ICE Pact implementation?\n\nWhat, if any, regulatory and statutory changes does the Administration anticipate will be needed to support ICE Pact\u2019s implementation \u2013 particularly in its workforce development and information sharing components?\n\nThank you again for your Administration\u2019s close attention to Arctic and polar security. We look forward to reviewing your prompt responses and to working with you on the ICE Pact\u2019s implementation in the months and years ahead.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-op-ed-for-foreign-policy-kenyas-anti-corruption-protests-are-a-wake-up-call-for-washington", "Murphy Op-Ed For Foreign Policy: Kenya's Anti-Corruption Protests Are A Wake-Up Call For Washington", "2024-10-02", "2024", "2024-10", "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 Tuesday authored an op-ed for Foreign Policy arguing that countering Russian and Chinese influence in countries like Kenya will require the U.S. to dedicate more resources to fighting corruption and promoting good governance. Murphy made the case that the U.S. risks undermining the effectiveness of other forms of assistance, including humanitarian aid, investments in economic development, and security assistance, if we fail to support the people and institutions dedicated to ensuring their government is accountable to its people. As a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, Murphy traveled to Kenya in August to engage with key stakeholders on issues related to the U.S.\u2019 relationships on the African continent, including deepening economic partnerships, U.S. support for humanitarian aid, and the Kenyan-led Multilateral Security Support mission in Haiti.\n\n\u201cI traveled to Kenya amid the demonstrations this summer with CARE, an international humanitarian agency that delivers emergency relief and executes long-term international development projects,\u201d Murphy wrote. \u201cWe felt Kenyans\u2019 frustration everywhere we traveled. Nearly every conversation found its way back to the issue of governance. This sentiment was especially noticeable among young people. According to the Ichikowitz Family Foundation\u2019s 2024 African Youth Survey, nearly 60 percent of young Africans want to leave their home countries, one of the main reasons being corruption. Even in Kenya\u2014which has a good democratic tradition, political stability, and impressive economic growth\u2014people we spoke to described how too many of the country\u2019s resources are lost, stolen, or wasted by corrupt or incompetent government officials.\u201d\n\nMurphy outlined how U.S. adversaries have exploited the corruption and poor governance in Kenya, leaving the country with failed foreign-funded projects and crippling debt: \u201cOver the last 15 years, leaders in Kenya have financed major infrastructure projects by taking out loans from Chinese banks to pay Chinese construction companies. Many of the projects were of poor quality. Some never even materialized, such as a nearly $5 billion rail project that has become the target of criminal corruption investigations and remains unfinished seven years after construction began. The deals often included payoffs to government officials, who continued taking on more loans from China, the World Bank, and others to finance payments on the original debt. Kenya\u2019s debt liability has since ballooned to $80 billion, and China is now the country\u2019s largest bilateral creditor.\u201d\n\nMurphy argued for more resources and personnel to help the United States better support efforts to eliminate graft and bribery in Kenya and across Africa: \u201cIt\u2019s time to get serious about fighting corruption in every country\u2014whether it is a democratic nation, an authoritarian state, or something in between. If you total the amount of money the U.S. State Department spends annually on protecting democracy and fighting corruption abroad, it\u2019s about $3 billion\u2014which is what the Defense Department spends every two days. And, frankly, that $3 billion pales in comparison to the billions of dollars China, Russia, and other adversaries spend every year to undermine these fragile democracies. To tackle corruption more effectively, the United States must do two things. First, we need to increase our budget for democracy programs from $3 billion to at least $5 billion so we have more resources focused on governance. Second, we need to create a new category of foreign service officers dedicated to fighting corruption abroad so that every embassy has at least one staffer dedicated to protecting the rule of law from attack.\u201d\n\nMurphy concluded: \u201cOn a continent as dynamic as Africa, U.S. funding priorities are inevitably pulled in many directions. But we risk undermining the long-term effectiveness of other parts of our assistance packages if we fail to prioritize programs to support good governance and combat corruption. Corrupt environments stall economic growth and feed instability. Achieving key U.S. foreign-policy objectives such as checking the influence of China and Russia, expanding our network of global partners, and serving U.S. small businesses and workers is impossible if we don\u2019t do a better job helping partners such as Kenya to strengthen their governance structures.\u201d\n\nRead the full op-ed HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-statement-on-escalating-hostilities-in-the-middle-east", "Murphy Statement On Escalating Hostilities In The Middle East", "2024-10-01", "2024", "2024-10", "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 on the escalation in hostilities across the Middle East.\n\n\u201cI am deeply concerned about the rapid escalation in hostilities across the Middle East. Iran\u2019s reprehensible missile barrage against Israel today was a further act of terror that put millions of innocent lives in danger. Israel has the right to defend itself and protect Israeli civilians from incoming attacks from both Iran and Hezbollah.\n\n\u201cThe way in which Israel conducts counterterrorism operations inside Lebanon matters. An expansive air and ground war risks repeating the mistakes of the past and causing further civilian destruction in Lebanon without achieving a sustainable resolution to Israel\u2019s legitimate security concerns. The best way to protect Israel\u2019s security in the long-term and prevent all-out war in the region is by prioritizing the safety of Lebanese civilians and reaching a lasting diplomatic solution that allows civilian populations on both sides to safely return home.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-introduces-legislation-to-provide-legal-protections-for-amtrak-passengers", "Blumenthal Introduces Legislation to Provide Legal Protections for Amtrak Passengers", "2024-09-30", "2024", "2024-09", "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) introduced the Ending Passenger Rail Forced Arbitration Act, legislation to restore legal rights and protections to Amtrak riders who are currently prevented from seeking justice in courts.\n\nIn 2019, Amtrak quietly implemented a broad arbitration agreement and class action waiver policy that captures personal injury claims, including gross negligence and wrongful death, and claims of discrimination. Under this policy, customers waive their right to sue Amtrak in a U.S. court for any reason with the purchase of an Amtrak ticket. The Ending Passenger Rail Forced Arbitration Act prohibits Amtrak from continuing to impose its forced arbitration and class action waiver policy in its passenger contracts, providing passengers and survivors of negligence or misconduct a pathway to seek justice.\n\n\u201cThis bill will restore vital legal rights to Amtrak travelers,\u201d said Blumenthal. \u201cForced arbitration is an unjust and un-American practice, stripping Amtrak travelers of the basic right of access to justice. By simply checking a box, customers are forced to sign away their legal rights with the purchase of an Amtrak ticket. With this essential legislation, we ensure that all Amtrak travelers are able to seek just redress and legal accountability from Amtrak, derailing the exploitative and unfair practices of the corporation.\u201d\n\nThe Ending Passenger Rail Forced Arbitration Act is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Bob Casey (D-PA), John Fetterman (D-PA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Edward Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).\n\nThe bill is endorsed by the American Association for Justice (AAJ), Public Citizen, National Disability Rights Network (NDRN), and Rail Passengers Association.\n\n\"Millions of Americans rely on Amtrak, and their rights must be protected if something goes wrong,\" said American Association for Justice (AAJ) President Lori Andrus. \"AAJ applauds Senator Blumenthal for reintroducing the Ending Passenger Rail Forced Arbitration Act. This crucial legislation will enable Amtrak customers and their families to seek justice when they suffer injury or loss, ensuring accountability and that their voices are heard.\"\n\n\u201cA seat on a train should not require sacrificing your day in court. A person should be able to purchase an Amtrak ticket without giving up their right to sue Amtrak in court if something should go wrong. Amtrak has no business forcing aggrieved consumers into arbitration. Thankfully, Senator Blumenthal\u2019s Ending Passenger Rail Forced Arbitration Act would enable passengers once again to ride Amtrak without sacrificing their right to file lawsuits in court about train accidents, discriminatory treatment or other possible wrongs,\u201d said Rob Weissman, co-director of Public Citizen.\n\n\u201cAmtrak is an essential means of transportation for millions of Americans,\u201d said Jim Mathews, President & CEO of the Rail Passengers Association. \u201cWhether their station is on the Northeast Corridor, in a mid-sized city that lost its airport, or in a rural town with no other transportation options, passengers rely on Amtrak service for work, for medical visits, and to see family. Forced arbitration simply isn\u2019t the right policy. Our members are grateful to Sen. Blumenthal for introducing the Ending Passenger Rail Forced Arbitration Act, which safeguards passengers access to a fair process for dispute resolution.\u201d\n\nThe full text of the bill can be found here.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-blumenthal-colleagues-urge-departments-of-justice-state-homeland-security-and-commerce-to-stop-arms-trafficking-to-haiti", "Murphy, Blumenthal, Colleagues Urge Departments Of Justice, State, Homeland Security, And Commerce To Stop Arms Trafficking To Haiti", "2024-09-30", "2024", "2024-09", "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 and a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) joined 61 other members of Congress in sending a letter to the Departments of State (State), Homeland Security (DHS), Commerce (Commerce), and Justice (DOJ), urging them to strengthen steps to prevent the flow of illegal firearms from the United States into Haiti.\n\nSince the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Mo\u00efse in 2021, armed gangs have consolidated power in Haiti fueled in-part by an influx of guns trafficked into Haiti. Though the country itself does not manufacture guns, there are an estimated 500,000 firearms in the country, and the United States is the number one source of these guns, often making their way through Florida.\n\nAs a result, gangs have outgunned and overpowered the Haitian National Police and other security forces, leading to the displacement of over 300,000 Haitians and created a widespread humanitarian crisis.\n\n\u201cThe escalation of firepower contributes to gangs\u2019 capacity to terrorize civilians (including through systematic sexual violence), contributes to internal displacement, and directly impedes efforts by security forces working to regain control of the country,\u201d the members wrote.\n\nThe lawmakers are pushing five recommendations to strengthen the administration\u2019s current efforts, including increased staffing and stricter screening of packages going to Haiti and other parts of the Caribbean. The lawmakers also recommend the DOJ\u2019s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) implement a strategy to increase the number of firearms recovered in Haiti that are submitted for tracing in order to identify gun traffickers and dealers who sell to them.\n\nThe lawmakers are also calling for an expansion of the \u201cDemand Letter 3\u201d program, which requires federal firearms licensees in certain states to notify ATF if they sell someone multiple semi-automatic rifles in a five-day period. This letter calls for expanding the program to include key states where Haiti\u2019s trafficked assault weapons originate \u2014 including Florida.\n\n\u201cCracking down on the flow of illegal weapons that are facilitating rampant gang violence in Haiti advances U.S. security. It is also a moral imperative,\u201d the members continued.\n\nU.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) also signed the letter.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available HERE and below:\n\nDear Secretary Blinken, Secretary Mayorkas, Secretary Raimondo, and Attorney General Garland:\n\nHaiti remains a key destination for firearms and ammunition trafficked illegally from the United States. The alarming inflow exacerbates the humanitarian, political, and security crisis in Haiti, undermining U.S. security assistance to a country that faces one of the world\u2019s most dire security and humanitarian emergencies. Since the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Mo\u00efse in 2021, armed gangs have consolidated power in Haiti. Around 200 gangs operate nationwide, and a handful control about 90 percent of the capital city Port-au-Prince, while several fan out across the country. Meanwhile, roughly 360,000 Haitians have been displaced over the past year alone. As violence escalated between 2021 and 2022, gun trafficking into Haiti surged. Together, Haiti\u2019s armed groups have thousands of members, many equipped with powerful assault weapons that outgun the Haitian National Police (HNP). In this nation gripped by gun violence, American-made weapons are easy to come by, even as humanitarian aid becomes harder to deliver. The United Nations estimates that there could be as many as 500,000 guns in Haiti, though the country does not produce firearms domestically. Instead, the United States is the number one source of firearms entering Haiti today.\n\nWhile exporting arms to Haiti is illegal under an international arms embargo, an underground market for firearms has thrived. Guns that would typically sell for $400-500 in the United States\n\ncan sell for as much as $10,000 in Haiti, incentivizing traffickers to evade U.S arms export controls. Often, \u201cstraw purchaser\u201d intermediaries and traffickers obtain firearms in U.S. states\n\nwith comparatively lenient gun laws \u2014 including Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Arizona and Georgia\u2014 and send them to South Florida. There, the weapons are concealed and shipped through the Miami River to Haiti, most often via freight containers, but sometimes via small secretive boats and even planes. Some U.S. firearms also make their way into Haiti through middlemen in other parts of the Caribbean.14 Overall, the vast majority of guns circulating in Haiti are likely illegal.\n\nWe are alarmed by the rising lethality, quantity, and caliber of illicit weapons in Haiti. Increasingly, the weapons smuggled into Haiti are high-powered assault rifles, including the AK47 and AR-15 models in high demand by criminal groups. Haiti is also seeing a rise in \u201cghost guns\u201d that can be assembled from machine parts at home. The escalation of firepower contributes to gangs\u2019 capacity to terrorize civilians (including through systematic sexual violence), contributes to internal displacement, and directly impedes efforts by security forces working to regain control of the country.\n\nFollowing the calls of Haitian civil society groups, the Biden-Harris Administration has worked to stabilize Haiti through diplomacy and security assistance, working to advance a Multilateral Security Support (MSS) mission for Haiti, supporting Haitian-led efforts to establish a legitimate transitional government, and arming and equipping a beleaguered HNP. These efforts are laudable and demonstrate your commitment to advance stability, security, and prosperity in Haiti. However, these efforts will be undermined without more thoroughly addressing the crisis of illicit arms trafficking to Haiti.\n\nFirst, the Department of Homeland Security\u2019s (DHS) Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) should increase the scale of U.S. personnel and equipment dedicated to screening the contents of ships exiting ports via the Miami River \u2014 the primary starting point for firearm shipments to Haiti. Firearms are \u201chidden in various ways, including inside consumer products, electronic equipment, garment linings, frozen food items or even the hulls of freighters,\u201d posing a daunting challenge for CBP and HSI. The amount of cargo going through the Miami River makes shipments notoriously difficult to search. Even with reliable information, it can take CBP and HSI \u201cweeks to unpack and look for [smuggled weapons], and [they] still may not find [them].\u201d As of October 2023, CBP reportedly had doubled the frequency of interdiction operations on the Miami River. Still, effectively monitoring illegal shipments of arms to Haiti will require DHS to further allocate additional resources to monitor cargo leaving South Florida, as a vital intervention to interrupt the flow of firearms to the Caribbean. Providing additional resources would assist HSI in dismantling trafficking networks and aid CBP\u2019s other border security priorities, by helping address one of the root causes that drive Haitian asylum seekers to flee to the United States for safety.\n\nSecond, the Commerce Department should ensure that adequate export control personnel are stationed at U.S. embassies in the Caribbean in order to monitor arms trafficking into Haiti and other countries of concern in the region. The Commerce Department\u2019s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is responsible for enforcing most export controls yet does not have personnel present in the Caribbean. BIS should dedicate more staff to focus on disrupting arms trafficking to Haiti and other parts of the Caribbean, including through dedicated personnel stationed in the region. This localized presence would facilitate better intelligence gathering and coordination with U.S., regional, and local authorities, and enhance efforts to intercept illegal arms shipments.\n\nThird, the Department of Justice\u2019s (DOJ) Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) should implement a strategy to increase the number of firearms recovered in Haiti that are submitted for tracing. Guns recovered in crimes overseas can be submitted to the ATF for tracing, which allows U.S. investigators to link guns to the dealers who sold them and to the individuals who trafficked them. However, we are concerned that only a fraction of firearms recovered in Haiti are being submitted for tracing. For example, in 2020, only 81 guns recovered\n\nin Haiti were submitted to ATF for tracing, though likely hundreds were seized. While pervasive insecurity and threats against Haitian authorities who recover and trace firearms play a\n\nrole in underreporting, it is critical that the Administration address barriers preventing regular use of ATF\u2019s e-Trace system. The Administration can do so by: investing in training Haitian\n\nauthorities and officials within the Caribbean Community\u2019s (CARICOM) Crime Gun Intelligence Unit on firearms tracing and recovery; translating the e-Trace system into French or Haitian Creole to address language barriers preventing its use; and fostering regular coordination between Haitian officials and U.S. officials who submit tracing reports on Haitian officials\u2019 behalf. Furthermore, as firearm traces are completed, ATF should ensure that the public has access to aggregated gun trace data on a per-dealer basis as requested previously by Members of Congress. By releasing data about each dealer that sells to traffickers, ATF can help researchers, advocates, litigants, and other members of the public better understand the supply chains that funnel American weapons into Haiti and hold accountable the small minority of gun stores that illicitly sell arms.\n\nFourth, ATF should expand its \u201cDemand Letter 3\u201d program to cover states linked to arms trafficking to Haiti and other parts of the Caribbean. Under Demand Letter 3, federal firearms licensees (FFLs) must notify ATF if they sell someone multiple semi-automatic rifles in a five-day period \u2014 but only if the FFL operates in Arizona, California, New Mexico, or Texas. ATF selected those states because they are responsible for the bulk of U.S. gun trafficking into Mexico, which the program was designed to combat. ATF should similarly make Haiti a Demand Letter 3 priority, given its status as a top destination for internationally trafficked U.S. guns. The agency should require reporting of multiple semi-automatic rifle sales by FFLs located in key states where Haiti\u2019s trafficked assault weapons originate \u2014 including Florida, which is a top origin state for illegal guns not only in Haiti but elsewhere overseas. ATF can do so while maintaining a narrow scope for the program. The increased reporting requirement would help ATF expedite the process of identifying firearm traffickers linked to gun crimes in the Caribbean.\n\nFinally, the State Department, Commerce Department, DHS, and DOJ must implement an interagency strategy to stop the illegal flow of arms, reflecting a coordinated approach to investigate, share information, and enforce laws to disrupt arms trafficking to Haiti and the wider Caribbean. As part of this effort, we ask the interagency to collect and report to Congress data about arms export trends, arms trafficking trends, and efforts to disrupt illegal firearm exports \u2014 including applicable data on the work of DOJ\u2019s Coordinator for Caribbean Firearms Prosecutions, HSI\u2019s Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit (TCIU) in Haiti, and other TCIUs in the Caribbean. This strategy development and reporting will help identify any gaps in authorities or resources needed to end the United States\u2019 complicity in this ongoing crisis. This strategy is included in the Americas Regional Monitoring of Arms Sales (ARMAS) Act introduced in the House and Senate. But importantly, the Administration does not require legislation to move forward with developing such a strategy and should do so now, while leveraging existing authorities such as the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act\u2019s provisions on straw purchases.\n\nCracking down on the flow of illegal weapons that are facilitating rampant gang violence in Haiti advances U.S. security. It is also a moral imperative. After decades of failed U.S. foreign policy in Haiti, we must not allow American weapons to further fuel instability in the country. To better understand the Administration\u2019s efforts to combat arms trafficking to Haiti, we request answers to the following questions:\n\nWhat steps has the Administration taken in 2024 to strengthen inter-agency coordination to address arms trafficking to Haiti, including the trafficking of ghost guns?\n\nHow has the security crisis impacted U.S. efforts to trace and recover weapons in Haiti?\n\nPlease provide details about the personnel, budget, and other resources that BIS, CBP, HSI, and ATF have dedicated to addressing arms trafficking to Haiti, as well as any plans for increasing the resources allocated to this issue.\n\nPlease describe any resource constraints affecting U.S. efforts to control and oversee arms exports and weapons transfers to Haiti, including through end-use monitoring of weapons.\n\nHow has the Coordinator for Caribbean Firearms Prosecutions worked to elevate and coordinate investigations and prosecutions focused on straw purchases and arms trafficking to Haiti, including in cooperation with CARICOM?\n\nWhat steps is the Administration taking to monitor cargo worth less than $2,500 that passes through the Miami River?\n\nPlease describe ATF\u2019s plans for increasing public access to gun trace data, to the maximum extent permitted under the Tiahrt Amendment.\n\nWe appreciate your attention to this important matter.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-travels-with-presidential-delegation-to-inauguration-of-new-president-of-mexico", "Murphy Travels With Presidential Delegation To Inauguration Of New President Of Mexico", "2024-09-30", "2024", "2024-09", "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, a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Chairman of the U.S. Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, on Monday joined the U.S. Presidential Delegation to travel to Mexico City for the Inauguration of Claudia Sheinbaum, President-Elect of Mexico.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud to join First Lady Jill Biden on the Presidential Delegation attending the historic inauguration of Claudia Sheinbaum. The U.S. and Mexico share deep cultural and economic ties, and the strength of the U.S.-Mexico partnership directly impacts our ability to stop the flow of fentanyl into our country, combat gun trafficking, and humanely manage migration to our southern border. I look forward to working with President-elect Sheinbaum to advance our shared interests, deepen our economic cooperation, and reinforce our commitment to regional security.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-blumenthal-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-protect-voters-and-election-workers", "Murphy, Blumenthal, Colleagues Introduce Bill To Protect Voters And Election Workers", "2024-09-27", "2024", "2024-09", "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 U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and 7 other Members of Congress on Wednesday in introducing bicameral legislation to protect voters and election workers from intimidation and threats of violence at polling locations. The Freedom from Intimidation in Elections Act would help ensure every voter and election worker has the right to cast their ballot and conduct their official duties free from fear and intimidation.\n\nThe bill would update existing anti-intimidation provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to limit the presence of visible firearms at locations where voters cast their ballot or election workers perform their official duties, empowering poll workers and election officials to continue safely administering elections.\n\nThe right to vote is a central pillar of American democracy, but rising political violence against voters and poll workers threatens election security. False allegations of widespread voter fraud have further increased tensions at election centers. 38 percent of election workers have reported experiencing threats, harassment, or abuse as of May 2024.\n\n\u201cThe presence of firearms at polling places isn\u2019t just dangerous\u2014it\u2019s a direct threat to our democratic process. As armed extremists fueled by rumors and conspiracy theories increasingly show up at the polls to bully voters and election workers, our message is clear: intimidation has no place at the ballot box. This legislation would take important steps to ensure every American feels safe to make their voice heard on election day,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n\u201cWe must stop voter suppression and intimidation \u2013 threatening free, fair elections, which are the lifeblood of our democracy. Protecting election workers as well as voters from intimidation with firearms at the polls is basic democratic common sense. The growing dangers of political violence and extremist threats make this legislation all the more important,\u201d said Blumenthal.\n\n\u201cIn no corner of America should the fear of violence prevent voters from casting their ballot or keep elections workers from showing up to work,\u201d said Padilla. \u201cUnfortunately, we have a long, dark history of voter suppression and intimidation in America, reignited by partisan rhetoric and false narratives about election fraud. That\u2019s why our bicameral bill would keep visible firearms out of election centers to ensure election workers can do their jobs and all Americans feel safe exercising their right to vote.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, the Freedom from Intimidation in Elections Act would:\n\nAmend Section 11(b) of the Voting Rights Act to establish a rebuttable presumption that a person carrying a visible firearm while engaging in election-related activities is engaging in voter intimidation;\n\nProvide civil remedies for individuals who experience this type of intimidation, including an emergency injunction that would allow the voter or election official to carry out their duties in peace; and\n\nRecognize an exception for law enforcement officers acting within their official duties.\n\nU.S. Senators Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) also cosponsored the bill in the Senate. U.S. Representatives Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.-17) and Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.-25) cosponsored the bill in the House of Representatives.\n\nThe Freedom from Intimidation in Elections Act is endorsed by organizations including the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law, GIFFORDS, Newtown Action Alliance, Brady: United Against Gun Violence, Everytown for Gun Safety, March for Our Lives, Institute for Responsive Government, League of Conservation Voters, Center for American Progress, End Citizens United Action Fund, Common Cause, Defend the Vote Action Fund, Fair Elections Center, Democracy SENTRY, League of Women Voters, Public Citizen, Faith in Public Life Action, Sierra Club, and Voto Latino.\n\nFull text of the bill is available HERE. A one-pager on the bill is available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-hayes-31-colleagues-introduce-bicameral-student-food-security-act-to-address-food-insecurity-among-college-students", "Murphy, Hayes, 31 Colleagues Introduce Bicameral Student Food Security Act To Address Food Insecurity Among College Students", "2024-09-27", "2024", "2024-09", "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. Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.-05) joined 31 other members of Congress in reintroducing the Student Food Security Act of 2024, bicameral legislation to address food insecurity faced by college students across America.\n\nCollege students often face strict limits on their ability to access and use Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits unless they meet certain conditions, such as working more than 20 hours per week or having young children. These barriers ignore the reality of the college student population, a majority of whom are students older than 25 and independent from their parents who are often juggling school, work, and family responsibilities.\n\nThe Student Food Security Act of 2024 would support students facing food insecurity by expanding eligibility for SNAP, allowing students to use SNAP benefits at on-campus dining facilities, increasing outreach by federal and state agencies to food-insecure students, and establishing an annual grant program to aid colleges and universities in better identifying and serving students with food and housing needs.\n\nAccording to a recent survey, nearly 40% of community college students are food insecure, over half are housing insecure, and 18% have experienced homelessness. These factors negatively impact student success and graduation rates. A 2024 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report further revealed that nearly 3.8 million college students may face food insecurity, risking their college completion and undermining federal and state investments in higher education. The GAO report found that almost 60% of potentially eligible students were not enrolled in SNAP, highlighting how current eligibility requirements are leaving food-insecure students behind.\n\n\u201cStudents aren\u2019t learning when they\u2019re missing meals or living without stable housing,\u201d said Murphy. \u201cToo often, college students, many of whom are also working or supporting a family, can\u2019t pay rent or have to skip meals because they are trying to make ends meet while paying thousands for tuition and textbooks every semester. If we want these students to succeed, it's on us to make sure they have the basics to do so. Our legislation would expand SNAP eligibility requirements and help universities better address food and housing insecurity so students can focus on their education without having to making these unfair sacrifices.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor too long, students at colleges and universities have suffered food insecurity without proper support from federal and state governments. As we work to end hunger, it is crucial we invest in programs that provide college students with access to healthy, nutritious meals so they can succeed in the classroom and beyond,\u201d said Hayes. \u201cCollege students in my district and nationwide have asked for our help, and it is time we delivered. The Student Food Security Act is a comprehensive proposal to address food insecurity among college students by expanding access to SNAP, investing in outreach programs to meet students where they are, and investing $1 billion annually to ensure colleges and universities have the tools they need to help house and feed students in need.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, the Student Food Security Act would:\n\nIncrease the SNAP eligibility of low-income college students by expanding eligibility to students who qualify for work study, have a $0 Student Aid Index, meet the financial eligibility criteria for a maximum Pell Grant (even if they have not filed the FAFSA), or are an independent student whose household is otherwise eligible. This would make permanent an expansion of SNAP eligibility that was first enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.\n\nIncrease outreach to eligible students by directing the U.S. Department of Education to work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and other relevant agencies to notify students they may be eligible for benefits when they file their application for federal student aid.\n\nRequire the Department of Education to collect data on food and housing insecurity.\n\nCreate a SNAP student hunger demonstration program to allow students to use their SNAP benefits at on-campus dining facilities at up to ten institutions.\n\nEstablish a $1 billion per year grant program to help institutions of higher education identify and meet the basic needs of their students, such as food, housing, childcare, etc. Grants can be used for research, planning, and implementation of strategies\u2014educating students on federal, state, local, and tribal assistance programs. Institutions with increased numbers of Pell Grant recipients will be prioritized. At least 25% of grants must go to community colleges, and at least 25% must go to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities, and other Minority-Serving Institutions.\n\nU.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) also cosponsored the legislation in the Senate.\n\nU.S. Representatives Alma Adams (D-N.C.), Nanette Barrag\u00e1n (D-Calif.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cori Bush (D-Mo.), Troy Carter (D-La.), Jasmine Crockett (D-Tex.), Jonathan Jackson (D-Ill.), Henry C. \u201cHank\u201d Johnson, Jr. (D-Ga.), Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Kevin Mullin (D-Calif.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-Ala.), Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.), Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii), David Trone (D-Md.), Nydia M. Vel\u00e1zquez (D-N.Y.) co-sponsored the legislation in the House.\n\nA one-pager is available HERE. Full text of the bill is available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-and-delauro-refer-boars-head-to-doj-for-responsibility-in-listeria-outbreak-call-on-usda-to-bolster-oversight", "Blumenthal & DeLauro Refer Boar's Head to DOJ For Responsibility in Listeria Outbreak, Call on USDA to Bolster Oversight", "2024-09-26", "2024", "2024-09", "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 Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) today called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to hold Boar\u2019s Head Provisions Company, Inc. (Boar\u2019s Head) accountable for the Listeria outbreak linked to liverwurst deli meat produced at their Jarratt, Virginia plant. In a letter to USDA Secretary Thomas Vilsack and Attorney General Merrick Garland, Blumenthal urged USDA to work closely with the DOJ to determine whether to bring criminal charges against Boar\u2019s Head for their responsibility in the outbreak, which has caused 10 deaths and dozens of hospitalizations across the country. Blumenthal and DeLauro also urged USDA to strengthen its Listeria prevention protocols and investigate other Boar\u2019s Head locations for safety violations.\n\n\u201cThe time for action is long overdue, and we urge your agencies to work together to seek immediate justice for impacted consumers and to prevent this from happening again,\u201d wrote Blumenthal and DeLauro.\n\n\u201cMoving forward, it is critical that the agency take this matter seriously and take the necessary steps to address the concerns raised by this outbreak. That is why we urge USDA to work closely with the DOJ to determine whether to bring criminal charges against Boar\u2019s Head for their responsibility in this crisis,\u201d Blumenthal and DeLauro continued.\n\nBlumenthal and DeLauro also called on USDA to enhance its oversight of our food supply, \u201cWe also urge the agency to initiate reforms to prevent similar situations from recurring at other facilities. In particular, the agency should revisit its regulations requiring establishments to test for Listeria in the processing environment and consider ways to strengthen those requirements, including revisiting the agency\u2019s 2000 proposed rule requiring minimum sampling for Listeria on food contact surfaces.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe cannot let large corporations get away with endangering public health, it is imperative that we hold food companies to the highest standards so that Americans can feel safe shopping for groceries and feeding their families. Boar\u2019s Head must be held accountable, those impacted by this crisis deserve more than an apology, they deserve justice,\u201d Blumenthal and DeLauro concluded.\n\nThe full text of the letter is below and available here.\n\nWe write to urge the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to hold Boar\u2019s Head Provisions Company, Inc. (Boar\u2019s Head) accountable for the Listeria outbreak linked to liverwurst deli meat produced at their Jarratt, Virginia plant that has caused 10 deaths and 59 hospitalizations across 19 states, and to take immediate action to ensure that the failures responsible for this tragedy are not repeated. The New York Times recently reported that USDA inspectors warned that conditions at the Boar\u2019s Head plant posed an \u201cimminent threat to public health\u201d as early as 2022, and additional records show the alarming conditions continued in the years that followed. It is unacceptable that Boar\u2019s Head did not take sufficient action to rectify these conditions that resulted in repeated violations for similar issues. The time for action is long overdue, and we urge your agencies to work together to seek immediate justice for impacted consumers and to prevent this from happening again.\n\nAccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Listeria monocytogenes is a dangerous bacterium that can be especially harmful for pregnant women, individuals over the age of 65, and those who have a weakened immune system. A Listeria infection can be life threatening. That is why in 1989, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) at USDA declared Listeria monocytogenes an adulterant and established a zero-tolerance policy for the bacteria\u2019s presence in any product intended to be \u201cready to eat\u201d without additional cooking. The USDA also established clear requirements for sanitation to ensure that the bacteria does not contaminate such products and provided for escalating enforcement for violations of such rules, including the ability and discretion to shut down production. That is why it is baffling that inspectors at the Jarratt plant documented 84 noncompliances from June 2023 through this August, many of which indicated significant safety risks, and the agency failed to recognize the blatant pattern of violations or escalate to enforcement when Boar\u2019s Head safety officials failed to take adequate corrective actions necessary to prevent further risks.\n\nIt is painfully clear that by choosing not to aggressively ensure that safety standards were being followed, the USDA failed to uphold its congressional mandate. The agency allowed Boar\u2019s Head to put profits over people by producing what its fiduciaries surely knew were products that were at a high risk of adulteration due to the horrific conditions at the Jarratt plant. Years of inadequate response have led to safety conditions within the plant that are impossible to remedy easily, and as a result, Boar\u2019s Head recently decided to indefinitely shut down the plant, potentially leaving hundreds of workers in a small town unemployed.\n\nMoving forward, it is critical that the agency take this matter seriously and take the necessary steps to address the concerns raised by this outbreak. That is why we urge USDA to work closely with the DOJ to determine whether to bring criminal charges against Boar\u2019s Head for their responsibility in this crisis. If criminal charges lead to a consent decree, we urge the agency to include civil penalties for future infractions, enhanced sampling of products and contact surfaces for Listeria monocytogenes and Listeria species, enhanced sanitation commitments from Boar\u2019s Head, third party audits, additional risk-based USDA testing, and any additional remedies the agency deems necessary to ensure strict oversight and accountability.\n\nWe also urge the agency to initiate reforms to prevent similar situations from recurring at other facilities. In particular, the agency should revisit its regulations requiring establishments to test for Listeria in the processing environment and consider ways to strengthen those requirements, including revisiting the agency\u2019s 2000 proposed rule requiring minimum sampling for Listeria on food contact surfaces. The agency should also explore measures such as increased agency testing for Listeria, mandatory final product testing by establishments, reporting requirements for establishments that detect Listeria monocytogenes in final products, enhanced communication to escalate issues identified by inspectional staff, and automatic triggers to escalate regulatory penalties against establishments that, like Boar\u2019s Head, demonstrate a pattern of non-compliance with basic sanitation protocols. In this particular case, the USDA should also consider conducting vigorous inspections of all Boar\u2019s Head facilities to ensure that the practices at the Jarratt plant have not been replicated at other locations.\n\nWe cannot let large corporations get away with endangering public health, it is imperative that we hold food companies to the highest standards so that Americans can feel safe shopping for groceries and feeding their families. Boar\u2019s Head must be held accountable, those impacted by this crisis deserve more than an apology, they deserve justice.\n\nThank you for your attention to this matter. We look forward to working with you.\n\nSincerely,\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-blumenthal-announce-69-million-for-upgrades-to-cummings-park-west-beach-and-rockwell-park", "Murphy, Blumenthal Announce $6.9 Million For Upgrades To Cummings Park, West Beach, and Rockwell Park", "2024-09-26", "2024", "2024-09", "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 Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) on Thursday announced the National Park Service awarded the state of Connecticut a total of $6.9 million in federal grants to renovate recreation facilities and advance land conservation efforts. The grants are funded through the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) and will provide $5 million for improvements to Cummings Park and West Beach in Stamford, and $1.9 million for Rockwell Park in Bristol.\n\n\u201cPublic parks and beaches provide an important benefit to our communities because they\u2019re places where everyone can have fun, enjoy the outdoors, and connect with their neighbors. This $6.9 million in federal funding will help upgrade Cummings Park and West Beach in Stamford, and Rockwell Park in Bristol, to ensure more families have the opportunity to take advantage of our state\u2019s beaches, hiking trails, and green spaces,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n\u201cThis $6.9 million in federal funding will modernize and upgrade facilities at two of Connecticut\u2019s beautiful, beloved parks \u2013 Cummings Park and West Beach, and Rockwell Park. Ensuring that Connecticut residents have access to top notch outdoor spaces is vital to their health and well-being. I will continue to fight for investments in Connecticut\u2019s treasures and expanded access to outdoor recreation,\u201d said Blumenthal.\n\nThe ORLP program provides matching grants to cities for park projects in underserved communities. 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