{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-named-wounded-warrior-project-legislator-of-the-year", "Blumenthal Named Wounded Warrior Project Legislator of the Year", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, D.C.] \u2013 Earlier this week, Wounded Warrior Project recognized U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal as their 2026 Legislator of the Year in the U.S. Senate at their Courage Awards and Benefit Dinner. Wounded Warrior Project commended Blumenthal\u2019s leadership on the Major Richard Star Act and his advocacy for America\u2019s veterans as Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee.\n\n\u201cI am honored to receive the Legislator of the Year Award from Wounded Warrior Project\u2014fierce champions for veterans and their families across the nation,\u201d said Senator Blumenthal. \u201cTheir strong advocacy and partnership is critical in our work to make sure veterans receive the care and benefits they have earned and deserved. Together, we will continue the fight to pass the Major Richard Star Act, improve VA mental health care programs, and ensure a grateful nation lives up to its promises to veterans.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis award recognizes not only Senator Blumenthal\u2019s leadership, but also his steadfast commitment to our nation\u2019s veterans,\u201d said Jose Ramos, Vice President of Government and Community Relations for Wounded Warrior Project. \u201cThroughout his career, he has combined a deep understanding of the challenges veterans face with tireless advocacy to help improve the services and support veterans, their families, and caregivers rely on every day. All of us at Wounded Warrior Project are honored to celebrate his achievements and thank him for his efforts on behalf of those who have served.\u201d\n\nBlumenthal has worked for years alongside Wounded Warrior Project to expand veterans\u2019 access to health care and benefits. This includes championing provisions in the PACT Act to expand benefits, health care, and compensation for toxic-exposed veterans and working together to advance the Major Richard Star Act for combat-injured veterans. This week, the Major Richard Star Act received its 218th signature on a bipartisan discharge petition to force Speaker Johnson to bring the bill to the House floor for a vote. This Congress, Blumenthal and Wounded Warrior Project are also continuing their push to strengthen mental health care for veterans with Blumenthal\u2019s BRAVE Act and his bipartisan legislation to improve care and benefits for survivors of military sexual trauma.\n\nPictures of the award ceremony are available HERE.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-named-wounded-warrior-project-legislator-of-the-year"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.4622700400650501, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}