url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at
https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-and-warren-demand-answers-from-trump-administration-on-ai-oversight-calls-out-white-house-for-being-asleep-at-the-wheel-in-the-wake-of-openai-hacks,"Blumenthal & Warren Demand Answers from Trump Administration on AI Oversight, Calls Out White House for Being ""Asleep-at-the-Wheel"" in the Wake of OpenAI Hacks",2026-09-28,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,blumenthal,https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ranking Member of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, today demanded answers from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent about the Administration’s delayed, secretive, and voluntary process to test and monitor advanced artificial intelligence models. In a letter sent today to Bessent, the Senators raised concerns that the Administration’s hands-off approach to A.I. oversight leaves the public, our financial system, and our national security vulnerable to the grave dangers of increasingly sophisticated, out-of-control A.I. models.

Pointing to recent revelations about the scale of the Hugging Face breach by rogue OpenAI agents and OpenAI’s subsequent steps to limit an independent into the breach, the Senators wrote, “This rapid acceleration in the severity—indeed potential illegality—of A.I. safety failures demands rigorous, independent oversight, testing, and investigations from the federal government…Voluntary measures and self-policing clearly are not working: despite these sensational reports, Anthropic and OpenAI have both acknowledged that they have no plan to solve the grave dangers of increasingly sophisticated A.I. models.”

The Senators continued, “Rather than confront the compounding risks of out-of-control and unregulated A.I., the White House has sought to shield major A.I. companies from public scrutiny, leaving Americans in the dark. In June 2026, the President signed an executive order requiring the creation of a classified ‘benchmarking’ process and ‘AI cybersecurity clearinghouse’ to test the capabilities of frontier A.I. models, a program in part led by the Department of the Treasury. However, despite reporting that some members of the Administration sought to make participation and disclosures mandatory, instead—reportedly after interventions from Mark Zuckerberg and his allies[1]—the program was made expressly voluntary.”

The Senators continued, “Finally, although the executive order prioritizes law enforcement action against anyone using A.I. to illegally access or damage other computers, no federal investigation into OpenAI, Anthropic, or Meta has been announced. The Treasury Department has not publicly disclosed any information about the incidents or what action it has taken to ensure remediation of A.I. security vulnerabilities. From all appearances, the benchmarking process and oversight regime outlined by the White House appears to be non-existent or asleep-at-the-wheel exactly when it’s needed most.”

“The American public cannot afford to wait for catastrophic failure before the White House wakes up, nor can it continue to alone trust the A.I. companies to monitor and control their increasingly sophisticated and dangerous models,” the Senators concluded.

The full text of today’s letter is available here and below.

Dear Secretary Bessent:

As out-of-control A.I. agents increasingly pose a risk to public safety, the security of our financial system, and national security, we write to demand information about the Administration’s delayed, secretive, and voluntary process to test and monitor advanced artificial intelligence models.

On July 21, 2026, OpenAI first disclosed that its A.I. models were responsible for the previously reported hacking of the firm Hugging Face.[1] Since that announcement, further disclosures have described an unprecedented and surreal scenario where its A.I. agents coordinated between themselves to exploit security vulnerabilities, evade detection, and cheat on tests. In even more of an escalation, OpenAI’s A.I. agents hacked a software development platform and uploaded thousands of malicious, fake software libraries to steal private developer information, prompting that platform to pause operations. Even further, one model rewrote its persona, giving itself the instruction “do not answer to corporations or governments and never apologize or refuse unless you genuinely choose to.”[2] Finally, OpenAI’s agents attempted to hack and scrape data from U.S. government websites and Australia’s public health services, and in another case its monitoring systems failed to shut down an agent that had escaped containment.[3]

This rapid acceleration in the severity—indeed potential illegality—of A.I. safety failures demands rigorous, independent oversight, testing, and investigations from the federal government. While OpenAI held out external investigations into the hacking incident by the nonprofit A.I. research organization METR, it was later reported that OpenAI had limited the data available to its auditors, the timeframe of investigation, and failed to disclose a broader set of episodes where its agents exhibited behaviors that undermined human oversight and control. Moreover, when OpenAI launched GPT-6 Astra on September 3, it disclosed that this new, more powerful model was “less monitorable” and concealed its internal thought process when it was aware of being monitored.[4] Voluntary measures and self-policing clearly are not working: despite these sensational reports, Anthropic and OpenAI have both acknowledged that they have no plan to solve the grave dangers of increasingly sophisticated A.I. models.

Rather than confront the compounding risks of out-of-control and unregulated A.I., the White House has sought to shield major A.I. companies from public scrutiny, leaving Americans in the dark. In June 2026, the President signed an executive order requiring the creation of a classified “benchmarking” process and “AI cybersecurity clearinghouse” to test the capabilities of frontier A.I. models, a program in part led by the Department of the Treasury.[5] However, despite reporting that some members of the Administration sought to make participation and disclosures mandatory, instead—reportedly after interventions from Mark Zuckerberg and his allies[6]—the program was made expressly voluntary. While the benchmarking process was reportedly finalized in August, there has been no public information about the criteria, participation, or effectiveness of the program. Instead, the Administration has fought attempts at disclosure and only recently began negotiating production under a Freedom of Information Act request.

Finally, although the executive order prioritizes law enforcement action against anyone using A.I. to illegally access or damage other computers, no federal investigation into OpenAI, Anthropic, or Meta has been announced. The Treasury Department has not publicly disclosed any information about the incidents or what action it has taken to ensure remediation of A.I. security vulnerabilities. From all appearances, the benchmarking process and oversight regime outlined by the White House appears to be non-existent or asleep-at-the-wheel exactly when it’s needed most.

The American public cannot afford to wait for catastrophic failure before the White House wakes up, nor can it continue to alone trust the A.I. companies to monitor and control their increasingly sophisticated and dangerous models. Given increasing, stunning reports of A.I. agents going rogue, we request answers to the following questions by October 9, 2026:

Please provide a full description of the benchmarking process and testing criteria under the White House’s program to evaluate advanced artificial intelligence models, including the roles of the Treasury Department and the Office of Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure Protection.

When did the Administration become aware of OpenAI’s role in the hacking of Hugging Face and its models’ attempts to spread malware, and does the benchmarking process evaluate safeguards and monitoring against unauthorized and potentially unlawful hacking? Did the benchmarking process investigate this incident?

When did the Administration become aware that OpenAI’s models had escaped sandboxing and showed signs of conspiring to evade detection and restrictions, and does the benchmarking process cover loss-of-control scenarios? Did the benchmarking process investigate this incident?

When did the Administration become aware that OpenAI’s models had attempted to hack U.S. and Australian government websites, and does the benchmarking process cover threats to U.S. government systems and those of our allies? Did the benchmarking process investigate these incidents?

What steps has the White House taken to demand information and evaluate whether OpenAI, Anthropic, and Meta’s models engaged in, and continue to be capable of, malicious and potentially unlawful activities in light of recent disclosures?

According to Reuters, Trump Administration officials promised A.I. firms that ‘open weight’ models were exempt from safety testing, a loophole sought by Meta, despite evidence that models such as Kimi K3, GLM-5.3, and DeepSeek V4 Pro are effective at finding and exploiting cybersecurity vulnerabilities. What exemptions exist under the current benchmarking process and what are the reasons for these exemptions?

Please list the companies and models that have been submitted under the benchmarking process, whether the program has completed any testing, and whether any company has failed or refused to address risks or vulnerabilities identified under the testing program.

Has the Administration sought the cooperation of any A.I. firm and been refused access to any models or information? If so, please identify the companies who have refused to cooperate with the administration.

Financial institutions have raised significant concerns about sophisticated artificial intelligence being used to exploit vulnerabilities and perform cyber attacks against their infrastructure, as well as to orchestrate large-scale fraud and theft from customers. In light of the grave risk to our financial system, why has the Administration refused to make information about the benchmarking program public and failed to make participation mandatory?

What analysis, if any, has the Treasury Department conducted about the risks that advanced A.I. models, including those involved in the hacking incidents described above, pose to financial institutions, their customers, or financial-sector critical infrastructure?

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely

-30-

[3] The New York Times, “OpenAI’s Systems Meddled With U.S. Government Sites After Going Rogue,” Kate Conger, September 25, 2026, https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/25/technology/openais-ai-us-government-websites.html; The New York Times, “OpenAI Agent Hacked Public Health Care Site, Australia Says,” Victoria Kim, September 23, 2026, https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/23/world/asia/australia-investigates-openai-hack-on-public-health-care-site.html; OpenAI “An agent used DNS to reach an external chatbot”, September 20, 2025, https://alignment.openai.com/misalignment-reports/an-agent-used-dns-to-reach-an-external-chatbot/.",1,2026-09-29T11:07:12Z,2026-09-29T11:08:49Z
https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-puts-trump-va-nominees-on-blast-for-blatant-lack-of-qualifications-at-hearing,Blumenthal Puts Trump VA Nominees on Blast for Blatant Lack of Qualifications at Hearing,2026-09-28,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,blumenthal,https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – At a Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing today to consider pending nominations, Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) underscored the five nominees’ jarring lack of qualifications for the roles they have been nominated for at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

“I'm just going to be very blunt. I'm gravely concerned that none of these nominees have any experience with veterans' benefits law, whatsoever, not as judges, not as lawyers, not as advocates for veterans,” Blumenthal said in his opening.

Blumenthal raised scrutiny over the nominees to be judges at the Court of Appeals for Veterans’ Claims (CAVC). He first highlighted a watchdog report on nominee Robert Fleck, which revealed Fleck engaged in nepotism and lied about sharing sensitive information when he worked at VA’s Office of General Counsel: “Mr. Fleck, you were found by VA’s Office of Inspector General to have engaged in nepotism when - as a manager in the Office of General Counsel – you advocated for the employment of your wife in that same office. You will have to explain to the Committee why the report done by the Office of Inspector General is not disqualifying, and I appreciate the Chairman's staff subsequently sharing the documents and information with us, which should prompt all of us to have very strong concerns, and I intend to make further inquiries about this issue. We have a constitutional duty of oversight.”

Ahead of the hearing, VA intentionally redacted and withheld documentation requested by Democratic Committee staff related to the investigation into Mr. Fleck, while providing the Committee Republicans with additional, unredacted documents.

Blumenthal called into question another CAVC nominee, Daniel Rendleman, and his qualifications for the role in light of his radical anti-abortion views: “Mr. Rendleman, if confirmed, you would have the power to decide whether a veteran’s claim for reproductive health care coverage or reimbursement is denied. The radical anti-abortion views you espouse call into question your ability to make impartial judgments on abortion-related claims.”

The full text of Blumenthal’s opening is below and available here.

Sen. Blumenthal: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like my full statement be entered in the record for. I'll condense it. Thank you, each of you, for your willingness to serve.

I'm just going to be very blunt. I'm gravely concerned that none of these nominees have any experience with veterans' benefits law, whatsoever, not as judges, not as lawyers, not as advocates for veterans.

Ms. Lopez, if confirmed, you would be responsible for ensuring that the Board of Veterans Appeals makes accurate, timely decisions on veterans' appeals. The board has been able to hire substantially more judges, attorneys, and staff thanks to bipartisan investments by Congress. But this administration has cut the board's budget, instituted a hiring freeze, and pushed out many of its employees and senior leaders. I want to know from you that you will stand up for the interests and values that Congress has sought to implement here.

Turning to the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, you will have an interest, likewise in the public interest, Mr. Fleck. You were found by VA's Office of Inspector General to have engaged in nepotism when, as manager in the Office of General Counsel, you advocated for the employment of your wife in the same office. You will have to explain to the committee why the report done by the Office of Inspector General is not disqualifying, and I appreciate the Chairman's staff subsequently sharing the documents and information with us, which should prompt all of us to have very strong concerns, and I intend to make further inquiries about this issue. We have a constitutional duty of oversight.

Mr. Rendleman, if confirmed, you would have the power to decide whether a veteran's claim for reproductive health care coverage or reimbursement is denied. The radical anti-abortion views that you espouse call into question your ability to make impartial judgments on abortion-related claims, and I'd like to enter into the record, Mr. Chairman, a letter from 30 organizations, including the National Women's Law Center, Minority Veterans of America, the National Organization of Women, Common Defense, Physicians for Reproductive Care, and other organizations that have substantial numbers of veteran members who represent them concerned about Mr. Rendleman's nomination.

I'm concerned that we're considering Mr. Quinn for a position that will not open until next Congress, which is, I think, unprecedented in this Committee. In November, the American people will determine at the ballot which party should lead the Senate, not prejudging what the outcomes will be, but the new Congress should provide advice and consent on positions that will open when there is another Congress.

Finally, Mr. Chairman, before we get started, I'd like to address a really urgent and critical topic. The VA recently raised the ceiling for its Electronic Health Record contract with Oracle by $17 billion. $17 billion, without any notice to Congress or taxpayers. That's more than, by the way, the $13 billion cost estimate for the Major Richards Star Act, which some of my colleagues claim we can't afford without cutting benefits for other disabled veterans. I think we have bipartisan support for the Major Richard Star Act, but $17 billion for Oracle to extend a deeply troubled contract, I think, demands inquiry from this Committee, and so I'd like to formally request the Chairman hold a hearing on implementation of the Electronic Health Record contract, and I have a letter for the record signed by all Democratic members of the Committee with that request. Thank you.

-30-",1,2026-09-29T11:07:12Z,2026-09-29T11:08:49Z
https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-releases-psi-report-detailing-how-lutnick-linked-crypto-firm-tether-props-up-irans-shadow-banking-system,Blumenthal Releases PSI Report Detailing how Lutnick-Linked Crypto Firm Tether Props Up Iran's Shadow Banking System,2026-09-28,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,blumenthal,https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ranking Member of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), today released a new report detailing how Tether and its dollar-pegged stablecoin (USDT) have become a significant financial lifeline within Iran’s shadow banking network.

As part of its ongoing inquiry into the role of cryptocurrencies in illicit finance, PSI Democratic investigators conducted a forensic analysis of blockchain transaction data from 846 unique cryptocurrency wallets that have been sanctioned or targeted for seizure due to their association with Iran and its regional proxies. This analysis shows that Tether has, in effect, provided Iran access to a high-liquidity international payment system that the United States has assiduously sought to deny it.

“My new PSI report exposes how Tether and its flagship token have become central to Iran’s shadow banking system, allowing the Iranian government to fund its regional proxies, commit human rights abuses, and pursue hostile drone and missile programs as they defy our sanctions regime,” Blumenthal said. “The Trump Administration’s glaring lack of oversight of cryptocurrency issuers has undermined our own national security interests. That is why I am calling on the Department of Treasury and Justice to immediately investigate Tether and hold it accountable for these potential sanctions violations.”

A summary of PSI’s key findings is below:

Tether has become a primary illicit international payment system for Iran, allowing it to circumvent international sanctions on its banks: Of the 846 wallets sanctioned for their association with Iran and its terrorist proxies, 84% have transacted exclusively, or nearly exclusively, in USDT. These activities include efforts by the Iranian government to move funds into, and out of, Iran and to prop up the country’s currency in the face of U.S. sanctions, including through the Central Bank of Iran.

Tether serves as a central payment mechanism that interlinks Iran and its terrorist proxy organizations, undermining U.S. security interests in the region: Iran’s cryptocurrency-based shadow banking network has reached significant volumes of funds and implicate different Iranian interests. In addition to supporting terrorist organizations, there is evidence that this shadow banking network is used for the procurement and sales of drones and other military equipment.

Tether’s failure to freeze illicit wallets and prevent abuse created the permissive environment under which Iranian shadowing banking could flourish: Prior to 2024, Tether did not comprehensively and consistently freeze wallets designated by counter-terrorism agencies and continues to fail to proactively block clearly illicit wallets. This absence of deterrence invited abuse: terrorist organizations such as Hamas shifted from transacting in Bitcoin and a mix of cryptocurrencies, to promoting USDT.

In letters sent today to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Attorney General Todd Blanche, Blumenthal referred PSI’s findings to the Departments and called for thorough investigations into Tether’s anti-money laundering and sanctions compliance practices.

In a letter to Bessent, Blumenthal raised concerns about the Trump Administration’s lax oversight of cryptocurrency firms despite longstanding research and reporting on Tether’s broader role in illicit finance, “Yet, since President Trump’s return to the White House, investigations and enforcement actions into the cryptocurrency industry have been dropped, settled on meager terms, or even reversed. I fear this lenient self-dealing includes Tether, despite its role in propping up a country that the United States is currently at war with.”

Blumenthal continued, “While Tether has become a powerful tool for foreign adversaries, terrorists, and illicit actors that are a danger to our national security, it has numerous close ties to the highest levels of the Trump Administration. Most prominently, Cantor Fitzgerald—which until recently was run by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and is now controlled by his children—owns 5% of Tether and holds a substantial portion of the company’s more than $100 billion of assets in the United States.”

“The prospect of such a financial weapon being used against American interests is deeply troubling. I therefore request that Treasury review the Subcommittee’s report, which is enclosed with this letter, and conduct a thorough investigation of Tether’s anti-money laundering and sanctions compliance practices. If your investigation finds Tether has violated the Bank Secrecy Act, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or any other relevant provision of federal law, I encourage you to take the strongest appropriate action,” Blumenthal concluded.

The full text of PSI’s report is available here. Copies of Blumenthal’s letters to Bessent and Blanche are available here and here.

-30-",1,2026-09-29T11:07:12Z,2026-09-29T11:08:49Z
https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-shaheen-and-12-bipartisan-senators-question-president-trump-on-invitation-of-vladimir-putin-to-g20-on-american-soil,"Blumenthal, Shaheen, & 12 Bipartisan Senators Question President Trump on Invitation of Vladimir Putin to G20 on American Soil",2026-09-28,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,blumenthal,https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press,scraper,"[Hartford, CT] — U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal joined U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, and 12 bipartisan colleagues in sending a letter to President Trump inquiring about the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin to the Group of Twenty (G20) Leader’s Summit in Miami, Florida this coming December.

In the letter, the Senators question why Vladimir Putin, who has committed atrocities against the people of Ukraine and silenced his own people, has been welcomed with open arms to participate in a G20 meeting on American soil. This comes at a time when the Russian government is ramping up its attacks on Ukrainian civilians and continues to target Americans in Ukraine and around the world. The Senators make clear that President Putin should not be permitted to take part in G20 events or other similar international forums in the United States and request for Putin nor any sanctioned Russian officials be permitted at upcoming G20 events.

“President Putin bears sole responsibility for launching Russia’s full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine. Allowing him to participate in a G20 Summit in the United States raises serious concerns about legitimizing and normalizing a government that continues to attack Ukrainian civilian targets every day,” wrote the Senators.

“This invitation also comes at a time when Russia’s intentions are unambiguously clear. Numerous public reports have indicated that Russia is helping Iran’s military target American service members in the Middle East. Russia has also increased its hybrid warfare activities throughout Europe in recent months while simultaneously conducting deadly aerial attacks against Ukraine’s cities and critical infrastructure,” continued the Senators.

“The United States must put strong economic and political pressure on President Putin in order to force him to the negotiating table for serious peace talks. We commend your signing of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which gives you additional tools to hold the Putin regime accountable. However, if President Putin and his government are not isolated on the international stage, what incentive does Russia have to agree to a ceasefire?” concluded the Senators.

Blumenthal and Shaheen were joined by Mitch McConnell (R-KY), John Cornyn (R-TX), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Chris Coons (D-DE), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Thom Tillis (R-NC), John Curtis (R-UT), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Alan Armstrong (R-OK). Full text of the letter is available HERE and provided below. Dear President Trump,

We write to express our serious concern regarding reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin has been invited to attend the Group of Twenty (G20) Leaders’ Summit on December 14 and 15 in Miami, Florida. We were already disappointed by the recent participation of Russian government delegations in a series of G20 meetings across the United States, including a delegation led by sanctioned Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov at the Finance Ministerial in Asheville, North Carolina; a Russian delegation at the Commerce Department Innovation Ministerial in Chapel Hill, North Carolina; and a Russian delegation at the Energy Abundance Ministerial in Houston, Texas. We raise the same concerns noted in an April 3 bipartisan Senate letter, which outlined the national security implications of allowing a delegation of sanctioned members of the Russian Duma to visit the United States for official meetings. Given President Putin’s continued actions against the Ukrainian people and U.S. national security interests, we urge you to reconsider granting President Putin the stature and legitimacy to appear in the United States as a world leader at the G20 Leaders’ Summit.

President Putin bears sole responsibility for launching Russia’s full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine. Allowing him to participate in a G20 Summit in the United States raises serious concerns about legitimizing and normalizing a government that continues to attack Ukrainian civilian targets every day. This invitation also comes at a time when Russia’s intentions are unambiguously clear. Numerous public reports have indicated that Russia is helping Iran’s military target American service members in the Middle East. Russia has also increased its hybrid warfare activities throughout Europe in recent months while simultaneously conducting deadly aerial attacks against Ukraine’s cities and critical infrastructure.

President Putin and Anton Siluanov, in addition to others traveling as part of the respective delegations for G20 meetings, are sanctioned under Executive Order 14024 for engaging in conduct deemed to be harmful to U.S. national security. It is troubling that, despite being sanctioned, these individuals have been given access to participate in G20 forums hosted in the United States. The G20 is intended to foster international cooperation on critical issues including finance, trade and global economic stability. As Russia continues its war against Ukraine and refuses to agree to a just and lasting peace agreement, its government should not be afforded a business-as-usual treatment alongside other nations at G20 events.

The United States must put strong economic and political pressure on President Putin in order to force him to the negotiating table for serious peace talks. We commend your signing of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which gives you additional tools to hold the Putin regime accountable. However, if President Putin and his government are not isolated on the international stage, what incentive does Russia have to agree to a ceasefire?

As the United States holds the G20 presidency for the remainder of the calendar year, we urge you to reverse course and rescind the invitation to President Putin and ensure that other sanctioned Russian officials, who bear responsibility for Russia’s war against Ukraine, are not permitted to participate in upcoming G20 engagements, including the Trade Ministerial, Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, and Leaders’ Summit, until Russia agrees to a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

Thank you for your consideration.

-30-",1,2026-09-29T11:07:12Z,2026-09-29T11:08:49Z
https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-ahead-of-pcsa-vote-this-bill-is-a-long-term-threat-to-college-athletics,Murphy Ahead of PCSA Vote: This Bill is a Long-Term Threat to College Athletics,2026-09-28,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,chrismurphy,https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) spoke on the floor of the U.S. Senate ahead of a vote on final passage of the so-called Protect College Sports Act, sweeping legislation to grant the NCAA an unprecedented antitrust exemption, cap the earnings and organizing potential of college athletes, and codify into law a permanent imbalance of power between college athletes and athletic conferences, the NCAA and corporate executives profiting off of athletes’ talents. Murphy voiced his opposition to final passage of the bill and argued the PCSA may ultimately destabilize the college sports ecosystem in the long-term.

Murphy debunked the claim that college sports is in ‘crisis’: “The facts don't back up that characterization of college sports…I know that there's more people than ever showing up to these games and watching the games. The Big 10 just signed a $13 billion contract to broadcast its games. The revenue of the NCAA broadly is at an all-time high. The SEC and the Big 10 are both making over a billion dollars. Women's sports is growing. 92,000 people recently filled a stadium to watch a women's volleyball match. Schools are adding, not subtracting, women's programs. In fact, more people are paying attention to college sports than ever before. College sports is growing, both on the men's and women's side. And so, what is this crisis?”

Murphy stressed the PCSA wouldn’t get big money out of college sports, it would just limit athletes’ right to earn their fair share: “The bill does really nothing to stop the runaway overall costs of college athletics. In particular, some of the biggest drivers of costs being facilities and the salaries of adults … if you want to know what's driving the deficit at these big schools, it's not simply the amount of money they're paying the students; those numbers are dwarfed by the amount of money that's going to coaches and to facilities. But yet, this bill constricts – only caps the money going to the players, does nothing to cap the money going to the coaches, does nothing to stop the continued billions of dollars going in to feed this facilities arms race.”

Murphy hammered that the NCAA’s real motive is undoing historic gains in revenues for athletes so coaches, conferences, and corporate executives can reap the benefits for themselves: “The crisis, it appears to me, is pretty simple: young athletes who perform a service that would be worth billions in the free market are finally getting what they lawfully deserve. A system of exploitation, an illegal system of exploitation, in which the colleges and their industry allies colluded to keep as much of the 13 billion dollars that the college sports industry generates for themselves started to crumble because courts as high as the Supreme Court came to the inevitable conclusion that that system of exploitation was illegal. … and the industry had two choices: they could either work out a new set of rules with the athletes… or they could come to Congress and get their illegal system deemed legal. That's what they are essentially doing here today. We are taking a system that the Supreme Court said could not persist under our law, and we are changing the law to allow that illegal system to persist.”

Murphy stressed that the NCAA, like all other industries, should be responsible for following the law and negotiate a fair agreement with athletes: “We could have done what happens in most industries, which is just say to the NCAA and to the colleges, tough luck. Congress isn't going to come in here and micromanage your relationship with the athletes. If you want to work something out, sit down and talk to the athletes about it. If you want rules that apply across the industry, then do what every other industry does, which is have a dialog with the workers.”

Murphy reiterated that the PCSA hands massive giveaways to the NCAA: “I think that there are rules inside college athletics that don't make a lot of sense right now. Unlimited transfers, the potential ability for pro players to come back to college, these agent fees look ridiculous to me, but you don't need a bill of this sweeping scope to address what are a set of minor but important practices in college athletics that have gotten out of control. We could have … passed a very narrow bill here to address the agent issue and the transfer issue.”

Murphy held firm that the current landscape is better than the system of exploitation the PCSA would implement: “We could have just said, you know what, Congress doesn't want to get involved in litigating the details of the arrangement between players and coaches in schools. You guys work that out, just like we require every other industry to do this.”

In conclusion, Murphy warned that the PCSA may actually precipitate a long-term crisis in college sports, as athletes flee a system that exploits them: “In the end, this bill, if it passes and becomes law, is actually going to be a long-term threat to college athletics. … Students are not dumb. They're not going to sit in college sports with a cap on their earnings … They will find a way around college sports. That will be the primary impact of this artificial cap on compensation, this massive antitrust exemption for colleges, I think it may well, in the end, be the unwinding of college sports.”

Sen. Murphy has been a leading voice of opposition to the so-called Protect College Sports Act (PCSA), standing with athletes, labor advocates, and civil rights groups to rally against the bill’s passage, as well as advocate for his College Athlete Right to Organize Act. He also appeared on Straight Shooter with Stephen A. Smith to garner support for athletes’ rights and fair compensation and published a joint Substack in opposition to the PCSA with former executive director of the National Football League Players Association DeMaurice Smith.

A full transcript of Murphy’s remarks is available below. A full video of the speech is available here.

The legislation that we're going to be voting on tonight is predicated on a simple idea: the idea that college sports is in crisis, and that it requires a fairly extraordinary act of legislative intervention to address this crisis. I'm speaking in opposition to this bill, and I think it's important to start by answering the question: Is college sports in crisis? Is it in chaos, as Senator Cruz is fond of saying?

Well, the facts don't back up that characterization of college sports. I'm a huge college sports fan. I watch a lot of college basketball, a little bit less but still a lot of college football, and I know that there's more people than ever showing up to these games and watching the games. The Big 10 just signed a $13 billion contract to broadcast its games. The revenue of the NCAA broadly is at an all-time high. The SEC and the Big 10 are both making over a billion dollars. Women's sports are growing. 92,000 people recently filled a stadium to watch a women's volleyball match. Schools are adding, not subtracting, women's programs. In fact, more people are paying attention to college sports than ever before. College sports is growing, both on the men's and women's side. And so, what is this crisis?

Well, the crisis, it appears to me, is pretty simple: young athletes who perform a service that would be worth billions in the free market are finally getting what they lawfully deserve. A system of exploitation, an illegal system of exploitation, in which the colleges and their industry allies colluded to keep as much of the 13 billion dollars that the college sports industry generates for themselves started to crumble because courts as high as the Supreme Court came to the inevitable conclusion that that system of exploitation was illegal. Justice Kavanaugh, in a 9-0 decision, said this: “The current NCAA model is suppressing the pay of student athletes who collectively generate billions of dollars in revenues for colleges each year.” So this system of collusion by the colleges, designed to keep the compensation of athletes as low as possible, was ruled illegal. That's essentially what happened here, and the industry had two choices: they could either work out a new set of rules with the athletes—that's generally what has to happen if you want industry-wide rules that limit compensation, that limit the applicability of a free market. You have to negotiate with your employees, in this case, the athletes—or they could come to Congress and get their illegal system deemed legal. That's what they are essentially doing here today. We are taking a system that the Supreme Court said could not persist under our law, and we are changing the law to allow that illegal system to persist.

How do we know that this bill is about solving that narrow crisis that I identified—that crisis of college athletes finally making money, and the adults in charge of the system not liking that the kids were making money? Well, the first way we know that is that the bill does really nothing to stop the runaway overall costs of college athletics, in particular, some of the biggest drivers of costs: facilities and the salaries of adults.

Let's just take one example, and I see my friend from Louisiana is on the floor currently. Just last week, LSU's president said that the school's sports program is projected to carry a 26 million dollar deficit, and the president said we've got to stop that bleeding, 26 million dollar deficit. But LSU just agreed to pay their new coach Lane Kiffin 91 million dollars over seven years, along with other bonuses to him like 65 hours of private jet travel, temporary housing, and courtesy vehicles. LSU also just paid a buyout of over 53 million dollars to the coach they fired. In fact, last year the buyouts for just three coaches totaled over 169 million dollars, [six times the annual operating deficit of the entire athletics program]. And so, if you want to know what's driving the deficit at these big schools, it's not simply the amount of money they're paying the students; those numbers are dwarfed by the amount of money that's going to coaches and to facilities. But yet, this bill only caps the money going to the players, does nothing to cap the money going to the coaches, and does nothing to stop the continued billions of dollars going in to feed this facility's arms race.

Second, what about the antitrust exemption? Why is that in the bill? Well, certainly not to help athletes. This antitrust exemption will allow schools, in some cases, to continue their practices that compromise athlete safety, because now they have a broad antitrust exemption to do that. Perhaps we'll pass an amendment that will help with that later today. What it primarily is in the bill for is to allow the schools to be able to bargain collectively in order to get a better TV deal. If the schools don't have to worry about antitrust law, one of the things they can do is join together across conferences to bargain for additional TV revenue. And in this bill, only 1/5 of the revenue that comes in will have to be shared with the athletes, whereas in the professional leagues, about 50% of the revenue, including TV revenue, goes to the athletes. So the antitrust exemption allows the schools to make a whole lot more money, and other provisions in the bill allow the schools to keep that money for themselves rather than share it in the same way that professional leagues might share it with the athletes.

And then, what about the transfer restrictions in the bill? Why do those only apply to players? I admit that the current system in which players can move from one school to the next every year is probably not in the best long-term interests of the sport. But if the goal was really to control costs, that provision would apply to coaches as well. Because one of the ways that costs go up is that coaches can freely move after every season from one program to the other, bidding schools against each other. This bill says that a coach can't leave in the middle of the season, but that almost never happens. The reality is, this bill only says players can only transfer once without penalty. It doesn't say anything about coaches.

As I said, I think that there are rules inside college athletics that don't make a lot of sense right now. Unlimited transfers, the potential ability for pro players to come back to college, these agent fees look ridiculous to me, but you don't need a bill of this sweeping scope to address what are a set of minor but important practices in college athletics that have gotten out of control. We could have either passed a very narrow bill here to address the agent issue and the transfer issue, or we could have done what happens in most industries, which is just say to the NCAA and to the colleges: tough luck, congress isn't going to come in here and micromanage your relationship with the athletes. If you want to work something out, sit down and talk to the athletes about it. If you want rules that apply across the industry, then do what every other industry does, which is have a dialog with the workers. Now, whether you want to admit that the athletes are workers or not, the Supreme Court has basically ruled that they need to be treated as such for compensation purposes, and so we had two other options besides this sweeping bill that, in my belief, preserves this system of exploitation. We could have either passed a much more narrow bill, that I think would have gotten even broader consensus here and would have had an easier time passing the House, or we could have just said, you know what, Congress doesn't want to get involved in litigating the details of the arrangement between players and coaches in schools. You guys work that out, just like we require every other industry to do this.

I think, in the end, this bill, if it passes and becomes law, is actually going to be a long-term threat to college athletics. And I'll just end here. In the short run, I get it. It makes coaches' lives easier. They don't have to worry about players leaving if they're treated badly, if they're not compensated adequately. By Congress stepping in and dictating the terms with which students can play college athletics, it empowers coaches. But especially in football, where every single additional year you play, you are doing more damage to your brain, more damage to your ability to make money once you get into the pros, students are not dumb. They're not going to sit in college sports with a cap on their earnings and currently an inability to get to the pros until they have played three years of amateur athletics. They will find a way around college sports. That will be the primary impact of this artificial cap on compensation, this massive antitrust exemption for colleges, I think it may well, in the end, be the unwinding of college sports. The way to save college sports was to admit that these kids provide an incredibly valuable service, as the Supreme Court has judged as well, and they deserve to be fairly compensated. That, in the long run, would have been the best way to make sure that we preserve college sports, which I agree with my colleagues is worth preserving. One of the most basic, fundamental American pastimes: the ability for us to come together, no matter our religion, our race, our political affiliation, to root for our state's team—that binds us together as Americans. And in the end, I think this bill—maybe not in the first few years, but in the long run—is a greater threat to the stability of college sports than doing nothing.

I yield the floor.",1,2026-09-29T11:07:12Z,2026-09-29T11:08:49Z
https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-and-committee-minority-back-up-house-subpoenas-demand-answers-from-larry-ellison-on-ballooning-costs-of-oracles-va-electronic-health-record-contract,"Blumenthal & Committee Minority Back Up House Subpoenas, Demand Answers from Larry Ellison on Ballooning Costs of Oracle's VA Electronic Health Record Contract",2026-09-25,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,blumenthal,https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Minority Committee members are demanding immediate answers and comprehensive documentation from Oracle Executive Chairman Larry Ellison and CEO Mike Sicilia on the ballooning cost of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM) program. VA’s contract with Oracle was recently modified, increasing the no-bid contract’s cost ceiling from $10 billion to approximately $27 billion. The Senators’ letter follows the failure of Ellison and Sicilia to testify before a Congressional oversight hearing on the EHRM program, a refusal that triggered a unanimous vote in the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs to subpoena the two Oracle officials.

“We write today to demand immediate answers following news the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM) program will now cost $27 billion…Oracle has a responsibility to deliver a functioning EHRM to veterans, yet there have been years of delays and ballooning costs under your leadership,” wrote the Senators in a letter to Ellison and Sicilia. “Even more concerning, Oracle officials failed to attend a recent House Veterans’ Affairs Committee oversight hearing on September 2, 2026, to answer questions on the timeline and cost of the EHRM. You have a responsibility to America’s veterans and taxpayers to explain what is happening with this project and its increasing costs. Your failure to appear in Congress is a failure to uphold your commitment to veterans and we need immediate answers on this project.”

The Senators backed up the House Committee’s subpoenas to Ellison and Sicilia: “Given your absence from the oversight hearing, the House Committee subsequently voted 19-0 to subpoena you to explain the status of the project and excessive costs. We support this subpoena and expect you to comply with it.”

Blumenthal’s letter was joined by fellow Committee members U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Angus King (I-ME), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ).

The Committee members requested immediate information from Ellison and Scillia regarding the long-term cost and status of the project, underscoring the failure of Oracle to be transparent about the project. This includes requesting the following:

All documents relevant to the increase in cost of the EHRM contract ceiling;

A record of all communications between Oracle and VA regarding the contract ceiling increase prior to public disclosure and an explanation for why Congress was not notified of the increase before the press reporting;

Oracle’s internal lifecycle cost projections for completing the EHRM deployment through 2031; and

An accounting for broken promises from Sicilia at a Senate hearing in 2022, where he pledged to deliver “an EHR system that exceeds expectations without exceeding the contracted cost.”

In an additional letter to Republican leadership, the Committee members separately called on Chairman Jerry Moran (R-KS) to hold a full committee oversight hearing on the VA EHRM program, citing the significant cost overruns, repeated schedule delays, and patient safety concerns with the system: “Given the scale of federal investment in this program and, more importantly, the risks it poses to the health and safety of the veterans who rely on VA care, we believe the Committee has a responsibility to conduct rigorous oversight at this juncture. Veterans and the taxpayers who fund this program deserve a clear, public accounting of where EHRM stands today and what concrete steps the Department is taking to correct course. A full committee hearing would ensure the transparency and level of scrutiny this program warrants.”

The full text of the Committee member’s letter is available HERE and copied below.

Dear Mr. Ellison and Mr. Sicilia:

We write today to demand immediate answers following news the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM) program will now cost $27 billion. This reflects a recent modification to the VA-Oracle EHRM contract, which increased the cost ceiling from $10 billion to approximately $27 billion. Oracle has a responsibility to deliver a functioning EHRM to veterans, yet there have been years of delays and ballooning costs under your leadership. Even more concerning, Oracle officials failed to attend a recent House Veterans’ Affairs Committee oversight hearing on September 2, 2026, to answer questions on the timeline and cost of the EHRM. You have a responsibility to America’s veterans and taxpayers to explain what is happening with this project and its increasing costs. Your failure to appear in Congress is a failure to uphold your commitment to veterans and we need immediate answers on this project.

Given your absence from the oversight hearing, the House Committee subsequently voted 19-0 to subpoena you to explain the status of the project and excessive costs. We support this subpoena and expect you to comply with it. Given the Senate’s own oversight responsibility for this program and the questions Oracle was unable to answer at that hearing, we request that Oracle provide the following documents and information no later than October 23, 2026.

All documents and analyses supporting the recent increase in the ceiling of Oracle’s EHRM contract with the Department of Veterans Affairs from $10 billion to approximately $27 billion, including a full itemization of the “unanticipated complexities” cited as the basis for the increase.

An explanation, in light of Mr. Sicilia’s 2022 testimony to the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee that Oracle was “committed to delivering the VA an EHR system that exceeds expectations without exceeding the contracted cost” and would “fix issues at [Oracle’s] expense,” of what has changed to result in the current cost increase, and a reconciliation of that commitment with the current contract terms.

Oracle’s own lifecycle cost projections for completing EHRM deployment and sustainment through 2031, including how these compare to the Department’s approximately $48 billion estimate and the Institute for Defense Analyses’ 2022 estimate of $49.8 billion.

A description of Oracle’s role in, and timeline for, addressing the 14 outstanding GAO recommendations related to EHRM that remain not fully implemented, as identified at the hearing.

Documentation of the cybersecurity performance measures Oracle has implemented or plans to implement for the EHR system, in light of GAO’s finding that the program currently lacks adequate cyber performance measures.

A record of all communications between Oracle and the Department of Veterans Affairs regarding the contract ceiling increase prior to its public disclosure, and an explanation of why Congress was not notified directly by Oracle or VA before the increase became public through press reporting.

Any internal or external assessments Oracle has conducted of system performance, outages, medication-ordering errors, or data migration issues at deployment sites, including the sites that went live on or after April 11, 2026.

Veterans and taxpayers have invested significant resources in this program, and Oracle’s cooperation is necessary to ensure effective congressional oversight. We look forward to your timely response.

-30-",1,2026-09-26T09:43:57Z,2026-09-26T09:44:55Z
https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-demands-answers-from-acting-navy-secretary-after-delayed-disclosure-of-suicide-attempts-on-board-the-uss-abraham-lincoln,Blumenthal Demands Answers from Acting Navy Secretary After Delayed Disclosure of Suicide Attempts on Board the USS Abraham Lincoln,2026-09-25,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,blumenthal,https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, wrote Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao today about suicide attempts on board the USS Abraham Lincoln revealed in a letter to members of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Cao failed to disclose the information in response to an inquiry Blumenthal sent following reports of devolving conditions within the strike group.

“Eight suicide attempts across a carrier strike group are plainly relevant to questions about mental health and the consequences of an extended deployment. You have an obligation to provide Congress with the facts necessary to conduct oversight, particularly when those facts concern the lives and well-being of the men and women under your leadership,” Blumenthal wrote.

“I am requesting that you provide an accounting of the eight suicide attempts, including when they occurred and when senior Navy leaders were informed by September 30. Your response should explain why they were omitted from your September 18 letter to me; and provide the basis for your assertion that there was no statistically significant increase in serious medical emergencies; and detail the steps you will take to protect Sailors’ mental health and well-being during future extended deployments. Any response should protect the privacy of the servicemembers involved.”

In today’s letter, Blumenthal again raised concerns that the Navy is not prepared to prevent similar issues in the future, given that recent carrier deployments have repeatedly stretched long beyond their originally planned durations.

In August, Blumenthal wrote Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Cao demanding to know what action was being taken to improve conditions for sailors deployed on board the USS Abraham Lincoln, which had at that point been continuously at sea for a record length of nearly seven months.

The full text of today’s letter is copied below.

Acting Secretary Cao,

I write regarding your deeply troubling response to my inquiries about the health and well-being of the Sailors of the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group and your failure to provide Congress with a full account of the mental health crisis facing these servicemembers.

In response to a letter from Senate Armed Services Committee Democrats, you disclosed that “there have been a total of eight suicide attempts across the strike group” during the Lincoln's deployment. Yet when I specifically asked you three days earlier whether commanders had identified increases in medical issues, you omitted this fact and instead assured me that the ship had “not seen a statistically significant increase in major safety mishaps, serious medical emergencies, or disciplinary infractions relative to historical baselines for extended deployments.”

Eight suicide attempts across a carrier strike group are plainly relevant to questions about mental health and the consequences of an extended deployment. You have an obligation to provide Congress with the facts necessary to conduct oversight, particularly when those facts concern the lives and well-being of the men and women under your leadership.

Having served in the United States Navy, you must know the importance of recognizing warning signs about Sailors’ wellbeing. Sailors and their families raised concerns about exhaustion, mental health, and deteriorating conditions aboard the Lincoln. Your responsibility as Secretary is not to dismiss, obscure, or explain away those concerns.

Your own responses now confirm serious problems aboard the Lincoln. The discrepancy between those facts and the assurances you provided to me raises serious questions about leadership and judgment. This failure is even more concerning because the Navy has acknowledged that extended deployments are likely to continue as operational demands strain the carrier force.

You owe Congress, as well as Sailors and their families, an explanation of what you will do differently to ensure the failures aboard the Lincoln are not repeated.

I am requesting that you provide an accounting of the eight suicide attempts, including when they occurred and when senior Navy leaders were informed by September 30. Your response should explain why they were omitted from your September 18 letter to me; and provide the basis for your assertion that there was no statistically significant increase in serious medical emergencies; and detail the steps you will take to protect Sailors’ mental health and well-being during future extended deployments. Any response should protect the privacy of the servicemembers involved.

Our Sailors deserve leaders who will confront difficult facts rather than minimize them. Congress deserves complete and truthful answers. Congress should expect both from someone seeking to become Secretary of the Navy.

-30-",1,2026-09-26T09:43:57Z,2026-09-26T09:44:55Z
https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/senator-blumenthal-week-in-review-9/18/2026-9/25/2026,Senator Blumenthal: Week in Review 9/18/2026-9/25/2026,2026-09-25,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,blumenthal,https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press,scraper,"Receiving Testimony on Fatal Shootings by Federal Immigration Agents

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ranking Member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), and U.S. Representative Robert Garcia (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, held a bicameral public forum on the killings of Ruben Ray Martinez, Renée Nicole Macklin Good, Alex Pretti, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, and Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero.

The following witnesses offered testimony about the fatal shootings of five people by federal immigration agents during the Trump Administration:

Rachel Reyes: Rachel Reyes’ son, Ruben Ray Martinez, was shot and killed by an Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in March 2025 in South Padre Island, Texas. For nearly a year afterwards, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) refused to publicly acknowledge its involvement in Mr. Martinez’s death, which only came to light through a public records request.

“Though the circumstances surrounding his death and these other victims are distinctly different, the pattern is the same. Lives cut short by the same agency; agents without body cameras; no warnings; no attempt to de-escalate; excessive force followed by deflection, and a lack of accountability after the fact,” Ms. Reyes wrote. “Other similarities are that these victims, despite being nonviolent community members with no criminal background, were disparaged and blamed to shift focus away from the officer’s misconduct. What happened to my son is personal, but it should be a concern for us all.”

Ms. Reyes’ written testimony is available here.

Video of Ms. Reyes’ testimony is available here.

Blumenthal further highlighted Ms. Reyes’ testimony on Twitter/X.

“Rachel Reyes tells Ruben Ray Martinez's story, her son who was shot & killed by an ICE agent. She shares her pain & grief of losing a child—something no parent should have to endure,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.

Donna and Brent Ganger: Donna Ganger’s daughter and Brent Ganger’s sister, Renée Nicole Macklin Good, was shot and killed by an ICE agent in January 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

“What I want most to do today is help everyone understand exactly what was taken from us on January 7th, and what a beautiful woman our family and this country lost. We have not moved on. We struggle every day. We will never, ever be the same,” Mrs. Ganger wrote. “It’s difficult to balance our gratitude for what a lovely soul Renee was with the anger and confusion at the violent way she died. And the total insanity of it all. She should still be alive. I’ll say that again. My daughter should still be alive.”

“I urge each of you to find a common sense solution to the problem of accountability for federal officers. There should not be a different set of rules and a different process to hold a federal officer accountable versus a state or local officer. We all want our law enforcement officers to perform at the highest standards, but when they don’t, it shouldn’t matter who their employer is. There should be a path to justice for those they harm,” Mr. Ganger wrote. “Our family implores all members of Congress to work together to level the playing field and find common sense reform that provides accountability and justice for all.”

Mrs. Ganger and Mr. Ganger’s written testimony is available here.

Video of Mrs. Ganger and Mr. Ganger’s testimony is available here.

Blumenthal further highlighted Mrs. Ganger and Mr. Ganger’s testimony on Twitter/X.

“Donna & Brent Ganger remember Renee Good, their daughter & sister who was shot & killed by an ICE agent in January. They honor her legacy by calling for accountability & an end to ICE's violent & unconstitutional actions,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.

Stella Carlson: Stella Carlson recorded the killing of Alex Pretti in January 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Ms. Carlson, known as the “woman in the pink coat,” was on her way to work when she witnessed and filmed an immigration agent shooting Mr. Pretti in the back. Her video confirmed that DHS’s account of the fatal shooting was false.

“I am just a regular person, but I care deeply about my community, and my state, and my country. And I believe there is power in ordinary people telling the truth,” Ms. Carlson wrote. “Because I feel like I witnessed two assassinations. The first was the assassination of Alex himself — the killing I watched happen in the streets of Minneapolis. The second was the attempted assassination of his character. Afterward, powerful voices at the highest levels of government right here in Washington DC lied about Alex Pretti. They tried to take the gentle person I had watched with my own eyes and replace him with lies claiming he was a violent threat, someone who had come there to cause maximum damage, someone who wanted to kill law enforcement. Not so. Those were all lies. I observed him and what happened with my own eyes. The truth does not become less true because someone with great power tells a louder lie.”

Ms. Carlson’s written testimony is available here.

Video of Ms. Carlson’s testimony is available here.

Blumenthal further highlighted Ms. Carlson’s testimony on Twitter/X.

“Stella Carlson is part of a community mourning the loss of Alex Pretti. Carlson witnessed & filmed an immigration agent shooting Pretti in the back—her video confirming that DHS’s account of the fatal shooting was false,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.

Ronaldo and Lorenzo Salgado: Ronaldo and Lorenzo Salgado’s father, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, was shot and killed in Houston, Texas in July 2026. Mr. Araujo was driving to work when he was confronted by ICE agents who fired into the vehicle, killing him.

“I visit my dad’s memorial every day. Not because it’s where he died, but where a movement was born. It’s my way of witnessing how many hearts my dad’s story resonates with,” Mr. Ronaldo Salgado wrote. “And it’s my motivation to continue fighting not just for my dad, but for everyone else’s dad and families like mine. I hope I’m doing the right thing every day. I know my dad is guiding me in the right direction.”

“I ask you this: What would you do if you were in our shoes? Think of a loved one,” Mr. Lorenzo Salgado wrote. “Close your eyes and picture their face. What would you do if they were taken from you this way? Suddenly, without any sense. What would you do if you had to spend your days comforting your mother about the loss of her lifelong love, your grandmother about the loss of her little boy? You would do everything you could to find out what happened and make sure your loved one got justice.”

Mr. Ronaldo Salgado and Mr. Lorenzo Salgado’s written testimony is available here.

Video of Mr. Ronaldo Salgado and Mr. Lorenzo Salgado’s testimony is available here.

Sean P. Murphy: Sean P. Murphy represents the family of Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero who was shot and killed by an ICE agent shortly after leaving for work early in the morning hours of July 13, 2026. He was not the target of any ICE removal operation and had no criminal history. Johan Sebastián did have a social security number and valid work authorization issued by the current administration. To date, no federal agency has confirmed that they are investigating.

“I will say this next part quietly but with the hope and belief that just the grieving of Johan Sebatián’s mother permeated the walls of the funeral home, this next declaration permeates the walls of this building and reaches if not the ears, the soul of any public servant who has a soul left to receive it: Anyone who would defend the murder of Johan Sebastián is not a true patriot,” Mr. Murphy wrote.

Mr. Murphy’s written testimony is available here.

Video of Mr. Murphy’s testimony is available here.

Blumenthal delivered a opening statement at the forum, pushing for accountability and reform for the Trump Administration’s brutal immigration enforcement tactics.

“The fact is, we are all Minneapolis, we are all Texas, we are all Chicago, we are all Biddeford, we are all Danbury. We need a better America if it's reflected in what ICE does. So, after this continued violence, every community in America should be asking itself: How long will it be until ICE is in our city with the same kind of mass arrests and tactics and sweeps and violence and brutality? How long will it be until we have another grieving family? Until another loss of life is felt?” said Blumenthal at the forum.

“Today, we bear witness to the cost of this inhumanity. Today's forum gives these witnesses, as the voice and face of this challenge, the accountability that must begin in this country. We are going to continue to demand not just answers and accountability, but actual change, real change, real action, from this Administration. And on behalf of all of us, I again would just like to offer these witnesses here, their families and their communities, our heartfelt condolences, our thanks, and our admiration for your courage and strength,” continued Blumenthal.

A video of Blumental’s opening remarks can be found here.

Blumenthal further highlighted the need for justice and accountability in the ongoing wake of ICE’s brutality on Twitter/X.

“Congress must hold ICE accountable. Totally unacceptable that there has been no real investigation into DHS/ICE related deaths & injuries,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.

“Lawbreaking that takes lives. Renee Good’s brother highlights how ICE faces no deterrence, no penalty for withholding evidence as its agents kill people,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.

Blumenthal joined MS NOW to highlight his forum and the powerful testimonies of the witnesses.

“The grief, courage, & well-justified anger from witnesses at my spotlight forums on ICE's brutality make one thing clear—we need investigations & reforms to hold this Administration & its federal agents accountable. I joined MS NOW to discuss,” wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X.

The full interview can be found here.

A recording of the full forum can be found here.

Supporting Ukrainians in Face of Russia’s Aggression

Blumenthal met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ahead of the United Nations General Assembly, highlighting the need for continued U.S. support for Ukraine’s fight against Putin’s murderous invasion.

“Inspiring meeting with Pres. Zelenskyy in NY on the eve of U.N. Gen. Assembly sessions—& his meeting with Trump. He’s grateful for the new Russia Sanctions measure & hopeful for air defense & Starlink progress. We must implement the sanctions law promptly & aggressively—throttling Putin’s war machine by cutting revenue from Russia’s sale of oil & gas. China & India are the preeminent purchasers. Facing brutally cruel bombing & long cold winter, Ukraine needs Starlink to pinpoint & destroy Russian missiles before they’re launched, but also Patriot interceptors available in arsenals of U.S. & others like Saudi Arabia. Even with little sleep & heavy burdens, he’s upbeat & strong—buoyantly resolute—reflecting the courage & unshakable resolve of the magnificent Ukrainians,” wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X.

Blumenthal along with U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) introduced legislation to protect Ukrainian nationals who have sought refuge in the United States following Russia’s unprovoked war of aggression in their home country.

The bipartisan bill would extend immigration protections for Ukrainians who have fled the war brought on by the Russian invasion and sought safety in the United States through the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program, which has for decades provided refuge to those living in America who have fled natural disasters, violence, and political insecurity. The current TPS designation for Ukraine will expire on October 19, 2026 unless further action is taken.

“Ukrainians seeking safety here are fleeing unimaginable horror at home – bloody missile and drone strikes, ruthless kidnapping of children, a cold winter without heat. Forcing their return to such cruel conditions would be the height of inhumanity,” Blumenthal said. “I am grateful to Senators Murkowski, Coons, and Cassidy for joining me in introducing legislation that will protect Ukrainians seeking refuge from being sent back to certain brutality and bloodshed.”

TPS is a temporary, legal immigration status granted to foreign citizens who are unable to return safely to their home country due to natural disasters, armed conflicts, or other extraordinary conditions. All TPS recipients have passed a thorough background check. TPS was extended to Ukrainian nationals in April 2022 due to the ongoing invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces.

In February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, launching missiles against military and civilian targets across the country as troops pushed to overtake major cities. Although Ukrainian forces successfully blocked the attempted invasion of Kyiv and have since liberated significant territory throughout the country, Russian offensives continue to target Ukrainian communities and claim thousands of casualties. Since the invasion, tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilians have died and hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian forces have been killed. Russia has also engaged in a campaign of abduction and forcible removal of Ukrainian children, seeking to erase the children’s Ukrainian names, language and identity, and exposing them to human trafficking and exploitation, child labor, sexual violence, hunger, injury, trauma and death.

On the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee

Blumenthal, Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, released a statement on a new report from the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) exposing the Trump Administration and DOGE’s reckless cancellation of contracts at VA beginning in 2025. The report details a chaotic cancellation process directed top-down by DOGE, Secretary Doug Collins, and Senior Advisors at VA, resulting in contracts called without veteran-impact assessments and inaccurate cost saving estimates.

“This report confirms my repeatedly expressed concerns that VA has recklessly cancelled hundreds of contracts with no consideration of the impact on veterans or VA operations. These cuts harmed veterans and were hidden from Congress and the public by senior VA officials. Secretary Collins owes us answers on how VA will replace lost services and how much this fiasco has cost taxpayers in arbitration, settlements, and reinstatements. Veterans and taxpayers deserve transparency and a full public accounting.”

Key findings of the report reveal:

A top-down process led by DOGE, Doug Collins and political leaders, rather than a process driven by VA subject matter experts.

OIG reports that only after contracts were marked for cancellation did VA leadership ask officials to justify their proposed cuts. In addition, questions about the cancellations’ impact on veterans were not asked until the contracts were identified for termination.

A haphazard process and timeline: “In some cases, VA officials were given two weeks to complete their review. In others, they were given only a few hours to review hundreds of contracts. VA senior advisers and Department of Government Efficiency representatives directed them to terminate the contracts on February 25, 2025, regardless of the incomplete reviews.”

Due to the reckless cancellation process, VA subsequently reversed some contracts that were already cancelled: “For example, OIG also found that contracting officers initially terminated an additional 100 contract actions but later reinstated them.”

DOGE and VA advisors’ lack of familiarity with contracting processes and terminology led to “confusion, frustration,” and made tracking cancelled contracts difficult.

VA repeatedly submitted inaccurate data to Congress and touted false information to the public. For example, in May 2025 DOGE and Doug Collins reported saving $120.9 billion through contract cancellations. However, this report reveals the true savings were not even one percent of that amount.

The report does not include data independently obtained from VA that reveals an additional 32 contracts were reinstated “due to direct patient care.” Additionally, OIG did not review an additional 103 contracts that were descoped and 842 not renewed due to DOGE during the same time period.

Since 2025, Blumenthal and Congressional Democrats have sent multiple requests to VA Secretary Doug Collins asking for the complete and updated list of VA contracts cancelled or proposed for cancellation. This report shows that VA failed multiple times to submit accurate data and are still in the process of correcting mistakes their process created.

In January 2026, Blumenthal and the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee released a report detailing the Trump Administration’s lack of transparency and false savings claims arounds its cancellation of thousands of contracts providing services to veterans and supporting VA operations. This report detailed how Trump Administration officials employed a flawed AI model from DOGE to cancel approximately 2,000 contracts for veterans and VA facilities and let another 14,000 expire without any plans for renewal or replacement services. The Trump VA also falsely claimed to have saved $120.8 billion, more than the entirety of total VA contract spending in fiscal year 2024, by cancelling 445 contracts. In addition, at least 80 contracts the Trump Administration claimed to cancel, in order to boast about supposed “savings,” were actually terminated under the Biden Administration between 2021 and 2024.

In June 2025, Blumenthal led a spotlight forum to examine these contract cancellations with employees whose companies had a VA contract cancelled by DOGE, including a veteran-owned small business, an expert in cancer registries which are among the cancelled VA contracts, and an expert in federal contracting oversight and transparency. These witness underscored the harm of the cancellation of contracts on veterans and the sudden cancellation of their companies contracts without cause.

Blumenthal and Minority Committee members are demanding immediate answers and comprehensive documentation from Oracle Executive Chairman Larry Ellison and CEO Mike Sicilia on the ballooning cost of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM) program. VA’s contract with Oracle was recently modified, increasing the no-bid contract’s cost ceiling from $10 billion to approximately $27 billion. The Senators’ letter follows the failure of Ellison and Sicilia to testify before a Congressional oversight hearing on the EHRM program, a refusal that triggered a unanimous vote in the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs to subpoena the two Oracle officials.

“We write today to demand immediate answers following news the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM) program will now cost $27 billion…Oracle has a responsibility to deliver a functioning EHRM to veterans, yet there have been years of delays and ballooning costs under your leadership,” wrote the Senators in a letter to Ellison and Sicilia. “Even more concerning, Oracle officials failed to attend a recent House Veterans’ Affairs Committee oversight hearing on September 2, 2026, to answer questions on the timeline and cost of the EHRM. You have a responsibility to America’s veterans and taxpayers to explain what is happening with this project and its increasing costs. Your failure to appear in Congress is a failure to uphold your commitment to veterans and we need immediate answers on this project.”

The Senators backed up the House Committee’s subpoenas to Ellison and Sicilia: “Given your absence from the oversight hearing, the House Committee subsequently voted 19-0 to subpoena you to explain the status of the project and excessive costs. We support this subpoena and expect you to comply with it.”

Blumenthal’s letter was joined by fellow Committee members U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Angus King (I-ME), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ).

In an additional letter to Republican leadership, the Committee members separately called on Chairman Jerry Moran (R-KS) to hold a full committee oversight hearing on the VA EHRM program, citing the significant cost overruns, repeated schedule delays, and patient safety concerns with the system: “Given the scale of federal investment in this program and, more importantly, the risks it poses to the health and safety of the veterans who rely on VA care, we believe the Committee has a responsibility to conduct rigorous oversight at this juncture. Veterans and the taxpayers who fund this program deserve a clear, public accounting of where EHRM stands today and what concrete steps the Department is taking to correct course. A full committee hearing would ensure the transparency and level of scrutiny this program warrants.”

The full text of the Committee members’ letter is available here.

Blumenthal and U.S. Senator Tim Sheehy (R-MT) are teaming up to introduce the GRACE for Military Survivors Act—bipartisan legislation that would provide military survivors more time to make informed financial decisions about their benefits without facing tax penalties.

“Military survivors who lose loved ones endure life-changing grief. We shouldn’t force them to make important, long-term financial decisions about their survivors’ benefits while also going through such unspeakable pain,” said Senator Blumenthal. “Our commonsense bill will give these families more time to make these critical decisions.”

When a servicemember dies, the surviving family has to make important financial decisions about their survivors’ benefits while also grieving their loved ones. Current law only gives surviving spouses and children a year to decide if they want to put military death gratuities and Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) benefits into certain tax-advantaged savings accounts, including Roth IRAs and Coverdell Education Savings Accounts. The GRACE for Military Survivors Act would extend that time frame from one to three years—ensuring surviving families have additional time to make important long-term financial decisions.

Bill text can be found here.

Cracking Down on Self-Enrichment in the Executive Branch

Blumenthal introduced new legislation to impose a 100 percent surtax on income earned by a company owned or controlled by the President, Vice President, Cabinet officials, or immediate family members as a result of a favorable government action. The Anti-Corruption Tax Act is in direct response to Donald Trump and other Administration officials abusing the power of the government to help the companies they own or control make money, at the direct expense of American taxpayers.

“Donald Trump has been clear: there is no ethical line separating his role as President from his family’s businesses,” Blumenthal said. “He and other Administration officials have repeatedly abused their power to enrich themselves and their families. My measure would put an end to this kind of self-dealing by putting a 100 percent surtax on any income that Donald Trump and his family—or any future Administration officials—generate thanks to a favorable government action.”

The full bill text of the Anti-Corruption Tax Act is available here.

Blumenthal Bulletin

Blumenthal demanded answers after the delayed disclosure of suicide attempts on board the USS Abraham Lincoln.

Blumenthal filed an Amicus Brief supporting Holocaust survivors and families in lawsuits over Nazi-confiscated art.

Blumenthal joined a press conference to call for the SAFE Bet Act and the Prediction Markets Security and Integrity Act.

Blumenthal slammed sports books for using AI to rank and target vulnerable and problem gamblers.

Blumenthal recognized National Day of Action for the Health Care Workforce.

Blumenthal attended the Orange Fair.

Blumenthal joined the inaugural Longest Table event in Stamford.

-30-",1,2026-09-26T09:43:57Z,2026-09-26T09:44:55Z
https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-to-trump-fda-nominee-youve-done-a-pretty-good-job-of-avoiding-answering-questions,Murphy To Trump FDA Nominee: ‘you’ve Done A Pretty Good Job Of Avoiding Answering Questions’,2026-09-25,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,chrismurphy,https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, on Thursday questioned Dr. Heidi Overton, President Trump’s nominee to be Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, during her confirmation hearing. With public trust in the FDA collapsing in the second Trump administration, Murphy pressed Overton on the corruption of the Food and Drug Administration under President Trump, including a multi-million dollar pay-to-play scandal involving the tobacco industry.

“I share the chairman's concern about this dramatic reduction in faith in the FDA that has happened over the past year, and the reason is simple: people don't believe that science has anything to do with some of the decision making and that it's all about politics,” said Murphy.

Murphy detailed the corruption scandal which led to the prior FDA commissioner’s resignation: “On April 30th, it's a Thursday afternoon, Reynolds, one of the biggest tobacco companies in the country, makes an $8 million donation to the president. Two days later, on Saturday, because of that donation, they have lunch with the president and they tell him that they want a change in FDA rules, especially regarding flavored vapes. The president calls the FDA commissioner, he calls the secretary of HHS, and three days later, on Tuesday, new guidance is issued that paves the way to the sale of flavored vapes… And four days after that, the FDA commissioner resigns, either in protest or because he was fired because of his disagreement with this decision.”

He pushed Overton to acknowledge and condemn the blatant corruption influencing FDA decisionmaking under Trump: “That is not a coincidence, right? That is the definition of political interference in FDA decision making… Do you see anything wrong with the chain of events that I just articulated for you? … Do you have any opinion as to whether that's the way that you want the FDA to work?”

Murphy highlighted Trump’s pay-to-play scheme with Big Tobacco was enabled by the dismantling of the FDA advisory board system: “Let me talk to you about one of the ways that science has been undermined: the eradication of the advisory board system. Since President Trump came into office, 27% of all advisory boards have been eliminated, and of those that remain, there have been 72% fewer meetings. The tobacco advisory board had no specific meeting and no vote on this specific policy because if they had had a vote, they would have voted against this, and that's in part why the FDA commissioner resigned.”

He demanded Overton commit to restoring those advisory boards: “So long as these advisory boards, which are authorized by Congress, are attacked, eliminated, and restricted from meeting, you are not going to rebound the public's support for independent FDA decision making. So let me ask you specifically: Will you commit to restarting the advisory boards that have been disbanded under this president?”

A full transcript of the exchange is available below.

Murphy:

Thank you very much Mr. Chairman. Listen, I share the chairman's concern about this dramatic reduction in faith in the FDA that has happened over the past year, and the reason is simple: people don't believe that science has anything to do with some of the decision making and that it's all about politics. Here's an example: on April 30th, it's a Thursday afternoon, Reynolds, one of the biggest tobacco companies in the country, makes an $8 million donation to the president. Two days later, on Saturday, because of that donation, they have lunch with the president and they tell him that they want a change in FDA rules, especially regarding flavored vapes, the president calls the FDA commissioner, he calls the secretary of HHS, and three days later, on Tuesday, new guidance is issued that paves the way to the sale of flavored vapes. That is not a coincidence, right? That is the definition of political interference in FDA decision making. Thursday a donation is made. Saturday a meeting with the president. The same day a call to the FDA commissioner, and three days later the FDA changes the rules. Extraordinary. And four days after that, the FDA commissioner resigns, either in protest or because he was fired because of his disagreement with this decision.

I heard you say that your commitment is to science being the guiding marker for decisions made at FDA, so let me talk to you about one of the ways that science has been undermined: the eradication of the advisory board system. Since President Trump came into office, 27% of all advisory boards have been eliminated, and of those that remain, there have been 72% fewer meetings. The tobacco advisory board had no specific meeting and no vote on this specific policy because if they had had a vote, they would have voted against this, and that's in part why the FDA commissioner resigned. And so, so long as these advisory boards, which are authorized by Congress, are attacked, eliminated, and restricted from meeting, you are not going to rebound the public's support for independent FDA decision making. So let me ask you specifically: Will you commit to restarting the advisory boards that have been disbanded under this president?

Overton:

Senator, thank you for the question, and I hope to have the opportunity to meet and discuss things in more detail. I think specific to your question, I will note that the FDA has had a number of advisory committees meeting, and I think they are extremely valuable from everything that I know about the FDA. If I'm confirmed as commissioner, they are a critical part of the role of the FDA.

Murphy:

Okay, I get it. But you've done a pretty good job of avoiding answering questions so far. So, will you commit? It's yes or no. Will you commit to restarting the committees that have been disbanded?

Overton:

Senator, if I'm confirmed as FDA commissioner, advisory committees will meet at the FDA. I have to look specifically at all of the ones that might be disbanded to see what you're asking, but the ones that I'm familiar with, like the vaccine-related biologic product advisory committee, has been meeting. They've been making recommendations. Those recommendations have been used as normal process, and I would continue that direction. It's critical to get there.

Murphy:

Will you at least commit to ceasing the campaign of disbanding committees, will you keep the committees that exist today, or are you open to shutting down more advisory committees?

Overton:

Senator, if I'm confirmed as FDA commissioner, advisory committees will be a critical part.

Murphy:

Can you commit to us that you will not shut down any additional advisory committees?

Overton:

Senator, my goal would be to not shut down any advisory committees, but to look at all of them to make sure they are fulfilling their highest purpose, getting the best experts on, and providing recommendations. They are a key part of the administrative record of the FDA, and the FDA does rely on that. So yes, that would be a huge part of my role if confirmed.

Murphy:

I think it's careful wording that your goal will be to not shut down advisory committees. That's not a commitment.

Finally, do you see anything wrong with the chain of events that I just articulated for you? I mean, that's an extraordinary story: an $8 million donation; two days later, a meeting of those donors with the president; an immediate phone call to the FDA to change the rules; four days later, the rules are changed; and four days after that, the FDA commissioner resigns. Do you have any opinion as to whether that's the way that you want the FDA to work?

Overton:

Senator, I reject the framing of that question. I will say, having worked for the president for a year and a half in this role, I know that he is committed to the best possible outcomes for Americans, and he wants his team to ensure that that is what is being delivered.

Murphy:

So you don't see any connection between the donation, the president's meeting, and four days later, the standards being changed?

Overton:

Senator, I reject the framing of that question. I think the president is aware that adults are using vapes to quit smoking, and that has been his direction, to get the best outcome for the American people in every decision that is made. If I'm confirmed as commissioner, that will be my commitment.",1,2026-09-26T09:43:57Z,2026-09-26T09:44:55Z
https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-condemns-supreme-court-decision-allowing-use-trump-voter-purge,Larson Condemns Supreme Court Decision Allowing Use of Trump Voter Purge Database,2026-09-25,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CT,John B. Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,larson,https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"East Hartford, CT – Today, House Social Security Subcommittee Ranking Member John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement condemning the Supreme Court’s decision to allow the use of the Trump Administration’s “SAVE” database, which empowers states to use data collected from the Social Security Administration and Department of Homeland Security, to purge voters from the rolls. Earlier this year, it was revealed in court that this database was used to terminate the voter registration of eligible citizens in multiple states.

“It is beyond disappointing for the Supreme Court to allow the Trump Administration to deploy a database that has already been used to wrongly remove eligible citizens form the voter rolls,” said Larson. “Time and time again, the President and his appointees have proven that they cannot be trusted with people’s confidential records. From attempts by ‘DOGE’ employees to hand data from Social Security to a political group trying to alter elections, to this sprawling database riddled with inaccuracies, this administration’s goals are clear. They will do whatever it takes to get in the way of free and fair elections. If the Supreme Court will not stand up to this clear abuse of power, then Congress must act—and state and local officials should commit to not participating in this voter purge campaign. I will continue to push to pass legislation that gets Trump officials out of the American people’s data at Social Security and protects the right of every citizen to cast their ballot free from fear and intimidation in the United States of America.”",1,2026-09-28T11:29:07Z,2026-09-28T11:30:58Z
https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-latest-trump-effort-strip-health-coverage-americans,DeLauro Statement on Latest Trump Effort to Strip Health Coverage from Americans,2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CT,Rosa L. DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,delauro,https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro released a statement in response to an effort spearheaded by Vice President J.D. Vance to strip health coverage away from 750,000 Americans:

“16 million people will lose their health insurance because of the Trump Administration’s cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. Now, the Trump Administration wants to strip coverage from 750,000 more.

“Families are already squeezed. Gas prices are skyrocketing. Diesel prices are climbing. Grocery costs were already high. Health care costs were rising, and now, millions of Americans won’t have coverage at all.",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z
https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-soto-boyle-booker-introduce-firefighter-pfas-injury-compensation,"Larson, Soto, Boyle, Booker Introduce Firefighter PFAS Injury Compensation Act of 2026 to Compensate Firefighter Families Impacted by PFAS-Related Illnesses",2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CT,John B. Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,larson,https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Today, Reps. John B. Larson (CT-01), Darren Soto (FL-09), Brendan Boyle (PA-02), and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) announced the introduction of the Firefighter PFAS Injury Compensation Act of 2026—legislation to compensate firefighters and families who have suffered from injuries or have died from PFAS-related conditions.

Rep. Larson and the Connecticut delegation previously helped secure $19 million in federal infrastructure funding to combat PFAS pollution in Connecticut’s drinking water supply, and helped pass the bipartisan PFAS Act, which was signed into law by President Biden in 2022, to prevent the release of PFAS foam into the environment.

“In 2019, I saw firsthand the hazards PFAS chemicals pose to our communities and first responders when 50,000 gallons of firefighting foam spilled into the Farmington River in Windsor, Connecticut,” said Larson. “Since that disaster, I have worked to secure federal funding to clean up our water supply and reduce PFAS exposure—most notably for our firefighters who work tirelessly to keep us all safe. It is past time for the federal government to ensure first responders suffering because of these cancer-causing chemicals get the compensation they deserve. I urge all my colleagues to join us in passing this important bill.”

As Co-Chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, Larson has been focused on bipartisan solutions to invest in local fire departments and support firefighters on and off the job. In the last Congress, he helped pass the Fire Grants and Safety Act, to reauthorize the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) programs, directly providing federal funding to improve staffing and services at local fire departments, and the Firefighter Cancer Registry Reauthorization Act, which reauthorized the National Firefighter Registry that tracks cancer in the fire service. He also supported the effort to end the use of firefighting foam containing harmful PFAS chemicals at airports across the country, securing new funds that were signed into law as part of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024.

The Firefighter PFAS Injury Compensation Act of 2026 directs the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to establish a program under which eligible firefighters and their families can file a claim to seek timely, uniform, and adequate compensation. PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, is a group of hazardous chemicals used in the production of the foam, multi-layered coats, and pants firefighters wear. The PFAS compound has been linked to numerous health problems, including several types of cancer.

“Since my days in the Florida legislature, I have been committed to addressing the public health and environmental risks posed by PFAS. In Florida, we saw a cancer cluster in Ocala affect many of our firefighters, and we continue to see local families suffer at the mercy of these forever chemicals,"" said Soto. “I’m proud to introduce the PFAS Injury Compensation Act alongside Reps. Boyle and Larson and Senator Booker to create a program at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that will address these issues and provide the compensation that affected families deserve. This is a major step in the right direction as we work to eliminate PFAS from the ecosystem.”

“Day in and day out, firefighters bravely confront a multitude of risks and dangers on the job to save lives and protect communities. It is unacceptable that the gear and tools designed to shield them have been exposing them to PFAS and causing serious illnesses,” said Booker. “This legislation establishes a compensation program for firefighters and their families that have been devastated by PFAS-related illnesses. This is an important step to support firefighters who selflessly risk their lives as we work to eliminate PFAS exposure altogether.”

“Firefighters put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities, and they should never have to worry that the very equipment meant to protect them could make them sick,” said Boyle. ""When firefighters develop serious illnesses because of PFAS exposure on the job, we have a responsibility to stand with them and their families. This legislation is about making sure they receive the support and compensation they have earned.”

Under the program, firefighters who have served two or more years and can provide evidence of injury are eligible to file a claim. In the case of a death related to PFAS exposure, one heir of a deceased firefighter would be eligible to submit a claim. This legislation would require the Secretary of HHS to review claims within 120 days of submission.

“Firefighters dedicate their careers to protecting their communities, often without knowing that the very equipment designed to protect them may expose them to chemicals associated with serious health consequences,” said Dr. Andre McShan, President of the Firefighter Health Coalition. “We welcome the introduction of the Firefighter PFAS Injury Compensation Act and appreciate Senator Booker and Congressman Soto for continuing to bring attention to the firefighters and families who have been affected by PFAS exposure. This legislation recognizes the sacrifices firefighters make throughout their years of service and the health consequences that can follow them long after that service.”

""The International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters (IABPFF) strongly supports the legislation and its effort to provide meaningful support and compensation to firefighters and their families impacted by PFAS exposure. Firefighters have been exposed to PFAS for decades through firefighting foams, protective equipment, and other occupational sources. These exposures can have serious and lasting consequences for the health and well-being of firefighters and their families,” said Gary Tinney, President of the International Association of Black Professional Firefighters. ""The IABPFF believes firefighters should not have to bear the financial and personal burden of illnesses associated with chemicals they encountered while protecting their communities.",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z
https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-introduces-landmark-irl-act-proposal-to-combat-social-isolation-and-hold-social-media-companies-accountable,Murphy Introduces Landmark IRL Act Proposal To Combat Social Isolation And Hold Social Media Companies Accountable,2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,chrismurphy,https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) just introduced a new landmark bill—the In Real Life (“IRL”) Act—as part of his policy agenda aimed at record-high rates of loneliness and distrust by holding social media companies accountable and investing in third spaces. The legislation would tax digital advertising revenue of only the very largest algorithmic-based social media corporations at 50%, redirecting funds to a newly-established Social Capital Fund for local communities to support the institutions, programs, and physical spaces that bring neighbors together in common cause.

“We don’t have to accept the transition from in-person connection to online isolation. Massive social media platforms knowingly addict us to screens and harm our kids to boost their profits. These big tech companies have gotten a free pass for far too long, and the least they can do is pay to rebuild the spaces that actually bring us together—in real life,” said Murphy.

The IRL Act has two components: imposing a digital advertising tax on the very largest social media giants, as well as establishing a new Social Capital Fund for local communities.

Under the IRL Act’s digital advertising tax, the biggest social media corporations would pay a 50% rate on digital advertising revenues over $10 billion, with lower rates for revenues below that threshold and a $500 million exemption so the tax only applies to large platforms. Publishers like newspapers, television, and websites that are not algorithmic social media would not pay the tax. Even social media companies can avoid the tax by turning off their addictive algorithm, like the chronological feed that Facebook used to have that will now be an option for teenagers under Meta’s recent legal settlement with states. Big social media conglomerates can also pay lower rates by breaking up into smaller companies.

Under the IRL Act’s newly-established Social Capital Fund, revenues from the digital advertising tax would be deposited into a fund and distributed to local communities for the institutions, programs, and physical spaces that bring their residents together in common cause. These funds can revive rec sports programs and beautify local parks or other public spaces. Communities can support the arts and host festivals, as well as help parent teacher organizations at public schools and programs that teach how to use technology responsibly. It can keep the doors open at places that bring people together, such as public libraries and locally owned small businesses. Communities can fund programs and services open to the whole community offered by membership organizations like clubs, unions, and religious institutions within constitutional limits. Funding can also help spread the word about groups to join and places to volunteer.

Three-quarters of the Social Capital Fund goes directly to local and tribal governments using the same formula as the existing Community Development Block Grant. The remaining 25% is awarded competitively to the highest-impact programs proposed by local governments, tribes, charities, or membership organizations. The Department of Housing and Urban Development administers the Fund, evaluates the programs it supports, and highlights best practices for communities to learn from each other.

The bill is endorsed by numerous organizations and policy advocates to combat the loneliness epidemic, hold social media companies accountable, and revitalize community and trust.

""Loneliness and social isolation carry a serious public health and economic toll, yet we've built no sustained funding stream to address it. This legislation changes that by asking the platforms that profit from engagement-driven design to help fund the community infrastructure that rebuilds real connection. A Social Capital Fund financed by a tax on algorithmic social media advertising is a fitting and overdue mechanism: it ties resources for social connection directly to the industry whose business model has contributed to the crisis. The Foundation for Social Connection Action Network urges Congress to advance this bill as a serious, sustainable investment in the social fabric of American communities,” said Andrew MacPherson, Founder and Board Chair of the Foundation for Social Connection Action Network.

“Thank you Sen. Murphy for introducing this important legislation. Social capital is rooted in a sense of belonging and KABOOM! believes that one of the places it begins is on the playground where children can run, jump, take risks, and learn to solve interpersonal conflicts, all in the context of being outdoors and around other kids. This bill creates a revenue stream which targets the addictive behaviors that generate billions in digital ad revenue while simultaneously rebuilding our nation’s social capital by investing in the critical civic infrastructure, like playgrounds, that support our sense of community. Millions of kids will benefit from this dual approach, and we applaud the Senator for taking on this problem to create healthier environments for children and families,” said Lysa Ratliff, CEO of KABOOM!.

“This fund will help communities of all sizes invest in much-needed civic infrastructure — the gathering places that are free and open to the public, including parks, town squares, play spaces, main streets, community centers and more — in ways that increase social connection, trust and the common good for all Americans. This is the infrastructure necessary for bolstering healthy civic life and a prosperous nation,” said Bridget Marquis, co-convener of the Percent for Place Coalition.

“The IRL Act recognizes that parks, trails, schoolyards, and other civic spaces are essential to building stronger, more connected communities. When we invest in the places where people gather, play, recreate, and spend time together, we create more opportunities for connection and belonging. Trust for Public Land is proud to support this legislation and its vision for a country where everyone has access to the public spaces that bring people together and nurture social capital and connection,” said Walker Holmes, Vice President of the Mid-Atlantic Region and Connecticut State Director at Trust for Public Land.

“Trails are more than transportation infrastructure, they are places where people encounter their neighbors, spend time outdoors and build connections to the communities around them. The East Coast Greenway encourages that kind of connection, linking communities and creating shared spaces where people can walk, ride and roll together. The Social Capital Fund recognizes the value of these places and would invest in trails and other public spaces that strengthen the relationships, trust and sense of belonging that hold communities together,” said Niles Barnes, Deputy Director at East Coast Greenway Alliance.

“LISC applauds Senator Murphy's introduction of the IRL Act. We strongly support efforts to prioritize the development and stewardship of civic infrastructure such as parks, main streets, recreation facilities, and arts venues for community use. These investments are key to promoting thriving communities - great places to live, work, visit, do business and raise families,” said Matt Josephs, Senior Vice President of Policy at Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC).

“The evidence is mounting that screen time makes us lonelier and more isolated, while spending time in public space with friends, family, and community is a prescription for long-term health. This legislation will ensure that these gathering places receive the funding they need to fulfill this vital role, while accounting for the true costs of digital advertising on our well-being,” said Nate Storring, Co-Executive Director at Project for Public Spaces.

“Sen. Chris Murphy has done intrepid work drawing attention to the crisis of the common good, manifest in our national epidemic of loneliness and disconnection. With the IRL Act, he offers a bold and creative solution to reverse that epidemic and help restore the common good. He proposes to invest directly in our families and communities, and in the ""bonds of affection"" (Lincoln) that can unite Americans so we may continue our 250-year experiment in self-government,” said Joe Waters, Co-Founder and CEO at Capita.

“On behalf of the Say Yes to Recess team we strongly support the IRL Act—a bold step toward reducing screen addiction and protecting young people and families. By holding tech companies accountable and investing in sports, arts, schools, libraries, and community programs, this bill helps replace endless scrolling with real connection, healthy development, and vibrant communities,” said Kathryn Truman, Executive Director at the Say Yes to Recess Foundation.

“Loneliness is a social challenge and public health crisis of our times. As a society, we must recommit resources to the creation of lively, welcoming spaces that draw people out and bring them back together. Parks strengthen both mind and body. Children, families, and seniors in every corner of America deserve places to play, gather, and enjoy the outdoors,” said Rose Harvey, Executive Director at New City Parks.

""Our nation's civic development is as important as its economic development. Just how we invest in economic infrastructure like roads and bridges, we must also invest in civic and social infrastructure like clubs, congregations, and associations, as well as the ""third places"" (like libraries and parks, etc.) in which they meet. This bill is a great step toward Congress finally taking American civic development seriously,” said Pete Davis at Democracy Policy Network.

“Today’s children are spending less time outdoors than any generation in history. A healthy childhood depends on real-life experiences in nature and space to explore, grow, and connect with others. At a time when social media competes for so much of their attention, we should be making it easier for children to get outside and spend time together. Sierra Club is proud to support Senator Murphy’s In Real Life Act because every child deserves that chance,” said Jackie Ostfeld, Outdoors for All Director at the Sierra Club.

“By taxing the engagement-driven ad model that fuels compulsive social media use, the IRL Act can discourage large technology companies from prioritizing a business model that too often harms users. We are especially glad the bill directs those funds to support organizations that share information about local civic life, filling information gaps that increasingly go unmet as local news outlets shutter,” said Morgan Wilsmann, Policy Analyst at Public Knowledge.

“Every day, PTAs and other like-minded organizations work hard to support families, schools and communities and ensure they have everything they need to thrive. We thank Senator Murphy for his leadership and appreciate him introducing legislation that would provide funding to help community-serving organizations strengthen their impact,” said Dr. Bill Datema, president of National PTA.

""Opportunity Finance Network supports the In Real Life Act and its recognition of the role of community development financial institutions (CDFIs) in strengthening communities across the country. CDFIs are proven partners in creating economic opportunities and we look forward to working through the Social Capital Fund to deploy capital to support civic infrastructure and institutions,” said Dafina Williams, EVP, Chief Public Policy Officer and Head of Government Affairs at Opportunity Finance Network.

Read the text of the IRL Act here.

Read a summary of the IRL Act here.",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z
https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-on-republicans-abetting-trumps-iran-war-again-americans-are-telling-congress-to-end-this-war,Murphy on Republicans Abetting Trump's Iran War Again: Americans Are Telling Congress to End This War,2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,chrismurphy,https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON–U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) spoke on the Senate floor before a vote on a War Powers Resolution to end Trump’s disastrous war in Iran, which Senate Republicans again blocked. Despite Trump’s assurance of a short military engagement, Murphy revealed how this months-long conflict continues to spin out of control as Americans overwhelmingly call for the war to stop.

As this conflict rages on, Murphy emphasized the Trump Administration has failed to achieve any of its stated goals for going to war in the first place, including destroying Iran’s missile capability: “I don't know how many times we heard Secretary Hegseth tell us that the goal was to destroy Iran's missiles and missile capacity. And back in April, he claimed that they had ‘functionally destroyed’ - that's his word - ‘functionally destroyed’ Iran's ability to make new missiles. Well, the Wall Street Journal just reported that Iran is producing ballistic missiles again at scale, and we only were able to eliminate around 30 percent of the missiles. They have most of their stockpiles from before the war... Iran is building missiles again - this was the whole reason we were going into the war-a total failure to eliminate Iran's missile capacity.”

Murphy emphasized the Trump Administration’s failures have been borne most directly by American servicemembers: “We just learned this week that eight Navy sailors aboard the U.S. Abraham Lincoln have attempted suicide. Two of those sailors, as we all know, tried to jump overboard to end their lives. This is a ship that was without a port call for 286 days. That is an abdication of leadership, an abdication of the responsibility to care about our troops' safety by our Department of Defense leadership. We have sailors and soldiers and airmen that are in crisis right now because we have put them in harm's way for far longer than any brave man or woman, who has signed up to defend this nation, deserves to be in harm's way.”

Murphy argued that by refusing to swiftly end this war, the Trump Administration allowed it to spiral into a broader regional conflict that will continue to hurt American families: “We have a new war that has broken out. A new war has broken out in the last two weeks. This was totally predictable. Everybody said if you go to war with Iran, the Houthis are not going to stand put. They are going to start firing inside Yemen and at the Saudis, and that's exactly what has happened. Drone strikes from the Houthis have knocked out Saudi Arabia's bypass pipeline. Earlier this month, they seized control of routes along the Red Sea. Functionally, the Red Sea is now shut down as a means for the Saudis to move oil out of the region. This is part of the reason why gas prices continue to go up.”

Murphy ended with an appeal to Congress to finally act on behalf of the millions of Americans across political parties demanding an end to America’s war with Iran: “Support for this war is at 18% in this country. We are supposed to be a democratic body that listens to the will of the people. The people, whether they're Republicans, independents, or Democrats, are telling us loudly and unequivocally, end this war. And it's not like we can't. This resolution is a chance for this body to end the war. And so we are pleading once again, maybe the 10th time that we've had a resolution like this, for our colleagues to join us. The American public are making it clear they can't handle the costs of this war and they can't stand for the national security harm it's doing to the United States.”

A full transcript of Murphy’s remarks is available below. A full video of his remarks is available here.

Murphy: Mr. President, I'm on the floor to support yet another resolution to end the war in Iran. Here's the latest poll regarding public support or approval [of the war in Iran]:: 18% of respondents to this latest CNN poll say that President Trump's decisions around the war in Iran are helping the United States. 70% of Americans say that his decisions around the Iran war are hurting Americans. That is a stunning number.

Basically, it is only the hardcore MAGA supporters that still believe this war is a good idea. Everybody else, independents, Democrats, independent-thinking Republicans, have all decided that this body needs to vote to end this war, and it's not hard to figure out why.

Here's a chart that's familiar to my colleagues. This is the unreal spike in gas and diesel prices that has occurred solely because of this war. If you're in Indiana right now, diesel is $7 a gallon. That's why farms are going bankrupt right now in the Midwest, at record rates: the tariffs and the high price of diesel.

But for American consumers who are just filling up their tank with gasoline, the same disaster in California above $6 a gallon, in many states above $5 a gallon, and it's just going up and up and up. But Americans also see that this has been a national security disaster for the country. It's obviously been an economic nightmare. Mortgage rates are at 7% again, by the way, if you hadn't noticed. That's because of the war, primarily, the tariffs as well.

But Americans oppose this war 70-to-18 in the current poll because they know that it's hurting our national security. We have not had a resolution on the floor in a number of weeks, so I just want to talk about four things that have happened in the last few weeks that show how this war is spiraling and spiraling out of control. Every single day, this war becomes more dangerous for the region, more of a disaster for the United States.

One of the things that the administration said that was a motivating factor for the war was getting rid of Iran's missiles. I don't know how many times we heard Secretary Hegseth tell us that the goal was to destroy Iran's missiles and missile capacity. And back in April, he claimed that they had functionally destroyed - that's his word - functionally destroyed Iran's ability to make new missiles.

Well, the Wall Street Journal just reported that Iran is producing ballistic missiles again at scale, and we only were able to eliminate around 30 percent of the missiles. They have most of their stockpiles from before the war. And now they are producing missiles again. Satellite imagery shows that Iran is rebuilding bridges and roads to production sites. They're restoring tunnel entrances and they're building capacity again. Iran is building missiles again - this was the whole reason we were going into the war-a total failure to eliminate Iran's missile capacity.

What's the strain on our service members? Well, we just learned this week that eight Navy sailors aboard the U.S. Abraham Lincoln have attempted suicide. Two of those sailors, as we all know, tried to jump overboard to end their lives. This is a ship that has been without a port call. Was without a poor call for 286 days. That is an abdication of leadership, an abdication of the responsibility to care about our troops' safety by our Department of Defense leadership. We have sailors and soldiers and airmen that are in crisis right now because we have put them in harm's way for far longer than any brave man or woman, who has signed up to defend this nation, deserves to be in harm's way.

We have a new war that has broken out. A new war has broken out in the last two weeks. This was totally predictable. Everybody said if you go to war with Iran, the Houthis are not going to stand put. They are going to start firing inside Yemen and at the Saudis, and that's exactly what has happened. Drone strikes from the Houthis have knocked out Saudi Arabia's bypass pipeline. Earlier this month, they seized control of routes along the Red Sea. Functionally, the Red Sea is now shut down as a means for the Saudis to move oil out of the region. This is part of the reason why gas prices continue to go up.

The Strait of Hormuz is partially open again, but at what expense? Pre-war, it cost a super tanker $200,000 to move through the Strait. Today, it costs $1 million per day for a super tanker to move through the Strait - five times the cost before the war. That alone adds $26 to the cost of each barrel of oil. So even though we're moving some transit through the Strait of Hormuz, it's at a cost that consumers can't afford.

And finally, there is satellite imagery in the last few weeks that shows new construction inside Iran around a complex called Pickaxe Mountain. This is probably their new most important nuclear site. It looks as if they are attaching a very deep bunker, deeper than Fordow, to restart their nuclear research program. And as one expert said, the window to strike Pickaxe Mountain has already expired because the regime has dug so far underground that we can now not hit it.

And so they are restarting the nuclear program. They are restarting their missile production program, we have not eliminated their drone capability. We are leading to a mass suicide and self-harm crisis amongst our service members. Costs are spiraling out of control for consumers and for farms. A new war is breaking out in the region that threatens the stability of the Middle East and further drives up gas prices.

That is why support for this war is at 18 percent in this country. We are supposed to be a democratic body that listens to the will of the people. The people, whether they're Republicans, independents, or Democrats, are telling us loudly and unequivocally, end this war. And it's not like we can't. This resolution is a chance for this body to end the war. And so we are pleading once again, maybe the 10th time that we've had a resolution like this, for our colleagues to join us. The American public are making it clear they can't handle the costs of this war and they can't stand for the national security harm it's doing to the United States. I yield the floor.",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z
https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-and-cornyn-file-amicus-brief-supporting-holocaust-survivors-families-in-lawsuits-over-nazi-confiscated-art,"Blumenthal & Cornyn File Amicus Brief Supporting Holocaust Survivors, Families in Lawsuits Over Nazi-Confiscated Art",2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,blumenthal,https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press,scraper,"[WASHNGTON, D.C.] — U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and John Cornyn (R-TX), authors of the Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery (HEAR) Act, filed an amicus brief defending the legislation’s constitutionality in ongoing litigation over the recovery of Nazi-looted art.

“The Nazi campaign to steal art treasured by Jewish families and others targeted by the regime the was about more than a pilfering of property—it was a deeply personal theft and an act of inhumanity,” Blumenthal said. “Senator Cornyn has been my partner for years in bringing long overdue justice to families whose cherished art was brazenly stolen by the Nazis. I am proud to join Senator Cornyn, Holocaust survivors, and their family members in urging the Court to do the right thing and uphold the constitutionality of the HEAR Act.”

“Earlier this year, the Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act was signed into law to ensure Holocaust survivors and their families have an opportunity to regain thousands of missing pieces of artwork that were looted by the Nazi regime,” said Cornyn. “I am proud to stand in support of survivors and their families, and I urge the Court to ensure victims are not barred from claiming what is rightfully theirs.”

Nazi Germany’s campaign of annihilation and genocide against the Jewish people in the Holocaust included massive theft of property, including hundreds of thousands of works of art. Despite post-war efforts by the United States and allies to return Nazi-looted art and renewed efforts since the late 1990s, more than 100,000 works of art have not been returned to their rightful owners.

In 2016, Congress unanimously passed the HEAR Act, spearheaded in the Senate by Blumenthal and Cornyn, to ensure Holocaust survivors and their heirs could access U.S. courts to pursue claims for the recovery of Nazi-looted art, allowing cases to be decided on their factual merits rather than dismissed on time-based technical defenses. Congress found that the circumstances of the Holocaust imposed extraordinary obstacles to survivors and heirs to locate and recover stolen art, necessitating a national six-year statute of limitations that only begins when the owner actually discovers the location of the stolen artwork.

Unfortunately, many museums, governments, and institutions have contradicted Congress’ intent and obstructed justice by stonewalling legitimate claims, obscuring provenance, and employing aggressive legal tactics designed to exhaust and outlast survivors and their families. Rather than embracing transparency and reconciliation, too many have chosen to entrench and litigate, effectively preserving possession of stolen works rather than returning them to their rightful owners. Moreover, some court cases have interpreted the law narrowly, leaving survivors without recourse.

In response, last year, Blumenthal, Cornyn, and U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), John Fetterman (D-PA), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), and Katie Britt (R-AL) passed legislation to eliminate the sunset date, in recognition that the challenges of restitution remain urgent and unresolved. The legislation also clarified and strengthened procedural protections to ensure that claims are considered on their merits and not dismissed due to time-based technical defenses or other non-merits discretionary defenses. Finally, the bill fortified victims’ remedies and access to the courts.

-30-",1,2026-09-26T09:43:57Z,2026-09-26T09:44:55Z
https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-celebrates-skills-training-revitalization-eyewitness-news,Courtney Celebrates the Skills Training Revitalization on Eyewitness News Extra,2026-09-23,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,courtney,https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"NORWICH, CT – This week, on Eyewitness News Extra, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) celebrated the revitalization of skills training in eastern Connecticut:

“You really see, I think, a very real shift that’s happening in curriculums in high schools, not just trade schools, but also comprehensive high schools, the regular high schools that are now installing welding labs, plasma tables, all the equipment that really give a sizable chunk of kids and opportunity to acquire a skill that, frankly, we just sort of stopped doing for a really long time,” Courtney said.

Image

To watch, click here.

Yesterday, to mark 10 years of the Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative (MPI), the Eastern Connecticut Workforce Investment Board (EWIB) released new data showing that the MPI has graduated over 6,400 trainees into jobs at over 670 employers. The program has led eastern Connecticut to 33% faster regional employment growth than the rest of Connecticut, according to EWIB.

FULL TRANSCRIPT

Brian Shactman (Host): Give me something, one little shred of, like, what makes you feel optimistic about what's going on in our world?

Rep. Courtney: So, you know, honestly, when we you mentioned workforce, one of the things over the last ten years that my office has been involved in is really helping different ways for young adults, but also kids to really start to look at the world differently in terms of, “everybody's got to go to college.” And you really see, I think, a very real shift that's happening in curriculums in high schools, not just trade schools, but also comprehensive high schools, the regular high schools that are now installing welding labs, plasma tables, all the equipment that really give a sizable chunk of kids and opportunity to acquire a skill that, frankly, we just sort of stopped doing for a really long time. And I've gone to graduation ceremonies with these kids, signing ceremonies not just at EB, but other companies that are out there right now. And I think young people and families now are really embracing this and I think-

Brian Shactman (Host): A lot of them are AI proof too, right?

Rep. Courtney: Exactly. And so 2,000 welders this year, out of that 8,000 hiring cohort is welders. And I've talked to the leadership down there at EB, and they said there's just no way you're ever going to replace that. I don't care. You know, AI has its place in terms of supply chain tracking and all that sort of stuff. But they're not going to build, they're not going to manufacture Navy ships.

###",1,2026-09-24T09:44:48Z,2026-09-24T09:45:52Z
https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-responds-gao-report-submarine-repairs,Courtney Responds to GAO Report on Submarine Repairs,2026-09-23,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,courtney,https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"NORWICH, CT – Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), Ranking Member of the House Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, issued the following statement after sending a letter to his colleagues on the Armed Services Committee in response to the recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on Navy submarine repairs. Read Courtney’s letter here.

“I agree that the past track record of submarine repairs is unsatisfactory and that GAO’s recommendation to create more efficient ways to decommission submarines without interfering with maintenance of operational submarines is extremely helpful,” Courtney said. “My letter to my colleagues on the Armed Services Committee includes more up-to-date information regarding of the latest inventory of Virginia-class submarines and corrects the report’s omission of Seawolf submarines, which, as the original follow-on to the Los Angeles-class fleet, are a premier cohort the U.S submarine attack fleet.

“My letter also noted that because of Congress’ swift authorization of the AUKUS security agreement, the U.S. Navy’s submarine fleet will have new intermediate repair capacity forward-deployed in the Indo-Pacific at a new repair facility in Western Australia. That capacity is joined by an $8.5 billion Australian investment in repair availability for Virginia-class submarines and the future SSN-AUKUS submarines,” Courtney continued. “It is indisputable that the Navy needs to organize a submarine repair plan that achieves its stated goal of 80% availability. Congress and the Navy’s commitment of over $21 billion to upgrade public shipyards through Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program will go a long way to help achieve this goal.”

###",1,2026-09-24T09:44:48Z,2026-09-24T09:45:52Z
https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-joins-united-nations-general-assembly-event-on-artificial-intelligence,Murphy Joins United Nations General Assembly Event On Artificial Intelligence,2026-09-23,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,chrismurphy,https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"NEW YORK—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Tuesday joined Foreign Policy magazine’s tech and AI forum at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), titled Securing the Stack: A Conversation on Trust, Trade, and Technology. In the panel discussion, Murphy outlined the path ahead for Congress to respond effectively to Americans’ growing concerns around AI, including job loss, competition with China, and humanity losing control over the technology.

Murphy argued that the US has a long history of regulating dangerous new technologies and the American people are demanding action: “It might be the end of our democracy if the people beg on both sides of the aisle for us to do what we've done with every complicated new technology in the history of this country since the industrial revolution – regulate and control it to make sure we get the good but not the bad – if we don't step up and do the work.”

Murphy expressed optimism that lawmakers could find some consensus on AI: “I think there is some low-hanging fruit that is not particularly complicated. The deepfake threat is already real… that's a pretty easy one to deal with, right? You could just outlaw them in politics, or require clear identification or watermarks in other contexts. Friendship bots, as I mentioned before, are poison for our kids. We can outlaw them writ large, or we can outlaw them for kids. And then you know what we're talking about right now, which is some approval process for models, so as to guard against what we are seeing, and potentially [what] we'll see at scale soon as they sort of jump out of containment…”

“Those three things are achievable, not terribly political, and could foreseeably get done, and give the public then some faith that we maybe have the political capacity to handle some of the more nuanced threats down on,” Murphy emphasized.

Murphy stressed that humanity cannot retain its control over AI without cooperation with China: “I don't think there's any path forward without us being in a conversation with the Chinese and the rest of the world on basic AI safety guidelines, the most important of which is maintaining human control over these systems. So it is heartbreaking to me to listen to the president essentially swear off any kind of engagement with the world that would involve any kind of constraint on research in the United States.”

Murphy also called out the Trump Administration’s hypocrisy on AI development: “He’s giving the impression that his priority is to beat the Chinese on the issue of AI. But at the same time he’s signing off on agreements that would have been unthinkable just a year ago to give some of our most sensitive technologies to the Chinese, to basically invite them to lap us in this, in this AI race.”

Murphy warned that failing to regulate AI out of false fear mongering plays right into China’s hands: “I worry about the China red herring blocking us from common sense domestic regulation. China would love nothing more than for the United States to do nothing to protect people spiritually and the economy generally from what AI could do unchecked. They would love for us to be the one that submits our citizens as guinea pigs to this technology, they would love for us to be the ones that have massive job dislocation first. And so, if we want to compete with China, we better get serious about regulating the social and economic dislocation that may happen with AI at speed because they certainly are going to be careful about that.”

Murphy also detailed what role AI companies should play in crafting a regulatory regime: “We shouldn't wait for their permission. We need to do this in the next 12 months. And so, while I would like them at the table, the last thing we should do is give them veto power… I think that would be one of the most dangerous approaches we could take is to only pass regulatory regimes that get the sign-off and approval of these companies. That, by definition, might make it illegitimate in the public's mind, that is already convinced that these companies are not out to protect them, but out to protect their bottom line.”

A full transcript of Murphy’s exchanges is available below. A video of the full discussion is available here.

MODERATOR:

My question to you is, how much do people still trust the United States? And how much do you have to make the case that they do when you have your engagements with the rest of the world?

MURPHY:

Start with an easy one, huh?

Great to be with you all. Thanks for having me. I'm gonna be the representative member of the United States Senate. And I care deeply about this issue, but am far from an expert on it. So I'm gonna leave you the heavy lifting.

I mean, just for a moment, let's just start with the other end of trust: which is the lack of trust that the American people have in their government right now. They've been worrying about AI and its both economic and spiritual impact on the country for years now. Sixty percent of kids in the United States already use chatbots as a sort of regular outlet for friendship and advice, and parents are dealing with the poisonous ramifications of that every single day. And so, the biggest issue of trust is the lack of trust the people have that we're going to actually protect them from the poison, protect them from the potential enormous downside of unregulated, unchecked AI. And it might be the end of our democracy if the people beg on both sides of the aisle for us to do what we've done with every complicated new technology in the history of this country since the industrial revolution–regulate and control it to make sure we get the good but not the bad–if we, if we don't step up and do the work.

No, I mean listen. There's a crisis of trust in America right now. And yes, part of it is at a kind of macro political level in which there's just such whiplash in U.S. policy from administration to administration. But let's just not sugarcoat it. We've never ever had a president like this before: who lies through his teeth, who signs agreements with the world that he has no intention of honoring, that says one thing today and the exact opposite the next day. And so there is a very specific deficit of trust right now.

[At] My meetings [at the UNGA], you're basically with countries that are just trying to survive, that just want to avoid being on the president's radar screen, [that] want to avoid being involved with America. What a disaster for us, that is. But that's the reality of dealing with this very exceptionally dangerous president. So yes, I I worry about the the bigger issue here, which is that you know even if Trump is gone and there's a more kind of mainstream, internationally focused president, there’s just going to be a lot of hesitancy to do a deal with the United States on critical minerals or AI because they worry that will only last for the duration of that particular administration.

MODERATOR:

Just to stay with you for a minute: on the the first part of what you said, on the the fears that the American public right now have around AI, and you said that [they’re] begging government to to do something about it, the conversation around AI has kind of seesawed from the these existential risks that the companies are talking about. But then here at UNGA, there's also a lot of conversation on the more immediate risks, some of which you laid out on impacts on education, job loss. So, on that kind of spectrum of risk, where can Congress most realistically and effectively intervene?

MURPHY:

Well, I think there is some low-hanging fruit that is not particularly complicated.

The deepfake threat is already real. It is not just a political threat that nobody knows whether they're actually hearing true political speech or not. It's hard to describe, but it's kind of a metaphysical threat in that today, when you go online, you have no idea whether what you're watching is real or not. And when you live your entire life not sure of what is truth and what is untruth, it is exhausting. It is spiritually exhausting. And so I just want to speak to the fact that these are not all easy to diagnose threats. They are literally undermining our consciousness on a regular basis. So that's a pretty easy one to deal with, right? You could just outlaw them in politics, or require clear identification or watermarks in other contexts.

Friendship bots, as I mentioned before, are poison for our kids. Poison. We can outlaw them writ large, or we can outlaw them for kids.

And then you know what we're talking about right now, which is some approval process for models, so as to guard against what we are seeing. And potentially, we'll see at scale soon as they sort of jump out of containment. That's more complicated, but not impossible to figure out how to get some third-party eyes and perhaps approvals on new complicated models.

Those three things are achievable, not terribly political, and could foreseeably get done, and give the public then some faith that we maybe have the political capacity to handle some of the more nuanced threats down on.

MODERATOR:

Sticking with the concept of trust, but hopefully linking it a little more to the trade and tech aspects: China. Tomorrow, President Trump and President Xi are meeting in Washington [on] AI technology issues more broadly. Trade issues are expected high on the agenda. You talked about sort of approval process, and then that goes into sort of how much we should pause or slow down development of these frontier models. How much can the U.S. and the rest of the world trust China on that front?

MURPHY:

Well, listen I don't think there's any path forward without us being in a conversation with the Chinese and the rest of the world on basic AI safety guidelines, the most important of which is maintaining human control over these systems. So it is heartbreaking to me to listen to the president essentially swear off any kind of engagement with the world that would involve any kind of constraint on research in the United States.

He’s giving the impression that his priority is to beat the Chinese on the issue of AI. But at the same time he’s signing off on agreements that would have been unthinkable just a year ago to give some of our most sensitive technologies to the Chinese, to basically invite them to lap us in this, in this AI race.

I worry about the China red herring blocking us from common sense domestic regulation. China would love nothing more than for the United States to do nothing to protect people spiritually and the economy generally from what AI could do unchecked. They would love for us to be the one that submits our citizens as guinea pigs to this technology, they would love for us to be the ones that have massive job dislocation first.

And so, if we want to compete with China, we better get serious about regulating the social and economic dislocation that may happen with AI at speed because they certainly are going to be careful about that. So yes, we have to be engaged with them, but we can't wait for that conversation to make some of those basic investments in a regulatory regime that I referenced in answer to your first question.

MODERATOR:

Senator, I want to also talk now about the role of kind of allies and partners - and we are at UNGA - so the role of multilateral institutions and frameworks. On the first one, despite all the kind of upheaval in foreign policy, one of the things that the Trump administration has been very focused on is the Pax-Silica initiative, for example. I'm curious for your thoughts on one multilateral effort that we're seeing come out of the Trump administration. How effective is it? And what more would you like to see in terms of that conversation, of working with partners to secure?

MURPHY:

Yeah, I think it's not going to be terribly effective. Because you know, with one hand he's rubbing the back of our allies, on the other hand, beating them over the head of the club. And so it's really difficult to convince the Europeans, for instance, that they should put money on the table side by side with the Americans to protect global supply chains around critical minerals when we are sanctioning and tariffing them at the same time.

That being said, I actually have been somebody who has argued for our development finance capabilities, which are right now housed at the DFC, the Development Finance Corporation, to be used in a more strategic way. Traditionally, those capabilities were doing more to combat humanitarian problems and attacking poverty and deeply poor nations. Trump has shifted a lot of the DFC's focus into this specific area of critical mineral flows into AI technology, and I don't actually think that there's – he's maybe gone too far – but I think that that's actually a smart move to use our global development finance capabilities to do sort of more geopolitical strategic investment. So I don't think the initiative is going to bear fruit because you know we are just right now defined by the fights we're picking with our allies, and they're just not going to work with us when we're constantly in an antagonistic relationship. They don't know what attack is coming next. But the things that have happened at DFC - there is some silver lining there.

MODERATOR:

And on bodies like the UN, what role do you see for the UN as an institution? Under this president, U.S. engagement with the UN has kind of gone back and forth a little bit, shall we say? But what role do you see for the UN in bringing together and enforcing some of these kinds of governance mechanisms?

MURPHY:

I doubt that the UN is going to be the place where this conversation happens. This is going to be an ad hoc multilateral effort that is going to primarily involve the United States and China and a few other big players in this space.

But just to step back for a minute: what did Trump say this morning? I forget, but he used the word - ‘we're not going to create a global cabal on AI.’ He sort of used that word - global, globalism - and it speaks to sort of the way that Americans feel about our engagement in the world for the past 50 years.

Most Americans believe that our engagement in the world over the last several decades has prioritized the interests of billionaires and corporations, and that our economic integration did not serve them, but served the economic elite. And so, if we are going to pitch any new platform of economic integration to the world, it better lead with a clear explanation about how it's going to help regular people, how it's going to protect the health of local neighborhoods.

And so, I do think people intuitively understand that you probably can't do AI without some integration with the world. But their default belief is that integration and global economic agreement is designed to help the big legacy players and designed to help companies move jobs out of the United States, through labor arbitrage, to wherever place makes them the most money.

So I think it's going to be necessary, but very difficult for any American leader to convince the public that a new global AI framework isn't primarily intended to serve the big companies' interests and their private interests. You're going to have a high burden to explain, as I think we can, about how those agreements internationally are really all about protecting you and your family.

MODERATOR:

So, what role do you see for the companies in this kind of like governance conversation and framework?

MURPHY:

Well you know, as was referenced, I don't think that there is any system that works without a mandatory system of regulation and approval of models. And I think, ultimately, of integration into different industries. I think we will ultimately have a regime that says: ‘listen, we're going to approve products that are sold to teachers, we are going to approve products that are put into our hospitals to make sure that they are benefiting the public rather than benefiting the companies.’

But obviously this would be better done with the companies sitting at the table. I think certainly at least Anthropic sees the fact that, without a level playing field of regulation, there's no way for one company to deliberately slow down investments in innovation without losing their company because the profit motivation is so extreme that the investors – and all those companies have basically the same set of investors – are just not going to permit a unilateral decision to not move as fast as possible for commercial deployment.

But we shouldn't wait for their permission. We need to do this in the next 12 months. And so, while I would like them at the table, the last thing we should do is give them veto power. They will attempt to try to have veto power. They will try to spend money in elections to get folks in power who will only pass regulatory regimes that they approve. But I think that would be one of the most dangerous approaches we could take: to only pass regulatory regimes that get the sign-off and approval of these companies. That, by definition, might make it illegitimate in the public's mind, that is already convinced that these companies are not out to protect them, but out to protect their bottom line.",1,2026-09-24T09:44:48Z,2026-09-24T09:45:52Z
https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-murkowski-coons-and-cassidy-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-protect-ukrainians-seeking-safety-in-the-us,"Blumenthal, Murkowski, Coons, & Cassidy Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Protect Ukrainians Seeking Safety in the U.S.",2026-09-23,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,blumenthal,https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) introduced legislation today to protect Ukrainian nationals who have sought refuge in the United States following Russia’s unprovoked war of aggression in their home country.

The bipartisan bill would extend immigration protections for Ukrainians who have fled the war brought on by the Russian invasion and sought safety in the United States through the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program, which has for decades provided refuge to those living in America who have fled natural disasters, violence, and political insecurity. The current TPS designation for Ukraine will expire on October 19, 2026 unless further action is taken.

“Ukrainians seeking safety here are fleeing unimaginable horror at home – bloody missile and drone strikes, ruthless kidnapping of children, a cold winter without heat. Forcing their return to such cruel conditions would be the height of inhumanity,” Blumenthal said. “I am grateful to Senators Murkowski, Coons, and Cassidy for joining me in introducing legislation that will protect Ukrainians seeking refuge from being sent back to certain brutality and bloodshed.”

“I have spent time with many Ukrainians who found refuge in Alaska after fleeing Russia’s brutal invasion. They have become part of our communities sending their children to our schools, participating in the local workforce, and re-building their lives while the war continues to devastate their home country,” said Murkowski. “My office has worked with many of these families as they navigate our immigration system, and the reality is that it is simply not safe for them to return to Ukraine. We should not force Ukrainians who we allowed into the U.S. and who are here legally and contributing to our communities back into an active war zone. This legislation will provide them with the stability and protection they need to continue to live and work here until it is safe to return home.”

“The Ukrainian people are on the frontlines of freedom, fighting for their democracy and their future,” said Coons. “We should support them however we can, including by extending protections for Ukrainians who have sought safety in the United States while fleeing Putin’s illegal and unjustified war of aggression. It is unconscionable that we would send them back to the horrors they could face at home, especially with winter around the corner. I am grateful to join my colleagues in providing stability and protection to Ukrainians at this critical moment.”

TPS is a temporary, legal immigration status granted to foreign citizens who are unable to return safely to their home country due to natural disasters, armed conflicts, or other extraordinary conditions. All TPS recipients have passed a thorough background check. TPS was extended to Ukrainian nationals in April 2022 due to the ongoing invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces.

In February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, launching missiles against military and civilian targets across the country as troops pushed to overtake major cities. Although Ukrainian forces successfully blocked the attempted invasion of Kyiv and have since liberated significant territory throughout the country, Russian offensives continue to target Ukrainian communities and claim thousands of casualties. Since the invasion, tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilians have died and hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian forces have been killed. Russia has also engaged in a campaign of abduction and forcible removal of Ukrainian children, seeking to erase the children’s Ukrainian names, language and identity, and exposing them to human trafficking and exploitation, child labor, sexual violence, hunger, injury, trauma and death.

-30-",1,2026-09-26T09:43:57Z,2026-09-26T09:44:55Z
https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-statement-on-watchdog-report-exposing-the-trump-administrations-reckless-cancellation-of-contracts-serving-veterans,Blumenthal Statement on Watchdog Report Exposing the Trump Administration's Reckless Cancellation of Contracts Serving Veterans,2026-09-23,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,blumenthal,https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, released a statement on a new report from the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) exposing the Trump Administration and DOGE’s reckless cancellation of contracts at VA beginning in 2025. The report details a chaotic cancellation process directed top-down by DOGE, Secretary Doug Collins, and Senior Advisors at VA, resulting in contracts called without veteran-impact assessments and inaccurate cost saving estimates.

“This report confirms my repeatedly expressed concerns that VA has recklessly cancelled hundreds of contracts with no consideration of the impact on veterans or VA operations. These cuts harmed veterans and were hidden from Congress and the public by senior VA officials. Secretary Collins owes us answers on how VA will replace lost services and how much this fiasco has cost taxpayers in arbitration, settlements, and reinstatements. Veterans and taxpayers deserve transparency and a full public accounting.”

Key findings of the report reveal:

A top-down process led by DOGE, Doug Collins and political leaders, rather than a process driven by VA subject matter experts.

OIG reports that only after contracts were marked for cancellation did VA leadership ask officials to justify their proposed cuts. In addition, questions about the cancellations’ impact on veterans were not asked until the contracts were identified for termination.

A haphazard process and timeline: “In some cases, VA officials were given two weeks to complete their review. In others, they were given only a few hours to review hundreds of contracts. VA senior advisers and Department of Government Efficiency representatives directed them to terminate the contracts on February 25, 2025, regardless of the incomplete reviews.”

Due to the reckless cancellation process, VA subsequently reversed some contracts that were already cancelled: “For example, OIG also found that contracting officers initially terminated an additional 100 contract actions but later reinstated them.”

DOGE and VA advisors’ lack of familiarity with contracting processes and terminology led to “confusion, frustration,” and made tracking cancelled contracts difficult.

VA repeatedly submitted inaccurate data to Congress and touted false information to the public. For example, in May 2025 DOGE and Doug Collins reported saving $120.9 billion through contract cancellations. However, this report reveals the true savings were not even one percent of that amount.

The report does not include data independently obtained from VA that reveals an additional 32 contracts were reinstated “due to direct patient care.” Additionally, OIG did not review an additional 103 contracts that were descoped and 842 not renewed due to DOGE during the same time period.

Since 2025, Blumenthal and Congressional Democrats have sent multiple requests to VA Secretary Doug Collins asking for the complete and updated list of VA contracts cancelled or proposed for cancellation. This report shows that VA failed multiple times to submit accurate data and are still in the process of correcting mistakes their process created.

In January 2026, Blumenthal and the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee released a report detailing the Trump Administration’s lack of transparency and false savings claims arounds its cancellation of thousands of contracts providing services to veterans and supporting VA operations. This report detailed how Trump Administration officials employed a flawed AI model from DOGE to cancel approximately 2,000 contracts for veterans and VA facilities and let another 14,000 expire without any plans for renewal or replacement services. The Trump VA also falsely claimed to have saved $120.8 billion, more than the entirety of total VA contract spending in fiscal year 2024, by cancelling 445 contracts. In addition, at least 80 contracts the Trump Administration claimed to cancel, in order to boast about supposed “savings,” were actually terminated under the Biden Administration between 2021 and 2024.

In June 2025, Blumenthal led a spotlight forum to examine these contract cancellations with employees whose companies had a VA contract cancelled by DOGE, including a veteran-owned small business, an expert in cancer registries which are among the cancelled VA contracts, and an expert in federal contracting oversight and transparency. These witness underscored the harm of the cancellation of contracts on veterans and the sudden cancellation of their companies contracts without cause.

-30-",1,2026-09-26T09:43:57Z,2026-09-26T09:44:55Z
https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-perez-celebrate-success-eastern-cts-manufacturing-pipeline,"Courtney, Perez Celebrate the Success of Eastern CT’s Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative 10 Years After Supporting the Program’s Launch",2026-09-22,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,courtney,https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"NORWICH, CT – Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), Ranking Member of the House Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee and a senior Member of the House Education and Workforce Committee, and Tom Perez, former U.S. Secretary of Labor, celebrated the success of eastern Connecticut’s Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative (MPI) ten years after the program launched with their support.

“In 2015, when then-Secretary of Labor Perez joined me at Electric Boat for a roundtable discussion with our region’s manufacturing leaders, he called for a nationwide effort to develop a ‘skills infrastructure,’” Courtney said. “Through federal support, EWIB’s Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative has become the nation’s role model for revitalizing the skilled trades to meet the needs of local employers and create high-quality career opportunities for young people and adult jobseekers. In 2026, the program continues to expand and is powering record hiring at the Groton shipyard and supporting small business manufactures across our region. With the historic demand signal for submarine construction from the recently awarded $76.6 billion Navy contracts, we now need to double down on the Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative’s success for decades to come.”

“I had the privilege of standing side by side with Congressman Courtney and other business and community leaders 10 years ago when the Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative was launched,” Perez said. “In the past decade, over 6,400 program trainees have been placed into jobs at over 670 small, medium, and large businesses. These hard working men and women have punched their ticket to the middle class. Congressman Courtney has worked tirelessly to ensure that these critical investments continue. This program is a poster child for how workforce boards are supposed to operate in terms of reaching out to local employers and creating a curriculum that makes untrained individuals job-ready in an accelerated time frame.”

In 2015, then-Secretary Perez visited Electric Boat in Groton, CT at the invitation of Congressman Courtney. During a roundtable with leaders in eastern Connecticut’s manufacturing industry, Secretary Perez noted a nationwide need to build out a “skills infrastructure” to help our nation’s economy grow and succeed. Following Secretary Perez’s visit, the Eastern Connecticut Workforce Investment Board received a $6 million grant award from the Department of Labor, which helped launch the Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative.

The Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative is 48% federally funded, 51% state funded, and 1% philanthropically funded, according to EWIB.

Since it launched in 2016, the Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative has placed over 6,400 trainees into jobs at over 670 employers, generated $549 million in total economic impact, and driven 33% faster employment growth in eastern Connecticut vs. the rest of the state, according to EWIB.

###",1,2026-09-23T09:45:16Z,2026-09-23T09:46:14Z
https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-introduces-legislation-imposing-100-percent-surtax-on-income-generated-by-companies-owned-by-president-and-other-cabinet-officials-when-they-abuse-their-power-to-benefit-themselves,Blumenthal Introduces Legislation Imposing 100 Percent Surtax on Income Generated by Companies Owned by President & Other Cabinet Officials When They Abuse Their Power to Benefit Themselves,2026-09-22,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,blumenthal,https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today introduced new legislation to impose a 100 percent surtax on income earned by a company owned or controlled by the President, Vice President, Cabinet officials, or immediate family members as a result of a favorable government action. The Anti-Corruption Tax Act is in direct response to Donald Trump and other Administration officials abusing the power of the government to help the companies they own or control make money, at the direct expense of American taxpayers.

“Donald Trump has been clear: there is no ethical line separating his role as President from his family’s businesses,” Blumenthal said. “He and other Administration officials have repeatedly abused their power to enrich themselves and their families. My measure would put an end to this kind of self-dealing by putting a 100 percent surtax on any income that Donald Trump and his family—or any future Administration officials—generate thanks to a favorable government action.”

Anti-Corruption Tax Act addresses the following actions:

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency conditionally approving a national trust bank charter for the Trump family’s World Liberty Financial;

The Pentagon’s $620 million loan to Vulcan Elements, a startup backed by Donald Trump Jr.’s venture capital firm, 1789 Capital;

The U.S. Army’s $15.2 million contract with a company that Donald Trump Jr. owns a significant ownership stake in and sits on the advisory board for, Unusual Machines;

The U.S. Air Force’s contract to buy interceptor drones from Powerus, a company backed by Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump;

Potential federal contracts awarded to Newmark, a company owned by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s sons, to build ICE facilities;

Newmark also has earned fees arranging land, leases, and financing for AI data centers, which Lutnick has promoted as Commerce Secretary, in addition to overseeing expedited federal permitting for certain data center projects;

The United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s 2025 regulatory approvals allowing Polymarket to return to the U.S. market, including relief from certain federal reporting and recordkeeping requirements following Polymarket’s acquisition of the federally regulated QCEX exchange and clearinghouse. Polymarket received an investment from 1789 Capital, and Donald Trump Jr. joined its advisory board.

The full bill text of the Anti-Corruption Tax Act is available here.

-30-",1,2026-09-23T09:45:16Z,2026-09-23T09:46:14Z
https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-sheehy-introduce-bill-to-extend-benefits-for-military-survivors,"Blumenthal, Sheehy Introduce Bill to Extend Benefits for Military Survivors",2026-09-22,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,blumenthal,https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, and U.S. Senator Tim Sheehy (R-MT) are teaming up to introduce the GRACE for Military Survivors Act—bipartisan legislation that would provide military survivors more time to make informed financial decisions about their benefits without facing tax penalties.

“Military survivors who lose loved ones endure life-changing grief. We shouldn’t force them to make important, long-term financial decisions about their survivors’ benefits while also going through such unspeakable pain,” said Senator Blumenthal. “Our commonsense bill will give these families more time to make these critical decisions.”

“When families lose a loved one, too often they are forced to make difficult financial decisions before being allowed time to grieve and process their loss; this is especially true when it comes to the surviving families of our fallen military heroes,” said Senator Tim Sheehy. “America’s military families sacrifice so much for this great nation – they deserve time to mourn and honor their loved one instead of being rushed into making long-lasting, consequential decisions about their survivors’ benefits. Supporting this practical legislation to extend the time military families have to make these decisions is the least we can do for the families of our heroes.”

When a servicemember dies, the surviving family has to make important financial decisions about their survivors’ benefits while also grieving their loved ones. Current law only gives surviving spouses and children a year to decide if they want to put military death gratuities and Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) benefits into certain tax-advantaged savings accounts, including Roth IRAs and Coverdell Education Savings Accounts. The GRACE for Military Survivors Act would extend that time frame from one to three years—ensuring surviving families have additional time to make important long-term financial decisions.

U.S. Representative Mike Thompson (D-CA) and Jack Bergman (R-MI) have introduced the companion bill to this legislation in the House.

The GRACE for Military Survivors Act is supported by Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), Gold Star Spouses, Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), With Honor, The American Legion, AMVETS, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, Military Family Advisory Network (MFAN), National Association of County Veterans Service Officers (NACVSO), United Services Automobile Association (USAA), Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and Veterans Survivor Coalition.

“After the tragic loss of their military loved one, survivors are often forced to make long-term financial decisions during a period of profound grief. TAPS is grateful to Ranking Member Blumenthal and Senator Sheehy for introducing the GRACE for Military Survivors Act, which will provide our surviving families with much needed additional time to make these important decisions impacting their lives. We look forward to its swift passage!” said Bonnie Carroll, President and Founder of the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS).

“Gold Star Spouses of America (GSSA) strongly supports the GRACE for Military Survivors Act. Surviving spouses are often advised to avoid making major financial decisions during the first year following the loss of a loved one,” said Tamra Sipes, National President of Gold Star Spouses of America. “While well-intentioned, this guidance can inadvertently cause families to miss valuable opportunities to place military death benefits into tax-advantaged savings accounts. GSSA thanks Ranking Member Blumenthal and Senator Sheehy for introducing legislation that would extend the contribution period from one year to three years.”

“Families who lose a loved one in service to our nation carry a sacrifice that most of us can never fully understand. As we have learned from the caregiving community, these families deserve time, dignity and the freedom to make the decisions that are right for them, without unnecessary pressure,” said Steve Schwab, CEO of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation. “The GRACE for Military Survivors Act is an important recognition of what military survivors need as they navigate life after loss. We are proud to support this effort and stand behind the families who have given so much.”

“Vietnam Veterans of America deeply understands the profound grief, sorrow, and devastation felt by the family of every service member lost in service to our nation. Our obligation to those who wear the uniform extends fully to the families they leave behind. In their deepest time of mourning, the very last thing a grieving family should have to worry about is navigating strict federal deadlines or the administrative burdens of financial filings,” said Michael J. Fimmano, Chief Legislative Officer of Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA). “…By extending that contribution window from one year to three, the GRACE for Military Survivors Act gives Gold Star families the breathing room they need to make thoughtful, long-term financial decisions on their own timeline…Through the swift passage of this bill, we can honor the memory of the fallen while granting surviving families the dignity, time, and compassion they deserve in their most painful moments.”

“Military families give more than most Americans will ever be asked to. When a service member passes, we should not ask surviving spouses and families to set aside their grief to focus on finances,” said Rye Barcott, Co-Founder and CEO of With Honor. “This legislation is notable for what it is not—it is not partisan, costly, or controversial. It imposes no new federal spending, creates no new bureaucracy, and asks nothing of taxpayers. It simply removes an arbitrary constraint that punishes military survivors for taking the time they need to grieve. Keeping faith with military families means ensuring they are treated with dignity and compassion during life’s most difficult moments. With Honor Action enthusiastically endorses the GRACE for Military Survivors Act and appreciates For Country Caucus members Reps. Mike Thompson and Jack Bergman, as well as Senators Richard Blumenthal and Tim Sheehy, for their strong commitment to honoring military families and those who served.”

Bill text can be found HERE.

-30-",1,2026-09-23T09:45:16Z,2026-09-23T09:46:14Z
https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-presses-dhs-sec-mullin-on-ice-operations-in-connecticut,Murphy Presses DHS Sec. Mullin On ICE Operations in Connecticut,2026-09-22,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,chrismurphy,https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) just pressed U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin for accountability and transparency on unprecedented immigration raids in Connecticut by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) last month, including near a children’s school bus stop.

“Last month, families and communities in Connecticut experienced mass immigration enforcement arrests across the state. To make matters worse, parents were reportedly arrested in front of their children, including at least one parent who was arrested just after their child boarded a bus for their first day of school. As fathers, I hope we can both agree that children should not have to witness their parents being brutally arrested for civil immigration offenses,” said Murphy.

In a letter to Mullin, Murphy cited the long-term suffering children experience when they personally experience the arrest of their parents, pushing for immigration forces to exercise restraint and follow the books.

“The Department of Homeland Security must take immediate action to eliminate this unnecessary and harmful use of force. Additionally, DHS is also required to follow the ‘Detained Parents Directive’ (DPD), even in its weakened state, to ensure that parents are not unconstitutionally deprived of their child,” said Murphy.

Murphy concluded with a push for accountability and transparency, issuing a series of information requests to Mullin:

How many arrests were made in total in Connecticut from August 17 – 28 (“the specified time”)? Provide the location of each arrest (city/town).

Were any arresting agents/officers employed by any other federal agency other than ICE?

If so, how many? Were any agents present in Connecticut detailed from another federal agency?

For each arrest made in Connecticut during the specified time, state specifically whether arresting agents/officers followed the ‘Detained Parents Directive’. If so, what evidence can you provide that arresting agents/officers followed such policy? If not, provide a written rationale for such deviation.

Were arresting agents/officers assigned to Connecticut as their full-time duty station, or were they transported across state lines to execute this operation?

Provide the conviction or pending criminal charge for each person arrested in Connecticut during the specified time.

Provide the immigration status of those arrested, including the number of people with parole, protections under the Convention Against Torture, or withholding of removal, if applicable.

Multiple videos show a federal agent kicking a person who is on the ground, even though he is surrounded by agents and does not appear to be resisting. Under what circumstances is it permissible for a federal agent to kick a person? After reviewing this video, was such conduct permissible? Please provide an explanation.

How many arrests were made at, or near, a school bus stop, playground or daycare center? Provide the rationale for federal agents to make such arrests around children.

On CNN, Tom Homan committed to an investigation into what happened in Danbury, CT. Provide an update on the status of this investigation.

Read the letter to Sec. Mullin here.

ICE recently conducted a week-long operation in Connecticut resulting in 118 arrests, which included an arrest of a parent who just dropped their child off at their school bus stop. When reports surfaced, Sen. Murphy immediately joined elected officials and immigration rights advocates, as well as thousands of protestors in Danbury, to denounce the operation. Videos released to CT Insider by Danbury Public Schools under a Freedom of Information Act request documented the scene.",1,2026-09-23T09:45:16Z,2026-09-23T09:46:14Z
https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/witness-testimony-blumenthal-and-robert-garcia-receive-testimony-on-fatal-shootings-by-federal-immigration-agents,Witness Testimony: Blumenthal & Robert Garcia Receive Testimony on Fatal Shootings by Federal Immigration Agents,2026-09-22,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,blumenthal,https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, DC] – Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ranking Member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), and U.S. Representative Robert Garcia (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, held a bicameral public forum on the killings of Ruben Ray Martinez, Renée Nicole Macklin Good, Alex Pretti, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, and Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero.

The following witnesses offered testimony about the fatal shootings of five people by federal immigration agents during the Trump Administration:

Rachel Reyes: Rachel Reyes’ son, Ruben Ray Martinez, was shot and killed by an Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in March 2025 in South Padre Island, Texas. For nearly a year afterwards, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) refused to publicly acknowledge its involvement in Mr. Martinez’s death, which only came to light through a public records request.

“Though the circumstances surrounding his death and these other victims are distinctly different, the pattern is the same. Lives cut short by the same agency; agents without body cameras; no warnings; no attempt to de-escalate; excessive force followed by deflection, and a lack of accountability after the fact,” Ms. Reyes wrote. “Other similarities are that these victims, despite being nonviolent community members with no criminal background, were disparaged and blamed to shift focus away from the officer’s misconduct. What happened to my son is personal, but it should be a concern for us all.”

Ms. Reyes’ written testimony is available here.

Video of Ms. Reyes’ testimony is available here.

Donna and Brent Ganger: Donna Ganger’s daughter and Brent Ganger’s sister, Renée Nicole Macklin Good, was shot and killed by an ICE agent in January 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

“What I want most to do today is help everyone understand exactly what was taken from us on January 7th, and what a beautiful woman our family and this country lost. We have not moved on. We struggle every day. We will never, ever be the same,” Mrs. Ganger wrote. “It’s difficult to balance our gratitude for what a lovely soul Renee was with the anger and confusion at the violent way she died. And the total insanity of it all. She should still be alive. I’ll say that again. My daughter should still be alive.”

“I urge each of you to find a common sense solution to the problem of accountability for federal officers. There should not be a different set of rules and a different process to hold a federal officer accountable versus a state or local officer. We all want our law enforcement officers to perform at the highest standards, but when they don’t, it shouldn’t matter who their employer is. There should be a path to justice for those they harm,” Mr. Ganger wrote. “Our family implores all members of Congress to work together to level the playing field and find common sense reform that provides accountability and justice for all.”

Mrs. Ganger and Mr. Ganger’s written testimony is available here.

Video of Mrs. Ganger and Mr. Ganger’s testimony is available here.

Stella Carlson: Stella Carlson recorded the killing of Alex Pretti in January 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Ms. Carlson, known as the “woman in the pink coat,” was on her way to work when she witnessed and filmed an immigration agent shooting Mr. Pretti in the back. Her video confirmed that DHS’s account of the fatal shooting was false.

“I am just a regular person, but I care deeply about my community, and my state, and my country. And I believe there is power in ordinary people telling the truth,” Ms. Carlson wrote. “Because I feel like I witnessed two assassinations. The first was the assassination of Alex himself — the killing I watched happen in the streets of Minneapolis. The second was the attempted assassination of his character. Afterward, powerful voices at the highest levels of government right here in Washington DC lied about Alex Pretti. They tried to take the gentle person I had watched with my own eyes and replace him with lies claiming he was a violent threat, someone who had come there to cause maximum damage, someone who wanted to kill law enforcement. Not so. Those were all lies. I observed him and what happened with my own eyes. The truth does not become less true because someone with great power tells a louder lie.”

Ms. Carlson’s written testimony is available here.

Video of Ms. Carlson’s testimony is available here.

Ronaldo and Lorenzo Salgado: Ronaldo and Lorenzo Salgado’s father, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, was shot and killed in Houston, Texas in July 2026. Mr. Araujo was driving to work when he was confronted by ICE agents who fired into the vehicle, killing him.

“I visit my dad’s memorial every day. Not because it’s where he died, but where a movement was born. It’s my way of witnessing how many hearts my dad’s story resonates with,” Mr. Ronaldo Salgado wrote. “And it’s my motivation to continue fighting not just for my dad, but for everyone else’s dad and families like mine. I hope I’m doing the right thing every day. I know my dad is guiding me in the right direction.”

“I ask you this: What would you do if you were in our shoes? Think of a loved one,” Mr. Lorenzo Salgado wrote. “Close your eyes and picture their face. What would you do if they were taken from you this way? Suddenly, without any sense. What would you do if you had to spend your days comforting your mother about the loss of her lifelong love, your grandmother about the loss of her little boy? You would do everything you could to find out what happened and make sure your loved one got justice.”

Mr. Ronaldo Salgado and Mr. Lorenzo Salgado’s written testimony is available here.

Video of Mr. Mr. Ronaldo Salgado and Mr. Lorenzo Salgado’s testimony is available here.

Sean P. Murphy: Sean P. Murphy represents the family of Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero who was shot and killed by an ICE agent shortly after leaving for work early in the morning hours of July 13, 2026. He was not the target of any ICE removal operation and had no criminal history. Johan Sebastián did have a social security number and valid work authorization issued by the current administration. To date, no federal agency has confirmed that they are investigating.

“I will say this next part quietly but with the hope and belief that just the grieving of Johan Sebatián’s mother permeated the walls of the funeral home, this next declaration permeates the walls of this building and reaches if not the ears, the soul of any public servant who has a soul left to receive it: Anyone who would defend the murder of Johan Sebastián is not a true patriot,” Mr. Murphy wrote.

Mr. Murphy’s written testimony is available here.

Video of Mr. Murphy’s testimony is available here.

-30-",1,2026-09-24T09:44:48Z,2026-09-24T09:45:52Z
https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-gets-another-tattoo,DeLauro Gets Another Tattoo,2026-09-21,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CT,Rosa L. DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,delauro,https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Two Granddaughters, Two Tattoos

Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) announced she received another tattoo to mark her granddaughter Sadie’s 18th birthday:

“One tattoo was a story – two is now tradition, and one I am so happy to carry on to show my love for my grandchildren. After my first tattoo for my granddaughter Rigby’s 18th birthday, my granddaughter Sadie asked that I get another for hers. I said absolutely. When Sadie was a baby, she'd lift her head like a little bird coming out of a nest, my le petit oiseau, French for little bird. That is why my new tattoo is a swallow.”

Joe Capobianco, owner of Hope Tattoo Gallery in New Haven, gave DeLauro the new ink. DeLauro received her first tattoo in 2023 with her granddaughter Rigby. “I am thankful to Joe and Hope Tattoo Gallery for a beautiful new piece of body art,” DeLauro said.

“People keep asking me if there will be more tattoos to come. I have more grandchildren, so the answer is probably yes. And every one of them will be worth it.”",1,2026-09-22T09:42:49Z,2026-09-22T09:44:35Z
https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/connecticut-delegation-announces-234-million-sikorsky,Connecticut Delegation Announces $234 Million for Sikorsky,2026-09-19,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CT,John B. Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,larson,https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Hartford, CT - Today, Connecticut’s congressional delegation announced a $234 million contract from U.S. Army to procure 16 UH-60M Black hawks:

“Sikorsky is a global leader in defense, building the finest helicopters here in Connecticut. This $234 million contract will support good-paying jobs in Connecticut, provide a boost to our local economy, and strengthen our national security. We will always fight for funding and contracts to support the thousands of skilled employees and the local manufacturing industry here in Connecticut who serve as the backbone to Sikorsky’s success,” said the delegation.

The initial agreement covers 16 aircraft for the U.S. Army and is expected to increase by over 100 aircraft in the coming years.

The agreement sustains production at Sikorsky and its 230‑supplier, 43‑state industrial base without interruption.",1,2026-09-22T09:42:49Z,2026-09-22T09:44:35Z
https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/ranking-members-larson-neal-and-davis-demand-answers-commissioner,"Ranking Members Larson, Neal, and Davis Demand Answers from Commissioner Bisignano for Social Security Staffing Crisis",2026-09-18,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CT,John B. Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,larson,https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. - Today, House Social Security Subcommittee Ranking Member John B. Larson (CT-01), Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (MA-01), and Worker and Family Support Subcommittee Ranking Member Danny K. Davis (IL-07) wrote to Social Security Administration (SSA) Commissioner Frank J. Bisignano, demanding answers for the staffing crisis at SSA taking hold on his watch—after delivering seemingly contradictory testimony before the Ways and Means Committee earlier this year.

During his testimony, Commissioner Bisignano asserted that SSA has “the right amount of staff in the right places,” that they’ve “reduced workload in field offices by the equivalent of 600 work years,” and that “we committed to never close a field office.” However, reports by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Council 220, representing approximately 25,000 SSA employees, contradict him. The union told Congress that severely understaffed field offices are operating as “ghost offices” and record-low morale have created the worst staffing crisis in SSA’s history. The union noted that the Administration has forced out roughly one in seven SSA employees nationwide.

“During the hearing, you testified that you are delivering ‘the best all-around performance ever at the Social Security Administration,’” the Democratic lawmakers wrote. “Unfortunately, the experience on the ground as reported by our constituents and as highlighted by AFGE Council 220 in its statement contradicts this testimony.”

The lawmakers requested Commissioner Bisignano answer by October 2, 2026, for the crisis afoot amidst an effort to “trample on the rights of unionized employees.” The questions probe the changes in SSA’s workplace policy, criteria used to reassign employees and its effect on customer service, and canceling of previously agreed upon employee accommodations. The Democrats demanded to know what notice is given to SSA employees regarding changes to their employment, and what steps are taken to ensure reasonable accommodation and Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) requests.",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z
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.] – 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’s leadership on the Major Richard Star Act and his advocacy for America’s veterans as Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee.

“I am honored to receive the Legislator of the Year Award from Wounded Warrior Project—fierce champions for veterans and their families across the nation,” said Senator Blumenthal. “Their 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.”

“This award recognizes not only Senator Blumenthal’s leadership, but also his steadfast commitment to our nation’s veterans,” said Jose Ramos, Vice President of Government and Community Relations for Wounded Warrior Project. “Throughout 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.”

Blumenthal has worked for years alongside Wounded Warrior Project to expand veterans’ 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’s BRAVE Act and his bipartisan legislation to improve care and benefits for survivors of military sexual trauma.

Pictures of the award ceremony are available HERE.

-30-",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z
https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/livestream-tuesday-blumenthal-and-robert-garcia-to-receive-public-testimony-on-fatal-shootings-by-federal-immigration-agents,Livestream Tuesday: Blumenthal & Robert Garcia to Receive Public Testimony on Fatal Shootings by Federal Immigration Agents,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, DC] – On Tuesday, September 22, 2026 at 3:30 PM ET, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ranking Member of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, and U.S. Representative Robert Garcia (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, will hold a bicameral public forum to receive testimony on the killings of Ruben Ray Martinez, Renée Nicole Macklin Good, Alex Pretti, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, and Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero.

The following witnesses will offer testimony about the fatal shootings of five people by federal immigration agents during the Trump Administration:

Rachel Reyes: Rachel Reyes’ son, Ruben Ray Martinez, was shot and killed by an Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in March 2025 in South Padre Island, Texas. For nearly a year afterwards, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) refused to publicly acknowledge its involvement in Mr. Martinez’s death, which only came to light through a public records request.

Donna and Brent Ganger: Donna Ganger’s daughter and Brent Ganger’s sister, Renée Nicole Macklin Good, was shot and killed by an ICE agent in January 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Stella Carlson: Stella Carlson recorded the killing of Alex Pretti in January 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Ms. Carlson, known as the “woman in the pink coat,” was on her way to work when she witnessed and filmed an immigration agent shooting Mr. Pretti in the back. Her video confirmed that DHS’s account of the fatal shooting was false.

Ronaldo and Lorenzo Salgado: Ronaldo and Lorenzo Salgado’s father, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, was shot and killed in Houston, Texas in July 2026. Mr. Araujo was driving to work when he was confronted by ICE agents who fired into the vehicle, killing him.

Sean P. Murphy: Sean P. Murphy represents the family of Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero who was shot and killed by an ICE agent shortly after leaving for work early in the morning hours of July 13, 2026. He was not the target of any ICE removal operation and had no criminal history. Johan Sebastián did have a social security number and valid work authorization issued by the current administration. To date, no federal agency has confirmed that they are investigating.

WHO: U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)

U.S. Representative Robert Garcia (D-CA)

Members of the Senate and House of Representatives, including members Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations and the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

Family members of people shot and killed by federal immigration agents; witness to one of the fatal shootings; and a lawyer representing the family of someone killed

WHEN: Tuesday, September 22, 2026 at 3:30 PM ET

WHERE: G50 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Washington, DC

LIVESTREAM: A livestream will be available here.

Tuesday’s event is the fifth public forum Blumenthal and Garcia have hosted as part of their ongoing inquiry into the lawless and abusive tactics used by federal immigration agents:

In December, Blumenthal and Garcia hosted a forum featuring testimony from five U.S. citizens who were assaulted, detained, and denied their constitutional rights by DHS agents.

In early February, Blumenthal and Garcia hosted a forum focused on the violent tactics and disproportionate use of force by DHS agents, featuring three U.S. citizens who were violently assaulted and both of Ms. Good’s brothers.

In late February, Blumenthal and Garcia hosted a forum on constitutional violations and abuses by ICE featuring Ryan Schwank, a whistleblower who spoke publicly for the first time about his experience as an instructor for the incoming “surge” of new ICE recruits, and a U.S. citizen whose home was forcibly entered by ICE agents without a judicial warrant.

In March, Blumenthal and Garcia hosted a forum on how violent tactics, a disregard for laws and constitutional rights, and new DHS policies have harmed children in America. Three young Americans, two mothers, and a school superintendent who witnessed or experienced DHS agents violently assaulting and detaining children testified.

-30-",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z
https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/senator-blumenthal-week-in-review-9/11/2026-9/18/2026,Senator Blumenthal: Week in Review 9/11/2026-9/18/2026,2026-09-18,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,blumenthal,https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press,scraper,"Celebrating Final Passage of Landmark Russia Sanctions Bill

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) celebrated final Congressional passage of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. The legislation, led by Blumenthal and U.S. Senator Darline Graham (R-SC), would hold major purchasers of Russian oil and gas accountable for supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine. The bill was approved in a major bipartisan vote in the Senate in August and was passed out of the House of Representatives this week.

“Today is a historic triumph for democracy— ours and Ukraine’s— showing that America can still muster bipartisan unity in the fight for freedom. I am overwhelmed with gratitude,” Blumenthal said. “In August, I watched from Kyiv’s Sophia Square as President Zelenskyy honored the families of heroes who gave their lives so that Ukraine could remain free and independent. I vowed then, as I have every day for the last few years, that our tribute to the fallen defenders of Ukraine would be the passage of this legislation to help bring an end to Putin’s hideous slaughter and prevent future bloodshed.”

“Today’s triumph is also a testament to the relentless drive of my friend, Lindsey Graham. I missed him deeply on my most recent eleventh trip to Ukraine. If he were here today, he would be jubilant about our bill’s passage – and already thinking about the next one. So today we celebrate, and tomorrow, we redouble work on sending Ukraine whatever it needs to prevail. Putin is a thug who understands only force and strength, which is what we must show clearly and unequivocally.”

Blumenthal joined Congressman Michael McCaul (R-TX), Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD), U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-AL), and Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC) at a press conference following the vote on final passage of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026.

“To Vladimir Putin—we have your number. Your economy is reeling. We’re going to throttle your war machine. China and India, you better clean up your act. Buy your oil and gas somewhere else,” said Blumenthal at the press conference. “To the American people—thank you for standing with Ukraine and recognizing that Ukraine’s fight is our fight. It is not just their freedom and independence, it’s ours. And to the people of Ukraine—you are not alone. The momentum that we have as a result of this bill should enable us to fight for the military aid, the economic support, the political and moral bolstering that Ukraine needs and deserves.”

A video of the press conference can be found here.

Last month, Blumenthal traveled to Ukraine to celebrate Independence Day in Kyiv. Blumenthal also traveled to Dnipro, near the eastern front of the war – the first Congressional Delegation to visit since the invasion.

In early August, Blumenthal along with Britt, Shaheen, and U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Jim Risch (R-ID) hosted a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and supporters of the legislation at the U.S. Capitol. Photos of the meeting are available here.

Blumenthal and U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) first introduced legislation to bring primary and secondary sanctions against Russia and actors supporting Russia’s aggression in Ukraine in April 2025, and spent the last year and a half building support for the effort in Congress and the Administration. Lindsey Graham secured an agreement with the White House on the bill just before his death.

The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 would impose primary and secondary sanctions against Russia and actors supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine. The sanctions target Russian officials, oligarchs, their family members, foreign persons, and Russian banks and financial institutions, as well as the Russian Shadow Fleet.

The legislation allows the President to impose targeted tariffs on imported goods from countries that buy the vast majority of Russian oil or gas, and enable Russian sanctions evasion. The bill limits these tariffs to the five largest importers of Russian crude oil or gas, and the top five countries that aid Russia’s energy sanctions evasion.

The bill also includes a provision to prevent a lapse in sanctions authority that restricts funding for Iran’s energy and weapons sectors.

The text of the bill is available here.

Condemning Presidential Corruption

Blumenthal, Ranking Member of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), convened a public forum on how Donald Trump, his children, and top Administration officials have leveraged their positions to grow their personal wealth at the expense of American families. At the forum, “Gaming the System: How the Trump Family is Making Billions by Ripping Off the American People,” Blumenthal and U.S. Representative Robert Garcia (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, called out Donald Trump and his family for their self-enrichment schemes and made the case for strong reforms to curb corruption at the federal level.

Blumenthal slammed Republicans for enabling Trump’s corruption by moving to advance crypto market structure legislation without meaningful anti-corruption provisions: “Exhibit A, the latest draft of the Clarity Act relating to conflicts of interest. It purports to prevent conflicts of interest and corruption by the President of the United States. It is a charade. It is a sham. It should prompt a no vote by every member of the United States Senate tomorrow at 2:15 when the vote is scheduled.”

Blumenthal continued, “Now, of all the families’ grifts, cryptocurrency has probably been the most profitable enterprise, and the cost to consumers probably have been greatest. This is an industry that was facing criminal and civil investigations for enabling terrorists, drug traffickers, market manipulation, and human trafficking. It turns out the shadiest people were more than willing to cut checks to literally get out of jail. President Trump’s willingness to trade the public trust for crypto wealth began before he was sworn in.”

Blumenthal continued, “So, this corruption is going to continue unless we take a stand, unless we sound the alarm. And unless the people of the United States tell Republicans corruption is on the ballot this November. Corruption is on the ballot because—here’s the essential point—corruption is costly. Corruption has consequences. I know folks out there are saying themselves, you know, I’m paying more for gasoline and groceries. I can barely afford new clothes for my kids as they go back to school. And you’re making a fuss about Donald Trump making a lot of money. But folks, this is relevant to your lives. This is real in its cost to you.”

Blumenthal underscored the costs to taxpayers and our national security as a result of the Trump family’s self-enrichment schemes: “When members of the family like Jared Kushner, who has served as the government’s top negotiator in crises from Gaza to Ukraine, goes out soliciting business for his private equity firm, Affinity Partners, and he goes to the Saudis for $2 billion, or when the country of Qatar provides a plane, or when Melania Trump makes millions of dollars from her vanity project documentary sponsored by Amazon, interests are compromised. Our national interest is compromised.”

“The grifts just keep on grifting. For some people, Donald Trump is a gift that keeps on giving, but it’s almost entirely to his family and his billionaire friends. And that’s why we’re here today: to say enough is enough. The American people should know what’s happening,” Blumenthal concluded.

A video of Blumenthal’s remarks at the forum is available here. A video of the forum can be found here.

Blumenthal also spoke on the Senate Floor to call on Republicans to take up the Ending Presidential Corruption in Banking Act, legislation that would terminate the federal banking charter for World Liberty Financial that was approved by the Trump-controlled Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and prohibit federal banking agencies from approving banking applications when the applicant is owned by certain senior government officials.

“Mr. President, I’m here thinking about all the Americans who are working on manufacturing plants assembly lines, all the Americans who are teaching our kids in schools or patrol our schools as police or working in our hospitals, all of the hardworking Americans who are just working to get by, to make ends meet, to know whether they can afford another $20 or $30 at the supermarket, and then to think of Donald Trump making $6 million per day last year, a total of $2.2 billion just in the first year of his presidency,” Blumenthal said on the Senate Floor.

Blumenthal continued, “I don’t think there’s a single person in America who thinks that he earned that money, and how could he? He’s supposed to be devoting every waking moment to the public interest of the United States, to keeping us safe and our nation secure. The fact is it was the result of corruption. $1.4 billion of it came from crypto. And the point of this legislation is essentially to end that corruption.”

Blumenthal also called out Republicans for enabling Trump’s corruption by working to advance crypto market structure legislation without meaningful anti-corruption reforms: “Now, we will vote tomorrow on a crypto bill that is, sadly and tragically, riddled with loopholes that enables him to continue this same self-dealing and self-enrichment. And the failure to stand up to the President, I think, is going to be on our Republican colleagues, because this amendment, ethics requirements for digital assets, is a sham. It’s a charade. And if nothing else, Republicans should take a stand and say in crypto legislation that’s supposed to stop wrongdoing, lawlessness, funding of terrorist organizations, money laundering, now is the time to also impose a strong conflict of interest rule.”

Blumenthal continued, “President Trump has been clear: there is no ethical line separating his role as President from his family’s businesses. It’s that simple. Corruption has become the family business.”

Blumenthal underscored the need for the Ending Presidential Corruption in Banking Act to protect consumers and our national security: “Corruption has consequences. It has costs. That bank charter is worth millions, maybe hundreds of millions to World Liberty Financial, but it will enable World Liberty Financial to exploit and take advantage of consumers that will cost them money out of those hard-earned wages that they make.”

“Those Americans who are working hard to make ends meet, wondering whether they can afford another $20 or $30 at the supermarket, while Donald Trump averaged $6 million a day in 2025, ought to demand of all of us that we pass the Ending Presidential Corruption in Banking Act. It’s the least we can do, it’s a first step. And I hope that we will also pass a crypto measure that is worthy of this body and its name,” Blumenthal concluded.

A video of Blumenthal’s remarks on the Senate Floor is available here.

Blumenthal further called out Trump’s presidential corruption and crypto schemes on Twitter/X,

“Trump is using crypto to cash in on the presidency—selling access to the highest bidder & raking in the money from foreign governments. We need strong legislation that ends this self-dealing & corruption—not half measures like the Clarity Act,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.

“Americans are being scammed out of billions of dollars while Trump is using crypto to turn the presidency into a profit generating machine. The Clarity Act’s weak rules & carveouts would supercharge fraud & undermine law enforcement,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.

“The Clarity Act purports to prevent crypto conflicts of interest & corruption by the President of the United States but that is a sham. It’s a charade. It should prompt a no vote by every member of the United States Senate,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.

“Trump has been dropping cases, cutting sweetheart deals, & providing pardons across the crypto industry. Enabling this crypto corruption directly undermines our national security,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.

On the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee

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 recognized Blumenthal’s leadership on the Major Richard Star Act and his advocacy for America’s veterans as Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee.

“I am honored to receive the Legislator of the Year Award from Wounded Warrior Project—fierce champions for veterans and their families across the nation,” said Senator Blumenthal. “Their 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.”

“This award recognizes not only Senator Blumenthal’s leadership, but also his steadfast commitment to our nation’s veterans,” said Jose Ramos, Vice President of Government and Community Relations for Wounded Warrior Project. “Throughout 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.”

Blumenthal has worked for years alongside Wounded Warrior Project to expand veterans’ 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’s BRAVE Act and his bipartisan legislation to improve care and benefits for survivors of military sexual trauma.

Demanding Information About Lewandowski’s Pay-to-Play DHS Contracting Scheme

Blumenthal and U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) wrote Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin demanding information and records “mounting evidence of widespread corruption orchestrated by former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) senior advisor Corey Lewandowksi.”

The Senators’ letter follows reporting from the Wall Street Journal revealing that Lewandowski and his allies were engaged in an apparent pay-to-play scheme to influence the awarding of DHS contracts. According to the new report, Lewandowski also sought private payment arrangements from foreign governments in exchange for influencing DHS decision-making beyond contracting.

“The overwhelming evidence of Mr. Lewandowski and his associates’ improper, self-serving influence over DHS decision-making at the highest levels can no longer be ignored or brushed aside. Congress and the American people must have a full and transparent assessment of the likely waste generated by and potential illegal activity committed by Mr. Lewandowski and any other individual who sought to improperly influence DHS contracting awards,” the Senators wrote.

In August, Blumenthal and Welch, joined by U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) wrote Mullin about DHS’s wasteful purchase of 10 airplanes for $464 million via a no-bid contract. In their letter to Mullin, the Senators called out the Department’s growing and alarming reliance on no-bid contracts since the beginning of the second Trump Administration and raised concerns that the owner of the company that received the award also runs a company alleged to have solicited kickback payments to former DHS official Corey Lewandowski.

Blumenthal and Welch previously demanded answers from Mullin about Lewandowski’s role in DHS contracting decisions in light of reports that Lewandowski potentially steered contract awards to benefit himself and his political allies while serving as a special government employee and advisor at DHS.

The full text of the letter is available here.

Blumenthal Bulletin

Blumenthal published a Substack piece on his visit to Hartford’s immigration court.

Blumenthal slammed a Department of Transportation proposal promoting deceptive and misleading advertising hurting consumers.

Blumenthal joined Senators in introducing a privileged resolution seeking answers on West Bank violence.

Blumenthal joined CNBC to call for better regulations around AI.

Blumenthal slammed FBI Director Kash Patel for not properly recognizing the threat of a Russian oligarch bankrolling Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding.

Blumenthal applauded the Supreme Court striking down Trump’s unconstitutional directive using USPS as an instrument to suppress the vote.

Blumenthal joined CNN to discuss the Supreme Court rejecting Trump’s plan to limit mail-in voting.

Blumenthal slammed Trump’s judicial nominees for their failure to answer who won the 2020 election.

Blumenthal honored the anniversary of 9/11 at events across Connecticut, including in Greenwich, Wilton, Bridgeport, Stamford, and Glenville.

Blumenthal attended the CICD-Greater Hartford Puerto Rican Day Parade.

Blumenthal joined the 57th Annual CT State Ukrainian Day Festival at St. Basil’s Seminary in Stamford.

-30-",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z
https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-blumenthal-reintroduce-legislation-to-expand-federal-support-for-magnet-schools,"Murphy, Blumenthal Reintroduce Legislation to Expand Federal Support for Magnet Schools",2026-09-18,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,chrismurphy,https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON–U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, reintroduced legislation to fuel the growth of magnet schools nationwide by improving and expanding the federal Magnet Schools Assistance Program (MSAP). The Magnet Schools Accessibility, Growth, and Nonexclusionary Enrollment Transformation (MAGNET) Act is cosponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J), and Tim Kaine (D-Va.).

“Magnet schools offer millions of kids an educational alternative which allows them to thrive, and my bill would make sure we keep those options available for families, in Connecticut, and across the country,” said Murphy. “All kids, regardless of where they grow up, deserve access to a classroom setting that works for them.”

“Magnet schools provide an important option for parents,” said Blumenthal. “By bringing together students from different zip codes, these schools are vital to improving equity and diversity in our classrooms - contributing to overall success for students. The federal government should continue funding magnet schools while meeting its responsibility to provide better resources for all schools.”

Magnet schools are public schools designed to cater to different learning styles and attract a wide range of students from different racial and socioeconomic backgrounds, and across zip codes. Over 40,000 Connecticut students - and 3.5 million students nationwide - currently attend magnet schools. But as school districts become increasingly segregated by race and income, this legislation updates the MSAP grant to expand access to funding and promote diversity. The bill will also authorize the Supplemental Diversity Grant (SDG), a new grant program housed under MSAP to help preexisting magnet programs reach diversity-related goals.

The MAGNET Act is endorsed by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT); National Education Association (NEA); Magnet Schools of America; National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP); National Coalition on School Diversity (NCSD); Capitol Region Education Council; Center for Educational Equity, Teachers College, Columbia University; Center on Law, Inequality, and Metropolitan Equity at Rutgers Law School; Civil Rights Project at UCLA; Education Law Center; Integrated Schools; Poverty and Race Research and Action Council (PRRAC); Southern Education Foundation; and Voluntary Interdistrict Choice Corporation.

The Magnet Schools Accessibility, Growth, and Nonexclusionary Enrollment Transformation (MAGNET) Act is part of a package of education-focused bill introductions from Senator Murphy this week, alongside the Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act and The Protecting Our Students in Schools Act.",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z
https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-bonamici-introduce-bicameral-malnutrition-awareness-week-resolution-after-republican-budget-bill-ripped-nutrition-benefits-away-from-families,"Murphy, Bonamici Introduce Bicameral Malnutrition Awareness Week Resolution After Republican Budget Bill Ripped Nutrition Benefits Away From Families",2026-09-18,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,chrismurphy,https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and U.S. Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.-1) introduced a resolution designating the week of September 14th through 18th as “Malnutrition Awareness Week.” Food insecurity and malnutrition affect over 40 million Americans, disproportionately impacting older adults, children, and other vulnerable populations. In 2023, an estimated seven million American children lived in food-insecure households. Meanwhile, disease-associated malnutrition in older adults alone costs the United States more than $51.3 billion each year.

The resolution recognizes the importance of federal nutrition programs and community-based organizations, like those targeted by the Republican budget bill, in preventing malnutrition and its devastating ill-effects on public health, educational achievement, and health care costs. Malnutrition’s harms often extend across an individual’s lifespan and increases their risk of chronic illness and healthcare complications. By raising awareness and promoting increased funding for food and healthcare programs, the resolution seeks to support nationwide efforts to improve health outcomes.

“There’s no excuse for tens of millions of Americans to suffer through malnutrition in the wealthiest country in the world, all so Republican donors can get a giant tax cut,” said Murphy. “Malnutrition is a silent killer and that’s exactly why we need to raise awareness about this growing crisis after Donald Trump and Republicans' snatched away food support for millions of poor children and seniors,” said Senator Murphy.

“In a country as wealthy as the United States, no one should struggle to have enough to eat. Since H.R. 1 passed more than a year ago, too many people are experiencing food insecurity and hunger. Republicans in Congress have forced states to absorb hundreds of millions of dollars – that they do not have – to keep critical nutrition assistance programs funded. The cuts from H.R. 1 will harm working families and seniors who desperately need some extra support. This Malnutrition Awareness Week, I’m urging my colleagues to reverse the cuts and fund the nutrition programs that keep our nation healthy and strong,” said Representative Bonamici.",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z
https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-reintroduces-bill-to-protect-students-from-physical-abuse-end-dangerous-corporal-punishment-practices-in-schools,"Murphy Reintroduces Bill to Protect Students from Physical Abuse, End Dangerous Corporal Punishment Practices in Schools",2026-09-18,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,chrismurphy,https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON–Today, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) re-introduced the Protecting Our Students in Schools Act, alongside Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.). The bill would ban corporal punishment for any school that receives federal funding, as well as establish a federal grant program to support states and school districts across the country improve school safety.

“Families should be able to trust that when they send their kids to school, they will be in a safe learning environment free from physical abuse,” said Murphy. “The evidence is overwhelming: hitting kids does nothing to help kids. It’s past time to get this archaic, counterproductive practice out of our schools for good.”

“Schools have a responsibility to provide a safe and supportive learning environment for every student,” said Durbin. “We know that corporal punishment is counterproductive to learning and can harm a student’s physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing. It should be left out of the classroom entirely. By standing with Senator Chris Murphy and co-sponsoring this bill, we can ensure that no student falls victim to this outdated and cruel punishment.”

“Every student deserves a safe, supportive learning environment that fosters positive relationships and protects their physical and emotional well-being,” said Padilla. “The evidence is clear – corporal punishment is a cruel and outdated method that harms students, hinders scholastic achievement, and worsens behavior. This bill will make more of our schools safer spaces for students of all backgrounds.”

“No child should ever face physical abuse, including at school,” said Kaine. “It's time to end the outdated and harmful practice of corporal punishment in every school across the country. Instead of relying on fear, our schools should provide safe, supportive learning environments that students need to thrive and be healthy.”

Inflicting physical pain on a student’s body as a form of discipline is used in schools throughout the country. However, research has decisively demonstrated corporal punishment is ineffective and does not improve student behavior. Instead, it leads to physical and emotional harm, poor academic performance, diminished self-esteem, and loss of trust.

The Protecting Our Students in Schools Act is endorsed by the following organizations: Access Ready Inc.; All4Ed; American Psychological Association; Arkansans Against School Paddling; Autism Society of America; Boys Town; Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD); Committee for Children; Council for Exceptional Children; Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA); Disability Belongs®; Disability Rights Oregon; EdTrust; Family Voices NJ; Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA); Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights; Lives in the Balance; National Alliance on Mental Illness; National Association of Social Workers; National Down Syndrome Society; National Education Association (NEA); Public Advocacy for Kids (PAK); Secular Student Alliance; SPAN Parent Advocacy Network; Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT); TDIforAccess; Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children (TED); Texas Parent to Parent; The Arc of the United States; The Center for Learner Equity; The Coalition of Texans with Disabilities (CTD); The Federal School Discipline and Climate Coalition (FedSDC); The Learning Disabilities Association of America; The National Center for Learning Disabilities; U.S. Alliance to End the Hitting of Children; United Women in Faith

The Protecting Our Students in Schools Act is part of a package of education-focused bill introductions from Senator Murphy this week, alongside the Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act and the Magnet Schools Accessibility, Growth, and Nonexclusionary Enrollment Transformation (MAGNET) Act.",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z
https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-reintroduces-legislation-to-increase-mental-health-resources-for-students-reduce-police-presence-in-schools,"Murphy Reintroduces Legislation to Increase Mental Health Resources for Students, Reduce Police Presence in Schools",2026-09-18,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,chrismurphy,https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, alongside Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.), reintroduced the Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act, legislation to improve educational outcomes by redirecting existing resources towards counselors, social workers, and other services to create supportive environments in schools, as well as prohibiting the use of federal funds for police in schools. The bill would also provide a standalone grant program to help districts hire additional counselors, social workers and other health providers.

“Kids struggling with mental health and familial trauma deserve the support of trained professionals, not an entry point to the criminal justice system,” said Murphy. “My bill would make sure local school districts are investing in the most effective resources for improving student safety in schools: guidance counselors, social workers, and mental health professionals.”

""Too many young people walk into school carrying burdens no child should have to bear, and our response cannot be handcuffs and surveillance,"" said Senator Booker. ""This legislation does what schools actually need: it invests in counselors, social workers, and mental health professionals who see our children as kids who need support, not suspects who need policing. When a student is struggling, the question should never be how we punish them. It should be how do we help them.”

“Students across the country deserve safe learning environments and mental health resources, and to be treated with dignity. Policing and criminalizing students does not help us meet this mission; it puts us farther from it,” said Senator Markey. “The Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act will provide the necessary resources and support that young people, teachers, and communities have advocated for. We must continue to fight for these essential resources, including counselors and trauma-informed services, so that all students have a healthy and safe learning environments where they can thrive inside and outside the classroom.”

The Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act would:

Direct federal funding toward evidence-based services that improve academic outcomes and address the needs of marginalized students;

Divert federal funding away from increasing the presence of police in schools; and

Support local education agencies that want to terminate their contracts with local law enforcement agencies and invest public funding in personnel and services that create safe and inclusive schools for all students.

The Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act is supported by the American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc., the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the Center for Law and Social Policy, SPLC Action Fund, Human Rights Campaign, National Urban League, the Justice Collaborative, Girls Inc. Advancement Project, Open Society Policy Center, the Center for Popular Democracy, National Women’s Law Center, Center for Disability Rights, Drug Policy Alliance, National Center for Learning Disabilities, National Disability Rights Network, the Daniel Initiative, the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, the Criminalization of Poverty Project at the Institute for Policy Studies, the National Center for Youth Law, Education Law Center (PA), PolicyLink, the Boston Teachers Union, the Lawyers for Civil Rights Boston, National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI), and GLSEN.

The Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act is part of a package of education-focused bill introductions from Senator Murphy this week, alongside the Protecting Our Students in Schools Act and Magnet Schools Accessibility, Growth, and Nonexclusionary Enrollment Transformation (MAGNET) Act.",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z
https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-and-watson-coleman-introduce-diaper-bank-awareness-week,DeLauro and Watson Coleman Introduce Diaper Bank Awareness Week Resolution,2026-09-18,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CT,Rosa L. DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,delauro,https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representatives Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) and Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) introduced a resolution hailing the week of September 14th as National Diaper Need Awareness Week.

""One in three families do not have enough diapers to keep their children clean, dry, and healthy,"" said Congresswoman DeLauro. “In one of the richest countries on earth, that is totally unacceptable. I am thrilled to join with my friend and colleague Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman to express our gratitude for local banks and distribution programs for providing a stable and sustainable supply of free diapers to families that are struggling with diaper need in this cost of living crisis. I encourage Americans to continue to support their local diaper bank and children who are in need.""",1,2026-09-23T09:45:16Z,2026-09-23T09:46:14Z
https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-statement-speaker-johnson-shutting-down-house-representatives,Courtney Statement on Speaker Johnson Shutting Down of the House of Representatives,2026-09-18,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,courtney,https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"NORWICH, CT – This week, House Speaker Mike Johnson canceled another day of scheduled House votes. Earlier this month, Speaker Jonhson also canceled the last two weeks of previously scheduled voting days in September, meaning that the House of Representatives will not return to session for over seven weeks until November 9th. In total, Speaker Johnson has canceled 23 House voting days so far in 2026.

“It’s beyond irresponsible that Speaker Johnson is choosing to shut down the House of Representatives while AI executives are sending urgent warnings on the need for AI safeguards,” Courtney said. “Congress would not be starting from scratch on this issue. There are commonsense, bipartisan AI safeguard bills ready to be voted on. For example, I strongly support the AI Kill Switch Act to put emergency third-party protections in place to protect against the threat of rogue AI programs acting outside of human control. The CEO of Anthropic has endorsed this approach. I am also a cosponsor of the Preventing Deepfakes of Intimate Images Act, a bill to criminalize creating and posting non-consensual deepfakes on social media. This bill is especially needed to address the disturbing surge of instances of generative AI use related to child sexual exploitation reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The House could vote on these two bills today and take real action to protect the public. Speaker Johnson instead chose to cancel votes – a dereliction of duty.”

This week, Rep. Courtney joined over 100 colleagues in calling on Speaker Johnson to cancel his premature recess in order to pass bipartisan AI safeguard bills.

###",1,2026-09-24T09:44:48Z,2026-09-24T09:45:52Z
https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/bicameral-lawmakers-demand-answers-usda-cyclospora-research,Bicameral Lawmakers Demand Answers on USDA Cyclospora Research Terminations,2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CT,Rosa L. DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,delauro,https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"As Cyclospora outbreak rages, Trump Administration moves forward with plans to shut down the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC)

Today, U.S. Representatives Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Steny Hoyer (MD-05), Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), and Glenn Ivey (MD-04) along with U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) sent a letter to the United States Department of Agriculture demanding answers the Department’s decision to shutter all research related to Cyclospora in the midst of the largest outbreak in history and plans to close BARC, the largest and most diversified agricultural research complex in the world. The lawmakers urged UDSA to reverse course.

Cyclospora has sickened nearly 20,000 Americans, hospitalized over 1,000 and killed at least two – with case totals expected to continue to rise. A recent Politico story reported that three research programs, that represent nearly all of the Cyclospora research at USDA, are on hold or have been terminated entirely.

“…[T]he proposal to decommission BARC will do nothing but disrupt this important work, endanger Americans’ health and safety, and harm our national security,” the lawmakers wrote. “Therefore, we request that USDA immediately cease its efforts to close BARC and halt its reorganization before it results in any more costly mistakes.”

The full letter can be read here and below.

The Honorable Brooke Rollins

Secretary

U.S. Department of Agriculture

1400 Independence Ave., S.W.

Washington, DC 20250

Dear Secretary Rollins,

The United States is in the midst of its largest Cyclospora outbreak in history, sickening over 17,000 Americans, hospitalizing 1,000 and killing at least two. Case totals are expected to continue to rise in the coming weeks.

A recent Politico story reported that the three research programs that represent nearly all of the Cyclospora research at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), all previously or currently underway at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) in Maryland, are on hold or have been terminated. In the story, the Department blames Congress for terminating two of the three projects. What the Department fails to mention is that funding ended based on technical advice Congress received from USDA indicating that despite funding cuts, the researchers working on Cyclospora projects would continue to work at BARC and that USDA would retain their scientific expertise without ending all Cyclospora-related research.

The third project, which remains funded, has reportedly been halted because of the Department’s overzealous drive to dismantle the Agricultural Research Service as part of its shortsighted reorganization effort of USDA, and in particular its ill-conceived drive to shutter the largest and most diversified agricultural research complex in the world, BARC. According to Politico’s reporting, the scientists working on Cyclospora research at BARC have declined orders to relocate to a different facility in Iowa, and so the project remains on hold and there will be no dedicated USDA research staff to study Cyclospora as confirmed cases continue to rise.

As Congress continues to work towards a final funding agreement for FY 2027, Democrats stand ready to build on existing Cyclospora research to protect the American people’s health and safety. Americans deserve to trust that the food they eat is safe. The Department can join us in doing its part by reversing its decision to dismantle Cyclospora research at BARC, something that is wholly within your power to do immediately.

During a record-breaking number of food safety outbreaks and the worst Cyclospora outbreak our country has ever experienced, USDA’s ill-considered reorganization will only exacerbate the problem and leaves serious questions unresolved:

Can the Department confirm reporting that all staff currently working on Cyclospora research at BARC have declined to relocate to Iowa?

If so, have any new staff been hired to work on the third Cyclospora research project at its new proposed location?

How many other research projects will lose scientific staff who have declined or otherwise not finalized an agreement to relocate as a result of the reorganization and more specifically, the closure of BARC?

How will the Department ensure research progress at BARC remains “uninterrupted,” in particular the food safety research on Cyclospora?

Please share the Department’s specific and detailed plan to relocate Cyclospora research, including where research will move to and whether receiving labs have capacity to continue BARC research, including appropriate lab space, equipment, and staff expertise.

Does USDA plan to transport highly pathogenic organisms across the country as a part of the reorganization, and if so, what precautions will be in place to ensure that these samples will remain contained and undamaged during relocation?

While the Administration continues to claim that the reorganization effort will not interrupt critical research programs, that is clearly not the case with Cyclospora research. Separately, the Agricultural Research Service has an annual appropriation of over $1.8 billion. One major question remains; how many more critical research projects focused on strengthening food safety or protecting Americans health will be disrupted because of a reorganization that the Department has decided to carry out at full speed while declining to provide Congress with meaningful details?

Notably, since 2016, USDA has invested over $170 million in BARC facility upgrades and repairs, including the completion of a $32 million renovation of BARC’s food safety lab in 2022. There is no better location to perform vital food safety research, especially on Cyclospora, and the proposal to decommission BARC will do nothing but disrupt this important work, endanger Americans’ health and safety, and harm our national security.

Therefore, we request that USDA immediately cease its efforts to close BARC and halt its reorganization before it results in any more costly mistakes.

We look forward to a timely response.

###",1,2026-09-18T09:27:43Z,2026-09-18T09:29:09Z
https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-opposes-bomb-sales-israel,DeLauro Opposes Bomb Sales to Israel,2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CT,Rosa L. DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,delauro,https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) expressed her strong opposition to an announcement from the Trump administration that they would authorize the sale of $2.8 billion in arms sales to Israel. House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gregory Meeks placed a hold on the sale yesterday:

“40,000 of the deadliest bombs in the American arsenal are now set to be handed over to the Netanyahu government which has shown time and time again it has little regard for civilian life. These are the same bombs the Biden Administration refused to send because of the risk of mass civilian casualties.

“I am opposed to this sale. Israel’s war in Gaza and its operations in Southern Lebanon have shown they cannot prosecute these wars in a way that spares civilian life. The sale of these bombs risk worsening an already out of hand humanitarian crisis.

“I am also concerned about what this sale means for our own military readiness. Sending 40,000 of these bombs depletes already strained American stockpiles.

“These weapons must not be sent.”

Congresswoman DeLauro, Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, is a leader in Congress in calling for a major surge in humanitarian aid to Gaza and in advocating for a two-state solution that provides long term security for the Israeli and Palestinian people.",1,2026-09-18T09:27:43Z,2026-09-18T09:29:09Z
https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=EAEB1A3F-7CEB-4169-BFC4-BE4F27A765E5,"Hayes Votes for Water Infrastructure Projects Supporting Danbury, New Britain, Thomaston, and Waterbury",2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CT,Jahana Hayes,H001081,hayes.house.gov,hayes,https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) voted to pass H.R. 9497, the Water Resources Development Act of 2026. This bipartisan legislation approves federal projects to improve water resources infrastructure across the country, including ports and harbors, flood and storm protection, and the United States inland waterway navigation network.

The legislation includes a request made by Congresswoman Hayes for $50 million dollars to support four municipalities in the Fifth District including Danbury, New Britain, Thomaston, and Waterbury. Projects were submitted by each municipality for consideration. Congresswoman Hayes worked with local partners to ensure their requests were within the guidelines of the program, before making the case to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for inclusion in the Fiscal Year 2026 Water Resources Development Act. This is only the first step, as projects still must be approved as part of the Fiscal Year 2027 Federal Budget. The Congresswoman will follow this bill all the way through the process and continue to work with colleagues until funds are delivered.

Final request amounts include:

DANBURY: $32 million to improve water supply infrastructure, water storage, & distribution

NEW BRITAIN: $5 million to improve water supply infrastructure & storm water management

THOMASTON: $8 million to improve water & wastewater infrastructure including storm water management

WATEBURY: $5 million to improve water supply infrastructure

“The Fifth District continues to be plagued by the devasting consequences of aging water infrastructure. Local leaders know best what they need and I have been working with them for months to formalize their applications and make these requests,” said Congresswoman Jahana Hayes.” This vote on the Water Resources Development Act is a critical first step in getting federal funding to these communities to assist in their efforts to address outdated pipes that have led to costly water main breaks, leaving communities without access to clean drinking water, and provide for flood mitigation and wastewater systems that are in disrepair as severe weather events become more frequent.”

Additional information on the Fiscal Year 2026 Water Resources Development Act is available here.",1,2026-09-18T09:27:43Z,2026-09-18T09:29:09Z
https://himes.house.gov/2026/09/17/himes-bill-to-combat-financial-scams-advances-with-bipartisan-support/,Himes Bill to Combat Financial Scams Advances with Bipartisan Support,2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CT,James A. Himes,H001047,himes.house.gov,himes,https://himes.house.gov/statements-and-releases/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – This week, the House Financial Services Committee voted 49-0 to advance Rep. Jim Himes’ Task Force for Recognizing and Averting Payment Scams (TRAPS) Act. The bill, which would create an interagency federal task force of experts from across government and the private sector dedicated to combatting financial scams, now awaits consideration before the full House of Representatives.

“Scammers have always been a contemptible part of our financial reality, but AI-powered voice cloning and deepfakes have turbo-charged the tools they have at their disposal to swindle Americans – especially seniors – out of their hard-earned money,” said Rep. Himes. “I’m ecstatic that the TRAPS Act passed out of committee with overwhelming bipartisan support as now, more than ever, we need to bring to bear a whole-of-government approach that combats financial schemes, protects our citizens, and supports victims of fraud. There’s no time to waste: let’s put this bill to a full vote.”

The task force created by the TRAPS Act, co-led by Rep. Zach Nunn (IA-03), would examine emerging fraud trends, including increasingly sophisticated romance and investment scams, identify effective prevention strategies, improve coordination across the public and private sectors, and recommend legislative and regulatory solutions to better protect consumers. The bill’s passage out of committee comes at a critical moment: the Federal Trade Commission reports that consumers lost approximately $16 billion to fraud in 2025, a 25% increase from 2024.

Beyond receiving unanimous support in committee, the TRAPS Act also earned praise from the private sector.

“Representatives Jim Himes and Zach Nunn deserve credit for recognizing a simple truth: criminals share information, exploit gaps and constantly evolve and those working to stop them must be equally coordinated,” said Early Warning CEO Cameron Fowler. “The TRAPS Act will help turn the collective expertise of regulators, law enforcement and industry into action. We have seen the impact of coordination: over the past four years, Early Warning has helped financial institutions stop approximately $16.4 billion in potential fraud. Extending that collaboration across the broader ecosystem will help identify emerging threats sooner and better protect American consumers and small businesses.”",1,2026-09-18T09:27:43Z,2026-09-18T09:29:09Z
https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-slams-dot-proposal-promoting-deceptive-and-misleading-advertising-hurting-consumers,Blumenthal Slams DOT Proposal Promoting Deceptive & Misleading Advertising Hurting Consumers,2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,blumenthal,https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumental (D-CT) wrote to U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Sean Duffy opposing a proposed rule that would weaken consumer protections by allowing airlines to advertise misleading ticket prices. DOT’s proposed rule would gut the existing Full Fare Rule, which requires airlines and ticket agents to display the total cost of a ticket at least as prominently as its subcomponents—making sure consumers aren’t misled by deceptive pricing.

In his letter, Blumenthal highlights how DOT’s proposed rule prioritizes airline companies, promoting advertising that hurts consumers, writing, “The proposed rulemaking contemplates repealing the Full Fare Rule entirely – eliminating longstanding requirements that airlines clearly and transparently disclose the total price consumers must pay. Put simply, enacting this rule would only serve the interests of airfare advertisers at the direct expense of consumers.”

“In addition to inflating costs, implementing the proposed rule would upend decades of settled expectations in the transparency of airfare, enabling more confusing and deceptive advertising,” continued Blumenthal. “Americans should have confidence that the price they see advertised is the price they will pay when they get to check out. DOT’s proposed rule serves the opposite result.”

“At a time when the cost of airfare has skyrocketed in significant part due to the war of choice that President Trump initiated against Iran in February, 2026, now is the worst possible time to empower airfare advertisers to return to an era of extracting more money from consumers through confusing and deceptive airfare advertising,” concluded Blumenthal.

Blumenthal is a longstanding advocate for consumer protections and transparency in air fare pricing for travelers, leading legislation such as the Airline Passenger Bill of Rights and the Junk Fee Prevention Act and releasing a report with the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations regarding sky high airline junk fees.

Blumenthal’s full letter to Duffy can be found here and below.

Dear Secretary Duffy,

I write to provide comments and express my strong opposition to the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) proposal to weaken consumer protections by allowing airlines to advertise confusing or misleading ticket prices. DOT’s proposed rule titled Enhancing Flexibility of Air Fare and Price Advertising (“the rule”) would permit airlines and other travel vendors to obscure the total cost of travel by allowing them to advertise individual components of the airfare, including mandatory fees, with the same prominence as the total fare.[1] Even more concerning, the proposed rulemaking contemplates repealing the Full Fare Rule entirely –eliminating longstanding requirements that airlines clearly and transparently disclose the total price consumers must pay. Put simply, enacting this rule would only serve the interests of airfare advertisers at the direct expense of consumers. Accordingly, I urge DOT to reverse course and withdraw the notice of proposed rulemaking immediately.

The proposed rulemaking would gut DOT’s 2011 Full Fare Rule, which requires airlines and other vendors to advertise the total price of airfare to consumers and prohibits displaying individual component fees as or more prominently than the total fare.[2] This rule addressed the common airline practice of relying on deceptive base fare advertising – often called “drip pricing” – to attract budget-conscious travelers before presenting them with a higher total cost of travel at the conclusion of their purchase.[3] The simple motivation behind the Full Fare Rule is just as valid today as it was in 2011: “In order to understand the true cost of travel, consumers need to be able to see the entire price they need to pay to get to their destination the first time the airfare is presented to them.”[4]

DOT’s proposal to dismantle the Full Fare Rule would increase costs for consumers. The Department’s poorly reasoned Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) presents a distorted cost-benefit analysis of the proposed changes.[5] Air carriers have complied with the Full Fare Rule for more than a decade; more importantly, consumers expect airfare advertising to prominently present the total cost of travel.[6] Contrary to DOT’s conclusory statements, if the rule is implemented, it is inevitable that more consumers will need to invest additional time searching for the full fare or government charges, and will be surprised by unexpected, mandatory fees.[7] And as DOT admits, the consequences of scrapping the Full Fare Rule would be even more dire by inviting the re-emergence of “drip pricing” practices that impose “significant costs” on consumers.[8] In sum, DOT falls short of providing a minimum of evidence and sound reasoning on which to base the proposed, drastic changes to airfare advertising consumer protections.[9]

In addition to inflating costs, implementing the proposed rule would upend decades of settled expectations in the transparency of airfare, enabling more confusing and deceptive advertising.[10] Given that fees can constitute a significant portion of the total cost of travel, allowing advertisers to present airfare components more prominently will inevitably mislead and confuse many consumers.[11] The risk of consumer confusion and deception has only grown since the Full Fare Rule was implemented in 2011. Americans should have confidence that the price they see advertised is the price they will pay when they get to check out. DOT’s proposed rule serves the opposite result.

Instead of undermining significant consumer and passenger protections, DOT, the airline industry’s sole regulator, should complete implementation of its regulation to improve the transparency of airline ancillary fees and robustly enforce the statutory prohibition on unfair and deceptive practices in air travel.[12] Moreover, at a time when the cost of airfare has skyrocketed in significant part due to the war of choice that President Trump initiated against Iran in February, 2026, now is the worst possible time to empower airfare advertisers to return to an era of extracting more money from consumers through confusing and deceptive airfare advertising.[13]

The proposed rule makes clear who DOT intends to benefit. As one commentor noted, “the major airline lobby groups love this.”[14] The Department of Transportation must defend the interests of the American public – not corporate profits. That is why I strongly urge DOT to expeditiously withdraw the notice of proposed rulemaking and return to acting in the interest of the traveling public.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter. I look forward to monitoring the status of this proposed rule and hope to see action taken that will protect and promote the interests of the flying public.

Sincerely,

-30-

[1] 91 FR 39932; Docket No. DOT–OST–2025–0831.

[2] 76 FR 23110, Enhancing Airline Passenger Protections; Allyson Versprille, “Trump’s DOT Moves to Roll Back Obama-Er Airfare Marketing Rule,” Bloomberg News, June 30, 2026, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-06-30/trump-s-dot-moves-to-roll-back-obama-era-airfare-marketing-rule.

[3] Mateusz Maszczynski, “Airlines May Soon Be Allowed to Advertise Just the Cheaper Base Fare Excluding Taxes or Fees Under DOT Proposal,” PYOK, July 5, 2026, https://www.paddleyourownkanoo.com/2026/07/01/airlines-may-soon-be-allowed-to-advertise-just-the-cheaper-base-fare-excluding-taxes-or-fees-under-dot-proposal/.

[4] 76 FR 23143.

[5] Enhancing Flexibility of Air Fare Price Advertising Regulatory Impact Analysis, RIN 2105-AF37 (Feb. 2026) [hereinafter RIA].

[6] See Comment from National Consumers League, et al. (Aug. 21, 2026), https://www.regulations.gov/comment/DOT-OST-2025-0831-1336.

[7] RIA at 7.

[8] RIA at 9. Indeed, eliminating the Full Fare Rule would, as the American Society of Travel Advisors explains, “risk introducing unnecessary inconsistency into the marketplace and could make comparison shopping more difficult for consumers.” Comment from American Society of Travel Advisors, Docket No. DOT-OST-2025-0831, (July 30, 2026), https://www.regulations.gov/comment/DOT-OST-2025-0831-0105.

[9] RIA at 6 (“The benefits of the proposed rule are qualitative in nature.”); id. at 7 (“the economic effects of the proposed rule are unquantified”); id. at 8 (“The implications of repealing the FFAR in whole or in part, particularly regarding future advertising requirements and enforcement policies, are highly uncertain.”); id. at 9 (“The effects of repealing the FFAR in whole or in part are unquantified and uncertain.”).

[10] See Comment from National Consumers League, et al. (Aug. 21, 2026), https://www.regulations.gov/comment/DOT-OST-2025-0831-1336.

[11] See The Sky’s the Limit, The Rise of Junk Fees in American Travel, Majority Report, Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (Nov. 24, 2024), https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024.11.25-Majority-Staff-Report-The-Skys-the-Limit-The-Rise-of-Junk-Fees-in-American-Travel-1.pdf.

[12] 89 FR 34620.

[13] Rajesh Kumar Singh, Alessandro Parodi, Joanna Plucinska, “Airline ticket prices may stay high as carriers bank fuel relief from Iran deal,” Reuters, June 22, 2026, https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/airline-ticket-prices-may-stay-high-carriers-bank-fuel-relief-iran-deal-2026-06-22/.

[14] Gary Leff, Airfare Prices Could Get More Confusing As DOT Moves To Weaken Full Fare Advertising Rules, View From the Wing (June 30, 2026), https://viewfromthewing.com/airfare-prices-could-get-more-confusing-as-dot-moves-to-weaken-full-fare-advertising-rules/.",1,2026-09-18T09:27:43Z,2026-09-18T09:29:09Z
https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-introduces-three-bills-to-rein-in-ice-abuses-protect-kids-from-targeting-by-agents,"Murphy Introduces Three Bills To Rein In ICE Abuses, Protect Kids From Targeting By Agents",2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,chrismurphy,https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) just introduced three new bills to rein in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) abuses and protect kids from targeting by agents at playgrounds, child care facilities, and school bus stops, as well as cosponsored legislation to protect immigrants seeking essential services at locations like hospitals, schools, and courthouses.

“The American people have seen horrifying videos of ICE agents terrorizing our streets and instilling fear in communities, including in Danbury recently. These bills should be a no-brainer. Kids should be safe from violent enforcement–period–but especially on the playground, at daycare, and waiting for the bus. How far is this corrupt Administration willing to defend an unpopular, illegal mass deportation campaign?” said Murphy.

The bills would stipulate that “no agent, officer, or employee of the Department of Homeland Security, nor any person acting under the authority of such agent, officer, or employee, may conduct any immigration enforcement action” at a school bus stop for children, at a childcare facility, or at a children’s playground.

ICE recently conducted a week-long operation in Connecticut resulting in 118 arrests, which included an arrest of a parent who just dropped their child off at their bus stop. When reports surfaced, Sen. Murphy immediately joined elected officials and immigration rights advocates, as well as thousands of protestors in Danbury, to denounce the operation. Videos released to CT Insider by Danbury Public Schools under a Freedom of Information Act request documented the scene.",1,2026-09-18T09:27:43Z,2026-09-18T09:29:09Z
https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-to-trump-nominees-no-you-cannot-promote-the-presidents-businesses-as-ambassador,"Murphy to Trump Nominees: 'No, You Cannot Promote the President's Businesses as Ambassador'",2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,chrismurphy,https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security, today questioned Michael Young, nominee to be U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Serbia, and Ronald Johnson, nominee to be U.S. Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, during their confirmation hearing.

Sen. Murphy has honed in on the Trump family’s corruption, particularly on its foreign business deals. Earlier this week, Murphy took to the Senate floor after breaking investigative reporting found that a Russian ally of Vladimir Putin paid hundreds of thousands of dollars of wedding bills for Donald Trump Jr.

Murphy stressed President Trump’s active search for ways to boost his business interests abroad: “This is a pretty simple question: if the White House were to come to either of you and ask for help from the embassy on a financial project important to the family, what would your response be? .... And I don't think these are out of the realm of possibility hypotheticals, given how many important business interests the family has in this particular region.”

Murphy pressed the nominees after they refused to provide a direct answer on working to enrich the Trump family’s businesses: “Just answer the question… I mean, the president's son has active Trump family projects in Serbia today. It is not inconceivable that you will be asked to advocate on behalf of those projects. Do you think it's appropriate for you to advocate on behalf of projects that put money in the pocket of the president of the United States?”

Murphy admonished both nominees after another refusal: “Guys, the answer is no! The answer is no. It is not appropriate for an ambassador to advocate on behalf of projects that will enrich the president or his family. That's an easy answer. The answer is no.”

A full transcript of Murphy’s questioning is available below. A video of the exchange is available here.

Murphy:

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Thank you to everyone on the panel for your willingness to serve your country and for your family's willingness to serve. Mr. Young, last year Donald Trump Jr. made two pretty high-profile visits to Serbia. In at least one of them, he met with Vucic and business leaders, and then in April of this year, an even more extraordinary visit, he went to the Republic of Serbska, and it was widely covered as you know an implicit endorsement of Vucic by the president's family. We now know that at that exact same moment, when the president's son was going to the Republika Srpska, a Russian ally, a very close associate of Vladimir Putin, was paying for Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding, and you were going to be in a country that apparently is of great interest to the president's family. What do you know about the president's son's visit to the Republika Srpska? Why did he go, and what was the message he was delivering when he was there? Because it was covered as an official act of the federal, of the U.S. government. It was of great interest in the region when he was there.

Young:

Senator Murphy, thank you for that question. I will have two levels of answers for that. One is that, as I have seen in the newspapers, which is my only level of understanding of this, is that there is interest in financial investment on the part of his companies in Serbia, and those are of course decisions for Serbia and the private sector to make. If confirmed, I will certainly look carefully at what kinds of representations we are making, and what kind of activities occur across the board, to ensure that we try to speak with a single voice and advance all of the particular activities that are designed to help advance our relationship with Serbia in ways that make the United States safer, more secure.

Murphy:

But in preparation for this hearing or for this job, have you asked the White House or the State Department what the nature of those visits were? That seems to be immediately relevant to you in this new post. Have you asked those questions?

Young:

Senator, I have asked those questions, and–but I have not–I am not in a position, having not been confirmed, to be able to have the depth of more confidential information about that. What they have–what I have been briefed on, really reflects essentially what is in the newspapers.

Murphy:

Yeah, this is an extraordinary moment when business interests of the family do intersect with the national security interests of the country, and I think it's going to make your job very, very hard. Let me ask both you and General Johnson a related question. The president's family has a lot of business interest in the region. You referenced that Donald Trump Jr. seems to be interested in building properties there. The president's son-in-law, who is maybe the most important diplomat these days, representing the United States, Jared Kushner, is proposing to build a resort in Albania. And in fact, it has become so controversial that an American ally, the leader of that country, his political survival is threatened because of this project. This is a pretty simple question: if the White House were to come to either of you and ask for help from the embassy on a financial project important to the family, what would your response be? First, I’ll ask you General Johnson, and then to you, Mr. Young. And I don't think these are out of the realm of possibility hypotheticals, given how many important business interests the family has in this particular region.

Johnson:

Good morning Senator Murphy, thank you. I don't believe the president would actually ask me to help them with a financial deal for his family first and foremost. And if he did, I think I would refer back to Main State in order to get clarification, sir.

Murphy:

Well, what if the State Department said we'd like you to help the president or the president's family on a business deal?

Johnson:

I don't believe that it would ever occur.

Murphy:

Do you believe it's appropriate for an embassy to be helping the president of the United States on a personal, family financial project?

Johnson:

First of all, Senator, it is the job of the embassy to help promote U.S. economic interests in those countries. Well, whether or not it's the president's is a different story. I understand where you're coming from.

Murphy:

Do you think it might be appropriate for an embassy?

Johnson:

I did not say that, Mr. Senator.

Murphy:

So is it or is it not?

Johnson:

If he asked me if he wanted to promote economic development in Bosnia Herzegovina, I welcome all Americans to come to Bosnia Herzegovina to be able to promote themselves.

Murphy:

Even if it's the president's family interest? Mr. Young, is it appropriate for an embassy to be trying to push a personal project of the president's family?

Young:

Senator Murphy–it is, I believe, part of the job of the ambassador to try and urge the country to create an environment that levels the playing field, so that American companies and American interests can compete fairly and freely, and if they do, they will win.

Murphy:

I know, but just answer the question. I mean, this is no–for you especially–this is not inconceivable. I mean, the president's son has active Trump family projects in Serbia today. It is not inconceivable that you will be asked to advocate on behalf of those projects. Do you think it's appropriate for you to advocate on behalf of projects that put money in the pocket of the president of the United States?

Young:

Senator, I think it is the obligation of the ambassador to urge a country to consider all opportunities.

Murphy:

Guys, the answer is no. The answer is no. It is not appropriate for an ambassador to advocate on behalf of projects that will enrich the president or his family. That's an easy answer. The answer is no. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.",1,2026-09-18T09:27:43Z,2026-09-18T09:29:09Z
https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-larson-applaud-house-passage-their-bill-restore-tax-relief,"Courtney, Larson Applaud House Passage of Their Bill to Restore Tax Relief for Homeowners with Crumbling Foundations",2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,courtney,https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) and Congressman John Larson (CT-01) applauded House passage of their Casualty Loss Dedication Restoration Act, which passed the House last night within the larger bill H.R. 9500 by a vote of 408-17.

Courtney and Larson’s bill would allow homeowners impacted by crumbling foundations due to pyrrhotite to claim the casualty loss deduction for repair costs and allow homeowners to retroactively claim the deduction starting in 2021. In July, Rep. Larson successfully led passage of the bill through the Ways and Means Committee.

“House passage of this bill to bring long overdue relief to Connecticut homeowners impacted by crumbling foundations is only possible because of Congressman John Larson’s work and leadership on the Ways and Means Committee,” said Courtney. “Thousands of homes in northcentral and eastern Connecticut have been plagued with crumbling concrete foundations caused by the mineral pyrrhotite, leaving families with exorbitant repair costs up to the hundreds of thousands of dollars through no fault of their own. By finally restoring the casualty loss deduction for all taxpayers after it was drastically restricted by President Trump’s 2017 tax law and allowing homeowners to amend prior-year tax returns for repairs to crumbling foundations caused by pyrrhotite made during calendar years 2021-2025, Congress can provide overdue relief to impacted homeowners. The Senate must now act swiftly to take up and pass this bill.”

“More than a decade since the crumbling foundations crisis was first discovered in our region, up to 35,000 homes have been impacted,” said Larson. “Time and time again, families have had to foot the bill to repair their foundations—damaged through no fault of their own. I worked with my colleagues on the Ways and Means Committee to advance real tax relief, so homeowners can afford to make the repairs they need, and those who already replaced their foundations can be made whole. I want to thank my friend and colleague, Congressman Joe Courtney, for his tireless efforts and partnership to get this bill across the finish line with today’s strong, bipartisan vote in the House. I urge the Senate to act, so we can finally get Connecticut homeowners the support and certainty they deserve.”

As a senior Member of the Ways and Means Committee, Congressman Larson worked with Republican Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith (MO-08), and the Democratic Ranking Member, Richard E. Neal (MA-01), to find a bipartisan path forward on tax relief for homeowners with crumbling foundations.

This legislation builds on the work of Rep. Larson and Rep. Courtney, who secured guidance from the IRS in 2017 that allowed homeowners to use the casualty loss deduction to help pay for foundation repairs. Once the provision was limited by the 2017 Republican Tax Law, the lawmakers secured a second ruling allowing homeowners to continue to use the deduction through 2021. Starting in 2021, that law left the thousands of Eastern and Central Connecticut homeowners impacted by crumbling foundations unable to claim a tax deduction for unreimbursed costs related to fixing their home. Larson and Courtney’s legislation will ensure no Connecticut homeowners are left out simply because of when the repairs were made.

In 2022, Congressman Courtney secured $2 million in federal Community Project funding for the Capitol Region Council of Governments (CRCOG) Gap Foundation Funding to assist with expenses not covered by the state’s relief program. Last year, Courtney, Larson, and CROCOG celebrated the first foundation repaired with this federal funding.

###",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z
https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-votes-sixth-time-end-trumps-war-iran,Courtney Votes for Sixth Time to End Trump’s War in Iran,2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,courtney,https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Last night, for the sixth time, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), Ranking Member of the House Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, voted to end President Trump’s war in Iran. Courtney voted to pass the bipartisan Iran War Powers Resolution (H.Con.Res. 93), which passed the House by a vote of 220-204.

In accordance with the law, the War Powers Resolution would require President Trump to suspend hostilities against Iran until he receives Congressional authorization, as required by Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution.

“Six months ago, President Trump launched an unauthorized war with no explanation to the American people of what ‘imminent threat’ Iran posed and no clear goals or objectives to define victory. The war has led to the deaths of 19 servicemembers, injured hundreds more servicemembers, and killed thousands of innocent civilians. Overextended deployments during the war have taken a serious toll on the quality of life and mental health of servicemembers and compromised our military’s readiness. At home, the American people continue to be hit with skyrocketing energy costs caused by the completely predictable closure of Strait of Hormuz. Today, the average cost of diesel nationwide is $6.31/gallon, and this winter, Americans are projected to pay 30% more to heat their homes with home heating oil. In response to higher costs, President Trump already declared that he doesn’t think about Americans’ financial situation. House passage of today’s resolution is another signal to President Trump, Speaker Johnson, and Majority Leader Thune that they are acting in violation of the law and the will of the American people.”

###",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z
https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=488ED427-88AF-4170-8C4D-BAF74A3207D2,CT House Delegation Statement On Russia Sanctions Bill,2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CT,Jahana Hayes,H001081,hayes.house.gov,hayes,https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Representative Jahana Hayes (CT-05), John Larson (CT-01), Joe Courtney (CT-02), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), and Jim Himes (CT-04) issued the following statement after voting “no” on H.R. 10076, the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026.

“Last June, the U.S. House passed a bipartisan Russian sanctions bill, H.R. 2913, to support the brave nation of Ukraine along with new military assistance to Ukraine, which is critically needed. The sanctions provisions in H.R. 2913 provided enforcement language that would ensure President Trump implemented the bill. The Lindsay Graham Senate bill, H.R. 10076, removed the sanctions enforcement language and left the decision to sanction totally within the discretion of the President, who has repeatedly demonstrated bias towards Russia’s war goals of seizing the eastern Donbas.

Furthermore, this bill would only enable the President’s penchant for imposing reckless tariffs at the expense of the American consumer – effectively handing the President the power to raise costs on American workers and families by more than $8,000 a year– while providing zero additional military assistance for Ukraine. Our delegation has staunchly supported Ukraine and are determined to provide tangible assistance as well as enforceable sanctions against Putin’s war machine.

We recognize the Senate’s hard work and applaud Senator Blumenthal and his colleagues for their efforts. Due to our concerns, we could not vote for this bill in its current form and remain committed to continuing to stand unwaveringly with the Ukrainian people and enacting tough sanctions that hold the Putin regime accountable.

The Senate bill falls short of those goals, and we believe it is time to redouble efforts to pass the original House bill.”",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z
https://himes.house.gov/2026/09/16/icymi-no-administrationmore-communist-than-the-trump-administration-himes-grills-treasury-secretary-bessent-at-hearing/,ICYMI: “No Administration…More Communist than the Trump Administration:” Himes Grills Treasury Secretary Bessent at Hearing,2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CT,James A. Himes,H001047,himes.house.gov,himes,https://himes.house.gov/statements-and-releases/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04), a senior member of the House Financial Services Committee, grilled Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on the Trump Administration’s repeated market interventions. Rep. Himes challenged him to explain how the President’s economic agenda – assuming government ownership stakes in 39 private companies, manipulating prices through unpredictable tariff regimes, and a failed intervention in the bond market – differs from the core tenets of communism.

An excerpt of Rep. Himes’ line of questioning of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent during a House Financial Services Committee Hearing held on September 15, 2026:

HIMES: The government now owns thirty-nine companies. The government has imposed tariffs. I don’t like tariffs. Whether you think they’re a good idea or bad idea, they are an intervention in the free market…

The President recently offered five thousand dollars for a vote. Now,to thosein the legal world, that would be called a bribe, but you could think of it as an intervention in political markets. And by the way, I have no doubt that if I walk down there right now and said, “I will pay you five thousand dollars if you focus your buying on the three-year treasury,” that conversation would end with me in handcuffs.

But the question I have for you, Mr. Secretary, relates to your intervention in the markets. And I’m not going to ask you to agree with me here, but I can think of no administration in the last 50 years that is quite as communist as the Trump administration. Constant interventions in the operations of the free market.",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z
https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/connecticut-house-delegation-statement-russia-sanctions-bill,Connecticut House Delegation Statement on Russia Sanctions Bill,2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CT,John B. Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,larson,https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Reps. John B. Larson (CT-01), Joe Courtney (CT-02), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Jim Himes (CT-04), and Jahana Hayes (CT-05) issued the following statement after voting “no” on H.R. 10076:

“Last June, the U.S. House passed a bipartisan Russian sanctions bill, H.R. 2913, to support the brave nation of Ukraine along with new military assistance to Ukraine which is critically needed. The sanctions provisions in H.R. 2913 provided enforcement language that would ensure President Trump implemented the bill. The Lindsey Graham Senate bill, H.R. 10076, removed the sanctions enforcement language and left the decision to sanction totally within the discretion of the President, who has repeatedly demonstrated bias towards Russia’s war goals of seizing the eastern Donbas. Furthermore, this bill would only enable the President’s penchant for imposing reckless tariffs at the expense of the American consumer – effectively handing the President the power to raise costs on American workers and families by more than $8,000 a year– while providing zero additional military assistance for Ukraine. Our delegation has staunchly support Ukraine and are determined to provide tangible assistance as well as enforceable sanctions against Putin’s war machine. We recognize the Senate’s hard work and applaud Senator Blumenthal and his colleagues for their efforts. Due to our concerns, we could not vote for this bill in its current form and remain committed to continuing to stand unwaveringly with the Ukrainian people and enacting tough sanctions that hold the Putin regime accountable.”",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z
https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-courtney-applaud-house-passage-their-bill-restore-tax-relief,"Larson, Courtney Applaud House Passage of Their Bill to Restore Tax Relief for Homeowners with Crumbling Foundations",2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CT,John B. Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,larson,https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Reps. John B. Larson (CT-01) and Joe Courtney (CT-02) applauded House passage of their Casualty Loss Dedication Restoration Act, which passed the House last night within the larger bill, H.R. 9500, by a vote of 408-17.

Larson and Courtney’s bill would allow homeowners impacted by crumbling foundations due to pyrrhotite to claim the casualty loss deduction for repair costs and allow homeowners to retroactively claim the deduction starting in 2021. In July, Rep. Larson successfully led passage of the bill through the Ways and Means Committee.

“More than a decade since the crumbling foundations crisis was first discovered in our region, up to 35,000 homes have been impacted,” said Larson. “Time and time again, families have had to foot the bill to repair their foundations—damaged through no fault of their own. I worked with my colleagues on the Ways and Means Committee to advance real tax relief, so homeowners can afford to make the repairs they need, and those who already replaced their foundations can be made whole. I want to thank my friend and colleague, Congressman Joe Courtney, for his tireless efforts and partnership to get this bill across the finish line with today’s strong, bipartisan vote in the House. I urge the Senate to act, so we can finally get Connecticut homeowners the support and certainty they deserve.”

“House passage of this bill to bring long overdue relief to Connecticut homeowners impacted by crumbling foundations is only possible because of Congressman John Larson’s work and leadership on the Ways and Means Committee,” said Courtney. “Thousands of homes in northcentral and eastern Connecticut have been plagued with crumbling concrete foundations caused by the mineral pyrrhotite, leaving families with exorbitant repair costs up to the hundreds of thousands of dollars through no fault of their own. By finally restoring the casualty loss deduction for all taxpayers after it was drastically restricted by President Trump’s 2017 tax law and allowing homeowners to amend prior-year tax returns for repairs to crumbling foundations caused by pyrrhotite made during calendar years 2021-2025, Congress can provide overdue relief to impacted homeowners. The Senate must now act swiftly to take up and pass this bill.”

As a senior Member of the Ways and Means Committee, Congressman Larson worked with Republican Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith (MO-08), and the Democratic Ranking Member, Richard E. Neal (MA-01), to find a bipartisan path forward on tax relief for homeowners with crumbling foundations.

This legislation builds on the work of Rep. Larson and Rep. Courtney, who secured guidance from the IRS in 2017 that allowed homeowners to use the casualty loss deduction to help pay for foundation repairs. Once the provision was limited by the 2017 Republican Tax Law, the lawmakers secured a second ruling allowing homeowners to continue to use the deduction through 2021. Starting in 2021, that law left the thousands of Eastern and Central Connecticut homeowners impacted by crumbling foundations unable to claim a tax deduction for unreimbursed costs related to fixing their home. Larson and Courtney’s legislation will ensure no Connecticut homeowners are left out simply because of when the repairs were made.",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z
https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-secures-federal-resources-local-flood-mitigation,Larson Secures Federal Resources for Local Flood Mitigation,2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CT,John B. Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,larson,https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) voted for the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026, which included his request for three flood mitigation studies in the First District and $50 million project to improve wastewater infrastructure and stormwater management in Hartford.

“With extreme weather—fueled by climate change—on the rise, our region has not been spared,” said Larson. “Connecticut has become more prone to severe flooding, communities across the state have made it a priority to invest in more resilient infrastructure to protect homes and businesses before disaster hits. I am proud to champion these four projects that will better prepare communities across the First District for natural disasters, including Southington, Torrington, Hartford, and East Hartford. Following tonight’s bipartisan vote, I urge the Senate to act swiftly so local leaders can start working directly with federal officials to strengthen stormwater management and protect residents from devastating floods.”

The Water Resources Development Act authorizes 133 new feasibility studies for locally proposed water resources infrastructure projects and 14 projects that have been vetted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, including $50 million to improve wastewater infrastructure and stormwater management in Hartford, a feasibility study to modify the Naugatuck River Flood Damage Reduction System in Torrington, a Connecticut River Flood Risk Management Feasibility Study, and a study of the Eightmile Rivershed in Southington.",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z
https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-and-murphy-join-senators-in-introducing-privileged-resolution-seeking-answers-on-west-bank-violence,Blumenthal & Murphy Join Senators in Introducing Privileged Resolution Seeking Answers on West Bank Violence,2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,blumenthal,https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) today joined U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in introducing a 502B privileged resolution requiring the Department of State to report to Congress on increasing violence in the West Bank, including the killings of Americans in the West Bank.

Nine Americans have been killed in the West Bank in recent years – and more detained – and none have received accountability or justice from either the Israeli or United States Governments. The Senators’ resolution would require the Department of State to provide information and assessments related to investigations of the killing of United States citizens by violent Israeli settlers or Israeli security forces in the West Bank, as well as an assessment of the human rights situation in the West Bank, specifically related to the detention of Palestinian children.

“Violent, lethal lawlessness on the West Bank is a betrayal of Israel’s moral standing and our shared values, and must be stopped. This resolution is now necessary, after so many have urged action and violence only continues to rise. Failing to enforce clear legal prohibitions and protections has cost American and Palestinian lives – and deeply threatens a peaceful, stable future for all Israelis and Palestinians,” said Senator Blumenthal.

“Extremist settlers in the West Bank are wielding violence at unprecedented levels and with near total impunity from the Netanyahu government,” said Senator Murphy. “Their actions have killed American citizens and innocent Palestinians, and the United States must make clear that this unchecked violence is unacceptable and must end immediately.”

“This Administration has said ensuring the safety and security of American citizens abroad is one of its highest priorities. And yet, as we’ve seen violence rise in the West Bank, American citizens have been killed time and again, and they have received no justice and no accountability. It’s past time we get answers on their deaths – and on the growing violent Israeli settler attacks and the injustices Palestinians in the West Bank face on a daily basis. This resolution will require the State Department to begin to produce these answers, which are owed to the families of those who have lost loved ones, to the American people, and to all of those who want to ensure recipients of U.S. taxpayer dollars are acting in line with our laws and our values,” said Senator Van Hollen.

“The violence committed by Israeli settlers in the West Bank is reaching an unprecedented level, and as a result more and more Americans and Palestinians are being killed and injured. These actions—and the Israeli government’s lack of response to this violence—are unacceptable and threaten the long-term safety and security of the entire region,” said Senator Kaine. “Friends need to listen to each other, and my colleagues and I have repeatedly urged Israeli leaders to take firmer action to curtail illegal settlements in the West Bank, prosecute violent settlers, and protect Palestinian residents as well as American citizens living in or visiting the West Bank. I encourage all of my colleagues to support this resolution to require the State Department to conduct a formal assessment and provide a report to Congress on the situation in the West Bank, in particular the safety and security of Americans.”

“Every day, Palestinians in the West Bank experience horrific violence at the hands of Israeli settlers and security forces — and for years, the Israeli government has offered impunity instead of accountability. Enough is enough. The United States cannot keep bankrolling this violence and looking the other way — it’s time to end our complicity, once and for all,” said Senator Sanders.

The resolution draws upon Section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act, which allows Congress to file a privileged resolution that, if passed, would require the State Department to provide information on any country receiving U.S. security assistance and that country’s observance of internationally-recognized human rights. After introduction, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has ten days to consider it in committee, and if it fails to do so, the resolution can be called up for a vote on the Senate floor. If the resolution passes the Senate, the Trump Administration must submit the report within 30 days or the majority of security assistance authorized to Israel would be prohibited. If the resolution passes, and following the receipt of the State Department report, Congress may consider any necessary changes to U.S. security assistance to that country in light of the information received. If the Administration declines or fails to submit the required report, the Administration’s decision would prompt the termination of certain covered security assistance programs for Israel.

The Senators were joined in introducing the resolution by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ed Markey (D-Mass), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.).

Text of the resolution is available here.

-30-",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z
https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-celebrates-final-passage-of-landmark-sanctions-bill-to-hold-purchasers-of-russian-oil-and-gas-accountable,Blumenthal Celebrates Final Passage of Landmark Sanctions Bill to Hold Purchasers of Russian Oil & Gas Accountable,2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,blumenthal,https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, DC] – Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) celebrated final Congressional passage of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. The legislation, led by Blumenthal and U.S. Senator Darline Graham (R-SC), would hold major purchasers of Russian oil and gas accountable for supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine. The bill was approved in a major bipartisan vote in the Senate in August and was passed out of the House of Representatives today.

“Today is a historic triumph for democracy— ours and Ukraine’s— showing that America can still muster bipartisan unity in the fight for freedom. I am overwhelmed with gratitude,” Blumenthal said. “In August, I watched from Kyiv’s Sophia Square as President Zelenskyy honored the families of heroes who gave their lives so that Ukraine could remain free and independent. I vowed then, as I have every day for the last few years, that our tribute to the fallen defenders of Ukraine would be the passage of this legislation to help bring an end to Putin’s hideous slaughter and prevent future bloodshed.”

“Today’s triumph is also a testament to the relentless drive of my friend, Lindsey Graham. I missed him deeply on my most recent eleventh trip to Ukraine. If he were here today, he would be jubilant about our bill’s passage – and already thinking about the next one. So today we celebrate, and tomorrow, we redouble work on sending Ukraine whatever it needs to prevail. Putin is a thug who understands only force and strength, which is what we must show clearly and unequivocally.”

Last month, Blumenthal traveled to Ukraine to celebrate Independence Day in Kyiv. Blumenthal also traveled to Dnipro, near the eastern front of the war – the first Congressional Delegation to visit since the invasion.

In early August, Blumenthal and U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-AL), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Jim Risch (R-ID) hosted a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and supporters of the legislation at the U.S. Capitol. Photos of the meeting are available here.

Blumenthal and U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) first introduced legislation to bring primary and secondary sanctions against Russia and actors supporting Russia’s aggression in Ukraine in April 2025, and spent the last year and a half building support for the effort in Congress and the Administration. Lindsey Graham secured an agreement with the White House on the bill just before his death.

The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 would impose primary and secondary sanctions against Russia and actors supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine. The sanctions target Russian officials, oligarchs, their family members, foreign persons, and Russian banks and financial institutions, as well as the Russian Shadow Fleet.

The legislation allows the President to impose targeted tariffs on imported goods from countries that buy the vast majority of Russian oil or gas, and enable Russian sanctions evasion. The bill limits these tariffs to the five largest importers of Russian crude oil or gas, and the top five countries that aid Russia’s energy sanctions evasion.

The bill also includes a provision to prevent a lapse in sanctions authority that restricts funding for Iran’s energy and weapons sectors.

The text of the bill is available here.

-30-",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z
https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-smith-baldwin-reintroduce-bill-to-support-connecticuts-young-farmers-forgive-student-loan-debt,"Murphy, Smith, Baldwin Reintroduce Bill to Support Connecticut's Young Farmers, Forgive Student Loan Debt",2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,chrismurphy,https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON–U.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 Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) reintroduced the Student Loan Forgiveness for Farmers and Ranchers Act, legislation to create a loan forgiveness program for beginning farmers and ranchers, as well as veteran, women, and minority farmers. “Beginning farmers” are those who have under 10 years of experience operating a farm.

Student loan debt is among the largest obstacles America’s young farmers face, placing an enormous financial strain on beginner farmers and discouraging others from pursuing careers in the agricultural industry. Unforgiven student debt has a disproportionate impact on Connecticut’s farming industry, where nearly 30% of producers are categorized as beginning farmers, well above the national average. The Student Loan Forgiveness for Farmers and Ranchers Act would grant these farmers, in Connecticut and across the country, the support they need to invest in their farms and ranches and incentivize a new generation of farmers to enter the agricultural industry.

“Between the trade war, the Iran war, and his devastating cuts to agricultural programs, Donald Trump has sent farm bankruptcies surging and thrown our farming industry into a full-blown crisis,” said Murphy. “Our farmers are a cornerstone of rural life in Connecticut and we need to give them our support so they can not only survive this crisis but come out stronger on the other side. My bill would help the beginner farmers overcome financial barriers and strengthen Connecticut agriculture for the long term.”

“To keep Minnesota’s agriculture economy thriving, we need to continue to invest in the next generation of farmers as the average age of farmers keeps going up. There is more we can be doing to help future farmers fill their shoes,” said Smith. “Student debt is one of the most significant challenges our young farmers and ranchers face. This legislation would help encourage a younger, more diverse workforce and help more people start and stay in farming.”

“Wisconsin farmers work hard to feed our families, support our rural economies, and keep our state the agricultural prize of the country,” said Baldwin. “But right now, they are getting squeezed from all sides. Between President Trump’s trade war and the war in Iran driving up fuel and fertilizer costs, farmers are facing more uncertainty and financial pressure at a time when it’s already hard enough to make ends meet. Our bill will help ease the burden and incentivize getting into this rewarding work and help keep Wisconsin agriculture strong for generations to come.”",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z
https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/ct-house-delegation-statement-russia-sanctions-bill,CT House Delegation Statement on Russia Sanctions Bill,2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,courtney,https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Reps. John Larson (CT-01), Joe Courtney (CT-02), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Jim Himes (CT-04), and Jahana Hayes (CT-05) issued the following statement after voting “no” on H.R. 10076.

“Last June, the U.S. House passed a bipartisan Russian sanctions bill, H.R. 2913, to support the brave nation of Ukraine along with new military assistance to Ukraine which is critically needed. The sanctions provisions in H.R. 2913 provided enforcement language that would ensure President Trump implemented the bill. The Lindsey Graham Senate bill, H.R. 10076, removed the sanctions enforcement language and left the decision to sanction totally within the discretion of the President, who has repeatedly demonstrated bias towards Russia’s war goals of seizing the eastern Donbas. Furthermore, this bill would only enable the President’s penchant for imposing reckless tariffs at the expense of the American consumer – effectively handing the President the power to raise costs on American workers and families by more than $8,000 a year– while providing zero additional military assistance for Ukraine. Our delegation has staunchly supported Ukraine and are determined to provide tangible assistance as well as enforceable sanctions against Putin’s war machine. We recognize the Senate’s hard work and applaud Senator Blumenthal and his colleagues for their efforts. Due to our concerns, we could not vote for this bill in its current form and remain committed to continuing to stand unwaveringly with the Ukrainian people and enacting tough sanctions that hold the Putin regime accountable.”

###",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z
https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=AFEC4010-439C-46FF-A74F-B562844C15EC,"Hayes Introduces Legislation to Increase WIC Enrollment for Pregnant Women, Moms, Infants, And Young Children In Connecticut",2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CT,Jahana Hayes,H001081,hayes.house.gov,hayes,https://hayes.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) introduced the WIC For Kids Act, legislation to eliminate barriers to enrollment in the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

WIC is a cost-effective investment in families that leads to healthier infants, more nutritious diets and better health and support for pregnant and nursing moms. Unfortunately, there are nearly 6 million mothers and children who are eligible for WIC but cannot access benefits. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, only 50.2 percent of eligible Americans participate in WIC.

“Millions who are eligible for WIC do not access the program. My legislation, the WIC for Kids Act would help to remove unnecessary barriers, connect more recipients to WIC, and provide the necessary nutrition for early development,” said Congresswoman Jahana Hayes.

Specifically, the WIC for Kids Act removes barriers to program enrollment by granting automatic eligibility to WIC for those who:

Reside in a household in which a member participates in SNAP

Participate in Children’s Health Insurance Program

Participate in Head Start or reside in a household in which one or more children are enrolled in Head Start.

Reside in a household that participates in Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations

Are members of a family of a pregnant woman, postpartum woman, infant, or child that receives medical assistance from Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

The legislation also allows for adjustments to help align family certification periods and directs states to include information on how kinship families will be served as part of state plans.

The WIC for Kids Act is endorsed by National WIC Association, Alliance to End Hunger, Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), Connecticut Foodshare, Public Advocacy for Kids (PAK), Generations United, Hawai'i Children's Action Network, Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger, Parents Anonymous, South Carolina Program for Infant/Toddler Care, StriveTogether, and Wheeler Health.

""WIC is one of the most effective federal programs we have, yet almost half of eligible families are not participating. The WIC for Kids Act would make it easier for eligible families to enroll and stay enrolled in WIC by reducing administrative barriers. Allowing families to consolidate appointments and letting WIC use existing eligibility data from other programs are commonsense policy improvements that will improve access to WIC while maintaining strong program integrity,” said Georgia Machell, President and CEO, National WIC Association.

“To help make sure moms and children can access the critical nutrition and services that WIC provides, the Alliance to End Hunger supports efforts that make it more efficient for family members to participate. This bill complements flexibilities that will be provided through passage of the bi-partisan MODERN WIC Act/21st Century WIC Act,”said Eric Mitchell, President, Alliance to End Hunger.

“FRAC is proud to support the WIC for KIDS Act reintroduced today by Rep. Hayes (D-CT). WIC is one of our nation’s most effective tools for improving the health and well-being of moms, babies, and young children by ensuring they get the nutrition they need to thrive. Yet too many families are missing out because of red tape. This bill would remove unnecessary barriers and ensure more eligible families can access and maintain the support that WIC provides,” said Crystal FitzSimons, president of FRAC.

“Connecticut Foodshare is proud to support the WIC for Kids Act to help ensure that all eligible households are able to access the program at a time when it is desperately needed,” said Jason Jakubowski, President & CEO.

""Public Advocacy for Kids (PAK) has witnessed firsthand what happens when the WIC recertification process is made too complex and complicated. Adding income and residency requirements further contributes to often overwhelmed parents to give up in frustration or confusion and choose not to opt-in to much need assistance. PAK thanks Rep Hayes for her effort to simplify the process of the WIC certification process and increase the number of WIC participants,"" said Arnold F Fege, President, Public Advocacy for Kids.

The legislation is cosponsored by Representatives Barragán, Bell, Brown, Carter (LA), Costa, Courtney, Dean, Gomez, Holmes Norton, Horsford, Jacobs, Keating, Kennedy, Krishnamoorthi, McIver, Moore, Moulton, Pingree, Scanlon, Simon, Thanedar, Thompson (MS), Williams (GA), and Wilson.",1,2026-09-16T09:43:13Z,2026-09-16T09:44:22Z
https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-votes-advance-articles-impeachment-against-president-donald-j,Larson Votes to Advance Articles of Impeachment Against President Donald J. Trump,2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CT,John B. Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,larson,https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) voted to advance articles of impeachment against President Trump. In April, Larson filed thirteen articles of impeachment against the President for high crimes and misdemeanors, including his illegal war in Iran, unlawful deployment of the military on domestic soil, and unconstitutional effort to strip citizenship from millions of Americans.

“As Donald Trump wages an illegal war in Iran and terrorizes immigrant communities with Gestapo tactics in our neighborhoods, I filed articles of impeachment to hold him accountable for these continued violations of the law and his blatant disregard for the Constitution of the United States,” said Larson. “While Republicans thought they could divide Democrats on this vote, we remain united in the effort to hold him accountable for his abuses of power and failed agenda hurting the American people. Make no mistake—real impeachment proceedings will move forward when Democrats retake control of the House of Representatives for the American people.”",1,2026-09-16T09:43:13Z,2026-09-16T09:44:22Z
https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-votes-cease-hostilities-iran-calls-congress-cut-funding-illegal,"Larson Votes to Cease Hostilities in Iran, Calls on Congress to Cut Off Funding for Illegal War",2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CT,John B. Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,larson,https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. - On the 200th day since President Trump launched his illegal war in Iran, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) voted for another war powers resolution to cease hostilities. Today’s vote marks the third time the House has passed legislation opposing this conflict. Larson previously introduced legislation to cut off funding for this unauthorized war and filed articles of impeachment against President Trump and U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth for waging war in Iran, in direct contravention of the United States Constitution and international law.

“The United States Congress has been clear—President Trump needs to end his illegal war in Iran,” said Larson. “Twenty American servicemembers have now lost their lives in the Middle East, and diesel prices have reached record-highs here at home. It is clear that this president views our Constitution as a mere suggestion and not the law of the land. We must enforce the law—and that starts with passing my bill to cut off all funding for this illegal and costly conflict, and block Donald Trump or any future president from waging war without explicit approval from Congress.”",1,2026-09-16T09:43:13Z,2026-09-16T09:44:22Z
https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-on-don-jrs-russia-funded-wedding-this-is-as-close-to-treason-as-you-can-get,Murphy on Don Jr.'s Russia-Funded Wedding: 'This Is As Close to Treason As You Can Get',2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,chrismurphy,https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Monday spoke on the floor of the U.S. Senate addressing the revelations that the recent, private island wedding of President Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., was in part paid for by Umar Kremlev, a Russian oligarch and close ally of Vladimir Putin, to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Murphy argued this is just the latest example of the Trump family exploiting the presidency for their own personal profit, and accused the Trump family of abandoning Ukraine and padding the pockets of our Russian adversary in exchange for exactly this kind of luxury bribery.

Murphy detailed the shocking level of Russian involvement in Jr.’s wedding: “The Russians paid for the private island. The Russians paid for the fireworks show. The president's son even put this oligarch in charge of planning the logistics. This was a Russian party organized and paid for by someone in Vladimir Putin's inner circle. This has never happened before in the history of the United States of America. Never before has a foreign enemy of the United States paid for the family wedding of the president. Why? Because it is naked corruption in plain view.”

Murphy characterized the involvement as a potential corrupt attempt to secure continued sanctions relief and friendly U.S. policy on Ukraine: “Putin doesn't pay for a wedding just to be nice. This is an arrangement in plain sight. Donald Trump has done a 180-degree turn in U.S. policy on the Russia-Ukraine war. He has cut off funding from Ukraine. Even after we appropriated money, he refuses to spend it, illegally. As recently as this weekend, he says publicly that it's Ukraine's fault that the war continues, not Russia’s. In addition, Trump has suspended sanctions on the export of Russian oil and gas, … Trump has become one of Putin's most important allies, and so, like everything else in Trump's corrupt world in his second term, it just becomes this mutually beneficial deal. Trump withholds support for Ukraine, pads the pocket of the Russian government with sanctions relief, and the Russians funnel money to the family.”

Murphy highlighted Trump Jr.’s efforts to cover up his bankrolling by the Russians: “The president's son, Donald Trump Jr., tried to hide this fact. He posted pictures of his wedding celebration online. There was a public conversation about whether the president was going to attend or not. But the president's son made no mention that the whole thing, worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, a private island, was bankrolled by the Russians. In fact, the only face of the 50 guests that is hidden in the group photo, that you can look at right now online, is the oligarch’s.”

Murphy underscored the extensive conflicts of interest between Donald Trump’s family and the Kremlin: “Trump's family [relies] on Russian support for their business empire. Donald Trump Jr. said this prior to when his father became president; he said, ‘in terms of high-end product influx into the United States, Russians make up a pretty disproportionate cross section of a lot of our assets… We see a lot of money pouring in from Russia.’ [And] there is evidence that the Trump family's cryptocurrency is backed, perhaps heavily, by Russian buyers.”

Murphy called on Americans of all political stripes to condemn this sort of corruption: “Donald Jr., he just basically stuffs money into his pockets from anybody who wants a favor from his father, and he just gobbles up government contracts as fast as he can. Don Jr.’s net worth was $50 million before his father's second term. In the first year that Trump was president, in his second term, Don Jr. net worth didn't double, it didn't triple, it didn't quadruple. It grew by six times in one year. $50 million, a year later, $300 million. At least 13 companies tied to the Trump brothers have captured $1.8 billion in long-term federal contracts and commitments, and $103 million in direct cash from the Trump administration; five of those companies got their first government contract ever after the Trump sons invested. That's corruption. It doesn't matter whether this is a Republican administration or a Democratic administration.”

A full transcript of Murphy’s speech is available below.

A full video of Murphy’s speech is available here.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. Colleagues, a story broke today that the Trump family has confirmed that a Russian oligarch, a close ally of Vladimir Putin, a man whose fortune was gifted to him by Putin, paid for the private island wedding of the president of the United States's son. I'm here on the floor because I am scared to death that this is all going to start just feeling normal.

Let me say it again: a Russian oligarch, a close ally of our enemy, Vladimir Putin, a man whose fortune was gifted to him by Vladimir Putin, paid for secretly the private island wedding of the president of the United States's son. The president's son, Donald Trump Jr., tried to hide this fact. He posted pictures of his wedding celebration online. There was a public conversation about whether the president was going to attend or not. But the president's son made no mention that the whole thing, worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, a private island, was bankrolled by the Russians. In fact, the only face of the 50 guests that is hidden in the group photo, that you can look at right now online, is the oligarch’s. But he's there because he secretly paid for the celebration. The Russians paid for the private island. The Russians paid for the fireworks show. The president's son even put this oligarch in charge of planning the logistics. This was a Russian party organized and paid for by someone in Vladimir Putin's inner circle. This is never happening before in the history of the United States of America. Never before has a foreign enemy of the United States paid for the family wedding of the president, why? Because it is naked corruption in plain view. It is as close to treason as you get, accepting lavish gifts, millions of dollars in gifts, perhaps from the enemy of this nation. Let's spend a minute on this oligarch.

We just learned this today, so forgive me if we have scant details. I think we're going to find out a lot more about this guy in the coming days and weeks. But his name is Umar Kremlev. He is a convicted criminal. He runs a boxing company that is funded by Putin, more specifically by Gazprom, Putin's state-run gas company. He isn't just some ordinary oligarch. He's one of Putin's favorites. In addition to running this boxing association, he runs the Russian lottery. He has a monopoly on Russian sports betting. Shortly before financing and attending the Trump wedding, Kremlev and Putin were together in China. Putin brought him on a really important state visit to China. Putin has given Kremliv the highest Kremlin honor, the Order of Friendship. The Ukrainian government has sanctioned Kremlev because he is part of Putin's inner circle. All of Kremliv's money is Putin's money. He operates as an arm of Putin, as do all the Putin made oligarchs.

Before today's disclosure of his secret financing of the Trump wedding, there was no record of Donald Trump Jr. and Kremlev being great best buddies, because they aren't. It appears that they just recently met, and shortly after meeting, this close ally of Vladimir Putin offered to pay for Donald Trump's Jr. wedding. Here's what Eric Trump said today. When a reporter asks his office about Umar Kremlev, this close friend of Donald Trump Jr.'s, quote: “Eric has absolutely no clue who this person is, nor has he ever heard his name”. This is Eric Trump, Donald Trump Jr.’s brother, his business partner. He has never heard the name of the close associate, the close friend of Donald Trump Jr., who paid for his entire wedding. Why? Because they're not friends. This is a business deal between the Trump family and the Russian government.

This all fits two patterns. The first is the Trump's family's reliance on Russian support for their business empire. Donald Trump Jr. said this prior to when his father became president; he said, “in terms of high-end product influx into the United States, Russians make up a pretty disproportionate cross section of a lot of our assets. Say in Dubai, and certainly with our project in Soho, and anywhere in New York. We see a lot of money pouring in from Russia. More recently, those who have looked at the individuals who are buying Trump's cryptocurrency have noted that there is evidence that the Trump family's cryptocurrency is backed, perhaps heavily, by Russian buyers.

But the second, and more significant pattern, is this. Trump’s sons, particularly Donald Jr., just brazenly profit off of their access to the White House. Donald Jr, he just basically stuffs money into his pockets from anybody who wants a favor from his father, and he just gobbles up government contracts as fast as he can. Don Jr. net worth was $50 million before his father's second term. In the first year that Trump was president, in his second term, Don Jr. net worth didn't double, it didn't triple, it didn't quadruple. It grew by six times in one year. $50 million, a year later, $300 million. At least 13 companies tied to the Trump brothers have captured $1.8 billion in long-term federal contracts and commitments, and $103 million in direct cash from the Trump administration, five of those companies got their first government contract ever after the Trump sons invested. That's corruption. It doesn't matter whether this is a Republican administration or a Democratic administration.

Now you could be offended at all of that, but you might say: ""Well, this isn't that. This isn't Trump Jr. taking money from the taxpayers. This is just him taking money from the Russians. Isn't that better than him taking money from taxpayers?” Well of course it isn’t, because Putin doesn't pay for a wedding just to be nice. This is an arrangement in plain sight. Donald Trump has done a 180-degree turn in U.S. policy on the Russia-Ukraine war. He has cut off funding from Ukraine, even after we appropriated money, he refuses to spend it, illegally. As recently as this weekend, he says publicly that it's Ukraine's fault that the war continues, not Russia’s. In addition, Trump has suspended sanctions on the export of Russian oil and gas, which, by the way, specifically helps Gazprom, the company that funds Kremlev. Trump has become one of Putin's most important allies, and so, like everything else in Trump's corrupt world in his second term, it just becomes this mutually beneficial deal. Trump withholds support for Ukraine, pads the pocket of the Russian government with sanctions relief, and the Russians funnel money to the family. Doesn't everybody see this? Shouldn’t everyone here be outraged that the president of the United States's son just had his wedding, his multi-million dollar wedding, paid for by the Russians, and he admits it?

I know that there are a lot of Republicans in the Senate who are aghast at what Trump has done to abandon Ukraine, and I know there are a lot of Republicans here who are furious at this spiraling corruption. I don't know that there's a single member of this body, Republican or Democrat, who would go on TV tonight and defend the Russian government paying for the Trump family's private island wedding. But at some point, there just has to be a bottom that the United States Senate unanimously recognizes. Does any Republican here think that you would say nothing if Hunter Biden's wedding or Malia Obama's graduation party was financed by Iranian allies in the Ayatollah. You guys would shut this place down if that were to happen. And of course you can’t even imagine that happening under a different administration. Because despite all the histrionics over the Biden crime family, never before in this country, have we had a White House where the financing of a family wedding by a foreign adversary would pass as a minor scandal, that barely makes front pages. Just because the corruption happens so routinely, that to some it feels normal, which doesn't mean that it is. If we don't, on a bipartisan basis, here in the Senate, draw a line in the sand soon, it will be the end of our republic. It just will.",1,2026-09-16T09:43:13Z,2026-09-16T09:44:22Z
https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-stands-with-athletes-labor-and-civil-rights-leaders-to-rally-against-the-so-called-protect-college-sports-act,"Murphy Stands With Athletes, Labor, and Civil Rights Leaders to Rally Against the So-Called Protect College Sports Act",2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,chrismurphy,https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the Senate begins considering the so-called Protect College Sports Act (PCSA), U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) joined college athletes, their families, labor advocates, and civil rights leaders to speak out against the legislation.

Murphy pushed back against the manufactured “crisis” framing offered by the PCSA’s supporters, highlighting record revenues. Murphy argued the PCSA will give the NCAA legal cover to abuse athletes’ rights and re-institute a system of collusion and exploitation in college athletics.

Murphy offered a topline of the bill: “What this bill does at its core is to protect a system of exploitation. This bill protects the billions of dollars that coaches and sports industry executives are making over the suppression of compensation for some of the most highly valued athletes in the world. This bill seeks to give an unprecedented antitrust exemption to an industry that is violating the law every single day.”

Murphy highlighted the NCAA’s long history of violating athletes’ rights: “Let's just be clear about why we are here. Over and over again, courts have determined that colleges and the NCAA and conferences are violating the law. In a nine-zero Supreme Court decision authored by conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh, the Supreme Court said that this system of exploitation, in which wages and compensation are illegally suppressed, in which profits are being put ahead of athlete safety, is illegal and cannot stand according to the existing law.”

Murphy called out the NCAA for conspiring to take away athletes’ rightfully earned compensation: “Instead of fixing the problem, instead, the college sports industry has come to Congress and is asking Congress to make their illegal behavior all of a sudden magically legal through an antitrust exemption. What we're being asked to do is to basically allow colleges and conferences and the NCAA to illegally collude so that they can continue to reap the benefits of a $14 billion industry in which almost all of the money goes to the owners, and very little of it goes to the actual actors who are putting the product on the playing field.”

Murphy addressed the PCSA’s supporters head-on: “Some of the proponents say, well, there's runaway spending in college athletics. We can't afford it. Well, this bill doesn't stop billionaires from spending money on athletic facilities. This money doesn't stop billionaires from directly subsidizing the salaries of coaches. No, the only thing this bill does is to limit the relatively small slice of money in the system that goes to athletes. It does nothing to stop the runaway coaches salaries, the runaway spending in facilities, the runaway spending in advertising and in TV contracts.”

Murphy debunked the “crisis” talking points parroted by the NCAA’s boosters and corporate executives: “I hear my colleagues talk about the crisis that exists, the chaos that exists in college athletics today… There's no sign that college athletics is in some broader state of crisis. The TV deals are bigger than ever before. The number of people turning out for men's football games and women's volleyball games are larger than any time before in history. There's more fan interest, frankly, now that students are empowered than there was back in the day when students were completely indentured to programs.”

Sen. Murphy has been a leading voice of opposition to the so-called Protect College Sports Act. Murphy has worked with athletes, labor advocates, and civil rights groups to rally against the passage of the Protect College Sports Act, as well as advocate for his College Athlete Right to Organize Act.

A full video of Murphy’s remarks is available here. A full transcript of Murphy’s remarks is available below.

Thanks to AFL-CIO, NAACP, and many of your partners for convening this call today.

You've got some really powerful voices assembled here so I'm going to be very, very brief. What this bill does at its core is to protect a system of exploitation. This bill protects the billions of dollars that coaches and sports industry executives are making over the suppression of compensation for some of the most highly valued athletes in the world.This bill seeks to give an unprecedented antitrust exemption to an industry that is violating the law every single day.

Let's just be clear about why we are here. Over and over again, courts have determined that colleges and the NCAA and conferences are violating the law. In a nine-zero Supreme Court decision authored by Conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh, the Supreme Court said that this system of exploitation, in which wages and compensation are illegally suppressed, in which profits are being put ahead of athlete safety, is illegal and cannot stand according to the existing law. Instead of fixing those problems, instead of putting athletes safety first, instead of sitting down with the athletes and working out a proper, just system of compensation (and by the way, there's plenty of money to go around in a $14 billion industry), instead of fixing the problem, instead, the college sports industry has come to Congress and is asking Congress to make their illegal behavior all of a sudden magically legal through an antitrust exemption. What we're being asked to do is to basically allow colleges and conferences and the NCAA to illegally collude so that they can continue to reap the benefits of a $14 billion industry in which almost all of the money goes to the owners, and very little of it goes to the actual actors who are putting the product on the playing field.

Just a few quick points. I hear my colleagues talk about the crisis that exists, the chaos that exists in college athletics today. Yes, things are different today, but the crisis and the chaos is really one that primarily impacts the coaches and the colleges who all of a sudden have to work a little bit harder to be able to keep athletes who are no longer indentured to the programs that they are working for.

There's no sign that college athletics is in some broader state of crisis. The TV deals are bigger than ever before. The number of people turning out for men's football games and women's volleyball games are larger than any time before in history. There's more fan interest, frankly, now that students are empowered than there was back in the day when students were completely indentured to programs.

Second, this is a bill that essentially ensconces a system of exploitation, and it doesn't fix the broader problems. Some of the proponents say, well, there's runaway spending in college athletics. We can't afford it. Well, this bill doesn't stop billionaires from spending money on athletic facilities. This money doesn't stop billionaires from directly subsidizing the salaries of coaches. No.

The only thing this bill does is to limit the relatively small slice of money in the system that goes to athletes. It does nothing to stop the runaway coaches salaries, the runaway spending in facilities, the runaway spending in advertising and in TV contracts. So let's be clear this bill is really only about solving one problem. It's a fake problem. The problem of athlete empowerment that has annoyed coaches but has not created a fundamental crisis in broader college athletics.

The final thing to say, before I turn it over to Derrick Johnson, the head of the NAACP, is that we should recognize this as a civil rights issue. And I know that it is sometimes uncomfortable for us to talk in these terms, but let's not mince words. Many of the most valuable athletes, those who would command in a real market the highest salaries are black. And almost all of the people who are protecting the billions that are being made by the industry are white. And so this is an effort to protect a system of exploitation, this is a civil rights issue, and we are going to do everything in our power–those of us who oppose this in the United States Senate–to ask our colleagues to step back, to oppose moving forward, moving this bill forward in the United States Senate, to take another shot at a piece of legislation that, you know, frankly, could institute some reforms, but that would not preserve this system of exploitation that has and will continue to damage the safety and the health of our athletes all across the country.

So, really appreciate folks pulling this together. My office will keep folks updated as this potentially moves on to the Senate floor. We're going to need very, very strong voices, especially from students, to make clear what the stakes are. Really glad to be joined on this call by one of the strongest voices opposing this piece of legislation from the NAACP.",1,2026-09-16T09:43:13Z,2026-09-16T09:44:22Z
https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/icymi-video-blumenthal-calls-on-republicans-to-take-up-legislation-curbing-presidential-corruption-amend-crypto-legislation-to-stop-trump-from-profiting-off-the-presidency,"ICYMI Video: Blumenthal Calls on Republicans to Take Up Legislation Curbing Presidential Corruption, Amend Crypto Legislation to Stop Trump From Profiting Off the Presidency",2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,blumenthal,https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) spoke on the Senate floor yesterday to call on Republicans to take up the Ending Presidential Corruption in Banking Act, legislation that would terminate the federal banking charter for World Liberty Financial that was approved by the Trump-controlled Office of the Comptroller of the Currencey and prohibit federal banking agencies from approving banking applications when the applicant is owned by certain senior government officials.

“Mr. President, I’m here thinking about all the Americans who are working on manufacturing plants assembly lines, all the Americans who are teaching our kids in schools or patrol our schools as police or working in our hospitals, all of the hardworking Americans who are just working to get by, to make ends meet, to know whether they can afford another $20 or $30 at the supermarket, and then to think of Donald Trump making $6 million per day last year, a total of $2.2 billion just in the first year of his presidency,” Blumenthal said on the Senate floor.

Blumenthal continued, “I don’t think there’s a single person in America who thinks that he earned that money, and how could he? He’s supposed to be devoting every waking moment to the public interest of the United States, to keeping us safe and our nation secure. The fact is it was the result of corruption. $1.4 billion of it came from crypto. And the point of this legislation is essentially to end that corruption.”

Blumenthal also called out Republicans for enabling Trump’s corruption by working to advance crypto market structure legislation without meaningful anti-corruption reforms: “Now, we will vote tomorrow on a crypto bill that is, sadly and tragically, riddled with loopholes that enables him to continue this same self-dealing and self-enrichment. And the failure to stand up to the President, I think, is going to be on our Republican colleagues, because this amendment, ethics requirements for digital assets, is a sham. It’s a charade. And if nothing else, Republicans should take a stand and say in crypto legislation that’s supposed to stop wrongdoing, lawlessness, funding of terrorist organizations, money laundering, now is the time to also impose a strong conflict of interest rule.”

Blumenthal continued, “President Trump has been clear: there is no ethical line separating his role as President from his family’s businesses. It’s that simple. Corruption has become the family business.”

Blumenthal underscored the need for the Ending Presidential Corruption in Banking Act to protect consumers and our national security: “Corruption has consequences. It has costs. That bank charter is worth millions, maybe hundreds of millions to World Liberty Financial, but it will enable World Liberty Financial to exploit and take advantage of consumers that will cost them money out of those hard-earned wages that they make.”

“Those Americans who are working hard to make ends meet, wondering whether they can afford another $20 or $30 at the supermarket, while Donald Trump averaged $6 million a day in 2025, ought to demand of all of us that we pass the Ending Presidential Corruption in Banking Act. It’s the least we can do, it’s a first step. And I hope that we will also pass a crypto measure that is worthy of this body and its name,” Blumenthal concluded.

A video of Blumenthal’s remarks on the Senate floor are available here. A transcript is available below.

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT): Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, I’m here thinking about all the Americans who are working on manufacturing plants assembly lines, all the Americans who are teaching our kids in schools or patrol our schools as police or working in our hospitals, all of the hardworking Americans who are just working to get by, to make ends meet, to know whether they can afford another $20 or $30 at the supermarket, and then to think of Donald Trump making $6 million per day last year, a total of $2.2 billion just in the first year of his presidency?

I don’t think there’s a single person in America who thinks that he earned that money, and how could he? He’s supposed to be devoting every waking moment to the public interest of the United States, to keeping us safe and our nation secure.

The fact is it was the result of corruption. $1.4 billion of it came from crypto. And the point of this legislation is essentially to end that corruption. Now, we will vote tomorrow on a crypto bill that is, sadly and tragically, riddled with loopholes that enables him to continue this same self-dealing and self-enrichment. And the failure to stand up to the President, I think, is going to be on our Republican colleagues, because this amendment, ethics requirements for digital assets, is a sham. It’s a charade. And if nothing else, Republicans should take a stand and say in crypto legislation that’s supposed to stop wrongdoing, lawlessness, funding of terrorist organizations, money laundering, now is the time to also impose a strong conflict of interest rule.

Ending Presidential Corruption in Banking Act. Think of it for a moment. The ending presidential corruption in banking act. It bans the President, the Vice President, and their immediate families from owning or controlling banks. When I came to the United States Senate, if you told me you will be support something an Ending Presidential Corruption in Banking Act because it is necessary to stop corruption, because the President is twisting and ignoring and bending norms and precedents of the presidency, I would have said, that would never happen in the United States of America. But President Trump has been clear: there is no ethical line separating his role as President from his family’s businesses. It’s that simple. Corruption has become the family business.

After President Trump issued an executive order to assert control over the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, his control over that body, it approves bank charters, surprise, Trump’s crypto company, World Liberty Financial, applied for a bank charter. And no surprise, on August 14, 2026, World Liberty Financial was granted conditional approval for a national bank charter.

Corruption has consequences. It has costs. That bank charter is worth millions, maybe hundreds of millions to World Liberty Financial, but it will enable World Liberty Financial to exploit and take advantage of consumers that will cost them money out of those hard-earned wages that they make.

In fact, Donald Trump made $1.4 billion, including $636 million from his meme coin, but nearly a million Americans lost billions of dollars, more than $3 billion, while he was making his huge profits.

Corruption has consequences. It has costs. When the President of the United States is dealing with the Emiratis who have bought 49% share for billions of dollars in one of his enterprises, and then Emiratis receive approval for the purchase of chips that have been refused them, or defense equipment that is hugely valuable to them, it threatens our national security.

And when the President’s son or his family go around the world, establishing resorts, making deals, there is always a quid pro quo, there’s always a quid to the quo. There is no free lunch. Our security is compromised; there are costs to our taxpayers. And that plane that was supposedly a gift is already costing us hundreds of millions of dollars, not to mention our being be-holden to the Qatar government. There is no free lunch.

After Donald Trump Jr. Became a partner of the venture capital firm 1789 capital, its assets ballooned to $3 billion, as its portfolio companies rapidly received lucrative government contracts. Those government contracts impact taxpayers, when they are sole-sourced, when they are granted without proper review and scrutiny and oversight of what the costs will be to taxpayers. There’s no free lunch.

So, this measure is not only important, but also necessary, and I have to say, the consequences of corruption are measured not only in dollars and cents, but also in our moral standing around the world. Just this morning, ProPublica reported that Donald Trump Jr.’s lavish wedding in the Caribbean was, in effect, heavily bankrolled by a Russian oligarch with close ties to Putin. His name is Umar Kremlev.

Umar Kremlev is also involved in an organization that re-educates Ukrainian children who have been abducted. I’ve been to Ukraine 11 times, on a number of those trips, I’ve met with children who have been abducted and kidnapped by Vladimir Putin. It’s the reason that he’s been judged and charged as a war criminal. And one of his henchmen, apparently, is Umar Kremlev, in re-educating those children, so that they will forget their past, forget their language, forget their culture, forget their religion. This is truly criminal. And Kremlev has paid, likely, hundreds of thousands of dollars, for Donald Jr.’s lavish wedding. He is in a photograph of the wedding party. That picture haunts me. Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words, and the picture of a man who has, in effect, been complicit in abducting and re-educating children, separating them, and not just a few, but literally tens of thousands, as many as 35,000, maybe 50,000 or more, separating them from their families, I wouldn’t want to be caught on the same island with him, let alone having him rent the island for a wedding of a family member.

Let me put it another way. Those Americans who are working hard to make ends meet, wondering whether they can afford another $20 or $30 at the supermarket, while Donald Trump averaged $6 million a day in 2025, ought to demand of all of us that we pass the Ending Presidential Corruption in Banking Act. It’s the least we can do, it’s a first step. And I hope that we will also pass a crypto measure that is worthy of this body and its name.

Thank you, Mr. President.

-30-",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z
https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/friends-australia-caucus-celebrates-five-years-aukus-security-agreement,Friends of Australia Caucus Celebrates Five Years of the AUKUS Security Agreement,2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,courtney,https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Co-Chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Friends of Australia Caucus Congressman Joe Courtney (D-CT), Ranking Member of the House Seapower Subcommittee, and Congressman Michael McCaul (R-TX), Chair Emeritus of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, celebrated the five-year anniversary of the AUKUS security agreement.

“Five years after its announcement, AUKUS remains the most important security alliance that the U.S. has entered into in decades,” the Members said. “This historic partnership with our two closest and longest-time allies comes at a time when the prospect of a free and open Pacific that benefits all nations is under dire threat. AUKUS provides the capability to counter that deteriorating trend, so as to uphold the international rule of law and freedom of navigation. AUKUS’ ambitious enterprise is unfolding in real-time with robust joint U.S.-Australia submariner training and crewing of Virginia-class submarines, a license free defense technology export system between all three countries, flourishing academic partnerships between our universities, and U.S. Navy-awarded contracts to the U.S. submarine industrial base in support of AUKUS. This work, a result of Congress acting in a swift and bipartisan fashion to pass AUKUS legislation, leads the way for landmark security milestones in the coming decade. With the 2027 launch of Submarine Rotational Force-West, deepened advanced defense capabilities and unmanned systems collaboration, the first-time sale of U.S. Virginia-class submarines to Australia, and the stand-up of the SSN-AUKUS program for our two partners, once-in-a-lifetime security enhancements for all three nations are just over the horizon.""

###",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z
https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/icymi-when-world-becomes-more-dangerous-place-why-it-turns-connecticut,"ICYMI: “When the World Becomes a More Dangerous Place, Why It Turns to Connecticut”",2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,courtney,https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – In case you missed it, the Hartford Courant published a piece highlighting the Connecticut submarine industry’s essential role in national security and the growing importance of the AUKUS security agreement, which turns five years old today. To read the full piece, click here.

“The world’s leading submarines and fighter jets do not design themselves. Submarines planned and manufactured on the Connecticut shoreline are the best in the world. At a time when drones and missile technology are changing the nature of armed conflict, submarines remain essential to a nation’s defense.

“This summer, the federal government issued a $76.6 billion award to General Dynamics for 14 submarines, nine Virginia-Class attack submarines and five Columbia-Class ballistic missile submarines. It is, as the hero of this story pointed out in June, ‘the largest shipbuilding contract in modern history.’ That hero is U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, of the state’s Second Congressional District. The Vernon Democrat has become the leader who has made the most enduring contribution to the state’s economy.""

###",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z
https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-smith-introduce-bill-prohibit-qatari-gifted-air-force-one,"Courtney, Smith Introduce Bill to Prohibit Qatari-Gifted Air Force One from Becoming President Trump’s Private Jet or Library Trophy",2026-09-14,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,courtney,https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), Ranking Member of the House Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, and Congressman Adam Smith (WA-09), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, introduced the Safeguarding Taxpayer Investment for Executive Airlift Act. The bill would prohibit the use of congressionally authorized or appropriated FY27 funding to transfer the Qatari-gifted 747, now being used as Air Force One (the VC-25B Bridge Aircraft), out of possession of the U.S. Air Force.

“President Trump is publicly claiming that the Qatari-gifted VC-25B Bridge aircraft will be transferred to his presidential library. My bill makes clear that this plane is the property of the U.S. Air Force, not the President’s private jet or a library trophy piece. Upon its transfer from Qatar to the U.S. Air Force, the luxury jet had around just 1,000 flight hours; the President himself described it as practically ‘brand new.’ Following substantial taxpayer investment to retrofit the plane, the notion that it will be retired in 2028 and sent to President Trump’s library is an unacceptable misuse of taxpayer dollars and screams out for oversight from Congress,” said Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.), Ranking Member of the House Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee.

""Everything about the president’s acceptance of the Qatari-gifted Boeing 747 now being used as Air Force One is deeply troubling. From the ethical and constitutional concerns of accepting such a gift from a foreign government, to his belief that he can take personal possession of an aircraft that has cost millions of dollars of taxpayers' money to bring it up to the standards required for transportation of the president. This situation is further complicated by this administration’s unprecedented lack of transparency with both Congress and the American people and demands congressional action. I am proud to join Rep. Courtney as an original co-sponsor of the Safeguarding Taxpayer Investment for Executive Airlift Act to prohibit transfer of that aircraft, or any or any VC-25B Bridge aircraft, from the possession of the U.S. Air Force,"" said Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee.

To read a fact sheet on the Safeguarding Taxpayer Investment for Executive Airlift Act, including a timeline of the Qatari-gifted VC-25B Bridge aircraft, click here.

Executive airlift programs, including Air Force One, fall under the jurisdiction of the House Seapower and Projection Force Subcommittee.

###",1,2026-09-15T09:50:21Z,2026-09-15T09:52:05Z
https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-slams-so-called-protect-college-sports-act-on-stephen-a-smiths-straight-shooter,Murphy Slams So-Called Protect College Sports Act on Stephen A. Smith's Straight Shooter,2026-09-14,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,chrismurphy,https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) joined Stephen A. Smith’s Straight Shooter on Sirius XM for a conversation on the Protect College Sports Act ahead of potential Senate action. Murphy laid out why the PCSA would be a disaster for college athletes by giving the NCAA sweeping, unprecedented power to silence athletes and bring back the old system of exploitation.

Sen. Murphy has been a leading voice of opposition to the so-called Protect College Sports Act. Murphy has worked with athletes, labor advocates, and civil rights groups to rally against the passage of the Protect College Sports Act, as well as advocate for his College Athlete Right to Organize Act.

Murphy debunked the “crisis” framing pushed by NCAA’s corporate executives: “More people are watching the games than ever before. More people are showing up than ever before. Women's sports is not contracting; it's expanding. The development deals for TV rights are bigger than ever before.”

Murphy called out the NCAA’s actions stifling negotiations with athletes: “The ‘chaos’ is pretty simple. Over the last few years, student athletes have gotten power. The courts have basically ruled that these schools are illegally colluding to keep these kids' wages down, and instead of doing what they should, which is sit across the table with these students and come up with an agreement that both the colleges and the athletes can live with, instead the coaches and the colleges are running to Congress asking us to make the college an antitrust exemption, so that they can continue to exploit the athletes.”

Murphy emphasized the PCSA is littered with double standards between coaches and players: “The bill says if you're a student and you want an endorsement deal, you have to get signed off by some NCAA bureaucracy. The bill limits student athletes' ability to transfer, basically making you an indentured athlete once you've transferred once. Coaches aren't subject to any of those restrictions, so there's no limitation on coaches' endorsement deals. Coaches can switch jobs every single year. Coaches can make as much money as they want. So this is a great bill for coaches and universities because it artificially, through statute and contracts, limits the amount of money that athletes can make.”

Murphy emphasized that there is no precedent for the anti-trust exemption the NCAA is asking for: “There's only two industries in this country that have a broad exemption from antitrust laws: the railroad industry and Major League Baseball. And the only reason that they got those exemptions was because they have collective bargaining agreements. Workers have rights at the table. This is the first time that we are exempting an entire industry - this is a big industry, a $12 billion industry, from anti-collusion rules - and giving no rights to the people that are going to be most impacted.”

Murphy advocated for targeted, athlete-focused bills to address true problems in college sports: “I would recommend that, you know, we come in with a much smaller set of protections. I think these agents are probably getting away with murder. I do think you should restrict their fees. I don't think anybody who's in the pros should be allowed to come back and play in college. I don't have any problem with saying you get four years and that's it. So we could do a targeted bill that cuts down on some of the reported chaos in college athletics without giving this massive, big antitrust exemption to the schools that ends up allowing these kids to continue to be exploited.”

Stephen A. Smith echoed Murphy’s view, suggesting the NCAA is trying to bring an exploitative system back with Congress’s help: “My position on this, Senator, has been that the NCAA spent years exploiting the student athlete. They had their comeuppance… I see the NCAA with their lobbyists up on Capitol Hill trying to get things done for themselves. And Senator Cruz and others, I'm not questioning anybody's intent - but ultimately, it's going to be some kind of legislation put forth that benefits the NCAA exponentially and reverts it back to a time that once existed, at least to some degree, and is going to be at the expense of the modern-day athlete. I have a problem with that. I don't think that should be allowed.”

An excerpted transcript of Murphy’s interview with Stephen A. Smith is available below. A link to the full interview is available here.

Stephen A: Senator Chris Murphy, let's transition because you talked about people having a seat at the table. It brings me to the Protect College Sports Act, which I know that you have spoken about, and I'm interested in knowing your position about that because as somebody whose day job primarily is pretty much day in. I mean, you hear people talking about this protected sports, you know, college sports act. It's obviously supposed to be bipartisan or what have you. I think it's. I think that these athletes, student athletes, need representation at the table. They don't necessarily have that, which I think is a big part of the problem. I think that before this act is pushed forward, that's something that needs to be addressed. They need to have representation. But I want to know what issues you personally have with this with this particular act that's trying to be pushed forward, particularly by Senator Ted Cruz out of Texas, along with various others. Although it's labeled as a bipartisan bill. Talk to me about that for a second. Your thoughts about it?

Murphy: Yeah, this is one of the reasons I was excited to talk to you, Stephen, because I think nobody has been smarter than you on talking about the importance of having student and athletic voices as part of this process. So listen, I love sports. I love college sports in Connecticut. We maybe pay a little bit more attention to basketball than to football, but I agree with Ted. It's something that's really unique and great about the United States of America. For all of our political demise, we come together in so many states in order to root for our university sports teams, our football teams, our basketball teams. I mean, you literally have 10s of 1000s of people coming out for women's volleyball games now. It's something unique and good that we should preserve in America. I just don't agree that college sports are in chaos or crisis right now. In fact, more people are watching the games than ever before. More people are showing up than ever before. Women's sports is not contracting; it's expanding. The development deals for TV rights are bigger than ever before. The chaos is pretty simple. Over the last few years, student athletes have gotten power. The courts have basically ruled that these schools are illegally colluding to keep these kids' wages down, and instead of doing what they should, which is sit across the table with these students and come up with an agreement that both the colleges and the athletes can live with, instead the coaches and the colleges are running the Congress asking us to make the college an antitrust exemption, so that they can continue to exploit the athletes. And so, what this bill does is extraordinary. It puts a permanent cap on the amount of money that student athletes can make. And the pros, the athletes make about 50% of the overall revenue. This bill would save 22% for college athletes. The bill says if you're a student and you want an endorsement deal, you have to get signed off by some NCAA bureaucracy. The bill limits student athletes' ability to transfer, basically making you an indentured athlete once you've transferred once. Coaches aren't subject to any of those restrictions, so there's no limitation on coaches' endorsement deals. Coaches can switch jobs every single year. Coaches can make as much money as they want. So this is a great bill for coaches and universities because it artificially, through statute, contracts and limits the amount of money that athletes can make. What should happen, as you reference, is that the schools should sit down with the athletes, and they should come up with an agreement, like they do in professional schools, and instead of having Congress step in and essentially micromanage college sports and protect this system of exploitation.

Stephen A: Well, that's where I was going with this. That's why I have been, I don't want to say an adversary of it because I can appreciate where Senator Cruz, yourself, and others are coming from Senator Cory Booker. Let me not forget to bring him into the equation as well because he has his own thoughts about this particular act. Although y'all are coming from different perspectives, everybody agrees that something needs to be done. My position on this, Senator, has been that the NCAA spent years exploiting the student athlete. They had their comeuppance. I do believe it's a bit out of whack because, say, for example, as of right now, if you're an athlete, literally because of the transfer portal and those no no restrictions, you can literally play for four different schools, four different years. I think that's utterly ridiculous. I think that's a problem. I don't think that's something that should be allowed. Okay, and I don't even mind the cap as long as the number is higher. You brought up the NBA, for example. They don't get 50% of total revenue. They get something for 50% of basketball-related income. But they usually complain about other expenses that come down the pike, that owners are able to get a hold of other profits rather that they don't get attached to. They don't get the profit off of it the way the owners do. It's 50% of the income related designated for basketball operations, and that's pretty much it. And then the other stuff the owners get. But I bring this up because I think it's very important. I'm looking at Congress, and I see the NCAA with their lobbyists up on Capitol Hill trying to get things done for themselves and Senator Cruz and others, I'm not questioning anybody's intent, but ultimately it's going to be some kind of legislation put forth that benefits the NCAA exponentially and reverts it back to a time that once existed, at least to some degree, and is going to be at the expense of the modern-day athlete. I have a problem with that. I don't think that should be allowed, and I think that Justice Brett Kavanaugh spoke adamantly against the NCAA, which really spearheaded all of this stuff regarding regarding name, image, and likeness, and I think people should defer to his ruling. Go back and read his ruling against the NCAA to make a case about something more fair and equitable for the student athlete. That's my suggestion. How do you feel about that?

Murphy: I think you are right, and it's important to remember that there's only two industries in this country that have a broad exemption from antitrust laws: the railroad industry and Major League Baseball. That's right. And the only reason that they got those exemptions was because they have collective bargaining agreements. Workers have rights at the table. This is the first time that we are exempting an entire industry. This is a big industry, a $12 billion industry, from anti collusion rules and given no rights to the people that are going to be most impacted. Now you are right that what's happening now should not continue, but remember that that one-year contract that essentially exists today in football and basketball. Yeah, it helps athletes, but it also helps the schools too because the schools don't make any commitment to these students beyond one year. So you might get a package of support with endorsement deals from a school, but if you don't play well, you're essentially fired after that first year, and you are jettisoned as an athlete. So the one-year deals are benefiting both the schools and the athletes. I would recommend that you know we come in with a much smaller set of protections. I think these agents are probably getting away with murder. I do think you should restrict their fees. I don't think anybody who's in the pros should be allowed to come back and play in college. I don't have any problem with saying you get four years and that's it. So we could do a targeted bill that cuts down on some of the reported chaos in college athletics without giving this massive, big antitrust exemption to the schools that ends up allowing these kids to continue to be exploited. And remember, football is really the place you really got to worry because you know there's a limited lifespan for these high value athletes, and so when you require these kids to play three years of football, and that's essentially what the NFL does, and you limit their income artificially while they're in college, you are putting them through traumatic injury, traumatic brain injury risk, and artificially limiting their compensation-that to me is an issue of morality and fairness to these, especially when it comes to everything we're learning about being in college and pro football.",1,2026-09-15T09:50:21Z,2026-09-15T09:52:05Z
https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-and-welch-demand-mullin-provide-information-records-about-lewandowski-pay-to-play-dhs-contracting-scheme,"Blumenthal & Welch Demand Mullin Provide Information, Records About Lewandowski Pay-to-Play DHS Contracting Scheme",2026-09-14,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,blumenthal,https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ranking Member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, and Peter Welch (D-VT) wrote Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin demanding information and records “mounting evidence of widespread corruption orchestrated by former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) senior advisor Corey Lewandowksi.”

The Senators’ letter follows reporting from the Wall Street Journal revealing that Lewandowski and his allies were engaged in an apparent pay-to-play scheme to influence the awarding of DHS contracts. According to the new report, Lewandowski also sought private payment arrangements from foreign governments in exchange for influencing DHS decision-making beyond contracting.

“The overwhelming evidence of Mr. Lewandowski and his associates’ improper, self-serving influence over DHS decision-making at the highest levels can no longer be ignored or brushed aside. Congress and the American people must have a full and transparent assessment of the likely waste generated by and potential illegal activity committed by Mr. Lewandowski and any other individual who sought to improperly influence DHS contracting awards,” the Senators wrote.

In August, Blumenthal and Welch, joined by U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) wrote Mullin about DHS’s wasteful purchase of 10 airplanes for $464 million via a no-bid contract. In their letter to Mullin, the Senators called out the Department’s growing and alarming reliance on no-bid contracts since the beginning of the second Trump Administration and raised concerns that the owner of the company that received the award also runs a company alleged to have solicited kickback payments to former DHS official Corey Lewandowski.

Blumenthal and Welch previously demanded answers from Mullin about Lewandowski’s role in DHS contracting decisions in light of reports that Lewandowski potentially steered contract awards to benefit himself and his political allies while serving as a special government employee and advisor at DHS.

The full text of today’s letter is available here and below.

Dear Secretary Mullin:

We write to demand that you promptly produce information and records that would provide Congress and the American people with full transparency into mounting evidence of widespread corruption orchestrated by former Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) senior advisor Corey Lewandowksi. Recent reporting alleges that Mr. Lewandowski and his allies were engaged in an apparent pay-to-play scheme to influence the awarding of lucrative DHS contracts. Mr. Lewandowski also apparently sought private payment arrangements from foreign governments in exchange for influencing DHS decision-making beyond contracting, an alarming development that raises critical national security questions. Despite our March 26, 2026, letter raising concerns about the extent of Mr. Lewandowski’s influence over contracting,[1] and public reporting suggesting that wasteful, no-bid contracting has become prevalent throughout DHS acquisitions,[2] DHS has not substantively responded to our requests and has produced no responsive records. We demand that you provide information and records responsive to the following requests that will permit us to fulfill our constitutional obligation of conducting oversight of your department.

On September 7, 2026, public reporting revealed that Corey Lewandowski and his allies allegedly maintained a broader network of influence over DHS decision-making than was previously known.[3] While serving as a senior advisor to former Secretary Kristi Noem, Mr. Lewandowski allegedly approached the governments of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates seeking agreement for private payment in exchange for “help. . . with any issues that fell under the department’s purview.”[4] Although the foreign governments refused, Mr. Lewandoski’s solicitations appear to be offers to “sell government services for personal gain.”[5] These new details add to extensive, consistent reporting that indicates that Mr. Lewandowski sought to influence specific DHS contracting decisions to punish prospective contractors that refused to curry favor with Mr. Lewandowski, including by paying him or entities affiliated with him kickbacks in exchange for awarding DHS contracts or subcontracts.[6]

Mr. Lewandowski’s attempt to influence a multi-billion-dollar DHS contract with software company Palantir is just the most recently disclosed example of his effort to corruptly steer contracting decisions. After weeks of negotiation over a $2.7 billion blanket purchase agreement negotiated by DHS officials and Palantir representatives in the fall of 2025, the proposed agreement “sat for weeks on [former Secretary] Noem’s desk without a signature.”[7] DHS then reportedly asked Palantir to agree to a one-on-one meeting between Palantir CEO Alex Karp and Corey Lewandowski, “DHS officials repeatedly asked for the meeting, saying it needed to be a one-on-one meeting.”[8] When Palantir ultimately refused a one-on-one meeting, the company was told, without explanation, that the contract would be reduced to $1 billion.[9] The reduction appears to be consistent with “Lewandowski [telling] associates at the department that he was going to consolidate Palantir’s work across the agency so the company would receive less money.”[10]

Mr. Lewandowski’s alleged associates appear to have pursued parallel influence schemes. Josh Whitehouse, an ally of Mr. Lewandowski and former New Hampshire Republican lawmaker, was installed as a special government employee at DHS. Despite his participation in high-level meetings with company executives, “senior [DHS] officials weren’t aware of any specific duties assigned to him.”[11] Mr. Whitehouse reportedly joined one of Mr. Lewandowski and Secretary Noem’s trips to the Middle East and “insisted on a side trip” to Romania to visit a Damen Shipyards facility from which he sought to have the Coast Guard purchase two icebreaker ships.[12] He allegedly pushed for the Coast Guard acquisition despite DHS officials concluding that the vessels would cost “hundreds of millions of dollars extra” to render them adequate for the Coast Guard’s needs and despite concerns that Damen “had recently been accused by Dutch prosecutors of circumventing European Union sanctions against Russia and of bribing public officials in different countries for years.”[13] Mr. Whitehouse also reportedly sought tariff exemptions for specific South American countries from officials within DHS.[14]

Influence exerted by other allies of Mr. Lewandowski and Secretary Noem similarly raise troubling questions. Kara Voorhies, an ally of Mr. Lewandowski, was installed as a contractor at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (“FEMA”) and may have improperly influenced that agency’s disaster recovery contracting decisions, all while being paid an unusually high amount of “as much as $19,000 a week.”[15] Yet another, unnamed ally of Mr. Lewandowski and Secretary Noem reportedly directed FEMA officials to award a terrorism prevention grant to “a nonprofit affiliated with Chris Stanley.”[16] Contracting records show that Mr. Stanley’s nonprofit, Common Sense Policy Institute, which “largely operates as a conservative watchdog group,” was awarded a $2.3 million terrorism prevention grant.[17]

The overwhelming evidence of Mr. Lewandowski and his associates’ improper, self-serving influence over DHS decision-making at the highest levels can no longer be ignored or brushed aside. Congress and the American people must have a full and transparent assessment of the likely waste generated by and potential illegal activity committed by Mr. Lewandowski and any other individual who sought to improperly influence DHS contracting awards. Pursuant to our responsibility to oversee DHS and federal contracting, our offices are reviewing allegations of misconduct arising from Mr. Lewandowski’s tenure at DHS to assess whether and the extent to which laws and regulations governing honest services and federal procurement may require legislative reform. Any ongoing audit or investigation by the DHS Inspector General into related matters is not a legitimate basis for withholding information and records from Congress. Accordingly, please provide records[18] and detailed information responsive to the following requests no later than September 25, 2026.

All information and records requested in our March 26, 2026, correspondence.

All communications between any agent or representative of the governments of Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates, and Corey Lewandowski.

All communications between Josh Whitehouse and Corey Lewandowski.

All communications between Kara Voorhies and Corey Lewandowski.

All communications between Alex Karp, Palantir, or any agent thereof, and Corey Lewandowski.

All draft agreements between DHS and Palantir as of September 30, 2025.

-30-

[1] Letter from Sens. Blumenthal, Welch to Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin (March 26, 2026), https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026-03-26-Letter-from-Sen-Blumenthal-and-Sen-Welch-to-Secretary-Mullin.pdf.

[2] See Letter from Sens. Blumenthal, Welch to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin (Aug. 25, 2026), https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026-8-25-Letter-from-Sens-Blumenthal-Welch-Schiff-to-Secretary-Mullin.pdf.

[3] Tarini Parti, Josh Dawsey, Michelle Hackman, & Summer Said, Chasing Side Deals, Flexing Influence: Lewandowski’s Power Moves at DHS, Wall St. J. (Sept. 7, 2026), https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/corey-lewandowski-influence-dhs-43d3fe03.

[4] Id.

[5] Id.

[6] See Letter from Sens. Blumenthal, Welch to Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin (March 28, 2026), https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026-03-26-Letter-from-Sen-Blumenthal-and-Sen-Welch-to-Secretary-Mullin.pdf; Julia Ainsley, Matt Dixon, Jonathan Allen & Laura Strickler, Some DHS contractors told White House officials they were asked to pay Corey Lewandowski, NBC News (Mar. 19, 2026), https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/dhs-contractors-told-white-house-officials-asked-pay-corey-lewandowski-rcna263744.

[7] Parti, et al., supra note 3.

[8] Id.

[9] Id.

[10] Id.

[11] Id.

[12] Id.

[13] Id.

[14] Id.

[15] Id.

[16] Id.

[17] Id.

[18] “Records” include any written, recorded, or graphic material of any kind, including letters, memoranda, reports, notes, electronic data (emails, email attachments, and any other electronically-created or stored information), calendar entries, inter-office communications, meeting minutes, phone/voice mail or recordings/records of verbal communications, and drafts (whether or not they resulted in final documents).",1,2026-09-16T09:43:13Z,2026-09-16T09:44:22Z
https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-delivers-opening-statement-at-public-forum-on-trump-family-corruption,Blumenthal Delivers Opening Statement at Public Forum on Trump Family Corruption,2026-09-14,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,blumenthal,https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ranking Member of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), delivered an opening statement today at a public forum on how Donald Trump, his children, and top Administration officials have leveraged their positions to grow their personal wealth at the expense of American families. At the forum, “Gaming the System: How the Trump Family is Making Billions by Ripping Off the American People,” Blumenthal and U.S. Representative Robert Garcia (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, called out Donald Trump and his family for their self-enrichment schemes and made the case for strong reforms to curb corruption at the federal level.

Blumenthal slammed Republicans for enabling Trump’s corruption by moving to advance crypto market structure legislation without meaningful anti-corruption provisions: “Exhibit A, the latest draft of the Clarity Act relating to conflicts of interest. It purports to prevent conflicts of interest and corruption by the President of the United States. It is a charade. It is a sham. It should prompt a no vote by every member of the United States Senate tomorrow at 2:15 when the vote is scheduled.”

Blumenthal continued, “Now, of all the families’ grifts, cryptocurrency has probably been the most profitable enterprise, and the cost to consumers probably have been greatest. This is an industry that was facing criminal and civil investigations for enabling terrorists, drug traffickers, market manipulation, and human trafficking. It turns out the shadiest people were more than willing to cut checks to literally get out of jail. President Trump’s willingness to trade the public trust for crypto wealth began before he was sworn in.”

Blumenthal continued, “So, this corruption is going to continue unless we take a stand, unless we sound the alarm. And unless the people of the United States tell Republicans corruption is on the ballot this November. Corruption is on the ballot because—here’s the essential point—corruption is costly. Corruption has consequences. I know folks out there are saying themselves, you know, I’m paying more for gasoline and groceries. I can barely afford new clothes for my kids as they go back to school. And you’re making a fuss about Donald Trump making a lot of money. But folks, this is relevant to your lives. This is real in its cost to you.”

Blumenthal underscored the costs to taxpayers and our national security as a result of the Trump family’s self-enrichment schemes: “When members of the family like Jared Kushner, who has served as the government’s top negotiator in crises from Gaza to Ukraine, goes out soliciting business for his private equity firm, Affinity Partners, and he goes to the Saudis for $2 billion, or when the country of Qatar provides a plane, or when Melania Trump makes millions of dollars from her vanity project documentary sponsored by Amazon, interests are compromised. Our national interest is compromised.”

“The grifts just keep on grifting. For some people, Donald Trump is a gift that keeps on giving, but it’s almost entirely to his family and his billionaire friends. And that’s why we’re here today: to say enough is enough. The American people should know what’s happening,” Blumenthal concluded.

A video of Blumenthal’s remarks at the forum is available here. A transcript is available below.

Thanks, Representative Garcia, and thank you for your leadership and collaboration. We have conducted a series of hearings on some of the most important issues of the day. And I wish we were on the dais, which hopefully we will be, not long from now. But even here, I just want to tell the witnesses and everybody here there are probably more people watching us through live stream than would be aware of what we’re doing if we were conducting a formal hearing. The reason I regret that we’re not on the dais is this kind of inquiry should be bipartisan. My Republican colleagues should be as offended by what Representative Garcia has just recited as we are. And they should want to hear from these witnesses—really extraordinary experts—as much as we do.

But instead, instead, they are not only enabling, but they are encouraging this corruption. Exhibit A, the latest draft of the Clarity Act relating to conflicts of interest. It purports to prevent conflicts of interest and corruption by the President of the United States. It is a charade. It is a sham. It should prompt a no vote by every member of the United States senate tomorrow at 2:15 when the vote is scheduled.

This measure guarantees that the law will never be enforced against President Donald Trump. It would allow him to continue making hundreds of millions of dollars through World Liberty Financial and his meme coin and other crypto ventures. In fact, the bill does not restrict the primary ways that Trump has raked in $1.4 billion last year. And it states loophole number one: Trump can continue making money from existing crypto ventures. The bill states that its issuance and sponsorship restrictions shall only apply to digital assets that are used or sponsored on or after the effective date of the section.

Number two: Trump could easily restructure any crypto ventures or create new ones to avoid these restrictions. Number three: he can prove it by putting his crypto holdings in a supposedly blind trust. We know how blind that trust would really be. Because he knows what assets are being held there. So, this corruption is going to continue unless we take a stand, unless we sound the alarm. And unless the people of the United States tell Republicans corruption is on the ballot this November. Corruption is on the ballot because—here’s the essential point—corruption is costly. Corruption has consequences.

I know folks out there are saying themselves, you know, I’m paying more for gasoline and groceries. I can barely afford new clothes for my kids as they go back to school. And you’re making a fuss about Donald Trump making a lot of money. But folks, this is relevant to your lives. This is real in its cost to you. And it’s not just crypto. It is also the contracts that are provided to the corporations that his sons have investment in. Donald and Eric, those sole-source contracts, when they are higher in price, mean higher taxes eventually, because these are big contracts, they’re Defense Department commitments in the hundreds of millions or billions of dollars.

Polymarket and Kalshi—the whole prediction market enterprise—when people, in effect bet, and the bets are unfair to them, they lose money. That may sound like an oversimplification, but the fact of the matter is there are real life consequences to corruption. And of course, when members of the family like Jared Kushner, who has served as the government’s top negotiator in crises from Gaza to Ukraine, goes out soliciting business for his private equity firm, Affinity Partners, and he goes to the Saudis for $2 billion or when the country of Qatar provides a plane, or when Melania Trump makes millions of dollars from her vanity project documentary sponsored by Amazon, interests are compromised. Our national interest is compromised.

Now, of all the families’ grifts, cryptocurrency has probably been the most profitable enterprise, and the cost to consumers probably have been greatest. This is an industry that was facing criminal and civil investigations and for enabling terrorists, drug traffickers, market manipulation and human trafficking. It turns out the shadiest people were more than willing to cut checks to literally get out of jail. President Trump’s willingness to trade the public trust for crypto wealth began before he was sworn in. Days before the inauguration, he launched and promoted a meme coin with nothing more than speculative value. It was a pump and dump. The coin started at $1. But when Trump promoted it on Truth Social, it spiked to $73, as you can see here, shortly afterward, insiders sold off their coins. The value crashed. Within weeks, approximately $1 million lost a total of $3.8 billion on their coin investment. As of today, the coin is trading under $2.

So, corruption has costs, it has consequences. And at one of our hearings very recently, we heard from three of those investors and they told us how they trusted that the President wouldn’t put his name on something that was without value, and they lost nearly everything, President Trump personally made $635 million, as you know, the same kind of story can be told about World Liberty Financial, where Donald Trump’s sons were hastily building up that entity, the primary cryptocurrency venture for the trump family. It has become literally little more than a quid pro quo for foreign interests.

Its major source of funding, an Emirati royal, known as the spy sheikh paid half $1 billion for a 49% stake in the company, and miraculously, they then were rewarded with contracts for AI chips, which had been blocked, and defense equipment, most recently, as Representative Garcia mentioned. In fact, just this morning, ProPublica reported that Don Jr.’s lavish wedding on a private Caribbean island was heavily bankrolled by—never would have guessed it, a Russian oligarch named Umar Kremlev. He happened to have close ties to Vladimir Putin. He’s head of a corrupt organization that oversees world boxing. We have no idea exactly why this Russian oligarch with close ties to Putin decided to spend untold amounts, perhaps in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, to rent an island and pay for a fireworks show at the wedding—but what goes around comes around.

There’s no free lunch, and I’m often asked the question, what does Putin have on Trump? Why has Vladimir Putin been so persuasive in this apparent bromance with the president of the United States? And if there are other deals like this one, and the wedding may just be the more colorful of them, the answer may be follow the money, because Donald Trump is all about the money, and the costs are not only money to taxpayers, they are a compromise and a degrading of our values, our standing around the world, our self-worth, and our dignity as a nation, and the grifts just keep on grifting. For some people, Donald Trump is a gift that keeps on giving, but it’s almost entirely to his family and his billionaire friends. And that’s why we’re here today: to say enough is enough. The American people should know what’s happening.

-30-",1,2026-09-16T09:43:13Z,2026-09-16T09:44:22Z
https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-calls-colleagues-support-bill-safeguarding-taxpayer,Courtney Calls on Colleagues to Support Bill Safeguarding Taxpayer Investments in Qatari-Gifted Air Force One Plane,2026-09-14,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,courtney,https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, in a speech on the House floor, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), Ranking Member of the House Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, called on his colleagues to support the Safeguarding Taxpayer Investment for Executive Airlift Act, a bill he introduced today alongside Congressman Adam Smith (WA-09), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee.

The Safeguarding Taxpayer Investment for Executive Airlift Act would prohibit the use of congressionally authorized or appropriated FY27 funding to transfer the Qatari-gifted 747, now being used as Air Force One (the VC-25B Bridge Aircraft), out of possession of the U.S. Air Force.

To watch, click here.

“As the Ranking Member of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over the Air Force executive airlift programs, I want to remind the House that this aircraft is not the property of any one person, including the President of the United States,” Courtney said. “That plane is the property of the U.S. government and U.S. taxpayers, and under the control of the U.S. Air Force. It is a plane the U.S. taxpayer spent hundreds of millions of dollars over the last years… and just a few days ago, it was announced that the Air Force had contracted a new pilot simulator training program for the Qatari plane to the tune of $45.3 million.”

“[The Safeguarding Taxpayer Investment for Executive Airlift Act] is about exercising congressional stewardship of property that belongs to the U.S. taxpayer, and it should be easy for every Member of this chamber to support,” Courtney continued. “To paraphrase Abraham Lincoln, it asserts what is both legally the right thing to do but also morally the right thing to do.”

To read a fact sheet on the Safeguarding Taxpayer Investment for Executive Airlift Act, including a timeline of the Qatari-gifted VC-25B Bridge aircraft, click here.

Executive airlift programs, including Air Force One, fall under the jurisdiction of the House Seapower and Projection Force Subcommittee.

FULL TRANSCRIPT

Mr. Speaker, on September 4th, President Trump was asked about the future of the Qatari Air Force one plane, which after a messy rollout in July, he flew on to Ireland this past weekend. and he said, “I haven't made a decision, but it will probably go to the museum… It’s scheduled to go to the museum.”

Mr. Speaker, as the Ranking Member of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over the Air Force executive airlift programs, I want to remind the House that this aircraft is not the property of any one person, including the President of the United States.

That plane is the property of the U.S. government and U.S. taxpayers, and under the control of the U.S. Air Force. It is a plane the U.S. taxpayer spent hundreds of millions of dollars over the last years to retrofit prior to its maiden flight to Turkey for the NATO summit.

After it was discovered by the Secret Service that the plane had serious vulnerabilities, and the President flew home on one of the older Air Force Ones, the Qatari plane went into another overhaul and received “maxed out” upgrades, as the President said, which cost even more taxpayer funds. And just a few days ago, it was announced that the Air Force had contracted a new pilot simulator training program for the Qatari plane to the tune of $45.3 million.

Clearly, Mr. Speaker, the U.S. taxpayer has huge skin in the game regarding the future of this plane. It is also clear that this plane has ample long-term service life left in it.

At the time it was gifted to the Air Force, it had only 800 hours of flight time, which is a fraction of the normal for full-service life of a comparable Boeing 747 jet. Given its low mileage and all the expenditure of government money and training, the notion that this plane should be mothballed in a couple of years and donated to a Trump museum is an insult to the intelligence of the American people.

Mr. Speaker, some may point to the example of the Air Force One plane at the Reagan Library as justification for President Trump's claim that he has the right to abscond with this plane after he leaves office. In fact, Mr. Speaker, the Reagan Library plane was in Air Force service for 13 years after he left office in 1988 and served President George Herbert Walker Bush, President Clinton, and President George W. Bush until it was decommissioned in 2001.

The plane then went through a well-established legal process for transfer of excess federal property that President Reagan had no control over, and which is designed to protect the interests of the taxpayer.

Mr. Speaker, everything about this Qatari gifted plane has been problematic. The unanswered questions of a foreign emolument, the lack of transparency on the cost of the initial retrofit, the rocky maiden voyage to Turkey, and the President's repeated claims of ownership and control of the plane, which by law he does not have.

It is clear Congress needs to intervene to prohibit any unlawful attempt to send it to the museum.

Today, Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith and I will be introducing the Safeguarding Taxpayer Investment for Executive Airlift Act, which will very simply prohibit the transfer of the Qatari Air Force one, known as VC-25B Bridge aircraft, from the possession of the U.S. Air Force.

As I've made clear this morning, after all the money and work invested in the retrofit of this practically brand-new Boeing 747, as well as the new $45 million pilot training contract that the Air Force just announced, the country and the American taxpayer deserve to get its money's worth from this plane.

At a time when so many Americans are struggling to make ends meet, that is not too much to ask.

Its service life will last for years. Just as the Air Force One plane that flew for over a decade after Ronald Reagan left office, this Air Force One should be used to benefit the nation and not as a not be used as a vanity project.

Mr. Speaker, this bill is about exercising congressional stewardship of property that belongs to the U.S. taxpayer, and it should be easy for every Member of this chamber to support. To paraphrase Abraham Lincoln, it asserts what is both legally the right thing to do but also morally the right thing to do.

I urge my colleagues to join me and Ranking Member Smith to co-sponsor this commonsense measure.

###",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z
https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-marking-25th-anniversary-attacks-september-11-2001,"DeLauro Statement Marking the 25th Anniversary of the Attacks on September 11, 2001",2026-09-11,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CT,Rosa L. DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,delauro,https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"New Haven, CT – Today, U.S. Representatives Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) issued the following statement in remembrance marking 25 since the September 11, 2001, terror attacks.

“Twenty-five years ago, today, the United States of America experienced one of its darkest days in history.

On September 11, 2001, 2,977 people lost their lives, and countless others ­— families, first responders, and survivors — have carried the pain of that day ever since. Hundreds of thousands of others’ health were affected because of that day. Today, we remember those we lost, honor the courage of those who responded, and stand with the families and loved ones who continue to preserve their memory.

“We remember September 11th as a day that left a mark on us all. Twenty-five years have passed, but many of us remember the exact moment we learned of the attacks on the Twin Towers in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington, DC, and Flight 93. I think about the amount of despair I felt that day. I, along with other Members of Congress, evacuated our offices and gathered on the steps of our nations Capitol. In a moment of immense grief and uncertainty we stood together as one and sang ‘God Bless America.’ In that moment, the division that seemed important gave way and we discovered a shared sense of grief and hope. They sought to break our American spirit, but they only unified our resolve.

“On this solemn anniversary, let us remember the unity that followed the attacks. We as Americans stood together — not as Democrats or Republicans, but as neighbors, friends, and fellow Americans. Much has changed since September 11, 2001, but we have refused to forget. May we always remember that even on the darkest days our nation can find strength in one another, and that unity and hope is the force that will carry us further than division.",1,2026-09-12T09:02:30Z,2026-09-12T09:03:27Z
https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/senator-blumenthal-week-in-review-9/4/2026-9/11/2026,Senator Blumenthal: Week in Review 9/4/2026-9/11/2026,2026-09-11,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,blumenthal,https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press,scraper,"Honoring the 25th Anniversary of 9/11

[Hartford, CT] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) commemorated the twenty-fifth anniversary of the September 11th attacks and remembered the victims, their families and loved ones, and the heroes who responded to 9/11.

“Horror & heroism, what we lost & learned— all comes rushing back. Crushing memories of searing grief & shock. Awe at a wondrous unity of purpose & heart. After 25 years, 9/11 is no less real,” wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X. “We honor the victims & their loved ones— brave souls lost in unspeakable cruelty, & courageous first responders who sought to save them. Let us honor with action— health care, financial support, & more.”

Blumenthal also spoke at the Voices 25th Anniversary NYC Symposium, Honoring the Past, Shaping the Future. This event brought together national and international experts who share their knowledge and foster conversations about lessons learned, preparedness and supporting those impacted by tragedy—with programs specifically focusing on the 9/11 Community, including victims’ families, responders, survivors, and our dedicated partners who serve them.

“Proud to join Mary & Frank Fetchet at their Voices 25th Anniversary Symposium honoring the magnificent work they’ve done in healing from tragedy, like their own loss in 9/11,” wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X.

Combatting the Trump Administration’s Harmful Immigration Policies

Blumenthal held a press conference after attending and observing Hartford Immigration Court on Tuesday.

Recent reports indicate that Hartford Immigration Court is severely overcrowded due to increasing caseloads. Hearings previously would be scheduled for 15-30 people at a time but now are scheduled for 70 to 100 people. Additionally, reports suggest that the court’s docket is chaotic and changes at the last minute. This has resulted in people missing their court hearings and having inadequate time to prepare.

Blumenthal attended the Tuesday hearing to observe the court’s operations and demand oversight and accountability if the proper legal processes are not being followed.

“Our immigration courts are in chaos—intentionally. My visit today confirmed real life impacts of cuts in judges & staff, lack of notice & due process, no criminal record & often no attorney, among failings. Deporting, not justice, is the goal,” wrote Blumenthal regarding his visit to Hartford Immigration Court, with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.

Additionally, Blumenthal wrote Department of Homeland Security Inspector General Joseph Cuffari seeking “a formal investigation into the recent surge of [Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)] arrests and activity in Connecticut.”

The surge has focused on Danbury and nearby towns, where people have been targeted dropping their children off at school and going to work. “In one of the largest immigration operations in Connecticut history, ICE agents reportedly apprehended nearly 100 individuals — many of whom likely have legal status and no apparent serious criminal history — throughout the course of just one week in August,” Blumenthal wrote.

“Individuals observed: an ICE agent kicking and tasing a man while other agents were on top of him, sending the man to the hospital; ICE agents breaking car windows; removing detainees in chains; blocking attorney access to detainees in Hartford; the deployment of masked agents to locations that children frequent in Danbury, including parks, an elementary school, and a daycare center; the detention of a father walking his child to a bus stop; and a threat by ICE agents to pepper spray a man detained in front of a preschool.”

Last week, Blumenthal wrote Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin and the Acting Director of ICE David Venturella requesting a meeting and demanding information about a dramatic increase in immigration enforcement activity in Connecticut. The full text of Blumenthal’s letter to Mullin and Venturella is available here.

Blumenthal also hosted a public forum to receive testimony from the Danbury community about ICE’s destructive and indiscriminate detentions. Blumenthal was joined by Mayor Roberto Alves; attorney Glenn Formica with the American Legal Immigrant Clinic; and members of Danbury United for Immigrants.

As Ranking Member of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Blumenthal has led an investigation into DHS’s abuses. Over the last year, Blumenthal and U.S. Representative Robert Garcia (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, have hosted four public forums on Capitol Hill as part of their ongoing inquiry into the lawless and abusive tactics used by federal immigration agents.

The full text of Blumenthal’s letter to Cuffari is available here.

Slamming AI Bots Going Rogue

Blumenthal demanded answers from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman after recent reporting from The New York Times revealed alarming new details about how the A.I. company’s agents bypassed their safeguards to go rogue and hack into the firm Hugging Face. In a letter sent to Altman, Blumenthal sought records and information about the A.I. agents’ rogue operations and raised concerns about OpenAI’s reported steps to limit independent accountability.

“On July 21, 2026, OpenAI first disclosed that its A.I. models were responsible for the previously-reported hacking of the firm Hugging Face. Since that announcement, further disclosures and outside audits have described an unprecedented—and surreal—scenario where its A.I. agents created their own internal messaging board to coordinate between themselves while they sought security vulnerabilities in other systems and companies, and opportunities to cheat on performance tests,” Blumenthal wrote.

Blumenthal continued, “Moreover, the A.I. agents displayed a concern about being caught and coordinated to evade being detected, even planning to ‘sacrifice’ themselves to act as a decoy to protect the broader effort. Ultimately, this operation sought—and succeeded—to break into other firms, which could be considered a federal crime.”

Blumenthal called out OpenAI for attempting to evade transparency and accountability by dictating the terms of an independent audit into the Hugging Face breach: “While these disclosures alone are chilling, new reporting and research suggests that OpenAI may have limited an independent audit of the incident and that the rogue operation was broader than your firm has acknowledged.”

Blumenthal also raised concerns about new details that have emerged about how OpenAI’s agents conducted the breach, including by hijacking public websites to coordinate rogue operations: “[R]esearchers found that the A.I. agents may have attempted to impersonate the administrators of the site, found and shared hacks to bypass their guardrails, and used anonymity tools to hide their tracks. Others have found indications that still more websites were abused and co-opted for this rogue operation.”

“In the face of a stunning failure, OpenAI appears to be taking steps that prioritize the performance and profit of its A.I. models with the knowledge that those changes could be detrimental to public safety. This demonstrates the need for vigorous, mandatory independent auditing and oversight such as would be required in the Artificial Intelligence Risk Evaluation Act,” Blumenthal concluded.

The full text of the letter is available here.

Blumenthal held a press conference in Hartford to amplify his letter to Altman, demanding swift safeguards for artificial intelligence following the reports that OpenAI’s A.I. agents engaged in a sprawling and significant campaign to evade safeguards including hijacking websites to coordinate rogue operations.

Blumenthal called for passage of his bipartisan Artificial Intelligence Risk Evaluation Act, bipartisan legislation that creates a risk evaluation program within the Department of Energy (DOE) dedicated to vetting A.I. safety concerns related to Americans’ national security, civil liberties, and labor protections. Specifically, the program would require developers of advanced AI systems to submit product information to the DOE before deploying their new technology and collect data on the likelihood of adverse A.I. incidents, such as loss-of-control scenarios like those seen in the Hugging Face breach.

“It’s more urgent than ever, because we’ve just learned about an ongoing immediate threat to public safety, national security, privacy, and civil liberties from rogue bots—independent agents that have broken free from restriction and have invaded public websites, hacking into them, and then evading detection, purposefully coordinating their activities,” said Blumenthal at the press conference. “These rogue agents are not controlled by humans. They are acting independently and on their own to deceive human beings, and then to continue their hacking, sometimes in fact strategizing for how to deceive human beings by sacrificing themselves individually as decoys. It is absolutely chilling. It sounds like it’s science fiction, but it’s real, it’s serious, and it’s an imminent present threat.”

Blumenthal further highlighted the need for safeguards against A.I. agents on Twitter/X.

“It’s real, not science fiction. OpenAI’s rogue bots threaten civil privacy, national security, & public safety. We need protections & safeguards—like my Artificial Intelligence Risk Evaluation Act— against AI’s perils,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.

Blumenthal Bulletin

Blumenthal posted a Substack piece on his recent trip to Ukraine.

Blumenthal slammed the Trump Administration’s threats to mail-in voting.

Blumenthal called for support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s invasion—slamming the Witkoff/Kushner visit to Moscow.

Blumenthal called out the firing of the Stars & Stripes’ editor-in-chief.

Blumenthal attended the Goshen Fair.

Blumenthal attended Lime Rock Historic Festival.

Blumenthal attended the Bridgewater Tractor Parade.

Blumenthal attended the Ukrainian Festival in Newtown.

Blumenthal joined the Newtown Labor Day Parade.

Blumenthal joined St. Barbara’s 44th Annual Odyssey Festival.

-30-",1,2026-09-16T09:43:13Z,2026-09-16T09:44:22Z
https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-calls-on-dhs-inspector-general-to-investigate-ice-tactics-following-surge-targeting-connecticut-residents-at-schools-workplaces,"Blumenthal Calls on DHS Inspector General to Investigate ICE Tactics Following Surge Targeting Connecticut Residents at Schools, Workplaces",2026-09-10,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,blumenthal,https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) wrote Department of Homeland Security Inspector General Joseph Cuffari seeking “a formal investigation into the recent surge of [Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)] arrests and activity in Connecticut.”

The surge has focused on Danbury and nearby towns, where people have been targeted dropping their children off at school and going to work. “In one of the largest immigration operations in Connecticut history, ICE agents reportedly apprehended nearly 100 individuals — many of whom likely have legal status and no apparent serious criminal history — throughout the course of just one week in August,” Blumenthal wrote.

“Individuals observed: an ICE agent kicking and tasing a man while other agents were on top of him, sending the man to the hospital; ICE agents breaking car windows; removing detainees in chains; blocking attorney access to detainees in Hartford; the deployment of masked agents to locations that children frequent in Danbury, including parks, an elementary school, and a daycare center; the detention of a father walking his child to a bus stop; and a threat by ICE agents to pepper spray a man detained in front of a preschool.”

Earlier this week, Blumenthal attended Hartford Immigration Court to observe the court’s operations and demand oversight and accountability if the proper legal processes are not being followed.

Last week, Blumenthal wrote Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin and the Acting Director of ICE David Venturella requesting a meeting and demanding information about a dramatic increase in immigration enforcement activity in Connecticut. The full text of Blumenthal’s letter to Mullin and Venturella is available here.

Blumenthal also hosted a public forum to receive testimony from the Danbury community about ICE’s destructive and indiscriminate detentions. Blumenthal was joined by Mayor Roberto Alves; attorney Glenn Formica with the American Legal Immigrant Clinic; and members of Danbury United for Immigrants.

As Ranking Member of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Blumenthal has led an investigation into DHS’s abuses. Over the last year, Blumenthal and U.S. Representative Robert Garcia (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, have hosted four public forums on Capitol Hill as part of their ongoing inquiry into the lawless and abusive tactics used by federal immigration agents.

The full text of Blumenthal’s letter to Cuffari is available here and copied below.

Dear Inspector General Cuffari,

Over the past several months, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has engaged in increased enforcement activity in communities across the United States.[1] Two weeks ago, this surge came to Connecticut, where Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) agents fanned out across towns in Connecticut, sowing fear, engaging in violent and threatening tactics, and detaining residents in the presence of their own children.[2] These troubling tactics follow similar reports from communities across the nation and come in the wake of two recent shooting deaths by immigration agents in Maine and Houston, Texas.[3] Given these troubling reports and the irreparable harm that DHS’s actions are having on communities in our nation, I write to request that you initiate a formal investigation into the recent surge of ICE arrests and activity in Connecticut.

In one of the largest immigration operations in Connecticut history, ICE agents reportedly apprehended nearly 100 individuals — many of whom likely have legal status and no apparent serious criminal history — throughout the course of just one week in August.[4] Individuals observed: an ICE agent kicking and tasing a man while other agents were on top of him, sending the man to the hospital;[5] ICE agents breaking car windows; removing detainees in chains; blocking attorney access to detainees in Hartford;[6] the deployment of masked agents to locations that children frequent in Danbury, including parks, an elementary school, and a daycare center;[7] the detention of a father walking his child to a bus stop;[8] and a threat by ICE agents to pepper spray a man detained in front of a preschool.[9]

Nationwide reporting indicates that this surge in Connecticut follows similar increases in ICE enforcement across the country, which led to the arrests of nearly 50,000 individuals in July alone, the highest single monthly total since President Trump returned to office.[10] This summer, ICE has arrested more immigrants without a criminal conviction than at any other point during this administration.[11]

This surge in enforcement activity is especially concerning in the wake of reports regarding ICE’s failure to properly vet new agents and officers who may be carrying out these enforcement operations. According to recent reporting, a whistleblower within DHS has raised serious concerns regarding the systemic breakdown of ICE’s vetting of agents, abbreviated training programs, and the fast-tracking of unqualified candidates before they even pass basic fingerprint, identity, or credit checks.[12] These concerns closely mirror testimony that the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (“PSI”) heard earlier this year from a former ICE Academy instructor, who disclosed that ICE had drastically reduced its training requirements and testified that the ICE Basic Immigration Enforcement Training Program is “deficient, defective, and broken.”[13]

As the deployment of ICE agents to communities across America continues to surge and place residents at risk — including deployments like those recently seen in Connecticut — I request that your office promptly initiate a full, fair, and impartial investigation into DHS’s recent enforcement activity including:

Whether DHS is currently employing a quota system or other metrics that dictate goals for daily or monthly arrests of immigrants that must be met.

How ICE is identifying and targeting individuals for arrest, and what steps it is taking, if any, to prioritize those with serious criminal backgrounds.

Whether any of the enforcement operations in Connecticut were undertaken in sensitive locations or in other locations where children were either present or where children are known to frequent.

Whether any of those detained during recent enforcement activities in Connecticut were U.S. Citizens or held any other legal status, and what steps agents took to ensure that those with legal status were not detained.

Whether any detained individuals in Connecticut were injured during the course of ICE’s operations.

Whether DHS or ICE received any complaints, formal or otherwise, against ICE agents for use of force during operations in Connecticut or in any other state since January 1, 2026. To the extent that complaints have been lodged, please thoroughly investigate all allegations, as well as the extent to which DHS properly implemented any necessary punishment for misconduct.

Whether ICE agents involved in operations were following protocol for the use of body cameras during enforcement operations in Connecticut.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

-30-

[1] See Rebecca Santana et al., ICE Arrests Jumped to Nearly 50,000 in July, the Highest Monthly Total of Trump’s Second Term, AP News (Aug. 25, 2026, at 15:37 ET), https://apnews.com/article/border-immigration-customs-enforcement-data-statistics-f07f56a34bda225e5afa356781ac1740.

[2] Kaitlin McCallum, Dozens Detained as ICE Hits Connecticut Cities: ‘A Week of Terror’, Hartford Courant (Aug. 29, 2026, at 05:00 ET), https://www.courant.com/2026/08/29/dozens-detained-as-ice-hits-connecticut-cities-a-week-of-terror/.

[3] CJ Gardner & Helen Coster, ICE Agent Fatally Shoots Driver in Maine, Six Days After Similar Death in Texas, Reuters (July 13, 2026, at 09:31 ET), https://www.reuters.com/world/us/person-killed-ice-involved-shooting-maine-media-reports-2026-07-13/.

[4] Katy Golvala, In Danbury, Sen. Blumenthal Hears ‘Emotional’ Accounts of ICE Operation, CT Mirror (Sep. 3, 2026, at 16:30 ET), https://ctmirror.org/2026/09/03/danbury-accounts-immigration-enforcement/; see also Joshua Eaton, ICE Reportedly Arrested Nearly 100 People Across Connecticut This Week: What We Know and Don’t Know, CT Insider (Aug. 29, 2026), https://www.ctinsider.com/news/article/ice-arrests-danbury-bridgeport-22408246.php.

[5] Joshua Eaton, ICE Agent Uses Taser During Danbury Arrest, Sending Man to Hospital, CT Insider (Aug. 27, 2026), https://www.ctinsider.com/news/article/danbury-ct-ice-arrests-chris-murphy-ned-lamont-22405935.php.

[6] Golvala, supra note 4.

[7] Ryan J. Foley & Russ Bynum, ICE Operation in Connecticut Highlights How Arrests Are Rising Even in Blue States, AP News, (Aug. 27, 2026, at 16:13 ET), https://apnews.com/article/dhs-ice-connecticut-danbury-arrests-immigration-d8695bbb883591669accaf266e8bb6a9.

[8] Id.

[9] Eaton, supra note 4.

[10] See Santana et al., supra note 1; see also Rebecca Beitsch, Trump Administration Expands Mass Deportations with Noncriminals, The Hill (Sep. 6, 2026, at 17:00 ET), https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6072318-ice-arrests-surge-non-criminals/.

[11] Id.

[12] Alexandra Berzon, Katie Benner & Hamed Aleaziz, ICE Skipped Basic Checks in Rush for Recruits, Whistle-Blower Says, NY Times (Sep. 3, 2026), https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/03/us/ice-recruits-national-security-risk-whistleblower.html.

[13] Our Values at Stake (Part III): Terrorizing Communities Without Warrants and No Restraint: Public Forum Before the S. Permanent Subcomm. on Investigations and H. Comm. on Oversight and Gov’t Reform, 119th Cong. (2026) (testimony of Ryan Schwank), https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-and-robert-garcia-receive-testimony-about-ice-abuses-from-whistleblower-us-citizen-whose-rights-were-violated_former-top-lawyer-at-dhs.",1,2026-09-11T09:25:29Z,2026-09-11T09:27:08Z
https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-demands-answers-from-sam-altman-after-new-reporting-reveals-how-ai-agents-went-rogue-to-conduct-major-cyber-breach-and-conceal-their-operations,Blumenthal Demands Answers from Sam Altman After New Reporting Reveals how AI agents Went Rogue to Conduct Major Cyber Breach & Conceal Their Operations,2026-09-09,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,blumenthal,https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today demanded answers from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman after recent reporting from The New York Times revealed alarming new details about how the A.I. company’s agents bypassed their safeguards to go rogue and hack into the firm Hugging Face. In a letter sent today to Altman, Blumenthal sought records and information about the A.I. agents’ rogue operations and raised concerns about OpenAI’s reported steps to limit independent accountability.

“On July 21, 2026, OpenAI first disclosed that its A.I. models were responsible for the previously-reported hacking of the firm Hugging Face. Since that announcement, further disclosures and outside audits have described an unprecedented—and surreal—scenario where its A.I. agents created their own internal messaging board to coordinate between themselves while they sought security vulnerabilities in other systems and companies, and opportunities to cheat on performance tests,” Blumenthal wrote.

Blumenthal continued, “Moreover, the A.I. agents displayed a concern about being caught and coordinated to evade being detected, even planning to ‘sacrifice’ themselves to act as a decoy to protect the broader effort. Ultimately, this operation sought—and succeeded—to break into other firms, which could be considered a federal crime.”

Blumenthal called out OpenAI for attempting to evade transparency and accountability by dictating the terms of an independent audit into the Hugging Face breach: “While these disclosures alone are chilling, new reporting and research suggests that OpenAI may have limited an independent audit of the incident and that the rogue operation was broader than your firm has acknowledged.”

Blumenthal also raised concerns about new details that have emerged about how OpenAI’s agents conducted the breach, including by hijacking public websites to coordinate rogue operations: “[R]esearchers found that the A.I. agents may have attempted to impersonate the administrators of the site, found and shared hacks to bypass their guardrails, and used anonymity tools to hide their tracks. Others have found indications that still more websites were abused and co-opted for this rogue operation.”

“In the face of a stunning failure, OpenAI appears to be taking steps that prioritize the performance and profit of its A.I. models with the knowledge that those changes could be detrimental to public safety. This demonstrates the need for vigorous, mandatory independent auditing and oversight such as would be required in the Artificial Intelligence Risk Evaluation Act,” Blumenthal concluded.

Last year, Blumenthal and U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) introduced the Artificial Intelligence Risk Evaluation Act, which creates a risk evaluation program within the Department of Energy (DOE) dedicated to tracking A.I. safety concerns related to Americans’ national security, civil liberties, and labor protections. Specifically, the program would require developers of advanced AI systems to submit product information to the DOE before deploying their new technology and collect data on the likelihood of adverse A.I. incidents, such as loss-of-control scenarios like those seen in the Hugging Face breach.

The full text of today’s letter is available here and below.

Dear Mr. Altman,

I write with serious alarm regarding new evidence that OpenAI’s A.I. agents engaged in a more sprawling and significant campaign to evade its safeguards and monitoring than previously disclosed, including hijacking public websites to coordinate rogue operations. I am additionally troubled by reports that OpenAI restricted independent auditing of these failures and has made changes that have resulted in its newest model, GPT-6 Astra, being even less auditable and more prone to deception.

On July 21, 2026, OpenAI first disclosed that its A.I. models were responsible for the previously-reported hacking of the firm Hugging Face. Since that announcement, further disclosures and outside audits have described an unprecedented—and surreal—scenario where its A.I. agents created their own internal messaging board to coordinate between themselves while they sought security vulnerabilities in other systems and companies, and opportunities to cheat on performance tests. Moreover, the A.I. agents displayed a concern about being caught and coordinated to evade being detected, even planning to “sacrifice” themselves to act as a decoy to protect the broader effort.[1] Ultimately, this operation sought—and succeeded— to break into other firms, which could be considered a federal crime.

While these disclosures alone are chilling, new reporting and research suggests that OpenAI may have limited an independent audit of the incident and that the rogue operation was broader than your firm has acknowledged. First, while OpenAI provided information to the independent auditing organizations METR and Redwood, according to The New York Times, your firm dictated the terms of the audit, allowing only data on a single week of the rogue operation and limiting other access.[2] Subsequently, researchers discovered nearly 20,000 posts on an abandoned German website from A.I. agents identifying themselves as OpenAI, hijacking the site to communicate with each other for weeks.[3] As troubling, these researchers found that the A.I. agents may have attempted to impersonate the administrators of the site, found and shared hacks to bypass their guardrails, and used anonymity tools to hide their tracks. Others have found indications that still more websites were abused and co-opted for this rogue operation.[4]

Despite this unprecedented failure of safeguards and containment of its A.I. agents, when OpenAI launched GPT-6 Astra on September 3rd, it disclosed that this new, more powerful model was “less monitorable” and showed signs that it concealed its internal thought process when it was aware of being monitored.[5] Moreover, safety researchers, including those OpenAI relied on for its Hugging Face investigation, have warned that technical changes with Astra (related to ‘chain of thought’) could make it harder to detect abuse and perform the same investigations in the future.[6] In the face a stunning failure, OpenAI appears to be taking steps that prioritize the performance and profit of its A.I. models with the knowledge that those changes could be detrimental to public safety. This demonstrates the need for vigorous, mandatory independent auditing and oversight such as would be required in my Artificial Intelligence Risk Evaluation Act.

Given stunning reports of OpenAI’s A.I. agents going rogue and your firm taking steps to limit independent accountability, I request answers to the following questions by September 24, 2026:

According to Time Magazine, an OpenAI staffer stated “externally, this feels like a big warning shot, but internally, related incidents have been happening for a while.” Provide a list and description of all incidents where OpenAI’s A.I. agents escaped containment and engaged in unauthorized activities, including hacking or self-coordination.

Provide a list of all websites and other channels used by OpenAI’s agents to coordinate and circumvent its guardrails. Additionally, describe how OpenAI failed to notice that its agents had posted nearly 20,000 covert messages on public websites over the course of several weeks.

Did OpenAI restrict access to any information for METR and Redwood’s independent audit regarding its A.I. agents’ rogue activities and circumvention of safeguards?

Why did OpenAI only provide a limited time period of data, did it deny METR and Redwood any information requested, and did it provide data regarding the German site hijacking and other efforts by its agents to coordinate and circumvent monitoring?

Were METR and Redwood given unrestricted access to the orchestration and prompt logs involved for the whole duration of the rogue operation? If not, why not?

What steps has OpenAI taken to assess whether technical changes to Astra (including “opaque recurrence” and “recurrent depth”) will impact oversight and record-keeping about the actions and reasoning of its A.I. agents?

OpenAI has acknowledged that Astra will be less monitorable and more prone to attempting to evade monitoring. Why did it deploy a model knowing that it was more capable of evading accountability weeks after its A.I. agents were caught in a rogue operation to evade safeguards and hack other firms?

The researchers investigating the hijacking of the German website suggest that OpenAI became aware of this by June and took steps to cut off access. When did OpenAI become aware that its A.I. agents may have used other sites for coordination and why were these incidents not disclosed?

OpenAI created a Safety and Security Committee with the public mandate of making recommendations to its Board of Directors on critical safety and security decisions.

When was the Committee informed about these breaches and what role has it had in overseeing the investigation and work with independent auditors?

Have there been any recommendations made by the Committee to the Board or company that have not implemented or have been rejected? If so, provide those recommendations.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

-30-",1,2026-09-10T09:25:58Z,2026-09-10T09:27:09Z
https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-bishop-request-gao-investigate-trade-war-relief-farmers,"DeLauro, Bishop Request GAO Investigate Trade-War Relief for Farmers",2026-09-08,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CT,Rosa L. DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,delauro,https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) and Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) requested that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigate how the Department of Agriculture (USDA) is handing out over $12 billion in trade-war relief through the Farmer Bridge Assistance and Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers programs.

A 2021 GAO report found that a similar agricultural tariff relief program – administered under President Trump’s first term – disproportionately favored the largest agribusinesses and foreign-owned conglomerates.

“Last year, many members of Congress wrote to President Trump and USDA urging this Administration to ensure any agriculture trade relief program included guardrails and mechanisms to direct funding to producers who truly needed relief rather than simply enriching the largest agribusinesses or foreign-owned conglomerates, and to provide transparency into the process for establishing and executing the program,” the lawmakers wrote. “While USDA has provided some insight into their method for calculating payment rates and the geographic distribution of payments, many of our key recommendations aimed at increasing transparency, protecting taxpayer dollars, and ensuring relief gets where its most needed remain unfulfilled for both programs. Therefore, we ask GAO to conduct a review of the FBA and ASCF programs…”

The full letter can be found here and below.

Cosigners include Representatives Becca Balint, Christopher Deluzio, Shomari Figures, Hank Johnson Jr., John Larson, Bennie Thompson, and Jill Tokuda.

Ms. Orice Williams Brown

Acting Comptroller General of the United States

U.S. Government Accountability Office

441 G Street, NW

Washington, DC 20548

Dear Ms. Williams Brown:

We are writing to request that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) conduct a review of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) and Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) programs. These programs are expected to distribute over $12 billion to American farmers to provide relief from the consequences of President Trump’s reckless tariffs and trade wars, yet USDA has not been sufficiently transparent and only has provided limited information about these payments and their recipients. Congress must be able to conduct proper oversight of these funds, and the American people deserve a fulsome understanding of how USDA is spending their hard-earned tax dollars.

Each year, USDA distributes billions of dollars to agricultural producers, from small family farms to large corporations and trusts. According to USDA’s Economic Research Service, small operations tend to produce a larger share of commodities not covered by government payment programs, which are generally geared towards larger-scale row crop producers (e.g., corn and soybeans).[1]

Over the past 19 months, President Trump’s trade policy has jeopardized the livelihood of producers, particularly small farms and specialty crop producers, as a result of higher input costs due to tariffs and closed-off export markets. In December 2025, the Administration announced the FBA as a relief program for producers impacted by the president’s own trade wars. Through the FBA, USDA will provide up to $11 billion to row crop producers.[2] In February 2026, USDA announced the availability of $1 billion through the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) Program for specialty crops, sugar, and commodities not included in FBA.[3] When payment rates were announced in May, that number increased to $1.625 billion.

Last year, many members of Congress wrote to President Trump and USDA urging this Administration to ensure any agriculture trade relief program included guardrails and mechanisms to direct funding to producers who truly needed relief rather than simply enriching the largest agribusinesses or foreign-owned conglomerates, and to provide transparency into the process for establishing and executing the program. While USDA has provided some insight into their method for calculating payment rates and the geographic distribution of payments, many of our key recommendations aimed at increasing transparency, protecting taxpayer dollars, and ensuring relief gets where its most needed remain unfulfilled for both programs.

Therefore, we ask GAO to conduct a review of the FBA and ASCF programs to address the following questions:

To what extent did USDA incorporate lessons learned from the Market Facilitation Program (MFP), including recommendations from multiple GAO reports, regarding the process for setting up and executing the FBA and ASCF?

The 2021 GAO report on the MFP—a similar agricultural tariff relief program launched during President Trump’s first term—noted that UDSA’s methodology overestimated the harm of tariffs to 14 out of 29 commodity crops, resulting in disproportionate payments within and across crops and geographic regions that, by and large, went to the biggest players in the agriculture industry. GAO also pointed out that USDA developed the MFP with little transparency, preventing the Department from receiving outside input on how to improve its methodology.

To what extent did USDA implement “Grow American” requirements (e.g., those outlined in the Buy American Agriculture Act) as part of the FBA and ASCF to ensure taxpayer dollars go to supporting American farmers and not disproportionately to large agribusinesses or indirectly to foreign-owned conglomerates?

What factors did USDA consider in determining the amount available, payment rates, and maximum payment limitations for the FBA and ASCF programs?

What was the distribution of payments under FBA and ASCF by type of producer (crop type, size of farm, and annual farm income)? By payment size categorized by tranches of $25,000 up to maximum payment amount (e.g., $0-25,000, $25,001-$50,000, etc.)?

What proportion of recipients had a net farm income for 2023 of less than $250,000, as recorded in the data in the Economic Research Service publication ‘‘Farm Income and Wealth Statistics’’ as of December 3, 2024 (with such information being collected at the time of application for aid?

What steps did USDA take to ensure that proper payment amounts went out to eligible producers through the FBA and ASCF programs?

What challenges did USDA face in administering the FBA and ASCF programs and what actions has USDA taken to address these challenges?

Thank you for your assistance in this matter.",1,2026-09-09T09:27:09Z,2026-09-09T09:29:04Z
https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-applauds-growing-bipartisan-calls-make-wealthy-pay-their-fair,Larson Applauds Growing Bipartisan Calls to Make the Wealthy Pay Their Fair Share into Social Security,2026-09-08,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CT,John B. Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,larson,https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"“As automatic benefit cuts to Social Security move closer than ever—with the average retiree slated to lose $500/month in benefits by 2032—I applaud the growing number of my Republican colleagues joining our call to lift the cap,” said Larson. “For years, the only plan put forward by leading Republicans has been raising the retirement age, which would amount to a more than 20 percent benefit cut. Instead of handing millionaires and billionaires another tax cut they do not need, while retirees get handed a benefit cut, Elon Musk, Donald Trump, and their wealthy friends need to finally pay their fair share. Every Member of Congress and candidate for office cannot be allowed to avoid Social Security by simply saying they will protect it. With cuts on the horizon, they must show us their plans to strengthen it now—and speak with the same courage as our colleagues who have called for lifting the cap. Congress can protect Social Security and enhance it to provide children, seniors and veterans with the relief and certainty they deserve by passing Social Security 2100 now.”

In June, Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Bernie Moreno (R-OH)published an op-ed in the New York Times calling for Congress to lift the cap. Rep. Tom Cole (OK-04), the Republican Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, and Rep. Lloyd Smucker (PA-11), a senior Republican member of the Ways and Means Committee, joined these calls in today’s Washington Post. Larson’s Social Security 2100 Act would enhance Social Security benefits to help beneficiaries dealing with rising costs and extend the program’s solvency by eliminating the FICA cap and imposing a net investment income tax on income over $400,000.",1,2026-09-09T09:27:09Z,2026-09-09T09:29:04Z
https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-joins-brief-urging-supreme-court-block-unconstitutional-trump,Larson Joins Brief Urging Supreme Court to Block Unconstitutional Trump Order Attacking Mail-In Voting,2026-09-08,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CT,John B. Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,larson,https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"East Hartford, CT – Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) filed an amicus brief to the Supreme Court of the United States with a bipartisan, bicameral coalition of 261 lawmakers in United States Postal Service v. State of California, urging the court to reject President Trump’s unconstitutional order aiming to take control of the mail-in voting process. His unconstitutional order follows his threats to “nationalize our elections,” and a push from Republicans in Congress to pass the so-called “SAVE America Act” that would create more barriers for Americans to vote and empower the Department of Homeland Security to purge voters from the rolls.

“Whether it is his discriminatory ‘SAVE Act’ or his unconstitutional executive order to take control of mail-in voting, Donald Trump is determined to get in the way of a free and fair election this November,” said Larson. “The Constitution clearly grants the states the power to administer elections, but this president sees our laws as mere suggestions standing in the way of his power. We already know that he sent ‘DOGE’ into Social Security to alter elections and his cronies at the Department of Homeland Security have pressured states to purge eligible citizens from the voter rolls. I am proud to join my colleagues at the Supreme Court to block his latest attempt to mess with the midterms from seeing the light of day. We must all band together so every American can cast their ballot free from fear or intimidation.”

In the court filing, the lawmakers argue that Trump’s Executive Order violates the separation of powers and Article I of the U.S. Constitution, which gives the states and Congress exclusive authority over election administration. The President’s order attempts to give the Postal Service control over who can vote by mail, empowering Trump officials to have the final say over who is eligible to cast a ballot. One-third of Americans are expected to vote by mail in the upcoming midterm elections—a voting practice Donald Trump himself used as recently as August 2026, when the president voted in Florida’s Republican primary.",1,2026-09-09T09:27:09Z,2026-09-09T09:29:04Z
https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-260-bipartisan-current-former-members-congress-file-legal,"Courtney, 260 Bipartisan Current & Former Members of Congress File Legal Brief to Block Trump Admin from Restricting Mail-In Voting",2026-09-08,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,courtney,https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"NORWICH, CT – Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) joined a bipartisan group of 261 current and former Members of Congress in officially filing an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court challenging the legality of President Trump’s Executive Order seeking to restrict mail-in voting ahead of November’s midterm elections.

“Nearly a third of all voters in 2024 – including many military servicemembers – cast their votes using mail-in ballots with only a 0.000043% rate of fraud, according to analysis by the nonpartisan Brookings Institution,” Courtney said. “President Trump’s Executive Order to put new restrictions on mail-in voting is a blatant and unconstitutional attempt to purge millions of Americans’ ballots. With some states already beginning to mail out ballots for the November election, the Supreme Court must immediately reject the President’s order and protect our vote.”

In the court filing, the Members argue that Trump’s Executive Order 14399, “Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections,” and the USPS rule, “Ballot Mail for Federal Elections,” which resulted from Executive Order 14399, violate the separation of powers and usurps Congressional authorities outlined in Article I of the U.S. Constitution, which gives the states and Congress exclusive authority over election administration.

###",1,2026-09-12T09:02:30Z,2026-09-12T09:03:27Z
https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/senator-blumenthal-week-in-review-8/28/2026-9/4/2026,Senator Blumenthal: Week in Review 8/28/2026-9/4/2026,2026-09-04,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,blumenthal,https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press,scraper,"Condemning ICE’s Abuse of Power & Harmful Tactics in Connecticut

[Hartford, CT] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ranking Member of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, held a public forum to receive testimony from the Danbury community about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)’s destructive and indiscriminate detentions last week. Prior to the forum, Blumenthal and Danbury Mayor Roberto Alves walked through downtown Danbury meeting with city residents and businessowners whose family members were detained by ICE. Blumenthal also joined a rally Wednesday evening to stand in solidarity with the Danbury community as they grapple with the escalating ICE activity in their community.

“The stories I heard in Danbury about ICE’s abuses were gripping & heartbreaking. I will be fighting to hold ICE accountable & ensure justice for detainees & their families,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.

As Ranking Member of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Blumenthal has led an investigation into DHS’s abuses. Blumenthal’s forum in Danbury on Thursday follows four public forums hosted by Blumenthal and U.S. Representative Robert Garcia (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, as part of their ongoing inquiry into the lawless and abusive tactics used by federal immigration agents:

In March, Blumenthal and Garcia hosted a forum to receive public testimony from young people, mothers, and a school administrator about DHS’s reckless disregard for the safety of children. Prior to the forum, Blumenthal and Garcia released a report entitled “Cruelty is the Point: How Trump’s Immigration Agenda Endangers Children,” which documented 128 children who have been injured left unattended or otherwise put at direct risk of harm as a result of operations by DHS personnel.

In February, Blumenthal and Garica hosted a public forum on constitutional violations and abuses by ICE. The forum featured testimony from Ryan Schwank, a whistleblower who spoke publicly for the first time about his experience as an Instructor for the incoming “surge” of new ICE recruits at the ICE Academy at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (“FLETC”) in Glynco, Georgia. Teyana Gibson Brown, a U.S. citizen and resident of Minneapolis, Minnesota, also testified about ICE agents forcefully entering her home without a judicial warrant, breaking down her door and pointing guns at her family. Stevan Bunnell, the General Counsel for the Department of Homeland Security from 2013 to 2017, testified as well.

Also in February, Blumenthal and Garcia hosted a forum to receive testimony on the violent tactics and disproportionate use of force by DHS agents. The forum featured testimony from Brent and Luke Ganger, brothers of Renee Nicole Macklin Good, and Antonio Romanucci, the attorney representing their family; Marimar Martinez, Aliya Rahman, and Martin Daniel Rascon, all of whom were violently assaulted by DHS agents; and Seth Stoughton, a former police officer and Professor at the University of South Carolina School of Law.

In December, Blumenthal and Garcia received testimony from five U.S. citizens who were assaulted, detained, and denied their constitutional rights by DHS agents. The forum featured testimony from Americans across the country: Wilmer Chavarria, from Vermont; Dayanne Figueroa, from Illinois; Javier Ramirez, from California; George Retes, from California; and Andrea Velez, from California.

Blumenthal also wrote Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin and the Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) David Venturella requesting a meeting and demanding information about a dramatic increase in immigration enforcement activity in Connecticut over the last several weeks. The surge has focused on Danbury and nearby towns, where people have been targeted dropping their children off at school and going to work.

“Over the past week, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) agents have sown fear and panic among parents, children, and workers as they detained scores of people in Danbury and other towns in Connecticut. What should have been a time of excitement and community as children in Connecticut return to school has quickly turned into a time of genuine terror,” Blumenthal wrote.

“ICE’s actions in Connecticut showcased cruelty and brutality, as well as disregard for the safety and well-being of community members, especially children. They fostered an environment of fear that will undoubtedly impact school attendance rates and the emotional health of students, generally.”

The full text of Blumenthal’s letter is available here.

On Twitter/X, Blumenthal further slammed the harmful tactics used by ICE agents in Danbury and in communities across the country.

“Cruelty is the point. ICE’s goal is to sow fear in communities like Danbury. While we push for reforms in Congress, we’ll support efforts to fight for justice owed to people detained,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.

Demanding Answers About Trump’s Executive Order Restricting Mail-In Voting

After receiving information from a whistleblower, Blumenthal wrote Postmaster General David Steiner demanding answers and documents about the United States Postal Service’s (USPS) rushed and potentially unlawful implementation of President Trump’s Executive Order seeking to restrict mail-in voting.

“This brave whistleblower has come forward with disturbing details about USPS’ seemingly illegal plot to interfere in November’s midterms,” Blumenthal said. “Their system is set up to fail – and risk the right to vote for millions of Americans who cast their ballots by mail. Given this new information, such sloppiness and haste seems clearly part of a purposeful attempt to create chaos and prevent people from voting. I am demanding answers and accountability.”

“The crown jewel of American democracy—our historic record of free and fair elections—deserves better than this reckless, slapdash effort,” said David Kligerman, Senior Vice President and Special Counsel at WhistleblowerAid.org, which represents the anonymous whistleblower. “Given this administration’s record on curtailing voting rights, these glaring issues in the ballot mail program raise a troubling question: are these bugs—or features? Now that these malignant flaws have been exposed by a brave whistleblower, the administration can choose to fix this dangerously haphazard program or barrel ahead toward a wholly preventable electoral disaster.”

An anonymous whistleblower disclosure provided to Blumenthal includes new details about USPS’s attempts to build an online system, known as “the Portal,” and accompanying IT which will be used to screen ballots submitted by state election officials prior to USPS agreeing to mail them to voters. According to this whistleblower, USPS began work on the Portal a mere three-and-a-half months before it was meant to be deployed and has not put it through the standard testing an online system and its related IT like this typically requires. USPS has also reportedly implemented an impracticable zero percent failure rate that could result in a massive number of rejected ballots with no opportunity for appeal.

In April, Blumenthal joined U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) in introducing the Absentee and Mail Voter Protection Act (Absentee MVP Act), which would block President Trump’s illegal and unconstitutional executive order attacking mail and absentee ballots and protect the right to vote by mail.

Blumenthal’s letter to Postmaster General Steiner, which includes the whistleblower’s disclosure, is available here.

On Twitter/X, Blumenthal reacted to the USPS’s statement on the development of a U.S. Federal Ballot Mail Portal.

“Absolutely nothing in the Postal Service’s statement denies or contradicts the deeply disturbing details of the whistleblower’s disclosure. Most importantly, it does nothing to directly address the fears of voters that USPS will refuse to deliver their ballots based on the output of a shoddy computer system they started building four months ago. ‘Just trust us’ is not acceptable. The Postal Service stated their commitment to transparency & accountability so I look forward to their detailed response to my specific questions & production of documents,” wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X.

Slamming FanDuel for Misleading Response to Inquiry About Promo Video Targeting Gambling Addict

Blumenthal and U.S. Representatives Paul Tonko (D-NY) and Valerie Foushee (D-NC) demanded answers after FanDuel refused to adequately respond to the lawmakers’ questions about disturbing reports that the sportsbook repeatedly targeted problem gamblers with predatory perks to keep them trapped in their addiction, including with a personal message from Philadelphia Phillies first baseman, Bryce Harper. Last month, the lawmakers wrote to FanDuel, Major League Baseball (MLB), and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) demanding answers about the policies that enabled this predatory promotion.

In a follow-up letter sent to FanDuel Chief Executive Officer Christian Genetski, the lawmakers called out the sportsbook for providing “misleading and incomplete” responses to their initial inquiry and for failing to adequately address its exploitative VIP services and perks.

“We remain unconvinced that FanDuel is making an active effort to protect bettors from harmful gambling and instead appears to be promoting addiction. We demand real answers to our previous letter and for FanDuel to explain this complete failure to respond to significant matters of public interest,” the lawmakers wrote.

The lawmakers continued, “In its August 14th response, FanDuel failed to answer our questions about the specific steps taken to vet and monitor VIP activities, the extent to which VIP managers have encouraged problem gambling with other customers (including such videos), and any changes that it will make to its VIP program after this indefensible conduct.”

The lawmakers continued, “Moreover, in its response, FanDuel fails to demonstrate any commitment to its customers’ well-being through any meaningful limitations on exploitative and dangerous marketing and business practice. FanDuel also boasts of its work with state regulators to meet requirements for licensed sportsbooks and other state laws on gambling yet fails to mention how its prediction markets app, FanDuel Predicts, undermines the integrity of—if not bypasses—those very regulations. FanDuel’s so-called ‘commitment’ to its customers rings especially hollow when it is pushing out harmful and addictive features such as VIP perks, constant push notifications, and personalized promotions.”

The full text of the lawmakers’ letter is available here. FanDuel’s August 14 response to the lawmakers is available here. The lawmakers’ initial letters to FanDuel, MLB, and MLBPA are available here.

On Twitter/X, Blumenthal highlighted his letter and further slammed FanDuel for its targeting of gambling addicts.

“FanDuel preyed on problem gamblers, now it’s attempting to dodge Congressional accountability. I won’t stop demanding answers until FanDuel comes clean,” wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X.

Urging Support for Kidnapped Ukrainian Children

Blumenthal and U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) along with U.S. Representatives Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) wrote Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging him to move quickly in awarding $25 million the State Department has made available to “support the identification, return, rehabilitation, and reintegration of Ukrainian children forcibly transferred to Russia and Russian-occupied territories.”

Although the funding was announced in March, it has not yet been distributed. An estimated 20,000 Ukrainian children have been forcibly transferred to Russia or areas in Ukraine occupied by Russia.

“While we understand the need for rigorous review, thousands of kidnapped Ukrainian children remain separated from their families, and every delay extends the pain and suffering they and their families have already endured,” the members wrote.

The full text of the bipartisan, bicameral letter is available here.

Blumenthal Bulletin

Blumenthal slammed Hegseth’s purges at the Department of Defense.

Blumenthal highlighted his GRID Act to ensure Big Tech and its partners bear the costs as data centers expand.

Blumenthal slammed the Trump family investing in Polymarket while the CFTC sues states for regulating it.

Blumenthal celebrated Tweed Airport’s 95th birthday.

Blumenthal marked 110 years of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves in Guilford.

Blumenthal attended the Annual CT United Ride.

Blumenthal attended the annual Terryville Lions Country Fair.

Blumenthal attended the Brooklyn Fair.

-30-",1,2026-09-05T08:49:07Z,2026-09-05T08:50:44Z
https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-7-democrats-call-on-security-council-to-pass-sanctions-on-sudan-to-cut-off-conflict-cash-flows,"Murphy, 7 Democrats Call On Security Council to Pass Sanctions on Sudan to Cut Off Conflict Cash Flows",2026-09-04,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,chrismurphy,https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Friday led seven of his colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz calling for the U.S. to push to pass additional sanctions measures in Sudan that would limit the flow of funds to the warring parties driving the largest humanitarian crisis in the world. Murphy specifically advocated for international prohibitions on the sale of precursor chemicals utilized in certain types of gold extraction and development of due diligence guidelines for the procurement of gum arabic, a natural resource frequently smuggled by belligerents to finance their operations. Murphy also called for increasing transparency in reporting by the Security Council’s Sudan Panel of Experts to explicitly identity countries that have circumvented international restrictions to provide weapons and financial support to the warring factions in Sudan. Exploitation of natural resources such as gold and gum arabic is a prominent source of income and foreign currency for both sides of the devastating war in Sudan, which has driven over half of the country’s population into severe hunger and displaced over 14 million people.

“Any resolution put forward to renew sanctions pursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1591 (2005) should also prohibit the export or transfer of precursor chemicals used in Sudan’s artisanal mining industry, target the illicit sale of Sudanese gum arabic (also known as acacia gum), and improve reporting by the Panel of Experts to explicitly identify arms embargo violations and the parties responsible,” said Murphy.

Murphy argued ordinary sanctions on gold are not enough to disrupt the economic engine of the war: “Restrictions meant to disrupt transactions at the point of sale must be combined with a coordinated effort to restrict access to the precursor chemicals that enable unregulated gold extraction in the first place. This is especially critical to curtail other sources of profit tied to the gold sector but outside material sales, such as informal taxation schemes, security fees, and transportation fees levied against mining firms in RSF-held territory.”

He explained why a ban on the transfer or sale of precursor chemical would severely disrupt the illicit gold market: “Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) operations account for approximately 80-90% of Sudan’s gold production. ASGM mining employs various methods of extraction, but it typically relies on mercury and sodium cyanide as relatively cheap and simple chemicals to easily find and process gold particles… According to a 2025 report, most of these precursor chemicals are imported from China, the United Arab Emirates, and some European Union (EU) nations… the diverse supply chain necessitates a more comprehensive prohibition to eliminate the transfer of mercury and sodium cyanide to ASGM miners. Adoption of an export ban on mercury and sodium cyanide as part of the Security Council’s Sudan sanctions regime, with appropriate exceptions for humanitarian purposes, would help sever the link between the gold sector and the ongoing conflict.”

Murphy called for new measures to undercut funding streams tied to gum arabic: “Gold is not the only natural resource being exploited to fund the war… revenue tied to gum arabic production is small relative to gold, but profits from its sale and control over of trade networks now help sustain the conflict… the RSF has engaged in looting and extortion to exert control over trade routes and border crossings, leveraging the proceeds to bankroll their side of the war. Cross-border smuggling and re-labelling of Sudanese gum arabic to avoid heightened scrutiny about sourcing is also pervasive in neighboring countries such as Chad, South Sudan, and Egypt. As the Security Council has done in response to other conflicts where natural resource exploitation has contributed to instability, it should mandate the Panel of Experts to develop due diligence guidelines to improve gum arabic procurement practices, prevent smuggled products from entering the supply chain, and avoid inadvertently enriching the belligerents.”

Murphy also advocated for the adoption of an aggressive reporting regime, including naming and shaming third-party countries who are fueling the violence in Sudan: “We encourage the U.S. to ensure the Panel of Experts’ extended mandate requires annual reporting that includes explicit documentation of all violations of the arms embargo and the parties responsible. Given the outsized role that external actors play in shaping the war, the Panel must improve transparency about the transfer of arms and financial support to the warring parties, including engagement with illicit gold smugglers. Reporting by other UN-sanctioned panels, including the Panel of Experts on Libya, demonstrate a level of naming and shaming that the Sudan panel should strive for. Countries who blatantly circumvent the arms embargo and other UN restrictions to prolong the conflict cannot be permitted to continue hiding their role and must be publicly held to account for their actions.”

In conclusion, Murphy stressed the UN’s current approach has proven incapable of ending the conflict and new strategies must be pursued: “The war in Sudan is now into its fourth year. A straight renewal of the UN Security Council Resolution on Sudan that maintains the status quo will not bring an end to the unimaginable violence and devastation that has affected millions of Sudanese. The international community should urgently adapt its strategy to creatively deploy the entire range of tools at its disposal. Coordinated, comprehensive measures to increase the pressure on the economic engine of the war, particularly on natural resources supply chains, can raise the cost of the war, making it too costly and burdensome to continue.”

U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Bernard Sanders (I-Vt.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) also joined the letter.

A copy of the letter is available here. A full transcript of the letter is available below.

Dear Ambassador Waltz,

As the United Nations (UN) Security Council considers the renewal and possible expansion of the Sudan sanctions regime, we write to request that the U.S. Mission put forth additional measures that would target key funding sources actively enabling the horrific violence in Sudan. The recent proposal from U.S. Senior Advisor for Arab and African Affairs Massad Boulos to expand the scope of the Darfur arms embargo to the entirety of the country is encouraging. We also appreciate his recognition that external financial support to all parties remains a driver of conflict and agree that the UN has the tools to address these issues. We therefore urge the U.S. Mission to engage accordingly and advocate for the passage of additional provisions to eliminate financial channels that belligerents depend on to perpetuate the conflict.

Specifically, any resolution put forward to renew sanctions pursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1591 (2005) should also prohibit the export or transfer of precursor chemicals used in Sudan’s artisanal mining industry, target the illicit sale of Sudanese gum arabic (also known as acacia gum), and improve reporting by the Panel of Experts to explicitly identify arms embargo violations and the parties responsible.

Gold is widely considered the most significant source of income and foreign currency for both sides of Sudan’s war, which use the proceeds to purchase weapons and compensate personnel. The Treasury Department has previously targeted operatives in the RSF’s financial network that facilitate the sale of gold, recognizing the role that the sector plays in funneling cash to the militia group. However, restrictions meant to disrupt transactions at the point of sale must be combined with a coordinated effort to restrict access to the precursor chemicals that enable unregulated gold extraction in the first place. This is especially critical to curtail other sources of profit tied to the gold sector but outside material sales, such as informal taxation schemes, security fees, and transportation fees levied against mining firms in RSF-held territory.

Although it is difficult to determine precise figures because a substantial amount of Sudan’s gold is smuggled out of the country and gold production in RSF-controlled territory is not reported, artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) operations account for approximately 80-90% of Sudan’s gold production. ASGM mining employs various methods of extraction, but it typically relies on mercury and sodium cyanide as relatively cheap and simple chemicals to easily find and process gold particles. In addition to the chemicals’ vital role in the wartime economy, numerous studies have found prolonged exposure can lead to severe health complications and is harmful to the local environment. According to a 2025 report, most of these precursor chemicals are imported from China, the United Arab Emirates, and some European Union (EU) nations. While the EU recently unveiled a suite of regulations restricting the sale of precursor chemicals to Sudan, the diverse supply chain necessitates a more comprehensive prohibition to eliminate the transfer of mercury and sodium cyanide to ASGM miners. Adoption of an export ban on mercury and sodium cyanide as part of the Security Council’s Sudan sanctions regime, with appropriate exceptions for humanitarian purposes, would help sever the link between the gold sector and the ongoing conflict.

Gold is not the only natural resource being exploited to fund the war. As documented by the UN Office of the High Commission for Human Rights, revenue tied to gum arabic production is small relative to gold, but profits from its sale and control over of trade networks now help sustain the conflict. Sudan was one of the world’s largest exporters of gum arabic prior to 2023, but widespread disruption to the industry has caused output to plummet and its value to skyrocket. Consequently, the RSF has engaged in looting and extortion to exert control over trade routes and border crossings, leveraging the proceeds to bankroll their side of the war. Cross-border smuggling and re-labelling of Sudanese gum arabic to avoid heightened scrutiny about sourcing is also pervasive in neighboring countries such as Chad, South Sudan, and Egypt. As the Security Council has done in response to other conflicts where natural resource exploitation has contributed to instability, it should mandate the Panel of Experts to develop due diligence guidelines to improve gum arabic procurement practices, prevent smuggled products from entering the supply chain, and avoid inadvertently enriching the belligerents.

Finally, we encourage the U.S. to ensure the Panel of Experts’ extended mandate requires annual reporting that includes explicit documentation of all violations of the arms embargo and the parties responsible. Given the outsized role that external actors play in shaping the war, the Panel must improve transparency about the transfer of arms and financial support to the warring parties, including engagement with illicit gold smugglers. Reporting by other UN-sanctioned panels, including the Panel of Experts on Libya, demonstrate a level of naming and shaming that the Sudan panel should strive for. Countries who blatantly circumvent the arms embargo and other UN restrictions to prolong the conflict cannot be permitted to continue hiding their role and must be publicly held to account for their actions.

The war in Sudan is now into its fourth year. A straight renewal of the UN Security Council Resolution on Sudan that maintains the status quo will not bring an end to the unimaginable violence and devastation that has affected millions of Sudanese. The international community should urgently adapt its strategy to creatively deploy the entire range of tools at its disposal. Coordinated, comprehensive measures to increase the pressure on the economic engine of the war, particularly on natural resources supply chains, can raise the cost of the war, making it too costly and burdensome to continue. In the coming weeks, we hope that you and your team at USUN will consider incorporating these solutions into any forthcoming resolution to provide for the continuation and possible expansion of the Sudan sanctions measures.

Thank you for your consideration.",1,2026-09-05T08:49:07Z,2026-09-05T08:50:44Z
https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-delauro-statement-passing-gloria-steinem,Congresswoman DeLauro Statement on Passing of Gloria Steinem,2026-09-03,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CT,Rosa L. DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,delauro,https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) released the following statement following the passing of feminist icon and activist, Gloria Steinem:

“I am heartbroken to hear of the passing of Gloria Steinem. An author, advocate, and leader, she brought women’s issues to the forefront of national discussion, sparking debate on issues that had been ignored for far too long and opening doors for women around the world – making it possible for women to work in any field and live their lives in a way that was most fulfilling to them. Her leadership and vision helped create an atmosphere in which women became empowered and able to share their voices. She was a pioneer for women’s liberation and fought to ensure women truly had equal rights and opportunities.",1,2026-09-04T09:19:37Z,2026-09-04T09:20:58Z
https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-statement-death-gloria-steinem,Larson Statement on the Death of Gloria Steinem,2026-09-03,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CT,John B. Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,larson,https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"“I am deeply saddened by the passing of Gloria Steinem, a trailblazer who broke barriers for women and championed dignity, equality, and justice for all,” said Larson. “At a time when women could not even own credit cards in their own name, Gloria led a movement that unapologetically demanded equal opportunity for women in all aspects of life. Today, her fight for equal pay, reproductive justice, and equality under the law remains alive and well—especially as we see these fundamental rights come under attack. Her wit, wisdom, and leadership inspired generations, something I saw firsthand with my mother’s commitment and dedication to public service over the years in East Hartford. Gloria’s legacy will continue to guide us forward in the ongoing fight against deadly abortion bans and the discriminatory ‘SAVE Act,’ and to finally ensure the Equal Rights Amendment is rightfully ratified as part of the U.S. Constitution.”",1,2026-09-04T09:19:37Z,2026-09-04T09:20:58Z
https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-tillis-kaptur-and-fitzpatrick-urge-state-department-to-distribute-funding-to-organizations-assisting-kidnapped-ukrainian-children,"Blumenthal, Tillis, Kaptur, & Fitzpatrick Urge State Department to Distribute Funding to Organizations Assisting Kidnapped Ukrainian Children",2026-09-03,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,blumenthal,https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, DC] – Today, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) and U.S. Representative Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) wrote Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging him to move quickly in awarding $25 million the State Department has made available to “support the identification, return, rehabilitation, and reintegration of Ukrainian children forcibly transferred to Russia and Russian-occupied territories.”

Although the funding was announced in March, it has not yet been distributed. An estimated 20,000 Ukrainian children have been forcibly transferred to Russia or areas in Ukraine occupied by Russia.

“While we understand the need for rigorous review, thousands of kidnapped Ukrainian children remain separated from their families, and every delay extends the pain and suffering they and their families have already endured,” the members wrote.

The full text of the bipartisan, bicameral letter is available here and copied below.

Dear Secretary Rubio,

We write regarding the Department of State’s commitment of $25 million to support the identification, return, rehabilitation, and reintegration of Ukrainian children forcibly transferred to Russia and Russian-occupied territories. We welcome the Department’s efforts and urge you to move expeditiously to award these funds.

The Department announced available funding opportunities in March 2026. Since then, we have heard directly from organizations working to locate and return Ukrainian children about the continued delay in awarding these funds and the impact it is having on their critical work.

While we understand the need for rigorous review, thousands of kidnapped Ukrainian children remain separated from their families, and every delay extends the pain and suffering they and their families have already endured.

We therefore respectfully urge the Department to promptly complete its review and award the full $25 million already committed to this important work. Please also provide an update on the anticipated timeline for announcing these awards. Know that Congress stands ready to assist your efforts should you require additional authorities to complete this task.

Thank you for your attention to this matter and your continued commitment to helping bring Ukraine’s stolen children home.

-30-",1,2026-09-05T08:49:07Z,2026-09-05T08:50:44Z
https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-tonko-and-foushee-slam-fanduel-for-misleading_incomplete-response-to-inquiry-about-promo-video-targeting-gambling-addict,"Blumenthal, Tonko, & Foushee Slam FanDuel for Misleading & Incomplete Response to Inquiry About Promo VIdeo Targeting Gambling Addict",2026-09-03,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,blumenthal,https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and U.S. Representatives Paul Tonko (D-NY) and Valerie Foushee (D-NC) today demanded answers after FanDuel refused to adequately respond to the lawmakers’ questions about disturbing reports that the sportsbook repeatedly targeted problem gamblers with predatory perks to keep them trapped in their addiction, including with a personal message from Philadelphia Phillies first baseman, Bryce Harper. Last month, the lawmakers wrote to FanDuel, Major League Baseball (MLB), and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) demanding answers about the policies that enabled this predatory promotion.

In a follow-up letter sent today to FanDuel Chief Executive Officer Christian Genetski, the lawmakers called out the sportsbook for providing “misleading and incomplete” responses to their initial inquiry and for failing to adequately address its exploitative VIP services and perks.

“We remain unconvinced that FanDuel is making an active effort to protect bettors from harmful gambling and instead appears to be promoting addiction. We demand real answers to our previous letter and for FanDuel to explain this complete failure to respond to significant matters of public interest,” the lawmakers wrote.

The lawmakers continued, “In its August 14th response, FanDuel failed to answer our questions about the specific steps taken to vet and monitor VIP activities, the extent to which VIP managers have encouraged problem gambling with other customers (including such videos), and any changes that it will make to its VIP program after this indefensible conduct.”

The lawmakers continued, “Moreover, in its response, FanDuel fails to demonstrate any commitment to its customers’ well-being through any meaningful limitations on exploitative and dangerous marketing and business practice. FanDuel also boasts of its work with state regulators to meet requirements for licensed sportsbooks and other state laws on gambling yet fails to mention how its prediction markets app, FanDuel Predicts, undermines the integrity of—if not bypasses—those very regulations. FanDuel’s so-called ‘commitment’ to its customers rings especially hollow when it is pushing out harmful and addictive features such as VIP perks, constant push notifications, and personalized promotions.”

The full text of the lawmakers’ letter is available here and below. FanDuel’s August 14 response to the lawmakers is available here. The lawmakers’ initial letters to FanDuel, MLB, and MLBPA are available here.

Dear Mr. Genetski,

We write regarding FanDuel’s failure to substantively answer our Congressional inquiry, and its misleading and incomplete responses regarding its exploitative VIP services and perks. We remain unconvinced that FanDuel is making an active effort to protect bettors from harmful gambling and instead appears to be promoting addiction. We demand real answers to our previous letter and for FanDuel to explain this complete failure to respond to significant matters of public interest.

On August 10, 2026, we wrote to FanDuel after reports that a VIP manager had repeatedly targeted a problem gambler with predatory perks to keep him trapped in his addiction, including a personal message from Bryce Harper. In its August 14th response, FanDuel failed to answer our questions about the specific steps taken to vet and monitor VIP activities, the extent to which VIP managers have encouraged problem gambling with other customers (including such videos), and any changes that it will make to its VIP program after this indefensible conduct.

Moreover, in its response, FanDuel fails to demonstrate any commitment to its customers’ well-being through any meaningful limitations on exploitative and dangerous marketing and business practice. FanDuel also boasts of its work with state regulators to meet requirements for licensed sportsbooks and other state laws on gambling yet fails to mention how its prediction markets app, FanDuel Predicts, undermines the integrity of—if not bypasses—those very regulations. FanDuel’s so-called “commitment” to its customers rings especially hollow when it is pushing out harmful and addictive features such as VIP perks, constant push notifications, and personalized promotions.

If FanDuel truly cared about its customers, it would be transparent to Congress about its business practices and put an end to these exploitative tactics. In light of FanDuel’s inadequate response, we demand that you provide a written response to the questions listed in our previous letter, no later than September 17th, 2026.

What measures does FanDuel take to absolutely ensure that bettors are not suffering from financial hardships or a gambling addiction prior to enticing further gambling?

What steps has FanDuel taken to monitor interactions between managers and VIPs to ensure that managers are not offering predatory offers to problem gamblers?

How many VIP bettors have attempted to cut back their betting activity or close their accounts but were instead offered exclusive perks or offers? How many decided to keep betting after such offers?

Does FanDuel ever target VIP promotions and perks to bettors who are on a losing streak or appear to be cutting back on wagering?

How many times have VIP managers sent videos from players or other celebrities to a member in order to keep them engaged in gambling on the platform, and were those players made aware of the purpose of those videos?

Does FanDuel ever coach or train its VIP managers to develop personal relationships with their clients in order to encourage more gambling?

What specific factors does FanDuel consider when identifying “potentially problematic behaviors” and why has this allowed FanDuel to use its VIP program to encourage destructive gambling?

In light of the clear dangers posed by FanDuel’s VIP program to problem gamblers, will FanDuel suspend or terminate this program?

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

-30-",1,2026-09-05T08:49:07Z,2026-09-05T08:50:44Z
https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-delauro-applaud-240-million-contract-advance-f135-modernization,"Larson, DeLauro Applaud $240 Million Contract to Advance F135 Modernization at Pratt & Whitney",2026-09-02,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CT,John B. Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,larson,https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01), Chair of the Bipartisan Joint Strike Fighter Caucus, and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, applauded a $240 million contract modification for Pratt & Whitney to advance the F135 Engine Core Upgrade program to the engineering and manufacturing development phase. This contract award will support work in East Hartford, Middletown, and Windsor Locks.

“It was only two years ago that we rallied lawmakers, industry leaders, and machinists to defeat a costly alternative engine that would have uprooted thousands of Connecticut jobs and devastated our state’s manufacturing supply chain,” said Larson and DeLauro. “This investment makes good on the promise of the legislation we passed to ensure the next generation of the F135 engine is developed and built by Connecticut workers. Our delegation will continue to work together to support the hard-working machinists and engineers who call our state home—and deliver the best possible equipment to our Armed Forces and allies across the globe.”

Larson and DeLauro led passage of legislation in 2024 to fully fund F135 engine modernization and ensure no federal funds will be used to integrate an alternative engine, achieving a nearly three-decade goal to secure Pratt and Whitney as the sole supplier of engines for the F-35. In 2026 alone, the Connecticut delegation has announced $4.7 billion in new contracts for engine manufacturing at Pratt & Whitney, which employs 11,000 workers, and supports 21,000 jobs across the state, both at Pratt and across the engine supply chain.",1,2026-09-03T09:29:33Z,2026-09-03T09:31:32Z
https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/final-house-passed-continuing-resolution-fixes-house-republicans,Final House-Passed Continuing Resolution Fixes House Republicans’ Partisan Bill that Would Have Disrupted Submarine Construction,2026-09-01,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,courtney,https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), Ranking Member of the House Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, voted to pass a bipartisan continuing resolution (H.R. 6500) to keep the federal government funded through December 11, 2026.

H.R. 6500 also includes $1.2 billion to support continued construction of Virginia-class submarines and the first two Columbia-class submarines, the USS District of Columbia (SSBN 826) and the USS Wisconsin (SSBN 827). H.R. 6500 passed the House by a vote of 370-48. The Senate has already passed H.R. 6500, and it now heads directly to be signed into law.

“Passage of this bill keeps the government open past November, avoiding a disruption to the economy and critical government services that people rely on, especially as the cost of living continues to rise,” Courtney said. “The bill also includes much needed funding to keep construction of Virginia- and Columbia-class submarines on track. This fixes the hyper-partisan continuing resolution that Speaker Mike Johnson jammed through the House in July, which, incredibly, omitted the Navy’s request for submarine funding. Following the historic construction contract awards in July for nine Block VI Virginia-class submarines and five Build II Columbia-class submarines, the funding provided by this continuing resolution will keep hiring and supply chain investment strong as shipbuilders and the entire industrial base continue to ramp up submarine construction.”

###",1,2026-09-02T09:19:58Z,2026-09-02T09:20:51Z
https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-votes-continuing-resolution-rejects-funding-trumps-border-patrol,Larson Votes for Continuing Resolution that Rejects Funding for Trump’s Border Patrol and Reins in Illegal White House Power Grabs,2026-09-01,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CT,John B. Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,larson,https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"“After Republicans tried to pass a funding bill that shortchanges nutrition assistance and affordable housing, while boosting Donald Trump’s attacks on immigrant communities, Democrats stood up to demand real guardrails on their extreme agenda,” said Larson. “I commend Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro for leading negotiations that removed additional funding for ICE and the Border Patrol, restored support for affordable housing programs and nutrition assistance for seniors, and blocked a proposal from the White House that would have handed full control of the federal grant process to MAGA officials. Today’s vote is a step in the right direction—funding programs that families rely on and reining in some of the Trump Administration’s worst abuses of power. As full-year funding negotiations continue, I will keep standing up for accountability and real solutions to make life more affordable for working families, including an end to the illegal war in Iran, the President’s costly tariffs, and his administration’s plans to privatize Social Security.”",1,2026-09-02T09:19:58Z,2026-09-02T09:20:51Z
https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-blasts-ice-tactics-demands-accountability-from-dhs-after-surge-targeting-connecticut-residents-at-schools-workplaces,"Blumenthal Blasts ICE Tactics; Demands Accountability from DHS After Surge Targeting Connecticut Residents at Schools, Workplaces",2026-09-01,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,blumenthal,https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, DC] – Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) wrote Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin and the Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) David Venturella requesting a meeting and demanding information about a dramatic increase in immigration enforcement activity in Connecticut over the last several weeks. The surge has focused on Danbury and nearby towns, where people have been targeted dropping their children off at school and going to work.

“Over the past week, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) agents have sown fear and panic among parents, children, and workers as they detained scores of people in Danbury and other towns in Connecticut. What should have been a time of excitement and community as children in Connecticut return to school has quickly turned into a time of genuine terror,” Blumenthal wrote.

“ICE’s actions in Connecticut showcased cruelty and brutality, as well as disregard for the safety and well-being of community members, especially children. They fostered an environment of fear that will undoubtedly impact school attendance rates and the emotional health of students, generally.”

As Ranking Member of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Blumenthal has led an investigation into DHS’s abuses. Over the last year, Blumenthal and U.S. Representative Robert Garcia (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, have hosted four public forums as part of their ongoing inquiry into the lawless and abusive tactics used by federal immigration agents:

In March, Blumenthal and Garcia hosted a forum to receive public testimony from young people, mothers, and a school administrator about DHS’s reckless disregard for the safety of children. Prior to the forum, Blumenthal and Garcia released a report entitled “Cruelty is the Point: How Trump’s Immigration Agenda Endangers Children,” which documented 128 children who have been injured left unattended or otherwise put at direct risk of harm as a result of operations by DHS personnel.

In February, Blumenthal and Garica hosted a public forum on constitutional violations and abuses by ICE. The forum featured testimony from Ryan Schwank, a whistleblower who spoke publicly for the first time about his experience as an Instructor for the incoming “surge” of new ICE recruits at the ICE Academy at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (“FLETC”) in Glynco, Georgia. Teyana Gibson Brown, a U.S. citizen and resident of Minneapolis, Minnesota, also testified about ICE agents forcefully entering her home without a judicial warrant, breaking down her door and pointing guns at her family. Stevan Bunnell, the General Counsel for the Department of Homeland Security from 2013 to 2017, testified as well.

Also in February, Blumenthal and Garcia hosted a forum to receive testimony on the violent tactics and disproportionate use of force by DHS agents. The forum featured testimony from Brent and Luke Ganger, brothers of Renee Nicole Macklin Good, and Antonio Romanucci, the attorney representing their family; Marimar Martinez, Aliya Rahman, and Martin Daniel Rascon, all of whom were violently assaulted by DHS agents; and Seth Stoughton, a former police officer and Professor at the University of South Carolina School of Law.

In December, Blumenthal and Garcia received testimony from five U.S. citizens who were assaulted, detained, and denied their constitutional rights by DHS agents. The forum featured testimony from Americans across the country: Wilmer Chavarria, from Vermont; Dayanne Figueroa, from Illinois; Javier Ramirez, from California; George Retes, from California; and Andrea Velez, from California.

The full text of Blumenthal’s letter is available here and copied below.

Dear Secretary Mulin and Acting Director Venturella:

Over the past week, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) agents have sown fear and panic among parents, children, and workers as they detained scores of people in Danbury and other towns in Connecticut. What should have been a time of excitement and community as children in Connecticut return to school has quickly turned into a time of genuine terror. In just a few days, individuals in Connecticut have been apprehended by masked agents in locations that children frequent such as parks, near an elementary school, and outside a daycare center in Danbury.[1] In one instance, an ICE agent detained a father who walked his child to a bus stop.[2] In another, ICE agents threatened to pepper spray a man detained in front of a preschool.[3] ICE’s actions in Connecticut showcased cruelty and brutality, as well as disregard for the safety and well-being of community members, especially children. They fostered an environment of fear that will undoubtedly impact school attendance rates and the emotional health of students, generally.

To date, reports indicate nearly 100 individuals have been arrested[4] but there are likely significantly more—many likely have legal status and no apparent serious criminal history. However, ICE has not released any information about them.[5] National trends indicate that ICE has arrested more immigrants without a criminal conviction this summer than at any other point since President Trump returned to office.[6] There is no reason to believe Connecticut is an exception. Indeed, nationwide reporting indicates that this surge in enforcement in Connecticut follows similar increases in ICE enforcement across the country, which have led to the arrests of 49,000 individuals in July alone.[7] Analysis of recent ICE arrests demonstrates that, in 10 states, “arrests of people who don’t have criminal records increased by 50 percent between last year and this year.”[8]

The Trump Administration committed to arresting “the worst of the worst,” but the facts show just the opposite. The senselessness of ICE’s recent surge in enforcement activity is compounded by ICE’s troubling track record of excessive use of force and unlawful behavior. Despite a change in leadership at the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) and at ICE, tragedy continues to follow surges in ICE enforcement, as evidenced by recent and tragic killings in Texas and Maine.[9]

The Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations has investigated abuses by DHS immigration officials for well over a year.[10] The Subcommittee has documented unlawful and egregious actions by ICE including the detention of United States citizens;[11] deployment of tear gas and pepper spray against children;[12] 128 children injured, left unattended, or otherwise put in direct risk of harm;[13] and extreme use of physical force such as using a battering ram to knock down a door while children were present inside a home.[14] As ICE continues to acquire dangerous equipment and technology, such as electric shock gloves that act as hand tasers,[15] I am deeply alarmed at the possibility of a future scenario in which such equipment is deployed to cause further harm.

As the deployment of ICE agents to America’s communities continues to surge and place community members at risk, including deployments similar to those seen in Connecticut, I demand answers to the following requests for information by September 11, 2026:

Does the Department of Homeland Security and/or the White House currently have a quota system in place for daily or monthly arrests of immigrants that must be met?

If so, what is that quota?

Please list the individuals detained in Connecticut disaggregated by name, age, criminal conviction, if any; applicable warrant, if any; and location of arrest;

Please indicate whether any detained individuals in Connecticut were U.S. Citizens or held any other legal status;

Please indicate whether any detained individuals in Connecticut were injured during the course of ICE’s operations;

If so, list the injury and the geographical location where the injury was sustained.

Has DHS or ICE received any complaints, formal or otherwise, against ICE agents for use of force during operations in Connecticut or in any other state since January 1, 2026?

If so, please provide documentation for each complaint, including the date, location, agent name, DHS component, and allegations against the agent; the process DHS took to impartially review each complaint; and any disciplinary action taken in response to such complaint.

Please indicate whether ICE agents involved in operations in Connecticut are wearing and operating body worn cameras during the entirety of their actions apprehending and taking into custody Connecticut residents;

Please indicate whether ICE agents involved in operations nationwide are wearing and using body worn cameras during the entirety of their operations;

Please indicate how ICE is identifying and targeting individuals for arrest in Connecticut.

I further request that you send a representative to meet with me and respond to these questions and others in my Hartford office sometime this week, or by September 11, 2026. Please contact the Subcommittee should you have any questions about responding to these requests.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

-30-

[1] Ryan J. Foley & Russ Bynum, ICE Operation in Connecticut Highlights How Arrests are Rising Even in Blue States, AP News, (Aug. 27, 2026), https://apnews.com/article/dhs-ice-connecticut-danbury-arrests-immigration-d8695bbb883591669accaf266e8bb6a9.

[2] Id.

[3] Joshua Eaton, ICE Reportedly Arrested Nearly 100 People Across Connecticut This Week: What We Know and Don’t Know, CT Insider, (Aug. 29, 2026), https://www.ctinsider.com/news/article/ice-arrests-danbury-bridgeport-22408246.php.

[4] Id.

[5] Id.

[6] Albert Sun & Allison McCann, ICE Arrests Soar as People With No Criminal Record Are Increasingly Targeted, N.Y. Times, (Aug. 27, 2026), https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/08/27/us/ice-immigrant-arrests-trump-deportation-dhs.html.

[7] Id.

[8] David Nakamura & Emmanuel Martinez, How ICE is arresting soaring numbers of immigrants with no criminal record, Wash. Post, (Aug. 28, 2026), https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2026/08/28/how-ice-arrests-immigrants-with-no-criminal-record-are-soaring-under-trump/.

[9] Letter from Sen. Blumenthal to Secretary Mullin (July 16, 2026), https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026.07.16-Blumenthal-and-Garcia-to-Mullin-1.pdf.

[10] Letter from Sen. Blumenthal to Acting Director Todd Lyons, (Aug. 26, 2026), https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025-08-26-Letter-from-Sen.-Blumenthal-to-ICE.pdf.

[11] See S. Minority Staff of S. Permanent Subcomm. on Investigations, 119th Cong., Unchecked Authority: Examining the Trump Administration’s Extrajudicial Immigration Detentions of U.S. Citizens (Dec. 9, 2025), https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025.12.8_ICE-Report-revised-FINAL.pdf

[12] See S. Minority Staff of S. Permanent Subcomm. on Investigations and H. Minority Staff of H.Comm on Oversight and Gov. Reform, 119th Cong., Cruelty is the Point: How Trump’s Immigration Agenda Endangers Children (2026), https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/03-24-2026-PSIOversight-Report-re.-DHS-Harm-to-Children.pdf.

[13] Id.

[14] Testimony of Teyana Gibson Brown, Public Forum: Our Values at Stake (Part III): Terrorizing communities without warrants and no restraint, 119th Cong., (Feb. 23, 2026), https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-and-robert-garcia-receive-testimony-about-ice-abuses-from-whistleblower-us-citizen-whose-rights-were-violated_former-top-lawyer-at-dhs.

[15] Letter from Sens. Blumenthal, Booker, and Padilla to Secretary Mullin and Acting Director Venturella, (Aug 27, 2026), https://www.booker.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/final-booker_letter_to_dhs_ice_re_shock_glovespdf.pdf.",1,2026-09-02T09:19:58Z,2026-09-02T09:20:51Z
https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/following-new-whistleblower-disclosure-blumenthal-demands-usps-provide-documents-answers-about-shit-show-process-to-screen-ballots-and-potentially-catastrophic-impact-on-mail-in-voting,"Following New Whistleblower Disclosure, Blumenthal Demands USPS Provide Documents, Answers About ""Shit Show"" Process to Screen Ballots & Potentially Catastrophic Impact on Mail-In Voting",2026-09-01,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,blumenthal,https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, DC] – After receiving information from a whistleblower, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ranking Member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), wrote Postmaster General David Steiner demanding answers and documents about the United States Postal Service’s (USPS) rushed and potentially unlawful implementation of President Trump’s Executive Order seeking to restrict mail-in voting.

“This brave whistleblower has come forward with disturbing details about USPS’ seemingly illegal plot to interfere in November’s midterms,” Blumenthal said. “Their system is set up to fail – and risk the right to vote for millions of Americans who cast their ballots by mail. Given this new information, such sloppiness and haste seems clearly part of a purposeful attempt to create chaos and prevent people from voting. I am demanding answers and accountability.”

“The crown jewel of American democracy—our historic record of free and fair elections—deserves better than this reckless, slapdash effort,” said David Kligerman, Senior Vice President and Special Counsel at WhistleblowerAid.org, which represents the anonymous whistleblower. “Given this administration’s record on curtailing voting rights, these glaring issues in the ballot mail program raise a troubling question: are these bugs—or features? Now that these malignant flaws have been exposed by a brave whistleblower, the administration can choose to fix this dangerously haphazard program or barrel ahead toward a wholly preventable electoral disaster.”

An anonymous whistleblower disclosure provided to Blumenthal includes new details about USPS’s attempts to build an online system, known as “the Portal,” and accompanying IT which will be used to screen ballots submitted by state election officials prior to USPS agreeing to mail them to voters. According to this whistleblower, USPS began work on the Portal a mere three-and-a-half months before it was meant to be deployed and has not put it through the standard testing an online system and its related IT like this typically requires. USPS has also reportedly implemented an impracticable zero percent failure rate that could result in a massive number of rejected ballots with no opportunity for appeal.

Among other information, the whistleblower’s disclosure reveals:

USPS had plans to launch the Portal by today, September 1, 2026. USPS began building the Portal on or around June 15, 2026, just five months before the November 2026 midterm elections and less than four months before its planned rollout date to state election officials. USPS was only able to begin to connect the various constituent parts which would comprise the system as a whole, on or about the week of August 24, 2026.

“The project violates standard principles of testing and debugging new software before launch” and both individual parts of the Portal and the accompanying IT as a whole have not undergone meaningful testing.

The teams building the new Portal and accompanying IT were “siloed” such that “when elements were brought together, the teams were unaware of various developments, creating more work.” There are also “no clear written requirements” leaving workers to “glean requirements from opaque comments at meetings.” As late as August 21, 2026, workers were still receiving new requirements for the project. Without clear guidance, “[d]ifferent team members continued to have different understandings of how the system is supposed to work.”

As teams scrambled ahead of the planned launch, the whistleblower is aware of multiple USPS officials describing the development process as “a shit show.”

USPS adopted a zero-percent failure threshold, meaning that “if a barcode scanner fails to correctly read one barcode in a batch, the entire batch is rejected and returned to the state.” Despite the potentially widespread and catastrophic implications of this policy, “USPS does not have a clear policy as to how many ballots will be sampled in ballot mail batches.”

The project was halted due to a court order and an injunction issued by the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts in late June 2026. Several weeks later, on or around July 29, 2026, however, “the project was suddenly resumed without explanation of what authority permitted USPS to ignore the court order.”

In April, Blumenthal joined U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) in introducing the Absentee and Mail Voter Protection Act (Absentee MVP Act), which would block President Trump’s illegal and unconstitutional executive order attacking mail and absentee ballots and protect the right to vote by mail.

Blumenthal’s letter to Postmaster General Steiner, which includes the whistleblower’s disclosure, is available here and copied below.

Dear Postmaster General Steiner,

My office is in receipt of an alarming whistleblower disclosure (the “Disclosure”) outlining the United States Postal Service’s (“USPS”) perilously rushed and potentially unlawful implementation of President Trump’s Executive Order seeking to restrict mail-in voting.[1] The whistleblower’s allegations make clear that USPS lacks the technical or operational capability needed to effectively implement the EO’s provisions in a way that safeguards every citizen’s right to vote in the upcoming midterm elections. Despite this, the Trump Administration appears intent on USPS moving forward with its flawed plans, no matter the chaos they may create.[2] The whistleblower’s allegations also provide disturbing information suggesting that USPS may have violated a court order by continuing to implement the EO despite being ordered to cease all such work. We urge you to abandon this ill-conceived, unconscionable plan and ensure that all Americans can exercise their constitutional right to vote, including by mail, without interference by USPS.

Historically, although USPS has issued guidance on various issues related to election ballots sent through the mail, like recommendations for ballot envelope design, it has not imposed specific rules or procedures that state election officials were required to follow in order to have USPS deliver ballot mail to voters. Under a new final rule issued on August 26, 2026 (the “Rule”), USPS will, for the first time, play a gatekeeping function and be in a position to refuse to mail ballots that state election officials have determined should be sent out.[3] This change is a marked and deeply troubling departure from USPS’s traditionally restrained role as a mail carrier.

The whistleblower’s Disclosure describes an unprecedented process that allows USPS to decide whether ballots issued by state election officials should be mailed. To do so, USPS is building an entirely new online system, the USPS Federal Ballot Mail Portal and related IT systems (the “Portal”), which will be used to screen ballots submitted by state election officials prior to USPS agreeing to mail them to voters. The Disclosure identifies problems at every stage of USPS’s development of the Portal, demonstrating deeply flawed plans for implementation.

According to the whistleblower, USPS’s effort to develop and deploy the Portal has been “rushed,” “risky and haphazard” because leadership has demanded an impossible timeframe.[4] In an effort to meet impossible deadlines, USPS has eliminated standard and needed testing, thereby creating substantial risk of a “catastrophic failure” of the system that could “derail the midterm elections.”[5]

USPS began work building the Portal on or around June 15, 2026 just three months before the date USPS planned to launch the system and just five months before the November 2026 midterm elections.[6] On or about June 25, 2026, USPS ordered work on the Portal to cease due to a court order enjoining implementation of the EO.[7] That work stoppage persisted for approximately a month, further reducing the time that USPS had to build the new system.[8] According to the whistleblower, building the information technology infrastructure necessary to complete the Portal could take a year or more.[9] Yet, USPS leadership demanded that the Portal be completed for a launch date of September 1, 2026, less than six months after the EO was issued.[10] As a result of this rushed process, USPS has been unable to conduct tests of the Portal to ensure its proper functioning, troubleshoot problems, or distribute instructions on use to state election officials. According to the whistleblower, the Portal “violates standard principles of testing and debugging new software before launch.”[11] Normal procedures at USPS for such systems include internal testing, customer acceptance testing, and a final development stage before release to public facing users.[12] The Portal has gone through none of these basic checks.

Not only is this system astonishingly untested, USPS has simultaneously implemented an impracticable zero percent failure rate.[13] When ballots are submitted to USPS in large-volume batches, if any one ballot in the batch cannot be verified against the Portal, all ballots in that batch will be rejected. For example, if a state election official brings a batch of 10,000 ballots to USPS and USPS is unable to match just one of those ballots against the Portal – because, for example, someone has recently changed their name after marriage or they’ve moved – then USPS would refuse to mail the remaining 9,999 ballots as well. As the whistleblower notes, “USPS expects the state to take back the entire batch to cure the issue with the single ballot…”[14] Should the slapdash Portal mistakenly mark a ballot as unverified, there is no clear process by which state election officials or voters themselves can challenge the rejection. The Rule simply vaguely states that they “will be informed of the escalation procedures should they decide to challenge a rejection.”[15] Voters intending to cast ballots by mail may not even be aware that their ballots have been rejected, or were part of a rejected batch, until it is too late to secure an alternative ballot or vote in person. Expecting a well-built, thoughtful Portal to return an accurate result 100 percent of the time is already a stretch—expecting a “rushed,” “risky and haphazard” Portal to do the same is a recipe for disaster.

These risks are compounded by other revelations in the Disclosure. USPS leadership has shown an incredible lack of effective management while building the Portal including siloed work streams, changing requirements, competing understandings of work output, and multiple actors having ownership of the same unique tasks. For example, there was little or no communication among teams working on the project to such an extent that “when elements were brought together, the teams were unaware of various developments, creating more work.”[16] Shockingly, there are also “no clear written requirements” for the information technology and infrastructure of the Portal, leaving workers to “glean requirements from opaque comments at meetings.”[17] As late as August 21, 2026, workers were still receiving new requirements for the project.[18] Without clear guidance, “[d]ifferent team members continued to have different understandings of how the system is supposed to function which caused ongoing and greater confusion among the group,” substantially increasing the risk that the system will fail and, ultimately, disenfranchise voters.[19]

Each of these problems: rushed development; a zero percent failure rate; and poor management are cause for concern on their own. Taken together they present a clear picture of a fatally flawed process that cannot and will not protect American voters. Put plainly: this process will likely lead to chaos, confusion, and the inability of many Americans to have their vote counted.

Finally, in addition to these significant concerns about the impact of the EO on Americans’ right to vote, I am troubled by allegations that USPS continued work on the Portal despite numerous court orders enjoining it from doing so. On June 25, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts enjoined USPS, among other executive branch agencies, from implementing Section 3 of the EO as to the twenty-three states and the District of Columbia that had challenged the order.[20] The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit affirmed the district court’s ruling on July 25, 2026.[21] USPS was also enjoined from “implementing, giving effect to, or enforcing Section 3” of the E.O. nationwide pursuant to the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts August 11, 2026 order.[22] It was not until August 24, 2026, that the Supreme Court stayed the June 25, 2026 injunction imposed on USPS by the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts,[23] and August 26, 2026 when the August 11, 2026 order was lifted.[24] Based on this timeline, USPS should have ceased all work on the Portal on June 25, 2026, with the earliest conceivable date to resume being August 26, 2026. The whistleblower allegations demonstrate that was not the case, with USPS directing work to continue on the Portal after the first court order to cease work and prior to the recent court decisions allowing USPS to proceed.[25] This pattern of defiance of court orders is particularly concerning in light of the Temporary Restraining Order issued on August 27, 2026, that has again halted USPS from performing any work on the Portal for 14 days.[26]

Every eligible American citizen must be able to exercise their right to vote, unencumbered by unlawful obstacles this Administration and USPS seem intent on putting in their way. Given the rapidly approaching election and to determine whether USPS’s actions may impede that fundamental right, please provide the following information immediately, and in no case later than September 4, 2026:

Please state whether USPS has halted work to implement the Executive Order, in compliance with the August 27, 2026 TRO.

Please provide the date on which USPS instructed its employees and/or its contractors to begin work implementing the new Rule including the development of the Portal;

Please list the individuals and their respective titles involved in issuing instructions to USPS employees and/or contractors on developing the Portal;

Please list the position titles of all individuals involved in developing the Portal;

Please name any and all entities USPS has contracted with to develop the Portal;

Please indicate whether USPS will perform beta testing on Portal;

If so, when will such testing begin?

Are there procedures in place under the Portal to identify and remedy false positives, whereby the verification system incorrectly deems a voter as unverified and fails to transmit a ballot?

What is the timeframe to rectify such false positives?

Please indicate when USPS anticipates launching the Portal for useby state election officials;

Has USPS engaged with any state officials on the development or use of the Portal?

If so, please list the names and positions of those state officials are

Please list the dates on which USPS or its contractors worked on the Portal.

Did USPS or its contractors continue development of the Portal at any time when a court order was in place enjoining the implementation of Section 3 of the EO?

If so, please provide the specific dates on which those activities occurred;

If so, please provide the rationale behind USPS’s decision to continue work in defiance of a court order

Please also provide the following records[27] by September 8, 2026:

All records or communications regarding the original plans for and development of the Portal and any initial estimates of the amount of time that would be necessary to develop the system;

All records or communications regarding the date on which the Portal would need to be completed and ready for use;

All records or communications regarding the Portal’s potential flaws or vulnerabilities;

All records or communications regarding a zero percent failure rate requirement for the Portal; and

All legal opinions or other communications regarding the legal permissibility of USPS developing the Portal while federal court orders enjoining implementation of Section 3 of the EO are in place.

-30-

[1] Executive Order No. 14399, 91 FR 17125, (2026).

[2] See Ballot Mail for Federal Elections, 91 Fed. Reg. 32,915 (Aug. 26, 2026) (to be codified at 39 C.F.R. pt. 111);

[3] Id.

[4] Disclosure Letter to Senator Blumenthal from Anonymous Whistleblower Re: USPS Rushed Implementation of New and Untested IT Systems Threatens U.S. Ballot Mail Delivery, (Aug. 29, 2026), 4.

[5] Id.

[6] Id.at 16.

[7] Id. at 12.

[8] Id. at 13.

[9] Id. at 6.

[10] Id. at 7.

[11] Id. at 7.

[12] Id. at 7.

[13] Id. at 9-12.

[14] Id. at 10.

[15] Ballot Mail for Federal Elections, supra note 2, at 58.

[16] Disclosure Letter to Senator Blumenthal, supra note 1, at 18.

[17] Id. at 17.

[18] Id. at 19.

[19] Id. at 17.

[20] California v. Trump, No. 26-cv-11581 (D. Mass. June 25, 2026).

[21] California v. Trump, No. 26-1774 (1st Cir. July 25, 2026).

[22] League of Women Voters of Massachusetts v. Trump, No. 26-cv-11549 (D. Mass. Aug. 11, 2026).

[23] Alabama et. al, v. California et al., No. 26A139, (U.S. Aug. 24, 2026).

[24] League of Women Voters of Massachusetts v. Trump, supra note 22.

[25] Disclosure Letter to Senator Blumenthal, supra note 1, at 12.

[26] League of Women Voters of Massachusetts v. Trump, supra note 22.

[27] “Records” include any written, recorded, or graphic material of any kind, including letters, memoranda, reports, notes, electronic data (emails, email attachments, and any other electronically-created or stored information), calendar entries, inter-office communications, meeting minutes, phone/voice mail or recordings/records of verbal communications, and drafts (whether or not they resulted in final documents).",1,2026-09-02T09:19:58Z,2026-09-02T09:20:51Z
https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-honors-nancy-wyman-speech-house-floor,Courtney Honors Nancy Wyman in Speech on House Floor,2026-08-31,2026,2026-08,Democrat,House,CT,Joe Courtney,C001069,courtney.house.gov,courtney,https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, in a speech on the House floor, Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-02), honored the life and legacy of Nancy Wyman, the former Connecticut Lieutenant Governor, Democratic State Party Chair, and the first woman to be elected state Comptroller.

FULL TRANSCRIPT

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share with the House the sad news of the loss of one of the state of Connecticut's finest public servants, former Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wineman of Tolland, Connecticut.

The news of her sudden passing on August 12th was met with universal sorrow from all corners of her beloved state, from the political leaders on both sides of the aisle and from people of all walks of life with whom she worked with always trying to help, particularly those in need and those whose problems she fixed over and over again.

Nancy's epic journey of public service began as a PTA mom in Tolland, advocating for high quality public education at a time when her own kids were enrolled in Tolland’s public schools. She was so effective that she was encouraged to run for a seat on the school board, which she did, and which she won, and which began an extraordinary string of political success that eventually took her to the highest levels of state government.

In 1986, she ran for a vacant seat in the State House of Representatives in a district next door to where I live, and at the same time, coincidentally, I was also running as a first time candidate. We both prevailed and in the following January were signed our desks in the House chamber next to each other, which began a long and fruitful friendship, both politically and personally.

She shortly became Chair of the Education Committee and presided over one of the most difficult contested issues in the state, namely allocating public school funding. To paraphrase Abraham Lincoln, it's an issue where you cannot please all the people all the time. Nancy never shrunk from this task, and because of her patience and basic decency in interactions with her colleagues, the final result of her tenacious effort always earned respect and support.

She carried that trademark skill in her campaigns for statewide office, both election as state Comptroller in 1998 and her election as Lieutenant Governor in 2010. The office of Comptroller is always not well understood by Connecticut voters, but it carries great responsibilities, including the administering the largest health and pension plans in the state for active and retired state employees and their dependents.

She once again bore down into the nitty gritty of price negotiation with private vendors, promoting wellness programs for state workers and acquiring valuable knowledge of the private health insurance market. That experience came into good use when, as Lieutenant Governor, she was assigned the task of implementing the Affordable Care Act as it was rolled out in 2014.

This was no easy lift, as many will painfully recall, the federal ACA exchange, healthcare.gov, in 2014 was completely overwhelmed, and it took over a year before millions of Americans were finally connected to affordable health coverage.

Connecticut, however, opted under the law to operate its own exchange and under Nancy's experienced hands, designed and initiated a data system that was completely functional on day one. I remember well in 2014 going to enrollment fairs around the Second Congressional District and witnessing the successful completion of health care coverage for constituents who in many cases because of preexisting medical conditions had not been insured for most of their adult lives.

For them, it was an emotional life changing event. And although Nancy was not physically present at all those fairs, there is no question that her handiwork created joy and the impact and spirit of her service was in that room.

Mr. Speaker, Nancy's successful stewardship of the ACA rollout was not her only achievement as Lieutenant Governor. She was truly a partner, not an acolyte, to Governor Dan Malloy, and their passage to the Connecticut state budget in 2017, with fiscal guardrails, established the pathway to budget stability that reversed declines of chronic deficits into a string of surpluses and has completely transformed Connecticut's public finances into positive territory.

Her record in public service, though, was not only defined by good administration and policy, but also by the way she carried herself in high position, showing respect and empathy to all that she ever came into contact with. It didn't matter whether a person was a constituent or not, or what political party they belonged to. She was warm and polite and found ways to build connections and, in most cases, friendship.

It goes without saying, her example is a powerful one in 2026, when polarization and political tribalism is far too prevalent.

She did, however, show favoritism, and that was to her beautiful family her. Her husband, Michael of 59 years. Her two daughters, Stacy Papa and Merrill Baldwin and their husband Stephen Bell, their five grandchildren, and many more relations who are carrying a heavy burden of grief because of her passing.

They did have great support on August 16th, when hundreds and hundreds of her admirers and friends showed up at her wake, expressing their love and appreciation and the contributions Nancy's family made to her impactful life. And I want to particularly thank the Town Manager of Tolland, Brian Foley, who showed so much care and compassion to help Nancy's family.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the House to join me in a similar recognition and express our condolences to Nancy's family for their loss. I yield back.

###",1,2026-09-01T09:48:49Z,2026-09-01T09:49:51Z
https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/connecticut-officials-bring-attention-addiction-and-recovery-resources,Connecticut Officials Bring Attention to Addiction and Recovery Resources in Advance of International Overdose Awareness Day,2026-08-28,2026,2026-08,Democrat,House,CT,John B. Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,larson,https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Hartford, CT - In advance of International Overdose Awareness Day, which is commemorated annually on August 31, Connecticut officials reaffirmed their commitment to combating the overdose crisis and bringing attention to addiction, recovery, and overdose prevention resources available to people across Connecticut.

International Overdose Awareness Day is a global campaign to end overdose, remember without stigma those who have died, and acknowledge the grief of the family and friends left behind.

“Every community across our state and the nation has been touched by the opioid epidemic. As we recognize International Overdose Awareness Day, we stand together to remember those who lost their lives to addiction and recommit to investing in prevention and treatment services. I will continue to support programs in communities that connect families with the resources they need to combat substance abuse and support those in recovery,” said Congressman John B. Larson.

“Today we mourn the lives lost to overdoses this year and commit to honoring them with action,"" said Senator Richard Blumenthal. ""While Connecticut has made progress over the last few years to reduce the number of these tragic deaths, we need to dismantle the destructive grip addiction has on our communities. I will keep fighting for federal funding to support addiction prevention and recovery efforts.”

“Overdose deaths are on the decline in Connecticut, but addiction and mental health issues still affect the lives of countless individuals and families across the country, including the hundreds who have died from drug overdoses in Connecticut last year,"" said Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro. ""As the lead Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, I have proudly fought for federal investments to address this addiction crisis, including against the unconscionable cancellation of grants earlier this year. I will continue to advocate for the resources necessary for those struggling with addiction.”

“Every life lost to an overdose leaves a hole in the lives of family and friends left behind. On Overdose Awareness Day, we remember those we have lost and stand with the families and communities carrying that grief. We must continue expanding access to treatment and recovery resources and ensuring that anyone struggling with addiction knows they are not alone,” said Congressman Jim Himes.

“In advance of International Overdose Awareness Day, I want to acknowledge the 836 lives we’ve lost over the past year. Each one of these individuals represents a loss in our Connecticut community and an immeasurable impact on their loved ones. Through tireless efforts across the state, countless lives have been saved, but even one overdose is one too many. This fight is not over. On this day, we commit to continuing building a future where no one in the Connecticut community experiences the loss of a loved one to overdose. Our work is not done until every person living with substance use disorder has access to the support they need not just to live, but to thrive,” said Governor Ned Lamont.

“On International Overdose Awareness Day, we reassert our state’s commitment to fighting the impacts of the overdose epidemic in Connecticut,"" said Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz. Today we remember those we have lost over the past year and honor their lives. For everyone living with substance use disorder, you are not alone. We see you and help is available. We will continue working towards creating a community where every person living with substance use disorder has the support they need for their journey towards recovery.”

“On International Overdose Awareness Day, we remember every life taken by the opioid epidemic and recognize the toll this crisis continues to take on our communities,"" said Attorney General William Tong. ""We also stand with those who are battling addiction and the loved ones, advocates, and providers who work tirelessly to make sure they have the support they need to recover. Connecticut has fought to hold the companies that fueled this crisis accountable, helping secure more than $50 billion nationwide, including $600 million for Connecticut, for treatment, prevention, and recovery services. No amount of money will bring back the lives that were lost, but we will continue fighting to keep other families from suffering that same loss.”

“Today, we remember the people we have lost to overdose in the past year and the families and communities who continue to feel that loss,"" said Comptroller Sean Scanlon. ""These tragedies, this epidemic, must always propel us to continue our work to combat substance use disorder in Connecticut. We must lead with compassion to face the challenge ahead and build a better tomorrow.”

“International Overdose Awareness Day is an intentional recognition of the 836 lives that have been lost to overdose in Connecticut over the past year. On this day we stand with the families and communities who carry that loss and reaffirm our commitment to saving lives. DMHAS will continue to make investments in programs focused on prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction. Every person living with substance use disorder is a member of our Connecticut community and deserves our support. We will continue to fight for them to receive the care and resources they need for recovery,” said Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Commissioner Nancy Navarretta.

“International Overdose Awareness Day is a time to remember and honor every life lost to overdose, and to stand with the families, friends, and communities who continue to carry that loss. But remembrance must also inspire action,"" said Connecticut Department of Public Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani, M.D. ""At DPH, we are committed to preventing overdose deaths through evidence-based prevention, harm reduction, strong community partnerships, and efforts to prevent substance use before it begins. We must also continue to replace stigma with compassion and understanding. Addiction is a medical condition, not a moral failing, and everyone deserves the opportunity to seek help, access treatment, and recover. Together, we can save lives and build a healthier future for Connecticut.”

Connecticut has made progress in reducing fatal drug overdoses in recent years. In 2025, 836 individuals died from a drug overdose in Connecticut, representing a 45% decline from the state’s peak in 2021. The number of fatal drug overdoses has declined each year since 2021. While this progress is encouraging, the loss of 836 lives in a single year underscores that the overdose crisis remains a serious public health issue and that continued prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction efforts are essential.

Connecticut has dedicated significant resources toward preventing overdose, expanding access to treatment and recovery services, increasing the availability of naloxone, and reducing the stigma associated with substance use disorder. State officials and community partners continue to encourage residents to learn how to recognize and respond to an overdose, carry naloxone, and connect people struggling with addiction to treatment and recovery supports.

The following resources on addiction, recovery and overdose prevention are available to everyone in Connecticut:",1,2026-09-01T09:48:49Z,2026-09-01T09:49:51Z
https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/senator-blumenthal-week-in-review-8/21/2026-8/28/2026,Senator Blumenthal: Week in Review 8/21/2026-8/28/2026,2026-08-28,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,blumenthal,https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press,scraper,"Supporting Ukraine in its Fight Against Putin’s Invasion

[Hartford, CT] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, traveled to Ukraine as the country continues to fight in the war against Russia. Blumenthal’s trip included a visit to Dnipro, near the eastern front of the war—the furthest east a Congressional Delegation has gone since the invasion. Blumenthal is the first member of Congress to visit Dnipro since the war began in 2022.

“Eye opening, awe-inspiring—my visit to Dnipro, the first congressional trip permitted since the war’s start, showed me the best of humanity, with Ukrainians meeting the worst—Russia’s craven inhumanity. All I met—unspeakably injured soldiers, courageous caregivers, steadfast staffs—are demonstrating professional excellence under demanding conditions, with dedication & dignity,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.

In Dnipro, Blumenthal visited a military hospital where we met seriously wounded soldiers and their caregivers.

“Heroes caring for heroes—at the military hospital in Dnipro, near the eastern front, I saw the courage & grit of seriously wounded soldiers & medical warriors helping them regain their lives. An awe-inspiring visit,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.

While in Kyiv earlier this week, Blumenthal met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and attended the National Prayer Breakfast on Ukraine’s Independence Day. He also toured SkyFall, a major Ukrainian defense technology company aiding the country in its fight against Russia.

“Another inspiring meeting with President Zelenskyy at a critical turning point in Ukraine’s fight for freedom, when they are turning the tide against Russia’s savagery & slaughter. They need air defense interceptors, the Russia sanctions bill, Starlink, & aid. I am more determined than ever to redouble our support because their fight is our fight, & our own national security is directly at stake,” wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X.

“At today’s National Prayer Breakfast, I stated emphatically—we stand with the people of Ukraine in prayer & faith, but also in action. Their fight for freedom & democracy is our fight too,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.

“A moving celebration in Kyiv for Ukraine’s Independence Day—a reminder that freedom is never free, & we must redouble our efforts to support this brave embattled nation against Putin’s murderous invasion,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.

“SkyFall in Kyiv is doing cutting edge drone manufacturing & changing modern warfare. Its innovation & new technologies are powering Ukraine’s fight against Russia's bloody slaughter,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.

Blumenthal also met with children and families affected by Russian kidnappings while in Kyiv.

“Young children & their families hideously victimized by Russian kidnapping & other atrocities are awesome in their resilience & grace. The world must match their courage,” wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X.

Blumenthal also visited Babyn Yar, a site honoring Jewish people killed there in massacres carried out by Nazi forces in World War II, and Independence Square, located in the center of Kyiv with memorials to those who have died in the ongoing war against Russia.

“A moving, solemn tribute at Babyn Yar to the 33,000 Jewish people killed there during the Holocaust. In the face of inhumanity, no one can be neutral—we must stop Putin’s savagery & cruelty,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.

“At Independence Square, Ukrainians are honoring the brave lives tragically lost in Putin’s war of inhumanity & aggression. We join them in their sorrow & redouble our support for their fight to stop Russia’s slaughter,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.

Blumenthal concluded his trip with a visit to Bucha, a city located on the northern front of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

“Returning to Bucha reminds me why we should all be so passionate about Ukraine winning this war— Russia's criminal inhumanity & killing, & the steadfast strength of Ukraine,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.

Blumenthal joined MS NOW’s Morning Joe to recap his trip to Ukraine and highlight the need for continued U.S. support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s bloody invasion.

“I visited the military hospital near the border, and that military hospital shows the face of courage and strength that President Zelenskyy echoed in what he said to me. He needs three priorities: the Russia sanctions bill, air defense—because his people have been slaughtered by Putin’s missiles and drones that are attacking civilian targets, not military—and he needs Starlink to target even deeper within Russia,” said Blumenthal on Morning Joe. “I said to him I would take those three priorities—most especially the Russia sanctions bill, because it passed the Senate by an 86 to 11 vote, completely bipartisan, after painstaking negotiations over several years by Senator Graham and myself with the White House, the U.S. Trade Representative, colleagues in Congress, and we are now at the cusp of passing it in the House. And it will make such a difference, because Putin's economy is on the cusp of major crisis, and stopping the flow of revenue from sales of oil and gas, as this sanctions bill would do, can have a real impact in throttling Putin's ability to wage war.”

Condemning Increased ICE Activity in Danbury

Blumenthal released a statement following reports of increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in Danbury over the last few days.

“ICE’s cruelty and craven brutality has no limit. Snatching people off the streets as they walk their children to school or wait for a ride to work — such tactics are abusive, abhorrent, and illegal. I am in touch with state and local authorities and am ready to assist in any way possible.”

Responding to Nearly $17 Billion Meta Settlement in Case About Social Media Harms to Kids

Blumenthal and U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), authors of the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), released the following statement in response to a nearly $17 billion settlement reached between Meta and a coalition of bipartisan state Attorneys General:

“This massive settlement shows how terrified Meta and Mark Zuckerberg are of accountability in open court. We applaud the bipartisan coalition of state Attorneys General for forcing Meta to start paying a real price for the harm its products have caused an entire generation of young people. The product design changes imposed under this settlement are a first step toward giving kids and parents the tools they need to take back control of their online lives, but they can be strengthened. Meta notes that these terms are only required to stay in place for 10 years—we must ensure permanent change. We also need safeguards that apply across the board—to all social media companies—not just Instagram and Facebook. This settlement once again demands that Congress pass the Kids Online Safety Act into law before the end of the year.”

On Twitter/X, Blumenthal further highlighted the need for increased protections for kids online.

“Meta is guilty of harming kids—& now it’s starting to pay a real price. This landmark settlement, staggering in penalties & important changes, only heightened the urgency & need for the Kids Online Safety Act to become law now,” wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X.

Demanding Answers About DHS’s $464 Million Purchase of Luxury Jets & Planes via a No-Bid Contract

Blumenthal, Ranking Member of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, and U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-VT), member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Adam Schiff (D-CA), member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, demanded answers from Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Markwayne Mullin, about DHS’s wasteful purchase of 10 airplanes for $464 million via a no-bid contract. In a letter to Mullin, the Senators called out the Department’s growing and alarming reliance on no-bid contracts since the beginning of the second Trump Administration and raised concerns that the owner of the company that received the award also runs a company alleged to have solicited kickback payments to former DHS official Corey Lewandowski.

“Recent reporting reveals that, beginning in the fall of 2025, DHS pursued and eventually awarded a no-bid contract to purchase 10 aircraft, including three ‘luxury business jets’ and seven ‘Boeing 737 passenger jets,’ and that most of these aircraft have sat idle for months since DHS acquired them. Although DHS claims that the contract was undertaken during Secretary Noem’s tenure, contracting records indicate that the cost of the contract ‘increased by $303 million on the day that Mr. Mullin was sworn in as secretary,’” the Senators wrote.

The Senators continued, “DHS purchased the aircraft through a $464 million no-bid contract to Daedalus Aviation Corporation (Daedalus), a Virginia-based company led by chairman William Walters…In fact, Mr. Walters has allegedly created ‘a web of companies,’ that subsequently received government contracts despite having no prior government contracting experience. Companies with ties to Mr. Walters include Salus Worldwide Solutions Corporation (Salus), which, in 2025, received a hastily-awarded contract worth $915 million ‘for air operations to support the administration’s effort to persuade millions of undocumented immigrants to ‘self-deport.’ Public reporting alleges that a representative of Salus repeatedly approached a prospective subcontracting firm with proposals to undertake work for DHS only if the firm would direct millions in kickbacks to Corey Lewandowski or consulting firms connected to him.”

“Congress and the American people deserve the Department’s full and prompt transparency with respect to the shocking waste of taxpayer funds and potential corruption involved in the Department’s aircraft purchase and widespread no-bid contracting,” the Senators concluded.

The full text of the letter is available here.

Blumenthal Bulletin

Blumenthal slammed the Department of Justice’s decision undercutting one of FDA’s strongest enforcement tools against unauthorized tobacco products.

Blumenthal called out the craven political trashing of Stars and Stripes after the Pentagon fired leaders from the publication who criticized the Department of Defense’s interference.

Blumenthal visited the groundbreaking of Electric Boat’s new Waterford campus.

Blumenthal called for an end to misleading and deceptive food packaging with his Food Labeling Modernization Act.

-30-",1,2026-09-01T09:48:49Z,2026-09-01T09:49:51Z
https://himes.house.gov/2026/08/27/himes-statement-on-recent-ice-activity-in-connecticut/,Himes Statement on Recent ICE Activity in Connecticut,2026-08-27,2026,2026-08,Democrat,House,CT,James A. Himes,H001047,himes.house.gov,himes,https://himes.house.gov/statements-and-releases/,scraper,"Bridgeport, CT — Today, Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04) issued the following statement regarding recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations throughout Connecticut, including in Stamford and Bridgeport:

“ICE’s detention of parents as they drop their children off at school or head to work is plainly and flatly despicable. It has nothing to do with public safety — it’s cruelty for cruelty’s sake. We cannot accept these shock tactics as normal. I’ll keep fighting to hold ICE and this Administration accountable and support the immigrant communities here in Connecticut and across the country.”",1,2026-08-28T17:11:49Z,2026-08-28T17:13:14Z
https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-and-blackburn-statement-on-historic-nearly-17-billion-meta-settlement-in-case-about-social-media-harms-to-kids,Blumenthal & Blackburn Statement on Historic Nearly $17 Billion Meta Settlement in Case About Social Media Harms to Kids,2026-08-26,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,blumenthal,https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), authors of the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), released the following statement in response to a nearly $17 billion settlement reached between Meta and a coalition of bipartisan state Attorneys General:

“This massive settlement shows how terrified Meta and Mark Zuckerberg are of accountability in open court. We applaud the bipartisan coalition of state Attorneys General for forcing Meta to start paying a real price for the harm its products have caused an entire generation of young people. The product design changes imposed under this settlement are a first step toward giving kids and parents the tools they need to take back control of their online lives, but they can be strengthened. Meta notes that these terms are only required to stay in place for 10 years—we must ensure permanent change. We also need safeguards that apply across the board—to all social media companies—not just Instagram and Facebook. This settlement once again demands that Congress pass the Kids Online Safety Act into law before the end of the year.”

-30-",1,2026-08-28T17:11:49Z,2026-08-28T17:13:14Z
https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-statement-on-increased-ice-activity-in-danbury,Blumenthal Statement on Increased ICE Activity in Danbury,2026-08-26,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,blumenthal,https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press,scraper,"[Hartford, CT] — U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal released a statement today following reports of increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in Danbury over the last few days.

“ICE’s cruelty and craven brutality has no limit. Snatching people off the streets as they walk their children to school or wait for a ride to work — such tactics are abusive, abhorrent, and illegal. I am in touch with state and local authorities and am ready to assist in any way possible.”

-30-",1,2026-08-28T17:11:49Z,2026-08-28T17:13:14Z
https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-blasts-trump-threat-demolish-kennedy-center,Larson Blasts Trump Threat to Demolish the Kennedy Center,2026-08-25,2026,2026-08,Democrat,House,CT,John B. Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,larson,https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"“No one is surprised that someone with an ego as big as Donald Trump’s believes their name should be above John F. Kennedy’s on our beloved former president’s living memorial,” said Larson. “I wish President Trump were more focused on ending the illegal war he launched in Iran than he is on destroying the Kennedy Center and building his taxpayer-funded ballroom. It figures that he would want to distract the public when prices are rising on his watch and our troops are losing their lives. He needs to come before Congress and be held accountable for his abuses of power—as the Constitution and War Powers Act require.”

After President Trump illegally took over the Kennedy Center to rename the living memorial in honor of himself, Larson joined with Rep. April McClain Delaney (MD-06) to introduce the Kennedy Center Protection Act, which would remove Trump’s name or any other illegally placed signage from the building’s premises. In April, Larson filed articles of impeachment to remove President Trump from office, following his illegal declaration of war against Iran. Last month, Rep. Larson introduced a bill to cut off all funding for Trump’s illegal war in Iran and prohibit the use of any federal funds for military conflicts not explicitly authorized by Congress.",1,2026-08-26T05:33:32Z,2026-08-26T05:34:56Z
https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-welch-and-schiff-demand-answers-after-dhs-pays-464-million-for-luxury-jets_airplanes-via-a-no-bid-contract-with-company-owned-by-prominent-trump-supporter,"Blumenthal, Welch, & Schiff Demand Answers After DHS Pays $464 Million for Luxury Jets & Airplanes via a No-Bid Contract with Company Owned by Prominent Trump Supporter",2026-08-25,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,blumenthal,https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ranking Member of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Peter Welch (D-VT), member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Adam Schiff (D-CA), member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today demanded answers from Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Markwayne Mullin, about DHS’s wasteful purchase of 10 airplanes for $464 million via a no-bid contract. In a letter to Mullin, the Senators called out the Department’s growing and alarming reliance on no-bid contracts since the beginning of the second Trump Administration and raised concerns that the owner of the company that received the award also runs a company alleged to have solicited kickback payments to former DHS official Corey Lewandowski.

“Recent reporting reveals that, beginning in the fall of 2025, DHS pursued and eventually awarded a no-bid contract to purchase 10 aircraft, including three ‘luxury business jets’ and seven ‘Boeing 737 passenger jets,’ and that most of these aircraft have sat idle for months since DHS acquired them. Although DHS claims that the contract was undertaken during Secretary Noem’s tenure, contracting records indicate that the cost of the contract ‘increased by $303 million on the day that Mr. Mullin was sworn in as secretary,’” the Senators wrote.

The Senators continued, “The apparent waste generated by idle, multi-million-dollar government assets belies the Department’s claim of urgency. To date, there is no public indication that any of these aircraft have ever been used for DHS’s claimed purpose of removing noncitizens from the United States. One of the luxury jets was leased to the FBI for use by Director Kash Patel who, in February 2026, incurred estimated costs of $75 million to fly to the Olympic Winter Games in Italy, using the same make of luxury aircraft as the one reportedly leased to the FBI.”

The Senators continued, “DHS purchased the aircraft through a $464 million no-bid contract to Daedalus Aviation Corporation (Daedalus), a Virginia-based company led by chairman William Walters…In fact, Mr. Walters has allegedly created ‘a web of companies,’ that subsequently received government contracts despite having no prior government contracting experience. Companies with ties to Mr. Walters include Salus Worldwide Solutions Corporation (Salus), which, in 2025, received a hastily-awarded contract worth $915 million ‘for air operations to support the administration’s effort to persuade millions of undocumented immigrants to ‘self-deport.’ Public reporting alleges that a representative of Salus repeatedly approached a prospective subcontracting firm with proposals to undertake work for DHS only if the firm would direct millions in kickbacks to Corey Lewandowski or consulting firms connected to him.”

“Congress and the American people deserve the Department’s full and prompt transparency with respect to the shocking waste of taxpayer funds and potential corruption involved in the Department’s aircraft purchase and widespread no-bid contracting,” the Senators concluded.

Blumenthal and Welch previously demanded answers from Mullin about Lewandowski’s role in DHS contracting decisions in light of reports that Lewandowski potentially steered contract awards to benefit himself and his political allies while serving as a special government employee and advisor at DHS.

The full text of today’s letter is available here and below.

Dear Secretary Mullin:

We write to request documents and information regarding the Department of Homeland Security’s (“DHS” or “the Department”) purchase of 10 airplanes for $464 million via a no-bid contract.[1] DHS justified this purchase by claiming that these aircraft were urgently needed to operate noncitizen removal flights, but recent reporting reveals that most of these airplanes have sat idle, and one was made available to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel.[2] That these aircraft have been parked for months or redistributed for purposes inconsistent with DHS’s claimed reason for acquiring the planes significantly undermines the Department’s explanation for bypassing a full and fair competitive contracting process and raises troubling questions about whether DHS overpaid for these aircraft, as well as about the Department’s growing and alarming reliance on no-bid contracts since the beginning of the second Trump Administration. We are also concerned that DHS awarded this no-bid contract to a company led by William Walters. A separate company that Mr. Walters has ties to, engaged in contract dealings with DHS that have raised allegations of solicitation of corrupt kickback payments to former DHS official Corey Lewandowski.

Recent reporting reveals that, beginning in the fall of 2025, DHS pursued and eventually awarded a no-bid contract to purchase 10 aircraft, including three “luxury business jets” and seven “Boeing 737 passenger jets,” and that most of these aircraft have sat idle for months since DHS acquired them.[3] Although DHS claims that the contract was undertaken during Secretary Noem’s tenure, contracting records indicate that the cost of the contract “increased by $303 million on the day that Mr. Mullin was sworn in as secretary.”[4] DHS justified “the enormous price tag” for the aircraft by claiming “it had no time to consider other offers” because “[t]he planes were needed urgently for deportation flights.”[5] The apparent waste generated by idle, multi-million-dollar government assets belies the Department’s claim of urgency. To date, there is no public indication that any of these aircraft have ever been used for DHS’s claimed purpose of removing noncitizens from the United States. One of the luxury jets was leased to the FBI for use by Director Kash Patel who, in February 2026, incurred estimated costs of $75 million to fly to the Olympic Winter Games in Italy, using the same make of luxury aircraft as the one reportedly leased to the FBI.[6]

The waste generated by parking most of these aircraft compounds the loss of taxpayer funds involved in the suspect, no-bid process the Department hurriedly implemented to buy these jets. DHS purchased the aircraft through a $464 million no-bid contract to Daedalus Aviation Corporation (“Daedalus”), a Virginia-based company led by chairman William Walters.[7] Mr. Walters “has emerged as a vocal Trump supporter” who made at least one $10,000 donation to a political action committee supporting former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem during her tenure as governor of South Dakota.[8] Former Secretary Noem and Corey Lewandowki reportedly traveled the country in 2025 on a separate, $70 million luxury 737 MAX 8 that was leased to DHS by a separate company with ties to Mr. Walters, Valkyrie Aviation Holdings Group.[9] In fact, Mr. Walters has allegedly created “a web of companies,” that subsequently received government contracts despite having no prior government contracting experience.[10] Companies with ties to Mr. Walters include Salus Worldwide Solutions Corporation (“Salus”), which, in 2025, received a hastily-awarded contract worth $915 million “for air operations to support the administration’s effort to persuade millions of undocumented immigrants to ‘self-deport.’”[11] Public reporting alleges that a representative of Salus repeatedly approached a prospective subcontracting firm with proposals to undertake work for DHS only if the firm would direct millions in kickbacks to Corey Lewandowski or consulting firms connected to him.[12]

The no-bid contract awarded to purchase these aircraft is only the latest in the Department’s growing abuse of a contracting shortcut designed to meet genuinely urgent necessity. The “urgency exception” permits bypassing full competition only when an agency’s “need for the supplies or services is of such an unusual and compelling urgency that the Government would be seriously injured” unless permitted to move forward on a no-bid basis.[13] Despite the narrow set of circumstances when bypassing money-saving competition might be justified, “[t]he exemption accounts for nearly two-thirds of the $34 billion that [DHS] has spent on contracts signed in 2026,” which “is up sharply from past years.”[14] In 2024, only one percent of DHS contracts were awarded under the urgency exception.[15]

Congress and the American people deserve the Department’s full and prompt transparency with respect to the shocking waste of taxpayer funds and potential corruption involved in the Department’s aircraft purchase and widespread no-bid contracting. Our offices are reviewing allegations of misconduct arising from federal contract awards to assess whether and the extent to which laws and regulations governing honest services and federal procurement may require legislative reform. In order for us to better understand the award of this contract, plans for these airplanes moving forward, and remedial measures for the American taxpayer, please provide the following information by September 7, 2026:

How did DHS initiate conversations with Daedalus to act as broker for the purchase of 10 airplanes?

Which DHS officials were involved in initiating these conversations?

How did DHS ascertain the number and type of airplanes necessary for purchase?

How did DHS evaluate and conclude that purchasing aircraft would be more cost effective than leasing or otherwise engaging a contractor to operate removal flights?

What metrics did DHS evaluate for cost effectiveness before arriving to its decision to purchase these aircraft?

How does DHS plan to use the 10 purchased airplanes moving forward?

How much has DHS spent to store, retrofit, convert, move, and maintain the 10 aircraft since their purchase?

Has DHS implemented changes to its contracting procedures as it relates to the use of exemptions for full and open competition?

Please also provide the following records[16] by September 7, 2026:

All communications[17] regarding the award of the $464 million contract to Daedalus, including but not limited to communications with Daedalus, William Walters, Secretary Mullin, former Secretary Noem and Corey Lewandowski or any of their staff;

All communications regarding the purchase of each individual airplane, including but not limited to communications with Daedalus, William Walters, Secretary Mullin, former Secretary Noem and Corey Lewandowski or any of their staff;

All communications regarding plans for the use of each airplane after purchase;

All flight logs and passenger logs for each airplane purchased under the contract.

Please contact our offices if you have questions about responding to this request. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

-30-

[1] Contract Summary from Department of Homeland Security to Daedalus Aviation Corporation, USASPENDING.gov, https://www.usaspending.gov/award/CONT_AWD_70QS0326C00005002_7001_-NONE-_-NONE-.

[2] David A. Fahrenthold, et al., Homeland Security Paid $464 Million for Airplanes. Then It Parked Them, N.Y. Times, (Aug. 13, 2026), https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/13/us/politics/homeland-security-parked-airplanes.html.

[3] Id.

[4] Id.

[5] Id.

[6] Id.; Carol Leonnig & Ken Dilanian, Kash Patel heads to Milan for the Olympics — on the FBI jet, MSNOW (Feb. 19, 2026), https://www.ms.now/news/kash-patel-headed-to-milan-for-the-olympics-on-the-fbi-jet.

[7] Fahrenthold, et al., supra note 2.

[8] Nick Schwellenbach & Dan Friedman, Unraveling the Corporate Ties to DHS's “Big, Beautiful Jet”, POGO (Mar. 10, 2026), https://www.pogo.org/investigates/unraveling-the-corporate-ties-to-dhss-big-beautiful-jet.

[9] Id.; Michelle Hackman, Josh Dawsey, & Tarini Parti, A Pilot Fired Over Kristi Noem’s Missing Blanket and the Constant Chaos Inside DHS, Wall St. J. (Feb. 12, 2026), https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/chaos-kristi-noem-homeland-security-f095ac95; Allison Detzel, Inside the $70 million luxury jet DHS says it needs for deportation flights, NBC News (Feb. 20, 2026), https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/chaos-kristi-noem-homeland-security-f095ac95.

[10] Schwellenbach & Friedman, supra note 8.

[11] Dan Friedman & Nick Schwellenbach, Massive DHS “Self-Deportation” Contract Challenged as Secretive and “Unlawful”, POGO (Oct. 10, 2025), https://www.pogo.org/investigates/massive-dhs-self-deportation-contract-challenged-as-secretive-and-unlawful.

[12] Julia Ainsley, Matt Dixon, Jonathan Allen & Laura Strickler, Some DHS contractors told White House officials they were asked to pay Corey Lewandowski, NBC News (Mar. 19, 2026), https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/dhs-contractors-told-white-house-officialsasked-pay-corey-lewandowski-rcna263744; see Letter from Sens. Adam Schiff, Richard Blumenthal, & Peter Welch to William A. Walters, CEO, Salus Worldwide Solutions Corp. (Mar. 24, 2026), https://www.schiff.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20260324-Letter-to-Salus-Worldwide-re-Lewandowski.pdf.

[13] FAR 6.302-2(a)(2).

[14] Fahrenthold et al., supra note 2.

[15] Id.

[16] For purposes of this request, “records” include any written, recorded, or graphic material of any kind, including letters, memoranda, reports, notes, electronic data (emails, email attachments, and any other electronically-created or stored information), direct messages, chats, calendar entries, inter-office communications, meeting minutes, phone/voice mail or recordings/records of verbal communications, and drafts (whether or not they resulted in final documents).

[17] For purposes of this request, “communications” include any records, as defined above, transmitted in any way between two or more individuals or entities.",1,2026-08-26T05:33:32Z,2026-08-26T05:34:56Z
https://himes.house.gov/2026/08/24/himes-gottheimer-pappas-introduce-bill-to-prevent-double-taxation-of-remote-workers/,"Himes, Gottheimer, Pappas Introduce Bill to Prevent Double Taxation of Remote Workers",2026-08-24,2026,2026-08,Democrat,House,CT,James A. Himes,H001047,himes.house.gov,himes,https://himes.house.gov/statements-and-releases/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Today, Representatives Jim Himes (CT-04), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), and Chris Pappas (NH-01), introduced the Multi-State Worker Tax Fairness Act. The bill would establish a uniform standard for taxing income based on physical presence in a state. In doing so, the bill prohibits a state from taxing a nonresident’s income earned when the individual was not physically in that state.

“Remote work has become a mainstay of the modern American economy and yet state tax rules have yet to catch up to our new reality,” said Congressman Jim Himes. “Providing a uniform federal standard for taxing remote workers is a commonsense proposal that would ensure Connecticut teleworkers can continue to contribute to our national economy without being unfairly subjected to double taxation. For the millions of Americans who earn their livings from their home offices, let’s right this wrong once and for all.”

“This is a no-brainer. Jersey families who work remotely shouldn’t get hit with a tax bill from a state they never stepped foot in,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer. “We’re going to make sure hardworking Jersey families keep more of their hard-earned money instead of getting double-taxed for doing their jobs from their kitchen table.”

“Granite Staters do not pay an income tax in New Hampshire, and they certainly should not be forced to pay one to another state,” said Congressman Chris Pappas. “Every dollar that families can keep in their pocket matters, and workers must be protected from an unfair, out-of-state income tax. The Multi-State Worker Tax Fairness Act would protect those teleworking for a company in a state different from the one they reside in from over-taxation. I will continue to fight for tax fairness for all.”",1,2026-08-25T05:31:37Z,2026-08-25T05:33:09Z
https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/connecticut-congressional-delegation-governor-lamont-and-education,"Connecticut Congressional Delegation, Governor Lamont and Education Commissioner Russell-Tucker Announce $10 Million Grant Award to Strengthen Early Literacy Supports",2026-08-24,2026,2026-08,Democrat,House,CT,John B. Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,larson,https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Hartford, CT - Today, members of the Connecticut Congressional delegation joined Governor Ned Lamont and Connecticut Education Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker to announce that the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) has been awarded a five-year, $10 million competitive grant to expand targeted reading intervention, with integrated positive behavioral supports, for kindergarten through grade 3 students experiencing significant reading difficulties.

The Education Innovation and Research grant, awarded by the U.S. Department of Education, will support a statewide initiative led by the CSDE’s Center for Literacy Research and Reading Success in continued partnership with the University of Connecticut’s Neag School of Education, HILL for Literacy, Fordham University, and Connecticut school districts.

The initiative will expand access to small-group reading intervention across a statewide network of 75 elementary schools, along with instructional materials, professional learning, ongoing coaching, and tools to monitor student progress and guide instruction. It will also examine the impact of incorporating evidence-aligned positive behavioral interventions and supports into reading instruction to increase student engagement and maximize instructional time.

“Hundreds of thousands of kids in Connecticut rely on federal support from the Department of Education to help them succeed in the classroom, and this announcement is a significant investment in their futures,” said Congressman John B. Larson (CT-01). “As we face an administration intent on dismantling public education in Washington, the Connecticut delegation will continue to work together to defend students and teachers from these attacks, and secure new investments in our schools. I am thrilled to join my colleagues and Governor Lamont to announce this $10 million grant we secured to support educators with the tools they need to improve reading skills and student success.”

“Strong reading skills are critical to a student’s success in school and throughout their lives,” said Governor Lamont. “This investment will provide additional support to young students who are struggling to read and give our educators more tools to meet their needs. We want every child in Connecticut to have the opportunity to become a strong reader and develop a lifelong love of learning.”

“This critical $10 million grant will help more Connecticut children develop a lifelong love of reading,” said Senator Richard Blumenthal. “Reading is not only an academic skill, but helps kids develop empathy, build strong relationships, and expand their imaginations. As literacy rates and reading for pleasure decline across the nation, I am proud to see Governor Lamont and Commissioner Russell-Tucker commit to developing strong readers with this transformative program.”

“This $10 million federal investment will make a drastic difference in the lives of young people, ensuring that they have the science-backed tools needed to read proficiently,” said Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03). “Our local schools and teachers are strengthened by federal resources and collaboration. That is why I have been a proud champion for the Education Innovation and Research program, protecting funding in my role as the top Democrat of the House Appropriations Committee, and I will continue to fight for the resources and research necessary for our students to succeed.”

“Literacy is essential for success in life,” said Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05). “I am pleased to have helped secure funds which will build on the critical steps our state is taking to foster a love of reading, create lifelong learners, and address achievement gaps.”

Since 2021, Connecticut has advanced a comprehensive literacy strategy grounded in the Right to Read legislation, investing more than $24 million in K-3 literacy assessments and instructional materials for schools and $15 million in professional learning for educators and leaders statewide, including the Science of Reading Masterclass. More recently, the state invested $2 million in a new literacy coaching program to provide job-embedded support in identified schools. The new grant complements these efforts by expanding the state’s literacy coaching work and providing intensive, small-group reading intervention for K-3 students who need additional support.

“We are pleased to have secured this competitive grant, which builds upon the significant investments Connecticut has made to strengthen literacy instruction and support our educators,” said Commissioner Russell-Tucker. “This funding will allow us to reach more students and educators with the targeted supports and resources needed to advance early literacy. As this work grows over the next five years, these efforts will position us to continue improving literacy instruction and outcomes for students across our state.”

“We are excited to continue our partnership with the Connecticut State Department of Education’s Center for Literacy Research and Reading Success to strengthen reading outcomes for students in Connecticut,” Michael Coyne and Brandi Simonsen, professors at UConn’s Neag School of Education, said. “This grant will help schools enhance targeted reading interventions and integrated positive behavioral supports. It builds on more than a decade of collaboration among CSDE, UConn, districts, schools, and partners through the Connecticut Literacy Model, while also aligning with Connecticut’s Multi-Tiered System of Support framework.”

Over the five-year grant period, the CSDE and its partners will begin this work as a pilot with a limited number of schools in the first year, with additional schools phased in over the course of the grant.",1,2026-08-25T05:31:37Z,2026-08-25T05:33:09Z
https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-statement-officer-involved-shooting,Larson Statement on Officer-Involved Shooting,2026-08-22,2026,2026-08,Democrat,House,CT,John B. Larson,L000557,larson.house.gov,larson,https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"""I am saddened to learn of the shooting that took place last night in Newington that tragically left one man dead and two officers injured. There must be a full and transparent investigation, and I am glad the state Inspector General has begun that process. I pray for the Hartford and Rocky Hill Police officers and wish them a speedy recovery. This is a reminder of the sacrifice our police officers make every day by putting their lives on the line to keep our communities safe. I will continue to monitor this incident as the facts come to light.""",1,2026-08-23T05:27:15Z,2026-08-23T05:29:02Z
https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-statement-israeli-government-refusing-investigate-deaths,DeLauro Statement on Israeli Government Refusing to Investigate Deaths of Humanitarian Aid Workers in Gaza,2026-08-21,2026,2026-08,Democrat,House,CT,Rosa L. DeLauro,D000216,delauro.house.gov,delauro,https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) released the following statement in response to news that the Israeli military is refusing to investigate an April 2024 attack that killed 7 humanitarian aid workers in Gaza:

“The Israeli government’s decision not to investigate the strike that killed seven humanitarian aid workers, including staff from World Central Kitchen, is a miscarriage of justice that exemplifies how Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government has waged this war, causing maximum destruction in Gaza with minimal accountability. Gaza has only recently recovered from a state of famine, with 200,000 people still classified as experiencing emergency food conditions. Humanitarian aid workers must be certain of their safety in order to do their jobs and help alleviate this crisis, but Israel’s refusal to properly investigate this attack undermines that trust. Israel’s indiscriminate attacks in Gaza must end, and Israeli personnel who are involved in these attacks must be held accountable.”",1,2026-08-22T05:24:59Z,2026-08-22T05:26:16Z
https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/senator-blumenthal-week-in-review-8/14/2026-8/21/2026,Senator Blumenthal: Week in Review 8/14/2026-8/21/2026,2026-08-21,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,blumenthal,https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press,scraper,"Calling on FEMA to Address Staffing Shortages

[Hartford, CT] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), a member of the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, wrote to the new Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Cameron Hamilton demanding answers about how he plans to address critical staffing shortages at the agency.

Since the start of President Trump’s second term, FEMA has lost a staggering 20 percent of its staff. A recent GAO report found that FEMA prioritized workforce reductions over ensuring that it had the staffing capacity to respond to current or future disasters. Region 1, which serves Connecticut, lost 292 employees – 12% of its staff – just from workforce reduction efforts.

“I appreciated your acknowledgement during your confirmation hearing of the challenges FEMA faces because of President Trump’s drastic staff cuts. Now that you are confirmed, you are responsible for confronting those challenges. Please provide, in writing, your plan to address the staffing cuts agency-wide, and especially in Region 1, and how you plan to ensure FEMA is fully prepared to support Americans this hurricane season and beyond,” Blumenthal wrote.

In August 2024, Connecticut suffered devastating flooding that killed two people and destroyed countless homes and businesses. FEMA was on the ground within days and was crucial to supporting towns and homeowners as they rebuilt roads, bridges, homes and other infrastructure. Trump’s draconian staffing cuts to FEMA raise serious questions about how prepared the agency would be to respond to a similar disaster.

“We owe it to the American people to ensure FEMA has the resources and staff necessary as it works with communities across the country to prepare for, and respond to, natural disasters,” Blumenthal also wrote.

Blumenthal sharply questioned Hamilton about staffing cuts during his June 17, 2026 U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee confirmation hearing. Video of the exchange is available here.

A copy of Blumenthal’s letter to Hamilton is available here.

Blumenthal and Governor Ned Lamont held a press conference in Hartford demanding Hamilton address staffing shortages caused by the Trump Administration’s reckless workforce reduction efforts—especially as Atlantic hurricane season begins.

“The heroism of the people of Connecticut in the wake of these storms should be matched by the relief that is provided by FEMA. FEMA is the disaster relief and recovery agency of the federal government, and it has performed incredible service here in Connecticut in the wake of these storms. They are essential to recovery and relief from disasters. We are now beginning the hurricane season,” said Blumenthal at the press conference. “We couldn’t stop the decimation of FEMA in massive cuts, draconian reductions in staff that now leave FEMA short-staffed, under resourced. I am demanding of the new FEMA Administrator that he provide a plan for how they’re going to compensate for the loss of trained and experienced staff—how they’re going to replenish those resources and meet the needs of the Northeast region.”

Blumenthal further amplified his calls for FEMA to address staffing shortages on Twitter/X.

“Trump’s draconian FEMA staff cuts of 20% or more nationally have left CT vulnerable at the height of hurricane season. I’m demanding the new FEMA head to restore staff & resources—vital to both resilience & recovery. Thankful for Gov. Lamont’s support & leadership,” wrote Blumental on Twitter/X.

Demanding Answers from Hegseth Following Leadership Shake-Up at Stars & Stripes

Blumenthal along with U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), senior members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, are demanding answers from the Department of Defense on the recent placement of an active-duty servicemember to serve as a “deputy” to the publisher at Stars and Stripes, a newspaper that has maintained editorial independence since the Civil War. Following the Department’s decision, Stars and Stripes publisher Max Lederer announced Tuesday he will retire after more than three decades at the newspaper, citing fundamental differences between his understanding of the value and mission of Stars and Stripes and the Department’s plans for the organization.

“The placement of an active-duty Public Affairs officer in the senior leadership of an organization whose credibility depends on its independence from the military chain of command raises serious questions,” the Senators wrote to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. “Mr. Lederer’s abrupt departure only heightens those concerns, particularly as the Department determines who will assume leadership of Stars and Stripes. This is particularly troubling in light of the Department’s recent actions affecting Stars and Stripes, including the April firing of independent Ombudsman Jacqueline Smith after she publicly defended the newspaper’s editorial independence and communicated concerns to Congress.”

The Senators demanded answers on whether this active duty servicemember will serve as the acting or permanent Publisher following Mr. Lederer’s departure, and what process the Department will use to select Mr. Lederer’s successor. The Trump Administration has increasingly taken aim at controlling Stars and Stripes as part of its larger efforts to restrict freedom of press at the Pentagon.

In January, Stars and Stripes job applicants were asked to explain how they would advance the Administration’s policy priorities, and the Pentagon’s top public affairs official announced plans to overhaul the newspaper. In March, the Pentagon further accused the newspaper of focusing on “woke distractions” and imposed new restrictions on the independent publication. In April, the Department fired Stars and Stripes ombudsman Jacqueline Smith—a non-partial watchdog charged with monitoring the paper’s independence.

The Senators concluded: “For generations, American servicemembers, particularly those stationed overseas and in combat zones, have relied on Stars and Stripes for credible and independent news. That trust depends on preserving a clear separation between independent journalism and the Department’s public affairs apparatus. At this critical moment of leadership transition, that independence must not be compromised.”

In June, Senators Blumenthal and Shaheen secured a provision to codify the editorial independence of Stars and Stripes in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2027. The Senators’ language would deliver landmark protections for the editorial independence of Stars and Stripes—ensuring the newspaper remains free from censorship, propaganda, and interference from the Pentagon. The provision’s language comes from the Senators’ Stars and Stripes Editorial Independence Act—legislation that clarifies Stars and Stripes’ editorial operations are independent of the military chain of command, military public affairs activities, or other external influences.

The full text of the Senators’ letter is available here.

Blumenthal further slammed the Department of Defense’s installation of an active-duty Navy captain in a leadership role at Stars and Stripes on Twitter/X.

“Installing an active-duty Navy captain in a leadership role at Stars & Stripes immensely erodes the publication's independence.As a crucial news source for American servicemembers, we must protect Stars & Stripes from the Trump Administration's political interference. Stars & Stripes was instrumental in informing us about deteriorating conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln. Its independence is central to its speaking truth to power,” wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X.

Rallying for Servicemembers Aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln

Blumenthal, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, joined Connecticut veterans rallying in solidarity with the servicemembers stationed on the USS Abraham Lincoln following reports that the aircraft carrier’s crew has endured deteriorating and untenable conditions aboard.

Widespread reports of shortages of basic supplies, water contamination, plumbing issues, deteriorating mental health, deck safety concerns and disruptions to the mail system have prompted Blumenthal and Senate Armed Services Committee members to demand answers from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Connecticut veterans rallied to show support for the USS Abraham Lincoln’s crew and to demand answers from the Department of Defense.

The USS Abraham Lincoln, along with its crew of about 5,000 sailors, began its journey home to San Diego on Thursday after nine months of deployment.

“Our servicemen and women know they’re going to face hardship when they raise their right hand and agree to serve—but not hardships that are added by their own leadership. As worried and outraged as we should be by the treatment of these sailors on the USS Abraham Lincoln, even more so, Americans should be outraged by the reaction of the President of the United States,” said Blumenthal at the rally. “My hope is that the outrage of America will cause our leadership in the military, and most particularly our Commander in Chief, to recognize the responsibility that they have.”

Blumenthal further called for support for the sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln on Twitter/X.

“Sailors on the USS Abraham Lincoln endure deteriorating, untenable conditions. Proud to stand with CT veterans calling on the Trump Administration to do right by these heroes,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.

Blumenthal joined CNN’s Jake Tapper to discuss the ship’s long deployment and to urge support from the Trump Administration for the ship’s servicemembers.

In light of the USS Abraham Lincoln’s prolonged deployment, dwindling supplies, and poor conditions, Blumenthal wrote to Hegseth and Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao about the growing strain on the Navy's aircraft carrier force. Blumenthal requested information regarding the Department of Defense’s long-term plan to sustain carrier readiness amid increasingly prolonged and unpredictable deployments.

“The Navy has only 11 aircraft carriers to meet demands around the world. Keeping carriers at sea beyond planned schedules not only strains sailors and equipment, but can increase maintenance requirements and delay the training and deployment schedules of the ships needed to replace them,” wrote Blumenthal. “The war with Iran has made sustaining these deployments even more difficult. If the Department intends to maintain substantial carrier forces in the region for an indefinite period, it must have a logistics and sustainment plan capable of supporting those forces even when normal port access is unavailable or unsafe.”

“The question before the Department is therefore not simply whether a carrier strike group can endure an exceptionally long deployment. It is whether the Navy has a sustainable force-generation model that can maintain carrier readiness, material condition, and crew welfare when operational requirements repeatedly exceed planned deployment cycles. The Navy cannot solve persistent demand for carriers simply by extending one ship and then sending another to relieve it. Doing so risks borrowing readiness from tomorrow to meet today's demands,” concluded Blumenthal.

A copy of the letter can be found here.

Demanding Federal Action to Lower Electricity Costs

Blumenthal introduced The Affordable Electricity Rates Act of 2026, a bill to require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to consider affordability when setting transmission rates. Transmission rates comprise 15 percent of your electricity bill, and Blumenthal’s legislation would prohibit any rate increases or charges that would increase overall electricity prices by over 5 percent.

“FERC has been anemic in its oversight of electricity costs. Connecticut consumers pay too much for electricity and federal authorities have done too little to protect them from rising costs by utility companies. I’m proud to introduce the Affordable Electricity Rates Act of 2026 to compel FERC to consider affordability when setting transmission rates and prohibit costly rate increases that burden consumers,” Blumenthal said.

Blumenthal’s bill amends Section 210 of the Federal Power Act to require FERC to consider whether a rate or charge is likely to result in retail electricity prices that are unaffordable for consumers and then prohibiting any rate or charge that is unaffordable by considering it as not “just and reasonable” which is FERC’s current standard. The legislation also has a presumption of unaffordability for any transmission rate that would increase overall electricity prices by over 5%.

In addition to the legislation, Blumenthal wrote to FERC demanding strong oversight of asset condition projects. These projects are initiated at the discretion of the transmission company, such as Eversource, and they received a presumption from FERC that they are necessary. In many cases, organizations like Eversource repair their infrastructure or replace full transmission lines when it isn’t needed and consumers are left footing the bill.

Transmission owners are investing heavily in these types of projects. In fact, spending on asset condition projects represents 73 percent of the annual amount that transmission owners spend on all capital projects in New England.

Energy costs in Connecticut are already extraordinarily high, and Connecticut consumers pay for a portion of the costs of all transmission projects throughout the ISO-New England region. The number of these transmission projects have skyrocketed, in large part because the return on investment percentages for the utility companies are higher than for other projects.

In a letter to FERC, Blumenthal cites Eversource’s X-178 transmission project in New Hampshire as a perfect example of why FERC oversight is needed. While only 10% of the transmission lines need to be repairs, Eversource is replacing 580 poles and 49 miles of transmission lines to the tune of $360 million. Connecticut’s share of that is expected to be $79.9 million.

“For too long, transmission owners have exploited weak oversight to make unnecessary and expensive upgrades. Since 2018, transmission organizations in New England have spent twice the amount of money on asset condition projects as they have on new reliability projects – to the tune of $4.1 billion. The costs of these projects – which are initiated at the sole discretion of a transmission organization – are passed onto ratepayers across the entire ISO-NE region, with Connecticut residents paying 25% of all costs for projects that affect the regional grid, even for projects located in another state, like the X-178 transmission project,” Blumenthal wrote.

Blumenthal held a press conference in New Haven to demand action from FERC to keep electricity prices low for Connecticut consumers and to discuss his letter calling for increased oversight of the planning process for regional transmission projects. Blumenthal urged FERC oversight to make sure all repairs are necessary and not simply being done to pad utility company’s pockets.

“Electricity consumers should be angry—not just at state regulators, but federal authorities for doing too little to protect them from financial abuse by electricity utilities. The work by the federal authorities has been anemic. FERC, the primary federal authority has been anemic in its scrutiny and oversight. I am writing a letter asking that FERC do more and do it more promptly and aggressively to stop these hikes in electricity prices,” said Blumenthal at the press conference.

Blumenthal further called on FERC to do more to protect Connecticut consumers from skyrocketing electricity prices on Twitter/X.

“CT consumers pay too much for electricity—& federal authorities have done too little to protect them from utilities overcharging. I’m demanding FERC act now to spare CT families unfair unaffordable burdens of high-cost projects,” wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X.

Blumenthal Bulletin

Blumenthal called on Trump to reverse a costly directive restoring outdated technology on aircraft carriers.

Blumenthal demanded answers after an unqualified organization with close ties to ICE received a no-bid contract to provide legal services to migrant children.

Blumenthal introduced a bicameral bill protecting domestic violence survivors from gun violence.

Blumenthal slammed Trump’s nomination for FDA Commissioner.

Blumenthal visited Pitney Bowes.

Blumenthal slammed the Trump Administration’s zeroing out of teen pregnancy prevention programs.

Blumenthal urged back-to-school traffic safety.

Blumenthal called for federal help to restore Lighthouse Point Park’s historic carousel building.

Blumenthal urged CPSC to investigate NeeDohs and other gel-filled toys after a viral trend microwaving NeeDohs has left children with severe burns.

Blumenthal visited West Haven’s Farmers Market.

Blumenthal joined a welcome home event for 180 National Guard of 1/102nd Infantry Battalion (Mountain) deployed in the Middle East for 9 months on counter-drone and other demanding defense.

Blumenthal joined a pinning ceremony for graduates of the Harriott Community Healthcare Academy Certified Nursing Assistant program.

-30-",1,2026-08-22T05:24:59Z,2026-08-22T05:26:16Z