Senator Blumenthal: Week in Review 12/12/2025-12/19/2025

Applauding Final Passage of National Defense Authorization Bill

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) welcomed Senate passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026. As a member of the Armed Services Committee, Blumenthal championed a number of provisions in the NDAA that promote U.S. national security objectives and bolster Connecticut's defense industrial base and its workforce, all while improving support for servicemembers across the Department of Defense (DOD). The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 77-20 and was signed into law on December 18. An executive summary of the bill can be found here.

"This defense bill prioritizes our national defense with investments in weapons and pay increases for servicemembers-while recognizing Connecticut's critical role and workforce. The major, historic investments include producing submarines, joint strike fighters and helicopters, and other high tech platforms. Technological advancements and modernization bolster our state's world-class manufacturing base. I am proud to advocate for the workers dedicated to defending our nation. With this legislation, we ensure that our military has the resources, technology, and support needed to protect our country," said Blumenthal.

The NDAA for Fiscal Year 2026 also includes several provisions Blumenthal, Ranking Member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), championed to support sexual assault survivors within the Coast Guard.

"I am proud of the significant reforms in this bill that will help protect current cadets and Coasties from the kind of harassment, abuse, and retaliation uncovered by my investigation," Blumenthal said. "There is still significantly more work that needs to be done to combat the Coast Guard's culture of coverup, but these provisions are an important first step."

In September 2023, as then-Chair of PSI, Blumenthal initiated an inquiry into the Coast Guard's failure to disclose Operation Fouled Anchor, an internal Coast Guard investigation into the decades-long systemic mishandling of sexual misconduct at the Coast Guard Academy. The NDAA includes numerous provisions requested by Blumenthal to protect sexual assault survivors and hold accountable perpetrators of sexual misconduct and those who enabled them.

Combatting Hate-Based Violence & Trump Administration's "Heinous Policy" on Hate Symbols

Blumenthal wrote the Chair and Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Chairs and Ranking Members of its Subcommittees on Homeland Security and Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies calling for a dramatic increase in resources for programs that combat hate-based violence through security and prevention.

"Over the weekend, the global Jewish community was devastated by the horrifying terrorist attack at a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in Australia. This terrible tragedy is sadly not an anomaly and reflects a worldwide rise in antisemitism, extremist ideology, and hate-based violence," Blumenthal wrote.

"That is why I urge you to show the Senate's commitment to protecting our religious institutions and minority communities by dramatically increasing resources for programs that combat hate-based violence through security and prevention, including by appropriating no less than $1 billion to the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), making significant investments to the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act (NO HATE Act), and reestablishing and fully funding the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Community Relations Service (CRS)."

Blumenthal joined Jewish members of the Senate Democratic Caucus in issuing a statement in reaction to the murder of 15 people in Sydney, Australia at a menorah lighting on the first night of Hanukkah.

The statement is signed by Blumenthal, Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

"The Festival of Lights commemorates and celebrates the resilience of the Jewish people, our identity and heritage. As we moved into the first night of Hanukkah, that tenacity was tested once again as we mourn those murdered in Sydney during a menorah lighting. Our prayers go out to the Jewish community in Australia, whom we embrace in their terrible hour of suffering.

"We are horrified by the brutality of this attack, which comes at a time when Australia has seen a terrible rise in antisemitism. The disturbing wave of antisemitism around the globe has struck anxiety and fear into the hearts of every Jewish community. Some have faced harassment, vandalism, and discrimination. Others, violence as brutal as what we saw yesterday in Sydney.

"This attack is the latest reminder of the work that remains to end the scourge of hatred towards Jews. To combat this disease of antisemitism, we must summon the strength to take action against this ancient hatred, and the courage to press on in the face of such violence against Jewish people at home and abroad.

"We must speak out against all discrimination, from heinous acts like today to the normalization of antisemitic rhetoric, and the attempts to blur the line between political disagreement and antisemitic hate. And we give thanks to the bravery of people like Ahmed al Ahmed, a fruit shop owner, who risked his own life on Bondi Beach to stop others from losing theirs.

"May the memory of those we lost be a blessing, and may courage flow through the hearts of every Jewish family that lit their first candle last night and over the next seven nights."

Following reporting that the U.S. Coast Guard has allowed a new policy to take effect that no longer prohibits nor classifies swastikas and nooses as hate symbols, Blumenthal wrote Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem demanding that she "revoke this policy and make it clear to the brave men and women serving in the Coast Guard that hate has no place in the service."

In a letter sent following the Washington Post's reporting that the Coast Guard has newly defined swastikas and nooses as just "potentially divisive," Blumenthal wrote to Noem: "Granting hate symbols like swastikas and nooses even an ounce of respectability is absolutely an anathema. This edict besmirches the Coast Guard's honor, and DHS should be ashamed. At a time when antisemitic and racist violence are at unconscionable levels, it is absolutely appalling that DHS is doubling down on such a hateful, destructive policy."

The text of the letter to Noem is available here.

After the Coast Guard agreed to revise this hateful policy, Blumenthal reacted on Twitter/X.

"I will take Secretary Noem's statement as an answer to my letter that the Coast Guard's abhorrent policy on hate symbols like nooses & swastikas will not go into effect. I am glad that the Trump Administration has backed down in response to well-deserved & widespread criticism of their reprehensible attempt to weaken protections against obvious hate symbols. I am disappointed that Secretary Noem's statement fails to acknowledge how offensive this policy is & she owes an apology to the men & women of the Coast Guard," wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X.

Shining Light on Supreme Court Shadow Docket Decisions

Blumenthal and U.S. Representative Deborah Ross (D-NC) introduced bicameral legislation to establish transparency in decisions on the Supreme Court's emergency docket, also known as the "shadow docket." The Shadow Docket Sunlight Act requires the Supreme Court to provide a written explanation for shadow docket decisions and a vote count detailing how each Justice voted on the decision, promoting public understanding and consistency in judicial decision making.

The Supreme Court has increasingly relied on the shadow docket-making decisions on short notice without oral argument or any legal explanation of the Court's reasoning from the majority. The Court has utilized the shadow docket to make decisions on a number of wide-ranging, highly consequential cases, including the September 8, 2025 decision in Noem v. Vasquez Perdomo. The decision allows ICE agents to stop and arrest individuals based on their appearance, the language they speak, where they live, and what they do for work.

"The shadow docket decision in Noem v. Vasquez Perdomo, a highly chilling legal landmark, condones racial profiling in Trump's immigration enforcement. Shockingly, this very significant ruling was issued without any public argument or majority opinion. The Shadow Docket Sunlight Act shines light on the Supreme Court's emergency docket rulings, like Vazquez Perdomo, and requires the Supreme Court to be accountable and explain its rulings. Americans deserve clarity from the nation's highest Court-especially as the Court increasingly uses the shadow docket to issue far-reaching consequential decisions. Recent shadow docket decisions demonstrate the dire need for our legislation's enforceable guidelines that hold the Court accountable," said Blumenthal.

The text of the bill can be found here.

On the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee

Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member Blumenthal and Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) led a group of 26 of their colleagues in a letter calling on the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate the impact Republicans' health care-cutting agenda will have on veterans and their families.

This follows Senate Republicans' failure last week to join Democrats in extending Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits, which 267,000 veterans rely on to afford health care. Coupled with Medicare and Medicaid cuts - which go into effect next year - Americans, including millions of veterans and veteran family members, are bracing for higher costs and a looming health care crisis.

"The 2025 budget reconciliation bill, Public Law 119-21, or the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' (BBB), will reduce access to essential health care and supportive services for millions of Americans, including veterans and their families. Compounded with expiring enhanced premium tax credits for Affordable Care Act (ACA) health plans established by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and extended by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, veterans are facing a life-threatening reduction in access to health care and other essential benefits. These reductions in access to private health insurance, Medicaid, and funding for community health services will result in more veterans relying more heavily on their Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care and benefits," the Senators wrote.

The full text of the lawmakers' letter is available here.

Blumenthal spoke at a spotlight forum on the Trump Administration's dangerous effort to dismantle the Department of Education, highlighting how their actions negatively impact our nation's veterans. At the forum, Blumenthal spoke with Rachel Gittleman, President of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 252, and Amy Loyd, CEO of All4Ed, about how veterans are struggling to access critical resources to help them assimilate to civilian life through education and skills training.

"I want to talk about an area of interest to me as the Ranking Member on the Veterans' Affairs Committee, and I'd like you to tell me how the dismantling of the Department of Education has affected veterans," asked Blumenthal.

"Two of the many programs that I helped administer were the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program and the Total and Permanent Disability Discharge Program. Both of those programs disproportionately benefit and help veterans, many of whom are saddled with student debt," said Gittleman. "And my office, like so many other offices in federal student aid, was completely gutted, leaving no one to help answer the phones, no one to help access the incredibly complicated and convoluted system that is these discharge programs."

"In our nation, we're moving towards a skills-based economy. This is so important for veterans transitioning into the world of being a civilian. How do they translate their incredible skills that they have earned through their hard work and dedication to our nation into ways that they can prove their skills and practice through economic opportunities so that they can raise their families, have lives of choice," said Loyd. "But in this moment of fiscal uncertainty and the bait-and-switch and the instability and chaos that this Administration is engendering in the education world, states are now walking back and being very cautious and investing in innovation. I worry about the implications of how our veterans may not be able to meaningfully translate their skills into practice in ways that they should be able to powerfully, simply because we're in a moment of uncertainty that's leading to a lot of fear in the education system."

A video of Blumenthal's interaction with Gittleman and Loyd at the forum can be found here.

Blumenthal Bulletin

Blumenthal released a statement on the Department of Justice's failure to release the full Epstein files as demanded by survivors and required by law.

Blumenthal spoke on the Senate Floor demanding the designation of Russia as a State Sponsor of Terrorism.

Blumenthal demanded answers regarding the Trump VA's plan to eliminate tens of thousands of health care jobs.

Blumenthal released a statement on the Senate confirmation of Trump loyalist John Bartrum to lead VA's health care system.

Blumenthal spoke on the Senate Floor highlighting his ENFORCE Act, legislation to ensure those convicted of creating AI-generated child sexual abuse material face accountability.

Blumenthal introduced legislation to protect the rights of residents in long-term care facilities.

Blumenthal joined striking workers in West Hartford.

Blumenthal introduced new legislation to streamline USPS shipping of nonprofit packages-like Boxes to Boots.

Blumenthal joined the annual Founders Day Award Luncheon of the National Council of Negro Women.

Blumenthal joined the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs and Middletown VSO's for a Wreaths Across America ceremony at the State Veterans Cemetery.

Blumenthal joined the yearly Chaz an AJ toy drive.

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