Senator Blumenthal: Week in Review 4/10/2026-4/17/2026

Condemning Senate Republicans' Vote Against Iran War Powers Resolution

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement after Senate Republicans voted down legislation to reclaim Congressional authority under the War Powers Act and condemn President Trump's unauthorized military action in Iran:

"For the fourth time, Senate Republicans are choosing blind loyalty to Donald Trump over what the American people want and need. The Republican Congress deserves to be held responsible for Trump's reckless actions in Iran and its catastrophic consequences: U.S. servicemembers deployed and killed; civilians slaughtered; and Americans are seeing their bills skyrocket. We're going to continue holding our colleagues and this Administration accountable for Trump's costly, illegal war and will keep bringing up votes under the War Powers Act."

Blumenthal joined MS NOW to discuss Trump's war of choice in Iran and the need to keep demanding votes on the War Powers Resolution.

"The War Powers Resolution actually supports our troops-because the founders wanted Congress to be required to approve a declaration of war, because they wanted the American people to support troops when they went into war. We should not be putting our sons and daughters into harm's way without the President going to the American people and getting their support. It's a matter of law, but it's also again a matter of fundamental morality and values. Right now, the American people are very much opposed to this war, and supporting the troops means we want to save their lives without subjecting them to danger and risk without a clear objective and strategy and endgame," said Blumenthal on MS NOW.

On the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee

Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member Blumenthal joined impacted veterans from the Veterans Justice Alliance to call for action on the Major Richard Star Act-a bipartisan bill to fix an injustice preventing combat-injured veterans from receiving their full military benefits.

Currently, only veterans with disability ratings above 50 percent and more than 20 years of service are eligible to receive the full amount of their Department of Defense (DOD) retirement and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability payments-leaving behind more than 50,000 combat-injured military retirees. The Major Richard Star Act will fix this unjust policy for medical retirees with a combat-related disability-providing them their full VA disability and DOD retirement payments.

"This is a very personal moment for many of the folks here. Many of them are seeing their retirement pay docked dollar for dollar-dollar for dollar-because they are getting disability benefits. These veterans were injured in the service of our country, and their reward is to see their retirement pay reduced. That is absolutely abhorrent, unacceptable, unjust, unconscionable," said Blumenthal. "Now, I've heard all the objections: double dipping? False. Ridiculous. Can't afford it? Absolutely wrong. This is an idea whose time has come, in fact, it's long overdue. Don't tell me we can't afford full compensation for these veterans. I don't want to hear it, the Congress shouldn't hear it, and the American people demand that we do the right thing."

Blumenthal further highlighted the need for the Major Richard Star Act on Twitter/X.

"The costs of war include the cost of caring for our veterans. It is absolutely abhorrent & unacceptable that veterans who were injured in service of our country are having their retirement pay reduced. Congress must right this wrong & pass the Major Richard Star Act," wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.

Slamming Binance's Lax Anti-Money Laundering Compliance

Blumenthal, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), today wrote to Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) Director Andrea Gacki and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche raising concerns over mounting allegations of dangerously lax anti-money laundering prevention by the cryptocurrency exchange, Binance.

In letters sent today to Gacki and Blanche, Blumenthal demanded records and information related to Binance's compliance with anti-money laundering obligations under settlements the company previously reached with FinCEN and the DOJ.

"In early 2026, reporting stated that Binance had facilitated billions of dollars of sanctions evasion for Iran-linked entities. These reports raise questions regarding the extent to which the company has adhered to its 2023 settlements. As part of the Subcommittee's ongoing inquiry into illicit finance in cryptocurrency, I am writing to request information on the status of Binance's compliance obligations," Blumenthal wrote.

Earlier this year, Blumenthal opened a PSI inquiry into the illicit use of cryptocurrencies by sanctioned entities. After Binance failed to provide PSI with documents and information about reported money laundering and terrorist financing by its partners and customers, Blumenthal pressed Binance about potential misrepresentations or misleading information the company may have provided to the Subcommittee.

Blumenthal's letter to Gacki is available here. Blumenthal's letter to Blanche is available here.

Sounding the Alarm on Unregulated Prediction Markets

Blumenthal joined Attorney General William Tong to highlight the dangers posed by unregulated prediction market platforms and call for urgent federal action to protect consumers. Prediction markets are rapidly expanding but operate with little to no oversight. These platforms function like traditional sportsbooks but without following state gambling laws or basic consumer protections, creating risks of insider trading, market manipulation, underage gambling, and misuse of sensitive information.

Blumenthal highlighted his Prediction Markets Security and Integrity Act, legislation introduced in March to establish federal consumer protections and restore states' authority to regulate gambling within their borders. Earlier this month, Blumenthal also wrote a letter to the commissioners of six sports leagues, demanding information about their partnerships with sportsbooks and prediction markets to prevent gambling addiction, protect athletes, and safeguard sporting integrity.

"The fact is, the hard stark fact, gambling is a public health crisis in Connecticut and around the country. Problem gambling and addiction has exploded in severity and frequency. And we need stronger rules to protect people-particularly younger gamblers-against the exploitation of vulnerability. Prediction markets involve contract event betting," said Blumenthal. "Most perniciously, prediction markets are a cesspool for market manipulation, insider trading, underage gambling, and leaks of security information. These humongous bets on war, deaths, assassination, involve leaks of insider information that demand investigation, but they also require legislation."

Blumenthal further highlighted the need for legislation establish safeguards for prediction market betting on Twitter/X.

"Prediction markets are a cesspool for insider trading, underage gambling, & leaks of national security secrets. As the Trump admin tries to block state-level enforcement action against these platforms, it's vital the Senate pass my Prediction Markets Security & Integrity Act," wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X.

Blumenthal Bulletin

Blumenthal released a statement the Trump Administration's lawsuit over Connecticut immigration policies.

Blumenthal joined the Doctors United For Ukraine Candlelight Concert at St. Mary's Church in New Haven.

Blumenthal visited Clinton's American Legion Post 66 to celebrate federal Congressional Directed Spending Grant for renovations to its headquarters.

Blumenthal demanded the Department of Transportation Secretary monitor and possibly investigate the exploitative increases on fuel, leading to higher prices for airlines and consumers, thanks to Trump's Iran war.

Blumenthal joined the New Haven community to celebrate the Borinqueneers.

Blumenthal honored Yom HaShoah.

Blumenthal spoke with the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Yulia Svyrydenko, about the vital importance of the US-Ukraine partnership.

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