Senator Blumenthal: Week in Review 12/5/2025-12/12/2025

Fighting Skyrocketing Healthcare Costs

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) released the statement below after Senate Republicans blocked an effort to extend tax credits under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) which will force Americans across the country to pay significantly more in health insurance premiums:

"Today's failed vote to extend healthcare subsidies for millions of American families is devastating. People die when they can't afford health insurance. It is just wrong to force Americans already struggling with rising costs to bear the financial burden of skyrocketing premiums because Republicans won't work with us on broader health care reforms. Today Republicans refused to stand with Americans and their families, and they'll be held accountable."

At a hearing convened by Senate Republicans seeking to undermine the ACA, Blumenthal, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, slammed Republicans for refusing to extend enhanced premium tax credits and working to dismantle key protections for Americans in the ACA.

At the hearing, Blumenthal invited testimony from Dan Jacobs, a chef and restaurant owner from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Aaron Lehman, a fifth-generation family farmer from Polk County, Iowa, who both discussed how Republicans' failure to extend enhanced premium tax credits will impact their families, businesses, and communities.

"Anybody consuming health care knows how expensive it is. But more important than what I say here is what the reality is for American families right now-in their small businesses, like Dan Jacobs; at their farms, like Aaron Lehman; at their kitchen table, in their living rooms. Where they are going to buy health care right now, health care coverage, and they are confronting double and triple rates, and they are climbing," Blumenthal said at the hearing.

Lehman, the president of the Iowa Farmers Union, testified about the importance of the ACA for rural communities, "Our farmers have been telling us that the Affordable Care Act has been one of the best investments in rural health care in decades. For farming families, entrepreneurs, and employees of small businesses who don't offer health insurance as a benefit, the ACA has expanded coverage, lowered cost, and encouraged farmers and rural residents to take more risks and make more investments on their farms and in their communities. I know this well because my family has benefited from having access to the ACA marketplace and insurance policies, and the affordability provided by the enhanced premium tax credits."

At the hearing, Jacobs testified about the importance of the ACA for small business owners, "I'm here today to express in the clearest possible terms, the Affordable Care Act is essential to the survival of small businesses like mine and to the health and security of the people we employ. The ACA leveled the playing field that has long been tilted against small employers. Before its passage, small businesses struggled to compete with large corporations for talent because we couldn't access the same expansive insurance pools or negotiate the same affordable rates. When that happens, workers suffer, families suffer, and small businesses lose the ability to attract and retain the kind of skilled, committed employees who keep our industries strong."

The video of Blumenthal's opening remarks is available here. The full video of Lehman's testimony available here, and the full video of Jacobs's testimony is available here.

Blumenthal further slammed the rising healthcare premiums of Americans on Twitter/X.

"Across the country, people are confronting health care premiums that are doubling, tripling, or more. It's sticker shock that is deadly. Republican plans to scrap the Affordable Care Act will harm small businesses, farmers, & American families," wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.

Slamming the Trump Administration's Assault & Detainment of U.S. Citizens

As Ranking Member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Blumenthal released a report highlighting firsthand accounts of twenty-two Americans who were physically assaulted, pepper sprayed, denied medical treatment, and detained - sometimes for days - by federal immigration agents. The report contains new details of accounts that have already been made public as well as several encounters that have not been shared previously.

The report, Unchecked Authority: Examining the Trump Administration's Extrajudicial Immigration Detentions Of U.S. Citizens, was released ahead of a bicameral public forum hosted by Blumenthal and U.S. Representative Robert Garcia (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, to receive testimony from five Americans who were unconstitutionally detained by agents of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

"Americans should have a hard time recognizing our great nation in these stomach turning, heartbreaking stories of brutal assaults on our fellow citizens. Masked ICE and CPB agents chillingly seizing Americans isn't the nation we know and cherish. Totalitarian tactics have no place in our democracy. I hope that elevating stories of abhorrent abuse will reinforce our resolve to preserve democratic rights," said Blumenthal.

In October, Blumenthal and Garcia opened an inquiry into the increasing detention of U.S. citizens by federal immigration agents. In a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Blumenthal and Garcia demanded information and records from the agency following increasingly frequent reports of unconstitutional detentions of U.S. citizens by agents of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), often using disproportionate force. Blumenthal and Garcia reiterated their request in another letter to Noem in November.

Blumenthal joined MS NOW to discuss his public forum and report detailing U.S. citizens detained by ICE and CBP.

Blumenthal delivered an opening statement at the bicameral public forum to receive testimony (available here) from five Americans who were unconstitutionally detained by agents of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

"I call on every American to ask yourselves what it means to be an American to you and to uphold basic American values. And watch these videos, each of your arrests and many others, and ask whether that's the America that you know, the America that reflects your values and American rights," said Blumenthal.

"We're here seeking accountability. We probably need to change laws to really make the federal government accountable to people like yourselves whose rights have been violated. I know that we're going to be working on it here in the United States Senate, and you will be providing a powerful impetus to us in that work."

Video of Blumenthal's opening statement is available here.

Blumenthal further slammed the Trump Administration's wrongful tactics detaining U.S. citizens on Twitter/X.

"Americans should have a hard time recognizing our great nation in these shocking, stomach churning stories of fellow citizens assaulted brutally by agents of the US government," wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.

Blumenthal and Garcia joined CNN to discuss the powerful testimony shared at their public forum from U.S. citizens wrongfully detained.

Honoring the 13^th Anniversary of Sandy Hook Shooting by Promoting Gun Violence Prevention

Blumenthal and U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) along with U.S. Representatives John Larson (D-CT), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Jim Himes (D-CT), and Jahana Hayes (D-CT) joined survivors and families of gun violence victims at a press conference to mark the 13^th anniversary of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Over a decade after twenty first graders and six educators were killed in the Sandy Hook shooting, the lawmakers and advocates recommit themselves to honoring the memories of the lives lost with action to combat the deadly, tragic scourge of gun violence in America.

"In the thirteen years since the Sandy Hook massacre, kids have grown up. Not only in Newtown, all around the state of Connecticut, all around the country, a new generation of advocates against gun violence has grown up, and they will carry the day. They are the new generation that will lead us. They will lead us to victory against gun violence," said Blumenthal

"And I'll be very blunt: it is a time of despair, and some feel defeatism. But we don't have the luxury of despair or defeatism. We don't have the luxury of putting our heads in the sand. The Trump Administration has been slashing funds for the enforcement of existing laws, they've opposed new laws, they have just created a second amendment section in the Civil Rights Division. The gun industry continues to hold its grip on the Trump Administration and Congress. And we will break that grip, because gun violence prevention will be on the ballot. It will be on the ballot, and this movement that we've created will make people accountable," continued Blumenthal.

A video of the press conference can be found here.

Blumenthal led twenty-five Senators in introducing legislation to close a current loophole that allows gun sales to proceed if a background check is not completed within a certain time period, even if the gun buyer is not legally allowed to purchase a gun. The gap in existing law has allowed thousands of gun sales to prohibited buyers, including the sale of the firearm used by the shooter in the deadly attack at Charleston's Emanuel AME Church. U.S. Representative James E. Clyburn has introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

"This loophole is a massive gateway to dangerous evasion of the background check rules," Blumenthal said. "If you haven't passed a background check, you shouldn't be able to purchase a weapon. No check, no gun. It's really that simple."

When a criminal background check indicates that a firearm purchaser may have a criminal record, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) tries to determine whether the purchaser can legally buy a gun. If this process takes longer than 72 hours for those 21 years of age or older, or 10 days for those under 21, gun dealers can complete the sale even though there is a heightened risk that the purchaser is legally disqualified from purchasing a gun.

The Background Check Completion Act would require a completed background check for every gun buyer who purchases a gun from a federally-licensed gun dealer.

On the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee

At a Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing, Ranking Member Blumenthal emphasized the harmful impact failing to extend ACA enhanced premium tax credits will have on veterans and their families. Recent analysis found 267,000 veterans who rely on the ACA enhanced premium tax credits will no longer be able to afford ACA marketplace coverage if these credits are not extended.

Blumenthal pressed the urgency of addressing this issue ahead of the vote on a Democratic proposal to extend ACA enhanced premium tax credits for three years before they expire at the end of the year: "…[W]e have to recognize the importance of votes that we will take tomorrow, one of them to extend the health care tax credits under the Affordable Care Act that will affect literally 267,000 veterans who rely on the ACA enhanced premium tax credits to afford health insurance. And whether you support the ACA, whether you have other views on what might be a perfect system in the long run if we had tons of time, the simple fact is we face a deadline at the end of the year when these tax credits will expire and 267,000 veterans will no longer be able to afford ACA coverage if these credits are not extended."

The Senator continued, "These are primarily veterans not eligible for Medicaid, TRICARE, or Medicare, and often not eligible to get care through VA - leaving them with ACA marketplace plans as their only option for health care coverage. The ACA isn't perfect… but the fact of the matter is the consequences of failing to extend these tax credits will be devastating for veterans and their families. Veterans will be forced to navigate a perfect storm - an understaffed VA health care system, increased wait times for VA health care, Medicaid cuts, and the loss of affordable health insurance. They deserve better. So do millions of Americans who will be impacted by the potential failure to extend these tax credits. I hope that we approve them to the benefit of those veterans and countless other Americans affected."

Video of Blumenthal's opening statement is available here.

Blumenthal and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Jerry Moran (R-KS) and U.S. Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and John Boozman (R-AR) introduced the Mammography Access for Veterans Act-bipartisan legislation to expand veterans' access to lifesaving breast cancer screenings through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

"Fighting breast cancer requires early detection. It is imperative we expand VA's capacity to conduct mammograms and ensure veterans have access to these critical screenings no matter where they live," said Blumenthal. "These screenings save lives, and are particularly important given veterans' increased rates of cancers due to factors like toxic exposure."

The Senators' Mammography Access for Veterans Act would require VA make permanent a pilot program providing telescreening mammography for veterans living in states where VA does not offer a full-service mammography program. This involves conducting the mammogram at a VA facility and sending the images to a VA telescreening mammography center for interpretation by qualified radiologists. Without Congressional action, VA's telemammography pilot program is set to end in May 2026. The program went live in 2023 at five pilot sites in West Virginia, New York, Oklahoma, and Massachusetts. As of June 2025, 7,416 mammography screenings have taken place under this program.

Blumenthal Bulletin

Blumenthal urged USPS action to ensure servicemembers overseas can receive holiday packages.

Blumenthal's bipartisan resolution to promote road safety and reduce roadside deaths passed the Senate.

Blumenthal pressed the FTC to curb concentration in the dialysis market.

Blumenthal visited South Park Inn in Hartford to demand VA meet its responsibility to help end veteran homelessness.

Blumenthal joined the Heroes Tree lighting ceremony in Old Saybrook.

Blumenthal joined the swearing in ceremony of Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons.

Blumental celebrated the Village for Families and Children's 25^th annual "Girl Within" Luncheon.

Blumenthal joined the swearing in ceremony for Bethany First Selectman Carol Goldberg.

Blumenthal joined the swearing in ceremony for West Haven Mayor Dorinda Borer.

Blumenthal celebrated the Feast of St. Nicholas at St. Mary's Ukrainian Orthodox Church in New Haven.

Blumenthal honored Pear Harbor Day in Waterbury at the annual Veterans Committee ceremony.

Blumenthal visited the "Jewish Hartford, Our Community" exhibit at the Mandell JCC of Greater Hartford.

Blumenthal slammed the Trump Administration's unrealistic caps on student loans for nurses.

Blumenthal joined MS NOW to discuss the significant escalations in the Caribbean and the implications of the United States seizing a Venezuelan oil tanker.

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