Senator Blumenthal Week In Review 03/17/2023—03/24/2023
ENDING UNFAIR SURPRISE COSTS FOR CONSUMERS
— U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced new legislation to eliminate excessive fees and bring transparency to the marketplace as hidden fees cost Americans billions of dollars annually. The introduction of the Junk Fee Prevention Act follows calls from President Joe Biden during his State of the Union address. The legislation would eliminate excessive, hidden, and unnecessary fees imposed on consumers and require full prices of services be provided upfront ensuring transparency in the ticketing, hotel, and entertainment industries, as well as prevent airlines from imposing a fee to seat families together.
“Concealed surprise fees—nickel and diming Americans to distraction—must be stopped,” said Blumenthal. “Airline travel, concert going, common purchases—seemingly almost everywhere—consumers are compelled to pay hidden excessive charges. Our bill will help end this price gouging—forcing full disclosure upfront and restricting abusive fees. It will mandate basic common sense fairness and transparency, which consumers rightly demand and deserve.”
During his State of the Union address on February 7th, President Biden urged Congress to pass legislation eliminating junk fees that cost consumers billions of dollars every year. The Junk Fee Prevention Act is a direct response to President Biden’s call to action and would require the full price of a service to be displayed upfront, prevent excessive fees and ensure transparency, and empower the Federal Trade Commission and Federal Communications Commission to issue new rules and enforce against violations. It would also require airlines to seat children with an accompanying adult at no extra cost and allows the U.S. Department of Transportation to impose penalties for violations.
The legislation specifically targets excessive online ticket fees, airline family seating fees, exorbitant early termination fees, and surprise resort or destination fees.
— Blumenthal also praised the FTC’s announcement of its “Click to Cancel” rule, allowing consumers to easily opt out of recurring subscriptions and memberships.
“Making it as easy to unsubscribe as it is to subscribe is a no brainer. Glad the FTC is moving forward with proposals to ensure consumers aren’t being charged junk fees for services they no longer want or need.”
“From flight tickets to concerts & gym memberships, hidden fees are everywhere. My Junk Fee Prevention Act with Senator Whitehouse will provide greater transparency—building upon the Biden Admin’s work to make sure Americans aren’t nickel-and-dimed.”
HOLDING BANK EXECUTIVES ACCOUNTABLE
— Blumenthal announced new legislation, the DEPOSIT Act, that would hold accountable executives of failed banks like Silicon Valley Bank by allowing the Treasury Department to claw back bonuses and stock profits – ensuring they are held financially responsible and the burden of their actions doesn’t fall to taxpayers.
Separately, Blumenthal joined U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-CT) to introduce legislation to repeal the 2018 rollback of critical Dodd-Frank protections that invited banks to load up on risk and increase profits. Blumenthal and Warren have also called for a Department of Justice (DOJ) and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Investigation into whether senior executives involved in the SVB collapse violated any civil or criminal laws.
ADDRESSING AMERICA’S GUN VIOLENCE EPIDEMIC
— Blumenthal, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), and U.S. Representative Maxwell Alejandro Frost (D-FL) introduced legislation to establish an Office of Gun Violence Prevention in the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). The Office of Gun Violence Prevention Act would bring together those most impacted by gun violence with leaders across federal agencies to advance policy, collect and report data, expand state and local outreach, and maximize existing programs and services related to preventing gun violence.
“A central point of leadership is vital to federal efforts against the epidemic of gun violence,” said Blumenthal. “This new office can help marshal and focus the diverse resources and partners necessary to make progress. It can bring together survivors, students, veterans, families and others tragically impacted with policymakers and law enforcement officials in hands-on programs to stop this scourge. The Office of Gun Violence Prevention would be more than just a symbol; it would mobilize professionals across federal agencies, enable outreach to state and local leaders, collect and report more data, and innovate with other expanded action. This proposal should be noncontroversial and bipartisan.”
— Blumenthal announced $1 million in federal funding for the University of New Haven to augment community-based policing efforts in the Greater New Haven area with strategies that will specifically target gun violence reduction. The funding will support the Henry C. Lee Institute of Forensic Sciences with gun violence data analytics which includes support for more staff and data collection equipment.
“Wonderful to be at the University of New Haven to announce a $1M grant for the Henry Lee College of Criminal Justice & Forensic Sciences. Breaking down barriers between the community & local police is critical for reducing gun violence.”
PROVIDING SAFE LIFELINES TO SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
— Blumenthal sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) urging the commission to adopt strong rules to help survivors of domestic violence and other crimes to cut ties with their abusers and separate from shared wireless service plans, which can be exploited to monitor, stalk or control victims.
“These two protections — access and privacy — are essential to protecting victims of domestic violence from abusers who right now can track, monitor, stalk or emotionally inflict damage on them. And that is the kind of rulemaking the FCC should do,” Blumenthal said at a press conference announcing the letter.
Domestic violence perpetrators exercise control and continue their abuse of survivors by cutting off their victims’ ability to communicate and connect with family, friends, and critical support services. The Safe Connections Act, passed by Congress in 2022, empowers survivors to separate from shared cell phone service plans and also requires the FCC to develop rules on providing survivors with access to the Lifeline Program — subsidized broadband and phone services.
In the letter, Blumenthal urges the FCC to adopt strong privacy rules to protect survivors and lower barriers to access the Lifeline and the Affordable Connectivity Program by allowing survivors to self-identify as survivors instead of requiring a third party to vouch for the abuse.
“We’re saying to the FCC, ‘Take the woman’s word for it. Her word is enough – that she has been a victim of abuse, that she lacks the financial resources to access a separate plan or account. Her word should be enough that she needs to use the Lifeline program,” Blumenthal said.
EXPANDING SNAP ACCESS TO THE RESIDENTS OF PUERTO RICO
— Blumenthal and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and U.S. Representative Jenniffer González-Colón (R-PR) announced the introduction of the bipartisan Puerto Rico Nutrition Assistance Fairness Act. The landmark legislation would address inequalities in food assistance to Puerto Ricans and would enable Puerto Rico to fully participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP. Puerto Rico was excluded from SNAP in 1981, which has resulted in the loss of billions of dollars in aid and reduced nutrition benefits; the transition resulted in an immediate 25% reduction in nutrition aid.
“The people of Puerto Rico deserve access to full SNAP benefits – just like the rest of their fellow Americans,” said Blumenthal. “Our legislation addresses the historic inequities that prevent those on the island from putting food on the table and feeding their families. Fixing this discriminatory practice is long overdue. It’s time to ensure our nation’s nutrition aid is available to all who need it.”
PROTECTING INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE ATHLETES’ NIL OPPORTUNITIES
— Blumenthal and Murphy urged the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to help international college athletes exercise the same rights to their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) as their non-international teammates without fear of losing their lawful status as students at American colleges. In a letter to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, the senators called out the fundamentally unfair status quo and pushed DHS to issue updated student visa guidance and regulations that would allow international athletes to benefit from recent changes to NIL policies.
“Current regulations governing student visas do not speak to the unique circumstances around the use of international athletes’ NIL and what constitutes employment for these purposes, and therefore have precluded these athletes from engaging in these activities. We believe this status quo is fundamentally unfair and requires your department to provide guidance related to current regulations along with initiating a rulemaking process to update the regulations for this unique subset of students. Absent such actions, colleges have no choice but to advise their athletes to refrain from any NIL activities, fearing these activities could put their visa statuses in jeopardy,” the senators wrote.
“While the NCAA men’s and women’s tournaments offer the clearest example of why we need updates to student visa guidance and regulations, continued inaction impacts thousands of athletes across all sports and colleges. According to the NCAA, over 20,000 international students currently compete in collegiate athletics… As these athletes compete in their sports’ national championships and other high-profile competitions, any one of them could gain notoriety overnight and have substantial NIL opportunities presented to them,” the letter concluded.
BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN BRIDGEPORT
— Blumenthal announced $2 million in federal funding for Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County to build 10 affordable homes in Bridgeport. The $2 million in federal funding will allow Habitat for Humanity to double its housing production this year, as the need for affordable housing in Connecticut continues to grow.
“A $2M grant to Habitat for Humanity will enable 10 families to have homes in Bridgeport—a proud day, & prouder still when we cut the ribbons. Sweat equity from future homeowners, skills & resources from Habitat, support from the community—helping to solve the housing crisis.”
PROVIDING SURVIVING FAMILY MEMBERS OF VETERANS WITH PACT ACT BENEFITS
— Blumenthal praised a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announcement that the surviving family members of veterans who died from PACT Act illnesses will soon be able to reapply for benefits if they have had a claim denied in the past.
“I am proud beyond words that relief will be available for surviving family members of veterans who died from the horrific diseases caused by exposure to burn pits and toxic chemicals. Sadly, in passing the PACT Act last year, we were too late for thousands of veterans who suffered years of pain and sickness following their service — including Connecticut resident Peter Antioho who died in 2019 of terminal brain cancer. This new rule will continue to correct these historic wrongs and do right by survivors’ families so that no one has to fight for benefits they rightly deserve. It’s a matter of simple justice.”
The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act is comprehensive legislation to deliver multiple generations of veterans exposed to burn pits and dangerous toxins access to healthcare and benefits.
The VA announced Monday that surviving family members who were previously denied benefits would have another chance to apply.
The PACT Act was signed into law by President Biden in August 2022 and will deliver relief to post-9/11 veterans exposed to burn pits and will correct the nearly 80 percent rejection rate faced by burn pit veterans seeking claims. The legislation also includes provisions championed by Blumenthal to expand benefits, healthcare, and compensation to veteran populations that are not currently able to access services: veterans who responded to the nuclear disaster in Palomares, Spain, those who were deployed to the K2 Air Base, and veterans and families exposed to toxins in the water supply at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.
Peter Antioho of Berlin, Connecticut served in the United States Army and was exposed to toxic burn pits during his deployment to Afghanistan in 2012. After being diagnosed with a grade four brain tumor and terminal brain cancer, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) twice rejected his claims for disability benefits, arguing the burden was on him to prove the cancer was caused by the burn pits. Antioho’s claims were only approved following assistance from Blumenthal’s office in 2019, a little over a year before Antioho died.
INVESTING IN CUTTING EDGE DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY
— Blumenthal visited Research & Development Solution Inc. (RDSI) which develops software used to train submariners. RDSI produces software and monitors used by the U.S. Navy Sub School in Groton which may eventually be used to train Australian military personnel following the announcement last week that Australia will purchase as many as five Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines. RSDI is a Service-Disable Veteran Owned Small Business and was also recently awarded a Gold Medal from HireVet.gov for their hiring of veterans.
“Exciting visit to RDSI to learn about cutting edge technology protecting our Navy from threats undersea & surface, & enabling faster, stronger communication. They’re also devising & disseminating tools to counter cyber attacks to local government & others. Very impressive.”
SUPPORTING THE ICC’S INVESTIGATION INTO ATROCITIES IN UKRAINE
— Blumenthal joined U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) in sending a letter to President Biden urging his Administration to support the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) investigation into the atrocities committed in Ukraine. This letter comes after the March 17 news that the ICC has issued an arrest warrant for Putin for war crimes in Ukraine.
“We welcome the significant assistance your administration has provided to date—made available through bipartisan action from Congress—for the Ukrainian government and civil society actors working to document evidence of atrocities and strengthen Ukrainian investigative and prosecutorial capacity. But we also know that the ICC has a critical role to play. Thankfully, in close cooperation with the Ukrainian government, the ICC’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan is committed to doing so. He has sent a team to Kyiv that represents the largest field deployment by his office since its establishment,” the members wrote.
In the letter, the senators praised President Biden for the steps he has taken to fortify the transatlantic alliance and help Ukraine defend itself. They also support his efforts to pursue accountability for crimes against humanity and war crimes being committed by Russian forces, and encourage further action pursuant to the additional authorities Congress provided that enable the United States to assist in efforts to hold Putin and his henchmen accountable.
“Last year’s bipartisan congressional action to enhance that support was done in collaboration with your administration to balance all perspectives on the U.S. relationship with the ICC. Yet, months later, as the ICC is working to build cases against Russian officials, including Putin himself, the United States reportedly has not yet shared key evidence that could aid in these prosecutions. Knowing of your support for the important cause of accountability in Ukraine, we urge you to move forward expeditiously with support to the ICC’s work so that Putin and others around him know in no uncertain terms that accountability and justice for their crimes are forthcoming,” the senators continued.
FIGHTING TICK-BORNE DISEASES
— Blumenthal joined the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station to announce millions of dollars in federal funds to fight tick borne diseases such as Lyme, Babesiosis and Powassan.
Cases of diseases caused by ticks more than doubled in the Northeast in the last 10 years, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cases of Babesiosis, a relatively unknown, sometimes fatal disease, jumped 338% in Connecticut.
Blumenthal announced $200,000 in Congressionally directed spending for the Connecticut Agricultural Station to monitor the state’s tick population, as well as $26 million for Lyme research at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Further, Blumenthal will announce $7 million in funding for the Department of Defense’s Tick-Borne Disease Research Program, which aims to prevent, diagnose, and treat tick-borne diseases such as Lyme and Babesiosis.
FIGHTING BRUSH FIRES
— Blumenthal joined Middlefield Fire Chief Peter Tyc to announce $214,714 in federal funding to support the purchase of a new brush truck, a vehicle designed for rough terrain to respond to a fire or rescue.
The funding is through the Assistance to Firefighter Grants (AFG) program at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which aims to enhance the safety of the public and firefighters with respect to fire-related hazards by providing direct financial assistance to eligible fire departments, non-affiliated Emergency Medical Services (EMS) organizations, and State Fire Training Academies (SFTA). According to FEMA, the AFG program has helped firefighters and other first responders to obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training, and other resources needed to protect the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards since 2001.
PROVIDING EDUCATORS WITH STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS
— Blumenthal joined U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM) and Jahana Hayes (D-CT) in reintroducing the Loan Forgiveness for Educators Act, which will expand the federal loan forgiveness program for educators. This legislation helps to address educator shortages and increase children’s access to a diverse and well-prepared educator workforce by strengthening the federal Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program.
The Loan Forgiveness for Educators Act updates the TLF program by having the federal government make monthly federal student loan payments for educators serving in early childhood education programs and high-need public schools and completely forgive any outstanding debt after five years of service. It would also allow service under this program to concurrently count toward the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. These changes will help to recruit and retain more educators and ensure more diverse candidates can afford comprehensive educator preparation programs, a key strategy to decrease shortages and help increase educator diversity in early childhood and K-12 education.
UPDATING WARFIGHTING REQUIREMENTS FOR CONFRONTING RUSSIA
— Blumenthal joined U.S. Senators Tom Cotton (R-AK), Angus King (I-ME), and Roger Wicker (R-MS) in a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin urging him to implement an update of the Department of Defense’s warfighting requirements for confronting Russia in Europe. The letter noted that the Department has not reassessed its warfighting requirements for Europe since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and does not anticipate significantly changing them until 2026.
“Failure to provide timely updates to our warfighting requirements in Europe is already having real-world consequences for decision-making related to security assistance. In recent public testimony, senior Pentagon officials often cited the need to maintain these outdated levels of equipment and munitions as one reason for not providing Ukraine with certain capabilities,” the senators wrote.
HONORING GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY
— Blumenthal and Murphy joined U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ), John Barrasso (R-WY), and 39 of their Senate colleagues in introducing a bipartisan resolution to commemorate the 202nd anniversary of Greek Independence Day (March 25). In addition to celebrating Greece’s historic role as the birthplace of democracy and its immense contributions to global society, the bipartisan resolution also recognizes the strength of the United States’ enduring partnership and friendship with Greece.
AROUND CONNECTICUT
— Blumenthal attended the ribbon cutting for the Royal Tabaq Restaurant & banquet Hall in Meriden.
“Congratulations to the Royal Tabaq Restaurant & Banquet Hall as we cut the ribbon opening this exciting new business in Meriden. Renovated, renamed, rejuvenated—promising magnificent food & ambiance.”
— Blumenthal attended St. Patrick’s Day events in Meriden and with the Knights of St. Patrick.
“A beautiful day for Meriden’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, with warm, welcoming crowds & enthusiastic marchers. Proud to be with you.”
“Knights of St. Patrick gathered last night—a resounding success—thanks to hard work & impressive skill of leaders who carry on this wonderful tradition. Gratitude to all.”
— Blumenthal attended the Connecticut Science and Engineering Fair.
“Inspiring, exciting student projects at the Science & Engineering Fair today, with $500,000 in scholarships awarded. Thanks to students, teachers, parent, organizers, sponsors, & others who made it a truly special day. A very hopeful sign for our great nation’s future.”
— Blumenthal joined an event in Trumbull honoring our nation’s veterans.
“Honoring veterans of WW II, Korea, & Vietnam in Trumbull. They & their families deserve our unconditional gratitude.”
— Blumenthal joined health care workers to urge the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services to issue staffing standards for nursing homes.
“Pleased to join SEIU 1199 in urging HHS Dept authorities (CMS) to issue long promised staffing standards for nursing homes, & resources necessary to meet them. Residents & caregivers deserve them.”
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