Missal was uncovering waste, fraud, & abuse at VA—now Elon Musk is corrupting the Department & burning taxpayer dollars with no check.
I’m grateful to host Mike on Tuesday & to continue to speak out about the important work of all independent government watchdogs.
Congress Member Profile|U.S. Senator|Democrat|Connecticut
Richard Blumenthal
SoupScoreanalysis-first civic rating · view full breakdown
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Voting Record — 890
Yes29%
No70%
Present0%
Not Voting1%
Party align98%
Cross-party1%
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District Map
Senate District (Statewide)
U.S. Census Bureau boundary data.
Social & Web
External Resources
Richard Blumenthal
U.S. SenatorDemocratConnecticut
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Richard's ATmosphere Activity
20 recent posts · 124 sponsored · 660 cosponsored
Recent ATmosphere posts, sponsorships, and cosponsorships.
Here in CT, the VA Inspector General’s office conducted several reviews of the infrastructure, operations & care delivery at the West Haven facility that assisted me in efforts to secure funding for upgrades to the campus.
In the months before Mike was unlawfully terminated, he released investigative reports uncovering delays in care, incorrectly processed claims for PACT Act benefits & fraudulent use of taxpayer dollars—all problems that could be fixed for vets because he & his team uncovered them
I’m honored to have the VA’s former top internal watchdog, Bristol’s own Mike Missal, join me on Tuesday night for the Joint Address to Congress. Mike served honorably under three different presidents—of both parties—rooting out waste & wrongdoing on behalf of our nation’s vets.
Musk’s influence over the FAA’s decision-making appear to point to one conclusion—that Musk is corruptly & unlawfully enriching himself by steering this multi-million-dollar FAA contract to his own business.
I’m demanding Sec. Duffy explain why his agency is suddenly selecting Musk’s Starlink for FAA use after a contract was already signed with Verizon. This new deal reeks of corrupt, self-serving abuse of taxpayer dollars.
I’m leading a letter with @kaine.senate.gov & my colleagues to call on President Trump to immediately reinstate all the veterans that have been fired across federal government. We demand you cease your attacks on our nation’s heroes, who've already given so much in defense of our country.
You can't just fire 2,400+ people at VA without there being an impact on our veterans & their families.
Elon Musk takes over the FAA, slashing & trashing it, firing 400 safety critical workers—& then seizes a key contract for air safety. Do you want Musk in charge of your flight’s safe landing? Or line his billionaire pockets at your expense? Congress must stop this grifting mess.
Collins can continue releasing videos applauding his decisions & claiming his actions will not harm veterans & their families. But veterans deserve more than empty promises—they deserve the truth & they deserve leadership that always puts them first.
I showed in our VA Committee hearing how VA’s own spreadsheet demonstrates the reprehensible harm caused by these contract cancellations. These policies are walked back only after vets, Congress, & the media highlight their harmful impacts.
This apparent reversal—only temporary—shows VA in turmoil. Collins & Trump issue broad directives that lay waste to services, not eliminate waste that belie their promises & belie their false reassurances. It’s government by whiplash. Cancel & fire first, analyze later.
Guess who’s coming to Trump’s first Cabinet meeting? Elon Musk, of course. His multi billion dollar contracts or regulatory relationships span 17+ federal agencies—most at the table. His idea of “conflict of interest”—if it doesn’t conflict with my interest, there’s no conflict.
Make no mistake—this is just another reckless cost-cutting decision that will harm veterans & taxpayers for years to come.
Many of these contracts were also used by VA to conduct oversight of its spending & ensure veterans programs operate efficiently for veterans.
To say abruptly cancelling these services won’t impact veterans’ care & benefits is another unrealistic promise Collins cannot make.
The hundreds of contracts Doug Collins proudly canceled today provide critical & direct services to veterans across the country.
These contracts allow VA to recruit & retain doctors, inform vets about their earned benefits, & perform safety inspections at VA medical facilities.
Putin must pay for his ruthless invasion, & Russia’s own frozen assets should be leveraged to give Ukraine critical support.
The Trump Admin should be working to seize these frozen funds not extorting the people of Ukraine with a one-sided mineral deal.
Dan Bongino is a conspiracy theorist & internet troll with zero experience to be second in command at the FBI.
He is another Trump loyalist who will enable the President’s illegal actions & help degrade our law enforcement agencies—undercutting their ability to fight crime.
There should be a real law enforcement professional—an adult in the room—to stop Kash Patel’s potential abuses & misuse of FBI vast power. Instead, Dan Bongino is a likely cheerleader for weaponizing the FBI for political retribution. Deeply sad & terrifying.
At the Hartford rally, the spirit & energy were breathtaking, sending a message of unity & support. In my 6 visits to Ukraine, I’ve been deeply inspired by the resolve & resilience of Ukrainians who’ve lost lives, limbs & loved ones. They can’t be abandoned or allowed to lose.
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Voting History890 total votesExpandCollapse
Voting History
890 total votes
Recent roll calls with party-majority context so it is easier to scan how this member tends to vote.
| Date | Bill | Question | Position | Party Maj | Align? | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-06-30 | — | Motion (Motion to Waive Section 302(F) of the CBA Re: Amdt. No. 2414) | YES | YES | ✓ | Motion Rejected (47-53, 3/5 majority required) |
| 2025-06-30 | H.R. 1 (119th) | Motion (Blunt Rochester Motion to Commit H.R. 1 to the Committee on Finance with Instructions) | YES | YES | ✓ | Motion Rejected (48-52) |
| 2025-06-30 | — | Motion (Motion to Waive Section 302(F) of the CBA Re: Amdt. No. 2696) | YES | YES | ✓ | Motion Rejected (47-53, 3/5 majority required) |
| 2025-06-30 | H.R. 1 (119th) | Motion (Reed Motion to Commit H.R. 1 to the Committee on Finance with Instructions) | YES | YES | ✓ | Motion Rejected (48-52) |
| 2025-06-30 | H.R. 1 (119th) | Motion (Lujan Motion to Commit H.R. 1 to the Committee on Finance with Instructions) | YES | YES | ✓ | Motion Rejected (49-51) |
| 2025-06-30 | H.R. 1 (119th) | Motion (Motion to Commit H.R. 1 to the Committee on Finance with Instructions) | YES | YES | ✓ | Motion Rejected (48-52) |
| 2025-06-30 | H.R. 1 (119th) | Motion (Wyden Motion to Commit H.R. 1 to the Committee on Finance with Instructions) | YES | YES | ✓ | Motion Rejected (47-53) |
| 2025-06-30 | H.R. 1 (119th) | Motion (Motion to Commit H.R. 1 to the Committee on Finance with Instructions) | YES | YES | ✓ | Motion Rejected (49-51) |
| 2025-06-30 | H.R. 1 (119th) | Motion (Schumer Motion to Commit H.R. 1 to the Committee on Finance with Instructions) | YES | YES | ✓ | Motion Rejected (47-53) |
| 2025-06-30 | H.R. 1 (119th) | Decision of the Chair H.R. 1 | NO | NO | ✓ | Decision of Chair Sustained (53-47) |
| 2025-06-30 | H.R. 1 (119th) | Decision of the Chair S.Amdt. 2360 to H.R. 1 (No short title on file) | NO | NO | ✓ | Decision of Chair Sustained (53-47) |
| 2025-06-28 | H.R. 1 (119th) | Begin consideration | NO | NO | ✓ | Motion to Proceed Agreed to (51-49) |
| 2025-06-27 | S.J. Res. 59 (119th) | Motion to Discharge S.J.Res. 59 | YES | YES | ✓ | Motion to Discharge Rejected (47-53) |
| 2025-06-26 | — | Confirm nominee | NO | NO | ✓ | Nomination Confirmed (53-45) |
| 2025-06-25 | — | End debate | NO | NO | ✓ | Cloture Motion Agreed to (53-44) |
| 2025-06-25 | — | Confirm nominee | NO | NO | ✓ | Nomination Confirmed (56-40) |
| 2025-06-24 | — | End debate | NO | NO | ✓ | Cloture Motion Agreed to (56-42) |
| 2025-06-24 | — | Confirm nominee | NO | NO | ✓ | Nomination Confirmed (61-35) |
| 2025-06-23 | — | End debate | NO | NO | ✓ | Cloture Motion Agreed to (58-33) |
| 2025-06-18 | — | Confirm nominee | NO | NO | ✓ | Nomination Confirmed (51-46) |
| 2025-06-18 | — | Confirm nominee | NO | NO | ✓ | Nomination Confirmed (53-45) |
| 2025-06-18 | — | End debate | NO | NO | ✓ | Cloture Motion Agreed to (50-46) |
| 2025-06-17 | S. 1582 (119th) | Final passage | NO | NO | ✓ | Bill Passed (68-30) |
| 2025-06-17 | — | Confirm nominee | NO | NO | ✓ | Nomination Confirmed (53-45) |
| 2025-06-17 | — | Confirm nominee | NO | NO | ✓ | Nomination Confirmed (57-40) |
| 2025-06-17 | — | End debate | NO | NO | ✓ | Cloture Motion Agreed to (53-44) |
| 2025-06-17 | — | End debate | NO | NO | ✓ | Cloture Motion Agreed to (46-39) |
| 2025-06-16 | — | End debate | NOT_VOTING | NO | — | Cloture Motion Agreed to (44-33) |
| 2025-06-12 | S. 1582 (119th) | End debate | NO | NO | ✓ | Cloture Motion Agreed to (67-27, 3/5 majority required) |
| 2025-06-12 | S. 1582 (119th) | Vote on amendment | NO | NO | ✓ | Amendment Agreed to (67-30) |
| 2025-06-12 | — | Motion (Motion to Waive All Applicable Budgetary Discipline Re: Amdt. No. 2307) | NO | NO | ✓ | Motion Agreed to (64-33, 3/5 majority required) |
| 2025-06-12 | S. 1582 (119th) | Kill the motion | YES | YES | ✓ | Motion to Table Failed (45-52) |
| 2025-06-12 | — | Confirm nominee | NO | NO | ✓ | Nomination Confirmed (53-44) |
| 2025-06-11 | S.J. Res. 54 (119th) | Motion to Discharge S.J.Res. 54 | YES | YES | ✓ | Motion to Discharge Rejected (39-56) |
| 2025-06-11 | S.J. Res. 53 (119th) | Motion to Discharge S.J.Res. 53 | YES | YES | ✓ | Motion to Discharge Rejected (39-56) |
| 2025-06-11 | S. 1582 (119th) | End debate | NO | NO | ✓ | Cloture Motion Agreed to (68-30, 3/5 majority required) |
| 2025-06-11 | — | End debate | NO | NO | ✓ | Cloture Motion Agreed to (53-46) |
| 2025-06-10 | — | Confirm nominee | NO | NO | ✓ | Nomination Confirmed (51-43) |
| 2025-06-10 | — | End debate | NO | NO | ✓ | Cloture Motion Agreed to (51-44) |
| 2025-06-10 | — | Confirm nominee | NO | NO | ✓ | Nomination Confirmed (51-44) |
| 2025-06-10 | — | End debate | NO | NO | ✓ | Cloture Motion Agreed to (48-45) |
| 2025-06-10 | — | Confirm nominee | NO | NO | ✓ | Nomination Confirmed (53-41) |
| 2025-06-09 | — | End debate | NO | NO | ✓ | Cloture Motion Agreed to (53-43) |
| 2025-06-09 | — | Confirm nominee | NO | NO | ✓ | Nomination Confirmed (51-41) |
| 2025-06-05 | — | End debate | NO | NO | ✓ | Cloture Motion Agreed to (49-40) |
| 2025-06-05 | — | Confirm nominee | NO | NO | ✓ | Nomination Confirmed (52-43) |
| 2025-06-05 | — | End debate | NO | NO | ✓ | Cloture Motion Agreed to (52-43) |
| 2025-06-05 | — | Confirm nominee | NO | NO | ✓ | Nomination Confirmed (52-43) |
| 2025-06-04 | — | Confirm nominee | NO | NO | ✓ | Nomination Confirmed (57-38) |
| 2025-06-04 | — | Confirm nominee | NO | NO | ✓ | Nomination Confirmed (48-46) |
Alignment stats consider only votes where a clear yes/no majority existed for the legislator's party. Cross-party marks divergence where the vote matched the opposite party majority. ↔ indicates cross-party divergence.