After Joe Lieberman retired in 2013, Blumenthal became Connecticut's senior senator. It will increase the power and profits of transmission operators with an immediate $40million price tag for consumers. Rep. Chris Collins of New York, the first elected Republican to endorse Donald Trump's 2016 presidential bid, owns stake in various companies ranging from manufacturing to biotechnology. [178], In January 2019, Blumenthal was one of 40 senators to introduce the Background Check Expansion Act, a bill that would require background checks for either the sale or transfer of all firearms including all unlicensed sellers. [7][8] Martin Blumenthal had a career in financial services and became president of a commodities trading firm. "[101] He has brought suit against a number of electric utilities in the Midwest, arguing that coal-burning power plants are generating excess CO2 emissions. Republican Rep. Vern Buchanan of Florida is a highly successful auto-dealer across the southeastern United States. He then attended Harvard College, from which he graduated in 1967 with an A.B. On October 2, 2006, Blumenthal launched an investigation of a botched reconstruction project of Interstate 84 in Waterbury and Cheshire. May 18, 2010 / 11:30 AM / CBS News. [169][170] As of 2010, Blumenthal had a "F" rating from the National Rifle Association for his pro-gun-control voting record. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press" that "Mr. Blumenthal has damaged his reputation as somebody you could. [166][167], In March 2019, Blumenthal and 38 other senators signed a letter to the Appropriations Committee opining that contractor workers and by extension their families "should not be penalized for a government shutdown that they did nothing to cause" while noting that there were bills in both chambers of Congress that would provide back pay to compensate contractor employees for lost wages, urging the Appropriations Committee "to include back pay for contractor employees in a supplemental appropriations bill for FY2019 or as part of the regular appropriations process for FY2020."[168]. In 2009, MySpace revealed that over a two-year span it had roughly 90,000 members who were registered sex offenders (nearly double what MySpace officials had originally estimated one year earlier). [171], In January 2016, Blumenthal was one of 18 senators to sign a letter to Thad Cochran and Barbara Mikulski requesting that the Labor, Health and Education subcommittee hold a hearing on whether to allow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to fund a study of gun violence and "the annual appropriations rider that some have interpreted as preventing it" with taxpayer dollars. [161], In July 2019, Blumenthal was a cosponsor of the Defending America's 5G Future Act, a bill that would prevent Huawei from being removed from the "entity list" of the Commerce Department without an act of Congress and authorize Congress to block administration waivers for U.S. companies to do business with Huawei. In the 1980s, Blumenthal testified in the state legislature in favor of abolishing Connecticut's death penalty statute. "[185], In April 2019, Blumenthal was one of 41 senators to sign a bipartisan letter to the housing subcommittee praising the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Section 4 Capacity Building program as authorizing "HUD to partner with national nonprofit community development organizations to provide education, training, and financial support to local community development corporations (CDCs) across the country" and expressing disappointment that Trump's budget "has slated this program for elimination after decades of successful economic and community development." "Boosting Blumenthal: Obama, Biden call Conn. AG", "Toplines - Election 2010: Connecticut Senate Election - January 6, 2010 - Rasmussen Reports", "Capitol Watch Blog - Connecticut Politics, Political News and Legislation", "Did Richard Blumenthal Lie About Serving in Vietnam? [47] In order to rectify this situation he championed the Corporate Patriot Enforcement Act to close tax loopholes. But it might have, and we can definitely prevent such mass shootings by adopting these kinds of commonsense measures. He paid $89,461 in taxes in 2015 and was refunded $31,475. [88] He said that prostitution ads remained on the site despite previous assurances that they would be removed. [33] The Pequot were attempting to have the land placed in a federal trust, a legal designation to provide them with land for their sovereign control, as long years of colonization had left them landless. The senators requested Juul list each of its advertising buys and detail the steps the company has taken to ensure its advertisements are not seen by people under 21 in addition to asking if Juul had purchased any social media influencers for product promotion. But now the evacuees fear its days are numbered", "Kalo's opioid overdose drug went from $690 to $4,500and senators want answers", "Baldwin, Democratic Senators Call TrumpCare Disastrous for Battle Against Opioid Crisis", "Senate opens investigation into Juul's marketing practices to minors", "Warren, Klobuchar call on FTC to curtail use of non-compete clauses", "Text - S.3398 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): EARN IT Act of 2020", "What They Are Saying: Advocacy Groups & Survivors Voice Support for the EARN IT Act", "Oregon senators call on Trump to honor climate agreement", "More than 30 Senate Dems ask Trump to reconsider Central American aid cuts", "Blumenthal Warns U.S. Is On Path To A Trade War With China", "U.S. lawmakers scramble for way to block Trump deal with China's ZTE", "Chairs Lead Bipartisan Letter Urging Administration to Sanction Chinese Officials Complicit in Xinjiang Abuses", "China rejects US lawmakers' sanctions call over Muslim camps", "US Bill reintroduced to deter China in South China, East China seas", "Lawmakers introduce bill to block U.S. companies from doing business with Huawei", "43 Senators Want to Make It a Federal Crime to Boycott Israeli Settlements", "Cosponsors - S.720 - 115th Congress (2017-2018): Israel Anti-Boycott Act", "Senate Dems petition Saudi king to release dissidents, US citizen", "Democratic senator threatens to freeze weapons sales to Saudi Arabia over support of Russia", "The Best Way to Respond to Saudi Arabia's Embrace of Putin", "U.S. [96][97] The suit alleged that Countrywide pushed consumers into "deceptive, unaffordable loans and workouts, and charged homeowners in default unjustified and excessive legal fees." [20][111] Video emerged of him speaking to a group of veterans and supporters in March 2008 in Norwalk, saying, in reference to supporting troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, "We have learned something important since the days that I served in Vietnam. Connecticut's share of the settlement was estimated at $3.6 billion. His challenger, Levy, has raised $2.3 million, spent $1.9 million,. [91] In August 2010, Blumenthal called on Craigslist to shut the section down permanently and take steps to eradicate prostitution ads from other parts of the site. "[135], In March 2019, Blumenthal was one of 38 senators to sign a letter to United States Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue warning that dairy farmers "have continued to face market instability and are struggling to survive the fourth year of sustained low prices" and urging his department to "strongly encourage these farmers to consider the Dairy Margin Coverage program. Senator Tammy Baldwin Helps Introduce Legislation to Ensure Child Care for All", "Democratic Senators Oppose FCC Changes To KidVid Rules", "US Sens. [82], Blumenthal was co-chair, along with North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper, of the State Attorney General Task Force on Social Networking. Her father is real estate mogul Peter Malkin. Richard Blumenthal (D., Conn.) and his wife Cynthia have a six-figure investment in a massive retail shopping complex in Shanghai that is part of a partnership between a Chinese government-controlled business consortium and Disney. Blumenthal and Cooper secured agreements from MySpace and Facebook to make their sites safer. [110], The New York Times reported that Blumenthal misspoke on at least one occasion by saying he'd served with the military "in Vietnam". Here are the 15 richest members currently serving in the House and Senate and where the wealth comes from, according to a 2018 analysis by Roll Call. There are many elected officials with large fortunes independent of the salaries they earn while serving in Congress. His aggressive law enforcement for consumer protection, environmental stewardship, labor rights, and personal privacy helped to reshape the role of state attorneys general nationwide, and resulted in the recovery of hundreds of millions of dollars for Connecticut taxpayers and consumers each year. Donald Trump: Sen. Blumenthal 'lied about his service' in Vietnam Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. [19] In April 1970, Blumenthal enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve which, as The New York Times noted, "virtually guaranteed that he would not be sent to Vietnam". Democratic Rep. Scott Peters of California had a long career as an attorney in high-profile cases. GOP sees opportunity in 2022 election to defeat Blumenthal Did Senator Richard Blumenthal Misrepresent His Military Service Blumenthal was born into a Jewish family in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Jane (ne Rosenstock) and Martin Blumenthal. From 1977 to 1981, Senator Blumenthal served as a U.S. Attorney forConnecticut, prosecuting drug trafficking, organized and white-collar crime, civil rights violations, consumer fraud, and environmental pollution. With a father who fled Nazi Germany at age 18, and a mother who left Nebraska's farmland to become a social worker, Richard Blumenthal was raised with a deep dedication to public service, a duty to give back by helping others, and a bedrock belief in hard work. [191], In July 2019, Blumenthal and 15 other Senate Democrats introduced the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act, which mandated that ICE agents get approval from a supervisor before engaging in enforcement actions at sensitive locations except in special circumstances and that agents receive annual training in addition to being required to annually report enforcement actions in those locations. This page was last edited on 30 April 2023, at 19:21. ", "Richard Blumenthal Regrets "Misplaced Words" on Vietnam Service", "Letter: Using 'in' instead of 'during' was a blunder, but petty", "Blumenthal Still Leads McMahon After Vietnam Misstatements - Political Hotsheet", "2010 Senate - CT | The Cook Political Report", "Connecticut's 2016 Senate Race A Quieter Contest Than Past", "Larry Kudlow threatens Senate run over Iran", "Connecticut Senate - Kudlow vs. Blumenthal", "Connecticut Senate - Wolf vs. Blumenthal", "A campaign begins: Blumenthal will seek re-election in 2022", "Endorsed by Trump, Leora Levy Wins GOP U.S. Senate Primary in Connecticut", "Richard Blumenthal Joins Senate In D.C. Ceremony, Plans 'Listening Tour', "Senators push for Facebook password request probe", "Democrats in Congress Sue Trump Over Foreign Business Dealings", "Following Chaos And Death At Capitol, Connecticut Lawmakers Call For Immediate Removal Of President", "Murphy, Blumenthal call for investigation of Capitol's security, response to riots", "Blumenthal Gets Pushback For Attending Event Tied to Communist Party", "U.S. Sen. Blumenthal says would not have attended New Haven awards ceremony if he knew it was tied to Communist Party", "Portman and Durbin Launch Senate Ukraine Caucus", "Lawmakers ACU Ratings Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D)", "U.S. Republican Rep. Francis Rooney of Florida has earned a large fortune from his business, Manhattan Construction Group, which has built massive projects such as Cowboys Stadium. After law school, Blumenthal passed the bar and served as administrative assistant and law clerk for several Washington, D.C. figures. [76] The Journal of the American Medical Association described the decision as an example of the "politicization of health policy" that went against the weight of scientific evidence and may have a chilling effect on future decisions by medical associations. He graduated from Harvard College, where he was editor-in-chief of The Harvard Crimson. [207][7] They were engaged during her senior year at Harvard and married the following year. [94] Blumenthal called the decision a victory against sexual exploitation of women and children, and against human trafficking connected to prostitution. Blumenthal acquired his Juris Doctor from Yale Law School, where he was classmates with former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton. Blumenthal attended Riverdale Country School in the Riverdale section of the Bronx. Her grandfather, Lawrence Wien, was a prominent lawyer and philanthropist. According to the Washington Free Beacon, Blumenthal and his wife Cynthia bought and sold shares of the stock trading app Robinhood while the Senator called for Congress to investigate the stock trading platform. [28] From 1981 to 1986, he was a volunteer counsel for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. [128] Blumenthal also requested an investigation into the lack of response from law enforcement and the military. Sen. Richard Blumenthal - Campaign Finance Summary [86], In March 2008, Blumenthal issued a letter to Craigslist attorneys demanding that the website cease allowing postings for erotic services, which he claimed promoted prostitution, and accused the site of "turning a blind eye" to the problem. Connecticut Attorney General's Office (May 10, 2002). [81] At Blumenthal's urging, MySpace installed a link to free blocking software ("K9 Web Protection"), but in May 2006, Blumenthal announced that the site had failed to make the program easy to find and that it was not clearly labeled. [192], In June 2019, Blumenthal was one of eight senators to sponsor the Made in America Act, legislation that would mandate that federal programs that had funded infrastructure projects not currently subject to Buy America standards use domestically produced materials. "We have learned something very important since the days that I served in Vietnam," declared Blumenthal in 2008, "and you exemplify it, whatever we think about the war . Bill cosponsor Tammy Baldwin said the bill would strengthen Buy America requirements and that she was hopeful both Democrats and Republicans would support "this effort to make sure our government is buying American products and supporting American workers. Richard Blumenthal[4] (/blumnl/; born February 13, 1946) is an American lawyer and politician who is the senior United States senator from Connecticut, a seat he has held since 2011. "[112] There were also other occasions where he accurately described his military service. Sen. Richard Blumenthal breaks leg at UConn parade, will undergo In 2009, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals agreed to allow Blumenthal's lawsuit to proceed. [148], In April 2019, Blumenthal was one of 11 senators to sign a letter to Juul CEO Kevin Burns asserting that the company had "lost what little remaining credibility the company had when it claimed to care about the public health" and that they would not rest until Juul's "dangerous products are out of the hands of our nation's children." In 1987, he won a special election to fill a vacancy in the 27th district of the Connecticut Senate, at age 41. [62] Kolb was initially awarded $18.3 million in damages, but Blumenthal appealed the decision and the damages initially awarded were reduced to $1.83 million. "[64] The suits cost the schools involved $2.2 million in the first four months of litigation. Some say it could be much higher. Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut is ranked among the wealthiest politicians in the U.S. Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut has significant assets from real estate across New York, partly due to his wife, Cynthia Malkin. They have four children. [80], In March 2006, Blumenthal noted that more than seven incidents of sexual assault in Connecticut had been linked directly to MySpace contacts. Members of Congress earn a salary of $174,000, which is well over twice the national average household income. [70], In November 2006, Blumenthal tried, as Paul A. Offit described it, "to legislate a disease, Chronic Lyme, into existence". Who Is Richard Blumenthal's Wife? New Details On Cynthia Malkin