Blumenthal, Richard

Richard Blumenthal is Connecticut's senior United States senator and a Democrat who has served in the Senate since 2011. As ranking member of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, he leads the minority party's work on legislation and oversight affecting military veterans' benefits, healthcare, and services. This position gives him significant influence over the committee's investigative priorities and allows him to shape the opposition's legislative agenda on veterans' issues. Blumenthal also holds ranking member status on the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, which conducts broad oversight of federal agencies and programs.

Blumenthal's background uniquely positions him for these roles. He served as a sergeant in the United States Marine Corps Reserve from 1970 to 1976, giving him direct military experience. His legal career spans decades of public service, including 20 years as Connecticut's attorney general, where he built a reputation for prosecuting major cases involving organized crime, white-collar fraud, and civil rights violations. He also served as a U.S. attorney and worked as volunteer counsel for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, demonstrating a long commitment to justice and civil rights.

As ranking member of Veterans' Affairs, Blumenthal has focused on legislation addressing veterans' needs, including bills like the Carlton H. Ingram Veterans' Benefits Protection Act and the Advancing VA's Emergency Response to Crises Act of 2025. His work on the Judiciary Committee's Antitrust and Consumer Rights Subcommittee, combined with his oversight role on the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, reflects his broader legislative interests in protecting consumers and holding government accountable. Blumenthal has established himself as an active legislator, sponsoring over 280 bills during his tenure in the Senate.