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Richard Blumenthal's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

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Official Position: Candidate addressed this issue directly by taking the Political Courage Test.
Inferred Position: Candidate refused to address this issue, but Vote Smart inferred this issue based on the candidate's public record, including statements, voting record, and special interest group endorsements.
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Richard Blumenthal did not provide voters with positions on key issues covered by the 2022 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests from Vote Smart and voters like you.

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Issue Positions

For Presidential and Congressional candidates who refuse to provide voters with their positions, Vote Smart has researched their public records to determine their likely responses. These issue positions are from 2022.

  • Rated 100% by Planned Parenthood Action Fund (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "SCOTUS & Republicans have signaled their next move: a nationwide ban on abortion. The time is now for President Biden to issue an executive order to defend reproductive freedoms so women can continue to make their own decisions about their bodies, lives, & futures." (twitter.com)
  • "48 years ago Roe v. Wade established the legal right to an abortion. Today we celebrate that victory & recommit to making sure everyone has access to reproductive health care no matter their income, race, or ZIP code. #RoeAnniversary" (twitter.com)
  • "It has never been more urgent for us to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act. Yesterday, I went to the floor to call on the Senate to codify the 50 years of precedent established by Roe v. Wade." (twitter.com)
  • Rated 100% by National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Happy 83rd birthday to Social Security—a program supporting millions of American seniors & helping those w/disabilities live with dignity & economic independence. I am committed to working to strengthen the program & ensure its continuation for generations to come." (twitter.com)
  • "Medicare expansion of vision, hearing & dental care for seniors, tax cuts for families, universal pre-K, paid family & medical leave, tuition-free community college, bold action on climate &millions of new jobs. This budget resolution puts the needs of the American people first." (twitter.com)
  • "The Trump budget’s attack on Medicare lays bare the real Republican agenda—destroy the health care safety net. We should be expanding this successful program, not gutting it." (twitter.com)
  • "Proud to join my colleagues in calling out the dark money political push against the Court to deliver verdicts that please partisan donors & prop up the likes of the NRA." (twitter.com)
  • "To preserve our democracy, we need to protect voting rights & increase transparency for campaign financing. If we don’t shine a light on the dark money infiltrating our politics, the mega-rich & special interests will be deciding elections, not the American people." (twitter.com)
  • Rated 95% by Common Cause (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "For 8 minutes & 46 seconds we stood in solemn silence—honoring the lives of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, & countless others. Our country cannot ignore the racial injustices ingrained in the fabric of our nation. There must be action. There must be reform." (twitter.com)
  • "Real change will not come without criminal culpability for police misconduct, the implementation of use of force standards, an end to qualified immunity & harmful police practices, & more." (twitter.com)
  • "This bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act makes robust milestone investments in strategic defense to keep our country secure&CT’s economy strong. Particularly important is the solid support for new submarines&helicopters—made by the world’s finest workforce here in CT." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of S 1605 "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Excited to announce $500,000 in federal funding for New Haven’s Youth Continuum & their work to support vulnerable youth. This vital grant will change countless lives—addressing homelessness, trafficking, substance abuse, mental health, & other challenges." (twitter.com)
  • "The #BuildBackBetterAct will invest $5 billion in intervention programs to help communities end the scourge of gun violence. Amazing to talk with advocates in New Haven about the lifesaving work that will be done with this federal funding." (twitter.com)
  • "We are taking action to make sure that forever chemicals like PFAS are forever gone. $10 billion in infrastructure funding will now be deployed to decontaminate our environment & protect people from these disease-causing chemicals." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 5376 “Inflation Reduction Act of 2022” (votesmart.org)
  • "Replenishment of the Restaurant Revitalization fund is essential to keep our beloved restaurants open. Yesterday Rep. Johnson, Mayor DeVivo, & I got the chance to hear from Willimantic Brewing about the pandemic challenges they have faced & the need for this federal funding." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of S 4008 "Small Business COVID Relief Act of 2022" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "We need a full & fair relief package that meets the moment. $1.9 trillion is a floor, not a ceiling. It can’t be done piecemeal as the economic crisis deepens & the pandemic worsens. Time is not on our side." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 4521 "America COMPETES Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 5376 “Inflation Reduction Act of 2022” (votesmart.org)
  • "The Inflation Reduction Act will bolster Connecticut’s green energy manufacturers & bring down the cost of heating and air conditioning. This historic investment in clean energy will have immense enduring impact." (twitter.com)
  • "I voted a resounding YES on the Inflation Reduction Act. This legislation is history-making & record-setting. It will save money, it will save lives, & it will help save the planet." (twitter.com)
  • "By canceling significant amounts of student debt and extending the pause on federal student loan repayments, President Biden has taken significant steps forward in addressing the immense student debt crisis." (twitter.com)
  • "President Biden’s student loan initiative brings real relief to millions of hard-working Americans. I have listened to Connecticut residents who are struggling to make ends meet under the mountain of ever-growing student loan debt." (twitter.com)
  • "The student loan debt crisis was a financial bomb ready to go off well before the pandemic—& after thousands lost their jobs in this economic downturn, the fuse has been lit. We’re urging the Admin to take bold action to ease the burden for student borrowers. #CancelStudentDebt" (twitter.com)
  • Rated 95% by Common Cause (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "There is no time to waste. We must stand up to this attack on our democracy & pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act." (twitter.com)
  • "TX district court nominee J. Campbell Barker’s record is textbook for an ideologue: he argued businesses can deny services to same-sex couples, defended discriminatory voter ID law, supported the Muslim travel ban, & promoted restrictions on abortion access." (twitter.com)
  • "We now face a tsunami of voter suppression bills crashing on this nation. Yesterday’s voting rights hearing was a call to action to protect our democracy & live up to America’s founding ideals. We cannot let these attacks stand." (twitter.com)
  • "Climate change is an existential crisis. I’m proud to co-sponsor the #GreenNewDeal—affirming our commitment to develop a plan to tackle the devastating effects of climate change, create high-paying jobs in renewable energy & address disparities in communities affected by pollution." (twitter.com)
  • "Doctors & nurses are seeing more asthma, heart disease, lung disease, & cancer from air pollution. We must do more to invest in clean, renewable sources of energy & other climate solutions to ensure our communities are healthier & safer." #ClimateIsHealth (twitter.com)
  • Rated 100% by League of Conservation Voters (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "The Inflation Reduction Act will bolster Connecticut’s green energy manufacturers & bring down the cost of heating and air conditioning. This historic investment in clean energy will have immense enduring impact." (twitter.com)
  • "A clear failure of vision & leadership. Trump’s #DirtyPowerScam is a distorted interpretation of the Clean Power Plan—failing to set real carbon emission standards for power plants & other key polluters. Climate change is not a myth, we must stop dragging our feet & take action." (twitter.com)
  • "Climate change is a clear & escalating national security threat. That’s why I’ve pressed the Pentagon to develop & implement technology to truly combat dangerous pollutants. Our military should be in the business of deterring foreign adversaries, not endangering the planet." (twitter.com)
  • "Climate change is an existential crisis. This #EarthDay I remain committed to addressing its real, immediate threats to our environment, health, & economy. The time is now for bold action to protect our precious planet for generations to come." (twitter.com)
  • Rated 100% by League of Conservation Voters (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Inaction on gun violence is not an option. We need to do everything in our power to prevent mass shootings & gun deaths. The laws we are fighting to pass will save lives." (twitter.com)
  • Rated 100% by Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "The bipartisan plan on gun violence is a breakthrough moment that wouldn’t be possible without CT's amazing activists. Red flag laws, mental health support, school safety, & more—these measures will save lives. I won’t stop fighting to get this framework over the finish line." (twitter.com)
  • "The march & rally drew crowds in Newtown—with March For Our Lives leaders championing laws that can save lives by stopping gun violence. Enough is enough." (twitter.com)
  • "Confirming Amy Coney Barrett—who actively opposes the ACA—would be devastating for millions of Americans. Just ask my constituents who would face real harm in real ways if the Supreme Court guts the ACA." (twitter.com)
  • "If the Republican-backed lawsuit against the Affordable Care Act succeeds, Americans’ health care protections will be eviscerated. They will be lost. Not just for a year or two, but likely, for many who rely on the ACA for lifesaving care, a lifetime." (twitter.com)
  • "America must prioritize the people in supermarkets, not the stock market. Not a new idea, more true now than ever. We can start by approving paid sick leave, expanded food assistance, & robust unemployment insurance." (twitter.com)
  • "Family and Medical Leave Act protections have given millions of Americans job security and peace of mind. On its 25th anniversary, let’s take the next step and expand #PaidLeave with the #FAMILYAct. #FMLA25" (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 6201 “Families First Coronavirus Response Act” (votesmart.org)
  • "Workers at companies like Amazon & Instacart are delivering pivotal food & supplies during required social distancing. Employers have an obligation to provide paid sick leave & a safe work environment for those out on the frontlines of this pandemic." (twitter.com)
  • "Introduced bill today to allow Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices. Would save seniors&taxpayers billions of dollars." (twitter.com)
  • "Prescription drug prices are out of control around the US & especially in CT. This issue demands immediate bipartisan action. I'm beginning a Summer of Action with town halls, meetings, & round tables to generate the awareness & action necessary to combat skyrocketing prices." (twitter.com)
  • "The Senate must now swiftly pass this comprehensive legislation. We must meet the urgent needs of all Americans—especially cutting prescription drug costs, reducing taxes, making child care & elder care more affordable, & combatting climate change." (twitter.com)
  • "This deal for cutting prescription drug prices is a leap forward. Slashing skyrocketing costs for millions will mean real savings for Americans who have been paying far more than they should be for life-saving medication." (twitter.com)
  • Rated 1% by NumbersUSA (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Sadly & inexcusably, my Republican colleagues rejected a clear path forward to reopen the government & then negotiate border security—the same path forward they unanimously supported only a month ago. I will continue to fight to reopen the government." (twitter.com)
  • "The real path forward is simple: McConnell must permit votes & passage of bills to fund & reopen the government, Trump must sign. Then we must move forward on border security—we all agree it’s vital, but not a wasteful, abhorrent wall, sea to shining sea." (twitter.com)
  • "As the Trump admin doubles down on its despicable, indiscriminate immigration enforcement tactics, I am more firmly committed than ever to protecting spaces like schools&hospitals. That’s why I’m leading legislation to prevent immigration enforcement at these sensitive locations." (twitter.com)
  • "For a decade DACA has offered protections to millions of Dreamers who have grown up here & made vital contributions to our communities. DACA recipients’ protective status shouldn't hang in the balance. We must create a permanent solution that includes a pathway to citizenship." (twitter.com)
  • "I’m overwhelmed by the hardship these families, especially kids, have endured&the generosity of all the volunteers. I’m more determined than ever to fight for comprehensive immigration reform&make sure asylum seekers, who are escaping persecution&violence, can find a home here." (twitter.com)
  • "Trump’s era of chaos, cruelty & failed immigration policies has ended, but in its wake is a system in desperate need of repair. I’m proud to co-sponsor the #USCitizenshipAct that will deliver permanent protections to immigrants while responsibly & effectively managing our border." (twitter.com)
  • "As the Trump admin doubles down on its despicable, indiscriminate immigration enforcement tactics, I am more firmly committed than ever to protecting spaces like schools&hospitals. That’s why I’m leading legislation to prevent immigration enforcement at these sensitive locations." (twitter.com)
  • "For a decade DACA has offered protections to millions of Dreamers who have grown up here & made vital contributions to our communities. DACA recipients’ protective status shouldn't hang in the balance. We must create a permanent solution that includes a pathway to citizenship." (twitter.com)
  • "I’m overwhelmed by the hardship these families, especially kids, have endured&the generosity of all the volunteers. I’m more determined than ever to fight for comprehensive immigration reform&make sure asylum seekers, who are escaping persecution&violence, can find a home here." (twitter.com)
  • "Trump’s era of chaos, cruelty & failed immigration policies has ended, but in its wake is a system in desperate need of repair. I’m proud to co-sponsor the #USCitizenshipAct that will deliver permanent protections to immigrants while responsibly & effectively managing our border." (twitter.com)
  • "America must stand for more than just money. Sanctions against China’s human rights abuses are a moral imperative. Stronger steps are necessary, not less." (twitter.com)
  • "Deeply moving plea by President Zelensky on this morning’s call for desperately needed American arms support & stronger economic sanctions." (twitter.com)
  • "I join my colleagues Sens Graham & van Hollen in advocating extreme steps including sanctions & other strong measures if the Turks invade Syria & take hostile, unhumanitarian action against Kurdish forces our partners & allies who have stood by & fought with us against ISIS." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 7691 “Making emergency supplemental appropriations for assistance for the situation in Ukraine for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, and for other purposes.” (votesmart.org)
  • "Deeply moving plea by President Zelensky on this morning’s call for desperately needed American arms support & stronger economic sanctions." (twitter.com)
  • "President Zelenskyy’s speech was deeply impassioned & impactful. He is a profile in courage. The people of Ukraine need our support now more than ever. Congress must respond to this plea w/action. We need to provide additional military&humanitarian aid to counter Putin’s attack." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 7691 “Making emergency supplemental appropriations for assistance for the situation in Ukraine for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, and for other purposes.” (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of S. 3522 “Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022” (votesmart.org)
  • "Cosponsoring @SenWhitehouse’s Paying A Fair Share Act – ensuring ppl with the highest income pay their fair share" (twitter.com)
  • "It’s time we make corporations & the wealthy pay their fair share so we can invest in American families, workers, & seniors. I’m eager to work with my colleagues as we finalize this proposal for a vote in the fall." (twitter.com)
  • "Our bill will cut costs for consumers. It will help families better afford groceries, gas, & utilities while billionaire tax cheats will finally have to pay their fair share." (twitter.com)
  • Rated 3% by National Tax Limitation Committee (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Trump is betting the farm on a deeply dangerous trade war—other people's farms. There's a need to be tough on China, but the total lack of any strategy—only chaos & conflict—are roiling the markets. Soon the economy will feel the brunt, & costly burden." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5430 "United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act." (votesmart.org)

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