Senator Blumenthal: Week in Review 10/2/2026-10/9/2026

Urging Roadside Safety Measures [Hartford, CT] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) joined law enforcement, tow truck operators, and road safety advocates to remind motorists to slow down and move over for emergency vehicles, first responders and others on Connecticut roads. Over the last month, a Connecticut Department of Transportation worker and a tow truck driver were killed while on the job. Elvin Hernandez was performing regular maintenance on I-95 when he was struck and killed by a driver in broad daylight. Alexander John Ramos was responding to a disabled vehicle in Bloomfield when he was struck and killed by a driver. “As sad and angry as we may be, action is what’s needed, and we should honor them with action—to raise awareness, to toughen penalties, and to provide more rules for enforcement,” said Blumenthal at the press conference. The press conference comes after Blumenthal’s bipartisan Slow Down Move Over Resolution with U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) passed the U.S. Senate last week. Blumenthal introduced this year’s Slow Down Move Over Resolution to honor Elvin and Alexander and urge awareness while driving on Connecticut roads. “Slow Down, Move Over saves lives. It’s the law in every state, but it needs to be amplified and elevated. Every year, failures to Slow Down and Move Over cause needless, senseless injuries and deaths to roadside workers like police, firefighters, emergency responders, tow truck operators, construction workers, and more. This resolution aims to make them safer by reminding drivers to slow down and move over,” said Blumenthal. The resolution highlights Slow Down, Move Over laws across the country in an effort to reduce struck-by-vehicle injuries and fatalities. The resolution also recognizes and honors the important role fire and rescue personnel, emergency medical services personnel, law enforcement officers, tow truck operators, and transportation workers play in road safety. Blumenthal further highlighted the need for Slow Down, Move Over laws and for increased roadside safety measures on Twitter/X. “Tragically, two workers were killed on CT highways just last month. My bipartisan legislation supporting Slow Down, Move Over education & enforcement can help save lives,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X . Demanding Home Heating Help Blumenthal joined advocates to call on the Senate to pass at least $7 billion for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) this winter. LIHEAP is a vital federal program that helps residents of low-income households afford to heat their homes. As fall and winter begin, demand is expected to increase, in part because of skyrocketing home heating oil prices. The cost of home heating oil in Connecticut is currently $5.91 per gallon, up 50% from June and 86% from last September. Blumenthal is demanding the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee commit $7 billion for home heating assistance this year, and urges swift release of all LIHEAP funding ahead of the coldest winter months. “The cost of home heating oil is going to be crushing—a severe and painful hardship for many families in Connecticut that simply cannot afford it, the absolutely crushing effects, emotionally as well as physically, of a winter that requires this kind of financial commitment to keep homes livable,” said Blumenthal at the press conference. “We’re facing a perfect storm in home heating oil—soaring prices, a harsh winter, and stable, flat amounts of LIHEAP. 86 percent higher costs for home heating oil and the harshness of this winter means LIHEAP must be increased—it’s a matter of simple humanity.” Calling for Immigration Warrant Reform Amid Unlawful ICE Arrests & Detentions Blumenthal held a press conference in Hartford discussing the Immigration Warrant Reform Act, legislation he is co-sponsoring to clarify existing requirements for immigration arrests and codify statutory procedures to prevent unlawful arrests and detentions. The legislation, introduced by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) would bring immigration enforcement procedures in line with standards that all state and local law enforcement already follow. “ICE’s violent, warrantless dragnet must be stopped. And that’s why I’m introducing a measure that will require standards—send a warrant, and then a public hearing where bail can be granted in public, within 24 hours. This basic standard in my view is a matter of constitutional law, but ICE has failed to follow it, and so we need to put it into our statutory law,” said Blumenthal. Blumenthal further highlighted the need for immigration warrant reform on Twitter/X. “ICE should be held to the same standards as our state & local police. That’s why I’m introducing a measure that will require a warrant for most immigration detentions,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X . As Ranking Member of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Blumenthal has led an investigation into DHS’s abuses. Over the last year, Blumenthal and U.S. Representative Robert Garcia (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, have hosted five public forums on Capitol Hill as part of their ongoing inquiry into the lawless and abusive tactics used by federal immigration agents. Blumenthal also hosted a public forum to receive testimony from the Danbury community about ICE’s destructive and indiscriminate detentions. Blumenthal was joined by Mayor Roberto Alves; attorney Glenn Formica with the American Legal Immigrant Clinic; and members of Danbury United for Immigrants. More information and videos from these forums can be found here , here , here , here , here , and here . Sounding the Alarm on Deceptive Housing Deposit Schemes Blumenthal and U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) wrote to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Andrew Ferguson calling on the FTC to investigate the emerging consumer protection issues posed by security deposit alternatives. According to recent reporting by the New York Times, landlords and management companies are increasingly offering tenants security deposit alternatives, in which tenants are allowed to pay smaller monthly or annual fees that replace the traditional lump sum of a security deposit before moving in. While these alternatives seem helpful to consumers, they expose tenants to significant financial risks—tenants are still financially responsible for any damages that occur, and unlike a typical security deposit, the alternative payments are generally non-refundable. In their letter, Blumenthal and Warren call on the FTC to investigate and take action against these deceptive fee practices. “The misleading marketing and lack of transparency surrounding these products can lead tenants to believe they function like traditional security deposits, but at a lower cost… However, in a report analyzing security deposit alternatives, the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) found that these products typically cost more than traditional security deposits over the course of a lease, may lack the protections afforded by state security deposit laws, and often fail to clearly disclose the fees tenants will be required to pay,” wrote the Senators. “From non-refundable fees and misleading marketing to inadequate disclosures, these products can take advantage of vulnerable tenants who are already struggling to afford the high cost of rental housing,” continued the Senators. Blumenthal and Warren are calling on the FTC to take action to protect tenants from these deceptive and misleading security deposit alternatives, writing, “As security deposit alternatives are becoming increasingly common, the FTC should take action to investigate, provide consumer notice, and combat misleading tactics with respect to security deposit alternatives. In particular, the Commission should issue rules requiring disclosures regarding the full costs and fees, reimbursement obligations, and non-refundable nature of these products, while also prohibiting misleading marketing practices that misrepresent how these products compare to traditional security deposits. These measures would help protect consumers, improve transparency, and ensure tenants understand the true costs and obligations associated with security deposit alternatives.” The full text of the letter can be found here . Blumenthal held a press conference in Hartford highlighting his letter calling on the FTC to investigate and take action to address the emerging issue of security deposit alternatives. “I am demanding that the Federal Trade Commission begin an investigation of these security deposit schemes, because they can be devastatingly costly to renters—especially at a time when the price of everything else, gas to groceries, is rising as well. Tenants need more protection,” said Blumenthal at the press conference. Blumenthal Bulletin Blumenthal slammed President Trump for lifting sanctions on Russian diesel, fueling Putin’s war machine. Blumenthal demanded answers from Cantor Fitzgerald about its relationship with Tether after his PSI report finds the cryptocurrency firm props up Iran’s shadow banking system. Blumenthal demanded FanDuel fess up about celebrity promotional videos after VIP message was used to target a gambling addict. Blumenthal continued to probe into the Department of Homeland Security’s misuse of taxpayer dollars, demanding answers from DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin over luxury jet purchases. Blumenthal released a statement on the release of the annual veteran suicide report. Blumenthal introduced legislation to improve support for Veterans Crisis Line employees. Blumenthal attended the Wallingford Town Fair. Blumenthal attended the opening of Elena’s Light new community center. Blumenthal attended the CT Hospice annual gala. -30-