The U.S. House of Representatives was out and the Senate had a shortened work week because of the Veterans Day holiday, but there was still plenty of activity in Congress. The Senate approved a final defense bill that authorizes billions of dollars in spending on weapon systems developed in Connecticut. The Federal Railroad Administration took a big step forward on an ambitious overhaul of the rail system in the Northeast Corridor.
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Final defense bill OKs 63 F-35s, other major CT weapons
WASHNGTON — The Senate on Tuesday sent on to President Obama a final defense authorization bill that paves the way for an increase in defense spending in Connecticut and the nation.
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Blumenthal, McCain press ‘paid patriotism’ ban at sports games
WASHINGTON — Tributes to U.S. troops at New England Patriot games and other professional sporting events are wasteful “paid patriotism” costing taxpayers millions of dollars, say several U.S. senators, including Richard Blumenthal, who have pressure the Pentagon to stop the practice.
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Blumenthal takes aim at NFL’s paid tributes to soldiers
WASHINGTON – Sen. Richard Blumenthal has teamed with Sen. John McCain to try to end the Pentagon’s practice of paying the National Football League and other professional sports franchises to honor American troops at sporting events.
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Blumenthal big on introducing legislation, bigger on consumer advocacy
WASHINGTON – Only one other senator co-sponsored more legislation than Sen. Richard Blumenthal in the outgoing Congress — just one indication of the Connecticut Democrat’s energy and broad reach on Capitol Hill. He’s used his position as a member of the majority party in the Senate and his role on key committees to make the most of his political clout. (This is the sixth in a series of stories about the roles each member of the Connecticut congressional delegation played in the 113th Congress.)
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Blumenthal promotes bill to combat sports blackouts
Washington – Sen. Richard Blumenthal knocked major league sports leagues Thursday, saying the federal government has given them a “blank check,” and promoted legislation that would pressure the leagues to end the blackout of games.
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Blumenthal wins on FCC sports blackout decision
WASHINGTON – Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., had a victory in his campaign to end sports blackouts of broadcasted games on Tuesday as the Federal Communications Commission unanimously decided to end its “sports blackout” rule.
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Blumenthal, McCain press FCC on sports blackout rule
Washington – Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and John McCain, R-Ariz., are pressuring the Federal Communications Commission to finalize regulations that would lift a ban on cable companies that prohibit them from running sporting events that are subject to local broadcast blackouts.