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Saturday, February 22, 2025

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Senators urge reversal of mass VA employee terminations affecting veteran services

Senator Richard Blumenthal, alongside 35 Democratic Senators, has called on Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins to reverse the recent termination of over 1,000 VA employees.

By Wichita Standard | Feb 19, 2025

Local Government

Blumenthal questions VA nominee on transparency and employee terminations

At a Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing, Senator Richard Blumenthal questioned Paul Lawrence, nominee for Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs, on the effects of the Trump Administration's policies on veterans.

By Wichita Standard | Feb 19, 2025

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Blumenthal criticizes Trump administration's plan affecting new VA hires

By Wichita Standard | Feb 13, 2025

Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) has expressed concern over the Trump Administration's recommendation to terminate all federal probationary employees, which includes recently hired Department of Veterans...

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Blumenthal criticizes Trump-Musk policies impacting veteran affairs

By Wichita Standard | Feb 13, 2025

Senator Richard Blumenthal, a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, held a press conference in Washington, D.C., alongside labor unions and veterans to criticize policies affecting the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA).

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Lawmakers reintroduce HITS Act offering tax breaks for music production

By Wichita Standard | Feb 12, 2025

Reps.

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Blumenthal urges Doug Collins to focus solely on VA amid ethics office role

By Wichita Standard | Feb 11, 2025

Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal has voiced concerns over Doug Collins, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary, being appointed as interim head of both the Office of Government Ethics and the Office...

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Estes supports Trump administration's push against wasteful federal spending

By Wichita Standard | Feb 11, 2025

Rep. Ron Estes has expressed his support for initiatives aimed at reducing unnecessary federal spending in a recent op-ed published in the Washington Reporter.

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Rep. Ron Estes seeks assurance on Quivira water rights for 2026

By Wichita Standard | Feb 10, 2025

Rep. Ron Estes of Kansas has reached out to the Secretary of the Interior, Doug Burgum, regarding water rights at Quivira National Wildlife Refuge and the Rattlesnake Creek Basin.

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Senators urge VA secretary Collins to protect veteran data from Elon Musk's department

By Wichita Standard | Feb 6, 2025

Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal, along with 26 Democratic Senators, has urged Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins to take action in securing veterans' personal information.

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House observes moment of silence for Flight 5342 collision victims

By Wichita Standard | Feb 4, 2025

Today, Representative Ron Estes from Kansas led a moment of silence on the House floor in memory of those who lost their lives on January 29 when Flight 5342 and an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided.

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Blumenthal urges new VA Secretary Doug Collins to oppose harmful directives

By Wichita Standard | Feb 4, 2025

Following his confirmation vote, Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) has called on VA Secretary Doug Collins to uphold the commitments he made during his confirmation hearing.

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Blumenthal supports Doug Collins as new VA Secretary amid Trump administration concerns

By Wichita Standard | Feb 4, 2025

Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal expressed his support for Doug Collins' confirmation as Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

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Blumenthal urges Trump to halt Musk's alleged control over Treasury's payment system

By Wichita Standard | Feb 3, 2025

Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal has urged President Donald Trump to intervene in what he describes as Elon Musk's takeover of the U.S. Treasury's payment system.

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American Airlines CEO visits ICT after flight tragedy

By Wichita Standard | Feb 3, 2025

American Airlines CEO Robert Isom, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly, Wichita Mayor Lily Wu, and U.S. Representative Ron Estes visited Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport following a tragic accident involving Flight 5342.

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Kansas delegation responds to plane crash affecting Wichita community

By Wichita Standard | Jan 30, 2025

Following a tragic plane crash involving a flight from Wichita, the Kansas Congressional delegation has expressed condolences and support for those affected.

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Blumenthal criticizes Trump administration's freeze on federal aid affecting veteran programs

By Wichita Standard | Jan 28, 2025

At a recent Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing, Senator Richard Blumenthal criticized the Trump Administration's decision to freeze federal grants, including those at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

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Blumenthal criticizes Trump's firing of VA's inspector general

By Wichita Standard | Jan 25, 2025

Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal has expressed concerns following President Trump's recent dismissal of several Inspector Generals, including Mike Missal from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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Blumenthal urges full exemption of VA staff from federal hiring freeze

By Wichita Standard | Jan 24, 2025

Senator Richard Blumenthal, Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, has expressed dissatisfaction with the recent exemptions to the federal hiring freeze announced by President Trump.

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Senate Democrats urge Trump to exempt VA staff from hiring freeze

By Wichita Standard | Jan 23, 2025

Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal, along with 24 Democratic Senators, has urged President Trump to exempt all Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employees from the recent hiring freeze.

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Senator Blumenthal raises concerns over VA hiring freeze amid nominee's advancement

By Wichita Standard | Jan 23, 2025

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, the Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, expressed concerns regarding a hiring freeze at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) before a committee vote to advance Doug Collins' nomination for...