Captain Paul W. 'Bud' Bucha VA Medical Center Act of 2025

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Bill ID: 119/s/2682
Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Sponsored by

Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]

ID: B001277

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Held at the desk.

August 8, 2025

Introduced

📍 Current Status

Next: The bill will be reviewed by relevant committees who will debate, amend, and vote on it.

🏛️

Committee Review

🗳️

Floor Action

Passed Senate

🏛️

House Review

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another meaningless exercise in legislative grandstanding, masquerading as a tribute to a genuine American hero. Let's dissect this farce.

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The bill's primary objective is to rename the West Haven VA Medical Center after Captain Paul W. "Bud" Bucha, a Medal of Honor recipient and advocate for veterans' rights. This is a classic example of "feel-good" legislation, designed to make politicians look good without actually accomplishing anything substantial.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill consists of 15 findings that read like a Wikipedia entry on Captain Bucha's life story. It then designates the West Haven VA Medical Center as the "Captain Paul W. 'Bud' Bucha VA Medical Center" and updates any references to the medical center in existing laws, regulations, and documents.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The bill affects the Department of Veterans Affairs, specifically the West Haven VA Medical Center, which will receive a new name. Captain Bucha's family and veterans' organizations might feel a sense of pride and recognition, but this is largely symbolic.

**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill has zero impact on actual policy or the lives of veterans. It's a PR stunt, meant to generate positive headlines for politicians who sponsored it. The real issues facing veterans, such as inadequate healthcare, bureaucratic red tape, and lack of support services, remain unaddressed.

In medical terms, this bill is akin to prescribing a placebo to a patient with a serious illness. It might make the patient feel better temporarily, but it doesn't address the underlying condition. In this case, the "disease" is the systemic neglect of veterans' needs, and this bill is just a Band-Aid on a bullet wound.

To put it bluntly, this legislation is a waste of time and resources. It's a cynical attempt to exploit Captain Bucha's legacy for political gain, rather than actually working towards meaningful reforms that would improve the lives of veterans.

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💰 Campaign Finance Network

Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$54,100
16 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$0
Committees
$0
Individuals
$54,100

No PAC contributions found

No organization contributions found

No committee contributions found

1
ALIX, JAY
2 transactions
$6,600
2
ROURE, RITA
2 transactions
$6,600
3
CHAVEZ, TOM
2 transactions
$6,600
4
OLSON, LYNDON
1 transaction
$3,300
5
KIM, CHRISTINE M.
1 transaction
$3,300
6
JONES, JERRY C.
1 transaction
$3,300
7
NESSEL, ARIEL
1 transaction
$3,300
8
VAIDYA, VIVEK
1 transaction
$3,300
9
MOREAU, MICHAEL
1 transaction
$3,000
10
ALHADI, AYAD
1 transaction
$2,900
11
SIMONS, NAT
1 transaction
$2,900
12
NEFF, THOMAS M.
1 transaction
$2,500
13
ERICKSON, MARKHAM
1 transaction
$2,500
14
COMER, JAMES P.
2 transactions
$2,000
15
HALL, RICHARD
1 transaction
$1,000
16
OPENSHAW, JENNIFER
1 transaction
$1,000

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 1 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]

ID: M001169

Top Contributors

10

1
MASHANTUCKET PEQUOT TRIBAL NATION
Organization MASHANTUCKET, CT
$3,300
Nov 4, 2024
2
SAC & FOX TRIBE OF THE MISSISSIPPI IN IOWA
Organization TAMA, IA
$2,500
Nov 5, 2024
3
MOHEGAN TRIBE OF INDIANS OF CONNECTICUT
Organization UNCASVILLE, CT
$2,000
Mar 30, 2023
4
WINNER'S PROPERTIES LLC
Organization VIRGINIA BEACH, VA
$3,300
Dec 1, 2023
5
CLB PARTNERS LLC
Organization TRENTON, NJ
$3,300
Dec 21, 2023
6
CIS REALTY GROUP
Organization LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ
$3,300
Dec 18, 2023
7
CIS REALTY GROUP
Organization LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ
$3,300
Dec 18, 2023
8
MCCARTER & ENGLISH, LLP
Organization NEWARK, NJ
$3,300
Dec 21, 2023
9
BARK AND BEE HONEY COMPANY LLC
Organization LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ
$3,300
Dec 29, 2023
10
CLB PARTNERS LLC
Organization TRENTON, NJ
$3,300
Dec 21, 2023

Donor Network - Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

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Showing 21 nodes and 23 connections

Total contributions: $61,900

Top Donors - Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]

Showing top 16 donors by contribution amount

16 Individuals