Source: {United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bobby Scott (3rd District of Virginia)
Headline: Scott Statement on Latest Trump Administration Attack on Veterans
WASHINGTON, DC– Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), the Ranking Member of the Committee on Education and Workforce, issued the following statement after the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced it would terminate collective bargaining agreements for most VA bargaining-unit employees.
“When workers come together to bargain, they earn higher wages, better benefits, and safer workplaces. Unions represent and benefit all workers regardless of whether they are in the bargaining unit or not, and unions protect all employees from retaliation and discrimination, and guard against favoritism by management.
“VA Secretary Doug Collins stripping employees of their bargaining rights is the latest salvo in the Trump Administration’s war on veterans and working people. Veterans benefit from a VA that is staffed by workers that are well-compensated, properly trained, and who work in a safe environment.
“The VA is already facing severe staffing issues, largely due to the Trump Administration’s ongoing attacks on the federal workforce in recent months. Had the administration consulted with the unions representing federal employees at the VA and other agencies, they would have been informed that blanket hiring freezes and chaotic firings are inefficient and ultimately harmful to the people they are meant to serve. Our veterans deserve better. I will continue to defend VA workers’ rights, work to ensure the VA has the resources it needs to take care of our veterans, and fight to protect veterans’ access to health care.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH)
Earlier this week, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) and Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (NH-02) held a roundtable discussion at St. Joseph Hospital with President John Jurczyk and staff about the harmful impact of the Republicans’ so-called “One Big, Beautiful Bill.” This legislation makes devastating cuts to Medicaid funding that is critical for New Hampshire hospitals and their ability to provide care to patients.
“The health care cuts contained in the Big Ugly Law will have severe repercussions across New Hampshire communities, from our hospitals to our rural health care centers to our nursing homes. I joined leaders and staff of St. Joseph Hospital to talk about these impacts and what it means for their operations and ability to provide care to patients,” said Congressman Pappas. “I’m thankful for all they do for Granite Staters and the way they continue to meet the needs of patients across southern New Hampshire.”
“The Trump Administration is making the biggest cuts to healthcare in American history. For what? To pay for another big tax giveaway to billionaires and big corporations. These GOP healthcare cuts are going to jack up healthcare costs for everyone in New Hampshire,”said Congresswoman Goodlander. “Hardworking people will feel the pain and pay the price, and that includes hardworking healthcare providers like the team at St. Joe’s Hospital. From Nashua to the North Country, I’ll never stop working to protect your healthcare.”
President Trump and Republicans’ Big, Ugly Law made deep cuts to health care and food programs for working families to cover the cost of $5 trillion in tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy.It will leave an estimated 15 million Americans uninsured, including more than 46,000 Granite Staters; trigger $500 billion in cuts to Medicare; increase monthly out-of-pocket costs for families and leave more Americans with overwhelming medical debt; defund Planned Parenthood, leaving more than 1.1 million women without access to needed care like cancer screenings and birth control; and kick millions of Americans off SNAP, leaving them unable to put food on the table – all to give tax breaks to billionaires and big Pharma.
Background:
In response to the passage of the Republicans’ reconciliation bill, Pappas and the New Hampshire delegation held a press conference at Waypointto highlight the harmful impacts of the bill on New Hampshire. Last month Pappas also met with staff and residents of Hillsborough County Nursing Home to discuss the Republican’s law and its devastating cuts to Medicaid funding will harm New Hampshire nursing homesand patient care.
Pappas voted againstRepublicans’ reconciliation bill every timeit came to the floor. Pappas filed two amendmentsto the Senate-passed Republican reconciliation bill to protect Granite Staters’ access to Medicaid and food assistance and to prevent Congress from passing the burden of cuts to these programs onto the state; neither was adopted.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH)
Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), CongressmanGus Bilirakis (FL-12), Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01), and Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), co-chairs and vice co-chairs of the Hellenic Caucus,led a bipartisan group of 40 lawmakers in calling on the U.S. Department of State to reject Turkey’s attempts to rejoin the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program. Turkey was removed from the program by the Trump Administration in 2019 and is currently subject to sanctions under the Countering American Adversaries Through Sanctions Act(CAATSA) because of the Erdogan government’s decision to purchase Russia’s S-400 surface-to-air missile defense system in direct violation of U.S. law.
Underscoring the danger of readmitting Turkey to the F-35 program while in possession of the Russian-made S-400 missile defense system, the lawmakers wrote, “Lifting sanctions or allowing Turkey back into the F-35 program without first removing its S-400s would jeopardize the integrity of F-35 systems; expose U.S. military secrets to Russian intelligence; undermine our defense industrial base and allied confidence in purchasing future U.S. platforms; and disrupt development of the next-generation fighter jet recently announced by the Administration.”
They stressed the bipartisan, bicameral support for Turkey’s removal from the program and continued sanctions: “This is not a partisan issue. Congress has consistently supported CAATSA sanctions and Turkey’s removal from the F-35 program across multiple administrations and with bipartisan support. We urge the Administration to uphold U.S. law, maintain CAATSA sanctions, and protect American defense and intelligence assets. We must continue to hold allies and adversaries alike accountable when their actions threaten U.S. interests.”
“We stand firmly in support of our servicemembers, our defense industrial base, and preserving United States leadership in global aerospace and defense capabilities, and we urge you to do the same,” they concluded.
The letter is supported by AHEPA, the American Hellenic Institute (AHI), American Jewish Committee (AJC), American Friends of Kurdistan, Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), Coordinated Effort of Hellenes, CUFI Action Fund, FDD Action, the Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC), Middle East Forum (MEF), and PSEKA – International Coordinating Committee Justice for Cyprus.
Background:
The Trump Administration removed Turkey from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program in 2019. In recent months, it has been reported that the Trump Administration is actively discussingTurkey’s readmission to the program with President Erdogan.
Pappas has led bipartisan efforts under both the Trump and Biden administrations to stop the sale of fighter jets to Turkey in response to Turkey’s continued violation of U.S. law, unprovoked aggression against key U.S. allies, and destabilizing actions throughout the region. Following repeated calls on the State Department to block the sale of fighter jets to Turkey, Pappas secured passage of a bipartisan amendmentin the House FY2023 National Defense Authorization Act(NDAA) that would have prohibited the sale of F-16s to Turkey.
In response to the Biden Administration’s notification to Congress of plans to proceed with the sale of F-16s to Turkey, Pappas again led multiple efforts opposing the proposed saleand advocating for conditionsif any such sale proceeded.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH)
U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), alongside U.S. Representatives Chris Pappas (NH-01) and Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), celebrated more than $600,000 headed to New Hampshire from the Land Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). Administered by the National Park Service, the LWCF stateside grant program provides critical resources to the state and local parks that bolster the Granite State’s outdoor recreation economy. LWCF funding was awarded to the New Hampshire Department of Natural and Cultural Resources for projects at Odiorne Point State Park in Rye and Minewawa Brook Park in Marlborough.
“New Hampshire’s great outdoors is a national treasure that brings visitors to our state, provides families space for outdoor recreation, and boosts our local economy,” said Congressman Pappas. “This funding comes at a critical time as the administration continues to roll back environmental protections, water standards, and more. We must continue working to protect our environment and with it the health of our communities, economy, and future.”
“At a time when the current administration is working against environmental protection and conservation efforts, I’m glad to see funding flow to New Hampshire’s parks from the Land Water Conservation Fund to support close-to-home recreation opportunities,” said Senator Shaheen. “I’ve long championed LWCF, and I will continue to fight for this program that helps our state’s nearly $4 billion outdoor recreation economy thrive.”
“Granite Staters recognize the value of well-maintained parks and recreation areas that showcase our state’s natural beauty,” said Senator Hassan. “My colleagues and I worked together on a bipartisan basis to pass into law the Great American Outdoors Act to help fund projects like these, which will help preserve and improve the outdoor spaces that are so central to our way of life and economy.”
“New Hampshire is home to the most beautiful land in America, and outdoor recreation is core to our way of life,” said Congresswoman Goodlander. “The federal funding we’re announcing today for New Hampshire’s public parks will make a difference to communities across our state. And I’ll never stop working to deliver every penny of federal funding promised to New Hampshire.”
TheLand and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1964established one of America’s most successful programs that supports outdoor recreation through conservation of land, water, historic, and recreational heritage. America’s outdoor recreation economy contributes $1.2 trillion to the nation’s economy each year and supports more than 5 million American jobs, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). In New Hampshire, outdoor recreationadded $3.9 billion to New Hampshire’s economyand employed 32,000 Granite Staters in 2023.
The following New Hampshire projects were awarded funding through LWCF:
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH)
To mark the 60th anniversary of the creation of Medicare and Medicaid, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) hosted a listening session at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Manchester with local health care providers, patients, and community members to discuss the importance of these programs, especially amid attacks and cuts to these programs by Republicans in Congress and the Trump Administration. Under the Big, Ugly Law, more than 15 million Americans will lose their coverage, hospitals will close, and people have fewer options to get the health care they need.
“Medicaid and Medicare matter to each and every one of us, and Granite Staters continue to speak out about the importance of these foundational programs. They ensure hardworking people can get the care they need at a cost they can afford, they support hospitals and nursing homes in our communities, and they keep costs down throughout the health care system,” said Congressman Pappas. “The Big, Ugly Law that President Trump and House Republicans passed devastates these programs, taking health care away from 15 million Americans and triggering $500 billion in cuts to Medicare. I’ll continue listening to Granite Staters and fighting for Medicare, Medicaid, and everything that matters to them in Congress.”
President Trump and Republicans’ Big, Ugly Law madedeep cuts to health care and food programs for working families to cover the cost of $5 trillion in tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy.It will leave an estimated 15 million Americans uninsured,including more than 46,000 Granite Staters; trigger $500 billion in cuts to Medicare; increase monthly out-of-pocket costs for families and leave more Americans with overwhelming medical debt; defund Planned Parenthood, leaving more than 1.1 million women without access to needed care like cancer screenings and birth control; and kick millions of Americans off SNAP, leaving them unable to put food on the table – all to give tax breaks to billionaires and big Pharma.
Background:
In response to the passage of the Republicans’ reconciliation bill, Pappas and the New Hampshire delegationheld a press conference at Waypointto highlight the harmful impacts of the bill on New Hampshire. Last week Pappas met with staff and residents of Hillsborough County Nursing Home to discuss the Republican’s law and its devastatingcuts to Medicaid funding will harm New Hampshire nursing homesand patient care.
Pappasvoted againstRepublicans’ reconciliation billevery timeit came to the floor. Pappasfiled two amendmentsto the Senate-passed Republican reconciliation bill to protect Granite Staters’ access to Medicaid and food assistance and to prevent Congress from passing the burden of cuts to these programs onto the state; neither was adopted.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH)
In direct response to the Trump Administration’s proposed rule to roll back abortion access for veterans, Congressman Chris Pappas, member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee (HVAC), helped introduce theReproductive Freedom for Veterans Act, which would guarantee that veterans and eligible dependents have the right to receive abortion care, medication, and counseling through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), without interference from political appointees or partisan agendas and protected by law.
“Taking away health care from veterans and their families who have served our country is outrageous. The Trump Administration is cruelly stripping away a critical VA resource from our veterans and their families, undermining their ability to make deeply personal medical choices about their bodies and what’s right for them, without even providing exceptions for rape or incest,” said Congressman Pappas. “For some veterans, VA is the only place they can obtain counseling and reproductive care, and I will do everything I can to fight this ban. Extreme politicians should stay out of other people’s health care decisions.”
The Trump Administration’s proposed rule would reinstate VA’s near-total abortion ban, including in cases of rape or incest. If finalized, this policy would strip access to care for veterans across the country, forcing them to either go without essential reproductive health services or seek care outside the VA.
In September 2022, following the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the VA used its rulemaking authority under theVeterans Health Care Eligibility Reform Act of 1996to allow VA health care providers to offer abortion counseling and abortion services in cases of rape, incest, and the life and health of the veteran. Prior to that rule, VA enforced the most restrictive abortion ban of any federal health care agency. The Biden-era policy survived legal challenges and was finalized in March 2023.
On August 4, 2025, the Trump Administration issued a proposed rule to repeal the 2022 policy. While the new rule preserves a narrow exception when the life of the mother is at risk, it eliminates VA’s ability to provide abortion care in nearly all other cases. If implemented, the rule would once again make the VA the only major federal health provider with such an extreme restriction.
This bill would end the uncertainty created by shifting agency policies and eliminate ambiguity in the rulemaking process when it comes to veterans’ health care. It would enshrine in law a veteran’s right to access abortion care at VA, ensuring that reproductive health services are not subject to the personal views or political agendas of any future Secretary or administration. Veterans deserve consistent, guaranteed access to the care they’ve earned and not a patchwork of policies that change with every administration.
TheReproductive Freedom for Veterans Act is endorsed by the National Women’s Law Center Action Fund, Center for Reproductive Rights, Power to Decide, Reproductive Freedom For All, Minority Veterans of America, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, American Society for Reproductive Medicine, National Council of Jewish Women, Physicians for Reproductive Health, Guttmacher Institute, National Partnership for Women & Families, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Reproductive Freedom Caucus, and the Democratic Women’s Caucus.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative for Western Samoa Congresswoman Aumua Amata
Headline: Amata Fights for the People of American Samoa
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is fighting for American Samoa’s funding. This week, in efforts that have already been underway for days, she took part in a major group letter by Members of Congress working to preserve FEMA funding nationwide, including American Samoa’s funding, and separately co-signed a letter on another funding issue with Rep. Kimberlyn King-Hinds of CNMI.
Pictured in late July in the Rayburn House Office Building
This week, Members of Congress wrote a letter, which rapidly gathered substantial bipartisan support throughout Congress, asking the Administration to immediately share with Congress, as has been past precedent, the list of awardees in respective districts so that eligible recipients can submit the best application possible before deadlines.
Like Amata, many other Members of Congress are urging the restoration of funding for states and territories through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which supports local planning and preparedness efforts, including storms and tsunami response.
“I strongly support FEMA funds and other key grants especially in our remote situation, with unique economic and geographic challenges,” said Congresswoman Aumua Amata. “While I can understand the possibility of changes in how funds are delivered or administered down to states and territories, I strongly oppose any reduction at all in our funds, and I will work for our funds persistently as I have every year I’ve represented our people.”
In another major development, a court has restrained administration changes to FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, which was created during President Donald Trump’s first term to help states, local and territorial governments and tribal nations develop plans and harden infrastructure to leave them better prepared for disasters. This program, over several years, works with up to 2,000 projects with $4.5 billion in funding. The outcome of these allocations has yet to be determined.
In another action this week, also underway for some time, Amata co-signed a letter with Representative King-Hinds, urging the Department of the Interior (DOI) for the status of the Bureau of Reclamation’s Territorial Domestic Water Supplies Program, established to improve drinking water infrastructure in the U.S. Territories.
Created in 2022, the Territorial Domestic Water Supplies Program funds projects in the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands to support the planning, design, or construction of water projects for communities or households that do not have reliable access to domestic water supplies. Through the program, Congress reserved $11 million for these four territories.
“While such interruptions may seem minor, they have a disproportionate impact on the small, resource-limited island communities relying on these funds,” the letter states. “We respectfully request clear information on the reasons for this pause and an expected timeline for when the Bureau’s support for drinking water infrastructure projects in the Territories will resume.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative for Western Samoa Congresswoman Aumua Amata
Headline: Amata Celebrates the U.S. Coast Guard’s Birthday
Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is celebrating the 235th birthday of the United States Coast Guard. On August 4th, 1790, President George Washington signed a bill passed by Congress that authorized ten revenue cutters, initially under Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton to enforce tariff laws and prevent smuggling, and their mission has grown over the years, now protecting many thousands of miles of coastal waters.
“Happy birthday to the U.S. Coast Guard, celebrating 235 years of service to the nation! American Samoa has a special relationship with the Coast Guard, which frequently arrives in our port, and I advocate the possibility of home porting in the near future. Some of our own from American Samoa serve or have served with the Coast Guard. Their proud motto is ‘Semper Paratus’or Always Ready. The Coast Guard are sure to be on their way immediately in our part of the world after any natural disaster. They help protect our waters, promote maritime safety, and help preserve our law-abiding fishing by deterring Illegal, Unregulated, and Unreported (IUU) fishing by their presence. Thank you to every Coast Guardsman, and we pray for your strength and safety.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative for Western Samoa Congresswoman Aumua Amata
Headline: Amata Welcomed at Pacific Consular Roundtable, Provides Washington Update
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata was made welcome by a roundtable meeting of the Pacific Consular Corps for Pacific Islands nations at the East-West Center in Hawaii, and she provided an update from Congress.
Amata was able to attend the roundtable en route to the funeral of her good friend, Governor Arnold Palacios, a statesman for the people of the Northern Marianas Islands, and opened her remarks by honoring his life and leadership.
Taking part were Consul General Uchel Raley Naito, Palau; Consul General Glansay Enos, RMI; Acting Consul General Henry Shrew, FSM, and James Naich, FSM; Deputy Consul-General John Pumpa, Australia; Honorary Consul Annie Kaneshiro, Tonga; and Honorary Consul Midori Akamine, UK.
“I will work closely with the new Gov. David Apatang and his administration, Rep. Kimberlyn King-Hinds and all of you here today to foster a secure and economically prosperous Pacific,” said Congresswoman Amata. “Our region has some challenges, but I’m an optimist at heart, so I look forward to hearing from you and probably listening more than talking. While there are limits to my influence, I think there is a welcoming ear from Congress and this administration to the territories, Freely Associated States, and the broader Pacific region.”
Amata referenced the President’s signing of the EU trade deal the day before, and the deal with Japan the prior week, noting the expectation these will lead to over $2 trillion in new direct investment and other incentives.
“I think the President wants to make fair deals with everyone but sometimes with small remote economies like ours in the islands there need to be adjustments, where we have unique economic and geographic conditions, so I hope to listen and learn from you today,” she said. “I will make myself and my staff available in the future if we can help as you work with the United States.”
Amata illustrated the importance of these efforts, noting how the original blanket 10 percent order on tariffs accidentally covered American Samoa, but the administration at the White House and DHS customs heard from her, worked closely and quickly in first acknowledging the issue, then fixing it within a few weeks.
“The President listened to my request to reopen fishing in the PRIMNM and understood the commonsense approach in restoring limited fishing between 50 to 200 miles for a migratory species like tuna,” she continued. “He wants to reduce the barriers to economic efficiency and make the whole ‘pie’ grow globally so that both big and small jurisdictions, including remote ones like ours, can benefit.”
“Finally, the President is investing in Pacific security. A key aspect of the One Big Beautiful Bill is directing $30 billion, perhaps more, for the Info-Pacific DOD support projects and additional U.S. Coast Guard resources,” she concluded.
Amata appreciates the work of these dedicated consular diplomatic corps professionals as their work promotes free travel, tourism, and trade throughout a vast region of numerous island nations, along with the cooperation and knowledge-sharing promoted by the important ongoing work of the East West Center.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative for Western Samoa Congresswoman Aumua Amata
Headline: Amata Highlights Five Years of the Historic Great American Outdoors Act
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is highlighting the five-year anniversary of the signing of the historic Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA)on August 4, 2020. This bipartisan legislation, signed into law by President Trump in his first term, is the largest ever investment into U.S. public lands, and it bolstered the National Parks System (NPS), permanently funded and supported the important Land Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), and established the instrumental Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF).
Rep. Amata with former Sup. Scott Burch and Ranger Pua Tuaua Jr. and hardworking maintenance crew at Amalau Bay – file photo
At the time, the legislation was widely described as the most substantial conservation legislation in a generation, as well as hailed as “a conservationist’s dream” by the National Parks Conservation Association.
The Act provided new legislative underpinnings for grants and other funding, as the LCWF helps support the four main federal land programs: National Parks, National Forests, Fish and Wildlife, and Bureau of Land Management, as well as grants to state, territory, tribal and local governments for recreation and conservation projects.
In early 2020 with NPS crew, former US Mint Director David Ryder and former NPS Regional Director Stanley Austin
The Act requires $900 million per year in perpetuity for the Land and Water Conservation Fund. This flagship conservation program is funded by royalty payments from offshore oil and gas drilling in federal waters, putting that financial support back into conservation. The LWCF was established in 1964 but until passage of the GAOA, full funding has rarely been appropriated. In September 2018, Amata voted in the Natural Resources Committee for permanent authorization of the LWCF. That authorization was accomplished by Congress in 2019, then funded fully in 2020.
File photo-L to R-Letoa James, NPS Superintendent Clay Jordan, Pastor Ben, FL Vah Ben AE Afisivalu at Fire Camp for Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park
Congress allocated $9 billion over five years through the Legacy Restoration Fund specifically to confront the longstanding nationwide backlog in maintenance and repair needs, including erosion, trail maintenance, Visitor Center upgrades, plumbing problems, and many more repair projects to reopen park sites or restore the visitor experience, supporting 72,500 jobs in nearly 400 projects.
“Any funds for improvements, maintenance or even basic upkeep efforts to our beautiful National Park of American Samoa or any other national park since 2020 have roots in this overall major legislation,” said Congresswoman Amata. “The LWCF also supports the local parks and recreation efforts by states, territories, and cities, beyond those of the National Park System, and has provided past support to our territory in that way.”
The United States is home to 63 National Parks and 433 sites in the National Park System, including monuments, memorials, battlefields, historic sites, and scenic trails. In 2023, these places attracted 33 million visits, and brought $26.4 billion to the communities surrounding all sites.
Of these, the National Park of American Samoa is unique in several ways, as the only one south of the Equator, a multi-site Park on several islands, home to South Pacific plants and wildlife species not found anywhere else in the U.S., and the inclusion of offshore preserved coral reefs.
“The Great American Outdoors Act made a new national commitment to the wonderful places attracting visitors in every state and territory,” concluded Amata. “Federally funded long term maintenance provides local jobs in each location and protects permanent value, ongoing attraction to visitors, and in American Samoa’s case, lease payments.”