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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Scalise (1st District of Louisiana)

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) joined Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), and Congressman John Rutherford (R-Fla.) to discuss the progress House Committees are making on reconciliation in order to pass President Trump’s agenda of energy independence, border security, lower taxes, reduced government spending, and protection for America’s most vulnerable. As the House celebrates Police Week with legislation on the floor, Leader Scalise also highlighted a brave Capitol Police Officer in his life, David Bailey, who took a bullet to save the lives of Members of Congress during the Congressional Baseball Game shooting in 2017.

Click here or the image above to view Leader Scalise’s full remarks. 
On the heroism of our law enforcement:“Well, I’m proud to join my colleagues in celebrating National Law Enforcement Week, bringing a number of bills to the floor to give better protections to our men and women in law enforcement, and just continue to remind those brave heroes that we have their back, like Sheriff Rutherford and so many others in law enforcement, they now serve in Congress. Pete Stauber, who was a cop on the beat, I room with. You know the kind of heroes that they are, and we hear about heroes a lot. “You sometimes hear stories about heroes in law enforcement. I get to walk with one of those heroes every day. I’m going to embarrass him, and he’s going to be upset with me, but he happens to be with me this morning. That’s David Bailey. You want to meet a real-life American hero. It’s that man right there. I wouldn’t be here today, and probably about a dozen other Members of Congress wouldn’t be here today, if not for his bravery, that I got to experience firsthand. I didn’t get to see it all, but I heard it all. Over 100 rounds of gunfire. When a gunman came out on a ball field and tried to kill all of us, and the only reason we’re alive today is because he put himself between us and the gunfire, risked his life, got hit during the shootout. The only reason we’re alive and [the gunman is] not is because of the bravery of David Bailey and Crystal Griner. “While we hear about heroes every now and then, when you actually get to see one and walk around with one, and he came back to work when he got out of the hospital for his treatment, he wanted to go back to work because he loves what he does. He cares about his training. It’s not talked about a lot because many men and women in law enforcement might never have to use their revolver. Hopefully, they don’t, and they don’t want to. But they go to training every day in case they have to, so they’re ready to risk their lives to protect us and our communities. And that’s what David did. The reason that we’re all here today, including him, is because he took his training so seriously. In the days where you could have just phoned it in. He said, ‘You know what? If I’m ever called on to be ready, I want to be prepared to do the job.’ We know there’s so many brave men and women just like David, but I got to see it and experience it. I’m here because of him, and I’m always going to pay tribute to the great heroism of what law enforcement represents. I hope we all remember that. It’s not just a talking point. It’s not just stories that we hear about. I got to experience it, and a number of my colleagues would tell you the exact same thing.” On House Committees’ progress on reconciliation:“We also, of course, are moving through the reconciliation bill and finishing it up this week. This incredibly important work, we’re doing what a lot of people said couldn’t be done. We’re doing it because families are relying on us to get this done. We’ve had many meetings with President Trump, including the last one with the Speaker and the Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee [Jason] Smith, Chairman of Energy and Commerce Committee [Brett] Guthrie last week in the Oval Office to finalize some of the final pieces of this bill. A lot of work has gone into getting 11 committees ready to complete all of their work today. By the end of today, think about that: 11 committees.“When we did this in 2017, which is an important bill, Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, to get economic growth, to get our economy moving again, to create jobs, to put more money in the paychecks of workers. There were only two committees involved in that back in 2017. There’s 11 involved this time. Each one of them has hit their mark. And by the end of today, all of them will have exceeded the things that they were asked by us to do, and they will be delivering a great product for all Members of Congress to vote on.” On reconciliation benefitting lower and middle-income American families:“Now, we all know not all Members of Congress will vote for that bill. But everybody who casts a no vote is going to have some tough questions to answer back home. Why would you vote against tax relief for work and families? You can lie all day long, as the Whip pointed out, about the rich and the billionaires. The rich and the billionaires are always going to figure out how to get through whatever the tax code looks like. You know who can’t figure out every single component of it, especially if a tax goes up on you? It’s the lower and middle-income families of America who have been struggling. We were losing our middle class before 2017, when we finally lowered rates for those hardworking families. We saw the benefits primarily to lower and middle-income families.“They would be the ones hit the hardest if this bill were not to pass. Luckily, we’re going to come together and figure it out as we have every step of the way to get this done for the American people, because failure is not an option. We’re going to get our economy moving again. We will give President Trump the resources he needs to keep our border secure. Now that he has secured it, he needs additional tools for our border patrol agents. We’re going to make America energy independent again. It’s in this bill. We’re going to remove the threat of a debt crisis in this bill. So many other important things. We’re getting people back to work in this bill. It’s an important piece of legislation, but I want to commend all the committees, all 11 committees who have worked hours and hours tirelessly, get their work done, starting with the leadership of President Trump, making sure that every step of the way, when there were questions, when there were final decisions that had to be made, he was always one phone call away, and he’ll continue to be. This process isn’t over. We’re just getting close to maybe halftime. When we pass this bill next week through the House, it’ll go to the Senate. They’ll do their work. But we will get this bill to President Trump’s desk before the July Fourth deadline that the White House has asked for.”On the leadership of Speaker Johnson:“The reason that we’ve been able to hit all of these marks is because in every meeting, and I’ve been in all these meetings, the Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, has been about as patient of a man as I’ve seen, listening to our Members. Believe me, you know this, we have Members that have a lot of different points of view, have a lot of different views on how the bill should be put together. They are not ashamed to express those views, but at the end of the day, we’ve all got to come together. He has brought our Members together on every tough issue. There are a lot of tough issues. Might be one remaining to solve, but we’ve gotten through every one of them because he’s had the patience of Job and continues to lead us in the right direction for those families who are counting on us.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Scalise (1st District of Louisiana)

JEFFERSON, La.—Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) joined CNBC’s Squawk Box to discuss bringing permanency to the tax code and passing President Trump’s agenda through the reconciliation package. Leader Scalise outlined how unleashing energy production, securing the border, and cutting wasteful spending would help hardworking families. Additionally, Leader Scalise emphasized the need to strengthen social safety net programs for the people those programs are intended for: vulnerable American citizens, including disabled people, pregnant women, and Americans who have fallen on hard times.

Click here or the image above to view Leader Scalise’s full interview. 
On stability through pro-growth tax code:“No, all the rates are going to stay the same, and that’s really good news for the economy to get stability in the tax code. And we’re looking to do it permanently, not just for another 10-year extension. There’s going to be, of course, some of the things President Trump talked about, like no tax on tips. But you’re going to see a continued pro-growth tax code and a prevention of any tax increases on anybody, which is going to bode really well, I think, for investment, economic growth, lowering inflation, lowering costs at the grocery store for families, all of the things that we want to get done.”On avoiding tax hikes:“There was a lot of pushback from our members, a lot of us that want to ensure that nobody gets a tax increase, because at the end of the day, what was so successful about what we did in 2017 with President Trump’s tax cuts is that we lowered tax rates for everybody. And by the way, not only did everybody do better, all income groups did better, but it was the lower and middle income groups that did the best when you see true economic growth and true reinvestment in America. And so why would you want to raise taxes on anybody? That’s what the Democrats do. And by the way, when you go look in these states where they go after the wealthy – hey, look at New York. They’ve got a billionaire’s tax. Well, guess who’s leaving New York? All the billionaires. And they’re moving to places like Florida and Texas, and Tennessee that have zero income tax. So same thing in California. They go after their wealthy people. They try to play class warfare. And then those people just say, ‘Okay, if you don’t like me, then I’ll leave and go somewhere where I’m liked.’”On strengthening social safety net programs for deserving Americans:“Of course, it’s getting paid for. And that’s, again, you go back and look at 2017. We took in more revenue the next year after we cut taxes than what we took in in the history of the country.“Well, that’s because of some of the other programs that are untouched. Medicare and Social Security we all know have cyclical problems. And under Biden’s own Medicare actuaries, those programs are in trouble. We need to save those programs from bankruptcy, but you can’t touch that in budget reconciliation. So, for somebody to try to blame a deficit or a debt on budget reconciliation when you can’t even have an impact on those programs, it’s disingenuous. Let’s talk about what we’re doing with this bill as it relates to the overall picture of the budget.“This bill is being paid for in a number of ways. One, you do actual savings. You get things like stopping illegals from being on some of these programs, putting work requirements into Medicaid, putting work requirements into SNAP, the food stamp program. That yields big savings for taxpayers. By the way, it’s going to get people back in the workforce. These programs are safety net programs. They’re not designed for somebody, the 35-year-old sitting in his mom’s basement playing video games, turning down work. That is not what a social safety net program is. It’s to help disabled people, pregnant women, and people in hard times. That’s what we’re going to focus these programs back on. It’s going to make the programs work better, but it will give big savings to the taxpayer.”On keeping tax rates low:“I don’t want to see that change. I don’t want to see us going after any particular group like that. But let’s let the bill come out and see where they ultimately decide. This was one of the final decisions that a lot of members went back and forth on. And look, each one of these are tough decisions. Some are easier decisions than others. Work requirements are very widely supported. Carried interest, higher top rate. There was a lot of pushback on some of those.“We’re not trying to change the tax code, meaning upper rate for you and lower rate for somebody else. We want to keep all the rates low. We want to keep the rates where they were. Then there were some additional add-ons, like no tax on tips. Those were things that the President specifically ran on.“We’re not looking to make a change there. I know, maybe you want to see their rate go up. We didn’t want to see any rates go up.”On passing President Trump’s agenda through reconciliation: “Yeah, and most of his priorities are in this bill, and he loves this bill. He loves the things that we’re doing because it’s going to get real economic growth. It’s going to help families who are struggling. By the way, opening up energy production, border security, all that’s in this bill, too. Debt ceiling, taking that off the table for two years, so you don’t have to worry about that debt crisis coming. All of those things are in the bill, too.“Yes. Those are permanent changes.“It’s one big, beautiful bill. That may be the name of it.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Scalise (1st District of Louisiana)

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Last night, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) joined Fox News’ Hannity alongside Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) to discuss the new report revealing the FBI’s gross mishandling of the 2017 shooting that almost took his life, which falsely labeled the shooter’s clear political motivations as ‘suicide by cop’. Leader Scalise highlighted David Bailey and Crystal Griner, the two brave police officers who were shot during the shootout, and commended FBI Director Patel for his transparency in turning over the previously withheld documents that exposed the FBI’s lies.

Click here or the image above to view Leader Scalise’s full interview. 
On the FBI’s cover-up of the shooter’s political intentions:“Well, Sean, you know, God answered a lot of prayers that day. But when the FBI initially pulled those of us from the baseball shooting into a hearing after we got out of the hospital, they called it suicide by cop. And we were so offended, we walked out of the hearing. We said, ‘How can you call that suicide by cop when he tried to kill the two cops that were with me that day?’ David Bailey and Crystal Griner were both shot during the shootout, and the shooter tried to kill all of us that day, and it was politically motivated. And yet in their report, they said it wasn’t politically motivated. In fact, they withheld facts that the shooter had on his person that showed that he had political motivations to then say falsely that it wasn’t politically motivated.“You know, this begs the question, why was the FBI trying to mislead back in 2017? I applaud Kash Patel for getting the facts out and getting the record corrected, but the FBI in 2017 falsely put out information. Look, Jim Jordan’s name was on that shooter’s hit list, too, and he had very dire intentions to kill Republicans. That’s what he said he wanted to do. It wasn’t suicide by cop, and yet the report by the FBI initially tried to claim it was – it was false.”On Kash Patel shedding light on the FBI’s lies:“Well, they lied to us deliberately, and again, they not only lied. They withheld information. I read the report over the weekend that they leaked out, and they finally showed the country. There were things in that report I had never seen, not even in 2017, that were deliberately withheld by the FBI. Again, Kash Patel finally got it out there so the public can see what really happened. They should have done that in 2017. Those people need to be held accountable, Sean.“God performed miracles that day, Sean.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (District of Columbia)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On the two-month anniversary of Senate passage of a bill to correct an issue caused by the recent continuing resolution (CR) to cause a projected $1 billion shortfall to D.C.’s local budget through the end of the fiscal year, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) again urged the House to bring the bill to the floor for a vote. Even after the District invoked a 2009 law that would allow it to increase its approved budget by up to 6%, D.C. is facing a projected $400 million shortfall by the end of the fiscal year because of the CR – despite having the funds, which are raised from its own local revenue and include zero federal dollars. 

The CR passed in March omitted a longstanding provision to allow D.C. to continue spending under its local fiscal year 2025 budget, forcing the District to revert to spending at fiscal year 2024 levels for the remainder of the fiscal year. The Senate passed a bill, introduced by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, on March 14 to correct the issue, immediately after passing the CR, but the House has yet to vote on it. President Trump called for immediate House passage of Collins’ bill on March 28. 

“It has now been two months since the Senate passed Senator Collins’ bill to correct the problem caused by the CR, while the House has yet to vote on the bill, despite President Trump himself calling for it,” Norton said. “I am grateful the Senate worked swiftly to correct this grave and intentional omission that has devastating consequences for the District. It’s time for the House to do its part and bring the bill to the floor for a vote. 

“This ordeal only helps to highlight the need for D.C. statehood so that D.C. can finally govern itself to the same extent afforded to the states, including making decisions about how to use its own local funds.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (District of Columbia)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today introduced a bill to establish an inspector general for the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB), which manages the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), a retirement plan available to federal employees and members of the armed services.

“I frequently heard from constituents about many problems with the TSP system after it changed platforms in 2022, including discrepancies in account balances, difficulties accessing accounts, lost beneficiary information, and hours-long wait times for customer service,” Norton said. “While I am pleased that the widespread problems with the TSP’s online system have been addressed since then, the FRTIB should be held to the same standards of accountability as any other federal agency. Accountability mechanisms at FRTIB, including establishing an independent inspector general, are necessary to prevent a recurrence of similar widespread failures and ensure any future issues are promptly and effectively addressed.”

After a request headed by Norton and former Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), the Government Accountability Office conducted a comprehensive review of the planning, contract award and implementation of the new TSP system, as well as oversight by FRTIB.

Norton’s introductory statement follows.

 

Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton on the Introduction of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board Inspector General Act of 2025

May 13, 2025

Today, I introduce the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board Inspector General Act of 2025, which would create an independent Inspector General (IG) for the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB).  The FRTIB administers the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), the retirement savings and investment plan for federal employees.

In 2022, the FRTIB launched a new recordkeeping system with the goal of modernizing TSP’s recordkeeping, improving customer service and bolstering cybersecurity.  There were widespread problems with the new system, including account access, account balances, missing or incomplete information in accounts and hours-long wait times to reach customer service.  I, along with several colleagues, asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to examine the implementation of the new system. GAO found that FRTIB “did not fully implement key acquisition management practices…[which] significantly increased the risk of a problematic rollout of the new system.” 

TSP has approximately 7.2 million participants and $937 billion in assets, making it the world’s largest defined contribution plan. Federal employees dedicate their careers to serving our country, and they deserve a retirement savings and investment plan that provides top-tier customer support and security.

While the Employee Benefits Security Administration has oversight responsibility for TSP, as it does for private sector 401(k) plans, there is no IG for the FRTIB.  The problems with the rollout of the recordkeeping system are evidence enough that the FRTIB needs an independent IG.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH)

Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), along with U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and U.S. Representative Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), today welcomed the announcement of over $2 million in federal funds they helped secure from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to clean up contaminated Brownfield sites in Nashua, Milford and Concord. New Hampshire has received more than $72 million in Brownfield funding since the program began in 1994. While the delegation welcomed the funds Congress approved on a bipartisan basis, they criticized the Trump administration for proposing to cut virtually all funding for EPA grant programs to states, like the Brownfields program, and rolling back other environmental protection programs at the EPA that help keep Granite Staters and the environment healthy.

“New Hampshire’s economy and way of life are rooted in our surroundings, and it’s great to see these funds delivered to New Hampshire to clean up contaminated sites,” said Congressman Chris Pappas. “However planned layoffs, funding cuts, the cancellation of critical research projects, and the EPA’s recent announcement that it will rescind limits keeping toxic PFAS chemicals out of our water will directly harm Granite Staters. I will continue pushing EPA to fulfill its obligations to New Hampshire communities, and I will never stop fighting to safeguard our environment for future generations and ensure that every family has access to clean, safe drinking water.”

“Congress has long provided bipartisan support to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Brownfields program to clean up and provide new economic life to contaminated sites in communities big and small. This funding we secured—which will help Nashua, Milford and Concord revitalize and remediate sites in their communities—is especially important as the administration threatens to roll back environmental protections that help keep Granite Staters safe,” said Senator Shaheen. “As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I’ll continue pushing back against efforts to restrict resources and staffing so that the EPA can uphold its responsibility to protect public health and the environment.”

“While this federal funding for three toxic waste sites in New Hampshire is one good step forward in cleaning up polluted land to put it back into use, the Trump Administration is simultaneously taking several steps backwards that make people less healthy, including its move to do away with protections against PFAS in drinking water,” said Senator Hassan. “I will continue to support efforts that get our communities and our economy the clean and safe land, air, and water that they need to thrive.”

“Brownfields Grants from the United States Environmental Protection Agency are critical to ensuring the health and well-being of communities, economies, and environments across New Hampshire,” said Congresswoman Goodlander. “At a time when the Trump Administration has put much-needed federal funding on the chopping block, I’m encouraged to see these grants heading to projects in Nashua, Concord, and Milford, where they will do what federal funding is meant to: reinvest your taxpayer dollars here at home. I will never stop fighting to deliver every penny of federal funding promised to New Hampshire.”

Disbursed through the EPA, the City of Concord will receive $678,000 to clean up the former Concord Stables site, which has been vacant for decades and is contaminated with petroleum products and inorganic contaminants. Nashua Regional Planning Commission will receive $1,500,000 to conduct environmental assessments and advance cleanup plans, including in the downtown neighborhoods of Nashua and Milford.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH)

Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), alongside U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (NH-02) joined members of the law enforcement community to honor fallen officers at the annual New Hampshire Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Association Ceremony. The memorial honors New Hampshire law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. Today, there are 55 names on the monument representing 34 New Hampshire law enforcement agencies.

“It was an honor to join members of New Hampshire’s law enforcement community at the Law Enforcement Officers’ Memorial today,” said Congressman Pappas. “On this solemn occasion, we recognize the courage, commitment, and sacrifice of members of law enforcement and pay tribute to those tragically lost in the line of duty. I’m forever grateful for those who put on the uniform to protect our communities and for family members who serve and sacrifice alongside them.”

“I was honored to join the 33^rd annual New Hampshire Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Association Ceremony this morning in Concord to pay tribute to those courageous officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice protecting our communities,” said Senator Shaheen. “As National Police Week comes to a close, the memorial is an important recognition of just how much our law enforcement officers do every day to provide safety and security for us all.”

“New Hampshire’s law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to protect their fellow Granite Staters and keep our communities safe,” Senator Hassan said. “The Law Enforcement Officers’ Memorial Ceremony is an important opportunity to come together to pay tribute to our fallen heroes and recommit ourselves to supporting their families, loved ones, and fellow officers.”

“We owe a debt of gratitude we can never fully repay to the fifty-five brave New Hampshire law enforcement officers who lost their lives in the line of duty,” said Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander. “It was an honor to be with people from across our state to commemorate their service and the sacrifices of their families and loved ones. Today and every day, I am grateful to New Hampshire’s law enforcement officers who dedicate their lives to keeping us all safe.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH)

Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), Congressman Michael Guest (MS-03), and Congresswoman Julia Letlow (LA-05) introduced the House Resolution to honor and memorialize fallen law enforcement officers. The resolution was introduced during National Police Week and recognizes the 345 officers who lost their lives in the line of duty last year, as well as their families. 

“Police Week is an important way to thank our dedicated law enforcement officers and honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty,” said Congressman Pappas. “Those who put on the uniform to protect and serve our communities, as well as their family members, deserve our gratitude and respect. I will always work to ensure our police departments have the resources they need and that our officers and their families have the support they have earned. I’m honored to once again help lead this legislation to pay tribute to fallen law enforcement officers.

“Police officers are the heroes of our communities, protecting us from crime and defending innocent citizens from those who seek to do harm,” said Congressman Guest. “I am honored to lead this legislation that expresses that the Members of the House of Representatives support our law enforcement officers, appreciate all they do for our communities, and pay tribute to those who have lost their lives in the line of duty.”

“Our law enforcement community works tirelessly to keep us safe and protect our communities. Thank you to our heroic police officers for the sacrifices they make every day,” said Congresswoman Letlow.

President Kennedy signed Public Law 87-725 in 1962, which authorized the proclamation of Peace Officers Memorial Day on May 15 each year to honor law enforcement officers killed or injured in the line of duty. The legislation also authorized the recognition of the week in which it falls as National Police Week. Peace Officers Memorial Day 2025 honors 345 law enforcement officers who were killed in the line of duty and those whose stories were recovered in the past year. This resolution expresses unwavering support for law enforcement and recognizes the sacrifices of families who have lost loved ones. 

This measure is supported by the National Association of Police Organizations and the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH)

Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee (HVAC) and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, sharply rebuked the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins for his decision to abruptly end the Veterans Affairs Servicing Purchase (VASP) Program – the only VA program that guaranteed foreclosure avoidance for veterans experiencing severe financial hardship, helping them stay in their homes. Watch Congressman Pappas’s remarks here. 

Congressman Pappas reiterated that he disagrees fundamentally with VA’s decision to arbitrarily end VASP, especially without an alternative program in place. He pressed Secretary Collins on the confusion caused by the VA’s failure to provide clear guidance about the timeline for ending the VASP program to VSOs, lenders, and especially veteran borrowers, who were robbed of the opportunity for relief through the program as a result.

Pappas continued to press the Secretary for guidance on what veterans at risk of losing their homes should do, now that VASP has ended: “I ask about this because we heard directly from a constituent who was caught up in this… He’s a 100% service disabled veteran of the First Gulf War. He reached out to our office days before the end of VASP, understanding that he might still have a chance to get into this program and to make sure that he could start making payments and stay in his home along with his service animals… What do veterans like Daniel do to be able to stay in their homes while we wait for Congress to take the important step forward to develop a partial claims program?”

After Secretary Collins failed to provide a clear answer as to how veterans impacted by the end of VASP could save their homes, Pappas said, “So respectfully, that’s not a good enough answer for my constituent… and now he’s not sure he has any other opportunity to protect his home and to stay in his home. We’re facing a housing crisis in New Hampshire, as we are in states across the country. So would you be open to a foreclosure moratorium in the interim, while we await action in Congress to develop a bipartisan plan for a partial claims program?”

After Secretary Collins declined to commit to taking any action to protect veterans who are now at risk of losing their homes, Pappas reiterated the need for VA to look out for these veterans, saying, “the fact is this was a last resort program that should have been a stopgap while Congress developed something that was more permanent, and we’re working on that. But we’ve got to be looking out for constituents like this, who number 80,000 across the country, people that are at risk of foreclosure, veterans who deserve our support… Veterans I talked to don’t agree with the abrupt ending to VASP, they don’t agree that we should put more veterans at risk of foreclosure.”

He closed by urging the Secretary to fulfill his commitment to America’s veterans, saying, “We need better leadership from you to get the job done.”

During an HVAC markup earlier this month, Pappas called for his colleagues to back a foreclosure moratorium for veterans to give Congress time to stand up a new partial claims program that will help keep veterans in their homes.

Immediately following Secretary Collins’s announcement that he would end VASP, Pappas spoke out forcefully against the end of VASP during a House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity markup, and called on Collins to immediately reverse his decision to end the program.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH)

Today Congressman Chris Pappas, member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, questioned the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins on his commitment to engaging with New Hampshire stakeholders as VA implements a recent Executive Order requiring a feasibility study and an action plan to expand services at the Manchester VA Medical Center (Manchester VAMC) and support the establishment of a full-service VA hospital in New Hampshire.Watch his remarks here. 

In his opening statement, Congressman Pappas said, “New Hampshire remains the only state in the contiguous 48 states without a full-service VA hospital. The Manchester VAMC was built in the 1950s. It continues to experience serious infrastructure issues–pipes bursting in the winter, flooding, heating outages, and even insects in the operating surgical suite. On May 9, the Trump Administration announced an Executive Order directing a feasibility study at the VA – within 180 days of the order, submitting an action plan to the President to expand services at the Manchester VA into a full-service medical center. So, veterans have been asking for this for about 20 years now. They’re ready to move past the talking stage and see some action on this.” 

Pappas asked for Secretary Collins’ commitment that VA engages with New Hampshire veterans and stakeholders as the Department conducts the study and develops its action plan for New Hampshire. 

Secretary Collins replied, “Yes, Congressman. I appreciate that and I appreciate you carrying the torch for that… I can report to you that that feasibility study started this week. And we are going to be working with our stakeholders in New Hampshire and other places to make sure this goes through.”

Pappas pressed Secretary Collins’ on his commitment to following through on the Executive Order and establishing a full-service hospital in New Hampshire.

Secretary Collins replied, “I believe that is the desire of the administration as we go forward and we’re looking at it from that place. You have a system in which we are going to look at and make sure we get the proper needs and proper care in that area.”

Background: 

New Hampshire is the only state in the contiguous 48 states to not have a dedicated, full-service VA hospital. An Executive Order issued by President Trump on May 9th instructed VA to complete a feasibility study on expanding services to support a full-service medical center in New Hampshire within 30 days and submit an action plan to the President within 180 days. 

Earlier today, Pappas led the New Hampshire delegation in a letter calling on VA Secretary Doug Collins to seriously and fully follow through on the feasibility study and action plan, with the goal of establishing a full-service VA hospital in New Hampshire.