Veterans

Congressman Gerald E. Connolly, Vice Ranking Member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, released the following statement on President Trump’s decision to pardon Scooter Libby: “First, Sheriff Arpaio. Now, President Trump pardons Scooter Libby. This is a perversion of the pardon power and an instrument for obstruction of justice. The President is sending a clear signal to others that he will reward obstruction of justice. This is a sad moment for our democracy and justice syst... Read more

Mike Lillis Democrats are lashing out at the notion that President Trump and GOP leaders may seek to eliminate some of the funding increases in the enormous 2018 spending package adopted less than two weeks ago. Republicans have come under fire in their districts during the spring recess after supporting the $1.3 trillion omnibus bill, which provides a huge bump in both defense and domestic spending, adding hundreds of billions of dollars to federal deficits. In response, Trump and Majority Lea... Read more

A Winter Storm Watch is in effect for our area this evening into tomorrow. Here is some helpful information from Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and Fairfax and Prince William counties. VDOT is responsible for plowing most roads in Northern Virginia. To report a road problem, call 1-800-367-7623 (1-800-FOR ROAD). VDOT has a new web tool that shows the status of plowing in northern Virginia neighborhoods at: www.vdotplows.org. You can also follow VDOT's local updates on Twitter @vado... Read more

Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Vice Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, released the following statement on the Trump Administration's regulatory rollback: House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 10:00 AM, Wednesday, March 13, 2018 Rayburn 2154 Rep. Gerald E. Connolly (D-VA) Thank you, Mr. Chairman for holding this hearing on federal agency rulemaking and guidance practices. At the end of last year, the President held an event to tout the Admi... Read more

Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Vice Ranking Member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, released the following statement on the Department of Veterans Affairs Inspector General's report on the D.C. VA Medical Center : “I am outraged by the critical deficiencies at the D.C. VA Medical Center. The Inspector General’s final report highlights that leadership failures and pervasive understaffing have underpinned widespread issues in inventory management, patient safety, and tra... Read more

Congressman Gerald E. Connolly (D-VA), released the following statement on Senator McConnell’s concessions on a three-week funding bill: “It is shameful that President Trump and Republicans inflicted this shutdown on the American public. I will vote to reopen government because we have big challenges that our constituents demand we address like ending sequestration, fighting the opioid crisis, and fixing the DACA problem the President created. I will also vote yes because Senator McConnell pledg... Read more

Today, Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA) called on Speaker Ryan to immediately bring up the Families of Fallen Servicemembers Act, bipartisan legislation with Congressman Tom Rooney to ensure the immediate payment of military death benefits to survivors of fallen servicemembers during federal government shutdowns or any other circumstance when federal spending authority lapses. The legislation now has 144 cosponsors. Connolly and Rooney originally introduced the legislation in April. “It is unco... Read more

Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA) released the following statement on the GOP tax plan: “The tax plan before us today would be a disaster for Northern Virginia. The GOP plan caps the state and local income deduction. It caps the mortgage interest deduction. And it phases out the medical cost deduction. Our district, where 50 percent of tax filers claim a SALT deduction, is one of the top congressional districts in the nation affected by this change, and 75 percent of our district’s SALT claimant... Read more

Today, Representatives Gerry Connolly (D-VA) and John Katko (R-NY) introduced the Education Assistance to Realign New Eligibilities for Dependents (EARNED) Act, bipartisan legislation that would add an additional category of servicemembers eligible to transfer entitlement to post-9/11 educational assistance. Currently, the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 allows certain servicemembers to transfer all or some of their unused education benefits to their spouse or dependent chi... Read more

Claudia Grisales As the threat of a federal government shutdown rises, Gold Star families could be among those who pay the price. During a shutdown, a death benefit program for servicemembers that includes an immediate $100,000 payment to each military family could come to a halt. Other payments also could stop in a shutdown: funds that cover funeral, burial and related travel expenses as well as a temporary housing allowance in cases involving active-duty servicemembers. It happened four years... Read more