Veterans

Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA) released the following statement on Memorial Day: "Memorial Day offers a chance for solemn contemplation of the ultimate price brave Americans in uniform have paid to keep the light of freedom alive not only here at home, but throughout the world. As we remember and honor all who have died in service to our country, we should ask ourselves what we as citizens can do to give back to those who have already given us so much, including the last full measure of devot... Read more

Today, U.S. Representatives Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (PA-05) and Gerry Connolly (VA-11) introduced H. Con. Res. 61, a resolution to ensure transparency and cooperation from countries that enter into future trade deals with the United States, in the research and recovery efforts of our nation’s missing service members. “As a father of a wounded warrior, every day I am thankful that my son returned home safely,” Congressman Thompson said. “Sadly, many service members were not as fortunate and for those... Read more

Robert McCartney President Trump’s full budget plan, issued Tuesday, is even worse for the Washington region than the initial “skinny” version released in March, local government officials and analysts say. The new one includes all the same ominous proposals that prompted warnings that the spending plan would worsen economic inequality and possibly tip the area into recession. The White House still wants to shrink the local federal workforce by thousands of jobs and slash spending for affordable... Read more

Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA) released the following statement on President Trump's FY2018 Budget proposal: “The President's FY2018 budget proposal is the most radical policy document to come out of Washington since the failed Ryan Budget. It is a blueprint for social Darwinism and a unilateral retreat from our commitments at home and abroad. How does slashing Medicaid, Medicare, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, Social Security, disability insurance, NIH funding, SNAP, community deve... Read more

by Dave Emke — April 24, 2017 As the federal government inches closer to a possible shutdown at the end of the week, Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) says the local economy would be severely affected if no agreement is found. “As we witnessed during the 2013 Republican government shutdown, Northern Virginia’s economy would be significantly affected. That 16-day shutdown cost nearly $24 billion in lost economic output,” Connolly said in a prepared statement Monday. “It is a reckless way to govern that... Read more

Billy House and Anna Edgerton There may be only one way for Speaker Paul Ryan to avoid a government shutdown: Ask his Democratic counterpart, Nancy Pelosi, for help. The problem is, the two don’t have much history of deal-making together. They don’t even know each other that well. But after spending weeks trying -- so far unsuccessfully -- to ram through legislation to undo Democrats’ signature health-care law, Ryan will almost certainly need Pelosi’s support to keep the government open after Ap... Read more

Today, Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA) and Congressman Tom Rooney (R-FL) reintroduced the Families of Fallen Servicemembers First Act, bipartisan legislation 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. “With another government shutdown looming, Congress should take action to safeguard grieving military families,” said Connolly and Rooney. “T... Read more

Anne Kim and Saahil Desai President Donald Trump’s recently proposed 2018 budget calls for massive and unprecedented cuts in domestic discretionary spending, including a 31% cut in the budget for the EPA, a 29% cut for the State Department, and double-digit reductions at a host of other federal agencies charged with everything from maintaining the nation’s national parks to securing the safety of America’s food supply. It’s a down payment on what White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon has c... Read more

Andy Kroll Congressman Gerry Connolly, a five-term Democrat who represents northern Virginia, marched into his office on Capitol Hill and assembled his staff for an impromptu meeting. "I'm going to the airport," he told them, "and I may be arrested." Two days before, Friday, January 27th, President Donald Trump had signed his now-infamous executive order that temporarily banned refugees and citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States, plunging the nation's immigra... Read more

Today, Representatives Gerald E. Connolly (D-VA) and James Langevin (D-RI) reintroduced the FAST Voting Act. The legislation aims to improve voter participation, encourage automatic voter registration and enhance voting system security. Based on the Department of Education’s successful Race to the Top program, the FAST Voting Act would allow states to apply for funding to implement innovative policy changes designed to increase voter access and voting system security. Rather than prescribe stric... Read more