U.S. Congress
Here's a look at documents from all members of the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate
Congress
Featured Stories
Moran Recognized by National Taxpayers Union for Protecting Taxpayer Rights
WASHINGTON, July 16 -- Rep. Nathaniel Moran, R-Texas, issued the following news release:
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Moran Recognized by National Taxpayers Union for Protecting Taxpayer Rights
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Congressman Nathaniel Moran (TX-01) recognized as the Taxpayer Defender of the Month for May 2026. The Taxpayer Defender award is presented by the National Taxpayers Union to recognize leaders who demonstrate a strong commitment to fiscal discipline, transparency, and protecting taxpayers. Further, the award highlights lawmakers who pair policy expertise with courage and common sense.
Moran was chosen for his leadership ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, July 16 -- Rep. Nathaniel Moran, R-Texas, issued the following news release: * * * Moran Recognized by National Taxpayers Union for Protecting Taxpayer Rights * Congressman Nathaniel Moran (TX-01) recognized as the Taxpayer Defender of the Month for May 2026. The Taxpayer Defender award is presented by the National Taxpayers Union to recognize leaders who demonstrate a strong commitment to fiscal discipline, transparency, and protecting taxpayers. Further, the award highlights lawmakers who pair policy expertise with courage and common sense. Moran was chosen for his leadershipabilities by securing bipartisan support for H.R. 6506, the Taxpayer Due Process Enhancement Act. This practical legislation modernizes the U.S. Tax Court to ensure taxpayers have an opportunity to challenge disputed tax liabilities with the IRS.
"Accountability and transparency in our tax system are necessary to safeguard essential taxpayer rights," said Rep. Moran. "I'm honored to receive NTU's Taxpayer Defender Award, and I will continue to work to give taxpayers a clear, common-sense process to challenge disputed liabilities with the IRS. We must modernize our tax system, and I will continue to stand up for the taxpayers I represent by working to make this modernization and simplification a reality."
NTU Executive Vice President Brandon Arnold: "We are proud to select Representative Moran as our Taxpayer Defender of the Month. His work helps restore trust in government by making sure the American people have a fair and open path to challenge the IRS."
Read more details on the legislation here (https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://us.list-manage.com/8hv26vSB4Lp?e=9e449ac7bb&c2id=7a5cfbedda41e8dc956aa39d1b17c17f__;!!BSgrhSFG!B7W_7SBcGfTixIFj2P-ZKg8gFqEURO65oSWCAY_taBwNn2lfRc0q4D3Xso3IkHlwi3y0mfJpUM7EZdoj9Wp5r-ZHxw2QFDJpxbWAu1hpaRH5wntw1aJy$).
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Original text here: https://moran.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2817
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Moran Recognized by National Taxpayers Union for Protecting Taxpayer Rights
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Congressman Nathaniel Moran (TX-01) recognized as the Taxpayer Defender of the Month for May 2026. The Taxpayer Defender award is presented by the National Taxpayers Union to recognize leaders who demonstrate a strong commitment to fiscal discipline, transparency, and protecting taxpayers. Further, the award highlights lawmakers who pair policy expertise with courage and common sense.
Moran was chosen for his leadership ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, July 16 -- Rep. Nathaniel Moran, R-Texas, issued the following news release: * * * Moran Recognized by National Taxpayers Union for Protecting Taxpayer Rights * Congressman Nathaniel Moran (TX-01) recognized as the Taxpayer Defender of the Month for May 2026. The Taxpayer Defender award is presented by the National Taxpayers Union to recognize leaders who demonstrate a strong commitment to fiscal discipline, transparency, and protecting taxpayers. Further, the award highlights lawmakers who pair policy expertise with courage and common sense. Moran was chosen for his leadershipabilities by securing bipartisan support for H.R. 6506, the Taxpayer Due Process Enhancement Act. This practical legislation modernizes the U.S. Tax Court to ensure taxpayers have an opportunity to challenge disputed tax liabilities with the IRS.
"Accountability and transparency in our tax system are necessary to safeguard essential taxpayer rights," said Rep. Moran. "I'm honored to receive NTU's Taxpayer Defender Award, and I will continue to work to give taxpayers a clear, common-sense process to challenge disputed liabilities with the IRS. We must modernize our tax system, and I will continue to stand up for the taxpayers I represent by working to make this modernization and simplification a reality."
NTU Executive Vice President Brandon Arnold: "We are proud to select Representative Moran as our Taxpayer Defender of the Month. His work helps restore trust in government by making sure the American people have a fair and open path to challenge the IRS."
Read more details on the legislation here (https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://us.list-manage.com/8hv26vSB4Lp?e=9e449ac7bb&c2id=7a5cfbedda41e8dc956aa39d1b17c17f__;!!BSgrhSFG!B7W_7SBcGfTixIFj2P-ZKg8gFqEURO65oSWCAY_taBwNn2lfRc0q4D3Xso3IkHlwi3y0mfJpUM7EZdoj9Wp5r-ZHxw2QFDJpxbWAu1hpaRH5wntw1aJy$).
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Original text here: https://moran.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2817
Crow, DeGette, Neguse, Pettersen Statement on Massie Amendment to the Republican Budget
WASHINGTON, July 16 -- Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colorado, issued the following news release:
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Crow, DeGette, Neguse, Pettersen Statement on Massie Amendment to the Republican Budget
Representatives Jason Crow (D-CO), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Joe Neguse (D-CO), and Brittany Pettersen (D-CO) released the following statement after voting in favor of Congressman Massie's amendment to the Republican budget:
"Today we voted against additional taxpayer-funded military aid being given to Prime Minister Netanyahu's government.
"We support Israel's right to exist and defend itself. We believe that both ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, July 16 -- Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colorado, issued the following news release: * * * Crow, DeGette, Neguse, Pettersen Statement on Massie Amendment to the Republican Budget Representatives Jason Crow (D-CO), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Joe Neguse (D-CO), and Brittany Pettersen (D-CO) released the following statement after voting in favor of Congressman Massie's amendment to the Republican budget: "Today we voted against additional taxpayer-funded military aid being given to Prime Minister Netanyahu's government. "We support Israel's right to exist and defend itself. We believe that bothIsraelis and Palestinians have the right to safety, security, and self-determination.
"We should not be giving military aid to any country that does not comply with our own laws and values. The Netanyahu government has failed to meet these standards.
"The status quo is not tenable. We need a different path forward for America's foreign policy rooted in values and consistent application of the law."
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Original text here: https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-degette-neguse-pettersen-statement-on-massie-amendment-to-the-republican-budget
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Crow, DeGette, Neguse, Pettersen Statement on Massie Amendment to the Republican Budget
Representatives Jason Crow (D-CO), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Joe Neguse (D-CO), and Brittany Pettersen (D-CO) released the following statement after voting in favor of Congressman Massie's amendment to the Republican budget:
"Today we voted against additional taxpayer-funded military aid being given to Prime Minister Netanyahu's government.
"We support Israel's right to exist and defend itself. We believe that both ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, July 16 -- Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colorado, issued the following news release: * * * Crow, DeGette, Neguse, Pettersen Statement on Massie Amendment to the Republican Budget Representatives Jason Crow (D-CO), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Joe Neguse (D-CO), and Brittany Pettersen (D-CO) released the following statement after voting in favor of Congressman Massie's amendment to the Republican budget: "Today we voted against additional taxpayer-funded military aid being given to Prime Minister Netanyahu's government. "We support Israel's right to exist and defend itself. We believe that bothIsraelis and Palestinians have the right to safety, security, and self-determination.
"We should not be giving military aid to any country that does not comply with our own laws and values. The Netanyahu government has failed to meet these standards.
"The status quo is not tenable. We need a different path forward for America's foreign policy rooted in values and consistent application of the law."
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Original text here: https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-degette-neguse-pettersen-statement-on-massie-amendment-to-the-republican-budget
Connecticut Delegation Leads Rail Corridor Lawmakers in Calling for Sustained Federal Railway Improvement Funding
WASHINGTON, July 16 -- Rep. Jim Himes, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release on July 15, 2026:
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Connecticut Delegation Leads Rail Corridor Lawmakers in Calling for Sustained Federal Railway Improvement Funding
Today, Representatives Jim Himes (CT-04), John Larson (CT-01), Joe Courtney (CT-02), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), and Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy led 25+ lawmakers in requesting Congressional Leaders include multi-year federal funding for passenger rail improvement projects in the BUILD America 250 Act, Congress' upcoming five-year surface ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, July 16 -- Rep. Jim Himes, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release on July 15, 2026: * * * Connecticut Delegation Leads Rail Corridor Lawmakers in Calling for Sustained Federal Railway Improvement Funding Today, Representatives Jim Himes (CT-04), John Larson (CT-01), Joe Courtney (CT-02), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), and Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy led 25+ lawmakers in requesting Congressional Leaders include multi-year federal funding for passenger rail improvement projects in the BUILD America 250 Act, Congress' upcoming five-year surfacetransportation reauthorization bill.
"Major rail infrastructure projects often take years to move from conception to completion. Because these investments require long-term planning and sustained commitments, uncertainty in future funding can delay project delivery and increase costs," wrote the Members of Congress.
"At a time when passenger rail ridership is growing, with Amtrak reporting 34.5 million customer trips in Fiscal Year 2025, and states are making significant investments in rail transportation, Congress should ensure that federal funding mechanisms reflect the realities of how these projects are delivered," continued the lawmakers.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021-the most recent surface transportation reauthorization passed by Congress-provided $66 billion in advance appropriations for rail programs through 2026. Since the legislation's enactment, Connecticut has received approximately $2 billion in U.S. Department of Transportation rail grants. As currently drafted, the BUILD America 250 Act does not include multi-year appropriations for rail projects, undermining federal support for long-term rail improvement initiatives.
The Federal Railroad Administration's 2026 Northeast Corridor Project Inventory identifies 26 Connecticut projects that remain in development, under construction, or awaiting completion, including the WALK Bridge, Devon Bridge, and Connecticut River Bridge replacement projects. Improving the rail infrastructure located within the Northeast Corridor is critical given it is the nation's busiest passenger corridor, carrying more than 694,000 passengers on weekdays and 367,000 passengers on weekends.
In addition to the Connecticut's Congressional Delegation, Representatives Matsui (CA-07), Norton (DC-AL), McBride (DE-AL), Wilson (FL-24), Jackson (IL-01), Garcia (IL-04), Davis (IL-07), Neal (MA-01), Moulton (MA-06), Thanedar (MI-13), Ross (NC-02), Foushee (NC-04), McIver (NJ-10), Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Suozzi (NY-03), Velazquez (NY-07), Nadler (NY-12), Evans (PA-03), Amo (RI-01), Magaziner (RI-02), Rep. McClellan (VA-04), Vindman (VA-07), Beyer (VA-08), Randall (WA-06), Jayapal (WA-07), and Moore (WI-04) signed the letter in support of multi-year federal funding for rail improvement projects.
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INFODOC: https://himes.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Quill-Letter-L37767-Letter-Supporting-Advance-Appropriations-for-Passenger-Rail_Final-Version.pdf
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Original text here: https://himes.house.gov/2026/07/15/connecticut-delegation-leads-rail-corridor-lawmakers-in-calling-for-sustained-federal-railway-improvement-funding/
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Connecticut Delegation Leads Rail Corridor Lawmakers in Calling for Sustained Federal Railway Improvement Funding
Today, Representatives Jim Himes (CT-04), John Larson (CT-01), Joe Courtney (CT-02), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), and Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy led 25+ lawmakers in requesting Congressional Leaders include multi-year federal funding for passenger rail improvement projects in the BUILD America 250 Act, Congress' upcoming five-year surface ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, July 16 -- Rep. Jim Himes, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release on July 15, 2026: * * * Connecticut Delegation Leads Rail Corridor Lawmakers in Calling for Sustained Federal Railway Improvement Funding Today, Representatives Jim Himes (CT-04), John Larson (CT-01), Joe Courtney (CT-02), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), and Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy led 25+ lawmakers in requesting Congressional Leaders include multi-year federal funding for passenger rail improvement projects in the BUILD America 250 Act, Congress' upcoming five-year surfacetransportation reauthorization bill.
"Major rail infrastructure projects often take years to move from conception to completion. Because these investments require long-term planning and sustained commitments, uncertainty in future funding can delay project delivery and increase costs," wrote the Members of Congress.
"At a time when passenger rail ridership is growing, with Amtrak reporting 34.5 million customer trips in Fiscal Year 2025, and states are making significant investments in rail transportation, Congress should ensure that federal funding mechanisms reflect the realities of how these projects are delivered," continued the lawmakers.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021-the most recent surface transportation reauthorization passed by Congress-provided $66 billion in advance appropriations for rail programs through 2026. Since the legislation's enactment, Connecticut has received approximately $2 billion in U.S. Department of Transportation rail grants. As currently drafted, the BUILD America 250 Act does not include multi-year appropriations for rail projects, undermining federal support for long-term rail improvement initiatives.
The Federal Railroad Administration's 2026 Northeast Corridor Project Inventory identifies 26 Connecticut projects that remain in development, under construction, or awaiting completion, including the WALK Bridge, Devon Bridge, and Connecticut River Bridge replacement projects. Improving the rail infrastructure located within the Northeast Corridor is critical given it is the nation's busiest passenger corridor, carrying more than 694,000 passengers on weekdays and 367,000 passengers on weekends.
In addition to the Connecticut's Congressional Delegation, Representatives Matsui (CA-07), Norton (DC-AL), McBride (DE-AL), Wilson (FL-24), Jackson (IL-01), Garcia (IL-04), Davis (IL-07), Neal (MA-01), Moulton (MA-06), Thanedar (MI-13), Ross (NC-02), Foushee (NC-04), McIver (NJ-10), Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Suozzi (NY-03), Velazquez (NY-07), Nadler (NY-12), Evans (PA-03), Amo (RI-01), Magaziner (RI-02), Rep. McClellan (VA-04), Vindman (VA-07), Beyer (VA-08), Randall (WA-06), Jayapal (WA-07), and Moore (WI-04) signed the letter in support of multi-year federal funding for rail improvement projects.
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INFODOC: https://himes.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Quill-Letter-L37767-Letter-Supporting-Advance-Appropriations-for-Passenger-Rail_Final-Version.pdf
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Original text here: https://himes.house.gov/2026/07/15/connecticut-delegation-leads-rail-corridor-lawmakers-in-calling-for-sustained-federal-railway-improvement-funding/
Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry Chief Operating Officer Wilson Testifies Before House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee
WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health released the following written testimony by Brandon L. Wilson, chief operating officer of Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry, from a June 30, 2026, hearing on the Trauma Outreach, Understanding, and Resiliency Through Spirituality Act (H.R. 9376):
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Chairman, Ranking Member, and distinguished members of the Committee:
Thank you for the opportunity to testify in support of the Trauma Outreach, Understanding, and Resiliency through Spirituality Act, commonly known as the TOURS Act.
My name is Brandon Wilson. ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health released the following written testimony by Brandon L. Wilson, chief operating officer of Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry, from a June 30, 2026, hearing on the Trauma Outreach, Understanding, and Resiliency Through Spirituality Act (H.R. 9376): * * * Chairman, Ranking Member, and distinguished members of the Committee: Thank you for the opportunity to testify in support of the Trauma Outreach, Understanding, and Resiliency through Spirituality Act, commonly known as the TOURS Act. My name is Brandon Wilson.I am a United States Marine Corps Veteran and currently serve as Chief Operating Officer of Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry (ABCCM), one of North Carolina's largest faith-based human service organizations. For more than four decades, our organization has served Veterans through housing, employment, behavioral health, healthcare, and supportive service programs.
Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of serving Veterans as a County Veterans Service Officer, State Veterans Service Officer, former Deputy Director of the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and was honored to serve as the Chairman of the VA Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans. Today, I oversee a wide array of programs serving Veterans, families, and individuals experiencing homelessness, behavioral health challenges, and economic hardship. Through the strategic blending and braiding of federal, state, local, philanthropic, and faith-based resources, we work to maximize every available investment and create sustainable solutions for the communities we serve. I have also served leadership roles within our Medicaid system, working closely with providers, health plans, community organizations, and policymakers to address the social drivers of health and improve outcomes for vulnerable populations across North Carolina. These experiences have given me a unique perspective on the growing intersection between Veterans Affairs, healthcare delivery, Medicare, Medicaid, Behavioral Health, community-based support systems and the faith community.
Like many Veterans, my transition from military service was not a single event but a process. While my uniform came off, the search for purpose, identity, and belonging continued. My faith played an important role in helping me navigate that transition. It provided community, perspective, and a sense of purpose larger than myself.
One passage that became particularly meaningful during that season was Hebrews 10:24-25, ('And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the day approaching'.) This passage encourages us not to journey through life's challenges alone, but to remain connected to one another and encourage one another toward purpose and service. Looking back, I recognize that many of the factors that sustained me during transition; community, accountability, belonging, and hope and are the very same protective factors we seek to strengthen for Veterans today.
My support for the TOURS Act is also shaped by loss. On August 3rd, 2016, I lost a fellow Marine and friend, Cory Hafner, to suicide. Like so many families and communities, we were left asking what connections, relationships, or protective factors might have made a difference. It was during this time that VA chaplains and the strength of my faith helped carry me and my fellow Marines through our journey of grief, reminding us that healing is not only physical and mental it is often deeply spiritual as well. Throughout my career, I have worked with thousands of Veterans facing a wide array of challenges. One lesson has remained consistent: Veterans heal, recover, and successfully transition through connection, not isolation. The Veterans who thrive often reconnect with something larger than themselves, family, fellow Veterans, service, meaningful work, and a faith community. These connections provide belonging, accountability, purpose, and hope. At ABCCM we call this building intentional communities.
The Department of Veterans Affairs' 2025 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report identifies social isolation as a significant risk factor associated with suicide and highlights the importance of strengthening protective factors through meaningful connection and community support.
Yet despite the longstanding role chaplains have played throughout military service and within the VA, we still know relatively little about their measurable impact on Veteran outcomes.
Military and VA chaplains routinely walk alongside Service Members and Veterans through combat, grief, moral injury, transition, and recovery. They often help individuals navigate questions of meaning, purpose, guilt, forgiveness, and hope, issues that frequently underlie many of the challenges Veterans face.
The question before us is not whether chaplains are valuable. The question is whether we are willing to study their impact with the same rigor that we apply to other interventions within the VA system.
If engagement with chaplains contributes to stronger social connectedness, increased treatment engagement, improved mental health outcomes, or reduced suicide risk, we should understand that relationship. If certain approaches are effective, we should identify those best practices and replicate them.
At ABCCM, we have seen firsthand how chaplaincy can complement housing, behavioral health, employment, and healthcare services, when integrated appropriately. We have also benefited from the leadership of Brigadier General Kevin Turner, U.S. Army, Retired, former Deputy Chief of Chaplains for the United States Army, whose mentorship reinforced the important role chaplains play in supporting Service Members, Veterans, and their families.
The TOURS Act does not replace clinical care. It strengthens our understanding of one potential component within a broader continuum of care. Chaplains meet Veterans where medicine and paperwork cannot, at the intersection of the heart and soul of human struggle. In my experience chaplains are often the first-person Veterans trust with their battles and the last person who would ever give up on them.
We have spent decades studying what places Veterans at risk. The TOURS Act gives us an opportunity to better understand what helps them heal.
I respectfully urge the Committee to support the TOURS Act and continue exploring every evidence-informed pathway that may strengthen resilience, improve well-being, and reduce suicide among the men and women who have served our nation.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify, and I look forward to your questions.
I remain Semper Fidelis.
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Original text here: https://docs.house.gov/meetings/VR/VR03/20260630/119416/HHRG-119-VR03-Wstate-WilsonB-20260630.pdf
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Chairman, Ranking Member, and distinguished members of the Committee:
Thank you for the opportunity to testify in support of the Trauma Outreach, Understanding, and Resiliency through Spirituality Act, commonly known as the TOURS Act.
My name is Brandon Wilson. ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health released the following written testimony by Brandon L. Wilson, chief operating officer of Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry, from a June 30, 2026, hearing on the Trauma Outreach, Understanding, and Resiliency Through Spirituality Act (H.R. 9376): * * * Chairman, Ranking Member, and distinguished members of the Committee: Thank you for the opportunity to testify in support of the Trauma Outreach, Understanding, and Resiliency through Spirituality Act, commonly known as the TOURS Act. My name is Brandon Wilson.I am a United States Marine Corps Veteran and currently serve as Chief Operating Officer of Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry (ABCCM), one of North Carolina's largest faith-based human service organizations. For more than four decades, our organization has served Veterans through housing, employment, behavioral health, healthcare, and supportive service programs.
Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of serving Veterans as a County Veterans Service Officer, State Veterans Service Officer, former Deputy Director of the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and was honored to serve as the Chairman of the VA Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans. Today, I oversee a wide array of programs serving Veterans, families, and individuals experiencing homelessness, behavioral health challenges, and economic hardship. Through the strategic blending and braiding of federal, state, local, philanthropic, and faith-based resources, we work to maximize every available investment and create sustainable solutions for the communities we serve. I have also served leadership roles within our Medicaid system, working closely with providers, health plans, community organizations, and policymakers to address the social drivers of health and improve outcomes for vulnerable populations across North Carolina. These experiences have given me a unique perspective on the growing intersection between Veterans Affairs, healthcare delivery, Medicare, Medicaid, Behavioral Health, community-based support systems and the faith community.
Like many Veterans, my transition from military service was not a single event but a process. While my uniform came off, the search for purpose, identity, and belonging continued. My faith played an important role in helping me navigate that transition. It provided community, perspective, and a sense of purpose larger than myself.
One passage that became particularly meaningful during that season was Hebrews 10:24-25, ('And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the day approaching'.) This passage encourages us not to journey through life's challenges alone, but to remain connected to one another and encourage one another toward purpose and service. Looking back, I recognize that many of the factors that sustained me during transition; community, accountability, belonging, and hope and are the very same protective factors we seek to strengthen for Veterans today.
My support for the TOURS Act is also shaped by loss. On August 3rd, 2016, I lost a fellow Marine and friend, Cory Hafner, to suicide. Like so many families and communities, we were left asking what connections, relationships, or protective factors might have made a difference. It was during this time that VA chaplains and the strength of my faith helped carry me and my fellow Marines through our journey of grief, reminding us that healing is not only physical and mental it is often deeply spiritual as well. Throughout my career, I have worked with thousands of Veterans facing a wide array of challenges. One lesson has remained consistent: Veterans heal, recover, and successfully transition through connection, not isolation. The Veterans who thrive often reconnect with something larger than themselves, family, fellow Veterans, service, meaningful work, and a faith community. These connections provide belonging, accountability, purpose, and hope. At ABCCM we call this building intentional communities.
The Department of Veterans Affairs' 2025 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report identifies social isolation as a significant risk factor associated with suicide and highlights the importance of strengthening protective factors through meaningful connection and community support.
Yet despite the longstanding role chaplains have played throughout military service and within the VA, we still know relatively little about their measurable impact on Veteran outcomes.
Military and VA chaplains routinely walk alongside Service Members and Veterans through combat, grief, moral injury, transition, and recovery. They often help individuals navigate questions of meaning, purpose, guilt, forgiveness, and hope, issues that frequently underlie many of the challenges Veterans face.
The question before us is not whether chaplains are valuable. The question is whether we are willing to study their impact with the same rigor that we apply to other interventions within the VA system.
If engagement with chaplains contributes to stronger social connectedness, increased treatment engagement, improved mental health outcomes, or reduced suicide risk, we should understand that relationship. If certain approaches are effective, we should identify those best practices and replicate them.
At ABCCM, we have seen firsthand how chaplaincy can complement housing, behavioral health, employment, and healthcare services, when integrated appropriately. We have also benefited from the leadership of Brigadier General Kevin Turner, U.S. Army, Retired, former Deputy Chief of Chaplains for the United States Army, whose mentorship reinforced the important role chaplains play in supporting Service Members, Veterans, and their families.
The TOURS Act does not replace clinical care. It strengthens our understanding of one potential component within a broader continuum of care. Chaplains meet Veterans where medicine and paperwork cannot, at the intersection of the heart and soul of human struggle. In my experience chaplains are often the first-person Veterans trust with their battles and the last person who would ever give up on them.
We have spent decades studying what places Veterans at risk. The TOURS Act gives us an opportunity to better understand what helps them heal.
I respectfully urge the Committee to support the TOURS Act and continue exploring every evidence-informed pathway that may strengthen resilience, improve well-being, and reduce suicide among the men and women who have served our nation.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify, and I look forward to your questions.
I remain Semper Fidelis.
* * *
Original text here: https://docs.house.gov/meetings/VR/VR03/20260630/119416/HHRG-119-VR03-Wstate-WilsonB-20260630.pdf
American Legion National Director Lyle Testifies Before House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee
WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs released the following testimony by Cole T. Lyle, national director of legislative affairs at the American Legion, from a June 25, 2026, hearing on the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act (H.R. 8552), Compensation Fund Recrediting Act (H.R. 8767), Locating Our Unclaimed Veterans Act (H.R. 9006), and the Priority Response for Veterans Impacted by Disasters and Emergencies Act (H.R. 6588):
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Chairman Luttrell, Ranking Member McGarvey, and distinguished Members of the ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs released the following testimony by Cole T. Lyle, national director of legislative affairs at the American Legion, from a June 25, 2026, hearing on the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act (H.R. 8552), Compensation Fund Recrediting Act (H.R. 8767), Locating Our Unclaimed Veterans Act (H.R. 9006), and the Priority Response for Veterans Impacted by Disasters and Emergencies Act (H.R. 6588): * * * Chairman Luttrell, Ranking Member McGarvey, and distinguished Members of theSubcommittee, on behalf of National Commander Dan K. Wiley, and more than 1.5 million dues-paying members of The American Legion, we thank you for the opportunity to offer our written testimony regarding proposed legislation.
The American Legion is guided by active Legionnaires who dedicate their time and resources to serve veterans, service members, their families, and caregivers. As a resolutions-based organization, our positions are directed by more than 107 years of advocacy and resolutions that originate at the post level of our organization. Every time The American Legion testifies, we offer a direct voice from the veteran community to Congress.
We fight to keep earned disability compensation whole against the erosion of inflation, and to see that the claims process treats every veteran fairly and without needless delay. With equal conviction, we work to ensure that no veteran is forgotten at the end and that a place of honor lies within reach of those who served. We also fight to ensure that the unclaimed and the unidentified are brought home and laid to rest as the veterans they were. The measures before you today fall along that arc, and the Legion weighs each the same way: against what our members have resolved, and against the promise this nation makes to everyone who wears its uniform.
H.R. 8552: Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2026
To increase, effective as of December 1, 2026, the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans, and for other purposes.
The American Legion supports H.R. 8552, consistent with Resolution No. 164, Oppose Lowering of Cost-of-Living Adjustments./1
A disability rating is the nation's accounting of what a veteran gave; that account should not lose value when our nation's economy naturally fluctuates. Protecting earned compensation from inflation is critical. Without an annual cost-of-living adjustment, the dollar figure holds when the rent, groceries, and prescriptions do not. Keeping pace with inflation and the rising cost of living for those, many of whom are already on a fixed income, will bring financial stability to household budgets. After all the sacrifices made, ensuring the financial stability of our nation's disabled veterans, their survivors, and dependents is the right thing to do. Additionally, H.R. 8552 ties the December 1, 2026, adjustment to the same index that governs payment rates for Social Security./2
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1 The American Legion, "Resolution No. 164: Oppose Lowering of Cost-of-Living Adjustments," August 30, 2016, https://archive.legion.org/node/384.
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The American Legion can support this legislation through Resolution No. 164, Oppose Lowering of Cost-of-Living Adjustments.
The American Legion supports H.R. 8552 as written.
H.R. 8767: Compensation Fund Recrediting Act
To amend the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to wind down the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund.
The American Legion takes no position on H.R. 8767. The provisions of the legislation fall outside the scope of established resolutions of The American Legion.
Equal service earns equal benefits, regardless of when or where a veteran served. A promise the nation made to the men who answered its call should not lapse because of an arbitrary filing window.
Congress created the fund in 2009 to honor the benefits promised to the Philippine Scouts and the recognized guerrilla forces of World War II--men called into United States service by President Roosevelt in 1941--and stripped from them by the Rescission Act of 1946./3
Eligibility turned on the U.S. Army's recognition of a claimant's wartime service, certified through the records held at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis. Claimants had one year from enactment to file, a window that closed in February 2010. Men who served but were never recognized in the Army's wartime program, or whose proof rested on records held by a foreign government, were left unable to establish eligibility./4
We urge this committee to ensure that no veteran who earned this benefit is left uncompensated.
The American Legion has no position on this legislation.
* * *
2 "Disabled Veterans, Military Veterans to See COLA Increase in 2025," The American Legion, December 3, 2024, https://www.legion.org/information-center/news/veterans-benefits/2024/december/disabled-veterans-militaryveterans-to-see-cola-increase-in-2025.
3 Recognizing the Extraordinary Contribution of Filipino Veterans," The White House, Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund Interagency Working Group, July 9, 2013, https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2013/07/09/recognizing-extraordinary-contribution-filipino-veterans
4 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Pub. L. No. 111-5, Sec. 1002(c)(1); February 2010 cutoff per Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund: Inquiry into the Adequacy of Process in Verifying Eligibility, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, H. Comm. on Veterans' Affairs, 113th Cong. (2014)
* * *
H.R. 9006: Locating Our Unclaimed Veterans Act
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a centralized portal within the Department of Veterans Affairs for the storage of information with respect to the unclaimed remains of veterans, and for other purposes.
The American Legion supports H.R. 9006. The location and identification of unclaimed remains of veterans is a top priority for the organization and we remain committed to ensuring that all missing and unclaimed veterans are identified, returned home, and laid to rest with dignity. A centralized, reliable means of tracking these veterans serves an end the Legion has long pursued, and we support the bill's intent to secure it.
In 2024, an Inspector General report identified inefficiencies with VA's ability to intake and identify unclaimed remains of veterans. The report found that though VA has approximately 27 programs addressing unclaimed remains, there was not a single office that owned or maintained streamlined oversight over these programs./5
As a result of the report, VA stood up an integrated project team, created the Unclaimed Veterans Remains program under its Pension and Fiduciary Service, and implemented the Inspector General's data-sharing recommendation.
The American Legion agrees that VA should be more efficient and supports efforts that strengthen information sharing across the department and interagency. However, implementing this portal would require new Memorandums of Understanding for data sharing between agencies, which is a complex process. We would like more information from VA as to how they would integrate the proposed centralized portal into their existing systems and implementation timelines on the MOU process, as well as reporting on the feasibility of standing up a portal under their current IT infrastructure and appropriations which do not account for this expenditure in the current operating budget.
The American Legion supports this legislation through Resolution No. 24: Identify, Honor and Inter Unclaimed Cremated Remains of Veterans./6
The American Legion supports H.R. 9006 as written.
H.R. 6588: Priority Response for Veterans Impacted by Disasters and Emergencies (PROVIDE) Act
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to expedite the processing of claims for disability compensation by veterans affected by major disasters.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), natural disasters-- such as hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes, and wildfires--are occurring at a greater rate year over year and leave behind billions of dollars' worth of property damage in their wake./7
* * *
5 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General (VA OIG). Improvements Needed to Ensure Final Disposition of Unclaimed Veterans' Remains. Report No. 19-09592-262. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Publishing Office, October 15, 2024 https://vaoig.gov/reports/review/improvements-needed-ensure-finaldisposition-unclaimed-veterans-remains
6 The American Legion, "Resolution No. 24: Identify, Honor and Inter Unclaimed Cremated Remains of Veterans," May 9, 2007. https://archive.legion.org/node/3069
* * *
Last year, flooding in North Carolina and central Texas and wildfires in southern California demonstrated how lethal these natural disasters can be and how quickly an entire community can be completely upended.
H.R. 6588 seeks to address the challenges that are presented to veterans who are experiencing hardship as a result of a disaster. The proposal would grant priority processing to any veteran who resides in an area the President of the United States declares a major disaster under the Stafford Act (42 U.S.C. 5170), as well as provide flexibility for evidence requirements and filing deadlines.
The American Legion has experienced first-hand at the post level how devastating and overwhelming the aftermath of a disaster can be, especially if a veteran is forced to relocate or lost sensitive documents in the chaos.
Extending priority to these veterans' claims is a welcomed improvement for exigent circumstances, however, the language must include broad eligibility requirements as to not inadvertently exclude some veterans over others, such as the homeless; terminally ill; former prisoner of war; Medal of Honor recipients, or; Purple Heart recipients. VA has tools to help a veteran impacted by a natural disaster. For instance, VA can extend filing deadlines, reschedule exams and hearings, and grant additional time to submit evidence or respond to a decision. A veteran in severe hardship--sudden job loss, imminent homelessness, foreclosure, a utility shutoff--can already obtain priority processing by filing VA Form 20-10207, which places a hardship flash on the claim. Furthermore, the Board of Veterans' Appeals already advances cases on its docket for hardship, advanced age, homelessness, or terminal illness, and the Chair has the authority on to advance cases for veterans who are impacted by natural disasters and need relief.
In this bill, there should also be consideration of the feasibility for VA to, either directly or through a third-party contractor, provide disability examinations in a disaster area with some sites being affected by the disaster.
The American Legion supports H.R. 6588 through Resolution No. 123: Increase the Transparency of the Veterans Benefits Administration Claim Processing, but offer the following amendment: Amend Section 3 (5)(b): Strike "relating only to subsection (a)(5)" and include "The Secretary shall prescribe additional regulations that do not restrict the veteran to one specific location at the time of filing. Including other instances like disaster, unsheltered homelessness, extreme illness, age, and death. Eligibility criteria should include providing proof of residence impacted by the disaster or special circumstances related to terminal illnesses, cancer, extreme medical debt and the inability to meet basic living conditions."
Additionally, we remain concerned that moving a veteran's claim up due to a natural disaster risks compounding harm if VA rules against the veteran and lowers their rating. Therefore, we request an additional amendment that moves up cases that are ready to be decided, and that decision results in a positive result for the veteran that increases their disability rating and/or their monetary compensation.
The American Legion supports H.R. 6588 with amendments.
* * *
7 Smith, Adam B. U.S. Billion-dollar Weather and Climate Disasters, 1980 - present (NCEI Accession 0209268). NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/stkw-7w73
* * *
H.R. 6921: Hawai'i National Cemetery Act
To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a site-selection study for an additional national cemetery in the State of Hawai'i, and for other purposes.
Hawai'i's only national cemetery, the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, holds some 53,000 who served from World War I through Vietnam. The cemetery stopped in-ground casket burials in 1991, and its cremation operations will close by 2036./8
This closure will result in roughly 112,000 veterans who call Hawai'i home to lose the ability to be put to rest in the only national cemetery within 2,000+ miles, leaving the state's veterans to rely solely on VA-funded state veteran cemeteries.
As emphasized by our Legion posts in Hawai'i, we know how important it is to honor native Hawai'ian culture and ensure that veterans can be laid to rest on the islands. Cemetery allotment has become an increasing concern across VA's National Cemetery Administration and is even a challenge at high-profile cemeteries, such as Arlington National Cemetery. The American Legion believes that the final wishes of a veteran should be the top priority and highly support the creation of an additional cemetery to meet the needs of the Hawai'ian veteran population.
The American Legion supports H.R. 6921, consistent with Resolution No. 181: National Cemetery Administration, which calls for new national and state cemeteries wherever the need is plain and for the funding to build them./9
The American Legion supports H.R. 6921 as written.
Discussion Draft: Unclaimed Veterans' Legacy Grant Program Act
To temporarily expand the authorized uses of grants awarded under the Veterans Legacy Program of the National Cemetery Administration, and for other purposes.
The draft legislation seeks to expand the Veterans Legacy Program's ability to provide grants to organizations that assist in the intake and identification of veterans' remains. As a nation, it is our duty to find, recover, and memorialize veterans with dignity so that their legacy may live on.
The Veterans Legacy Program was built to support community-engagement with non-profits, and those are exactly the organizations this draft should strengthen. The volunteers and American Legion post members of groups like the Missing in America Project, who have done this work for years on donations and resolve. These grants would not create a new capability; they would resource one already proven, and long underfunded. Congress must ensure that organizations who carry out this vital mission have the resources to work efficiently and are adequately funded.
* * *
8 Statement of Ronald P. Han Jr., Director, State Office of Veterans Services, Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs Field Hearing, October 5, 2022, https://www.veterans.senate.gov/services/files/7BB899A2-31A0-4150AAB8-9AC0CCF96D88.
9 The American Legion, "Resolution No. 181: National Cemetery Administration," August 30, 2016, https://archive.legion.org/node/394.
* * *
The American Legion supports the Unclaimed Veterans' Legacy Grant Program Act, consistent with Resolution No. 24: Identify, Honor and Inter Unclaimed Cremated Remains of Veterans./10
The American Legion supports the discussion draft as written.
CONCLUSION
Chairman Luttrell, Ranking Member McGarvey, and Members of the Subcommittee, The American Legion thanks you for your leadership and for allowing us the opportunity to provide feedback on legislation.
The American Legion looks forward to continuing this work with the Committee and providing the feedback we receive from our membership. Questions concerning this testimony can be directed to Bailey Bishop, Deputy Legislative Director, at b.bishop@legion.org.
* * *
10 The American Legion, "Resolution No. 24: Identify, Honor and Inter Unclaimed Cremated Remains of Veterans," May 9, 2007. https://archive.legion.org/node/3069
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Original text here: https://docs.house.gov/meetings/VR/VR09/20260625/119403/HHRG-119-VR09-Wstate-LyleC-20260625.pdf
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Chairman Luttrell, Ranking Member McGarvey, and distinguished Members of the ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs released the following testimony by Cole T. Lyle, national director of legislative affairs at the American Legion, from a June 25, 2026, hearing on the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act (H.R. 8552), Compensation Fund Recrediting Act (H.R. 8767), Locating Our Unclaimed Veterans Act (H.R. 9006), and the Priority Response for Veterans Impacted by Disasters and Emergencies Act (H.R. 6588): * * * Chairman Luttrell, Ranking Member McGarvey, and distinguished Members of theSubcommittee, on behalf of National Commander Dan K. Wiley, and more than 1.5 million dues-paying members of The American Legion, we thank you for the opportunity to offer our written testimony regarding proposed legislation.
The American Legion is guided by active Legionnaires who dedicate their time and resources to serve veterans, service members, their families, and caregivers. As a resolutions-based organization, our positions are directed by more than 107 years of advocacy and resolutions that originate at the post level of our organization. Every time The American Legion testifies, we offer a direct voice from the veteran community to Congress.
We fight to keep earned disability compensation whole against the erosion of inflation, and to see that the claims process treats every veteran fairly and without needless delay. With equal conviction, we work to ensure that no veteran is forgotten at the end and that a place of honor lies within reach of those who served. We also fight to ensure that the unclaimed and the unidentified are brought home and laid to rest as the veterans they were. The measures before you today fall along that arc, and the Legion weighs each the same way: against what our members have resolved, and against the promise this nation makes to everyone who wears its uniform.
H.R. 8552: Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2026
To increase, effective as of December 1, 2026, the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans, and for other purposes.
The American Legion supports H.R. 8552, consistent with Resolution No. 164, Oppose Lowering of Cost-of-Living Adjustments./1
A disability rating is the nation's accounting of what a veteran gave; that account should not lose value when our nation's economy naturally fluctuates. Protecting earned compensation from inflation is critical. Without an annual cost-of-living adjustment, the dollar figure holds when the rent, groceries, and prescriptions do not. Keeping pace with inflation and the rising cost of living for those, many of whom are already on a fixed income, will bring financial stability to household budgets. After all the sacrifices made, ensuring the financial stability of our nation's disabled veterans, their survivors, and dependents is the right thing to do. Additionally, H.R. 8552 ties the December 1, 2026, adjustment to the same index that governs payment rates for Social Security./2
* * *
1 The American Legion, "Resolution No. 164: Oppose Lowering of Cost-of-Living Adjustments," August 30, 2016, https://archive.legion.org/node/384.
* * *
The American Legion can support this legislation through Resolution No. 164, Oppose Lowering of Cost-of-Living Adjustments.
The American Legion supports H.R. 8552 as written.
H.R. 8767: Compensation Fund Recrediting Act
To amend the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to wind down the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund.
The American Legion takes no position on H.R. 8767. The provisions of the legislation fall outside the scope of established resolutions of The American Legion.
Equal service earns equal benefits, regardless of when or where a veteran served. A promise the nation made to the men who answered its call should not lapse because of an arbitrary filing window.
Congress created the fund in 2009 to honor the benefits promised to the Philippine Scouts and the recognized guerrilla forces of World War II--men called into United States service by President Roosevelt in 1941--and stripped from them by the Rescission Act of 1946./3
Eligibility turned on the U.S. Army's recognition of a claimant's wartime service, certified through the records held at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis. Claimants had one year from enactment to file, a window that closed in February 2010. Men who served but were never recognized in the Army's wartime program, or whose proof rested on records held by a foreign government, were left unable to establish eligibility./4
We urge this committee to ensure that no veteran who earned this benefit is left uncompensated.
The American Legion has no position on this legislation.
* * *
2 "Disabled Veterans, Military Veterans to See COLA Increase in 2025," The American Legion, December 3, 2024, https://www.legion.org/information-center/news/veterans-benefits/2024/december/disabled-veterans-militaryveterans-to-see-cola-increase-in-2025.
3 Recognizing the Extraordinary Contribution of Filipino Veterans," The White House, Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund Interagency Working Group, July 9, 2013, https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2013/07/09/recognizing-extraordinary-contribution-filipino-veterans
4 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Pub. L. No. 111-5, Sec. 1002(c)(1); February 2010 cutoff per Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund: Inquiry into the Adequacy of Process in Verifying Eligibility, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, H. Comm. on Veterans' Affairs, 113th Cong. (2014)
* * *
H.R. 9006: Locating Our Unclaimed Veterans Act
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a centralized portal within the Department of Veterans Affairs for the storage of information with respect to the unclaimed remains of veterans, and for other purposes.
The American Legion supports H.R. 9006. The location and identification of unclaimed remains of veterans is a top priority for the organization and we remain committed to ensuring that all missing and unclaimed veterans are identified, returned home, and laid to rest with dignity. A centralized, reliable means of tracking these veterans serves an end the Legion has long pursued, and we support the bill's intent to secure it.
In 2024, an Inspector General report identified inefficiencies with VA's ability to intake and identify unclaimed remains of veterans. The report found that though VA has approximately 27 programs addressing unclaimed remains, there was not a single office that owned or maintained streamlined oversight over these programs./5
As a result of the report, VA stood up an integrated project team, created the Unclaimed Veterans Remains program under its Pension and Fiduciary Service, and implemented the Inspector General's data-sharing recommendation.
The American Legion agrees that VA should be more efficient and supports efforts that strengthen information sharing across the department and interagency. However, implementing this portal would require new Memorandums of Understanding for data sharing between agencies, which is a complex process. We would like more information from VA as to how they would integrate the proposed centralized portal into their existing systems and implementation timelines on the MOU process, as well as reporting on the feasibility of standing up a portal under their current IT infrastructure and appropriations which do not account for this expenditure in the current operating budget.
The American Legion supports this legislation through Resolution No. 24: Identify, Honor and Inter Unclaimed Cremated Remains of Veterans./6
The American Legion supports H.R. 9006 as written.
H.R. 6588: Priority Response for Veterans Impacted by Disasters and Emergencies (PROVIDE) Act
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to expedite the processing of claims for disability compensation by veterans affected by major disasters.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), natural disasters-- such as hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes, and wildfires--are occurring at a greater rate year over year and leave behind billions of dollars' worth of property damage in their wake./7
* * *
5 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General (VA OIG). Improvements Needed to Ensure Final Disposition of Unclaimed Veterans' Remains. Report No. 19-09592-262. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Publishing Office, October 15, 2024 https://vaoig.gov/reports/review/improvements-needed-ensure-finaldisposition-unclaimed-veterans-remains
6 The American Legion, "Resolution No. 24: Identify, Honor and Inter Unclaimed Cremated Remains of Veterans," May 9, 2007. https://archive.legion.org/node/3069
* * *
Last year, flooding in North Carolina and central Texas and wildfires in southern California demonstrated how lethal these natural disasters can be and how quickly an entire community can be completely upended.
H.R. 6588 seeks to address the challenges that are presented to veterans who are experiencing hardship as a result of a disaster. The proposal would grant priority processing to any veteran who resides in an area the President of the United States declares a major disaster under the Stafford Act (42 U.S.C. 5170), as well as provide flexibility for evidence requirements and filing deadlines.
The American Legion has experienced first-hand at the post level how devastating and overwhelming the aftermath of a disaster can be, especially if a veteran is forced to relocate or lost sensitive documents in the chaos.
Extending priority to these veterans' claims is a welcomed improvement for exigent circumstances, however, the language must include broad eligibility requirements as to not inadvertently exclude some veterans over others, such as the homeless; terminally ill; former prisoner of war; Medal of Honor recipients, or; Purple Heart recipients. VA has tools to help a veteran impacted by a natural disaster. For instance, VA can extend filing deadlines, reschedule exams and hearings, and grant additional time to submit evidence or respond to a decision. A veteran in severe hardship--sudden job loss, imminent homelessness, foreclosure, a utility shutoff--can already obtain priority processing by filing VA Form 20-10207, which places a hardship flash on the claim. Furthermore, the Board of Veterans' Appeals already advances cases on its docket for hardship, advanced age, homelessness, or terminal illness, and the Chair has the authority on to advance cases for veterans who are impacted by natural disasters and need relief.
In this bill, there should also be consideration of the feasibility for VA to, either directly or through a third-party contractor, provide disability examinations in a disaster area with some sites being affected by the disaster.
The American Legion supports H.R. 6588 through Resolution No. 123: Increase the Transparency of the Veterans Benefits Administration Claim Processing, but offer the following amendment: Amend Section 3 (5)(b): Strike "relating only to subsection (a)(5)" and include "The Secretary shall prescribe additional regulations that do not restrict the veteran to one specific location at the time of filing. Including other instances like disaster, unsheltered homelessness, extreme illness, age, and death. Eligibility criteria should include providing proof of residence impacted by the disaster or special circumstances related to terminal illnesses, cancer, extreme medical debt and the inability to meet basic living conditions."
Additionally, we remain concerned that moving a veteran's claim up due to a natural disaster risks compounding harm if VA rules against the veteran and lowers their rating. Therefore, we request an additional amendment that moves up cases that are ready to be decided, and that decision results in a positive result for the veteran that increases their disability rating and/or their monetary compensation.
The American Legion supports H.R. 6588 with amendments.
* * *
7 Smith, Adam B. U.S. Billion-dollar Weather and Climate Disasters, 1980 - present (NCEI Accession 0209268). NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/stkw-7w73
* * *
H.R. 6921: Hawai'i National Cemetery Act
To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a site-selection study for an additional national cemetery in the State of Hawai'i, and for other purposes.
Hawai'i's only national cemetery, the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, holds some 53,000 who served from World War I through Vietnam. The cemetery stopped in-ground casket burials in 1991, and its cremation operations will close by 2036./8
This closure will result in roughly 112,000 veterans who call Hawai'i home to lose the ability to be put to rest in the only national cemetery within 2,000+ miles, leaving the state's veterans to rely solely on VA-funded state veteran cemeteries.
As emphasized by our Legion posts in Hawai'i, we know how important it is to honor native Hawai'ian culture and ensure that veterans can be laid to rest on the islands. Cemetery allotment has become an increasing concern across VA's National Cemetery Administration and is even a challenge at high-profile cemeteries, such as Arlington National Cemetery. The American Legion believes that the final wishes of a veteran should be the top priority and highly support the creation of an additional cemetery to meet the needs of the Hawai'ian veteran population.
The American Legion supports H.R. 6921, consistent with Resolution No. 181: National Cemetery Administration, which calls for new national and state cemeteries wherever the need is plain and for the funding to build them./9
The American Legion supports H.R. 6921 as written.
Discussion Draft: Unclaimed Veterans' Legacy Grant Program Act
To temporarily expand the authorized uses of grants awarded under the Veterans Legacy Program of the National Cemetery Administration, and for other purposes.
The draft legislation seeks to expand the Veterans Legacy Program's ability to provide grants to organizations that assist in the intake and identification of veterans' remains. As a nation, it is our duty to find, recover, and memorialize veterans with dignity so that their legacy may live on.
The Veterans Legacy Program was built to support community-engagement with non-profits, and those are exactly the organizations this draft should strengthen. The volunteers and American Legion post members of groups like the Missing in America Project, who have done this work for years on donations and resolve. These grants would not create a new capability; they would resource one already proven, and long underfunded. Congress must ensure that organizations who carry out this vital mission have the resources to work efficiently and are adequately funded.
* * *
8 Statement of Ronald P. Han Jr., Director, State Office of Veterans Services, Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs Field Hearing, October 5, 2022, https://www.veterans.senate.gov/services/files/7BB899A2-31A0-4150AAB8-9AC0CCF96D88.
9 The American Legion, "Resolution No. 181: National Cemetery Administration," August 30, 2016, https://archive.legion.org/node/394.
* * *
The American Legion supports the Unclaimed Veterans' Legacy Grant Program Act, consistent with Resolution No. 24: Identify, Honor and Inter Unclaimed Cremated Remains of Veterans./10
The American Legion supports the discussion draft as written.
CONCLUSION
Chairman Luttrell, Ranking Member McGarvey, and Members of the Subcommittee, The American Legion thanks you for your leadership and for allowing us the opportunity to provide feedback on legislation.
The American Legion looks forward to continuing this work with the Committee and providing the feedback we receive from our membership. Questions concerning this testimony can be directed to Bailey Bishop, Deputy Legislative Director, at b.bishop@legion.org.
* * *
10 The American Legion, "Resolution No. 24: Identify, Honor and Inter Unclaimed Cremated Remains of Veterans," May 9, 2007. https://archive.legion.org/node/3069
* * *
Original text here: https://docs.house.gov/meetings/VR/VR09/20260625/119403/HHRG-119-VR09-Wstate-LyleC-20260625.pdf
Ahead of Attorney General Confirmation Hearing, Sen. Schiff Challenges Todd Blanche on Conflicts of Interest Over Family Firearms Company and Gun Safety Regulatory Rollbacks
WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California, issued the following news release:
* * *
Ahead of Attorney General Confirmation Hearing, Sen. Schiff Challenges Todd Blanche on Conflicts of Interest Over Family Firearms Company and Gun Safety Regulatory Rollbacks
*
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) is demanding answers from Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on conflicts of interest Blanche has with his close family connection to a major firearm parts manufacturer.
Schiff, who today will be part of the Senate Judiciary Committee's confirmation hearing for Blanche ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California, issued the following news release: * * * Ahead of Attorney General Confirmation Hearing, Sen. Schiff Challenges Todd Blanche on Conflicts of Interest Over Family Firearms Company and Gun Safety Regulatory Rollbacks * Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) is demanding answers from Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on conflicts of interest Blanche has with his close family connection to a major firearm parts manufacturer. Schiff, who today will be part of the Senate Judiciary Committee's confirmation hearing for Blancheto serve as Attorney General of the United States, is probing what role his connection to Check-Mate Industries has played in rollbacks of gun safety regulations, what financial benefits Blanche gains from his connection to the company, and why Blanche has visited the company in his official government capacity.
"Under your leadership, the Department [of Justice] has...settled legal matters and brought new legal challenges that also stand to benefit Check-Mate Industries and the broader firearms industry, which raise additional conflict of interest questions. These actions, too, appear to have been taken despite clear risks to the public," Senator Schiff wrote in a letter to Blanche Tuesday night.
"The Attorney General of the United States must understand the immense and important responsibility the Department has to protect the public from gun crime and violence. For the Attorney General, conflicts of interest are unacceptable, and appearances of impropriety are inexcusable. The Attorney General must be someone who puts public safety first - not gun industry profits."
Blanche's mother-in-law currently serves as the CEO and Chair of Check-Mate Industries, a gun magazine manufacturer based in Thomasville, Georgia. Schiff's probe seeks answers from Blanche on financial benefits he receives through family connections to the company, as well as how his connection influenced regulatory changes on gun safety rules.
Under Blanche's tenure as Acting Attorney General, the Trump administration has announced more than 30 proposed regulatory changes that would roll back critical gun safety measures designed to keep dangerous weapons off American streets and out of the hands of criminals and those who pose harm to others.
The full text of Blanche's letter can be found here and below.
Dear Acting Attorney General Blanche:
In light of your nomination to be Attorney General, I write to raise serious concerns about potential conflicts of interest between your official position at the Department of Justice (DOJ) and your close familial connection to Check-Mate Industries. In recent months, the Department has announced over 30 rules that would make significant and sweeping changes to federal firearms regulations - changes from which Check-Mate Industries and the broader firearms industry stand to benefit. At the same time, these changes would, as DOJ has admitted, create "greater" and "increased" risks to public safety, including, in some instances, "mass casualties" and "potential mass casualty events."
In April 2026, you attended the National Rifle Association's Annual Meetings and Exhibits in Houston, Texas. There, you were asked in a video interview whether you were "part of the gun industry." You said, "Yes, I am."
As you well know, the Department comprises numerous component agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). ATF's mission is to protect the public from violent gun crime, which it does by enforcing federal firearms laws and, of course, regulating and overseeing the firearms industry. If confirmed, you will be responsible for industry regulation and oversight and, where appropriate, holding industry actors - including those who provide illegal firearms to gun traffickers, prohibited persons, and violent criminals - accountable. I am alarmed that a self-proclaimed "part" of the firearms industry could be expected to independently and impartially regulate and oversee that same industry. I am even more alarmed given the actions that the Department has already taken to benefit the industry at the expense of public safety. In other words, I do not believe that the fox should be trusted to guard the henhouse - especially one whose own family, as you have said, "has been in the gun manufacturing business for 40 years."
The longstanding family business is Check-Mate Industries - a magazine manufacturer founded in 1972 by the late Thomas Vieweg and Regina Vieweg. Mrs. Vieweg, who now serves as Check-Mate Industries' Chair and CEO, is your mother-in-law. Check-Mate Industries operates facilities in West Babylon, New York, and Thomasville, Georgia. Check-Mate Industries reports that, over the last four decades, it has "manufactured over 100 million firearm magazines for the U.S. Military, law enforcement, and leading firearms manufacturers." In fact, Check-Mate Industries has received federal contracts as recently as the current Fiscal Year. Check-Mate Industries also sells pistol and rifle magazines to civilians. In Check-Mate Industries' own words, "When you buy a new 1911 [pistol] or M1A [rifle] from a major manufacturer, there's a good chance it came with a Check-Mate magazine in the box - even if our name wasn't on it."
Check-Mate Industries also manufactures high-capacity magazines (HCMs). HCMs allow shooters to fire more rounds without needing to reload. The more rounds a shooter can fire without reloading, the more wounds - fatal and non-fatal - the shooter can inflict on more victims. Since 2016, all 10 of the highest-casualty mass shootings in the United States have involved HCMs and assault weapons. HCMs are also used in everyday gun crime and gun violence. Firearms equipped with HCMs account for 22 percent to 36 percent of crime guns in most jurisdictions, with some estimates of up to 40 percent in cases involving serious violence, including homicides of law enforcement officers. To protect public safety, 15 states and Washington D.C. have enacted bans on HCMs.
In November 2025, you visited Check-Mate Industries in Georgia. Check-Mate Industries celebrated your Thomasville visit, posting on LinkedIn, "This week, we had the honor of hosting United States Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.... He toured our operations, spent time with our CEO, Vice President, and our team members, and saw firsthand the precision, craftsmanship, and dedication that define Check-Mate." Mrs. Vieweg reposted Check-Mate Industries' post as her own, writing that Check-Mate Industries was "looking forward to seeing... Blanche at SHOT Show" and that attendees could "[s]top by the Check-Mate booth... [to] catch him there." Three months later, you did, in fact, attend the National Shooting Sports Foundation's Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade Show - otherwise known as SHOT Show - in Las Vegas, Nevada.
DOJ and ATF have since announced over 30 rules to "reduce burdens on" and "rebuild trust with" the firearms industry. On April 29, 2026, you - as Acting Attorney General - and ATF Director Robert Cekada made this announcement as you stood before nearly a dozen firearms industry lobbyists, including those from organizations who have called for ATF to be defunded and dismantledand then abolished altogether. You stated, "We listened to industry leaders - many of whom are in this room" because, "[f]or too long, regulations [had been] written without any real understanding of how firearms businesses operate."
These rules make clear how the firearms industry operates: not for public safety, but for profit. These rules are filled with statements about increasing revenue for, saving costs to, and reducing burdens on the industry. At the same time, numerous rules contain statements that their so-called "regulatory reforms" could result in "greater" and "increased risks" to public safety. In at least two separate rules, the Department and ATF admit that these risks could even involve "potential mass casualty events" and "mass casualties." In another, DOJ and ATF concede that such changes could make it harder for law enforcement "to track and stop violent offenders." Those are just some of the stated risks. These new rules would also create more opportunities for gun traffickers, violent criminals, and prohibited persons to obtain illegal firearms, make it more difficult for law enforcement to investigate and solve gun crimes, and allow more gun dealers to engage in irresponsible and even unlawful business operations.
In addition, under your leadership, the Department has also settled legal matters and brought new legal challenges that also stand to benefit Check-Mate Industries and the broader firearms industry, which raise additional conflict of interest questions. These actions, too, appear to have been taken despite clear risks to the public. For example, in May 2025, DOJ announced a settlement with Rare Breed Triggers related to forced-reset triggers (FRTs). FRTs are replacement triggers that automatically return forward, or reset, after being pulled, which, in effect, turn semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic machine guns. The Department's settlement reversed ATF's longstanding classification of FRTs as machine guns, which, in turn, legalized these devices for the civilian market - even though civilian ownership of machine guns and the parts that convert firearms into machine guns has been banned under federal law for 40 years. Such rapid fire will empty magazines at a quick rate, making magazines with high capacity, like those manufactured by your mother-in-law's company, Check-Mate Industries, more appealing to reduce the need to reload. In addition, DOJ has also filed lawsuits against HCM bans in Washington D.C. and Colorado. If these statutes are invalidated, it stands to reason that Check-Mate Industries would be able to regain access to these markets.
I request written responses to the following questions by July 21, 2026:
1. You have previously acknowledged publicly your wife's family owns Check-Mate Industries, a manufacturer of high-capacity firearms magazines, and has "been in the gun manufacturing business for 40 years." Do you or your wife currently hold ownership in, or otherwise receive financial benefits from, Check-Mate Industries or its subsidiaries or affiliate businesses?
1. If so, please describe the nature of the financial benefits you or wife receive from Check-Mate Industries.
2. If confirmed, will you or your wife commit to divesting all ownership or financial interests you have in Check-Mat Industries?
2. Do you believe your familial relationship with Check-Mate Industries or any of its subsidiaries creates a conflict of interest?
1. If not, why do you believe your relationship does not create a conflict of interest?
2. If confirmed, will you commit to recusing yourself from any cases or investigations involving Check-Mate Industries or its subsidiaries?
3. During an April 2026 interview at the National Rifle Association's Annual Meetings and Exhibits, you responded "Yes, I am" when asked if you are "part of the gun industry." In reference to your relationship to Check-Mate Industries, you stated "I've been part of the fight, struggle, everything that we've been going through as a nation for really for 40 years." What did you mean by this statement?
1. In that same interview, you stated "Any gun owner, anyone who is in the industry, whether you're a manufacturer, you're a reseller, you're going to be, to realize that this Administration is going to do more to restore rights to where they belong than any other Administration in history." Does your relationship to Check-Mate Industries influence your desire to "restore rights" for weapons manufacturers "more than any other Administration in history?"
4. Have you ever discussed forthcoming regulations published by DOJ agencies, including by ATF, with lobbyists, employees, or shareholders of Check-Mate Industries?
5. Check-Mate has received federal contracts in FY26. Have you ever contacted anyone within the Administration regarding Check-Mate's contracts?
1. If so, will you commit to providing complete records of those communications to my staff at least one week prior to a floor vote on your nomination?
2. If so, why did you believe your relationship to Check-Mate Industries did not create a conflict of interest?
6. In November 2025, in your capacity as Deputy Attorney General, you conducted an official visit to Check-Mate Industries' Georgia facility. Why did you select Check-Mate Industries for this visit?
1. How did your family's connection to Check-Mate Industries play a role in your decision to visit?
2. Were there other facilities you considered visiting? If so, please explain why you ultimately decided not to visit them.
7. In May 2025, the Department announced a settlement with Rare Breed Triggers and reversed a longstanding classification of forced-reset triggers (FRTs) as machine guns, effectively legalizing these devices - which have been previously banned under federal law for 40 years - for the civilian market
1. Please describe the role you played in this settlement.
2. Did your relationship with Check-Mate Industries play a role in your involvement with the case?
3. Did your relationship with Check-Mate Industries inform your position in this case? If so, please explain.
4. Did you consult with individuals at Check-Mate Industries at any point throughout the ongoing litigation with Rare Breed Triggers?
Thank you for your prompt attention to these concerns. DOJ's mission is to uphold the rule of law and keep our nation safe. The Attorney General of the United States must understand the immense and important responsibility the Department has to protect the public from gun crime and violence. For the Attorney General, conflicts of interest are unacceptable, and appearances of impropriety are inexcusable. The Attorney General must be someone who puts public safety first - not gun industry profits. Given your track record so far at DOJ, I have strong concerns that you will do just the opposite.
***
Original text here: https://www.schiff.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-ahead-of-attorney-general-confirmation-hearing-sen-schiff-challenges-todd-blanche-on-conflicts-of-interest-over-family-firearms-company-and-gun-safety-regulatory-rollbacks/
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Ahead of Attorney General Confirmation Hearing, Sen. Schiff Challenges Todd Blanche on Conflicts of Interest Over Family Firearms Company and Gun Safety Regulatory Rollbacks
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Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) is demanding answers from Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on conflicts of interest Blanche has with his close family connection to a major firearm parts manufacturer.
Schiff, who today will be part of the Senate Judiciary Committee's confirmation hearing for Blanche ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California, issued the following news release: * * * Ahead of Attorney General Confirmation Hearing, Sen. Schiff Challenges Todd Blanche on Conflicts of Interest Over Family Firearms Company and Gun Safety Regulatory Rollbacks * Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) is demanding answers from Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on conflicts of interest Blanche has with his close family connection to a major firearm parts manufacturer. Schiff, who today will be part of the Senate Judiciary Committee's confirmation hearing for Blancheto serve as Attorney General of the United States, is probing what role his connection to Check-Mate Industries has played in rollbacks of gun safety regulations, what financial benefits Blanche gains from his connection to the company, and why Blanche has visited the company in his official government capacity.
"Under your leadership, the Department [of Justice] has...settled legal matters and brought new legal challenges that also stand to benefit Check-Mate Industries and the broader firearms industry, which raise additional conflict of interest questions. These actions, too, appear to have been taken despite clear risks to the public," Senator Schiff wrote in a letter to Blanche Tuesday night.
"The Attorney General of the United States must understand the immense and important responsibility the Department has to protect the public from gun crime and violence. For the Attorney General, conflicts of interest are unacceptable, and appearances of impropriety are inexcusable. The Attorney General must be someone who puts public safety first - not gun industry profits."
Blanche's mother-in-law currently serves as the CEO and Chair of Check-Mate Industries, a gun magazine manufacturer based in Thomasville, Georgia. Schiff's probe seeks answers from Blanche on financial benefits he receives through family connections to the company, as well as how his connection influenced regulatory changes on gun safety rules.
Under Blanche's tenure as Acting Attorney General, the Trump administration has announced more than 30 proposed regulatory changes that would roll back critical gun safety measures designed to keep dangerous weapons off American streets and out of the hands of criminals and those who pose harm to others.
The full text of Blanche's letter can be found here and below.
Dear Acting Attorney General Blanche:
In light of your nomination to be Attorney General, I write to raise serious concerns about potential conflicts of interest between your official position at the Department of Justice (DOJ) and your close familial connection to Check-Mate Industries. In recent months, the Department has announced over 30 rules that would make significant and sweeping changes to federal firearms regulations - changes from which Check-Mate Industries and the broader firearms industry stand to benefit. At the same time, these changes would, as DOJ has admitted, create "greater" and "increased" risks to public safety, including, in some instances, "mass casualties" and "potential mass casualty events."
In April 2026, you attended the National Rifle Association's Annual Meetings and Exhibits in Houston, Texas. There, you were asked in a video interview whether you were "part of the gun industry." You said, "Yes, I am."
As you well know, the Department comprises numerous component agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). ATF's mission is to protect the public from violent gun crime, which it does by enforcing federal firearms laws and, of course, regulating and overseeing the firearms industry. If confirmed, you will be responsible for industry regulation and oversight and, where appropriate, holding industry actors - including those who provide illegal firearms to gun traffickers, prohibited persons, and violent criminals - accountable. I am alarmed that a self-proclaimed "part" of the firearms industry could be expected to independently and impartially regulate and oversee that same industry. I am even more alarmed given the actions that the Department has already taken to benefit the industry at the expense of public safety. In other words, I do not believe that the fox should be trusted to guard the henhouse - especially one whose own family, as you have said, "has been in the gun manufacturing business for 40 years."
The longstanding family business is Check-Mate Industries - a magazine manufacturer founded in 1972 by the late Thomas Vieweg and Regina Vieweg. Mrs. Vieweg, who now serves as Check-Mate Industries' Chair and CEO, is your mother-in-law. Check-Mate Industries operates facilities in West Babylon, New York, and Thomasville, Georgia. Check-Mate Industries reports that, over the last four decades, it has "manufactured over 100 million firearm magazines for the U.S. Military, law enforcement, and leading firearms manufacturers." In fact, Check-Mate Industries has received federal contracts as recently as the current Fiscal Year. Check-Mate Industries also sells pistol and rifle magazines to civilians. In Check-Mate Industries' own words, "When you buy a new 1911 [pistol] or M1A [rifle] from a major manufacturer, there's a good chance it came with a Check-Mate magazine in the box - even if our name wasn't on it."
Check-Mate Industries also manufactures high-capacity magazines (HCMs). HCMs allow shooters to fire more rounds without needing to reload. The more rounds a shooter can fire without reloading, the more wounds - fatal and non-fatal - the shooter can inflict on more victims. Since 2016, all 10 of the highest-casualty mass shootings in the United States have involved HCMs and assault weapons. HCMs are also used in everyday gun crime and gun violence. Firearms equipped with HCMs account for 22 percent to 36 percent of crime guns in most jurisdictions, with some estimates of up to 40 percent in cases involving serious violence, including homicides of law enforcement officers. To protect public safety, 15 states and Washington D.C. have enacted bans on HCMs.
In November 2025, you visited Check-Mate Industries in Georgia. Check-Mate Industries celebrated your Thomasville visit, posting on LinkedIn, "This week, we had the honor of hosting United States Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.... He toured our operations, spent time with our CEO, Vice President, and our team members, and saw firsthand the precision, craftsmanship, and dedication that define Check-Mate." Mrs. Vieweg reposted Check-Mate Industries' post as her own, writing that Check-Mate Industries was "looking forward to seeing... Blanche at SHOT Show" and that attendees could "[s]top by the Check-Mate booth... [to] catch him there." Three months later, you did, in fact, attend the National Shooting Sports Foundation's Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade Show - otherwise known as SHOT Show - in Las Vegas, Nevada.
DOJ and ATF have since announced over 30 rules to "reduce burdens on" and "rebuild trust with" the firearms industry. On April 29, 2026, you - as Acting Attorney General - and ATF Director Robert Cekada made this announcement as you stood before nearly a dozen firearms industry lobbyists, including those from organizations who have called for ATF to be defunded and dismantledand then abolished altogether. You stated, "We listened to industry leaders - many of whom are in this room" because, "[f]or too long, regulations [had been] written without any real understanding of how firearms businesses operate."
These rules make clear how the firearms industry operates: not for public safety, but for profit. These rules are filled with statements about increasing revenue for, saving costs to, and reducing burdens on the industry. At the same time, numerous rules contain statements that their so-called "regulatory reforms" could result in "greater" and "increased risks" to public safety. In at least two separate rules, the Department and ATF admit that these risks could even involve "potential mass casualty events" and "mass casualties." In another, DOJ and ATF concede that such changes could make it harder for law enforcement "to track and stop violent offenders." Those are just some of the stated risks. These new rules would also create more opportunities for gun traffickers, violent criminals, and prohibited persons to obtain illegal firearms, make it more difficult for law enforcement to investigate and solve gun crimes, and allow more gun dealers to engage in irresponsible and even unlawful business operations.
In addition, under your leadership, the Department has also settled legal matters and brought new legal challenges that also stand to benefit Check-Mate Industries and the broader firearms industry, which raise additional conflict of interest questions. These actions, too, appear to have been taken despite clear risks to the public. For example, in May 2025, DOJ announced a settlement with Rare Breed Triggers related to forced-reset triggers (FRTs). FRTs are replacement triggers that automatically return forward, or reset, after being pulled, which, in effect, turn semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic machine guns. The Department's settlement reversed ATF's longstanding classification of FRTs as machine guns, which, in turn, legalized these devices for the civilian market - even though civilian ownership of machine guns and the parts that convert firearms into machine guns has been banned under federal law for 40 years. Such rapid fire will empty magazines at a quick rate, making magazines with high capacity, like those manufactured by your mother-in-law's company, Check-Mate Industries, more appealing to reduce the need to reload. In addition, DOJ has also filed lawsuits against HCM bans in Washington D.C. and Colorado. If these statutes are invalidated, it stands to reason that Check-Mate Industries would be able to regain access to these markets.
I request written responses to the following questions by July 21, 2026:
1. You have previously acknowledged publicly your wife's family owns Check-Mate Industries, a manufacturer of high-capacity firearms magazines, and has "been in the gun manufacturing business for 40 years." Do you or your wife currently hold ownership in, or otherwise receive financial benefits from, Check-Mate Industries or its subsidiaries or affiliate businesses?
1. If so, please describe the nature of the financial benefits you or wife receive from Check-Mate Industries.
2. If confirmed, will you or your wife commit to divesting all ownership or financial interests you have in Check-Mat Industries?
2. Do you believe your familial relationship with Check-Mate Industries or any of its subsidiaries creates a conflict of interest?
1. If not, why do you believe your relationship does not create a conflict of interest?
2. If confirmed, will you commit to recusing yourself from any cases or investigations involving Check-Mate Industries or its subsidiaries?
3. During an April 2026 interview at the National Rifle Association's Annual Meetings and Exhibits, you responded "Yes, I am" when asked if you are "part of the gun industry." In reference to your relationship to Check-Mate Industries, you stated "I've been part of the fight, struggle, everything that we've been going through as a nation for really for 40 years." What did you mean by this statement?
1. In that same interview, you stated "Any gun owner, anyone who is in the industry, whether you're a manufacturer, you're a reseller, you're going to be, to realize that this Administration is going to do more to restore rights to where they belong than any other Administration in history." Does your relationship to Check-Mate Industries influence your desire to "restore rights" for weapons manufacturers "more than any other Administration in history?"
4. Have you ever discussed forthcoming regulations published by DOJ agencies, including by ATF, with lobbyists, employees, or shareholders of Check-Mate Industries?
5. Check-Mate has received federal contracts in FY26. Have you ever contacted anyone within the Administration regarding Check-Mate's contracts?
1. If so, will you commit to providing complete records of those communications to my staff at least one week prior to a floor vote on your nomination?
2. If so, why did you believe your relationship to Check-Mate Industries did not create a conflict of interest?
6. In November 2025, in your capacity as Deputy Attorney General, you conducted an official visit to Check-Mate Industries' Georgia facility. Why did you select Check-Mate Industries for this visit?
1. How did your family's connection to Check-Mate Industries play a role in your decision to visit?
2. Were there other facilities you considered visiting? If so, please explain why you ultimately decided not to visit them.
7. In May 2025, the Department announced a settlement with Rare Breed Triggers and reversed a longstanding classification of forced-reset triggers (FRTs) as machine guns, effectively legalizing these devices - which have been previously banned under federal law for 40 years - for the civilian market
1. Please describe the role you played in this settlement.
2. Did your relationship with Check-Mate Industries play a role in your involvement with the case?
3. Did your relationship with Check-Mate Industries inform your position in this case? If so, please explain.
4. Did you consult with individuals at Check-Mate Industries at any point throughout the ongoing litigation with Rare Breed Triggers?
Thank you for your prompt attention to these concerns. DOJ's mission is to uphold the rule of law and keep our nation safe. The Attorney General of the United States must understand the immense and important responsibility the Department has to protect the public from gun crime and violence. For the Attorney General, conflicts of interest are unacceptable, and appearances of impropriety are inexcusable. The Attorney General must be someone who puts public safety first - not gun industry profits. Given your track record so far at DOJ, I have strong concerns that you will do just the opposite.
***
Original text here: https://www.schiff.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-ahead-of-attorney-general-confirmation-hearing-sen-schiff-challenges-todd-blanche-on-conflicts-of-interest-over-family-firearms-company-and-gun-safety-regulatory-rollbacks/
25 Members of Congress Release Joint Statement on Massie Amendment to Republican Foreign Aid Budget Bill
WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release:
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25 Members of Congress Release Joint Statement on Massie Amendment to Republican Foreign Aid Budget Bill
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July 15, 2026
WASHINGTON- Today, 25 Members of Congress, led by Congressman Jim McGovern, Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission and Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee, released the following statement in advance of voting yes on Amendment #8, which would halt certain U.S. funding to Israel, to the National Security, Department of State and Related Programs Appropriations ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: * * * 25 Members of Congress Release Joint Statement on Massie Amendment to Republican Foreign Aid Budget Bill * July 15, 2026 WASHINGTON- Today, 25 Members of Congress, led by Congressman Jim McGovern, Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission and Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee, released the following statement in advance of voting yes on Amendment #8, which would halt certain U.S. funding to Israel, to the National Security, Department of State and Related Programs AppropriationsAct:
"As Members of Congress, it is our duty to ensure that our constituents' hard-earned money is used in a way that advances America's interests and values. For this reason, we do not support providing an additional $3.3 billion of American taxpayer dollars to be used for Israeli military operations in Gaza and Lebanon-operations which have killed tens of thousands of civilians, led to the indiscriminate destruction of civilian infrastructure, and caused severe and ongoing humanitarian catastrophes. These are just the latest in a long string of human rights violations inflicted on Palestinian civilians. For nearly six decades, Israeli security forces and military authorities have enforced the occupation of the Palestinian territories, including through restrictions on freedom of movement, arbitrary detention, torture, and extrajudicial killings. It is clear that existing human rights conditions on the use of American security assistance have not been meaningfully enforced. Enough is enough.
"Palestinians and Israelis alike deserve peace, freedom, security, stability, and self-determination. Those aims will only be achieved when their inherent dignity and inalienable rights are at the center of U.S. policy in the region. Diplomacy is the answer, and as long as America provides constant funding for more war, peace will always remain out of reach.
"Our vote should not be interpreted as opposition to initiatives such as the Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Act programs or others that foster people-to-people engagement, strengthen civil society, and advance the long-term prospects for a just and lasting peace. We remain committed to supporting these and similar programs while ensuring that U.S. taxpayer dollars advance peace, security, and American interests and values."
The statement was released by Representatives: Becca Balint (D-VT), Don Beyer (D-VA), Greg Casar (D-TX), Judy Chu (D-CA), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Maxine Dexter (D-OR), John Garamendi (D-CA), Jesus G. "Chuy" Garcia (D-IL), Adelita S. Grijalva (D-AZ), Val Hoyle (D-OR), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA), Jim McGovern (D-MA), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Delia C. Ramirez (D-IL), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Lateefah Simon (D-CA), Melanie Stansbury (D-NM), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), and Nydia M. Velazquez (D-NY).
***
Original text here: https://watsoncoleman.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/25-members-of-congress-release-joint-statement-on-massie-amendment-to-republican-foreign-aid-budget-bill
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25 Members of Congress Release Joint Statement on Massie Amendment to Republican Foreign Aid Budget Bill
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July 15, 2026
WASHINGTON- Today, 25 Members of Congress, led by Congressman Jim McGovern, Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission and Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee, released the following statement in advance of voting yes on Amendment #8, which would halt certain U.S. funding to Israel, to the National Security, Department of State and Related Programs Appropriations ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: * * * 25 Members of Congress Release Joint Statement on Massie Amendment to Republican Foreign Aid Budget Bill * July 15, 2026 WASHINGTON- Today, 25 Members of Congress, led by Congressman Jim McGovern, Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission and Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee, released the following statement in advance of voting yes on Amendment #8, which would halt certain U.S. funding to Israel, to the National Security, Department of State and Related Programs AppropriationsAct:
"As Members of Congress, it is our duty to ensure that our constituents' hard-earned money is used in a way that advances America's interests and values. For this reason, we do not support providing an additional $3.3 billion of American taxpayer dollars to be used for Israeli military operations in Gaza and Lebanon-operations which have killed tens of thousands of civilians, led to the indiscriminate destruction of civilian infrastructure, and caused severe and ongoing humanitarian catastrophes. These are just the latest in a long string of human rights violations inflicted on Palestinian civilians. For nearly six decades, Israeli security forces and military authorities have enforced the occupation of the Palestinian territories, including through restrictions on freedom of movement, arbitrary detention, torture, and extrajudicial killings. It is clear that existing human rights conditions on the use of American security assistance have not been meaningfully enforced. Enough is enough.
"Palestinians and Israelis alike deserve peace, freedom, security, stability, and self-determination. Those aims will only be achieved when their inherent dignity and inalienable rights are at the center of U.S. policy in the region. Diplomacy is the answer, and as long as America provides constant funding for more war, peace will always remain out of reach.
"Our vote should not be interpreted as opposition to initiatives such as the Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Act programs or others that foster people-to-people engagement, strengthen civil society, and advance the long-term prospects for a just and lasting peace. We remain committed to supporting these and similar programs while ensuring that U.S. taxpayer dollars advance peace, security, and American interests and values."
The statement was released by Representatives: Becca Balint (D-VT), Don Beyer (D-VA), Greg Casar (D-TX), Judy Chu (D-CA), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Maxine Dexter (D-OR), John Garamendi (D-CA), Jesus G. "Chuy" Garcia (D-IL), Adelita S. Grijalva (D-AZ), Val Hoyle (D-OR), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA), Jim McGovern (D-MA), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Delia C. Ramirez (D-IL), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Lateefah Simon (D-CA), Melanie Stansbury (D-NM), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), and Nydia M. Velazquez (D-NY).
***
Original text here: https://watsoncoleman.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/25-members-of-congress-release-joint-statement-on-massie-amendment-to-republican-foreign-aid-budget-bill
"America is Safer When Putin Loses"
WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release:
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"America is Safer When Putin Loses"
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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Yesterday, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) joined a press conference announcing a bipartisan Russian sanctions bill. This legislation was the result of the late Senator Lindsey Graham's tireless efforts to protect Americans against Vladimir Putin. Sanctioning Russia will prevent the spread of its aggression and keep Americans safe.
"America is safer when Putin loses," said Ricketts. "Lindsey Graham was very clear-eyed about the threat Vladimir ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: * * * "America is Safer When Putin Loses" * WASHINGTON, D.C. - Yesterday, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) joined a press conference announcing a bipartisan Russian sanctions bill. This legislation was the result of the late Senator Lindsey Graham's tireless efforts to protect Americans against Vladimir Putin. Sanctioning Russia will prevent the spread of its aggression and keep Americans safe. "America is safer when Putin loses," said Ricketts. "Lindsey Graham was very clear-eyed about the threat VladimirPutin created for the United States -the threat he was to the United States. And he knew that we are safer with peace through strength. And that's why Senator Graham pushed this bill so hard -to make America safer."
Watch the video here.
TRANSCRIPT:
"America is safer when Putin loses.
"Lindsey Graham was very clear-eyed about the threat Vladimir Putin created for the United States -the threat he was to the United States.
"And he knew that we are safer with peace through strength.
"And that's why Senator Graham pushed this bill so hard -to make America safer.
"This bill will put additional sanctions on Putin, the oligarchs, businesspeople in Russia, banks, the shadow fleet, who allow the president to put up to 100% tariffs on people who are buying Russian oil.
"Who are supporting the war machine that is terrorizing Ukraine.
"If Putin were to be successful in Ukraine, he will move on NATO members and then we will be involved directly in the war.
"This sanctions bill will allow us to continue to put pressure on Russia so that we can end this war before that happens and make sure Putin loses.
"Senator Graham's commitment to this bill is part of his commitment to keeping our country safe -and all our commitment to keeping this country safe.
"And I want to thank all my colleagues who are standing up here and all the ones who are on this bill and support getting this bill passed as quickly as possible so we continue to let Putin know he will not win in Russia."
***
Original text here: https://www.ricketts.senate.gov/news/press-releases/video-america-is-safer-when-putin-loses/
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"America is Safer When Putin Loses"
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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Yesterday, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) joined a press conference announcing a bipartisan Russian sanctions bill. This legislation was the result of the late Senator Lindsey Graham's tireless efforts to protect Americans against Vladimir Putin. Sanctioning Russia will prevent the spread of its aggression and keep Americans safe.
"America is safer when Putin loses," said Ricketts. "Lindsey Graham was very clear-eyed about the threat Vladimir ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: * * * "America is Safer When Putin Loses" * WASHINGTON, D.C. - Yesterday, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) joined a press conference announcing a bipartisan Russian sanctions bill. This legislation was the result of the late Senator Lindsey Graham's tireless efforts to protect Americans against Vladimir Putin. Sanctioning Russia will prevent the spread of its aggression and keep Americans safe. "America is safer when Putin loses," said Ricketts. "Lindsey Graham was very clear-eyed about the threat VladimirPutin created for the United States -the threat he was to the United States. And he knew that we are safer with peace through strength. And that's why Senator Graham pushed this bill so hard -to make America safer."
Watch the video here.
TRANSCRIPT:
"America is safer when Putin loses.
"Lindsey Graham was very clear-eyed about the threat Vladimir Putin created for the United States -the threat he was to the United States.
"And he knew that we are safer with peace through strength.
"And that's why Senator Graham pushed this bill so hard -to make America safer.
"This bill will put additional sanctions on Putin, the oligarchs, businesspeople in Russia, banks, the shadow fleet, who allow the president to put up to 100% tariffs on people who are buying Russian oil.
"Who are supporting the war machine that is terrorizing Ukraine.
"If Putin were to be successful in Ukraine, he will move on NATO members and then we will be involved directly in the war.
"This sanctions bill will allow us to continue to put pressure on Russia so that we can end this war before that happens and make sure Putin loses.
"Senator Graham's commitment to this bill is part of his commitment to keeping our country safe -and all our commitment to keeping this country safe.
"And I want to thank all my colleagues who are standing up here and all the ones who are on this bill and support getting this bill passed as quickly as possible so we continue to let Putin know he will not win in Russia."
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Original text here: https://www.ricketts.senate.gov/news/press-releases/video-america-is-safer-when-putin-loses/