Pappas Amendment Supporting Funding for Manchester VA Medical Center Upgrades Attached to Bipartisan Funding Package

Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, successfully passed an amendment in support of robust funding for improvements to VA direct care for New Hampshire veterans, including funding for upgrades to the Manchester VA Medical Center, during House consideration of the Veterans Affairs appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2027. Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (NH-02) is a cosponsor of the amendment and also supported attaching it to the funding package.

“Our veterans have each put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms, and they deserve the best possible care and benefits after their service. Recurrent issues at the Manchester VA Medical Center mean that too many of our veterans have had difficulty accessing the care they need close to home,” said Congressman Pappas. “I have always fought to deliver more resources to our veterans, and I will continue to fight for improvements at the Manchester VA Medical Center.”

Background: 

Last year Pappas led the New Hampshire delegation in introducing the Veterans Full-Service Care and Access Act, legislation that would require the VA to operate at least one full-service Veterans Health Administration hospital in each of the 48 contiguous states. He has consistently pressed the Department of Veterans Affairs to take every necessary step to improve care for veterans across New Hampshire. 

In 2022 Pappas fought back against and stopped a Biden administration plan to close Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) in Conway, Somersworth, and Portsmouth. Thanks to Pappas's advocacy, no Community-Based Outpatient Clinics in New Hampshire closed, and veterans continue to receive care in their communities.