Pappas Named DAV's 2024 Outstanding House Legislator of the Year
Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) was named the 2024 Outstanding House Legislator of the Year by the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) in recognition of his work on behalf of veterans and their families.
Pappas was honored for his service on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, his work to secure the passage of his Faster Payments to Veterans’ Survivors Act of 2022, and his ongoing efforts to pass his GUARD VA Benefits Act.
“I’m honored to receive this recognition from DAV today and to work alongside them to support our veterans and their families,” said Congressman Pappas. “No one who has served our country should ever doubt that our government will live up to the sacred promises we have made to them, and every bit of progress we make in improving benefits and care for veterans and their families is worth the effort. I look forward to continuing to work closely with DAV and the New Hampshire veteran community to ensure we are meeting the needs of all our veterans who have sacrificed so much for all Americans.”
“Those being recognized with DAV’s 2024 National Commander’s Advocacy Awards have illustrated an unmatched commitment to fighting for the best interests of veterans and their families,” said Nancy Espinosa, DAV National Commander. “Veterans are a nonpartisan issue, and Rep. Pappas has worked tirelessly to ensure our nation keeps its promises to America’s veterans.”
Background:
Pappas serves on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee (HVAC), which oversees veterans’ measures with broad jurisdiction, including the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA), the Veterans Health Administration, the Veterans Benefits Administration, and the National Cemetery Administration. Within HVAC, Pappas serves as the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, where he is involved in directing investigations and hearings into compensation, general and special pensions, and life insurance owed to veterans.
In December 2022, Pappas’s bipartisan Faster Payments to Veterans' Survivors Act was signed into law. This legislation improves VA processes for identifying, locating, and paying hard-to-find survivors of recently deceased veterans, ensuring they get the benefits and support they are owed and have earned in a timely manner.
In February 2023, Pappas reintroduced his bipartisan GUARD VA Benefits Act, which would protect veterans from predatory claims sharks by reinstating criminal penalties for unaccredited claim representatives who charge unauthorized fees while assisting veterans with filing a claim for VA disability compensation benefits. The legislation is supported by DAV.