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FEDERALcongressional record

Representative Stansbury's Statement on Veterans Affairs and VA Funding

Original title: IN SUPPORT OF VETERANS

May 14, 2026

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The Frame

What this does

The proposed amendment seeks to block the privatization of VA services and address the reduction of approximately 26,000 VA jobs nationwide, directly impacting the delivery of healthcare and benefits to veterans.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Veterans

Veterans are the primary recipients of VA services and benefits, which are subject to changes in staffing and privatization policies.

VA Employees

VA employees are affected by the reported reduction of 26,000 positions within the agency.

What changed

Last recorded activity May 14, 2026.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

Representative Melanie Stansbury delivered a one-minute speech on the House floor opposing the privatization of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). She criticized recent staffing reductions at the VA and announced an amendment to the aimed at preventing privatization.

Key Facts

  • Representative Stansbury introduced an amendment to the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs bill to prohibit the privatization of the VA.
  • Approximately 26,000 jobs at the VA have been cut across the country this year.
  • The speech was delivered on May 14, 2026, in the U.S. House of Representatives.
  • The amendment is intended to maintain federal funding for existing VA programs.

Why It Matters

The proposed amendment seeks to block the privatization of VA services and address the reduction of approximately 26,000 VA jobs nationwide, directly impacting the delivery of healthcare and benefits to veterans.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the goal of Representative Stansbury's amendment?
The amendment aims to stop the privatization of the Department of Veterans Affairs and ensure continued funding for VA programs.
How many VA jobs were reportedly cut this year?
According to the statement, nearly 26,000 jobs at the VA have been cut nationwide this year.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Lobbying Activity

AARP

$4,110,000

2026

HEALTH ISSUESMEDICARE/MEDICAIDLAW ENFORCEMENT/CRIME/CRIMINAL JUSTICEPHARMACY

P.L. 119-21, One Big Beautiful Bill Act H.R. 8867, Planning for Long-term Aging Needs (PLAN) Act H.R. 5861, Legacy Act of 2025 H.R. 9393, the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act. H.R. 9396, the Prior Authorization Accountability Act. S. 4916, the Aging with Artificial Intelligence Act. H.R. 8100, Safe Staffing Saves Lives Act. S. 3886, Nurses Belong in Nursing Homes Act. H.R. 6766/S. 3492, the Essential Caregivers Act of 2025. H.R. 7966/S. 4118, Hospice Care Accountability, Reform, and Enforcement (Hospice CARE) Act. S. 2120, the Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2025 H.R. 5575, the Firefighters Assisting Seniors to Emergency Response (FASTER) Act of 2025. H.R. 3954/S. 4641, Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act. H.R.5554/S.2831, Stand Strong for Medicare Act. S. 3439/H.R. 6735, Connecting Caregivers to Medicare Act and efforts related to the bill S. 1227/H.R. 2491, Alleviating Barriers for Caregivers Act S. 668/H.R. 3183, Supporting Access to Falls Education and Prevention and Strengthening Training Efforts and Promoting Safety Initiatives (SAFE STEPS) for Veterans Act of 2025 CMS-1851-P, Hospice Proposed rule. CMS-1843-P, Skilled Nursing Facility Proposed rule. CMS-1844-P, Home Health Proposed rule. No bill number. Health care transparency. No bill number. Discussed use of artificial intelligence and health data technology. No bill number. Discussed health-related policies and activities around the fall respiratory virus season. No bill number. Discussed health insurance affordability proposals. No bill number. Discussed Nursing Home staffing standards, safety, and quality. No bill number. Discussed Nursing home transparency and ownership requirements. No bill number. Discussed home health, hospice, and long-term care. No bill number. Discussed falls prevention. No bill number. Discussed social isolation. No bill number. Discussed HUD Assisted Living Requirements No bill number. Discussed family caregiving. No bill number. Discussed AARP paper on Medicare Caregiver Training Services. No bill number. Discussed Medicaid community engagement interim final rule, including the family caregiver exemption. No bill number. Discussed the paid direct care workforce in long-term care. No bill number. Discussed the unaffordability of long-term care. No bill number. Discussed Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration Program and Medicaid HCBS spousal impoverishment protections. No bill number. Discussed Medicaid fraud and family caregivers, Medicaid self-direction programs. No bill number. Discussed sandwich generation family caregiver hearing and submitted a statement for the record discussing family caregivers and sandwich generation caregivers, programs that support them, AARP caregiving resources, and federal policies to support sandwich generation caregivers and caregivers more broadly. No bill number. Discussed long-term care. No bill number. CMS-2453-NC; Medicaid Program; 2028 Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Quality Measure Set Submitted comments No bill number. Discussed expanding access to home care. No bill number. Discussed the increasing cost of home care No bill number. Discussed HSA use for telehealth chronic care management services/subscriptions. No bill number. Discussed artificial intelligence and technology

60 Plus Association

2026

TAXATION/INTERNAL REVENUE CODEENVIRONMENT/SUPERFUNDCOPYRIGHT/PATENT/TRADEMARKHEALTH ISSUES

Signed a coalition letter opposing any efforts to raise the corporate tax rate above the 21% level set in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). Signed a coalition in support of the Family Business Legacy Act, H.R. 6329. This legislation creates parity in the tax code between the estate and gift taxes by allowing an estate tax deduction for contributions to 501(c)(4), (c)(5), and (c)(6) organizations. Signed a coalition letter urging opposition to proposals that would raise taxes on carried interest investment income.The letter is urging Congress to reject the misnamed Carried Interest Fairness Act, legislation recently reintroduced by Senators Tammy Baldwin, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, and other progressive members of Congress. This legislation that would increase the tax rate on carried interest investment by 70%, from 23.8% to 40.8%. Signed a coalition letter in support of H.R.574 - ALIGN Act and highlight the 100% bonus depreciation provision's importance as the tax cut reauthorization efforts continue. Signed a coalition to support of repealing IRA's green new deal subsidies in reconciliation to pay for tax cuts. Signed a coalition letter regarding digital services taxes (DST) in an effort to stop Canadas imposition of a discriminatory digital services tax (DST) on U.S. firms and your efforts to include restrictions on the imposition of DSTs and other unfair digital policies in recently announced trade agreements-providing a model for future trade negotiations. Signed a coalition letter urging the President to index capital gains for inflation.

SKOOKUM EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS (FKA TESSERA)

on behalf of SKOOKUM EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

STROGEN LLC

on behalf of OMC THERMOCHEMISTRY FKA OMC HYDROGEN

STROGEN LLC

on behalf of OMC THERMOCHEMISTRY FKA OMC HYDROGEN

DHI CONSULTING GROUP, LLC

on behalf of NOW START COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

DHI CONSULTING GROUP, LLC

on behalf of COOKING4AUTISM

121 Strategies & Government Relations

on behalf of Zebra Technologies

2024

COMPUTER INDUSTRYSCIENCE/TECHNOLOGYDEFENSEVETERANS

Supply chain management technology capabilities; enterprise asset intelligence; enterprise devices; internet of things; Cybersecurity; Artificial intelligence (AI), and privacy.

121 Strategies & Government Relations

on behalf of Zebra Technologies

2024

COMPUTER INDUSTRYSCIENCE/TECHNOLOGYDEFENSEVETERANS

Supply chain management technology capabilities; enterprise asset intelligence; enterprise devices; internet of things; Cybersecurity; Artificial intelligence (AI), and privacy.

121 Strategies & Government Relations

on behalf of Zebra Technologies

2024

COMPUTER INDUSTRYSCIENCE/TECHNOLOGYDEFENSEVETERANS

Supply chain management technology capabilities; enterprise asset intelligence; enterprise devices; internet of things; Cybersecurity; Artificial intelligence (AI), and privacy.

Sponsors

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

VA Staffing Reductions

The document highlights a specific claim of 26,000 job cuts at the VA, which serves as the primary justification for the proposed amendment.

Connected Entities

locationCannon Air Force BaseMilitary installation in New Mexico mentioned as part of the veteran community.Map →
personMelanie StansburyU.S. Representative who delivered the speech and introduced the amendment.Map →
locationKirtland Air Force BaseMilitary installation in New Mexico mentioned as part of the veteran community.Map →
organizationDepartment of Veterans AffairsFederal agency responsible for veteran care and benefits.Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance65
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy75
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment20
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz30
    Current news / social attention level

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