In the News

An amendment sponsored by Congressmen Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Elijah Cummings (D-MD), and Bob Filner (D-CA) to protect active servicemembers, disabled veterans, and surviving spouses from improper foreclosures passed the U.S. House of Representative.  The amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act, passed with strong bipartisan support 394-27 prior to House passage of the full NDAA legislation.

“Our troops and their families make tremendous sacrifices to protect freedom and our national interests around the world,” said Connolly.  “The least we can do is make sure they are protected.”

Connolly’s amendment creates a 12-month wait period on any foreclosure proceedings and increases penalties on lenders who might discriminate against servicemembers based on these new protections. These protections also are extended to the surviving spouses of servicemembers killed in the line of duty and disabled servicemembers.

The Connolly/Cummings/Filner amendment had strong support and endorsements from major veterans groups, including the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, and Paralyzed Veterans of America.

Since being elected to Congress Connolly has been a tireless advocate for our active military, their spouses, and our veterans.  Earlier this year, Connolly fought Republican efforts to terminate the Veterans Administration’s homeless veterans program that provides vouchers to homeless veterans.

“The veteran homeless population in our country is already unacceptably high,” said Connolly.  “Rather than force more veterans and their families out of their homes, we have an opportunity here to come together and give these brave men and women and their families a helping hand.  I am glad we were able to put partisanship aside and begin to put our military families first.”