Manchester, NH – Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), a member of the House Armed Services Committee and former intelligence officer in the United States Navy Reserve, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, along with Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), ranking member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, all welcomed U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) Doug Collins to the Manchester VA Medical Center (VAMC) for a briefing with Medical Center leaders and tour of the facility. As New Hampshire is currently one of only three states in the country that does not have a full-service VA hospital, the delegation again raised the need for the Administration to work with Congress to implement one. Prior to the tour of the facility, Secretary Collins recognized five VA employees for their outstanding service to Granite State veterans.
“I believe we have a sacred obligation to New Hampshire’s veterans, and I am working every day in every way that I can to make sure these patriots get the care they need to enjoy the basic freedoms they put their lives on the line to protect and defend,” said Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander.
“I was pleased to welcome Secretary Collins to the Manchester VA Medical Center to see firsthand the important work being done to serve veterans across New Hampshire, as well as the urgent need to upgrade the facility to expand health care services in our state,” said Senator Shaheen. “The freedoms and rights we all enjoy were paid for with the sacrifices of the men and women who have served in the military—the least we can do is ensure veterans can access first rate health care no matter where they live.”
“We had a productive discussion with Secretary Collins at the Manchester VA today on how we can continue to provide veterans the care and benefits that they have earned and deserve,” said Senator Hassan. “I’m grateful to all the leaders and health professionals at the Manchester VA Medical Center who provide care to those who have sacrificed for our freedoms at home and abroad, and I will continue to support their critical work – including by continuing to advocate for a full-service VA hospital in New Hampshire.”
“New Hampshire veterans deserve the highest quality care, and that remains a top priority of mine as a member of Congress. Today, I was pleased to welcome Secretary Collins to the Manchester VA Medical Center and to recognize the dedicated men and women who serve our veterans at that facility. I remain committed to ensuring that the federal government continues to invest in New Hampshire and that our veterans receive the very best care. I am eager to continue working with our federal delegation and partners to deliver on the promise of expanded care that meets the needs of every New Hampshire veteran, including the implementation of the Administration’s Executive Order for a full-service VA hospital. Our heroes deserve nothing less,” said Congressman Pappas.
Shaheen and Pappas lead the legislation in the U.S. Senate and House, co-sponsored by Hassan and Goodlander, to require the VA to operate at least one full-service Veterans Health Administration hospital in New Hampshire. In May, President Trump issued an executive order directing the VA to conduct a feasibility study on expanding services to support a full-service medical center in New Hampshire within 30 days.
Goodlander, a member of the For Country Caucus and House Armed Services Committee who served for more than a decade in the United States Navy Reserve, has been a vocal champion for bringing a full-service VA hospital to New Hampshire, including by co-sponsoring legislation and an amendment that passed the House and advocating directly before the House Appropriations Committee and on the House Floor for this effort. She has led a number of VA oversight efforts, including opposing the VA’s decision to unilaterally terminate collective bargaining agreements for VA employees and opposing a proposed VA rule that would rescind abortion access for veterans and their loved ones who get care through VA.
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