Latest news with #RobBresnahanJr.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Bresnahan holds veterans press conference at Tobyhanna VFW
Jun. 2—TOBYHANNA — U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan Jr., on Monday said "at the heart of everything we do" is the belief that government should work better for the people it serves. "And that starts with our veterans," said Bresnahan, R-Dallas Township. "Those who have risked their lives for our country shouldn't be forced to deal with government red tape just to access the benefits they rightfully earned while wearing our nation's uniform. I am proud to recognize the more than 40,000 veterans in Northeastern Pennsylvania — this legislation is dedicated to them, and I will continue to work every day on behalf of them and our community." Bresnahan held a press conference with local veterans and members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 3448 to recognize veterans and bring awareness to his recently passed legislation, H.R. 1286 — the Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act. Bresnahan was joined by more than a dozen local veterans, including VFW Post 3448 Commander Greg Schultz; second-generation veteran Tony Andriola; and VFW Post 3448 Senior Vice Commander Jackie Boucher, who all gave brief remarks. Monroe County Commissioners Chairman John Christy and Vice Chairman David Parker were also in attendance. Bresnahan said he introduced the Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act to simplify the forms process to make VA standard forms more user-friendly. Bresnahan said he introduced the bill on Feb. 13, and it passed unanimously out of the House Committee on Veteran's Affairs on May 6. Bresnahan said he spoke on the House Floor May 19 about the legislation before its passage out of the U.S. House by a vote of 386-1. Bresnahan said the Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act would require VA to contract with a nonpartisan, federally funded research entity to conduct a study on, and provide recommendations for, revising VA forms to be more understandable for veterans and their survivors. Following this study, the VA Secretary would be required to report findings to Congress and implement recommendations. At the press conference, Bresnahan also previewed the launch of a new initiative to expand constituent services across Pennsylvania's 8th Congressional District with the introduction of a mobile office — known as the BresnaVan. Additional details on the BresnaVan and its operations will be announced later this week. "Our mission is to make government more accessible, responsive, and present in every corner of the district," Bresnahan said. "The BresnaVan will allow us to reach communities where we don't have permanent offices and make sure every constituent has access to the support and services they deserve." Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rep. Bresnahan introduces Save the BRIC Act to protect program from elimination
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways May 7—WILKES-BARRE — U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan Jr. said on Wednesday that he introduced the Save BRIC Act — legislation requiring the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to disburse funding through the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program to help states prepare against natural disasters. Bresnahan, R-Dallas Township, said the bipartisan bill, which he introduced with U.S. Rep. Greg Stanton, D-Arizona, would protect the program from elimination. "The BRIC program is a hand-up, not a hand-out, to at-risk communities who have suffered catastrophic weather events," said Bresnahan. "In cases where our communities cannot bear the full cost of keeping people safe, it is our responsibility to lend assistance. We must ensure this critical program continues to provide the infrastructure assistance and pre-disaster support to those who need it most." Last month, acting Administrator Cameron Hamilton wrote in an agency memo that the Administration would not allocate the $750 million that was planned this year for BRIC grants. Specifically, Bresnahan said the city of Scranton was awaiting funding for buyouts of flood-prone properties that were destroyed by flash floods on Sept. 9, 2023. Without the support from the BRIC program, Bresnahan said the city will be forced to come up with an additional $2.5 million in funding in order to create floodplain restoration and infrastructure, which is important to city public safety and future cost savings. "Defunding this common-sense, bipartisan grant program puts lives, property, and public safety at unnecessary risk" said Stanton. "BRIC grants are a small up-front investment in resilience to save lives and taxpayer dollars long-term. Arizona communities are counting on these funds—dollars that Congress appropriated on a bipartisan basis. Now the Trump administration needs to fulfill that promise." Specifically, Bresnahan said the BRIC program supports states, local and territorial governments and Tribal Nations as they work to reduce their hazard risk. The program aims to support communities as they build capability and capacity. BRIC also encourages and aids innovation, Bresnahan said. It helps partnerships grow, supports infrastructure projects, and fosters flexibility and consistency. Rep. Bresnahan said research has proven that every $1 invested in pre-disaster mitigation saves up to $13 in disaster recovery costs. The BRIC program was authorized and signed into law by President Donald Trump in 2018. Rep. Bresnahan said.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rep. Bresnahan introduces legislation to ban stock trades
May 3—WILKES-BARRE — U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan Jr. said this week the public should never have to question whether their elected officials are serving the public or their own portfolios. Bresnahan, R-Dallas Township, announced his introduction of the Transparency in Representation through Uniform Stock Trading Ban (TRUST) Act — legislation to ban stock trading for Members of Congress. Rep. Bresnahan said the TRUST Act would bar Members of Congress and their spouses from purchasing or selling stocks upon taking office. "I am introducing the TRUST Act to restore the integrity Americans expect and deserve from their government," Rep. Bresnahan said. "This legislation allows for new levels of transparency and is a safeguard to ensure Washington works for the people." If enacted, Rep. Bresnahan said the legislation would go into effect at the start of the 120th Congress in January 2027. To comply with his new legislation, Rep. Bresnahan said he is working with the House Committee on Ethics to move his personal holdings into a blind trust. "Members of Congress should not be allowed to profit off the information they are entrusted with — this is a belief I have held since before taking office, and this belief has not changed," Rep. Bresnahan said. "I have never traded my own stocks, but I want to guarantee accountability to my constituents. That is why I am working with House Ethics to begin the process of enacting a blind trust. I want the people I represent to trust that I am in Congress to serve them, and them alone." According to Rep. Bresnahan, the TRUST Act would: —Apply to members and their spouses. —Require that, upon assuming office, members and their spouses may not purchase or sell covered financial instruments, including a security, security future, commodity, and other comparable economic interests (derivative, options, warrants, etc.) —Require that, upon assuming office, members and their spouses would only be allowed to purchase, hold, and sell diversified mutual funds, diversified ETFs, investments in the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), and US Treasuries. —Subject Members who purchase or sell a covered financial instrument while in office to fines and penalties. Rep. Bresnahan said the legislation would not require members and their spouses to divest of existing covered financial instruments — any covered financial instrument a member and their spouse own upon assuming office are grandfathered in. Additionally, he said the legislation would not apply to covered financial instruments held in a qualified blind trust. Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rep. Bresnahan introduces legislation to ban stock trades
May 3—WILKES-BARRE — U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan Jr. said this week the public should never have to question whether their elected officials are serving the public or their own portfolios. Bresnahan, R-Dallas Township, announced his introduction of the Transparency in Representation through Uniform Stock Trading Ban (TRUST) Act — legislation to ban stock trading for Members of Congress. Rep. Bresnahan said the TRUST Act would bar Members of Congress and their spouses from purchasing or selling stocks upon taking office. "I am introducing the TRUST Act to restore the integrity Americans expect and deserve from their government," Rep. Bresnahan said. "This legislation allows for new levels of transparency and is a safeguard to ensure Washington works for the people." If enacted, Rep. Bresnahan said the legislation would go into effect at the start of the 120th Congress in January 2027. To comply with his new legislation, Rep. Bresnahan said he is working with the House Committee on Ethics to move his personal holdings into a blind trust. "Members of Congress should not be allowed to profit off the information they are entrusted with — this is a belief I have held since before taking office, and this belief has not changed," Rep. Bresnahan said. "I have never traded my own stocks, but I want to guarantee accountability to my constituents. That is why I am working with House Ethics to begin the process of enacting a blind trust. I want the people I represent to trust that I am in Congress to serve them, and them alone." According to Rep. Bresnahan, the TRUST Act would: —Apply to members and their spouses. —Require that, upon assuming office, members and their spouses may not purchase or sell covered financial instruments, including a security, security future, commodity, and other comparable economic interests (derivative, options, warrants, etc.) —Require that, upon assuming office, members and their spouses would only be allowed to purchase, hold, and sell diversified mutual funds, diversified ETFs, investments in the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), and US Treasuries. —Subject Members who purchase or sell a covered financial instrument while in office to fines and penalties. Rep. Bresnahan said the legislation would not require members and their spouses to divest of existing covered financial instruments — any covered financial instrument a member and their spouse own upon assuming office are grandfathered in. Additionally, he said the legislation would not apply to covered financial instruments held in a qualified blind trust. Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rep. Bresnahan legislation would bar pro-CCP firms from partnering with federal agencies
Apr. 29—WILKES-BARRE — U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan Jr. on Tuesday said it's "absurd" to see consulting firms contracting with both the Chinese Communist Party and U.S. federal agencies at the same time. "We need to be doing everything in our power to safeguard our national security and prohibit the CCP from inserting itself where it doesn't belong," said Bresnahan, R-Dallas Township. "I am proud to bring the Time to Choose Act to the House and demand consultants stop double-dipping and make a decision, America or Communist China." Bresnahan introduced H.R. 2989 — the Time to Choose Act — legislation to prevent federal agencies from contracting with consulting firms that provide services to the Chinese Communist Party or its affiliates. The legislation was first introduced by U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri in the 117th Congress and was reintroduced this Congress by Hawley and U.S. Senators Gary Peters, of Michigan; and Rick Scott, of Florida. Bresnahan said the Time to Choose Act would: —Prohibit federal agencies from contracting with consulting firms that hold a contract with the People's Republic of China and other foreign adversaries. —Impose penalties on consulting firms that intentionally hide or misrepresent contracts with the PRC and other foreign adversaries, including: — Terminating affected federal contracts. — Debarring relevant firms from future work with the federal government. — Requiring relevant firms to pay damages equivalent to three times the amount spent by the U.S. government on the contracts. Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
