[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 115 (Wednesday, July 15, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H4472-H4473]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ANTHONY ``TONY'' J. GALLOPO VA CLINIC
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 6007) to name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based
outpatient clinic in Newton, New Jersey, as the ``Anthony `Tony' J.
Gallopo VA Clinic''.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 6007
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. NAME OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMUNITY-
BASED OUTPATIENT CLINIC, NEWTON, NEW JERSEY.
The Department of Veterans Affairs community-based
outpatient clinic in Newton, New Jersey, shall after the date
of the enactment of this Act be known and designated as the
``Anthony `Tony' J. Gallopo VA Clinic''. Any reference to
such clinic in any law, regulation, map, document, record, or
other paper of the United States shall be considered to be a
reference to the Anthony ``Tony'' J. Gallopo VA Clinic.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Bost) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Conaway)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.
General Leave
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on
H.R. 6007.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Illinois?
There was no objection.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise today in support of H.R. 6007 to name the Department of
Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Newton, New
Jersey, as the Anthony ``Tony'' J. Gallopo VA Clinic.
Tony Gallopo proudly served our Nation in the United States Navy. He
served courageously and with honor. His service to our Nation did not
end there.
Following his service in the Navy, Mr. Gallopo dedicated his life to
serving his fellow veterans, working to ensure those who wore the
uniform received the care and services and support they earned.
Mr. Gallopo became a trusted advocate for veterans throughout Sussex
and Warren Counties, devoting countless hours to improving their
quality of life and expanding access to VA healthcare.
{time} 1110
He was instrumental in helping establish the VA community-based
outpatient clinic in Newton, New Jersey, which opened in 2017 and
brought VA healthcare closer to veterans in that community.
His advocacy helped reduce barriers to care and expand access to
essential health services for countless numbers of veterans and their
families. His community as a whole is better because of all his
efforts.
Whether mentoring fellow veterans or advocating for expanding
healthcare access, he remained committed to ensuring that those who
served our Nation will never be forgotten. Even after decades of public
service, he continued asking what more could be done for veterans until
he passed in 2020.
By naming the Newton VA community-based outpatient clinic in his
honor, Congress would ensure that Tony Gallopo's legacy of service,
leadership, and unwavering commitment to the veterans in his community
lives on for generations to come.
Mr. Speaker, individuals like Tony Gallopo are heroes in our
communities, and I am honored to help ensure that Congress recognizes
that and never forgets these great American stories.
I thank Representative Gottheimer and the entire New Jersey
delegation for leading this effort to recognize an extraordinary
advocate for our Nation's veterans.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 6007, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6007, to name the Department
of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Newton, New
Jersey, after Anthony ``Tony'' Gallopo. I am pleased to have co-led
this effort with my colleague from New Jersey, Representative
Gottheimer, and pleased to speak in support of this bill today.
Mr. Gallopo was a keystone in the northern New Jersey community. Born
in 1961, he grew up in Bergen County, New Jersey, and led a life
dedicated to service. Mr. Gallopo was active in his local fire
department before enlisting in the Navy.
After serving as a seaman, Mr. Gallopo returned home to become a
leader locally in Sussex County, serving as vice commander of the New
Jersey Department of The American Legion and commander at American
Legion Post 86.
Mr. Gallopo was a tireless advocate, and his dedication to caring for
his fellow veterans was unparalleled. Mr. Gallopo hosted roundtables
for both students and returning veterans to help them succeed in
seeking better job opportunities. His leadership in evaluating student
applicants to our Nation's service academies on his congressional
district's Service Academy Nomination Selection Committee helped to
cultivate the next generation of servicemembers.
Mr. Gallopo was instrumental in the expansion of healthcare for
veterans in his community. His advocacy helped lead to the opening of a
Sussex County VA community-based outpatient clinic.
Mr. Gallopo's critical role in opening this clinic will continue to
benefit veterans in northern New Jersey for generations.
Mr. Gallopo passed away in 2020, but his memory lives on in the
countless veterans who have access to healthcare within their local
community because of his work. There is no better way to express our
gratitude for Mr. Gallopo's lifetime of service to his fellow veterans
than to rename the clinic he tirelessly fought to open in his honor.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr.
Gottheimer), who is the author of this legislation. He serves on the
House Financial Services Committee and the House Permanent Select
Committee on Intelligence.
Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my very good friend from New
Jersey as well as my friends on the other side for their support.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 6007. Today, this
House will come together and do something simple but important: honor a
great American hero.
Mr. Speaker, Tony Gallopo, as you have heard, was a brave Navy
veteran, vice commander of the New Jersey Department of The American
Legion, and
[[Page H4473]]
commander of American Legion Post 86 in Newton, New Jersey. He spent
time in Bergen County and Sussex County. He was a firefighter. He was a
man who served and then came back and served more.
For years, my good friend did what a lot of people talk about but few
actually do. He fought every single day to make sure our veterans got
the healthcare they earned and deserved and to make sure they were
looked out for. He never forgot anyone, and that is why he was such a
special man. We all miss him.
Tony was instrumental in opening the Sussex County, New Jersey,
Veterans Affairs Clinic in 2017, the CBOC. He and I worked side by
side, cutting through red tape to get veterans real referrals, real
specialists, and real healthcare--healthcare that they earned and
deserved.
Sadly, Tony passed away in 2020, leaving behind his wife, Betsy; his
brilliant daughters, Ashley, Sarah, and Ally; and an incredible legacy
of helping those in need. Today's vote on this bill will honor his name
and his work at the very clinic he helped to build.
I can tell you, Mr. Speaker, he literally helped build it. We sat at
a picnic bench right outside the clinic many times talking about how we
could make it better and how we could deliver more service to veterans.
He never forgot that for a second. He never forgot the country he
served, and he never forgot the flag he saluted every day with such
great pride.
It is Americans like him we should all look up to. It is Americans
like him who built this great country for 250 years. It is why we
should honor him today.
This isn't partisan. It is just common sense. It is what we owe every
person who ever wore the uniform and protected our great Nation.
I thank his family--Betsy, Ashley, Sarah, and Ally--for sharing Tony
with all of us. I know how hard it is right now without him, but his
legacy goes on, and it looms large. He lives on. No one has forgotten
him for a minute. When we go to The American Legion, we all talk about
him. There are pictures everywhere, and he continues to be a light in
New Jersey, in our country, and for all of us as somebody we should
look up to.
Mr. Speaker, I urge the House to pass this legislation, and I am so
grateful for the bipartisan support. I also urge the Senate--I know
Senator Cory Booker has taken the lead on this--to take this up quickly
and honor our great hero, Tony Gallopo.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers. I am ready to close,
and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6007
to honor this very deserving veteran, and I yield back the balance of
my time.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, once again, I encourage all Members to support
this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 6007.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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