Walkinshaw, James RSS Articles

Walkinshaw, Hoyer Introduce Bill to Deliver Fair Retirement for Capitol Police

Thu, 21 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman James R. Walkinshaw (VA-11) and Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) today introduced the Capitol Police Retirement Reform Act of 2026, legislation to count the overtime pay U.S. Capitol Police officers earn toward their federal pensions.

The U.S. Capitol Police is understaffed, and roughly 25 percent of the force is currently retirement eligible. Too often, brave officers are forced to choose between continuing their service on the Capitol Police and moving to other federal law enforcement agencies that already count overtime toward retirement, where they can better build their financial future. The bill closes that gap, bringing U.S. Capitol Police in line with other federal law enforcement.

“Day in and day out, U.S. Capitol Police officers protect the millions of American families and visitors who walk through the Capitol each year, alongside the staff and Members of Congress who work here. These officers give years of their lives to a job that demands extraordinary commitment," said Congressman Walkinshaw. "A quarter of the force is eligible to retire, and too many officers feel pushed to weigh moving to other federal agencies where overtime counts toward retirement and they can build a stronger pension. That is a retention problem that can and must be fixed. If we ask officers to work grueling hours to protect the Capitol, we owe it to them to retire with dignity. I'm proud to partner with Congressman Steny Hoyer as we fight to deliver that fair retirement and keep top talent on the force protecting the Capitol and everyone who walks through it."

“Our U.S. Capitol Police officers deserve better, and I’m proud to join with Rep. Walkinshaw to introduce this bill,” said Congressman Hoyer. “If we cannot recruit and retain highly qualified officers by offering competitive pay and benefits, we will be unable to provide adequate protection to Members, staff, and visitors - and to the institution of Congress itself. I hope we can come together to pass those bill, inspired by the memory of our friend Gerry Connolly, who championed the U.S. Capitol Police and this cause throughout his time in office.”

Versions of this same bill passed the House in the FY22 and FY23 Legislative Branch Appropriations bills before being stripped in conference.

Read the full bill text here.

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Walkinshaw Statement on Gerry Connolly’s Final Bill Heading to President’s Desk

Thu, 21 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman James R. Walkinshaw (VA-11) issued the following statement after the Senate unanimously passed the Gerald E. Connolly Esophageal Cancer Awareness Act, sending Congressman Connolly’s final bill to the President’s desk. The House passed the bill in June 2025.

“One year ago today, esophageal cancer took Gerry Connolly’s life. But the fight against this devastating disease is not over. Gerry made sure of that,” said Congressman Walkinshaw. “For more than a decade, I had the honor of serving as Gerry’s Chief of Staff, learning from him, working alongside him, and witnessing up close the Irish humor, grit, and fighting spirit that made him such an extraordinary public servant. Even in his final days, Gerry was doing what he always did: fighting for his constituents, federal workers, and the American people.”

“I am thrilled that the Senate passed Gerry’s final bill unanimously, following House passage last year, and sent it to the President’s desk. Gerry spent his life and career in public office making government work better for people. This bill is an example of just that,” concluded Congressman Walkinshaw.

The Gerald E. Connolly Esophageal Cancer Awareness Act directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report to Congress on esophageal cancer care, screening, and health care spending under the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program. Specifically, GAO must examine how much FEHB spends on esophageal cancer-related care and whether high-risk federal employees, retirees, and covered family members are receiving screenings consistent with established medical guidelines.

Esophageal cancer is one of America’s deadliest cancers, and early detection can be the difference between life and death.

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Walkinshaw Legislation to Strengthen Veteran Tech Training and Boost Job Outcomes Clears Committee

Fri, 15 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The House Committee on Veterans' Affairs today advanced Congressman James R. Walkinshaw's (VA-11) bipartisan Veteran Technology Employment Success Act, moving the legislation one step closer to ensuring the VA's Veteran Employment Through Technology Education Courses (VET TEC) program is reaching its full potential for America's veterans. The program helps veterans and transitioning service members gain skills for high-demand technology careers and move into good-paying civilian jobs.

"Making the transition from military service to civilian life isn't easy, and our veterans deserve every advantage we can give them. This bill is about building on what VET TEC is already doing well and making sure we are squeezing every last opportunity out of it so veterans can thrive in good-paying tech careers,” said Congressman Walkinshaw. “By strengthening transparency and holding providers accountable, we can make a strong program even stronger for those who have already given so much to our country."

The bipartisan Veteran Technology Employment Success Act would require the VA to publicly report employment outcomes, standardize how job placement is calculated to prevent inflated numbers, expand reporting to cover full-time, part-time, and self-employment, and strengthen participant feedback to drive program improvement.

Rep. Morgan McGarvey (KY-3) and Rep. Abraham J. Hamadeh (AZ-8) are cosponsors of the legislation. The bill now heads to the full House for consideration.

Background: Recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports found significant gaps in how the VA's Veteran Employment Through Technology Education Courses program tracks employment outcomes and collects participant feedback, making it difficult to evaluate whether veterans are actually getting results. Walkinshaw's legislation responds directly to those findings, requiring the VA to give veterans accurate, transparent data.

Read Congressman Walkinshaw’s bill text here and the Committee cleared bill text here.

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Walkinshaw Statement on Trump’s $1.7 Billion Plan to Cut Checks to Political Allies with Taxpayer Dollars

Fri, 15 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Washington, D.C. -- Today, Congressman James R. Walkinshaw (VA-11), a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, issued the following statement on reports that President Trump is moving to create a $1.7 billion taxpayer-funded fund for January 6 defendants, Trump-connected entities, and MAGA allies.

“New reporting shows Donald Trump is moving to create a $1.7 billion slush fund to cut checks with your tax dollars to January 6 defendants, Trump-connected entities, and MAGA allies claiming they were wrongfully targeted by the Biden Administration. No oversight. No transparency. No accountability.

Families are stretching every paycheck to keep food on the table, gas in the tank, and a roof over their heads. Meanwhile, President Trump is reaching into those same taxpayers’ pockets to reward his political allies instead of lowering costs or helping working families.

Let’s call this what it is: corruption in plain sight. President Trump and his allies are openly stealing from the American people by using the machinery of government to reward political loyalists with taxpayer money.

Congress has the power of the purse, and we have an obligation to use it to stop this abuse.”

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Walkinshaw Amendment to Improve Clean Air Standards at VA and Military Facilities Passes U.S. House

Fri, 15 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Washington, D.C. – The U.S. House of Representatives passed an amendment by Congressman James R. Walkinshaw (VA-11) that supports establishing indoor air quality and ventilation standards at VA and military facilities, backed by independent oversight to ensure those standards are actually met.

"Our veterans and service members deserve world-class facilities. That is why I fought to pass this amendment — to establish strong indoor air quality and ventilation standards at VA and military facilities, with independent oversight to make sure those standards are actually being met. Our troops and veterans have already sacrificed enough. The last thing they should have to worry about is breathing clean air in the buildings where they receive care and serve our country."

The measure was adopted through an en bloc vote as part of the 2027 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill. It now heads to the Senate.

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Statement from Walkinshaw After House Judiciary Republicans Shield the Trump Administration & ICE From Accountability for Their Failure to Keep Americans Safe

Thu, 14 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

“My heart goes out to the Minter family and all those who have lost loved ones to violence. The pain of losing a child is unfathomable, and I hope their faith, family, and community can bring some measure of comfort.

Fairfax County has been the safest large jurisdiction in America because we invest in law enforcement, invest in services, and have built strong partnerships with every community, including immigrant communities. Fairfax County’s already low crime rates fell dramatically in 2025, with homicides down 7%, shootings down 37%, and sex offenses down 11%.

Anyone who is involved in violence and is not in the country lawfully should be prosecuted and deported. Sheriff Kincaid has made clear that when individuals are detained at the Fairfax Adult Detention Center, ICE is treated like any other law enforcement agency and has the lawful opportunity to take custody. In the case of Abdul Jalloh, ICE had many opportunities to detain him — both before and after they released him onto the streets in 2018. Governor Youngkin’s Department of Corrections released him again in 2022.

Once again, the Trump Administration, Congressional Republicans, and ICE are deflecting from their own failures. Their mass deportation agenda has diverted resources away from detaining “the worst of the worst” and toward children, families, and law-abiding immigrants. They’re letting the small number of Abdul Jallohs go free so they can detain 4 year olds like Liam Ramos. It’s shameful.”

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Walkinshaw, Kaine Urge Trump to Press China to Stop Forcibly Returning North Korean Refugees

Wed, 13 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Washington, D.C. — Congressman James R. Walkinshaw (VA-11) and U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) sent a bicameral letter to President Donald Trump during the U.S.-China Summit urging him to press Chinese leader Xi Jinping to stop forcibly returning North Korean refugees to a country where they face torture, forced labor, imprisonment, or execution.

The letter calls on President Trump to use "all diplomatic levers at his disposal" to compel the People's Republic of China (PRC) to halt the repatriations, recommit to its obligations under the United Nations 1951 Refugee Convention, and grant refugee status to affected individuals so they can travel to a safe third country.

"Chinese authorities are systematically and knowingly forcing hundreds of North Koreans back to a place where they will face mistreatment and retribution," the lawmakers wrote. "The PRC has been party to the United Nations Refugee Convention and Protocol for over four decades yet consistently violates the principles to protect refugees."

The letter cites findings from the bipartisan Congressional-Executive Commission on China, of documenting the forcible repatriation of 600 North Korean refugees on October 9, 2023 — the largest single repatriation on record — and approximately 200 more in April 2024. The PRC classifies most North Koreans as illegal economic migrants to avoid its obligations under the Refugee Convention, despite knowing those returned face severe punishment, particularly Christians and those who had contact with South Korean groups while in China.

This letter builds on Congressman Walkinshaw's sustained work on this issue, including a November 2025 bicameral letter urging Ambassador Perdue to press Chinese authorities directly — requests Beijing has repeatedly denied.

Congressman Walkinshaw is a member of the Congressional Caucus on Korea and a Commissioner of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China.

The letter is also signed by U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Jeff Merkley (D-ORE), Peter Welch (D-VT) and U.S. Representatives Ami Bera (CA-06), James McGovern (MA-02), and Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10).

Read the full letter here.

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National Capital Region Democrats’ Statement on Relocation of USDA’s Food Assistance Employees

Fri, 01 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representatives James Walkinshaw (VA-11), Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), Don Beyer (VA-08), Steny Hoyer (MD-05), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), April McClain Delaney (MD-06), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), and Eugene Vindman (VA-07) released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a reorganization that would move most employees who work in food assistance and nutrition programs out of the National Capital Region (NCR):

“With only 30 days notice, the Trump Administration decided to attack federal employees, their families, and make it harder to administer Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other food assistance programs. To be clear: this is a mass layoff and illegal reorganization under the guise of a relocation.

This administration is also intentionally forcing hardworking and experienced USDA employees to choose between losing their careers in the midst of mass federal layoffs or moving their entire family across the country during the school year and uprooting their lives at a time of rising inflation.

In one swift move, the Administration is undercutting food assistance, food safety, and farmers. This will make every single American less healthy and less safe. It will also increase food and healthcare costs on every single American.

We saw this exact move before in 2019 with other USDA offices, and it was a disaster. It resulted in serious brain drain, reduced morale, and draconian cuts to programs that the American people rely on.

It's clear this is also another targeted and cynical Republican attack on SNAP from millions of Americans. Make no mistake – this is not about government efficiency, it is not about optimizing services for the American people, and it is not about maximizing the use of taxpayer dollars. It is the latest in a long series of attempts by this administration to break the spirits of federal public servants and disrupt the delivery of crucial services to the American people.

In short, this move will be a disaster. We will do everything we can to fight it and eventually reverse it.”

On April 30, 2026, USDA announced the relocations of SNAP to Indianapolis, the Child Nutrition Programs to Dallas, the Supplemental Nutrition and Safety Programs to Kansas City, research programs to Raleigh, Emergency Management and Continuity of Operations to Denver, and retailer operations and compliance will spread across offices in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Dallas, and New York City.

These changes are part of a larger USDA reorganization plan announced in July 2025 that would move most of the Department’s NCR staff to five regional hubs. In the announcement, USDA stated that they expected to move 2,300 USDA jobs out of the NCR. Other affected agencies include the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service.

During the first Trump administration, the USDA relocated both the Economic Research Service (ERS) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) from Washington, DC to Kansas City, MO. A Government Accountability Office (GAO) study of these relocations found that they had significant impacts on both agencies’ staffing and productivity, including:

The loss of over a third of each agency’s permanent full-time staff following the announcement of the relocation in 2018.
A significant loss of experience, with staff with more than two years of experience declining from 83% of both agencies’ combined workforces in 2018 to 27% in 2021.
Declines in productivity, with ERS issuing fewer key reports and NIFA taking over a month longer to process and fund competitive grants in 2019.

GAO also found that USDA did not follow many leading practices for agency relocations, including a failure to consult with its employees at any point during the process and the exclusion of several key variables, including employee attrition, in its economic analysis to support the relocations. Both agencies made positive improvements in these areas under the Biden administration, but the damage had already been done and many experienced, dedicated federal workers were essentially removed from their jobs.

In March 2025, the members introduced the Cost of Relocations Act, led by Congressman Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA-10) and Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), to fight back against President Trump’s relentless effort to relocate federal agencies and decimate their workforces. The legislation would require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress in order to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agency’s mission.

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Walkinshaw Amendment Requires Federal Agencies to Prove Fraud Prevention Efforts Are Effective

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Washington, D.C. – Congressman James R. Walkinshaw (VA-11) advanced an amendment in the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to ensure federal agencies are held accountable for the effectiveness of their efforts to prevent fraud tied to funds released in the wake of national emergencies.

The amendment requires any agency that obligates emergency supplemental funds to submit a formal after-action review within 180 days, in consultation with their Inspector General. Agencies must document whether their fraud controls worked, identify every gap and failure, account for taxpayer money lost to improper payments, and lay out a plan to get it back. OMB must incorporate findings into government-wide oversight reporting to Congress, building a record of what works and what doesn't before the next emergency hits.

“When emergencies hit and billions of federal funds go out the door, Americans deserve to know their money is protected and not lost to fraud and improper payments.,” said Congressman Walkinshaw. “This amendment requires agencies to show their work. A real accounting of whether their controls worked, what failed, and what taxpayer money was lost. I’m proud to build on the strong bipartisan foundation that Representatives Biggs and Subramanyam have laid.”

Walkinshaw's amendment was advanced as part of H.R. 8466, bipartisan legislation introduced by Rep. Andy Biggs (AZ-05) and Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) requiring federal agencies to develop internal control plans in advance of national emergencies.

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Walkinshaw Pushes for Contempt Charges Against Pam Bondi After She Defied a Bipartisan Subpoena

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman James R. Walkinshaw (VA-11), a member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, released the following statement.

“Oversight Democrats and I are filing contempt charges against Pam Bondi after she defied a bipartisan congressional subpoena and refused to appear before the Oversight Committee.

Bondi has critical information about this White House Epstein cover-up, and she needs to answer questions. Millions of Epstein files are still being withheld from the public, and Chairman Comer has been too weak to do what this moment requires.

I will keep fighting for justice, transparency, and accountability for survivors. We will not let this be buried.”

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