119th Congress

Today U.S. Representatives Suhas Subramanyam, Don Beyer, James Walkinshaw, Bobby Scott, Jennifer McClellan, and Eugene Vindman, Members of Congress representing Virginia, issued the following statement on Section 373 of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2026, which addresses “Manned Rotary Wing Aircraft Safety” in the wake of the January 29, 2025 mid-air collision at Ronald Reagan National Airport that took 67 lives:

“We share serious concerns raised by the Families of Flight 5342 and the National Transportation Safety Board about Section 373 of the National Defense Authorization Act related to safety in the airspace around National Airport following the tragic collision in January. We are deeply disappointed that this provision, which only applies to training flights, creates a waiver process to allow training flights in the region that further congest the airspace, an issue that contributed to January’s deadly crash.

“This provision falls short of NTSB’s preliminary safety recommendations and omits changes that are essential to improve visibility, safety, and communications between military and civilian aircraft in D.C. airspace. Further action is needed to prevent a repetition of the mistakes that led to this incident, and we will continue working with all possible speed on legislative solutions with our colleagues and transportation officials to get this right before any waivers are issued, and to ensure air safety in the region.”

“I am concerned by reports that members of former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s family went weeks without establishing direct contact with him, raising fears that he may have suffered irreversible harm. While it was later reported that Mr. Khan is in stable physical condition, he largely remains in solitary confinement with limited communication to others.

I will continue to monitor these developments, and reaffirm my commitment to justice, human rights, and democracy around the world."

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representatives Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) and Ashley Hinson (IA-02) introduced a bipartisan bill that will help first-time homebuyers with a down payment on a home. The First Home Savings Opportunity Act establishes tax-deductible first-time homebuyer savings accounts to assist individuals and families saving for a downpayment. 

“Purchasing a home has become out of reach for far too many Americans because of housing costs, especially for young adults,” said Rep. Subramanyam. “We must preserve the American dream of home ownership and take action now in Congress. This commonsense legislation will make purchasing a home a little easier for first-time homebuyers. There is more Congress needs to do to address the affordability crisis, but this is an important step in the right direction.”

“Buying a home is the core milestone of living out the American Dream, but it has become out of reach for hardworking families. By allowing families to save tax-free to buy a home, we’ll help more families be able to afford their dream home. I’ll continue working to improve housing access and affordability in Iowa and across the country,” said Rep. Hinson.

The First Home Savings Opportunity Act would allow eligible participants to contribute up to $10,000 per year tax-free ($20,000 for joint filers) to a savings account. These funds would be used exclusively for a downpayment and closing costs on a first home, offering some relief to potential homebuyers and removing a significant barrier to entering the housing market.

“The First Home Savings Opportunity Act of 2025 is a smart, forward-thinking solution to one of the most significant barriers facing young families and first-time home buyers: saving for a down payment. Expanding access to stable, attainable housing strengthens our workforce, supports local businesses, and builds more resilient communities. The Loudoun Chamber is proud to support this effort to offer more hardworking Americans the opportunity to achieve the dream of homeownership,” said Tony Howard, President of the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce.

“Recent data show that nearly half of potential homebuyers cannot afford a down payment, as the median age of first-time homebuyers, now 40, continues to rise. For generations, access to homeownership has been the primary way Americans built wealth, and homeownership remains the cornerstone of the American Dream. The bipartisan First Home Savings Opportunity Act would help turn aspiration into action, turning modest savings into the foundation of lifelong stability. The National Association of REALTORS® is grateful that Representatives Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA) and Ashley Hinson (R-IA) have introduced this bill to address these challenges by establishing tax-deductible, first-time homebuyer savings accounts, helping individuals and families save for a down payment and closing costs,” said Shannon McGahn, National Association of REALTORS®  Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy Officer.

In addition to introducing the First Home Savings Opportunity Act, Congressman Subramanyam has taken the following actions to bring down housing costs:

• Secured $1,000,000 for Hero’s Bridge to construct affordable housing for aging veterans living in rural Virginia in this year's spending bills.
• Secured $1,200,000 for Northern Virginia Community College to construct a Center for Building and Construction Trades to develop a skilled construction workforce for Northern Virginia in this year's spending bills.
• Co-sponsored the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act to expand and strengthen the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit.
• Co-sponsored the CONSTRUCTS Act to establish a grant program for junior/community colleges and technical education schools to develop residential construction industry training and education.
• Co-sponsored the Housing Supply Frameworks Act to provide best housing practices for housing production and housing opportunities with respect to state and local zoning frameworks.
• Co-sponsored the Saving the American Dream Act to better coordinate relevant housing-related research and market data.
• Co-sponsored the Housing Financial Literacy Act that will give first time homebuyers a discount on mortgage premiums if they complete a financial literacy housing counseling course before purchasing a home. 

Congressman Subramanyam is a member of the Real Estate Caucus and the New Democrat Coalition’s Task Force on Housing, Transportation, and Infrastructure. Rep. Subramanyam spoke about his housing bill on the House floor and his speech can be found here.

"I’m pleased to see the repeal of the 2019 Caesar Sanctions included in this year’s defense bill, which the House of Representatives will vote on this week.

This moment also coincides with the one-year anniversary of the fall of the Assad regime. As a co-sponsor of the legislation to repeal these sanctions, this is a step toward giving Syria a chance to build a stable and secure country. I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress to continue supporting the Syrian people as they pursue a brighter, democratic, and free future."

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representatives Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), Ranking Member of the Military and Foreign Affairs Oversight Subcommittee, and Robert Garcia (CA-42), Ranking Member of the House Oversight Committee, are calling on the Oversight Committee Majority to hold an oversight hearing on Venezuela and the U.S. Southern Command. The committee was originally scheduled to hold a SOUTHCOM oversight hearing on September 17th, but it was postponed indefinitely. 

“It appears that President Trump and Secretary Hegseth want to drag us into another drawn out war, this time in Venezuela. House Republicans can’t hide from this. The American people deserve answers,” said Ranking Member Subramanyam. “The Military and Foreign Affairs Subcommittee must hold its previously scheduled hearing on the U.S. Southern Command so we can understand what the plan is for Venezuela. No one wants another forever war.”

The letter sent to Chairman Comer and Chairman Timmons can be found here and below.

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Chairman Comer and Chairman Timmons,

On September 10, 2025, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform noticed a hearing to be held by the Subcommittee on Military and Foreign Affairs on September 17, 2025, titled “Underfunded and Overlooked: Assessing U.S. Southern Command’s Role in Defending the Homeland.”

On September 12, 2025, this hearing was postponed, with a new meeting date to be determined.

We write to request an update on the status of rescheduling this hearing and to urge you to do so as soon as possible to address this important and timely topic.

We look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Ranking Member Subramanyam
Ranking Member Garcia

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representative Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), Ranking Member of the Military and Foreign Affairs Oversight Subcommittee, led a bipartisan group of members in demanding answers from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on a proposal to sever ties with Scouting America. 

The members said, “We write with significant concern over reports that the military could move to cut ties with Scouting America, withdraw support from the National Jamboree, and prohibit Scout troops to meet at military bases. We urge you to maintain the robust relationship between Scouting and the military and immediately cease consideration of any plan that would sever the strong bond between these organizations.”

Before Thanksgiving, a report leaked that the Pentagon was considering severing ties with Scouting America. For over a century, Boy Scouts and Scouting America have maintained a productive partnership with the Department of Defense and the military. Military families rely heavily on Scout units on bases for stability during frequent relocations. Additionally, the long-standing automatic rank increase for Eagle Scouts, from E-1 to E-3, would likely be eliminated if the partnership ends, further weakening the leadership pipeline. One in five cadets at West Point are Eagle Scouts.

The members urged the Department of Defense to reverse course and maintain the century-long relationship between the Department and Scouting America.

The letter was signed by Congress members: Greg Landsman (D-OH), Steven Horsford (D-NV), John Larson (D-CT), James Walkinshaw (D-VA), Ed Case (D-HI), Don Bacon (R-NE), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Eric Sorensen (D-IL), Scott Peters (D-CA), Andrea Salinas (D-OR), Emily Randall (D-WA), John Mannion (D-NY), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), and Kelly Morrison (D-MN).

The full letter can be found HERE and below. 

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Secretary Hegseth,

We write with significant concern over reports that the military could move to cut ties with Scouting America, withdraw support from the National Jamboree, and prohibit Scout troops to meet at military bases. We urge you to maintain the robust relationship between Scouting and the military and immediately cease consideration of any plan that would sever the strong bond between these organizations.

For over a century, Boy Scouts and Scouting America have maintained a productive partnership with the Department of Defense and the military. Scouting has long instilled the values of leadership, citizenship, and service in countless young Americans, developing generation upon generation of young leaders and strengthening the early recruitment pipeline into the military with young men who understand what it means to serve their community and their country. As just one illustration of this fact, approximately one in five West Point cadets are Eagle Scouts.

Such a drastic policy change will also have real impacts on real people. Military families rely heavily on Scout units on bases for stability during frequent relocations. Loss of base access for Scouting troops could cut off youth development programs for these families. Additionally, the long-standing automatic rank increase for Eagle Scouts, from E-1 to E-3, would likely be eliminated if the partnership ends, further weakening the leadership pipeline.

This proposal has been met with significant concerns among military families, youth program advocates, and military officials, concerns that we share. Scouting is a nonpartisan organization with a long history of collaboration with presidential administrations on both sides of the aisle, and it would be extremely detrimental to our national security and thousands of young Americans to cut off this partnership.

We once again strongly urge you to reverse course on this decision. Thank you for your consideration and we look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Members of Congress

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representative Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), Ranking Member of the Military and Foreign Affairs Oversight Subcommittee, released the following statement after viewing the Pentagon Inspector General’s Signalgate report:

“What we presumed back in March has now been proven true by an independent Inspector General: Secretary Hegseth put our service members in danger by sharing intelligence about troop movements on a private device using an unsecured commercial app. He also violated records retention laws. As if that wasn't bad enough, the Secretary has not taken any responsibility for his actions, nor is there any indication that he and others at the Department or in the Administration have taken sufficient steps to ensure this isn't still happening.

This is just more proof that Secretary Hegseth is unfit to serve and should resign or be fired.  

The American people and our men and women in uniform deserve better leadership. Sec. Hegseth should come before the Oversight Committee to answer these questions directly and take responsibility for his recklessness."