RELEASE: House Unanimously Passes Gottheimer’s Bipartisan Legislation to Rename Sussex County VA Clinic After Local Veteran Tony Gallopo

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, July 15, 2026, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), backed by the entire New Jersey delegation, to rename the Sussex County VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic in Newton the “Anthony J. ‘Tony’ Gallopo Veterans Affairs Clinic.” The bill was co-led by Air Force veteran Rep. Herb Conaway (NJ-3) and passed by voice vote and now heads to The U.S. Senate, where U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) will introduce a companion bill.

Watch the floor speech here.

“Today, the House passed our bill to enshrine the late Tony Gallopo’s legacy at the clinic he fought so hard to open,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “Tony’s memory reminds us that it is our duty as Americans to not only honor all soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen, but also to do everything we can to fight for them when they return. With this bill now heading to the Senate, we are one step closer to reaffirming our enduring promise: to fight for our veterans the same way Tony did.”

• Gallopo, a U.S. Navy veteran, was Vice Commander of the New Jersey Department of the American Legion and Commander of American Legion Post 86 in Newton. He was instrumental in getting the Newton clinic opened in 2017 and passed away in 2020. 
• Gallopo spent most of his early life in Bergen County before moving to Sussex County with his family. He was active in the Saddle Brook Fire Department before enlisting in the U.S. Navy. Following his service, Tony worked as a Corrections Officer and was an active member of the Paramus Elks. He is survived by his wife, Betsy, and daughters, Ashley, Sarah, and Ally. 
• Gottheimer and Gallopo worked side-by-side to expand health care access for veterans across Sussex and Warren Counties, including at the Newton Veterans clinic. Together, they cut through red tape to secure local health care referrals to Bergen New Bridge Medical Center and ImageCare Centers, and helped expand local access to lifesaving, in-person mental health and psychiatric care for veterans. Gottheimer posthumously honored Gallopo as a Fifth District Hometown Hero in 2021. 

The bill is endorsed by the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Gottheimer first introduced the bill in November 2025, joined by Gallopo’s wife Betsy and their daughters Ashley Kopec, Sarah Hill, and Ally Thorpe, and former American Legion Post 86 Commander Harry Kaplan, former Commander of the NJ Department of the American Legion Roger Genaro, Vice Commander of the NJ Department of the American Legion David Marciano, American Legion Post 86 Commander Bob Gilesus, and other friends and members of the community.

Today’s passage builds on Gottheimer’s broader push to support veterans, including bills he introduced alongside this legislation to expand access to cutting-edge treatments for veterans with spinal cord injuries, streamline the VA benefits appeals process, improve oversight of state veterans homes, strengthen veteran suicide prevention programs, improve childcare access for veterans and their families, and permanently tie veterans’ benefits to cost-of-living increases.

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