U.S. Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick and his opponent, Kevin Strouse, are both outraged at a report that training materials at Philadelphia’s Department of Veterans Affairs office referred to dissatisfied veterans as “Oscar the Grouch.”
“The revelation of such tone-deaf training material only further highlights the level of disconnect and dishonesty operating within the Philadelphia VA system,” Fitzpatrick said. “Even after being exposed for allowing hundreds of veterans and family members to die while waiting for benefits, destroying mail and altering data to gain undeserved bonuses, the VA seems more concerned about protecting the managers who oversaw the wrongdoing instead of serving our veterans.”
Strouse said, “Having served as an Army ranger in Iraq and Afghanistan, these VA training materials are flat-out offensive. Folks who put their lives on the line to defend our country deserve care worthy of their service. These insensitive training materials are especially alarming in light of the recent VA scandals.”
Strouse blamed the “dysfunctional Republican Congress” for failing to do more to care for veterans.
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The Humane Society Legislative Fund, a national political advocacy organization for animal welfare, endorsed Fitzpatrick for re-election.
“Mike Fitzpatrick has been a leading champion of legislation to protect animals from cruelty and abuse, and he is working to promote the values of kindness and compassion to all creatures,” said Michael Markarian, president of the HSLF. “Voters in the 8th District who care about the humane treatment of animals should support Mike Fitzpatrick for Congress.”
The HSLF publishes an annual Humane Scorecard of Congress to give voters a snapshot of every federal legislator’s record on animal protection issues. Three times, Fitzpatrick achieved a perfect score of 100 for votes in favor of animal welfare measures in front of the U.S. House.
Fitzpatrick is the lead sponsor of the Captive Primate Safety Act, which would prohibit the interstate commerce of chimpanzees and other primates in the exotic pet trade. He also co-sponsored the Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act, which was included in the 2014 Farm Bill, making it a federal crime to attend or bring a child to a dogfight or cockfight.
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In other news, Strouse is faulting Fitzpatrick for missing some House Committee on Financial Services meetings during the 2011–12 session of Congress.
The Democrat labeled his opponent “out of touch.”
“The voters of Bucks and Montgomery counties deserve a representative who will work hard day in and day out to rebuild the middle class,” he said. “While his constituents are being hurt by predatory payday lenders, Congressman Fitzpatrick can’t even be bothered to do his job by showing up to the committee that is supposed to protect us from big banks and financial institutions.”
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Strouse is criticizing Fitzpatrick on women’s issues, such as his opposition to giving federal funds to Planned Parenthood.
The challenger is also trying to link his opponent to Gov. Tom Corbett, who has low approval ratings among voters.
“When it comes to standing up for women, Mike Fitzpatrick is just like Tom Corbett — a part of the problem in the march toward equality,” he said. “I will always vote to protect funding for life-saving healthcare and affordable birth control, and I will fight back against Corbett and Fitzpatrick’s attempts to turn back the clock on women’s health.”
Strouse is a former Army ranger and CIA counterterrorism analyst, and a veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He lives in Middletown with his wife Amy and two young children. He is program director of Teach2Serve, a nonprofit that teaches social entrepreneurship to local high school students.
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Meanwhile, Fitzpatrick recently addressed members of the Merck Union Retiree’s Club.
“It’s critical that we work together to put our economy back on the right track and increase opportunity — not just for this generation, but for the next. That’s something we all can agree on,” he said.
Fitzpatrick has introduced the Made in America Act, which would establish an “American-made” standard for products made in the U.S., connecting manufacturers to consumers and encouraging businesses to reshore manufacturing operations to America.
“Investing in the American manufacturer and American worker are vital to the growth of our economy, and it’s time our nation supported policies that do just that,” he said.
Fitzpatrick is serving his third term in the House of Representatives. The 8th Congressional District includes all of Bucks County and a portion of Montgomery County.
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Fitzpatrick recently addressed the Souderton-Telford Rotary Club about his plan to invest in workers to strengthen the nation’s infrastructure.
The congressman was the keynote speaker at the meeting held at the Indian Valley Country Club.
“I’ve made it my mission in Washington to bring people together around the objectives we can all agree on — reining in wasteful spending, declaring energy independence and strengthening our economy,” Fitzpatrick said.
Al Engel, president-elect of the Souderton-Telford Rotary Club, said, “One thing which stands out about Mike is that he’s a good listener and sincerely concerned about representing his district. Our club membership comprises an excellent cross section of community leadership, including business, the professions and public education — it’s a meaningful place for the congressman to collect feedback to help him strengthen his legislative agenda.”
