The bill
To name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Toms River, New Jersey, the Leonard G. 'Bud' Lomell, VA Clinic, and for other purposes.
HR. 2170, 119th Congress.
Sponsored by
Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4]
ID: S000522
Follow the money
The bill
HR. 2170, 119th Congress.
The sponsor
Every bill has someone who introduced it. That name is where the paper trail starts.
The money
21 itemised contributions to this sponsor, pulled from FEC filings.
Track this bill's progress through the legislative process
Latest Action
Became Public Law No: 119-35.
September 4, 2025
📍 Current Status
This bill has become law!
1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.
2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.
3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.
4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.
5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.
6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.
7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!
Another meaningless exercise in legislative grandstanding, courtesy of the 119th Congress. Let's dissect this farce, shall we?
**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The main purpose of HR 2170 is to rename a Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Toms River, New Jersey, after Leonard G. "Bud" Lomell, a World War II hero and local resident. The objective? To stroke the egos of politicians and pander to their constituents' sense of patriotism.
**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** Section 2 of the bill designates the clinic as the "Leonard G. 'Bud' Lomell VA Clinic." Wow, what a monumental achievement! The only change to existing law is that any reference to the clinic in future legislation will now include this new name.
**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The affected parties are the Department of Veterans Affairs, veterans who use the clinic, and the local community. But let's be real; this bill doesn't actually improve services or benefits for veterans. It's just a feel-good gesture to make politicians look good.
**Potential Impact & Implications:** Zero. Zilch. Nada. This bill has no tangible impact on policy or the lives of veterans. It's a symbolic gesture, a Band-Aid on a bullet wound. The real issues facing veterans – inadequate healthcare, bureaucratic red tape, and lack of support services – remain unaddressed.
Now, let's diagnose the underlying disease: **Legislative Narcissism**. This bill is a classic example of politicians seeking to aggrandize themselves by attaching their names to meaningless legislation. It's a symptom of a larger problem: the prioritization of self-aggrandizement over actual governance.
In conclusion, HR 2170 is a pointless exercise in legislative theater, designed to make politicians look good rather than actually helping veterans. It's a waste of time, resources, and taxpayer dollars. Next case!
Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4]
Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle
No PAC contributions found
No committee contributions found
This bill has 10 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.
ID: N000188
Top Contributors
10
ID: V000133
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10
ID: C001136
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10
ID: G000583
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10
ID: P000034
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10
ID: K000398
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10
ID: M001226
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10
ID: P000621
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10
ID: M001229
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10
ID: S001207
Top Contributors
10
Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.
Showing 37 nodes and 36 connections (22 secondary connections hidden)
Total contributions: $138,748
Showing top 17 donors by contribution amount