Over the past few months, I have heard clear opposition from many residents of Virginia’s Ninth Congressional District to President Biden’s coronavirus vaccine mandates. I share this opposition and have expressed it before in this column. I am vaccinated, and I urge others to consider getting vaccinated themselves if they are not already, but I believe such a decision should be left to an individu... Read more »
As winter begins, Americans this year confront a most unwelcome holiday guest: high energy prices. Just like Santa Claus, expensive energy is coming to town. Unlike Santa, it doesn’t matter if you’ve been bad or good. Your wallet will suffer just the same. You have probably noticed already how much more it costs to fill up your gas tank. According to AAA, Virginia’s average gas price is $3.25 comp... Read more »
Four hundred years ago, the Pilgrims of Massachusetts held their first Thanksgiving. Four hundred and two years ago, the first American Thanksgiving was held. What’s the distinction? Read on. Most Americans recall the story of the Pilgrims who crossed the Atlantic on the Mayflower in 1620 and arrived in what is now Massachusetts – although their original destination was Virginia. After a difficult... Read more »
Infrastructure is a topic with which most people are familiar. It’s something that impacts them; they regularly travel on a road which could use fixing or see a need for a new road to make their travels easier. The need for action is apparent, but the specifics of that action are less so. This fact will be important to remember as President Biden and congressional Democrats tout recently passed in... Read more »
On Veterans Day, we honor the men and women who served our country in the United States Armed Forces. We set aside this day, the eleventh day of the eleventh month each year, to pay tribute to those who risked, and sometimes gave, all. Because we recognize the importance of their task, honoring them is one of the most important things we do as a people. One of the most prominent symbols of the cou... Read more »
John F. Kennedy said that “to govern is to choose.” The Democrats running Washington have had a hard time choosing lately. It should come as no surprise, then, that they have not done too well at governing, either. Instead of addressing the pressing issues our country faces like historic inflation, record-breaking numbers of illegal immigrants crossing the border, soaring energy costs, and others,... Read more »
Joe Biden recently presided over a historic achievement, but unfortunately not an achievement worth celebrating. According to the Washington Post, more illegal immigrants were arrested along the U.S.-Mexico border in fiscal year 2021 than ever before recorded. More than 1.7 million migrants were encountered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The numbers are astounding but not surprising. When ... Read more »
Representing approximately 700,000 people in the U.S. House of Representatives can mean I receive a lot of correspondence. Constituents contact me with numerous concerns, whether by phone, email, letter, or social media message. Your comments and inquiries are an asset as I do my job. While I cannot read or respond to each individually, my team collects them and lets me know what people in Virgini... Read more »
October 11 of this year presents the spectacle of dueling holidays. Under federal law, the second Monday in October is Columbus Day, commemorating the arrival of the Italian explorer’s Spanish-backed expedition in the New World on October 12, 1492. Columbus Day celebrations have occurred going back to the nineteenth century. But many jurisdictions, including Virginia, now recognize the same day as... Read more »
Natural gas is a core fuel for the modern world. It is used to heat homes, power the electric grid, and make manufactured products, including plastics. The United States has enjoyed a boom in natural gas for more than a decade. Advances in drilling technology and energy-friendly Trump Administration policies expanded the supply and drove prices down. Our country became a leading supplier of the fu... Read more »
