E-Newsletter

At the end of July, I presided over a pro forma session of Congress in the U.S. House of Representatives. When a pro forma session is called, it typically means there is no consideration of legislation or debate scheduled for the floor of a chamber. Almost every Member of Congress is serving their respective constituencies back in their districts. Annual sessions of Congress begin in… Read more »

The House of Representatives voted recently on a resolution condemning the failures of the Biden-Harris Administration to secure the United States southern border. President Biden appointed Kamala Harris to oversee migration on our southern border. She was given much authority and was colloquially referred to as being the “border czar” (see CNN coverage at the time). As everyone knows,… Read more »

Like you, I was shocked by the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump. This latest assassination attempt of a president is nothing new to American history books. One of America’s most renowned presidents, Abraham Lincoln, was victim of a cold-hearted tragedy. As the Union Army neared victory in the U.S. Civil War, an actor with pro-South leanings decided to hatch a plot to… Read more »

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Towards the end of World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin convened for the Yalta Conference. It was discussed at this meeting the extent to which the Soviet Union could exercise influence over future governments of the… Read more »

On July 26, the 2024 Summer Olympic Games are set to begin in Paris. These competitions provide countries from all over the world the opportunity to showcase their best athletes. The United States holds an illustrious record in the Games. Most recently in Tokyo, the United States placed first in medals won (113) as well as gold medals (39). In Tokyo, most aspiring Olympic athletes… Read more »

A newsletter from 2017 entitled “Independence and Southwest Virginia” was one of my favorites. Many of you have told me over the years it was a favorite of yours too. Because of redistricting, the Ninth District has added some communities and lost some communities. So, I thought it might be of interest to review locations in the Ninth District named for influential figures during the… Read more »

The Committee on House Administration I serve on is trying to protect our elections, investigate weaknesses, and restore election integrity and voter confidence in our elections. Last year I introduced H.R. 4460, the NO VOTE for Non-Citizens Act, requiring only eligible American citizens to participate in federal elections. The bill withholds some federal dollars that go to localities… Read more »

The U.S. Supreme Court has decided some notable cases in 2024. Donald J. Trump v. Anderson was a unanimous decision by the justices to allow President Trump on this year’s ballot, despite efforts from states like Colorado and Maine to remove him. National Rifle Association v. Vullo arises from a New York state official accused of coercing banks and insurers into cutting ties with the… Read more »

On June 3, the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19) held a hearing with Dr. Anthony Fauci. This was my second time in 2024 participating in a meeting with Fauci. Fauci was a leading public health official during the pandemic, as head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). Fauci was looked to by many of the American public and… Read more »

In May, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a landmark rule related to regional electric transmission. FERC is the independent Federal agency that regulates most hydropower dam licenses and the wholesale rates and delivery contracts for the interstate transmission of electricity. Traditionally, cost allocation for interstate transmission projects was relatively… Read more »