E-Newsletter

Twenty years ago, our nation was attacked by terrorists. Like many Americans, I remember where I was when I learned of the news on September 11, 2001. As I worked in my law office that morning, my bookkeeper at the time, Terry Haynie, told me that a plane had struck a Tower of the World Trade Center. We could not understand how a plane could have gotten so off course that it could hit a… Read more »

The ending of the war in Afghanistan has been a disgraceful and humiliating close to a lengthy chapter of our history. Read more »

Benjamin Franklin famously noted that “in this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes.” He never said those two certainties needed to go hand in hand. That came later with the imposition of the death tax, also known as the estate tax. The federal death tax, enacted in 1916, is levied “on the transfer of the taxable estate of every decedent who is a citizen or resident of the… Read more »

Years ago, the U.S. completed its original goals of destroying al Qaeda and ensuring that Afghanistan would not be a staging ground for trans-national Islamic extremist groups. That is why I have long supported an orderly withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. However, President Biden and his Administration have botched America’s exit. The problem is not withdrawing American troops, but… Read more »

Neurodegenerative Diseases             My last column addressed legislation I have supported to better overall health care. This week, I want to focus on neurodegenerative diseases. The most notable of these diseases are Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Huntington’s, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s. On July 29, the House Energy and Commerce… Read more »

A Health Care Agenda for the Future      For most Americans, health care ranks among the top public policy issues. Its cost, accessibility, and quality have a direct and tangible impact on a person’s well-being. Improving these factors in health care for residents of Virginia’s Ninth Congressional District continues to be a priority for me. As a member of the House Energy… Read more »

Charade      I’ve been reminded recently of my trip to China back in the late 90s with the American Council of Young Political Leaders to study the Chinese government. While there, I learned more about the logistics of how their ruling party operates. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) secures its rule by controlling all aspects of the government. The ruling party elders… Read more »

On July 9, 2021, I joined some of my House colleagues in sending a letter to President Biden expressing concerns about his plans to send government workers door-to-door in an attempt to speak with Americans not yet vaccinated against COVID-19. I do not approve of government policy that involves invading Americans’ personal information. Their vaccination status is none of the… Read more »

In Cuba recently, thousands of Cubans have taken to the streets in protest of the 62-year long socialist dictatorship. In response, the unelected government of Cuba has fired into crowds of protestors and cut off internet access on the island. When all but a handful of communist countries have fallen or transitioned to more market-based economies, the leaders of Cuba continue to push… Read more »

The Importance of the Hyde Amendment It is no secret that Americans frequently disagree with each other on many issues, important or trivial. Freedom of conscience is a foundational right in this country. That freedom means more than simply thinking what you want. It means you should not be forced to act in violation of your conscience so long as you are not harming others. When it… Read more »