E-Newsletter

Over the last few weeks, there have been big legislative wins for the nation. For me, one of these wins is the signing, at last, of the HALT Fentanyl Act. Along with Congressman Bob Latta, we began the quest in 2021 to permanently designate fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs. HALT’s language would change some over the years, as with all legislation, but it is substantially… Read more »

On July 3, I received the appointment to be the new Chair for the Health Subcommittee of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Following my appointment, I made some of my first public actions visiting rural hospitals and health centers in Southwest Virginia. My first hospital visit took place in Pennington Gap at the Lee County Community Hospital operated by Ballad… Read more »

The birth of the United States and its significance for freedom inspires patriotic spirit and is accordingly reflected in American culture. American emblems such as “The Star-Spangled Banner” or “The Pledge of Allegiance” are some of the cultural staples of American patriotism. Audiences pay their respects to the great American flag as they listen to or recite the lines to these iconic… Read more »

Since the 1990s, one of the greatest U.S. foreign policy challenges has been Iran. Iran is a leading state sponsor of terrorism, funding proxy wars and supporting Islamic terrorist groups like Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen. Despite different approaches to the Iranian regime, the Clinton, Bush, Obama, Trump and Biden Administrations all recognized the… Read more »

The month of June is always a critical time of year for the U.S. Supreme Court. The terms of the justices begin on the first Monday of October and last until the summer recess of the following year, which usually starts in late June or early July.  The Court typically hears oral arguments on various cases between October and April. The justices then issue opinions before they… Read more »

Thursday, June 19th marks America’s celebration of Juneteenth. The national holiday is meant to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States.  Interestingly, this date does not signify the official nationwide end to slavery. Slavery was a fairly common practice, even in the North, as the United States transitioned from its colonial period to its independence. In fact,… Read more »

Many families have prepared for the return of summer.  Plans include pool parties, barbecues and vacations. Some plans will account for summer heat. Air conditioning and other tools will be increasingly used to keep homes cool. This increased electricity demand means that our electric grid will be under greater stress. We are already hearing of potential breaking points this… Read more »

The U.S. Constitution is a revolutionary document which has inspired other nations in drafting their own Constitutions. Unbeknownst to some, the current Constitution wasn’t the first governing document of the United States after gaining independence. The Articles of Confederation served as the country’s first Constitution. Following ratification of the Articles in 1781, our young… Read more »

The “Butterfly Effect” is an interesting theory. What it basically says is that any small change or movement in one system, “the flapping of a butterfly’s wings”, inflicts a greater change or movement in another system. This greater change produces significant consequences that are felt my many. … Read more »

The U.S. Constitution outlines the three branches of government. The authority vested in Congress is derived from Article I. The Constitution then addresses the Executive Branch in Article II: “The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America.” Next, Article III details Judicial Branch powers. The top authority within the Judicial Branch is the U.S.… Read more »