E-Newsletter

Some in the media would have you believe that the Trump Administration’s recent attempts to reform the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is an attack on American science. This narrative became apparent when several CDC officials resigned their posts. One of those officials, Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, cited his concerns about CDC policies shifting away from scientific reality… Read more »

Congress’s August recess gives members time to do learning tours in their districts and elsewhere. It also coincides with the return to school. During this August recess, I had occasions to remember my years at Emory & Henry College (now University). I recently was a guest speaker there for a political science class. Arriving on campus, I was reminded of when I started at Emory as… Read more »

Throughout our country’s history, the American worker has constantly made important contributions. American industry, powered by the great contributions of the workforce, helped our progression to be a global economic powerhouse. This dynamic duo of industry and the world’s best workforce developed our workforce’s skillsets and resources and ushered in national prosperity and… Read more »

Some of my columns this summer focused on recent legislative victories in DC. As your representative, it is equally important to highlight the casework wins of my office and detail some of the valuable constituent services we provide. In December, I wrote a newsletter about the dual roles of a member of Congress: the legislator and the ombudsman. Today, I highlight my role as your… Read more »

In a July newsletter, I discussed some wins in recent legislation. Since that newsletter, I secured another legislative win which, if passed by the Senate, will help Fairlawn, Virginia. Despite its location in Pulaski County, the community of Fairlawn shares the same ZIP Code, 24141, with the City of Radford. As a result, confusion often arises. Last autumn, this ZIP Code issue… Read more »

As the second half of the Major League Baseball (MLB) season continues, there are noteworthy MLB events that merit the attention of the Ninth District. First, Billy Wagner was recently inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Wagner, a Southwest Virginia native who pitched at Tazewell County High School and then Ferrum College (both of which are in the Ninth District), put… Read more »

As your representative, I am privileged to visit the White House for important events. This year, I attended White House events celebrating major developments. I attended a ceremony where President Trump announced new executive actions to reinvigorate America’s beautiful clean coal industry. I was at the White House to witness President Trump sign my HALT Fentanyl Act. Both were… Read more »

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 »