E-Newsletter

While conducting Telephone Town Hall meetings in the Ninth District, I heard from constituents concerned about the retirement benefits and health care plans for Members of Congress. Read more »

Last week, the House of Representatives voted to extend the pay freeze for Members of Congress and federal employees for an additional year and cut the budgets of House committees. Read more »

Much like President Obama’s 2010 and 2011 speeches, last week’s State of the Union speech was filled with lofty rhetoric, platitudes, and vague promises. While he talks a good game, the actual results -- three years of failed economic policies and stifling government overreach -- leave a lot to be desired. Read more »

Today, I have the honor, along with Senators Webb and Warner, of presenting Virginia State Trooper S. Matthew Cochran with the Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery at a ceremony in Washington. Read more »

Bankruptcy and bonuses make for strange bedfellows, particularly when taxpayer money is involved. The bankrupt solar energy company Solyndra is requesting to pay staff bonuses under a proposal filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware. This request is outrageous! The American taxpayers are already on the hook for the original $535 million Solyndra loan guarantee. In addition, the taxpayers aren’t even the first creditor in line for $75 million because the Department of Energy ignored the law and subordinated that amount – putting taxpayers in the backseat. Read more »

The Obama Administration is no stranger to overreach. An influx of federal regulations and the unconstitutional health insurance mandate are examples of this. In addition, last week President Obama made four unprecedented “recess” appointments – a serious abuse of executive power. Read more »

2011 has been an eventful and trying year. In the Ninth District, we have welcomed home loved ones serving abroad. We have also witnessed firsthand destructive natural disasters, which caused loss of life and extensive property damage. Read more »

This week the House returns to Washington to take up, once again, a package that extends the payroll tax holiday, unemployment insurance, and the “doc fix” for doctors’ Medicare reimbursements for 2012. Read more »

Last week, tragedy once again struck the Virginia Tech community. Read more »

Regulatory overreach isn’t just affecting coal mines and manufacturers. Read more »