February 3, 1959. That’s the day I was born. But home didn’t start there. It started when my mom and dad adopted me. And in a way, that’s comforting. My family chose me—they could have chosen anyone, but they chose me. And the woman who brought me into the world gave me more than life; she gave me possibility. She gave me a shot at a boyhood full of fishing boats and baseball cards and… Read more »
We’re at the beginning—a New Year filled with new opportunities—and I’ve been thinking a lot about my priorities. When I consider the challenges we’re facing at home and abroad, I can see how it might be easy to get bogged down in the details. But I want to rise above that for a moment. If I’ve learned anything from my time as a public servant, it’s that our greatest resource and our best… Read more »
During 1943, more than 6 million military men and women spent time deployed overseas. The United States was in the midst of its involvement in World War II, and that meant sacrifices had to be made. There were food shortages, and as factories and businesses were transformed for military use, meat, shortening, and butter (among other things) had to be rationed.
The world was… Read more »
It’s hard to believe that the year is coming to an end, and in just a few weeks, we’ll be celebrating the start of a new one. We’re right in the middle of resolution season, and I’ve been thinking a lot about mine. Those of us who have broken resolutions before—and with my wife Kathryn’s delicious cooking, I’ve broken a few—know that change is impossible without action. I’ve heard it said… Read more »
“Are they dead that speak louder than we can speak, and a more universal language? Are they dead that yet act?”
Sebastian Junger, a journalist and documentary film-maker who spent a year in Afghanistan embedded with a platoon in the Korengal Valley (once considered the deadliest valley in the country) made an important observation about war. He said that “the core reality of war isn’t… Read more »
As children, many of us were told the story of the grasshopper and the ant, and most of us probably know it well. During summer, when the days were warm and it was hard to imagine winter’s famine, the grasshopper rested and played while the ant was hard at work gathering food for scarcer times. When the winter did finally come, the grasshopper found himself starving while the ant and his… Read more »
During these past couple of weeks, I have been thinking a lot about leadership and what it means to be a leader. According to Douglas MacArthur, leadership is about integrity. “A true leader,” he said, “has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the… Read more »
Last week was a busy one here in Washington as Fiscal Year 2015 came to a close and Congress was forced to scramble to keep the government running with a short-term funding bill called a continuing resolution. Time and time again, I have said that continuing resolutions are a short-sighted and irresponsible way to fund government operations. Yet, once again, Washington has refused to… Read more »
Folks,
Our region will be experiencing significant rainfall through the weekend from coastal storms including Hurricane Joaquin, and Governor McAuliffe has declared a state of emergency to allow state agencies to better respond to flooding and related issues. According to the National Weather Service, hurricane season spans from June 1 through November 30, and in coastal… Read more »
From Prince William County to Hampton Roads, I serve some of the strongest communities in the Commonwealth, and I am humbled every day to work for the people of Virginia’s First District. As a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, I truly believe that my primary responsibility is to represent the interests of the men and women who’ve elected me, and I can only do that with… Read more »
