One of the constant issues I hear about from folks is energy prices. Families must continuously budget for the cost of energy for their homes and their vehicles. Small businesses must account for the possibility of rising energy costs as the market evolves throughout the year. As I recently hit 275,000 miles on my 2005 Toyota Corolla, I know the pain of $4-a-gallon gas, and though prices… Read more »
The effects of our actions will echo far into the future of this country, and the lives of these graduates will undoubtedly be affected by the policies we enact. This is a sobering yet inspiring point to remember, and an important one to keep in mind as we continue to work towards a better future for this nation. Read more »
Do you know someone who is struggling to find a job? 81% of folks across the country know someone without a job. Just Friday it was announced that unemployment stands at 9.1% in May, up from 9.0% in April and 8.8% in March, and while Virginia fares better with 5.8%, there’s still much work to be done to create jobs and get our economy moving again. To restore certainty to the economy and… Read more »
Memorial Day is a time for us to honor the memories of those who’ve given the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our freedom, as well as an occasion to pay tribute to those warriors now serving downrange, their wounded comrades still battling here at home, and their selfless family and friends whose sacrifices frequently go unnoticed. Read more »
Washington, D.C. simply needs to get out of the way and create an environment for economic growth. We have a debt “ceiling” for a reason; spending must have limits, and we must adhere to them. With tough decisions, we can continue this nation on a track for a bright future. Through principled leadership we look to a hopeful future where our children and grandchildren will pursue the American Dream. Read more »
Our country’s defense has received added attention in the wake of the death of Osama bin Laden. His death was a significant moment for the United States and the Global War on Terror, and I commend the special operations forces for their bravery and success and our intelligence communities for their patience and persistence. The determination and skill of the U.S. intelligence community was ... highlighted as a result of the assault on bin Laden’s compound. Read more »
I thought of the law enforcement officers who keep our communities safe every day and night, and the emergency first responders who we know will come to our call should we need their healing hands. These and many other exemplary citizens are the ones who take the lead in a crisis and are the first to approach difficulty when the natural reaction is to turn and run away. Without hesitation, they persevere and complete the most challenging tasks even when others have given up. And my sense is that too many in Washington, D.C. run in the wrong direction when faced with a crisis – Congress has a lot to learn from our Nation’s many public servants. Read more »
America marks a major victory in the war on terror: that the world’s most wanted terrorist and the mastermind behind the September 11, 2001 attacks and the bombing of the Norfolk-based USS Cole (DDG 67) on October 12, 2000, was killed by American forces. Americans stand together proudly with a job well done by our military and intelligence communities. We honor the lives lost of those fighting to defend freedom and see justice served for nearly a decade. For those innocent victims killed at the hand of this terrorist in New York, Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon – justice has been done. Read more »
This past week we saw triumph over tragedy and devastation in Gloucester. On Saturday night, communities in Gloucester County experienced a tornado and lost three of its citizens who did not make it through the storm. Our deepest condolences go out to those families and friends whose lives have been forever changed by this exhibit of Mother Nature’s fury. On Sunday, I rode along… Read more »
After avoiding a shutdown of the government last week, this week the focus was on finalizing the 2011 federal budget and moving on to the 2012 budget. While we did not get a perfect conclusion to the 2011 budget, the legislation brought up for a vote on Thursday included $38 billion in cuts over the next six months. I voted to support this bill that will cut spending and remove barriers… Read more »
