This week I along with other members of the House Armed Services met to receive testimony from the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the service chiefs on the President's Fiscal Year 2010 Defense Budget. Additionally, the House approved Fiscal Year 2009 supplemental funding for our troops serving overseas in the Global War on Terror, and we heard word back on the final location of CYBER Command from the U.S. Air Force. First, during the hearing on Defense Depar...
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Home foreclosures are an issue affecting a number of residents throughout the First Congressional District. Even if you are not under the threat of foreclosure, a foreclosed home deeply affects other families and can mean lower property values in the neighborhood and often times an eyesore in your community. Without a doubt it was risky lending and irresponsible mortgage applications which have contributed heavily to our current economic crisis. We need to take steps to address these root causes...
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Just yesterday the Secretary of Defense Robert Gates testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee in an effort to request 50 million dollars to cover the costs of continued detention of enemy combatants currently at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba after the facility is shut down within the next year. The money Secretary Gates is requesting could cover the costs of modifying U.S. military or civilian prisons or adding new wings to accommodate the detainees. The Secretary went on to jok...
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Congress is back in Washington this week and I'm continuing to keep my ear to the ground and advance issues important to both the First Congressional District and the Commonwealth as a whole. We received some great news in that the blue crab population is starting to rebound in the Chesapeake and the Virginia Indian tribal recognition bill has cleared another hurdle on its way to passage. This time last year, I joined with my colleagues in Washington and Richmond to sound the alarm concerning th...
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This past week of the Congressional District Work Period has given me a lot of great opportunities to hear thoughts from folks at home, and to catch up with those of you who just can't make it to Washington. Specifically, I've met with my Education Advisory Council, several Rotary Clubs, as well as small businesses around the First District. First, as a spouse of a public school teacher, education is extremely important to me. I have setup three Education Advisory Councils throughout the First D...
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Although I have spent the first week of the Congressional District Work Period back in the First District, I have continued to monitor developments in Washington and have several things to report to you all back at home. First, the Secretary of Defense issued his budget recommendations for the coming fiscal year. Then, I joined other Virginia Congressmen and others from around the country in a bipartisan letter to the President continuing to urge against the move of a nuclear aircraft carrier f...
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This week has seen some significant developments on the path to approving a budget for the fiscal year 2010 set to begin in October of this year. I am happy to report that in the course of the budget debate I supported an alternative to the proposed majority plan which would reign in spending, balance the budget, and place America on a path to fiscal responsibility. Although that alternative did not pass and the majority plan was approved, we still have much work ahead of us in the way of contro...
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This week I have continued to be a voice for our military personnel stationed in the First District and across the nation. Throughout the week I attended hearings which gave input into the status of our maritime forces and particularly the decision to move a carrier from Norfolk, VA to Mayport, FL. Also, I joined members from across the aisle in the Virginia to advocate that the Air Force should place its newly formed CYBER Command at Langley Air Force Base in Hampton. First, as a member of the ...
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Early this week I was deeply disturbed to hear that President Barack Obama suggested that to save money in the Veterans Administration budget, he would undermine one of the department's key services: providing health care to our Nation's veterans who were injured while serving our country. The President's proposal would bill veteran's private health insurance plans for care and treatment of service-connected injuries or disabilities. I was gravely concerned at the suggestion for two key reasons....
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This week has been full of great developments for the First District and especially the Chesapeake Bay. I am excited to report that I have been appointed as one of two members of the House of Representatives to serve on the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission. Additionally, as many of you know I have authored legislation to bring transparency and accountability to the funding of cleanup for the Chesapeake Bay. Thursday, the House unanimously agreed to add my legislation to the Water Quality I...
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