Work continues in Washington on many issues which will have a lasting impact on our veterans and troops overseas. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee I am committed to honoring our Nation's obligations to those who serve and have been quite busy with promising legislation.
This past week, I joined with members of both the Armed Services and Veterans' Affairs Committees in… Read more »
This past week, while participating in a conference call with General Motors management and members of the President's Automotive Task Force, I received the troubling news that General Motors plans to close its Powertrain plant in Spotsylvania County by December 2010. GM's decision to end their thirty year relationship with the area will have a tremendous impact on both the employees… Read more »
This past week I have been to all corners of the First Congressional District as Congress wraps up its District Work Period. It is always refreshing to see familiar faces and hear your thoughts on the goings on at home and in Washington. I kicked off the week attending Memorial Day ceremonies, held meetings at both ends of the District with my Historical Preservation Advisory Council, and… Read more »
This week in Washington, Congress has taken action to reign in credit card companies from performing unscrupulous business practices. Unfortunately, I've heard from many constituents who have received a letter from their credit card company notifying them that their card's limit has been reduced or their interest rate has been raised without notification.
Even with a history of… Read more »
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
