With the New Year and a new administration, the military is preparing for a renewed emphasis on the war in Afghanistan. During the holidays, I took part in a Congressional delegation that spent a day visiting the sailors and marines aboard our naval fleet in port at Bahrain and two days visiting the troops on the frontlines of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and surveying… Read more »
Since World War Two, leaders and celebrities have traveled to support American men and women who are in harm's way around the world. These efforts are especially important for morale around the holidays, when distance from loved ones can make a difficult job in a hostile land feel even more difficult. During the week before Christmas, I had the distinct honor of spending time… Read more »
The auto industry recovery legislation voted on by the House of Representatives this week was not the first major bailout initiative to come to the House floor recently. All indications are that it will not be the last. While I have had serious reservations about the bailout bills, I believe that the federal government can effectively provide a helping hand to businesses in… Read more »
As Co-Chairman of the Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus, one of my chief priorities is promoting the importance of shipbuilding and sea power within Congress. This past week, I had the opportunity to attend the American Shipbuilding Association conference to discuss the importance of shipbuilding and, in particular, the national security issues surrounding our capacity to build… Read more »
As the economic crisis unfolds, there have been a series of proposals and initiatives set forth by both the Administration and Congress to address the situation. The President recently announced that he will hold a series of global economic forums in order to better coordinate the worldwide response. The Federal Reserve is continuing to do the legwork on executing the original… Read more »
The past several days have been historic ones for Congress and for the families and people of this great nation. We face significant challenges in our financial markets and I do not underestimate the serious nature of the decisions we face in dealing with the credit crisis. I realize that the current credit crisis could create problems for every American should the financial… Read more »
The events that began last week on Wall Street are reshaping the American marketplace and the global economy. On Friday, I participated in a conference call with Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke. During the call, I had the opportunity to ask some tough questions and express my concerns about the Administration's proposed… Read more »
On Thursday, we marked the seventh anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September 11th. I was honored to attend the memorial service at the Pentagon, as well as the dedication of the 9/11 memorial there.
The Pentagon memorial is a beautiful park, featuring 184 light benches that commemorate the 184 individuals who lost their lives in the attack. Even more impressive has… Read more »
In Virginia's First District, transportation is an issue that touches each of us on a daily basis. Anyone who has sat in traffic around Quantico or fought congestion in the Hampton Roads area understands why we must continually invest and expand our highway system. Making sure that the federal government is an active partner in building and maintaining Virginia's roads is… Read more »
Virginia is the number two importer of trash in the nation, taking some seven million tons into our landfills in 2007 alone. Earlier this summer, I introduced the Solid Waste Interstate Transportation Act of 2008, H.R. 6166. This legislation would give states and localities greater control to regulate waste levels by giving them the ability to limit imports to their landfill… Read more »
