Weekly Updates

This week I was pleased to support the final passage of the Defense Authorization Bill for fiscal year 2009.  I want to share with you some important provisions of the bill. H.R. 5658, the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act of 2008, authorizes $531.4 billion in budget authority for the Department of Defense (DoD) and the national security programs of the Department… Read more »

Submarines have been a central component of our naval forces for over a century. Since World War II, the United States has employed a number of different submarines to conduct military operations around the globe.  During the Cold War the submarine emerged as one of our nation's best tools for preventing the threat of World War III and today the submarine helps our Navy conduct… Read more »

I would like to update you on some of the work I've been doing that relates to the natural, historic and cultural significance of our area. As an avid sportsman and outdoorsman I am very glad to have an opportunity to work to improve and preserve those special places for today's visitors and future generations.  As I'm sure you are aware, the Commonwealth of Virginia and the… Read more »

Last week I had the opportunity to visit Fort A.P. Hill, the wonderful military facility in Caroline County. My trip coincided with Fort A.P. Hill winning the Army Chief of Staff Communities of Excellence Award for Fiscal Year 2008. The award is presented annually to an installation for its exemplary efforts in providing support to Soldiers, civilian employees, retirees and… Read more »

The Commonwealth of Virginia is blessed with some of the most pristine natural beauty in world. Many local economies depend on the revenues created by tourists visiting Virginia in hope of enjoying our waters, beaches, mountains and forests and the business generated from harvests of blue crabs, oyster and of the Bay's natural bounty.  The Chesapeake Bay has long provided numerous… Read more »

This week General David Petraeus, U.S. Army, Commander of the Multinational Force in Iraq, and Ryan Crocker, the Ambassador to Iraq, returned to Washington D.C. to brief the House and Senate on the significant progress being made in Iraq.  As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I was able to participate in the hearings, and I was pleased with what I heard. The success of… Read more »

As I reported a few weeks ago, I was recently chosen to serve on the House Armed Services Committee (HASC). As a member of the HASC, I feel that it is important to get out and visit the numerous military installations and training facilities in the First District. During my recent District Work Period, I went to the U.S. Coast Guard Training Center in Yorktown (TCYorktown) to learn… Read more »

Earlier this year I sent out a survey to constituents of the First District asking them to let me know what issues are most important to them. I felt that it was important to get some feedback from the people I serve about what's significant to them and what I should be doing up here in Washington to ensure that I am doing the best job I can. We've received a truly great response and… Read more »

This week we unveiled our new and improved official website. On Wednesday, / went live and it includes a lot of great features that will be very helpful to constituents of the First District. I understand the role of the internet in most people's daily lives so we went about building our website with our constituents in mind. We took a number of steps to ensure that it was easy to… Read more »

Earlier this week I was given a new committee assignment, to the House Armed Services Committee (HASC). This was an appointment that I had lobbied for since my election in December and one that Republican Leader John Boehner assured me I would be given. In addition, I will serve as a member of the Seapower and Expeditionary Forces Subcommittee and the Readiness Subcommittee.  The… Read more »