Opinion Pieces by Rob

In recent years, the United States has witnessed a shift in global trade dynamics and supply chain vulnerabilities. The COVID-19 pandemic further exposed the risks of relying heavily on foreign suppliers for critical goods and materials. It is now more crucial than ever that we prioritize domestic manufacturing and strengthen our supply chains to ensure our nation’s economic and national… Read more »

As the United States grapples with the challenges of energy production, economic growth, and national security, the time has come to unleash the true potential of nuclear energy. Increased zero-carbon emission nuclear power is necessary for an “all of the above” domestic energy solution to the 21st century’s environmental and energy challenges.  Virginia, a longtime leader in… Read more »

Since the beginning of the 118th Congress, House Republicans have made great strides in reducing government spending, addressing the crisis at the southern border, rolling back burdensome regulations, and supporting domestic energy production. Although we have made significant progress in addressing these critical issues, there is still much work to be done. With only a few legislative… Read more »

In the early 2000s, Congress tracked a rising discussion in defense circles about the extent to which a revolution in the character of war — driven by technological advancement — would shape how war is fought in the future. By the early 2010s, former Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert Work introduced the concept of the “third offset” strategy, urging the US military to… Read more »

As vice chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, I often get asked by my constituents why my work on the committee matters directly to Virginians. My answer is twofold: The work we do on HASC serves the large population of veterans, active-duty service members and their families throughout the commonwealth, and a strong national defense directly and indirectly fuels Virginia’s… Read more »

One year ago, Russia invaded Ukraine, which began a ground war in Europe not seen at this scale in over 70 years. This simultaneous land, sea and air assault rocked not only Ukraine itself, but the West’s understanding of the global balance of power. The 118th Congress must adjust to this new reality. We learned lessons over the past year; we must not be forced to learn them… Read more »

This new year brings an exciting new chapter to Congress and the 1st Congressional District of Virginia. Through redistricting, the 1st Congressional District welcomes new areas and new constituents that I am looking forward to representing. I have been fortunate to meet so many of the incredible folks of Virginia’s 1st District. With the addition of Henrico and Chesterfield counties, I… Read more »

Congress is building a stronger fleet than the Navy By Rep. Rob Wittman (VA-01) December 15, 2022 Defense News Last Thursday, the House voted on a final National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2023 that secures the future of our naval fleet for another year. Fortunately, Congress improved the Navy’s FY23 inadequate shipbuilding plan in critical ways: We rejected… Read more »

We find ourselves at an unprecedented time in history — one that demands material progress in transitioning critical commercial technology into the U.S. Department of Defense. As the largest ground war since World War II rages on NATO’s borders—a war to which the United States has already committed $15 billion in security assistance to Ukraine at the time of writing—our own… Read more »

In recent years, lawmakers on the Armed Services Committees in Congress have attempted to work with Republican and Democratic administrations to strengthen the posture of the United States military in the Indo-Pacific and confront the challenge posed by China. Yet U.S. efforts to truly align resources accordingly have been frustrated since President Barack Obama’s… Read more »