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National Defense

Virginia Delegation and McAuliffe Administration Hail Groundbreaking of Embassy Security Training Facility at Fort Pickett

| Posted in Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, along with Governor Terry McAuliffe, U.S. Representatives Bobby Scott, Randy Forbes, Rob Wittman, Gerry Connolly, Robert Hurt, Dave Brat, Don Beyer and Scott Rigell released the following statement welcoming the groundbreaking of a Foreign Affairs Security Training Center (FASTC) at Fort Pickett in Blackstone, Virginia. “After…

Wittman Supports Transparency Measures to Prevent Funding for Iranian Terrorism

| Posted in Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-1) voted yesterday in favor of H.R. 3662, the Iran Terror Finance Transparency Act. The measure would enhance Congress’s oversight role and prevent the President from removing individuals and entities from a restricted list maintained by the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control until the Administration has certified that…

Wittman Response to President Obama's Final State of the Union Address

| Posted in Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-1) released the following statement today after President Obama appeared before a joint session of Congress to deliver his final State of the Union address: “Before the President’s State of the Union address tonight, I said that I hoped he would deliver a cogent, comprehensive strategy for defeating ISIS. I was disappointed to hear him double down…

Weekly Update: America Needs Progress, Not Empty Promises

| Posted in Weekly Updates

We’re at the beginning—a New Year filled with new opportunities—and I’ve been thinking a lot about my priorities. When I consider the challenges we’re facing at home and abroad, I can see how it might be easy to get bogged down in the details. But I want to rise above that for a moment. If I’ve learned anything from my time as a public servant, it’s that our greatest resource and our best…

Free Lance-Star: Nation's strategy to defeat ISIS must evolve

| Posted in Opinion Pieces by Rob

The November terrorist attacks in Paris have led to some critical self-reflection here in the United States. In the aftermath of the slaughter that left at least 130 dead (the body count continues to rise) and some 100s more injured, Americans have linked arm-in-arm with our oldest ally—mourning the dead, pledging increased military support and redoubling our collective resistance to fear…

Wittman Statement on House Passage of FY16 NDAA

| Posted in Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01) supported passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2016. The annual legislation, which the House of Representatives approved by a bipartisan vote of 370-58, provides policy guidance and authorization for the Department of Defense. The vote comes on the heels of the President’s veto of an earlier version…

Rob Wittman's Weekly Update

| Posted in Weekly Updates

During these past couple of weeks, I have been thinking a lot about leadership and what it means to be a leader. According to Douglas MacArthur, leadership is about integrity. “A true leader,” he said, “has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the…

Wittman Statement on the President's NDAA Veto

| Posted in Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-1) released the following statement today following the President’s veto of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2016: “For the first time in this nation’s history, the President has chosen to veto the National Defense Authorization Act over domestic policy differences and deny our military critical funding. This bipartisan…

Daily Press: Defense bill needs signature

| Posted in Opinion Pieces by Rob

Last week, Congress fulfilled its constitutional duties by passing the annual defense policy legislation, the National Defense Authorization Act, for fiscal year 2016. The bill simply awaits President Barack Obama's signature to become law and assure our men and women in uniform that they will have the tools and resources they need. Despite strong bipartisan support for the legislation,…

Rob Wittman's Weekly Update

| Posted in Weekly Updates

Last week was a busy one here in Washington as Fiscal Year 2015 came to a close and Congress was forced to scramble to keep the government running with a short-term funding bill called a continuing resolution. Time and time again, I have said that continuing resolutions are a short-sighted and irresponsible way to fund government operations. Yet, once again, Washington has refused to…