Friend- Now that we are in the 116th Congress, I'm looking forward to working on sustaining economic growth, addressing critical infrastructure issues in our region, building a strong national defense, immigration reform, and expanding access to rural broadband. I know I'll hear from many of you during the next two years as you contact my office and during my travels throughout the District. I wanted to take a brief moment to ask what issues you would most like to see addressed during the 116th...
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Wittman Pushes for Rural Broadband Access WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, Congressman Rob Wittman attended the Virginia Cable Telecommunications Association Annual Cable Show (VCTA) where he discussed the importance of expanding access to broadband in rural Virginia. “Almost half of rural Virginians lack access to high-speed internet and another 29% lack access to any internet service at all,” Wittman said. “Many often only have one provider or even none. My Broadband Taskforce seeks to find solutio...
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Friend- As you may know, last week President Trump announced his intention to impose tariffs on imported steel and aluminum. Simply put, a tariff is a tax on an imported or exported commodity. The president’s particular proposal puts a tariff of 25% on foreign-made steel and 10% on foreign-made aluminum when brought across the U.S. border. There’s been a robust discussion over the past week about the potential costs and benefits of this new trade policy proposal. Critics of this plan argue that ...
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WASHINGTON -- With Saturday marking 100 days into the Trump Administration, Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01) highlighted his constituent engagement efforts during that time in an email to First District residents. The email spotlighted the overall number of constituent contacts Rep. Wittman made during the first 100 days and also included figures for constituent correspondence received, responses sent, bills introduced, and forums held. "Listening to constituents is my top priority and helps me b...
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Folks, Earlier this week, The News and Advance ran a story that called the Obama Administration’s decision not to allow offshore energy production in the Atlantic Ocean a “blow to Virginia and others.” I couldn’t agree more. The Administration’s policy shuts down growth opportunities for people across the Commonwealth and compromises our economic prosperity and national security. I don’t think we can afford to ignore the fact that fossil fuels are and will remain our dominant source of energy in...
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WASHINGTON – Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-1) released the following statement today in response to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s decision not to allow oil drilling in the Atlantic Ocean: “This decision suggests a blatant disregard for the energy and economic realities this country is facing. By refusing to allow drilling, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is shutting down opportunity for people across the Commonwealth and compromising our energy and national security. In Virginia, t...
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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 equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent.” As individuals, we aspire to live up to that standard e...
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The dog days of summer are rolling in, and things have been heating up across the First District and in Washington as I continue working to find solutions to the challenges facing our nation. These challenges are substantial, but they are not unsolvable, and the hearings and meetings I have in both Washington and Virginia are geared toward building a thorough understanding of the issues and generating thoughtful, healthy debates about possible solutions. A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportun...
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To view the Obama administration’s proposal to allow energy exploration off the Atlantic coast solely in light of the current price of oil is to miss the long-term strategic value of safely, and effectively, harnessing our domestic resources...
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Washington, D.C. – Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-1) released the following statement after the House passed legislation to approve the Keystone XL pipeline by a bipartisan vote of 270-152: “Achieving North American energy independence and creating more American jobs are essential to growing our economy and maintaining economic competitiveness in the future. The Keystone XL Pipeline is critical for both of these goals, and I’ve been proud to support this project at every opportunity. Americans have...
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