This week, we
celebrated Public Service Recognition Week to honor the men and women who serve our nation as federal, state, county and local government employees. The First District is home to so many hardworking federal employees and I am very grateful for their service.
A passion for public service is what drives me. My dad served in World War II, and he instilled in me the ethos of putting service to others above self, and that still drives me to achieve every day. The greatest honor of my life is to serve you as your representative in the First District. I still make the drive from my little town of Montross each day because I believe the best ideas don’t come from Washington, but from my constituents.
I always want to hear and connect with residents of the First District, whether it be through town halls, telephone town halls, forums of all kinds, business visits, or just running into folks at the hardware store. What I’ve been hearing from constituents is that they support our men and women in uniform, that we must ensure our Veterans are receiving the benefits they have earned, that we need to maintain a strong economy, that we need to better prepare our children for the future, that we need to expand access to high-speed internet in the unserved areas of the district, and that members of Congress need to be held accountable if the job isn’t done.
And we are making real progress on these issues. We made the largest investment in increasing military readiness last Congress,
students across the First District are seeing the opportunities available to them and teachers are collaborating with businesses to make sure our young people are prepared to enter the workforce, Americans filed for the first time last month under a simpler tax code, and
Congress is more committed than ever to investing in broadband solutions.
Without question, the most important part of my job as a member of Congress is to serve you, and I want you to know that my office is always there to help. From cutting through the bureaucracy to arranging Capitol Tours, I want to do everything I can to provide the best service possible to my constituents. As your member of Congress, I serve as a liaison between you and federal agencies. My staff and I frequently help people navigate issues they're having with federal agencies. Although I cannot override the decisions made by a federal agency, I can often advocate on a person's behalf to get answers to questions, find solutions, or just cut through the red tape. Last Congress, my amazing district staff completed over 1,500 cases. I have local offices in Stafford, Tappahannock, or Hanover; however, in order to provide assistance to residents who do not live near my district offices, you can visit one of my satellite offices.
Click here to view the locations and schedule.
I will always put the First District First. My top priority will always be serving you and it is an honor to serve you and Virginia's First District in the People's House.
