Friend –

Another month has come and gone across the Commonwealth. I hope your August was restful and I hope you took time out this month to enjoy the great outdoors with family and friends. While Congress was in our traditional August recess, I had the opportunity to meet with folks throughout the First District. I had a great time at the Virginia Ag Expo in Ruther Glen talking with area producers, I spoke with local first responders on the importance of hurricane preparedness, and went out in the field with local broadband workers to assist in the efforts to close the digital divide.

To stay up to date with everything I am doing in Washington and the First District, be sure to follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter so that way you can know what is happening as it happens! Stay up to date with my thoughts on issues that matter most to you by signing up here for my emails.

Check out these great photos from around the district this past month!

I had the great opportunity to stop by the Virginia Ag Expo in Ruther Glen at the start of the month. I talked with folks about my continued support of area farmers and producers, and how I will always support the people who keep our nation operating and fed.

I stopped by Sweethaven Lavender Farm in Williamsburg, to learn more about their operation. Locally owned operations like Sweethaven are why I continue to be an avid supporter of farmers in our Nation’s Capital, and I make sure to take the time to listen to the concerns of our area producers to better represent them and their needs in Washington.

Thanks to everyone at the Tappahannock Rotary Club for hosting me as I talked with them about the importance of our area first responders and the job they do every day to keep us safe. I will continue to be a champion for local law enforcement and first responders in Washington.

I was honored to head out in the field with workers from Atlantic Broadband in Aylett as they put lay down fiber optic cable to help close the digital divide for folks in our area. I appreciate the hard work going into the First District to bring service to the unserved. This is one of my top priorities in Congress and I will continue working to help expand rural broadband.

I have never been afraid of hard work and enjoy working with my hands, so being able to lay cable with Atlantic Broadband as we brought broadband service to the unserved in the Aylett area was a great experience. I took the time to hear from the workers themselves on bringing broadband service to rural areas so I could better craft broadband legislation in Washington.

I had the great opportunity to work with Healthy Harvest Food Bank in their gleaning project at a local cornfield in the Colonial Beach area. I made sure to thank all those who came out to help in this event that collects leftover crops and shares food with those in need, and told them of my efforts to support area producers in Congress and the importance of community programs like these.

In Tappahannock, I brought together area first responders to discuss the latest news and information regarding preparations for this year’s hurricane season. Last year when Virginia was hit by Hurricane Florence, my office was instrumental in distributing information from federal, state, and local agencies to area residents, and this meeting further helped build those vital connections ahead of the next storm.

It is always a pleasure to run into old friends when I am out and about in the District, and I was glad to see Richmond County Sheriff Steve Smith at the Richmond County Fair last month. I make it a point to meet with local law enforcement and first responders throughout the First District to hear more about their incredible service and ways I can help them in Congress.

I was so glad to speak at the dedication of the Port Royal Water Works, celebrating the conclusion of this vitally important project. I highlighted the importance of all levels of government working together as well as my past experience with water works issues throughout my career in local and state government. I will continue to advocate for strong cooperation between the Federal Government and local officials to bring projects like these to fruition.

I hosted a Broadband Community Field Seminar in New Kent to better educate New Kent County Communities on available funding opportunities and to encourage them to apply to federal and state grants for closing the digital divide.   

This month saw many great activities throughout the First Congressional District, and I was so glad for each opportunity I had to meet with folks and hear more about the issues that matter most to people in our area.

This month's clips:

Wittman urges more attention to rural broadband  (Daily Press)

Congressman Wittman among the YMCA Bright Beginnings volunteers in King George  (Fredericksburg Today)

Wittman hosts Community Broadband Field Seminar in New Kent (Augusta Free Press)

Gloucester family presented with veteran’s World War II medals (Gloucester-Mathews Gazette-Journal)

Wittman supports FCC efforts to improve broadband mapping (Augusta Free Press)

Rep. Rob Wittman OpEd: Democracy was born at Jamestown (Daily Press)

Port Royal celebrates completion of major, five-year waterworks project (Fredericksburg.com)

Broadband Authority Notes Survey Success (Rappahannock Record)

This month's press releases:

Wittman Talks Transportation Issues at FXBG Chamber Summit 

Wittman Supports FCC Efforts to Improve Broadband Mapping 

It's an honor to serve you and Virginia's First District in the People's House.

Rob