Opinion Pieces by Rob

Every year, Tax Day arrives with a familiar sense of anxiety, as millions of Americans wait to see what they owe or what they’ll get back. This year feels different.

Thanks to the Working Families Tax Cuts, April 15 is no longer just a deadline. It is a moment of relief for millions of hardworking Americans who are seeing real, tangible benefits in their paychecks and tax refunds.

The tragic killing of a Virginia mother at a Fairfax County bus stop is a devastating reminder that public safety is not theoretical. It is about real lives, real families and real consequences when systems meant to protect our communities fail.

As a mother and a grandfather, we care deeply about the online safety of America's children. Advancements in artificial intelligence hold immense potential, but sadly, children are being irreparably harmed online by deepfake exploitation with little to no legal consequences.

Our nation has been addressing bullying for years now. But sharing deepfakes and exploiting nonconsensual intimate imagery goes far beyond bullying. This is criminal behavior that demands swift and decisive action. As the digital world constantly evolves, our laws must, too.

The Chinese Communist Party's recent decision to restrict exports of rare earth elements and magnets stunned many pundits and analysts. But for those who have observed China's decades-long campaign to consolidate and control the rare earth industry, it was entirely predictable.

As the representative for Virginia's 1st District in Congress, I take seriously the legislative branch's responsibility to ensure the federal government operates efficiently, effectively and in the best interests of the American people. Across party lines, there's growing agreement: Washington must get its fiscal house in order by spending taxpayer dollars wisely while focusing on results that matter to everyday Americans.

I grew up on the Chesapeake Bay, spending my early years hunting, fishing and learning from the natural world around me. That foundation led me to a career in environmental science, serving over two decades with the Virginia Department of Health, studying water quality in the bay to ensure its shellfish were safe to harvest. Today, those experiences continue to shape my approach to serving the people of Virginia's 1st District in Congress.

In celebration of Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month in February, I had the privilege of visiting the Advanced Career Education Center at Hermitage High School in Henrico County. This cutting-edge facility provides hands-on, skills-based training for high school juniors and seniors, equipping them for licensure and certification in vital fields such as construction, health care, transportation and public safety. These students are not just gaining knowledge — they are actively preparing for high-demand careers that are crucial to our economy.

Every day we hear from families who are struggling to afford the rising costs of groceries, gas, and utility bills. They tell us their budgets have been stretched to the breaking point, and their lives have become more difficult and less safe, all due to the reckless policies of the Biden-Harris administration.

Life is challenging enough without rampant inflation cutting into family savings and weekly budgets, and soft-on-crime policies adding extra worries to trips to the grocery store and neighborhood playdates.