Opinion Pieces by Rob

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.

Social media has fundamentally changed how Americans — especially our children — interact with one another. It has created virtual outlets for expression and forums for like-minded individuals to share ideas and interact with those who have common interests.

In today's ever evolving 21st century economy, key industries are struggling to find adequately trained workers to fill middle-skill jobs. Many of these jobs don't require a traditional four-year degree but do require post-secondary credentials or licenses — training programs that can be costly.

With just two legislative weeks left before Congress adjourns for August recess, the U.S. House of Representatives has only passed four of the 12 government funding bills that must be completed before the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30. And the Senate has yet to pass a single government funding bill for the upcoming fiscal year. When members of Congress return on Sept. 9, we will only have three legislative weeks to pass the remaining eight funding bills.

Virginia's 1st District encompasses some of the most unique transportation challenges in the country. From congested highways to strained commuter rail systems and deteriorating roads and bridges to sediment-filled waterways, our infrastructure faces significant hurdles. This is particularly evident in Virginia's Northern Neck and the Middle Peninsula, where residents depend heavily on a robust network of roads, bridges, rivers, and channels for transportation integral to our local economies.

Driven by decades of technological advancements that have drastically altered the trajectory of education and workforce development systems, Virginia stands at the forefront of the shift toward science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The commonwealth is prepared to propel American innovation to new heights through a world-class education system and innovative industries.

I was horrified to learn of the terrorist invasion of Israel earlier this month. Like so many of you, I am heartbroken by the unspeakable violence against Israeli civilians at the hands of Hamas. We have witnessed gut-wrenching images of this terrorist group's brutality that has left families torn, babies parentless and innocent civilians missing.

The U.S. Army must move faster to deter near-term threats. Although the Army has a strategy to modernize the force by 2030, that is just seven years away and potentially four years too late if the Chinese Communist Party attempts to retake Taiwan by force by 2027, as our military commanders suggest.

To effectively deter Chinese President Xi Jinping, the U.S. Army must develop a clear and coherent strategy to fill the gap between now and 2030.