Weekly Update: 2019 is Halfway Over

Saturday, June 22, 2019

Friend-

2019 is halfway over. It has been a busy year, and June was certainly a busy month. I hosted the third meeting of my Rural Broadband Task Force, broke ground on the 10-mile extension of I-95 Express Lanes in Fredericksburg, fought for our armed forces in this year's NDAA committee markup, and took the time to visit with folks over breakfast.

After you take a quick minute to share your with me, check out some highlights and clips from June.

I kicked off this month along with thousands of other Virginians and outdoor enthusiasts at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation's 31st annual "Clean the Bay Day." Meeting folks from across the First District as we work together and share what the Bay means to us makes this one of my favorite days of the year. One of my top priorities is keeping the Bay clean, and I spoke to fellow volunteers about legislation I have introduced to do just that.

I attended and delivered remarks at Transurban's groundbreaking on the I-95 Express Lanes Fredericksburg Extension Project (FredEx), a public-private-partnership model which will improve the quality of life for Virginia residents, provide new opportunities for small businesses to grow and expand, and help attract new businesses to the area. I believe expanding these lanes are critical to alleviating traffic on I-95, the worst traffic hot spot in the nation.

I spoke to folks at the WindsorMeade Continuing Care Retirement Community in Williamsburg to provide an update on my continued efforts to support our seniors and find commonsense solutions to the problems facing retirees.

As co-chair of the House Rural Broadband Caucus, I addressed a panel highlighting work in our area of Cox Communications and Comcast, members of my First District Broadband Task Force.

I spent 21 hours in the House Armed Services Committee's FY20 National Defense Authorization markup advocating for Virginia defense priorities for next year.

I had the great honor to be guest speaker at the Lancaster County High School graduation ceremony, encouraging students to give back locally to our community and make human connections. I emphasized the importance of the many different paths graduates can take: a four or two year college, certification programs, employment, and enlistment. I'm working in Congress to make sure that all of our students are prepared for their next step, no matter which step that maybe.

I stopped by Java Jacks on my way to work in Washington for my first "Breakfast with Rob," an impromptu stop where I can hear from folks on the issues that matter most to them here in the First District. Sign up for my email list to find out when I'll be in your area.

I met with students from the Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative, Northern Neck Electric Cooperative, and Rappahannock Electric Cooperative Youth Tour Winners and encouraged them to continue their path of STEM engagement in our area. I'm working hard to make sure our students are prepared for the jobs of the future – and that future is in STEM.

I talked with Francis Rose on Government Matters, ABC 7 WTOP, on the importance of selecting a permanent Secretary of Defense.

I visited one of the busiest and most interesting airports in the United States, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), which serves thousands of people who come to our area every day. We discussed the federal role in sustainable funding of our nation's airports.

I hosted the third meeting of the First District Rural Broadband Task Force in the Beale Annex building in Tappahannock to talk about ways we can help close the digital divide and bring broadband service to the unserved. Watch the full meeting here.

I met with students from the Lancaster High School Robotics Team, FRC Team RoboHawk 3373, and Xtreme Voltage of Fairfax in my DC office to learn more about their incredible projects in STEM fields and to tell them about what we are doing in Congress to grow the STEM curriculum..

This month's clips:

Wittman Attends "FredEx" Groundbreaking (Prince William Living)

EDITORIAL: Giving veterans a second chance (Fredericksburg.com)

Defense Budget Markup Includes AI, JAIC Recruitment Amendments (MeriTalk)

Fixed Wireless Could Solve the Digital Divide, if Given the Chance (BroadbandBreakfast.com)

More Support For 'Local Radio Freedom Act" (Radio & Television Business Report)

HASC Subcommittee Budget Markups Bar USS Truman's Early Retirement, Provide 3.1% Pay Raise, Fund Third Virginia-Class Sub (Sea Power Magazine)

Hampton Roads would benefit from House funding bill to tune of $10 billion (13 News)

Nuclear Energy Leadership Act Introduced in US House of Representatives (JD Supra)

Reps. Thompson, Wittman, Sens. Cardin, Gardner introduce Refuge System Protection Act (Lake County News)

Lawmakers push and pull over $750B defense policy bill NDAA top line at HASC markup (Defense News)

Wild Chesapeake: Near-Record Spring Turkey Season (Chesapeake Bay)

Bipartisan House resolution issued in D.C. to honor Virginia Beach shooting victims (WKTR)