Weekly Updates
This March marks one year since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. One year later, our lives remain fundamentally altered as the pandemic continues. But as an ever-growing number of Americans receive the COVID-19 vaccine, we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.
From the Desk of Rob Wittman
Every parent knows the look. The look of a child's unbridled happiness as she discovers a new passion. After seeing that look, we cannot help but dream of our children finding a career providing them that same fulfillment each day.
At the center of Washington, D.C., stands the Capitol Building. If you have ever seen it, you understand just how powerful a sight it is. It is not just a beautiful building; our founders placed it at the center of our capital city to reflect the people's place in government. As Washington centers around the Capitol building, so too should our government center around the people.
We stand at a critical juncture in our nation's history. We are about to decide if the United States retains its global primacy or if we concede our position to those of malign intent. In such pivotal times, it is a sincere honor to announce I have been named the Vice Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee.
January was a challenging month for many Americans across our nation. Despite the rocky start to the year, I remain dedicated to working for you in Washington and am even more invigorated to achieve results for you as we move forward on our road to recovery.
That said, there were many positive things that happened in Washington last month that I would like to highlight for you now. Scroll below to see these great highlights from January 2021.
On January 20th, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were sworn in standing in the shadow of the Capitol dome in Washington, DC. Our Republic remains strong, and it is now time to get to work and continue the American tradition of respectful debate and disagreement to achieve results for the American people.
Before we look at the highlights of 2020, I first want to address the rocky start that has so far been 2021. What happened on January 6th is completely unacceptable, undemocratic, un-American, and criminal, and I condemn - in the strongest terms possible - the attack against the US Capitol and the United States system of government. This was a senseless attack perpetrated by misguided individuals who were led to believe that something could have been done that day that would have changed the outcome of the election.
In his last public speech given in March 1799, Patrick Henry pleaded, "Let us trust God, and our better judgment to set us right hereafter. United we stand, divided we fall. Let us not split into factions which must destroy that union upon which our existence hangs." Today, I am reminded of those powerful words. While our nation faces deep divisions, we are also united in the sadness, anger, and disbelief we all experienced on Wednesday while watching the senseless and criminal attack occur on the Capitol building, the very symbol of our Republic and democratic system of government.
I wanted to take a moment to highlight important provisions of the combined government funding ("omnibus") and COVID-19 relief package Congress passed last week. After hearing from many folks, it is important to note the many positives in this bill, both for our nation and for the Commonwealth of Virginia as a whole, as we continue down the road of economic recovery.