Weekly Updates
Today, on Christmas, we celebrate hope.
As we look back on 2020, it is safe to say that this has been one of the most trying, monumental, and unprecedented years our nation and world have faced in recent memories. Throughout this year, we have faced many hardships and adversities, yet we have made it through. While we are still on a long road to recovery, there is hope. The hope of a vaccine, the hope of economic recovery, and the hope of a new year.
As we look back on 2020, I think we can all agree that it has been one of the most trying, monumental, and unprecedented years that most of us have lived through. Throughout this year, we have faced many hardships and adversities, yet we have gotten through them together. While we are still on a long road to recovery, there is hope. The hope of a vaccine, the hope of economic recovery, and the hope of a new year.
My focus as your Representative in Congress is to work on behalf of the people of the First District and their top concerns, and I will continue to serve as a strong supporter and vocal advocate for these ideas and principles to make sure our priorities are being addressed in Congress and we make progress toward their completion. Before you begin your holiday break, I wanted to ensure you know what's happening in Washington and how I am advocating on your behalf.
Win: House Passage of Bipartisan NDAA
December has finally arrived and with it, cold weather, shorter days, and hopes for a joyous holiday season and a Merry Christmas. As I have said throughout this year, this has been one of the toughest years in recent memory for our nation and our world, but as the end of 2020 looms near, the hope for a better tomorrow remains.
Norman Rockwell is considered to be one of the greatest American painters of all time. Not only do his paintings embody "Americana" in the early-to-mid Twentieth Century, they capture the positive spirit of the American people – a people facing hardships, adversities, wars, landmark change, and the day-to-day challenges of a well-lived life. Rockwell also managed to capture something bigger, something better, about the nation staring back at the subjects in his paintings, something deeply rooted in what it means to be American: freedom, hope, and thanks.
We are now in the final stretch of the year 2020, with just two months to go. In that time, I will be working hard for you in Congress as we work to pass all the necessary funding bills for our government in 2021, pass the National Defense Authorization Act, work towards a tangible COVID-19 relief plan, and look forward to the new 117th Congress in January. I hope you and your family are looking forward to a lovely and safe holiday season, and I again remind you to follow the latest guidance from the CDC to keep our families safe as we continue down our road to recovery.
My dad served in World War II and I credit him for my passion for public service. He instilled in me the importance of putting service to others above self, and that still drives me to work on your behalf every day. One of the greatest honors of my life is to serve you as your Representative in the First District. I still make the two hour drive into Washington from my little town of Montross each day Congress is in session because I believe the best ideas don't come from Washington, but from the people of the First District, and I believe it is important to maintain those connections.
"They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? … Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power."
What we see in Washington today – partisan bickering, investigations, policy stalemates - is an example of where differences are highlighted, but indeed we should be looking at what we have in common, because I do believe there is more common ground than many of us realize.