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Washington, D.C. – Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-1) returned Monday from a five-day trip to the Middle East, with visits to Pakistan and Afghanistan to visit U.S. troops, to engage with regional leaders on civil, political, and military matters and to explore opportunities to continue to strengthen partnerships with the two countries. Wittman led the congressional delegation, comprised of five members of the House Armed Services Committee, Virginia Congressman Scott Rigell, as well as Congressmen Todd Young (IN-9), Larry Kissel (NC-8) and Dave Loebsack (IA-2).
This week, your concerns about the uptick in gas prices continued to come into our offices through your emails, calls, letters, Facebook postings and Twitter comments. We are all beginning to notice higher gas prices at the pump and feel the pinch in our wallets. On Thursday, I participated in the House Natural Resources Committee hearing about the rising cost of gas and the impact on jobs. There was much discussion about ways to increase the domestic production of energy.
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-1) today announced the launch of America's First District 2011 Congressional Art Competition, An Artistic Discovery. All high school students living in the First District are eligible to enter their work in the competition, by the April 29, 2011 submission deadline.
This week I joined with other members of the House Armed Services Committee to visit Arlington National Cemetery, some of the most hallowed ground in our country. Late last year, I was proud to support legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives that demanded better standards of accountability to identify and code remains at Arlington.
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-1) today voted to repeal a costly mandate for small businesses created in the health care overhaul law last year. H.R. 4, the Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act, passed the U.S. House of Representatives today by a vote of 314-112. H.R. 4 was one of the first pieces of legislation Wittman signed onto in the 112th Congress.
Just a few short weeks ago, Washington, DC was brought to a standstill by an ill-timed, quick-hitting snowstorm that blanketed the region in just a few inches of snow but revealed a mountain of issues in its aftermath. Thousands of commuters in the Washington Metropolitan Area were stranded by a weather event mimicking an emergency evacuation of the Capital city. I myself had a seven hour commute that night to my home in Montross, VA (normally an hour and a half drive), and I had plenty of time to think about how things might be different if more folks tele-commuted.
The announcement of an "Efficiency Initiative" by Defense Secretary Robert Gates last August still resonates in the Commonwealth as we continue to monitor the prospective changes that will be implemented as a result of the Secretary's proposal. Initial reports suggest significant effects upon military installations, programs, and private contractors within the Commonwealth. With a large military and contractor presence, Virginia must be assured that these decisions are in the best interest of the defense of this nation.
On February 19, Congress passed historic legislation to cut over $100 billion from government spending in the last seven months of the current fiscal year. The debate on the spending bill lasted for five days and included hundreds of amendments and I voted in favor of this legislation to further support crucial efforts to rein in the out-of-control spending in Washington, DC. For some, cuts of this magnitude can be hard to swallow as they will directly impact many Americans, but we must face the reality of what will happen if we do not make these hard decisions.
This past week, I introduced legislation to ease the burden on individuals and families taking advantage of telework, by proposing an annual tax credit for qualified teleworking expenses.
More and more, folks have acquired equipment and upgraded technology to create a work environment in their homes, and the expenses can add up quickly. With all of the benefits of telework, I believe it's important to make it easier for working individuals to benefit from the flexibilities of today's technologies.