Consumer confidence is at an 11-year low, inflation is soaring to a 40-year high, there is sticker shock for the purchase of food and gas prices, and this Administration continues its agenda that has us dependent on Iran and Venezuela for oil – yet the Democrat Congress this week did not debate or pass legislation that would ease any of the current circumstances for the American people. However, following President Zelensky’s battlefield update to Congress, I was pleased that the House passed a bill this week to suspend normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus to further cut off the Kremlin from the world. Moving closer to home, I was pleased to introduce legislation to aid members of the reserve components of our military, defend the Second Amendment, and honor the Cave Spring High School Basketball Team for winning this year’s Class 3 State Championship. While I always appreciate the opportunity to advocate on behalf of constituents in DC, I am looking forward to spending the next week traveling across the Sixth District meeting with the great people of western Virginia.
Economic Crisis:
Inflation is taxation, and it has gone up every month of Joe Biden’s presidency. Instead of addressing the root cause of inflation – out-of-control government spending – President Biden and House Democrats continue to push their Far-Left Socialist agenda, which will only exacerbate America’s economic crisis. Over the past twelve months, the Consumer Price Index has risen 7.9 percent, marking a 40-year high rate of inflation. The rapidly rising price of goods across the board is having a significant impact on the American people and cost the average family $3,500 last year. When I travel across the Sixth District people tell me they worry about affording everyday items like gas and groceries, new clothes for their children, or parts for their car. Inflation is hitting every aspect of our lives, and we must get spending under control if we want to turn this economy around.
Pandemic Regulations:
This week, the House Budget Committee hosted a hearing entitled “Ensuring Women Can Thrive in a Post-Pandemic Economy.” There is no denying that women were disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting recession. Prior to the hearing, I reached out to female business owners on my Small Business Advisory Committee and heard about their personal experiences. One individual explained that she ended up having to stay home with her kids because schools were closed and they could not find childcare. This is just one of the many ways in which lockdowns disproportionately affected women and minorities. Further, studies show that women and minority-owned businesses were more likely to fall under the arbitrary designation of “non-essential,” and therefore were forced to close at higher rates than other businesses. During the hearing, I addressed how the Democrats’ COVID policies are continuing to hinder women in the workplace as folks try to recover. Watch a portion of the hearing below.
Punishing Putin:
President Zelensky’s steadfast leadership has inspired both the Ukrainian people and the world. His address to Congress this week highlighted the continued need to support Ukraine and further sanction Russia. To that end, on Thursday, the House sent a clear message to Vladimir Putin that there will be even greater consequences for his unjustified aggression and brutality. The Suspending Normal Trade Relations with Russia and Belarus Act, which passed with bipartisan support, takes a step closer to imposing the full economic might of the United States on Russia. The legislation cuts off export revenue to Russia and Belarus that can indirectly fund Putin’s war, calls on U.S. trade partners to take similar steps to sanction Russia, and provides off-ramps to these sanctions only if Russia’s aggression ends, their behavior changes, and Ukraine’s freedom is secure. We must show the world that the United States will stand with our allies when they are in need and that we will work to cripple dictators who attack our friends.
Supporting Military Reserve Components:
I was pleased to recently join my colleagues in introducing H.R. 7041, the bipartisan Record of Military Service for Members of the Armed Forces Act. This bill would ensure all members of the Reserve Components – including the National Guard – receive a DD-214 form following their retirement or completion of service. While members of these Reserve Components receive discharge paperwork, they do not receive a DD-214, which is often required by the VA, other benefits organizations, and private sector institutions to certify qualification for benefits after leaving the military. Passing this bill will make it easier for all of those who served our country to access the benefits they earned. I will continue advocating for commonsense solutions like this to help those who served us.
Standing Up for the Second Amendment:
As a supporter of the Second Amendment and of the God-given rights it protects, I am greatly troubled by the continued assault on law-abiding gun owners and the efforts to vilify them by Democrats in Congress. However, rest assured, I will continue to defend all citizens’ constitutional rights from far-Left policies. To that end, I have supported several pieces of legislation in the 117th Congress to protect and expand Americans’ Second Amendment rights. Two bills I cosponsored in recent weeks were H.R. 6970, the Firearm Industry Non-Discrimination (FIND) Act and H.R. 6945, the No Retaining Every Gun In a System That Restricts Your Rights (REGISTRY) Act. The FIND Act prohibits the Federal Government from entering into contracts with an entity that discriminates against firearm or ammunition industries, while the No REGISTRY Act orders the ATF to delete all existing firearm transaction records and mandate licensed federal gun sellers to destroy their firearm transaction records if they go out of business. Please know that for as long as I am the representative for the people of Virginia’s Sixth District, I will continue fighting to protect our Constitution and the Second Amendment rights of all Americans.
Cave Spring Basketball:
This week I had the pleasure of honoring the Cave Spring High School Boys’ Basketball Team from Roanoke for winning this year’s Class 3 State Championship. Following a near-perfect season, the Cave Spring Knights were crowned sole state champions this year after being named co-winners with Lakeland High School in 2020 because of the COVID pandemic. From the moment last week’s final tipped off against the Petersburg Crimson Wave, it was a great showing from both teams. After an impressive second-half comeback by Petersburg, Cave Spring was down by two with only a minute and forty-five seconds left on the clock. A quick Knights’ basket tied the game, and the Crimson Wave took possession as the seconds passed by. But a timely steal by Cave Spring’s Senior guard, Owyn Dawyot, gave the Knights one last chance. As Dawyot headed toward the basket, he was fouled sending him to the free-throw line with just six seconds left. After missing the first shot, the pressure was on, but he kept his cool and made the second basket for the final score of the game. The Knights prevailed winning 76 to 75, marking the program’s fifth state title and the second under Coach Jacob Gruse. Congratulations to Cave Spring on this hard-fought win, it was well earned.
COVID-19 Update:
Last week in Virginia there was an average of 11.3 daily cases of COVID-19 per every 100,000 residents. This is down from an average of 13.5 cases from one week prior. This week’s positivity rate was 5.1%, down from 6.9% from last week. For more information, click here.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your Congressman. If my office can ever be of assistance, please contact my Washington office at (202) 225-5431.
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