The Shadow
Special 2024 Year In Review
An Opportunity to Pause and Reflect Into a Promising Future
While the Christmas and holiday season was a time for celebration, the New Year is one for reflection. There have been many challenges over the 118th Congress. Still, one thing has been constant: I am forever grateful to the Sixth District of Virginia for giving me the honor of representing you as your Congressman. As we look forward to the 2025 legislative calendar and tackling the critical issues confronting our Nation, I wanted to take a moment to update you on my office’s efforts on your behalf these past twelve months.
Legislative Accomplishments
In 2024, I was proud to support several significant pieces of legislation that aim to improve our government and support our communities. This past year, I introduced 14 bills, cosponsored 333 bills, and introduced 3 amendments. Several passed out of committee and one, H.R. 357, the Ensuring Accountability in Agency Rulemaking Act, successfully passed the House of Representatives. Lastly, the bi-partisan H.R.1105, Debbie Smith Act, which I co-led, was reauthorized. These legislative efforts reflect our commitment to accountability, support for small businesses, and enhancing the integrity of our government agencies as we ensure they work for the American people. Rest assured, I will continue to fight for the values and the issues that we hold important to us in the Sixth District.
Working For You
While my D.C. office handles legislative issues I work on in the House of Representatives, as well as my responses to your legislative inquiries, I also have District offices located in Harrisonburg, Winchester, Staunton, and Roanoke where my staff assists constituents in communicating with federal agencies such as the Social Security Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Internal Revenue Service. In addition, my offices and I also handle congressional nominations to the United States Service Academies and an array of other services such as offering Capitol flag sales, D.C. tours, and more listed on my website.
My team and I have worked hard to be assessable and to serve Virginia’s Sixth District, meet with constituents, answer questions, and provide assistance, and the results in 2024 speak for themselves:
$1,934,328 total amount our office has recovered for constituents this year
23,643 completed responses to constituent calls, emails and letters
11 Town Halls were held across the district
1,839 constituents helped through casework this year
115 Mobile Office Hours held for constituents to meet directly with my team
District Travels
Even though most of what is seen on national news outlets focuses on the hearings and votes on Capitol Hill, the assistance I provide to those dealing with problems with federal agencies is perhaps the most vital. My interaction with constituents, local leaders, and small business owners in the district to ensure their views are represented in Washington. It’s where both the constituents we represent, and our loved ones reside. It’s the place we call home.
First, I hosted my annual farm tour this fall. Virginia’s Sixth District is the largest agriculture district in the Commonwealth, where farming is the number one industry. I enjoyed speaking with farmers and agriculture industry leaders to discuss their needs and concerns on how decisions in Washington are impacting their industry.
I also had a three-day healthcare tour, visiting key healthcare facilities up and down the Shenandoah Valley. By visiting these facilities and listening to the experiences of doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals, I can better represent their needs along with the needs of citizens who utilize these local healthcare providers.
Additionally, I held my annual Higher Education Roundtable at Hollins University in Roanoke. I have long believed that no family or student should worry that attending college or university will break the bank, rack up mountains of debt, or fail to prepare them for good-paying jobs in the real world. With more than 20 colleges and universities across Virginia’s Sixth District, we need to do the hard work of finding solutions to improve student performance, boost post-graduation job placement, and keep tuition affordable.
Engaging with our nation’s future generation of leaders has always been a cherished opportunity for me—whether I’m reading to students, discussing government in classrooms, or speaking at school events. It brings me immense pride to connect with our remarkable young people, and I look forward to meeting even more of them in the coming year.
As your representative, I am truly honored to spotlight the extraordinary achievements of folks from VA-06 on the House floor. This year, I had the privilege of recognizing numerous citizens for their outstanding accomplishments, whether it’s excelling in high school or college athletics, contributing through volunteer efforts, or honoring our brave Veterans. These individuals exemplify the hardworking spirit of our community, and it’s a privilege to celebrate their success.
Visiting large and small businesses up and down the Shenandoah Valley serves as a reminder that the government should promote rather than impede economic growth. I’ll keep fighting in Washington to ensure that all of our hardworking businesses can prosper because they are essential to generating jobs and economic expansion.
Meeting with the Veterans of the Sixth District is one of my greatest honors. It is always an honor to express gratitude and fight for those who fought for us, whether local VFWs or at significant occasions like Veterans Day, Memorial Day, and 9/11 remembrance ceremonies.
Meetings with Constituents in Washington
Engaging with citizens in the People’s House of Representatives and hearing their problems reminds me why I came to Washington, D.C. I enjoy listening to people’s opinions about the most meaningful subjects and how I may best represent and promote their goals in particular areas.
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.
For the latest updates from Washington and across the Sixth District, please follow my Facebook and Twitter pages.
