The Shadow
House Republicans last week continued delivering on the America First agenda. I introduced a bill to stop federal employees from using taxpayer-funded time for union activities, supported legislation to ensure only American citizens vote in our elections, and backed efforts to remove businesses tied to foreign adversaries from operating on U.S. military bases. I also enjoyed meeting with students and local leaders up in Washington D.C. and across the Sixth District who are working to make our community stronger. I’ll keep fighting for our shared conservative values in Washington.
Standing Up for Taxpayers
Federal employees are hired to serve the American people, not to engage in union activities on the taxpayers’ dime. “Official time” was established under the 1978 Civil Service Reform Act to allow federal employees to represent labor unions while remaining on the federal payroll. However, it has grown into an unaccountable and costly practice that diverts resources away from the core functions of government.
In 2016 alone, federal employees spent 3.6 million hours on union-related activities, costing taxpayers a staggering $177.2 million. Taxpayers shouldn’t be footing the bill for federal employees to conduct union business instead of fulfilling their official duties.
That’s why I was proud to join Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) in introducing the No Union Time on the Taxpayer’s Dime Act. This bill would end the use of official time and ensure your taxpayer dollars are used responsibly, increasing accountability across the federal workforce. Public funds should serve the American people, not private interests. I’ll keep fighting to hold Washington accountable and make sure your hard-earned money is spent wisely.
Advancing President Trump’s America First Agenda
Last week, the House passed a budget resolution that moves us one step closer to delivering on President Trump’s America First agenda and the promises we made to the American people. With this resolution now in place, House Republicans are ready to get to work alongside our Senate counterparts to craft a reconciliation bill that reflects the conservative priorities we were sent here to deliver. This process will require close coordination with the White House to ensure the final product secures our border, strengthens our national defense, unleashes American energy, and preserves the Trump tax cuts that have helped so many hardworking families across Virginia.
I’ll continue working with my colleagues to advance a budget that cuts wasteful spending, protects taxpayer dollars, and puts America first. I joined Fox Business’ Mornings with Maria to discuss the importance of this budget resolution and our work to advance the America First agenda.
Ensuring Only Americans Vote in American Elections
The right to vote is a foundational principle of our republic, and its integrity must be protected. Currently, federal law states that it is illegal for foreign nationals or noncitizens to vote in U.S. federal elections or donate with regards to federal, state, or local elections in order to protect the integrity of our elections. However, noncitizens continue to unlawfully register to vote, diluting the votes of American citizens and potentially allowing foreign interference in our elections. Over 8.8 million illegal immigrants have crossed the border under President Biden, including 394 on the terrorist watchlist. In Virginia, more than 1,500 noncitizens were found on our voter rolls. We must protect the integrity of our elections and ensure only American citizens are casting a ballot.
That’s why I proudly supported the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which passed the House last week. This commonsense legislation requires proof of citizenship when registering to vote and requires states to remove non-citizens from their voter rolls. Our elections should be decided by the American people, and only the American people. This bill strengthens election integrity, defends against foreign interference, and restores trust in our democratic process.
Legislative Update: Protecting Our Military Bases from Foreign Adversaries
The Chinese Communist Party has no business operating on U.S. military bases, but right now, they are. GNC, the well-known vitamin and supplement retailer, was purchased in 2020 by Harbin Pharmaceuticals, a company directly tied to the Chinese Communist Party. Shockingly, GNC operates over 80 storefronts on American military installations, including here in Virginia. These stores have direct access to our servicemembers, their families, and sensitive base environments, creating serious risks for data collection, surveillance, and foreign influence.
That’s why I’m proud to co-sponsor the Military Installation Retail Security Act, led by Rep. Pat Harrigan. This important legislation would prohibit companies owned or influenced by hostile foreign governments like China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea from operating physical storefronts on U.S. military bases. It would also require a full review of all retail stores on base to identify any foreign ties.
This is a commonsense step to protect those who protect us. Our military communities should never be vulnerable to the influence of foreign adversaries, and I’ll keep working to ensure their safety and security.
Casework Update: Delivering for our Military Families
One of the most rewarding parts of my job is helping folks across the Sixth District when they’re having trouble with a federal agency, especially our military families.
Recently, a family from Frederick County reached out to my Winchester office after running into problems with Tricare processing a home birth claim from last April. After weeks of trying to fix the issue on their own, they turned to my office for help.
My staff worked directly with Tricare to get the problem resolved. The hang-up came from a missing digit in a code on their paperwork, which prevented the claim from being processed. After working through the issue, Tricare was able to enhance the image of the claim and process it successfully, giving this family the peace of mind they had been waiting for.
Whether it’s dealing with Tricare, the VA, Social Security, or any other federal agency, my office is here to help you cut through the red tape and get answers. If you need assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to one of my district offices. We’re ready to help.
Celebrating Palm Sunday and Holy Week
Over the weekend, we celebrated Palm Sunday — marking the beginning of Holy Week and a time to reflect on Christ’s sacrifice and love for us all. Wishing everyone in Virginia’s Sixth District a blessed and meaningful week ahead.
“They took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.” — John 12:13
Wishing a Blessed Passover
This past Saturday marked the beginning of Passover, a sacred time of reflection and celebration for Jewish families across Virginia’s Sixth District and around the world. As families gather this week to observe this important holiday, I want to wish all those celebrating a blessed and joyful Passover. Chag Sameach!
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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