The results of inequity and bias impact everything from suspension rates, to housing access, to health outcomes, to medical interventions, to job opportunity and promotions, to criminal sentencing, and even to the very safety of the water one drinks and air one breathes.Collection: Medical
I pledged to put country before party and assert my independence when it reflects my principles or the needs of Central Virginia, and I have done that.Collection: Independence
Across Central Virginia, the traditions of Thanksgiving bring us closer together with those we love. We gather with family and close friends, we share memories and laughter, and we give thanks for the profound blessing of living in the United States.Collection: Thanksgiving
Early childhood education remains one of the strongest investments we can make in the long-term success of our students and the long-term economic strength of our communities.Collection: Strength
Public servants should be focused on serving the public - not any special interest group, and good governance should be an expectation - not an exception.Collection: Good
Protecting the lives of women in childbirth and in their postpartum months should be a common priority.Collection: Women
Too frequently, in Congress or in nationwide politics at large, we are reactive. We look for easy, short-term solutions, and we try to put a Band-Aid on these massive, structural problems.
We need to believe that we can achieve progress in fixing our broken immigration system, prioritizing smart border security investments, cracking down on those who are trafficking and smuggling, and relieving the ongoing humanitarian crisis at our southern border.
People are being gouged - but often, they don't have any idea as to why they're being gouged every single time they go to the pharmacy.
Too often, farmers and producers are left out of the national conversation on the climate crisis - or even dismissed altogether. But in reality, their expertise is a big part of the solution.
Central Virginians have a proud, centuries-long record of service and commitment to country, and each year, we gather to honor our neighbors who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of and service to our nation.
We can't let the USMCA become another casualty of political games.
Telehealth has provided a solution for thousands of Central Virginians to receive the high-quality care they need, while still taking precautions to protect themselves and their families from COVID-19.
A stuffy Capitol Hill hearing room differs quite a bit from the wide open, rural landscape of Louisa County, Va.
Our farmers are constantly deploying conservation techniques that keep our environment strong - and it's time we made them a consistent part of our efforts to protect it.
For generations, farmers in Central Virginia and across the United States have engaged in voluntary conservation practices that have not only improved crop quality, but also protected our clean soil and water.
Just as we responded following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and just as an earlier generation rallied in a united front to fight World War II, members of Congress must respond to the coronavirus pandemic without regard to our party affiliation.
As I was running for Congress in 2018, people across my district voiced a clear concern that Washington wasn't working for them, and was instead serving corporate and special interests.
From my time at the CIA to my time in the House, I've dedicated my career to protecting our democracy and ensuring it works for all of us.
Wherever I go - be it to school events, county fairs, town halls, or even the grocery store, my neighbors and constituents share the same serious concern. Prescription drug prices keep going up, and families across our district don't know how they can afford them.
Hardworking Americans are making real decisions about how and whether to fill prescriptions and whether to prioritize their health or their finances. The consequences are dire, and Congress must take action.
On January 3, 2019, I swore an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States. It was the third time in my life of public service that I had taken such an oath, but the words were just as profound to me as the first time I spoke them.
I have joined bipartisan working groups and worked to build relationships and sponsor effective legislation with my Republican colleagues.
I have voted on the merits of legislation, voting both 'with' and 'against' my party.
As a former federal employee, I understand the commitment to country that led federal employees to public service.
Let me be clear - I'm no stranger to the challenges facing our borders, ports of entry, and the needs of the dedicated men and women who protect them.
As a CIA officer, I worked counterterrorism and counternarcotics cases, and I have an acute awareness about the threats facing our country, both foreign and domestic.
I'm always willing to have a conversation about strengthening our national security in a long-term, comprehensive, and cost-effective manner.
Our farmers and ranchers constantly evolve and adapt to the conditions surrounding them, and if provided better and faster connectivity, the development of new technologies on the farm will rival any other sector.
Rural communities and our nation's economy also stand to benefit from broadband expansion. Rural schools can expand the quantity and quality of educational programming. Rural communities can attract businesses and investment.
The covid-19 pandemic has demonstrated that infectious diseases know no borders.
No matter how successful we are in fighting the threat of covid-19 at home, we will not end the suffering and fear created by the virus unless we also combat it around the world.
We don't depend on other countries to keep our armed services equipped.
What responsible gun owner thinks everyone and anyone should have access to a firearm without a little bit of precaution taken to make sure that those who have a history of violent harm can't buy a firearm?
The coronavirus does not differentiate between Republicans and Democrats.
Every threat needs to be taken as: 'This is the one; this is the real threat.' That's how we focus on things in counterterrorism. You never know which terrorist threat is the real one. And you treat every one as though this could be it; this could be the big attack.
I loved the idea of understanding people, places, concepts, concerns and large international questions. And being the one to go out and get the answers.
I really started getting more politically involved after the 2016 election, watching how partisan and how angry our political conversations became.
When I was a CIA officer we would have meetings and you don't know what people's politics are... We were there to serve a mission that we were focused on that mission.
For Central Virginia small business owners, their business is more than a building, a sign out front, or an income - it's their lifelong dream.
As Huawei and ZTE aggressively work to expand their footprint in Europe and around the world, substantial national security concerns are emerging.
Military firefighters put their lives on the line each day - not just to defend our country, but also to selflessly defend their fellow servicemembers.
When we look at Huawei and ZTE, there are significant indicators that - because of Huawei's close relationship with the Chinese military and Chinese intelligence, the use of Huawei technologies could create backdoors for areas of access to consumer data or company data that we would find unacceptable.
Skyrocketing prescription drug costs are jeopardizing the health and financial security of Central Virginia seniors and families - and the personal stories of my constituents are truly heartbreaking.
To tackle the prescription drug affordability crisis, we need to understand how high costs are directly impacting the people in our communities and in our neighborhoods - and we need to redouble our resolve to pass meaningful legislation that can lower prices and stimulate competition across the industry.
I am heartened by the appointment of Dr. Birx as the Coronavirus response coordinator for the White House. Dr. Birx is a retired Army Colonel and immunologist who was appointed the U.S. Global HIV/AIDS coordinator under the Obama Administration.
Without a strategic, long-term gameplan to defend our networks from foreign-based 5G threats, we are putting the privacy of American consumers and companies at risk.
While to some TikTok may seem like a harmless app, TikTok presents a significant counter-intelligence threat.
Our intelligence experts are rightly concerned about the use of the TikTok app, especially on U.S. government-issued devices.
As many of my colleagues know, TikTok, like other Chinese companies is required under Chinese law to share information with the government and its institutions. There are real concerns that this app could also collect information on users in the United States to advance Chinese counter-intelligence efforts.