{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where state = \"VA\" and year = 2017 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://wittman.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1751", "Year in Review: Constituent Services", "2017-12-31", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Robert Wittman", "W000804", "wittman.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Friends  -And just like that we concluded the first session of the 115th Congress. 2017 has been a year of many achievements, but more than that, it has been a record year for consituent communication. It is my priority as your Representative to be accessible to my constituents and to let you know what is happening in both D.C. and the district. Here is 2017 in review:  1.5 Million: That's the number of constituent contacts I made this year. These include opened emails I sent out, responses to mail and calls sent to the office, telephone town hall attendees, and attendees of meetings or constituent forums. 103,506: That's the number of incoming constituent correspondence we have received and responded to since January 1, 2017. This includes emails, letters sent through the mail, and phone calls. Each day the staff updates me on topics folks are contacting the office about and their sentiments. The top issues we have heard about this year are tax reform, health care, the environment, immigration, national security, and government reform. 10, 15,161, 264: That's the number of telephone town hall events I held; the total number of attendees who participated in those events; and the number of questions answered. 1,167: That number there is the number of cases my district staff has completed. If you are having trouble with a federal agency, contact one of my district offices! They are located in Stafford, Hanover, and Tappahannock.  71: That's the number of constituent forums I held in communities across the district. These forums, like the one pictured above in Fredericksburg, allow me to update folks on my work in Washington and answer questions from constituents. 14: That's the number of bills I introduced addressing topics like national defense, federal employees, the environment, veterans affairs, federal recognition for Virginia Indian tribes, and Congressional accountability. ONE: That number represents my top priority: listening to the people I represent and using your thoughts, concerns, and insights to better represent you in Washington. It's an honor to serve you and Virginia's First District in the People's House. I look forward to hearing from you in 2018! Sincerely, Rob *Numbers as of December 21, 2017", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://tomgarrett.house.gov/media/in-the-news/would-you-trade-your-social-security-student-loan-forgiveness", "Would You Trade Your Social Security for Student Loan Forgiveness?", "2017-12-29", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Thomas Garrett", "G000580", "tomgarrett.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Two of the biggest long-term financial problems facing the United States are Social Security funding and the growing level of student loan debt. One Republican congressman has introduced legislation that could help tackle both problems by allowing future retirees to trade some of their Social Security benefits for student loan forgiveness.\nAn outside-the-box solution\nIt's no secret thatstudent loan debthas become a serious problem in the United States. As of the most recent data, about 45 million Americans owe a total of $1.4 trillion in student loan debt -- this is more than all of the credit card debt, auto loan debt, and every other type of debt Americans hold besides mortgages.\nRep. Tom Garrett, a freshman Republican congressman from Virginia, has introduced new legislation known as the Student Security Act that would allow student loan borrowers to make an interesting choice. It would give borrowers the option to have some of their student loan debt forgiven in exchange for a higherSocial Security full retirement age.\nRep. Garrett's plan -- the details\nRep. Garrett, who is a student loan borrower himself, is introducing a unique solution to the student debt problem that could also help fix Social Security's expected financial shortfall.\nHere's how it would work. For every month a borrower agreed to raise his or her own Social Security full retirement age, they would receive $550 in student loan forgiveness. The plan would set a maximum amount of loan forgiveness of $40,150, which would result in a delay of six years and one month for the recipient's Social Security retirement age.\nAccording to the bill's text, it would also delay the early retirement age for the recipients, which is otherwise set at age 62 as the earliest age at which you can claim areduced benefit. For example, let's say that your full Social Security retirement age is 67 years, and you take advantage of $6,600 worth ($550 times 12 months) of student loan forgiveness under this program. Your full retirement age would now be 68 years old, and the earliest you'd be allowed to claim retirement benefits is now 63.\nWould you make the trade?\nThis would be a completely voluntary program, so student loan debtors would need to carefully weigh the pros and cons before choosing to accept the loan forgiveness.\nThere would certainly be some good reasons to choose to accept loan forgiveness under this plan. For example, reducing the debt burden on younger Americans could allow them to buy homes, get married, have children, and start businesses earlier than they otherwise could. Furthermore, if these individuals are spending less of their income on debt repayment, they could have more to save in a 401(k) or IRA, making them less dependent on Social Security benefits in retirement.\nHowever,Social Securityis a guaranteed, inflation-protected stream of income available to retirees, and it's important to realize that you may not be able to work until your new, older full retirement age. If you accept the maximum amount of loan forgiveness under the plan, it translates to a full retirement age of over 73 years. Are you willing to wait that long to collect your full retirement ... READ MORE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://morgangriffith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398845", "Ninth District Traveling Staff Office Hours for January", "2017-12-27", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Morgan Griffith", "G000568", "morgangriffith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Griffiths Ninth District STAFF will be available at the following locations during the month of January. In the event of inclement weather (heavy snow, sleet, icy rain, etc.), traveling office hours may be rescheduled to avoid putting constituents at risk. Please contact the Christiansburg Office at 540-381-5671 or the Abingdon Office at 276-525-1405 with any questions or to confirm that traveling hours are still in effect. January 2, 2018  \r\nCraig County: 10:00 am  12:00 pm  \r\nCraig County Administration Building  \r\n108 Court Street  \r\nP.O. Box 308  \r\nNew Castle, VA 24127 Salem: 2:00 pm  4:00 pm  \r\nCity of Salem Offices  \r\n114 N. Broad Street  \r\nSalem, VA 24153 January 3, 2018  \r\nNorton: 10:00 am- 12:00 pm  \r\nCity Council Chambers  \r\n618 Virginia Avenue Northwest  \r\nP.O. Box 1160, City of Norton  \r\nNorton, VA 24273 Wise County: 2:00 pm  4:00 pm  \r\nBig Stone Gap Federal Courthouse  \r\n3rd Floor Room 303  \r\n322 Wood Avenue East  \r\nBig Stone Gap, VA 24219 January 4, 2018  \r\nRoanoke County: 9:30 am 11:00 am  \r\nRoanoke Library Hollins Branch  \r\n6624 Peters Creek Road  \r\nRoanoke, VA 24019 Alleghany County: 12:30 pm.  2:00 pm  \r\nClifton Forge Library  \r\nConference Room  \r\n535 Church Street  \r\nClifton Forge, VA 24422 Covington: 2:30 pm  4:00 pm               \r\nCity of Covington Conference Room  \r\n333 West Locust Street  \r\nCovington, VA 24426 January 8, 2018  \r\nGrayson County: 9:30 am  11:00 am  \r\nGrayson County Administration Building  \r\nBoard of Supervisors Room  \r\nSuite 206  \r\n129 Davis Street  \r\nP.O. Box 217  \r\nIndependence, VA 24348 Galax: 12:30 pm  2:00 pm  \r\nGalax Municipal Building  \r\nConference Room  \r\n111 E. Grayson St.  \r\nGalax, VA 24333 Carroll County: 2:30 pm  4:00 pm  \r\nCarroll County Administration Building  \r\nBoard of Supervisors Room 605  \r\n1 Pine Street  \r\nHillsville, VA 24343 January 9, 2018  \r\nPatrick County: 9:30 am  11:30 am  \r\nPatrick County Administration Building  \r\nConference Room  \r\n106 Rucker Street  \r\nStuart, VA 24171 Martinsville: 12:30 pm  2:00 pm  \r\nNew College Institute  \r\nRoom 106  Classroom Building  \r\n30 Franklin Street  \r\nMartinsville, VA 24112  \r\n\r\nHenry County: 2:30 am.  4:00 pm  \r\nBassett Historical Center        \r\n3964 Fairystone Parkway  \r\nBassett, VA 24055 January 10, 2018  \r\nRussell County: 9:30 am  11:00 am  \r\nSouthwest Virginia Technology Development Center  \r\n141 Highland Drive  \r\nLebanon, VA 24266 Bristol: 12:30 pm  2:00 pm  \r\nBristol VA Public Library  \r\nUpstairs Conference Room  \r\n701 Goode Street  \r\nBristol, VA 24201 Smyth County: 2:30 pm  4:00 pm  \r\nTown Council Chambers  \r\n138 West Main Street  \r\nMarion, VA 24354 January 11, 2018  \r\nTazewell County: 10:00 am  12:00 pm  \r\nTown of Bluefield Council Chambers  \r\n112 Huffard Drive  \r\nP.O. Box 1026  \r\nBluefield, VA 24605 Tazewell County: 2:00 pm  4:00 pm  \r\nAmerican Legion Building  \r\n226 Central Avenue  \r\nP.O. Box 608  \r\nTazewell, VA 24651 January 16, 2018  \r\nTazewell County: 10:00 am  12:00 pm  \r\nTown of Richlands Offices  \r\n200 Washington Square  \r\nRichlands, VA 24641 Buchanan County: 2:00 pm  4:00 pm  \r\nTown of Grundy Offices  \r\n1185 Plaza Dr.  \r\nGrundy, VA 24614 January 17, 2018  \r\nBland County: 9:30 am  11:00 am  \r\nBland County Courthouse  \r\nAdmin. Office Room 200  \r\n612 Main Street  \r\nP.O. Box 510  \r\nBland, VA 24315 Wythe County: 12:30 pm  2:00 pm  \r\nWythe County Sheriffs Office  \r\nConference Room  \r\n245 South 4th Street  \r\nP.O. Box 819  \r\nWytheville, VA 24382 Pulaski County Dublin 2:30pm-4:00pm  \r\nTown of Dublin Offices  \r\n101 Dublin Park Road  \r\nDublin, VA 24084 January 18, 2018  \r\nFloyd County: 9:30 am  11:00 am  \r\nTown of Floyd Offices  \r\n134 Wilson Street Southeast  \r\nFloyd, VA 24091 Radford: 12:30 pm  2:00 pm  \r\nRadford Public Library  \r\nMeeting Room  \r\n30 West Main Street  \r\nRadford, VA 24141 Pulaski County: 2:30 pm  4:00 pm  \r\nPulaski County Library  \r\n60 3rd Street Northwest  \r\nPulaski, VA 24301 January 22, 2018  \r\nGiles County: 10:00 am  12:00 pm  \r\nTown of Pearisburg Offices  \r\n112 Tazewell Street  \r\nPearisburg, VA 24134 Dickenson County: 10:00 am.  12:00 pm  \r\nDickenson Center for Education & Research  \r\n818 Happy Valley Drive  \r\nP.O. Box 2275  \r\nClintwood, VA 24228 Lee County: 2:00 pm  4:00 pm  \r\nLee County Sheriffs Office  \r\nConference Room  \r\n33640 Main Street  \r\nSuite U101  \r\nP.O. Box 177  \r\nJonesville, VA 24263 Wise County: By Appointment  \r\nBig Stone Gap Federal Courthouse  \r\n3rd Floor Room 303  \r\n322 Wood Avenue East  \r\nBig Stone Gap, VA 24219 January 23, 2018  \r\nScott County: 10:00 am.  12:00 pm  \r\nCommunity Services Building  \r\nBoard of Supervisors Room  \r\n190 Beech Street  \r\nGate City, VA 24251 ** Please contact the Christiansburg Office at 540-381-5671 or the Abingdon Office at 276-525-1405 with any questions. ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://connolly.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1222", "Dem: Trump's 'bromance' with Putin has clouded his views on Russia", "2017-12-26", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Gerald Connolly", "C001078", "connolly.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "John BowdenDemocratic Rep. Gerald Connolly (VA) on Tuesday accused President Trump of harboring a \"bromance\" with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which the lawmaker says has clouded Trump's vision on Russia. In an interview with \"The Lead\" on CNN, Connolly told host Jim Sciutto that a recent decision from the Trump administration to sell lethal weaponry to Ukraine amid the country's conflict with pro-Russian separatists came despite Trump's \"inexplicable\" soft spot for Putin. \"I think that the machinery of the United States government, the defense machinery, the foreign policy machinery has never wavered in understanding that Russia is an adversary and a threat to western values and our own democratic system,\" Connolly said Tuesday. \"[But] I think the president has a lot of trouble getting that in his head because of his own personal conflicts and his own personal needs and relationships with Russians, Russian oligarchs who financed part of his enterprise and his inexplicable admiration, bromance, for Vladimir Putin,\" added Connolly. \"So I think in some ways were doing this despite the president.\" The Trump administration announced earlier this month that it would sell more than $80 billion of lethal weaponry to Ukraine's military, including anti-tank missiles and sniper rifle systems. Connolly said he believed the president was \"reluctant\" to sign off on the policy, which was seen as a shift in U.S. policy in Ukraine from the Obama administration. \"I think he is a very reluctant signatory to the recent national strategic policy that was announced, Connolly said. Republicans in Congress praised the Trump administration for the decision last week, including some who have been critical of Trump in the past such as Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker (R-Tenn.). Im pleased the administration approved the sale of defensive lethal arms to Ukraine, Corker said in a statement. This decision was supported by Congress in legislation that became law three years ago and reflects our countrys longstanding commitment to Ukraine in the face of ongoing Russian aggression. http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/366523-dem-trumps-bromance-with-putin-has-clouded-his-views-on-russia", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://connolly.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1223", "Congressmen Want Federal Employee Pay Cuts Taken Off the Table", "2017-12-26", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Gerald Connolly", "C001078", "connolly.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Ian Smith\r\n  \r\nFour Congressmen recently sent a letter to House leaders saying they do not want pay cuts for federal employees to be used to fund increased discretionary spending caused by lifting sequestration spending caps.The letter was sent by Congressmen Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Steny Hoyer (D-MD), and Elijah Cummings (D-MD), lawmakers who all represent areas with a high percentage of constituents who work for the federal government. The Congressmen said in their letter that federal employees have already had their pay frozen and endured a partial government shutdown in 2013. They also expressed their displeasure with the recent tax cut legislation, which is the impetus for the letter. The Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 requires that all new legislation changing taxes, fees, or mandatory expenditures, taken together, must not increase projected deficits, according to a description of the law. Under the terms of that act, the recent tax cuts must be offset by reductions in government spending, and the Congressmen do not want any reductions in federal workers pay or benefits to be the source of any potential spending cuts. https://www.fedsmith.com/2017/12/26/congressman-want-federal-employee-pay-cuts-taken-off-table/", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://wittman.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1750", "Looking back on December", "2017-12-25", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Robert Wittman", "W000804", "wittman.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Hi Folks-Here we are at the end of December. This was a historic month for our country. Congress finally delivered tax relief to the American people.  As always, I wanted to give you a look at what I was up to here in DC and back in our district. If you aren't getting updates from me throughout the week, you can sign up for those by clicking here.\r\n  \r\nStay tuned for a look back at the entire year in photos in the next couple of days. Below you'll see what I was up to this month, the op-eds I've written, and news stories I was featured in.   I visited the Toys for Tots event in Quantico. After helping out in the warehouse, I got to talk with some Marines about how Congress gave our troops the largest pay raise in years when President Trump singed the National Defense Authorization Act into law this month. I spoke at the Navy-Marine Corps Caucus Breakfast about how I am working with my good friend, Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer (pictured above), to rebuild our nations Navy fleet. I joined my colleagues in the House to write holiday cards for our troops stationed overseas this Holiday season to express our gratitude for their service to our nation and remind them we are working here in Congress to get them the resources they need to do their job. I talked with my collegue, Representative French Hill, about my work to build up our Navy's fleet by adovcating for dual procurement of Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers in the upcoming fiscal year.  I met with the King George Board of Supervisors to present Cedell Brooks with a Congressional Extension of Remarks in recognition for his years of service to the Board of Supervisors and talk about issues facing Congress before the end of the year.  At Germana Community Colleges Fredericksburg Center for Advanced Technology (FredCAT) I spoke with faculty about my legislation passed in this year's National Defense Authorization Act that directs resources to community and technical colleges for maritime workforce development and training programs. I visited HCA Virginia Health System in Fredericksburg to tour their facilities and discuss my support for funding the Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and how Congress is addressing issues facing hospitals across the country. The House passed the Keep Americas Refuges Operational Act, H.R. 3979, with bipartisan support. I helped introduce this legislation with Rep. Hakeem Jeffries that reauthorizes the National Wildlife Refuge System volunteer, community partnership and education programs. A congressional perspective on the Fitzgerald, McCain collisions, Defense News The importance of community and technical colleges for the industrial base, Daily Press Virginia congressmen, senators back reauthorizing Childrens Health Insurance Program, Free Lance Star Proposal for 355-ship US Navy Signed into Law, Marine Link US Navy Should Boost Ties With Indo-Pacific Partners: Rep. Wittman, Breaking Defense Wittman, Taylor, Garrett, Goodlatte, Brat, Griffith, and Comstock column: U.S. Senate Must Act on CHIP, Richmond Times Dispatch Congressman Rob Wittman visits Fredericksburg City Public Schools for VSBA Take Your Legislator to School Month, Free Lance Star  To keep up with all of my work around the First District and in Washington, connect with me on Facebook. It's an honor to serve you and Virginia's First District in the People's House. Sincerely, Rob", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://tomgarrett.house.gov/media/in-the-news/2015-sudanese-pastor-was-ripped-away-his-family-year-they-are-celebrating-their", "In 2015, a Sudanese pastor was ripped away from his family. This year, they are celebrating their first Christmas in the U.S.", "2017-12-24", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Thomas Garrett", "G000580", "tomgarrett.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Eight days before Christmas, Pastor Hassan Abduraheem stood at the front of a small Baptist church just a few miles from the Buckingham County border.\nHe was accompanied by his wife, Awadia, and Fibe, one of his daughters, as they sang a Christmas song in their native Arabic. The rest of his family  three sons, a second daughter and his mother  listened along in a pew toward the back of the church.\nAs they sang, the word Hallelujah rang through Tar Wallet Baptist Church, decorated with touches of green and red to celebrate the holiday season, as churchgoers listened on with full attention.\n\n\tAbduraheem is pursuing his calling as a minister, but hes not the pastor of Tar Wallet. In fact, he and his family came to the United States from Sudan just months ago and have made Buckingham their new home.\n\n\n\tBut before they were refugees in the U.S., Abduraheem was imprisoned in Sudan for more than a year, charged with espionage along with two others, both of whom also were freed.\n\t\n\t\tHere for me, here is just a peaceful place. I am feeling really secure here and safe in this place, he said. After a long journey,  for me to be here, it's really a privilege and I feel that for me and for my family, it's safe for me here.\n\t\n\t\n\t\tAbduraheem and his family were able to come to the U.S. thanks in part to Rep. Tom Garrett, R-5th. The congressman, with others in the House of Representatives, already had been working on the release of Czech Pastor Petr Jasek from a Sudanese prison when he learned of Abduraheem and another man from Sudan, all charged with same crime.\n\t\n\t\n\t\tGarrett, who serves on the House foreign affairs subcommittee on Africa, global health, global human rights and international organizations, said he initially was told the three had been charged with aiding rebels.\n\t\n\t\n\t\tWhat they were doing was giving food and medicine to the minority population in the south of the country, he said ... READ MORE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bobbyscott.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kaine-warner-scott-booker-blunt-applaud-approval-of-commission-to", "Kaine, Warner, Scott, Booker & Blunt Applaud Approval of Commission to Recognize 400 Years of African American History", "2017-12-22", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Robert Scott", "S000185", "bobbyscott.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Warner (D-VA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA) applauded final Senate passage of their bipartisan 400 Years of African American History Commission Act  legislation establishing a National Park Service commission to commemorate the 400th anniversary in 2019 of the arrival of the first enslaved Africans into English Colonial America, marking the beginning of a new African American culture. The bill now heads to the Presidents desk for signature. Scott, Congressmen Don Beyer and Congressmen G. K. Butterfield, former Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, led the introduction of similar legislation that passed the House of Representatives this Congress.\nThis commission will be charged with recognizing and highlighting the resilience and cultural contributions of Africans and African Americans over 400 years. In August 1619, some twenty enslaved Africans were brought ashore in an English-built, Dutch flag privateer at Point Comfort, Virginia, on the site of what is now Fort Monroe National Monument in the City of Hampton. Similar commissions have been established to commemorate Americas English roots through the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown, Virginia, as well as its Hispanic roots through the 450thanniversary of the founding of St. Augustine, Florida.\nThis commission will be tasked with telling 400 years of the African American story. It is a story of achievement and beauty, poets and presidents, pain and degradation, triumph over adversity, and sometimes adversity following triumph. This story must be told in full to enrich our understanding of who we are as a country. I look forward to working with everyone involved commemorate the uniqueness and resilience of African American culture from 1619 to 2019 and beyond, Kaine said.\nThe commission members will have a huge responsibility in faithfully documenting the African American experience  the journey, the arrival, and the individual strength and resilience as African Americans shaped our nations heritage, Warner said. This work can serve as a testimonial to the lessons in racial diversity and inclusion we have learned as a country, and help to shine a bright light on lessons we still need to learn.\nThe history of Virginia and our nation cannot be fully understood or appreciated without learning about the first Africans who arrived at Point Comfort, Virginia in 1619. The commission established by the 400 Years of African-American History Commission Act will be charged with the important task of planning, developing and implementing a series of programs and activities throughout 2019 that fully tells the story of African Americans, their contributions to the fabric of our nation, and their resilience over the last 400 years. I applaud Senator Kaine for his vision, leadership and hard work on this legislation, and I look forward to President Trump signing this bill, Scott said.\nWe would not be the nation we are today without the innumerable contributions African Americans have made over the past 400 years. America is a stronger, better nation when all of our citizens learn, understand, and appreciate our history. The creation of the 400 Years of African American History Commission provides us the opportunity to honor African American culture and educate current and future generations about the impact it has had on our nation, Blunt said.\nBlack history is American history, and this commission will honor, reveal and pay respect to the rich experiences, lives, accomplishments and discoveries as well as the atrocities, the struggle and the terror that have shaped the past 400 years of our history as Americans, said Booker. The story of Black history in America is a story of profound struggle matched with profound purpose and of extraordinary hardship matched with extraordinary courage. As we learn more about this story, we will learn more about the ongoing struggle to fulfill the promise of justice and equality for all Americans.\nThe bill is supported by the National NAACP, National Urban League and the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://comstock.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/us-senate-passes-rep-comstock-legislation-reauthorize-us-fire", "U.S. Senate Passes Rep. Comstock Legislation To Reauthorize U.S. Fire Administration, AFG, and SAFER Programs", "2017-12-22", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Barbara Comstock", "C001105", "comstock.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC  Congresswoman Barbara Comstock (R-VA) released the following statement after the United States Senate passed by unanimous consent, H.R. 4661, the United States Fire Administration, AFG, and SAFER Program Reauthorization Act of 2017. AFG (Assistance to Firefighters Grant) awards and SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response) grants help provide necessary firefighting gear and training to firefighters and emergency responders, among other critical functions. The legislation authorizes $750 million for both programs. The legislation will now head to the Presidents desk for his signature.\nI am glad that the United States Senate quickly took up and passed this important legislation that will help our firefighters and paramedics in Virginias 10th Congressional District and throughout the nation. This legislation ensures that our nations firefighters and paramedics have the tools and training they need to safely fight and prevent devastating fires. Since the inception of these vital programs for our first responders, Fairfax Fire and Rescue Department has received over $16 million in funding and Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Department has received over $3.5 million.\nThe reauthorization of the FIRE and SAFER grant programs demonstrates the continued excellent support of Congress, in particular Representative Comstock, for the nations fire service, said Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Department Chief Keith Brower. These programs greatly assist localities in the areas of firefighter safety, fire and life safety education and improved resourcing for tactical fire operations. The fire problem in America continues to demand a strong emphasis on fire prevention, adequate staffing and up to date equipment to do the job safely. This bill is tremendous for career and volunteer firefighters alike.\nRead more about H.R. 4661, the United States Fire Administration, AFG, and SAFER Program Reauthorization Act of 2017 here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://connolly.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1219", "Connolly-Raskin-Cummings Lead 95 Members of Congress in Urging House Leadership Not To Use Federal Employees for Government Funding Offset", "2017-12-22", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Gerald Connolly", "C001078", "connolly.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Representatives Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Ranking Member Elijah Cummings (D-MD) led 95 members of Congress in urging Speaker Paul Ryan and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi to oppose any further cuts to federal employee pay and benefits to offset increased discretionary spending. \r\nEnough is enough. The federal workforce should be thanked for their honorable service, not treated like a piggy bank, said Connolly, Raskin and Cummings. \r\nSince 2011, federal employees have had their pay frozen three times (2011, 2012, 2013), three years of reduced pay increases (2014, 2015, 2016), unpaid furlough days from the 2013 sequestration, and two increases in retirement contributions for new employees (2013, 2014), the members of Congress wrote.\r\nWhile we agree that a long-term bipartisan budget agreement to lift the devastating sequestration caps is necessary, to finance such an agreement on the backs of middle class federal employees who have dedicated their lives to serving our nation would be wrong under any circumstances, they added. We respectfully request you explore other avenues to offset the cost of lifting the caps.\r\nThe letter was signed by Representatives Hoyer, Connolly, Raskin, Barragan, Beyer, Bishop (GA), Blumenauer, Bonamici, Boyle, Brown, Carbajal, Carson, Cicilline, Clay, Cleaver, Costa, Courtney, Crist, Cummings, Davis (CA), Davis (IL), DeFazio, DeGette, Delaney, DeSaulnier, Deutch, Dingell, Doyle, Engel, Espaillat, Evans, Foster, Fudge, Gabbard, Gallego, Hanabusa, Higgins, Jackson Lee, Jayapal, Keating, Khanna, Kilmer, Kildee, Lawrence, Lee (CA), Levin, Lewis, Lipinski, Lofgren, Lowenthal, Lynch, Maloney, Matsui, McCollum, McEachin, McGovern, McNerney, Meng, Murphy (FL), Nadler, Napolitano, Nolan, Norcross, Norton, O'Halleran, Pallone, Perlmutter, Peters, Plaskett, Pocan, Price, Roybal-Allard, Ruppersberger, Rush, Ryan (OH), Sablan, Sanchez, Sarbanes, Schakowsky, Schrader, Scott (GA), Scott (VA), Serrano, Shea-Porter, Sires, Smith, Takano, Titus, Vargas, Visclosky, Watson Coleman, Welch, Wilson, Yarmuth.\r\nThe full letter follows and is available here.  \r\n\r\n\r\nDecember 22, 2017\r\n\r\n\r\nThe Honorable Paul Ryan\r\nSpeaker\r\nU.S. House of Representatives\r\nWashington, DC 20515\r\nThe Honorable Nancy Pelosi\r\nMinority Leader\r\nU.S. House of Representatives\r\nWashington, DC 20515\r\n\r\nDear Speaker Ryan and Leader Pelosi,\r\nWe are writing to strongly urge you to oppose any further cuts to federal employee pay and benefits to offset increased discretionary spending caused by the lifting of the FY 2018 and FY 2019 sequester spending caps on defense and domestic appropriations. As you are aware, federal employees and retirees have had their pay and benefits cut by $182 billion since 2011. Time and time again, they have been asked to sacrifice in the name of deficit reduction. Enough is enough.\r\nSince 2011, federal employees have had their pay frozen three times (2011, 2012, 2013), three years of reduced pay increases (2014, 2015, 2016), unpaid furlough days from the 2013 sequestration, and two increases in retirement contributions for new employees (2013, 2014). \r\nWhile we agree that a long-term bipartisan budget agreement to lift the devastating sequestration caps is necessary, to finance such an agreement on the backs of middle class federal employees who have dedicated their lives to serving our nation would be wrong under any circumstances. But to do so, immediately after passing an unpaid-for tax cut that will explode the federal deficit and disproportionately benefit the wealthiest Americans would be a slap in the face to the hardworking Americans who care for our veterans, process our Social Security checks, and protect our national parks. \r\nTherefore, as you work toward an agreement to lift the sequestration caps for FY 2018 and FY 2019, we respectfully request you explore other avenues to offset the cost of lifting the caps. Federal employees and retirees have already done their part. It is time to find other ways to reduce the deficit.\r\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://goodlatte.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1075", "Goodlatte & Kaine Applaud Final Passage of Bill to Lift Restrictions on Rockingham County Land", "2017-12-22", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Robert Goodlatte", "G000289", "goodlatte.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) applauded final Senate passage of their legislation today to lift deed restrictions on property used for the Plains Area Daycare Center in Rockingham County. The bill passed the House of Representatives in July and now heads to the Presidents desk for signature. Lifting the federal restrictions on this land in Rockingham County will allow the Plains Area Daycare Center to reach its full potential and help ensure that more children and more of the community will be served. Passage of this bill is a long time coming, and I am pleased to see it become a reality, Goodlatte said. The Plains Area Daycare Center has served families in Rockingham County for more than two decades, and passage of this bill will ensure the day care center can continue to offer affordable, high-quality services to families in the community, Kaine said.  The Plains Area Daycare Center in Broadway, VA, has provided affordable childcare for 25 years and currently provides care for 94 children, many of whom are from low-income families.  The Centers building is in need of repair and maintenance but has encountered hurdles in securing financing due to the propertys complex legal status as former federal land conveyed to Rockingham County and leased to the Center.  This legislation will remove the federal land use restrictions for the building site, ensuring that routine repairs can take place without further delay in the future.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://mceachin.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mceachin-suffolk-distribute-food-speak-about-bill-eliminate-food-deserts", "Rep. McEachin in Suffolk to Distribute Food, Speak about Bill to Eliminate Food Deserts", "2017-12-22", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "A. McEachin", "M001200", "mceachin.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Suffolk, Va.  Today, Congressman A. Donald McEachin (VA-04) distributed food at the East End Baptist Church food pantry and spoke about the bill that he co-introduced in Congress, the Healthy Food Access for All Americans Act (HFAAA). This bipartisan bill would establish a new tax credit and grant program to stimulate investment and healthy nutrition options in food deserts.\nEvery person, regardless of where he or she lives, deserves reasonable access to nutritious food. I co-introduced this bill to help the thousands of families in my congressional district who live in areas where food access is a problem, said Congressman Donald McEachin. The Healthy Food Access for All Americans Act would incentivize nonprofit organizations and grocery stores to support successful food partnerships like the one we saw today. This bill gets us closer to achieving our goal of eliminating food deserts.\nCongressman Donald McEachin is committed to addressing hunger, and food insecurity felt across the 4th Congressional District, and across the country.\nFor so many Americans with limited financial resources, putting healthy food on the table is a challenge. Sometimes our food pantry partner network is a familys immediate option for consistently accessing fresh fruits, vegetables and protein, said Ruth Jones Nichols, CEO of the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore. The bill co-sponsored by Representative McEachin will expand the work of our Foodbank and pantry partners by bringing more markets or grocery stores into neighborhoods so families can experience increased access to nutritious, affordable food.\nWe are thrilled to be here today with Rep. McEachin and our friends from the Foodbank said Yvonne Green, Food Pantry Director of the East End Baptist Church. We couldnt exist without the food we receive from the Foodbank, and this bill will help them provide more fresh food to organizations like us.\nThis bill was also introduced in the United States Senate by Senator Mark Warner. If signed into law, the HFAAA will incentivize food service providers such as grocers, retailers, and nonprofits to help eradicate food deserts.\nCLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS\n###\nContact: Jamitress Bowden  \n\t(202) 306-0546", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://tomgarrett.house.gov/media/in-the-news/historic-tax-credits-saved-relief-dan-river-region-leaders", "Historic tax credits saved, a relief to Dan River Region leaders", "2017-12-22", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Thomas Garrett", "G000580", "tomgarrett.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "President Donald Trumps tax-cut package will not affect federal historic tax credits or federal payments for the Build America Bonds program, much to the relief of city officials and at least one historic preservationist.\nWere pretty appreciative of the fact that the federal government is retaining the historic tax credits, Danville City Manager Ken Larking said Thursday. It was great they [U.S. Congress members] recognized it was a valuable program that benefits small communities like ours.\nDanville City Council voted last month to adopt a resolution urging Trump and Congress to keep the Federal Historic Tax Credit Program.\n\n\tMatt Missen, communications director for Rep. Tom Garrett, R-5th District, said localities in the district expressed alarm over the possibility of cuts to, or elimination of, the credits.\n\nThere was a massive outcry from members of the community, not only from the business development community, but regular people who wanted to see the historic buildings maintained, Missen said.\nGarrett told the Register & Bee on Thursday that he supports limited federal government and empowering localities, but you cant argue that this doesnt work, he said of the historic tax credits.\nIf it works, why on earth dont we keep doing it? Garrett said. If we talk about the private sector, we should empower the private sector. Thats what the tax credits do.\nGarrett wrote a letter to a House conference committee urging retention of the tax credits.\nThis worthwhile investment revitalizes distressed areas and creates the jobs that support local economies, Garrett wrote ... READ MORE", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-and-goodlatte-applaud-final-passage-of-bill-to-lift-restrictions-on-rockingham-county-land", "Kaine & Goodlatte Applaud Final Passage Of Bill To Lift Restrictions On Rockingham County Land", "2017-12-22", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Kaine & Goodlatte Applaud Final Passage Of Bill To Lift Restrictions On Rockingham County Land\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFriday, December 22, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tBill has passed House & Senate, heads to Presidents desk for signature\r\n\r\nWASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Representative Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) applauded final Senate passage of their legislation today to lift deed restrictions on property used for the Plains Area Daycare Center in Rockingham County. The bill passed the House of Representatives in July and now heads to the Presidents desk for signature.\r\n\r\nThe Plains Area Daycare Center has served families in Rockingham County for more than two decades, and passage of this bill will ensure the day care center can continue to offer affordable, high-quality services to families in the community, Kaine said.\r\n\r\nLifting the federal restrictions on this land in Rockingham County will allow the Plains Area Daycare Center to reach its full potential and help ensure that more children and more of the community will be served. Passage of this bill is a long time coming, and I am pleased to see it become a reality, Goodlatte said.\r\n\r\nThe Plains Area Daycare Center in Broadway, VA, has provided affordable childcare for 25 years and currently provides care for 94 children, many of whom are from low-income families. The Centers building is in need of repair and maintenance but has encountered hurdles in securing financing due to the propertys complex legal status as former federal land conveyed to Rockingham County and leased to the Center. This legislation will remove the federal land use restrictions for the building site, ensuring that routine repairs can take place without further delay in the future.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-warner-scott-booker-and-blunt-applaud-approval-of-commission-to-recognize-400-years-of-african-american-history", "Kaine, Warner, Scott, Booker & Blunt Applaud Approval Of Commission To Recognize 400 Years Of African American History", "2017-12-22", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Kaine, Warner, Scott, Booker & Blunt Applaud Approval Of Commission To Recognize 400 Years Of African American History\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFriday, December 22, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t2019 Marks 400 Years Since Arrival of First Africans into English Colonial America by way of Point Comfort, Virginia\r\nWASHINGTON, D.C.  Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Warner (D-VA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA) applauded final Senate passage of their bipartisan 400 Years of African American History Commission Act  legislation establishing a National Park Service commission to commemorate the 400th anniversary in 2019 of the arrival of the first enslaved Africans into English Colonial America, marking the beginning of a new African American culture. The bill now heads to the Presidents desk for signature. Scott, Congressmen Don Beyer and Congressmen G. K. Butterfield, former Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, led the introduction of similar legislation that passed the House of Representatives this Congress.\r\nThis commission will be charged with recognizing and highlighting the resilience and cultural contributions of Africans and African Americans over 400 years. In August 1619, some twenty enslaved Africans were brought ashore in an English-built, Dutch flag privateer at Point Comfort, Virginia, on the site of what is now Fort Monroe National Monument in the City of Hampton. Similar commissions have been established to commemorate Americas English roots through the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown, Virginia, as well as its Hispanic roots through the 450th anniversary of the founding of St. Augustine, Florida.\r\nThis commission will be tasked with telling 400 years of the African American story. It is a story of achievement and beauty, poets and presidents, pain and degradation, triumph over adversity, and sometimes adversity following triumph. This story must be told in full to enrich our understanding of who we are as a country. I look forward to working with everyone involved to commemorate the uniqueness and resilience of African American culture from 1619 to 2019 and beyond, Kaine said.\r\nThe commission members will have a huge responsibility in faithfully documenting the African American experience  the journey, the arrival, and the individual strength and resilience as African Americans shaped our nations heritage, Warner said. This work can serve as a testimonial to the lessons in racial diversity and inclusion we have learned as a country, and help to shine a bright light on lessons we still need to learn.\r\nThe history of Virginia and our nation cannot be fully understood or appreciated without learning about the first Africans who arrived at Point Comfort, Virginia in 1619. The commission established by the 400 Years of African-American History Commission Act will be charged with the important task of planning, developing and implementing a series of programs and activities throughout 2019 that fully tells the story of African Americans, their contributions to the fabric of our nation, and their resilience over the last 400 years. I applaud Senator Kaine for his vision, leadership and hard work on this legislation, and I look forward to President Trump signing this bill, Scott said.\r\nWe would not be the nation we are today without the innumerable contributions African Americans have made over the past 400 years. America is a stronger, better nation when all of our citizens learn, understand, and appreciate our history. The creation of the 400 Years of African American History Commission provides us the opportunity to honor African American culture and educate current and future generations about the impact it has had on our nation, Blunt said.\r\nBlack history is American history, and this commission will honor, reveal and pay respect to the rich experiences, lives, accomplishments and discoveries as well as the atrocities, the struggle and the terror that have shaped the past 400 years of our history as Americans, said Booker. The story of Black history in America is a story of profound struggle matched with profound purpose and of extraordinary hardship matched with extraordinary courage. As we learn more about this story, we will learn more about the ongoing struggle to fulfill the promise of justice and equality for all Americans.\r\nThe bill is supported by the National NAACP, National Urban League and the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/warner-kaine-manchin-brown-and-casey-urge-secretary-acosta-to-protect-miners-safety-and-health", "Warner, Kaine, Manchin, Brown, And Casey Urge Secretary Acosta To Protect Miners Safety And Health", "2017-12-22", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Warner, Kaine, Manchin, Brown, And Casey Urge Secretary Acosta To Protect Miners Safety And Health\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFriday, December 22, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWashington, D.C.  Today, U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Warner (D-VA) and Bob Casey (D-PA) sent a letter to the Secretary of the Department of Labor (DOL), Alexander Acosta, urging him to keep the Respirable Dust Rule to protect mine safety and miners health. This letter comes after the rule was included in the Unified Agenda for re-examination.\r\nThe Senators said in part: Given this increase in black lung disease and the devastating impact that this disease has on coal miners and their families, we believe that it is critical that we maintain this rule. Claims that the Respirable Dust Rule is unnecessary, imposes a costly burden, or provides little to no benefit to society ignore the fact that it can take up to a decade or longer for simple black lung disease to develop.\r\nWe are also keenly aware that the rate of black lung disease fell after Congress passed the Coal Act of 1969 and that comprehensive evidence that this rule has been effective will not be fully available until 2026 at the earliest. We should not abandon our coal miners three short years after the rule went into effect.\r\nRead the full letter below or click here:\r\nDear Secretary Acosta,\r\nOn December 14, 2017, the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) published its fall Unified Agenda and Regulatory Plan, a semiannual list of federal regulatory and deregulatory actions. We write to express our concerns regarding the decision to list several rules under the purview of the Mine Safety Health Administration (MSHA) for re-examination in the Unified Agenda. These rules are meant to protect the health and safety of our nations coal miners.\r\nThe Trump Administration has made clear its commitment to reducing regulatory burdens. We agree that unnecessary, outdated, or duplicative regulations should be examined for elimination or modification. However, we believe that worker safety is of the utmost importance and we unequivocally oppose rolling back the Respirable Dust Rule (the rule) which is meant to protect the safety, health, and  in effect  the livelihood of our coal miners.\r\nIn particular, the rule, which took effect in 2014, was promulgated by MSHA in an effort to reduce occupational lung diseases - namely coal workers pneumoconiosis (CWP), commonly known as black lung disease. Black lung disease is a common but preventable disease that has plagued coal miners in Appalachia for decades. The impacts of black lung disease are debilitating and, in the most serious cases, fatal.\r\nIn 2010, the Secretary of Labor, acting under the authority of the Federal Mine Safety Health Act of 1977, proposed the rule. The rule lowers the acceptable threshold for concentrations of respirable coal mine dust with the goal of making the air that miners breathe in coal mines less toxic. The final rule decreased the dust limits from 2.0 milligrams per cubic meter to an improved level of 1.5 milligrams per cubic meter.\r\nUnfortunately, recent research, most notably a report from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), has indicated the prevalence of black lung in Appalachian coalfields is worse than previously thought. Furthermore, black lung clinics in Appalachia report that younger coal miners are being diagnosed with the disease at increasing rates.\r\nGiven this increase in black lung disease and the devastating impact that this disease has on coal miners and their families, we believe that it is critical that we maintain this rule. Claims that the Respirable Dust Rule is unnecessary, imposes a costly burden, or provides little to no benefit to society ignore the fact that it can take up to a decade or longer for simple black lung disease to develop.\r\nWe are also keenly aware that the rate of black lung disease fell after Congress passed the Coal Act of 1969 and that comprehensive evidence that this rule has been effective will not be fully available until 2026 at the earliest. We should not abandon our coal miners three short years after the rule went into effect.\r\nIn short, we believe in worker safety first and foremost. MSHAs mission is a critical one for the safety and health of our nations miners and the Respirable Dust Rule is vital to ensuring that MSHA succeeds in that mission. We urge you to retain the Respirable Dust Rule and prevent the unnecessary erosion of vital mine safety and health standards.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2017/12/warner-kaine-manchin-brown-and-casey-urge-secretary-acosta-to-protect-miners-safety-and-health", "Warner, Kaine, Manchin, Brown, and Casey Urge Secretary Acosta to Protect Miners Safety and Health", "2017-12-22", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Mark Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. Today, U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Warner (D-VA) and Bob Casey (D-PA) sent a letter to the Secretary of the Department of Labor (DOL), Alexander Acosta, urging him to keep the Respirable Dust Rule to protect mine safety and miners health. This letter comes after the rule was included in the Unified Agenda for re-examination.\r\nThe Senators said in part: Given this increase in black lung disease and the devastating impact that this disease has on coal miners and their families, we believe that it is critical that we maintain this rule. Claims that the Respirable Dust Rule is unnecessary, imposes a costly burden, or provides little to no benefit to society ignore the fact that it can take up to a decade or longer for simple black lung disease to develop.\r\nWe are also keenly aware that the rate of black lung disease fell after Congress passed the Coal Act of 1969 and that comprehensive evidence that this rule has been effective will not be fully available until 2026 at the earliest. We should not abandon our coal miners three short years after the rule went into effect.\r\n\r\nRead the full letter below orclick here:\r\n\r\nDear Secretary Acosta,\r\nOn December 14, 2017, the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) published its fall Unified Agenda and Regulatory Plan, a semiannual list of federal regulatory and deregulatory actions. We write to express our concerns regarding the decision to list several rules under the purview of the Mine Safety Health Administration (MSHA) for re-examination in the Unified Agenda. These rules are meant to protect the health and safety of our nations coal miners.\r\nThe Trump Administration has made clear its commitment to reducing regulatory burdens. We agree that unnecessary, outdated, or duplicative regulations should be examined for elimination or modification. However, we believe that worker safety is of the utmost importance and we unequivocally oppose rolling back the Respirable Dust Rule (the rule) which is meant to protect the safety, health, and  in effect  the livelihood of our coal miners.\r\nIn particular, the rule, which took effect in 2014, was promulgated by MSHA in an effort to reduce occupational lung diseases - namely coal workers pneumoconiosis (CWP), commonly known as black lung disease. Black lung disease is a common but preventable disease that has plagued coal miners in Appalachia for decades. The impacts of black lung disease are debilitating and, in the most serious cases, fatal.\r\nIn 2010, the Secretary of Labor, acting under the authority of the Federal Mine Safety Health Act of 1977, proposed the rule. The rule lowers the acceptable threshold for concentrations of respirable coal mine dust with the goal of making the air that miners breathe in coal mines less toxic. The final rule decreased the dust limits from 2.0 milligrams per cubic meter to an improved level of 1.5 milligrams per cubic meter.\r\nUnfortunately, recent research, most notably a report from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), has indicated the prevalence of black lung in Appalachian coalfields is worse than previously thought. Furthermore, black lung clinics in Appalachia report that younger coal miners are being diagnosed with the disease at increasing rates.\r\nGiven this increase in black lung disease and the devastating impact that this disease has on coal miners and their families, we believe that it is critical that we maintain this rule. Claims that the Respirable Dust Rule is unnecessary, imposes a costly burden, or provides little to no benefit to society ignore the fact that it can take up to a decade or longer for simple black lung disease to develop.\r\nWe are also keenly aware that the rate of black lung disease fell after Congress passed the Coal Act of 1969 and that comprehensive evidence that this rule has been effective will not be fully available until 2026 at the earliest. We should not abandon our coal miners three short years after the rule went into effect.\r\nIn short, we believe in worker safety first and foremost. MSHAs mission is a critical one for the safety and health of our nations miners and the Respirable Dust Rule is vital to ensuring that MSHA succeeds in that mission. We urge you to retain the Respirable Dust Rule and prevent the unnecessary erosion of vital mine safety and health standards.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2017/12/warner-kaine-scott-booker-blunt-applaud-approval-of-commission-to-recognize-400-years-of-african-american-history", "Warner, Kaine, Scott, Booker & Blunt Applaud Approval of Commission to Recognize 400 Years of African American History", "2017-12-22", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Mark Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Warner (D-VA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA) applauded final Senate passage of their bipartisan400 Years of African American History Commission Act legislation establishing a National Park Service commission to commemorate the 400thanniversary in 2019 of the arrival of the first enslaved Africans into English Colonial America, marking the beginning of a new African American culture. The bill now heads to the Presidents desk for signature. Scott, Congressmen Don Beyer and Congressmen G. K. Butterfield, former Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, led the introduction of similar legislation that passed the House of Representatives this Congress.\r\nThis commission will be charged with recognizing and highlighting the resilience and cultural contributions of Africans and African Americans over 400 years. In August 1619, some twenty enslaved Africans were brought ashore in an English-built, Dutch flag privateer at Point Comfort, Virginia, on the site of what is now Fort Monroe National Monument in the City of Hampton. Similar commissions have been established to commemorate Americas English roots through the 400thanniversary of the founding of Jamestown, Virginia, as well as its Hispanic roots through the 450thanniversary of the founding of St. Augustine, Florida.\r\nThe commission members will have a huge responsibility in faithfully documenting the African American experience  the journey, the arrival, and the individual strength and resilience as African Americans shaped our nations heritage,Warner said.This work can serve as a testimonial to the lessons in racial diversity and inclusion we have learned as a country, and help to shine a bright light on lessons we still need to learn.\r\nThis commission will be tasked with telling 400 years of the African American story. It is a story of achievement and beauty, poets and presidents, pain and degradation, triumph over adversity, and sometimes adversity following triumph. This story must be told in full to enrich our understanding of who we are as a country. I look forward to working with everyone involved commemorate the uniqueness and resilience of African American culture from 1619 to 2019 and beyond,Kaine said.\r\nThe history of Virginia and our nation cannot be fully understood or appreciated without learning about the first Africans who arrived at Point Comfort, Virginia in 1619. The commission established by the 400 Years of African-American History Commission Act will be charged with the important task of planning, developing and implementing a series of programs and activities throughout 2019 that fully tells the story of African Americans, their contributions to the fabric of our nation, and their resilience over the last 400 years. I applaud Senator Kaine for his vision, leadership and hard work on this legislation, and I look forward to President Trump signing this bill,Scott said.\r\nWe would not be the nation we are today without the innumerable contributions African Americans have made over the past 400 years. America is a stronger, better nation when all of our citizens learn, understand, and appreciate our history. The creation of the 400 Years of African American History Commission provides us the opportunity to honor African American culture and educate current and future generations about the impact it has had on our nation,Blunt said.\r\nBlack history is American history, and this commission will honor, reveal and pay respect to the rich experiences, lives, accomplishments and discoveries as well as the atrocities, the struggle and the terror that have shaped the past 400 years of our history as Americans,said Booker.The story of Black history in America is a story of profound struggle matched with profound purpose and of extraordinary hardship matched with extraordinary courage. As we learn more about this story, we will learn more about the ongoing struggle to fulfill the promise of justice and equality for all Americans.\r\nThe bill is supported by the National NAACP, National Urban League and the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://morgangriffith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398843", "Griffith Statement on Funding the Government", "2017-12-21", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Morgan Griffith", "G000568", "morgangriffith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement after voting for a continuing resolution (CR) funding the government until January 19:\r\nI voted for todays CR in order to keep the federal government open. I am not happy with this process or this legislation, but as the Senate has failed for 98 days to take up the appropriations bills passed by the House under regular order, passing the CR was necessary. It will keep the government running until January 19.\r\nTo cobble together enough votes to pass the CR, congressional leadership included a three-week extension of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). I strongly believe that provisions of the FISA law are unconstitutional when applied to American citizens. In exchange for agreeing to the CR, leadership promised a debate on FISA and an opportunity to vote on a constitutionally-sound alternative before January 19. It is past time that we bring this program into alignment with the rights guaranteed to Americans in our Constitution.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://morgangriffith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398844", "Congressman Griffith's Christmas E-Newsletter 12.21.17", "2017-12-21", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Morgan Griffith", "G000568", "morgangriffith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Christmas Stories\r\nYou know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen\r\nComet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen\r\nBut do you recall the most famous reindeer of all?\r\nAnd you likely know what holiday song begins with those lines. The story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, both as a song and as a television special, has been a staple of the Christmas season for generations. The story of how it came to be, however, is not as well known. Its an unlikely story, one not out of place in a season that celebrates miracles.\r\nRobert L. May was a catalog writer for the department store Montgomery Ward with dreams of being a novelist. In 1939, he lived in Chicago with his ailing wife and their young daughter. He was tasked with creating a coloring book that the store would hand out to children for free at Christmastime. Growing up, May had felt like an outsider due to his small stature, so the reindeer that became the central character of his book, Rudolph, took on the attributes of a misfit as well. In this case, the characteristic that set him apart was a shiny red nose.\r\nMays wife died in July, but he insisted on finishing his story, later writing, I needed Rudolph now more than ever. The final result was a hit. In fact, Montgomery Ward printed over two million copies in 1939. In 1947, the company gave May the copyright to his story. Working with his brother-in-law, the composer Johnny Marks, he used the rights to make a song about Rudolph.\r\nMarks shipped the song to Perry Como, Bing Crosby, and Dinah Shore, but all opted not to record it. According to legend, another singer prepared to pass as well, but his wife found the song charming and persuaded him to record it. And so it would be Gene Autry, the Singing Cowboy, who would first record the version of Rudolph that became a staple of the Christmas season.\r\nAutry recorded and popularized other songs that remain holiday favorites. One song came from an experience in an annual Hollywood Christmas parade. Autry regularly participated, riding his horse ahead of Santa Claus as they proceeded down Santa Claus Lane. One year, he heard a child shout in eager anticipation, Here comes Santa Claus! Sure enough, that became the title of the song.\r\nAs its title suggests, most of Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane) expresses excitement about a visit from St. Nicholas, the toys he will bring, and the joys of the season. But the songs final verse also speaks to the higher meaning of this time of year:\r\nHere comes Santa Claus! Here comes Santa Claus!\r\nRight down Santa Claus Lane!\r\nHe'll come around when the chimes ring out,\r\nthen it's Christmas morn again.\r\nPeace on earth will come to all\r\nif we just follow the light.\r\nLet's give thanks to the Lord above,\r\n'Cause Santa Claus comes tonight.\r\nAutry was not a man of strong religious affiliation, but he sang of the same good news told to shepherds keeping watch in the Judean countryside so many centuries ago:\r\nGlory to God in the highest,  \r\nAnd on earth peace, goodwill toward men!\r\nSongs about Rudolph and Santa Claus are welcome additions to Christmastime, and sometimes without the listeners even knowing it, they spread the good news that Jesus birth represents to Christians, such as the reassurance in Here Comes Santa Claus that peace on earth will come to all and the encouragement to give thanks to the Lord above. My hope is that, whatever your beliefs, this holiday season brings peace and goodwill to you. Best wishes for a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.\r\nThis column will be the last of 2017 and will resume its regular schedule after the first of the year. If you have questions, concerns, or comments, feel free to contact my office. You can call my Abingdon office at 276-525-1405 or my Christiansburg office at 540-381-5671. To reach my office via email, please visit my website atwww.morgangriffith.house.gov. Also on my website is the latest material from my office, including information on votes recently taken on the floor of the House of Representatives.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://brat.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=577", "Rep. Brat Supports Continuing Resolution and CHIP funding through March", "2017-12-21", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "David Brat", "B001290", "brat.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON - Rep. Dave Brat (R-Va.) released the following statement after passage of legislation to fund the federal government through January 19, 2018 and fund the Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) through the end of March.Every year at Christmas federal spending legislation is rarely fiscally responsible when there is pressure to leave town. This short-term spending legislation ensures our government is funded and open while we continue to negotiate a long-term budget path. While there are many controversial matters still to be worked out in the coming weeks, I am confident we will be able to work together and find reasonable solutions. I had hoped in this bill we could have ensured funding for the Department of Defense through the end of the year, but Democrats in the Senate refused to agree to it without massive increases in spending on other programs. The spending bill did include funding for CHIP and community health centers through the end of March. There is bipartisan support for this program, and I remain optimistic that the Senate will take up our House-passed reauthorization legislation to ensure CHIP is reauthorized and paid for before the latest round of funding expires.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://comstock.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/nbc-29-uva-and-thomas-jefferson-foundation-receive-national-endowment", "NBC 29: UVA and Thomas Jefferson Foundation Receive National Endowment for the Humanities Grants", "2017-12-21", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Barbara Comstock", "C001105", "comstock.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, the National Humanities Alliance congratulated seven programs in Virginia that will be receiving grant awards totaling $647,399 from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to support their work.\nYou may read the whole story at NBC 29 here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://comstock.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/update-reforming-congressional-accountability-act-better-congressional", "Update on Reforming the Congressional Accountability Act for a Better Congressional Workplace", "2017-12-21", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Barbara Comstock", "C001105", "comstock.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC Committee on House Administration Chairman Gregg Harper (MS-3), Ranking Member Robert Brady (PA-1), Representative Barbara Comstock (VA-10), Representative Jackie Speier (CA-14), and Representative Bradley Byrne (AL-1) issued the following statement on the progress reforming the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995:\nOur bipartisan group of Members is making significant progress on reforming the Congressional Accountability Act, the 20-year-old law that establishes employment and workplace rights and protections for the Legislative Branch. This reform bill will make a number of necessary changes to bring about more transparency, accountability, stronger protections for employees, and a simplified, clear, and respectful process for individuals to report claims and reach a resolution. Ultimately, these reforms will bring the improved protections for individuals and accountability in the workplace.\nWhile we are very close to finalizing these reforms, we will introduce legislation when Congress reconvenes in January. The Committee on House Administration will hold a markup as soon as Congress returns and will report the bill to the full House. Our position from the beginning of this review and reform process has been: One case of sexual harassment is one case too many. We need to get these reforms right and ensure we are paving a path forward for a safer and productive congressional workplace.\nBackground:\nPrinciples of the bipartisan legislation reforming the Congressional Accountability Act include:\n Clearer and fairer reporting and dispute resolution process for employees.\n Protections for employees who file claims under the Congressional Accountability Act.\n Increased transparency with respect to payment of awards and settlements, while protecting the victims identity.\n Members will be personally accountable when settling claims of sexual harassment.\n New requirements for reporting cases, activities, and other reforms for the Office of Compliances operations.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://connolly.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1218", "Connolly Leads Letter to Secretary Tillerson Raising Concerns About State Department's New Mission", "2017-12-21", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Gerald Connolly", "C001078", "connolly.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA) led 15 members of Congress in sending a letter to Secretary Tillerson concerning his recent comments regarding a new mission statement for the State Department. The letter was signed by House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Eliot Engel, and Representatives Bera, Bass, Boyle, Castro, Cicilline, Deutch, Frankel, Keating, Kelly, Lieu, Meeks, Sires, Titus and Torres. \r\nWe write to express our profound concern regarding the State Departments new mission statement that undermines the independence of the U.S. Agency for International Development from the Department of State, wrote the members.\r\nDuring a town hall on December 12, 2017, Secretary Tillerson announced the new mission statement for State and USAID, saying: \r\nThe U.S. Department of State advances the interests of the American people, their safety and economic prosperity, by leading Americas foreign policy through diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance. Under the auspices of the Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development supports Americas foreign policy by leading the U.S. governments international development and humanitarian efforts through partnerships and investments that save lives, reduce poverty, and help people progress beyond assistance.\r\nHowever, the following day, the Secretary told House Foreign Affairs Committee members that there was no intention to merge State and USAID. Again, on September 26, 2017, in response to questioning by Congressman Connolly, Deputy Secretary Sullivan said, There is no intention to merge USAID into the State Department.\r\nAt a time of unprecedented global challenges to security and stability, we need to invest fully in all the tools of U.S. national security, including development, diplomacy, and defense, the members wrote. We should be elevating the work of USAID and the role of the USAID Administrator at the national security table.\r\nThis mission statement does the opposite, the members added. Coupled with a decimated budget for development and a 100 percent vacancy rate for Deputy and Assistant Administrator positions at USAID, these actions endanger U.S. national security. We urge you to invest fully in USAIDs financial and human resources, and reaffirm its role as an independent agency critical to U.S. national security.\r\nThe full letter follows and is available here.\r\n\r\n\r\n  \r\nThe Honorable Rex W. Tillerson\r\nSecretary, U.S. Department of State\r\n2201 C Street, NW\r\nWashington, D.C. 20520\r\nDear Secretary Tillerson:\r\nWe write to express our profound concern regarding the State Departments new mission statement that undermines the independence of the U.S. Agency for International Development from the Department of State. \r\nAt a recent town hall on December 12, you shared a new mission statement for State and USAID: The U.S. Department of State advances the interests of the American people, their safety and economic prosperity, by leading Americas foreign policy through diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance. Under the auspices of the Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development supports Americas foreign policy by leading the U.S. governments international development and humanitarian efforts through partnershipsand investments that save lives, reduce poverty, and help people progress beyond assistance.\r\nAt a December 13, 2017 meeting with Members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, you reassured Members that there was no intention to merge State and USAID. Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan expressed the same sentiment on September 26, 2017 during his testimony before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on the State Departments redesign efforts. At that hearing, Mr. Connolly asked: Do you believe that USAID should be folded into the Department of State, or is that still an open question? In response, Deputy Secretary Sullivan said: No, it is not an open questionthere is no intention to merge USAID into the State Department. Furthermore, he said that the role of USAID should be enhanced, made more effective and more efficient. \r\nDespite these assurances, State and USAIDs new mission statement reflects movement in the wrong direction, toward a disempowered USAID and one that does not recognize USAIDs traditional role in promoting justice and democracy. At a time of unprecedented global challenges to security and stability, we need to invest fully in all the tools of U.S. national security, including development, diplomacy, and defense. We should be elevating the work of USAID and the role of the USAID Administrator at the national security table. When just, democratic institutions around the world are threatened by the actions of countries like China and Russia, the United States should support our partners in countering this nefarious influence. This mission statement does the opposite. Coupled with a decimated budget for development and a 100 percent vacancy rate for Deputy and Assistant Administrator positions at USAID, these actions endanger U.S. national security. \r\nWe urge you to invest fully in USAIDs financial and human resources, and reaffirm its role as an independent agency critical to U.S. national security. \r\n\r\n Best Regards,", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://mceachin.house.gov/media/press-releases/mceachin-announces-3-million-grant-eda", "McEachin Announces $3+ Million Grant from EDA", "2017-12-21", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "A. McEachin", "M001200", "mceachin.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Richmond, Va.Congressman A. Donald McEachin (VA-04) is pleased to announce a grant award of over $3 million dollars from Economic Development Administration to assist in funding the construction of the Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing Apprentice Academy in Prince George:\nI am so pleased to see these resources for Prince George that will allow the Center to increase classroom space, administrative areas and create a high bay training area. These improvements will be an asset to the community and will increase the skillset of the local workforce.\n###\nContact: Jamitress Bowden  \n\t(202) 225-6365", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://tomgarrett.house.gov/media/in-the-news/historic-tax-credits-saved-relief-dan-river-region-leaders-0", "Historic tax credits saved, a relief to Dan River Region leaders", "2017-12-21", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Thomas Garrett", "G000580", "tomgarrett.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "President Donald Trumps tax-cut package will not affect federal historic tax credits or federal payments for the Build America Bonds program, much to the relief of city officials and at least one historic preservationist.\nWere pretty appreciative of the fact that the federal government is retaining the historic tax credits, Danville City Manager Ken Larking said Thursday. It was great they [U.S. Congress members] recognized it was a valuable program that benefits small communities like ours.\nDanville City Council voted last month to adopt a resolution urging Trump and Congress to keep the Federal Historic Tax Credit Program.\nMatt Missen, communications director for Rep. Tom Garrett, R-5th District, said localities in the district expressed alarm over the possibility of cuts to, or elimination of, the credits.\nThere was a massive outcry from members of the community, not only from the business development community, but regular people who wanted to see the historic buildings maintained, Missen said.\nGarrett told the Register & Bee on Thursday that he supports limited federal government and empowering localities, but you cant argue that this doesnt work, he said of the historic tax credits.\nIf it works, why on earth dont we keep doing it? Garrett said. If we talk about the private sector, we should empower the private sector. Thats what the tax credits do.\nGarrett wrote a letter to a House conference committee urging retention of the tax credits.\nThis worthwhile investment revitalizes distressed areas and creates the jobs that support local economies, Garrett wrote.\nTwenty properties in Danville have received the credits since 2005, with the projects channeling $93.5 million in private investment in historic properties, the city reported last month.\nThe investments have resulted in 17 new businesses, seven business expansions and 443 new residential units, according to the report.\nFederal historic tax credits have driven redevelopment in the River District.\nThe program was enacted during President Ronald Reagans administration in 1981.\nAccording to councils resolution opposing the elimination, federal historic tax credits leverage $4 in private money for every dollar of federal support.\nThose 20 properties  before development under the tax credits  generated $42,371 in annual real estate tax revenue. Now they bring in almost $362,000 in annual revenue, according to city officials.\nThey also have a positive impact on sales and meals tax revenues, annual payroll, business license fees collected and business personal property tax, according to city officials ... READ MORE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://wittman.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1749", "Wittman Votes No on Short-Term CR", "2017-12-21", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Robert Wittman", "W000804", "wittman.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Wittman Votes No on Short-Term CR WASHINGTON  Today, Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01) voted \"no\" on the H.R. 1370  Further Continuing Resolution. The bill extends existing discretionary appropriations at current levels through January 19, 2018. \"Yet again we find ourselves budgeting by crisis, Wittman said. We should not be funding our government through continuing resolutions (CRs). For the third time in four months, Congress has approved a CR that, by nature, will hurt our Armed Forces as it does not allow for proper planning or budgeting. Senior military leaders including the Secretary of Defense, James Mattis, and the Secretary of the Navy, Richard Spencer, have said that continuing to pass CRs is harming our militarys ability to perform the missions we call on them to do. Even further, they lead to insufficient training, unmaintained equipment, and decreased readiness. Although this CR did include additional monies for ship repair, it does not cover the full scope of our urgent defense needs. This has to stop. Another CR means another short-term solution to a long-term problem. I have long said that passing CRs is an abdication of Congress duties and responsibilities, and so as I have in votes prior, I had to vote no. Going into Fiscal Year 2018 we have a chance to get back to regular order in the budget process. I remain committed to providing a path fiscal certainty for our armed services. Congressman Rob Wittman represents the 1st District of Virginia. He serves on the House Natural Resources Committee and the House Armed Services Committee, where he is the Chairman of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee. # # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-statement-on-release-of-senate-data-on-harassment", "Kaine Statement On Release Of Senate Data On Harassment", "2017-12-21", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Kaine Statement On Release Of Senate Data On Harassment\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, December 21, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement on the Senate Rules and Appropriations Committees releasing data on harassment claims and settlements in the Senate:\r\nI appreciate that theSenate Rules Committeedid the right thing today by heeding calls to release this data. This is the first step toward a more transparent reporting system for harassment in Congress to hold people accountable for their actions.\r\nEarlier this month, Kaine wrote to the Senate Office of Compliance (OOC) requesting information on the number of sexual harassment claims filed against Senators, members of their personal staff, and committee staff, along with the amount of monetary settlements that were reached in harassment cases. After the OOC declined Kaines request, Kaine called on the Senate to release the data.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-statement-on-vote-to-keep-the-government-funded-avoid-shutdown", "Kaine Statement On Vote To Keep The Government Funded, Avoid Shutdown", "2017-12-21", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Kaine Statement On Vote To Keep The Government Funded, Avoid Shutdown\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, December 21, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement following the House and Senate passage of a short-term government funding bill:\r\nToday Congress passed a short-term spending bill to keep government open, avoiding pain and anxiety for hundreds of thousands of federal employees, veterans and military families living in Virginia, and millions who rely on Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, Pell Grants, special education, the Affordable Care Act and other critical government services. Despite President Trump rooting for a shutdown, we found a short-term solution that avoided brinkmanship. But we havent finished our work because we need to find a full year budget deal by January 19th that does much morereauthorization of the CHIP program, permanent protection for Dreamers, and enhanced funding for health care, the VA and opioid treatment. I thank the dedicated Virginians who stand with us to make sure this critical work gets done.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/warner-and-kaine-recommend-two-for-vacancy-on-us-district-court-for-the-eastern-district-of-virginia", "Warner & Kaine Recommend Two For Vacancy On U.S. District Court For The Eastern District Of Virginia", "2017-12-21", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Warner & Kaine Recommend Two For Vacancy On U.S. District Court For The Eastern District Of Virginia\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, December 21, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) sent a letter to the White House recommending Patricia Tolliver Giles and Judge Rossie David Alston, Jr. to fill the vacancy on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District following the retirement of Judge Gerald Lee.\r\nGiles and Alston both were recommended by an independent panel of attorneys from across the Commonwealth selected by Sens. Warner and Kaine to interview qualified applicants. Giles is currently an assistant U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia, and Alston has served as a judge of the Court of Appeals of Virginia since 2009.\r\nUnder his tenure, Judge Lee served with great distinction on the bench and in the legal community. While presiding over a court with one of the busiest dockets in the country, Judge Lee tirelessly mentored youths in the community and fostered the careers of generations of lawyers from the minority Bar,wrote the Senators.Consistent with these values, we believe both Ms. Giles and Judge Alston would continue Judge Lees legacyUltimately, we believe either of these individuals would serve in the judiciary with great distinction and we are honored to recommend them to you.\r\nThe White House will now nominate one individual to be considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee. The nomination is subject to confirmation by the full Senate.\r\nThe full text of todays letter appears below.\r\n\r\nThe Honorable Donald J. Trump\r\nPresident of the United States\r\nThe White House\r\n1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW\r\nWashington, DC 20500\r\n\r\nDear Mr. President,\r\nWe are pleased to recommend Ms. Patricia Tolliver Giles and Judge Rossie David Alston, Jr. for the vacancy in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia left vacant by Judge Gerald Bruce Lee, who retired in September. Under his tenure, Judge Lee served with great distinction on the bench and in the legal community. While presiding over a court with one of the busiest dockets in the country, Judge Lee tirelessly mentored youths in the community and fostered the careers of generations of lawyers from the minority Bar.\r\nConsistent with these values, we believe both Ms. Giles and Judge Alston would continue Judge Lees legacy. As Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia, Ms. Giles serves on the Major Crimes Unit, where she has risen to prosecute some of the most serious cases in the office, including prosecution of MS-13 gang members for capital murder of a federal witness. Our advisory panel and various Bar Associations in the Commonwealth found her record most impressive.\r\nKey members of the Virginia Bar also spoke highly of Judge Alston, who first joined the Commonwealth bench in 1998 and received an appointment to the Virginia Court of Appeals in 2009. He has also devoted significant time to the legal community, where he is an active member of various Bar associations, including the Old Dominion Bar. As a Distinguished Adjunct Professor at the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University, he has taught courses in trial advocacy, criminal courts, and professional development. On Friday nights, Judge Alston changes his judicial robe for referee stripes to officiate Virginia high school football games.\r\nUltimately, we believe either of these individuals would serve in the judiciary with great distinction and we are honored to recommend them to you.\r\nSincerely,\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2017/12/warner-kaine-recommend-two-for-vacancy-on-u-s-district-court-for-the-eastern-district-of-virginia", "Warner & Kaine Recommend Two for Vacancy On U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia", "2017-12-21", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Mark Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) sent a letter to the White House recommending Patricia Tolliver Giles and Judge Rossie David Alston, Jr. to fill the vacancy on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District following the retirement of Judge Gerald Lee.\r\nGiles and Alston both were recommended by an independent panel of attorneys from across the Commonwealth selected by Sens. Warner and Kaine to interview qualified applicants. Giles is currently an assistant U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia, and Alston has served as a judge of the Court of Appeals of Virginia since 2009.\r\nUnder his tenure, Judge Lee served with great distinction on the bench and in the legal community. While presiding over a court with one of the busiest dockets in the country, Judge Lee tirelessly mentored youths in the community and fostered the careers of generations of lawyers from the minority Bar,wrote the Senators.Consistent with these values, we believe both Ms. Giles and Judge Alston would continue Judge Lees legacyUltimately, we believe either of these individuals would serve in the judiciary with great distinction and we are honored to recommend them to you.\r\nThe White House will now nominate one individual to be considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee. The nomination is subject to confirmation by the full Senate.\r\nThe full text of todays letter appears below.\r\n\r\nThe Honorable Donald J. Trump\r\nPresident of the United States\r\nThe White House\r\n1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW\r\nWashington, DC 20500\r\n\r\nDear Mr. President,\r\nWe are pleased to recommend Ms. Patricia Tolliver Giles and Judge Rossie David Alston, Jr. for the vacancy in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia left vacant by Judge Gerald Bruce Lee, who retired in September. Under his tenure, Judge Lee served with great distinction on the bench and in the legal community. While presiding over a court with one of the busiest dockets in the country, Judge Lee tirelessly mentored youths in the community and fostered the careers of generations of lawyers from the minority Bar.\r\nConsistent with these values, we believe both Ms. Giles and Judge Alston would continue Judge Lees legacy. As Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia, Ms. Giles serves on the Major Crimes Unit, where she has risen to prosecute some of the most serious cases in the office, including prosecution of MS-13 gang members for capital murder of a federal witness. Our advisory panel and various Bar Associations in the Commonwealth found her record most impressive.\r\nKey members of the Virginia Bar also spoke highly of Judge Alston, who first joined the Commonwealth bench in 1998 and received an appointment to the Virginia Court of Appeals in 2009. He has also devoted significant time to the legal community, where he is an active member of various Bar associations, including the Old Dominion Bar. As a Distinguished Adjunct Professor at the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University, he has taught courses in trial advocacy, criminal courts, and professional development. On Friday nights, Judge Alston changes his judicial robe for referee stripes to officiate Virginia high school football games.\r\nUltimately, we believe either of these individuals would serve in the judiciary with great distinction and we are honored to recommend them to you.\r\nSincerely,\r\n\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://beyer.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=707", "Beyer and Wittman Introduce Bill To Protect Federal Workers, With Government Shutdown Looming Amid Budget Uncertainty", "2017-12-20", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Donald Beyer", "B001292", "beyer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) and Rob Wittman (R-VA) today introduced bipartisan legislation to protect federal employees pay in the event of a government shutdown. The Federal Employee Retroactive Pay Act would guarantee back pay for all furloughed workers if Congress and the White House are unable to come to a funding agreement.\r\nWe absolutely do not want to see a shutdown of the federal government, but if it comes we must act to protect federal workers from the consequences, said Rep. Beyer. If the government shuts down due to Congress failure to pass a budget, the effects on civil servants, who need to support their families, would be disastrous without this bill. We cannot allow that to happen.  \r\n\r\nA shutdown would temporarily suspend paychecks for federal employees, and retroactive pay for federal workers must be approved by Congress. The Beyer-Wittman legislation would guarantee that no federal employees would lose pay if a government shutdown occurs.  \r\n\r\n\"Federal employees should not suffer because Congress refuses to end its govern by crisis mentality,\" Rep. Wittman said. \"Preparing the retroactive pay legislation sends a signal to our federal workers that they won't be forgotten in the unfortunate event of a shutdown. While this legislation minimizes the impacts of funding uncertainty, my focus remains on returning Congress to a regular schedule of budgeting and passing appropriations bills.\"  \r\n\r\nTogether the two Virginia Congressmen represent nearly 120,000 federal employees.\r\nThe National Treasury Employees Union applauds Rep. Beyer and Rep. Wittman for introducing this legislation, said NTEU National President Tony Reardon. They recognize that frontline federal employees should not lose pay in the event of a shutdown of the federal government. These employees do not control the funding of the federal government and should not suffer when that funding runs out. I hope we do not get to the shutdown stage but I support this effort to protect the federal workforce.\r\nFunding for the federal government is set to expire at midnight on Friday, December 22.\r\n\"AFGE would like to thank Congressman Beyer (D-VA) and Congressman Wittman (R-VA) for introducing the Federal Employee Retroactive Pay Fairness Act, said American Federation of Government Employees National President J. David Cox. Federal employees are hardworking public servants who are dedicated to providing quality public services. Federal employees and their families should not be forced to go without pay when they are not allowed to do their jobs because Congress cannot pass a funding measure. Too many Americansveterans, seniors, and other hardworking people rely on services provided by the federal government. In a government shutdown, it is the American people who pay the price.\r\nIn addition to Reps. Beyer and Wittman, the bill has 25 bipartisan cosponsors. Text of the legislation can be viewed here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bobbyscott.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/scott-statement-on-ed-s-latest-action-to-harm-defrauded-students", "Scott Statement on EDs Latest Action to Harm Defrauded Students", "2017-12-20", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Robert Scott", "S000185", "bobbyscott.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "As originally released by the Committee on Education and the Workforce, Democrats\nWASHINGTON D.C. Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Department of Education (ED) announced a new process for assessing and awarding borrowers defense to repayment claims submitted by former students of the now-closed Corinthian Colleges.\nTodays action by the Department of Education will short-change thousands of students defrauded by the now-defunct Corinthian Colleges, Inc.\nBy structuring financial relief according to earnings in comparison to other career programs, Secretary DeVos is implementing an unjust system. It is nonsensical for defrauded students who earn 49 percent of what they should be earning to receive full relief from their loan debt, while students earning just one percentage point more are relieved of only half of the debt. No student should be forced to repay any of the loans incurred to attend an institution found to have provided a worthless education.\nIt makes even less sense that many of the defrauded students who submitted their claims before the Trump administration took office received full relief  regardless of earnings. By December of last year, the Obama administration had processed more than 28,000 claims and provided $558 million in relief to defrauded Corinthian students. The Trump administration has failed to act, allowing the backlog of unprocessed claims to explode. So much so, that the Departments own Office of the Inspector General recently chastised its failure to act on claims in a timely fashion. Instead of using the system already in-place, Secretary DeVos has chosen to reinvent the wheel. As a result, student borrowers will pay the price.\nThe mechanism now being used by the Department to determine relief for students, earnings derived from the Gainful Employment rule (GE), is particularly troubling. Despite being finalized in 2014, the Secretary has used questionable pretenses to delay GE implementation. It is inconsistent to suggest that the 2014 GE rule is not a good measure of program quality, yet still using that same rules rate calculations to now deny loan relief to borrowers.\nI urge Secretary DeVos to revisit this process. In the meantime, I offer the same advice I gave Secretary King in 2016: A strong group discharge process must be transparent and speedy to help students gain closure from the deceptive and predatory practices they faced. To expedite these claims, the Department should add a rebuttable presumption that students are entitled to full relief. The time, complexity, and expense necessary to determine exactly what relief is due adds insult to the injury these students experienced.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bobbyscott.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/wittman-scott-lead-letter-in-support-of-block-buy-for-aircraft-carriers", "Wittman, Scott Lead Letter in Support of Block Buy for Aircraft Carriers in FY19", "2017-12-20", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Robert Scott", "S000185", "bobbyscott.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON D.C.  Representatives Rob Wittman (R-VA), Bobby Scott (D-VA), Bradley Byrne (R-AL), and Joe Courtney (D-CT), were joined by 127 Representatives in sending a letter to Department of Defense Secretary James Mattis supporting a block buy of two Ford-class aircraft carriers in FY2019. \nA dual procurement allows the Navy to build to a fleet of 12 aircraft carriers more quickly as prescribed by the FY18 National Defense Authorization Act  which established that the Navy should maintain 355 ships, including 12 aircraft carriers, Rep. Wittman said. A dual buy would be beneficial to both the taxpayers and our maritime industrial base as it shows that Congress is committed to the thousands of workers who work each day to build and maintain aircraft carriers. As Chairman of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee I fully back this provision, and I thank my colleagues for supporting this national security priority. \nDual procurement allows our Navy to have the capabilities it needs to protect and defend this nations national security. A dual buy would provide predictability and sustainability to the shipbuilding industry. A more reliable procurement process will bring great benefits to the Navys shipbuilding programs, and save taxpayers money, Rep. Scott said. \nIf we are going to build a 355 Ship Navy, then we need to be smart and innovative in how we procure new vessels, Rep. Byrne said. An obvious step in the right direction would be a block buy for the Ford-class aircraft carriers. I am pleased so many of our House colleagues joined us in making this strong recommendation to the Pentagon, and I look forward to continue working in a bipartisan fashion to build a strong and fully capable naval fleet.\nI was proud to help author this years National Defense Authorization Act which made it a national policy to pursue a 355-ship Navy, Rep. Courtney said. However, this will be a challenging undertaking and we have to be smart about looking for ways to streamline acquisitions and provide predictability to the industrial base. Purchasing ships and submarines in block buys has done just that, while providing significant savings to the taxpayer. If a similar arrangement would provide significant savings as we continue to modernize our carrier fleet, I would strongly encourage DOD to request the appropriate authorities in 2019.\nIn addition to Wittman, Scott, Byrne, and Courtney, the letter was signed by Reps. Michael J. Conaway, Morgan Griffith, Bob Gibbs, Derek Kilmer, Duncan Hunter, Mike Rogers, Hank Johnson, Donald McEachin, Steve Chabot, Don Norcross, David G. Valadao, Gerald E. Connolly, Scott Desjarlais, John Rutherford, Scott Peters, Mike Turner, Robert Brady, Walter Jones, Sanford D. Bishop, Scott Taylor, Peter King, Ann Wagner, Mike Gallagher, Marc Veasey, Seth Moulton, Luke Messer, Susan Davis, Elise Stefanik, Marcy Kaptur, Bob Goodlatte, Ruben Gallego, Mario Diaz-Balart, Sam Johnson, Donald S. Beyer Jr., Brad Wenstrup, Dave Brat, Ryan Costello, Jacky Rosen, Jim Langevin, John Culberson, Vicky Hartzler, Ed Royce, Rick Larsen, Al Lawson, Madeleine Z. Bordallo, Tom Cole , Jackie Walorski, John Larson, Gregory W. Meeks, Richard E. Neal, Colleen Hanabusa, Adam Smith, Denny Heck, Anthony Brown, Eric Swalwell, Martha Roby, David P. Joyce, Bill Flores, Ralph Abraham, Adam Kinzinger, Trent Kelly, Steve Knight, Richard Hudson, Rosa L. DeLauro, Joe Wilson, Clay Higgins, Marcia Fudge, Joyce Beatty, Gwen Moore, Dave Reichert, Tom Garrett, Tom OHalleran, Daniel Lipinski, Stephanie Murphy, Elizabeth H. Esty, Brendan F. Boyle, Doug Lamborn, Pete Olson, Tim Ryan, Salud O. Carbajal, Mike Kelly, Bill Shuster, Jimmy Panetta, Keith J. Rothfus, Rick Crawford, Suzan DelBene, Dan Newhouse, Mike Coffman, Thomas R. Suozzi, David B. McKinley, P.E., John Carter, Lloyd Smucker, Austin Scott, Ed Perlmutter, Evan Jenkins, Brian Babin, Rob Woodall, Andy Harris, M.D., Dina Titus, Jim Himes, Juan Vargas, Barbara Comstock, Karen Handel, Kyrsten Sinema, Steve Stivers, Glenn GT Thompson, Charlie Crist, Bennie Thompson, Earl L. \"Buddy\" Carter, Sean Patrick Maloney, Brian Fitzpatrick, Liz Cheney, Paul D. Tonko, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Jim Banks, Frank LoBiondo, G. K. Butterfield, Garret Graves, Darrell E. Issa, Jaime Herrera Beutler, Pramila Jayapal, Ralph Norman, Tim Walz, Steven M. Palazzo, Gregg Harper, Pete Aguilar, and Lucille Roybal-Allard. \nThe letter reads in full: \nDear Secretary Mattis,\nAs you continue preparation of the fiscal year 2019 Budget Request for the Department of Defense, we are writing to express our interest in a dual procurement of Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers in the upcoming fiscal year.\nOver the last several months, both the Department of the Navy and industry have conducted analysis to determine the feasibility of dual procurement of CVN 80 (the future USS Enterprise) and the yet to be named CVN 81. We understand that initial cost savings estimates of $2.5 billion could be attained from a dual ship procurement when compared to single ship procurement with no additional future funding required beyond current Navy plans. We applaud the Department's willingness to examine smarter and better acquisition approaches that serve the interests of both our warfighters and taxpayers. Accordingly, if the Department of Defense concludes that these savings are attainable, we encourage the Navy to seek appropriate authorities to execute this dual procurement approach in the fiscal year 2019 budget request.\nIn addition to the potential cost savings, a dual procurement of aircraft carriers would enable the Department of the Navy to reach and maintain a fleet of twelve aircraft carriers more quickly than current plans. Our nation's carrier fleet is deployed worldwide and is extremely busy, with three of eleven carriers deployed and as many as seven carriers underway in recent weeks. Dual procurement of aircraft carriers will enable the Navy to better meet future combatant commander requests for aircraft carrier presence worldwide.\nFinally, a dual procurement of aircraft carriers would send a strong signal to the shipbuilding industrial base about our national resolve to reach a 350+ ship fleet. With the massive consolidation of the shipbuilding industrial base over the last 25 years, the approximately 3000 remaining aircraft carrier suppliers nationwide will benefit greatly from the predictability and stability of the workload. Furthermore, we expect this approach will enable shipbuilding suppliers to create efficiencies and invest in their own businesses and therefore benefit other Navy shipbuilding programs as well.\nIn closing, given the potential savings available to the taxpayer, the benefit to our Navy from additional aircraft carrier force structure, and the predictability and stability to the shipbuilding industrial base, we believe the dual procurement of Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers in fiscal year 2019 should be considered. Therefore, we urge the Department to conclude its analysis of potential savings and, if validated, request all applicable authorities in the upcoming budget request for dual aircraft carrier procurement. Thank you for your consideration and your service to our country.\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://goodlatte.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1073", "Goodlatte & Grassley Call for White House Working Group on International Competition", "2017-12-20", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Robert Goodlatte", "G000289", "goodlatte.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today sent a letter to the President regarding the impact of foreign antitrust enforcement on American citizens and businesses abroad. The letter recommends, among other items, that the President establish a White House Working Group on International Competition to coordinate international competition and trade policy within the U.S. and also to develop a comprehensive and consistent strategy to address misuse of foreign competition law by foreign governments.Chairman Goodlatte and Chairman Grassley have issued the following statements. Chairman Goodlatte: I thank my colleague Chairman Grassley for his hard work on this issue. The House Judiciary Committees antitrust hearings have highlighted concerns about abuses of international antitrust laws by foreign governments, including lack of due process, disregard for intellectual property rights, and refusal to take action against state-owned and state-sponsored entities in other countries.  \r\nI urge the President to form a working group to coordinate a consistent response to trade and antitrust policy across the Administration. Chairman Grassley: American companies doing business abroad should be treated fairly. Unfortunately, in some places antitrust laws are abused to create an uneven playing field that harms American businesses. President Trump has made it a priority to get better deals for American businesses in the global marketplace. Chairman Goodlatte and I are calling on the President to examine how best to address misuse of foreign competition law and ensure Americans receive fair treatment from foreign governments and are able to compete on a level playing field. Background: In March 2017, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce released the Report and Recommendations of its bipartisan independent investigation into international trade and competition law, including 12 recommendations for more effective and integrated international trade and antitrust law. One of the first recommendations included the establishment of a White House working group to prioritize these issues. In May 2017, the Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law held an oversight hearing on recent trends in international antitrust enforcement, including a review of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce ICPEGs report. Read the full text of Chairman Goodlatte and Chairman Grassleys letter to the White House here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://wittman.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1742", "Wittman Leads Letter in Support of Block Buy for Aircraft Carriers in FY19", "2017-12-20", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Robert Wittman", "W000804", "wittman.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Wittman Leads Letter in Support of Block Buy for Aircraft Carriers in FY19WASHINGTON  Representatives Rob Wittman (R-VA), Bobby Scott (D-VA), Bradley Byrne (R-AL), and Joe Courtney (D-CT), were joined by 127 Representatives in sending a letter to Department of Defense Secretary James Mattis supporting a block buy of two Ford-class aircraft carriers in FY2019.   A dual procurement allows the Navy to build to a fleet of 12 aircraft carriers more quickly as prescribed by the FY18 National Defense Authorization Act  which established that the Navy should maintain 355 ships, including 12 aircraft carriers, Rep. Wittman said. A dual buy would be beneficial to both the taxpayers and our maritime industrial base as it shows that Congress is committed to the thousands of workers who work each day to build and maintain aircraft carriers. As Chairman of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee I fully back this provision, and I thank my colleagues for supporting this national security priority.   Dual procurement allows our Navy to have the capabilities it needs to protect and defend this nations national security. A dual buy would provide predictability and sustainability to the shipbuilding industry. A more reliable procurement process will bring great benefits to the Navys shipbuilding programs, and save taxpayers money, Rep. Scott said.  If we are going to build a 355 Ship Navy, then we need to be smart and innovative in how we procure new vessels, Rep. Byrne said. An obvious step in the right direction would be a block buy for the Ford-class aircraft carriers. I am pleased so many of our House colleagues joined us in making this strong recommendation to the Pentagon, and I look forward to continue working in a bipartisan fashion to build a strong and fully capable naval fleet. I was proud to help author this years National Defense Authorization Act which made it a national policy to pursue a 355-ship Navy, Rep. Courtney said. However, this will be a challenging undertaking and we have to be smart about looking for ways to streamline acquisitions and provide predictability to the industrial base. Purchasing ships and submarines in block buys has done just that, while providing significant savings to the taxpayer. If a similar arrangement would provide significant savings as we continue to modernize our carrier fleet, I would strongly encourage DOD to request the appropriate authorities in 2019. In addition to Wittman, Scott, Byrne, and Courtney, the letter was signed by Reps. Michael J. Conaway, Morgan Griffith, Bob Gibbs, Derek Kilmer, Duncan Hunter, Mike Rogers, Hank Johnson, Donald McEachin, Steve Chabot, Don Norcross, David G. Valadao, Gerald E. Connolly, Scott Desjarlais, John Rutherford, Scott Peters, Mike Turner, Robert Brady, Walter Jones, Sanford D. Bishop, Scott Taylor, Peter King, Ann Wagner, Mike Gallagher, Marc Veasey, Seth Moulton, Luke Messer, Susan Davis, Elise Stefanik, Marcy Kaptur, Bob Goodlatte, Ruben Gallego, Mario Diaz-Balart, Sam Johnson, Donald S. Beyer Jr., Brad Wenstrup, Dave Brat, Ryan Costello, Jacky Rosen, Jim Langevin, John Culberson, Vicky Hartzler, Ed Royce, Rick Larsen, Al Lawson, Madeleine Z. Bordallo, Tom Cole , Jackie Walorski, John Larson, Gregory W. Meeks, Richard E. Neal, Colleen Hanabusa, Adam Smith, Denny Heck, Anthony Brown, Eric Swalwell, Martha Roby, David P. Joyce, Bill Flores, Ralph Abraham, Adam Kinzinger, Trent Kelly, Steve Knight, Richard Hudson, Rosa L. DeLauro, Joe Wilson, Clay Higgins, Marcia Fudge, Joyce Beatty, Gwen Moore, Dave Reichert, Tom Garrett, Tom OHalleran, Daniel Lipinski, Stephanie Murphy, Elizabeth H. Esty, Brendan F. Boyle, Doug Lamborn, Pete Olson, Tim Ryan, Salud O. Carbajal, Mike Kelly, Bill Shuster, Jimmy Panetta, Keith J. Rothfus, Rick Crawford, Suzan DelBene, Dan Newhouse, Mike Coffman, Thomas R. Suozzi, David B. McKinley, P.E., John Carter, Lloyd Smucker, Austin Scott, Ed Perlmutter, Evan Jenkins, Brian Babin, Rob Woodall, Andy Harris, M.D., Dina Titus, Jim Himes, Juan Vargas, Barbara Comstock, Karen Handel, Kyrsten Sinema, Steve Stivers, Glenn GT Thompson, Charlie Crist, Bennie Thompson, Earl L. \"Buddy\" Carter, Sean Patrick Maloney, Brian Fitzpatrick, Liz Cheney, Paul D. Tonko, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Jim Banks, Frank LoBiondo, G. K. Butterfield, Garret Graves, Darrell E. Issa, Jaime Herrera Beutler, Pramila Jayapal, Ralph Norman, Tim Walz, Steven M. Palazzo, Gregg Harper, Pete Aguilar, and Lucille Roybal-Allard.   The letter reads in full: \r\n  \r\nDear Secretary Mattis, As you continue preparation of the fiscal year 2019 Budget Request for the Department of Defense, we are writing to express our interest in a dual procurement of Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers in the upcoming fiscal year. Over the last several months, both the Department of the Navy and industry have conducted analysis to determine the feasibility of dual procurement of CVN 80 (the future USS Enterprise) and the yet to be named CVN 81. We understand that initial cost savings estimates of $2.5 billion could be attained from a dual ship procurement when compared to single ship procurement with no additional future funding required beyond current Navy plans. We applaud the Department's willingness to examine smarter and better acquisition approaches that serve the interests of both our warfighters and taxpayers. Accordingly, if the Department of Defense concludes that these savings are attainable, we encourage the Navy to seek appropriate authorities to execute this dual procurement approach in the fiscal year 2019 budget request. In addition to the potential cost savings, a dual procurement of aircraft carriers would enable the Department of the Navy to reach and maintain a fleet of twelve aircraft carriers more quickly than current plans. Our nation's carrier fleet is deployed worldwide and is extremely busy, with three of eleven carriers deployed and as many as seven carriers underway in recent weeks. Dual procurement of aircraft carriers will enable the Navy to better meet future combatant commander requests for aircraft carrier presence worldwide. Finally, a dual procurement of aircraft carriers would send a strong signal to the shipbuilding industrial base about our national resolve to reach a 350+ ship fleet. With the massive consolidation of the shipbuilding industrial base over the last 25 years, the approximately 3000 remaining aircraft carrier suppliers nationwide will benefit greatly from the predictability and stability of the workload. Furthermore, we expect this approach will enable shipbuilding suppliers to create efficiencies and invest in their own businesses and therefore benefit other Navy shipbuilding programs as well. In closing, given the potential savings available to the taxpayer, the benefit to our Navy from additional aircraft carrier force structure, and the predictability and stability to the shipbuilding industrial base, we believe the dual procurement of Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers in fiscal year 2019 should be considered. Therefore, we urge the Department to conclude its analysis of potential savings and, if validated, request all applicable authorities in the upcoming budget request for dual aircraft carrier procurement. Thank you for your consideration and your service to our country.  Congressman Rob Wittman represents the 1st District of Virginia. He serves on the House Natural Resources Committee and the House Armed Services Committee, where he is the Chairman of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee. # # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://wittman.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1743", "Wittman and Beyer Introduce Bill To Protect Federal Workers, With Government Shutdown Looming Amid Budget Uncertainty", "2017-12-20", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Robert Wittman", "W000804", "wittman.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 20, 2017 (Washington, D.C.)  Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) and Rob Wittman (R-VA) today introduced bipartisan legislation to protect federal employees pay in the event of a government shutdown. The Federal Employee Retroactive Pay Act would guarantee back pay for all furloughed workers if Congress and the White House are unable to come to a funding agreement. A shutdown would temporarily suspend paychecks for federal employees, and retroactive pay for federal workers must be approved by Congress. The Beyer-Wittman legislation would guarantee that no federal employees would lose pay if a government shutdown occurs.\"Federal employees should not suffer because Congress refuses to end its govern by crisis mentality,\"Rep. Wittmansaid. \"Preparing the retroactive pay legislation sends a signal to our federal workers that they won't be forgotten in the unfortunate event of a shutdown. While this legislation minimizes the impacts of funding uncertainty, my focus remains on returning Congress to a regular schedule of budgeting and passing appropriations bills.\" We absolutely do not want to see a shutdown of the federal government, but if it comes we must act to protect federal workers from the consequences, said Rep. Beyer. If the government shuts down due to Congress failure to pass a budget, the effects on civil servants, who need to support their families, would be disastrous without this bill. We cannot allow that to happen. Together the two Virginia Congressmen represent nearly 120,000 federal employees. The National Treasury Employees Union applauds Rep. Beyer and Rep. Wittman for introducing this legislation, said NTEU National President Tony Reardon. They recognize that frontline federal employees should not lose pay in the event of a shutdown of the federal government. These employees do not control the funding of the federal government and should not suffer when that funding runs out. I hope we do not get to the shutdown stage but I support this effort to protect the federal workforce. Funding for the federal government is set to expire at midnight on Friday, December 22. \"AFGE would like to thank Congressman Beyer (D-VA) and Congressman Wittman (R-VA) for introducing the Federal Employee Retroactive Pay Fairness Act, said American Federation of Government Employees National President J. David Cox. Federal employees are hardworking public servants who are dedicated to providing quality public services. Federal employees and their families should not be forced to go without pay when they are not allowed to do their jobs because Congress cannot pass a funding measure. Too many Americansveterans, seniors, and other hardworking people rely on services provided by the federal government. In a government shutdown, it is the American people who pay the price. In addition to Reps. Beyer and Wittman, the bill has 25 bipartisan cosponsors. Text of the legislation can be viewed here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://wittman.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1744", "Wittman and Beyer Introduce Bill To Protect Federal Workers, With Government Shutdown Looming Amid Budget Uncertainty", "2017-12-20", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Robert Wittman", "W000804", "wittman.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Rob Wittman (R-VA) and Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) today introduced bipartisan legislation to protect federal employees pay in the event of a government shutdown. The Federal Employee Retroactive Pay Act would guarantee back pay for all furloughed workers if Congress and the White House are unable to come to a funding agreement.\"Federal employees should not suffer because Congress refuses to end its govern by crisis mentality,\" Rep. Wittman said. \"Preparing the retroactive pay legislation sends a signal to our federal workers that they won't be forgotten in the unfortunate event of a shutdown. While this legislation minimizes the impacts of funding uncertainty, my focus remains on returning Congress to a regular schedule of budgeting and passing appropriations bills.\" A shutdown would temporarily suspend paychecks for federal employees, and retroactive pay for federal workers must be approved by Congress. The Wittman-Beyer legislation would guarantee that no federal employees would lose pay if a government shutdown occurs.  \r\nWe absolutely do not want to see a shutdown of the federal government, but if it comes we must act to protect federal workers from the consequences, said Rep. Beyer. If the government shuts down due to Congress failure to pass a budget, the effects on civil servants, who need to support their families, would be disastrous without this bill. We cannot allow that to happen. Together the two Virginia Congressmen represent nearly 120,000 federal employees.  \r\nThe National Treasury Employees Union applauds Rep. Beyer and Rep. Wittman for introducing this legislation, said NTEU National President Tony Reardon. They recognize that frontline federal employees should not lose pay in the event of a shutdown of the federal government. These employees do not control the funding of the federal government and should not suffer when that funding runs out. I hope we do not get to the shutdown stage but I support this effort to protect the federal workforce. Funding for the federal government is set to expire at midnight on Friday, December 22.  \r\n\"AFGE would like to thank Congressman Beyer (D-VA) and Congressman Wittman (R-VA) for introducing the Federal Employee Retroactive Pay Fairness Act, said American Federation of Government Employees National President J. David Cox. Federal employees are hardworking public servants who are dedicated to providing quality public services.  Federal employees and their families should not be forced to go without pay when they are not allowed to do their jobs because Congress cannot pass a funding measure. Too many Americansveterans, seniors, and other hardworking people rely on services provided by the federal government.  In a government shutdown, it is the American people who pay the price. In addition to Reps. Wittman and Beyer, the bill has 25 bipartisan cosponsors. Text of the legislation can be viewed here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2017/12/statement-on-senate-passage-of-gop-tax-bill", "Statement on Senate Passage of GOP Tax Bill", "2017-12-20", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Mark Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), a member of the Senate Finance and Budget Committees, issued the below statement after the Senate voted along party lines 51-48 to approve the budget-busting GOP plan to cut taxes for corporations and the richest Americans:\r\nThis is the worst piece of legislation we have passed since I arrived in the Senate.\r\nNonpartisan analyses released yesterday confirm the final Trump-Republican tax bill will hike taxes on millions of middle-class Americans in order to pay for massive cuts for corporations and the wealthiest Americans. By 2027, under the Trump-Republican tax bill, families earning under $75,000 wouldpay morein taxes than they do today  while the top 1 percent would enjoy the largest tax breaks, according to the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT).\r\nAnd the Tax Policy Centerestimatedthat 53 percent of American householdswill face tax hikes in 2027 while the top 0.1 percent of taxpayers will get an average tax cut of nearly $200,000. The top one percent of taxpayers are expected to receive 83 percent of tax benefits.\r\nOn top of this, the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budgetestimatedthat the true cost of the final, unpaid-for GOP tax bill is roughly $2.5trillion, adding to our $20 trillion national debt.\r\nThe bill now heads back to the House of Representatives, where it is expected to pass and be sent to the President for his signature without a single Democratic vote.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2017/12/warner-draws-red-lines-on-firing-special-counsel-pardoning-witnesses-or-interfering-in-the-mueller-investigation", "Warner Draws Red Lines on Firing Special Counsel, Pardoning Witnesses, or Interfering in the Mueller Investigation", "2017-12-20", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Mark Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Today U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, spoke on the floor of the U.S. Senate to warn of threats to Special Counsel Robert Muellers investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election and highlight the constitutional crisis that would likely ensue if the President were to interfere in the Mueller probe. In recent weeks, a growing chorus of voices in Congress, the media, and the White House have begun pushing a coordinated narrative undermining the credibility of the Special Counsels investigation and the FBI itself. Sen. Warner today responded to these troubling signs that the President may be considering firing Mr. Mueller or top FBI/DOJ brass, pardoning potential witnesses, or otherwise interfering in Muellers investigation.\r\nSen. Warner called on Senators from both parties tomake a clear and unambiguous statement: that any attempt by this President to remove Special Counsel Mueller from his position, or to pardon key witnesses in an effort to shield them from accountability or shut down the investigation, would be a gross abuse of power and a flagrant violation of Executive branch responsibilities and authorities.\r\nHe continued:These are red lines, and we simply cannot allow them to be crossed.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nSenator Warnersremarks asprepared for delivery follow:\r\n\r\nMr. President \r\nI rise today concerned about threats to the Special Counsels critical investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election.\r\nOver the last several weeks, a growing chorus of irresponsible and reckless voices have called for President Trump to shut down Special Counsel Muellers investigation. At first, these calls came from the fringes of our political discourse  those who would refuse to put our country and our security before base political instincts. Earlier this year, many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle were right to push back on those misdirected calls and urge that the Special Counsel be allowed to do his job without interference.\r\nHowever, in recent weeks, those voices seem to be growing in stridency and in volume. Just this weekend, one major news organization suggested that Special Counsel Mueller could be involved in a coup against this President. One senior advisor at the White House has now outrageously alleged, The fix was in against Donald Trump from the beginning.\r\nThese statements are reckless. They are inappropriate. And they are extremely worrying.\r\nThey are also at odds with the Presidents own lawyers, who have pledged to cooperate with the Special Counsel.\r\nBeyond being irresponsible, the seemingly coordinated nature of these claims should alarm us all  particularly since, in recent days, these baseless accusations have been repeated by several members of the House of Representatives.\r\nI believe it is up to every member of this institution, Republican or Democrat, to make a clear and unambiguous statement: thatanyattempt by this President to remove Special Counsel Mueller from his position, or to pardon key witnesses in an effort to shield them from accountability or shut down the investigation, would be a gross abuse of power and a flagrant violation of Executive branch responsibilities and authorities. These are red lines, and we simply cannot allow them to be crossed.\r\nLets remember why Special Counsel Mueller was appointed in the first place  and why it remains so critical that he be permitted to finish his job, without obstruction.\r\nRecall, last spring, we were all reeling from a series of confounding actions by this President, beginning with the firing of FBI Director Jim Comey on May 9, 2017. Mr. Comey was fired just two months after publicly revealing the FBIs ongoing investigation of the Trump campaign, and  as we would find out later  after several attempts by this President to improperly influence Director Comey.\r\nTry to put yourself back into those dangerous days. Director Comeys dismissal was met with confusion and widespread condemnation. We needed a stabilizing action from our nations law enforcement leadership. We needed some certainty that the facts would be found and brought to light  regardless of what they were.\r\nEight days after Mr. Comeys firing, Trump appointee and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed Robert Mueller to oversee the investigation into any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of President Donald Trump and any matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation.\r\nHis appointment reassured Americans that there would be a full and thorough law enforcement investigation. The announcement was met with support on both sides of the aisle and received nearly universal praise. In fact, many of the same people who are attacking him today praised Mr. Muellers appointment just months ago.\r\nIndeed, there is much to praise. The fact is that Robert Mueller has impeccable credentials as a man of the law. He has assembled a team that includes some of the nations best investigators, and he is leading this investigation with the professionalism that it deserves.\r\nMr. Mueller is a decorated Vietnam War veteran and a lifelong Republican, appointed to his current role by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, also a Republican. In fact, all of the major players to date in this investigation  former Director Comey, current FBI Director Wray, Rosenstein, and even Attorney General Sessions, who has recused himself  are all Republicans. The charges of Democratic political bias are baseless, given the makeup of the leadership team. \r\nIn recent weeks, much has been made of some political opinions expressed by an FBI agent during the election last year. This specious line of argument conveniently ignores the fact that, as soon as Mr. Mueller learned about those comments, he immediately removed the agent in question from the investigation. If anything, this incident only adds to Mr. Muellers credibility as a fair and independent investigator.\r\nMr. President, I stand here as the Vice Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. We are in the midst of our own investigation into the Russian incursion, and Im proud of the way Chairman Burr and our Committee members have taken on this difficult task. Weve made tremendous progress in uncovering the facts of Russian interference in our elections. Our Committees work helped expose a dark underbelly of disinformation on our social media platforms. We have successfully pressed for the full accounting of Russian cyber efforts to target our state election systems. And, despite the initial denials ofanyRussian contacts during the election, this Committees efforts have helped uncover numerous and troubling high-level engagements between the Trump campaign and Russian affiliates  many of which have only been revealed in recent months.   \r\nWeve got some work to do yet. But, this Committee has gone out of its way to ensure continued bipartisan backing for this effort, and Im committed to seeing this through.\r\nHowever, it should be very clear that our Committee cannot and will not stand as a substitute for Mr. Muellers investigation. As Chairman Burr and I have noted on numerous occasions, the FBI is responsible for determining any criminal activities related to this inquiry. As such, Mueller has already moved to indict two individuals and has negotiated two additional guilty pleas. This is an investigative path reserved solely for law enforcement, and it is essential that it be permitted to go on unimpeded.\r\nThe country no doubt remains severely divided on the question of the last election; however, the national security threat facing us today should demand that we rise above the partisan differences. No matter the political divide, surely each of us  and all Americans  should want to know the truth of what happened during last years election. And, no doubt, we all want to know as quickly as possible.\r\nThe President has long called the investigation into Russian meddling into the 2016 election a witch hunt, and he has done much to discredit the Intelligence Communitys unanimous assessment of Russian interference in our election. The failure of this White House to lead a whole-of-government approach to prevent this type of election interference in the future  either by Russia or some other adversary  defies understanding. The Presidents refusal to accept the Intelligence Communitys assessment and his blatant disregard for ensuring Russia never again infiltrates our election process has been unnerving and cause for significant concern.\r\nIn recent days, the President has said he is not considering removing Special Counsel Mueller. But the Presidents track record on this front is a source of concern. Im certain many of my colleagues believed that he wouldnt possibly fire Mr. Comey, either. \r\nFiring Mr. Mueller or any of the top brass involved in this investigation would not only call into question this Administrations commitment to the truth and the rule of law. It also has the potential to provoke a constitutional crisis. In the United States of America, no one is above the law. Not even the President. Congress must make clear to the President that firing the Special Counsel, or interfering with his investigation by issuing pardons of essential witnesses, is unacceptable, and would have immediate and significant consequences.\r\nI hope my concerns are unfounded, but there are troubling signs. It is critical that we as elected officials, and as citizens, speak up against these threats nowbefore it is too late.\r\nThank you, Mr. President.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://morgangriffith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398841", "Congressman Griffith's Weekly E-Newsletter 12.19.17", "2017-12-19", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Morgan Griffith", "G000568", "morgangriffith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tax Reform: Good for Families, Good for Jobs In a country whose war for independence was to some degree a tax revolt, taxes can be a touchy subject. A lot of complicated questions are involved. How do we encourage economic growth? How do we raise revenue to pay for spending? What is a fair tax rate? Answering these questions means setting priorities and balancing them.\r\nMy priorities for the Ninth District are helping average families and creating jobs. Judging by this benchmark, I support the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.\r\nWhile this tax reform is good for businesses, individuals of all income levels will benefit as well. Individual rates are lowered and the standard deduction is nearly doubled. For families, the Child Tax Credit will expand from $1,000 to $2,000. Most of the deductions tax reform eliminates went to higher-income households. This bills benefits will be felt most by working and middle-class American families.\r\nThe tax system currently in place treats job creators poorly. At 35%, the corporate tax rate stands among the highest in the developed world.\r\nCompanies are also taxed heavily when they bring money home from overseas. If they leave it abroad, they avoid most of the taxes. This encourages them to leave money abroad. Its no wonder they find other countries better for business instead of investing it in the United States.\r\nThe Tax Cuts and Jobs Act offers reforms that will encourage businesses to locate their facilities and hire their workers right here in America. It cuts the corporate tax rate to 21% while eliminating many deductions that primarily favored special interests. It lets companies bring money back from abroad to invest here by paying a low one-time tax. It also helps level the playing field between small businesses and large corporations. The bill provides tax incentives for investment in lower-income communities designated as qualified opportunity zones, which could include areas of Southwest Virginia.\r\nThroughout the tax reform process, I heard from people living in the district with concerns about particular parts of the code. I heard the historic tax credit has boosted economic development for parts of Southwest Virginia. Accordingly, I had several conversations with House Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady about keeping this credit. I am pleased to say that it has been preserved with minor modifications.\r\nI also heard many students express concern about the initial House bills treatment of income made as a condition of tuition waivers for graduate students, but when the House passed the conference report, the current deduction for this income was maintained.\r\nWhile the bill isnt perfect, it has come under unfair attack for some of its provisions. For example, some say that capping the state and local tax deduction to $10,000 unfairly imposes double taxation.\r\nIn truth, the state and local tax deduction primarily benefits high-income earners in high-tax states. An unlimited deduction means lower-income taxpayers are subsidizing high-tax states.\r\nIn Southwest Virginia, few people are likely to be hit by this provision. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median housing unit value in the Ninth District is $124,100. If a homeowner in the City of Salem, the Ninth District jurisdiction with the highest local real estate tax rate, wanted to deduct his real estate tax on his federal return, the value of his home would have to be $847,457.63 to hit the deduction cap. Other states like New York or California may be hit harder because they have higher property values and more wealth.\r\nBut I would ask the question: is it right for Southwest Virginians to pay taxes on behalf of fat cats in New York City in a condo overlooking Central Park or living in San Franciscos Nob Hill?\r\nNo wonder Nancy Pelosi opposes the tax bill. As long as she can convince people from poorer areas of the country to help pay her taxes and the taxes of the wealthy liberal elite, why wouldnt she? Today, I voted to end this reverse Robin Hood scheme of Nancy Pelosis. Its hard enough for the people of Southwest Virginia without being required to underwrite the expensive homes of the rich.\r\nThere are pieces of this tax reform that may need to be revisited in the coming years, but overall, I believe it will do good things for our country, our economy, and most importantly, our people. To judge for yourself, you can read the conference report in its entirety at fairandsimple.gop.\r\nIf you have questions, concerns, or comments, feel free to contact my office. You can call my Abingdon office at 276-525-1405 or my Christiansburg office at 540-381-5671. To reach my office via email, please visit my website atwww.morgangriffith.house.gov.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://morgangriffith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398842", "Griffith Votes for Tax Reform and Job Creation", "2017-12-19", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Morgan Griffith", "G000568", "morgangriffith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) today issued the following statement after voting in favor of the conference report to accompany H.R. 1, theTax Cuts and Jobs Act:\r\nI cast my vote today in favor of creating jobs and letting Americans keep more of their money. This bill will encourage companies to invest, build, and hire in the United States. It will cut taxes for people across all income levels. Tax reform will move us to a system that embraces and rewards the hard work and ingenuity of the American people.\r\nFor more information, see Tax Reform: Good for Families, Good for Jobs.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://beyer.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=705", "Beyer on Passage of GOP Tax Bill: Those Who Voted for This Monstrosity Will Be Held Accountable", "2017-12-19", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Donald Beyer", "B001292", "beyer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Don Beyer today issued the following statement upon passage of H.R. 1, the GOP bill to cut taxes for the wealthy:\r\nOne month ago, when the House passed an early version of this bill, I asked how any of my colleagues could vote for legislation that will raise taxes on millions of middle class Americans in order to fund tax cuts for the wealthy, and yet still manages to explode the deficit? Today the Republican majority somehow passed an even worse bill.  \r\n\r\nThe tax bill just passed by the House would raise taxes on 86 million households over the next decade, according to a nonpartisan estimate, while 83 percent of the benefits go to the wealthiest 1 percent. They specifically lowered rates for the highest bracket and exempted multi-millionaires from the estate tax, while making the meager cuts for the middle class temporary. They have also included attacks on the Affordable Care Act which will kick an estimated 13 million Americans off their health insurance and lead to higher premiums for working families.  \r\n\r\nAt its core, this bill is an immoral redistribution of wealth towards the richest among us at a cost of trillions of dollars, and I believe that those who voted for this monstrosity will be held accountable.  \r\n\r\nThe tax bill, H.R. 1, passed today over bipartisan opposition without receiving a single Democratic vote. Congress budgetary scorekeeper, the Congressional Budget Office, estimated that its effective repeal of a key piece of the Affordable Care Act will lead to 13 million more uninsured Americans by 2027. The nonpartisan Tax Policy Center estimated that the legislation will lead to tax increases on 86 million households by 2027 while giving 83 percent of its cuts to the wealthiest 1 percent of the country.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bobbyscott.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/scott-statement-on-house-passage-of-gop-tax-scam", "Scott Statement on House Passage of GOP Tax Scam", "2017-12-19", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Robert Scott", "S000185", "bobbyscott.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the Conference Report to accompany H.R.1  GOP Tax bill, with only Republican votes: \nThis tax bill, which adds $1.5 trillion to the deficit over the next decade, is deeply irresponsible. The Tax Policy Center has confirmed that the final version of the bill is even more generous to the wealthiest Americans while harming even more middle class families. More than half of middle-class families will get a tax increase, while 83% of the tax cuts go to the top 1% of Americans. We know from experience that tax cuts do not pay for themselves, and we also know that this bill will do nothing to simplify the tax code. This tax scam is another giveaway to the wealthy at the expense of hardworking families. The only opportunity the middle class will have with this tax plan are the opportunities to lose access to affordable healthcare, lose investments in education, and lose the Social Security and Medicare benefits they worked so hard for.\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://brat.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=565", "Rep. Brat Statement on Passage of Historic Tax Reform Bill", "2017-12-19", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "David Brat", "B001290", "brat.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON - Rep. Brat released the following statement after the House passed the final language of historic tax reform legislation, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The Senate is set to consider the bill later today and it will then go to the President's desk to be signed into law. Today the House of Representatives kept our word and delivered historic tax reform to the American people. This bill is good news for Virginia families who will overwhelmingly see more money in their paychecks next year. These tax reforms will help spur economic growth, create jobs, increase wages, and make our onerous tax code simpler and fairer for countless Americans. For twenty years I taught college students, and under this bill, the best news is that those students will now hopefully see multiple job offers coming their way and they will be able to use their God-given gifts and talents to pursue their passions and the American Dream. The bill includes the following:\r\n \r\n    The average family of four earning a median family income of $73,000 will receive a tax cut of $2,059\r\n    Significantly increases the standard deduction to roughly double, from $6500 and $13,000 under current law to $12,000 and $24,000 for individuals and married couples \r\n    Expands Child Tax Credit from $1000 to $2000\r\n    Preserves the Adoption Tax Credit\r\n    Preserves the home mortgage interest deduction\r\n    Expands the medical expense deduction\r\n    Eliminates Obamacares individual mandate tax penalty", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://comstock.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/guidelines-comstock-mandatory-anti-harassment-anti-discrimination", "Guidelines for Comstock Mandatory Anti-Harassment, Anti-Discrimination Training Adopted In House Administration Committee Today", "2017-12-19", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Barbara Comstock", "C001105", "comstock.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC  Today the House Administration adopted guidelines to implement the Congresswomans House Resolution requiring each Member, Officer, employee, (including interns, fellows, and detailees) of the House of Representatives to complete training in workplace rights and responsibilities each session of each Congress. The guidelines also included moving forward on a Climate Survey of the Capitol Hill workplace.\nI am pleased we are taking another important step in changing the culture on Capitol Hill by mandating and implementing training that is detailed, interactive, and in-person. We need to ensure that the House has an effective system that will continue to learn and improve training accordingly. The Committees extensive review is still an ongoing process and I look forward to additional reforms that will foster a safe work environment and provide transparency about past wrongdoing.\nBackground:\n The Committee on House Administrations regulations state that the training must:\n\t\tLast at least one hour in length;\n\t\t\tCover the prevention of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and instructing individuals how to recognize situations of harassment;\n\t\t\tOccur in person with a qualified entity designated by the Committee. For District Office employees, an interactive webinar or videoconference may constitute in-person training.\n\t\t\n\tIn the first quarter of 2018, the Committee will designate the official provider of training to offices. The Committee will notify offices when the new training is available and how to schedule it to meet their individual requirements.\n\tIndividuals will submit a digital or physical certificate with the Committee on House Administration.\n\tThe Chairman of the Committee on House Administration will submit to the House for inclusion in the Congressional Record on December 31 of each year a report on compliance with the training.\n\tEach office must post a statement of the rights and protections provided to employees of the House of Representatives under the Congressional Accountability Act.\n\tAssurances that a climate survey will be conducted within the House of Representatives within 180 days.\n\tThe Committee will annually review the effectiveness of the training program based upon the feedback of the training participants and consultation with leading experts.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://comstock.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-comstock-statement-pro-growth-pro-jobs-pro-family-tax-relief-package", "Rep. Comstock Statement On The Pro-Growth, Pro-Jobs, Pro-Family Tax Relief Package", "2017-12-19", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Barbara Comstock", "C001105", "comstock.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC  Congresswoman Barbara Comstock (R-VA) issued the following statement on her intention to vote in favor of the Conference Report to H.R. 1, theTax Cuts and Jobs Act:\nI will be voting for theTax Cuts and Jobs Actbecause it cuts taxes for hardworking families and businesses and will help revitalize and create a healthy economy where American workers can compete and win.\nOver the past several weeks I have worked with my colleagues to improve this bill from the initial version the House voted on. Im pleased that this final bill included many of the provisions that we fought to have included in the bill to help hardworking families and businesses.\nSummary oftheTax Cuts and Jobs Act:\n Doubles the Child Tax Credit from the current $1k to $2k (H.R. 3833which Rep. Comstock introduced this year also doubled the Child Tax Credit to $2k) while also making more families eligible for the credit by raising the income threshold to cover the vast majority of families with children, while also making the credit refundable for low income families.\n\t\tGrants a $500 nonrefundable credit for other qualifying dependents such as certain college students and older adult dependents.\n\t\t\n\tIncentivizes businesses to provide Paid Parental Leave of up to 12 weeks. This is a first of its kind tax credit that will help Moms and Dads after the birth of a child or with an emergency medical situation.\n\tPreserves the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit as well as Childcare Flexible accounts to help hardworking two earner families care for children and older dependents such as disabled grandparents.\n\tBans businesses from deducting settlements and fees for sexual harassment and abuse cases. This is identical to Rep. ComstocksH.R. 4514, introduced earlier this year.\n\tIncludes incentives to create Opportunity Zones to encourage investment in distressed communities by deferring capital gains which will give these communities a lifeline for growth, similar toH.R. 828, which Rep. Comstock cosponsored.\n\tRoughly doubles the Standard Deduction from $6,500 for individuals and $13,000 for couples to $12,000 and $24,000.\n\tRetainsthe Adoption Tax Credit.\n\tPreserves the Mortgage Deduction.\n\t\tFor all homeowners with existing mortgages that were taken out to buy a home, there will be no change to the current mortgage interest deduction.\n\t\t\tFor homeowners with new mortgages on a first or second home, the home mortgage interest deduction will be available up to $750,000.\n\t\t\n\tAllows deductions for state, localincome, sales,and property taxes up to $10,000. (This provision is improved from both the House and Senate versions of the bill by providing individuals and families the ability to choose among sales, income and property taxes to best fit their unique circumstances).\n\tPreserves the 401(k) and the charitable deductions provisions in the tax code to protect and promote savings for retirement and to support charitable giving.\n\tReduces theimpact of theAlternative Minimum Tax (AMT) provisionformany constituents in the 10thDistrict.\n\tProvides tax incentives for craft brewers, distillers, and wineries for two years which will further grow the Northern Virginia economy and promote tourism. In Loudoun County alone a recent report stated that tourism had a $1.69 billion economic impact supporting 17,225 jobs.\n\tCurrently, under Obamacare, the medical expense deduction would rise to a threshold for expenses of 10% for 2018. This legislation would restore the 7.5% threshold for two years, until 2020.\n\tMaintains the Earned Income Tax Credit to provide vital tax relief for low-income working families to build better lives for themselves.\n\tHelps families pay for education by allowing them to use 529 accounts to save for elementary, secondary and higher education.\n\tAllows graduatestudents to continue to be exempt from taxes on the value of reduced tuition.You can see the letter of support Rep. Comstock signedhere.\n\tMaintains theFederal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives program that will preserve our historic sites while bringing economic renewal to communities across the 10thCongressional District.You can the letter of support Rep. Comstock signedhere.\n\tMaintains the current Student Loan Deduction. You can see the letter of support Rep. Comstock signedhere.\n\tMaintains the Teacher Classroom Supply Deduction.\n\tMaintains the preferential tax treatment for private activity bonds that helps finance transportation and infrastructure projects for localities, cities, and states.You can see the letter where Rep. Comstock signedhere.\n\tMaintains the personal pre-tax commuter benefit for transit, parking, and biking.\n\tReduces the impact of the Death Tax by doubling the amount of the current exemption to reduce uncertainty and costs for many of our family-owned farms and businesses when they pass down their lifes work to the next generation.\n\tLowers the tax rates to 0%, 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37% so taxpayers can keep more of their hard earned money.\n As can be seen in the items above -- many of the provisions that have been the focus of much discussion over the past few weeks -- medical expense deductions, school loan deductions, private activity bonds, teacher classroom supply deduction, Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives -- have been included in the final bill. We listened to many of those concerned about these provisions and worked hard to address those concerns and we will continue to work going forward to protect hardworking taxpayers.\nThe critics who oppose tax relief are many of the same people who supported the Obama tax increases over the past 8 years. During this time, weve seen wages stagnate and innovation and opportunities diminish. This legislation will start a turn around and provide a healthier economy for all. I will always work to provide more support for creating an innovation economy that provides more prosperity for all. The status quo is driving businesses and jobs away and we have to modernize our tax code to meet the challenges of our innovative 21stcentury economy.\nBy cutting the business tax from 35% to 21% American companies will be able to better compete in the global economy.The legislation will also helpMainStreet by providing a 20% deductionfor job creators to grow their businesses, in addition to the reduction in individual tax rates;allows businesses to write off the cost of new equipment; allows small business to write off interest on loans; preserves the Research and Development Tax Credit which is important to the Northern Virginia Technology sector; and other important tax provisions that will help improve our innovation economy.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://connolly.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1216", "Connolly Statement on GOP Tax Plan", "2017-12-19", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Gerald Connolly", "C001078", "connolly.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA) released the following statement on the GOP tax plan:  \r\n\r\nThe tax plan before us today would be a disaster for Northern Virginia. The GOP plan caps the state and local income deduction. It caps the mortgage interest deduction. And it phases out the medical cost deduction. Our district, where 50 percent of tax filers claim a SALT deduction, is one of the top congressional districts in the nation affected by this change, and 75 percent of our districts SALT claimants are in the middle income tax brackets. 144,000 of my constituents claim the mortgage interest deduction, for an average savings of $2,946. These changes would be a devastating double whammy to Northern Virginia families. \r\nThis bill falls far short of our values. It would raise taxes on tens of millions of middle class Americans in order to finance permanent tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations. By 2027, the Tax Policy Foundation projects more than half of households would face a tax increase. It explodes the deficit by nearly $1.5 trillion. And the conference report adds a devastating attack on the American healthcare system by repealing the individual mandate, leaving 13 million more Americans uninsured. \r\nCongress had a real opportunity to pursue bipartisan revenue neutral tax reform that would lower corporate rates and benefit the middle class. As a leader of the New Democrat Coalition, I have written on several occasions to Speaker Ryan and Chairman Brady asking them to partner with us on a tax reform plan that would simplify the tax code, create revenue for infrastructure, and provide middle class tax relief. Instead, the majority has ignored these repeated overtures and rushed through a partisan tax plan that asks working families, veterans, and low-income seniors to pay higher tax rates than the wealthiest Americans and largest corporations. Thats simply unconscionable.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://goodlatte.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1071", "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act One Step Closer to Law", "2017-12-19", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Robert Goodlatte", "G000289", "goodlatte.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By creating a simpler, fairer tax system, the reforms in this bill will help put more money in the pockets of families and encourage job creators of all sizes to invest in the United States. \r\n          share:\r\n          f \r\n          t \r\n        \r\n      \r\n      Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) released a statement today after voting in support of the bicameral conference report to H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, in the U.S. House of Representatives:Tax relief is one step closer for Virginia families. At its very core, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is about creating greater opportunity for men and women across the United States. It means more jobs, lower and fairer taxes, and bigger paychecks.  The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act lowers individual tax rates so families can keep more of their hard-earned money. Under this plan, a family of four earning an income of $73,000 will receive a tax cut of more than $2,000. This bill expands the Child Tax Credit from $1,000 to $2,000, preserves the mortgage interest deduction for current and future homeowners, expands the medical expense deduction, and maintains popular options used to save for retirement, like 401ks and IRAs. It also provides families with the flexibility to purchase the health coverage they want and need by eliminating the tax penalty created by Obamacares individual mandate. By creating a simpler, fairer tax system, the reforms in this bill will help put more money in the pockets of families and encourage job creators of all sizes to invest in the United States. Following expected action in the Senate later today, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will head to the Presidents desk. I look forward to seeing this historic tax reform cross the finish line and deliver much-needed tax relief to families across the country. For more information about the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, visit fairandsimple.gop.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://goodlatte.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1072", "Goodlatte & Gowdy Call on DOJ to Allow Staff to Be Interviewed by Congressional Investigators", "2017-12-19", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Robert Goodlatte", "G000289", "goodlatte.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) called on the Department of Justice to allow FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, FBI Chief of Staff Jim Rybicki, and FBI counsel Lisa Page to be interviewed by Congressional investigators.Nearly two months ago the House Committee on the Judiciary and the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform launched a joint investigation into decisions made by the Department of Justice, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, during the 2016 presidential election.  Recent information indicates DOJ and FBI officials played a significant role in these questionable decisions. In their letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, Chairmen Goodlatte and Gowdy called on them to allow Congressional investigators to interview McCabe, Rybicki, and Page starting Thursday, December 21, 2017. The full letter can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://mceachin.house.gov/media/press-releases/mceachin-statement-gop-tax-bill-conference-report", "McEachin Statement on GOP Tax Bill Conference Report", "2017-12-19", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "A. McEachin", "M001200", "mceachin.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTONCongressman A. Donald McEachin (VA-04) issued this statement following his vote against giving the wealthiest one percent a tax break at the expense of more than 80 million American families:\nUnfortunately, the vast majority of my Republican colleagues placed their allegiance to their wealthy donors and their party ahead of the more than 80 million hardworking American families who will pay higher taxes under this bill. This bill will rob average Americans to benefit the wealthiest Americans and large corporations. Moreover, it will increase the deficit  all while leaving infrastructure, education, healthcare, and many other critical priorities severely underfunded and at risk. In many ways, the conference report on H.R. 1 is worse than the original bills passed in the House and the Senate. Americans will suffer through the long-term consequences of this bill for years to come. I am disappointed, disgusted and dismayed in the legislation that Congressional Republicans passed.\n###\nContact: Jamitress Bowden  \n\t(202) 225-6365", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://taylor.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-passes-historic-tax-legislation", "House Passes Historic Tax Legislation", "2017-12-19", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Scott Taylor", "T000477", "taylor.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Today, the House of Representatives, in a historic vote, passed sweeping tax reform legislation. This vote marks the first time in approximately thirty years that the American tax code has been updated.\nH.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, doubles the standard deduction to $12,000 for individuals and $24,000 for married couples, and preserves the current rate of 23.8% for capital gains and dividends. The bill also doubles the Child Tax Credit (CTC) to $2,000 and provides a $500 credit for each non-child dependent. Important deductions are also preserved in the legislation, such as the medical expense deductions and education expenses in the form of student loan interest and out-of-pocket costs for teachers. H.R. 1 also provides support for graduate students by continuing to exempt the value of reduced tuition from their taxes. Virginia is estimated to add an additional 9,185 full-time employment jobs under this bill, and middle-income earners residing in the Commonwealth can expect to see an additional $730 in after-tax income.\nThis bill is based on a simple premise: that hard-working Americans should be able to keep more of their hard-earned money, said Congressman Scott Taylor. An outdated, thirty year-old tax code is not adapted for 21stCentury Americans and the realities they face. Millions of Americans and Virginians will see more money in their pockets that they can save, invest, and spend the way they want. Additionally this bill hits three of the fundamental issues I spoke about when I ran for Congress: (1)More money in working folks' pockets, (2) a more competitivecorporate environment(to include pass-though small businesses), and (3) incentives to get the trillions of dollars parked overseas back and flowing through our economy.\"\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://tomgarrett.house.gov/media/press-releases/garrett-votes-deliver-tax-relief-virginia-families-and-businesses", "Garrett Votes to Deliver Tax Relief for Virginia Families and Businesses", "2017-12-19", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Thomas Garrett", "G000580", "tomgarrett.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. (Dec. 19, 2017)Congressman Tom Garrett (R-VA) issued the following statement after voting in support the Conference Report to Accompany H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in the U.S. House of Representatives:\n\"Reforming our broken tax system isnt about Congress, and its not about the President, it's about creating opportunity, growing our economy, and creating a simpler and fairer tax system that allows hard-working Americans to keep more of their own money.\"\nOver the past several weeks I have worked with my colleagues to improve the final version of this bill. I am pleased that the final bill included language that preserves a Federal Historic Tax Credit, maintains a student loan interest deduction, and continues to exempt graduate students from taxes on reduced tuition.\"\nThe real promise oftaxreformfor hard-working Americans rests in the pro-growth incentives I voted for in this bill. As with Regan and Kennedy before, those pro-growth incentives favor innovating, investing, hiring, and better wages by ensuring that we are more competitive position in the global marketplace.\nSummary of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act:\n Doubles the Child Tax Credit from the current $1k to $2k while also making more families eligible for the credit by raising the income threshold to cover the vast majority of families with children, while also making the credit refundable for low income families;\n\t\tGrants a $500 nonrefundable credit for other qualifying dependents such as certain college students and older adult dependents;\n\t\t\n\tIncentivizes businesses to provide Paid Parental Leave of up to 12 weeks. This is a first of its kind tax credit that will help Moms and Dads after the birth of a child or with an emergency medical situation;\n\tPreserves the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit as well as Childcare Flexible accounts to help hardworking two earner families care for children and older dependents such as disabled grandparents;\n\tBans businesses from deducting settlements and fees for sexual harassment and abuse cases. \n\tIncludes incentives to create Opportunity Zones to encourage investment in distressed communities by deferring capital gains which will give these communities a lifeline for growth;\n\tRoughly doubles the Standard Deduction from $6,500 for individuals and $13,000 for couples to $12,000 and $24,000;\n\tRetains the Adoption Tax Credit;\n\tPreserves the Mortgage Deduction;\n\t\tFor all homeowners with existing mortgages that were taken out to buy a home, there will be no change to the current mortgage interest deduction;\n\t\t\tFor homeowners with new mortgages on a first or second home, the home mortgage interest deduction will be available up to $750,000;\n\t\t\n\tAllows deductions for state, local income, sales, and property taxes up to $10,000. (This provision is improved from both the House and Senate versions of the bill by providing individuals and families the ability to choose among sales, income and property taxes to best fit their unique circumstances);\n\tPreserves the 401(k) and the charitable deductions provisions in the tax code to protect and promote savings for retirement and to support charitable giving;\n\tReduces the impact of the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) provision;\n\tProvides tax incentives for craft brewers, distillers, and wineries for two years which will further grow the Central Virginia economy and promote tourism;\n\tCurrently, under Obamacare, the medical expense deduction would rise to a threshold for expenses of 10% for 2018. This legislation would restore the 7.5% threshold for two years, until 2020;\n\tMaintains the Earned Income Tax Credit to provide vital tax relief for low-income working families to build better lives for themselves;\n\tHelps families pay for education by allowing them to use 529 accounts to save for elementary, secondary and higher education;\n\tAllows graduate students to continue to be exempt from taxes on the value of reduced tuition;\n\tMaintains the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives program\n\tMaintains the current Student Loan Deduction;\n\tMaintains the Teacher Classroom Supply Deduction;\n\tMaintains the preferential tax treatment for private activity bonds that helps finance transportation and infrastructure projects for localities, cities, and states;\n\tMaintains the personal pre-tax commuter benefit for transit, parking, and biking;\n\tReduces the impact of the Death Tax by doubling the amount of the current exemption to reduce uncertainty and costs for many of our family-owned farms and businesses when they pass down their lifes work to the next generation;\n\tLowers the tax rates to 0%, 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37% so taxpayers can keep more of their hard-earned money.\n ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://wittman.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1733", "Bipartisan Effort to Protect American Wildlife Refuges Passed", "2017-12-19", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Robert Wittman", "W000804", "wittman.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Bipartisan Effort to Protect American Wildlife Refuges Passed WASHINGTON  In October, Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01), in a bipartisan effort to protect American wildlife, joined eight colleagues from both the House and Senate to introduce the Keep Americas Refuges Operational Act. Yesterday, H.R. 3979 passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support, under suspension of the rules, by a vote of 371-14. This legislation will reauthorize the National Wildlife Refuge System volunteer, community partnership and education programs that help ensure Americans can visit, explore, fish, hunt, and study wildlife for generations to come.  National Wildlife Refuges host nearly 50 million visitors each year supporting local economies, however that would be impossible without the valuable contribution of volunteers and community groups, Wittman said. Reauthorizing these programs will ensure that our nations refuges will continue to be enjoyed by tourists, sportsmen and women, and conservationists for years to come. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to move quickly on this legislation so that we may reauthorize these important programs. Click here for video Americas 561 National Wildlife Refuges are located in all 50 states and the five territories. They make up 850 million acres of pristine public lands dedicated to the conservation of fish and wildlife. Wildlife refuge volunteers are individuals who want to give back to their communities, parents who want to be good stewards of the land and set examples for their children, retirees willing to share their wealth of knowledge, and dedicated organizations whose continued efforts raise awareness of refuges so that they may be enjoyed by all. Their contribution is significant: in Fiscal Year 16, 40,000 volunteers donated 1.4 million hours. The value of their time contribution is equal to $30.6 million. The loss of their service would also be significant: volunteers and groups make up 20% of the total service work product, or the equivalent of 649 full-time employees. Other sponsors include Senator Tom Carper (D-DE); Senator John Barrasso (R-WY); Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08); Rep. Frank LoBiondo (NJ-2); Rep. Garrett Graves (LA-6); Rep. Raul Grijalva (AZ-3); Rep. Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (I-NMI); and Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05). The bill is supported by: The American Bird Conservancy; American Fisheries Society; American Hiking Society; American Sportfishing Association; Boy Scouts of America; U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Defenders of Wildlife; Ducks Unlimited; Izaak Walton League of America; Marine Conservation Institute; National Audubon Society; National Wildlife Federation; National Wildlife Refuge Association; The Corps Network; The Nature Conservancy; The Wilderness Society; Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership; and Trout Unlimited. Congressman Rob Wittman represents the 1st District of Virginia. He serves on the House Natural Resources Committee and the House Armed Services Committee, where he is the Chairman of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee. # # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://wittman.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1734", "Wittman Votes in Favor of Historic Tax Reform", "2017-12-19", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Robert Wittman", "W000804", "wittman.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Wittman Votes in Favor of Historic Tax ReformWASHINGTON  Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-1) released the following statement after voting in favor of the Conference Report to accompany H.R. 1, The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: Today we made history. After 31 years of a bulky, broken tax code, we have passed a reform plan that means fairer taxes, bigger paychecks, and more jobs for my constituents. This pro-family, pro-growth plan for tax reform was inspired by hardworking men and women across the country who are struggling under our current tax code. With the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, we are helping students by doubling the standard deduction and maintaining tuition waivers; we are helping working class families by increasing their take home pay and expanding the Child Tax Credit; and we are helping small business owners by lowering their tax rates. H.R. 1 also makes our corporations competitive again on the world stage by lowering rates and implementing a territorial tax system where taxes are imposed in the country where business activity occurs instead of the country of ownership. Im tired of the status quo; I was proud to cast my vote in favor of reform that will boost our economy and put more money in the pockets of Americans from all walks of life. Im thrilled to see what this historic tax reform does for the men and women of Virginias First Congressional District. This is just the first of the many great days to come for American economic prosperity.  The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act lowers individual taxes and sets the rates at 0%, 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37% so people can keep more of their hard-earned money, nearly doubles the standard deduction, expands the Child Tax Credit, reduces the tax rate on small businesses, lowers the corporate tax rate to 21% effective at the beginning of 2018, and modernizes our international tax system by leveling the playing field for Americas global businesses so they can compete and win around the world.  Congressman Rob Wittman represents the 1st District of Virginia. He serves on the House Natural Resources Committee and the House Armed Services Committee, where he is the Chairman of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee. # # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-statement-on-the-electoral-crisis-in-honduras", "Kaine Statement On The Electoral Crisis In Honduras", "2017-12-19", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Kaine Statement On The Electoral Crisis In Honduras\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, December 19, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement today on the electoral crisis in Honduras:\r\n\r\nIt is unfortunate that such an important democratic election in Honduras continues to be shrouded in uncertainty and confusion. The Honduran people deserve an electoral process that is credible and transparent, and I trust the Organization of American States (OAS) assessment that this process has failed to meet that standard. The many irregularities, recorded by unbiased OAS observers on the ground, call into doubt the results announced by the Higher Electoral Commission on December 17. Given the OASs leadership role in the hemisphere, I support their call for a new general election. I also remain concerned by widespread reports of violence and human rights abuses in the wake of the election, and call on the government to investigate and address these claims.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2017/12/statement-of-u-s-sen-mark-r-warner-on-banking-committee-vote-against-export-import-bank-nominee-scott-garrett", "Statement of U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner on Banking Committee Vote Against Export-import Bank Nominee Scott Garrett", "2017-12-19", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Mark Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), a member of the Senate Banking Committee, issued the below statement following the committees bipartisan 10-13 vote against former Rep. Scott Garretts nomination to lead the U.S. Export-Import Bank, followed by broad bipartisan support for other Ex-Im Bank board nominees:\r\nFor decades, the Export-Import Bank has served as a job-creating tool for U.S. manufacturers and exporters, helping finance over $138 billion in exports across the country  including support for more than 80 companies in Virginia  and supporting hundreds of thousands of middle class jobs.\r\nIn order for U.S. manufacturers to compete in a global economy, we need a fully functional Ex-Im Bank. Without it, U.S. companies are at a major disadvantage against their foreign counterparts. But Rep. Garretts long record of attacking and undermining the Export-Import Bank mean that he is not fit to lead it. Todays bipartisan vote against his nomination is a strong signal to the Trump Administration that it should withdraw this nomination and put forward a qualified nominee who understands the important role the Ex-Im Bank plays in leveling the playing field for U.S. companies overseas.\r\nEstablishing a quorum for the Banks board is long overdue, and I am encouraged that the rest of the board nominees were able to be approved by the Banking Committee on a bipartisan basis. I hope that they will soon be confirmed by the whole Senate so that the Ex-Im Bank can fulfill its important responsibilities to support American manufacturers in selling their products around the world.\r\nThe Ex-Im Bank has not had a board quorum since 2015, after Senate Republicans blocked two bipartisan nominees to the Ex-Im Board that were put forward by President Barack Obama. Without a full quorum, Ex-Im can only authorize loans under $10 million, which make up only around 15 percent of the Banks total business.\r\nSince 2013, the U.S. Export-Import Bank has helped financemore than $1 billion in exports from nearly 80 Virginia companies, more than half of them small businesses. Sen. Warner has been a longtime supporterof Ex-Im,introducinglegislation to reauthorize its operations and increase its spending authority following a historic lapse in Congressional approval in July 2015.Since the Banks reauthorization, he hascalledfor the confirmation of qualified nominees to lead a fully functional Ex-Im.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://comstock.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-passes-rep-comstock-s-legislation-reauthorize-us-fire", "House Passes Rep. Comstocks Legislation To Reauthorize U.S. Fire Administration, AFG, and SAFER Programs", "2017-12-18", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Barbara Comstock", "C001105", "comstock.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC  Congresswoman Barbara Comstock (R-VA) released the following statement after the House Representatives passed her legislation by voice vote, H.R. 4661, the United States Fire Administration, AFG, and SAFER Program Reauthorization Act of 2017. AFG (Assistance to Firefighters Grant) awards and SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response) grants help provide necessary firefighting gear and training to firefighters and emergency responders, among other critical functions. The legislation authorizes $750 million for both programs:\nAs I travel throughout my district and visit with firefighters and paramedics, I am constantly reminded of the sacrifices they make to protect our neighbors. Sadly, across our nation last year, 69 brave men and women lost their lives in the line of duty. This legislation will reauthorize $750 million for the USFA, AFG, and SAFER programs for six years, and ensure that our nations firefighters and paramedics have the tools and training they need to safely fight and prevent devastating fires. The Fairfax Fire and Rescue Department has received over $16 million since 2002 through these grant programs. The Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Department has also received over $3.5 million since 2002 through these programs.\nAFG awards provide funding for new innovative technologies, equipment and training to ensure the safety of our nations first responders. With the reauthorization of this program firefighters in the field will be able to receive technological advanced equipment that will keep them safer and save lives. The SAFER Act awards help local fire departments recruit, hire, and retain trained firefighters. Many firefighting departments in my district rely on these grants in order to maintain high quality fire and emergency services for their communities. This legislation advances these critical priorities for our first responders who are the frontlines in emergencies that can impact whole families and communities. I am pleased that we also have the support of our local firefighters in our communities for this important first responder bill.\nThe reauthorization of the FIRE and SAFER grant programs demonstrates the continued excellent support of Congress, in particular Representative Comstock, for the nations fire service, said Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Department Chief Keith Brower. These programs greatly assist localities in the areas of firefighter safety, fire and life safety education and improved resourcing for tactical fire operations. The fire problem in America continues to demand a strong emphasis on fire prevention, adequate staffing and up to date equipment to do the job safely. This bill is tremendous for career and volunteer firefighters alike.\nWe appreciate todays action by the U.S. House of Representatives to preserve the FIRE and SAFER grant programs, and the U.S. Fire Administration. These critical programs help local fire departments protect their jurisdictions from the many threats that we face every day, said Chief Thomas Jenkins, President and Chairman of the Board of the International Association of Fire Chiefs.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://comstock.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-passes-rep-comstock-s-research-and-education-effectiveness-and", "House Passes Rep. Comstocks Research and Education Effectiveness and Transparency Act", "2017-12-18", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Barbara Comstock", "C001105", "comstock.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC  Congresswoman Barbara Comstock (R-VA) released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed her bipartisan legislation, H.R. 4375, the Research and Education Effectiveness and Transparency Act by a vote of 376 to 9:\nThis legislation provides better information on how to make taxpayer-funded investments in STEM and Research and Development more effective, transparent, and fair. It requires the National Science Foundation - for the first time - to report and make recommendations to Congress regarding the effectiveness of its research and education programs aimed at broadening the participation of women and historically underrepresented individuals in STEM.\nOur nation must be a leader in the STEM fields and this legislation will promote a robust STEM economy that will enhance opportunity for Americans from all walks of life, especially those who have been underrepresented in these increasingly critical fields. The diversity of our scientists and researchers is a key strength as they build on each others work to discover breakthroughs and create revolutionary research techniques.  I appreciate Chairman Smith and my Science Committee colleagues for their work on this important issue as we continue to foster a nation where people can thrive in the STEM fields.\nIn order to have a vibrant STEM economy that provides opportunity and prosperity for all we must be the leader in STEM fields. To do that, we need to develop the talent of all Americans, especially our researchers and scientists who rely on the strength of their diversity as they work with one another to advance research and other scientific breakthroughs. This report will help us focus resources on what works. The Research and Education Effectiveness and Transparency Act also requires all Federal science agencies to collect standardized information, including demographics, for each application for research and developments grants. This information will provide better transparency to how taxpayer dollars are spent on research and scientists across the Federal government. I appreciate my colleagues support.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://taylor.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-passes-rep-taylors-computer-science-education-resolution", "House Passes Rep. Taylor's Computer Science Education Resolution", "2017-12-18", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Scott Taylor", "T000477", "taylor.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Today, the House of Representatives passed H. Con. Res. 95, a resolution in support of utilizing public-private partnerships to expand computer science education in K-12 classrooms, introduced by Congressman Scott Taylor with the support of Representatives Dan Lipinski (IL-03), Charles Fleischmann (TN-03), and Derek Kilmer (WA-06) as original co-sponsors.\nSixty percent of American school curriculums do not include computer science education, even though computing jobs are projected to grow at twice the rate of all other jobs. The job landscape in America is rapidly changing and our children are falling behind. We need to equip them with the skills to be competitive in a 21st Century global economy. I am grateful for the support from Representatives Lipinski, Fleischmann, and Kilmer in getting this resolution to the floor and standing with the 90 percent of parents who say they want computer science taught in American classrooms. \nThe FY 18 Labor HHS Appropriations Bill, passed by the House earlier this year, recommends $500,000,000 in Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE) Grants. The SSAE offers states and school districts increased flexibility to utilize resources on locally-determined priorities to give students access to a well-rounded education. The funding recommendation makes all funds available for the purposes of offering STEM fields, including computer science.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://tomgarrett.house.gov/media/in-the-news/garrett-introduces-student-loan-forgiveness-bill", "Garrett introduces student loan forgiveness bill", "2017-12-18", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Thomas Garrett", "G000580", "tomgarrett.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Tom Garrett, R-5th, has introduced a bill that he says will address the student loan crisis. Referred to as the Student Security Act of 2017, it would provide loan forgiveness to those receiving federal student loans by agreeing to delay their eligibility to collect Social Security benefits. No one can deny that millions of Americans face tens-of-thousands of dollars in debt-per-student, Garrett said in a news release. These economic pressures inhibit key life events, like homebuying, starting a family and, worst of all, harnessing ideas and starting businesses. The bill allows for $550 in student loan forgiveness in exchange for increasing the participants retirement age for Social Security benefits by a month. The time for action is now, Garrett said. This debt is a huge threat to America. ... I will not stand idly by as Social Security goes bankrupt and millennials drown in debt ... READ MORE", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-joins-resolution-to-reverse-fccs-rollback-of-net-neutrality-protections", "Kaine Joins Resolution To Reverse FCC's Rollback Of Net Neutrality Protections", "2017-12-18", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Kaine Joins Resolution To Reverse FCC's Rollback Of Net Neutrality Protections\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, December 18, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON D.C.  Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) joined Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) to co-sponsor a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to reverse the Federal Communications Commissions (FCCs) repeal of net neutrality rules. Last week, the FCC gutted the 2015 Open Internet Order, which prohibits internet service providers from blocking, slowing down or speeding up internet traffic based on how much they get paid. The FCCs ruling could stifle innovation and lead to increased costs for consumers and a decreased web experience for countless Americans.\r\nThe Trump Administrations decision to repeal net neutrality rules takes power away from consumers and hands it to large telecomm companies, allowing them to control the flow of information on the Internet, Kaine said. Passing our Congressional Review Act resolution would restore these rules and ensure the internet remains a free and open resource.\r\nThe resolution of disapproval would reverse the FCCs decision and fully restore the Open Internet Order. CRA resolutions allow Congress to overturn regulatory actions at federal agencies with a simple majority vote in both chambers.In accordance with the CRA, the Senators will formally introduce the resolution once the rule is submitted to both houses of Congress and published in the federal register. In his first four months in office, President Trump signed 14 CRA resolutions to nullify rules issued by the previous Administration. Prior to that, the CRA was invoked just once during the 107th Congress to reverse a rule by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. A copy of the CRA can be foundHERE.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://comstock.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/loudoun-times-loudoun-officials-welcome-comstock-s-metro-reform-bill", "Loudoun Times: Loudoun officials welcome Comstocks Metro reform bill", "2017-12-16", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Barbara Comstock", "C001105", "comstock.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-10th) is taking steps to implement what many say are much-needed reforms to the regions Metro system.Comstockhas introduced the Metro Accountability and Reform Act,a bill that raises the federal contribution to Metro by 50 percent in exchange for amending the transit systems governing compact and creating a short-term, five-member reform board.\nYou may read the whole story at the Loudoun Times here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://morgangriffith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398840", "Congressman Griffith's Weekly E-Newsletter 12.15.17", "2017-12-15", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Morgan Griffith", "G000568", "morgangriffith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Internet Freedom\r\nThe recent stir about the Federal Communications Commissions (FCC) repeal of net neutrality reminds me of The Wizard of Oz, when Dorothy and friends worry about what lies in the enchanted forest. Rather than lions and tigers and bears, however, net neutrality supporters incant about the threat posed by Google and Facebook and Twitter, oh my!\r\nThe Internet is famous for its free, open nature. If the federal government announced that it planned to impose extensive controls on the Internet, there would be an uproar.\r\nYet that is exactly what the Obama Administrations FCC set out to do in 2015.\r\nSupporters of net neutrality say it is vital to a free and open Internet, but the Internet as we know it came about before net neutrality. The Web thrived when an open market and a light government touch empowered inventors and entrepreneurs. This environment allowed small enterprises to become giants. Companies like Google, Apple, Facebook, and Twitter are household names now, but began with just a few people and ideas.\r\nNet neutrality will strangle similar successes before they occur. The core of the policy is reclassifying the Internet as a utility under Title II of the Communications Act of 1934. The FCC invoked Title II in 2015, taking legislation that was aimed at entities like the Ma Bell telephone monopoly and applying it to the Digital Age. Supporters of the FCCs decision raised the specter of Internet service providers (ISPs) blocking websites or charging for access to content if their rules were not implemented, but ISPs werent engaging in this practice before the FCCs new net neutrality rules of 2015.\r\nAccording to the website BroadbandNow, the United States has 2,682 ISPs. If an ISP engages in the practices that net neutrality supposedly shields consumers from now, customers can choose another ISP. If these practices become widespread, another ISP can enter the market to serve dissatisfied consumers. Time and again, the free market has shown itself to be far more agile in meeting consumers needs than the government. It was doing so before net neutrality.\r\nThe bad things net neutrality was supposed to address were not happening, but the drawbacks it imposes on todays Internet are real. Innovation, investment, and expansion have suffered. From 2014 to 2016, spanning the time net neutrality went from consideration to implementation, wireless capital investment declined by $6.8 billion, or about 20%. It shrank even as traffic grew. Companies find themselves spending more on compliance with the FCCs rules and less on their actual business. They are reluctant to make long-term decisions about investment because they dont know what rules the FCC will establish under Title II. The companies best positioned to survive in this era are the big companies that currently dominate the market. Start-ups will be grounded before they ever take off. Net neutrality freezes in place the status quo.\r\nThis development is bad news for rural areas like much of Southwest Virginia. More money for investment should expand broadband networks into areas they havent yet touched, but net neutrality has had a chilling effect. Large companies arent going to profit much from rural expansion, so they wont do it. Preserving the current rules leaves them dominant, but deters the innovators who are looking to change the world and seek out a little profit wherever it can be found.\r\nWhen ATTs Bell telephone monopoly was broken up in the 1980s, many people feared the disruption the breakup would cause. There was indeed disruption: an explosion of new technology and the arrival of cell phones to the mass market. Ending net neutrality should deliver this type of disruption. The type that delivers choice and value to consumers.\r\nIf the fears being fanned by the industry giants of today come true, Congress has the responsibility to address them, not unelected bureaucrats. As an example, my colleague on the Energy and Commerce Committee, Rep. Adam Kinzinger, has already been working on such a bill.\r\nThe FCC has pointed out that the end of net neutrality leaves the Federal Trade Commission the power to break up any company with a monopolistic hold on the industry, as it did with Ma Bell.\r\nFar from the end of the Internet as we know it, the demise of net neutrality, the return to the light touch of government, and the freedom to innovate have the potential to take the Internet to heights not yet imagined by you or me. But in a garage or a basement somewhere in the United States, young minds are at work who have already imagined the future, and now they have the freedom to make it so.\r\nFeel free to contact my Abingdon office at 276-525-1405 or my Christiansburg office at 540-381-5671. To reach my office via email, please visit my website atwww.morgangriffith.house.gov.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bobbyscott.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/scott-statement-on-false-allegation", "Scott Statement on False Allegation", "2017-12-15", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Robert Scott", "S000185", "bobbyscott.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement:\nToday, a former Congressional Black Caucus Foundation fellow, backed by a Republican operative known for dabbling in outlandish conspiracy theories, falsely alleged an act of sexual harassment against me. I absolutely deny this allegation of misconduct. I have never sexually harassed anyone in my 25 years of service in the United States Congress, or in my 40 years of public service, or at any other time. Sexual harassment and assault are serious issues deserving of critical attention and review. No one should be subjected to sexual harassment or be treated unfairly. I have fought to promote and ensure that in my political and professional life and I live by it personally. The recent national discussion about sexual harassment is valued and important to our work to continue to make the workplace free from harassment and discrimination. False allegations will squander this momentous opportunity for dialogue on meaningful change in the workplace. I am confident that this false allegation will be seen for what it is when the facts are adequately reviewed.\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://connolly.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1215", "Connolly-Katko Introduce EARNED Act", "2017-12-15", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Gerald Connolly", "C001078", "connolly.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Representatives Gerry Connolly (D-VA) and John Katko (R-NY) introduced the Education Assistance to Realign New Eligibilities for Dependents (EARNED) Act, bipartisan legislation that would add an additional category of servicemembers eligible to transfer entitlement to post-9/11 educational assistance. \r\nCurrently, the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 allows certain servicemembers to transfer all or some of their unused education benefits to their spouse or dependent children. The EARNED Act would expand that eligibility to any active duty or retired member of the Armed Forces who has at least 20 years of active-duty service, including at least 90 days of such service after September 10, 2001.\r\nThere is no greater responsibility in Congress than to make sure that we take care of those who put on the uniform, both during and after active duty service, said Congressman Connolly. The EARNED Act builds on the successful 9/11 GI bill, by ensuring these brave servicemembers have the option to pass along their education benefits to their loved ones. It is a clear win-win. We have another tool for retaining talent and ensuring a strong military, and it allows us to uphold our promise to veterans who have served so honorably. \r\nOur veterans have made countless sacrifices to protect, defend, and serve this great nation. They answered a call of duty that only the bravest men and women are willing to answer, and we need to do everything we can to help them and their families, said Congressman Katko. This legislation adds an additional transferability option under the Post 9/11 GI Bill that would allow servicemembers to transfer all or some of their unused benefits to spouses or dependent children.\r\nThe ability to transfer education benefits has traditionally been used as a retention tool. Servicemembers with six years of service can transfer their education benefits if they commit to four years of additional service. Additionally, servicemembers with ten years of service, who are precluded from committing to four additional years, can transfer if they agree to serve the maximum amount of time allowed by policy or statute. The EARNED Act would recognize that individuals who have served twenty years have made a sufficient contribution and deserve the ability to transfer their education benefits to dependents. This legislation would still incentivize additional service, but would also allow veterans who have served twenty years to provide education opportunities to their children.\r\nText of the legislation is available here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://mceachin.house.gov/media/press-releases/lawmakers-urge-us-trade-representative-prioritize-jobs-america", "Lawmakers Urge U.S. Trade Representative to Prioritize Jobs in America", "2017-12-15", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "A. McEachin", "M001200", "mceachin.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Congressman A. Donald McEachin (VA-04) and Congressman John Lewis (GA-05) led fellow lawmakers on a letter to the U.S. Trade Representative, Robert E. Lighthizer, urging him to prioritize jobs for hardworking Americans as he renegotiates the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).\nTwenty-four years ago, I opposed NAFTA because I was concerned about a race to the bottom in the pursuit of a profit. Unfortunately, many good, livable-wage jobs in Metro Atlanta moved overseas during this unprecedented era of free trade, said Rep. John Lewis. We know firsthand that there are persistent attempts to offshore United States jobs and pay the lowest possible wages. For these reasons, any meaningful deal must safeguard American jobs and include protections for workers in the United States and around the world.\nThe United States needs to seek strong, enforceable labor standards in a renegotiated NAFTA. Too many American workers have lost well-paying, middle-class jobs because other countries have lower wages and fewer workplace protections, said Rep. Donald McEachin. Current policy creates incentives for companies like Mondelz to offshore jobs to Mexico and elsewhere, adversely affecting countless families and communities. Instead of rewarding offshoring, we need to encourage domestic investments that strengthen our economy and grow the middle class.\nSome large companies have developed a pattern of shifting thousands of good-paying jobs away from hardworking Americans to countries, such as Mexico, with lower wage and labor standards than the United States of America. While another country with weaker employment standards can be seen as an incentive for corporations, this developing pattern directly impacts middle-class American families.\nPreserving U.S.-based, livable-wage jobs is critical to the long-term health of both the American middle class and our broader economy. Cities like Richmond, VA; Atlanta, GA; Fairlawn, NJ; Chicago, IL; and Portland, OR  all of which host Mondelz production facilities  can ill afford further offshoring. Yet, current policies incentivize that outcome, wrote the Members of Congress. We know that the American worker can compete with anyone in the world  but that competition needs to be fair. NAFTA renegotiations offer a unique opportunity to help create the level playing field that Americans need and deserve.\nThis letter was also signed by Representatives Dan Lipinski (IL-03), Bobby Rush (IL-01), and Bill Pascrell (NJ-09). Full letter text is available here and below.\n###\nContacts:   \n\t(McEachin) Jamitress Bowden 202-225-6365  \n\t(Lewis) Michael Collins 202-225-3801\n\nDear Ambassador Lighthizer:\nAs you continue to re-negotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), we urge you to seek strong, enforceable labor standards that raise wages in Mexico and reduce incentives for offshoring; encourage domestic investment; and support well-paying American jobs.\nIrrespective of its overall impact, NAFTA has displaced nearly 700,000 American workers, while trade deficits, in general, have cost the U.S. economy 5 million manufacturing jobs. For every one of those workers, and for their families, NAFTA produced a potentially wrenching, life-altering change. In turn, those changes have greatly affected surrounding communities  especially in places where the local economy was built on manufacturing.\nAs you know, these trends are ongoing. For example, since 2014 Mondelz International has increasingly shifted production work from the United States to Mexico, where wages are far lower and labor standards weaker. This change has destroyed roughly a thousand middle class jobs at facilities across the country; one plant, in Philadelphia, has closed entirely. Five other facilities, and roughly 1,800 jobs, remain directly at risk. In turn, those facilities and positions support up to 7,000 additional jobs in the surrounding communities.\nPreserving U.S.-based, livable-wage jobs is critical to the long-term health of both the American middle class and our broader economy. Cities like Richmond, VA; Atlanta, GA; Fairlawn, NJ; Chicago, IL; and Portland, OR  all of which host Mondelz production facilities  can ill afford further offshoring. Yet, current policies incentivize that outcome.\nWe know that the American worker can compete with anyone in the world  but that competition needs to be fair. NAFTA re-negotiations offer a unique opportunity to help create the level playing field that Americans need and deserve. In your opening remarks at the first round of re-negotiations, you stated that the United States cannot ignore  the lost manufacturing jobs, the businesses that have closed or moved because of incentives  intended or not  in the current agreement. Changing those incentives should be a key priority as negotiations continue.\nYour effort to re-negotiate NAFTA can only be considered successful if the new agreement creates strong standards that prevent employers in other countries from exploiting and underpaying workers or cutting corners in ways that our own laws forbid  and if you show the will to enforce those standards. We are confident that these changes and continued action will prevent future outsourcing, bring back jobs, lift wages, and strengthen the middle class  to the lasting benefit of our economy and our country.\nAs always, thank you for your attention to our concerns on this grave matter. We look forward to your response.\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://mceachin.house.gov/media/press-releases/mceachin-kaine-murphy-colleagues-ask-devos-answers-disciplinary-protections", "McEachin, Kaine, Murphy & Colleagues Ask DeVos For Answers on Disciplinary Protections for Minority Students", "2017-12-15", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "A. McEachin", "M001200", "mceachin.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Today, Congressman A. Donald McEachin (VA-04), Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Chris Murphy (D-CT), both members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, joined 15 Senators and 36 Members of the U.S. House of Representatives in sending a letter to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos asking her not to revoke or modify school discipline guidelines, following press reports that suggest she is considering a repeal of the protections. In January 2014, the Department of Education under President Obama released school discipline guidelines to assist states, districts, and schools to develop and implement practices that address the tendencies of school discipline policies to disproportionately negatively impact African American students and students with disabilities. These guidelines are not mandatory and only provide guidance to schools. Recent press reports have suggested that the Department of Education under Secretary DeVos is considering revoking these guidelines.\nWe write to express our support for efforts to improve school climate and address the persistent, disproportionate impact of exclusionary and aversive discipline practices on groups of historically marginalized students, such as students of color. We strongly urge you to maintain guidance on discipline and compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin, the legislators said.\nThe senators and representatives raised that statistics indicate that minority students across the country are suspended and disciplined at much higher rates than their white peers.\nIn the 2013-14 school year, approximately 2.8 million students received one or more out of school suspensions from public schools according to the biennial Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC). The CRDC also showed that African-American students were almost four times as likely to be suspended and nearly twice as likely to be expelled compared to white students, and students with disabilities were more than twice as likely to be subjected to exclusionary discipline measures than students without disabilities, the legislators said. \nThey also reference a 2017 Legal Aid Justice Center study which notes that while African American students make up only 23 percent of public school enrollment, they account for 60 percent of suspensions  nearly four times the rate of white students in Virginia.\nThe legislators concluded by asking DeVos to confirm that she will not revoke or modify the guidelines, whose only purpose is to protect students from discrimination, While we hope recent reporting that the Department is considering revoking or modifying this critical guidance on school discipline is inaccurate, by January 5, 2018, we request that you confirm your Department will not be revoking or modifying this critical guidance for upholding the civil rights of students under Title VI.\nThe letter is supported by the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.\nFull letter text is available here and below.\n###\n(McEachin) Jamitress Bowden 202-225-6365  \n\t(Kaine) Sarah Peck 202-228-1174  \n\t(Murphy) Laura Maloney 202-228-1056\n\nDear Secretary DeVos,\nWe write to express our support for efforts to improve school climate and address the persistent, disproportionate impact of exclusionary and aversive discipline practices on groups of historically marginalized students, such as students of color. We strongly urge you to maintain guidance on discipline and compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin. This guidance is crucial to ensuring that all students receive a safe, equitable, and high-quality education as well as helping schools and other recipients of federal financial assistance understand their obligations to develop and administer discipline policies in a nondiscriminatory manner.\nIn January 2014, the Department of Education and the Department of Justice jointly released a school discipline guidance package to assist states, districts, and schools to develop and implement practices and strategies to enhance school climates and that ensure discipline policies and practices comply with federal civil rights law. These documents equip educators with a set of tools to support student success in an environment free from discrimination. The Departments issued this guidance package in response to well-documented excessive and disproportionate use of suspension and expulsion. In the 2013-14 school year, approximately 2.8 million students received one or more out of school suspensions from public schools according to the biennial Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC). The CRDC also showed that African-American students were almost four times as likely to be suspended and nearly twice as likely to be expelled compared to white students, and students with disabilities were more than twice as likely to be subjected to exclusionary discipline measures compared to students without disabilities.\nA statewide study by the Council of State Governments and Public Policy Research Institute, Breaking Schools Rules, further demonstrates the pervasiveness of exclusionary discipline practices for all students, while underscoring the particularly acute impact for vulnerable subgroups of students. According to the study, in Texas, which enrolls more than 10-percent of the nations public school students, more than half of all students were suspended or expelled at least once between 7th and 12th grade, while only 3 percent of disciplinary actions were for conduct for which state law mandates suspensions and expulsions. The study found significant racial disparities within discretionary disciplinary actions: African-American students had a 31 percent higher likelihood of a school discretionary action, compared to otherwise identical white and Hispanic students. Meanwhile, nearly three-quarters of the students who qualified for special education services [] were suspended or expelled at least once. These disparate discipline practices can have severe academic consequences. According to the report nearly a third of students who were suspended or expelled repeated a grade at least once, while 10 percent dropped out. A 2017 study by the Legal Aid Justice Center found similar results in Virginia. While African-American students make up only 23 percent of public school enrollment in the Commonwealth, they account for nearly 60 percent of short-term suspensions -- with a suspension rate of nearly four times their white peers. These numbers are even starker when examining African-American male students with disabilities, who were nearly twenty times more likely to be suspended than white female students without disabilities. The 2014 school discipline guidance package recognized these staggering disparities and provided educators with more effective alternatives that keep children in school and ensure a safe learning environment for everyone.\nThe 2014 school discipline guidance supports states in meeting their obligations under the Every Student Succeeds Act. State educational agencies are now statutorily required to describe in their state plan how they will support local education agencies (LEAs) to improve school conditions for student learning including through reducing  (i) incidences of bullying and harassment; (ii) the overuse of discipline practices that remove students from the classroom; and (iii) the use of aversive behavioral interventions that compromise student health and safety (Sec. 1111(g)(1)(C)). ESSA also encourages schools implementing a Title I schoolwide program to include implementation of a schoolwide tiered model to prevent and address problem behavior as a strategy to meet the needs of all students in their required plans (Sec. 1114(b)(7)(A)(iii)(III)).\nWhile we hope recent reporting that the Department of Education is considering revoking or modifying this critical guidance on school discipline is inaccurate, we request that by January 5, 2018 you confirm your Department will not be revoking or modifying this critical guidance for upholding the civil rights of students under Title VI.\nPart of the stated mission of the Department of Education is fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access. It is our opinion that the discipline guidance is fundamental to meeting this mission. We hope you will not undermine this mission by revoking or modifying the discipline guidance released in January 2014.\nThank you for your attention to this critical issue. We look forward to your response.\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://taylor.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-scott-taylor-and-colleagues-introduce-bill-designating-national", "Congressman Scott Taylor and Colleagues Introduce Bill Designating National Centers of Excellence in Coastal Flood Research and Education", "2017-12-15", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Scott Taylor", "T000477", "taylor.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Scott Taylor, joined by Virginia Reps. Bobby Scott (VA-03) and Rob Wittman (VA-01), introduced the National Centers of Excellence in Coastal Flood Research and Education Act. This legislation designates public colleges and universities that provide research, data, and recommendations on the scientific, economic, policy, and risk analysis of coastal flooding as National Centers of Excellence in Coast Flood Research and Education. Specifically, the bill instructs the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to designate and identify such centers as sources for expert advice and guidance for Federal agencies engaged in coastal flooding research and education issues and projects.\nSea level rise poses a significant threat to coastal regions and communities, especially coastal Virginia, said Congressman Scott Taylor. Our Commonwealth has the highest concentration of DoD coastal facilities and commercial port facilities in the nation that are at risk from sea level rise. Hampton Roads is home to thousands of federal employees, contractors, and military personnel, representing the second largest population center at risk from sea level rise impact. Providing a national designation for institutions that offer quality research and analysis, such as Old Dominion University, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, and the Virginia Coastal Policy Center at the College of William and Mary, is the first step toward combatting the potentially devastating effects of sea level rise on our communities, infrastructure, and military capabilities.\nDramatic sea level rise poses significant risk to Virginians, and I am proud to work on this bipartisan legislation with Reps. Taylor and Wittman, said Congressman Scott. Virginia communities are some of the most vulnerable areas in the country in regards to the rising sea level. We must take this threat seriously. Virginias population, economy, military, and infrastructure are all at risk if we do not act. Our universities and colleges stand on the forefront of scientific and academic innovation with the potential to stem the tide of sea level rise, and this legislation is a promising step towards making sure that their expertise is listened to and respected.\nHampton Roads and Coastal Virginia currently face challenges associated with rising sea levels and a sinking coastal plain  leading to costly and impactful repetitive flooding. As Virginia, and Hampton Roads specifically, is the east coast epicenter of military activity, I want to make sure our Department of Defense and Virginia installations have the tools they need to complete their mission in the face of coastal flooding. Designating these research institutions as Centers of Excellence will allow for ongoing studies and collaborations to model recurrent flooding and sea level rise and examine options for enhancing mission resiliency at impacted military installations and protecting coastal communities, stated Congressman Rob Wittman. \nAs a condition of designation as a National Center of Excellence, the public college or university must agree to collaborate on Federal flood-related issues with federal agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) on best practices on regional, state, and locally specific flooding and flood related issues. The Administrator of NOAA will submit an annual report to Congress and the President detailing the findings and applicable information from the National Centers of Excellence, and make the report available to the public in an easily accessible electronic format on the NOAA website.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://tomgarrett.house.gov/media/in-the-news/bill-congress-help-combat-student-loan-debt", "Bill before Congress to help combat student loan debt", "2017-12-15", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Thomas Garrett", "G000580", "tomgarrett.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "A piece of legislation before the U.S. House aims to help college graduates deal with student debt.\nThe Student Security Act of 2017 gives graduates loan forgiveness for allowing their full-retirement age for Social Security benefits to be increased.\nIt would allow $550 in loan forgiveness, which about the average cost for one credit hour at a public university, in exchange for raising the participant's retirement age by one month. This equals $6,600 for each year a participant delays getting their benefits.\nUnder the legislation, participants can get a maximum of $40,150 in debt relief, which would mean they would not be able to claim Social Security benefits for six years and one month past the normal retirement age.\nCongressman Tom Garrett (R-Virginia) says Congress has not shown much urgency to address the millions of Americans across the country who are struggling to pay $1.3 trillion in student debt ... READ MORE", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://tomgarrett.house.gov/media/press-releases/garrett-staff-hold-mobile-office-hours-cumberland-campbell-prince-edward", "Garrett Staff To Hold Mobile Office Hours In Cumberland, Campbell, Prince Edward, Appomattox, Bedford, Charlotte, Nelson, and Halifax Counties", "2017-12-15", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Thomas Garrett", "G000580", "tomgarrett.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "DANVILLE, VA (December 12, 2017)In an ongoing effort to provide top-notch constituent service, Congressman Tom Garretts (R-VA05) staff will hold Mobile Office Hours in Cumberland, Rustburg, Farmville, Appomattox, Bedford, Charlotte Court House, Lovingston, Halifax on Tuesday, December 19th, from 10:00a.m. to 3:30p.m. at the Cumberland County Public Library, Campbell County Public Library, Central Va. Regional Library, Appomattox Administration Building, Town of Bedford Municipal Office, Charlotte Administration Building, Jefferson-Madison Regional Library, and the Mary Bethune Office Complex.\nStaff will be on hand to assist residents who have questions regarding Social Security benefits, Medicare, immigration, veterans benefits, student loans, and other federal programs. All are encouraged to attend. Constituents who are not able to attend Mobile Office Hours can visit the Services section of Congressman Garretts's online office at www.TomGarrett.House.Gov CUMBERLAND CO: Cumberland, VA  TUESDSAY, DECEMBER 19TH, 2017   \n\tWHO: U.S. Congressman Tom Garretts Staff  \n\tWHAT: Mobile Office Hours  \n\tWHEN: From 10:00a.m. to 11:30a.m.  \n\tWHERE: Cumberland County Public Library, 1539 Anderson Highway,Cumberland, VA 23040\nQUESTIONS: Contact Congressman Garretts Danville District Office at (434) 791-2596\nCAMPBELL CO: Rustburg, VA  TUESDSAY, DECEMBER 19TH, 2017   \n\tWHO: U.S. Congressman Tom Garretts Staff  \n\tWHAT: Mobile Office Hours  \n\tWHEN: From 10:00am to 11:30am  \n\tWHERE: Campbell County Public Library- Rustburg Branch, Program Room, 684Village Highway, Rustburg, VA 24588  \n\tQUESTIONS: Contact Congressman Garretts Danville District Office at (434) 791-2596\nPRINCE EDWARD CO: Farmville, VA - TUESDSAY, DECEMBER 19TH, 2017   \n\tWHO: U.S. Congressman Tom Garretts Staff  \n\tWHAT:  Mobile Office Hours  \n\tWHEN: From 10:00am to 11:30am  \n\tWHERE: Central Virginia Region Library, Farmville Branch, Meeting Room, 1303 W. 3rd Street, Farmville, VA 23901  \n\tQUESTIONS: Contact Congressman Garretts Danville District Office at (434) 791-259\nAPPOMATTOX CO: Appomattox, VA  TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19TH, 2017  \n\tWHO: U.S. Congressman Tom Garretts Staff  \n\tWHAT: Mobile Office Hours  \n\tWHEN: From 12:30pm to 1:30pm  \n\tWHERE: Appomattox Administration Building, Board Conference Room, 153-AMorton Lane, Appomattox, VA 24522  \n\tQUESTIONS: Contact Congressman Garretts Danville District Office at (434) 791-2596\nBEDFORD CO: Bedford, VA  TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19TH, 2017  \n\tWHO: U.S. Congressman Tom Garretts Staff  \n\tWHAT: Mobile Office Hours  \n\tWHEN: From 12:30pm to 1:30pm  \n\tWHERE: Town of Bedford Municipal Office, Conference Room, 215 East Main Street, Bedford, VA 24523  \n\tQUESTIONS: Contact Congressman Garretts Danville District Office at (434) 791-2596\nCHARLOTTE CO: CharlotteCourt HouseVA  TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19TH, 2017  \n\tWHO: U.S. Congressman Tom Garretts Staff  \n\tWHAT: Mobile Office Hours  \n\tWHEN: From 12:30pm to 1:30pm  \n\tWHERE: Charlotte Administration Building, Conference Room, 240 LeGrande Ave.,Ste. A, Charlotte Court House, VA 23923  \n\tQUESTIONS: Contact Congressman Garretts Danville District Office at (434) 791-2596\nNELSON CO: Lovingston, VA  TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19TH, 2017  \n\tWHO: U.S. Congressman Tom Garretts Staff  \n\tWHAT: Mobile Office Hours  \n\tWHEN: From 2:30pm to 3:30pm  \n\tWHERE: Jefferson Madison Regional Library, Conference Room, 8521 Thomas Nelson Highway, Lovingston, VA 22949  \n\tQUESTIONS: Contact Congressman Garretts Danville District Office at (434) 791-2596\nHALIFAX CO: Halifax, VA  TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19TH, 2017  \n\tWHO: U.S. Congressman Tom Garretts Staff  \n\tWHAT: Mobile Office Hours  \n\tWHEN: From 2:30 p.m. to 3:30p.m.  \n\tWHERE: Mary Bethune Office Complex, Public Meeting Room, 2nd Floor, 1030 Mary Bethune Street, Halifax, VA 24558  \n\tQUESTIONS: Contact Congressman Garretts Danville District Office at (434) 791-2596", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-joins-bipartisan-bill-to-protect-children-from-lead-exposure", "Kaine Joins Bipartisan Bill To Protect Children From Lead Exposure", "2017-12-15", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Kaine Joins Bipartisan Bill To Protect Children From Lead Exposure\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFriday, December 15, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) is co-sponsoring the Lead-Safe Housing for Kids Act of 2017,which would require the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to adopt prevention measures and update its lead regulations to protect children from the risk of lead exposure. Since the enactment of federal lead policies in the 1990s, lead poisoning rates have fallen dramatically. However, lead poisoning risk continues to fall disproportionally on minority children that live in federally subsidized housing because of outdated and ineffective federal laws and regulations.\r\nThis bill will help ensure the Department of Housing and Urban Development is operating by the highest standard to protect children from the risks of lead exposure, Kaine said. Children should never have to live in housing where they are endangered by harmful toxins.\r\nThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) calls for a public health intervention when a childs blood level is 5 g/dL (micrograms of lead per deciliter). Under previous HUD regulations, however, intervention to reduce lead hazards in a home was not required until the amount of lead in a child was four times as high  20 g/dL. Earlier this year, HUD finalized a rule updating its definition of lead poisoning with the CDCs definition of elevated blood lead level in children and established more comprehensive testing and evaluation procedures for housing occupied by children poisoned by lead. While HUD made much needed improvements to its regulatory scheme, the regulations continue to allow children to be exposed to and poisoned by lead before any intervention is triggered.\r\n\r\nTheLead-Safe Housing for Kids Act of 2017would ensure safe, affordable housing by reducing the threat of lead exposure and lead poisoning of children in federally-assisted housing by adopting primary prevention measures to protect children in low-income housing, including:\r\n\r\n Prohibiting the use of visual assessments for low-income housing constructed prior to 1978 and require the use of risk assessments or a more accurate evaluation tool to identify lead hazards before a family moves into the home;\r\n Providing a process for families to relocate on an emergency basis, without penalty or the loss of assistance, if a lead hazard is identified in the home and the landlord fails to control the hazard within 30 days of being notified of the presence of lead; and\r\n Requiring landlords to disclose the presence of lead if lead hazards are found in the home.\r\n\r\nKaine and Senator Mark Warner have been leaders in efforts to boost investment in infrastructure repairs to protect against harmful toxins. In September, Kaine and Warner secured federal funding for Virginia Tech through HUDs Office of Lead Hazard and Healthy Homes Technical Studies to study the performance of household water filters for removing lead from drinking water. Last year, Warner and Kaine pushed for the passage of the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act(WRDA) to authorize $10.6 billion in water infrastructure projects across the nation, including a package of measures to address the drinking water crisis in Flint, Michigan.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-murphy-mceachin-and-colleagues-ask-devos-for-answers-on-disciplinary-protections-for-minority-students", "Kaine, Murphy, McEachin & Colleagues Ask DeVos For Answers On Disciplinary Protections For Minority Students", "2017-12-15", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Kaine, Murphy, McEachin & Colleagues Ask DeVos For Answers On Disciplinary Protections For Minority Students\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFriday, December 15, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tBicameral legislators ask Devos to confirm or deny reports of Department walking back school discipline guidelines\r\n\r\nWASHINGTON, D.C.  Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Chris Murphy (D-CT), both members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Congressman A. Donald McEachin (D-VA) joined 15 Senators and 36 Members of the U.S. House of Representatives in sending a letter to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos asking her not to revoke or modify school discipline guidelines, following press reports that suggest she is considering a repeal of the protections. In January 2014, the Department of Education under President Obama released school discipline guidelines to assist states, districts, and schools to develop and implement practices that address the tendencies of school discipline policies to disproportionately negatively impact African American students and students with disabilities. These guidelines are not mandatory and only provide guidance to schools. Recent press reports have suggested that the Department of Education under Secretary DeVos is considering revoking these guidelines.\r\n\r\nWe write to express our support for efforts to improve school climate and address the persistent, disproportionate impact of exclusionary and aversive discipline practices on groups of historically marginalized students, such as students of color. We strongly urge you to maintain guidance on discipline and compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin, the legislators said.\r\nThe senators and representatives raised that statistics indicate that minority students across the country are suspended and disciplined at much higher rates than their white peers.\r\n\r\nIn the 2013-14 school year, approximately 2.8 million students received one or more out of school suspensions from public schools according to the biennial Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC). The CRDC also showed that African-American students were almost four times as likely to be suspended and nearly twice as likely to be expelled compared to white students, and students with disabilities were more than twice as likely to be subjected to exclusionary discipline measures than students without disabilities, the legislators said.\r\n\r\nThey also reference a 2017 Legal Aid Justice Center study which notes that while African American students make up only 23 percent of public school enrollment, they account for 60 percent of suspensions  nearly four times the rate of white students in Virginia.\r\n\r\nThe legislators concluded by asking DeVos to confirm that she will not revoke or modify the guidelines, whose only purpose is to protect students from discrimination, While we hope recent reporting that the Department is considering revoking or modifying this critical guidance on school discipline is inaccurate, by January 5, 2018, we request that you confirm your Department will not be revoking or modifying this critical guidance for upholding the civil rights of students under Title VI.\r\n\r\nThe letter is supported by the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.\r\nFull text of the letter is below. A copy of the letter is available here.\r\n\r\nDear Secretary DeVos,\r\n\r\nWe write to express our support for efforts to improve school climate and address the persistent, disproportionate impact of exclusionary and aversive discipline practices on groups of historically marginalized students, such as students of color. We strongly urge you to maintain guidance on discipline and compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin. This guidance is crucial to ensuring that all students receive a safe, equitable, and high-quality education as well as helping schools and other recipients of federal financial assistance understand their obligations to develop and administer discipline policies in a nondiscriminatory manner.\r\n\r\nIn January 2014, the Department of Education and the Department of Justice jointly released a school discipline guidance package to assist states, districts, and schools to develop and implement practices and strategies to enhance school climates and that ensure discipline policies and practices comply with federal civil rights law. These documents equip educators with a set of tools to support student success in an environment free from discrimination. The Departments issued this guidance package in response to well-documented excessive and disproportionate use of suspension and expulsion. In the 2013-14 school year, approximately 2.8 million students received one or more out of school suspensions from public schools according to the biennial Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC). The CRDC also showed that African-American students were almost four times as likely to be suspended and nearly twice as likely to be expelled compared to white students, and students with disabilities were more than twice as likely to be subjected to exclusionary discipline measures compared to students without disabilities.\r\n\r\nA statewide study by the Council of State Governments and Public Policy Research Institute, Breaking Schools Rules, further demonstrates the pervasiveness of exclusionary discipline practices for all students, while underscoring the particularly acute impact for vulnerable subgroups of students. According to the study, in Texas, which enrolls more than 10-percent of the nations public school students, more than half of all students were suspended or expelled at least once between 7th and 12th grade, while only 3 percent of disciplinary actions were for conduct for which state law mandates suspensions and expulsions. The study found significant racial disparities within discretionary disciplinary actions: African-American students had a 31 percent higher likelihood of a school discretionary action, compared to otherwise identical white and Hispanic students. Meanwhile, nearly three-quarters of the students who qualified for special education services [] were suspended or expelled at least once. These disparate discipline practices can have severe academic consequences. According to the report nearly a third of students who were suspended or expelled repeated a grade at least once, while 10 percent dropped out. A 2017 study by the Legal Aid Justice Center found similar results in Virginia. While African-American students make up only 23 percent of public school enrollment in the Commonwealth, they account for nearly 60 percent of short-term suspensions -- with a suspension rate of nearly four times their white peers. These numbers are even starker when examining African-American male students with disabilities, who were nearly twenty times more likely to be suspended than white female students without disabilities. The 2014 school discipline guidance package recognized these staggering disparities and provided educators with more effective alternatives that keep children in school and ensure a safe learning environment for everyone.\r\n\r\nThe 2014 school discipline guidance supports states in meeting their obligations under the Every Student Succeeds Act. State educational agencies are now statutorily required to describe in their state plan how they will support local education agencies (LEAs) to improve school conditions for student learning including through reducing  (i) incidences of bullying and harassment; (ii) the overuse of discipline practices that remove students from the classroom; and (iii) the use of aversive behavioral interventions that compromise student health and safety (Sec. 1111(g)(1)(C)). ESSA also encourages schools implementing a Title I schoolwide program to include implementation of a schoolwide tiered model to prevent and address problem behavior as a strategy to meet the needs of all students in their required plans (Sec. 1114(b)(7)(A)(iii)(III)).\r\n\r\nWhile we hope recent reporting that the Department of Education is considering revoking or modifying this critical guidance on school discipline is inaccurate, we request that by January 5, 2018 you confirm your Department will not be revoking or modifying this critical guidance for upholding the civil rights of students under Title VI.\r\n\r\nPart of the stated mission of the Department of Education is fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access. It is our opinion that the discipline guidance is fundamental to meeting this mission. We hope you will not undermine this mission by revoking or modifying the discipline guidance released in January 2014.\r\n\r\nThank you for your attention to this critical issue. We look forward to your response.\r\n\r\nSincerely,\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bobbyscott.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/representatives-introduce-bill-designating-national-centers-of", "Representatives Introduce Bill Designating National Centers of Excellence in Coastal Flood Research and Education", "2017-12-14", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Robert Scott", "S000185", "bobbyscott.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Scott Taylor, joined by Virginia Reps. Bobby Scott (VA-03) and Rob Wittman (VA-01), introduced the National Centers of Excellence in Coastal Flood Research and Education Act. This legislation designates public colleges and universities that provide research, data, and recommendations on the scientific, economic, policy, and risk analysis of coastal flooding as National Centers of Excellence in Coast Flood Research and Education. Specifically, the bill instructs the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to designate and identify such centers as sources for expert advice and guidance for Federal agencies engaged in coastal flooding research and education issues and projects.\u00a0\u00a0\n\u201cSea level rise poses a significant threat to coastal regions and communities, especially coastal Virginia,\u201d said Congressman Scott Taylor. \u201cOur Commonwealth has the highest concentration of DoD coastal facilities and commercial port facilities in the nation that are at risk from sea level rise. Hampton Roads is home to thousands of federal employees, contractors, and military personnel, representing the second largest population center at risk from sea level rise impact. Providing a national designation for institutions that offer quality research and analysis, such as Old Dominion University, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, and the Virginia Coastal Policy Center at the College of William and Mary, is the first step toward combatting the potentially devastating effects of sea level rise on our communities, infrastructure, and military capabilities.\u201d\n\u201cDramatic sea level rise poses significant risk to Virginians, and I am proud to work on this bipartisan legislation with Reps. Taylor and Wittman,\u201d said Congressman BobbyScott. \u201cVirginia communities are some of the most vulnerable areas in the country in regards to the rising sea level. We must take this threat seriously. Virginia\u2019s population, economy, military, and infrastructure are all at risk if we do not act. Our universities and colleges stand on the forefront of scientific and academic innovation with the potential to stem the tide of sea level rise, and this legislation is a promising step towards making sure that their expertise is listened to and respected.\u201d\u00a0\n\u201cHampton Roads and Coastal Virginia currently face challenges associated with rising sea levels and a sinking coastal plain \u2013 leading to costly and impactful repetitive flooding. As Virginia, and Hampton Roads specifically, is the east coast epicenter of military activity, I want to make sure our Department of Defense and Virginia installations have the tools they need to complete their mission in the face of coastal flooding. Designating these research institutions as \u201cCenters of Excellence\u201d will allow for ongoing studies and collaborations to model recurrent flooding and sea level rise and examine options for enhancing mission resiliency at impacted military installations and protecting coastal communities,\u201d stated Congressman Rob Wittman. \nAs a condition of designation as a National Center of Excellence, the public college or university must agree to collaborate on Federal flood-related issues with federal agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) on best practices on regional, state, and locally specific flooding and flood related issues. The Administrator of NOAA will submit an annual report to Congress and the President detailing the findings and applicable information from the National Centers of Excellence, and make the report available to the public in an easily accessible electronic format on the NOAA website.\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bobbyscott.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/scott-condemns-action-to-seek-delay-of-rule-addressing-inequities-in", "Scott Condemns Action to Seek Delay of Rule Addressing Inequities in Special Education", "2017-12-14", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Robert Scott", "S000185", "bobbyscott.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "As originally released by the Committee on the Education and the Workforce, Democrats\u00a0\nWASHINGTON D.C. \u2013\u00a0Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Education (Department) intends to seek a comment period for a delay of the Equity in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) rule, which addresses disproportionate identification, placement, and disciplinary treatment of students of color in special education.\n\u201cI am deeply disappointed by the Department\u2019s efforts to propose a delay of the rule that addresses widespread disparities in the treatment of students of color with disabilities. This is particularly upsetting as we recently celebrated the 42nd anniversary of IDEA, which recognized the rights of students with disabilities to be educated in public schools in the least restrictive environment.\n\u201cDespite clear evidence of pervasive and significant disproportionality, as documented by a 2013 GAO report, less than three percent of school districts nationwide are working to eliminate, reduce, and prevent these disparities. Failure to address these disparities continues to jeopardize educational opportunity for millions of children of color.\n\u201cWhen Congress reauthorized the IDEA in 2004, my colleagues and I sought to correct this egregious wrong by requiring states, for the first time, to identify districts with gross disparities and direct federal resources to address these inequities. We knew then, just as we know now, that African American students are over-identified for special education services, placed in more restrictive settings, and disciplined at higher rates. Combatting this persistent problem is crucial to dismantling the \u2018School-to-Prison Pipeline\u2019 and helping students of color with disabilities achieve their full potential. Clearly, leaving the disproportionality provision unregulated has left states and school districts without the tools necessary to implement the law\u2019s requirements.\n\u201cAny effort to delay this rule, or remove it entirely, works against the fundamental goals of IDEA. Too many states and districts have failed to uphold their responsibility to address the deeply embedded inequities in special education in the identification, placement, and discipline of students of color. As I continue oversight on this issue at the federal level, I urge states to continue their efforts to address this national crisis. I also remain committed to holding the Department accountable for the civil rights of all students by ensuring critical protections for students with disabilities remain in place.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bobbyscott.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/scott-statement-on-repeal-of-net-neutrality-protections", "Scott Statement on Repeal of Net Neutrality Protections", "2017-12-14", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Robert Scott", "S000185", "bobbyscott.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to dismantle Title II net neutrality protections: \n\u201cToday\u2019s decision by the FCC will radically alter the internet as we know it and is another example of the Trump Administration siding with the wealthy and corporations instead of working families. Repealing net neutrality protections will only benefit the largest internet service providers at the expense of tech companies and consumers nationwide. Congress should immediately take action to restore Title II of the Communications Act and ensure that internet providers cannot discriminate or stifle innovation or free expression. The internet has become fundamental to almost every aspect of society, and we must ensure it remains free and open.\u201d \u00a0\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://comstock.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-comstock-names-medha-gupta-winner-2017-congressional-app-challenge", "Rep. Comstock Names Medha Gupta As Winner of the 2017 Congressional App Challenge", "2017-12-14", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Barbara Comstock", "C001105", "comstock.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 Congresswoman Barbara Comstock (R-VA) today announced the winner of the 2017 Congressional App Challenge:\n\u201cVirginia\u2019s 10th District is full of hardworking students who have each built innovative apps on their own time as part of their desire to succeed in the STEM fields which continue to be critical in today\u2019s economy. Congratulations to this year\u2019s winner of the Congressional App Challenge, Medha Gupta, from Herndon.\u00a0 Medha\u2019s app, called \u201cSafe Travel\u201d, is designed to help people who are commuting alone feel safer in their commute.\u00a0 The \u201cSafe Travel\u201d App sets a timer that will count down and automatically send an emergency message to your predetermined contact, letting them know you are in trouble if you do not notify the App that you have arrived safely.\u00a0 Medha\u2019s hard work and skill in building this App were exemplary and I applaud her, as well as each of her fellow 10th District students who competed this year, for the time and effort they put into building their Apps and developing practical technological solutions for an everyday problem.\u00a0 It is exciting to see our students engaged in the innovation revolution.\u201d\nThe Congressional App Challenge is a competition aimed at encouraging U.S. high school students to learn how to code by creating their own applications. The Challenge is intended to highlight the value of computer science and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education and encourage students to engage in these fields. By encouraging and recognizing our nation\u2019s young programming talent, Congress hopes to shine a light on the growing importance of these skills.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://goodlatte.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1066", "Goodlatte Praises FCC's Vote on the Restoring Internet Freedom Order", "2017-12-14", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Robert Goodlatte", "G000289", "goodlatte.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The Restoring Internet Freedom Order will encourage investment in internet infrastructure, promote competition, and ultimately benefit consumers.\r\n          share:\r\n          f \r\n          t \r\n        \r\n      \r\n      Today, Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) released the following statement on the Federal Communications Commission\u2019s (FCC) vote in favor of FCC Chairman Ajit Pai\u2019s Restoring Internet Freedom Order:\u201cI want to thank FCC Chairman Pai for liberating internet service providers and small businesses from the stranglehold of overly burdensome regulations. The Restoring Internet Freedom Order will encourage investment in internet infrastructure, promote competition, and ultimately benefit consumers. Having said that, we must continue to make sure that anti-competitive and discriminatory conduct on the internet is deterred and punished, and I look forward to continuing to work to make sure our laws, including our antitrust laws, protect against this conduct.\u201d Background: In August, Congressman Goodlatte wrote an op-ed for The Hill voicing his concerns about over-regulating the internet and explaining why the Federal Trade Commission is better equipped than the FCC to protect privacy and remedy antitrust issues. Goodlatte also praised FCC Chairman Pai\u2019s Restoring Internet Freedom Order when it was first released in November.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://mceachin.house.gov/media/press-releases/mceachin-wittman-lead-virginia-delegation-letter-secretary-spencer", "McEachin, Wittman Lead Virginia Delegation on Letter to Secretary Spencer", "2017-12-14", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "A. McEachin", "M001200", "mceachin.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 The entire Virginia Delegation, led by Congressman A. Donald McEachin (VA-04) and Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01), joined together to send a letter to the Secretary of the Navy, Richard Spencer, regarding the Navy\u2019s role in the widening of the Thimble Shoals Channel in Hampton Roads that supports operations of both the Port of Virginia and Naval Station Norfolk.\nNaval Station Norfolk is the world's largest naval base, supporting 75 ships and 134 aircraft alongside 14 piers and 11 aircraft hangars and the Port of Virginia is the fifth largest commercial port in the nation and among the fastest growing on the U.S. East Coast. House Report 114-537, which accompanied the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017, encouraged the Navy to work with the Port of Virginia on this important issue and requested the Navy keep Congress updated on the changes in commercial traffic volume and patterns at the Port of Virginia, as well as the potential impact on the Navy's operations.\n\u201cGrowth in trade and the expanded Panama Canal means that these larger ships are calling U.S. ports more frequently. Those ships are up to 1,200 feet in length and 160 feet in breadth, which is 235 feet longer and 54 feet wider than the previous class of Panamax vessels \u2013 and larger than the newest class of aircraft carriers. Accommodating these ships requires deeper and wider channels, to include Thimble Shoal Channel that support Naval Station Norfolk and the Port of Virginia,\u201d the Delegation wrote.\nUnder current conditions, the transit of an ULCV results in U.S. Coast Guard restrictions of one-way traffic through the channel. On November 8, 2017, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers published a draft report recommending that the Thimble Shoal Channel be widened from 1,000 to 1,200 feet to create meeting areas for vessel traffic on either side of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel; additional modeling continues to investigate widening the channel up to 1,400 feet.\n\u201cThe focus to make the Norfolk Harbor and its channels wider, deeper and safer has multiple benefits to the many users of this growing commercial and strategic maritime asset,\u201d said John F. Reinhart, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority. \u201cSuccess in this effort would create the U.S. East Coast\u2019s deepest harbor and allow for the safe, unimpeded, two-way flow of Navy ships, ultra-large container vessels and other commercial maritime traffic. This project holds significant value for both naval readiness and our national economy. We are grateful for the effort and consideration given to this project by Congressman Wittman, Congressman McEachin and the entire Virginia Congressional Delegation.\u201d\nThe Delegation requested that the Navy play a part in the process of widening of the Thimble Shoal Channel. Under current proposals under consideration by the Army Corps of Engineers, widening of the channel may not be complete until 2027. The Delegation believes that continued port congestion could impact commerce as well as Navy operations and readiness; while coordination and business rules can lessen the impact, the only long-term and sustainable solution is to widen the channel.\nAdditional Virginia Delegation members signing the letter include, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine, and U.S. Reps. Scott Taylor (VA-2), Bobby Scott (VA-3), Tom Garrett, Jr. (VA-5), Bob Goodlatte (VA-6), Dave Brat (VA-7), Don Beyer (VA-8), H. Morgan Griffith (VA-9), Barbara Comstock (VA-10), and Gerald E. Connolly (VA-11).\nFull letter text is here and below.\n###\nContact: Jamitress Bowden  \n\t(202) 225-6365", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://tomgarrett.house.gov/media/press-releases/garrett-introduces-student-security-act-combat-student-debt-and-empower", "Garrett Introduces Student Security Act to Combat Student Debt and Empower Students", "2017-12-14", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Thomas Garrett", "G000580", "tomgarrett.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. (Dec. 14, 2017)\u2014Congressman Tom Garrett (R-VA), Member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, released the following statement on the introduction of the Student Security Act of 2017 (H.R. 4584):\n\u201cOver forty-million Americans, myself included, are paying back $1.3 trillion in student debt, yet Congress has shown little urgency to address this.\u201d\n\u201cNo one can deny that millions of Americans face tens-of-thousands of dollars in debt-per-student. These economic pressures inhibit key life events, like home-buying, starting a family, and worst of all, harnessing ideas and starting businesses.\u201d\n\u201cIf we fail to take substantive steps to change course, we will lose much of the potential from this generation.\u00a0\u00a0This loss would be devastating, as too would be the loss of its energy, ideas, and vision that create jobs and opportunity.\u201d\n\u201cThe Social Security Administration projects the Student Security Program would save more than $700 billion over the lifetime of the program\u2014over 11% of what\u2019s needed to make Social Security solvent for perpetuity.\u201d\n\u201cThe time for action is now.\u00a0\u00a0This debt is a huge threat to America.\u00a0Without action, opportunity and themselves hang in the balance.\u00a0I will not stand idly by as Social Security goes bankrupt and Millennials drown in debt.\u201d\nBackground: \u00a0The Student Security Act of 2017 seeks to allow $550 in student loan forgiveness \u2014 roughly the average cost for one credit hour at a public university \u2014 in exchange for raising a participant\u2019s full-retirement age for Social Security benefits by one month. \u00a0This translates to $6,600 for every year in delayed benefits, with a maximum amount of $40,150 in debt relief which corresponds to a 6 year and 1 month raise in the retirement age.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://wittman.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1707", "Poll: What provisions do you want to see in tax reform?", "2017-12-14", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Robert Wittman", "W000804", "wittman.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Poll: What provisions do you want to see in tax reform?  \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        December 14, 2017\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://wittman.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1708", "Wittman Statement on Navys Strategic Readiness Review", "2017-12-14", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Robert Wittman", "W000804", "wittman.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Wittman Statement on Navy\u2019s Strategic Readiness ReviewWASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01), Chairman of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, released this statement following the release of Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer\u2019s report on the USS McCain and USS Fitzgerald collisions:  \u201cYesterday, I had the opportunity to meet with Secretary Spencer regarding his findings on the three ship collisions as well as one ship grounding that occurred earlier this year. I am pleased that the Secretary shares my sense of urgency as to creating and implementing the proper reforms. We were told a similar story in 2012 after the USS Porter collision; however, those reforms were never fully implemented. This will not happen again. It is apparent that significant structural reforms need to occur in numerous areas to ensure basic seamanship skills are provided and advanced warfighting expertise is attained. As Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee Chairman, I intend to hold a joint hearing with my colleagues in the Readiness Subcommittee in January to continue our oversight role and ensure meaningful reform is obtained.\u201d  Congressman Rob Wittman represents the 1st District of Virginia. He serves on the House Natural Resources Committee and the House Armed Services Committee, where he is the Chairman of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee. # # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://wittman.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1709", "VA Delegation Sends Letter to SecNav Spencer on Maritime Commerce", "2017-12-14", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Robert Wittman", "W000804", "wittman.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "VA Delegation Sends Letter to SecNav Spencer on Maritime Commerce  WASHINGTON - The entire Virginia Delegation, led by Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-1) and Congressman A. Donald McEachin (VA-4), joined together to send a letter to the Secretary of the Navy, Richard Spencer, regarding the Navy\u2019s role in the widening of the Thimble Shoals Channel in Hampton Roads that supports operations of both the Port of Virginia and Naval Station Norfolk.   Naval Station Norfolk is the world's largest naval base, supporting 75 ships and 134 aircraft alongside 14 piers and 11 aircraft hangars and the Port of Virginia is the fifth largest commercial port in the nation and among the fastest growing on the U.S. East Coast. House Report 114-537, which accompanied the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017, encouraged the Navy to work with the Port of Virginia on this important issue and requested the Navy keep Congress updated on the changes in commercial traffic volume and patterns at the Port of Virginia, as well as the potential impact on the Navy's operations.  \u201cGrowth in trade and the expanded Panama Canal means that these larger ships are calling U.S. ports more frequently. Those ships are up to 1,200 feet in length and 160 feet in breadth, which is 235 feet longer and 54 feet wider than the previous class of Panamax vessels \u2013 and larger than the newest class of aircraft carriers. Accommodating these ships requires deeper and wider channels, to include Thimble Shoal Channel that support Naval Station Norfolk and the Port of Virginia,\u201d the Delegation wrote. Under current conditions, the transit of an ULCV results in U.S. Coast Guard restrictions of one-way traffic through the channel. On November 8, 2017, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers published a draft report recommending that the Thimble Shoal Channel be widened from 1,000 to 1,200 feet to create meeting areas for vessel traffic on either side of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel; additional modeling continues to investigate widening the channel up to 1,400 feet. \u201cThe focus to make the Norfolk Harbor and its channels wider, deeper and safer has multiple benefits to the many users of this growing commercial and strategic maritime asset,\u201d said John F. Reinhart, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority. \u201cSuccess in this effort would create the U.S. East Coast\u2019s deepest harbor and allow for the safe, unimpeded, two-way flow of Navy ships, ultra-large container vessels and other commercial maritime traffic. This project holds significant value for both naval readiness and our national economy. We are grateful for the effort and consideration given to this project by Congressman Wittman, Congressman McEachin and the entire Virginia Congressional Delegation.\u201d The Delegation requested that the Navy play a part in the process of widening of the Thimble Shoal Channel. Under current proposals under consideration by the Army Corps of Engineers, widening of the channel may not be complete until 2027. The Delegation believes that continued port congestion could impact commerce as well as Navy operations and readiness; while coordination and business rules can lessen the impact, the only long-term and sustainable solution is to widen the channel.   Additional Virginia Delegation members signing the letter include, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine, and U.S. Reps. Scott Taylor (VA-2), Bobby Scott (VA-3), Tom Garrett, Jr. (VA-5), Bob Goodlatte (VA-6), Dave Brat (VA-7), Don Beyer (VA-8), H. Morgan Griffith (VA-9), Barbara Comstock (VA-10), and Gerald E. Connolly (VA-11). Congressman Rob Wittman represents the 1st District of Virginia. He serves on the House Natural Resources Committee and the House Armed Services Committee, where he is the Chairman of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee. # # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-and-warner-call-for-block-buy-of-future-aircraft-carriers", "Kaine & Warner Call For Block Buy Of Future Aircraft Carriers", "2017-12-14", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Kaine & Warner Call For Block Buy Of Future Aircraft Carriers\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, December 14, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWicker, Kaine, Lead Bipartisan Call, Citing Potential Savings for Taxpayers\r\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Tim Kaine (D-VA), were joined today by Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) and 14 Senators in sending a letter to Department of Defense Secretary James Mattis expressing their support for the Pentagon\u2019s pursuit to block buy two Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers in FY2019.\r\n\u201cCommitting to a block-buy for the newest generation of aircraft carriers would save us both time and money while offering much needed stability to our shipbuilders in Hampton Roads and suppliers across the Commonwealth as they build the ships to meet our nation\u2019s national security needs,\u201d Kaine said. \u201cIt is critical that we ensure tomorrow\u2019s Navy has the next-generation of warships necessary to meet challenges around the world, and this procurement strategy will ensure that our flexible force continues to be ready and agile.\u201d\r\n\u201cIt is the official policy of the United States government \u2013 and in the interest of our national security \u2013 to meet the Navy\u2019s requirement for 355 ships,\u201d Wicker said. \u201cThat requirement includes having a total of 12 aircraft carriers, which are the centerpieces of American power on the seas.\u00a0 Attaining this goal is going to require better procurement strategies and use of taxpayer dollars. Secretary Mattis has my full support to move forward with a block buy for the next two Ford-class carriers.\u201d\r\nIn addition to Wicker, Kaine, and Warner, the letter was signed by Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Patty Murray (D-WA), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Tim Scott (R-SC), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Luther Strange (R-AL), and Thom Tillis (R-NC).\r\nThe letter reads in full:\r\nDear Secretary Mattis,\r\nAs you continue preparation of the Fiscal Year 2019 Budget Request for the Department of Defense, we write to express our support for the block buy of Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers.\u00a0 It is our understanding that the Navy and industry have been evaluating the feasibility of block-buy for CVN-80 and CVN-81, as well as the potential cost savings from such a procurement strategy.\u00a0 We applaud the Department of Defense\u2019s efforts to examine smarter and more efficient acquisition approaches and would actively support the Department\u2019s pursuit of a block buy of Ford-class aircraft carriers in Fiscal Year 2019.\r\nPrevious block-buys have yielded savings of several percent of the total cost of the ships when compared to annual procurements, which could be in excess of $1 billion for two Ford-class carriers. Total savings could grow to something closer to $2 billion if the procurement intervals between the ships are additionally shortened from five-year centers to three- or four-year centers, which would be consistent with the Navy's goal of achieving and maintaining the 12-carrier force called for in the Navy's 355-ship requirement.\r\nIn light of the increased budgetary demands placed on the Department, we believe that revisiting a proven acquisition method, one that could be executed without reducing funding for other vital shipbuilding programs, is not only warranted, but a sound investment.\u00a0\r\nAs recent events in the Pacific have shown, our nation's carrier fleet is under considerable demand, with 3 of 11 deployed and 7 of 11 carriers underway in recent weeks.\u00a0 A block-buy of Ford-class will help the Navy achieve its objective of 12 carriers that better meets combatant commander requirements and readiness goals to sustain worldwide operations.\u00a0 Additionally, a block-buy would continue to signal to the shipbuilding industrial base about our nation\u2019s resolve to field a 355-ship fleet.\u00a0 Over the past 25 years, our shipbuilding industrial base has undergone a massive consolidation.\u00a0 The community, which used to tap into more than 17,000 suppliers now relies on fewer than 3,000 across the country. These remaining suppliers would significantly benefit from the predictability and stability of a known future workload.\u00a0 We believe the stability offered by a block-buy approach would enable suppliers to develop greater efficiencies and invest in their own businesses, which would further benefit other Navy shipbuilding programs as well.\r\nAt the forefront of today\u2019s Navy is the Nimitz class carrier and Virginia-class submarine, both of which are successful products of block-buy type initiatives.\u00a0 As we look to the next 50 years, we believe a wise investment of our precious defense dollars would be in the time-proven acquisition method of block-buy for our next generation of aircraft carrier. Thank you for your consideration and service to our country.\r\nClick here to view a copy of the signed letter.\r\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2017/12/warner-kaine-call-for-block-buy-of-future-aircraft-carriers", "Warner & Kaine Call for Block Buy of Future Aircraft Carriers", "2017-12-14", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Mark Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Tim Kaine (D-VA), were joined today by Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) and 14 Senators in sending a letter to Department of Defense Secretary James Mattis expressing their support for the Pentagon\u2019s pursuit to block buy two Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers in FY2019.\r\n\u201cCommitting to a block-buy for the newest generation of aircraft carriers would save us both time and money while offering much needed stability to our shipbuilders in Hampton Roads and suppliers across the Commonwealth as they build the ships to meet our nation\u2019s national security needs,\u201dKaine\u00a0said. \u201cIt is critical that we ensure tomorrow\u2019s Navy has the next-generation of warships necessary to meet challenges around the world, and this procurement strategy will ensure that our flexible force continues to be ready and agile.\u201d\r\n\u201cIt is the official policy of the United States government \u2013 and in the interest of our national security \u2013 to meet the Navy\u2019s requirement for 355 ships,\u201dWicker said.\u00a0\u201cThat requirement includes having a total of 12 aircraft carriers, which are the centerpieces of American power on the seas.\u00a0 Attaining this goal is going to require better procurement strategies and use of taxpayer dollars. Secretary Mattis has my full support to move forward with a block buy for the next two Ford-class carriers.\u201d\u00a0\r\nIn addition to Wicker, Kaine, and Warner, the letter was signed by Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Patty Murray (D-WA), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Tim Scott (R-SC), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Luther Strange (R-AL), and Thom Tillis (R-NC).\u00a0\r\nThe letter reads in full:\r\n\u00a0\r\nDear Secretary Mattis,\r\nAs you continue preparation of the Fiscal Year 2019 Budget Request for the Department of Defense, we write to express our support for the block buy of Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers.\u00a0 It is our understanding that the Navy and industry have been evaluating the feasibility of block-buy for CVN-80 and CVN-81, as well as the potential cost savings from such a procurement strategy.\u00a0 We applaud the Department of Defense\u2019s efforts to examine smarter and more efficient acquisition approaches and would actively support the Department\u2019s pursuit of a block buy of Ford-class aircraft carriers in Fiscal Year 2019.\r\nPrevious block-buys have yielded savings of several percent of the total cost of the ships when compared to annual procurements, which could be in excess of $1 billion for two Ford-class carriers. Total savings could grow to something closer to $2 billion if the procurement intervals between the ships are additionally shortened from five-year centers to three- or four-year centers, which would be consistent with the Navy's goal of achieving and maintaining the 12-carrier force called for in the Navy's 355-ship requirement.\r\nIn light of the increased budgetary demands placed on the Department, we believe that revisiting a proven acquisition method, one that could be executed without reducing funding for other vital shipbuilding programs, is not only warranted, but a sound investment.\u00a0\r\nAs recent events in the Pacific have shown, our nation's carrier fleet is under considerable demand, with 3 of 11 deployed and 7 of 11 carriers underway in recent weeks.\u00a0 A block-buy of Ford-class will help the Navy achieve its objective of 12 carriers that better meets combatant commander requirements and readiness goals to sustain worldwide operations.\u00a0 Additionally, a block-buy would continue to signal to the shipbuilding industrial base about our nation\u2019s resolve to field a 355-ship fleet.\u00a0 Over the past 25 years, our shipbuilding industrial base has undergone a massive consolidation.\u00a0 The community, which used to tap into more than 17,000 suppliers now relies on fewer than 3,000 across the country. These remaining suppliers would significantly benefit from the predictability and stability of a known future workload.\u00a0 We believe the stability offered by a block-buy approach would enable suppliers to develop greater efficiencies and invest in their own businesses, which would further benefit other Navy shipbuilding programs as well.\r\nAt the forefront of today\u2019s Navy is the Nimitz class carrier and Virginia-class submarine, both of which are successful products of block-buy type initiatives.\u00a0 As we look to the next 50 years, we believe a wise investment of our precious defense dollars would be in the time-proven acquisition method of block-buy for our next generation of aircraft carrier. Thank you for your consideration and service to our country.\u00a0\r\nClick here to view a copy of the signed letter.\r\n\u00a0\r\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2017/12/warner-on-senate-floor-pass-the-dream-act-now", "Warner on Senate Floor: Pass the DREAM Act Now", "2017-12-14", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Mark Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Facebook\n\t\tInstagram\n\t\tTwitter\n\t\tYouTube\n\t\tFlickr", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://brat.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=564", "Rep. Brat Calls for Senate Action on CHIP Reauthorization", "2017-12-13", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "David Brat", "B001290", "brat.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON - Rep. Brat (R-Va.) released the following statement after joining with Reps. Bob Goodlatte (Va.-06), Rob Wittman (Va.-01), Scott Taylor (Va.-02), Tom Garrett (Va.-05), and Barbara Comstock (Va.-10) to send a letter addressed to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuch Schumer (D-NY) calling for swift passage of the CHAMPIONING HEALTHY Kids Act to reauthorize the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). \u201cI have every confidence that both the House and Senate can work in a bipartisan fashion to guarantee there is no lapse in funding for CHIP recipients in Virginia. It is disappointing to see some individuals play political games to unnecessarily worry Virginia parents. \u201cLast week the House included legislative language in our funding bill to ensure sufficient funding through the end of the year for CHIP. In the same manner, I know the House and Senate will ensure any additional funding bills provide the program with the necessary resources. Both sides of the aisle agree CHIP is a vital program that benefits countless Virginia families and so folks back home can rest assured and know we are committed to fully funding and reauthorizing it in the future.\u201d Read the full text of the letter\u00a0here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://comstock.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-barbara-comstock-chairs-hearing-addressing-head-health-challenge", "Rep. Barbara Comstock Chairs Hearing Addressing the Head Health Challenge", "2017-12-13", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Barbara Comstock", "C001105", "comstock.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - Today, Congresswoman Comstock chaired a hearing at the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, Subcommittee on Research and Technology on the Head Health Challenge: Preventing Head Trauma from the Football Field to Shop Floor to Battlefield.\nThe hearing reviewed the results of the Head Health Challenge, a private-public partnership designed to develop innovative advanced materials to better improve protective equipment for sports, industry, military, and other users at high risk of head trauma.\u00a0 The competition is cosponsored by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and three private organizations: the National Football League, General Electric, and Under Armour.\u00a0 The applicants were evaluated on a number of testing qualifications.\u00a0 Each of the final five winners received $250,000 to advance their submissions and the final two grand prize co-winners \u2013 Dynamic Research and 6D Helmets, out of an original 125 submissions, will split an additional $500,000.\u00a0 This competition is the third in a series over a four year, $60 million private-public collaboration.\n\u201cAs a mother of children who have played sports and a grandmother, I am concerned about the short term and long term impacts of head trauma.\u00a0 By incentivizing problem solvers to tackle these complex issues on preventing repetitive brain trauma, the government is catalyzing growth in new sciences and technologies, which will have wide impacts beyond the specific problem they are attempting to solve, not just for those who play sports, but also our men and women in the military and workers in dangerous jobs.\n\u201cAs Dr. Alex Deghan, CEO and founder of Conservation X Labs\u00a0said during his testimony, \u2018Instead of looking for the needle in the haystack, we need to incentivize the needle to find you,\u2019 by engaging in these competitions, Congress is encouraging development and innovation not just for the winners, but all the participants, who can produce innovative and novel breakthroughs.\n\u201cI was happy to showcase such innovation in the form of my constituent, Mr. Shawn Springs, a former Redskins player, and now CEO of Leesburg based Windpact, who is on the cutting edge of developing materials to prevent the physical damage from impacts and who offered his unique perspective on using private-public partnerships like the Head Health Challenge to spur innovation.\n\u201cI strongly believe that public-private science prize competition are invaluable to the advancement of player safety,\u201d said Shawn Springs, CEO of Windpact and former Redskins player.\u00a0 \u201cLearning and accepting guidance from the medical community, our aim is to be the catalyst of innovation for impact protection technology so manufacturers can build better products for their customers.\n\u201cWindpact chose to make its headquarters in Loudoun County for multiple reasons. With all of the development in the area, we believe it is the next innovation hub. Additionally, its location is close to military and government offices, as well as the dense population of families and kids in the area playing sports, it made sense for us to be located in an area where we could make real connections to the communities we are working to protect.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://connolly.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1212", "Connolly, Scott, Beyer and McEachin Urge Congressional Leadership to Reauthorize CHIP", "2017-12-13", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Gerald Connolly", "C001078", "connolly.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Virginia Congressmen  Gerry Connolly, Bobby Scott, Don Beyer and A. Donald McEachin sent a letter to congressional leadership urging them to immediately bring up bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The CHIP program, which historically has been a bipartisan effort, provides insurance to more than 66,000 children and 1,100 pregnant women in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Earlier this week, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffee began to notify families of the lack of CHIP funding. \"Further inaction is immoral and needless,\" the Members wrote.\u00a0 \"CHIP has always received overwhelming bipartisan support. In fact, Senators Orrin Hatch and Ron Wyden reached a bipartisan deal to reauthorize CHIP for five years in September, and the Senate Finance Committee has already acted on this bill. We implore you to take up this bill, or a similar bipartisan reauthorization immediately.\" The full letter follows and is available here. Dear Majority Leader McConnell, Minority Leader Schumer, Speaker Ryan and Leader Pelosi:\r\nIn the Commonwealth of Virginia 66,000 children and 1,100 pregnant women rely on the Children\u2019s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). In Fiscal Years 2016-2017 in Virginia, CHIP covered 218,190 immunizations, 221,309 well-child checkups, 21,430 glasses and contact lenses, and 326,567 dental visits. CHIP is an indispensable partner to Virginia in securing a healthy future for our children.\r\nAs you are aware, CHIP\u2019s authorization expired on September 30th, and now Virginia will run out of funds in January 2018 if CHIP is not reauthorized. Governor Terry McAuliffe has been forced to notify families this week that Congress has yet to reauthorize CHIP and to prepare other options \u2013 which for some children and their families simply may not exist. Linda Nablo, chief deputy director at Virginia\u2019s Department of Medical Assistance Services has said \u201cmost families, their children will go without insurance.\u201d\r\nFurther inaction is immoral and needless. CHIP has always received overwhelming bipartisan support. In fact, Senators Orrin Hatch and Ron Wyden reached a bipartisan deal to reauthorize CHIP for five years in September, and the Senate Finance Committee has already acted on this bill. We implore you to take up this bill, or a similar bipartisan reauthorization immediately.\r\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://goodlatte.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1064", "Goodlatte Statement at Oversight Hearing with Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein", "2017-12-13", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Robert Goodlatte", "G000289", "goodlatte.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) today delivered the following remarks during the House Judiciary Committee's oversight hearing with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.Chairman Goodlatte: Good morning.  Thank you, Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein, for appearing for the first time in front of this Committee.  There is much to discuss today, and we look forward to your testimony and answers to our questions. As Chairman of the Committee with primary oversight of DOJ and the FBI, I have always supported DOJ and FBI in performing their valuable missions to keep our nation safe and to hold individuals accountable for criminal conduct.  Yet I and many on this Committee now find ourselves in the very difficult position of questioning the actions of both prior and current Department and FBI leadership. You have a unique role at DOJ, in that you appointed Special Counsel Mueller and have a supervisory role over his investigation. It is therefore very appropriate for you to appear before this Committee to answer questions related to the scope of the Special Counsel\u2019s investigation, as well as its current efficacy in light of various events calling into question its impartiality. Reports on the political predisposition, and potential bias, of certain career agents and Department lawyers on Special Counsel Mueller\u2019s team are deeply troubling to all citizens who expect a system of blind and equal justice.  DOJ investigations must not be tainted by individuals imposing their own political prejudices.  We are now beginning to better understand the magnitude of this insider bias on Mr. Mueller\u2019s team. First, we have FBI agent Peter Strzok and FBI lawyer Lisa Page exchanging communications showing extreme bias against President Trump, a fact that would be bad enough if it weren\u2019t for the fact that these two individuals were employed as part of the Mueller \u201cdream team\u201d investigating the very person for whom they were showing disdain.  And calling it mere \u201cdisdain\u201d is generous.  According to the documents produced last night to this Committee, Mr. Strzok and Ms. Page referred to the President as \u201can utter idiot,\u201d \u201ca loathsome human,\u201d and \u201cawful,\u201d while continually praising Hillary Clinton and the Obamas.  These text messages prove what we all suspected: high-ranking FBI officials involved in the Clinton investigation were personally invested in the outcome of the election, and clearly let their strong political opinions cloud their professional judgment.  And this was only an \u201cinitial disclosure,\u201d containing heavy redactions. Second, former embattled FBI General Counsel and current Mueller prosecutor, Andrew Weissmann, expressed his \u201cawe\u201d of a former DOJ official for shunning the President and failing to faithfully execute the law.  However, we are the ones now in \u201cawe\u201d that someone like Mr. Weissmann remains on an investigative team that looks more and more partisan. Third, we have learned that a top Mueller prosecutor, Jeannie Rhee, in addition to other actions that would normally justify recusal, served as an attorney for the Clinton Foundation.  Aren\u2019t DOJ attorneys advised to avoid even the \u201cappearance of impropriety?\u201d  A former Clinton employee is now investigating President Trump.  This seems to be the very definition of \u201cappearance of impropriety.\u201d Fourth, we just recently learned that another top DOJ official, Bruce Ohr, has been reassigned because of his and his wife\u2019s connections with the infamous \u201cdossier\u201d and the company from whom the opposition research document originated. We hope to hear your assessment of the foregoing conflicts, whether individuals are being held accountable, and whether you still have confidence in the judgement of the Special Counsel you named and supervise. Regarding the Clinton email scandal, you, along with Attorney General Sessions, have to date declined to appoint a second special counsel to investigate the improprieties that continue to surface related to the handling of the Clinton email investigation and other events surrounding the 2016 election.  These are some of the important issues on which we will focus our energy and questions today. We want to understand your participation and the Department\u2019s involvement in addressing both investigations. Mr. Deputy Attorney General, DOJ\u2019s reputation as an impartial arbiter of justice has been called into question.  This taint of politicization should concern all Americans who have pride in the fairness of our nation\u2019s justice system.  While we continue to call on you to appoint a second special counsel, as you are aware, we have also opened our own joint investigation with the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee to review FBI and DOJ\u2019s handling of the Clinton email investigation. I want to thank you and Attorney General Sessions for recently committing to provide us relevant documents to enable robust Congressional oversight of this matter. I implore you to continue to work with us on these and other important matters facing our nation. One of those matters involves a critical program for our national security \u2013 FISA Section 702.  This Committee passed, on an overwhelming, bipartisan basis, the USA Liberty Act, which maintains the integrity of the program while protecting cherished civil liberties.  This overwhelming vote occurred despite the Department\u2019s lobbying efforts against our bill.  The USA Liberty Act was characterized as \u201cbad for the program,\u201d \u201chighly problematic,\u201d \u201cunworkable,\u201d and a proposal that would \u201ceffectively dismantle the Section 702 program.\u201d However, the reality is that this Committee\u2019s legislation struck a balance that promotes national security and civil liberties. I hope to hear from you why DOJ felt it necessary to oppose a bill that would reauthorize 702 and instill confidence in the American people that their privacy and civil liberties are respected by a Government whose duty it is to protect them. The Department of Justice must reacquire the trust of the American people, and I hope to hear from you today that you have an action plan to do so. Thank you again, Mr. Deputy Attorney General, for appearing today. I now yield to Mr. Nadler for his comments. VIDEO: Click here for video of Chairman Goodlatte\u2019s opening statement.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://mceachin.house.gov/media/press-releases/mceachin-statement-passing-former-hopewell-mayor-curtis-harris", "McEachin Statement on the Passing of former Hopewell Mayor Curtis Harris", "2017-12-13", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "A. McEachin", "M001200", "mceachin.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Hopewell, Va. \u2013\u00a0Congressman A. Donald McEachin (VA-04) issued this statement following the passing of former Hopewell Mayor Curtis Harris:\n\u201cI am filled with sadness at the passing of Rev. Curtis Harris. We lost a great man of faith who fought for the greater good on behalf of those who faced injustice and discrimination in his community, and across the country. Many in our community knew him as the strong and fearless leader that he was. Today and forever we shall honor the leadership of the renowned civil rights leader and pastor who was determined to make the changes we needed in our community. We will forever remember the life and legacy of Rev. Mayor Curtis Harris. My family and I pray for his family\u2019s healing during this tough time.\u201d\n###\nContact: Jamitress Bowden  \n\t(202) 225-6365", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://mceachin.house.gov/media/press-releases/virginia-congressmen-urge-congressional-leadership-fund-chip", "Virginia Congressmen Urge Congressional Leadership to Fund CHIP", "2017-12-13", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "A. McEachin", "M001200", "mceachin.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u00a0\u2013 Congressman A. Donald McEachin (VA-04) joined Congressmen Don Beyer (VA-08), Gerry Connolly (VA-11), and Bobby Scott (VA-03) on a letter to congressional leadership on the immediate need for the Children\u2019s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) funding following Governor McAuliffe's letter sent earlier this to families informing them of the lack of funding.\n\u201cVirginia children are at risk because Congress continues to fail to fund CHIP,\u201d said Congressman Donald McEachin. \u201cI join my colleagues to call on congressional leaders in the House and the Senate to bring forward a bill that would fund the CHIP program for five years because children need health care. These families deserve better than what is happening because of the Republicans' inaction.\u201d\nIn the Commonwealth of Virginia, 66,000 children and 1,100 pregnant women rely on the CHIP. This program has historically received bipartisan support.\n\u201cCHIP\u2019s authorization expired on September 30th, and now Virginia will run out of funds in January 2018 if CHIP is not reauthorized,\u201d wrote the Members of Congress. \u201cGovernor Terry McAuliffe has been forced to notify families this week that Congress has yet to reauthorize CHIP and to prepare other options \u2013 which for some children and their families simply may not exist. Linda Nablo, chief deputy director at Virginia\u2019s Department of Medical Assistance Services has said \u201cmost families, their children will go without insurance.\u201d\nFull letter text is available here and below.\n###\n\u00a0\nDear Majority Leader McConnell, Minority Leader Schumer, Speaker Ryan and Leader Pelosi:\nIn the Commonwealth of Virginia 66,000 children and 1,100 pregnant women rely on the Children\u2019s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). In Fiscal Years 2016-2017 in Virginia, CHIP covered 218,190 immunizations, 221,309 well-child checkups, 21,430 glasses and contact lenses, and 326,567 dental visits. CHIP is an indispensable partner to Virginia in securing a healthy future for our children.\nAs you are aware, CHIP\u2019s authorization expired on September 30th, and now Virginia will run out of funds in January 2018 if CHIP is not reauthorized. Governor Terry McAuliffe has been forced to notify families this week that Congress has yet to reauthorize CHIP and to prepare other options \u2013 which for some children and their families simply may not exist. Linda Nablo, chief deputy director at Virginia\u2019s Department of Medical Assistance Services has said \u201cmost families, their children will go without insurance.\u201d\nFurther inaction is immoral and needless. CHIP has always received overwhelming bipartisan support. In fact, Senators Orrin Hatch and Ron Wyden reached a bipartisan deal to reauthorize CHIP for five years in September, and the Senate Finance Committee has already acted on this bill. We implore you to take up this bill, or a similar bipartisan reauthorization immediately.\nSincerely,\n\u00a0\nContact: Jamitress Bowden  \n\t(202) 225-6365", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-calls-for-fcc-to-delay-tomorrows-net-neutrality-vote-consider-impact-on-rural-students", "Kaine Calls For FCC To Delay Tomorrow's Net Neutrality Vote, Consider Impact On Rural Students", "2017-12-13", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Kaine Calls For FCC To Delay Tomorrow's Net Neutrality Vote, Consider Impact On Rural Students\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWednesday, December 13, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, joined Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and 20 of their colleagues in a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman (FCC) Ajit Pai urging him to delay the proposed vote tomorrow that would dismantle existing net neutrality rules until he specifically addresses the impacts on students and schools\u2014specifically those in rural or low-income communities. Kaine is a strong supporter of a free, fair, and open internet, which provides our nation\u2019s students in P-12 and higher education with opportunities to learn and succeed. He opposes the Trump Administration\u2019s proposal to dismantle net neutrality rules and has raised concern over thousands of fake comments the FCC received on the proposal that inaccurately reflect the public opinion on this vital issue.\r\n\u201cBy overturning the Commission\u2019s current rules that preserve net neutrality and prevent internet service providers (ISPs) from blocking, throttling, or otherwise privileging lawful content, we fear that the Draft Order could harm our nation\u2019s students and schools\u2014especially those in rural and low-income communities,\u201d wrote the Senators. \u201cWe urge you to delay this monumental decision to dismantle net neutrality until you have fully examined the Draft Order\u2019s impact on our nation\u2019s students and their ability to learn.\u201d\r\nAllowing internet service providers to limit access and increase costs could widen the digital divide for students in rural and low-income areas, where their only access to the internet may be at a resource-constrained school or a public library. This decision could also hinder teachers\u2019 and students\u2019 ability to access educational materials from around the globe and make it more difficult for students with disabilities and English learners to receive a high-quality education. On December 14, the Commission is expected to vote along party lines in favor of Chairman Pai\u2019s proposal, which will roll back the FCC\u2019s current net neutrality rules and give more power to internet service providers (ISPs).\r\nIn addition to Senators Kaine and Murray, the letter was signed by Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ed Markey (D-MA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Jack Reed (D-RI), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Al Franken (D-MN), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH).\r\n\r\nFull text of letter below and PDF HERE.\u00a0\r\nDecember 12, 2017\r\n\u00a0\r\nThe Honorable Ajit Pai\r\nChairman\r\nFederal Communications Commission\r\n445 12th Street Southwest\r\nWashington, DC 20554\r\nDear Chairman Pai:\r\nWe write today regarding your draft order\u2014the Restoring Internet Freedom Order (\u201cthe Draft Order\u201d) \u2014and its potential impacts on students, schools, and institutions of higher education. By overturning the Commission\u2019s current rules that preserve net neutrality and prevent internet service providers (ISPs) from blocking, throttling, or otherwise privileging lawful content, we fear that the Draft Order could harm our nation\u2019s students and schools\u2014especially those in rural and low-income communities. We urge you to delay this monumental decision to dismantle net neutrality until you have fully examined the Draft Order\u2019s impact on our nation\u2019s students and their ability to learn.\r\nIn the past four years, P-12 schools have made enormous strides in improving access to high-speed connectivity for all students. In 2013, 40 million students were in schools not meeting the 100 kbps per student threshold. By 2017, only 6.5 million students were in schools not meeting this goal\u2014narrowing this gap by 84 percent.[1] From early childhood education through higher education and workforce training, students need access to high-speed internet in order to learn and make the most of their educational experience.\r\nThe Draft Order runs counter to our national goal of affordable, high-speed internet for all students. By rolling back the FCC\u2019s current prohibitions against blocking, throttling, and paid prioritization, the Draft Order could lead to a tiered and compartmentalized internet, and whose characteristic openness is limited to those students, schools, and institutions who can afford it. Beyond that, the Draft Order threatens to impede innovation that has taken place within the educational sphere, including when it comes to access to high-quality online coursework.\r\nOur nation\u2019s P-12 education system increasingly relies on an open internet to improve equity and access to high-quality content and instruction. Teachers depend on the internet to collaborate with colleagues and to access educational materials from around the globe. Entrepreneurs and educators alike have been able to develop high-quality educational technologies that support state standards and equip schools and teachers to personalize instruction. These technologies, which include educational apps and online coursework, help students learn valuable research and internet safety skills, and expand access to a high-quality education for students with disabilities and English learners. By allowing ISPs to limit access and increase costs, the Draft Order could threaten educational equity and exacerbate the digital divide.\u00a0\r\nRural schools could be particularly harmed by the potential effects of the Draft Order. One recent analysis shows that the 77 percent of the schools that lack high-speed fiber connections are in rural communities.[2] Despite the Draft Order\u2019s claim that the Commission\u2019s current rules have stifled investment in internet infrastructure and rural communities, independent studies have found that such investments by ISPs have largely remained stable[3] and in some cases have increased in underserved areas.[4] The Draft Order would neither protect fiscally-strapped schools and school districts from aggressive ISP pricing practices, nor would it guarantee any additional investment in underserved areas.\r\nInstitutions of higher education rely on an open internet to carry out both their educational and research missions. For instance, online coursework has grown significantly over the past decade: as of the fall of 2015, more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course, representing about 30 percent of enrollments, compared to less than 10 percent in the fall of 2002.[5] Should the Draft Order be adopted, video lectures and online learning resources that are essential to institutions of higher education may be rendered unavailable by ISPs that decide to block them or otherwise privilege a competing resource. Additionally, basic research, which today more than ever relies upon frequent exchange of massive data sets online, could be severely impacted by a tiered and tolled internet. The Association of Research Libraries has stated that \u201cif our institutions had to pay a fee in order to access these connections or download these digital files, it wouldn't happen.\u201d[6] Resource-constrained public institutions of higher education, the biggest users of online coursework, which remain funded nearly $9 billion below their per-student levels before the Great Recession, would particularly feel these constraints.[7]\r\nThe Draft Order may also disproportionately impact students whose only adequate connection to the internet is the one inside their classroom. Even in 2017, far too many students lack access to a reliable, high-speed internet connection outside their classrooms\u2014at home or off-campus. According to a 2015 Pew Research Center analysis, approximately 5 million households with school-age children did not have high-speed internet at home.[8] This analysis found that households with annual incomes under $50,000 were more than three times as likely to lack a high-speed connection than those with incomes over $50,000; nearly 40 percent of households with annual incomes under $25,000\u2014165 percent of full-time federal minimum wage[9]\u2014did not have a high-speed connection.[10] Coupled with the Commission\u2019s recent modifications to the Lifeline program and proposed changes to the critical Universal Service Fund\u2019s Schools and Libraries Program (\u201cE-Rate\u201d) program, implementation of the Draft Order could further deepen the \u201cdigital divide,\u201d effectively limiting or outright denying internet access to the students who need it most.\r\nIn summary, we are deeply concerned about the Draft Order\u2019s impact on our nation\u2019s education system. Subsequently, we ask that you delay your planned vote to roll back net neutrality and forever change the landscape of the internet until you can satisfactorily answer the following questions:\r\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Draft Order fails to make a single mention of \u2018student\u2019 or \u2018students\u2019 in its 210 pages; to what extent did the Commission contemplate the Draft Order\u2019s impact on students and the programs, schools, and institutions of higher education that they attend?\r\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What tangible and enforceable guarantees does the Draft Order provide for schools and institutions of higher education in rural areas, which face substantial barriers to accessing a high-speed internet connection?\r\no\u00a0\u00a0 What evidence does the Commission have that the Draft Order will provide superior connectivity over the regulatory regime currently in place?\r\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 How will the Draft Order affect the E-Rate program, including the progress made in such program since the 2014 modernization order?\r\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Paragraph 256 of the Draft Order \u201creject[s] the contrary argument ISPs will engage in \u2018virtual redlining\u2019 because, as discussed, paid prioritization is likely to lead to increased network investment and lower costs to end users, particularly benefitting those on the wrong side of the digital divide.\u201d[11]\r\no\u00a0\u00a0 What steps will the Commission take to ensure that ISPs do not engage in such behavior and that issues associated with the \u201cdigital divide\u201d and the \u201chomework gap\u201d are not being actively exacerbated by the regulatory framework envisioned by the Draft Order?\r\nWe thank you for your consideration of these pressing issues. We look forward to your swift and detailed response.\r\n###\r\n\u00a0\r\n    \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n[7] Allen, I. Elaine, Ph.D., and Jeff Seaman, Ph.D. \"Distance Education Enrollment Report 2017.\" May 2017. https://onlinelearningsurvey.com/reports/digtiallearningcompassenrollment2017.pdf, 4. Mitchell, Michael, Michael Leachman, and Kathleen Masterson. \"A Lost Decade in Higher Education Funding.\" August 23, 2017. https://www.cbpp.org/sites/default/files/atoms/files/2017_higher_ed_8-22-17_final.pdf, 2.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://morgangriffith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398839", "Griffith Bill to Promote Closed-Loop Pumped Storage Hydropower Passes House of Representatives", "2017-12-12", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Morgan Griffith", "G000568", "morgangriffith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "This technology is a job creator and an asset for a true \u2018all of the above\u2019 energy policy.\r\n          share:\r\n          f \r\n          t \r\n        \r\n      \r\n      The U.S. House of Representatives today passed H.R. 2880, the\u00a0Promoting Closed-Loop Pumped Storage Hydropower Act, introduced by Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA). The bill would streamline the licensing process the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) uses on closed-loop pumped storage projects. It would also require FERC to hold a workshop focused on potential opportunities for development of closed-loop pumped storage projects at abandoned mine sites. Congressman Griffith issued the following statement:\r\n\u201cI applaud my House colleagues for supporting this commonsense bill to promote closed-loop pumped storage hydropower. This technology is a job creator and an asset for a true \u2018all of the above\u2019 energy policy. I have promoted it as a great idea for the Virginia coalfields because we have the infrastructure ready to support closed-loop pumped storage projects, but sites around the country would benefits from these projects as well. My bill makes the process of licensing them easier, and I hope today\u2019s vote will serve as an encouragement to companies looking at closed-loop storage, whether in or out of a mine.\u201d\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://beyer.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=703", "Safe Climate Caucus Co-Chairs Statement and Resolution on the Two-Year Anniversary of the Paris Climate Agreement", "2017-12-12", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Donald Beyer", "B001292", "beyer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Safe Climate Caucus Co-Chairs\u2019 Statement and Resolution on the Two-Year Anniversary of the Paris Climate Agreement \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        December 12, 2017\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      Reps. Alan Lowenthal (D-CA) and Don Beyer (D-VA), co-chairs of the Congressional Safe Climate Caucus, today issued the following statement on their introduction of a resolution celebrating the second anniversary of the signing of the Paris Climate Agreement:\u00a0  \r\n\u00a0  \r\n\u201cTwo years after the signing of the Paris Climate Agreement, climate change remains a huge threat to the planet and the human race, but Donald Trump isn\u2019t taking that threat seriously. The Paris Climate Agreement represents the best opportunity for the global community to prevent climate change\u2019s devastating impacts on our communities, our economies, and our environment. This anniversary is a stark reminder of the direction the Trump Administration has chosen: a path abandoned, leadership abdicated, and work unfinished.\u00a0  \r\n\u00a0  \r\n\u201cWe cannot let one politically-motivated decision rooted in ignorance detour us from the task at hand. Every other country in the world has indicated their support for the Paris Agreement, and we are seeing tremendous strides being made on the local and state levels to reduce carbon pollution and enhance climate resiliency. On the two-year anniversary of this monumental accord, the Safe Climate Caucus will continue pushing for action on climate.\u201d  \r\n\u00a0  \r\nThe resolution, cosponsored by 22 members of the Safe Climate Caucus, urges the Trump Administration not to withdraw from the Paris Agreement.\u00a0 It also supports global efforts to keep warming under 2 degrees Celsius, efforts to protect vulnerable populations from the impacts of climate change, and policies at the Federal, State, and local level that promote reductions in carbon pollution. Text of the resolution can be viewed here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://goodlatte.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1063", "Goodlatte Praises Committee Passage of Bill to Fight Online Sex Trafficking", "2017-12-12", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Robert Goodlatte", "G000289", "goodlatte.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "FOSTA creates a new federal statute with increased penalties for promoting sex trafficking online and amends section 230 of the Communications Decency Act to permit local and state criminal prosecutions of bad-actor websites.\r\n          share:\r\n          f \r\n          t \r\n        \r\n      \r\n      Today, the House Judiciary Committee passed H.R. 1865, the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act of 2017 (FOSTA) by voice vote. This bill creates a new federal statute with increased penalties for promoting sex trafficking online and amends section 230 of the Communications Decency Act to permit local and state criminal prosecutions of bad-actor websites.House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Representative Ann Wagner (R-Mo.) have issued the following statements. Chairman Goodlatte: \u201cI applaud my colleagues on the House Judiciary Committee for acting quickly to combat the scourge of online sex trafficking. I\u2019ve worked closely with Representative Wagner, law enforcement, and other stakeholders on this new legislation, and I am pleased that the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act of 2017 empowers prosecutors with new tools to hold violators accountable, and adds mandatory restitution and civil recovery provisions to aid victims. I believe H.R. 1865 provides the best available legislative solution to this growing problem, and I hope the House takes up this legislation without delay.\u201d Representative Wagner: \u201cI would like to thank Chairman Goodlatte and the House Judiciary Committee for passing meaningful legislation that will help end online sex trafficking. FOSTA is a victims first bill that will shut down the websites that profit from modern day sex slavery, send the people who operate them to jail, and ensure that vulnerable people are never sold online. Importantly, this brings Congress one step closer to passing a bill that will finally provide justice for sex trafficking victims. This legislation is about more than just Backpage.com; by amending Section 230 to give federal, state, and local prosecutors practical tools to hold websites accountable, we will wreak havoc on the hundreds of websites profiting from the sale of sex trafficking victims across my district and our country.\u201d For a full list of advocates, law enforcement, and industry groups that support this legislation, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://taylor.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-passes-cybersecurity-and-infrastructure-security-agency-act", "House Passes Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Act", "2017-12-12", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Scott Taylor", "T000477", "taylor.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Yesterday, the House of Representatives voted to pass, under suspension of the rules, H.R. 3359, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Act of 2017, introduced by Representative Michael McCaul (TX-10) on December 11, 2017. This legislation would redesignate the National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to protect and enhance the security and resilience of critical infrastructure.\n\u201cCyberspace is the new frontier for conflict in the 21st Century,\u201d said Congressman Scott Taylor. \u201cAmerica must be properly equipped to keep pace with the changing landscape and respond to threats against our citizens, our military, and infrastructure. Earlier this year, I introduced a resolution calling for the United States to develop a comprehensive cybersecurity policy, which I believe is crucial to guiding our cyber efforts. Although we are still waiting for Congress to act on that resolution, this bill lays the foundation for critical cybersecurity infrastructure that will assist us in combatting cyber threats.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-joins-gililbrand-to-co-sponsor-me-too-bill", "Kaine Joins Gililbrand To Co-Sponsor 'Me Too' Bill", "2017-12-12", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Kaine Joins Gililbrand To Co-Sponsor 'Me Too' Bill\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, December 12, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON \u2013 D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) joined Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) as a cosponsor of the Member and Employee Training and Oversight on Congress Act (ME TOO Act), introduced in response to recent sexual harassment allegations in Congress and revelations that the Congressional Accountability Act (CAA) process places an unfair burden on victims. The bill would reform the CAA to eliminate the mandatory steps that must be exhausted before an employee of the legislative branch can sue in federal district court and implement other provisions to expand protections and update policies at the Office of Compliance (OOC). Last week, Senator Kaine sent a letter to the Senate Office of Compliance (OOC) requesting information on the number of sexual harassment claims filed against Senators, members of their personal staff, and committee staff, along with the amount of monetary settlements that were reached in harassment cases.\u00a0In the letter, Kaine wrote that he will publicly release any information he receives to help determine the scope of the problem and develop solutions.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\u201cI\u2019m proud to join Senator Gillibrand on this bill that makes it easier for survivors of sexual harassment and assault to come forward, and know they will be heard,\u201d Kaine said. \u201cThis bill would get rid of needless roadblocks to ensure instances of sexual harassment and assault are handled quickly and that there\u2019s real accountability.\u201d\r\n\r\nThe proposed reforms under the ME TOO Act would allow a complainant to sue in federal district court sooner because the bill would eliminate the mandatory counseling and mediation provisions of the CAA. The bill eliminates confidentiality requirements from the claims process while establishing a confidential advisor to provide guidance to victims of harassment about the process. Further, the bill authorizes the OOC General Counsel to conduct interviews and gather evidence in pursuit of these claims.\r\nThe bill also proposes to expand coverage to interns, fellows, and detailees, which remains ambiguous under the CAA. It further takes into consideration that victims of harassment may want to work remotely while their claim is considered to avoid further retaliation or unwanted attention from the accused. Finally, the bill mandates annual training and implements a tracking system to add transparency and accountability to the process.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-statement-on-annual-defense-bill-becoming-law", "Kaine Statement On Annual Defense Bill Becoming Law", "2017-12-12", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Kaine Statement On Annual Defense Bill Becoming Law\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, December 12, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement after President Trump signed the Fiscal Year 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes numerous provisions he championed to benefit Virginia\u2019s shipbuilding industry, defense community, servicemembers, and their families. Kaine helped write the legislation along with his colleagues on the Armed Services Committee, led by U.S. Senator John McCain.\r\n\r\n\u201cI\u2019m proud of the bipartisan work we put into the annual defense bill, which will bolster the work of our defense community in Virginia and the future of our cyber infrastructure nationwide. We locked in an additional $10 billion in funding for the Navy, which is critical to Hampton Roads and our shipbuilders, and we committed our nation to taking steps to address military spouse unemployment. It is now critical that appropriators get to work to ensure that the plan we\u2019ve laid out to keep our country safe and secure receives the appropriate funding levels to make it a reality.\u201d\r\n\r\nThe following list includes many of the programs and provisions Kaine advocated for that were included in the final bill, which will directly affect Virginia\u2019s defense industry:\r\n\r\nSupports Shipbuilding:\u00a0 Funds the procurement of USS John F Kennedy (CVN-79) and USS Enterprise (CVN-80), and the refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH) of USS George Washington (CVN 73) and USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). The bill also provides an additional $450 million for procurement of either a third Virginia-class submarine or to expand the submarine industrial base in preparation for the Columbia-class submarine program. The bill also authorizes over $9 billion in ship depot maintenance and operations support.\r\n\r\nSupports Servicemembers and Military Families:\u00a0 Funds a 2.4% pay raise for servicemembers and requires the Department of Defense (DoD) to begin evaluating a process to assist military spouses with transferring professional licenses and credentials across state lines. Kaine heard from military spouses about this issue in Hampton this spring. After hearing the concerns of constituents and military family advocacy groups, Kaine worked to include a provision in the bill that would authorize hospice care services for TRICARE beneficiaries under the age of 21.\u00a0 The NDAA also includes an amendment by Kaine that directs the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs to discover new areas of cooperation on suicide prevention.\r\n\r\nBuilds on Kaine\u2019s\u00a0 Work to Improve Credentialing for Servicemembers: Requires DoD to update Congress on its progress toward implementing veterans\u2019 credentialing provisions championed by Kaine in previous defense bills, which will reduce veterans\u2019 unemployment by ensuring that servicemembers receive high-quality accredited credentials for a more successful transition to civilian employment.\r\n\r\nDoD Cyber Scholarship Program Act: Includes key provisions of Kaine\u2019s bill, the DoD Cyber Scholarship Program Act, which would boost the cybersecurity workforce by reinvigorating a DoD cyber scholarship program that was threatened by sequestration cuts and directing five percent of scholarships toward community college students.\u00a0 DoD has not previously awarded scholarships to community college students; expanding the program to these students will broaden the talent pool and fill key cyber workforce gaps at DoD.\u00a0 There are \u00a0fifty-two, two-year institutions that would qualify for scholarships, including four in Virginia: Danville Community College, Lord Fairfax Community College, Northern Virginia Community College, and Tidewater Community College.\r\n\r\nNational Science Foundation\u2019s Cyber Scholarship Program: Includes a Kaine amendment to enhance the cybersecurity workforce pipeline by improving and expanding the National Science Foundation\u2019s (NSF) CyberCorps: Scholarship-for-Service Program, which awards grants and scholarships to students in exchange for government service in cybersecurity roles. The bill\u2019s key provisions would expand scholarships to community colleges, increase resources for K-12 cyber education, improve cyber teacher recruitment, and boost much-needed support for critical infrastructure at risk of cyberattacks.\u00a0\u00a0\r\n\r\nBoosts Ability to Deter Russia: Includes a Kaine provision that would direct the Minerva Research Initiative, DoD\u2019s social science research program, to expand research on the social forces behind information warfare.\u00a0 Citing the Director of National Intelligence\u2019s report on Russia\u2019s hacking operation during the 2016 election, the bill directs Minerva to fund research on ways to identify and counter fake media, misinformation, and other technical aspects of information operations.\u00a0 The NDAA also increases the strength of U.S. partnerships with European Allies by stabilizing funding for the European Deterrence Initiative and improves cooperation with European forces to help respond to Russian military aggression.\r\n\r\nPuts Committee on Record Against Sequestration:\u00a0Includes an amendment demonstrating the Committee\u2019s support for the unconditional repeal of the Budget Control Act.\r\n\r\nAuthorizes Military Construction (MILCON): Authorizes over $350 million in critical military construction projects throughout the Commonwealth including Dam Neck, Portsmouth, Yorktown, Ft. Belvoir and Joint Base Langley-Eustis.\r\n\r\nNo BRAC Round:\u00a0The Senate did not take up Senator McCain\u2019s Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) proposal and Rejected DoD proposals for a new BRAC round.\r\n\r\nMarine Corps War Memorial: Kaine proposed an amendment to authorize the National Park Service to construct a permanent restroom facility at the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, VA.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://beyer.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=700", "Beyer, Dingell, Grijalva, 100+ House Democrats Urge Preservation of Endangered Species Act", "2017-12-11", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Donald Beyer", "B001292", "beyer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Reps. Don Beyer (VA), Debbie Dingell (MI), and Ra\u00fal M. Grijalva (AZ) today led 104 House Democrats in a letter to House Leadership urging the removal of harmful provisions attached to the final spending legislation for FY 18 that would weaken the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The Representatives wrote in response to the FY 18 Interior/EPA bill, passed out of the Appropriations Committee, which contained several riders attacking endangered species conservation and removing protections for imperiled species, including wolves and sage grouse. \r\nThe Representatives wrote: \r\n\u201cWe write to express our great concern over a number of harmful provisions in H.R. 3354 \u2013 the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2018 (\u201cMake America Secure and Prosperous Act, 2018\u201d) \u2013 that would undermine endangered species conservation and threaten one of our country\u2019s most important wildlife conservation laws \u2013 the Endangered Species Act. We urge you to ensure that these controversial and far-reaching provisions are not included in final spending legislation for FY 2018.\r\n\u201cWe urge you to use your positions of leadership to uphold our nation\u2019s legacy of protecting our natural heritage for future generations of Americans and reject the inclusion of any of these attacks on the Endangered Species Act and wildlife in any final bill to fund the federal government.\u201d\r\nThe Representatives went on to note that one amendment in the legislation would void federal protections for bears and wolves on national preserves in Alaska. This would weaken the National Park Service\u2019s ability to prevent unsportsmanlike hunting practices \u2013 such as baiting, trapping, and \u201cdenning\u201d \u2013 on lands under its own jurisdiction. \r\nA signed copy of the letter is available here, and full text follows below. \r\nRep. Beyer has been a vocal defender of wildlife and endangered species since he was elected to the House of Representatives, where he serves on the Natural Resources Committee, and has introduced legislation to protect marine life and biodiversity. \r\nDear Speaker Ryan and Minority Leader Pelosi:\r\nWe write to express our great concern over a number of harmful provisions in H.R. 3354 \u2013 the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2018 (\u201cMake America Secure and Prosperous Act, 2018\u201d) \u2013 that would undermine endangered species conservation and threaten one of our country\u2019s most important wildlife conservation laws \u2013 the Endangered Species Act. We urge you to ensure that these controversial and far-reaching provisions are not included in final spending legislation for FY 2018.  \r\n\r\nThe appropriations process has become a perennial magnet for provisions and amendments that seek to make significant changes to U.S. environmental policies. Rather than taking their policy proposals to the appropriate authorizing committees, many members have instead opted to insert them into appropriations bills, often without full consideration by Congress. These misguided efforts weigh down the important process to fund the federal government. We object to these policy provisions \u2013 especially those provisions that threaten American\u2019s air, water, wildlife, and public lands. This letter focuses on the seven provisions currently in H.R. 3354 aimed at weakening the Endangered Species Act \u2013 a law that continues to serve as our nation\u2019s most effective law in protecting wildlife in danger of extinction. We also strongly oppose a provision that would block implementation of critical rules developed by the National Park Service to regulate non-subsistence hunting in Alaska national preserves.  \r\n\r\nWhen Congress passed the Endangered Species Act with near-unanimous consent, species were struggling to survive in the face of unmitigated human-caused threats to their existence. Since the Endangered Species Act was enacted, many of these species have rebounded over the course of just a few decades, including the bald eagle, the brown pelican and the humpback whale. Ninety-nine percent of species that have been listed under the Endangered Species Act have escaped the final fate of extinction, and many are once again thriving. We have a moral responsibility to continue to be good stewards of our environment and protect our natural resources for future generations. That translates into maintaining a strong federal Endangered Species Act that relies on sound science to guide decision-making. Polling shows that 90 percent of American voters support the Endangered Species Act and 71 percent believe scientists should make decisions about how to protect imperiled species, not politicians.  \r\n\r\nNevertheless, the underlying FY 2018 Interior/EPA bill that passed out of the Appropriations Committee contained three riders that undermine endangered species conservation by singling out certain imperiled species and denying them the protections of the Endangered Species Act. One would continue for a fourth year a rider that prevents the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) from taking any steps to list the sage-grouse under the Endangered Species Act.\u00a0 In September 2015, FWS determined that the greater sage-grouse was not warranted for listing under the Endangered Species Act, citing an unprecedented landscape-scale planning process as reducing threats to sage grouse - plans that will almost certainly be weakened under a new process initiated by Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke.\u00a0 This amendment would prevent an ESA listing for the sage-grouse, even if it declines closer to extinction. Another would block Endangered Species Act protections for wolves in the Midwest, reaffirm a court decision that delisted wolves in Wyoming, and obstruct citizens\u2019 ability to go to court to challenge these delistings. Still another provision would go so far as to defund recovery measures for gray wolves throughout the entire continental United States, even though wolves currently inhabit only 15 percent of their historic range. This same provision would also block all spending on recovery efforts for the Mexican gray wolves, even though there are just 113 individual animals left in the United States and 35 in Mexico. The job of restoring wolves to still-suitable habitat across the United States \u2013 as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has done for other wide-ranging species like the bald eagle \u2013 is far from done. The bill only got worse on the floor, when 3 additional riders that would undermine the Endangered Species Act and harm threatened and endangered species conservation were added to the bill. Finally, Representative Don Young added an amendment that would void a federal rule conserving bears and wolves on national preserves in Alaska. If this language is enacted, the National Park Service would not be able to prevent unsportsmanlike hunting practices on lands under its own jurisdiction, including spotlighting denning bears and cubs as they hibernate.\u00a0  \r\n\r\nWe urge you to use your positions of leadership to uphold our nation\u2019s legacy of protecting our natural heritage for future generations of Americans and reject the inclusion of any of these attacks on the Endangered Species Act and wildlife in any final bill to fund the federal government. Thank you for your consideration.  \r\n\r\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 2434, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"state\" = :p0 and \"year\" = :p1 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "VA", "p1": "2017"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=VA&year=2017", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 1477, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=VA&year=2017&party=Democrat", "selected": false}, {"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 957, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=VA&year=2017&party=Republican", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=VA&year=2017", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 2434, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=VA&year=2017&chamber=House", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=VA&year=2017", "results": [{"value": "VA", "label": "VA", "count": 2434, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?year=2017", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=VA&year=2017", "results": [{"value": "2017", "label": "2017", "count": 2434, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=VA", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2017-12-11,https~3A~2F~2Fbeyer~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fnews~2Fdocumentsingle~2Easpx~3FDocumentID~3D700", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=VA&year=2017&_next=2017-12-11%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fbeyer~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fnews~2Fdocumentsingle~2Easpx~3FDocumentID~3D700&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 303.1801409088075, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}