Public servants should be focused on serving the public - not any special interest group, and good governance should be an expectation - not an exception.
Abigail Spanberger
No mother should worry about dying during childbirth in the twenty-first century - and rising maternal death rates in the United States should spark alarm for lawmakers and the general public.
When I was a CIA officer we would have meetings and you don't know what people's politics are... We were there to serve a mission that we were focused on that mission.
Across Central Virginia, the traditions of Thanksgiving bring us closer together with those we love. We gather with family and close friends, we share memories and laughter, and we give thanks for the profound blessing of living in the United States.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed critical vulnerabilities in our pharmaceutical supply chain.
We need to believe that we can achieve progress in fixing our broken immigration system, prioritizing smart border security investments, cracking down on those who are trafficking and smuggling, and relieving the ongoing humanitarian crisis at our southern border.
By promoting cutting-edge manufacturing processes at research instructions in Virginia and across the country, we can create more American jobs, strengthen the resiliency of our supply chain, and reduce our dependence on foreign-based pharmaceuticals.
The team at VCU is renowned for being at the cutting edge of some of the world's most important, lifesaving medical and pharmaceutical engineering research.
Just as we responded following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and just as an earlier generation rallied in a united front to fight World War II, members of Congress must respond to the coronavirus pandemic without regard to our party affiliation.
For those with health conditions like diabetes, cancer, and heart disease, the rising cost of lifesaving medications is straining budgets, fueling undue stress, and forcing them to make difficult decisions.
From our nation's founding to the Civil Rights movement, Virginians have always stood up to fight for their most foundational right - a voice in our government.
Every threat needs to be taken as: 'This is the one; this is the real threat.' That's how we focus on things in counterterrorism. You never know which terrorist threat is the real one. And you treat every one as though this could be it; this could be the big attack.
After decades of persistent, courageous advocacy - often at risk to their own lives, livelihoods, and safety - African Americans succeeded in securing their right to a voice in our government, and their work laid the foundation for the social justice work of generations to follow.
In an industrialized country as advanced as the United States, no mother should have the fear of dying during childbirth or in the following months.
I pledged to put country before party and assert my independence when it reflects my principles or the needs of Central Virginia, and I have done that.
Without a strategic, long-term gameplan to defend our networks from foreign-based 5G threats, we are putting the privacy of American consumers and companies at risk.
As a former CIA case officer, I recognize that the rapid rise of firms like Huawei and ZTE presents a significant national security threat to the telecom infrastructure of the United States and our allies.
The coronavirus does not differentiate between Republicans and Democrats.
The Secure 5G and Beyond Act is a clear step toward developing a nationwide gameplan to mitigate the threat posed by foreign-based 5G companies.
Especially as we engage in critical conversations about the vast inequalities that persist across our Commonwealth and our country, we need to dive deeper into how we can address the systemic challenges that permeate our healthcare system.
Throughout my first year in office, some of my most informative conversations have occurred at public, community-focused events like our town halls.
Central Virginians have a proud, centuries-long record of service and commitment to country, and each year, we gather to honor our neighbors who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of and service to our nation.
I loved the idea of understanding people, places, concepts, concerns and large international questions. And being the one to go out and get the answers.
Too frequently, in Congress or in nationwide politics at large, we are reactive. We look for easy, short-term solutions, and we try to put a Band-Aid on these massive, structural problems.
For Central Virginia small business owners, their business is more than a building, a sign out front, or an income - it's their lifelong dream.
The covid-19 pandemic has demonstrated that infectious diseases know no borders.
A stuffy Capitol Hill hearing room differs quite a bit from the wide open, rural landscape of Louisa County, Va.
Too often, farmers and producers are left out of the national conversation on the climate crisis - or even dismissed altogether. But in reality, their expertise is a big part of the solution.
Our farmers are constantly deploying conservation techniques that keep our environment strong - and it's time we made them a consistent part of our efforts to protect it.
For generations, farmers in Central Virginia and across the United States have engaged in voluntary conservation practices that have not only improved crop quality, but also protected our clean soil and water.
As I was running for Congress in 2018, people across my district voiced a clear concern that Washington wasn't working for them, and was instead serving corporate and special interests.
From my time at the CIA to my time in the House, I've dedicated my career to protecting our democracy and ensuring it works for all of us.
We can't let the USMCA become another casualty of political games.
People are being gouged - but often, they don't have any idea as to why they're being gouged every single time they go to the pharmacy.
Wherever I go - be it to school events, county fairs, town halls, or even the grocery store, my neighbors and constituents share the same serious concern. Prescription drug prices keep going up, and families across our district don't know how they can afford them.
Hardworking Americans are making real decisions about how and whether to fill prescriptions and whether to prioritize their health or their finances. The consequences are dire, and Congress must take action.
On January 3, 2019, I swore an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States. It was the third time in my life of public service that I had taken such an oath, but the words were just as profound to me as the first time I spoke them.
I have joined bipartisan working groups and worked to build relationships and sponsor effective legislation with my Republican colleagues.
I have voted on the merits of legislation, voting both 'with' and 'against' my party.
As a former federal employee, I understand the commitment to country that led federal employees to public service.
Let me be clear - I'm no stranger to the challenges facing our borders, ports of entry, and the needs of the dedicated men and women who protect them.
As a CIA officer, I worked counterterrorism and counternarcotics cases, and I have an acute awareness about the threats facing our country, both foreign and domestic.
I'm always willing to have a conversation about strengthening our national security in a long-term, comprehensive, and cost-effective manner.
Our farmers and ranchers constantly evolve and adapt to the conditions surrounding them, and if provided better and faster connectivity, the development of new technologies on the farm will rival any other sector.
Rural communities and our nation's economy also stand to benefit from broadband expansion. Rural schools can expand the quantity and quality of educational programming. Rural communities can attract businesses and investment.
No matter how successful we are in fighting the threat of covid-19 at home, we will not end the suffering and fear created by the virus unless we also combat it around the world.
We don't depend on other countries to keep our armed services equipped.
What responsible gun owner thinks everyone and anyone should have access to a firearm without a little bit of precaution taken to make sure that those who have a history of violent harm can't buy a firearm?
I really started getting more politically involved after the 2016 election, watching how partisan and how angry our political conversations became.
As Huawei and ZTE aggressively work to expand their footprint in Europe and around the world, substantial national security concerns are emerging.
