Reason for the Season
I hope this week’s update finds you full of turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, and all the other Thanksgiving favorites we look forward to each year. I also hope you had the chance to make special memories with your family and loved ones this week.
Reflecting on what the Thanksgiving holiday means to our nation, I was struck by how its history reminds us not only of the importance of gratitude but also of the importance of unity, especially in times of division.
In 1789, President George Washington sought to unite a fractured new nation after the American Revolution. The U.S. Constitution had gone into effect that March, and debates over federalism and how the country would be run sowed division. President Washington issued the first national Thanksgiving proclamation on October 3, 1789, urging Americans to come together to give thanks to God for “affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness”
Then, in the midst of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln revived the idea of a national day of Thanksgiving. On October 3, 1863, he proclaimed the last Thursday of November as a day of thanks, calling on Americans to give thanks “with one heart and one voice,” even “in the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity”. That same year saw two of the war’s deadliest battles: Gettysburg in July and Chickamauga in September. Together, these battles resulted in more than 85,000 casualties with thousands of soldiers buried where they fell far from home.
Yet President Lincoln’s proclamation reminds us that Thanksgiving is not only about gratitude, but also about finding grounds for unity.
There are many divisions in the United States today. But I hope we can all, no matter our background, find common ground in being thankful to be Americans. I know I am.
I am thankful to wake up each day in the land of the free and the home of the brave. I am especially grateful to all those who have made countless sacrifices from the days of Plymouth Rock to today. Generations of Americans have given their time, money, skills, and in many cases even their lives, in pursuit of something greater than themselves. Together, they built and protected the liberties that make this country the best in the world.
I am also thankful to serve as your member of Congress. It is the honor of my life to represent you and one I will never take for granted.
For some of us, this year has brought hardship or trials that can make gratitude feel difficult. As we pray for peace and healing, I am also thankful for the small victories that remind us of the power of hope and faith.
I wish you a great Thanksgiving weekend and a blessed holiday season ahead!
Small Business Saturday
Tomorrow is Small Business Saturday, a day to recognize and support the incredible small businesses that power our country, especially those across the Third District—many of which I had the privilege to visit this year.
Small business owners wear countless hats: owner, bookkeeper, server, marketer, and more. Their hard work not only keeps Main Street thriving, but also strengthens our communities by donating to schools, supporting local organizations, and serving as stakeholders in our neighborhoods.
As you get done some holiday shopping this weekend, don’t forget to shop local.
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ICYMI, I met with the owners of Six Arrows Farm and Gift this past August in the Elkins area who told me about their experience running a small business.
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Looking Ahead
Members of the House and Senate will return to Washington, D.C., next week to continue negotiations on full-year appropriations ahead of the next funding deadline on January 30. Congress passed three of the twelve appropriations bills when we reopened the government, leaving significant work still to be done in the weeks ahead.
At the same time, lawmakers are working to finalize the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026, a measure that guides defense policy and authorizes military spending.
Announcements!
On Tuesday, December 2 at 7 PM CT, I will be hosting a Telephone Town Hall to provide an update on developments in Washington and to answer your questions. This is sure to be an engaging conversation, and I look forward to hearing directly from you.
Receiving feedback from my constituents, including newsletter readers like you, is always valuable and helps me better serve the Third District.
Click HERE or below to join the conversation.
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Have a great weekend ahead, and I hope to see you around! Be sure to check out my website, X, and Instagram pages in the meantime. |