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Sixth District Perspectives
with Congressman Ben Cline
It was another packed week back in session, as the fight to pass 12 individual spending bills continued. First, the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee held a field hearing in Chicago where we heard from former law enforcement and victims of violent crime due to radical prosecutors’ pro-crime policies. Back in Washington, the House passed a deal to keep the government funded for 45 days, but it was unfortunately another green-light for more of Pelosi-era bloated budgets and open border policies. On a brighter note, both chambers of Congress passed legislation to protect school hunter safety and archery programs from Big Government overreach. As always, it was a pleasure to meet with businesses and organizations on the Hill. The fight against out-of-control spending is not over, and I will continue working to stop the harmful policies currently in place that have continued to hurt the people of Virginia’s Sixth District.
Fighting for Fiscal Sanity in Washington
When House Republicans took the gavel in January, we made a promise to the American people to pass all 12 appropriations bills, avoid a continuation of former Speaker Pelosi’s reckless spending levels, and stop the chaos of President Biden’s open borders. Recently, our national debt reached a staggering $33 trillion, and the total number of illegal border crossings have hit a new record high this year.
Unfortunately, in a last-ditch effort to keep the government funded before the September 30 deadline, the House passed a deal that funds more of the same business-as-usual policies that have hurt American families. However, there is still more work to do to pass all 12 annual spending bills, and House Republicans have already passed four of them, scoring big conservative wins to reduce overall spending to pay for what’s important.
I came to Washington to end out of control spending and reverse harmful policies that have led to record-high inflation, a worsening economy, an invasion at our southern border, and woke and weaponized government. I won’t stop working to pass our 12 individual spending bills to achieve those goals. That is what the people of Virginia’s Sixth District elected me to do.
Upholding the Justice System
The House Judiciary Committee has the constitutional authority to ensure federal funds going to law enforcement are used to uphold justice under the law and to keep communities safe. Sadly, Chicago politicians’ pro-crime, anti-victim policies have led to a spike in violent crime in the Windy City and in cities across our Nation.
During a field hearing, I heard firsthand how their push to defund the police has only demoralized law enforcement and hurt their ability to do their job. This spike in violent crime, fueled by soft-on-crime prosecutors, is not just happening in Chicago, it is happening in cities throughout the US, including many in Virginia's Sixth District.
As a former assistant prosecutor, I know the formula for a safer America:
- Law enforcement willing to arrest
- Prosecutors willing to prosecute
- Judges willing to sentence and incarcerate
Watch my questioning here or above.
Protecting Firearm Safety Training In Our Schools
Virginia’s Sixth District has long-standing school hunter safety and archery programs, which teach students the proper handling of firearms and other devices - paramount for safety and use. However, the Biden Administration is attempting to block funds for these important programs in our area and across the country.
That is why this week, Congress passed the Protecting Hunter Heritage and Education Act, which I cosponsored, to stop it. This is a big win for the Second Amendment and our fight against Big Government overreach.
Preventing Taxpayer-Funded Censorship Online
The United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) fact-checking tool, iVerify, uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help label, suppress, and censor speech online at the expense of American tax dollars. That’s wrong and goes against the very principles enshrined in the First Amendment.
Taxpayer dollars should play no part in censorship on a global scale. That is why I introduced the End the U.N. Censorship Act (H.R. 5531), which will prohibit U.S. taxpayer dollars from being used to further the UNDP’s iVerify initiative. Read more in Fox News here or below.
Read the full bill text here.
Meetings On The Hill
I enjoyed meeting with Tasha Walsh, the CEO of ConnectionsPLUS Heathcare + Hospice, and learning more about their work to provide care and comfort to those with serious illness in Lexington, Buena Vista and Rockbridge County.
It was a pleasure meeting with Sixth District representatives of the American Academy of Physician Associates and learning more about their efforts to support physician associates and provide tools to improve patient care.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your Congressman. If my office can ever be of assistance, please contact my Washington office at (202) 225-5431.
For the latest updates from Washington and across the Sixth District, please follow my Facebook and Twitter pages.
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