Sixth District Perspectives
with Congressman Ben Cline

     As Congress continues its District Work period, I extend thanks to all the constituents and businesses that welcomed me so that I can hear their concerns and represent their interests. I visited the Blue Ridge Pregnancy Center, a lifeline for women seeking care and support for their pregnancies, that was subject to recent vandalism. I have long condemned acts of political violence, from the violence of Charlottesville in 2017, through the BLM riots of 2020, the Capitol riot of January 6th, and after the violence against pro-life centers following the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Those individuals who committed these acts of violence and destruction must be found and held accountable. I also was pleased to tour the A.G. Stacker manufacturing plant as well as meet with leaders in the credit union industry. Unfortunately, Speaker Pelosi called Congress back in session last Friday for Democrats to pass the latest version of Build Back Broke, which would be a loss for our economy, taxpayers, Seniors, and America's fiscal order at a time of economic hardship for hard-working American families.

     I was also shocked to watch as former President Trump’s home was subject to a raid last week by the FBI at the direction of Attorney General Merrick Garland. As a freshman member of the Judiciary Committee, I had a front row seat as Robert Mueller‘s fake ‘Russian Collusion’ charges fell apart. Last week's raid by the FBI of President Trump’s home is unprecedented, and it reeks of more of the same — the continued weaponization of the Department of Justice to target a past and possibly future political opponent. That’s a story from a third world country; not from America.

The "Inflation Reduction Act"

     Last week, House Democrats approved a $740 billion spending bill at a time of 40-year high inflation, an ongoing recession, and over $30 trillion in national debt. The bill includes $16.7 billion in increased taxes for those making less than $200,000 a year; $38 billion in new taxes on American oil and gas producers; $480 billion in tax hikes that will hit workers through increased prices and slashed wages; and $369 billion — half of the spending — in government handouts to socialist ‘Green New Deal’ priorities, making us more dependent on China for minerals. Further, the package provides $80 billion to double the size of the IRS, adding 87,000 new enforcement agents to spy into Americans’ private financial accounts and harass taxpayers and small businesses. This will make the IRS workforce larger than the Pentagon, FBI, State Department, and Customs and Border Patrol, combined.

     Hard-working Americans in Virginia and across the Nation are desperate for relief from Democrats’ mismanagement of our economy. Unfortunately, this bill’s passage is a loss for all those whose paychecks and savings are being eaten up by 40-year high inflation. I will keep fighting every day against Speaker Pelosi and the Democrats’ reckless tax-and-spend agenda that is destroying the American dream.  

     I voiced my concerns over the package in a recent op-ed in the Roanoke Times. You can find my op-ed here.

The PACT Act Signed Into Law

     In a win for our Veterans and their tireless advocates, the PACT Act has now become law. The Act expands benefits to Veterans and their families, including burn pit victims sickened in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as for Vietnam Veterans exposed to toxic chemicals. I was proud to cosponsor this important legislation and vote for its passage in the House. Among other important provisions, the law:

• Expands and extends eligibility for VA health care for Veterans with toxic exposures and Veterans of the Vietnam, Gulf War, and post-9/11 eras    

• Adds more than 20 new presumptive conditions for burn pits and other toxic exposures   

• Requires VA to provide a toxic exposure screening to every Veteran enrolled in VA health care   

• Provides Vietnam Veterans exposed to Agent Orange presumptive status for Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undermined Significance (MGUS) and hypertension/high blood pressure      

• Benefits for Vietnam Veterans suffering from hypertension/high-blood pressure are not expected to go into effect until 2026

     For more information on PACT Act benefits and how to apply, Veterans can access the Veterans Affairs department website here.

     If you have additional questions or if my staff can help you access earned benefits, please do not hesitate to contact any of my offices listed below.

Touring Across the Sixth District

The Blue Ridge Pregnancy Center has served as a lifeline for women seeking care and support for their pregnancies, and I was pleased to see the assistance they provide. The center was the victim of recent vandalism, and I continue to call on authorities to ramp up the investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice. To read more about my visit from WSET's article, click here.

A.G. Stacker, Inc. is an American-made and Virginia-based custom manufacturing industry, and I was pleased to tour their facility and learn about their important work.

I enjoyed meeting with leaders of numerous credit unions around the Staunton area recently and hearing about the wide array of financial services they provide to folks across the Valley.

     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.