Weekly Newsletters

• Testifying before a House Committee on the construction of a third lane on I-81
• My bipartisan bill to strengthen improve bankruptcy process the House and moves to President Trump's desk
• The House passes two conservative appropriations bills   
• Bidding farewell to the Governor of the Commonwealth, Glenn Youngkin
• Cosponsored a bipartisan bill that would ban stock trading for Members of Congress

Advocating for the Expansion of Interstate 81
     As your Congressman, one of my top priorities is securing federal funding to improve Interstate 81, including the construction of a third lane along the entire 300-mile stretch through our Commonwealth. Originally built over 50 years ago, I-81 has struggled to keep pace with current travel and freight demands with only two lanes. Whether you are a student commuting to class or a truck driver delivering goods, the congestion and outdated infrastructure present real safety concerns. Since 2019, I have consistently fought for increased funding for I-81. Back home in the Sixth District, I hear firsthand from residents about their safety concerns and the hours-long traffic delays that impact daily life and commerce. This Congress, I successfully secured an additional $17 million in the Fiscal Year 2026 Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) appropriations bill. This funding, which passed the House Appropriations Committee, is dedicated directly to improving I-81.

      It carries more than 12 million trucks each year and moves over $300 billion in goods. Trucks make up 26% of all traffic on the interstate, underscoring the critical need for expanded lanes and modernized infrastructure. Last week, I had the privilege of testifying before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to highlight the importance of I-81. This interstate runs the full length of our district, from Frederick County in the North to Roanoke County in the South, making it a critical corridor for both commuters and commerce. My testimony emphasized to fellow Members of Congress the urgent need for federal investment to construct a third lane, improve safety, and reduce traffic delays. Investing in I-81 is not just about roads; it is about safety, efficiency, and the economic vitality of our local  community. I will continue fighting to secure the resources necessary to keep I-81 moving and to protect the families and businesses that rely on it every day.

Watch my full testimony here. 

My Bankruptcy Administration Improvement Act Passes the House 

     During the Biden Administration thousands of small business went out of business, causing tremendous job losses and harm local economies. Fortunately many of these businesses are still in operation because they successfully took advantage of our bankruptcy laws that encourage a business plan for discharge of debts and successful emergence from bankruptcy. A fair and reliable bankruptcy system is critical to protecting taxpayers, families, and small businesses. The Bankruptcy Administration Improvement Act of 2025 makes common-sense improvements to an essential part of our judicial system. This bipartisan legislation keeps the bankruptcy system fully funded by users rather than taxpayers, ensuring hardworking Americans are not forced to subsidize court operations. It also updates compensation for Chapter 7 trustees to allow them to continue providing strong oversight and accountability, while extending temporary judgeships to help courts manage rising caseloads and prevent costly delays. I was proud to see my bill pass the House last week and look forward to President Trump signing it into law.  

Watch me speak on my Bankruptcy Administration Improvement Act.

Aligning Spending with America First Priorities

     House Republicans are following through on our commitment to the American people by ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent on programs that advance America First priorities. Last week, Congress passed two critical appropriations bills: the Financial Services and General Government and the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs appropriations bills, which together represent a major step toward restoring accountability, strengthening national security, and directing resources where they are needed most. These bills ensure that U.S. foreign assistance aligns with our national security priorities, holds international organizations accountable, and ends wasteful programs that do not serve American interests.

     I was proud to secure concrete wins in one of these bills, including ending funding for United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), removing outdated climate mandates tied to the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), reducing spending on UN peacekeeping missions, and continuing longstanding pro-life protections. These actions are more than symbolic, they directly support our allies, protect American taxpayers, and reaffirm that U.S. resources should strengthen safety, freedom, and prosperity at home and abroad. Beyond these wins, the legislation addresses some of the most urgent threats facing our country.

     It takes direct aim at illegal mass migration, strengthens efforts to combat fentanyl and other illicit drugs before they reach American communities and counters hostile actors such as the Chinese Communist Party through targeted foreign policy. By focusing resources on programs that work and eliminating inefficient or left-wing ideologically driven initiatives, these appropriations bills ensure that American priorities guide every dollar spent. For the second time this month, Congress has demonstrated that bipartisan, thoughtful appropriations can achieve real results, advancing the America First agenda while protecting the safety and prosperity of every community in our nation.

Safeguarding Retirement Funds from Politically Driven ESG Policies

    Under President Biden's Department of Labor a rule that it placed that allowed retirement plan managers to consider environmental, social, and governance ("ESG") factors when investing the retirement savings of more than 152 million Americans. The misguided rule permitted plan managers to automatically enroll workers into ESG investments, often without their clear knowledge or consent. This decision directly impacts hardworking Americans who save for retirement to secure their future and provide for their families. These savings are not meant to bankroll the Green New Scam or advance the political priorities that don't align with the majority of Americans. For many workers and retirees, their retirement account reflects a lifetime of work, discipline, and sacrifice, and any government policy that puts that security at risk is deeply concerning.

     The Green New Scam has already driven up energy costs, weakened American industries, and made life more expensive for families across the country. Allowing retirement savings to be used to support this agenda only compounds the damage. Many ESG funds are high risk and have a track record of underperforming, which means retirees could face lower returns and fewer options when they need financial stability the most. Retirement plan managers have a responsibility to act in the best financial interests of the people they serve. Their focus should be on maximizing returns and managing risk, not on promoting left wing environmental or social causes that have nothing to do with retirement security.

     House Republicans took further action last week and passed the Protecting Prudent Investment of Retirement Savings Act which ensures that the financial security of 152 million Americans is the primary legal obligation of plan managers, shielding Americans' savings from politically motivated investment decisions. This ensures that retirement investment decisions are based on economic factors and sound financial judgment rather than woke ESG standards tied to the Green New Scam. 

Ensuring the Federal Government Doesn’t 'Rain on Consumers' with Federal Regulations 

     For far too long, federal regulations have made everyday household choices unnecessarily complicated. Last week, the House passed H.R. 4593, also called the SHOWER Act to put consumers back in control of their homes. This legislation addresses a problem that has plagued American households for years. Federal agencies imposed unnecessary bureaucratic rules that reduced water pressure, limited product choices, and ultimately raised costs for everyday consumers, all without improving daily life. The result was showerheads that simply didn’t work as well as they should.  The story of how we got here reveals the problem with regulatory overreach under Democrat policies. Under the Trump Administration’s first term, the law was applied as originally intended, allowing each nozzle in a multi-head shower system to operate independently.

     That approach gave homeowners real flexibility and worked well for families and manufacturers alike. But in 2021, the Biden Administration reversed course and imposed a rigid bureaucratic rule that capped total water flow across all nozzles combined. 
The consequences were immediate fewer options at the store and more frustration for consumers trying to find products that actually worked. Recognizing this problem, the administration in its second term took action to roll back that burdensome rule. Last week, Congress took action and passed the SHOWER Act which codifies this ensuring it cannot be undone by future administrations. This bill accomplishes clear, specific language which precisely defines what a showerhead is and prevents federal agencies from rewriting the rules on their own.

Thank You Governor Youngkin 

     This week, we reflect on Governor Glenn Youngkin’s lasting legacy and bid him farewell as Governor of our Commonwealth as he left the governor’s mansion over the weekend. He has been an excellent leader for Virginia, representing our Commonwealth with strength and integrity on the national stage over the past four years. Under his leadership, Virginia saw tremendous progress. His administration helped secure $156 billion in private business expansion and delivered $9 billion in tax relief, saving the average Virginia family more than $4,600. Governor Youngkin consistently fought to ensure the needs of every Virginian were heard and addressed in Richmond. I wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors, and I thank him and his wonderful family for their service to our great Commonwealth and to our great Nation.

Preventing Conflicts of Interest in Congressional Stock Trading

 Restoring trust in Congress starts with making it clear that public service is about serving the American people, not personal profit. For far too long, some Members of Congress have been trading individual stocks while writing the very laws that can influence the market and ultimately their bank accounts. I believe this conflict of interest has damaged public confidence in Members of Congress. Last week, I cosponsored the bipartisan Stop Insider Trading Act which passed out of the Rules Committee. This legislation would restrict representatives, spouses and their children from purchasing a security issued by a publicly traded company and establishes a violation fee equal to $2,000 or 10% of the value of the covered investment for violations of the law. I hope in the upcoming weeks this legislation will come before a vote on the House Floor and take a further step towards public accountability for members of our legislative body.

Washington Highlights of the Week 

 It was an honor to meet with bright students of Fishburne Military School in Waynesboro as they toured the U.S. Capitol and experienced its rich history firsthand.

Cintas is a manufacturer that provides businesses with essential services and products from uniforms and cleaning supplies to first aid kits. The tour of their floor in Waynesboro was insightful as I had the chance to learn more about their day-to-day operations. 

It was a pleasure to host fellows from the Virginia Agriculture Leaders Obtaining Results (VALOR) Seminar while in Washington. I welcomed them for a tour of the Capitol and a look inside the House Agriculture Committee room.