Link to Abigail Spanberger's website: Spanberger.house.gov
Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger's Weekly Newsletter: November 1, 2019
(Copied from email Newsletter)
Good evening friends,
This week, my prescription drug bill passed the House with a vote of 430 to 0! My bill, the Public Disclosure of Drug Discounts and Real-Time Beneficiary Drug Cost Act, works to lower the cost of prescription drugs by bringing transparency to the sometimes confusing process of prescription drug pricing. The incredible show of bipartisan support that this bill received is an important step forward, but it's just one of many ways that I'm working to tackle the critical issue of prescription drug costs.
I also had two bills successfully pass the House Agriculture and House Foreign Affairs Committees (both with strong bipartisan support). Please keep scrolling for a brief rundown of the work I did this week, as well as an update on our next town hall. Thank you, as always, for sharing in the work I'm doing for Virginia's 7th District!
IN VIRGINIA'S SEVENTH DISTRICT
Since swearing in on 1/3/19, my office has
* Attended 464 events in the district
* Assisted with 561 constituent services cases
* Returned $445,802.96 to constituents
If you need assistance dealing with the IRS, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, visas, passports, or any other federal agency or program, our district team is here to help. Please click this link to get started.
WHAT I'M WORKING ON
On Tuesday, my bill - the Public Disclosure of Drug Discounts and Real-Time Beneficiary Drug Cost Act - passed the House by 403 to 0! I'm very proud that this important prescription drug bill passed with strong support from both Republicans and Democrats. My bill would work to tackle the high cost of prescription drugs and bring greater transparency to prescription drug negotiations. Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) act as middlemen between drug makers, insurance companies, and consumers. Without transparency into this process, we don't know how much PBMs may be driving up your costs at the pharmacy. To learn more about my bill, click here.
On Wednesday, two of my bills made progress in committee with bipartisan support. These are important next steps toward getting more of my legislation to the House floor for a vote. My bill to streamline CFTC regulations and protect agribusinesses from commodity broker bankruptcies passed in the House Agriculture Committee as part of a CFTC reauthorization bill, more details here. In the House Foreign Affairs Committee, both Republicans and Democrats voted in support of my bill to protect American telecommunications systems from cyber attacks by foreign powers like China. Read more about my Secure 5G and Beyond Act here.
This week, I also voted to formally recognize and denounce the Armenian genocide - the first time the House has ever taken this step. Although this atrocity is now behind us in history, the wound is still fresh in the memories of many Armenian-Americans in our district and across the country. I was proud to take this vote for my constituents.
TOWN HALL UPDATE
Our 11th town hall is confirmed! Please mark your calendar for:
Saturday, November 16
11:00 am-12:00 pm
J.R. Tucker High School
Henrico, VA 23294
After a brief update on my work for Central Virginia, I'll take your questions. My district team will also be on-hand to connect with any constituent who needs assistance with a federal agency, benefit, or program. I'm looking forward to another opportunity for open, direct dialogue with the people I serve!
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
Politico Prescription Pulse: House unanimously clears PBM transparency bills
The Fence Post: Peterson: House Ag approval of CFTC reauthorization sends 'message to Senate'
WVTF: Spanberger Drug Prices Bill Likely to Become Law
Richmond Times Dispatch: U.S. senators, legislators, Bill Clinton reflect on former Gov. Gerald Baliles
Augusta Free Press: House Foreign Affairs Committee passes Spanberger bill to build national 5G strategy
(Copied from email Newsletter)
Good evening friends,
This week, my prescription drug bill passed the House with a vote of 430 to 0! My bill, the Public Disclosure of Drug Discounts and Real-Time Beneficiary Drug Cost Act, works to lower the cost of prescription drugs by bringing transparency to the sometimes confusing process of prescription drug pricing. The incredible show of bipartisan support that this bill received is an important step forward, but it's just one of many ways that I'm working to tackle the critical issue of prescription drug costs.
I also had two bills successfully pass the House Agriculture and House Foreign Affairs Committees (both with strong bipartisan support). Please keep scrolling for a brief rundown of the work I did this week, as well as an update on our next town hall. Thank you, as always, for sharing in the work I'm doing for Virginia's 7th District!
IN VIRGINIA'S SEVENTH DISTRICT
Since swearing in on 1/3/19, my office has
* Attended 464 events in the district
* Assisted with 561 constituent services cases
* Returned $445,802.96 to constituents
If you need assistance dealing with the IRS, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, visas, passports, or any other federal agency or program, our district team is here to help. Please click this link to get started.
WHAT I'M WORKING ON
On Tuesday, my bill - the Public Disclosure of Drug Discounts and Real-Time Beneficiary Drug Cost Act - passed the House by 403 to 0! I'm very proud that this important prescription drug bill passed with strong support from both Republicans and Democrats. My bill would work to tackle the high cost of prescription drugs and bring greater transparency to prescription drug negotiations. Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) act as middlemen between drug makers, insurance companies, and consumers. Without transparency into this process, we don't know how much PBMs may be driving up your costs at the pharmacy. To learn more about my bill, click here.
On Wednesday, two of my bills made progress in committee with bipartisan support. These are important next steps toward getting more of my legislation to the House floor for a vote. My bill to streamline CFTC regulations and protect agribusinesses from commodity broker bankruptcies passed in the House Agriculture Committee as part of a CFTC reauthorization bill, more details here. In the House Foreign Affairs Committee, both Republicans and Democrats voted in support of my bill to protect American telecommunications systems from cyber attacks by foreign powers like China. Read more about my Secure 5G and Beyond Act here.
This week, I also voted to formally recognize and denounce the Armenian genocide - the first time the House has ever taken this step. Although this atrocity is now behind us in history, the wound is still fresh in the memories of many Armenian-Americans in our district and across the country. I was proud to take this vote for my constituents.
TOWN HALL UPDATE
Our 11th town hall is confirmed! Please mark your calendar for:
Saturday, November 16
11:00 am-12:00 pm
J.R. Tucker High School
Henrico, VA 23294
After a brief update on my work for Central Virginia, I'll take your questions. My district team will also be on-hand to connect with any constituent who needs assistance with a federal agency, benefit, or program. I'm looking forward to another opportunity for open, direct dialogue with the people I serve!
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
Politico Prescription Pulse: House unanimously clears PBM transparency bills
The Fence Post: Peterson: House Ag approval of CFTC reauthorization sends 'message to Senate'
WVTF: Spanberger Drug Prices Bill Likely to Become Law
Richmond Times Dispatch: U.S. senators, legislators, Bill Clinton reflect on former Gov. Gerald Baliles
Augusta Free Press: House Foreign Affairs Committee passes Spanberger bill to build national 5G strategy
Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger's Weekly Newsletter: October 25, 2019
(Copied from email Newsletter)
Good afternoon friends,
This week, I introduced a bill to help increase access to cheaper, biologic prescription drugs, took strong steps to sanction Turkey for their attacks in northern Syria, and chaired a subcommittee hearing where a Louisa County constituent testified as one of our expert witnesses – and that's not all. It was a busy week, so please keep scrolling for an update on all the developments this week! Thank you, as always, for joining me in the work I'm doing for Virginia's 7th District.
IN VIRGINIA'S SEVENTH DISTRICT
Since swearing in on 1/3/19, my office has
* Attended 457 events in the district
* Completed 543 constituent services cases
* Returned $445,802.96 to constituents
If you need assistance dealing with the IRS, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, visas, passports, or any other federal agency or program, our district team is here to help. Please click this link to get started.
**TAP BELOW TO WATCH**
WHAT I'M WORKING ON
On Wednesday, I introduced a bill alongside my Republican colleague Rep. Tom Reed that works to lower the cost of prescription drugs by increasing access to cheaper treatments called biosimilars. Biosimilars are advanced, generic drug therapies that can treat cancer, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, and many other conditions – but prescription drug companies use a variety of practices to prevent them from getting to market. Consumers should be able to consider a full range of affordable options and make the best choice for them. Read more about my bill here.
This week, I chaired a Conservation & Forestry Subcommittee hearing on precision agriculture, and I was thrilled to welcome a constituent as one of our witnesses. Dustin Madison, a farmer from Louisa County, shared his insights on how precision ag technology and strategies can have a positive impact on farmers' bottom line, as well as the environment. Watch a recap of the hearing here.
I recently joined two strong, bipartisan sanctions bills against Turkey. These bills, supported by both Republicans and Democrats, would hold Turkey accountable for its deadly incursion into northern Syria. Turkish President Erdogan's actions are creating a significant humanitarian crisis, further destabilizing the region, and undermining our progress against ISIS – and these major sanctions send a clear message that the United States stands with our Kurdish allies. Read more about the sanctions bills here.
My amendment passed the House as part of the SHIELD Act on Wednesday, and I was proud to see my initiative included in this important election integrity legislation. The number of countries around the world engaged in disinformation campaigns online has more than doubled in the last two years. In Congress, we have a responsibility to help safeguard our elections from foreign influence and give Americans the tools they need to understand foreign influence campaigns. For more details about my amendment and the bill, click here.
QUICK UPDATE: RURAL BROADBAND ACCESS
Earlier this year, I fought hard for funding to help local governments with broadband expansion projects, and this week I led a bipartisan letter to keep pushing that request in the House and Senate. Read more about my persistence on this issue here.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
Culpeper Star Exponent: Precision agriculture holds hope for farmers, Louisa man tells Congress
Augusta Free Press: Spanberger, Reed introduce bill to increase access to lower-cost prescription drugs
Fredericksburg Free Lance Star: Editorial: State taxpayers have right to know too
WRIC: Spanberger and other gun-owning legislators urge Senate to vote on bipartisan gun bills passed by House
(Copied from email Newsletter)
Good afternoon friends,
This week, I introduced a bill to help increase access to cheaper, biologic prescription drugs, took strong steps to sanction Turkey for their attacks in northern Syria, and chaired a subcommittee hearing where a Louisa County constituent testified as one of our expert witnesses – and that's not all. It was a busy week, so please keep scrolling for an update on all the developments this week! Thank you, as always, for joining me in the work I'm doing for Virginia's 7th District.
IN VIRGINIA'S SEVENTH DISTRICT
Since swearing in on 1/3/19, my office has
* Attended 457 events in the district
* Completed 543 constituent services cases
* Returned $445,802.96 to constituents
If you need assistance dealing with the IRS, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, visas, passports, or any other federal agency or program, our district team is here to help. Please click this link to get started.
**TAP BELOW TO WATCH**
WHAT I'M WORKING ON
On Wednesday, I introduced a bill alongside my Republican colleague Rep. Tom Reed that works to lower the cost of prescription drugs by increasing access to cheaper treatments called biosimilars. Biosimilars are advanced, generic drug therapies that can treat cancer, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, and many other conditions – but prescription drug companies use a variety of practices to prevent them from getting to market. Consumers should be able to consider a full range of affordable options and make the best choice for them. Read more about my bill here.
This week, I chaired a Conservation & Forestry Subcommittee hearing on precision agriculture, and I was thrilled to welcome a constituent as one of our witnesses. Dustin Madison, a farmer from Louisa County, shared his insights on how precision ag technology and strategies can have a positive impact on farmers' bottom line, as well as the environment. Watch a recap of the hearing here.
I recently joined two strong, bipartisan sanctions bills against Turkey. These bills, supported by both Republicans and Democrats, would hold Turkey accountable for its deadly incursion into northern Syria. Turkish President Erdogan's actions are creating a significant humanitarian crisis, further destabilizing the region, and undermining our progress against ISIS – and these major sanctions send a clear message that the United States stands with our Kurdish allies. Read more about the sanctions bills here.
My amendment passed the House as part of the SHIELD Act on Wednesday, and I was proud to see my initiative included in this important election integrity legislation. The number of countries around the world engaged in disinformation campaigns online has more than doubled in the last two years. In Congress, we have a responsibility to help safeguard our elections from foreign influence and give Americans the tools they need to understand foreign influence campaigns. For more details about my amendment and the bill, click here.
QUICK UPDATE: RURAL BROADBAND ACCESS
Earlier this year, I fought hard for funding to help local governments with broadband expansion projects, and this week I led a bipartisan letter to keep pushing that request in the House and Senate. Read more about my persistence on this issue here.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
Culpeper Star Exponent: Precision agriculture holds hope for farmers, Louisa man tells Congress
Augusta Free Press: Spanberger, Reed introduce bill to increase access to lower-cost prescription drugs
Fredericksburg Free Lance Star: Editorial: State taxpayers have right to know too
WRIC: Spanberger and other gun-owning legislators urge Senate to vote on bipartisan gun bills passed by House
Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger's Weekly Newsletter: October 18, 2019
(Copied from email Newsletter)
Good afternoon friends,
This week, I introduced a bill to support critical medical research and helped introduce another piece of legislation that aims to equip American citizens with the tools and strategies they need to evaluate disinformation online. I'm also closely engaged in the ongoing United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) negotiations. I recently hosted a trade roundtable with Chesterfield business leaders to hear feedback and learn more about how a potential trade agreement would impact their businesses and employees. I will continue advocating for our district's businesses during this process.
I've enjoyed hosting a town hall in every county of the district this year. I'm now scheduling more public events for the fall, and I will announce the dates shortly once they're finalized. Please keep an eye out on Facebook, Twitter, and my website for those announcements!
Please keep scrolling for a brief update on this week's work. Thank you, as always, for the honor of serving Virginia's Seventh District.
IN VIRGINIA'S SEVENTH DISTRICT
Since swearing in on 1/3/19, my office has
* Attended 447 events in the district
* Completed 533 constituent services cases
* Returned $413,547.16 to constituents
* Held 15 sessions of mobile office hours.
If you need assistance dealing with the IRS, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, visas, passports, or any other federal agency or program, our district team is here to help. Please click this link to get started.
WHAT I'M WORKING ON
I recently introduced the Biomedical Innovation Expansion Act, a bill to support the vital work being done by teams at NIH. These world-class medical researchers are working on some of the most complex health challenges facing American families, including cancer and rare diseases. Read more about my bill here.
This week, I also helped introduce legislation that would help Americans evaluate false information online. In today's landscape, media literacy is a key component of active citizenship, and this bill would work to make sure all American students know how to evaluate disinformation online and make their own informed decisions. Learn more about the bill here.
On Thursday, I once again spoke publicly to urge Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to allow a vote on the Bipartisan Background Checks Act, a gun violence prevention bill passed by House Republicans and Democrats nearly eight months ago. I grew up in a home with a firearm, and I carried a firearm every day in my job as a federal agent. Many gun owners across Virginia safely keep firearms for their work, for hunting, or for personal safety reasons. I'm very familiar with the commonsense steps that responsible gun owners take to pass a background check, and my goal to make sure that everyone who purchases a gun follows those same steps. Nearly 40,000 Americans die each year due to gun violence - there is no justification for our bipartisan legislation being ignored in the Senate. Click here for more details about my message for Sen. McConnell.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
WRIC: Spanberger calls on the Senate to consider bipartisan gun violence prevention bill
Chesterfield Village News: Trade agreement the focus of roundtable
Fox Business: Lawmakers propose $60M for teaching students as young as kindergarten to evaluate the media
The Hill: House Dems introduce bill to fight social media disinformation
Homeland Preparedness News: Funding initiative targets antibiotic resistance, rare diseases
(Copied from email Newsletter)
Good afternoon friends,
This week, I introduced a bill to support critical medical research and helped introduce another piece of legislation that aims to equip American citizens with the tools and strategies they need to evaluate disinformation online. I'm also closely engaged in the ongoing United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) negotiations. I recently hosted a trade roundtable with Chesterfield business leaders to hear feedback and learn more about how a potential trade agreement would impact their businesses and employees. I will continue advocating for our district's businesses during this process.
I've enjoyed hosting a town hall in every county of the district this year. I'm now scheduling more public events for the fall, and I will announce the dates shortly once they're finalized. Please keep an eye out on Facebook, Twitter, and my website for those announcements!
Please keep scrolling for a brief update on this week's work. Thank you, as always, for the honor of serving Virginia's Seventh District.
IN VIRGINIA'S SEVENTH DISTRICT
Since swearing in on 1/3/19, my office has
* Attended 447 events in the district
* Completed 533 constituent services cases
* Returned $413,547.16 to constituents
* Held 15 sessions of mobile office hours.
If you need assistance dealing with the IRS, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, visas, passports, or any other federal agency or program, our district team is here to help. Please click this link to get started.
WHAT I'M WORKING ON
I recently introduced the Biomedical Innovation Expansion Act, a bill to support the vital work being done by teams at NIH. These world-class medical researchers are working on some of the most complex health challenges facing American families, including cancer and rare diseases. Read more about my bill here.
This week, I also helped introduce legislation that would help Americans evaluate false information online. In today's landscape, media literacy is a key component of active citizenship, and this bill would work to make sure all American students know how to evaluate disinformation online and make their own informed decisions. Learn more about the bill here.
On Thursday, I once again spoke publicly to urge Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to allow a vote on the Bipartisan Background Checks Act, a gun violence prevention bill passed by House Republicans and Democrats nearly eight months ago. I grew up in a home with a firearm, and I carried a firearm every day in my job as a federal agent. Many gun owners across Virginia safely keep firearms for their work, for hunting, or for personal safety reasons. I'm very familiar with the commonsense steps that responsible gun owners take to pass a background check, and my goal to make sure that everyone who purchases a gun follows those same steps. Nearly 40,000 Americans die each year due to gun violence - there is no justification for our bipartisan legislation being ignored in the Senate. Click here for more details about my message for Sen. McConnell.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
WRIC: Spanberger calls on the Senate to consider bipartisan gun violence prevention bill
Chesterfield Village News: Trade agreement the focus of roundtable
Fox Business: Lawmakers propose $60M for teaching students as young as kindergarten to evaluate the media
The Hill: House Dems introduce bill to fight social media disinformation
Homeland Preparedness News: Funding initiative targets antibiotic resistance, rare diseases
Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger's Weekly Newsletter: October 11, 2019
(Copied from email Newsletter)
Good afternoon friends,
Last week, I wasn't permitted to tell you about my schedule – this week, I'm able to let you know that I was on an official congressional trip to Turkey, Afghanistan, and the Syria-Jordan border. I joined a bipartisan group of House colleagues in conversations with our U.S. and foreign leaders on the ground. More on those discussions below.
This week, back in Central Virginia, I went on a two-day, eight-stop education tour across our district to talk with educators and students.
Our mobile office hours program continues to be a great success (Numbers 14 and 15 are coming up!), and I'm working to schedule more public events for the near future. Please keep an eye out on Facebook, Twitter, and my website for those announcements!
Please keep scrolling for brief update on this week's work. Thank you, as always, for the privilege of representing Virginia's Seventh District.
IN VIRGINIA'S SEVENTH DISTRICT
Since swearing in on 1/3/19, my office has attended 433 events in the district, completed 493 constituent services cases, and held 13 sessions of mobile office hours.
My office has also held an open town hall in all 10 counties of our district this year. We are currently working hard to schedule and plan additional public events before the end of the year! Please stayed tuned to my website and social media for those announcements.
If you need assistance dealing with the IRS, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, visas, passports, or any other federal agency or program, our district team is here to help. Please click this link to get started.
WHAT I'M WORKING ON
Last week, I traveled with Republican and Democratic colleagues on an official congressional trip to Afghanistan, Turkey, and the Syria-Jordan border. We met with U.S. military, intelligence, and diplomatic officers, as well as foreign security partners. We discussed our ongoing efforts to combat the spread of terrorism and the many ways that instability in the Middle East multiplies the threats to Americans at home and abroad. In light of the conversations I had with experts on the ground, I was very concerned when the administration decided to abandon our mission in northern Syria this week. Read my reaction here.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, I visited eight schools across Culpeper, Goochland, Chesterfield, Amelia, Henrico, and Louisa. I met with teachers, students, and administrators to find out what's working and what we can improve in Central Virginia classrooms. It was particularly encouraging to see some of our district's incredible workforce training programs in action. Read more about my eight-stop education tour here.
I also introduced a bipartisan bill to crack down on one of the methods drug traffickers use to distribute extremely dangerous fentanyl and other illicit drugs. The CAST Act would clearly define and toughen up penalties for those using pill press molds to make counterfeit pills and traffic drugs. Learn more about this strategy here.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
CBS19: Bills before Congress take aim at drug traffickers who manufacture counterfeit pills
VPM: Congresswoman Spanberger: Syria Withdrawal "Misguided and Catastrophic"
WRIC: Spanberger discusses stance on impeachment inquiry, Virginia's 7th Congressional District in 8News interview
Washington Post: Democrats issue letter to Trump condemning decision to withdraw troops from northeastern Syria
Culpeper Star Exponent: Spanberger starts education tour in Culpeper
(Copied from email Newsletter)
Good afternoon friends,
Last week, I wasn't permitted to tell you about my schedule – this week, I'm able to let you know that I was on an official congressional trip to Turkey, Afghanistan, and the Syria-Jordan border. I joined a bipartisan group of House colleagues in conversations with our U.S. and foreign leaders on the ground. More on those discussions below.
This week, back in Central Virginia, I went on a two-day, eight-stop education tour across our district to talk with educators and students.
Our mobile office hours program continues to be a great success (Numbers 14 and 15 are coming up!), and I'm working to schedule more public events for the near future. Please keep an eye out on Facebook, Twitter, and my website for those announcements!
Please keep scrolling for brief update on this week's work. Thank you, as always, for the privilege of representing Virginia's Seventh District.
IN VIRGINIA'S SEVENTH DISTRICT
Since swearing in on 1/3/19, my office has attended 433 events in the district, completed 493 constituent services cases, and held 13 sessions of mobile office hours.
My office has also held an open town hall in all 10 counties of our district this year. We are currently working hard to schedule and plan additional public events before the end of the year! Please stayed tuned to my website and social media for those announcements.
If you need assistance dealing with the IRS, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, visas, passports, or any other federal agency or program, our district team is here to help. Please click this link to get started.
WHAT I'M WORKING ON
Last week, I traveled with Republican and Democratic colleagues on an official congressional trip to Afghanistan, Turkey, and the Syria-Jordan border. We met with U.S. military, intelligence, and diplomatic officers, as well as foreign security partners. We discussed our ongoing efforts to combat the spread of terrorism and the many ways that instability in the Middle East multiplies the threats to Americans at home and abroad. In light of the conversations I had with experts on the ground, I was very concerned when the administration decided to abandon our mission in northern Syria this week. Read my reaction here.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, I visited eight schools across Culpeper, Goochland, Chesterfield, Amelia, Henrico, and Louisa. I met with teachers, students, and administrators to find out what's working and what we can improve in Central Virginia classrooms. It was particularly encouraging to see some of our district's incredible workforce training programs in action. Read more about my eight-stop education tour here.
I also introduced a bipartisan bill to crack down on one of the methods drug traffickers use to distribute extremely dangerous fentanyl and other illicit drugs. The CAST Act would clearly define and toughen up penalties for those using pill press molds to make counterfeit pills and traffic drugs. Learn more about this strategy here.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
CBS19: Bills before Congress take aim at drug traffickers who manufacture counterfeit pills
VPM: Congresswoman Spanberger: Syria Withdrawal "Misguided and Catastrophic"
WRIC: Spanberger discusses stance on impeachment inquiry, Virginia's 7th Congressional District in 8News interview
Washington Post: Democrats issue letter to Trump condemning decision to withdraw troops from northeastern Syria
Culpeper Star Exponent: Spanberger starts education tour in Culpeper
Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger's Weekly Newsletter: October 4, 2019
(Copied from email Newsletter)
Good afternoon friends,
The House is currently out of session, and this week I traveled on an official work trip with fellow Members of Congress. I'm really looking forward to being able to share the details of that trip with you in next week's wrap-up email – stay tuned! Next week, during the second week of this district work period, I will be back in our district to meet with constituents and discuss education, trade, and community safety issues.
Please keep scrolling for a quick status check on several of the key bills I've worked on this year. Thank you, as always, for your continued investment in our Seventh District community. It's an honor to serve Central Virginians in the U.S. House.
IN VIRGINIA'S SEVENTH DISTRICT
Since swearing in on 1/3/19, my office has attended 418 events in the district, completed 469 constituent services cases, and hosted 12 sessions of mobile office hours.
We have 2 rounds of mobile office hours coming up next week! Please click here to view the details on our website.
Our district team has successfully resolved hundreds of cases for our constituents, and they are ready to assist you too. If you need help dealing with the IRS, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, visas, passports, or any other federal agency or program, please click this link to get started.
LEGISLATIVE STATUS CHECK
Since taking office in January, I've worked on a total of 223 bills – 12 as the lead sponsor and 211 as a cosponsor.
81% of my bills have been bipartisan, supported by Republicans and Democrats
5 of the bills I've worked on have been signed into law by the president
I'm working hard to lead and cosponsor practical, bipartisan bills that address the issues that matter most to Virginia's Seventh District, including prescription drugs, our national debt, gun safety, and national security.
Prescription Drugs My bill, Public Disclosure of Drug Discounts Act, would tackle the rising cost of prescriptions by requiring transparency from the third-party pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) who negotiate for drug discounts. I introduced this bipartisan bill in May. It has since passed out of the House Ways & Means Committee and House Energy & Commerce Committee, and I'm now pushing to get a vote on the floor.
Gun Safety I helped pass the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019 in February, along with colleagues from both sides of the aisle. The bill would take the commonsense step of requiring that all buyers successfully pass a background check before being able to purchase a gun. The House passed this bill in February and we've been waiting for a vote in the Senate ever since. In August, I sent a letter to Sen. McConnell, once again urging him to consider this bill for a vote.
National Security In May, I introduced the Secure 5G and Beyond Act of 2019. This bill would protect our telecommunications systems from exploitation and attack by foreign powers like China. The bill has been reviewed by the Subcommittee on Communications & Technology (in the House Committee on Energy & Commerce) and is on its way to being reviewed by the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
OVERVIEW: FROM BILL TO LAW
Listen to constituents This phase is where the entire process starts, and it's the most important to me as your representative in the U.S. House. I listen to constituents and discuss priorities for Central Virginians during meetings, community events in the district, and town halls. I also digest all the opinions and perspectives that people share with my office by calling or writing in. My team plays a key role in this phase as well by meeting with as many constituents as possible and relaying their conversations back to me.
Listen to experts Sometimes when we're forming an idea for legislation, my team and I will also listen to the input of advocacy and expert groups that can offer more in-depth knowledge of a specific topic. I think it's important to learn the details of a topic and be able to consider a problem from all angles.
Listen to all sides of the issue Once I have an idea of how I want to act on a particular issue, informed by my constituents and relevant background information, my next step is to have conversations with House colleagues from the other side of the aisle. I'm deeply committed to representing our Central Virginia communities in a bipartisan manner, and that means doing the work to find what Democrats and Republicans have in common when we approach a problem.
Introduced The preparation can take months, but once a bill is ready to go, a member of the House sponsors it and introduces it by dropping it in the hopper on the House floor.
Assigned The bill is then assigned to the relevant House committee(s) for review. Part of the work I do as a member of the House Agriculture Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee is to review and amend bills that fall under our jurisdiction.
Committee work This phase can also take months to complete. When reviewing a bill, committees may hold public hearings with expert witnesses, write and vote on amendments to the bill, and may refer the bill to a subcommittee for closer examination. If the committee approves a major amendment(s), they may decide that the bill is too different from its original form and a new, clean bill will be written and assigned.
Released by committee Once released by committee(s), the process repeats somewhat. Members who are working on the bill talk to constituents, gather support from the people who will be impacted in their own communities, work with members from the other party to create bipartisan agreement, and push the House leadership to put the bill on the floor calendar.
On the floor If members succeed in pushing to get their bill on the floor, the bill will eventually come up for debate, amendments, and a vote. This marks the final stage at which House members can make their constituents' voices heard.
To the Senate If the bill passes the House, it moves to the Senate. If the bill successfully passes the Senate, a conference committee of Senate and House members work together to reconcile any difference between the House and Senate versions of the bill. Once they've agreed upon one, final version, the bill returns to both House and Senate for approval.
To the White House Once approved by both the House and Senate, the bill is printed and delivered to the president. The president then has 10 days to veto it or sign the bill into law.
What now? A member of the House's work isn't over once a bill becomes a law. Now, they begin the important work of communicating with their constituents, explaining what the new law may mean for them, and providing any help their constituents might need during the implementation of the new law.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
Washington Post: Rep. Abigail Spanberger, a former CIA undercover officer, says 'acting' officials are part of the problem
Augusta Free Press: Spanberger continues efforts to strengthen U.S. election security
Virginia Public Media: Spanberger Doubles Down On Inquiry Support, Says It's Still Too Soon To Impeach
If my office can assist or serve you, please don't hesitate to call us at (202) 225-2815 in Washington or (804) 401-4110 in Henrico.
Sincerely,
Abigail
(Copied from email Newsletter)
Good afternoon friends,
The House is currently out of session, and this week I traveled on an official work trip with fellow Members of Congress. I'm really looking forward to being able to share the details of that trip with you in next week's wrap-up email – stay tuned! Next week, during the second week of this district work period, I will be back in our district to meet with constituents and discuss education, trade, and community safety issues.
Please keep scrolling for a quick status check on several of the key bills I've worked on this year. Thank you, as always, for your continued investment in our Seventh District community. It's an honor to serve Central Virginians in the U.S. House.
IN VIRGINIA'S SEVENTH DISTRICT
Since swearing in on 1/3/19, my office has attended 418 events in the district, completed 469 constituent services cases, and hosted 12 sessions of mobile office hours.
We have 2 rounds of mobile office hours coming up next week! Please click here to view the details on our website.
Our district team has successfully resolved hundreds of cases for our constituents, and they are ready to assist you too. If you need help dealing with the IRS, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, visas, passports, or any other federal agency or program, please click this link to get started.
LEGISLATIVE STATUS CHECK
Since taking office in January, I've worked on a total of 223 bills – 12 as the lead sponsor and 211 as a cosponsor.
81% of my bills have been bipartisan, supported by Republicans and Democrats
5 of the bills I've worked on have been signed into law by the president
I'm working hard to lead and cosponsor practical, bipartisan bills that address the issues that matter most to Virginia's Seventh District, including prescription drugs, our national debt, gun safety, and national security.
Prescription Drugs My bill, Public Disclosure of Drug Discounts Act, would tackle the rising cost of prescriptions by requiring transparency from the third-party pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) who negotiate for drug discounts. I introduced this bipartisan bill in May. It has since passed out of the House Ways & Means Committee and House Energy & Commerce Committee, and I'm now pushing to get a vote on the floor.
Gun Safety I helped pass the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019 in February, along with colleagues from both sides of the aisle. The bill would take the commonsense step of requiring that all buyers successfully pass a background check before being able to purchase a gun. The House passed this bill in February and we've been waiting for a vote in the Senate ever since. In August, I sent a letter to Sen. McConnell, once again urging him to consider this bill for a vote.
National Security In May, I introduced the Secure 5G and Beyond Act of 2019. This bill would protect our telecommunications systems from exploitation and attack by foreign powers like China. The bill has been reviewed by the Subcommittee on Communications & Technology (in the House Committee on Energy & Commerce) and is on its way to being reviewed by the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
OVERVIEW: FROM BILL TO LAW
Listen to constituents This phase is where the entire process starts, and it's the most important to me as your representative in the U.S. House. I listen to constituents and discuss priorities for Central Virginians during meetings, community events in the district, and town halls. I also digest all the opinions and perspectives that people share with my office by calling or writing in. My team plays a key role in this phase as well by meeting with as many constituents as possible and relaying their conversations back to me.
Listen to experts Sometimes when we're forming an idea for legislation, my team and I will also listen to the input of advocacy and expert groups that can offer more in-depth knowledge of a specific topic. I think it's important to learn the details of a topic and be able to consider a problem from all angles.
Listen to all sides of the issue Once I have an idea of how I want to act on a particular issue, informed by my constituents and relevant background information, my next step is to have conversations with House colleagues from the other side of the aisle. I'm deeply committed to representing our Central Virginia communities in a bipartisan manner, and that means doing the work to find what Democrats and Republicans have in common when we approach a problem.
Introduced The preparation can take months, but once a bill is ready to go, a member of the House sponsors it and introduces it by dropping it in the hopper on the House floor.
Assigned The bill is then assigned to the relevant House committee(s) for review. Part of the work I do as a member of the House Agriculture Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee is to review and amend bills that fall under our jurisdiction.
Committee work This phase can also take months to complete. When reviewing a bill, committees may hold public hearings with expert witnesses, write and vote on amendments to the bill, and may refer the bill to a subcommittee for closer examination. If the committee approves a major amendment(s), they may decide that the bill is too different from its original form and a new, clean bill will be written and assigned.
Released by committee Once released by committee(s), the process repeats somewhat. Members who are working on the bill talk to constituents, gather support from the people who will be impacted in their own communities, work with members from the other party to create bipartisan agreement, and push the House leadership to put the bill on the floor calendar.
On the floor If members succeed in pushing to get their bill on the floor, the bill will eventually come up for debate, amendments, and a vote. This marks the final stage at which House members can make their constituents' voices heard.
To the Senate If the bill passes the House, it moves to the Senate. If the bill successfully passes the Senate, a conference committee of Senate and House members work together to reconcile any difference between the House and Senate versions of the bill. Once they've agreed upon one, final version, the bill returns to both House and Senate for approval.
To the White House Once approved by both the House and Senate, the bill is printed and delivered to the president. The president then has 10 days to veto it or sign the bill into law.
What now? A member of the House's work isn't over once a bill becomes a law. Now, they begin the important work of communicating with their constituents, explaining what the new law may mean for them, and providing any help their constituents might need during the implementation of the new law.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
Washington Post: Rep. Abigail Spanberger, a former CIA undercover officer, says 'acting' officials are part of the problem
Augusta Free Press: Spanberger continues efforts to strengthen U.S. election security
Virginia Public Media: Spanberger Doubles Down On Inquiry Support, Says It's Still Too Soon To Impeach
If my office can assist or serve you, please don't hesitate to call us at (202) 225-2815 in Washington or (804) 401-4110 in Henrico.
Sincerely,
Abigail
Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger's Weekly Newsletter: September 27, 2019
(Copied from email Newsletter)
Good evening friends,
This week, I made progress on two of our priorities – trade and election security. In a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Lighthizer, I made the case for a rapid resolution on the GSP trade agreement with India to benefit American businesses. This agreement saved Virginians $14 million in 2016. I also cosponsored the Honest Ads Act, a bipartisan bill to strengthen the integrity of our elections and protect Americans from a flood of misinformation from foreign actors online.
Please keep scrolling for a quick debrief on this week's work. Thank you, as always, for the honor of serving Virginia's Seventh District. It is a privilege to represent you in the U.S. House.
IN VIRGINIA'S SEVENTH DISTRICT
Since swearing in on 1/3/19, my office has attended 410 events in the district, completed 444 constituent services cases, held 12 sessions of mobile office hours, hosted 10 town halls, and 6 Coffee with your Congressperson events.
Our district team has successfully resolved hundreds of cases for our constituents, and they are ready to assist you too. If you need help dealing with the IRS, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, visas, passports, or any other federal agency or program, please click this link to get started.
NOTE ON THIS WEEK'S DEVELOPMENTS
I'd like to thank all the Central Virginians who have called and written to express their opinion on the important issue of upholding our Constitution and responding to urgent national security concerns. Know that your input is always at the forefront of my mind when I make a decision in the House, and I appreciate your active engagement in our country's civic life.
Earlier this week, I made the following statement to my constituents about the recent allegations against the president:
“To the People of Central Virginia --
“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. On the floor of the House of Representatives, I affirmed my fidelity to the Constitution in front of the American people.
“Over the past nine months, I have worked faithfully to deliver on my promises to the people of Central Virginia. I have focused on local issues, and I have introduced and supported healthcare and infrastructure legislation that would make a real difference in the lives of our neighbors. I’ve hosted town halls in each of the 10 counties I represent, and I’ve heard directly from many of you — both those who agree and those who disagree with my positions. 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. 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.
“While many of my Democratic colleagues have called for investigations and inquiries over the last nine months, I have not. I have been clear in my desire to pursue evidence, but I have felt that a rush to designate a preferred outcome would be irresponsible and could be seen as partisan. I have believed that this partisanship would further divide our country and distract us from the fact that our elections and electorate were attacked in 2016. So while others called for inquiries and impeachment, I got to work. I co-founded a task force to understand and define our nation’s vulnerabilities and legislate to protect our elections and electorate from potential foreign influence and attack in our upcoming elections.
“But the newest allegations against the President of the United States have started a new chapter, and they must be treated as such. The allegation that the President may have used his position to ask a foreign leader to investigate a political rival to benefit his reelection efforts is shocking. That he may have tried to use U.S. taxpayer-funded security assistance funding as leverage in this effort represents a national security threat. In addition to the alleged actions of the President, the Administration is also blocking the Intelligence Community Inspector General from providing “urgent” and “credible” whistleblower information to Congress as required by law. The people of Central Virginia and the entire country deserve answers.
“That’s why I’ve joined with my fellow veteran and national security colleagues in calling on the House to pursue all possible avenues to determine the validity of these allegations. I want to make clear to the people of Central Virginia that these allegations, if proven true, pose a threat to our national security, endanger the integrity of our elections, and represent impeachable offenses. Congress must urgently determine if these allegations are true.
“As Congress digs deeper into these serious allegations, my focus in the House of Representatives will remain the same — I’ll continue fighting to lower prescription drug costs, boost healthcare coverage, expand our broadband infrastructure, address our growing debt and deficits, and build bipartisan coalitions. And I will continue to fight to uphold our Constitution. It is my honor to serve as your U.S. Representative.”
SERVICE ACADEMY DAY UPDATE
Saturday, Rep. Donald McEachin and I are hosting the Central Virginia Service Academy Day. If you are attending, please bring some form of ID! Our hosting venue will require identification for admittance.
WHAT I'M WORKING ON
This week, I joined 18 Republicans and 17 Democrats in cosponsoring the Honest Ads Act. This bipartisan bill would require that digital political ads, including ads that appear on social media, are subject to the same rules and oversight as political ads that run on TV, in print, or on the radio. We know that foreign actors will be working hard in the 2020 election cycle to divide and deceive Americans, and I'm working in a bipartisan manner to protect against this interference in our democracy.
I also recently wrote a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Lighthizer, urging him to reach a renewed GSP trade agreement with India that would benefit American businesses. The GSP program saves Virginians millions of dollars per year, and allowing it to terminate only hurts our Seventh District businesses.
On Thursday, I chaired a Conservation and Forestry Subcommittee hearing on national forest infrastructure. The roads, trails, bridges, and dams that traverse our U.S. Forest Service lands serve as the backbone to more than $10 billion of economic activity each year. Addressing the long backlog of forest infrastructure maintenance projects is vital.
On Thursday, I also participated in two House Foreign Affairs Committee hearings. My colleagues and I discussed the FY2020 budget for the Asia, Pacific, and Nonproliferation subcommittee, as well as the vital importance of our diplomatic and security relationships with Palau, Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
Washington Post: Seven freshman Democrats: These allegations are a threat to all we have sworn to protect
Culpeper Star Exponent: Spanberger warns against impeachment overreach
WRIC: Spanberger says questions need to be answered before considering Trump impeachment
PBS News Hour: Spanberger: 'So many troubling threads' in Trump allegations that full investigation is needed
Culpeper Star Exponent: For the Record: Spanberger on Trump-Ukraine allegations
Richmond Times Dispatch: Broadband remains hot topic at joint Powhatan board meeting
Richmond Times Dispatch: Congress must fund programs that help Virginia children aim high
(Not included..MY WEEK IN PHOTOS)
If my office can assist or serve you, please don't hesitate to call us at (202) 225-2815 in Washington or (804) 401-4110 in Henrico.
Sincerely,
Abigail
SIGN UP FOR EMAIL UPDATES
Facebook ** Twitter ** Instagram ** YouTube ** Flickr