Each American has a right to be heard, and I was proud to vote to pass the Voting Rights Advancement Act to restore vital voter protections and strengthen Virginians' trust in our political process.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, we've seen the importance of having safe and accessible public lands as outdoor spaces in which to reflect and grow. We are all responsible for being stewards of these precious lands and keeping these natural treasures safe for generations to come.
Without a strategic, long-term gameplan to defend our networks from foreign-based 5G threats, we are putting the privacy of American consumers and companies at risk.
Each year, the State of the Union reflects the priorities of the current administration - and it provides the American people with a collective moment to reflect on the strength and security of our country.
In the digital age, fast and secure Internet access is a necessity for Central Virginia families, students, and businesses - but in many of our rural Virginia communities, unreliable high-speed broadband Internet drastically limits the scope of opportunities for growth and success.
Our farmers are constantly deploying conservation techniques that keep our environment strong - and it's time we made them a consistent part of our efforts to protect it.
In Central Virginia, farmers are some of our strongest conservationists. They understand the complex ecosystems they inhabit, and they cherish the role they play as stewards of the land.
Our words and our marches must be accompanied by action - and that includes meaningful progress on issues ranging from maternal mortality disparities to inequities in access to healthcare, education, Internet, and transportation.
To help inform my work in Congress, I consistently need to gather information about the healthcare challenges facing Central Virginia patients, providers, and local officials on the ground.
To prevent the death of mothers across our country, we must expand research, implement researched best practices, and fiercely work to understand why African American, Hispanic, and Native American mothers die at even higher rates than white mothers.
Throughout my first year in office, some of my most informative conversations have occurred at public, community-focused events like our town halls.
No matter how successful we are in fighting the threat of covid-19 at home, we will not end the suffering and fear created by the virus unless we also combat it around the world.
When I was a CIA officer we would have meetings and you don't know what people's politics are... We were there to serve a mission that we were focused on that mission.
Especially as we engage in critical conversations about the vast inequalities that persist across our Commonwealth and our country, we need to dive deeper into how we can address the systemic challenges that permeate our healthcare system.