It was another packed week in session as House Republicans continued our work delivering for the American people. First, the Judiciary Committee demanded answers on the weaponization of the Department of Justice. Biden’s failed border policies continue with a new executive order that does nothing to secure our borders. I was honored to be appointed to the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party to combat the growing threat of the CCP. Hosting a telephone town hall event in Roanoke, Salem, and Botetourt was a pleasure. Last week, we commemorated the 80th anniversary of D-Day and honored those who stormed the beach of Normandy for our freedom. I always enjoyed meeting with organizations, businesses, and folks in D.C. and back home. Rest assured, I’ll continue to fight for your values and interests in Washington and help protect the safety, security, and freedom of the people of the Sixth District.

Demanding Accountability for the DOJ’s Abuse of Power
Under Merrick Garland’s leadership, the Department of Justice has become weaponized, betraying the American people’s trust in our justice system over the past few years. We have seen this DOJ work hard to protect the Biden family but not to uphold justice for the American people.

In a Judiciary Hearing last week, I pressed Attorney General Merrick Garland on the abuse of power within his agency and the questionable appointment of David Weiss as Special Counsel in the Hunter Biden investigation. The deep ties between Weiss and the Biden family raise alarming concerns of bias and favoritism within the DOJ. The American people deserve transparency and accountability, not a two-tiered justice system.

During this critical time in our nation’s history, House Republicans will keep working to end the weaponization of our justice system at all levels of government.

Watch my questioning of Attorney General Garland during a Judiciary Committee hearing.

Combatting The Chinese Communist Party
This week, I was honored to be appointed to the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party by Speaker Mike Johnson. Biden’s weak foreign policies have only empowered and emboldened the Chinese Communist Party, so we must respond with tough policies that confront the CCP. I look forward to working under Chairman Moolenaar and with my colleagues to address and counter the growing threat of the CCP at home and abroad.

Biden’s Executive Order on the Southern Border

The deteriorating border under the Biden administration is one of the top concerns for people across the Sixth District and our country. Over the last three years, we have seen every month hit a new record as thousands of people come across our border, and the Mexican cartels ravage our communities through an explosion of drug trafficking, human trafficking, and sex trafficking.

Last week, Biden announced an executive order that would shut down the southern border once illegal crossings hit 2,500 per day. According to CBP sources, the first full day of this executive order had zero impact on the border. This executive order is nothing but an election-year stunt. If Biden truly wanted to stop the invasion, he could have, but he continues to ignore the crisis he created blatantly. If he does not act, then we must continue to work to hold him and his administration accountable.

Watch my interview on Mornings with Maria on Biden’s new executive order here.

Telephone Town Hall Event

Thank you to everyone from Roanoke, Salem, and Botetourt who could join my latest telephone town hall on Thursday. I enjoy holding in-person and telephone town halls in the Sixth Congressional District’s 22 counties and cities. These events are important opportunities for me to address the concerns of each community directly. Your direct input helps me effectively represent Virginia’s Sixth District in Congress. I look forward to hosting similar events in the future.

Telephone Town Hall event for Roanoke, Botetourt, and Salem

Remembering D-Day
In commemoration of D-Day, we pay tribute to the nearly 160,000 valiant Allied troops who stormed the beaches of Normandy, embarking on a monumental fight for freedom against pure evil. We will never forget their courage and unwavering commitment to save the free world. May we always honor them and America’s Greatest Generation for their sacrifices.

Meetings on the Hill

Meeting with Sixth District representatives of the National Milk Producers Federation was great for discussing key legislative priorities in reauthorizing the Farm Bill.

I was privileged to meet with Sixth District representatives of Breakthrough T1D, the leading global organization dedicated to Type 1 diabetes research and advocacy.

I enjoyed meeting with Sixth District representatives of the National Nurse Association to discuss concerns about the nurse education shortage and nurse safety.

It was a pleasure meeting with Sixth District representatives of the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies and discussing important issues in the industry.

District Travels

I had a great tour of the new 400,000-square-foot facility at Wurth Revcar Fasteners Inc. in Roanoke. I learned more about their work in manufacturing and servicing various components for critical applications in the U.S. Navy’s aircraft carrier programs.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your Congressman. If my office can assist, please get in touch with my Washington office at (202) 225-5431.

Please follow my Facebook and Twitter pages for the latest updates from Washington and across the Sixth District.

Congressman Ben Cline is pleased to announce the upcoming Casework Staff Mobile Office Hours in Front Royal to serve constituents better and address their concerns with federal agencies. These sessions are designed to provide direct assistance and ensure that constituents’ views are effectively represented in Congress.

Event Details:

• Date: June 11, 2024
• Time: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
• Venue: Samuels Public Library (Baxter-Bowling Conference Room)
• Address: 330 East Criser Road, Front Royal, VA 22630

During mobile office hours, constituents experiencing difficulties with federal agencies such as the Social Security Administration, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, or the Internal Revenue Service are encouraged to stop by. A Congressman Cline staff member will be available to offer assistance and address any issues.

These mobile office hours provide a valuable opportunity for residents to receive help with federal matters and to ensure their voices are heard in Washington.

Click here to contact Congressman Cline’s office.

The House was back in session last week, with an extra day of session on Saturday to finish out the week. House Republicans brought forward various separate spending bills to address ongoing conflicts around the world. In addition to funding, we also considered several measures to demonstrate our support of Israel and take action against Iran. I also had the pleasure of recognizing some of Virginia’s Sixth District student-athletes. As always, I enjoyed meeting with organizations, businesses, and friendly faces in D.C. and back home. As we finish a district work week, followed by four consecutive weeks back in session, I will continue fighting for the best interests of Virginia’s Sixth District and our great Nation.

Supporting Our Allies

The Biden administration’s weakness on the global stage has only emboldened our adversaries, which has in turn only escalated violent conflicts worldwide. Under this administration, we’ve witnessed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, China’s alarming threats against Taiwan, and most recently, Iran’s unprecedented direct assault on Israel. The challenges facing Israel, Taiwan, and Ukraine are distinctly separate, demanding separate responses and separate votes on spending bills to address them individually.
Israel stands as our foremost ally in the Middle East, and they are currently fighting the Hamas, Houthi, and Hezbollah terror groups, as well as Iran – the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism. I voted in support of providing military aid to Israel to help them in their fight against these terror groups and ensure their nation continues to exist.
At the beginning of this year in his New Year’s address, Chinese President Xi made a troubling declaration that he aims to take action against Taiwan. I also voted in favor of providing Taiwan with military aid to help deter Chinese aggression and preserve peace in the region.

Regarding my vote against additional Ukraine funding, I condemn Russian aggression and pray for peace in the region. However, we have already given over $100 billion to Ukraine without sufficient accountability from the Biden administration as to where the money has gone. While financially supporting our allies can sometimes be in America’s best interest, we must exercise fiscal responsibility and demand some accountability for American tax dollars from this Administration.

To assist Ukraine, I voted for the Rebuilding Economic Prosperity and Opportunity for Ukrainians Act, which gives the president the authority to confiscate Russian sovereign assets frozen in America and transfer them to assist in Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts. This legislation also prohibits the release of funds to sanctioned Russian entities until Russia withdraws from Ukraine and agrees to provide compensation for harm caused by this unprovoked war. This bill has passed the Senate and has been signed into law.

America’s Broken Border

Last week, I also voted in favor of H.R. 3602, the End the Border Catastrophe Act, which would have fixed our broken asylum system, hired more Border Patrol agents, and provided them with the resources they need while reinstating Trump-era policies like Remain in Mexico, and forced the Biden administration to resume the border wall. Unfortunately, the bill failed to get the ⅔ majority required by leadership to pass under suspension of rules.

We need strong, common-sense border security measures to protect the American people. For years now, House Republicans have been calling on President Biden to secure America’s border. We have not only been trying to negotiate with President Biden to fix the problem, but we also passed legislation, like H.R. 2, which has been deemed the strongest border security bill that has passed Congress, and it has been over in the Senate since last year.

Failure To Hold Mayorkas Accountable

Unfortunately, the Senate voted down both articles of impeachment against DHS Secretary Mayorkas after the House sent over articles of impeachment last week. We did our job in the House by passing the articles of impeachment, and I am disappointed that Democrats in the Senate unanimously voted to bypass their constitutional duty and hold a trial. Secretary Mayorkas has lied to Congress and ignored his statutory responsibility to secure our nation’s borders. Every day that Mayorkas has been at his job, Americans are less safe. He deserved to be held accountable.
Joe Biden and Mayorkas’ policies have effectively rolled out the welcome mat for millions of illegal immigrants to enter our country unchecked. Among those entering are people on the terrorist watch list, only a fraction of whom have been apprehended. This leaves an unknown number of people who have successfully entered our country. House Republicans will continue to force this issue, bring legislation to the floor, and pressure the Senate to take up this critical issue.

Watch my interview on WSET, where I discussed my disappointment with the Senate dismissing the Mayorkas impeachment trial.

Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversaries
I voted favor H.R. 8028, the 21st Century Peace Through Strength Act, which also included H.R. 7521, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. As you might remember, the House passed this TikTok bill in March, a crucial step in safeguarding our nation’s security and ensuring that the American people are not targets of foreign manipulation, surveillance, or targeting through online applications like TikTok. The bill prohibits marketplaces—like app stores and web hosting services—from hosting applications controlled by foreign adversaries of the United States. It offers ByteDance, which owns TikTok, a specific window to divest, or the application will face a prohibition in the U.S.

The new bill includes some small but important changes from the bill in March that strengthen the bill’s fight with judicial scrutiny and extend the length of time given to ByteDance to divest. This legislation is crucial to protect the well-being and national security of the American people and our country from foreign adversaries.
Standing with our Ally, Israel

This week, we took significant legislative steps to reaffirm our unwavering support for Israel and to hold Iran accountable for its actions. The measures we’ve passed, alongside other crucial pieces of legislation ignored by Leader Schumer in the Senate, offer a robust strategy to address the threats posed by Iran.

These measures, which I supported, include:
• H.R. 6046, the Standing Against Houthi Aggression Act, which redesignates the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization after the Biden Administration removed them from the list.
• H.R. 6323, the Iran Counterterrorism Act, requires Iran to cease support for acts of international terrorism as a condition for the President to waive secondary sanctions and provides for a congressional review process for national security interest waivers of these sanctions.
• H.R. 4691, the Iran Sanctions Relief Review Act, provides for tighter congressional oversight of any Administration attempt to weaken sanctions imposed on Iran.
• H.R. 5947, which ensures Iran cannot gain access to funds that could be used to support terrorism, including funding the Biden Administration has tried to make available to the Iranian regime.
By supporting Israel’s defense efforts, imposing sanctions on Iranian leaders, severing their financial lifelines, and targeting their allies and terrorist networks, we’re sending a clear message. Our commitment to Israel’s security and our determination to counter Iran’s malign activities remain steadfast.

Recognizing Sixth District Student-Athletes

I was pleased to congratulate the Christendom College women’s basketball team on winning the United States Collegiate Athletic Association Division II National Championship in Petersburg, Virginia. The Christendom Crusaders won the trophy by scoring 76-65 in the championship game against Johnson and Wales Charlotte, bringing home the first women’s basketball national title in school history. Congratulations to all of these champions whose hard work paid off.

Watch my floor speech recognizing Christendom College’s Women’s Basketball Team.

Another outstanding performance by Sixth District athletes was the Blue Ridge Christian girls’ basketball team, which won the Virginia Association of Christian Athletics, VACA, State championship. The team had a tremendous performance throughout the season, finishing 18-2 and going on to win the championship, their second VACA title in 3 years.

Watch my floor speech congratulating Blue Ridge Christian’s Girl’s Basketball Team.

Meeting on the Hill

Meeting with the American Academy of Pediatrics was a pleasure to discuss ways to ensure important access to care for children in the Sixth District.

It was great to meet Crystal Cupp, who works with Christians United for Israel. We discussed the recent attacks on Israel and how we can continue to support our ally.

I enjoyed meeting local representatives from the National Beer Wholesalers Association and learning more about the challenges to the industry, including the shortage of commercial drivers.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your Congressman. If my office can ever be of assistance, please get in touch with my Washington office at (202) 225-5431.

For the latest updates from Washington and across the Sixth District, please follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for the latest updates.

Last week, the House continued to struggle with the question of how to address our ballooning deficits while funding the core functions of the Federal government. While some wanted to kick the can down the road once again and pass a temporary funding bill with no restrictions, I joined many others who support addressing the crisis at our southern border. At the same time, we debated efforts to fund the government and avoid a shutdown. Also, in conjunction with the annual March For Life, the House passed legislation that prevents the Secretary of Health and Human Services from targeting pregnancy centers that serve new mothers and families. As always, meeting with folks back in the district and listening to how I can better serve them is a great pleasure. The battle against wasteful spending is ongoing, and I will continue to be mindful of the hard-earned tax dollars of the citizens of Virginia’s Sixth District.

Same Story, Same Outcome
With a national debt topping $34 trillion, grocery and gas prices skyrocketing, and many Americans priced out of the dream of home ownership, the massive overspending and resulting inflation at the core of “Bidenomics” is crushing working families. Yet rather than addressing this head-on, Congress passed another continuing resolution, the 20th such bill since I came to Congress in 2019. It has been 28 years since Congress met its obligation and passed all twelve appropriations bills in regular order.

Consistently passing continuing resolutions instead of going through the appropriations process is irresponsible and delays important discussions about funding priorities. Furthermore, the continuing resolutions being passed this year continue the Biden-Pelosi levels of government spending that were adopted under Democrat control and have left American families out in the cold. Virginia’s Sixth District did not elect me to go along with the broken system that has led to trillion-dollar deficits and massive debt. I will continue fighting to right the fiscal ship and restore order to our Federal budget.

Condemning Biden’s Open Border Policies and Safety Crisis
Under the Biden Administration, the southern border crisis has only worsened. Since Biden took office, 169 individuals on the terrorist watchlist have been apprehended attempting to cross the border illegally, and the CPB has seized 27,023 pounds of fentanyl. That does not consider those who escaped apprehension or the drugs smuggled in that were not detected. This has turned cities and towns across America into border communities, as the lack of enforcement by Secretary Mayorkas and President Biden has resulted in cities like New York riding schools into housing for illegal immigrants and forcing American children to stay home and learn remotely.

This betrayal of our laws and our Constitution by President Biden and his lackeys must end, which is why House Republicans are moving to impeach Secretary Mayorkas and this week adopted H. Res. 957, which condemns the Biden Administration’s open border policies, disregard of national security, and public safety crisis along our southern border, and urges President Biden to reverse course and secure our border.

Standing For Life
Last week, Washington, D.C., saw thousands of Americans of all ages brave the cold weather to condemn abortion in the annual March for Life. In support of the right to life and the protection of the unborn, House Republicans passed two critical pieces of legislation last week. H.R. 6918, the Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act, prevents the Secretary of Health and Human Services from unfairly targeting pregnancy centers that serve new mothers and families who choose life. We also passed H.R. 6914, the Pregnant Students’ Rights Act, which requires universities and higher education institutions to communicate and distribute information informing pregnant students of their rights, accommodations, and all resources available to them. The tragedy of abortion is one of the greatest human rights crises of our day, and we must continue to stand up and be a voice for the voiceless.

District Travels

It was great to attend the Roanoke Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference’s annual luncheon honoring the memory of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

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 me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for the latest updates.

As the 118th Congress convenes Washington for the second year of the session, House Republicans are determined to pursue a responsible spending deal that cuts wasteful spending, secures our border, and returns money to the taxpayers. In more theater, Hunter Biden made a surprise appearance during his contempt hearing in the House Oversight Committee. As Congress prepares for the road ahead, I remain committed to fighting for our shared values in the Sixth District of Virginia.

America’s Broken Border
All across the country, Americans’ primary concern is the broken border that President Biden and Alejandro Mayorkas created. In the past three years, over 6.2 million encounters have been at our southern border. In December 2023, there were over 302,000 incidents of migrants attempting to cross the border. These failed policies have enabled fentanyl and other deadly drugs to pour into our communities, as well as criminal migrants to be released into the country with a low likelihood of removal.

Last week, the House Committee on Homeland Security, led by Chairman Mark Green (R-TN), conducted their first impeachment hearing of Alejandro Mayorkas and laid out the facts for Americans. While accountability for the broken border ultimately rests with the President, we must act to remove Secretary Mayorkas for violating his oath of office and encouraging the chaos we are seeing at the border right now. Impeaching Mayorkas is the first step, but we must continue to pressure the Senate to pass legislation such as H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act, the strongest border security package in United States history.

“Bidenomics” Is Wrecking American Families
Last week, the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI), a key inflation index, reminded us that “Bidenomics” is not working for hardworking families. The report was “higher than expected” as it increased at an annual rate of 3.4%, and it is the 33rd straight month with inflation above three percent.

Despite the Biden Administration’s push for “Bidenomics”, the absolute truth is families have seen skyrocketing grocery and fuel bills and depletion of their savings accounts. To guarantee that hard-working taxpayers can keep more of their money, House Republicans are working daily to restore fiscal responsibility in Washington and revive our economy.

Hunter Biden’s Surprise Appearance on Capitol Hill
House investigators have continued to follow the facts into President Joe Biden’s involvement with his family’s business dealings for months. Instead of appearing for his deposition on December 13, 2023, Hunter Biden staged a media event on the Senate side of the U.S. Capitol, where he made a public statement without taking any questions. Then, this week, at the Oversight Committee’s markup of his contempt resolution, Hunter Biden pulled a publicity stunt, continued defying the orders, and appeared at his contempt hearing.

Hunter Biden believes that defying orders and executing publicity stunts will divert attention from the investigation into his family’s shady business dealings. However, the House Oversight Committee and House Judiciary Committee remain committed to uncovering the truth for the American people. No one, including the Biden’s, is above the law.

District Travels
For 90 years, the Salem Rescue Squad has displayed selfless sacrifice to the city of Salem as it stands as the second oldest all-volunteer rescue squad in the United States. It was an honor to present them with a commemorative plaque recognizing the squad winning the 2023 Volunteer EMS Service of the Year award at their banquet.

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 me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for the latest updates.

The Christmas season is a special time for many folks across the Sixth District and throughout the Nation, and it serves as an important reminder of all the blessings God has given us, most importantly, the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ. This holiday season, may we all take a moment to express our gratitude to those who keep us safe and healthy, as well as our brave men and women in uniform, and think of those less fortunate among us. From my family to yours, Merry Christmas!

Wishing You and Yours a Very Merry Christmas
Our lives, country, and world are far from perfect. There are many challenges, struggles, and uncertainty we all face. However, the Good News is among us. This Christmas season, let us all remember the true meaning of Christmas: the birth of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who came into the world to bring us hope, joy, and love.

Preventing Universities From Using Taxpayer-Funded Grants for Woke Programs
Universities are raking in tens of billions of tax dollars for scientific research. While some are using their grant money appropriately, others are using it as a slush fund for woke, radical Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

It’s far past time universities get back to basics and stop pushing the Left’s political agenda on the taxpayers’ dime. That is why last week, I introduced the Federal Grant Accountability Act, which will ensure institutions of higher education are properly using these taxpayer dollars solely for conducting research projects rather than funding DEI activities. This legislation would require reports on how indirect cost reimbursements are being allocated to schools to provide more transparency to the federal grant-making process.

Fighting Against Waste and Abuse of Unspent COVID Funds
As the Chairman of the Republican Study Committee’s (RSC) Budget and Spending Taskforce, I sent a letter with RSC Chairman Kevin Hern (R-OK) to the Treasury Department demanding that they roll back a new rule that would allow state and local governments to hoard tens of billions in unspent COVID funds from the 2021 American Rescue Plan (ARP).

Under current law, state and local governments have until December 31, 2024, to “obligate” these COVID funds. Yet, instead of enforcing this statutory deadline, the Treasury Department’s new rule would allow state and local governments to use this money past the deadline. This will only further fuel inflationary and wasteful spending, and I’m fighting to stop it.

Recognizing the Hot Springs Rescue Squad’s 60th Anniversary
I was pleased to recognize the Hot Springs Rescue Squad on the House floor recently for 60 years of serving the people of Bath County. Since 1963, the Squad has been providing emergency medical services, conducting vehicle, search, and water rescues, along with treatment and transport for medical and trauma patients. We are incredibly grateful to all the volunteers for going above and beyond to help those in need, especially during the holiday season, and wish the Hot Springs Rescue Squad many more years of success.

Spreading Christmas Cheer in the District

I was pleased to participate in The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign in Roanoke and support those in need this holiday season.

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 me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for the latest updates.