Sixth District Perspectives with Congressman Ben Cline – March 8, 2020

This week in Washington demonstrated the good work that can be accomplished when we put people over partisan politics. Aside from ensuring our public health agencies had the funding necessary to combat the coronavirus, I stood by our ally Israel, recognized VMI on the House Floor, connected with thousands of constituents during a telephone town hall, and met with dozens of advocates from our area.

Protecting Israel:
The United States’ partnership with Israel is critical to its defense and sovereignty in its role as the greatest stabilizing force in a volatile region. As the Holy Land continues to face threats, I was proud to show my support this week by attending the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Policy Conference and meeting with members in my office. Since being sworn in, I have supported several pieces of legislation seeking to protect Israel. One such bill is H.R. 1837 – the United States-Israel Cooperation Enhancement and Regional Security Act, which authorizes increased security assistance to Israel, including the transfer of reserve stock weapons and boosting defense funding over the next five years. Further, I cosponsored H. Res. 246 – Opposing efforts to delegitimize the State of Israel and the Global Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) Movement targeting Israel. The BDS movement seeks to weaken the Jewish State’s footing on the international stage, which is simply unacceptable, and I will continue to support our closest ally in the Middle East.

Rep. Cline meets with members of AIPAC from Lexington and Lynchburg

VMI:
This week, I took to the House Floor to recognize Virginia Military Institute for their continued academic success. In the 2019/2020 academic year, VMI produced one of the highest numbers of Fulbright Scholars in the country. Second Lt. Annika Tice, Col. Howard Sanborn and Col. Geoff Jensen were the talented individuals to earn a Fulbright distinction. I congratulate these service-members on their noteworthy accomplishment and wish them the best of luck moving forward.

Telephone Town Hall:
Since being elected, I have held 25 in-person town halls and will continue to do so throughout the duration of my term. However, in an effort to be even more accessible to Sixth District constituents, I hosted my first in a series of telephone town halls this week. I enjoyed the opportunity to chat with tens of thousands of Sixth District residents at once and hear from them about the issues they care most about. We discussed topics ranging from the coronavirus to the Second Amendment, to infrastructure. I very much enjoyed our conversation, and I hope you will join me for my next telephone town hall.

Coronavirus Update:
As more cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed in the United States, Congress took swift action to combat the spread of this illness. On Wednesday, I attended a Member briefing by the Vice President about the virus and supported bipartisan legislation allocating $8.3 billion in emergency funding to address the virus at home and abroad, including expediting vaccine development, purchasing essential equipment and supplies, and assisting state and local health departments. In rapidly developing situations like these, Congress must work together to ensure the safety and security of the people we represent. For the latest information from the Centers for Disease Control, please click here.

Women’s History Month:
Throughout the month of March, we celebrate the overwhelming contributions that women have made to the success of our Nation. Virginia’s Sixth District has been home to many notable women throughout history, including American poet and civil rights activist, Anne Spencer. Spencer, who lived her entire adult life in Lynchburg, was an influential writer during the Harlem Renaissance. She was not only the first Virginian but also the first African American to have her works published in the prominent Norton Anthology of American Poetry. Spencer’s work as a civil rights leader was equally as impressive. In 1913, she helped found the Lynchburg chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Her home was often used for meetings and became a gathering place for cultural leaders within the African-American community. Langston Hughes, George Washington Carver, Thurgood Marshall, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and W. E. B. Du Bois were just a few of the noteworthy guests to spend time in her home. On this Women’s History Month, we remember all of the trailblazers like Anne Spencer and thank them for adding their mark upon the fabric of America.

Sixth District in DC:
It was a pleasure to meet with so many Sixth District residents in Washington this week.

Rep. Cline meets with Shenandoah residents with the Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) coalition

Rep. Cline meets with members of the VFW from Lynchburg

Rep. Cline meets with advocates from the Pediatric Congenital Heart Association from Harrisonburg and Edinburg

Rep. Cline meets with members of the Submarine Industrial Base Council from Roanoke

Rep. Cline with the World Series trophy won last year by the Washington Nationals

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.

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