Sixth District Perspectives with Congressman Ben Cline – August 10, 2021

It is good to be home and have a chance to visit with and listen to the concerns of residents throughout the Sixth District. While the House is on their August District Work Period, the Senate recently passed a $1.2 trillion bill to fund infrastructure, but the bill includes too many ‘poison pills’ and not enough ‘pay-fors.’ In addition, Speaker Pelosi has insisted that the bill will not be considered until after the Senate passes a $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill full of liberal projects. Beyond the spending battles, rising crime, open borders, and inflation remain the topics of much discussion as I speak to folks around the Sixth District. Illegal border crossings hit another 20-year high, homicides in Roanoke have risen 400 percent this year, and inflation is looking more and more permanent. The greatest value of being home is the ability to meet with those most impacted by the choices Washington makes. To that end, this week I visited with some local small businesses and listened to their concerns as they are recovering from the effects of the past year of COVID restrictions. Representing the great residents of this District is an honor, and listening to their concerns is vital to this representation.

Initiatives Pick Up Steam:
Over the past month, I have introduced several pieces of legislation, and I am proud to say all of them are picking up cosponsors and support both from my colleagues in the House and from outside organizations. The Veterans Entrepreneurship Act, bipartisan legislation which allows Veterans to use their GI Bill to start their own business or purchase a franchise, has recently been endorsed by the American Legion and the International Franchise Association (IFA). The Legion is the largest Veterans Service Organization in the country, and the IFA is the industry representative for dozens of familiar franchises. In addition, the bipartisan Ensuring Accountability in Agency Rulemaking Act, which requires all agency rules to be signed and issued by an individual appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, was recently featured in a favorable editorial in The Hill. Please click here to read the editorial. Lastly, the Federal Insurance Office Elimination Act, which would eliminate the unnecessary Federal Insurance Office, was recently endorsed by the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents. Momentum is building on each of these bills, and I hope to see all pass the House when we return to session in the fall.

Infrastructure Bill Hits Road Block:
After months of foot-dragging, the Senate passed an “infrastructure” bill that spends a ridiculously small portion of the more than $1 trillion packages on actual roads and bridges. The 2,702-page bill also includes several pork-barrel provisions added by Senators, including $50 million to combat ‘invasive plants,’ $12.7 million for ‘recreational boating safety,’ and the creation of a commission to improve gender diversity in the trucking industry, among others. In addition, rather than moving swiftly to address the country’s infrastructure needs, Speaker Pelosi has made it clear that she will not bring up the infrastructure bill until the Senate also passes a reconciliation bill that will spend an additional $3.5 trillion on even more big government programs. I have long advocated for the need to repair and expand our roadways across the Sixth District, including Interstate 81. However, we simply cannot accept Pelosi’s plan to hold infrastructure hostage for a mammoth bill that will jeopardize our Nation’s finances and our recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. I am holding out hope that common sense will prevail, we can focus toward removing the Senate’s pork-barrel provisions, and Congress can pass a stand-alone bill that avoids deficit spending and focuses taxpayer dollars on core infrastructure needs. But rest assured, whatever the result from the Senate, I will continue to fight efforts to waste your tax dollars on schemes by the liberals to move us even further leftward toward socialism.

Holding Communist China Accountable:
Holding the Chinese Communist Party accountable for their numerous human rights abuses, the cover-up of the COVID-19 pandemic, and dishonest trade practices should be a top priority for this Congress. Unfortunately, the Biden Administration and House Democrats have shown that they are not serious about facing the rising threat of China. That is why I cosponsored the Countering Communist China Act, the most comprehensive bill put forth to address concerns with China. The bill, among other items, would:

• Ban China’s political operations arm, known as the United Front Work Department, from accessing U.S. financial institutions.

• Prohibit American companies that get federal subsidies from expanding their business in China or affiliate with businesses with ties to the Chinese military.

• Prohibit universities that work with entities with ties to the CCP from receiving grant money from the National Science Foundation.

• Establish new sanctions on Chinese companies that steal US intellectual property, including prohibiting them from transacting again with a US person.

• Create a new Select Committee inside Congress to investigate the COVID-19 cover-up and seek a determination into whether China’s negligence would meet the criteria of negligently using a biological weapon.

Visiting Local Businesses:
Listening to local small business owners discuss the impact Washington’s decisions have on their daily operations helps me better represent them and their needs. This week, I visited with two local businesses that provide goods and services to the Roanoke area. Among them were Big Lick Gifts, known for its selection of “Made in Virginia” items, and Crowning Touch Senior Moving Services, which helps meet the specific needs of senior citizens who are looking to relocate, sell their home, or auction some of their property. Both are great examples of seeing and meeting a need that betters the community.

Big Lick Gifts

Crowning Touch Senior Moving Services

COVID-19 Update:
As of August 8, 2021, Virginia has had 704,664 total cases of COVID-19, including confirmed lab tests and clinical diagnoses, according to the Virginia Department of Health. The current death toll in the Commonwealth stands at 11,558. Further, according to the VDH’s COVID-19 vaccine data dashboard, as of August 8th, 5,219,544 people have been vaccinated with at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and 4,649,928 people are fully vaccinated.

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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