Sixth District perspectives with Congressman Ben Cline

A Week With Sixth District Students
This week started with a familiar but fun event — visiting with the Sixth Congressional District’s senior government students. The pupils at Fort Defiance High School asked great questions during our question and answer session Monday. I appreciate Mr. Tratnack organizing this event for the school’s senior government students!

Pupils at Fort Defiance High School asked great questions during question and answer session.

On Wednesday, students visiting Washington for the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America’s National Leadership Forum stopped by the office to discuss drug prevention. I am very proud to have these students representing the Sixth Congressional District in Washington and I commend their commitment to living drug and alcohol-free lives.

Students visiting Washington for the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America’s National Leadership Forum stopped by the office to discuss drug prevention.

The State of the Union
President Trump presented a positive vision for the future of our country in his second State of the Union address on Tuesday night. The President made clear that if we are to achieve America’s full potential, we must put partisanship aside and work together. Rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, protecting our communities from drug and sex trafficking crossing our borders, and addressing the skyrocketing cost of health care all require bipartisan cooperation. I look forward to working with the President and my colleagues on these and other important issues in the 116th Congress.

This week the committees began their work, and I spent much of the week in hearings before the Judiciary and Education and Labor Committees.

The Judiciary Committee held a hearing on gun control, where I reminded the Committee that the Second Amendment protects the right of law-abiding Americans to defend themselves, their families, and their property. Gun control measures limit that right, and we do not need additional gun control laws that will do nothing to prevent criminals from obtaining firearms but will interfere with the rights of law-abiding citizens.

The Education and Labor Committee held a hearing on increasing the minimum wage to $15 per hour across the entire United States. I inquired about the effect such a mandate would have on unemployment rates and inflation rates on the costs of certain goods. I suggested that the decision about whether and how much to raise the minimum wage in states like Virginia should be left to the states to determine.

Finally, the Judiciary Committee held a hearing on Friday that should have focused on its responsibility to conduct oversight over the Department of Justice. Instead, we saw the Democrats engage in a partisan effort to force Acting Attorney General Whitaker to divulge information about the ongoing Mueller investigation. I believe it is critical that we await the final report of the Mueller investigation and I look forward to reviewing it in its entirety once it has been issued.

Honoring VMI Graduate George C. Marshall
On Tuesday, I introduced H.Con.Res. 14 to re-name the George C. Marshall Museum and Research Library in Lexington, Virginia, as the National George C. Marshall Museum and Library. The facility is located on the campus of the Virginia Military Institute.

Marshall served as Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army from 1939-1945, Secretary of State from 1947-1949, and Secretary of Defense from 1950-1951. He is credited with formulating the Allied victory in Europe and the subsequent Marshall Plan to rebuild the continent after World War II.

In Virginia, we remember George C. Marshall as a war hero and a graduate of one of the country’s most storied military schools. Marshall and his contributions to world history are unparalleled. That is why I introduced this bill to honor his legacy for generations to come.

Casework Staff Mobile Office Hours
My office will host Casework Staff Mobile Offices across the Sixth Congressional District during the month of February. A staff member will be available to meet with citizens to assist with problems they might have with a federal agency and hear their views on current issues before Congress. Visit cline.house.gov/about/events for a complete list of locations.

Visiting Washington
Spring Break is quickly approaching. If you or your family are planning a visit to Washington, D.C., during the week off school, my office is here to help you. Staff members are available to lead tours of the U.S. Capitol and can assist you with arrangements for the Library of Congress. Call the office at (202) 225-5431 to schedule your visit or navigate to the Washington Tourism page on my website for information on the National Capital Region’s museums and other attractions.

Thank you for the responsibility of representing Virginia’s Sixth Congressional District. It is a true honor.