Sixth District Perspectives with Congressman Ben Cline

Last week marked week 3 of the federal government shutdown. Senate Democrats continue to keep our government shut down by refusing to provide the five votes needed to reopen it, impacting Virginia’s economy and stability. Despite the ongoing shutdown, I remain committed to serving the Sixth District. I hosted my annual Agriculture Conference, where I heard directly from local farmers and leaders about the negative impact that the prolonged shutdown has had on their operations. During the shutdown, I led a letter to the ATF to ensure NFA forms were processed, protecting law-abiding Americans’ constitutional rights to own firearms. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and I was proud to speak at the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation’s Power of Pink Luncheon in Roanoke, highlighting legislation I have co-sponsored that helps women in their fight against this terrible disease. Additionally, I celebrated local achievements by recognizing two teams from Roanoke Valley Christian Schools for their outstanding state championship wins and met with the new superintendent of the Virginia Military Institute. Despite the ongoing government shutdown, I remained committed to serving the people of Virginia, ensuring their needs are addressed and striving to restore federal operations to normal as quickly as possible.

Hosting my Sixth Annual Agriculture Conference
It was great to host my annual Agriculture Conference last week, where Valley Farmers and agriculture leaders from across the Sixth District came together to share their insights and concerns. This conference is an invaluable opportunity for me to hear directly from those who work every day to keep Virginia’s top industry thriving.

We started the day at MC Livestock in Greenville, where I saw firsthand their 150-head purebred Angus seedstock operation. I appreciated the chance to talk with the McCall family about how we can better support Sixth District family farms and the next generation of farmers, including their two sons who are involved in the industry. Next, I hosted a roundtable at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington with Delegate Ellen Campbell and local agriculture leaders. We discussed ways to cut bureaucratic red tape at the USDA, improve access to FSA loans for new and growing family farms, and expand educational opportunities for young farmers.

These are key priorities to keep the Sixth District a leader in Virginia agriculture. We wrapped up the conference at the Shenandoah Valley Agricultural Research and Extension Center at McCormick Farm in Raphine, where I learned more about their work in livestock production, forage systems, and small-scale forestry management. It was a great visit and a strong finish to this year’s conference. I want to thank everyone who took part in this year’s Agriculture Conference. In Congress, I’ll continue working to ensure our hardworking farmers who tirelessly stock our shelves and feed America have the support they need to grow and succeed.

Standing Up for Virginia’s Specialty Crop Farmers
Recently, I joined a group of lawmakers in urging U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins to include specialty crops in any future USDA economic aid package. Specialty crops like apples, grapes, and vegetables are essential to Virginia’s economy and are vital to our food supply. These crops strengthen rural communities across the Sixth District, support thousands of jobs, and help drive local economic growth. Our specialty crop farmers have faced unique challenges in recent years, including high labor costs and unpredictable weather, as well as limited risk management options. When markets are disrupted or natural disasters strike, these producers are often hit the hardest.

Without adequate support, the financial stability of family farms and the future of our local agricultural economy are jeopardized. Including specialty crops in any aid package will ensure that farmers in the Shenandoah Valley and throughout Virginia have the resources they need to remain competitive. These crops are critical for maintaining America’s food security, improving public health, and strengthening our economy for generations to come. I will continue to advocate for these hardworking producers so they receive the support and federal funding they need to thrive.

Read the full letter here.

Protecting Your God-Given Second Amendment Right
Recently, I learned that the ATF had classified all employees who process National Firearms Act (NFA) forms as “non-essential” and furloughed these vital employees during the Democrat-embraced government shutdown. As a result, NFA forms were left unprocessed, creating a massive backlog that blocked law-abiding Americans from obtaining short-barreled rifles, silencers, and other legally regulated firearms. Bureaucratic red tape should never stand in the way of Americans exercising their Second Amendment rights. By halting all National Firearms Act form processing, the ATF effectively denied citizens the ability to protect themselves, their families, and their property. That is why I led a letter with nearly 30 of my House colleagues urging the ATF to immediately reinstate these employees and classify them as essential workers.

Our message was simple: protecting constitutional rights is not “non-essential.” I am pleased that this letter resulted in the ATF bringing these employees back to work. As of early last week, NFA forms are once again being processed, and law-abiding Americans are no longer being denied access to the firearms they are entitled to own. I joined Sean Spicer to discuss more on how Government shutdowns should never be used as an excuse to limit the constitutional rights of Americans. I was proud to lead this effort with my colleagues to stand up for the Second Amendment and ensure that the ATF cannot use bureaucratic delay as a tool to infringe upon the rights of law-abiding gun owners.

Watch my full interview on Sean Spicer here.

Honoring Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time when we come together to raise awareness about a disease that impacts hundreds of thousands of Americans each year. In 2025, an estimated 316,950 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. Since my time in the Virginia General Assembly, I have worked alongside the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation (VBCF) to expand early detection efforts and ensure survivors receive the support they need long after treatment. Last week, I was honored to speak at the Breast Cancer Foundation Luncheon and highlight the progress we have made together.

To further support women undergoing treatment, I was proud to co-sponsor the Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act. This legislation ensures that patients with metastatic breast cancer can receive faster access to SSDI benefits because no one fighting this disease should have to wait for the care they need. I am grateful to the VBCF for their tireless work in supporting patients and advancing awareness here in the Commonwealth.

Out and About in the Sixth District

I was proud to present the Roanoke Valley Christian School Boys Basketball Team with a plaque commemorating my House Floor speech recognizing their outstanding 2025 VACA State Championship victory.

I had the honor of speaking at the Virginia Construction Conference kick-off at the Hotel Roanoke to highlight a bill that I supported in Congress, which delivers critical tax savings across Virginia for the construction industry.

It was an honor to meet with Lieutenant General David Furness, the 16th Superintendent of the Virginia Military Institute. A proud VMI alumnus and retired Marine officer, Lt. Gen. Furness brings 36 years of distinguished service leading combat formations around the world to his alma mater in Lexington.

I had the honor of presenting a commemorative plaque of my House Floor speech to the Roanoke Catholic School Girls Track & Field Team in recognition of their outstanding 2025 VISAA Division II State Championship, which marked their second consecutive state title.

It was great to stop by the Senior Social at the Virginia Horse Center, hosted by Rockbridge County Sheriff Tony McFaddin, which provided local seniors with the invaluable opportunity to learn how to identify and avoid common financial scams.

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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