Sixth District Perspectives with Congressman Ben Cline – August 18, 2019

Legislative Update
In the eight months since becoming your representative in Congress, the office has been busy serving the people of Virginia’s Sixth Congressional District. We have received and answered over 41,000 pieces of mail from constituents, and have also successfully closed 562 casework inquiries related to federal agencies. While providing reliable and timely constituent services is a top priority as your representative, I have also cast more than 400 votes on the House floor, and I have jumped into my assignments on the House Judiciary Committee and the House Education and Labor Committee with vigor.

At times, I have been on the opposite side of tough debates with my Democratic colleagues. However, much of my work has been in a bipartisan spirit as well. Of the 50 bills I have co-sponsored, 19 of them have a Democratic lead and 35 of them have a Democratic co-sponsor.

This week, two bills I authored and championed through the House and Senate are on the President’s desk awaiting his signature. H.R. 3311 – the Small Business Reorganization Act – and H.R. 3304 – the National Guard and Reservists Debt Relief Extension Act of 2019 – both passed the chambers of Congress by large margins and are examples of the work taking place behind the scenes.

As you may know, the Small Business Reorganization Act is a bill which opens a portion of the bankruptcy code to small business owners so they can restructure in much the same way as small family farmers. Instead of shutting down and auctioning bits and pieces of a business in order to only pay back a portion of debt, this bill allows companies with otherwise sound business models to keep the doors open and employees on payroll as they renegotiate with lenders. It gives the opportunity for small businesses to regroup and make their debtors whole at the same time. This legislation is a win-win for local economies where community banks are often the ones providing funding for the region’s small businesses.

The National Guard and Reservists Debt Relief Extension Act is a piece of legislation many may not be familiar with but is just as important. All of us know citizen service-members who serve in the reserves or the National Guard. Often, this commitment means our nation’s guardsmen and reservists are recalled to active duty with little lead time resulting in personal finances and other responsibilities being placed on he back-burner. When a member of the Guard or a reservist returns from active duty, there can be a lot of time and effort rebuilding their personal lives, including personal finances. This legislation extends a law already on the books that allows these American heroes the ability to streamline the restructuring of their finances.

I am proud that these bills will be signed into law, much as I have been honored to see other bills I have sponsored and co-sponsored be signed into law. These include bills which would designate the National George C. Marshal Museum and Library at Virginia Military Institute; establish a permanent 9/11 Victim’s Compensation Fund to aid those impacted from their service at Ground Zero; expand the jurisdictional waters for veterans impacted by Agent Orange exposure during the Vietnam War; and of course the LEGION Act which opens membership to the American Legion for all those who honorably served.

Be sure to keep up to date on my work in Congress by visiting cline.house.gov and clicking on the “Votes & Bills” tab at the top of the page. You may also visit Congress.gov to research any of the bills I have co-sponsored so far this Congress.

White House Christmas
While it may seem early to start thinking about Christmas, the White House has already begun to plan for the holiday season. The First Lady and her team are seeking volunteers to assist in their efforts, and I wanted to be sure that constituents of the Sixth District have the opportunity to participate. The White House is looking for individuals not only to help decorate the hallowed halls of the President’s home, but is also in need of greeters to welcome guests during the Holiday Open Houses. Further, the White House is hoping to find musicians, high school bands, and other holiday themed entertainers to preform throughout the Christmas season. This is an exciting opportunity, and I hope you have the chance to assist our President and be a part of history.

Individuals interested in decorating the White House or serving as a greeter at the Holiday Open Houses may apply HERE. The application will close on August 27, 2019. Please note each person must sign-up individually, as no group sign-ups will be accepted. Applicants may outline specific requests and previous, relatable work experience using the online form. Applicants will be notified by September 25, 2019.

Musicians – either individuals or groups – may apply HERE through September 10, 2019. Please note the form allows applicants to select a range of dates during the month of December. All confirmed applicants will be assigned a particular date and time for their performance. Additional requests or requirements may be outlined using the online form. Applicants will be notified by October 2, 2019.

All questions should be directed to volunteers@who.eop.gov.

It is an honor to serve you and all people of Virginia’s Sixth Congressional District. If my office can ever be of assistance in the future, please do not hesitate to contact my office at (540) 885-3861. I also encourage you to like my Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages to stay up to date on legislative initiatives and District happenings.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve.