Sixth District Perspectives with Congressman Ben Cline: July 20, 2019

Buzz Aldrin poses on the Moon, allowing Neil Armstrong to photograph both of them using the visor’s reflection. By NASA – http://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a11/AS11-40-5903HR.jpghttp://www.archive.org/details/AS11-40-5903 (TIFF image), Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3847764

On this day 50 years ago, Neil Armstrong stepped onto the surface of the moon and spoke words heard around the world. “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”
The years since Apollo 11’s crew touched down on the moon, America has led the world’s powers in space exploration. Our men and women in space have launched the world’s most powerful telescopes, satellites, and conducted experiments which have opened the eyes of scientists and non-scientists alike. We have even worked across borders to build the International Space Station.

President John F. Kennedy said in 1962, “We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.” He knew the challenges America faced. Russia was advancing in a space race that had a lot at stake and yet he challenged our country’s engineers and scientists to achieve the impossible.

We live in a time where we have the world available in the palm of our hands, but many people forget that just half a century ago computers were not commonplace. The computing power necessary to put the Apollo 11 crew was unfathomable to the typical American in 1969, and yet the engineers at NASA met the challenge.

We should all be inspired by the accomplishments of the Apollo 11 crew and the scientists and engineers who worked on the mission. When met with the impossible, they found ways to make it happen. It is something we should work toward today. In Congress, we are also faced with seemingly impossible odds of reducing the national debt, reforming healthcare, addressing our nation’s immigration crisis, and defending our homeland and allies around the world. Oftentimes, Members of Congress have chosen to simply kick the can down the road. When I took office in January, it was during the longest government shutdown in history. Even today, Members of Congress refuse to fund a permanent boundary along the U.S.-Mexico border while the number of illegal crossings and detentions continues to rise.

The political fights have also continued in the months since the government re-opened. Disagreements persist over how to address the crisis at the Southern border and out-of-control government spending which will leave future generations paying the tab. In addition, partisan politics involving the President boiled over this week in the form of resolutions attempting to impeach him and condemning his “Tweets” on social media. I voted against both resolutions because these types of political attacks distract from the serious policy issues that are facing our country. However, I remain inspired by the men and women of Apollo 11 and the NASA program. Just as they put Neil Armstrong on the moon 50 years ago today, I believe Congress can come together to address America’s most pressing issues. It will take a lot of hard work and many difficult votes, but I am willing to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to help the American people achieve greatness. I hope my colleagues in the House and Senate will join me as we set forth on this journey of fixing our government and performing work of which the American people can be proud.

Highland County Town Hall
On Monday, I will host a town hall in Highland County. This town hall event is an opportunity for residents of Highland County to engage in a dialogue about important issues in the Sixth Congressional District of Virginia.

The town hall will take place Monday, July 22, from 1 – 2:30 p.m. at the Highland County Courthouse, 165 West Main Street, Monterey, VA 24465. Residents may RSVP to attend the town hall by visiting https://highlandcounty.eventbrite.com and clicking the “Register” button.

Keep up to date with my work in Washington and Virginia’s Sixth Congressional District by liking my accounts at Facebook.com/RepBenCline, Instagram.com/RepBenCline, and Twitter.com/RepBenCline.