Sixth District Perspectives with Congressman Ben Cline: March 23, 2019

This week has been a District Work Week for Congress and being back with the great people of Virginia’s Sixth Congressional District serves as a constant reminder of how lucky I am to represent them in Congress. It was refreshing to travel the Sixth Congressional District to listen to constituents, meet with business owners, visit with high school classes, gain insight from a higher education facility, and hold two town hall meetings.

With over 20 colleges and universities in Virginia’s Sixth District, it is important that Congress address the issues facing education. As a member of the House Education and Labor Committee, I have been hard at work listening to the concerns of students and administrators about the price of education and how to make college education more affordable. The price of a college education continues to rise, which has made pursuit of a college degree difficult. No one should have to miss out on the opportunity to receive a college education because of cost.

One example of innovation and cost cutting in higher education is the Roanoke Higher Education Center, which I visited Monday. This center offers over 300 different programs offered by 11 organizations, including universities and nonprofits, and has assisted over 10,000 students in completing programs at a more affordable rate than an average 4-year program. Recently graduated high school students are most likely to take advantage of programs like the ones offered at the Roanoke Higher Education Center.

While in Roanoke, I took time to meet with seniors at Faith Christian School. I also visited government students at Central Virginia Community College’s Amherst Campus, Bath County High School, and E.C. Glass High School in Lynchburg this week. Students at all four schools applied what they have learned in government classes to ask insightful questions about the role of government and how to get involved in the political process. I always enjoy these visits and thank each school for the opportunity to meet with students.

In addition to addressing students across the Sixth Congressional District, I also had the opportunity to meet with many residents at town halls in Bath and Warren Counties. Town hall events like those in Bath and Warren Counties give me the opportunity to hear directly from citizens about the issues that families are discussing around the dinner table and at the coffee shop. These listening sessions allow me to understand their views and take them back to Washington.

If you were unable to attend a town hall event, know that my office is always available to assist you. You may contact any of my offices using the following phone numbers:

• Harrisonburg: (540) 432-2391
• Lynchburg: (434) 845-8306
• Roanoke: (540) 857-2672
• Staunton: (540) 885-3861
• Washington: (202) 225-5431

If you would like to meet a member of my staff in your local community, they host recurring casework mobile office hours across the Sixth Congressional District. Casework staff mobile office hours are available to assist with a federal agency or allow you to share concerns. The following casework staff mobile office hours will take place next week.

• Vinton Casework Staff Mobile Office
Tuesday, March 26, 2019 – 8:30am
Vinton Town Hall (Conference Room)
311 South Pollard Street
Vinton, VA 24179

• Montvale Casework Staff Mobile Office
Tuesday, March 26, 2019 – 3:30pm
Montvale Library
11575 West Lynchburg-Salem Turnpike
Montvale, VA 24122

Additional casework staff mobile office hours will be announced for the first week of April. A complete list of mobile office hours, town halls, and other events may be found by visiting http://cline.house.gov/about/events and looking under “Upcoming Events.”

My office also nominates high school graduates to our nation’s service academies. It is not an easy path, but nomination and admission to one of our nation’s service academies – the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy – provides a world class education for all who attend.

A Service Academy Day will take place Saturday, March 30, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke. If you are a high school sophomore or junior interested in attending one of the nation’s service academies, this information day is for you. Meet with academy representatives and get the information you need to be prepared for admission to some of our nation’s most elite institutions.

Finally, I would like to note the 40 individuals welcomed to our country as citizens this week in Harrisonburg. These men and women come from all walks of life. Some came from communist nations and others from war zones. Despite our varying backgrounds, we are now united as Americans. It was moving to see each take an oath of allegiance to the United States and wave the American flag with pride. I encouraged each new citizen to get involved in their community and the political process.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your reben clineben clinepresentative.