[53] She has introduced legislation that would require lawmakers, as well as their spouses and dependent children, to place assets in a blind trust while in office. The daughter of a nurse and a federal law enforcement officer who also served in the Army, she says she was drawn to national service and the idea of learning new languages and cultures. It may not be having the Cabinet or the president in your district every other week," New Hampshire Rep. Ann Kuster told NPR. [63], On June 1, 2020, Spanberger tweeted criticism of Trump's reaction to the George Floyd protests, a series of protests against police brutality that began in Minneapolis on May 26. [51] In November 2020, Spanberger led a bipartisan effort to secure the 340B Drug Pricing Program against changes that would lead to significant increases in prescription medication costs. Look, I love the Senate. Rep. Spanberger is also working to reduce premiums in the insurance marketplace and to lower out-of-pocket costs. "[57] Spanberger called for a pathway to legal status for undocumented immigrants who abide by the laws, work, and pay taxes. [44][45], On January 31, 2023, Spanberger was among seven Democrats to vote for H.R.497:Freedom for Health Care Workers Act, a bill which would lift COVID-19 vaccine mandates for healthcare workers. As for his leap from the well-oiled machinery of the Senate to the front lines of the House, he has no regrets. What's happening: Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) is calling out leadership for not bringing her legislation that would ban members of Congress along with their family members from buying,. She had to work with the CIA to get her service record declassified to run for Congress and now on the trail sticks to carefully scripted lines, approved by the agency, when talking about her work. "At a minimum, your agency ought to provide parents with a clear timeline of when they can expect . And we're making that connection to your precious tax dollars, hard at work making a difference in your life. Remember Lincoln, going to his knees in times of trial and the Civil War and all that stuff. [33][34] In the general election, Spanberger defeated Vega with 52.3% of the vote. She stressed that she'd supported appropriation bills that maintained or increased federal. [64][65][66] Spanberger took issue with Trump after police used tear gas and rubber bullets on peaceful protestors and a priest during the George Floyd protests to clear a path so that he could have a photo op in front of St. John's Episcopal Church. She began her career of public service as a federal law enforcement officer working narcotics and money laundering cases with the U.S. She assumed office on January 3, 2019. The Virginia mother of three told Good Morning America during a sit-down interview in her kitchen this summer that she always had a desire to serve her country, an interest in government, and a love of languages. She believes that an effective response involves working directly with community leaders, law enforcement officials, religious organizations, and healthcare professionals to build an actionable strategy to provide treatment, recovery, and wraparound services to everyone impacted by the opioid epidemic. [29] The Washington Post digital editor James Downie criticized Spanberger's view, remarking that if a losing officeholder "couldn't manage to tie his or her Republican opponent to almost a quarter of a million COVID-19 deaths in the United States, a tanked economy or a dozen other policy fiascos, that's the candidate's fault. "Abigail Spanberger is . Spanberger has said she thinks the Democratic Party needs new leaders and that she would not back Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-California, as the next Speaker of the House if Democrats won the majority. Virginians deserve strong access to quality, affordable health insurance, and Rep. Spanberger is fighting to expand healthcare coverage for everyone. Yes, she said, she had disguises and a cover story. Shes spoken to too many families who have lost loved ones to addiction and overdose. [54][55], Spanberger has called climate change "one of the greatest and most imminent threats to our economy, our national security, and our way of life" and promised to "stand up to attacks against science. Rep. Spanberger knows that the United States today faces many foreign threats from its adversaries, and she believes that a strong diplomatic presence is a core component of our national security and must not be lessened or ignored. Spanberger, 43, is part of a small group of former intelligence officers to have been elected to Congress. Postal Inspection Service, has represented Virginia's 7th District since she flipped the GOP-held seat in 2018 as part of a Democratic wave that retook . She defeated Yesli Vega, an. [22] But until 1993, the 7th stretched from the outer Washington suburbs through the Shenandoah Valley and Charlottesville to the outer Richmond suburbs;[23] the present 7th is geographically and demographically the successor to what was the 3rd district before 1993.[24]. Allies The reality of divided government means it's unlikely Democrats will pass any major legislation, forcing them to instead go on the defensive and tout the legislation they've already passed. She grew up in Henrico County, Virginia, and is a proud graduate of the University of Virginia. Submitted Comments (Click here for meetings with SEC officials) Comments have been received from individuals and entities using the following Letter Type A: 31 B: 24 C: 6,254 D: 5 [46][47], Although not a member of Congress when it passed, Spanberger criticized the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act supported by President Donald Trump, arguing that its permanent tax cuts for corporations would increase the national debt. Proudly Serving Virginias Seventh District. "As a former CIA officer who worked terrorism cases, I find it particularly disgraceful that they would try and make that some sort of leap or claim when I was in fact a long-term substitute teacher for a bunch of kids, she said in response. Rep. Spanberger released a statement : Spanberger Votes with Bipartisan Majority to Condemn World's Worst Dictators, Calls for House GOP Leadership to Also Bring Bills to the Floor to Address. She is an alumnus of the Paul Miller Reporting Fellowship at the National Press Foundation. "How do you make that real; how do you tell that story?" Abigail grew up in Henrico County. [68], In a November 2021 interview with the New York Times, Spanberger criticized Biden after the 2021 Virginia gubernatorial election, saying, "Nobody elected him to be F.D.R., they elected him to be normal and stop the chaos. After dipping his toe in all three branches of government, Jones said hes found the right place to serve: The Hill is a special place. [12][13][14] She made the final decision to run after the House of Representatives voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Even before the attack [], Bipartisan Bill Would Give Borrowers Regular, Pertinent Information Related to Projected Payments, Accrued Interest, & Other Personalized Details WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Those did not trickle down to employees.. [2], Spanberger defeated Republican incumbent Dave Brat in 2018, ending the Republican Party's 36-year hold on the district. [52], In January 2020, Spanberger sponsored the Public Disclosure of Drug Discounts Act, which passed the House unanimously. I will always love the Senate, Jones said. She recognizes the tremendous sacrifice of those who serve in our military, and she believes we have a sacred obligation to honor their dedication to our country and to give them the support they deserve. Following her love of country, public service, and languages, Abigail joined the CIA as a case officer. Any plan released by this administration must make sure that formula is stocked on our shelves for all Virginia parents, crack down on price gouging, and increase imports of formula from abroad. Brown said this is all part of the strategy to keep the impact of Democrats' votes in Washington top of mind for their constituents. Eleanor Holmes Norton of D.C. Abigail Spanberger has served as the Democratic congresswoman for Virginia's 7th Congressional District since 2019. In February, for example, she joined 25 other Democrats to help the GOP push through a provision that would alert U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement if an undocumented immigrant tries to buy a gun. Even so, Jones father went on to serve in the Marines during the Vietnam War. But Im sure there will be points of frustration probably for me and for them, frankly speaking.. The days go by so quickly., The toughest days are probably MTRs motions to recommit, he said. "[31][32], After the 2020 United States redistricting cycle, Spanberger's district was radically redrawn, and no longer included her home in Henrico County. [5] When she was 13, her family relocated to the Short Pump area in Henrico County in Virginia, outside Richmond. As an example, she points to visits in her district from Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg showing new bridges under construction and White House infrastructure coordinator Mitch Landrieu highlighting a new interstate interchange. I talk in broad brush terms about what it is that I did, because thats all I am permitted to do There are at times when I say I wish I could talk about something in a little bit more detail, but thats just never a path that Ill go down, she explained. examining federal efforts to prevent, detect, and prosecute pandemic relief fraud to safeguard funds for all eligible americans "The President's actions violate his oath of office, endanger our national security, and betray the public trust", she said. "I am already seeing a number of my Republican colleagues who voted against these historic pieces of legislation want to claim credit. I know the lingo. WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger today released the following statement after speaking one-on-one with White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain about the ongoing formula shortage in Virginia and across the country. Barbara Sprunt is a producer on NPR's Washington desk, where she reports and produces breaking news and feature political content. Representatives Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07), Mike Waltz (R-FL-06), and Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR-05) today introduced bipartisan legislation to increase transparency in the federal student loan process and to give borrowers additional tools to understand and decrease [], At Least 519 Protesters Have Been Killed by the Regime & More Than 19,000 Iranians Have Been Arrested Since the Death of Mahsa Amini In September 2022 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger joined a bipartisan, bicameral effort urging the Biden Administration to impose stricter sanctions against members of the Iranian Parliament or [], Proudly Serving Virginias Seventh District. Democrats in Baltimore repeatedly talked about the need to make sure their constituents know who voted and didn't vote for federal dollars on infrastructure. As Rep. Spanberger meets with families, patients, providers, and community healthcare organizations across Virginias Seventh District; she repeatedly hears about the financial struggles facing seniors, families, and those with chronic conditions as their prescription drug costs continue to rise. Rep. Spanberger believes that protecting womens access to reproductive healthcare is a social and economic necessity. United States Won re-election with a 1.82% margin, outperforming Vice President Biden. Corporations got permanent tax cuts, permanent tax cuts, Spanberger responded. Moving to northern Virginia, Rep. Abigail Spanberger's (D-Glen Allen) politically marginal 7th CD produced a general election Republican challenger last night. [15][16] Her campaign outraised Brat's. Postal Inspection Service before becoming a CIA officer focused on counterterrorism. [40][41] In the 2019 Speaker of the United States House of Representatives election on the opening day of the 116th United States Congress, Spanberger voted for U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos, an Illinois Democrat, joining 11 other Democrats who did not back Nancy Pelosi. [8] She said she gathered intelligence about nuclear proliferation and terrorism. Rep.-elect Abigail Spanberger (D-VA, 7th) named Hill Veteran Roscoe Jones as her incoming chief of staff, in what is her first Congressional hire as a freshman representative.. Jones has an extensive public service record and is currently the legislative director to Sen. Dianne Feinstein.Jones was previously senior counsel to Sen. Cory Booker and the Senate Judiciary Committee. C-SPAN, an acronym for Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network, is an American cable television network that offers coverage of federal government proceedings and other public affairs programming via its three television channels (C-SPAN, C-SPAN2 and C-SPAN3), one radio station and a group of. Fool me you can't get fooled again.. The Climate Crisis Democrats strongly believe in our responsibility to serve as stewards of our environment and public lands for current and future generations She's since won two more close races and been raised as a possible candidate for Virginia governor. "We were right in the midst of one of the more challenging political debates and discussions about strategy and timing," Kuster said. She believes in stabilizing the Affordable Care Act and preserving its protections for the more than 1.3 million Virginians with pre-existing conditions. Spanberger faced a close reelection contest against State Delegate Nick Freitas, who represents much of the congressional district's northern portion. Abigail Spanberger has served as the Democratic congresswoman for Virginia's 7th Congressional District since 2019. CQ Roll Call is a part of FiscalNote, the leading technology innovator at the intersection of global business and government. The mission is I want to change the lives of ordinary people.. It gave me chills. After college, Abigail moved to Germany and earned her MBA from a dual-degree German-American program between the GISMA business school and Purdue University. [50], According to FiveThirtyEight's congressional vote tracker, Spanberger voted with President Donald Trump 6.9% of the timeabout one seventh of the expected tally (49.1%) when factoring in the district's partisan leaning and general partisanship in Congress. Copyright 2023 CQ Roll Call. House Democrats in competitive districts elected Virginia Rep. Abigail Spanberger on Tuesday to represent them in the caucus leadership . [60] In the 2016 presidential election, Trump defeated Hillary Clinton with 50% of the vote to her 44% in Spanberger's congressional district. Spanbergers chief of staff says House is like a startup, Roscoe Jones Jr. relishes chambers fast pace after move from the Senate. "Overall I am not a supporter of the Green New Deal", she said. The relationship between Congress and the U.S. intelligence community can be uneasy an. Now, shes a third-term Virginia congresswoman who was just named to one. You have permission to edit this article. 32.52% of Virginia residents on Medicare use Medicare Advantage. They live in Glen Allen, Virginia. It was like going from General Motors to a startup, he said. "Most of the intelligence community doesn't understand Congress and most of Congress doesn't understand the intelligence community.. [43] She supports a public option for healthcare via the proposed Medicare-X Choice Act. Before vaulting to the House, Jones spent just under two years with Feinstein and served as senior counsel to Sen. Cory Booker both Stanford grads like him.