Spanberger, who spent years in law enforcement herself, offered a model on how to do that in a recent half-day tour that demonstrated her support for the Culpeper Police Department speaking to. Thank you for visiting my campaign website. 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. Please subscribe to keep reading. Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal, who chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said the group is preparing an "executive action agenda" to present to the president following their own retreat. In a statement to BuzzFeed News, Joe Pounder, the chief executive of America Rising, said, "America Rising . Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Prince William County supervisor and former law enforcement officer Yesli Vega defeated five GOP opponents on her way to a tight 29-24-20 percent victory spread. It's like it was like Special Olympics, or something." Spanberger knows of what she speaks. [57], In February 2023, during the Russo-Ukrainian War, Spanberger signed a letter advocating for President Biden to give F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. Fool me you can't get fooled again.. Rep. Spanberger recognizes that the addiction and overdose crisis is the other deadly pandemic happening in our country. President Jimmy Carter made a nation cringe when he told Playboy magazine: "I've looked on a lot of women with lust. she mused. A few years later, during the 2016 presidential election, she started to discuss with her friends the possibility of running for office. [19] While Brat won eight of the district's ten counties, Spanberger dominated the two largest counties, Henrico and Chesterfield, by a combined margin of over 30,000 votes. I spoke with White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain yesterday and today about the urgency of this shortage. RICHMOND, Virginia - Congressmen Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07) and Donald McEachin (D-VA-04) touted the recently-passed $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, highlighting funds for Virginia's infrastructure and the benefits the measure will bring to Virginia workers. 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. Supporting our Servicemembers & their Families Shes spoken to too many families who have lost loved ones to addiction and overdose. "That's why the big job in front of us is implementing the laws we passed, so people start to see it in their lives all the benefits that are there because you produced it for them.". [74][75] She is a Protestant. It was his father who shaped his sense of public service and taught him to go where the problems are. His parents went to segregated schools in Meridian, Mississippi, and his father marched across the bridge in Selma, Alabama, on Bloody Sunday, as white state troopers wielded their nightsticks against proponents of civil rights. Posted December 6, 2022 at 5:16pm. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. @RepSpanberger" In the weeks since she was named to the intelligence committee, Spanberger says she's already recognizing some of the names and programs in the classified materials she's receiving. She had briefly worked for the USPS on an inspection team, investigating narcotics and money laundering cases. Additionally, she is actively seeking innovative, bipartisan legislative solutions to help combat rising rates of maternal mortality in the United States, particularly within historically underserved and disadvantaged communities. Virginia Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger told CNN Friday morning that she spoke with Klain twice in the last two days to discuss the shortage, saying that Klain told her the White House views . Spanberger grew up in the district in west of Richmond, Virginia, where she now lives again with her family and is running for office. She represents a central Virginia seat that went for President Donald Trump by 6 points in 2016 - and where she appears to have barely eked out a victory by. She began her career of public service as a federal law enforcement officer working narcotics and money laundering cases with the U.S. Spanberger, the daughter of a federal law enforcement officer, worked as an investigator with the U.S. But as a former spy for the Central Intelligence Agency, her life has been anything but typical. Look, I love the Senate. President Biden and House Democrats are mounting a full-court press to take their legislative record on the road and into districts across the country to remind voters of what they've already accomplished. If you want to be a plumber, you've got to know about plumbing, he said. "We just have a buffet of accomplishments to offer, and he just rolled them out in such a way that it can really resonate with the everyday person," Ohio Rep. Shontel Brown told NPR. She's since won two more close races and been raised as a possible candidate for Virginia governor. [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. Spanberger is a former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer. Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia, who's being targeted by the GOP as she runs for re-election in a competitive district, spotlights her efforts to lower gas prices. Also, aides for any relevant committees, leadership offices, campaign committees and leadership PACs will not be included here, nor do we have data for unpaid staff such as interns or people who are "detailed" from the GAO, executive branch or private sector. Spanberger defeated Brat in 2018. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). [43], Spanberger voted to allow U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to be notified when undocumented immigrants attempt to purchase firearms, and voted against the House budget in summer 2019 because it failed to acknowledge the growing national debt. [Podcast: These Democratic women dont want to be show ponies]. [67][64], Spanberger opposed Democrats' attempts to amend the Insurrection Act of 1807, saying that amending the rarely used law would not accomplish what Democrats intended. Following her love of country, public service, and languages, Abigail joined the CIA as a case officer. Representatives Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07) and Trent Kelly (R-MS-01) today introduced bipartisan legislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Americans who served in World War II with the Canadian and British militaries prior to Americas declaration of war. All rights reserved. When she saw partisan politics and division threatening the country she dedicated her life to defend, Abigail decided to run for Congress. "As we start to see more shovels in the ground, as we start to see more cranes in the air, we can start to point to that and say, 'Hey, that's what Democrats did for you,' " she said. 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. 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. [76], 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia District 7, 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia District 7, 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia District 7, Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit, Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry, Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific and Nonproliferation, Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, Energy, and the Environment, 2019 Speaker of the United States House of Representatives election, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, photo op in front of St. John's Episcopal Church, Women in the United States House of Representatives, "Abigail Spanberger's passion for languages led her to the CIA", "Virginia Election Results: Seventh Congressional District", "Spanberger narrowly defeats GOP challenger in closely watched House race in Virginia", "Candidate Conversation - Abigail Spanberger (D)", "Saudi School Dominates TV Ads in Race for Suburban Richmond Congressional Seat", "This former CIA officer says she can beat Virginia Rep. Dave Brat", "Former CIA Officer Abigail Spanberger is on a mission for Virginia's 7th District", Who are they? Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger narrowly held onto her seat in Virginia on Tuesday, defeating Republican Yesli Vega in a contest both parties saw as an early bellwether in the battle for the. Congresswoman: They Ran to the Sound of the Guns WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. She is an alumnus of the Paul Miller Reporting Fellowship at the National Press Foundation. After eight years, Spanberger had several choices for her next posting, from Kenya to Costa Rica. 11/11/22 3:30 PM ET News Five midterm surprises in the House [21], A number of sources claimed Spanberger was the first Democrat to win this seat since 1970, when four-term Democrat John Marsh retired and was succeeded by Republican J. Kenneth Robinson. "In its attempt to balance safety from contaminated product and safe infant development through formula access, FDA is achieving neither objective," Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) wrote in a recent letter criticizing both the FDA's oversight efforts and its "near-shutdown" of facilities. "I am already seeing a number of my Republican colleagues who voted against these historic pieces of legislation want to claim credit. [58], Spanberger has called for a new version of the Federal Assault Weapons Ban that expired in 2004. A former federal law enforcement officer and CIA officer, Rep. Spanbergers career in public service has focused on protecting American families and economic interests from a wide range of domestic and foreign threats. Virginia Republican Police Chief Endorses Spanberger; Denounces Yesli Vega's False Comments on Rape-Related Pregnancy and her Defense of January 6th Insurrectionists. Postal Inspection Service. The House has this really kinetic, fast pace, Jones said in an interview this week, after rushing back to the office. Why Republicans and Democrats will be watching this race on election night. Spanberger faced a close reelection contest against State Delegate Nick Freitas, who represents much of the congressional district's northern portion. Spanberger, Kelly Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Award Congressional Gold Medal to Americans Who Served & Fought Bravely in WWII Prior to Americas Entry. [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. 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. Theyre grossly overqualified, he boasted of the full-time staff of 17. If your intention was to visit my official House of Representatives website, please, Checks payable to "Spanberger for Congress". 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. [35], Spanberger's committee assignments include:[36][37], Some commentators have characterized Spanberger as a centrist Democrat. Copyright 2023 CQ Roll Call. Kuster, who said she lives in "purple world," said members have been in close talks with Cabinet officials and the White House about how to work together to make intricate legislation like the infrastructure bill accessible to their constituents. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, she is working to make sure Virginia employers and employees are able to recover and succeed. Retrieved March 18, 2020.