Opinion Pieces by Rob

From the growing suburban communities around Chesterfield, Henrico, and Hanover, to the historic communities of James City County, Yorktown, Jamestown, and Williamsburg, to watermen in the Northern Neck and working waterfronts across the Middle Peninsula, I hear every day about the pressures facing households across Virginia’s First District. The cost of living remains the top concern. Families are budgeting carefully, small businesses are watching expenses closely, and farmers and watermen are navigating higher input costs.

The State of the Union is more than a speech. It is an opportunity to reflect honestly on where our country stands, how far we have come, and what work remains.

Just two years ago, Americans were facing 6.4 percent inflation. Paychecks were being stretched thin by rising grocery bills, higher energy costs, and increased interest rates. Today, inflation stands near 2.4 percent. Job creation has strengthened. Border crossings have fallen dramatically. Economic growth has regained momentum.

These improvements did not happen by accident. They are the result of pro-growth, pro-worker policies supported by President Trump and Congressional Republicans, policies focused on restoring American energy production, cutting burdensome regulations, and strengthening our labor market.

But if you ask families across Virginia’s First District whether the job is finished, you will hear a consistent answer: not yet.

Affordability remains the defining issue for many households. That is why Congress must continue doubling down on policies that reduce the cost of living and expand economic opportunity.

Owning a home has long been central to the American Dream, yet high prices and limited supply have placed that dream out of reach for too many young families. We are working to expand housing supply, reduce barriers to homeownership, and protect American property from foreign speculation that artificially inflates prices.

At the same time, we are pushing to eliminate the death tax entirely. Family farms, ranches, and small businesses, many of which have been built over generations here in Virginia, should not be forced to sell assets simply to satisfy Washington. Economic security means giving families confidence that they can pass along their life’s work.

Healthcare affordability is another persistent challenge. Congress has already enacted major reforms to increase oversight of prescription drug middlemen, bringing greater transparency and accountability to a system that too often hides true costs from patients.

We are advancing additional measures that require hospitals and insurers to publish real, comparable prices and provide clear cost estimates. When markets function transparently, competition increases and costs come down. We are also working to stabilize insurance markets and lower premiums for families and employers alike.

Energy affordability underpins everything else. When energy costs rise, so does the price of groceries, transportation, and everyday goods.

By rescinding costly mandates, streamlining permitting, and opening domestic energy production, we are working to reduce the regulatory burdens that drive up costs for consumers. Energy independence not only strengthens our national security, it protects household budgets.

The American people entrusted Republicans with governing majorities to deliver results. That responsibility carries weight. We cannot afford complacency, nor can we squander the opportunity to enact lasting reforms.

The state of our Union is strong, but strength requires stewardship. It requires continuing the work of restoring affordability, accountability, and opportunity for every American.

For the families I represent in Virginia’s First District, that remains my focus.

Read the full story in the Richmond Times Dispatch here.