Opinion Pieces by Rob

As we reflect on the State of the Union, I want to focus on what matters most to families here at home: how federal policy affects daily life across Virginia’s First District, and especially here in the Northern Neck.

Our district stretches from the growing suburban communities around Chesterfield, Henrico, and Hanover, to the historic communities of James City County, Yorktown, Jamestown, and Williamsburg, to the watermen and working waterfronts that define the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula. While our communities may differ in character, they share a common concern. The cost of living affects everyone.

Here in the Northern Neck, I hear from families who are watching grocery bills climb, small business owners navigating higher energy and insurance costs, and watermen facing increased fuel and equipment expenses. Affordability is not an abstract economic term. It is about whether families can stay rooted in the communities they love.

Working Families

Across the district, rising home prices and mortgage rates have made it harder for young families to buy their first home and for longtime residents to move. That is why I am working to expand housing supply by unlocking unused federal properties, increase mortgage flexibility in high-rate environments, and protect American real estate from foreign investors who artificially inflate prices.

Families also continue to feel the pressure of healthcare and childcare costs. Increasing price transparency in healthcare and lowering insurance premiums remain top priorities.

Small Businesses and Tourism

Small businesses are the backbone of the Northern Neck economy. They depend on tourism, affordable energy, and stable healthcare costs. When fuel prices rise or insurance premiums spike, it impacts not only employers but also the families who rely on those jobs.

Promoting economic stability means advancing policies that support small businesses, encourage responsible tourism growth, and keep everyday operating costs manageable.

Watermen and Farmers

In rural and coastal communities like ours, affordability has unique dimensions. Watermen, farmers, and small operators face rising fuel costs, higher input expenses for equipment and supplies, and uncertainty about whether they will be able to pass their businesses on to the next generation.

That is why Congress worked to increase the death tax threshold, and why I support eliminating it entirely. Family farms and working waterfront businesses should not be forced to sell off assets simply to satisfy Washington tax policies.

Energy independence is especially important for rural communities. Transportation distances are longer. Fuel is essential for work on the water and in the fields. By cutting red tape and strengthening domestic energy production, we are working to keep those costs manageable for families and businesses alike.

Healthcare Affordability

Whether you live along the Rappahannock River, on the Chesapeake Bay, or in one of our inland communities, healthcare affordability matters. Congress has enacted reforms targeting prescription drug middlemen and is advancing stronger transparency requirements so families know what care will cost before they receive it.

The goal is straightforward. Empower patients. Lower premiums. Reduce out-of-pocket costs. Increase access to treatments.

Virginia’s First District reflects the best of our Commonwealth, from suburban growth to rural heritage, from small businesses to military families, from historic communities to working waterfronts. My responsibility is to ensure that federal policy works for all of you.

We have made progress, but we must continue pushing for policies that lower costs and expand opportunity for every community we represent, including right here in the Northern Neck.

It is an honor to serve you.