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Rep. McEachin Addresses VSRA Membership

The August General Membership Meeting was held on Tuesday, August 22, 2017 at the Portsmouth Renaissance Hotel in the Holley Ballroom (1st Floor). The guest speaker was Congressman A. Donald McEachin, U.S. House of Representatives (VA-04).

Congressman McEachin began his address by discussing his first days as a member of the House Armed Services Committee. Initially, he said, he wondered what the rational could be for an increase to a 355-ship Navy. However, upon further discussion, McEachin said he realized the role of the Navy in protecting two oceans, and knew the fleet increase was a necessity to keep our Country safe.

McEachin also discussed the idea that building more ships will mean more ships will need repaired, and ensured the Membership that the Seapower Subcommittee is committed to ensuring as few dips as possible in the ship repair workforce.

In closing Congressman McEachin admitted that he was facing a steep learning curve as he serves on the Seapower Subcommittee, but stated that the best way to learn is for events like the VSRA General Membership Luncheon, and for those in the industry to reach out to him with questions, concerns, and additional discussion.

Congressman A. Donald McEachin was elected to represent the 4th Congressional District of Virginia in the United States House of Representatives on November 8, 2016. Thus far in Congress, McEachin has been elected to serve as co-president of the Freshman class, appointed as Regional Whip, and serves as a member of the Democratic Leader’s Environmental Messaging Team.

Representative McEachin proudly represents his district on the House Armed Services Committee and House Committee on Natural Resources. As a member of the House Committee on Natural Resources, Mr. McEachin serves as the Ranking Member of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee and sits on the Subcommittee on Federal Lands. Mr. McEachin also sits on both the Readiness and the Seapower and Forces subcommittees under the House Armed Services Committee. He was also appointed by House Leadership to serve on the Franking Commission.

Prior to his service in Congress, Mr. McEachin served as a legislator in Virginia’s General Assembly for most of the last twenty years. First he served in the Virginia House of Delegates and then the Virginia State Senate. Mr. McEachin was elected by Senate Democrats to serve as Senate Democratic Caucus Chair in 2011.

Throughout his time as a public servant, he fought to protect our most vulnerable citizens — dedicating to defending the rights of all Virginians and improving their lives. Mr. McEachin is committed to being a progressive champion who leads efforts that will promote equality, curb gun violence, protect our environment, and advocate for military personnel and their family members. His commitment to helping working families will never waver.

Mr. McEachin learned the value of hard work from his parents. His father was an Army veteran and his mother was a public-school teacher. He grew up in what is now his congressional district. Mr. McEachin graduated from American University with a degree in Political Science and from the University of Virginia School of Law. In May of 2008, he received his Masters of Divinity degree from the Samuel Dewitt Proctor Theological Seminary at Virginia Union University.

After practicing with several Richmond law firms, he and Donald Gee formed McEachin and Gee, in 1990. The McEachin and Gee Law Firm has successfully assisted many Virginians receive the resources they need after accidents or injury. He has always stood up for working Virginians, families and children in need.

Mr. McEachin is very active in the community, and is a lifetime member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity and the NAACP. Mr. McEachin is also a member of the Virginia State Bar and the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association. He has also been appointed to several other boards and commissions that serve the community.

Congressman McEachin and his lovely wife Colette are the parents of three wonderful adult children. Colette is also an attorney with extensive experience, presently working in the Richmond City Commonwealth’s attorney’s office.


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