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February Luncheon: Congressman Rob Wittman, U.S. House of Representatives, Presents to VSRA Members

FEBRUARY LUNCHEON: THE HONORABLE CONGRESSMAN ROB WITTMAN, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES VA 1ST DISTRICT, ADDRESSES VSRA MEMBERSHIP

The February 2020 General Membership Luncheon meeting was held on Tuesday, February 18 at the Portsmouth Renaissance Hotel. The speaker for the meeting was Congressman Rob Wittman, U.S. Representative to Virginia's 1st Congressional District. 

Congressman Wittman focused heavily on the National Security issues which he encounters while working on the Armed Services Committee. He elaborated on National Security issues as they relate to the U.S. Navy and the ship repair industry in Hampton Roads, covering a range of issues.

As part of his presentation, Congressman Wittman discussed the difficulty of the Navy reaching its goal of a 355-ship fleet. He acclaimed that those who tout this goal as a possibility must attach realistic fiscal measures in the budget that reflect that this issue is being taken seriously, otherwise it’s all empty promises.

Congressman Wittman made sure to continuously tie these issues back to the ship repair industry in Hampton Roads. He emphasized his fight in D.C. for a Naval budget that recognizes ship repair and maintenance as integral to the 355-ship goal will create a more stable workflow for the ship repair workforce of our area.

Congressman Wittman ended by thanking the membership in attendance, and he talked enthusiastically about his dedication to the work he does, especially in serving the First District and on the Armed Services Committee. VSRA showed their appreciation by presented Congressman Wittman with a Donation Certificate to the Semper Fi Fund.

Congressman Wittman serves the First Congressional District of Virginia, America’s First District, in the United States House of Representatives. In the U.S. Congress, Congressman Wittman serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the Committee on Natural Resources, where he quickly earned a reputation for being an advocate for our men and women in uniform and for being a champion of the Chesapeake Bay Center.

On the Armed Services Committee, Rob serves as Ranking Member of the Sea Power and Projection Forces Subcommittee. In addition, as Co-Chair of the Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus, he is a staunch advocate for a robust Naval fleet and a healthy domestic shipbuilding industry. Rob also served as Chairman of the U.S. Naval Academy's Board of Visitors for nine years.

As a member of the House Committee on Natural Resources, Rob brings his professional expertise in water quality, fisheries, and other natural resource issues. He is a champion of the Chesapeake Bay -- for its environmental and economic attributes -- and has introduced legislation that will increase the accountability and effectiveness of cleaning up the Bay. He serves as co-chair of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Caucus, which brings Bay issues into focus for Members of Congress.

Prior to his election to Congress, Rob spent 26 years working in state government, most recently as Field Director for the Virginia Health Department's Division of Shellfish Sanitation. Earlier, he worked for many years as an environmental health specialist for local health departments in Virginia's Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula regions.

He holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University, a Master of Public Health degree in Health Policy and Administration from the University of North Carolina, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Virginia Tech.

 


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