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Dear Friend,
Coming back from Washington, D.C., to Virginia's Seventh Congressional District allows me the opportunity to meet with constituents about their concerns, and unfortunately those concerns haven't changed over the past two years.
The Economy
The United States is experiencing the slowest economic recovery since World War II. The labor participation rate is at its lowest point since Jimmy Carter was President in the 1970s. Median income is still lower than it was pre-recession. Regulations are choking small businesses, and the tax code encourages companies to leave the United States. On top of all of that, Obamacare has driven healthcare costs higher and higher, and American families are feeling the pinch at home.
The Budget
Americans know the basics of budgeting, and the average fifth-grader can do the math. So how are we continuing to reach larger deficits? Because we spend increasingly unsustainable amounts on autopilot programs.
This graph shows that our autopilot spending programs are outpacing our revenue, and will actually consume our revenue in its entirety by 2028.
If that worries you, take a look at America's debt-to-GDP ratio from 1790-2046. The projections for the next 30 years are quite alarming.
Based on these graphs, it should be no surprise that public debt is at a 66-year high, and projected to grow to a whopping 141% of GDP by 2046. Not only is this unstable, but it is also unethical to leave this debt to our children and grandchildren.
Funding expires for most government programs during President Obama's lame-duck session on December 9, 2016. As usual, negotiations will take place to increase the deficit even further, and both sides of the aisle will be responsible. This is no way to approach our spending problem, and I will fight for you and keep you updated as I always have.
Veterans
Sadly, an average of 22 veterans commit suicide every single day. This is totally unacceptable, and Congress and the VA should be doing more to provide our heroes with the quality of healthcare they deserve. I was honored to talk about this issue at the Million Veteran March at the Virginia War Memorial earlier this month.
I have also cosigned a letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs demanding improvements to the Veterans Crisis Line because no veteran should have to wait or be disconnected in their greatest moment of need.
I also participated in the "22 Pushup Challenge" to help raise awareness of veteran suicide. Watch the video if you don't believe me!
https://youtu.be/Mp1nJAyM49s
Speaking with Business Owners and Students
Speaking with business owners at the Quad-County Business Summit in Orange, VA about the impacts that federal regulations have on businesses and the American economy.
I was honored to be the keynote speaker at the Glen Allen High School Senior Convocation where I shared my thoughts on what it means to be successful and the importance of lifting each other up.
Contact Me
I am always interested in hearing your thoughts. If you have any comments, questions, or concerns, you can contact me directly by clicking here or by calling my office at (202) 225-2815.
You can also follow me on Twitter, Facebook, or YouTube for updates on my work in Congress.
Thank you,
Congressman Dave Brat
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Washington DC Office
330 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-2815
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Glen Allen Office
4201 Dominion Blvd, Suite 110
Glen Allen, VA 23060
Phone: (804) 747-4073
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Spotsylvania Office
9104 Courthouse Rd. #249
Spotsylvania, VA 22553
Phone: (540) 507-7216
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