Serving the First Congressional District of Virginia since 2007, Rob has been focused on strengthening our military and supporting veterans, promoting economic development through fiscal responsibility, fixing our crumbling infrastructure, increasing access to high-speed internet, and promoting workforce development through Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) programs.
In the U.S. Congress, Rob serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the Committee on Natural Resources, where he is well-positioned to represent the needs of Virginia's First District. He has quickly earned a reputation for being an advocate for our men and women in uniform and for being a champion of the Chesapeake Bay.
High speed broadband has the potential to revolutionize the way rural populations live their lives. Many families, students and businesses in rural areas struggle to gain access to key services such as telemedicine, distance-learning, online banking, and grant applications that help small businesses compete in the 21st Century.
Addressing the challenges to broadband expansion in unserved areas and developing innovative solutions that bridge the digital divide between urban and rural America remain top priorities of mine in Congress. We must work to identify ways states and localities can partner with the federal government to better focus resources on unserved areas.
For me, the issue of rural broadband dates back more than 20 years to my time on the Westmoreland County Board of Supervisors. As Co-Chair of the bi-partisan House Rural Broadband Caucus, and through the First District Broadband Task Force, I have consistently worked to get more folks and businesses connected to the internet. I've helped draft legislation to improve mapping, add more money to fund broadband, and hold Internet Service Providers accountable to ensure accurate coverage.
Additionally, my Serving Rural America Act, introduced in the Spring of 2020, served as the model for the NTIA Broadband Infrastructure Program, a $288 million broadband deployment program directed to partnerships between a state, county, or town, and providers of fixed broadband service to support broadband infrastructure deployment to areas lacking reliable internet.
Burdensome regulations hinder shovel-ready projects from providing broadband access to unserved populations and throughout the country. I am a proud cosponsor of the Broadband Permitting Modernization Act, a package of commonsense, cost-effective legislative proposals advanced to modernize broadband permitting on federal lands. By streamlining our federal permitting process, we can help better connect more than 23 million Americans currently with little or no access to broadband to the digital economy. Closing the digital divide is the key to lifting up countless communities in unserved areas.
As the son and the husband of a public school teacher, I am especially thankful for the ways teachers inspire and shape the minds of our nation’s students. Their dedication does not go unrecognized; the positive influence and selflessness that our educators possess is invaluable.
Strengthening America's education system is important in fostering innovation and promoting economic security. We must prepare our students for the demands of our current society and provide unemployed Americans with an outlet to reintegrate into the workforce. That means prioritizing workforce development and continuing to promote Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) programs, partnering with schools and local businesses to address the skilled worker shortage, and increasing access to dual enrollment CTE training courses so students can work towards credentials while still in high school.
We must also address student loan debt and work to make college more affordable. I’m working on providing more options for saving and more opportunities for developing skill sets for today’s workforce. A bill of mine, The Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act, would give individuals and families the freedom to use their “529” savings account to cover the costs of certain workforce training, credentialing programs, and costs associated with certification exams and maintaining certification credentials. My PROPEL Act would expand access to Career and Technical Education (CTE) by opening up federal Pell Grants for short term vocational or technical training and apprenticeships. Additionally, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act allows families to use 529 plans to save more money whether it’s for college or a vocational school.
I am committed to ensuring our students have access to quality education and opportunities to succeed. It is essential that we set our students up for success.
We need to focus on ways we can address climate change, while promoting economic prosperity. I want clean air, water, and environmental protection, but those things do not have to be achieved at the expense of jobs, prosperity, and national security. We can protect our environment by promoting policies that encourage clean energy such as nuclear, hydropower, natural gas, wind, and solar power. These sources of energy are readily available within America, which ensures our energy independence, allowing us to rely on our own citizens to power our country. The American energy industry creates jobs, lowers the cost of gas and electricity for hard-working families, and advances American interests on the global stage.
The Chesapeake Bay is critical to the environmental and economic health of our region and the Commonwealth. As Co-Chair of the Chesapeake Bay Caucus and Co-Chair of the Congressional Chesapeake Bay Watershed Caucus, I will continue to work to conserve our natural resources and encourage responsible stewardship of our land, water, and wildlife. I have led the effort to maintain the Chesapeake Bay Program and advocated for funding when cuts were suggested, and my Chesapeake Bay Accountability and Recovery Act (2015) was signed into law to help with cleanup efforts. Additionally, I have introduced a bill that would better prepare Virginia cities for coastal flooding, a bill that supports our nation’s wildlife, and another bill that protects our wetlands.
As a lifelong conservationist, I am committed to the conservation of our public lands, wetlands, and vast natural resources.
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The family is at the center of American society, and at a time when traditional values are under attack, it’s so important for leaders to step up and protect that bedrock institution. As a child of adoption, I have seen first-hand the transformative power family can have. My actions in the defense of life have led me to obtain a 100% rating from both the National Rights to Life and the Family Research Council (FRC). I will continue to be a standard bearer for upholding family values and protecting the sanctity of life. |
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It is imperative that we get our nation’s fiscal house in order and work to address our nation’s debt and deficit. High levels of debt translate to much lower levels of economic growth and those same high levels of debt mean that too many of our taxpayer dollars are wasted on paying high interest and unnecessary overages. While we can start with eliminating duplicative programs, wasteful spending, and fraud. If we don’t address the broken budget and appropriations system producing these spending deals, we won’t ever solve this problem. We need to know where our money is going and work through funding packages in a responsible, thoughtful, and deliberate way through regular order — not rushed through at the last minute. Returning to regular order — moving spending bills through the committee process and the House floor where we read, debate, and vote on them — will go a long way towards bringing transparency back to the budget and appropriations process. This requires holding Members of Congress accountable, something I have been dedicated to throughout my time in Congress. I authored three bills to achieve this:
This level of transparency and accountability is critical to getting the budget process under control and to rein in wasteful government spending. |
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Before serving in Congress, I earned my master’s degree in public health and spent 26 years working for the Virginia Department of Health. The COVID-19 outbreak underscores the importance of not only focusing on public health but also the need to fix our broken healthcare system. Every American has the right to access affordable and comprehensive healthcare for themselves and their families, but today, Americans are struggling to do so. I believe we must reform our healthcare system to provide quality, affordable healthcare to every American. I support a plan that: protects the vulnerable – especially those with pre-existing conditions, empowers individuals with greater control over their health care choices and dollars, and personalizes health care to meet individual needs and reduce premiums, deductibles, and the overall cost of health care. We should focus on patient-provider centered reforms: I want to ensure you have the option to see a doctor of your choice and that you can keep your health insurance. Individuals and families should have the ability to make decisions for themselves based on what fits their needs, wants, and budget, not what is dictated by the Government. As Co-Chair of the Public Health Caucus in Congress, it is my duty to bring attention to public health and prevention issues and support federal policies that result in improved overall health for citizens across the United States. We must look for ways to expand choices for consumers and ensure the public can access coverage and enhance transparency in our healthcare system. I am committed to protecting Virginians and raising awareness about how public health issues impact lives and communities |
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Our current immigration system is broken. We are a nation of laws and must continue to keep America safe. Our approach to combating illegal immigration must be comprehensive and include permanently securing our border, enforcing the rule of law, and ensuring law enforcement has the resources they need to carry out their duties. Our first responsibility is the safety and security of the American people. President Biden should reinstate the policies that have proven successful, such as reinstating the cooperative asylum agreements with the Northern Triangle countries, utilizing the Migrant Protection Protocols, ending catch and release, and maximizing his authority to expel illegal immigrants during the pandemic. I am focused on ensuring that our nation’s immigration laws are enforced and that our immigration programs work properly. America was built by immigrants, and immigrants continue to play an undeniably important role in America today. But those seeking to enter the United States must do so legally. |
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As the economy continues to recover from the pandemic, we need to support our small businesses and prepare potential employees to fill jobs as they become available. We must return to sound economic principles and that means limiting the role of the federal government in people’s lives, not expanding it. It is vital that we rein in runaway spending, think carefully about our future priorities, and prevent tax hikes before we stunt the United States’ economic recovery. It is critical that we protect our individual liberties and economic freedoms and that means having an agenda that is pro-worker, pro-family, pro-growth, and most of all, pro-American. I will continue to focus on policies that create more jobs, spur growth and innovation, support our area businesses, create more jobs for hard-working Americans, and put more money in the pockets of hard-working Americans. Additionally, I am a cosponsor of the DRIVE-Safe Act which would help our nation’s current truck driver shortage by creating a rigorous safety and training program that enables 18-21-year-old drivers, who have already obtained a commercial driver’s license (CDL), to drive across state lines. I believe we must prioritize workforce development and continue to promote Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) programs to better prepare our future workforce with the necessary skills and knowledge to compete in a global economy. By increasing access to dual enrollment CTE training courses so students can work towards credentials while still in high school, we can better prepare our future professionals. By taking less than two years to complete, these qualifications provide a more tangible approach to education and qualify students for well-paying jobs. |
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We are at a critical juncture in our nation’s history; we must decide if the United States will retain its global primacy, or if we will concede our position to the malign intent of Communist China. As Vice Ranking Member on the House Armed Services Committee, I have worked to ensure we bring the capability of our Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force closer to meeting the reality of the threats facing the United States and to project power around the globe to deter our adversaries. As Vice Ranking Member, my work on the House Armed Services Committee is critical to the well-being of the Commonwealth of Virginia. In Virginia, national security is economic security. From the 27 military bases, to our robust shipbuilding industry, to the thousands of defense-related jobs here in Virginia, our Commonwealth leads the nation in supporting our men and women in uniform. Our state is crucial to the mission and success of the U.S. military and our nation’s overall defense. In turn, defense spending makes up a fifth of our economy and is the largest, single driving factor in the economic prosperity of the Commonwealth. As a Member of the Armed Services Committee since I came to Congress in 2007, I have worked to ensure we bring the capability of our Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force closer to meeting the reality of the threats facing the United States and to project power around the globe to deter our adversaries. I refuse to deprive our servicemembers the resources they need to be successful in their missions. I will continue to lead the fight to provide the right capabilities to support our warfighters, deter our adversaries, and keep our troops safe. |
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As a child of adoption, I value protecting the sanctity of life and will continue to be the standard-bearer for upholding family values. I believe that all life is precious and deserves to be protected and that it is our role to protect the lives of the unborn and ensure women have access to the care and information they need. As a stalwart defender of life, I have voted to defund Planned Parenthood; taxpayers should not be forced to participate in the abortion industry. We should look to protect the lives of the unborn and ensure women have access to the care they need. We should ensure all mothers know what options are available to them, including adoption. That is why I authored The Adoption Information Act, which would require family planning services to provide pamphlets containing contact information of adoption centers to a person receiving family planning services at the time the person inquiries about abortion services. This piece of legislation is a simple step we can take to make a world of difference. We can all agree that the most vulnerable members of our community deserve a place to call home and a place to find and reach their full potential. |
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As a gun owner and strong supporter of Second Amendment rights, I believe that the Constitutional right to keep and bear arms must be diligently protected. No law-abiding American should ever be denied their Constitutional rights without reason or due process. Just like many of you, I am extremely concerned about gun violence, and I believe it is absolutely critical that we continue to address this problem. However, we can have constructive conversations about how to put an end to gun violence without infringing on the rights of law-abiding citizens. We must be focused on preventing criminals from acquiring firearms in the first place and addressing the behavior behind these instances of mass violence instead of infringing on our Constitutional rights. Know that I will always stand up for my constituents’ rights – both to privacy and to bear arms – and I am committed to preserving the rights of all law-abiding individuals to purchase, possess, and use firearms for legitimate purposes. |
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To be absolutely clear: we need to honor our commitment to current Social Security and Medicare beneficiaries and those who are nearing eligibility. I want to preserve the benefits and the contributions people have made into the system, but starting in the 2030’s, there could be a reduction in benefits people receive. This is absolutely unacceptable. We must ensure the long-term substantiality of these programs so future generations can have the peace of mind and security these programs provide seniors. I will continue to look for bipartisan solutions that preserve and strengthen Social Security for today’s seniors and future generations while also promoting policies that help Americans at all stages of life to save for retirement. I am committed to preserving these critical programs for decades to come. |
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The First District of Virginia is home to some of the most unique transportation challenges in the country. We face congestion on our highways, strained commuter rail, and crumbling roads and bridges. As a daily commuter myself, I know firsthand the issues with congestion and maintenance in the area. We must get out of just fixing current problems and get to investing in 21st Century infrastructure. Throughout the First District, our infrastructure needs special attention. Rural transportation infrastructure’s unique challenges need to be considered in order to meet our Nation’s priority transportation goals of safety and economic competitiveness. In addition, we have the Port of Virginia, one of the Commonwealth's most powerful economic engines, right outside our district. I have worked to help grow the Port of Virginia and to deepen and widen its channels. This will allow larger ships visiting the Port to arrive and depart fully loaded and will make for safer and more timely passage through the channels. It will allow American businesses from across the country to further benefit from the Port of Virginia as an integral part of their supply chain. The role of the federal government is not to dictate what to build, but to provide stable, long-term funding to states for their project priorities. I will continue to fight for projects that prioritize innovation, leverage public-private resources, and maintain the safety of motorists within the region. |
The First District is home to one of the fastest growing veterans populations, and nearly 800,000 veterans call Virginia home. I have long believed that our men and women in uniform have earned our great respect through sacrifice and hardship, and we owe them a debt of gratitude for that service. America’s veterans deserve the highest quality medical care and most efficient delivery of benefits possible.
This Congress, I reintroduced multiple pieces of legislation that would bring accountability to the VA by increasing transparency: H.R. 182 - Veteran’s Choice and Accountability Act, H.R. 183 - Veterans Collaboration Act, and H.R. 185 - Veterans Affairs Transfer of Information and Sharing of Disability Examination Procedures with DOD Doctors Act. Our veterans made great sacrifices for us, and we owe them a debt of gratitude for that service.
Our military leaders and national defense experts agree: the world is an increasingly dangerous place. We face threats at home and abroad not only from terror groups, but from state actors like Russia, North Korea, and Iran. My objective is to ensure we bring the full capabilities of our armed forces to bear in meeting the reality of the threats facing the United States and to project power around the globe to deter our adversaries.
The first element necessary to ensuring our nation's security is a defense budget adequate to meet the threats we face. The sequester - indiscriminate cuts to defense spending - has done grave damage to our military readiness and greatly reduced training and funding for equipment and maintenance. We must reverse that damage by boosting defense spending.
I support a base defense budget that at the very minimum matches 4 percent of gross domestic product. We owe our active duty, reserve, and National Guard service men and women no less than our full support for their sacrifice on behalf of our country.
I was honored to be named Chairman of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee. And given the global security environment, this new assignment comes at a critical time.
In this post, I will also oversee the Navy’s plans to rebuild its fleet from the current level of 274 ships to the Navy’s stated goal of over 350 ships. I also look forward to supporting the development of our Columbia Class Submarines and B-21 Long Range Strike- Bombers.
As Chairman of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, I will have the opportunity to serve both our Nation and the Commonwealth of Virginia, and I am committed to ensuring that our military remains the greatest fighting force the world has ever known.
Shipbuilding
I, along with Congressman Joe Courtney (D-CT), serve as a Co-Chairman of the Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus.
We began the Caucus with three main objectives:
* to build a venue for Members to discuss shipbuilding issues that impact their districts,
* to work together to support increased shipbuilding efforts for the United States Navy that will enhance our national security, and
* to improve awareness regarding shipbuilding matters across Capitol Hill.
Our Caucus provides a forum for Members of Congress, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard officers, and industry leaders to exchange views on the current and future states of domestic shipbuilding.
In addition to being the home of the world’s largest naval station and the largest concentration of U.S. Navy forces, Virginia also boasts the shipyards and skilled workers needed to build and maintain the next generation of ships and submarines in our Navy’s fleet. My role as Co-Chairman of the Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus gives me yet another opportunity to advocate for Virginia in Congress.
Foreign Affairs
The safety and security of Virginians is my greatest concern and top priority. We must never forget that there are individuals, groups, and indeed, entire countries that seek to do harm to our citizens and destroy our way of life. In every corner of the globe events are unfolding that will have a profound impact on the security of our nation and our allies. So we must be ever vigilant in protecting our homeland to ensure all of our citizens can live in peace and security.
I believe America, and the world, will be a safer place if the United States takes a leadership role in addressing these global challenges. Diplomacy will always be the best and preferred method for resolving difficult international issues. But if diplomacy fails, and when American interests are at stake, we must be prepared to act.
When I speak with Virginians, one thing I consistently hear is, "we need to change how Congress operates." People are rightly frustrated by what they see happening in Washington: budget by crisis, missing important legislative deadlines, and partisan bickering, just to name a few. I am frustrated, too. That is why I have made reforming how Congress works one of my top priorities as your representative.
Reforming how Congress works starts with passing budgets and spending bills on time. Your elected leaders must set an example by completing these most basic of tasks. But in the past, there have not been accountability measures in place to ensure the job gets done.
Responsible Budgeting
I introduced the No Budget, No Pay Act, which states that members of Congress are prohibited from receiving paychecks if their respective chamber does not pass a budget by mid-April. If the House does not pass a budget members of Congress should not be paid. Your family would not operate without a budget. Why should the federal government be any different? Clearly, it should not.
Passing Spending Bills
I also introduced what is called the Stay on Schedule Resolution. This resolution would amend House rules to prevent members of the House from taking the traditional August recess when critical spending bills remain to be passed. Failure to pass the 12 annual spending bills prevents federal agencies like the Department of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and Transportation from meeting current demands and planning for the future. Given the importance of the spending bills, members of the House should stay in Washington until they are all passed.
Pay and Benefits for Members of Congress
Congress is required by Article I, Section 6, of the Constitution to determine its own pay. Under the terms of a 1989 law, Members of Congress automatically receive an annual cost-of-living pay increase unless they act to stop it. The annual increases are based on a formula calculated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which takes into consideration changes in private industry wages and salaries. I strongly oppose automatic pay increases for Members of Congress and have supported legislation to block pay raises.
Social Security and Retirement Benefits for Members of Congress
All Members of Congress have been required to pay into the Social Security System since January 1, 1984, regardless of when they first entered Congress. Under current congressional retirement plans, Members of Congress are required to contribute 6.2% of their salaries to Social Security, as well as 1.3% of their full salary into the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund. Members of Congress are eligible for a pension at age 62 if they have completed at least five years of service. Members are eligible for a pension at age 50 if they have completed 20 years of service, or at any age after completing 25 years of service. The amount of the pension depends on years of service and the average of the highest three years of salary. By law, the starting amount of a Member's retirement annuity may not exceed 80% of his or her final salary.
Health Benefits for Members of Congress
Members of Congress and retired Members are entitled to participate in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) under the same rules as other federal employees. Members meeting minimum enrollment period requirements who are also eligible for an immediate annuity may continue to participate in the health benefit program when they retire. For an additional fee, incumbent Members can receive health care services from the Office of the Attending Physician in the U.S. Capitol; in addition, Members may purchase care from military hospitals using their FEHBP benefit. Members must also pay the same payroll taxes as all other workers for Medicare Part A coverage.
I am proud to represent the tens of thousands of federal employees and retirees who live in Virginia's First District. These hardworking patriots serve our nation on a daily basis, whether it be keeping our skies safe for travelers with the FAA or supporting our troops on the front lines of the war on terror with the CIA.
The federal workforce is full of dedicated and committed citizens who exemplify patriotism in everything they do. I believe it is important to support legislative measures that adequately address the specific needs of our hard-working federal employees and retirees. I do not believe that current retirees should see any changes to the retirement benefits that they have earned.
Sequestration & Hiring Freeze
I make it a priority to engage with federal employee groups, including the American Federation of Government Employees, to discuss issues I know are a concern to federal employees. Two of the most pressing issues are sequestration and the recent hiring freeze announcement.
Sequestration, as you know, has been harmful to our federal employees and our national defense. In fact, we've seen an arbitrary 31 percent cut to defense spending between 2010 and 2016. And those cuts have hurt operations, maintenance, and readiness, making our country less safe. I promise to do all I can to work with other leaders in Congress to find a solution to the sequestration challenge.
I am always concerned about furloughs, hiring and pay freezes, restrictions on travel, and limited opportunities for career development that negatively impact workforce morale. In fact, recent results of OPM's annual Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) revealed that the morale of the workforce has been in a steady decline for several years. In this particular case, I was deeply concerned about the effect the freeze would have on our defense and national security workers. That is why I was pleased to see the Department of Defense exempted those supporting critical military missions and positions in shipyards and depots from the hiring freeze.
Congressional Public Service Caucus
I am a Co-Chair, along with my colleague Congressman Gerry Connolly (VA-11), of the Congressional Public Service Caucus and The Smart Contracting Caucus. Both of these bipartisan caucuses are committed to building public and congressional support for a well-trained, high-performing federal workforce. We will advance policies that will help the government attract and retain talented Americans. I look forward to working with my fellow Caucus members to ensure that lawmakers have the information they need to develop sound policy on federal workforce issues.
I am deeply frustrated with the spending habits in Washington. Just as families throughout the First District and America are making hard choices about how to manage their household budgets, Congress must also act both decisively and responsibly to address our nation’s growing deficit. Our economy continues to struggle, and I believe that Congress must commit to serious spending reform in order to get our economy back on track. By changing the federal government’s out-of-control spending culture, reducing burdensome regulations, and ensuring that taxpayers aren’t sending every penny of their hard-earned money to Washington, we can get our economy moving again.
I am committed to fighting against wasteful spending and to eliminating the fraud and abuse in Washington. We must return to the conservative principles of controlling spending, particularly when it comes to federal earmarks, commonly referred to as "pork barrel" projects. I have been a leader in Congress on earmark reform and support a moratorium on earmarks. We must reform this broken, wasteful process. I am a cosponsor of legislation which would require that any increase in the statutory debt limit be considered as a stand-alone bill and pass with a supermajority 2/3 vote. Furthermore, I have cosponsored legislation that would establish a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
As a member of the Values Action Team, I will continue to support pro-life, pro-family legislation. I will work in defense of parental rights, religious liberty, and the definition of marriage as a union between one man and one woman. Furthermore, I support efforts to curb internet pornography and obscenity.
The U.S. tax code is overly-complex and can be very frustrating. I support tax reform and I will continue to promote measures that reduce the overwhelming tax burden levied on the backs of American workers, their families, and small businesses. Our future lies not in the size of government, but in the people who drive this country’s prosperity: the entrepreneurs, the innovators, and those who work hard to achieve their American Dream.
I am a strong advocate for pro-growth policies that will help eliminate uncertainty and get investment dollars off the sidelines, creating more jobs for Americans. I believe we must invest in small businesses and provide them with the tools they need to prosper, create jobs and escape the burdensome and unnecessary regulations that hinder growth. Additionally, I believe the government must spend taxpayer dollars more wisely by addressing mandatory spending on programs such as Medicare and Social Security, without changing the benefits for those aged 55 and older, and eliminating other duplicative entitlement programs. I believe that only once we begin to achieve these goals can we start to put the brakes on out-of-control deficit spending in Washington.
Last Congress, I cosponsored the Fair Tax Act, which would repeal the income tax, the payroll tax, and estate and gift tax and impose a simple 23% national sales tax. In the 115th Congress, we have the opportunity to enact comprehensive tax reform and put in a place a simpler, fairer system that encourages savings, investment and economic growth.
Prior to my election to Congress, I spent more than two decades as a shellfish specialist monitoring water quality and environmental health issues in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. I am committed to the principle that our country's environment should be safeguarded for future generations. As a member of the House Committee on Natural Resources and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Task Force, I am working to preserve and protect the environment in a wise and effective manner.
Energy fuels our cars, powers our homes and sustains America's high standard of living. I believe that Congress must formulate a comprehensive U.S. energy policy that promotes affordable, safe, clean and dependable sources of energy. A responsible energy policy must include increased domestic energy production to reduce our dependence on politically unstable nations and instead promote high paying energy industry jobs in this country.
As a member of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus, I am also committed to promoting wind, solar, tidal/ocean, and geothermal energy. Clean, renewable energy will play an increasingly important role in our overall portfolio, and Congress should incentivize research and development in these areas.