Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01) released this statement regarding the shutdown of the federal government: “I am here, ready to work. My offices both in D.C. and the district are open and I want the constituents of the First District to know that myself and my staff are here and ready to answer any questions. Over the next few days, I will be working tirelessly with my colleagues to resolve this."

Legislation recognizing six Virginia tribes: the Chickahominy, the Eastern Chickahominy, the Upper Mattaponi, the Rappahannock, the Monacan, and the Nansemond-has passed Congress and is on its way to the President for his signature. Many of these include descendants of Pocahontas’ Virginia Powhatan tribe Kaine and Warner worked with Democratic and Republican colleagues to ensure that the bill made it through to final passage. These tribes had received official recognition from the Commonwealth of Virginia, but had not received federal recognition, which will grant the tribes legal standing and status in direct relationships with the U.S. government.

Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative has opened applications for area public, private or home-schooled high school sophomores or juniors for the annual National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) Youth Tour, June 10-14, 2018, to see government in action.

The Prince William Board of County Supervisors recently received an update from the county's Department of Transportation on the status of projects to show how the county is doing in reaching the mobility goal of the current Strategic Plan.

Citizenship classes for residents of Prince William County, Manassas City, and Manassas Park begin the week of March 5, 2018, and run through the week of May 28, 2018.

Stephanie Cornnell of Nokesville is one of nine Virginia farmers who will join Farm Bureau producer members from across the nation in shaping policies important to farmers and ranchers at the 2018 American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention Jan. 5-10 in Nashville, Tenn.

On October 6, 2017, the Trump administration issued Interim Final Rules (IFRs) that would allow any employer to deny contraception coverage to its employees. Attorney General Mark Herring and fellow state attorneys general filed suit in federal court challenging President Trump's move to roll back the contraception coverage mandate.

Currently, the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 allows certain servicemembers to transfer all or some of their unused education benefits to their spouse or dependent children. The EARNED Act would expand that eligibility to any active duty or retired member of the Armed Forces who has at least 20 years of active-duty service.