STAFF REPORT

WASHINGTON, D.C.
Southampton County’s new congressman, A. Donald McEachin (VA-04) has been recommended by the House Democratic Steering Committee to serve on the House Armed Services Committee for the 115th Congress.

“It is a true honor and privilege to serve as the voice of the fourth Congressional District on the House Armed Services Committee,” McEachin stated via a press release from his office on Wednesday morning.

According to the release, the congressman believes it is important to have Virginia represented on the Armed Services Committee because of the large number of veterans and military members and their families in Virginia, and in the fourth Congressional District.

One of McEachin’s top priorities in Congress is to improve the lives of military veterans and their families. He also highlighted that the Defense Department has a large economic impact in the state, creating many jobs.

“When we talk about our members of the military, their families and our veterans, we need to go beyond the very important discussion of planes, bullets, bombs and ships,” McEachin said. “We need to discuss and improve the quality of life for our military personnel and our veterans.

According to House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, he knows first-hand how the work-life balance of an active member of the military needs to be a priority.

“Congressman Donald McEachin is a proud son of an Army veteran and a fierce champion of America’s servicemembers, veterans and military families,” Pelosi said. “As the only Virginia Democrat serving on the Armed Services Committee, Congressman McEachin will continue to serve his constituents, including the Fort Lee community, and all Americans with integrity, energy and strategic intelligence.”

The House Armed Services Committee has jurisdiction over general defense policy, ongoing military operations, the organization and reform of the Departments of Defense and Energy, counter-drug programs, acquisition and industrial base policy, technology transfer and export controls, joint interoperability, the Cooperative Threat Reduction program, Department of Energy nonproliferation programs, and detainee affairs and policy.

Virginia’s fourth Congressional District, recently re-drawn by a federal court, now includes all of Charles City, Colonial Heights, Dinwiddie, Emporia, Greensville County, Hopewell, Petersburg, Prince George, Richmond, Southampton County, Surry County, Sussex County, as well as parts of Chesapeake, Chesterfield, Henrico and Suffolk.