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Each month, I record a video report that recaps what we've been working on the previous month. Video and text of May's Monthly Video Report are available below. You may view the video by clicking the image or by clicking here.
“Hi, I’m Robert Hurt. Thank you for tuning into our Video Report for the month of May.
“Today we are at the United States Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Virginia. This Memorial honors the service and sacrifices of the men and women of the United States Air Force and its predecessor organizations. Over 54,000 Airmen and women have died in combat while serving in the Air Force and this memorial serves as a site for Americans to come and pay their respects to our fallen brave men and women as well as those currently protecting our freedom so that we may continue to live in the most free and prosperous nation on earth.
“Earlier this month, I had the privilege of visiting with local veterans from the Lynchburg area during their visit to Washington, where they toured the World War II, Korean, and Vietnam Veterans Memorials. I always value the opportunity to hear directly from our local veterans, and I am humbled by the opportunity represent these heroes who have given up so much in order to serve and protect us. Our servicemen and women and their families make tremendous sacrifices to protect the freedoms we hold dear, and our nation is grateful for all they do for the cause of liberty. This month we were once again reminded of these lessons, as nearly 450 National Guard soldiers from the Lynchburg-area prepared to be deployed to serve overseas. These heroes renew our everlasting gratitude for those who preserve the innumerable blessings we often take for granted. We owe them steadfast support, strong and steady leadership, resources that protect them and enable them to win the fight, and the quality services they deserve when they return home.
“With these commitments in mind, this month the House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for this year. The NDAA is the principal vehicle for setting the nation’s defense and military policies – which include troop pay and benefits, the provision of resources, and the management of the Department of Defense – and it is an imperative piece of legislation to ensure our men and women in uniform are provided every means necessary to carry out their missions. I remain steadfast in my pledge to support our veterans and active service members in a way befitting of the immense commitment they make to our great nation. I hope the Senate will join us in passing this bill and send it to the president's desk for signature.
“Back home, we began the month by meeting with our local first responders throughout Central and Southside Virginia who work together to protect the two cities, 21 counties, and 38 towns that make up Virginia’s Fifth District. It is an honor and a privilege to have such dedicated members of the community working to ensure our safety, and as a small token of our gratitude, we dedicated the first week of May to recognizing their commitment and sacrifice. We owe it to these brave men and women to adopt policies that support first responders and encourage more people to take part in these vital services. In February of last year I voted in favor of one such initiative, the Protecting Volunteer Firefighters and Emergency Responders Act, which was subsequently signed into law by the President. This commonsense bill serves to protect our emergency services volunteers from mandates for employees written within the President’s burdensome health care law. I stand committed to continuing to fight to protect Americans and Virginians from the harmful effects of the President’s health care law, especially those who so selflessly dedicate themselves to protecting our communities.
“As we close, I would like to once again congratulate our 2016 Congressional Art Competition winner, Lydia Wentzel, a senior at Liberty High School in Bedford. I thank all of the students who participated for their exceptional entries and for contributing to the artistic culture of our communities throughout Virginia’s Fifth District.
“Please remember, if we may ever be of service to any of our constituents in any way, please contact us at one of our district offices or at our Washington office. We can always be reached at our website at hurt.house.gov -- where you can also sign up for regular legislative updates. And don't forget to join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
“Once again, thank you for tuning in to our May monthly video report.”
Sincerely,
" [signature graphic: Robert Hurt]
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