"As we start to see more shovels in the ground, as we start to see more cranes in the air, we can start to point to that and say, 'Hey, that's what Democrats did for you,' " she said. She defeated Yesli Vega, an. [29], CNN political editor Chris Cillizza described Spanberger's remarks as "some hard truth" for the Democratic Party, adding that in order to succeed in the 2022 and 2024 elections, the party should "listen to the likes of Spanberger" instead of pushing for "the boldest possible progressive legislation". Jones doesnt let the tough reelection fight thats already brewing for Spanberger back home faze him, even as his team is still settling in at the Capitol. [29] The Washington Post digital editor James Downie criticized Spanberger's view, remarking that if a losing officeholder "couldn't manage to tie his or her Republican opponent to almost a quarter of a million COVID-19 deaths in the United States, a tanked economy or a dozen other policy fiascos, that's the candidate's fault. [58], Spanberger has called for a new version of the Federal Assault Weapons Ban that expired in 2004. She worked undercover her entire time at the Agency collecting intelligence, managing assets, and overseeing high-profile programs to combat terrorism and keep Americans safe. When I was a CIA officer we would have meetings and you dont know what people's politics are We were there to serve a mission that we were focused on that mission.. May it please the court, I am Roscoe Jones on behalf of the United States of America, Jones recited. Spanberger faced a close reelection contest against State Delegate Nick Freitas, who represents much of the congressional district's northern portion. Abigail Spanberger lives with her family in Virginia. Rep. Spanberger is also working to reduce premiums in the insurance marketplace and to lower out-of-pocket costs. [42], On February 1, 2023, Spanberger was among twelve Democrats to vote for a resolution to end COVID-19 national emergency. Vice-Chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., and other members of the Problem Solvers Caucus hold a news conference to show support for their bipartisan infrastructure bill, which was written by both Democrat and Republican senators and representatives at the US Capitol in Washington, DC., on Friday, July 30 . Send GMA your Why It Matters video about which issues inspires you to vote and explore our midterms coverage. she mused. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. She'll know how to fix things., You could fill a book with the eyebrow-raising Bush-isms of President George W. Bush. Remember Lincoln, going to his knees in times of trial and the Civil War and all that stuff. CIA Democrat Abigail Spanberger [Source: yahoo.com] Did they have outside help? I know the lingo. Abigail Spanberger, incumbent U.S. Representative Declined . Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal, who chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said the group is preparing an "executive action agenda" to present to the president following their own retreat. Note that the salary index for a given time period does not necessarily reflect exactly who is on staff at the present time. When she saw partisan politics and division threatening the country she dedicated her life to defend, Abigail decided to run for Congress. Spanberger defeated Brat in 2018. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. The two also sparred over issues like the recent Republican tax reform law. I will always love the Senate, Jones said. Postal Inspection Service. [59], Spanberger objected to Trump's travel bans from certain predominantly Muslim countries and argued that they would aid jihadist propaganda by allowing a portrayal of the United States as an anti-Muslim country. The Virginia Democrat and former CIA officer won reelection in a race that was considered a toss-up. "We continue to draw the contrast with Republicans who voted 'no' but want to take the dough," said Texas Rep. Veronica Escobar. Her current term ends on January 3, 2023. Postal Inspection Service. "Folks, you all know how much we've gotten done, but a lot of the country still doesn't know it," Biden said. [2], In 2002 and 2003, Spanberger taught English literature as a substitute teacher at the Islamic Saudi Academy in Northern Virginia. [51] In November 2020, Spanberger led a bipartisan effort to secure the 340B Drug Pricing Program against changes that would lead to significant increases in prescription medication costs. Fool me you can't get fooled again.. Representatives Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07), Mike Waltz (R-FL-06), and Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR-05) today introduced bipartisan legislation to increase transparency in the federal student loan process and to give borrowers additional tools to understand and decrease [], At Least 519 Protesters Have Been Killed by the Regime & More Than 19,000 Iranians Have Been Arrested Since the Death of Mahsa Amini In September 2022 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger joined a bipartisan, bicameral effort urging the Biden Administration to impose stricter sanctions against members of the Iranian Parliament or [], The U.S. House Committee on Financial Services Voted Unanimously to Pass the Congresswomans China Financial Threat Mitigation Act WASHINGTON, D.C. The U.S. House Financial Services Committee voted unanimously 40 to 0 to advance U.S. Representative Abigail Spanbergers bipartisan bill that would build up Americas response to emerging financial threats from the Chinese []. [35], Spanberger's committee assignments include:[36][37], Some commentators have characterized Spanberger as a centrist Democrat. [33][34] In the general election, Spanberger defeated Vega with 52.3% of the vote. In the weeks since she was named to the intelligence committee, Spanberger says she's already recognizing some of the names and programs in the classified materials she's receiving. "How do you make that real; how do you tell that story?" Now, shes a third-term Democratic congresswoman from Virginia who was just named to one of two committees that oversees the work of America's spy agencies. Theyre grossly overqualified, he boasted of the full-time staff of 17. Those did not trickle down to employees.. "That's why the big job in front of us is implementing the laws we passed, so people start to see it in their lives all the benefits that are there because you produced it for them.". Abigail Spanberger has always served her country and community. The next four years she was evaluated, physically and physiologically, and began to train for life undercover.I loved the idea of understanding people, places, concepts, concerns and large international questions, she said, describing her work. Ronald Reagan had this to say to a room full of logging industry officials when he was running for governor of California in 1966: A tree is a tree. Abigail Spanberger has served as the Democratic congresswoman for Virginia's 7th Congressional District since 2019. Chief of Staff - USDA-RMA. She argued that Democrats should watch Republican ads before deciding how to talk about issues and "not ever use the word 'socialist' or 'socialism' ever again". The degree of unity among House Democrats was in stark contrast to last year's retreat. In the U.S. House, Abigail serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Agriculture Committee. Strengthening Workforce Training & Apprenticeships Submitted Comments (Click here for meetings with SEC officials) Comments have been received from individuals and entities using the following Letter Type A: 31 B: 24 C: 6,254 D: 5 "Most of the intelligence community doesn't understand Congress and most of Congress doesn't understand the intelligence community.. She has voiced her support for stronger border security measures but opposes Trump's proposed wall. The days go by so quickly., The toughest days are probably MTRs motions to recommit, he said. House Democrats in competitive districts elected Virginia Rep. Abigail Spanberger on Tuesday to represent them in the caucus leadership . [50], According to FiveThirtyEight's congressional vote tracker, Spanberger voted with President Donald Trump 6.9% of the timeabout one seventh of the expected tally (49.1%) when factoring in the district's partisan leaning and general partisanship in Congress. I spoke with White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain yesterday and today about the urgency of this shortage. "If we did nothing nothing but implement what we've already passed and let the people know who did it for them, we win," Biden said during an energetic speech Wednesday as House Democrats kicked off their annual three-day retreat in Baltimore. [70], Spanberger is married to Adam Spanberger, and they have three daughters. The mission is I want to change the lives of ordinary people.. You have permission to edit this article. It's like it was like Special Olympics, or something." 30th July, 2021. Former long-shot Trump challenger and one-time Republican congressman Joe Walsh announced on Twitter Tuesday he voted for a Democrat for the first time for president, casting his ballot for Joe Biden. Following her love of country, public service, and languages, Abigail joined the CIA as a case officer. As a Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, she will continue to voice her unwavering support for U.S. diplomats, law enforcement, intelligence officers, and civil servants who work every day at home and abroad to identify dangerous threats, prevent tragedies, and save American lives. Democratic U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger held onto her seat Tuesday evening, per the Associated Press, beating back a challenge by Yesli Vega, a Trump-endorsed county supervisor who made national headlines for her inaccurate comments on pregnancies resulting from rape. [28] Calling the elections "a failure" from a congressional standpoint, she singled out Republican attack ads decrying "socialism" and the movement to "defund the police" as prime reasons the Democratic Party lost seats in swing districts. "Now, those battles are behind us we have come out the other side. LegiStorm is constantly adding new information on the people, places and reports in our database. This button displays the currently selected search type. ABIGAIL SPANBERGER IS ONE OF A GROWING MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WHO SAY " ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. [2] Spanberger was later a page for U.S. Senator Chuck Robb. After eight years, Spanberger had several choices for her next posting, from Kenya to Costa Rica. She applied for a job with the CIA and had a confidential offer by 2002. [43] She voted for a bill that included funding for border infrastructure, technology at ports of entry and more customs and border patrol agents. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., speaks about her past work as a Central Intelligence Agency officer and her recent appointment to the House Intelligence Committee during an interview at her congressional offices on Feb. 8 in Washington. She favors requiring background checks on private gun sales and supported a ban on bump stocks. [43], Spanberger supports the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). Their hope: flip the handful of seats needed to regain control of the chamber next year. Representatives Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07), Mike Waltz (R-FL-06), and Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR-05) today introduced bipartisan legislation to increase transparency in the federal student loan process and to give borrowers additional tools to understand and decrease [], At Least 519 Protesters Have Been Killed by the Regime & More Than 19,000 Iranians Have Been Arrested Since the Death of Mahsa Amini In September 2022 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger joined a bipartisan, bicameral effort urging the Biden Administration to impose stricter sanctions against members of the Iranian Parliament or [], Proudly Serving Virginias Seventh District. "You tell us what you need to help us understand the impact that it's having on all of your district and your folks, and we're going to get it done," Biden said. Why Republicans and Democrats will be watching this race on election night. C-SPAN, an acronym for Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network, is an American cable television network that offers coverage of federal government proceedings and other public affairs programming via its three television channels (C-SPAN, C-SPAN2 and C-SPAN3), one radio station and a group of. She began her career of public service as a federal law enforcement officer working narcotics and money laundering cases with the U.S. How many more do you need to look at?, Gerald Ford once said: If Lincoln were alive today, hed roll over in his grave., Abigail Spanberger spent almost a decade as a CIA operations officer. A vote for my opponent will be a vote for the Nancy Pelosi liberal agenda, he said. [43], Spanberger voted to allow U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to be notified when undocumented immigrants attempt to purchase firearms, and voted against the House budget in summer 2019 because it failed to acknowledge the growing national debt. Even before the attack [], Bipartisan Bill Would Give Borrowers Regular, Pertinent Information Related to Projected Payments, Accrued Interest, & Other Personalized Details WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger is an experienced leader and a deeply committed public servant who ran for reelection to Congress to expand economic opportunity for Virginia working families. examining federal efforts to prevent, detect, and prosecute pandemic relief fraud to safeguard funds for all eligible americans Virginians deserve strong access to quality, affordable health insurance, and Rep. Spanberger is fighting to expand healthcare coverage for everyone. Supporting 7th District Businesses & Entrepreneurs "As a former intelligence officer, I know that countries are watching us. Rep. Spanberger supports a national response that invests in preventing overdoses, expanding access to treatment, and supporting individuals in recovery from addiction as they seek to reclaim their health and well-being. In some ways, Abigail Spanbergers story parallels dozens of other first-time female candidates across the country this year: a successful, smart woman driven to get involved in politics for the first time after President Trump was elected and eventually inspired to take on her Republican congressman. Democrat running for U.S. Congress in Virginias 7th District. She was seen as one of the most vulnerable incumbents of the 2022 election cycle, with pre-election polls projecting a close race with Republican nominee Yesli Vega, a law enforcement officer endorsed by Governor Glenn Youngkin and former President Donald Trump. [2], Spanberger earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Virginia and a Master of Business Administration from a joint program between the GISMA Business School in Germany and Purdue University's Krannert School of Management. She began her career of public service as a federal law enforcement officer working narcotics and money laundering cases with the U.S. Note that the salary index for a given time period does not necessarily reflect exactly who is on staff at the present time. Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) on Friday called for new House leadership because of Speaker Nancy Pelosi's handling of legislation that would ban members of Congress from trading stock,. Congresswoman, 2019 - Present. She's someone that works hard and is focused on the mission. "I am already seeing a number of my Republican colleagues who voted against these historic pieces of legislation want to claim credit. Although Biden hasn't officially announced his reelection bid, it's widely expected he will seek another term, which means his fate and those of House Democrats are likely tied together. "At a minimum, your agency ought to provide parents with a clear timeline of when they can expect . Despite this, Spanberger ran for reelection in the seat. In 2014, Abigail left government service to begin a career in the private sector and bring her family back home to Virginia. Abigail Rindo is the narrative design director at King, the company behind popular mobile game franchises such as Candy Crush, Farm . "We just have a buffet of accomplishments to offer, and he just rolled them out in such a way that it can really resonate with the everyday person," Ohio Rep. Shontel Brown told NPR. [44][45], On January 31, 2023, Spanberger was among seven Democrats to vote for H.R.497:Freedom for Health Care Workers Act, a bill which would lift COVID-19 vaccine mandates for healthcare workers. [9], In 2014, Spanberger left the CIA and entered the private sector. I know the . [2], Spanberger defeated Republican incumbent Dave Brat in 2018, ending the Republican Party's 36-year hold on the district. Prince William County supervisor and former law enforcement officer Yesli Vega defeated five GOP opponents on her way to a tight 29-24-20 percent victory spread. In a statement to BuzzFeed News, Joe Pounder, the chief executive of America Rising, said, "America Rising . She was hired by Royall & Company (now EAB). "The President's actions violate his oath of office, endanger our national security, and betray the public trust", she said. Speaking in 2002 in Nashville, during the run-up to the invasion of Iraq, Bush had this to say about Iraqs threat to the United States: There's an old saying in Tennessee I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee that says, fool me once, shame on shame on you. And now we're having wonderful conversations about how to help the American people in their day-to-day lives. [50], As of June 2022, Spanberger had voted in line with Joe Biden's stated position 100% of the time. Abigail Spanberger, a congressional candidate, had a 12-year career with the CIA. She's running unopposed in her party for a third term, and there will be no. Virginia Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger told CNN Friday morning that she spoke with Klain twice in the last two days to discuss the shortage, saying that Klain told her the White House views . Obama later apologized. It still does.. In the past week, LegiStorm added: To see staff salaries for aides in the personal office of Rep. Abigail Spanberger, select a time period below. [10] In 2017, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe appointed her to the Virginia Fair Housing Board. She is a member of the Democratic Party.Spanberger is a former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer.. Spanberger defeated Republican incumbent Dave Brat in 2018, ending the Republican Party's 36-year hold on the district. Now, she's a third-term Virginia congresswoman who was just named to one of two committees that oversees the work of U.S.. "[43] During a Committee on Foreign Affairs meeting in 2019, Spanberger asked the Trump administration to reverse its isolationist policies, saying, "its in [the US's] national interest to reinforce our stature as a global leader on international environmental and energy issues. Democrats in Baltimore repeatedly talked about the need to make sure their constituents know who voted and didn't vote for federal dollars on infrastructure. Abigail Spanberger, a congressional candidate, had a 12-year career with the CIA. If Spanberger were to flip the seat, it would be a big win for Democrats. [30] Spanberger's remarks were disputed by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who noted that Democrats kept the House, and progressive Representative Rashida Tlaib, who said the Democratic Party should "study the results" before dismissing progressives who represent their districts. Spanberger, Kelly Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Award Congressional Gold Medal to Americans Who Served & Fought Bravely in WWII Prior to Americas Entry. She believes in stabilizing the Affordable Care Act and preserving its protections for the more than 1.3 million Virginians with pre-existing conditions. But I have never had this much fun on the Hill as Im having now., The Source for news on Capitol Hill since 1955. Abigail Spanberger Spanberger, a mother of three school-aged girls, has been juggling homeschooling, protecting her family from Covid-19, and protecting her district from the pandemic.. Rep. Spanberger knows that the United States today faces many foreign threats from its adversaries, and she believes that a strong diplomatic presence is a core component of our national security and must not be lessened or ignored. Message: I care. It may not be having the Cabinet or the president in your district every other week," New Hampshire Rep. Ann Kuster told NPR. They wrote that if the allegations were true, they amounted to "a flagrant disregard for the law" and "a threat to all we have sworn to protect. 32.52% of Virginia residents on Medicare use Medicare Advantage. He told voters in 1992: ''You cannot be president of the United States if you don't have faith. Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia, who's being targeted by the GOP as she runs for re-election in a competitive district, spotlights her efforts to lower gas prices. A few years later, during the 2016 presidential election, she started to discuss with her friends the possibility of running for office. In 2018, she became the first Democrat since 1968 to be elected to represent Virginias 7th Congressional district. "Those are the kinds of stories that people stop to think 'Oh, I have a better commute' or 'Oh, I'm working from home because I have better internet service.' [76], 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia District 7, 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia District 7, 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia District 7, Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit, Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry, Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific and Nonproliferation, Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, Energy, and the Environment, 2019 Speaker of the United States House of Representatives election, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, photo op in front of St. John's Episcopal Church, Women in the United States House of Representatives, "Abigail Spanberger's passion for languages led her to the CIA", "Virginia Election Results: Seventh Congressional District", "Spanberger narrowly defeats GOP challenger in closely watched House race in Virginia", "Candidate Conversation - Abigail Spanberger (D)", "Saudi School Dominates TV Ads in Race for Suburban Richmond Congressional Seat", "This former CIA officer says she can beat Virginia Rep. Dave Brat", "Former CIA Officer Abigail Spanberger is on a mission for Virginia's 7th District", Who are they? She grew up in Henrico County, Virginia, and is a proud graduate of the University of Virginia. Spanbergers career took her around the globe. Two Eau Claire natives, sisters Abigail and Rachel Rindo, have been working in the video game industry for a combined 17 years and now work for some of the biggest names in the business. She believes that an effective response involves working directly with community leaders, law enforcement officials, religious organizations, and healthcare professionals to build an actionable strategy to provide treatment, recovery, and wraparound services to everyone impacted by the opioid epidemic. Virginia Republican Police Chief Endorses Spanberger; Denounces Yesli Vega's False Comments on Rape-Related Pregnancy and her Defense of January 6th Insurrectionists. But Im sure there will be points of frustration probably for me and for them, frankly speaking.. [19] While Brat won eight of the district's ten counties, Spanberger dominated the two largest counties, Henrico and Chesterfield, by a combined margin of over 30,000 votes. She attended John Randolph Tucker High School.