The first full week of the 119th Congress opened with the election certification of one president, and ended with the state funeral of another. I also signed my oath of office, marking the official start of my first full term in Congress. 

The pomp and circumstance of these occasions underscored the extraordinary responsibility underlying the words of the oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic and well and faithfully discharge the duties of office. For me, that oath includes a promise to focus each day on how to help people and solve problems, advance the priorities that matter most to my constituents, and advocate for Virginia’s Fourth District. I shared some of these priorities with 13News Now, which you can watch here.

Keep reading to see what you may have missed last week.

THE WEEK IN WASHINGTON

Honoring the Life and Legacy of the Late President Jimmy Carter

Last week the nation paused to mourn the passing of President Jimmy Carter and honor the life and legacy of a man widely admired for his decency, dignity, and compassion for all.

I was four years old when Jimmy Carter became the 39th President of the United States. As I became aware of him, I was always struck by his kind demeanor. So much so, that at seven, I invited him to our house for dinner. Rather than mailing the letter, my father decided to keep it. It is now one of my most treasured memories. 

As a member of Congress, I have built on the foundation President Carter laid as a public servant and private citizen. His work to fight racial discrimination, expand opportunities for women, protect human rights and the environment, champion energy efficiency and sustainability, and foster peace has tangibly impacted countless lives. Forty-five years after inviting him to dinner, I joined the nation in honoring President Carter as he laid in state in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda and at his state funeral service. I shared my reflections on these incredibly meaningful experiences, his life and legacy with the Progress Index in an op-ed you can read here.

House Republicans Kick Off 119th Congress Stoking Anti-Immigration Sentiment and Undermining Due Process

One of the first bills House Republicans brought to the floor for a vote exploited the tragedy of Laken Riley’s murder to stoke xenophobia. Currently, any undocumented immigrant who is arrested or convicted of a felony can be detained without bail and deported. The Laken Riley Act goes even farther to mandate detention and deportation of any undocumented immigrant charged with or arrested for burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting, regardless of innocence or guilt. This means that anyone accused of minor theft — not convicted, just accused — risks detention and deportation. The bill gives broad power to state attorneys general to sue to block all visas to people from countries such as China, India and Russia that do not fully cooperate with the United States in accepting deportees. I voted against this extreme overreach that undermines due process, which ultimately passed the House on a vote of 264 to 159.

THE WEEK IN THE DISTRICT

Honoring Those Who Exemplify the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Over the weekend, I attended the annual Nu Omicron Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and Willie J. Bradley Foundation Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast and Legacy Awards. This annual event honors individuals who exemplify the legacy of Dr. King through their own lives in several categories. I was honored to receive the 2025 Legacy Award for Political Affairs. 

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