Every day that I go to work, I make it my goal to give the people in our community a voice in Congress. There's nothing I take more seriously than my duty to listen to the people I represent and to act on their concerns in Washington.

This week I had the opportunity to work on numerous different issues impacting our community and to advance the will of the people. Here are just a few examples:

• I had two opportunities to make the case for robust funding to clean up our waterways. First, I testified before the Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development. The next day, we held a Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee hearing on the role of federal agencies in water infrastructure. As Vice Chair of this subcommittee, you can count on it being my priority to address this issue.
   
• I helped introduce a bill to ensure that all post-9/11 Purple Heart recipients who are honorably discharged are able to take advantage of Post-9/11 GI Bill funding to get an education. Learn more about that bill, and how the Post-9/11 GI Bill helped me after I was injured, by clicking here.
   
• Congress also took action this week to secure our national defense by passing a $578 billion defense appropriations bill with huge bipartisan support, 371 to 48. As a 12-year Army veteran injured fighting for the country I love, I know as well as any how important this funding is to keep our country safe.
   
• I spoke on the House Floor about the recent scourge of threats against Jewish Community Centers. We must do more to combat anti-Semitism at home and abroad, which is why one of my first acts of Congress was joining the Bipartisan Taskforce to Combat anti-Semitism. Moving forward, I'm exploring opportunities to take a leading role on bipartisan efforts to prevent these horrific acts.
   
• Last but certainly not least, I've been collecting feedback on the plan that was released this week to repeal and replace Obamacare. On my website you’ll find a way to provide feedback and to share your personal experience with Obamacare – good or bad. This feedback is absolutely critical to moving our nation’s health care system in a direction that increases choice, lowers costs and protects access to care.