Robert was glad to get back to the district this week and talk to constituents across Central and Southside Virginia. On Monday, Robert held office hours in Danville and Charlottesville so that constituents could come meet with him to discuss any issue or concern. While in Danville, Tiffany Holland of the Register & Bee came to visit Robert to discuss two of his top priorities as a Member of Congress: constituent services and job creation for Virginia’s 5th District – the full article can be found HERE.

You are invited to follow Robert’s Route 15 tour on Facebook and Twitter as we will be making regular updates with pictures from the tour. Check out his pages to see if you’re in any pictures!

Robert spent his Tuesday on Route 15 stopping in Keysville, Red Oak, Wylliesburg, and Chase City. His first stop of the day was at Appomattox River Manufacturing for a tour of their Keysville facilities which plans to expand to employ over 150 Southern Virginians. Moving through Keysville, Robert then went on a walk through the Downtown Keysville Business strip stopping in local businesses and talking with constituents along the way.

Robert talked with Garet  Bosiger and Jon Helmuth at Appomattox River Manufacturing- the current and former owners of the plant.

For his final stop in Keysville, Robert stopped in for lunch at Sheldon’s Restaurant, owned by locals, Grover and Jenness Sheldon.

Continuing down Route 15, Robert headed south to Wylliesburg, Red Oak, and Chase City where he made stops by Morgan Lumber—a sustainable harvest lumber production and sawdust facility—Weston’s Grocery, Jackson Hardware, Cardinal Homes, and Star Scientific to find out what is on the minds of Southside constituents. Along his visits, he heard repeated concerns with EPA regulations that have imposed excessive burdens on 5th District small business owners and their various industries. In order to help 5th District Virginians and to ensure that these burdens are lightened for our small business owners, Robert has cosponsored H.R. 2250, the EPA Regulatory Relief Act of 2011.

Another common theme along his Route 15 travels was the growing national debt and deficit and the effect it is having at home in the 5th District. At Cardinal Homes, Robert met with Bret Bernache and discussed his efforts in Washington to reduce the debt and deficit and create jobs so that we can get the housing market back on track. In order to help stabilize our housing market and get 5th District Virginians working, Robert introduced H.R. 2440, the Market Transparency and Taxpayer Protection Act -- legislation that will reform Government Sponsored Enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac, and enhance our secondary mortgage market while potentially saving taxpayers billions of dollars. 

During the Keysville Business Strip Tour, Robert stopped in at Green Front Furniture

 Robert began his day in Farmville with breakfast at Merk’s Place, followed with a series of morning interviews. He made in-studio appearances and spoke on the air with Francis Wood at WFLO and Larry Armes at WVHL. He also sat down with Ken Woodley at the Farmville Herald where he discussed the importance of removing the federal government as a roadblock to job creation in order to get 5th District Virginians back to work and ways in which we can work together to solve the problems that are currently facing our nation.

Talking with constituents at Merk’s in Farmville

Following interviews, Robert walked along downtown Farmville’s Main Street, visiting with constituents and local business owners in the area and then headed over to the STEPS Center for the Small Business Development Council’s Southern Virginia Small Business Expo, where he gave closing remarks to over 100 small business owners from across Southside.

Robert speaking at the Southern Virginia Small Business Expo

He then headed over to Cumberland for a tour of Cumberland Building Supply – a family owned business which has been in operation for over 30 years, and then on to Courthouse Café in Buckingham to grab a bite to eat and chat with Buckingham residents.

Following lunch, Robert enjoyed visiting with those who will serve and protect our great nation at Fork Union Military Academy. There, he met with Admiral J. Scott Burhoe, who gave him a tour of campus and introduced him to students and staff at the Academy.

Chatting with Fork Union constituents at the Cadet Diner

Robert capped off the Route 15 Tour by attending and speaking at the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank’s 30th Anniversary, where he was able to thank Blue Ridge Area Food Bank supporters for all that they do to help alleviate hunger in the 5th District and in the Commonwealth.

The Route 15 Tour was a great success as Robert was able to meet with many different constituents, small business owners, and families throughout the area. Please be sure that your thoughts and concerns you shared with Robert along his Tour about creating jobs, getting our fiscal house in order, and removing the government as a roadblock to economic growth in the 5th District will remain with him as he heads back to Washington next week on your behalf.

Please keep in touch with Robert for updates on what is going on in Congress and throughout the 5th District at hurt.house.gov and on Facebook and Twitter.