Yesterday I voted YES on H.R. 6297, the Iran Sanctions Extension Act, to extend sanctions against Iran over the next decade. Iran – still the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism - has violated the Obama Administration’s nuclear agreement, and has continued to develop nuclear missiles and support acts of terrorism and terrorist groups. The Iran Sanctions Extension Act would be an important tool to counter Iran’s hostile activity, and to hold them accountable - something the current administration seems unwilling to do.

This piece of legislation passed the House 419-1, with almost unanimous support from across the political spectrum. It now goes to the Senate, and then hopefully to the President.

This announcement that the Huntington VA Medical Center has been selected as a priority site for a new Fisher House construction is great news for our region. The Fisher House Foundation is best known for a network of comfort homes where military and veterans’ families can stay at no cost while a loved one is receiving treatment.

I’ve visited the Huntington VAMC many times, and I know how committed their healthcare professionals and staff are to the mission of caring for our veterans. The addition of a Fisher House on-site will ensure that the families of our nation’s heroes will be able to support their hospitalized loved ones in person, and not have to worry about where they are going to stay or how they are going to pay.

Yesterday, I joined volunteers in Scioto County with the American Red Cross for a Veterans Day canned food drive. Local volunteers led the effort, beginning in August, to collect canned foods for local veterans, and yesterday all the items were distributed. They collected over 2,000 items for 100 veterans.

I was assigned one of the routes to deliver needed items to local in-need veterans. I'm certainly glad I had the chance to help out...but, there are others, pictured here, who also deserve thanks. They worked hard well in advance to make sure the day was a success. The veterans of Scioto County are grateful for your efforts...and, so am I.

I am truly humbled and honored that you chose me to represent Eastern and Southeastern Ohio in the U.S. House of Representatives. I will continue to work with anyone, of any political persuasion, who is committed to finding solutions to the challenges America faces. I never forget that I am here to serve you - it's not the other way around.

There are vitally important issues that must be addressed. We must seek to reform the Department of Veterans Affairs. Our national debt stands at over $20 trillion - a truly frightening amount. And, we must put a halt to the job-killing regulations and the war on coal that have done so much damage locally. I look forward to getting back to Washington next week to start working on these and many other important causes. The American people had their say, and now it's time to get to work on your behalf.

On this date in 1775, the Second Continental Congress passed a resolution calling for a force consisting of two Battalions of Marines to be raised to serve as landing forces for the recently formed Continental Navy. For the past 241 years, Marines stationed around the world have fought with honor and valor protecting and defending our freedoms. Happy Birthday to the Marine Corps...and Semper Fi.

A milestone was met in Monroe County this afternoon, as the groundbreaking ceremony took place for the new county jail. Sheriff Black and other county and local officials have been working a long time to make this project a reality. The current jail is only a holding facility, meaning that all prisoners are shipped out to neighboring counties. It’s been a major, and expensive, inconvenience for law enforcement and the county courts. Soon, that will no longer be an issue.

I was glad to join around 200 volunteers with the Retired Seniors Volunteer Program (RSVP) in Marietta yesterday afternoon to assemble over 50,000 meals to distribute to 9 different area food pantries. Today's efforts, and those done all year around by those involved with RSVP, make a big difference to the approximately 9,000 needy families in Washington County.

This weekend marks the start of the Ohio high school football playoffs…I was glad to make it out to a couple games around the area this season. Best of luck to the following schools from Eastern and Southeastern Ohio who qualified for the postseason, or have students from our district competing for them on the field: Barnesville, Bellaire, Bishop Rosecrans, Cambridge, Chesapeake High School, Fort Frye Football, Indian Creek Local School District, Ironton, Lisbon, Mooney, River, Shadyside Tigers Football, South Range, Southern, Springfield Local High School, Steubenville, Toronto, Waterford, and Wheelersburg Football.

I’m looking forward to seeing some deep playoff runs!

The 2017 Open Enrollment period for Obamacare begins today. For many, it won’t be a pleasant experience sorting through options (maybe more than one option if you are lucky) for the upcoming year. The average cost of a benchmark plan will increase by an average of 22% nationwide.

I’d like to hear about some of what you are learning about your plan and/or premium - bad news, price increases, size of your network, number of options, or even good news if you stumble on some. Though, the best news of all would be the repeal and replacement of this disastrous law, which I will continue to work toward.

Happy Halloween, everyone! I hope everyone has a great time going Trick-or-Treat tonight. Please enjoy yourselves...and, be safe. Our hometown of Marietta celebrated Trick-or-Treat last Saturday evening...some reports say over 700 children participated. I'm honored to live in a small town community that puts so much emphasis on safely observing Halloween.

Thursday evening was the 79th annual Belpre Area Chamber of Commerce (BACC) Dinner. The BACC brings together over 150 businesses, residents, and community leaders committed to creating a vibrant business community.

The keynote address was given by Lynne Fruth, the president of Fruth Pharmacy. She spoke about some of the many challenges her company faced – including a major fire in 1996 - and how they overcame them. The company was established in 1952, and there are now 29 Fruth Pharmacies, including one in Belpre. I’ve toured some of her pharmacies, so it was very interesting to hear from her. She was a great speaker.

Congratulations to all of the BACC award winners!

This is big news, and a preview of what a possible Hillary Clinton presidency would look like: ongoing impropriety, arrogance, and cover up. Hillary Clinton has no one to blame but herself. She was the one who recklessly decided to do an end run around State Department protocol by setting up a homebrew server that put her political privacy above our national security through which she sent and received classified e-mails.

A potential Commander-in-Chief must have many traits, one of the most important of which is being able to handle America’s secrets with the care and respect we expect - and in the way that our laws demand. It is my belief – and has been all along – that Hillary Clinton’s actions have disqualified her from being President of the United States.

Game 1 of the World Series is tonight between the Cleveland Indians and the Chicago Cubs. Let's go Tribe!

Congratulations to Harold Montgomery, who just celebrated 50 years in business on the 200 block of Second Avenue in Gallipolis. I stopped by his barber shop this morning to present him with an American flag, which I had flown over the U.S. Capitol specifically in his honor. The Montgomery Barber Shop had customers waiting for haircuts when I dropped by, which was no surprise. Congrats, Harold!

For many in Eastern and Southeastern Ohio, Friday night means high school football. Tonight is Senior Night at Meigs High School, as the Marauders and the Wellston Rockets meet up for a Tri-Valley Conference game. Meigs Head Coach Mike Bartrum (currently a Meigs County commissioner and former NFL player) invited me to toss the coin before kickoff. The weather isn't ideal, but it isn't keeping the fans away. Nice to meet so many of you before the game this evening.