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 worked undercover her entire time at the Agency collecting intelligence, managing assets, and overseeing high-profile programs to combat terrorism and keep Americans safe. ", During his speech, Biden brought out a mock-up of a sign for an infrastructure project in Baltimore to rebuild a tunnel. What I find particularly repugnant is the fact that they are, in any way, trying to link me to terrorism. Abigail Spanberger has always served her country and community. I talk in broad brush terms about what it is that I did, because thats all I am permitted to do There are at times when I say I wish I could talk about something in a little bit more detail, but thats just never a path that Ill go down, she explained. '', President Bill Clinton cut to the heart of the matter during his grand jury testimony in the Monica Lewinsky affair in 1998 when he infamously said: It all depends on what the meaning of the word is is.. She is working in the U.S. House to find additional ways to support military families as their loved ones serve abroad and as they eventually transition to civilian life. Before vaulting to the House, Jones spent just under two years with Feinstein and served as senior counsel to Sen. Cory Booker both Stanford grads like him. If you want to be a plumber, you've got to know about plumbing, he said. Trading in his role as Dianne Feinsteins legislative director, he moved over to the House, accepting a job as chief of staff for newcomer Abigail Spanberger. If your intention was to visit my official House of Representatives website, please, Checks payable to "Spanberger for Congress". Miles Taylor, Chief of Staff to the United States Secretary of Homeland Security (2019) (Forward) Christine Todd Whitman, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (2001-2003) and Governor of New Jersey (1994-2001) (Forward) I bowled a 129. "We continue to draw the contrast with Republicans who voted 'no' but want to take the dough," said Texas Rep. Veronica Escobar. Not a lot of people would do that, Jones said. 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. To see staff salaries for aides in the personal office of Rep. Abigail Spanberger, select a time period below. "It may be a lower-level official that's coming in talking about 'let's have a roundtable with your town officials to talk about how to apply for rural broadband funding.' Democrat running for U.S. Congress in Virginias 7th District. The congresswoman said that voters sent Biden to the White House "to be normal and stop the. Reinforcing the Importance of Diplomacy & Our Relationships with U.S. Additionally, she is actively seeking innovative, bipartisan legislative solutions to help combat rising rates of maternal mortality in the United States, particularly within historically underserved and disadvantaged communities. [Podcast: These Democratic women dont want to be show ponies]. After serving in CIA, lawmaker now has role overseeing it. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., arrives as Democrats hold elections for their new leadership for the next Congress, at the Capitol in Washington, Nov. 30, 2022. She is a member of the Democratic Party. Not only will they see their health care premiums rise, their benefits will be cut while Abigail Spanberger stands idly by. 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. She began her career of public service as a federal law enforcement officer working narcotics and money laundering cases with the U.S. 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 . "Most of the intelligence community doesn't understand Congress and most of Congress doesn't understand the intelligence community.. Thank you for visiting my campaign website. Barbara Sprunt is a producer on NPR's Washington desk, where she reports and produces breaking news and feature political content. We discussed tariff relief, initiating new and immediate imports, and the possibility of using the Defense Production Act. Her top priorities include strengthening our countrys national security and fighting for Virginia families by lowering prescription drug costs, creating jobs, and cleaning up Washington. Yes, she said, she had disguises and a cover story. [33][34] In the general election, Spanberger defeated Vega with 52.3% of the vote. New delegates to the Virginia Assembly, like Danica Roem, the first openly transgender legislator in the country, made national headlines. Pressed on details, she gives few. After earning her MBA, Rep. Spanberger began her public service . Marc Polymeropoulos, a fellow former operations officer who retired after suffering symptoms consistent with Havana syndrome, says Spanberger brings an insider's knowledge of the challenges faced by the CIA and other agencies. 11/11/22 3:30 PM ET News Five midterm surprises in the House Retrieved March 18, 2020. [61], On September 23, 2019, Spanberger joined six other freshman House Democrats with national security backgrounds in calling for an impeachment inquiry into Trump. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester speaks with Rep. Abigail Spanberger ahead of President Biden's speech during the annual House Democrats Issues Conference in Baltimore, Md. I have been practicing. [70], Spanberger is married to Adam Spanberger, and they have three daughters. Those votes can be tricky because we dont have very much time.. Whether they choose to go to college or not, Rep. Spanberger believes that all Virginia workers should have access to the education and training they need to achieve career success, earn a good living, and keep the Commonwealth the best state in the country for business. It may not be having the Cabinet or the president in your district every other week," New Hampshire Rep. Ann Kuster told NPR. WASHINGTON As former CIA Director David Petraeus recently told the House Intelligence Committee about the needs of the agency's workforce, one of the committees youngest members flashed a knowing smile and began to nod. Last updated on Jan 30, 2021. 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. [54][55], Spanberger has called climate change "one of the greatest and most imminent threats to our economy, our national security, and our way of life" and promised to "stand up to attacks against science. In 2017, a record number of women won in local elections in Virginia, making the state one of the first to experience and reflect a wave of energy among Democrats, female voters and female candidates in the country. In 2017, three local state seats within Spanbergers own congressional district flipped from Republican to Democrat and some of the volunteers making phone calls and sending letters in her campaign offices described volunteering on local races in 2017 and then heading straight into helping Spanberger next. "At a minimum, your agency ought to provide parents with a clear timeline of when they can expect . Rep. Spanberger supports giving Medicare the power to negotiate drug prices, so that more senior citizens in the Commonwealth do not have to choose between putting food on the table or affording their life-saving medications. It gave me chills. President Barack Obama is highly regarded as an orator, but he sometimes stumbles when he veers away from the Teleprompter. Spanberger has said she thinks the Democratic Party needs new leaders and that she would not back Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-California, as the next Speaker of the House if Democrats won the majority. As an example, she points to visits in her district from Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg showing new bridges under construction and White House infrastructure coordinator Mitch Landrieu highlighting a new interstate interchange. 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". Any plan released by this administration must make sure that formula is stocked on our shelves for all Virginia parents, crack down on price gouging, and increase imports of formula from abroad. ABC News Send "GMA" your Why It Matters video about which issues inspires you to vote and explore our midterms coverage. And being the one to go out and get the answers.. The relationship between Congress and the U.S. intelligence community can be uneasy an. She's running unopposed in her party for a third term, and there will be no. 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. 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. [8] She said she gathered intelligence about nuclear proliferation and terrorism. "We're going so far as to print signs to let people know who is bringing this project and why it's happening," he said to applause. Protecting Womens Healthcare Access The bill requires pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), who manage prescription drug benefits for health insurance companies, to publicize the rebates, discounts, and price concessions they negotiate, via a website hosted by the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. The mission isnt just Go, Democrats, go, he said. Adapting to the tempo. I was able to get involved in those races and watch really great people step forward and stand up for what they believe in and want to be a part of the political process, Spanberger said. "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.". Rep. Spanberger is working in Congress to increase investment in vocational training and apprenticeship programs for young people that lead to better-paying jobs, support the growth of small businesses in our communities, and prepare the next generation as they enter a competitive and rapidly changing global economy. [5] When she was 13, her family relocated to the Short Pump area in Henrico County in Virginia, outside Richmond. Fool me you can't get fooled again.. Abigail and her husband Adam are parents to three daughters. So far, Spanberger, who unseated Republican Dave Brat last fall in a historically red Virginia district, has broken with her party several times on motions to recommit. Subscribe to receive news alerts and updates on issues important to you and your family. [7] On June 12, 2018, Spanberger defeated Dan Ward in the Democratic primary election with 73% of the vote, receiving more votes than any other candidate in the Virginia primaries that day. "Getting this legislation to President Biden's desk and signed into law was one of my top priorities this . Abigail Spanberger spent almost a decade as a CIA operations officer. She represents a central Virginia seat that went for President Donald Trump by 6 points in 2016 - and where she appears to have barely eked out a victory by. I really started getting more politically involved after the 2016 election, watching how partisan and how angry our political conversations became, she said. Following her love of country, public service, and languages, Abigail joined the CIA as a case officer. March 3, 2023. Abigail Spanberger, a congressional candidate, had a 12-year career with the CIA. [15][16] Her campaign outraised Brat's. "I am already seeing a number of my Republican colleagues who voted against these historic pieces of legislation want to claim credit. We live in a stream of history.. Postal Inspection Service. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. [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. Even so, Jones father went on to serve in the Marines during the Vietnam War. . Abigail Spanberger ( Democratic Party) is a member of the U.S. House, representing Virginia's 7th Congressional District. In 2014, the family moved back to Henrico County. Kuster, who said she lives in "purple world," said members have been in close talks with Cabinet officials and the White House about how to work together to make intricate legislation like the infrastructure bill accessible to their constituents. $174,000 (2023 House of Representatives Default Member Salary salary), Alternate Names: Abigail Ann Davis, Abigail Anne Davis Spanberger, Federal and Congressional Communications Dashboard, Banking lobbyist comes back to Sen. Kennedy, Ex-Rep. John Sullivan (R-Okla.) registers as first-time lobbyist, Trent Lott's grandson finds his way to the Senate, Senate Budget Republicans add judicial-advocacy lobbyist, Sen. Whitehouse adds environmental lobbyist in Budget Committee climate-change fight, LegiStorm has published preliminary staff lists for nearly all members-elect, LegiStorm adds second-quarter house salaries, expenses and vendor data, Congressional Record search and alerts are now available, LegiStorm expands privately funded congressional travel search capabilities, The GOPs Ukraine supporters begin to summon their voice, D.C. [46][47], Although not a member of Congress when it passed, Spanberger criticized the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act supported by President Donald Trump, arguing that its permanent tax cuts for corporations would increase the national debt. Brown said this is all part of the strategy to keep the impact of Democrats' votes in Washington top of mind for their constituents. We have each others backs.. I know because I wrote up those reports you know, theres fighting with these two factions and this is what it means.'. [52], In January 2020, Spanberger sponsored the Public Disclosure of Drug Discounts Act, which passed the House unanimously. Memo: Emmers son has new job in Congress, As the pandemic ebbs, Minnesota lawmakers and their staff resume taking free trips. Rep. Spanberger told The New York Times that voters didn't elect President Biden to govern like FDR. Abigail Spanberger spent almost a decade as a CIA operations officer. 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 . Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? [10] In 2017, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe appointed her to the Virginia Fair Housing Board. [50], As of June 2022, Spanberger had voted in line with Joe Biden's stated position 100% of the time. The Republican political action committee, known as the Congressional Leadership Fund, ran ads claiming she worked at a school that produced some of the worlds most dangerous terrorists. Jones doesnt take them lightly. [57], In February 2023, during the Russo-Ukrainian War, Spanberger signed a letter advocating for President Biden to give F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. Remember Lincoln, going to his knees in times of trial and the Civil War and all that stuff. [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. Send GMA your Why It Matters video about which issues inspires you to vote and explore our midterms coverage. Those did not trickle down to employees.. In Congress, Rep. Spanberger is committed to providing our servicemembers with the compensation, training, equipment, and benefits they need to successfully carry out their vital missions and protect their fellow citizens. Another element is uniting around Biden himself. Rep. Spanberger released a statement : Spanberger Votes with Bipartisan Majority to Condemn World's Worst Dictators, Calls for House GOP Leadership to Also Bring Bills to the Floor to Address. Rep. Abigail Spanberger's 2020 Report Card Representative from Virginia's 7th District Democrat Serving Jan 3, 2019 - Jan 3, 2025 These statistics cover Spanberger's record during the 116th Congress (Jan 3, 2019-Jan 3, 2021) and compare her to other representatives also serving at the end of the session. Brat beat his last Democratic challenger by 15-percentage points, and the district went for President Trump in 2016 by a margin of 6.5 points, though Democrat Hillary Clinton won the state overall. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Spanberger, who spent years in law enforcement herself, offered a model on how to do that in a recent half-day tour that demonstrated her support for the Culpeper Police Department speaking to. I've committed adultery in my heart many times. Although most of the conference was marked by strong support of the president, there was a brief interruption on Thursday, when news of Biden's decision not to use his veto power to block a GOP-effort to repeal D.C.'s new crime law broke during a press conference with the Congressional Black Caucus. It still does.. "[69] She also said the Democrats had not sufficiently recognized that "inflation is a problem". His first challenge? 32.52% of Virginia residents on Medicare use Medicare Advantage. To ensure our communities stay protected, Rep. Spanberger is fighting to reaffirm the importance of our countrys relationships with its key allies, including member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). [50] In November 2020, she described reducing the cost of prescription drugs as "the top priority of families in [her] district". They live in Glen Allen, Virginia. Abigail Rindo is the narrative design director at King, the company behind popular mobile game franchises such as Candy Crush, Farm . . Eleanor Holmes Norton of D.C. The reality is other countries perceive that and they perceive that in a way that can't be good, she said. This year, staff for both the national Republican and Democratic Parties say they will be looking to this race on Election Night as potentially an early sign of how the night will unfold across the country. She is an alumnus of the Paul Miller Reporting Fellowship at the National Press Foundation. Abigail Spanberger spent almost a decade as a CIA operations officer. 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. Due to a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted. Abigail Anne Spanberger (ne Davis, August 7, 1979) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative from Virginia's 7th congressional district since 2019. Representatives Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07) and Trent Kelly (R-MS-01) today introduced bipartisan legislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Americans who served in World War II with the Canadian and British militaries prior to Americas declaration of war. Corporations got permanent tax cuts, permanent tax cuts, Spanberger responded. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. She won with 51% of the vote to Freitas's 49%. Abigail Spanberger, incumbent U.S. Representative Declined . Abigail Spanberger has always served her country and community. 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. "Now, those battles are behind us we have come out the other side. It was like going from General Motors to a startup, he said. by The Hill staff. [12][13][14] She made the final decision to run after the House of Representatives voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Freitas carried eight of the district's ten counties, as Brat had done two years earlier. "[31][32], After the 2020 United States redistricting cycle, Spanberger's district was radically redrawn, and no longer included her home in Henrico County. Spanberger, the daughter of a federal law enforcement officer, worked as an investigator with the U.S. 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. [17], In August, the Congressional Leadership Fund, a super PAC closely aligned with Republican Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, conducted a smear campaign against Spanberger. [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. RICHMOND, Virginia - Congressmen Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07) and Donald McEachin (D-VA-04) touted the recently-passed $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, highlighting funds for Virginia's infrastructure and the benefits the measure will bring to Virginia workers. President Jimmy Carter made a nation cringe when he told Playboy magazine: "I've looked on a lot of women with lust. She applied for a job with the CIA and had a confidential offer by 2002. And we're making that connection to your precious tax dollars, hard at work making a difference in your life. It's like it was like Special Olympics, or something." She began her career of public service as a federal law enforcement officer working narcotics and money laundering cases with the U.S. Lowering Prescription Drug Costs Like others with access to America's top secrets, she will be called on to review intelligence matters in private and explain what she can to fellow lawmakers and the public. [74][75] She is a Protestant. [60] In the 2016 presidential election, Trump defeated Hillary Clinton with 50% of the vote to her 44% in Spanberger's congressional district. Allies It was his father who shaped his sense of public service and taught him to go where the problems are. His parents went to segregated schools in Meridian, Mississippi, and his father marched across the bridge in Selma, Alabama, on Bloody Sunday, as white state troopers wielded their nightsticks against proponents of civil rights. She attended John Randolph Tucker High School. After years of working for an incumbent senator holding a safe seat, Roscoe Jones Jr. was ready to build something from scratch. [35], Spanberger's committee assignments include:[36][37], Some commentators have characterized Spanberger as a centrist Democrat. When you put capital in the hands of the American worker, the American worker knows what to do with it, Brat said during their debate. You have permission to edit this article. [2], Spanberger defeated Republican incumbent Dave Brat in 2018, ending the Republican Party's 36-year hold on the district. "As a former CIA officer, I know this playbook, and I know the president's actions are betraying the very foundation of the rule of law he purports to support, the U.S. Constitution", she said. she mused. She decided ultimately to leave the CIA. Spanberger is challenging Republican incumbent Dave Brat and the prospect of flipping the seat is a long-shot. She applied for a job with the CIA and had a confidential offer by 2002. She stressed that she'd supported appropriation bills that maintained or increased federal. "No, no. In an interview, Goss described his experience with overseeing intelligence while in Congress as frustrating., The tensions are greater than when I was there, he said, blaming polarization both in Congress and within the spy agencies. 214 Massachusetts Avenue NE Washington, DC 20002 (202) 548-5280 Visit our sister site: The Heritage Foundation Rep. Spanberger believes that protecting womens access to reproductive healthcare is a social and economic necessity. After college, Abigail moved to Germany and earned her MBA from a dual-degree German-American program between the GISMA business school and Purdue University. "As a former CIA officer who worked terrorism cases, I find it particularly disgraceful that they would try and make that some sort of leap or claim when I was in fact a long-term substitute teacher for a bunch of kids, she said in response. She's someone that works hard and is focused on the mission. [21], A number of sources claimed Spanberger was the first Democrat to win this seat since 1970, when four-term Democrat John Marsh retired and was succeeded by Republican J. Kenneth Robinson. Abigail grew up in Henrico County. When she saw partisan politics and division threatening the country she dedicated her life to defend, Abigail decided to run for Congress. Senator Chuck Robb. Strengthening Workforce Training & Apprenticeships After dipping his toe in all three branches of government, Jones said hes found the right place to serve: The Hill is a special place. Look, I love the Senate. ", Before President George W. Bush was mangling the English language, it was his father, President George H.W. They co-wrote a Washington Post opinion piece explaining their support for an impeachment inquiry, writing: "Congress must determine whether the president was indeed willing to use his power and withhold security assistance funds to persuade a foreign country to assist him in an upcoming election." "[56], She described the Green New Deal proposed by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as a "bold compilation of ideas meant to address global climate change" but criticized it for allegedly including unrelated policy proposals and not identifying specific resolutions to the problems that it identifies. 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.. Also, aides for any relevant committees, leadership offices, campaign committees and leadership PACs will not be included here, nor do we have data for unpaid staff such as interns or people who are "detailed" from the GAO, executive branch or private sector. Biden's cuts to Medicare Advantage will cost seniors hundreds more per year, but Abigail Spanberger is silent. Copyright 2023 NPR. Walsh's home state of Illinois is voting today. In a statement to BuzzFeed News, Joe Pounder, the chief executive of America Rising, said, "America Rising . Spanbergers blue and white yard signs have a single, small star a subtle reference to her work in the agency but apart from that she actually does not reference her work much when campaigning, though she does emphasis service, honor, and American values in her speeches. Her race was catapulted into the national spotlight over the summer when a Republican PAC obtained and released an un-redacted version of one of her security clearance forms from the U.S. Spanberger, Kelly Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Award Congressional Gold Medal to Americans Who Served & Fought Bravely in WWII Prior to Americas Entry. Proudly Serving Virginias Seventh District. Biographical Data, Abigail Spanberger. [64][65][66] Spanberger took issue with Trump after police used tear gas and rubber bullets on peaceful protestors and a priest during the George Floyd protests to clear a path so that he could have a photo op in front of St. John's Episcopal Church. She supports maintaining federal funding to Planned Parenthood and other providers that provide essential healthcare screenings and preventive services to both women and men. We can't let that happen.". [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.