Spanberger, 43, is part of a small group of former intelligence officers to have been elected to Congress. It was watching that example that led me to decide that I too wanted to step forward and run.. $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. She decided ultimately to leave the CIA. The "Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act" Would Allow Flavored and Unflavored Whole Milk in Participating Schools WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger helped reintroduce a bipartisan bill to allow unflavored and flavored whole milk to be offered in Virginia's school cafeterias. [6] In the early 2000s, she was a postal inspector, working on money laundering and narcotics cases. She's since won two more close races and been raised as a possible candidate for Virginia governor. [60] In the 2016 presidential election, Trump defeated Hillary Clinton with 50% of the vote to her 44% in Spanberger's congressional district. CIA Democrat Abigail Spanberger [Source: yahoo.com] Did they have outside help? I know the language. Obama later apologized. [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. Abigail Spanberger, incumbent U.S. Representative Declined . I know the culture, Spanberger told The Associated Press in a recent interview in her office. 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. 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. Another element is uniting around Biden himself. Jayapal told reporters that while "nobody is surprised that Biden was not my choice in the first election for the primary," the CPC and the administration have formed an "incredibly strong partnership.". Retrieved March 18, 2020. "I spoke with White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain yesterday and today about the urgency of this shortage. I bowled a 129. [50], As of June 2022, Spanberger had voted in line with Joe Biden's stated position 100% of the time. Spanberger, a former CIA case officer who unseated former Rep. Dave Brat (R-VA) in 2018, has been in a heated battle to retain her swing seat, with nonpartisan handicapper Cook Political Report. In 2014, Abigail left government service to begin a career in the private sector and bring her family back home to Virginia. That's especially true now as lawmakers demand answers about classified documents found in the private possession of two presidents and the Biden administration's response to a suspected Chinese spy balloon. March 3, 2023. 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. His team wrestles with every vote, even when time is tight and the night has been long. "[62] Spanberger later announced that she would vote in favor of impeachment. President Barack Obama is highly regarded as an orator, but he sometimes stumbles when he veers away from the Teleprompter. Expanding Access to Affordable Healthcare Coverage 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. [53] She has introduced legislation that would require lawmakers, as well as their spouses and dependent children, to place assets in a blind trust while in office. 214 Massachusetts Avenue NE Washington, DC 20002 (202) 548-5280 Visit our sister site: The Heritage Foundation [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. 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. She's running unopposed in her party for a third term, and there will be no. She was seen as one of the most vulnerable incumbents of the 2022 election cycle, with pre-election polls projecting a close race with Republican nominee Yesli Vega, a law enforcement officer endorsed by Governor Glenn Youngkin and former President Donald Trump. She was hired by Royall & Company (now EAB). Note that the salary index for a given time period does not necessarily reflect exactly who is on staff at the present time. Spanberger also co-sponsored the Elijah Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, which grants Medicare Part D the power to negotiate prescription prices directly with drug companies. She began her career of public service as a federal law enforcement officer working narcotics and money laundering cases with the U.S. Fool me you can't get fooled again.. You can cancel at any time. Representatives Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07), Mike Waltz (R-FL-06), and Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR-05) today introduced bipartisan legislation to increase transparency in the federal student loan process and to give borrowers additional tools to understand and decrease [], At Least 519 Protesters Have Been Killed by the Regime & More Than 19,000 Iranians Have Been Arrested Since the Death of Mahsa Amini In September 2022 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger joined a bipartisan, bicameral effort urging the Biden Administration to impose stricter sanctions against members of the Iranian Parliament or [], The U.S. House Committee on Financial Services Voted Unanimously to Pass the Congresswomans China Financial Threat Mitigation Act WASHINGTON, D.C. The U.S. House Financial Services Committee voted unanimously 40 to 0 to advance U.S. Representative Abigail Spanbergers bipartisan bill that would build up Americas response to emerging financial threats from the Chinese []. The smear campaign, which attempted to tie her to terrorism, was based on an SF-86 application she completed to obtain security clearance, which was inappropriately released in breach of privacy rules. She's someone that works hard and is focused on the mission. [29] The Washington Post digital editor James Downie criticized Spanberger's view, remarking that if a losing officeholder "couldn't manage to tie his or her Republican opponent to almost a quarter of a million COVID-19 deaths in the United States, a tanked economy or a dozen other policy fiascos, that's the candidate's fault. I will always love the Senate, Jones said. Spanberger, a former CIA case officer who unseated former Rep. Dave Brat (R-VA) in 2018, has been in a heated battle to retain her swing seat, with nonpartisan handicapper Cook Political Report. She applied for a job with the CIA and had a confidential offer by 2002. I take my commitment to protecting the people who are still doing the job that I once did and the foreign nationals who are risking their lives as well to provide information the U.S. government very seriously.. She is a member of the Democratic Party. Abigail Spanberger May 2020 - Nov 2020 7 months. House Democrats in competitive districts elected Virginia Rep. Abigail Spanberger on Tuesday to represent them in the caucus leadership . "I know the lingo. . WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger today released the following statement after speaking one-on-one with White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain about the ongoing formula shortage in Virginia and across the country. 11/11/22 3:30 PM ET News Five midterm surprises in the House "We just have a buffet of accomplishments to offer, and he just rolled them out in such a way that it can really resonate with the everyday person," Ohio Rep. Shontel Brown told NPR. Spanberger is a former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer. That language added to a bipartisan background check bill may have angered some progressives and dismayed party leadership, but Jones said hes always thinking of whats right for Spanbergers 7th District, which cuts a long vertical path through central Virginia, west of Richmond. She won with 51% of the vote to Freitas's 49%. Lyndon B. Johnson once had this to say about Gerald Ford: Gerry Ford is so dumb he can't fart and chew gum at the same time. Ford was a congressional leader while Johnson was president. Spanberger's background in intelligence and her moderate politics representing a swing district south and west of Washington will be assets on the committee, Goss and Hurd said. Please subscribe to keep reading. 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. The Virginia mother of three told Good Morning America during a sit-down interview in her kitchen this summer that she always had a desire to serve her country, an interest in government, and a love of languages. Those did not trickle down to employees.. 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. You have permission to edit this article. She said she does not support "sanctuary cities" but also called the term "a campaign slogan a lot of people get caught up in." Postal Inspection Service. 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. Due to a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted. She assumed office on January 3, 2019. She has voiced her support for stronger border security measures but opposes Trump's proposed wall. A few years later, during the 2016 presidential election, she started to discuss with her friends the possibility of running for office. Chief of Staff - USDA-RMA. During a recent debate, Brat repeatedly accused Spanberger of being a Nancy Pelosi-style Democrat and too liberal for the district. 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. To see staff salaries for aides in the personal office of Rep. Abigail Spanberger, select a time period below. 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. She attended John Randolph Tucker High School. Occupation. [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. Adapting to the tempo. As an operations officer, Spanberger worked on cases ranging from counterterrorism to nuclear proliferation. 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. In the weeks since she was named to the intelligence committee, Spanberger says she's already recognizing some of the names and programs in the classified materials she's receiving. Spanberger's chief of staff says House is like a startup Roscoe Jones Jr. relishes chamber's "fast pace" after move from the Senate Roscoe Jones Jr. compares his move from Senate aide to House. "In its attempt to balance safety from contaminated product and safe infant development through formula access, FDA is achieving neither objective," Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) wrote in a recent letter criticizing both the FDA's oversight efforts and its "near-shutdown" of facilities. [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. Legislative Director to Rep. Abigail Spanberger at U.S. House of Representatives Washington, District of Columbia, United States 1K followers 500+ connections 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. The next four years she was evaluated, physically and physiologically, and began to train for life undercover.I loved the idea of understanding people, places, concepts, concerns and large international questions, she said, describing her work. "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.' She is an alumnus of the Paul Miller Reporting Fellowship at the National Press Foundation. LegiStorm is constantly adding new information on the people, places and reports in our database. Rep. Abigail Spanberger is an experienced leader and a deeply committed public servant who ran for reelection to Congress to expand economic opportunity for Virginia working families. Moving to northern Virginia, Rep. Abigail Spanberger's (D-Glen Allen) politically marginal 7th CD produced a general election Republican challenger last night. [52], In January 2020, Spanberger sponsored the Public Disclosure of Drug Discounts Act, which passed the House unanimously. 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. Although Biden hasn't officially announced his reelection bid, it's widely expected he will seek another term, which means his fate and those of House Democrats are likely tied together. Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia, who's being targeted by the GOP as she runs for re-election in a competitive district, spotlights her efforts to lower gas prices. [74][75] She is a Protestant. Even before the attack [], Bipartisan Bill Would Give Borrowers Regular, Pertinent Information Related to Projected Payments, Accrued Interest, & Other Personalized Details WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. . 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. FREDERICKSBURG, VA - The campaign of Rep. Abigail Spanberger a former federal law enforcement officer and CIA case officer released its latest ad, "Shocked." "Overall I am not a supporter of the Green New Deal", she said. Pressed on details, she gives few. In 2018, she became the first Democrat since 1968 to be elected to represent Virginias 7th Congressional district. Spanberger was a postal inspector before joining the CIA in 2006. Even so, Jones father went on to serve in the Marines during the Vietnam War. Now, shes a third-term Virginia congresswoman who was just named to one of two committees that oversees the work of U.S. spy agencies. Jones doesnt let the tough reelection fight thats already brewing for Spanberger back home faze him, even as his team is still settling in at the Capitol. @RepSpanberger" After eight years, Spanberger had several choices for her next posting, from Kenya to Costa Rica. 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. ", During his speech, Biden brought out a mock-up of a sign for an infrastructure project in Baltimore to rebuild a tunnel. Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger narrowly held onto her seat in Virginia on Tuesday, defeating Republican Yesli Vega in a contest both parties saw as an early bellwether in the battle for the. Abigail Spanberger, a congressional candidate, had a 12-year career with the CIA. In the U.S. House, Abigail serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Agriculture Committee. Copyright 2023 NPR. [Podcast: These Democratic women dont want to be show ponies]. Staff Sergeant Gonell, Aquilino (@SergeantAqGo) October 31, 2022 . The relationship between Congress and the U.S. intelligence services can be uneasy and is often adversarial. "I am already seeing a number of my Republican colleagues who voted against these historic pieces of legislation want to claim credit. ABIGAIL SPANBERGER IS ONE OF A GROWING MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WHO SAY " ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. Spanberger is challenging Republican incumbent Dave Brat and the prospect of flipping the seat is a long-shot. 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. 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. She applied for a job with the CIA and had a confidential offer by 2002. Brown said this is all part of the strategy to keep the impact of Democrats' votes in Washington top of mind for their constituents. She favors requiring background checks on private gun sales and supported a ban on bump stocks. Shes spoken to too many families who have lost loved ones to addiction and overdose. 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. 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. Here's what to watch, Monroe County names new chief diversity officer, Consumer advocates and environmentalists try to block RG&E, NYSEG rate increases, City to spend COVID relief dollars to replace ozone-depleting ice machinery at BlueCross Arena, Muler parties like it's 2003 on melodic, moody new album 'Get Well', CHOW HOUND: What's happening in Rochester's dining scene. "As a former intelligence officer, I know that countries are watching us. [43], Spanberger has called for the passage of the USMCA trade deal negotiated between the Trump administration, Mexico, and Canada. Walsh's home state of Illinois is voting today. A former federal law enforcement officer and CIA officer, Rep. Spanbergers career in public service has focused on protecting American families and economic interests from a wide range of domestic and foreign threats. Last updated on Jan 30, 2021. [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. He told voters in 1992: ''You cannot be president of the United States if you don't have faith. But as a former spy for the Central Intelligence Agency, her life has been anything but typical. Reinforcing the Importance of Diplomacy & Our Relationships with U.S. Abigail Spanberger spoke with voters at a campaign event in June in Midlothian, . Memo: Emmers son has new job in Congress, As the pandemic ebbs, Minnesota lawmakers and their staff resume taking free trips. 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. Yes, she said, she had disguises and a cover story. She defeated Yesli Vega, an. She believes that an effective response involves working directly with community leaders, law enforcement officials, religious organizations, and healthcare professionals to build an actionable strategy to provide treatment, recovery, and wraparound services to everyone impacted by the opioid epidemic. Message: I care. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Allies 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. Abigail Spanberger has always served her country and community. [63], On June 1, 2020, Spanberger tweeted criticism of Trump's reaction to the George Floyd protests, a series of protests against police brutality that began in Minneapolis on May 26. But I have never had this much fun on the Hill as Im having now., The Source for news on Capitol Hill since 1955.