US Representative

Robert Wittman Biography

Biography

Born on February 3, 1959, in Washington, D.C., Robert J. Wittman represents Virginia's 1st congressional district. He pursued higher education with a Bachelor of Science from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1981, followed by a Master of Public Health from the University of North Carolina in 1990, and a Ph.D. from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2002. His career began within the Virginia Department of Health as a field director in the division of shellfish sanitation. Wittman's entry into public service included serving on the Montross Town Council from 1986 to 1996, where he was mayor from 1992 to 1996. He later served as a member of the Westmoreland County Board of Supervisors and was elected chairman in 2004. Furthermore, he was a delegate in the Virginia House of Delegates for a term before becoming a congressman.

Wittman was initially elected to the United States Congress in a December 2007 special election to fill the seat left by Jo Ann Davis's passing. He has since been re-elected multiple times, serving continuously in Congress since then.

In the House of Representatives, Wittman serves on several key committees, including the Armed Services Committee, where he influences military and veterans' affairs, and the Natural Resources Committee, focusing on issues related to the environment and energy. He is also a member of the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee and the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party.

As for his legislative initiative, Wittman has sponsored and co-sponsored various bills that reflect his political orientations. Recently, he co-sponsored the Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2023 (HB24), which aims for increased audit transparency regarding the Federal Reserve. Moreover, he has shown his support for the firearm industry by co-sponsoring the Firearm Industry Non-Discrimination Act (HB53), asserting that the government should not engage in contracts with entities that discriminate against firearm trade associations or businesses that deal significantly with firearms.

Wittman has also been involved in fiscal responsibility efforts, particularly reflected in his sponsorship of the No Budget, No Pay Act (HB208), which mandates that Congress members will not receive salaries if the chamber fails to agree on a budget resolution by a specific date. His sponsorship of other measures like the Adoption Information Act (HB215) and the Organ Donation Referral Improvement Act (HB330) indicates a commitment to social issues related to family planning and health care.

From a political ideology perspective, Wittman's legislative agenda reveals a conservative stance, focusing on issues like financial discipline in government, protection of the firearm industry, and conservative values in family planning and health. His support for military matters and his role in committees that oversee defense policy further solidify his alignment with traditional Republican values.

Wittman has made his home in Virginia and continues to actively participate in legislative duties, working on behalf of his constituents while navigating the complex landscape of American politics.