From Farmville to Washington: Hold Power Accountable, Defend the Vulnerable

Thank you for showing real backbone this past month. Your September hearing questions to Secretary Kennedy weren’t just polite probes: they were pointed, unflinching calls for accountability on COVID-19 deaths, vaccine effectiveness, and the impact of Medicaid cuts on Virginia’s rural hospitals and community health centers. Seeing you press for concrete action rather than empty talking points was reassuring and exactly the kind of leadership Virginians deserve. I especially want to thank you for your August visit to the Farmville Detention Center. That wasn’t a photo-op; it was bold, necessary oversight. Meeting directly with Kilmar Abrego Garcia and engaging with ICE on the facility’s treatment of immigrants shows that you’re willing to step up where so many others avoid tough conversations. Your actions signal that human dignity matters and that abuse and neglect in detention centers won’t be swept under the rug. I urge you to continue this courage. Please push to investigate the safety of Virginians who have been deported illegally. Your voice and influence could make a real difference for people whose lives are on the line and whose stories are too often ignored. Thank you for taking a stand, asking hard questions, and acting boldly this month. Virginians notice, and we’re counting on you to keep turning oversight into real, meaningful change.