Hundreds of constituents lined up to greet Rep. Eugene Vindman Tuesday afternoon during the opening of his Fredericksburg district office.
But Vindman, a Democrat who’s been in office for just over three months, made a point to single out two whose stories have impacted him during his short time on Capitol Hill.
First, there’s Ray.
Ray, Vindman explained, is an Army veteran like the congressman who recently sought medical care at the new Veterans Affairs clinic in Spotsylvania County. However, he wasn’t able to receive it due to funding cuts that have resulted in the $350 million facility — the largest of its kind nationwide — being staffed at one-third capacity.
“So Ray has got to go down to Richmond to get the services he needs,” Vindman said. “That’s not government efficiency, in my opinion.”
Then, there’s Shannon.
A mother of three, Shannon’s middle child has a genetic condition that necessitates 20 daily medications and round-the-clock care. Both she and her husband work and have medical insurance, Vindman said, but the family relies on Medicaid to fill the rather expansive gaps in their coverage.
“Those are the costs that are at stake right now, and those are the folks that I’m fighting for,” he said. “And it’s a fight against extreme policies that are coming out of Washington, D.C. Folks like Ray and Shannon are my priority. My team are fighting for them.”
That team includes 17-full full-time staff members, two of whom will work out of the office at 1701 Fall Hill Avenue; Vindman’s other district office is located in Prince William County. Vindman said Tuesday that they’ve helped to close out 377 constituent cases, returning $630,000 to “friends and neighbors across the 7th district.”
To date, Vindman has co-sponsored 52 pieces of legislation and introduced three on his own, including two bipartisan bills “that I’m very excited about getting across the finish line,” he said.
Tuesday’s ribbon cutting was attended by Fredericksburg Mayor Kerry Devine, who gave opening remarks, as well as Del. Joshua Cole (D-Fredericksburg) and city councilors Jon Gerlach, Jannan Holmes and Susanna Finn.
Devine cited Vindman’s recent roundtable with Fredericksburg-area officials about cell-phone-free schools as an example of his dedication to local issues.
“He’s promised to be a responsive and effective advocate for the needs of our community, including trying to manage the chaos occurring at the federal level for many residents who have been loyal, hard-working federal employees,” she said of the congressman.
Vindman, who cautioned officials on both sides of him to “watch your hands” as he wielded an oversized pair of scissors for the photo op, said that ribbon cuttings such as Tuesday’s inherently symbolize hope.
“I’ve got a tremendous amount of hope for our community for Fredericksburg for the entire region and so my commitment to you is I will fight for you every day on Capitol Hill,” he said.
