This is a Moms Clean Air Force exclusive interview with Congressman Scott Rigell from Virginia:
What is unique about protecting Virginia’s resources?
I truly believe we live in the most beautiful district in the country. The rivers and the Chesapeake Bay make our region the incredible place it is to raise a family, provide a strategic home for our military commands, and serve as a tourist destination for people from all over the world. They also provide a tremendous opportunity to grow our local economy and make Hampton Roads a better place to live.
As a parent and grandparent are you worried about the effects of climate change on your children and the children of Virginia?
As a father and grandfather, of course I worry about the long term effects of many challenges facing us today: the unsustainable debt our nation is carrying, the threat we face globally from those who don’t share our values, and the impact our actions or inactions will have on our natural resources. We have a moral obligation to leave our children and grandchildren with clean air, clean water, and clean soil – and a nation that is on a stable fiscal path. We can address all of these issues only if we come together and embrace principled compromises based on common ground initiatives that are actionable, measureable, and hold people accountable.
Why is a bipartisan effort so important and how can these efforts be achieved in our politically polarizing culture?
Republicans and Democrats share the goal of leaving our children and grandchildren a healthy planet. This requires us to have a defined plan to restore the Bay and address climate change issues such as sea-level rise, which is having a direct impact on Norfolk and other regions in Hampton Roads. Hiding our heads in the sand won’t fix the real challenges we face. As a region, we are in this together. Our Chesapeake Bay Advisory Board and our annual Chesapeake Bay Forums provide opportunities to discuss local concerns and real solutions that I can bring to Washington.
Is there anything you’d like to share that is important for Moms Clean Air Force members to know?
The entire Virginia delegation works extremely well together and meets regularly to discuss the issues of importance to you and the Commonwealth. Apparently, this is rare in Congress, but there is something to say about the “Virginia Way.” Civility is not weakness.
Scott Rigell was elected to represent Virginia’s Second Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives in November 2010 and is serving in his third term. With strong bipartisan support, the House and Senate passed Rigell’s Drywall Safety Act of 2012, which was signed into law by the President in early 2013. This legislation sets chemical standards for domestic and imported drywall; establishes remediation guidelines for disposal of all drywall; and expresses a Sense of Congress that China must be held accountable for the damage this product has already caused in our community and across America. Rigell and his wife are the proud parents of four grown children: Lindsey, Mallory, Justus and Shannon.They are delighted to have two fine sons-in-law and three grandchildren, Parks, Reese, and Cade.