Ben Cline - Virginia 6th Congressional District

Ben Cline

Ben Cline’s values were shaped growing up in the Shenandoah Valley. He graduated from Lexington High School in 1990, received his B.A. degree from Bates College, and earned his law degree from the University of Richmond. Introduced by mutual friends while Ben was in law school, Ben and his wife Elizabeth married in 2007 and are raising their daughters in Botetourt County. Prior to his election to Congress, Ben worked as an attorney, first serving as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney in Harrisonburg City and Rockingham County, and then opening a private practice with offices in Lexington, Amherst, and Harrisonburg. In 2002, Ben was elected to represent the 24th House District in the Virginia General Assembly. While in the House, Ben made a name for himself by taking on the status quo in Richmond – never failing to champion common sense, conservative legislation that challenged the establishments of both the Republican and Democratic parties. As Chairman of the Conservative Caucus, Ben was at the forefront of protecting our liberties and conservative values. From helping to stop massive tax hikes to crafting budget cuts to Virginia’s bloated bureaucracy, Ben was at the center of the resistance against the push for bigger and unaccountable government. Ben has a reputation of holding those in power accountable – even in his own party – and fighting to clean up bureaucratic waste and the political cronyism that grips our system. Upon his election in 2018 to the House of Representatives for the Sixth District of Virginia, Ben was placed on the House Judiciary and Education and Labor Committees. He hit the ground running and was the first freshman Republican to successfully pass legislation which was signed into law. Concluding his first legislative session, ratings from congressional observers and scorecard groups have shown that Ben has kept his campaign promises and continued his record of fiscal responsibility and adherence to the Constitution. Citizens of Waynesboro may contact Ben's local office in Staunton at (540) 885-3861 or visit the office directly at 117 S Lewis Street, Suite 215.

Serving The Community

Since taking congressional office in January 2019, Representative Cline has sponsored or cosponsored nine bills which have become law and was the first freshman Republican to sponsor legislation which was signed into law.

Sponsored the Small Business Reorganization Act which was signed into law. The law streamlines existing bankruptcy procedures and provides new tools to increase a small business’ ability to achieve a successful restructuring.

In 2019, Ben kept his campaign promise to be accessible and to listen to his constituents so that he could carry their voice to Congress by holding a town hall meeting in every city and county in the Sixth District! He also visited countless organizations and businesses within the district to hear their concerns.

Named Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and Labor’s Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Human Services. The subcommittee has jurisdiction over issues relating to employment, welfare reform programs, human services programs, Community Services Block Grants, nutrition programs, child abuse and domestic violence issues, and civil rights among other areas of focus. Ben is the only freshman Republican to serve as a Ranking Member on the Education and Labor Committee.

Joined over 100 Members of Congress and nearly 50,000 Americans in a pledge to oppose any legislation which would "Defund the Police."

United By A Common Goal

While serving in the Virginia General Assembly, Ben made a name for himself by taking on the status quo in Richmond – never failing to champion common sense, conservative legislation that challenged the establishments of both the Republican and Democratic parties.

One of only 29 House Members named a "Taxpayer Super Hero" by the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste.

Ben Cline’s voting record concluding his first year in office earned him high marks from several congressional observers and scorecards including the Susan B. Anthony List, FreedomWorks, and Heritage Action for America which judge votes cast by members of Congress on their adherence to conservative and constitutional principles.

Works across the isle - Teamed with Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips to establish a 48-hour period for politicians and their staff to look through the text of bills before they go to a vote, update the Lobbying Disclosure Act, which has not been updated in more than 10 years, and to consolidate government data centers and require federal agencies to keep an eye on software purchases and resources to reduce unnecessary costs, as well as require documents be electronically sent to the National Archives and Records Administration to streamline requests and data access.

Joined his colleagues in introducing the Freedom From Regulations Act, which will reduce bureaucratic red tape and lessen the burden on the American people.

Ben Cline Sponsored legislation

Common Legislative Activities

As he has done throughout his career, Ben has worked to reach across the aisle and introduce several pieces of legislation that could realistically be passed in both Chambers of Congress and signed into law by the President. Two areas in which Republicans and Democrats can often agree are on issues supporting Veterans and reforming the federal government, which is why he sponsored the below bipartisan bills:

H.R. 4433, the Veterans Entrepreneurship Act expands the options under which Veterans can access their earned GI Bill benefits to open or purchase a small business.
H.R. 4434, the Ensuring Accountability in Agency Rulemaking Act requires all rules proposed by federal agencies, except in limited circumstances, to be signed and issued by an individual appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate - thus limiting the power of federal bureaucrats.
H.R. 4866, the Federal Insurance Office Elimination Act seeks to eliminate a duplicative federal agency created by Dodd-Frank and returns regulatory power to the states.
H.R. 4867, the Data Centers and Government Records Oversight Act implements a three-pronged approach to establish better governance and oversight regarding Federal technology practices, thus saving the taxpayer money and making bureaucracies more efficient.

Supporting Veterans

Throughout his tenure in Congress, Ben has striven to support Veterans by advocating for legislation that honors the service and sacrifice of military personnel and their families. A few of the most consequential pieces of legislation he has championed for Veterans relate to burn pits, suicide prevention, health care options, Blue Water Navy, the widow’s tax, Reserve and National Guard bankruptcy, and opening up membership into the American Legion for previously disqualified veterans.

H.R. 3224, the Deborah Sampson Act eliminates barriers to care and services that many women Veterans face and would help ensure the Department of Veterans Affairs addresses the needs of women Veterans who are more likely to face homelessness, unemployment, and go without needed health care. (Signed into law)
H.R. 1448, the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement a pilot program to provide canine training to Veterans diagnosed with PTSD as an element of an integrative health program. (Signed into law)
H.R. 2974, the Military Spouse Hiring Act expands the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) to include the hiring of a qualified military spouse.
H.R. 3674, the Vet Center Support Act directs the VA Secretary to submit to Congress a report on mental health care furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs in certain States to ensure our Veterans are being properly cared for.
H.R. 2192, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2021 ensures that applicable individuals who resided, worked, or were otherwise exposed to government-provided tap water that was contaminated with harmful chemicals, found at levels ranging from 240 to 3,400 times levels permitted by safety standards, at Camp Lejeune from August 1, 1953, to December 31, 1987, could obtain appropriate relief from harm.

Securing our Border

President Biden inherited a southern border from President Trump that was secure. Unfortunately, since taking office, the Biden Administration has worked to open the border, not secure it. Our communities are less safe because the President has stopped building the wall, brought back Catch and Release, and did away with the Remain in Mexico policy. This has incentivized illegal immigration, and to date, at least 1.9 million illegal immigrants have unlawfully crossed our border in the last twelve months. It’s simple, border security is national security. Ben has supported several bills to combat President Biden's radical border agenda.

HR 1496, Sarah's Law requires U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain an alien who is unlawfully present in the United States and has been charged with a crime that resulted in the death or serious bodily injury of another person.
HR 413, the SAFE For America Act eliminates the diversity immigrant program, which makes immigrant visas available solely to individuals from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States.
HR 4593, the Securing Our Border States Act establishes a block grant program to enable southwest border States to construct barriers along their borders with Mexico.
HR 1259, the REMAIN In Mexico Act requires the Department of Homeland Security to implement the Migrant Protection Protocols as outlined in the January 25, 2019, memo titled Policy Guidance for Implementation of the Migrant Protection Protocols.

Standing for Life

All life is precious, and throughout his career Ben has remained a voice for the voiceless and a vocal advocate for the unborn. Sadly, over the past year, we have seen the Democrats fight tooth and nail to expand the practice of abortion, all the while attempting to have your tax dollars pay for such procedures. However, rest assured, my Republican colleagues and I are pushing back against their pro-abortion agenda. Below are several pieces of legislation Ben has supported to Stand For Life:

H.R. 18, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act prohibits the use of federal funds for abortions or for health coverage that includes abortions.
H.R. 28, the Protecting Life in Crisis Act prohibits the expenditure for an abortion of Federal funds authorized or appropriated for preventing, preparing for, or responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
H.R. 619, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act amends title 18, United States Code, to prohibit a health care practitioner from failing to exercise the proper degree of care in the case of a child who survives an abortion or attempted abortion.
H.R. 541, the Defund Planned Parenthood Act provides for a moratorium on Federal funding to Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc.
H.R. 534, the Protecting Life in Foreign Assistance Act restricts the availability of Federal funds to organizations associated with the abortion industry.

Advocating for Farmers

Our Nation’s farmers and ranchers continue to weather every storm, working through supply chain disruptions, and ensuring we have a safe and healthy food supply from the farm to the table. Ben is committed to defending the Sixth District farm families and want to see these operations continue on for generations to come, which is why he joined the newly established Congressional FFA Caucus. This Caucus will serve as a collective group of U.S. Representatives dedicated to issues related to the next generation of agriculture leaders and students pursuing careers in agriculture, food, natural resources, and related sciences. Along with supporting our next generation of agriculturalists, Ben has been busy advocating for our local meat processors and livestock producers; bringing more choices to our students’ school nutrition options; and working to provide access to resources, like broadband, for our rural areas. Here are a few key pieces of legislation he has supported on behalf of our farmers:

H.R. 4140, the Butcher Block Act rebalances the cattle market by easing regulatory barriers and offering U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) meat processing grants for small processors looking to expand or add shackle space.
H.R. 1861, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2021 amends the National School Lunch Act to allow school districts that participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) to serve flavored and unflavored whole milk.
H.R. 2244, the Flexible Financing for Rural America Act allows member-owned cooperatives and small broadband and voice providers the ability to refinance specific Rural Utilities Service (RUS) loans and waive all associated fees, resulting in saving providers millions per year in debt payments that can be passed on directly to consumers, invested in quality rural broadband networks, or used to upgrade aging electronic infrastructure.
H.R. 3369, the Broadband for Rural America Act expands rural broadband assistance to improve the administration and accountability of the broadband programs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture to empower farmers, better serve rural America, and fuel our economy.

Defending the Second Amendment

Whether in Richmond or Washington, Ben has always been a staunch defender of the Second Amendment. Our Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution to protect us from the government and gave individuals the Second Amendment to protect themselves and their families. Unfortunately, throughout the past year, Democrats have vilified gun owners and sought to limit the rights of law-abiding citizens. This is unacceptable. Ben will continue to defend all citizens' Constitutional rights from far-Left policies. To that end, below are several pieces of legislation he has supported to protect and expand Americans' Second Amendment rights:

H.R. 38, the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act allows a qualified individual to carry a concealed handgun into or possess a concealed handgun in another state that allows individuals to carry concealed firearms.
H.R. 95, the Hearing Protection Act removes suppressors from the definition of firearms for purposes of the National Firearms Act.
H.R. 1534, the Protecting the Right to Keep and Bear Arms Act prohibits the President and the Secretary of Health and Human Services from declaring certain emergencies or disasters for the purpose of imposing gun control.
H.R. 1210, the Law Enforcement Officer Safety Act (LEOSA) Reform Act amends title 18, United States Code, to improve the Law Enforcement Officer Safety Act and provisions relating to the carrying of concealed weapons by law enforcement officers.

Growing the Economy

Since the day he was sworn in, Ben has focused on growing the economy and keeping more money in the pockets of hard-working Americans. In that vein, He fights every day to reduce the regulatory burden on businesses and employees and is committed to lowering taxes that stunt economic growth. Further, he believes in promoting free trade agreements and policies that benefit farmers and small businesses in Virginia’s Sixth District. Below are just a few examples of pieces of legislation he has sponsored to accomplish those goals:

H.R. 1712, the Death Tax Repeal Act repeals the estate tax, also known as the death tax, which, in effect, is a double tax on families and taxes property transferred at death.
H.R. 3625, the Middle-Class Savings Act aligns the brackets for assessing capital gains taxes with those created in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 to enable middle-class families to invest and save more through the stock market.
H.R. 1346, the Hospitality and Commerce Job Recovery Act provides federal tax credits to support the travel, convention, trade show, entertainment, tourism, and hospitality industries across the country impacted by the ongoing pandemic.
H.R. 4181, the Stop Inflationary Spending Act amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to require the Congressional Budget Office to conduct an analysis of the impact on inflation from certain reconciliation legislation reported or submitted pursuant to reconciliation directives in a concurrent resolution on the budget.
H.Res. 620 the Protect Right to Work expresses support for right-to-work laws that protect workers from being required to join and pay forced dues to a union to get or keep a job.