U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger is proud to represent the people of Virginia’s Seventh Congressional District in the U.S. House.
Abigail’s career has been defined by public service. She first swore an oath to the U.S. Constitution as a federal agent with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. In this role, she investigated money laundering and narcotics cases — including at the southern border. Then, as a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) case officer, she worked at home and abroad to collect intelligence, keep our country safe from terrorism, and inform policymakers in their national security decisions. Following her time at CIA, Abigail joined the private sector and helped American colleges and universities diversify their student bodies, expand opportunities for Americans entering the workforce, and increase graduation rates.
Supporting Virginia’s Crop & Livestock Producers
Virginia’s Seventh District is home to thousands of acres of rich farmland, and Rep. Spanberger is working in Congress to make sure the voices of Virginia’s farmers, producers, and agribusinesses are heard.
As a Member of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee and as Chair of the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry, she is focused on advancing priorities important to Virginia’s crop and livestock producers and championing measures that increase the long-term viability of farmers, their families, and the rural economy. While traveling across the district, she has met with growers to talk about the many challenges they face —from trade concerns to young farmers struggling to access the capital they need to build successful farm and ranch operations.
Rep. Spanberger is also committed to expanding farmers’ access to domestic and foreign markets, strengthening voluntary conservation programs, and expanding access to high-speed broadband internet.
Advancing Civil Rights & Racial Equity
Rep. Spanberger knows that injustice, bias, and racism continue to exist, and at times thrive, in our country. The results of inequity and bias impact everything from suspension rates, to housing access, to health outcomes, to medical interventions, to job opportunities and promotions, to criminal sentencing, and even to air quality and drinking water safety.
Rep. Spanberger believes that working with intentionality to root out structural racism and change biased policies is required of every legislator, and she is committed to applying an equity lens to the legislation she reviews, votes on, and introduces.
Protecting Voting Rights
A bedrock principle of our democracy is equal rights under the law for all Americans, and Rep. Spanberger is working in Congress to make sure the rights of all Americans are respected, enforced, and protected.
One of the most fundamental rights in our country is the right to choose your elected officials through free and fair elections, and Rep. Spanberger supports ongoing initiatives to strengthen voter rights and to counteract efforts across the country that seek to disenfranchise voters. This priority includes pushing for the full restoration and modernization of the Voting Rights Act.
Reforming the Criminal Justice System
As a former federal law enforcement officer, Rep. Spanberger recognizes the critical importance of keeping our communities safe and holding perpetrators accountable for their actions that harm others. But she also knows that for far too many Americans, injustices pervade our criminal justice system and later endanger their ability to receive a quality education, find fulfilling employment, or support their families. In Congress, one of Rep. Spanberger’s priorities is to help pass meaningful, bipartisan criminal justice reform, including legislation to reduce mass incarceration, end the school-to-prison pipeline, and treat drug addiction like a public health issue — not a crime.
Combatting Discrimination & Championing Equal Rights
Rep. Spanberger firmly believes that no American should face discrimination based on the color of their skin, where they are from, how they choose to worship, what disability they have, or whom they love. This priority includes advocating for the Equal Rights Amendment to guarantee legal equality for women and men in the U.S. Constitution.
Rep. Spanberger strongly supports marriage equality and the Americans with Disabilities Act, and she will continue to fight to make sure that no citizen is denied government services, loses a job, or faces any other form of discrimination.
Supporting 7th District Businesses & Entrepreneurs
Rep. Spanberger is actively focused on advancing legislation that grows the Seventh District’s small businesses, reduces unnecessary regulatory burdens, cuts red tape, and invests in critical physical infrastructure improvements that support growth — like expanded broadband internet access.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, she is working to make sure Virginia employers and employees are able to recover and succeed.
Strengthening Workforce Training & Apprenticeships
Whether they choose to go to college or not, Rep. Spanberger believes that all Virginia workers should have access to the education and training they need to achieve career success, earn a good living, and keep the Commonwealth the best state in the country for business.
Rep. Spanberger is working in Congress to increase investment in vocational training and apprenticeship programs for young people that lead to better-paying jobs, support the growth of small businesses in our communities, and prepare the next generation as they enter a competitive and rapidly changing global economy.
Supporting Public Education & Teachers
Public schools are the social and economic backbone of Virginia. Rep. Spanberger is working in Congress to give every Virginia student access to a high-quality public education, and she is opposed to any effort to privatize our public education system.
A proud recipient of an excellent public education at J.R. Tucker High School in Henrico County, Rep. Spanberger believes that dedicated teachers and increased educational resources set Virginia students on a path toward greater economic opportunities — and right now, Congress can do more to address educational disparities among underserved populations, improve career and technical education programs, and make sure teachers have secure retirements.
Tackling Skyrocketing Student Debt
As the cost of a college degree continues to rise, too many Virginians find that while they have the qualifications they need, their student debt burdens are unmanageable.
During her time in the private sector, Rep. Spanberger worked with higher education officials to improve their outreach to a diverse range of students and to lower tuition costs. In Congress, Rep. Spanberger brings this same approach, and she advocates for practical solutions to address the growing student loan debt crisis.
Rep. Spanberger is committed to working with educators, students, parents, and college and university administrators to find innovative ways to lessen student debt burdens, while also maintaining the range of educational opportunities available to Commonwealth students.
Combatting the Climate Crisis
Rep. Spanberger believes that climate change is a direct threat to the safety and strength of nearly all aspects of our society — our economy, our environment, and our national security. Rep. Spanberger knows that elected officials must heed the warnings of scientists and work together to address this escalating ecological crisis.
To help combat and lessen the impacts of climate change, Rep. Spanberger is working in Congress to create good-paying clean energy jobs, lower greenhouse gas emissions, increase energy efficiency, protect our air and water, and safeguard Virginia’s beautiful public lands. She also supports preserving environmental protections that maintain the health of Virginia’s ecosystems and protect opportunities for hunting and fishing.
Increasing Incentives for Clean Energy Development
Rep. Spanberger supports a transition from fossil fuel dependence to increased reliance on clean energy sources. She believes long-term, sustainable energy independence will not only benefit our environment, but will also create secure jobs here in Virginia, significantly reduce energy costs for consumers, and lessen our dependence on international actors whose values may conflict with those of the United States.
Rep. Spanberger is fighting to advance legislation in Congress that creates commonsense incentives for increased deployment of clean energy sources, such as wind and solar energies, as well as electric vehicles and grid-scale energy storage.
Fiscal Responsibility and the National Debt
Rep. Spanberger believes that our ballooning national debt is a long-term threat to our economic stability and national security. She supports a federal budget that responsibly addresses rising deficits, but also protects Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security and prevents cuts to essential diplomatic, national defense, education, and affordable housing programs.
Fighting for a More Transparent Democracy
The framers of the U.S. Constitution intended for our government officials to be accountable to the people they were elected to serve. But too often, representatives seem to be beholden to special interests, lobbyists, and large corporations.
Rep. Spanberger is focused on protecting the integrity of our elections from foreign interference, restoring trust in our system of government, eliminating conflicts of interest, and giving Virginians a stronger voice at the table. She believes that Members of Congress should hold themselves to the highest standard of transparency, accountability, and ethical behavior when it comes to making decisions on behalf of the Americans they serve.
Pursuing Bipartisan, Commonsense Gun Violence Prevention Legislation
As a former federal law enforcement agent who carried a firearm for her job every day, Rep. Spanberger understands the training and qualification requirements needed to responsibly carry a firearm.
After too many gun-related tragedies across the United States — including in our schools and places of worship — Rep. Spanberger believes that we are long overdue for effective, bipartisan gun safety reforms in the United States. To keep families, neighborhoods, businesses, and schools safe, Rep. Spanberger supports measures that would ensure a consistent background check process is applied to all firearm purchases, allow family members and law enforcement officials to temporarily keep firearms out of the hands of those who may be an immediate danger to themselves and others, and fund nonpartisan federal research of gun-related violence and deaths by suicide.
Supporting Virginia’s Crop & Livestock Producers
Virginia’s Seventh District is home to thousands of acres of rich farmland, and Rep. Spanberger is working in Congress to make sure the voices of Virginia’s farmers, producers, and agribusinesses are heard.
As a Member of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee and as Chair of the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry, she is focused on advancing priorities important to Virginia’s crop and livestock producers and championing measures that increase the long-term viability of farmers, their families, and the rural economy. While traveling across the district, she has met with growers to talk about the many challenges they face —from trade concerns to young farmers struggling to access the capital they need to build successful farm and ranch operations.
Rep. Spanberger is also committed to expanding farmers’ access to domestic and foreign markets, strengthening voluntary conservation programs, and expanding access to high-speed broadband internet.
Advancing Commonsense Immigration Reform
Our country is a nation of immigrants. Rep. Spanberger is proud of that history and fully recognizes that legal immigration continues to provide substantial economic growth in the Commonwealth and across the country.
Our country is also a nation of laws, and we must reform our broken immigration system to ensure those who wish to visit, work or live in the U.S. do so through legal and transparent channels. Rep. Spanberger supports comprehensive immigration reform. Rep. Spanberger believes that a successful reform project must consider the needs of businesses and agricultural producers, create an earned pathway to legal status for tax-paying, law-abiding undocumented immigrants currently living in the United States, and give long overdue certainty to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients.
Border Security
As a former CIA officer, Rep. Spanberger worked counterterrorism and international drug trafficking cases on behalf of the United States — and she has an acute understanding of the foreign threats facing our country and its borders each day.
In Congress, Rep. Spanberger is committed to working with her colleagues, both Democrats and Republicans, to advance bipartisan, smart policy that would recognize the real challenges of U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials, secure our borders and points of entry, prevent dangerous illegal drugs from entering our country, and responsibly use taxpayer dollars without breaking from core American values.
She will continue to advocate for policies that embrace cutting-edge technology, reduce safe havens for violent criminals, and improve coordination between federal, state, and local law enforcement.
Responsibly Addressing Our National Debt
Rep. Spanberger believes that our ballooning national debt is a long-term threat to our economic stability and national security. She supports a federal budget that responsibly addresses rising deficits, but also protects Medicare and Medicaid and prevents cuts to essential diplomatic, national defense, education, and affordable housing programs.
Broadband Internet Infrastructure
Just like roads, bridges, and electricity infrastructure, high-speed internet access is essential to the day-to-day operations of schools, hospitals, law enforcement facilities, and small businesses across the Commonwealth. But in parts of the 7th District, thousands of rural residents do not have the broadband internet access they need to stay competitive in a global economy, complete their homework assignments, monitor their chronic health conditions, or grow their businesses. One of Rep. Spanberger’s top priorities in the U.S. House is to advance legislation that would recognize these challenges and help expand broadband internet infrastructure throughout underserved communities in Central Virginia and across rural America.
Net Neutrality
Rep. Spanberger believes that the internet should be equally accessible to all users, and she views protecting net neutrality as a fundamental issue of economic freedom and freedom of speech. In Congress, she supports legislation that would restore net neutrality and prevent high-speed access from being auctioned off to the highest bidder. By taking this important step, Rep. Spanberger wants to increase high-skill job opportunities in rural communities and make sure the district’s families have the reliable internet access they need to stay connected to their loved ones.
Serving the Seventh
No matter what headlines come out of the Beltway, serving and representing the people of Virginia's Seventh District is always Rep. Spanberger's top priority. Please scroll through some of the other Issue areas to learn more about how I'm working for Central Virginians in Congress, and stay on this page to learn more about some of the local accomplishments we've achieved in our office.
Supporting our Servicemembers & their Families
A former federal law enforcement officer and Central Intelligence Agency officer, Rep. Spanberger’s career in public service has focused on protecting American families and economic interests from a wide range of domestic and foreign threats. She recognizes the tremendous sacrifice of those who serve in our military, and she believes we have a sacred obligation to honor their dedication to our country and to give them the support they deserve. In Congress, Rep. Spanberger is committed to providing our service members with the compensation, training, equipment, and benefits they need to successfully carry out their vital missions and protect their fellow citizens. And she is working in the U.S. House to find additional ways to support military families as their loved ones serve abroad and as they eventually transition to civilian life.
Reinforcing the Importance of Diplomacy & Our Relationships with U.S. Allies
Rep. Spanberger knows that the United States today faces many foreign threats from its adversaries, and she believes that a strong diplomatic presence is a core component of our national security and must not be lessened or ignored. To ensure our communities stay protected, Rep. Spanberger is fighting to reaffirm the importance of our country’s relationships with its key allies, including member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. And she will continue to voice her unwavering support for U.S. diplomats, law enforcement, intelligence officers, and civil servants who work every day at home and abroad to identify dangerous threats, prevent tragedies, and save countless American lives.
Strengthening Retirement Security & Protecting Social Security
As Rep. Spanberger meets with seniors across the 7th District, she has heard tragic stories of hardworking Virginians who are seeing their benefits slashed and their retirement savings and pensions further jeopardized. This trend is unacceptable, and Rep. Spanberger believes that these seniors and their families should be able to count on a secure retirement during their golden years. In Congress, she is focused on working with both Republicans and Democrats to maintain the benefits employees have earned and to push back against cuts to our Social Security and Medicare programs. Rep. Spanberger is committed to keeping our promises to working families, and she strongly opposes radical efforts to put the livelihoods of hardworking Americans at risk.
Honoring the Sacrifice of Virginia 7’s Bravest
More than 700,000 veterans call the Commonwealth home, and we owe a great debt to these fellow Americans who selflessly served to protect our country. Rep. Spanberger is committed to honoring the sacrifice of these veterans, while also making sure they receive the benefits and services they have earned by putting on the uniform.
Strengthening Healthcare, Mental Health, and Employment Resources for Veterans
At a time when our nation’s veterans experience unacceptable rates of homelessness, unemployment, and death by suicide, Rep. Spanberger believes Congress must do more to strengthen Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) services that provide mental health resources, job training, and civilian transition assistance. Rep. Spanberger is also meeting with Central Virginia veterans to learn more about how Congress can address the unique healthcare challenges rural veterans face due to long distances between their home and a VA healthcare facility.
Fighting for a Level Playing Field for All American Women
Rep. Spanberger is committed to fighting for Central Virginia women in three key ways: ensuring equality under the law, fighting for equal pay for equal work, and protecting women's right to reproductive healthcare and abortion. She helped introduce the Paycheck Fairness Act, which was signed into law by the President. She has also been a vocal advocate for the Equal Rights Amendment. Rep. Spanberger believes that the more we empower women through legal & economic equality, the more we can strengthen and stabilize entire communities across Virginia's Seventh District.