Mr. Speaker, last year, President Trump teamed up with his trillionaire donor Elon Musk to dismantle USAID and pause or permanently cancel a large portion of our international assistance programs. This was done in the name of furthering Trump's America First policy, but it is mostly combating mostly fictional and exaggerated claims of waste. The authors of this policy claimed that their goal was to achieve deficit reduction, to further Trump's America First policy on largely imaginary claims of waste.
2026 MidtermsLean SeatR+100$1.2M raised
Donald Beyer
Representative · Virginia · Democrat
Donald Beyer
House Floor
Recent comments in the House
Mr. Speaker, I rise to oppose this well-intentioned but terribly flawed bill. All of us on our side strongly support Ukraine, but this would do more harm than good for America and Ukraine. It has three main points: sanctions, tariffs, and symbolism. The new sanctions on Russia in this bill would be strong and sweeping if they were enforced, but the bill gives Trump the power to simply ignore them. That is what he is very likely to do. His criticism of Ukraine and his friendliness to Russia have both been rising recently.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this bill. We must protect the North Atlantic right whale, which, as you heard, is already at risk of extinction. This bill threatens to put them right over the edge. With only 70 reproductively active females left, the North Atlantic right whale can't afford to wait another 7 years for protection. They realistically could be extinct right now. We can and must act now. Entanglement in fishing gear is a leading cause, maybe the leading cause, of North Atlantic right whale deaths.
Biography
Donald Beyer, a former small business owner and diplomat, has represented Virginia’s 8th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2015. He focuses on climate action, economic innovation, and expanding access to health care. Beyer authored the Clean Energy Standard Act and serves as Vice Chair of the Joint Economic Committee, shaping national policy on sustainable growth. Known for pragmatic leadership and attentive constituent service, he works to advance practical solutions that reflect the priorities of Northern Virginians.
Professional History
U.S. Representative
2015–PresentRepresented Virginia's 8th congressional district for 6 terms.
United States Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein
2009–2013Served as U.S. ambassador under President Barack Obama from September 8, 2009, to May 29, 2013.
Chair, American International Automobile Dealers Association
2006Led the national trade association representing international nameplate automobile dealers in the United States.
Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
1990–1998Served two terms as the 36th lieutenant governor of Virginia under Governors Doug Wilder and George Allen.
Co-owner, Beyer Automotive Group
1986–2019Co-owned and expanded a family automobile dealership business in Virginia to nine dealerships representing multiple brands.
Member, Commonwealth Transportation Board of Virginia
1986–Appointed by Governor Gerald Baliles to the state board overseeing the Virginia Department of Transportation and highway funding allocations.
Policy Focus
Taxation14%
Health12%
Government Operations and Politics12%
Crime and Law Enforcement8%
Notable Legislation
Key legislative actions from Donald Beyer's record in Congress.
Climate Action
Introduced the Clean Energy Innovation and Deployment Act to accelerate clean energy adoption and reduce carbon emissions.
Suicide Prevention
Sponsored the Barriers to Suicide Act to fund suicide prevention barriers on bridges and public structures.
COVID-19 Relief
Helped secure federal funding for Northern Virginia hospitals and small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Space Science Funding
Advocated for increased NASA and National Science Foundation funding benefiting Virginia's science and technology sectors.
Committee Assignments
View details →- Joint Economic Committee
- House Committee on Ways and Means
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