Connor Merk|Marlin Chronicle
Rep. Elaine Luria is the current representative for Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District and is up for reelection this November.
She is the Democratic nominee and was first elected to Congress in 2018, and was reelected in 2020.
Before being elected to Congress, Luria served in the United States Navy for 20 years and then went on to open her own small business, Mermaid Factory, a local gift shop.
She currently serves as Vice Chair of the House Armed Services Committee, in addition to serving on the House Veterans Affairs Committee, the House Committee on Homeland Security and, most recently, on the House Select Committee, fighting to keep democracy alive by investigating the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Luria has passed bipartisan legislation while in Congress, including the Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Reauthorization with Rep. Rob Wittman, which was signed into law by President Donald Trump in 2019.
Arguably, the most important reason to reelect Luria into office is to help fight for reproductive rights in Virginia. Unfortunately, the future of accessible abortions in Virginia is uncertain.
Rep. Luria believes it is a person’s right to choose if abortion is the best option for them.
Gender equality is also a critical issue for Luria. She is an original co-sponsor of the Paycheck Fairness Act, which is a bill that will help ensure women receive equal pay for equal work.
Luria has worked towards racial equity in Congress. She has supported bills such as the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act and the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act.
As a mother, Luria feels strongly about the ongoing issue of gun violence in America. She is a strong supporter of common sense gun laws including bans on assault weapons, universal background checks and banning possession of high-capacity magazines.
In response to her advocacy, she received the Gun Sense Candidate Distinction from Everytown for Gun Safety.
Luria is also passionate about protecting the environment. She started the Offshore Wind Caucus, which advocates for investments in renewable energy and addresses climate change while promoting clean energy solutions.
Luria co-chaired the New Dems Climate Change Task Force, which collaborates on solutions for climate change issues affecting communities. In addition, she served on the Congressional Solar Caucus that worked on transitioning to cleaner and more renewable energy sources.
From her experience in the Navy, Luria has a heavy focus on veterans and the military. She voted twice to increase authorized spending for the Department of Defense, which increased pay for service members and funding for Norfolk Naval Shipyard.
Luria has authored a bill to help lower veterans’ cost of living, the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) Bill, which passed and has been law for the past three years.
A thriving economy is essential and Luria is constantly working to improve the economy.
As a local small business owner, Luria is committed to assisting local businesses and she has done so by passing small business legislation and creating a small business hotline.
She has voted to increase federal minimum wage, which would allow minimum wage workers to make a liveable wage.
We are fortunate to have someone in Congress who is so passionate about representing her community. Her bipartisan leadership in Congress is evident and will continue if reelected this November for Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District.
By Caroline Willette
cgwillette@vwu.edu
