Rep. Elaine Luria touts Chesapeake Bay cleanup funding in Shore visit

U.S. Rep. Elaine Luria spent a busy two days on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

The congresswoman spent April 23-24 speaking to community leaders at the Eastern Shore of Virginia Chamber of Commerce annual Eggs and Issues breakfast, touring an aquaculture facility and NASA Wallops Flight Facility, speaking with Chincoteague officials about beach replenishment and visiting The Nature Conservancy's Virginia Coast Reserve and Dublin Farms in Horntown.

Luria also celebrated the opening of her Eastern Shore office — at Onley Town Center, 25020 Shore Parkway in Onley — with an open house Tuesday.

"I'm very excited to have the opportunity to get around the Shore again. I was here last month as well, during our recess week. Every time I come I learn more and I learn how special the communities are on the Shore — and I also learn the challenges that you have as a rural area, an isolated area," Luria said at Eggs and Issues, held at Northampton High School.

Luria spoke about work accomplished in her first 100 days in office, calling reauthorization for Chesapeake Bay cleanup funding "one of the key pieces of legislation that I've introduced."

"This hasn't been done via an authorization bill since 2005 — so you've probably followed in the news every year the president's budget cuts it and we have to fight to get it back," she said.

Luria said she worked closely with the EPA, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and other environmental groups "to determine what the right level of funding is and to introduce a bill that would do that for five years."

The bill is cosponsored by Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA 1st District).

Luria also said she has been assigned to the House Armed Services Committee.

"That was really my first choice, based on my background and also based on the military presence in Hampton Roads," said Luria, a Navy veteran.

She also was named vice chair of the seapower subcommittee.

Luria also serves on the House Veterans Affairs Committee and chairs its subcommittee for disability assistance and memorial affairs.

"Its very important that we take care of our veterans," Luria said, mentioning the issue of distance Eastern Shore veterans have to travel to obtain medical care at the Veterans Administration medical facility in Hampton.

"There are new regulations rolling out under the VA Mission Act this summer, and I really want to make sure that we coordinate well with Eastern Shore Rural Health and the other providers on the Shore," she said.

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Previously, distance for a veteran to be required travel to a VA medical center for care was measured "40 miles, as the crow flies," she said — even though the driving distance from the Eastern Shore to Hampton is significantly longer for most residents.

"The new rules that will go into effect take into account that driving time," Luria said, adding, "We know that will allow a lot more veterans that live on the Shore access to care within the community."

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