Message from Rob Wittman:
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I’m proud to share great news for Virginia’s First District!
Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital in Onancock and Riverside Walter Reed Hospital in Gloucester have been named to the 2026 Chartis Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals list — the only two hospitals in Virginia to receive this distinction.
For Riverside Shore Memorial, this marks six consecutive years on the list. For Riverside Walter Reed, this is a first-time recognition that reflects its growing impact in the Middle Peninsula.
This honor confirms what our communities already know: high-quality healthcare is available close to home.
But rural healthcare does not sustain itself. Workforce shortages, aging infrastructure, and rising costs place constant pressure on local hospitals operating on thin margins.
That’s why strengthening rural healthcare has been a priority of mine in Congress.
I have supported the Rural Health Transformation Program to help stabilize and modernize rural hospitals, ensuring they have the tools to remain financially strong and operationally resilient. I’ve also backed efforts to protect frontline healthcare workers and strengthen workforce retention — because access to care depends on the people who deliver it.
Preventive health matters, too. Encouraging early access to tests improves prevention, detection and treatment for the disease.
With a strong military presence in our district, reliable healthcare also supports servicemembers, military families, and national readiness.
Families — no matter where they live — deserve confidence that when they walk into a hospital, the doors will stay open and the care will be excellent.
I will continue working to protect and strengthen healthcare across Virginia’s First District. Read more here or below.
Sincerely,
