Congressman Ben Cline visited Alleghany High School on November 25 to speak with government students about the workings of Congress and how federal decisions affect local communities in the Alleghany Highlands.
During his visit, Cline provided students with insights into daily life in Washington, described how legislation is developed and passed, and discussed the responsibilities of representing a district that covers a wide geographic area. Students were initially quiet but later engaged with questions, all of which Cline addressed. Teachers noted that his visit helped connect classroom learning to practical experiences.
Kristy Humphreys, who teaches government, economics, and personal finance at AHS, said: “Alleghany High School is very fortunate that Congressman Cline visits each year to speak with the senior class. His willingness to come in and talk with students provides a valuable and meaningful learning experience, offering a great learning activity that brings government and civic engagement to life.”
Cline is an attorney who graduated from Lexington High School. He now lives in Fincastle, Botetourt County. He represents Virginia’s 6th Congressional District, which includes the Alleghany Highlands as well as the Roanoke Valley and much of the Shenandoah Valley. He is serving his fourth term in Congress as a Republican and participates in the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus.
Ben Cline has been serving as U.S. Representative for Virginia’s 6th district since 2019 after succeeding Bob Goodlatte (https://cline.house.gov/about). Before joining Congress, he was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 2002 until 2018 (https://ballotpedia.org/Ben_Cline).
Cline was born in Stillwater, Oklahoma in 1972 and is currently 51 years old. He attended Bates College for his undergraduate degree before earning a law degree from the University of Richmond (https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/C001118).