My team and I have hit the ground running, and we are ready to serve. Please reach out if you need anything.
This was a historic week for our Country and our Commonwealth. The House of Delegates passed HJ 1, the Equal Rights Amendment to the US Constitution. We will have one more vote in order to send the Amendment to the National Archivist and amend the US Constitution so that every woman in our country is equal under our law. Nearly 250 years after our founding, it’s about time.
As a veteran of our Armed Forces, I think a lot about the women impacted by this with whom I served side-by-side throughout my active duty career and now in the Army Reserve. Virginia’s women veterans represent the largest contingent of women who have served in any state within the United States. Like men in the military, these brave women have selflessly sworn an oath to uphold and defend our Constitution and, if need be, give their lives in defense of our country. Today, women have earned the Army Ranger tab and completed the Marine Corps’ Infantry Officer Course. As they have since the Revolutionary War, they continue to serve bravely under fire in the conflicts since the attacks on 9/11.
Many women have died in our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many more have been wounded, and many still confront the unseen wounds of war as we face a suicide crisis among women veterans unlike anything we have seen before.
Unlike the men who took the same oath to our Constitution, the document that these brave women swore to uphold and defend has omitted them. When we cast the final vote to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, we recognize not only the equality of every woman in our community, Commonwealth, and Country but also honor the service of millions of women veterans by ensuring that their courage and service is honored in our Constitution.
LOCAL HAPPENINGS
Don’t yet know your weekend plans? On Saturday, cheer on some of the 40th District’s very own at the 3rd Annual Mr. Battlefield Competition at Battlefield High School. On Saturday and Sunday watch some of the area’s best athletic talent at the 2nd Annual MLK High School Basketball Showcase at Centreville High School. Top the weekend off on Sunday by joining local breweries in honoring hometown heroes at Winterfest in Fairfax.
ACTIVITIES & MEETINGS
We always appreciate visits here in Richmond, and this past week has been full of them. I’ve spoken with constituents from across the district who made the trip to discuss healthcare, climate change, gun violence prevention, and veterans’ issues to name a few topics, and I look forward to more engaging discussions to come. Thanks as well to the Virginia Professional Firefighters, Prince William Police, Sierra Club activists, and all the advocacy groups who came by our office to discuss upcoming legislation.
Doing the people’s work is about having conversations and inviting other perspectives into the room. I’m proud to be a founding member of the bipartisan Commonwealth Caucus, where I look forward to working across the aisle to deliver for Virginians. You can check out my interview with Virginia Public Media here.
We also hung up local artwork in our office; thank you to Diane of Clifton for the beautiful painting depicting the blue bells by Bull Run.
FAVORITES OF THE 40TH
Displaying a passion for learning about animal behavior from a young age, Jennifer Lowe Davis quit her corporate lobbying job in 2008 to begin working with canine companions and their families. Jennifer’s training business, Red Dog Run Farm, is based in Clifton, but she also partners with KissAble Canine, another small, woman-owned, Springfield business, to be able to provide training services to all of Northern Virginia. Besides their suite of classes, they offer personalized, in-home and in-office training for dogs of all breeds, sizes and behavior problems.
Want to highlight an event, a small business, or know somebody who deserves a shoutout? Please let us know by sharing your nomination here.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
Before I delve into updates from committees and caucus meetings this week, I want to encourage you to take the linked survey. This will help inform how I vote on the issues that affect our community and our Commonwealth – and please share with friends & neighbors of yours.
This week I introduced legislation that will provide tax relief to 100% disabled veterans who are living in or near poverty. This critical social justice legislation provides important protections for a vulnerable community, and I’m glad to have an opportunity to work on it with my fellow legislators.
During the first meeting this year of the Military and Veterans Caucus, I had the chance to ask questions about the impact of a war with Iran on our community of Major General Timothy Williams, Adjutant General of Virginia. He indicated that such a war would have significant impacts on Virginia’s National Guard and families. It is hard to express the extent to which I want to stop another war of choice, but the answer highlights that after 18 years of war, it has become more and more difficult for members of the National Guard to find civilian employment. That’s why I’ve introduced legislation this week that would incentivize the hire of National Guard members and provide economic protections should those members be deployed.
On Tuesday morning, the Labor Caucus had its first meeting in which we discussed collective bargaining, particularly for public employees. This is a big first step in ensuring dignity for Virginia’s workers, and we’re excited to dispel the notion that being good for business means being bad for workers.
I also participated in the Transportation Systems subcommittee where we had the chance to advance legislation that will improve access of VDOT emergency vehicles at the time of an accident.
At Friday’s meeting of the Public Safety Committee, we advanced legislation that would allow for those convicted of crimes as juveniles to be eligible for parole after 20 years. We have a great opportunity to ensure we balance justice with mercy in this Commonwealth and ensure that women and men who make terrible mistakes as children may have an opportunity for rehabilitation later in life.
All of our bills can be found here. We’ve been busy meeting with constituents, stakeholders, and experts to refine our language and ensure that the legislation will not have any unintended consequences. As of yet, none of our bills have been scheduled to be heard in committee, where those bills will be further refined.
Thank you, as always, for staying engaged in the legislative process and joining me for this session. If you need anything at all, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Warm Regards,
Dan