We have considered some weighty matters this year in the General Assembly. Of course, some are a little lighter as well. For all who were concerned, subject to the Governor’s signature, it will now be illegal in Virginia to build a duck blind where it is already illegal to shoot ducks. Perhaps more importantly, as a result of a different bill, you will no longer be able to shoot at ducks when behind those ducks is someone’s house. Yes, this was actually legal in Virginia.
But ducks, of course, don’t consume the majority of our time; nor do elephants, although they have consumed perhaps an inordinate amount of time this week (long story). Ducks and elephants aside though, I wanted to talk about work that I’m very proud of — the work we’ve been doing on behalf of military families and veterans in our Commonwealth.
We hope that the Constitutional Amendment I’ve patroned for veterans with 100% service-connected disabilities will pass the Senate shortly. If that happens and voters approve this Amendment in November, we will exempt one vehicle from local property taxes and ensure that vehicles like adapted vans are more affordable for those whose military service has left them with severe disabilities. Other bills likely to become law preserve in-state tuition for those who have to take a break from school as a result of supporting a military service member; provide unemployment protections for military spouses; and protect veterans who have to withdraw from school due to a service-connected mental or physical illness. Another of my bills will help the Veterans Services Foundation, which secures private funding to fill voids in Federal and Commonwealth veterans services, improve its ability to serve our Commonwealth’s veterans.
And this week, I participated as a member of the General Assembly Military and Veterans Caucus (GAMVC) in an effort to broadly publicize a massive effort to prevent veterans suicide in Virginia. The effort is called the Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide Among Service Members, Veterans, and their Families. I am thankful for the bipartisan effort to help address the veterans suicide crisis.
LOCAL HAPPENINGS
There are plenty of exciting events happening this weekend around Virginia’s 40th!
Stop by The Winery at Bull Run’s Cookie & Wine Tasting to sample some of Virginia’s finest wines and baked goods. If wine tastings aren’t quite your style, maybe head on over to the Mason Jazz Festival to watch the US Air Force and other musical groups perform.
Looking for something more family friendly? The Haymarket Library is offering a story and movie experience for toddlers and kids. Sit back, grab some popcorn and enjoy the show!
Battlefield High is hosting a robotics competition this weekend, where you can watch some of Virginia’s most promising young engineers face off in an intense competition.
Finally, Virginia’s Presidential Primary is just around the corner on Tuesday, March 3! Click here if you need more information regarding your personal voting information. Make a plan to vote and ensure your voice is heard in our democracy.
ACTIVITIES AND MEETINGS
This week got off to a great start with a visit by friends and constituents with Moms Demand Action. Together we celebrated the historic steps the General Assembly is taking towards commonsense gun regulations—bills that are moving forward in large part due to the hard work of change-makers like them.
I also appreciated meeting with the Heavy Construction Contractors Association, whose members employ nearly 40,000 individuals and help build infrastructure in our Commonwealth. We discussed the importance of Speaker Filler-Corn’s HB 1414, which will help improve transportation infrastructure in Virginia.
On Tuesday I was glad to join colleagues and advocates at the Labor Caucus, where we’re fighting to make the Commonwealth the best it can be for working families through bills increasing the minimum wage and extending collective bargaining. I am also proud to be a part of the Commonwealth Caucus, a newly created caucus designed to increase bipartisanship and facilitate conversations across party lines. At this week’s meeting on Thursday, we focused on the importance of fair districts here in Virginia.
FAVORITES OF THE 40TH
Diane Shapiro enjoys painting subjects familiar to her. For over thirty years she has lived in Clifton with her family, but she began painting five years ago after retiring from a career in IT. We’re proud to display one of her paintings depicting the blue bells in bloom along the Bull Run Occoquan Trail in Clifton (top left) in our Richmond office, and hope you appreciate some of the impressive skill of the 40th District.
