There is much to be said about a citizen legislature that gets its work done in under two months. We operate with strict deadlines, which we actually abide by, and the scarcity of time promotes cooperation and a need to work together to help our communities. After hundreds, if not thousands, of individual votes on legislation, I’ll be able to step back next week and offer a broader retrospective about what we’ve accomplished since January. Until then, I’ll offer a minor victory. Every single one of our office’s bills, which ranged from protecting the ability of our military members, students, and those with disabilities to vote to robust environmental protections to ensuring Virginians in need can put food on the table, received some measure of bipartisan support.
I also appreciate the impact we’ve been able to have on vaccine rollout, working closely with local and state officials to share your concerns and improve communication, as well as passing emergency legislation that removes barriers to getting shots in arms. While a few challenging months lie ahead still as vaccine demand exceeds supply, we also can see light at the end of the tunnel. The likely approval today of a new vaccine is an exciting way to end the week too! Like many of you, I so much look forward to the day when having a few friends over or going out for a meal or meeting a neighbor at their door is just life as usual.
On that front, I also can’t wait until the day when our children, including my two sons, are back in person for school five days a week. My wife Karen, a public school teacher, greatly misses so her third graders and the experience of teaching in-person. She, and teachers, administrators, and staff throughout the Commonwealth and country, have worked so hard everyday to educate our children in these incredibly difficult circumstances. They have re-worked years of lesson plans, responded to rapid changes in schedule, and had to teach in a way for which they had virtually no training a year ago. I have watched the emotional toll this pandemic has taken on them as they and their children endure and strive to succeed. As such, I was glad the House of Delegates paused for a moment to say “thank you” today with HR 640, a resolution I introduced and that has been co-patroned by many of my colleagues that recognizes our Commonwealth’s teachers, staff, and school administrators. The General Assembly also recognized their work in a 5% pay raise that we will pass tomorrow for all teachers in Virginia.
I also know that this pandemic has exacted a price on our children’s educational progress, and we need to return to school safely and be prepared to stay in school if we ever confront another public health crisis. That’s why I supported Senate Bill 1303, which passed this week. This legislation requires school districts to give parents both in-person and virtual learning options for their children. With COVID cases on the decline and a strong push to get our teachers vaccinated, I am encouraged that we have reached a point where safe, in-person learning is a possibility in the near future. Going forward, I will be looking at how we build a culture of infection control in our school systems to protect our teachers, staff, and children. In the future, we will need policy that helps address areas where our children have fallen behind and ensures our schools have the tools they need should we ever confront another pandemic.
Events & Meetings
This weekend, I was able to participate in a few events helping to share information about the COVID vaccine. On Saturday, I joined AARP Virginia for a vaccine information session and on Sunday, I hosted a vaccine town hall with fellow legislators and Virginia health officials. I appreciated the opportunity to hear directly from many of you on this topic and learn about the ways we can help improve the vaccine distribution process. If you missed Sunday’s town hall, you can check out a recording here to get a number of vaccine questions answered — the passcode is xSbj.ti8. Thank you to everyone who joined me at these events.
On Tuesday, I met with Virginia health officials for a weekly COVID update. I raised a concern I have heard from many in our district about a need for information about where people are on the waitlist and when they can approximately expect to receive an appointment. While our health departments do not have this in place currently, I will continue to push for transparency, efficiency, and clear communication for this process. If you have any questions or concerns surrounding the vaccine rollout, please let me know and I will work to get you answers.
This Sunday at 2:00 PM, I will be hosting an end-of-session town hall with Senator George Barker to discuss our work in the General Assembly. The event will be hosted on Zoom and if you would like to participate, you can register using this link. If you have questions that you would like answered at the town hall, you can submit them in advance using the “Questions and Comments” section on the Zoom registration page. You can also view this event on Facebook Live using this link; you don’t need a Facebook account to view the livestream. I’m looking forward to sharing updates and answering any questions you may have about this year’s session.
Looking towards next week, we will be hosting a community check-in phonebank on Tuesday at 6:00 PM. We will be calling neighbors from the district to provide up-to-date vaccine information, answer questions, and help people register for the vaccine. No experience is necessary to join, and a short training will be provided before you begin calling. If you would like to help out, you can sign up here.
Next Thursday, the Prince William Health District will be hosting a virtual COVID vaccine town hall at 6:00 PM to share important information about the vaccine rollout. The event will be led by Dr. Alison Ansher, Prince William Health District Director, and Dr. Fabian Sandoval, CEO and Research Director of Emerson Clinical Research Institute. If you would like to attend the town hall, you can register here. If you have questions for the event, you can send them to eocjic@pwcgov.org by Tuesday, March 2.
We are also continuing to collect petition signatures to get on the ballot. If you are an eligible voter in the 40th District and would like to help, please print out this pre-filled electronic petition form here. Please indicate whether you live in Fairfax or Prince William County, and include all of the following information: Full Name, Full Address, Date, and the Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number. If you have any questions, let me know and I or a member of our team will assist you.
Legislative Updates
Today marks the end of the last full week of the legislative session. We’ve had many legislative accomplishments this year, including COVID relief measures, workplace protections, and increased access to food assistance during a time when food insecurity is on the rise. During these challenging times, I’m glad that members on both sides of the aisle could come together and affect positive change in our Commonwealth.
This week, we saw many of our own bills pass the Senate floor and earn bipartisan support in the process. On Tuesday HB 2020 passed, which would require that active duty military, students, and people with disabilities can all vote for their party’s nominee. HB 1862, which passed the Senate on Wednesday, says that employees cannot be fired for their prescribed and lawful use of CBD. Finally, HB 2001 passed on Thursday. This bill will help decrease carbon emissions, decrease operating costs for government buildings, and build the infrastructure we need for electric cars throughout Virginia.
I’m confident that these bills, along with many others we’ve worked on in the General Assembly, will help make Virginia a better place to live. I’m looking forward to seeing these bills signed into law by the Governor.
COVID Updates
This week, Governor Northam announced that some COVID restrictions will be lifted as we continue to see cases fall and vaccinations rise. Starting on March 1, the limit on outdoor social gathering will increase from 10 to 25 people. Additionally, outdoor entertainment venues will now be allowed to operate at 30% capacity with a 1,000-person cap; while indoor entertainment venues will be allowed to operate at 30% capacity with a 250-person cap. The stay-at-home curfew from midnight to 5:00 AM will also be lifted.
Additionally, the Virginia Department of Health announced that additional pharmacies will begin to administer the vaccine to Virginians ages 65 and older as a part of the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program. This program is a public-private partnership that will bring an additional 52,000 vaccines to our Commonwealth. Pharmacies that will now be administering the vaccine include Walmart, Walgreens, Kroger, Safeway, Food Lion, Giant Food, and Food City. These pharmacies will be utilizing Virginia’s pre-registration list to schedule appointments, and I am hopeful that these additions to the vaccine network will help improve the distribution process.
In an effort to help stop the spread of COVID, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles shared that they are offering more online service options to help Virginians avoid an in-person trip to the DMV. Starting on Tuesday, you will be able to replace your commercial driver’s license, learner’s permit, or driver’s privilege card online. To learn more about these new services, you can visit dmvNOW.com.
With COVID cases declining, vaccinations increasing, and restrictions lifting, I am feeling positive about the direction our Commonwealth is heading. However, we need to continue to do all we are able to stop the spread of COVID, including wearing masks, washing hands, social distancing, and getting the vaccine once you are able. Fairfax County residents can register for the vaccine here and Prince William County residents can register here. The vaccine distribution process still needs improvements, and I will continue to push for a more efficient and effective rollout. If you have any questions or concerns about the vaccine, my office is here to be a resource.
Favorites of the 40
On Saturday, the Centreville High School boys basketball team won the Class 6 State Championship game on their home court. Centreville beat Potomac High School 63-49 to win the title. Congratulations to the team on their hard work and well-deserved victory.
It’s hard to believe that we are already nearing the end of this productive legislative session. As always, don’t hesitate to reach out if I can be of assitance. Wishing you and your family safety and good health.
Warm Regards,
Dan Helmer