The opportunity to serve in our General Assembly has been the honor of a lifetime. Over the past two years, our office has passed transformative legislation that put food on the table of tens of thousands of Virginia families, expanded access to voting for students and members of the military, and put college in reach for thousands of low income Virginians. We have also had the chance to help hundreds of people navigate unemployment, family tragedy, local issues and so much more. As you may notice in our newsletter, I generally use the pronoun “we” when talking about our accomplishments because while I have the privilege of representing our district, it would not be possible without all of your help and without the assistance of my staff and the professional legislative staff who serve in Richmond.
I first met Noah Bardash in 2019. He is a Virginian who had worked on a couple of campaigns and volunteered at our office for a bit while looking for his next gig. His professionalism and competence stood out and we quickly hired him to our campaign. After we won, I asked him to stay on as my Chief of Staff, and he agreed to take on the challenge. We spent time working together to articulate the values we wanted to guide our office: Lead with Integrity; Embody Service; Champion Inclusivity; and Be Bold. Noah has lived by those values.
Our new Chief of Staff, Kat Thames, Noah Bardash,
and I in Richmond this spring
For the past two years, Noah has worked side-by-side with me to help constituents, build community, and pass legislation. Late nights and early mornings have found us working together to think about how we get enough votes to help control the cost of healthcare or how we maneuver through a bureaucracy to help someone get the help they need during a difficult time. Noah’s dedication to service is such that it’s occasionally required a hard push to get him to take a vacation or get off email.
This weekend, Noah will be moving to Princeton to begin his Masters in Public Affairs Program with a focus in Domestic Politics. He’s seeking to broaden his understanding in order to continue a life thus far dedicated to service. We’ll miss him here in Virginia’s 40th, but are excited for this next chapter.
And we are very excited to have Kat Thames, who has been with our campaign and then office for the past year as Legislative Assistant stepping up into the Chief of Staff role and ensuring we continue to deliver for our community and Commonwealth.
Annual Sales Tax Holiday
August 5-7 is the annual Sales Tax Holiday event in Virginia! Back-to-school shopping (supplies and clothes), emergency and hurricane preparedness, and even some spending on EnergyStar or WaterSense products is exempt from sales tax for 72 hours each year. In addition, qualifying school supplies costing $20 or less, and clothing and footwear priced at $100 or less are free from sales tax. That same weekend, you also can pick up emergency-preparedness products such as portable generators, plus Energy Star certified appliances, and benefit from the tax break.
Connecting with the Community
On July 18, I joined the Mid-Atlantic Pipe Trades for their annual conference in Virginia Beach with other union and democratic leaders throughout the state.
I also joined fellow General Assembly colleagues and Congressman Andy Kim at the Virginia Asian American & Pacific Islander Caucus reception. It is important that we continue to serve the interests and needs of our communities throughout the Commonwealth.
I know how difficult it can be to get to the DMV, which is why our office sponsored a “DMV Connect” clinic to help those in need of assistance. Services such as obtaining a REAL ID, applying for/renewing their driver’s license, obtaining vehicle titles, license plates, decals, or transcripts, and many more were offered. I am thrilled to see how great of a turnout it received today and thank you to the Virginia DMV and Clifton Presbyterian Church for making it happen!
We also understand that the DMV is in high demand, especially since the May 3rd, 2023 deadline to obtain a REAL ID is approaching. Given this, we are working to set up another DMV Connect Clinic in the coming months.
Finally, it is important that we continue to work to protect our environment and advocate for a healthy environment for all residents of the Commonwealth. The Virginia League of Conservation Voters is committed to safeguarding our communities and our environment which is why I am proud to have received a 100% score in Virginia LCV’s annual Conservation Scorecard. I look forward to continuing to work with them in protecting our progress towards a cleaner future.
Summer Interns
I am thrilled to welcome Safa, Caroline, and Maraki to our team this summer. As our summer interns, they have helped our office run smoothly, and have played a critical part in helping to organize our DMV Connect Clinic. I am grateful for all of their hard work, and look forward to the rest of their time on Team Helmer as the summer progresses!
Delta Dental Loan Repayment Program
Despite dental workforce shortages, oral health remains an essential need in Virginia. The Delta Dental of Virginia Foundation is working to address these shortfalls with a one-year student loan repayment program to help Virginia dentists and dental hygienists in exchange for 12 months of service with a safety-net clinic. Through this program, a total of $250,000 is available — up to $20,000 for dentists and $10,000 for hygienists.
Who is eligible?
– A licensed dentist or dental hygienist in good standing; Working full-time (32 hours per week minimum);
– Have a valid and unrestricted license to practice in Virginia;
– Have worked in a free or hybrid clinic, or a federally-qualified health center, for at least 12 months; and
– Agree to serve at least one additional year in a free or hybrid clinic or a federally-qualified health center in a Health Professional Shortage Area in Virginia (HPSA).
How to apply
Applications will be accepted August 1 to September 30, 2022. Click here to register for a Q&A session on July 29th from 11 AM to 12 PM. If you have any questions, contact Olivette Burroughs at olivette.burroughs@vdh.
Free-Fare September
This Fall, Virginia Railway Express (VRE) passengers will ride free during September, and between certain stations in Northern Virginia and the District of Columbia during October. The decision to suspend fares will make VRE a more attractive and viable option for Metrorail riders during the closure of Blue and Yellow Line stations south of Reagan National Airport, slated to begin September 10, and those returning to work post-Labor Day.
Fare-free rides in September will be systemwide. In October, they will be limited to travel between six VRE stations best situated to serve as an alternative for those impacted by the Metrorail Blue Line station closures: Backlick Road on the Manassas Line, Franconia-Springfield on the Fredericksburg Line, and Alexandria, Crystal City, L’Enfant, and Union Station on both lines.
Parking is free at most VRE stations, and WMATA is considering free parking at the Franconia-Springfield parking garage for the duration of that station’s closure.
VRE welcomes full-size bicycles on all trains, eliminating the first-mile last-mile conundrum for many commuters.
Monkeypox Spread
The Monkeypox spread is ongoing in Northern Virginia. To best address this spread, Northern Virginia has begun reporting by jurisdiction. There are 5 major jurisdictions and the report will show 0 cases, 1-4 cases, or the actual number for 5 or more cases. This level of granularity may provide greater transparency as to where outbreaks are centered.
While many individuals infected with monkeypox virus have a mild, self-limiting disease, antiviral treatments, such as tecovirimat (TPOXX), are available through the federal government for people with more severe illness or those at high risk of experiencing more severe illness.
Higher risk groups include those with:
– Weakened immune systems;
– Children (especially those less than eight years of age); pregnant or breastfeeding women;
– People with a history or presence of atopic dermatitis or those with certain skin conditions (e.g., eczema); and
– Those with other concurrent illnesses.
Two vaccines, JYNNEOS and ACAM2000, are available for prevention of monkeypox. The U.S. government is implementing an enhanced nationwide vaccination strategy. This will expand access to available JYNNEOS vaccine doses to areas with the most monkeypox transmission and greatest need. The supply of JYNNEOS vaccine is expected to increase over the next several months and into 2023. Virginia can also request ACAM2000 vaccine, but due to the potential for significant adverse side effects, this vaccine is not recommended for everyone.
Virginia is using three vaccination strategies:
– The Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) approach refers to administering a vaccine to someone at high risk for monkeypox;
– The Post-exposure Prophylaxis (PEP): CDC recommends that the vaccine be given within 4 days from the date of exposure for the best chance to prevent onset of the disease. If given between 4 and 14 days after the date of exposure, vaccination may reduce the symptoms of disease, but may not prevent the disease; and
– The Expanded PEP approach aims to reach these people for post-exposure prophylaxis, even if they have not had documented exposure to someone with confirmed monkeypox.
The VDH created and maintains a monkeypox website for the public and will continue to conduct outreach with healthcare providers and community partners. Please contact Bob Mauskapf, Director of the VDH Office of Emergency Preparedness, should you have other questions or require additional information. You can reach him at 804-864-7035 or bob.mauskpapf@vdh.virginia.gov
Unemployment Assistance
In recent weeks, many individuals have reached out to our office regarding their troubles with the Virginia Employment Commission. If you or someone you know is in need of assistance, whether it be from the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) or elsewhere, our office is happy to help. Please email our office at DelDHelmer@house.virginia.gov.
Mental Health Services coming to PWC
Prince William County leaders just announced $2.5 million in additional funding for a new crisis center designed to prioritize mental health. The new Crisis Receiving Center will increase local access to general mental health resources while providing more community-based services and inpatient psychiatric beds. It will provide support for people who need non-emergency mental health services. And, the facility will be home to the county’s trauma program, assertive community treatment and youth services programs.
The center will be open 24 hours, have 16 beds for adults in mental health crisis who need intervention, and 23 recliners where people in mental crisis can stay for observation for up to 23 hours. Read more about it here.
In addition, By calling or texting 9-8-8, residents across the United States can access mental health care support 24 hours a day. If interested, you can view a webinar here that explains how to access services when experiencing a mental health crisis.
Fighting to Keep Life Affordable
If you or someone you know needs assistance, I have provided resources below that may be helpful. In addition, you may always reach out to our office by email at DelDHelmer@house.virginia.gov – and we will work to connect you with community partners.
General resources:
– Commonhelp: https://www.commonhelp.
– FCPS Family Services: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/
– PWC Mutual Aid: Prince William County Mutual Aid’s Resources and Services Request Page is available to those living in the region, as well as those from Fairfax County. You can also contact them directly at pwcmutualaid@gmail.com, or find more information about the organization on their Facebook page.
Food resources:
– Food for Others: https://foodforothers.org/
– Western Fairfax Christian Ministries: https://wfcmva.org/; provides food and rent assistance to community members.
– FACETS: http://facetscares.org/; This program serves hot meals to unhoused individuals in the Fairfax Circle area. Roughly 100 meals are cooked, and served once a month.
Labor resources:
– The Centreville Labor Resource Center: http://
– The Virginia Career Works: https://vcwnorthern.com/fa-
Rent and housing resources:
– Cornerstones: https://www.cornerstonesva.
To find the cheapest fuel prices, you can visit this website, which allows you to compare gas prices in your area.
Favorites of the 40th
This week’s Favorite of the 40th is Hemlock Overlook Regional Park. Located in Clifton, the park is open from dusk until dawn and has 8 trails dedicated to hiking and horseback riding. Read more about the trails here. You can also learn more about the specific trails at Hemlock Overlook Regional Park here.
In addition to hiking and horseback riding trails, the park also has an Outdoor Educational Center. Their programs cater to school groups, corporate and office teams, scouting and outdoors groups, and other private groups. Individuals have the opportunity to test their collaboration skills on Hemlock’s 20+ acre ropes course. If interested in booking a program, visit Virginia Outside to do so.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend!