Dear Friend,
Two hundred and forty-nine years ago, a group of rebels decided they wouldn’t be ruled by a king. They banded together in common cause and fought a nearly decade long war for independence. On July 4th, nearly a year after the first shots were fired, the Continental Congress finally accepted the inevitable direction of the rebellion and declared the rationale for the war they were already fighting.
The document they produced, our Declaration of Independence, remains a true North Star. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.—That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, —That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”
Our country has long struggled to move the uplifting words into action. The government excluded women from the “consent of the governed” until the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920. African Americans were excluded through first slavery and then Jim Crow until the Voting Rights Act of 1965. As recently as four years ago, armed insurrectionists sought to overturn the will of the people during their deadly attack on the Capitol.
Yet in spite of the moments we haven’t lived up to the ideals expressed by our Founders, ideals they themselves didn’t live up to, I am troubled by the reports over the past weeks that fewer and fewer Americans take pride in our country.
I believe we should be proud. We should embrace our exceptionalism as the authors of those ideals, as a country that has welcomed “the huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”
The arc of progress is not inevitable. As we witness assaults on our democracy, we cannot sit idly by. My family and I will be waving our flag this Independence Day, not because we believe our America is without flaws, but because we believe in the project to realize the vision of a country working for all Americans.
Patriotism is a project, one worth embracing, and I’m glad to salute my fellow patriots this Independence Day. So please grill, watch fireworks, celebrate, and enjoy. Happy Birthday America!
Warm Regards,
Dan
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Summer Happenings
I had the pleasure of speaking with Jim Lokay on Fox 5 to talk about the work we are doing to expand the majority in the House of Delegates
I had the honor of attending the Korean War Veterans event to pay tribute to those who defended freedom on the Korean Peninsula.
I am honored to stand with the SEIU Virginia 512 and speak out alongside those pushing back against dangerous corporate behavior.
I had a wonderful time at the Blue Commonwealth Gala. Proud to commemorate a strong Democratic ticket and celebrate a historic majority ahead of the November election.
I am so thankful for the many incredible organizers, leaders, and advocates at the Women’s Summit with Network NOVA
Local Events
Peterson’s Ice Cream Depot
Weekdays 1:00pm-9:30pm
Weekends 12:00pm-9:30pm
7150 Main St Clifton, Virginia 20124
Stop by Peterson’s Ice Cream Depot for a refreshing sweet treat in the beautiful summer heat. Enjoy the wide variety of flavors! Bring some friends and have some fun playing checkers, watching your favorite sporting event, enjoying some good quality Ice Cream, and have wonderful conversations with pals.
Paradise Springs Winery Events
July 3rd and July 4th
13219 Yates Ford Rd, Clifton, VA
Join Paradise Springs for the Fourth of July For dates and times, visit here.
Nominations Needed!!!!!!
One of the best parts about serving in the General Assembly is being able to honor individuals, groups and organizations in the 10th district that deserve recognition with a Commending or Memorial Resolution. Know a person who has given back to the community, a group engaged in an activity worthy of noting, a small business doing a great job, or a team that has excelled either on the field or off? Tell us about it! We can also honor significant anniversaries both for couples and institutions, as well as remember those that have passed. Give us all the details by emailing us at deldhelmer@house.virginia.gov and a member of my staff will be in touch.
Resources for Laid-Off Federal Workers
Applying for Unemployment
Job Search Resources
Federal
State
Local
- Fairfax Economic Development Authority Career Services & Listings
- Fairfax County Employment Center Services
- Fairfax County Public School (FCPS) Openings
- Fairfax County Government Openings
- Centreville Labor Resource Center (CLRC)
Health Care Resources
Family Services Assistance
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP Benefits)
- Virginia Department of Health Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program
- Child Care Assistance and Referral (CCAR)
- Fairfax County Department of Family Services
- Northern Virginia Family Service
Housing & Rental Assistance Resources
- Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development
- Fairfax County Housing and Community Development
- Good Shepherd Housing
Misc. Assistance and Resources
Human Services
- United Community (Human Services)
- Lorton Community Action Center
- The Koinonia Foundation
- Fairfax County Human Services Resources
- Clifton Lions Club of Virginia
Miscellaneous Resources
Ongoing Community Resources
Unemployment Assistance
Many individuals have reached out to our office regarding 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.
Affordable Broadband for Students
Cox internet is announcing a new program: Connect2Compete (C2C), designed to provide low-income households with school-aged children with affordable broadband service. Virginia families that participate in any government assistance program are eligible for C2C—and can subscribe to speeds up to 100 Mbps download for just $9.95/month. You can learn more about the program here: www.cox.com/digitalequity
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.virginia.gov/
● FCPS Family Services: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/familyservices/
● 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://centrevilleimmigrationforum.org/centreville-labor-resource-center/
● The Virginia Career Works: https://vcwnorthern.com/fa-booking/
Rent and housing resources:
● Cornerstones: https://www.cornerstonesva.org/
To find the cheapest fuel prices, you can visit this website, which allows you to compare gas prices in your area.
