Dear Friend,
On Wednesday, we had our annual “veto” session. During this time, we addressed both the governor’s vetoes and his proposed amendments to bills we had sent to him.
I am proud of the work we did during session to keep our communities safe, and I was deeply disappointed by the vetoes and amendments that sought to revoke or weaken proposals aimed at ensuring a world class education for our children, protecting our communities from gun violence, keeping the government out of reproductive healthcare decisions, and addressing rising costs. The governor vetoed several of my bills, including an Assault Weapons Ban and a bill that would have significantly reduced the costs of administering elections while expanding voter participation. The explanations on why he vetoed these bills were simply talking points – and in the case of the election bill, factually wrong. Regardless, we will keep up the fight.
We also rejected his amendment that would have gutted funding for our schools at a time when we need to ensure no child is left behind.
In Virginia, we have a mechanism by which we can pre-empt a governor’s veto. I’m proud that Republicans and Democrats alike in the House joined me in rejecting – and pre-emptively overriding – a veto on a bill I’d written to ensure families can access fertility preservation and IVF when confronted with a diagnosis that might rob them of the opportunity to have children. No Virginian should be denied the opportunity to start a family simply because insurance won’t cover it.
A full accounting of what happened to all of the bills we offered this year can be found here.
Finally, I continue to work with other leaders in the House to address the impact of federal workforce and contracting cuts. I am devastated by the thoughtless destruction of government services. I know that many of you are struggling to access Social Security benefits, and are concerned about the rise of Polio, experiencing job loss, and worried about increased prices as a result of policies of this Administration. We are actively working to undo the damage wherever we can, and we value your stories, perspectives, and thoughts – particularly as we believe it is likely we will go to a Special Session this year to address the impacts.
Our Emergency Committee on the Impacts of Federal Workforce and Funding Reductions is meeting again soon, and the inputs from those sessions as well as those you send me will inform our approach going forward.
Warm Regards,
Dan
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Spring Happenings
I went to Vienna Metro to send people off to the Hands Off rally in Washington DC.
I spoke with people fighting for our democracy and standing up for our values at the Manassas Hand Off rally.
I attended a local Cub Scouts den meeting and answered some of these future leaders’ questions on government and elections.
My colleagues, Kimberly Pope Adams and Gay Valimont, and I served as panelists at Demcast, a nonprofit grassroots media co-op that promotes progressive messaging and supports Democratic candidates.
I appreciated the opportunity to speak with the Fairfax Station Boy Scouts about the importance of community service and leadership.
I had a great time attending the Southwest Youth Association’s Opening Day on March 29th for baseball and softball.
I was happy to participate in the Fairfax County Democratic Committee’s Pick Your Pony Event alongside Jay Jones.
Senator Stella Pekarsky, Delegate Karrie Delaney, and I hosted a town hall and had a great discussion with constituents about our work in Richmond. We were glad to be able to hear from our community members about their priorities and concerns.
Top of the Tenth
Centreville Students Selected for Boys State
Congratulations to Sankalp Agarwal, Kareem Aly, and Alessandro De Stefano for their selection to the prestigious Virginia Boys State program! Virginia Boys State is a leadership action program, designed to develop a working knowledge of the structure of government. Boys State is among the most respected educational programs of government instruction for high school students. At Boys State, participants are exposed to the rights and privileges, the duties and the responsibilities of a franchised citizen. The training is objective and practical with city, county and state governments operated by the students elected to the various offices. Activities include legislative sessions, court proceedings, law enforcement presentations, assemblies, bands, chorus, and recreational programs.
Local Events
9th Annual SYA Frog Hair Golf Classic
May 30, 2025
Twin Lakes Golf Club, Clifton, VAThe Southwest Youth Association (SYA) is hosting its 9th annual Frog Hair Golf Classic on May 30, 2025. The proceeds from the event will support SYA Sports and Western Fairfax Christian Ministries (WFCM). WFCM helps qualified residents of western Fairfax County who face food insecurity and financial instability. If you are interested in participating, please register on their website.
Robinson Spring Art Show
April 10, 2025
6:00-8:00pm
5035 Sideburn Rd, Fairfax, VA 22032
The Robinson Spring Art Show, a collaborative event featuring artwork from Robinson High School and other schools in the Robinson Pyramid, is happening on Thursday, April 10th, with local food trucks on site.
Fairfax Earth Day Festival
April 26, 2025
10:00am-4:00pm
3650 Historic Sully Way, Chantilly, VA
Mark your calendar for the 2025 Earth Day Festival! Admission is free, and parking is $10 per car at the gate. Celebrate Earth Day with hands-on activities, games, live entertainment, and educational exhibits focused on environmental conservation. The festival features outdoor discovery activities, earth-friendly vendors, food trucks, a craft beer garden, and live music performances.
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.
