Today, as we passed a repeal of the death penalty out of the House of Delegates, I thought of a passage by J.R.R. Tolkien, “Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement.”
I thought also of my colleagues, some of whom are now close friends, and a number who have lost a loved one to murder. One lost a father, another a sister, another a brother, and one a girlfriend. And each of them talked to me separately about their own support for repeal. They could never forgive. But they also thought that after years in which Virginia had been a leader in meting out death as a punishment, and where executions reflected vast racial disparities in our application of justice, it was time to end this practice. In a year of so much death, I was moved to have a chance to take one small step to stop unnecessary and brutal loss of life.
Events and Meetings
This past week, I had the opportunity to meet with members of the Virginia Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. They are advocating for increased food access through afterschool meals, the establishment of the Virginia Agriculture Food Assistance program, and strengthened telehealth services, supporting bills that I’ve been happy to champion and vote for this session.
On Tuesday, I met with COVID vaccine czar Dr. Danny Avula and other members of the Governor’s team to seek updates on efforts to expedite our roll out of vaccines. I’m impressed that after a rocky start, Dr. Avula has helped Virginia move into the top 10 states in the country in terms of per capita vaccinations. During the meeting, I had the opportunity to raise concerns I have heard from a number of you about timelines for appointments, and the team committed to doing all they can to improve this process.
On Thursday, I was able to meet with our amazing team of interns. It was great to chat about the new things they’ve learned since the start of their internship and their favorite legislative items so far. Simran, Gus, Temujin, and Alex have helped our office run smoothly during this unconventional legislative session, and I am grateful for all of their hard work.
Finally, tomorrow, we are holding a drive-through petition signing event to help us get on the ballot. The event will occur from 12-2PM at Battlefield High School, located at 15000 Graduation Dr. Haymarket, VA. We ask that all follow CDC and VDH guidelines and wear a mask should they come to sign a petition. Masks and hand sanitizer will both be available on site. If you have any questions about this event or would like to hear about the ways you can get involved with our campaign, you can email kenneth@danhelmer.com.
Legislative Updates
This Saturday marks the midpoint of the legislative session, commonly referred to as “crossover”. After Saturday, the House will focus on reviewing bills passed by the Senate, and vice versa. Though it’s hard to believe that we’ve already reached the midpoint of the legislative session, I am proud of the many bills we’ve moved to the Senate.
All seven of the bills I introduced this session have passed the House of Delegates, most with bipartisan support. I joined our local NPR station to talk about one of the bills, HB 1820, which will help tens of thousands of Virginians who face food insecurity. You can listen to the interview here.
With Virginians paying the6th highest electric bills in the country according to the federal government, I worked hard to gain bipartisan support to help Virginia consumers. After a decade of regulatory capture by state regulated monopolies that has left ratepayers out to dry, our office’s House Bill 1914 passed with a significant bipartisan majority.
I have also been proud to support a number of my colleagues’ important efforts, including a number I’ve been able to help lead on as a “chief co patron.” One example is HB 2161, which passed the House unanimously on Wednesday. This bill ensures that active military members and their families are protected from discrimination in public accomodations, employment, and housing. I am glad that the House could reach bipartisan consensus around this issue, and I am hopeful that we see these protections enshrined into law.
This week, the House also passed bipartisan COVID legislation that I’ve co-patroned that will move to the Senate. HB 2207 ensures that those who get COVID as a result of their work will be eligible for Worker’s Compensation. Another bill I’ve supported, HB 2206 would create a program to provide financial assistance for child care to families in need during the pandemic. If these bills become law, we will be able to provide necessary stability and security for families in our Commonwealth during an incredibly uncertain time.
I’m looking forward to reviewing and passing even more legislation in the coming weeks. If you would like to follow our bills as they make their way to the Senate, you can do so here.
COVID-19 Updates
This Wednesday, Governor Northam gave an update on Virginia’s COVID vaccine rollout. Virginia is giving an average of 33,500 shots per day, and we are now moving towards a goal of 50,000 daily shots. We are currently 5th in the nation for the number of vaccine doses administered per day. Virginia has also started to receive a 16% increase in weekly dose shipments, which will allow us to vaccinate more people at a faster rate. Governor Northam announced a new COVID dashboard to increase data transparency, which you can find here.
Governor Northam gave an additional COVID update today where he detailed Virginia’s plan to get our students back in the classroom. All school divisions are expected to have in-person options for students by March 15. This has been a challenging time for students and teachers alike, and I am happy to see that we are getting closer to our goal of safe, in-person learning.
While our Commonwealth has made strides since the beginning of the vaccine rollout, there is still work to be done. There are currently not enough vaccine doses available for everyone eligible to receive an appointment, which I understand is frustrating for those who are on the waitlist. However, all those who are eligible are still recommended to pre-register for the vaccine, which Prince William County residents can do here and Fairfax County residents can do here.
I am heartened by the progress Virginia has made in becoming one of the most efficient states at vaccinating and will continue to push for clearer communication and a more effective vaccine distribution process. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns surrounding the vaccine rollout, please do not hesitate to reach out to our office.
Favorites of the 40th
Based in the Clifton, VA area, The Wounded Paw Project is a three-tiered dog non-profit organization focused on preventing animal cruelty, ending dogfighting, and giving dogs a second “tail” in life. They are dispelling the notion that rescue dogs are not viable candidates to be service, therapy, emotional, or mobility dogs to our nation’s heroes and family.
The organization was founded by Ernesto P. Hernandez III. Ernesto is an Air Force veteran who retired with a Purple Heart he earned using his body as a shield so that others might live. He was inspired to start this organization after taking in rescue turned service dog, Daisy, to help recover from combat wounds both visible and invisible. You can learn more about the Wounded Paw Project at www.woundedpawproject.org.
Thank you for your engagement during this legislative session. If our office can be of any assistance to you during this time, please feel free to reach out. I hope you have a safe and healthy weekend.
Warm Regards,
Dan Helmer