Today, many in our district and across the world are celebrating the Lunar New Year and the beginning of the Year of the Ox – a symbol of strength, reliability, and fairness. To all those celebrating, I wish you a new year filled with happiness and good fortune.
Events and Meetings
Over the weekend, we gathered at Battlefield High School for a drive-through petition signing event. It was great to safely meet and speak with folks in the district as we approach the number of signatures needed to get on the ballot. Thank you to all those who organized the event and took time out of their busy schedules to help our team out.
This Tuesday, I met with Centreville High School students to discuss their idea for a bill as a part of their AP Government class. These students want to remove the court requirement for driver’s licenses because it overwhelms court houses and takes time away from school. It is wonderful to see young people engaged in our democracy, and I was wholly impressed with their bright idea and hard work on this project.
On Tuesday, I also met with members of the Governor’s team for a COVID vaccine update. Virginia’s vaccination numbers are continuing to climb, but there are still communication challenges surrounding the vaccine rollout, especially as information changes on a daily basis. If you have any questions or concerns about the vaccine that you would like me to raise during these meetings with health officials, please do not hesitate to contact me. I am committed to making this process as transparent as possible.
On Thursday, I attended the Springfield Democrats meeting. During the meeting, I had the chance to share updates about the bills we’re working on in the General Assembly. I had a great time chatting with committee members and I appreciate their continued activism during this legislative session.
Constituent meetings have been one of the highlights of the virtual legislative session. If you or a community organization you are a part of would like to schedule a meeting, please let me know and we will set up a time to chat.
Legislative Updates
This week, we began to review and vote on bills that originated in the Senate. I had the opportunity to help get some important bills out of committee, including Senate Bill 1259, which passed out of the House Transportation Committee unanimously. If it becomes law, this legislation would help ensure that toll rates are fair for drivers using our roads. In the House Agriculture, Chesapeake, and Natural Resources Committee, Senate Bill 1188 also received unanimous support. This bill establishes the Virginia Agriculture Food Assistance Program and Fund, which helps Virginia farmers provide produce to charitable organizations. Helping Virginians put food on the table is one of my top priorities for this legislative session, and I am heartened that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle are looking at the different avenues to make this goal a reality.
This Wednesday, Virginia’s House budget was released. One of the biggest priorities for the budget is targeted funding for different COVID relief measures, including vaccines, testing, and grants for small businesses. Another budget priority is supporting paid sick leave for essential workers who have put themselves at risk to keep our society functioning. We are also working to secure better funding for our schools and pay raises for our teachers so that when our students return to in-person learning, they will have all the tools they need to succeed. As the end of the legislative session nears, I’m looking forward to working with my colleagues to support a budget that best meets the needs of Virginians during this challenging time.
This Wednesday, we had our first Senate committee presentation for one of our bills. HB 1811, which would have us buy green energy products and save taxpayer dollars in the process, was presented in front of the Senate General Laws and Technology Committee. Today, HB 1820 passed out of the Senate Rehabilitation and Social Services Committee. This bill, which would increase access to food assistance programs for thousands of Virginians, continued with unanimous support. This bill will help so many families in our commonwealth during a challenging time, and I am encouraged by the support it has received thus far.
In the coming weeks, our bills will continue to reach different Senate committees and eventually, we hope, the Senate floor. If you would like to follow their progress, you can do so here.
COVID Updates
Virginia has now reached over 1.2 million total doses of the vaccine administered, and 11.4% of Virginians have received at least one dose of the vaccine. Our current 7-Day positivity rate is at 10%, which represents a downward trend since last month. Virginia remains in the top 10 states for percentage of vaccines administered, and it is my hope that these vaccination numbers will continue to rise as our vaccine rollout moves forward.
This week, there was some confusion surrounding CVS Pharmacy’s vaccine registration. CVS opened their vaccine registration to Virginians 65 and older, but because of technological limitations they were unable to reserve appointments for those who had pre-registered with their county health departments. This led to a disorderly registration process where appointments spots filled up quickly. Going forward, it is clear that this process needs to be improved substantially as Virginia builds additional vaccine partnerships with pharmacies. Communication regarding vaccine registration options is not where it needs to be, and I will continue to push for a fair and efficient registration system in my conversations with health officials.
Even as we begin to receive increases in vaccine shipments, we are still facing supply constraints. Virginia does not have enough vaccines for everyone who is eligible, which I realize is incredibly frustrating for those who have been on the waitlist for a significant period of time. However, securing a spot on your county’s waitlist is still the fastest way to ensure that you get a vaccine when an appointment becomes available. Eligible Fairfax County residents can register here and Prince William County residents can register here. If you have any questions or concerns surrounding the vaccine rollout, please feel free to reach out. Nothing is more important than improving this process.
Favorites of the 40th
Founded in 2003, The Brain Foundation was established to help individuals who suffer from brain diseases and are at risk of becoming homeless find affordable housing. The organization was founded by Trudy Harsh, a local Realtor, who was driven to establish the Brain Foundation based on her experiences with her daughter Laura’s difficulty finding suitable housing. Laura Harsh suffered a brain tumor when she was 8 years old and the resulting surgery left her with many challenges. Some of her best experiences were in community housing facilities, and Trudy saw a much needed opportunity to fill a housing gap and provide similar housing to others. Over the years Trudy has recruited other Realtors and friends to help run the organization entirely through volunteer effort.
In October 2015, The Brain Foundation acquired its ninth house in Fairfax County, VA. Each house is designated “Laura’s House,” in honor of Laura Harsh. Thirty-six residents reside in Laura’s House in Fairfax County and pay nominal rent for a room to call their own. For some residents, Laura’s House offers the first chance at independent living that they have ever had. As a place they can be themselves, each of their houses strives to be not just a residence, but a home. To learn more about the Brain Foundation and the many ways to get involved you can visit brain-foundation.org.
If our office can be helpful to you in any way during this time, please let me know. Thank you for your partnership in our work this week, and I hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Warm Regards,
Dan Helmer