Week 3 Session Update 2021

Sunday, January 31, 2021

Dear Friend,

The third week of the General Assembly session concluded this past Friday. We have one week left before bills passed in one chamber cross over to the other chamber. Moreover, the budget deliberations are expected to continue for the next few weeks. Lawmakers are working hard but our work is not yet finished. Highlights of the past week are noted below:

Legalizing Marijuana & Next Steps - I am delighted to say that the committee I chair, Rehabilitation and Social Services, completed action on the many bills that were before the body. The most transformational bill was the Governor’s proposal to legalize the adult use of marijuana, sponsored by Senator Ebbin. The Rehab and Social Services committee approved the regulatory framework and social equity requirements related to the cultivation and marketing of the product. However, the Judiciary Committee will be hammering out the process for the expungement of criminal records related to the past possession of marijuana, where that possession would be viewed as legal under a new law. This discussion is complex, many hold very strong views. I will keep you posted.

COVID-19 Vaccine Information - Vaccine updates can be found here. I advise you to go to your local health department website and sign up for a vaccine appointment if you are in the CDC identified 1a or 1b categories. But please keep in mind that Virginia is receiving roughly 100,000 vaccines a week for the entire Commonwealth and the vaccines are distributed to local health departments in a proportionate manner, based on population. Given this production and distribution schedule, even those of us who are currently eligible will experience long wait periods before we can get vaccinated. Rest assured, I am doing everything possible to encourage our Federal representatives to increase the production of the vaccine products.

I have sponsored two virtual town halls this past week, one for Arlington residents and one for Fairfax residents, to respond to questions related to accessing the COVID-19 vaccine. Both town halls can be found on my YouTube channel.

Thank you to those who participated in my Fairfax Town Hall. Dr. Gloria Addo-Ayensu, the Fairfax County Health Director, respectfully asks that residents visit the Fairfax Health Department's website for details about the general vaccine process. The Health Department will not be responding to questions that are already posted with a response on the Department's website. Please remember that our public health professionals are working diligently to get folks vaccinated. Your patience is greatly appreciated.

I will be participating in a Vaccine Town Hall for Loudoun County residents on February 9 at 6:00 pm. More details to come.

Criminal Justice Reform with a Focus on Pregnancy Care in our Jails - I sponsored a bill to require the Board of Local and Regional Jails, in consultation with key stakeholders, to make recommendations to ensure that the pre-natal, delivery, and postpartum care provided in our jails meets the standards endorsed by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. With the help of many groups concerned about women’s health and prison reform, the bill was voted out of the Rehab and Social Services Committee and will be on the Senate floor this upcoming week. The Virginia Association of Sheriffs is also supporting the legislation.

Gun Safety and Preventing Domestic Violence - I am hopeful that my bill to prevent an abuser who has been convicted of a misdemeanor assault and battery charge against a family or household member will be prohibited from possessing a firearm. This legislation would align Virginia law with federal law already in place. The advantage of putting federal law into state code is that local law enforcement will be able to enforce the mandate. The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence is an active proponent of this bill, along with advocacy groups interested in intervening and preventing domestic violence. Delegate Murphy is carrying companion legislation in the House. 

The Commonwealth’s Clean Energy Plan - I am the chief patron of a bill that creates a blueprint for the Commonwealth to achieve the ambitious goals of the Clean Economy Act. My bill, referred to as the Commonwealth’s Clean Energy Plan, is legislation that Governor Northam has asked me to carry. The most important language contained in the plan is noted below: 

“The Commonwealth recognizes that effectively addressing climate change and enhancing resilience will advance the health, welfare, and safety of the residents of the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth further recognizes that addressing climate change requires reducing greenhouse gas emissions across the Commonwealth's economy sufficient to reach net-zero emission by 2045 in all sectors, including the electric power, transportation, industrial, agricultural, building, and infrastructure sectors.”

The legislation goes on to say that to achieve these objectives, it shall be the policy of the Commonwealth to develop energy resources necessary to produce 30 percent of Virginia's electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030 and 100 percent of Virginia's electricity from carbon-free sources by 2040 and to enable widespread integration of distributed energy resources, including energy storage and rooftop solar, into the grid to achieve de-carbonization and to enhance resilience.

Even though I have broad based support for this plan, the legislation passed out of a subcommittee of the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee on a party-line vote. I expect the same dynamic will be in play when the bill is heard by the full committee on Commerce and Labor in the upcoming week. Addressing climate change should not be a partisan issue.

Stay safe and be diligent in practicing mask wearing, social distancing, and hand washing. There is light at the end of the tunnel.

It is an honor to represent you and to fight for our Democratic values in Richmond.

Sincerely,