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Dear John,
I hope everyone had a meaningful Indigenous People's Day, a happy Diwali, and a fun Halloween!
Also, Happy Native American Heritage Month and happy almost Election Day! Speaking of which. . . If you haven't voted yet, get it done! In-person early voting is completed, but Election Day is Tuesday, November 4th and polls are open 6am to 7pm. Find out more about where, when, and how to vote at iwillvote.com [iwillvote.com] . If you have a mail-in ballot, you can still bring it to your local drop box [[link removed]] through 7pm on Election Day. If you want to poll greet or help get out the vote, check out these volunteer opportunities [[link removed]] with the Henrico County Democratic Committee. It's vital we flip all three statewide offices to Democrats and expand the Democratic majority in the Virginia House of Delegates!
As for legislative updates , unless you've been under a rock, you know that this past week the General Assembly went in to Special Session to consider HJ6007 [[link removed]] , which was heavily debated and ultimately passed [[link removed]] . It would authorize the General Assembly to modify Virginia's congressional districts, "outside of the standard decennial redistricting cycle, in the event that any other state conducts a redistricting of their state's congressional districts outside of the standard decennial redistricting cycle or for any purpose other than complying with a state or federal court order to remedy an unlawful or unconstitutional district map."
I voted in favor of HJ6007. However, I remain opposed to gerrymandering and would not have supported a repeal of the redistricting commission established in 2020. Unfortunately, the United States President is using his bully pulpit to compel states with MAGA majorities to break the 70-year norm of only redistricting every 10 years. His policies are unpopular, and he doesn't wish to face the electoral consequences in the midterm elections. Given this extreme situation, I committed to supporting a proportional, conditional, limited response [[link removed]] that protects Virginians' voices and the power of their vote to show their reactions to policies that impact their rights and quality of life.
To understand in greater detail my position on this redistricting resolution, please watch the two floor speeches I made during the Special Session below:
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Besides the Special Session, there was plenty going on in October to keep me busy...
The first weekend in October was packed! I started with the Glen Allen Day Parade and Festival. This is one of my favorite events in Henrico and we had perfect weather for it! After, I stopped by the Annual Armenian Food Festival on Patterson Avenue for lunch--this is RVA's oldest and longest-running food festival and it's always a good time with great food and performances. I ended my Saturday at the ICNA Relief Gala with Richmond Mayor Danny Avula. ICNA does great working getting food, medical care, and other necessities to those in need in Henrico and the greater RVA region and I'm happy to support their work. That Sunday, I ran off all of those extra calories (or tried to!) in the Indian American Virginia Association 5k in Twin Hickory. It was a beautiful morning to get out and run with the community!
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On Monday, October 6th, we had a great visit to the Waller Depot where hopefully the future Museum of the Virginia National Guard will be established. Virginia is the only state of the original 13 colonies without such a resource, and the VNG has a 400-year history in the Commonwealth!
The next day was all about healthcare. We went to a fantastic groundbreaking ceremony for the Critical Care Tower Expansion at St. Mary's Hospital. I'm grateful for the many excellent healthcare options available in western Henrico! Next, I participated in the Medical Society of Virginia's Healthcare Advocacy Forum with other RVA-area legislators. We connected with physicians, PAs, residents, and medical students and discussed issues facing medical practitioners in the Commonwealth, including Medicaid and access to care, insurance practices, public health, and workforce development.
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The following week, on October 14th, I participated in a forum at the Library of Virginia put on by SAARA of Virginia about recovery, substance, and health care. I talked about my work to better regulate recovery homes and how we could do more to ensure folks get the help (and second chances) they need! Later that week, I joined Clean Virginia and at their "The Energy Bills Are Too Damn High" tour stop in Richmond. Other policy makers and I discussed how we can tame rising energy bills. Whether it’s housing, energy bills, groceries or health care, the bills are too damn high and we need to do something about it!
( You can watch my conversation with Clean Virginia Executive Director Brennan Gilmore about the status of Virginia's energy bills and how we got there below .)
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I started the following weekend at the Maverick Miles 5k with Tuckahoe Supervisor Jody Rogish to raise money for Douglas S. Freeman Athletics Boosters. Later that weekend, I attended an inspiring housing summit put on by VOICE. I was proud to join several Virginia Senate and House Democratic colleagues, local leaders, faith leaders, and hundreds of Virginians to make the argument to build more housing!
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The following week, while I was celebrating my middle child's 18th birthday, my Chief of Staff attended a meeting in the Wyndham community to hear about a data center development being proposed in neighboring Hanover County right next to Wyndham. This upcoming legislative session, it's imperative that we put guardrails on data centers' continued proliferation--high energy bills, pollution, haphazard siting all present a host of concerns. Later that week, while I was teaching, she attended the 50th Anniversary celebration Parham Doctors Hospital. We're so lucky to have this option right in my neighborhood in the 16th District!
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On the political and campaign front , I participated fully in October Knocktober. I spoke at several rallies and canvass launches for May Nivar along with with our next Lieutenant Governor Ghazal Hashmi, Congresswoman Gabby Giffords and the Giffords organization crew, Sister District, Virginia Young Dems, Henrico Commonwealth's Attorney Shannon Taylor, Delegate Rodney Willett, and former Secretary of Education Anne Holton.
These events have been PACKED--people in Henrico are fired up and ready to elect Abigail Spanberger, Ghazala Hashmi, Jay Jones, May Nivar, Rodney Willett, and the whole Democratic ticket!
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I'll be back after the end of November with another update. In the meantime, i f you would like to reach out and discuss any of my legislative priorities, share an opinion, or if your organization or community group would like to invite me to an event or to speak, please don't hesitate to reach out at [email protected] [[email protected]] .
For campaign or political inquiries, reach out to [email protected] [[email protected].] . And don't forget to get out there and VOTE!!!
Thanks so much for your support!
Yours in service,
Schuyler VanValkenburg, 16th District
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