Dear friends,

The Commonwealth of Virginia is officially under a Democratic Party trifecta, and we are already seeing progress on the issues that matter to Virginians.

Governor Abigail Spanberger delivered the State of the Commonwealth on Monday, and she promised to make Virginia affordable and safe for all communities. I witnessed my colleagues on both sides of the aisle give Governor Spanberger a standing ovation on numerous priorities, such as supporting renewable energy and recognizing the importance of small businesses. Her full remarks can be read here.

Over the next four years, I will be working with Governor Spanberger to ensure that our district, and the Commonwealth, are heard. The work has only just begun!

Assault Weapons Ban Introduced

In 2023, during my first campaign for public office, I ran on one issue above all others: the urgent need to address the pandemic of gun violence and deliver real progress for Virginians who are tired of feeling unsafe in public places.

SB749 will put Virginia on a path towards ending the scourge of mass shootings. I began to work on this legislation intensely early this winter, but filing the bill is the beginning of another process as my colleagues give their input.

In the end, I expect to deliver a bill to Governor Spanberger's desk. I look forward to celebrating her signature on the bill with so many of you who have been with me since the beginning of this journey.

My remarks at the Virginia Gun Violence Prevention Caucus press conference on the commitment we have made to Virginians to have safer streets, schools, and communities by banning assault weapons, and how my bill delivers on to that commitment.

Invasive Plants Legislation Heading to Senate Finance

Last year, many of you were pleased to see my bill on invasive plants pass and become law. This year, I have another bill that adds invasive plants to the list of problems that Service Districts can work on. In current code, localities are able to form Service Districts to do things like landscaping and beautification, beach and shoreline management, and even control of invasive insects. SB89 simply adds invasive plants to the list, allowing areas like ours that are overrun with invasives to bring more resources to bear in combatting them. I was glad to see the Virginia Conservation Network highlight this as their Bill of the Week - read their writeup here!

Trump Watch

Despite his recent threats to use military force against our closest allies, President Trump traveled to Europe this week to attend the Davos World Economic Forum. The speech he delivered there has been widely panned as ridiculous, incomprehensible, and embarrassing.

Trump had announced a 10% tariff on the European nations who had committed to defending Greenland from a military assault. In response, the EU began to plan a "Trade Bazooka", which led Trump to chicken out (again) and withdraw his tariff threat.

This instability Trump is creating on the global stage is far beyond anything he did in his first term in terms of foreign policy. The longer this continues, the less our allies will trust us to be part of the global community in the future.

In addition to the resources linked below, I hope you will reach out to my office at [email protected] if you are dealing with challenges related to federal workforce reductions or other Trump administration efforts and are in need of information or assistance.

Resources (PDF)

Resources (Web)

Legislative Agenda Update

I continued to file legislation right up to this week's deadline, and I will be carrying 26 total bills this year. You can find the full list of legislation here.

We also released our proposed amendments to the state budget. Among my amendments was a proposal to develop a new Visitor's Center for the Washington & Old Dominion Trail. I have heard from many of you about the importance of this trail to our community, and with the unfortunate levels of deforestation done by property owners, now is the time to invest in the future of the W&OD Trail.

State of Emergency Declared! - Winter Weather Warning

Yesterday, Governor Spanberger declared a state of emergency ahead of the coming snowstorm set to hit the 37th district and most of Virginia on Saturday.

Senate District 37, and surrounding areas, will start to see snow fall mid-afternoon Saturday. The National Weather Service says expect to see 1-2" of accumulation per hour once the snow begins.

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will have all roads treated today, including primary and secondary roadways. They have tree crews that will perform emergency tree debris removal across the state. VDOT says do not travel! Get to where you need to be by 7-8pm on Saturday, January 28th.

Dominion Energy has crews and support personnel mobilized and prepared to respond across the Commonwealth. If you see a downed pole or wire, please report it by calling 866-DOM-HELP and stay at least 30 feet away: the line could be energized and dangerous.

It is a good idea to prepare food, water, and other supplies that could be helpful if you are unable to leave your home. Make sure your flashlights have batteries and your devices are charged! Please stay safe and warm this week!

Commonwealth Spotlight

CWS has been aiding refugees settling in all parts of Virginia for more than thirty years, continuing America's tradition as a land where immigrants can find safety, freedom, and opportunity.

MOVE is the largest Muslim business advocacy group in the country and it was my honor to represent them to their Virginia Senate

I heard this week from constituents with the Virginia Credit Union League, Professional Firefighters, and the Medical Society of Virginia.

The Virginia Young Democrats Disability Coalition, Future Farmers of America, Fairfax County Federation of Teachers, and the National Federation of the Blind VA.

I was glad to support the lobby day rally held at the Capitol Square Bell Tower in support of an end to gun violence in our communities.

Negotiating bills in the General Assembly takes time and patience, but my colleagues and I recognize the opportunity we have to make a genuine difference for the people we serve.

As always it is an honor to continue to represent you.

Sincerely,