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Friends, We just wrapped up the Reconvened Session, bringing the 2020 General Assembly to a close. I want to offer my sincere gratitude to our Senate Clerk’s office and staff for their hard work this session, and especially acknowledge our exceptional Madam Clerk Susan Schaar. We also owe thanks to the Capitol Police and the Richmond City Police for their remarkable security services on Wednesday. I also thank the Science Museum of Virginia for providing a safe place for us to convene our final session while still practicing social distancing. This session, we made major strides towards building a better, more progressive Virginia. Governor Northam signed several bills I carried this session into law. Here are a few:
The Governor’s amendments to the budget, passage of these bills, and our votes yesterday reflect our optimism as we continue efforts to maintain financial stability for the Commonwealth in very uncertain times. While some of our legislation may be delayed for a few months, we know that the state is moving in the right direction. While my team continues to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic, its impacts on our district, and its effects on the greater Commonwealth, our top priority remains the health and well-being of Virginians. We’re continuing to practice social distancing, and I remain committed to connecting with you via regular updates on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, along with our weekly newsletters and monthly Virtual Town Halls. Every Thursday at 11am, I host Senate Sessions: Five Minutes with District 10 through Facebook Live. These sessions are brief, informational videos covering COVID-19 updates, as well as other topics that affect each of us. They also serve to highlight necessary resources and give us an opportunity to connect each week. If you want to ask questions, please submit them in advance through this simple form. The final Senate Session for April will focus on District 10 COVID updates (April 30). Stay tuned for more information about our May Senate Sessions! Last week, we hosted the first of our monthly Virtual Town Halls to provide support during this period. The Town Hall focused on Mental Health Strategies: Coping with COVID 19. We were joined by the amazing Erin Mahone, author of If You Could See Me. If you missed it, you can find a recording here. And stay tuned for information on the next Town Hall in May! Finally, my team has also implemented essential strategies like weekly phone calls with constituents, community groups, and local leaders around the Commonwealth to discuss their areas of effort, their potential needs, and how we can maintain constant communication to ensure people are being heard. These calls help connect the dots between communities in our district and across Virginia, as well as answering mental health questions or small business questions. We will continue to be in touch with more resources and information as we receive them, and don’t forget to stay up to date on the latest COVID-19 news. Follow us on Facebook, where we put information out frequently updating our constituents. In the meantime, if you’re a constituent and need to reach out to our office for support, please email [email protected]. - Ghazala
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