It was a great afternoon this past Sunday getting out the vote for Vice President Kamala Harris, Senator Tim Kaine, and Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan! After President Biden selflessly stepped down from his campaign, my colleagues and I in the Senate Democratic Caucus came together to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for President. 

Last week, President Biden made the selfless decision to end his presidential campaign and put the country above himself. From lowering the cost of prescription drugs to investing in American workers and our communities to fighting for democracy here and abroad, Joe Biden’s administration moved us forward. He was a transformational President and we owe him our deepest thanks for a lifetime of service and extraordinary leadership. 

It is now time for a new generation of leadership. I, along with my Democratic colleagues in the Senate, am proud to endorse Kamala Harris in her bid for the Presidency this November. Vice President Harris has worked tirelessly alongside President Biden to address important issues affecting all Americans. Whether it be making significant investments in national infrastructure or enacting the first federal gun control legislation in 30 years, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have delivered results that benefit every American and Virginian. She will carry Democrats to victory up and down the ballot this November, and she is the clear choice to succeed President Biden and continue her work focused on making American and our democracy stronger for generations to come. 

Defeating Former President Trump is essential to preserving democracy in our country, and I look forward to supporting the Harris campaign as we move closer to election day. If you want to get involved, you can sign up here to make phone calls to your neighbors in Henrico, if you’re interested in getting involved with the Henrico Democratic Committee you can sign up to volunteer here, and you can donate to the Harris campaign here. 

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I really enjoyed joining the Tuckahoe Volunteer Rescue Squad to present them with a Commending Resolution celebrating 70 years of service to our community! Last year they had 120 volunteers make over 4,000 calls, over 33 calls per volunteer. They are a special organization and deserve our thanks.

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On July 18, the General Assembly members of the Senate and House of Delegates unanimously passed SB 6012/HB 6004, repealing changes made to the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP) during the 2024 session. The VMSDEP program was originally created to provide college tuition to the kids of active-duty service members killed in action — or “totally or permanently disabled ” — due to service in World War I (1914–18). Over the years, the program has been expanded to provide up to eight academic semesters of education benefits at Virginia's public colleges and universities to spouses and children of military service members and veterans who were killed in action, are missing in action, were taken prisoner or, are considered 90% disabled as a result of military service by the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

Since the last expansion of the program in 2019, there has been concern from our higher education institutions about the cost of the program considering how much growth it has had in just the last five years. In fall 2022, over 6,000 students were enrolled in VMSDEP statewide — compared to about 2,000 in fall 2019. The legislation we passed earlier this month and Governor Youngkin signed repealed the changes to the program and added an additional $90 million in funds to pay for the program, in addition to $40 million already included in the two-year budget.

The Senate’s Special Select Workgroup on VMSDEP will continue to work with the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) to provide expedited recommendations on VMSDEP prior to the 2025 legislative session. Information on future Workgroup meetings will be available on the Legislative Information System (LIS). 

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It was an honor to present Virginia Senate Commending Resolutions to Henrico County Division of Fire retirees Cricket Gerald and Greg Nuckols at the Henrico County Government Board meeting earlier in July. Between them they served our country for 80 years with distinction! Thank you to Cricket and Greg for their service!

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Earlier this month, I penned an op-ed with my good friend Jay Jones on gun safety in the Richmond Times Dispatch. The op-ed highlights the alarming impact of gun violence in Virginia, where an average of three people die by firearm daily and hospitalization costs for nonfatal injuries reached over $136 million in 2022. Despite legislative progress in 2020 with measures like the red flag law and handgun purchase limits, partisan divisions have stalled further reforms. 

Nonetheless, common ground can be found to keep Virginians safe. A notable success is Lucia's Law, a bill that holds irresponsible gun owners accountable when they let guns fall into the hands of minors who are known to be a risk to themselves or others. This common sense measure received bipartisan support in the House and Senate and was signed by the Governor. 

Despite that one victory, and the ongoing pain gun violence inflicts on Virginians, Republicans in the House of Delegates attempted to repeal every single common sense gun safety law in 2022 and 2023. They persisted in these efforts to roll back the progress made in 2020 despite wide support for firearm safety measures in Virginia. For example, 73% of Virginians support enhanced background checks and a requirement to securely store firearms. That’s a bipartisan group, too - 62% of Republicans agree on enhanced background checks and 56% of Republicans with safe storage requirements. When the legislature was able to pass bipartisan gun violence prevention legislation reflecting this public consensus, Governor Youngkin sided with extremists and vetoed the overwhelming majority of the bills.

But it’s not just about legislation. Lucia’s Law and other gun safety measures need vigorous implementation by law enforcement to be successful. Indeed, these laws all contain provisions giving law enforcement agencies an important role to play in figuring out how to effectively enforce the new policies. Collaboration between legislators and law enforcement experts is critical in our effort to build a safer Virginia rooted in common sense principles of safety, which is preferred by a majority of Virginians.

Virginia needs all three pillars to achieve gun safety: legislation, law enforcement expertise, and executive and judicial action. This will let us achieve the goals a bipartisan majority of Virginians support, including enhanced background checks and a ban on ghost guns. The costs of gun violence couldn’t be clearer. Virginians desperately want action to make Virginia safer. We need leadership to help make our communities safer and enact laws to encourage responsible gun ownership. Virginians overwhelmingly support these policies and expect their leaders to, as well.

You can read the full op-ed here.

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I was glad to join Henrico Supervisor Roscoe Cooper and GRTC to open the Route 1 bus route service to Reynolds Community College! The Richmond region is on fire with economic growth, transportation infrastructure and educational opportunities!

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Earlier this month, Governor Youngkin issued an executive order to create cell-phone free classrooms across Virginia’s K-12 schools. Executive Order 33, which directs the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) to draft guidance for public school divisions to adopt local policies and procedures establishing cell phone-free education.  The EO directs VDOE to initiate a robust public engagement effort with parents, students, teachers, local school leaders and other stakeholders to develop collaboratively policies and procedures that establish the age-appropriate restriction or elimination of cell phone use during instructional time, as well as to establish protocols allowing parents to contact their children in emergency and other important situations. In addition, the Governor announced that the VDOE and the Department of Behavioral Health and Development Services (DBHDS) will make a combined $500,000 available from existing funds to support implementation of this mental health and safety initiative.  

As an educator, I see first-hand the negative effects that social media and phone usage has on student academic success and mental health, especially in the classroom. This order represents a step in the right direction, and mirrors similar legislation I supported in the legislature this past January that empowers local school boards to limit cell phone usage in schools. As learning losses from COVID-19 continue to negatively impact our students, this order and subsequent legislation will improve academic success, decrease mental health and discipline problems, and foster a healthier school community.

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Had a blast on my 4th of July at the McShin Foundation’s annual 4th party!

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Summer is winding down and school is almost back in session! Henrico County Public Schools’ annual Back-to-School Kickoff will move to the new Henrico Sports & Events Center for 2024, taking advantage of the spacious air-conditioned setting. The Aug. 9 divisionwide event will feature a wide variety of family activities, community and educational resources, a DJ, an immunization clinic and a daylong basketball tournament. All Henrico County families are invited to attend. The first day of the 2024-25 school year is Aug. 19.

The Back-to-School Kickoff gets started at 8 a.m. with a three-on-three student “Hoop It Up” basketball tournament, which will continue throughout the day. A pep-rally style celebration will be held at 12:30 p.m. and a school and community resource fair will be open from noon-4pm A “Kid Zone” activity area with stations for children and families will be available from noon-5:30 p.m. Food and drinks can be purchased throughout the day at the facility’s concessions stand.

HCPS buses will provide shuttle service from noon-4pm between some HCPS middle schools and the Henrico Sports & Events Center. Starting at 11 a.m., shuttles will run every half hour from Brookland and George Moody middle schools, and every hour from Fairfield, John Rolfe and Quioccasin middle schools.

The “Hoop It Up 3X3” tournament is for students in grades 3-12 and registration is free. Space in the tournament is limited and participants should sign up by Aug. 2 at www.hcps.info/hoopitup.

An immunization clinic will offer required vaccines for rising seventh and 12th grade students. A parent or guardian must accompany participating students. Find out more about required vaccines at https://www.henricoschools.us/page/health.

HCPS Back-to-School Kickoff event:
When: Aug. 9 (basketball tournament from 8 a.m.-7 p.m., other activities start at noon.
Where: Henrico Sports & Events Center, 1 All Star Boulevard, Glen Allen, VA 23059

Back-to-School Kickoff activities include:

  Hoop It Up 3X3 student tournament (8 a.m.-7 p.m.)
•   Community and school resource fair (noon-4 p.m.)
•   “Kid Zone” activities and engagement area, including activities for special needs students (noon-5:30 p.m.).
•   A DJ.
•   Giveaways.
•   An immunization clinic.
•   Free books for all ages.
•   Free school supplies (while supplies last).
•   Opportunities to meet and talk with school leaders.
•   HCPS department representatives will be present to help and talk about the new school year.

The Back-to-School Kickoff is sponsored by HCPS’ Division of Family and Community Engagement. Donations of backpacks and school supplies are being accepted for distribution at the event. If you’d like to donate or have questions about the event, email [email protected].

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This summer I reread Steven Smith’s “Reclaiming Patriotism.” I think this is one of the most important books of the last decade and is a book people across the political spectrum should read. Smith does a fantastic job of defining patriotism, describing what makes American patriotism distinct and articulating why it is so important. A true must read. America is a wonderful place and in these polarizing times filled with conflict and, often, despair it’s good to be reminded of our commonalities, shared values, and what makes us capable of solving all the problems before us.

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If you would like to reach out and discuss any of my legislative priorities, share an opinion, or send a scheduling request if you’d like me to come and share a legislative update at a community or organization meeting, please do not hesitate to contact my office at [email protected]. 

Yours in service,