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Dear Friend,
This week’s newsletter highlights my personal thoughts on Kamala Harris’ selection of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. I also share details about my time at the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Convention in Louisville, Kentucky, this past week. Thank you for reading this newsletter and staying informed.
Complete Presidential Ticket
This past week, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz joined Vice President Kamala Harris to complete the Democratic presidential ticket ahead of the Democratic National Convention which begins on August 19. The Vice President’s announcement of her running mate was met with strong enthusiasm and excitement among Democrats across the country.
Because of his strong support for public education and teachers, and his outspoken advocacy on social and economic justice, I have been following Governor Walz’s efforts in Minnesota for well over a year and am delighted by his selection. He is a plain spoken executive with common sense approaches to the issues of our time. Additionally, he has a strong record of policy and legislative successes to demonstrate his strengths as a leader.
Governor Walz brings a solid record of accomplishments to his run for the Vice Presidency, including the following:
Military veteran who enlisted in the Army National Guard at the age of 17 and served for 24 years as Command Sergeant Major
Former high school geography teacher and football coach
Member of Congress first elected in 2006 in a competitive district and served for 12 years
Two-term Governor of Minnesota whose significant efforts include the legalization of recreational marijuana, restoration of voting rights to an estimated 55,000 formerly incarcerated Minnesotans, and protections for LGTBQ+ individuals
Chair of the Democratic Governors Association
As the father of two children conceived through IVF fertility treatments [[link removed]] , Governor Walz fully understands the crisis we face on issues of rights, access, and equity to reproductive health care. Additionally, he is a responsible gun owner focused on responding to the epidemic of gun violence that affects every community in this country [[link removed]] . In addition to legislative efforts, Walz has donated his previous NRA campaign contributions to a non-profit that supports families of military members who died or were severely wounded while in service [[link removed]] . Governor Walz brings experiences, insights, and accomplishments that reflect a deep commitment to public service rather than to personal gain.
Attendance at the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Convention in Kentucky
This year, the annual convention of the National Conference of State Legislatures [[link removed]] (NCSL) was held in Louisville, KY. The convention celebrated 50 years of NCSL effort and brought together thousands of legislators and state government staff from every state, US territories, as well as from several international delegations interested in observing and participating in the work of state assemblies.
The National Conference of State Legislatures was created by state legislators and government staff in 1975. NCSL and its various committees serve as liaisons and as voices of advocacy for state level concerns with our federal colleagues and agencies. NCSL provides access to bipartisan policy research, training resources and technical assistance for all state leaders.
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I attended both the NCSL Education Committee’s Pre-Conference on Sunday, August 4, and three days of the convention this past week. The sessions I focused on were those centered around K-12 education issues, higher education concerns, the impacts of artificial intelligence on every sector of our society and economy, and mental health services. I also had the opportunity to speak with researchers and representatives from various think tanks and organizations on possible legislative measures on climate change, environmental issues, affordable housing, and renewable energy / carbon-free energy options. In total, the convention was a very useful opportunity to expand resources, evaluate the work of other state legislatures, and identify possible legislation for the upcoming session.
Emergency Preparedness
As Virginia continues to weather Tropical Storm Debby, emergency response teams are positioned across the state to monitor and assist impacted areas. As the official 2024 Atlantic hurricane season continues until November 30 , Virginians should be sure to make emergency plans, including preparing an emergency kit and determining how to stay connected to family and friends, as well as identify reliable information sources during times of possible electrical and WiFi outages.
The Virginia Department of Emergency Management [[link removed]] (VDEM) serves as a comprehensive destination for emergency preparedness, response, and recovery resources. Local emergency management teams serve as partners to VDEM and understand the local needs to better serve residents in a natural emergency. To stay informed before, during, and after a disaster event, residents are encouraged to receive information from official government sources, local news networks, and service providers such as:
Chesterfield County Emergency Management Office, which houses the Chesterfield Alert system
Richmond City Emergency Management, which houses the CodeRED emergency notification system
Additionally, the region’s energy provider, Dominion Energy, has a variety of resources [[link removed]] for power outages and emergencies.
Commonwealth of Virginia COVID-19 Public Feedback Survey
As a newly-appointed member of the Joint Subcommittee on Pandemic Response and Preparedness [[link removed]] , I am working with colleagues to develop recommendations regarding pandemic response plans and the future needs of our state and local governments, our healthcare system, health districts, the judicial system, education system, and businesses. Between now and September 30, we are collecting constituent survey responses to inform the Commonwealth of Virginia's COVID-19 After Action Report (AAR). The survey can be accessed online [[link removed]] , and members of the public are strongly encouraged to participate as we seek broad data to inform the recommendations for a comprehensive pandemic response and preparedness plan.
Select Community Engagements
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Last Saturday, just before my departure for NCSL, I joined the Chesterfield County Branch of the NAACP for its 37th Biennial Freedom Fund Award Gala. It was an evening of celebration as we recognized the work and efforts of key leaders who continue to fight for equity, social justice, civil liberties, and much more. That evening, Civil Rights attorney Clarence Dunnaville was recognized for his lifetime of labor on behalf of all Virginians.
Connecting With My Office
My office can be reached at the following:
Email: [email protected] [gmail.com]
Phone: 804.698.7515
If you were forwarded this email, you can sign up to receive my office’s weekly newsletter here [[link removed]] .
— Ghazala
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