Dear Friend,

This week’s newsletter shares details from a recent press conference on the Trump administration’s impacts on food safety and also highlights my panel discussion with the Virginia Transit Association at the organization’s conference in Richmond last week. The newsletter also highlights select community engagements from this past week, spotlights June as the start of Pride Month, and also shares holiday wishes for all those who will be celebrating Eid al-Adha at the end of this week. Thank you for reading this newsletter and for staying informed. 

Focusing Attention on the Nation’s New Vulnerabilities with Food Safety and the Work of Improving Virginia’s Transit

A Press Conference on Food Safety

On Wednesday, as Chair of the Senate Committee on Education and Health, I joined Delegate Mark Sickles (Chair of the House Health Committee) to sound the alarm about the reckless actions taken by President Donald Trump, U.S. Secretary of Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and Elon Musk that are now threatening the safety and regulatory standards of the food that is grown, harvested, processed, and sold in this country. Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency has “DOGEd” our food production systems and threatens the safety of our food supply. Thus far, Trump, RFK,Jr., and Musk have cut food safety oversight or suspended quality control programs altogether. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has suspended its quality control programs for the milk supply, fired 58% of the nation’s food safety scientists under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture Research Service, eliminated the environmental division of the Centers for Disease Control, and slashed essential funding for research. With the loss of federal food safety programs and funding, state leadership will now need to evaluate impacts and gaps in our food systems and direct state agencies to develop regulatory guidelines. Of course, with much of our food supply coming from out of state and other countries, state-level regulations cannot fully compensate for the loss of federal oversight and control. Public health is at risk, especially for our most vulnerable who are susceptible to food-borne diseases.

Panel Discussion: Virginia Transit Association 

Later that same morning and in light of continued federal budget uncertainties, I joined the Virginia Transit Association’s annual conference for its Funding Mobility panel to discuss looming budget impacts and the role that state government and state dollars will need to play on our transit concerns. Inflationary pressures, labor shortages, fuel prices, global supply chain disruptions and retaliatory tariffs have impacted public transit as demand for services continue to rise. We cannot continue to think about and treat public transit as a social service. Rather, it must be regarded as an essential link in economic development, a tool for attracting employers and talent, and a key part of creating healthier communities. 

Mobile Office Hours - Monday, June 9

Next Monday, June 9, my staff will host our third 2025 Mobile Office Hours at Westover Hills Library located in Richmond. Staff will be able to assist with casework involving state agencies, discuss legislative concerns, and receive feedback from constituents on issues that matter to them. Registration is open. ¿Necesita servicios en español? Haga clic aquí. Future mobile office hours will be announced in this newsletter, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, and X. 

Select Community Engagements

On Memorial Day, I joined the Falls Church Memorial Day Parade with the Concerned Citizens Against Gun Violence to honor service members who made the ultimate sacrifices for our nation and to highlight the alarming rate of firearm suicide among men and women in uniform.

Later that afternoon, I attended Viva Vienna! to celebrate the vibrant communities and organizations of Vienna, Virginia. Moms Demand Action were well-represented as we continue to fight to protect our children from the tragedies of gun violence.

That evening was marked by a somber but uplifting tribute to our late Congressman Gerry Connolly whose decades of public service to the Commonwealth were marked by his love for his constituents, his dedication to the work of government, and his wit and joy. I was able to attend the visitation and join hundreds of others as we paid our respects and offered condolences to the Congressman’s family.   

On Thursday evening, I joined supporters in historic Church Hill for my campaign for Lieutenant Governor. The group gathered to learn more about the work I have been doing for the past six years in the Virginia Senate and the critical need that we have to elect an Executive Team that is ready to hit the ground running on Day One of the new administration.

On Friday, I joined the Virginia Education Association's Educators of Color Summit for a reception for Legislators of Color. Understanding the disparities that continue to exist in our education system, expanding the pipeline for educators, and bringing resources to bear on key needs such as additional support staff in schools and classrooms are all essential to our efforts to improve Virginia’s public education.

On Saturday, I joined the Richmond City Democratic Committee for its Annual DemOQue in Forest Hill Park. The afternoon brought increased attention to our primary elections that are already ongoing through early voting.

Later that afternoon, I again joined more supporters of my campaign for Lieutenant Governor, this time in Henrico County. With so many public school educators and higher education faculty in the room, much of the conversation focused on the destabilizing impacts of the Trump administration on schools, colleges, and universities.

On Sunday, I visited with many members of the Central Virginia community to share about my work in the Senate, discuss my campaign for Lieutenant Governor, and answer questions about health care, education, the upcoming 2025 elections, and more.

June is Pride Month

As we mark the start of Pride Month, we recognize that Pride is more than parades. It is about visibility, resilience, advocacy, and action. Now more than ever, we must commit to standing up to hatred and bigotry. Equal rights and protections means equal rights and protections for all.

Eid al-Adha

On Friday, June 6, Muslims in Virginia and around the world will be celebrating Eid al-Adha, the culmination of the 10 days that are considered the most virtuous days of the year. I wish everyone who is observing and celebrating the upcoming holiday a blessed Eid: Eid Mubarak!

Connecting With My Office

My office can be reached at the following:

Email:  [email protected] 

Phone:  804.698.7515

If you were forwarded this email, you can sign up to receive my office’s weekly newsletter here. 

— Ghazala

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Friends of Ghazala Hashmi
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Richmond, VA 23235
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