Friends,
Tomorrow our special session of the General Assembly begins, but before I share our plans, will you chip in to help cover our operating costs for the month of August with a donation of $15 or $20?
This session will be an opportunity to champion new legislation that can bring the help that so many Virginians across our commonwealth need to thrive while navigating the current crisis.
Here are a few pieces of legislation I’ll either be carrying or co-patroning:
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Civilian Review Boards (CRBs) -- This week, I will introduce a bill giving localities the power to establish Civilian Review Boards and a community oversight process of their police departments. This bill is an important step towards the accountability and transparency for which so many communities have asked.
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Eviction Moratorium Bill -- COVID-19 has ravaged our economy, leaving millions of families in dire need of support. This crisis has the potential to create another massive crisis: one of homelessness. It’s essential that we help our neighbors during this unprecedented time of extreme financial hardship. Legislation that places a moratorium on evictions will help. Additionally, we anticipate that federal and state dollars will assist landlords by providing rent and mortgage relief so that we have stable housing for families in need.
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The Marcus Alert Act -- We’ve seen too many instances during which the response to an individual experiencing a mental health crisis is to criminalize the behavior rather than to treat it clinically. This bill ensures that someone experiencing mental health challenges will be managed by clinicians trained in de-escalation.
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The School Nurses Bill -- with schools examining the options of gradual re-opening in the midst of the COVID19 pandemic, we especially see the need to have medical professionals in school buildings to help monitor children’s physical health, assess illness, and take appropriate action. This bill seeks to place an RN in every school building in Virginia.
We have a lot of work to do during this special session. In addition to legislative items, we will be re-evaluating the budget and working to provide critical funding to localities and agencies. Next week, I’ll share more of what we learn about the Commonwealth’s next steps in response to COVID19 and in addressing budgetary concerns.
Can you make a donation today and help us cover our August operating costs so we can continue our work and continue connecting with more constituents across our commonwealth? Even $15 or $25 will go a long way.
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