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My fellow Young Democrats-

In an effort to keep everyone informed this year, I am introducing the President’s Friday Fireside Chats . Much like during the time of FDR, we are facing times of uncertainty and crisis but as I have said before, we are the leaders we are waiting for to help us through them. I want to make sure that all of our members are getting information not just about everything internal to AYD, but also pertaining to what is happening in our surrounding community and in our commonwealth and how you all can help make a difference.

With that being said…

As you may know, the 2021 Virginia legislative session gaveled in this week and you’re going to hear a lot of pitches for what bills you need to pay attention to, but 2021 is the year to pass key pieces of legislation. There are many that I can discuss in our statewide chapter platform that you can read, [[link removed]] but here are my top 5 in no particular order: 1.
Delegate
Lee
J.
Carter's
HB
1755
to
Repeal
"Right-to-Work"
:
during
a
pandemic
and
an
economic
crisis,
it
is
imperative
that
we
give
our
workers’
the
bargaining
rights
and
representation
they
deserve.
We
must
allow
them
to
protect
themselves
from
a
deadly
virus,
unfair
workplace
practices,
and
unemployment
in
record
numbers
by
allowing
for
Unions
to
thrive
in
Virginia.
Write
your
legislators
and
tell
them
to
cosponsor.
[[link removed]]
2.
3.
Delegate
Sam
Rasoul's
HB
1973
for
a
Green
New
Deal
and
Delegate
Joshua
Cole's
bill
for
a
fossil
fuel
moratorium
:
We
currently
have
a
series
of
intersectional
crises
happening
in
the
United
States
with
the
economy,
public
health,
and
the
climate.
A
Green
New
Deal
is
essential
to
combatting
all
of
these
together
and
only
when
we
take
the
bold
action
necessary
to
make
sure
that
they
are
acted
upon
will
we
be
successful.
Sign
the
petition
to
send
a
message
to
the
General
Assembly
Leadership
to
pass
the
Green
New
Deal
and
Moratorium.
[[link removed]]
4.
5.
Delegate
Steve
Herretick’s
HB
1815
to
legalize
cannabis
and
set
up
a
regulatory
scheme
for
the
cultivation,
manufacturing,
sale,
and
testing
of
cannabis
in
Virginia
:
We
have
thousands
of
Black
and
Brown
individuals
that
are
sitting
in
prisons
in
Virginia
for
simple
non-violent,
possession
charges.
It
is
time
for
the
Commonwealth
to
finally
move
away
from
prohibition.
We
cannot
continue
to
jail
people,
and
disproportionately
Black
and
Brown
people,
for
actions
that
should
not
be
felonies
in
the
first
place.
Learn
more
about
Marijuana
Justice
in
Virginia.
[[link removed]]
6.
7.
Delegate
Mark
Levine’s
HB
1933
and
Senator
Adam
Ebbin’s
SB
1101
to
join
the
National
Popular
Vote
Interstate
Compact
:
As
we
have
seen
in
each
Presidential
Election
in
recent
years,
the
Electoral
College
is
incredibly
inefficient
and
does
not
reflect
the
will
of
the
majority
of
Americans.
If
Virginia
joins
the
NPVIC,
all
13
electoral
votes
will
be
promised
to
the
winner
of
the
popular
vote,
no
exceptions.
So
far,
15
states
and
the
District
of
Columbia
have
joined
the
compact
equalling
198
electoral
votes.
The
goal
is
to
get
to
270
to
effectively
render
the
Electoral
College
obsolete
and
Virginia
should
do
their
part
to
help
out
by
joining.
Learn
more
here.
[[link removed]]
8.
9.
Delegate
Ibraheem
Samirah’s
HB
1756
to
ban
contributions
from
Dominion
and
other
public
service
corporations
:
Finally,
none
of
these
will
be
possible
if
we
allow
for
corporations
to
buy
their
way
into
the
process.
We
must
demand
that
money
from
publicly
regulated
utilities
such
as
Dominion
is
taken
out
of
the
legislature
in
order
for
us
to
have
a
process
that
truly
represents
the
people
of
Virginia.
Demand
that
your
legislators
swear
off
these
campaign
contributions
and
co-sponsor
HB
1756.
[[link removed]]

You can make a difference in our legislative process if you make your voice heard by your elected officials. It’s clear that these issues are not right or left. These are bottom up issues and it is time that the people let the General Assembly know what we demand from our legislature: Representation. Transparency. Accountability.

How do you do that?

Glad you asked. The Virginia Young Democrats are hosting their annual lobby day this Monday, January 18th. Young Democrats from around the commonwealth will come together virtually to talk with their delegates and state senators. It is crucial that we as Arlington Young Dems show up in full force to this effort.

“Decisions are made by those who show up.”

I wrote in an article this fall that the legislative process is where we as young people can make the biggest difference. [[link removed]] We campaign very hard to get who we want into office, but electing the right people is just the beginning. It is on the voice of the people to hold those same legislators accountable. So, if you are passionate about a local issue and want to do something about it, showing up is an important step in gaining the change you seek.

So are you willing to show up with us virtually on Monday? [[link removed]]

SIGN UP [[link removed]]

Democratically yours,
Matt Royer
President
Arlington Young Democrats



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