Friends,

The end of March brings with it some important changes, particularly in terms of legislative actions and within the Commonwealth’s progressive response to the pandemic.

Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Caucus
Last Friday, March 26, which was also designated as the National “Stop Asian Hate” Day of Action, I joined my fellow AAPI legislators in the House of Delegates to announce the creation of a new Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) caucus. Joining me as caucus members are Delegates Mark Keam (HD35), Kathy Tran (HD42), Kelly Convirs-Fowler (HD21), and Suhas Subramanyam (HD87).

Those of us who are the founding members of the AAPI Caucus have, for several months, discussed its need. This past year, in particular, has seen the escalation of violence, both in targeted acts of hate and in abusive rhetoric, against AAPI communities in the United States. We have seen growing attacks against vulnerable elderly Asian Americans, against Asian American women, and bullying of AAPI children in schools. This violence culminated on March 16 in the mass murder of 8 people in Atlanta, 6 of whom were Asian American women. Despite the spotlight on the growth of xenophobia and bigotry, AAPI individuals continue to be targeted; this week alone, two attacks gained national coverage because of their particular brutality. However, this history of racism against the AAPI is not new. The Page Act of 1875, the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, and the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II are just a few prominent examples of how, within our broader American narrative, the AAPI community continues to be regarded as outsiders or foreigners within their own country. The work of this Caucus will join the efforts of our other legislative caucuses to support and amplify representation of the diverse communities in Virginia.

In April, the new Caucus will launch a series of virtual “listening sessions” across the Commonwealth to hear the concerns and perspectives of AAPI community leaders and members. The dates and details for the listening tour will be announced soon.

Reopening Virginia: Limited Indoor Capacity Increase
Last week, in the latest iteration of Executive Order 72, Governor Northam announced limited capacity increases for indoor and outdoor gatherings. Key changes in the Fourth Amended Executive Order Seventy-Two include the following:

• Social gatherings: The maximum number of individuals permitted in a social gathering will increase to 50 people for indoor settings and 100 people for outdoor settings. Social gatherings are currently limited to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors.
   
• Entertainment venues: All indoor and outdoor entertainment and public amusement venues must continue to operate at 30% capacity. Indoor venues must operate at 30% capacity or with a maximum of 500 people, an increase from the current cap of 250 people. Outdoor venues must operate at 30% capacity, with no specific cap on the number of attendees. These venues were previously limited to 30% capacity or up to 1,000 attendees, whichever was fewer.
   
• Recreational sporting events: The number of spectators allowed at recreational sporting events will increase from 25 to 100 people per field or 30% capacity, whichever is less, for indoor settings, and from 250 to 500 people per field or 30% capacity, whichever is less, for outdoor settings.
   
• In-person graduation and commencement events: Last week, Governor Northam issued preliminary guidance on safe in-person graduations and commencements, which included a cap of 5,000 people or 30% of the venue capacity for outdoor events, whichever is less. Events held indoors may have up to 500 people, or 30% of the venue capacity, whichever is less. Attendees must wear masks and follow other guidelines and safety protocols to ensure proper distancing.

It is crucial to note that the Commonwealth will continue to adhere to a Safer at Home policy, with continued mitigation strategies like physical distancing, teleworking, and universal mask requirements. With more than one in four Virginians having received at least one dose of the vaccine, the Commonwealth will, most likely, begin to carefully ramp up the reopening of businesses and social gatherings in the coming weeks and months. We must keep an eye on COVID19 numbers; our experts are warning us that a fourth wave is expected, and some states such as Florida, are experiencing increasing rates of infection.

G3 Fund Signed Into Law
I was pleased to join Governor Northam at Northern Virginia Community College (Alexandria Campus) on Monday for the official bill signing of SB 1405, the Get Skilled, Get a Job, Give Back (G3) initiative, into law. which makes tuition-free community college available to low- and middle-income students who pursue jobs in high-demand fields. The G3 program includes $36 million to cover tuition, fees, and books and also to provide wraparound support for eligible students at our 23 community colleges. G3 follows the “last dollar” model that has been successfully implemented in other states. The financial assistance will provide students with necessary support as a supplement to federal financial aid dollars and Pell grants.

The G3 initiative effectively aligns with expanding and changing workforce needs in the Commonwealth. Business and industry leaders enthusiastically support this program because it helps to improve the pipeline of skilled and trained workers in key industries, including health care, information technology and computer science, manufacturing and skilled trades, public safety, and early childhood education. On average, students in these high-demand degree programs increase their wages by 60 percent upon program completion and also double their individual state tax contributions.

Contacting our office
As always, if you need assistance, or if you want to schedule a Zoom or phone call with our team, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office. Email is the best way to contact us. We can be reached at [email protected].

— Ghazala Hashmi