May Newsletter
Happy May, friend!
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. My colleagues and I have been on the road together this month, with events in Hampton Roads, in central Virginia and of course right here in northern Virginia — lifting up AAPI voices and experiences across our great commonwealth. We are looking forward to being joined by special guests, including Senator Tim Kaine and Speaker Don Scott. We hope you’ll consider joining us! Follow @VAAPIC on Twitter for updates, or feel free to reply to this email if you’d be interested in participating in any of our events. I’ll make sure we get you on the list!
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: RECONVENE
On April 17, the legislature came back together in Richmond for the 2024 Reconvene session. This was our opportunity to vote on the Governor’s amendments and vetoes.
Two of my bills were vetoed this year, and one bill was amended by the Governor.
HB 939 - Expanding Gun-Free Zones Around Polling Places
After some pretty concerning reports out of Spotsylvania last election cycle, where a candidate hired an armed guard to stand at the 40-foot line and “patrol” an early vote location, I had high hopes that my colleagues would join me in an effort to extend the gun-free area around a polling place to 100 feet, so as to avoid these blatant attempts at voter intimidation. I was incredibly disappointed when I learned that Governor Youngkin had vetoed it.
HB 1264 - Judicial Discretion in Juvenile Traffic Cases
Right now, judges have some amount of discretion in taking a youth’s economic circumstances into account when assessing a penalty, but they do not have that same discretion when it comes to court fines and fees related to traffic violations. Our goal had been to abolish court fines and fees altogether in juvenile cases, but we compromised at discretionary as we worked to get bipartisan support – but even that wasn’t sufficient for Governor Youngkin. While the wealthy can simply pay off their fines or fees, low income families end up further bogged down in interest payments and debt. I am committed to continuing to fight for fairness in our justice system.
HB 906 - Emergency Utilities Protection Act
I am pleased to share that we were able to reach a compromise on my bill to protect the most vulnerable Virginians from utility disconnections during extreme weather events or public health crises. There will be a slightly more relaxed approach for municipality-owned utilities vis-a-vis shareholder-owned utilities, but on the whole we are codifying these protections which is a huge win for ratepayers.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: SPECIAL SESSION
The Budget
Later, on May 13, the legislature came back to Richmond for a Special Session to take action on the state budget. Normally, this would have been handled during Reconvene Session – but, this year, the Governor made a record 233 line amendments to the budget, altering much of the substance of what the legislature had passed back in March. I am pleased to share that many of our priorities — notably, ensuring greater investments in education and guaranteeing Virginia’s share of WMATA funding — did prevail in the final package.
BOARDS & COMMISSIONS
I am also proud to report that, last month, I was appointed to four new state boards and commissions, and reappointed to two:
Commission on Youth (reappointment);
Joint Commission on Administrative Rules;
Advisory Committee on Sexual and Domestic Violence;
Advisory Council on Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders (PANS) Associated with Streptococcal Infections and Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANDAS);
Pandemic Response and Preparedness Joint Subcommittee; and
Southern States Energy Board.
OUT AND ABOUT
April was a busy month, getting caught up back home and sharing key updates with friends and neighbors across the Eighth District. Some April highlights include:
Rallying with airport workers for sick days and healthcare. I was proud to stand with these tireless frontline workers and call for better benefits and working conditions.
Celebrating Eid with my VAAPIC colleagues. As Ramadan drew to a close, I was excited to gather in fellowship alongside colleagues and community members – especially Senator Saddam Salim, the first ever Muslim member of our Fairfax legislative delegation.
Participating in the 2024 Fairfax Valor Awards. What a phenomenal celebration of our Fairfax County first responders, who work day and night to keep our community safe.
Attending the NOVA Labor Norman Hill Scholarship Fund Dinner, a powerful opportunity to hear from civil rights leader Rev. James Lawson and honoring Norman Hill in support of the Electrical Alliance, a joint effort of IBEW Local 26 and the National Electrical Contractors Association, and the endowment of a diversity scholarship for construction management at Virginia Tech.
Supporting Andy Kim for the US Senate. I have known and supported Rep. Kim of New Jersey for many years now and am incredibly excited to lift him up as he seeks to become the first Korean American US Senator.
Joining some of my Town of Herndon colleagues for a “Herndon Community Updates” town hall! It was such a thrill to get to join Supervisor Jimmy Bierman, Mayor Sheila Olem and Councilmember Keven LeBlanc for a panel discussion about what has been happening at the state, county and town level and how it impacts residents. We were just as eager to hear from residents about what they are thinking and hearing and how we can collectively work to make our government stronger and more responsive to the people.
HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY
🍎 One of my absolute favorite Herndon events is BACK! Get excited for our very own Herndon Farmers Market every Thursday until November 7th from 8am until noon. Bread, produce, and cheeses, oh my! Don’t miss your chance to support our local economy and small businesses. More information here.
🇺🇲 Join our American Legion Post 184 at 10am on Monday, May 27 for their annual Memorial Day Ceremony and Avenue of Flags at the Chestnut Grove Cemetery. More information here.
☀️ Make sure you check out the hot-off-the-presses, new and updated Herndon Summer Programs & Events Brochure! There are so many wonderful activities to take advantage of all summer long so take a look and mark your calendars. The brochure is available online here.
💻 The County is going through a Zoning Ordinance process dealing with data centers. The draft text — which includes additional standards for data centers on such governance areas as noise, building design, and setbacks — is available via the Data Centers project website, linked here. Public hearings on the Zoning Ordinance amendment are scheduled for June 5 with the Planning Commission and July 16 with the Board of Supervisors.
📸 The Annual Town Calendar Competition is accepting submissions through June 3! What do you love about our town? This is your opportunity to showcase the essence of our town and feature your very own art. Competition guidelines and additional information is available here.
🗳️ Voting is officially underway in the 2024 Virginia congressional primaries! Make sure you Get out and VOTE for who you want representing our community. Some key dates:
05/03 to 06/15 = Early Vote
06/07 = Last day to request a mail-in ballot
06/18 = Primary Day!
More info at http://elections.virginia.gov/citizen-portal/
🏳️🌈 Mark your calendar for the first ever Herndon PRIDE event on Saturday, June 8 from 12pm to 5pm at the Arts Herndon Lawn! This family-friendly event will include music, food trucks, and more. More information to follow!
KEEP IN TOUCH!
It is always wonderful to hear from you! Please call my office at 804-698-1008 or email delishin@house.virginia.gov anytime to schedule a visit or to let me know what’s on your mind. My door is always open, and my team and I remain ready to assist you however we can. We are grateful for the honor of serving you and our district. Thank you for trusting me to represent the priorities of our community and Commonwealth.