July Newsletter
Dear friend –
Happy July! I hope that you and your family had a safe celebration of the 4th. As the heat wave in our region continues, I hope you are also managing to stay cool and hydrated.
**ATTENTION ALL TOWN OF HERNDON VOTERS**
We have Town elections this year! Herndon voters will have an opportunity this November to vote for our new Mayor and Town Council.
While these are non-partisan offices, local Party committees can (and often do) conduct a Party-run endorsement process. Typically, candidates who earn this nod will then appear on their respective Party sample ballots in November.
This year, the Fairfax County Democratic Committee (FCDC) will be endorsing candidates for Mayor and for Town Council via a caucus process. Democrats who are registered to vote in the Town of Herndon must visit FairfaxDemocrats.org/2024Caucus to register to vote in the endorsement caucus. Registration closes at midnight on Friday, July 26, 2024.
Key dates for the caucus are as follows:
Registration period: July 10, 2024 to July 26, 2024
Electronic voting period: Monday, August 5, 2024 at 10am to Saturday, August 10, 2024 at 4:30pm
In-person voting: Saturday, August 10, 2024 from 10am to 4pm
The location for in-person participation in the caucus has yet to be determined by FCDC but I expect they will announce that soon. I cannot stress enough the importance of participating in this endorsement caucus for Town of Herndon Democratic voters, which will essentially determine the Democratic ticket for the fall election.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
On July 1, the legislation we passed during the 2024 General Assembly session went into effect so much of this month’s newsletter will be dedicated to an overview of the new laws.
The visuals below, prepared back in March by the wonderful team at the Virginia Public Access Project, give a good sense of the sheer volume of legislation that came before us during the 2024 General Assembly Session, and how many new bills are going into effect this month.
Some of the most meaningful bills that I was proud to support that went into law last week include:
HB 22 (Jones) - Prohibition on the Manufacture or Sale of Auto Sears and Trigger Activators Banning auto-sears – devices used to make guns more dangerous by allowing semi-automatic weapons to operate as automatic weapons.
HB 27 (Callsen) - Kinship Foster Care Prioritizing kinship care to keep families together and create a more stable environment for our most vulnerable children.
HB 174 (Henson) - Issuance of Marriage Certificate Regardless of Sex, Gender or Race Ensuring that a marriage license cannot be denied to anyone, regardless of the couple’s sex, gender, or race.
HB 407 (Hernandez) - Making the Child Care Subsidy Program More Accessible Expanding automatic eligibility for the Child Care Subsidy Program to all families who receive assistance through Medicaid and SNAP or WIC benefits.
HB 441 (Bennett-Parker) - Expanding Access to Curbside Voting Ensuring that any qualified voter who is a person with a disability is eligible for assistance outside of a polling place.
HB 555 (Hope) - Improving Oversight of the Department of Corrections Establishing the Office of the Department of Corrections Ombudsman, tasked with conducting inspections of Department of Corrections facilities and to investigate complaints and allegations of abuse.
HB 586 (McClure) - Combatting Opioid Deaths Establishing training standards for law enforcement officers on the use of naloxone given the devastating increase in opioid deaths in Virginia and nationwide.
HB 692 (Maldonado) - Combating Elder Financial Abuse Establishing guidelines for financial institutions to adopt protocols that combat elder financial abuse, to include staff training and reporting of suspicious activity.
HB 1242 (Willett) - Emergency custody and temporary detention orders Allowing a family member or other support person to accompany an incarcerated person in the event of a mental health crisis or other substance abuse treatment.
My Legislation
I am incredibly proud of the 13 bills that I introduced in 2024 that are now law.
HB 906 - Emergency Utilities Protection Act Protecting the most vulnerable Virginians from utility disconnections during extreme weather events or public health crises.
HB 908 - Revising DD Waiver Eligibility Ensuring that inherited SSDI can’t disqualify financial eligibility for disabled adults under the Developmental Disability Waiver program.
HB 909 - Paying Family Caregivers Expanding opportunities for parents to serve as paid caregivers for their eligible children under the Home & Community Based Services Medicaid Waiver program.
HB 912 - Limiting Profiteering in Jails Requiring net profits made from jail commissaries & telecomm services be invested into educational, recreational, & rehabilitative programs.
HB 913 - Parole Board Reform Ensuring that the Parole Board can always work for the people even when there are vacancies on the board.
HB 914 - Establishing Historic Tax Credits Permitting localities to enact a historic district tax credit for the maintenance & repair of historic buildings.
HB 917 - Regulating Predatory Real Estate Practices Placing predatory real estate wholesaling under the oversight of the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation.
HB 925 - Cracking Down on Residential Towing Requiring landlords & towing operators to provide 48 hours’ notice to a resident prior to removing their vehicle for an expired registration or vehicle inspection sticker.
HB 926 - Victims of Nonconsensual Pornography Expanding protections for victims of nonconsensual distribution of personal images.
HB 940 - Polling Place Change Notifications Requiring a posted notification when a polling location has changed or been closed.
HB 943 - Protecting Election Workers Permitting elections officials & workers to be eligible for the protected voter list.
HB 1342 - Access to Rape Kits on College Campuses Ensuring that students have access to a local or on-campus provider trained to administer recovery kits in the event of sexual assault.
HJ 42 - Establishing Nepali American Heritage Day Establishing April 15 as Nepali American Heritage Day!
For a comprehensive review of new laws now in effect, you can check out the Division of Legislative Services’ annual publication, In Due Course.
OUT AND ABOUT
I had some great opportunities in June to celebrate our community and support some of the great work our wonderful nonprofits and volunteers are doing here in the 8th district and beyond! Some highlights include:
I loved joining Cornerstones, StarKist and Feed the Children at their third annual Summer Food Rally.
Congratulations to the class of 2024! I had a wonderful time joining the celebrations at Herndon High School and at Westfield High School.
Thank you to the Herndon-Reston FISH (Friendly Instant Sympathetic Help) for inviting me to be part of the program at the FISH Fling 2024 Gala and Fundraiser!
I loved being able to help honor my friend and colleague, Supervisor Dalia Palchik, for her work to support adults with severe and multiple disabilities at the third annual SPARC (Specially Adapted Resource Centers) Pancake Breakfast!
I was humbled to receive the Democratic Asian Americans of Virginia 2024 Fearless Leader Award at the annual DAAV Gala.
It’s always a thrill to join friends and colleagues from across the Commonwealth to participate in the Democratic Party of Virginia Convention and Blue Commonwealth Gala!
I had a wonderful time meeting with the wonderful team at Volunteer Fairfax and hearing their perspectives on the importance of volunteerism in our community.
I had the opportunity to fly some drones at Skydio Experience Day at Xelevate in Leesburg. I enjoyed hearing about their potential use for first responders, infrastructure inspections, and other impactful community services.
HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY
🥫 Mark your calendars for the FAITH Social Services and LINK Against Hunger Food/Hygiene Drive, serving the entire Reston-Herndon area and beyond! The details are as follows:
Saturday, July 27 / 10AM – 12PM
Herndon-Reston Rotary’s Satellite/Impact Club
Nonperishable Food and Hygiene Product Drive
Drop-Off Donations at Arts Herndon, 750 Center Street
Donating non-perishable food can help ensure everyone has access to nutritious meals essential for health and well-being. Food drives also strengthen community bonds and raise awareness about the challenges some of our neighbors face, inspiring collective action to tackle this critical problem. Volunteers are needed to help! Contact: Mary Williams: MWilliams3006@gmail.com. Canned meats and milk, soups, bagged rice, beans and canned vegetables, cereals, snack bars, hygiene products including feminine items, shampoo, baby diapers, soaps, and toothpaste are needed.
🥕 The Town of Herndon’s Farmers’ Market Fun Days are back! Every Thursday morning from now until August 15, you and your little ones can enjoy some free, family fun while shopping local produce! More information here.
🎻 Summer is the perfect time to enjoy an outdoor concert! Fairfax County Park Authority’s Summer Entertainment Series is holding 11 free concert series at 17 locations across the county, including several in Herndon.
Hunter Mill Melodies features kid-friendly tunes on Wednesday mornings and more sophisticated concerts on Thursday evenings. Both events take place at Frying Pan Farm Park.
Starting July 13, there will be free concerts on Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. at Arrowbrook Centre Park.
🔥 The 2024 Paris Olympics are only a couple of weeks away! Get ready for the festivities by getting a selfie with the Herndon Torch. The location changes frequently, so be sure to check this schedule before you go!
🥇 If you don’t get your photo with the Herndon Torch ahead of time - no worries! The Town of Herndon is hosting an Olympic Trivia night on Thursday, July 25 at 6:30 p.m. at the Town Square! The event is free and will feature games, prizes, and the torch.
🎡 Fairfax County’s 4-H Fair and Carnival will be held at Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon from Thursday, August 1 to Sunday, August 4. Enjoy delicious fair food, win dozens of carnival prizes, watch livestock, and check out a variety of 4-H exhibits right in our own backyard! More information here.
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.