September Newsletter
Dear friend –
New month, new school year! I want to start out this month’s update with my heartfelt best wishes to all the students, parents, teachers, school administration staff, and the entire community of friends and family who lift up this next generation. Here’s to a great year!
Before we dive in, I want to give one final reminder about my upcoming Build Your Own Bill workshops. This two-part workshop series will guide you through the legislative process, from the nitty-gritty details of drafting bills to the intricacies of getting them signed into law.
Here's what you need to know:
The series consists of two interconnected workshops.
Our first workshop kicks off on Monday, September 16th.
Attendance at the first workshop is required to participate in the second.
I am so excited for our 3rd annual BYOB workshop. I look forward to seeing many of you there! Please RSVP using this link.
And: The application for the 2025 House Page Program is open! This is an amazing opportunity for young people to develop leadership skills and immerse themselves in the legislative process. More information is available here. Please reach out to my team at delishin@house.virginia.gov if you are thinking about applying or just want to learn more!
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
My team and I have been busy the last several weeks putting together our legislative portfolio for the upcoming 2025 General Assembly session. As with most short sessions (we’ll have a 45-day session in 2025), the House of Delegates adheres to a bill limit of 15 per member. We’ll have more to share about our legislative priorities soon, as they’ll tackle a wide range of issues we’ve heard about from directly from constituents and community leaders.
In the meantime, I thought I’d share some more information about the various boards and commissions that I was recently appointed to by Speaker Don Scott:
Joint Commission on Administrative Rules: The Joint Commission on Administrative Rules reviews the rules or regulations and their impact on the economy, the environment, government operations, and members of the public – with a specific focus on their impact on small business.
Pandemic Response and Preparedness Joint Subcommittee: This special Joint Subcommittee was formed in 2022 to study and report on pandemic preparedness in the Commonwealth. If you have a couple of minutes, I would be grateful if you would fill out this survey as part of the Joint Subcommittee’s work. Our community's input will help inform the subcommittee’s COVID-19 After Action Report. The survey is open through September 30.
Advisory Council on PANS/PANDAs: Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections and Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome are two rare but devastating and poorly understood diagnoses. In 2022, the legislature created the Advisory Council to make policy recommendations for the General Assembly to better support patients and their families. We have our first meeting scheduled for November 22nd.
Virginia Advisory Committee on Sexual and Domestic Violence: This Committee advises the Criminal Justice Services Board on matters pertaining to sexual and domestic violence. This is an important issue to consider. I am honored for the opportunity to continue to make progress for victims of these crimes. Earlier this year, I passed two bills that tackle different aspects of sexual and domestic violence: HB 1342 ensures that student victimes of sexual violence at public institutions of higher education are able to access qualified, trauma-informed care. HB 926 increases the statute of limitations for the non-consensual creation and dissemination of sexually intimate images. The Advisory Committee’s first meeting of the year is slated for September 18th.
Southern States Energy Board: I am particularly excited to represent Virginia on the Southern States Energy Board, which will be meeting in Chattanooga later this month. The Board is made up of legislators and industry leaders from southern states and provides expertise and policy advice on environmentally friendly energy production and conservation efforts.
Commission on Youth: I have served on the Commission on Youth since I was first sworn into the House of Delegates and am honored to have been reappointed. The commission has a robust work schedule this year, including reviewing special education dispute resolution, mechanisms by which parents or guardians can appeal school administration decisions on Individualized Education Plans, and Little Hands, Virginia’s low-income safety car seat program. I am particularly interested in an expanded conversation about inclusive language access, and how families for whom English is not the primary language are able to access these public support programs.
OUT AND ABOUT
It certainly was a brat summer 💚 Some highlights from the last month or so include…
I loved celebrating Rep. Jennifer Wexton at the annual Sturdivant Brunch!
This was my second time attending the National Conference of State Legislators annual meeting. This year, we gathered in Louisville, Kentucky.
It was so much fun joining my colleagues for events across Fairfax County. We were even able to get in a Nats game.
I celebrated National Thrift Shop Day (August 17) with a tour of my favorite thrift shops in the 8th District!
Every day is Mookie Day in our house – but she was especially happy to celebrate International Dog Day on August 26.
HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY
🗳️The Fairfax County Office of Elections is looking for community members to serve as election officers for the November 5th election! In particular, they need bilingual officers who speak Vietnamese and Korean. They are offering $250 as a thank you for serving your community. Click here to apply.
🩺Cornerstones and Fairfax County’s Department of Neighborhood and Community Services are hosting a Community Health and Wellness Fair on Saturday, September 14th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Herndon Neighborhood Resource Center. Learn more about community health services available to you and connect with local clinics and experts. There will also be family-friendly games and raffle prizes.
🪇Celebrate the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month with the ¿Que Pasa? Festival of Herndon on Saturday, September 14th from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Arts Herndon! There will be live music and performances, great food, and cultural activities. Admission is free! More information here.
🏓The Shepherd's Center of Northern Virginia is hosting their annual pickleball fundraiser on Tuesday, September 17th from 4-7 p.m. in Herndon. There will be raffles, golf simulators, a silent auction, and plenty of pickleball! Register here.
🧸The Herndon Hobby and Toy Exchange is coming back on Saturday, September 21st from 1-3:30 p.m.! Drop off any of your unwanted items, then shop the toys, board games, puzzles, sporting goods, and craft materials others have donated to inspire your next hobby! More information here.
🧩 Are you a puzzle-solving professional? Assemble a team of four and register for Herndon’s Puzzle Palooza event on Sunday, September 22nd! Teams will race to complete a 500-piece puzzle all while competing for exciting prizes. Advance registration closes September 17th! Click here for more information on the event and how to register.
🌳 Herndon NatureFest is Sunday, September 29th from 1-5 p.m. at Runnymede Park! NatureFest is a family-friendly, hands-on nature event showcasing all the plants, animals, and insects that live in Runnymede Park. For more information, click here.
🧑💻 Amazon Web Services is hosting AWS Girls’ Tech Day, dedicated to inspiring young women in STEAM on October 5th! Since launching in Virginia 6 years ago, this program has impacted over 21,000 young women globally. This year, AWS will partner with local schools to engage middle school students from Northern Virginia with interactive workshops and insights from female tech leaders. For more information, visit AWSGirlsTechDayVA.splashthat.com.
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.