December 8, 2024

Neighbors, 

My staff and I are preparing for the 2025 legislative session, which will kick off in just a few weeks. I hope to see you at my upcoming virtual town hall on December 19 or the Fairfax Delegation Public Hearing on January 4!

I have included more information below about these events as well as the following:

  • Town Halls

    • December 19 Pre-Session Town Hall

    • Fairfax County Delegation Public Hearing

  • Community Updates

    • Commending Community Leaders

    • Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute

    • Virginia Works Together Summit

  • Legislative Update

    • Legislative Meetings

    • Joint Subcommittee to Evaluate Tax Preferences 

  • Transportation Updates

    • Lee Chapel Road Public Hearing

As always, let me know if you have questions or need assistance by calling my office at (804) 698-1018 or emailing me at DelKTran@house.virginia.gov. 

Best, Kathy

Kathy KL Tran

Delegate

Town Halls

December 19 Pre-Session Town Hall

Virtual Pre-Session Town Hall

Thursday, December 19 at 7:00pm

Register here!

Please join me at my upcoming virtual Pre-Session Town Hall on December 19 at 7pm - I look forward to hearing from you and sharing my legislative agenda for 2025.

January 4 Fairfax County Delegation Public Hearing

Save the date! On Saturday, January 4 at 9am, I’ll be joining fellow members of the Fairfax County Delegation to the General Assembly for our annual Fairfax County Delegation Public Hearing.

I will share more details about how to sign-up to speak as they become available. I look forward to seeing you!

Community Updates

Commending Community Leaders

Delegate Holly Seibold, Delegate Karen Keys Gamarra,  former Delegate Mark Keam, and I  commended Rosemary Tran Lauer for her leadership of Devotion to Children. For 30 years, this organization has helped many families in Fairfax by providing  affordable, high-quality educational services to young children. 

I am also very pleased to be able to recently deliver commending resolutions to my constituents Claudia McDowell and “Frau” Gayle Thayer to thank them for their commitment to our students!

Claudia was named the National School Social Worker of the Year by the School Social Work Association of America while she was at Lynbrook Elementary School. She currently helps homeless and other vulnerable youth in Fairfax County Public School. 

Before retiring from teaching German at Liberty Middle School, Frau Thayer was recognized as a 2023 Fairfax County Public Schools’ Region 4 Outstanding Secondary School Teacher.

Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute

I joined Delegate Mark Sickles and other local legislators in meeting with the Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute (NVMHI) staff. I appreciated hearing their perspectives on how we can improve our mental health system. 


Virginia Works Together Summit

I was honored to speak at the Governor’s Virginia Works Together Summit earlier this fall. The theme of the summit was partnership and pathway, two concepts that are at the heart of workforce development.

In my speech, I shared how my parents’ experience finding work after we immigrated to the United States from Vietnam inspired my career as a civil servant at the United States Department of Labor and influences my service on the Virginia Board of Workforce Development and in the state legislature. 

A strong workforce system is a win-win — helping someone connect to a good job means they are able to take care of their kids, save for retirement, and contribute to their community. And, their employer is now able to better compete and flourish, and help our Commonwealth’s economy grow.

Legislative Updates

Legislative Meetings

To prepare for the upcoming legislative session, my staff and I are meeting with constituents, advocacy organizations, and stakeholders to hear about their priorities.

For example, I attended the Virginia Assisted Living Association’s regional discussion held at Harmony at Spring Hill, here in the 18th district. It was great to meet with constituents and discuss VALA’s legislative efforts. 


Additionally, Delegate Srinivasan and I shared our work to support working families and build a more welcoming Virginia with CASA members. I spoke about my efforts to expand health care, increase affordable housing, and make sure that all Virginians are able to access government information and services regardless of their language abilities.

I also had the privilege of meeting with members of the Virginia Association of Workforce Directors to discuss how we can strengthen our public workforce system. It was great to also see Congresswoman Spanberger at the meeting!

My staff and I also met recently with the following organizations:

  • Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington 

  • Medical Society of Virginia

  • Nature Conservancy, Virginia Chapter

  • New Virginia Majority 

  • Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights

Joint Subcommittee to Evaluate Tax Preferences

At our third meeting this fall, the Joint Subcommittee to Evaluate Tax Preferences finished deliberations on bills from the 2024 legislative session that we were requested to assess. We discussed tax proposals for liquid nicotine and premium cigars, as well as the motion picture tax credit and grant program. We also deliberated on how to proceed with  several credits that may expire in 2025. To learn more about our meeting, click here.

Transportation Updates

Lee Chapel Road Public Hearing

Supervisor Pat Herrity is hosting a virtual update with the Fairfax County Department of Transportation on December 10 at 7pm on design alternatives for Lee Chapel Road. While I no longer represent this road, I know many community members are interested in this issue and you can click here for login information.