NEWSLETTER

JULY 24, 2020

Neighbors,

Thank you to everyone who joined my Criminal Justice tele-town hall this past Wednesday. I appreciate your feedback as my colleagues and I prepare to make much needed reforms to our criminal justice system. 

Updates

Below are updates from the federal government, Governor Northam and state agencies, the Virginia House of Delegates, and Fairfax a County Public Schools regarding: 

  • Medicaid coverage 

  • Funding for childcare

  • Workplace safety guidelines

  • Public hearings on criminal justice reform

  • FCPS plans for upcoming school year

As always, please let me know if I can be of assistance by calling my office 804-698-1042 or by emailing me at DelKTran@house.virginia.gov.

Best, Kathy

Delegate, 42nd District 

Updates from the Federal Government

Medicaid Coverage

  • The United States Department of Health and Human Services has expanded Medicaid coverage for COVID-19 testing until August 31. To see if you are eligible for Medicaid, visit coverva.org/. 

  • Or, if you have experienced unemployment, you may qualify for special enrollment through the Affordable Care Act’s Healthcare Marketplace. More information is available at healthcare.gov/.

Updates from Governor Northam and State Agencies

Funding for Childcare

  • Governor Northam approved an additional $58.9 million in federal CARES Act funding to continue expanding access to childcare for Virginian families. The funding will:

  • Eliminate co-payments for low-income, working families who receive federal child care subsidy dollars 

  • Prepare schools to act as emergency child care centers, where needed, and 

  • Provide additional funding for child care providers that participate in the federal subsidy program, but have had to close. 

  • As a reminder, if you are searching for child care options near you, please visit www.childcareva.com. 

Workplace Safety Guidelines

  • The Virginia Department of Labor and Industry and the Virginia Safety and Health Board have finalized safety standards for workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. These standards will be in effect starting the week of July 27, though the exact date has not been announced. 

  • These standards are the first in the nation relating to worker protections during the COVID-19 pandemic and are applicable to all businesses under the jurisdiction of the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health Program within the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry. I encourage you to read the standards, which you can find here. 

Updates from Virginia House of Delegates

Public Hearings on Criminal Justice Reform

  • As I have previously shared, the House of Delegates’ Courts of Justice and Public Safety committees are holding joint virtual hearings to gather input on criminal justice reform ahead of the 2020 Special Session and the 2021 Regular Session. The next two hearings will be on:

    • July 29 from 10am-1pm

    • August 6 from 10am-1pm

  • You can sign up to speak or offer written comments here: bit.ly/vahousecalendar

Updates from Fairfax County Public Schools

Virtual Start for 2020-2021 Academic School Year

  • This week, Superintendent Brabrand recommended that all students in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) begin the 2020-2021 academic school year with distance learning. The Fairfax County Public Schools Board voted in favor of this recommendation. 

  • As such, distance learning will begin for all FCPS students on September 8. If health conditions improve, FCPS will bring back students for intervention support on a limited basis. After that, FPCS will work to bring students back to school, starting with elementary school, special education, and English Learner students. You can learn more about the plan at www.fcps.edu/returntoschool. 

View my summary of the 2020 legislative session here.

View my previous e-newsletters here.

View my new COVID-19 resource page to see a summary of state actions, guidance, and resources here.