January 23, 2022

Neighbors, 

We had a busy 2nd week of the 2022 Legislative Session! My staff and I have met with constituents and members of the National Federation of the Blind, Virginia Interfaith Center, and the Virginia Citizens Defense League about issues ranging from accessible educational technology to criminal justice reform to welcoming immigrants to gun ownership laws. 

I also gave legislative updates to the Mount Vernon District Democrats and the Democratic Women of Clifton and Northern Virginia. If you would like me to meet with your civic association or HOA, please call or email me, and I would be glad to share updates about our work in the General Assembly.

In this newsletter, I’ve included information about:

  • Upcoming Virtual Town Hall

  • Provide Your Input to the 2022 Legislative Session

  • Refugee Advocacy Day

  • The Legislative Process and My Agenda

  • Governor’s Mask mandate

As always, let me know if you have questions or need assistance by calling my office at (804) 698-1042 or emailing me at DelKTran@house.virginia.gov. 

 

Best, Kathy

 

Kathy KL Tran

Delegate, 42nd District 

 

Upcoming Virtual Town Hall

Sunday, January 30 from 1-3pm

Save your calendar! I will be participating in a virtual town hall with Senator Scott Surovell. You can join the conversation here.

 

Provide Your Input to the 2022 Legislative Session

There are many ways for you to share your input to legislation under consideration during this session. See how you can track bills, watch the floor session or committees, or provide testimony to bill hearings here.

 My staff and I are available to meet with you as well. Because of the rise in COVID cases in Virginia, we prefer to meet virtually via Zoom and require masks to be worn for in-person meetings. Please email us to schedule a meeting at DelKTran@house.virginia.gov. We look forward to hearing your thoughts on bills!

 

Refugee Advocacy Day

On January 19, I was joined the International Rescue Committee, Church World Service, Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church, and fellow members of the Virginia Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Caucus to kick off Refugee Advocacy Day. 

Since the United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan in August, more than 3,000 Afghan refugees, humanitarian parolees, and Special Immigrant Visa holders have resettled in Virginia, and we expect thousands more to make the Commonwealth their new home. Many of our neighbors in the 42nd District and throughout Virginia have generously welcomed Afghan refugees by donating household goods and gift cards, helping them navigate their new lives, and more.

This session, I’m working with colleagues in the Virginia AAPI Caucus to support the successful resettlement of refugees in Virginia. Specifically, I introduced bills and budget amendments to help address our teacher and nurse shortages by tapping into the skills and expertise of qualified Virginians with international training. Additionally, I’m also sponsoring proposals to make our state and local governments more accessible to limited English proficient Virginians.

Our diversity is our strength, and refugees are an integral part of Virginia’s rich tapestry. I am proud to support their successful resettlement and help them reach their full potential in their new home. You can read more about Refugee Advocacy Day and our efforts here and here.

 

The Legislative Process and My Agenda

Over 2,000 pieces of legislation have been introduced this session. Bills in the House of Delegates were starting to get heard and voted on. In the House’s nomenclature, bills are referred to committee where it is then generally assigned to a subcommittee for a hearing. During the hearing, witnesses – subject matter experts, state agency staff, interested members of the public – can provide testimony in response to the bill. A bill must pass out of subcommittee and the corresponding full committee before it reports to the entire House of Delegates for a vote on the House floor. Once a bill passes the House of Delegates, it goes through a similar process in the state Senate.

My first bill hearing this session is on January 24 when the Chesapeake Bay Subcommittee will hear my bill, HB959, which will help inform Virginians if noxious substances have been spilled into public waters by updating the threshold for notifications. You can see my legislative agenda on my website. 

 

Governor’s Mask Mandate

On January 15, Governor Youngkin issued Executive Order 2, banning school mask mandates effective January 24. A group of families in Chesapeake have sued to stop the Executive Order.

Last year, in an effort to get our kids back to in-person school, the General Assembly passed Senate Bill 1303 with strong bipartisan support to require school districts to offer in-person classes for Virginia students while following the Center for Disease Control’s COVID guidance. The CDC recommendations currently include universal mask wearing in schools. 

Constituents have reached out to me about this Executive Order and asked what I can do as a member of the General Assembly to affect its implementation. As a Delegate, I do not vote on Executive Orders. However, I do vote on legislation that comes before me in the House of Delegates, and I will always consider the public health and safety of our community when reviewing policy proposals related to COVID.

At this time, Senate Bill 1303 is a Virginia law that remains in effect. It is important to note that while the Governor has the ability to issue Executive Orders, Executive Orders do not overturn laws. 

As the lawsuit I mentioned above is considered by the Virginia Supreme Court, local school districts have taken various approaches to their mask policies. A number of school districts, including Fairfax County Public Schools, have determined that they will still require masks. If you have specific questions about FCPS’ policy, please reach out to your local school board member.