May 15, 2023

Neighbors, 

Last week was Teacher Appreciation Week, and I hope you were able to celebrate all that our educators do to support our children and our communities. I presented commendations to recognize some of our outstanding community’s teachers, staff, and schools.

Congrats to Thea Fraser, a first grade teacher at Hunt Valley Elementary School, for being the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Region 4 Outstanding Elementary New Teacher in 2022! Thea builds a strong classroom community, ensures her students feel valued, and empowers, supports, and encourages them to thrive.

Laurel Hill Elementary School had two team members recognized for their contributions! Kimberly Wilson was recognized as the FCPS Region 4 Outstanding School-Based Operational Employee in 2022. Kimberly is known for her kindness and for being a tireless champion for students and educators.


Cheryl Sanavaitis was named the FCPS Region 4Outstanding Elementary Teacher in 2022! Ms. Sanavaitis is a dedicated kindergarten teacher, and she engages and nurtures her students to love learning and be fearless in making new discoveries.

Gunston Elementary was recently designated as a Purple Star School for the 2022-2023 school year. Purple Star Schools are schools who commit to supporting the educational and social-emotional needs of military-connected children. Thanks for all you do to support our military families and students. Go Eagles!

In this newsletter, I’ve included information about the following:

  • Elections Update

  • Community Updates

    • Girl Scout Troop 52095’s Democracy Badge

    • American Legion Post 176 Vietnam War Veterans Celebration

    • Eden Center Tour

    • Claudia Llana’s Retirement From VDOT

    • White House Forum

  • Budget Update

  • Transportation Updates

    • Commonwealth Transportation Board Public Comment

    • Yellow Line 


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


Elections Update


As a reminder, early voting is now open for the June 20 primary elections. You can vote at the following times and locations until June 17. For more details, click here.

Fairfax County Government Center, Conference Rooms 2 and 3

12000 Government Center Pkwy, Fairfax, VA 22035

Weekdays: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Two Saturdays (June 10, June 17): 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.



Mt. Vernon Governmental Center

2511 Parkers Lane Alexandria, 22306

Weekdays: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Two Saturdays (June 10, June 17): 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.



North County Governmental Center

1801 Cameron Glen Drive Reston, 20190

Weekdays: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Two Saturdays (June 10, June 17): 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.



The primary elections will be held under new district lines as part of our decennial redistricting. 



You can see which new House of Delegates and state Senate districts you reside in on the General Assembly’s website. Just input your address, click “find now,” and then “**NEW IN 2024.” Sample ballots for the primary elections are available; you can look for the sample ballot for your polling location at this link.

Community Updates

Girl Scout Troop 52095’s Democracy Badge

I had so much fun visiting with my constituents in Girl Scout Troop 52095 to help them earn their Democracy Badge — and I was so honored when they presented me with my own Democracy Badge!

American Legion Post 176 Vietnam War Veterans Celebration

I joined the Springfield American Legion Post 176 for its Vietnam War Veterans Celebration, which observed the 50th anniversary of the withdrawal of American servicemembers from Vietnam. The memories of the Vietnam War are still close to everyone’s hearts, and I appreciate the opportunity to join our community to lift up our Vietnam War veterans. And thank you to Post 176 for this photo montage!

Eden Center Tour

I toured Eden Center with the Viet Place Collective and Falls Church City Council members and visited with small business owners. As the City develops its East End Small Area Plan, Eden Center must be preserved as the premier Vietnamese American cultural and commercial hub on the East Coast.

Claudia Llana Retirement From VDOT

I was so happy to present a commending resolution to Claudia Llana, who recently retired after a 25 year career with the northern Virginia Department of Transportation office. From assisting me with planning transportation town halls to helping fill potholes, Claudia has worked hand-in-hand with me and my team to improve our road infrastructure and make transportation smoother in our community.  Thank you for your leadership and service, Claudia, and congratulations on your retirement!

White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders Forum

I was honored to join the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders historic celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. I participated on a panel regarding uplifting Asian American and Pacific Islander voices in state and local governments with California Assemblyman Evan Low, Georgia State Representative Sam Park, and Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval.  

Budget Update

House of Delegates and state Senate negotiators continue to work on our state budget. The budget negotiators recently said they are going to wait until the Commonwealth has updated revenue information for May and there is clarity on what Congress will do in regards to the debt ceiling. 

In the meanwhile, you can read my summary of key differences in the House and state Senate proposals in my past newsletter here, and you can check out The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis’s comprehensive breakdown of the proposed budgets.

Transportation Updates

Commonwealth Transportation Board Public Comment

The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) continues to accept comments regarding its draft Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-2029 Six-Year Improvement Program, which allocates public funds to highway, road, bridge, rail, bicycle, pedestrian, public transportation, and transportation demand management projects.


To view the program, visit the Department of Transportation’s website. You can submit comments until May 24 online or by mail or at one of the addresses below:

  • For roads and highways: 

    • Email: Six-YearProgram@VDOT.Virginia.gov

    • Mail: Infrastructure Investment Director, Virginia Department of Transportation, 1401 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219.

  • For transit and rail: 

    • Email: DRPTPR@drpt.virginia.gov

    • Mail: Public Information Office, Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, 600 East Main Street, Suite 2102, Richmond, VA 23219.

Yellow Line Reopened

The Metro’s Yellow Line reopened on May 7. It had been closed for eight months as extensive work was done on the tunnel and bridge between the Pentagon and L’Enfant Plaza stations. You can find more information about the re-opening here.