May 29, 2022

Neighbors, 

This Memorial Day, I hope you will join me in solemn remembrance of our military service members who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. We honor them and their families.

It has been a very difficult few weeks as our country has experienced yet another series of mass shootings. Our hearts are heavy as we grieve for the victims in Buffalo and Uvalde. 

If you or someone you know needs support, please know the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is available to provide assistance at 1-800-273-8255. 

Many constituents have reached out to ask what we are doing in Virginia to reduce gun violence. In 2020 and 2021, we passed several measures, including a “Red Flag” law, expanded background checks, and more time for the completion of background checks. It is my hope that we can build on these efforts.

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

  • Legislative

    • Special Session

    • Ceremonial Bill Signing

  • Primary Voting

  • AAPI Heritage Month Highlights

  • COVID-19 Update

    • Booster Shots Approved For Everyone 5 Years and Older

  • Transportation Updates

  • I-495 Express Lanes Northern Extension Project

  • Extended Nighttime Single-Lane Closures

  • Community Update

    • Elly Doyle Park Service Award Nominations

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 

Legislative Update

Special Session

As I’ve shared in previous newsletters, we are constitutionally required to pass a balanced biennial budget by the end of the fiscal year on June 30. This week, a team from the House of Delegates and state Senate announced they have negotiated a proposed budget. 

The proposal will be available on the state budget website by May 30 at 10:00am for all legislators and the public to review.

Both the House of Delegates and state Senate will be meeting on June 1 to continue our special session to consider the biennial budget and bills remaining from the regular legislative session.

Ceremonial Bill Signing

On May 20, I was delighted to join my constituents, Traci and Edith, the National President of Gold Star Wives of America, and representatives of the Military Officers Association of America for a ceremonial bill signing of my bill, HB957, at the Virginia War Memorial. This bill enables tax relief for surviving spouses of service members killed in the line of duty. Thank you for your advocacy!

Primary Voting

The 42nd district overlaps with the 8th, 10th and 11th congressional districts (CD). Only the Democratic nomination for the 8th CD is being decided by a primary election this year. Residents of the 8th CD can vote in that primary election on or before June 21.

To find your voting location, visit the Virginia Department of Elections’ website. To vote by mail, see here and to vote early in person, see here.

Note: The Democratic nomination for the 10th and 11th CDs are uncontested and the Republican Party in the 8th, 10th and 11th CDs have chosen to select their nominees by a method other than a primary election. 

As is standard protocol following the Census, Virginia recently finished redistricting the congressional maps. You can find what district you live in by searching your address at this link.

AAPI Heritage Month Highlights

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. 

I wanted to share highlights from events that I participated in during May to recognize the many accomplishments of the AAPIs in our country. Per the 2020 Census, AAPIs are the fastest growing minority group in Virginia, and in Fairfax County, AAPIs comprise about 20% of the population and are the County’s largest minority community.

I was delighted to join President Biden, Vice President Harris, US Trade Representative Ambassador Tai and national AAPI leaders at the White House celebration.

I was honored to be recognized by the AAPI Victory Fund as a “Next Generation Leader” alongside other state legislators, including my colleagues Delegates Suhas Subramanyam and Irene Shin.

I spoke on several panels about the significance of this month and how we continue to combat racism and hate directed towards AAPIs, including with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Altria employees.

I had a lot of fun hosting live social media conversations with AAPI leaders in Virginia: Justin Lo, vice chair of the Virginia Asian Advisory Board; Tram Nguyen, co-executive director of New Virginia Majority; Dr. Luisa Igloria, Poet Laureate of Virginia; and Praveen Meyyan, chair of the Democratic Asian Americans of Virginia!

COVID-19 Update

Booster Shots Approved For Everyone 5 Years and Older

On May 19, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended children between the ages of 5 and 11 receive a booster shot 5 months after their initial Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination. Caregivers should talk to their child’s doctor for more information. The CDC announcement is here.

To find out the nearest location where you can receive a COVID vaccine, please visit https://vaccinate.virginia.gov/. 

Transportation Updates

I-495 Express Lanes Northern Extension Project

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), Transurban, and contractor Lane Construction will be holding Project Update Meetings for their I-495 Express Lanes Northern Extension Project. You can learn more about this project here. The public meetings will be held: 

VIRTUAL MEETING

Tuesday, June 7, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. (presentation at 6:30 p.m.)

Visit 495NEXT.org/public_meetings for details on how to join the meeting

IN-PERSON MEETING

Monday, June 6, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. (presentation at 7 p.m.)

Langley High School Auditorium

6520 Georgetown Pike, McLean VA 22101

Extended Nighttime Single-Lane Closures

VDOT has extended their nighttime single-lane closures. From May 31st through June 10th, VDOT is implementing weekday nighttime single-lane closure between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. for expedited milling and repaving of heavily traveled primary arterial ramps and roadways, including:

  • Westbound Route 289/Franconia Springfield Parkway from Spring Village Dr ato east of Route 286/Fairfax County Parkway interchange

  • Southbound Route 286/Fairfax County Parkway from ramp at Rolling Road/638 to Barta Road interchange

  • Route 235/Mount Vernon Memorial Highway between Old Mount Vernon Rd and George Washington Memorial Pkwy

  • Route 235/Mount Vernon Highway between Route 1/Richmond Highway and George Washington Memorial Parkway

Community Update

Elly Doyle Park Service Award


The Fairfax County Park Authority is accepting nominations for the 2022 Elly Doyle Park Service Awards through June 17. So many of our neighbors volunteer their time to keep our parks beautiful and the Elly Doyle Park Service Awards recognizes their service to our community. If you would like to nominate someone for an award, click here.