December 9th Newsletter
From where do we find inspiration to do the things that we do? Over the past two weeks I know that many of us have been reflecting on the inspiration that we have found from Congressman A. Donald McEachin who died on November 28th after an ongoing battle with colorectal cancer.
Remembrances of someone as beloved as the Richmond native who died far too young at only age 61 can be sad because we have lost such a great public servant. But those remembrances have helped me and others to more fully appreciate McEachin’s impact and what is now his legacy. Until this week when I attended the Congressman’s funeral, as well as other events where he was lauded, I had only a limited appreciation for his unwavering commitment to protecting the environment. The laws that we passed in the state legislature in recent years including the Virginia Clean Economy Act reflect McEachin’s tireless work on those issues while he served in both the House of Delegates and Senate before heading to Congress. He was a leading champion for environmental justice before most people even understood that there were harsh, systemic disparities in the impact of climate change. And Congressional leaders including Jim Clyburn have said that McEachin’s advocacy was critical in securing passage of the landmark environmental protections included in the Inflation Reduction Act.
Learning more about McEachin’s legacy has reinvigorated my focus on environmental issues including the actions that we must take to advance more clean energy sources in Virginia. I hope that you may find a similar purpose. As Speaker Nancy Pelosi closed her reflections on the Congressman at his funeral, “the mark that he made will be an inspiration to us forever.”
If you have any questions or need assistance with a state agency, please contact my office at DelRWillett@house.virginia.gov or phone at 804-698-1073, and my expert staff will be happy to assist you. I also will continue to keep you informed with relevant, accurate information via Twitter, Facebook, and my website. Please stay well and stay in touch.
Sincerely,
Rodney
New Information
2023 VanValkenburg-Willett Legislative Fellowship
Delegates Schuyler VanValkenburg (HD-72) and Rodney Willett (HD-73) announce the second annual VanValkenburg-Willett Legislative Fellowship is now open to applications. This fellowship program is designed to introduce top high school students from Henrico County to Virginia state government and see the legislative process in action. There is no cost to the student.
Eight high school students will be selected (four from HD-72 and four from HD-73) to join Delegates VanValkenburg and Willett at the General Assembly on February 1st, 2023 from 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Students will have the opportunity to meet with legislators, policymakers, advocates, and journalists to learn more about Virginia State Government. The deadline for all applications is Friday, December 30th, 2022 at 5:00 PM EST.
Visit the General Assembly website and use the Who's My Legislator? tool to confirm residence in the 72nd and 73rd House of Delegates districts.
For more information, please contact Julia Billingsley, staff to Delegate Willett at DelRWillett@house.virginia.gov, or Kelly Johnson, staff to Delegate VanValkenburg, at DelSVanValkenburg@house.virginia.gov.
Tomorrow: Legislative Advocacy Training 101
On Saturday, December 10th the Interfaith Action for Human Rights is sponsoring a free program on legislative advocacy and lobbying that will explain how a bill becomes law and offer tips on how to make your wishes known.
Steven Mangual, Justice Advocate Coordinator for the Latino Justice PRLDEF and Natasha White, Coalition Coordinator for the VA Coalition, will be hosting a three hour training on legislative advocacy basics. They will be speaking about three specific issues: earned sentence credits, oversight, and solitary confinement.
Event Details – RSVP here.
Saturday, December 10th 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
701 E Franklin St. Ste 1412, Richmond, VA 23219, USA
Increasing Risk of Respiratory Illness
The ‘Tripledemic’ of flu, RSV, and COVID-19 remains a top concern as we approach the winter season and holiday gatherings. Now is the most important time to take action with personal and community safety measures to reduce the spread of respiratory illness.
The Virginia Department of Health reports that this year’s flu season began early and has been more severe. During the week ending November 19, Virginia had a very high level of influenza-like illness. Nationwide, more than 6.2 million illnesses have been reported along with 53,000 hospitalizations and 2,900 deaths.
The rate of COVID-19 cases are trending upward as well, and the new Omicron subvariants BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 combined now account for about 63% of new cases per CDC data. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is on the decline in Virginia though the risk remains.
In addition to your local pharmacies and doctor’s offices, the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts list weekly community testing locations and regularly offers events to pick up at-home COVID-19 tests and masks. More information on the RHHD website.
Healthy tips to prevent illness:
Get vaccinated, including COVID-19 boosters and the annual flu shot
Wear a well-fitting mask in public spaces and wash your hands regularly
Avoid touching your face to prevent germs from entering your system
Eat a diet rich in vitamins and minerals
Routinely sleep at least 7 hours a night
Exercise on a regular basis and meditate to reduce your stress levels
Henrico Officers Honored at Valor Awards Celebration
The Valor Awards are an annual ceremony to celebrate and recognize the first responders in our community. Shretta Ford, a Henrico County Police Officer was honored with a Silver Valor Award at the 32nd Annual Valor Awards on December 1st. Back in July, Ford valiantly saved multiple lives including fellow officers, and her own.
The Valor Coins were presented following the presentation of the Valor Awards. The family of Trey Sutton, a 24 year old Henrico County Police Officer, received Valor Coins in his memory. Sutton died in a crash in May while transporting a person in police custody to the jail complex; his partner and the passenger were also severely injured. Sutton had just graduated from the police academy a few months prior. Read more about the recognitions from the Henrico Citizen.
Thank you to the award recipients and the many brave law enforcement officials in Henrico County and beyond who put their lives on the line every day to keep our community safe.
Tacky Lights in Henrico County
If you’re looking for ways to celebrate the holidays or simply get out of the house to experience some festivities outdoors this season, the annual Tacky Lights destinations are a great way to boost spirits. The Richmond Times Dispatch keeps a regional list of must-see stops sorted by neighborhood, including the West End.
A few highlights include the Phifer display at 9604 Asbury Court. The Phifers have been decorating 2 houses since 2005 but this year they’ve only decorated one, and it’s worth seeing. After 51 years of stringing lights, Frank Hudak has decided to retire after this year’s season. Come by 2300 Wistar Court to see his display one last time.
Community Events
Project Maverick Kickoff at Freeman
It was a joy to stop by Douglas S. Freeman High School on Tuesday morning to join a school assembly and kickoff event for Project Maverick, a semester-long “capstone” group project for high school seniors. The focus is on developing solutions to local community issues, so I had the privilege of chatting with 12th grade government students and answering questions about serving my community in the state legislature.
VHWDA Work Session with Stakeholders
The Virginia Healthcare Workforce Development Authority convened a group of stakeholders this week at Brightpoint Community College in Chester. I am proud to serve on the Authority as the Vice Chair along with Senator George Barker’s leadership as Chair, my colleague Delegate Keith Hodges, and many others. I shared more back in my October 14th newsletter on the VHWDA and ongoing study, which will conclude in a report next fall.
13th Virginia Economic Summit & Forum on International Trade
Last week the VA Chamber of Commerce hosted the annual Virginia Economic Summit & Forum on International Trade. I was glad to attend and engage in conversations with a slate of great business leaders and state officials on how to position the Commonwealth to remain competitive domestically, as well as in the global economy.
