February 5th Newsletter
Many of you may feel as if we just started the 2021 legislative session but we actually arrived at the important milestone of crossover this Friday! The strict bill introduction limits in the House and Senate are making this session very efficient, although “efficiency” is a relative term: we still are considering hundreds of bills. And as I describe below, many of those bills are exceptionally important measures, addressing the most pressing issues of the day.
Please do not mistake our efficiency for a lack of deliberation on the legislation. Many of these bills have been under review for several years or more. The bills also reflect the presentations and written comments of the organizations and individuals affected by the laws.
I also encourage you to contact me now and throughout the session: please email my office at delrwillett@house.virginia.gov or call us at 804-698-1073. I will continue to keep you informed with relevant, accurate information via Twitter, Facebook, and my website.
Sincerely,
Rodney
New Information
2021 General Assembly Session
This was our last week in the 2021 legislative session before crossover, when bills passed by the House or the Senate are sent to the opposite chamber for their consideration. For legislation to be sent to the Senate, it must be reported from a House committee and read three times on the floor before final passage. I am pleased to report that all seven of the bills I put forward this session have passed the House! See below for a bill matrix with updates on all of my legislation:
You can see more information on all of my legislation online here. This legislative session has been historic, and not just because it has been conducted virtually. Here are some of the most prominent pieces of legislation that passed the House today:
HB2263 — Abolishes the use of the death penalty in Virginia. The death penalty has proven to not deter violent crime, and the risk of executing an innocent person is too great of a burden for our Commonwealth to engage in this practice.
HB2312 — Legalizes the recreational use and possession of cannabis for adults 21 and older. The bill also establishes a regulatory scheme for the cultivation, manufacturing, testing, wholesale, and retail sale of cannabis under the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority. The bill imposes a tax on retail and non-retail marijuana and marijuana products of 21 percent and provides that localities may by ordinance levy a three percent tax on any such marijuana or marijuana products. This bill has a companion in the Senate, our chambers will work together in the coming days to consolidate the provisions of both bills and establish a unified framework for the legalization and regulation of adult use of cannabis.
We also took the first step towards creating a more inclusive and equitable Constitution of Virginia through the passage of two constitutional amendments. For these amendments to be adopted they must first pass the Senate and then be approved again next year by both chambers. If the amendments pass in the 2022 session, voters will have the opportunity to either approve or reject the amendments on the ballot in November 2022.
HJ586 — Overturns the Marshall-Newman Amendment defining marriage as only a union between one man and one woman, and establishes the right to marry as a fundamental right inherent in the liberty of persons. The amendment also requires the Commonwealth to issue marriage licenses, recognize marriages, and treat all marriages equally under the law, regardless of the sex or gender of the parties to the marriage. Religious organizations and clergy acting in their religious capacity have the right to refuse to perform any marriage.
HJ555 — Ends the disenfranchisement of felons and provides for automatic restoration of political rights to inmates upon their release. Virginians who have served their time and repaid their debt to society have a right to have their voice heard.
Here are some other bills that have passed the House this session that I would like to highlight:
HB2206 (Chief Co-Patron) — Creates the COVID-19 Child Care Assistance Program to provide financial assistance for child care to families in need during the public health emergency caused by COVID-19.
HB2007 (Co-Patron) — Prescription drugs; price transparency, Requires every health carrier, pharmacy benefits manager, wholesale drug distributor, and drug manufacturer to report information about prescription drug prices to the Department of Health and requires the Department to make such information available on its website. The bill also provides that beginning January 1, 2022, a health plan enrollee’s defined cost-sharing for each prescription drug shall be calculated at the point of sale based on a price that is reduced by an amount equal to at least 80 percent of all rebates received in connection with the administration of each drug.
HB2065 (Co-Patron) — Directs the Department of Social Services to establish a Produce Rx Program as a three-year pilot program to incentivize consumption of fruits and vegetables by eligible individuals for whom increased consumption of fruits and vegetables is recommended by a qualified care provider.
HB1888 (Co-Patron) — Authorize secure ballot dropbox locations for all localities, allows citizens to “cure” or fix their absentee ballots if they are incorrectly filled out, and requires each locality to count early in-person ballots before Election Day, rather than to rush to count them all at once at the same time as they manage in-person voting.
HB2137 (Co-Patron) — Requires employers to provide certain employees paid sick leave. An employee is eligible for paid sick leave under the bill if the employee is an essential worker and works on average at least 20 hours per week or 90 hours per month. The bill provides for an employee to earn at least one hour of paid sick leave benefit for every 30 hours worked.
HB2322 — Establishes the Opioid Abatement Authority. The Authority, with the assistance of the Office of the Attorney General, would administer the Opioid Abatement Fund, which would receive money from settlements, judgments, verdicts, and other court orders, or related agreements, concerning claims regarding the manufacturing, marketing, distribution, or sale of opioids that would be used to provide grants and loans to Virginia agencies and certain localities for the purpose of treating, preventing, and reducing opioid use disorder and the misuse of opioids in the Commonwealth.
Governor Northam Friday Press Conference on COVID-19 and Schools
This morning, Governor Northam held a press conference to provide updates on the COVID-19 vaccine rollout and school reopenings. Schools being shut down has led to increasing levels of depression and behavioral problems in our children and has also contributed to a decline in academic performance. As we have come to know more about the virus, new research has indicated that schools are safer than the general community. Given this new information and the challenges our students, parents, and educators have faced in virtual learning, the Governor has called on all schools to offer in-person learning options by March 15th. You can read the Governor’s announcement online here, and a letter sent to superintendents online here.
Governor Northam also announced that his administration will be working to support local decisions around expanding summer learning opportunities. While the Commonwealth is not mandating extended learning time during the summer, the Northam Administration is in the process of determining additional resources to support this as an option for school divisions to offer.
COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution
On Saturday, February 13th at 2:00 pm, I am hosting a Virtual COVID-19 Vaccine Town Hall with other members of the Central Virginia delegation to provide updates and answer any questions you may have on the COVID-19 vaccine distribution efforts in our area. We will be joined by Dr. Danny Avula, Virginia Vaccine Coordinator and Director of the Richmond and Henrico Health Departments, to provide you the most up to date information on the vaccine. RSVP online here: bit.ly/febcovidtownhall
Henrico County is currently in Phase 1b of our COVID-19 vaccine distribution process, which includes:
Frontline essential workers
Adults 65 and older
Adults under 65 with certain medical conditions
People living in correctional facilities, homeless shelters, and migrant labor camps
If you are in phase 1b and have not yet received your initial dose, please fill out this form with the Richmond/Henrico Health Department, and they will contact you to schedule an appointment. The Department does not currently have a form available for individuals with medical conditions but they are working to quickly resolve this issue.
As a reminder, the biggest obstacle in our distribution process is the lack of supply available from the federal government. We are not expected to complete vaccination of phase 1b until March or April, so you may experience a delay in scheduling your initial appointment. The Governor did announce today that we can expect to see a 23% increase in our weekly allocation of doses from the federal government.
While there is still much we need to do to improve our vaccine rollout, we have made significant strides in the pace of immunizations over the past 3 weeks:
Virginia is now averaging over 38,000 shots per day, which is more than triple the number of daily vaccinations administered 3 weeks ago (Virginia Department of Health).
More than 9% of Virginia’s population has received at least one dose, which ranks us 9th amongst states (New York Times). More of our population has been vaccinated than our neighbors in North Carolina, Maryland, Tennessee, and Kentucky.
Virginia is 10th amongst states in the percent of vaccines administered that have been distributed, with 69% of all doses administered (New York Times).
COVID-19 Vaccination in Henrico County + CVS Vaccination
Henrico County leads the state in COVID-19 vaccinations per 100,000 residents. The county has a rate of over 11,000 immunizations per 100,000 residents and is 3rd in the state in total doses administered (over 39,000). This data was presented on Tuesday during a special meeting of the Board of Supervisors focused on the vaccination process. You can see a comparison of vaccine doses administered by locality online here. County officials reported that they expect every education and public safety employee from Henrico, Richmond, Goochland, and Hanover who wanted to receive the vaccine will have had their initial shots by Friday, February 5th.
CVS officials announced on Thursday that a total of 36 stores in Virginia will begin offering COVID-19 vaccinations on February 11th. Locally, stores in Richmond (which may include Henrico); Mechanicsville; and Midlothian are shown as being among that list, although no specific store locations have yet to be announced. Registrations are expected to open up on February 9th and are only available for individuals in phase 1a or phase 1b. CVS has reported that the company will offer as many as 26,000 doses statewide.
The Richmond/Henrico Health Department is exploring ways to partner with CVS but, in the meantime, anyone who may be eligible for vaccinations through CVS should feel free to register for them even if you have already completed a vaccine interest form through the health department. Those eligible who would like to register to be considered for an immunization at CVS can do so online here.
Henrico County Public Schools Reopening
Yesterday, the Henrico County School Board voted to approve a phased reopening plan beginning the week of February 22nd. You can watch the full School Board meeting online here. I know how difficult the last year has been for our children, parents, and teachers, as we have worked to continue educating our students while keeping our community safe from the spread of COVID-19. I am thrilled that the Henrico County students will have the opportunity to return to school in person. You can read the full announcement from HCPS online here. Below is a breakdown of the phased return to school:
Week of February 22nd
Feb. 22-23: In-person learning for students in pre-K through grade 2 who chose the in-person option. Virtual learning for all other students.
Feb. 24: Wellness Wednesday for all students (abbreviated virtual learning and/or independent study).
Feb. 25-26: Virtual learning for all students (some exceptions for small groups that have been engaging in limited in-person learning.)
Week of March 1st
March 1-2: In-person learning for students in pre-K through grade 5, as well as students in grade 6 and grade 9 who chose the in-person option. Virtual learning for all other students.
March 3: Wellness Wednesday for all students (abbreviated virtual learning and/or independent study).
March 4-5: Virtual learning for all students (some exceptions for small groups that have been engaging in limited in-person learning.)
Week of March 8th
March 8-9: In-person learning for all students who chose the in-person option, including grades 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12. Virtual learning for all other students.
March 10: Wellness Wednesday for all students (abbreviated virtual learning and/or independent study).
March 11-12: In-person learning for all students who chose the in-person option, including grades 7, 8, 10, 11, and 12. Virtual learning for all other students.
Week of March 15th and beyond
Same as the prior week. In-person learning for all students who chose the in-person option. Virtual learning for all other students. Wellness Wednesdays for all students (abbreviated virtual learning and/or independent study.)
A virtual learning schedule on Feb. 24-26 and March 3-5 takes into consideration HCPS staff members who will be receiving the second dose of their COVID-19 vaccine on those dates and may experience side effects that impact our ability to hold in-person instruction. There is no adjustment to Spring Break, which will still occur April 5-9. Details about meal service, bus transportation, and other commonly asked questions will be shared in the near future.
Gun Violence Survivors Week
This week marked the 3rd annual National Gun Violence Survivors Week. The first week of February represents the approximate time that gun deaths in the United States surpass the number of gun deaths experienced by our peer countries in an entire calendar year. Gun violence is an epidemic in our country. According to the Gun Violence Archive, a total of at least 19,223 people lost their lives due to gun violence in 2020. That's an increase of almost 25% from 2019. This violence takes many forms, including mass shootings, community gun violence, and suicide by firearms.
We have made significant progress in addressing this issue in Virginia through the passage of several gun violence prevention measures, however, while this legislation will help prevent future violence, it cannot bring back the lives of those lost to gun violence. According to a report from Everytown For Gun Safety, 58% of American adults are survivors of gun violence, either experiencing gun violence themselves or caring for someone who has experienced gun violence in their lifetimes. This number is even higher in communities of color, as 68% of Black and Latino American adults are survivors of gun violence.
Black History Month
February is Black History Month, an important time to reflect on our nation’s history and celebrate the diversity and achievements that Black Virginians have contributed to our Commonwealth. I want to highlight the words of some of my Black colleagues in the General Assembly who have provided moving points of personal privilege on the House floor in honor of Black History Month. I encourage you to listen to the comments of Senator Mamie Locke, Leader Charinele Herring, Chairman Lamont Bagby, and Delegate Jeff Bourne.
I also want to congratulate Henrico native Rashida Jones for her new position as president of MSNBC. Ms. Jones has become the first Black woman to run a major cable news network. I know that Henrico County is proud of this tremendous accomplishment.
Congresswoman Spanberger seeking ‘Valentines for Vets’
Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger (VA-07) is seeking Valentines’ cards to distribute to veterans in the Seventh Congressional District. This is the second annual “Valentines for Vets” drive. Last year, community members and local schoolchildren created handwritten messages for local veterans and sent them to Spanberger’s district offices as part of Valentines for Vets. In total, her offices received more than 1,900 valentines.
Constituents are encouraged to participate in “Valentines for Vets” by dropping off or mailing cards to Spanberger’s Henrico County district office. A contactless bin will be placed outside of the location for those choosing to physically deliver them to the office. The deadline for submission is Thursday, Feb. 11.
Rep. Abigail Spanberger
Henrico County District Office
4201 Dominion Blvd, Suite 110, Glen Allen, VA 23060
