Capitol Hill Update
A new weekly review of what local legislators are doing on the Hill and in Richmond that affect our region.
By Martin Davis
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
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United States Senate
Tim Kaine and Mark Warner teamed up this week on two announcements. Most recently, they announced $3.4 Million in Federal Funding to Support Clean Energy Projects and Lower Energy Costs in Virginia. Of that amount, $2,646,050 is going to the commonwealth of Virginia to bring a “marketing, education, and outreach program that helps residents decrease their energy costs and navigate financial incentives for home electrification and energy efficiency upgrades.”
Earlier in the week, the two announced $46 Million in Federal Funding to Upgrade Virginia Airports. Ronald Reagan National Airport, Louisa County Airport/Freeman Field, and Richmond Executive/Chesterfield County Airport are among the airports receiving funding.
Kaine has also been busy traveling the commonwealth this week, making numerous stops statewide that included Fredericksburg, Quantico, and Manassas. In Fredericksburg, Kaine visited “Healthy Generations Area Agency on Aging … for a roundtable discussion on how the Inflation Reduction Act has lowered health care and prescription drug costs for millions of Americans…. Later that day, Kaine visited Marine Corps Base Quantico to discuss childcare, where afterwards he visited the Quantico Child Development Center South and met with staff and parents to discuss childcare needs and staffing shortages.”
Kaine appeared in Spotsylvania County on Friday to visit the largest solar farm east of the Rockies. The Advance’s story on this visit will run in our afternoon edition.
Warner also issued a statement on the death of Hersh Goldberg-Polin. The statement read, in part, “I am heartbroken for the Goldberg-Polin family, whose son and brother Hersh was brutally murdered by Hamas along with five other hostages abducted on October 7, 2023. … Hersh’s abduction while peacefully enjoying a music festival and subsequent murder is further evidence of Hamas’ violence and depravity, which have caused pain and suffering across the region for far too long.”
Warner also issued a statement on DEA Telemedicine rulemaking. “As currently reported, the DEA’s proposal provides an even worse solution than the one put forth under the first proposed rule. This arcane approach would represent a significant step back for patients who rely on telemedicine for critical medications, and yet another failure by the DEA to establish a meaningful special registration, which Congress has repeatedly directed it to do for over a decade. The pandemic proved that the vast majority of health care providers can successfully provide quality health care through telehealth. We don’t need an arbitrary new set of regulations – we just need DEA to set up the minimum training requirements for providers and a special registration that allows the DEA to do its job to monitor telemedicine prescribing of these medications and catch bad actors. If the DEA is unable to work with health care providers and finalize a workable proposal soon, Congress should be prepared to take action so patients aren’t left without care on January 1st.”
U.S. Congress
Abigail Spanberger this week awarded Retired U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Michael R. Spears’ widow service medals he had earned in Vietnam.
On Wednesday, Spanberger “hosted her 2024 Workforce Training Summit to bring together Virginia business owners, employers, and economic development, education, and industry leaders.” Local members taking part in the summit included Dr. Janet Gullickson, President, Germanna Community College; and Dr. Daniel Hornick, Superintendent, Orange County Public Schools.
Also on Wednesday, Spanberger “urged the federal government to evaluate arbitrary education and experience requirements that exclude many skilled workers — including those who gained their skills at community colleges, through apprenticeships, and by enrolling in other training programs — from supporting government contracts.”
State Senate
In the past two weeks, Tara Durant has participated in various events aimed at fostering community development, enhancing early education, and promoting public safety throughout the Commonwealth.
Early Education Conference — Durant attended an Early Education Conference focused on advancing early childhood education initiatives and strengthening support systems for the next generation.
Amazon RMN3 Facility Grand Opening — Last week, Durant celebrated the opening of Amazon’s new RMN3 facility in Stafford County. This $150 million investment is expected to create over 750 jobs, contributing to the region's economic growth and development.
Signing of Anti-Hate Legislation — Durant joined Governor Glenn Youngkin and bipartisan leaders for the signing of critical anti-hate legislation. This law expands criminal penalties against bigotry, explicitly recognizing ethnicity as a protected class and addressing a significant gap in the legal code.
Public Safety Roundtable — Durant joined Stafford Sheriff Decatur and Fire Chief Cardello, and other state and local safety officials for a public safety roundtable. The discussion focused on fostering ongoing collaboration with law enforcement, firefighters, and first responders, and exploring how to best support these vital community members through legislative and local efforts.
Local Obituaries
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Great feature, informative, thank you.