Dear Friend,
I hope you and your family are staying well and preparing for a relaxing Labor Day weekend, a time which traditionally honors all workers and marks the end of summer. For those of you with children, I hope you are managing the return to school, whether virtual or in-person, as well as possible.
Special Session Update
The Special Session began on August 18. The session has focused on the reassessment and revision of the biennial budget by prioritizing K-12 education, higher education, healthcare, criminal justice reform, and extended housing protections for residents during the pandemic. Additionally, the following legislation supported by the House Democratic Caucus has been introduced:
Supporting Safe, Secure Voting:
HB5103: Establishing ballot drop boxes, supporting pre-paid postage for absentee ballots, and making it safe to vote by mail-in absentee ballot PASSED THE HOUSE
COVID-19 Relief:
HB5116: Requiring businesses to grant paid sick leave for Virginia workers.
HB5068: Prohibiting garnishments of stimulus relief checks. PASSED THE HOUSE
HB5028: Establishing a presumption of workers’ compensation for first responders, teachers and other high-risk essential workers. PASSED THE HOUSE
HB5047: Combating price gouging for Personal Protective Equipment. PASSED THE HOUSE
HB5115 & HB5064: Protecting Virginians from eviction during a public health emergency. PASSED THE HOUSE
HB5050: Creating a Commonwealth Marketplace for PPE Acquisition. PASSED THE HOUSE
HB5048: Mandating transparency requirements for congregate-care facilities during a public health emergency. PASSED THE HOUSE
HB5046: Strengthening telemedicine services PASSED THE HOUSE
Criminal Justice and Police Reform:
HB5146: Reforming Virginia’s laws related to expungement of police and court records.
HB5148: Increasing good behavior sentence credits.
HB5062: Strengthening prosecutorial ability to dismiss charges. PASSED THE HOUSE
HB5013: Eliminating qualified immunity for law enforcement officers.
HB5099: Prohibiting no-knock warrants. PASSED THE HOUSE
HB5069: Banning the use of chokeholds and other lethal restraints used by law enforcement. PASSED THE HOUSE
HB5043: Creating a statewide Marcus Alert system.
HB5055: Strengthening laws related to Citizen Review Panels. PASSED THE HOUSE
HB5058: Eliminating certain pretextual police stops. PASSED THE HOUSE
HB5049: Demilitarizing police departments by prohibiting the acquisition and use of certain weapons by law enforcement agencies.
HB5045: Banning sexual relations between officers and arrestees. PASSED THE HOUSE
HB5072: Empowering the Attorney General to conduct “pattern or practice” investigations of police forces that appear to be violating constitutional rights, including unlawful discrimination.
HB5098: Expanding the definition of hate crimes to include false 911 calls made on the basis of race. PASSED THE HOUSE
HB5109: Standardizing and enhancing training for all police academies.
HB5029: Mandating the duty of one officer to report and intervene during the misconduct of another officer. PASSED THE HOUSE
HB5051: Requiring decertification of law enforcement officers who fail to properly perform their duties. PASSED THE HOUSE
HB5104: Strengthening the assessments and vetting required before hiring law enforcement officers. PASSED THE HOUSE
HB5108: Diversify the Department of Criminal Justice Services’ Committee on Training. PASSED THE HOUSE
Making Virginia More Equitable:
HB5052: Codifying Juneteenth as an official holiday of the Commonwealth of Virginia. PASSED THE HOUSE
HB5030: Allowing localities or local governments and communities greater latitude in the process of removing Confederate statues and other war monuments.
How you can participate in and follow the legislative session:
Watch the House and/or Senate live stream of committee meetings and session (as well as archives) on the General Assembly website
Review legislation, meeting schedule and other pertinent information on Virginia’s Legislative Information System
Review the state budget and budget amendments
Sign up to speak or submit comments about legislation during a committee meeting
Email me at delegate.carr@betsycarr.org or call my office at 804-698-1169 to let me know your legislative priorities
If you live outside the 69th district, find out who represents you as well as their contact information.
The November Election
The next general election is on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. Across the country, we will decide who will be the next President and Vice President. In Virginia, we will vote on the following:
U.S. Senator (Mark Warner)
U.S. House of Representatives (all districts) – if you live in the Richmond area, Abigail Spanberger and Donald McEachin are on the ballot
Two Constitutional amendments:
Create a redistricting commission to draw congressional and state legislative maps
Exempt disabled veterans from paying motor vehicle property tax
City of Richmond residents will also vote for Mayor, City Council and School Board
You can visit vote411.org to view your ballot and candidates’ position statements.
It is important to remember that you do NOT need an excuse to vote absentee, by mail, or early. Additionally, the Attorney General was successful in getting court approval of an order that will allow Virginia’s voters to mail in absentee ballots for the November 3 elections without a witness signature on the envelope.
You also no longer need photo ID; however, you do need some form of ID, such as:
Voter information card or other correspondence from your local General Registrar confirming you are registered to vote
DMV-issued driver’s license or ID card
U.S. passport or any ID card issued by U.S., Virginia, or local Virginia government
Any student ID card issued by a U.S. university, community college, or Virginia high school
Employer issued photo ID card
Any current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document with your name and address
If you are 65 or older or have a physical disability, you can vote on Election Day without leaving your vehicle. Bring a helper to request curbside assistance from an election officer.
In-person voting relies on elections officers to facilitate the voting process. Many officers are older in age and have declined to work on election day this year due to COVID-19. If you are younger or do not have any health conditions, please consider becoming an officer of elections on November 3. You can find out more information here.
Important deadlines:
Register to vote or update registration by October 13
Request absentee mail-in ballot online or by mail by October 23 at 5:00 p.m.
Requested absentee ballots will be mailed to you starting September 18
Vote early in-person at your local registrar's office between September 18 and October 31 – find out the location of your local registrar.
Request absentee ballot in person by October 31 at 5:00 p.m.
Return completed ballot by mail or in person to your General Registrar by November 3 at 7:00 p.m.
Vote in person at your polling place on November 3 between 6:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
You can visit elections.virginia.gov for additional information or call 800-552-974.
Census Reminder
The 2020 Census is currently scheduled to end on September 30, 2020. As of September 1, nearly 80% of Virginia’s residents have responded. Census is conducted every ten years and is a population count of every person living in the United States of America regardless of citizenship status. Data from the Census determines how more than $675 billion in federal funding will be allocated. This includes resources such as school breakfasts and lunches, Medicaid and Medicare (Part B), Pell grants, WIC, SNAP, TANF, and Community Development Block Grants. It is important to note that Virginia will lose $7,000 per year per person who does not complete the Census survey.
You can complete the census by mail, online at 2020census.gov or via phone in 13 different languages by calling 844-330-2020.
COVID-19 Resources
COVIDWISE APP: The Commonwealth is the first state in the country to implement a free COVID-19 exposure notification app using Apple and Google’s Bluetooth Low Energy framework. The app is called COVIDWISE and allows you to anonymously notify others if you test positive for COVID-19 and also notifies you if you’ve likely been exposed to the virus based on positive reports from other app users. The app is easy to use, protects your privacy, and helps secure the health and safety of our communities. It is available in both English and Spanish.
No location data or personal information is ever collected, stored, or transmitted via COVIDWISE. The app is 100% voluntary and you can delete it at any time.
Here’s how you can download the app and help spread the word:
Visit the App Store or Google Play Store to download COVIDWISE
Share information about COVIDWISE with your friends, co-workers, and family members
Post & share your support on social media
As of August 25, over 437,000 Virginians have downloaded the app. The more the app is downloaded, the more valuable it will be in helping Virginia move toward recovery from the pandemic.
Housing Resources: If you are struggling with paying your rent or mortgage, you may qualify for the Virginia Rent and Mortgage Relief Program. Additionally, the Virginia Poverty Law Center’s Housing Resources (includes protections for tenants, unlawful eviction toolkit, how to ask landlord to postpone rent payment, and other resources) and Eviction Legal Helpline: 833-NOEVICT (833-663-8428) may be helpful to you.
Governor Northam recently announced $4 million in funding for the Legal Services Corporation of Virginia, which will support 20 Legal Aid attorneys in providing services to Virginia tenants facing eviction for the next two years.
Food Resources:For families with children attending Richmond Public Schools, students can access meals through the RPS transportation fleet as well as some schools that are serving as distribution hubs. Visitrvaschools.net/mealsfor more information and a map of distribution sites.
Additionally,FeedMoreoffers an extensive location tool to find food pantries and soup kitchens around Richmond.
Saint Paul's Baptist Church, located at 4247 Creighton Road, will be receiving 1,700 boxes of produce and 4,000 gallons of milk on Fridays, September 4, 11, and 18 as well as meat from FeedMore. The Fresh Food Distributions for those Fridays will be from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
The Sacred Heart Center (1400 Perry Street) has a food bank and is accepting donations. Hours are Tuesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Remember to wear a mask and enter the parking lot and approach the window on the side of the building.If you would like to donate food, you can find out more information here.
Free Face Masks:The City of Richmond is offering free face masks to anyone who requests one. There are many locations throughout the City. You are encouraged to call ahead to check if masks are in stock. Visitrvastrong.org/getamaskfor locations, hours and days of operation.
COVID-19 Testing:If you have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or you are experiencing symptoms, you can find a testing site near you by visiting theVirginia Department of Health websiteor calling the Coronavirus Hotline at 804-205-3501.
The Daily Planet Health Services tests patients Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. regardless of insurance status, citizenship status or ability to pay. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments can be scheduled by calling 804-783-2505. The COVID Assessment Center is located at 511 West Grace Street.
CVS/Pharmacyis offering drive-thru testing at locations around Richmond.
On August 26, I joined Governor and First Lady Northam, the League of Women Voters, and others at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture (VMHC) to celebrate the centennial of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The special Women's Suffrage Commemoration was called "Votes for Women: 100 Years, 1920-2020 & Going Strong!" and includes a driving tour through Richmond as well as an exhibition at VMHC. For more information, visit the VMHC website.
If you and your friends and families are looking for a way to get out of the house on Labor Day weekend, the Times-Dispatch has a round-up of socially distant events going on in the Richmond area. Or if you choose to do some fall cleaning and purging of unwanted items, Richmond's E-Cycle Day is September 12th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1710 Robin Hood Road.
It is an honor to serve you in the General Assembly. If you have any questions, concerns, or issues that I can help address, please email me at delegate.carr@betsycarr.org or 804-698-1169. Additionally, I am available to meet with you or your civic association or community group via a web call to discuss your legislative priorities. I look forward to staying in touch.
Sincerely,
Betsy B. Carr