Dear friend,
I hope you are doing well and escaping the pollen when you can! We have had an exciting week, talking to community members and speaking about what’s in store for this year. We have so much to cover, so get ready for an action-packed edition of the Reaser Report!
Northern Virginia Meeting: Speaker’s Emergency Committee on the Impacts of Federal Workforce and Funding Reductions
Last Tuesday, the Speaker’s Emergency Committee on the Impacts of Federal Workforce and Funding Reductions met in Alexandria to discuss how the ongoing cuts in the federal government are going to affect Northern Virginia. The figures that the Committee shared were alarming:
• 321,516 Federal Civilian Employees in Virginia, meaning that Virginia has more than nearly every other state (we are just below California, and only Maryland has a higher percentage of citizens in federal civilian jobs).
• Of those federal employees, 50% live in Northern Virginia, 20% live in Hampton Roads, and the remainder are scattered throughout the Commonwealth.
• 441,000 Virginia jobs depend on federal contracts (16% of Virginia jobs).
• Virginia obtained $109 billion in federal contracts, the number one beneficiary of federal contracts for any state.
• Virginia received $4.4 billion in revenue from federal jobs.
• One-third of our overall state budget is dependent on federal funds, with some specific departments drawing 40-50% of their overall funding from federal revenue.
• Unemployment claims in Virginia rose by 7.1% as of February.
Overall, what we saw is that the State government needs to be ready and able to manage further cuts and develop policies that protect Northern Virginia from economic collapse. The General Assembly is set to go back into special session to address these concerns should the need arise and I am examining policy proposals that keep Northern Virginia as the best place in the country to live and raise a family. If you are interested in seeing what was discussed at last Tuesday’s meeting, please click the button below.
What’s Next? The 2025 Legislative Session
With last week’s Reconvene Session, you may wonder what the next step is in the Virginia legislative process. Currently, any legislation that the General Assembly sent back to the Governor, either approving or rejecting his amendments, needs to be acted upon by May 2nd. This last approval/veto by the Governor serves as the final legislative action of this year’s session.
The General Assembly may also be sent back into special session to consider legislation to address the ongoing concerns, specifically in regard to how the federal cuts are affecting the state budget or important federal programs, like Medicaid. If we are called into a special session, we will communicate details about it via this newsletter and our social media to make sure you are well-informed about its proceedings. You can connect to our social media through the buttons below:
Information about the 2025 Elections
As of last week, the primary filing period for 2025 has ended, meaning that ballots are set for the 2025 primaries and for general elections that do not have a primary competition. Here is a list of names that will appear on the June 17th primary ballot:
• Lieutenant Governor (Democratic): Levar Stoney, Aaron Rouse, Ghazala Hashmi, Babur Lateef, Alex Bastani, and Victor Salgado
• Attorney General: (Democratic): Jay Jones and Shannon Taylor
• Lieutenant Governor (Republican): Pat Herrity and John Reid
You can only vote in one of the party primaries happening this year. We will continue to communicate important voter information as we get closer to key dates including when you need to register to vote, when absentee ballots are due, and election day itself.
If you need to register to vote, update your vote registration, or check where your polling location is, please click the button below to head to the Virginia Department of Elections website.
Post-Session Town Hall
Thank you to everyone who attended last Tuesday’s Post-Session Town Hall! It was great to come together with the Loudoun Delegation to speak about key topics affecting our community, how we can change policies to assist our neighbors, and various ongoing developments in state government. Some of the issues that were covered include the ongoing changes in the federal workforce and how those changes affect Virginia, data center development, and education funding.
Keep an eye out for future opportunities for public comment, like town halls and mobile office hours! These events will be publicized through this newsletter and our social media accounts.
Around the District
Gun Violence Prevention Legisation
I am proud to have carried two gun violence prevention bills that provide critical communication for parents to prevent suicides or school shootings. If you are interested in seeing more, click this link!
ICYMI
Resources for Federal Workers
With the recent layoffs conducted by the presidential administration, many families in our community are in limbo regarding where they will find relief or new employment opportunities. My office has put together a resource list for Loudoun County, including state and local relief options for those who have been recently laid off. We will work to update this list with additional services as necessary. Click on the button below to view our page on Resources for Federal Workers.
Commending and Memorial Resolution Requests
One of my greatest honors as a Delegate is being able to celebrate residents of HD-27 who have displayed local, state, or national distinction through resolutions. My office can put in commending and memorial resolutions during the primary legislative session or a special session. If you know someone or a community organization in the district that you think deserves special recognition, please fill out the form below, and a member of my team will reach out to speak about the request.
