Happy Holidays!
My family and I are wishing all Virginians a very happy holiday season. It remains an honor to serve the people of Portsmouth in the House of Delegates. I am humbled and thankful for faith and family during this season of joy.
While my wife and I are thankful, we also pray for those who lost a loved one to gun violence or the pandemic over the last year. We also pray for our veterans, service members, and their families, and express gratitude for their service.
January 6th Committee Hearing
I was honored to join Congresswoman Elaine Luria, at the final hearing of the United States House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol last week. Congresswoman Luria has spent her career in service, first for two decades in the U.S. Navy and then as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. A true patriot, Congresswoman Luria’s dedication to her nation naturally extended to her work on the January 6th Committee over the last year and a half. I am grateful to her for her service to country and Commonwealth.
I was humbled to be in Washington for such a historic event. At this hearing, the January 6th Committee officially recommended that the Justice Department bring charges against Donald Trump for several crimes related to his role in the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. If the Justice Department chooses to act on the criminal referral, it would be the first time a former U.S. president has ever been charged with a crime. The January 6th Committee carried out exhaustive research and consideration in its work uncovering more details about events surrounding the attempted coup. It was inspiring and encouraging to watch the culmination of that robust defense of our democracy in person. No one is above the law.
Cruising the Commonwealth
Thank you to Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia for the invitation to join their Chesapeake Holiday Party earlier this month. As he promised he would, Governor Youngkin has officially introduced a dangerous abortion ban that could lead to women and doctors being incarcerated for seeking or providing reproductive health care. Virginia Democrats are fighting tooth and nail to make sure that – and any proposal to restrict Virginians’ reproductive rights – does not become law.
This month, I also had the pleasure of giving an address at the Virginia Free Luncheon. I was glad to present House Democrats’ vision of a Virginia that can be number one for both businesses and workers. To achieve this goal, the General Assembly must make historic investments in our schools and transportation infrastructure while promoting private investment to create new job opportunities. I sincerely hope that by working together, we can make Virginia a model of that success.
