The global pandemic continues to determine how we act as a society, rebuild our economy and define our quality of life.
Since taking office, President Biden has increased vaccine supplies across the country. In Virginia we are continuing a very aggressive gunfire campaign in every corner of the Commonwealth. The efforts were methodical and followed CDC guidelines with strategic coordination of delivery and distribution. Just over 16 percent of Virginians are now fully vaccinated. In addition, well over 2 million other Virginians have received their first dose of vaccine. The aim is to resume a more familiar lifestyle in the next few months. This is clearly achievable.
I’m happy to announce that most of the residents of the 35th Senate District have eagerly signed up for the Covid-19 vaccine. This has put our children back in their best learning environment (physical classrooms) and many of the hardest hit service industries have begun to emerge from the “pandemic winter”. The warmer weather promises renewed support for restaurants and their employees.
At the same time, I am concerned that opposition to receiving a life-changing vaccine continues. I found it worrying that nearly 40 percent of nursing home workers did not receive the vaccine. The benefit of vaccinating the elderly is now the reopening of visits to loved ones who have been isolated for almost a year. After a long dry spell, we are now seeing a surge in travel, another industry devastated by Covid-19.
All of these lifestyle resumption steps can spread the infection. I encourage you to be diligent. Follow the most secure protocols on the go. Covid-19 is still very much anchored in our world. It is important to note that new variants continue to emerge and still require sacrifices.
It has been almost a month since we completed Special Session I 2021, which followed a 30-day regular session of the General Assembly. During those 46 days we were operating outside the Capitol, making it a year where we did not do business as we have before.
Despite the restrictions on the introduction of bills, over 900 bills bypassed both chambers. The governor has reviewed these measures and will complete his work by midnight March 31st. In my opinion, the main pieces of legislation focused on rebuilding our economy, reforming the criminal justice system and educating the public. To this end, we have abolished the death penalty; Creating educational opportunities for low and middle income people with the G3 (Qualify, Find Work, Give Back) program; and prioritized getting children back to school. We have also made large investments to bring broadband to underserved areas in Virginia. That includes Northern Virginia. As previously reported, I raised $ 10 million for the City of Falls Church / VT initiative.
The good news that additional federal funding is coming to Virginia gives us another reason to be called back to the special session. We have also taken steps to expand the appeals court. The initiative provides for the appointment of six more judges. Filling these seats and balancing our budget will likely be the subject of the next special session. No date has been set yet, but it is widely believed that we will meet again in early summer.
Governor Northam and Secretary of Transportation Shannon Valentine were accompanied by US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg in Alexandria to announce big news for the Virginia railroad. We have signed agreements with Amtrak, CSX, and Virginia Railway Express, and started a $ 3.7 billion investment to expand and improve the Virginia passenger, commuter, and freight railroad and a vital link in America’s national Establish a rail network between the north-east and south-east corridors. This is important and promises to facilitate commuting, move goods efficiently, reduce pollution and ease the burden on rail workers.
It is quite disturbing to take note of actions by the governor of Georgia that are deliberately trying to suppress voter turnout. Just like the pandemic, it will take the country some time to deviate from the previous government. In Virginia we decided to expand the electorate and give them access to voting. In my opinion, the only fraud in the 2020 presidential election was caused by false allegations made by the loser.