March 15, 2024 Newsletter
Dear friends,
We are in the first week of post-session and have slowed the schedule down just a bit to tie up some loose ends on legislation, recover from the long hours and hectic days of Session, and begin planning town halls and several other community engagements. We are also waiting for the Governor’s actions on legislation and the budget.
This week’s newsletter highlights a statement from members of the Central Virginia Delegation on the proposed gas-fired power plant in Chesterfield County, discusses an upcoming event with the League of Conservation Voters, provides vital information from the Virginia Department of Health on Narcan, and highlights select community engagements from this past week. Thank you for reading and staying informed.
Proposed Peaker Plant in Chesterfield County
In a previous newsletter, I highlighted our community town hall with invited guest speakers from Dominion Energy and environmental organizations on the proposed natural gas peaker plant in Chesterfield County. Over 100 community members attended to hear presentations from our speakers, ask questions, and connect with local and state representatives. A recording of the town hall is available here, as well as the presentations from Friends of Chesterfield and Dominion Energy.
After reviewing the information provided, I and several other Virginia General Assembly members from the Central Virginia region (Senators Lamont Bagby and Lashrecse Aird, and Delegates Delores McQuinn, Betsy Carr, Rodney Willett, Rae Cousins, Michael Jones, and Debra Gardner) released a statement in opposition to the proposed gas-fired power plant because of its impacts on Virginia’s transition to clean energy as outlined in the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA), the impacts on environmental justice communities, and indeterminate details regarding anticipated cost and usage. The Virginia Clean Economy Act and the Virginia Environmental Justice Act are established in the Virginia Code, and each must be at the forefront of our energy policy and permitting decisions within the Commonwealth.
The full statement can be accessed here, along with local media coverage from the Richmond Times-Dispatch, NBC12, and ABC8.
What's On My Energy Bill Webinar
Next Monday, March 18, environmental partners are hosting a virtual lunch and learn focused on energy policies that were considered in the 2024 General Assembly session. I will be joining Senator Lashrecse Aird and Delegate Phil Hernandez, as well as representatives from the League of Conservation Voters and the Virginia Poverty Law Center, for this conversation. The webinar requires registration to join.
Naloxone Trainings with the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services
During the legislative session, members of the General Assembly took advantage of the REVIVE! training provided by the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS). REVIVE!, the state's Opioid Overdose and Naloxone Education (OONE) program, focuses on training members of the public and first responders on how to respond to an opioid overdose emergency. Training opportunities administered through the state’s local health districts, including Richmond City Health Department and Chesterfield Health District in SD-15, have additional information.
According to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, fatal drug overdose is the leading cause of unnatural deaths in the state, with opioids being the driving force behind this somber statistic. This session, the General Assembly passed SB 276, requiring school boards to implement policies for school nurses or faculty to be trained to deal with an opioid emergency. I continue to work with my colleagues to combat the opioid epidemic affecting our communities and find lasting solutions.
Select Community Engagements
On Monday evening, I joined Red, Wine, and Blue and nearly 1000 concerned individuals from across the country for a panel discussion focused on “How We Save IVF and Birth Control,” Also speaking on the panel were the inspiring US Senators, Tammy Duckworth and Tammy Baldwin. In this discussion, I highlighted The Right to Contraception bill that I and Delegate Cia Price successfully passed this Session and shared what we are doing in Virginia to protect access to reproductive and contraceptive care.
Yesterday morning, AAPI Power Fund held a convening of AAPI women elected officials from across the country to discuss building AAPI political power and supporting AAPI women running for office. In the Virginia General Assembly, we have a historic number of AAPI elected officials serving in both Chambers, with AAPI women serving in key leadership positions in both the Senate and House.
Last evening I traveled to Manassas to join members of the American Turkish Friends Association and residents from across the Commonwealth for a lovely iftar, the breaking of the daily fast for the holy month of Ramadan. During the festivities, we had the privilege of hearing music from Sufi Melody Group and sharing how this time brings us closer to our faith and our diverse communities.
Connecting With My Office
My office can be reached at the following:
Email: SenatorHashmi@senate.virginia.gov
Phone: 804.698.7515
If you were forwarded this email, you can sign up to receive my office’s weekly newsletter here.
— Ghazala
