Three weeks into session and the excitement continues, each day bringing a new group of constituents and advocates who visit my office and impress me with their passion and commitment to a wide range of social and economic issues.
Three of my bills have pass the third reading in the Senate and will be heading over to the House of Delegates on Feb. 11. The one bill I have been working the longest on, SB 11 passed just today and will make it easier for active duty, overseas voters to return their absentee ballots securely and on time. The time to pass this legislation is now. These men and women are putting their lives on the line for us, they are living on aircraft carriers, in submarines and makeshift bases in Afghanistan and they deserve to have their vote counted. This bill has broad, bi-partisan support in the Senate, and the House of Delegates, especially in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads, where most of our military men and women live.
I am still hard at work on several pieces of legislation, including SB 201 which would make health insurers give patients who take prescription drugs that are part of “specialty tiers” notice when these drugs are moved from one tier to another, affecting cost and insurance coverage. This is common sense legislation that will help families’ budgets and keep them on their life-saving medications. Similar legislation has passed in other states, most recently in Delaware, and Virginians deserve the same protections.
One final bill I will highlight is SB 481, which was voted unanimously out of the Senate Education & Health Committee and referred to the Senate Finance Committee. This bill would extend the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program to those qualifying families who have lived in Virginia for five years, even if they have a second primary residence elsewhere. Military families get moved frequently and sometimes residency is just a concept. If a family is stationed in Virginia for five continuous years and then the military spouse is killed or 90 percent disabled and the children wish to stay in Virginia and attend college here, they should have that opportunity. Both of my children went to James Madison University thanks to this program and it was a great benefit to our family.
I will be at a town hall this Saturday, Feb. 1 at the Kingstowne Thompson Center from 10 – 11:30 a.m. along with Senators Barker and Ebbin, Delegate Sickles and Lee District Supervisor McKay. I look forward to meeting my constituents at those town halls and giving an update on the legislative session.
As always I am honored to represent the 36th senatorial district of Virginia and look forward to working hard for my constituents. Anyone with an issue or concern should contact my office in Richmond at district36@senate.virginia.gov or by phone: 804-698-7536.