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Do you believe Cabinet officials should use taxpayer-funded luxury jets when less expensive options are available?
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Dear Neighbor,
This week, Republicans passed a $70 billion bill to fund ICE and Border Patrol for the rest of President Trump’s term. I opposed it because this funding was excessive and passed without the guardrails, oversight, and accountability our communities deserve, especially after the chaos, fear, and trauma caused by Trump’s mass deportation policies.
This comes on top of the record-breaking $140 billion from the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” just last year. Their policies found hundreds of billions for immigration enforcement while cutting access to Medicaid and nutrition assistance and doing nothing to lower the cost of groceries, gas, housing, or health care. |
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Those are the wrong priorities.
I’m fighting for a different approach: lowering costs, protecting health care, strengthening public safety, protecting taxpayer dollars, and supporting the men and women who served our country.
That’s why I’m proud to report my bipartisan bill to support veterans living with PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and military sexual trauma advanced through the House Armed Services Committee. The Streamline Upgrades for Veterans Act now heads to the House floor as part of the annual defense package.
I introduced this bill with Congressman James Moylan to help veterans whose service was affected by PTSD, traumatic brain injury, or military sexual trauma get a fair review of their discharge status. For many veterans, correcting that status is key to accessing VA health care, housing support, education benefits, and other benefits they earned.
This is a major step forward, and I’ll keep fighting to get it across the finish line.
I’m also leading the push to protect taxpayers from waste and abuse at DHS. After I pressed Secretary Markwayne Mullin at a recent hearing, Ranking Member Bennie Thompson joined me in demanding that DHS sell the luxury aircrafts purchased during Kristi Noem’s tenure, including two Gulfstream G700 luxury jets and a Boeing 737 MAX.
DHS does not need billionaire-style luxury jets. Not when families are struggling with higher costs. Not when the Coast Guard is facing aging aircraft, crumbling infrastructure, and workforce shortages.
Tax dollars should lower costs, support veterans, strengthen public safety, and keep our communities safe. They should not bankroll cruelty, corruption, chaos, or luxury perks for government officials.
I’ll keep fighting for a different path, one that delivers for Virginia families, protects taxpayer dollars, and holds this Administration accountable. |
Make sure to follow me on X, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, and Threads to stay up-to-date!
Please continue reading below to learn more about how I’ve been serving you. |
Gerry Connolly spent his career turning personal conviction into public service. Now, his final bill has become law.
This week, the President signed the Gerald E. Connolly Esophageal Cancer Awareness Act, legislation Gerry introduced to better understand esophageal cancer-related health care spending and whether high-risk patients are receiving recommended screenings.
For Gerry, this was personal. But true to who he was, he used his own experience to help others.
It is a fitting final chapter to a life of service: focused on people, grounded in purpose, and still making a difference for Northern Virginia and families across the country. |
My office is partnering with Rep. Suhas Subramanyam’s office and the U.S. Department of State’s Washington Passport Agency to host a passport application event at the Sully District Government Center on Saturday, June 27, from 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM.
Appointments are required, and capacity is limited. Only one registered appointment holder per family is needed, with up to seven people allowed per appointment.
Routine passport service is expected to take 4 to 6 weeks, while expedited service is expected to take 2 to 3 weeks. After making an appointment, you will receive a confirmation email, and a text message if requested, with detailed instructions about what to bring.
My office is here to help constituents access federal services more easily, and I hope this event makes the passport process a little smoother for families in our community.
Register here. |
Virginia’s congressional delegation is inviting residents across the Commonwealth to submit photographs for the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule, which will help mark America’s 250th birthday.
The deadline to submit photos is tomorrow, Friday, June 12, 2026.
We are looking for photos that capture Virginia in 2026: everyday life, natural landscapes, historic places, community events, local traditions, work, recreation, and the people and places that make our Commonwealth special.
Selected photographs will be considered for Virginia’s submission to the congressional time capsule, which will be sealed in the Capitol Visitor Center and opened on July 4, 2276, America’s 500th anniversary.
This is a unique opportunity to help show future generations what Virginia looked like 250 years into our nation’s journey.
Submit your photos by tomorrow’s deadline to be considered. |
Last week, communities across the country celebrated National Trails Day, a reminder of how important trails are to our health, our neighborhoods, and our quality of life.
Here in Fairfax, trails are part of everyday life. With more than 22,000 acres of parkland and over 334 miles of trails in our county park system, they connect homes, schools, businesses, parks, and communities while giving families more ways to get outside.
To help protect and expand that access nationwide, I introduced the Complete America’s Great Trails Act with Senator Richard Blumenthal.
Our bill would create a new tax credit for landowners who voluntarily conserve land along National Scenic Trails. This would help complete unfinished trails, protect open space from development, expand outdoor access, and preserve these natural treasures for future generations.
Whether you are walking, hiking, biking, or simply enjoying time outside with your family, trails help connect us to each other and to the places we call home. I’m proud to keep fighting to protect them. |
Happy Pride, Fairfax!
Thank you to the City of Fairfax for organizing another wonderful Pride celebration. It was great to see neighbors, families, students, advocates, and local organizations come together to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and the values that make Fairfax so special.
Pride Month is a celebration, but it is also a reminder that progress must be protected. At a time when LGBTQ+ Americans are facing renewed threats to their rights and dignity. We have to be clear: we will not go backward.
I’m proud to support the Equality Act, which would provide explicit federal protections against discrimination for LGBTQ+ Americans in employment, housing, education, public accommodations, federally funded programs, credit, and jury service.
Here in Fairfax, we will continue to welcome, protect, and celebrate all of our neighbors. Pride is about making sure every person can live safely, openly, and freely as who they are. |
Applications are now open for Virginia’s 11th District 2026 Youth Leadership Council!
This is an opportunity for high school students in grades 9–12 across VA-11 to join my team and me for conversations about leadership, public service, and the issues shaping their lives and communities.
Youth Leadership Council participants will have the chance to sharpen their leadership skills, learn more about how government serves our community, and help elevate the voices and perspectives of young people across Northern Virginia.
I’m excited to hear directly from the next generation of leaders and work with students who are ready to serve, learn, and make a difference.
Applications are due June 30 at 5:00 PM. Learn more and apply on my website.
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Congratulations to every member of the Class of 2026 across Fairfax!
Graduation season is a special time for our entire community. Across our high schools, seniors have worked hard, persevered through challenges, and reached an important milestone with the support of their families, teachers, counselors, coaches, and friends.
I was grateful to attend graduation ceremonies at South County High School and Carter G. Woodson High School last week, and I am proud of every graduate in our community celebrating this moment. |
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Whether you are heading to college, starting a career, serving our country, or exploring new opportunities, Fairfax is cheering you on. Your hard work, talent, and ambition have brought you to this day, and we are excited to see where you go next.
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This week, I was honored to join the Goins family, neighbors, and community leaders in Sideburn to unveil the James Milton Goins Historical Marker.
Known as “the Godfather of Zion Dr.,” Mr. Goins was a local civil rights leader who dedicated his life to strengthening his community, expanding opportunity, and standing up for his neighbors.
This marker began as a community-led effort during my time on the Board of Supervisors, and I was proud to help move it forward with the support of the History Commission, County agencies, and Marcia Pape from the Braddock District Office.
Mr. Goins’ legacy continues to inspire Fairfax County, and this marker will help ensure future generations know his story. |
Celebrating Fairfax’s Goldwater Scholars |
Congratulations to Sarah F., Kathleen H., Heather Q., and Sofie S. on being named 2026 Goldwater Scholars.
The Barry Goldwater Scholarship is one of the nation’s most prestigious awards for undergraduate students pursuing careers in science, mathematics, and engineering.
This year, four students from Virginia’s 11th District earned this honor in fields including chemistry, computer and information sciences, and life sciences.
These students represent the best of Fairfax: talented, hardworking, curious, and committed to solving problems that will shape our future. Congratulations again. Fairfax is proud of you. |
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Help Stop Spotted Lanternflies Early |
Spotted lanternfly season is here, and Fairfax County residents can help control these invasive insects while they are still small.
In June, spotted lanternflies are usually in their young nymph stage. They are glossy black with white spots and about the size of a pea. By July, they begin turning into adults, making now an important time to act.
If you see spotted lanternfly nymphs around your home, patio, garden, or outdoor furniture, Fairfax County recommends squashing or vacuuming them when possible. This is one of the easiest ways to reduce their spread without using pesticides, which can harm beneficial insects and wildlife.
Spotted lanternflies can damage young plants and create a sticky mess later in the summer. Taking action now can help protect our trees, gardens, and neighborhoods. |
James Walkinshaw Member of Congress |
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