I brought the fight to protect elections home to Fairfax. I invited Congressman Joe Morelle, the Ranking Member on the committee that oversees federal elections, to hold a shadow hearing at the Fairfax County Government Center. My Virginia colleagues Bobby Scott, Jennifer McClellan, Suhas Subramanyam, and Eugene Vindman joined us, along with leaders from the NAACP, the League of Women Voters, Common Cause, and Democracy Forward.
We came to cut through the noise.
We know where manufactured fear leads. On January 6, a sitting president claimed the election was stolen, then watched a mob he encouraged storm the Capitol. We cannot forget it, and we cannot repeat it. |
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Here are the facts. As Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay laid out at the shadow hearing, security is built into every step of Fairfax’s elections:
- Every vote is cast on a paper ballot, so there's a physical record of each one.
- Ballot scanners have no internet, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth connection.
- After the polls close, results go into a system that never touches the internet.
- Teams of two election officials move and log ballots and results.
- Tamper-proof seals protect voting equipment, and database tracking helps prevent anyone from voting twice.
- The 24/7 drop box at the Government Center is padlocked and watched by security cameras.
Security and access go hand in hand, and Fairfax proves it. More than 54,000 Fairfax neighbors have already voted early.
Don't let Trump's manufactured fear keep you from voting. By mail or in person, cast your ballot with confidence. Check your registration and make a plan.
If you're voting by mail, send your ballot early or return it to a drop box. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3.
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Please continue reading below to learn more about how I’ve been serving you.
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Trump and DOGE's policies didn't just illegally fire and push out federal workers.
They left thousands with missing records and paperwork errors, delaying their retirement and health benefits.
Missing records can delay retirement payments and disrupt health coverage.
No one who served this country should be left waiting on a records error.
That's why I introduced the Federal Employee Records Relief Act to force agencies to fix this mess.
My bill would require the Office of Personnel Management and federal agencies to: |
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- Provide former employees their personnel records.
- Fix administrative errors.
- Give clear, written answers about benefits, including options to continue health coverage, and help coordinating them.
It covers anyone who left federal service for any reason on or after January 20, 2025, including retirees, and gives them four years to request help.
The National Treasury Employees Union and the National Federation of Federal Employees support my bill.
These public servants kept our country running. They deserve answers, not bureaucratic red tape. |
Federal employees and retirees, Open Season runs from November 9 to December 14.
It's your annual opportunity to review and change your health, dental, and vision coverage.
To help you choose with confidence, I'm hosting my annual Open Season Workshop. |
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When: Saturday, October 31, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA 22035
Federal Employees Health Benefits experts Kevin Moss and Nancy DeLew will walk through your options, and healthcare vendors will be on hand to answer your questions.
You can compare health plans on OPM's website and find dental and vision plans here.
As always, my office is here to help. Call us at (703) 256-3071. |
For more than three years, Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu, a respected economist and anti-corruption advocate, was unjustly detained in Azerbaijan, denied a fair trial, and denied critical medical care. His son Emin, my constituent, never stopped fighting for his dad.
Senator Tim Kaine, my Virginia colleagues, and I worked alongside Emin to press his case and demand his release. I'm relieved to share that Gubad can finally receive the care he needs in Germany.
"I am incredibly grateful to be able to say that my dad is finally out and free and will be able to receive the medical care he needs and deserves," Emin said.
But Gubad deserves more than medical treatment. No one should be imprisoned for speaking out against corruption.
Azerbaijan must drop the charges against him so he can rebuild his life and reunite with his family. |
Some of the brightest young minds in the country live right here in Fairfax. This fall, they have a chance to be recognized in the U.S. Capitol.
The Congressional App Challenge is now open to all middle and high school students who live or attend school in our district. Whether it's a game, a tool to help your neighbors, or something no one has thought of yet, every idea is welcome. Here's what you need to know:
Who can enter:
Any middle or high school student who is a U.S. resident. There is no citizenship requirement. |
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- Teams: Enter on your own or with up to three teammates. At least half of your team must live or attend school in our district.
- Your app: It can be about any topic, on any platform, in any programming language, from mobile apps and web tools to robots and block code. It must work, and it must be your own original creation.
- One entry: Each student may submit one app, built any time since last year's contest.
The winning app from our district will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for a year and featured on House.gov. Its creators will receive a copyright fee waiver for their app and an invitation to #HouseOfCode, a celebration for winners from across the country held inside the Capitol.
The deadline to submit is October 26 at noon. Parents and teachers, please share this with the students in your life. Learn more and register here. |
Public Hearing on Proposed Dominion-NextEra Merger Coming to Fairfax County |
The Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) is holding public hearings as part of its review of the proposed merger between Dominion Energy and NextEra Energy. Fairfax County residents are invited to share their views.
Local hearing: Friday, October 9, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Board Auditorium at the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway.
Other ways to participate:
- Testify by phone on November 5, 9, or 10
- Attend the in-person hearing at the SCC in Richmond on November 5
- Submit written comments to the SCC through November 9
- Please reference Case No. PUR-2026-00112 when participating.
To learn more about the case, upcoming hearings, and how to submit comments, visit the SCC's Dominion-NextEra Merger website. |
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Help Shape Fairfax County’s Plan to Expand Childcare |
In parts of Fairfax County, families struggle to find childcare for kids under five. Home day cares can help fill that gap with flexible, more affordable care, and the county is considering zoning changes to make them easier to open and expand.
The proposed changes would:
- Allow home day cares to serve more children through a simpler permit
- Add safety standards, like designated drop-off and pickup areas
- Streamline the application and review process
The county wants to hear from parents, current providers, and anyone thinking about opening a home day care. Join one of three virtual community meetings:
- Wednesday, October 14, at 7 p.m.
- Thursday, October 15, at noon
- Wednesday, October 21, at 7 p.m., with live Spanish interpretation
All three cover the same information, no registration is required, and recordings will be posted online afterward. Learn more here.
Working families need childcare they can count on. I encourage you to make your voice heard. |
James Walkinshaw Member of Congress |
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