That is why I introduced the Federal Workforce Reproductive Rights Protection Act with the support of more than two dozen House Members. It is a targeted l step in the fight to protect reproductive health care from ongoing attacks and defend federal workers and their families in the wake of Dobbs and DOGE. 

With one in three women now living in states with abortion bans or extreme restrictions, this fight matters deeply in Fairfax, where tens of thousands of federal employees live and serve. No public servant should be forced to choose between their career and access to legal reproductive health care.

My bill would prevent federal agencies from relocating headquarters or major operations to states with restrictive abortion laws, allow federal employees to decline forced transfers to those states for covered health-related reasons, provide travel and transportation support when care is not available where they live, protect employee privacy, and prohibit retaliation.

This week, Congress also passed a rare bipartisan housing affordability bill to increase housing supply, limit certain purchases of single-family homes by institutional investors, and help bring down costs. I was proud to vote for it because it will make it easier for more families to afford a home of their own.

But instead of signing it, President Trump canceled the ceremony and said he would not move forward until Congress passes his unrelated SAVE America Act, a harmful elections bill that would make it more difficult for eligible Americans to register and vote.

That is wrong. Families in Fairfax and across the country need action on housing now. A bipartisan bill to lower costs should not be held hostage to force through new barriers to the ballot box.

I will keep fighting back with every tool available to me: introducing legislation to protect reproductive health care, voting to lower costs, standing up for federal workers, and opposing efforts to make it harder for eligible Americans to vote. Virginians deserve leaders who solve problems, protect their freedoms, and put families first.

This week, the House Homeland Security Committee advanced my bipartisan Measuring Illicit Fentanyl Trafficking Act, legislation I introduced with Congressman Michael McCaul to strengthen the fight against illicit fentanyl.

Fentanyl is devastating families across the country, and fighting it should not be partisan. My bill would require the Department of Homeland Security to set clear goals for detecting, deterring, and seizing fentanyl, while improving data-sharing across DHS.

A recent Government Accountability Office report found DHS still lacks clear performance goals and consistent data-sharing procedures for its fentanyl interdiction efforts. That has to change.

This bill would help break down information silos, improve coordination, and give federal law enforcement better tools to disrupt fentanyl trafficking and save lives.

Families who have lost loved ones to fentanyl deserve action, not just words. I will keep fighting to get this life-saving bill across the finish line.

As co-chair of the Federal Workforce Caucus, I helped lead a push with Senator Chris Van Hollen and Congressman Steny Hoyer to hold the Office of Personnel Management accountable for proposed changes to the 2026 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey.

For years, this survey has given federal employees a voice and helped Congress understand what is happening inside federal agencies. It measures leadership, workplace trust, employee engagement, and whether agencies have the tools they need to serve the American people.

After the Trump Administration canceled the 2025 survey during a year of major upheaval across the federal workforce, we are demanding transparency. OPM must explain what questions will be included in the 2026 survey, whether the results will be made public, and whether the survey will meet the legal requirements agencies are obligated to follow.

Federal workers deserve to be heard, and Congress needs reliable data to conduct oversight, improve government, and protect the civil service from political attacks. I will keep fighting to make sure federal employees have a voice and that this Administration is held accountable.

For updated schedules and route information, visit Fairfax Connector’s June 2026 Service Changes page.

Fairfax Student Artists Honored

Students created original artwork around the theme “My Actions, Our Climate,” highlighting everyday ways to protect our environment, from using clean energy and sustainable transportation to reducing waste and planting trees.

Congratulations to this year’s winners and to every student who participated. Their creativity is a reminder that young people across Fairfax are helping lead the way toward a cleaner, more sustainable future.

To view the full gallery of entries, visit Fairfax County’s 2026 Sustain Fairfax Earth Month Youth Art Gallery.

Thank you to Antioch Baptist Church for inviting me to this year’s Men’s Conference and for creating this opportunity for thoughtful conversations about faith, leadership, and civic responsibility.

I was grateful to join attendees for a discussion on active citizenship, democratic participation, and how the work we do in Congress is connected to the concerns, values, and hopes of the communities we serve.

Northern Virginia is at its best when neighbors come together, listen to one another, and stay engaged in the work of building a stronger, more inclusive future.

The opening of Dignity House marks an important milestone for Northern Virginia’s Muslim community. This week, I joined community leaders, faith leaders, and residents in Annandale to celebrate this new facility, which will provide families with compassionate, faith-based funeral services and support during some of life’s most difficult moments.

Thank you to the Mustafa Center, the Dignity House Board, the Afghan Academy, and everyone whose years of vision, advocacy, and dedication made this project a reality.

In Congress, I am working to make sure every community is seen, respected, and supported. Dignity House will help Muslim families honor their loved ones with dignity, care, and respect in accordance with their faith and traditions.

Thank you to the City of Fairfax for hosting its fourth annual Juneteenth event. It was an evening of joy, reflection, and community, and I was honored to take part.

Juneteenth reminds us of both how far our country has come and how much work remains to build a more just and equal future. That work continues in our communities and in Congress, where I will keep fighting to protect our freedoms, expand opportunity, and ensure every family has the chance to thrive.

I am grateful to the City of Fairfax, local leaders, and everyone who helped make this meaningful celebration possible.

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It was amazing to join soccer legends, local leaders, and the Tysons Community Alliance for COPA Tysons this week.

As a member of the Congressional Soccer Caucus, I know soccer is more than a game. It is the world’s sport, and it has a unique power to bring people together across communities, backgrounds, and even party lines.

Between the cheers, juggling, and excitement for Team USA, I also had the chance to talk with attendees about my work in Congress and the issues affecting families across Northern Virginia.

Events like COPA Tysons show the best of our community: energetic, diverse, welcoming, and ready to come together around the game we love.

Modernizing government requires investing in technology, strengthening cybersecurity, and ensuring agencies can adapt to emerging challenges.

Thank you to the Alliance for Digital Innovation for a thoughtful conversation on digital transformation, acquisition reform, and how we can build a more effective and responsive government for the American people.

In Congress, I will keep working to make sure federal agencies have the tools, technology, and workforce they need to deliver better services, protect taxpayer dollars, and meet the needs of the people they serve.

Yours in service,

James Walkinshaw

Member of Congress