This week, President Biden announced his Student Loan Debt plan which will cancel up to $20,000 of federal student loans for qualifying individuals. The Biden Administration has also forgiven all remaining federal student loan debt for students who were defrauded by certain for-profit colleges, such as ITT Tech. Protecting students from post-secondary education fraud is something that I have worked on in Virginia for years. In 2017, I introduced the law that requires predatory for-profit colleges to be more transparent with students prior to enrollment. I am grateful to President Biden for giving power back to students who were left with useless or non-transferable credits after investing their time and money in these misleading institutions.
Thank you to everyone who has shared legislation ideas with our office this past week. I value feedback from my constituents and will take your concerns into consideration when preparing to submit bills for drafting ahead of the 2023 Session. I am also planning to introduce commending resolutions and appreciate your recommendations. I encourage you to keep sharing your ideas for new policy and nominate individuals or businesses for a commending resolution by contacting my Chief of Staff, Madison McCabe, at [email protected].
Sincerely,
Delegate Kathleen Murphy
VA-34
Overnight Lane and Ramp Closures at the I-66/I-495 Interchange from August 26-27, 2022
Northbound I-495 will be reduced to a single travel lane approaching I-66 during the overnight hours this Friday, August 26, and Saturday, August 27, for the installation of overhead bridge beams. The beams are needed to widen the ramp from I-66 East to I-495 North for connections from the future I-66 Express Lanes. The ramp from I-66 East to I-495 North will also be closed both nights in conjunction with this work. In addition to these closures, the northbound 495 Express Lanes will be closed on Friday night to accomplish this work, which is part of the Transform 66 Outside the Beltway Project.
Drivers traveling on I-66 and I-495 during this time should expect delays and consider using alternate routes.
Route 7 Upcoming Lane Closures for Aug. 28 - Sept. 2, 2022
Crews will be performing excavation and fill operations, clearing, storm pipe work, paving and other construction-related activities on Aug. 28 - Sept. 2 along eastbound and westbound Route 7 and on other neighborhood streets.
As a reminder, drivers will experience lane shifts on Route 7, traffic pattern changes on neighborhood streets, and detours along the corridor. Please see the related traffic alerts. Temporary road closures are listed here.
Drivers are reminded that the speed limit along Route 7 has been temporarily reduced to 45 miles per hour in active work zones between Reston Avenue and Jarrett Valley Drive.
Road Rules for School Buses, School Zones and Crossing Guards
With more than a million residents, our roads are normally busy, but school buses add an extra layer of vehicles. While it may be tempting if you’re in a hurry, it is never OK to pass a school bus, speed through a school zone or ignore a crossing guard’s direction.
Do your part to protect our children by refreshing your knowledge of road rules for school buses, school zones, and crossing guards.
Stay Informed about Upcoming Elections and Important Voting Information
FairfaxVotes.org is your one-stop destination for voting information in FairfaxCounty, Virginia. From here, you can register to vote, check your registration, learn about ways to vote, and check early in-person voting dates and locations for the November 8th General Election. Please familiarize yourself with the information relevant to your family, friends, and neighbors so that you may confidently inform them about their voting opportunities.
Practice Police and Fire Department Encounter for Individuals with Disabilities
The Arc of Northern Virginia is partnering with Arlington County Police and Arlington Fire and Rescue to hold a practice event for people with disabilities and first responders, to be held in the parking lot at Kenmore Middle School on Saturday, October 8, 2022 at 4:00pm. Participants will have the opportunity to engage with police and fire/rescue staff in a controlled environment, practicing scenarios like interacting with police in traffic stops or car accidents, as well as engaging with fire/rescue personnel in an ambulance, medical crisis or in a fire emergency. This event will benefit officers and first responders as well as participants, and will help make our community safer and more inclusive for our citizens with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
This event is open to anyone with any disability or general anxiety about police interactions, regardless of where they live. The person with a disability can be the driver (licensed or unlicensed and getting ready to drive), or a passenger or bystander. Register for free here.
COVID-19 Guidance for College Students
The White House released a readout of meeting with colleges and universities on Monkeypox and COVID-19 guidance for a safe return to campus. Members of the White House Monkeypox and COVID-19 response teams, as well as representatives from the CDC, met virtually with college presidents, campus health officials, and student affairs professionals from across the country to discuss best practices and measures for colleges and universities to take to curb the spread of Monkeypox and COVID-19.
Upcoming Events
Sunday, October 2: McLean Artfest
Artfest is a festival held the first Sunday in October with 40 regional artists, food vendors, a music stage and kids activities. It is free and open to the public.
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Location: McLean Central Park
1468 Dolley Madison Boulevard, Mclean, VA 22102
Thursday, October 6: Women Veterans Roundtable
Women veterans are invited to share their experiences, issues, and specific concerns with local leaders and policymakers.
Time: 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Location: McLean Government Center*
1437 Balls Hill Road, McLean, VA 22101
*NOTE: This is a correction from the previous newsletter, which falsely listed the location as the McLean Community Center.