June 25, 2021 Newsletter

Dear Friend,

This week, I wanted to let you know about several upcoming events in the Fourth District including our Pride Month Roundtable, Suffolk PRIDE and the start of the Congressional App Challenge. You can also read more about our office’s efforts to commemorate Juneteenth, which is now a national holiday. I also wanted to remind my constituents of the financial benefits they might be eligible for as we recover from the pandemic. On a similar note, please see the Walmart locations open tomorrow for walk-in COVID-19 vaccines so we can continue to do our part to keep ourselves, our families, and our communities safe.

Pride Roundtable

I will be hosting a virtual Pride Roundtable to discuss H.R. 5, The Equality Act, and other issues important to the LGBTQ+ community on June 29th at 5:30pm ET. While we have made notable progress, we still have barriers to break down and prejudice to overcome. Our panelists include Bill Harrison, Executive Director at Diversity Richmond; Vee Lamneck, Executive Director of Equality Virginia; and Rev. Lacette Cross, Executive Director at Side by Side and co-founder of Black Pride RVA. Again, the roundtable is on June 29th at 5:30pm ET on Zoom. If you are interested in joining us, please RSVP here.

Suffolk PRIDE

This Sunday, I will be speaking at Suffolk’s PRIDE Festival. I’m excited to join members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community for this event. We must continue working to make the world less bigoted, less prejudiced, and less hateful and ensure America lives up to its ideals of fairness and justice for all. If you’re in the area, please come join us.

Congressional App Challenge for Middle and High Schoolers

Attention middle and high school students who are interested in coding. The 2021 Congressional App Challenge (CAC) has officially begun! The CAC challenges students to develop a new app, using any coding language they want. Students must be a resident of our congressional district or attend school in the district. The deadline to submit your app is November 1st. Winners will be eligible to have their app displayed in the U.S. Capitol, featured on the U.S. House of Representatives website, and will be invited to attend the #HouseofCode Capitol Hill reception. Students interested in participating can register here. I’m eager to see the talent and creativity in Fourth Congressional District students. I know we’ll have some unique and brilliant ideas and execution.

Child Tax Credit

The pandemic has presented many challenges to families and caused severe economic and financial hardship. Fortunately, President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, which I was proud to vote for, provides families with an augmented child tax credit. For information about how to receive advance payments of this credit, please see here. In addition, there are two other helpful websites – check your eligibility for the CTC here and manage your CTC process here. I was pleased to work with President Biden to bring this much-needed assistance to so many families.

Juneteenth is Now a National Holiday!

Last week, I was proud to help pass legislation to designate Juneteenth as a federal holiday. Following House and Senate passage, I had the opportunity to visit the White House and witness President Biden sign this historic legislation into law.

Recognized as the oldest celebration to mark the end of slavery in the United States, Juneteenth commemorates the day when enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, finally received word from Union Forces that the Civil War had ended and that they were free. Juneteenth is an opportunity to celebrate the progress our nation has made and to recommit continuing the fight to combat systemic racism and create a fairer, more just, and equitable society.

On Saturday, June 19th, I was honored to speak at a remembrance ceremony at Henrico Woodland Cemetery with other local leaders. Richmond cemeteries were segregated until 100 years after the end of slavery. Woodland Cemetery has many prominent Richmonders, including tennis great and barrier breaker, Arthur Ashe; Leslie Garland Bolling, a sculptor who chronicled African-American life; John Jasper, the founder of our own Jackson Ward’s Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church; and so many other doctors, lawyers, businessmen, and others who helped Richmond become the thriving metropolis it is. Unfortunately, as is so often the case, this predominantly Black cemetery has become neglected and overrun. These important community sites must be preserved, which is why I am proud to help champion the African American Burial Ground Network Act to take important steps in protecting Black cemeteries like Henrico Woodland Cemetery.

Help with FHA Mortgages

The ripple effects of the pandemic continue to be felt across the country. Currently, over 300,000 borrowers are at least 90 days late on mortgage payments and in danger of foreclosure. To help these struggling Americans, the FHA has instituted a forbearance option to help these homeowners hold on to their homes. For further information about this needed and important program, click here.

Pop Up Vaccine Events Around the District this Saturday, June 26th

On Saturday, June 26th, from 10am to 2pm ET, Walmart will be hosting two vaccine clinics in our district. One is in Suffolk at the Walmart on 1200 North Main Street and the other is in Henrico at the Walmart on 5001 Nine Mile Road. Just show up – no appointments needed.

If you have not yet received your vaccine, I encourage you to go get vaccinated to protect yourself, your loved ones, and our community. Shots in arms are how we get back to normal!

Please remember that my office is always here to help if you have a question or need assistance. You can reach us using the contact information below and we will do everything we can to connect you with the resources you need.

I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Sincerely,

A. Donald McEachin
Member of Congress
Virginia’s 4th District