Congress | FFXnow

Reston Association backs federal bill for exemption from ownership reporting mandate

Published October 2, 2024 at 3:45PM

Reston Association

Reston Association is throwing its support behind federal legislation that would exempt community associations from having to report information about their owners under a law designed to root out fraud and other shady dealings.

The organization sent letters to Rep. Gerry Connolly and senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner yesterday (Tuesday) urging them to co-sponsor the Community Association Reporting Exemption Act, which would exempt some homeowners and community associations from requirements that RA calls “burdensome.”

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Fairfax County early voting starts: Here’s what’s on the ballot

By James Jarvis

Published September 20, 2024 at 8:15AM | Updated September 20, 2024 at 10:18AM

Voters fill out their ballots for the 2023 Democratic primary at Bailey's Community Center (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Early voting for the Nov. 5 general election in Fairfax County kicks off today (Friday) at three polling locations.

Voters will not only be deciding between Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump in the presidential race, but also choosing candidates for Congress and, for Herndon residents, the town’s mayor and six council members. Several bond referenda and a proposed amendment to Virginia’s constitution will also be on the ballot.

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Rep. Connolly, Va. senators react to President Biden ending bid for reelection

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 22, 2024 at 10:30AM

The White House (via René DeAnda on Unsplash)

After weeks of speculation and reported angst within the Democratic Party, President Joe Biden announced yesterday (Sunday) that he will no longer seek a second term, instead endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as his party’s nominee.

Reps. Gerry Connolly and Don Beyer, who represent parts of Fairfax County in the House, and Virginia senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner quickly expressed support for Biden’s “difficult decision” and joined him in backing Harris.

News

Marshall HS students help draft Congressional bill to boost teen voter registration

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 26, 2024 at 1:45PM

Marshall High School students (left to right) Nia Gouvis, Eleanor Liang, Vedansh Garg, Samad Quraishi and Miranda and Julia Elliot Ortega advocate for youth voter registration (photo by Donnie Biggs/Fairfax County Public Schools)

Future high school students across the U.S. may find it easier to register to vote, an expansion of access that would be made possible in part by some current students at Marshall High School.

A group of students at the Pimmit Hills school spent the past year advocating for federal legislation that would designate all high schools as voter registration agencies, allowing them to host registration drives and receive reimbursement for the costs.

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BREAKING: Rep. Gerry Connolly wins Democratic primary

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 18, 2024 at 9:30PM

Campaign signs for the June 2024 primaries outside the North County Governmental Center in Reston (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

With no local or state races on the ballot, Fairfax County voters turned out in a trickle today (Tuesday) for relatively low-key primary elections.

In the lone Fairfax County-only race, Rep. Gerry Connolly remains on track for a ninth term representing Virginia’s 11th Congressional District after handily securing the Democratic nomination over challenger Ahsan Nasar.

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Fairfax County to expand early voting for Congressional primary this weekend

By James Jarvis

Published June 6, 2024 at 1:30PM | Updated June 7, 2024 at 9:03AM

Political yard signs outside of Fairfax County Government Center (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Early voting in the upcoming Virginia primaries will expand this weekend, with Fairfax County opening additional in-person sites starting this Saturday (June 8).

Voters will determine representatives for Virginia’s 10th and 11th Congressional districts, as well as the Republican who will challenge Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine this fall. Early voting for the June 18 primary began on May 3 and will continue in-person through June 15.

Countywide

New federal budget funds Fairfax County homeless shelter, pedestrian projects

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 11, 2024 at 3:30PM

Fairfax County's existing Patrick Henry Family Shelter (via Google Maps)

(Updated at 3:35 p.m.) Congress has passed another short-term budget package, averting a partial shutdown of the federal government just hours before a midnight deadline.

In addition to funding the Justice Department, Housing and Urban Development, and other key agencies, the slate of bills passed 75-22 by the Senate on Friday (March 8) includes $12.7 billion in “pork” — money designated for local projects requested by lawmakers for their constituents.

News

New Dulles Airport concourse, now under construction, gets lift from federal funds

By Fatimah Waseem

Published February 16, 2024 at 9:30AM

A rendering of the 14-gate concourse now under construction at Dulles International Airport (courtesy MWAA)

A planned 14-gate concourse at Dulles International Airport received a major federal lift this week.

Yesterday, Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine announced that the Tier 2 Concourse East project will get $35 million in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that Congress passed in 2021.

News

Vienna-based credit union draws scrutiny for racial disparities in mortgage approvals

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 16, 2024 at 11:00AM

The Navy Federal Credit Union headquarters in Vienna (via Google Maps)

Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine is calling on the federal government to investigate whether Navy Federal Credit Union has discriminated when approving loans to homebuyers.

The country’s largest credit union, which is headquartered in Vienna, rejected more than half of the Black people who sought a conventional home purchase mortgage in 2022, despite approving over 75% of white borrowers seeking the same loan, CNN reported last month.

Countywide

N. Va. officials search for path to save Metro from ‘catastrophic’ budget cuts

By Fatimah Waseem

Published December 18, 2023 at 9:30AM

A train at the McLean Metro station platform (file photo)

Local and state officials in Virginia say the path to dig Metro out of its looming $750 million deficit is uncertain — but action is necessary to avoid the significant service cuts, systemwide fare hikes, layoffs and station closures laid out in the transit agency’s newly proposed budget.

Leaders in Fairfax County — which already faces lean economic times — say they don’t plan to offer up additional funds unless jurisdictional and federal partners can throw some more skin into the game.