Press Releases

U.S. Representatives Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) and Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (D-VA-08) today introduced the Reduce Helicopter Noise Act to take federal action that would rein in the growing noise of helicopter flights over American communities.

“In urban and suburban communities like ours, the number of complaints about commercial helicopter noise has grown exponentially,” said Congressman Pascrell. “This noise is often more than a mere nuisance but a significant quality-of-life hardship that shakes homes and severely disturbs sleeping patterns. The sound of a whirlybird hovering above your house is no picnic. As commercial helicopter noise grows in the tristate region and across America, the federal government can and must seek ways to curb the problem. Our legislation would implement well researched recommendations to reduce helicopter noise in New Jersey, New York, and beyond.”

“I am glad to co-lead this important legislation that would build on the recommendations for the GAO report I requested and upon the pilot program I helped establish to report helicopter noise. We have already seen how having a pilot has increased the transparency for those impacted by helicopter noise. A national program could be transformative for Americans across the county,” said Congressman Beyer.

The Reduce Excessive Decibels and Unwanted Commotion and Emissions to Heighten Enforcement and Limitation of Intrusive Chopper Operations to Protect Towns and Enhance Residents from Noise Act (REDUCE HELICOPTER Noise Act) is co-led by Reps. Pascrell and Beyer, and sponsored by Reps. Robert Menendez (D-NJ-08), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY-12), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY-07), Jamaal Bowman (D-NY-16), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), and Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08).

Studies detailing the negative impacts of aircraft noise, including from helicopters, have found it causes disturbances that can increase community annoyance, disrupt sleep, adversely affect academic performance of children, and even increase the risk for cardiovascular disease.

The Reduce Helicopter Noise Act would direct the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to establish a helicopter noise complaint information sharing database to receive, collect, and provide access to information regarding helicopter noise complaints. FAA and helicopter operators would be required to share complaints received to ensure the appropriate actor receive such complaint and requires proper complaints to be addressed. This approach follows recommendations made by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) for the D.C. area in January 2021. The bill would take the GAOs suggested mechanism and establish it for the whole nation.

Additionally, Pascrell’s bill would improve FAA officials’ ability to identify the helicopter operators by providing more transparency of the helicopters’ ownership structure. Background on these issues has been assessed by the GAO in separate reports in March 2020 and January 2021 (footnote 22), respectively.

Since being inundated with North Jersey constituent complaints, Congressman Pascrell has crusaded against helicopter noise over urban and suburban communities. In September 2022, Pascrell demanded the FAA seek ways to crack down on commercial helicopter noise.

On March 15, 2023, Pascrell joined several tristate congressmembers pushing FAA and National Park Service leaders to address commercial helicopter noise.

On April 18, 2023, Pascrell asked members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to add new measures to the FAA reauthorization bill to address the growing problem of helicopter noise over communities in North Jersey, as well as New York City.

Attorney General Jason Miyares today joined a bipartisan coalition of 28 state attorneys general calling on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to take a tougher stand against companies tricking consumers into agreeing to receive telemarketing and texts.

“Sleazy ‘lead generators’ try to trick people into consenting to receive spam calls or texts from hundreds of companies they’ve never heard of and never want to hear from.  We are asking the FCC to toughen the rules on consent requirements so Virginians only hear from organizations they agree to,” said Attorney General Miyares.

The FCC is proposing to amend its rule concerning consent to close a so-called “lead generator loophole.”  Lead generators are entities that collect personal information (like telephone numbers) from consumers and sell it to third parties, who then use that information to solicit consumers to purchase goods or services.  As the attorneys general explain, “Telemarketers, voice service providers, and scammers need people to call (and/or text),” so lead generators have “proliferated into a billion-dollar industry.”

A common lead generator practice is to offer a consumer a quote for a good or service online (like insurance products), and in order to receive the quote, the consumer has to agree to receive calls or texts from the lead generator’s “marketing partners.”

The attorneys general urge the FCC to draw a “clear line in the sand,” adopting a rule where consumers can consent to be called by a single seller, and that there be a ‘clear and conspicuous disclosure’ of the consequences of providing the requested consent.

Joining in the letter are attorneys general from Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

On Saturday, June 10, the National Park Service (NPS) will extend the three-lane traffic configuration on the George Washington Memorial Parkway from the Route 123 interchange to Windy Run Bridge as part of the ongoing North Parkway Rehabilitation Project. The NPS will temporarily close the right northbound lane from Route 123 to the Windy Run Bridge during this transition. Drivers should follow traffic signs, respect the 40-mph speed limit, expect delays through narrow travel lanes and plan alternate routes. Work is weather permitting.

Crews will begin to shift traffic following the evening rush hour on Friday, June 9 and expect to have the new traffic pattern in place by the evening of Saturday June 10. Crews installed new lane striping over the weekend and will add temporary lane dividers this week in preparation for the traffic shift. The NPS expects the three-lane traffic pattern from Windy Run Bridge to I-495 to be in effect through late 2025:

Weekday morning rush hour (5:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.)

• Two lanes southbound (toward Washington, DC).
  • Drivers who need to exit at Route 123 or CIA Headquarters must use the right lane.
• One lane northbound (toward Maryland/Virginia).

Weekday evening rush hour (2:45 p.m. – 7:15 p.m.)

• Two lanes northbound (toward Maryland/Virginia).
  • Drivers who need to exit at Route 123, CIA Headquarters or towards Maryland must use the right lane.
  • Drivers who need to exit towards Virginia on I-495 must use the left lane.
• One lane southbound (toward Washington, DC).

Weekdays (9:30 a.m. – 2:45 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. – 5:30 a.m.) and weekends

• One lane southbound (toward Washington, DC).
• One lane northbound (toward Maryland/Virginia).

Small physical barriers will separate the narrow lanes to increase motorist and construction crew safety. Drivers must make lane changes upon entry to the parkway. Commercial vehicles remain prohibited from using the parkway.

How this is happening 

The right northbound lane will be closed to traffic to allow crews to perform rehabilitation work. The left southbound lane will serve as a reversible lane, which provides flexibility to change direction for morning and evening rush hours. This traffic pattern allows the project contractor greater access to the roadway, which will reduce the time needed to complete the project.

Where to find more information 

Construction on the parkway will affect drivers for the duration of the rehabilitation. Message boards and orange construction signs along the parkway continue to provide important information and directions. Drivers can view construction updates and opt-in to receive emails about traffic impacts, meetings and major project milestones on the project webpage.

Background   

The Department of the Interior announced the rehabilitation of the northern section of the George Washington Memorial Parkway on December 7, 2021. In partnership with the National Park Service, the Federal Highway Administration awarded a $161 million contract to rehabilitate this section of the parkway. The project, made possible by Great American Outdoors Act funding, will improve safety, the driving experience and water drainage while retaining and reviving the historic beauty and significance of the parkway – including opening scenic views to Washington, D.C.

As the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries in adults over the age of 65, falls can greatly impact the health and well-being of older adults. The age-adjusted fall death rate increased by 41 percent from 2012 to 2021, while falls that don’t result in death can still cause traumatic brain injuries, hip fractures and decreased independence and quality of life.

In response to this critical health issue, Marymount University and its Center for Optimal Aging were recently awarded a third round of funding – totaling $548,298 that will cover a timeframe extended to April 2027 – from the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living. Alongside its many community partners, Marymount will continue this important work of helping to reduce the number of falls and fall-related injuries in the region, expanding falls prevention programs to underserved communities and enhancing their capacity for long-term sustainability.

“While falls among older adults are unfortunately common, we know that for the most part, they are predictable and preventable. Falls are not an inevitable part of getting older,” said Dr. Sara Pappa, Assistant Professor of Health and Human Performance at Marymount and the principal investigator and coordinator of the Northern Virginia Falls Prevention Alliance. “By performing specific strength and balance exercises, making their homes safer and getting regular health check-ups, older adults can significantly reduce their risk of falling.”

Joining Dr. Pappa as co-investigators are Dr. Cathy Elrod (Professor of Physical Therapy), Dr. Patricia Heyn (Founding Director of Marymount’s Center for Optimal Aging), Dr. Uma Kelekar (Associate Professor of Health Care Management) and Dr. Rita Wong (Associate Vice President of Research).

“Marymount University has been a beacon of excellence in falls prevention programming, services and research, dedicating over a decade to community-based falls education and training programs that directly impact and safeguard our community,” Dr. Heyn explained. “Through these efforts, the Center for Optimal Aging is not only safeguarding the well-being of our community but also solidifying our University’s standing as a trailblazer in falls prevention research. Together, we are shaping a safer future for our older adults, and our commitment remains unwavering.”

The latest round of funding will help older adult-serving community groups in Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., with implementing two established evidence-based falls prevention programs – Stay Active and Independent for Life (SAIL), a strength, balance and fitness program for older adults who are at low-to-moderate risk for falling, and Matter of Balance, which features small group sessions led by a trained facilitator designed to reduce the fear of falling and familiarize older adults with balanced-focused exercise activities.

To date, these programs have reached over 6,000 older adults. During the third round of funding, Marymount faculty and community partners are focusing on reaching Black, Hispanic and lower-income communities by working to:

• Expand the activities of Marymount’s regional training office that prepares lay leaders/coaches to run evidence-based falls prevention programs.
• Provide support to community organizations in establishing falls prevention programs.
• Expand the referral network for falls prevention programs.
• Build the fall prevention program as an integral part of Marymount’s Center for Optimal Aging.

For more information on falls, prevention programs or how to get involved, please visit the Northern Virginia Falls Prevention Alliance website.

America runs on Dunkin’^® and this National Donut Day, America runs on free donuts. On Friday, June 2, Dunkin’ die-hards and donut fans can enjoy a free classic donut of their choice, with any beverage purchase.

No More Donut FOMO, Please!
Last year, social media was abuzz the day after National Donut Day, with tweets flowing in from forlorn guests who missed out on their free donut. This year, Dunkin’s sounding the alarm, urging donut fans across America to set their alerts and turn on notifications for the ultimate donut day of the year. Whether it’s the time-honored glazed donut, the irresistible creamy Boston Kreme or a delightful Strawberry Frosted with Sprinkles, every guest has a deliciously compelling reason to nab their free donut at Dunkin’ this time around.

To make the most of the holiday, guests can pair a classic donut from Dunkin’ with their favorite drink, from the adored Butter Pecan Iced Coffee to a full-bodied Cold Brew. Whatever donut-drink combo guests go for, there’s no incorrect way to celebrate National Donut Day – as long as it involves a free donut!

“Friends don’t let friends miss out on free donuts,” said Jill McVicar Nelson, Chief Marketing Officer, Dunkin’. “This June, we’re rallying donut fans nationwide to end donut FOMO for good. So gather your friends, grab your favorite donut on us, and indulge in the sweet delight of National Donut Day!”

At Dunkin’, Every Day is Donut Day!
Founded in 1950 in Quincy, Mass., Dunkin’ has been renowned for two things: premium coffee and donuts. At inception, most donut shops offered four donut varieties. The original Dunkin’ location raised the stakes with 52 varieties, one for each week of the year, including nostalgic treats like Creme Filled Coffee Rolls, Tarts and Filled Lemonaires. While Dunkin’s menu has evolved, all store locations nationwide still use Dunkin’s signature donut recipe, with each donut finished by hand.

Today, Dunkin’ reigns as the largest donut and coffee brand in America, selling more than 2 billion donuts and MUNCHKINS® Donut Hole Treats annually – that’s enough to girdle the globe 15 times! Dunkin’s most beloved donut remains the timeless Glazed, closely followed by the Boston Kreme. While its staple classics are available nationwide, Dunkin’ customizes its specialty assortment for regional tastes and preferences.

The countdown is on – guests shouldn’t forget to grab their free donut at Dunkin’ on June 2!

To stay updated on the latest happenings at Dunkin’, visit DunkinDonuts.com or subscribe to the Dunkin’ blog to receive notifications at news.dunkindonuts.com/blog.

Governor Glenn Youngkin announced today a landmark change in how state agencies will recruit and compete for talent by eliminating degree requirements, preferences or both for almost 90% of state classified positions. The new Commonwealth hiring practices will expand opportunities for Virginians and give equal consideration to all qualified job applicants.

“On day one we went to work reimagining workforce solutions in government and this key reform will expand opportunities for qualified applicants who are ready to serve Virginians,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “This landmark change in hiring practices for our state workforce will improve hiring processes, expand possibilities and career paths for job seekers and enhance our ability to deliver quality services. Last month, Virginia achieved the highest labor force participation rate in nearly ten years demonstrating the Commonwealth’s sustained workforce developments.”

“Changing how we think about workforce planning, talent acquisition, and leveraging knowledge, certifications, technical skills, apprenticeships, and work experience into measurable business results has been a Day 1 Workforce Development priority for this Administration,” said Secretary of Administration Margaret “Lyn” McDermid. “As an employer, state government has one of, if not the most diverse occupational portfolios in Virginia. Our employees design, build, manage, and sustain public services across hundreds of lines of business and giving equal consideration to all job applicants, including those who have experience solving real world problems is a smart business practice.”

“This is great news for state government and all job seekers. By giving equal consideration to applicants with an equivalent combination and level of training, knowledge, skills, certifications, and experience we have opened a sea of opportunity at all levels of employment for industrious individuals who have the experience, training, knowledge, skills, abilities, and most importantly, the desire to serve the people of Virginia,” said Secretary of Labor Bryan Slater. “We are also working hard to examine regulated occupations and professions to find ways to simplify and speed up credentialing processes and universal licensing recognition for individuals who want to live and work in Virginia.”

This change will take effect July 1, 2023. Virginia is the latest in a growing number of state governments to elevate the value of work experience and its new prominence in the future of America’s workforce. On average, Virginia state agencies advertise over 20,000 job opportunities each year.

Members of Congress representing Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia today wrote to leaders of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure to express strong local opposition to “any changes to the current High Density (‘Slot’) and Perimeter rules at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (‘National’).”

Their letter followed recent, local opposition to proposed changes to weaken the slot and perimeter rule from the DCA Community Noise Working Group, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, and the president of Washington Metro Airports Authority, which operates the airport.

The letter was signed by Rep. Don Beyer (VA-8), Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), and Reps. Jennifer Wexton (VA-10), Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Steny Hoyer (MD-5), Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-2), David Trone (MD-6), Abigail Spanberger (VA-7), Jamie Raskin (MD-8), John Sarbanes (MD-3), Kweisi Mfume (MD-7), Jennifer McClellan (VA-4), Bobby Scott (VA-3), and Glenn Ivey (MD-4).

They wrote:

“National and Washington Dulles International Airport (“Dulles”) operate as an integrated system of federally owned assets. National was never intended to be a long-haul airport. The dual airport system was crafted with this is mind to accommodate limited land and runways at National. Dulles occupies 11,830 acres while National is just 860 acres. Acknowledging the physical limitations and community impacts of aircraft noise at National, Congress mandated the Slot and Perimeter rules.

“National is currently designed to accommodate 15 million passengers annually. Last year, the airport set a record of 24 million passengers. Regarding safety, at its current level of activity, National already experiences an above average number of missed approaches and early turnouts because of weather, high demand, airfield layout, and runway length. Additional daily flights would likely increase the number of missed approaches and early turnouts, disrupting an already complicated airspace and impacting safety.

…

“Our priority should be the safety and efficiency of flights, not the personal convenience of a comparatively small number of powerful and well-connected individuals. No Member of Congress appreciates another representative meddling with the assets in their state or district. We, too, strongly oppose any attempts by other Members and special interest groups to dictate operations at these airports for their own personal convenience at great cost to our communities and constituents.”

Full text of the letter follows below and a signed copy is available here.

***

Dear Chair Graves and Ranking Member Larsen:

As Congress begins consideration of a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill this year, we write to strongly oppose any changes to the current High Density (“Slot”) and Perimeter rules at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (“National”).

National and Washington Dulles International Airport (“Dulles”) operate as an integrated system of federally owned assets. National was never intended to be a long-haul airport. The dual airport system was crafted with this is mind to accommodate limited land and runways at National. Dulles occupies 11,830 acres while National is just 860 acres. Acknowledging the physical limitations and community impacts of aircraft noise at National, Congress mandated the Slot and Perimeter rules.

National is currently designed to accommodate 15 million passengers annually. Last year, the airport set a record of 24 million passengers. Regarding safety, at its current level of activity, National already experiences an above average number of missed approaches and early turnouts because of weather, high demand, airfield layout, and runway length.  Additional daily flights would likely increase the number of missed approaches and early turnouts, disrupting an already complicated airspace and impacting safety. Additionally, National has limited capacity of airport infrastructure such as gates, ticket counters, baggage handling areas, and parking, which are currently being stretched thin to handle the existing level of commercial flights. Adding slots or an expanding National’s perimeter would further strain facilities at National.

Previous slot and perimeter changes have prevented Dulles from realizing its full potential as the primary long-haul flight destination for the Washington metropolitan area. The more expansive facilities at Dulles are structured to allow larger planes to land and take off, which yields efficiencies for customers, carriers, and our climate. In just the last decade, the federal government has spent significant amounts of money to bolster Dulles’s infrastructure. For example, Phase 2 of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s Metrorail Silver Line expansion opened less than six months ago and links the Washington metropolitan area to Dulles. The $6.8 billion, 41-mile-long Silver Line is Metro’s largest expansion since its creation in 1976. Further, a recently announced $50 million grant from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will provide for construction of a new terminal at Dulles.

Our priority should be the safety and efficiency of flights, not the personal convenience of a comparatively small number of powerful and well-connected individuals. No Member of Congress appreciates another representative meddling with the assets in their state or district. We, too, strongly oppose any attempts by other Members and special interest groups to dictate operations at these airports for their own personal convenience at great cost to our communities and constituents.

For these reasons, we look forward to working with you to pass an FAA reauthorization bill this year that leaves intact the current rules governing operations at National.

Attorney General Jason Miyares today sued Michael D. Lansky, LLC, which does business under the name Avid Telecom, its owner Michael Lansky, and its Vice President Stacey S. Reeves, for allegedly initiating and facilitating billions of illegal robocalls to millions of people and violating the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, the Telemarketing Sales Rule, and other federal and state telemarketing and consumer laws.

“Avid Telecom refuses to stop their robocalls, despite receiving over three hundred warnings. They have routed nearly 235,000,000 calls to numbers with Virginia area codes. Avid Telecom even went as far as spoofing the Caller ID numbers of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including the Virginia State Police. It’s obvious that the only way to get this organization to stop harassing Virginians is by taking them to court, and holding them accountable,” said Attorney General Miyares.

Avid Telecom is a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service provider that sells data, phone numbers, dialing software, and/or expertise to help its customers make mass robocalls. It also serves as an intermediate provider and allegedly facilitated or helped route illegal robocalls across the country. Between December 2018 and January 2023, Avid sent or attempted to transmit more than 24.5 billion calls. More than 90 percent of those calls lasted less than just 15 seconds, which indicates they were likely robocalls. Further, Avid helped make hundreds of millions of calls using spoofed or invalid caller ID numbers, including more than 8.4 million calls that appeared to be coming from government and law enforcement agencies, as well as private companies.

Avid Telecom allegedly sent or transmitted scam calls about Social Security Administration scams, Medicare scams, auto warranty scams, Amazon scams, DirecTV scams, credit card interest rate reduction scams, and employment scams. Examples of some of these scam calls are available to listen to here and here.

The USTelecom-led Industry Traceback Group, which notifies providers about known and suspected illegal robocalls sent across their networks, sent at least 329 notifications to Avid Telecom that it was transmitting these calls, but Avid Telecom continued to do so.

Today’s legal action arises from the nationwide Anti-Robocall Multistate Litigation Task Force of 51 bipartisan attorneys general. In August, Attorney General Miyares joined this Task Force to investigate and take legal action against those responsible for routing significant volumes of illegal robocall traffic into and across the United States.

The Federal Trade Commission and the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General also provided investigative assistance in this lawsuit.

Attorney General Miyares is joined in filing today’s complaint by the Attorneys General of Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, D.C., Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Today the local branch of the oldest and largest civil rights organization in America announced a $60,000 charitable contribution to EcoAction Arlington, which was founded in 1978 and whose mission focuses on encouraging environmentally-friendly behaviors, ensuring environmental justice, and addressing the climate crisis. The NAACP selected EcoAction Arlington through a strategic grant and partnership from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which has more than 17 million members and churches in over 30,000 locations across 160 countries and territories. While Arlington is the smallest self-governing county in America, disparities continue to impact communities of color in disparate ways. “Arlington has a 10 year life expectancy difference amongst its neighborhoods, and this donation will create focus and provide much needed tree canopy in places that have, for decades, been left out of the conversation,” said Branch President Michael Hemminger.

The NAACP Arlington Branch is one of the most active branches in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Branch takes a comprehensive equity approach towards supporting disadvantaged neighborhoods through transitioning to green environments. “For years, EcoAction Arlington has been a committed partner in the furtherance of our mission, making them a natural fit for why we selected this non-profit as the recipient,” said Hemminger in a statement. The donation helps leverage additional resources with the goal of increasing the number of trees planted from current levels by approximately 500 trees a year for the next five years in Arlington’s historically disadvantaged communities.

Research demonstrates that trees act as natural filters by absorbing pollutants and harmful particles from the air, and their absence can result in higher levels of air pollution, leading to respiratory illnesses such as asthma. Black communities are almost three times more likely to die from asthma related causes and this donation is an important step forward in helping to right many wrongs of the past.

The NAACP will continue to fight for the achievement of equity, political rights, and social inclusion by advancing policies and practices that expand human and civil rights, eliminates discrimination, and accelerate the well-being, education, and economic security of Black people and all persons of color.

AHC Inc.’s College and Career Readiness (CCR) program hosted its college signing day on May 5 – where students announced their college plans and showcased new T-shirts for their chosen colleges.

This year, the CCR program included 37 high school seniors and 32 juniors from lower-income homes. The students received acceptance from 156 out of the 257 schools they applied to and $13.3 million in gift aid and scholarships from those schools. Many students are the first generation in their families to reach this educational milestone.

The CCR program has served 238 students since its inception in 2016. Tutors, mentors, and other key staff members were there to celebrate during the exciting ceremony. QuestBridge Scholar Ribka Desta opened up the ceremony with an emotional speech that described her experience in the CCR program.

For CCR Manager Gabriela Segovia, all the hard work comes together in these ceremonies. “The students we were able to serve this year are nothing short of amazing,” Segovia exclaimed.  “This kind of success is only possible when the entire community comes together to work for something they all believe in, providing access to resources for our students to achieve their dreams,” added Segovia.

About Some of the Students

Liya Rike is attending Elon University this fall. Liya is planning to study communications and international relations. She aims to become an international news reporter/anchor, with an outlet like CBS, CNN, or the Associated Press. She also aspires to become a model one day. As a first-generation student, the CCR program helped explain the ins and outs of the college acceptance process. “CCR helped me in so many ways … with the common app, my essay, and financial aid. Since I come from a family that doesn’t have experience with college applications, CCR was a huge part of my college process. But it also gave me a safe space to be in with students like me, which I don’t get much of in my PDWI.”

Christopher Ventura plans to study engineering or computer science at the University of Virginia this fall. Since joining the CCR program, he worked with a mentor who helped him push toward his goal of furthering his education and eventually working for SpaceX or Tesla. “CCR guided me through the process and helped me acquire a mentor who could help me with anything college related.”

Ribka Desta is attending Stanford University on a full-ride scholarship, courtesy of the QuestBridge Scholars program. She plans to study English in college. When asked how the CCR program helped her, Ribka exclaimed, “The CCR program helped me by answering all my questions. This knowledge and security made me more comfortable and confident in my college application process. My mentor looked out for me, gave me information, and we used our two heads to develop solutions and best plans these past two years of high school!”

Toromo Funsho is attending the University of Virginia to study psychology this fall. Funsho also is considering double majoring in Film. Her goal is to hone her skills throughout college to create more skilled film projects that feature the diversity she feels is missing from the entertainment industry. “My parents made sacrifices for me throughout my life, and I want to make them proud,” says Toromo. “However, I do not want to go to college just for them but for myself as well.” She especially appreciated AHC’s staff support throughout her time in the CCR program.

Michael Atubire Jr. will be attending Bridgewater College on a full-ride athletic scholarship. He is the first student from the CCR program to achieve this feat and will study Business this fall. He dreams of playing football in the XFL or NFL or coaching on any level. When asked how the CCR program led to his college decision, Michael said, “The CCR program helped me apply for FASFA and find scholarships. I also learned what to look for in a college.” Bridgewater College was one of the schools that allowed Michael to pursue Business while playing football.

About the College and Career Readiness Program 

CCR provides students living in AHC’s affordable apartment communities with the tools and support to successfully graduate from high school and go to college or develop a career path. High school juniors and seniors work one-on-one with a mentor who helps them navigate the challenges of applying for financial support and scholarships and identifying educational and career options.

Where They’re Headed This Fall

• Virginia Commonwealth University
• James Madison University
• Northern Virginia Community College
• University of Virginia
• George Mason University
• American University
• Stanford University
• Virginia Tech
• Bridgewater College
• Elon University
• Yale University
• George Washington University
• Marymount University

Interested in Mentoring or Tutoring?  Contact Laura Jackson at [email protected].

U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) joined 27 colleagues in introducing the Kids Online Safety Act, comprehensive bipartisan legislation to protect children online.

The Kids Online Safety Act provides young people and parents with the tools, safeguards, and transparency they need to protect against online harms. The bill requires social media platforms to by default enable a range of protections against addictive design and algorithmic recommendations. It also requires privacy protections, dedicated channels to report harm, and independent audits by experts and academic researchers to ensure that social media platforms are taking meaningful steps to address risks to kids. 

“Experts are clear: kids and teens are growing up in a toxic and unregulated social media landscape that promotes bullying, eating disorders, and mental health struggles,” said Sen. Warner. “The Kids Online Safety Act would give kids and parents the long-overdue ability to control some of the least transparent and most damaging aspects of social media, creating a safer and more humane online environment.”

Reporting has shown that social media companies have proof that their platforms contribute to mental health issues in children and teens, and that young people have demonstrated a precipitous rise in mental health crises over the last decade. 

Specifically, the Kids Online Safety Act would: 

• Require that social media platforms provide minors with options to protect their information, disable addictive product features, and opt out of algorithmic recommendations. Platforms would be required to enable the strongest settings by default.
• Give parents new controls to help support their children and identify harmful behaviors, and provides parents and children with a dedicated channel to report harms to kids to the platform. 
• Create a responsibility for social media platforms to prevent and mitigate harms to minors, such as promotion of suicide, eating disorders, substance abuse, sexual exploitation, and unlawful products for minors (e.g. gambling and alcohol).
• Require social media platforms to perform an annual independent audit that assesses the risks to minors, their compliance with this legislation, and whether the platform is taking meaningful steps to prevent those harms. 
• Provide academic and public interest organizations with access to critical datasets from social media platforms to foster research regarding harms to the safety and well-being of minors.  

Sen. Warner, a former tech entrepreneur, has been a vocal advocate for Big Tech accountability and building a safer online environment. He has introduced several pieces of legislation aimed at addressing these issues, including the RESTRICT Act, which would comprehensively address the ongoing threat posed by technology and social media platforms from foreign adversaries; the SAFE TECH Act, which would reform Section 230 and allow social media companies to be held accountable for enabling cyber-stalking, online harassment, and discrimination on social media platforms; and the Honest Ads Act, which would require online political advertisements to adhere to the same disclaimer requirements as TV, radio, and print ads. 

The one-page summary of the bill can be found here, the section-by-section summary can be found here, and the full text of the Senate bill can be found here.