January 7, 2026
Speaker Don Scott Announces Delegate Rodney Willett as Next Chair of House Health and Human Services Committee
Courtesy, Speaker Don Scott’s Communications Office
RICHMOND, VA – Speaker of the House Don Scott today announced that Delegate Rodney Willett will serve as the next Chair of the House Health and Human Services Committee, succeeding Delegate Mark Sickles, who has been appointed Secretary of Finance.
“Delegate Willett brings deep subject-matter expertise and a steady, practical approach to the work of the Health and Human Services Committee,” said Speaker Don Scott. “His proven leadership has already helped improve health care outcomes, and with him at the helm, the committee will continue advancing accessible, affordable care for Virginians.”
“I’m grateful to Speaker Scott for the opportunity to serve as Chair of the Health and Human Services Committee,” said Delegate Rodney Willett. “At a time when these issues are more critical than ever, I look forward to working with my colleagues to address Virginians’ health care, behavioral health, and human services needs across the Commonwealth.”
Delegate Willett will assume leadership of the Health and Human Services Committee, which oversees legislation related to health care delivery, behavioral health, social services, and public health programs. Willett previously served as Chair of the House Select Committee on Advancing Rural and Small Town Health Care, where he led bipartisan work focused on access to care, workforce shortages, and health outcomes in underserved communities, and currently chairs the Joint Commission on Health Care and the Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority.
News from Del. Jeion A. Ward, House of Delegates, 87th District
Barbara Rose Johns statue replacing Robert E. Lee on Dec. 16!
In 2020, it was my great honor to carry House Bill 1406, which mandated the replacement of Robert E. Lee’s likeness as one of the two statues representing Virginia in the capitol’s National Statuary Hall.
We established a commission to select a more suitable Virginian to honor, and we selected Barbara Rose Johns, the brave student who, in 1951, at the tender age of 16, led a student walk out of Robert Russa Moton High School to protest unequal education facilities. It was a courageous act that helped pave the way for Brown v. Board of Education and the desegregation of Southern schools.
Our commission then selected sculptor Steven Weitzman. After some pandemic delay, the new statue will be unveiled in DC on December 16th at 3PM! The occasion will be streamed live on the Speaker of the House webpage: https://www.youtube.com/@SpeakerJohnson/streams
You can read the story and watch a video by the artist by clicking HERE.
HAMPTON’S STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS
Mayor applauds growth in higher education and local schools
On December 3, Hampton Mayor Jimmy Gray delivered his first State of the City address, and it was heartening to hear all of the positive trends that continue in our city. Our schools continue to be some of the most innovative and high performing in the commonwealth, with a K-12 on-time graduation rate of 97.5% and a drop out rate of under 1%! Our Associates Degree and Apprenticeship programs continue to make young Hamptonians some of the best prepared students in Virginia. We are once again an “All American City” honoree, and we continue to attract businesses and residents with our community, resources, and policies. The mayor also talked about efforts to curb increasing housing costs, including a decrease in property taxes and increased construction incentives.
New Legislative Assistant Ben Kopit is no stranger to political campaigns
Advocacy and community service are his superpowers
It is my pleasure to introduce a new member of Team Ward, which I believe will greatly enhance our efforts and initiatives. Ben Kopit joins our team as our new legislative assistant, bringing with him a wealth of experience and a dedicated passion for advocacy and community service. As you know, I am a strong supporter of working people and their unions, so Ben will fit in nicely with our values and mission. Ben’s first job in politics was actually a strike job, showcasing his commitment to standing up for those who work hard and deserve fair treatment.
He is a proud member of the Writers Guild of America, West and IBEW Local 666, which demonstrates his long-standing dedication to labor rights and community engagement. Throughout his career, he has worked on multiple political campaigns, gaining invaluable experience that will undoubtedly benefit our team. He comes directly from our local Democratic Committee, where he served as secretary, and was instrumental in organizing vital efforts to support our community.
Finally: Please watch for regular emails from Ben or from me, Delegate Ward. It is not SPAM; these emails are essential updates that you will not want to miss. We are excited to have Ben on board and confident that his contributions will lead to positive changes for all of us.
Happy Holidays!
Jeion A. Ward, Delegate
Eighty-Seventh House District
Virginia General Assembly
SAVE THE DATE FOR THE SENATOR!
Aaron Rouse to Celebrate 42nd Birthday At The Hippodrome
NEWS FROM THE CBC’S CHAIR YVETTE D. CLARKE
WASHINGTON, D.C.
On Dec. 4, 2025, Congressional Black Caucus Chair Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) and members of the Congressional Black Caucus issued the following statement:
“Time and again, the Trump Administration has singled out Haiti with harmful and unjust policies. After spreading misinformation and using dehumanizing, racist rhetoric about Haitian communities, the Administration is now moving to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals on February 3, 2026. and immoral decision threatens to uproot the lives and security of more than 330,000 Haitians who have lived and worked legally in the United States under TPS protections.
“Across the country, Haitian families are now facing profound uncertainty and the terrifying prospect of being forced back to a nation struggling with severe shortages of food and clean water, unstable infrastructure, and escalating violence.
“At our best, America stands as a beacon of hope. We welcome and protect people fleeing humanitarian crises, political persecution, and economic hardship. Haitian TPS holders came here with faith in the American promise, and they have contributed immensely to the strength and vibrancy of our communities.
“The Trump Administration must immediately reverse this decision.”
BND Institute of Media & Culture 