.svg)
Neighbors,
As an At-Large Councilmember, I am often asked how I stay informed about the many issues that affect the residents of our District. While reading is fundamental to being a good student, it is also imperative for being an informed legislator. With that said, I am sharing some of the reports and news I have been reading recently:
In service, Christina HendersonCouncilmember, At-LargeChristinaHendersonDC.com
Key Legislative Updates
On Monday, September 16, Councilmember Henderson introduced the Entertainment Establishment Employee Safety Amendment Act of 2024. The bill would exempt businesses such as restaurants and nightclubs (Class C and D alcohol license holders, specifically) from being required to accept cash and is an effort to address safety concerns.
On Tuesday, September 17, during the DC Council’s Legislative Meeting the Alma Thomas Way Designation Act of 2024 passed on first vote by the DC Council. The bill, introduced by Councilmember Henderson, will symbolically designate 15th Street, N.W. between Church Street, N.W. and Q Street, N.W., as Alma Thomas Way.
Later that day, the Certified Nurse Aide Amendment Act of 2024 (also known as the Direct Care Worker Amendment Act of 2023) passed on first vote by the DC Council. The bill will address the District’s current direct care worker shortage by eliminating barriers to licensure and certification for those in the Nursing Assistive Personnel Profession.
The DC Council also passed the Counseling Compact Approval Act of 2024 on first vote and approved nominations to several health licensing boards. The Counseling Compact Approval Act of 2024 authorizes the Mayor to enable licensed professional counselors to practice in other member states, without needing additional licenses and standardizes requirements and disciplinary processes, ensuring consistency across states, while preserving each state’s regulatory authority.
The Council also approved nominations to health licensing boards as follows:
At the same September 17 meeting, the Council approved the Council Period 25 Rules of Organization and Procedure and Appointment of Committee Chairpersons and Membership Amendment Resolution of 2024. This measure removed Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White from his chairmanship of the Committee on Recreation, Libraries, and Youth Affairs and eliminated that committee, moving all matters under that committee’s jurisdiction to the Committee of the Whole (COW). The measure also created two subcommittees under the COW, the Subcommittee on Recreation and Community Affairs, chaired by Councilmember Matt Frumin, and the Subcommittee on Libraries and Youth Affairs, chaired by Councilmember Zachary Parker. The vote also authorized the Council and the ad hoc committee to engage legal counsel to assist in investigation of Councilmember Trayon White.
On Wednesday, September 18, the Red-backed Salamander Official State Amphibian Designation Act of 2024 received a public hearing. The bill would designate the Red-Backed Salamander as the official state amphibian of the District.
Upcoming Committee on Health Hearing Dates
The upcoming schedule for the Committee on Health is below. If you are interested in testifying or submitting written testimony you can sign up on the Council’s website at dccouncil.gov/hearings.
Christina In the Community
New Beginnings
On Friday, September 13, staff from Councilmember Henderson’s office toured both the Youth Services Center and New Beginnings Youth Development Center. During the tour, they spoke with senior leadership from the Maya Angelou Academy and medical services center. They also discussed the current status of the Department of Youth Rehabilitative Services’ (DYRS) health programs, youth workforce development opportunities, and operational needs with senior DYRS leadership.
BridgePoint Hospital National Harborside
On Thursday, September 12, the Committee on Health team toured BridgePoint Hospital at National Harbor which specializes in long term acute care, skilled nursing and rehabilitation. The Long Term Acute Care Hospital has 53 licensed beds, including 10 Intensive Care Unit beds and 43 Medical-Surgical/Telemetry beds, and is located in Ward 8 and serves Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.
DC’s Harm Reduction Vending Machines
Later that day, the Committee on Health team checked out DC’s Harm Reduction Vending Machines. The vending machines, a joint effort between DC Health, the Department of Behavioral Health, and the DC Fire & Emergency Medical Services Department, are part of a pilot program aimed at providing DC residents access to lifesaving tools such as Naloxone (Narcan) and Fentanyl strips, along with hygiene and wellness products. You can find vending at these locations:
Residents can find a detailed report on the vending machines, here.
In Case You Missed It: Councilmember Henderson in the News
Constituent Service Corner
Extended Spray Park and Select Pool Operations
The following pools will remain open six days a week, from 10am to 6pm, until Sunday, September 22.
You can find a complete list of spray parks that will remain open daily, from 10am to 6pm, until Sunday, September 22, here.
Car Free Day 2024
Car Free Day is a worldwide event that encourages greener methods of travel, meaning ways to get around other than driving alone by car. Car Free Day in the Washington, DC region is meant to bring awareness to the benefits of travel options such as transit, bicycling and walking, and also telework for people who can work from home. Carpooling and vanpooling count, too, and are considered “car-lite” since they are both lighter on the wallet and the environment than driving alone in a car. Councilmember Henderson signed the Car Free Day proclamation in July on behalf of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Transportation Planning Board (TPB), on which she serves as chair. You can take the free pledge to be car free on September 23 and be entered to win special promotions and prizes, here.
Art All Night
DC’s free overnight arts festival is back! Art All Night, presented by Mayor Bowser, will take place in all 8 wards on September 27 and 28 with different activations each night, bringing visual and performing arts, including painting, photography, sculpture, crafts, fashion, music, literary arts, dance, theater, film, poetry and more. DC Art All Night will occur from 7pm to 3am each night. You can find more information, here.
Emergency Preparedness Training
We are excited to invite you to a comprehensive hands-on training event, Hands on Heart Emergency Preparedness Training, presented by the Mayor's Office of Deaf, Deaf Blind and Hard of Hearing (MODDHH). The event will focus on emergency preparedness and will be hosted by MODDHH, DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services, and Gallaudet's Disaster and Emergency Planning Program. Gain practical skills and knowledge on emergency preparedness from experts in the field, the training will be held on Wednesday, October 9 at 11am at Gallaudet University (800 Florida Ave NE – LLRH6 Collab Room 103).
Shelter Locations
Low-barrier shelters are accessible for those experiencing homelessness, operate year round, and remain open 24 hours.
Shelters for Men
Shelters for Women
Shelters for LGBTQ+:
Have a constituent service need related to the Health Committee or any of the other agencies in DC Government? Want Councilmember Henderson to come to your community event or meeting? Don’t hesitate to reach out to our Constituent Services Director Ana Berrios-Vazquez during regular business hours (9:00am - 5:30pm) at 202-724-8105, or ABerriosVazquez@dccouncil.gov.
Stay Connected
Thank you for reading! Please stay in touch.
Christina Henderson
At-Large Councilmember
chenderson@dccouncil.gov
Mike Shaffer
Chief of Staff
mshaffer@dccouncil.gov
Heather Edelman
Deputy Chief of Staff
hedelman@dccouncil.gov
Gabrielle Rogoff
Legislative Director
grogoff@dccouncil.gov
Ana Berríos-Vázquez
Constituent Services Director
aberriosvazquez@dccouncil.gov
Sierra Wallace
Communications Director
swallace@dccouncil.gov
Nicholas Pcholkin
Senior Legislative Assistant
npcholkin@dccouncil.gov
Taylor Coleman
Legislative Aide
tcoleman@dccouncil.gov
Health Committee
Ona Balkus
Committee Director
obalkus@dccouncil.gov
Marcia Huff
Senior Policy Advisor
mhuff@dccouncil.gov
Rebecca Cooper
Health Policy Advisor
rcooper@dccouncil.gov
Ashley Strange
Legislative Assistant
astrange@dccouncil.gov