The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) plan to regulate hemp production in the Commonwealth.

Ahead of the holiday season, the National Park Service (NPS) has planted a new National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse in President’s Park. The new tree, a 27-foot white fir (Abies Concolor) from Middleburg, Pa. was donated by Hill View Christmas Tree Farm, and will be the first white fir to serve as the National Christmas Tree.

Alexandria Social Security Office will relocate to 5510 Cherokee Ave, Suite 200, Alexandria, VA 22312 on Monday, Nov. 22. Business operations at 6295 Edsall Road, Suite 190, Alexandria VA 22312 will end after close of business on Friday, Nov. 19. Social Security employees are working remotely to provide the vital services the public relies on and the agency currently provides multiple service delivery options for all Americans.

Congressman Gerald Connolly (D-11), who represents part of the Prince William County area, will virtually host his annual Senior Issues Forum via Zoom on Friday, Oct. 29, at 3 p.m.

The 5.9 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to more than 64 million Social Security beneficiaries in January 2022.

To protect and restore native plants and promote healthy and diverse forests, the National Park Service (NPS) proposes to reduce overabundant deer populations in several national parks in DC and Maryland.

The U.S. Senate has passed H.R. 2278, bipartisan legislation to designate the “September 11th National Memorial Trail”, a trail route linking the National September 11th Memorial and Museum in New York City, the Pentagon Memorial in Arlington, Virginia, and the Flight 93 National Memorial in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.

Sen. Mark Warner said, “The LIFT Act will help close the racial wealth gap by allowing qualified home buyers to build equity – and wealth – at twice the rate of a conventional 30-year mortgage.”