The Disaster Distress Helpline, at 1-800-985-5990, can provide immediate counseling in 100+ languages and ASL, to anyone who is seeking help in coping with the mental or emotional effects of disaster or distress such as Tuesday night’s mass shooting (Tuesday, Nov. 22) in a Chesapeake, Va. store.

The helpline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and has interpretation services for 160 languages. Farmers can call or text 833-897-2474 to speak directly with a healthcare professional. Crisis specialists have access to a Virginia-specific database of agricultural and health resources. “Stress on a farm never ends,” said Dana Fisher, chair of the VFBF Safety Advisory Committee, which is spearheading the organization’s mental health support efforts. “Stress and mental health issues are always a problem in the agriculture community, and stress can lead to costly mistakes on the job.

Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA), who represents part of Prince William County and who is President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, released the following statement in support of Ukraine. Connolly joined Speaker Nancy Pelosi at the Crimea Platform Summit in Zagreb, Croatia.

The annual Great ShakeOut earthquake drill will take place tomorrow, Oct. 20, across the United State. Staff at Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region 3 wants to encourage the Whole Community to participate and learn the simple, but critical, safety steps to preparing for and staying safe during an earthquake. More than 40 million people are registered to practice earthquake safety plans, FEMA said.

Making higher education more affordable and easing the burden of student debt on Virginia families has been a top priority for me in Congress. Over the past year, there have been two major actions taken to make it easier for those most in need to have their debt forgiven – reforms to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program and President Biden’s targeted student debt relief plan.To help constituents navigate the application process for these opportunities and have your questions answered, I’m hosting a Student Debt Relief Webinar next Thursday, October 20th at 2 p.m.

The Prince William Committee of 100 and the Prince William-Fauquier League of Women Voters have announced they will sponsor a Candidates Night on Friday, Oct. 21, at Gar-Field High School on Smoketown Road in Woodbridge, starting at 7 p.m. for the 7th District Congressional District seat.

Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for approximately 70 million Americans will increase 8.7 percent in 2023, the Social Security Administration announced today, Oct. 13. On average, Social Security benefits will increase by more than $140 per month starting in January.

According to Red Cross representative Ashley Henyan, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration updated its blood donor eligibility guidance on vCJD, eliminating the deferral for those who spent time in the U.K., Ireland and France between 1980 and 2001.