City of Alexandria – Mayor Alyia Gaskins: 2025 Advocacy Letter Summaries
August 14, 2025 – Request for JLARC Study on H.R. 1’s Impact on Virginia
On behalf of the City of Alexandria, Mayor Alyia Gaskins urged Alexandria’s General Assembly delegation to support an expedited Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) study on the effects of Congress’s H.R. 1 on Virginia. The letter warns of deep federal cuts and new mandates to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which could leave thousands of Alexandria residents without access to healthcare or food. Mayor Gaskins called for a comprehensive audit of the Commonwealth’s IT systems, staffing, and program integrity to ensure Virginia can meet federal compliance requirements while safeguarding vulnerable populations.
August 14, 2025 – Request for GAO Review of Virginia’s SNAP Error Rate in the Wake of New Mandates from H.R. 1
On behalf of the City of Alexandria, Mayor Alyia Gaskins urged U.S. Representative Don Beyer to request a Government Accountability Office (GAO) review of Virginia’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payment error rate and examine the Commonwealth’s readiness to meet new federal requirements under H.R. 1. The letter warns that Virginia’s 11.5% error rate—nearly double the forthcoming federal threshold—could result in $270 million in lost benefits by 2027. Mayor Gaskins called for an independent evaluation to identify root causes or the error rate, assess readiness to address those causes, and recommend investments to ensure program integrity while protecting access to food for more than 14,000 Alexandria residents who rely on SNAP.
August 14, 2025 – Request for GAO Audit of the Readiness of Virginia’s Medicaid IT Systems to Meet the Unfunded Mandates of H.R. 1
On behalf of the City of Alexandria, Mayor Alyia Gaskins urged Virginia’s U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine to request a bipartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) audit of the Commonwealth’s Medicaid information technology systems. The letter highlights urgent concerns about the Virginia’s readiness to meet new reporting mandates under H.R. 1, warning that outdated systems could lead to wrongful coverage terminations for thousands of eligible residents. Mayor Gaskins called for an independent evaluation to identify infrastructure, staffing, and process improvements needed to protect vulnerable populations and ensure continuity of care.
On behalf of the City of Alexandria, Mayor Alyia Gaskins wrote to the Chair and Vice Chair of the Virginia House of Delegates’ Emergency Committee on the Impacts of Federal Workforce and Funding Reductions to warn of the serious local effects of federal budget cuts, workforce reductions, and H.R. 1. The letter detailed the harm caused by freezes to food assistance and homelessness programs, job losses tied to federal layoffs, and threats to SNAP and Medicaid access for thousands of Alexandrians. Mayor Gaskins urged the Commonwealth to replace lost federal funding, strengthen the Commonwealth's safety net, invest in technology upgrades, address root causes of SNAP errors, and expand workforce transition programs.
June 25, 2025 — Letter to Federal Delegation Regarding H.R. 1 Budget Reconciliation Bill
On behalf of the City of Alexandria, Mayor Alyia Gaskins wrote to U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, as well as U.S. Congressman Donald S. Beyer, Jr., to express deep concern about provisions in H.R. 1—the budget reconciliation bill—that would cut funding for Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and clean energy investments. She warned that these cuts would undermine the ability of state and local governments to serve residents, particularly families who rely on these programs. Mayor Gaskins urged lawmakers to reject these reductions and protect essential services and public health resources.
May 23, 2025 — Letter to State Senators Urging Regulation of PFAS Chemicals in Drinking Water
On behalf of the City of Alexandria, Mayor Alyia Gaskins urged Senator Dave Marsden and Delegate Alfonso Lopez to advance legislation regulating per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Virginia’s drinking water. She noted the health risks associated with PFAS and called for strong state protections in the absence of clear federal regulation.
May 19, 2025 — Letter Outlining Updated Rules of Engagement with the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority and Silver Fox
On behalf of the City of Alexandria, Mayor Alyia Gaskins outlined a new Memorandum of Understanding between ARHA and the City, improving collaboration by outlining conditions the City expects to be met to ensure project accountability and timely execution.
May 15, 2025 — Letter to Federal Delegation in Support of the PREP Grant
On behalf of the City of Alexandria, Mayor Alyia Gaskins led a formal advocacy letter to U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, and Congressman Donald S. Beyer, Jr., urging continued federal support for the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP), which funds evidence-based programming to help students build healthy relationships and social skills.
May 2, 2025 — Letter to Federal Delegation for FY26 Appropriations Requests
On behalf of the City of Alexandria, Mayor Alyia Gaskins wrote to U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, and U.S. Congressman Donald S. Beyer, Jr., to request support for funding several Alexandria-based initiatives through Community Project Funding and Congressionally Directed Spending. The letter detailed priorities including public safety technology, emergency shelter improvements, re-employment programs, affordable housing preservation, and flood control infrastructure.
April 21, 2025 — Letter to the Virginia Department of Transportation Outlining Concerns and Requesting Additional Analysis of the Proposed I-495 Southside Express Lanes Project
On behalf of the City of Alexandria, Mayor Alyia Gaskins wrote to the Virginia Department of Transportation requesting a delay in advancing the I-495 Southside Express Lanes project until environmental and traffic impact analyses are complete. The project would extend express lanes between Springfield and the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. Mayor Gaskins stressed the importance of thorough review before proceeding with infrastructure decisions that have significant consequences for surrounding communities.
April 18, 2025 — Letter to Evaluation Committee Supporting the Immigrant Justice Program’s Application for Members and Catalyst Funding
On behalf of the City of Alexandria, Mayor Alyia Gaskins wrote to the Safety and Fairness for Everyone (SAFE) Network Evaluation Committee to support the Legal Aid Justice Center’s application. She praised its Immigrant Justice Program for providing essential legal defense and advocacy to ensure all Alexandria residents can live with dignity and security.
April 7, 2025 — Letter to the Commonwealth’s Emergency Committee on impacts of federal workforce and funding reductions
On behalf of the City of Alexandria, Mayor Alyia Gaskins urged the Governor’s Emergency Management Committee to act swiftly in response to job losses from federal workforce reductions. She emphasized the importance of collaborative planning to address short- and long-term local impacts.
March 12, 2025 — Letter to the Commonwealth’s General Assembly Urging Investment in Mental Health Services
On behalf of the City of Alexandria, Mayor Alyia Gaskins led a letter with Northern Virginia mayors and county board chairs urging the General Assembly to fund mental health services for federal employees facing job insecurity. The letter was signed by leaders from Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, Falls Church, Manassas, and Manassas Park.
March 7, 2025 — Letter to Governor Youngkin Supporting Budget Amendments to Special Education
On behalf of the City of Alexandria, Mayor Alyia Gaskins urged Governor Glenn Youngkin to support budget amendments to increase funding for special education services. She emphasized investments in specialized instruction, inclusive staffing, early intervention, and transition programming to meet the needs of all students.
February 19, 2025— Letter to Secretary of Transportation in support of wmata's protect grant application
On behalf of the City of Alexandria, Mayor Alyia Gaskins wrote to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy in support of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) PROTECT Grant application. The proposed project would assess flood risks, evaluate potential infrastructure damage and service disruptions, and develop engineering solutions to safeguard seven transit stations in the National Capital Region—including the King Street–Old Town Station in Alexandria.
February 14, 2025— Letter to General Assembly Members Opposing “Skill Games” Legalization in the Virginia Budget
On behalf of the City of Alexandria, Mayor Alyia Gaskins urged Virginia’s budget conferees—Senators Janet Howell, Louise Lucas, George Barker, Mamie Locke, and Delegates Luke Torian, Barry Knight, and Terry Austin—to remove all provisions legalizing “skill” games from the state budget. She warned that including these provisions would bypass public debate, disproportionately harm low-income neighborhoods, and increase crime, as noted in a 2022 JLARC report. She emphasized the need for public safety, economic fairness, and local authority in decision-making.
February 7, 2025 — Letter to General Assembly House Speaker Don Scott Asking for Partnership on Responding to the Effects of Federal Workforce Reductions
On behalf of the City of Alexandria, Mayor Alyia Gaskins led a joint letter with Northern Virginia’s local leaders urging House Speaker Don Scott to partner with local governments in responding to the economic effects of federal workforce reductions. Local leaders from Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William Counties, as well as the cities of Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, and Manassas Park co-signed the letter.