Rep. Gerry Connolly (D) has introduced a bill that would nix the Trump administration’s strict new limits on refugee resettlement in the U.S.

The bill, dubbed the “Lady Liberty Act,” was introduced by Connolly and co-sponsored by 60 other members of Congress.

Connolly, who represents Tysons and Vienna in Congress, said in a statement that “Congress has a moral responsibility to stand up to the President and let the world know we are still a welcoming and compassionate nation.”

More from a press release:

Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Vice Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, was joined by 60 members in introducing the Lady Liberty Act, legislation to reverse the Trump administration’s recent actions to severely limit refugee resettlement in the United States.

“The Trump administration is once again slamming the door on refugees,” Connolly said. “Against a record high global refugee crisis, the Trump administration’s record-low refugee admissions cap is dangerous and un-American. The Lady Liberty Act will reverse this callous backslide and restore America’s leadership role in refugee resettlement.”

“No one chooses to be a refugee,” Connolly said. “These people are seeking safety and a better life. Congress has a moral responsibility to stand up to the President and let the world know we are still a welcoming and compassionate nation.”

The Lady Liberty Act would require the President to set a goal of admitting no less than 110,000 refugees annually. Under the administration’s recent action, refugee resettlements would be capped at 30,000 refugees in fiscal year 2019, down from 45,000 this year. Since 1980, the U.S. has resettled more than 3 million refugees and set an average annual goal of 95,000 refugee admissions. The previous low ceiling for refugee resettlement in the U.S. was 67,000, set by President Reagan in 1986. There are currently 25 million refugees around the world.

Connolly’s legislation has been endorsed by The Alliance, CASA, Church World Service (CWS), Ethiopian Community Development Council, Family Action Network Movement (FANM), HIAS, Human Rights First, International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP), International Rescue Committee (IRC), Islamic Relief USA (IRUSA), Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS), Multifaith Alliance for Syrian Refugees, United States Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI), Veterans for American Ideals, We Are All Americans.

Photo via Facebook

Thank you to everyone who attended our launch party at Tysons Biergarten on Tuesday.

At the party we asked attendees what kind of stories they’d like to see Tysons Reporter cover. Weren’t able to make it? You can still weigh in.

Let us know via the poll below what you’d most like us to cover. You can select up to three items from the list. Also, feel free to give us other suggestions in the comments.

Kaine and Stewart Debate in Tysons — U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and GOP challenger Corey Stewart faced off in a televised debate from Capital One headquarters in Tysons last night. The candidates traded barbs as NBC’s Chuck Todd moderated. [Washington Post, NBC News]

No Unmarked Graves at Development Site — “Conducted because of concern from Vienna Town Council members and local residents about possible unmarked graves at a new subdivision near West End Cemetery, a ground-penetrating-radar search on Sept. 25 found no evidence of such burials.” [InsideNova]

Del. Keam Blasts Prison Tampon Ban — Del. Mark Keam (D), who represents part of Tysons, is incensed at a rule at Virginia state prisons that banned visitors from wearing tampons and menstrual cups. The rule was recently suspended amid a public uproar. Wrote Keam on Facebook: “This policy should be BANNED and never reconsidered. In fact, I will draft and introduce legislation in the next General Assembly session to do exactly that.” [Facebook]

Work to replace a culvert along Valley Wood Road in McLean will prompt an all-week detour along the Arlington-McLean border next week.

VDOT crews will be performing the work during the day Monday through Friday, weather permitting.

More from VDOT:

Valley Wood Road/37th Street North between North Kensington Street and Vermont Avenue will be closed to through traffic (weather permitting) Monday, Oct. 1 through Friday, Oct. 5 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day for culvert replacement, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.

Residents within the closure area, emergency vehicles and school buses will have access to the closed portion of Valley Wood Road/37th Street North; however, they will not be able to go beyond the point of culvert replacement in either direction.

Traffic will be detoured via North Kensington Street, Rhode Island Avenue, Massachusetts Avenue and Vermont Avenue back to Valley Wood Road/37th Street North.

Arlington County’s sometimes snarky Dept. of Environmental Services Twitter account also posted about the detour today.

Despite radically different cultures and conventions, Arlington and McLean residents will share a detour next week as the state replaces a culvert along what we call 37th St N – what McLeanites call Valley Wood Road. https://t.co/Ee5DnoeCFZ #VaTraffic pic.twitter.com/NL3vguboHH

— Arlington Department of Environmental Services (@ArlingtonDES) September 26, 2018

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue is on scene of a small fire at a house in the McLean area.

The fire on the 1200 block of Winter Hunt Road started in a bathroom exhaust fan, the department said via Twitter. It was quickly extinguished, but not before sending light smoke billowing out of the home’s attic.

Firefighters are now checking to see if the fire spread to other parts of the home.

The initial structure fire dispatch, which went out just before 2 p.m., drew a mutual aid response from as far away as Arlington.

Update – 1200 block of Winter Hunt Road in the McLean area: small fire in bathroom fan. Fire is out. Crews checking for extension. #fcfrd #news https://t.co/q9UA637hBu

— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) September 26, 2018

Map via Google Maps

Fairfax County residents, along with the rest of the country, will be getting an emergency alert on their phone a week for today, but it’s just a test.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be conducting a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) at 2:18 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 3. The so-called “presidential alert” test, of a system intended for use during national emergencies, was postponed to next week due to the flooding caused by Hurricane Florence.

On social media today, Fairfax County posted a reminded about the wireless alert test and that it shouldn’t be confused with the county’s Fairfax Alerts. Like WEA, Fairfax sends out public safety alerts about severe weather, though the county’s alerts also include traffic alerts and county government closures.

📱Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) test by @fema next Wednesday, Oct. 3, around 2:18 p.m. Your phone will make a loud sound and vibrate. But what's the difference between a WEA Alert and a Fairfax Alert? Check it out 👇👇 cc: @FairfaxCountyPD @ffxfirerescue @ReadyFairfax pic.twitter.com/jvO1HoNDGh

— Fairfax County Government 🇺🇸 (@fairfaxcounty) September 26, 2018

More on the test:

Don’t be surprised when your phone gives off a loud buzz next Weds. 10/3 at 2:18 pm! FEMA is testing the nation's Wireless Emergency Alerts system. It’s only a test, no cause for alarm. pic.twitter.com/n4IC7Ro0so

— City of Falls Church (@FallsChurchGov) September 26, 2018

Fight to Keep Claude Moore Farm Open — “The National Park Service has said Claude Moore will close Dec. 21, but the Farm is fighting to stay open… The Park Service presented the Friends of Claude Moore Colonial Farm with its standard agreement, but the Friends felt they could not operate under its terms.” [McLean Connection]

County Highlights Opioid Danger — Via a new video, Fairfax County is highlighting the “danger in your medicine cabinet.” Per the county: “An epidemic of addiction to heroin and other opioids has gripped the nation, including here in Fairfax. Protect your community… dispose of your unused prescription drugs safely.” [YouTube]

Church Holding Event on Pornography — Vienna Presbyterian Church is holding an event next month for parents and teens entitled “Pornography, A Public Health Crisis.” The event will include “a workshop to help attendees confidently discuss the real risks or pornography use and an action plan to more effectively block pornography exposure online.” [Patch]

Vienna Town Hall Parking Changes — “The Vienna town government plans to shift some parking spaces in the lot behind Town Hall and install a stormwater-management facility there. The Vienna Town Council on Sept. 17 unanimously approved an up-to-$130,000 contract with LCS Site Services LLC to perform the work.” [InsideNova]

Contribute to Our Flickr Pool — Are you an amateur photographer who wants to share your work with the local community? A professional photog who wants to boost your name recognition via some off-duty snaps? No matter your skill level or background, we would love to show off your photos in our daily Morning Notes post. Want to contribute? Email us or add your shots to our Flickr pool. [Flickr]

The following article excerpt is from our content sharing partner, FairfaxNews.com.

Election Day is still more than six weeks away, but if you want to vote right now, many of you can do that.

In-person absentee voting started Monday at the county’s Government Center in Fairfax. On October 13 it will expand to nine additional locations. You can also vote by mail right now.

Voting by absentee ballot could save you lots of time because there are lots of registered voters in Fairfax County – almost 700,000. And turnout is elected to be heavy on Election Day.

Twenty things that make you eligible to vote early

• Student attending college or university outside of locality of residence in Virginia
• Spouse of student attending college or university outside locality of residence in Virginia
• Business outside County/City of residence on Election Day
• Personal business or vacation outside County/City of residence on Election Day
• I am working and commuting to/from home for 11 or more hours between 6:00 AM and 7:00 PM on Election Day
• I am a first responder (member of law enforcement, firefighter, emergency technician, search and rescue)
• My disability or illness
• I am primarily and personally responsible for the care of a disabled/ill family member confined at home
• My pregnancy
• Confined, awaiting trial
• Confined, convicted of a misdemeanor
• An electoral board member, registrar, officer of election, or custodian of voting equipment
• I have a religious obligation
• Active Duty Merchant Marine or Armed Forces
• Spouse or dependent living with a member of Active Duty Merchant Marine or Armed Forces
• Temporarily residing outside of U.S.
• Temporarily residing outside of U.S. for employment or spouse or dependent residing with employee
• Authorized representative of candidate or party serving inside the polling place
• Granted a protective order issued by or under the authority of a court of competent jurisdiction.

>> Read more at FairfaxNews.com