United Cherokee Indian deserve recognition stop playing with us .. our history speaks stop playing with us again you steady playing with us in our faces oblivious you folks need to step down from your position due to your actions ain’t working

My name George Craig and I live in Winchester,, VA. I am writing in favor of HB 8 and ask for your support and "yes" vote. It is important for Virginia to be prepared when there is an Article V convention called and to ensure the commissioner sent follow the limitation of their authority. Thank you.

HB 858 – Indigenous Peoples’ Day; Honoring Culture, Resilience, and History From first contact in 1607 through today, Virginia’s Indian Tribes have been a core component of the history of Virginia; integrally intertwined in the story of the development of the Colony of Virginia and the Commonwealth, almost leading to their extinction. Their resilience has led to resurgence, and now a positive look forward. Virginia should celebrate the history and culture of the Virginia Indian Tribes in remembrance, recognition, reconciliation and respect. At some point Virginia decided to blindly follow the Federal holiday schedule with a legal holiday “to honor Christopher Columbus (1451-1506), a discoverer of the Americas”. Why does Virginia celebrate Columbus, who had absolutely no connection to or impact on any aspect of the development of the Commonwealth of Virginia? For so many reasons Columbus is not an iconic hero worthy of celebration with a holiday in Virginia, including Columbus didn’t step foot on any part of the USA and had no concept of the land now called Virginia. This is a Kairos moment in time for the Commonwealth of Virginia – approving this cultural reorientation has always been the right thing to do, and 2026 is absolutely the right time to do it, honoring Virginia’s Indian Tribes and America’s 250th. Approval of this cultural reorientation will unleash a torrent of pent-up energy and enthusiasm, from Virginia tribal members and from folks of all ages across Virginia who have been waiting for years for this change. The attachment submitted is a one-pager in support of HB 858 delivered to the offices of Delegates and Senators in the 2026 Virginia General Assembly.

Dear Delegate Helmer and associates, I am writing to express my strong opposition to HB1377 and to urge you to reject this unnecessary and politically motivated legislation targeting the Virginia Military Institute. VMI is one of the Commonwealth’s most successful and respected public institutions, with more than 180 years of demonstrated excellence in producing leaders of character. Its mission—to develop disciplined, ethical, and resilient citizen-leaders—has remained consistent and effective across generations. The Institute’s graduates have served Virginia and the nation with distinction in both military and civilian roles, and its outcomes speak for themselves. The performance of VMI cadets is not theoretical or ideological—it is measurable. VMI consistently produces highly capable commissioned officers, and its graduates excel in demanding professional environments well beyond the military. Employers and communities value VMI alumni precisely because of the Institute’s rigorous standards, emphasis on accountability, and culture of shared responsibility. These results are the product of VMI’s proven system, not administrative programs layered on top of it. The suggestion that VMI’s value to the Commonwealth should be questioned because it has eliminated DEI initiatives ignores its long and documented history of graduating outstanding citizens of all races, genders, and backgrounds. VMI has achieved this by holding every cadet to the same high standards and by fostering unity through shared hardship and merit-based achievement. That approach has worked for decades and continues to work today. HB1377 represents a troubling shift away from outcome-based governance toward ideological enforcement. Conditioning state funding on political preferences rather than institutional performance sets a dangerous precedent for all of Virginia’s public colleges and universities. If allowed to stand, this bill invites future legislatures to single out institutions for punishment based on shifting political agendas rather than public value or effectiveness. At a time when Virginia should be strengthening institutions that demonstrably serve the Commonwealth, HB1377 instead threatens to undermine one of its most successful. The General Assembly should be supporting VMI’s mission—not subjecting it to a politically driven review process that solves no real problem and risks real harm. For these reasons, I strongly urge you to oppose HB1377 and to affirm Virginia’s continued support for the Virginia Military Institute and its proven record of excellence. Respectfully, Paul Koneczny Floyd, Virginia