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The League of Women Voters of Virginia supports HB 86. The Department of Elections’ current campaign finance database is inadequate for voters who want to know who is making contributions to a particular candidate, and how much has been contributed. We agree that the privately funded services currently available, including VPAP in particular, are helpful. However, because this is data required to be collected by the government for voters to use in assessing candidates, the government should take on the responsibility to make the data easily accessible to voters. Virginia voters should not have to rely on the largesse of private funders to obtain this access to the campaign finance data required by current law.

Jessica Mott, VA Chapter of American Promise: As a member of the Virginia Chapter of American Promise, I request that you please vote for HB86 and HB 492. Passage of this and other campaign finance reform legislation to improve disclosure and oversight is crucial to making legislators more accountable to voters, and restoring people’s trust in government. A recent poll by Christopher Newport University’s Wason Center found that 88% of Virginians support improved public disclosure of campaign contributions. The enactment of HB86 would strengthen disclosure by upgrading the campaign finance database so that it is publicly accessible, searchable and sortable. By making disaggregated data publicly available, it would complement the analysis and digested data provided by VPAP, and enable resolution of issues such as double-counting and consistency. The upgraded campaign finance reporting standards and software would make report compilation easier and increase completeness and accuracy. Its incremental cost would be relatively small. The enactment of H B492 would address a fundamental gap in oversight by providing the Department of Elections with the authority to review campaign finance reports and records. The use of a “review” rather than an audit, and the proposed sample sizes are cost effective and appropriate. The review system and associated campaign report requirements, together with the use of algorithms for campaigns and reviewers to identify and address shortcomings in reports, should make campaign finance information more complete and accurate, and help ensure compliance. The incremental budget requirement would also be relatively small. Thank you for this opportunity to testify.

Nancy Morgan Coordinator of the VA Chapter of American Promise.Thanks for Del Anderson for this bill which we support.. The Department of Election currently has no system for public access to campaign finance data yet it is the state’s role, as the only entity that has the ability to ensure the accuracy and completeness of this information, to ensure access to the general public. We think that VPAP provides useful analysis but it is not appropriate, nor the responsibility of a non-profit privately managed entity, funded by donors, to be the sole source of data on campaign finance records. One of the recommendations of the Campaign Legal Center to the Joint Sub-Committee of Campaign Finance Reform was to ensure access to this information on the Dept’s website through easy-to-use, online portal where voters can search and access public records related to campaign spending and the sources of contributions. We are one of the few states in the country in which there is no investment in publically managed disclosure of campaign finance records to the general public. This bill responds to that recommendation.

As a member of the Virginia Chapter of American Promise, I ask you to please vote for HB86 andHB 492. Passage of campaign finance reform legislation to improve disclosure and oversight is crucial to holding legislators accountable to voters, and restoring people’s trust in government. A recent poll by Christopher Newport University’s Wason Center found that 88% of Virginians support public disclosure of campaign contributions. HB86 would strengthen disclosure by upgrading the campaign finance database to make it publicly accessible, searchable and sortable. Upgraded campaign finance reporting standards and software would make reporting easier, more accurate and complete. H B492 would provide the Department of Elections with the authority to review campaign finance reports and records. This could make campaign finance information more complete and accurate, and help ensure compliance.

All bills that will reflect a stronger more secure election in the future. Considering both sides, Trump and Biden, have spoken in regards to those concerns, these should be reported on with bipartisan approval. Thank you.

The League of Women Voters of Virginia supports HB 492. Ideally, the Department of Elections would have the resources to audit every campaign committee for each election. We recognize that Virginia currently does not have such resources, but the existing system, which provides no routine audits of campaign committees, gives voters no confidence that submitted reports are accurate. A review of a percentage of campaign committees, with the necessary report, will provide a strong incentive to each campaign committee to prepare accurate reports and give voters a greater assurance that their reports can be relied upon.

The League of Women Voters of Virginia supports HB 86. The Department of Elections’ current campaign finance database is inadequate for voters who want to know who is making contributions to a particular candidate, and how much has been contributed. The private services currently available, including VPAP, which have been developed in lieu of an adequate public site, are not a good substitute for voters who want to access the information that candidates are required by Virginia law to provide.

Our team from Money Out Virginia, the VA affiliate of the nation-wide American Promise campaign finance reform advocacy organization, worked hard this past year with the "Joint Subcommittee to Study Comprehensive Campaign Finance Reform," and produced a "Citizens' Report" for the Subcommittee that articulated principles and priorities for improving transparency, preventing corrupt campaign finance practices and moving towards more equity in campaign financing in Virginia elections. The partnership between the Subcommittee and Money Out Virginia has resulted in a series of important bills that improve the requirements, process and electronic infrastructure for disclosure of campaign donations. We strongly support Delegate Bulova's HB 492, HB495, and HB500, Delegate Helmer's HB489, Delegate Anderson's HB86 and Delegate Davis' HB125, which provides for penalties for violations of disclosure laws. We also support Delegate Bulova's HJ53 to extend the mandate of the Joint Subcommittee so that we can continue our partnership in developing sensible campaign finance reforms for Virginia.

Jessica Mott, VA Chapter of American Promise: HB86 (publicly accessible database): We support this bill. A recent poll indicates that 88% of Virginians support public disclosure of all contributions. This enactment of this bill would strengthen disclosure by requiring that the database containing the information from campaign finance reports be publicly accessible, searchable, and sortable. It also requires that the Board of Elections set standards that should help ensure that the data is complete, accurate, and helps verify compliance with campaign finance legal requirements. Its adoption should help facilitate the efficient use of algorithms and electronic cross-checking to promote compliance by reporting entities and the reliability of the information in the database. It compliments the other proposed disclosure bills, HB495, HB500 and HB489, as well as the proposed oversight bill HB492. HB489 (electioneering): We support this bill, Its passage would help reduce one significant form of dark money support by making this support transparent. It adopts a definition of electioneering that is already utilized in other jurisdictions. It would help ensure that campaign finance disclosure includes not only ads that directly advocate support or opposition to candidates, but also ads close to election dates that imply support or opposition in ways that are likely intended to influence election outcomes. It also requires public disclosure within ads of top 3 donors. SB318, its counterpart, was approved by the Senate with bipartisan support on January 24th. HB 492 (record retention, guidance and review): We support this bill. It deals with a number of issues discussed by the Joint Subcommittee on Campaign Finance. It requires improved instructions for report forms, along with assistance to campaign offices, and clearly defines the campaign office responsibilities for record retention for expenditures above $500. It addresses a fundamental gap in oversight by providing the Department of Elections with the authority to review campaign finance reports and records. The proposed sample sizes are cost effective and appropriate (100% of state-wide candidates, 10% of state legislature candidates and 1% of other offices for campaigns costing more than $25,000). These and other provisions should help enable cross-checking of data, and the use of algorithms for campaigns and reviewers to identify and address report shortcomings related to completeness, accuracy and compliance. We note that it would help ensure meaningful implementation of proposed HB973, restricting personal use of campaign funds. HB495 (electronic filing): We support this bill. We commend the inclusion of electronic filing of independent expenditures, as well as by all candidates except for candidates running for local office who raise less than $25,000. It addresses measures that were discussed and agreed in principle by the Joint Subcommittee on Campaign Finance Reform. The parts of it pertaining to candidates are largely comparable to SB222 which has been approved by the Senate P&E Committee and was approved by unanimous vote by the Senate on January 24. HB500 (electioneering): We support this bill. We appreciate that it enhances disclosure by expanding advertisement provisions to include more forms of electioneering communications. Thank you for the opportunity to comment. Thank you for this opportunity to testify.

Nancy Morga,n Coordinator of the VA Chapter of American Promise. We support Delegate Anderson's bill. The Department of Election currently has no system for public access to campaign finance data; yet, it is the state’s role, as the only entity that has the ability to ensure the accuracy and completeness of this information, to ensure access to the general public. One of the recommendations of the Campaign Legal Center to the Joint Sub-Committee of Campaign Finance Reform was to ensure access to this information on the Dept’s website through easy-to-use, online portal where voters can search and access public records related to campaign spending and the sources of contributions. This bill responds to that recommendation.

Nancy Morga,n Coordinator of the VA Chapter of American Promise. We support Delegate Anderson's bill. The Department of Election currently has no system for public access to campaign finance data; yet, it is the state’s role, as the only entity that has the ability to ensure the accuracy and completeness of this information, to ensure access to the general public. One of the recommendations of the Campaign Legal Center to the Joint Sub-Committee of Campaign Finance Reform was to ensure access to this information on the Dept’s website through easy-to-use, online portal where voters can search and access public records related to campaign spending and the sources of contributions. This bill responds to that recommendation.

I strongly support HB86. It would greatly enhance full public disclosure of campaign contributions, something that is desired by the vast majority of citizens of the commonwealth. The bill specifically requires the State Board of Elections create a computerized campaign finance database, standards for electronic submission of campaign finance, and portal or interface that allows users to easily search for and sort campaign finance information. I strongly support HB495. A vast majority of Virginians want full disclosure, including of independent expenditures. This bill introduces reporting requirements on all independent expenditures as well as improving reporting by candidates and committees. all reports must be filed electronically. It also closes a loophole which forces out-of-state monies, such as through out-of-state PACs, to be reported to the Dept of Elections. Public access to reports, including independent expenditures is also ensured by a web based, user friendly portal. Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments, Bill MIllhouser

I am writing in support of Del. Tim Anderson HB86 Elections; campaign finance; disclosure reports; searchable electronic database. Requires the Department of Elections to provide an interface to the campaign finance database maintained by the Department that allows users to easily search for and sort information by individual candidates and types of elections, offices, committees, and donors; donations, expenditures, loans, and other categories of information included in campaign finance reports; and late filings, incomplete filings, and other violations. The interface shall also provide users tools for manipulating and exporting data. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2023. • Public access to campaign finance data by state agencies is a best practice implemented by most states • This type of access and public availability of campaign finance data is appreciated by 88 percent of Virginians who support full disclosure. • It was recommended by the Campaign Legal Center to the Joint Sub-committee on campaign finance reform which met last year over the Aug-Oct period. • Can only improve Virginia’s standing nationally on transparency. Right now we rank 46 out of 50 on the SWAMP Index, a national scorecard for state specific regulations which promote transparency and accountability. • This needs funding and staff allocated. Mindy Mitchell 3601 5th St S Arlington VA 22204

Voting is a constitutional right. Any law that restricts rather than expands our constitutional right & DUTY to vote is simply voter suppression. We must not repeal any expansions of absentee ballots. Do not decrease early voting. - extend the number of days allowed. Do not eliminate any ballot box locations- expand. We have no need to re-register absentee ballots every year. No excuse absentee voting is absolutely crucial. The state must provide easy and free access to voter ID if a photo is required. Since the USPS has slowed considerably, we must keep the 3 day rule for receiving ballots after election day. All local elections must be on Election Day (in Nov). Election Day should be a holiday. Until we do a complete overhaul of campaign finance & eliminate dark money/special interests there must be no restrictions on outreach, education & registration or from where a candidate may collect funds. Voter registration up to and including Election Day is absolutely crucial to ensure all citizens vote. I support all bills expanding our rights and abilities to make voting as easy as possible. I oppose all bills attempting to restrict any access to our ballot and our vote. The process is too important for the elected officials to be able to restrict us from our duty to be informed voters. Keep expanding our rights. Do not restrict, suppress or subvert them.

Please oppose HB4. There is already a well documented school to prison pipeline. The educational setting offers the opportunity for counseling, remediation and restorative justice. Educators should continue to have the purview to address behaviors encountered in schools in these ways before committing students to legal processes for misdemeanor offenses. Please support HB128. At a time when we desperately need more educators, particularly from diverse backgrounds who can connect with a wide variety of demographics, the establishment of this scholarship program just makes good sense! Please support HB236. At a time when public education is under assault and educators are leaving the profession at an increasing rate, this flexibility to offer educators an extension of the time needed to complete recertification just makes good sense! Please support HB246 Please support HB294. Students who have suffered the types of events specified in this bill have legitimate concerns remaining in the environment where this occurred and should be able to secure assistance in attending another school in their district that provides a more secure environment. Please oppose HB363. While I support the concept of establishing an alternative method of using merit and performance to determine which employees may be retained and which dismissed when such events as RIF occur, I do not think it wise to prohibit the current practice until a suitable alternative has been determined. Please oppose HB433. Historically, the legislature legislating on the specifics of educational delivery and practice have resulted in more complication and obstacles. The specifics of curricula and testing should be left to those involved in the delivery of education. Please support HB485 Please support HB526. This is just the right thing to do for those who have come to reside in VA as a result of being the victim of human trafficking! Please support HB539. This is a minor and simple thing that institutions of higher ed can do to be fully trans parent to those individuals making application who have a criminal background!! Please support HB582. Today's college students need more assistance than ever in achieving a higher education, and making sure that they are aware of and have access to SNAP benefits that they may be entitled to is just a good idea!!

My family and I strongly support HB 630 and SB 747, which would allow speed cameras on Rte 17 between Marshall and Warrenton. This stretch of road is treacherous and deadly. We live at the intersection of Rte 17 and Old Tavern Rd (near Great Meadow). We must merge from our gravel road onto Rte 17 or cross Rte 17 every time we leave the house. The large volume of high speed traffic makes this a potentially deadly maneuver every day. My father was killed when he attempted to cross Rte 17 to have dinner with us. His car was T-boned, and flipped several times. He was airlifted by medivac helicopter to Fairfax Hospital, where he passed away after a week suffering in trauma intensive care. Our family is still devastated. It is difficult to appreciate how treacherous this stretch of road is unless you have daily experienced trying to merge with double-trailer tractor trailers and other vehicles that often travel in excess of 70 mph, and appear from just around the bend when you have little time to get up to speed. When we hear a helicopter in the distance, we tense up, and watch to see if it is a medivac chopper landing on Rte 17 to evacuate yet more accident victims. Several times, it has been. Several more times we have heard crashes from our house a mile away, and my sons ran over to make sure it was not their sister coming home from school. I have counted at least 5 deaths at that single intersection since about 2015. That is more than all the homicides in Fauquier County. Rte 17 is different than most roads. It is treacherous because it has two conflicting characters: it is a local rural road with numerous driveways and small roads intersecting on both sides. Large horse trailers merge on and off, and school buses stop to pick up and drop off children. It’s second character is effectively a major interstate highway, functioning similarly to I-95. (It is a thoroughfare for truckers and others to quickly access the inland port). It could be made less treacherous by consistent and thorough enforcement of reasonable speed limits via speed cameras. Rte 17 simply must be made safer. It is unconscionable to allow this level of death and injury to continue. I am generally opposed to speed cameras, having experienced seemingly unnecessary cameras in DC that, in my opinion, may have impeded rather than improved safe traffic flow. However, in this case, it is essential to reduce speed to improve safety on this deadly stretch of road, and speed cameras are the only consistently effective way to reduce speed and save lives on Rte 17. I respect and admire the difficult work that truckers do and appreciate their essential role in a healthy economy. I believe that these bills benefit truckers as well as the local residents that share Rte 17. Truckers may not be aware of the many driveways and roads that intersect Rte 17. I don’t think that even a very capable, experienced truck driver would necessarily expect a high volume of slower-moving local traffic on a road that effectively functions as an interstate. I think it’s an unusual and unexpected combination of uses, and therefore, speed cameras would help truckers to be safer, which is one of their main priorities. Please enact these bills so that we can reduce deaths and injuries on this treacherous stretch of roadway.

The League of Women Voters of Virginia supports HB 492. Ideally, the Department of Elections would have the resources to audit every campaign committee for each election. We recognize that Virginia currently does not have such resources, but the existing system, which provides no routine audits of campaign committees, gives voters no confidence that submitted reports are accurate. A review of a percentage of campaign committees, with the necessary report, will provide a strong incentive to each campaign committee to prepare accurate reports and give voters a greater assurance that their reports can be relied upon.

Jessica Mott, VA Chapter of American Promise: As a member of the Virginia Chapter of American Promise, I request that you please vote for HB86 and HB 492. Passage of this and other campaign finance reform legislation to improve disclosure and oversight is crucial to making legislators more accountable to voters, and restoring people’s trust in government. A recent poll by Christopher Newport University’s Wason Center found that 88% of Virginians support improved public disclosure of campaign contributions. The enactment of HB86 would strengthen disclosure by upgrading the campaign finance database so that it is publicly accessible, searchable and sortable. By making disaggregated data publicly available, it would complement the analysis and digested data provided by VPAP, and enable resolution of issues such as double-counting and consistency. The upgraded campaign finance reporting standards and software would make report compilation easier and increase completeness and accuracy. Its incremental cost would be relatively small. The enactment of H B492 would address a fundamental gap in oversight by providing the Department of Elections with the authority to review campaign finance reports and records. The use of a “review” rather than an audit, and the proposed sample sizes are cost effective and appropriate. The review system and associated campaign report requirements, together with the use of algorithms for campaigns and reviewers to identify and address shortcomings in reports, should make campaign finance information more complete and accurate, and help ensure compliance. The incremental budget requirement would also be relatively small. Thank you for this opportunity to testify.

Nancy Morgan, Coordinator of the VA Chapter of American Promise. We support this bill because it contributes towards building a solid structure of campaign finance monitoring and enforcement. Virginia, as mentioned in last year's Joint Subcommittee on Campaign Finance which met last year over the August-October period, currently doesn’t have the ability to provide oversight of existing regulation, such as the “Stand-by-your ad” nor does it have the regulatory oversight capacity to undertake basic monitoring of campaign finance reports. Part of the reason, VA ranks 46 out 50 in the SWAMP index, a ranking of states based on criteria related to transparency and accountability is deficiencies in enforcing its own regulations. This bill moves to address key deficiencies within the Department of Elections, including lack of ability/authority to monitor and audit campaign finance reports, require retention of records and identify inconsistencies in filing. This is considered national best practice as testimony to the Joint Subcommittee by the Campaign Legal Center, a national institution with an expertise on campaign finance systems.

As a member of the Virginia Chapter of American Promise, I ask you to please vote for HB86 andHB 492. Passage of campaign finance reform legislation to improve disclosure and oversight is crucial to holding legislators accountable to voters, and restoring people’s trust in government. A recent poll by Christopher Newport University’s Wason Center found that 88% of Virginians support public disclosure of campaign contributions. HB86 would strengthen disclosure by upgrading the campaign finance database to make it publicly accessible, searchable and sortable. Upgraded campaign finance reporting standards and software would make reporting easier, more accurate and complete. H B492 would provide the Department of Elections with the authority to review campaign finance reports and records. This could make campaign finance information more complete and accurate, and help ensure compliance.

The League of Women Voters of Virginia supports HB 492. Ideally, the Department of Elections would have the resources to audit every campaign committee for each election. We recognize that Virginia currently does not have such resources, but the existing system, which provides no routine audits of campaign committees, gives voters no confidence that submitted reports are accurate. A review of a percentage of campaign committees, with the necessary report, will provide a strong incentive to each campaign committee to prepare accurate reports and give voters a greater assurance that their reports can be relied upon.

Our team from Money Out Virginia, the VA affiliate of the nation-wide American Promise campaign finance reform advocacy organization, worked hard this past year with the "Joint Subcommittee to Study Comprehensive Campaign Finance Reform," and produced a "Citizens' Report" for the Subcommittee that articulated principles and priorities for improving transparency, preventing corrupt campaign finance practices and moving towards more equity in campaign financing in Virginia elections. The partnership between the Subcommittee and Money Out Virginia has resulted in a series of important bills that improve the requirements, process and electronic infrastructure for disclosure of campaign donations. We strongly support Delegate Bulova's HB 492, HB495, and HB500, Delegate Helmer's HB489, Delegate Anderson's HB86 and Delegate Davis' HB125, which provides for penalties for violations of disclosure laws. We also support Delegate Bulova's HJ53 to extend the mandate of the Joint Subcommittee so that we can continue our partnership in developing sensible campaign finance reforms for Virginia.

Jessica Mott, VA Chapter of American Promise: HB86 (publicly accessible database): We support this bill. A recent poll indicates that 88% of Virginians support public disclosure of all contributions. This enactment of this bill would strengthen disclosure by requiring that the database containing the information from campaign finance reports be publicly accessible, searchable, and sortable. It also requires that the Board of Elections set standards that should help ensure that the data is complete, accurate, and helps verify compliance with campaign finance legal requirements. Its adoption should help facilitate the efficient use of algorithms and electronic cross-checking to promote compliance by reporting entities and the reliability of the information in the database. It compliments the other proposed disclosure bills, HB495, HB500 and HB489, as well as the proposed oversight bill HB492. HB489 (electioneering): We support this bill, Its passage would help reduce one significant form of dark money support by making this support transparent. It adopts a definition of electioneering that is already utilized in other jurisdictions. It would help ensure that campaign finance disclosure includes not only ads that directly advocate support or opposition to candidates, but also ads close to election dates that imply support or opposition in ways that are likely intended to influence election outcomes. It also requires public disclosure within ads of top 3 donors. SB318, its counterpart, was approved by the Senate with bipartisan support on January 24th. HB 492 (record retention, guidance and review): We support this bill. It deals with a number of issues discussed by the Joint Subcommittee on Campaign Finance. It requires improved instructions for report forms, along with assistance to campaign offices, and clearly defines the campaign office responsibilities for record retention for expenditures above $500. It addresses a fundamental gap in oversight by providing the Department of Elections with the authority to review campaign finance reports and records. The proposed sample sizes are cost effective and appropriate (100% of state-wide candidates, 10% of state legislature candidates and 1% of other offices for campaigns costing more than $25,000). These and other provisions should help enable cross-checking of data, and the use of algorithms for campaigns and reviewers to identify and address report shortcomings related to completeness, accuracy and compliance. We note that it would help ensure meaningful implementation of proposed HB973, restricting personal use of campaign funds. HB495 (electronic filing): We support this bill. We commend the inclusion of electronic filing of independent expenditures, as well as by all candidates except for candidates running for local office who raise less than $25,000. It addresses measures that were discussed and agreed in principle by the Joint Subcommittee on Campaign Finance Reform. The parts of it pertaining to candidates are largely comparable to SB222 which has been approved by the Senate P&E Committee and was approved by unanimous vote by the Senate on January 24. HB500 (electioneering): We support this bill. We appreciate that it enhances disclosure by expanding advertisement provisions to include more forms of electioneering communications. Thank you for the opportunity to comment. Thank you for this opportunity to testify.

Nancy Morgan, Coordinator of the VA Chapter of American Promise. We support this bill because critical to the foundation of a campaign finance system is a solid structure of monitoring and enforcement. Virginia, as mentioned in the Joint Subcommittee, currently doesn’t have the ability to provide oversight of existing regulation, such as the “Stand-by-your ad” nor does it have the regulatory oversight capacity to undertake basic monitoring of campaign finance reports. Part of the reason, VA ranks 46 out 50 in the SWAMP index, a ranking of states based on criteria related to transparency and accountability is deficiencies in enforcing its own regulations. This bill moves to address key deficiencies within the Department of Elections, which include lack of ability/authority to monitor and audit campaign finance reports, require retention of records and identify inconsistencies in filing.

I am writing in support of Del David Bulova HB 492 Campaign finance; record retention requirements and reviews of campaign finance disclosure reports. Requires campaign committee treasurers to retain certain records that may be used in reviews of campaign committee accounts. The bill gives the Department of Elections the authority and duty to conduct reviews of a percentage of campaign committees and to report the results of such reviews annually to the State Board of Elections, the Governor, the and General Assembly and make such report available on the Department's website. • Currently the Department of Elections has very weak oversight (monitoring and enforcement) of campaign finance regulations. They can’t even monitor existing regulations like the “Stand-by-Your-Ad” act. • The provisions of this bill respond to recommendations in the draft report of the Sub-Committee on Campaign Finance Reform which met over the Aug-Oct period. • It improves disclosure of campaign finance information to the public. • Sets the stage for a robust system of monitoring and enforcing campaign finance reform which is very weak now, as revealed in our ranking in the 2020 SWAMP Index (46 out of 50 states) Mindy Mitchell 3601 5th St S Arlington, VA 22204

Voting is a constitutional right. Any law that restricts rather than expands our constitutional right & DUTY to vote is simply voter suppression. We must not repeal any expansions of absentee ballots. Do not decrease early voting. - extend the number of days allowed. Do not eliminate any ballot box locations- expand. We have no need to re-register absentee ballots every year. No excuse absentee voting is absolutely crucial. The state must provide easy and free access to voter ID if a photo is required. Since the USPS has slowed considerably, we must keep the 3 day rule for receiving ballots after election day. All local elections must be on Election Day (in Nov). Election Day should be a holiday. Until we do a complete overhaul of campaign finance & eliminate dark money/special interests there must be no restrictions on outreach, education & registration or from where a candidate may collect funds. Voter registration up to and including Election Day is absolutely crucial to ensure all citizens vote. I support all bills expanding our rights and abilities to make voting as easy as possible. I oppose all bills attempting to restrict any access to our ballot and our vote. The process is too important for the elected officials to be able to restrict us from our duty to be informed voters. Keep expanding our rights. Do not restrict, suppress or subvert them.

On behalf of nearly 10,000 Soldiers, Airmen, Retirees and the Families of the Virginia National Guard, I urge you to support House Bill 642 introduced by Delegate Carr. As many of you have witness over the course of this month alone, the Virginia National Guard is "Always Ready!" and is "Always There!" Whether it be cutting trees and clearing roads following snow storms in Louisa and Tazwell Counties, or pulling stranded travelers from snow impacted roads in Accomack, the "Commonwealth's Guardian" proudly serves our communities. However, during unique situations where Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are placed in a state-response status, known as State Active Duty, they are enrolled on state payroll. They receive compensation equivalent to their Federal military pay grade. But in the tragic and rare event that Soldiers or Airmen become injured while serving under SAD conditions, they are without healthcare. As we learned during the first days and weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Virginia National Guard was unable to commit forces to alleviate the strain on healthcare services, support nursing and long-term care facilities, and food banks until Federal funding was made available-- which included access to healthcare. Passing this bill removes the Commonwealth's reliance on the Federal government and increases the ability of the Virginia National Guard to respond to whatever 2022 brings. Thank you for your consideration! Very Respectfully, Andrew J. Czaplicki, Maj., U.S. Army President, Virginia National Guard Association

I am respectfully asking you vote to reinstate preemption.

Please support HB 827, Delegate Wilt, which repeals the provision that allows local government to prohibit guns in parks, government buildings, recreation and community centers, and at permitted, or should have been permitted, events. This puts preemption back as it was in from 2004 to early 2020.

Protect gun rights. I am a female home he’s nurse that has almost been a victim of assault at least 2 times. I see patients with mental and physical issues and I need to be able to protect myself. One of my patients tried to put me in a shed and the other was a known homicidal/suicidal with multiple antipsychotic medication and was able to find out my birthday and text me a happy birthday message despite being blocked and discharged as a patient. I am also an instructor and there have been times when I felt threatened in the classroom and clinicals. Times are changing and people are having difficulty controlling themselves and oftentimes act out impulsively which results in injury and sometimes death to others. As a health care provider and instructor, I urge you not to ban guns in public buildings, schools and parks. Also, I request that you vote to repeal the red flag law and stop hiding anti gun legislation in bulky bills that none of you seem to have time to read. Stop and think about your actions towards your constituents. You are acting against us, not for us. I pray that you wake up and cut the lobbyists puppet strings. Stand up for us and stop taking our rights away. Thank you, Patricia Wright

On behalf of the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association we would like to share with you our strong support for HB971. At the height of COVID-19, the Paycheck Protection Program helped ensure that restaurants, hotels, and other hospitality businesses didn't permanently close their doors and kept employees on payroll. Allowing for an increased deduction limit for PPP loans and expenses will provide relief to these businesses that have struggled for almost 24 months now as a result of COVID-19. Omicron has only added to these challenges. 69% of restaurants say business conditions are worse now than they were three months ago. Only 5% say business conditions have improved during the last three months. This is on top of the cumulative effects of nearly 2 years of pandemic induced challenges. 56% of operators say their restaurant accumulated additional debt since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak in March 2020. 47% of operators say their restaurant fell behind on expenses since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak in March 2020. 79% of operators say their restaurant is less profitable now than it was before the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak in March 2020. For these reasons, we strongly urge you to support HB971.

The Roanoke Regional Chamber supports HB 971. This bill will allow thousands of additional businesses to obtain tax forgiveness for PPP loans as they continue to navigate recovery in the pandemic. Please support these businesses by voting "yes" on HB 971. Thank you for your consideration.

Virginia Loggers Association supports HB 971 to help our businesses engaged in forest products and harvesting industry.

The Virginia Forestry Association supports both HB971 and HB1003, which will provide much needed tax relief for the Commonwealth’s third largest industry. Many small forestry, logging, and forest products businesses utilized PPP loans to sustain their operations during a time of great uncertainty. These bills will provide critical relief that is consistent with the original intent and spirit of the PPP loan program.

We support.

The Virginia Motorcoach Association supports House Bill 971 to provide much needed tax relief for the Commonwealth’s motorcoach industry, which has been one of the hardest hit during the pandemic. Passage of HB 971 will help Virginia’s motorcoach industry receive the tax relief Congress intended and help it recover and survive to serve Virginia’s recovering tourism industry and passenger transportation needs.

The Virginia Trucking Association supports House Bill 971 to provide much needed tax relief for the trucking companies and fleets that continued to serve the Commonwealth throughout the COVID-19 pandemic providing critical transportation of the essential goods, including vaccines, test kits and medical supplies, to sustain the population and our economy.

We support

On behalf of the Northern Virginia Chamber's almost 700 members we would like to thank Chair Byron for these bills which would provide much needed tax relief for Virginia businesses. The PPP loan program was a lifeline for businesses of all types and sizes during the height of the COVID-19 related closures. Providing this tax relief, as Congress intended, would show the General Assembly supports the economic recovery of the hardest hit industries and is committed to keeping Virginia a top state in which to do business. Thank you, Clayton Medford VP, Government Relations Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce

The Fleet Reserve members located in the Commonwealth recommend a swift approval of HB 1203. This position would greatly enhance and aid to help slow if not prevent the former members of the armed forces destroying a valuable asset not only to family, the community, the Commonwealth of Virginia, but also to this Great Nation we all Love. We humbly recommend the unanimous approval of HB 1203 Respectfully I remain, Mr. Sha'ron D. Martin FRA Rep to JLC

I am respectfully asking you vote to reinstate preemption.

Please support HB 827, Delegate Wilt, which repeals the provision that allows local government to prohibit guns in parks, government buildings, recreation and community centers, and at permitted, or should have been permitted, events. This puts preemption back as it was in from 2004 to early 2020.

Protect gun rights. I am a female home he’s nurse that has almost been a victim of assault at least 2 times. I see patients with mental and physical issues and I need to be able to protect myself. One of my patients tried to put me in a shed and the other was a known homicidal/suicidal with multiple antipsychotic medication and was able to find out my birthday and text me a happy birthday message despite being blocked and discharged as a patient. I am also an instructor and there have been times when I felt threatened in the classroom and clinicals. Times are changing and people are having difficulty controlling themselves and oftentimes act out impulsively which results in injury and sometimes death to others. As a health care provider and instructor, I urge you not to ban guns in public buildings, schools and parks. Also, I request that you vote to repeal the red flag law and stop hiding anti gun legislation in bulky bills that none of you seem to have time to read. Stop and think about your actions towards your constituents. You are acting against us, not for us. I pray that you wake up and cut the lobbyists puppet strings. Stand up for us and stop taking our rights away. Thank you, Patricia Wright