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VMA supports HB270 - modernizing the VEC is a necessity. VMA supports HB336, 337, 341- 51% approval is a near universal democratic standard for bargaining unit approval and union activities, including collecting dues, should be a cost of the union, not the taxpayer. VMA supports HB414 - the Commonwealth must have a reliable electric grid. VMA opposes HB1355 - the Commonwealth must have a diversified energy portfolio that is affordable, reliable, secure, and sustainable.

Say NO to the bills that take away Collective Bargaining. Employees in the state of VA deserve Collective Bargaining. Teachers, firefighters and Policeman deserve a position in determining what happens in their profession. For too long they have had to sit back and let others who are not part of their profession, decide what happens in their profession. Give them a voice to determine what is in the best interest for their profession. Teachers work day and night to provide what is in the best interest of students- no one knows better then they do how to achieve this- they deserve a voice in the decision-making We will lose the best teachers, firefighters and policemen if we take away this critical opportunity for them to have a voice in their professions. Say NO to the bills that take away Collective Bargaining.

Good morning honorable members of the Committee, Massachusetts is often said to have the strongest public schools in the nation. Did you also know that Massachusetts Educators also have strong collective bargaining rights. Massachusetts invests in education. With the current staffing shortages, show Virginia families and educators that you are in strong support of education by supporting collective bargaining rights. Virginia educators earn 7k below the national average and many are abandoning the profession. Can you blame them? Sincerely Brian McGovern

We know what are students need more than anyone. I work out Special Education students every day. They always asking why do we have to do this or that. They ask why people who don't know them make them take test they know that they will pass. I want to speak for these students who fight a different type of battle every day. Let us who know what to do have a say. Most of you have no idea what special needs children fights every day because you have never been around my students.

If you believe there is a problem with Virginia's public education, then address the issues with the 100 million dollars the Governor wants to give to a for profit educational system and destroy our public schools! You can begin by fully funding your contractual obligation to all state employees through the VRS!

These bills will repeal educators' progress toward gaining collective bargaining. They will silence educators' voices. School decisions will not be able to capitalize on the experiences and skills of their experts in their school systems, the educators. Why deny educators a seat at the table? Why squelch expert input? Educators are the experts in our schools. Bargaining with educators benefits our students' learning conditions. It improves educator working conditions, and ultimately benefits our Virginia communities. Bring the experts to the table. I urge you to vote no on these bills. Sincerely,

I am the economist that worked on the FIS for HB270.

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Say NO to the bills that take away Collective Bargaining. Employees in the state of VA deserve Collective Bargaining. Teachers, firefighters and Policeman deserve a position in determining what happens in their profession. For too long they have had to sit back and let others who are not part of their profession, decide what happens in their profession. Give them a voice to determine what is in the best interest for their profession. Teachers work day and night to provide what is in the best interest of students- no one knows better then they do how to achieve this- they deserve a voice in the decision-making We will lose the best teachers, firefighters and policemen if we take away this critical opportunity for them to have a voice in their professions. Say NO to the bills that take away Collective Bargaining.

Good morning honorable members of the Committee, Massachusetts is often said to have the strongest public schools in the nation. Did you also know that Massachusetts Educators also have strong collective bargaining rights. Massachusetts invests in education. With the current staffing shortages, show Virginia families and educators that you are in strong support of education by supporting collective bargaining rights. Virginia educators earn 7k below the national average and many are abandoning the profession. Can you blame them? Sincerely Brian McGovern

We know what are students need more than anyone. I work out Special Education students every day. They always asking why do we have to do this or that. They ask why people who don't know them make them take test they know that they will pass. I want to speak for these students who fight a different type of battle every day. Let us who know what to do have a say. Most of you have no idea what special needs children fights every day because you have never been around my students.

These bills will repeal educators' progress toward gaining collective bargaining. They will silence educators' voices. School decisions will not be able to capitalize on the experiences and skills of their experts in their school systems, the educators. Why deny educators a seat at the table? Why squelch expert input? Educators are the experts in our schools. Bargaining with educators benefits our students' learning conditions. It improves educator working conditions, and ultimately benefits our Virginia communities. Bring the experts to the table. I urge you to vote no on these bills. Sincerely,

VMA supports HB270 - modernizing the VEC is a necessity. VMA supports HB336, 337, 341- 51% approval is a near universal democratic standard for bargaining unit approval and union activities, including collecting dues, should be a cost of the union, not the taxpayer. VMA supports HB414 - the Commonwealth must have a reliable electric grid. VMA opposes HB1355 - the Commonwealth must have a diversified energy portfolio that is affordable, reliable, secure, and sustainable.

Say NO to the bills that take away Collective Bargaining. Employees in the state of VA deserve Collective Bargaining. Teachers, firefighters and Policeman deserve a position in determining what happens in their profession. For too long they have had to sit back and let others who are not part of their profession, decide what happens in their profession. Give them a voice to determine what is in the best interest for their profession. Teachers work day and night to provide what is in the best interest of students- no one knows better then they do how to achieve this- they deserve a voice in the decision-making We will lose the best teachers, firefighters and policemen if we take away this critical opportunity for them to have a voice in their professions. Say NO to the bills that take away Collective Bargaining.

Good morning honorable members of the Committee, Massachusetts is often said to have the strongest public schools in the nation. Did you also know that Massachusetts Educators also have strong collective bargaining rights. Massachusetts invests in education. With the current staffing shortages, show Virginia families and educators that you are in strong support of education by supporting collective bargaining rights. Virginia educators earn 7k below the national average and many are abandoning the profession. Can you blame them? Sincerely Brian McGovern

We know what are students need more than anyone. I work out Special Education students every day. They always asking why do we have to do this or that. They ask why people who don't know them make them take test they know that they will pass. I want to speak for these students who fight a different type of battle every day. Let us who know what to do have a say. Most of you have no idea what special needs children fights every day because you have never been around my students.

These bills will repeal educators' progress toward gaining collective bargaining. They will silence educators' voices. School decisions will not be able to capitalize on the experiences and skills of their experts in their school systems, the educators. Why deny educators a seat at the table? Why squelch expert input? Educators are the experts in our schools. Bargaining with educators benefits our students' learning conditions. It improves educator working conditions, and ultimately benefits our Virginia communities. Bring the experts to the table. I urge you to vote no on these bills. Sincerely,

We urge the Committee to OPPOSE HB558 (O'Quinn -R) – related to Biogas. While there is no question that methane released by feedstock is a huge issue that needs to be addressed, the solution proposed in this bill is NOT the right solution – or at very minimum more research and more guarantees in the bill would be needed to ensure that this would in fact result in methane reduction. As it stands, the bill provides NO ASSURANCE that it will result in methane reduction and its implementation would be extremely detrimental both to the environment/climate and to Virginia taxpayers. This bill is STRONGLY opposed by all the major environmental organizations including: Sierra Club, Southern Environmental Law Center, NRDC, Nature Conservancy, Va League of Conservation Voters, Virginia Conservation Network Reasons to Oppose and Explanations: 1. The bills allow concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) as locations where methane could be captured and inserted into pipelines as gas. This would allow gas companies to propose connector pipelines to reach site(s) closest to their existing lines. Since the CAFO could profit from the purchase of the gas, the bill incentivizes the production of methane at these sites and further incentivises CAFOs already horrendous management practices. There exists a profit motive, and both the gas company and the CAFO facility want nothing more. The waste lagoons associated with CAFOs are doing significant damage; both to the environment through leaching of the unlined ponds and to the communities in which they are located, which are almost always environmental justice communities. Environmental justice communities would be subjected to the continued purposeful development of methane for the purpose of feeding a gas industry pipeline(s). 2. The bills contain no required environmental benefit associated with the allowance of new gas infrastructure. The bill would allow the gas industry to propose connector lines to CAFOs, wastewater treatment sites, and landfills, construct them, and not even have to guarantee that methane emissions at the site will be reduced or that the overall project will reduce methane. Gas companies get to build & prove nothing. 3. The bills contain little to no consumer protections for the ratepayer of the gas companies. The gas industry is highjacking “emissions reductions” as the sole justification for tens of millions in increased ratepayer costs but refusing to prove in any way that the emissions went down due to the investment. It's greenwashing at its finest. The ratepayer is on the hook for the construction and maintenance, and they don’t even get cleaner air. For more details, see for example this position paper: https://www.ncconservationnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/biogaspositionpaperNC33021.pdf

Methane is a fatal greenhouse gas emitted by human activities like raising livestock. Bill HB558 will allow concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) to act as locations where methane could be captured and inserted into pipelines as gas. CAFO facilities are nortrious to producing waste lagoons that harm the environment through leaching of the unlined ponds and to the communities in which they are located. HB558 will guarantee gas industries to propose connector lines to CAFOs, wastewater treatment sites, and landfills. CAFOs will profit on such projects that would most likely result in unnecessary productions of methane gas. By allowing this bill to pass, you will be undermining not only the environment of Virginia, but also consumer protections for the ratepayer of the gas companies as well by increasing the production of waste energy. This bill will cause dire consequences to the Commonwealth of Virginia and that is why CCAN Action Fund opposes VA HB558.

Say NO to the bills that take away Collective Bargaining. Employees in the state of VA deserve Collective Bargaining. Teachers, firefighters and Policeman deserve a position in determining what happens in their profession. For too long they have had to sit back and let others who are not part of their profession, decide what happens in their profession. Give them a voice to determine what is in the best interest for their profession. Teachers work day and night to provide what is in the best interest of students- no one knows better then they do how to achieve this- they deserve a voice in the decision-making We will lose the best teachers, firefighters and policemen if we take away this critical opportunity for them to have a voice in their professions. Say NO to the bills that take away Collective Bargaining.

Good morning honorable members of the Committee, Massachusetts is often said to have the strongest public schools in the nation. Did you also know that Massachusetts Educators also have strong collective bargaining rights. Massachusetts invests in education. With the current staffing shortages, show Virginia families and educators that you are in strong support of education by supporting collective bargaining rights. Virginia educators earn 7k below the national average and many are abandoning the profession. Can you blame them? Sincerely Brian McGovern

We know what are students need more than anyone. I work out Special Education students every day. They always asking why do we have to do this or that. They ask why people who don't know them make them take test they know that they will pass. I want to speak for these students who fight a different type of battle every day. Let us who know what to do have a say. Most of you have no idea what special needs children fights every day because you have never been around my students.

These bills will repeal educators' progress toward gaining collective bargaining. They will silence educators' voices. School decisions will not be able to capitalize on the experiences and skills of their experts in their school systems, the educators. Why deny educators a seat at the table? Why squelch expert input? Educators are the experts in our schools. Bargaining with educators benefits our students' learning conditions. It improves educator working conditions, and ultimately benefits our Virginia communities. Bring the experts to the table. I urge you to vote no on these bills. Sincerely,

Say NO to the bills that take away Collective Bargaining. Employees in the state of VA deserve Collective Bargaining. Teachers, firefighters and Policeman deserve a position in determining what happens in their profession. For too long they have had to sit back and let others who are not part of their profession, decide what happens in their profession. Give them a voice to determine what is in the best interest for their profession. Teachers work day and night to provide what is in the best interest of students- no one knows better then they do how to achieve this- they deserve a voice in the decision-making We will lose the best teachers, firefighters and policemen if we take away this critical opportunity for them to have a voice in their professions. Say NO to the bills that take away Collective Bargaining.

Good morning honorable members of the Committee, Massachusetts is often said to have the strongest public schools in the nation. Did you also know that Massachusetts Educators also have strong collective bargaining rights. Massachusetts invests in education. With the current staffing shortages, show Virginia families and educators that you are in strong support of education by supporting collective bargaining rights. Virginia educators earn 7k below the national average and many are abandoning the profession. Can you blame them? Sincerely Brian McGovern

We know what are students need more than anyone. I work out Special Education students every day. They always asking why do we have to do this or that. They ask why people who don't know them make them take test they know that they will pass. I want to speak for these students who fight a different type of battle every day. Let us who know what to do have a say. Most of you have no idea what special needs children fights every day because you have never been around my students.

These bills will repeal educators' progress toward gaining collective bargaining. They will silence educators' voices. School decisions will not be able to capitalize on the experiences and skills of their experts in their school systems, the educators. Why deny educators a seat at the table? Why squelch expert input? Educators are the experts in our schools. Bargaining with educators benefits our students' learning conditions. It improves educator working conditions, and ultimately benefits our Virginia communities. Bring the experts to the table. I urge you to vote no on these bills. Sincerely,

Comments Document

Dear members of the House Commerce and Energy committee sub #1, on behalf of the Virginia Conservation Network I respectfully ask that you oppose HB657 & HB894, and support HB664 & HB1288. For your convenience I have attached a document containing talking points for each bill. Thank you!

The United States Energy Information Administration (EIA) classifies Coal as a nonrenewable energy source because it takes millions of years to form. This fuel source produces significant climate and air pollution, which affects the VCEA program's main goal of reducing air pollution. Also, experts explain that the power sector must cease all carbon emissions by 2030-2035 and we must achieve carbon neutrality across all sectors by mid-century at the very latest. Narratives that a coal-fired power plant will still be operational in Virginia beyond 2045 are unhelpful both environmentally and economically. And it is for these reasons, CCAN Action Fund opposes this bill HB657.

I appreciate the Delegate's efforts on this legislation. The funding mechanism it contains fits with discussions held during study committee meetings. That section of the bill is appropriate. However, I am appalled to see that political organizations are being exempted from the provisions of it. Citizens DO NOT want any political organization to be able to collect and process our data. This was not discussed in the study committee. The Delegate has steadfastly refused to change his legislation. This last minute addition is making a bad situation worse. The public is tired of being targeted by various entities. The public does not want private data used to allow any political entity to target us. We don't want political parties, committees or anyone else to use out data in any way!!!! Please vote against this portion of HB714! Adding political organizations to the list of entities exempt from this legislation is being sneaked into the bill at the last minute. If this idea had been floated earlier, people would have risen up to oppose it. This bill was promoted as one to make technical changes that arose from the study committee. Exempting political organizations is NOT a technical change and it was not discussed during study committee proceedings. It is a substantive change that has not been fully aired. Consumers were already going to be angry when they discovered that the Consumer Data Protection Act is really just industry protection and that it will be very hard for the average person to avoid entities' collection and use of our data. When they realize that political organizations don't have to even give them the right to have data not collected, they will be extremely angry. Please do not do this! Irene Leech Virginia Citizens Consumer Council vaconsumeradvocate@gmail.com

Say NO to the bills that take away Collective Bargaining. Employees in the state of VA deserve Collective Bargaining. Teachers, firefighters and Policeman deserve a position in determining what happens in their profession. For too long they have had to sit back and let others who are not part of their profession, decide what happens in their profession. Give them a voice to determine what is in the best interest for their profession. Teachers work day and night to provide what is in the best interest of students- no one knows better then they do how to achieve this- they deserve a voice in the decision-making We will lose the best teachers, firefighters and policemen if we take away this critical opportunity for them to have a voice in their professions. Say NO to the bills that take away Collective Bargaining.

Good morning honorable members of the Committee, Massachusetts is often said to have the strongest public schools in the nation. Did you also know that Massachusetts Educators also have strong collective bargaining rights. Massachusetts invests in education. With the current staffing shortages, show Virginia families and educators that you are in strong support of education by supporting collective bargaining rights. Virginia educators earn 7k below the national average and many are abandoning the profession. Can you blame them? Sincerely Brian McGovern

We know what are students need more than anyone. I work out Special Education students every day. They always asking why do we have to do this or that. They ask why people who don't know them make them take test they know that they will pass. I want to speak for these students who fight a different type of battle every day. Let us who know what to do have a say. Most of you have no idea what special needs children fights every day because you have never been around my students.

These bills will repeal educators' progress toward gaining collective bargaining. They will silence educators' voices. School decisions will not be able to capitalize on the experiences and skills of their experts in their school systems, the educators. Why deny educators a seat at the table? Why squelch expert input? Educators are the experts in our schools. Bargaining with educators benefits our students' learning conditions. It improves educator working conditions, and ultimately benefits our Virginia communities. Bring the experts to the table. I urge you to vote no on these bills. Sincerely,

Comments Document

While NetChoice shares lawmakers' concerns about protecting consumers, we oppose HB 888 because it: (1) unfairly targets online marketplaces for burdens not imposed on similarly situated businesses; (2) unnecessarily targets and burdens small Virginian sellers and entrepreneurs; and (3) does nothing to actually mitigate or prevent ORC.

Comments Document

On behalf of the Consumer healthcare Products Association, please see the attached written comments supporting HB 888.

Comments Document

Greetings, My name is Montana Williams and I am the Director of State and Local Public Policy with the Chamber of Progress. Please find our letter in opposition to HB 888 attached to this forum submission. Thanks so much, Montana Williams Director of State & Local Public Policy montana@progresschamber.org 407-491-5960

The Virginia League of Conservation Voters Opposes this legislation for the following reasons: SB398/HB892 would give more than 7 million severely discounted allowances to a private sophisticated company—LS Power—which has raised over $47 billion in financing since 1990. The proposal calls for a set price of $2, as compared to the most recent auction price of $13. In 2020, the General Assembly already considered this issue and rejected multiple attempts by LS Power to obtain free or heavily discounted allowances. Nothing has changed and the General Assembly should reject this request too. Instead of letting the market cost of allowances drive power plant decisions to reduce emissions over time, these bills would do the opposite—rigging the market price of an allowance for a single company. This proposal would take away tens of millions of dollars from low-wealth families trying to reduce their electricity bills and localities trying to address recurrent flooding, for the benefit of a private sophisticated company. These bills could actually let LS Power profit—it could sell already-acquired allowances at market rates and then turn around and purchase $2 allowances for compliance purposes in 2021 and 2022.

Comments Document

February 2, 2021 RE: Virginia Businesses Support the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA), Regional Greenhouse Gas Program (RGGI), and Clean Cars Dear Chair Byron and Members of the House Commerce and Energy Committee: Ceres is a nonprofit organization working with major companies and investors to build economic solutions to climate issues. We write today to share the position of the business community in Virginia on the bills before the Committee that propose to modify the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA) as well as Virginia’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and Advanced Clean Cars ("Clean Cars") program. Members of Ceres BICEP Network* with operations in Virginia include Adobe, Ball Corporation, IKEA, JLL, Kaiser Permanente, Lyft, Mars Inc., McDonald’s, Microsoft, Nestle, Salesforce, Unilever, Workday, and Worthen Industries. As large employers and energy users, businesses understand how Virginia’s energy policy affects the cost of doing business. Maintaining market-friendly climate policies like the VCEA, RGGI and Clean Cars will enable Virginia to make critical progress on pollution and decarbonization while investing in a competitive, resilient economy. The VCEA is an attractive policy for companies looking to power their operations with renewable energy to make investments in Virginia. Energy efficiency and renewable standards keep energy costs low, consistent, and predictable over the long-term, allowing companies to plan ahead. That’s why 97 companies in Virginia have committed to power all of their corporate operations with 100% renewable energy. Continuing to participate in RGGI will ensure that state’s clean energy transition includes critical financial support to vulnerable coastline communities through flood mitigation programs and to vulnerable households statewide through funding for low-income energy efficiency programs. Further, predictable, stable energy policy sends a signal to new businesses that Virginia is a good place to invest. On behalf of seven businesses and four higher education institutions, I am pleased to share the attached letter urging the Virginia Legislature to maintain and build upon the considerable progress made in recent years to confront the climate crisis and build a competitive in-state clean energy market. The following companies, Hannon Armstrong, Lutron, Mars, Inc., Nestlé, Unilever, Workday, and Worthen Industries, and higher-ed institutions Sweet Briar College, University of Lynchburg, Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges, and Virginia Wesleyan University share their support in the letter for the VCEA, RGGI, and Clean Cars, citing the significant business benefits of these policies, such as lower energy costs, new in-state investments, and programs that will help them meet their own climate goals. The signatories urge legislators to maintain a hospitable environment for clean energy investments going forward. Thank you for your time and consideration, and please be in touch with any questions. Sincerely, Mel Mackin Manager, State Policy Ceres mackin@ceres.org *The Ceres Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy (“BICEP”) Network is a group of nearly 80 companies that support policies to prevent the dire financial and material risks of the climate crisis. BICEP members are committed to advocating for stronger climate and clean energy policies at the state and federal levels.

LS Power is considered to be a major electric generation, transmission, and distribution company that has raised over $47 billion in financing since 1990. By allowing bill HB892 to pass ,Virginia would be giving more than 7 million severely discounted allowances to private companies like LS Power, making the proposal call set price drop down to $2, rather than the most recent auction price of $13. In 2020, the General Assembly already considered this issue and rejected multiple attempts by LS Power to obtain free or heavily discounted allowances. This proposal would take away tens of millions of dollars from low-wealth families trying to reduce their electricity bills. And it is for these reasons, CCAN Action Fund strongly opposes this bill HB892.

Say NO to the bills that take away Collective Bargaining. Employees in the state of VA deserve Collective Bargaining. Teachers, firefighters and Policeman deserve a position in determining what happens in their profession. For too long they have had to sit back and let others who are not part of their profession, decide what happens in their profession. Give them a voice to determine what is in the best interest for their profession. Teachers work day and night to provide what is in the best interest of students- no one knows better then they do how to achieve this- they deserve a voice in the decision-making We will lose the best teachers, firefighters and policemen if we take away this critical opportunity for them to have a voice in their professions. Say NO to the bills that take away Collective Bargaining.

Good morning honorable members of the Committee, Massachusetts is often said to have the strongest public schools in the nation. Did you also know that Massachusetts Educators also have strong collective bargaining rights. Massachusetts invests in education. With the current staffing shortages, show Virginia families and educators that you are in strong support of education by supporting collective bargaining rights. Virginia educators earn 7k below the national average and many are abandoning the profession. Can you blame them? Sincerely Brian McGovern

We know what are students need more than anyone. I work out Special Education students every day. They always asking why do we have to do this or that. They ask why people who don't know them make them take test they know that they will pass. I want to speak for these students who fight a different type of battle every day. Let us who know what to do have a say. Most of you have no idea what special needs children fights every day because you have never been around my students.

The price of energy affects the poor and working man much more than it does any rich politician or or entitled class. The idiocy espoused by the Biden administration and the leftist politicians in America is it is not just laughable, it is anti-American and impacts impacts each one of us in a negative way. Stop the spread of communism in our country. Put America First. Let us together make America Great Again.

These bills will repeal educators' progress toward gaining collective bargaining. They will silence educators' voices. School decisions will not be able to capitalize on the experiences and skills of their experts in their school systems, the educators. Why deny educators a seat at the table? Why squelch expert input? Educators are the experts in our schools. Bargaining with educators benefits our students' learning conditions. It improves educator working conditions, and ultimately benefits our Virginia communities. Bring the experts to the table. I urge you to vote no on these bills. Sincerely,

The Roanoke Regional Chamber supports HB 1156, which provides businesses the option to purchase paid family leave insurance policies. This will help participating small businesses compete with the benefit packages that larger and out of state businesses offer, while ensuring that a burdensome mandate isn't placed on all businesses. Thank you for your consideration.

Say NO to the bills that take away Collective Bargaining. Employees in the state of VA deserve Collective Bargaining. Teachers, firefighters and Policeman deserve a position in determining what happens in their profession. For too long they have had to sit back and let others who are not part of their profession, decide what happens in their profession. Give them a voice to determine what is in the best interest for their profession. Teachers work day and night to provide what is in the best interest of students- no one knows better then they do how to achieve this- they deserve a voice in the decision-making We will lose the best teachers, firefighters and policemen if we take away this critical opportunity for them to have a voice in their professions. Say NO to the bills that take away Collective Bargaining.

Good morning honorable members of the Committee, Massachusetts is often said to have the strongest public schools in the nation. Did you also know that Massachusetts Educators also have strong collective bargaining rights. Massachusetts invests in education. With the current staffing shortages, show Virginia families and educators that you are in strong support of education by supporting collective bargaining rights. Virginia educators earn 7k below the national average and many are abandoning the profession. Can you blame them? Sincerely Brian McGovern

We know what are students need more than anyone. I work out Special Education students every day. They always asking why do we have to do this or that. They ask why people who don't know them make them take test they know that they will pass. I want to speak for these students who fight a different type of battle every day. Let us who know what to do have a say. Most of you have no idea what special needs children fights every day because you have never been around my students.

The price of energy affects the poor and working man much more than it does any rich politician or or entitled class. The idiocy espoused by the Biden administration and the leftist politicians in America is it is not just laughable, it is anti-American and impacts impacts each one of us in a negative way. Stop the spread of communism in our country. Put America First. Let us together make America Great Again.

These bills will repeal educators' progress toward gaining collective bargaining. They will silence educators' voices. School decisions will not be able to capitalize on the experiences and skills of their experts in their school systems, the educators. Why deny educators a seat at the table? Why squelch expert input? Educators are the experts in our schools. Bargaining with educators benefits our students' learning conditions. It improves educator working conditions, and ultimately benefits our Virginia communities. Bring the experts to the table. I urge you to vote no on these bills. Sincerely,

Comments Document

Dear Delegates: 1 in 10 people will have a seizure. 1 in 26 will develop epilepsy, like my teen daughter. Please vote Yes to HB1178. This is a zero cost, easy to implement, high impact bill. Seizure First Aid is almost always an overlooked component of first aid. The Seizure First Aid informational posters referenced in HB1178 are available for FREE from Epilepsy Foundation of America (EFA, referenced in the amendment). The poster can be found at this link, in 14 different languages (EFA has also forwarded a letter to you confirming this. It is attached to these comments, as well.): https://www.epilepsy.com/living-epilepsy/seizure-first-aid-and-safety/first-aid-seizures-stay-safe-side Here is the English version: https://www.epilepsy.com/sites/core/files/atoms/files/SFA%20Flier_HQ_8.5x11_PDF.pdf The distribution is as easy as an automated email OR simply placing the link to the poster on the Employer Resources website maintained by the Department of Labor and Industry: (https://www.virginia.gov/services/business/employer-resources/) Please consider this information as you review HB 1178 in the Appropriations Committee and on the House floor. Respectfully, Concerned VA resident, mom, and advocate for seizure safety and epilepsy awareness

Comments Document

Dear Delegates: 1 in 10 people will have a seizure. 1 in 26 will develop epilepsy, like my teen daughter. Please vote Yes to HB1178. This is a zero cost, easy to implement, high impact bill. Seizure First Aid is almost always an overlooked component of first aid. The Seizure First Aid informational posters referenced in HB1178 are available for FREE from Epilepsy Foundation of America (EFA, referenced in the amendment). The poster can be found at this link, in 14 different languages (EFA has also forwarded a letter to you confirming this.): https://www.epilepsy.com/living-epilepsy/seizure-first-aid-and-safety/first-aid-seizures-stay-safe-side Here is the English version: https://www.epilepsy.com/sites/core/files/atoms/files/SFA%20Flier_HQ_8.5x11_PDF.pdf The distribution is as easy as an automated email OR simply placing the link to the poster on the Employer Resources website maintained by the Department of Labor and Industry: (https://www.virginia.gov/services/business/employer-resources/) Please consider this information as you review HB 1178 in the Appropriations Committee and on the House floor. Respectfully, A concerned VA resident, mom, and advocate.

Public posting of Seizure First Aid signs in the workplace could have a positive impact on the safety of not just those with epilepsy, but everyone in the workplace, including fellow employees and in the case of businesses, patrons. I urge you to support this proposed legislation

To Our Honorable Delegates, I want to add to the personal request that was sent last night/early this a.m.: I implore you all to PLEASE VOTE YES ON HB-1178. This will SAVE LIVES of those with seizures and/or epilepsy in the workplace or in public! Seizures affect lives in many ways: LIVELIHOOD LIFESTYLE LOVED ONES LIFE TIMELINE If there are individuals familiar with the simple steps to take to aid someone having a seizure for whatever reason, this can greatly improve the 4 Ls listed above! My husband has suffered from seizures for years. PLEASE VOTE YES ON HB-1178! May God bless you and your families. Best Regards, Mrs Kathleen Evans

As a wife and mother of someone with Epilepsy I ask that you please vote in favor of HB1178. Currently over 84,000 Virginians have Epilepsy. Majority of these individuals are working in our community. We need to keep them safe and allow them to live a normal life as anyone else by simple education or signs in the workplace. As a wife of someone with epilepsy we have personally been impacted by the lack of education in the workplace for seizure safety. We are the fortunate ones to have gone 10 years seizure free but many do not and seizures are a daily challenge. We have been in situations where if my husband and felt a seizure coming on he would call and hide in a safe place until I could arrive because he feared what others at work would do or think. We also have had situations where the wrong safety measures were performed that caused more harm then care. These are situations no spouse ever wants to be in as it’s very fearful when your not present snd no one has the knowledge to help your significant other. In my medical profession I have come across numerous individuals that still believe “old wives tales” and outdated education is the way to treat seizures. In the future when my husband goes into work or when my son is old enough to work I want both of them and the other Members of the Epilepsy community to be able to goto work safely. Epilepsy has had a bad stigma for years and it’s time to break this cycle. Members in the Epilepsy community can live a normal life and have the right to work. My Husband has been a firefighter for 16 years and is very educated in the field. We never have let Epilepsy defeat him in his career or personal life. We have been put in some uncomfortable situations and had to deal with negative backlash at times. Instead of giving up we educate others and fight on! Even from someone who saves lives his life is just as important to save too. I ask that you support HB1178 to provide seizure education in the workplace.

As a wife and mother of someone with Epilepsy I ask that you please vote in favor of HB1178. Currently over 84,000 Virginians have Epilepsy. Majority of these individuals are working in our community. We need to keep them safe and allow them to live a normal life as anyone else by simple education or signs in the workplace. As a wife of someone with epilepsy we have personally been impacted by the lack of education in the workplace for seizure safety. We are the fortunate ones to have gone 10 years seizure free but many do not and seizures are a daily challenge. We have been in situations where if my husband and felt a seizure coming on he would call and hide in a safe place until I could arrive because he feared what others at work would do or think. We also have had situations where the wrong safety measures were performed that caused more harm then care. These are situations no spouse ever wants to be in as it’s very fearful when your not present snd no one has the knowledge to help your significant other. In my medical profession I have come across numerous individuals that still believe “old wives tales” and outdated education is the way to treat seizures. In the future when my husband goes into work or when my son is old enough to work I want both of them and the other Members of the Epilepsy community to be able to goto work safely. Epilepsy has had a bad stigma for years and it’s time to break this cycle. Members in the Epilepsy community can live a normal life and have the right to work. My Husband has been a firefighter for 16 years and is very educated in the field. We never have let Epilepsy defeat him in his career or personal life. We have been put in some uncomfortable situations and had to deal with negative backlash at times. Instead of giving up we educate others and fight on! Even from someone who saves lives his life is just as important to save too. I ask that you support HB1178 to provide seizure education in the workplace.

Say NO to the bills that take away Collective Bargaining. Employees in the state of VA deserve Collective Bargaining. Teachers, firefighters and Policeman deserve a position in determining what happens in their profession. For too long they have had to sit back and let others who are not part of their profession, decide what happens in their profession. Give them a voice to determine what is in the best interest for their profession. Teachers work day and night to provide what is in the best interest of students- no one knows better then they do how to achieve this- they deserve a voice in the decision-making We will lose the best teachers, firefighters and policemen if we take away this critical opportunity for them to have a voice in their professions. Say NO to the bills that take away Collective Bargaining.

Good morning honorable members of the Committee, Massachusetts is often said to have the strongest public schools in the nation. Did you also know that Massachusetts Educators also have strong collective bargaining rights. Massachusetts invests in education. With the current staffing shortages, show Virginia families and educators that you are in strong support of education by supporting collective bargaining rights. Virginia educators earn 7k below the national average and many are abandoning the profession. Can you blame them? Sincerely Brian McGovern

To Our Honorable Delegates, I want to thank you all in advance for considering and then VOTING YES on HB1178. Our communities so need this bill to be passed. This bill being passed can ultimately make SUCH A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE in the lives of our population in VA who suffer with seizures, whether due to epilepsy or other disorders. SUCH A SIMPLE INSTRUCTIONAL POSTER being posted in workplaces has the potential to take away the fears of loved ones whose child or adult relatives are in the workplace or are out and about living their lives and happen to suffer a seizure! It literally WILL SAVE LIVES! My husband suffers from epilepsy due to a fall he suffered while in college. One in 10 people are diagnosed with seizures; 1 in 26 are diagnosed with epilepsy. That could be one of YOUR OWN LOVED ONES. Let's take this out of the shadows. PLEASE VOTE YES ON HB1178. Sincerely, Kathleen Evans

We know what are students need more than anyone. I work out Special Education students every day. They always asking why do we have to do this or that. They ask why people who don't know them make them take test they know that they will pass. I want to speak for these students who fight a different type of battle every day. Let us who know what to do have a say. Most of you have no idea what special needs children fights every day because you have never been around my students.

My daughter has epilepsy and has had multiple seizures at work. Her epilepsy does not limit her ability to do her job however each instance of her having a seizure is almost like ground hog day all over again in that new employees who have not seen her have a seizure are not sure what to do. Placing this poster in all work places will make her safer and help others know how to respond to a seizure. I especially like the "Call 911 if..." part of the poster. Since her employer and her peers know she has epilepsy there is NO need to call 911 when she has a seizure. However due to lack of knowledge an administrator insisted on calling 911 during a seizure. A seizure is embarrassing enough without being surrounded by EMT's and fire fighters during postictal state after the seizure. She is able to continue working once she has had her seizure and recovers right after the seizure. As a regional director for Epilepsy Foundation of Virginia I hear of instances where employers and coworkers do not know how to respond to a seizure. Witnessing a seizure can be frightening the first time you see someone have a clonic tonic type seizure however, having a simple poster telling people how to respond to a seizure would be helpful. Please support this bill, the more people are educated on the simple steps of reacting to a seizure will reduce the stress and anxiety of the people of have epilepsy and are afraid to be out in public due to the lack of knowledge about epilepsy. BTW-Stress and Anxiety are two common triggers for epileptic episodes so we can educate all and help reduce onset seizure activity at the same time is a Win Win situation.

The price of energy affects the poor and working man much more than it does any rich politician or or entitled class. The idiocy espoused by the Biden administration and the leftist politicians in America is it is not just laughable, it is anti-American and impacts impacts each one of us in a negative way. Stop the spread of communism in our country. Put America First. Let us together make America Great Again.

These bills will repeal educators' progress toward gaining collective bargaining. They will silence educators' voices. School decisions will not be able to capitalize on the experiences and skills of their experts in their school systems, the educators. Why deny educators a seat at the table? Why squelch expert input? Educators are the experts in our schools. Bargaining with educators benefits our students' learning conditions. It improves educator working conditions, and ultimately benefits our Virginia communities. Bring the experts to the table. I urge you to vote no on these bills. Sincerely,

My daughter has epilepsy and has had 2 seizures at work. Her epilepsy does not limit her ability to do her job well. She is well respected by her employers and she has received recognition from her peers for making a difference. Placing this poster in all work places will make her safer and help others know how to respond to a seizure. I especially like the "Call 911 if..." part of the poster. Since her employer and her peers know she has epilepsy there is NO need to call 911 when she has a seizure. However due to lack of knowledge an administrator insisted on calling 911 during a seizure. A seizure is embarrassing enough without coming to surrounded by EMT's and fire fighters. As a leader in a local support group I hear of instances where employers and coworkers do not know how to respond to a seizure. Witnessing a seizure can be frightening. Having a simple poster telling people how to respond to a seizure would be helpful. Please support this bill.

Quoting from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8051941/ “The History of Epilepsy: From Ancient Mystery to Modern Misconception” by Muacevic and Adler: “Societal knowledge and perception of epilepsy have been directly correlated to the successful treatment of epilepsy…. In essence, the more that is understood about epilepsy by the public, the better the lives are for people with epilepsy.” First Aid knowledge is one of the tools which enhance employability of people with epilepsy, while also protecting their health when a health incident occurs. This bill is simply good public policy.

I experienced discrimination while working at my place of employment because of my epilepsy. It was used against me to help terminate me from my job. It was stated that I was dangerous to others at the workplace when actually it was a place that dealth with people with health conditions. It was not fair to me at all and I tried to educate management about this but they would not listen. I was forced to work from home and then it was stated that my work was not sufficient. None of this was true.

My name is Peggy Hartley. I currently care for an epileptic student in York County schools. My family owns a private business, also. I urge you to support HB 1178 to provide First Aid instruction to businesses. I believe it is vital for seizure patients to have the assurance of safety in the event of a seizure in public places. By providing basic first aid instructions for employees or in the form of a poster, visible to the public, seizure patients can be cared for until medical personnel arrives. By providing the safety of informed care, seizure patients can feel comfortable in any setting. Thank you for your support!

The Epilepsy Foundation of Virginia, representing more than 84,800 people living with epilepsy, supports this bill. In addition to the epilepsy community we represent, 1 in 10 people are affected by a seizure at some point in their life. Given the prevalence of seizures, it is common sense that every workplace have a seizure first aid sign.

I am in support of this.

Back in the mid-60s I was erroneously taught to do the 2 things that are only listed on the DO NOT DO list as my aunt had epilepsy. The general public NEEDS to know what to do and what not to do. I urge you to do the job for which you were elected: our biding. Thanks you for your willingness to serve.

This bill is so important to the safety and livelihood of those living with this- usually invisible- disease. The previous bill passed in schools was an enormous and great step, and now that step needs to be taken further. There is no reason or excuse not to pass this bill. Thank you.

The Arc of Virginia supports HB 1178. Many people with developmental disabilities experience seizures. The Bill will increase access to employment for people with disabilities by helping to build workplaces where people can feel safer knowing their teammates have access to information on how to respond in the event that they have a seizure while at work without burden on businesses. Thank you

Say NO to the bills that take away Collective Bargaining. Employees in the state of VA deserve Collective Bargaining. Teachers, firefighters and Policeman deserve a position in determining what happens in their profession. For too long they have had to sit back and let others who are not part of their profession, decide what happens in their profession. Give them a voice to determine what is in the best interest for their profession. Teachers work day and night to provide what is in the best interest of students- no one knows better then they do how to achieve this- they deserve a voice in the decision-making We will lose the best teachers, firefighters and policemen if we take away this critical opportunity for them to have a voice in their professions. Say NO to the bills that take away Collective Bargaining.

Good morning honorable members of the Committee, Massachusetts is often said to have the strongest public schools in the nation. Did you also know that Massachusetts Educators also have strong collective bargaining rights. Massachusetts invests in education. With the current staffing shortages, show Virginia families and educators that you are in strong support of education by supporting collective bargaining rights. Virginia educators earn 7k below the national average and many are abandoning the profession. Can you blame them? Sincerely Brian McGovern

We know what are students need more than anyone. I work out Special Education students every day. They always asking why do we have to do this or that. They ask why people who don't know them make them take test they know that they will pass. I want to speak for these students who fight a different type of battle every day. Let us who know what to do have a say. Most of you have no idea what special needs children fights every day because you have never been around my students.

The price of energy affects the poor and working man much more than it does any rich politician or or entitled class. The idiocy espoused by the Biden administration and the leftist politicians in America is it is not just laughable, it is anti-American and impacts impacts each one of us in a negative way. Stop the spread of communism in our country. Put America First. Let us together make America Great Again.

These bills will repeal educators' progress toward gaining collective bargaining. They will silence educators' voices. School decisions will not be able to capitalize on the experiences and skills of their experts in their school systems, the educators. Why deny educators a seat at the table? Why squelch expert input? Educators are the experts in our schools. Bargaining with educators benefits our students' learning conditions. It improves educator working conditions, and ultimately benefits our Virginia communities. Bring the experts to the table. I urge you to vote no on these bills. Sincerely,

HB 1201 Unemployment benefits should be carefully controlled. We must avoid providing disincentives to work.

HB 118 Yes, include solar!

HB 1243 Mammography must be optional, based on the woman's choice. For a lot of thinking women it is wrong (does not make sense) to invade breasts with radiation in an effort to "detect" breast cancer.

HB 126 Yes, by all means.....Proton therapy works, I think.

HB 1288 Yes, by all means.....And rate reviews must allow for the power of solar to help us save the environment.

HB 153 Yes, by all means.....no state funds should be paid to workers illegally impaired.

HB 1160 I am in favor of this----a necessity nowadays to keep our communities healthy.

HB 263 If this bill will help to ensure that banks will be able to help people save money in virtual currency and add that to FDIC-like assurances for saving consumers......it has my blessing.

HB 225 -- It is a good idea to carefully define this disorder in the bill. Make sure NOT to simply repeat psychiatric jargon in the wording of the law, or it will be uninterpretable by the public that is being served. At a minimum, provide a clear definition of autism in plain English in the bill.

Virginians cannot afford - nor is it viable - to go to all electric. Electricity uses natural gas. Keep these nonsensical commie ideas out of VA. Keep and protect our right to use natural gas in Virginia.

What I don't get is...why are Republicans behind it? I thought that one of the Republican Party principles was to keep the government out of our lives. Now it looks like Republicans are going to tell me what I can put in my kitchen! What's next - no microwaves? Appliances that are not made in the USA? Where is this headed? And Stanford just published a study in the journal Environmental Science and Technology that shows that gas burning stoves pose a greater risk to the planet and public health than previously thought - and that 3/4 of the methane emissions occurred when the gas stoves were turned off. Who can explain this to me??

I recently replaced my gas cooktop with an electric induction cooktop, and I couldn't be more delighted with it. (I have spent time as a professional cook and cook daily now.) Industry spin has led consumers to believe that they can't live without gas. Reality is different, and there is no reason to be burning methane in our homes, polluting our indoor air, and having an extraordinary amount of this greenhouse gas escaping at every step of its delivery. This is a Koch-funded model bill from the American Legislative Exchange Council and is a protectionist move for the fossil-fuel industry. They pollute for free and profit mightily with what they claim is affordable energy. Electrification of our homes is a win for the consumer. Vote NO on HB1257. Thank you.

Thank you for considering Bill 1257. I am very much in favor of the proposed bill. This bill would prohibit municipalities from passing an ordinance or imposing a restrictive building code that would deny consumers from acquiring and or using natural gas within their boundaries. I appreciate your consideration. We need fuel choice.

On behalf of Environment Virginia, I am urging your opposition to HB 1257. If passed, this bill would hinder communities in our state from taking action to tap into the full potential of renewable energy. This would switch Virginia from making progress on clean energy to trying to fight climate change with one hand tied behind our backs. We urge you to oppose it. All Virginians need clean air to breathe, clean water to drink and a liveable climate. In a greener, healthier world, we would conserve more, use the energy we have more wisely and efficiently and rely only on sources of energy that are clean, renewable and leave less environmental damage in their wake. To make that vision a reality, one key step is to repower our homes with clean, renewable energy. That means taking steps to replace fossil fuel-powered appliances with efficient, electric technologies. Today, electric heat pumps can heat and cool homes more efficiently and cheaply than gas or oil furnaces. Induction cook stoves heat food more efficiently, more safely and cause less indoor air-pollution than stoves that burn methane gas. In fact, installing fully electric systems in homes and commercial buildings now makes financial sense for owners in almost all new construction. Virginia has an important role to play. According to Environment America Research and Policy Center’s Electric Buildings 2021 report, completely repowering our state’s homes and businesses with electricity by 2050 would result in a reduction of 6.7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, the equivalent of taking more than 1.4 million cars off the road. That would mean cleaner air to breathe both inside and outside, cleaner water to drink, and safer living spaces for our loved ones. The benefits of electrifying buildings coupled with the urgency of climate change make it more critical than ever that we use the tools at our disposal to make sure that the homes, office buildings and other buildings of tomorrow don’t set us up with the same problems that plague yesterday’s buildings: the environmental, health and consumer hazards of directly combusting fossil fuels in our homes and businesses for heating, cooling and cooking. If passed, this bill would slow down the deployment of clean energy technologies and keep us hooked on fossil fuels -- even if there is strong statewide support for climate action and clean energy. We need a range of tools to prepare for the future. HB 1257 would take away some of those tools by revoking our decision-makers’ ability to restrict the use of fossil fuels such as methane gas in our homes and other buildings. We urge you to oppose HB 1257 and instead choose a path that gives us a resounding say in how we power our homes, businesses and communities. Virginians should maintain our freedom to choose efficient, electric buildings, and we should continue to lead the country towards a clean, renewable energy future. We respectfully urge you to vote no on HB 1257.

The Virginia League of Conservation Voters opposes this legislation that would preemptively prohibits all state and local government entities from preventing natural gas in new buildings, slowing the transition to clean energy. This creates a burdensome blockade in the path to a net-zero-emissions economy by 2045. HB 1257 not only blocks localities but also authorities like the Department of Environmental Quality and The State Corporation Commission.

AdvanSix is a leading manufacturer of Nylon 6, a polymer resin which is a synthetic material used by our customers to produce fibers, filaments, engineered plastics and films that, in turn, are used in such end-products as PPE, ventilator tubing, carpets, automotive and electronic components, sports apparel, food packaging and other industrial applications. It is also the world’s largest single-site producer of ammonia sulfate fertilizer with on-site agronomists and technical support. Several of the products produced by ASIX have been deemed essential by the Department of Homeland Security. In Virginia, AdvanSix operates two large Virginia operations with more than 1,200 employees in Hopewell and Chesterfield. AdvanSix supports House Bill 1257 (Kilgore). Natural gas is a critical to AdvanSix both for energy but also as a raw material. AdvanSix is in a unique position, which is that a generally known source of energy is a raw material. Natural Gas is used to generate intermediate products supporting the ultimate production on Nylon 6 with fertilizer as a by product. It is critical that we maintain our access to affordable, reliable, secure, and sustainable natural gas service in Virginia.

The price of energy affects the poor and working man much more than it does any rich politician or or entitled class. The idiocy espoused by the Biden administration and the leftist politicians in America is it is not just laughable, it is anti-American and impacts impacts each one of us in a negative way. Stop the spread of communism in our country. Put America First. Let us together make America Great Again.

Despite the moniker, so-called natural gas is nothing more than another fossil fuel. Gas contributes heavily to air and water pollution and climate change. This bill will undermine the goals laid out in the Virginia Clean Economy Act by locking Virginia into a fossil fuel powered future, halting building electrification efforts across all public entities. Burning excessive fossil fuel harms the environment,as well as Virginia’s residents. The production of air pollutants created by fossil fuel burning has contributed to increased risk of death from stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and respiratory illness among those exposed. And it is for these reasons, CCAN Action Fund opposes this bill HB1257.