Public Comments for 02/01/2022 Unknown Committee/Subcommittee
HB99 - Funeral service licensees, funeral directors, etc.; continuing education completion every 3 years.
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Dear Delegate, Protect religious freedom, vote YES for HB 306! Our religious freedoms do not end just because government bureaucrats declare a public health emergency. Our First Amendment rights apply at all times. Thank you, Kellie M. Good
Correction: Please vote YES for house bill 306! No one should be punished for exercising their right to religious freedom!!!!!
Please vote YES for house bill 106! No one should be punished for exercising their right to religious freedom!!!!!
I am really wanting you all not to pass this bill because Oxford House gives me a place to live at a price I can afford on disability it gives me stability Oxford House I would be homeless and if the bill does pass that means I rent would go up and I would be homeless again and I am doing very well I enjoy living in the Oxford House we have meetings once a week for our house and we have committee meetings and everything So please do not pass this bill I in begging you
HB102 - Prescriptions; off-label use.
Please move to report HB102 and 306, out of respect for those who have religious beliefs. This country has been known for religious tolerance, please vote to keep it that way.
I am writing in support of HB 306 to be heard in committee tomorrow morning, which will allow a religious exemption to vaccines during an epidemic. Religious exemptions exist so that citizens can act freely in mind, body and spirit. Even in a time of an epidemic, citizens must have the opportunity to act on their conscience whatever that may be. The Nuremberg Code requires bodily autonomy and informed consent for any medical treatments to one’s body. Having religious exemption makes sure that remains the rule of law. As we’ve seen over the last two years, government has retained control over persons and their bodies in a way that would make Thomas Jefferson role over in his grave. Let Virginia continue to be religiously free, as the birthplace of religious freedom. Support HB 306.
Dear Delegate, Protect religious freedom, vote YES for HB 306! Our religious freedoms do not end just because government bureaucrats declare a public health emergency. Our First Amendment rights apply at all times. Thank you, Kellie M. Good
Correction: Please vote YES for house bill 306! No one should be punished for exercising their right to religious freedom!!!!!
Please vote YES for house bill 106! No one should be punished for exercising their right to religious freedom!!!!!
HB102 everyone does it. HB306 people with religious beliefs can be accommodated.
HB102 codifies a practice that has been out there forever. HB306 move to report to respect religious beliefs (1st amendment). 783 for same reason.
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I am really wanting you all not to pass this bill because Oxford House gives me a place to live at a price I can afford on disability it gives me stability Oxford House I would be homeless and if the bill does pass that means I rent would go up and I would be homeless again and I am doing very well I enjoy living in the Oxford House we have meetings once a week for our house and we have committee meetings and everything So please do not pass this bill I in begging you
HB229 - Social determinants of health; VDH shall collect & analyze information including demographic data.
Dear Delegate, Protect religious freedom, vote YES for HB 306! Our religious freedoms do not end just because government bureaucrats declare a public health emergency. Our First Amendment rights apply at all times. Thank you, Kellie M. Good
Correction: Please vote YES for house bill 306! No one should be punished for exercising their right to religious freedom!!!!!
Please vote YES for house bill 106! No one should be punished for exercising their right to religious freedom!!!!!
I write on behalf of Virginia Health Catalyst board, staff, and partners - Virginia Health Catalyst is a statewide public health nonprofit committed to ensuring all Virginians have equitable access to comprehensive health care that is inclusive of oral health. We think it is important to codify the VDH role in health assessments and we support the amendment to include demographic information. Thank you!
The American Heart Association supports HB229. As part of our ongoing work to support and invest in health equity, it is important that we have accurate and consistent data to make well-informed decisions. For that reason we support HB229
Thank you for the opportunity to write in support of HB 229. This bill codifies work currently being done by the VDH to collect and publish information on social determinants of health. This data can help reveal underlying drivers of health and inform decision makers as interventions are being developed.
Our names are Erin Camia and Antonella Nicholas, and we are law students with the University of Virginia School of Law’s State and Local Government Policy Clinic, under the supervision of Professor Andy Block, and have been working with Delegate Coyner on House Bill 229. The views we express in this letter are our own, and not those of the law school or UVA. This bill will Provide valuable information and collection for communities to help with comprehensive health planning, especially in struggling communities where social determinants of health, like proximity to hospitals, and lack of access to transportation and broadband have such a negative impact on health outcomes. Give citizens the information and tools necessary to better understand the external factors impacting the health of their communities. Enshrine an important practice in law and ensure Virginians will be able to access this vital information in years to come - a move that the Virginia Department of Health supports. Social determinants of health are the conditions in the places people live and work that, beyond their own personal health situation, affect their health risks and outcomes. Put another way, social determinants track factors such as if someone lives in a food desert, or if their community is polluted, or if they have access to broadband services or not. HB 229 will ensure that healthcare providers and local leaders in all parts of the state continue to have access to information about which social determinants are impacting their particular communities - which will, in turn, help them craft local responses to these issues. By revealing and addressing the issues a doctor might not be able to fix or even see, social determinants of health reporting will act as a crucial first step in improving the health and wellness of all Virginians. And while this data will continue to be of value in all parts of the state, it will be of particular value to those communities whose disparately worse health outcomes are so closely connected to these social determinants. According to researchers from Texas Tech’s Institute for Rural and Community Health, the rural mortality rate in Virginia is 30% percent higher than in urban communities. And the COVID-19 pandemic revealed how at-risk poorer populations are – VDH reported that Virginians in the census tracts with the highest percentage of people living in poverty were 2.3 times more likely to die from the virus than those living in the richest census tracts. With the publication of social determinants of health data, citizens will be empowered to take control of their own health. Instead of being at the mercy of unknown external factors adversely affecting their health outcomes, they can explore and understand what social determinants are impacting their communities. And in being able to name the weaknesses in their communities, they will be empowered to advocate for improvements. While this collection and reporting by region and locality is an existing practice of the Department of Health, it is vitally important that this practice is enshrined in law and that it become a fixture of VDH’s work. This work is necessary to reveal what factors, beyond those that a doctor can discover, are making Virginians unhealthy and how we can address them. We have attached a PDF of this letter with additional explanation. In closing, we urge you to pass HB 229. Thank you for your consideration.
I am really wanting you all not to pass this bill because Oxford House gives me a place to live at a price I can afford on disability it gives me stability Oxford House I would be homeless and if the bill does pass that means I rent would go up and I would be homeless again and I am doing very well I enjoy living in the Oxford House we have meetings once a week for our house and we have committee meetings and everything So please do not pass this bill I in begging you
HB248 - Carrier & managed care health insurance plans; VDH to review efficiency & productivity, etc.
I am writing in support of HB 306 to be heard in committee tomorrow morning, which will allow a religious exemption to vaccines during an epidemic. Religious exemptions exist so that citizens can act freely in mind, body and spirit. Even in a time of an epidemic, citizens must have the opportunity to act on their conscience whatever that may be. The Nuremberg Code requires bodily autonomy and informed consent for any medical treatments to one’s body. Having religious exemption makes sure that remains the rule of law. As we’ve seen over the last two years, government has retained control over persons and their bodies in a way that would make Thomas Jefferson role over in his grave. Let Virginia continue to be religiously free, as the birthplace of religious freedom. Support HB 306.
Dear Delegate, Protect religious freedom, vote YES for HB 306! Our religious freedoms do not end just because government bureaucrats declare a public health emergency. Our First Amendment rights apply at all times. Thank you, Kellie M. Good
Correction: Please vote YES for house bill 306! No one should be punished for exercising their right to religious freedom!!!!!
Please vote YES for house bill 106! No one should be punished for exercising their right to religious freedom!!!!!
Please consider the results of this bill. Ultimately you are allowing decreased education and responsibility for people to practice medicine when they actually have no training to do so. This will learn to a class Denver if healthcare where only the rich or the nearly killed by providers without any medical education/training/responsibility (NP/PA) will be able to have access to medical care. Non physician providers were designed to extend not replace physicians. With this bill you will be replacing physicians. Additional bills that require increased and prolonging physician training demonstrates that you are aware of the difference in roles but have not looked into rate of opiod prescribers or antibiotic, numbers of required consults which delays medical care or rate of polypharmacy-- all of which are greater in an NP managed patient. Additionally, requiring medical doctors to carry increased financial responsibility will further deter physicians from considering practice in your state. This further limiting medical access. Studies show that increased NP autonomy does not increase rural access but does inflate cost of healthcare. To improve MEDICAL access, may I suggest creating a more physician friendly environment, one that supports them with the same-- or at least equal-- as not medically trained non physician providers. May I also recommend that unless you and your entire family consistently get the lower and poorer "healthcare" providers by NP, it is hypocritical and irresponsible for you to force this on the people in your state. And perhaps you should consider how your loyalty has been purchased.
I am really wanting you all not to pass this bill because Oxford House gives me a place to live at a price I can afford on disability it gives me stability Oxford House I would be homeless and if the bill does pass that means I rent would go up and I would be homeless again and I am doing very well I enjoy living in the Oxford House we have meetings once a week for our house and we have committee meetings and everything So please do not pass this bill I in begging you
HB278 - Community health assessments and community health improvement plans; impact on health of residents.
Dear Delegate, Protect religious freedom, vote YES for HB 306! Our religious freedoms do not end just because government bureaucrats declare a public health emergency. Our First Amendment rights apply at all times. Thank you, Kellie M. Good
Correction: Please vote YES for house bill 306! No one should be punished for exercising their right to religious freedom!!!!!
Please vote YES for house bill 106! No one should be punished for exercising their right to religious freedom!!!!!
Vote YES on HB 306
I am really wanting you all not to pass this bill because Oxford House gives me a place to live at a price I can afford on disability it gives me stability Oxford House I would be homeless and if the bill does pass that means I rent would go up and I would be homeless again and I am doing very well I enjoy living in the Oxford House we have meetings once a week for our house and we have committee meetings and everything So please do not pass this bill I in begging you
HB306 - Immunizations; authority of the Commissioner of Health, religious tenets or practices, exception.
While adding a religious exemption is a positive step forward as an exception to these powers, a better solution would be to remove the commissioner's power to mandate vaccines by amending Virginia Statute § 32.1-43. to strikeout the word "immunization" as shown below. § 32.1-43. Authority of State Health Commissioner to require quarantine, etc. The State Health Commissioner shall have the authority to require quarantine, isolation, decontamination, or treatment of any individual or group of individuals ... **Immunizations cause risk of injury and death. In 2011, the Supreme Court ruled them unavoidably unsafe. The Supreme Court of the United States. BRUESEWITZ ET AL. v. WYETH LLC, FKA WYETH, INC., ET AL. February, 22, 2011.
We would like to amend HB 306 by REMOVING the authority of the state health commission to mandate any vaccines under any circumstances. Amend HB22 in that we have the right to be free from any medical mandates in regards to vaccines. Amend HB 962 to state that all vaccine injuries must be reported and the pharmaceutical company will need to be responsible financially for any damages caused.
Please amend this bill for the following reasons. The Commissioner should not have the authority to require immunization. Only support systems that allow for fully informed consent prior to vaccination which includes the ability to deny or delay a vaccine without penalty. Vaccines can cause injury and death. While adding a religious exemption is a positive step forward as an exception to these powers, a better solution would be to remove the commissioner's power to mandate vaccines by amending Virginia Statute § 32.1-43. to strikeout the word "immunization" as shown below. § 32.1-43. Authority of State Health Commissioner to require quarantine, etc. The State Health Commissioner shall have the authority to require quarantine, isolation, immunization, decontamination, or treatment of any individual or group of individuals when he determines any such measure to be necessary to control the spread of any disease of public health importance and the authority to issue orders of isolation pursuant to Article 3.01 (§ 32.1-48.01 et seq.) of this chapter and orders of quarantine and orders of isolation under exceptional circumstances involving any communicable disease of public health threat pursuant to Article 3.02 (§ 32.1-48.05 et seq.) of this chapter. Thank you, Ninon Estinto
AMEND this is we are born free and according to the Constitution should not be forced in ANY WAY to have to get a vaccine. You will not and cannot require immunizations. NO TO MANDATES! They are illegal!
As a physician, mandating vaccines without safety data is dangerous. Look at the significant increase in morbidity reported recently by the military. This bill limits those who are sincerely naïve from inducing harm on the innocent. Please, pay attention.
Request that you continue to protect the rights of citizens to choose for themselves their health care decisions and NOT allow the government to require any citizen to comply with mandates for health care.
Article I Section XVI of the Commonwealth's Constitution seems quite plain and obvious regarding this matter. All Delegates when assuming office make a promise to never support a bill that violates the Constitution nor oppose a bill that supports it. HB306 supports the Commonwealth's Constitution. Therefore, HB306 must pass without hesitation and without amendment.
Dear House Health, Welfare, and Institutions Committee, I am writing to express my support for HB 306. I am including further thoughts for consideration below. HB 306, AMEND: Allows religious exemption to vaccine mandates by the State Health Commissioner during an epidemic. • The Commissioner should not have the authority to require immunization. I do not support vaccine mandates and only support systems that allow for fully informed consent prior to vaccination which includes the ability to deny or delay a vaccine without penalty. Vaccines can cause injury and death. • While adding a religious exemption is a positive step forward as an exception to these powers, a better solution would be to remove the commissioner's power to mandate vaccines by amending Virginia Statute § 32.1-43. to strikeout the word "immunization" as shown in the edited passage below. § 32.1-43. Authority of State Health Commissioner to require quarantine, etc. The State Health Commissioner shall have the authority to require quarantine, isolation, " ", decontamination, or treatment of any individual or group of individuals when he determines any such measure to be necessary to control the spread of any disease of public health importance and the authority to issue orders of isolation pursuant to Article 3.01 (§ 32.1-48.01 et seq.) of this chapter and orders of quarantine and orders of isolation under exceptional circumstances involving any communicable disease of public health threat pursuant to Article 3.02 (§ 32.1-48.05 et seq.) of this chapter. Code 1950, § 32-8; 1979, c. 711; 1990, c. 958; 2004, cc. 773, 1021.
Regarding HB306, it needs to be AMENDED please. As I understand, this bill allows religious exemption to vaccine mandates by the State Health Commissioner during an epidemic. The Commissioner should not have the authority to require immunization. I do not support vaccine mandates, and I only support systems that allow for fully informed consent prior to vaccination which includes the ability to deny or delay a vaccine without penalty. Vaccines can cause injury and death. I agree that while adding a religious exemption is a positive step forward as an exception to these powers, a better solution would be to remove the commissioner's power to mandate vaccines by amending Virginia Statute § 32.1-43. to strikeout the word "immunization" as shown in brackets below. § 32.1-43. Authority of State Health Commissioner to require quarantine, etc. The State Health Commissioner shall have the authority to require quarantine, isolation . . . DELETE THE FOLLOWING WORD IN BRACKETS {immunization}, . . . . decontamination, or treatment of any individual or group of individuals when he determines any such measure to be necessary to control the spread of any disease of public health importance and the authority to issue orders of isolation pursuant to Article 3.01 (§ 32.1-48.01 et seq.) of this chapter and orders of quarantine and orders of isolation under exceptional circumstances involving any communicable disease of public health threat pursuant to Article 3.02 (§ 32.1-48.05 et seq.) of this chapter. Code 1950, § 32-8; 1979, c. 711; 1990, c. 958; 2004, cc. 773, 1021. Thank you for all that you do for the people of our great state of Virginia. I am praying for you.
I urge our delegates and members of the committee to support HB306. There should never be any emergency that is used to suspend our God-given, Constitutionally-protected rights. The past 2 years have been shameful and have harmed many with bad policies. All people are created equal and have certain unalienable rights endowed by our Creator and protected by the Constitution of Virginia and of the united States, and bodily autonomy is very high on that list of rights. If we have no say in what goes into (or on) our bodies, we really have no rights. Our founders knew the importance of these natural or God-given rights that no government has authority to remove, yet we've seen over the last 2 years how some of those who were elected to serve the people have abused their positions. We've just witnessed 2 years of inexcusable abuses in the name of "safety." Benjamin Franklin was pretty clear about people trading Liberty for temporary safety not deserving either. We must guard Liberty jealously in order to keep what remains of the Constitutional Republic that has afforded the most Liberty to people than anywhere in the world. We were to be the shining example to all nations. Dr. Benjamin Rush, physician, medical professor, an early surgeon general to all Continental armies, and signer of the Declaration of Independence said, "Unless we put medical freedom into the Constitution, the time will come when medicine will organize into an undercover dictatorship to restrict the art of healing to one class of Men and deny equal privileges to others; the Constitution of the Republic should make a Special privilege for medical freedoms as well as religious freedom." There are still injustices needing to be addressed, like military members and healthcare workers being denied Religious Exemptions to COVID19 vaccines and other unlawful measures. Honestly, no one should need an exemption to refuse a medical intervention. What happened to informed consent (or refusal)? No means No. We need to right these wrongs and assure that they are not repeated. It's past time for all who hold office, elected to speak on behalf of the people and protect their rights, remember the sworn oath to uphold and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign or domestic. Support bills like HB306 and others that further protect the rights of the people.
Please move to report HB102 and 306, out of respect for those who have religious beliefs. This country has been known for religious tolerance, please vote to keep it that way.
I am writing in support of HB 306 to be heard in committee tomorrow morning, which will allow a religious exemption to vaccines during an epidemic. Religious exemptions exist so that citizens can act freely in mind, body and spirit. Even in a time of an epidemic, citizens must have the opportunity to act on their conscience whatever that may be. The Nuremberg Code requires bodily autonomy and informed consent for any medical treatments to one’s body. Having religious exemption makes sure that remains the rule of law. As we’ve seen over the last two years, government has retained control over persons and their bodies in a way that would make Thomas Jefferson role over in his grave. Let Virginia continue to be religiously free, as the birthplace of religious freedom. Support HB 306.
Please vote yes in HB 306. Our religious freedoms must be protected. There are aborted fetuses used in vaccine research and development.
Support the amended bill to allow for a religious exemption to vaccines during an epidemic. It is imperative that every citizen has a right to research ingredients and review the research process of the vaccine to see if aborted fetuses were used. Christians do not believe in abortion and do not support injecting a product that has aborted fetal tissue in the product or was used to develop the product. The decision as to what I inject into my body is between me and my creator. Government must respect religious exemptions.
We need to keep the religious exemption in Virginia. There are a lot of us that dont agree with some of the ingredients that they are putting in vaccines and that goes for all of them not just the covid mrna gene therapy one. the other vaccines have what they call HK293 . in case you dont know what that is here is a brief explanation on just doing a normal search. What does HEK-293 stand for? Human embryonic kidney 293 cells, also often referred to as HEK 293, HEK-293, 293 cells, or less precisely as HEK cells, are a specific cell line originally derived from human embryonic kidney cells grown in tissue culture. HEK 293 cells have been widely used in cell biology research for many years,... Now this human embryo comes from abortions which to many religions is against their religious beliefs. and it is not right to force these people to take these vaccines with this in it. plus it is and always should be up to the parent or guardian to state what they want put into their childs body. it is not up to the state. We need medical and religious exemptions in VA. When parents take their children to get these vaccines they are not told what is in them. which to me is against the Nuremberg code. We also need for the hcq and ivermectin to be able to be prescribed in VA as well. to hold these from the VA citizens should be treated as crimes against humanity.
I am writing to implore the members of the Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee to VOTE YES on HB 306 supporting religious freedom for individuals as they make health decisions for themselves and/or for their children. To do otherwise is a violation of a fundamental right enshrined in the Constitution of this great nation. Under no circumstance should one be forced to violate their religious beliefs. House Bill 306 would enshrine religious exemption in law and that is the right thing to do. VOTE YES on HB 306!!
Act now to preserve our religious freedom from encroachment. Vote yes to HB 306.
Please vote YES on Bill 306 to protect our religious freedom enshrined in the Constitution.
Please support this bill, thank you
Yes for HB 306!
Please no vaccine mandates!!!
Please vote YES to HB 306. We the people of Virginia value religious freedom and the right to choose what’s best for one’s own health.
Please Vote YES to Bill HB 306 to protect our rights and religious freedoms and stop the tyranny of mandating vaccines!!! Thank you!
Please vote in favor of House Bill 306.
The State Health Commissioner should never have the power to mandate a vaccine on every single man, woman and child in the Commonwealth of Virginia any time government bureaucrats declare a public health emergency. Failure to comply with this tyranny could lead to misdemeanor charges and financial penalties of up to $25,000 per violation. This is unconstitutional and unacceptable. House Bill 306 would preserve religious exemption in law and necessarily abd justifiably limit the Commissioner's power. I strongly urge our state elected delegates to pass House Bill 306 NOW!
HB 306 is necessary to create a religious exemption from a potential vaccine mandate from the State Health Commissioner. It should be a citizen's choice and decision as to whether a vaccine is in his or her best interest. Please support democracy by supporting this bill.
Please support HB 306 for religious exemptions for vaccines. It is imperative that we retain our religious freedom in Virginia. The covid shot was made with stem cells from aborted babies. It is against the scriptures to be vaccinated with this gene therapy. We know it has nothing to do with covid. The purpose of this gene therapy is to subjugate the people and put an unfair tax on us if we refuse the treatment.
Please vote yes HB306
VOTE YES ON HB 306
Please vote FOR this bill!
Our constitutional right of religious freedom needs to be upheld.
Please vote yes and protect us and our freedom.
I’m FOR this
No attachment. Please vote to keep our religious exemptions. Thanks.
Dear Delegate, Protect religious freedom, vote YES for HB 306! Our religious freedoms do not end just because government bureaucrats declare a public health emergency. Our First Amendment rights apply at all times. Thank you, Kellie M. Good
Please please support Bill HB306! This Bill made it possible for my son to continue to attend Virginia Tech in 2021. He’s worked very hard to be at this University and we have fought hard this year for Freedom of Choice. Thank you for all you do for the state of Virginia and please keep and make this Bill HB306 possible for others who believe in Religious Freedom. Thank you! Katie Furr
Vote yes for religious freedom!!!
vote YES on HB 306!! My religious convicts should be upheld!! Thank you!!
Please vote YES for HB 306. We cannot allow tyrannical overreach of government on a citizens private medical decisions. Religious freedom is essential to a free society. History had already shown that we cannot entrust governments and institutions with decisions about our health.
I am submitting my support for this bill. We must protect our religious freedom and Freitas' bill will help push back on an ever encroaching government seeking to limit our freedoms.
We are people of faith and feel that everyone has a right to decide what goes into their body Therefore we are for religious exemptions against the vaccine mandates Voting For Religious Exemptions
We should all have the right to our rights Therefore I am FOR HB 306
We stand against tyranny of any kind, but we stand even stronger when you come after our bodies! You must stand up for religious exemptions and protect our religious freedom rights!
Vote yes for bill 306!!!
Please vote yes for these. People should have a choice on what to inject into their bodies and the bodies of their children. I for one will not inject a experimental vaccine or one that contains aborted babies. I feel abortion in murder and I will not condone that.
Stop the medical tyranny!
I strongly encourage you to vote YES on this bill. Religious freedom in all it’s forms should be respected in our State and Nation. Thank you kindly.
People's rights to religious freedom must be upheld including people's rights to decide what goes in his/her body including vaccines, medical procedures, etc. Please uphold people's religious beliefs and ability to choose whether or not they want vaccines even if your idea of health and reasoning is different.
VOTE YES to Bill HB306
Please vote yes in support of religious freedom and Liberty. Thank you. Laurie Castonguay
We are FOR house bill 306. It is important to have religious liberty and protection of those rights in the United States as well as in my personal home state of Virginia. The constitution protects my right to religious freedom and that includes vaccinations as well. This is in regard to any vaccine that the state health commissioner or any other government official tries to mandate which goes against my religious beliefs as a citizen of the United States of America. Thank you.
Correction: Please vote YES for house bill 306! No one should be punished for exercising their right to religious freedom!!!!!
Please vote YES for house bill 106! No one should be punished for exercising their right to religious freedom!!!!!
As a believer in Jesus Christ it becomes incumbent upon me to Be a steward of my body as if it were the temple of the Holy Spirit according to: 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (NKJV) Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. I have investigated these experimental mRNA "vaccines" to a degree sufficient to understand that human abortive tissue was involved in their creation. The abortion of humans is tantamount to murder in my belief system. I cannot live before my God and inject this substance into my body which is His temple.
I feel that this bill orders a choice for American people
I support this bill
This is vital to our freedoms as Americans.
Vote YES on HB 306. Free Americans already have the right to govern our own decisions about health, including medical and religious exemptions. Each individual has unique circumstances that mandates do not take into account. Mandates are tyranny and need to be rejected.
Please vote in favor of protecting religious freedom
I urge you to consider passing Bill 306 to ensure the religious freedoms of those who hold the strongest values to their inalienable rights to decide what goes into their bodies and their childrens bodies and support religious freedoms given to us by God and not government. There is no such thing as freedom if we don’t have the ability to individually decide our own health decisions.
Our family and community strongly support this bill to provide religious exemptions. Thank you! The Dalrymples on Nokesville
YES
My name is Sarah Sanchez, and I am a resident of Prince William County. I urge our delegates to support HB 306 in protecting religious exemptions during an epidemic. I have always followed the recommended vaccination schedules from our doctor, but watching the forced vaccines during the covid pandemic has concerned me. The way that religious exemptions were denied in the healthcare system, the military, etc. is truly terrifying. Liberties should not be set aside in times of crisis, or leaders will be given the incentive to create crises all the time. Denying these liberties thus far has shaken my confidence in our government and in our healthcare system. The very powers that have tried to force these vaccines on people are held harmless for any negative outcome. Unless we act now to protect religious freedom, we risk broadening the numbers of people who would have to object to such treatments (not only because of their ingredients, but because the unethical ways they are developed and delivered) for their convictions' sake. Please protect religious exemptions and support HB306.
Please vote Yes on HB 306. Our First Amendment rights apply at all times. Our religious freedoms don’t end just because government bureaucrats declare a public health emergency.
Please vote YES for HB 306. It's a shame this bill even needs to be considered but we have seen how dangerous politics have overrun Virginian's freedoms over the past two years. Our religious freedom does not end just because government bureaucrats declare a public health emergency. It's sad that we even need to advocate for this bill to be passed in VA but the truth is that people are no longer as trusting of governments and legislators as we (collectively) had been in the past. You were elected to protect and represent your constituents, voting YES to HB 306 ensures that the rights of all of your constituents and Virginians are protected.
Please vote yes on this bill
Please vote YES for our religious freedoms especially regarding healthcare decisions. After the last two years, it is painfully obvious that those decisions cannot be a one size fits all mandate.
Please vote YES on HB306 as religious Exemption is an enormous importance to our faith. We do not want forced vaccinations and every religion should be respected! Our founding fathers fought for this so let's honor this basic right, the right for religion! Thank you!
Giving the health commissioner the unilateral power to mandate (not a LAW) a medical procedure (vaccine) while ignoring religious beliefs goes against the spirit of the law documented in the US constitution and the civil rights act. It also conflicts with several commonwealth statutes. This tyrannical practice needs to end. Support HB 306.
Vote yes on religious freedom and stop covid vaccine mandates. They are hurting Virginia. Yes HB 306.
Please pass HB 306. The first amendment to the Constitution says in part, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." We have the right to claim our religious exemption so PLEASE SUPPORT HB 306. Thank you! Jeanne Ostrich
We should have our rights upheld no matter the circumstances. We should always have the option of religious exemption even if a health emergency is called. Going against this goes against our founding.
Please vote yes to protect our freedoms and choices that we make for our children.
I urge you to vote YES on HB 306 - keeping personal medical decisions in the hands of individuals, and if minors, their parents - whose authority is not to be usurped by any state, local, or federal government.
Over the last two years local, state, and federal government have worked diligently to erode free United States citizens constitutional rights under the guise of COVID. It is time for politicians and lawmakers to respect their oath of office and realize that they work FOR the people and not the party. I respectfully request that free citizens religious freedom rights be preserved and that those rights not be circumvented through the use of emergency powers and under the guise COVID. The government is supposed to operate of, by, and for the people and it has gone off track.
I implore you to protect the rights of religious freedom that the Constitution of the United States allows at a state level. Do not allow the Virginia Health Commissioner to infringe upon our bodily autonomy, so that we can make medical decisions for ourselves in guidance with our religious beliefs
Protections for a person's religious beliefs are enshrined in our Constitution and it is a violation of those protections to provide anything less than full and lenient exemptions based on religious or conscientious objector standards. The government does NOT own our bodies, and there should be NO MANDATE to put *anything* in our bodies against our will. Government is not an entity - a government is merely made up of people working in various roles. Why should those people have any say over what I do with my body? Are they not fallible? Do they not have political biases? Are they more concerned with my individual impact on the society around me than I am? Are they all more intelligent than I? What gives these people the right to PERMANENTLY change my body? YES to Religious exemptions ... To ANY and EVERY exemption. NO to vaccine mandates, vaccine passports, ANY vaccine-based limitations. Thank you.
Protect religious freedom, vote YES for HB 306! Our religious freedoms do not end just because government bureaucrats declare a public health emergency. Our First Amendment rights apply at all times.
You must PASS HB306! No citizen or legal resident of this state, or country for that matter, should be forced to accept any kind of medical treatment. Religious exemptions should be accepted and made part of Virginia’s law. Not to pass this law would invite even more tyranny than we have experienced during this so-called pandemic. The people have spoken! Represent US!
VOTE YES on House Bill 306! The State Health Commissioner currently has the power to mandate an injection for every single man, woman and child in the Commonwealth of Virginia any time government bureaucrats declare a public health emergency! Failure to comply could lead to misdemeanor charges and financial penalties of up to $25,000 per violation! This is tyranny and unacceptable. House Bill 306 would enshrine religious exemption in law (from a potential Commissioner's order, and limit the Commissioner's power). As with the current Covid19 situation new facts come to light every day that destroy yesterday's information, making them false, misinformed, or plainly wrong. Every person is responsible for their own health and the associated expenses with it. If someone gets hurt by a misinformed Health Commissioner's mandate, none you, nor the government will pay for that person's medical bills or lost wages or ruined life. It MUST be an individual choice.
As a free country we have the right what we do with our lives. This includes our bodies. As with medication, vaccines are not a one size fits all medical procedure. As a human being we have the right and freedom to decide what medical procedures we have, this is no different and should stay that way. Vote YES for HB306
Vote FOR!
I am Voting yes! Religious exemptions are important to maintain as a balance between state and church.
Religious beliefs are protected under the constitution, regardless of emergency or situation. This is a fantastic law to bring in to protect Americans against things that violate the constitution. Please stand with our countries values, and give power to the people!
I urge all of you to vote YES on House Bill 306.
I strongly support Bill 306. It is unethical and a violation of what freedoms we have in this country to limit religious exemptions for vaccinations.
While I understand the importance of being safe from COVID-19 and other variants, I would like to point out that America is the land of the free. Mandatory vacation does not sound very free to me. Please do everything in your power to not make this vaccine mandatory!
Freedom to choose what goes into our bodies is a fundamental right. Please uphold this. Everyone’s bodies are different and medical decisions should never be governed by the government but should be assessed individually with a persons doctor.
My faith, my religious believe are very true, real and important for my life and my children please help us to keep our freedom religious rights
Vote “Yes”! It is insane that we even need a bill to clarify our constitutional religious rights and rights over our own person! “My body, my rights,” is something that has been ranted for decades and lifted up by many to protect themselves. The excuse of “emergency” status should never override someone’s rights over their body, their children’s body and their religious convictions.
I ask that you vote YES to HB306. No one person should have the authority to demand that we inject anything into our bodies that we are not comfortable with. Please vote yes so that Religious Exemption can always be an option regarding tyrannical edicts. Thank you.
Religious freedom is of utmost importance. It is a direct violation of our Constitution to force someone to do something that violates religious freedom. Please vote for religious exemption.
Please pass this bill. No one should be forced into putting experimental drugs into their body, especially ones that are so quickly concocted for a pandemic without the appropriate amount of trials, testing and research done. My employer and my government does not control my body,
I request that HB-306 be voted ‘YES’ on and passed to protect the religious freedom guaranteed to every citizen of the great common wealth of Virginia. Please. 🙏🏽🧘🏽♂️🙏🏽
Freedom to follow one’s conscience is essential to the God given rights of the individual. Please vote “YES” on HB 306!!
I am astonished that this violation of rights is still being considered. When we start to consider taking away any of the liberties our country was founded on that is when we start destroying what has made this country great...a world leader. Why would this even be a consideration anymore? The Covid vaccine is not effective against the current variant anyway. I personally know more vaccinated people that have turned up positive for Covid-19 than unvaccinated. There has been a significant amount of data showing that this strain does not cause the same lower respiratory illness and inflammation. Corona viruses have been around for decades and will always be around. Just like any virus they mutate and change their virulence and every now and then you have a severe strain. That has passed and we need to stop ruining our country by living in fear....a fear that is based on very little actual facts. Thank you for your time.
VOTE YES TO 306. Good grief. Find some other bs to worry about it. Leave our freedoms alone.
Please vote YES on HB306!
Vote Yes on HB 306. Religious freedom is a paramount right we all have! No one should be able to take away this right from us. Religious exemptions need to be allowed & accommodations made for those with deeply held beliefs.
Religious exemption should be honored
Vote YES on HB306
Vote Yes on Bill 306
Vote YES on Bill 306
Please support HB306!!
Please vote to preserve religious freedoms and First Amendment rights for all Virginians. One person’s fear should never cause another person to lose their religious liberty. Remember the Oath of Office you swore upon taking office to support the United States Constitution, Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and to faithfully and impartially perform your duties. While vaccines may provide people with a sense of security and help them reduce seriousness of a virus, it is important to remember this can harm your fellow Virginia (a neighbor, a friend, a foe, classmate, colleague, medical professional, or a family member) from freely exercising their religious beliefs. As a Nation and a Commonwealth we stand strongest when we stand with those we disagree with to preserve their fundamental rights. Please vote yes on HB 306 today and let your constituents and all Virginians know you will stand shoulder to shoulder with them to ensure their freedom of religion.
Religious freedom is embedded i. Our US Constitution and that of Virginia. As such every Virginian has a right to chose what they put in their body. When vaccines utilize aborted fetus cells it goes against the religious beliefs of many many Americans. The State Health Commissioner currently has the power to mandate an injection for every single man, woman and child in the Commonwealth of Virginia any time government bureaucrats declare a public health emergency! Failure to comply could lead to misdemeanor charges and financial penalties of up to $25,000 per violation! This is tyranny and unacceptable. House Bill 306 would enshrine religious exemption in law (from a potential Commissioner's order, and limit the Commissioner's power). I urge you to pass House Bill 306 NOW! Thank you for your help supporting religious freedom!
PLEASE VOTE YES TO HB306! CITIZENS OF VA SHOULD NEVER BE FORCED TO INJECT AN UNWANTED SUBSTANCE INTO THEIR BODIES! THANK YOU FOR STANDING UP FOR MEDICAL FREEDOM!
I am a Virginia resident and support anything that promotes health freedom. And that you urge Delegate X to vote yes on HB 306.
Please pass bill HB 306
Vote YES !!!!!!
Hello to whom it may concern! I am a very religious person as well as all of my family members in my home please consider to pass this bill HB306! Thanks so much!
PLEASE vote YES on HB 306.
Please vote FOR this bill to help protect everyone who wants medical freedom and who believes their body is their holy temple. We want to keep our medical freedom we love so much.
We support HB306. No one, especially someone who is not elected, has the right to pick and choose when religious freedom should be upheld. This is a sacred, personally held strong conviction, and the state needs to steer clear of determining when it is recognized and when it is not.
Please VOTE YES on House Bill 306. It is your duty as an elected official to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America. No one should ever be forced to do something! Everyone has a natural right and free will to do what they feel is best for themselves and their own families.
Religious exemptions are essential for Virginians. We have a God-given right to be protected from tyranny and to practice our religion and uphold our religious beliefs.
Yes on 306! No one person should be able to punish families or individuals for their religious beliefs, including ones that relate to medical procedures.
Vote Yes
Please vote to keep religious exemptions! Religious freedoms are important to our state!
Under NO circumstances does the government have more authority than God. Under no pandemic - real or misconstrued and weaponized- can anyone be forced to agreeing to a medical intervention. This bill must pass.
I am an ICU who has been at the bedside for more than 20 year here in Loudoun county. I have an approved religious exemption against vaccines. I want the Virginia government to stay out of my business on how I practice my faith, or interfere with my religious rights to refuse any medical treatment, including this experimental Covid vaccine.
I don’t go by pronouns
Yes to all exemptions. Medical freedom is what separates us from the Nazis. It was wrong when they forced drugs and procedures on unwilling victims just as it was wrong for the CIA to do it in the 60s and if you don't do everything you can to stop this violence every chance you get then you're no better than Mengele himself. There's no room for complacency on this slippery slope.
I am urging everyone to vote in favor of keeping religious exemptions (which in truth becomes a medical freedom issue) in place. It should always be up to an individual (or their guardian of under age 18) to choose what is injected into our bodies. Many have definitive religious objections for various reasons. Others, like myself, have learned things about our bodies and genetics and how various ingredients in vaccinations may negatively affect our health either now or in the future. (MTHFR gene mutation). The more research I do and the more observations of the medical community as a whole, the less I trust my doctors to make decisions on what is best for me. We no longer build long-standing relationships with our physicians. Instead we seek specialists for each individual need and there is often no real communication between them. Only I can know my body and it’s conditions the best and I demand the right to choose what is put into it, especially in light of newer vaccinations that our government and the CDC, FDA, NIH have shown they will attempt to force on us regardless of proper safety trials not being finished. Each of us deserves the right of refusal for any medical preventative or treatment. Please vote for my freedoms.
Pass HB306 for religious exemptions. No big written speech or pleas, just do that your constituents hired you to do. Pass the bill.
Please support and pass HB306 allowing Virginia citizens the right to religious freedom that we've always been afforded until now.
Please vote YES on HB 306. Preserve our First Amendment liberties! Government cannot and should not EVER usurp inalienable rights. I will be watching the hearing and sharing the votes and comments with my many contacts across Virginia gained during 50+ years of engagement in civic affairs. Thank you.
I should be allowed o decide what I put 8n my body. The government should not be able to force me to get a vaccine
I am a Virginia resident who supports legislation that promotes health freedom. I urge delegates to vote yes on HB 306.
I'm writing to support Bill 306 that protects our religious exemptions. Everyone should be alarmed that this exemption is suddenly coming under fire because of the concern "vaccine hesitancy" posing a health threat. Our American right to exercise religious freedom should not have conditions placed upon it. Please vote in favor of this bill
Religious exemption
Please support HB306 to add religious exemptions for vaccines called for by the Health Commissioner. In reality, the Health Commissioner should not have any power to force any type of medical treatment (vaccine or otherwise) during an epidemic or not during an epidemic. A more complete solution would be a bill for bodily autonomy/medical rights for every citizen of Virginia (and the U.S.). However, in lieu of a full medical freedom bill, please support HB306. You and I each decide what goes into our bodies, not anyone else, especially a government official.
Our right to a religious and medical exemption from any vaccine needs to be upheld.
It is important that HB306 pass to protect individual rights to manage personal health with only the doctor-patient relationship.
As a healthcare provider in Northern, Va, every person in the Commonwealth should have the freedom of choice. I am pressing on you dear delegates to represent for me on this. Please say yes to this bill. It is important religious exemption bill to be voted on in committee gathering today! May Our Lord enlighten you for the good of the people of VA! Please VOTE YES on House Bill 306! It is so important to me and the constituents of VA for the State Health Commissioner who is currently has the power to mandate an injection for every single man, woman and child in the Commonwealth of Virginia any time government bureaucrats declare a public health emergency! Thank you for your help supporting religious freedom!
Please vote yes on Bill 306. Our US Constitution provides for the free expression and exercise of our religious beliefs, and nowhere does it state that a in health emergency we can be forced to relinquish those rights. Forcing any medical procedure on a person without their consent is tantamount to a clear violation of his/her civil rights at the least. In addition, medical procedures which have not been thoroughly tested, studied and the results clearly established as to both their safety and effectiveness, when forced upon an uniformed public is a violation of the religious tenants of some faiths, as well as a violation of the Nuremberg Code. It is both your duty and your obligation to vote yes to give people the opportunity to exercise their religious beliefs regarding the utilization of procedure that is to invade their physical body.
Please vote YES for HB 306.
I am in favor of anything that promotes and sustains freedom in this bill 306 with delegate Fritas. I am a Virginia resident for 37 years and we must get back to individual freedom especially ones that are protected in the constitution
We need to protect religious freedoms.
Vote yes on HB306. Thank you!
No person should be forced to inject or put anything into their body against their wishes. The Bible makes it very clear that our bodies are temples to God. I support that religious and medical exemption a should be allowed. People deserve the right to make this choice.
My religion (Catholic) teaches that I have a moral obligation to avoid using vaccine developed using aborted fetus since the virus it is said to protect against (but has proven not to protect) is virtually no threat to my healthy body. I am called to encourage the use of other morally acceptable protection.
I am writing today in support of having religious exemptions accepted. It is unconscienceable to force anyone to go against their faith, as well as, question the sincerity of one's beliefs. It isn't up to any mere human to decide how deeply dear people hold fast to their faith, that work is for God alone. Thank you for your time. Respectfully, Diane Montgomery
This is absoletly necessary to protect the "religious liberty" our constitution was based and founded on. Please. Thank you.
I am asking for support of this bill. No one should be able to tell another person, here in the United States of America, that they must submit to medical procedures if it goes against their beliefs. Our entire nation was founded on religious freedom. If I am unable to actually exercise my belief system in my own body then that religious freedom no longer exist. Religious exemptions are a must to protect our freedom!!
Please protect religious freedom and vote yes to this bill. No one should have control over what goes in one’s body other than the one who God gave it to.
Vote YES on HB 306
All men are created equal means no human has any more power than another human!!! Why does "my body, my choice" apply when it comes to murdering babies?!? God gave me this body t do with it as I deem fit and necessary!!
Please vote YES on bill 306! Religious exemption must be upheld and protected in this country. It is what our forefathers labored so long for and what so many have given their lives for. We are entitled to this freedom in this country! Please protect our right to protect our religious beliefs from mandates that would go against them.
Religious freedoms must be preserved. This bill would protect mandates that require medical treatments that don't align with an individual's religious beliefs and, therefore, must be supported and passed!
Please support this bill and do not allow the law to infringe upon religious rights!
Vote yes for bill 306!
I urge you to pass HB306. We live in the United States of America where freedom of choice used to freely exist. Is we do not pass this into law we will be one step closer to living in a tyrannical dictatorship.
Dear delegates We need choices in this country and freedom to decide how we want to make our own health decisions. Vote for religious exemptions please. Thank you
I am writing to provide support FOR HB 306 Freitas. Under the 1st Amendment of US Constitution all people have have right to freely exercise their religious beliefs. Fir some that means the wish to not have anything injected into their body against their beliefs. In addition many believe in the powers of the Creator to protect and or heal them. Please pass this bill which will show your support for and belief in our Constitution. Thank you.
Please vote yes to ensure religious exemptions!
Please vote yes
Please pass this bill to support the people, this is very important for people who need continued support for freedom in this state.
I am I full support of this legislation and ask that you move this forward. Please vote Yes.
Hello, I am a Virginia resident and I support anything that promotes health freedom. I urge Delegate Clinton L Jenkins and all Delegates to vote YES ON HB 306.
Please votes yes for this bill. I do not believe we should have to have any excuse to opt out of any type of mandate, I do believe religious liberties should not be infringed upon.
Agreed ww all should be able to be exempted from the vaccine if that is our choice! I stand with Delegate Freitas.
Vote yes. This is so important to honor religious freedom. Thank you
I support religious freedom for all, please votes YES on HB306!
Have not read the exact details of the bill being proposed.... But it's for my understanding and my life there's a conscience objection as well to prevent any government entity from compelling someone from doing something like this.... I'm all for a religious exemption I'm not sure what that is but freedom of conscience and freedom from government mandating things for your body I absolutely support...
Dear Delegates, You Must Vote YES on House Bill 306: Below you will find just some proof to protect Our Religious Freedom in The Constitution and Laws of the Land you Took Oaths to uphold. President Donald J. Trump instructed the Attorney General to issue guidance interpreting religious liberty protection in federal law, as appropriate Executive Order 13798 Sec 4 in 2017. Pursuant to that instruction and consistent with authority to provide advice and opinions on questions of existing law to the Executive Branch, the Attorney General issued a memorandum which included the following . . . Religious Liberty is not merely a right to personal religious beliefs or even to worship in a sacred place. It also encompasses religious observance and practice. Federal Law Protections for Religious Liberty Title VII’s protection extends to discrimination on the basis of religious observance or practice as well as belief. The freedom of religion is a fundamental right of paramount importance, expressly protected by federal law. The free exercise of religion includes the right to act or abstain from action in accordance with one’s religious beliefs. The freedom of religion extends to persons and organizations. Americans do not give up their Constitutional Protections of Freedom of Religion by participating in the marketplace, partaking of the public square, or interacting with government. ~~~~ FYI: Our Constitution was written during an emergency, an active war was going on . . . You must protect Our Freedoms from tyrants and mandates, the U.S. Supreme Court agrees: Emergency power does not create power. emergency does not increase granted power or remove or diminish the restrictions imposed upon power granted or reserved. The Constitution was adopted in a period of grave emergency. Its grants of power to the Federal Government and its limitations of the power of the States were determined in the light of emergency, AND THEY ARE NOT ALTERED BY EMERGENCY. What power was thus granted and what limitations were thus imposed are questions which have always been, and always will be, the subject of close examination under our constitutional system. While emergency does not create power, emergency may furnish the occasion for the exercise of power. Home Building & Loan Ass’n v. Blaisdell 290 U.S. 398, 425-426 (1934) ~~~~ CONGRESS SHALL MAKE NO LAW RESPECTING AN ESTABLISHMENT OF RELIGION, OR PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE THEREOF; OR ABRIDGING THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH, OR OF THE PRESS; OR THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE PEACEABLY TO ASSEMBLE, AND TO PETITION THE GOVERNMENT FOR A REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES. ~~~~ 18 U.S. Code §245 makes it a crime for a person acting under color of any law to willfully deprive a person of a right or privilege protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States. ~~~~ Human Rights Act of 1998 . . . Article 1: “Everyone’s right to live shall be protected by law” ~~~~ Additionally, in our Holy Bible, Psalm 91 declares that our Creator, the Lord Jesus Christ, is our protector, both from tyrants as well as pestilences, and I, we the people, are exempt from any mandate requiring you to do anything pushed upon you during this planned criminal "pandemic" under the protections of the First Amendment. Respectfully Submitted, André Du Mont
Dear Members, I am writing to ask that you support HB-306. I am the mother of a special needs child residing in VA. To mandate a medical protocol that has be demonstrated to cause serious physical harm is unconscionable. This C-19 shot has been shown to cause myocarditis, blood clots, strokes, Bell’s Palsey, miscarriage and stillborn births. And it causes death. That proven and safe remedies are being withheld, such as Ivermectin is frightening. Thank you for protecting our rights under the U.S. Constitution! Most sincerely, Mrs. Mary Frame
Please vote to give us "Religious Exemption". My health and my spiritual beliefs are being threatened if we don't get this. Be a part of the vote that keep us and our grandchildren free.
Vote YES!! My body my choice! That doesn't end when there is an emergency. Furthermore, start recommending or requiring people to live a healthy lifestyle not pump people full of chemicals!!
Please pass this bill. Ryan Sudki
I urge you to pass this bill. Thank you. Alexandra Walge Ashburn, VA
On behalf of the world's oldest health freedom organization, and as a Virginian, I urge support of Delegate Freitas' bill to protect Thomas Jefferson's Religious Freedom Right when it comes to emergency declared vaccination mandates. The censored questions from respected doctors and scientists on vaccines makes questionable the trust that government deserves for any mandated vaccine, especially ones in experimental status. Public Health's traditional power to quarantine serves as a sufficient guard against infectious diseases - and even that power must be limited, such as requiring a court order before depriving a citizen of liberty. Ones deeply held religious convictions against certain medical interventions can never morally or constitutionally be disrespected. Pass HB 306 into law, please.
Protect religious freedom, vote YES for HB 306! Our religious freedoms do not end just because government bureaucrats declare a public health emergency. Our First Amendment rights apply at all times.
Vote YES.
1. This bill should protect bodily autonomy on the grounds of being American, if people don't like that, then they should move to where people are not American. 2. This bill should protect peoples medical privacy. They should not even be asked if they are among the "clean" vaccinated people, 3. This bill should PROHIBIT anybody to ask why somebody made a medical choice for themselves, religious or not. 4. This bill should PROHIBIT anybody from taking action against any person because of a medical choice they made for themselves, or minors in their care for ANY reason. IT'S NONE OF THEIR BUSINESS!! You might as well protect religious liberties in our state. Those of us who truly do take issue with the way a vaccine is tested and/or produced, or the recklessness in the way it was tested and/or produced and rushed into the populace, will not ever be forced to comply, no matter what you try to take away from us. And those who were in power and allowed this to happen in the first place should be held accountable, because they failed to protect freedom, which is all they were supposed to do in the first place. How many college kids put that experiment in their arms to stay in school? Nurses to keep a job? Factory workers? Police? Fire Fighters? Etc...? We are supposed to be able to TALK about what's going on, collect data ourselves without obstruction, and make decisions as free people, not owned slaves of the overlords. My religion is Reformed Baptist, and I am a convicted believer who believes we are under judgement unless we are brought to repentance by our God and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and TRUST in Him, but that is not the only reason medical tyranny should never happen. I am American, born in the land of the free. I choose for myself according to my own convictions. So vote to protect freedom like you should, because ultimately, we decide for ourselves anyways.
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM is vital for individual rights
It is imperative that we maintain the American right of religious freedom!
It’s time to end ALL vaccine mandates! .Anyone with half a brain can see these shots are driven by big pharma, and money. NO ONE should be forced to take this EXPERIMENTAL vaccine against their beliefs! Maybe ask why Doctors aren’t allowed to prescribe safe, proven, effective early treatment! What is being allowed in this country is criminal!
I support religious freedom, please vote Yes on H.B. 306 !!!
As a lifelong Virginia resident and mother of 4, I implore you to protect religious exemptions from awful government mandates in Virginia. Vote YES for HB 306!!!
This MUST be supported
Virginian for religious freedom! My body is provided for in the glory of God. My body contains all the medicine it needs via the most amazing “scientist” and healer.
For HB 306
Testimony: Robert Marshall (House of Delegates January, 1992 to January, 2018. Every FDA Emergency Use Authorization or FDA “Licensed” Covid 19 Vaccine had its origin linked to being tested with or derived from the killing of a child via abortion. That is a major source of concern for Virginians opposed to abortion in addition to the gene altering potential of the mRNA “Gene Therapy” which some think is an attempt to alter the Number of a Man thorough gene modification. For Virginia to not provide a religious exemption to vaccinations is virtually identical to present US Navy vaccine mandate policy which does NOT grant religious exemptions to the abortion linked Covid 19 vaccines. This policy was enjoined recently (1/3/22) by federal district Judge, Reed O’Connor, in a case involving 35 Navy Seals who sued President Biden for routinely denying religious exemptions for Covid “vaccinations.” Judge O’Connor noted: “The Navy provides a religious accommodation process, but by all accounts, it is theater. The Navy has not granted a religious exemption to any vaccine in recent memory. It merely rubber stamps each denial. The Navy service members in this case seek to vindicate the very freedoms they have sacrificed so much to protect. Religious exemptions to the vaccine requirement are virtually non-existent. In the past seven years, the Navy has not granted a religious exemption to any vaccine requirement.” (US Navy Seals v. Joseph Biden, civil action, 4:21-cv-01236-O) President Biden’s Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar recently said “Some people have deeply held religious beliefs and are entitled to religious exemptions.” (NFIB V. OSHA) She did not exempt Virginians from her statement. The Religious exemption is needed because while Virginia law does allow for medical exemptions to vaccines attested to by a medical doctor, but with the widespread pressure to take the Covid 19 vaccines, now many physicians will write such an exemption in the present coercive atmosphere? In another case in Florida involving Service members being denied religious exemptions U. S. District Court Judge Allen Winsor’s order noted: [Doe v. Austin, 3:21-cv-01211] • “… the DOD is requiring injections from vials not labeled ‘Comirnaty.’ … defense counsel could not even say whether vaccines labeled “Comirnaty” exist … DOD … said it had an adequate Comirnaty supply, it later clarified that it was mandating vaccines from EUA-labeled vials. …” • “ … DOD argues that once the FDA licensed Comirnaty, all EUA-labeled vials essentially became Comirnaty, even if not so labeled. … as a legal matter, vaccines sent before August 23—and vaccines produced after August 23 in unapproved facilities—remain “product[s] authorized for emergency use under … the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.” • “… there is no indication that all EUA-labeled vials are from *BLA-approved facilities. … the DOD concedes that some of its current vials are not BLA-compliant, and that there is no policy to ensure that service members get only BLA-compliant vaccines … The DOD claims it possesses ‘hundreds of thousands of BLA-compliant vaccine doses that are EUA-labeled, and is using them.’” • “… as things now stand, the DOD cannot mandate vaccines that only have an EUA.” *Biologics License Application
I served our country in multiple actions overseas to help preserve the freedom represented by enduring and abiding religious freedom, all religious expressions, barring actual and physical aggressive harm to self or neighbor. Tolerance must also come from government.
There have been so many attacks on religious freedom in the recent past. It is so great to know that the HB306 Freitas bill is working towards defending that freedom assuring that a person has the right to refuse being forced to do things by the government when his or her beliefs require that he or she not do that particular thing. Thank you, Mr. Nick Freitas!
Dear Health, Welfare, and Institutions Committee, Please protect religious freedom, vote YES for HB 306! Our religious beliefs and freedoms do not cease because government officials declare a public health emergency. Our First Amendment rights apply at all times. Please vote yes on HB 306. Thank you
Please vote yes on HB 306
Religious freedoms must be protected in America. It is literally the purpose of our nation to allow all citizens to freely practice and adhere to their personal religious tenets. No government entity has the right to override or violate our religious principles per our Founding documents.
Protect religious freedom, vote YES for HB 306! Our religious freedoms do not end just because government bureaucrats declare a public health emergency. Our First Amendment rights apply at all times.
Please vote YES on this bill. To not do so would be a great injustice to all Virginians!
Protecting our religious liberty is essential. How many people these shots violate matters of deep conscience and faith. There must remain a religious exemption.
It is of utmost importance that there remains an option of religious exemption for our college students
FOR HB 306 Freitas
Vote yes on 306 - Freedom of Religion must always be our right. Protect the 1st Amendment.
Vote FOR HB306
Hello, I am requesting for all Committee Members to vote YES on HB306. As a born and raised Virginian and Christian, as well being in a military family that has served through generations, it is imperative that we are allowed to keep our religious freedoms. Without it we are no longer Virginians or Americans being that religious freedom is a foundation of our country. As individuals and citizens of Virginia, and America, we have a right to decide and make our own health choices without being made into criminals. My faith and health are personal, they are mine, not the government's. An elected, or appointed, official should not be deciding what is best for me, that is between me, my doctor, and God. Thank you for your time and attention, Please vote YES to HB306 Sincerely, MaryEllen Wooten
Protect religious exemption!
Pass he 306 freitas
The right to religious freedom is a founding principal of our nation and passing HB 306 will enshrine that fundamental right for all Virginians. Government officials should never be allowed to mandate a vaccine under any circumstance on residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Please vote YES on HB 306!
It is imperative that All mandates in VA needs to be eliminated as it’s unconstitutional and violates all citizens rights. Please it’s time to protect all citizens of these tyrannical mandates. It’s unlawful!
I support HB 306. This would protect people with certain religious beliefs who otherwise would be forced to comply. I do not believe anyone should be forced to do anything if it is against their beliefs, no matter the religion. Unfortunately we saw this with mask mandates. Many schools and employers were not honoring medical and religious exemptions. We also saw this with the covid shots in the work place. This goes against the constitution and its a shame. Please pass HB 306!!!
It is imperative that this bill is passed. Too many of our God given freedoms are being taken away by our Government.
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Protect religious freedom, vote YES for HB 306! Our religious freedoms do not end just because government bureaucrats declare a public health emergency. Our First Amendment rights apply at all times.
I'm a born again spirit filled Christian. Government shouldn't have a say on mandates that conflict with personal convictions and standards of living. In fact, this type of tyranny would force many to break the law. Please pass HB306. Thank you
There should be no vaccine mandates at all.
HB102 everyone does it. HB306 people with religious beliefs can be accommodated.
Please vote yes on HB306 and preserve Virginia's religious exemption for vaccination mandates.
I was on the call this morning but you apparently could not hear me when called, so I am providing this written comment. The fact that this Bill is needed is damning. The fact that 3 Delegates voted against it is frightening. The Virginia Constitution's religious freedom clause goes back as far as Thomas Jefferson and is broader than the First Amendment of the US Constitution. The colleges and universities (UVA in particular) have violated the Virginia Constitution with their so-called Covid religious exemption request forms. In the prior sane world we lived in, medical and religious exemptions were routinely granted and nobody cared. I certainly didn't. It is no one else's business and an affront to Virginians' natural liberty. Of all the Bills in response to the Covid overreach, this Bill should be the least objectionable as the Virginia Constitution alone should be a complete bar to any such authority of any governmental authority. Walter Smith
On behalf of the Virginia members and supporters of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, I write to express our opposition to HB 306 and HB 783, each of which would create a blanket religious exemption to immunization requirements imposed by the State Health Commissioner during an epidemic. The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution does not require the legislature to grant such exemptions—indeed, it prohibits granting a blanket exemption like the one in this bill. For more than a century, the United States Supreme Court has made clear that the government has the authority to protect public health through appropriate measures, including requiring vaccinations. In 1905, in Jacobson v. Massachusetts, the Court upheld a mandatory vaccination law, explaining that “a community has the right to protect itself against an epidemic of disease which threatens the safety of its members.” The Court rejected claims that vaccination requirements violated individual liberties, holding that “[r]eal liberty for all could not exist under the operation of a principle which recognizes the right of each individual person to use his own [liberty], . . . regardless of the injury that may be done to others. In Prince v. Massachusetts, the Court explicitly held that vaccine requirements do not violate religious freedom: one “cannot claim freedom from compulsory vaccination . . . on religious grounds” because “the right to practice religion freely does not include liberty to expose the community . . . to communicable disease or . . . to ill health or death.” The holding in Prince was reaffirmed in Employment Division v. Smith, a 1990 opinion written by Justice Antonin Scalia. The Smith Court reaffirmed that the Free Exercise Clause does not “require[ ] religious exemptions from . . . health and safety regulation such as . . . compulsory vaccination laws.” The Constitution actually prohibits the government from granting a blanket religious exemption from vaccination requirements. In Estate of Thornton v. Caldor, the Supreme Court, in an 8-1 opinion, struck down a Connecticut law granting employees “an absolute and unqualified right not to work on their Sabbath.” In ruling that the law violated the Establishment Clause, the Court focused on the fact that the right not to work was granted “no matter what burden or inconvenience this imposes on the employer or fellow workers.” The law provided “no exception,” and no account of “the imposition of significant burdens.” The “unyielding weighting in favor of Sabbath observers over all other interests contravenes a fundamental principle of the Religion Clauses,” and is unconstitutional. Like the law struck down in Caldor, HB 306 and HB 783 would require the State Health Commissioner to grant a religious exemption no matter the burden it would have on the health of other Virginians. Granting religious exemptions during an epidemic would allow a virus to spread more quickly, which would cause more Virginians to get sick or worse. It would also likely make it harder for communities to reach herd immunity, which would only prolong the epidemic. For all these reasons, Americans United urges you to oppose HB 306 and HB 783.
Dear Committee. I hope you will consider that your constituents in large, are a Christian population. According to this study from the University of Virginia in 2021, 73% of Virginians. https://shar.es/aWOo8G Christians, if you didn't know, believe their bodies are given to them by their creator and are a temple to the Holy Spirit. It is not only necessary for Christians to maintain bodily autonomy, it is part of our religious doctrine and bonified religious beliefs. It is critical to the practice of our religion and thusly our first amendment rights. Your constituents,73%, must be able to DECIDE what enters their temple that they have been entrusted by GOD. Now that we have been through this crisis anyone that has been through high school statistics can easily see, while serious, Covid-19 is not of statistical fatal significance. In fact, it's only been fatal in about 0.18% of our population in VA. Yet here we are with a state of emergence and several mitigations measures. These are all wonderful and no doubt slowed the spread and saved lives. However, for many, this was not serious enough to warrant taking something into their temple in which God asked them not to. Even if it was, who is anyone to override another soul's CREATOR? That is why it's important to uphold the first amendment rights to religion and thusly our right to choose what enters our body, even in a state of emergency. Your constituents, all 73% of us are counting on you to protect us or we will take this decision with us to the next election and find good Virginians that will look out of the overwhelming majority in Virginia. Thank you.
HB102 codifies a practice that has been out there forever. HB306 move to report to respect religious beliefs (1st amendment). 783 for same reason.
Hello Members of the House, It is imperative that this Bill be passed on a bipartisan basis. Lawmakers cannot take certain rights away from individuals, which would happen without HB306. “all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion [...] all men shall be free to profess and by argument to maintain their opinions in matters of religion, and the same shall in nowise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities.” In the event of a public health crisis, I do not feel my right to religious freedom should be trampled on. As it stands, a mandate on vaccines could give rise to an infringement of rights that were protected (and deemed specifically important) by our forefathers. No matter your party, it is your duty to protect the rights of the citizens. There ought to be limits to government, and this is one of many that is long overdue. Being treated as a second class citizen, having civil liberties taken away, disruption of employment, as well as impeding on the education of the Virginian people, have all come to pass under the guise of “public safety.” Not all persons can or should ever fall under one blanket mandate by whomever is in power. Lastly, if there is one thing I will never cave to, it would be my religion. No mandate would supersede my God. The power lies with the people, and our voices. Please remember that the voice of change was heard across the Commonwealth! Again, I would like to stress the importance of supporting this bill so that the rights that ought to be protected, are, and to allow for a clearer provision for the higher courts to make rulings on. Thank you for your time, Chelsea Quintern
My name is christie Scarborough, a Frederick County resident, and I am in support of HB306. It is critical that we recognize those who hold religious beliefs against vaccinations in all employment settings. My family hold strong beliefs that our bodies, designed by god, we’re not created to anticipate pathogens that suddenly appear intramuscular. Our bodies were designed to anticipate pathogens via blood borne and airborne vectors only. We believe vaccines to be haram. Meaning impure, unclean, and sinful. My family wants the ability to religiously opt out of vaccinations on a religious basis. Failure to provide that ability to the people will infringe on their right to the due process of law, as we will be forced to incur liability as we can’t sue the vaccine manufacturers. It will also infringe on the establishment clause for imposing an official government religion in the people. Vaccinations are in fact a belief system. There is no scientific proof that shows vaccinations are 100% safe or effective for their intend use.
I urge you to support the 1st Amendment Rights of Virginians closely held religious beliefs from persecution by government officials and employers and not force people of conscience to choose between their beliefs and their livelihood.
I strongly support HB 306 and encourage the committee to vote "YES" for its passing.
I am really wanting you all not to pass this bill because Oxford House gives me a place to live at a price I can afford on disability it gives me stability Oxford House I would be homeless and if the bill does pass that means I rent would go up and I would be homeless again and I am doing very well I enjoy living in the Oxford House we have meetings once a week for our house and we have committee meetings and everything So please do not pass this bill I in begging you
HB537 - Telemedicine; out-of-state providers, behavioral health services provided by practitioner.
Dear Delegate, Protect religious freedom, vote YES for HB 306! Our religious freedoms do not end just because government bureaucrats declare a public health emergency. Our First Amendment rights apply at all times. Thank you, Kellie M. Good
Correction: Please vote YES for house bill 306! No one should be punished for exercising their right to religious freedom!!!!!
Please vote YES for house bill 106! No one should be punished for exercising their right to religious freedom!!!!!
HB537 increases access to medical care by allowing a licensed professional outside of the Commonwealth of Virginia to temporarily provide care to a patient located within the state through telemedicine under certain conditions.
I support these bills. Please move to report. Thank you.
I strongly support HB 537 and encourage the committee to vote "YES" for its passing. This bill would ensure that many individuals are able to continue care, despite their location.
I am really wanting you all not to pass this bill because Oxford House gives me a place to live at a price I can afford on disability it gives me stability Oxford House I would be homeless and if the bill does pass that means I rent would go up and I would be homeless again and I am doing very well I enjoy living in the Oxford House we have meetings once a week for our house and we have committee meetings and everything So please do not pass this bill I in begging you
This bill will be vital to ensure continuity of care for individuals unexpectedly displaced, military families, and other reasons for moving. As a licensed counselor, I have had military clients who received orders to move away, and thus had to terminate services early and sever a powerful relationship. With the COVID pandemic, college students who lived out of state lost their ability to maintain their connection with counselors who were local to the in-person college. If every state passed this law, we would be looking at a revolution in the mental health field honed towards increasing the quality of services and life clients receive regardless of their address. Thank you for your time.
HB679 - Opioids; providers of treatment for addiction, conditions for initial licensure, location.
Dear Delegate, Protect religious freedom, vote YES for HB 306! Our religious freedoms do not end just because government bureaucrats declare a public health emergency. Our First Amendment rights apply at all times. Thank you, Kellie M. Good
Correction: Please vote YES for house bill 306! No one should be punished for exercising their right to religious freedom!!!!!
Please vote YES for house bill 106! No one should be punished for exercising their right to religious freedom!!!!!
I am really wanting you all not to pass this bill because Oxford House gives me a place to live at a price I can afford on disability it gives me stability Oxford House I would be homeless and if the bill does pass that means I rent would go up and I would be homeless again and I am doing very well I enjoy living in the Oxford House we have meetings once a week for our house and we have committee meetings and everything So please do not pass this bill I in begging you
HB783 - Immunizations; authority of the Commissioner of Health, religious exception.
On behalf of the Virginia members and supporters of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, I write to express our opposition to HB 306 and HB 783, each of which would create a blanket religious exemption to immunization requirements imposed by the State Health Commissioner during an epidemic. The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution does not require the legislature to grant such exemptions—indeed, it prohibits granting a blanket exemption like the one in this bill. For more than a century, the United States Supreme Court has made clear that the government has the authority to protect public health through appropriate measures, including requiring vaccinations. In 1905, in Jacobson v. Massachusetts, the Court upheld a mandatory vaccination law, explaining that “a community has the right to protect itself against an epidemic of disease which threatens the safety of its members.” The Court rejected claims that vaccination requirements violated individual liberties, holding that “[r]eal liberty for all could not exist under the operation of a principle which recognizes the right of each individual person to use his own [liberty], . . . regardless of the injury that may be done to others. In Prince v. Massachusetts, the Court explicitly held that vaccine requirements do not violate religious freedom: one “cannot claim freedom from compulsory vaccination . . . on religious grounds” because “the right to practice religion freely does not include liberty to expose the community . . . to communicable disease or . . . to ill health or death.” The holding in Prince was reaffirmed in Employment Division v. Smith, a 1990 opinion written by Justice Antonin Scalia. The Smith Court reaffirmed that the Free Exercise Clause does not “require[ ] religious exemptions from . . . health and safety regulation such as . . . compulsory vaccination laws.” The Constitution actually prohibits the government from granting a blanket religious exemption from vaccination requirements. In Estate of Thornton v. Caldor, the Supreme Court, in an 8-1 opinion, struck down a Connecticut law granting employees “an absolute and unqualified right not to work on their Sabbath.” In ruling that the law violated the Establishment Clause, the Court focused on the fact that the right not to work was granted “no matter what burden or inconvenience this imposes on the employer or fellow workers.” The law provided “no exception,” and no account of “the imposition of significant burdens.” The “unyielding weighting in favor of Sabbath observers over all other interests contravenes a fundamental principle of the Religion Clauses,” and is unconstitutional. Like the law struck down in Caldor, HB 306 and HB 783 would require the State Health Commissioner to grant a religious exemption no matter the burden it would have on the health of other Virginians. Granting religious exemptions during an epidemic would allow a virus to spread more quickly, which would cause more Virginians to get sick or worse. It would also likely make it harder for communities to reach herd immunity, which would only prolong the epidemic. For all these reasons, Americans United urges you to oppose HB 306 and HB 783.
HB102 codifies a practice that has been out there forever. HB306 move to report to respect religious beliefs (1st amendment). 783 for same reason.
I am really wanting you all not to pass this bill because Oxford House gives me a place to live at a price I can afford on disability it gives me stability Oxford House I would be homeless and if the bill does pass that means I rent would go up and I would be homeless again and I am doing very well I enjoy living in the Oxford House we have meetings once a week for our house and we have committee meetings and everything So please do not pass this bill I in begging you
Virginia Faith and Freedom Coalition supports this bill.
HB896 - Nurse practitioner; patient care team provider.
I am writing in support of HB 306 to be heard in committee tomorrow morning, which will allow a religious exemption to vaccines during an epidemic. Religious exemptions exist so that citizens can act freely in mind, body and spirit. Even in a time of an epidemic, citizens must have the opportunity to act on their conscience whatever that may be. The Nuremberg Code requires bodily autonomy and informed consent for any medical treatments to one’s body. Having religious exemption makes sure that remains the rule of law. As we’ve seen over the last two years, government has retained control over persons and their bodies in a way that would make Thomas Jefferson role over in his grave. Let Virginia continue to be religiously free, as the birthplace of religious freedom. Support HB 306.
Dear Delegate, Protect religious freedom, vote YES for HB 306! Our religious freedoms do not end just because government bureaucrats declare a public health emergency. Our First Amendment rights apply at all times. Thank you, Kellie M. Good
I urge you to strongly opposenthis bill. Residents on VA deserve physician-led care. NPs were developed as extenders, they were not - and still are not - prepared to practice medicine independently. Please take the time to learn about the 100% acceptance rates and online-only models of many of today's NP schools. If you want to understand the difference between NP and MD/DO school, ask someone who has completed both. It is irresponsible and unethical to listen to only one side or an argument (in this case presented by an NP legislator), especially when people's lives are on the line. Awarding medical degrees by legislation is dangerous and unethical. Vote NO.
Correction: Please vote YES for house bill 306! No one should be punished for exercising their right to religious freedom!!!!!
Please vote YES for house bill 106! No one should be punished for exercising their right to religious freedom!!!!!
What is the logic behind removing any need for accountability? Who will be responsible for missed diagnosis, delay in care, and poor management? Are the people voting for this OK with independent care from an NP for serious health issues? Also, there is no effective way to triage in an independent practice
Virginia is going to drive out all their doctors. Increasing limits on Physicians while decreasing limitations on Nurse Practitioners is an egregious power play that will be to the detriment of the citizenry of Virginia. Physicians complete training with over 15000 hours of supervised clinical training. Nurse practitioners complete training with less than 500 hours and these days their less than 2 years of schooling is sometimes completely online with 100% acceptance rates. Hospitals and politicians love them because they cost less. Buyer beware. Our patients deserve better.
To whom it may concern, My name is Kristin Levesque and I am an internal medicine physician practicing medicine in Alexandria, Virginia at a primary care/urgent care office. Being a military spouse, I have been practicing in this state for only 1 year and do not unfortunately vote in the state of Virginia. However, I would love to provide some insight, so that I may advocate for my patients and continue to support Virginia in upholding the best healthcare possible with the least harm to patients. In my time practicing medicine in Virginia, I have had the privilege of working beside Nurse Practitioners and Physicians Assistance and appreciate their level of expertise and commitment to the health care community. They help provide access to the high volume and acuity patients seen in our clinic, as well as across the country. However, I oppose this bill and bills like this which impart greater restriction on physician led medical teams in lieu of alternatives. As part of a team approach, I, as well as the other physicians in the clinic, am a leader in helping PA's and NPs navigate complex health care cases and help make educated medical recommendations, when experience and education is not permitting. This is an important part of a collaborative approach to health care, as we cannot expect our very important NP and PA colleagues to have the same knowledge base and study that comes from a medical degree. We all want more affordable health care, and by extending the abilities for PA's/NP's I appreciate the concept of meeting aps and achieving greater access to healthcare. Access is extremely important and clearly innovations are needed to help meet this needs (I have a few ideas!). However, unregulated and monitored access to new providers with limited training is dangerous and should not be a short cut we are willing to take. Learning and practicing medicine is not easy. With many in the public using Google and WebMD to guide their medical decision making, an ongoing pandemic, and an ever evolving climate for health care we are in a more crucial time than ever to support physician led teams and to expect the absolute best care possible for patients. Practicing medicine takes continuous study, and all providers (physicians, PA's and NP's) must be stringent in order to stay current. Regardless of continued education, the collaboration and supervision by a physician led team is crucial to avoiding healthcare errors that would harm patients and add costs to a broken system. This is not the right way to improve access or quality health care. Please consider my words while you make this important decision that could lead to potential harm of many people. Supervision and the extension of supervised education is pivotal to properly achieving the safe practice of medicine. Dr. Kristin Levesque, D.O.
Physicians complete training with over 15000 hours of supervised clinical training. Nurse practitioners complete training with less than 500 hours. These days, their less than 2 years of schooling is sometimes completely online with 100% acceptance rates. Patients deserve well-trained physicians. Even if hospitals prefer to hire nurse practitioners because they cost the system less. Who would you want caring for your family member?
This bill, if passed, will further erode the protection of patients from poorly or inadequately trained nurse practitioners who may be practicing outside, above and beyond their scope of education and training. I’ve trained nurse practitioners in the past. in my role as acute inpatient care Hospitalist. Everything but the most basic aspects of care are lost on most of them. I do not see the understanding for some of the most basic science related to the disease processes which they attempt to treat. I’ve had NP not know the different names for medications must less the mechanism of their action or potential side effects. Often the NP students would ask me to sign off their medical training with very little effort given master the curriculum and self study needed to learn medicine. Ask yourselves this question: when your family member is sick, really life threateningly sick, do you trust their care to someone who has only 500 hours of clinical training? Do you truly leave them to be treated by a nurse practitioners without a fully trained and qualified physician making those critical decisions? There is a small role for routine outpatient care for NPs and PAs, but only with the close supervision of a physician. Some times unscrupulous physicians use mid levels inappropriately to increase the volume of patients seen. Without adequate checks and balances, undertrained and overconfident NPs can cause drastic suffering and poor outcomes for their patients. Please vote down HB896.
Provider was a derogatory term used towards Jewish physicians during the Holocaust to minimize their training and importance within the medical system. Today, it is a term that is being used to try and conflate a physician's MEDICAL training with the training in NURSING PRACTICE and PHYSICIAN ASSISTANCE conferred upon non-physician providers. There is no question that the a physician's training through an undergraduate education, four years of medical school and a minimum of three years of residency training does is colossal compared to the mere hours of online education that can precede an NP degree. To take away a community's ability to differentiate between these vastly different levels of training by altering the terminology regarding patient care team physicians is a disservice to the constituents of Virginia. Furthermore, to remove a patient's ability to seek justice by eliminating the requirement for medical malpractice for non-physician providers, who have not met the minimum medical training required for physicians to practice independently as experts in their field, is a disservice to Virginians in their most significant hour of need. If the state of Virginia proposes allowing non-expert professionals to maintain the health of its constituents independently, Virginia constituents deserve the right to seek damages equal to or higher than they would be able to from physicians, who have expert training in the practice of medicine. I offer an analogy to illustrate how preposterous this bill is: let's say a resident of Virginia has a vehicle they need to get fixed. They go to a "certified car provider," a term that the state has adopted to allow car salesmen who have taken a quick online course on how cars work to repair cars independently and with the same authority as mechanics who have trained in their trade for years. The Virginia resident was told that their car was being looked at by a provider, but was never told if that provider was a mechanic or a salesman. Let's say that the car was making a whirring noise that came from a defect in its timing belt. Where the mechanic would have had the training necessary to recognize a potentially dangerous problem, the salesman believes the issue is coming from a dislodged piece of plastic, which he secures. He assures the resident that the car is safe to drive. The Virginia resident gets on the highway just to have his timing belt snap and his car swerve out of control, leading to a fatal accident. Had the resident been able to tell if they were seeing someone qualified to work on their car, they could have avoided the accident all together. The car salesman, who was given the same authority to work on cars as a mechanic by the state for the purpose of increasing access to vehicle services, and by no virtue of his training, is at fault. Now, imagine that timing belt is your father's heart. And the non-physician provider who misdiagnosed and mismanaged your father cannot be held liable for his untimely death at the age of 45. What's worse, because of the state of Virginia's nomenclature around "providers," your father never even had a chance to make an informed decision about his healthcare, trusting instead that he was seeing someone with the training of a physician. Not only would HB896 have taken away his right to informed consent, but it would further add insult to the tragedy of his death, by eliminating your right to seek justice and protect other Virginians from the same fate.
Virginia is going to drive out all their doctors. Increasing limits on physicians while decreasing limitations on Nurse Practitioners is an egregious power play that will be to the detriment of the citizenry of Virginia. Physicians complete training with over 15000 hours of supervised clinical training. Nurse practitioners complete training with less than 500 hours and these days their less than 2 years of schooling is sometimes completely online with 100% acceptance rates. Hospitals and politicians love them because they cost less. Buyer beware.
Betty Wattenbarger was killed by an independent NP in Texas. Kyler George was 1 years old when the NP missed his diagnosis. He died and mom was awarded 3 million. Alexus Ochoa died due to NP misdiagnosis and family awarded 6 million. Please do not allow for removal of malpractice requirements on NPs. They should be equally held accountable as physicians when patients are harmed. 50 years of research shows that NPs provide safe care when supervised by physicians. Yet as Virginia removes supervision, they are conducting an experiment and risking patient safety while providing no recourse if a family member of a patient dies. Dr. Adams charges Medicaid patients cash to prescribe Marijuana. What kind of state exploits the poor like this? Adams has a conflict of interest regarding this bill. It will now remove the requirement SHE Carrie’s Med mail insurance.
Respectfully, I cannot fathom how this would be considered a good idea for the overall health of virginians. Nurse practitioners notoriously have highly variable and poorly regulated training programs and this bill is suggesting that someone who has less practical training than a dog groomer (please look this up--dog groomers require more practical training hours than a nurse practitioner) be allowed to start practicing in 2 years independently versus a much better trained physician not being allowed to practice for 3 years? There is a reason why nurse practitioners require supervision by a physician as they are trained to manage disease, not diagnose. This is the physician's responsibility. While I have the utmost respect for nurse practitioners (as well as physician assistants) whom I've worked alongside during this pandemic, like me,the traditionally trained nurse practitioners (i.e., bedside nurses for 8+ years who then go to NP school) find the independent practice push to be abhorrent. A flight attendant puts just as many hours into being on a flying plane, therefore they are qualified to be pilots, right? Should we have general construction workers without an engineering background design our public bridges, too? This bill makes no sense and would ultimately bring harm to the health of virginians. I would encourage our legislators to consider the health of their own family when reviewing this bill. Who to you want flying the plane? The pilot or the flight attendant independent of a pilot?
The knowledge base and training of todays NPs is subpar. It is a disservice to the unwitting community to receive subpar medical and health care from nice people. Would you pay full price to be flown over international waters by the stewards just because they’ve been around a plane? I would hope not. How about getting a legal aid to handle your divorce or a big civil suit instead of a lawyer? Why should health care be less? Please, without proper supervision and Standardized training, NPs should not be independent. Vote no
Please consider the results of this bill. Ultimately you are allowing decreased education and responsibility for people to practice medicine when they actually have no training to do so. This will learn to a class Denver if healthcare where only the rich or the nearly killed by providers without any medical education/training/responsibility (NP/PA) will be able to have access to medical care. Non physician providers were designed to extend not replace physicians. With this bill you will be replacing physicians. Additional bills that require increased and prolonging physician training demonstrates that you are aware of the difference in roles but have not looked into rate of opiod prescribers or antibiotic, numbers of required consults which delays medical care or rate of polypharmacy-- all of which are greater in an NP managed patient. Additionally, requiring medical doctors to carry increased financial responsibility will further deter physicians from considering practice in your state. This further limiting medical access. Studies show that increased NP autonomy does not increase rural access but does inflate cost of healthcare. To improve MEDICAL access, may I suggest creating a more physician friendly environment, one that supports them with the same-- or at least equal-- as not medically trained non physician providers. May I also recommend that unless you and your entire family consistently get the lower and poorer "healthcare" providers by NP, it is hypocritical and irresponsible for you to force this on the people in your state. And perhaps you should consider how your loyalty has been purchased.
You must be out of your mind to think someone with less training will be able to practice independently Be prepared to deal with lot of law suits
The three corners of the "Iron Triangle of Healthcare" are: access, cost, and quality. We cannot improve one of these without negatively affecting the others. Those individuals and corporate entities which have much to gain financially by measures which reduce the QUALITY of care available to patients (such as nurses independently practicing medicine in any venue and at any stage), have done so by using the false guise of increasing access or reducing costs. In states with long histories of nurse "full practice authority" such as Arizona, there have been virtually no net improvement of access to care in rural areas nor for other underserved populations. If anything, patient's access to a physician's care gets reduced as "profit-conscious" health systems REPLACE physicians with non-physicians. There are no unbiased studies which demonstrate that nurse practitioners functioning independently (of physician supervision, collaboration, consultation, or training) can provide physician-equivalent safe, high-quality care. Studies which the APRN lobby often tout as showing equivalent care cannot be considered legitimate evidence due to flaws such as being outdated, not performed in this country, very small sample sizes, or the fatal flaw of extrapolating conclusions of equivalent care of independent nurse practitioners using studies of those who practice in a physician-supervised model of care delivery. As far as COSTS are concerned, nurses independently practicing medicine save no one money except for the nurses' employer, who can forgo paying for an actual physician. There is a saying " If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur." Studies show that nurse practitioners order more unnecessary tests (such labs, radiology testing and biopsies) in trying to make diagnosis, more often refer to specialists unnecessarily and more frequently, more often prescribe unnecessary or non-indicated medications such as psychoactive medications, systemic steroids, antibiotics and opiate pain killers. I believe that Virginians who may or may not have paid the additional financial costs for these, are all too aware of the increased HUMAN COSTS of low quality care. What the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and their state affiliates is not likely to disclose to their corporate healthcare backers is that one of the organization's GOALS (which was visible on their public website until recently) includes employment pay parity with physicians and insurance reimbursement parity with physicians. The nurse practitioner lobby has already achieved reimbursement parity via legislation in the state of Oregon, and is currently pushing for the same in Washington state. For those who are offended by the implication that nurse practitioners are "amateurs", I say, indeed nurse practitioners MAY be expert nurses, but nurses are not physicians. Nursing and medicine are two separate professions. Nurse practitioners did not go to medical school, they do not have a medical license, they do not have medical board certification, and they are not held to the medical standard of care by the courts nor by their profession's regulatory agencies. They are held to NONE of the standards of physicians. With inconsistent, often lax, requirements at every stage of their professional development it often seems that nurse practitioners are NOT held to ANY standard. Protect Virginians! Vote NO ON HB 896!
2 years of “supervised” practice without competency requirements is not sufficient to practice independently. NPs do not have the experience to understand how superficial and rudimentary their education is. They don’t know what they don’t know. Allowing insufficiently trained providers take the place of physicians is dangerous to public health and leaves your constituents with no recourse when they experience malpractice. Your at vote NO to this proposal.
Absolutely egregious. If your intent is to create a standardization of independent practice then how can one eliminate the consequences of independent risk while maintaining the benefits. This will hurt patients and if you truly value the welfare of your constituents then you should be able to easily appreciate this
Unsupervised NP practice is one of the biggest dangers to patient health that exists today. NP degrees are poorly regulated (if at all), many of the programs are for-profit “degree mills” pumping out unqualified graduates with nowhere near enough education to safely assess, form differential diagnosis, intelligently order indicated workup, diagnose and treat disease - which is what independent practice requires. Please do not contribute further the “death of expertise” phenomenon arising in our country by voting for this bill; not only is it unethical to knowingly subject patients to under-qualified care, it will end up costing everyone a bunch more money in the long run.
As a military physician licensed in Virginia, this bill is very concerning to me. Nurse practition education and training varies from rigorous to substandard; oftentimes nurse practitioners are not reliably trained for independent practice. It is my fear that with this bill the Healthcare of Virginians will suffer, their costs will go up (see recent studies showing more twsting/referrals) and their overall care will go down. As an ER physician, I would expect to see an increase in unnecessary ER visits. I would also expect to see an increase I'm missed or delayed diagnoses, so I feel that removing requirements for NPs to carry malpractice insurance (if required by team leader) will inappropriately skew risk/responsibility. As a whole, if this bills passes I am much less likely to consider Virginia as a place to live when my commitment to the Army is over and as such likely will not continue to renew my license.
I am writing in strong opposition of this bill on behalf of family living in Virginia. This bill would be a huge step backward in healthcare for the residents of the state. Before voting on this bill ask yourself this question. If your parent or child needed medical care would you feel comfortable bringing them to an NP who can receive that degree in less than two years doing online courses while working full time in another job, has no meaningful supervision requirements, and has no requirement to carry malpractice insurance?
So decrease the time for nurses to play doctor but increasing time for actual doctors to practice medicine? This will absolutely impact your family and you may not even be aware. Vote no to protect everyone including you.
As a physician who oversees NPs in the ED and having to interact with them as primary care managers making referrals to the ED AND having to admit to them in lieu of a physician hospitalist, I can personally attest to the fact that they are grossly underprepared when compared to their PA counterparts, perhaps because they are mostly taught online, during the pandemic, meaning no hands on hours, they only require 500 hours to graduate, and their is no standardization to their education. I would never personally allow an NP to be in charge of any of my family’s health without physician supervision. To think you will offer independent t practice without liability after only 2 years of supervision is terrifying. People will die as a result of approving this negligent bill. The NP was never meant to practice without oversight. They do not receive the education for it. Please do not pass this bill.
Removing medmal requirements for nurse practitioners after removing supervision requirements is insanity. Who will protect patients when they are inevitably harmed by poorly trained NPs? How will they be held accountable? Physicians have far longer and more strenuous schooling and training, and physicians must carry medmal for patient protection. I can’t imagine setting a driver loose after removing the requirement for driver training and then also removing the need for insurance. WOW
This is not just about autonomy. By removing malpractice it becomes about patient safety, pure and simple. This bill basically says they - the NPs - aren't held accountable for damage they cause to patients. This is bad for your constituents. They will have no recourse if harmed by an NP. You should not legislate expertise, it needs to be earned honestly and in accordance with the gravity and risks associated with the work : these are people’s lives you are proposing to gamble with. Yours. Your loved ones. Your neighbors.
To take care of people at the most vulnerable time in their life takes dedication, knowledge, experience, and a little bit of fear. Fear that although you have learned the science behind the medicine, and know you have built a comprehensive list of differential diagnoses, you may have made a mistake somewhere. It is this fear that drives physicians to learn more, work harder, dedicate our youth to pursuing medical school, residency, and fellowship for some. There is a reason why medical schools accept so few. Those that are accepted are the top 10% of their classes, and have to be, because of the shear volume of information and knowledge that has to be mastered. Unfortunately, those supporting this bill do not possess that fear or dedication. They do not know what they do not know, because they have no where near the education or depth of knowledge. Their concern is parity in money and prestige, but not in the work that it takes to actually LEARN the medicine and science. Midlevel practitioners are not, in any way, equal to physicians. They do not have the same requirements for undergraduate, or graduate level study. Their outcomes, due to their lack of understanding of the actual science of medicine, result in higher health care costs. This is due to ordering of unnecessary tests, unnecessary imaging studies, unnecessary biopsies, and unnecessary referrals. They do not provide care to rural areas in large numbers, as evidenced by the proliferation of med spas, and they increase burnout in physicians. Continuing the farce of independent practice is leading to a tiered healthcare delivery system. Patients with money and connections are getting access to real physicians, while patients who do not know any better, or are poorer, are delegated to midlevels with a poor medical foundation. Being a RN is NOT the same as being a medical student. RNs take orders and rarely understand the why. Medical students, many who have been paramedics, CNAs, RNs, volunteers in nursing homes, truly understand how much they did not know, once they reach the 3rd year of medical school. They learn the importance of the fear that motivates the most dedicated of physician. Please do not move forward with this bill. If midlevels truly want to practice medicine, and practice it independently, they should also desire to practice it safely. That can ONLY happen if they go to an accreditated medical school, residency, and then pass the USMLE steps as well as the challenging(and not open book) board exams that physicians must pass. Anything less amounts to a true disregard of, and disrespect for the patients who we see at the most vulnerable times in their lives. Thank you for your time, Dr Kimberlynn Heller FACOG
Good morning, I’m currently in my last six months of my second medical residency. I will be eligible for both family medicine and emergency medicine at the end of the year. It’s remarkable after almost four years of medical school and six years of residency that I do not feel I’ve learned enough and have fears about independent practice. That’s engrained in our education model. Training as physicians. A NPP has at the most 500 hours of clinical training versus 10,000 plus hours as a physician to practice fully licensed and now independently? This is a very, slippery slope regarding patient safety. I believe wholeheartedly that it’s been over almost 20,000 hours of clinical hours now that I am confident in what I know and cautious enough to know when I’m not sure or need to consult a specialist. NPPs don’t have this experience, the fear factor, or the skills and knowledge to practice independently. I would be very cautious to disrupt the TEAM structure of delivering medical care. NPPs are assets working collaboratively with a physician. As a team, with a physician at the helm. Thank you for listening to my comments
The 3 corners of the "Iron Triangle of Healthcare" are : access, cost and quality. We cannot improve one of these without negatively affecting one or both of the others. Those individuals and corporate entities which have much to gain financially by measures which reduce the QUALITY of care available to patients (such as nurses independently practicing medicine in any venue and at any stage), have done so by using the false guise of increasing access or reducing costs. In states with long histories of nurse "full practice authority" such as Arizona, there have been virtually no net improvement of access to care in rural areas nor for other underserved populations. If anything, patient's access to a physician's care gets reduced as "profit-conscious" health systems REPLACE physicians with non-physicians. There are no unbiased studies which demonstrate that nurse practitioners functioning independently (of physician supervision, collaboration, consultation, or training) can provide physician-equivalent safe, high-quality care. Studies which the APRN lobby often tout as showing equivalent care cannot be considered legitimate evidence due to flaws such as being outdated, not performed in this country, very small sample sizes, or the fatal flaw of extrapolating conclusions of equivalent care of independent nurse practitioners using studies of those who practice in a physician-supervised model of care delivery. As far as COSTS are concerned, nurses independently practicing medicine save no one money except for the nurses' employer, who can forgo paying for an actual physician. There is a saying " If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur." Studies show that nurse practitioners order more unnecessary tests (such labs, radiology testing and biopsies) in trying to make diagnosis, more often refer to specialists unnecessarily and more frequently, more often prescribe unnecessary or non-indicated medications such as psychoactive medications, systemic steroids, antibiotics and opiate pain killers. I believe that Virginians who may or may not have paid the additional financial costs for these, are all too aware of the increased HUMAN COSTS of low quality care. What the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and their state affiliates is not likely to disclose to their corporate healthcare backers is that one of the organization's GOALS (which was visible on their public website until recently) includes employment pay parity with physicians and insurance reimbursement parity with physicians. The nurse practitioner lobby has already achieved reimbursement parity via legislation in the state of Oregon, and is currently pushing for the same in Washington state. For those who are offended by the implication that nurse practitioners are "amateurs", I say, indeed nurse practitioners MAY be expert nurses, but nurses are not physicians. Nursing and medicine are two separate professions. Nurse practitioners did not go to medical school, they do not have a medical license, they do not have medical board certification, and they are not held to the medical standard of care by the courts nor by their profession's regulatory agencies. They are held to NONE of the standards of physicians. With inconsistent, often lax, requirements at every stage of their professional development it often seems that nurse practitioners are NOT held to ANY standard. Protect Virginians! Vote NO ON HB 896!
Medical doctors very frequently see patients who have had incorrect diagnoses and treatments by non-physician providers. Multiple times per week I have to fix a mistake made by an unsupervised NP or PA. Not only does this harm patients, but it wastes their time and costs our healthcare system thousands. Doctors who speak up about this are punished by healthcare companies because profit is more important to them than patient well being. NPs should never practice without direct physician supervision.
This bill is atrocious. Virginians deserve proper medical care, best delivered by physicians who have not only undergone 4 years of medical school inclusive of more clinical time prior to any residency hours, than nurse practitioners, but also who have similarly sacrificed their time and lost wages in their twenties to that end. Nurse practitioners who claim to be equivalent have never sacrificed that much for patients, stayed later than “shift”, or taken even the most basic of USMLE licensing exams. Further, successful passing of STEP 3 and one year of residency allows for adequate needs for practicing without full board certification (still more than 2 years of NP training). Removing malpractice from nurse practitioners, who are less trained at medicine, and with less experience for complications and rare illnesses for which they are not trained to recognize, is counterproductive to the protection of Virginian’s health. Removing malpractice caps for doctors at the same time only proves the that nurse practitioners will continue to point fingers when things go wrong, while praising themselves the occasional times they can help (which is not often and never compared to the care of a physician in the same circumstances). Your citizens and family deserve physician care. They are trained the best, and have sacrificed the most, speaking to their knowledge but also their dedication to their patients and the art and science of medicine.
Nurse practitioners should only practice under direct physician supervision. Letting them practice without physician oversight does not increase access and certainly does not improve patient outcomes. A physician-led team that includes non-physicians can be great, but we need to stop trying to remove the most highly trained experts from the patient care team!
This bill seeks to increase training for people who have endured the arduous long years of becoming a physician, while giving nurse practitioners who have a fraction of the education the ability to practice independently. Unfortunately, medicine has no short cuts. If it were your father or mother, you would want them treated by the most qualified person. Education and expertise matter, so does patient safety. As a physician, the only way I will support this bill is if nurse practitioners want to have all the responsibilities that a doctor has, they have to take the qualifying board exams that physicians take- USMLE1,2,3 (to ensure they have the knowledge to safely care for a patient) AND they have to assume the liability for wrong outcomes, just like a doctor would. You cant have your cake and eat it too. Also, it is a conflict of interest for the sponsoring person of this bill, who is a nurse practitioner, to be trying to subvert the required education by legislating practice standards that are unsafe for patients just because she could mAke more money working like a doctor without the education and legal liability. Patients deserve better.
The fact that this bill reached this far is absolutely appalling and is a dangerous precedent for medicine in the future. Training absolutely matters and we will continue to downplay it at our peril. Kindly look into the history of the author of this bill and the agenda will be clear. What a travesty that she has such a voice and influence. I work in the medical field with numerous nurse practitioners and again - TRAINING matters! Please.
This is an extremely dangerous bill and I am not sure why anyone would advocate for LESS supervision. Most people want to see the best trained person in the medical setting and yet the standards are being lowered everyday for NP education and training. Imagine if you or your loved one needed medical attention, who would you want seeing them, someone with less training and supervision?? Everyone voting on this bill will either be faced with health challenges or have someone they care about face medical issues and you will likely have to deal with NPs with current trends, so please vote as if voting for yourself and for your loved one!
NPs are not properly trained to practice without physician oversight. This is not safe for patients.
Delegates, Please vote no for HB896. I think that for patient safety, midlevel providers should corroborate with physicians. Physicians undergo 10k-16k hours of clinical training whereas Nurse Practitioners receive well under 1k hours. Studies have shown NPs to order more laboratory and diagnostic testing which will lead to increased costs to our healthcare system. I think patients are best served in a physician lead team. They are the most qualified through their training and experience to lead the patient care team.
Dear delegates, I sincerely urge you to VOTE NO to HB 896. Passing HB 896 will not improve the issue of access in underserved areas, it in fact will end up increasing health care costs, overutilization of resources and adverse patient outcomes. -Based on several studies, NPs overutilize resources, order diagnostic tests in excess, over prescribe antibiotics as well as opioids. This will increase overall costs of health care as well as threaten patient safety. - American Medical Association mapping tool shows that NPs are more likely to practice in the same geographic areas as physicians. - There are no credible scientific studies that support the safety and efficacy of NPs practicing without physician supervision. - Physicians undergo at least 12,000 hours of training in an average 3 year residency alone in addition to clinical rotations during medical school before they can practice. The education and training is rigorous and leads physicians to develop an in-depth understanding of their respective fields. For example, a Gastroenterologist would have to go through 4 years of pre-med, 4 years of medical school, 3 years of residency and then 3 years of fellowship to be able to practice as a Gastroenterologist. At the very minimum, 24,000 hours of clinical experience under the supervision of MDs. And why shouldn’t they ?? They are responsible for human lives – it could be your child, your sibling, your parents they are treating. Compare this with a 2 year degree from an online NP school (believe it or not, your NP might not even have set foot in a brick and mortar school) and a mere 800 hours of clinical experience. If HB 896 has passed, NPs with just 2 years of clinical experience could be supervising other NPs and patients may end up never seeing a physician for their ailments. Patients deserve the diverse skills and expertise of every type of clinician- all with the common goal of providing safe, high quality medical care. Please remember, voting NO on this bill will not stifle an NP from advancing in their field or prevent them from seeing patients. It will in fact help them become better NPs by learning from physicians. But voting YES will definitely cause patient harm, increase healthcare costs and will not solve the issue of access to healthcare. Sincerely, A concerned physician
Dear Delegates, My name is ____Tracy Gates__________, I am urging you to please oppose HB1172 as it would lead to the decertifying and closing of all 158 Oxford Houses with over 1,300 recovery residence beds for men, women, and women with children, all across the state. Oxford House is an incredibly successful, well-researched and evidence-based model for self-run, self-supporting recovery homes that has been saving thousands of lives in Virginia for 32 years. Requiring all certified recovery residences be staffed would completely undermine the most important aspect of our amazing model. Without our statewide network of Oxford Houses, more Virginians will remain in addiction and die. Please oppose HB1172!
Dear Delegates, My name is Shannon Lawrence, I am urging you to please oppose HB1172 as it would lead to the decertifying and closing of all 158 Oxford Houses with over 1,300 recovery residence beds for men, women, and women with children, all across the state. Oxford House is an incredibly successful, well-researched and evidence-based model for self-run, self-supporting recovery homes that has been saving thousands of lives in Virginia for 32 years. Requiring all certified recovery residences be staffed would completely undermine the most important aspect of our amazing model. Without our statewide network of Oxford Houses, more Virginians will remain in addiction and die. Please oppose HB1172!
Legality does not equate to quality. Nurse practitioners are not incapable. They’re not uneducated. They tend to be very good people with good hearts and ambition to help others. But ambition and a good heart does not equate to competence. The human body and condition are the most sacred qualities that you and I have. To treat disease is an immense responsibility and a dangerous task. Nurse practitioners certainly have a role in a healthcare team, but I can guarantee you that when you or your child or your parent are sick and panicking, you want a team of qualified, competent physicians by your side. Because at the end of the day, although physicians can make mistakes and tire out, we have been trained several degrees more rigorously than any education that an 18-month online nurse practitioner school with a 100%acceptance and 100% pass rate ever can provide. Standards must exist when you are dealing with patients’ health. Lawmakers may be able to afford to still take your family to doctors, but expanding the scope of nurse practitioners to independent practice exposes your constituents and my parents to inherently lower quality care. Medicine is about bedside manner and the human connection, but MOST importantly, it is accumulating and honing an extremely intricate and comprehensive wealth of medical knowledge. Only years of 80-hr-per week training, 24hr calls, and rigorous, constant education can achieve this. Healthcare disparities will not improve, and data has shown that over 90% of midlevel providers establish their practices in urban settings with no intention of treating the underserved or those in rural settings as their mission states. The desire to practice without supervision is the root of this push from midlevels. No one likes a boss, especially when you feel you can never surpass your boss. Any human being would want to leapfrog the process in this work setting and push for independence regardless of patient safety. We are all human after all. But so are our patients, and they deserve to be treated by the best. And the best are physicians- a fact that you know already. If this bill passes, I plead for you all to have all of your healthcare administered by a midlevel provider for the next 5 years. Only from this experience will you understand the gravity of this mistake.
I am an autonomous Nurse Practitioner (ANP) practicing in a rural and underserved area as the sole healthcare provider for a nonprofit primary health care organization in southwestern Virginia. In order to provide healthcare to the citizens of this area, we are open approximately 80 hours weekly offering appointments 7 days weekly and in the evenings Mon-Fri. We have served over 6000 individuals in the past 10 years. My collaborating Physician (MD) retired once I gained my autonomy and I need help! By allowing only MDs to collaborate with newly licensed ANPs, finding help is next to impossible. There are no MDs in our area willing to collaborate with ANPs outside of their practices due to noncompete clauses in their contracts. Finding a nonlocal MD is cost prohibitive as we have been unable to find a MD willing to collaborate for a fee our organization can afford. I precept 6-10 ANP students annually. I do not understand why I can educate them in advanced nursing practice but I am not considered by the laws of Virginia as being competent to collaborate with them once they are certified by the national certification organization as an ANP. Many of my students are from this local area and would like to practice here, but being unable to practice without a collaborating MD, they are forced to practice outside this rural/underserved community. I agree that it takes 1-2 years for the novice ANP to gain the confidence in their newly acquired skills to practice autonomously. Why someone already in that role is unacceptable to provide this mentorship truly dumfounds me. Please support HB 896 allowing autonomous ANP to be collaborators of novice ANPS. Thank you for your service to the welfare of the citizens of the Commonwealth.
I am really wanting you all not to pass this bill because Oxford House gives me a place to live at a price I can afford on disability it gives me stability Oxford House I would be homeless and if the bill does pass that means I rent would go up and I would be homeless again and I am doing very well I enjoy living in the Oxford House we have meetings once a week for our house and we have committee meetings and everything So please do not pass this bill I in begging you
HB896 will replace the phrasing "patient care team physician" with the term "patient care team provider" in the VA Code to allow Nurse Practitioners without practice agreements to serve as the patient care team provider. As it is currently written, only physicians can provide collaboration & consultation. This would empower NPs, those particularly those working in acute care, to address the staffing shortages of healthcare. It also will eliminate the requirement that NPs maintain a professional liability insurance policy (the only health profession explicitly required to do so in the Code). Please vote to support for this bill.
I support all of these bills to increase coverage for children, to train care providers in the pernicious influence of cultural bias and systematic racism that can skew our medical decisions (without us even realizing it). I worked as a hospital RN, and then a Nurse Practitioner for 23 years. Nurse practitioners have the education and professional certification requirements to work collaboratively. We do not need practice agreements or supervision by a medical doctor to work within the law and limits of our profession. I do not agree with any measures to limit the dissemination of birth control to women who seek help in limiting conception. I do not know the details of Mr LaRock’s bill, but I have followed his history of preference for the State to control women in their choices for their contraception and well-being within their life limitations. I believe doing all we can to educate girls and women to be their own decision makers, and equal to men spiritually, mentally, and legally will reduce the incidence of unwanted and too early pregnancy better than any heavy-handed scare tactics.
HB919 - Maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in water supplies and waterworks; Board of Health regulations.
I am writing in support of HB 306 to be heard in committee tomorrow morning, which will allow a religious exemption to vaccines during an epidemic. Religious exemptions exist so that citizens can act freely in mind, body and spirit. Even in a time of an epidemic, citizens must have the opportunity to act on their conscience whatever that may be. The Nuremberg Code requires bodily autonomy and informed consent for any medical treatments to one’s body. Having religious exemption makes sure that remains the rule of law. As we’ve seen over the last two years, government has retained control over persons and their bodies in a way that would make Thomas Jefferson role over in his grave. Let Virginia continue to be religiously free, as the birthplace of religious freedom. Support HB 306.
Dear Delegate, Protect religious freedom, vote YES for HB 306! Our religious freedoms do not end just because government bureaucrats declare a public health emergency. Our First Amendment rights apply at all times. Thank you, Kellie M. Good
Correction: Please vote YES for house bill 306! No one should be punished for exercising their right to religious freedom!!!!!
Please vote YES for house bill 106! No one should be punished for exercising their right to religious freedom!!!!!
I am really wanting you all not to pass this bill because Oxford House gives me a place to live at a price I can afford on disability it gives me stability Oxford House I would be homeless and if the bill does pass that means I rent would go up and I would be homeless again and I am doing very well I enjoy living in the Oxford House we have meetings once a week for our house and we have committee meetings and everything So please do not pass this bill I in begging you
HB976 - Prescriptions; unapproved use.
I am really wanting you all not to pass this bill because Oxford House gives me a place to live at a price I can afford on disability it gives me stability Oxford House I would be homeless and if the bill does pass that means I rent would go up and I would be homeless again and I am doing very well I enjoy living in the Oxford House we have meetings once a week for our house and we have committee meetings and everything So please do not pass this bill I in begging you
HB1011 - Public drinking water; Com. of Health to study occurrence of various substances & acids in water.
The Virginia League of Conservation Voters encourages you to SUPPORT HB1011. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are a group of man-made chemicals used for their fire-repellant and water- and oil-resistant capabilities. Bioaccumulation of PFAS in the human body has been linked to harmful health impacts, including high cholesterol, thyroid toxicity, cancer, elevated blood pressure during pregnancy, and reduced antibody response to vaccines. Communities near unlined landfills or facilities that manufacture or use PFAS, treat contaminated industrial wastewater, or use firefighting foams may be at risk of drinking water contaminated by PFAS. Specifically, this bill: - Builds on initial testing conducted by a stakeholder workgroup authorized by the General Assembly in 2020. - Requires Virginia’s Department of Health to convene a workgroup to study the occurrence of PFAS in the Commonwealth's public drinking water. - Focuses on small waterworks; waterworks near potential sources of PFAS contamination; waterworks in rural areas; and waterworks that had reported levels of PFAS in the first round of testing.
Dear Subcommittee Members, Please find written testimony on behalf of the Southern Environmental Law Center in support of HB1011 (Guzman). Thank you, Carroll Courtenay
I am really wanting you all not to pass this bill because Oxford House gives me a place to live at a price I can afford on disability it gives me stability Oxford House I would be homeless and if the bill does pass that means I rent would go up and I would be homeless again and I am doing very well I enjoy living in the Oxford House we have meetings once a week for our house and we have committee meetings and everything So please do not pass this bill I in begging you
Please support HB 1011 to continue the study of PFAS chemicals in drinking water sources of Virginia. These "forever" chemicals accumulate in our bodies and can cause illnesses to include thyroid toxicity, reduced antibody response to vaccines and cancer.
HB1079 - Local department; establishing human resources staff position, etc.
The Virginia Municipal League is concerned with the fiscal impact of HB 1079 on local governments because they share costs with the state for local health departments. This bill would require every health department to hire an additional staff person solely to receive complaints on human resources matters. According to VDH, there were 83 human resources-related complaints last year within the 35 health districts. The central office has staff to process complaints and see that they get directed to DHRM as needed. Thank you for your consideration of VML's concerns with this bill.
I am really wanting you all not to pass this bill because Oxford House gives me a place to live at a price I can afford on disability it gives me stability Oxford House I would be homeless and if the bill does pass that means I rent would go up and I would be homeless again and I am doing very well I enjoy living in the Oxford House we have meetings once a week for our house and we have committee meetings and everything So please do not pass this bill I in begging you
HB1172 - Certified recovery residences; Bd. of BHDS to adopt regulations.
Dear Delegate, Protect religious freedom, vote YES for HB 306! Our religious freedoms do not end just because government bureaucrats declare a public health emergency. Our First Amendment rights apply at all times. Thank you, Kellie M. Good
Correction: Please vote YES for house bill 306! No one should be punished for exercising their right to religious freedom!!!!!
Please vote YES for house bill 106! No one should be punished for exercising their right to religious freedom!!!!!
I absolutely back this bill and what Dawn is trying to do I support her completely and I think professionally she's absolutely right... Please give them the rights and the authorities that they need to help out our healthcare system most practitioners are extremely experienced...
Virginia is going to drive out all their doctors. Increasing limits on physicians while decreasing limitations on Nurse Practitioners is an egregious power play that will be to the detriment of the citizenry of Virginia. Physicians complete training with over 15000 hours of supervised clinical training. Nurse practitioners complete training with less than 500 hours and these days their less than 2 years of schooling is sometimes completely online with 100% acceptance rates. Hospitals and politicians love them because they cost less. Buyer beware.
My name is Deborah Jackson and I have been in recovery and involved in Oxford House since August 17, 2014. Although I am opposed to this bill, I am in favor of certification. Just as there are many paths to recovery, there are different paths in recovery residences. There is no " one size fits all." Everyone in recovery knows that a large percentage of addicts will relapse. But study after study shows that self- governed houses offer the highest likelihood of abstinence. The cold and hard fact is since the introduction of Fentanyl more overdoses end in death. This happens in house with staff and houses without. It should be noted that Narcan is in all our houses and our staff is trained to teach house members how to use it. The requirement of a house manager/paid staff should not be the linchpin of certification. There is no evidence that this improves any addicts chances of recovery. It is the peer driven, self-run, self-supporting model that is evidence based. Our communities need more choices in recovery residences not less. Both Oxford House and VAAR know that having staff in a house is not a magic bullet. Oxford House has proven that our model is the most successful.
GOOD EVENING MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. THE DISEASE OF ADDICTION IS AWFUL, IT’S CHRONIC, AND IT’S INSIDIOUS. I LOST MY PARTNER TO HIS ADDICTION AND I MOURNED ALONGSIDE HIS PARENTS. BUT BOTH THEY AND I KNEW WE HAD DONE EVERYTHING WE COULD TO SUPPORT HIM, LOVE HIM, AND HELP HIM. THIS DISEASE IS AWFUL AND THOSE OF US WHO HAVE DEDICATED OUR LIVES TO HELPING ADDICTS RECOVER HAVE SEEN FAR TOO MANY BEAUTIFUL, SMART, LOVING HUMAN BEINGS THAT FILLED THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY WITH JOY SUCCUMB TO IT. AND MY PARTNER AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS WE HAVE LOST, LIVED IN A STAFFED, LEVEL 2 RECOVERY RESIDENCE. SOMETIMES EVERYTHING YOU CAN DO IS STILL NOT ENOUGH. AND EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN RECOVERY AND PROFESSIONALS IN THE FIELD OF TREATMENT ALL KNOW THAT WHEN SOMEONE DECIDES THEY ARE GOING TO RETURN TO ACTIVE ADDICTION THERE IS OFTEN LITTLE ANYONE – A FRIEND, A SPOUSE, A COUNSELOR, A SPONSOR, OR A RECOVERY RESIDENCE OPERATOR – CAN DO TO PREVENT IT. ANY RELAPSE CAN LEAD TO A HORRIBLE, TRAGIC OUTCOME. THE BEST WAY TO SAVE ADDICTS AND THEIR FAMILIES FROM THIS IS TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO REDUCE THE RISK OF RELAPSE TO BEGIN WITH. AND STUDY AFTER STUDY, RESEARCH AFTER RESEARCH HAS SHOWN OXFORD HOUSE’S 87.5% RECOVERY RATE IS HIGHER THAN ANY OTHER INTERVENTION IN THE FIELD. PROVIDING SOMEONE WITH AN ENVIRONMENT AND STRUCTURE THAT THEY ARE THE LEAST LIKELY TO RELAPSE IN IS PROVIDING THEM THE HIGHEST CHANCE TO SURVIVE THEIR DISEASE. AND THAT ENVIRONMENT, THAT STRUCTURE, ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH, DEPAUL UNIVERSITY, THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, THE WHITE HOUSE OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL STRATEGY, AND THE SURGEON GENERAL, IS AN OXFORD HOUSE. VIRGINIA HAD OVER 2,000 OVERDOES THE FIRST 9 MONTHS OF 2021. WE ARE ON TRACK FOR THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF FATAL OVERDOES IN ONE YEAR EVER. DECERTIFYING AND MARGINALIZING THE MOST SUCCESSFUL RECOVERY HOUSING MODEL IN HISTORY WILL NOT SAVE LIVES IN VIRGINIA, IT WILL COST US THE LIVES OF BELOVED PARTNERS, FAMILY MEMBERS, AND FRIENDS.
Dear Delegates, My name is Chase Roberts, I am urging you to please oppose HB277 as it would lead to the decertifying and closing of all 158 Oxford Houses with over 1,300 recovery residence beds for men, women, and women with children, all across the state including myself. Oxford House is an incredibly successful, evidence-based model for self-run, self-supporting recovery homes that has been saving thousands of lives in Virginia for 32 years. Without our statewide network of Oxford Houses, more Virginians will remain in addiction and die. Please oppose HB277!
NPs are not properly trained to practice without physician oversight. This is not safe for patients.
My name is Felicia Dixon, and I reside at Liberia Woods Oxford house for women and children in Manassas, Virginia. I would like to inform you on how the Oxford house has impacted my life. I have always been a kept woman. I’ve been in one abusive relationship to the next for almost my whole adult life. I have struggled with addiction since I was 13 years old. Before getting arrested this past time, I was stuck in such a violent and emotional/mentally abusive drug induced relationship where I had no way out. I was hopeless and suicidal. I wasn’t allowed to work and was cut off from my family. All friends had dwindled out of my life completely and I was alone, other than my abusive boyfriend. During my incarceration I was given the opportunity to go to rehab and get much needed help with my addiction. While there, I was attending one on one therapy and was informed about Oxford Housing. I was terrified about where I could go after completing my 30-day program. I knew if I went back to the only home I knew, I was going to die of an overdose or be murdered by my boyfriend. I was assured that the girls there where just like me. That there was no judgment, compassion, and they would welcome me with open arms. I applied and interviewed the very next day. I was very nervous but the girls on the other end of the phone told me I had nothing to be nervous about and they comforted me before the interview. I was accepted and I’ll never forget the feeling when the President of the house told me. When I was finally released from jail, I moved in and immediately was befriended by everyone in the house. They helped me find my voice, my inner strength, and guided me on how to be a normal adult. They helped me find a job and inadvertently a new sense of purpose. They are there to keep me in check on bad days and they are there to help me celebrate my good days. We have become a family. We laugh together, cry together, and learn together on how to be a productive adult in society. I’m finally starting to heal from my childhood and adulthood trauma. That may seem small to the average person but its huge in my world. I honestly don’t know where id be if it wasn’t for this organization and my fellow housemates. Every day I learn something new about myself and them. We are all so different but also, so much the same. There is a zero-tolerance policy on using and I really needed that. I spent most of my life manipulating law enforcement, PO’s, and the courts but I knew living here, there wouldn’t be any of that. We were all the same. Oxford living has saved my life and I thank God every day I made the right decision and came here. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Felicia Dixon, Secretary
Mr. Chair and members of the subcommittee, thank you for allowing me to submit these comments. Please support HB1172. I am alumni of The McShin Foundation - a VARR-certified community of recovery residences - as well as a state organizer with The Virginia Recovery Advocacy Project. We strongly support this legislation. I know first hand the importance of strong house leadership through accountability and lived-experience supporting individuals in early recovery. Regular house meetings, daily check ins, and communal activities are vital to building and maintaining a supportive recovery community and a foundation for long-term success. Please support HB1172
It is a shame that laws are not already in place for recovering addicts to be in supervision of a clean drug free area to get help not overlooked by an addict themselves. This type of 'sober living' house is not in it for actually helping recovering addicts more to make money off of them. They would be doing themselves a favor shutting themselves down to actually save lives instead of promoting this fake and unprofessional behavior. This is truly sad for anyone in need of help and searching for guidance. This is a disgrace for family's that really think there son or daughter are going to a home that cares about there well-being when that is not the case. Take a look at all the Oxford house residents respones to this bill it's a bit weird that they are almost all copy and pasted word for word. This just goes to show exactly how they operate by trying to make themselves play the victim card and take absolutely zero responsibility for their actions.
I am opposed to HB 1172. I live in Oxford House Kyber. The oxford house organization has given me a second chance on life. If I didn't have oxford house I would be back out on the street. It gives me the tools to learn better social skills, responsibility, and coping skills to deal with triggers to avoid relapse. Oxford house has saved my life that is why I'm opposed to HB1172. My recovery program is in line with the model the oxford house follows. It give me a structured environment to live out my recovery to be able to learn the skills needed to live a clean and sober life.
My name is James Harris, and the oxford house saved my life by accepting me and letting me move in to work on my recovery. I have been to the oxford house two times now, the first time, I was clean for almost 6 months, and I tried to transition back to normal life too fast, and under the stress of everything that was going on I relapsed, and got kicked out. I came back after 30 days and have been clean since, I'm almost past my last clean date, and I'm doing very good, I have the best job I've ever had in my life, I have my family back, I have a daily routine now that I haven't been able to have in years, I'm about to move into my very own home for the first time in my life, and all of these things are only possible because of the Oxford house and my recovery program that I'm actually working this time. The oxford house shutting down might not hurt me because I'm about to have my own place now, but I wouldn't have my life together or be getting into my own place if it wasn't for the oxford house. I want everyone to be able to have what I had, and keeping the oxford house open can do that!
I strongly support Oxford House. They provide a great service to recovering addicts. I have seen and heard first hand many success stories of people who have thrived in their recovery while living in the Oxford House.
This bill is long overdue. Oxford houses are supposed to be safe places that people struggling with addiction can stay and be in structured environment to help them focus on their recovery. Unfortunately, for many years they have been nothing more than a place for an addict to relapse because they have no one living in the house that is monitoring the tenants living there and making sure no one is using while renting a room. The Oxford houses have a recovering addict that’s in charge of making sure things run correctly. Anyone knows that has ever had a family or friend affected by a drug or alcohol addiction that isn’t enough supervision. There needs to be 24 hr monitoring of ALL Oxford houses and those alike for many reasons to prevent drug use, keep the tenants safe from others that have relapsed while in these homes and from outsiders. If you look at ALL drug/mental health facilities in Hampton Roads (VB psych center, riverside behavioral health etc) you’ll see they are locked down to outsiders. There is no traffic coming in or out and they have nurses on staff to ensure patient safety. Why would Oxford Houses not have the same safety nets in place for their tenants. As of right now the Oxford houses are nothing more than rental properties that owners are making profit on for the wrong reasons. Please help the families of addicts get this passed to help loved ones recovery safely. Thank you for your time. Sandra Breen-Bonilla
Dear Delegates, My name is _____Will Crigler_________, I am urging you to please oppose HB1172 as it would lead to the decertifying and closing of all 158 Oxford Houses
My name is Kayla Bryant, I am urging you to please oppose HB1172. I am a professional within the addiction and recovery field and have worked in university and community recovery settings. I have seen the tremendous success of recovery-based programs, specifically Oxford House. Oxford House has a model of operation which does not include house managers. Studies have shown that houses without house managers were more successful than those with house managers. Oxford House is a certified recovery residence. Per the 2020 Virginia evaluation of Oxford House, one success is measured by resident response. This involved "asking residents two relevant questions: [1] How important is Oxford House living to your sobriety and, [2] Would you recommend Oxford House living to someone else. In response to both questions, more than 95% of respondents indicated that Oxford House living was very important to their personal recovery and would recommend Oxford House living to others in recovery" The November 2016 US Surgeon General’s Report, “Facing Addiction In America,” singled out Oxford House as a key program in the continuum of successful treatment for addiction. The Oxford House program was listed as a best practice on the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices [NREPP] in 2011. This bill, if passed, would lead to the decertifying and closing of all 158 Oxford Houses with over 1,300 recovery residence beds for men, women, and women with children, all across the state. Oxford House is an incredibly successful, well-researched and evidence-based model for self-run, self-supporting recovery homes that has been saving thousands of lives in Virginia for 32 years. Requiring all certified recovery residences be staffed would completely undermine the most important aspect of our amazing model. Without our statewide network of Oxford Houses, more Virginians will remain in addiction and die. Please oppose HB1172! Kayla Bryant, M.A.
I am writing on behalf of Oxford House and myself to please do not pass this bill. Oxford house has saved my life and given an opportunity for me to reenter society as a tax paying and voting citizen. It is very hard to attain housing when you are just getting back to the work-force and have little if any rental history. Please, dont try to fix what is not broken.
I feel for -One ; Since this is a non profit, self supported organization, then there would be no funds available for payment -Second ;This goes against the grain , purposes morals of Oxford Houses, in general - Third ; This could lead to the ultimate failure of an individual or house Fourth ; Oxford house members need ' each other' for support...Not a Czar figurehead. - Fifth ; This idea has already been tried before in Richmond,Va in 2006 and became highly unsuccessful. As a result there were house secessions from the within the Oxford movement. I know this because I was living in an Oxford House that did, indeed, exit the movement and became independently run with landlord approval. Still is in operation today. -Sincerely, R.Stone
Dear Delegates, My name is Seth Tomlin (chapter 6 oxfordhouse Housing service committee chair.) I am urging you to please oppose HB1172 as it would lead to the decertifying and closing of all 158 Oxford Houses with over 1,300 recovery residence beds for men, women, and women with children, all across the state. Oxford House is an incredibly successful, well-researched and evidence-based model for self-run, self-supporting recovery homes that has been saving thousands of lives in Virginia for 32 years. Requiring all certified recovery residences be staffed would completely undermine the most important aspect of our amazing model. Without our statewide network of Oxford Houses, more Virginians will remain in addiction and die. Please oppose HB1172! I have been in recovery for three years. Oxford house has been a part of my recovery for a year and a half of those three. We function well as a chapter here in Roanoke City and Salem and we are happy to be able to be self run and self supporting. Reasons being, that it’s the way the democratic process of each house works. We are able to sustain long term recovery by following the Oxford model which is built around no governing force. It’s simply one addict helping another. One human being who has seen so much suffering and came out on the other side still alive helping another that is just like them. To take away a self running system would be to destroy what’s been built by so many before who care about the lives of those that struggle with addiction. With Oxford holding leases it allows us to follow the model. Otherwise the lease holder would dictate the house. Not the model. This would go against everything that allows our houses to be democratic and follow rules and regulations that help to keep us safe and sober. Thank you so much for your time and consideration. Seth.
Dear Delegates, My name is David H Blevins. I am urging you to please oppose HB1172 as it would lead to the decertifying and closing of all 158 Oxford Houses
I am an Oxford house resident and I urge you to oppose this bill as I am one of many men and women who benefit from the exposure provided in our house to essential life skills neglected while fighting addiction. All of us are personally invested in our recovery and are learning vital life skills and responsibilities,some of us for the first time in our lives. Financially this is a burden as well as the lack of personal investment in my recovery. My fear is that many virginians will fall back into the grips of addiction and end up back on the streets. One person lost is one to many. Thank you for your time.
Dear Delegates, My name is Eugene Lomnicki , I am urging you to please oppose HB1172 as it would lead to the decertifying and closing of all 158 Oxford Houses with over 1,300 recovery residence beds for men, women, and women with children, all across the state. Oxford House is an incredibly successful, well-researched and evidence-based model for self-run, self-supporting recovery homes that has been saving thousands of lives in Virginia for 32 years. Requiring all certified recovery residences be staffed would completely undermine the most important aspect of our amazing model. Without our statewide network of Oxford Houses, more Virginians will remain in addiction and die. Please oppose HB1172!
Dear Delegates, My name is David Blevins. I am urging you to please oppose HB1172 as it would lead to the decertifying and closing of all 158 Oxford Houses. I personally feel that the Oxford House design works very well for myself and others as we are self-sustaining and we hold each other accountable as opposed to an enforcer doing this. Thank you for your consideration. Kind Regards, David H Blevins
Please pass this bill in order to provide more structure and support to these houses. My dear friend passed away in one of these houses due to poor oversight. He really wanted to get better but with open opportunities to continue his addiction in this house how is that possible? No one checked on him for hours. It would really be helpful to give a proper management of the houses. From reading other comments, the vast majority are from northern VA which I think may have an impact on the environment of the house. I understand a lot of people have been saved from these houses. I don’t want them to close just improve.
Please protect our housing!
This will save lives
It is necessary to have individuals working in these facilities that are sober and able to provide the best living situation and to set them up for better success in their sobriety.
I’m writing this letter to express my happiness and joy with the progress that my grandson, Naquelle Clark, has made since being a participant in this program. It has had such a positive impact on his growth as a person and as a man. He went from not being able to see a bright future, to becoming a positive and productive member of society and embracing the fact that he was worthy of so much more. I truly believe that his positive transformation started with his residency in the Oxford House and has continued in this one as well, the Nauticus House where he presently resides. His journey has been filled with numerous ups and downs. Yet, with the benefits and support of his residency in Nauticus House, he has learned to flourish and grow in his journey to stay sober and continue to positively move forward in his life. I am so thankful for Nauticus House and the programs within for arming Naquelle with the support, benefits and encouragement that he needs to be the best person that he can be, and to live the life that he deserves. Sincerely, Shirley Clark
Dear Delegates, My name is ____Tracy Gates__________, I am urging you to please oppose HB1172 as it would lead to the decertifying and closing of all 158 Oxford Houses with over 1,300 recovery residence beds for men, women, and women with children, all across the state. Oxford House is an incredibly successful, well-researched and evidence-based model for self-run, self-supporting recovery homes that has been saving thousands of lives in Virginia for 32 years. Requiring all certified recovery residences be staffed would completely undermine the most important aspect of our amazing model. Without our statewide network of Oxford Houses, more Virginians will remain in addiction and die. Please oppose HB1172!
Dear Delegates, My name is ___Bryanna___________, I am urging you to please oppose HB1172 as it would lead to the decertifying and closing of all 158 Oxford Houses with over 1,300 recovery residence beds for men, women, and women with children, all across the state. Oxford House is an incredibly successful, well-researched and evidence-based model for self-run, self-supporting recovery homes that has been saving thousands of lives in Virginia for 32 years. Requiring all certified recovery residences be staffed would completely undermine the most important aspect of our amazing model. Without our statewide network of Oxford Houses, more Virginians will remain in addiction and die. Please oppose HB1172!
Plase pass this bill...these places need someone in charge that is NOT an addict...someone with their best interests at heart...someone capable of making the RIGHT decisions for those who can't right now...I lost a very loved close friend due to negligence at one of these places...I beg you...pass this bill!!
Dear Chairperson and Members of House Subcommittee #1,Health, Welfare and Institutions, I am writing today to state my opposition to HB1172 I am the parent of a recovered addict. The pain and anguish my wife and I suffered seeking help for our son who was an addict is indescribable. Watching him waste his life addicted to both drugs and alcohol was unbearable for both of us. We are now so proud of him as he has been in recovery and sober for more than 7 years now and works as a project engineer for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). We met with his counselors at the rehab center and they all recommended getting him into an Oxford House immediately upon exiting the rehab facility. We did, and we both credit Oxford with the main reason he has successfully recovered. We understand that HB1172 would impact the existence of Oxford houses which are located across the Commonwealth, and have supported the safe recovery of thousands of people in Virginia the past 47 years. The Oxford House system of operations is self-governed, without staff, and that is what makes it so successful. Through self-governance and following the Oxford House Charter and System of Operations, the houses are held to a high standard of quality operations and safety. The houses being self-run and self-supporting is critical to getting a greater level of investment in the house, the quality of the operations, the recovery of their fellow housemates, and their own recovery. Please do what's right and oppose this bill! As a proud parent of a recovered addict, I can't stress enough the great things that happen in Oxford!! Sincerely, Kenneth E. Aducci 2983 Maple Lake Road Powhatan Va, 23139 757-560-3053
Hello , My name is Brian Black and I am a recently new member to the Oxford House Family and I am saddened to hear that there is a possibility that Oxford could be facilitated by another company. I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience so far with Oxford and I feel like a part of a family and im treated that way as well. I have a history of drug addiction however I am a working and productive member of society when sober and I have been for awhile. Oxford allows me the ability to go to work, be a responsible human being and practice sobriety , all in a way that doesn't leave me feeling like a criminal or delinquent the way that some other private ran organizations would make me feel. Taking the certification from Oxford house would leave a lot of wonderful hardworking people without the support system they've come to know and love. The fact that Oxford has a track record of helping and assisting addicts and alcoholics become human in their own eyes let alone the eyes of others is something that is extremely necessary in our society. Thank you for taking time to hear my feelings .
I am in support of this bill passing. My nephew was in a sober living home that was self-governed. The person "voted" in charge was paying my nephew in drugs and rent to be his drug runner. The VERY person who should have been his biggest supporter in recovery put drugs in his hands daily and shared them with other addicts in the home. My nephew died as a result of this person. As lawmakers, you are charged with creating and supporting laws that are in the best interest of the people. As with any business practice, or any law, there are checks and balances to verify that they are being enforced. The current manner in which these sober living houses operate does not allow for the proper checks and balances to be in place. Conflicts of interest are present when the person "voted" in charge by recovering addicts IS a recovering addict. The process can only work when there is an independent person who is employed with the responsibility for oversight of those needing help navigating the difficult process of recovery. Please pass this bill as so many lives depend on it.
I'm 62 years old and I enjoy living the Oxford way. I'm living sober and recovery for me is to make my next step out on my way. I oppose the bill.
I fervently support the passing of this bill. If this bill had been in place a few years ago, it would have saved my brother’s life. As a doctor who understands the complexities of mental health related illnesses and substance use disorders, I cannot begin to understand why a house set up for substance use disorder rehabilitation with strict rules and contracts involved wouldn’t require an objective, sober member to lead the house and enforce the requirements detailed in the housing contract. I also cannot begin to understand why a company requiring rehabilitation requirements would not be mandated to be certified and audited by state agencies like any other companies providing similar services/requirements. When my brother entered into Oxford House living, it was made very clear that there was a zero tolerance policy for breaking an part of the housing contract. He was told he would be required to attend >20 sobriety meetings each month, would have to pass random drug tests, and would be kicked out immediately if he relapsed. Despite these “requirements” my brother was never held to those standards because his own housemates had also relapsed and refused to enforce house policies to avoid their own demise. When my mother suspected my brother was struggling, she begged for the house leader to ensure he was attending meetings and drug test him, but her desperate pleas fell on deaf ears. I firmly believe if he was held to the requirements of the housing contract, he would be alive today. You see, addiction is a mental illness and asking a group of people freshly struggling with addiction and other mental health battles to maintain a sober living environment without the guidance of a sober counselor/leader is like putting a candy bar in front of a child and demanding they don’t eat it. It’s absolutely ridiculous to assume these poor men and women fighting these terrible battles have the capacity and willpower to overcome these struggles on their own with no accountability in an environment filled with illicit drugs. I am absolutely disgusted and disheartened by Oxford House’s lack of initiative in caring for these young men and women. They take advantage of those struggling immense battles with nowhere else to go and only value the paycheck each of these people equate to. Implementation of this bill offers accountability and hope for others struggling with addiction and in need of housing, sobriety, and an accountable figure in their life. It may be too late for my sweet brother, but it’s not too late for the millions of Americans currently struggling with addiction that could easily fall victim to Oxford House living. If this bill is not signed, millions of death certificates related to the irresponsible management of Oxford House living will be. I ask that you please consider this bill for all those who’ve lost their battle to substance use disorder living in Oxford Homes and for all those who we may lose in their continued Oxford Home environment. We have to do better for our fellow Virginians. They deserve better.
Dear Chairperson & Members of House Subcommittee #1, Health, Welfare & Institutions, I am a daughter of a woman in recovery who has been able to call An Oxford home her safe haven while recovering from addiction and I am opposed to HB1172. I wholeheartedly believe in the way that the Oxford houses are run currently. The fact that they are self-governed and run creates an environment that allows and promotes recovering addicts to gain independence and responsibility while they build their lives back up. My mother has struggled with her addiction my entire life and I truly believe without Oxford home and it’s current system of operations that she would not have seen 18 months of sobriety. Passing this bill would create an environment where recovering addicts would feel micromanaged or “institutionalized” and strip them of that independent recovery process that I truly believe is the reason that Oxford has such a high success rate. Thank you for taking the time to read and consider these words. I oppose bill HB1172!
There is no need for staffing at our Oxford House. We are here to continue living and learning to take that step on our own. I oppose that bill.
My understanding of Oxford House is for recovering addicts like myself to learn to live and thrive in recovery. That does not include staff members. Oford house has given me friends to associate with. I am working again and learning to manage my money, emotions, and life on my own. Why I oppose staff members. Thank
My son would be alive today if there were rules that these halfway /sober living houses. I run a home care company for the elderly and disabled and my policy and procedure manual for the state requirements took me months to write. Its 100's of documents. Yet one can enter the Oxford House and have no rules, no support and no recognition that this is a mental condition that is in the DSM-5 manual as a mental health disorder yet we allow homes to profit and have no rules or regulations. Shame on Virginia. Plus they get to certify themselves...isn't that a huge conflict of interest. If I certified my own company do you think I would.give my own self any deficiencies. This Is horrible and I won't stop until something is done to get help and support in these homes. How has this been allowed? Who in Virginia has allowed an agency to certify themselves? This is disgusting and these places should have 6 months to get paid staff in these facilities to support them. Noone wakes up wanting to be an addict.
We do not require staffing for an Oxford house now nor anytime in the foreseeable future.
I heard about this house bill from a friend today and I wanted to share a short story about my sister without putting all her business out there. Oxford House saved my sisters life. Why does the government think they know what is best for people in recovery? Our parents could not stop her from using and neither could anyone else until she was ready. Government should focus on getting rid of the drugs instead of getting involved with how they think a recovery home should run and by whom. Even now the government is passing laws regarding marijuana, and this is how it all began with her, just one joint lead her to harder drugs. Blaming an Oxford House for a death and thinking that if they put a paid staff in these houses this will stop the deaths from happening is delusional. Until we have no more drugs people will continue to die and that is a fact, we all must live with. We don’t live with this disease; we don’t have a clue the demons they fight every day. I watched her fight her demons daily with no luck for many years. Even getting on suboxone from her treatment center, then going to the clinic for her daily dose of methadone did not help her stop using. So, what our government thinks is the miracle medicine for addicts that is monitored by nurses did not work for her either. She could still go to the clinic daily and get high immediately after leaving the clinic. It was nothing but a money maker and she suffered longer because we were told by the professionals this was the way to go. My sister overdosed in our house and if it weren’t for the paramedics she would not be here. Our parents did not know what to do but call 911. To be honest I was glad she overdosed in our house and not on the street, we may have never known it. At least when she went to the Oxford House the house had Narcan and everyone was trained how to use it. She even gave one to my parents to keep at their house and showed them what to do if they ever needed it. For whatever reason the peer-to-peer support works for her and from what I know for thousands of other people in recovery. Our family is truly grateful for Oxford House. She has been clean now for 2 years which she has not been clean since she was 15 years old, and she is currently 34 years old. I met the ladies several times that she was living with, and they all care for each other very much and want the best for everyone. I realize not every addict will make it, but I also know from talking to my sister that if she wanted to use, she could, and no one can stop her. But for now, I have a loving sister that no longer calls herself an addict but a person in recovery. She is in recovery because of Oxford House, and we appreciate everything they have done to help her change her life.
I write to add my voice of support to HB1172. I was surprised that Oxford House does not already have a professional member of staff to provide an independent level of supervision to help protect residents and manage problems that might arise. I am Registered Nurse who has spent a good deal of her professional life in facilities where such supervision is a basic requirement for an acceptable level of care. It seems that a half-way house for recovering addicts should require the same. I fully support this bill.
We would be doing this state a huge disservice not to pass HB1172. Sober living facilities all over the Commonwealth are being run by addicts who have relapsed and are not in active recovery. I lost a loved one due to the negligence of one of these facilities, which was in no way shape or form a "sober" facility. Instead most of the tenants were using and participating in other illegal activities. The opioid/drug addiction rates are increasing daily everywhere, and it does not help at all that there is NO oversight of these so called "sober" facilities. We need serious reform in this area and I urge you to consider passing this bill.
I have been a resident of Oxford House for 6 years. During this time as a seasoned member I have been a part of making sure The Oxford Model and the house rules are strictly enforced. I have seen many women achieve long term sobriety, be reunited with children, fix their credit and even purchase their own homes. We do all this without staff. We do it because we believe in this program and we teach it to every newcomer. Oxford House is not a place for excuses, members must be involved in the operation of the house and decisions being made. Oxford House has been saving lives since 1975 based on this model. It is evidence based and wildly successful. To remove certification because we are peer driven goes against the recovery community's support and confidence in this method. Please vote No for HB 1172, peoples lives are at stake.
My name is Patrick Bunting. I have been a member of Old Dominion Oxford House in Roanoke VA for 2 and a half years. I am opposing this bill because from my understanding, the outcome of HB1172 could undermine the Oxford House model of democratic leadership and self sufficient recovery; ultimately forcing oxford houses statewide to shutter their doors. Without Oxford House, I would have had no place to safely work a program of recovery after I got clean May 21, 2019. Having other like minded males holding each other accountable for our recovery has been a staple of my program of recovery and a blessing in my life. Through the Oxford Model I have learned to be a responsible and productive member of society. Oxford house has given me a network, statewide and worldwide, of safe recovery homes and persons that I can count on as the foundation of my recovery. It is my hope that our governing bodies see fit to continue to support the Oxford House model of recovery residency, because addiction is a disease that if not arrested can be fatal. Recovering addicts need as many resources as available to stay surrendered to their disease, and learning to live the Oxford Model has done exactly that for this recovering addict. Godspeed
I moved into Oxford House last September and I don't know if I would have stayed sober without it. I had my own apartment when I came out of detox but I knew coming home alone would not be a good thing for me. I needed the support and the accountability of the other women. I needed the chance to get my head straight. I am required to attend meetings, have my meds counted, do chores, and perform duties to the house. It hasn't always been easy but its all a learning experience and its the best decision I ever made. I went through rehab with staff in an institution and this was the perfect step down for me. To have accountability while also my independence to make decisions, work, and be of help to my housemates. Please vote NO for HB 1172
I have personally been in institutions that were managed by staff. it failed for me. not until, I found Oxford House that I have been able maintain not only my sobriety, but also learning how to live life on life's terms. Oxford House has allowed me to further my career with my employment. I live in a home, not in a facility. I live as a family member, and not a client. My quality of life is much greater than it has ever been since getting sober. Im truly grateful for Oxford House. I wouldn't live in Oxford under staffing. Please vote no for HB 1172
Good morning chairman and members of the committee, My name is Kevin Shanahan and I have resided in an Oxford House for just over a year now. Oxford House has been around since 1975 and has helped countless addicts and alcoholics with its evidence based model of self run, self supporting recovery homes. In fact it is the only recovery residence model that is accepted by SAMHSA's National Registry of Evidence-Based Practices and Programs. The fact that Oxford House is the only peer run recovery residence is what makes it so effective with helping people in recovery. For example, Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous are both peer run recovery meetings and that is what makes them so effective! Passing this bill would mean that all recovery homes would need to have a staff member which would effectively get rid of what makes Oxford House so successful! It teaches us the necessary skills we need for when we are ready to transition out of recovery housing and into our own place. I have lived in other recovery residences other than Oxford House and have not found anywhere near the success I have had in Oxford House in those programs. I urge you to vote NO to HB1172 so that Oxford Houses model of self run recovery housing can stay alive and continue to help countless more people the same way they have been helping addicts and alcoholics since 1975!
My name is Susan Callahan and I am a member of Oxford House Pembroke. This has been a major turning point for me in my recovery. The house is providing me opportunities to help me make better decisions. I needed this type of structure and accountability that Oxford House offers. Mandatory AA meetings, chores, weekly house meetings and the 24 hour support that is provided by the other house members has made this a positive transition into my recovery. All house members are available at anytime to help any in way they can. Please vote NO for HB 1122.
To Who it May Concern: I currently reside at Oxford house Willow Woods. I am learning the traditions of Oxford house. After surviving addiction, homelessness, crisis and trauma the freedom and the structure of the houses seem fitting for a chance at recovery...as long as you are willing to do for yourself what no one else can do for you. Recover. Its not a such a battle with mandatory meetings for addiction recovery, encouragement from peer support possibly therapy as well as a relationship with other members of the house(s). I am finding that with positive outlook a desire to want more from life you will succeed. The Oxford house is detrimental for community growth. In my honest opinion. Thanks, the newcomer Christina Faye Quesenberry
My name is Tanya Woody and I just moved into Oxford House. Safe Harbor Recovery Center referred me. The women in the house are very supportive and even though there are a lot of rules and requirements, it iy saving my life. I already have a job and they help me with transportation. We attend meetings together and I am so grateful to be here. Please vote no for HB 1172
As a citizen of the Commonwealth, I write to add my voice of support to HB1172. I might note, in doing so, that many of the comments speaking against the bill appear to originate with a form letter that, one assumes, has been sent to various people by vested interests simply requesting that a name be attached. It is important to emphasize that the aim of this bill is not to close Oxford House houses or to deprive those in need of the services its premises offer; the aim of the bill is to bring a reasonable level of independent oversight to establishments under the Oxford House banner in the form of a professional directly responsible for monitoring residences who, currently, are overseen and monitored only by a recovering addict; at present, that person receives oversight only internally, by the organization itself, which constitutes a clear conflict of interests and reduced level of objectivity. Even with the best intentions, moreover, ex-addicts, however pure their intentions, are not in any position to offer an appropriate level of protection to residents, a point that is clear from the fact that residents have been lost to overdoses while living in Oxford House establishments. The stipulation stated in HB1172 would simply bring to Oxford House to same level of oversight as currently applies to other businesses and organizations where the health and well-being of clients is paramount. It would indeed take time for Oxford House to hire such individuals; there might well be some temporary loss of accreditation in some instances; and there would be financial adjustments required to pay for it. On balance, however, none of these claimed short-term drawbacks outweigh the long-term health and welfare of the residents for whom the organization ostensibly exists in the first place. I urge the House to pass the bill and to do so with a single voice and unanimous show of support.
Hello my name is Sarah Reed, I am writing to you on behalf of Oxford House Pembroke in Va Beach. I have been living in this house for about a year and a half. I have held several officer positions in my house as well as a chapter officer position. We operate democratically with everyone playing a part in the operation of the house. We learn skills such as paying bills, balancing a checkbook, and how to conduct a proper business meeting. We are required to follow rules, and hold each other accountable. Please vote "no" for HB 1172!
This bill needs to be passed to protect the vulnerable people that are trying to overcome addiction and need caring, dependable support that will promote accountability and protect them from returning to their addictive habits. I personally know a family who lost their young adult son from an accidental overdose at a Transitional house that he was sent to to help him. His mother’s concerns that he may be using drugs again were ignored by those that were supposed to be helping him. I have unfortunately heard of many other incidents like these. It is heartbreaking that these families that are searching for help do not get the support they need. Please pass this bill!
I’m writing to voice my support for this bill being passed. It’s appalling that so many of those so called ‘sober living’ homes are being run by addicts. People trying to beat their addictions and get clean and get their lives together need should be provided a structured environment by someone who is clean and responsible in a paid position who will be held accountable for their actions. I personally know of two young people that went to Oxford House sober living homes to beat their addictions only to be stolen from and living with a house full of addicts still actively using! The heads of these sober living homes need to constantly be tested themselves if they are to be relied upon to lead people to get clean and get their lives back on track. Please take this issue seriously and let’s get this bill passed! People’s lives literally depend on it!
Please consider this bill. Oxford houses are run by addicts, some only sober for 60 days. This I feel is a total breakdown in the system. It’s like the fox protecting the henhouse. These places are businesses , not only businesses but businesses responsible for peoples lives. Their business model does nothing to ensure the safety and well-being of these individuals that are struggling with mental disabilities. Addictive, if you are unaware, is listed in the DSM-5 as a mental health disorder. Imagine your doctor having no requirements to protect the health and safety of their the people that come to them. Oxford houses have no rules, only guidelines which are adopted by the individual house. Oxford House Inc. bears no responsible to each house. And the prices these addicts much pay each week is very high. The cost is $560 month just to share a room. Typical houses have 6 - 10 people in these small house. So 10 people for one of these small rundown houses would bring in well over $5000.00. What are these mentally Ill people getting for that??? My son died in one of these houses. Not only that they stole his wallet/money and everything of value he had, BEFORE they called 911. My son would still be alive today of this bill would have been in effect. Please support this bill to require a paid staff member to over see these houses and all other “sober” houses.
Dear Delegates, My name is Leo Howel, I am urging you to please oppose HB1172 as it would lead to the decertifying and closing of all 158 Oxford Houses with over 1,300 recovery residence beds for men, women, and women with children, all across the state. Oxford House is an incredibly successful, well-researched and evidence-based model for self-run, self-supporting recovery homes that has been saving thousands of lives in Virginia for 32 years. Requiring all certified recovery residences be staffed would completely undermine the most important aspect of our amazing model. Without our statewide network of Oxford Houses, more Virginians will remain in addiction and die. Please oppose HB1172!
As a current Oxford House resident I would like to see HB 1172 defeated. oxford Houses have provide me with a safe secure place in which to live when I became homeless and began my journey into recovery. This Bill goes against how the Oxford Houses are set up to run and against the Oxford House Charter. The Oxford Houses can not meet the requirements of this Bill. Passing HB1172 would effectively shut down the Oxford House program sending thousands of currant residents to the streets and denying this life giving resource to thousands that would never have the opportunity to find a safe and secure place to find shelter and begin a new way of life through recovery. Please Defeat HB 1172 and give thousands a chance to live. Thank You
As a current Oxford House resident I would like to see HB 1172 defeated. oxford Houses have provide me with a safe secure place in which to live when I became homeless and began my journey into recovery. This Bill goes against how the Oxford Houses are set up to run and against the Oxford House Charter. The Oxford Houses can not meet the requirements of this Bill. Passing HB1172 would effectively shut down the Oxford House program sending thousands of currant residents to the streets and denying this life giving resource to thousands that would never have the opportunity to find a safe and secure place to find shelter and begin a new way of life through recovery. Please Defeat HB 1172 and give thousands a chance to live. Thank You
As a current Oxford House resident I would like to see HB 1172 defeated. oxford Houses have provide me with a safe secure place in which to live when I became homeless and began my journey into recovery. This Bill goes against how the Oxford Houses are set up to run and against the Oxford House Charter. The Oxford Houses can not meet the requirements of this Bill. Passing HB1172 would effectively shut down the Oxford House program sending thousands of currant residents to the streets and denying this life giving resource to thousands that would never have the opportunity to find a safe and secure place to find shelter and begin a new way of life through recovery. Please Defeat HB 1172 and give thousands a chance to live. Thank You
As a current Oxford House resident I would like to see HB 1172 defeated. oxford Houses have provide me with a safe secure place in which to live when I became homeless and began my journey into recovery. This Bill goes against how the Oxford Houses are set up to run and against the Oxford House Charter. The Oxford Houses can not meet the requirements of this Bill. Passing HB1172 would effectively shut down the Oxford House program sending thousands of currant residents to the streets and denying this life giving resource to thousands that would never have the opportunity to find a safe and secure place to find shelter and begin a new way of life through recovery. Please Defeat HB 1172 and give thousands a chance to live. Thank You
As a current Oxford House resident I would like to see HB 1172 defeated. oxford Houses have provide me with a safe secure place in which to live when I became homeless and began my journey into recovery. This Bill goes against how the Oxford Houses are set up to run and against the Oxford House Charter. The Oxford Houses can not meet the requirements of this Bill. Passing HB1172 would effectively shut down the Oxford House program sending thousands of currant residents to the streets and denying this life giving resource to thousands that would never have the opportunity to find a safe and secure place to find shelter and begin a new way of life through recovery. Please Defeat HB 1172 and give thousands a chance to live. Thank You
As a current Oxford House resident I would like to see HB 1172 defeated. oxford Houses have provide me with a safe secure place in which to live when I became homeless and began my journey into recovery. This Bill goes against how the Oxford Houses are set up to run and against the Oxford House Charter. The Oxford Houses can not meet the requirements of this Bill. Passing HB1172 would effectively shut down the Oxford House program sending thousands of currant residents to the streets and denying this life giving resource to thousands that would never have the opportunity to find a safe and secure place to find shelter and begin a new way of life through recovery. Please Defeat HB 1172 and give thousands a chance to live. Thank You
As a current Oxford House resident I would like to see HB 1172 defeated. oxford Houses have provide me with a safe secure place in which to live when I became homeless and began my journey into recovery. This Bill goes against how the Oxford Houses are set up to run and against the Oxford House Charter. The Oxford Houses can not meet the requirements of this Bill. Passing HB1172 would effectively shut down the Oxford House program sending thousands of currant residents to the streets and denying this life giving resource to thousands that would never have the opportunity to find a safe and secure place to find shelter and begin a new way of life through recovery. Please Defeat HB 1172 and give thousands a chance to live. Thank You
Hello, I am writing AGAINST HB1127. Oxford House is a great place for many friends to reside. The fentanyl crisis is getting really bad here in Hampton Roads and Oxford has given a second chance at life to many friends I grew up with who don't have parents to pay for their own apartment to get back on their feet. Please vote to keep open the best recovery house network in Virginia! Thank you, Chris Peck.
Hello, Oxford house means a lot to me, we have support from Outreach workers and they gave me a safe place to live and find a job and start practicing my recovery. The other addicts I live with all help me in my recovery and take me to meetings and Billy got me a job doing yard work where I operate a lawnmower and leaf blower, although lately we have been laying down salt for businesses and helping clear snow. If it wasn't for Oxford I would be homeless and on the streets in Portsmouth. Today I am grateful for a warm bed to sleep in, and a second chance at life. Please don't pass this bill! Sincerely, Charles
Hello Chairman and members of the committee, My name is Travis and I am a current member of a certified recovery residence in Lynchburg. I have resided in an Oxford House since May of 2018. Oxford Houses model of operation does not have a live in house manager. With that members like myself learn to do things on our own with guidance of others in houses in the area. Evidence shows that recovery residences that are peer driven have higher abstinent rates than ones who do most times and I am walking proof of that. To require a certified recovery residence to have a house manager would ultimately hurt models like Oxford House where the sole purpose is to grow by doing things as an adult on your own. PLEASE VOTE NO TO HB1172.
To whom it may concern, My name is Anthony Aducci, and I moved into Lake Smith Oxford House on November 16th, 2014. I’m taking the time to write to you today because I want to express how important Oxford House is to me and my recovery. Because of the Oxford model, I have been able to learn responsibility, accountability, autonomy, and learned how to make good decisions for myself. This allowed me to integrate back into the community and become a functioning member of society because I had to learn to do it in the beginning. Since 1975, over 3,000 Oxford Houses have successfully provided a safe place for drugs addicts and alcoholics to go when they begin the journey of recovery. Below are some facts about the Oxford houses here in Virginia. - 158 houses currently open and active for addicts and alcoholics seeking recovery. - 1,302 members currently reside in these houses. - Oxford House provides the best second chance with a proven 87% success rate. - Each member required to work at least 20 hours a week, volunteer 20 hours a week, or attend school 20 hours a week. Oxford House of Virginia is the only residence that provides housing all across the state of Virginia in urban and rural areas alike, with an ambitious mind to continue expanding to those hard-to-reach rural areas where addicts and alcoholics have even less of a chance of recovery if they seek it. Please know that passing HB1127 will not only destroy over thousand lives, it will have an effect on their families and the communities they live in as well. Please vote no for HB 1172
Please vote NO to HB1172. My name is Brittany Walkinshaw and I live in the Piccadilly Place Oxford House in Winchester, Virginia. In February 2021, Oxford saved my life. It provided a safe, healthy, and affordable place to live when I was coming out of my addiction. At Oxford I have been able to get back on my feet, focus on my recovery, and learn how to live life as a functioning adult again. I could not do this on my own or living with my family, I tried and failed. Living under Oxford’s rules I have been held accountable for my actions and have learned to take on responsibilities that running a household requires. This is only because Oxford Houses are self-run by the members who live in them. My housemates and I are responsible for making sure the rent and bills are paid. We are also responsible for holding each other accountable in staying clean and healthy. If this bill were to pass it would change the entire dynamic of every Oxford House and take away the responsibilities that many of us need to learn in order to learn to live life again.
Dear Delegates, My name is Adam Eastham, I am urging you to please oppose HB1172 as it would lead to the decertifying and closing of all 158 Oxford Houses
Please vote no to HB1172. I have attached my letter.
I am really wanting you all not to pass this bill because Oxford House gives me a place to live at a price I can afford on disability it gives me stability Oxford House I would be homeless and if the bill does pass that means I rent would go up and I would be homeless again and I am doing very well I enjoy living in the Oxford House we have meetings once a week for our house and we have committee meetings and everything So please do not pass this bill I in begging you
Good morning chairman and members of the committee, My name is Lee Akers, and I am currently a member of Oxford House Chester in North Chesterfield, VA. I am here today to speak against bill HB1172 and to why I think Oxford House should remain a certifying body of recovery residences. What I like most about Oxford House and what I think makes Oxford House so successful is the democratic process that the houses use in order to keep the house operational. This gives myself and all people involved a sense of ownership and accomplishment when we see our house thrive and continue to do well for so long. I have been a member of this house since September of 2017 and have seen this house make amazing strides when it comes to helping people stay sober. Another point that I like about Oxford House is there is no time limit for me to stay here. As long as I pay my rent and follow the rules, I can stay here until I am absolutely ready and comfortable to live on my own. The self-run, self-supporting part of Oxford Houses teaches so many people these necessary skills, so that when they are ready to live on their own, they can do so without worry and fear. There are many practices in place that ensure each house runs based off the Oxford House model and each house follows the rules set in place. One of these practices is monthly chapter meetings were all houses in the area get together to talk about how they are doing and if they have any problems. I am a chapter officer because I owe so much of what I have to Oxford House so I do as much as I possibly can to give back to this organization. The environment that Oxford House offers its members is like no other. It is a safe, secure, sober environment for all of us to come home to without worry. This is also another great motivator for us to hold each other accountable and to follow the rules. In conclusion, please vote NO to bill HB277 and please allow Oxford House to continue to offer myself and so many others this amazing space to recover in. Thank you, Lee Akers Oxford House Chester and Oxford Houses of VA Chapter 3 Chairperson
My name is Donna George. I am urging you to please oppose HB1172 as it would lead to the decertifying and closing of all 158 Oxford Houses with over 1,300 recovery residence beds for men, women, and women with children, all across the state. Oxford House is an incredibly successful, well-researched and evidence-based model for self-run, self-supporting recovery homes that has been saving thousands of lives in Virginia for 32 years. I speak from firsthand knowledge about this because my sister is one of them. She has been not only recovering but thriving since she began living in one of the Oxford Houses, as I believe it provides her with all the elements of home and transition that she needs at this point in her life. We grew up in a large family (2 parents and 8 kids), and living alone has proven to be a tough transition for those of us who have had to do it, including my sister after she came out of rehab. Living with others is a great option for her right now as she learns to manage emotions in a sober state around others who are doing the same. Because the recovery residence is unstaffed she is able to learn how to practice her recovery tools not from an imperative, but from the responsibility she feels to her herself, her Oxford family, and her family outside of Oxford. The peer-run home mirrors the way alcoholics helped each other during the early days of AA, when the miracle that has saved so many lives was born. Requiring all certified recovery residences be staffed would completely undermine the most important aspect of the amazing model that is working so well for my sister and so many others. Please consider keeping the statewide network of Oxford Houses, so that Virginians can continue to thrive and transition, when ready, to living their meaningful and productive lives beyond Oxford Houses. My strong belief, based on what I know about recovery, including my own experience with being in recovery, is that no staff or rules and regulations are going to improve rates of recovery. (Most of us addicts tend to want to rebel against them). Instead, when people truly want to recover, the support of others and the kind of love and kinship found in Oxford Houses are what can really make the difference. It has for my sister, and I am grateful. Please vote no for HB1172 Thank you in advance for your consideration of this request, Donna George
To whom it may concern, My name is Nicolette Reed; I am the oldest sister of Sarah Reed. Two years ago, I planned to write my sister's obituary, but instead I am writing today to share how Oxford saved my sister's life. First, I would like to provide some background to help you understand our struggle with addiction. Sarah and I come from a loving family who often turned a blind eye to substance abuse. We were exposed to trauma early in life and were not taught or exposed to healthy coping mechanisms. I found comfort in alcohol, while Sarah found comfort in opioids. If you have never abused a substance, you can't possibly understand how quickly it grabs ahold of your life. Once you experience being pain-free if only for a moment, you crave it with every cell in your body. Most people cannot fight addiction on their own. It takes the personal desire to change, deliberate intent to face pain, a strong support system, and accountability. Otherwise, an addict will find a way to use, and it won't matter where they are or who they are around. Who is to blame when addiction takes a life? I believe there is no one person to blame, not one moment or one experience. The fault is not on the user or the family, and the responsibility certainly does not fall on Oxford. I believe society is to blame. Those who struggle with their mental health are often embarrassed, ashamed, and unable to seek help. At a very early age, society teaches us to put others and their comfort first. Instead, we need to prioritize ourselves and our mental health. We need to breed an environment that acknowledges addiction and holds society accountable for being part of the problem. The Oxford program provides recovering addicts the opportunity to be self-accountable while surrounded by peers who can provide support - addicts helping addicts. Rules established by the house build trust and protect everyone's sobriety. The decision to use while participating in this program is the addicts and the addicts alone. Here is a list of things that contributed to my sister's addiction: - Childhood trauma - Lack of family support/understanding - Drug dealers - Self Here is a list of things that have made it possible for her recovery: - Higher Power - Oxford - Self A person's choice to use or not to use is theirs and theirs alone. Without programs like Oxford, there would be no hope for the person choosing recovery. I lost my sister, the person, to heroin over ten years ago. Oxford gave her a safe space to recover, which is why the sister I know, and love is still alive. My sister lost herself in active addiction for over ten years. Oxford gave her back to us by providing her with the structure and support needed for her continued recovery. Sincerely, Nicolette Reed In loving memory: Matt Lawson– heroin overdose at home with his parents sleeping in the next room
To whom it may concern, I am Raymond T. Barnes, the Division Head of Peer Services for the City of Norfolk. I come to you not in that capacity but in my everyday capacity of a recovering addict with 16 years of recovery. To many like myself and others that come from where I have and some whom have also traveled the road of a recovery path, places like the Oxford House and VARR are the very best option for us to continue on that road. Also there are those of us who need what the Oxford House and places like it can provide in the way of self confidence, a very supportive system, self reliance and the chance to do all of that with people like us who have been there, is still there and who want to give back in a way that only we can. The entire model and Standards of Operation of a Oxford House are built on peer driven beliefs. Having paid staff in any of the houses goes against any model of the Peer driven staff in every way possible. So, I am in total and unwavering support of all Oxford House being used as a mean of continuing into a positive recovery lifestyle. Ps. On a side note, I have place many recovering SA and MH participants in various Ps. On a side note, I have place many recovering SA and MH participants in various Oxford Houses in my region, which is region 5 Virginia. Thank You Kindly.
Vote no to HB1172. See my letter attached.
My name Ronald L. Weeks and I am writing to you on behalf of my family in support of Oxford House. My oldest daughter spent many years in active addiction. She destroyed her life and devastated ours. When she was 30 years old our family started a fund to pay for a cemetery plot and a funeral costs. There was no doubt in my mind that I would outlive my child. We tried everything, multiple stays in rehab facilities, detox, and managed sober living, nothing worked. Eight years ago her son got her into an 8 day detox and they recommended Oxford House. She has remained clean and sober every day since. In Oxford House our daughter was required to participate in the operation of the house. She was held accountable by the other women living there, many with more experience. She was surrounded by people who didn't accept her excuses, lies and manipulation. They were all too familiar with addict behavior. When she became a part of her house family they were able to do what her real family, professionals and experts could not. She has gained self esteem and credits this to Oxford House. She lives a life that she is proud of today. There are so many families who are suffering like we did , looking for solutions. My wife and I have many friends who have children and grandchildren who are caught up in addiction. We tell them two things, detox or treatment and straight into an Oxford House. The fact that Oxford House is self run and self supporting is exactly what makes it effective. I cannot think of one single reason to pass a bill that would remove this resource from our communities. The fallout of that decision would cost lives. I implore you to vote No for HB1172
Please vote no to HB1172. See attached letter.
To: Senator or Delegate to the Virginia General Assembly 2022 RE: Oxford Houses of Virginia Dear Sir or Madam, I am a person in long term recovery from addiction that utilized an Oxford House to provide me a solid footing for rebuilding my life into a respectable condition. Addiction is an insidious disease that impacts people from all ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. It know no boundaries as to the types of people it effects. When I recognized that I needed help in dealing with addiction my first step was to admit myself to a treatment center in Nunnelly, Tn. It was known as “The Ranch”. I spent 10 weeks there and upon leaving I was told to go to 90 meetings in 90 days and get into an Oxford House. My family didn’t want anything to do with me and therefore I had nowhere to go and live. When I returned to Richmond in January 2008, I was able to get into an Oxford House near what was then the State Fairgrounds. The members there offered me acceptance and understanding. The system of operations helped me personally grow as each house manages its financial affairs and enforces rules that helps members once again become accountable for their actions. Thanks to the FMLA act, I was able to return to my job as an assistant professor at my community college. Since that time the disciplined structure of my Oxford House allowed me to recover from addiction and never look back. I was so grateful that Oxford House was there for me when I didn’t have anywhere to go that I started volunteering to support the Oxford House of Virginia. I have served many positions in the organization. The most rewarding of those was serving a Chairman of the Oxford Houses of Virginia State Association. A board comprised of approximately 35 volunteers and a few Outreach workers. We support all Oxford Houses in Virginia with training and opportunities for service. I also help the houses in Richmond with operations and training. It has been a rewarding part of my life to give back and see others find happiness and wellbeing away from addiction. I was able to restore the relationship with my children, excel at work and become a better person. I will be forever grateful for Oxford House and its system of operations. If one follows the rules and procedures of Oxford House lives will change and residents will become self-supporting, law abiding members of society. Oxford House was a ”game changer” for me. And to consider their demise would be a travesty of epic proportions. Please vote against any proposed changes to the Oxford Houses of Virginia. Sincerely, A. Sidney Bass, III CPE Program Head, Architecture and Engineering Technology Reynolds Community College Past Chairman, Oxford Houses of Virginia State Association Alumni Board Member, Oxford Houses of Virginia Chapter 3 (Richmond) Alumni Chairman
This wouldn’t help the Oxford house we have a standard that we live by and having someone living our house that would be paid would take up a bed in our and make it harder then it already it is to pay bill because that wouldn’t be paying EES and they wouldn’t understand us they would be trying to make uneasy to live and honestly it would hurt more then it would help
I oppose this bill moving forward. As a recovering addict and oxford alumni I can testify to how important the need for affordable/ accountable housing for the community. I am now a peer recovery specialist who is employed by a local treatment center. None of this would have been possible for myself if I hadn't had a safe , affordable , and accountable place to live. I was able to start putting my life together while living in an environment of recovery provided to me at an oxford house. . Being able to tell those that come to the facility ( rehab) that when they discharge they can find a safe place to stay instills hope that they too can change their life around.
I have been residing at Oxford House - Hunter Street since August 2016. It has helped with me with maintaining my sobriety, the house rules that we enforce hold me accountable for my actions and gives me a safe place to live. It is an amazing organization and without it I don’t know where I would be today. I count myself extremely fortunate to be part of the Oxford House family. I what others to have the same opportunity to change their life. Oxford House saves lives. NO TO HB1172.
I was recently incarcerated for Five years , and Oxford House has given me a chance to get back on my feet , my second chance !
I would like to share my story with you. I am a sober 49 year old female attorney who was living in my car for 6 months during Covid. I felt safer in my car than being in a shelter where there are drunks and addicted people. I have PTSD from rape and assault. People who drink and use are very triggering for me. I was accepted into a woman’s Oxford House where I could be safe with other sober women. It was in Oxford that I had enough safety and space that I could seek medical care and counseling. I owe my survival to Oxford Houses of Northern Virginia. They gave me a safe space to breathe.
Oxford house has given me my life back , in other words saved my life ! Before coming here I was homeless, and even suicidal , they welcomed me with open arms , this is my family, a family I never had ! I've been clean a year now , with Oxford house being the foundation of my network !
Oxford has saved my life. I couldn't maintain my sobriety until I came to Oxford. Living with people who help hold each other accountable has helped me become a responsible person and take responsibility for my actions. This is because of the model we follow Thanks to Oxford I am rebuilding my life back. I say NO to this bill.
As someone who has had vast experience in the recovery and addiction world, I KNOW how important an oxford house can be for someone's recovery. Too often, we see people--our friends and love ones--go back to their previous living situation, and they end up falling back into a relapse, or they die. I'm not being dramatic. If you knew a third of the people that have relapsed and died because they wasn't access to an oxford house, you would NEVER consider passing this bill. As an addict, I know that my first tendency is to buck at authority. I push back and I will cut off my nose to spite my face-EVERY TIME. Oxford houses work for people like me because it is literally "a jury of my own peers," for lack of a better phrase. I am 100% more likely to listen to a group of women (in my case) who AREN'T being paid to live with me. They have no agenda or ulterior motive. Why would I listen to someone whose main goal is to enforce rules? I needed to be able to stretch my wings as I discovered who I was without the drugs and alcohol, and that is something that an oxford house provides. I cannot stress this enough, that without the many oxford houses throughout Virginia, you will end up losing so many people to their addictions. People won't feel comfortable if there is someone lording over them, they won't live in these recovery houses like they live in an oxford house.
Through the years I had tried to stay sober but always failed. I entered my first Oxford House in 2019 in Northern Virginia. I have been sober now for 3 years. Oxford House has saved my life! Without these Oxford Houses and the model we follow that has proven it has worked so many, the house rules and the accountability we hold each other to is why I am still here today. SAY NO TO HB1172.
I have lived in Oxford House Birdie for a year now and this place has changed my life! For the first time ever I've stayed clean longer then a couple of months and I owe it all to Oxford and their accountability as well as helping me learn to be self sufficient. I've also had the same job since I've moved here and have been recognized and promoted. Oxford has helped mold me into the person I used to wish to be. And now I am living my dream, sober and happy.
Having a viable sober living housing option in my early recovery, such as an Oxford House, was instrumental to my success in a new healthy lifestyle. I am 14 years sober and my first 6 months was residing at an Oxford House following a recovery center in Winchester. I am grateful for my Oxford experience which helped me to be accountable for myself and to help others in their accountability as well. I would oppose anything that would be detrimental to Oxford as it exists today.
I have lived in a Oxford house since getting out of "A New Beginning", a residential treatment facility. I believe that you need to transition back into life ,learning how to live life soberly, Its' not suppose to be like a correction facility. It's purpose is to give the individual personal responsibility and Oxford House - Annandale does that for me. Holding me accountable and learning to hold others accountable will help me in life. Please help us keep our recovery home and vote NO TO HB1172.
I would like to personally give my testimony! If it weren't for Oxford House Serenity Park Women's and Children's Home in Winchester , VA . I don't know where myself or my 2 year old daughter would be. I've struggled with addiction issues off and on for 25 plus years. I was introduced to the Oxford Model in 2014 for the first time an fell in love with it. These homes provide a safe clean environment for addicts seeking recovery. The model teaches us how to be accountable for ourselves and each other It teaches us how to pay bills, for some of us it's the the first real thing to be proud of. We keep our home and rooms clean, we often have family night where we cook dinner for the whole house and talk about our week. We learn for the first time what it's like to have someone who cares. We don't allow each other to fall and slip through the cracks. We build each other up. Another addict can truly understand and help another addict. Yes it's very likely someone will relapse in a Oxford House however the model helps members hold each other accountable. It's not always a revolving door. Different people every couple weeks. We actually rebuild our lives inside the walls of these homes something we had long thought wasn't possible. If it weren't for Serenity I don't think I would have had the second chance I did with my baby. I found hope with my fellow roommates, if I'm having a bad day I have several women to talk to. Im not ALONE! Many of us have burnt bridges with loved ones and these home's give us a second family in a sense. It's affordable and it's a step in the right direction thats needed to rebuild our lives. I'm going into my 80th day clean/sober and I owe it to Oxford House Serenity Park, my roommates for calling me on my behaviors that woukd typically lead me back out to relapse if left alone to my own vices. My first time around eventually helped move into my own place I became a productive member of society and stayed sober/clean for a few years. I relapsed shortly after my child was born and decided after rehab that Serenity would be a great opportunity for me an my daughter. Having that extra hand to help with her if needed, someone to ask me if everything is okay, help me learn how to slow down and learn the basics again. This home has given me a new out look on life again. It's building up the parts of me that I had lost along with working my 12 step program I owe my life to the Oxford Model. This home and countless others across Virginia help addict who need a second, third sometimes forth chance to just get it right.
Hello, my name is Travis. I am a residing member at Oxford House - Kyber in Lynchburg Virginia. I am a person in long term recovery, my clean date is June 15, 2017. Oxford House and it’s strict model of operation as a recovery residence paired with members as peers running the house I originally started in set the standard for myself in a safe and sober home. Since moving into the first house, I have moved 6 times to help open Oxford Houses in Virginia. Oxford Houses model has taught me how to have a checking account, how to live as an adult, how to manage everyday situations, as well as how to be a functioning member in society. Oxford Houses model of operation gives members the ability to make decisions together as a group. As a house, we all pay our house bills… learning how to pay utility bills and rent to a landlord. The Oxford House model of operation was created in 1975 to allow persons wanting long term recovery to have a safe place to do so. The model of operations is one that makes safety and security in sobriety a number one priority. This bill ultimately will take away beds for potential recovering addicts and alcoholics in the state of Virginia forever. Also not allowing referral agencies the ability to refer clients to safe and sober recovery homes like Oxford House. Capping the bed count to eight would hinder homes in areas like Northern Virginia, where the only options are Oxford Houses. In closing, evidence shows that the model performs well today, just as well as it did in 1975 when it was created. Recovery residences are needed, why potentially abolish 75% of the beds in the state?
The Oxford House Has saved my life and gives me a place to live and be held accountable for my actions.
To Whom It May Concern: As the Owner of Community Solutions, a licensed ASAM 3.1 residential program (Clinically Managed Low Intensity Residential Service) in Hampton Roads, I am writing in support of the services offered by the Oxford Houses operated in Hampton Roads. For the past 3 years our program has referred several of our program graduates to a variety of Oxford Houses in this area. The Oxford House community has proven to be an excellent resource for clients new to sobriety who can benefit from a supportive and structured environment. These homes provide residents with the opportunity to get back on their feet economically and emotionally and gain traction in their recovery. All of our referred clients report that Oxford representatives are customer friendly and welcoming to the new house. The additional feedback we receive is that these residences provide a safe and optimal environment to make new friends, avoid isolation and live with peers who have experienced similar challenges. It is also affordable for individuals who enter the home with severe economic challenges. The fact that residents are required to attend 4-5 AA or NA meetings per week when living in the program is an additional benefit for newly recovering individuals. In one instance one of our graduates became the House President of his Oxford House and he reported great satisfaction in carrying out the required duties associated with that position. I've had the opportunity to interact and get to know administrative personnel from both the male and female homes and I was impressed by their commitment to the house residents and their passion for the work they do. It is my observation based on numerous conversations with residents that living in an Oxford House offers residents an excellent opportunity to live a sober and rewarding lifestyle while establishing healthy relationships with fellow residents. Community Solutions will continue to work closely with Oxford Houses to build on our existing constructive partnership.
Oxford House has been a proven success model since 1975 when members of a Managed house found out their house was closing and they decided they can run it themselves, here we are 47 years later, and still have one of the most successful worldwide organizations, Oxford house has helped Millions, with plenty of success stories. Not only In Virginia, but worldwide. If it isn't broke why try to fix it? I have been a member of Oxford House since 2020, In my late 30s starting over, I was successful and of good earning capacity before Oxford, but I had a problem with alcohol, and it cost me everything. Years of irresponsibility led me to a Rehabilitation center with nowhere to go. Oxford took a chance on me. But it didn't come without expectations, instead of being like an unconditional girlfriend who would take care of me in my ill mannered ways. I was held to standards of living to include paying my own way, cleaning up after myself, maintaining my living space, and most importantly, being supportive of my live in peers. and maintaining sobriety because the results would be detrimental if I did not. Oxford House also teaches responsibility, maturity and accountability to the recovering addict who may never had had those experiences before, such as managing a checkbook, handling money and being trusted by your peers. Holding others accountable as well as yourself. It prepares you for life beyond the sober living environment. While you look at the bright side of this bill, Someone will get their benefit from it, a corporation, who pays individuals to micromanage houses. Which will be detrimental in many ways. Individuals will grow frustrated and leave managed houses long before their ready, leading to relapses, incarceration or even death. It will also discourage recovering addicts and alcoholics to stay in this community and flee to other states where democratically run houses are permitted. Oxford house is in 48 states. Worst of all it will destroy the recovery community that VA has created and leave recovering addicts with no choice but to go elsewhere for support. While the merit behind the bill is understanding the results of the bill will be devastating
My name is Christopher Rider and the Oxford house has saved my life. It also lets you feel how real life works because there is no manager to govern how you live your life. Without a manager it really lets you live life like a regular person so you can make the transition from being in treatment to being on your own. If I wanted to be critiqued on every little thing I do then I would go to an in-house treatment program. I have 117 days sober and I owe most of it to Oxford. Sincerely, Christopher Rider
Hello Representative My Name is John and I am a recovering Alcoholic and a resident of an Oxford House in Northern Virginia. Being a member of an Oxford House has truly given me my dignity as a contributing member of my Oxford House. The Oxford House mode in essence is about having a voice in how things are done to keep the house I live in going. We interview and accept who comes into the house and if a relapse occurs house members have a meeting and vote to expel the member. The model has proven with a lot of supportive data to be working since 1975. I beg you to listen to the members of Oxford House who will testify that being a self supporting member of an Oxford House has provided a path to a lasting sobriety . Thank you John McCormack VSA Chair Chapter 1 Treasurer O.H. Fairhill Fairfax VA
My name is Christopher Rider and the Oxford house has saved my life. It also lets you feel how real life works because there is no manager to govern how you live your life. Without a manager it really lets you live life like a regular person so you can make the transition from being in treatment to being on your own. If I wanted to be critiqued on every little thing I do then I would go to an in-house treatment program. I have 117 days sober and I owe most of it to Oxford. Sincerely, Christopher Rider
Dear chairman and members of the committee, I am opposed to this bill because it goes against the traditions and very basis of the Oxford House model. Oxford House is a self supporting, autonomous, self ran household. Oxford works because it is ran by peers in a democratic fashion. To require all certified recovery houses to have a live in or off-site house manager would go against what makes Oxford House so successful. Oxford not only helps us maintain our sobriety, it teaches us people how to get their lives back. Simple things like budgeting and maintaining a household are taboo to the using addict. Because of Oxford, these are things we are learning, possibly even for the first time. It is imperative to be able to make decisions without someone telling you what to do. I AM OPPOSED TO HB1172
I am a very grateful recovering addict and would not have the opportunities I have if it wasn't for the Oxford House organization I've met incredible friends lifelong friends and it's been a wonderful experience being in a home with people that are going through the same struggles as myself. Please do not pass this bill as I believe it will do a large disservice to recovering addicts and alcoholics everywhere. In this day and age we need all the help we can get. Oxford houses provide a platform for many people to get back on their feet. Not to be over dramatic but it probably saved my life. Please do not pass this bill I believe it will do more harm than good
Oxford House has given me many opportunities, But Most importantly it has saved my life. While I have experienced work with Oxford House and performed duties on many committees, Been to many Oxford Conventions, I can say I have seen and heard many success stories from Oxford House including my own. I came to Oxford from Detox, nowhere to go, no money in my pocket, no job, no real friends. and the clothes on my back. It was a humbling fresh start. As I grew with the house, I grew to make friends in the NA/AA Program, who guided me on my road back, In the years I have been involved with Oxford, I have seen many success stories as well. Men & Women Starting over to go on and leave the nest, become successful in their own life endeavors, some started families, some have amazing careers but all of them will tell you, None of them could have done it without Oxford. The rules are simple: Don't Use, Drugs or Drink Alcohol, Pay your own way, Respect your fellow man, and Clean Up after yourself. While most people will say that sounds simple enough, for a recovering drug addict or alcoholic it may seem to be a challenge. But we have each other to remind each other of simple things like that until it becomes second nature. Putting in a "House Manager'' does take away from the spirit of learning to live life on your terms, learning to be responsible for yourself, and holding yourself to a higher standard than you would have if you have someone breathing down your neck. House Managers remind people of Rehabilitation Centers, or Detox Facilities, which will discourage members from heading into an Oxford House, often encouraging them to head to other places which will lead to a dead end. Vote No.
My sobriety date is October 23, 2015. I have been living at Hunter Street oxford House since January 17, 2016. Oxford house helped change my life and helped me have a safe place to live amongst other people in recovery also trying to stay sober. I was a heroin addict and although I had a friend letting me stay at his house I chose to move into Oxford because of the structure it offered while it also allowed me the freedom to live independently as opposed to living in a managed treatment center. I love the women I live with and have not felt lonely since moving into Oxford. Living here has provided me structure and helped me learn how to regain my life and be a productive member of society. I have been able to maintain the same job for 5 years and am now looking to return to school. Most importantly the house I live in makes me feel safe. I do not know where I would be without oxford.
Oxford houses has given me a safe place to get back on my feet when I returned to the community from a state corrections facility. I am overjoyed with the camaraderie I have with my housemates and the community chapter I am a part of. Oxford homes keep a roof over my head, A safe place to live, accountability for my actions or lack thereof and a place to grow.
I have resided at Hunter Street since August 2016. I have been able to not only been able to maintain my sobriety, maintained a steady income, and learned how to accept constructive criticism. I count myself extremely fortunate yo be part of the oxford house family.
My name is Dominic Walter. I’m 21 years old, and I’ve been an active member at Oxford House Kyber in Lynchburg, Virginia for over 4 months. Prior to my acceptance as a member, the environment I was living in did not offer the structure, nor the accountability necessary for me to remain abstinent long enough to fulfill my responsibilities. When the day came that I realized I had nowhere else to go and that I was tired of living in the cycle of hurting myself and others as a result of my active drug use, I looked into Oxford house as an alternative. Through managing house funds as the treasurer, maintaining the living space shared by the other members, and building relationships with other people involved within the recovery community, I’ve managed to mature significantly during the past months. These changes would not have been possible without the people in this house supporting me and holding me responsible for my actions. What makes an Oxford house successful are the people in it. Being democratically ran, we all have an equal chance to assume the responsibilities that come with living without the use of drugs or alcohol. The thing that we all share is an understanding of what it’s like to be in active addiction. Being a peer driven model, the people I live and communicate with are more apt than others to notice behavioral patterns indicating relapse, or risk of it. That is something I have come to deeply rely on in addition to my involvement in 12-step recovery groups.
There is no doubt in my mind that Oxford House has been essential, critical, and a foundation for my recovery. Not only is it a safe and stable environment, Oxford House provides a platform for me to work with other alcoholics in the most direct way which in turn helps me to be sober. I cant thank them enough for my future as a recovering alcoholic !!!
There is no doubt in my mind that Oxford House has been essential, critical, and a foundation for my recovery. Not only is it a safe and stable environment, Oxford House provides a platform for me to work with other alcoholics in the most direct way which in turn helps me to be sober. I cant thank them enough for my future as a recovering alcoholic !!!
To Whom it may concern: Hello, my name is Zekan Maddox. I live at Oxford house Beau Lane in Fairfax, Virginia. I have lived at Beau lane for 2+ years now and it's given me a safe, structured environment in which to turn my life around and to practice responsibility, to grow into a responsible, thoughtful, mindful, caring, compassionate human being, where I put the safety, health and needs of the group first. I'm in active recovery from drugs and alcohol, meaning that I've committed myself to it. I understand that there have been times within Oxford that individuals have died due to relapse but I would be willing to bet everything that I'll ever have that the odds for people to succeed in recovery are better with Oxford than without it. What I really want to say is that in my opinion, recovery is possible as long as one commits to it. That means committing to the Oxford model, meaning that first things first, we don't use or drink, no matter what, that is also the commitment within any of the 12 steps programs as well. Part of why Oxford is so successful is because it's run by Us, the residents, if it were run independently, outside of the resident run structure, I don't know that I personally would be sober for 2+ years. It was up to me, it is up to me to be responsible, to do my chores and my job inside of the house, to be a role model for the other residents here, it is up to me to go to meetings, to work my program, it is up to me to be a part of the society at-large outside of Oxford and to be that representative that the model works. I'm proud that it's up to me and I know that in conversations with other men here at Beau Lane along with others that I've spoken to about this subject that personal responsibility and accountability are paramount for success. In my opinion, Oxford needs to remain a safe and structured environment where that safety and that structure originates with the individuals that live in any particular house and needs to remain with the individuals of that house. I'm very sorry that some of us don't/won't have to opportunity to live a life of successful sobriety, that's very sad but at the end of the day, for those that don't/won't are the only reason that they don't/won't. We are here for one another as much as we can be in a healthy and productive manner, but we are a place where growth takes place, and growth isn't always comfortable, it's definitely not easy and it's definitely not always immediate but it happens here, but only if the individual is ready to do the work and ready to commit. Please allow us to continue to grow by our tried and true proven model that works when it's implemented. We are not a rehabilitation facility and we shouldn't be run as such. We are as we have always been, self run, self supporting and self managed. That's an important part of who we are and what we do within Oxford. Thank You, Zekan A. Maddox Oxford House Beau Lane
I quit drinking many times in the past. I’d stay sober for 1, 3 and 9 months. Once or twice even managed to stay sober for a year. I always went back to drinking at some point. I went to jails, mental institutions, inpatient recovery programs, and every time I wanted to stay stopped more than anything in life. When I got sober this time I went to the Mens Home for 30 days and then to an Oxford House. That was in 2004, and I’ve been sober ever since and still live in an Oxford House today. This house is both my home and a very large part of my recovery from alcoholism. I would have been dead years ago had it not been for Oxford House.
I am very grateful for Oxford House(s)! When I was released from residential rehab in 2019, I was unable to go home. My Husband had a court order naming Him soul custodian of our son and soul occupant of our home in Arlington, va. I was quickly accepted into an Oxford House without a problem. I would have been homeless!! Since then, the divorce has been finalized, we share custody of our son and have a decent relationship with one another while we co-parent our 7 year old son.
Please vote no to HB1172. My thoughts about Oxford House living is that it is an effective way for a group of peers to live clean and sober lives. We support each other in our recovery. We run the house through weekly business meetings with jobs like Treasurer and Secretary. We are forced to take responsibility for our own lives without some type of manager being in charge.The peer support works well, and we all have equal say in the running of the house and keeping each other accountable. I have been in Oxford since June of 2020, and I have been sober since October 16. 1994.
Good morning Chairman and members of the committee, My name is Juanita Williams and I've been living in Oxford House Mountain Road for six months now. I love it here and I love that Oxford House is a self-run, self-supporting recovery residence. They opened their doors to me when I was living in a hotel and not doing so well. For that I will be forever grateful. I need this recovery housing program! It has taught me that sobriety is an amazing second chance at life. This is an awesome program and place for a recovering addict like myself. Living here lets me be a part of something larger than myself. Oxford House has given me skills to take with me into the world and into the work force that I never had before thanks to their system of operations. They have taught me how to be able to live on my own responsibly and safe. I love being part of a self supporting house because I can be a part of making every decision with other ladies that live in my house with me. Taking away Oxford House's ability to certify recovery residences would hurt my program of recovery and take away the chance for so many people in the future to experience all the good that Oxford House has to offer. Thank you Oxford House for being there for me and so many other people in recovery. Juanita Williams Oxford House Mountain Road
Hello, My name is Skyla Stearn, I am an Grateful Recovering addict, and currently reside at Oxford House-Meg Davis in Lynchburg Virginia, and have been residing here since September 15th, 2020 . Without oxford House, I would not be as far as I am in life! Oxford House has pushed me to build a network through my recovery, and also is the biggest part of my recovery, the most important part of my story with Oxford is that it has given me one of my children back, he resides here full time and is thriving, and I am thriving as a recovering mother ! Oxford has given me financial stability, it has given me my voice and helped me understand my addiction more than any program I have ever been in. I feel that these things happen because of the self-supporting model we are ran on, and I personally feel that it has been so sufficient to my recovery. This bill will cause a great many addicts to lose lives, or a safe warm HOME to call theirs ! Please consider the fact that I myself was referred by an Inpatient program, and because of that one referral, my whole entire life has changed, and I am present and fully capable of being a Mother, Daughter, friend, and just a productive citizen of society today, because of Oxford House. I guess what i am trying to say, is please think of the peoples lives that might be in danger, if they arent able to be referred, that could potentially safe a life. Oxford is just more than sober living, I have built a family, people i will keep in my life for years and years to come. Its the foundation of my Recovery !
I have been at different Oxford Houses. I have opened many houses. Oxford has allowed me to be responsible, pay my bills, and truly, truly help another suffering addict. Oxford has taught me so much. I have been in Oxford since 2014. If it wasn't for Oxford, I don't know where I would be today. I appreciate each and every one, and I wouldn't change it for the world. It's bad enough we don't have enough women recovery houses. PLEASE VOTE NO TO HB1172.
I am new to the Oxford House, but I find it to be a very safe place to nurture and provide support for my ongoing sobriety. I appreciate and feel fortunate in having the ongoing Oxford House concept being a part of my immediate situation and look forward to many more sober days!! Kathie Hunter House
Please vote no to HB1172. Being within recovery can be challenging sometimes without having a sober network. Oxford house allows for individuals within recovery to be surrounded by people who are serious about their recovery. Within recovery I have had my longest abstinence from any mind altering substance while being within the Oxford community. Many addicts like myself need peer support while trying to change their way of life. Having these ladies within my house to support me has had an impact on my life emotionally and spiritually. Oxford is completely effective; however, the program only works if you stick to all Oxford house rules, and work the steps properly.
Without the help of Oxford House, I don't know where I would be today. It's more than just a place of residence for me, it's a family. I have been shown so much love, support and compassion since I've been here. I've also seen what Oxford House can do for others with no hope. I greatly appreciate Oxford. I have been here since January 7, 2022, and my sobriety date is May 31, 2021. Closing these house or taking away our charter will affect us helping other women. PLEASE VOTE NO TO HB1172.
Hi my name is Kevin Thibodeau I'm currently staying at an Oxford House - Kyber in Lynchburg. If I didn't have the opportunity to come to an Oxford House after leaving treatment I would have went back down a path that would have lead me further away from recovery. Oxford House has given me the tools as well as guidance to start me on my journey of recovery and gave me a safe place to be so I didn't have to go back to the same people places and things I was around. If I didn't have Oxford House I wouldn't be starting a new job tomorrow, I wouldn't have a place to lay my head at night and I would still be sleeping in the nearest parking lot in my vehicle. Oxford house has done so much for me and not just me thousands of other people that are in recovery. In a sense oxford house has saved my life cause I don't know where I would be without it. SAY NO TO HB1172.
My name is John Swimmey Oxford house save my life the structure and the accountability and the Self-reliance it is taught me how to manage my finances balance a checkbook pay my bills on time and the kick a habit that I just couldn’t kick To take away from monster house would be to murder people they just can’t get their life together I was one of those people until I came to Oxford house to lose the fact that someone could recommend us I would have never known if someone had recommended Oxford house to me I would be dead today if not for some entity telling me about Oxford house I am self-reliant I have a good job a career and I’m very thankful for what Oxford house has done for me.
Oxford Houses across the Virginia Commonwealth have saved the lives of countless men and women. Many great contributing people(s). Oxford House’s structure and accountability provide a necessary transition point for those suffering from the disease of addiction. Building life skills, learning to maintain a sustainable and responsible lifestyle. Please do not take away the freedom of organizations to recommend, educate, and provide information directing individuals to this great organization.
Since I moved into the Oxford House in October 2021, I have learned the true meaning of happiness, help, joy and recovery. Oxford has allowed me to learn how to function in society, live a normal life as a regular citizen, and not be looked at like an addict. Being at Oxford has taught me how to be stable; it's taught me how to accept constructive criticism, and it's taught me how to trust people again. It's giving me stability that I truly never have had since I left my parents' home years ago. I have built some amazing life long relationships with women inside my home, as well as in the Oxford community that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. Why would you want to change an organization that has saved so many with substance abuse disorder. This is very sad that the government or any other organization thinks they have a better way of running our houses than those that live in our homes. Oxford House has proven to work. PLEASE VOTE NO TO HB1172.
Good morning chairman and members of the committee, My name is Easton Eplion. I am a recovering addict and a current resident of Oxford House Pollard Park ii in Richmond, VA. Oxford House has become the backbone to my recovery. When I was released from a year long program in Chesterfield, VA my biggest fear was going back home to the place where I'd spent 15 years in the same town with the same people doing the same things. I needed a safe place to go that was away from it all or I wouldn't have made it in recovery. Oxford House Pollard Park ii has given me a strong sense of family and belonging. The women I reside with have become my biggest critics and supporters. We have found a safe place within each other. We hold each other accountable and keep each other on track in our recovery. Without Oxford House I would simply be lost. Oxford Houses are such a strong force in todays recovery homes and it would be a shame to take that away from so many people suffering with this disease. It teaches us to live, really live on our own and go to work and clean up after ourselves and pay the bills and rent on time to uphold a normalcy in recovery that helps us to be ready to go out on our own. It is a vital stepping stone to mine and many others recovery program. There are no staff, probation officers or therapists here, but there are peers and love and a recovery network and the vital independence we need to learn before becoming productive members of society on our own. I strongly urge anyone reading this to please take this into consideration. We are a united force in recovery and Oxford House has been helping those of us in those final steps for so long now... since 1975 to be exact! To lose this essential step would be such a loss to those who haven't discovered it and an even greater loss to those of us who have and are utilizing the abundance of skills the Oxford House model has provided us with. I simply could not imagine the state of Virginia loosing the 1,302 beds that Oxford House provides and the damage it would do to the recovery community. Thank you for your time, Easton Eplion Oxford House Pollard Park ii
Dear Representatives, My name is Nick Miller and I found myself in detox nearly two years ago having lost everything in my life. My wife filed for divorce and custody of our children, I filed bankruptcy, I lost of all of my possessions because my house was in foreclosure, my cars were repossessed and my life savings had vanished. It was the beginning of the pandemic and after I received confirmation that I would be going to rehab all of the rehabs were subsequently closed. I learned about Oxford house and quickly called to set up an interview and was accepted. I have been clean and sober now nearly two years later. I wouldn't have been able to recover without Oxford House. I learned how to be accountable and hold others accountable. I learned how to be grateful and to give back and help others in need. I learned what recovery was and how to get it. I have a relationship with my family again, a steady job and career, I recently bought a car and most importantly I have a second chance at living a productive life. One of the reasons I believe Oxford house works is that there is no boss in the house. We have to come together as members in the house and make things work by following the rules. Oxford house provided me a safe place to recover knowing that there is zero tolerance for using drugs or alcohol anytime anywhere. It truly works and I'm living proof. Please don't deprive men and women the opportunity to recover as I did by following the oxford house model. Best regards, Nick Miller
Oxford House has given me a clean, safe, healthy environment without judgment and misunderstandings. It has enabled me to start a new life again, with long term sobriety. Having a simplistic structure with a few principles and rules gives me the freedom of choice, and I am encouraged daily to do what's right and live free. Having the freedom to choose to do what is right encourages me to believe in myself and stay strong. And, I'm thankful for the Oxford House. Please vote NO to bill HB1172.
I do not want any changes to be made because it would greatly change to direction and purpose of oxford recovery homes. I am resident at Oxford home. Oxford homes are a community of members in recovery. It self run and managed by the members of the house. I have been living in a Oxford house. It has afforded me with strength and support in my life and recovery.
Good morning chairman and members of the committee, My name is Danika Conigilio, I am currently 31 and a member of Oxford House Edgehill. I have been struggling with addiction since 18 and a member of Oxford Houses since 23. It is the safest place I have lived at and truly enjoy living at while also having a in house job, responsibilities, paying my own rent all while staying sober and following the rules. I love the fact I can stay here as long as I want and only leave when I am truly ready to be on my own. Much of my life has not been enjoyable and almost every happy moment in my life has been Oxford House memories wether if be at the conventions, with my roommates or through my own self progress. This is a huge stepping stone for me and my recovery and it would severely hurt me if it was ever taken away. I can get off of work and know that I am coming home to a safe and clean environment with people I know and can count on. It is important for everyone to have a place where they can grow and feel safe at and Oxford House Edgehill is that place! We keep ourselves in check and don't let anyone take our sobriety as a joke. I have relied on Oxford House for quite some time and I have grown more than ever in life and continue to grow on a daily basis with the help of Oxford House and the girls I live with. Thank you, Danika Coniglio Oxford House Edgehill
Good morning chairman and members of the committee, My name is Kat Dalton and I am a member of Oxford House Mountain Road in Glen Allen, Virginia. Oxford House Mountain Road is one of the women and children houses that Oxford House has all throughout the state. Although I do not have young children, the atmosphere of life and laughter has been insurmountable. I have lived at this house for 2 and a half years and have not regretted my decision to reside once. Oxford House has enabled me to overcome and live with my addiction. The house has been a safe haven for me and all the women and children that live and have lived here. Not only has Oxford House offered all of us a safe place to live but they have taught us valuable life skills in order for us to use when we decide its time for us to take the next step in life. I love being part of a self-run, self-supporting house in many ways and it also gives me a sense of accomplishment to go along with it. Because of Oxford Houses model it forces all of us to step up and help run the house in order for us to remain open and in the process teaches us all about running a household all while building lasting relationships with the other women in my house. It also means that we must hold each other accountable to the rules and our recovery or we risk putting everyone at danger. Please vote NO to HB1172 and keep Oxford House at the forefront of recovery housing. I am able to give back to society now with my experience, strength and hope. Thank you, Kat Dalton Oxford House Mountain Road
Hello my name is Mr. Heflin I have lived in this house for 6 years and the reason is because it works. I love the way it is set up that not one person is the boss of everyone we are all equals and every one gets a say so on how the house is ran we take care of all the bills and stuff like that and to be honest if i was a new person moving in or looking to move into a Oxford house and they told me we have a house manager that tells us what to do and how to do it I would not move in because I did rehab places witch are great but when you get out of rehab you want to move into a place that you can call home. I love the fact that we have to pay the bills are self and take care of the house. I believe it you vote yes for this a lot of people like me would not want to move into a place that we think is like a half way house. Because that is how it will fill . Thank you for your time and stay blessed.
To whom it may concern, this letter is just a brief summary of my personal experience with oxford house and what it has done for me in my personal journey. I have struggled on my own for a long time with my addiction and its effects on my personal and professional life. In the last years of it I, like many others, watched as it destroyed personal, professional, and familial relationships despite my best efforts to get and remain sober. It was only after several trips to detox and residential rehab programs that I finally decided to give the Oxford model a try. I cannot convey how much this organization has changed my life for the better. Since living in an Oxford house I have managed to put together 18 months of sobriety, something I have not ever done since my early 20's. The model fosters a sense of belonging, and also helps to reestablish a sense of independence. I strongly feel adding a requirement to have some sort of house manager/staff member would be a major detriment to that aspect specifically. In an Oxford house everyone is an equal, regardless of sober time, and that dynamic would completely change with the addition of an overseeing staff member or house manager. It is for that reason specifically that I strongly urge you to not vote in favor of HB1172. I understand that Oxford is not the only organization that operates a service such as this, however I strongly feel that forcing them to alter the model from what has been proven to work since 1975 due to the short comings of other organizations would have a detrimental effect on those currently residing in, and future residents of an Oxford house. Regards, Mark Saylor. Sober since July 13, 2020 thanks in large part to Oxford House Inc and the opportunity they have afforded me.
Dear My name is Moises and I have been a part of Oxford for 2 years. Please vote no to HB1172.
Dear Delegate A.C. Cordoza, I hope you consider saying no to bill HB1172. I have lived at Oxford House - Littleback for 6 years now. We are a self ran, self supporting, peer driven recovery residence. We hold each other accountable per the Oxford House model of operations. The men in my home have became my family. HB1172 would dramatically impact our recovery residence. It would potentially cause the loss of recovery beds not only in Oxford House - Littleback but in Virginia as a whole.
Hello Delegate. My name is John Hart. I have been clean for six year due to my stay in Oxford House. Before coming into Oxford House I had no direction or guidance. By being here I received all that and more a work history a reason to feel I am worthy of what comes next life has been so good to me since I have been in the Oxford House environment Thank You John Hart.
Hello Delegates, my name is John Hart. I have been clean for six year due to my stay in Oxford House. Before coming into Oxford House I had no direction or guidance by being here i received all that and more a work history a reason to feel i am worthy of what comes next life has been
Dear chairman and members of the committee: My name is Dr. Leslie Keck, and I am writing on behalf of a family member who has benefitted from the Oxford House model. I am opposed to this bill because it goes against one of the most fundamental tenets of the Oxford House model. Oxford House is a self-supporting, self-run household. The Oxford House model of operations works because it is run by peers in a democratic fashion. To require that all certified recovery residences must have a live in or offsite house manager would go against what makes Oxford House so successful in helping people not only live healthy drug and alcohol free lives but learn how to live on their own. It is imperative to be able to make decisions without someone telling you what to do. I AM OPPOSED TO HB1172
Please vote no HB1172. Im a member of oxford house and it has helped me a great deal in the time I've been here. If you put a house manager in these houses it will ruin the program for so many of us. We want to control our homes and recovery democratically. Ive been in a handful of sober houses in my life and oxford has been the one I've found the most success and comfort in. It will be bad for so many peoples sobriety. hope this helps.
Good morning chairman and members of the committee, My name is Vicki Kusmira and I am currently a member of Oxford House Mountain Road, a women's and children house in Glen Allen, Virginia. I have lived at this house for more than two years now with several other women in recovery. Oxford House has given me a great structure to work my recovery in, which I will be forever grateful for. Along with a stable place to live they have a model to live by requiring that I stay active holding a position in the house, as well as staying active in my recovery and holding other accountable to the same standards. Once a month we have chapter meetings were all the houses get together to talk about how they are doing and this is just one more system is in place in order to make sure houses are running according to the Oxford House model and traditions. Its rewarding to be a part of something larger than myself. To have a purpose. Again, I am so appreciative of Oxford House and the people involved with this group. Not group but family. One big Oxford House family extending experience, strength and hope to everyone involved. So in conclusion please vote NO to bill HB1172 and keep Oxford House going in the state of Virginia. Thank you, Vicki Kusmira, Oxford House Mountain Road
Hello chairman and members of the committee, My name is Kevin Williams and i am a member of Oxford House - Littleback. I have resided there for two and a half years. Being in the Oxford House has been and integral part of my recovery. Oxford House is strong support for those of us in the recovery community. I simply as you to say no to this bill, HB1172, because it will ultimately affect the greater recovery community and Oxford House. which in some areas (like ours) is our only option for recovery housing in the area.
Good morning chairman and members of the committee, My name is Jodi Counts and I am writing on behalf of Oxford House Pollard Park ii against bill HB1172. I would like to say that Oxford House has made a huge impact on my life and in my recovery. I am 44 years old and have been addicted to drugs since I was 15. After being incarcerated in 2018 for 3 years, I made a decision to not return home to Washington County, Virginia and decided to move into an Oxford House in Richmond, Virginia. It has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. I have been living here since September of 2021 and since that time have obtained a very well paying job, obtained my drivers license and got a car. I have reconnected with my family and for the first time in a long time am proud of who I am and in what I am achieving in life. My being in an Oxford House has put me in contact with a great number of people who can relate to my story and also guide me in my recovery from their experiences as well. I am able to connect with the other women in the house and know that they hold me accountable for my actions without judgement. I need Oxford House and I know that there are many like me that need it as well. It is doing great things for a great number of people. So in conclusion please vote NO to bill HB1172 in order for Oxford House to save countless more people suffering from substance use disorders. Thank you, Jodi Counts, Oxford House Pollard Park ii
To Delegates, my name is Kevin Koubsky and I am a resident of Oxford House - Blossom located in Williamsburg and I'm writing you with concerns about HB1172. I've struggled with drug and alcohol addiction for most of my life. I was homeless, in jail and honestly on the edge of death. I have been to treatment 7 times, multiple detoxes until finally entered The Farley Center in Williamsburg. After treatment I had no where to go. My parents didn't trust me. My counselor told me about Oxford House. Oxford House has changed my life in ways this letter doesn't do justice. It allowed me to be with people who are trying to recover and lead better lives. We hold weekly House Business Meetings and the guys I live with are family to me. We hold each other accountable and follow the model for the way we run our house. There are 5 houses in Williamsburg and we communicate on a daily basis . We also meet monthly to submit and discuss financial reports and house reports so we know where each house stands. We discuss what's happening in our community. Oxford House is a world wide organization that not only helps addicts but helps their families. Our success speaks for itself. I hope you take the time to look at the positives that come from Oxford. Nothing is perfect. I am blessed to have been sober for 821 days ( 2 years and 3 months ) I give Oxford House all the credit . It has truly changed who I am. Thank you for taking the time to read my letter and vote no for HB1172. Kevin Koubsky Chapter 1
I've been in both a house that has had an overseer and am now a member of an Oxford House, where it is not required. Having experienced both, I feel I have grown more in my sobriety with out an overseer. Having the responsibility, the resources, and the choice to embrace my sobriety has been a ray of hope and empowerment, changing what I believe my future may hold. Please don't vote for HB1172. Sincerely Mr. Douglas
Good morning chairmen and members of the committee, My name is Crystal Knight and I am currently a member at Oxford House Mountain Road a women's and children house in Glen Allen, VA. I moved into an Oxford House almost 2 years ago, after speaking to my sponsor who had highly recommended coming to an Oxford House. Oxford House has given me a chance to put some roots down in my recovery and time to grow. I have 2 children under the age of 6 and have been given a chance to have regular visits with my girls because of the amazing program that Oxford House offers. Both of my daughters absolutely love coming over to visit and see all the women living here. Its always a struggle to get them ready to leave because they love it here so much. I have developed a strong support system, have gotten very close to the ladies here and love them dearly. Ive been able to acquire over a year and a half of sobriety, have held a full time job and have been working with the court system to regain custody of my daughters. I truly have a lot to thank Oxford House for. Oxford House saved my life and has made me a better person, a better mother, and a better friend all around. I have struggled with addiction all my life and I'm finally seeing a brighter future ahead of me because of this amazing program called Oxford House. Please vote NO to bill HB1172 so I can continue to grow and offer support to other around me! Thank you, Crystal Knight, Oxford House Mountain Road
See my comments attached. PLEASE VOTE NO TO HB1172.
See my comments attached. PLEASE VOTE NO TO HB1172
Please vote not to HB1172. See attached letter.
My name is Andrew. I have been a resident of an Oxford house for almost 2 years. It has helped me tremendously. It gave me the structure I needed to progress in my recovery and also gave me a stable environment to live, grow and regain accountability. Oxford houses have helped so many people and it will continue to as long as it exists. HB1172 vote no for this bill.
See my comments attached. PLEASE VOTE NO TO HB1172.
See my comments attached. PLEASE VOTE NO TO HB1172.
See my comments attached. PLEASE VOTE NO TO HB1172.
See my comments attached. PLEASE VOTE NO TO HB1172.
Oxford h=House has given me the opportunity to have a chance to hold myself accountable for my self in a manner i would not have recieved any any other living condition. When i decided to get sober I finally made the decision to do it for myself by myself. The other attempts were to show my family and loved ones I wanted to be the person they wanted me to be but this time I made the decision on my own. i went from detox to rehab to oxford house and i would have never been able to find a steady residence with my credit and renting history. the thing that makes oxford house unique is the fact that you have to hold your self responsible and complete your duties and follow the rules to maintain as in doing chores, going to a.a./n.a meeetings, going to hsc, the weekly house meeting, and the chapter meeting. No one is here to tell you have to or make you go and that is the sole thing that has given me the opportunity to hold myself accountable get myself to places and rely on no one else. for me i always had asked a friend or family or acquaintance to help me and it always led me to solely rely on other means of survival. Now being here i have paid my court fines my asap classes i am on mental heath meds and i am active in recovery. If i had someone here overseeing i did all these things my independence that i have worked so hard to acquire would mean nothing i would not learn to be self reliant, i would not have the chance to say i did it. another factor is the support from the house members us being self supporting is a major contribution to the foundation of keeping ourselves accountable for what we do. we follow the oxford house rules and other ones we deem fit to follow upon the democratic opinion of the majority vote i feel having someone here would take away from that and make it difficult to succeed in the manner that we have been in the time i have been here . please think about the independence that we obtain from being self supportive and thank you for your time. Ryan Elder Beau lane oxford house member.
It has saved many lives including my own. It has given my son his mother back. I have a recovery network. I have accountability. I will forever be grateful for Oxford and the opportunities it’s given me. I am very happy that myself and my son have a safe place to sleep. Say NO to HB1172!
Please vote NO to HB1172 Oxford has allowed me to stay sober. It has given me a place to be held accountable for my actions. I have stayed sober for almost 4 years now and I have Oxford to thank for that. I am grateful to be living at Oxford House - Melita. There are not enough recovery homes for women and I hope to we open more Oxford Houses just for ladies.
Oxford house has given me a second chance to fix my life. I was a lost cause, someone that most people would avoid at all cost. During my addiction i wrote everyone off because I didn't know to live like a normal human being so it was easier to walk away than change. My oxford family changed that, they showed me it could be done by people with the same disease as mine. They hold me accountable when i mess up and don't allow me to take the easy way out and encourage me to stay on the right path and guide me when I don't see the light. Since I've became a member of oxford I've completely changed my life. i have over a year clean and sober. i hold a full time job and pay taxes and involve myself in service work. Its helped me be a better son, father, brother and friend. There's not a doubt in my or my families minds that without this life altering experience id be dead. This system works if you're willing to put the work in. Please don't change it. Thank you for your time.
Good morning chairman and members of the committee, My name is Joseph Cranford and I am a resident of Oxford House Rising Sun located in Fredericksburg, VA. Mr. Phillip A. Scott is my delegate for the city of Fredericksburg. I am writing this letter to voice my opinion on bill HB1172 and Oxford House as an organization and what it has done for me and my recovery. In AA the literature states that one addict helping another is without parallel. I have found this to be completely true. Oxford House has not only given me a home but helped me to become a responsible member of society. Im not sure where I would be if not for Oxford House and its members. Jails, institutions, or even death. In conclusion, Oxford House is a vital part of the recovery process for myself and so many other so please vote NO to bill HB1172. Thank you, Joseph Cranford - Oxford House Rising Sun
Good morning, Chairman and members of the committee, My name is Chris Shannon, and I am a person in long term recovery. I am speaking today on behalf of Oxford House and why I think bill HB1172 should not be passed. I have lived in an Oxford House since April 7th of 2019, and I can honestly say that it has saved my life. Oxford House was founded in 1975 and the first houses in Virginia were opened in 1990. Oxford House is a model of self-run, self-supporting, recovery housing with over 3,000 houses in over 44 different states. In the state of Virginia alone there are 158 Oxford Houses and 1,302 beds for individuals suffering from substance use disorders. Not only has Oxford House been around since 1975 but we are the only recovery housing model to have been accepted by SAMHSA’s National Registry of Evidence-Based Practices and Programs. On another point not only has Oxford House been recognized by SAMHSA, but DePaul University published a study showing Oxford Houses to have an unparalleled abstinence rate of over 87.5% one year after admission among our members, regardless of length of stay. Oxford House has given me so much more than I ever imagined I would have when I was in the depths of my addiction. The difference between Oxford House and other recovery residences is the self-sun, self-supporting model. It has taught me how to have a checking account, how to pay my bills on time, how to run a household and all that goes into it! In my opinion the fact that everyone in an Oxford House comes together to run the house has really set it apart from other recovery residences. It gives me a sense of belonging and accomplishment I have never experienced anywhere else. I know that at the end of the day I have a safe, sober place to come home to that is filled with people I trust and relate to on such a deep level because they too are winning the battle against addiction. If bill HB1172 is passed it would rob myself and so many others the chance for Oxford House to become such a huge part of the recovery process and I can’t even begin to imagine the effects this would have on the recovery community. Please vote NO to bill HB1172 in order to keep Oxford House a certifying body and to continue to open self-run, self-supporting recovery residences. Thank you, Chris Shannon – Oxford House Brookland Park
No to HB1172.
To whom it may concern, I am an alcoholic that has struggled with my addiction all my life. In spite of multiple attempts, I destroy my personal and professional life. I had lost of jobs had multiple seizures and in the end, lost family support. After my last visit to a rehabilitation program, I had no place to go after the program. I was told about Oxford House and an interview was set up. Members of the Oxford house got together and the majority of the house voted yes. That vote gave me the shelter and structure to begin building my life back. I have lived in an Oxford house for a year and a half. Oxford model has taught me to communicate and make the right decisions with other fellow housemates to keep our house stable in a democratic fashion. It is a good feeling to know that everyone’s opinions matter and all voices are equal in the house. All house members are important and hold a valuable position in the house to make it function. The important and valuable asset about Oxford House is that it provides Structure and not control to the members that live in it. I would urge you to VOTE NO TO HB1172. Thank you Oxford House for giving me a chance to make better of my life and keeping my sobriety strong. Regards Sandeep Yadav
Dear chairman and members of the committee, I am opposed to this bill because it goes against one of the most fundamental points of the Oxford House model. Oxford House is a self supporting, self ran household. The Oxford House model of operations works because it is ran by peers in a democratic fashion. To require that all certified recovery residences must have a live or offsite house manager would go against what makes Oxford House so successful in helping people not only live healthy drug and alcohol free lives but learn how to live on their own. It is imperative to be able to make decisions without someone telling you what to do. I AM OPPOSED TO HB1172De
Good morning chairman and members of the committee. My name is Debbie, and I am a woman in long term recovery. I am also an alumnus of Oxford House – Pentagon located in Fairfax Virginia. I lived at Oxford House – Pentagon from 2007-2009. I struggled with substance abuse for over 35 years, not once getting clean and sober as I bounced all around Northern Virginia including being homeless many times in Fairfax County. On February 2, 2022, I will celebrate 15 years of sobriety, and this is all because of my Oxford House experience. Moving into Oxford House was not an easy decision for me. I was scared and not sure if I could follow the 5 pages of house rules which at that time following rules was not in my nature, nor abiding by the law. Being held accountable for my actions was something I had not experienced since I was 13 years old yet needed it to stay alive. Now suddenly, I had 6 other women who would hold me accountable and guide me to a better life because of what they had learned while living in the Oxford House. I have overdosed in the past and living at Oxford House was a very safe place to live and I truly enjoyed living in the house. Oxford House gave me time to grow in my recovery while all along becoming the productive citizen I am today. I gave up my career as an Accountant to help those with substance abuse disorder. Because of my experience in Oxford House and what they gave to me I started working for Oxford House on January 1, 2014. I volunteered for Oxford House for 5 years prior to becoming an employee. I am currently the Senior Outreach in Northern Virginia. I lived in Fairfax County for 48 years and now reside in Prince William County, so this meant a lot to me to be able to help those in my hometown and statewide. Opening new Oxford Houses in Northern Virginia is what I love to do. It’s a privilege to go into our jails, prisons and treatment centers in Virginia and let others know they can have a better life if they just give Oxford House a chance to help them. It is amazing how many former members I see daily that are still clean and sober and it is because of Oxford House. Currently in Northern Virginia we have 61 houses with over 500 members. Almost every member was referred by either a treatment center, a hospital, jails, or prisons. I work with referral agency representatives every day to help someone get to a safe home. These referral agencies across the state work with us very closely because they believe in what Oxford House is doing and the lives it has saved. Removing Oxford House as a credentialing agency would result in decertification of all our houses statewide which would be 158 houses. This will affect over 1300 members who believe in what Oxford House is doing and are willing to change their lives for the better by following the Model. Oxford House is one of the most recognized evidence-based programs in Virginia, if not worldwide with an 87% abstinence rate. Let Oxford House grow and continue to save lives. We all wish we could save everyone’s life who is suffering from substance abuse disorder, but we also recognize know matter how hard we work, how many laws we change or write, we will still lose our friends and family members to a disease that continues to grow higher every year. PLEASE VOTE NO TO HB1172.
Good morning Chairman and members of the committee, My name is Deborah Jackson and I am a woman in long term recovery. I have been clean and sober for 7 years and 5 months. I moved into Oxford House a broken woman after detox on Aug 17, 2014. Oxford House changed my life! I learned how to live again. I became self-reliant, which led to my biggest gift of recovery, self respect. The women I lived with became my family. They held me accountable, required me to become involved in our house and called me out on my behaviors. In 2019 I started working for Oxford House as an Outreach Worker. I am passionate about this organization because I see first hand how many lives we save. Oxford House has a solid, proven Standard of Operations. Having a house manager does not work for everyone. Many of us have failed at being managed, from the original house managers (our parents) to the jailers, probation officers, and hospital staff. What worked for us was an environment that is supportive but requires our participation. We make sure the bills get paid, that our homes are clean, and we help each new person that comes along. We learn the practical skills we need to re-enter the world. Oxford Houses work by shared understanding and mutual respect that helps people become and stay engaged in the recovery process and reduce the likelihood of relapse. In 2019 with the support of DBHDS we worked with legislative staff and the outcome was that two nationally recognized organizations, Oxford House and VARR would certify recovery homes and hold them accountable to certain standards. Everyone involved was pleased with the result and this legislation was an example to other states as to how regulation can allow Oxford House and VARR to coexist to ensure the quality of all recovery residences and help the most people. This was a successful piece of legislation in 2019 and it still is in 2022. Why are we changing something that is working and benefitting the most people? Oxford House is trusted and respected by community service boards, treatment centers, the courts, the Dept of Corrections, faith-based organizations and 12 Step programs. We are the gold standard in recovery housing. We have been operating since 1975. Why? Because it works! Removing Oxford House as a credentialing entity will have a devastating effect. The State of Virginia would lose 158 houses and 1,302 recovery beds. This is short sighted and irresponsible. Our communities will suffer but no one will suffer worse than the addict and their families in need of what we offer at Oxford House. Vote no for HB1172.
Please vote NO to HB1172.
My name is Danielle Weber and I have been living in an Oxford House for almost 2 years. If it wasn’t for Oxford Houses I would not be here today. When I came into an Oxford House I was broken, depressed and barely getting by emotionally and with my addiction. Through Oxford House I have gained self-confidence, pride in how I am handling tough and stressful situations, opening up to let my house mates get to know me and feeling loved, cared for and trusting of other people. My emotional wellbeing is significantly better, I am able to go through Oxford House and its affiliates to get the help that I needed. Oxford House is so much more than just a sober living home, it is a family, a community that stands by you and helps you through every situation you find yourself in. It is a life changing organization that helps thousands and thousands of people. Through the rules of the house and the State Association it gives us structure that we need and it sets us up for success in life. Through Oxford House we have been able to completely turn our lives around and reconnected us to our friends, family and children. Oxford House brings people together and helps us and our family heal from our past wrongs. Oxford House is an amazing program that breaths life back into us.
Good Morning Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee, My name is Michael Devin Edge, and I am a member of Oxford House - Nauck, located in Arlington, Virginia. Oxford House has provided me housing and rehabilitative support to aid me in my recovery. The Oxford House Charter and System of Operations provides me accountability and structure that leads to a successfully run, and safe recovery home with high standards. I believe the self-run, self-supporting nature of Oxford House helps make this house and the people in it successful. I am in opposition to HB1172 which removes Oxford House as one of the certifying entities. If this bill is passed, it will lead to the decertification and closing of the 158 Oxford Houses providing over 1,300 recovery beds across the state. This would leave these individuals who are already residing in recovery residences homeless. Requiring all certified recovery residences be staffed would eliminate not only all Oxford Houses but any NARR-certified Level 1 recovery residences and violates the Fair Housing Act by imposing discriminatory terms and conditions and a negative impact on similarly situated recovery residences. Research shows the non-staffed, self-governing aspect of Oxford House is critical to the unparalleled abstinence rates it produces. Oxford Houses represent a significant majority of all recovery residences in Virginia. Decertifying them would drastically reduce the availability of much-needed recovery housing that would detrimentally impact the citizens of Virginia who suffer from substance use disorders and their families. It would increase the financial burden of addiction on the state and increase recidivism rates, unnecessarily costing taxpayers more in jails and prisons. All DBHDS health regions are well-represented in the distribution of Oxford Houses. VARR-certified houses are highly concentrated in the metro-Richmond area, with significantly less presence in regions outside Region 4. Region 1 – 30 Oxford Houses, Region 2 – 60 Oxford Houses, Region 3 – 19 Oxford Houses, Region 4 – 12 Oxford Houses, and Region 5 – 37 Oxford Houses. The proposed changes to the law were not developed in an appropriate way with all impacted stakeholders, including DBHDS, OHI, and VARR, but were instead developed in an abbreviated time period with no consultation or input from OHI. The proposed changes to existing law that remove OHI as a credentialing entity and require all certified recovery residences to be staffed should be removed or HB277 should be defeated. Oxford House believes there needs to be a legislative workgroup convened to discuss the merits and impact of any changes to existing law and how we can best serve and keep healthy and safe the citizens of Virginia. PLEASE VOTE NO TO HB1172!
Henry Heard house member of (Oxford House Williamsburg) 17.5 yrs. Not in favor of this Bill, which targets Oxford House Inc. Respectfully
Good Morning Chair, My Name is John McCormack and I am a recovering Alcoholic and a resident of an Oxford House in Northern Virginia. Being a member of an Oxford House has truly given me my dignity as a contributing member of my Oxford House. The Oxford House model in essence is about having a voice in how things are done to keep the house I live in functioning. In the Oxford Houses I have lived in we run our house efficiently and effectively. For example I have served in my oxford house as a president, secretary, treasurer, comptroller, chore coordinator and housing service representative each house is organized by chapters in Virginia our commonwealth has 18 chapters. The Oxford Model consists of members who have officer duties. I have been a Chapter 1 Vice Chair, Chair, and Treasurer; currently all chapters are under Virginia State Association. Oxford House is throughout the USA and International. We are self governing in Oxford this method has proven with a lot of supportive data to be working since 1975. I beg you to listen to the members of Oxford House who will testify that being a self supporting member of an Oxford House has provided a path to becoming a contributing member of society with a lasting sobriety. I appreciate your time and attention to my concerns in closing I ask that you vote No to HB1172 Thank you, John McCormack VSA Chair
Good morning, Chairperson and Members of the Committee, My daughter lived in an Oxford House in Fairfax County for 2 years. When she first went into the Oxford Houses Recovery Home, I was uncertain if this would work because she told us the house had no supervision, just a lot of rules. I was surprised when I read the house rules and realized the consequences she would incur if she did not abide by the rules she signed. Even though some of the rules seemed harsh, I did research on Oxford Houses and found out they had been around for a very long time, that others involved in the field of addiction spoke highly of them, and that they had proven themselves as an organization that saves lives of those living with the disease of addiction. My entire family is grateful that Oxford Houses were an option for her. Tough love from us did not work and the family had exhausted all options to help her. She still was not welcomed to live in our home, which meant she would be homeless and on the streets in Fairfax County again. Even though by the time she moved into an Oxford House she had been 5 months clean, which she only obtained from going to treatment. It was her treatment center counselors that referred Oxford Houses to us. They also informed us of how many of their clients have moved in the houses in Northern Virginia and have stayed sober and turned their lives around. They also told us if she used, she would be put out of the house. My daughter drank and did drugs for 35 years and we had lost all hope that she would live much longer. As a family, we believed Oxford Houses was exactly what she needed. The peer support provided to her by house members, the house rules, and the recovery program requirements along with her having to follow the Oxford House model, worked miracles for her. This organization is the reason we have a daughter today, her siblings have a sister, her daughter has a mother and now she is a grandmother. Our family is whole again and we will be forever grateful. Today, almost 15 years later our loved one is still sober and is a very productive citizen giving back to all those in recovery and our community. I oppose HB1172 and I hope you will too. Thank you, The Belotti Family
Hello, my name is Jacqui, my son owes his life to Oxford House. He was incarcerated many times in Winchester due to drug related charges. Constantly coming back to my husband and I's home. The last time he was incarcerated was June of 2017. Upon release he went into an Oxford House. Little did we know it would ultimately give us our family back. We learnt that is was peer driven and self supporting which seemed odd at first. Then we watched him start doing more than he had ever done before. I did some looking into what the Oxford Houses model was and realized that the peer driven aspect of it gives members an opportunity to grow in many different ways, as well as highlighting that using even once meant that you could no longer live there for a period of time. We do believe that the Oxford House model is one that works well and is a safe haven for anyone who struggles with substance use disorder. He is now just a little over four and a half years clean. In the many attempts before without the housing like Oxford House he never could get past the 90 day hump of sobriety. Now he is a functioning member of society which at one point did not feel like it would ever happen. We got our son back which is why I'm asking you to SAY NO TO HB1172. It will negatively affect some recovery residences in the state of Virginia which will limit the help for people who need it.
My name is Laura Clavijo, I am a current resident of Apple blossom Oxford house. I have lived here for one year and I have 19 months clean. Having the opportunity to reside in Oxford has given me a built in network of women, it has given me a home where I resided in intensive treatment prior to moving here and before that I was homeless in Philadelphia. Living in Oxford has allowed me to build life skills and become a responsible adult. I feel Oxford is an extremely valuable asset to men and women in recovery and starting their lives over. PLEASE VOTE NO TO HB1172!
My name is Christy Beckwith, I currently live in Apple Blossom Oxford House. I have lived here for 2 years. Having this option available to me when I left rehab has saved my life. If this option hadn't been available I would have returned to using not long after completing rehab Oxford has given me a home where I was able to find out who I was sober and how fun life can be. It has also helped me build life skills and become a responsible person. The model works as I have seen it help addicts and alcoholics navigate the crucial next steps in recovery. PLEASE VOTE NO TO HB1172!
My name is Kellen Wool, I currently live in Apple Blossom Oxford House. I am the newest member in this house and I am so lucky to have had this as an option. Without this oxford house to call my home I wouldn't be able to restart my life or to even give myself an actual chance at life. It has connected me with other women who have more sober time than I that have been able to guide me in this new venture. I can feel the change inciting in me as I'm moving forward with my life. I know for a fact that without the oxford house model I would have already relapsed and probably not be alive today to write this out. Without the Oxford house model I would be still alone in my fight for my life in a sea of billions. This model has given and still gives me the tools to continue to stay on this path. PLEASE VOTE NO TO HB1172!
My name is Lexi Woods, I am a current resident at Apple Blossom Oxford. I have been living here since September, and prior to moving I was unable to obtain any amount of clean time on my own. Living in Oxford has given me the opportunity to build a network of sober women that I can lean on for support. It has also given me a level of accountability that I wouldn't have living on my own, which I believe is extremely important in early sobriety. The structure provided by Oxford has given me a safe place for me to learn responsibility, focus on getting my life on track, and has taught me alot being an adult. Living in Oxford saved me from continuing down a path of self destruction and I am forever grateful for that. I hope that others after me get the same opportunity as I did. PLEASE VOTE NO TO HB1172!!
Whom It May Concern, Oxford Houses saved my life. It's that simple. It gave me a safe place to go to recover and build myself back up. A place to learn how to live in society as a sober person with a group of like-minded peers who would be my support system and then my family. I have been a hard core heroin addict for over 20yrs. I've lived in the streets, in institutions and I've been to rehab. But I've never been able to stay sober. It never quite stuck. Then I found Oxford. The support and structure that it brought to my life was a game changer. I changed. I've been in Oxford for a couple of years now and am clean and sober and doing amazing. I participate in my Oxford Chapter and attend the State Meetings in Virginia. If we lose Oxford Houses we will lose lives. It's as simple as that. Thank You, Virginia Beach, Va. Missy Perkinss
To Whom It May Concern, I had struggled many years with addiction which led to jail, losing my career, my home, everything I owned and the most important thing to me in the world my 3 beautiful little girls. I had tried several times to get clean and it never ever worked for me. I finally hit my rock bottom as we addicts like to call it and I had finally had enough. I went to rehab for 60 days and was going to return back home in Tennessee until on my last 2 weeks there my counselor mentioned maybe I should try a sober living house called Oxford. I had no clue what that even meant and had never heard of that. I called around and got a hold of the house president at Coral and they set me up an interview over the phone that following Monday. They asked me interview questions and by the end of that night I got a call I was accepted. Since that day Oxford has changed my life, it has taught me another way to live, it has given me structure and accountability, it has taught me how to be a good a productive citizen, it has taught me growth not only with myself but with other people as well. It has taught me to face my problems head on while having a whole support system in my very home and within the Oxford community. Over my 2 years of being here I have gotten to be more involved with my recovery and within Oxford by holding house positions, being Chapter 2 Secretary for a year, and now being Ch.2 Treasurer and Sate Secretary. Those things may seem small but to me and others it everything. We are being trusted to do things no one would have ever trusted us to do before and most importantly being on these boards are not only helping me but they are allowing us to help others in need of finding a new way or helping members in the other houses that need us. If this would fall through it would be detrimental to not only Oxford house but to the people that are in them and the people trying to get in one. I can promise you and assure you we have protocols for all situations and rules that we follow on a daily basis. Every member signs them when they walk in the door and we go over them all the time. We do random drug screens, we watch for changes in behavior and anyone on any medications must keep them in a lock box at all times and we do random pill counts to keep them accountable. Please let us all be able to continue to provide the Oxford way and help the next struggling addict because it is saving lives every day. I can say without a doubt Oxford saved my life and it has brought me where I am today which is someone who has over 2 years clean, has a car now, a place to call home, a fulltime job, a family within Oxford and relationships rebuilt with my children who are most important. Thank you for your time, Whitney Dockery/Coral Member
To Whom It May Concern, Oxford changes lives. I've seen it happen. We have all seen it happen. Every single person in my Oxford House that is a current or past member will attest to that. All of us came from bad places homeless, drug addicted, bad living situations, institutions, etc.-to this amazing, safe place that helped us build ourselves up and have a support system with rules and structure and even a make-shift family since most of us pushed our blood families away in our active addiction. Oxford gave us a second chance. It gave us hope. And where there is hope there is life. Oxford saves lives and we need them and we are all so grateful for the chance to be a part of this place. Thank You, Oxford House Hera Virginia Beach, VA
To Whom It May Concern, I am writing this letter to express how much Oxford House has benefitted me through my journey of recovery, and how much it means to me as a member of Coral House in Virginia Beach, VA. I have struggled with addiction most of my life. I come from a family of addicts. I believe I can and will break/beat the cycle of addiction. It will be something I work on for the rest of my life, and with that I will need so many tools along with a network to grow in my recovery. The girls I live with here are my family. Unfortunately, my blood family is deceased so if this home got taken from me, you would be taking my family from me along with so much more. Oxford gives me a safe affordable place to lay my head at night, which I call home. If that goes, you would be taking my stability and my safe place, which means you would be taking from my daughter with whom I am rebuilding a relationship. Oxford House is teaching me and also giving me accountability which for me is huge in my recovery. It is so very much such a blessing for me to have Oxford. It would be devastating to me and my life recovery if someone took this experience, this Oxford House Coral, from me.
To whom it may concern, I am writing to you to explain the impact that Oxford House has for it's members, what it has done for me so far and what else I believe it can achieve for me. Oxford House has helped many people get away from living in toxic households, being homeless, to freeing up shelters. Individuals get positive support, a way to save money, they learn about principles, and the way to live a new productive, healthy life. I think it is important for you to understand that addiction is a disease. Each time I fall down and give into my disease I get stronger. I am so grateful I have had chances and my heart goes out to those who have not made it. It is important for me to stress that when I first moved into an Oxford house I had a lot going on in life besides just my addiction. I had just gone through a break-up of a relationship that was eight years long. I was battling my mental health and still was new to my mental health diagnosis. Earlier in the year 2021 I was diagnosed bipolar, schizo effective, PTSD, anxiety, and major depression. The whole point of Oxford is for us to all be there for each other when we are struggling. When you move into an a house there is an application and interview process. It is up to you to be honest, open and tell the house what your relapse warning signs and triggers might be. This allows the house to help you if they notice anything. I have lived in this house for roughly five months. I have got to say my stay has been wonderful! I have been held accountable for my actions at our weekly house meeting. I have also been pulled aside by individuals when I have showed signs of relapsing. I have not relapsed in this house but being held accountable and confronted in a constructive manner has helped me fix my mistakes and pick myself up to work harder at my recovery. At our weekly house meetings, we also do a pill count on anyone that has any medications that could potentially be abused. I feel holding people accountable and keeping an eye on them to make sure they are taking their meds as prescribed is very important especially if someone is in early recovery. We do a feelings check weekly, it is important we check in and see where everyone is at in the house. It allows us to all get closer, discuss or ups and downs we have had during the week, it's a comfortable environment to ask the group for anyone who might be able to help with anything going on.
Dear Chairperson & Members of House Subcommittee #1, I wanted to ensure my voice is heard, I’m both a landlord and a person with family members who has benefitted from the long standing program the Oxford House organization provides both around the Country and too the local community. They give those who need a second chance to rehabilitate themselves back into society as productive citizens able to give back to the work force and their Communities. I oppose HB1172.
Dear Chairperson and Members of the House, I wanted to write to express my support for the Oxford House and opposition to the bill known as HB1172. I am a landlord who rents to Oxford house and have had nothing but positive experiences with them. Initially I heard of their program through a friend and wanted to help. After finding out what great tenants they were, how they helped those in recovery and how well the tenants took care of my property, I opened another of my properties to them. I think they do a great job and it would be a disservice to the Commonwealth to do anything that would jeopardize their efforts. Best regards, Sabri BenKahla (Landlord, Small Business Owner)
Hello my name is Bryan Blankenship a Marine Corps veteran, a FBI retiree, and a 10+ year landlord for Oxford House in Prince William County. All of those things I am proud of. As for Oxford House, over the past decade of my involvement, there have been over 20 women, both young and old, that resided in a four bedroom - four bathroom home I purchased. Several of them have expressed that the time with Oxford provided the opportunity to regain necessary structure and accountability which led to the independence they regained upon moving on. I am a wholehearted supporter in this program and as a VA constituent, request you oppose House Bill 277. Respectfully, Bryan
House Delegate, My name is Mong Heng. I am a landlord renting my house to the Oxford House group in Falls Church for many years. I have observed personally that the residents living there are well mannered, courteous, happy, organized and take good care of my property inside and outside very well because of Oxford House rules and policy. As a landlord, I like Oxford House and I oppose HB1172. Sincerely, Mong Heng
Dear Chairperson & Members of House Subcommittee #1. We were recently informed that there is legislation (House Bill 1172) that could remove Oxford House Inc as a credentialing agency within the Commonwealth of Virginia. My family has been an advocate of Oxford House for over 30 years, and have seen the tremendous impact that the Oxford House has made in our communities to help individuals overcome their drug and alcohol dependencies in a supportive environment. Rather than passing legislation that would reduce it's effectiveness, Oxford House Inc should be recognized as the blueprint for helping individuals overcome their addictions in a residence setting and the state should further partner with Oxford House to set up more of these types of homes throughout the state. Thank you for your time and consideration, Sincerely, Ilker Gunessever, Landlord
To Concerned Delegates and Senators, I am opposed to the passage of HB1172 entitling only Va. Association of Recovery Residences ( VARR) to run recovery houses. Oxford House has been an established group that has helped thousands of people to recover and live productive lives. My brother was one of these blessed individuals. It is a model of democracy, it is a self governing residence for over 4 decades. Oxford House represents 75% of all the recovery homes in Virginia and is present in 44 states. Please vote No on HB 1172! Thank you for your time, Sister to a previous resident and landlord to an Oxford House Patricia Donohue
For over 20 years we have been working with Oxford House to provide housing for the residents. Oxford House is an excellent organization that provides housing in a community setting which provides support, encouragement, and structure. Currently, we have 14 houses leased to Oxford House. Debbie Robinson, Senior Outreach Worker for Oxford House, who we have worked with many years, does an excellent job of overseeing the houses. We feel good about helping these people who are struggling and how Oxford House allows them to have a safe place to live within the community. As a group they behave responsibility and out the “group responsibility” individuals develop a new responsible lifestyle free of alcohol and drug use. Our houses help society and it feels good to help others less fortunate. In the past, we have sponsored summer picnics with a live band and barbeque. Each year it is great to receive Christmas cards signed by all the tenants in appreciation of living in our houses. For two years in the past, we attended the annual state conference where we received the Oxford House “Landlord of the Year” award. It has been a pleasure over these past years to support and provide housing for such a great organization as Oxford House. We do not support HB1172 that would change how Oxford House operates. Sincerely, Richard and Sallie Hudson, Landlord Cacar Inc, owners
Good morning chairman and members of the committee, I am a mother of two children who have had issues with drug addiction. My oldest son found Oxford House several years ago after multiple admissions to rehab, stays in other types of halfway houses and living on the streets. I truly believe that Oxford House saved his life and brought the son I knew back to me. The principles behind Oxford House not only help him to maintain his sobriety, but also provide him with structure and skills like paying bills on time and housekeeping. All of the housemates have to come together as one unit to keep the house up and running which is unique to Oxford House and in my opinion is better than having a dedicated house manager because each housemate learns responsibility and accountability. Additionally, living in an Oxford House provides support from others who are going through the same thing which is a must for someone in recovery. My son got involved as the Chapter 11 chairperson and assisted the chapter Oxford Houses by helping them put processes in place so they could pay their house bills and stay afloat. He excelled in this capacity which eventually led to him being offered a position as an Outreach Coordinator with Oxford House. He loves his job and I couldn’t be prouder of him. He found his niche helping others while continuing to maintain his own sobriety and has become the man I always believed he could be. In conclusion, closing down Oxford Houses in Virginia would be detrimental for individuals who need a place to go when trying to maintain sobriety. Please vote NO on bill HB1172 in order to keep Oxford Houses alive for the sake of my son and so many others in recovery. Thank you for your support! Sincerely, Charlene J. Plaine
Dear Chairperson and the Members of House Subcommittee, As a resident of Virginia I am disappointed that the bill HB1172 is being introduced for approval. Such a bill would enforce "profit" based recovery facilities and harm the operation of "not for profit organizations" like Oxford House International (OHI). As we all know that OHI is a nationwide non-profit organization that has been in existence for nearly 50 years, has more than 3,000 houses in operation in 44 states. In Virginia alone, there are more than 158 Oxford Houses providing excellent 1,300 recovery beds for men, women and women with children. To pass bills to diminish such well run organizations as OHI, which costs only $1.05 per bed per taxpayer, cannot be to the benefit of taxpayers and those that receive such services. THEREFORE, I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO VOTE NO TO HB1172. Sincerely, T. Alper A Resident of Virginia 6903 Dillon Avenue, McLean, VA 22101
Dear Virginia Delegate. After being made aware of HB1172 currently under review, we took the time to research and read the bill. As parents of a child who has used the Oxford House recovery residencies in Virginia for several years, we would like to share our gratitude for their program with you. As parents we can tell you that there are very limited affordable treatment and housing options for people attempting to recover from drug and alcohol addiction. Imposing additional regulations and restrictions on existing recovery housing is not the answer to addressing a shortage of viable options for people in recovery. The Oxford House is a program our son has been involved with for many years and currently resides in an Oxford House in Williamsburg VA. Our son is involved with the Oxford program because they offer a local housing option with multiple locations. We found “certified” recovery residences to be extremely expensive, had no openings and were mostly located out of state. Oxford on the other hand offers an affordable, safe recovery resident option with multiple housing options available in local communities throughout Virginia. We believe that for the State of Virginia to require that “no health care provider or behavioral health service provider who receives public funds or state agency shall refer a person with substance abuse disorder to a recovery residence unless the recovery residence has been certified by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services” will be detrimental to people in recovery. It would be different if the market was full of affordable recovery treatment and housing options but it is not. Your bill would be better written if it directed health care advisors to provide people in recovery all available recovery and residential options that are both certified and uncertified in order to provide families with as many options as possible to help them through recovery. Please vote no for HB1172. David and Laura Koubsky 4321 Lookout Road Virginia Beach, VA 23455
Good morning Chairperson and Members of the Committee – Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to address all of you and to briefly tell you my experience with Oxford House both personally and professionally. My name is Linda Thimons and I am a very grateful recovering alcoholic with 202 days sober as of today. Oxford House has had an enormous part to play in that. I’ve been struggling with addiction most of my adult life, secretly through much of it, despite having a successful career in the human services field. I’ve tried just about everything to get sober. I’ve gone to rehab 4 times. I’ve gone to detox even more. I’ve done a LOT of therapy. I’ve tried church. I’ve tried willpower. I’ve tried to move from place to place. I’ve tried hypnosis. And I’ve lived in sober living in Pennsylvania, where I’m from. And I WOULD get sober at times. But I couldn’t stay sober. And I always felt deep down that I wasn’t really done. That the chains of addiction were not gone. Until 202 days ago...when I moved into Oxford House Pembroke in Virginia Beach, VA, and started to really work the program of Alcoholics Anonymous. It is not an overstatement to say that coming into an Oxford House has changed my life. The model of Oxford House, being self-governing and self-run, has been unbelievably empowering and motivating. Being responsible for myself and to my housemates makes such an incredible difference in my recovery. Knowing that no one “above” me is directing me to do the right thing...but, rather, my housemates and I are making collective decisions daily to be more responsible and accountable...that is making more of a difference in my life than anything previously has. As a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Virginia, and previously in Pennsylvania, I practiced as a substance use therapist for many years. I became very familiar with various sober living facilities and housing programs. Just like there are many paths to recovery, there are likely various ways to structure recovery housing. I can only speak to the effectiveness of the Oxford House model. As a professional, I witnessed a very high percentage of individuals achieve sustained sobriety in Oxford Houses. As a person in recovery, Oxford House has quite simply given me a new life. Please vote against this bill. Thank you for listening. Opposed to HB1172.
Dear Chairperson and Members of House Subcommittee #1, I am writing today because I strongly oppose HB1172. I currently rent six single family homes as Oxford Houses in Virginia Beach and Norfolk. I am the property manager for two others. I began renting to Oxford 16 years ago with my first rental property. Since then I have bought and renovated homes specifically for Oxford. I give this background because I believe in the offering that Oxford is to the recovery community. These houses are each autonomous and must operate independently while adhering to the basic tenants of Oxford. I find this to be beneficial to the individuals coming through the program for several reasons. They must learn to budget and manage money. They learn to dialogue with one another when issues arise. They also learn to work together as a unit to see that daily chores are completed, and house maintenance issues are resolved. The homes are set up so that the responsibilities are delegated to different members regularly. This gives opportunity for all to develop life skills that many are lacking simply because of addiction. They test members regularly and if someone is found to be using they are immediately made to leave. They do not tolerate any use of drugs or alcohol in their homes. They require members to attend AA, and NA meetings in order to live there. They require members to have jobs over to be actively searching for work. They are selective about where the homes are located so that there are bus routes or other easy access to a wide range of employment opportunities. Over the years my wife and I have had the privilege of helping dozens of members to move out on their own and forge ahead with their dreams and desires. We have done this because they work hard at recovery and sobriety and they frequently just need hand up to begin lives as productive citizens. Many of them continue to come back and help to educate new members and to counsel them. This bill would in effect shut down all Oxford Homes in Virginia. Currently Oxford House provides over 75% of all recovery residences in Virginia. While there are other recovery homes in Virginia they are primarily located in Richmond, leaving the rest of the state with no options except Oxford House. Losing the Oxford Homes spread throughout the state would leave thousands of people suffering with addiction with no options. Thank you for your time and consideration in reading this letter. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have. Sincerely, Tom Wright tntproperties911@gmail.com 757-615-8486Tom Wright tntproperties911@gmail.com
My name is Larry Morris, I am urging you to please oppose HB1172 as it would lead to the decertifying and closing of all 158 Oxford Houses with over 1,300 recovery residence beds for men, women, and women with children, all across the state. Oxford House is an incredibly successful, evidence-based model for self-run, self-supporting recovery homes that has been saving thousands of lives in Virginia for 32 years. Without our statewide network of Oxford Houses, more Virginians will remain in addiction and die. Please oppose HB1172!
My name is Christopher Shinabery and I have been an Oxford House Landlord since 2014 and I oppose HB277. I own homes in William D. Wiley's District 29, Joseph McNamara's District 8, and 2 homes in Sam Rasoul's District 11. I am a direct constituant of David LaRock District 33. Oxford House Inc. is a powerful, effective, and efficient organization that expands across the state. I have witnessed and am here to testify to the work that has been done. The Oxford House model is powerful to the person living in the home because it is a democratically self-run and self-supporting home in which the members hold positions of responsibility and hold each other accountable. Oxford House is effective. Oxford house has an 87.5% abstinence rate and its members are twice as likely to refrain from drugs and alcohol. The self governing/self-supporting components of the model is critical to the success of the program. Oxford house is efficient and extremely cost effective. There are over 150 Oxford houses across the state that provide housing for men, women, and women with children. I have 27 men and women that live in my homes. Even thought I am a small part of Oxford, I get to see the rewards on a daily/monthly/yearly basis as the members grow over time. The cost to the taxpayer is just over a dollar a day per bed. Amazing. Oxford House Inc serves it purpose across the state. Oxford House Inc. represents 75% of all recovery homes in Virginia. The decertification of Oxford House Inc would devastate the availability of recovery housing and would have a wide impact across the state to those who suffer from substance use disorders and their families. It would increase the financial burden of addiction on the state and increase recidivism rates. The removal OHI as a credentialing entity and require all certified recovery residences to be staffed should be removed or HB1172 should be defeated. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Good morning, My name is Bonnie Waterfield and I am a mother of an Oxford House alumni. My daughter explained to me that this bill would remove the ability of Oxford Houses and any houses for recovery to operate without paying a bunch of money to a private entity and then additionally employing a worker to be a house manager for each house. This would take money away from the residents and change how these houses function. These tenants are not insurance paid but self pay for their stay and the structure it provides. Why do they need to pay this private group money in order to remain certified? They are certified under the present legislation. As a mother, I am appalled at this legislation. Why would we remove options for these people? My mother paid for my daughters move in fee and first two weeks equal expense share. The rest of our family including myself had reached our breaking point and were done with my daughter. While living at an Oxford house my daughter started showing so many positive changes and was able to reconnect with us and be with us for the care of my mother at the end of her life. Today I have my daughter back. She moved out of Oxford in 2018 and has stayed sober and I was comfortable giving her my grandchildren back. I have my daughter back now. If you remove these Oxford houses and other houses that don’t have a caretaker from being certified you will be removing a valuable resource for these people who use drugs and have problems with drinking. Other parents like me will never have their daughter or son back. That in my opinion is so damaging. My daughter now owns a home and pays taxes and takes care of her children. She would not have thrived in a different environment and we had tried. Please do this mom a favor and vote no on HB 1172! Thank you !
Please vote NO to HB1172. Back in October, I entered a detox/rehab facility. Since then I have been to a detox center, rehab center and the Behavioral Department of a Hospital. After successfully completing the program I needed some place to stay. The rehab center was instrumental in placing me into an Oxford house. They provided me the referrals I needed to land a spot in several Oxford house. I don't know where I would be if it wasn't for the Oxford house.
I am a current resistant at the Meg Davis Oxford house in Lynchburg Virginia. I am a grateful recovering alcoholic. I was an independent woman and a successful teacher for 16 years until my addiction to alcohol caught up with me. For years, I struggled with fighting this disease on my own until I was introduced to A. A. and the Oxford program. I have been successful in my recovery because of the fellowship and support of the Oxford house program. I have a full time job, pay my bills on time, attend church again, and attend AA meetings daily because of the fellowship of the Oxford program. I have gain meaningful life long relationships through Oxford House. I am able to be independent again in every aspect of my life! Most importantly, I have gain my self worth again that alcohol took away from me. I feel strong in my recovery and my life again thanks to the Oxford House. Please oppose HB1172. Sincerely, Kelly Cosby
To the Members of the House of Delegates: I'm writing as a constituent of Michael P. Mullin (Virginia House of Delegates, 93rd District) regarding pending legislation related to those entities currently recognized as credentialing entities for the purpose of the certification of a recovery residence in the Commonwealth of Virginia; Oxford House is currently one of the recognized entities. I'm presently a member of Oxford House - Williamsburg and would like to convey the enormous and positive impact that my residency has had on my life. Oxford House is first and foremost a residence where I and the other elected members of the house live and actively work a program of recovery from drug and/or alcohol abuse. We adhere to a policy of complete abstinence from alcohol and drugs that are not prescribed by a licensed medical professional. We support and encourage each other to attend 12-step meetings, to obtain a sponsor and to work a program that it is uniquely tailored to each person. Our household is financially self-sustaining and the members are required to participate in the management and decision-making processes that are inherent in the effective running of a recovery residence. Because all members of the house bear an equal share of house management and oversight responsibility, compensation for that effort is unnecessary; we watch over and protect our own, much like the citizens of a neighborhood watch team. Accordingly, violation of established rules may result in a member being placed on probation or immediate expulsion, depending on the nature and circumstance(s) of the violation. These principles and their application in our house support the assertion that Oxford House has effective policies, procedures and internal controls in place to ensure that our House continuously meets and/or exceeds the prescribed standards needed for certification as a recovery residence in the Commonwealth of Virginia. During my residency at Oxford House - Williamsburg, I have experienced a period of sobriety that I was unable to achieve in 20 years of active addiction. Due to my sobriety, I currently practice a program of recovery, continuously build lasting personal and professional relationships and am having a career renaissance of sorts, due to my ability to reliably solicit, execute and deliver work products to my clients. Most importantly, I'm now a law-abiding productive member of society and, without Oxford House, I may very well have ended up as a casualty of this disease, like so many of our friends and family members. Make no mistake, Oxford House saves lives and it saved mine. I implore you to continue to recognize Oxford House as a certifying entity for recovery residences in the Commonwealth of Virginia WITHOUT the requirement (and financial burden) to have a compensated house manager on the premises of each Oxford House. Respectfully, Millard B. Souers, Jr. Williamsburg, VA
HB1270 - SNAP benefits; waiver to allow inmates of correctional facilities to apply prior to release.
I am asking for your support for HB 1270, with Delegate Mark Sickles as patron. As you already know, people leaving prison are vulnerable to hunger. With your support of this bill, these individuals can immediately access food assistance for themselves and their families upon their release. Currently, incarcerated individuals can apply for SNAP benefits only after they leave prison. As a consequence, it can be weeks--or even months--before they receive needed food assistance. Pre-enrolling incarcerated individuals for SNAP benefits is as simple as adding a line to a form that applicants already complete. Moreover, the bill allows the state to invest in people when they need the help the most—right before leaving prison. This legislation can help reduce recidivism and increase public safety, a win-win for everyone. Providing a helping hand at this critical time will enable the formerly incarcerated to experience the reentry process as a new opportunity, one given by our commonwealth to help them successfully reenter society after release. Reducing the risk of recidivism should also result in a tax saving for Virginia taxpayers.
I am writing in support of HB 306 to be heard in committee tomorrow morning, which will allow a religious exemption to vaccines during an epidemic. Religious exemptions exist so that citizens can act freely in mind, body and spirit. Even in a time of an epidemic, citizens must have the opportunity to act on their conscience whatever that may be. The Nuremberg Code requires bodily autonomy and informed consent for any medical treatments to one’s body. Having religious exemption makes sure that remains the rule of law. As we’ve seen over the last two years, government has retained control over persons and their bodies in a way that would make Thomas Jefferson role over in his grave. Let Virginia continue to be religiously free, as the birthplace of religious freedom. Support HB 306.
Dear Delegate, Protect religious freedom, vote YES for HB 306! Our religious freedoms do not end just because government bureaucrats declare a public health emergency. Our First Amendment rights apply at all times. Thank you, Kellie M. Good
Correction: Please vote YES for house bill 306! No one should be punished for exercising their right to religious freedom!!!!!
Please vote YES for house bill 106! No one should be punished for exercising their right to religious freedom!!!!!
Chairman Orrock & Members: Thank you for the opportunity. Vote Yes on HB 1270 Vote --- Heading off hunger before leaving prison. People leaving prison are exceptionally vulnerable to hunger. HB 1270 allows incarcerated persons to pre-enroll in the SNAP program while still incarcerated so they can immediately access food assistance for themselves and their families upon their release. Otherwise, it can be weeks or even months before they receive food assistance—leaving them vulnerable to hunger. Why is this important? Just one example: to quote a Director of a Day program for the down and out. “I see weekly at our center the release of ex-offenders into the community w/o a nickel in their pocket, with only the cloths on their back and significant anger & depression because there is no one who cares or can help them become self-sustaining or get training or a job. These mostly men end up back in prison within 6-9 months because they may have to steal or shop lift to survive.” It’s a small step to help assure the successful re-entry of persons leaving prison, especially, because being approved for Food Stamps assures immediate and mandatory referral and connection to Job Seeking & Job Keeping program participation & help. Virginia can do better to ensure family and community reintegration by this incremental step because DOJ reports that 70% of prisoners have children under 18 years of age! Again, Vote Yes on HB 1270 Vote --- Heading off hunger before leaving prison
As a citizen in solidarity with Social Action Linking Together (SALT), a voter, and a taxpayer, I am asking for your support for HB 1270, with Delegate Mark Sickles as patron. As you already know, people leaving prison are vulnerable to hunger. With your support of this bill, these individuals can immediately access food assistance for themselves and their families upon their release. Currently, incarcerated individuals can apply for SNAP benefits only after they leave prison. As a consequence, it can be weeks--or even months--before they receive needed food assistance. Pre-enrolling incarcerated individuals for SNAP benefits is as simple as adding a line to a form that applicants already complete. Moreover, the bill allows the state to invest in people when they need the help the most—right before leaving prison. This legislation can help reduce recidivism and increase public safety, a win-win for everyone. Providing a helping hand at this critical time will enable the formerly incarcerated to experience the reentry process as a new opportunity, one given by our commonwealth to help them successfully reenter society after release. Reducing the risk of recidivism should also result in a tax saving for Virginia taxpayers.
The City of Portsmouth is in support of this bill. Thank you.
Vote Yes on HB 1270 Vote --- Heading off hunger before leaving prison. People leaving prison are exceptionally vulnerable to hunger. HB 1270 allows incarcerated persons to pre-enroll in the SNAP program while still incarcerated so they can immediately access food assistance for themselves and their families upon their release. Otherwise, it can be weeks or even months before they receive food assistance—leaving them vulnerable to hunger. Why is this important? Just one example: to quote a Director of a Day program for the down and out. “I see weekly at our center the release of ex-offenders into the community w/o a nickel in their pocket, with only the cloths on their back and significant anger & depression because there is no one who cares or can help them become self-sustaining or get training or a job. These mostly men end up back in prison within 6-9 months because they may have to steal or shop lift to survive.” It’s a small step to help assure the successful re-entry of persons leaving prison, especially, because being approved for Food Stamps assures immediate and mandatory referral and connection to Job Seeking & Job Keeping program participation & help.
I am really wanting you all not to pass this bill because Oxford House gives me a place to live at a price I can afford on disability it gives me stability Oxford House I would be homeless and if the bill does pass that means I rent would go up and I would be homeless again and I am doing very well I enjoy living in the Oxford House we have meetings once a week for our house and we have committee meetings and everything So please do not pass this bill I in begging you
I strongly support HB1270. Returning citizens typically do not leave prison/jail to return to a food secure life with a good-paying job waiting for them. This leaves them especially vulnerable to recidivate immediately after release. Pre-enroll returning citizens in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps) in the final month of their sentence would help with this problem since SNAP applications are processed within 30 days (7 days for expedited cases). SNAP opens them up to two benefits: 1) Food access and 2) Employment and Training opportunities. For individuals with no means to meet their basic needs immediately after prison, this is a lifetime. This is a win-win. There is no extra cost and it will help keep people from returning to jail. Thank-you.
HB80 - Healthcare Regulatory Sandbox Program; established, report, sunset date.
Dear Delegate, Protect religious freedom, vote YES for HB 306! Our religious freedoms do not end just because government bureaucrats declare a public health emergency. Our First Amendment rights apply at all times. Thank you, Kellie M. Good
Correction: Please vote YES for house bill 306! No one should be punished for exercising their right to religious freedom!!!!!
Please vote YES for house bill 106! No one should be punished for exercising their right to religious freedom!!!!!
This is an atrocious political power play. Virginia is going to drive out all their doctors. Increasing limits on Physicians while decreasing limitations on Nurse Practitioners is an egregious power play that will be to the detriment of the citizenry of Virginia. Physicians complete training with over 15000 hours of supervised clinical training. Nurse practitioners complete training with less than 500 hours and these days their less than 2 years of schooling is sometimes completely online with 100% acceptance rates. Hospitals and politicians love them because they cost less. Buyer beware.
I support these bills. Please move to report. Thank you.
Comments Document
Please see attachment.
NP Need more clinical practice time to work as Independent providers . This bill needs to be more thought off
I am really wanting you all not to pass this bill because Oxford House gives me a place to live at a price I can afford on disability it gives me stability Oxford House I would be homeless and if the bill does pass that means I rent would go up and I would be homeless again and I am doing very well I enjoy living in the Oxford House we have meetings once a week for our house and we have committee meetings and everything So please do not pass this bill I in begging you