Public Comments for 01/24/2022 Finance - Subcommittee #1
HB103 - Income tax, state; deduction for eligible educator qualifying expenses.
Please support bill HB103. Fair is fair. Educational opportunity should be encouraged and educational diversity encouraged, not discouraged. Thank you.
Please support HB103. Homeschooling families should be given the ability to deduct expenses related to educating their children.
Please support bill HB103. Our family pays taxes for a public high school we are not sending our children to because we are not happy with the education it provides. We choose to homeschool. I believe we should be able to claim a tax deduction for schooling materials purchased to educate our children at home. We must buy curriculum, student books, and also pay private teacher's tuition for classes we outsource. Thank you for supporting homeschool families.
We strongly support HB103. This deduction will help offset the costs associated with homeschooling and help us provide additional educational opportunities for our children. Those that homeschool should be afforded the same tax benefits as all other educators, whether at public or private institutions. Not recognizing homeschool educators as equally deserving is unfairly prejudicial and only serves to forward the false and misconceived notion that homeschooling isn't a viable, worthwhile, legal, and often ideal option. Tax deductions are much preferred over any government provided financial assistance, as that will surely have bureaucratic strings attached.
Please vote yes. Thank you.
I am urging support of bill HB103. As a homeschooling family that pays taxes I believe it fair to claim a tax deduction for schooling materials purchased to educate our children at home. Just as public schools do, we must purchase curriculum, student books, etc every year.
In support of tax deduction for educators.
I am writing in support of bill HB103. Homeschool parents should be able to submit a tax deduction on the materials we use just as we would if we had a college students. We purchase curriculum, books, and supplies for our homeschool children to give them the best education we believe they should receive. I urge you to pass this bill to help our Virginian homeschool parents.
Giving all people who can establish that they have a role in being an educator whether private or homeschooled financial relief via tax credits helps all Virginians. As with any endeavor, money helps to increase resources; thus, what we are left with are better-educated Virginians no matter where they have their classroom. It is fair and equitable, and allows all students in the Commonwealth an opportunity to afford an expanded education. A win-win for all. Please consider passing this bill. We humbly thank you for all you do!
I encourage you to vote in favor of this bill, which will support educators (including homeschool families) by leaving more of their own money in their pockets. The people responsible for educating our society’s children ought to be able to keep more of their hard-earned resources to deepen the well from which to draw for their children’s educational opportunities and curriculum. Thank you.
Honorable Delegates, Please support HB 103. As a homeschool mom of 6+ years, I'd appreciate any deduction off the cost of educational items. Thank you! Michelle Cunningham
I do not support this bill including Home Schoolers. The moment that we accept money for homeschooling the moment it gives the government the assumption that they can regulate, impose, or demand things of our homeschool. Many homeschoolers began to do so because they did not like the way Public School was done, or the materials being taught to their children or the lack there of.
As a homeschool parent, I am supportive of this bill. We pay taxes to cover the public schools that we do not use, and then also pay for our homeschool curriculum and programs. I would appreciate a tax break for this as a home educator.
This isn’t school choice. This is government dollars dictating homeschool structure, curriculum, and God knows what else. Don’t be a lemming. Kill the bill!!!
Many Virginia parents have turned to, or continue to, home educate their children in response to the current pandemic. Home educators are out of pocket for the increasing costs of quality curriculum materials. All Virginia children deserve a quality education, led by empowered parents with high quality materials. Please vote YES for this bill!
I am writing to ask that HB103 would be passed. It is only right and fair for homeschooling families to receive a tax break given that they are not receiving the services at public school that their tax money is going to. Thank you for your consideration.
I strongly support these bills, please continue to pass these impornant bills .thank you Kathi Martin
Please support and pass this bill! Many of us have a single based income and this could ease a small burden on many of us. God Bless all of you!
Please vote yes in support of HB103, so that homeschooling families could offset some educational expenses. It is a well known fact that teachers often dig into their own pockets to buy supplies for their class, homeschool educators are no different. In addition to paying taxes towards the public school system, homeschooling families also incur the costs of buying curriculum and necessary educational supplies.
Educational expenses put an undue and erroneous burden on our educators. I fully support eligible educational expenses to be deductible for anyone responsible for the education of our children.
I strongly support HB 103 and urge you to vote to pass it. This bill will help our teachers who are already stretched thin. It will be an encouraging step forward in school choice as well, helping those who choose to homeschool with the financial burdens they take on. The future of our Commonwealth, and our Country rely on a well educated populace, and supporting those we're entrusting to educate them is a critical first step.
My family supports this bill as we plan to continue homeschooling and participate within our homeschool community.
This is a must and should be passed this session.
Please help pass this bill. This would give many parents now a right to claim a deduction from state taxes for certain expenses they have paid in connection with educating children. Since the beginning of the pandemic, more parents have taken the decision to be involved in educating their children and to give them the best opportunities that they can. Many of us are already struggling financially and this would help many of us. Our children are our investment and we want the best for them. Thank you.
This bill would be a huge benefit to homeschooling families. Most of us are single income households. This relief would help ease a small burden! I explore you to pass this bill.
It would be such a tremendous benefit for patent educators to be able to claim education expenses for their children. Homeschooling isn't cheap but the investment is worth it. Thank you for considering this idea.
I believe that homeschooling parents deserve to receive tax breaks just as public schools do. The cost adds up quickly especially when you have more than one child to educate. Just because homeschool parents choose to educate their children on their own doesn't mean they deserve to be punished with no exemptions. They are still required to pay for taxes that go to public schools , why? Most are not wealthy and struggle to make it happen but they make it happen because their children are worth it. The government should have the same mind set. The children are worth it. Public or private school.
All educators should receive equal treatment under the law for reimbursement of educational expenses.
I want to encourage you to support a tax deduction that includes home educators. We pay taxes to fund the public schools even though our children do not attend and then we also personally fund our children's education.
This will be very helpful for children who are educated at home. The costs of homeschooling can add up and this will help to make it more affordable, which should allow us to enhance/improve are children's educations. Please pass this bill and thank you for supporting education!
Please support this bill to assist educators and homeschooling families.
Please thoroughly consider House Bill 103. Our education system - even in the great Commonwealth - is suffering and those educators who are committed and capable struggle the most. This bill would provide them the ability to recoup some of the personal finance they freely give to enhance their classes. It would also bolster home educators who commit their time and finances to focusing on specifically and properly educating and growing children. There are currently no deductible options for home educators and the expenses can be equal or more to that of public education. Thank you for your consideration and support of House Bill 103.
Hello, please move this bill forward to support educators. As a homeschooling mother of three, school expenses and curriculum add up and it would be a blessing to be able to receive a tax deduction for certain expenses. Especially considering we pay taxes to support public schools that our children do not use; a tax deduction would even things out a little and enable more parents to homeschool, if they wish to do so but are limited financially. Thank you.
I support this bill to provide tax relief to parents who choose to homeschool their children. We pay large amounts of taxes to fund the public schools which we do not use and in turn must buy all of the curriculum for our students.
My family and neighbors strongly support this bill. Please ensure it is supported and passed.
Thank you for supporting this!
Please support those parents who are sacrificing to provide a quality education at home by providing a tax deduction for school expenses. Every little bit helps. Thank you
As a homeschooling mother of 5, I should be able to deduct the money for curriculum and supplies we use to educate our children. Our family is already funding the public school system with our taxes, but our kids don't use it. So we have to pay out of pocket for their education while still funding the public schools. Many other homeschooling parents are in the same situation. At least give us a tax deduction to make it more affordable and more fair. In addition, many school teachers spend their own money on classroom supplies because the children need them and they aren't provided. They should not have to do this, but they do because they care. They should be able to deduct these expenses. All of our kids need to be educated, and supplies that are necessary for helping kids learn should get a tax deduction. It's just the right thing to do.
I am very much in favor of H.B 103. As a parent who homeschools our child this would really help ease the financial burden. We spent over $950 on curriculum and supplies just for our kindergartener last year. We see this as an investment that we are more than glad to make; however, it is frustrating that our state and local taxes are used to support public schools and then we have to turn around and purchase our own supplies. It's like being taxed twice OR having to pay for our child's education AND our neighbor's child's education. This bill would at least make things fairer and probably enable more people to be able to homeschool their children. Thanks.
An income tax reduction would help tremendously with homeschooling expenses
This is a pro-education bill, and we support it. Allowing a tax credit or deduction for educators is not a new idea. In 2021, Iowa expanded its education tax credit to include homeschool families. It is discussed here: https://iowatorch.com/2021/03/16/bill-expanding-tuition-and-textbooks-tax-credit-to-homeschoolers-advances-in-the-iowa-house/ HB 103 makes an important statement about Virginia's willingness to support educators, including home schoolers, who put their own money into educating children. The entire Commonwealth benefits when education is encouraged, and this bill is a highly cost-effective way to do that.
Dear Delegate, I am writing to urge you to support local control over tax dollars for school facilities. Local voters and local parents should have the right to approve or deny a special 1% sales tax for this purpose. These taxes don’t fill government coffers - they can only be used for school construction and renovation, can exempt groceries and medications, and have a built in-expiration date. The General Assembly has previously granted this authority to nine localities and this year, three politically diverse localities have requested this ability, the City of Charlottesville, Isle of Wight County, and Prince Edward County. There is also a bill to grant this local authority to all municipalities in the Commonwealth. This local tax for schools was unanimously recommended by the bipartisan Commission on School Construction and Modernization. Here in Cville it has a lot of support and momentum, and has already passed the Senate. Governor Youngkin has promised a record investment in education while also urging us to move beyond our fractured politics. I respectfully ask you to reconsider the decision to table bills HB531, HB545 and HB63. Please support local parents and voters with the authority to decide for themselves on local taxes for their schools. Please think about this important initiative for Charlottesville, its kids, and future generations. Matt Caesar
I select these particular bills because I feel that any increase in taxes that will go strictly to support the renovation of our school to prepare the environment for our students. Greatly needed.
Hello I’m Tisha Erby Mother of 5 boys , 4 are Richmond Public School Students and WE support HB 531 which will allow all counties and cities to use a 1% sales tax to pay for the construction of new schools. [RPS-George Wythe High School] needs this additional revenue to build new schools and modernize facilities to improve the learning experience of its students. According to the Virginia Department of Education, more than half of the state’s school buildings are more than 50 years old. Unfortunately, my community is home to several of these outdated buildings including George Wythe High School. Students and teachers are placed in unsafe environments that may have leaky roofs, windowless classrooms, mold, poor ventilation, and broken HVAC systems. It is not helpful to the learning environment and development of children to attend school in buildings that harm their health and well-being. Having the sales tax as an option will give us the opportunity to fix the crumbling schools in my school district. I am afraid that if the General Assembly doesn’t pass this bill, another generation of students will be forced to sit in outdated, 50-year old classrooms that are inadequate for what students need today. Please prioritize education and the future of our commonwealth by taking this necessary step to invest in our schools, our students, and our community. Thank you so much for listening and remember #WytheCantWait #AllRPSCantWait #WeAreRPS
Please consider this bill, it can be a blessing to educators all across the state. Inflation has hit hard and any help we can get is a blessing.
As a Virginin, educated in Virginian Schools, we were taught the importance of the Constitution of the Commonwealth with regard to our Nation's Constitution. These documents are articles that are supposed to guide our self governance. Article VIII, Section 10 Public dollars are not to go to schools NOT owned by the Commonwealth or a Municipality inside the Commonwealth's jurisdiction, except for when the Commonwealth has entered into an agreement with another jurisdiction. The Commonwealth should also not engage in the endorsement of private education cartels, weakening the publicly available options. This would do a disservice to the people, because the people's representatives have less oversight with regard to private institutions, than they have through electing their local boards.
As a Virginia educator in Richmond, I have spent the last 7 years using my own limited income to provide necessary supplies in my classroom to make my classroom organized and appealing to students. Storage containers, ziploc bags, markers, glue, various types of papers, paper for bulletin boards, tape, cleaning supplies- these are just a few of the items that I have to purchase with my own money as my school does not provide items like this. I approve of HB103 because teachers need all the help we can get. I know I, and thousands of educators across the state would benefit greatly with this tax deduction.
As a Virginia educator in Richmond, I have spent the last 7 years using my own limited income to provide necessary supplies in my classroom to make my classroom organized and appealing to students. Storage containers, ziploc bags, markers, glue, various types of papers, paper for bulletin boards, tape, cleaning supplies- these are just a few of the items that I have to purchase with my own money as my school does not provide items like this. I approve of HB103 because teachers need all the help we can get. I know I, and thousands of educators across the state would benefit greatly with this tax deduction.
HB290 - Income tax, state and corporate; tax credit for employers of National Guard members.
As a Virginin, educated in Virginian Schools, we were taught the importance of the Constitution of the Commonwealth with regard to our Nation's Constitution. These documents are articles that are supposed to guide our self governance. Article VIII, Section 10 Public dollars are not to go to schools NOT owned by the Commonwealth or a Municipality inside the Commonwealth's jurisdiction, except for when the Commonwealth has entered into an agreement with another jurisdiction. The Commonwealth should also not engage in the endorsement of private education cartels, weakening the publicly available options. This would do a disservice to the people, because the people's representatives have less oversight with regard to private institutions, than they have through electing their local boards.
HB291 - Income tax, state; creates a nonrefundable tax credit for family caregivers.
Requesting information
As someone with progressive and rather aggressive multiple sclerosis, HP291 is it would be a tremendous help for our situation. Over the past decade, I’ve gone from being a family provider to something of a burden. This is because I’ve had to utilize a power wheelchair full-time. While 291 is not gonna solve everything, it would be a tremendous help to my wife with helping on the expenses of MS.
The Virginia Family Caregiver Income Tax Credit proposed in HB291 would be a commonsense step to help make family caregivers’ responsibilities a bit easier by providing some financial relief so they can continue to care for their loved ones. Across Virginia, family caregivers assist their parents, spouses, and other loved ones so they can remain at home – where they want to be – and out of costly, taxpayer-funded nursing homes. These family caregivers help with bathing, dressing, transportation, and much more – and many also contribute financially to their loved ones’ care. These responsibilities can be emotionally, physically, and financially challenging. AARP Virginia supports a Family Caregiver Income Tax Credit because there are more than a million family caregivers in Virginia who provide a total of 870 million hours of unpaid care each year. That unpaid care is valued at $11.2 billion, annually. Family caregivers are the backbone of our workforce and spend an average of nearly $7,000 per year out of their own pockets when caring for a loved one. The Virginia Family Caregiver Income Tax Credit would be a non-refundable credit to help offset the amount of state income taxes owed. Covered expenses could include: adult day care, respite care, transportation, home modifications, equipment and assistive technology, home health care aides, and other expenses to help their loved ones remain safe at home Any day-to-day living costs, such as food and clothing would not qualify for the credit. Income limits for couples or individuals filing for the credit would ensure that the tax credit goes to help those family caregivers who need it the most. In a caregiving survey conducted in August of 2019, AARP found that nearly 9 in 10 Virginia voters over the age of 40 support a state income tax credit for family caregivers. This support remained strong across party lines with 87% of Republicans, 89% of Independents, and 94% of Democrats expressing their support and 8 out of 10 voters saying they would support a candidate for state office who worked to enact a caregiver tax credit. The money that family caregivers spend out of pocket to take care of their loved ones affects their ability to save for retirement or have enough money to enjoy their own lives and, for some, it means they can’t afford everyday necessities or pay their bills. In 2016, it was estimated that 53% of adults who turned 65 would need some sort of long-term care services during their lifetime and family members are often the ones to provide that care. More than half of current and former caregivers surveyed said if they were no longer able to care for their loved ones on their own, they would have to move them into an adult home, an assisted living facility, or a nursing home. 73% of those we surveyed said that some sort of assistance to recover out-of-pocket caregiving expenses would be helpful to them. Family caregiving is an issue that affects nearly all of us at some point – we either are caregivers or need caregivers. AARP Virginia asks that you vote YES on HB291 to bring a bit of relief to family caregivers who are saving the commonwealth billions of dollars each year.
The Virginia Family Caregiver Income Tax Credit proposed in HB291 would be a commonsense step to help make family caregivers’ responsibilities a bit easier by providing some financial relief so they can continue to care for their loved ones. Across Virginia, family caregivers assist their parents, spouses, and other loved ones so they can remain at home – where they want to be – and out of costly, taxpayer-funded nursing homes. These family caregivers help with bathing, dressing, transportation, and much more – and many also contribute financially to their loved ones’ care. These responsibilities can be emotionally, physically, and financially challenging. AARP Virginia supports a Family Caregiver Income Tax Credit because there are more than a million family caregivers in Virginia who provide a total of 870 million hours of unpaid care each year. That unpaid care is valued at $11.2 billion, annually. Family caregivers are the backbone of our workforce and spend an average of nearly $7,000 per year out of their own pockets when caring for a loved one. The Virginia Family Caregiver Income Tax Credit would be a non-refundable credit to help offset the amount of state income taxes owed. Covered expenses could include: adult day care, respite care, transportation, home modifications, equipment and assistive technology, home health care aides, and other expenses to help their loved ones remain safe at home Any day-to-day living costs, such as food and clothing would not qualify for the credit. Income limits for couples or individuals filing for the credit would ensure that the tax credit goes to help those family caregivers who need it the most. In a caregiving survey conducted in August of 2019, AARP found that nearly 9 in 10 Virginia voters over the age of 40 support a state income tax credit for family caregivers. This support remained strong across party lines with 87% of Republicans, 89% of Independents, and 94% of Democrats expressing their support and 8 out of 10 voters saying they would support a candidate for state office who worked to enact a caregiver tax credit. The money that family caregivers spend out of pocket to take care of their loved ones affects their ability to save for retirement or have enough money to enjoy their own lives and, for some, it means they can’t afford everyday necessities or pay their bills. In 2016, it was estimated that 53% of adults who turned 65 would need some sort of long-term care services during their lifetime and family members are often the ones to provide that care. More than half of current and former caregivers surveyed said if they were no longer able to care for their loved ones on their own, they would have to move them into an adult home, an assisted living facility, or a nursing home. 73% of those we surveyed said that some sort of assistance to recover out-of-pocket caregiving expenses would be helpful to them. Family caregiving is an issue that affects nearly all of us at some point – we either are caregivers or need caregivers. AARP Virginia asks that you vote YES on HB291 to bring a bit of relief to family caregivers who are saving the commonwealth billions of dollars each year.
Good Morning Chairman, and Committee Members, My name is Lilia Keys. I am representing AARP Va. We are supporting HB 291 and 720. If you would like more information or have any concerns, please contact our state advocacy director, Natalie Snider. nsnider@aarp.org Thank you very much for your time.
I am in favor of HB 291. Providing a tax credit for family caregivers would allow more seniors to age in place. It would also help family caregivers acquire the additional items needed to care for seniors at home. Please vote Yes on HB 291..
As a Virginin, educated in Virginian Schools, we were taught the importance of the Constitution of the Commonwealth with regard to our Nation's Constitution. These documents are articles that are supposed to guide our self governance. Article VIII, Section 10 Public dollars are not to go to schools NOT owned by the Commonwealth or a Municipality inside the Commonwealth's jurisdiction, except for when the Commonwealth has entered into an agreement with another jurisdiction. The Commonwealth should also not engage in the endorsement of private education cartels, weakening the publicly available options. This would do a disservice to the people, because the people's representatives have less oversight with regard to private institutions, than they have through electing their local boards.
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society proudly supports HB 291, to establish a nonrefundable family caregiver income tax credit in Virginia. This bill would greatly benefit the lives of people impacted by multiple sclerosis (MS), an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain and between the brain and body. Symptoms vary from person to person and can range from numbness and tingling, to walking difficulties, fatigue, dizziness, pain, depression, blindness and paralysis. While breakthroughs in MS research have helped people with MS live more independently, up to 58% of people living with MS rely on unpaid care from family caregivers. Family caregiver responsibilities may include hands-on assistance with daily activities (e.g., transportation, mobility, coordination of in-home care) as well as emotional support. Fulfilling these responsibilities often necessitates time away from work and loss of income, in addition to expenses incurred to provide care. An income tax would help ease that burden by helping to offset the costs for expenses such as home improvements to make a living safe spacer for the care recipient; purchase or lease of technological equipment; and services including respite, in-home care and adult day care. With this relief, more family caregivers in Virginia will be able to remain employed and continue contributing to the Commonwealth through their taxes. The National MS Society strongly supports HB 291.
HB402 - Landlords, participation; tax credit.
As a Virginin, educated in Virginian Schools, we were taught the importance of the Constitution of the Commonwealth with regard to our Nation's Constitution. These documents are articles that are supposed to guide our self governance. Article VIII, Section 10 Public dollars are not to go to schools NOT owned by the Commonwealth or a Municipality inside the Commonwealth's jurisdiction, except for when the Commonwealth has entered into an agreement with another jurisdiction. The Commonwealth should also not engage in the endorsement of private education cartels, weakening the publicly available options. This would do a disservice to the people, because the people's representatives have less oversight with regard to private institutions, than they have through electing their local boards.
HB442 - Income tax, state and corporate; credit for employers of G3 Program or cybersecurity graduates.
As a Virginin, educated in Virginian Schools, we were taught the importance of the Constitution of the Commonwealth with regard to our Nation's Constitution. These documents are articles that are supposed to guide our self governance. Article VIII, Section 10 Public dollars are not to go to schools NOT owned by the Commonwealth or a Municipality inside the Commonwealth's jurisdiction, except for when the Commonwealth has entered into an agreement with another jurisdiction. The Commonwealth should also not engage in the endorsement of private education cartels, weakening the publicly available options. This would do a disservice to the people, because the people's representatives have less oversight with regard to private institutions, than they have through electing their local boards.
HB589 - Income tax, state; motion picture production tax credit.
The City of Portsmouth strongly supports this bill, and respectfully request favorable consideration by the committee on this legislative initiative. Thank you
As a Virginin, educated in Virginian Schools, we were taught the importance of the Constitution of the Commonwealth with regard to our Nation's Constitution. These documents are articles that are supposed to guide our self governance. Article VIII, Section 10 Public dollars are not to go to schools NOT owned by the Commonwealth or a Municipality inside the Commonwealth's jurisdiction, except for when the Commonwealth has entered into an agreement with another jurisdiction. The Commonwealth should also not engage in the endorsement of private education cartels, weakening the publicly available options. This would do a disservice to the people, because the people's representatives have less oversight with regard to private institutions, than they have through electing their local boards.
HB592 - Income tax, state and corporate; conversion to employee ownership.
As a Virginin, educated in Virginian Schools, we were taught the importance of the Constitution of the Commonwealth with regard to our Nation's Constitution. These documents are articles that are supposed to guide our self governance. Article VIII, Section 10 Public dollars are not to go to schools NOT owned by the Commonwealth or a Municipality inside the Commonwealth's jurisdiction, except for when the Commonwealth has entered into an agreement with another jurisdiction. The Commonwealth should also not engage in the endorsement of private education cartels, weakening the publicly available options. This would do a disservice to the people, because the people's representatives have less oversight with regard to private institutions, than they have through electing their local boards.
HB656 - Income tax, state and corporate; creates tax credit for coal refuge energy and reclamation, report.
No tax credits for fossil fuels.
As a solar owner for 12 years, I know that renewable energy and a cleaner environment is the future. Those who support coal and waste byproducts are losing the tide. I do not want this legislation approved.
On behalf of Appalachian Voices, our organization opposes this bill. While the clean-up of GOB is crucially important to improving the environment in Southwest Virginia, this tax credit is unnecessary. Dominion Energy is already burning coal refuse at the VCHEC without tax incentives; so far more than 4 million tons of gob have been burned at VCHEC. The plant was designed for this purpose, and is doing so as designed. While there is an enormous amount of GOB left to be cleaned up in SWVA, the Federal government just recently enacted the bipartisan infrastructure bill, which includes an $11.3 billion investment into cleaning up abandoned coal features. Virginia will receive 10 times as much funding for abandoned coal mine land clean-up funding for the next 15 years, which can go toward cleaning up the highest-priority GOB sites. Creating a tax credit for burning GOB puts an unnecessary burden on taxpayers. Finally, SB 120 (Hackworth) and HB 657 (Wampler) propose to inventory and study how to best clean up GOB piles in Southwest Virginia. The General Assembly should wait for the results of this study before creating tax credits to incentivize burning GOB in power plants. Please oppose this bill.
My name is Rebecca Shelton and I am submitting comments on behalf of Appalachian Citizens' Law Center, a public interest law firm and non-profit advocacy organization that works in and represents clients from Eastern Kentucky and Southwest Virginia. We oppose this bill. This bill creates a tax credit to incentivize the burning of coal refuse, or gob. We see this as unnecessary for two primary reasons. First, Dominion Energy, without this credit, is already burning coal refuse at the Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center in Wise County, Virginia. The plant was designed for this purpose and creating a credit is unnecessary. Second, the federal government recently enacted the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill which adds $11.3 billion dollars to the federal abandoned coal mine grant program. Over the next fifteen years, Virginia will receive nearly 10 times as much federal funding for the clean up of gob and other abandoned coal features compared to recent years. Given this infusion of federal funds, creating a state tax incentive to clean up gob is unwarranted at this time. In addition to being unnecessary, the bill incentivizes the use of gob but it does not require that the gob be from Virginia in order to be eligible for the tax credit. As the tax credit cap is greater than the amount of funding that has been identified as needed for gob cleanup in Virginia (according to Virginia' s coal mine inventory), the tax credit would likely be used to truck waste coal into Southwest Virginia; Virginia taxpayers would be subsidizing the cleanup of coal-mining waste. We ask you to vote against HB656. Though gob cleanup is critical for Southwest Virginia, we've seen no evidence to support the mechanism through which that bill proposes to achieve that - incentivizing an activity that is already occurring - and believe that the federal AML funds, instead, will help address this issue. Thank you for allowing me to provide testimony.
A 2011 Harvard report found that the life cycle effects of coal and the waste stream generated are costing the U.S. public a third to over one-half of a trillion dollars annually. The HB 656 bill uses taxpayer money to incentivize the burning of coal refuse at the Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center (VCHEC). The excessive use of burning coal refuse would put communities along the transportation path at risk of environmental disasters and become more exposed to harmful emissions. Also, HB 656 creates a nonrefundable income tax credit for Dominion Energy for 2023-2027 equal to $4/ton of qualified coal refuse used to generate electricity at VCHEC. This bill will not only harm Virginia environmentally, but economically as well. And it is for these reasons, CCAN Action Fund opposes this bill HB656.
SUMMARY: Kathy Selvage of Wise, VA addresses the VA Assembly Subcommittee on Finance regarding HB 656: Dominion’s power plant in Wise County, VA was a boondoggle when proposed and it continues to be. Life extension for the plant last year was granted. Currently, the SB 120 is attempting to rename Garbage of Bituminous (GOB) as a renewable energy. This is an alternative truth. The economic viability of the plant and industry are enhanced by subsidies (HB 656) through tax reductions that robs the tax coffers, and further increases their economic viability by tossing the health and environmental costs onto the community and its inhabitants. The Commonwealth is proposing the same path as Pennsylvania as they have the most waste burning plants in the nation and try to include waste coal in their renewable portfolio. GOB is low energy producing (60%), forcing the use of more GOB, heavily laden with pollutants, and produces polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH’s) during incineration. Pollutants are displaced from the air, never eradicated, and reappear in the toxic waste coal ash at about 85% of the entire amount of GOB used, thus creating mountains of toxic coal ash. There are safer ways to deal with the GOB piles of far southwest Virginia than this proposed scheme. Population loss in a single decade for Wise County reached 14.7% or 5,308 as the young and college educated continue their flight in search of opportunity. Their future cannot be found in a GOB pile. This plan makes the continued destruction of Wise County legal and is absolutely the wrong trajectory.
As you consider HB 656, keep in mind that Wise County is one of the most devastated counties in the world from mining activities. They have no need to deal with garbage of bituminous coal (gob) from every corner and then with a higher load of mercury, arsenic, and coal ash on their lands and waters. The drainage would be into Clinch River -- the home of endanger mussels and fish. There is no pressing need for all the gob piles to be burned. The burning of fossil fuels should have stopped yesterday. Coal power plants add greenhouses gases. New record heat confirmed within 6 miles of the Artic Circle of 100 degrees, and the record of 64.9 degrees in the Antarctic. Siberia is going from ice to fires that burn year around. Scientists are stunned at the rate of melt. The huge ice shelf that is breaking off Antarctic will no longer block a massive, massive glacier. The melting of that glacier will raise the sea levels in New Port News, Norfolk, and in the Chesapeake Bay. The warming of the oceans affect ocean currents. The Gulf Stream slows and may be on the cusp of major change so the rainfall amounts we need in the east for the forests and agriculture will be no longer. Dominion Energy has its own resources and supplies many states with coal and nuclear power. If you would incentivize their helping households and governments to go solar or other true clean energy moves , I would suggest the money move in that direction. In fact, a higher rebate for households below say $125 k to get a higher rebate to go solar would serve the state. This bill just adds to calamity. Like what happened in Hurley, Virginia with such heavy rainfall in a short period of time. If that event had happened at night, they say it would have cost 100 lives. You may not know but an engineer told me of a 35 inch rain event a few years ago. Sections of Highway 58 --one lane lost in three curves--above Stuart were wiped out. Our creek ran under and over the meadow. We have just lost orchard due to fire blight. Now we have only two seasons--hot and cold- and the hot is gaining. The gentle slow warming Appalachian Spring is long gone. Animal and insect populations are crashing. Read A Life on Our Planet by David Attenborough.
As a Virginin, educated in Virginian Schools, we were taught the importance of the Constitution of the Commonwealth with regard to our Nation's Constitution. These documents are articles that are supposed to guide our self governance. Article VIII, Section 10 Public dollars are not to go to schools NOT owned by the Commonwealth or a Municipality inside the Commonwealth's jurisdiction, except for when the Commonwealth has entered into an agreement with another jurisdiction. The Commonwealth should also not engage in the endorsement of private education cartels, weakening the publicly available options. This would do a disservice to the people, because the people's representatives have less oversight with regard to private institutions, than they have through electing their local boards.
HB695 - Worker training tax credit; clarifies definition of "eligible worker training," extends sunset date.
The VMA opposes HB 695 as introduced. It increases the pool of qualified businesses without a corresponding budget amendment. This MFG tax credit would be consumed quickly by other industries. However, the bill should also be amended to increase the places where education and training can occur - specifically community colleges, higher ed centers, and the New College Institute. LINE AMENDMENTS 1. Line 16, introduced, after List insert "or at any Virginia public institution of higher education, as such term is defined in § 23.1-100, §23.1-3111, §23.1-3115, §23.1-3120, and §23.1-3125." 2. Line 48, introduced, after Commonwealth unstrike "relating to the manufacturing activities undertaken by the business"
The VMA has worked on this Code section for over a decade. We support extending the sunset but do not expand the credit to other industries without a separate budget amendment - it will reduce the effectiveness for manufacturers. However, the tax credit should be extended to students K-6-14 and support programs at middle and high schools, as well as any public higher education institution (e.g., VCCS or higher education centers).
The VMA has worked on this Code section for over a decade. We support extending the sunset but do not expand the credit to other industries without a separate budget amendment - it will reduce the effectiveness for manufacturers. However, the tax credit should be extended to students K-6-14 and support programs at middle and high schools, as well as any public higher education institution (e.g., VCCS or higher education centers).
As a Virginin, educated in Virginian Schools, we were taught the importance of the Constitution of the Commonwealth with regard to our Nation's Constitution. These documents are articles that are supposed to guide our self governance. Article VIII, Section 10 Public dollars are not to go to schools NOT owned by the Commonwealth or a Municipality inside the Commonwealth's jurisdiction, except for when the Commonwealth has entered into an agreement with another jurisdiction. The Commonwealth should also not engage in the endorsement of private education cartels, weakening the publicly available options. This would do a disservice to the people, because the people's representatives have less oversight with regard to private institutions, than they have through electing their local boards.
HB720 - Income tax, state; creates a nonrefundable credit for family caregivers.
Good Morning Chairman, and Committee Members, My name is Lilia Keys. I am representing AARP Va. We are supporting HB 291 and 720. If you would like more information or have any concerns, please contact our state advocacy director, Natalie Snider. nsnider@aarp.org Thank you very much for your time.
This is a big fat no. I like public education being funded
As a Virginin, educated in Virginian Schools, we were taught the importance of the Constitution of the Commonwealth with regard to our Nation's Constitution. These documents are articles that are supposed to guide our self governance. Article VIII, Section 10 Public dollars are not to go to schools NOT owned by the Commonwealth or a Municipality inside the Commonwealth's jurisdiction, except for when the Commonwealth has entered into an agreement with another jurisdiction. The Commonwealth should also not engage in the endorsement of private education cartels, weakening the publicly available options. This would do a disservice to the people, because the people's representatives have less oversight with regard to private institutions, than they have through electing their local boards.
HB784 - Income tax, state; home instruction and private school tax credit.
I respectfully request that all Virginia lawmakers support HB 784. This tax credit will provide the means for many more Virginia parents to provide high quality education choices to their children either at home or through private schools. While public schools are a suitable option for many Virginia children, the current legal and tax framework that makes a public school education the ONLY choice for most children is antiquated. Virginia is behind many other states that have modernized their approach and options for educational offerings. Forcing parents to “buy” public education will not serve Virginia well in the years to come. As current and potential future Virginians consider whether this state is where they want to raise their children, flexible affordable education opportunities is a primary deciding factor. Support HB 784 to help make our state a competitive option when parents make their choices. Furthermore, Virginia parents and children simply deserve ample access to homeschool and private school educational opportunities. The public schools have served Virginia well for many years, but as with any situation where there is a one-size fits all approach with no competing alternatives, there are no catalysts or incentives to innovate. Virginia must move forward as it relates to education for our children, or we will get left behind. Respectfully, Jeffrey Floyd
In favor or tax credit for homeschoolers! Most families must give up a second info to do this and deserve help!
I am in support of this bill. We live in a high tax area and this will relieve the burden we have to send our child to learn about God at a Christian school. Thank you for proposing this and write in support of it
I urge the support of HB 784, providing tangible school choice to Virginians through access to tax funds. While it has always been an option for parents to homeschool or send their children to private school, the time and/or cost of doing so is prohibitive for most families. At the January 25th Chesterfield County school board meeting, Kathryn Haines (representing my district of Midlothian) stated (in response to parent choice in masking children): “Parental Rights Act prevents the State from interfering with how a parent educates their child. A parent can homeschool, choose private school, or get a religious exemption – period. The State has no control over a parent’s right to monitor the education of their kids. The Parental Rights Act does not, however, give parents the power to control the operations of the school.” Whether true or not, her comments implied that parents should simply choose to get with the program or make another choice. This is arrogant and condescending. It ignores the fact that the vast majority of parents do not have the time or financial resources to make one of those choices. Now, more than ever it is nearly impossible for families to live on one income, allowing for a parent to stay home and educate the children. There are also more single parent households and families who, regardless of how many family members are working, cannot afford alternative options. In short, our children are held hostage by the public school system. Just like the electric and water utilities know you have nowhere else to go – the public education system may do what it wishes and have little to no recourse. Each of us pay a considerable amount in taxes, which in part goes towards education. The average spent each year per child in Virginia public schools over $12,000. With just half that amount, a child can be almost fully funded in a private school. Half of that amount or less can fully fund three or more children in a complete homeschool curriculum. I know because I’ve done the research for my own family. Choice and competition encourage innovation and excellence, monopolies do the opposite. Our public schools will only be made better by having to truly compete with private and home education options. Students will in turn benefit by having an education best suited for them chosen by their parents - regardless of socioeconomic status. It is time true freedom in education!
Thanks you for considering this bill. It would be helpful to our homeschool family to have a tax credit for the materials that we purchase to educate our child. We have a child that needs supports in his learning and he thrives with home instruction. Due to his needs the curriculum is not bundled from one less expensive source, but gotten from several different vendors for the various subjects. Having a tax credit would greatly assist our family with choosing higher quality curriculum for his needs. Thank you. We are raising our kids to be leaders and successful members of society for the next generation.
This bill is absurd. If you choose to keep your kids at home and not send them to free, public school, you should not be rewarded with a tax credit. If you can afford to send your child to private school, you should not be rewarded with a tax credit. Why not focus more on providing localities what they need, especially those in far Southwest VA.
I am a mother of two children whose schooling takes place outside of public schools. My children and my community will greatly benefit from the education tax credit proposed in HB784. We are not wealthy and Northern Virginia was exorbitantly expensive before record-high inflation hit our budget this year. It is no small feat to cover the expenses of multiple children’s education out-of-pocket while also paying the government for a school system that does not serve us. We ask you to support HB784 for families across Virginia who are reinventing education as we watch the system we are forced to pay for crumble before our eyes. We don’t have the financial flexibility or local support to find care for our children during unofficial teacher strikes, “Covid planning weeks,” outbreaks, pretend snow days, and sick outs. Instead, we utilize our community to help educate our children at a fair price to all who help us on this path. This tax credit will go directly back into the economy of the community it was initially meant to serve and will be immeasurably more beneficial to our children’s learning in an environment that is stable, consistent, politically neutral, and with curricula that are personally geared toward each child.
I have been homeschooling this year and last year due to covid concerns from being in an immunocompromised household. I would appreciate a tax credit and also support more charter schools in Loudoun County.
Hello, As a Virginia resident for 44 years, I would like to express my support for a tax credit benefitting families who choose to homeschool (covering related expenses) or private school tuition. Our family includes 5 children and over the years, depending on individual needs, they have attended public school, homeschool and a local private school. Through every schooling decision we made for our individual children, we continued to pay taxes. We believe that a tax credit (available for two years) would offset some of the financial burden to families with diverse educational needs and could promote greater equity in school choice for families of varying income levels.
I pay a great deal of taxes and my children do not go to public school. I have to pay hundreds of dollars for their curriculum each year. We should receive a tax credit. Homeschooling is important to our family.
This bill pulls money from public schools and redirects it to private and homeschool options that have the effect of segregating and de-diversifying schools by allowing those with greater means to have greater opportunity. Private schools are not required to guarantee admission and may refuse to provide services to those with special medical or educational needs, non-English speaking and those requiring meal and transport support. Public funds should not fund privilege and segregation.
I strongly support Bill HB784 for students attending private schools in the state of Virginia. When parents and legal guardians send their children to private schools, they are oftentimes sending them to the schools to provide the best education possible. Many public schools have low graduation percentages and low SOL scores, which means that parents choose the alternative, private schools. For many families enrolling their children in private schools is a financial sacrifice they are willing to make; however, unlike child care, they are not compensated or allowed to deduct a portion of the tuition for income tax purposes. I believe that this bill would also allow more parents to send their children to private schools because the IRS would, in essence, offset the cost of tuition. Lack of financial resources should not solely prevent parents from sending their children to private schools. This bill would remedy barriers, which would provide an equal opportunity for all students.
As a homeschooling family of 5, we are in favor of this bill, HB784. If passed, this could allow us the financial ability to broaden our children’s homeschool education options that we would otherwise not be able to afford. Curriculum, activities, and trips can be very expensive with multiple children and are necessary for a well rounded education. This bill would make these necessities more easily obtainable and very beneficial for all homeschooling families as most are single income homes.
I support the tax credit for homeschooling families to help offset the high costs incurred for instructional materials. This may allow more families the choice to homeschool (making it more affordable) and even ease the overcrowding in some Loudoun schools (and bus routes) at the elementary levels. It also helps ensure that homeschooled kids get better educational materials and improve quality of education for our state. All good effects. Please pass this tax credit!
Every parent in the United States should be able to choose to educate their children in the best way for their family. As a homeschool parent of 29 years we have paid for other’s education, through taxes and our own children out of pocket. I would not want to ask the government for money to educate my children, as I do not want them to in any way dictate what I will teach them. But a tax credit seems fair. My tax money is going to support the education of children, in some ways, that is proving to be very detrimental to their future stability as functioning adults as citizens of this free country. Parents should be able to choose to combat the anger, confusion , and fragility that is rampant in our country by instilling their values in the way they desire. Not all can homeschool. For many, public education is the only option. Teachers should be paid well to teach reading, writing, arithmetic, music, arts, science and technology. They should be people of character that model stability, respect, and critical thinking to their students leaving the minefield of sexual identity out of the classroom. Teachers should never be given the task of hijacking the parents values in this area. The more the government meddles in these things the more families will choose to take their children out of that system and will not pass legislation that funds it. The organization of homeschoolers that I have been involved in has grown by many thousands of families in the last decade. The numbers don’t lie even though many in government want to deny the obvious.
I would like to see this bill go into effect for the sake of our children. As a parent of two children in the public school system I do not have a voice in my children's education anymore. This bill will give me and other parents our voice back to say how we want our children educated.
Private schools can pick and choose which students they want . . . public schools have to take anyone who shows up which creates a clear disadvantage to public schools--and, now you've cut the public school funding further so it makes it even more evident. For example if the parents of a child with very, very specific "special needs" shows up at a dinky little school district (i.e.: 1A or 2A). That public school is FORCED into providing services with a specialist teacher for THAT ONE CHILD which comes away from the general teacher budget (and nearly double the salary for a specialist) AND private schools don't have to take that student! Now multiply that by several specialists (because other children have special needs that are different than the first one) and everyone requires their own specialist . . . and now lets add in one-on-one para-professionals because the child needs those too. So the public school(s)/district has to resort to larger classroom size, and removing electives and special events, field trips, etc. because they have to provide special services FOR ONE CHILD. Just because the parent chose to move there. Nothing forces that parent to choose a school district that provides the best services for their child. No private school is going to take that on that student and their special needs . . . THEY DON'T HAVE TO. And, no one can make them do it. This bill is fatally flawed.
School choice can only benefit students. It will cause effective and healthy competition among schools to increase quality of education. For economically disadvantaged families and every one else, charter schools are the best option available to them and they need the credits to help their kid’s success in schools. Our k12 education is so much behind many developing countries. It is a shame that politicians don’t think for the kids.
HB 784 directs funds from public schools to families that choose to send their children to private school or home school. I want to make sure that the money stays in the public schools that provide the support to so many kids.
With great respect to our commonwealth of Virginia I would like to show my support for the bill HB-784. Five years ago next month, for 2 of my 7 children, my family started our homes journey and it has been life changing especially with the current challenges that every family has faced in the past two years. The ability to be able to use a tax credit for the important educational books, programs, materials, testings, field trips and various other expenses that home education incurres would help greatly. I have had a child in public school as well every year and the difference with homeschool vs public school are the expenses which are greater in cost because every class, school supply and opportunity are out of pocket expenses, even if only lunches were to be considered. Homeschoolers use just as much materials as a college student if not more! Consider the internet, electric, papers, ink, pencils, crowns, gas, food, time. Cooperative class costs, every minute of your day from the time you wake up until you sleep is filled with learning at a cost the difference is as a home educator you don’t get paid, you dont get reimbursement BUT you do get to watch them develop and learn a d discover their strengths and weaknesses. Please consider this bill to help families like mine who are one income at the cost of protecting our childrens health and education. I never imagined we would have to homeschool more than the original two but having one who can’t be vaccinated because of an allergy to the preservatives in vaccines how could I send him off to be sick constantly with no protection. I pray this virus ends and he can return to public education if he chooses.
I support schools choice. It think this is the only way to bring accountability to the public school system. Also, for some families, public school is not a good fit - like my family. Over half of my property tax goes towards public schools. I want some of that back to pay for MY KIDS private school education.
I support the Home instruction and private school tax credit.
Hello, There are significant concerns I have with this bill. First and foremost, I appreciate the thought you give to private school and homeschool families. However, having come from a homeschool family and having considered private school, I strongly feel that public school children should be at the forefront of public money recipients. Homeschool families should not receive any money or tax funds meant for public school children. Public school has standards of education that benefit society and hence that is why tax payer money is used as it is a benefit to society. Homeschooling in Virginia severely lacks standards of education and will continue to lack them until religious exemptions of testing and educational benchmarks are ceased. Many homeschool children fly under the radar under this exemption and receive a substandard or non existent education. This in turn places a burden on the taxpayers to catch these children up to any standard of learning later on. My evidence for this is both anecdotal and also very clear in community college classes that have an abundance of young adults from homeschool families who are in rudimentary learning for more than one subject. Not only did I struggle after my religious exemption home school upbringing, but so did so many other home school young adults I met through churches and community colleges. Virginia has refused to put children first, and parents nonsense religious attacks on their children last. Children have a right to be educated and to be safely monitored to show evidence of their education. Children have a right to not be indoctrinated by extreme religious beliefs that this exemption currently allows. Tax payer money should not go towards homeschooling families that can easily hide neglect, abuse and zero education under Virginia’s lack luster homeschooling laws. The vast majority of home schooled youth I personally know who were educated under this religious exemption have needed therapy, public funds to catch up on course work, and have faced significant stress due to Virginia’s lack of oversight. As for private schools, many private schools have scholarships and donations to offset costs and some are for profit schools that should not receive tax payer money. Instead, build up public schools more and more. Build up the children that need public education more than ever and support that teachers educating during incredibly difficult times. Thank you for your time.
Parents should have the choice to send kids where they believe is best for their children. Receiving a tax credit for choosing to homeschool would be a great benefit. We chose to homeschool all of our children for all of their education and had to pay for our local schools through VA taxes and had to pay for our own materials/books to educate our children at home. This was a double "tax" for us. Why should we pay for local schools if we're not using them?
Good day ladies and gentlemen, My family and I urge you to pass HB 784 as well as continue to provide protection for homeschooled students and their parents who choose to homeschool. Homeschool parents pay taxes yet reap none of the benefits for their child's education. We are in effect paying for other children's state sponsored education while receiving no assistance for our own child's education. This bill would at least help to make it right with the tax credit. We are a military family with 3 children whom we are homeschooling. We chose homeschool due to the garbage that is being taught in public schools and the morals that are not being taught. How does Fairfax County HS have time to play a "privilege bingo game" that tells kids they are privileged for being white, male, christian, and having parents in the military, instead of actually teaching our children subjects like english, history and civics? It's a slap in the face. How are my children privileged to have their father gone for 6 weeks last year on a no notice mission to protect the U.S. Congress at the Capitol building? Indoctrination and insults like these that come out of the public educatuon system are our reason for homeschooling and we should at least receive some tax credit to assist. Homeschooling is already a sacrifice as time is devoted away from earning income to teaching our children, but a quality education for our children is well worth it. Thank you for your time and consideration.
I am opposed to any legislation that would redistribute public school funds to charter or private schools.
I support this bill to give parents tax credits for homeschooling or private school tuition costs. Parents deserve the right to send their kids to schools or educate them as the parents best see fit. The current situation where parents of homeschooling or private school children are essentially paying twice for their kids' schooling is unfair and discourages parents, particularly those of limited means, from sending their children to the schools or give them the education they best see fit due to cost. Parents deserve choice and freedom for their kids education at an affordable cost and fair cost so they are not paying for a public school system that they believe is not best for their children.
Our public schools are essential to the well being of our students and the opportunities they will have to be their best selves as they become adult members of our society. Vouchers will not provide all of our students with better options. Vouchers will however take funds away from public schools. More funding is needed, not less. This is about lifting all our children up for a stronger community. Do not sacrifice public schools, support them! Sincerely, Amy Harr 2018 Teacher of the Year
Thank you for considering my input. My name is Meredith Baker, I'm from Midlothian, and I have personally participated in a failed homeschool voucher program like this in the state of Michigan. I would like to make the following points : 1. Lack of accountability in this bill will lead to taxpayer waste. Unlike probably every elected official present and everyone testifying, I actually "graduated" from a failed experimental charter school program in Michigan (Noah Webster Academy outside of Lansing, 1997) based on this exact model of direct funding of homeschoolers with public funds. The program was mismanaged, had almost no accountability built in financially or educationally, and was full of false promises. Lawmakers swept up in libertarian rhetoric failed to provide the structure or guidelines necessary for my program to succeed, and I note there are almost no guidelines or details in this bill to prevent failure and mismanagement. The school eventually folded, leaving me with a "diploma" that's little more than a joke. The taxpayer did not get his or her money's worth and my education was not supported as promised. How exactly does Virginia intend to avoid the failures experienced in other states? 2. Who will benefit? This seems geared toward serving students from families that are not the neediest and are not zoned in the lowest-performing school districts--parents who already have acceptable (if not perfectly custom) public options. Participating private schools are not required to set tuition at the voucher value. Average private school tuition costs in Virginia are over $11,500 for elementary schools and closer to $17,000 for middle and high schools--in Chesterfield, one of our lowest cost elementary programs is $7,400, not including fees, which are hundreds more. This practically excludes the lowest income families from being able to participate and subsidizes parent who already have the means. As lawmakers, your first financial priority should be toward the students and school infrastructures most in need. Raising those boats leads to better economic return on investment for taxpayers. 3. How will you keep from repeating the mistakes of the past? Virginia has a long history of neglecting the neediest students to support those with means--from John Randolph of Roanoke who claimed in 1829 that if the government funded public schools, poor parents would spend their money on "liquor" to the public monies paid to White segregation academies in the 1960s. ODU's Desegregation of Virginia Education program notes that Virginia spent $20 MILLION dollars on these "tuition grants" to White families who had means, but were unwilling to attend schools with Black children. Our history is our context. What guardrails will be put in place to guarantee racial and economic fairness in the administration of this program?
My child was pulled from school right before winter break. I have since put him in a online private school. My reasons for pulling him were the excessive physical violence going on in the High School he attended. We had a couple bullying issues which the school ignored. In one instance it was scene by a staff member in the class room where my son was assulted and robbed. Nothing happened. Their response was for the teacher to keep them on opposite ends of the classroom. Teachers are not bouncers. The agressor had had several other similar incidents and actually did the same thing to another student just days later. Still crickets from admin. My son told me about daily fights in bathrooms and halls. My daughter who remained as she is a senior and chose to has said she runs e erukne to not get stuck in a fight. You never know when someone will jump you just because. So I removed my you gest 9th grade for his safety. Wouldn't you know it they are now trying to do a IEP on a kid that's not there so they can get more money for him. It's ridiculous. Maybe if they lost the money from kids leaving they would wake up and do something about the conditions inside their school.
The idea to create a tax credit for parents who homeschool or send their children to private school is wonderful! I'm not sure of all the details in this bill, but the idea at least, as my full support. Too long have parents who do not send their children to public schools had to pay a disproportionate amount. And often times, homeschooling parents are single income households. This tax break is wonderful and should move forward. Thank you for proposing this! One point that I am concerned about is how this will be verified. Many homeschooling families homeschool in order to keep the state out of the education of their children. That freedom of religion and conscience needs to be protected in this bill. Andrew Akers
I do not support a voucher school system, or any other way to divert money out of the public schools. We need well funded, top rated schools available to all. My son is on an IEP. He needs the schools to have resources for him. The schools have issues, but the fix is not to pull money out into the pockets of private schools. They need more.money to operate at the levels we expect. Do not support this bill. I do not as a taxpayer, now as a mom, and as a future person with no kids in the school. Thank you.
Honorable Committee, Please ensure there is a portion of HB784 that includes provisions for military families that are not residents of Virginia but are stationed here. Many of my fellow service members are now home-schooling families as a result of impacts to K-12 schools from COVID. An amendment that includes provisions for military non-resident families to submit vouchers for homeschool or private school costs would accomplish this. Thank you. Respectfully, Pat Walker
My name is Anne Forrester and I am a resident of Richmond, and a public school teacher in Richmond. I am speaking against HB 784 because as a public school teacher, unsurprisingly I believe in public education. I know that bills like this one are meant to siphon revenue away from public schools, and into for-profit ones. Section I of article 8 of the VA constitution reads, “The General Assembly shall provide for a system of free public elementary and secondary schools for all children of school age throughout the Commonwealth, and shall seek to ensure that an educational program of high quality is established and continually maintained.” What’s telling though, is for years advocates, myself included, have been urging this body to fully fund the Standards of Quality in order to uphold your constitutional duty to ensure an “educational program of high quality”. I can’t help but notice and question the motives here when this bill seeks to give away potential revenue when the normal excuse for not fully funding the SOQs is because we just don’t have the money. I don’t buy it. Public education is the backbone of a society. When our schools are struggling, it’s usually evidence of a troubled society. And right now our schools are struggling, so what does that say about our society that per this bill you’re ready to take even more revenue away from them? As a teacher, we often hear our schools are failing and that we’re somehow to blame for that, as if the problem were really that we don’t know how to teach. But we know that’s not true. Our schools can seem like they’re failing because they’re also serving as mental and physical healthcare for students, feeding and clothing students, and otherwise attempting to remedy all the other ways society has let our students down. So, if we are to continue to expect schools to solve all of society's issues, it’s past time we actually fund them to do so, rather than weakening them and taking more money away as this bill would. Thank you
Please keep public school funds for public schools and do not direct these funds to vouchers. Please consider giving public schools more money. I believe public schools is a place where kids from different backgrounds can learn from each other and help learn tolerance for all people. The schools need their funds to foster this.
Please pass this. Parents who choose options in private education that are not provided by the current public system pay for school twice. They pay for an option they do not use, and they must pay out of pocket for the alternative. Such a bill takes nothing away from public schools, but does ease the burden on families are paying double.
As a parent of 5 children who attend or have attended private school over the past 20 years, I am in favor of this credit. I have paid taxes for public schools that we utilized very little due to lack of religious training, as well as teaching perspectives we do not agree with and practices outside of our value system. It is only fair that parents of private school children should receive some credit for sacrificing to place their kids in a situation where they can learn what more closely aligns with their families values. Furthermore, the SOL testing, while intended to improve quality of teaching and education, has in my opinion done just the opposite. It has taken creativity of teaching out of the classroom and reduced it to an environment where teachers are pressured to teach to a test and children to learning rote facts in order to maintain funding. Additionally, the safety of our children in public schools is questionable. I have felt more comfortable over the years sending my kids to schools with a much more controlled environment where trained teachers and administrators have access to arms and use of protection that would not be allowed in public schools. My children are also less likely to be exposed to certain behaviors and attitudes that prevail over the deterioration of our culture and society because there is accountability placed on the kids and parents to properly discipline, train, and teach respect to their children ,as well as a partnership with the schools help and reinforcement in these areas. The proof of a failing public school system is easily recognized in our country. Current solutions have failed due to restraints placed on school divisions that seek to satisfy a broad range of ideals in education. Lack of accountability placed on parents and community has also failed these kids. Divisions spend more time catering to the needs and ideas of a small minority than the greater good of the collective as a whole. They seek to not offend or divide for fear of legal action, and as a result have created an environment that fails to stand on principles that build character and an environment of mutual respect and value for opinions other than ones own. As government schools they have failed to teach properly our own institutions of government with regard to rights and freedoms afforded to us by God our founders vision. Our schools have been reduced to teaching ideals that directly contradict these foundations in favor of teaching foreign concepts that have proven disastrous to world governments and global societies. This is America and our way of life is being eroded by practicing outside the very foundations that our forefathers established to prevent this very thing from happening. Rather than creating harmony and peace in our system, a narrative has been pressed that seeks to divide and exclude all the while claiming to want just the opposite. Our children deserve to be taught about their great country and have pride instilled in them for who they are as a people regardless of race or religion. There is more that unifies us than divides us and the current public school systems have failed to create an environment where this idea is given its rightful place. All this being said, parents who choose to place their kids outside of the public system should be afforded a tax break for their choice to do so.
Right now, parents in Virginia who choose (for whatever reason) to not use public schools for their children's education face an extra financial hardship. HB784 would be a step in the right direction towards reducing the economic inequality which currently exists and has an impact on a parent(s)/guardian(s) decision in terms of which type of school is best for their child. Minnesota and Louisiana already have similar laws enacted and I urge you to vote to pass this bill, so that Virginia will join these other states who are more in favor of school choice. Thank you for your time.
Please do not support this bill. Evidence does not support diverting public funds away from public school and toward public school or homeschooling. My children attend a public school that is already falling apart and busting at the seams. It will get even worse if you allow parents to choose to take money away from it. Where is the good there? Taking away public funding will hurt the public good. If people want private school or homeschooling, they can pay for that choice themselves. Taxes should support the public good, not other choices that would hurt those of us who believed in and need public resources.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Finance Committee, I ask that you gently lay this bill on the table. The schools of Virginia are a success. To throw open the doors to massive privatization of them, which this bill, along with a group of others proposed this term are designed to do, would destabilize the economy, diminish the opportunities of young Virginians, and reduce the quality of life for all Virginians. By syphoning off money for already strapped localities that provide a high quality education for over 90% of our youngest Virginians you will be further straining local jurisdictions from fulfilling their constitutional duties, and disadvantaging those who need support the most. To the Republican members, please reconsider your path. Dismembering the schools of Virginia is not the way to govern well. Thank you.
The bill allows a person to get a tax credit if they choose to send their child to a private school, thereby taking away tax revenue from the state to support non-public education. The essence of the document is some people do not have to pay for a service they do not use while the remainder pay a heavier burden and/or the service is diminished. What about people who have no children or no school age children? Why should they essentially be funding private schools? The public school system needs to be strengthened and supported, not have it's funding decreased. The tax payers should not have their taxes used to support non-public education. Half of my K-12 education, and all of my child's, was non-public. It was a choice made by my family, and we never expected or wanted to be compensated for that decision by the government (tax paying citizens). People should have the right to make that choice, but the government should not subsidize non-public education. Families are not entitled to government aid for sending their children to a private school.
While a home instruction and private school tax credit will benefit some families and students, it will hurt most Virginians. There are not enough private schools to support every student in Virginia. Many families would not be able to afford private school even with a credit. The General Assembly would be creating a program that benefits a few families while there are students in crumbling buildings throughout the Commonwealth. Please veto this legislation and support legislation that will fully fund education in Virginia.
As a parent who strongly believes in public education (and whose two children have attended Loudoun County Public Schools from Kindergarten through their current 8th grade, and will continue through high school), I do not support HB784. HB784 will drain funds from our public schools.
I do not support the diversion of public education money to private schooling. This defunds public schools at a time when if anything, public school funding needs to be increased. I am an educator and a parent and believe investment in the public system is the most equitable way to educate our children. Our systems are trailing behind other countries because of our lack of investment. Further splintering the education system does our country no service except to further allow each group to not communicate with one another, retain different beliefs and values, rather than learn from each other.
This portability of funds will do nothing to improve education. Instead, it further defunds our public schools and does not really help lower the cost of private schools. What we need to do is to invest majorly in public education, to improve school infrastructure, stop overcrowding and attract more qualified teachers by offering them pay that reflects their professional degrees and hours of service.
Virginia provides a free, public option for a high quality K-12 education for all children in the Commonwealth. Some parents choose to homeschool their children or send them to private schools at their own expense instead of availing themselves of the public schools. By offering a tax credit to those parents for some or all of those expenses, the revenues the state has available to fund programs will be reduced. If this bill is to be enacted, it should contain a guarantee that such reductions would not come from the amounts budgeted to fully fund the public K-12 system. Short of that guarantee, this bill will result in a decline in the quality of the public school system. Such a result is unacceptable. Unless this committee can magically find a way to absorb the reduction in revenue created by the tax credit without reducing the funding for the public schools, this bill should be extinguished here in committee and not brought to a vote.
I oppose HB 784. If this bill passes it will divert funds from public schools to private schools. Research shows that investing in our public schools improves student outcomes and that voucher systems do not. Virginia already ranks 41st in the nation per pupil expenditure; I find that unacceptable in a state that ranks 4th in education output. Our educators are going above and beyond despite being perpetually unfunded. Please don't take more from our public school systems. Vouchers have also shown to increase segregation and discrimination. Private schools are not required to set tuition at the voucher value. That leaves the majority of families benefitting from vouchers those who have the means to supplement the vouchers putting families of lower socio-economic at a distinct disadvantage. Private schools participating in voucher programs are generally free to accept or reject students based on perceived at-risk status, academic ability, religion, sexual orientation or gender-identity. This allows private schools to select only the most advantaged students and reject children with the greatest need of support. They are able to use public funds without being held to standards public schools are, and should be, held to. Research is clear that investing in public schools improves student outcomes, graduation and postsecondary enrollment; the research does not point to increased outcomes with voucher systems. Tax-payer dollars would be better invested in research-based initiatives that educators have been advocating for for years. Please invest in our public schools. Do not divert funds from them.
I strongly oppose diverting funds away from public schools. One of the main causes of poorly performing schools in Virginia is the lack of adequate funding and this bill will only worsen this issue. Investing in our public schools is the best way to achieve better educational outcomes for all Virginia students.
Public education is already severely underfunded. This is classist, racist, and not equitable.
Did you know that Virginia ranks 41st out of all states on per student spending on K-12 students? Our schools are severely underfunded. There is a shortage of teachers and substitutes. There is a support cap still in place from when we were in a recession. We are no longer in a recession, so we need to lift that cap, and that will help with our public school funding. Research has shown that voucher programs do not work. They favor higher income white families . They do not lead to improved student outcomes. Those that send their kids to private schools do not need additional funding from public schools. This is like robbing the poor to feed the rich. We need a level playing field. Our public schools need more funding. I should not have to fight for my kids to have a quality education. They should not be in overcrowded classrooms with burnt out teachers that are not paid enough. Their classrooms and buildings should not be falling apart. What should happen is funding the revised Standards of Quality and lifting the support cap which adds to our current support staff shortages.
Please continue to support mask mandates in school. The health of our children and school staff depend on it.
Please do not divert much-needed resources from public schools. Virginia public schools are already underfunded. Diverting more funding will be highly detrimental to an already precarious educational climate. I urge you to vote against this bill.
The idea that this would benefit anyone is laughable. This is another scheme to funnel money into pockets at the expense of actual people. That anyone would think this is a good idea disgusts me. The right to education is for everyone. No child should be given preferential treatment and no child should be ENCOURAGED to attend often bigoted and close-minded homeschooling. If you want a generation of entitled, apathetic, selfish, and downright uneducated children, pass this bill. Otherwise, do the right thing and both vote it down and never entertain an idea this blatantly money-hungry ever again.
As a former teacher and parent of a public school student, I oppose this bill. Parents have a choice to send their children to private schools but they cannot do so at the expense of their neighborhood school. It is up to the parent to fund their own child’s private school education and that is why it is is called private school. Please to do not allow this bill to go any further. Public schools need more funding not less.
No
This bill is not evidence-based. The Brookings Institution reviewed voucher studies from four states and found that students who took advantage of these programs to attend private schools performed worse on tests than similar students who do not attend private schools. Moreover, should this bill pass, it would divert funds from public schools which are already underfunded.
This bill will only widen the gap between the wealthy and poor in VA. I ask that this bill not pass. This bill will help begin the process of stripping away much needed funding for public schools. Especially now, during a global pandemic. Our public schools need funding and our full support.
The Virginia Assembly of Independent Baptists would like to express support for HB784. Parents who use accredited private schools, some of which are private Christian schools in our organization, would greatly benefit with this tax credit program without doing harm to public education funding. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Eddy Aliff Executive Director
My name is Dr. Rachel Levy and I live in Ashland, Virginia, in the 55th House of Delegates District and the 9th State Senate District. I am a mother of three--I have one child in Hanover County Public Schools as well as two who are just graduated in 2021. I am also a teacher who has a PhD in Educational Leadership & Policy from VCU. I was a candidate for the 55th District seat in 2021. I oppose HB784 because I support our public schools, because it's impractical, because it's unconstitutional, because it will only serve to subsidize affluent parents, and because the people in the districts where I live do not want vouchers, directly or via a back door. Studies of the impact of vouchers on student performance show no difference in performance or show that public school students outperform their voucher-program peers. Our public schools in Virginia are already chronically underfunded--Virginia ranks 41st in per-PK-12 student spending out of all states. Voucher studies also show that vouchers tend to favor students from more affluent families and can drive economic and racial segregation. Most low-income families don't receive enough support to make use of school vouchers and so a bill like this will cause much needed public funding for our public schools to be diverted to affluent parents and their chosen private schools. Private schools that participate in voucher programs are generally free to reject or accept students based on perceived at-risk status, academic ability, religion, sexual orientation or gender-identity which allows private schools to discriminate against certain groups of students while raking in public funds. On average, parents of students who switch to private schools with vouchers are not happier or more satisfied. Voucher schemes are especially harmful to rural communities which can ill afford to lose any funding and with whom local public schools are popular and cherished community centers and gathering places. School vouchers will destroy these cherished institutions in our rural communities--institutions which are already struggling from neglect and under-funding. My campaign in the 55th District, which is largely rural, knocked about 9500 doors in the past campaign cycle. The citizens of the 55th District love their public schools and want them to be stronger and fully funded and staffed. They don't want school vouchers. Thank you for your time and consideration and for your service to our Commonwealth.
As the parent of a student in private school, I do not support HB784. Private non-profit schools have the ability to raise money (providing tax breaks) to underwrite the full tuition of disadvantaged students. This is called philanthropy. Public schools rely on taxes for funding. This bill should not be given consideration given that Virginia continues to ignore the need for equitable funding statewide. Bristol Superintendent Keith Perrigan gave an excellent presentation to the House Education Committee on this very matter. I do not support taking money from public education to fund a second school system. We need to fairly and adequately fund public schools first.
Citizens may choose to employ private security services and even guards to protect their private property, but we do not subsidize that choice by diverting funding from our public services. The mission of education should be no different. If we're going to provide a quality education for all of our children, we need to commit our resources to that mission!
Research shows investing in public schools improves student outcomes; vouchers don’t. I’m in favor of investing in public schools. Vote No on HB 784.
The Virginia Assocation of School Superintendents opposes HB784 as a voucher program. These tax credits would reduce the amount of state funds available for public education. Essentially, it would direct funding due the state to private and homeschool education.
I am a parent and an educator. I live in both the public and private worlds of eduction. I have two children who attend our zoned public elementary school, and I work as an educator at a private school. I DO NOT support HB 784! Private schools participating in voucher programs are free to accept or reject students based on perceived at-risk status, academic ability, religion, sexual orientation or gender-identity. They are not obligated to provide IEP, 504 or related services accommodations. No current voucher program in the country protects LGBTQ+ students against discrimination. This allows private schools to select only the most advantaged students and reject children with the greatest need of support. All while pulling much needed funding from these students public school. With students and schools still recovering from the setbacks of the pandemic, we can’t afford to start shifting investments to unproven voucher programs that have poor track records for improving student outcomes. Research is clear that investing in public schools improves student outcomes, graduation and postsecondary enrollment. I suspect you are aware of this and the goal of this bill is not to improve student outcomes at all. Lawmakers should look to invest in research-backed initiatives that our Board of Education and student-advocacy groups in the state have been pointing to for years, like funding the revised Standards of Quality and lifting the support cap which adds to our current support staff shortages. Hire more teachers to ensure smaller class size - this has been shown to increase students and school performance. I implore you to put Virginias funding and focus on programs that benefit ALL students. Let’s not focus funding on an entitled minority, who are already well positioned to ensure a quality education for their children. Sincerely, Betsy Yakim
I vote NO.
Please, no. Public schools should receive more, not less, funding.
No. Do not pass this Bill! This will be dangerous for our children whose parents are unable to speak up for themselves. Said ...parents might be too busy working to voice their opinion in person or may not have a computer/wifi in their home. They may not even be aware of this Bill.
I am an educator with 30 years of experience educating students in the public schools in the Commonwealth and my son spent 13 wonderful years learning in local public schools. My work experience gives me a unique perspective on the issues facing public education. HB784 would destroy public schools. Please kill this bill. As with any other public good, citizens who choose not to “consume” that good are not then entitled to take public funds for their own consumption elsewhere. Imagine if everyone who doesn’t use the public library were to demand vouchers to buy books on Amazon. Ludicrous. But that is the plan here. According to the book “The Privatization of Everything”, author Donald Cohen points out: “The problem at the core of a privatized, market model for education is that it depends on creating winners and losers. The idea is that parents will choose the good schools that will survive and grow and avoid the poor schools until they improve or fail. Of course, parents will try to find the best school for their children. But as a school improvement approach, market-based reforms like charter schools and private school vouchers disrupt families, increase segregation, divide communities, and leave many schools with fewer resources to make improvements and educate students.1” This bill is anti-public good in so many ways. It channels money away from public schools, which have a mission to educate all students, to private schools who may choose which students to educate (back to the “winners and losers” model from above) Ignoring the vast data that vouchers and private schools don’t improve student performance (see Brookings Institute and National Bureau of Economic Research studies), just fiscally, this plan is dead on arrival. With Virginia Schools underfunded, ranking 41st in per student spending, this bill will dramatically exacerbate that. In an era of teacher shortages, how will schools be staffed with LESS funds for teachers? And how does this voucher plan correspond with the Governor’s budget to RAISE teacher pay? The ideas seem mutually exclusive. But the most jarring reason to reject this bill and its ideas is the shameful and historical connection of vouchers to Massive Resistance. Let’s not revisit that disgraceful episode in our past. Instead of offering vouchers, fully fund schools, recruit and retain the best staff, and educators will flock to Virginia for its great pay and great conditions, while businesses and families will follow suit to experience the great educational “product” our public schools offer. Say no to HB784.
This bill takes away funds from our already underfunded public schools. Virginia is ranked 41st in school spending. Voucher programs in other states have shown not to work. The private schools are not held to the same standards. Vouchers would lead to segregation and discrimination as private schools can admit who they want and can cherry pick students. Instead we should increase spending on public schools so teachers and staff can be adequately compensated. Spending should be increased so teachers don't have to spend their own money. By increasing spending on public schools we are investing in our children and our future. reducing spending puts our children at a disadvantage.
I am writing to express opposition to HB784. A quality public education is a right that all should have access to, while private education at home or another setting is an option. Just as we wouldn't defund our police department because some people prefer private security, we shouldn't be doing the same to our schools. Virginia already seriously underfunds its public schools. We do not need to siphon more money away from public education, further crippling the operation of our public schools and jeopardizing the quality of education for all to appease the desires of a few. Doing so would be to the detriment of our poorest students, those for whom a private education would still not be possible, even with a voucher, as they would still not be able to cover the remaining tuition. Finally, this bill smacks of racism and privilege. The last time Virginia experimented with vouchers for private schools was during Massive Resistance, the period following desegregation of public schools during which Virginia shut down all public education and gave out vouchers to privately run, white only schools, to continue segregation of schools. There are economic and social parallels that may be drawn between that time and this; however, discussion of such parallels are also being strongly opposed by the current administration, as I'm sure pointing them out would make many of you feel uncomfortable.
This will be the death of public schools, which are already underfunded.
I am a retired school teacher. It is very important to provide free and public education to all of our children. Our schools need money, materials, and books to provide them with a good education so they can go out in the world and be able to be and deal with others in our society. Children learn better in a public school where there are children from many different backgrounds and experiences. Please give our schools the money that they need.
Evidence Doesn’t Support Expanding Vouchers K-12 vouchers do not improve student outcomes. The Brookings Institution reviewed voucher studies from four states and found that students who took advantage of these programs to attend private schools performed worse on tests than similar students who do not attend private schools. The National Bureau of Economic Research found “a large proportion of the most rigorous studies suggest that being awarded a voucher has an effect that is statistically indistinguishable from zero.” A 2018 University of Virginia study found no benefit for students attending private schools, including for students from low-income families and urban settings. Vouchers divert much-needed resources from public schools. Virginia already severely underfunds its public schools — ranking 41st in per-student spending out of all states for pre-K-12. Diverting more funding to private schools will exacerbate financial challenges for public schools. Research has found that Wisconsin’s K-12 voucher program shortchanged public schools and has created a significant financial threat. Vouchers increase segregation and discrimination, do not impact satisfaction or safety. Virginia experimented with vouchers during Massive Resistance in an effort to reject school integration efforts. Voucher programs in Indiana have tended to favor higher-income white families, and in Louisiana have led to white families leaving more diverse schools. Private schools participating in voucher programs are generally free to accept or reject students based on perceived at-risk status, academic ability, religion, sexual orientation or gender-identity. As of a 2016 review, no voucher program in the country protects LGBTQ+ students against discrimination. This allows private schools to select only the most advantaged students and reject children with the greatest need of support. Participating private schools are not required to set tuition at the voucher value. A previous ESA voucher bill in Virginia would have provided payment of about $4,500, while average private school tuition costs in Virginia are over $11,500 for elementary schools and closer to $17,000 for middle and high schools. When you factor in additional costs of transportation and uniforms, this effectively excludes the lowest income families from being able to participate. On average, parents of students who switch to private schools with vouchers do not see a change in satisfaction or sense of school safety. What Works to Improve Student Outcomes With students and schools still recovering from the setbacks of the pandemic, we can’t afford to start shifting investments to unproven voucher programs that have poor track records for improving student outcomes. Research is clear that investing in public schools improves student outcomes, graduation and postsecondary enrollment. Lawmakers should look to invest in research-backed initiatives that our Board of Education and student-advocacy groups in the state have been pointing to for years, like funding the revised Standards of Quality and lifting the support cap which adds to our current support staff shortages.
I ask you legislators to oppose Bill 784. It will divert funds from public schools, some of which (in low income localities) are already underfunded and physically decaying. A society in which half the children are poorly educated will not work, economically or socially. Thank you for your consideration. Phoebe Antrim
I am writing to say the I vehemently oppose any sort of school voucher program. My two children attend Powhatan County Middle School. We are a white middle class family and any sort of voucher program would be discriminatory against us! My children’s education would suffer because you are taking money away from public schools! We cannot afford private school tuition even with the tax credit! We would be unable to transport our children to school each day even if we could! Since both my husband and I are working, homeschooling isn’t an option either. I would also like to point out that my daughter has an IEP. If we left the public schools, she would no longer receive services and very few private schools offer services for children with special needs. A school voucher program absolutely only benefits the wealthiest among us. DO NOT FUND SCHOOL VOUCHERS!!
I am writing to voice my opposition to HB784. The last thing that we need to do in this moment is to divert public money away from public education. Educators and support staff are leaving in droves, class sizes are at their maximum or beyond, are children are struggling academically and mentally. It is completely wrong-headed to take public funds away from public schools in such difficult circumstances. A quality, free public education is a cornerstone of our democracy. Historically, Virginia was slow to adopt the free public education model and it would be unwise to replicate that short-sightedness in the present day. Public education is rightly supported by all in the community irrespective of parental status precisely because it benefits the entire community. I urge the committee to reject HB784, an entirely misguided piece of legislation.
I was a public school teacher for 35 years, and an administrator in a private school for four years. VA presently ranks near the bottom of all states in spending per student. Public education in VA needs MORE money, not less. ANY school receiving public money should be subject to the same transparency, accountability, admission and expulsion standards. Public funds should not be diverted to private schools at the expense of the public education system. I strongly urge members of this committee to vote AGAINST HB784. Frank Callahan Henrico County Frank.p.callahan@gmail.com1
In no way do I support diverting funds for public education for use in private or homeschool settings. Public schools were established for the betterment and literacy of our citizenry. Public Funds diverted are not accessible to the public but to only a small select portion. That is not the intended use of public education funds.
No funding should be diverted from Public school. In fact funding should be increased so that we do not loose our dedicated teachers and education providers. We are county residents due to high quality of public schools. With students and schools still recovering from the setbacks of the pandemic, we can’t afford to start shifting investments to unproven voucher programs that have poor track records for improving student outcomes. Research is clear that investing in public schools improves student outcomes, graduation and postsecondary enrollment. Lawmakers should look to invest in research-backed initiatives that our Board of Education and student-advocacy groups in the state have been pointing to for years, like funding the revised Standards of Quality and lifting the support cap which adds to our current support staff shortages.
This bill harm children whose families cannot afford private education and will only help the rich stay richer. Please vote NO.
Virginia, if you are going to redirect funding away from public schools, please also answer how the needs of the most at risk students will be met by this decision. These students would not be accepted into another school and their parents may not seek alternate placement. You are left with a situation where the most vulnerable are left sitting in underfunded public schools that still do not have the resources to meet their needs. If your goal is to fully fund public and charter schools, go for it. Please do not punish children by leaving them behind because their parents cannot provide them with an appropriate home environment. Virginia should be fighting for every single student, including the ones that we do not have answers for right now.
Plz do not divert money from Public Schools in Va to private/religious schools. Studies have shown this re-segregates schools and harms public education by taking away needed resources. Also, tax payers should not be funding religious schools as this goes against separation of church and state.
The goal of public education is the ensure that the next generation is not only prepared to be productive, responsible adults that contribute to the community and successfully compete in a global society, but also to give the same opportunities to every child, regardless of socio-economic standing or family trauma. Diverting funds from the public schools to give money to those who feel their child is entitled to “better” through private or homeschool will only lead to already underfunded public schools becoming less able to provide adequately for those who stay. It will ensure the divide between children raised by affluent, over-invested helicopter parents and this kids whose parents aren’t able or willing to do the same. This will be a hardship felt for decades and will only make America less and less competitive in the global world.
My taxes should be goingbto public schools. This bill needs to be defeated. You are going against the majority of Virginia voters. Citizens had the wool pulled over their eyes with CRT now this. Say y no to divert any monies. How about using the monies you have to make them the best in the nation ? Shameful what some are attempting to do to education I. Virginia. Most states have charter schools because the ones that are public are not any good. You cant say that about Virginia public schools M my son graduated from clover hill hs and is now a chemical engineer who works for dept of defense. What got him here was determination and CD amazing teachers! Get to work and support teachers and stop this CHARADE
As a veteran math teacher of 35 years, a resident of Chesterfield, VA and a parent of 2 graduates of the Virginia public school system I ask you to not pass HB784. Public school funds should not be diverted to private schools or homeschooling. Virginia public schools are already underfunded and cannot afford to lose any of its current funding. We are in time where we have much work to do to help our students and make our system successful. Private schools do not have to live up to the same testing standards as public schools. Private schools do not have to accept all students. They can pick and choose who they accept. They do not have to include special education students. Our funds should not be shared unless the other entities must follow the same guidelines and acceptance of students.
I am firmly opposed to any bill that seeks to take away money from our public education system, especially when the benefactors of such credits will disproportionately be individuals and families who have the means to pay their own way. A family has the individual choice to educate their children how they see fit. VA tax payers are not reasonable for funding private resources. We have a top tier public education system in VA, that we should focus on continuing to approve it. Whatever real or perceived issues with public education in VA are, the answer cannot be to defund the system. If the purpose of this bill is to improve educational outcomes, this bill will not accomplish that. This bill simply serves as a handout to the wealthy at the expense of our public education system. Please focus your efforts on making VA the number one state in the country for public education.
In the early 60s, my grandfather was one of a few men who helped found a private school in Virginia. It’s goal: for white students to attend a school that could remain legally segregated, as my grandfather did not want my mother nor my aunts attending a school with Black children. This bill, though not explicit in its phrasing, would act similarly. “Parent choice” is a misnomer. To divert money so that parents can send their children to private school is simply a way to achieve legal segregation due to how our system has historically (and currently) disadvantaged minority children into a lower socioeconomic bracket. Any who vote for this bill are either complicit in these intentions or so willfully ignore of history that they should not represent the people of Virginia. The public school system is at a tipping point. To vote for something that would divert funds from a system that is underfunded by millions is civically irresponsible and threatens the very foundations of what our founding fathers attempted to build. Public schools were meant to create responsible citizens who are able to actively take part in the democratic process. If parents remove their students from this system in order to attend schools where the curriculum matches their current belief system and does not allow for exploration or consideration of other viewpoints, then we have failed our founding fathers. We have failed in what so many politicians like to call “the American experiment.” I am a high school English teacher; I teach Dual Enrollment English at my high school. For those unfamiliar, that means I teach course material for the local community college. My students utilize scientific studies and peer reviewed papers to create arguments. My goal, and my job, is to help students explore issues and potential solutions using scholarly sources to support their argument. This is college material. In many such cases, “parent choice” would get rid of such research and sources if they conflict with their pre existing beliefs. What would this do to our community college system? What would this do to our public college system? To eliminate the potential for students to explore topics by moving them to schools where parents can opt for them to ignore science or history means that these students would either fail in college or simply choose not to go out of fear of being contradicted. Academia is not an inherently liberal institution. It is one that encourages and teaches critical thinking. We should fear the intentions of any who wish to rid the educational system of critical thinking as that is the true enemy of democracy — the desire to strip citizens of the ability to think for themselves. I beseech you to vote against this bill, among any others which would continue the dismantling of public education in Virginia.
As a parent with one child in the public school system and one child in a private school, I strongly oppose diverting any funds away from public schools. Unlike private schools, public schools cannot choose the children it serves. Most private schools do not accept children with special needs, nor do they accept children who have had difficult backgrounds and require more services, not fewer. The public schools are already strapped. Funding private schools sounds like a government hand out to me, and if people want to attend them, they should figure out how to pay for it without government assistance. This is welfare for the rich and upper middle class.
Politicians complain about the quality of public schools, which by the way are excellent in Virginia, then divert money away from it instead of fully funding it. Public education is one of the greatest gifts of this country, trying to dismantle it does not bode well for our collective future.
Please oppose HB784 to establish a tax credit for home schooling and private school instruction. The job of the state is to fund a quality educational system for its citizens. While citizens may certainly pursue private educational experiences, it is not the mandate of the state to ultimately remove funds from public education for the purpose of supporting these options. Citizens may also choose to employ private security services and even guards to protect their private property, but we do not subsidize that choice by diverting funding from our public services. The mission of education should be no different. If we're going to provide a quality education for all of our children, we need to commit our resources to that mission!
Hello! Evidence Doesn’t Support Expanding Vouchers K-12 vouchers do not improve student outcomes. -The Brookings Institution reviewed voucher studies from four states and found that students who took advantage of these programs to attend private schools performed worse on tests than similar students who do not attend private schools. -The National Bureau of Economic Research found “a large proportion of the most rigorous studies suggest that being awarded a voucher has an effect that is statistically indistinguishable from zero.” -A 2018 University of Virginia study found no benefit for students attending private schools, including for students from low-income families and urban settings. Vouchers divert much-needed resources from public schools. Virginia already severely underfunds its public schools — ranking 41st in per-student spending out of all states for pre-K-12. Diverting more funding to private schools will exacerbate financial challenges for public schools. Research has found that Wisconsin’s K-12 voucher program shortchanged public schools and has created a significant financial threat. Vouchers increase segregation and discrimination, do not impact satisfaction or safety. Virginia experimented with vouchers during Massive Resistance in an effort to reject school integration efforts. Voucher programs in Indiana have tended to favor higher-income white families, and in Louisiana have led to white families leaving more diverse schools. Private schools participating in voucher programs are generally free to accept or reject students based on perceived at-risk status, academic ability, religion, sexual orientation or gender-identity. As of a 2016 review, no voucher program in the country protects LGBTQ+ students against discrimination. This allows private schools to select only the most advantaged students and reject children with the greatest need of support. Participating private schools are not required to set tuition at the voucher value. A previous ESA voucher bill in Virginia would have provided payment of about $4,500, while average private school tuition costs in Virginia are over $11,500 for elementary schools and closer to $17,000 for middle and high schools. When you factor in additional costs of transportation and uniforms, this effectively excludes the lowest income families from being able to participate. On average, parents of students who switch to private schools with vouchers do not see a change in satisfaction or sense of school safety. What Works to Improve Student Outcomes With students and schools still recovering from the setbacks of the pandemic, we can’t afford to start shifting investments to unproven voucher programs that have poor track records for improving student outcomes. Research is clear that investing in public schools improves student outcomes, graduation and postsecondary enrollment. Lawmakers should look to invest in research-backed initiatives that our Board of Education and student-advocacy groups in the state have been pointing to for years, like funding the revised Standards of Quality and lifting the support cap which adds to our current support staff shortages. Thanks for taking the time to read this. Please vote NO! On HB784! Source: Fund Public Schools
Wasting no time in commencing their attack on public school funding in the commonwealth, the sponsors of this bill enable the transfer of taxpayer money spent to educate students in public schools at all levels, to enrich the owners of private schools, like those owned by Betsy DeVos, which made her a millionaire. As a taxpayer, I have zero interest in my tax dollars enriching millionaires. These schools have been shown to skim off only mainstream students, forcing all applicants with special needs or learning disabilities to receive their education from a shrinking pot of state funds. Evidence of this can be found in comments from parents whose applications were rejected, because their child was thought to be unfit to enter these paragons of matriculation. They also take the kids of wealthier parents who can afford the tuition. This measure begins the impoverishment of public schools in the commonwealth, as candidate Youngkin pledged. It also commences a new era of Massive Resistance in Virginia. Get my kids away from anyone who thinks differently, or looks differently. That would include the children of the diverse men and women serving in our armed forces, whom we glorify in campaign photo ops only, but stop short of supporting where the rubber hits the road. If money for public schools is raided, the only way to keep the schools functioning for the non-rich kids is to increase the property taxes of senior citizens, farmers, small business owners - all of whom you would willingly sacrifice to dogma and Trumpism. Your wealth transfer, your opportunity end run is not welcome and WE CAN FIGURE IT OUT. It's the latest dumb idea from Delegate LaRock, whose reputation in his district is a crazy man. This is poor policy, bad fiscal management, possibly illegal transfer of state funds to religious groups - all a cover for poorly disguised racism. Black Lives Matter frightened you so much you have to run back to the 1950's. Fully half the state is laughing at you trying to prevent your kids from learning that Virginia history included stealing Native American land and enslaving black people for 250 years. I only hope you have them as well protected against venereal disease or you might have clap on your toilet seat at home. You are so transparent.
Please oppose this effort to channel desperately needed funding away from public schools. Public school funding significantly benefits so many students in our communities during this already difficult time. There is no evidence that vouchers improve outcomes for students, and we don’t need to strain our already limited funding to public schools. Thank you very much for your time. Sincerely, Kate DeBord-Peter
As a public high school math teacher for 27 years, I say, "Check your math" on HB 784. This bill will divert badly needed funding for public schools to private education in the form of vouchers. It has been shown time and time again that vouchers tend to benefit only white students. Private schools can freely discriminate and do not have to accept all students - leaving the disadvantaged in underfunded public schools. On average, parents of students who switch to private schools with vouchers do not see a change in satisfaction or sense of school safety. As we recover from the setbacks of the pandemic, we should consider fully funding public education, not defunding it. I strongly urge you to vote NO on this bill. The math is not right for all Virginia students.
Please do not divert funding from public schools. I don’t know what would possess anyone to think it is a good idea to take funding away from public education. Why, why take funding away from the most marginalized group of citizens? How appalling.
Good morning, I am very troubled by this bill that will divert funds from the public schools. It is based on the assumption that our schools are failing and that somehow charter schools will do a better job. The 2018 UVA study found no significant benefit for students attending charter schools. K-12 vouchers do not improve student outcomes which is the primary reason behind this bill. Virginia ranks 41st in the nation in per student spending and this bill will challenge the resources that schools presently utilize. At a time when schools are struggling with this pandemic and keeping in person learning in place....this bill does nothing to solve any problems only create others.
Enough money is already diverted from public schools. Teachers are working with outdated materials, little or no text books, students with no resources who come to school empty handed, and expected to “fill the achievement gaps”. Taking money from these schools will make America worse, because people are going to take education into their own hands. Teachers already get paid bare minimum, barely making ends meet. This is the most outrageous thing I have ever heard.
I, as a Virginian and constituent and concerned voter, believe this bill should NOT pass out of committee, and should NOT be under consideration, as I think it has NO merit. The following are my arguments against taking funding from public K through 12 schools: • Virginia public school system educates approximately 90% of school-age children. • Virginia ranks 41st out of 50 in per-student spending, displaying an already under-funded public school system • We are currently in “recovery-mode” from the pandemic, with enormous hurdles to face in keeping students, teachers, staff and parents safe from health hazards, hospitalizations and potentially death, as well as long-haul symptoms of this coronavirus of which we are now entering the 3rd year. This recovery-mode will require more funding for public schools, not least of which is lifting the support cap to add staff in the face of a staffing shortage. Most certainly this would be a horrible time to divert funds away. • Especially if the point of this bill is to fund voucher programs and private schools, which The Brookings Institution, The National Bureau of Economic Research and a 2018 UVA study have shown that voucher programs for private schools attendance have: - resulted in poorer testing outcomes, - no known or apparent benefits to education of a child, - increases discriminatory practices against at-risk, minority, gender-diverse, sexual orientation-diverse, low-income, religion-diverse, needy and academically-challenged children. - not been shown to increase satisfaction in education, nor school safety. Voucher programs have repeatedly come up with poor track records for improving student outcomes. And research continues to show that investing in public schooling is what has improved students’ educations, increased graduation and continued post-education enrollment. The current research-backed initiatives that our Board of Education and student-advocacy groups have been working to advance are the programs that need legislation for support and enactment.
I strongly oppose this bill or any action to divert money from public K-12 schools. K-12 vouchers do not improve student outcomes. The Brookings Institution reviewed voucher studies from four states and found that students who took advantage of these programs to attend private schools performed worse on tests than similar students who do not attend private schools. The National Bureau of Economic Research found “a large proportion of the most rigorous studies suggest that being awarded a voucher has an effect that is statistically indistinguishable from zero.” A 2018 University of Virginia study found no benefit for students attending private schools, including for students from low-income families and urban settings. Vouchers divert much-needed resources from public schools. Virginia already severely underfunds its public schools — ranking 41st in per-student spending out of all states for pre-K-12. Diverting more funding to private schools will exacerbate financial challenges for public schools. Research has found that Wisconsin’s K-12 voucher program shortchanged public schools and has created a significant financial threat. Vouchers increase segregation and discrimination, do not impact satisfaction or safety. Virginia experimented with vouchers during Massive Resistance in an effort to reject school integration efforts. Voucher programs in Indiana have tended to favor higher-income white families, and in Louisiana have led to white families leaving more diverse schools. Private schools participating in voucher programs are generally free to accept or reject students based on perceived at-risk status, academic ability, religion, sexual orientation or gender-identity. As of a 2016 review, no voucher program in the country protects LGBTQ+ students against discrimination. This allows private schools to select only the most advantaged students and reject children with the greatest need of support. Participating private schools are not required to set tuition at the voucher value. A previous ESA voucher bill in Virginia would have provided payment of about $4,500, while average private school tuition costs in Virginia are over $11,500 for elementary schools and closer to $17,000 for middle and high schools. When you factor in additional costs of transportation and uniforms, this effectively excludes the lowest income families from being able to participate. On average, parents of students who switch to private schools with vouchers do not see a change in satisfaction or sense of school safety. What Works to Improve Student Outcomes With students and schools still recovering from the setbacks of the pandemic, we can’t afford to start shifting investments to unproven voucher programs that have poor track records for improving student outcomes. Research is clear that investing in public schools improves student outcomes, graduation and postsecondary enrollment. Lawmakers should look to invest in research-backed initiatives that our Board of Education and student-advocacy groups in the state have been pointing to for years, like funding the revised Standards of Quality and lifting the support cap which adds to our current support staff shortages.
As a parent of a private school student, it was never our intention to have our local schools lose funding due to our choice which was based on what we considered to be the best choice for our child. While the money would be wonderful, I don’t want our choices to negatively impact other children in our community. Thank you for your consideration.
I am 100% for the passing of this bill. I have children in private school due to the inconsistency of the public school system with the pandemic. This bill would greatly help version of private school cost.
To Whom It May Concern, I am a proud public school supporter, believing that our schools are working hard for my child and for all our children. HR 784 is a bad bill. If it passes, the state will divert money from public K-12 schools to families who send their children to private school or opt to home school, essentially operating as a school voucher program. Research is clear that investing in public schools improves student outcomes, graduation and postsecondary enrollment, while vouchers do not. I am committed to opposing measures that would take essential funds away from our public K-12 schools, including this bill. Sincerely, Rebekah Menning Mom of a 6th grader Charlottesville, VA
I am the parent of two children in public school, middle school and high school. I am extremely concerned about HB784 which proposes to divert funds away from public schools rather than towards public schools. It is the state government's fundamental responsibility to provide excellent education to ALL students. Our public schools need resources to ensure that they are able to provide safe, functional classroom buildings, learning materials, and pay teachers a decent salary. Virginia already severely underfunds its public schools — ranking 41st in per-student spending out of all states for pre-K-12. Diverting more funding to private schools will exacerbate financial challenges for public schools. In addition, research has not shown that voucher programs create better outcomes for students. Research in multiple states (Brookings Institute) has shown students in voucher programs performed worse than their public school peers. The National Bureau of Economic Research has found that “a large proportion of the most rigorous studies suggest that being awarded a voucher has an effect that is statistically indistinguishable from zero.” On the other hand, research is clear that investing in public schools improves student outcomes, graduation and postsecondary enrollment. Furthermore, vouchers do no cover the cost of private tuition and expenses, which makes this opportunity inaccessible to a large percent of school children, in particular low income students of all races. I urge our state legislators - as public servants who represent and have the imperative to enhance opportunities for ALL of us and most importantly our children - to do the right thing and reject HB784. Sincerely, Emily Koester
I fully support this bill. This year we enrolled my 3rd grader and 5th grader in a private school due to school closures beginning in March 2020 and the resulting learning loss. We are making a huge financial sacrifice to pay for private school. However, our kids our thriving. Everyone should have the choice to receive financial assistance if they choose to home school or send their children to private school. Kind regards, Lauren Vnuk Fauquier County, Virginia
I think this idea will hold counties and officials accountable for the education they are providing for our children. If we have learned anything over the pandemic it is that private schools adapted quicker and have provided better services and environments for our kids. The dollars should follow the child.
I DO NOT support HB 784! Directing funds away from public schools is a travesty our educational system.
This bill is essentially an attempt to legally re-segregate schools. Brown vs The Board of Education of Topeka already determine that separate but equal is unconstitutional. There is also no evidence that school choice produces higher test results. This is an attempt to defund our public school system because white supremacists don’t want their kids to learn non-white washed history. They know that when children learn the truth that they will want to dismantle the systemic racism that still exists today and that will take away their power. Please vote against this racist and pointless bill. Parents are free to send their kids to private school but that shouldn’t include taking much needed funding with them and away from public education.
As a Virginin, educated in Virginian Schools, we were taught the importance of the Constitution of the Commonwealth with regard to our Nation's Constitution. These documents are articles that are supposed to guide our self governance. Article VIII, Section 10 Public dollars are not to go to schools NOT owned by the Commonwealth or a Municipality inside the Commonwealth's jurisdiction, except for when the Commonwealth has entered into an agreement with another jurisdiction. The Commonwealth should also not engage in the endorsement of private education cartels, weakening the publicly available options. This would do a disservice to the people, because the people's representatives have less oversight with regard to private institutions, than they have through electing their local boards.
Public school funds are for public schools. Taxpayers should never pay for private schools. I believe in a quality public school education like I had, and everyone in my family had. My niece and nephew are in public schools. Public schools are where the diversity and accountability can be maintained for the benefit of all. Teachers need more resources and more pay in public schools, not less. There is ZERO statistical significance that voucher programs improve overall student success, and some programs have even shown to have a NEGATIVE effect for students receiving a voucher. Furthermore, vouchers have been shown to not support students with disabilities, they fail to protect the human and civil rights of students, and they exacerbate segregation. The pattern of discrimination continues with vouchers today. Unlike public schools, private schools can (and some do) limit their admission based on race, gender, sexual orientation, ability, and any other number of factors. Vouchers rarely cover the full tuition, so families who were promised a better education are left footing the bill. Say NO to this bill!
As a parent of two children -- one homeschooled and one enrolled in public school -- I do not support HB784, even though it might be personally financially beneficial to me to do so. While I believe all children have different learning needs and different educational pathways are vital, I believe that public schools are the bedrock of our society. We need to be providing more funding to public education rather than diverting it to unproven programs at the risk of creating a for-profit educational infrastructure that is not equally accessible to all. Public schools are traditionally underfunded, which leads to our educators' salaries remaining lower than others with comparable educational backgrounds. The low salaries in education often deter talented people from joining the profession. It's widely known that there is a significant teacher shortage, which could be mitigated with directing funding to reward our educators fairly for their talent and devotion to their craft. Voucher funding has traditionally benefitted those who already have financial means and widened the educational gap between higher-income and lower-income students. More wealthy parents can use vouchers to cover portions of the cost of an expensive private education, which a lower-income family could never afford, even with the vouchers. What's more, private schools can set their own admissions criteria and exclude protected classes of students, such as LGBTQ+ youth, individuals with disabilities, and those from varied races, ethnicities, and religions. Vouchers in Virginia could likely lead to a situation where higher-income families exit public education at a greater rate, leaving public schools with even less funding and fewer resources. As private schools gain more funds, the educational gap between the wealthy and the less privileged will continue to widen. This will create a society where people who attended public school are at a significant disadvantage in attaining access to higher education and certain career pathways that can help build intergenerational wealth. In summary, I believe any legislation that removes funding from the already-underfunded education system is leading Virginia down the wrong road. Virginia is ranked #4 in the nation in education and in math education and has some of the best public universities in the country. I am proud of the excellent public education I received in Virginia schools and want future generations of children to have the same opportunities.
Please do not forward this proposed legislation to the House. We should not be diverting funds from our wonderful public schools to for profit private schools. If parents choose a private route for their child’s education, they can pay for it. When our daughter needed smaller class sizes to be successful her last two years in high school, we covered the costs ourselves. Do not drain resources from our fabulous public schools to make private school owners even richer!
I am writing to oppose this bill which diverts money away from public education. I am a product of public education in the state of CA now teaching at JMU. I am a first generation college student who was able to get a phd thanks to affordable public education. I am firmly against anything that diverts funds from public education. Research is clear that investing in public schools improves student outcomes, graduation and postsecondary enrollment, while vouchers do not.If this bill passes, the state will divert money from public K-12 schools to families who send their children to private school or opt to home school, essentially operating as a school voucher program. I am opposed to this bill. Thank you Kristen McCleary
Private schools and charter schools should not get public funds for regular operational costs. Worse, it does not seem fair to take monies away from public schools, especially when they are most in need of it. If private organizations and parents want a greater say in education then please work within the current system to improve it rather than subverting it.
Children in public school have a hard enough time without bureaucrats and politicians gutting funding. If you can afford a private school or choose to homeschool, why should other parents have to subsidize you?
I find it very interest/disappointing that because parents insisted on in-school instruction five days a week, Virginia decided to risk the health of staff and students to comply with their wishes. Now there is a bill to divert money away from public schools to provide for home-schooling and/or private schooling? This simply makes no sense. Anyone who looks at this bill from a logical, unbiased stance can see how unfair it is to public school staff, and the economically challenged students. This bill is just one of many that is driving highly qualified teachers out of the public school arena. I personally have a Master's in English. Since this allows me to meet the criteria for teaching at the college level, I have been looking to move on. Passage of this bill will only make me more determined.
It is not fair to take away funding of public schools so support private schools. It was a choice of the family to send to private schools. Public education is free, if you can’t afford private than you should not attend. People need to support the public schools and teachers for all their hard work and dedication to their children. A lot of teachers spend their own monies to have supplies in school to education our children .
This bill undermines the public education system by encouraging those with the means to do so to flee public schools (which has been exacerbated by covid) and provides government support to do so. Public education should be a quality and equitable education, fully funded by the state and federal government and this bill clearly will divert monies from that mission. We should instead be investing in our students and teachers to create innovative and effective public schools.
I strongly oppose HB 781 for several reasons: 1) Virginia already severely underfunds its public schools. Our state ranks 41st in per-student spending out of all states for pre-K-12 public education. 2) Virginia's response to the1954 Brown vs Board of Education Supreme Court decision that state laws establishing separate public schools for students of different races was unconstitutional was to pass legislation creating "tuition grants" that allowed white students to attend Segregation Academies. This was 100% racially motivated and an attempt to continue educational segregation. 3) Diverting more funding to private schools or home school instruction will exacerbate financial challenges for public schools. Private schools can choose which students to accept, and very few working families can afford (or are able) to home school their child. Students with disabilities, students from low income families, and students of color will be disproportionately harmed by this bill. 4) Income tax credits, education tax credits, tuition grants, parent education tax credits, vouchers, and waivers are all words/terms that end up doing the same thing--siphoning funds from public education.
Public education is a cornerstone of a developed society. It is certainly a parent’s choice to send their child outside of the public system, but that should not be supported via funds that should be directed towards a free education for all children. Why funnel funds to private schools when public ones are already so under funded? As a teacher, I spend my own money on much-needed teaching materials each year. I am a current Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) teacher for students with moderate to severe disabilities. They have a right to a free and appropriate public education and often do not have the option to attend private schools as these schools often do not have the support necessary for students with complex needs. As more funds and more students leave public education it will affect the richness of experiences for all children. Please do not let this happen. Our schools, students, and teachers have suffered enough through the pandemic. Don’t let this be the first act that begins the death of public education. Our children deserve better.
Schools in our state have had decline of funding for years. The school districts are making miracles with the funds they are receiving right now. Funneling public school allocated funds to private businesses, aka private schools and charter schools, is not a way to fix the inequities in our schools. I urge you to vote no on this bill that takes away much needed funds for our schools to put in the hands of private businesses.
Money should be funneled into public schools to provide even greater equity opportunities for students. Public schools are the best places to learn. By taking money away from public schools, you’re taking the ability to access a quality education to many students! Charters are a for profit scam and public money should not go to private schools. Parents have always had the choice to send their children to private schools. There is no differentiation or best practices at these schools. And if a student needs a private school based on an IEP, the public schools still have to pay anyway. So student needs are already being provided for in public schools. Education is not about exercising parent rights. The priority is to enrich the lives of students. This cannot happen if charter scams are allowed in VA. All research points to students underperforming at these schools and many of these schools close in under 10 years because they’re not effective. Waste of time and money.
I oppose stealing money from public schools to fund private schools or homeschooling. Public funds should pay only for public schools that are open to all children and accountable to the people.
As a public school teacher who is currently homeschooling her own child, I feel uniquely qualified to comment. The only reason my child is not at public school right now is because of the enormous stress our public school system is under. I know from being a teacher for over 10 years that schools get the minimum of staffing and funding. I know that staff and kids are currently suffering due to lack of funding and infrastructure in public schools. Covid has nearly broken the system that was already under tremendous strain. Defunding schools may be the straw that breaks the entire system. It’s time to invest in making schools a better place to learn and work. This bill is the worst idea.
I strongly oppose my tax dollars being used to fund private schools or vouchers for home schooling. The public's money has been taxed with the express purpose of supporting public schools. Parents who opt out of public schools should expect to do so at their own expense. Lawmakers would be truly serving the children of this Commonwealth if they voted to make more effective use of funding in the service of public schools, rather than take away those much needed dollars during an already stressful time for students, teachers, staff, and parents. During the pandemic, it has been public schools who have made heroic efforts to provide education, meals, internet access, and activities to our children in a safe manner. Not private schools or homeschool groups. Those efforts by public schools merit a better response than grandstanding politicians trying to take money away from those vital centers of public learning and resources.
The last thing that VA needs is this bill. Taking money away from public schools when they are already underfunded during a Pandemic year with 7 percent inflation is an illustration of how little you care about the children you serve!
30 years ago while a college student I wrote my junior thesis about school choice. The evidence was not good back then to justify draining public school resources for questionable gains for a few students. The evidence since then is even more convincing that student achievements are not improved when they are using vouchers while students remaining in public schools have to manage with fewer resources. Please trust the evidence and don't waste precious resources on something that does not work.
Virginia’s public schools are already severely underfunded. Diverting funds away from our public schools will only continue to weaken our schools.
Public education is a cornerstone of a developed society. It is certainly a parents choice to send their child outside of the public system, but that should not be supported via funds that should be directed towards a free education for all children. Why funnel funds to private schools when public ones are already so under funded? Teachers often spend thousands of dollars on their own classrooms and, if they’re lucky, receive hundreds in support from the PTA or individual parents as well. As a current public school teacher who has worked both in private and public school, it is incumbent upon me to point out that public educators are often held to a much higher standard than private educators as private schools hold their own standards for what constitutes a good teacher. This changes from school to school and often parents do not understand that a private education is not always better. I am also a special education teacher of students with moderate to severe disabilities. They have a right to a free and appropriate public education and often do not have the option to attend private schools as these schools often do not have the support necessary for students with complex needs. As more funds and more students leave public education it will affect the richness of experiences for all children. Please do not let this happen. Our schools, students, and teachers have suffered enough through the pandemic. Don’t let this be the first act that begins the death of public education. Our children deserve better.
Extremely disappointed in this bill. Our public schools need MORE funding to aid teachers, students, and staff. I don’t support anything that removes funding from our public schools and endangers our children’s education.
Diverting funds from schools in the middle of one of the biggest crisis that has ever struck public education is simply being done to dismantle public education. Increasing funding to public schools is the only thing that consistently improves student outcomes. Any other movement is anti student, parent, and teacher plain and simple.
I am writing to protest the movement of funds from public schools for ANY reason. Our children have a right to attend quality public schools and many schools in the Commonwealth are already under-resourced. Regardless of the intent, no money should be moved out of the public school's budgets. If we want to fund private schools, find another way to do it.
Evidence Doesn’t Support Expanding Vouchers K-12 vouchers do not improve student outcomes. The Brookings Institution reviewed voucher studies from four states and found that students who took advantage of these programs to attend private schools performed worse on tests than similar students who do not attend private schools. The National Bureau of Economic Research found “a large proportion of the most rigorous studies suggest that being awarded a voucher has an effect that is statistically indistinguishable from zero.” A 2018 University of Virginia study found no benefit for students attending private schools, including for students from low-income families and urban settings. Vouchers divert much-needed resources from public schools. Virginia already severely underfunds its public schools — ranking 41st in per-student spending out of all states for pre-K-12. Diverting more funding to private schools will exacerbate financial challenges for public schools. Research has found that Wisconsin’s K-12 voucher program shortchanged public schools and has created a significant financial threat.
I am opposed to HB784. Diverting public funding from public schools is harmful to our society and endangers the education of our most vulnerable students. Virginia is already subpar at funding its public schools — ranking 41st in per-student spending out of all states for pre-K-12. Diverting more funding to private schools will exacerbate financial challenges for public schools. Private schools participating in voucher programs are generally free to accept or reject students based on perceived at-risk status, academic ability, religion, sexual orientation or gender-identity. This allows private schools to select only the most advantaged students and reject children with the greatest need of support. As the atheist parent of a child with Down syndrome, my daughter is at risk of having no school to accept her other than the burned out shell of public education that lacks the necessary funding to provide her with a free and APPROPRIATE education where she is able to be integrated with her non-disabled peers. Participating private schools are not required to set tuition at the voucher value. A previous ESA voucher bill in Virginia would have provided payment of about $4,500, while average private school tuition costs in Virginia are over $11,500 for elementary schools and closer to $17,000 for middle and high schools. When you factor in additional costs of transportation and uniforms, this effectively excludes the lowest income families from being able to participate. We will not return to the days of segregation!
Investing in public schools improves student outcomes, graduation and postsecondary enrollment. Vouchers take money away from needy schools. Poor schools become poorer with vouchers and their students do worse. Graduates from well-funded public schools are great benefits to the community. Public schools benefit the public. Vouchers cost taxpayers more money and force them to fund two school systems. Private schools have no accountability to the community, to parents, or to the government. Private schools can deny an education to anyone they like for any reason. Investing money in public education improves student performance, not private schools.
Public schools offer so much to so many and it is beyond my comprehension how our government can take monies and supplement private schools that all cannot afford. It is beyond my comprehension why we would direct funds away from our public schools and the masses they serve.
Vote NO. We have robust public school system in Virginia which guarantees education to all. Private schools select their students thereby not giving an equal shot to all. Vouchers do not improve student outcomes. They also will not cover the entire cost of private education rendering them unavailable to those most in need. They are a solution looking for a problem.
Dear Members of the House Finance Subcommittee: My name is Joseph Capuano, and I am a public school teacher in Virginia. I teach at a school where 75% of our students receive free-and-reduced school lunch and many children require food assistance programs because their parents and/or guardians do not have the financial means to pay for basic necessities. This is just one of the reasons why the public school system is so essential for our communities. Public schools provide a safe place for all students, and if we subvert money away from public schools and into other areas - essentially creating a voucher system - the students that will be the most hurt by this are those like our students at my school who do not have the opportunities for private or home schooling options. Their parents and guardians cannot offer this for them. For this reason, I implore you to not pass this House Bill 784. I am all for financially and otherwise supporting private school and home school students and families; however, I cannot support doing this at the detriment to public school students. Thank you, and I pray that you and yours remain healthy and safe during this time, Joseph Capuano
I strongly oppose measures that would take essential funds away from our public K-12 schools. Research is clear that investing in public schools improves student outcomes, graduation, and postsecondary enrollment, while vouchers do not. We need to focus on critical issues such as moving Virginia's teacher pay toward the national average and ensuring that all students have the opportunity to achieve to their full potential in the public school system. We should all be shocked to learn that Virginia's teachers are making below the national average. In some areas of the state, this is a particular problem. It needs to be addressed so that we can reliably recruit the most effective teachers to our schools. We should NOT focus on allowing parents who want to send their children to private school to get a refund of their taxes, which is essentially what is being proposed. I don't have any children in the public schools, but I doubt that the state plans to refund my taxes because of that. We need to focus on making our public education system as strong as it can be, not on removing funds from the system. Thank you for your consideration.
I am writing in opposition to HB784. This encourages and incentivizes parents to move children away from the public school into more exclusive educational settings. This benefits predominately higher socio-economic families who can afford to pay tuition which creates a growing gap among students downstream. Our focus needs to be on creating equity for students no matter what their educational setting, not in developing ways to make already advantaged students even more advantaged. We should be putting funds into improving teacher salaries to attract and retain excellent teachers and in investing in the infrastructure and curriculum resources to ensure that our public education optimizes student potential. Please do not vote to pass HB784.
The data is clear- vouchers do nothing to improve student outcomes. The Brookings Institution reviewed voucher studies from four states and found that students who took advantage of these programs to attend private schools performed worse on tests than similar students who do not attend private schools. Virginia already severely underfunds its public schools — ranking 41st in per-student spending out of all states for pre-K-12. Diverting more funding to private schools will exacerbate financial challenges for public schools. Vouchers increase discrimination and segregation. Private schools participating in voucher programs are generally free to accept or reject students based on perceived at-risk status, academic ability, religion, sexual orientation or gender-identity. This is a misguided effort that will widen the gap between rich and poor, black and white and have a net zero gain in improving schools and outcomes for Virginia students.
HB100 - Parents of stillborn child; establishes a refundable income tax credit.
Please support HB 100. When a family has the devastating loss of a stillborn, the costs that they have to make out-of-pocket ate not just a financial burden, But cause additional emotional pain. I think that not covering this loss is simply an oversight. Thank you for supporting grieving parents.
Dear Delegate, I am writing to urge you to support local control over tax dollars for school facilities. Local voters and local parents should have the right to approve or deny a special 1% sales tax for this purpose. These taxes don’t fill government coffers - they can only be used for school construction and renovation, can exempt groceries and medications, and have a built in-expiration date. The General Assembly has previously granted this authority to nine localities and this year, three politically diverse localities have requested this ability, the City of Charlottesville, Isle of Wight County, and Prince Edward County. There is also a bill to grant this local authority to all municipalities in the Commonwealth. This local tax for schools was unanimously recommended by the bipartisan Commission on School Construction and Modernization. Here in Cville it has a lot of support and momentum, and has already passed the Senate. Governor Youngkin has promised a record investment in education while also urging us to move beyond our fractured politics. I respectfully ask you to reconsider the decision to table bills HB531, HB545 and HB63. Please support local parents and voters with the authority to decide for themselves on local taxes for their schools. Please think about this important initiative for Charlottesville, its kids, and future generations. Matt Caesar
Hello I’m Tisha Erby Mother of 5 boys , 4 are Richmond Public School Students and WE support HB 531 which will allow all counties and cities to use a 1% sales tax to pay for the construction of new schools. [RPS-George Wythe High School] needs this additional revenue to build new schools and modernize facilities to improve the learning experience of its students. According to the Virginia Department of Education, more than half of the state’s school buildings are more than 50 years old. Unfortunately, my community is home to several of these outdated buildings including George Wythe High School. Students and teachers are placed in unsafe environments that may have leaky roofs, windowless classrooms, mold, poor ventilation, and broken HVAC systems. It is not helpful to the learning environment and development of children to attend school in buildings that harm their health and well-being. Having the sales tax as an option will give us the opportunity to fix the crumbling schools in my school district. I am afraid that if the General Assembly doesn’t pass this bill, another generation of students will be forced to sit in outdated, 50-year old classrooms that are inadequate for what students need today. Please prioritize education and the future of our commonwealth by taking this necessary step to invest in our schools, our students, and our community. Thank you so much for listening and remember #WytheCantWait #AllRPSCantWait #WeAreRPS
Parents should receive a tax credit for the devastating loss of a child.
As someone who has been impacted by stillbirth, I know what impact this has on women. I support assisting women who have been through having a stillbirth.
I support this bill
I am in support of H.B. 100.
In support of families that experience the financial burden of birthing a stillborn. To live through the birth and death of your child is an emotional turmoil that no one should have to go through. This tax credit would help ease the financial hardship, giving parents some breathing room to handle everything else during this difficult time.
In support of stillborn bill
Supporting those who are in need of any unexpected financial burdens that may be held responsible for. There should be assistant offered for unexpected situations.
This bill needs to be passed to help mothers, like myself, with the financial hardships of having a stillborn infant. As a parent, even though you have to go home empty handed without your much anticipated and longed for baby, you still owe the same hospital bills as if your child were born living. Both parents still need to take time off of work to grieve. No financial support is provided for the immediate and long term effects of having a stillborn. Also, not everywhere offers funeral/burial financial support for families who are already going through the most difficult time of their lives.
I am in support of this bill as a VA resident and as family who has suffered through stillbirth.
I’m in support of HB-100
I Fully support the H100 bill. Having witnessed the complete emotional devastation of a young couple who carried their baby to term and the unexpected financial burden of having to bury their beautiful baby boy. Please provide this assistance to these mourning families. Can you image being in their shoes?
I am appalled and so disappointed that people who represent me in this state of Virginia, did not support this important stillborn tax credit bill. What is wrong with our politicians? Are you representing the constituents and do you care about parents who lost a baby? So cruel and heartless to not give these parents a tax credit break. That is the least we can do to support them in what is the worst outcome they could ever experience with financial burden & the biggest heartbreak a human can experience. We need to do better…I am SO disappointed.
I am in support of this bill. No family should have to shoulder the financial burden of delivering a stillborn baby when they should be grieving.
To know even one family who has had to live through this is too many. We have the opportunity to tangibly support these families. Passing this is a step in the right direction.
My name is Brook Avery, I live in Norfolk. I am writing to support HB 100, the Stillbirth Tax Credit Bill. Every year more than 540 babies are stillborn in Virginia. Babies who were loved, anticipated, and incredibly missed. When that child is born silently into this world, the lives of the parents are changed forever, seared with the trauma of losing their child for as long as they have breath in their lungs. However, the impact of losing a baby to stillbirth goes beyond just the emotional devastation. When a baby dies, the parents still get a bill from the hospital. They have to pay for burial or cremation, hold a funeral or memorial service, all of which can cost thousands of unanticipated dollars, after they’ve already spent the money to prepare their home and lives for living a baby. Not to mention the loss of wages from work, cost of counseling, and more. HB 100 will support families in Virginia who are experiencing very real heartache. Losing a child brings grief that will last a lifetime and while no amount of money can bring back these precious babies, this tax credit can help shoulder the burden of the loss. More than that, it gives a sliver of dignity to parents who have already lost so much. Thank you.
I am in support of this bill. I lost my baby cousin to stillbirth and am in support of providing any financial assistance to families who are experiencing the same unfortunate circumstance.
I support
I am in support of HB100.
I am in support of this bill.
I am in support of this bill to help with the financial burden associated with stillbirth.
I am in support of this bill.
I support this bill. Families are going through enough already with the loss of a child. Lessening the financial burden is the very least that can be done to support them.
I am in support of this bill.
I support this bill.
I support this bill.
I am in support of this bill.
I support this.
I am in support of this bill
I support this bill! Many mothers and babies will benefit from this easy, inexpensive test being performed in routine prenatal checkups. Please help us save lives!
This is very much needed to provide some financial relief to the family that loses a baby just as the tax deduction for adoption fees is allowed. They both are hardships on a family and a very necessary duction needed. One should not be allowed when there is nothing offered to the other.
I am in support of this bill as a way of helping to alleviate the burden of burying a dead baby.
So important to support those who have felt the ultimate loss of a child.
I support this bill!
I support this bill! No family should experience a financial crisis during the most devastating time of their lives.
I have been volunteering for Kennedy's Angel Gowns for three years. This organization provides support for pregnancy and infant loss. Our communities are losing their babies and they need our support more than ever before. I support HB100 to help these families. But I must address that some of these families may NOT receive a birth certificate for a stillbirth which would make the tax credit to no affect.
Comments Document
Thinking about the events of November 14, 2018 is gut wrenching....I truly cannot bear to dwell on the days and hours leading up to the stillbirth of my grandson Liam Michael Paulette....I go numb. And every single day since Liam was taken from us....I carry the sadness of that loss with me. I have spent many hours volunteering for the Star Legacy Foundation's Virginia Chapter trying to put purpose to our family's pain trying to come to a better understanding of infant loss and advocating for fellow loss families. Please PLEASE consider whatever help you can offer to parents that have paid the ultimate price of simply trying to grow their families. They suffer daily and it's so very important for them to have support from the community. Thanks for your consideration!
I support this Bill which is such a valuable contribution to the support of families impacted by stillbirth. 1 in 4 families suffer through perinatal loss. I am a loss mom , bereavement doula and overall advocate for a stillbirth tax credit .
This would be the most important bill to pass ever! Our kids are the future of this country and this world. The future is grim without good quality education for these kids
I am writing in support of this bill. I have seen first hand what this can do to a family. My neighbor and friend had to deal with this issue a couple of years ago. It is devastating to have to burden the loss of a still born child but then have the financial obligations in top of that. I strongly support the passing of this bill.
Our family was devastated by the stillbirth of our daughter at 40 weeks gestation in 2016. We support this bill.
I support this bill
I support H.B. 100 in memory of my grandson River and all the other families dealing with the unfortunate death of a baby.
I am writing in support of this bill as the parent of a stillborn son. River Hendrix Horn survived for 40 weeks and 3 days before his life ended in his mother's womb. Words cannot describe the boundless grief we carry for the rest of our lives due to his passing. While the emotional baggage is a burden, the financial one is something that can be lessened by this vote. They say three of the most expensive events in ones life revolve around birth, death, and marriage. To experience two of these at once can place quite a burden on an already broken family. It is bad enough that America in all its purported belief in family values does so little to put money where its mouth is. This support would help so many people, far too many, really. Please step up for mourners of those they will never meet. Thank you
I support HB100
On November 14, 2018, after a completely uneventful pregnancy I lost my son, Liam Micheal, during delivery due to uterine rupture. My son was a miracle from the start. We required fertility treatments to become pregnant that were not all covered by insurance but our physician was very confident that it would be successful. And on our second attempt- he was correct. For 9 months we attended classes, doctors appointments, and prepped for a healthy baby boy. I labored for nearly three days before the emergency C-section and then 3 days of recovery in the hospital. When filing my taxes a few months later, I was reminded that my son’s birth didn’t count. Because he never took a single breath outside of my womb, he would not receive a birth certificate. A one time tax credit would not only have helped us financially but also to validate that our son was “real”. While no amount of money will bring him back, not having to struggle as much financially would have certainly lightened the weight we carry in his absence. Erin Koller Warsaw, Virginia
I support this 100%.
I am in support of this bill
I am in support of HB 100. In February 2019, my daughter gave birth to her first child. River Hendrix Horn was stillborn at 40 weeks and 3 days gestation. The trauma and devastation of having your child die is made even harder when the cost of burying your baby is realized. The hospital, doctor and pathology bills do not stop, even when your baby dies. I am in support of this bill as a small means to assist grieving parents with the financial expenses related to the unimaginable loss of their babies.
I support this bill. Families who experience stillbirth not only deal with the very real and myriad emotional, physical and spiritual trauma associated with it but serious financial aspects. There are medical costs, loss of income and funeral expenses. My son and daughter-in-law experienced the stillbirth of their firstborn son February 25, 2019. It was totally unexpected. Family members were able to help them financially but in many, if not most cases, parents are left not only dealing with the trauma of the experience but the additional stress of unexpected expenses. Please consider passage of this bill. What is a horrible experience for parents can be lessened in one small measure by providing some financial assistance when they most need it.
Three years ago, my husband and I experienced a pain that no parent should ever have to endure. Our first born child, River, was stillborn at 40 weeks and 3 days. We were prepared to bring a baby home, but instead we were left with mounds of medical bills and funeral costs. In addition to the medical bills and funeral costs, we also incurred other expenses to find out his cause of death (genetic testing, autopsy, and meetings with a research scientist). It felt cruel that we were burdened with the financial obligation of the birth of a living baby while navigating the emotional hardship of burying our dead son. Please consider the unique circumstances that parents have to face when delivering a baby that doesn't make it home.
Hello, My name is Allie Felker and I am a member of Push for Empowered Pregnancy. I am writing you today as I am also a mother who has experienced stillbirth. My son Henry was stillborn on July 1st 2020. My family and I will forever mourn his loss. In addition to the physical and emotional trauma of losing our son, we also had to deal with the financial aspect. Parents who experience stillbirth have often purchased all of their baby things, expecting to bring home a child. Instead they are met with funeral costs, additional healthcare needs and mental health needs as well. I ask that you support HB 100 as it will provide much needed support to families in need. Thank you so much, Allie
My name is Dan Gillispie & I live in Norfolk Va. My son, Theodore John Gillispie was stillborn on Feb 23, 2021. I am writing to support HB 100, the Stillbirth Tax Credit Bill. Every year more than 540 babies are stillborn in Virginia. Babies who were loved, anticipated, and incredibly missed. When that child is born silently into this world, the lives of the parents are changed forever, seared with the trauma of losing their child for as long as they have breath in their lungs. However, the impact of losing a baby to stillbirth goes beyond just the emotional devastation. When a baby dies, the parents still get a bill from the hospital. They have to pay for burial or cremation, hold a funeral or memorial service, all of which can cost thousands of unanticipated dollars, after they’ve already spent the money to prepare their home and lives for living a baby. Not to mention the loss of wages from work, cost of counseling, and more. Our hospital bill was over $15,000. HB 100 will support families in Virginia who are experiencing very real heartache. Losing a child brings grief that will last a lifetime and while no amount of money can bring back these precious babies, this tax credit can help shoulder the burden of the loss. More than that, it gives a sliver of dignity to parents who have already lost so much.
I am writing in support of HB 100. My name is Andrea Cook. I write to you from experience. 6.5 months ago my husband (Lucas) and I lost our first child, Asher Stephen Cook. I was 37 weeks pregnant, two weeks from my scheduled induction. I went in because I was concerned about decreased movement and found out Asher's heart had stopped. My pregnancy had been fairly easy and I went to many extra holistic appointments out of my own pocket to support my growing child. We did everything and anything suggested and encouraged by my doctors to be the best parents we could from the moment we found out we were pregnant. We jumped through every hurdle despite both being educators working in the school buildings during a global pandemic throughout our pregnancy. Instead of bringing our child home, we left the hospital on Father's Day with each other and a memory box. We sat in our hospital room and had to make a choice between cremation or burial. We were not prepared for what should have been the happiest days of our lives to be the worst living nightmare possible. We chose to cremate our son so he can be with us regardless of where life takes us which cost us close to $1000. That is in addition to all the other expenses to prepare to bring a child home and now to get the mental health support we need as we both are navigating grief. This loss has obviously had a profound impact on both our personal and professional lives and we have both lost income due to needing time off to heal physically and mentally. I have transitioned back; however my husband remains out of work. As you know, our society does not leave space for death and grief, especially for men. We have a long road ahead of us. If you have not experienced the loss of a child, you cannot truly know this heartache. I ask you, as representatives of families who must live with this grief every day, to support HB 100. It gives a small measure of legitimacy, support, and dignity to families who have just had their worlds shattered. We have been lucky to have an outpouring of support from our village that has loved our son since the moment we shared our joy and continues to love our angel in the sky. Not all families are as lucky as we are to be able to take the financial hit and take the time to heal. We have had countless friends and colleagues share about their losses, some from decades ago. They admit that taking the time was something they never did or could do and that has continued to impact their lives and relationships. I hope sharing our story helps you understand the importance of HB 100.
My name is Sharon McGlone. I live in Norfolk, Va.. I am writing to support HB 100, the Stillbirth Tax Credit Bill. Every year more than 540 babies are stillborn in Virginia. Babies who were loved, anticipated, and incredibly missed. When that child is born silently into this world, the lives of the parents are changed forever, seared with the trauma of losing their child for as long as they have breath in their lungs. However, the impact of losing a baby to stillbirth goes beyond just the emotional devastation. When a baby dies, the parents still get a bill from the hospital. They have to pay for burial or cremation, hold a funeral or memorial service, all of which can cost thousands of unanticipated dollars, after they’ve already spent the money to prepare their home and lives for living a baby. Not to mention the loss of wages from work, cost of counseling, and more. HB 100 will support families in Virginia who are experiencing very real heartache. Losing a child brings grief that will last a lifetime and while no amount of money can bring back these precious babies, this tax credit can help shoulder the burden of the loss. More than that, it gives a sliver of dignity to parents who have already lost so much. Thank you for your consideration.
Hello, I am the youngest of 4 and my oldest sister lost her baby in a stillborn birth last year. I have seen her go through unimaginable grief and pain that is unexplainable. The financial burden of not being able to go to back to a work setting has greatly impacted her mental health. I believe the monetary benefits of this bill will help families recover mentally by being able grieve away from work. Thank you, Daniel Manik
Hello. My name is a Caroline Manik and I am in support of the bill HB100 stillbirth tax credit. My sister had a stillborn baby on July 14th 2021 and the financial burden has been felt. Examples include baby products purchased in hopes of bringing home a live baby, grief therapy that is not covered by insurance, cremation and funeral services, and loss of income due to time away from work. This bill is necessary to support all the grieving families in Virginia. Thank you.
I fully support the proposed legislation for a $2,000 tax credit for parents of a still born child.
Please pass this important bill
These bills would provide financial assistance to families with these expenses
My name is ___Dora Lee Taylor___, I live in ___Portsmouth____. I am writing to support HB 100, the Stillbirth Tax Credit Bill. Every year more than 540 babies are stillborn in Virginia. Babies who were loved, anticipated, and incredibly missed. When that child is born silently into this world, the lives of the parents are changed forever, seared with the trauma of losing their child for as long as they have breath in their lungs. However, the impact of losing a baby to stillbirth goes beyond just the emotional devastation. When a baby dies, the parents still get a bill from the hospital. They have to pay for burial or cremation, hold a funeral or memorial service, all of which can cost thousands of unanticipated dollars, after they’ve already spent the money to prepare their home and lives for living a baby. Not to mention the loss of wages from work, cost of counseling, and more. HB 100 will support families in Virginia who are experiencing very real heartache. Losing a child brings grief that will last a lifetime and while no amount of money can bring back these precious babies, this tax credit can help shoulder the burden of the loss. More than that, it gives a sliver of dignity to parents who have already lost so much.
I support HB 100. Please pass this bill and help families cover the hospital and funeral expenses for their stillborn child. Thank you.
I support this bill, please vote yea
I fully support this bill. I would expand it to include those parents who lost a child in the first year of life. The pain of losing a child is indescribable, but the costs associated with burial, etc. is a second gut punch. The federal tax code has a tax credit when parents adopt a child recognizing the bc costs are great. Losing a child is another life circumstance suffered by more citizens than you think and can be crippling financially as well as the obvious. Please consider voting yes to this bill.
My name is Anne Higham and I live in Norfolk, VA. I am writing to support HB 100, the Stillbirth Tax Credit Bill. Every year more than 540 babies are stillborn in Virginia. These babies were loved, anticipated, and are incredibly missed. When that child is born silently into this world, the lives of the parents are changed forever. They are seared with the trauma of losing their child for as long as they have breath in their lungs. However, the impact of losing a baby to stillbirth goes beyond the emotional devastation. When a baby dies, the parents still get a bill from the hospital. They have to pay for burial or cremation and hold a funeral or memorial service, all of which can cost thousands of unanticipated dollars, after they’ve already spent the money to prepare their home and lives for a living baby. Not to mention the loss of wages from work, the cost of counseling, and more. HB 100 will support families in Virginia who are experiencing very real heartache. While no amount of money can bring back these precious babies, this tax credit can help the grieving parents shoulder the burden of their loss. More than that, it can give a sliver of dignity to parents who have already lost so much. —
My name is Rachelle _, I live in Richmond. I am writing to support HB 100, the Stillbirth Tax Credit Bill. Every year more than 540 babies are stillborn in Virginia. Babies who were loved, anticipated, and incredibly missed. When that child is born silently into this world, the lives of the parents are changed forever, seared with the trauma of losing their child for as long as they have breath in their lungs. However, the impact of losing a baby to stillbirth goes beyond just the emotional devastation. When a baby dies, the parents still get a bill from the hospital. They have to pay for burial or cremation, hold a funeral or memorial service, all of which can cost thousands of unanticipated dollars, after they’ve already spent the money to prepare their home and lives for living a baby. Not to mention the loss of wages from work, cost of counseling, and more. HB 100 will support families in Virginia who are experiencing very real heartache. Losing a child brings grief that will last a lifetime and while no amount of money can bring back these precious babies, this tax credit can help shoulder the burden of the loss. More than that, it gives a sliver of dignity to parents who have already lost so much.
My name is Sara Burnette, and I support this bill.
My name is Bridget Greaves, I live in Norfolk. I am writing to support HB 100, the Stillbirth Tax Credit Bill. I witnessed two of my friends and coworkers experience this devastation. Every year more than 540 babies are stillborn in Virginia. Babies who were loved, anticipated, and incredibly missed. When that child is born silently into this world, the lives of the parents are changed forever, seared with the trauma of losing their child for as long as they have breath in their lungs. However, the impact of losing a baby to stillbirth goes beyond just the emotional devastation. When a baby dies, the parents still get a bill from the hospital. They have to pay for burial or cremation, hold a funeral or memorial service, all of which can cost thousands of unanticipated dollars, after they’ve already spent the money to prepare their home and lives for living a baby. Not to mention the loss of wages from work, cost of counseling, and more. HB 100 will support families in Virginia who are experiencing very real heartache. Losing a child brings grief that will last a lifetime and while no amount of money can bring back these precious babies, this tax credit can help shoulder the burden of the loss. More than that, it gives a sliver of dignity to parents who have already lost so much.
Please support and share. ATTENTION: If you live in VA, stillbirth parents need your help!! So far, only 26 comments have been submitted supporting this important legislation. The subcommittee meets next Monday at 7am! We need to show these delegates how important this is to the constituents of VA. My friend Megan put together a general comment that anyone can use, but it would be better if you personalized it: My name is Gina Hackett and I live in Chester, VA. I am writing to support HB 100, the Stillbirth Tax Credit Bill. Every year more than 540 babies are stillborn in Virginia. Babies who were loved, anticipated, and incredibly missed. When that child is born silently into this world, the lives of the parents are changed forever, seared with the trauma of losing their child for as long as they have breath in their lungs. However, the impact of losing a baby to stillbirth goes beyond just the emotional devastation. When a baby dies, the parents still get a bill from the hospital. They have to pay for burial or cremation, hold a funeral or memorial service, all of which can cost thousands of unanticipated dollars, after they’ve already spent the money to prepare their home and lives for living a baby. Not to mention the loss of wages from work, cost of counseling, and more. HB 100 will support families in Virginia who are experiencing very real heartache. Losing a child brings grief that will last a lifetime and while no amount of money can bring back these precious babies, this tax credit can help shoulder the burden of the loss. More than that, it gives a sliver of dignity to parents who have already lost so much.
As a Virginin, educated in Virginian Schools, we were taught the importance of the Constitution of the Commonwealth with regard to our Nation's Constitution. These documents are articles that are supposed to guide our self governance. Article VIII, Section 10 Public dollars are not to go to schools NOT owned by the Commonwealth or a Municipality inside the Commonwealth's jurisdiction, except for when the Commonwealth has entered into an agreement with another jurisdiction. The Commonwealth should also not engage in the endorsement of private education cartels, weakening the publicly available options. This would do a disservice to the people, because the people's representatives have less oversight with regard to private institutions, than they have through electing their local boards.
I am a constituent of Delegate Sullivan, and I have already expressed my support for HB 100 to him directly. However, I also want to express to the entire subcommittee how important this legislation is to loss families. I lost my daughter, Marian, at term during labor due to an undiagnosed nuchal cord. I never got the chance to know her, to watch her grow, to be her mother. Instead I had to choose how to lay her to rest. I paid for a whole pregnancy and preparations for a living child. Additionally I paid for a cremation and lost out on wages due to a complicated recovery process. Had Marian even taken one breath outside of my body we would have been issued a birth certificate and been eligible for a child tax credit. As it happened we did not have that help, and we were also denied the dignity of any recognition of our child's existence or life. HB 100 would give a small measure of financial help to loss families and also provide some recognition of our children's short lives. Please consider allowing HB 100 to move on to a vote, so that grieving families can have one small measure of comfort during the most tragic event of their lives. The cost to implement this bill is inconsequential beside the cost to implement other tax credit and reform measures that have been passed easily, and the resulting benefit to loss families will be immense.
This is so important to families who have suffered stillborns.
My name is Rebecca Feike. I live in Alexandria Virginia. I am writing to support HB 100, the Stillbirth Tax Credit Bill. Every year more than 540 babies are stillborn in Virginia. Babies who were loved, anticipated, and incredibly missed. When that child is born silently into this world, the lives of the parents are changed forever, seared with the trauma of losing their child for as long as they have breath in their lungs. However, the impact of losing a baby to stillbirth goes beyond just the emotional devastation. When a baby dies, the parents still get a bill from the hospital. They have to pay for burial or cremation, hold a funeral or memorial service, all of which can cost thousands of unanticipated dollars, after they’ve already spent the money to prepare their home and lives for living a baby. Not to mention the loss of wages from work, cost of counseling, and more. HB 100 will support families in Virginia who are experiencing very real heartache. Losing a child brings grief that will last a lifetime and while no amount of money can bring back these precious babies, this tax credit can help shoulder the burden of the loss. More than that, it gives a sliver of dignity to parents who have already lost so much.
My name is Tommy Baldwin, I live in Virginia Beach. I am writing to support HB 100, the Stillbirth Tax Credit Bill. Every year more than 540 babies are stillborn in Virginia. Babies who were loved, anticipated, and incredibly missed. When that child is born silently into this world, the lives of the parents are changed forever, seared with the trauma of losing their child for as long as they have breath in their lungs. However, the impact of losing a baby to stillbirth goes beyond just the emotional devastation. When a baby dies, the parents still get a bill from the hospital. They have to pay for burial or cremation, hold a funeral or memorial service, all of which can cost thousands of unanticipated dollars, after they’ve already spent the money to prepare their home and lives for living a baby. Not to mention the loss of wages from work, cost of counseling, and more. HB 100 will support families in Virginia who are experiencing very real heartache. Losing a child brings grief that will last a lifetime and while no amount of money can bring back these precious babies, this tax credit can help shoulder the burden of the loss. More than that, it gives a sliver of dignity to parents who have already lost so much.”
My name is Shalua Hudson and I live in Virginia Beach, VA!! I am writing to support HB 100, the Stillbirth Tax Credit Bill. Every year more than 540 babies are stillborn in Virginia. Babies who were loved, anticipated, and incredibly missed. When that child is born silently into this world, the lives of the parents are changed forever, seared with the trauma of losing their child for as long as they have breath in their lungs. However, the impact of losing a baby to stillbirth goes beyond just the emotional devastation. When a baby dies, the parents still get a bill from the hospital. They have to pay for burial or cremation, hold a funeral or memorial service, all of which can cost thousands of unanticipated dollars, after they’ve already spent the money to prepare their home and lives for living a baby. Not to mention the loss of wages from work, cost of counseling, and more. HB 100 will support families in Virginia who are experiencing very real heartache. Losing a child brings grief that will last a lifetime and while no amount of money can bring back these precious babies, this tax credit can help shoulder the burden of the loss. More than that, it gives a sliver of dignity to parents who have already lost so much.
My name is Julie Kreger I live in Norfolk. I am writing to support HB 100, the Stillbirth Tax Credit Bill. Every year more than 540 babies are stillborn in Virginia. Babies who were loved, anticipated, and incredibly missed. When that child is born silently into this world, the lives of the parents are changed forever, seared with the trauma of losing their child for as long as they have breath in their lungs. However, the impact of losing a baby to stillbirth goes beyond just the emotional devastation. When a baby dies, the parents still get a bill from the hospital. They have to pay for burial or cremation, hold a funeral or memorial service, all of which can cost thousands of unanticipated dollars, after they’ve already spent the money to prepare their home and lives for living a baby. Not to mention the loss of wages from work, cost of counseling, and more. HB 100 will support families in Virginia who are experiencing very real heartache. Losing a child brings grief that will last a lifetime and while no amount of money can bring back these precious babies, this tax credit can help shoulder the burden of the loss. More than that, it gives a sliver of dignity to parents who have already lost so much.
Please provide this much-needed tax credit for grieving parents.
My name is Ryan Morris, I live in the city of Richmond. I am writing to support HB 100, the Stillbirth Tax Credit Bill. Every year more than 540 babies are stillborn in Virginia. Babies who were loved, anticipated, and incredibly missed. When that child is born silently into this world, the lives of the parents are changed forever, seared with the trauma of losing their child for as long as they have breath in their lungs. However, the impact of losing a baby to stillbirth goes beyond just the emotional devastation. When a baby dies, the parents still get a bill from the hospital. They have to pay for burial or cremation, hold a funeral or memorial service, all of which can cost thousands of unanticipated dollars, after they’ve already spent the money to prepare their home and lives for living a baby. Not to mention the loss of wages from work, cost of counseling, and more. HB 100 will support families in Virginia who are experiencing very real heartache. Losing a child brings grief that will last a lifetime and while no amount of money can bring back these precious babies, this tax credit can help shoulder the burden of the loss. More than that, it gives a sliver of dignity to parents who have already lost so much.
My name is Megan Gaspar, I live in Albemarle County. I am writing to support HB 100, the Stillbirth Tax Credit Bill. Every year more than 540 babies are stillborn in Virginia. Babies who were loved, anticipated, and incredibly missed. When that child is born silently into this world, the lives of the parents are changed forever, seared with the trauma of losing their child for as long as they have breath in their lungs. However, the impact of losing a baby to stillbirth goes beyond just the emotional devastation. When a baby dies, the parents still get a bill from the hospital. They have to pay for burial or cremation, hold a funeral or memorial service, all of which can cost thousands of unanticipated dollars, after they’ve already spent the money to prepare their home and lives for living a baby. Not to mention the loss of wages from work, cost of counseling, and more. HB 100 will support families in Virginia who are experiencing very real heartache. Losing a child brings grief that will last a lifetime and while no amount of money can bring back these precious babies, this tax credit can help shoulder the burden of the loss. More than that, it gives a sliver of dignity to parents who have already lost so much.
Please help these grieving parents. This is definitely insult to injury for these unfortunate people.
Good morning, I am Charlene Christopher and I live in Norfolk. I am writing to support HB 100, the Stillbirth Tax Credit Bill. Every year more than 540 babies are stillborn in Virginia. Babies who were loved, anticipated, and incredibly missed. When that child is born silently into this world, the lives of the parents are changed forever, seared with the trauma of losing their child for as long as they have breath in their lungs. However, the impact of losing a baby to stillbirth goes beyond just the emotional devastation. When a baby dies, the parents still get a bill from the hospital. They have to pay for burial or cremation, hold a funeral or memorial service, all of which can cost thousands of unanticipated dollars, after they’ve already spent the money to prepare their home and lives for living a baby. Not to mention the loss of wages from work, cost of counseling, and more. HB 100 will support families in Virginia who are experiencing very real heartache. Losing a child brings grief that will last a lifetime and while no amount of money can bring back these precious babies, this tax credit can help shoulder the burden of the loss. More than that, it gives a sliver of dignity to parents who have already lost so much. Thank you for your help for these families.
I am writing to support HB 100, the Stillbirth Tax Credit Bill. Every year more than 540 babies are stillborn in Virginia. Babies who were loved, anticipated, and incredibly missed. When that child is born silently into this world, the lives of the parents are changed forever, seared with the trauma of losing their child for as long as they have breath in their lungs. However, the impact of losing a baby to stillbirth goes beyond just the emotional devastation. When a baby dies, the parents still get a bill from the hospital. They have to pay for burial or cremation, hold a funeral or memorial service, all of which can cost thousands of unanticipated dollars, after they’ve already spent the money to prepare their home and lives for living a baby. Not to mention the loss of wages from work, cost of counseling, and more. HB 100 will support families in Virginia who are experiencing very real heartache. Losing a child brings grief that will last a lifetime and while no amount of money can bring back these precious babies, this tax credit can help shoulder the burden of the loss. More than that, it gives a sliver of dignity to parents who have already lost so much.
This is clearly the right thing to do for those paying typical preparation/ delivery costs for having a baby along with the unexpected financial burden of burial or cremation. The financial investment in the first year or two is greater for these families than the ones who end up with a healthy baby, and that should be acknowledged and respected.
My name is Sam Jafri. I am writing to support HB 100, the Stillbirth Tax Credit Bill. Every year more than 540 babies are stillborn in Virginia. Babies who were loved, anticipated, and incredibly missed. When that child is born silently into this world, the lives of the parents are changed forever, seared with the trauma of losing their child for as long as they have breath in their lungs. However, the impact of losing a baby to stillbirth goes beyond just the emotional devastation. When a baby dies, the parents still get a bill from the hospital. They have to pay for burial or cremation, hold a funeral or memorial service, all of which can cost thousands of unanticipated dollars, after they’ve already spent the money to prepare their home and lives for living a baby. Not to mention the loss of wages from work, cost of counseling, and more. HB 100 will support families in Virginia who are experiencing very real heartache. Losing a child brings grief that will last a lifetime and while no amount of money can bring back these precious babies, this tax credit can help shoulder the burden of the loss. More than that, it gives a sliver of dignity to parents who have already lost so much.
My name is Casey Reed, I live in Norfolk. I am writing to support HB 100, the Stillbirth Tax Credit Bill. Every year more than 540 babies are stillborn in Virginia. Babies who were loved, anticipated, and incredibly missed. When that child is born silently into this world, the lives of the parents are changed forever, seared with the trauma of losing their child for as long as they have breath in their lungs. However, the impact of losing a baby to stillbirth goes beyond just the emotional devastation. When a baby dies, the parents still get a bill from the hospital. They have to pay for burial or cremation, hold a funeral or memorial service, all of which can cost thousands of unanticipated dollars, after they’ve already spent the money to prepare their home and lives for living a baby. Not to mention the loss of wages from work, cost of counseling, and more. HB 100 will support families in Virginia who are experiencing very real heartache. Losing a child brings grief that will last a lifetime and while no amount of money can bring back these precious babies, this tax credit can help shoulder the burden of the loss. More than that, it gives a sliver of dignity to parents who have already lost so much.
My name is Michael Foley, I live in Virginia Beach. My son Caden was born still in 2016. Any way to help anyone else in this terrible situation is very much needed. I am writing to support HB 100, the Stillbirth Tax Credit Bill. Every year more than 540 babies are stillborn in Virginia. Babies who were loved, anticipated, and incredibly missed. When that child is born silently into this world, the lives of the parents are changed forever, seared with the trauma of losing their child for as long as they have breath in their lungs. However, the impact of losing a baby to stillbirth goes beyond just the emotional devastation. When a baby dies, the parents still get a bill from the hospital. They have to pay for burial or cremation, hold a funeral or memorial service, all of which can cost thousands of unanticipated dollars, after they’ve already spent the money to prepare their home and lives for living a baby. Not to mention the loss of wages from work, cost of counseling, and more. HB 100 will support families in Virginia who are experiencing very real heartache. Losing a child brings grief that will last a lifetime and while no amount of money can bring back these precious babies, this tax credit can help shoulder the burden of the loss. More than that, it gives a sliver of dignity to parents who have already lost so much!
My name is Jean Hepburn. I live in Henrico, VA. I am writing to support HB 100, the Stillbirth Tax Credit Bill. Every year more than 540 babies are stillborn in Virginia. Babies who were loved, anticipated, and incredibly missed. When that child is born silently into this world, the lives of the parents are changed forever, seared with the trauma of losing their child for as long as they have breath in their lungs. However, the impact of losing a baby to stillbirth goes beyond just the emotional devastation. When a baby dies, the parents still get a bill from the hospital. They have to pay for burial or cremation, hold a funeral or memorial service, all of which can cost thousands of unanticipated dollars, after they’ve already spent the money to prepare their home and lives for living a baby. Not to mention the loss of wages from work, cost of counseling, and more. HB 100 will support families in Virginia who are experiencing very real heartache. Losing a child brings grief that will last a lifetime and while no amount of money can bring back these precious babies, this tax credit can help shoulder the burden of the loss. More than that, it gives a sliver of dignity to parents who have already lost so much.
My name is Margot Powell, I live in Norfolk. I am writing to support HB 100, the Stillbirth Tax Credit Bill. Every year more than 540 babies are stillborn in Virginia. Babies who were loved, anticipated, and incredibly missed. When that child is born silently into this world, the lives of the parents are changed forever, seared with the trauma of losing their child for as long as they have breath in their lungs. However, the impact of losing a baby to stillbirth goes beyond just the emotional devastation. When a baby dies, the parents still get a bill from the hospital. They have to pay for burial or cremation, hold a funeral or memorial service, all of which can cost thousands of unanticipated dollars, after they’ve already spent the money to prepare their home and lives for living a baby. Not to mention the loss of wages from work, cost of counseling, and more. HB 100 will support families in Virginia who are experiencing very real heartache. Losing a child brings grief that will last a lifetime and while no amount of money can bring back these precious babies, this tax credit can help shoulder the burden of the loss. More than that, it gives a sliver of dignity to parents who have already lost so much.
As the fortunate Mom who had 2 pregnancies resulting in 2 happy live babies, & a good job with insurance, I’d like you to support this bill on behalf of those whose pregnancies do not have such a wonderful outcome nor resources. Any parent who loses a child suffers permanent trauma, & in this first world country, financial SHOULD be the least of them. Thank you. Dorothy McKenzie
Good morning. Through my work in health care, I have had the honor of serving many families who have experienced the specific heart ache that is pregnancy loss. This loss is all-encompassing and affects all aspects of the family’s life: emotional, relational, occupational, and financial. Though there is truly nothing that can fully ease families’ pain in this situation, it would be prudent for the House to consider expanding the Child Tax Credit to include them. This will not bring back their precious children gone too soon, but it would ease some of the financial burden perpetuated by this loss; including but not limited to: funeral plans, lost time from work, and medical bills. Please listen to the testimonials of families, and make your decision with their interests at heart.
As a mother, I deeply support this bill as a nonpartisan and excruciatingly needed relief for families suffering the unimaginable. Please stand with them and pass HB 100. Kayce White
I hope that HB 100, the Stillbirth Tax Credit Bill, is a bi-partisan bill that will have unanimous support in the House. I cannot imagine that anyone might think that a tax credit will ease the heartache of a lost child, but we can certainly offer some relief from the burden of expense for a lost cause. Please vote your support. Thank you for your service to the residents of Virginia.
HB 100 is the first bill listed. And you’re welcome to use the following comment or personalize to your preference: My name is Linda Carter, I live in Norfolk, VA. I am writing to support HB 100, the Stillbirth Tax Credit Bill. Every year more than 540 babies are stillborn in Virginia. Babies who were loved, anticipated, and incredibly missed. When that child is born silently into this world, the lives of the parents are changed forever, seared with the trauma of losing their child for as long as they have breath in their lungs. However, the impact of losing a baby to stillbirth goes beyond just the emotional devastation. When a baby dies, the parents still get a bill from the hospital. They have to pay for burial or cremation, hold a funeral or memorial service, all of which can cost thousands of unanticipated dollars, after they’ve already spent the money to prepare their home and lives for living a baby. Not to mention the loss of wages from work, cost of counseling, and more. HB 100 will support families in Virginia who are experiencing very real heartache. Losing a child brings grief that will last a lifetime and while no amount of money can bring back these precious babies, this tax credit can help shoulder the burden of the loss. More than that, it gives a sliver of dignity to parents who have already lost so much.
Hey! Here it is! Thank you! My name is Kimberly Deerfield, I live in Fredericksburg, VA. I am writing to support HB 100, the Stillbirth Tax Credit Bill. Every year more than 540 babies are stillborn in Virginia. Babies who were loved, anticipated, and incredibly missed. When that child is born silently into this world, the lives of the parents are changed forever, seared with the trauma of losing their child for as long as they have breath in their lungs. However, the impact of losing a baby to stillbirth goes beyond just the emotional devastation. When a baby dies, the parents still get a bill from the hospital. They have to pay for burial or cremation, hold a funeral or memorial service, all of which can cost thousands of unanticipated dollars, after they’ve already spent the money to prepare their home and lives for living a baby. Not to mention the loss of wages from work, cost of counseling, and more. HB 100 will support families in Virginia who are experiencing very real heartache. Losing a child brings grief that will last a lifetime and while no amount of money can bring back these precious babies, this tax credit can help shoulder the burden of the loss. More than that, it gives a sliver of dignity to parents who have already lost so much.
My name is Sarah Franklin, I live in Virginia Beach. I am writing to support HB 100, the Stillbirth Tax Credit Bill. Every year more than 540 babies are stillborn in Virginia. Babies who were loved, anticipated, and incredibly missed. When that child is born silently into this world, the lives of the parents are changed forever, seared with the trauma of losing their child for as long as they have breath in their lungs. However, the impact of losing a baby to stillbirth goes beyond just the emotional devastation. When a baby dies, the parents still get a bill from the hospital. They have to pay for burial or cremation, hold a funeral or memorial service, all of which can cost thousands of unanticipated dollars, after they’ve already spent the money to prepare their home and lives for living a baby. Not to mention the loss of wages from work, cost of counseling, and more. HB 100 will support families in Virginia who are experiencing very real heartache. Losing a child brings grief that will last a lifetime and while no amount of money can bring back these precious babies, this tax credit can help shoulder the burden of the loss. More than that, it gives a sliver of dignity to parents who have already lost so much.
I am in support of this bill and want to see it move forward.
My name is Katherine Humphrey, I live in Norfolk. I am writing to support HB 100, the Stillbirth Tax Credit Bill. Every year more than 540 babies are stillborn in Virginia. Babies who were loved, anticipated, and incredibly missed. When that child is born silently into this world, the lives of the parents are changed forever, seared with the trauma of losing their child for as long as they have breath in their lungs. However, the impact of losing a baby to stillbirth goes beyond just the emotional devastation. When a baby dies, the parents still get a bill from the hospital. They have to pay for burial or cremation, hold a funeral or memorial service, all of which can cost thousands of unanticipated dollars, after they’ve already spent the money to prepare their home and lives for living a baby. Not to mention the loss of wages from work, cost of counseling, and more. HB 100 will support families in Virginia who are experiencing very real heartache. Losing a child brings grief that will last a lifetime and while no amount of money can bring back these precious babies, this tax credit can help shoulder the burden of the loss. More than that, it gives a sliver of dignity to parents who have already lost so much.
My name is Tiffany Foley. I live in Virginia Beach. I am writing to support HB 100, the Stillbirth Tax Credit Bill. Every year more than 540 babies are stillborn in Virginia. Babies who were loved, anticipated, and incredibly missed. When that child is born silently into this world, the lives of the parents are changed forever, seared with the trauma of losing their child for as long as they have breath in their lungs. However, the impact of losing a baby to stillbirth goes beyond just the emotional devastation. When a baby dies, the parents still get a bill from the hospital. They have to pay for burial or cremation, hold a funeral or memorial service, all of which can cost thousands of unanticipated dollars, after they’ve already spent the money to prepare their home and lives for living a baby. Not to mention the loss of wages from work, cost of counseling, and more. HB 100 will support families in Virginia who are experiencing very real heartache. Losing a child brings grief that will last a lifetime and while no amount of money can bring back these precious babies, this tax credit can help shoulder the burden of the loss. More than that, it gives a sliver of dignity to parents who have already lost so much. My family lost our 2nd child, Caden, on August 18, 2014. At the time of unimaginable heartache my parents paid for the cremation, my sisters the memorial service, and us the hospital bills. The costs just kept piling up. This tax credit would have been so helpful and allowed us to not need as much financial support from others. Please help move HB100 forward to help other Virginians who have experienced this painful heartache.
I support this bill.
I am writing to support HB 100, the Stillbirth Tax Credit Bill. Every year more than 540 babies are stillborn in Virginia. Babies who were loved, anticipated, and incredibly missed. When that child is born silently into this world, the lives of the parents are changed forever, seared with the trauma of losing their child for as long as they have breath in their lungs. However, the impact of losing a baby to stillbirth goes beyond just the emotional devastation. When a baby dies, the parents still get a bill from the hospital. They have to pay for burial or cremation, hold a funeral or memorial service, all of which can cost thousands of unanticipated dollars, after they’ve already spent the money to prepare their home and lives for living a baby. Not to mention the loss of wages from work, cost of counseling, and more. HB 100 will support families in Virginia who are experiencing very real heartache. Losing a child brings grief that will last a lifetime and while no amount of money can bring back these precious babies, this tax credit can help shoulder the burden of the loss. More than that, it gives a sliver of dignity to parents who have already lost so much. —
My name is _Apiphanie__, I live in __Chespeake__. I am writing to support HB 100, the Stillbirth Tax Credit Bill. Every year more than 540 babies are stillborn in Virginia. Babies who were loved, anticipated, and incredibly missed. When that child is born silently into this world, the lives of the parents are changed forever, seared with the trauma of losing their child for as long as they have breath in their lungs. However, the impact of losing a baby to stillbirth goes beyond just the emotional devastation. After losing a child of my own, this bill resonates with me and so many of mothers and fathers that anticipated the arrival of their child. When a baby dies, the parents still get a bill from the hospital. They have to pay for burial or cremation, hold a funeral or memorial service, all of which can cost thousands of unanticipated dollars, after they’ve already spent the money to prepare their home and lives for living a baby. Not to mention the loss of wages from work, cost of counseling, and more. HB 100 will support families in Virginia who are experiencing very real heartache. Losing a child brings grief that will last a lifetime and while no amount of money can bring back these precious babies, this tax credit can help shoulder the burden of the loss. More than that, it gives a sliver of dignity to parents who have already lost so much.
My name is Jennifer Shore, I live Norfolk. I am writing to support HB 100, the Stillbirth Tax Credit Bill. Every year more than 540 babies are stillborn in Virginia. Babies who were loved, anticipated, and incredibly missed. When that child is born silently into this world, the lives of the parents are changed forever, seared with the trauma of losing their child for as long as they have breath in their lungs. However, the impact of losing a baby to stillbirth goes beyond just the emotional devastation. When a baby dies, the parents still get a bill from the hospital. They have to pay for burial or cremation, hold a funeral or memorial service, all of which can cost thousands of unanticipated dollars, after they’ve already spent the money to prepare their home and lives for living a baby. Not to mention the loss of wages from work, cost of counseling, and more. Please pass HB 100, to support families in Virginia who are experiencing very real heartache. Losing a child brings grief that will last a lifetime and while no amount of money can erase grief, this tax credit can help shoulder the burden of the loss.
My name is Rebecca. I live in Virginia Beach. I am writing to support HB 100, the Stillbirth Tax Credit Bill. Every year more than 540 babies are stillborn in Virginia. Babies who were loved, anticipated, and incredibly missed. When that child is born silently into this world, the lives of the parents are changed forever, seared with the trauma of losing their child for as long as they have breath in their lungs. However, the impact of losing a baby to stillbirth goes beyond just the emotional devastation. When a baby dies, the parents still get a bill from the hospital. They have to pay for burial or cremation, hold a funeral or memorial service, all of which can cost thousands of unanticipated dollars, after they’ve already spent the money to prepare their home and lives for living a baby. Not to mention the loss of wages from work, cost of counseling, and more. HB 100 will support families in Virginia who are experiencing very real heartache. Losing a child brings grief that will last a lifetime and while no amount of money can bring back these precious babies, this tax credit can help shoulder the burden of the loss. More than that, it gives a sliver of dignity to parents who have already lost so much.
My name is ____Mary Lou Anderson__, I live in ___Norfolk,Va____. I am writing to support HB 100, the Stillbirth Tax Credit Bill. Every year more than 540 babies are stillborn in Virginia. Babies who were loved, anticipated, and incredibly missed. When that child is born silently into this world, the lives of the parents are changed forever, seared with the trauma of losing their child for as long as they have breath in their lungs. However, the impact of losing a baby to stillbirth goes beyond just the emotional devastation. When a baby dies, the parents still get a bill from the hospital. They have to pay for burial or cremation, hold a funeral or memorial service, all of which can cost thousands of unanticipated dollars, after they’ve already spent the money to prepare their home and lives for living a baby. Not to mention the loss of wages from work, cost of counseling, and more. HB 100 will support families in Virginia who are experiencing very real heartache. Losing a child brings grief that will last a lifetime and while no amount of money can bring back these precious babies, this tax credit can help shoulder the burden of the loss. More than that, it gives a sliver of dignity to parents who have already lost so much. —
My name is ______, I live in _______. I am writing to support HB 100, the Stillbirth Tax Credit Bill. Every year more than 540 babies are stillborn in Virginia. Babies who were loved, anticipated, and incredibly missed. When that child is born silently into this world, the lives of the parents are changed forever, seared with the trauma of losing their child for as long as they have breath in their lungs. However, the impact of losing a baby to stillbirth goes beyond just the emotional devastation. When a baby dies, the parents still get a bill from the hospital. They have to pay for burial or cremation, hold a funeral or memorial service, all of which can cost thousands of unanticipated dollars, after they’ve already spent the money to prepare their home and lives for living a baby. Not to mention the loss of wages from work, cost of counseling, and more. HB 100 will support families in Virginia who are experiencing very real heartache. Losing a child brings grief that will last a lifetime and while no amount of money can bring back these precious babies, this tax credit can help shoulder the burden of the loss. More than that, it gives a sliver of dignity to parents who have already lost so much. —
Please support this bill. The loss of a newborn brings unimaginable pain to a family. This bill will help ease the financial burden of a loss of this kind, which may provide some measure of comfort in a family’s time of need. Thank you.
HB100 My name is Jessie P’Pool, I live in Norfolk, VA. I am writing to support HB 100, the Stillbirth Tax Credit Bill. Every year more than 540 babies are stillborn in Virginia. Babies who were loved, anticipated, and incredibly missed. When that child is born silently into this world, the lives of the parents are changed forever, seared with the trauma of losing their child for as long as they have breath in their lungs. However, the impact of losing a baby to stillbirth goes beyond just the emotional devastation. When a baby dies, the parents still get a bill from the hospital. They have to pay for burial or cremation, hold a funeral or memorial service, all of which can cost thousands of unanticipated dollars, after they’ve already spent the money to prepare their home and lives for living a baby. Not to mention the loss of wages from work, cost of counseling, and more. HB 100 will support families in Virginia who are experiencing very real heartache. Losing a child brings grief that will last a lifetime and while no amount of money can bring back these precious babies, this tax credit can help shoulder the burden of the loss. More than that, it gives a sliver of dignity to parents who have already lost so much.
My name is Maryann Kettyle , I live in Norfolk. I am the devastated grandmother of a beautiful stillborn baby boy, Theodore John Gillispie. I am writing to support HB 100, the Stillbirth Tax Credit Bill. Every year more than 540 babies are stillborn in Virginia. Babies who were loved, anticipated, and incredibly missed. When that child is born silently into this world, the lives of the parents and whole family are changed forever, seared with the trauma of losing their child for as long as they have breath in their lungs. However, the impact of losing a baby to stillbirth goes beyond just the emotional devastation. When a baby dies, the parents still get a bill from the hospital. They have to pay for burial or cremation, hold a funeral or memorial service, all of which can cost thousands of unanticipated dollars, after they’ve already spent the money to prepare their home and lives for living a baby. Not to mention the loss of wages from work, cost of counseling, and more. HB 100 will support families in Virginia who are experiencing very real heartache. Losing a child brings grief that will last a lifetime and while no amount of money can bring back these precious babies, this tax credit can help shoulder the burden of the loss. More than that, it gives a sliver of dignity to parents who have already lost so much.
I live in Norfolk Va . Please establish a refundable income tax credit for parents of stillborn children.
My name is Addi, I live in Suffolk. I am writing to support HB 100, the Stillbirth Tax Credit Bill. Every year more than 540 babies are stillborn in Virginia. Babies who were loved, anticipated, and incredibly missed. When that child is born silently into this world, the lives of the parents are changed forever, seared with the trauma of losing their child for as long as they have breath in their lungs. However, the impact of losing a baby to stillbirth goes beyond just the emotional devastation. When a baby dies, the parents still get a bill from the hospital. They have to pay for burial or cremation, hold a funeral or memorial service, all of which can cost thousands of unanticipated dollars, after they’ve already spent the money to prepare their home and lives for living a baby. Not to mention the loss of wages from work, cost of counseling, and more. HB 100 will support families in Virginia who are experiencing very real heartache. Losing a child brings grief that will last a lifetime and while no amount of money can bring back these precious babies, this tax credit can help shoulder the burden of the loss. More than that, it gives a sliver of dignity to parents who have already lost so much.
HB 100 is the first bill listed. And you’re welcome to use the following comment or personalize to your preference: My name is Ms. Bonavita I live in Norfolk, VA. I am writing to support HB 100, the Stillbirth Tax Credit Bill. Every year more than 540 babies are stillborn in Virginia. Babies who were loved, anticipated, and incredibly missed. When that child is born silently into this world, the lives of the parents are changed forever, seared with the trauma of losing their child for as long as they have breath in their lungs. However, the impact of losing a baby to stillbirth goes beyond just the emotional devastation. When a baby dies, the parents still get a bill from the hospital. They have to pay for burial or cremation, hold a funeral or memorial service, all of which can cost thousands of unanticipated dollars, after they’ve already spent the money to prepare their home and lives for living a baby. Not to mention the loss of wages from work, cost of counseling, and more. HB 100 will support families in Virginia who are experiencing very real heartache. Losing a child brings grief that will last a lifetime and while no amount of money can bring back these precious babies, this tax credit can help shoulder the burden of the loss. More than that, it gives a sliver of dignity to parents who have already lost so much.
My name is Andrea Miller, I live in Arlington, VA. I am writing to support HB 100, the Stillbirth Tax Credit Bill. Every year more than 540 babies are stillborn in Virginia. Babies who were loved, anticipated, and incredibly missed. When that child is born silently into this world, the lives of the parents are changed forever, seared with the trauma of losing their child for as long as they have breath in their lungs. However, the impact of losing a baby to stillbirth goes beyond just the emotional devastation. When a baby dies, the parents still get a bill from the hospital. They have to pay for burial or cremation, hold a funeral or memorial service, all of which can cost thousands of unanticipated dollars, after they’ve already spent the money to prepare their home and lives for living a baby. Not to mention the loss of wages from work, cost of counseling, and more. HB 100 will support families in Virginia who are experiencing very real heartache. Losing a child brings grief that will last a lifetime and while no amount of money can bring back these precious babies, this tax credit can help shoulder the burden of the loss. More than that, it gives a sliver of dignity to parents who have already lost so much.
My name is Ashley Smith and I live in Henrico, Virginia. I am writing to support HB 100, the Stillbirth Tax Credit Bill. Every year more than 540 babies are stillborn in Virginia. Babies who were loved, anticipated, and incredibly missed. When that child is born silently into this world, the lives of the parents are changed forever, seared with the trauma of losing their child for as long as they have breath in their lungs. However, the impact of losing a baby to stillbirth goes beyond just the emotional devastation. When a baby dies, the parents still get a bill from the hospital. They have to pay for burial or cremation, hold a funeral or memorial service, all of which can cost thousands of unanticipated dollars, after they’ve already spent the money to prepare their home and lives for living a baby. Not to mention the loss of wages from work, cost of counseling, and more. HB 100 will support families in Virginia who are experiencing very real heartache, including multiple close friends of mine. Losing a child brings grief that will last a lifetime and while no amount of money can bring back these precious babies, this tax credit can help shoulder the burden of the loss. More than that, it gives a sliver of dignity to parents who have already lost so much.
My name is Cleriece Whitehill of Norfolk, VA. I am asking for your support of HB100. Parents who are grieving the loss of their stillborn baby are hit with thousands of dollars in hospital and burial expenses for a baby they have lost. Although nothing can diminish their pain over the loss of their baby, the passage of this bill can, at least, alleviate a little bit of their financial burden.
I support this bill to give some financial relief to parents who have suffered a devastating loss
My name is Kirsten Lent, I live in Gainesville, Virginia. I am writing to support HB 100, the Stillbirth Tax Credit Bill. Every year more than 540 babies are stillborn in Virginia. Babies who were loved, anticipated, and incredibly missed. When that child is born silently into this world, the lives of the parents are changed forever, seared with the trauma of losing their child for as long as they have breath in their lungs. However, the impact of losing a baby to stillbirth goes beyond just the emotional devastation. When a baby dies, the parents still get a bill from the hospital. They have to pay for burial or cremation, hold a funeral or memorial service, all of which can cost thousands of unanticipated dollars, after they’ve already spent the money to prepare their home and lives for a living baby. Not to mention the loss of wages from work, cost of counseling, and more. HB 100 will support families in Virginia who are experiencing very real heartache. Losing a child brings grief that will last a lifetime and while no amount of money can bring back these precious babies, this tax credit can help shoulder the burden of the loss. More than that, it gives a sliver of dignity to parents who have already lost so much.
My name is Jillian Carpenter, MSW and I live in Glen Allen, Virginia. I am writing to support HB 100, the Stillbirth Tax Credit Bill. Every year more than 540 babies are stillborn in Virginia. Babies who were loved, anticipated, and incredibly missed. When that child is born silently into this world, the lives of the parents are changed forever, seared with the trauma of losing their child for as long as they have breath in their lungs. However, the impact of losing a baby to stillbirth goes beyond just the emotional devastation. When a baby dies, the parents still get a bill from the hospital. They have to pay for burial or cremation, hold a funeral or memorial service, all of which can cost thousands of unanticipated dollars, after they’ve already spent the money to prepare their home and lives for living a baby. Not to mention the loss of wages from work, cost of counseling, and more. HB 100 will support families in Virginia who are experiencing very real heartache. Losing a child brings grief that will last a lifetime and while no amount of money can bring back these precious babies, this tax credit can help shoulder the burden of the loss. More than that, it gives a sliver of dignity to parents who have already lost so much. We owe it to these families to relieve some of the financial burden that adds unnecessary stress and trauma.
Dear Sir or Madam, My name is Luisa Kropcho. I live in Norfolk Virginia. I am writing in support of the HB100 Stillbirth Tax Credit. Please afford the devastated grieving parents of these stillborn babies the dignity and kindness of alleviating this additional burden. Sincerely, Luisa Kropcho MD
My Mother delivered a stillborn baby two years after I was born. I was in my 20's before she told me, and even after a quarter century of reflective healing, she wept that kind of breathless hiccup-like sobbing that children sometimes do. She remained wracked with what-did-I-do-wrong guilt. There was nothing I could do to lessen the pain she had carried all those years. I have never forgotten that. So for my Mom and every other mother and father who has lost a baby, I encourage the quick passage of HB100. Doing so will not relieve them of their profound grief, but it will give them a hand up at a time when they are feeling crushed and alone.
I support this bill. The heartache of losing a child should not he compounded by financial hardship.
My name is Carrie Kelley , I live in Virginia Beach. I am writing to support HB 100, the Stillbirth Tax Credit Bill. Every year more than 540 babies are stillborn in Virginia. Babies who were loved, anticipated, and incredibly missed. When that child is born silently into this world, the lives of the parents are changed forever, seared with the trauma of losing their child for as long as they have breath in their lungs. However, the impact of losing a baby to stillbirth goes beyond just the emotional devastation. When a baby dies, the parents still get a bill from the hospital. They have to pay for burial or cremation, hold a funeral or memorial service, all of which can cost thousands of unanticipated dollars, after they’ve already spent the money to prepare their home and lives for living a baby. Not to mention the loss of wages from work, cost of counseling, and more. HB 100 will support families in Virginia who are experiencing very real heartache. Losing a child brings grief that will last a lifetime and while no amount of money can bring back these precious babies, this tax credit can help shoulder the burden of the loss. More than that, it gives a sliver of dignity to parents who have already lost so much.
My name is Lauren Kreider, I live in Virginia Beach. I am writing to support HB 100, the Stillbirth Tax Credit Bill. Every year more than 540 babies are stillborn in Virginia. Babies who were loved, anticipated, and incredibly missed. When that child is born silently into this world, the lives of the parents are changed forever, seared with the trauma of losing their child for as long as they have breath in their lungs. However, the impact of losing a baby to stillbirth goes beyond just the emotional devastation. When a baby dies, the parents still get a bill from the hospital. They have to pay for burial or cremation, hold a funeral or memorial service, all of which can cost thousands of unanticipated dollars, after they’ve already spent the money to prepare their home and lives for living a baby. Not to mention the loss of wages from work, cost of counseling, and more. HB 100 will support families in Virginia who are experiencing very real heartache. Losing a child brings grief that will last a lifetime and while no amount of money can bring back these precious babies, this tax credit can help shoulder the burden of the loss. More than that, it gives a sliver of dignity to parents who have already lost so much. This is a personal issue to me as I have dear friends who have experienced this loss and have seen first hand the grief that comes along with it, forever lasting. This bill could allow for one bright spot in those very dim moments. Thank you for your consideration.
My name is Lori Manik. I am writing in support of HB100, Parents of Stillborn Child: establishing a refundable income tax credit. I became a grandmother in July 2021, but sadly, my grandson was stillborn at 41 weeks gestation. My daughter is a nurse, She had a very uneventful pregnancy and a perfect delivery until her baby was born dead. He had the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck twice. I cannot tell you how life-changing and heartbreaking this has been for my daughter & our family. Living on without your baby is the worst nightmare a parent could ever have happen. On top of all the heartache, emptiness & grief, there is also the financial burden. The cost of a funeral, cremation or burial are in itself costly. Then there is the cost of counseling, loss of wages for work missed to heal your body & mind. The expenses of everything purchased tor the baby you thought you’d bring home. Giving anyone who has lost a baby stillborn, an income tax credit is the least they should get. Please vote yes for HB100 to give all our families in Virginia who have experienced this unthinkable loss, a refundable income tax credit. Thank you from the bottom of my broken heart.
My name is Megan Gillispie. I am Theodore John Gillispie’s mother. I live in Norfolk, VA and on February 23rd, 2021 at 3:09 pm, after just under 24 hours of labor, my son was stillborn at 41 weeks and 3 days due to a nuchal cord accident; 10 full days after his due date. Our house was 100% ready to welcome our first born baby, and my hospital bag was packed and by the front door next to the car seat, so my husband could grab them as we frantically rushed to the hospital when it was time. We even bought a new (used) car because my car wouldn’t fit my tall husband, myself, and our new car seat. But at my routine 41 week appointment on 2/22/21, alone in the ultrasound room due to COVID-19 precautions, I learned that my fully gestated baby no longer had a heart beat. I was 34 and Theo was our first baby who we were lucky to conceive via IVF after 3 years of infertility treatment. I am writing you to request your support of HB 100, the Stillbirth Tax Credit Bill. Every year more than 540 babies are stillborn in Virginia. Babies who were loved, anticipated, and wanted more than most people could ever know. When that life is lost, when that child is born silently into this world, the lives of the parents are seared with the trauma of that loss for as long as their heart beats. However, the impact of losing a baby to stillbirth goes beyond just the emotional devastation. We received the hospital bill for the delivery of my son about 2 weeks after we got home from the hospital. Instead of bringing our son home and introducing him to our dogs and spending sleepless nights breastfeeding a crying baby, we had to make the decision about whether or not we wanted him to be buried or cremated, and plan a memorial service for him. It cost $4,836 to cremate my 9lb, 23 1/4 inch long baby. It cost another $2,000 for his memorial service. The urn we picked out for him was $500, which seems absurd, and yet, nothing felt like it was good enough or expensive enough for our baby’s ashes. All of this after we purchased everything we could possibly need to bring home our first born baby. HB 100 will greatly support families in Virginia who are experiencing very real heartache. Losing a child brings grief that will last a lifetime and while no amount of money can bring back my baby, this tax credit can help to shoulder the burden of the loss. More than that, it gives a sliver of dignity to parents who have already lost so much. I hope you will consider supporting this important legislation. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions. Megan & Dan Gillispie Theo’s parents
I strongly support this Bill. I care for parents suffering form miscarriage, stillbirth and neonatal death. This bill provides tax relief for stillbirth which is a forgotten marginalized loss in our society but huge for those who suffer. They are huge expenses in pregnancy, birth, burial, funeral and maternity leave for mother to recover physically before rerunning to work. IF the baby had lived, there would be a tax credit but historically there was none with the babu died.