Pls stop all animal experiments and cruelty. Someone has to speak and step up for those who cannot. Pls stop all cruelty Thanks

VaLCV encourages SUPPORT for HB1588 HB1588 (Sullivan) Electric Vehicle Rural Infrastructure Program and Fund; created. This bill creates the Electric Vehicle Rural Infrastructure Program and Fund, providing developers with grants covering up to 70% of costs associated with installation of EV charging stations in rural, low-income areas. The Fund is capped at $25 million per year. Reasons to SUPPORT HB1588: - Virginia has received $106 million in federal funds to set up charging stations along highway corridors, but the Commonwealth does not have funds set aside for EV charging stations in rural areas. - Rural tourism, park, and historic sites stand to benefit from co-location with charging stations which incentivizes travelers with EVs to visit (and stay for a while) at their site. - Rural residents who drive longer distances stand to benefit most from cheaper cost-per-mile gains associated with EVs, but lack of charging infrastructure remains a barrier to adoption.

What a kind thoughtful thing to do, provide wheelchairs so everyone can enjoy our wonderful parks. Patty

Hi, Please consider providing all terrain wheelchairs at state parks in VA. As a double above the knee amputee this resource would be a game changer. It would mean really being able to explore all that our beautiful state parks have to offer. Please provide the tools many of us need to fully appreciate the natural beauty around us. Thanks, Bob

I support HB1588. Whether Virginia prepares for it or not, by 2035, the majority of new cars in dealerships will be ZEVs. Considering Virginia's tourism and geographical position athwart East Coast transportation arteries, the majority of vehicles on our roads will be zero emissions. Lets take sensible measures now to be ready.

Pls stop all animal experiments and cruelty. Someone has to speak and step up for those who cannot. Pls stop all cruelty Thanks

What a kind thoughtful thing to do, provide wheelchairs so everyone can enjoy our wonderful parks. Patty

It's our responsibility to protect the ones that have no voice

I am heartened to see HB1722 is enjoying bipartisan support. This is not a partisan issue! All of our health and welfare is at stake. This bill is a brilliant, simple stop-gap measure that would give pause to mineral mining in Virginia. It does an end run around the bleak prospects of there being a much needed overhaul of Virginia’s current mining laws and regulations, which the HB2213 state study concluded are not sufficient to protect our health and ecosystems. The long sad widespread history of mineral mining poisoning water, land and air does not need to be repeated here. Let’s get this done and then work on putting more substantial protections in place. Thank you all for your support.

As a Virginia resident for the past 43 years, I rely on our gov't to protect us from harm and I have particular health concerns specifically. I moved to Central Virginia especially because of the beauty of the county in which I live and also for the healthy air and water. Over the years, we've been faced with challenges to our health. Our state and local governments have done a great job of addressing those and I am hopeful it will be the same in this current situation. I am writing concerning the study of the possible impact of gold mining here. At present, we don't have solid enough regulations to protect our water, air and health from gold mining impact. I know I, as well as many others, are so thankful to Delegate Simonds for sponsoring this bill that will help keep us safe. We need full support of this bill, please! Thank you sincerely.

VaLCV encourages SUPPORT for HB1722: HB 1722 (Simonds) Banning cyanide & cyanide compounds in mineral mining operations In 2022, the Commonwealth studied the potential impacts of gold mining. The study report, approved by Governor Youngkin, states that Virginia's regulations are insufficient to protect against those impacts. Of the impacts studied, of most concern were the impacts to Virginia's ground and surface water. Reasons to SUPPORT HB1722: This legislation protects Virginia's water from cyanide contamination associated with gold mining. Cyanide spills in mining are common and result in ruined drinking water, the destruction of ecosystems, and massive fish kills. Negative impacts to ground and surface water are more likely with the use of cyanide processing. This legislation stems from recommendations made by National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, who, after studying potential impacts of gold mining in Virginia determined "Virginia's regulations are insufficient to protect against the potential impacts of gold mining

What a kind thoughtful thing to do, provide wheelchairs so everyone can enjoy our wonderful parks. Patty

HB1722 would protect people from a significant mining risk identified in a recent report by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine and state agency study group. The report states in plain English that Virginia’s mining regulations are inadequate to protect public health and the environment. HB1722 would ban the use of cyanide in metal mining and processing and thus help protect wildlife and public health. The report Potential Impacts of Gold Mining and Processing in the Commonwealth strongly recommends amending and updating Virginia’s mining laws and regulations. It's available here: https://energy.virginia.gov/public/documents/Public%20Meetings/VirginiaEnergy_Potential_Impacts_of_Gold_mining_and_Processing_in_the_Commonwealth_Report20221201.pdf

Please support HB 1722, which bans the use of cyanide and cyanide compounds in mineral mining processes. The National Academy of Sciences and State Agency Committee on large-scale gold mining recently reported on the significant threats to Virginia’s water resources from this toxin. When cyanide is used in the gold mining process, it can then leech or spill from waste storage ponds. HB 1722 is bipartisan bill that will not only protect our water resources, but human health as well. Please pass HB 1722.

I am in strong support of House Bill 1722. As a lifelong resident of Virginia, I am deeply concerned about the peoples of the Commonwealth - our - access to and availability of safe drinking water. This bill would place a necessary restriction on cyanide use in mineral and metal mining in Virginia. This bill can protect millions of Virginians' drinking water from harmful - if not deadly - cyanide contamination. This bill is backed by a scientific study and subsequent recommendation of legislation from the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM). This group spent multiple years studying the potential impacts of gold mining in Virginia, resulting in this bill. It would be absurd not to allow this bill to be put into law. We all must drink water to live. It is fundamentally our life source. We must protect it. This can be done by supporting this bill (HB 1722).

I support banning the use of cyanide in mineral/gold mining. I would hate for cyanide from mining to contaminate the water that I drink from my well which draws from the groundwater here in Virginia. No one should have to worry about cyanide or any other harmful chemicals from mining going into their water.

I demanding that you protect our water stop the mountain valley pipeline from being drilled it will endanger people living there I am begging to protect our waters and lands as so important for endangered species and people. Concerned Citizen Ji Montgomery

I support HB1722. Invariably, mining chemicals leach into the environment.

Appalachian Voices is deeply thankful for HB1722, a common sense, protective bill that is in response to recent reports from the National Academy of Sciences and a Virginia State Agency Committee on the potential impacts from large-scale gold mining. As shared in the reports required by HB2213 (2021 session), the risks from large-scale gold mining include its processing procedures, which use cyanide. Those procedures and storage of toxic waste material would directly threaten the James River and its watershed, risking the drinking water supply for 2.7 million people. We ask that you please support HB1722 to ban the use of cyanide and cyanide compounds in mineral mining and processing operations.

As the coordinator of the Press Pause Coalition, I request that you please support HB1722. The Press Pause Coalition was established to ensure that Virginia adequately considers the realities of mineral mining before any projects like gold mining move forward. The National Academies' report on the potential impacts of industrial gold mining made it clear that the Commonwealth's regulations are deficient. The report recommended that "To protect against the potential impacts of gold mining, the General Assembly and state agencies should update Virginia’s laws and its regulatory framework." HB1722 is a good first step in addressing the Commonwealth's regulatory deficiencies in this area, particularly as the bill is being amended to ensure it does not interfere with current mining operations. Please vote in support of HB1722.

I urge you to vote in support of HB1722. In light of exploration currently occurring in Virginia for potential large-scale gold mining and knowing the results of the NASEM study, which found Virginia’s regulations to be inadequate for the gold mining industry, it is critically important to ensure Virginia’s drinking water sources are protected from cyanide, a well-known poison. Again, I urge you to support this logical and proactive bill.

I support this bill as the recent National Academy of Sciences Report and state agency report on gold mining determined that Virginia does not have the regulatory infrastructure to support large scale industrial mining. The use of cyanide to remove metalsi from crushed rock is a risky and dangerous activity that has not ever proven to be without consequences for water and the environment more generally. This is a vitally important bill and I completely support it.

It's our responsibility to protect the ones that have no voice

I fully support HB1722.

It's our responsibility to protect the ones that have no voice

I demanding that you protect our water stop the mountain valley pipeline from being drilled it will endanger people living there I am begging to protect our waters and lands as so important for endangered species and people. Concerned Citizen Ji Montgomery

It's our responsibility to protect the ones that have no voice

I would like to support both bills pertaining to Native plant species and Noxious/Invasive plants. I have been a citizen science volunteer in Virginia since 1999 when I graduated from college. Over the years I have seen and learned just how detrimental invasive plants are to our community as a whole, and the impact they are having on our natural ecosystems and the services they provide. It dumb founds me that I was learning about this in college in 1995 and here 28 years later we have made progress, but how little it is. The progress is by the citizens, the non-profits, the homeowners, the researchers. If we had really started making changes 30 years ago can you imagine what could have been accomplished?! Implementing regulation to stop the sale of these harmful plants, rules as to what can be planted on public lands, guidelines to both residential and commercial builder as to what kind of landscaping is acceptable in our state, more funding/tax credits to citizens like me who are willing to spend thousands of dollars to remove their lawn, install conservation landscaping and volunteer hours every year pulling and chopping down invasive plants. Just imagine what we could do if there was state regulation and backing!! Please stop kicking the can!! We are running out of time. We must make drastic changes and see how beautiful our state could really be if we managed our land with love!! Sincerely, Renee Kitt Old Rag Master Naturalist The Clifton Institute Volunteer VCAP Recipient for conservation landscaping Owner and Grower - Ahimsa Native Plants and Design

I know I am not a resident of Virginia, but I deeply care about what happens in your state. Shenandoah National Park and the severity of invasive plants at its boundary (You spend a lot of $$$ on invasive plant management there.) greatly distresses me. Please know that this is twofold for me; most of the time what happens east of us comes to Indiana. Most importantly, though, it would be devastating to see that glorious National Park taken over by invasives. Please do everything you can to protect Virgina's native plant life (and therefore native animal species as well). I love your state! Lori Ecker Indianapolis, Indiana 317.430.3639

I support this bill. Native landscapes support beneficial wildlife and can reduce maintenance costs. Sustainable landscapes with native species address stormwater challenges and can help mitigate the effects of climate change and flooding. It is very hard to eradicate non-native plants that take over native habitats.

HB1998 Strongly support the use of native plant species on state properties. HB2096 Strongly support regular updates of the invasive plant species list as well as increased information available to consumers regarding those species.

I am for this bill. The more native plants, the more animal and insect species. Please pass.

HB1811 | Oppose: As someone who enjoys horseback riding through the state, hunting season is always potentially dangerous and difficult to navigate. Perpetually open hunting season would have drastic negative repercussions on the equine industry throughout the state. HB1984 | Oppose: This sounds like a good idea but could create difficulties for people with livestock guardian animals who are already under fire from overzealous animal rights advocates. I would support this bill with more specific language. HB1985 | Support HB1989 | Strongly support HB1998 | Strongly support: Increasing native plant populations is vitally important for the preservation of biodiversity and our pollinator populations. Increasing native plants on public lands is a fantastic use of public resources (when money will be put towards plants or landscaping anyway) and will also serve to increase visibility and awareness. HB2096 | Strongly support: I'm concerned about removing a provision that prohibits movement, etc. of invasive plants but strongly support the remainder of the bill. Many people continue to buy, sell, trade, and plant known invasive plants because they're not officially listed in the state or because uneducated consumers request them. Many business (and arboretums!?!!) continue to carry and sell these plants for the same reasons. The state invasive plant list is woefully out of date. Actually updating and listing invasive plants as such would go a long way towards helping to fix some of these issues. Thank you for taking my comments into consideration

The Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (VASWCD) is a private nonprofit association of 47 soil and water conservation districts in Virginia. The Association provides and promotes leadership in the conservation of natural resources through stewardship and education programs. It coordinates conservation efforts statewide to focus effectively on issues identified by local member districts. Our mission is to serve and strengthen soil & water conservation districts in the stewardship of natural resources. Invasive plants cause both economic and environmental problems in all regions of the Commonwealth. Often sold to unwitting purchasers, invasive plants easily and rapidly spread onto neighboring private lands and into adjacent county, state, and federal conservation areas. They often cause expensive and difficult to solve management problems for neighboring landowners and degrade the environmental health of farms, forests, and parks across the Commonwealth. At the December 2022 annual meeting of the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts in Roanoke, the Association unanimously expressed support of legislation and other efforts to further control the spread of invasive plants in Virginia. We believe that government agencies should model best environmental practices and provide a positive example to others in the Commonwealth. Virginia state agencies should not find themselves in the position of undertaking practices that might degrade environmental quality in the Commonwealth, even unintentionally. Consistent with this view, the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts strongly supports HB 1998 patroned by Delegate Krizek, which directs the Secretaries of Natural and Historic Resources, Agriculture and Forestry, and Administration to coordinate the development of strategic actions for state agencies to take to prioritize the use of native plant species on state properties. Native plants are excellent landscaping substitutes for invasive plants. In addition, they showcase Virginia’s rich natural heritage for out of state visitors and residents alike. We believe HB 1998 takes a positive step to address the many problems posed by invasive plants. We urge its prompt passage.

Please support HB 1998. As a former National Park Service Ranger-Naturalist, I can personally testify to the reduction in the number of birds and other animals that can be seen in Virginia over the past 4 decades. I have volunteered since 2006 to remove nonnative invasive plants from our local parks. As recently as January 21, 2023, I spent 8 hours as a resource person for an Eagle Scout candidate removing invasive plants from a park, with volunteers totaling more than 90 hours that day alone. The problem is huge in Virginia. Every acre covered in nonnative plants is an acre that fails to support native wildlife. This bill will help. Please support it. Sincerely, Sarah Thomas Mayhew Fairfax, VA 22032

As a landowner in western Greene County I support HB1998. The current Invasive Species Working Group has, in the past decade, with no budget and resources other than existing staff in VDACS and DCR, produced a State Invasive Species Management Plan, and a State Invasive Species List. The role and functions of the ISWG should be strengthened through passage of the budget amendments currently before the House Appropriations and Senate Finance committees. Without State agency budgets for invasive plant control and other functions in the State Plan, the ISWG will remain largely an empty shell of a functioning body, simply sharing information, and the strategic actions recommended in Section 2.2-220.2 C. of this bill, will remain largely toothless and meaningless.

I urge you to amend the existing invasive species legislation (through HR1998) to allow state agencies to prioritize the use of native plants on state lands. English ivy, Japanese grasses and vines, among many others have devastated our parks and forests. Over the years, I have worked with others under County/City supervision to remove invasive plants, but they continue to proliferate through seeds and plantings on adjoining lands. Native plants provide benefits critical to the maintenance of our public lands, including water management and the preservation of our native pollinators and other beneficial naive species. People who use native parks for hiking and other recreational activities are often moved to plant native species in their own gardens. The passage of HR 1998 will provide more resources for the preservation/proliferation of native plants and the curbing of the spread of noxious invasive on our public lands.

The above two bills could hugely (positively) impact our natural environments. We are losing these biodiverse, special environments as I type. While noxious weeds are usually only mitigated as an agricultural pest - our natural landscapes are being destroyed by invasive plants and everything suffers because of it. By limiting non-native/invasive plants being used, it can mitigate the efforts (physical and monetary) that goes into reclaiming and preserving landscapes. Prioritizing ornamental native plants on state property is the catalyst needed for restoring our natural environments and biodiversity. Native plants require less fertilizer, less amending, and less water as they have evolved to be planted here. It would benefit everyone to see these two bills passed!

I believe we should be referring to invasive species as pollutants. It is not acceptable that in 2023 people are still propagating these plants in the name of aesthetics without regard to the habitat destruction potential. We can do better but we need education and norms to change.

I strongly support bill HB1998. Native plants are vital parts of our ecosystem and requiring prioritization of native plants will help to support native pollinating insects and birds.

On behalf of the Audubon Society of Northern Virginia, I urge the subcommittee to recommend reporting HB1998. Native plants typically are far more beneficial to wildlife than non-natives. Without sufficient native plants, populations of birds, insects and other wildlife will continue to decline. The use of non-native plants, and particularly invasive plants that out-compete natives, harms our state's ecosystem. This bill will help allow the Commonwealth to "lead by example" in protecting our environment.

Please support HB1998. My back yard has been transformed into a Native Woodland Garden. I need no fertilizers, pesticides nor supplemental watering (except for new plantings). It is good for the environment for those reasons, plus- the wildlife love it! Native flora support native fauna and help our world stay (or be restored to) balance- a legacy for our children.

I strongly support HB1998. Please support this bill, which will prioritize the use of native plant species on state properties. Doing so represents an enormous opportunity to raise awareness about the benefits of native plants, enhance the biodiversity of the state's ecosystem, and, over time, reduce maintenance costs. Native plants help address stormwater challenges and mitigate the effects of climate change and flooding. Prioritizing their use on state properties can also help drive demand for native plants and ultimately lead to a stronger overall market for native plants in the state.

I write in strong support of two bills, HB 1998, relating to promotion of the use of native plants on state property and HB 2096, relating to noxious weeds and invasive plants. HB 1998, promoting the use of native plants: they require little maintenance, being adapted to our native soils and climate; and also support our pollinators, and they are also beautiful. HB2096 addresses aspects of Noxious weeds and invasive plants in general. Noxious weeds and invasive plants in general are growing ever more dominant in our native landscapes, with much damage to our native plants. We must work to manage these invasive plants and also work to keep them from being sold in the trade, which means they are spreading in part because people buy them, not realizing the damage they can do to our native landscapes. Thank you for positive consideration of these bills. Sincerely, Ruth Douglas Albemarle County

I am writing in support of Bill HB1998 to require the State to use native species in their plantings. Virginia commercial agriculture, parks, and private lands depend upon pollinators to provide a crucial mechanism for our plant life to survive and thrive. Many of these pollinators must have native plants, grasses, flowering plants, shrubs, trees, and vines, on which to lay their eggs and from which to take their pollen when they are in bloom. These pollinators are a variety of insects upon which our native birds feed. Without a strong ecosystem of native plants the insect pollinators and simultaneously the birds decline. For much too long the state of Virginia has been planting nonnative species in a variety of settings, including along roadways, to stop erosion, and as decorative plantings. As a result our Virginia countryside is now filled with invasive species that are crowding out and killing our native species. I have owned 170 acres, largely forested, since 1970 that is in easements with the Department of Forestry. What was pristine land, except for deer predation and Japanese honeysuckle, is now filling up with alanthus, Jap stilt grass, Asian Bittersweet, Russian Olive, Asian Barberry, Chinese lespedeza, Japanese clover, and Beefsteak Plant, to name the worst. I could list many others I see around the county that I don't yet have. Some used to be highly recommended by the State for wildlife support (I have the brochures.), others for the highways and erosion control. Please support this bill to require the State of Virginia to use Virginia native species for all their public planting projects. They are beautiful plants and just as effective as nonnatives. Thank you.

Native plants support beneficial insects, birds and native wildlife. Expanding their use whenever possible and practicable benefits the ecosystem in which we live. Therefore, I support HB1998 which will prioritize the use of native plants on state properties. Invasive, non-native plant crowd out and out compete beneficial native plants which has a detrimental effect on both the flora and fauna of our region. Therefore, I also support HB2096 which will reduce the availability and use of invasive plants in Virginia.

This is a great way to get started on promoting native species, let the state take the lead to protect our beautiful Virginia landscape.

Invasive plants destroy native biodiversity, crowd out and smother valuable native plants and are costly to control. The state owns many large properties that could be converted to more natural landscaping using native plants. These approaches are biologically healthier and more biodiverse than traditional turf and can help reverse declines in insect, birds and other wildlife. Once plants are established, these approaches can reduce maintenance costs, pollution and water use. This could create a new market or demand for native plants. The state should set the standard, be a role model by providing guidance and by planting native plants and restoring degraded habitat. The Department of Conservation and Recreation already has a similar policy for DCR properties, e.g., state parks. VDOT already has its pollinator habitat program for rest areas.

I heartily endorse the objectives of both these bills, which will serve the people of the Commonwealth of Virginia by creating more sustainable habitat that can support urgent biodiversity goals. Please cast your votes favorably for sound stewardship of our green spaces with this sensible legislation. Thank you.

Comment on HB1998 State agencies should set the example by not planting invasive species. This not only discourages others from using them, but also demonstrates how native plants can be used effectively in their place. I support passage of this bill.

Please support HB1998. The use of native plant species on state properties would serve to educate the public about the benefits of planting native species. These plantings would also benefit the surrounding ecosystem, including pollinators.

I am in SUPPORT of HB 1998 and HB 2096, and I would like the state of VA to take this one step further and altogether ban the sale or planting of invasives that make it onto the official list these bills would produce. It is heartbreaking to drive route 211 from Warrenton to Shenandoah National Park and see the autumn olives, tree of heaven, and bradford pears that have escaped cultivation and are choking out our native habitat for wildlife. Many well meaning but unknowing gardeners earnestly believe that, because they do not see their invasive plants popping up in their own gardens, that they must not be spreading. Please drive route 211 or take a hike in the SNP and see that you are wrong. The amount of resources that landowners and the park must use in order to combat these invasives is staggering. [Kudos, btw, to whoever lives at Calico Farm and just took out ALL the bradford pears that lined their driveway!] It is already possibly too late though for our park. Other states are out and out BANNING all invasives. These two bills in question today are good, but they are still not enough.

Please support HB 1998. Prioritization of the use of native plant species on public property represents an enormous opportunity to improve the health and biodiversity of Virginia’s ecosystem. Native landscapes support beneficial wildlife and can reduce maintenance costs. Sustainable landscapes with native species address stormwater challenges and can help mitigate the effects of climate change and flooding. The prioritization of native species on state properties also helps raise awareness about the benefits of native species and can drive broader demand for ecologically-beneficial sustainable landscape methods. Use of native species is an essential component in the Commonwealth’s efforts to reduce the impacts of invasive species.

I am writing to support the use of native plants on state properties. This will enable citizens to see the beauty of native plants and to encourage more planting of natives. Native plants support the ecosystem and are essential to the life of birds and other creatures. Invasive plants are taking over many of the natural areas of the Alexandria area. It is so discouraging to walk through the parks and see the English ivy and other invasive plants growing up trees and all over the ground crowding out our native plants. I urge you to support HB 1998.

I strongly support HB 1382 (Gooditis) and urge you to support this important animal protection bill. There are many old-fashioned and ill-informed ideas about the nature of declawing surgery, but declawing is in fact amputation. It cruelly injures companion animals, depriving them of their natural abilities and defenses, while doing nothing to keep them in homes or protect human health. Please vote YES on this humane legislation.

I strongly support HB 1382 (Gooditis) and urge you to support this important animal protection bill. There are many old-fashioned and ill-informed ideas about the nature of declawing surgery, but declawing is in fact amputation. It cruelly injures companion animals, depriving them of their natural abilities and defenses, while doing nothing to keep them in homes or protect human health. Please vote YES on this humane legislation.

Dear legislators, please support HB1998 to prioritize the use of native plants on public lands. This is the right choice for the earth and all its present and future inhabitants. Thank you!

I ask you to pass this bill as it will promote using native plants on state lands in order to support native wildlife including pollinators, birds, etc.. Also, with our changing climate and proliferation of invasive plants, it is essential to plant native in order to promote a healthy ecosystem through biodiversity. Required planting of native species on state owned properties would set the standard for Virginia citizens; many of whom are just learning the importance of using native plants. Eradicating non-natives from many decades of "past mistakes" is costly in so many ways - it's time to set a firm standard that works toward a healthy and balanced environment. Thank you.

As a native plant gardener and conservationist I am dismayed by the continued sale of non-native invasive plant species by Virginia nurseries. These two bills will help curb sale of invasive English Ivy.

I support HB1998 in requiring the planting of native species on state owned properties.The planting of native species on roadsides, parks and other lands that are owned by the state would be a giant first step in promoting the use of native species. Invasive species that are planted in these areas guarantee the spread of these species into surrounding lands. Thank you for introducing this bill. William Mays

Please support HB 1998. Native plants help support our endangered pollinators, promote ecological resiliency, and mitigate climate change. There is every reason to require state properties to utilize native plantings that are best adapted to our Virginia climate and soils, and there are no good reasons to allow landscaping with non-native plants. Planting with natives will save the taxpayers money. Native plants need no fertilizers and, once established, need no artificial watering. They require very little maintenance. Furthermore, since they are grown locally they minimize transportation costs, thus reducing the impact of fossil fuels. Native plants are grown here in Virginia by native plant nurseries; landscaping with these plants supports local small businesses and the Virginia economy. Native plants feed our wild bird populations and support migrating birds on their journey south. Virginia is a major path on the Monarch butterfly eastern migration route, and native plants can help restore their endangered population. Some popular non-native landscaping plants like Nandina have toxic berries that are poisoning our native birds. The Cedar waxwing population has plummeted from eating Nandina berries. When you landscape with native plants, there is no harm to our wildlife. Landscaping with native plants is a critical part of creating a sustainable future for Virginia. Thank you for supporting this important legislation.

I am writing in support of HB 1998. Native plant species support wildlife at many levels, and they are essential to our ecosystem, it's extremely important to promote their use. Prioritizing native species in state-funded landscaping, whether by roadways or on the grounds of government buildings, is an excellent approach.

Thank you for proposing this bill. Prioritization of the use of native species on state property represents an enormous opportunity to improve the health and biodiversity of Virginia’s ecosystem. Native landscapes support beneficial wildlife and can reduce maintenance costs. Sustainable landscapes with native species address stormwater challenges and can help mitigate the effects of climate change and flooding. The prioritization of native species on state properties also helps raise awareness about the benefits of native species and can drive broader demand for ecologically-beneficial sustainable landscape methods. Use of native species is an essential component in the Commonwealth’s efforts to reduce the impacts of invasive species.

Please pass the above two bills. It makes sense to put native plant species in the state's parks. Regarding the removal of invasive plants, there should not be legal restrictions to remove them from a property or dispose of them.

I am writing in support of HB 1998. We have learnt the hard way why not to plant non-native plants. That state agencies prioritize the use of native plants in the landscaping endeavors is a big step in the right direction. Let's amend the past wrongdoings and prioritize the use of native plants.

As an active volunteer for nature preserves & home owner of a wildlife friendly property I am deeply committed to helping controls invasives plants and include native plants in my plantings. I have found over the years that using native plants brings much enjoyed wildlife to areas as well as healing the environment. With climate patterns changing it seems invasives are also increasing & affecting the wildlife loss & economic problems for all. Thank you for your bill.

Dear Representative, Thank you for taking the time to read my feedback on HB 2096 Noxious weeds; invasive plant species' bill. These undesirable plants are more than noxious. They threaten every bird and insect in our forest. Probably they had already altered the edaphic microbiota of our soils. And most importantly, they threaten the continuation of the Eastern US deciduous forest as we know them. It does not take a professional eye to realize that native trees are being displaced by unwanted intruders. We are all going to pay the price in one way or another. Thank you for the amendments in this bill. They are a start in the right direction. They are not sufficient, but hopefully they will influence future bills. Sincerely yours, Virginia Zuniga

I strongly support HB1998. Prioritization of the use of native species on state property represents an enormous opportunity to improve the health and biodiversity of Virginia’s ecosystem. Native landscapes support beneficial wildlife and can reduce maintenance costs. Sustainable landscapes with native species address stormwater challenges and can help mitigate the effects of climate change and flooding. The prioritization of native species on state properties also helps raise awareness about the benefits of native species and can drive broader demand for ecologically-beneficial sustainable landscape methods. Use of native species is an essential component in the Commonwealth’s efforts to reduce the impacts of invasive species.

I ask for your approval of HB 1998. I've been working as a volunteer removing invasive plants for 20 years at my condo association in Alexandria, as well as assisting other organizations on public and private property. Anything that can be done to increase the use of native plants by the state of Virginia is very welcome and much needed to help our native ecosystems recover from the ignorance and abuse that our land has had thrust upon it. Especially useful would be more education of the public as well as those who work for the state on the benefits of using native plants and the destructiveness of using non-native invasive plants.

This is an important bill. Unfortunately, Virginia has a history of planting invasive, non-native species, though with good intentions. Sericea lespedeza and Autumn Olive are just two examples. Each of these has spread beyond their original planting sites and have become problems for many people. I own 223 acres in Louisa County. I'm trying to eradicate the sericea and autumn olive as best I can, but they are not easy to control. Sericea lespedeza is a perennial and each plant can produce hundreds of seeds that can last in the soil for several years. Similarly, an Autumn Olive can produce up to 200,000 seeds and changes the soil chemistry around it, making it harder for native plants to grow. Native plants have a number of advantages. For me, the primary advantage is local wildlife has adapted to the timing of their flowering and seed production. Many non-native species provide little, if any, benefit to wildlife. For example, the seeds of sericea lespedeza is too high in tannins for them to be of much use to birds. Contrast that to the many native species of lespedeza in Virginia. Again, just to name two examples, Virginia Lespedeza and Creeping Lespedeza provide food for pollinators and seeds for many ground-nesting birds, including quail. Please support this bill and native plants species. Thank you

We need to promote using native plants on state lands in order to support native wildlife including pollinators, birds, etc.. Also, with our changing climate and proliferation of invasive plants, it is essential to plant native in order to promote a healthy ecosystem through biodiversity.

My wife and I support Bill HB1998 addressing native plants. We are avid supporters of promoting native plants and addressing the negative impacts of invasive plants. Since we have established native plant meadows, we have seen increased numbers and species of birds, butterflies, and wildlife to share with our grandkids, friends, and neighbors. Please continue to work to pass this bill.

I strongly support using Virginia native plants on state lands. Besides increasing the ecological value of the planted landscape it avoids the use of invasive plants.

It is critical that we support HB 1998 and HB 2096 in the importance of native plants in our ecosystem and to address the massive problems of invasive species.

I am a volunteer with the Fairfax County Park Authority to remove invasive species from our local forests. This is an endless and frustrating task given the extent to which our public lands are infested with eco-destroying invasive plants. We NEED STATE SUPPORT for eradication programs AND to address the problem of garden centers and big box stores selling flats of invasive species without even a label indicating that they are invasive. At the very least, a label might help homeowners make more mindful decisions about their landscaping needs.

I am writing in support of HB1998 to use Native Plants on Virginia public lands.

I am writing in support of HB 1998. Native plant species support wildlife at many levels, and they are essential to our ecosystem. It is important to promote their use. Prioritizing native species in state-funded landscaping, whether by roadways or on the grounds of government buildings, is an excellent approach to this effort.

Please support both HB 1998 encouraging the use of native plants on public property and HB 2096 to educate the public on the danger of installing non-native, invasive plants on their property. Thank you.

Dear Committee Members, My partner, Tom and I care deeply about the health and vitality of our natural and cultivated ecosystems and support wise stewardship for the benefit of all we are writing in support of HB 1998. We live on and tend a 10 acre, partially wooded parcel of land, which was created when 100 acre farm in Greene County was subdivided about 20 years ago. After five or so years of ownership, we began to see encroachment of many noxious, invasive species, including English ivy, oriental bittersweet, autumn olive, Alanthus, Japanese stilt grass, along with many others. Our neighbors properties have experienced the invasion of these noxious plants as well. The damage done by these invasive plants gaining a foothold is deep and vast. Oriental bittersweet, for example, will strangle mature trees, and grow into their canopies, causing the demise of mature forests. Alanthus trees, which have become common among local roadways, are the preferred host for the most destructive new insect to our ecosystem, particularly to vineyards in Virginia, the Spotted Lantern Fly. All these plans outcompete the native plants that are integral to the bounty and beauty of our natural landscapes of Virginia. As we begin to look for ways to address these unwelcome plants, we contacted knowledgeable people and professionals, who guided us towards steps to take so that we may be responsible stewards of this land. To support the pollinators that benefit the ecosystem and agricultural crop yields, we converted to 4 acre declining hayfield into a pollinator meadow sewn with native species. The process has entailed for us a steep learning curve and required intensive hands-on work to battle exotic “thug plants“. We have cut by hand many invasives and forest-mulched big thickets of “blow-overs”(mature trees taken down by invasive vines and wind) with some outside assistance. So that the natives in the meadow stand a chance, we have had to address invasives such as Japanese lespedeza, a plant that is particularly difficult to eradicate. Ironically, Lespedeza is often seeded by VDOT on the side of newly installed roads such as the John Warner Parkway in Charlottesville. So even with the efforts we put into nurturing the pollinator meadow, new lespedeza get seeded by birds and other animals who carry seeds from intentionally planted lespedeza. Many would give up the on the face of this challenge, and many, including us are passionate about preserving the health of our land. Please support this bill, and other wise stewardship policies for the sake of all present and future generations. Sincerely, Elaine Shaw and Thomas Walsh

I strongly support both HB 1998 to encourage the use of native plants on public property and HB 2096 to educate the public on the danger of installing non-native, invasive plants on their property. Virginia is over run with invasive non-native plants. The sides of all our highways are being choked by autumn olive trees and a multitude of vines. Preserved properties I monitor in Virginia are infested with ivy, Japanese stiltgrass, bittersweet, alianthus, barberry, etc. Thank you for supporting both HB 1998 and HB 2096

Let's help create habitat for our native wildlife by setting an example. If state agencies prioritize the use of native plants on state properties, then visitors to those state properties may decide to plant those natives too. I would go a step further, consider labeling the native plants with the plant names and what native wildlife benefits from that plant. Let's make it easy for people to learn about and plant natives, which will result in an expansion of native habitats beyond state owned properties.

Please support both HB 1998 encouraging the use of native plants on public property and HB 2096 to educate the public on the danger of installing non-native, invasive plants on their property.

I am writing to urge you to protect native plant species by passing HB 2096 and HB 1998. I have been part of the never-ending fight to preserve our native habitats, working and leading invasive removal events in Arlington to protect and preserve the insects, trees, flowers, and small mammals that would otherwise be able to thrive in our forests. On almost every walk through our parks, I see non-native plants such as English ivy, Japanese honeysuckle, multiflora rose, and loads more smothering the landscape and pushing out our lovely native habitats. Maddeningly, many invasive species continue to be planted by landscaping companies. More support from the state is vital to fund removal efforts and public education and to place restrictions on landscaping companies on what can be planted.

With regard to HB 1998 and 2096: I am strongly in favor of all action that supports and prioritizes the use of native plants. Native plants provide homes and food for wildlife and protect our environment. Noxious and invasive weeds such as English ivy should be discouraged as they are killing our native plants.

Please prioritize the use of native species on state property represents an enormous opportunity to improve the health and biodiversity of Virginia’s ecosystem. It will also help to raise awareness about the benefits of native species and can drive broader demand for ecologically-beneficial sustainable landscape methods. Use of native species is an essential component in the Commonwealth’s efforts to reduce the impacts of invasive species. Non-native invasive species such as English ivy and Chinese privet can quickly overtake and strangle out native species, which are needed as part of the natural ecosystem which sustains life in the Commonwealth.

I am concerned about invasive plant species and the importance of native plants to our ecosystem and human wellbeing.

I strongly support the Commonwealth taking the lead on reducing invasive species into the ecosystem. Please advance and approve this piece of legislation.

I ask the Committee to support HB 1998. Native plants are the foundation of ecosystems that provide regulation of air and water pollution, sequester carbon, support biological diversity, and provide numerous other products and services to Virginia residents. Promoting maintenance or growth of native plant communities on Commonwealth lands will directly support these benefits and help educate residents about the value of promoting native plants on their own lands. This is an inexpensive method to achieve multiple environmental goals.

Please encourage planting of native species, which is so important to our environment. Plus, it’s essential to restrict use of noxious, invasive species and remove them as much as possible. Thanks for your consideration.

I feel it is vital for the future health of our children and communities to prioritize native plants on our state lands and for sale in private nurseries. Invasive plants and noxious weeds should not be sold in our state. Reducing the proliferation of these plants will improve the health of our environment and our resilience as climate change continues to progress.

I strongly support both HB 1998 to encourage the use of native plants on public property and HB 2096 to educate the public on the danger and identity of non-native plants. While there seems to be a ground swelling of interest in the ecological and cost-saving benefits , there is more to be done. Anything our Commonwealth can do to support the use of native species will help! Thank you.

I am writing on before of my wife and myself. We spend literally 100's of hours each year fighting invasive plants on over 600 acres of land here along the Shenandoah River. There is a strong need for more awareness among the general public and landowners in particular, of the many environmental problems posed by invasives, and the state should take a leadership role by prioritizing management for native species on state lands.

My husband and I greatly favor all the bills checked. Puppy mills, shooting contests against animals, control of selling and shipping noxious weeds, and the support of native plants on state owned lands, are all sensible, basic steps that should obviously be taken. They are all sensible and, indeed, "no brainer" first steps in controlling these problems.

As a plant biologist, ecologist, and assistant curator at the State Arboretum of Virginia, I strongly support both HB 1998 to encourage the use of native plants on public property and HB 2096 to educate the public on the danger of installing non-native, invasive plants on their property. Native plants are our biological heritage - they are an integral part of our landscape that are uniquely Virginian, and bring a beauty and character to our public spaces that cannot be replicated elsewhere. As Virginians, we should take pride in our native flora and utilize them whenever possible to beautify our public spaces. Additionally, native plants are the backbone of our local ecosystems. The collection of natural systems that purify our air and water, provide pollination and nutrients to our crops and forage for our livestock, all require native plants to function well. Even small plantings of native plants in public spaces can create very real, functional habitat for essential pollinators and soil micro-organisms, which will in turn support populations of songbirds, amphibians, and other beneficial wildlife that help control insect pests such as mosquitoes while adding beauty and wonder to our public spaces. By passing these two bills, we will simultaneously be educating the public about the dangers of invasive plant species that reduce habitat for native plants, and supporting the use and proliferation of native plants in our public spaces. These two actions will serve to strengthen Virginians' connection to the biological heritage of our landscape, beautify our public spaces, and build more resilient ecosystems. Thank you for our time. Jack Monsted

I have served as the Landscape Chair for the Stonehurst HOA (near Fairfax Circle) for the past 6 years. In that time we have lost a major swath of the green belt that surrounded our neighborhood to infill development. As a long time resident of Northern Virginia, I also notice that our parks and road easements have become choked with invasive vines and plants. HOAs have limited funds to tackle invasive plant species and educate residents on the drawbacks of non-natives. Garden centers and landscape companies could do so much more to be a force for good. Passage of HB 1998 and 2096 will help us all work together, with public and private efforts, to stem the tide of habitat loss and maintain healthy green spaces in Virginia. Let this be a legacy we are willing to fight for.

Invasive plants have cost Virginia and our Northern Neck region millions of dollars to control and pose a severe threat to our agricultural and forested lands, not to mention the damage they have done to Virginia’s parks, forests, riparian buffers, and natural areas. HB 1998 which proposes the prioritization of planting of Virginia’s native species on state lands will set an important example in educating the public about the many ecological benefits of native plants in supporting our ecosystems and biodiversity. Plants that evolved here in our state are the foundation of the food web and the productivity of our lands. They support Virginia's beneficial wildlife, protect our watersheds, prevent stormwater runoff and flooding. Native plants have evolved in our region and their deep, extensive root systems act as natural sponges to prevent runoff and flooding as well as reducing maintenance – service provided naturally and for free. This is a win-win situation for Virginians!

The limitation on the planting and selling of invasive plants is incredibly important. Currently, invasive plants are taking over our wooded areas, roadsides, and residential areas. Without proper limitations on their sale, trade and use, they will further encroach in these areas, and force out the plants that provide habitat and nourishment to our insects, pollinators, birds and other wildlife. Furthermore, these plants multiply and grow at very high rates, so reviewing and adding to the list of invasive plants/noxious weeds is an important task that needs to take place every couple of years. I do not want to live in a place where all I see is English Ivy smothering trees, Tree of Heaven taking over the roadsides, and Bradford/Callery pear trees crowding out native Dogwoods and Redbuds. These are only a few examples of the problematic invasive plants that are in Virginia. I fully support both HB1998 and HB2096 as they seek to limit invasive plants and encourage the use of native plants. In addition to these bills, an effort should also be made to find funding for the removal of invasive plants and trees across the state, especially along roadsides, highways and easements in every county. The invasive plants that are already growing and thriving will continue to take over and multiply unless there is a concerted effort to remove them from the landscape.

HB1383 | Anderson | Menhaden reduction fishing; prohibition. Without responsible stewardship of our state resources, citizens of our state will face negative long term consequences that impact far more than one commercial sector. Living marine resources are critical to local economies and lived experiences of your constituents. Please support the responsible stewardship by starting with a two-year prohibition while further investigation determines acceptable levels of exploitation. HB1989 | Kory | Coyotes or fur-bearing animals; prohibition of killing contests and competitions. Killing ought not be a hobby nor a community pass time. Killing contests and competitions are inhumane, and in a world increasingly populated by humans, the wild things needs protection to survive unending human encroachment, not further pressure on animal populations through wanton killing "for fun." Please support the prohibition of killing contests and competitions. HB1998 | Krizek | Native plant species; state agencies to prioritize use on state properties. The state must prioritize the use of native plant species as part of broader responsible stewardship efforts on state properties. Using non-native plants can have significantly negative consequences for the environment, for wildlife, and for future state efforts to control unintended non-native plant proliferation. Native plants, on the other hand, are proven to support native animal and insect populations while also improving the ecosystem. Please support this effort to prioritize the use of native plants on state properties. HB2042 | Shin | Animal testing; whistle blower protections created. Whistle blower protections are critical for enabling healthy institutions. If those with knowledge are not protected in exposing negligence, crime, or harm, then the incentive structures needed to improve our institutions will be missing, and we'll all suffer the costs of reduced institutional fitness. Please support whistle blower protections. HB2189 | Rasoul | PFAS; requirements to test, publicly owned treatment works, discharges into state waters. As scientific evidence regarding the detrimental impacts of PFAS on human health continues to mount, testing for PFAS is a critical first step towards preventing PFAS contamination and what actions will be needed to protect human health when PFAS exposure is detected. Please support requirements to test discharges for PFAS.

I strongly support HB 1998. Virginia needs to quickly implement an invasive species education and control program. It is past time for identifying noxious weeds/invasive species that should not be further spread in our landscapes and to prevent future introductions. You need only look at what has occurred with Japanese stiltgrass (invasive introduction that is now found everywhere) or Bradford pear, autumn olive or kudzu ( self-inflicted introduced species). Ignorance should no longer be an excuse. Once an official list is adopted, there should be prohibitions on sales or other introductions. The list should be widely circulated and a control program enacted.

The Virginia Native Plants Society has made me aware of this HB2096 to improve control of the intentional importation of invasive plants into our commonwealth. I most emphatically support the need to reduce invasive plants which are outcompeting many of our natives and changing our landscape into nothing but English ivy and burning bush. Our native animals and insects need native plants to thrive. A comprehensive and updated listing of invasive species is critical. Removal of invasives and the intentional planting of native species whenever planting is needed or desired are both of vital importance. I also support HB 1998 to educate our citizens on the beauty and utility of native plants through the use of native plants in any state funded planting areas. This process is economical and can become a source of pride and encouragement for our citizens.

I am writing to express my support for HB 1998, which focuses on use of native Virginia species. This bill is an essential step in the process started by the House in 2003 to address the threat of noxious, exotic species (i.e. invasive plants, animals and insects). At that time, the Invasive Species Council Act (ISCA) was passed to develop leadership and an action plan regarding the problem of invasive species. When the ISCA expired in 2006, Invasive Species Working Group was created by executive order to continue the work. Since then, the Tree and Crop Pest Law, the Plant and Plant Products Inspection Law, and the Noxious Weed Law grant Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) most of its authority and responsibility for responding to invasive species issues. Since the legistature started to prioritize the problem of noxious, exotic specicies (i.e. invasive species), the problem has worsened. Currently, invasive species cost Virginia more than $1 billion annually, while nationally the total exceeds $120 billion. Invasive species damage and degrade crops, pasture and forestlands, clog waterways, spread human and livestock diseases, and destroy street trees. HB 1998 adds to HB 2096 by making a strategic plan to maximize the use of Virginia native species. If we both undermine invasive species (i.e HB 2096) and also maximize use of natives (i.e. HB 1998), we create a future that benefits commercial broad agriculture interests (e.g. protects farms and crops), the amazing, natural beauty of our state and our overall ecosystem wellness. This is a win for everyone. For more information on this topic, please see: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/invspinfo

HB1998 and HB2096 are small steps forward, and those steps move Virginia in the right direction. Please support passage.

Prioritization of the use of native species on state property represents an enormous opportunity to improve the health and biodiversity of Virginia’s ecosystem. Native landscapes support beneficial wildlife and can reduce maintenance costs. Sustainable landscapes with native species address storm water challenges and can help mitigate the effects of climate change and flooding. The prioritization of native species on state properties also helps raise awareness about the benefits of native species and can drive broader demand for ecologically-beneficial sustainable landscape methods. Use of native species is an essential component in the Commonwealth’s efforts to reduce the impacts of invasive species. Please ensure this bill passes to support these critical efforts to protect and preserve Virginia's ecosystems.

Please support HB 1998 for the coordination of the development of strategic actions to prioritize the use of native plants by state agencies. This is an enormous opportunity improve the health and biodiversity of Virginia’s state ecosystem. Benefits include reducing maintenance costs while supporting wildlife as well as helping to address storm water challenges. A major benefit is for increasing life sustaining flora for native birds and animals in spite of the current overabundance of non-native plants that interfere with or do not support our endangered native species. An added benefit is education of the general public when they see native plants being utilized.

Temple Rodef Shalom is the largest synagogue in Virginia with 1800 families. In recent years we have taken various steps to address climate change and reduce our carbon footprint, both as a faith institution and as individual congregants. We added solar panels to our building and are undertaking a variety of projects to live out our Jewish value of "repairing the world." One area of keen interest in our congregation is native plants and the removal of invasive plants. Our members volunteer at English ivy-pulling sessions in area parks and we have both established a native demonstration garden at the temple, but also have committed significant funds to a restoration project of a natural wooded area on our property that includes a 3- year invasive removal component. I believe the Commonwealth should similarly value these objectives on a state-wide scale and pass legislation like HB1998 and HB2096. It shocks me to no end that one can still walk into a garden store and purchase English Ivy as though it were a benign plant! Case in point, this site for a nursery near me (https://plants.meadowsfarms.com/12170013/Plant/201/English_Ivy/) even suggests uses for English ivy neglecting to note that when this plant grows vertically and produces fruit, birds spread the seed widely, further contaminating wild areas. Virginia needs to follow the lead of so many other states and address the scourge of invasive plants! I'll end on this note- much of the damage invasives are doing isn't always seen as we go about our daily urbanized lives but if you get out along the Potomac River- undoubtedly one of our region's greatest treasures- you will see the horrific blanket of kudzu and English ivy that has

Please pass HB 1998 which requires that the state give preference to planting native species on state properties. Native species support native insects and wildlife. With increasing challenges due to climate change, it is important that we do all we can to support the varied habitats in Virginia and the creatures that rely upon them.

Dear Delegates, I grew up in the Northern part of Virginia, with my father explaining how fallow fields go through succession, from meadow, to cedar, to hardwoods. In the last 20 years of living in Virginia, I watched nonnative plants come up in the fallow fields and do not see the same native trees I did as a child. A childhood family farming friend explained there were two sequences in his life that he participated in that removed much of the native plants from his farm. The first was use of the bush hog along fence rows in the 1960s and 1970s, the second was his introduction of roundup ready crops in the 1980s. In the 1950s subdivision groundcover became turf, these grasses are not native to the United States. Government must take on the leadership role to show others that native plants can be used on public lands. Without these wild spaces in-between, we will continue to fragment our habitats. For the last seventeen years I have been designing, installing, and maintaining native plant demonstration landscapes at a central Virginia locality. I was asked to participate because our landscape team struggled getting plants to grow in challenging areas. These conditions included lack of sun light, overly dry, or extremely hot. Each time I was able to use native plants as a solution. Our locality has a Biodiversity Action Plan that includes 6 goals directly related to using native plants, including in public spaces. Our locality is an example that native plants can be used in public spaces. Fairfax’s 2007 Natural Landscape Policy is a second example of a Virginia locality that has used native plants in public spaces. I do not represent my locality in requesting the passing of HB 1998, I am requesting the passage of HB 1998 on a person level. Native plants give us a sense of place, a reminder of home, like any other landmark - historical, cultural, or natural. Native plants, installed in their proper habitats, are the cornerstone of biodiversity and ecosystems. Biodiversity and ecosystem are a necessity for the prosperity of future Virginians. Please lead the way by passing HB 1998.

I am in favor of this bill because native landscapes support beneficial wildlife and can reduce maintenance costs. Sustainable landscapes with native species address stormwater challenges and can help mitigate the effects of climate change and flooding.

Both of these bills HB 1998 and HB 2096 would be very beneficial to our native Virginia plant species. I hope our legislators will recognize the value of these 2 proposals to help to safe guard our native plants which are very much put at risk with aggressive non-native plants. Not only is our native plants put at great risk but our native insects survival is also endangered which when they fail to survive put are pollinators at risk, then birds and small native animals are also in danger of decline if needed food cannot be found. So like a lot of life it is a chain with one thing linked to and connected to another. These 2 bills need to pass it is a needed protection to Virginia wildlife.

Please pass bills 1998 and 2096 to support the local environment. Invasive species disturb a delicate ecosystem. They tend to crowd out native plants.

These two bills are essential to the betterment of our shared environment. The native plants are part of our natural ecosystem and food chain which sustains life in our commonwealth, and the world.

HB 1811 - Our General Assembly is seriously considering a bill that would allow continuous deer-hunting year round? I am opposed to this bill as our lives are disrupted enough during the app. 2 month season we currently have. I like to walk the rural roads where we live, and the quiet reverie of the early morning is tainted often enough with the sounds of shotgun blasts, the baying of the poor dogs being used to flush out the deer (and this is called "hunting"?), the dogs that run across our "no hunting" property because they go wherever they want, and the pickup trucks barreling down the road trying to get to where the dogs are chasing a deer. Instead of increasing deer season, I would be in favor of reducing it to one month at most. I would also like to see a ban on the use of dogs to hunt deer. It is a disservice to the poor dogs, and I can only imagine the terror the deer must feel as a mass of barking dogs chases them out of their habitat to be shot by someone on the side of the road just waiting for one to come close. Another reason to NOT increase deer season is the amount of roadside litter that accumulates when hunters are out. They apparently have no respect for the anti-littering laws that we have. I have an adopt-a-highway stretch that I walk daily, and the amount of extra trash I collect during hunting season is abhorrent. I can not imagine having to collect that amount all year long. I am OPPOSED to this bill going any further and cannot imagine that any intelligent legislator would be in favor of it. HB 1998 - I am IN FAVOR of this bill as I support the use of Virginia's native plants at homes, businesses, and state agencies. HB 2096 - I am IN FAVOR of this bill as I believe we need to do more to rid Virginia of non-native plants and to plant those native to the Commonwealth.

Urban Wildflowers LL supports HB 1998. It is critical to prioritize the use of native species on state property. This bill represents an enormous opportunity to improve the health and biodiversity of Virginia’s ecosystem. (1) Native landscapes support beneficial wildlife and can reduce maintenance costs. (2) Sustainable landscapes with native species address stormwater challenges and can help mitigate the effects of climate change and flooding. (3) The prioritization of native species on state properties also helps raise awareness about the benefits of native species and can drive broader demand for ecologically-beneficial sustainable landscape methods. (4) Use of native species is an essential component in the Commonwealth’s efforts to reduce the impacts of invasive species.

Having spent many years trying to remove invasive plants from my property , l am in favor of any legislation that eliminates these plants and encourages the use of native plants.

Prioritization of the use of native species on state property represents an enormous opportunity to improve the health and biodiversity of Virginia’s ecosystem. Native landscapes support beneficial wildlife and can reduce maintenance costs. Sustainable landscapes with native species address stormwater challenges and can help mitigate the effects of climate change and flooding. The prioritization of native species on state properties also helps raise awareness about the benefits of native species and can drive broader demand for ecologically-beneficial sustainable landscape methods. Use of native species is an essential component in the Commonwealth’s efforts to reduce the impacts of invasive species.

I support both HB1998 and HB2096. Both bills provide support for more use of native plants in our state. Use of native plants is crucial to stop and reverse the decline of native insect and bird populations that has occurred in recent decades.

One needn't look far to see information about the shocking loss of biodiversity that we are facing. This bill will ensure that the Commonwealth of Virginia will be part of the solution to this problem by incorporating native plantings and serving as an example educating the public to this issue. Please support this bill!

Please pass HB2096. HB2096 would increase public awareness of the problem of invasive plants in the landscape. I particularly like the provision that tradespeople inform their clients of the installation of invasive plants on their properties, which would provide property owners data they need to make informed plant choice decisions.  The bill supports the use of native plant species by state agencies and would help to showcase beneficial native plantings to the public. Please pass HB1998. HB 1998 would prioritize the use of native species on state property. This would improve the health and biodiversity of Virginia’s ecosystem. It would raise awareness about the benefits of native species and could drive broader demand for ecologically-beneficial sustainable landscape methods Native landscapes support beneficial wildlife and can reduce maintenance costs. Sustainable landscapes with native species address stormwater challenges and can help mitigate the effects of climate change and flooding.

Please pass this extremely important bill to help improve the health and quality of state properties. Native plants are incredibly important to the insects and other animals that live in Virginia. They also were meant to be here and grow well in our environment. As a gardener, I have been so thrilled and the change in my own yard after filling it with native plants. The number of birds and insects that now visit my yard is truly amazing and beautiful. Please support this bill so our state properties can be a shining example of what a native plant-focused environment can look like.

I support the use of Virginia native plant especially plants propagated from local populations--in land management, conservation, restoration, and horticultural projects will help maintain the ecological integrity of natural areas and preserve native biodiversity. More native plants mean more choices of food and shelter for native birds and other wildlife. To survive, native birds need native plants and the insects that have co-evolved with them.

Please pass Delegate Krizek’s HB1998. If we are to mitigate climate change, sequester carbon and support our native habitat, we need as much acreage as possible devoid of aggressive invasive plants and covered in the natives that our ecosystem relies on. I walk my dog twice a day out in the county on roads, in the woods and in fields. It is clear that all of these areas are being taken over by "the wrong plants in the wrong places". Our native species do not stand a chance if we do not get this situation under immediate control. Requiring state agencies to prioritize that all state properties are planted with natives first, will go a very long way to supporting a healthy local ecosystem. There needs to be an educational component to this, so that the public understands the importance of the actions the state will be taking, and that we can all be a part of the solution, by making the commitment to plant natives on our own properties as well. VDOT and the VA Forestry Department will need some guidance and education to create a diverse, and robust planting program and move away from the more traditional monoculture mindset that I see in many places. I hope they will engage local experts, as well as the VA Native Plant Society to partner in creating viable solutions.

I highly support this bill as well as HB2096. The stronger the positive example that the Virginia government sets in planting native species and condemning invasive species and noxious weeds, the better the environmental health of the Commonwealth. Native species are essential supports for the functioning of entire ecosystems, while many invasives are overwhelming both public and private lands. The spread of Autumn Olive, Russian Olive, Bradford Pear, Privet, English Ivy, Japanese Honeysuckle, Garlic Mustard, Stilt Grass and others is incredible in both the extent of the occurrences, and the remote locations where these are now found. Our native trees (oaks, beeches, ash) are in decline from other pressures - the turnaround to support and encourage native growth needs to start now.

I am writing to strongly endorse and support your efforts to deny the sales, transportation, propagation, of non-native species of plants in the Commonwealth. You should see how kudzu, English ivy, autumn clematis, miscanthus grass and other escapees from our gardens and yards have wreaked havoc in our woods and roadsides. Not allowing sales of certain plants will arrest further dispersal of unwanted flora. I just wanted you to know. Ted Munns Irvington

Please pass these two bills to help increase the use of native plants and help reduce the occurance of noxious weeds in our state. My hope would be a ban on the sale and planting of specific invasive plants. Many Asian, European and African plants that have been introduced and continue to be planted are invading properties all over the state. We all see porcelainberry, English ivy, Asian bittersweet, Japanese honeysuckle, stiltgrass etc. overcoming forests around the state. This has created a huge social cost. The longer we allow people to plant nonnative plants, the greater the cost to save our native plants and animals. It’s not too late. There are many places that have not been disturbed by development or overuse which still have great native biodiversity. We need legislation to preserve more of those places in addition to limiting more damage with senseless planting of invasive plants. Thanks for passing these bills. Keep working to make Virginia an example that native plant conservation and invasive plant elimination ought to be a bipartisan issue.

Look around and it is easy to see the environmental destruction caused by non-native invasive species. Entire fields clogged with autumn olive and Bradford pear are environmental wastelands for instance. Buildings and trees compromised from English Ivy. Wetlands smothered with purple loosestrife. These species and others push out native plants and native animals and everything -- including humans -- suffers. We lose beneficial insects that provide important pollination to our farmer's crops and orchards, and we lose all the animals that depend on the insects as one moves up the food chain. Native plants, rather than non-natives, are also easier to maintain meaning we have better protection of our precious water supplies not only because less water is needed, but also because pesticides and herbicides aren't needed to make sure those invasives survive. Finally, this bill makes economic sense, especially to farmers who can't even use those fields clogged with invasive shrubs or who must turn to chemicals to rid their land of Johnson grass or Japanese honeysuckle! Finally, pairing native pollinator plants with large and small solar arrays provides a double bonus of green energy with protection of the soil and water under and around those arrays. Thanks for thinking about all Virginians and the environment that sustains us all. By having a plan in place, Virginia can move from knowing what is right to doing what is right! Sincerely, Nancy Sorrells (editor of the Virginia Native Plant Society newsletter), Greenville, VA

Communities that understand their past can better deal with the present and future. Protecting our historic resources helps make that happen, but unless resources are available to help do this, the path of least resistence is to destroy the old and make way for the new. Help preserve the stories and heritage of the wonderful people in the Commonwealth. We must work together to preserve the past for the future. Sincerely, Nancy Sorrells (historian and writer), Greenville, VA

HB1998 | Krizek | Native plant species; state agencies to prioritize use on state properties. I am in full support of HB1998 . Native Plant species on state properties is highly beneficial and practical in many aspects. Native plants require little to no maintenance saving the state million on water, fertilizer, and up keep. They are a life source for struggling wildlife and pollinators for food and shelter whose native resources are being taken over by "ornamental" foreign species that in most cases have become invasive. Native plants on state properties will also provide substantial exposure opportunities for educating the general public on the importance of incorporating natives into their home landscapes. HB2096 | Bulova | Noxious weeds; invasive plant species. I fully support HB2096 putting limits and bans on invasive species is critical to the health of our ecosystem. The damage that invasive noxious species causes to our properties costly. Many home owners have to cut down old growth hardwood prematurely due to English ivy and damage. Most people think that if the stores sell a plant then it could not be harmful only to realize it's harmful and costly consequences later. We have spent thousands of dollars in invasive species related costs just on our small suburban lot and we still have to spend thousands more to complete the responsible restoration of our yard.

Support the use of native plants on state property.

I support both HB1998 and HB2096 to help control the impact of invasive plant species and support the use of native plants in Virginia. An avid home gardener, I have become more aware of the importance of native plants to our ecosystem over the last five years and I see how much invasive species can overwhelm different areas, and are marketed toward consumers despite their negative impact. I have been successful in my own garden spaces in moving towards more natives and identifying and removing invasive, and I support any efforts to increase public awareness of these issues, not only among home gardeners but in public landscaping as well.

Please support the prioritization of native plant species in state landscaping, such as along highways and in parks, and make it easier to remove invasive plant species. These measures will help to increase native wildlife such as birds, bees, and butterflies. It is also vital that plant nurseries notify homeowners when they are planting invasive species, which crowd out native species. Thank you.

Please make native plants the priority for Virginia outdoor staff to use and request residents to use. Virginia has a multitude of varieties which suit our terrain and climate, even as it changes. Native choices from south of us may replace these options eventually, but Natives provide so many advantages, especially over plants that may become invasive due to lack of natural pests and diseases.

I strongly support HB1998. This is an easy solution to help save our biodiversity. Simply plant Native species. We don't need more annuals and invasive perennials, especially those that come from other countries. It's a no brainer. Natives require less water, less attention. Natives attract more birds, feed more pollinators, which in turn feeds us. Let's educate our landscapers, our nurseries and the general public and urge them to plant natives. This should be an essential part of any climate action that we take. Thank you.

I challenge the members of this committee-for or against this bill - to take a walk around your garden or neighborhood and inventory the types of plants being grown. The majority will be non native plants, such as azaleas, roses, lirope, crape Myrtle trees which do not support native wildlife, .Do the inventory. You’ll be shocked. Few native plants to be found. What are we doing to our precious environment?? It’s not enough to promote native plants in parklands but it’s a start. Thank you. Gerianne Basden, Springfield, Va

Copied from a previous comment - I agree 100%: Invasive plants are wreaking havoc on our native plants. You have only to drive along any roadside or highway in the Spring to see all the invasive Bradford Pears in bloom. Sure, they look pretty for a week or so, but they stink, and they crowd out all other native plants. English Ivy is also killing mature trees. The Oriental Bittersweet vines are killing mature native trees everywhere. Then there's the multiflora rose, barberry & Japanese Honeysuckle not to mention Stilt grass. All of the plants proven to be invasive (those that will not stay where planted) must be removed from sales as soon as possible. My husband & I have spent years battling invasives on our property and I shudder to think people are still buying and planting some of these. Thank you for your consideration.

Please support this bill which will protect all Virginia's Natural Heritage from invasive plants.

I strongly support HB 1998. Native plants are the most beneficial to our local Virginia ecosystem. Invasive species, such as Japanese honeysuckle or English Ivy, are so prevalent in neighborhoods and common areas, and they create a lot of damage to native wildlife as well as homes and public infrastructure. Personally I spent hours removing an invasive honesuckle with thick, 6-foot vines embedded under my backyard shed. HB 1998 would sustain our ecosystem, avoid future damage, and be a fantastic mode of civic engagement and public education on the benefits of native plants in Virginia!

SUPPORT NATIVE PLANTS AND REDUCE THE THREAT OF INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES IN VIRGINIA

Invasive plants are wreaking havoc on our ntive plants. You have only to drive along any roadside or highway in the Spring to see all the invasive Bradford Pears in bloom. Sure they look pretty for a week or so but they stink and they crowd out all other native plants. English Ivy is also killing mature trees. The Oriental Bittersweet vines are killing mature native trees everywhere. Then there's the multiflora rose, barberry & Japanese Honeysuckle not to mention Stlit grass. All of the plants proven to be invasive ( those that will not stay where planted) must be removed from sales as soon as possible. My husband & I have spent years battling invasives on our property and I shutter to think people are still buying and planting some of these. Thank you for your consideration

It is difficult to enjoy a simple walk in a park, anywhere in Virginia, without seeing beautiful old trees being overtaken by English ivy, and native plants in woods being choked out by other non-natives introduced by humans, such as Japanese honeysuckle, periwinkle, etc. The list goes on an on. The fact that people and landscapers still can and do buy and plant many of these at nurseries is shameful and exacerbates the environmental and commercial damage these plants cause. Please support this bill.

I strongly support the use of native plants whenever and wherever practicable. At the same time, invasive plants are becoming an overwhelming nuisance in our area. Invasive such as oriental bittersweet, autumn olive and Japanese honeysuckle are overwhelming, the native wildlife habitat on my land near Hume, Virginia. Most invasive serve, no important purpose other than to look nice in someone’s yard or garden. But as invasive as they escape and devastate native landscapes.

I highly support both bills. The more that the Virginia government can set a good example in planting native species and condemning invasive species and noxious weeds, the better for the Commonwealth. Native species are essential supports for the functioning of entire ecosystems, while many invasives are overwhelming both public and private lands.

I support Del. Krizek's HB 1998. It will make a big dent if various state agencies coordinate an invasive species management plan "Prevention, early detection and rapid response, control and management, research and risk assessment, and education and outreach " lays out the potential for a very thorough approach. Invasive plant infestations are said to be increasing exponentially. The supply of volunteers to remove them is not. Hopefully the state will enable volunteers to do more than use manual tools. Except for ailanthus trees, when stems or trunks are cut, they need to be "painted" with herbicide to prevent regrowth. Volunteers could be given pre-mixed bottles of product with small sponge applicators attached. The herbicide will move thru plant tissues and kill the plant. Merely cutting stems or base of roots for a few hours and then going home achieves little and is a waste of precious volunteer time. The other part of the bill - that state agencies prioritize native plants on state property - is a step in the right direction. If implemented in a kickass fashion, it would increase the demand for native plants, and educate the public by example . VDOT planting natives by roadsides, right-of-ways, and in clover leaves - what a change that would be! Now for another bill to stop them mowing down what they've planted!

The Friends of Accotink Creek strongly support HB1998. It truly is "our responsibility to protect the ones that have no voice", to quote an earlier commenter. The relentless advance of invasive exotic plant species is turning Virginia's natural habitats into something worthy of a horror movie. Anything we can do to prevent further spread must be done. If only we could enact a law to remove the exotic invasives already present across our Commonwealth, which will plague us in perpetuity.

I demanding that you protect our water stop the mountain valley pipeline from being drilled it will endanger people living there I am begging to protect our waters and lands as so important for endangered species and people. Concerned Citizen Ji Montgomery

Dear Delegates Krizek and Bulova, I have been working for over 30 year to increase the use of native plants in Northern Virginia. I fully support Delegate Krizek's efforts to pass HB 1998. His proposal goes hand-in-hand with the need to rid our lands of noxious weeds and invasive plants as proposed by Delegate Bulova in HB2096. Both bills are critical if we and to turn around our significant losses of vital insect life and the plants that nurture those insects For example, we must decrease the amount of English Ivy that has escaped private properties and invaded our and state public lands. This invasive creates weight and wind resistance in our trees -- weight and resistance the tree is not equipped to handle. As a result, the trees are more likely to be uprooted in the strong storms we are experiencing. As invasives are removed, they need to be replaced by desirable plants that help feed and protect the insects that pollinate our trees and plants and also feed young birds. Both bill are key to the circle of life that has been severely compromised. Please keep me informed about progress of your proposed legislation. Thank you. Sincerely, Eleanor F. Quigley

I strongly support HB1998 submitted by Delegate Krizek. It is insane for state agencies to continue to propagate, plant and/or sell invasive plants that are known to harm our ecosystems. Please pass this bill so that the state agencies set the right example for the rest of the state and stopping doing things that harm our natural heritage.

I ask you to support Delegate Krizek’s HB1998 and pass it out of committee. Giving native plants priority in state agency work is already required in some counties in Virginia. Let our government lead by example to show that planting natives in new and restoration projects will work to produce healthy ecosystems. Without a healthy, biodiverse ecosystem, the food web collapses and all species including humans are affected. It is critical that special attention be given to VDOT’s replanting programs. Since so much forest is lost in linear transportation projects, what we do with the fragments that are left is critical. I urge you to vote for HB1998, and thank Delegate Krizek for patroning the bill.

I support HB1998 because it is more efficient to use plants that are already adapted to local conditions than to continually replace stressed plants that don't belong here. Moreover, native plants support native wildlife and thus a healthy ecosystem.

I strongly support HB1998 - thank you Delegate Krizek for introducing it. Restoring our local ecologies and biodiversity as best we can is critical as we face a mass insect extinction. A 2019 report from Biological Conservation found that 40% of all insects species are declining globally and that a third of them are endangered. Insects rely on native plants to thrive - without native plants in our landscape, insect populations will continue to decline and it will inevitably negatively effect us as humans as well. These insects (who need native plants) are the canary in the coal mines for how well our natural world functions. But we have a chance with legislation like this to begin to reverse the current insect trend. Let's prioritize native plant species on state properties (***including those owned by VDOT***), inspire residents through state agencies leading by example, and help drive demand in the nursery trade for these plants (which is an economic win for driving profits for retailers who support a healthy for people and wildlife!). Please support HB1998.

I support this bill because native plants provide so many more benefits than non-native plants and require fewer resources to maintain. They also are important to restoring biodiversity and returning to a productive and balanced ecosystem. Right now, for example, monocultures of invasive species such as Bradford Pears are seen all along state highways. They will take over everything if not stopped. So at a minimum, new planting or restoration plantings should also prioritize native plants. State and local governments should be modeling best and eco-savvy practices to inspire their citizens to do the same. Thank you.

I strongly support your HB1998 requiring state agencies to prioritize use of native plants on state properties. I believe that Virginia citizens would also plant more native plants if they knew what they were and what their virtues were. To that end, I should also like to also require the Department of Recreation and Conservation to develop and publicize a web page picturing and describing the of benefits of easy-to-grow native species.

I strongly support yourHR2096 prohibiting the planting, selling, or propagating of invasive species and regulation of tradesperson' installation of invasive species. One need only walk along the Mount Vernon bike path to see the harmful effects of porcelain berry and autumn clematis. I believe more citizens of Virginia would avoid invasive species if they knew what they were and what their ill effects were. To that end, I should like the Department of Recreation and Conservation to also develop and publicize a web page with illustrations of common invasive species and descriptions of their harmful characteristics.

It's our responsibility to protect the ones that have no voice

What a kind thoughtful thing to do, provide wheelchairs so everyone can enjoy our wonderful parks. Patty

I demanding that you protect our water stop the mountain valley pipeline from being drilled it will endanger people living there I am begging to protect our waters and lands as so important for endangered species and people. Concerned Citizen Ji Montgomery

The Piedmont Environmental Council is aware of an increase in transmission line expansion and new transmission line corridor planning. The total amount of new land disturbance may be substantial, with hundreds of miles of rights of way and a corresponding amount of new service roads under construction. Very often, transmission lines rights of way go straight up and down steep terrain, which increases the chances for erosion. This amendment to the statute reduces the site specific review of those roads and the potential impacts.

It's our responsibility to protect the ones that have no voice

I oppose this bill because utility companies should absolutely be required to obtain a permit for the discharge of storm water from construction activities. This allows the Commonwealth to keep track of where toxic runoff is coming from and what toxins are present in said runoff.

I write in strong support of HB2189, which is both protective of public health and supports a transparent process of community notification. PFAS contamination is a serious and growing issue for the residents of Virginia and testing requirements to ensure the safety of the commonwealth's drinking water are commonsense and timely. Please support HB2189 from Delegate Rasoul.

Comments Document

HB 2189 Position: FAVORABLE American Bird Conservancy, which works to conserve birds throughout the Americas, strongly supports HB2189 – PFAS Testing in State Waters Bill. To protect wildlife, ecosystems, and human health, we urge its swift passage through the Virginia House of Delegates. American Bird Conservancy is particularly concerned with potential effects on shorebirds and waterfowl which call Virginia home. The Plovers, Willets, and Gulls which frequent the coast may be at risk from loss of prey species. Ruddy Ducks, Hooded Mergansers, and the omnipresent Mallard may all be at risk from organ failure after ingesting invertebrates or fish which are contaminated. PFAS bioaccumulate in aquatic organisms and are both acutely and chronically toxic. A study of juvenile seabirds in Massachusetts found that 100% of individuals surveyed (36 total) had elevated levels of PFAS in their liver. This paper, from 2020, was the first to look at concentrations of PFAS in seabirds and was sparked by a desire to investigate predators of marine invertebrates, which past research has confirmed are biological reservoirs for PFAS. Undoubtedly, the dearth of scientific literature on the subject is not from a lack of effect, but rather a lack of investigation. The Red Knot, a shoreline wading bird, migrates through Virginia every year on their way to their nesting grounds. The horseshoe crab eggs they eat off the Virginia coast sustain them on their long journey and provide ample opportunities for birders and other tourists to view them. Horseshoe crabs are extremely susceptible to PFAS, experiencing mortality and decreased fecundity from even trace amounts of PFAS in marine environments. Furthermore, the levels of PFAS in marine environments are poorly understood; the effects and devastation are likely more widespread than currently accounted for. PFAS threats transcend environmental risks and can endanger economic wellbeing; US Forest Service estimates that upwards of $20 billion is spent annually on birdwatching. Most concerningly, though, is the new finding that PFAS are found in many common agricultural pesticides including the neonicotinoid imidacloprid and the organophosphate malathion, both of which contain their own haunting and devastating legacies. HB2189 – PFAS Testing in State Waters is a commonsense approach to keeping Virginians and wildlife safe from these harmful chemicals. The first step is knowing when and where these chemicals are having a negative impact. This bill has the potential to save the lives of birds and people alike. The legislators of Virginia have the impetus and opportunity to continue leading the country in pesticide regulation. American Bird Conservancy strongly urges the passage of HB2189 – PFAS Testing in State Waters. For more information, please feel free to contact me at eharydkern@abcbirds.org

Please Support HB 2189 (Rasoul) This legislation requires industrial users of publicly owned treatment works to test waste streams for PFAS prior to and after cleaning, repairing, refurbishing or processing items that contain PFAS. It also requires prompt testing for PFAS following the discharge of certain toxic agents into state waters and requires the results of tests to be submitted to the coordinator of emergency services. A PFAS chemical discharge was known but not reported until three years later in September 2022. This toxic discharge threatened to contaminate the drinking water supply in the Roanoke area serving 69,000 customers. PFAS chemicals are dangerous to human health, and can cause illnesses which include liver damage, thyroid disease, hormone suppression, decreased fertility and cancer.

My husband and I greatly favor all the bills checked. Puppy mills, shooting contests against animals, control of selling and shipping noxious weeds, and the support of native plants on state owned lands, are all sensible, basic steps that should obviously be taken. They are all sensible and, indeed, "no brainer" first steps in controlling these problems.

HB1383 | Anderson | Menhaden reduction fishing; prohibition. Without responsible stewardship of our state resources, citizens of our state will face negative long term consequences that impact far more than one commercial sector. Living marine resources are critical to local economies and lived experiences of your constituents. Please support the responsible stewardship by starting with a two-year prohibition while further investigation determines acceptable levels of exploitation. HB1989 | Kory | Coyotes or fur-bearing animals; prohibition of killing contests and competitions. Killing ought not be a hobby nor a community pass time. Killing contests and competitions are inhumane, and in a world increasingly populated by humans, the wild things needs protection to survive unending human encroachment, not further pressure on animal populations through wanton killing "for fun." Please support the prohibition of killing contests and competitions. HB1998 | Krizek | Native plant species; state agencies to prioritize use on state properties. The state must prioritize the use of native plant species as part of broader responsible stewardship efforts on state properties. Using non-native plants can have significantly negative consequences for the environment, for wildlife, and for future state efforts to control unintended non-native plant proliferation. Native plants, on the other hand, are proven to support native animal and insect populations while also improving the ecosystem. Please support this effort to prioritize the use of native plants on state properties. HB2042 | Shin | Animal testing; whistle blower protections created. Whistle blower protections are critical for enabling healthy institutions. If those with knowledge are not protected in exposing negligence, crime, or harm, then the incentive structures needed to improve our institutions will be missing, and we'll all suffer the costs of reduced institutional fitness. Please support whistle blower protections. HB2189 | Rasoul | PFAS; requirements to test, publicly owned treatment works, discharges into state waters. As scientific evidence regarding the detrimental impacts of PFAS on human health continues to mount, testing for PFAS is a critical first step towards preventing PFAS contamination and what actions will be needed to protect human health when PFAS exposure is detected. Please support requirements to test discharges for PFAS.

Friends of Accotink Creek SUPPORTS Del. Rasoul's amendment (HB 2189) which requires industrial users of publicly owned treatment works to test waste streams for PFAS before and after cleaning, repairing, refurbishing or processing items that contain PFAS. It also requires prompt testing for PFAS following the discharge of certain toxic agents into state waters and requires the results of tests to be submitted to the coordinator of emergency services within 24 hrs. PFAS substances or “forever chemicals” do not easily break down. They are used in many common products - non-stick cookware, food packaging, cosmetics, carpets, and waterproofing of outdoor gear. PFAS chemicals migrate into the air, dust, food, soil and water. They enter our bodies thru our food, water and respiratory tract. Most of us now have PFAS in our systems. PFAS accumulates in the body increasing the risk of illnesses which include liver damage, thyroid disease, obesity, hormone suppression, decreased fertility and cancer. The US EPA advises no more than 10 ppt (parts per trillion) and and has made recommendations to limit the use of PFAS. Yet, the EPA recommendations are not mandatory. Hence, many states have regulations to restrict the use of PFAS. Virginia now has a restriction on firefighting foam, which contains large amounts of PFAS, and more legislation is anticipated to curtail the uses of PFAS in Virginia. Requiring the testing for PFAS in our water supplies is the VERY LEAST the state can do.

I demanding that you protect our water stop the mountain valley pipeline from being drilled it will endanger people living there I am begging to protect our waters and lands as so important for endangered species and people. Concerned Citizen Ji Montgomery

Virginia LCV encourages you to SUPPORT HB 2209 (Tran) High polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon; prohibits pavement sealants that contain, civil penalty. This legislation gives localities authority to adopt ordinances prohibiting the sale, distribution, or use of pavement sealants containing high levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. High levels are defined as those above 1% of the product by weight. Reasons to SUPPORT HB2209: - PAHs are a class of chemicals that are the byproduct left over from burning coal, oil, gas, or wood. They are cancer-causing chemicals, and human exposure can come through breathing in, ingesting or absorbing through the skin. - Pavement sealants with high PAH levels degrade, ultimately releasing dust and fine particles laden with carcinogens into homes, waterways, the soil, and the air. - Stormwater runoff from PAH coatings continue to be highly toxic to fish and aquatic organisms months after their application. - Low PAH sealants are cost-competitive and in regular use throughout the country. - Local prohibitions are effective at protecting and restoring local water quality. A decision by the City of Austin to prohibit the use of high PAH sealants resulted in significant decreases in PAH contamination to nearby streams and waterways.

Virginia LCV encourages you to SUPPORT HB 1721 (Clark) This legislation directs the Commissioner of Health to convene a work group to study the occurrence of microplastics in the Commonwealth's public drinking water. Reasons to SUPPORT HB1721: - It is estimated that humans consume about a credit card worth of plastic every week. - The Virginia Marine Debris Reduction Plan (VMDRP) identifies four goals to address plastic pollution. One goal is increased understanding and prevention of microplastic and microfibers as marine debris. - The VMDRP and much of the implementation of the plan is supported by the VA Coastal Zone Management Program (CZM is embedded within DEQ). - Microplastics are small plastic particles less than five millimeters in size. They include microbeads, pellets, or small fragments from larger plastic items breaking up in the marine environment. - As plastic production has increased significantly in the past decade, microplastics are being found in our blood, lungs and in the unexplored depths of our oceans with little still known about the consequences

My name is James F Hobson, PhD, DABT (2019). I am an Environmental Toxicologist and I am Board Certified in General Human Health Toxicology. I am requesting support for HB 2209. This Bill would provide localities and municipalities the right to ban specific asphalt pavement products that are high in PAHs (poly aromatic hydrocarbons). These compounds are readily leached out of the treated asphalt surfaces contaminating terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and are associated with cancer induction in fish and other aquatic organisms. These compounds are known human carcinogens. These chemical compounds also contaminate soil and dust associated with these treated surfaces potentially exposing humans playing or working around these treated areas. These compounds are well known as highly carcinogenic. There are alternative products that equivalent in efficacy and are cost competitive; therefore there is no reason to use these specific products. It should be noted that this Bill does not ban these products State-wide, but will allow localities and municipalities to ban the use of these products locally. Localities should have the right to ban this unnecessary exposure to these products and the carcinogenic PAHs that they release.in significant amounts. If additional information is needed my email is hobson354@gmail.com. Thank you for considering support of HB2209 this year. Sincerely, James F Hobson, Ph.D. DABT (2019).

What a kind thoughtful thing to do, provide wheelchairs so everyone can enjoy our wonderful parks. Patty

I demanding that you protect our water stop the mountain valley pipeline from being drilled it will endanger people living there I am begging to protect our waters and lands as so important for endangered species and people. Concerned Citizen Ji Montgomery

It's our responsibility to protect the ones that have no voice

support

I stand with HSUS, the Virginia Veterinary Medical Association, Virginia Animal Control Association, Virginia Alliance for Animal Shelters and other statewide animal welfare organizations in opposing this bill, which makes it harder to remove zoo animals from dangerous, abusive, or neglectful circumstances.

I strongly oppose HB2331 and ask that you reject this bill. Animals need protection and there have been enough cases of neglect and cruelty where these innocent beings have suffered for you to see that self-regulation doesn't work. Virginia does not need to have roadside and backyard zoos as an economic base. Please listen to the many animal welfare groups who are pleading with you to kill this bill; they know what they are talking about.

Please prohibit public contact with elephants.

I along with many respected animal organizations oppose HB 2331. The Virginia Animal Control Association, the Virginia Alliance for Animal Shelters, the Virginia Federation of Humane Societies, the Virginia Veterinary Medical Association, the Virginia Coalition for Beagle Protection, HSUS and PETA all spoke in opposition to HB 2331. This bill is dangerous step backwards in Virginia’s efforts to protect animals from cruelty and abuse as it makes it more difficult to remove zoo animals from dangerous cruelty situations.

Dear Delegates, We visited your offices this week and asked for your support of House Bill 2331. A lot of gossip has been spread lately in regards to this legislation and the Virginia Animal Owners Alliance. These accusations require a response. Our group formed over the fall of 2019 and is composed of pet owners, farm owners, and zoo owners. Our goal is to promote and preserve animal ownership in the Commonwealth. We strive to shed a light on the reality of animal owners in Virginia and work to advocate for both people and animals. We reject the narrative that you can only care about one or the other and use our online platform to inform others of what is happening across the State. Some of our members have won their cases against the Commonwealth. Some are still in the middle of their battles. Others were wrongfully convicted or were coerced into accepting a plea deal. We also share the stories of citizens who are not our members. If you Google the names of Travis Evans of Stafford or Paula Wyche of Roanoke, you will be shocked at the way they were treated. This is true in case after case and proves our current system needs reform. At two different times, we have challenged the law in federal court. As you may know, 1983 claims are very complex. Both cases were dismissed without prejudice. From the beginning, our opposition has tried to paint us in a negative light. They are now using Tiger King as a reason for you to vote against Delegate Campbell's legislation. Please remember that the series in question was a type of "Jerry Springer" show that does not represent the family-run zoos of Virginia. This is simply an effort to stereotype and we all know how dangerous stereotypes can be. The current rumor mill is not addressing the existing conflict between State agencies and does nothing to improve the situation of the animals that live here. House Bill 2331 is about the PROCESS of how an animal would be seized from a zoo. It is NOT putting these animals into a different care category. This was extensively discussed last year when this legislation went to the Senate subcommittee. In spite of this, those opposing the bill continue to parrot the same talking points. Right now, there is a deficit when it comes to zoo animals. Involving the State veterinarian will help ensure there is more fact-finding before an animal is seized or destroyed. This bill will also define zoos for the very first time. There are many parallels between the family zoo and the family farm. Many of the animals housed in zoos are already labeled as "alternative" livestock. They are housed in barns, drink from troughs, consume grain, etc. Instead of producing meat, milk, or eggs, zoos produce an experience that seeks to both educate and entertain the public. These small businesses contribute in a positive way to the Virginia economy and are popular destinations for the tourism industry. Please do not minimize or ignore these contributions based on an eccentric Netflix series. The citizens and animals of Virginia deserve better than this. We once again ask for your support of HB 2331. It will help protect zoo animals from reckless actions. It will give zoo owners a mechanism much like the farmers of Virginia. Right now, many zoo owners feel they are unwanted here. Please show them by your vote that this is not the case. Sincerely, Heidi Crosky Virginia Animal Owners Alliance

Please oppose this bill. This bill is not supported by animal control officers, Commonwealth Attorneys or accredited zoos. It is supported by a group opposed to any protection to animals, sentient beings who feel pain just like you.

I ask for opposition of this bill. Animals were not placed on this earth to serve human beings. Zoo animals are already forced to live in completely unnatural environments with all of their freedom taken away. Please do not make it more difficult to remove them from abusive situations. Thank you.

HB2331 impedes and is unnecessary to ensure the appropriate investigations and prosecutions of animal cruelty cases at roadside zoos. This bill is not supported by animal control officers, Commonwealth Attorneys or accredited zoos but rather is advanced by a group (the Virginia Animal Owners Alliance) which has sued local sheriffs, Commonwealth Attorneys and the Dog Fighting Task Force in an effort to undermine their efforts to protect animals. If ACO's need to consult VDACS or their local Commonwealth Attorneys, they already do and will continue to in the future. To mandate such action is simply an effort to add obstacles to responding to complaints regarding roadside zoos. Please oppose this effort to put obstacles in the way of important investigations.

There is significant opposition to this legislation: the Virginia Animal Control Association, the Virginia Alliance for Animal Shelters, the Virginia Federation of Humane Societies, the Virginia Veterinary Medical Association, the Virginia Coalition for Beagle Protection, HSUS and PETA all spoke in opposition to HB 2331. This bill is dangerous step backwards in Virginia’s efforts to protect animals from cruelty and abuse as it makes it more difficult to remove zoo animals from dangerous cruelty situations. Please, I urge you to Oppose HB 2331.

Please oppose this legislation. It would make it more difficult to remove zoo animals from dangerous cruelty situations.

I strongly suggest that you oppose this regressive piece of legislation. Ghandi once said ' a nation is known by the way it treats the least of it'.

Please oppose HB2331. This legislation moves backwards and hinders efforts to remove animals from inhumane situations. Thank you, Laura Lieberman

I urge you to oppose HB2331 as I feel this represents a huge step backwards in preventing animal abuse and cruelty. Thank you.

To whom it may concern: I believe strongly that it should be easier to remove zoo animals from situations of cruelty, not harder. After all, there are 7 well-respected organizations in Virginia opposed to this bill, with good reason. Please OPPOSE HB 2331

HB1382 | Gooditis | declawing cats is a barbaric process that as human beings, should NOT be inflicting on cats. HB1451 | Orrock | The majority of animals at pet shops are from mills. Pet shops should be eliminated period. HB1527 | Convirs-Fowler | the TNR program is important to stop unwanted cat and kitten deaths. HB1577 | Wachsmann | A rabid animal is still an animal and would require treatment if necessary before euthanizing and only a skilled veterinarian can make that determination and therefore would need to access in person. HB1721 | Clark | We need clean water. Human and animal alike. I also would advise for stricter regulations on all companies. Our water is disgusting. HB1984 | Kory | A water receptable for a pet should be cleaned twice and there should be more than enough to be provided and temperature specific. HB1985 | Kory | Pet shops; sale of dogs or cats. HB1989 | Kory | We are a civilized society and there is no need to hunt animals for sport or competition anymore. HB2000 | Kory | To be honest, there is no need for animal testing in this world. HB2331 | Campbell, E.H. | These roadside zoos and petting zoos are not regulated correctly and are rampant with health violations. HB2348 | Webert | I honestly do not understand why we are testing on animals. I'd say go directly to human trials. HB2417 | VanValkenburg | Dogs and cats are pets and should be treated with more respect and dignity than a lamp. HB2483 | Kory | There's no need to use such barbaric tools on elephants. In my opinion, I don't think elephants should be here in the US unless in a highly regarded zoo, such as the National Zoo, where there are veterinarians and conservationists who truly care about the animal.

Please oppose this bill. Every single animal welfare organization in the state and beyond believes this bill is NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE ANIMALS. A handful of people with an agenda (they own a zoo) support it. Thousands more oppose it. Please do the right thing.

I’m opposed to HB 2331. Virginia has made large strides in protecting helpless animals. It should be Easier to remove a zoo animal from dangerous/cruel situations, Not Harder. We owe this to animals that we keep in captivity. Thank you

Pls stop all animal experiments and cruelty. Someone has to speak and step up for those who cannot. Pls stop all cruelty Thanks

This bill is dangerous step backwards in Virginia’s efforts to protect animals from cruelty and abuse as it makes it more difficult to remove zoo animals from dangerous cruelty situations. I oppose HB 2331!

I oppose this bill!!!

The animals in an abusive situation have no voice. We have to be their voice. To do what is right and pass laws that allow for the animals to legally be removed from of the abusive situation.

Please support HB 2332. This bill puts zoo animals and their owners on the same legal footing as farm animals. Under it the State Veterinarians Office would be informed and would make decisions on how to handle a situation involving zoo animals in the same way they do with farm animals This could include impounding the animal on the land where the animal is located. Such treatment would often be better for the animals, preserve due process rights for owners, and allow animal owners to know where their animals are and to help in rectifying problematic conditions. That is both fair and best for the animals.

Please vote to oppose HB2331. Protecting all animals, including zoo animals, from dangerous cruelty situations is our responsibility, as the animals are powerless to protect themselves or advocate for themselves. We are--or should be--stewards of the planet and its wildlife. Opposing HB2331 is a move in the right direction for animals and thus, humanity.

OPPOSE HB 2331. This bill is dangerous step backwards in Virginia’s efforts to protect animals from cruelty and abuse. It makes it more difficult to remove zoo animals from dangerous cruelty situations.

I strongly oppose this bill.

I oppose HB 2338. This bill is dangerous step backwards in Virginia’s efforts to protect animals from cruelty and abuse. Thank you.

I strongly Oppose this bill. Thank You.

Please oppose HB2331 to protect animals from cruelty and abuse. HB2331 makes it more difficult to remove zoo animals from dangerous cruelty situations. Thanks.

lease oppose this legislation. This bill is a dangerous step backward in Virginia’s efforts to protect animals from cruelty and abuse. It makes it more difficult to remove zoo animals from dangerous cruelty situations. Virginia needs to be a leader in animal welfare and this bill sets that goal back.

I am opposed to HB 2331. Adding zoo animals to the definition of agricultural animals is disingenuous and aims to reduce protections of these sensitive and vulnerable animals. There have been many revelations of the abuse and mistreatment of animals at zoos and petting zoos in the media; greater protection, not less, is called for. This bill would make it it more difficult to seize and impound such animals when well-founded evidence is present and would enable unscrupulous owners to destroy evidence prior to an announced inspection . How does this protect these animals or serve the unsuspecting public that enjoys seeing these exotic creatures, believing they are well-cared for and loved? I urge you to oppose this bill.

Please oppose this legislation. This bill is a dangerous step backward in Virginia’s efforts to protect animals from cruelty and abuse. It makes it more difficult to remove zoo animals from dangerous cruelty situations. Virginia needs to be a leader in animal welfare and this bill sets that goal back.

Please oppose HB2331. This would allow these beautiful animals, held in captivity and exploited for profit, to have to languish in negligent conditions instead of acting promptly to reduce their suffering. This bill is dangerous step backwards in Virginia’s efforts to protect animals from cruelty and abuse. Making it more difficult to remove zoo animals from dangerous cruelty situations could only be supported by people profiting from their misery. Please have compassion for the voiceless and oppose this bill. Thank you.

We support this bill HB 2331 We need this bill to help protect zoo animals. By having additional layers of protection from quick seizures by under qualified evaluators gives zoo animals a greater sense of security. Having the state veterinarian involved will help ensure that more fact finding will take place. We need this bill for clarity in our industry. Please support this bill HB 2331

I strongly OPPOSE HB2331 and am very disappointed at its being submitted at all. It is a dangerous step backwards in Virginia’s efforts to protect animals from cruelty and abuse, and makes it more difficult to remove zoo animals from dangerous cruelty situations. Please DO NOT approve this bill and send it forward. Thank you for your time and attention, E. Suskind

Please OPPOSE HB2331 which will be a step backwards for animals!

HB2483 Please oppose this terrible bill designed by extremist animal rights to continue to remove animals from our lives incrementally. The guide tool, the ankus, does no harm to the animal, you cannot put a leash on an elephant, so the guide tool is used. This bill is a not so subtle push to eliminate all control of the animal, and have them sent to the disease ridden SCAMtuary in Tenn. Protect the human animal bond and OPPOSE.

Animal cruelty must be stopped under ALL circumstances. Don't put your head in the sand because logistics are more complicated. Captive animals need you even more!!! Please step up and do what is just under all circumstances. Say NO to HB2331. Thank you.

HB2483 AGAINST: This is NOT necessary and is a targeted campaign against Natural Bridge Zoo. We have known Natural Bridge Zoo, their owners and Asha the Elephant for 15 years. Their care and handling of Asha has always been with her best interest, provided with the optimal care and treated with respect. Asha has touched the hearts of thousands of individuals who then have a greater love and appreciation for pachyderms! This in turn creates in interest in conservation and preservation of the species. Asha and Natural Bridge Zoo are Ambassadors for these wonderful animals. There are MORE than enough laws in place for the welfare and protection of all animals without adding redundant and more restrictive language. Please DEFEAT this bill asap. HB2331 SUPPORT: We support this bill. There needs to be additional layers of protection from overzealous and under qualified evaluations before seizures. In legitimate situations of very poor conditions, where animal lives are in jeopardy, seizures may be appropriate. That power, like others, can be wielded against those that do not meet the criteria for seizure or as a political campaign / personal vendetta. There must be a balance of power and a legitimate process before removing anyone's property or animals is legally able to occur. Please PASS this bill.

Mr. Chair and Members of the Committee, We are asking for your strong support of HB 2331. This bill recognizes the special needs of zoo animals! Many species retain their wild natures and it takes time for them to learn to trust their keepers. These species often require tranquilization to have simple procedures done or to be moved from one exhibit to another. The sedation drugs can prove high risk with older animals and zoo professionals account for all of these dynamics along with their veterinarians. It is vital that the State recognize these concerns as well if animal welfare is truly the goal. This legislation gives zoo animals a greater sense of security. Virginia's Animal Law Unit raided a family-owned zoo in 2019. This action garnered a lot of media attention, but certain aspects were minimized or ignored. The way the two primates were treated has drawn criticism from many animal lovers. The fact that they could carry Herpes B was used as the reason to have them quickly euthanized. They were not given the chance to be tested first. This was NOT animal welfare. Involving the State Veterinarian will help ensure more fact-finding takes place. Zoo animals do not deserve any less than farm animals. With HB 2331, zoos in Virginia will finally be defined! This bill adds clarity for an industry that has been seeking answers since 2019. Zoos are NOT currently defined in spite of the fact that thousands of animals are exhibited throughout the Commonwealth. This legislation acknowledges the role of zoos within the State and indicates that owners are licensed through the Department of Wildlife Resources and the United States Department of Agriculture. Please support this effort. Sincerely, Heidi Crosky Virginia Animal Owners Alliance

We are asking you to support House Bill 2331. Our animals need this bill. Virginia's zoo owners need this bill. Too many of us feel we are unwanted here and that our Virginia businesses are unwanted. This legislation gives us and our animals more security and acknowledges the fact that we exist. Jeff Archer Fort Chiswell Animal Park

1-24-23 Please support HB 2331. Zoo animals that are deemed to need impounding are currently handled in aggressive and inappropriate ways by law enforcement and overly zealous representatives of the VA Attorney General's office. They are often moved out of state - even across the country - by inexperienced people who have little to no knowledge of what said animal may require. Such drastic moves are highly stressful to the animals. Owners are given no information. It is like their animals have been stolen. This bill would require that zoo animals get the same treatment as agricultural animals -- namely that the State Veterinarians Office would be informed and would make decisions on how to handle the situation. This could include impounding the animal on the land where the animal is located. Such treatment would be better for the animals, preserve due process rights for owners, and allow animal owners to know where their animals are and to help in rectifying problematic conditions. In 2022 a similar bill, HB53, was being worked on and Virginia veterinary partners were being identified that could handle zoo animal referrals. That bill passed the House but Failed in the Senate.

I am writing to oppose passage of HB2331 which would comprise an enormous and dangerous step backwards in Virginia’s efforts to protect our most vulnerable animals from cruelty and abuse. At a time when we in Virginia have been strengthening our laws against cruelty to animals and seeking to better enforce these laws, this bill veers extremely to a contrary direction, by removing existing protections for animals in zoos and petting zoos. This bill makes it harder for law enforcement officials to seek a warrant when they suspect abuse, allows offenders to destroy evidence by allowing a notice and waiting period even when there is a direct and immediate threat to a zoo animal, makes it more difficult to remove animals from dangerous situations, and makes it harder for prosecutors to do their jobs. And who benefits? Not the animals. Not the public that has always delighted in the opportunity to view these grand animals that we expect are properly cared for and treated humanely. Not law enforcement officers that are doing their best to preserve and protect. And not reputable zoo owners that are deserving of the many visitors they have. The only individuals that benefit are the disreputable, unqualified, neglectful and inhumane zoo owners that are unwilling or unable to provide even the most basic care and meet the most minimal of standards. Please vote down this bill. Your children will thank you.

I strongly support HB 2348 PENALTIES FOR NONCOMPLIANCE AT ANIMAL TESTING FACILITIES. I and many others would like our State to join the many other states which prohibit Animal Testing which is both cruel and unscientific.

I respectfully request this Bill gets killed. Our pets are considered so much as family members than ever before. They rely upon us for love and comfort, more so today than 5, 10, 20 and even 30 years ago. Zoos aren’t the educational institution they once were, so many roadside zoos have animals that don’t live in their natural habitat, I implore you to reject this Bill. We don’t want to see family members suffer, these feelings need to be recognized they extend to our pets and zoo animals in precarious, scary and painful situations . Thank you.

I demanding that you protect our water stop the mountain valley pipeline from being drilled it will endanger people living there I am begging to protect our waters and lands as so important for endangered species and people. Concerned Citizen Ji Montgomery

Please oppose this bill! It is a step backward for animal protection and it makes it harder for law enforcement to do their job.

We OPPOSE this bill. It would remove measures to help law enforcement in their review of animal cruelty. Zoo animals are vulnerable to abuse - we need to provide as many safeguards as possible in order to ensure they are protected. This is a step back - it is not humane, necessary or good for the animals.

I respectfully oppose House Bill 2331 regarding seizure of animals from zoos. This bill would make it more difficult for law enforcement to remove zoo animals from situations of abuse and neglect. In the wake of Tiger King and other stories about poor treatment and practices at roadside zoos, including the indictments and arrests of several of the individuals highlighted in Tiger King, we've all seen how terrible conditions can be for animals kept in some zoos and how abuse and neglect can be hidden and kept out of sight. This bill would be a step backwards, and would decrease the public's trust of certain zoos. Law enforcement needs to be able to expeditiously obtain warrants when abuse is suspected and remove animals from situations of abuse and neglect for the wellbeing of the animal. I respectfully oppose House Bill 2331 as it's bad for animals and bad for well-run zoos.

HB1382 | Gooditis | declawing cats is a barbaric process that as human beings, should NOT be inflicting on cats. HB1451 | Orrock | The majority of animals at pet shops are from mills. Pet shops should be eliminated period. HB1527 | Convirs-Fowler | the TNR program is important to stop unwanted cat and kitten deaths. HB1577 | Wachsmann | A rabid animal is still an animal and would require treatment if necessary before euthanizing and only a skilled veterinarian can make that determination and therefore would need to access in person. HB1721 | Clark | We need clean water. Human and animal alike. I also would advise for stricter regulations on all companies. Our water is disgusting. HB1984 | Kory | A water receptable for a pet should be cleaned twice and there should be more than enough to be provided and temperature specific. HB1985 | Kory | Pet shops; sale of dogs or cats. HB1989 | Kory | We are a civilized society and there is no need to hunt animals for sport or competition anymore. HB2000 | Kory | To be honest, there is no need for animal testing in this world. HB2331 | Campbell, E.H. | These roadside zoos and petting zoos are not regulated correctly and are rampant with health violations. HB2348 | Webert | I honestly do not understand why we are testing on animals. I'd say go directly to human trials. HB2417 | VanValkenburg | Dogs and cats are pets and should be treated with more respect and dignity than a lamp. HB2483 | Kory | There's no need to use such barbaric tools on elephants. In my opinion, I don't think elephants should be here in the US unless in a highly regarded zoo, such as the National Zoo, where there are veterinarians and conservationists who truly care about the animal.

Pls stop all animal experiments and cruelty. Someone has to speak and step up for those who cannot. Pls stop all cruelty Thanks

Please support HB 2348 which will allow Virginia to fine animal testing facilities that violate federal laws and regulations. This bill does not require Virginia to set up an inspection process but merely to impose penalties on facilities that have been cited for violations of the Animal Welfare Act. Virginia's experience with the infamous Envigo breeding facility, which had multiple citations for violation of the AWA with no consequences for years, illustrates the need for civil penalties to get the attention of violators.

Please pass HB2348. Last year, an unprecedented five bills were passed unanimously in the House and Senate to address significant and longstanding abuse and cruelty at Envigo, a breeding facility for Beagles that then would be sold into research around the world. Envigo galvanized not only Virginians, but others across the country, to see these dogs for who they could be and ultimately did become, one-by-one, thousands of loving animal companions to thousands of people who needed and wanted them. While we have happily shut down this miserable facility, we need to look to underlying problems that allowed the abuse and neglect to flourish for so long at Envigo and that continues to allow abuse and neglect at research facilities in Virginia that use animals. In the last three years, 9 of 27 testing facilities in Virginia were cited by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for violations of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). It saddens me, as a former employee of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service at USDA, the agency responsible for inspections and enforcement of the AWA, to recognize that enforcement of the AWA by USDA is woefully inadequate. USDA’s own Office of the Inspector General concluded, after several audits, that the agency’s oversight is largely meaningless, because penalties are insufficient or nonexistent. There is no incentive for bad actors to change. This bill will give Virginia the ability to address the inhumane and illegal treatment of animals in its own research facilities. This bill does not prohibit animal testing. It does not establish new standards. Facilities will continue to be governed by standards to which they have been subject for many years. This bill does not require Virginia to conduct inspections. It simply gives Virginia the authority to penalize testing facilities that have already been determined to be in violation of applicable law. We owe it to the Beagles already out there today, suffering in labs that don’t care and know they can get away with it.

I strongly support HB 2348 PENALTIES FOR NONCOMPLIANCE AT ANIMAL TESTING FACILITIES. I and many others would like our State to join the many other states which prohibit Animal Testing which is both cruel and unscientific.

I demanding that you protect our water stop the mountain valley pipeline from being drilled it will endanger people living there I am begging to protect our waters and lands as so important for endangered species and people. Concerned Citizen Ji Montgomery

Please support this bill! This simply requires these facilities have to meet the same requirements that all animal shelters in Virginia do. It would prevent repeat violations that keep happening like what happened at Envigo.

HB1382: Dear Honorable Chair and Committee Members, Please support the prohibition of the declawing of cats. Declawing is cruel and only worsens problems with pet ownership. HB1406: Dear Honorable Chair and Committee Members, Please support the elimination of licensing fees for pet owners. Lower income citizens can be negatively affected by these fees and pet ownership provides much needed companionship for elderly and those with low to moderate income. HB1989: Dear Honorable Chair and Committee Members, Please support the prohibition of killing contests for coyotes and other fur bearing animals. Killing Contests are cruel and glorify violence. They can actually backfire and elevate populations, aggravating any problems that may be associated. HB2042: Dear Honorable Chair and Committee Members, Please support initiating protections for whistleblowers at animal testing and research facilities. It takes great courage to stand up for those that have no voice. These people should have protections against retaliation. HB2348: Dear Honorable Chair and Committee Members, Please support imposing Civil Penalties on Animal Research Facilities that choose not to comply with Federal Laws and Regulations. This is a sensible, common sense bill that would help guide these facilities toward a more lawful approach to these endeavors. This legislation is very much needed. Thank you so much, Charles T Woodson Richmond Va

I demanding that you protect our water stop the mountain valley pipeline from being drilled it will endanger people living there I am begging to protect our waters and lands as so important for endangered species and people. Concerned Citizen Ji Montgomery

The Virginia State Parks website states that our parks have something for everyone. All -terrain powered wheelchairs would provide disabled visitors with a better way to experience our parks. We should do everything possible to ensure that a disability does not diminish one's enjoyment of our parks. It's the equitable thing to do.

February 3, 2023 Good afternoon members of the Appropriations Committee. I am writing to request your support of HB2453, a bill that would provide for a pilot program bringing all terrain power wheelchairs to our state parks. Due to paralysis caused by a spinal cord injury, I have used a manual wheelchair for the past 25 years. I am a regular visitor at Mason Neck State Park, a place I treasure for the opportunities to see wildlife like bald eagles, owls, and osprey. Although Mason Neck State Park has several trails that are deemed accessible, the sad reality is that they are not useable to many people with mobility impairments. One of this park’s accessible trails, called Marsh View, is described on the park’s web site as “a .25-mile long trail with a stone-packed surface that ends at an elevated platform overlooking the upper marshes of Kane’s Creek.” I was eager to enjoy the view from that platform when I set out on Marsh View Trail a few months ago. Unfortunately, exposed tree roots, holes, rocks, and other obstacles made it impossible for me to push my wheelchair to the end of the trail. An all-terrain power wheelchair would allow park visitors with impaired mobility to cover more distance with greater ease, and to enjoy more of the numerous benefits offered by Virginia’s state parks. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Kris Gulden

I support HB2453 because if all terrain wheelchairs are found practical they will allow wounded veterans who must use them enjoy Virginia’s parks including Mason Neck which is close to Fort Belvoir’s veterans rehabilitation facility.

What a kind thoughtful thing to do, provide wheelchairs so everyone can enjoy our wonderful parks. Patty

I am writing in support of the All Terrain Wheel Chair pilot program funding program for Virginia State Parks. This program would help increase accessibility in Virginia State Parks, so that everyone can enjoy access to our wonderful public lands

Please support Delegate Tran’s bill to study wheel chair access to state parks.

The Virginia Association for Parks Fully supports HB2453. HB2453 will open a whole new world to those currently physically unable to use and enjoy Virginia State Park trails. HB2453 greatly enhances and promotes Virginia State Parks ability to improve ADA accessibility to many underserved guests.

Please evaluate the feasibility of providing all-terrain wheelchairs in amenable state parks to enable a wider population to enjoy their many gifts. Thank you,

I am writing in support of providing all terrain wheel chairs for use in state parks. It would be wonderful if our state parks were more accessible to wheel chair users, who face so many barriers when trying to engage in activities that most of us take for granted. Spending time in nature can be a calming and peaceful experience, but only if you can access it easily. Please vote in favor of this bill.

I am a certified therapeutic recreation specialist representing Pursuit Adaptive Sports and Recreation and want to urge you to support HB2453. We are an organization of adults with physical disabilities who seek to enjoy sports and recreation in the same manner as those without disabilities. We also want to enjoy our state parks, for which our taxes fund, in the same way as other citizens. All terrain (AT) wheelchairs would allow those of us who use wheelchairs to roll along the trails with our friends and family members. The "accessible" trails in most of our state parks are not accessible to regular wheelchair users - they are full of broken pavement, roots coming through the pavement, often are muddy and present many other barriers. Please support this bill to at least pilot the AT wheelchairs to understand just how they would open up the state parks to all of our deserving citizens. Thank you!

Hi Please support the bill that would provide all terrain wheel chairs to state parks. This would make the parks more accessible to wheelchair users. Thanks

Please support the two-year pilot program to evaluate placing all-terrain wheelchairs in state parks. A number of states have already enacted AT wheelchairs in state parks and it has been very successful in meeting the needs of our citizens who use wheelchairs. If you have ever tried to take someone in a wheelchair to any of the "wheelchair accessible" trails you would understand how difficult it is to push the chair, not to mention, to ride in a chair while constantly being jostled. Let's try this pilot and determine what it is like to actually have an accessible state park. Thank you for your support!

I fully support the effort to make state parks more accessible and enjoyed by people with disabilities, especially those whose mobility depends on wheelchairs. Not only are parks meant to offer physical movement and exercise to all citizens, but parks' pristine surroundings and vistas help improve the mental and emotional disposition of those who visit. It's important that this bill allows the Commonwealth of Virginia to leave NONE of its citizens behind, especially some of its most vulnerable population, and especially those who need access to these kinds of environments the most.

Our Parks on Mason Neck are precious; so much so that they truly must be accessible to all users. Delegate Tran’s bill will go a long way towards making that goal a reality. I fully support efforts to ensure our fellow outdoor enthusiasts with disabilities can enjoy the rich resources on Mason Neck along with other members of the community.

I write in strong support of Delegate Tran's bill to establish a two-year pilot program for all-terrain power wheelchairs in state park. As a frequent visitor to both Mason Neck and Sky Meadows state parks, in contact with a friend who frequently visits Mason Neck in her wheelchair, I know first hand the physical challenges presented by hilly, rolling and uneven terrain in these two beautiful parks. The upgrading of park infrastructure to improve accessibility is happening gradually in both places, but that is an enormously expensive and time-consuming process. All-terrain power wheelchairs are a cost effective means of providing greater accessibility in state parks, over the short term. There are precedents for their publicly-funded use in several states -- states as diverse as Colorado, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota and South Dakota. According to one state park official in Minnesota, as quoted in a Washington Post story of November 8, 2022, "People have told us this is life-changing." In the interest of better, more accessible, more widely-used state parks, and expanded opportunities for a significant portion of park visitors, I encourage your active consideration of Delegate Tran's bill.

I writing to support bill HB 2453 introduced by Kathy Tran. The acquisition of all terrain wheelchairs for a pilot program in our state parks is an import step toward increased accessibility. I live within walking distance of Mason Neck State Park in Lorton. And am a frequent visitor and Board member if our Friends group. We have been working on increasing accessibility to our trails. While I can walk, many cannot. In walking two trails rated as accessible with a person in a wheelchair I became aware of the difficulty in pushing through roots,gravel, mud and dealing with slope. All terrain wheelchairs would encourage physical and recreational therapists to bring Wounded Warriors from nearby Firt Belvoir and others to the park to enjoy wooded trails and water views. Please support this pilot program. Our friends group stands ready to support the effort and expand the program if the pilot is successful.

Delegate Tran’s bill is a wonderful and creative way to support all those with mobility challenges, especially the very large contingent of wounded warriors at Ft. Belvoir. Disabled warriors and others can see only a small part of the beauty of Mason Neck from the road while in a vehicle or on a specialized bike. The vast majority of the natural beauty of Mason Neck State Park can only be enjoyed while on its trails offering forest, bay, meadow, and river views. Likewise, those are the only places where the park’s wildlife can be seen. As a veteran and decades long visitor to Mason Neck State Park, I wholeheartedly support the bill.

Access for all should be a no brainer when it comes to state parks. There really isnt anything else that needs to be said.

Last year I was injured due to a broken foot and I have continuous knee issues. I love to go hiking in the parks nearby my home on the weekends and bird watch but unfortunately during the time when my foot was broken and when my knee is immobile I cannot enjoy the parks and get outside. Having all terrain vehicles in parks would allow not only myself but also so many people with disabilities get out and enjoy our parks.

I think all terrain wheelchairs are a good idea for state parks, to help disabled citizens enjoy the peace and serenity of park trails and activities.

Delegate Tran's bill dovetails perfectly with the efforts of Mason Neck State Park and the Friends to improve accessibility at the park. There is no guarantee that the pilot program, if it is approved, would result in all-terrain wheelchairs being placed at the park, but every state park could benefit from them. At Mason Neck State Park, Kris Gulden, who is a wheelchair user, has attempted to travel on park paths and found that even those that are labeled as accessible are nearly impassible to wheelchairs. Also, having all-terrain wheelchairs available could be very helpful to soldiers and veterans at Ft. Belvoir's rehabilitation center

I think having adaptive wheelchairs in all state parks is an excellent idea!

I enthusiastically support Delegate Tran's bill. I am a frequent visitor and volunteer at Mason Neck State Park. I know that the park staff makes great efforts to keep the trails accessible, but all of the unpaved trails in the park are nearly impossible for a wheelchair user to navigate because of intrusion from roots and the grades. I am fairly sure the same holds true for other parks, and in particular state parks that are in hilly terrain. Placing all-terrain wheelchairs at Mason Neck would be very helpful to visitors. I am aware of one regular visitor to the park who is a wheelchair user, and I am sure there are others. The park is close to Ft. Belvoir, which has a large Wounded Warrior rehabilitation facility. The facility already uses the park for some events. Having all-terrain wheelchairs at the park would help advance their mission as well as that of the park.

Please authorize the pilot program to place all-terrain wheelchairs in state parks. . As Delegate Tran's bill notes, every state park could benefit from all-terrain wheelchairs. At Mason Neck State Park, Kris Gulden, who is a wheelchair user, has attempted to travel on park paths and found that even those that are labeled as accessible are nearly impassible to wheelchairs. Also, having all-terrain wheelchairs available could be very helpful to soldiers and veterans at Ft. Belvoir's rehabilitation center.

What a kind thoughtful thing to do, provide wheelchairs so everyone can enjoy our wonderful parks. Patty

On behalf of Delta Waterfowl and our members and supporters in the Commonwealth, I'm writing to support Delegate Edmunds' House Bill 2470 - legislation that would require the General Assembly to fully fund any revenue lost by the Department of Wildlife Resources for any legislation passed beyond July 1, 2023, that seeks to discount hunting and fishing licenses. The Department of Wildlife Resources is primarily funded through the sale of hunting and fishing licenses, combined with federal excise taxes from the sale of firearms and ammunition. Importantly, state fish and wildlife agencies must receive a net revenue of $2.00 from each license sale to report a certified license holder which qualifies for additional federal funds. On average, each certified hunting license brings the state an additional $26 and each fishing license brings in $10 of federal aid. When license fees are eliminated completely, states lose out on this additional revenue in addition to the loss of the original cost of the license. When legislation is passed that gives discounted or free licenses, the burden falls on the Department of Wildlife Resources to make up the difference in lost revenue. This can severely limit their ability to effectively manage healthy fish and wildlife populations that all residents of the Commonwealth enjoy. This legislation is a commonsense approach to ensuring the Department of Wildlife Resources will have the funds they need to continue to do the good work they do on behalf of all Virginians, and it follows the lead of neighboring states that have already passed similar legislation. Thank you for your consideration. Respectfully, Cyrus Hunter Baird Senior Director of Government Affairs Delta Waterfowl Foundation

Comments Document

A letter in opposition of this bill is attached.

On behalf of the Prince William Chamber, we SUPPORT HB2496. This bill would create the Virginia Recycling Development Center to provide applied research and development, marketing assistance, and policy analysis in furthering the development of markets and processing for recycled commodities and products. Creating this center is critically necessary to successfully promote recycling solutions rather than ban products that are convenient or necessary for consumers and businesses in Virginia. This center’s work will send a signal to the recycling industry that Virginia wants their investment to address discarded plastics. Virginia must improve its recycling capabilities in order to be in the top tier of states in recycling. We join the Coalition for Consumer Choices in supporting HB2496. Thank you for your consideration.