I am a newly blind person, and enjoy all the independence I can have with the sudden onset of my blindness. After going blind taking my medications was a big obstacle, many times I took them wrong and suffered the consequencess. Now that I have Script-talk I am able to take care of my self, and not feel like a kid and need a babysitter. Bill 516 will give all blind people the ease of the use of script-talk from the start, and not have to go through the trouble I went through to get it.I spent months fighting to get it, and needing someone to give me my medicines. Please give equal opportunity to all, even the blind. Thank you Cindy Thompson

Without talking labels on all my prescriptions, I can get confused about which ones they are and when to take them. It’s impossible to refill them by myself. Many times, I have to wait for sighted assistance before taking a medication or knowing the name and amount I take . As you can imagine, this can become dangerous when you are guessing according to size and smell without definitely knowing the meds I am taking.

Please pass HB516: I am a totally Blind woman who sometimes lives alone. I should not have to depend on anyone to tell me what my medication is when I have the independence to read the information with the assistance of verbal labels. There should be a requirement for all medication to have talking labels on the medication bottle or package because it is dangerous to take the wrong medication. ScripTalk talking labels are available from En-Vision America, and I appreciate the peace of mind that I have when I take medication, knowing that it is prescribed for me, what it is prescribed for, who it was prescribed by, and how much, and how often to take the medication. I feel that it is an invasion of my privacy to have to ask for assistance from anyone concerning taking medication, and this should be my right as a citizen, and the right for everyone with print reading limitation.

This is a very good program for those that are visually in pared or who can not see at all. Because it helps with our independence. I feel that it is discrimination to take something away from us that rely on it for our daily life and it would enable us from knowing if we are take the right med's or not.

I feel that the bill HB 516 should be passed because health is important to blind people like myself as much as it is sighted and non-disabled individuals. To me, it is very hard to read the labels on my prescription bottles because the writing is so small. Having accessible labels would mean the world to me.

As a blind person, I greatly benefitted from the prescription labels given to me by CVS. I can now daily organize and take all my medications by myself. This has improve my independence, confidence, health safety and quality of life.

I think that prescription drug labels should be provided to blind and disabled users because they need to be accessible so that they can follow the instructions to administer the medicine prescribed by their physician. They need to be in larger font, and be available in Braille for users who have visual impairments. At some point, in our lives, any of us could be visually challenged, and especially as we get older.

As a person with low vision, I have used the labelling of my prescriptions for two years and it has worked beautifully. It allows me to be independent and to manage my prescriptions safely.

This bill would give blind people the ability to read prescription information privately and independently which should be a given. People with disabilities in this country deserve to be treated with the same respect and consideration as their non disabled peers. The fact that there professionals in the pharmaceutical industry who don’t wish to provide adequate access to their patients is gross and unfair to say the least. Please do not listen to their false testimony and pass this bill to give all blind Virginians access to their medications! Thank you very much. And the captia below isn’t accessible to the blind so please fix this!

I am blind and live alone. My local pharmacy refused to put the Script Talk labels on my medicine, and so I was unable to use the Scrip Talk machine. HB516 would mandate accessibility for all persons who receive prescriptions at their local pharmacy. My former pharmacy is now closed, and now I have to re-negotiate with my new pharmacy whether it will provide accessibility for my prescriptions. It is vital to have that information for safety reasons, even if someone is able to create their own identification process, for example, identifying by the shape and color of the pills. The pharmacy could change companies when they order new pills, thus changing their description. There are also important directions related to when you should take the pill and if you should take it with food, etc. If you have sight, try to imagine getting a prescription and not being able to identify it or read the directions!

I am visually impaired and take multiple medicines that are the same shape in tablet form and capsule. Without the labels being placed on my prescription bottles, I would either over medicate or under medicate. I am a diabetic and have hypertension as well as other medical issues, so the labels have been a great help in keeping track of what I am taking, the amount as well as refills. Please consider this option for those in Virginia who needs this particular help in knowing and taking meds.

As a visually challenge person, I wish I knew about script talk labeling years ago. In fact, I just learned about it when I came across this bill. Increasing awareness of such service should be encouraged and enforced.

I'm old enough to remember when prescription bottles did not have safety caps and children died. Implementation of technology saved lives. I also remember car manufacturers resisted installing seat belts even though it was proven they would save lives. Too expensive they said. Now, technology exists to allow blind and low vision people to safely take their medication and to read about the side effects and other information . Some pharmacies are using this technology. Why not all pharmacies ? Why would legislators not want to protect people ? Technology exists that will save lives and allow people to be independent. Please pass this life-saving legislation . It's the right thing to do .

Virginia needs topass this bill. Reading and identfy medication is difficult if you can not see. I believe in this bill. Request Joe McNamara and others do the right thing related to accessibility. and by the way this process is not accessible with the recaptha request. Does not work with screen readers!

I feel this bill is very much needed for the Blind and Low Vision Community. We need more accessible things and places such as this bill.

As a blind /low vision individual, managing my medications was a daily health risk. I couldn't read the labels and drug information. The frustration of guessing if I was opening the right pill container, taking the medication as instructed, or even being able to read drug interaction risks or identify side effects was completely (and a few times) devastating guess work. When I learned about SripTalk through the Dept for the Blind and Vision Impared, my whole world changed. I no longer have to deal with the stress, frustration, and fear of taking my daily medications, Prescription reader technology has numerous benefits for a host of people who are vision impaired and don't yet know there's a solution out there...consider the elderly. For some, the guesswork is so scary and potentially lethal that we choose not to take our prescribed medication...seeing it to be a lesser risk than incorrect dosage or living with side effects because we don't know what to watch for. Millons if people ate relying on your support to champion this bill. We may not be able to see clearly but we have a need and we have a voice. We NEED this technology. There are many challenges to being vision impaired, simply taking your medications SHOULD NOT be one of them. Thank you for hearing us.

My daughter is filling this out for me.I can not see and depend on help so anything that can help us the people who are disabled blind please help pleaE pass this bill.

I am writing on behalf of NFB and the blind community to encourage Congress to pass HB 516. As a blind individual it is a challenge to keep track of medications and the correct dosage. I need to rely on a family member for help or place them in a specific location and memorize the information because there is no way to identify the prescriptions. It would be a minimal cost to make prescription labels accessible. It could be as simple as adding a QR code to the label. Please pass this bill to make it easier for us to manage our prescriptions. Thank you.

As a rehabilitation teacher working with the blind and visually impaired I fully support HB516. It is imperative that pharmacies notify any person receiving a prescription drug that an accessible prescription label is available upon request at no cost and to provide to individuals who are blind, visually impaired, or otherwise print disabled. This is not only a safety issue, but pivotal in helping those with visual impairments remain independent.

In regard to bill HB516, every blind or visually impaired person wants to be as independent as possible each day. I applied to use script Talk where I pick up medication and headquarters denied the opportunity for me to use this technology. Many blind people want to be in charge of their lives and Script Talk can tell you things about your medication such as refill number, expiration date, dosage and printed information about the product. I urge Virginia to pass this bill whereby blind people will have the same rites as sighted people and have all the information needed to understand their medications without needing to ask for help from others.

As a visually impaired person, I fully support bill HB516. This should be a standard practice at all pharmacies for blind and visually impaired customers. How else would a visually impaired person be able to read the labels on their prescriptions? This would be especially challenging for those who have to manage several medications. Having had a few prescriptions with the labels that can be read by my phone, I can tell you it is a life saver. Those of us who have issues with our vision, need all the tools we can get our hands on to make life easier.

I have low vision and work in a low vision clinic and resource center. The ability to manage medications is critical to allowing individuals with visual impairments especially the elderly live independently. Providing accessible labels on medication is easy. In fact there is existing technology available to all pharmacies. ScripTalk labels if used allow patients to have medication information spoken using either a smartphone app or using a Spriptak device. These devices are provided to patients free of charge. As baby boomers continie to age, the number that develop age related vision loss due to conditions such as Macular Degeneration and Glaucoma is increasing. The inability to read medication labels is dangerous and impacts the ability to live independently. And this impacts younger visually impaired and blind Virginians as well. Please vote move this bill forward and vote to pass it. The technology is readily available so pharmacies should have no problem implementing accessible labeling. Thank you for proposimg and hopefully passing this very important bill. It will be lifechanging for visually impaired Virginians.

HB 516 i am a legally blind male and it is imperative to me that this bill be approved it would allow me to independently continue filing my own pill box ,with the assistance of script talk that provides me with instructions on when to take my medication and how. As I might not have someone available all the time to read these labels to me. This device is a great help for me As a Blind person, one of my many concerns regards my medications and being able to tell them apart etc. special prescription drug labels are critical for the visually impaired, and disabled, obviously. My future as a blind person presents many hurdles,Hopefully medication use won’t be one of them.

I am in support of HB 516. I use accessible pharmacy labeling, and it makes my life extremely easy. However, I know others who don’t and have many many issues. The fact is the technology already exists. The programs are already out there. So it is a fairly low cost solution to help countless people with possible life-saving independence. why should we as blind individuals be punished for some thing that is beyond our control

I belief to me that if bill is approved it would provide me with a better way of independence regarding instructions when taking medicine. As I might not have someone available all the time to read these labels to me. Dhis device would be a great help for me and my fellow Virginians dealing with the same situation. Thank you for your time dedicated in this matter.

HB 516 As a low vision person, one of my many concerns regards my medications and being able to tell them apart etc. soecial prescription drug labels are critical for the visually impaired, and disabled, obviously. My future as a blind person presents many hurdles,Hopefully medication use won’t be one of them.

I feel the strip talk will help me to keep my independence and live a more rewarding life

Bill HB516 is so critical to the blind and visually impaired community in that we need to be able to Our medications just as much as anyone else would. This would help us stay at home and independent like all folks would like to be. This also helps us know everything about our medication that is important to taking and using it appropriately. I have used this type of accessibility for my meds and it helped save my life.

I am a totally blind Virginian. I am also a parent to 2 small children. Accessible prescription labels are not only important for my own health but also for my ability to safely care for my children if and when they need medication. I also believe this legislation is especially important for our seniors who may not be as familiar with alternative techniques and assistive technology to access prescription information, but who often must manage multiple life-saving medications on a daily basis. Please pass this legislation and give Virginians who are blind or visually impaired equal access to the same vital prescription information that is available to everyone else.

I am testifying about HB516. I have been totally blind for almost 30 years, and have numerous health conditions, such as multiple sclerosis, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis and with these health conditions, I take a lot of medication. Luckily, both my local and mail order pharmacies offer accessible labeling options if it was not for that, I would not be able to safely and independently manage my own prescriptions. I think is vitally important that all pharmacies be required to offer some kind of accessible labeling options. In order that the blind visually impaired community be able to safely and independently manage their health and prescription needs

I urge the Virginia General Assembly to pass HB116 which will require labelling of medical prescriptions in an accessible manner for Virginians who are blind or visually impaired. With out accessible drug information those of us who are blind face a major deficit in the quality of care we receive. Information about dosages, side effects, and interactions are critical. why is this information readily available to sighted persons and not to the blind? Other states have passed similar laws, Virginia, let’s join them.

I am a legally blind elderly woman. With my sight being as bad as it is. The prescription reading lable is a necessity for me, because I live alone and basically do everything for myself except read. The talking label is the only way I can keep up with and take the correct medications.

In favor of HB 516 for script Talk to used in prescription bottles by pharmacist to label name, prescription name, dosage, usage, and reordering info such as script number and date to refill. It is so important for blind and vision impaired people to have the right to receive the same information as sighted people in an accessible format. This is crucial for safety and recovery. A lot of blind people live alone, have no one to set up their medications properly in pill boxes and could face overdosing by taking a pill at the wrong time or taking night meds during the day and causing faa as les or accidents because of being to drowsy. This is an inexpensive means to provide the blind and vision impaired (especially seniors) that they take the proper meds at the proper time. In an age where everything I’d computer based, refills are difficult to refill with out the script number and script talk allows people to be more independent and and family members to feel safe that prescriptions are taken properly. Please support in favor of this bill. We need you to assure accessibility is provide to the blind and vision impaired. Unless you have a family member affected with blindness you have no idea the struggles a blind person goes through trying to be independent and self supporting. With seniors living much longer these days, more and more are losing their sight. This bill could change their lives and maybe even, change the life of someone you know or care about.

As a person that is vision impaired and a diabetic, it is imperative that I know which medicine I am taking and the correct dosage. If the medicine is taken incorrectly it could cause detrimental effects and could lead to death. I do not always have someone sighted near by to assist me. I have Kaiser Permente and they offer to put labels on my meds that can be scanned and read back to me. This helps so much. I know exactly what I am taking and how much needs to be taken. However this service is only offered for prescriptions that are mailed to me. So if I am at the doctors and he prescribes something I need to start taking now, I am back to square one. Because the labels can not be put on there at the pharmacy. Please pass this bill, I know I need it.

This is a comment on Bill, HB 516 Prescription drugs; labels provided for blind and disabled users. this type of labeling is necessary for blind people to be able to reliably identify the pills they are taking. Especially when we take sometimes up to 10 different prescriptions. this is a real life issue that is personally impacted me, and possibly could’ve caused me harm. unbeknownst to me my pharmacy change the dosage on my pills from two 10 MG to one 20 mg figuring I was taking two at the same time so the replacement was OK. in reality this actually was OK but only if I knew I was doing it. I almost took a double dosage by taking two pills of the higher prescription. At the time I did not have anything reading me the labels but luckily, I noticed something was different and found a sided person to tell me why the pill felt a little different. please see that this bill is passed so I can continue to easily find prescription with accessible labels. Thank you.

I depend on script talk to fill my pill box.With out script talk labels I surely won't be able. I am vision impaired.

Please vote to pass HB 516, "Prescription drugs; labels provided for blind and disabled users," into law. Talking prescriptions are a life-saving necessity for anyone who has difficulty with reading normal print, and particularly the tiny print that appears on containers of medicines. We should have access to information about our prescriptions so that we know what medicines we are taking, and so that we will not take the wrong medicines, like oxycodone or fentanyl, by mistake. This should be a basic human right.

The ScriptTalk station/App facilitates my basic human right to read/manage my prescriptions as a blind veteran. When my prescriptions must be filled by a local pharmacy that does not provide such labels, I am denied the same basic human rights as sided people. as a tax paying Virginia I would like to believe that all politicians are doing everything they can to support my personal rights. ScripTalk prescription readers are a right and not a privilege; hence, I expect politicians to do everything possible to support the ScripTalk reader and prescription labels!

I believe that RX drug labels should be provided at all pharmacies. This is a need, especially for people who are blind or visually disabled. When you take more than one medicine, you cannot rely on the shape. Often people with my problem cannot see all colors so that is a limitation also. If only a few pharmacies use the labels we are limited to their prices. We need all the info on the script & the special label provides that information. Thank you for hearing my voice.

I work with the blind population throughout Virginia to help them become independent. One of the most valuable tools we implement with them is an audible prescription reader, such as the Scrip Talk system. Use of the Scrip Talk device allows them to safely identify and manage their medications independently.

Dear Members of Congress, I am a productive, tax-paying citizen of Virginia. I work full-time, for over eight years, at Covington & Burling, LLP in Washington, DC, while living in Virginia. Many of you may be familiar with this prestigious firm. After 41 years of being a Type 1 diabetic, I also happen to be blind. In addition to causing my blindness, this disease also led to kidney failure, and ultimately, a kidney transplant. I was fortunate to previously live near the Cleveland Clinic, in Ohio, so I have also had a pancreas transplant, so I am no longer a Type 1 diabetic. Add in hypertension, due to decreased kidney function, and you can probably deduce I take quite a few medications. In the past, I have spent an evening in the Emergency Room because of an accidental overdose of an incorrect medication. I thought I was taking one prescription, but in fact, I took a different one. Fortunately, my wife noticed this soon after, and I was able to get to a hospital quickly. This accident was clearly caused by my lack of vision. With comprehensive insurance provided by my employer, I was able to find a pharmacy that can provide talking labels for my prescription medications. Because of this, I have been able to avoid any repeat incidents like my previous accidental overdose. We all know Virginia has had its share of self-inflicted overdoses. Please help avoid accidental ones by supporting HB516. This potentially life saving prescription feature should be available to everyone in Virginia, not just those with the best insurance, and access to the leading pharmacies. Respectfully, Tom Schmitt 10139 Woodbury Dr Manassas, VA 20109 (440) 610-5687

I am a Rehab Teacher for individuals with Blindness and Vision Impairment. I closely work with my client's independent living skills and medication management. Administering right meds impacts health of our senior citizens and accessible meds enable them to perform it safely. This is a game changer for persons with vision loss and should be supported for an inclusive society.

I am a 50 year old blind professional who, as most Americans do, takes medications to manage chronic illnesses. I also care for my 72 year old mother who has difficulty reading. Being able to obtain medications with talking labels has been a god-sent for us, enabling us to take the right medication at the right time, know how many refills we have left, and understand essential information about the medications we have to take. Unfortunately, due to lack of regulation, even the pharmacies we regularly use sometimes fail to prepare the labels; and if we have to move to a new pharmacy, we often have to jump through hoops to get the correct labels, and that is not always a winnable fight. I feel that having a regulation in the state of Virginia will make it easier for people who are blind, which, in addition to persons such as myself, includes many elderly folks, to independently manage their medications. While some may argue that there just aren't enough people to justify mandating talking labels, I would argue that most people, including pharmacists, do not know that such a thing as a talking label exists. I urge you to advance this bill forward and lead it to a passage to make the lives of many citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia better.

I am concerned that this bill would mandate new technology that may or may not integrate with our current systems and that would come at an additional cost. While I sympathize with the concerns raised in accessibility - mandating all pharmacies provide this service, whether they have a known vision-impaired patient or not will result in undue costs. Too many pharmacies are closing up shop due to reimbursement issues and this would be another expense that cannot be recouped.

Comments Document

I am a RN and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist that works with the blind population throughout Virginia to help them become independent in their medical care. One of the most valuable tools I implement with them is an audible prescription reader, such as the Scrip Talk system. Use of the Scrip Talk device allows them to safely identify and manage their medications independently, reducing medication errors, morbidity and mortality. The unfortunate barrier that I come across is only select pharmacies in Virginia, such as Walmart, Sam's Club, Giant, Publix, Friendship Pharmacy, Safeway, and the VA, can provide the Scrip Talk system for their patients. If my patient lives in an area without these pharmacies, or doesn't want to switch pharmacies for a myriad of reasons, then this safety measure of medication identification is not available to them. I strongly urge you to pass this bill. People's lives are counting on it.

My mother is 92 years old and is blind. She needs to pay someone to come in and help sort her medication’s because they are not labeled. The person puts them in a daily pill minder. Many blind people do it themselves if the pill bottles are labeled. We hope you will support this very important legislation.

Members of the Virginia Legislature, I am writing to express my strong support for SB716 and HB519. These bills address an important issue concerning the protection of reproductive rights and the autonomy of healthcare professionals in Virginia. These bills are critical in the fair treatment of doctors providing abortion care, regardless of where the care is provided or received. It is my hope that we can recognize how abortion care is a fundamental aspect of reproductive healthcare. Doctors who provide such care should not face disciplinary action based only on the nature of their service. I am aware, and I hope you are too, of how crucial reproductive rights and access to comprehensive healthcare services is. I urge you to support SB716 and HB519 to protect the rights of healthcare professionals and uphold a patient’s choice to have access to a full spectrum of reproductive healthcare services. SB716 and HB519 support key elements of medical ethics and ensure that healthcare workers can provide inclusive and compassionate care to their patients without fear of punishment. Reproductive care is lawful. Medical care is a basic human right. Abortion is healthcare. Thank you for considering my testimony in support of these bills. Sincerely, Danielle

HB519 Unprofessional conduct; disciplinary action against doctor for providing abortion care, etc. The League of Women Voters of Virginia supports HB 519 which would prohibit the Board of Medicine from taking disciplinary action against a doctor based on the alleged provision or receipt of abortion care that is not prohibited under the laws of the Commonwealth, regardless of where such abortion care was provided or received. This bill clarifies current law to ensure that practitioners may provide abortion care permitted under Virginia law without fear of professional reprisal. We urge you to support this bill. HB609 Contraception; establishes right to obtain. The League of Women Voters of Virginia supports HB609 which would protect the right of individuals to receive contraceptives and the corresponding right of health care professionals to provide contraceptive care and information. Virginians strongly support reproductive freedom for individuals without government interference and this bill would protect that right. We urge you to vote yes.

Progress Virginia supports this bill. We cannot penalize medical providers for performing procedures that are legal in the Commonwealth; Virginia makes our own laws and we’re not beholden to the practices that other states may adopt.

Please vote YES on HB519. It's absurd that providing safe, effective, proven medical care should ever lead to professional censure, whether here in Virginia or other states. We're not responsible for other states' backward, anti-scientific cruelty, and Virginia doctors should be free to fulfill their Hippocratic oath and provide needed care in every circumstance without fearing for their careers.

In an attempt to be brief: HB519: Hope I'm reading the title of this incorrectly, but with the far-right extremists out there I fear I am not. ABORTION CARE IS A NECESSARY PART OF HEALTH CARE AND SHOULD NEVER, NEVER, NEVER *EVER* BE CONSIDERED "UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT." If you vote for this, I don't vote for you. HB609: Children do much better when they are wanted children. It is ridiculous to attempt to control the sexual behavior of others by restricting access to birth control ... or indeed even at all. Everyone has a right to affordable, safe, effective means of preventing unwanted pregnancy. HB858: I hope very sincerely to see a right to physician assisted euthanasia at the end of life enacted in this state. I am a practicing veterinarian and perform this every day. It is very sad that human beings should have to suffer and linger when there is no more hope at the end of life when we would never treat an animal in this manner. I have also lost my husband to brain cancer, and while I don't believe he would have chosen that option, I believe others should have this right and the means available.

HB519 Unprofessional conduct; disciplinary action against doctor for providing abortion care, etc. The League of Women Voters of Virginia supports HB 519 which would prohibit the Board of Medicine from taking disciplinary action against a doctor based on the alleged provision or receipt of abortion care that is not prohibited under the laws of the Commonwealth, regardless of where such abortion care was provided or received. This bill clarifies current law to ensure that practitioners may provide abortion care permitted under Virginia law without fear of professional reprisal. We urge you to support this bill. HB609 Contraception; establishes right to obtain. The League of Women Voters of Virginia supports HB609 which would protect the right of individuals to receive contraceptives and the corresponding right of health care professionals to provide contraceptive care and information. Virginians strongly support reproductive freedom for individuals without government interference and this bill would protect that right. We urge you to vote yes.

In an attempt to be brief: HB519: Hope I'm reading the title of this incorrectly, but with the far-right extremists out there I fear I am not. ABORTION CARE IS A NECESSARY PART OF HEALTH CARE AND SHOULD NEVER, NEVER, NEVER *EVER* BE CONSIDERED "UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT." If you vote for this, I don't vote for you. HB609: Children do much better when they are wanted children. It is ridiculous to attempt to control the sexual behavior of others by restricting access to birth control ... or indeed even at all. Everyone has a right to affordable, safe, effective means of preventing unwanted pregnancy. HB858: I hope very sincerely to see a right to physician assisted euthanasia at the end of life enacted in this state. I am a practicing veterinarian and perform this every day. It is very sad that human beings should have to suffer and linger when there is no more hope at the end of life when we would never treat an animal in this manner. I have also lost my husband to brain cancer, and while I don't believe he would have chosen that option, I believe others should have this right and the means available.

HB1068 & HB1166 are very similar bills. I have some concerns with the extent that HB1166 goes to outline exactly what the Board of Pharmacy must do and allow. I believe that the Board of Pharmacy must be given some flexibility in the items sought in HB1166 and I believe HB 1068 allows for that flexibility. HB1068 also allows for additional input to be provided by other relevant stakeholders. HB1166 was written to satisfy one set of interests - HB1068 allows for the opportunity for perspective and insight to reign in some of the prescriptive expectations of HB1166. I ask that you pass HB1068 over HB1166 - and allow for the proper process to play out in the regulatory fashion at the Board of Pharmacy.

HB1068 & HB1166 are very similar bills. I have some concerns with the extent that HB1166 goes to outline exactly what the Board of Pharmacy must do and allow. I believe that the Board of Pharmacy must be given some flexibility in the items sought in HB1166 and I believe HB 1068 allows for that flexibility. HB1068 also allows for additional input to be provided by other relevant stakeholders. HB1166 was written to satisfy one set of interests - HB1068 allows for the opportunity for perspective and insight to reign in some of the prescriptive expectations of HB1166. I ask that you pass HB1068 over HB1166 - and allow for the proper process to play out in the regulatory fashion at the Board of Pharmacy.

I wholeheartedly support HB1295. I am currently on the board of a group in Grayson County Virginia called Preserve Grayson. We formed because of the rapid influx of large corporate tree farms being planted in our area who spray massive amounts of chemicals. One particular company - Bottomly Evergreens - has been in trouble in other states (NC, Oregon)due to their lack of environmental best practices, mainly filling up trout streams with sediment after they clear and burn for christmas tree planting. So they have moved to our area in VA where they are getting away with all sorts of poisonous activities such as aerial spraying on windy days, planting right up to creeks and wells of neighboring properties, dumping in the creeks and the rivers, etc. Our community is super concerned about our water - most folks in this rural area have wells and springs which are now subject to leeching poisonous chemicals. People living next to these farms are getting cancers but nothing can be done to prove it's the contaminated water they are drinking. So please - we need this bill so our communities are safe and protected from the bad agricultural actors who only think about money and not a lick about poisoning their neighbors, water, wildlife, and pollinators.

Comments Document

Hello, I live in Southwest Virginia, where most of us get our water from wells and springs (unregulated by the EPA). The Health Department will not give a permit for a well to be dug any closer than 50 feet from agriculture. The EPA recommends 100 feet. We have gotten along just fine in this county (Grayson) until a giant corporation started buying up thousands of acres here and planting Christmas trees. Said corporation has no respect for the land or the people living nearby, and clearcuts and plants right up to people's wells and springs. They use aerial spraying of pesticides on our steep mountainsides in our unpredictable and gusty mountain winds. Since it is "agriculture" in a right to farm state, landowners can not find out what they are being exposed to, and have absolutely no recourse for their health or property damages. Enforcement is virtually non-existent -- we have one pesticide inspector for 17 counties. One 85 year-old lady had her land sold out from under her by her conservator, with right of occupancy. Said corporation planted trees within 12 feet of her spring, which is at the bottom of a funnel shaped land form. They spray herbicides and pesticides regularly. Nitrates in her drinking water are off the chart, and the whole family, consisting of her bedridden husband and her two special needs adult children, are all very sick. The smell of pesticides near spring is sickening, but of course testing for pesticides is virtually impossible because you have to know which of the 17,000 pesticides on the market to test for, and the cost is in the neighborhood of $200 per chemical. The Health Dept says that they can help her if we prove that her levels of acetylcholinesterase are depressed. We can get her that blood test, but the only way that the results could be valid is if we had a test before exposure. Which, of course, doesn't exist. All we can do is bring her bottled water, but the whole family bathes in that nasty water. We desperately, desperately need funding to test wells and springs. Please, please approve HB1295