Comments Document

I am Lois Yankah, and my expertise lies in my experience being held on an ICE detainer at the Richmond City Justice Center, Riverside Regional Jail, and Chesterfield County Jail. I would like to express some concerns regarding the budget proposal to fund local jurisdictions that cooperate with ICE while defunding those that do not. I am currently undecided about this budget. While we all desire to live in safe communities, my personal experience suggests that Governor Glenn Youngkin's intent differs from reality. I would like to highlight constitutional rights violations, including policing for profit, unlawful search and seizures, and cruel and unusual punishment. 1. Policing for profit can lead to police focusing on what would bring in the greatest revenue, rather than what would best protect the public. Local jurisdictions are being incentivized by this proposal to increase revenue through turning immigrants over to ICE. For example, a local law enforcement might choose to go after immigrants in order to get cash for their agency, rather than seeking neutral administration of justice. ICE has been funding its operations in Virginia through grants, such as (Supplemental Criminal Alien Assistance Program)SCAAP. What is the rationale for allocating Virginia tax dollars to fund operations for a federal agency instead of requesting Congress to provide additional funding to ICE, if necessary, to support its operations in Virginia? How does the proposed allocation of funding to localities without sanctuary status, if approved, ensure compliance with the Fourteenth Amendment's policing for profit clause? 2. Holding an individual in confinement beyond their mandatory release date is a violation of the Eighth Amendment, constituting cruel and unusual punishment. Arrests based on suspicion rather than probable cause violate the Fourth Amendment's protection against unlawful search and seizures. As Attorney General Mark Herring noted in his 2015 opinion, "An ICE detainer is merely a request, and does not create an obligation or grant legal authority for a law enforcement agency to maintain custody of a prisoner eligible for immediate release from local or state custody." Generally, individuals convicted of violent crimes or sentenced for other crimes have a scheduled release date, which facilities should be aware of at least 30 days in advance. What prevents facilities from communicating with ICE 30 days prior to a prisoner's release date to arrange for ICE to assume custody on the same day? Additionally, if the proposed funding allocation to localities without sanctuary status is approved, how will this allocation ensure compliance with the Eighth Amendment's protection against cruel and unusual punishment and the Fourth Amendment's protection against unlawful search and seizure? Attached is a summary of the ICE incident at Chesterfield County Jail

Hartwood Foundation, Inc. was founded in 1973 to further the interests of and opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities. Currently we support over 100 individuals in our 14 group homes, 2 supported living homes and a dual-use emergency residential placement and traditional respite service home. Our primary funding source (nearly 90%) is via the Virginia Medicaid Waiver program. Reimbursement rates have failed to keep pace with the cost of providing quality services and supports to an aging population with complex medical and physical support needs. Providers must be positioned to compete for competent, motivated staff with the skills, knowledge and work attitudes to provide these crucial supports. Providers continue to struggle with high staff vacancy and turn-over rates. We thank our G.A. representatives for their service to the Commonwealth and for their consideration for regular reimbursement rate increases to meet the ever-increasing direct support and administrative demands placed on providers.

Comments Document

Good afternoon, my name is Srilekha Palle, and I serve as a board member of the Fairfax/Falls Church Community Services Board. First, I want to thank you for your unwavering support of CSB services. Your past investments have transformed the lives of countless individuals with behavioral health challenges and developmental disabilities, setting a foundation for a healthier, more inclusive society. Today, I wish to draw your attention to three critical funding priorities that will further this legacy of progress. 1. Funding for Additional Support Coordinators for DD Waiver Services: $8.7M. The 2024 General Assembly’s approval of 3,440 new DD Waiver slots was nothing short of historic. However, as the sole providers of Waiver support coordination, Community Services Boards (CSBs) face the urgent challenge of onboarding coordinators to meet this increased demand. Medicaid cannot reimburse CSBs during the six-month training period, leaving a gap that threatens timely service delivery to those most in need. The requested $8.7 million will bridge this gap, ensuring individuals on the Priority One waitlist receive high-quality care without delay. Early intervention in these cases is not only humane but fiscally responsible—it can save up to $9 for every $1 invested, reducing long-term costs in special education and public assistance programs. 2. Marcus Alert Programs: $18M. The Marcus Alert initiative represents a groundbreaking approach to crisis intervention, integrating 911 and 988 crisis lines to create a co-response model. By diverting individuals in crisis from incarceration or hospitalization, this program offers a compassionate, effective alternative that prioritizes mental health care over punitive measures. However, six localities poised for implementation lack the necessary funding. The requested $18 million will not only enable these localities to proceed but also expand the program to underserved areas, ensuring that every Virginian has access to this life-saving service. 3. Restoration of Competency to Stand Trial: $1.5M. Restoration of competency services are essential for individuals requiring evaluation and support to participate in their legal defense. Unfortunately, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) has exhausted funding for these services every year for the past six years, creating an unfunded mandate for CSBs. The requested $1.5 million will address this shortfall by increasing reimbursement rates for restoration services, expanding outpatient capacity, and providing much-needed training for clinicians. This funding will relieve pressure on state psychiatric facilities, which have seen a dramatic increase in forensic admissions, many of which could be addressed through outpatient restoration services if resources were sufficient. These funds will allow individuals to receive the care they need in a timely, cost-effective manner, fostering dignity and justice in our communities. Your continued commitment to VACSB priorities will allow us to sustain and expand these transformative programs. These investments are not merely expenditures; they are investments in human potential and the well-being of our communities. Thank you for your time, your vision, and your dedication to our shared mission.

I'm a parent living in a one-car household. Our one car is an EV. We made this decision largely for environmental reasons, but planning our trips and finding EV chargers has been a learning curve! And we have not even attempted to travel to very remote areas in Virginia. I have heard from other people that the lack of EV chargers in rural areas is a deterrent to them purchasing an EV, or to them traveling to rural areas, or even to places like Virginia Tech if they're coming from Northern Virginia. Still, EV sales continue to increase (and they need to, for us to curb our transportation emissions!) and Virginia's statewide public charging infrastructure is not yet sufficient to meet current needs, let alone future ones. Without a strong statewide public charging network, EV drivers are unable to travel to many areas of Virginia, especially rural areas. EV charging stations near tourist destinations in low-income and rural localities will ensure that people continue to visit these regions as EVs become more prevalent. Tourism is often an essential contributor to local revenues and essential services, to support local businesses and jobs. The $106 million dedicated federal funding Virginia is receiving for EV chargers is designated for major travel corridors. Virginia does not currently have funds set aside for EV charging stations in rural areas that are not along highways or in underserved localities. Without dedicated support for charging in these areas, many Virginians will continue to be left behind. Please pass and fund legislation that provides state funding for rural and low-income electric vehicle charging.

Comments Document

Please accept this as my written comments and consider supporting these items mentioned in the attachment.

Virginia’s economy is one of the largest economies in the world, and partly driven by data center growth and proliferation. Citizens of Virginia want Virginia to take real action on climate change, which is real, and fund programs to decarbonize Virginia’s economy and position Virginia as a world leader in clean, renewable energy. Pro business means pro climate action - floods, fires, hurricane will increase in frequency and impact. We must invest in resilience in infrastructure and clean energy and pursue responsible innovation - we must not increase emissions and enable polluters of air, land, and water. Virginia has established but not funded an EV rebate program (2020). This is more of delay, delay, delay, while claiming progress. Virginians want choice, and access to electric vehicle charging infrastructure. There is pent up demand for EVs, but costs are prohibitive for lower income Virginians and access to charging infrastructure (DC and L2) remains limited in rural communities and cities. Virginity should invest in charging infrastructure to provide more choice to Virginia consumers, and incentives to support consumers and American companies investing in decarbonizing Virginia’s economy, Funding climate and conservation efforts is pro business, providing choices that Virginians demand, and pro life - protecting Virginians, humanity, and the natural world.

Good morning, and thank you for the opportunity to speak. My name is Jacqui Lowe-Barton, and I am an elementary administrator with Rappahannock County Public Schools. I am here to advocate for equitable school funding for our district. The 2008 recession brought a cap on Supplemental Basic Aid, a category designed to support small, high-need districts like ours. This cap remains in place, limiting Rappahannock’s funding to FY07 levels—far below what is needed to meet today’s costs. Removing this cap would provide immediate relief to our district without a significant impact on state finances. As the only district affected, lifting this cap would directly address funding inequities highlighted in the JLARC report and help us meet state mandates while better serving our students. I respectfully ask you to include language in the budget to remove this cap and restore our funding to pre-Recession levels. Thank you for your time and support and the opportunity to share.

Dear members of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees: My name is Dr. Shannon Grimsley, Superintendent of Rappahannock County Public Schools and I am speaking today to voice my support for school funding for Rappahannock County Public Schools. The JLARC report on K-12 education has shed light on many of the inequities that small, rural school districts like Rappahannock County face, and as appropriators your commitment to addressing these challenges is deeply appreciated. During the Recession in 2008, the General Assembly placed a cap on Supplemental Basic Aid. This is a special aid category designed to benefit divisions with substantial need and small populations. Unfortunately, this cap is still in existence today, resulting in state basic aid and supplemental funding levels for Rappahannock County Public Schools being limited to the total amount of aid Rappahannock received in FY07. As you can imagine, this does not cover the cost of educating our students in 2025. The removal of the cap on Supplemental Basic Aid is an immediate step that would provide critical relief to districts like Rappahannock County, without having a significant fiscal impact on the state. As the only district currently affected by this specific cap, Rappahannock County Public Schools is in a unique position where lifting the cap would not only act as a necessary stop-gap measure, but also directly address some of the very issues outlined in the JLARC report regarding the struggles of small, rural school divisions. This cap removal would alleviate some of the funding pressures we face due to limited local revenue-raising capacity, and help us provide the level of education our students deserve, in line with state mandates. We respectfully request that as the House and Senate craft their budgets, they consider language to remove this cap and restore Rappahannock’s school funding to pre-Recession levels. Thank you so much for your consideration of this very important to Rappahannock issue.

Thank you for providing opportunity for comment. I am John Wesley Mills, currently the Chairman of the Rappahannock County School Board. I have served over 20 years here and appreciate the task you have chosen. Our small, rural district remains the single county in our Commonwealth impacted by a 2008 recession cap on Supplemental Basic Aid. While funding formulas can adapt to change, this cap has stagnated that fairness. I support the removal of language that implemented the cap and request the House and Senate consider modifying it as budgets are built this year. This change will bring Rappahannock County education funding in alignment with our peer districts. Thank you for your time today.

My name is Mayra Pineda, as a community leader representing especially the Latino and Real Estate Advisor, I fully support Governor Glenn Youngkin’s proposed budget for an additional $50 million investment in the Virginia Business Ready Site Program (VBRSP). This investment is essential for fostering long-term economic growth and creating opportunities for all Virginians to build a stronger and more prosperous future. By preparing business-ready sites and enhancing infrastructure, this initiative will help businesses thrive, creating jobs, driving innovation, and contributing to the overall prosperity of the Commonwealth. Not only will this boost the state’s economy, but it will also provide individuals with the financial stability to invest in their future—whether that means purchasing a home or starting a business. As more businesses come to Virginia, the demand for housing will increase, promoting economic mobility and giving residents the freedom to buy and sell homes with confidence. With over half a billion dollars already invested in site readiness and infrastructure since FY2022, this additional investment will continue to support local economies and enhance Virginians’ ability to build wealth.

Testimony of Eve Brooks to State of Virginia Senate House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees. Regional Hearing January 3, 2025 I am writing today to voice my support for school funding for Rappahannock County Public Schools and specifically for removal of the Cap on Supplemental Basic Aid place in 2008. I wish to note that similar caps placed that year have been removed, but this one, which in actuality affects only Rappahannock County has not. As you recognize the longstanding problem with the current LCI formula as it relates to Rappahannock and other small school districts is a pressing concern documented in the JLARC report on K-12 education. In light of the difficulty of remedying the problem of small rural districts through LCI adjustment, the State Assembly passed Supplemental Basic Aid legislation permitting Rappahannock and three other rural counties to address the problem with Supplemental Basic Aid which permits these four small counties to enter into cooperative agreements with neighboring Counties. During the Recession in 2008, the General Assembly placed a cap on Supplemental Basic Aid special aid category designed to benefit divisions with substantial need and small populations. • As a result of the continuing cap, state basic aid and supplemental funding levels for Rappahannock County Public Schools are limited to the total amount of aid Rappahannock received in FY07. • As the only district currently affected by this specific cap, Rappahannock County Public Schools is in a unique position where lifting the cap would not only act as a necessary stop-gap measure, but also directly address some of the very issues outlined in the JLARC report regarding the struggles of small, rural school divisions. • The removal of the cap on Supplemental Basic Aid is an immediate step that would provide critical relief to districts like Rappahannock County, without having a significant fiscal impact on the state. This cap removal would alleviate some of the funding pressures we face due to limited local revenue-raising capacity, and help us provide the level of education our students deserve, in line with state mandates. We respectfully request that as the House and Senate craft their budgets, they consider language to remove this cap and restore Rappahannock’s school funding to pre-Recession levels.

Rural electric vehicle charging stations: Virginia is going electric but we need to make sure our network is equitably distributed. Right now, we need to invest in charging stations for rural and low-income communities. Currently this is not funded. I personally had to stall my timing for a fully electric car when my daughter went to VA Tech a few years ago as I knew I could not get through a round trip without a charge and stations were hard to find. I provide some additional articles to help explain the economics of EV Charging Station. 1) The Mckinsey study focuses on the importance of subsidy to make EV stations profitable and how much is needed https://www.mckinsey.com/features/mckinsey-center-for-future-mobility/our-insights/ca[…]ev-fast-charging-stations-be-profitable-in-the-united-states Getting at least $75k per station through credits or subsidies can get them to profitability. 2) An MIT study describes the surrounding economic gains of businesses within 100 feet of a station https://news.mit.edu/2024/study-ev-charging-stations-boost-nearby-business-spending-0904 “ The spending bump amounts to thousands of extra dollars annually for nearby businesses, with the increase particularly pronounced for businesses in under-resourced areas.” 3) Public EV chargers are listed on EV charging station maps (ChargeHub, PlugShare, OpenChargeMap) and are a good way to attract people to your business. Whether you have goods to sell or not, an EV driver will easily find your business and possibly learn more about it or decide to patronize it. Some EV charger manufacturers also give you the option to personalize each EV station with your company branding, which can further enhance the visibility of your business. Electric vehicle rebate: Virginia established a fund to administer the most progressive electric vehicle rebate in the country in 2020 – including funds for used vehicles and more money for low-income purchasers. But once again, this year there is no money in the fund! Data center tax exemptions: The state data center sales and use exemption is now approaching $1 Billion and is expected to increase significantly as more data centers go online. We need a bill that incorporates much needed protections for taxpayers who no longer are willing to subsidize this industry to pollute, myself included. Data centers need to achieve power usage efficiency (PUE) scores of 1.2 or better, a rigorous but achievable score. Beginning in 2027, at least 90% of their energy would have to come from carbon-free renewable energy sources. Perhaps we can get more funding for much needed clean transportation measures by expecting more from inefficient data centers.

As a citizen of the Commonwealth of Virginia, I urge you to provide funding for rebates for electric vehicles to make them more affordable, especially for those who are not as wealthy as the average. We need to make it possible for all our citizens to help reduce pollution, especially climate change pollutants. Additionally, we need more charging stations and other infrastructure in rural areas so that all of Virginia is accessible for EV owning residents and for tourists who also want to visit scenic Virginia. This is how we will be able to make Virginia part of the future.

Thank you for reviewing my comments on the Governor's proposed budget. While the administration claims it as transformative, the reality reveals insufficient and misleading investments in public education. Adjusted for inflation, K-12 funding has only grown 10% since 2008, despite Virginia's economic growth. Teacher pay remains below the national average, ranking among the worst in the country relative to similar professions, exacerbating educator shortages. Proposed funding increases, such as $110 million for English Learners and $290 million for school construction, are inadequate and largely temporary fixes. Meanwhile, programs like private school vouchers and lab schools divert public funds without addressing systemic challenges. Crucially, the budget omits new salary increases, sustainable support for vulnerable schools, and solutions for the $5 billion in unmet needs identified by JLARC. Fairfax County and other districts remain underfunded, jeopardizing newly ratified collective bargaining contracts. Public education must become a true priority. Virginia must raise teacher pay to the national average, fully fund JLARC recommendations, and invest in programs for students with disabilities and those affected by poverty. Long-term solutions, not short-term fixes, are essential to provide all students access to quality education. Thank you, Leslie K. Houston President, Fairfax Education Association

Comments Document

Hello, I am Garrey W. Curry, Jr. and I serve as the County Administrator for Rappahannock County. Thank you for the opportunity to provide input. Based on the current fiscal forecasts for the Commonwealth, the General Assembly has a unique opportunity to make significant strides toward implementing key recommendations from the JLARC report regarding Virginia's K-12 Funding Formula. One important JLARC recommendation (#4) is to eliminate great recession-era caps on funding. We of course support the effort to eliminate these caps and the Joint Subcommittee on School Funding recommended similarly at their last meeting. Current General Assembly members cannot be expected to know about one-off caps that were also implemented during the great recession, but the well known caps are not the only caps that were put in place at that time. It is very important to Rappahannock County that the 2008 cap on Supplemental Basic Aid be eliminated during this session so our community is not singled out leading to your hard work passing us by. Without the removal of the referenced 2008 supplemental basic aid cap, any education funding reforms agreed to by the General Assembly and the Governor during this session (as has been the case with past sessions) will be muted for ONLY Rappahannock County Public Schools because of the cap that froze our combined basic aid plus supplemental aid state funding at 2007 levels. While the 2008 cap is in place, increases to basic aid only serve to supplant the supplemental basic aid we already receive rather than increase our total aid. This important issue is unique to Rappahannock County Public Schools. Rappahannock County Public Schools already receives the absolute lowest amount of per pupil operational funding from the commonwealth of Virginia and our citizens cannot afford to have that position eroded further. Logically, the lowest amount of operational funding per pupil should be received by the wealthiest community in the state, not Rappahannock County that does not even have a traffic signal. Additional in-depth information about this very narrow topic of funding for Rappahannock County is available on the attachment and from Cardinal News here: https://cardinalnews.org/2024/12/02/its-time-to-graduate-from-the-great-recession-era-school-funding-caps-an-opportunity-for-partnership-with-policymakers-to-bring-fair-funding-to-rappahannock-county-public-schools/ Thank you again for helping Rappahannock County students and citizens by removing the 2008 great recession-era cap on Supplemental basic aid.

Comments Document

Dear Members of the Senate and House Finance Committees, I urge you to support a critical budget amendment of $400,000–$700,000 to fund wildlife crossing projects in Virginia. This funding is essential to provide a state match for federal funding opportunities and to advance projects selected by the Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). Wildlife-vehicle conflict in Virginia is worsening. Our state is ranked 9th in the nation for wildlife-vehicle collisions, with over 60,000 deer-vehicle crashes annually, resulting in an average cost of $41,000 per incident. These crashes not only endanger lives—injuring and killing drivers—but also cost the Commonwealth millions of dollars in medical expenses, vehicle repairs, and lost productivity. Businesses suffer financial losses, and Virginia’s biodiversity takes a massive toll, with nearly 100,000 animals killed by vehicle collisions each year. Our state agencies currently lack dedicated funding to implement the Wildlife Corridor Action Plan or to expand critical wildlife crossing infrastructure. Without this funding, opportunities to mitigate these collisions and protect wildlife go unrealized, leaving Virginians vulnerable to the growing dangers of poorly managed infrastructure. Well-designed underpasses paired with exclusionary fencing can reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions by up to 96%. Additionally, these crossings serve as vital tools for enhancing flood resilience. Properly built underpasses maintain natural streambanks and channels, providing safe aquatic and terrestrial passage while reducing taxpayer burdens caused by road washouts and closures during flooding events. A modest state investment through this budget amendment would represent a critical first step toward mitigating these issues. It would help protect Virginia’s communities, ecosystems, and economy by allowing DWR and VDOT to advance urgently needed wildlife crossing projects. This funding will also leverage federal resources, ensuring that Virginia secures its fair share of federal dollars to address these pressing concerns. Your support for this amendment will lay the groundwork for long-term solutions to wildlife-vehicle conflict, strengthen biodiversity conservation, and enhance the resilience of our infrastructure against climate change impacts. Thank you for your consideration. I would be happy to provide further details or answer any questions about this important initiative.

I'm Joshua Raimundo with the LIBRE Initiative. I support lower taxes. Here in Virginia, I would love for No Tax on Tips to be a reality. I am also concerned about COPN laws. These create artificial health care monopolies and discourage entrepreneurship and innovation in hospitals. I would like to see reforms that increase competition.

Extending the Increase in the Standard Deduction. Governor Youngkin proposed extending Virginia’s increase in the standard deduction which is set to expire in 2025. The 2024 & 2025 standard deduction is currently $8,500 for single filers, and $17,000 for married filing jointly. If the increase isn’t extended, the standard deduction will fall back to $3,000 for single filers and $6,000 for married filing jointly. This would result in a massive tax increase for most Virginians and have broad negative economic impacts. Our support for the increased standard deduction was most recently spelled out in Steve Haner’s “Doubling Standard Deduction is Middle Class Tax Reform.” In this article he pointed out that unlike other tax provisions, like the Earned Income Tax Credit, the increase in the standard deduction is a tax cut that benefits middle income taxpayers. This is surely part of the reason for the strong economic growth shown in the chart at the top of this article. The Thomas Jefferson Institute led the charge for this increase and it has had the benefits we predicted. Extension of this increase should have broad bipartisan support!

Reducing the Car Tax for Low Income Families. Governor Youngkin proposed a “car tax credit” — a permanent, refundable, income tax credit equal to the amount of local property tax paid on personal-use vehicles, up to $150 ($300 if married filing jointly). This credit would be limited to low-income taxpayers making less than $50,000 ($100,000 if married filing jointly). It is estimated that this credit would eliminate the car tax burden for one car owned by a working-class family. Interestingly, the credit is limited to Virginians living in jurisdictions where the tax credit is not increased by more than 2.5 percent annually. The Thomas Jefferson Institute recently wrote “It’s Car Tax Day, Let’s Move Forward on Governor Gilmore’s ‘No Car Tax’ Pledge.” This article points out the many reasons the car tax is the most hated tax in the Commonwealth. Virginians pay the highest car tax rate in the country, with an average effective rate of 4.05% and an average annual bill of $1,011. The tax is calculated differently by each locality, is economically inefficient, encourages tax avoidance, and is administratively complex. While Governor Youngkin’s proposal does not eliminate the car tax, tackle the variations by tax district, or reduce the economic inefficiency caused by the tax, it is an important second step — building on the earlier reduction passed by then Governor Gilmore.

Virginia Opportunity Scholarships. Governor Youngkin outlined a $50 million Opportunity Scholarship program providing $5,000 grants to up to 10,000 low-income students to fund tuition, fees, transportation, uniforms, textbooks and other expenses needed to attend a private school. Wisely, these scholarships can be added to the Education Improvement Scholarships that some of these low-income students may already receive. This will greatly enhance the educational opportunities of Virginia’s low-income students, many of whom are continuing to fall behind as was outlined by Chris Braunlich in his recent article, “Shine a Light on It” — a must read for anyone worried about the plight of Virginia’s low-income, and minority students. As Braunlich’s points out from the most recent report from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), Virginia’s low income and minority students are significantly behind! Opportunity scholarships are not just an education policy issue; they are a critical civil rights issue. For decades, low-income students, disproportionately students of color, have been trapped in schools not meeting their needs. These students are denied the opportunity to find a private school that may be better suited for their needs – an ability widely available to students from wealthier families. Opportunity scholarships acknowledge the fundamental right of every child, regardless of their zip code or socioeconomic background, to access a quality education. By providing a means to escape schools not meeting their needs, these scholarships empower students with the chance to fulfill their potential. Denying children access to a quality education based on their circumstances is a form of educational redlining, a modern-day manifestation of segregation. Just as the civil rights movement fought for equal access to public spaces and voting booths, the fight for greater educational opportunity is a fight for equal access to a quality education. It is a fight to ensure that all children, regardless of their race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status, can reach their full potential and achieve their dreams. Governor Youngkin’s proposal for Opportunity Scholarships is an important first step — laser focused on students most in need, and should be broadly supported.

I support the Governor's budget proposal to ensure no Virginia cities practice sanctuary policies and that Virginia taxpayers do not fund localities that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration agencies regarding criminal aliens. In Virginia and across the U.S., we have seen too many preventable and horrific crimes occur when sanctuary jurisdictions refused to cooperate with federal agents but instead, released criminals back onto the street to commit another crime. It is far safer for federal agents to enter a jail to take custody of a criminal - who the jurisdiction already decided should be arrested and criminally detained - than for federal agents to enter a community and the criminal's home to take custody. It is safer for the criminal alien, the federal agents, and other residents in the home and community. It is past time for sanctuary policies to end. A political leader's number one job is to protect their citizens. No such leader should continue to release criminal aliens - who are not supposed to be in the country - back into the community and endanger their citizens. Withholding funds from sanctuary jurisdictions is an effective tool to change behavior so that Virginians can be safer.

Perinatal mental health programs are woefully underfunded in the Commonwealth. One in.five women will experience a perinatal mental anxiety disorder(PMADs), most commonly referred to as postpartum depression. PMADs are the number one cause of preventable death in women during the perinatal period. This problem not only affects the immediate family but sets children up for emotional and educational deficits and disorders. Postpartum Support Virginia(PSVa) exists to provide pregnant and parenting families with information and support to recognize and treat this preventable calamity. Many communities in our state are maternal care deserts; many more are perinatal mental health chasms in which families are lost in the rabbit hole of finding providers with the specific skill sets to adequately treat PMADs. PSVa in collaboration with VMAP+ for Moms is providing specialized training and care coordination for our most vulnerable families. With adequate funding we could reach so many more with our outreach suppor groups and warmline. Our physical systems are outdated and our funding has felt the strain of depletion from the over 400 percent increase of demands for our services during the pandemic. We ask that you consider this as you expand funding for maternal health care programs in our state that have a track record of saving lives such as Postpartum Support Virginia.

Comments Document

The Arlington Chamber of Commerce supports the amendments to workforce development and child care funding proposed to the Biennial Budget by the Governor. The Chamber supports the proposed appropriations to the College and Career Ready Virginia Fund, the Workforce Credential Grant program and the appropriations for nursing recruitment and training . We additionally support the proposed budget amendments regarding child care facilities meant to address the Commonwealth-wide problem of “child care deserts."

Hello, I would like to speak in support of these policies below: No Tax on Tips: Exempts tipped income from individual income taxes for more than 250,000 Virginians in the food service, personal service, and hospitality industry. The estimated full-year annualized revenue loss of approximately $70 million is assumed in the official revenue forecast beginning in FY27. Virginia Opportunity Scholarships: Provides $50 million to establish the Virginia Opportunity Scholarship program to allow eligible K-12 students whose household income does not exceed twice the federal income eligibility guidelines for free school meals to receive $5,000 per academic year to be used for accredited private school tuition, fees, uniforms, textbooks, transportation, and other costs. I am a senior policy analyst at the Center for Economic Opportunity at the Independent Women's Forum and Independent Women's Voice. I earned a master’s in business policy from Harvard University and completed a Fulbright fellowship. My career spans finance (including leading analysis on a $5 billion debt portfolio at Moody’s Ratings in Manhattan), small business entrepreneurship, journalism, and grassroots conservative advocacy. Across these varied disciplines, I fight to preserve economic freedom through content in national media from Fox News, Fox Business, CNBC, Bloomberg, CNN, MSNBC, Newsmax and many others. I am a seasoned policy strategist and battle-tested economic communicator who has provided expert congressional testimony during three, annual U.S. House of Representatives economic hearings from 2022-2024, including alongside Dr. Casey Mulligan, former chief economist for the Council of Economic Advisers in the first Trump Administration. I am unapologetically committed to preserving free enterprise and capitalism as the most effective way to advance human flourishing and poverty alleviation. Governor Youngkin deeply understands these principles and brings a bold vision to restore them in a country requiring a complete governmental overhaul to work for the people.

In the most prosperous country in the world we have the highest maternal mortality rate, particularly amongst African-American women which only represents 7% of the US population. This demographic is also the community with the highest rate low- maternal health which leads to death and preterm babies. Increasing access to essential healthcare workers, such as doulas would have likely prevented the tragedy we witnessed in Georgia, where an African-American woman went into the over-run city hospital and the doctor delivered her baby decapitated. Had she had access to the best care that would have advocated for her, and her babies needs, this likely could have been prevented. One way we can strengthen families is through increased access to options to for mothers and there babies.

Wound care education/training for post cesarean Mothers/Fathers. With an emphasis on training and the measures necessary to prevent a post cesarean wound infection. Mothers and Fathers who have had a cesarean birth which unfortunately experienced wound infections afterwards regardless of no fault/fault will have to follow through with home wound care following initial wound care and discharge from the hospital. For example, AM and PM antibiotic irrigation of the wound, proper wound dressing application, sanitation, cleanliness and vigilance.”

Comments Document

Workforce Retention $985,000 State-contracted brain injury providers report high attrition and difficulty filling open positions because of non-competitive salaries and benefits. When staff cannot be retained or hired due to low salaries, delivery of programs and services is impeded, leading to the inability to meet client needs. Critical services can go unmet or are delayed. Last year’s increase in funding was an excellent start to increasing salaries for service providers, but more is still needed to offer competitive salaries. A $985,000 increase is needed in FY 25 for workforce retention to ensure quality accessible services for people living with brain injuries. ● Starting salaries for brain injury case managers and Clubhouse staff are generally 10% to up to 20% less than starting salaries for similar positions in our DD and Behavioral Health safety net service systems. ● Community Service Board (CSB) employees get regular cost of living raises in the state budget to coincide with state employees, but our workforce does not. ● State brain injury providers have received workforce retention increases in only 3 of the last 20 years, resulting in more than a 30% turnover rate this year. This high turnover leads to loss of highly trained staff and service delays for our consumers. Strengthen Safety Net Community Based Service System $2.0 million This funding would strengthen and expand the existing state-contracted safety net brain injury services system to increase statewide coverage and strengthen existing programs. It includes hiring additional case managers, clinical professional staff, logistical provisions, and other support to meet the growing demands for brain injury services across the state. Programs have waiting lists for services and struggle to meet existing demands from this challenging population that requires specialized support. Now that statewide services are possible, this strengthening would allow services to expand within the geographic service areas where it remains difficult to serve due to population, territory size, and other logistical challenges. ● In some rural localities, one case manager can serve up to 5 counties and be the only service personnel in that area. ● High-density urban areas are also underserved. For instance, in Hampton Roads, the 2nd most populated area of the state, only two full-time case managers serve this area. ● Newly expanded localities need additional marketing presence to allow communities to know of new services available to them. ● Additional clinic professional staff, including licensed counselors, rehab therapists, and employment staff, are needed to provide the appropriate milieu of services commonly available in our disability services.

Repeal VCEA, and withdraw from RGGI and the California Advanced Clean Cars acts. Delegate Rip Sullivan, sponsor of the 2020 HB1526, Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA), has no evidence of an existing climate crisis. If you doubt it, ask him. We have, both in email and at a town hall. Global warming exists, but it's mild and it started with the end of the Little Ice Age, about two to three hundred years ago. Glaciers have been retreating for over 100 years. CO2 is plant food. The VCEA, RGGI, and the Advance Clean Cars act, along with federal climate alarmist policies, are the major driver of inflation and are jeopardizing reliable, affordable energy at a time when AI is driving up the demand for energy.

My name is Carol Paquette. I am a founder of Arlington Neighborhood Village, past president of the national Village to Village Network, and currently the convenor of the Virginia Villages Collective. Villages are community-based organizations harnessing the power of volunteers to help older adults age in the homes and communities they love. I’m here today to seek your support to address a serious public health issue. The Surgeon General reports that the U.S. is experiencing an epidemic of social isolation resulting in serious cognitive and physical health risks, especially among older adults. Community-based programs, such as Villages, are recognized as a key way to address this public health problem. The Virginia Villages Collective is requesting funding to expand the statewide Village network to help thousands of older Virginians safely age in their homes connected to a caring community. Here’s how an Arlington Neighborhood Village member describes her experience: “I have been a grateful Village member for many years. They came to my rescue during the pandemic when I developed serious medical problems. At a time when I felt alone and stressed, it was truly comforting to have the company of a Village friend. The Village set up medical rides for me; they even did my grocery shopping! Now the Village has matched me as a pen pal with a 4th grader in the community. I truly look forward to each correspondence from this young girl, which brings such joy.” This is just one of hundreds of examples of how Villages reduce social isolation and empower older Virginians to remain safely and independently in their homes. In 2023, Virginia Villages engaged more than 5,000 older adults, volunteers, and family caregivers; delivered more than 2,000 social programs; and logged over 43,800 hours of volunteer service, valued at nearly $1.5 million. Growing existing Villages and starting new ones in underserved areas will enable more older Virginians to access this support. It will help fill a gap in available services for the growing number of older Virginians and their caregivers with limited financial resources who are not eligible for government services. On behalf of the Villages in Northern Virginia and the statewide Village community, I urge you to approve the budget amendments sponsored by Senator Surovell and Delegate Krizek to reduce social isolation of older Virginians by expanding access to Villages.

My name is Richard Edwards and I work with Grace Providers (Considerate Care) -- we're a personal care service provider supporting seniors and veterans throughout the state. We provide home based care for senior citizens and veterans who require regular support, due to aging and/or disability, to continue living in their own homes and communities. Our services are much less expensive than nursing or facility-based care, are better for long-term health outcomes, and are what people want most often -- to stay in their own homes. We are asking that the Virginia General Assembly raise the rates for Personal Care services to $32.44/hr ($35.88/hour for NOVA) to support the availability and delivery of home-based personal care. Right now, we are not able to fully meet the need for services in our community because the Medicaid rates for Personal Care are too low to attract and retain high quality staff. Potential workers can easily make more in service or retail jobs, or if they want to stay a caregiver, can make significantly more in a hospital or facility-based setting. Raising the personal care rates to $32.44/hr ($35.88/hour for NOVA) would go a long way to helping us recruit the staff that Virginia's citizens deserve. Thank you so much for taking our input and for your consideration.

I’ve been working as a home care provider for 7 years although I’m being paid some what living wage, I would like to see an equal pay scale for home care workers & creating benefits because we only have five (5) sick days…. With a .5 cent raise in the past 20+ years.

I am an FCPS high school teacher of 18-years. It is time to adjust the state formula, once and for all, to equitably fund our Northern Virginia schools, rather than continue to send a disproportional amount of Northern Virginia revenue to fund other parts of Virginia. The time is NOW. We can wait no longer. We continue to suffer a teacher shortage, teaching staff cannot afford to live in Fairfax County where they work, and surrounding counties continue to out earn us. I personally have suffered the loss of steps and increases for multiple years of teaching in the county, which has negatively impacted my retirement funding for multiple years, as well. There is absolutely no excuse for this. The time is NOW to make the adjustment to the formula used to retain a more equitable portion of our county revenue to fund our own county schools and public services, allowing us to maintain the high standard of teaching that we know draws companies and individuals to Fairfax County. As a point of reference, my school lost both our principal and an assistant principal to a surrounding county in the last school year. The time is NOW to make the appropriate adjustment to the allocation of Fairfax County funding TO Fairfax County. Thank you very much.