Comments Document

I signed up yesterday to provide verbal testimony but did not receive a link to participate. Here is what I would have said: I am Bill Aramony, Virginia resident of Fairfax County, Speaking on behalf of the American Legion and as the chair of the Joint Leadership Council which has designated this bill a #1 priority. The bill was proposed by The American Legion and by the National Vet Court Alliance (its representative is Daniel Cortez). This bill is consistent with the culture of military and veteran institutions to help veterans. For example, the Department of Virginia is setting up its third American Legion Post within Virginia prisons. Nationally, a primary program of the Commander of the American Legion is BE THE ONE – Meaning the one to check in on a veteran, take suicide prevention training, other reaching out within the community to help the fellow veteran and others. That is the purpose and intent of HB 2071. To assist the veteran who’s incarcerated or arrested and get them mental health and other help. We cannot help them if they’re not identified if we don’t know who they are.

Comments Document

I signed up yesterday to provide verbal testimony but did not receive a link to participate.

Stop this gun control crap you people don't know what the difference between a true assault weapon is I carried one during the gulf war and it's not like the one I have in my gun cabinet AR-15 sold in gun shops is not a assault weapon so give public the true information or better yet put it to a vote by the people let the people decide

I fervently support HB2193, and urge you to pass this bill. For too long has the National Guard been used to fight forever wars that were never voted on by Congress. The last time Congress passed a formal declaration of War was 1942. Since then Congress and several Presidents have abused their powers to send young men and women to die overseas without a declaration of War. I strongly urge you to pass this bill to protect the men and women of the Virginia National Guard from such abuses, and to use the National Guard for its true purpose. We need the Virginia National Guard to help Virginia in times of crisis here in the state of Virginia.

This bill protects our National Guard from gross national overreach by requiring Congress to actually declare war before their activation.

I strongly urge you to support HR 2193, a crucial piece of legislation that not only restores constitutional oversight to the deployment of Virginia’s National Guard but also ensures we are prepared to meet emergencies here at home. As you know, the U.S. Constitution grants Congress the sole authority to declare war under Article I, Section 8. Unfortunately, for decades, this responsibility has been bypassed, allowing the federal government to send our National Guard troops to fight in overseas conflicts without the proper constitutional process. This undermines the separation of powers and leaves our Guard members vulnerable to unnecessary risks. In addition to the constitutional concerns, sending our National Guard resources to foreign conflicts reduces our ability to respond to emergencies here in Virginia. When our Guardsmen are deployed overseas, they are not available to assist during natural disasters, like hurricanes, floods, or wildfires, where their presence is critical. For example, during Hurricane Katrina and other major disasters, the absence of National Guard units—who were deployed abroad—left states struggling to respond effectively. Other states are also seeing this now in Georgia and North Carolina with Hurricane Helene. Ensuring our National Guard remains available for state emergencies should be a top priority, and the Defend the Guard Act helps protect our state's ability to address such crises. This bill does not impede the Guard’s ability to respond to domestic disasters or participate in training exercises. Instead, it requires that before our Guard units are sent into combat overseas, Congress must formally declare war—ensuring that such deployments are made with full transparency and accountability. Virginia's National Guard is a vital resource for our state’s security, from disaster relief to emergency management. Supporting HR 2193 not only upholds constitutional principles but also preserves the readiness of our Guard to serve Virginia when we need them most. I urge you to stand with Virginia's National Guard and the citizens of our state by supporting this important legislation.

This bill should pass with unanimous consent from both Political Parties in the VA General Assembly. Both Democrats and Republicans say they "support our troops" and that they also "support our veterans". Well, it's time to prove it by passing this bill and sending it to our Governor -- This bill will allow the state of Virginia to use its inherent, sovereign authority to rebalance war powers between the branches of the federal government State legislators have an essential, civic obligation to their constituents to demand that the federal government adhere to congressional war powers as mandated by Article I, Section 8 of the United States Constitution. Without an official declaration of war by the U.S. Congress, states have a duty to withhold their troops from active combat. The sole objective of this bill is to obligate the federal government to obey the U.S. Constitution before sending our sons and daughters to fight more endless wars. -- On a side note, I ask that the VA General Assembly and Governor Youngkin beware anyone who opposes this bill being passed into law, especially lobbyists or US military officials.

I strongly urge you to support HR 2193, a crucial piece of legislation that not only restores constitutional oversight to the deployment of Virginia’s National Guard but also ensures we are prepared to meet emergencies here at home. As you know, the U.S. Constitution grants Congress the sole authority to declare war under Article I, Section 8. Unfortunately, for decades, this responsibility has been bypassed, allowing the federal government to send our National Guard troops to fight in overseas conflicts without the proper constitutional process. This undermines the separation of powers and leaves our Guard members vulnerable to unnecessary risks. In addition to the constitutional concerns, sending our National Guard resources to foreign conflicts reduces our ability to respond to emergencies here in Virginia. When our Guardsmen are deployed overseas, they are not available to assist during natural disasters, like hurricanes, floods, or wildfires, where their presence is critical. For example, during Hurricane Katrina and other major disasters, the absence of National Guard units—who were deployed abroad—left states struggling to respond effectively. Other states are also seeing this now in Georgia and North Carolina with Hurricane Helene. Ensuring our National Guard remains available for state emergencies should be a top priority, and the Defend the Guard Act helps protect our state's ability to address such crises. This bill does not impede the Guard’s ability to respond to domestic disasters or participate in training exercises. Instead, it requires that before our Guard units are sent into combat overseas, Congress must formally declare war—ensuring that such deployments are made with full transparency and accountability. Virginia's National Guard is a vital resource for our state’s security, from disaster relief to emergency management. Supporting HR 2193 not only upholds constitutional principles but also preserves the readiness of our Guard to serve Virginia when we need them most. I urge you to stand with Virginia's National Guard and the citizens of our state by supporting this important legislation.

Stop this gun control crap you people don't know what the difference between a true assault weapon is I carried one during the gulf war and it's not like the one I have in my gun cabinet AR-15 sold in gun shops is not a assault weapon so give public the true information or better yet put it to a vote by the people let the people decide

Comments Document

Please see the attached document explaining why Prison Fellowship supports HB2221. Thank you.

As an employee of the VADOC for over 30 years who has worked as a Probation/Parole Officer, I feel the repeal of 53.1-149 would create numerous Public Safety concerns for all of Virginia. Probation Officers are on the front lines everyday in our communities. They are in our neighborhoods and work closely with local, county and state law enforcement. Routinely PO's are contacted by law enforcement to assist in the arrest of probates. The repeal of code 53.1-149 would jeopardize PO's abilities to keep communities safe. When a SEX OFFENDER is in violation of GPS at 2AM and the PO has to go out to and make a home visit and determines the Offender is in violation, that PO may need to issue a PB15/arrest warrant. The repeal of 53.1-149 would prevent this from happening. Being a Probation Officer if a very demanding job. PO's need to be able to make decisions that keep our communities SAFE. That Safety starts with knowing that each PO has the discretion to take the appropriate action when needed. The ability to issue a PB15 for a probationer can and does keep YOUR communities and all of Virginia SAFE. Why would we choose to jeopardize SAFE Communities?

As a resident of Virginia I feel that PB-15s are a necessary tool that Probation and Parole Officers can use to not only keep the community safe, but also the person in which the PB-15 is being issued on. Substance use is a widespread severe problem in Southwest Virginia and substances such as fentanyl are become more and more available to those who suffer from addiction. PB-15s not only keep these people off the streets, but can potentially keep a person from using again, overdosing, and dying. I do not feel that PB-15s are abused or used a "gotcha" tool but rather as a last resort to make sure our community is safe and that those who do suffer with addiction area safe, even if that means jail for a period of time recovery can be sought following a hearing. Probation Officers are just as much law enforcement as a Police Officer and are an asset to every community.

I am writing you to voice my opposition of HB2318. As a Probation Officer of the Commonwealth and Secretary of the Virginia Probation and Parole Association, I believe that it is imperative to the safety of all Virginians that probation officers maintain the authority to issue PB-15 warrants. PB-15 warrants are utilized in situations when waiting on a Judge to sign off on a Capias Request puts the probationer and community at risk. Probation officers have the knowledge, training, and ability to make judgement calls in these situations. Probation officers supervise those convicted of violent and sexual crimes. Limiting probation officer's abilities to issue PB-15 warrants limits their ability to take swift action to ensure public safety.

I am not writing you as a DOC employee but I am a Probation Officer and member of the Virginia Probation and Parole Association. I am writing to you to voice my opposition to HB2318. Probation Officers have the authority to arrest probationers and parolees and it is fundamental to public safety. Please know, there are strict policies and procedures that guide our use of a PB15 (the name given to our warrant). There are only 2 main reasons a PB15 is issued, a probationer and/or parolee poses an immediate threat to themselves or someone else. This threat is often a violent one, one that will cause harm to others or their immediate actions will create another victim. The warrant we issue is not used for any other purpose and must be approved by a supervisor to be issued and served. Due process is, of course, followed according to law and policy and procedures. In most cases, a Capias will be issued within 24 hours of a Probation Officer's warrant being issued. That will replace the PB15 and a bond hearing will be scheduled for the probationer or arraignment scheduled, etc. However, we have many probationers under supervision, in many different jurisdictions across Virginia. In the event a Capias is not issued immediately we are bound, by policy, to have a preliminary hearing to ensure the incarcerated individual is being held for just cause and their rights are not being violated. This must be held within 14 days by a trained hearing officer who does not know the particular circumstances of the case. All safeguards are in place and are exercised to ensure our warrants are used appropriately and we do not incarcerate a probationer without just cause. Please consider that there are over 60,000 convicted felons in the Commonwealth under our supervision. There are 800 Probation Officers across the Commonwealth to supervise violent offenders, sex offenders, and gang members. We are tasked with keeping our communities safe and we take this job duty very seriously. The loss of the authority to issue our warrants, when deemed necessary, puts ALL citizens of the Commonwealth at risk. Many inmates have been released to parole and probation over the past few years and our case loads have risen while the prison population has declined. We are doing our best to supervise all of these individuals. Please do not cripple our ability to keep the communities safe in the Commonwealth of Virginia! We also supervise parolees. The process to begin a violation for a parolee is the warrant issued by the Parole Officer for the Parolee. There are many violent parolees on supervision in Virginia. There is no mechanism to immediately incarcerate a parolee for a violated condition of parole. We can't get a capias and the magistrate would have no authority to issue a warrant for a parole violation. This would endanger citizens of the Commonwealth to lose our privilege to issue our warrants. We supervise many cases from other states. Again, we begin a violation of a person that is a threat to the community or themselves with our warrant. We cannot go to the magistrate or the court for a warrant for a probationer from another state. The loss of this authority puts the citizens of the Commonwealth in danger as it would take weeks to incarcerate these individuals if we ask for a warrant from another state. Please vote for this bill to fail in committee.

Stop this gun control crap you people don't know what the difference between a true assault weapon is I carried one during the gulf war and it's not like the one I have in my gun cabinet AR-15 sold in gun shops is not a assault weapon so give public the true information or better yet put it to a vote by the people let the people decide

Stop this gun control crap you people don't know what the difference between a true assault weapon is I carried one during the gulf war and it's not like the one I have in my gun cabinet AR-15 sold in gun shops is not a assault weapon so give public the true information or better yet put it to a vote by the people let the people decide

Comments Document

I am in full support of VA HB2520, included is a testimony in support of the Bill.

I support HB2520.

Stop this gun control crap you people don't know what the difference between a true assault weapon is I carried one during the gulf war and it's not like the one I have in my gun cabinet AR-15 sold in gun shops is not a assault weapon so give public the true information or better yet put it to a vote by the people let the people decide