YES, We support this bill. I am the founder and Lead Policy Advisor of MRCI, a survivor led organization to advanced legislation towards the prioritization of safety and the well-being of all children., especially those of marginalized and vulnerable populations . I am also a foster child who was in the system, in and out as long as I can remember until I age out at age 18. There are no words to describe the trauma of being passed from home to home and discarded, having no feeling of belonging or true love of and care from a family, as their own flesh and blood. My brother and I were finally taken from our biological mother and court ordered into the foster care system due to poverty, the lack of childcare, and assistance for my brother for his violent temperament and uncontrollable rages. My mother also received minimal assistance to recover from her domestic violence injuries from being battered by her ex ex-husband, the same father who was sexually assaulted me until I was age 8. Please vote yes for this very simple gesture that will help children feel more in control and empowered , and some tiny level of safety and security,,due to circumstances that are not their fault., and help them heal.

My name is Cait Hebert, and I am a fertility nurse at a large fertility practice serving patients across Virginia. Every day, I care for individuals and families who are navigating the emotional, physical, and financial realities of infertility. I sit with patients when they receive devastating news about their fertility. I celebrate with them when treatments work. And too often, I watch hope disappear when cost becomes an insurmountable barrier. No patient should have to walk away from medically necessary care simply because their insurance refuses to recognize infertility as a real medical condition. One of the most difficult conversations I have with patients happens far too often. They come in with diagnostic insurance coverage. We complete their testing, identify the cause of their infertility, and can clearly outline a treatment plan that offers a real chance of success. Then they learn that their insurance does not cover the treatment itself — and the cost is simply out of reach. I’ve watched patients go from relief at finally having answers to devastation when they realize they cannot afford the care that could help them. In most other areas of medicine, when a patient receives a diagnosis, insurance typically covers medically necessary treatment. Infertility is one of the few medical conditions where diagnosis may be covered, but treatment often is not. Patients are left knowing what is wrong and what could help them — yet unable to move forward because of cost alone. Infertility treatment is not optional or elective care for the people I care for. It is medically necessary care for individuals who want the chance to build a family. Without insurance coverage, access depends almost entirely on income, not medical need. That reality leaves too many Virginians behind. House Bill 328 is important because it recognizes fertility care as part of essential health coverage. Updating Virginia’s Essential Health Benefits to include fertility treatment would mean that fewer families are forced to choose between financial stability and the chance to have a child. This bill would not erase the emotional challenges of infertility, but it would remove one of the biggest barriers patients face: affordability. It would give future patients a more equitable path forward and the opportunity to pursue care based on medical need rather than financial circumstance

Comments Document

The Alliance for Fertility Preservation (AFP) appreciates the opportunity to provide comments to the House Labor & Commerce Committee in support of HB 328, which would add important fertility benefits to Virginia’s essential health benefit (EHB) benchmark plan. The AFP is a national 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to expanding information, resources and access for patients facing potential infertility caused by cancer treatments. For several sessions, we have advocated for legislation that would add fertility preservation coverage to the EHB benchmark plan for Virginia residents at risk of medically-indicated (iatrogenic) infertility. Even though patients facing iatrogenic infertility have recognized, effective options for preserving fertility, the high cost is often a barrier. Expenses can range from several hundred dollars for sperm banking to approximately $15,000 for egg or embryo banking. Without insurance coverage, these standard treatments are unaffordable for many patients even though the costs across a population of insureds are extremely low, typically pennies per member per month. Medically necessary fertility preservation has been considered standard of care by leading medical associations for more than twenty years and the House Labor & Commerce Committee has an opportunity to ensure that eligible Virginia residents will also have access to these critical services should they ever need them. It is our hope that the Commonwealth of Virginia will join twenty-one other states, the District of Columbia, the Federal Employees Health Benefit plan and the Veterans Health Administration in enacting fertility preservation benefits. In addition, we are pleased that HB 328 would also add infertility treatment to the EHB benchmark plan. Cancer survivors who preserve their fertility will eventually need access to Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) procedures, often including in vitro fertilization (IVF), in order to use their genetic materials for family-building. Without insurance coverage the out-of-pocket costs for these treatments can be insurmountable for most Virginians.

Comments Document

On behalf of RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, we write in strong support of HB 328, which would include infertility treatment services as Essential Health Benefits (EHB) in Virginia’s benchmark plan starting 2029. Each year, RESOLVE supports thousands of Virginians who struggle with the disease of infertility. Many are forced to make heartbreaking financial decisions—refinancing their homes, taking on significant debt, or, most tragically, giving up their dreams of parenthood—because their insurance offers no fertility care coverage. The real cost lies not in covering infertility treatment, but in continuing to exclude it as essential health care. Without insurance coverage, fertility care is financially out of reach for most Virginians. Out-of-pocket costs can total tens of thousands of dollars, making access to care dependent almost entirely on income. For many individuals and families, whether they can build a family should not hinge on their ability to pay out of pocket for medical treatment. Including fertility care in Virginia’s EHB update is a critical step toward recognizing infertility as the disease that it is and ensuring that insurance coverage reflects the needs of today’s families. Many states have already taken steps to modernize their insurance standards to include fertility treatment, and Virginia should not fall behind. We appreciate the thoughtful work that has gone into this proposal and welcome the opportunity to work with the Committee to further refine and strengthen the language as needed. HB 328 represents a meaningful opportunity to expand access to care and reduce barriers for Virginians who are simply trying to build their families. We respectfully urge your support of HB 328 and stand ready to serve as a resource as you consider this important legislation.

Comments Document

Dear Chair Maldonado and Members of House Labor and Commerce Subcommittee #1, On behalf of the Virginia Association of Hematologists and Oncologists (VAHO) and the Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO), I'm pleased to submit a letter in support of HB 328 (attached). Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about cancer care; we're happy to be a resource. Best, Sarah Lanford Associate Director of State Advocacy Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO)

United Cherokee Indian deserve recognition stop playing with us .. our history speaks stop playing with us again you steady playing with us in our faces oblivious you folks need to step down from your position due to your actions ain’t working

My name George Craig and I live in Winchester,, VA. I am writing in favor of HB 8 and ask for your support and "yes" vote. It is important for Virginia to be prepared when there is an Article V convention called and to ensure the commissioner sent follow the limitation of their authority. Thank you.

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Invasives should be pulled or killed by herbicide and not be permitted to be sold in nurseries

I support this initiative. Well water testing is already a program that is offered through the Virginia Cooperative Extension Offices on limited timelines and certain times of the year. However, creating a fund that makes these tests more affordable will make these tests more accessible and hopefully more frequently available to landowners that use wells. We need to know what is in our water and if it is safe to drink and use. This legislation may be the key to unlocking more resources for landowners to ensure their water is safe.

January 26, 2026 Dear Sub-Committee Chairperson Herring and Committee and Sub-Committee Members, I am writing in support of Del. Ellen McLaughlin’s bill, HB 348. I am a professional hydrogeologist and live within Rockbridge County, VA, a largely rural area where more than 70% of residents – along with businesses and schools - rely on private wells for drinking water. Like other rural areas in Virginia, much of our land use is agricultural and despite the lack of heavy industry, our local streams and ground water have been found to widely affected by contamination with cancer-causing PFAS ‘forever chemicals.’ When Virginia Tech and VA Extension offered their affordable pilot testing program for PFAS in private wells here, Rockbridge had among the highest participation rates in the State with nearly all results being positive for PFAS, including a separately tested Elementary School. Our public water systems are only able to reach the residents who live in densely populated areas, which means that currently the protections and eligibility for funding to test and treat public drinking water for PFAS and other hazardous substances in the drinking water are not available to most residents. Furthermore many of our residents cannot afford the cost of basic well testing, let alone costly commercial lab tests for PFAS. HB 348 would provide assistance for testing and treatment of toxic PFAS contamination similar to that received by urban residents, to those farm families and rural residents in the greatest need, protecting public health and the food supplies for everyone. Please vote to approve HB 348. Thank you, Barbara Walsh Barbara L. Walsh, Hydrogeologist 301 McLaughlin St. Lexington, VA 24450 540-460-6661 blwalsh123@gmail.com

As an environmental scientist I can see the overwhelming benefits that supporting bill HB348 would have for private well owners. I lived in Williamsburg for 4 years and drank water from highly regulated sources, but it's well known that rural communities can face less support when it comes to mitigating the effects that pollution can have on their natural resources. Without testing, well owners may be left wondering if the resource they need to survive is instead slowly harming them. Please support HB348 and contribute to there being safe water for everyone.

My name is Aileen Rivera. I'm a resident of Varina in Henrico county. I ask that you please support HB348-Residential Well Water Testing and Treatment Program and Fund. In our part of the county we have many families depend on private well water , don't have the resources for other sources of water, are dealing with PFAS in the well water and we need more support than what the county can currently offer. Having a standard of testing for PFAS in all Virginia communities that are surrounded by unregulated synthetic chemicals ensures the well being of our children and Virginia residents. PFAS linger in the environment and build up in organisms, including humans, taking so long to break down they have earned the name "forever chemicals," leading to widespread contamination and long-lasting risk of exposure. PFAS pose high risk to human health, linked to cancer; harm to fetal and/or infant development; increased cholesterol levels and/or risk of obesity; decreased fertility; increased high blood pressure during pregnancy; reduced immune system function; and disrupted hormonal processes. Sampling of public water supply wells shows numerous instances where PFAS exceed U.S. EPA drinking water standards1 and studies conclude that most wells in Virginia will have PFAS.2 Please vote yes for HB348.

My name is Sophie Massie. I live on a farm in Albemarle county, and our well is contaminated with PFAS. I drank from this well while I was pregnant. I drank from this well while I was nursing. I filled up sippy cups from this well. When we learned about the used of PFAS-laced biosolids in our area, we sought out a PFAS test. The results were devastating. We thought we were giving our kids a healthy start in life, but the whole time they were ingesting toxic "forever chemicals".... in utero…through my breastmilk…from the tap. They would have been better off on formula. They would have been better off in town. Rural folks deserve clean water too. Rural children deserve clean water too. Please support HB 348.

HB52 (Bloxom) Dredge materials are a valuable natural resource that is oftentimes dumped into open waters or onto overwintering crab populations. Dredge material can play a critical role in building coastal resilience and safeguarding communities. HB52 makes it the state's policy to outline uses for and utilize this material when feasible. HB348 (McLaughlin) Virginia offers rural well testing but not for PFAS. The application of toxins to lands in rural Virginia can impact our groundwater and communities. PFAS is prevalent in biosolids that have been applied on agricultural lands around the Commonwealth and presents significant public health risks. HB348 protects rural communities, provides valuable public health information, and helps the state map PFAS contamination in groundwater. HB386 (Krizek) Codifying the Chesapeake Bay Pay‑for‑Outcomes Fund positions Virginia at the forefront of innovative, results‑driven environmental policy. It rewards verified pollution reductions rather than modeled estimates, engages the private sector and non-profits, and accelerates measurable improvements in water quality. During the pilot program, Virginia received $110 million in requests for only $20 million and awarded 9 projects, removing more than 580,000 pounds of nitrogen at just $36 per pound. Codifying the fund allows us to continue identifying and investing in cost‑effective solutions -- prioritizing projects that deliver verified outcomes, prevent pollution, and promote innovation. HB389 (Askew) Climate change is driving changes in our fisheries. HB389 directs the commission to start planning for future conditions using the great research occurring at Virginia universities. Translating that research into forward looking fisheries policy ensures that the state continues to be a leader in sustainable fisheries and aquaculture. HB390 (Askew) Virginia faces permitting challenges and opportunities as the state tries to effectively combat more intense storms, sea level rise, land subsidence, habitat loss, and erosion. To meet these challenges, HB390 reinvigorates the Habitat Policy Oversight Committee within the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC). The Committee will advise VMRC and its Habitat Management Division on habitat-related policies and activities and will support the Commonwealth’s coastal resilience efforts. HB521 (Hernandez) HB521 strengthens Virginia’s wetlands protections by moving Virginia’s “no net loss” of wetlands standard into code, requiring appropriate mitigation and establishing a stakeholder group to explore mitigation options for non-vegetated tidal wetlands, an often overlooked but essential habitat type. HB521 is a tool to meet Virginia’s wetlands goals under the newly signed Chesapeake Bay Agreement. HB599 (Simonds) An oyster stock assessment would use scientific data to estimate the abundance of oysters in Virginia’s portion of the Bay, the fraction of oysters that die each year from natural causes, and the sustainable amount of oysters that can be harvested each year while ensuring a healthy population in the Bay and its tributaries. Hb599 aids scientists, restoration groups, the oyster industry, and fishery managers in focusing restoration efforts that support positive ecological and economic outcomes.

HB348 Residential Well Water Testing and Treatment Program and Fund; established. People on municipal water systems are increasingly benefiting from an awareness of just how ubiquitous PFAS contamination is, in that operators of water treatment systems are voluntarily testing for PFAS, finding it, and taking significant measures, like installing giant activated carbon filters, to mitigate the contamination and protect their citizens. Meanwhile, those of us living in rural areas and dependent upon our well water, have no such support. There's no testing, no mitigation, not even an education effort to the rural population that a problem might exist. I am a small farmer -- so small that calling me a market gardener is probably more accurate. I'm trying to do everything right: I grow food with no chemical inputs whatsoever, no plastic row covers, no plastic water tanks. But even still, I know that the limited testing VDH has done over the last few years has shown a lot of Virginia wells have PFAS in them. So there's a chance I might be watering my crops with PFAS-contaminated water from my well. I'm scared to test it, because I know if I find something, I'm on my own. There is no safety net for me. There is no help from the state to tell me what to do and certainly no funds to help me do it. I have heard a rumor that the Farm Bureau is opposed to this bill, which, if true, is unfathomable to me. I'm a member of the Farm Bureau. Many of the people this bill would help and protect are small farmers, so what is the problem? Are they afraid of farmer's liability? That's a little ridiculous, because good luck proving that your contaminated well came from the farmer next door. There are literally hundreds of ways PFAS could get into a well. So here is a suggestion: instead of making low-income, rural families the sacrificial lambs on the altar of industrial agriculture, how about working to protect everyone by advocating for Virginia's version of Maine's Model for dealing with PFAS contamination. We need a liability shield for farmers; we need a state fund that covers testing and monitoring of land and well water, we need support for farmers and citizens that are affected by PFAS contamination, and we need state support for research and development of mitigation strategies that can be rapidly deployed. This bill is a step in that direction. It's something we can build on and it's a whole lot better than nothing. I urge you to show your respect for rural residents of this state, especially the children, and support this bill. Thank you.

My husband and I are residents of Rockbridge County and have a well that provides our drinking water. I feel strongly that this bill is needed to protect Virginia residents with private wells. The population of our state living in rural areas need attention paid to their drinking water just like residents of towns or municipalities with public water do. It is unfortunately not the case that rural wells provide clean water - there are a range of pollutants that show up in groundwater in rural areas, including PFAS compounds. PFAS pollution is a serious emerging environmental problem, and one of the main ways that people are exposed to these compounds is through their drinking water. It is difficult for people with private wells to get information about these pollutants of emerging concern, determine whether there is a problem with their water, and figure out what to do to protect their water and their health and that of their family. This initiative on the part of the commonwealth will pay multiple benefits to people in the state. I applaud the foresight and concern for people in our rural areas shown by Delegate McLaughlin in introducing this bill and urge our elected officials in the House of Delegates to approve this bill.

NABIP supports HB358 - Strengthens transparency and consumer protections in Medicare supplement policies by using a thoughtful, stakeholder-driven process that protects seniors, preserves market stability, and ensures any future standards are evidence-based. The National Association of Benefits and Insurance Professionals represents more than 100,000 licensed health insurance agents, brokers, general agents, consultants and benefit professionals through more than 200 chapters across America. NABIP members service the health insurance needs of large and small employers as well as people seeking individual health insurance coverage.

Dear Distinguished Committee, My name is Ian McIntosh, a resident of Virginia, and Executive Director for Not Dead Yet, a national disability rights organization that fights against assisted suicide legislation and for access to the gold standard of healthcare for everyone. On behalf of Not Dead Yet members in Virginia, we strongly urge the committee to vote Yes on Delegate Levere Bolling’s bill, HB 435. For your consideration, I refer you to the article, “Economic Benefits of Investment in Palliative Care: An Appraisal of Current Evidence and Call to Action,” published in the January 2026 issue of the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, published on behalf of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. (https://tinyurl.com/2x3xr4sp) Contrary to popular belief, palliative care is not just for the dying. When accessed early in diagnosis, palliative care sustains lives as well as saves lives. Moreover, proven scalable models have shown that integrating palliative care into accessible healthcare coverage improves sustainable financing; A true win-win situation. A vote for HB 435 represents an imperative ethical and economic step towards strengthening and protecting Virginia’s most vulnerable in their time of need, and positioning healthcare resources for greater patient-centered success. An investment in palliative care in Virginia is a hedge against catastrophic health expenditures for all Virginians, especially by leveraging Virginia’s existing funding mechanisms to those most vulnerable in underserved urban and rural areas. By establishing The Palliative Care and Quality of Life Advisory Council in tandem with the Palliative Care Information and Education Program, HB 435 would afford Virginians access to clear, transparent, verifiable and authoritative information, which in turn enables informed decision making while enjoying the benefits of improving quality of care that simultaneously helps control health care cost for our great state. Sincerely, Ian McIntosh Executive Director Not Dead Yet - The Resistance

Distinguished Committee, I respectfully submit this written testimony in strong support of the palliative care provisions included in House Bill 435. These provisions represent evidence-based, patient-centered policy that will improve the quality of care delivered across the Commonwealth of Virginia while supporting patients, families, clinicians, and health care systems. Palliative care is a core component of high-quality modern medicine and is distinct from hospice care in that it may be delivered at any stage of serious illness. The palliative care additions in House Bill 435 appropriately reflect this reality and align Virginia law with established national standards of care. House Bill 435 establishes a statewide Palliative Care Information and Education Program to ensure that patients with serious illness and their families have access to accurate, standardized information regarding palliative care services. This provision addresses a well-recognized gap in health care delivery. Many patients and families mistakenly equate palliative care with end-of-life care, resulting in delayed referrals, unmanaged symptoms, and care that is misaligned with patient goals. A formal education program will promote earlier understanding of palliative care as supportive, patient- and family-centered care focused on quality of life. The bill establishes a clear definition of palliative care as patient- and family-centered care addressing physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs and not limited by prognosis or life expectancy. This clarity is essential. By explicitly stating that palliative care may be provided at any stage of illness and concurrently with curative treatment, the bill removes ambiguity that often limits access to services. A clear statutory definition supports appropriate referrals, reduces variation in care delivery, and ensures patients receive symptom-focused support based on need rather than prognosis alone. House Bill 435 also requires licensed hospitals, nursing homes, and certified facilities to identify patients who may benefit from palliative care. This promotes proactive, systematic identification of patients with significant symptom burden or complex medical needs. Structured identification will improve equity in access and support earlier care planning and coordination. In addition, the bill requires facilities to provide information about palliative care and facilitate access to available services. This ensures that integration extends beyond recognition to meaningful action. Finally, the bill establishes a Palliative Care and Quality of Life Advisory Council to provide ongoing guidance and recommendations. This council will ensure that palliative care policy in Virginia remains informed by clinical expertise, evolving best practices, and the needs of diverse communities, including rural and underserved populations. In conclusion, House Bill 435’s palliative care additions represent prudent and compassionate policy that strengthens Virginia’s health care system while honoring patient dignity and autonomy. For these reasons, I respectfully urge support of the palliative care provisions in House Bill 435. Thank you, Dr John Daniel Markley Practicing Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease Physician, Richmond Virginia Medical Society of Virginia, Active Member

Please, vote for this bill. This bill will help educate patients of the benefits of palliative care and establishes standards that can help mitigate competitive practices. Often when patients here "palliative/hospice care" brought up by their doctor, it can create a sense of unease due to the perception that palliative/hospice care is for people "who have given up". For patients reaching the end of their journey, palliative care enhance the remaining time they have and often, prolong patient longevity. I urge you to vote for this bill.

The attached document is a public comment from the Virginia Association of Centers for Independent Living (VACIL) in support of HB 435, legislation focused on expanding access to palliative care. The comment explains how the bill improves education, informed choice, and access to palliative care for people with disabilities, while preserving self-determination and individual control over medical decisions. It highlights the alignment of the legislation with the Independent Living philosophy by promoting dignity, quality of life, and equitable access to information and services across the Commonwealth

Object to all said bills and any casios developments.

PositiveAge strongly supports House Bill 610 that proposes the Commonwealth Food Security and Coordination Act. Reliable access to nutritious food is foundational to healthy aging, yet many older adults are especially vulnerable during emergencies, natural disasters, and disruptions to federal nutrition programs. This legislation creates a coordinated, proactive approach to ensure that food resources can be mobilized quickly and equitably when Virginians need them most. By strengthening partnerships between state agencies and community organizations, the bill will help protect older adults, families, and caregivers from food insecurity during times of crisis. Therefore, we urge the subcommittee's support of the proposed legislation.

HB610: Do not add this control structure on top of much more nimble local solutions that you mention yourselves: food banks, community-based nonprofit food providers, mutual-aid organizations, faith-based organizations, community kitchens, and community gardens. If this law is enacted, it is simply a cover up for kickbacks, bribery, extortion, and harm to the very people it claims to protect: the food needy. The state is the last place we want to control food, especially in Virginia where there is not yet the right to grow and process one's own food. We need to reduce meddling by the government on our most crucial systems that, all said, are working fairly well compared to many other countries and times.

Madam Chair and members of the subcommittee, Voices for Virginia's Children supports HB 610 to establish the Commonwealth Food Security and Coordination Act. This past year, illuminated the hidden hunger within our communities and need for state-level systems to coordinate food access across departments. For these reasons we urge you to support this bill.

Food choice is at the very root of democracy. As a result, it is incumbent upon each and everyone of us to support the sovereignty of making choices as a consumer that will benefit our health. Nationally, we are finally having this discussion-albeit, one riddled with partisanship and controversy. Let us make no mistake about it. There is no junk food. There is junk. And there is food. As a consumer who understands the myopic consequences of choosing the junk and having to navigate through a maze of regulations to choose the REAL, I urge you to allow the citizens of the Commonwealth to choose for themselves what constitutes a life in which they may thrive. Let us become a shining example of practices that honor the land and her people.

HB656: When affordability of healthcare is at such a risk right now, the solution can never be adding more and more onerous paperwork and privacy-leaking documentations for mammoth databases which can be hacked with user PII de-anonymized. We need to vastly reduce the number of such databases held by the state. Instead of this law, host a videotaped roundtable with subpoenas for particular info. In this particular case, demanding info on unpaid claims and uncovered benefits invites lawfare from the corporations which have alot of money to fight .This language implies they have to report not only what they cover but what they never would have dreamed of covering. If I told you: tell me all the expenses you didn't incur , and tell me all the expenses you would have incurred if you had different priorities, what would you say? It's non-objective. Separately, as I understand, HB1380, also on this topic is simply edits for clarity which is good.

I support funding for HB1391 and HB1418 to ensure that the Sickle Cell Community in Virginia. Too often, patients experience delays, inadequate pain management, or inconsistent treatment-particularly in emergency departments or underserved areas where sickle cell patients are not readily available. Because it is a rare disease, not all practitioners know how to treat sickle cell patients. They need to be able to call the specialists to help with the appropriate care for their patients. It is important that this legislation be passed. It is terrible to watch a child in agony with excruciating pain waiting to be taken care of properly. Please pass this legislation. It is also important to educate the community at large about sickle cell trait so people can make informed decisions about how it impacts people's lives at schools, athletic programs, and at jobs. Thank you for your time.

HB1391/1418: Do not pass these two bills that appear to be another USAID type scam wherein diseases that have almost no relevance in the USA are given money which is then opened up for kickbacks, extortion, and bribes. Where is the bill that looks into the hazards of MRNA shots that millions of virginians took? In huge contrast to MRNA shots, sickle cell Statistics say: Worldwide Impact: An estimated 7.74 million people were living with sickle cell disease (SCD) globally in 2021, with 515,000 new births primarily occurring in sub-Saharan Africa, which accounts for nearly 80% of global cases. Translation: even in the entire world , only 1/1000 people are affected.

The League of Women Voters of Virginia supports HB1398 which forms the Fetal and Infant Mortality Review Team. Its purpose is to decrease the incidence of preventable fetal and infant deaths. The Virginia Department of Health reports that the average infant mortality rate in Virginia was 5.8 infant deaths per 1,000 live births with the highest county rate of 12.6. The data obtained by the Fetal and Infant Mortality Review Team will be invaluable in understanding how and where infant mortality occurs. With this knowledge, targeted interventions can be implemented to decrease the incidence of preventable fetal and infant deaths in Virginia. We urge you to support HB1398.

HB1398: This bill has 13 pages of exclusions and then two pages about what will supposedly be tracked. This indicates to me that a far better use of taxpayer money to track fetal, maternal, and infant mortality would be to look at existing records rather than adding yet more administrative state. Also, a glaring omission is abortion, which does cause both fetal and maternal death and should be included in all such data reviews.

The League of Women Voters of Virginia supports HB1403 which would result in improved collection, analysis and accessibility of data related to maternal mortality and morbidity. This systematic collection of data includes demographic and regional factors that will allow for better understanding of the vast disparity of health outcomes for Black mothers and those who reside in counties considered to be health deserts. Data collection and analysis can be expected to lead to improved health outcomes for Virginians and provide greater understanding for the public and health care providers. Please support HB 1403.

HB1403 [same topic, comments as HB1398]: This bill has 13 pages of exclusions and then two pages about what will supposedly be tracked. This indicates to me that a far better use of taxpayer money to track fetal, maternal, and infant mortality would be to look at existing records rather than adding yet more administrative state. Also, a glaring omission is abortion, which does cause both fetal and maternal death and should be included in all such data reviews.

I support funding for HB1391 and HB1418 to ensure that the Sickle Cell Community in Virginia. Too often, patients experience delays, inadequate pain management, or inconsistent treatment-particularly in emergency departments or underserved areas where sickle cell patients are not readily available. Because it is a rare disease, not all practitioners know how to treat sickle cell patients. They need to be able to call the specialists to help with the appropriate care for their patients. It is important that this legislation be passed. It is terrible to watch a child in agony with excruciating pain waiting to be taken care of properly. Please pass this legislation. It is also important to educate the community at large about sickle cell trait so people can make informed decisions about how it impacts people's lives at schools, athletic programs, and at jobs. Thank you for your time.

HB1391/1418: Do not pass these two bills that appear to be another USAID type scam wherein diseases that have almost no relevance in the USA are given money which is then opened up for kickbacks, extortion, and bribes. Where is the bill that looks into the hazards of MRNA shots that millions of virginians took? In huge contrast to MRNA shots, sickle cell Statistics say: Worldwide Impact: An estimated 7.74 million people were living with sickle cell disease (SCD) globally in 2021, with 515,000 new births primarily occurring in sub-Saharan Africa, which accounts for nearly 80% of global cases. Translation: even in the entire world , only 1/1000 people are affected.