Public Comments for 01/29/2021 Appropriations - Transportation and Public Safety Subcommittee
HB1895 - Fines and costs; accrual of interest, deferral or installment payment agreements.
Chairperson and Members of the Committee, I strongly support HB1895. Thank you.
How much do you owe for fines/fees? “I owe $2848.” For what? What is your restitution for? “[Owes restitution] for using my parents’ bank account.” How did you restitution impact you? “They told me I have two years to pay it and if I don’t pay it I go back to jail. If I miss a payment, the judge said he will lock me up. It’s hard with the environment right now (COVID-19). I’m a convicted felon trying to get back on my feet and it’s hard to make payments, when I’m trying to figure out how to live on my own and everything else. I don’t think it’s fair because you have to pay interest and even if you’re in jail you still have to pay interest.”
How much do you owe for fines/fees? “A little over 600.” For what? What is your restitution for? “Lawyer fees. Court fees. Originally, it was $1600. When I got out, I used my stimulus to pay $1000 of it.” How did you restitution impact you? “Well. It sucked. It wasn’t good, when you’re coming home you don’t have anything. You don’t have a job or car, where I’m from we don’t even have buses. Am I supposed to uber? They expect you to pay it, when you don’t even have a job to pay it. Or have the money to pay for shoes for a job. If it wasn’t for the stimulus, I would probably still owe 1600 to the courts. It’s a terrible feeling, you already took my freedom- it was my fault. I looked at it like I paid my dues, but I have to pay this money to the court. I worked 7 days a week in the jail, almost 10 hours a day but didn’t get paid anything to do that. How did you expect me to pay court fees when I got out.” Jurisdiction Fauquier county
How much fines/fees do you owe? “Approximately $4000, the judge decided to not add interest to my restitution.” For what? “I stole my aunt’s jewelry worth $175 from a pawn shop. My aunt didn’t press charges against me since I was family, but the commonwealth did. She got most of her jewelry back from the pawn shop. My uncle appraised the worth of some of the jewelry and the judge decided that I had to pay approximately $4000 as my restitution.” How did restitution impact you? “I was in disbelief regarding the amount. We should have been able to come to an agreement and it wasn’t fair. She got the jewelries back and I feel awful that I did it, but I can’t take it back. If I didn’t have to pay that money, I would have been able to give my husband the money to pay for the apartment and get my children back from foster care. Knowing that I owe that amount which could be used to do a lot of things, it’s stressful because this is a huge amount for someone who just got out of jail and no income.”
Please consider putting these bills into effect.
This is Erika Viccellio with the Fountain Fund and I'm speaking on behalf of HB1895. We provide low interest loans, financial education, credit building and community support to formerly incarcerated people. People come to us once released from incarceration and often to get help with court debt. Most aren't aware they can apply to have interest waived and when they see the process they give up on it. The law was established in 2016 to waive interest while incarcerated and I would submit that the interest that formerly incarcerated people have paid since the law was established would more than cover the one time expense to change the software to automate the process.
We have been advised that an amendment is going to be requested by the patron in House Courts this afternoon (1/20). There was an amendment to the bill adopted in the Criminal subcommittee on Friday (1/15) that addressed our concerns with the bill as introduced, and as such, I had not planned to speak to this bill in House Courts. The proposed amendment cannot be implemented without additional resources and a delayed effective date. It appears to us that there will be an impact on already understaffed district court clerks’ offices and a large cost to makes changes to our electronic case management and financial systems required to implement the bill. We will need resources for both district court clerks and for various electronic systems. As it requires an interface, local and regional jails and DOC will likely have costs associated with developing the interface on their end. We will also need a delayed enactment date, but as we have just received the proposed amendment, we have not yet been able to determine the necessary delayed enactment date.
Thank you madam chairwoman and members of this committee. My name is Martez Tolbert I am the client partner Navigator at the Fountain Fund Charlottesville Virginia I am here to testify in support of this bill. All reforms on this bill are important and needed but I am going to focus on the automatic waiver because I personally been through the waiver process, and because of that experiences is why I suggested the change in this bill to delegate Hudson Basically, I used Google to figure it all out!! Yes Google. I also had to call and email a few people to figure out how to get the various forms I needed. It was definitely NOT straight-forward and there was no ONE resource that explained the whole thing. Someone has to be very motivated and have a fair amount of time to figure it out and see it through. First I had to look at the Virginia Code to see what the law is. The statute mentions a Certification form. Then I had to figure out where to get that. And of course the Certification form has to be an original, notarized version! So then I had to call and email the VDOC folks to get a Certification form. The statute says the person "may move" the court to get the interest waived. I then, had to figure out how to do that. Do I literally have to file a motion? Call the clerks office? Eventually with assistance, I got the forms, filled them out, and then had to send them, with a letter, to the courts. I had to send a separate set of forms to each court (Charlottesville City and Albemarle County, fines in both). I had to include a self-addressed, stamped envelope with each set so they would send the notarized form back to me! Now Imagine having to do this process for EVERY Fountain Fund client that comes before me. It would be such a waste of limited resources. As I told the Wall Street Journal when they did a story about this a few months ago. This is a financial burden and nightmare for returning citizens. Thank you again for your time,, and I urge you to vote yes on this bill.
I am a nurse practitioner at The Daily Planet and have witnessed firsthand the disparity in our justice system and the unrealistic and burdensome requirements it places on many folks who are just trying to get better or improve their lives after making mistakes. We make it near impossible at times for this to happen by adding more financial hardships to people already in financial hardship. I highly recommend we make good on our promise to reform the justice system to where it delivers fair and equal justice and actually helps folks themselves reform. This bill is a good start.
CURRENT VIRGINIA LAW prohibits arrest or prosecution of certain drug-related offenses only to an individual who seeks or obtains emergency medical attention for himself or another individual or who is experiencing an overdose when another individual seeks or obtains emergency medical attention for him. HB 1821 expands these protections to include prohibiting arrest and prosecution of other individuals, acting in good faith, who render medical assistance during an overdose. This bill will allow individuals who need assistance with advocating for special services for treatment versus being incarcerated and not getting the help that is needed. The system needs to understand that information and knowledge of resources about overdose awareness is vital to the community at large.
I wholeheartedly agree with this bill. It is difficult for those who are poor to keep up with court fines.
HB1912 - Child support payments; juvenile in custody of or committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice.
I want to give my support of HD1912. RISE for Youth is one of the community partners Moms Demand Action works closely with to understand the intersections of childhood trauma and gun violence. The Department of Juvenile Justice has moved the majority of these youth, who are 70% Black youth, out to an area of VA that makes it impossible for their families to visit or participate in any sort of trauma counseling. We put already impoverished parents in the outrageous position to pay the state to incarcerate their children. We must stop causing further stress and harm to these children and their families. Ending this child support is a giant step in the right direction. Thank you!
The current collection of "Child Support" from parents is not to support children at all, it is a tax on parents who are already paying taxes to the state of Virginia to maintain a correction system. And if this so called child support was going to support incarcerated children in any way, it wouldn't be such a blow to parents, but according to the comptroller for the Department of Juvenile Justice, these funds collected just go into the general coffers of DJJ. In 2018, the allocated budget for DJJ was $214M; the amount collected from parents that year was .02 percent of the total DJJ budget, which in essence is budget dust. But while those funds are budget dust to DJJ, they have a huge impact on low income families who have already had their child taken from them. The economic and social impact of these collected funds is detrimental to these families. The way in which these funds are determined for each family is also completely unfair; the table used to determine the amount of funds a family has to pay is based on the same table used to determine child support after parents divorce. But when parents divorce, only one parent has to pay so that the child can live with the other parent in a way in which they were accustomed to before the divorce. The incarcerated youth child support is collected from both parents as if they were the supporting parent. When I pointed this out to our juvenile judge for this area, not only was she not aware that parents were being charged this "tax", but she stated that this beyond double taxation, it was more like quadruple taxation. My final point on this matter was that in one of the Governor's initial press conference after the shut down of the state due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he stated that during the economic conditions caused by the pandemic, that parents already struggling to get by should not have to pay these funds, and he was going to work to make that happen, yet those families are still paying each month. It is time for the legislature to act to get help families today and in the future.
RISE for Youth supports this bill and urges the committee to act favorably on HB 1912. It is truly outrageous that our Commonwealth charges families to incarcerate their children. We already know that Black and brown youth are disproportionately impacted by our criminal justice system and this financial burden, which is then placed disproportionately on Black and brown families, exacerbates the racial wealth gap and places a tremendous strain on families at an already difficult time. We must end this appalling practice.
Families with youth under the age of 18 must pay child support to the Department of Juvenile Justice when they are in juvenile prison. However, these parents have no control over the quality of services their child receives while in prison. Research shows that financial obligations in the juvenile system increase youth recidivism, and black youth in Virginia are four times as likely to be detained as white youth. Virginia has the chance to join a growing number of states passing legislation eliminating the requirement that parents pay child support when their children are incarcerated.
HB2069 - License plates, special; cost of plates for recipients of military decorations.
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Please consider putting these bills into effect.
HB2075 - Jefferson Davis Highway; renames any section of U.S. Route 1 to "Emancipation Highway."
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As a lifelong Chesterfield resident, I oppose this bill as it already has an alternative name in Route 1. Many residents and those visiting already reference "Jefferson Davis Highway" as Route 1. I believe it might serve best to use our states resources elsewhere.
Its time to remove all traces of memorializing the Confederacy -- the great shame on Virginia starting in 1619 and culminating in the insurrection in 1861 is a forever stain on Virginia We should not continue compounding our immoral beginnings with naming our infrastructure after those who were perpetrators of this ignominy. Its not erasing history to remove names and statuary that is in place to "honor" the dishonorable. Write the story clearly in our text books. Introduce these people there and make sure to mention that Virginians' fought against the union in support of slavery and lost. I fully support renaming Jefferson Davis Highway. I like the proposed name; but would be satisfied with any name other than someone who fought for slavery or owned slaves -- anyone.
HB2110 - Pretrial data collection; VCSC to collect and disseminate on an annual basis.
We (Virginia Community Criminal Justice Association) are in support of HB1945 and SB2110. Improving data transparency will lead to improved outcomes. Any efforts made to link all criminal justice agencies in data sharing, definitions, and data collected will improve the entire criminal justice system and allow for a more evidence based approach to criminal justice.
I am writing in support of this legislation to improve transparency and pretrial system outcomes. Improved data system linkages and cross system analysis will allow for system and jurisdiction level outcome measurement and opportunities for improvement.
HB2113 - Criminal records; establishes a process for automatic expungement, etc., report.
Madam Chairman and Members of the Committee, Our justice system is broken. The Thirteenth Amendment to our Constitution not only abolished slavery and indentured servitude, but created a different kind of evil when it allowed this inhumane treatment as punishment for a crime that a person has been duly convicted. History has shown us that the same people who owned slaves and indentured servants were allowed to become lawmakers and the mentality of these lawmakers were to keep slavery and indentured servitude alive. Their intent, which has survived for over 400 years, was to keep former slaves, people of color, and poor whites bound with invisible chains. Chains that would prevent them from becoming a living, breathing, acceptable part of society. Chains that have extended to their descendants. This has been shown by the continued mass incarceration of the poor because of laws that have been and are continually enacted for the purpose of preventing then from obtaining (1) freedom, (2) a good reputation, (3) a good education, (4) a good job, (5) the right to vote, (6) good housing, (7) hope, etc. We must break this bondage immediately. It is not right. Expungement should automatically occur upon their release. They have served their time. Some have been falsely accused and convicted. Some have been excessively jailed because their crime was being to poor to pay court fines and penalties. Some have been convicted because they were addicted to drugs, instead of being sent to treatment that they need. Some have suffered sexual or physical abuse in their life. Some suffer from mental illness. An eight year waiting period not only keeps them, but their families bound.
The League of Women Voters of Virginia supports HB 2113. The League believes that no person or group should suffer legal, economic, or administrative discrimination, and we support social and economic justice. Expungement is essential to ensuring that our system of government provides justice to the people that provides an opportunity for a dignified path forward. Given the disproportionate incarceration of minority group members in the Commonwealth, failure to provide for expungement has a disproportionate impact on Black and brown voters who have historically suffered discrimination in Virginia. We support this bill.
I'm writing to urge your support for HB 2113, which seeks to establish a process for the automatic expungement of criminal records for certain convictions, deferred dispositions, and acquittals and for offenses that have been nolle prossed or otherwise dismissed. Passage of this legislation will make it so hundreds of thousands of minor offenders are no longer stigmatized and disenfranchised by the collateral consequences of an arrest record for an incident that is no longer a crime. Virginians do not deserve for the rest of their life to be derailed because of an erroneous marijuana conviction that would not have been prosecuted today. Please support the passage of HB 2113.
I'm writing to urge your support for HB 2113, which seeks to establish a process for the automatic expungement of criminal records for certain convictions, deferred dispositions, and acquittals and for offenses that have been nolle prossed or otherwise dismissed. Passage of this legislation will make it so hundreds of thousands of minor offenders are no longer stigmatized and disenfranchised by the collateral consequences of an arrest record for an incident that is no longer a crime. Virginians do not deserve for the rest of their life to be derailed because of an erroneous marijuana conviction that would not have been prosecuted today. This is an equity issue and needs to be addressed. Thank you. Please support the passage of SB 1372 and HB 2113.
Automatic expungement is an accessibility issue. It shifts the burden away from the individual and ensures that all who qualify can have their records cleared, regardless of income or access to an attorney. Between filing costs and legal fees, clearing one's record can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars, depending on the jurisdiction. This is also important with reentering society. This can be a large hinderance in moving forward in life. For example, 9-10 employers use background checks, 4-5 landlords and 2-3 colleges/universities, all use background checks. These are all examples of basic needs folks need to reestablish themselves in society.
I am writing to urge you to support the passing of House Bill 2113. HB2113 establishes a process for the automatic expungement of criminal records for certain convictions, deferred dispositions, and acquittals and for offenses that have been dismissed. Legislation such as this will prove to be overwhelmingly beneficial for those who have been wrongly convicted. I, along with the Virginia State Conference NAACP and Virginia Organizing, believe that there should be no additional barriers to obtaining automatic expungement once an individual qualifies: no court fees, no attorney fees, no hearings. Automatic expungement should be just that, automatic. Historically, Black and Brown communities make up a disproportionate amount of convictions and have been subject to mass incarceration by laws and enforcement that has been deeply rooted in systematic racism. Automatic expungement is a necessary step Virginia must take if it wishes to correct its discriminatory past. If an individual is wrongly convicted of a crime, it is the duty of the state to correct its mistake, which is why I’m joining the Virginia State Conference NAACP and Virginia Organizing in asking you to support this essential piece of legislation. Thank you for considering my views.
Please support this reasonable bill that establishes a fair process for expunging records of people whose offenses were dismissed. This bill will have a large economic benefit for people trying to access good employment, housing, credit: and the opportunities they gain, to rebuild their lives, will economically benefit society as a whole.
VSC NAACP support HB 2113 and 2147
I am writing to urge you to support the passing of House Bill 2113 during the Courts of Justice Committee meeting on Wednesday, January 27, 2021. HB2113 establishes a process for the automatic expungement of criminal records for certain convictions, deferred dispositions, and acquittals and for offenses that have been dismissed. Legislation such as this will prove to be overwhelmingly beneficial for those who have been wrongly convicted. I, along with the Virginia State Conference NAACP, believe that there should be no additional barriers to obtaining automatic expungement once an individual qualifies: no court fees, no attorney fees, no hearings. Automatic expungement should be just that, automatic. Historically, Black and Brown communities make up a disproportionate amount of convictions and have been subject to mass incarceration by laws and enforcement that has been deeply rooted in systematic racism. Automatic expungement is a necessary step Virginia must take if it wishes to correct its discriminatory past. If an individual is wrongly convicted of a crime, it is the duty of the state to correct its mistake, which is why I’m joining the Virginia State Conference NAACP in asking you to support this essential piece of legislation. Thank you for considering my views.
There should be no additional barriers to obtaining automatic expungement once an individual qualifies: no court fees, no attorney fees, no hearings. Automatic expungement should be just that, automatic. Historically, Black and Brown communities make up a disproportionate amount of convictions and have been subject to mass incarceration by laws and enforcement that has been deeply rooted in systematic racism. Automatic expungement is a necessary step Virginia must take if it wishes to correct its discriminatory past. If an individual is wrongly convicted of a crime, it is the duty of the state to correct its mistake.
We are in support of the Bill HB2113 for automatic expungement of criminal records for those who have been wrongfully convicted because the the human thing to do and the responsibility of the state to correct it.
I support this bill because there should be no additional barriers to obtaining automatic expungement once an individual qualifies: no court fees, no attorney fees, no hearings. Automatic expungement should be just that, automatic. Historically, Black and Brown communities make up a disproportionate amount of convictions and have been subject to mass incarceration by laws and enforcement that has been deeply rooted in systematic racism. Automatic expungement is a necessary step Virginia must take if it wishes to correct its discriminatory past. If an individual is wrongly convicted of a crime, it is the duty of the state to correct its mistake.
For a person charged with an offense of 18.2-250, which is no longer class 1 misdemeanor, and the offense was dismissed, the automatic expungement should not carry an 8 year long wait period along with other offenses that are still a crime. A person who has gone through over 2,000.00 in fines, court costs, ASAP fees, probation, attorney fees, and 74 hours of community service as an 18 year old college freshman who made one bad decision just a few months before this act was decriminalized, with no automobile and limited resources, should not be also continue to be penalized by having diminished employment opportunities exactly at the outset of their young professional career upon graduation from college, especially for an act that is now considered to no longer be a crime. 8 years is a long time to continue to be punished for something that is no longer a crime, and which was also dismissed in this case. Expungement, and in this case, also Record Destruction should be executed immediately. There is no reason an 8 year wait should occur for this young person or in cases such as these who had a case dismissed for an act that is no longer a crime. Any records such as fingerprints should not be able to be kept in the Central Criminal Records Exchange, NCIC, or VCIN for this act, which was dismissed, and is not a crime. The records should be destroyed pursuant to 19.2-76.1.
Hello, I am writing in support of legislation to pave the way for expungement reform. In 2013 I was charged and subsequently convicted of Grand Larceny at 18 years old when the threshold amount was still $200. I was caught with $242 worth of goods from a local Wal-Mart along with someone who I now realize was sabotaging my life, & had the theft been properly divided, it would have only been simple larceny. Representatives are now pushing bills to raise the threshold to $2000, and it has already been raised previously. In the year 2021, I am now a thriving student of Danville Community College's Precision Machining program with a 3.8 GPA, a member of the Technical Honor Society, and I have been placed on the president's honor list multiple times. I am also a graduate of the Industrial Technician certificate program in 2014, after my conviction, which led to me obtaining employment at Danville IKEA, where I was prestigious in my employment and eventually became a critical component in the quality department with plenty of references. Since the conviction, I have had zero criminal offenses, and have no intention of ever committing a crime again, even to the degree of traffic infractions, I am very respectful of the law. In addition, I have also petitioned and successfully had my civil rights restored, followed by my firearms rights. I also have a conceal carry permit, which is a prestigious right in itself that displays respect for the law. I now volunteer heavily, picking up trash at local parks, and I consider myself a political moderate/independent. I see the criminal justice system can work, but I also see that it needs tweaking in our Commonwealth. I am asking that you support any bills which will assist in the expungement of my record, and please voice my concerns & if needed even share this email with legislators. I feel it is imperative to society that we allow people such as myself who have paid reparations ten-fold, to be fully accepted back into society via employeement that requires background checks. Thank you, god bless
Good afternoon elected officials, When I was eighteen years old I was convicted of credit card theft and forgery, not knowing it was a felony, my mother and I agreed to a plea deal that would alter my life for three decades. I am currently 50 years old, I have NO other convictions however I am unable to apply for certain jobs, pursue certain opportunities regardless of how hard I've worked to turn my life around. I have two bachelors, a master's degree, and recently earned my doctorate degree only to realize because of the felony I received when I was eighteen, my degrees don't matter. I am still a convicted felon, who has to struggle to feed his family. It is my sincere prayer that the senators would agree to automatically expunge felony records and send the bill to the governor so I and others like me can be outstanding citizens, providers to their families and examples to others who may have made a foolish mistake as a kid.
My son might still be alive if there had been no penalty for timely reporting of an overdose. The girl he was living with was fearful she would be in jeopardy if she did not first 'clean up' before calling 911. This delay cost him his life. Death Penalty - our judicial system is so flawed that there is no way to know with absolute certainty if a person is guilty. Aside from that, we are not empowered to take another's life as a 'just' punishment. Sentence modification needs to remain in the hand of the judge PERIOD. They have the most detailed information about pending cases and are less encumbered with 'red tape'. Suicide is not a 'crime' it's a mental health issue. Record expungement - give people a better chance to be reintegrated into society.
HB2163 - Motor Vehicles, Department of; limits the release of privileged information to government entities.
Last year VACIR and its 39 member organizations supported driving privileges cards for undocumented Virginians. HB2163 is an extension of the dpc bill. HB2163 will protect DMV data from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This bill will limit DMV data access to law enforcement unless they have a warrant, or have an emergency need to access data and can subsequently produce a warrant 48 hours after accessing the data. VACIR and its 39 member organizations endorse this bill. We urge you to stand with immigrant families once again and support HB2163 sponsored by Delegate Tran.
Del. Tran's bill protects immigrants and all drivers personal information. It prevents discrimination and profiling by preventing the sale of data to 3rd party vendors and the targeting of Driver Priviledge Card holders. Government agencies can still obtain specific information for the sole purpose of administrating criminal justice, by using the appropriate channels, such as a judicial warrant or subpoena. Agencies receiving the data may use the information for the original reason the information was requested. This bill assures that Virginia continues to be an inclusive and welcoming community
Del. Tran's bill protects immigrants and all drivers personal information. It prevents discrimination and profiling by preventing the sale of data to 3rd party vendors and the targeting of Driver Priviledge Card holders. Government agencies can still obtain specific information for the sole purpose of administrating criminal justice, by using the appropriate channels, such as a judicial warrant or subpoena. Agencies receiving the data may use the information for the original reason the information was requested. This bill assures that Virginia continues to be an inclusive and welcoming community
I write today in support of HB2163 that will limit the release of Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) privileged information to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). I am co-founder of the Drive Virginia Forward (DVF) coalition that has pushed for years for the passage of driver’s license legislation for Virginians who do not qualify for traditional licenses due to their immigration status. Thankfully such legislation passed in 2020 and went into effect on January 2, 2021. In preparation for the law’s implementation, we at DVF have worked to prepare thousands of applicants for the new process. We have seen the time and care they have devoted to get their paperwork in order, properly translated and pay Virginia state taxes. Some have even written to family in their countries of origin to obtain documents. They have also studied hard to learn Virginia driving and safety rules so that they are prepared for the road safety exams that will help ensure that they become safe Virginia drivers. They are doing all that is asked to become lawful Virginia drivers and are indeed grateful for the opportunity to do so. One individual expressed her relief that she no longer had to worry about whether or not her husband would return home when he left in the morning for work. That being said, applicants have expressed to us their concern about whether or not their personal information will be given over to ICE. It is for this reason that we urge the members of this committee to vote yes on HB2163. Tens of thousands of Virginians are doing all they can to follow Virginia law and be licensed drivers. It is unfair that doing so could make them vulnerable to ICE operations. We need to ensure that their information is protected.
On behalf of Experian, I respectfully oppose the current version of HB 2163. Experian is a member of the Consumer Data Industry Association and our automotive business purchases motor vehicle registration information for recalls and vehicle history reports. We do not have any objection to the provisions of the bill related to immigration information or to access to information for the state police. We have been glad to work with Del. Tran to ensure that the personal information of Virginians continues to remain protected. It is our hope to develop mutually agreeable language.
Why does the Democratic party want to stop information on illegal immigrants but wants to snoop on its own citizens?
Good morning my name is Alejandra Ponciano, I am one of the thousands who have benefited from obtaining my Drive Privelege Card, I am very grateful for your support and for having empathy for us, I have my Drive Privelege Card for a few days, believe me that I am very happy and I have seen this happiness in many people who have already done their process in the dmv. Now I feel part of this beautiful community that is Virginia, I feel the peace of being able to drive without fear of being stopped by a police officer, I just have to comply and you will respect the traffic rules. However, I am very concerned that ICE will have access to my information without having a court order and I know that several people in my community feel the same fear. I am a single mother, I have two daughters whose only support I am, one of whom is studying at Virginia Tech and I am very proud of her and my little girl who is in fifth grade and loves mathematics, I would not want to be separated from my family, it is which is why I support this bill from Delegate Kathy Tran to protect the information on the Drive privilege card
We continue to work with the patron on this legislation. Some issues have been addressed but other issues remain. We are currently reviewing the latest draft of a substitute we received from the patron last night.
Having read the summary of this bill, I am strongly in favor of it. Because it will prevent release, absent a valid judicial warrant, of information to immigration agents, those who are immigrants with regular driver licenses need no longer fear that immigration agents can use information to locate family members who might be undocumented. Moreover, with the bill passed last year allowing persons without proof of legal residence to obtain a "driver privilege" card, access to their information will now be protected as well. The consequence is that now both documented and undocumented immigrants may feel safer in taking part in services available to all residents, such as public education or the use of a library. Almost everywhere in Virginia the ability to drive legally is often needed to get to work. This bill, in combination with last year's Driver Privilege bill, should make life much less fraught with risk for all immigrants. I consider the consequences of this bill to make Virginia safer in several ways.
What other country allows illegal behavior to be hidden from other governmental agencies, but yet wants to track their own law abiding citizens? HB 2015, HB 1800, SB 1100, HB 1876, HB 1884 do just that. According to https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/crime-committed-by-undocumented-aliens-is-a-real-issue/ar-BB1aaSA0, Additionally, 70 percent of the 27,494 known or suspected aliens in BOP custody had been convicted of non-immigration-related crimes, as had 39 percent of the 23, 580 known or suspected aliens in USMS custody. Is the state going to declare sovereign immunity when another Kate Steinle event happens?
Congressman Tran, thank you for helping Virginia move forward with Driver's Privilege Cards. When I inquired with the state DMV about getting a driver's license for the woman who was caregiver for my partner who did not have mobility to drive, I learned she was ineligible because she did not have a green card. The caregiver, Mathilde, had rented an apartment so she could be closer to me and my partner. Had she stayed in D.C., or lived in Maryland, she could easily have obtained a driver's license; but not in Virginia. In any case, now the opportunity for a driver's license for Mathilde is on the horizon. HB 2163 needs to pass! Thank you so very much for your good work. Juanita Illera
Thank you for supporting this proposal
HB 2163 Department of Motor Vehicles; limits on release of privileged information Support Who we are: ACLU People Power Fairfax is an independent grassroots organization that advocates for equal justice for all members of the community, including undocumented immigrants, regardless of race or ethnicity. Our primary goals are to end local and state government’s voluntary cooperation with ICE and to correct practices and policies that support systemic racism in our law enforcement. There are over 4,000 People Power volunteers in Fairfax. Our efforts reflect the views of our members, not necessarily those of the ACLU Virginia affiliate. Thanks to your efforts last year, starting January 1, 2021, undocumented immigrants are able to obtain Drivers Privilege Cards (DPCs) so that they can go to work or drive their children to the doctor. Unfortunately, as the law now stands, obtaining a DPC significantly increases the risk of deportation. Once individuals are in the DMV database, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is able to access their contact information. ICE has used driver’s license databases in other states, including Maryland and Georgia, to locate immigrants for deportation. It is unacceptable that the estimated 250,000 to 275,000 undocumented Virginians—and their family members who are often documented or citizens—must live with the fear that obtaining legal driving status increases their chances of being deported. Virginia should not be a party to ICE’s cruel separation of families, which traumatizes children, dramatically reduces family income and harms our economy. Please vote YES on Delegate Kathy Trans bill to protect the addresses and other locator information of Virginia’s immigrants from ICE’s cruel civil immigration enforcement machine.
ACLU People Power Fairfax Supports HB 2163. ACLU People Power Fairfax is an independent grassroots organization that advocates for equal justice for all members of the community, including undocumented immigrants, regardless of race or ethnicity. Our primary goals are to end local and state government’s voluntary cooperation with ICE and to correct practices and policies that support systemic racism in law enforcement. There are over 4,000 People Power volunteers in Fairfax. Our efforts reflect the views of our members, not necessarily those of the ACLU Virginia affiliate. Thanks to your efforts last year, starting January 1, 2021, undocumented immigrants are able to obtain Drivers Privilege Cards (DPCs) so that they can go to work or drive their children to the doctor. Unfortunately, as the law now stands, obtaining a DPC significantly increases the risk of deportation. Once individuals are in the DMV database, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is able to access their contact information. ICE has used driver’s license databases in other states, including Maryland and Georgia, to locate immigrants for deportation. It is unacceptable that the estimated 250,000 to 275,000 undocumented Virginians—and their family members who are often documented or citizens—must live with the fear that obtaining legal driving status increases their chances of being deported. Virginia should not be a party to ICE’s cruel separation of families, which traumatizes children, dramatically reduces family income and harms our economy. In order to avoid discrimination and profiling, the DPC law provides privacy protection for source documents submitted to obtain the license as well as the DPC classification itself. There are no comparable guardrails for other personal information such as addresses and other locator information. Law enforcement and other permitted users of DMV data can access such information for all drivers, including DPC holders. Delegate Kathy Tran’s bill would correct this, by protecting the addresses and other locator information of Virginia’s immigrants from ICE’s cruel civil immigration enforcement machine. Delegate Tran’s privacy bill protects this information without impeding access to DMV data for criminal law enforcement, by requiring government agencies to obtain a judicial warrant, court order or judicial subpoena to obtain DMV data for the purpose of civil immigration enforcement. Please vote YES on HR 2163. Thank you, Diane Burkley Alejandro Lead Advocate ACLU People Power Fairfax aclupeoplepowerfairfax@gmail.com
HB2261 - License plates, special; removes fee for issuance to a member of the Virginia National Guard.
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HB2261 - As a member of the Fleet Reserve Association and a member of the Joint Leadership Council representing over 250,000 Veterans in the Commonwealth. We support this bill. BACKGROUND: Virginia currently offers a 50% reduction in cost for National Guard members to register up to 2 vehicles in the Commonwealth if they register them using Guard plates. These plates contain a logo indicating National Guard membership. Requested change would be 1 free license plate and registration per household. Those who currently have 2 registrations would be allowed to keep their 2 plates but all new registration requests would be limited to a single registration. Currently less than 20% of Guard members opt to get the plates. DISCUSSION: Further reducing the cost of license plates for National Guard members would incentivize more members to obtain the National Guard plates, which would in turn further highlight their contributions and awareness of the Guard members in our communities.
Please consider putting these bills into effect.
In favor of programs to better facilitate the development and progress of my community.
On behalf of the nearly 10,000 brave men and women serving the Virginia National Guard, I proudly support this legislation as it provides an essential benefit to those Virginians who have answered their community's call. The Commonwealth of Virginia relies heavily on the “hometown Guard” to support local and regional emergencies. Having strategically placed local and regional Readiness Centers and facilities throughout Virginia allows emergency response capabilities to be readily accessible to emergency managers. However, this also requires that servicemembers be assigned to these locations based off the capabilities requested at each of these locations. Additionally, as servicemembers gain proficiency and receive promotions, they may be required to report to duty stations well outside their reasonable commuting distance. The National Guard compensates servicemembers for official travel during periods of Annual Training and State Active Duty, but does not compensate them for traveling as part of routine drill. Currently, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles authorizes actively serving Virginia National Guard servicemembers reduced vehicle registration fees at a discounted rate of 50 percent for up to two vehicles and issues specialty "Virginia National Guard" plates. The full benefit of the current policy is not realized by our servicemembers with only one vehicle. Increasing the vehicle registration discount from 50 percent to 100 percent provides significant value to servicemembers, particularly those required to travel longer distances to attend training events. This would reduce the total number of vehicles authorized the discount from two to one, making this a cost neutral change for the government. Thank you for your continued leadership and support of the Commonwealth's Guardian.
BACKGROUND: Virginia currently offers a 50% reduction in cost for National Guard members to register up to 2 vehicles in the Commonwealth if they register them using Guard plates. These plates contain a logo indicating National Guard membership. Requested change would be 1 free license plate and registration per household. Those who currently have 2 registrations would be allowed to keep their 2 plates but all new registration requests would be limited to a single registration. Currently less than 20% of Guard members opt to get the plates. DISCUSSION: Further reducing the cost of license plates for National Guard members would incentivize more members to obtain the National Guard plates, which would in turn further highlight their contributions and awareness of the Guard members in our communities. RECOMMENDATION: That the Governor and General Assembly further reduce the cost of license plates to recognize the service and commitment of our National Guard members. As a representative of the Fleet Reserve Association with approximately 4500 members in the Commonwealth to the JLC, we support this initiative.
HB2286 - Court appearance of a person not free on bail; changes to provisions regarding bail hearings, etc.
Students for Equity and Reform for Virginia is made up of University of Virginia students from across the state who would like to voice our support for this bill. Absence of pretrial services leads to outcomes that favor prosecution, not the people. As our state representatives, you have the imperative to make sure the law is applied fairly and protects the people you serve. For too long, Virginia has enforced policies that disproportionately impact people of color and poorer communities by not giving them a fair chance to defend themselves in court.
The American Bar Association states that in order to have a meaningful first appearance in court, a judge, commonwealth representative, counsel for the defendant, and pretrial services must be included. Without legal counsel, defendants often end up having to plead their own case for why they shouldn’t be jailed pre-trial. Without pretrial services, no investigation is put into evaluating the price at which bond should be set, and no investigation into how much of a risk the defendant is to the community is made. Absence of pretrial services leads to outcomes that favor prosecution, not the people. As our state representatives, you have the imperative to make sure the law is applied fairly and protects the people you serve. For too long, Virginia has enforced policies that disproportionately impact people of color and poorer communities by not giving them a fair chance to defend themselves in court. Voting in favor of this bill would mean those who don’t have the means and privilege to adequately defend themselves would no longer slip through the cracks of the court system. By enacting a more comprehensive system of pretrial services, you will ensure defendants get a fair chance to speak with affordable counsel before arraignment. In the spirit of equity and fairness, we ask that you vote in favor of HB 2286, so every defendant who enters a courtroom may have a meaningful first appearance in front of their judge. -Students for Equity and Reform in Virginia (SERV) Tessa Danehy, President Hayden Ratliff, Dhruv Rungta, Kristin O’Donoghue, Alexandra Hartman, Patrick Cloud, Madeleine Green, Cole Davidson, Austin McNichols, Priya Viswanathan, Ciara Tisdale-Vakos, Theresa Ho, Neha Krishnakumar, Hayes Miller, Gabby Jefferson, Sona Kalatardi, Jack Melman-Rogers, Stella Banino
Virginia has the power and momentum to fix disparities in the criminal justice system and provide better support to communities. These bills will go a long way in addressing those and I encourage all to support them. HB 2038: Probation was originally intended to help people successfully transition from incarceration to the community, but has often served as a no-win situation that ensures their failure and return to prison. 51% of VA prison admissions were a result of parole or probation violations in 2016. 51%! Probation should be about helping people, not an excuse to further punish people trying to right their lives. Let’s get supervision conditions tailored to the individual and incentivize positive behavior and completion of recidivism-reducing programs. HB 2047: Leaning on the Stamper v. Commonwealth reasoning completely disrespects mentally ill Virginians and ignores everything we have learned in the 35 years since. Further, it violates an accused’s Constitutional right to a full-throated defense. Let’s enable juries to consider all the facts, including where mental health is relevant by supporting HB 2047. HB 2286: In Virginia, our pretrial system leads to people, especially poor people, being held unnecessarily for days before they can be released simply because they are not appointed a lawyer in a timely manner. By allowing/ensuring that individuals have an attorney when they first appear in front of a judge, bail can be considered immediately, in turn reducing additional and unnecessary time that a person - who has not been convicted - is being held in jail. That way people who aren’t a flight risk or a risk to themselves or others can return to their homes, reducing the overall negative impact on their lives. Pretrial detention costs the Commonwealth more money, and leads to 4x greater likelihood of being sentenced to jail, 3x longer jail sentences as well as 3x greater likelihood of being sentenced to prison, 2x longer prison sentences, and overall worse life outcomes. (NLADA, USAPP) Thank you very much for your consideration of these bills.
HJ542 - Transit equity and modernization; Department of Rail and Public Transportation to study.
I support this bill. I live in a food desert close to the Virginia Capitol and the lack of public transportation negatively impacts my access to fresh food. I support an increased focus on equity in public transportation and encourage an expansion and electrification of our current mass transit transportation network.
Please support this resolution. The state of Virginia needs this study in order to update its transportation model.
I urge you to support the Transit Equity and Modernization Study (HJ 542). Transit accessibility challenges often disproportionately impact vulnerable populations. We can re-invest and rebuild a transportation system that is safe, clean, widely accessible and increases economic and social mobility for riders, especially in communities of color and low-income communities. I encourage you to also support the Transit Equity and Modernization Study (HJ 542) because I believe we have a moral obligation to protect our neighbors, especially the vulnerable.
Public transportation is important part to creating a comprehensive, fair and affordable transportation system in Virginia. It can help to alleviate traffic congestion, while increasing access to jobs, medical services, education and recreational activities. This study will provide a needs assessment and develop solutions to improve accessibility, improve safety, as well as transit electrification. We strongly support this bill.
I urge you to support the Transit Equity and Modernization Study (HJ 542). Transit accessibility challenges often disproportionately impact vulnerable populations. We can re-invest and rebuild a transportation system that is safe, clean, widely accessible and increases economic and social mobility for riders, especially in communities of color and low-income communities. I encourage you to also support the Transit Equity and Modernization Study (HJ 542) because I believe we have a moral obligation to protect our neighbors, especially the vulnerable."
Honorable Senators and Delegates: I urge you to take all steps necessary to move this legislation forward so that a study of transportation equity and modernization can occur. Public transportation in the Commonwealth is the life blood of economic and personal development of its citizens and the businesses they support. An in-depth study would provide the necessary information to enable an equitable and efficient use of public resources to develop transportation systems.
HJ 542 This study would require the Department of Rail and Public Transportation to conduct a needs assessment of transit systems to identify whether systems are equipped with necessities such as: Benches Shelters Real-time arrival signs Integrated payment systems Dedicated bus lanes Transit electrification infrastructure This assessment will help shape a strategy for investment of future moneys and ensure that we are creating robust, resilient, equitable transit systems.
From Lisa Guthrie, Executive Director of the Virginia Transit Association: Delegate McQuinn's resolution is priority legislation for us this session. It is a vehicle to examine where we are positioned to go with public transit in the future. Thank you for allowing me to share more details in my comments below. Summary of HJ542: The Department of Rail and Public Transportation is requested to study transit equity and modernization over the next two years. Key takeaways: • DRPT, with the cooperation of all transit agencies that receive state transit grant funding, shall complete a study of transit accessibility, adequacy of transit infrastructure, implementation of emerging technology, transit safety, and transit system engagement. • There is an accompanying budget amendment for this study for $500,000. (442#4h) Background: VTA has been pleased to work in collaboration with DRPT and the nonprofit community to promote this forward-looking study that will improve transit services and ensure equity in access. In addition to collecting new data and information, sources for the study will include existing data: • Transit asset management plans • Transit development plans • Transit strategic plans • Public transportation agency safety plans • Corridor studies • Geographic information systems “Buckets” of items to examine: • Transit Accessibility • Adequacy of Transit Infrastructure • Transit Electrification • Implementation of Emerging Technology • Safety • System Engagement (Governance, Workforce, Underserved Rider Representation) Position: VTA strongly supports this legislation and encourages its passage.
I am urging you to support HJ 542 for transit equity and modernization. Since 1980, the VA transportation sector has produced more carbon pollution than the electric power sector. Additionally, particulate matter from vehicles disproportionately affects communities of color and attributes to severe health problems. Clean, accesible public transport would greatly benefit low-income communities. This bill calls for a study to examine how to best modernize transportation and improve funding. This could greatly improve the connectedness of our community, increase economic opportunities for those in low-income neighborhoods, and improve our environmental health.
Please don't ruin our lives and State ! Thank You
I am hoping that this study passes so that transportation throughout the state of VA can be improved and made more equitable. Finally the Jeff Davis Highway has a route that extends out past Chippenham Pkwy. But where else can Chesterfield folks ride? I have a friend who lives on the north end of Richmond and she commutes back and forth to work each day to the Southside on Hull St. It takes her 90 minutes each way and 2 transfers!!! I have a friend who lives in Roanoke and they have very few options to get to DC or to Richmond using public transportation. The Southwest part of Virginia is totally isolated. We don't need huge busses for all the routes. Mini vans and mini busses could be used for less frequented routes to save on fuel. This study is also very important to help us fight climate change! Covid 19 has certainly proven beyond a reasonable doubt that air pollution is significantly affected by the amount of automobile traffic on our roads. Folks need to be able to use public transit easily and cheaply to make it attractive to get out of their cars. Please pass this study!
I tried to check off as many as I could understand 🙃why not just get to work for the money we pay
I would like to know what the bills have in them. Don't want anything in them hidden like they do in Washington.
Legislative Summary - HJR 542 DRPT to Study Transit Equity and Modernization Patron: Delegate McQuinn Committee: House Rules Summary of legislation: The Department of Rail and Public Transportation is requested to study transit equity and modernization over the next two years. Key takeaways: • DRPT, with the cooperation of all transit agencies that receive state transit grant funding, shall complete a study of transit accessibility, adequacy of transit infrastructure, implementation of emerging technology, transit safety, and transit system engagement. Background: VTA has been pleased to work in collaboration with DRPT and the nonprofit community to promote this forward-looking study that will improve transit services and ensure equity in access. In addition to collecting new data and information, sources for the study will include existing data: • Transit asset management plans • Transit development plans • Transit strategic plans • Public transportation agency safety plans • Corridor studies • Geographic information systems “Buckets” of items to examine: • Transit Accessibility • Adequacy of Transit Infrastructure • Transit Electrification • Implementation of Emerging Technology • Safety • System Engagement (Governance, Workforce, Underserved Rider Representation) Position: VTA strongly supports this legislation and encourages its enactment.
On a long list of struggles, VA’s historically racist public transportation system still remains. Although there aren’t segregated bus seats or train cars, affording fares for public transportation, its public health consequences, and being able to use it to access opportunity and jobs remain problematic. We need to address An economic and racial segregation of transportation that continues today. In history we see that in many cases, once Black people were allowed to sit wherever they wanted on the bus, unfortunately more affluent, White passengers decided to abandon buses completely, in favor of private cars, except in the densest cities. Inequitable transportation planning profoundly shapes the quality of life, health, economic and social opportunities for low-income communities and communities of color. There are not enough clean, affordable, accessible, and reliable transportation options available. Transportation means more than we may believe upon first thought. It dictates where we go and how we live our lives. By choosing not to invest in the communities who use public transportation the most, what are we saying? Va’s current status is not enough and modernizing our transportation is not an option, it is a must. As we move to a cleaner economy and cleaner transit options, we have arrived at an indisputable opportunity to restructure the inequitable structure, technology, and the culture of Virginians Public transportation.
The Southern Environmental Law Center strongly supports HJ542, which calls on the Department of Rail and Public Transportation to study transit equity and modernization in the Commonwealth. As the General Assembly has repeatedly recognized, public transit is a critical component of our state, regional, and local transportation networks. Transit provides a host of important benefits—including health, economic, environmental, and equity benefits. From access to jobs, educational opportunities and health services to reduced pollution to community development, transit is essential throughout the Commonwealth. And the current pandemic has underscored how necessary transit is for our essential workforce. The bottom line is that transit can provide clean, affordable, accessible, and reliable transportation options to all Virginians. However, it is also abundantly clear that our transit systems need significant improvement to significantly increase and enhance the benefits they provide. The study proposed by HJ542 will produce information necessary to understand the current situation and form the basis for action, by examining transit accessibility, adequacy of transit infrastructure, transit electrification, implementation of emerging technology, transit safety, and transit system engagement. Of particular importance, the study will emphasize transit services and engagement opportunities for underserved and underrepresented communities. Please pass HJ542. Thank you.
RVA Rapid Transit strongly supports HJ542. We are an organization dedicated to educating and advocating for regional public transportation across metro Richmond. This DRPT study would benefit the Richmond region and transit systems throughout the state, by highlighting the needs and opportunities for enhancing our transit networks and bolstering the significant and inclusive economic, environmental, and social benefits they bring. Thank you for your consideration. Grace and Peace.
HJ542 - McQuinn - Support The Coalition for Smarter Growth strongly supports HJ542, a study of transit equity and modernization in the Commonwealth. The pandemic has shown how critical transit, particularly bus transit, is to our essential workforce. Access to transit is critical for access to jobs and opportunity, and for community economic development. It is just as essential in rural areas as it is in urban and suburban communities. Yet, we know that in many parts of our state, our transit systems do not provide sufficient service to our essential workforce, low-income communities, and the elderly and disabled; and that the infrastructure is often inadequate. Bus stops lack benches and shelters, information systems can be improved. There is also much to do including engaging community members and riders. We need to start by having a clear understanding of the system needs and whether we are adequately serving our population. This study will provide that information. Thank you.
SUPPORT/HJ 542 - The Virginia First Cities Coalition supports a two year study of transit equity and modernization in the Commonwealth.
New Virginia Majority Supports HJ542: For many working-class families, immigrant communities, and people-of-color in Virginia, access to public transit is vital for maintaining employment, attaining education, reaching essential businesses, and receiving routine or emergency health and public services. In addition to decarbonizing transportation, which is one the largest contributors to carbon emissions and toxic street-level air pollution, identifying how the state can modernize our public transit system can improve the cost of transit, quality of affordable housing, transit service accessibility, street safety, environmental pollution, and the public health impact of transportation for transit riders and residents across the Commonwealth. Lastly, modernizing our transit system is vital to bridging existing racial and economic inequities when it comes to accessing economic opportunity. We thank the Delegate and we encourage the committee to vote in support of this legislation. Thank you. Tyneshia Griffin, the Environmental Policy Research Analyst at New Virginia Majority.
Virginians for High Speed Rail supports this study and respectfully asks that it pass.
Legislative Summary - HJR 542 DRPT to Study Transit Equity and Modernization Patron: Delegate McQuinn Committee: House Rules; Studies Sub Summary of legislation: The Department of Rail and Public Transportation is requested to study transit equity and modernization over the next two years. Key takeaways: • DRPT, with the cooperation of all transit agencies that receive state transit grant funding, shall complete a study of transit accessibility, adequacy of transit infrastructure, implementation of emerging technology, transit safety, and transit system engagement. Background: VTA has been pleased to work in collaboration with DRPT and the nonprofit community to promote this forward-looking study that will improve transit services and ensure equity in access. In addition to collecting new data and information, sources for the study will include existing data: • Transit asset management plans • Transit development plans • Transit strategic plans • Public transportation agency safety plans • Corridor studies • Geographic information systems “Buckets” of items to examine: • Transit Accessibility • Adequacy of Transit Infrastructure • Transit Electrification • Implementation of Emerging Technology • Safety • System Engagement (Governance, Workforce, Underserved Rider Representation) Position: VTA strongly supports this legislation and encourages its enactment.
I’m reaching out to you today to support an important bill that will invest in much needed improvements for people who rely on good transit. I hope that after reading, you will take a moment to share your thoughts with me. Public transit is a vital service and many people depend on this essential for for mobility. Transit is also a large part of equitable growth of communities in Virginia. I have the privilege and convenience of driving, which is important as I don't have any options for public transit from my home to work in Downtown Richmond. But for several reasons, related to personal health, protecting clean air, connection to communities, sustainable growth of our communities and our environment, I would like to have the option of public transit for the majority of my day to day needs. Too many transportation systems in the Commonwealth lack the necessary infrastructure to provide essential public transit needs. This house resolution HR542, would direct the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation to conduct a transit modernization needs study. This would include an audit of a full array of transit necessities that today often aren’t in place for riders - including benches, shelters, real-time arrival signs, GPS technology to live-track buses, Integrated payment systems, dedicated bus lanes, infrastructure for electric buses, and more. Through HR 542 transit providers would have data and understanding to improve transit accessibility, adequacy of transit infrastructure, implementation of emerging technology, transit safety, and public engagement. Getting people out of cars and using public transportation is one of the best ways to cut pollution and carbon emissions from transportation. In order to make public transit in the Commonwealth a world-class transportation system, we must analyze equity issues as we focus on improvements, increased efficiency, and modernization. By conducting this modernization needs assessment now, we could create a better understanding of what riders need and the investments required to create a more mobile and resilient transportation systems throughout Virginia. Please support HR 542 during the 2021 legislative session when this legislation is before you.
I am your constituent and a person of faith and conscience. I urge you to support the Human Right to Water Resolution (HJ 538) and Transit Equity and Modernization Study (HJ 542). Water and transit accessibility challenges often disproportionately impact vulnerable populations. I encourage you to also support the Human Right to Water Resolution (HJ 538) and Transit Equity and Modernization Study (HJ 542) because I believe we have a moral obligation to protect our neighbors, especially the vulnerable."
As a person of faith and conscience, I urge you to support the Human Right to Water Resolution (HJ 538) and Transit Equity and Modernization Study (HJ 542). Water and transit accessibility challenges often disproportionately impact vulnerable populations. I encourage you to also support the Human Right to Water Resolution (HJ 538) and Transit Equity and Modernization Study (HJ 542) because I believe we have a moral obligation to protect our neighbors, especially the vulnerable."
Since 1980 in Virginia, the transportation sector has produced more carbon pollution than the electric power sector. Virginia needs a study to examine how to modernize transportation and improve transit funding and services for current riders as well as for the future. As a person of faith, I encourage you to support the equity in public transportation and modernization study because transportation is a justice issue. There is a connection between transportation, equity, and the fight for racial justice. This study is crucial in achieving equitable and modern public transportation that doesn’t damage our common home and creates thriving communities.
Climate change is an existential crisis. The transportation sector accounts for about 48% of carbon emissions. Additionally, a safe, widely accessible, frequent public transportation system increases social mobility for riders, especially in communities of color and low-income communities, giving them opportunities to access education, jobs, and all the things communities offer to not just live but thrive. Please support and pass this bill that will provide vital information needed for modernizing our transportation system.
HB1796 - License plates, special; removes fee for issuance to Va. National Guard retirees.
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Please consider putting these bills into effect.
In favor of programs to better facilitate the development and progress of my community.
On behalf of the nearly 10,000 brave men and women serving the Virginia National Guard, I proudly support this legislation as it provides an essential benefit to those Virginians who have faithfully served the Commonwealth of Virginia for over 20 years.