I am writing about bill SB1390. I support this program and feel that we in rural areas need it. I have personally trapped cats in my neighborhood and neutered and spayed them. This is the only way to cut down the cat population. I live in Russell County and we don't even have a shelter for cats. I would love to see a law in Virginia requiring cats to be spayed and neutered. We are the voices of those who can't speak. Thank you.

I tend to 6 fetal cats & would love help in getting them fixed. I have been looking & trying to find someone for a while now with no luck.But this seems to be my answer.

Any efforts to increase production will result in revenue for the Commonwealth. What's to deny? Thank you.

SB1390 | Lewis | Cats; trap, neuter, and return programs, civil penalty. I object to "TNR" because feral cats, as an invasive species, are causing significant harm to our songbird population.

NO

SB1115-I support this because marijuana should be legalized now. SB1390-I support because this bill helps cats in Virginia by affirming Trap-Neuter-Return.

The pipeline for oil needs to be reopened but thanks to our corrupt president biden it got closed which put a lot of people out of work and raised gas prices.

Clean water matters.

The pipeline for oil needs to be reopened but thanks to our corrupt president biden it got closed which put a lot of people out of work and raised gas prices.

Clean water matters.

The pipeline for oil needs to be reopened but thanks to our corrupt president biden it got closed which put a lot of people out of work and raised gas prices.

Honorable Members of the Committee and Committee Chair: Based on the review of similar programs in other states, our organization Virginia Democracy forward (VADF) is in full support of this bill and urge its passage. We want to sincerely thank leaders of the youth-led Greater Good Initiative organization and the bill Patron for spearheading this excellent initiative.

VACo is pleased to support SB 1188.

Virginia Conservation Network is in full support of this legislation and requests that the committee vote in its support.

Thank you so much Mr. Chairman and thank you all Delegates for your time today. My name is Jacob Ellis, and I am one of the directors of Economic Policy of The Greater Good Initiative, a youth-led, nonpartisan thinktank advocating for research-driven policies across the nation and commonwealth. When our organization began back in March as a response to COVID-19 lockdowns, the Tax Relief for Agriculture Industries in Need Act, or TRAIN as we called it, was one of our first policies. TRAIN was in response to footage of farmers being forced to discard vast amounts of food due to supply chain issues, and seeing the need for increased donations to food banks. In SB 1188, the Virginia Agriculture Food Assistance Program is designed to accomplish the intended purpose of TRAIN by offsetting the cost of food donations for farmers, and we are proud to support this bill and an important Virginia industry during this time of need. Senator Hashmi and her staff has been incredibly supportive of this organization and our policies, and we sincerely appreciate it. The Greater Good Initiative over one hundred youth members fully support this bill and hope that it is the pleasure of this committee, and the body at large to pass this bill. Thank you

Virginia Conservation Network and our statewide coalition of 150 conservation organizations stand in support of this legislation. It is our hope that the Committee will vote in SUPPORT of the bill.

I believe spay, neuter, release for cats should be legal. I believe there should be a coverage premium assistance program for dairy farmers.

The pipeline for oil needs to be reopened but thanks to our corrupt president biden it got closed which put a lot of people out of work and raised gas prices.

Virginia Conservation Network is in full support of this legislation and requests that the committee vote in its support.

Virginia Conservation Network and our statewide coalition of 150 conservation organizations stand in support of this legislation. It is our hope that the Committee will vote in SUPPORT of the bill.

The pipeline for oil needs to be reopened but thanks to our corrupt president biden it got closed which put a lot of people out of work and raised gas prices.

I am an apple grower/packer/shipper in the Shenandoah Valley. FSMA requires we have a food safety program, and 95% of our customers require we produce an annual certificate of compliance in both the orchard and packing house. The state of Virginia has been performing these inspections, in a timely, thorough, and cooperative manner. I can't imagine the federal government attempting to take over these inspections. USDA recognizes collaborating with state inspectors is most efficient. Growers are familiar with the state system and like it. I urge you to continue state funding for this important function.

The pipeline for oil needs to be reopened but thanks to our corrupt president biden it got closed which put a lot of people out of work and raised gas prices.

The pipeline for oil needs to be reopened but thanks to our corrupt president biden it got closed which put a lot of people out of work and raised gas prices.

The pipeline for oil needs to be reopened but thanks to our corrupt president biden it got closed which put a lot of people out of work and raised gas prices.

The pipeline for oil needs to be reopened but thanks to our corrupt president biden it got closed which put a lot of people out of work and raised gas prices.

Clean water matters.

Please pass this bill. It is the humane way to address the feral cat population.

I write in support of SB1354 on behalf of the Virginia Municipal League. SB1354 will provide greater certainty that the Commonwealth of Virginia and local governments meet their commitment to clean up the Chesapeake Bay by reducing nutrients flowing into the bay throughout the Chesapeake watershed. SB1354 was created in collaboration with a diverse group stakeholders including representatives of the local government community, the environmental community, and state officials who have a vested interest in improving the water quality of not only the Chesapeake Bay but also the waters of the Commonwealth. Local governments across the Chesapeake Bay watershed have continued to meet and exceed the nutrient load reductions required by previous watershed implementation plans. demonstrated through reducing nutrient loads. We believe that SB1354 will continue to provide localities with clear nutrient load reduction targets necessary to meet the nutrient reductions in the WIP III. We would like to thank the stakeholders for their work in assembling this legislation and Senator Hanger for his leadership improving the waters of the Commonwealth. VML supports this important bill and encourage members of the committee to support SB1354.

The pipeline for oil needs to be reopened but thanks to our corrupt president biden it got closed which put a lot of people out of work and raised gas prices.

Clean water matters.

Please pass this bill. It is the humane way to address the feral cat population.

Dear Senator Lewis and ACNR membership, It was brought to my attention that the Virginia Senate Bill 1374 establishing a Carbon Sequestration Task Force with membership from state agencies and university partners does not include UVA. I am writing to inform you and your staff of the capacity UVA has in carbon sequestration in the Commonwealth, and ask that UVA be named as a partner on the task force. Respectfully, Karen McGlathery Director, Environmental Resilience Institute (ERI) Professor, Department of Environmental Sciences Director, Virginia Coast Reserve Long Term Ecological Research Project University of Virginia UVA - Carbon Sequestration Below is a brief description of how UVA is playing a leadership role in the state on carbon sequestration in the Commonwealth. • UVA researchers developed the first net accounting to verify carbon sequestration in restored seagrass meadows that set the global stage for issuing carbon offset credits for ‘blue’ carbon. This work was the basis for the legislation (SB783) that you sponsored in 2020. • In 2020, ERI launched the Climate Restoration Initiative focused on carbon sequestration in the state based on a portfolio of strategies that include natural solutions (forestry and agricultural practices, blue carbon) and technological solutions. UVA is a global leader in both of these pathways to carbon sequestration. Our team connects field research on land use in Virginia, modeling of negative emissions and carbon emissions options, and policy, economic, and social equity research to position Virginia as a model state in developing integrated negative emissions strategies. A report is being readied for 2021 outlining the trade-offs and choices in carbon sequestration, and how those impact human activities and communities. • Economists at UVA have assisted in the design and implementation of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) since its inception. Among other things, UVA led the team that designed the RGGI allowance auction and, more recently, helped design and demonstrate the effectiveness of the new emission containment reserve, which progressively reduces GHG emissions. We are in an excellent position to extend the RGGI program to accommodate carbon sequestration. • UVA researchers are active in advising state entities on shifting from fossil fuels to renewables and other zero-carbon energy sources. o In 2018, ERI hosted the first statewide energy conference focused on renewable energy. As a result, UVA launched the Virginia Solar Initiative (VSI), a state-wide technical assistance program for local governments aiding the siting and permitting of solar facilities across the Commonwealth. VSI is working in coordination with DMME to implement the SolSmart program. VSU is also issuing decision-making support tools helping local governments weigh tax implications (SolTax). o In 2019, the Weldon Cooper Center in partnership with DMME launched the Energy Transition Initiative (ETI). ETI is currently conducting modeling and other activities in furtherance of the Virginia Clean Economy Act. It recently published the first analysis of its kind outlining pathways to decarbonize Virginia’s economy. The ETI is also providing an analysis of Governor Northam’s Executive Oder 43, outlining pathways to a net-zero decarbonization of the electricity supply at the request of DMME.

Preserving, and Planting “100 year” trees should be at the forefront of efforts to contain carbon in every community.

The pipeline for oil needs to be reopened but thanks to our corrupt president biden it got closed which put a lot of people out of work and raised gas prices.

Clean water matters.

Please pass this bill. It is the humane way to address the feral cat population.

I am writing to ask support for Support SB 1390. Not only is this proposed legislation good for felines but it is also a positive for humans. It would be a really positive step for all cats in the Commonwealth.This bill would affirm that TRAP-NEUTER-RELEASE for cats is legal.

The Audubon Naturalist Society supports SB 1393. Addressing the climate crisis will take action on many fronts and preserving and conserving our natural resources through this bill addressing tree canopy is win to address so many climate issues we see today, including mitigating heat island effects, reducing drinking water pollutants, and mitigating flooding. Under current statutes, there are limits for localities’ authority to preserve and conserve their tree canopies. This bill enhances their ability to increase their tree canopies in several specific circumstances: (1) to generate pollution reduction credits through installation of an approved Urban Tree Canopy Expansion best management practice (BMP) or other approved BMP for compliance with the locality's Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit, (2) to help address local flooding in any development project located in a Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area, (3) in any development project located in an area that prior to the passage of the federal Fair Housing Act of 1968, 42 U.S.C. § 3601 et seq., was redlined or graded "D" by the federal Home Owners' Loan Corporation; and (4) to ensure conformity with the comprehensive plan adopted by the locality. Thank you, Renee Grebe, Northern Virginia Conservation Advocate, Audubon Naturalist Society

The Arlington Chamber of Commerce supports incentive-driven approaches to tree canopy preservation, but is wary of mandates to the same effect. SB 1393 includes a provision for a stakeholder work group to meet this year and to report not later than October 1 to make recommendations to encourage conservation and to “increase incentives for preservation, planting, or replacement of trees during the land development process.” It further includes a reenactment provision to allow the General Assembly to consider the Work Group’s report and incentive recommendations in legislation. The Chamber encourages the House to retain these provisions in SB 1393.

The pipeline for oil needs to be reopened but thanks to our corrupt president biden it got closed which put a lot of people out of work and raised gas prices.

The pipeline for oil needs to be reopened but thanks to our corrupt president biden it got closed which put a lot of people out of work and raised gas prices.

Clean water matters.

The Audubon Naturalist Society supports SB 1404. We appreciate the focus of this bill on equity. Fiscally stress communities have struggled to access this funding which has been demonstrated through previous SLAF awards data showing these communities receive less funding despite the equal level of work. This bill is also based upon the same, highly successful method the agency currently utilizes to address fiscal stress for wastewater. The bill maintains prioritization of cost-effectiveness, and simply alters the balance of state and locality financing. Furthermore, this bill would incorporate nitrogen into the evaluation process which will improve the overall effectiveness of SLAF and expand options for local governments. Without this focus, some highly effective projects are currently being underappreciated and undervalued in the current ranking system, and this bill would fix this issue. Thank you, Renee Grebe, Northern Virginia Conservation Advocate, Audubon Naturalist Society

The pipeline for oil needs to be reopened but thanks to our corrupt president biden it got closed which put a lot of people out of work and raised gas prices.