VCOG opposes the exclusion from the Freedom of Information Act detailed in lines 83 through 88. This grant fund involves the expenditure of public funds in exchange for meeting certain benchmarks, including job creation and capital investment. We believe the public has an intense interest in monitoring the status of these benchmarks. We note, too, that the exclusion means that legislators and even local government officials could be denied access to the information that underlies these decisions, which would deny them an important check on the receipt or retention of funds issued under the grant program.

SB1102 will enhance the provision of Medicaid consumer-directed supports. The Virginia Association of Centers for Independent Living supports this legislation.

The Arc of Northern Virginia strongly supports SB1102. We have worked regularly with families who wait years for a Medicaid Waiver. When one is finally granted, they're shocked with all of the work they must take on to hire, fire, and train care attendants who have incredibly high turnover rates. SB1102 would provide some training to those attendants directly from DMAS. We believe this would decrease the burden on people with disabilities and families and increase the morale of Personal Support Attendants who would get some formal training and assistance taking on a challenging job.

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.

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.

I wonder if you all are aware of what happens when a parent is falsely accused of abuse or neglect? The definition is so vague and subjective that it gives all types of room for arbitrary hearings that encourage the removal of children from their families. I am asking for any of you to reach out to me so you can experience first hand what happens once a child enters the infant to prison pipeline or the foster to sex trafficking to prison pipeline or worst. I am opposing this bill and hoping that the entire definition can be changed to one that embodies the truth instead of and assumption.