April 15th Newsletter
Like most legislators, I am not a budget conferee and have been waiting patiently, ok - not too patiently, for progress on a budget compromise by the handful of my House and Senate colleagues who are working on the budget. Although discussions are continuing, there is no update to report so far.
Meanwhile, I will be at my House Finance Committee meeting on Tuesday as we consider Governor Youngkin’s proposal for temporarily suspending Virginia’s fuel tax, along with a House Democratic proposal for cash rebates to car owners to help offset high gas costs. I have summarized below more details on each of these proposals. Despite our difference in approach, there is a shared recognition by both parties and legislative chambers that we must do something to provide at least temporary relief to drivers paying inflated gas prices.
Also while waiting for the resolution of the budget impasse, I have been meeting with groups of constituents around the district as well as in a virtual town hall hosted by Delegate Schuyler Van Valkenburg and me last night. I very much enjoy these meetings because they provide an opportunity for me to share legislative updates in-person/real-time with citizens while also responding to questions and comments.
Please reach out to my office if you have a homeowner’s association, apartment complex committee, or any other community group that would like me to meet with them to discuss the recent legislative session. And best wishes to anyone who is celebrating Ramadan, Passover, or Easter!
If you have any questions or need assistance with a state agency, please contact my office at delrwillett@house.virginia.gov or phone at 804-698-1073, and a member of my staff will be happy to assist you. I also will continue to keep you informed with relevant, accurate information via Twitter, Facebook, and my website. Please stay well and stay in touch.
Sincerely,
Rodney
New Information
Update on Special Session and Gas Tax Proposals
The General Assembly convened for the 2022 Special Session I on Monday, April 4th to finish work on the 2022-2024 budget and remaining legislation from the 2022 Regular Session. We passed a joint procedural resolution (HJ6001) establishing conduct for the business of the special session and limiting what legislation can be introduced. No other business on the budget or remaining legislation was completed on Monday, so the legislature adjourned to meet again in the coming weeks.
Hours after we adjourned, the Governor introduced HB6001/SB6001, bills to create a temporary gas tax holiday. HB6001 was referred to the House Finance committee and is expected to be heard on Tuesday, April 19 at 1:00 p.m. As a member of the House Finance committee, I look forward to discussing the proposed legislation as well as potential alternatives to provide Virginian's relief from the rising cost of gas.
Unfortunately, HB6001 in no way guarantees savings for Virginia consumers. Gas taxes are a tax on gasoline distributors, which is passed on to consumers. While the hope is that the savings from a gas tax holiday would be passed on to consumers, the reality is that distributors could pocket the savings instead. Plus, with the proposed holiday covering peak travel season, it gives even more benefit to out-of-state drivers. In an analysis from the American Road & Transportation Builders Association of 177 gas tax rate changes in 34 states from 2013-to 2021, only 18% of any tax decrease or increase is passed on in the retail price of gas in the first two weeks. All of these factors raise the concern that the Governor’s proposed legislation would do more to help the oil industry, trucking companies, and visitors rather than struggling Virginians.
The Governor’s proposed plan would also reduce funding for the Commonwealth Transportation Fund for five months (a loss of around $437 million) without a clear plan to make up that money later. All transportation programs will be cut as a result. This includes low-income transit services, filling potholes, removing storm debris, handling snow, and repairing funding for structurally deficient bridges.
The House Democratic Caucus has an alternative proposal to HB6001. This proposal would issue $50 rebates for each personal-use car or truck (limited to two per household), excluding electric vehicles. The funding for the rebates would come from the General Fund, leaving the critical transportation funding untouched, and would cost approximately $140 million. See more information on the Democrat's proposed plan online here.
Reconvened Legislative Session — Wednesday, April 27th
While we have just started the 2022 Special Session, we also need to meet on April 27th for a reconvened “Veto Session” to consider legislation from the 2022 Regular Session that was amended or vetoed by the Governor.
On Monday, April 11, Governor Youngkin announced that he had signed 700 bills into law, amended over 100, and vetoed 25 bills. Of my legislation, HB388, HB400, and HB402 have now passed and will become law on July 1, 2022.
For legislation that the Governor amended, both houses of the General Assembly will need to accept the recommendation by a simple majority vote. Legislation that has been vetoed by the Governor can be overridden with a two-thirds vote in both houses.
DMV expands mobile service offers to include vital records
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles is now offering birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificate transactions at its 14 DMV Connect mobile service centers throughout the state. DMV Connect offers a full range of DMV services during its visits to government centers, private businesses, libraries, and other convenient locations throughout the state.
To obtain a vital record through DMV, customers complete an application, submit the required documentation, and pay a $14 fee. DMV is able to print vital records on the spot at the service centers. With DMV Connect, the certificates are mailed to customers by VDH.
DMV Connect’s 14 mobile teams are positioned regionally to provide service throughout the state. To find a DMV Connect, view the full DMV Connect calendar, and book an appointment, click here. Walk-ins are available at some visits as noted on the calendar. To learn more about how to apply for a Virginia vital record at DMV, including acceptable identification, visit www.dmv.virginia.gov/general/#vital.asp.
Enrollment Opens for Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority’s Youth Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Project
Enrollment opened on April 1st for the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority’s Youth Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Project. YADAPP is a peer leadership opportunity designed to foster healthy communities and the prevention of substance use. The annual program begins with a kick-off conference, which will be held virtually July 11-14. Participation requires the registration of a team of four high school student participants and one adult sponsor.
During the conference, students attend topical workshops facilitated by peer leaders, hear from well-known motivational speakers, learn peer leadership and prevention best practices, and develop a Strategies To Act Now Plan to address substance use among their peers. Teams compete for $250 mini-grants to use as seed money for their STAN Plan and the $500 Wheeler Award to sustain their continued prevention efforts.
Early enrollment offers the discounted enrollment rate of $100 per team ($20 per person) until April 30. The price then increases to $125 per team until the June 1 enrollment deadline. The fee includes conference materials, as well as year-long coaching and support for adult sponsors as they aid their team in implementing its STAN Plan throughout the school year.
Adult sponsors participate in their own track throughout the four-day conference. They receive resources and training on topics that will help them support their team. Adult sponsors are eligible for continuing education units and professional development hours. Law enforcement officers are eligible for partial in-service credits through the Department of Criminal Justice Services.
In addition to working on their prevention plans, students can expand their experience as peer leaders by applying for YADAPP youth staff positions and progressing through four levels of leadership with increasing responsibilities. Those levels start with the youth leader role, acting as a guide for conference participants, and build to the top level of serving as conference interns. YADAPP interns are college students who spend 10 months planning aspects of the program including curriculum development and youth staff training.
Since its inception in 1984, approximately 450 different high schools and community organizations and more than 12,000 students have participated in YADAPP. For details and to enroll, visit the YADAPP website www.yadapp.com.
Volunteers Needed for Feed More’s Meals on Wheels Program
After scaling back to weekly deliveries of frozen meals during the pandemic, Feed More’s Meals on Wheels program has resumed its five-day-a-week deliveries of fresh meals, but it is in need of volunteer drivers. Since the pandemic, the number of clients receiving meals has increased, but the number of volunteers has not yet rebounded.
The daily meal delivery resumed last week after two years of weekly deliveries which minimized person-to-person contact to ensure the safety of clients and volunteers because of COVID-19.
Feed More’s Meals on Wheels programs help keep home-bound seniors and disabled residents independent and in their homes for as long as possible by providing fresh, diet-specific, made-from-scratch meals from its Community Kitchen. The program delivers meals on more than 100 routes that cover 10 counties and five cities. It currently serves about 1,000 clients on any given day.
Volunteers deliver the meals around midday every weekday, bringing not only food but human contact, which was a serious loss for recipients when the meals were delivered on only a weekly basis.
Feed More is seeking volunteer drivers who can spare a few hours a month. Volunteers can work as much as they wish, but often they deliver meals twice a month. Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age and have a vehicle. Applications can be found at feedmore.org/get-involved/individuals/volunteer.
Community Events
University of Richmond Inauguration of President Kevin F. Hallock
I was honored to attend the Inauguration of University of Richmond’s new President Kevin F. Hallock. A distinguished scholar, a gifted teacher, and an experienced and accomplished academic and institutional administrator, Hallock will join the University community this fall, at the start of the 2021–22 academic year.
With Delegates Betsy Carr and Schuyler VanValkenburg, and State Senator Ghazala Hashmi
Session Update Meetings
This week I met with constituents at Sunrise Senior Living Facility, Laurels of University Park Nursing Home, the Dogwood Terrace Retirement Community, and members of the Countryside Homeowners Association to provide an update on the latest news from our legislative sessions. I also held a virtual town hall on Thursday night with Delegate Schuyler VanValkenburg to answer questions from constituents. Thank you so much for taking the time to meet with me and share your thoughts on our state government. Feedback from constituents is fundamental to my success as your representative and I am always happy to meet with community organizations in the 73rd.
Speaking to residents of Sunrise Senior Living Facility on Parham Rd.
With residents of Dogwood Terrace Retirement Community.
Virginia Holocaust Museum Children’s Memorial Exhibit
Last week I was honored to attend the opening of a new permanent exhibit at the Virginia Holocaust Museum. The unique Children’s Memorial, an exhibit honoring the memory of the 1.5 million Jewish children who perished in the Holocaust is the first Children’s Memorial of its kind in the United States. This exhibit is an incredibly moving experience and a must do. The museum also is featuring “All That Remains: A Holocaust Exhibit in Fiber” - a mixed media fiber arts exhibit on the theme of the Holocaust. The artwork reflects the artist’s conceptual art clothing, wall hangings, drawings, soft sculpture, and installation pieces done of the past 20 years - another must see exhibit.
Opening night of the Children’s Memorial at the Virginia Holocaust Museum
Rep. McEachin Announces Federal Funding for VCU — Gun Violence Prevention Grant and RTR Teacher Residency Early Childhood Pathway Project
On Thursday I joined Representative Donald McEachin and VCU President Dr. Michael Rao for a press conference announcing new federal funding for the RVA Gun Violence Prevention Framework project and the RTR Teacher Residency Early Childhood Pathway.
The RVA Fun Violence Prevention Framework will be a collaboration with VCU/VCU Health System in partnership with the City of Richmond and will establish an evidence-based public health response to address the underlying social, economic, and systemic factors that promote gun violence. Their goal is to decrease violence rates by engaging in systems-level changes and addressing both individual and community-level behaviors and norms.
The RTR Teacher Residency Early Childhood Pathway Project project will enable the RTR Teacher Residency to launch a new pipeline to recruit, support, train, and retain high quality early childhood teachers in central Virginia public schools. RTR is a highly selective graduate teacher residency program that recruits, trains, and supports teachers for high-needs and hard-to-staff schools. High-quality early childhood education has been scientifically demonstrated to enhance young children’s cognitive, psychosocial, and motor development, making them more “school ready” for K-12 education and yielding long-term economic and social benefits for individuals and society.
Dr. Mike Rao VCU President accepting a $400,000 grant from Rep. McEachin for the RTR Teacher Residency Early Childhood Pathway.
