April 29th Newsletter
It has been a busy week! The General Assembly returned to Richmond for the 2022 Reconvene Session. Also known as “veto session”, we meet to vote on legislation that the Governor has vetoed or issued recommendations for in the form of amendments or substitutes. See below for a recap of the day and an update on our special session. While there is certainly a lot of news at the state level, I would like to highlight an issue at the federal level that will impact millions of American children and families.
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the US Department of Agriculture issued waivers allowing all school districts to offer breakfast and lunch for every student free of charge. They also issued waivers to allow for public health measures to be taken, including parent pick-up during virtual learning, and allowed students to eat in settings other than on-site group environments.
If Congress does not act, these flexibilities will expire on June 30th. Rep. Abigail Spanberger has introduced legislation in the House, and Senators Warner and Kaine in the Senate to maintain and fund these waivers through the 2022-2023 school year. A recent RTD Opinions piece, Editorial: Extending flexibility for school meals is the right thing to do, perfectly explains why these waivers are necessary to support child nutrition and help families struggling with rising prices of food and gas. You can reach out to express your support to Congresswoman Spanberger online here, Senator Warner online here, and Senator Kaine online here.
At the local level, Feed More, a local nonprofit that collects, prepares, and distributes food to our neighbors in Central Virginia, is in need of volunteers for their Meals on Wheels deliveries. I recently signed up to be a driver, and encourage you to sign up as well. See more information online here and apply online here.
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
Reconvene Session - General Assembly Returns to Richmond
On Wednesday the General Assembly met in Richmond for the 2022 Reconvene Session. This is a constitutionally required session on the 6th or 7th Wednesday following the adjournment of the Regular Session. Legislators typically meet for one day to consider legislation from the 2022 Regular Session that was amended or vetoed by the Governor but can last as long as three days. We were on the floor on Wednesday for about 8 hours, and fortunately, were able to finish all of our work in just one day.
The House of Delegates sustained all 26 of the Governor’s vetoes, preventing the bills from becoming law. You can see a list of all vetoed legislation online here. The General Assembly has the power to override the Governor’s veto with a two-thirds majority in the House and Senate. While several bills were contested, the required threshold was not met. See below for a list of a few of the bipartisan bills the Governor vetoed from becoming law.
HB573 — This bill would have created a three-year statute of limitations for medical debt. Medical debt haunts thousands of Virginia families, and this would have ensured that your wages can’t be garnished for a procedure from 20 years ago.
HB802 — This bill would have allowed localities to enforce laws related to rental maintenance, safety, and repairs. This would help protect Virginia tenants from unfit living conditions that pose a threat to their health and safety.
HB675 — Would have lowered premiums by up to 4.5% and reduced the number of uninsured by up to 14,000 by eliminating the authority of health insurers to charge a surcharge for tobacco use. This bill was also a bipartisan recommendation by the Joint Commission on Health Care.
The General Assembly also considered legislation that was amended by the Governor through recommendations. Virginia’s Governor has more power in the legislative process compared to other states, as the Governor can issue line-item vetoes and amendments or substitutions that can significantly change the legislation that originally passed the House and Senate. The Governor’s recommendations can be severed — individual provisions are broken up and voted on individually — or voted on together as one recommendation.
A number of the Governor’s recommendations were uncontested. This is common, as the Governor’s office can also serve as a third check on legislation, offering minor amendments to slightly modify or clarify provisions of the bill. However, other recommendations drew greater debate, including SB591. The bill was intended to crack down on the untested and often illegal products made with synthetic THC manufactured from industrial hemp, however, the Governor sent down recommendations that would have established new criminal penalties for possession of cannabis over 2 ounces. The Senate sent the bill to committee, effectively killing the legislation for this year.
You can see a full list of all of the legislation that had recommendations from the Governor online here. As always if you have questions about the legislative process, or want to know the outcome of a piece of legislation, please do not hesitate to contact my office at delrwillett@house.virginia.gov and a member of my staff will be happy to assist you.
Update on Special Session and Governor Youngkin’s Gas Tax Proposal
While we reconvened on Wednesday for the 2022 Reconvene Session, we are also still in the middle of a Special Session to finish work on the 2022-2024 budget, outstanding bills from the Regular Session, and the Governor’s new legislative proposal on a gas tax holiday.
If you are confused about the coinciding sessions, you are not alone. When the General Assembly adjourned sine die on March 12th, we carried over the budget bills as well as a few outstanding pieces of legislation that needed more time for the House and Senate to reach a compromise. On Wednesday, both chambers met on the floor to consider legislation that passed by March 12th, and that the Governor had amended through recommendations or vetoed. While we are still in a special session, we did not consider provisions related to the budget, legislation that was carried over into the special session, or the Governor’s new gas tax proposal.
However, the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee met on Wednesday morning before we gaveled in to vote on the Senate version of the Governor’s gas tax holiday proposal, SB6001. The House Finance Committee, which I serve on, met on Monday, April 19th to consider the house proposal, HB6001. The bills are identical, and if passed, would establish a statewide gas tax holiday from May through July, and a reduced tax rate in August (50%) and September (25%).
The Senate bill was defeated on Wednesday morning on a bipartisan vote of 12Y - 3N. The proposal, however, is still alive in the House. The House Finance Committee voted to refer the bill to the House Appropriations Committee, after rejecting a Democratic substitute that would have provided a $50 rebate to every driver in Virginia (up to $100 per household) to cover the rising cost of gas.
I know that the rising cost of gas has impacted countless families in our community, and my main priority is fighting to ensure that the General Assembly takes action on this issue. However, even if all of the savings of the Governor’s proposal were passed on to Virginia drivers, the average driver would only receive $41 in savings from May to September. The Governor’s proposal would result in a $437 million reduction in revenue for the Commonwealth Transportation Fund, which funds highway maintenance and construction. See below for a comparison of potential savings for Virginians that was prepared for the House Finance Committee meeting.
We must pass funding to provide relief for Virginians, however, we have a responsibility to be responsible stewards of our Commonwealth’s resources. We can deliver more savings directly to Virginian drivers at a lower cost and avoid cuts to transportation when our roads need it the most through alternative legislation. It is my hope that the House Appropriations Committee will consider alternative measures to provide this necessary relief that the Senate may be more amenable to.
The biennial budget is the most important piece of legislation we consider during every legislative session, and I know that many Virginians are anxious to know the final provisions of the budget that will be in effect on July 1, 2022. The good news is that the start of the new fiscal year provides a firm deadline for the House and Senate to complete negotiations. Budget leaders have signaled that progress has been made, however, it will likely still be a few weeks before we convene again to finish our work.
RHHD and Partners Announce “Spike Alert” to Prevent Opioid Overdoses
Local city and county agencies in the greater Richmond area have partnered together to start Metro Richmond Spike Alert, a system that notifies the general public when spikes in opioid overdoses occur. A spike in overdoses may signify the presence of illegal or diverted prescription drugs in the community that are more potent or more likely to cause an overdose. Informing individuals that may use opioids and their loved ones of a recent spike may prevent injury and death. The program will also allow Richmond and Henrico Emergency Medical Services to be better prepared to respond to potential increases in overdoses
Representatives from each locality monitor overdose rates in their area. When a spike is observed, Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) will issue an alert to individuals who sign up by email and to the broader community via social media. Individuals who are interested in receiving spike alerts should sign up for the email listserv at rhhd.gov/spikealert or follow the health districts on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.
The importance of this program is preceded by recent increases in overdoses; there were over 430 overdose deaths in 2020 across Richmond City and Henrico, Chesterfield, and Hanover counties. This represents a 40% increase from 2019.
Health Department Seeking Applicants for the Health Equity Fund Community Advisory Committee
The Richmond and Henrico Health District (RHHD) is seeking applicants for the Health Equity Fund Community Advisory Committee (HEF CAC), which will assist RHHD in identifying innovative, community-led projects that address health disparities to fund. RHHD is seeking applicants who have a personal or professional experience with systemic racism and the root causes of health disparities in Richmond. The Community Advisory Committee is a paid opportunity, and applications are due on May 20, 2022. See more information and apply online here.
In October 2021, Richmond City Council voted to establish the Health Equity Fund through an initial investment of $5 million from federal American Rescue Plan Act funds. The Health Equity Fund will use a wide range of data and community input about our most pressing health challenges and strategies to address health disparities and racial injustice in our communities by funding innovative, community-led projects across our city.
Our region has made its greatest strides toward community health and health equity when local government, nonprofits, institutions, and community groups have worked closely together to envision and implement aligned strategies for change. In establishing the Health Equity Fund, Richmond is rethinking the effective use of funds and partnering more closely with communities to move toward health equity and racial justice.
Virginia Holocaust Event Hosts Annual Yom HaShoah Holocaust Remembrance Event
Wednesday was Yom HaShoah or Holocaust Remembrance Day, a day to remember the tragedy of the Holocaust and honor the millions of lives lost due to hate and violence.
I invite you to join me this Sunday at 2:00pm for a Yom HaShoah event at the Virginia Holocaust Museum. The event will include the Holocaust Memorial Candle Lighting and a special musical performance from Batsheva Capek. She will be performing songs in Hebrew, English, and Yiddish. The Museum will also award the Carole Weinstein Prizes for Tolerance and Justice in the Visual Arts. This event is free and open to the public. Prior to the event, there is a special reception for children and grandchildren of Holocaust survivors at 1:00 pm.
This is also a wonderful opportunity to see the new permanent Children’s Memorial, an exhibit honoring the memory of the 1.5 million Jewish children who perished in the Holocaust. See more information on the event online here.
Community Events
Celebrating Ramadan and the Muslim Community in Richmond and Henrico
I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to celebrate Ramadan with so many members of the Muslim community in Henrico. On Sunday, April 17th, I visited the Islamic Centers of Richmond and Henrico with Delegate Schuyler VanValkenburg, as he presented resolutions commending the centers for their work in our communities (HJ401 and HJ412). I also had an opportunity to join members of the Sundanese American community in Henrico for iftar — the meal eaten by muslins after fasting throughout the day during Ramadan.
Finally, last night, I visited the Islamic Center of Richmond to present a memorial resolution celebrating the life of Jameel Abed, to the Abed family. Mr. Abed was the owner of the Mediterranean Bakery & Deli on Quioccasin Road, and a founding member of the Islamic Center of Virginia. He was a leader in the fight against racism and prejudice toward Arab Americans, and worked with the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy to promote equality and cooperation amongst people of all faiths. I encourage you to read this RTD profile on his life.
Breaking fast with the Centers of RVA and Henrico as a part of the Holy month of Ramadan, and presenting the Centers with resolutions commending their work in our community. With Senator Ghazala Hashmi, and Delegates Schuyler VanValkenburg and Betsy Carr.
Iftar dinner with Sudanese Americans in Henrico. Thank you for having me!
Presenting HJ101; Celebrating the Life of Jameel Abed to the Abed family at the Islamic Center of Richmond. Jameel was the owner of the Mediterranean Bakery & Deli and a founding member of the Islamic Center of VA.
Ceremonial signing of the Virginia Literacy Act
On Thursday morning, I joined Governor Youngkin and some of my colleagues from the General Assembly for the Ceremonial signing of the Virginia Literacy Act. This was a bipartisan effort led by Senator Louise Lucas, Senator Jennifer McClellan, and Delegate Carrie Coyner. The bill, SB616 and and HB319, change Virginia’s literacy curriculum to include evidence-based reading practices and makes reforms to our teacher preparatory curriculums.
