Greetings, John!

This newsletter will update you on the latest news on what has been happening in the Capitol that will affect the 72nd district. For additional announcements and updates, I also recommend that you follow me on Facebook and Twitter. 

——

Congratulations to all the 2023 Henrico Democratic nominees that will be on the ballot this November. The Henrico Dems are fired up and ready to work hard this summer and fall to fight for policies that will make our community safer and stronger.

——

Today is July 1st, which is my legislative staff’s favorite day of the year - it is the day that most of the 800 pieces of legislation we passed during the 2023 legislative session this winter go into effect. In Due Course is a publication highlighting selected legislation passed by the 2023 Regular Session of the General Assembly that is likely to affect the daily lives of the citizens of Virginia. The following legislation has been signed by the Governor and, for the most part, will go into effect today, Saturday, July 1.

You can access In Due Course on the Division of Legislative Services website at https://dls.virginia.gov/. Complete information on actions of the 2023 Regular Session is available on LIS.

——

I enjoyed visiting with folks from the Lakewood Retirement Community! A fantastic conversation about politics, policy, and the Commonwealth. Thanks for having me!

——

Earlier in June, the Virginia State Air Pollution Control Board officially voted 4-3 to pull Virginia out of the regional compact known as the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). Virginia was the final state to join RGGI in 2020.

The State Air Pollution Control Board, as well as the State Water Control Board and the Virginia Waste Management Board, are composed of Virginia citizens appointed by the Governor. Board members are responsible for adopting many of Virginia's environmental regulations under Title 9 of the Virginia Administrative Code.

Virginia joined RGGI through legislation passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Northam. The law (Virginia’s Clean Energy and Community Flood Preparedness Act) not only enabled the Commonwealth to join RGGI, but it also established the Virginia Community Flood Preparedness Fund (CFPF) which is directly funded through RGGI. 

Within just a couple of years of Virginia’s participation, RGGI has established a track record of success in reducing carbon emissions in the state. Significantly, for those states participating in the compact before Virginia joined, RGGI cut climate polluting emissions in half during the past decade. Our communities are relying on the RGGI dollars to address flood resilience concerns and to deploy energy efficiency efforts. Over $230 million in investments have come to Virginia as a result of RGGI, and RGGI is the only dedicated source of state funding for our flood resilience efforts. The emissions reductions that result from RGGI are critical for Virginia so that we can meet our own, science-based goals as defined by the Virginia Clean Economy Act and our 2045 net-zero carbon emissions goals.

I am profoundly disappointed by the Youngkin administration’s move to pull Virginia out of RGGI which is mandated by state law. It is a dangerous precedent for this administration to brush aside laws it disagrees with. In September 2022, myself and 60 of my Democratic colleagues sent a letter to the Air Pollution Control Board opposing Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s proposed regulatory route to remove Virginia from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. Press about that letter can be found here. Thank you to the over 6,600 Virginians who submitted their comments to the Board during the public comment period this spring. 

——

Delegate Rodney Willett and I enjoyed being at the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond’s Annual Meeting earlier in June. The Federation does such great work for our community and stands up against anti-semitism and racism. Noble work!

——

Last week, Virginia 529 launched RetirePath Virginia, the new state-facilitated automatic enrollment IRA program. Established by the General Assembly in 2021, RetirePath was designed to provide a workplace savings option for thousands of Virginia employees who do not currently have access to an employer-sponsored retirement savings plan. RetirePath is a simple way for employers to facilitate their employees’ retirement savings with no employer fees or fiduciary implications.

Today, more than 1 million private-sector Virginia workers are on their own when it comes to saving for retirement. Businesses can struggle with the administrative hurdles, fiduciary responsibilities, and costs that come with providing an employer-sponsored retirement savings option. RetirePath Virginia is the Commonwealth’s solution to help increase access to retirement savings. Virginia529 manages this new savings program.

RetirePath gives eligible employers a simple way to help their employees save for the future. More than 8,000 Virginia businesses will receive a RetirePath registration notification this month. Virginia law requires eligible employers to either register and facilitate RetirePath or offer their own qualified retirement plan.

Employee participation is voluntary and flexible. Virginians who are self-employed or don’t work for an employer registered with RetirePath can open an account and save on their own. For more information, please visit https://www.retirepathva.com/.

——

On the anniversary of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision anniversary, I joined Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia and my Virginia Democratic colleagues to stand up for a woman’s right to choose and ban it clear that these rights in Virginia are on the ballot this November.

——

Henrico County Public Schools will participate in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program, offering meals to children during the summer at 25 area sites. The federal program is administered in Henrico by the HCPS Department of School Nutrition Services, to help ensure that children receive nutritious meals when school is not in session.

After each scheduled meal service for children enrolled in summer programs is over, meal service will begin for others age 18 or younger who are accompanied by a parent or guardian. Parents and guardians are not eligible for the free meal service. Meals are not available to go and must be consumed onsite.

Food service will be from Monday through Thursday each week. All meal sites will be closed June 19 for the Juneteenth holiday, and July 4 in recognition of Independence Day. Breakfast will be served from 7-9 a.m. and lunch will be served from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Specific breakfast and lunch times will vary depending on the location.

Service is on a first-come, first-served basis, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. There will be no discrimination in the administration of the meal service. Meals will be provided to children at the following sites:

Elementary school open sites

Middle and high school open sites

Henrico Recreation and Parks open sites

For more information or questions, please visit Henrico County Public Schools School Nutrition page here.

——

I enjoyed visiting Encircle this week to discuss their programming for foster families, refugees, and people with developmental disabilities. They are such a great resource for our local community and the Commonwealth as a whole. Thank you for all you do!

——

If you would like to reach out and discuss any of my legislative priorities, share an opinion, or send a scheduling request if you’d like me to come and share a legislative update at a community or organization meeting, please do not hesitate to contact me my office at [email protected]. 

Yours in service, 

Schuyler VanValkenburg

Delegate, 72nd District

VOLUNTEER  or CONTRIBUTE here.