Friends,

Over the next two weeks, I will be in the Special Session of the Virginia General Assembly, where we will allocate funding from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) and also decide on judicial appointments to the Virginia Court of Appeals.

The turbulence of the last 17 months has challenged our schools and economy, our children and families, our mental and physical health, our hospitality industries and other small businesses, and so much more. How we choose to invest in Virginia is of critical importance, especially in the unique circumstance of federal relief dollars.

Some of the funding priorities outlined in the Senate Budget Bill include the following:

• An investment of $700 million to expedite the deployment of last-mile broadband infrastructure to unserved areas. This proposal will accelerate the Commonwealth’s goal for achieving universal internet access from 2028 to 2024; many of the connections will be achieved in the next 18 months and close the digital divide within the next three years.
   
• An investment of $250 million to improve the ventilation and air quality in public schools, securing the completion of nearly all currently planned HVAC projects. This investment will be matched 1:1 by local ARP or other relief funding. Ventilation systems clean and disperse air, decreasing the risk of various airborne illnesses including COVID-19.
   
• An allocation of $411.5 million in federal ARP funding to reduce water pollution and increase access to clean water across the Commonwealth. This investment will make substantial improvements in aging water systems, including drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure.
   
• A commitment of $935.6 million to replenish the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund and accelerate critical upgrades to the Virginia Employment Commission.
   
• A commitment of $485 million in federal and state funding to address pressing challenges in Virginia’s behavioral health system, including our state mental health hospitals, community-based services, and support for substance abuse treatment and prevention programs.
   
• A sizeable investment of $111 million in higher education to increase access to financial aid for low- and moderate-income undergraduate students. The plan includes $100 million for public higher education institutions and $11 million for private institutions eligible for the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant program.

These investments in infrastructure, education, businesses, broadband, healthcare, and so many other priorities help our communities and families as we continue to address the impacts of a global pandemic as well as long-standing concerns for Virginians.

Our Senate staff took extraordinary steps to implement safety precautions in the Senate Chamber so that we can complete our work as safely as possible.

— Ghazala