Team,

As we gear up to close the books on the first half of this year and prepare to head into the next fiscal year, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on this budget session.

While Democrats prioritized investments beneficial to working families and expanding mental health support for students, the GOP-controlled House and executive branch opted to try to siphon public school dollars into the hands of private entities, re-criminalize recreational use of cannabis, and deprioritize community services boards and public health.

I’m proud to have supported budget items that focus on Virginia’s families:

• Pay Increases for Teachers and Others: This budget allows for a 5% pay raise for teachers, mental health workers, and other state employees each year, for the next two years, as well as a one-time $1,000 bonus.
• Public Education: We added $1.25 billion for school infrastructure upgrades, and increased funding for the At-Risk-Add-On program that helps students in school districts with high poverty rates.
• Higher Education: I’m thrilled we were able to add $170 million in new financial aid at public institutions, which included $30 million in workforce development, $43 million for HBCUs, as well as an increase in tuition assistance grants.
• Tax Relief: the new budget authorized rebate checks of up to $250 for single filers and $500 per married couple. We also partially repealed the state grocery tax and added tax relief for military retirees.

We can always do better. But ultimately, we voted on a bipartisan bill that identified the values and concerns of diverse constituencies across the Commonwealth. 

Please help me continue this critical work by supporting my campaign. Donate Now.

Onward,

Senator Ghazala Hashmi

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