Dear ,

Things with the General Assembly have been intense! Several times in the last week, we’ve had bills up simultaneously in different committees. As expected in an election year, there’s a lot of partisanship and some speechifying. Legislators appear to me to be a bit more frazzled than usual, but maybe I’d blocked past years out of my memory.  

Nonetheless, there’s been some modest progress: 

• A watered-down version of the solitary confinement bill we’ve been advocating got out of the house subcommittee and committees and should pass the House floor. The stronger Senate version should pass the Senate. The Attorney General’s office weighed in to weaken the bill. We are trying to understand what the concerns are and if there are any ways to address them. 
• One of the maternal health bills, the midwifery one, passed the House and will likely pass the Senate. The neonatal hub study bill appears headed for passage. The remaining one on unconscious bias is still in play. 
  
• The House paid sick day bills were killed. The Senate one passed out of committee but with an exemption for employers with fewer than 25 employees. We oppose this exemption and will be asking you to have conversations with some of the Senators about why there should be no employer size exemptions. We have talked with the patron about working with us next year to fight for a bill to cover all workers regardless of employer size (like most paid sick day policies around the country).  

For updates on all the bills we are tracking, see our bill tracker HERE. 

Affordable housing, childcare assistance, free phone calls for incarcerated persons, and making the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) fully refundable are outstanding budget issues that we can still impact and that would make a huge difference for families with low incomes. These issues are budget ones. The Governor has proposed massive tax cuts to corporations and the highest bracket of income earners. The tax cut we support is the EITC, which would put $300 more into the hands of working families with low incomes. Refusing to accept the other tax breaks frees up more money that can be used to support affordable housing efforts. There are lots of budget amendments in both chambers. Please send an email to your Delegate and Senator urging them to support making the EITC fully refundable and providing funding for Affordable Housing (the Virginia Housing Trust Fund, the Housing Stability Fund, and the Virginia Eviction Reduction Program), childcare assistance, and free phone calls and improved conditions for those in prison. Click below to send emails to your legislators.

All bills except the budget bills must be out of their respective chambers (the House or the Senate) by the end of Tuesday, February 7. Then we start over in the other chamber with what has survived. These odd-year short sessions really are hectic! 

Thank you for your continued advocacy. 

Still running, 

Kim Bobo
Executive Director

Pakistan reels after bombing kills more than 100, fears more terrorism to come

The Washington Post, Jan. 31, 2023

By Haq Nawaz Khan and Pamela Constable

Just days ago, on Jan. 30, 2023, 400 Muslims gathered to pray in a mosque in Peshawar, Pakistan, which sits along the border of Afghanistan. Unsuspecting worshipers raised their hands and recited Allahu Akbar, marking the very beginning of the ritual prayer known as Salaah. At that instant, a bomb was detonated. Over 100 people have been slain. Dozens more remain critically injured. The terrorist group Taliban has claimed responsibility.

While grieving after the latest terrorist attack at a mosque full of praying Muslims in her parents' native country, VICPP Director of Communications Ayesha Taylor placed herself in the shoes of people who have been slain while in the vulnerable and sacred act of prayer. Through her writing, she hopes you will take this walk with her and take a deeper look at how an attack on one of us is an attack on us all.

Click the button below to read.

Catch up on what’s happening and what’s next! At 7 p.m. on Monday, January 13, we will be hosting a Zoom meeting to review what has happened so far in the General Assembly, what more we can do to impact the legislature, and how to keep these justice issues alive in the off-season. Please join us by clicking the button below to register! 

January 26th was United Methodist Day at the General Assembly. The program was coordinated by Rev. Katie Gooch and Dr. Karen McElfish, who are both VICPP board members. VICPP also helps prepare the advocates on the issues and creates talking points for legislators. The event was eight days after Day for All People, creating a constant presence on the issues in the General Assembly. Click HERE to download and then watch the video to learn more about the day. The keynote speaker was Rev. Neal Christie who distributed a great resource he created on why United Methodists should be involved in advocacy. See the article HERE.
 

Students of Virginia will be joining us from around the Commonwealth to learn the legislative process in Virginia and how to advocate with their elected representatives. They will come into Richmond Thursday evening (Feb. 2) for dinner with legislators, an overview of how to lobby, and a social time. Friday morning (Feb. 3), we will start the day with an opportunity to meet with their representatives in the General Assembly. Afterward, we will have lunch and workshops on how to bring advocacy to campus, and standing up for justice in various spheres. We're working with some universities for professors to offer class credit for students who attend this event. 

Questions? Email VICPP New Leadership Development Organizer Dr. Terri Erwin at: Terri@virginiainterfaithcenter.org

Media requests: Email VICPP Director of Communications Ayesha Taylor at: AyeshaGT@virginiainterfaithcenter.org

The holiday season continues for Virginians of all faiths. The GA is up and running. And VICPP still has suggestions of ways to advocate justice in the community! Our team has put together an interfaith calendar marking the festivities of different faith traditions in Virginia from now through February, along with a series of actions you can take to make sure justice plays a role in your celebrations. There are many fun, engaging, and impactful opportunities to engage people of all faiths and goodwill. Plus, it's easy to print and share! Please share widely, in your congregation’s newsletter or bulletin boards, and with friends. Simply click the button below and be sure to share the link!

For a more comprehensive list of upcoming events, please click the button below to check out the VICPP Events webpage.  

Paid family leave is moving, after years of effort, in the assembly

Richmond Times-Dispatch, Jan. 27, 2023

By David Ress

Delegate asks Bon Secours to explain how it's spending millions in drug savings

Richmond Times-Dispatch, Jan. 27, 2023

By Eric Kolenich 

Evictions Spike as Rent Protections Stall

Loudoun Now, Jan. 26, 2023

By Renss Greene