Dear ,

Public policy advocacy is not for the sprinters – those who like to see changes in the 50-yard dash, or Virginia’s “short” 45-day session. And certainly not in an election year. 

Even though we have a few bills that are still moving through the process and will likely get sent to the Governor’s desk (two maternal health bills, a weakened solitary confinement bill), we’ve seen a lot of frustrating partisan “party discipline” whereby legislators are told by leadership how to vote, rather than basing votes on the merits of the issues, their values, or representing their districts. 

Three good bills that were killed (or appear dead) this week exemplify how frustrating and hindering this partisan party-discipline can be to good policy development: 

• Department of Corrections Oversight Bill: Senator Marsden led a great effort to create an oversight structure for the Department of Corrections, something clearly needed for a $1.5 billion state agency. The bill passed the Senate 39-0, so every Senator of both parties supported the bill. The bill then went to the House Public Safety subcommittee and full committee, passing each unanimously – so again, strong bipartisan support. The bill then went to House Appropriations with a very small budget, “de minimis,” as one person on the committee told me. The House Appropriations committee then killed the bill on a party-line vote, with many of those who voted for the bill in committee voting against it in appropriations. Clearly, the leadership gave the word to kill the bill. Click here to see the process. 
  
  
• English Language Learners Bill: Senator Hashmi had a bill to help teachers get training to teach students that are learning English. The bill passed the Senate unanimously – so with strong bipartisan support. There was a House version of the bill sponsored by Republican Del. Avoli that had bipartisan support until it reached Appropriations. Hashmi’s version of the bill was killed in the House Education Committee on a straight party-line vote. Again, click here to see the process for the House bill led by a Republican, and click here to see it for the Senate bill led by a Democrat.
   
• Cover All Kids: Senator McClellan carried a critically important bill to provide healthcare coverage to undocumented children who would otherwise be eligible for Medicaid except for their documentation status. This would help 13,000 children who are living and attending school in Virginia. Although the bill didn’t receive quite as much bipartisan support as the previous two bills, it did pass the Senate with floor support from Republicans Senator Norment and Senator Dunnavant (and Senator Vogel supported it in committee although opposed it on the floor). The bill was killed early yesterday morning in the Health Welfare and Institutions subcommittee 3 on a straight party-line vote. I testified for it, but there was not one moment of discussion on the bill. And I know that some of those who voted against it have a heart for people and may have wanted to support the bill. But the decision had already been made. Click here to see how it unfolded.

Clearly, it is an election year. Legislators don’t want to be accused of being “soft on immigrants.” Heaven forbid – we help immigrant children. (Note the sarcasm.) Nor do they risk going against party leadership when they are told that they need to oppose a bill they voted for previously.

But policy changes aren’t made in one year. This is not a sprint. Although there may be a way to keep at least one of these issues alive through the budget, these three issues will be back next year – when it is not an election year. The Department of Corrections will still need oversight. Teachers will still need training to teach English language learners. And undocumented children will still need health coverage. And the faith community will still be here – “instant in season and out,” as the Apostle Paul wrote in II Timothy.

Even though we may not see all the fruits of our labor this season, our work is not in vain. We are building the support and understanding on these and other issues, which is needed to advance them down the line. Next year is not an election year. The session will be longer. And we are long-distance runners, not sprinters.
 

Building for the future, 

Kim Bobo
Executive Director

Many of our Muslim neighbors have been affected by the recent devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria that claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people, many of whom have family members who live in Virginia. VICPP would like to amplify this message from one of our founding congregational partners, ICVA (The Islamic Center of Virginia) located in the Richmond area, who is currently navigating the effects of this tragedy in the community and doing what they can to be a resource of help and healing:

From ICVA:
Our hearts are heavy as we witness the devastating effects of the recent earthquake in Turkey and Syria. The loss of life and the destruction of homes and communities is truly heart-wrenching. In these trying times, it is our duty to come together and offer a helping hand to those in need.

That's why we are launching a joint effort of the Islamic Center of Virginia and United2Heal to collect both financial donations and essential supplies for the victims of this tragedy. Every item and dollar donated will provide shelter, warmth, and medical care to those who need it most.

How to Help:
We have been advised by the Turkish embassy to stop accepting clothing and some of the item donations but would like to provide some more of the more expensive essential items needed at the Turkey-Syria border. The embassy has specifically requested help by providing generators and tents for field medics and displaced people to use. The full list of their requested items is included in the graphic below this blurb.

Therefore, any monetary funds that come in via icva.info/donate will only be used to purchase those two items and ICVA staff and volunteers will drive them up to the Turkish embassy in Washington, D.C. within the coming two weeks.

Those who live in the Richmond area of Virginia and would like to donate items from the list are asked to drop them off at ICVA at: 1241 Buford Rd., North Chesterfield, VA 23235.

Those who would like to help and live outside of the Richmond area, or just prefer to donate financially, can donate monetary funds by clicking the button below.

Those who live close to the Turkish embassy in D.C. and would like to donate items from the requested list may deliver them to 2525 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008.  

Progress Thus Far:
We are proud to share that as a community, we were able to raise over 7 thousand dollars and collect donations of winter clothing, blankets, diapers, and feminine hygiene products. Your monetary donations were instrumental in providing essential items like tents, ibuprofen, diabetic equipment, splints, bandages, and more to those who require them most. We were able to fill up an entire 20-foot U-Haul with all of the items and drove them up to the Turkish Embassy and Diyanet Center (mosque in Maryland) where we organized the boxes onto pallets that were shipped off through Turkish Airlines directly to the Turkish-Syrian border.

Our efforts were supported by the incredible team at United2Heal, a non-profit organization that collects surplus medical supplies from hospitals and government buildings around Virginia and sends them to countries in need.

For more information, email Hala Tinawi at: h.tinawi@u2h.ngo

Click the button below to donate.

The Turkish Embassy's updated list of requested items follows:

VICPP's third annual Student Day of Action was held in person for the first time ever and it was a hit! One hundred and fifty young adults, from 15 colleges and seminaries across the state, plus 14 non-profit organizations, gathered in Richmond to address lawmakers on a variety of issues, including solitary confinement, maternal mortality, affordable housing, and paid leave. Arriving from as far as Harrisonburg, Winchester, and Norfolk, a Thursday night dinner with 80 students, legislators, and non-profit leaders kicked off an evening of training and fellowship. Friday morning saw students, faculty, and VICPP staff hit the sidewalk to the General Assembly from St. Paul's Episcopal Church, to where the group returned following a whopping 80 legislative visits! Afternoon sessions on topics like Higher Education in Prison, Filmmaking for Justice, and Environmental Justice brought students into contact with local, regional, and national experts and individuals with lived experience.

Challenging and lively conversations confirmed what we expected: Young Virginians are ready, willing, and able to stand up with Virginia Interfaith as a new generation of capable and passionate advocates for values inspired by faith and good conscience.

VICPP has hundreds of photos and videos to share. Click the button below or click here to view the photos that have been posted so far. Stay tuned as more photos and videos are continuing to be added daily! 

Upcoming events are posted to the web regularly. Please click the button below to check out the VICPP Events webpage.  

VICPP Executive Director Kim Bobo quoted in:

House committee nixes bill to create oversight commission for Virginia Department of Corrections

The Virginian-Pilot via Yahoo News, Feb. 14, 2023

By Katie King

Select excerpts:

“We were totally blindsided,” said Kim Bobo, executive director of the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy.

...

The bill passed the Senate and the House Public Safety committee with unanimous support before Republicans on the House Appropriations Committee tabled it Monday with hardly any discussion.

“Clearly the governor’s office weighed in and told them to kill the bill,” Bobo said. “That’s how things happen sometimes, and it’s wrong. It’s absolutely wrong.”

Click the button below to read the full article.

Virginia Students ‘Pumped Up’ for Day of Action at State Capitol

The Roanoke Star, Feb. 9, 2023

By Ryan Nadeau, Capital News Service.

Select excerpts:

The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy hosted its first in-person Student Day of Action on the first Friday of February, to help students learn to engage with legislators.

...

Young people are fully capable, Erwin said. “It’s impossible not to feel hopeful after what we saw.” The event has a deeper meaning than just a singular day of action, Erwin told the group. “The fact that we showed up, and put young Virginians on their radar screen — really, really matters.”

All 140 seats in the General Assembly are up for election this November. Erwin said this “shuffling of the deck” provides an opportunity for young voters to participate in their legislature in a substantial way.

...

Keisha Walker, VICPP administrative and finance director, said there were leaders in the group. “They all exist, and we wanna bring them together so they will become familiar with one another and the issues that are important to everyone,” Walker said.

...

King Salim Khalfani, VICPP’s criminal justice reform organizer, told students this is only the beginning. “In Virginia, you must be as consistent as the raindrops,” Khalfani said.

Click the button below to read the full article.