RICHMOND, Va. – Appropriators in the House of Delegates’ Appropriations Commerce, Agriculture and Natural Resources subcommittee voted 4-to-3 to lay House Bill 1035 on the table on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2022.
The bill, H.B. 1035, was sponsored by Delegate Elizabeth R. Guzman, D-31. If approved, it would have established a Virginia National Guard Passport which bearers could use to gain access to Virginia’s state parks without paying for parking or admittance.
Guzman argued that the bill was a fiscally responsible way for the Commonwealth to take steps to mirroring neighboring-states’ benefits for their veterans and currently serving members of the Armed Forces.
“Unfortunately, the subcommittee felt that the thirty or forty [Thousand] was too much for the [Department of Conservation and Resources] to bear,” commented Andrew J. Czaplicki, VNGA president. “We are in constant competition to recruit and retain the best Soldiers and Airmen and this would have been a great addition to our benefits package.”
The bill had unanimously made its way through the Natural Resources Subcommittee and only two voted against its passage in the Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources.
“I thought we had a good shot getting this through,” Czaplicki explained. “It was a relatively small population and a small fiscal impact.”
Before the vote, the subcommittee assumed privilege and closed public comment for the bills in committee. Written comments were still accepted.
Not all is lost, other National Guard bills are steadily making their way through the legislative process.
H.B. 210, which creates a state-sponsored recruitment incentive, unanimously passed the House of Delegates’ floor vote 100-to-0, after a speedy and unanimous route through the Committees on Education and Appropriations. Its companion bill in the Senate, Senate Bill 256, unanimously passed the Senate’s Education and Health Committee and the Finance and Appropriations Committee. It received unanimous support on the Senate’s floor vote Friday, Feb. 11, 2022.
H.B. 213, which extends paid leave for state employees, unanimously passed the House of Delegates’ floor vote 100-to-0 and is currently in the Senate’s Committee on General Laws and Technology.
H.B. 233, which increases the income tax subtraction for Guard members from $3,000 to $5,000 is in the House of Delegates’ Appropriations Subcommittee on Compensation and Retirement.
H.B. 642, which directs the state to provide employer-portions of healthcare insurance premiums for Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen activated on State Active Duty for more than 14-days, unanimously passed the House of Delegates 100-to-0 and is currently in the Senate’s Committee on General Laws and Technology. The Senate’s companion bill, S.B. 719, was unanimously passed through the Senates’ General Laws and Technology and Finance and Appropriations Committees. It received unanimous support from the Senates’ floor vote passing 40-to-0.
H.B. 1360, which promotes the state-sponsored life insurance program benefits, unanimously passed the House of Delegates’ Committee on Public Safety and is awaiting a floor vote.
‘Opportunities to engage, inform and educated members of the General Assembly are important and should not be missed,” said Czaplicki. “It is important to explain that there’s a difference between the National Guard and your National Guard—Virginia has a piece to this puzzle and it’s critical that our local legislature understands our role in community and national defense.”
Delegates, Senators, staff, aides and members of the administration are set to join the Virginia National Guard at the 10th annual Virginia National Guard Reception honoring the “Year of the Guard” this coming Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022 at the Library of Virginia.
The association aims to educate and inform members of the General Assembly to assist with their formulation, debate and ultimate vote to enact these changes. The VNGA’s powerful advocacy platform is available here and simplifies the communication process.
Reporters, Editors & Producers: Leaders are available for interviews or to appear as subject matter experts on issues related to the Virginia National Guard Association. Email contact@vnga.us to schedule an interview or appearance.
About VNGA: Established in 1960, the Virginia National Guard Association is a recognized non-profit non-partisan 501(c)(19) veterans’ service association representing over 10,000 Service Members of all ranks and status; enlisted, warrant and officer; traditional, active duty and retired.
Appropriators in the House of Delegates’ Appropriations Commerce, Agriculture and Natural Resources subcommittee voted 4-to-3 to lay House Bill 1035 on the table on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2022.