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Pictured from Left to Right: Del. Briana Sewell, Del. Dan Helmer, Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg, Ryan O’Toole, Del. Shelly Simonds, Becky Winstead-Roberts
RICHMOND, Va. — Senator Schuyler VanValkenburg (D-Henrico), Delegate Dan Helmer (D-Fairfax), Delegate Shelly Simonds (D-Newport News), and Delegate Briana Sewell (D-Woodbridge) joined Freedom Virginia to roll out its “Virginia You Can Afford” Agenda today to lower costs for hardworking people.
The Agenda is a 5-part plan to lower costs and ensure Virginia is a place that hardworking people can afford. It will:
- Lower the Cost of Medicine through the Affordable Medicine Act
- Ensure Access to Affordable Housing by boosting home construction so people can afford the home of their choice
- Invest in Affordable Child Care through a Dedicated Child Care Funding Formula
- Make Energy More Affordable by increasing the supply of energy through solar generation
- Ease the burden on hardworking people through middle-class tax cuts
“We know that utility costs and energy bills are rising and are increasingly a concern for Virginia,” said Sen. VanValkenburg. “We need to think about three things: how can we get as much clean energy online as possible […] we need to take the grid that we already have and maximize it […] and the third thing is weatherization. […] We know that’s how we can keep energy costs down.”
“At the end of the day, we know that the solution is just like what we learned in basic economics class: when there’s not enough of something, the prices go up,” said Del. Helmer. “And what is clear is that there are not enough places for people to live. […] The cost of housing impacts everybody. […] We have a number of bills that work on that while providing communities with the tools they need to make sure that they have the right number of input in making those decisions.”
“We have a laser focus on affordability this session,” said Del. Simonds. “I’ve been working with some of my colleagues […] just trying to reduce red tape around housing, to make it easier for builders to build, for families to put up ADUs… just trying to make sure that we have options. […] How can we make sure that everyone has a place to call home?”
“We’re also taking care of Virginia’s hardworking families by making sure that our children have a safe environment to grow, learn, and thrive,” said Del. Sewell. “Virginia’s children, hardworking families, and economy depend on access to quality, affordable childcare. Participation in quality childcare and early education services is linked to improved school readiness and lifelong success for Virginia’s children. While we have made a great deal of strides here in the Commonwealth of Virginia to increase childcare choice, quality, and access and affordability, childcare access remains insufficient. […] That is why I am very grateful to have the opportunity to be carrying HB 1208.”
“My husband was in the hospital for a stroke– There was a gentleman who was in the hospital with him who had also had a stroke. He had worked for a mom-and-pop company that was not able to afford insurance for him. The man suffered a stroke and ended up on disability for the rest of his life when all he needed was a trip to the doctor and affordable medicine. This led to greater health problems, and now he will be on disability for the rest of his life,” said impacted Virginian Becky Winstead-Roberts. “[…] While we talk about the cost of medicine, we sometimes don’t talk about what it costs us by not having affordable medicine, by not having good access to healthcare. Not only will the Affordable Medicine Act save Virginians money, but it will also save them their health and well-being.”
“The ideas we will highlight this morning all have one core idea in common: they will make your life easier. Our priority this session should then be to invest in the backbone of our economy – hardworking people who need a break,” said Freedom Virginia co-Executive Director Ryan O’Toole. “[…] By passing policies this year like repealing the final share of the grocery tax, increasing the standard deduction, and removing the sunset on the earned income tax credit, we can cut middle-class taxes so you keep more of what you earn.”
Photos can be accessed here.
Livestream footage can be accessed here.
Audio recording can be accessed here.
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