You are Invited to the Annual Bridge Builder Celebration

VIRGINIAforever is pleased to present our annual signature event – The Bridge Builder Celebration – on the evening of Wednesday, October 15. The event will honor Dr. Charles Steger, President Emeritus of Virginia Tech, for his leadership in the protection of Virginia’s natural resources.

The Bridge Builder Award honors elected officials and others who have championed efforts to protect Virginia’s land and water. Past recipients of the Bridge Builder Award include Eva Teig Hardy of Dominion; the Honorable John Warner, United States Senate; the Honorable William J. Howell, Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates; the Honorable A. Donald McEachin and the Honorable John C. Watkins, Senate of Virginia.

This year’s event features Congressman Rob Wittman (R, VA-1) and includes special remarks from Nikki Giovanni, renowned poet and University Distinguished Professor at Virginia Tech. A cocktail reception will be followed by a presentation and dinner. Click here to see the electronic invitation.

Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are still available. Please contact Ginny Boland at 804-775-1907 or gboland@mwcllc.com for more information.

 

VIRGINIAforever Represented on Governor’s Climate Commission

In July, Governor Terry McAuliffe signed an Executive Order convening the Climate Change and Resiliency Update Commission. The bipartisan Commission is composed of leaders from around the state including local elected officials, members of the General Assembly, business leaders, environmental advocates and industry representatives. Among this distinguished group are several current and former VIRGINIAforever board members including Michael L. Toalson, HBA of Virginia; Ann Jennings, Chesapeake Bay Foundation; Nikki Rovner, The Nature Conservancy; and Robert Blue, Dominion (former board member).

The Commission, co-chaired by Secretary of Natural Resources Molly Ward and Secretary of Public Safety Brian Moran, will evaluate the recommendations made by former Governor Tim Kaine’s Climate Commission, determine what actions were taken on those recommendations and issue an updated final report. The Executive Order gives the Commission one year to complete its work.

To read the Executive Order and see all of the members of the Commission, click here.

 

Understanding Recent Budget Cuts in Virginia

Recent media headlines underscore some discouraging news coming out of Richmond regarding the budget shortfall. In order to see our path forward, it is important to understand how we got here. The 2014 Regular Session was characterized by the protracted stalemate over Medicaid expansion, with House Republicans in firm opposition to the Democratic administration and Senate’s efforts to expand Medicaid coverage. A surprise resignation of a long-term Senate Democrat tipped the majority to Senate Republicans. This majority effectively ended the standoff during Special Session in May with a budget not including expansion. Then, in early summer, it was revealed that Virginia faces a significant budget deficit, to the tune of $2.4 billion. This left the administration and legislature scrambling for a solution to responsibly address the shortfall expected for fiscal years 2015 and 2016.

Governor McAuliffe, the House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Finance Committee presented a bipartisan agreement merely days before the General Assembly was scheduled to return for Special Session in September. The plan transfers an estimated $470 million (FY15) and $235 million (FY16) from the “Rainy Day” Fund and makes various cuts across state agencies, higher education and local aid. The cuts for state agencies amount to roughly a 4 percent reduction. More cuts are expected for FY16 in December when the Governor presents his budget amendments to the General Assembly. Agriculture BMPs could possibly take a $1 million dollar hit, while WQIF and LPTC will not be threatened. The Governor, Secretary of Finance and various legislators have expressed their hope that despite the economic hardships at hand, this display of fiscal responsibility will show Wall Street bond agencies that Virginia remains strong and well-managed. The plan easily passed the Senate and the House. The Governor is expected to sign the budget bill after recently submitting an amendment to protect transportation bond programs.

 

Membership Spotlight: Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay

Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, a VIRGINIAforever member organization, brings together individuals, organizations, businesses and governments to find collaborative solutions, to build a strong commitment to stewardship and to deliver innovative, broadly-supported programs that benefit the land, waters, and residents of the Chesapeake Bay.

Founded in 1971, the organization advocates for a healthier Chesapeake Bay through three main vehicles: 1) engaging local communities including sponsoring conferences and partnering with businesses to share the effects of land use on the quality of the Bay and its rivers; 2) connecting residents of the Bay watershed to their local environment through canoe trips, trash cleanups, peer-to-peer networking and other community activities; and 3) coordinating a broad range of on-the-ground restoration programs, as well as working with landowners and municipalities to sustain healthy forests and install stormwater reduction methods.

Nissa Dean, a member of the VIRGINIAforever board, serves as director of the Virginia office of the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. She notes, “The Alliance focuses on restoring and promoting conservation of the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers. While the Bay is improving, the task to protect, restore and sustain it is more challenging than ever. We joined VIRGINIAforever to be part of a united voice that advocates for critical state funding for water quality improvement projects in the Commonwealth. ”

For more information on the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, please visit https://allianceforthebay.org/.

 

News & Announcements

New Members

VIRGINIAforever welcomes the following new members in 2014:

• AquaLaw – A specialty law firm nationally recognized for its expertise on municipal water, wastewater, stormwater and related business matters
• EnviroSolutions – An integrated solid waste services company that provides solid waste collection, transfer, disposal and recycling services
• New River Land Trust – A local non-profit formed to protect the farmland, forests, open spaces and historic places in Virginia’s New River region
• Norfolk Southern Corporation – A leading transportation provider operating 20,000 route miles in 22 states and D.C.

Upcoming Events

VIRGINIAforever is in the process of planning our first legislative reception to take place during the 2015 General Assembly session. Stay tuned for more information.

Very truly yours,
Robert L. Dunn
Chairman