The Battle Rages - Keeping Our Promise To Fight for Our Freedom

 

Dear Friends,

In the second week of the 46-day General Assembly session, we worked quickly to advance a legislative package to improve our schools. We have filed legislation that will elevate education standards, empower teachers to regain control of their own classrooms, and ensure students have the resources they need to succeed. Most importantly, the proposals incorporate input from both parents and teachers around the 33rd District and across Virginia. I've been introducing and presenting more legislation, and one of my bills has been making national news.

 

IN THE NEWS

Several articles were written this week about my bill called "Sage's Law;" you can read them at these links:

• Del. Dave LaRock files “Sage’s Law,” HB 2432, to protect parental rights and at-risk children in Virginia - Royal Examiner
• Bill calls for parental notification of trans students in Virginia (AP)
• Virginia Republican Moves To Ban Calling ‘Misgendering’ Child Abuse After Girl Is Kept From Her Parents For It (DailyWire)
• Maryland Refused To Give Back A Virginia Runaway Because Her Parents ‘Misgendered’ Her. Then She Was Sex Trafficked, Mother Says. (DailyWire)
• Bill calls for parental notification of trans students in Virginia (AP)
• Sage’s Law (PJ Media)
• Va. Teen Sex-Trafficked Twice After School Hides Gender … (The Federalist)

Empowering Teachers & Listening to Parents

Disruptive classrooms make it harder for teachers to do their jobs. A recent JLARC study underscores the severity of the issue: 56% of those surveyed in our schools said behavior is a “very serious issue,” while another 24% called it a “serious” problem. It is beyond time for teachers to regain control of their classrooms and reestablish the consistency needed to instruct students effectively and without distractions.

Fortunately, legislation (HB 1461, Wiley) has been introduced that will empower teachers with the support they need to allow them to better handle discipline in their classrooms. By reducing disruptions, classrooms can return to an environment where teachers can teach and students can learn. 

Legislation has been introduced by myself and others to give parents more options in their children’s education, allowing them to have the best classroom experience that maximizes their potential. Here's a link to mine:

• HB 2480 Home instruction and private school tax credit

It was my honor to make the motion to pass Del. Glen Davis’s school choice bill after hearing powerful testimony in the K-12 Education Committee from parents begging for relief from failing schools.

This is an issue I have introduced and pushed through the General Assembly many times only to have it fall to Governor McAuliffe's veto pen twice & killed by LG Northam once.

HB 2432 "Sage's Law"

Thursday morning, I filed HB 2432, because Virginia law needs to be absolutely clear that affirming a child’s biological sex does not justify taking a child away from their family.

Subjective determinations of whether a family’s beliefs are “abuse and neglect” are not acceptable.

Teachers, school counselors, social service workers and courts must respect the parents' fundamental rights

Helping Healthy Families

The other two bills I filed this week aim to help mothers and fathers:

• HB 2489 Responsible Fatherhood Initiative; fatherhood needs assessment; Fatherhood Support Grants Program
• HB 2497 Midwifery; administration of medication

Fully funding Law Enforcement

Virginia law provides for the state to fund one Sheriff deputy for every 1,500 residents in a locality, but that commitment hasn't been met for many years. My budget amendments 72#6h and 79#1h would fully fund those positions, with Loudoun and Frederick Counties being two of the largest beneficiaries. Similarly, my amendment 408#8h will restore state funding for Regional Criminal Justice Academies that has been lagging for years, so less local subsidy for the training is needed.

With Clarke County Sheriff Roper & Chief Deputy Sumption last week.

With Frederick & Loudoun County Sheriffs and Sec. of Public Safety Robert Mosier

Life-Affirming Funding Priorities

My 292#1h would ensure that when we fund "Family Planning Services" those funds go to legitimate care providers, not abortion clinics. Likewise, my 4-5.04#2h would prohibit funding to state-run hospitals or medical centers that perform elective abortions.

I have worked through many sessions with Olivia Gans Turner, President of the Virginia Society for Human Life, always strategizing how to protect the unborn. This year there are several bills we’ll present with hopes they will make it past the Democrat-controlled Senate. I am honored to come alongside Del. Kathy Byron working to pass

Exposing racist indoctrination in our education institutions.

From our universities down to our local elementary schools, too much time and resources goes to DEI and CRT while core subjects like reading and math are seeing disastrous shortcomings. My budget amendments 137#22h and 144#7h require DEI & Critical Race Theory expenditure reporting

Delegate Bill Wiley and I took advantage of a break to show Winchester’s newest council member, Emily Windle, around the capitol and brainstorm on how we can work together more to support needs in our community.

 

Celebrating Berryville’s 225^th Anniversary last Sunday with Berryville Mayor Jay Arnold, Boyce Mayor Zack Hudson, Front Royal Councilman Josh Ingram and many other folks from the area.