Governor Youngkin Honors Volunteerism and Community Service in Virginia
Governor Glenn Youngkin has announced the recipients of the 2023 Governor’s Volunteerism and Community Service Awards. The annual awards program spotlights the outstanding efforts of individual volunteers, organizations and their contributions on behalf of citizens throughout the Commonwealth.
“The resilience, generosity, and commitment of these volunteers exemplify the best of Virginia,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin.
Thank You, Veterans!
To our many veterans in Fairfax County, Virginia and elsewhere: THANK YOU.
As Governor Glenn Youngkin noted in his November 11, 2023 proclamation, Virginia is home to more than 690,000 veterans. “Virginians live in freedom today because of the contributions and sacrifices made by those who served and by their family members,” Governor Youngkin rightly said.
READ THE ENTIRE 2023 VETERANS DAY PROCLAMATION:
By virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution of Virginia in the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, there is hereby officially recognized: Veterans Day
Youngkin Issues Executive Order to Prevent Student Overdoses
In response to nine student overdoses at a Loudoun County high school just last month, Governor Glenn Youngkin today issued Executive Order Twenty-Eight. While the Loudoun County Public School division reportedly waited more than twenty days to notify parents to the overdose incidents, Governor Youngkin is taking immediate action to enhance prompt parental notification. The order directs the Virginia Department of Education to issue guidance ensuring school divisions notify all parents of school-connected overdoses within 24 hours, work closely with law enforcement to prevent overdoses, and enhance student education about the dangers of abusing drugs.
Governor Youngkin Signs Bill Extending State Tax-Exemptions to All Military Retirees
Governor Glenn Youngkin reiterated his commitment to Virginia’s veterans and celebrated the extended tax-exemptions for military retirement pay through the removal of age restrictions in the 2023 Virginia state budget. After enacting a state tax exemption for military retirement pay in 2022, this expanded benefit will apply to all military retirees regardless of age and takes effect in the taxable year beginning January 1, 2024.
Tax Reductions Under Youngkin Have Been Significant
Governor Glenn Youngkin (R) and the legislators of both parties who have given him at least some of the tax reforms he asked for need to stop being shy and take a real victory lap. He has been in office less than two years and has diverted $5 billion from tax coffers back to Virginia’s citizens so far, with more to come in 2024 and beyond.
Most of that was approved by the 2022 General Assembly and is now in effect for a second full tax year, but the 2023 General Assembly just sweetened the pot.
Volunteers Needed to Save Virginia
On Tuesday, November 7th, the eyes of the nation will be on Virginia. “Though Youngkin is not on the ballot this year, the election will be a referendum on many of the policies the former Carlyle Group executive has championed,” according to CNN’s Arit John.
Make no mistake: Virginia’s future is on the line this November. “If Republicans fall short, it will get harder to repeal public-sector collective bargaining, since unions will become more powerful with every passing year. It may be now or never to stop Virginia from becoming a wholly owned union subsidiary like Illinois,” warns John Tillman, CEO of the American Culture Project.
Youngkin Announces ‘ALL IN VA’ Plan to Address COVID-19 Era Learning Loss
Governor Glenn Youngkin announced ALL IN VA, a comprehensive plan to support Virginia’s students facing the continued detrimental impacts of COVID-19 learning loss, declining academic performance and absenteeism. Virginia’s Standard of Learning scores demonstrate that student achievement remains well below pre-pandemic levels. The Youngkin administration is taking further, aggressive action to ensure all Virginia students get the academic support they need to recover learning loss, boost their attendance and academic performance.
ICYMI: “Glenn Youngkin’s Quest to Keep Virginia From Becoming Illinois”
John Tillman, CEO of the American Culture Project, wrote in Friday’s Wall Street Journal about Governor Glenn Youngkin’s fight against “the death spiral that comes when government unions conquer a state.”
The article specifically mentions Fairfax, where Democrats have repeatedly prioritized the demands of public-sector unions over the rights and interests of county taxpayers.
ICYMI: Governor Youngkin Takes on Social Media Influence on Kids
RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH: “Gov. Glenn Youngkin made the third stop on his ‘parents matter conversation’ tour Tuesday morning, joining state Sen. Siobhan Dunnavant, R-Henrico, at Crestview Elementary School in Henrico County. The event was a chance to tout bills that have passed and bills that the administration plans to keep fighting for, along with listening to the audience for concerns and suggestions.”
WRIC: “According to the U.S. Surgeon General, spending more than three hours a day on social media doubles the risk of a child between the ages of 12 to 15 experiencing poor mental health outcomes, including symptoms of depression and anxiety.”
New VDOE Policies Are Pro-Parent, Pro-Child
Something magical happens to the human heart when we become parents. We don’t turn perfectly wise (I wish). But suddenly, inextricably, we are gripped by a love that compels us day in, day out—for a lifetime–to secure our children’s health, happiness, growth, and safety.
The Virginia Department of Education’s (VDOE) new model policies on transgender students acknowledge this truth while correcting the critical error made by the last Administration: removing the right of parents to be involved in their children’s lives.