Virginia lawmakers recognized the strong connection between thriving, healthy Virginians, a cleaner environment, and robust living resources with their proposed budget amendments released Sunday.
The Virginia House and Senate money committees unveiled their separate proposed spending plans Sunday. These plans make amendments to the budget previously pitched by Governor Youngkin.
The budget reports support a host of CBF initiatives including climate readiness following another year of record-breaking and costly extreme weather, investments in environmental education, and investments in cleaner water and air for future generations.
A conference committee of legislators will now negotiate a single set of budget amendments, which will need approval from Gov. Glenn Youngkin before becoming law.
Creating a Climate-Ready Commonwealth
- The Senate budget commits an additional $50 million dollars in general funds to the Community Flood Preparedness Fund, which is Virginia’s only dedicated climate change adaption program. The Community Flood Preparedness Fund has helped communities around the Commonwealth begin to adapt to flooding and sea level rise.
Advancing Environmental Education
- The House budget includes an investment of $1 million annually to support statewide competitive environmental education experiences grant program: This ensures that Virginia's youth meet state education standards and stay on par with neighboring states. The state’s current investments of just 30 cents per student in environmental education lags significantly behind neighboring states, falling 89.2% below Maryland ($2.78 per student) and 48.3% less than Pennsylvania (58¢ per student).
Cleaner Water for Everyone
- Each chamber’s proposed budget includes significant investment in the state’s Stormwater Local Assistance Fund (SLAF) with the Senate recommending $40 million and the House $50 million: Runoff from roofs, sidewalks, and roadways is a major source of harmful pollutants reaching our waterways. SLAF provides matching grants to localities for projects that reduce polluted runoff, such as stream restoration, rain gardens, and other retrofits.
- The House budget committed an additional $48 million to fully fund wastewater treatment plant upgrades and $26 million to ensure we can fund agricultural best management practices in the years ahead: Practices like fencing cattle out of streams, planting streamside trees and grasses, and many others are the most cost-effective steps Virginia can take to restore the Chesapeake Bay and local streams. At the same time, many of Virginia’s sewage treatment facilities have made important progress in nutrient reductions in recent years due to investments made by the General Assembly.
Chesapeake Bay Foundation Virginia Policy Manager Jay Ford released the following statement:
“Whether it’s from the Eastern Shore or Southwest Virginia, communities are calling for help in dealing with extreme storms, flooding, and pollution. We need ramped up resources to proactively tackle extreme weather and ensure cleaner rivers and streams for the long-term health of our children and our economy. Dollars spent in these areas pay back in dividends either through reduced public health costs, increased quality of life and tourism, less disaster recovery spending, and sustainable billion-dollar Virginia fisheries.
“These budget proposals illustrate a dedication to a more sustainable and resilient future for Virginia. By prioritizing climate readiness, investing in environmental education, and protecting our natural resources, lawmakers can approve a budget that demonstrates their commitment to Virginians’ health and a thriving economy.”
Virginia Communications & Media Relations Manager, CBF
[email protected]
804-258-1567
