Protecting Coal Jobs
HR 72 Greenhouse gas emissions; urging Congress of United States to address proposed regulations of EPA. Memorializing Congress regarding greenhouse gas emissions regulation. Urges the United States Congress to address the proposed regulations of the Environmental Protection Agency in regards to greenhouse gas emissions.
Over the next several months, the public will be misled by political operatives claiming the coal industry is the best it has been in years. This may be true, but only for mining operations with existing permits. The fact is the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), directed by the Obama Administration is making it increasingly difficult for coal companies to receive new permits. The EPA has not issued any major mining permits in Virginia within the past two years. I believe it is the duty of state legislators such as myself to fight anti-coal policy in Richmond and Washington, D.C. because our region deeply relies on coal jobs.
Job Creation
HB 2237 Electric generation facilities; incentives for construction of using coalbed methane gas. Creating jobs in Southwest Virginia can be done by better utilizing our vast natural resources. Currently, many of our natural gas related jobs have shifted north to the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The price of natural gas is very low because demand is low. To promote the increase usage of natural gas, HB 2237 provides utility companies an incentive to invest in electrical generation facilities that utilize Coal Bed Methane, a form of natural gas found within the coal fields region. The goal is to create more demand for Virginia natural gas which will result in creating more jobs in the natural gas sector. The majority of electricity in Virginia is imported from other states and in order to create more jobs in the energy sector and reduce utility rates, Virginia must produce electricity in Virginia.
Improving Drinking Water Conditions
During my time on the campaign trail in 2009, I was astonished to learn of how so many of our residents do not have access to clean drinking water. As soon as I was sworn into office in 2010, I met directly with the Governor on several occasions to stress the importance of clean drinking water. Those meetings resulted in the Governor granting $5.2 million dollars in funding for new drinking water infrastructure projects which led to the second phase of the Hurley Water Project. My commitment for clean drinking water continues and I will fight for future projects.
HB 2519 Virginia Water Protection Permit; state agencies asked to review to provide comments within 45 days. Virginia Water Protection Permits; multiagency review. Requires that agencies having an opportunity to comment on a Virginia Water Protection Permit submit such comments within 45 days or be deemed as having approved the permit without further opportunity to comment. Currently, agencies such as the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, the Department of Health, and the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services must provide comments within 45 days, but the consequences of a failure to do so in a timely manner are not set out.
HB 2519 will potentially save localities millions of dollars in new water infrastructure projects by preventing state agencies from stalling construction after 45 days of the permit submittal.
Tourism and Recreation
HB 849 Off-road recreational vehicles; localities to allow on certain highways within their boundaries. Off-road recreational vehicles. Authorizes localities embraced by the Southwest Regional Recreation Authority to allow over-the-road operation of "off-road recreational vehicles" within their boundaries.
HB 849 will promote tourism and encourage ATV usage throughout Southwest Virginia. ATV trails have been very successful in West Virginia and I believe this legislation has the potential to bring millions of dollars in tourism revenue to our region.
Utility Rates
HB 2159 Electric utility service; termination of service of customers with a serious medical condition. Electric utility service terminations; customers with a serious medical condition. Directs the State Corporation Commission to establish limitations on the authority of electric utilities to terminate electric service to the residence of a customer who has a serious medical condition or resides with a family member with a serious medical condition. The Commission is further directed to adopt regulations, by October 31, 2011, to implement the limitations.
HB 2159 will prevent electric utility companies from terminating electric service to those with a serious documented illness. With the rising cost of electricity due to federal environmental mandates from the EPA, we need to prevent those with serious medical conditions from having their electricity terminated.
HB 2107 Low-income residential customers; investor-owned electric utilities to offer reduced rates. Reduced electricity rates for low-income residential customers; tax credit. Requires investor-owned electric utilities to offer eligible residential customers a reduced rate for electric service during December through April of each year. The reduced rate is 20 percent less than the rate that would be applicable to the customer if the customer was ineligible for the special rate. To be eligible for the special rate, a customer must be receiving (i) supplemental security income, (ii) aid to families with dependent children, (iii) aid to families with dependent children—unemployed, or (iv) food stamps, if the food stamp recipients are 60 years of age or older. The State Corporation Commission is required to certify each utility's revenue deficiency resulting from the special reduced rates, and the utility will receive an income tax credit calculated at 1.45 percent of the revenue deficiency. The Department of Social Services is required to adopt regulations establishing procedures to inform persons about the availability of the special reduced rates, assist applicants for the special reduced rates in proving their eligibility therefor, and assist utilities in determining the eligibility of persons for such rates. The Commission and the Department are required to adopt temporary emergency regulations implementing the program by October 1, 2011.
HB 2107 did not pass, but I will continue to fight for this legislation because so many of the elderly and less fortunate simply cannot afford sky rocketing utility rates.
Fighting the War on Drugs
HB 1473 Marijuana, synthetic; penalties for possession, intent to sell, distribute, etc. Penalties for possession, sale, gift, distribution or possession with intent to sell, give or distribute synthetic marijuana. Creates a new category for "synthetic marijuana" as a series of controlled substances listed in Schedule 1 (§ 54.1-3446) of the Drug Control Act (§ 54.1-3400 et seq.). Notwithstanding the provisions regarding punishment for possession and distribution of controlled substances listed in Schedule 1, punishment for possession and distribution of synthetic marijuana is largely in accord with the provisions for actual marijuana.
