2023 Virginia Legislative Priorities
CASA is a national organization that advocates for Latino, immigrant and working class communities. In Virginia, our membership wants to make sure we have the best education system, increase access to health care, achieve language access, protect our climate and continue our economic development growth in Virginia, which are our priorities for 2023 on Capitol Hill in Richmond.
Access to Health Care:Access to Health Care: CASA members, 87% of whom lack affordable health care, are underinsured compared to the general population. We believe that children should have accessible health care. We support legislation directing the Department of Medical Assistance Services to establish a program to provide state-funded comprehensive health care coverage for individuals in the Commonwealth who are under the age of 19, regardless of immigration status.
Paid Sick Leave: Paid sick leave for our health care and grocery store workers should be passed as it will affect over 120,000 Virginians, allowing them to take care of themselves when necessary and not have to suffer financially or go to work sick. We ask that you please vote YES.
Health Care
Students Learning English: At our Prince William Welcome Center, 76% of CASA members are English Language Learners. Require state funding to support the 2023-24 school year and equip our ELL students with sufficient staff and resources to enable them to improve their English. Please vote YES so we can help our students.
The Virginia Literacy Act: Last year, Virginia passed the Virginia Literacy Act to help our kindergarten through third grade students improve their English literacy. The nation's report card results reveal that, since 2017, Virginia's fourth graders had an 11-point decline in reading proficiency and eighth graders had a 6-point decline. In 2022, only 32% of 4th graders and 31% of 8th graders scored at or above proficient on NAEP. This year we ask you to continue to make progress by voting YES for the Virginia Literacy Act for grades 4-8.
Mental Health For Our Students: Public education about mental health is essential for our students. Mental health can affect a student's education, social life and emotional well-being. Students who struggle with mental health can experience more significant challenges throughout school and into adulthood. We ask you to take action and vote YES for mental health education in school.
Education
Affordable Housing: CASA members - who are already struggling to survive the pandemic - face rent increases that displace families, drive students away from their schools, and leave seniors homeless. Localities know what protections should be in place, and we support legislation that would allow them to adopt rent stabilization to protect neighborhoods and tenants. Vote YES for HB 1532.
Affordable Housing
Don't Move Backward
Vote NO on proposals that would slow our progress in these areas:
Financial assistance and in-state tuition for residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia, regardless of immigration status.
Prohibit racial profiling in policing through the Community Policing Act.
Moving toward a clean economy with the Virginia Clean Economy Act and the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
Other Legislative Priorities
Love is Love : CASA supports the repeal of the ban on same-sex marriage in the Constitution of our Commonwealth.
Stop Predatory Towing: Eliminate the current $150 civil penalty for towing violations in Planning District 8.
