Senator Deeds

January 21, 2008

Dear Friends:

With the first full week of the General Assembly session behind us, the pace at the state capital has picked up considerably. In both houses the committees and subcommittees are taking the first look at legislation and deciding whether those bills should be considered this year or sent back for further study and revision.

Even though today is a state and national holiday, the legislature was hard at work. As we pause to reflect on the life and memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I'm reminded of a sermon he gave this month exactly 40 years ago. In it, he said:

"I said to my children, 'I'm going to work and do everything that I can do to see that you get a good education. I don't ever want you to forget that there are millions of God's children who will not and cannot get a good education, and I don't want you feeling that you are better than they are. For you will never be what you ought to be until they are what they ought to be.'"

I believe it is the duty of public servants to ensure that every child in Virginia receives a quality education. Not only does our state constitution mandate it, but we also know that investing in a child's education will pay dividends in the long run by preparing them for adult life and the challenges of the 21st century economy.

This year I have three pieces of legislation and a package of budget amendments to improve both K-12 and higher education in Virginia:

Last week the Senate Education and Health Committee referred SB 267, my bill to require that the average salary of a Virginia teacher be equal to or greater than the national average, to the Senate Finance Committee. We currently rank 31st in the nation in teacher pay.

Last Thursday, the Senate Subcommittee on Higher Education passed SB 256 to the full committee, which requires every institution of higher learning to develop and implement crisis and emergency response plans. The tragedy at Virginia Tech last April taught us many things, among them the need for all of Virginia's colleges and universities to be prepared. This legislation is based on recommendations from the Virginia Tech review panel and I'm carrying this bill on behalf of Governor Kaine.

In the coming weeks, we will discuss education funding. Last week I submitted budget amendments that included $75,000 for Dabney S. Lancaster Community College to complete a educational center in Rockbridge County; $100,000 for ten financial literacy pilot programs in high schools across the Commonwealth; and, more than $1 million for fund loans for the nursing program at UVA. I will also be fighting for passage of the Higher Education Bond Initiative that includes many projects key to our area. Among the projects are money for UVA to renovate New Cabell Hall, for VMI to renovate the Science Building, for Virginia Tech to construct the Medical School and Research Institute, for Piedmont Virginia Community College to construct a Workforce Development Center, and for Dabney S. Lancaster Community College to renovate Warren and Scott Halls. This fiscally responsible package is vital if we are to ensure that our colleges and universities have the best facilities available.

Very Truly Yours,

Senator Deeds