One down and one to go!

January 27, 2012

To: All VAFP Members

One down and one to go!

Delegate Farrell has responded to many of us and said that due to the abundance of similar information received in opposition to HB 1225, he plans to strike his bill. That he has now done so has been reported in the media. Congratulations and Well Done... to this point!

Regretably, Senators Reeves and Garrett remain entrenched on SB 571. So, it's time to rachet up the heat!

SB 571 currently sits with the Senate Agriculture, Conservation, and Natural Resources Committe. This Committee has 15 members. The contact information for each member is shown below.

Please send these members messages telling them basically that SB 571 will have an unacceptable negative impact on the State Park System, Virginia's citizens, and Virginia's out of state tourists. Respectfully ask them to vote "NO"  on SB 571 or to at least table the bill for study.

Also, please continue your efforts to generate letters from your local Chambers of Commerce to these same 15 members.

Here's a list of the Committee members and their respective contact info:

Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation, and Natural Resources

Senator Hanger (Chairman)                      district24@senate.virginia.gov

Senator Watkins                                         district10@senate.virginia.gov

Senator Puckett                                          district38@senate.virginia.gov

Senator Ruff                                                district15@senate.virginia.gov

Senator Blevins                                          district14@senate.virginia.gov

Senator Obenshain                                    district26@senate.virginia.gov

Senator McEachin                                     district09@senate.virginia.gov

Senator Petersen                                       district34@senate.virginia.gov

Senator Northam                                        district06@senate.virginia.gov

Senator Stuart                                            district28@senate.virginia.gov

Senator Marsden                                       district37@senate.virginia.gov

Senator Stanley                                          district20@senate.virginia.gov

Senator Black                                             district13@senate.virginia.gov

Senator J.C. Miller                                     district01@senate.virginia.gov

Senator Ebbin                                            district30@senate.virginia.gov

This is a critical opportunity to send a powerful group of our elected officials a strong signal about how much we appreciate, cherish, and support our state parks.

Thanks for all you do for Virginia's parks.

Johnny