96th District, Virginia House of Delegates                                           January  26, 2018

Stay Connected!
 
Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter View our videos on YouTube
  
Join Our Mailing List!
Contact Delegate Pogge

Richmond Office 
New address!
Pocahontas Building
Room E403
900 East Main Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Phone: 804-698-1096
Fax: 804-786-6310
DelBPogge@house.virginia.gov
   
Legislative Aide
Amanda Batten
Amanda@brendapogge.com
With the third week of session drawing to a close, House bills continue to be heard in subcommittee, full committee, and on the House floor. As a reminder of the process, House bills are assigned to committee by the Speaker of the House of Delegates. A full list of House committees can be found HERE. The committee chair can then assign the bill to a subcommittee. If a bill passes in subcommittee, it must still be considered by the full committee. Only if a bill passes the full committee can it be considered on the House floor. If you're interested in following a bill, committee meetings and floor sessions can be viewed online. Subcommittee meetings are NOT available for online viewing. Legislation can be searched for and read online HERE. If you have a question about any bill or resolution, please do not hesitate to contact my office for information. 
Adoption reform
Many of you are aware that my husband, Roger, and I served as foster parents to more than twenty at-risk children and teens. For this reason, I am familiar with some of the issues surrounding adoption. Earlier this week, I was pleased to support House bills that will help more children find loving adoptive parents. House Bill 241 was introduced by Delegate Emily Brewer. The bill shortens the length of time--from three years to two years--that a child must live with a close family member before adoption proceedings can begin. Introduced by Delegate Stolle, House Bill 227 requires courts to consider the results of a national criminal history background check conducted on the prospective parent. This legislation addresses a Virginia Beach case wherein a young female was found dead from an overdose. The investigation revealed that her adoptive parent had a long felony criminal history. 
Standing against tax hikes
Democrats have introduced three major tax increases this year. The bills would implement taxes on hotel stays and video streaming services (Netflix and Hulu). The third measure would reinstate the estate tax (the "death tax"). I've already received several emails opposing tax increases, and I am committed to standing against these proposals. Over the past fifteen years, the Republican-led House of Delegates has defeated over $30 billion in tax increases. Virginians deserve to keep more of their hard-earned money, and I will continue opposing new tax increases.
2018 legislative survey
Have you completed my 2018 legislative survey yet? If not, click HERE to take the survey.  Results will be provided during the upcoming weeks. 
HB791: school nurse access
As a mother of five and a grandmother of eight, I understand firsthand the importance of ensuring that children have access to a school nurse. Accidents and medical issues occur while children are in school, and the nurse is the first resource in those situations. I'm pleased to carry House Bill 791, which requires each elementary, middle, and high school to employ at least one full-time nurse. Alternately, schools can have one full-time nurse per 550 students in grades K-12. Most schools already have a nurse, but this codifies the requirement.  
Visitors welcome!
My committee schedule is keeping me busy, but my office was pleased to welcome guests from the following groups/organizations:
  • Greater Williamsburg Chamber & Tourism Alliance

  • Hampton Roads Association for Commercial Real Estate

  • League of Women Voters of the Williamsburg Area

  • James City County Treasurer

  • Military Officers Association of America

  • Old Dominion University

  • Virginia Education Association

  • Virginia Humanities Foundation

  • Virginia Interfaith Center

  • Williamsburg-James City County School Board

  • York-Poquoson Social Services

If you are unable to visit, you may reach me via email at DelBPogge@house.virginia.gov or by phone at 804-698-1096. 


Have a great weekend!
  Signature   
Delegate Brenda Pogge

 


Paid for and Authorized by Brenda Pogge for Delegate