Bill Text: VA SJR224 | 2020 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commending Standing for Tomorrow.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2020-03-07 - Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ224ER) [SJR224 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2020-SJR224-Enrolled.html
WHEREAS, Standing for Tomorrow, a group of student-activists committed to identifying and advocating for mold remediation in schools throughout the Commonwealth, has made great strides bringing attention to this important issue in recent years; and
WHEREAS, Standing for Tomorrow includes Bridget Baron, Ben Delnegro, Zachary Harris, Veronica Holguin, Lillian Wagner, and Chloe Yokitis, students of George Washington Middle School in Alexandria, who began studying the problem of mold in schools for their annual science fair project; and
WHEREAS, the Standing for Tomorrow science fair team won first prize at the school, city, and regional levels, impressing judges with their presentation of the data and research they had collected; and
WHEREAS, Standing for Tomorrow went to great lengths to incorporate expert opinion into their study, which inspired the group to pursue legislation to protect students from mold exposure in their schools; and
WHEREAS, sharing their research on the presence of mold in Virginia schools and the negative health impacts this can cause, Standing for Tomorrow created a petition that garnered over 2,000 signatures from local citizens and gained the support of several important stakeholders and policymakers; and
WHEREAS, after presenting before the Alexandria City School Board, Standing for Tomorrow was featured in The Washington Post, bringing great recognition to their cause and bolstering their efforts to eradicate mold from state schools; and
WHEREAS, members of Standing for Tomorrow testified convincingly before the Public Education Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Education and Health, leading to broad support for legislation that would address the mold issue in schools throughout the Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, through hard work and dedication, the students of Standing for Tomorrow have helped make Virginia schools healthier and safer for countless students and teachers; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Standing for Tomorrow for its meaningful advocacy to remediate mold in Virginia schools; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Standing for Tomorrow as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for the group's service to the Commonwealth and best wishes for its continued success.
