Virginia NAACP Releases Its 2022 Legislative Agenda

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 13, 2022

MEDIA CONTACT
Da’Quan Love, Executive Director
press@naacpva.org

Virginia NAACP Releases Its 2022 Legislative Agenda
NAACP prioritizes the passage of a constitutional amendment
guaranteeing the right to vote in the 2022 General Assembly.

RICHMOND – Today, the Virginia State Conference NAACP released its 2022 Legislative Agenda for the Virginia General Assembly 2022 regular session. In a virtual press conference, Virginia NAACP President Robert Barnette joined Virginia NAACP Political Action Chair Gaylene Kanoyton and other NAACP leaders to discuss legislation the NAACP would support and oppose in the state legislature.

The Virginia NAACP declared its number-one legislative priority to be the passage of a constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right to vote, referencing the organization’s ongoing efforts to champion voter rights. 

President Robert Barnette said “Last year, thanks to NAACP advocacy, we passed the constitutional amendment that would guarantee the right to vote for all Virginia citizens. We look forward to working with legislators to pass this legislation again so it can go before Virginia voters.”

The Virginia NAACP legislative priorities can be found online at: https://naacpva.org/2022-legislative-priorities/. Press can download a copy of the press conference here.

2022 Legislative Priorities

Education

Advocate for legislation that ensures that every Black student and every student of color is able to pursue a free, high quality, equitably funded, public pre-K and K-12 education followed by diverse opportunities for accessible, affordable vocational or university education. 

Healthcare

Advocate for legislation that will result in the elimination of the racial and ethnic inequities that exist within our healthcare system that undermine communities of color, their life opportunities, and their ability to contribute fully to the common good.

Housing

Advocate for legislation that allows for all Virginians to have access to affordable housing, protections from evictions, relevant and timely information on tenant/landlord rights and responsibilities and to be free of discriminatory practices. Housing is a basic human right.

Environmental and Climate Justice

Advocate for intentional legislation and policies that upholds that all individuals have the right to: a clean environment free from polluting facilities, safe, affordable renewable clean energy production; resilient and updated energy infrastructure; sustainable and healthy communities; affordable and just utility protections against overcharges (including repayment of previous overcharge rate structures), expanded rural broadband and uninterrupted energy service.  

Criminal and Juvenile Justice

Advocate for smarter, results-based criminal justice policies to keep our communities safe, including treatment for addiction and mental health problems, judicial discretion in sentencing, and an end to racial disparities at all levels of the system. Furthermore, we support sensible gun laws. Advocate for legislation that eliminates racially disparate treatment of Black youth and other over-represented youth which have lasting and negative consequences and contributes to an intergenerational cycle for individuals and problematic outcomes in the community.   

Workforce, Labor and Economic Empowerment

Advocate for policies and legislation which enhances the capacity of Black Virginians and other underserved groups through financial economic education; individual and community asset building initiatives; providing safe and affordable housing, diversity and inclusion in business hiring, fair hiring, and protection practices, and inclusive procurement; and monitoring financial banking practices.

Voting Rights and Political Representation

Advocate for legislation that ensures free, open, equal, and protected access to the vote and fair representation at all levels of the political process. Advocate for legislation that expands voting access including Saturday and Sunday voting, no-excuse absentee voting, and vote by mail.A