1. www.virginiaforever.org | @OurLandOurWater

2. Virginiaforever’s Work for Virginia’s Natural Resources
Virginia Municipal League
Environmental Quality Policy Committee
July 18, 2019 | Richmond
Peggy Sanner
Chesapeake Bay Foundation

3. What we’ll cover today …
About VIRGINIAforever
VIRGINIAforever’s 5-Year Plan
Lobbying for Natural Resources Funding
2020 General Assembly – What Lies Ahead

4. VIRGINIAforever is …
—a unique, diverse coalition of businesses, environmental organizations, and outdoor enthusiasts that advocates for increased government funding for water quality improvements and land conservation across the Commonwealth
—the only statewide organization that has a primary focus on increasing funding for natural resources protection

5. About VIRGINIAforever
Established in 2006
No such formal business / environmental / Ag coalition existed – filled a void
Purpose was and still is … money … State funding for water quality and land conservation
Board is careful to keep organization balanced between business and environmental / Ag members
Operates by consensus
Funded by reasonable dues and an annual “Bridge Builders” awards dinner
Funds pay for lobbying and organization administration

6. How VIRGINIAforever executes its mission …
Organize business, environmental, and agricultural organizations to support natural resources funding
Develop 5-year Plans: ;
Fund objective studies and other data collection to support policy and funding positions
Develop advocacy strategies for natural resources funding – water quality, land conservation, related State agency needs (new)
Educate General Assembly members, Governor’s Office, State agencies, and public on water quality and land conservation issues via joint business / conservation representation
Lobby for increased funding for water quality, land conservation, agency needs

8. How VIRGINIAforever members are engaged
Executive Board
Committees, policy setting, lobbying strategy, membership recruitment, events
General Board (non-voting)
Committees, policy input, lobbying engagement, membership recruitment, events

9. How VIRGINIAforever decides on policy positions, funding aims, lobbying strategy
Executive committee reviews VIRGINIAforever’s 5-Year Plan goals
Assesses goals against current budget, political environment
Meets with lead organizations on particular funding aims
VIRGINIAforever plays leading support role
Executive committee adopts across-the-board policy and funding positions
VIRGINIAforever Executive committee and lobbyists develop lobbying strategy
VIRGINIAforever lobbyists coordinate message, strategy with other organizations (e.g., VML, VACO, VAMWA, VAMSA, VWWAA), lobbyists

10. VIRGINIAforever’s new 5-year plan
“The Path Forward: Investing in the Commonwealth’s Land and Water”
VIRGINIAforever’s principle policy document
Covers years 2021 to 2025
Consensus-based – all business, environmental, agricultural members to endorse
Science-based, with clear funding rationale
Anticipated wide acceptance by Governor’s office, State environmental and agricultural agencies, General Assembly members

11. VIRGINIAforever Research – Natural Resources Appropriations Study
VIRGINIAforever received a grant in 2017 to compare Virginia’s natural resources investments to other states
Result: Virginia spends about 1% (or less) of available state revenues on natural resources – ranking Virginia near the bottom
Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic states, on average, double Virginia’s natural resources spending
Natural resources funding has been crowded out by growth in Medicaid and debt service
Between 2001 and 2018, Virginia spending on natural resources has actually declined by 1%
Governor Northam’s funding commitment: 2% of General Fund (currently: approx. 0.6%)

12. VIRGINIAforever’s – Federal Advocacy
Occasionally – rarely – VIRGINIAforever will engage federal officials
President’s proposed 2017 federal funding cuts to States were alarming
Proposed to cut $36.4 million (36%) from Virginia DCR budget
Proposed to cut $50.4 million (28%) from Virginia DEQ budget
Would be devastating to water programs
VIRGINIAforever engaged Virginia’s congressional delegation – expressed great concerns
President’s proposed cuts in these areas have thus far largely not been sustained

13. VIRGINIAforever’s 5-year plan
Agricultural BMPs Funding – Cost-share and Technical Assistance
Per Year $100 million
Over 5 Years $500 million

14. VIRGINIAforever’s 5-year plan (2021-2025)
Land Conservation & Public Access Goal 80,000 per year for 5 years
Land Conservation & Public Access Funding $660 million (over 5 years)
Land Grant Program $100 M
Land Preservation Tax Credit $375 M
Bonds for Land Acquisition/Parks/Natural Areas $70 M
Bonds for Public Access Projects $115 M

15. VIRGINIAforever’s 5-year plan (2021-2025)
Water Quality Per Year Over 5 Years
Stormwater $80 million $400 million
WQIF $55 million/year (wastewater) FY2021- FY2025 $275 million

16. VIRGINIAforever’s History of Annual Funding Requests
Wastewater (WQIF) Depends on DEQ’s identified needs
Stormwater $50 million
Ag BMPs Typically follow VASWCD’s lead; always consider Needs Assessment
Land Conservation $10 to $20 million

17. Lobbying for Natural Resources funding is a coordinated effort
VIRGINIAforever
Virginia Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts
Virginia Farm Bureau
Virginia Agribusiness Council
Chesapeake Bay Foundation
James River Association
Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
AquaLaw
The Nature Conservancy
Outreach to other stakeholders (VML, VACO)

18. So, how has VIRGINIAforever been doing? What’s our record of success?
Overall, quite well
Some major successes
Not every year is a homerun
Some years, funding increases
Some years, it stays the same
Occasionally, it’s a bust

19. How Success Varies … A Look at Two General Assembly Sessions 2018
Stormwater $20.0 M (SLAF)
Ag BMPs $40.0 M – cost-share program
Land Conservation $4.5 M – Virginia Land Conservation Fund*
TOTAL: $64.5 million
2019
Stormwater $10 M (SLAF)
Ag BMPs $89.7 M
Land Conservation $0.0 M – Virginia Land Conservation Fund*
TOTAL $100 million * not inclusive of all land conservation programs

20. VIRGINIAforever’s 2020 Legislative Agenda – Tentative
$100 million* Ag BMPs
$132 million Land Conservation programs
$ 80 million* Stormwater (SLAF)
$ 55 million* Water Quality Improvement Fund (wastewater treatment plants upgrades)
* Needs assessment coming in these areas

21. 2020 General Assembly will bring changes … TBD …
2019 General Assembly under Republican control (razor thin margins)
House of Delegates 51 Republicans, 49 Democrats
Senate Republicans, 19 Democrats

22. 2020 General Assembly changes …
Committee membership and leadership are proportional per party
VIRGINIAforever and will have to get to know new members and educate on natural resources funding issues
House ACNR, House Appropriations
Senate ACNR, Senate Finance

23. Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Thank you.
Peggy Sanner
Chesapeake Bay Foundation
VIRGINIAforever