school bus alert

School Bus Alert

Special to the HERALD
(From the Issue of 2/8/07)

The following legislative alert was sent out to Virginia Catholics on Feb. 6 by Jeff Caruso, executive director of the Virginia Catholic Conference (VCC).

After surviving two contentious House committee hearings, a bill that would permit (but not require) local school boards to provide bus transportation to nonpublic-school students has been approved by the full House of Delegates by a 73-25 vote. But the stiffest challenge lies ahead.
The bill (HB 2302) has been referred to the Senate Committee on Education and Health, where the same measure has been defeated two years in a row. The members of this committee need to hear from as many Virginia voters as possible about the benefits of this legislation, which would help parents and children, allow innovative solutions in areas with heavy traffic, and promote collaboration between public and nonpublic schools. Please click here to send a message in support of HB 2302 to the 15 members of the Education and Health committee. A hearing on this bill could occur as soon as Thursday, Feb. 8.
If you wish to contact the committee members by phone instead, their numbers are as follows:

Senator H. Russell Potts, Jr. - 804-698-7527
Senator Frederick M. Quayle - 804-698-7513
Senator Nick Rerras - 804-689-7506
Senator Frank M. Ruff, Jr. - 804-698-7515
Senator J. Brandon Bell II - 804-698-7522
Senator Stephen H. Martin - 804-698-7511
Senator Stephen D. Newman - 804-698-7523
Senator Harry B. Blevins - 804-698-7514
Senator Richard L. Saslaw - 804-698-7535
Senator Benjamin J. Lambert III - 804-698-7509
Senator Janet D. Howell - 804-698-7532
Senator L. Louise Lucas - 804-698-7518
Senator Mary Margaret Whipple - 804-698-7531
Senator John S. Edwards - 804-698-7521
Senator R. Edward Houck - 804-698-7517