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Petition Tag - virginia
31. Keep the Promise to the Coal Miners 
In 1946 a promise was made by Congress to the coal miners, as a direct result of the sweat and blood of generations of coal miners whose toil carried this Nation through war and peace, through the Industrial and the Technological Revolutions.
A promise of cradle to grave health care that manifested itself into the 1992 Coal Act. And a promise made in 1977 to coalfield citizens and communities as a result of the ravages of past abuses, and on the souls of the 118 individuals who perished in 1972 at Buffalo Creek in Logan County, West Virginia.
A promise to reclaim their devastated landscapes, to return their land to productive uses, and to protect their health and safety that is part and parcel of the landmark Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act.
The Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program has been a success. Unlike the Superfund, this program has a track record of real, on-the-ground progress in restoring lands and eliminating health and safety threats. And since 1992, through the transfer of just the interest which accrues to the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund to the Combined Benefit Fund, it has provided health care for tens of thousands of elderly retired coal miners whose former employers can no longer be identified.
The nexus is there. The welfare of abandoned miners and of reclaiming abandoned mines, you see, go hand in hand. To date, the promise has been kept.
Yet, in June of 2005 the fees assessed on the coal industry which finances this effort expire.
If legislation is passed it will keep the promise to some 50,000 retired coal miners that their health care will continue uninterrupted.
Recently the passage of such legislation has shown dire importance, especially in the states of Kentucky, West Virginia and Illinois where On Aug. 31, 2004 in Lexington, KY, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge William Howard finalized the decision allowing Horizon Natural Resources to file bankruptcy, thus voiding union contracts providing health care coverage for nearly 3,000 employees, including 2,300 retirees -- many of whom suffer from black lung as a result of their working years at Horizon. For many of these miners their only hope for health care coverage will be the passage of such legislation.
I urge you and your constituents to move promptly and vote for the passage legislation that would KEEP THE PROMISE TO THE COAL MINERS and to fully understand that thousands of coal miners and retirees futures are hanging in the balance of your decision.
Coal miners and their families, along with countless others who support those miners, will use this issue to evaluate your commitment to working families in America. I await your prompt response.
32. Car Parking at Virginia State University
Faculty and Staff have to pay $90.00 for one car and an extra $10.00 for another car to park in a faculty/staff parking lot. Students with or without decals and other cars without decals are parking in alloted spaces for faculty/staff parking ONLY!!!
33. Virginia Landlord and Tenant Act, ยง 55-248.16 Article 3 - Tenant Obligations #6 and #7 Violation
We, the people, of Building 1201 at Culpeper House Apartments feel the residents in Apartment #111 have violated the Virginia Landlord and Tenant Act. We also feel that our neighborhood aren't safe as long as the residents in apartment #111 continue to live in building 1201. We request the residents of Apartment #111 vacate our building. Please see violations below....
6. Not deliberately or negligently destroy, deface, damage, impair or remove any part of the premises or permit any person to do so whether known by the tenant or not;
7. Conduct himself, and require other persons on the premises with his consent whether known by tenant or not to conduct themselves, in a manner that will not disturb his neighbors' peaceful enjoyment of the premises; ...
Help a Dalmatian find a home. One out of every four dogs in shelters is a purebred dog. Make people aware that there are loving Dalmatians waiting for a forever home. Support your local Dalmatian rescue organization by registering these tags on your vehicle.
35. Stop school uniforms in virginia beach
Its time to take a stand for what's right in virginia beach, i would love to get rid of the uniforms at my school, its very uncomfortable and it doesn't show who i really am. i hate being like everyone else, i want to be treated like an individual... it just isn't working at all..i need help.. please help me!
36. Create Harsher Hazing Laws In USA
A petition to redefine the Virginia Law of Hazing, from a misdemeanor Class A to a higher class, or felony.
37. Fight Discrimination Against Rastas in Virginia
The Virginia Department of Corrections (VDOC) refuses to recognise the religious rights of Rastafarians. They define Rastafari as "Gang-Activity", and have implemented a Grooming Policy (DOP #864) which forbids the growing of Dreadlocks and beards (Precepts) and forces Rastas to break their religious vows.
Rastas who refused to comply and break their religious vows are being punished by being placed insolitary confinement (where they remain after almost 3 years), denied visits, and given harsh and cruel physical and mental punishments.
This is in direct violation of the 1st and 14th Amendment of the US Constitution, Article 1 of the Virginia State Constitution, and also the RLUIP Act of 2000, and should therefore be stopped immediately.
38. Abandon the Proposed Route 29 Bypass in Charlottesville, VA
This petition is intended promote fiscal responsiblitiy with federal and state taxpayer money by calling for the abandonment of this unneeded and unwanted road building project. U.S. Route 29 Bypass in Charlottesville, Virginia is one of the biggest pork barrel road projects in the nation, according to Taxpayers for Common Sense (TCS), a national budget watchdog organization.
The Bypass will again be ranked as one of the nation's 25 most wasteful projects in its 2002 "Road to Ruin" report. The total cost of the bypass would exceed $200 million -- about $30 million per mile or more -MUCH of which would be shouldered by federal taxpayers.
The local county Board of Supervisors does not want it. The majority of residents does not want it.
For years, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has tried to run this 6-mile bypass as their solution to growing traffic on Route 29. However, their own studies show this will not be a good solution (see petition below).
Furthermore, the proposed bypass would cut through the watershed of the community's main drinking water supply and pose an unacceptable risk from erosion, polluted runoff and potential toxic spills.
Under Governor Warner, the Virginia Department of Transportation has undertaken a realistic assessment of its projected revenues and project cost estimates and discovered that it has a major funding shortfall for the projects in its long range plan. It is fiscally irresponsible for VDOT to go forward with this expensive, wasteful project. Governor Warner can put an end to this project.
We now have a rare opportunity to stop the bypass for good. We need your help.