Senator Patsy Ticer
Transportation
The Washington metro area is continuously growing and new commuters join the countless others who travel into DC each day to work. There are also tourists and through travelers who contribute to the serious congestion on our roadways. This issue is not one which will subside in the next ten or twenty years and therefore it is our duty in the state legislature to increase and improve alternative forms of transportation. The less time Virginians spend commuting the more time we can spend with family and friends.
I am a long time member of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Government Transportation Planning Board which approves transportation policies for the Washington metropolitan region. Public transportation is absolutely essential to our region and providing funding for planning, updating the current metro system and investigating other mass transit alternatives.
Education
It is education that is the foundation of our country and our culture. Without strong primary and elementary education some children fall behind and can remain behind throughout their education. It is also incumbent upon us to guarantee that children are ready and prepared to learn when they enter school. Early education development removes inequities and helps children create a foundation for their education. For every one dollar spent by the state on early education development programs seven dollars are saved.
I believe that teachers should be rewarded for continuing education certifications and that all teachers’ salaries should be raised to at least the national median. Virginia cannot expect to improve public education without supporting public school teachers. Investing in quality, well educated teachers, is investing in the future of the Commonwealth.
Environment
Virginia’s environment and land use policies lay the foundation for a successful, healthy future for our children and grandchildren. We are stewards of what we have been given; breathable air, clean water, and a diverse environment of topography, open space and parks in which to function and remain healthy, contributing members of society. Since we have not always been good stewards it is now the responsibility of those who are in power to make choices to clean up the problems created by irresponsibility in the past.
I served on the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation which has established a program for making grants to fund the preservation of endangered land including farm and forest land. Grants, however, are temporary solutions to a problem which truly needs a dedicated source of funding. My legislation created a three year study to provide incentives for private owners to maintain their forest land to dissuade them from selling or developing it. This work is currently ongoing.
Public Safety
I have served on the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), an organization that accredits public safety agencies. It was an honor to serve as a commissioner with police officers and local officials who keep our community safe. Alexandria and Arlington are both currently accredited and Fairfax was formerly accredited.
I have introduced legislation which promotes programs for prisoner re-entry into communities which is helping criminals become meaningful members of that community by helping them with skill training, job placement, and housing.
Public Health
Healthcare or lack thereof in Virginia is a mammoth issue to which the General Assembly has a duty to respond. I created a joint commission which collaborated with professional nursing and medical care organizations to identify short- and long-term solutions to educate, train, recruit, and retain qualified nurses in Virginia. As a member of the Rehabilitation and Social Services Committee, I created legislation which allowed non-profits who deal with young children and the elderly to have criminal records checked nationally through the FBI.
I have created legislation:
- That provides funding for underprivileged women to obtain mammographies and breast cancer treatments.
- That provides funding for hearing aids for children with hearing disabilities who cannot afford them.
- That mandates hospitals to test newborns for congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), a developmental disorder that can result in the death of a newborn child; and for medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MCAD), another birth disorder which can prove to be crippling if not fatal if not caught right away.
Local Government
On the local government committee I have approved town and city charters. I have also pushed for local option, the ability for localities to take independent action and gain power to control their own growth and development as opposed to the state legislature.
Science and Technology
I sponsored a bill which allowed electronic filing of reports, applications, legal filings, etc at the state level. This bill made it more convenient for Virginians to access their local and state governments.