Category Archives: Resolutions

Resolution Calling for the Repeal of the so-called "Right to Work" Law

WHEREAS Virginia has been rated the worst state for worker rights two years in a row by Oxfam; and

WHEREAS income inequality has been increasing dramatically in Virginia and nationwide; and

WHEREAS Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “In our glorious fight for civil rights, we must guard against being fooled by false slogans, such as ‘right to work.’ It is a law to rob us of our civil rights and job rights. Its purpose is to destroy labor unions and the freedom of collective bargaining by which unions have improved wages and working conditions of everyone;” and

WHEREAS unions raise wages of unionized workers by roughly 20% and increase total compensation including benefits such as paid sick leave and paid family and medical leave, by about 28% while reducing the gender and racial pay gap; and

WHEREAS in “right to work” states, annual wages are $1,558 less on average than in non “right to work” states, with lower health benefits and pensions and less safety on the job; and

WHEREAS the so-called “right to work” law does not give anyone the right to a job, but instead, in effect, reduces wages, health care, retirement security, and on-the-job safety for all workers; and

WHEREAS repealing the “right to work” from the Virginia Code would allow Virginia workers to organize for better working conditions and family-sustaining wages; and

WHEREAS one of the core values of the Democratic Party is to support worker rights, particularly the right to join and form unions;

WHEREAS repeal of the anti-worker “right to work” law is the best way to send the message that Democrats support economic justice for working people;

Therefore BE IT RESOLVED that:
The Loudoun County Democratic Committee asks the Virginia General Assembly to repeal the misnamed so-called “right to work” law in the 2020 legislative session.

Sources:
https://policy-practice.oxfamamerica.org/work/poverty-in-the-us/best-states-to-work
https://www.npr.org/2019/09/26/764654623/u-s-income-inequality-worsens-widening-to-a-newgap
https://www.afscme.org/now/the-racist-roots-of-right-to-work
https://www.epi.org/blog/unions-help-narrow-the-gender-wage-gap/
https://www.epi.org/publication/martin_luther_king_on_right_to_work/
https://thinkprogress.org/how-union-membership-benefits-african-american-and-latino-workers-
440ce0b8215a/
https://www.epi.org/publication/briefingpapers_bp143/

Resolution asking the Virginia Governor to affirm​ ​that transgender troops may serve openly in our National Guard, Air National Guard, and Virginia Defense Force

WHEREAS, On July 26, 2017, President Trump announced via Twitter that the United States government would reverse the existing policy of allowing transgender service members to serve openly in order to implement a ban on transgender people from serving in the United States Armed Forces;

WHEREAS, The Virginia Governor is the Commander-in-Chief of the Virginia National Guard, Air National Guard, and Virginia Defense Force;

WHEREAS, The Trump Administration’s transgender military ban went into effect on April 12th, 2019 and military academies will begin to refuse transgender students in 2020;

WHEREAS, Transgender servicemembers have served openly since 2016, bravely defending our Nation with distinction while preserving unit cohesion and contributing to military readiness;

WHEREAS, A 2016 study by the RAND Corporation found that allowing transgender Americans to serve openly in the Armed Forces would ‘‘have minimal impact on readiness and health care costs’’ and ‘‘little or no impact on unit cohesion, operational effectiveness or readiness’’;

WHEREAS, Thousands of transgender Americans currently serve actively in the Armed Forces and in the Reserves throughout all branches and military occupational specialties;

WHEREAS, The American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and three former military Surgeons General each have affirmed the medical efficacy of transition-related care and have expressed opposition to President Trump’s discriminatory ban;

WHEREAS, The claims attempting to justify President Trump’s ban are based on flawed scientific and medical assertions;

WHEREAS, There is a global medical consensus that transition-related care is effective, safe, and reliable;

WHEREAS, All five military Chiefs of Staff have testified publicly that the existing policy has had no adverse effect on military readiness;

WHEREAS, At least 18 nations allow transgender people to serve openly and effectively in their armed forces;

WHEREAS, On August 1, 2017, fifty-six retired generals and admirals released a statement affirming, ‘‘This proposed ban, if implemented, would cause significant disruptions, deprive the military of mission-critical talent, and compromise the integrity of transgender troops who would be forced to live a lie, as well as non-transgender peers who would be forced to choose between reporting their comrades or disobeying policy’’;

WHEREAS, Transgender members of the Armed Forces have fought in defense of our freedoms with honor and distinction since our Nation’s founding and have been bestowed with such commendations and awards as the Bronze Star and Purple Heart for their courage and sacrifices;

WHEREAS, President Trump’s ban on transgender members of the Armed Forces targets and stigmatizes an entire class of people;

WHEREAS, President Trump’s ban on transgender members of the Armed Forces would affect all transgender members of the Armed Forces and force them to serve under a policy that stigmatizes and devalues their contributions to our Nation’s defense;

WHEREAS, Six states (California, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, New Jersey, and Washington) are allowing transgender troops to serve in the National Guard despite the Administration’s order.

RESOLVED, On this, the 6th day of June 2019, The Loudoun County Democratic Committee—
(1) strongly opposes President Trump’s discriminatory ban on transgender members of the Armed Forces; and
(2) strongly urges Virginia Governor Ralph Northam affirm that transgender troops may serve openly in our National Guard, Air National Guard, and Virginia Defense Force.

Resolution in Favor of Holding a Climate Debate

WHEREAS the climate crisis is real, is supported by scientific evidence, and is a threat to our planet and to our existence; and

WHEREAS our elected officials and other leaders have ignored the warnings of scientists for decades regarding the climate crisis; and

WHEREAS many communities are already suffering the effects of the climate crisis, including flooding, forest fires, droughts, more intense storms causing more extensive damage, sea-level rise, and shifting of plant and animal ranges; and

WHEREAS we need to make drastic reductions in greenhouse gasses by 2030, and the longer we wait, the harder the solutions become to implement, and yet emissions are still going up; and

WHEREAS we are still building new fossil fuel infrastructure and giving special tax treatment to fossil fuel companies, despite the fact that renewables pricing is now competitive with fossil fuels; and

WHEREAS the 2016 presidential election debates essentially ignored climate, and the first Democratic debates for 2020 seem to be following in this vein, having spent just 13 minutes over the two nights/4 hours, and only 10 of the 20 candidates were able to respond; and

WHEREAS the adverse effects of the climate crisis have the greatest impact on the most vulnerable members of society; and

WHEREAS the climate crisis affects just about every aspect of our economy, including energy usage, transportation, building construction, food production, availability of potable water, and therefore cannot be equated with a single issue; the impact of the climate crisis is too broad and the issue is too complicated to be properly addressed in a couple of debate questions; and

WHEREAS at least twenty Democratic presidential candidates and a strong majority of Democratic voters support having a debate on climate change; and

WHEREAS the candidates have proposed a broad range of solutions to the climate crisis, and a discussion is needed to highlight the differences in each candidate’s approach; and

WHEREAS American voters deserve to hear from the candidates who are asking for their votes to lead our country as to how they would address this overarching crisis; therefore

RESOLVED on the first day of August, 2019, the Loudoun County Democratic Committee joins the Sunrise Movement and other activists in calling on the Democratic National Committee (DNC) to host a presidential primary debate that is wholly about the climate crisis in all its aspects, and urges in the strongest possible terms that all DNC members, and in particular the Virginia delegation to the DNC, and all DNC Resolutions Committee members, to vote for and support a presidential primary climate debate.

Resolution in support of The Renewables First Act by Zero Carbon Virginia

WHEREAS, The Loudoun County Democratic Committee is a body that respects science, believes the predominant view of the scientific community that climate change is anthropogenic, and is working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions;

WHEREAS, The Renewables First Act (RFA) will place a moratorium on constructing new fossil fuel electric generation capacity until renewable energy generation facilities with 5,500 megawatts capacity are in operation in Virginia;

WHEREAS, According to the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) report on “Global Warming of 1.5°C”, the world faces severe, irreversible consequences if global temperatures increase by more than 1.5°C over pre-industrial levels. Limiting warming to 1.5°C would require “rapid and far-reaching” transitions in land, energy, industry, buildings, transport, and cities. The IPCC report’s modeling suggests that 70-80% of the world’s electricity will need to come from renewable sources by 2050;

WHEREAS, Less than 1 percent of Virginia’s total electricity generation came from solar in 2017;

WHEREAS, Virginia is 17th in the country in solar capacity, with 635 MW. North Carolina, a similar state in size and geography, is 2nd in the country with 4,490 MW;

WHEREAS, Virginia is currently one of only 9 states in the country without any utility-scale wind power;

WHEREAS, The Virginia Grid Transformation and Security Act of 2018 (VGTSA) establishes that 5500MW total of solar and wind capacity is in the public interest;

WHEREAS, The 2018 Virginia Energy Plan calls for 3000 MW of solar and onshore wind by 2022 and 2000 MW of offshore wind by 2028;

WHEREAS, Dominion’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) calls for meeting the coming capacity gap of 5500MW in its service area (which includes most of Virginia and some of North Carolina) by using a mix of renewables and a minimum of 8 natural gas plants; Therefore be it:

RESOLVED, On this, the 3rd day of January 2019, The Loudoun County Democratic Committee supports the passage of The Renewables First Act by the Virginia General Assembly;

RESOLVED, The Loudoun County Democratic Committee demands a justified and rapid transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

WHEREAS, The Loudoun County Democratic Committee is a body that respects science, believes the predominant view of the scientific community that climate change is anthropogenic, and is working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions;

WHEREAS, The Renewables First Act (RFA) will place a moratorium on constructing new fossil fuel electric generation capacity until renewable energy generation facilities with 5,500 megawatts capacity are in operation in Virginia;

WHEREAS, According to the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) report on “Global Warming of 1.5°C”, the world faces severe, irreversible consequences if global temperatures increase by more than 1.5°C over pre-industrial levels. Limiting warming to 1.5°C would require “rapid and far-reaching” transitions in land, energy, industry, buildings, transport, and cities. The IPCC report’s modeling suggests that 70-80% of the world’s electricity will need to come from renewable sources by 2050;

WHEREAS, Less than 1 percent of Virginia’s total electricity generation came from solar in 2017;

WHEREAS, The Commonwealth of Virginia is 17th in the country in solar capacity, with 635 MW. North Carolina, a similar state in size and geography, is 2nd in the country with 4,490 MW;

WHEREAS, The Commonwealth of Virginia is currently one of only nine states in the country without any utility-scale wind power;

WHEREAS, The Virginia Grid Transformation and Security Act of 2018 (VGTSA) establishes that 5500 MW total of solar and wind capacity is in the public interest;

WHEREAS, The 2018 Virginia Energy Plan calls for 3000 MW of solar and onshore wind by 2022 and 2000 MW of offshore wind by 2028;

WHEREAS, Dominion Electric’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) calls for meeting the coming capacity gap of 5500 MW in its service area (which includes most of Virginia and some of North Carolina) by using a mix of renewables and a minimum of 8 natural gas plants;

Therefore be it: RESOLVED, On this, the 3rd day of January 2019, The Loudoun County Democratic Committee supports the passage of The Renewables First Act by the Virginia General Assembly;

RESOLVED, The Loudoun County Democratic Committee demands a justified and rapid transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

LCDC Resolution To Virginia’s Congressional Delegation: A National Bank for Infrastructure and Industry

WHEREAS, the United States faces an acknowledged infrastructure crisis, estimated to be $4 trillion less than necessary to bring our roads, bridges, and other public structures to meet current standards.,¹ and,

WHEREAS, the American Society of Civil Engineers gave the State of Virginia a grade of C- in its 2017 Infrastructure Report Card;

WHEREAS, Virginia received a D grade on the condition of its roads, with the gridlocked District/Virginia/Maryland metro area ranked second-worst in the nation;

WHEREAS, 935 bridges are rated structurally deficient, and the state received a D on wastewater treatment, with a projected deficit of $6.5 billion over the next two decades;

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Virginia needs to expand its rail system to meet current and growing population and freight demands;

WHEREAS, meeting the needs for modernization of our Infrastructure is beyond the fiscal capacity of the Commonwealth and most states;

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth has the fiscal capacity for partial funding of infrastructure projects, as do other states and localities, we must have a reliable cost-sharing public partner for long-term stable funding for infrastructure modernization;²

WHEREAS, a National Bank for Infrastructure and Industry (The Bank) could partner with Virginia, other states, and their instrumentalities to provide shared responsibility for the necessary reliable funding; ³

WHEREAS, The National Infrastructure Bank would be capitalized at $3-4 trillion, within current fiscal constraints. ⁴

WHEREAS, a report by the Brookings Institute has concluded that “There is strong evidence that a period of increased infrastructure investment effort could provide large benefits to the American economy. It could provide a fiscal expansion in an economy where aggregate demand growth has been stubbornly slow for years

WHEREAS, public infrastructure investments enhance economic output and productivity, stimulating stable employment growth with higher real wages, and have larger returns per dollar than many alternative public investments; ⁵

AND WHEREAS, this policy has been widely endorsed by national associations of public officials and institutions, ⁶

NOW THERFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Loudoun County Democratic Committee hereby urges our elected Congressional delegation to introduce, support and enact legislation to create and authorize appropriations for The National Bank for Infrastructure and Industry.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution be delivered to all members of the Virginia Congressional Delegation for their immediate consideration and action.

FOOTNOTES
¹ The American Society of Civil Engineers, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and the North American Building Trades Unions all estimate the shortfall at approximately $4 trillion. This does not account for needed spending on new projects, including high-speed rail systems, water projects, a modernized power grid, and nationwide broadband.

² The Bank could provide Virginia’s share of funding for Metro, thus avoiding the Hobson’s Choice of funding its share of metro by diverting money away from other important regional transportation projects.

⁴ The Bank would be funded on the successful model of George Washington and Alexander Hamilton’s First National Bank of the United States using the debt incurred to finance the Revolutionary War as the source of capital. The same approach was the basis for capitalizing subsequent institutions, including the Lincoln Banking Acts and Franklin Roosevelt’s Reconstruction Finance Corporation. In other words, financing would be provided by monetizing approximately $4 trillion of the $17 trillion in existing Treasury notes to “useful projects.” Bondholders would be offered preferred stock shares in exchange, on a one-to-one basis, bearing interest 2 points higher than the bond rate in exchange for their holdings. Annual financing of the approximately $88 billion differential would be subject to Congressional appropriations. By way of comparison, this is approximately the $90 billion annual cost of building and operating the Navy’s 2017 proposed 355 ship fleet expansion. (See, Congressional Budget Office, “Costs of Building a 355-Ship Navy Fleet,” (April 2017).

⁵ Josh Bivens, “The potential macroeconomic benefits from increasing infrastructure investment,” Congressional Research Service (July 18, 2017) CRS estimates that the return of such investments may be as high as 30-40%. p.12.

⁶ These include: Democratic Municipal Officials, the National Federation of Federal Employees, the National Latino Farmers and Ranchers Association, Our Revolution Northern Virginia, the Loudoun County Progressives, and others. Sixteen state legislatures have filed resolutions in support.

The Democratic Party Of Virginia Celebrates the Life of Thelma Virginia Dodson

Whereas, The Democratic Party of Virginia celebrates the talents, wisdom, and dedication of Thelma Virginia Dodson and recognizes the loss to all with her passing on June 29, 2018.

Thelma was a lifelong Democratic voter and, in her later years, a dedicated campaign activist.

Thelma, who was born to Robert Wiley and Alberta Pinkett Simms on January 8, 1936, spent her life providing service to many. After fifteen years with the Department of Defense and at age 47, Thelma became a Licensed Practical Nurse, devoting herself to home care and hospice work.

Thelma engaged in many community projects, including marches, protests, and voter registration drives, to give voice to the underserved and support to the many different causes about which she felt passionately. Her volunteer work included the Loudoun County Mental Health Center, NAACP (Life Member), MLK March, Douglass Alumni Association, and the Bluemont Concert Series.

When Thelma’s son, Poonie, died from HIV/AIDS in 1993, Thelma spoke out at a time when HIV/AIDS was regarded with suspicion by some communities. She designed and made a panel in honor of her son for the AIDS Quilt Project. Thelma never did things by halves. She and her husband, Alvin Dodson, were lead volunteers and spent long hours and days coordinating and unfolding the Memorial Quilt that contained 40,000 panels and 70,000 names. Thelma was one of many distinguished readers selected to proudly announce those names on the steps of our Nation’s Capitol.

When Thelma joined the 2012 Obama Campaign, she demonstrated her commitment by helping to launch the Virginia Women for Obama organization. Between 2012 and the end of 2017 when she became ill, Thelma worked in Loudoun on every campaign – local, state and federal. She spent many hours at campaign offices: canvassing, phone banking, training other volunteers, running staging locations, and providing food for the volunteers and staffers. Thelma was a presence among Loudoun Democrats, as evidenced by those who attended her memorial, including Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring, Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chair Phyllis Randall, and Loudoun County Supervisor (Sterling District) Koran Saines.

Somehow, Thelma also found time to help with repairs to the Ashburn Colored School after it was vandalized.

In 2013, Thelma marched in the July 4th Leesburg Parade with a group dressed in historical garb. Thelma was dressed as Harriet Tubman. Harriet Tubman would have been proud.

In short, Thelma was anything and everything one could ask for in a volunteer. She was efficient, energetic, organized, always kind-hearted, and always THERE. She is missed greatly by the Democratic community in Loudoun.

Therefore, be it Resolved, the Democratic Party of Virginia notes with great sadness the loss of Thelma Virginia Dodson; celebrates her life, and, requests that the Loudoun County Democratic Committee prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Thelma Virginia Dodson, as an expression of respect and affection for Thelma and appreciation for her service to the Democratic Party, the Committee, and the County of Loudoun.

Resolution Supporting Didlake Employees’ Right To Organize

WHEREAS, Didlake is a local corporation based in Manassas, Virginia the stated mission of which is to “create opportunities that enrich the lives of people with disabilities;” and

WHEREAS, Didlake employees at the Arlington National Guard voted in 2017 to join a union by secret ballot in a National Labor Relations Board election; and

WHEREAS, the workers (disabled and non-disabled, immigrant and US-born, LGBTQ and straight, young and old) joined together to form a union in order to have a voice on the job, and to advocate for better pay, benefits, and working conditions; and

WHEREAS, the company has refused to recognize the union, and is calling on the Trump-appointed National Labor Relations Board to invalidate the election results on the grounds that its employees do not have the right to unionize because they are disabled; and

WHEREAS, the Regional Director of the National Labor Relations Board ruled in favor of the workers and stated that Didlake’s disabled employees have the same rights as non-disabled workers; and

WHEREAS, the Loudoun County Democratic Committee believes strongly in the dignity of all people, disabled and non-disabled, and support the right of all workers to unionize; therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, On this, the 6th day of September 2018, The Loudoun County Democratic Committee professes its support of the right of all employees to organize; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Loudoun County Democratic Committee supports the Didlake employees’ right to organize; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Loudoun County Democratic Committee urges CEO of Didlake to grant recognition of the union and open talks with the union as soon as possible to discuss and resolve terms of a fair contract that addresses the issues of basic justice they seek.

Resolution Against the Cruel Immigration Policies of the Trump Administration

WHEREAS, The Loudoun County Democratic Committee is a body that fosters a culture of inclusion which celebrates, mobilizes, and builds equality, diversity, justice and the rule of law;

WHEREAS, The Loudoun County Democratic Committee welcomes immigrants as future American citizens, recognizes immigration as a necessary lifeblood in reasonable, constructive, healthy societies, and acknowledges the many contributions of immigrant communities to the richness and vibrancy of American society;

WHEREAS, The United States has always welcomed and empowered those seeking protection from tyranny and therefore the Loudoun County Democratic Committee regards the stigmatization or criminalization of any refugee seeking asylum from the ravages of civil war, violence, injustice or oppression as inherently immoral and un-American;

WHEREAS, The right to seek asylum is codified in US and international law, and is a basic human right, and is a form of legal immigration; which right must be afforded due process of law;

WHEREAS, The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), and NumbersUSA have for decades promoted a vicious, reactionary nativism appealing to fear and ignorance contrary to the “better angels of our nature” as Americans;

WHEREAS, FAIR, CIS, and NumbersUSA have continually called for sharp decreases in lawful immigration, perpetuated a narrative that immigrants must prove themselves before being admitted and that immigration is harmful to the national identity of the United States, called immigrants thieves, criminals, job stealers, and opportunists, created political terminology with no basis in law or fact designed to further their radical nativist views on aspiring Americans, have advocated for laws and policies that de-document as many immigrants as possible, and supported detention and deportation as the only solutions to the problems they describe;

WHEREAS, FAIR, CIS, and NumbersUSA have been instrumental in legitimating the Trump administration’s brutal and inhumane immigration policies, which result in the separation of children from their parents when entering the United States, frequently including those seeking asylum;

WHEREAS, The immoral and illegal practice of separating and incarcerating families seeking asylum in the United States appears to be the brainchild of White House Senior Policy Advisor Stephen Miller, whose connections to white nationalist organizations are well established;

WHEREAS, The threat of criminal prosecution and deportation that has been adopted by the Trump administration not only adopts cruelty as policy, but criminalizes the very right to seek asylum, safety, and a better future for themselves and their families in the United States; Therefore be it:

RESOLVED, On this, the 26th day of July 2018, The Loudoun County Democratic Committee vociferously condemns the Trump administration’s policies allowing forcible separation of parents from their children and subjecting them to deportation, and decries the planned and ongoing incarceration of entire families, including
children

RESOLVED, The Loudoun County Democratic Committee demands the immediate termination of White House Senior Policy Advisor Stephen Miller.

RESOLVED, The Loudoun County Democratic Committee hereby urgently appeals to Virginia’s delegation to the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate to act immediately to stand against, and work to curtail the administration’s discretion to separate and incarcerate refugee families and subject them to deportation without independent legal representation and due process of law, and work to reunite separated families as
expeditiously as possible.

RESOLVED, The Loudoun County Democratic Committee demands that all displaced persons and their families be allowed to seek asylum free of impediment as required in 8 US. Code 1158.