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Adopted Resolutions

MMPCDC Adopts Resolution, Calling on Virginia’s Governor to Affirm that Transgender Troops May Serve Openly in the Virginia National Guard, Virginia Air National Guard, and Virginia Defense Force, on July 17, 2019

RESOLUTION OF THE MANASSAS AND MANASSAS PARK CITIES DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE CALLING ON VIRGINIA’S GOVERNOR TO AFFIRM THAT TRANSGENDER TROOPS MAY SERVE OPENLY IN THE VIRGINIA NATIONAL GUARD, VIRGINIA AIR NATIONAL GUARD, AND VIRGINIA DEFENSE FORCE

WHEREAS, on July 26, 2017, President Donald Trump announced via Twitter that the United States Government would implement a ban on transgender people from serving in the United States Armed Forces by reversing existing policy that allowed transgender servicemembers to serve openly;

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

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

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

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Manassas and Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee strongly opposes President Trump’s discriminatory ban on transgender members of the Armed Forces; and strongly urges Virginia Governor Ralph Northam to affirm that transgender troops may serve openly in the Virginia National Guard, Virginia Air National Guard, and Virginia Defense Force.

Adopted unanimously by the Manassas & Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee on July 17, 2019


MMPCDC Adopts Resolution, in Support of Increased Energy Efficiency and a Rapid Transition to a Renewable Energy Economy, on March 20, 2019

RESOLUTION OF THE MANASSAS & MANASSAS PARK CITIES DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE IN SUPPORT OF INCREASED ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND A RAPID TRANSITION TO A RENEWABLE ENERGY ECONOMY

WHEREAS, as global citizens, we all have a moral, economic, public health, and security imperative to act expeditiously and decisively to protect our fellow human beings, future generations, and our planetary ecosystems from the looming climate crisis caused by fossil fuel combustion;

WHEREAS, we must act, and act together at every level, as individuals, businesses, organizations, towns, cities, counties, states, nations, and a global community;

WHEREAS, climate action taken by localities in the United States and around the world can produce 40% of the pollution reduction needed globally to limit warming to only 1.5 degrees Celsius;

WHEREAS, climate action by localities can also address economic inequality; access and mobility via walking, bicycling, and public transit; infrastructure maintenance and investments; and other major community challenges;

WHEREAS, investments in clean energy and energy efficiency are shown to save localities money in the long-term, proving that a transition to an economy based on energy efficiency, renewable energy, and energy resiliency is also good stewardship of taxpayer dollars;

WHEREAS, one of the core values of the Manassas & Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee is promoting environmental protections and sustainability and energy independence;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Manassas & Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee urges the Manassas & Manassas Park City Councils to work with the Manassas & Manassas Park delegation to the Virginia General Assembly to craft and help enact laws and regulations to encourage energy users to consume less dirty energy and to encourage energy producers to convert to fully renewable resources by 2035;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Manassas & Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee urges the Manassas & Manassas Park City Councils to review current zoning and land use policies and plans to minimize environmental impacts and to promote walking, bicycling, and public transit to reduce personal vehicle use;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Manassas & Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee urges the Manassas & Manassas Park City Councils to develop a plan to increase energy efficiency, reduce dirty energy consumption, and begin converting publicly-owned facilities and transportation fleets to run on hybrid and renewable energy sources; and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Manassas & Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee urges the Manassas & Manassas Park City Councils to incentivize individuals, businesses, and organizations to increase energy efficiency, reduce dirty energy consumption, and maximize their renewable energy potential and net zero capacity;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Manassas & Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee urges the Manassas & Manassas Park City Councils to encourage the General Assembly, in future legislative sessions, to pass legislation that allows localities to further develop renewable energy infrastructure and clean energy production and that requires state-regulated utilities to avoid future investments in dirty-energy infrastructure

Adopted unanimously by the Manassas and Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee on March 20, 2019


MMPCDC Adopts Resolution, Supporting Ratification by the Commonwealth of Virginia of the Equal Rights Amendment to the United States Constitution, on January 16, 2019

RESOLUTION OF THE MANASSAS AND MANASSAS PARK CITIES COMMITTEE IN SUPPORT OF RATIFICATION BY THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA OF THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION

WHEREAS, the United States Constitution does not explicitly guarantee equal rights and equal protection for the sexes; and

WHEREAS, for 47 years, the Commonwealth of Virginia State Constitution has protected Virginians from discrimination by the Commonwealth on the basis of sex; and

WHEREAS, the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution and state constitutional statements of equality generally do not provide the strict scrutiny for sex-based classifications that is provided for classifications based on race, religion and national origin; and

WHEREAS, state laws are not uniform and federal laws are not comprehensive, and these laws can be repealed or reduced; and

WHEREAS, the people of the United States continue to experience the negative effects of lack of political parity between men and women, workplace discrimination, health care inequities, disparate rates of poverty, rape, and domestic violence assaults; and

WHEREAS, the Equal Rights Amendment would provide the “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex” and the Amendment would help ensure women and men have the same constitutional protections; and

WHEREAS, without the Equal Rights Amendment, the statutes and judicial decisions that have led to major advances in women’s rights are vulnerable to being ignored, weakened, or even repealed or reversed; and

WHEREAS, the Equal Rights Amendment would help ensure that women and men have the same constitutional protections; and

WHEREAS, the Equal Rights Amendment was passed by Congress in 1972, and has been ratified by 37 states, the most recent being Nevada in 2017 and Illinois in 2018 and the time limit for the ERA appears only in the preamble and Congress presently is considering a bill that removes the time limit for ratification of the ERA; and

WHEREAS, constitutional equality for women and men continues to be a timely issue in the Commonwealth of Virginia, the United States and worldwide, and 134 other nations have achieved constitutional equality for their women and men;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Manassas and Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee hereby supports the passage, ratification, and implementation of the Equal Rights Amendment so that women are guaranteed equal rights under the law and so that these rights shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Manassas and Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee urges the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment to the United States Constitution, as proposed by Congress in 1972, during the 2019 Virginia legislative session.

Adopted unanimously by the Manassas and Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee on January 16, 2019


MMPCDC Adopts Resolution, Supporting the Rights of All Eligible Workers to Unionize and Bargain for Fair Contracts, on August 15, 2018

RESOLUTION OF THE MANASSAS & MANASSAS PARK CITIES DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE CALLING ALL TO RESPECT THE RIGHTS OF WORKERS

WHEREAS the Manassas & Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee believes strongly in the dignity of all people–regardless of racial or ethnic heritage, national origin, immigration history, religious creed, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, income or wealth, or disability–and supports the rights and freedom of workers; and

WHEREAS in 2016 the Manassas & Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee adopted a resolution opposing the statewide ballot measure to enshrine Virginia’s anti-worker “right-to-work” laws in the Virginia Constitution and then prominently noted that opposition on our sample ballots for the November 8, 2016 election, thus helping to defeat that proposed constitutional amendment; now, therefore

BE IT RESOLVED that the Manassas & Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee calls upon all to respect the rights of all eligible workers to unionize and bargain for fair contracts; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Manassas & Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee fully supports the following statement, found in the beginning of the Democratic National Committee’s Party Platform:  “We will fight to pass laws that direct the National Labor Relations Board to certify a union if a simple majority of eligible workers sign valid authorization cards, as well as laws that bring companies to the negotiating table.  We support binding arbitration to help workers who have voted to join a union reach a first contract.”

Adopted overwhelmingly, with one vote in opposition, by the Manassas and Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee on August 15, 2018


MMPCDC Adopts Resolution, to Preserve PRTC’s Manassas Omnilink Bus Service, on April 3, 2017

RESOLUTION OF THE
MANASSAS AND MANASSAS PARK CITIES DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE
FOR THE PRESERVATION OF
MANASSAS OMNILINK BUS SERVICE

Whereas half of all Manassas Omnilink trips, according to PRTC data, are commutes to work; whereas bus transit benefits and attracts the businesses that employ these bus commuters by helping to ensure a stable, reliable work force; whereas the Omnilink service brings more customers to our local businesses; and whereas many jobs in our area–and especially in greater Manassas–are not accessible by VRE;

Whereas it is honorable and desirable to promote the dignity and full participation of individuals and families throughout our community who because of special needs, disability or advanced years require assistance in mobility, considering that the cost of paratransit is a much more expensive option for those populations;

Whereas it is necessary and desirable that the Manassas-area residents who utilize the bus to attend college or technical school be supported in pursuing gainful employment, further education, and skill development to strengthen their self sufficiency, and standard of living;

Whereas the City of Manassas has allocated some of the PRTC funds for city improvements and used some of the gas tax revenue to afford the debt service for the parking garage and surface lots in addition to VRE and bus service;

Whereas prioritizing the VRE over the bus system would be disproportionately harmful to those of limited means, including senior citizens and veterans;

Whereas Omnilink riders utilize the bus service for medical visits, including hospital lab procedures, pediatric care, immunizations, substance abuse treatment, mental health and counseling appointments required for health, safety and well-being;

Whereas one of the four Manassas Omnilink buses was eliminated in July 2016 to cut costs, leading to reduced ridership, partly because of the infrequency of buses throughout an unchanged geographical area;

Whereas two-thirds of these affected bus riders have no driver’s license for myriad reasons, and face ongoing challenges in attending to the business of their lives, including employment, schooling, shopping, education and social activities in order to be productive, motivated, and contributing citizens; and

Whereas further reductions in the availability of bus transit would have adverse unintended consequences by reducing workforce stability, discouraging college and technical school attendance, reducing physical and mental health care and treatment compliance;

Now therefore be it RESOLVED that the Manassas & Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee:

1.     calls upon the City Councils of Manassas and Manassas Park to not approve any further cuts in the Manassas Omnilink bus service; and

2.     urges the City Councils of Manassas and Manassas Park to aggressively seek additional funds to support increased operating and capital expenditures for public transportation from our state and federal governments.

Adopted unanimously by the Manassas and Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee on April 3, 2017


MMPCDC Opposes Anti-Worker Virginia Constitutional Amendment

On May 2, 2016, the Manassas & Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee unanimously adopted the following resolution against a November 8, 2016 ballot measure–instigated by the Republican-dominated Virginia General Assembly–to enshrine Virginia’s nearly 70-year-old “right to work” laws in Virginia’s Constitution.

On Election Day and during in-person absentee voting on the preceding two Saturdays, MMPCDC distributed Democratic sample ballots to arriving voters that prominently noted our opposition to this proposed constitution amendment.  As a result, the proposed anti-union “right-to-work” state constitutional amendment was opposed 53.49% to 46.51% within the City of Manassas and 55.95% to 44.05% within the City of Manassas Park.  The statewide totals were 53.62% opposed and 46.38% in favor.RESOLUTION EXPRESSING the opposition of the Manassas & Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee to the proposed Virginia Constitutional Amendment on “right to work”

WHEREAS, Virginia’s Constitution is the supreme governing document of this Commonwealth; and amendments and alterations should be made judiciously, prudently, and for the betterment of the citizens; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Virginia has had a set of statewide “right to work” statutes (Code of Virginia §§ 40.1-58 through 40.1-69) in continuous effect since 1947;

WHEREAS, this “right to work” amendment is misleading and is the latest move in an on-going trend of attacking the middle class and stifling workers’ voices on the job; and

WHEREAS, “right to work” laws have proven to give multi-national corporations more power to outsource jobs, cut wages, and reduce benefits at the expense of our workers, small businesses, and the local economy; and

WHEREAS, this amendment is one of many that ignores the public good by unnecessarily depleting  public resources, including more than $130,000 of taxpayer funds to be expended, that would be better spent addressing real issues throughout the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, state legislators should focus on policies that support vital services in our communities, fund our schools, create good jobs, fix our crumbling infrastructure, raise wages, promote equal access, and protect hardworking Virginians; and

WHEREAS, business and labor should work together to create good jobs, improve the economy, and shun interference by special interest groups that seek to minimize the ability of Virginia workers to improve their economic status or deny economic opportunities to the middle class; and

WHEREAS, the collective bargaining rights of workers should be protected; now, therefore

BE IT RESOLVED on this the 2nd day of May, 2016, that the Manassas & Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee expresses its opposition to amending the State Constitution of Virginia to include the “right to work” statute, because it is unnecessary, wastes taxpayer dollars, undermines the promotion of fair labor practices, and detracts attention and resources away from policies designed to support working families and our local communities.

Adopted unanimously by the Manassas and Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee on May 2, 2016

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