Virginians For Health Freedom
Update to the 2013 General Assembly Session
The 2013 session of the General Assembly is now finished for the year. In November, the Joint Commission on Health Care voted 15-0 to ‘Take no Action’ on HB2487, the bill to license Naturopathic Physicians. There is no further action on this bill or from the group of (Naturopaths) during this session. In addition, the Dietitians chose not to submit their bill for licensure this session. And finally, we have not seen any other legislation that would restrict natural health consumers or practitioners in Virginia.
This is the first year in nine years that we did not have an active bill in the General Assembly that threatened the rights of Virginians working in the natural health field and the rights of citizens to seek information on Natural health from the person they choose!
Even though there were no active bills this session, our lobbyists have been busy talking with Legislators, supporting our positions and our rights in natural health. They have also communicated our opposition to restrictive bills that could take away our rights. This effort will continue throughout the year as we prepare for 2014 with the Licensure of Dietitian bill expected to be introduced again. As always, we will keep you posted.
Our thanks go out all our members for their support!!
The annual membership fees help support our mission and our legal efforts. The letters, emails and phone calls to crucial Senators and Delegates opposing restrictive legislation have been heard! Your presence at committee meetings and commission hearings is appreciated and was a powerful force.
We continue to build personal alliances with our own representatives which is incredibly valuable when supporting or opposing legislation. Several of you have shared the positive responses you have received in meetings with your Senator or Delegate which is tremendous.
We know the opposition is persuading these representatives to support their positions so we MUST let them know our positions. We will continue to stand together, increase our membership and speak out on legislation that is restrictive to our choices concerning natural health.
Thanks again for your continued support!
Directions to the Va. General Assembly
General Assembly Building
910 Capitol Street (9th & Broad)
Richmond, Virginia 23219
PLEASE GIVE YOURSELF A HALF HOUR TO PARK AND WALK
The General Assembly Bldg is on Capitol Square,
at 9th and Broad Streets
(building address is 910 Capitol St.)
Entrance is from Capitol Square.
From the west:
· Take 64 East
· Near Richmond, 64-East merges with 95-South
· Stay on 64-East/95-South to exit 75-the 3rd St./Coliseum exit
· The exit ramp puts you on 3rd Street
· Cross Broad St., cross Grace St., turn left on Franklin
· There is a parking lot at Franklin and 7th, on the right.
If you can park there (if the lot isn't full), walk down Franklin (same direction you had been driving) two blocks to 9th (dead end at a light). Turn left on 9th and walk up a couple blocks to the entrance to Capitol Square, on the right.
If the lot at 7th St. is full, there are other lots in that area, so take what you can find. [One possibility, though it often fills up early, is: From 7th and Franklin, continue on Franklin to 9th-(a dead end at a light) turn left on 9th, turn left on Grace, and there's an underground lot on the left, under St. Paul's church].
Or park at the public lot directly across in front of John Marshall Courthouse (9th & Marshall).
From the north, south, or east:
I-95 North Exit 74 C onto Broad Street going west. Turn left at 10th Street,
cross Broad St. and look for parking.
I -95 South Exit 74 C onto Broad Street going west. Turn left at 10th Street,
cross Broad Street and look for parking.
I-64 West Exit 190 onto 5th Street. Turn left onto Marshall Street. Turn right onto 10th Street,
cross Broad Street and look for parking.
I-195 (RMA Downtown Expressway) Exit 7th Street-9th Street. Turn left onto 9th Street.
Turn right onto Broad Street. Turn right onto 10th Street and look for parking.
