Legislative Campaigns: Virginia General Assembly 2022
VCHR achieved two wins during the 2022 legislative session:
- Adoption of HJ 82, which designates April as Arab American Heritage month. [Tweet]
- Withdrawal of HB 1161, which required contracts to include language that prohibits the boycott of Israel. [Tweet]
Adopted - HJ 82: Arab American Heritage Month; designating as April 2022, and each succeeding year thereafter.
VCHR expressed support for HJ 82, a proposal from Senator Sam Rasoul to designate April as Arab American Heritage month. The proposal was adopted.
VCHR's Zeina Hutchinson spoke in favor of the proposal at the Committee on Rules. Below is a video recording of Zeina Hutchinson's speech:
Withdrawn - HB 1161: Virginia Public Procurement Act; required contract provisions; prohibition on participation in boycott of Israel.
The issue
VCHR expressed opposition to HB 1161, which prohibits contractors to participate in a boycott of Israel when engaged in work on public contracts over $10,000. In summary, this bill states:
Virginia Public Procurement Act; required contract provisions; prohibition on participation in boycott of Israel. Requires all public bodies to include in every contract of more than $10,000 certain provisions, outlined in the bill, related to participation in a boycott of Israel, its instrumentalities, or any of its territories while engaged in commercial activities pursuant to the terms of the contract. The bill also provides that such contractors shall include those same provisions in every subcontract or purchase order of more than $10,000, so that the provisions will be binding upon each subcontractor or vendor.
This bill goes against what VCHR stands for, including the right to boycott.
The outcome
HB 1161 never came to a vote. It was referred to the Committee on General Laws and there declared "Failed".
The virtual Team VCHR against HB 1161