I am writing as a resident of West Springfield, Virginia, and the mother of two young children. I firmly believe that now is the time for all individuals and governments to be doing whatever we can both to reduce emissions from greenhouse gases and to improve the resiliency of communities to withstand the increasing effects of climate change such as increased flooding and other severe weather events. RGGI is not a tax; it is funded by greenhouse gas emitters who rightfully should pay for everything they are costing our world and our children's future by continuing to emit high amounts of greenhouse gases from their power plants. RGGI has been proven in other states to help reduce climate-warming emissions, and in Virginia, funds have already been allocated from RGGI to improve resiliency against extreme weather. We need to continue with RGGI as the law in Virginia for myriad reasons, including: to reduce our contribution to the climate crisis, to improve air and water quality (thereby reducing negative health impacts), to increase the resiliency of coastal communities in our state, and to improve the economy by helping us move into the 21st century with more green jobs and increased stability of people's homes. 

Please, let's not go backwards on Virginia's climate policies. 

I support RGGI and its initiatives, including the CO2 budget trading program. Thank you.