Jennifer Carroll Foy in 2021 VA Governor's race
On Environment:
Power plant should meet EPA standards on coal ash
Foy's drafting a bill to require Dominion to contract to recycle as much ash as possible and then "clean close the rest of it.""That means it's excavated and removed to an offsite landfill, away from waterways, that meets current EPA standards,"
Foy said. "Away from our communities where it can have irreparable harm to our children, to our drinking water to our waterways. We have to protect our rivers. That's what I want to happen."
Source: Prince Williams Times on 2021 Virginia Gubernatorial race
Dec 19, 2018
On Abortion:
Remove politically motivated restrictions on abortion
As a Delegate, I:- Led the charge for the Reproductive Health Protection Act to preserve reproductive freedom and removed politically motivated restrictions on abortion.
- Advocated for paid family and medical leave.
- Passed the Pregnant Worker
Fairness Act, requiring all employers to offer commonsense accommodations to pregnant workers.
- Passed legislation to reduce the black maternal mortality rate.
Source: 2021 Virginia governor campaign site JenniferCarrollFoy.com
Feb 21, 2021
On Budget & Economy:
Expand tax credit to spur investment in new products
One tool that can get Virginians on the path to stable, high-paying employment is union apprenticeship programs. My administration will set aside funds to create a public awareness campaign to make the
availability of union apprenticeships more visible to Virginians who may want to apply by working with high-school career counselors.
I will expand the Major Research and Development Tax Credit to spur more investments in the development of new products and improvements in cutting edge technologies, while also working to expand research and development programs
by strengthening partnerships between U.Va., Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, and Norfolk State University, and more. When the government invests in new ideas, it can result in profitable enterprises.
Source: 2021 Virginia governor campaign site JenniferCarrollFoy.com
Feb 21, 2021
On Budget & Economy:
Proposed state funding for job training
I introduced amendments to the state budget to expand two key workforce development programs--the Virginia Jobs Investment Program and the Virginia Talent Accelerator Program. These programs would have given Virginians the skills they need to be
competitive in today's economy. I was proud to include funding for job training to help those affected by job losses due to COVID-19 in the state budget.
Source: 2021 Virginia governor campaign site JenniferCarrollFoy.com
Feb 21, 2021
On Civil Right:
Add sexual orientation & gender identity to Human Rights Act
- Eliminate the LGBTQIA+ "panic defense," thereby suspending leniency for violence committed because of one's gender identity or sexual orientation.
- Champion a bill that clarifies the VA Human Rights Act by defining sexual & workplace
harassment to include harassment based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
- Continue to declare every June as LGBTQIA+ pride month to further educate the public about the LGBTQIA+ movement and to commemorate its milestones and progress.
Source: 2021 Virginia governor campaign site JenniferCarrollFoy.com
Feb 21, 2021
On Civil Rights:
Increase state buying from women/minority owned businesses
Support small, women-owned and minority-owned (SWaM) businesses. It is critical we apply an equity lens as well to ensure that small businesses that have historically found the deck stacked against them--such as those owned by people of color or
women--have an equal shot. Through an executive order, my administration will increase the Commonwealth's discretionary spending for buying goods and services from SWaM businesses to a historic high of 45%.
Source: 2021 Virginia governor campaign site JenniferCarrollFoy.com
Feb 21, 2021
On Corporations:
Require banks to direct more funds to small businesses
We must look at ways we can use the levers of state government to ensure the capital needs of small businesses are met. Banks and financial entities wanting to do business in Virginia should be required to devote a certain proportion of
their resources to angel investments, increase the percentage of funds invested by state pension programs that are going to angel investments, and direct more of those funds to small businesses in Virginia.
[Definition of "angel investments" from Investopedia, downloaded Feb. 2021]: An angel investor (also known as a private investor, seed investor or angel funder)
is a high-net-worth individual who provides financial backing for small startups or entrepreneurs, typically in exchange for ownership equity in the company.]
Source: 2021 Virginia governor campaign site JenniferCarrollFoy.com
Feb 21, 2021
On Crime:
Prohibit police using chokeholds; address bail reform
As a Delegate, I:- Sponsored legislation to address cash bail reform, the ban on parole, and the issue of "driving poor"--all of which contribute to mass incarceration and cyclical patterns of joblessness and poverty within minority communities
-
Sponsored a bill prohibiting the use of neck restraints, such as chokeholds, by law enforcement.
Source: 2021 Virginia governor campaign site JenniferCarrollFoy.com
Feb 21, 2021
On Drugs:
Introduced legislation to legalize marijuana
As a Delegate I introduced legislation to legalize marijuana, which is key to
putting an end to the mass incarceration of Black and Brown communities.
Source: 2021 Virginia governor campaign site JenniferCarrollFoy.com
Feb 21, 2021
On Education:
Restructure funding formulas so schools get what they need
My administration will fund our K-12 education system by restructuring the Standards of Quality funding formulas to ensure that schools are getting the resources they need. I'll invest in more opportunities for English language learners and immigrant
children. Limiting the obstacles our children face in reaching their academic potential ensures that every child, regardless of their circumstances or location, has the opportunity to achieve in the future.
Source: 2021 Virginia governor campaign site JenniferCarrollFoy.com
Feb 21, 2021
On Education:
Recruit more teachers of color
As a Delegate, I: - Passed my Diversifying the Teacher Workforce Act, helping to eliminate unnecessary barriers to gaining a teacher certification that disproportionately hurt minority educators.
-
Supported bills to increase teacher mentorship programs and Grow Your Own recruitment efforts that recruit more teachers of color.
Source: 2021 Virginia governor campaign site JenniferCarrollFoy.com
Feb 21, 2021
On Energy & Oil:
Tax credit for commercial buildings that go green
My administration will invest $3 million to spearhead a tax credit for commercial buildings that go green, including nonresidential buildings or interior buildings and eligible retrofitted entities.
I will continue to provide funding for green renovations to existing government buildings, roadways, and bridges.
These types of retrofitting and clean construction projects will create jobs for Virginians in every region. I'll invest in green energy production, bringing high paying jobs to the
Commonwealth, protect funding for state parks, safeguard additional land for public use, and pass the Virginia Green New Deal.
Source: 2021 Virginia governor campaign site JenniferCarrollFoy.com
Feb 21, 2021
On Energy & Oil:
Expand training for workers interested in solar careers
I will direct funding to the Solar Hands-On Instructional Network of Excellence (SHINE) and other programs to expand education and training for workers interested in solar careers. We will allocate an additional $2 million annually to ensure these
programs maximize job creation amidst Virginia's transition to a clean energy economy. I will work with community colleges to secure the capital needed to fund workforce development credits with a focus on solar and offshore wind workforce programs.
Source: 2021 Virginia governor campaign site JenniferCarrollFoy.com
Feb 21, 2021
On Government Reform:
Limit state political contributions to federal limits
We must institute limits on individual political contributions that mirror the federal limit, which stood at $2,900 per election to candidate committees in the 2019-2020 cycle, with a mechanism to index that limit for inflation.Virginia also permits
corporations to make unlimited political donations. It's time to level the playing field and ban such corporate contributions entirely. Large companies with massive financial resources shouldn't get an elevated seat at the table, which is why the FEC
prohibits such donations in federal elections. We must join them so our elections can put Virginians first, rather than massive multinational companies.
Virginia has one of the weaker cooling off periods in the nation, banning elected officials from
lobbying their former colleagues for only one year after leaving office. By extending this one year cooling off period to five years, we will slow the revolving door between state lawmakers and the lobbying sector and strengthen good governance.
Source: 2021 Virginia governor campaign site JenniferCarrollFoy.com
Feb 21, 2021
On Homeland Security:
One of the first African-American women to graduate from VMI
In high school, she was a member of the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC). Upon watching the Supreme Court make the landmark decision to open the door for women to attend Virginia Military Institute (VMI), Jennifer knew she had to attend.
Jennifer was one of the first African-American women to graduate from VMI. Having spent four years at Virginia Military Institute, Jennifer learned to address problems head-on and never back down from a fight--and she learned service above self.
Source: 2021 Virginia governor campaign site JenniferCarrollFoy.com
Feb 21, 2021
On Homeland Security:
Restore programs that help veterans enter the workforce
As a Delegate, I:- Passed legislation allowing service-disabled veteran-owned businesses to purchase property that the government no longer needs.
- Proposed amendments to restore programs that help veterans enter the workforce--Virginia's Job
Investment Program and Talent Accelerator Program.
- Co-sponsored legislation expanding access to alternative treatment options for those experiencing PTSD.
- Led efforts to raise funding for programs and initiatives geared towards women veterans.
Source: 2021 Virginia governor campaign site JenniferCarrollFoy.com
Feb 21, 2021
On Immigration:
Supported driver's licenses for undocumented residents
As Delegate, I:- Worked to pass the Virginia Dream Act, bringing higher education to all our Virginians regardless of their immigration status.
-
Supported legislation to make it possible for undocumented residents to acquire driver's licenses.
- Proposed a budget amendment to repeal outdated work restrictions that prevent many from accessing the healthcare that they need.
Source: 2021 Virginia governor campaign site JenniferCarrollFoy.com
Feb 21, 2021
On Jobs:
Sponsored bill to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour
As a Delegate, I:- Passed groundbreaking legislation instituting a prevailing wage on all state-funded construction projects
- Co-sponsored legislation repealing the "Comstock Rule" that banned the use of Project Labor Agreements and
helped thousands of construction workers get quality health coverage
- Sponsored legislation to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour
- Passed a bill that cracks down on companies that don't pay their workers.
We know that the opportunity to join a union--no matter where you work--is the best way to raise wages, improve working conditions, create family-sustaining jobs,
and create an economy that works for everyone. As Governor, I will elevate workers' voices and make Virginia a pro-worker model for the nation.
Source: 2021 Virginia governor campaign site JenniferCarrollFoy.com
Feb 21, 2021
On Principles & Values:
If you have been blessed, then be a blessing to others
She was raised by her grandmother--a leader in the community. Jennifer's grandmother instilled in her the values and principles of honor, commitment, and service. Her grandmother would say, "Jenn, if you have it, you have to give it." What she meant
was: If you have a warm home, you open your door. If you have strength and compassion, you lend it. If you have been blessed, then be a blessing to others. Jennifer saw her grandmother giving all she had--even when she didn't have much to give.
Source: 2021 Virginia governor campaign site JenniferCarrollFoy.com
Feb 21, 2021
On Technology:
Integrate technology and coding into course curriculum
As Governor, I will double down on efforts to ensure that students from all backgrounds--especially women, English-language learners and Black and Brown students--have access to computer coding education.
I will ensure teachers have the training and resources needed to teach coding courses and push the Department of Education to continue to integrate technology and coding into course curriculum.
Source: 2021 Virginia governor campaign site JenniferCarrollFoy.com
Feb 21, 2021
On Education:
Expand early childhood education to lower age brackets
She sees the intersection of early childhood education with equity and workforce development. By expanding early childhood education to lower age brackets, Carroll Foy said this bolsters the working parents' childcare needs
with reaching younger demographics of children who have sometimes started their K-12 education steps behind others.
Source: Charlottesville Tomorrow on 2021 Virginia Governor race
Feb 16, 2021
On Health Care:
Lower prescription costs; stop pharma price gouging
[On drug cost]: "I'll never forget sitting at the table trying to decide if we were going to pay for our mortgage that month or medicine," Carroll Foy explained of caring for her quadriplegic grandmother. "I wanted to make sure that no other person had
to make this impossible decision." As governor, she plans to work to lower prescription costs, hold pharmaceutical companies accountable for price gouging and seek ways to help local governments in programs that aid their constituents.
Source: Charlottesville Tomorrow on 2021 Virginia Governor race
Feb 16, 2021
On Principles & Values:
Our faith leaders among people making a strong community
I grew up in Petersburg, Virginia, one of the poorest communities in our commonwealth. Petersburg is a strong community thanks to the people I grew up with: our faith leaders; my teacher, Sgt. Maj. Frost; and my grandmother, Mary Lee.
People in our community fought to keep Petersburg alive when politicians of the past turned their backs on us. It's a town that had been left behind.
Source: Charlottesville Tomorrow on 2021 Virginia Governor race
May 24, 2021
On Health Care:
Ensure doulas are covered by Medicaid
Carroll Foy feels strongly that her pain was dismissed because she's a Black woman. It's a well-documented phenomenon: doctors dismissing the pain of Black patients in general due to racial biases.
Black women are 243% more likely to die in childbirth or from pregnancy-related conditions than white women. She wants to ensure doulas are covered by Medicaid, so low-income black mothers will always have someone advocating for them.
[Definition of "doula " from DONA.org, downloaded Feb. 2021]: A doula is a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to a mother before,
during and shortly after childbirth to help her achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible.
Source: Elle Magazine on 2021 Virginia gubernatorial race
Feb 16, 2021
On Principles & Values:
Almost died after childbirth: motivated run for governor
She almost died after giving birth because, as is the case for many Black women, white doctors and nurses downplayed and dismissed her excruciating postpartum pain. That, combined with her experience growing up poor and without health care in rural
Virginia, has motivated her run to be the first Black woman governor in American history. "When people say identity politics don't matter, what they're also saying is that other people's lived experiences don't matter," she says.
Source: Elle Magazine on 2021 Virginia gubernatorial race
Feb 16, 2021
On Budget & Economy:
Increase unemployment benefits to mirror nearby states
Carroll Foy said she would seek to increase the state's unemployment benefits to mirror those of surrounding states. "It is unrealistic to believe that your average family can cover their expenses--food on the table, roof over the head, utility bills--
with the amount of money Virginia provides in unemployment benefits," Carroll Foy said. "Our neighboring states recognize that and pay more. We can use money from our general fund to shore up families."
Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch on 2021 Virginia gubernatorial race
Feb 2, 2021
On Tax Reform:
Refund income taxes to those earning less than $20,000
Carroll Foy said she supports legislation that would make income taxes refundable to people who earn under
$20,000 a year. "(They) can get that money back to pay for child care, transportation, put food on the table," Carroll Foy said.
Source: The Progress-Index on 2021 Virginia Gubernatorial race
Feb 22, 2021
On Gun Control:
Got impactful, commonsense gun safety legislation passed
Democrats initially tried to pass eight measures Gov. Ralph Northam had proposed last year, including a ban on assault-style weapons. Moderate Democrats got cold feet, and that ban didn't pass. "I am a little disappointed we weren't able to get the
eight out of eight gun safety bills brought forth by the governor," said Carroll Foy. Still, she added, "we were able to get very impactful, commonsense gun safety legislation passed."
Source: WAMU 88.5-FM on 2021 Virginia Gubernatorial race
Mar 10, 2020
On Principles & Values:
I don't have to empathize, because I understand
Carroll Foy, a former public defender, spoke quickly and emphatically, repeatedly vowing to "fight" for Virginians and invoking her
working-class roots. "I don't have to empathize, because I understand," she said, describing her own family's economic struggles.
Source: Washington Post on 2021 Virginia Gubernatorial debate
Apr 6, 2021
On Crime:
Reform our broken criminal justice system; ban chokeholds
As the first public defender elected to the legislature, I'm proud to have championed many of the efforts to ensure racial equity and reform our broken criminal justice system, from the legalization of marijuana to my bill to ban chokeholds.
While politicians of the past refused to repeal the death penalty and gave passes to bad police, I'll prioritize ending the underlying inequities that contribute to the two-tier criminal justice system that exists in the Commonwealth.
Source: Woodbridge Patch on 2021 Virginia Gubernatorial race
May 18, 2018
Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023