Glenn Youngkin in 2023 Governor's State of the State speeches
On Abortion:
15 week limit: Virginians want fewer abortions, not more
When it comes to unborn children, we can come together. We can choose life, and choose to support mothers, fathers, and families in difficult decisions. This session,
I have asked the General Assembly to come together to protect life at 15 weeks, the point when a baby can feel pain. It is clear, Virginians want fewer abortions, not more.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Virginia legislature
Jan 11, 2023
On Crime:
Tougher penalties for those who commit crimes with guns
Because of soft on crime policies from previous administrations, the record murder rates of 2020 persist across the commonwealth, virtually every law enforcement agency has 20% or greater staffing vacancies. The extensive work of our Violent Crime Task
Force, working with city leaders, heard clearly--we need more police on the street, more prosecutors to put criminals behind bars, tougher penalties for those who commit crimes with guns and more support for witnesses and community prevention.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Virginia legislature
Jan 11, 2023
On Drugs:
Make sale of deadly drugs a felony homicide
Two years ago, this body passed a bill to make the sale, manufacture, and distribution of drugs killing our children, our friends and our neighbors a felony homicide.
It was vetoed by the last Governor, despite the fact it could have - and would have - saved countless lives. Send me that bill again, and I promise you - I will sign it.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Virginia legislature
Jan 11, 2023
On Education:
We must provide choice within the public school system
Parents matter and we must protect their fundamental right to make decisions concerning the upbringing, education and care of their children.
We must provide choice within the public school system by accelerating our efforts to build lab schools.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Virginia legislature
Jan 11, 2023
On Energy & Oil:
Let's set realistic carbon reduction goals every five years
Our new path forward will embrace the "and" and reject the "or" of energy politics. With our All-American, All-of-the-above approach, Virginians will get affordable AND reliable
AND increasingly clean energy without being tied to unattainable long-term requirements. Let's set realistic carbon reduction goals every five years, as opposed to etching in stone 30 year plans based more on hope than reality.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Virginia legislature
Jan 11, 2023
On Free Trade:
Prohibit Chinese Communist tech & purchases of farmland
Last month, I signed an Executive Order banning TikTok and WeChat on state-owned devices. Everyone knows that TikTok is a tool of the Chinese Communist Party, a dictatorial political party that only has one goal: global dominance at the expense of the
United States. While the national security concerns and personal privacy implications of CCP technology are well-known, I believe Virginians should also be wary of Chinese Communist intrusion into Virginia's economy.
I've said before that I want "Made in America" to mean "Made in Virginia." But let me be clear, "Made in Virginia" cannot be a front for the Chinese Communist Party. In addition, Virginians--not the CCP--should own the
rich and vibrant agricultural lands God has blessed us with. That is why I am asking the General Assembly to send me a bill to prohibit dangerous foreign entities tied to the CCP from purchasing Virginia farmland.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Virginia legislature
Jan 11, 2023
On Health Care:
$230M to build strong, stable behavioral health safety net
Last month, I stood at Henrico Doctors Hospital to announce a three-year plan to fundamentally transform our behavioral health system.
The "Right Help, Right Now" plan is comprehensive and I ask this General Assembly to fully fund the $230 million first step of this plan.
This funding rapidly accelerates the transformation toward a strong and stable behavioral health safety net. It will substantially expand system capacity--same day care, relieving the burden on law enforcement,
greater pre-crisis service capacity in schools, a focus on substance use disorder, a stronger behavioral health workforce, and service innovations.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Virginia legislature
Jan 11, 2023
On Principles & Values:
Faith seared in our heart by loving, almighty Creator
Friends, Virginia is the birthplace of America, the most exceptional nation the world has ever
known?and while we have not always lived up to our ideals, through the faith and determination that has been seared in our heart by a loving and almighty Creator, we have always strived to do better.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Virginia legislature
Jan 11, 2023
On Tax Reform:
Eliminated grocery tax; look forward to more tax breaks
We provided historic tax relief on a bipartisan basis, including eliminating the state's grocery tax. I was so pleased to see my democratic friends join us recently in celebrating the end of this regressive tax, something Virginians came together around
during our election. That's definitely a clear sign that there is bipartisan momentum for more tax relief this session. I look forward to giving those on both sides of the aisle more opportunities to celebrate tax breaks in the coming weeks.
Those states that we compete with most directly--North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida and Texas--have not only recovered all of the jobs lost during the pandemic, but they've actually added a collective 1.3 million jobs.
That data tells an undeniable story. Virginians are moving to states with lower taxes and lower cost of living and as those Virginians pack up and move away so go the jobs, investments, and tax revenue they drive.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Virginia legislature
Jan 11, 2023
On Tax Reform:
Increase standard deduction; $1B of surplus for tax relief
We want all of our veterans to stay here. I'm asking you to eliminate the tax on military retirement income for veterans regardless of their age. I'm also asking that you finish the work we started last year, increase again the standard deduction
by another 20%, a change that helps all Virginians, but especially the lower and middle income tax-payers. The plan I have laid out utilizes $1 billion of the $3.6 billion projected surplus for tax relief, and is structurally sound.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Virginia legislature
Jan 11, 2023
On Technology:
Prohibit tech companies from selling children's data
We can also choose commonsense when it comes to social media, and the ever-growing threat that the Chinese Communist Party poses to our national security, our privacy and our way of life in Virginia. We know that our children use technology at an
unthinkable, breakneck pace. But the data of our teenagers should not be used and manipulated by big tech companies. I'm asking you to pass a bill that prohibits tech companies from selling the data of children under the age of 18.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Virginia legislature
Jan 11, 2023
Page last updated: Apr 02, 2023