Letter to Sen. Warner

Dear Sen. Warner:
 
S.168, the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA), would benefit Virginia’s maritime industry, enhance protections for our coastal waterways, and ensure affordable costs for consumer goods shipped to and from our state by commercial vessel. Over the past year, the bill was modified extensively at the request of your colleagues and is now significantly more stringent than the version of VIDA you cosponsored in the 113th Congress. As such, I do not understand why you voted against VIDA on the Senate floor on April 18. I respectfully urge you to put the interests of Virginia’s economy and environment first by voting YES on VIDA when the bill is brought back up for consideration. Your full support is necessary to enact this important bipartisan legislation as soon as possible.