RICHMOND — Earlier today the House of Delegates passed House Bill 1400, a package of amendments to the existing two-year budget passed by the General Assembly last year. The bill now goes to the Senate for their consideration.

“I want to thank Chairman Knight and the entire House Appropriations Committee team for the hard work they put into this budget,” said House Speaker Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah. “The House budget positions Virginia to be economically competitive through lower taxes and business readiness.”

“The House budget ensures that we keep our promise to Virginians to create better schools, safer communities, and a more prosperous future,” Gilbert added. “The House budget sets Virginia on a course for decades of multifaceted success. This is a budget that every Virginian can be proud of.”

“As the Speaker said, the House Appropriations Committee members and staff put a lot of sweat equity into crafting this budget, and it shows,” said House Appropriations Committee Chairman Barry Knight, R-Virginia Beach. “It makes our tax code more competitive, puts money back into the pockets of taxpayers, and lays the groundwork for a generation of economic growth, all while remaining structurally balanced and fiscally responsible.

“I look forward to working with my fellow budget conferees to craft a final agreement that reflects the priorities of this House to the greatest extent possible,” Knight added.

“This budget document will get Virginia back into the economic recruitment game,” said House Majority Leader Terry Kilgore, R-Gate City. “Not only does it embrace tax cuts that will make us a competitive destination for businesses, it lays the groundwork for the jobs of tomorrow by setting aside $600 million for business-ready sites, and consolidates and streamlines our workforce development efforts to make it easier for every Virginian to find a job.

“It funds a new Inland Port in Southwest Virginia,” he said, “and it begins the funding needed to begin Virginia’s nuclear power revolution. This budget looks beyond the next two years and builds a vision for the next half century.”

“Teachers will see a net 12 percent raise in their paychecks, and schools will get millions more to help them hire School Resource Officers and improve security around their facilities,” said Majority Caucus Chair Amanda Batten, R-James City. “We’re also funding innovation through lab schools, providing incentives to hire and retain more teachers, and putting tens of millions of dollars into fighting learning loss caused by school closures.”

“Voters sent us to Richmond to help build safer communities, and these amendments move the ball down the field significantly. The House budget funds new efforts to fight gang violence, organized retail theft, and new, stronger penalties for those who commit violent crimes with firearms,” said House Majority Whip Michael Webert, R-Fauquier.

“Our budget supports the Governor’s Bold Blue Line initiative to recruit and retain law enforcement officers, and invests $20 million to help our cities fight gun violence through the innovative, proven program of Operation Ceasefire. We support local governments by funding more Commonwealth’s attorneys and small jurisdiction sheriffs,” he added. “Republicans are committed to safer communities, and our budget proves it.”

“Higher education is crucial for the future development of our Commonwealth’s economy. That’s why our budget provides funding to hold tuition increases at our colleges to no more than 1 percent,” said Deputy Majority Leader Israel O’Quinn, R-Washington. “We also recognize that not every student needs or wants a college degree, so we provide significant new support to our vocational programs like welding, aviation maintenance, automotive repair and other high-demand workforce programs.”