Susanna S. Gibson

Civil Rights

I will be a strong ally for the LGBTQ+ community in our General Assembly. Our leaders should set an example of how to act. That means doing the following: ‍ Standing up against anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric everywhere and anywhere Block policies that endanger LGBTQ+ students Fully fund programs that assist with youth and teen mental health. Learn more

Drug Policy

Additionally, we need to prioritize treatment over incarceration. I will introduce and work to pass legislation to increase the number of Drug Courts within the Commonwealth, which will help reduce the incarceration rates for non-violent drug related offenses. On average, Virginia’s Drug Courts save around $19,000 per person, as compared to traditional case processing. These savings can be utilized as increased funding and availability of community services boards, which provide treatment for mental health disorders and substance use disorder and addiction. Learn more

Environment / Energy

On a bipartisan approach, I also will support new clean technologies that will create new jobs in emerging markets and communities. Learn more

I intend to prioritize the development and spread of renewable sources of energy as an alternative to fossil fuels.  Because renewable energy has no marginal cost - no material costs, nor labor costs while generating energy, once scaled up, it is by far the least cost form of energy generation - cheaper electricity that can be passed on to consumers. Learn more

Guns

Virginia should be investing in community violence interventions, street outreach and violence interruption programs, statewide gun buyback programs, hospital-based violence intervention programs, as well as cleaning up vacant lots and improving street lighting, all of which have been proven to reduce gun violence. Learn more

I believe in common-sense gun laws and using evidence-based interventions to reduce firearm-related injuries and deaths. These include efforts to get military-style and assault weapons off our streets, expanding and strengthening background checks for gun sales, closing loopholes, and keeping guns out of the hands of the severely mentally ill, domestic abusers and people with violent criminal histories. Learn more

I believe in common-sense gun laws and using evidence-based interventions to reduce firearm-related injuries and deaths. These include efforts to get military-style and assault weapons off our streets, expanding and strengthening background checks for gun sales, closing loopholes, and keeping guns out of the hands of the severely mentally ill, domestic abusers and people with violent criminal histories. Learn more

Healthcare

I will also work to ensure that every person in our Commonwealth has access to affordable prescription drugs. As a medical provider, I have extensive experience navigating the insurance system with patients and figuring out ways to get them the medications that they so badly need. I will introduce and support legislation that requires insurance companies to cover many lifesaving drugs that are often excluded or have limited coverage by plans, including epinephrine auto-injectors for severe allergies, insulin and other medications used in the treatment of diabetes and metabolic syndrome, medications for cardiovascular diseases, and more. Learn more

More fundamentally, we must ensure families, and especially mothers, have the resources and support systems early on to nurture healthy children. This means establishing a robust paid family and medical leave system here in Virginia, so that new moms don't have to worry about where their next paycheck is coming from after giving birth. It also means working toward ensuring all Virginia families have access to affordable child care. It is absolutely unacceptable that the largest expense families pay on a regular basis is for child care. Learn more

Housing

In the General Assembly I will put forth policies and incentives for expanding and promotion of safe and affordable housing options, as well as increasing state and community resources to help our seniors age in place and peace. Learn more

Legislation

Block policies that endanger LGBTQ+ students. Learn more

I will introduce legislation that limits the ability of utility companies from disconnecting our most medically vulnerable customers from services during extreme weather events. Learn more

I will introduce and work to pass legislation to increase the number of Drug Courts within the Commonwealth, which will help reduce the incarceration rates for non-violent drug related offenses. Learn more

Social Services

I will introduce legislation that limits the ability of utility companies from disconnecting our most medically vulnerable customers from services during extreme weather events. I have firsthand experience in the homes of patients that have dealt with the aftermath of hurricanes and snowstorms, trying to figure out how oxygen dependent patients are going to be able to survive without power to supply their oxygen, or bed-bound patients that may not be able to function without the use of their hospital bed. This is a serious problem, and I will work to solve it. Learn more

Taxes / Budget

Fully fund programs that assist with youth and teen mental health. Learn more