Bill Text: VA HJR74 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: International Dark Sky Week; designating as week of new moon April 2024.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 2-1)
Status: (Passed) 2024-02-27 - Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ74ER) [HJR74 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2024-HJR74-Introduced.html
WHEREAS, the beauty and majesty of a natural night sky is a shared heritage of all humankind, and the experience of standing beneath a starry night sky inspires feelings of wonder and awe; and
WHEREAS, many people in Virginia live under a dome of light pollution—excessive artificial nighttime lighting that disrupts natural darkness—and may never experience the joys of stargazing or the ecological and health benefits of living under a natural, dark sky; and
WHEREAS, light pollution has proven economic and environmental consequences and significantly impacts the ecology and human health of affected communities; light pollution represents a waste of resources amounting to roughly $3 billion per year of wasted energy in the United States; and
WHEREAS, Virginia is home to several renowned astronomical observatories, including Fan Mountain Observatory in Albemarle County, Keeble Observatory in Ashland, Leander McCormick Observatory in Charlottesville, George Mason Observatory in Fairfax, Winfree Observatory in Lynchburg, and Stokesville Observatory in Stokesville; and
WHEREAS, Virginia is home to four state parks, Staunton River State Park, James River State Park, Natural Bridge State Park, and Sky Meadows State Park, that are all designated as International Dark Sky Parks by DarkSky International; and
WHEREAS, DarkSky International is the globally recognized authority on light pollution and has created International Dark Sky Week to raise awareness of light pollution; the organization provides free education, resources, and solutions to facilitate the protection and enjoyment of dark skies and encourage responsible outdoor lighting; and
WHEREAS, International Dark Sky week provides an opportunity for all Virginians to learn more about light pollution, support efforts to protect dark skies, and take a moment to appreciate the beauty of the night sky above and ponder the cosmic eons beyond; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly designate the week of the new moon in April, in 2024 and in each succeeding year, as International Dark Sky Week in Virginia; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates transmit a copy of this resolution to DarkSky International so that members of the organization may be apprised of the sense of the General Assembly of Virginia in this matter; and, be it
RESOLVED FINALLY, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates post the designation of this week on the General Assembly's website.
