I am honored to have represented the people of Colonial Heights and Chesterfield County* in the General Assembly since 1990. The continued support of voters in the 66th district has given me increased responsibilities and opportunities to improve the lives of the citizens of the Commonwealth and our district.

2008 General Assembly
I continue to serve on the Appropriations Committee and Chair the Committee’s Subcommittee on Commerce, Agriculture and Natural Resources, and I will serve on the Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee (AC&NR).  I will also be focusing my efforts on my House leadership responsibilities as the House Majority Whip. Please use the link below - Committees, Boards, and Commissions - to see my other responsibilities.

2008 Legislative Survey
There will be several major issues that will come before the General Assembly this year.  On January 2, 2008, I mailed a Legislative Issues Survey flyer to some 14,000 households in the 66^th District to get the views of the people that I represent.  There were 17 questions with mostly yes and no answers and two questions that asked respondents to list what they consider the most important state and local issues they would like to see addressed in the 2008 Session.   The other questions addressed budget priorities, tax policy, illegal immigration, education, health, public safety, payday lending and abuser driver fees. 

There will be many tough issues coming before the 2008 General Assembly.  We will have to find a way to close the budget deficit, refine transportation plans, address public safety concerns and help our fellow citizens with severe health challenges and mental disabilities to name a few.  I will be using the survey input from the citizens I represent to help guide me as I vote on the important issues in this session.

Legislation
I will introduce some 22 pieces of legislation in the 2008 Session that address the concerns of my constituents, support our military and veterans, and fund projects that impact our area. While my website has the link to “Virginia Online Legislature” where you can get the full text and current status of all my bills and resolutions, I want to highlight a few items for you.

Support For Our Military, Veterans  & First Responders
With forty-seven percent of the households in the 66th District having a family member serving in the military or a veteran in the family, I continue to work on their issues.  I am pleased to carry two of the top five legislative priorities for the Commonwealth’s 23 veterans' services organizations.  The Wounded Warrior legislation will put in place a system to help Virginia veterans and members of the National Guard and Virginia residents in the Armed Forces Reserves who have returned home from combat with stress related injuries and brain disorders.  The program will also support family members affected by covered military members service and deployments.  We owe this support to our fellow Virginians who are serving in harms way to keep us safe and secure at home. The second item is additional funding for the Virginia War Memorial Foundation to build an Education Center.  This funding will supplement the private funds being raised by the Foundation, address increased costs due to inflation, and add a shrine to recognize Virginians who have given their lives in the War on Terror. The Education Center will play an important role in educating our young people regarding the sacrifices made by Virginians to keep our nation free and secure.  This is a very important effort that needs our support.  I have another bill that also helps our service members recovering from wounds.  This bill will ensure that service members recovering from combat wounds in hospitals in Virginia and adjacent states, can fly fish in Virginia waters at in-state rates.  This bill was requested by members of various Virginia fly fishing organizations.  Based on a pilot Walter Reed Program, fly fishing and tying have proven to be a significant benefit to service members recovering from brain, hand and eye injuries.  It is great that our Virginia fly fishermen are working with our wounded.  This low cost effort can have a big positive impact. Another bill will address measures to improve the Veterans Services Foundation.  One of the main charges for the Foundation was to raise private funds to support programs that will benefit veterans.   Little has been accomplished in some four years.  My legislation will give the Foundation the tools required to carry out their charter so they can play an important role in our efforts to support the 720,000 veterans living in Virginia.

Our first responders are also doing a superb job of keeping our communities safe and secure, and we must do our part to make their jobs easier and safer and to support them when they are injured.  We have a shortage of State Police that is exacerbated by current policies that have sworn personnel take compensatory leave and overtime leave rather then being paid for overtime service.  I have a budget amendment that would fund the overtime service thus helping us extend our State Police coverage within current manpower restraints.   This legislation is the top priority for the Virginia State Police Association.

Other Legislation &Commending and Memorial Resolutions
I have proposed several other pieces of legislation that address a variety of issues to include fire inspections in schools, Child Day Care Council membership, chaplain services in prisons, medical research, and support for citizens with major disabilities.  In regard to the last item, there is a need for community based brain injury services.  Many areas of the Commonwealth lack available local services or there are extensive waiting times for service.   This community based service is much more cost effective and offers greater benefits than institutional care.   Another budget amendment would increase the care available to our fellow citizens that are mentally retarded.  Presently, Virginia has a crisis system with very extended waiting periods.   With passage of my legislation, we can significantly reduce the extended waiting periods.  I have also proposed legislation to fund local projects, and to recognize the achievements of our fellow citizens in the 66^th District.

Constituent Support
I hope you find this update informative.  During the General Assembly Sessions, I can be reached at 804-698-1066. My mailing address for the session is PO Box 406, Richmond, VA 23218; email address is delkcox@house.state.va.us.  An easy way to give me your views during General Assembly sessions is to use the Constituent Hot Line – 1-800-889-0229. When not in Session, I am in my home office and can be reached at 804-526-5135; email address remains the same. Mail should be sent to Del. Kirk Cox, PO Box 1205, Colonial Heights, VA 23834.

As we move forward, I pledge to continue my efforts to make Virginia a better and safer place to work and live. I thank you for your interest and continued support.