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DELEGATE KIRK
COX
DELEGATE KIRK COX 66th
District Kirk Cox was elected from the 66th District to
the Virginia House of Delegates in November 1989. His
election and defeat of a long-term incumbent was
considered one of the major political upsets of that
year. Since that time he has had opposition twice, in
1991 and 1995, and has run unopposed in all other years.
Delegate Cox is a member of
the House Leadership Team, Chairman of the Agriculture,
Chesapeake, and Natural Resources Committee and is a
member of the General Laws Committee and the
Appropriations Committee. His colleagues elected him
Majority Whip, a key House leadership position, for the
2004/2005 and 2006/2007 sessions. He also serves on the
Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, the State
Water Commission and the Board on Veterans Services. The
current listing of his committees, commissions and
boards are on this web site.
In 1994 Delegate Cox was
selected by Governor Allen to lead the Campaign for
Honest Change, commonly called the Governor’s Club. The
statewide organization focused on supporting an agenda
of honest change and creative conservatism endorsed by
the people of Virginia in the 1993 gubernatorial
election. The Governor’s Club advanced the Jeffersonian
principles of individual freedom and responsibility,
limited and frugal government, civic virtue, and public
safety. In the General Assembly he has been an outspoken
leader against the use of alcohol and drugs by
teenagers. He has taken the lead on legislation that
supports family values and fought to defeat legislation
that weakens the family’s role in American society.
The Family Foundation
recognized Delegate Cox in 1997 and 2000 as the
Legislator of the Year for his support of family
friendly legislation in the House of Delegates. Delegate
Cox has also been a leader in the General Assembly for
legislation to protect the environment. He served on the
Governor’s Commission on Environmental Stewardship that
developed criteria and the need for funding to help
clean up the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. Based
on his strong environmental record, Governor Gilmore
requested Delegate Cox to be the chief patron for the
administration’s 1999 environmental legislation dealing
with the management of landfills and the transportation
of trash. In June 2000, Delegate Cox was appointed to
serve as a member of the Commission on the Future of
Virginia’s Environment. In December 2003, the Virginia
Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts
recognized Kirk for his environmental leadership
efforts.
Delegate Cox has been a
strong supporter of the military and a defender of Fort
Lee, located adjacent to his district. In 1996 he was
one of the first legislators in the country to introduce
legislation to provide tax relief to military personnel
serving in Bosnia. In that same year he introduced
legislation to provide tax relief for junior military
members from Virginia serving on active duty. This
landmark legislation was signed into law in 1999. He has
also introduced legislation, unanimously passed in the
House and in the Senate, expanding the Purple Heart
Trail and recognizing Virginia’s Medal of Honor
recipients. In recognition of his outstanding support of
Virginia’s sons and daughters on active duty, the
Department of the Army awarded Delegate Cox the
Commanders Award for Public Service. The Fort Lee
Commander presented this decoration in June 1998.
In l998 the Military Order
of the Purple Heart also recognized him for his
legislative leadership in support of Virginia military
members, veterans, and their families. In 1999 the
Virginia War Memorial Foundation recognized him for his
support of veterans.
During the 2000 session of
the General Assembly Delegate Cox was the chief patron
for two pieces of legislation giving long overdue
recognition to Vietnam veterans. Delegate Cox had the
honor of reading his Vietnam Veterans Resolution at the
American Legion Leadership Conference, with all Vietnam
veterans coming forward to be recognized. His
legislation to name the newest bridge over the James
River, connecting I-95 and I-295, the Vietnam Veterans
Memorial Bridge, ensures a more visible and recognizable
tribute to Vietnam veterans. In recognition of his
leadership on veterans’ issues in the General Assembly,
in November 2000, he was appointed by Governor Gilmore
to serve on the Board on Veterans Affairs. He continues
to serve on the successor board, the Board on Veterans
Services.
During the 2001 General
Assembly session, Delegate Cox worked closely with the
American Legion, the Retired Officers Association and
other veterans groups to build support for a second
veterans' care center to be located on 19 acres adjacent
to McGuire Veterans Hospital. Virginia’s portion of the
funding for this 240-bed facility was funded in the 2002
session. Delegate Cox’s bill to enhance school safety
passed in 2001. The legislation permits sheriff and
police departments to notify school principals of
students suspected of violent felonies, arson, or
carrying a concealed weapon. The focus is to enhance the
safety of the student, fellow students, staff and
faculty. He was also chief patron for landmark
legislation aimed at helping state employees with prior
government service, to include teachers and veterans,
purchase prior service credit for the Virginia
Retirement System.
Delegate Cox was the chief
patron for several major pieces of legislation in the
2002 session of the General Assembly. He patroned three
anti-terrorism bills; two of them were in progress prior
to September 11th. They provide for early identification
of terrorists, legal protection for good faith reporting
of suspected violent acts and increased penalties for
impersonating fire and rescue personnel. He also was the
chief patron for several bills relating to veterans and
related issues to include protection of discharge
records and improving the efficiency of the existing
Selective Service System. The latter bill requires
registration in the Selective Service System for males
between the ages of 18 and 26 before they can obtain a
driver’s license or a learner’s permit. The Richmond
Times Dispatch named his bill one of the best of the
session and the Director of Selective Service presented
him with the Selective Service Meritorious Service
Medal. Delegate Cox also sponsored legislation
addressing the severe nursing shortage in Virginia. A
complete listing of veterans’ related legislation is
shown below.
In preparation for the 2003
and 2004 sessions, Del. Cox focused on his duties as
Vice Chairman of the HJ159 Joint Sub-Committee. The
Sub-committee’s charter was to reduce the number of
agencies, boards, commissions, councils and other
government entities. The Sub-committee held monthly
hearings between sessions and identified many government
entities for elimination. As Vice Chair, Del. Cox worked
closely with the staff on legislation to implement the
committee’s recommendations. He subsequently introduced
16 pieces of legislation in the 2003 and 2004 sessions
that abolished entities and/or initiated efficiencies.
Also during this period, Del. Cox, as a member of the
Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation Board of Trustees and the
Jamestown 2007 Steering Committee, worked to plan the
400th anniversary celebration of the Jamestown
Settlement, the initial milestone in Virginia’s long
history. In January 2004, the Virginia Association of
Local Elected Constitutional Officers recognized him as
Legislator of the Year.
The
2005 session was very busy for Delegate Cox as he
patroned some 25 pieces of legislation, continued with
his many leadership positions and served as one of the
House budget negotiators. He continued to focus on
supporting our troops in the War on Terror and the
veterans who have served our nation in time of war. He
was the chief patron for several pieces of legislation
that were the top priorities for Virginia’s principal
veterans organizations. He was successful in increasing
the number of Virginia veterans claims officers by 27%
to help veterans get the health and education benefits
they earned by their service. He also obtained funding
for an additional 80 beds at the Veterans Care Center
being built adjacent to McGuire Veterans Hospital. The
facility provides nursing home type care to less
fortunate veterans and helps our area economically as it
will employ approximately 215 people and put some $14
million into the local economy. Another of his bills
will help eligible Virginia Guard and reserve members
called to active duty participate in the Virginia
Retirement System. His bill passed to provide a $20,000
death gratuity payment to survivors of state and local
government employees called to active duty that lost
their lives in the War on Terror. As the Virginia Guard
has a major role in the war, his resolution commending
the Guard was co-patroned by virtually every member of
the General Assembly so that the Guard members and their
families know that all Virginians appreciate their
service. The General Assembly also passed his resolution
recognizing the Committee for the Employer Support of
the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). The ESGR works with
employers to help ensure a smooth transition of deployed
Guard and reserve members back to their civilian
employment. Delegate Cox was also proud to work as a
co-patron for the successful efforts to provide $50
million per year for 10 years to fund the Water Quality
Improvement Fund that will be used to improve and
upgrade water treatment plants. This effort is an
essential step to cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay by
2010.
Based on his long record of
support for the active military, the Virginia National
Guard and veterans, Del. Cox was awarded the VA National
Guard’s Charles Dick Medal of Merit in January 2005. At
their July 2005 State Convention, the American Legion
presented Del. Cox with the highest award they can give
to an individual – the American Legion Distinguished
Service Medal.
Delegate Cox is a graduate
of Colonial Heights High School and has a B.S. both in
Political Science and in General Social Science from
James Madison University. He is a government teacher at
Manchester High School in Chesterfield County. He lives
in Colonial Heights with his wife, Julie Kirkendall Cox,
and four sons, Lane Kirkland Cox, Carter Adkins Cox,
Blake Patterson Cox and Cameron Reagan Cox. The Coxes
are members of Colonial Heights Baptist Church where he
is a deacon. He is a member of the Colonial Heights
Historical Commission.
Military/Veteran Legislation – Del. Cox Chief Patron
1996
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HB449* State income tax deduction
for Virginia residents serving on active duty -
exempts first $15,000 of basic pay. Aimed to help
lower ranking military personnel. Military personnel
making over $15,000 get some relief; those making
over $30,000 not covered.
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HB450 State income tax deduction
for Bosnia military service.
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1997
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HB1603* Income tax deduction
active duty personnel.
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HJ472 Resolution asking Postal
Service to issue a stamp honoring Lt. Gen. Chesty
Puller - most decorated marine in US history - every
member of the House and Senate signed as co-patrons.
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1998
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HB680* Income tax deduction
active duty personnel.
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HB836 Purple Heart Trail Designation
- honoring active duty and veterans wounded in combat.
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HJ189 Naming buildings, bridges
and roads to honor Virginia Medal of Honor holders.
State leadership of American Legion requested Del.
Cox to carry legislation.
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1999
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HB1584* * Income tax deduction
active duty personnel passes!
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HJ781 Commends VA War Memorial
Foundation's work.
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2000
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HB897 Designates the I-895
Bridge over the James (connecting I-95 & I-295)
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge.
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HJ21 Commends Baxter Perkinson
for his service in veterans' organizations.
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HJ139 Commends Virginia's Vietnam
Veterans
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HJ140 Commends State Adjutant
- American Legion for 14 years service.
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2001
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HB2305 Ensures proper management
of Veteran Care Centers
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HJ595 Commends American Legion
Post 284.
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HJ783 Requests study to see
if veteran medical support can be improved.
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HJ808 Requests military/veteran
role in winning cold war be in SOLs.
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2002
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HB241 Military disability benefits
appeal (did not pass)
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HB667 Expands Purple Heart
Trail to connect with national trail
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HB669 Selective Service registration
required for driver's license/permit HB670 Extends
War Memorial Foundation membership terms
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HB1209 Protects military discharge
records (DD214)
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HJ355 Commends War Memorial
Foundation Interview Program
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2003
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HB1624 Eliminates VA taxes
on military death gratuity payments to survivors.
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HB1717 Clarifies Virginia Retirement
System credit for service in the armed forces.
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HJ550 Commends the United States
Coast Guard Auxiliary.
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HJ589 Commends George Aguirre
– United States Air Force Veteran.
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2004
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HB318 Provides for supplemental
pay for full time school employees called to active
military duty.
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HB319 Provides for license
extensions for military personnel for up to 60 days
upon their return from overseas.
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HB1379 Ensures Virginia civil
law protection for service members is consistent
with federal law.
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HJ73 Encourages school divisions
to provide pay supplements for full time school
employees called to active military duty.
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HJ314 Commends the VA National
Guard for service and sacrifice in the “War on Terror.”
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2005
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HB1793 Provides an additional
$20,000 death gratuity payment to survivors of state
and local employees called to active military duty.
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HB1920 Ensures reservists called
to active duty can purchase that service time for
state retirement benefits.
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HB2850 Authorizes the Governor
to request federal funds to expand the capacity
of the Richmond Veterans Care Center by an additional
80 beds.
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HB2851 Requires the Department
of Veterans services to maintain a minimum ratio
of 1 claims agent to 26,212 Virginia veterans.
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HJ581 Commends COL Mel Drisko,
USA (Ret) for nearly 50 years of outstanding service
to Virginia and the nation.
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HJ592 Commends the Virginia
Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and
Reserve (ESGR) for support of reserves called to
active duty.
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HJ853 Commends soldiers and
airmen of the Virginia National Guard for their
sacrifices in defending the citizens of the United
States.
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Budget Amendment – Provides
$276,672 for 6 additional veterans claims officers.
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Budget Amendment – Provides
authority for a $2.8 million Virginia Treasury loan
to pay for 80 bed Richmond Veterans Care Center.
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* It took four years of effort to pass the income tax
reduction for Virginians serving on active duty.
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