2010 General Assembly Session Report
March 9, 2010
As
the 2010 General Assembly Session
draws to a close, I wanted to update
you on my activities and highlight
some important legislative
initiatives.
The House has been focused on
balancing our state budget in the
face of the $4.2 billion deficit.
Our task became more difficult when
Governor Kaine filled $2 billion of
the deficit with the imposition of a
massive tax increase on Virginians
in the middle of a recession.
Governor Bob McDonnell had
campaigned against a tax increase
and the House unanimously rejected
Kaine’s tax increase proposal.
The budget challenge has had a major
impact on my activities as my House
Appropriations Committee
responsibilities increased this
year. I now serve as Committee Vice
Chairman as well as Chairman of the
Higher Education Sub-Committee and
continue to serve as a member of the
Economic Development, Agriculture,
and Natural Resources and Elementary
& Secondary Education Subcommittees.
I will again be one of six House
Budget Conferees. 
While the budget process has
been a main focus, I continue to
serve as the House Majority Whip and
as a member of the Speaker’s
Leadership Team. My committee
assignments have not changed since
last year. In addition to
serving on the Appropriations
Committee, I also serve on House
Rules and the Agriculture,
Chesapeake, and Natural Resources
Committees. In addition to my
committee work, I continue to serve
as Chairman of the Joint Legislative
Audit and Review Commission (JLARC).
With deficit challenges, I filed
four bills to strengthen our
economy, grow jobs, and get the best
value for our tax dollars. HB199
expands the charter of the Major
Employment and Investment (MEI)
Project Approval Commission to
ensure Virginia reacts more
responsively and quickly to bring
new businesses to increase jobs and
grow the economy. Gov. McDonnell
recognized the importance of early
job growth and appointed Lt.
Governor Bill Bolling as the
Commonwealth’s Chief Jobs Creation
Officer. HB1077 puts the Lt.
Governor on the boards of three of
VA’s most important job creation
activities – VA Economic Development
Partnership Authority, VA Tourism
Authority and the Council on VA’s
Future. The Lt. Governor’s
presence will help drive those
activities to generate more jobs,
sooner. HJ60 looks to generate
cost savings for local school
systems by identifying joint
procurement opportunities for school
systems for textbooks, supplies,
computers, buses, etc. HJ127
authorizes a review of our Medicaid
system to identify conditions that
result in waste, inefficiency, fraud
or abuse of the system. Both
studies should result in additional
savings for taxpayers. As a
member of the Economic Development,
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Subcommittee, I was pleased to fully
support an Economic Development
Package focused on creating jobs in
the private sector and growing
Virginia’s economy.
Two of my bills assist our Wounded
Warriors returning from combat and
speed the processing of veterans’
claims. HB174 ensures
our military heroes wounded in
non-combat designated areas such as
Africa, training accidents, etc. get
the treatment they and their
families need to cope with the
effects of brain and stress
injuries. HB419 aims to make
Virginia the first state to have an
automated claims system that will
help reduce the current 180 days to
process a disabilities claim.
Both bills are top priorities for
the Joint Leadership Council
representing 250,000 veterans in 23
organizations. HB128
authorizes a year’s free fishing
license to military members in
veterans and military hospitals so
they can more easily get assistance
from groups like “Healing Waters”.
Walter Reed Hospital’s work in this
area shows this type of fishing
experience significantly helps the
healing process. I worked with
Becky Jackson, a constituent, on
HB420 for a medical license plate to
identify drivers with certain
medical conditions, e.g. diabetes,
epilepsy, etc. This effort
should help affected drivers and law
enforcement officers by alerting
them to a motorist’s medical
condition on the road.
HB420 will be carried over to next
session as we work with the DMV to
get an enhanced identification
means. This effort should
assist affected drivers and law
enforcement officers. It is an
example of the good suggestions I
get from the people I represent.
Please visit my website (www.kirkcox.com)
for a complete listing of my
legislative responsibilities and a
link to the Legislative Information
System that has the full text and
current status of legislation.
I also believe it is
important to recognize the
achievements and the contributions
of our fellow citizens from the 66
District. I patroned
Commending Resolution HJ227
recognizing COL Bob Barrett, USA
Ret. for his many years of volunteer
work with veterans’ organizations.
HJ303 recognizes Sean Gleason who
served 24 years as the Director of
Colonial Heights Recreation and
Parks Department. I was
pleased to visit Thomas Dale High
School to present Commending
Resolution HJ226 to the state
champion football team. HJ244
commends Gail Davis for being the
Independent Automobile Dealers
Association Quality Dealer of the
Year. I was honored to patron
Memorial Resolution HJ184
celebrating the life of Alvin Small,
one of Colonial Heights’ most
respected citizens. I will be
preparing next year’s legislation in
the October to November timeframe
and welcome recommendations for
Commending Resolutions for citizens
or organizations that have made a
difference in their communities.
While my focus must be on
the budget and legislation, I try to
meet with as many constituents as
possible. During this session, I
also held two Telephone Town Hall
meetings that allowed me to have a
two-way conversation with
approximately 3,000 voters in the
66th District. I found the
exchange of views very informative
and helpful. The feedback we
had on the calls also indicates many
of you also felt the time was well
spent. I hope more of you will
join in on future calls where you
have the opportunity to ask
questions and vote yes or no on many
issues being considered in the
General Assembly.
We
also handle a range of constituent
requests for assistance and set up
visits for our students and
veterans’ groups. If you need
assistance, please call my Colonial
Heights office (526-5135) or e-mail
me at
delkcox@house.virginia.gov. I
appreciate your views on legislation
that will help me do a better job
for the people I represent.
Please visit my web site
www.kirkcox.com for additional
information on my legislation, news
releases, visitors’ photos, the
session, including videos of floor
remarks, and related topics.
Best Regards,
_____________________________________________
2010 Legislation
(Click to see actual text)
2010
HB 128
Authorizes the Department of Game
and Inland Fisheries to issue free
fishing licenses to disabled, active
duty military personnel who are
receiving inpatient or outpatient
medical treatment from a veterans or
military hospital in Virginia, an
adjoining state, or the District of
Columbia. There is no cost for the
license, and it is valid for one
year.
HB 174
Wounded Warrior Program – eliminates
requirement that WWP cover only
combat injuries
HB419
Department of Veterans Services to
implement an automated system for
the electronic preparation and
processing of veterans’ disability
claims.
HJ227
Commending Colonel Robert C.
Barrett, USA Ret. Budget Item #4131h
- $30,000 each year from the general
fund would be provided for the
continued development of an
automated system for the processing
of veterans claims, including
improvements to the department’s
existing computer systems
2009
HB1720
Extends time the Virginia
Bicentennial of American War of 1812
may be funded.
HB1732
Department of Veterans Services to
implement an automated system for
the electronic preparation and
processing of veterans’ disability
claims.
HB2128 Modifies
several provisions in the Virginia
Retirement System dealing with
benefits of military personnel who
are killed or disabled. Aligns with
the federal Heroes Earnings
Assistance and Relief Tax Act
(“HEART”) for those members killed
or disabled in the military.
HR39
Encourages institutions of higher
education to support the Reserve
Officers' Training Corps (ROTC)
program by providing the maximum
academic credit for these courses.
Budget Item C-5.20 #1c – Provides
$6.5 million to support construction
of an educational wing for the
Virginia War Memorial. Also expands
the Shrine of Memory to include
Virginians killed in action in the
War on Terror.
Budget Item
4-1.08#2h – Amendment eliminates
Governor’s $50,000 reduction in
support for the development of an
automated system for the processing
of veterans’ disability claims.
Budget Item 425 #1h – Amendment
permits the Department of Veterans
Services to continue developing an
automated system for electronically
preparing veterans’ disability
claims.
2008
HB319
Permits any groups of patients
residing in veterans or military
hospital to fish without having to
obtain licenses.
HB474 Requires
State Comptroller to advance a loan
of $5.97 million for state share of
the construction of educational wing
for the Virginia War Memorial.
HB475 Establishes the Wounded
Warrior Program to monitor and
coordinate mental health and
rehabilitative services support for
Virginia veterans and members of the
VA National Guard and VA residents
in the Armed Forces Reserves.
HB477 Establishes Veterans Services
Foundation as a body politic and
corporate to provide funding for
veterans services and programs in
the Commonwealth.
HB1391
Establishes the Virginia
Bicentennial of the American War of
1812 Commission to commemorate the
200th anniversary of the war.
HJ291 Commends the Richmond Area
Chapter of the Military Officers
Association of America on the
occasion of its 50th anniversary.
HJ470 Commends Sergeant Major
Robert W. Huffman.
Budget Item
473 #2h – Ensures the improvements
needed at Fort Lee are among
facilities eligible for funding
provided to respond to changes
resulting from BRAC.
Budget Item
425 #4h – Provides $2.9 million each
year to establish a program to
monitor and coordinate mental health
and rehabilitative services for VA’s
veterans, VA National Guard members,
and VA residents in the Armed Forces
Reserves.
Budget Item 6 #1h –
Provides funding for the creation of
the Virginia Bicentennial of the
American War of 1812 Commission
2007
HB2240 Requires
State Treasurer to advance loan of
$3.5 million for the state share of
the construction for the Virginia
War Memorial.
Budget Item C-4
#1h – Funding for construction of an
educational wing on the Virginia War
Memorial.
2006
HB311 Offers
supplemental health coverage program
for state employees with military
service who have primary coverage
under TRICARE.
HB1383 Authorizes
funds to construct a veterans’ care
center in the Hampton Roads area.
HB1388 Authorizes special license
plates with legend: SUPPORT OUR
TROOPS
HJ54 Commends
Quartermaster Center and School.
HJ55 Commends Rob R. Gordon, Jr. –
past American Legion State Commander
HJ377 Commends United States
Army Reserve, 80th Division.
Budget Item 81 #1 – Funding for new
claims officer positions within DVS.
Budget Item 81 #2 – Funding to
refurbish four veterans services
claims offices/year
Budget Item4
81 #241 – Provides $100,000 to the
Fort Lee QM Museum Foundation.
Budget Item C-9.10 #1 – Authority to
construct 240-bed veterans’ care
center in the Hampton Roads area.
2005
HB1793 Provides
an additional $20,000 death gratuity
payment to survivors of state and
local employees called to active
military duty.
HB1920 Ensures
reservists called to active duty can
purchase service time for state
retirement benefits.
HB2850
Authorizes the Governor to request
federal funds to expand the capacity
of the Richmond Veterans Care Center
by an additional 80 beds.
HB2851
Requires the Department of Veterans
services to maintain a minimum ratio
of 1 claims agent to 26,212 Virginia
veterans.
HJ581 Commends COL Mel Drisko, USA (Ret) for nearly 50
years of outstanding service to
Virginia and the nation.
HJ592
Commends the Virginia Committee for
Employer Support of the Guard and
Reserve (ESGR) for support of
reserves called to active duty.
HJ853 Commends soldiers and airmen
of the Virginia National Guard for
their sacrifices in defending the
citizens of the United States.
Budget Amendment – Provides $276,672
for 6 additional veterans claims
officers.
Budget Amendment –
Provides authority for a $2.8
million Virginia Treasury loan to
pay for an 80 bed addition to the
Richmond Veterans Care Center.
2004
HB318 Provides for
supplemental pay for full time
school employees on active duty.
HB319 License extensions for
military personnel up to 60 days
return from overseas.
HB1379
Ensures VA law protection for
service members consistent with
federal law.
HJ73 Encourages
school divisions to provide pay
supplements for full time school
employees called to active military
duty.
HJ314 Commends VA National
Guard for service and sacrifice in
the “War on Terror.”
2003
HB1624 Eliminates VA taxes on
military death gratuity payments to
survivors.
HB1717 Clarifies
Virginia Retirement System credit
for service in the armed forces.
HJ550 Commends the United States
Coast Guard Auxiliary.
HJ589
Commends George Aguirre – United
States Air Force veteran.
2002
HB241 Military
disability benefits appeal (did not
pass).
HB667 Expands Purple
Heart Trail to connect with national
trail.
HB669 Selective Service
registration required for driver's
license/permit.
HB670 Extends
War Memorial Foundation membership
terms.
HB1209 Protects military
discharge records (DD214).
HJ355
Commends War Memorial Foundation
Interview Program.
2000
HB897 Designates the I-895
Bridge over the James (connecting
I-95 & I-295) Vietnam Veterans
Memorial Bridge.
HJ21 Commends
Baxter Perkinson for his service in
veterans' organizations.
HJ139
Commends Virginia's Vietnam Veterans
HJ140 Commends State Adjutant -
American Legion for 14 years
service.
1999
HB1584* * Income tax deduction
active duty personnel passes!
HJ781 Commends VA War Memorial
Foundation's work.
* It took
four years of effort to pass the
income tax reduction for Virginians
serving on active duty.
1998
HB680* Income tax deduction
active duty personnel.
HB836
Purple Heart Trail Designation -
honoring wounded active
duty/veterans.
HJ189 Naming
buildings, bridges and roads to
honor Virginia Medal of Honor
holders.
1997
HB1603* Income tax deduction active
duty personnel.
HJ472 Resolution
asking Postal Service to issue a
stamp honoring Lt. Gen. Chesty
Puller - most decorated marine in US
history - All House and Senate
signed.
1996
HB449*
State income tax deduction for VA
residents serving on active duty -
exempts first $15,000 of basic pay.
To help lower ranking military
personnel - personnel making over
$15,000 get some relief; those
making over $30,000 not covered.
HB450 State income tax deduction for
Bosnia military service.
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