Delegate Albo Recognized with Awards at Virginia Chamber of Commerce Reception

SPRINGFIELD, VA – Delegate Albo (VA House of Delegates, 42^nd District) was recognized at the 2013 Legislative Awards Reception and Dinner for his work in the 2013 General Assembly. Albo received a Legal Reform Advocate Award, an Economic Competitiveness Award, and a Champion of Free Enterprise Award.

On May 8, 2013, the Virginia Chamber of Commerce honored more than 30 of the Commonwealth’s legislators at the 2013 Legislative Awards Reception and Dinner. Following the General Assembly session every year, the VA Chamber puts together a “Legislative Report Card” that honors legislators for their support on inititives that help move Virginia businesses forward.

Albo was one of 86 Legislators who earned a grade of “A,” and was one of 28 Legislators were awarded with the Champion of Free Enterprise Award for their 100% – A+ – voting record. Albo was also recognized with a Legal Reform Advocate Award and an Economic Competitiveness Award.

The Legal Reform Advocate Award acknowledged the men and women whose contributions to legal reforms helped to lower the cost of litigation, advance the legal environment, and promote business confidence and investment in the state.  The Economic Competitiveness Award was given to those who helped develop a bipartisan transportation package that will ensure long term and sustainable funding for Virginia’s transit needs.

“Businesses create jobs, and if we want more jobs and higher paying jobs, we need to help businesses thrive. I am proud to do my part to keep Virginia the best state to do business and therefore, the best place to raise a family,” said Delegate Albo.

For more pictures and to view the 2013 Legislative Report Card, visit the Virginia Chamber of Commerce’s website at http://www.vachamber.com/.

David B. Albo is a Republican politician from the Commonwealth of Virginia. He represents the 42nd District (Fairfax County) in the Virginia House of Delegates. He was first elected in 1993. Albo serves as Chairman of the Courts of Justice Committee and is a member of the General Laws and Privileges and Elections committees. He also is an active member in the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission.

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Governor McDonnell Signs Transportation Funding Bill

On Monday, May 13, 2013, for the first time in almost 27 years, Governor Bob McDonnell signed the state’s first comprehensive transportations funding plan. Known as HB 2313, this new package will generate $6 billion in transportation. Following almost three decades of inaction, this bi-partisan bill is a victory for all of Virginia.

With the passage of this bill, our citizens will be able to spend more time with their families enjoying the many benefits this great Commonwealth has to offer rather than sitting in traffic. In addition, this ensures that Virginia’s economy can grow and that businesses will have the infrastructure they need to create the good-paying jobs Virginians deserve.

A final summary of the HB 2313 and economic impact analyses can be found at: www.varoadtothefuture.com.

P.S. If you look closely at the picture, you can see my face about three rows up from podium in the middle!

VDOT Improvements in Springfield

VDOT has announced a new project that will start in 2014 to improve the safety and traffic volume at the intersection off Rolling Road and Hunter Village Drive. This project will bring a new traffic signal with vehicle detection on all sides, a “walk” signal with a timer, push-button callers, a new painted crosswalk, and curb ramps. The anticipated construction will beginning in the spring of next year.

This new traffic signal along with its improvements will help improve the traffic flow and increase safety for motorists traveling on Rolling Road, and pedestrians exiting or entering Hunter Village Drive and Tanworth Drive.

For further information in regards to a break down in costs and VDOT resources please visit www.vdot.virginia.gov and search for this project under the “Project & Studies” tab for Northern Virginia.

VDOT Roadside Mowing Underway

VDOT has started the first round of mowing in Northern Virginia. I would like to remind everyone to be mindful of the crews who are hard at work mowing grass, pruning trees, cutting brush and removing litter.

Also, please watch for posted signs, slow-moving trucks, and crews along roadsides and in the median. Always keep a slow speed when in the area of the activity and move into the opposite lane where possible when approaching the work zones.

In addition to this round of mowing, roadsides along interstates, primary roads and high-volume secondary roads will see up to three more mowing times through October.  Roadsides along low-volume primary and most secondary routes will be mowed twice between through late October. Roadsides along unpaved routes and low-volume subdivision streets will be mowed once through late October, unless safety regulations require further attention.

Through the fall, crews will continue to address safety issues where vegetation blocks sight as needed. Everyone is encouraged to report these locations at VDOT’s “report a road problem” page at http://www.virginiadot.org/travel/citizen.asp.

Again, let’s make sure to give the crew some space while they are at work. I hope everyone has a wonderful spring season!

Dave

VDOT Public Hearing – May 29th at 6 p.m.

On Wednesday, May 29, 2013 the Commonwealth Transportation Board will host a public hearing to provide Northern Virginia citizens and elected officials an opportunity to review and provide comments on projects and programs to be included in the Fiscal Year 2014-2019 Six-Year Improvement Program. This includes highway, rail and public transportation initiatives. The meeting will be located at the VDOT District Office (4975 Alliance Drive, Fairfax VA 22030) and will begin promptly at 6 p.m.

I encourage you to attend this public hearing so that we can make our NOVA projects the state’s first priority. If you cannot attend, you can e-mail your comments to Six-YearProgram@vdot.virginia.gov.

WSHS is ranked #10 in Virginia! Go Spartans!

Congratulations WSHS! West Springfield High School has been ranked the #10 Virginia high school according to the U.S. News 2013 Best High Schools rankings and been designated as a Gold Medal school. Out of 12,035 U.S. public high schools reviewed West Springfield High School was ranked #207 nationally!

Way to go Spartans!

Fairfax County Environmental Excellence Awards

Nominations due by May 31, 2013

Fairfax County is currently accepting nominations for annual Fairfax County Environmental Excellence Awards.   The Awards recognize county residents, organizations, businesses and county employees who dedicate time and energy to benefit the environment and support county environmental initiatives.  Nominations are due by May 31, 2013.  For nomination criteria, submission requirements, and to download the nomination form please go to: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpz/eqac/environmental-excellence-awards.htm.

William & Mary Adds More In-State Slots

Delegate Tim Hugo and I have worked for years to get our state colleges and universities, specifically JMU, Virginia Tech, William and Mary and UVA, to admit more in-state students.

The Board of Visitors adopted a new operating model for William & Mary last Friday called “The William & Mary Promise.” This new model has been created “to enhance quality, affordability and access at Virginia’s distinctive ‘public ivy.’” Highlights of the new model include:

• Increase in-state undergraduate enrollment by 300 students (8%) over a five-year period.
• An increase in tuition, but in exchange, four-year tuition guarantee – provides families with financial predictability through a commitment to income in-state students that tuition will remain constant through all four years or undergraduate study.
• Hold tuition increases for existing in-state students to no more than the rate of inflation.
• Relieve the “middle-class squeeze” by reducing the net tuition and student loan debt for middle-income Virginians. It will increase grants and reduce loans by up to $8,000 over four years, which lowers overall debt upon graduation.
• Establish differential pricing for certain undergraduate majors.
• Ensure that all in-state students continue to pay less than the cost of their education.

For more information you can visit their website at www.wm.edu/promise or watch a video that tells the story of The William & Mary Promise: www.wm.edu/promisevideo.

I hope the rest of our state’s universities take notice and follow in the footsteps of William & Mary and grant our Virginia students the access they deserve!

Virginia’s Unemployment Falls to 5.3 Percent in March

It was announced today that Virginia’s unemployment rate fell to 5.3 percent in the month of March, according to data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is the lowest unemployment rate in the Commonwealth since December 2008! Virginia has the lowest unemployment rate in the Southeast, and the second-lowest unemployment rate east of the Mississippi River. This is great news for Virginia citizens!

Thank you Sangster Elementary!

I went to Sangster Elementary to teach the 4^th grade classes about VA General Assembly today. My delegate had come to my class at Rolling Valley Elementary in 1974 and I loved it. It’s my 51^st birthday and I got the greatest present. The entire class sang happy birthday to me. Thanks Ms. Hughes’ class!