Welcome to my online constituent office. We hope you will find this website to be a useful one-stop portal for any needs you might have from the Virginia state government. We have included information to help you better understand how our government works.
You can also keep up with the policy-making process in the General Assembly during the weeks that I am working in Richmond by reading my blogs and Twitter updates.
As your State Delegate, I’m here to serve you so please contact me with any questions or services you need. I am particularly interested in hearing about ways to make our laws work better for all of us so please do not hesitate to send me policy ideas that I may be able to propose in Richmond. I am honored to represent you and I look forward to meeting you in person.
Thank you,
- DelegateKeam: Presented another Richmond report to civic group: Sully District Council. 35th Dist has only 1 precinct in Sully - called Vale - out of 18.
- DelegateKeam: Witnessing the investiture of new Fairfax Couny Circuit Court Judge Brett Kassabian whom we voted in this session. Congrats, Your Honor!
- DelegateKeam: At NoVA Asian American community town hall hosted by Virginia Asian American Advisory Board. I served on this Governor's board in 2001-09.
- DelegateKeam: Attending "Unlock Gridlock" forum in Tysons hosted by www.TeleworkVA.org and www.TeleworkExchange.com to find solutions for NoVA traffic.
- DelegateKeam: Providing another Richmond report to constituents; this time Providence District Council in Dunn Loring. Most active civic leaders I know.
Posts Tagged ‘Jobs’
Gov. McDonnell Signs Keam-Poindexter Green Jobs Bill into Law
Today, Governor McDonnell signed into law House Bill 803, which provides tax credits for Virginia employers who create and retain new jobs that promote renewable and alternative energy. This “Green Jobs” bill is a bipartisan effort of Delegate Mark Keam (D-Fairfax), Delegate Charles Poindexter (R-Franklin), Senator Emmett Hanger (R-24), and many other legislators.
In January, Delegate Keam joined Gov. McDonnell at a press conference in Richmond to announce the inclusion of HB 803 as part of the Governor’s Jobs Agenda. Today, Delegate Keam joined Gov. McDonnell once again, at the bill signing ceremony on the campus of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, where he spoke about the need for everyone to work together to make Virginia the Energy Capitol of the nation.
The Governor’s press release is copied below, and is found online at: http://www.governor.virginia.gov/news/viewRelease.cfm?id=105
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For Immediate Release: April 02, 2010
Contact: Stacey Johnson, Press Secretary, (804) 786-2211
Governor McDonnell Signs Green Energy Legislation at Old Dominion University
– Another Step towards Making Virginia “The Energy Capital of the East Coast” –
–Legislation Includes Creation of $500 Green Jobs Tax Credit–
NORFOLK- Governor Bob McDonnell visited the campus of Old Dominion University today to sign into law a number of green energy bills passed by the General Assembly this session. Among the measures receiving the Governor’s signature was his legislation to provide a $500 tax credit for each green job created in the Commonwealth; a measure establishing the Universities Clean Energy Development and Economic Stimulus Foundation; the creation of the Virginia Offshore Wind Development Authority; and legislation rewarding investor-owned electric utilities for using wind energy. The Governor also signed legislation to authorize investor-owned natural gas utilities to petition the State Corporation Commission to implement a separate rider that will allow for recovery of certain costs associated with eligible infrastructure replacement projects; to add improvement of infrastructure such as refueling stations to the Alternative Fuels Revolving Fund; and to give localities the authority to, in order to secure loans for the initial acquisition and installation of clean energy improvements, place liens equal in value to the loan against any property where such clean energy systems are being installed.
Delegate Keam joins Gov. McDonnell at bill signing
Today, Governor McDonnell visited Fairfax County to sign several bills into law that will promote more tech jobs in Northern Virginia. Delegate Keam participated in the bill signing ceremony, hosted by the Center for Innovative Technology and Northern Virginia Technology Council, in their tech headquarters building in Herndon.
As a member of the House Finance Committee, Delegate Keam cosponsored and helped move House Bill 523 through to passage. This bill would grant income tax deduction on long-term capital gains related to qualified investment in a technology, bio-technology, or science start-up business, which will benefit Fairfax County.
Delegate Keam also cosponsored House Bill 677, which establishes a “Specialized Biotechnology Research Performance Grant Program” for nonprofit entities engaged in research, development, and production related to molecular diagnostics and drug development that commits in a memorandum of understanding and fulfills its obligation to (i) make a new capital investment of at least $200 million, (ii) create at least 415 new full-time jobs, and (iii) meet other criteria.
Governor McDonnell’s press release is: http://www.governor.virginia.gov/news/viewRelease.cfm?id=96
Washington Post wrote this about today’s event:
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/virginiapolitics/2010/03/post_663.html?wprss=virginiapolitics
McDonnell signs bills in NoVa to create jobs
By Anita Kumar
March 30, 2010; 5:44 PM ET
Republican and Democratic legislators joined Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) this afternoon in Northern Virginia as he signed a package of bills designed to create jobs and spur economic development.
The bills signed today will provide tax deductions on capital gains derived from investments in technology, energy, bio-tech and science-based companies; grant temporary business licenses to individuals who have a license or certification from another state; broaden the uses of the Governor’s Opportunity Fund; designate the head of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership as chief executive; and establish a biotech research performance grant program.
“The states that help lead this country out of this economic downturn will be those that move aggressively to promote job creation and make it easier for entrepreneurs and business owners to be successful,” McDonnell said at a signing ceremony at the Center for Innovative Technology and Northern Virginia Technology Council in Herndon. “That is what we are doing in Virginia.”
A slew of legislators from Northern Virginia joined McDonnell, including Sens. Mark Herring (D-Loudoun) and Janet Howell (D-Fairfax); Republican Dels. Dave Albo (Fairfax), Tom Rust (Fairfax), Tim Hugo (Fairfax), Barbara Comstock (Fairfax), Rich Anderson (Prince William), Joe May (Loudoun) and Jackson Miller (Manassas); and Democratic Dels. Mark Keam (Fairfax) and Mark Sickles (Fairfax). Several Northern Virginia technology and businesses also were in attendance.
Delegate Keam quoted in Virginia Gazette
In this article, Delegate Keam, a member of the General Assembly’s Tourism Caucus, spoke about bringing jobs to Virginia to help our economy, using whatever incentives we can provide out-of-state employers.
http://www.vagazette.com/articles/2010/02/23/news/doc4b8299312f8ae977402882.txt
Legislators Hope to Boost Tourism
By Brittany Daniels
Monday, February 22, 2010 12:52 PM EST
Capital News Service
RICHMOND – In the old days, it might have been tobacco or coal. Now, legislators are turning to a different industry – tourism – to energize the state’s economy.
Tourism is considered a “clean industry”: It provides jobs and tax dollars that are key to maintaining Virginia’s quality of life. But tourism funding has been cut in recent years. That’s why several organizations have developed plans to boost tourism and draw more visitors to Virginia’s state parks, museums, battlefields, wineries and other attractions.
The General Assembly’s Tourism Caucus, consisting of several senators and delegates, gathered last week to discuss how to increase tourism.