Delegate Chris Peace is frequently rated one of Virginia's most business-friendly conservatives. Peace's voting record shows a consistent focus on opposing tax increases, protecting family values defending the Constitution, and promoting job creation and a high quality of life in Hanover, King William and New Kent counties.

 

Peace Progress
Session Crossover Update
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Message from Chris
 
Last Sunday, I wrote a commentary for the Richmond Times Dispatch entitled "House Passes a Balanced, Conservative Budget."  Below is the article, which highlights many important aspects of the House Budget.
 
Excerpted text:
 

All in all, this amended budget reflects our House priorities for Virginia, and is most conservative in nature.

 

First, it sets aside $99.5 million for the rainy day fund in 2017. After lean revenue years, balances that had been built up after 2008 fell backward again based on our Constitutional requirement to pass a balanced budget.

 

It further eliminates $42.5 million in debt proposed by Gov. Terry McAuliffe and pays cash for all capital projects with no new debt. Of particular note, the House removed $10.2 million in new or increased fees proposed by the governor.

 

For a healthy Virginia, on Jan. 18 I wrote in this Commentary section that the governor had brazenly acted without authority to establish a new entitlement program for certain persons by declaring a so-called "emergency." Our House rightly clawed back this plan and put forward a redesigned, comprehensive effort to enhance the state health-care safety net. Our budget targets services to 29,000 seriously mentally ill patients and doubles operational funding for free clinics.

 

We have consistently opposed Obamacare Medicaid expansion, because there are alternatives to embracing a large federal entitlement. This is one of those opportunities to reaffirm this smart state-based approach. When these budget amendments are ultimately adopted, this lawful program will do more good for those in true crisis.

 

Thankfully, our House budget is conservative, structurally balanced and strongly positioned for conference negotiation - and all of the "uncertainties of life."

 

Please visit here for full text:  Peace: House passes balanced, conservative budget  

Delegate Peace Helps Celebrate DMV Select Opening. New Kent Office Is Now a Permanent DMV Select

 

Delegate Chris Peace was among numerous dignitaries who participated in a Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday at the New Kent DMV Select office. 
Delegate Chris Peace (far left) and DMV Commissioner Richard Holcomb (far right) join Commissioner of the Revenue Laura M. Ecimovic and other New Kent County officials at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday at the New Kent DMV Select office.

Delegate Peace worked closely with DMV and New Kent officials to bring a Select office to New Kent County.

 

The New Kent DMV Select opened in June 2014 as a pilot program to determine if there was a need for a permanent service for New Kent County and the surrounding area. DMV Commissioner Richard Holcomb said the agency decided to make New Kent a permanent Select office in February because of its popularity with local residents.

During the pilot, the office conducted nearly 900 DMV transactions, reducing customer traffic at the East Henrico DMV Customer Service Center.  

 

Commissioner of the Revenue Laura M. Ecimovic said she and her staff are excited to continue to provide DMV services to New Kent and surrounding area residents because it saves customers time and money.

 

Peace speaking at Opening

DMV has 54 Select offices throughout Virginia that provide supplemental DMV services to citizens who live in rural areas and would otherwise have to drive long distances to visit a full-service DMV office.

 

Peace: In the News
 
"[sic] Peace pushed the New Kent perspective into the legislative process. He collaborated with Scott on Scott's original bill, which was used as a vehicle in the House for the compromise. Peace and Scott amended the original bill to protect New Kent's financial interest in the track...Peace said "New Kent needs to be more than an afterthought." Colonial Downs and Virginia horsemen discuss 'divorce' terms  

Several local papers covered Peace's industrial "sludge" legislation. Here is a selection of that work:

Peace invites Rev. Rick Raines of Fairmount Christian Church to Open House Session in Prayer 

 

On Monday, February 9, Rev. Rick Raines of Fairmount 

Christian Church in Mechanicsville delivered the opening prayer to the House of Delegates, at the invitation of Del. Chris Peace.  Please see video of his thoughtful prayer below.

 

Del. Peace welcomes Rev. Raines to offer opening prayer
Virginia House of Delegates Passes Landmark Ethics Reform Bill
 
The Virginia House of Delegates passed ethics reform legislation Tuesday that creates a $100 gift cap and significantly strengthens the independent advisory panel created in 2014. The legislation also prohibits the Governor from accepting campaign contributions from companies seeking grants from the Governor's Opportunity Fund and limits the personal friend exemption to exclude personal friends who have or are seeking business relationships with state or local government. 
Del. Peace addresses the House
  
House Bill 2070 passed 93 to 6 in the House, which helps restore the public's trust in government by enacting a strict gift cap, strengthening independent oversight, and making our financial disclosure system more accessible and transparent.
  
Legislation passed in 2014 created a $250 cap on tangible gifts. HB 2070 eliminates the distinction between tangible and intangible gifts and lowers the cap to $100. The $100 cap is lower than the $250 cap proposed by Governor Terry McAuliffe's Integrity Commission. HB 2070 also strengthens the Conflict of Interest Advisory Council, the independent ethics panel created in 2014. Governor McAuliffe vetoed funding for this council despite signing the law that created it. Under this bill, the council will be responsible for pre-approving legislative travel. Lawmakers will now also be required to submit financial disclosure forms online, so the council can easily post them in a searchable database for public review.

Peace Statement on Support of Veteran and Law Enforcement 2015 Legislative Agendas

 

Delegate Chris Peace is proud to highlight his strong voting record supporting veteran and law enforcement priorities. Delegate Peace voted in support of 100% of the 2015 legislation championed by the Virginia Fraternal Order of Police, Joint Leadership Council of Veterans Services Organizations (JLC), Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), and the Board of Veterans Services (BVS).

 

Delegate Peace co-sponsored legislation to provide for two new Veterans Care Centers where there are higher volumes of veterans in need of care in Hampton Roads (HB 1275) and Northern Virginia (HB 1276). He also co-sponsored HB 1641, a measure to require that all agencies in the executive branch of state government and all public institutions of higher education shall be certified in accordance with the Department of Veterans Services as part of its Virginia Values Veterans Program. Del. Peace, having been named Rookie of the Year by the Virginia State Police, has always supported law enforcement.

 

Del. Peace meets with Sheriff Hines of Hanover, Sheriff Howard of New Kent, and Sheriff Lippa of Caroline

Priorities of the Virginia Fraternal Order of Police (VFOP) included HB 1606, a bill which defines "private police department" as any police department that employs private police officers operated by an entity authorized by statute or an act of assembly to establish a private police department.

 

The 2010 Appropriations Act established the Line of Duty Act (LODA) Fund with the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) as the investment manager. The LODA Fund provides a funding source for Line of Duty Act benefits that cover certain hazardous duty personnel who are paid or who volunteer. Peace voted in support of HB 2204, a measure to amend LODA to protect all public safety personal with benefits. The measure passed the House by a vote of 100-0.

 

"Delegate Chris Peace has a strong legislative voting record of supporting VFOP initiatives. I am glad to call him a friend of public safety and law enforcement in the Commonwealth," asserted former VFOP State President, Marty Williams.

 

Delegate Peace has been recognized for his support of military and veterans issues by Veterans of Foreign Wars of America and has previously been named Legislative Rookie of the Year by the Virginia Sheriff's Association also in recognition of his strong legislative voting record in support of law enforcement officers across the Commonwealth.
House of Delegates Passes Legislation to Aid Victims of Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence

  

Prior to crossover, the House of Delegates passed legislation to aid victims of sexual assault and domestic violence, and to protect students on college campuses. Having been the sponsor of successful legislation during the 2014 session which provided additional compensation for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, Del. Peace is proud to be chief sponsor of HB 2092 to establish an Advisory Committee on Sexual and Domestic Violence, which will develop accreditation standards and procedures for local support programs for vicitms.  
 
HB 1785 (Del. Massie - Henrico), requires campus police to notify the local Commonwealth's Attorney of a victim-
initiated investigation within 48 hours. The legislation passed by the House takes important steps to keep young men and women safe on our college campuses, and will better coordinate campus investigations with local law enforcement. We listened to the concerns of victims' advocates that mandatory reporting to the police could discourage students from reporting assaults. This legislation strikes the right balance to improve the
campus and law enforcement response without discouraging victims from coming forward. 

HB 1930 (Del. Bell), requires colleges to provide independent counseling services to victims and to inform them of all their legal options, requires mandatory reporting of sexual assaults where necessary to protect the health or safety of the public, and requires that all cases be confidentially reviewed by a team that includes law enforcement.
 
HB 1928 (Del. Bell - Albemarle), adds certain violent and sexual crimes that have a high propensity of recidivism to be included in the state DNA database to make it easier for law enforcement to identify and quickly apprehend suspects.
Kick-off of Scott Wyatt for Supervisor

Delegate Peace was happy to recently attend the Kick-off of Scott Wyatt for Supervisor. Scott Wyatt announced that he is 
running for Hanover County Board of Supervisors Cold Harbor District seat.
Delegate Peace with candidate Scott Wyatt and Supervisors Wade and Peterson
Visitors

 

I have had many visitors from home this week at the General Assembly.  Signing our guest book this week were Julia Kinder, Carley Leckie, and Thomas Snead, New Kent constituents that attend Maggie Walker Governor's School.
Betty Moore and her granddaughter, Madison
Visiting from Our Lady of Lourdes school were Mechanicsville residents Ling Howard, Nick Doung, Kara Gallagher, and Stecia Howard, young students sure ask the hard questions.  Thanks for visiting.   

 

Peace, Chairman of the House's Housing Sub Committee, meets with VA REALTORS leadership 

As always, I look forward to more smiling faces from home next week.   If you are planning a visit during session, stop by and visit, I am in Room 527 of the General Assembly 

Building.


Contact Me
 
My office takes the responsibility of serving seriously. My staff is available during the week to assist you with your concerns; I am also readily available. I encourage you to contact us. Please continue to contact me whenever you have concerns or issues of importance to our community and the Commonwealth.
  
 I may be reached at:
 
Capitol Office:
 General Assembly Building
Room 527
Richmond, VA 23218
Phone: 804-698-1097
Fax; 804-698-6797
 
Mailing Address:
PO Box 819
Mechanicsville, VA 23111


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Mechanicsville, VA 23111

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