Accomplishments While In Office

• Sponsored and successfully fought to win passage of a 20% real estate tax exemption constitutional amendment this year.
   
• Named "Senator of the Year" by Virginia Fraternal Order of Police.
   
• Named Legislator of the Year by the Virginia Sheriff's Association
   
• Protected the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel's funding and independence.
   
• Worked to reform VDOT and invest significant new funds to improve our roads and transportation infrastructure.
   
• Supported a record investment of over $250 million dollars for bay and river clean-up last year and an additional $250 million bond package for Chesapeake Bay clean-up this year.
   
• Increased funding for public education, both K-12 and Virginia's colleges and universities.
   
• Restored Virginia's resisting arrest law. This legislation was a priority of the Fraternal Order of Police.
   
• Ensured that America's Pledge of Allegiance is recited by students in our schools daily and that our Nation's Motto, "In God We Trust" is displayed in our schools.
   
• Provided health care insurance to children of lower income families.
   
• Worked to ensure the new electric power re-regulation legislation ensures local power companies must honor their original agreements to provide "cost of service" rates, and not market base rates, that will hurt many of our citizens.
   
• Worked to effectively manage the state's finances, keep our communities safe and improve our schools, which resulted in Virginia being rated the "best-managed" state in America two years in a row.
   
• Obtained funds for High-Speed Internet for the Eastern Shore.
   
• Advocated for the building of the new Chincoteague bridge.
   
• Chief Sponsor for a new study for the Spaceport at Wallops Island.
   
• Chief Sponsor for legislation that provides tougher penalties for people who interfere with volunteer fire fighters serving in the line of duty.
   
• Supported land conservation programs to help maintain the rural character of our communities.
   
• Chief Sponsor of Golf Cart Legislation for the Towns of Saxis and Cape Charles.
   
• Chief Sponsor for the Chincoteague Arts District legislation.
   
• Sponsored and supported tougher DUI laws to make our roads safer.