Thank you for the privilege of conveying once again—through your elective delegation—your principles, convictions, and interests to the oldest legislative body in the Western world.  In coming months I look forward to receiving your review of the Assembly’s actions for 2009.  For your education and interest, we are posting my weekly reports from Capitol Hill.  Any questions or comments are greatly appreciated.  Click here for LIVE Video Streaming when we are in session.

Cordially,

~ R. Lee Ware

The General Assembly is a bicameral body consisting of a lower house, the Virginia House of Delegates, with 100 members, and an upper house, the Virginia Senate, with 40 members. The House of Delegates is presided over by a Speaker of the House, while the Senate of Virginia is presided over by the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. 

The General Assembly meets in Virginia's capital, Richmond. When sitting in Richmond, the General Assembly holds sessions in the Virginia State Capitol, designed by Thomas Jefferson in 1788 and expanded in 1904. The building was renovated in 2005-2006. Senators and Delegates have their offices in the General Assembly Building across the street directly north of the Capitol. The Governor of Virginia lives across the street directly east of the Capitol in the Virginia Governor's Mansion.

The Virginia General Assembly is the oldest legislative body in the Western Hemisphere. It previously met in Jamestown, Virginia from 1619 until 1699, when it moved to Williamsburg, Virginia and met in the colonial Capitol. The government was moved to Richmond in 1780 during the administration of Governor Thomas Jefferson, and the General Assembly has met there ever since.

This year the Virginia General Assembly will meet from January 9, 2008 through March 8, 2008.

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2004-2009.  All rights reserved.

Committee Assignments:
Agriculture, Chesapeake
Natural Resources (vice chairman)
Commerce & Labor
Finance