Governor McAuliffe’s Statement on Board of Health Regulatory Action Vote

RICHMOND - Governor Terry McAuliffe released the following statement today after the Virginia Board of Health voted to adopt a Notice of Intended Regulatory Action to review regulations on Virginia women’s health clinics:

“I would like to commend the Board of Health for adopting the Notice of Intended Regulatory Action, which will begin the review process of the 2013 regulations on women's health clinics across Virginia. These clinics provide essential preventive care and cancer screenings to many women and families and unfortunately were facing closure due to onerous regulations that were the result of politics being inserted into the regulatory process.

“In May, I asked my Commissioner of Health, Dr. Marissa Levine, to evaluate the 2013 regulations with the primary goals of ensuring that all Virginians have access to the quality healthcare they need and deserve and protecting women's rights to make their own healthcare decisions.

Dr. Levine in October informed me that the existing regulations should in fact be amended to be aligned more accurately with medical practices, and today the Board of Health agreed with her recommendation. I am encouraged that the Board of Health has adopted this action and that the health and welfare of all Virginians will continue to be the Commonwealth's top concern.”

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Governor McAuliffe Announces Administration Appointments, (They keep leaving to fast).

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

RICHMOND – Governor Terry McAuliffe announced additional appointments to his administration today. The appointees will join McAuliffe’s administration focused on finding common ground with members of both parties on issues that will build a new Virginia economy and create more jobs across the Commonwealth.

Secretariat of the Commonwealth

Board Appointments

Board of Accountancy

·       Matthew P. Bosher of Richmond, Partner, Hunton & Williams LLP

Board of Dentistry

·       Sharon W. Barnes of Mount Vernon, served as Communications/Legislative Assistant to Virginia State Senator Linda T. “Toddy” Puller; Associate Legislative Director, Editor and Director of Public Affairs for the National Association for Uniformed Services/Society of Military Widows

Board of Pharmacy

·       Sheila Kay Wilson Elliott, PharmD, MBA of Portsmouth, Clinical Pharmacist, Hampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Board of the Virginia Public Building Authority

·       Carolyn L. Bishop of Powhatan, Director of Finance and Administrative Services, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond

Community Integration Advisory Commission

·       Tameka F. Burroughs of Harrisonburg, Special Educational Consultant, Broadening Horizons Educational Support Services

·       Sandra A. Cook of Petersburg, Transportation Program Assistant, Senior Connections of Richmond

·       Susan A. Elmore, TRS, MBA/HCM, QIDP, CBIS of Colonial Heights, an employee of the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, and entrepreneur with her own health care operations consulting business, SAElmore Consulting, LLC

·       Stephen P. Grammer of Salem, disability advocate and recipient of the Certificate of Achievement, Partners in Policymaking

·       Danny L. Hodges of Hampton, foster parent and advocate for children with special needs

·       Lynnie McCrobie, LCSW, of Irvington Director of Community Options, Middle Peninsula Northern Neck Community Services Board

·       E. Ayn Welleford, MSG, PhD, AGHEF, of Richmond, Gerontologist Chair & Associate Professor Department of Gerontology, School of Allied Health Professions, Virginia Commonwealth University

·       Monica Wiley of Richmond, Office Manager, Democratic Party of Virginia and disability advocate

·       Shareen Young-Chavez of Chesterfield,  Line Unit Supervisor, Social Security Disability Determination Services with 17 years experience in the disability sector

Manufacturing Development Commission

·       Dennis Burnett of Staunton, Executive Director, Shenandoah Valley Partnership

·       Angeline Godwin, Ph.D., J.D. of Stanleytown, President, Patrick Henry Community College

·       B. Scott Tilley* of Virginia Beach, General Counsel, STIHL Incorporated

·       Brett A. Vassey* of Richmond, President & CEO, Virginia Manufacturers Association

New College Institute

·       Gracie Agnew of Fieldale, Adjunct Professor, Patrick Henry Community College

State Board for Community Colleges

·       Carolyn S. Berkowitz of Burke, Managing Vice President, Community Affairs, Capital One Financial Corporation; and President, Capital One Foundation

Virginia Cave Board

·       Janet Tinkham* of Fort Valley, Education Outreach Coordinator, AIDS Response Effort of Winchester

Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority

·       Eleanor Cantrell, MD* of Wise, Director,  Lenowisco Health District, Virginia Department of Health

·       Ralph R. Clark, III, MD* of Richmond, Chief Medical Officer of the VCU Health System and Associate Dean for Clinical Activities in the VCU School of Medicine

·       Nancy E. Dunlap, MD, PHD, MBA of Charlottesville, Dean, School of Medicine, University of Virginia

·       Shirley Rogers Gibson, DNP, MSHA, RN, FACHE* of Richmond, Associate Vice President of Nursing, VCU Health System

·       R. Neal Graham of Richmond, Chief Executive Officer, Virginia Community Healthcare Association

·       Deborah J. Johnston, RN of Richmond, Owner and President, Care Advantage, Inc.

·       Lori A. Rutherford, RN, LNP of Roanoke, Nurse Practitioner, Veterans Health Administration

Virginia Water Resources Research Center Statewide Advisory Board

·       The Honorable David L. Bulova of Fairfax, Member, Virginia House of Delegates and Senior Planner, AMEC Environment & Infrastructure, Inc.  

·        J. Michael Foreman of Palmyra, Director, Virginia Office of Environmental Education of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation; a veteran of both the corporate and academic sectors,  currently serves as faculty of the Virginia Natural Resources Leadership Institute

·       Joseph H. Maroon of Midlothian, Executive Director, Virginia Environmental Endowment; former  Director, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation

*Denotes reappointment

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Governor McAuliffe Announces Launch of Data.Virginia

English: Virginia population map based on Census 2000. See the data lineage for a description of the process. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

~ New portal will increase transparency, encourage innovation and enhance state operations ~

RICHMOND - Governor McAuliffe today announced the launch of Data.Virginia, a new online portal that will provide easy access to Virginia’s open data and keep Virginians informed of major initiatives that take advantage of big data.

Speaking on the new initiative, Governor McAuliffe said: “Virginia is generating more data on a daily basis than ever before. Much of that information is intended for public access, but is often buried and hard to find. With this new initiative, Virginians will have a one stop shop to get access to data from a variety of sources. That’s empowering data that can be used by  citizens to make more informed decisions, by innovators to build cutting-edge applications, and by community stakeholders to plan smarter projects.”

Examples of open datasets that will be available through the Data.Virginia portal include the Department of Education’s State Report Card on school performances, the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s database of board and commission openings, and the Department of Transportation’s traffic data from across Virginia.

In addition to serving as a central repository for open data, Data.Virginia will also serve as an information clearinghouse for the Commonwealth’s  big data initiatives. Big data, with the common characteristics of volume, variety and velocity, refers to the collection and analysis of huge amounts of electronic information. Commonwealth initiatives that make use of big data include the new Virginia Longitudinal Data System, a project which makes use of a variety of education and workforce development datasets and applies analytics to produce data-driven solutions that improve student outcomes. 

Speaking on the importance of big data, Governor McAuliffe said:
“Traditionally, data has been used to solve a single problem.  Now, through big data and analytics, we can analyze large quantities of information from a variety of sources more efficiently and develop better insights and solutions to our challenges. Several Virginia universities have established big data initiatives, and we need to expand and institutionalize the use of data analytics across the Commonwealth.”

The security of personal information will remain a priority.  Electronic data held by the state is subject to federal and state laws, protecting especially sensitive data. The Commonwealth also has an extremely high-level of security in a top-rated data center with security operations that monitor network traffic 24 hours a day, every day. Tax identification, Social Security and credit card numbers and health and other personal records are protected by even more stringent security standards.

In closing, Governor McAuliffe re-emphasized the importance of Data.Virginia:
“By adopting a two-pronged approach for harnessing Commonwealth data, we will not only enhance the way we use big data internally, but we will also make it easier for our citizens to access information.  It is through initiatives such as Data.Virginia that Virginia will continue to be a nationwide leader in innovation, smarter government, and increased transparency.”

The new portal can be accessed at Data.Virginia.gov

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Governor McAuliffe Announces Environmental Excellence Award Winners

Official seal of City of Newport News (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

RICHMOND, VA. – Governor Terry McAuliffe has announced the winners of the 2014 Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards, which were presented at the Environment Virginia Symposium at Virginia Military Institute in Lexington. 

The awards recognize significant environmental contributions in two categories: sustainability and land conservation. They are given to businesses and industrial facilities, not-for-profit organizations and government agencies.

“These award winners demonstrate a clear commitment to improving the environment for the benefit of all Virginians,” Governor McAuliffe said. “This recognition is well-deserved, and I look forward to ongoing improvements from these winners and other environmental and conservation leaders.” 

The Gold Medal winners are:

·       City of Newport News for its comprehensive sustainability program, a product of citizen input and local government leadership, which maps out a long-term strategic approach to becoming a greener community.

·       Elizabeth River Project for its Dominion Virginia Power Learning Barge, a mobile environmental education center known as the world’s first floating wetlands classroom and America’s “Greenest Vessel” designed to offer a closer look at the challenges facing the watershed.

·       Luck Companies for their commitment to sustainability across all business units, resulting in significant improvements in water conservation, land preservation, waste generation and energy savings.

·       Locust Grove Farm Conservation Easement, which protects more than 16,500 linear feet of forested and vegetated buffers on the Mattaponi River in King and Queen County on property that has been owned by the same family for about 350 years.

Award winners were chosen based on criteria including environmental benefit, stakeholder involvement, public outreach, transferability and innovativeness.

The awards are sponsored by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Additional information on the Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards is available on the DEQ website at:

www.deq.virginia.gov/Programs/PollutionPrevention/GovernorsEnvironmentalExcellenceAwards.aspx.

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Governor McAuliffe Unveils Spring Stewardship Virginia Campaign

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

(Richmond, VA)— Governor Terry McAuliffe today announced that Stewardship Virginia, a statewide campaign to encourage and recognize voluntary activities with a tangible impact on Virginia’s natural resources, begins its twelfth spring campaign April 1. With events across the state, the spring campaign runs through May 31. There is also a fall component starting in September.

“Stewardship Virginia gives us all an opportunity to make real contributions to our natural and historic resources. Virginia’s landscapes and waterways are important for their ecological value, scenic beauty and recreational opportunities,” said Governor McAuliffe. “Stewardship Virginia projects give volunteers the tools, guidance and structure to continue to enhance these valuable resources. I encourage all Virginians to get involved.”

Citizens and groups may get help from the state’s natural resource agencies. Participants in Stewardship Virginia events will receive certificates of appreciation signed by Gov. McAuliffe.

“Events will be held throughout Virginia with many opportunities for volunteerism in our parks and natural areas during Stewardship Virginia,” said Joe Elton, interim director of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. “We appreciate the many Virginians who have participated to date and hope many others will join in.” DCR coordinates the campaign with help from other natural resource agencies.

Last year, over 300 projects were registered and more than 5,000 volunteers were recognized with certificates of appreciation. Miles of waterways were cleaned and thousands of pounds of trash hauled away.  Volunteers held recycling events and organized community cleanups.  Invasive species were replaced with native plants and many trails were cleared for citizens to enjoy.

Stewardship Virginia promotes waterway adoption, trail improvement, the planting of riparian buffers, invasive species control, habitat improvement and landscaping for conservation. The campaign encourages people to connect with land and water to better understand their value. Many businesses and groups across Virginia have already registered Stewardship events and provided support to promote conservation initiatives. From the friends of the Occoquan along the Potomac River, the volunteers with the Mariners’ Museum and Park in Newport News, the Future Farmers of America  students with the Southern Virginia Botanical Gardens and the state parks friends groups like those of Smith Mountain Lake and the Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park. Citizens across Virginia are making a huge difference in their communities.

Individuals, businesses and organizations are encouraged to register their projects with Stewardship Virginia, making details available for those wanting to join in. For more information, including a registration packet, call 1-877-42-WATER (429-2837); in Richmond call (804) 786-5056. Visitwww.dcr.virginia.gov/stewardship/ for more information about volunteer projects and a registration form.

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Governor McAuliffe Releases 2013 Report of the Virginia Commission on Military Installations & Defense Activities

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Governor Terry McAuliffe today released the Report of the Commission on Military Installations & Defense Activities. The Commission was established to identify, review and recommend actions that the Commonwealth could take in support of our military installations, their surrounding localities and defense-related activities.  The Report is being released as the Commonwealth prepares itself for the latest round of Defense budget reductions.

“We are fortunate to have in Virginia one of the largest concentrations of military and defense activities, facilities, personnel and families in the country,” said Governor McAuliffe.  “Given the significant economic impact that our military installations and defense activities have on our Commonwealth, and in view of the recently announced proposed Department of Defense budget cuts and potential 2017 Base Realignment and Closure activity, it has never been more vital for us to work hand in hand with our Defense and military partners to ensure the continued vitality of these assets.”

The text of the report is available at the following link: https://governor.virginia.gov/media/2473/commissionmilitaryinstallsanddefenseactivities.pdf.

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