Delegate Matt Fariss

Today is the first day of the 2017 Virginia General Assembly session.  I wanted to send you a quick email about my legislative priorities for the year and how you can be involved.

I first want to urge you to get out and vote for Mark Peake in the 22^nd District race on Tuesday, January 10^th. It is imperative that we keep the Senate control in the hands of Republicans and Mark is just the person we need in representing us in the Senate. Senate District 22, which is made up of all of Amherst County, Appomattox County, Buckingham County, Cumberland County, Fluvanna County, Goochland County, part of Louisa County, and part of the City of Lynchburg, is open after State Senator Tom Garrett (R) defeated Jane Dittmar (D) in the congressional race for Virginia’s 5th district seat.

I hope you had a joyous Christmas and New Year’s celebration and enjoyed spending time with family and loved ones.

Governor McAuliffe unveiled his budget-plan at a meeting of the General Assembly's joint money committees on Friday. The governor's proposal addresses salary compression issues and career development funding for deputies and sheriff's office staff while providing a 1.5% bonus in 2017.

I would like to make you aware of a new tool provided by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) that provides useful information regarding the status of public schools and local school divisions throughout the Commonwealth.

Virginia farmers are getting help to expand their business and adjust to a changing industry.

Last week, the Justice Department filed a statement of interest in a class-action case against the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, brought this summer by the Legal Aid Justice Center, a Virginia nonprofit, on behalf of four people whose licenses were suspended because of a failure to pay costs, fines and fees assessed by courts.

On Election Day, I was able to volunteer my time and work four different polling locations in my district. My wife, my parents, my office staff and my son were also able volunteer their time and pass out sample ballots outside of polling locations. . I was pleased to see such a huge voter turnout and had the opportunity to meet a large amount of first time voters. I was also glad to see a successful election for the Republican Party.

Veteran’s Day is very important part of our American history. World War I officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day. The original concept for the celebration was for a day observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11:00 a.m.

On the 2016 ballot, most people have been focusing on the presidential race. In Virginia, two proposed constitutional amendments will also be on the ballot for people to vote on in November.