Bill Text: VA HJR179 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Commending the Honorable Kathy J. Byron.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 49-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2024-03-09 - Left in Rules [HJR179 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2024-HJR179-Introduced.html
WHEREAS, the Honorable Kathy J. Byron, who represented the residents of Central Virginia in the 22nd District for 13 terms, retired from the House of Delegates in September 2023; and
WHEREAS, Kathy Byron and her husband, Jack, owned and operated a small business for more than 26 years, and she cultivated extensive expertise in telecommunications and marketing prior to joining the General Assembly; and
WHEREAS, desirous to be of service to her community and the Commonwealth, Kathy Byron ran for and was elected to the House of Delegates in 1997; over the course of her career in the General Assembly, she represented the 22nd District, which changed due to redistricting multiple times and included the residents of the Counties of Pittsylvania, Campbell, Bedford, and Franklin and the City of Lynchburg at various points; and
WHEREAS, over the course of her career in state government, Kathy Byron worked with six speakers of the house and eight governors; shortly after joining the House of Delegates, she played an important role in engineering the body's first Republican majority since the 19th century in 2000; and
WHEREAS, Kathy Byron was an advocate for conservative values, efficient government, and job creation; she introduced and supported numerous important pieces of legislation to benefit all Virginians; and
WHEREAS, Kathy Byron devoted much of her tenure in the state legislature to the advancement of workforce development initiatives that helped Virginians prepare for successful careers and attracted new businesses to the Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, Kathy Byron was a longtime member of the Virginia Board of Workforce Development and championed the creation of the Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement, also known as Virginia Works, which streamlined and consolidated several workforce development programs under one agency, making them more accessible to all Virginians; and
WHEREAS, Kathy Byron provided her leadership and expertise to the House Committees on Science and Technology, Finance, and Commerce and Energy, as well as several subcommittees and commissions; and
WHEREAS, in addition, Kathy Byron became the first woman to serve as chair of the House Republican Caucus; and
WHEREAS, Kathy Byron further served the Commonwealth as chair of the Health Insurance Reform Commission and a member of the Tobacco Community Revitalization Commission, where she chaired of its Research and Development Committee, and the American Legislative Exchange Council, where she served on the Communication and Information Task Force; and
WHEREAS, Kathy Byron offered additional insights as a member of the Unemployment Compensation Commission, the Joint Commission On Science and Technology, the Manufacturing Development Commission, and the Broadband Advisory Council; and
WHEREAS, during her long tenure as a state legislator, Kathy Byron served the Commonwealth with dedication, integrity, and distinction; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Honorable Kathy J. Byron on the occasion of her retirement from the House of Delegates; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Honorable Kathy J. Byron as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for her legacy of outstanding service to the residents of Central Virginia and the Commonwealth as a whole.
