Bill Text: VA HJR291 | 2024 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Celebrating the life of Shawn Soares.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)
Status: (Passed) 2024-03-06 - Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ291ER) [HJR291 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2024-HJR291-Enrolled.html
WHEREAS, Shawn Soares, a master's degree student at Virginia Commonwealth University who was active in state government and was a passionate advocate for clean energy and environmental conservation, died on May 4, 2023; and
WHEREAS, a native of India, Shawn Soares spent much of his childhood in Qatar, then relocated to the United States; he lived in Florida until 2010, when he moved to Virginia; and
WHEREAS, Shawn Soares began his career in government as an intern for the late United States Representative Donald McEachin, for whom he later served as director of outreach; he also provided his expertise to Delegate Suhas Subramanyam as a legislative aide; and
WHEREAS, in addition, Shawn Soares served as the deputy director of Asian American and Pacific Islander outreach and the deputy director of appointments under Governor Ralph Northam; at the age of 24, he was the youngest member of the administration at the time; and
WHEREAS, Shawn Soares subsequently joined the Virginia Conservation Network, a partnership of more than 150 nonprofit organizations dedicated to protecting and preserving the Commonwealth's natural resources, and worked as a policy manager on clean energy and climate change issues; and
WHEREAS, Shawn Soares was well-known as a talented and dedicated professional, who brightened the days of his colleagues through his kindness and enthusiasm for making the world a better place; and
WHEREAS, outside of his career, Shawn Soares performed as a DJ, and in 2019, he opened a show in Washington, D.C., for his favorite artist, Tipper; and
WHEREAS, Shawn Soares will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his parents, Alec and Nimmi, and his numerous beloved family members and friends; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of Shawn Soares; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Shawn Soares as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for his memory.
