I need your help.  My office has teamed up with Herndon High School and Herndon Middle School to collect food for LINK during the Herndon Homecoming parade and football game.  As I mentioned in my last Rust Report, LINK's shelves are bare and need replenishing - and that's why we need your help.  We will be collecting food along the parade route in kid's wagons, at the football game, and at my legislative office (Town Hall, 2nd floor, 730 Elden Street).   Your food donations will be greatly appreciated!

What I've Been Asked on School Funding
 
A parent emailed me about what she had read concerning the funds Loudoun County receives from the state.  The fact is that during the past six years, Fairfax and Loudoun schools have each received an additional $98 million in state funding with my support.  This is one of numerous reasons I have been endorsed by our local teachers, the Virginia Education Association, the Fairfax Education Association, and the Loudoun Education Association.  Since my work and critical vote in the 2004 General Assembly Session, I would like to present the following facts about school funding for Fairfax and Loudoun counties:



Here are other important votes I took on school funding:
 
·         In 2006, I voted for a $1.2 Billion increase for re-benchmarking costs for public education.
·         I voted for a $1 Million program to pay for Advanced Placement testing for a projected 4,800 economically disadvantaged students. (A $4.3 million reduction was to eliminate proposed NEW funding for AP fees, not then-current funding.)  The reduction recommended by the House Appropriations Committee was part of a package of reductions in order to help increase the state's share of teacher salaries.
 
The Virginia Capitol was designed by our own Thomas Jefferson.
The Virginia Capitol was first occupied in 1788.
The Virginia Capitol's last major renovation occurred in 1904 (over 100 years ago)
 
In 2004, I supported a bill that was passed in the House of Delegates by a vote of 92-7 (with all Democrats voting yes) and passed in the Senate 39-0 to renovate the Capitol.  Governor Warner signed the bill.  The almost unanimous vote allowed the exterior brick work and interior woodwork, which were seriously deteriorating, to be fully restored, as well as the construction of a new Visitor's Center.  Today the Capitol is beautifully restored to its original glory of 1904, and I hope you will visit YOUR Capitol (and if the General Assembly is in session, please stop by my office and visit).
 
House of Delegates Candidates Forum
  
I will be attending the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce House of Delegates Candidates Forum on October 1 from 8-10 am at the National Conference Center in Lansdowne.  The public is invited and I encourage you to attend.  There is a cost is $30 and you can reserve your seat by going to www.loudounchamber.org.  
 
I would like to make you aware of a house in Sterling that will be featured in the 2009 Tour of Solar Homes and Buildings that takes place this weekend.  The home is located at 904 West Maple Avenue and it will be open for tours on Sunday.  This is a split-level single family home features solar PV, hot water and a heat absorbing brick trombe wall.   I commend the owners on a job well-done!
 
I have enjoyed meeting many of you at the Back to School nights during the past couple of weeks.  Of course, I haven't been able to attend all of them because many of them overlap.  As always, please do not hesitate to contact me with your thoughts and concerns.
 
Warm regards,