This has been a busy week!  I have met with many constituents, attended over 17 committee meetings, chaired two committee meetings, read countless bills, met with numerous organizations, and kept up with the 18 bills that I have introduced.  I am including a list of my bills with this Rust Report for you to review at your leisure by visiting the Virginia General Assembly website.  

A Visit from Park View High School
 
This week I had the pleasure of meeting with three students and their teacher from Park View High School in Sterling.  They were in Richmond representing the National Capital Red Cross educating me on the wonderful work the Red Cross does in our area, in our state, in our Country, and across the globe.  
 
I asked about their efforts in Haiti.  Here is what I learned about the Haiti Earthquake Relief:
 
There are thousands of Red Cross workers, representing 30 countries assisting with relief efforts (including engineers, surgeons, and family linking specialists) The American Red Cross has mobilized 15 Emergency Response Units (ERU) to provide base camps and sanitation modules. Supplies arrived last weekend for a field hospital. The International Committee of the Red Cross is supporting efforts to ensure the deceased bodies can be recovered and identified for the families.
 
There are still challenges that they are faced with including providing shelter for over 1 million people and providing food for over 2 million people.   For more information and updates, you can go to www.redcross.org

I am happy to report that Governor McDonnell announced this week that the rest stops which were closed last year will reopen by April 15th.  The Commonwealth Transportation Board voted to reverse its previous decision to reduce the rest stops from 42 to 23.  I heard from many unhappy constituents about the closings, which I did not support.  Closed rest areas reflect poorly on Virginia, and the reopening will let everyone know Virginia welcomes you!

Bill Update

I would like to inform you of the bills which I have introduced this year.  Instead of giving the details of each one, I invite you to visit the

General Assembly website (http://legis.state.va.us/ ) and read the bills which interest you.  The bills are:  HJ68 (tolling study), HB350 (Distribution of Handbills), HB351 (School Construction Revolving Fund), HB352 (Group Life Insurance), HB512 (Lyme Disease), HB513 (No Operator's License), HB514 (Liveable Communities), HB515 (Wetland mitigation), HB516 (Condemnation), HB517 (Uniform Building Code),  HB518 (State Police), HB745 (Information Technology), HB746 (Toll payment violators), HB970 (General Fund surplus), HB971 (Transportation), HB972 (Transient Occupancy tax), HB973 (Line of Duty), HB1295 (Dulles Airport).    
 
I look forward to meeting you at one of my Town Hall meetings, in Richmond, or around town!

Warm regards,