SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2023 SESSION

23103557D
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 298
Offered January 31, 2023
Commending the Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional Commission.
----------

Patrons-- Vogel, Hanger, Obenshain and Reeves; Delegates: Freitas, Guzman and Webert
----------

WHEREAS, in 1966, the General Assembly created the Metropolitan Areas Study Commission, also known as the Hahn Commission, which found that a holistic approach to solving local and regional problems needed to be taken; the commission recommended a new concept, the creation of planning district commissions and service district commissions; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Area Development Act passed in 1968, revised and retitled the Regional Cooperation Act in 1995, creating the planning district commission framework “to encourage and facilitate local government cooperation and state-local cooperation in addressing, on a regional basis, problems of greater than local significance”; and

WHEREAS, the Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional Commission serves Planning District 9, which includes the Counties of Culpeper, Fauquier, Madison, Orange, and Rappahannock and the Towns of Culpeper, Gordonsville, Madison, Orange, Remington, The Plains, Warrenton, and Washington; and

WHEREAS, the Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional Commission held its first meeting on January 16, 1973, and has successfully promoted opportunities for regional collaboration for 50 years; and

WHEREAS, the Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional Commission serves its member localities by providing professional planning and technical resources, a concerted approach to regional cooperation, planning assistance with program delivery, and a forum for the interaction of appointed and elected officials and citizen members; and

WHEREAS, the Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional Commission serves as a liaison between local and state governments, partnering with the Commonwealth to implement state initiatives at the local and regional levels; and

WHEREAS, the Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional Commission and its partners have worked on numerous projects impacting the region in the areas of agricultural development, environmental planning, transportation planning and coordination, regional tourism, criminal justice planning, housing development and services for the homeless, hazard mitigation planning, and regional growth issues; and

WHEREAS, the Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional Commission takes great pride in its 50 years of achievements, while recognizing the importance of looking ahead to the challenges of the future and expanding the types of services it provides to its member jurisdictions; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional Commission for the many important programs and services it has provided to the region on the occasion of its 50th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional Commission as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for the vital support provided by the commission to its member local governments and service to the Commonwealth and its residents.