RICHMOND – The Virginia Chamber of Commerce today released its 2017 Legislative Report Card, which grades legislators based on their support of pro-business policies during the 2017 legislative session. The Legislative Report Card recognizes legislators for their support for the principles and initiatives outlined in the Chamber’s long-term jobs plan for growth, Blueprint Virginia. A full breakdown of the report card with a detailed description of each award is available at https://www.vachamber.com/advocacy/legislative-report-card/.

“We made significant progress this legislative session on issues that impact Virginia’s business climate, particularly in the area of education and workforce development,” said Barry DuVal, president and CEO of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce. “We applaud members of both parties who took action on priorities in the Chamber’s long-term Blueprint and put us on track for long-term economic growth.”

Now in its sixth year, the 2017 legislative report card also includes lifetime grades along with the grades for the most recent legislative session.

Senator Bill Stanley (R-Moneta) was named 2017 Senate Legislator of the Year and Delegate Tim Hugo (R-Centreville) was named 2017 House Legislator of the Year. The Virginia Chamber’s Legislator of the Year Award is the business community’s premier legislative award honoring the lawmaker who demonstrates outstanding leadership on pro-business issues.

Speaker Bill Howell (R-Stafford) was also honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his thirty years of service in the General Assembly and his support of policies that encourage growth and competitiveness.

The following legislators are also recognized for their leadership in specific areas. A description of each award is available in the full report card at https://www.vachamber.com/advocacy/legislative-report-card/

Champions of Free Enterprise

Senator Bill DeSteph

Senator Ryan McDougle

Senator Mark Peake

Senator Frank Ruff

Delegate Rich Anderson

Delegate Terry Austin

Delegate Rob Bell

Delegate Kathy Byron

Delegate Kirk Cox

Delegate Scott Garrett

Delegate Todd Gilbert

Delegate Tag Greason

Delegate Rocky Holcomb

Speaker Bill Howell

Delegate Riley Ingram

Delegate Chris Jones

Delegate Barry Knight

Delegate Steve Landes

Delegate Danny Marshall

Delegate Jimmie Massie

Delegate Jason Miyares

Delegate John O’Bannon

Delegate Bobby Orrock

Delegate Brenda Pogge

Delegate Charles Poindexter

Delegate Roxann Robinson

Delegate Chris Stolle

Delegate Tony Wilt

Delegate David Yancey

Excellence in Education and Workforce Development Award

Senator Siobhan Dunnavant

Senator Mark Obenshain

Senator Chap Petersen

Senator Frank Ruff

Delegate Dickie Bell

Delegate David Bulova

Delegate Eileen Filler-Corn

Delegate Tag Greason

Delegate Steve Landes

Champions of Regulatory Reform Award

Senator John Edwards

Senator Bryce Reeves

Delegate Chris Head

Delegate Chris Peace

Delegate Margaret Ransone

Delegate Lee Ware

Defender of Free Markets Award

Delegate Kathy Byron

Economic Competitiveness Award

Senator Emmett Hanger

Delegate Matthew James

Advancement of Technology and Innovation Award

Senator Ben Chafin

Senator Bill DeSteph

Delegate Glenn Davis

Delegate Terry Kilgore

Delegate Todd Pillion

Delegate Ron Villanueva

Full descriptions of the legislative awards are available at https://www.vachamber.com/advocacy/legislative-report-card/

About the Virginia Chamber of Commerce

The Virginia Chamber of Commerce is the largest business advocacy organization in the Commonwealth, with more than 26,000 members. The Chamber is the leading non-partisan business advocacy organization that works in the legislative, regulatory, civic and judicial arenas at the state and federal level to be a force for long-term economic growth in the Commonwealth. Learn more at www.vachamber.com

###