"Like" Me on Facebook The most up-to-date information can be found here Click Here to "Like" JEFFERSON LAB BUDGET AMENDMENT PASSES The budget passed through the Virginia Senate on Wednesday includes a $3 million amendment introduced by Mike for Jefferson Laboratory. This budget amendment will be used for installation of equipment to upgrade the facility’s Free Electron Laser (FEL), and is the first step of many to improve the facility to better position Jefferson Laboratory to compete for a potential $1.5 billion future laboratory from the Department of Energy that could result in as many as 1400 new jobs for the Hampton Roads region. The Free Electron Laser Program at Jefferson Laboratory has met with significant success since it became operational. The Commonwealth invested $5.0 million in the program in 1996, and it has since leveraged over $120 million in federal funding. To date, the laboratory’s nuclear physics program has spawned more than $271 million in economic output and is responsible for 2200 jobs in Hampton Roads. Currently, one third of all nuclear science Ph.D.s granted in the United States are based on research at Jefferson Laboratory, and funding upgrades to the Free Electron Laser will provide increased research opportunities, particularly among Virginia’s colleges and universities who use the facility. CREATION OF ‘BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CAUCUS’ This past week, along with fellow freshmen Delegates Chris Head (R-Roanoke), David Ramadan (R-Loudoun), and Michael Webert (R-Fauquier) - all business owners employing Virginians – Mike established the Business Development Caucus with the mission of drafting legislation to promote entrepreneurship and job growth in the Commonwealth. Delegates Joe May (R-Loudoun) and Terry Kilgore (R-Gate City) will serve in an advisory capacity to the Business Development Caucus, which carries the support and endorsement of both Governor McDonnell and Speaker of the House, Bill Howell. Though the Delegates differ in their respective business backgrounds - Mike in manufacturing technology, Head in healthcare, Ramadan in international franchising, and Webert in agriculture - they have encountered many of the same challenges, including infrastructure, employer mandates, and government regulation that inhibit job creation. Immediately, the Caucus received offers of full support from the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, the National Federation of Independent Business and similar organizations, all of which stand willing to facilitate the Caucus' efforts. The group’s post-session activities will include a series of business roundtable meetings in at least six regions around the Commonwealth to identify legislative priorities for the 2013 session. All four of the Caucus's founders plan to attend each roundtable, accompanied by other Caucus members and representatives of Governor McDonnell’s office as he promotes his “Year of the Entrepreneur” initiative. Ideas generated at these regional roundtables, once vetted, will serve as the basis for legislation which Caucus members will guide through the legislative process in the 2013 session. Virginia Chamber Recognizes Mike Watson with Freshman Legislator of the Year Award and Champion of Free Enterprise Award The Virginia Chamber of Commerce recognized Mike on Wednesday with The Freshman Legislator of the Year Award, which recognizes the newly elected legislators who display a passion for and an understanding of the issues facing Virginia’s business community during their first session. Delegate Watson also received the Champion of Free Enterprise Award, which is given to legislators who earned a grade of A+ for their voting record on issues of interests to the business community. Also on Wednesday, the Virginia Chamber released its 2012 Legislative Report Card. In addition to grading legislators based on their pro-business voting record, the Legislative Awards recognize legislators for their support on initiatives that will keep Virginia as the best state in the nation for business. GOVERNOR SIGNS WATSON’S ENERGY BILL INTO LAW On Tuesday, Governor McDonnell signed Mike’s House Bill 1177 into law, along with twelve other pieces of energy legislation, to advance Virginia as the “Energy Capital of the East Coast”. Virginia is currently the second largest importer of energy in the nation, trailing only California, and the United States Department of Energy projects that electricity demand will rise 24 percent by 2035. House Bill 1177 passed both the House and the Senate with strong bipartisan support, and was introduced to expand Virginia’s existing energy policy to include a focus on Virginia-based energy and a focus on energy independence. Increasing the emphasis on domestic energy is a necessary step to mitigate vulnerabilities in Virginia’s energy market as demand increases. GOVERNOR SIGNS HABITAT FOR HUMANITY BILL This past Wednesday, Governor McDonnell signed House Bill 1144 into law. This bill was introduced by Mike and waives the licensure requirement for Habitat for Humanity and other non-profits meeting specific criteria to rehabilitate single-family dwellings. Previously, this requirement was only waived for construction of new homes. This bill will give non-profit organizations the opportunity, not only to build new homes, but also to work on homes that have been abandoned or suffer from structural integrity deficiencies. Hopefully, this bill will help address blight and abandoned property concerns throughout Virginia. Now that it has been signed by the Governor, it will take effect on July 1. Golf Tournament On June 7, we will be hosting a golf tournament at the Kiln Creek Country Club in Newport News. The invitation may be found at http://delegatewatson.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/237380-GOLF-MAILER.pdf. For questions, or to RSVP, please contact Barret Sowers at cbsowers07@gmail.com, or call (757) 645-5298. | 
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