Bill Text: VA HR125 | 2022 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commending the Honorable Christopher Kilian Peace.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 14-8)
Status: (Passed) 2022-03-08 - Bill text as passed House (HR125ER) [HR125 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2022-HR125-Enrolled.html
WHEREAS, the Honorable Christopher Kilian Peace is a faithful public servant who dedicated himself to serving the best interests of the people of the Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, the Honorable Christopher "Chris" Kilian Peace worked to enhance Virginia's Capital Region from his native Hanover County where he was raised by his pioneering mother, the late Honorable Nina K. Peace; and
WHEREAS, fulfilling his call to public service to his beloved Commonwealth, Chris Peace ran for and was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates and represented the residents of Caroline, Spotsylvania, Hanover, King & Queen, King William, Henrico, and New Kent counties in the 97th District from January 2006 until January 2020; and
WHEREAS, throughout his time in office, Chris Peace worked to enact numerous important pieces of legislation and amendments to the state budget, including legislation to promote the best interests of children in foster care and protect vulnerable adults from financial exploitation in the Commonwealth; fortify the state's response to incidents of domestic violence; enhance penalties for failing to "Move-Over" for first responders in service on state roadways; reopen Colonial Downs as the preeminent state racetrack; establish the Virginia Battlefield Preservation Fund and other related heritage tourism trails; and to expand access to affordable health care to over 400,000 Virginians; and
WHEREAS, Chris Peace strengthened the bonds of friendship between the Commonwealth and Virginia Indians, and he was most proud of his effort to install a permanent tribute to Virginia Indians at the State Capitol; and
WHEREAS, Chris Peace played a crucial role in the financial stewardship of the Commonwealth on the Committee on Appropriations, where he chaired the sub-committees on Transportation and Elementary and Secondary Education and served as a budget conferee in 2018 and 2019; he was adept at achieving consensus and brought several significant non-legislative successes to his district such as bringing King William County's first natural gas line or a stand-alone emergency department in New Kent in the rural most parts of his district; and
WHEREAS, in addition to chairing the Committee on General Laws, which is the oldest standing committee in the House of Delegates, Chris Peace became the House's 22nd most-senior member and provided his leadership and problem-solving ability to the Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions; during his tenure, he served on the Committee on Science and Technology, the Committee on Courts of Justice, and the Committee on Finance; and
WHEREAS Chris Peace's extensive, bipartisan legislative work continued on the 2018 Select Special Committee on School Safety, the Virginia Criminal Justice Services Board, the Joint Commission on Health Care, Virginia Commission on Youth (former chairman), the Virginia Housing Commission, the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation Board of Trustees, the Capital Region Caucus (former co-chair), the Virginia Bicentennial of the American War of 1812 Commission, the Virginia Health Information Board of Directors, Virginia Council on Aging, several Gubernatorial transition teams, and the Virginia Indian Commemorative Commission among others; and
WHEREAS, as a policy thought leader, Chris Peace has written extensively in the Richmond Times-Dispatch often offering editorial counterpoints to his colleague Senator Jennifer L. McClellan, while earning numerous awards such as the Virginia Chamber of Commerce Champion of Free Enterprise Award along with awards from the State Police Association, Virginia Sheriff's Association, Virginia Assisted Living Association, Virginia Council for Private Education, Virginia Optometric Association, Virginia Commissioner of the Revenue Association, Virginia Nurses Association, Virginia Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons, Virginia Housing Coalition, Virginia Retail Merchants Association, Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, Alzheimer's Association, Career and Technical Education Association, the Brain Injury Association, and the Boy Scouts of America; and
WHEREAS, Chris Peace has volunteered his time in his community on several statewide and local boards, including the LEAD VA Statewide Board, Leadership Metro Richmond, Library of Virginia Foundation Statewide Board, Metro Richmond Habitat for Humanity Board, Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership Statewide Board, Trustee of the St. John's Church Foundation; Board Member of the Menokin Foundation, Heritage and History of Hanover County, Inc., Board, Hanover County Historical Society Board, Hanover Association of Businesses and Chamber of Commerce Board, and Hanover Safe Place Board; and
WHEREAS, Chris Peace remains a proud alumnus of St. Christopher's School, Hampden-Sydney College, and the University of Richmond School of Law, as well as an active member of the Virginia State Bar and a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, Sons of the Revolution, Washington and Henry Fraternal Lodge, the Scottish Rite, the Commonwealth Club, the Country Club of Virginia, and St. Christopher's School Alumni Board; and
WHEREAS, having served the citizens of Virginia with integrity for nearly a decade and a half as an elected public servant, Chris Peace continues to seek new opportunities to serve the Commonwealth and his community as an attorney in private practice; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That the Honorable Christopher Kilian Peace hereby be commended for his faithful public service to the Commonwealth; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Honorable Christopher Kilian Peace as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for his civility, conscience, and leadership.
