Transportation

Transportation remains a top priority for our region.  Leaving our needs unaddressed is damaging to our economy and quality of life, while traffic continues to clog our highways and slow our economic progress.  More than $1 million a day is "stolen" from construction to cover our maintenance budget shortfall.  We still have work to do to solve our long-term transportation problems, and Senator Barker is committed to finding solutions that address Northern Virginia's growth.


BRAC

Senator Barker has opposed BRAC and its negative effects on our community since before he was elected to the Senate.  As chair of Fairfax County's Transportation Advisory Commission, he helped get the Army to reduce by half the number of people at the old Engineering Proving Ground in Springfield.  Placing 18,000 jobs there would have overwhelmed local roads and necessitated as much as $2 billion in transportation improvements.  Unfortunately, the Army, which did not have to be responsive to state or local elected officials, ignored the recommendations of Senator Barker and others and chose the Mark Center site, which will create huge transportation problems and will actually reduce the number of employees using transit.  Senator Barker and others have supported efforts to get federal funding to help address the traffic nightmare and delay use of the Mark Center building, and he will continue to fight however he can to alleviate this major problem.


Jobs and the Economy

George is working with leaders from both parties to create jobs and investment opportunities.  He overcame opposition in Richmond to pass SB1050/SB1379 – a major piece of job-growth legislation – with local government support.  This bill will direct resources from the Governor's Opportunity Fund to economic development for the growing high-tech and research industries.  The bill will provide industry incentives for high-paying, quality jobs and will diversify Northern Virginia's economy, thereby cutting homeowners' tax burdens and providing greater stability for residents.


Veterans

George works hard for Virginia veterans, and has passed several pieces of legislation aimed at strengthening our veteran community.  One of his successfully combined bills from 2011 will allow veterans settling in Virginia and members of the National Guard to receive in-state tuition at our public colleges and universities.  He has also worked to ensure that members of our armed forces returning home from overseas have access to a strong mental health support system here in the Commonwealth.

Protecting Our Communities

Senator Barker wants to ensure that our communities remain safe and enjoyable places to live.  He passed a major piece of legislation in 2011 that permits those in dating relationships and others beyond immediate family to seek protective orders when violence or harm is threatened.  The Governor also signed Senator Barker's E-Verify bill into law, which will require contractors doing business with the state to ensure their employees are in the country legally.  George supports sensible legislation that protects our communities, and opposes racial profiling and other actions that harm legal residents.


Health Care

Serving on the Education and Health Committee and the Joint Commission on Health Care, George is working to control health care costs, improve quality and outcomes, and make health care accessible for Virginia families.  He has supported many initiatives to improve the Commonwealth's mental health system, and passed successful legislation to eliminate the waiver waiting list for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.


Education

We take pride in the caliber of our public schools, and our children have benefited immensely from the school systems we have in Northern Virginia.  Many of our high schools are nationally ranked, and our students are afforded a wide range of educational opportunities.  Virginia is also recognized for its outstanding public colleges and universities.  Senator Barker has passed a number of important education initiatives, including bills to give students enrolled in International Baccalaureate and Cambridge courses AP-equivalent credit, to allow veterans settling in Virginia and members of the National Guard to receive in-state tuition, and to excuse children from classes because of religious holidays.  He also introduced legislation to establish a revolving loan for construction.


The Environment

Protecting our environment is one of Senator Barker's top priorities, and and he is an avid supporter of energy conservation.  Leading by example – and encouraged by state tax incentives – George installed solar panels in his home when it was built in 1983.  As a longtime board member of the Occoquan Watershed Coalition, George understands the benefits of maintaining substantial tree coverage in Fairfax County and limiting runoff in the Occoquan Reservoir.  He has also supported numerous efforts in the General Assembly to protect the Chesapeake Bay its wildlife.