On Monday, the Virginia General Assembly overwhelmingly passed legislation creating a licensure system for professional home inspectors in the Commonwealth. Senate Bill 453, patroned by Sen. Bill Stanley, R-Moneta, passed the House of Delegates on a 100-0 vote

Democrats on the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs today urged Chairman Richard Shelby to stop obstructing President Obama’s nominees for critical Administration positions related to financial oversight, national security, export financing, and public transportation safety. In a letter to Chairman Shelby (R-AL), all 10 of the panel’s Democrats expressed concern that the Banking Committee has not yet voted on any of the President’s nominees in this Congress.

Arlington County Manager Mark Schwartz today previewed for the County Board a proposed $1.19 billion Base Budget for FY 2017 that is balanced and is a 2.8 percent increase above the FY 2016 adopted budget. The manager also proposed that the $6.2 million in higher-than-projected revenues now expected be used to fund a tax rate reduction and more investments

U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine and U.S. Representative Rob Wittman announced today that the Pamunkey Indian Nation will receive $50,282 from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the development and management of affordable housing. Earlier this month, the Pamunkey’s federal recognition by the Bureau of Indian Affairs became effective, which gives the tribe eligibility and access to federal benefits such as housing, education and health care.

"President Obama's Clean Power Plan is an ambitious, flexible and attainable framework, rooted in existing authority, that sets America on a path to lead on global climate change. Today's action by the Supreme Court is deeply disappointing, and yet another flawed decision by this court that jeopardizes our progress toward a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable future."

Arlington Economic Development is proud to announce that Opower, a leading energy enterprise software company that helps utilities elevate the customer experience, has chosen to continue to call Arlington home. The expanding company recently completed a competitive bid process and will move its headquarters from its current home in Arlington’s Courthouse neighborhood to a new building nearby that is currently being constructed.

Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement after the Supreme Court put a hold on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Clean Power Plan. “I have long believed that the EPA does not have the legal authority for its Clean Power Plan under Section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act.

Congressman J. Randy Forbes (VA-04), Chairman of the House Armed Services Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, issued the following statement on the release of President Obama’s FY17 defense budget

U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, both members of the Senate Budget Committee, released the following statements on President Obama’s budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2017 (FY 2017)

The 2015 Virginia residential real estate market outperformed every year from 2007 to 2014. Sales each month of 2015 surpassed those of 2014, leading to annual growth of nearly 11 percent for Virginia’s residential real estate market. Gradual and sustained market growth indicates restored strength to the housing market and its impact on the state economy, according to the most recent report published by the Virginia Association of REALTORS® (VAR).