Preferred Citation

Records of the Virginia Liaison Office, 2003-2010 (bulk 2006-2009), Accession 44693, State records collection, The Library of Virginia, Archives Branch, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Acquisition Information

Accession 44693 was transferred by the Office of the Governor, January 14, 2010.

Biographical/Historical Information

The Virginia Liaison Office (VLO) represents the Governor before both Congress and the federal administration, advocating for the Commonwealth's interests in Washington, and monitoring federal developments that affect the state. The Office is responsible for monitoring and tracking federal legislation that is of interest to the Commonwealth and keeping the Governor's Office and state agencies up to date on the status of federal legislation and regulations. The Office is also tasked with influencing the development of federal legislation and regulations by keeping the Virginia Congressional Delegation informed about the Governor's priorities and maintaining contact with Congressional staffs, key federal agency officials and public interest groups. Other duties include alerting state agencies and local government to federal grant opportunites and monitoring the progress of any grant applications, writing or advising on testimony to be presented by the Governor or state agency heads before Congressional committees, resolving administrative issues between state and federal agencies and maintaining liaison with other states and interstate groups. The VLO is also required to report twice a year to the Senate Finance Committee, the House Appropriations Committee and to the Governor's Office on all federal mandates and regulations which may have an affect on the Commonwealth. In addition to this, the VLO also works with interstate and regional organizations in which the Governor participates, such as the National Governor's Association, Southern Governor's Association, Appalachian Regional Commission, Southern States Energy Board, Southern Regional Education Board and the National Capital Region.

During the administration of Governor Timothy Kaine, Alfonso Lopez served as the Director of the Virginia Liaison Office (2006-2010) and Bennett Blodgett served as Deputy Director (2006-2009).

Scope and Content

The Virginia Liaison Office records, 2003-2010 (bulk 2006-2009), are housed in 34 boxes. The collection includes Director's correspondence and subject files, Policy Analyst correspondence and subject files, National Governors Association records, and Southern Governors Association records.

Issues of concern to the Virginia Liaison Office during the Kaine Administration include: American Recovery and Reinstatement Act (ARRA) and transit projects, Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC), Byrne-Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program, Chesapeake Bay Revitalization, child care funding, climate change, Community Development Block Grant funding, Dulles Corridor Metro Rail Project, Eastern Shore Broadband, Farm bill, Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA), Fort Monroe, foster care, Homeland Security, housing, land conservation, Medicare and Medicaid, No Child Left Behind Act Reauthorization, REAL ID, State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), veterans services, Virginia Wounded Warrior Program, Wallops Island Research Park, and the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and workforce development.

Arrangement

Alphabetical.

Related Material

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR-TIM KAINE

A Guide to the Governor Timothy M. Kaine Administration Electronic Files, Email, 2002-2010 (bulk 2006-2009). The Virginia Liaison Office Electronic Files series documents the electronic communication of the office during the Kaine administration. This series contains 20063 emails in ten (10) subseries. Subseries have been designated for: A. Alfonso Lopez Email, B. Bennett Blodgett Email, C. Eileen Filler-Corn Email, D. Dominic Gabello Email, E. Melinda Glazer Email, F. Aaron Turner Email, G. Kwame Boadi Email, H. Jessica Vasconcellos Email, I. Michele Alexander Email, and J. Mary Kuehler Email. There are no email files for Shaylah Nunn, Federal Policy Analyst. There are 14 protected and confidential emails that are restricted from public access per Code of Virginia, 42-1-78. Types of restricted information may include, but are not limited to: attorney-client communications and personnel information. The Library of Virginia Email Project - Governor Tim Kaine Portal provides access to the Kaine email collection and includes guides to other Kaine administration records.

The Governor Tim Kaine Administration Web Archive Collection, 2006-2010 contains archived versions of websites for the Governor's Office, his initiative sites, and the sites of his cabinet secretaries. Also included are the related sites for the First Lady (Anne Holton), as well as the Lt. Governor (Bill Bolling), and Attorney General (Bob McDonnell and William C. Mims), two statewide officials elected in the same cycle as Governor Kaine.

The Timothy M. Kaine Administration (2006-2010) Cabinet Weekly Reports Digital Collection contains the weekly reports submitted to the Governor and Chief of Staff by the Governor's Cabinet, including the Secretaries of Administration (Viola Baskerville), Agriculture and Forestry (Robert S. Bloxom), Commerce and Trade (Patrick O. Gottschalk), Commonwealth (Daniel C. LeBlanc, Jan-Mar. 2006 and Katherine K. Hanley (Mar. 2006-2010), Education (Dr. Thomas R. Morris), Finance (Jody Wagner, 2006-2008 and Richard D. Brown, 2008-2010), Health and Human Resources (Marilyn Tavenner), Natural Resources (Preston Bryant), Public Safety (John W. Marshall), Technology (Aneesh Chopra, 2006-2009 and Leonard M. Pomata, 2009-2010), and Transportation (Pierce Homer). Also included are reports by the Assistant to the Governor for Commonwealth Preparedness (Robert Crouch), Office of Constituent Services (Marc Cheatham, 2006-2007 and Amber Amato, 2007-2010), Press Office, Policy Office and Virginia Liaison Office. Reports were submitted each Thursday and placed in a binder for the Governor that he took with him at the end of the day on Friday. A second copy of the report was made for the Chief of Staff. The level of detail varied for each cabinet officer and items of importance were highlighted by staff for the Governor. Each report contains information on legislation, Governor's initiatives/special projects, agency matters/operations, events/agency visits, audits/investigations/compliance, stakeholder issues and pending decisions. Governor Kaine wrote handwritten notes and/or marked-up some reports with post-it notes and requested follow up information from the person submitting the report. Those questions and answers are included in this series. This series provides a weekly account of the issues and policy decisions of the Kaine Administration.

A Guide to the Governor Timothy M. Kaine, Executive Office-Governor, Records, 2005-2009. The Governor Timothy M. Kaine, Executive Office-Governor, Records are housed in 45 boxes. The collection is arranged into three (3) series. Series have been designated for: I. Weekly Status Reports; II. State Budget Files; and III. Briefing Binders and Reports. These records include agreements, briefing books, reports, correspondence, memorandums, budget documents, agendas, handouts, invitations, talking points, and speeches. This collection contains the weekly reports, briefing books and budgetary records of Governor Kaine (2006-2010).

A Guide to the Governor Timothy M. Kaine, Policy Office, Records, 2002-2010 (bulk 2006-2009). The Policy Office Records of Governor Timothy M. Kaine are housed in 174 boxes. The collection is arranged into five (5) series. Series have been designated for: I. Decision Briefs; II. Regulations; III. Legislative Files; IV. Executive Orders and Directives; and V. Policy Analyst Files. These records include agendas, decision briefs, correspondence, memorandums, legislative files, briefing books, meeting notes, subject files, reports, talking points and regulations. These records document the legislative and policy priorities of the Kaine administration (2006-2010). This collection also includes records from Governor Mark Warner's administration (2002-2006).

CABINET OFFICES

A Guide to the Records of the Office of Commonwealth Preparedness, 1989-2009 (bulk 2006-2009). The Office of Commonwealth Preparedness records consist of 37 archival boxes and are divided into eight series. Series have been designated for Cabinet Meeting Files, Commonwealth Interoperability Coordinator's Office Initiatives Files, Commonwealth Interoperability Coordinator's Office Subject files, Constituent Correspondence, Correspondence and Supporting Documentation, Homeland Security Files Grant, Meeting Files Preparedness Committees, and Robert P. Crouch Jr. Attorney Files. These records document the work of the Office of Commonwealth Preparedness. The bulk of the records can be found in the Correspondence and Supporting Documentation series related to base closings, campus security, hurricane preparedness, interoperability, the National Capital Region, and various office projects. Included are agendas, correspondence, minutes, newsletters, programs, reports, and surveys. Of note are the Constituent Correspondence and Correspondence and Supporting Documentation series which are invaluable in showing the concerns and interests of citizens, government officials, and other individuals regarding security, terrorism, and various other subjects.

A Guide to the Records of the Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resources, 2005-2010. Contains records created and maintained by Secretary of Health and Human Resources, Marilyn B. Tavenner, during the administration of Governor Timothy M. Kaine. The records include incoming and outgoing correspondence with assigned agencies and constituents, subject files, decision memoranda, legislative files, budget material, and records related to activities and special projects.

A Guide to the Records of the Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources, 1999-2010 (bulk 2006-2009). This collection contains the records, 1999-2010 (bulk 2006-2009), of the Office of Secretary of Natural Resources L. Preston Bryant, Jr., during the administration of Governor Tim Kaine. There is correspondence and subject files that relate to Secretary Bryant, the state agencies that he oversees, environmental organizations that operate in Virginia, and projects initiated by Governor Kaine. Legislative files contain material related to bills that were either under the purview of the Secretary of Natural Resources or upon which the Secretary wished to comment. Special programs include correspondence and subject files primarily created by Assistant Secretary of Natural Resources Missy Neff and Deputy Secretary of Natural Resources Nikki Rovner. Finally, there are speeches given by L. Preston Bryant, Jr., at public and private events.

A Guide to the Records of the Virginia Secretary of Public Safety, 1990, 1992, 1996, 1998-2010 (bulk 2002-2009). The Secretary of Public Safety records consists of thirty-eight archival boxes and are divided into six series. Series have been designated for Correspondence-Assigned State Agencies, Correspondence and Supporting Documentation-Office of the Secretary, Decision Memoranda and Briefs, Federal Grant Funding, Legislative Files, and Special Projects and Studies. These records document the activities of the Office of the Secretary of Public Safety, as well as the agencies and boards which fall under its heading, during the gubernatorial terms of Governor Mark R. Warner (2002-2006) and Governor Timothy M. Kaine (2006-2010).

A Guide to the Records of the Virginia Secretary of Transportation, 2006-2010. The Secretary of Transportation records consist of 52 archival boxes and are divided into 4 series. Series have been designated for Appointment Calendars (I), Constituent Correspondence (II), Legislative Files (III) and Special Projects and Studies (IV). These records document the work of the Secretary of Transportation Pierce Homer during the Kaine administration and were created or collected, 2006-2009, though some documents in this collection pre-date this time period.