Actions last week in the governor’s office

This past week, Governor McAuliffe signed a deed that transfers land at Fort Monroe from the Commonwealth of Virginia to the National Park Service, solidifying Virginia’s commitment to turning the fort into a national monument for the enjoyment of tourists and history-buffs from all over the Commonwealth and country.

The Commonwealth was hit with a heartbreaking tragedy, as two journalists were killed and another individual injured at Smith Mountain Lake while filming for a story. Governor McAuliffe immediately issued a statement saying, “Dorothy and I and our entire administration remain heartbroken over this morning’s senseless tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims’ families, the WDBJ staff and the entire community that is mourning this awful loss.”

Governor McAuliffe also said, “As we reflect with heavy hearts on this tragedy, it is appropriate to begin to ask questions about how we can prevent these senseless events in the future. Keeping guns out of the hands of people who would use them to harm our family, friends and loved ones is not a political issue; it is a matter of ensuring that more people can come home safely at the end of the day. We cannot rest until we have done whatever it takes to rid our society of preventable gun violence that results in tragedies like the one we are enduring today.”

On Thursday Governor McAuliffe traveled to Roanoke to meet with the Parker family and WDBJ7 staff in Roanoke.

To finish off the week, the Governor addressed the General Assembly money committees and updated them on the status of the Commonwealth’s finances. Indicating, “What a difference a year makes,” and that, “Virginia’s overall economy is back and is growing stronger and healthier with each and every day.” View the entire speech here: http://1.usa.gov/1UbdM1n.

Since the beginning of the McAuliffe administration, 462 economic development deals have been closed in Virginia with more than $7.7 billion in capital investment, the report concluded.