HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 873 Offered February 7, 2007 Commending the Council on Virginia's Future for the creation and launch of the Virginia Performs website. ---------- Patron-- McQuigg ----------

WHEREAS, the Council on Virginia’s Future was established by the 2003 Session of the General Assembly; and

WHEREAS, the Council promotes change in the Commonwealth by providing a forum in which legislative, executive branch, and citizen leaders can come together for deliberations that focus on long-term public policy outcomes; and

WHEREAS, the Council’s membership is a unique public/private partnership, comprising representatives from the General Assembly, the Governor’s Cabinet, and citizens; and

WHEREAS, the Council’s purpose is to create a vision for Virginia’s future and a system for state government that aligns with and supports achievement of the vision, including a long-term focus on high priority issues, creating an environment for improved policy and budget decision-making, increasing government accountability and transparency, improving government performance, and engaging citizens in dialogue about Virginia’s future; and

WHEREAS, assessing the progress being made toward long-term goals, promoting accountability in state government operations, and encouraging citizen engagement in public policy issues are among the Council’s important roles; and

WHEREAS, the Council developed Virginia Performs (www.VAperforms.virginia.gov), an information system and website to allow citizens and thought leaders to monitor the performance of state government and to view how the Commonwealth measures up from region to region and compared to other states; and

WHEREAS, the Governor, in partnership with the Council on Virginia’s Future, launched the Virginia Performs website on January 3, 2007; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Performs website gives citizens, government, and business leaders an easy-to-use portal to information about Virginia’s performance on nearly 50 indicators, ranging from third grade reading to cancer incidence; and

WHEREAS, Virginia Performs also promotes state government accountability by providing current information on the progress of state agencies toward increasing productivity, strengthening customer service, and achieving critical results; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend and congratulate the Council on Virginia’s Future for the creation and launch of Virginia Performs, an innovative tool for promoting greater accountability and citizen engagement in issues of importance to Virginians; and be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Council on Virginia’s Future, as an expression of the General Assembly’s gratitude and confidence in its work on behalf of the citizens of the Commonwealth.