Virginia House of Delegates Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford) today was named “Legislator of the Year” by the Virginia Chamber of Commerce for his work in the 2013 General Assembly session.

“The Virginia Chamber is pleased to honor Speaker William Howell with our 2013 Legislator of the Year Award,” said Barry DuVal, President and CEO of the Virginia Chamber.  “Throughout the course of the 2013 General Assembly session, Speaker Howell went above and beyond to take a stand for Virginia businesses. Under Speaker Howell’s leadership, the House advanced a pro-business legislative agenda that will enhance Virginia’s competitiveness in the global economy. We thank him for his commitment to advancing policies that will strengthen Virginia’s economy, establish predictability and stability with Virginia’s business climate and support private-sector job creation.”

“I greatly appreciate the Chamber’s recognition and the support of business leaders across the Commonwealth,” said Howell. “A strong economy is important to all Virginians. I have worked to establish a pro-business, pro-jobs economic climate that creates opportunities for our Commonwealth to grow and our citizens to prosper.”

This year, Speaker Howell sponsored HB2313, the transportation legislation that will invest over $3.5 billion in infrastructure over the next five years. Howell also worked closely with leaders from the business and legal community on the four major tort reform bills passed overwhelmingly by the General Assembly.

“I am incredibly proud of what we were able to accomplish this session. Both the tort reform package and the transportation funding overhaul will go a long way toward improving Virginia’s business climate,” said Howell.

RICHMOND, VA –– Virginia House of Delegates Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford) announced Thursday he has been named Chairman for the National Speakers Conference, a national organization of state House Speakers, beginning in 2014. Howell will Chair the 2014 National Speakers Conference Annual Meeting.

“It is an honor to have the opportunity to lead an organization dedicated to facilitating the open exchange of information and ideas related to state legislatures,” said Howell. “This will be an opportunity to showcase the Virginia way of ordered, effective and responsible governing both within the House of Delegates and for the Commonwealth as a whole.”

The annual meeting, the flagship event of the National Speakers Conference, customarily attracts over two-thirds of all sitting Speakers of the House, making it the single largest gathering of presiding officers in the nation. Howell said the 2014 Annual Meeting will be held in Richmond, Virginia.

“I look forward to welcoming Speakers from across the country to the Commonwealth. The National Speakers Conference Annual Meeting will allow Virginia to showcase its natural beauty, distinct history and effective legislative leadership,” said Howell.”

The National Speakers Conference was founded in 1992 to represent the interests of all Speakers of the House and their chiefs of staff. The NSC has focused on bringing Speakers together to discuss issues of common interest by promoting the open exchange of ideas and information through various programs, publications and annual meetings. The hallmark of the NSC is its ability to rise above partisan politics and focus instead on the importance of effective legislative leadership. 

Howell joined the National Speakers Conference in 2003 and currently serves as First Vice-President.