Virginia House of Delegates Speaker Kirk Cox (R-Colonial Heights) on Tuesday named House Appropriations Committee Chairman S. Chris Jones (R-Suffolk), Chris Peace (R-Hanover), Barry Knight (R-Virginia Beach), Scott Garrett (R-Lynchburg), Luke Torian (D-Prince William), and Mark Sickles (D-Arlington) to the conference committees for the state budget bills, House Bills 29 and 30. The House conferees will negotiate with the Senate on the final budget conference reports.

“We have a dedicated team of conferees who work well together and understand the necessity of having a balanced and responsible budget,” said Speaker Cox. “This team will be able to articulate the House’s position clearly to our colleagues in the Senate as we begin to finalize the budget. I appreciate all of their hard work on behalf of the House and I encourage our conferees to begin work with their Senate colleagues as quickly as possible so we can reach a final agreement on the budget.”

“The House proposed a conservative budget that prioritizes school teachers, first responders, higher-education, and guaranteeing conservative reforms to healthcare,”said Chairman Jones. “The House conferees are ready to begin work right away so we can produce a final budget agreement to send to Governor Northam’s desk.”