The House of Delegates passed four bills today and sent them to the Senate. Among those were House Bill 2335, which would require state institutions of higher education to participate in the federal “Yellow Ribbon G.I. Education Enhancement Program,” and House Bill 2225, which would authorize the Department of Education and Arts to set forth certain legislative rules and the Division of Rehabilitation Services to set forth a legislative rule relating to the low vision driver training program.

The Grafton Highschool Bearcats football team (pictured) was honored today with House Resolution 31 for winning the 2008 WVSSAC AA Football Championship. Other resolutions included House Resolution 33, which recognized the West Virginia Division of Forestry for one hundred years of service to the citizens of West Virginia, and House Resolution 34, which designated the week of March 15 as West Virginia Professional Surveyors’ Week.

The following committees will meet Today:

Finance – 1:30 p.m. – 460M
Government Organization – 1:30 p.m. – 215E
Education – 2:00 p.m. – 434M
Judiciary – 2:00 p.m. – 410M

The following committees will meet Wednesday, March 18:

Natural Resources – 9:15 a.m. – 215E
Banking & Insurance – 10:00 a.m. – 215E
Pensions & Retirement – 10:00 a.m. – 460M
Energy, Industry & Labor, Economic Development and Small Business – 1:00 p.m. – 434
Roads & Transportation – 2:00 p.m. – 215E
Senior Citizen Issues – 3:00 p.m. – 215E

The House will reconvene Wednesday, March 18 at 11:00 a.m.

The House opened with a special presentation of the flags by the West Virginia Division of Corrections Color Guard to commemorate House Resolution 30, which designated today as “Corrections Day.”

There were nine bills that passed after third reading. Some of those bills included House Bill 2444, which would establish a Legislative Oversight Commission on Long-Term Care that has responsibility for reviewing the long-term care system and making recommendations for improvement; House Bill 2950, which would create the Neighborhood Housing and Economic Stabilization Program for low-income minority neighborhoods; and House Bill 2969, which would require firefighters to have annual hazardous materials training.

The following committees will meet Today:

Judiciary – 1:30 p.m. – 410M
Subcommittee C on Judiciary – Immediately following Judiciary – 410M
Subcommittee C on Education – 1:30 p.m. – 434
Subcommittee B on Insurance – 2:00 p.m. – 215E
Health & Human Resources – 3:00 p.m. – 215E
Subcommittee B on Health & Human Resources – 3:00 p.m. – 215E
Subcommittee C on Natural Resources – 3:00 p.m. – 204

The following committees will meet Tuesday, March 17:

Subcommittee on Education – 9:00 a.m. – 434
Finance – 1:30 p.m. – 460M

The House will reconvene Tuesday, March 17 at 11:00 a.m.

The House designated the month of March 2009 as “American Red Cross Month” with House Resolution 29. The Red Cross brought along Ernie the Emergency Response Vehicle, an interactive remote control car. Children from Harrisville Elementary in Ritchie County (pictured) interacted with the educational miniature car.

The Frasure-Singleton interns were recognized as intern Jonathan Storage gave a speech on his and his fellow interns’ experiences of the week. He emphasized the professional and educational benefits of the internship program in which they learned by doing instead of studying in the classroom.

Doorkeeper Michael Harrison was recognized as this week’s winner of the Capital Steps Program. Capitol Steps is a walking program sponsored by the Mountain State Blue Cross Blue Shield that encourages workers from the Capitol to walk more and engage in more physical activities. The program will run the entire length of session.

Several bills were presented on second reading, including House Bill 2444, which would create the Legislative Oversight Commission on Long-Term Care and House Bill 2788, which would protect incapacitated adults from abuse or neglect by a care giver.

A number of resolutions were adopted today designating several bridge names. Some of those resolutions included House Resolution 14 naming the “Corporal William Dely Memorial Bridge,” House Resolution 18 naming the “Chief Master Sergeant George Wallace Hedrick, Jr, Bridge,” and House Resolution 21 naming the “Staff Sgt. Jeremy Alexander Brown Memorial Bridge.”

The following committees will meet Monday March 16:

Banking and Insurance – 9:00 a.m. – 215E
Health and Human Resources – 3:00 p.m. – 215E
Subcommittee C on Natural Resources – 3:00 p.m. – 204E

The House will reconvene Monday, March 16 at 11:00 a.m.

Today in the House, a formal citation was presented to the West Virginia Federation of Democratic Women in recognition of their outstanding dedication and commitment to their party and the election process throughout West Virginia.

The House adopted House Resolution 28, which designated March 12, 2009 as West Virginia Press Association Day. This June marks the 140th anniversary of the West Virginia Press Association. At the time of conception, there were 52 newspapers in publication in the mountain state. Today, the Association represents 24 daily and 62 weekly newspaper throughout West Virginia.

Three bills were passed in the House today, bringing the total thus far to 30. Of those passed, House Bill 2931 would remove a severance tax on timber for tax years 2010 through 2013.

The following House Committees will meet today:

Education (Sub Committee A) – 1:30 p.m. – 434M
Education – 2:00 p.m. – House Chamber
Judiciary – 2:00 p.m. – 215E
Judiciary (Sub Committee C) – 3:00 p.m. – 432M

The following House Committees will meet tomorrow:

Health and Human Resources (Sub Committee A) – 9:00 a.m. – 215E
Judiciary – 9:30 a.m. – 215E

The House will reconvene Friday, March 13 at 11:00 a.m.