Supported H.R. 5541, the Federal Land Assistance, Management and Enhancement (FLAME) Act, which establishes a special Federal emergency fund to help pay the costs of catastrophic emergency wild land fires separate from accounts used to pay for predicted levels of annual firefighting activities.

Supported H.R. 6184, America’s Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Act, which directs the Treasury Department to mint quarter dollars with designs of one national park or another site from each state of the United States and the District of Columbia beginning in 2010.

Cosponsored H.R. 6233, to reinstate the Interim Management Strategy governing off-road vehicle use in the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.  A consent decree imposed by the U.S. District Court in late April restricted public access to the beaches of Cape Hatteras National Seashore.  This legislation would nullify the consent decree and allow the Interim Management Strategy to stay in place until the National Park Service completes the on-going negotiated rulemaking process and produces a final rule on off-road vehicle use.  This strategy governed off-road vehicle use on the Seashore from mid-2007 to the time the consent decree was filed in late April, and provided a balanced approach to protecting the birds, turtles and other resources, as well as providing the public with meaningful access to the beach. 

Supported H.Res. 1247, Supporting the goals and ideals of "American Eagle Day," and celebrating the recovery and restoration of the American bald eagle, the national symbol of the United States.

Voted in favor of H.R. 5540, the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network Continuing Authorization Act.  This bill continues the Chesapeake Bay Watertrails Network program and provides $5 million for Bay clean-up and restoration efforts.

Supported H.Res. 1114, which supports the goals and ideals of the Arbor Day Foundation and National Arbor Day.  The mission of the Foundation is to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees.  The Arbor Day Foundation has worked with the Department of Agriculture's Forest Service since 1990, helping to plant nearly 12 million trees in national forests damaged by fire, insects or other causes.

Supported H.Con.Res. 300, a resolution recognizing the necessity for the United States to maintain its significant leadership role in improving the health and promoting the resiliency of coral reef ecosystems.  This resolution recognizes the importance of improving the health and promoting the resiliency of coral reef ecosystems by strengthening awareness about ecological, economic, social, and cultural values of coral reefs.

Supported H.Res. 1117, declaring the support of the House of Representatives for the goals and ideals of Earth Day and for developing the scientific and technological capabilities to achieve those goals. 

Opposed H.R. 2016, the National Landscape Conservation System Act. H.R. 2016 would establish into law the National Landscape Conservation System (NLCS) and would direct the Department of the Interior to manage the NLCS “in a manner that protects the values” of the lands designated as a part of the system, most of which are in western states. This legislation would increase restrictions on land use for recreation and energy development and would delegate authority to unelected bureaucrats to enforce “values” undefined by Congress on a vast, resource-rich part of the country.  The bill also caused concerns in that it would decrease law enforcement’s ability to enforce border areas.

Supported H.Res. 868, which recognizes the 100th anniversary of the declaration of Muir Woods National Monument by President Theodore Roosevelt.  Muir Woods National Monument is a part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA), one of the largest urban national parks in the world. GGNRA was established in 1972 and contains 75,398 acres extend from Tomales Bay in Marin County to San Mateo County in the south, encompassing 59 miles of shoreline - one of the nation’s largest coastal preserves.  To learn more about Muir Woods National Monument, click here.

Supported H.R. 1834, the National Ocean Exploration Program Act.  This bill would authorize $460 million to establish two new ocean exploration programs: the National Ocean Exploration Program (NOEP) and the National Undersea Research Program (NURP). Under these programs, scientists would perform underseas research and scientific exploration of marine resources in little known areas of the marine environment.  These researchers would focus on deep ocean regions, and conduct voyages to locate and document shipwrecks and other submerged archeology sites. 

Cosponsored H.R. 3981, the Preserve America and Save America’s Treasures Act. The Preserve America Initiative promotes the preservation of America’s heritage by advancing the protection, enhancement, and contemporary use of historic properties. Preserve America enables Americans to gain greater shared knowledge about the nation’s past, strengthens regional identities, increases local participation in preserving the country’s cultural and natural heritage assets, and enhances the economic vitality of communities. Save America’s Treasures is dedicated to the preservation and celebration of America’s historic legacy and works to recognize and rescue the symbols of American tradition that define our nation. Save America’s Treasures has preserved several symbols such as the Star Spangled Banner, the homes of notable Americans such as Montpelier (James Madison), and enduring collections such as the Charters of Freedom. Several localities in the 4^th District have successfully applied for and received funding under the Save America’s Treasures program. The Suffolk Museum of African-American history has received funding under the Save America’s Treasures program for the purpose of renovating and restoring the Phoenix Bank of Nansemond. Saint Luke’s Church, in Smithfield, Virginia received a Save America’s Treasures grant to restore the landmark gothic style church, the earliest surviving Gothic style building in the United States.

Joined the International Conservation Caucus. The International Conservation Caucus (ICC) was founded in September 2003 with a commitment to helping the United States lead public and private international partnerships that provide stewardship of natural resources for habitat and bio-diversity protection, poverty reduction, economic development and regional security.

Voted in favor of H.Con.Res. 122, which supports the goal and mission of America Recycles Day. American Recycles Day encourages all Americans to participate in promoting the social, environmental, and economic benefits of recycling and buying recycled-content products. November 15, 2007, marks the 10th anniversary of America Recycles Day, which is dedicated to encouraging Americans to recycle and buy recycled products. To learn more about American Recycles Day, click here.

Supported H.R. 1011, the Virginia Ridge and Valley Act of 2007. H.R. 1011 would designate additional National Forest System lands in Virginia as wilderness or a wilderness study areas and designate the Kimberling Creek Potential Wilderness Area for eventual incorporation in the Kimberling Creek Wilderness. The bill would also establish the Seng Mountain and Bear Creek Scenic Areas and provide for the development of trail plans for the wilderness and scenic areas.

Supported H.R. 767, the Refuge Ecology Protection, Assistance, and Immediate Response Act. H.R. 767 would authorize the Secretary of Interior, working through the Fish and Wildlife Service, to create the Refuge Ecology Protection, Assistance, & Immediate Response (REPAIR) Grant Program in order to offer grants to control invasive, non-native fish and wildlife species. The bill would also authorize the Department of the Interior to provide financial assistance for one year to state or local agencies or non-governmental entities to immediately respond to outbreaks of non-native invasive species. Finally, the bill would require the Secretary to create and manage a cooperative volunteer program, which would enable individual volunteers and civic organizations to monitor and control harmful non-native species.

Supported H. Res. 725, recognizing the 35th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, which recommits to restoring and maintaining the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation's waters and expresses a dedication to working toward a sustainable, long-term solution to address the nation's decaying water infrastructure. The bill would encourage the public and all levels of government to renew the commitment to restoring and protecting the nation's rivers, lakes, streams, marine waters, and wetlands for future generations.

Supported H. Res. 549, recognizing the importance of America's Waterway Watch program, which affirms the importance of increasing maritime domain awareness, and encourages those who engage in recreational waterway activities to be aware and report suspicious activities to appropriate authorities.

Joined members of the Virginia Congressional Delegation in sending a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on behalf of the Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) to inquire why EPA has recommended that HRSD be removed from a joint initiative to mitigate sanitary sewer overflows in the region. Since 2005, the HRSD and the twelve Member localities, in conjunction with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), have been working to finalize a regional consent order to address the problem.

Worked to secure authorization of the Chowan River Basin study through a survey resolution. Individuals and businesses in the Chowan River Basin have struggled for years with unpredictable and often devastating flooding in their communities. The Chowan River Basin study would allow the Army Corps of Engineers to take a critical look at the protection of water resources with an emphasis on flood control, environmental restoration, erosion control, and navigation. The study would also look at reducing future flood damages throughout the basin. The potential for severe flooding has grown since Hurricanes Dennis, Floyd, Isabel, and most recently, the devastating floods during October of 2006. Authorization is the first step in a two-part process to secure federal funding. The formal process first consists of the enactment of an authorization measure that creates or continues an agency or program; and second, the enactment of appropriations to provide funds for the authorized agency or program.

Voted in favor of H.Res. 401, which supports the goals and ideals of National Trails Day, America's largest celebration of trails and the outdoors. Now in its 15th year, National Trails Day is celebrated the first Saturday in June in all 50 states.

Voted in favor of H.Res. 341, which supports the goals and ideals of "American Eagle Day" and celebrates the recovery and restoration of the American bald eagle, the national symbol of the United States since June 20, 1782.

Voted in favor of H.Res. 402, legislation supporting , May 20-26, 2007. This resolution supports the work of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), specifically the National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center, and other appropriate federal agencies, to educate people in the United States about hurricane.