[LOGO OF DYKEMA] Dykema Gossett PLLC Franklin Square, Third Floor West 1300 I Street N.W. Washington, DC 20005 WWW.DYKEMA.COM Tel: (202) 906-8600 Fax: (202) 906-8669 HEATHER C. HARKER Direct Dial: (202) 906-8649 Email: HHARKER@DYKEMA.COM April 13, 2010 VIA EDGAR The United States Securities and Exchange Commission 100 F Street, N.E. Washington, DC 20549 Re: Genworth Life and Annuity Insurance Company Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 Under the Securities Act of 1933 File No. 333-143494 Dear Ladies and Gentlemen: On behalf of Genworth Life and Annuity Insurance Company (the "Company"), we hereby submit for filing in accordance with Regulation S-T concerning electronic filing procedures, Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 under the Securities Act of 1933 to the above-referenced Registration Statement on Form S-1 (the "Post-Effective Amendment"). The purpose of the Post-Effective Amendment is primarily to: (1) update the financial information of the Company, current to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009; and (2) if applicable, add other disclosure as prescribed by Item 11 of Form S-1. Other minor changes have been made to the Post-Effective Amendment and relate to those routine items of information that are updated annually and other non-material disclosure that the registrant deems appropriate. The Company and Capital Brokerage Corporation, the principal underwriter for the Guaranteed Income Annuity Certificates issued by the Company, will be filing requests for acceleration pursuant to Rule 461 under the Securities Act of 1933, requesting the Post-Effective Amendment become effective on Monday, May 3, 2010. The original, manually executed version of the Post-Effective Amendment and any exhibits thereto will be maintained on file with the Company. Should you have any questions, please contact me at 202.906.8649 or Mr. Michael Pappas, Associate General Counsel - Genworth Life and Annuity Insurance Company at 804.289.3545. Sincerely, DYKEMA GOSSETT PLLC /S/HEATHER C. HARKER HEATHER C. HARKER CC: MARK COWAN, ESQ. U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION MICHAEL D. PAPPAS, ESQ. GENWORTH LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY