Local legislators assigned to committees

State representatives

Rep. Rosemary M. Brown

Brown, R-Monroe/Pike, announced she will be serving on four House standing committees for the 2019-20 legislative session.

Brown, who just began her fifth term as the 189th legislative district’s state representative, will be a member of the following committees: The Appropriations Committee, the Education Committee, the Professional Licensure Committee and the Transportation Committee.

Brown was also appointed as a Deputy Whip for the House Republican Caucus.

Rep. Neal P. Goodman

Goodman, D-Schuylkill, is a member of the Rules Committee.

Rep. Doyle Heffley

Heffley, R-Carbon, announced that he has been appointed to serve on the House Appropriations, Human Services, Tourism and Recreational Development, and Transportation committees for the 2019-20 legislative session. Heffley was sworn into office for another term in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on Jan. 1.

“I am pleased to have been reappointed to the Tourism and Transportation committees, which deal with issues that directly impact Carbon County residents. Tourism is our region’s No. 1 industry, and there are a number of infrastructure improvement projects underway throughout the 122nd District,” said Heffley. “I also look forward to working with my colleagues on the Appropriations Committee in developing a budget that adequately funds the core services of government while holding the line on taxes.”

Rep. Jerry Knowles

Knowles, R-Berks/Carbon/Schuylkill, has been selected to serve on the high-profile state House Education and Judiciary committees.

The House Education Committee has oversight on state issues involving public and private schools, encompassing pre-K through college.

Knowles, who was sworn in earlier this month for his sixth term representing the people of the 124th District, will also serve as a member of the House Health and State Government committees during the 2019-20 Legislative Session.

Rep. Zach Mako

Mako, R-Lehigh/Northampton, was named to four House standing committees for the 2019-20 legislative session.

His committee assignments are Aging and Older Adult Services, Finance, Professional Licensure, and Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness. He also was appointed a deputy policy chairman of the House Majority Policy Committee.

Rep. Jack Rader

Rader, R-Monroe, was appointed to serve on four committees in the state House, one of which directly affects the tourism industry that fuels the economy of the Pocono Mountains region and the entire state.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to serve on the House Tourism and Recreational Development Committee,” said Rader, who also was appointed to serve on the House Finance Committee, Local Government Committee and Children and Youth Committee.

Rader also will serve on the House Finance Committee, which reviews legislation that would alter the state’s tax laws.

Rader was appointed to serve on the House Children and Youth Committee, which handles legislation aimed at enhancing the health and well-being of the state’s younger residents, as well as the House Local Government Committee, which handles issues related to Pennsylvania’s collage of county and municipal governments.

State senators

Sen. David G. Argall

Argall, R-Schuylkill/Berks, will continue to serve as Chairman of the Senate Majority Policy Committee for the 2019-20 legislative session. Argall was reappointed to the position by Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati.

Argall was first appointed to the post in 2014. He is the first senator from the 29th District to hold a leadership post since the 1860s.

“I’m honored to continue serving in this role and to work with my colleagues to develop legislation on critical issues affecting our region and our state,” Argall said. “We’ve been very active on key issues ranging from economic revitalization to school safety to budget reforms. It’s an all-encompassing committee.”

Argall explained that the committee will focus on ways to reform the welfare system to reduce fraud.

Sen. Lisa M. Boscola

Boscola, D-Lehigh/Northampton, is serving on the following committees: Banking & Insurance; Community, Economic & Recreational Development; Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure, Minority Chair; Game & Fisheries; and Rules & Executive Nominations.

Sen. Patrick Browne

Browne, Lehigh County, is serving on the following committees: Appropriations, chairman; Education; Finance; Health & Human Services; and Local Government.

Sen. Mario Scavello

Scavello, R-Monroe/Northampton, is serving on the following committees: Appropriations; Banking & Insurance; Community, Economic & Recreational Development, chairman; Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure; Transportation, vice chairman; and Urban Affairs & Housing.

Sen. John Yudichak

Yudichak, D-Carbon/Luzerne, is minority chairman of the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.

He is a member of the following committees: Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure; Game and Fisheries; Labor and Industry; and Transportation.