Gregory Named to House Committees for 2019-20

State Rep. Jim Gregory (R-Blair) had been named to four standing House committees by the Committee on Committees and House leadership for the 2019-20 Legislative Session.

The committees he will serve on are the Tourism and Recreational Development Committee; Aging and Older Adult Services Committee; Human Services Committee; and the Local Government Committee.

“I am perhaps most pleased to have been assigned to the Human Services Committee, which will allow me to continue the fight against addiction,” Gregory said. “This committee (and this issue) is gaining in attention for the very reason I ran for office. We need to find new and better ways to combat the opiate addiction crisis and addiction in general.”

The House Human Services Committee has oversight of issues within the Department of Human Services and the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs. Among the issues it has dealt with include legislation to address the heroin and opioid overdose crisis; the delivery of human services; the challenges faced by individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities; and how best to provide services to those needing mental health services and drug and alcohol treatment.

“Tourism is the second-biggest industry in Blair County behind agriculture,” Gregory said. “I look forward to working with our tourism industry leaders to affect legislation that is helpful to the 80th District and all of Pennsylvania.”

The House Tourism and Recreational Development Committee considers issues including travel and tourism promotion; the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission; scenic roadways; snowmobile and trail-related initiatives; amusement parks, fairs, carnivals and folk festivals; agritourism; hotel and lodging issues; recreational use of land and water; PA Wilds and many others.

“I specifically requested, and was given, a seat on the Local Government Committee at the behest of our county commissioners and municipal government leaders to affect improvements on their behalf,” Gregory said.

The Local Government Committee reviews bills that amend the municipal codes by which local governments operate. This could include legislation related to local government purchases, real estate assessment policies and statewide pensions for municipal police officers. Pennsylvania has more than 2,500 local government units of all sizes.

“The Committee on Aging and Older Adult Services will afford me the opportunity to provide rural viewpoints on the issues most important to our seniors in the 80th District,” Gregory said.