Reps Garballey, Sciortino, Donato Assigned to Committees

Story Updated 11:53 AM Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Medford state representatives Carl Sciortino (D-Medford, Somerville), Sean Garballey (D-Arlington, Medford), and Paul Donato (D-Medford, Malden) recently received their committee assignments.

Rep. Sciortino has been named Vice Chairman of the Joint Committee on Transportation and has also been appointed to the powerful House Committee on Ways and Means and the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing.

“Transportation has been one of my top priorities in the legislature. I have pushed for public transportation and been a strong proponent of the Green Line extension to Medford and Somerville. As Vice Chair of the committee, I will continue to work for improved public transportation as part of an equitable, comprehensive solution to our transportation needs,” said Rep. Sciortino, a public transportation advocate who has served as a member of the committee in both of his previous terms in the state legislature.

“Carl has been a hard-working legislator, and I know that he will continue to serve the Commonwealth and his communities well in these posts. I look forward to working with him as we face the challenging issues confronting us, such as transportation reform,” said House Speaker Robert DeLeo.

Representative Garballey has been appointed to the committee on Labor and Workforce Development, the committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture and the newly formed committee on Global Warming and Climate Change.

According to Rep. Garballey, Labor and Workforce Development committee considers all matters concerning discrimination with respect to employment, the labor laws, worker’s compensation and such other matters as may be referred. The Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture committee will work on all issues related to the Department of Conservation, the environment, and agriculture.

“I am grateful for being chosen to serve on these three committees during my next two years as a State Representative. To continue my work fighting for working families on Beacon Hill, ending discrimination throughout all levels of our society and being able to shape policy on furthering economic progress on the committee on Labor and Workforce Development is something that I am looking forward to,” said Rep. Garballey.

Rep. Garballey said the newly Global Warming and Climate Change committee will investigate the issues involving global warming and climate change, including carbon emissions, greenhouse gas emissions and renewable energies. The committee will explore viable solutions and other innovations that stimulate the economy, promote jobs, and protect security and the environment.

“Last legislative session I was part of a group of legislators who championed for the passage of the Global Warming Solutions Act. Even though this act was passed and was signed by the Governor we have so much more work to do as a civilization on the environment and working to reduce the impact of Global Warming. To serve on both environmental committee’s in the House of Representatives will allow me to continue to be a champion on environmental issues throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,” said Rep. Garballey.

Representative Donato has been named House Chairman of the Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government.

– InsideMedford.com