Seward Receives Committee Assignments

Seward was named to the senate standing committees on education and higher education, two areas set to receive quite a bit of attention in the coming weeks.

“As we deal with the state’s economic issues, our local school districts, SUNY schools, and community colleges will be a focal point,” Seward said. “We must protect these precious assets to our region, while at the same time, exploring new ways of educating our young people. It is also vital that we give property taxpayers a break.”

Seward will also serve as the ranking Republican on the senate insurance committee. “At a time when so many families and businesses are struggling to find affordable health insurance I want to continue my fight to bring New Yorkers the best coverage possible at an affordable rate,” Seward said. “It is also essential that we fight fraud, one of the main items driving up insurance costs and the state budget.”

Seward continues his service on the agriculture committee, another area of extreme importance across upstate New York. “Farms face unique challenges and I am proud to represent so many of them and other agriculture related businesses in the 51st district,” Seward added.

Other committee assignments include finance and rules. The finance committee guides development of the state budget, and the rules committee reviews legislation bound for a vote on the senate floor at the close of the session. “This will give me a venue to promote my job stimulus plan which is essential to helping upstate New York recover from the current fiscal crisis,” said Seward.

Seward was also named vice-chair of the senate Republican conference, a post that puts him in the top leadership of the senate.

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