Seward Receives Committee Assignments

ALBANY, 01/29/13 – State Senator James L. Seward (R/C/I–Oneonta) is set to fight for vital insurance, health, education and budget needs in the new senate session after receiving committee assignments.

SENATOR SEWARD 2013 – 2014 COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS

Insurance – chair

Agriculture, Education, Finance, Health, Higher Education, Mental Health, Rules

Seward was renamed chairman of the senate insurance committee.  “Keeping health insurance costs in check for families and businesses, while providing coverage choices are always top priorities.  Helping guide the creation of a new health insurance exchange, as well as fighting insurance fraud, which drives up costs for businesses and individuals alike, will be leading legislative concerns in the next year.”

Seward was also named to the senate standing committees on health and mental health.  “Health and insurance issues are often intertwined.  How we deliver and pay for health care has been a major national debate for some time now, and I am eager to play a vital role in crafting state legislation on these issues that touch all lives.”

Seward will also serve on the senate standing committees on education and higher education.  “Ensuring our students have the tools they need to succeed in the classroom, especially in our low-wealth, high need districts is an ongoing focus.  Developing innovative linkages between our SUNY schools and community colleges and the business community, an idea mentioned by the governor in his state of the state message, is also intriguing to me.”

Seward continues his service on the agriculture committee, another area of extreme importance across upstate New York.  “Farming is our state’s number one industry and with the development of Greek yogurt production, microbreweries and other new markets the time is now to help our farmers take advantage and grow,” Seward added.  

Other committee assignments include finance and rules.  The finance committee guides development of the state budget, and the rules committee reviews legislation prior to introduction on the senate floor.  

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