Mackenzie assigned to house committees, leadership positions

HARRISBURG >> With the start of the 2017-18 legislative session, it was announced that state Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-Lehigh/Berks) was re-appointed as deputy majority whip and deputy chair of the Majority Policy Committee. He will also serve as a member of four House standing committees: Commerce, Environmental Resources & Energy, Insurance, and Labor & Industry.

“Even though we are starting a new session in the General Assembly, I will continue to focus on legislation relating to what I see as the most important issues facing Pennsylvanians: creating jobs, protecting taxpayers, strengthening education, and reforming government,” said Mackenzie. “I have hit the ground running by picking up right where we left off last session. In our first week back, I was able to work with my colleagues to advance important legislation out of the Health Committee that will improve the delivery of stroke care in Pennsylvania and I look forward to full House passage in the coming weeks.”

As a deputy majority whip for the House Republican Caucus, Mackenzie will have a variety of responsibilities on and off the House floor, including facilitating awareness of member positions on pending bills and helping to advocate on key legislative issues. He will also keep the majority whip advised of concerns that members may have and other matters potentially impacting the legislative agenda and the majority caucus as a whole. Additionally, deputy whips receive special briefings on legislative issues, providing them with a greater breadth of knowledge.

The House Majority Policy Committee travels across the state, conducting hearings and roundtable discussions about important issues to gather testimony and information from key stakeholders. Mackenzie will attend these hearings and work with his colleagues in the House Republican Caucus to develop policies to address the issues that matter most to Pennsylvania citizens.

With previous positions held at both the state and federal departments of labor, Mackenzie is a natural fit for the House Labor & Industry Committee. His prior experience has given him a strong insight into labor market dynamics, which is needed to help Pennsylvania attract and retain more jobs.

“Some of the legislation the Labor & Industry Committee deals with includes workforce development training, unemployment compensation, and workers’ compensation,” said Mackenzie. “This is an area in which I have a wide breadth of knowledge, so I look forward to contributing in a meaningful way in order to improve legislation coming before the committee.”

The Commerce Committee is responsible for originating legislation and overseeing implementation of programs which affect Pennsylvania companies. The committee has primary jurisdiction over corporate governance through the business corporation law, as well as regulation of offers of sale and credit through such statutes as the Goods and Services Installment Sales Act, the Unfair Sales Act, and the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Act.

The Environmental Resources & Energy Committee is responsible for legislative oversight of over 45 different environmental and energy-related laws, those administered by the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

The House Insurance Committee helps oversee the Insurance Department and ensure any legislation running through the House that pertains to insurance matters is studied with extreme care. During the upcoming session, the committee will examine legislation that will ensure insurance regulations are fairly enforced while being mindful of the consumer. The committee will also look closely at any changes made by the federal government with respect to health insurance, and the impact of those potential changes on the state.

Speaker of the House Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) also recently appointed Mackenzie to the Aggregate Advisory Board under the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). This board was created to assist the secretary of the DEP in making decisions regarding surface mining and the Noncoal Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act. This includes, but is not limited to, experimental practices, alternate methods of backfilling, obligations for pre-existing pollution liability, alteration of reclamation plans, reclamation fees and bonding rates and methods. Mackenzie continues to serve on the Pennsylvania Workforce Development Board, which he was appointed to last session.

More information about Mackenzie and his legislative priorities is available at RepMackenzie.com and Facebook.com/RepMackenzie.