State Senate Democrats unanimously re-elected Sen. Lisa M. Boscola to chair the Senate Democratic Policy Committee.

"I am honored that my Senate colleagues have again selected me to lead this important committee that shapes our caucus agenda and advance legislative issues that are important to people in the Lehigh Valley and throughout Pennsylvania," Boscola said.The Democratic Policy Committee researches issues, conducts hearings and develops the Democratic Caucus' legislative policy. Boscola was first elected to the leadership position in January 2011.She said she will continue to fight for bills that would create jobs and expand job training opportunities, generate economic development, and curb utility rate increases.Some recent policy committee hearings have focused on hospital funding, human services budget cuts, aligning community college curriculums with available jobs, military veterans, the economic plight of small cities, food safety, school voucher legislation, state crime lab funding, economic development initiatives, the minimum wage, college affordability, gas drilling, voting reforms and liquor law modernization.Boscola said many bills enacted into law over the years originated or partially used proposals gleaned from policy committee hearings and meetings.Boscola was first elected to public office as a state representative in 1994. She became a state senator in 1998.