Several local legislators have been assigned to various committees for the 2017-18 legislative session.

State Sen. David G. Argall, R-Schuylkill/Berks, will chair the Senate Majority Policy Committee, and will serve as a member of the Senate Finance Committee in order to pursue the elimination of the school property tax."There is no issue greater than school property tax elimination in Berks and Schuylkill counties," Argall said. "We will also vote on public pension reform this session."Argall will serve as vice chairman of the Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee."I look forward to working with Chairman McGarrigle to provide more tools and resources for our communities so we can continue to combat blight."Argall will remain a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, which deals with the state budget, and will also serve as a member of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and the Community, Economic and Recreational Development Committee.State Rep. Doyle Heffley,R-Carbon, will serve on the House Commerce, Consumer Affairs, Tourism, and Transportation Committees.Heffley is encouraged to be serving on committees with a focus on job creation and economic development."I am looking forward to the opportunity to serve on these important committees as we usher in a new spirit of entrepreneurism and economic growth in Pennsylvania," Heffley said. "Our commonwealth is faced with many challenges, but I believe under strong legislative leadership, we can create a positive business environment conducive to the creation of family-sustaining jobs."In addition to his committee work, Heffley, who spent several years in the transportation and logistics industry, will look to continue leading the way on efforts to curb Pennsylvania's opioid and heroin abuse crisis.Heffley is a member of several House caucuses, including the Property Tax Caucus, and will continue to fight to eliminate the burden of property taxes for all Pennsylvanians.State Rep. Jerry Knowles,R-Schuylkill/Carbon/Berks, will serve as a member of the Appropriations Committee, the Judiciary Committee, the Professional Licensure Committee, and the State Government Committee."Each of these committees handles very important state policy issues, and it is a great opportunity to serve as a member of each of them," Knowles said. "I look forward to the committees getting to work, as I have already introduced bills which I am hopeful will be considered soon."State Rep. Zach Mako,R-Lehigh/Northampton, will serve on the Aging and Older Adult Services Committee, the Professional Licensure Committee, and Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee."With my experience as a member of the Pennsylvania National Guard, I will be able to provide an important perspective to the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee," Mako said. "In addition, as my predecessor was chair of the Professional Licensure Committee, I am eager to continue her work in this area."Mako is a Chinook helicopter pilot, who was deployed to Afghanistan in December 2012 for nine months supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. In 2016, he was selected to be an adviser to Estonia's top military officials.State Rep. Rosemary M. Brown, R-Monroe/Pike, will serve on the Education Committee, on the Professional Licensure Committee, on the Transportation Committee, and on the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee.Additionally, Brown is serving a third term as a deputy policy chair for the Majority Policy Committee. During the previous legislative session, Brown focused on combating Pennsylvania's heroin and opioid crisis as a member of the policy committee."I am looking forward to serving on these committees, and having the opportunity to focus on the specific legislative issues they seek to address," Brown said.