Jan. 05, 2017
HARRISBURG – Rep. Mark Keller (R-Perry/Cumberland) today was officially appointed majority chairman of the
House Urban Affairs Committee for the 2017-18 session by Speaker of the House Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny).
“The committee addresses issues specific to Pennsylvania cities, many of which are common to communities of all sizes across the state, including blight, affordable housing, code enforcement, redevelopment and growth management,” said Keller. “I look forward to the challenge of working with committee members on developing legislation that will help our municipalities create and maintain safe and vibrant places to live and work.”
The committee has been instrumental in the enactment of laws that give local governments choices and tools to deal with blighted properties. Cities, boroughs and townships now have ways to ensure that responsible resident taxpayers do not lose value in their properties because of blight in the vicinity.
“I see the committee’s work on urban issues as critical in reducing sprawl in suburban and rural areas surrounding the cities,” Keller said. “Interconnected, place-based problems usually require interdisciplinary solutions to achieve real change. The committee will work on these issues with all of our neighborhoods and downtowns in mind.”
Committees are where legislative proposals get their initial review by lawmakers. Every bill that is introduced is referred to at least one committee and must be approved by the members of that committee before it can go to the full House.
“The men and women who chair the House committees are getting the work done to prepare legislation for the full House to consider,” Turzai said. “Through public hearings and meetings, committee chairs lead the way by vetting proposed solutions to the serious issues and challenges facing Pennsylvania.”
Earlier this week, Keller was sworn into office for a seventh term, representing the 86th Legislative District. This is his first appointment to a committee chairmanship.
For more information on Keller and his legislative priorities, please visit
RepKeller.com or
Facebook.com/RepKeller.
Representative Mark Keller
86th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Andy Briggs
717.260.6474
abriggs@pahousegop.com
RepKeller.com /
Facebook.com/RepKeller