Jan. 06, 2021
HARRISBURG – Rep. Jerry Knowles (R-Berks/Carbon/Schuylkill) was officially appointed majority chairman of the House Urban Affairs Committee for the 2021-22 session by Speaker of the House Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster).
“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,” said Knowles.
The Urban Affairs Committee reviews legislation affecting the state’s largest cities including housing; urban redevelopment; economic development; land use planning and zoning; growth management; infrastructure financing; and city services such as police, fire, sewage and water.
“This committee has been instrumental in the enactment of laws that give local governments choices and tools to deal with blighted properties,” said Knowles. “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. In addition, the committee will continue to work on reducing sprawl in suburban and rural areas surrounding the cities.”
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.
“Rep. Knowles will do a tremendous job as chairman of the Urban Affairs Committee,” said Cutler. “He is dedicated, determined and hard-working, the necessary ingredients to get positive results.”
On Tuesday, Knowles was sworn into office for a seventh term, representing the 124th Legislative District. This is his first appointment to a committee chairmanship.
For more information about any legislative topic, contact Knowles’ district office in Tamaqua at 570-668-1240. Information can also be found online at
RepKnowles.com or
Facebook.com/RepKnowles.
Representative Jerry Knowles
124th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Rick Leiner
717.260.6437
rleiner@pahousegop.com
RepKnowles.com /
Facebook.com/RepKnowles