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House and Senate Republicans Appoint
Members
to the Green Ribbon Commission
Representative Adolph and Senator White to Co-Chair
HARRISBURG --
Pennsylvania House Majority Leader Sam Smith (R-Jefferson) and Senate Majority
Leader David "Chip" Brightbill (R-Lebanon) today announced the appointments of
the eight House and five Senate Republican members to the Green Ribbon
Commission, an advisory group to study and develop recommendations for enhancing
environmental programs and to determine their best funding options.
"To help protect the natural
beauty of the Commonwealth for future generations, I authored Growing Greener,
which has improved our quality of life and has set an example for other states
to follow," Smith said. "Our members are committed to conservation and smart
growth. Republicans recognize the need for a long-term commitment to the state's
environmental needs such as preserving open space in the east, reclaiming
abandoned mines in the west and solidifying the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund
statewide."
Smith and Brightbill named
Rep. William Adolph (R-Delaware) and Brightbill named Sen. Mary Jo White
(R-Venango) as co-chairs of the Green Ribbon Commission. Both chair their
respective chamber's Environmental Resources and Energy Committees. The other House Republican
members Smith appointed are Reps. David Argall (R-Schuylkill/Berks), Carole
Rubley (R-Chester), Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango), Chris Ross (R-Chester), Ron
Miller (R-York), Kate Harper (R-Montgomery), and Richard Stevenson (R-Mercer).
The four other Senate
Republican members Brightbill appointed are Sens. Noah Wenger (R-Lancaster),
Roger Madigan (R-Lycoming), Robert Thompson (R-Chester), and Edwin "Ted"
Erickson (R-Delaware).
"To continue the true legacy
of Penns Woods, Pennsylvania cannot afford to blindly spend on programs because
they sound good. We stand second to no one in caring about our land and
resources," Brightbill said. "The Republican goal is to balance the various
concerns and issues with a sound and fiscally responsible policy."
Brightbill and Smith will be
ex-officio members of the commission.
The commission, made up of
members from the House and Senate appointed by the leaders of the four caucuses
and three gubernatorial appointments, will study state programs impacting the
environment and develop recommendations for possible program consolidation and
improvements, as well as various proposals for enhanced funding to address
environmental problems, preserve farmland and open space, reclaim abandoned
mines, and clean hazardous sites.
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