Sen. Somers Reappointed as Ranking Member to Public Health and Appointed Ranking Member of Transportation Committee

Senator Heather Somers has been reappointed by Senate Minority Leader Kevin Kelly to serve as the leading Republican on the Connecticut General Assembly’s Public Health Committee. The panel has jurisdiction on matters relating to the Department of Public Health. the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, the Department of Developmental Services, emergency medical services, nursing homes, and the treatment of substance abuse.

In addition, Sen. Somers will serve as Ranking Senator on the Transportation Committee, which has cognizance of all matters relating to the Department of Transportation, including highways and bridges, navigation, aeronautics, mass transit, and the Department of Motor Vehicles.

She will also serve as a member of the Appropriations Committee, which formulates the spending portion of the state budget, as well as on the Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee.

Sen. Kelly said of the appointments, “Senator Somers has significant expertise on public health policy matters. That in-depth knowledge will continue to make her an invaluable asset on the Public Health Committee. I am also pleased that she will serve in a leadership role on the Transportation Committee, where she will be a strong and respected voice for sensible transportation policies which benefit middle class families.”

“It is an honor to be entrusted with these responsibilities, and I am grateful to Senate Minority Leader Kelly for the assignments,” said Sen. Somers.  “We have much work ahead of us, and I look forward to collaborating with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to meet our policy challenges. I love serving the people of southeastern Connecticut, and I will continue to work tirelessly on their behalf.”

A Groton resident, Sen. Somers will begin her third term representing the 18th Senate District in January. The district includes Griswold, Groton, North Stonington, Plainfield, Preston, Sterling, Stonington and Voluntown.

Sen. Somers currently serves on the state’s Covid Vaccine Advisory Committee and she chairs that panel’s Communications subgroup. In 2019, Sen. Somers was named a “Champion of Elder Care” by the Connecticut Association of Health Care Facilities/Connecticut Center for Assisted Living in recognition of her “fierce, intelligent and outstanding leadership on behalf of Connecticut’s skilled nursing facilities and assisted living communities, their employees and especially the residents they care for.”

Sen. Somers can be reached at [email protected] and at 800-842-1421.  On the web: www.SenatorSomers.com

Photo: Sen. Heather Somers