GREENLEAF NAMED TO SENATE COMMITTEES

HARRISBURG – Senate President Pro Tempore Robert Jubelirer has named Sen. Stewart J. Greenleaf, R-Montgomery/Bucks, to serve during the 2003-2004 legislative session on the Senate standing committees on Appropriations, Banking & Insurance, Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure, Environmental Resources & Energy, and Judiciary.

Greenleaf will continue his chairmanship of the Senate Judiciary Committee—a position he has held for more than 16 years.  “Judiciary is always one of the most active committees in the Senate because it deals with the courts, prisons, civil law, criminal law, and family law,” Greenleaf said.  “This session we hope to address adoption and custody revisions proposed last session.  One of the top priorities is passage of the proposed constitutional amendment allowing for electronic testimony for child victims and witnesses who are too traumatized to testify in open court.  If it is passed by this session of the Legislature as it was by the last session, it will be placed on the ballot for the voters to decide in an election this year.”

Greenleaf noted that his reassignment to the Appropriations Committee might represent even more of a challenge in light of the current economy and concerns about state budget shortfalls.  “We have a new Governor addressing a new set of circumstances in the commonwealth, and I anticipate that some proposed changes will arise during the committee’s upcoming state budget hearings,” Greenleaf said.

The senator has served for many years on all the committees to which he has been reappointed.  “I am happy to continue working on consumer protection and environmental legislation and to deal with the many critical issues that come before the Banking & Insurance Committee,” he said.