(JUNEAU) - The Committee on Committees met today to finalize committee assignments for the second session of the 23rd legislature.

Notable changes to the committee assignments include Representative Nick Stepovich becoming Chairman of the Special Committee on Military & Veteran's Affairs and Representative Carl Gatto taking the position of Vice-Chair of the Labor and Commerce Committee.

"It makes sense to have Representative Stepovich stepping into a leadership role during his first session. With a prominent Army base in his district he has a vested interest in the issues this committee is concerned with," said Speaker Kott.

Kott went on to say, "Representative Gatto's experience as a public employee makes him uniquely qualified to be vice-chair of the Labor & Commerce Committee. We expect both of these individuals will make great contributions to their respective committees."

Committee assignments for the second session of the 23rd legislature are as follows:

Standing Committees

Community & Regional Affairs Committee

• Representative Carl Morgan (R-Aniak), Chair
• Representative Kelly Wolf (R-Kenai), Vice-Chair
• Representative Tom Anderson (R-Anchorage)
• Representative Ralph Samuels (R-Anchorage)
• Representative Pete Kott (R-Eagle River)

Finance Committee

• Representative John Harris (R-Valdez), Co-Chair
• Representative Bill Williams (R-Saxman), Co-Chair
• Representative Kevin Meyer (R-Anchorage), Vice-Chair
• Representative Richard Foster (D-Nome)
• Representative Hugh "Bud" Fate (R-Fairbanks)
• Representative Mike Hawker (R-Anchorage)
• Representative Bill Stoltze (R-Chugiak/Mat-Su)
• Representative Mike Chenault (R-Kenai)

Health, Education & Social Services Committee

• Representative Peggy Wilson (R-Wrangell), Chair
• Representative Carl Gatto (R-Palmer), Vice-Chair
• Representative Kelly Wolf (R-Kenai)
• Representative John Coghill (R-North Pole)
• Representative Paul Seaton (R-Homer)

Judiciary Committee

• Representative Lesil McGuire (R-Anchorage), Chair
• Representative Tom Anderson (R- Anchorage), Vice Chair
• Representative Dan Ogg (R-Kodiak)
• Representative Jim Holm (R-Fairbanks)
• Representative Ralph Samuels (R-Anchorage)

Labor & Commerce Committee

• Representative Tom Anderson (R-Anchorage), Chair
• Representative Carl Gatto (R-Palmer), Vice-Chair
• Representative Nancy Dahlstrom (R-Eagle River)
• Representative Bob Lynn (R-Anchorage)
• Representative Norm Rokeberg, (R-Anchorage)

Resources Committee

• Representative Nancy Dahlstrom (R-Eagle River), Co-Chair
• Representative Beverly Masek (R-Wasilla), Co-Chair
• Representative Cheryll Heinze (R-Anchorage), Vice-Chair
• Representative Kelly Wolf (R-Kenai)
• Representative Carl Gatto (R-Palmer)
• Representative Bob Lynn (R-Anchorage)
• Representative Nick Stepovich (R-Fairbanks)

Rules Committee

• Representative Norm Rokeberg (R-Anchorage), Chair
• Representative Pete Kott (R-Eagle River)
• Representative John Coghill (R-North Pole)
• Representative Lesil McGuire (R-Anchorage)
• Representative Carl Morgan (R-Aniak)

State Affairs Committee

• Representative Bruce Weyhrauch, (R-Junuea), Chair
• Representative Jim Holm (R-Fairbanks), Vice-Chair
• Representative Paul Seaton (R-Homer)
• Representative John Coghill (R-North Pole)
• Representative Bob Lynn (R-Anchorage)

Transportation Committee

• Representative Jim Holm (R-Fairbanks), Chair
• Representative Beverly Masek (R-Wasilla)
• Representative Nick Stepovich (R-Fairbanks)
• Representative Vic Kohring (R-Wasilla)
• Representative Dan Ogg (R-Kodiak)

Special Committees

Education Committee

• Representative Carl Gatto (R-Palmer), Chair
• Representative Paul Seaton (R-Homer), Vice-Chair
• Representative Dan Ogg (R-Kodiak)
• Representative Peggy Wilson (R-Wrangell)
• Representative Kelly Wolf (R-Kenai)

Economic, Development, Trade & Tourism

• Representative Cheryll Heinze (R-Anchorage), Chair
• Representative Lesil McGuire (R-Anchorage), Vice-Chair
• Representative Pete Kott (R-Eagle River)
• Representative Vic Kohring (R-Wasilla)
• Representative Nancy Dahlstrom (R-Eagle River)

Ethics Committee

• Representative Norm Rokeberg (R-Anchorage)
• Alternate: Representative Cheryll Heinze (R-Anchorage)

Fisheries Committee

• Representative Paul Seaton (R-Homer), Chair
• Representative Peggy Wilson (R-Wrangell)
• Representative Cheryll Heinze (R-Anchorage)
• Representative Ralph Samuels (R-Anchorage)
• Representative Dan Ogg (R-Kodiak)

Joint Armed Services Committee

• Representative John Harris (R-Valdez), Co-Chair
• Representative Nancy Dahlstrom (R-Eagle River), Vice-Chair
• Representative Carl Morgan (R-Aniak)
• Representative Bob Lynn (R-Anchorage)

Legislative Budget & Audit Committee

• Representative Ralph Samuels (R-Anchorage), Chair
• Representative Vic Kohring (R-Wasilla)
• Representative Mike Hawker (R-Anchorage)
• Representative Mike Chenault (R-Nikiski)

Legislative Council

• Representative Beverly Masek (R-Wasilla), Co-Chair
• Representative Pete Kott (R-Eagle River)
• Representative John Coghill (R-North Pole)
• Representative Bruce Weyhrauch (R-Junuea)
• Representative Norm Rokeberg (R-Anchorage)
• Representative Bill Stoltze (R-Chugiak/Mat-Su)

Military & Veteran's Affairs Committee

• Representative Nick Stepovich (R-Fairbanks), Chair
• Representative Beverly Masek (R-Wasilla), Vice-Chair
• Representative Bruce Weyhrauch (R-Junuea)
• Representative Nancy Dahlstrom (R-Eagle River)
• Representative Bob Lynn (R-Anchorage)

Oil & Gas Committee

• Representative Vic Kohring (R-Wasilla), Chair
• Representative Jim Holm (R-Fairbanks)
• Representative Norm Rokeberg (R-Anchorage)
• Representative Cheryll Heinze (R-Anchorage)
• Representative Lesil McGuire (R-Anchorage)

Regulation & Review Committee

• Representative Bruce Weyhrauch (R-Junuea), Vice-Chair
• Representative Tom Anderson (R-Anchorage)

Ways & Means Committee

• Representative Mike Hawker (R-Anchorage), Chair
• Representative Bruce Weyhrauch (R-Junuea), Vice-Chair
• Representative Vic Kohring (R-Wasilla)
• Representative Dan Ogg (R-Kodiak)
• Representative Peggy Wilson (R-Wrangell)
• Representative Norm Rokeberg (R-Anchorage)
• Representative Ralph Samuels (R-Anchorage).

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