For Immediate Release
December 15, 2006
Contact: Brian Grove
bgrove@pasen.gov
(570) 675-3931
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 senator-elect baker to chair veterans' AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY preparedness committee

 Senate panel oversees military, veterans and security issues

DALLAS - When the State Senate convenes next month to begin the 2007-08 Legislative Session, Senator-Elect Lisa Baker (R-20) will serve as chair of the committee charged with shaping legislation and policies involving military personnel, veterans and Pennsylvania's security.

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-25) recently appointed Senator-Elect Baker to serve as Chair of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs and Emergency Preparedness.  "Senator-Elect Baker's knowledge in veterans' and emergency issues give her a solid foundation in protecting the rights of our veterans and establishing policies that prepare Pennsylvania for emergency situations," Scarnati said.

While serving as Deputy Chief of Staff to Governors Tom Ridge and Mark Schweiker, Baker was the cabinet liaison to the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs.  As the senior civilian manager overseeing the department, Baker worked to provide quality care to aging veterans, and to ensure that our military personnel had the resources required to protect our citizens and country.  In recognition of her efforts, Baker received the Pennsylvania Commendation Medal from the Adjutant General of the Pennsylvania National Guard in 2002, the highest honor bestowed upon civilians.

Baker will also draw upon her service with the Schweiker Administration, where she assisted in the creation of the Pennsylvania Office of Homeland Security, as well as her involvement in responding to disaster situations in northeastern Pennsylvania, to serve the citizen's of the Commonwealth.

"My family has a long history of military service and I've always had an interest in issues affecting our service men and women, veterans and emergency response personnel," Baker said. "As chair, I plan to conduct a full evaluation of the past work of the committee, so we have a complete picture as we look to identify new priorities."

Baker will be sworn into office on January 2, when the full Senate convenes for the upcoming session.  Her other committee assignment will be announced in the next several weeks.