FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | December 9, 2020
Delaware State Senate Majority Caucus
Contact: Scott Goss (302) 744-4180, or
Dylan McDowell (302) 744-4282
Delaware State Senate Majority Caucus
Contact: Scott Goss (302) 744-4180, or
Dylan McDowell (302) 744-4282
Senate Committees, Assignments Announced for 151st General Assembly
DOVER – Senate President Pro Tempore-Elect David Sokola on Wednesday unveiled a full slate of 18 Senate committees for the 151st General Assembly and announced the individual members who will be assigned to each committee.
“Legislative committees are an essential part of the lawmaking process. While floor votes get much of the attention, it is our committees that gather public input and determine which bills should move forward,” Sokola said. “The assignments I’m laying out today give each of our members an opportunity to lead and, given our Caucus’s new supermajority, the people of Delaware can be assured that our values will be reflected in the bills that come to us for a floor vote.”
The new slate of Senate committees includes some key changes from the 150th General Assembly.
The previously distinct Environment and Energy committees have been merged into a single committee, for instance. The slate also includes the creation of a new Housing Committee.
“All policies governing generation and distribution of energy in Delaware should ever carefully weigh the potential impact on our environment,” Sokola said. “Ensuring all Delawareans have fair and equal access to affordable housing is too important for us to fold this issue into otherwise unrelated committees. These changes will elevate and properly balance how we consider these issues of primary importance to so many Delawareans.”
Following an historic election in which voters gave Democrats a two-third majority in the Delaware State Senate, most Senate committees also are being adjusted to reflect the same two-thirds composition, with four Democrats and two Republicans assigned to each. The chairs of all 18 committees are evenly divided between male and female Senators to reflect the composition and diversity of the Majority Caucus.
“Adding an additional member to each committee will give our members greater knowledge and stronger voices in shaping the policies of our State,” Sokola said. “These assignments put our members’ individual expertise and personal experiences to the highest and best use, and I look forward to beginning the new session knowing we’ve placed our Senators in a position to advance the issues that matter most to Delawareans.”
The full slate and membership of each Senate committee is listed below. Committees and committee assignments will become official when the General Assembly reconvenes on January 12, 2021.
“Legislative committees are an essential part of the lawmaking process. While floor votes get much of the attention, it is our committees that gather public input and determine which bills should move forward,” Sokola said. “The assignments I’m laying out today give each of our members an opportunity to lead and, given our Caucus’s new supermajority, the people of Delaware can be assured that our values will be reflected in the bills that come to us for a floor vote.”
The new slate of Senate committees includes some key changes from the 150th General Assembly.
The previously distinct Environment and Energy committees have been merged into a single committee, for instance. The slate also includes the creation of a new Housing Committee.
“All policies governing generation and distribution of energy in Delaware should ever carefully weigh the potential impact on our environment,” Sokola said. “Ensuring all Delawareans have fair and equal access to affordable housing is too important for us to fold this issue into otherwise unrelated committees. These changes will elevate and properly balance how we consider these issues of primary importance to so many Delawareans.”
Following an historic election in which voters gave Democrats a two-third majority in the Delaware State Senate, most Senate committees also are being adjusted to reflect the same two-thirds composition, with four Democrats and two Republicans assigned to each. The chairs of all 18 committees are evenly divided between male and female Senators to reflect the composition and diversity of the Majority Caucus.
“Adding an additional member to each committee will give our members greater knowledge and stronger voices in shaping the policies of our State,” Sokola said. “These assignments put our members’ individual expertise and personal experiences to the highest and best use, and I look forward to beginning the new session knowing we’ve placed our Senators in a position to advance the issues that matter most to Delawareans.”
The full slate and membership of each Senate committee is listed below. Committees and committee assignments will become official when the General Assembly reconvenes on January 12, 2021.
SENATE COMMITTEES - 151st GENERAL ASSEMBLY
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Agriculture
Bruce C. Ennis, Chair Marie Pinkney, Vice Chair W. Charles Paradee, III Bryan Townsend Bryant L. Richardson David L. Wilson Banking, Business & Insurance Spiros Mantzavinos, Chair W. Charles Paradee, III, Vice Chair Laura V. Sturgeon John J. Walsh, III Colin R.M.J. Bonini Bryant L. Richardson Capital Improvement Nicole Poore, Chair Darius J. Brown Spiros Mantzavinos John J. Walsh, III Colin R.M.J. Bonini David L. Wilson Corrections & Public Safety Marie Pinkney, Chair Bruce C. Ennis, Vice Chair Sarah McBride David P. Sokola Gerald W. Hocker Brian G. Pettyjohn Education Laura V. Sturgeon, Chair Elizabeth Lockman, Vice Chair David P. Sokola Bryan Townsend Colin R.M.J. Bonini Ernesto B. Lopez Elections & Government Affairs Kyle Evans Gay, Chair Darius J. Brown, Vice Chair Stephanie L. Hansen Nicole Poore Ernesto B. Lopez Bryant L. Richardson Environment & Energy Stephanie L. Hansen, Chair W. Charles Paradee, III, Vice Chair Marie Pinkney Laura V. Sturgeon Gerald W. Hocker David L. Wilson Executive David P. Sokola, Chair Bryan Townsend, Vice Chair Elizabeth Lockman Stephanie L. Hansen Gerald W. Hocker Brian G. Pettyjohn Finance W. Charles Paradee, III, Chair Bruce C. Ennis Elizabeth Lockman Laura V. Sturgeon David G. Lawson Ernesto B. Lopez |
Health & Social Services
Sarah McBride, Chair Nicole Poore, Vice Chair Stephanie L. Hansen Marie Pinkney Brian G. Pettyjohn David L. Wilson Judiciary Darius J. Brown, Chair Kyle Evans Gay, Vice Chair Sarah McBride Bryan Townsend David G. Lawson Brian G. Pettyjohn Labor John J. Walsh, III, Chair Nicole Poore, Vice Chair Bruce C. Ennis Spiros Mantzavinos Colin R.M.J. Bonini Bryant L. Richardson Housing Bryan Townsend, Chair Marie Pinkney, Vice Chair Elizabeth Lockman Sarah McBride David G. Lawson Brian G. Pettyjohn Legislative Council David P. Sokola, Chair Bryan Townsend, Vice Chair Elizabeth Lockman Gerald W. Hocker Brian G. Pettyjohn Rules & Ethics Elizabeth Lockman, Chair David P. Sokola, Vice Chair Bryan Townsend Stephanie L. Hansen Gerald W. Hocker Brian G. Pettyjohn Legislative Oversight & Sunset Kyle Evans Gay, Chair Marie Pinkney, Vice Chair Stephanie L. Hansen Brian G. Pettyjohn Bryant L. Richardson Transportation Elizabeth Lockman, Chair Stephanie L. Hansen, Vice Chair Kyle Evans Gay Spiros Mantzavinos Ernesto B. Lopez David L. Wilson Veterans Affairs Bruce C. Ennis, Chair Darius J. Brown, Vice Chair Kyle Evans Gay Spiros Mantzavinos Sarah McBride David P. Sokola John J. Walsh, III Gerald W. Hocker David G. Lawson Bryant L. Richardson David L. Wilson |
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Press Contacts
Scott Goss
Communications Director
(302) 744-4180
scott.goss@delaware.gov
Dylan McDowell
Communications Assistant
(302) 744-4282
dylan.mcdowell@delaware.gov
Scott Goss
Communications Director
(302) 744-4180
scott.goss@delaware.gov
Dylan McDowell
Communications Assistant
(302) 744-4282
dylan.mcdowell@delaware.gov