Rep. Gene DiGirolamo has been appointed to serve as chairman of the House Human Services Committee for the 2019–2020 legislative term
The Times
Rep. Gene DiGirolamo (R-Bucks), who has been nationally recognized for his work to help Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable residents, has been appointed to serve as chairman of the House Human Services Committee for the 2019–2020 legislative term. This is his fifth consecutive term as chairman.
“For the past eight years as chairman of the committee, I have worked tirelessly to make sure our citizens most in need of help have access to the treatment and services they deserve,” DiGirolamo said. “Whether a person is struggling with a drug or alcohol addiction, suffering from mental health issues, has a physical or intellectual disability or needs nursing home care, as a society we must provide assistance. No one should have to suffer needlessly or have obstacles placed in their way to prevent them from living a successful life.”
The House Human Services Committee has oversight of issues within the Department of Human Services, the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs and the Department of Health.
As in prior sessions, DiGirolamo intends to continue to work to tackle obstacles in the delivery of human services, including the 10 percent cut in state funding counties received in the 2012–2013 state budget.
“This cut has been compounded over the past seven budgets as the counties have lost a total of about $560 million in state funding,” DiGirolamo said. “This must be reversed, especially with the opioid epidemic continuing.”
DiGirolamo also has plans to further examine his idea proposed last session to allow drug and alcohol treatment providers to use former state buildings to deliver services. At times, a lack of available beds has hampered those seeking treatment.
