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June 30, 2009 Jay Finegan, 287-1445
Rep. Sally Lewin Named to Two National Panels Dealing with Health and Welfare

AUGUSTA – State Rep. Sally Lewin has been appointed to serve on two committees at the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), an organization that provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues. The appointments were made in late June by House Speaker Hannah Pingree.

Rep. Lewin will serve on the NCSL’s Health Committee and the Human Services and Welfare Committee. She said the appointments are a good fit with her legislative background and experience. She has served on the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee for four terms and is the ranking Republican on the panel this session.

“I’m looking forward to meeting legislators from other parts of the country,” said Rep. Lewin (R-Eliot). “The health care and health insurance issue is extremely important and very complex. I think it’s important to understand that the best ideas for dealing with it don’t always come from Washington. The states are capable of developing workable solutions to tough problems, and NCSL is a good forum to discuss them.”

The NCSL Health Committee has jurisdiction over state and federal health programs, legislation, regulations and policies. Its purpose is to educate Congress and federal agencies about state concerns regarding developments in federal health initiatives. It operates as a forum for legislators and legislative staff to learn about and share information regarding health programs and health policy initiatives in other states. Recently, the committee has addressed the following issues: Medicare prescription drug coverage; Medicaid; health care cost containment; health care access; and public health and prevention.

The NCSL Human Services and Welfare Committee has jurisdiction over state and federal work in four major categories: social services, income security, food and nutrition and immigration. Social services involve child welfare, child care and Head Start. Income security issues address welfare reform and welfare to work, child support, food stamps, child nutrition and commodity distribution. Immigration issues include refugee assistance and benefits to legal aliens. The Human Services and Welfare Committee also works with states on engaging faith-based organizations and proposals supporting healthy marriages.

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