CHARLESTON – House Speaker Rick Thompson is extremely pleased to be able to provide the chairs of his standing committees with a broad range of well qualified members, as well as offer all the delegates a host of new responsibilities and leadership opportunities in the 2013 legislative session.

“One of the greatest qualities of the House of Delegates is its diversity,” Speaker Thompson said. “Our members bring such a variety of expertise and experience to the process, and we want to take full advantage and ensure our committees benefit from it.

“Having worked closely with House Minority Leader Tim Armstead, I am confident that these committees are well balanced and will be very productive.”

Joining the House leadership is Hancock County Delegate Randy Swarztmiller, who has been appointed Speaker Pro Tempore. He will also sit on the House Rules Committee, which oversees the flow of legislation from committees to the full House.

“Delegate Swartzmiller has tirelessly served in the House for the past 12 years, and during the past few terms, has taken on both the chairmanship of the Committee on Homeland Security and the role of Assistant Majority Whip,” Speaker Thompson noted. “He is well suited to become the next Speaker Pro Tempore.”

Four of the five major committees have been assigned new vice chairs.

Delegate Doug Reynolds, D-Cabell, has been appointed vice chairman of the House Finance Committee.

“As a strong leader in the business community, and having served as vice chairman of the House Banking Committee, Delegate Reynolds is a great fit for the Finance Committee,” the Speaker said. “He combines business experience with a strong interest in local government and education – all important to the work of Finance.”

Marion County Delegate Tim Manchin has been appointed vice chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.

“With a very active law practice at home, Delegate Manchin has never shied away from taking on big responsibilities in Charleston, including chairing the House Political Subdivisions Committee,” Speaker Thompson said. “He also did an outstanding job chairing a special committee that held public hearings around the state, and developed the major elements of the sweeping Marcellus Shale legislation the Legislature passed last year.”

School administrator and third-term Lincoln County delegate Josh Stowers is now vice chairman of the House Education Committee.

“Delegate Stowers is an experienced and dedicated educator who has also shown great enthusiasm and interest as a lawmaker,” Speaker Thompson said. “I believe he will be a great asset to the committee.”

Now in his seventh term in the House, Delegate David Perry is the new vice chairman of the House Health Committee, which the Speaker recently elevated to major committee status.

“As a life-long educator and school administrator, Delegate Perry brings to the Health Committee important perspective on the health care needs of our state’s children and the need for early intervention,” Speaker Thompson said. “His experience also makes him especially sensitive to the challenges facing the state’s massive Public Employee Insurance Agency, a major element of our state’s health care system.”

Several delegates are taking on new chairmanships of other standing committees, including Delegate Brady Paxton, D-Putnam, now chair of the Committee on Homeland Security;

Mark Hunt, D-Kanawha, chair of Political Subdivisions; Nancy Guthrie, D-Kanawha, chair of the Insurance Committee; David Walker, D-Clay, chair of the Agriculture Committee; and Kevin Craig, D-Cabell, chair of the Natural Resources Committee.

The following is the membership of each House standing committee:

Finance: Chair: Harry Keith White, D-Mingo; Vice Chair: Doug Reynolds, D-Cabell; Minority Chair: Bill Anderson, R-Wood; Minority Vice Chair: Eric Nelson, R-Kanawha. Members: Kevin Craig, D-Cabell; Nancy Guthrie, D-Kanawha; Richard Iaquinta, D-Harrison; Charlene Marshall, D-Monongalia; Ricky Moye, D-Raleigh; Don Perdue, D-Wayne; David Pethtel, D-Wetzel; Linda Phillips, D-Wyoming; Rupie Phillips, D-Logan; Daniel Poling, D-Wood; Doug Skaff, D-Kanawha; Larry Williams, D-Preston; Troy Andes, R-Putnam; Bob Ashley, R-Roane; Ray Canterbury, R-Greenbrier; Daryl Cowles, R-Morgan; Allen Evans, R-Grant; Marty Gearheart, R-Mercer; Carol Miller, R-Cabell; Erikka Storch, R-Ohio; Ron Walters, R-Kanawha.

Judiciary: Chair: Tim Miley, D-Harrison; Vice Chair: Tim Manchin, D-Marion; Minority Chair: John Ellem, R-Wood; Minority Vice Chair: Patrick Lane, R-Kanawha. Members: Michael Ferro, D-Marshall; Barbara Fleischauer, D-Monongalia; Mark Hunt, D-Kanawha; Linda Longstreth, D-Marion; Mike Manypenny, D-Taylor; Justin Marcum, D-Mingo; Clif Moore, D-McDowell; John Pino, D-Fayette; Meshea Poore, D-Kanawha; Stephen Skinner, D-Jefferson; Isaac Sponaugle, D-Pendleton; Danny Wells, D-Kanawha; Cindy Frich, R-Monongalia; Bill Hamilton, R-Upshur; Eric Householder, R -Berkeley; Woody Ireland, R-Ritchie; John McCuskey, R-Kanawha; John O’Neal, R-Raleigh; John Overington, R-Berkeley; John Shott, R-Mercer; Kelli Sobonya, R-Cabell.

Government Organization: Chair: Jim Morgan, D-Cabell; Vice Chair: Dale Stephens, D-Cabell; Minority Chair: Gary Howell, R-Mineral; Minority Vice Chair: Anna Border, R-Wood. Members: Phil Diserio, D-Brooke; Jeff Eldridge, D-Lincoln; Ryan Ferns, D-Ohio; Bill Hartman, D-Randolph; Ronnie Jones, D-Hancock; Dana Lynch, D-Webster; Brady Paxton, D-Putnam; Peggy Smith, D-Lewis; Margaret Staggers, D-Fayette; Randy Swartzmiller, D-Hancock; David Walker, D-Clay; Karen Arvon, R-Raleigh; Tom Azinger, R-Wood; Scott Cadle, R-Mason; Larry Faircloth, R-Berkeley; Michael Folk, R-Berkeley; Larry Kump, R-Berkeley; Josh Nelson, R-Boone; William Romine, R-Tyler; Randy Smith, R-Preston.

Education: Chair: Mary Poling, D-Barbour; Vice Chair: Josh Stowers, D-Lincoln; Minority Chair: Amanda Pasdon, R-Monongalia; Minority Vice Chair: Linda Sumner, R-Raleigh. Members: Tony Barill, D-Monongalia; Jason Barrett, D-Berkeley; Denise Campbell, D-Randolph; Tiffany Lawrence, D-Jefferson; David Perry, D-Fayette; David Pethtel, D-Wetzel; Ted Tomblin, D-Logan; David Walker, D-Clay; Larry Williams, D-Preston; Adam Young, D-Nicholas; George Ambler, R-Greenbrier; Jim Butler, R-Mason; Roy Cooper, R-Monroe; Paul Espinosa, R-Jeffers on; David Evans, R-Marshall; Danny Hamrick, R-Harrison; Suzette Raines , R-Kanawha; Ruth Rowan, R-Hampshire, Steve Westfall, R-Jackson.

Health: Chair: Don Perdue, D-Wayne; Vice Chair: David Perry, D-Fayette ; Minority Chair: Joe Ellington, R-Mercer; Minority Vice Chair: Eric Householder, R-Berkeley. Members: Denise Campbell, D-Randolph; Phil Diserio, D-Brooke; Jeff Eldridge, D-Lincoln; Ryan Ferns, D-Ohio; Barbara Fleischauer, D-Monongalia; Tiffany Lawrence, D-Jefferson; Charlene Marshall, D-Monongalia; Clif Moore, D-McDowell; Ricky Moye, D-Raleigh; Meshea Poore, D-Kanawha; Margaret Staggers, D-Fayette; Karen Arvon, R-Raleigh; Anna Border, R-Wood; Daryl Cowles, R-M organ; Larry Faircloth, R-Berkeley; Patrick Lane, R-Kanawha; Carol Miller, R-Cabell; Amanda Pasdon, R-Monongalia; Ruth Rowan, R-Hampshire; Kelli Sobonya, R-Cabell.

Agriculture: Chair: David Walker, D-Clay; Vice Chair: Mike Manypenny, D-Taylor; Minority Chair: Allen Evans, R-Grant; Minority Vice Chair: Ray Canterbury, R-Greenbrier. Members: Brent Boggs, D-Braxton; Phil Diserio, D-Brooke; Jeff Eldridge, D-Lincoln; Nancy Guthrie, D-Kanawha; Brady Paxton, D-Putnam; Linda Phillips, D-Wyoming; Mary Poling, D-Barbour; Isaac Sponaugle, D-Pendleton; Randy Swartzmiller, D-Hancock; Danny Wells, D-Kanawha; Larry Williams, D-Preston; George Ambler, R-Greenbrier; Bill Anderson, R-Wood; Anna Border, R-Wood; Michael Folk, R-Berkeley; Bill Hamilton, R-Upshur; Woody Ireland, R-Ritchie; Carol Miller, R-Kanawha; John Overington, R-Berkeley; William Romine, R-Tyler.

Veterans Affairs & Homeland Security: Chair, Veterans Affairs: Richard Iaquinta, D-Harrison; Vice Chair, Veterans Affairs: Linda Longstreth, D-Marion; Minority Chair, Veterans Affairs: Tom Azinger, R-Wood’ Minority Vice Chair, Veterans Affairs: Ruth Rowan, R-Hampshire ; Chair, Homeland Security: Brady Paxton, D-Putnam; Vice Chair, Homeland Security: Jeff Eldridge, D-Lincoln; Minority Chair, Homeland Security: Bob Ashley, R-Roane; Minority Vice Chair, Homeland Security: Erikka Storch, R-Ohio. Members: Tony Barill, D-Monongalia; Denise Campbell, D-Randolph; Michael Ferro, D-Marshall; Barbara Fleischauer, D-Monongalia; Ronnie Jones, D-Hancock; Dave Pethtel, D-Wetzel; Peggy Smith, D-Lewis; Margaret Staggers, D-Fayette; Dale Stephens, D-Cabell; Tim Armstead, R-Kanawha; Scott Cadle, R-Mason; Roy Cooper, R-Monroe; David Evans, R-Marshall; Gary Howell, R-Mineral; Woody Ireland, R-Ritchie; Eric Nelson, R-Kanawha; Josh Nelson, R-Boone.

Natural Resources: Chair: Kevin Craig, D-Cabell; Vice Chair: John Pino, D-Fayette; Minority Chair: Bill Hamilton, R-Upshur; Minority Vice Chair: Woody Ireland, R-Ritchie. Members : Jeff Eldridge, D-Lincoln; Nancy Guthrie, D-Kanawha; Ronnie Jones, D-Hancock; Mike Manypenny, D-Taylor; Clif Moore, D-McDowell; Ricky Moye, D-Raleigh; Linda Phillips, D-Wyoming; Rupie Phillips, D-Logan; Isaac Sponaugle, D-Pendleton; Randy Swartzmiller, D-Hancock; Ted Tomblin, D-Logan; Danny Wells, D-Kanawha; Bill Anderson, R-Wood; Jim Butler, R-Mason; Ray Canterbury, R-Greenbrier; John Ellem, R-Wood; Allen Evans, R-Grant; William Romine, R-Tyler; John Shott, R-Mercer; Randy Smith, R-Preston; Ron Walters, R-Kanawha.

Banking & Insurance: Chair, Banking: Clif Moore, D-McDowell; Vice Chair, Banking: Ryan Ferns, D-Ohio; Chair, Insurance: Nancy Guthrie, D-Kanawha; Vice Chair, Insurance: Bill Hartman, D-Randolph; Minority Chair, Banking: Tom Azinger, R-Wood; Minority Vice Chair, Banking: Eric Nelson, R-Kanawha; Minority Chair, Insurance: Bob Ashley, R-Roane; Minority Vice Chair, Insurance: Ron Walters, R-Kanawha. Members: Jason Barrett, D-Berkeley; Mark Hunt, D-Kanawha; Richard Iaquinta, D-Harrison; Tim Manchin, D-Marion; Jim Morgan, D-Cabell; David Perry, D-Fayette; Rupie Phillips, D-Logan; Doug Reynolds, D-Cabell; Ted Tomblin, D-Logan; Troy Andes, R-Putnam; Cindy Frich, R-Monongalia; John McCuskey, R-Kanawha; John O’Neal, R-Raleigh; Amanda Pasdon, R-Monongalia; John Shott, R-Mercer; Steve Westfall, R-Jackson.

Pensions & Retirement: Chair: David Pethtel, D-Wetzel; Vice Chair: Ronnie Jones, D-Hancock. Members: Kevin Craig, D-Cabell; Dana Lynch, D-Webster; Josh Stowers, D-Lincoln; Ray Canterbury, R-Greenbrier; Larry Kump, R-Berkeley.

Political Subdivisions: Chair: Mark Hunt, D-Kanawha; Vice Chair: Tiffany Lawrence, D-Jefferson; Minority Chair: Linda Sumner, R-Raleigh; Minority Vice Chair: Daryl Cowles, R-Morgan. Members: Tony Barill, D-Monongalia; Ryan Ferns, D-Ohio; Bill Hartman, D-Randolph; Ronnie Jones, D-Hancock; Justin Marcum, D-Mingo; Jim Morgan, D-Cabell; Ricky Moye, D-Raleigh; David Perry, D-Fayette; Isaac Sponaugle, D-Pendleton; Larry Williams, D-Preston; Roy Cooper, R-Monroe; Paul Espinosa, R-Jefferson; Michael Folk, R-Berkeley; Marty Gearheart, R-Mercer; Bill Hamilton, R-Upshur; Danny Hamrick, R-Harrison; Patrick Lane, R-Kanawha; John McCuskey, R-Kanawha; Amanda Pasdon, R-Monongalia.

Energy, Industry & Labor/Economic Development & Small Business : Chair, Energy: Daniel Poling, D-Wood; Vice Chair, Energy: Phil Diserio, D-Brooke; Chair, Economic: Doug Skaff, D-Kanawha; Vice Chair, Economic: Denise Campbell, D-Randolph; Minority Chair, Energy: Kelli Sobonya, R-Cabell; Minority Vice Chair, Energy: Carol Miller, R-Cabell; Minority Chair, Economic: Troy Andes, R-Putnam; Minority Vice Chair, Economic: Joe Ellington, R-Mercer. Members: Jason Barrett, D-Berkeley; Mike Caputo, D-Marion; Barbara Fleischauer, D-Monongalia; Mike Manypenny, D-Taylor; Charlene Marshall, D-Monongalia; Rupie Phillips, D-Logan; Meshea Poore, D-Kanawha; Stephen Skinner, D-Jefferson; David Walker, D-Clay; Adam Young, D-Nicholas; Karen Arvon, R-Raleigh; Larry Faircloth, R-Berkeley; Cindy Frich, R-Monongalia; Josh Nelson, R-Boone; Suzette Raines, R-Kanawha; Randy Smith, R-Preston; Erikka Storch, R-Ohio.

Roads & Transportation: Chair: Margaret Staggers, D-Fayette; Vice Chair: Linda Philips, D-Wyoming; Minority Chair: Daryl Cowles, R-Morgan; Minority Vice Chair: Mary Gearheart, R-Mercer. Members: Tony Barrill, D-Monongalia; Brent Boggs, D-Braxton; Linda Longstreth, D-Marion; Dana Lynch, D-Webster; Justin Marcum, D-Mingo; Daniel Poling, D-Wood; Doug Skaff, D-Kanawha; Peggy Smith, D-Lewis; Dale Stephens, D-Cabell; Josh Stowers, D-Lincoln; David Walker, D-Clay; Danny Wells, D-Kanawha; George Ambler, R-Greenbrier; Jim Butler, R-Mason; Scott Cadle, R-Mason; Joe Ellington, R-Mercer; Paul Espinosa, R-Jefferson; David Evans, R-Marshall; Danny Hamrick, R-Harrison; Gary Howell, R-Mineral; John Shott, R-Mercer.

Constitutional Revision: Chair: Barbara Fleischauer, D-Monongalia; Vice Chair: Michael Ferro, D- Marshall; Minority Chair: John Overington, R-Berkeley; Minority Vice Chair: William Romine, R-Tyler. Members: Mike Caputo, D-Marion; Nancy Guthrie, D-Kanawha; Mark Hunt, D-Kanawha; Tiffany Lawrence, D-Jefferson; Tim Manchin, D-Marion; Charlene Marshall, D-Monongalia; Clif Moore, D-McDowell; Jim Morgan, D-Cabell; Meshea Poore, D-Kanawha; Doug Reynolds, D-Cabell; Stephen Skinner, D-Jefferson; Bill Anderson, R-Wood; Troy Andes, R-Putnam; Tim Armstead, R-Kanawha; John Ellem, R-Wood; Eric Householder, R-Berkeley; Larry Kump, R-Berkeley; Patrick Lane, R-Kanawha; Josh Nelson, R-Boone; John O’Neal, R-Raleigh.

Senior Citizen Issues: Chair: Larry Williams, D-Preston; Vice Chair: Ricky Moye, D-Kanawha; Minority Chair: Ruth Rowan, R-Hampshire; Minority Vice Chair: John O’Neal, R-Raleigh. Members: Denise Campbell, D-Randolph; Michael Ferro, D-Marshall; Mike Manypenny, D-Taylor; Charlene Marshall, D-Monongalia; Clif Moore, D-McDowell; Don Perdue, D-Wayne; David Pethtel, D-Wetzel; David Perry, D-Fayette; John Pino, D-Fayette; Dale Stephens, D-Cabell; Adam Young, D-Nicholas; Karen Arvon, R-Raleigh; Bob Ashley, R-Roane; Anna Border, R-Wood; Larry Faircloth, R-Berkeley; Eric Householder, R-Berkeley; Suzette Raines, R-Kanawha; Randy Smith, R-Preston; Kelli Sobonya, R-Cabell; Linda Sumner, R-Raleigh; Steve Westfall, R-Jackson.

Rules: Chair: Rick Thompson, D-Wayne. Members: Brent Boggs, D-Braxton; Mike Caputo, D-Marion; Charlene Marshall, D-Monongalia; Tim Miley, D-Harrison; Jim Morgan, D-Cabell; Brady Paxton, D-Putnam; Mary Poling, D-Barbour; Randy Swartzmiller, D-Hancock; Harry Keith White, D-Mingo; Bill Anderson, R-Wood; Tim Armstead, R-Kanawha; Bob Ashley, R-Roane; Daryl Cowles, R-Morgan; Patrick Lane, R-Kanawha; John Overington, R-Berkeley; Kelli Sobonya, R-Cabell; Linda Sumner, R-Raleigh.