STO TO HEAD REGIONAL COUNCIL OF STATE GOVERNMENTS COMMITTEE
HARRISBURG, Aug. 3, 2000 -- State Sen. Raphael J. Musto (D-14) has been selected as chairman of the Energy and Environment Committee within the Eastern Regional Conference of the Council of State Governments.
Musto has served in the General Assembly for 26 years, including the past 18 in the Senate. He long has been in the forefront on environmental issues, most notably with his extensive involvement in development of the program known as "Growing Greener." He serves as Democratic chairman of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.
The regional committee which Musto will head, effective
Jan. 1, 2001, is composed of key state legislative and agency officials from 16 states, including New York, New Jersey and all of New England, and Canadian provinces.
Meetings of the committee provide the opportunity to exchange ideas and experiences with other policy makers and to learn from one another's successes and failures. Regional strategies which address common environmental or energy concerns also emanate from the group.
Musto will be chairing Saturday's (Aug. 5) committee session in Providence, R.I., in the absence of the current chairman.
According to Western Regional Conference co-chairs Sen. Maryellen Goodwin and Rep. Paul Crowley, both of Rhode Island, Musto as been an active participant in and thoughtful contributor to Committee meetings.
"He has clearly demonstrated a substantial knowledge about the complex issues involved, as well as a strong dedication to the regional focus of the group," according to Goodwin and Crowley.
Senator Musto has received numerous awards and honors for his environmental work, including Conservation Legislator of the Year by the Pennsylvania Wildlife Federation; an award from Heritage 21 Alliance, a statewide coalition of environmental groups; the Pennsylvania Municipal Authority's Distinguished Service Award, as well as recognition for excellence from the state chapter of the National Association of Water Companies.
For more information contact Mike Cotter @717-654-1483 or mcotter@dem.pasen.gov