State Representative Roberta Willis (D-64th) has been re-appointed House Chair of the legislature's Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee by House Speaker Christopher Donovan (D-Meriden).

Rep. Willis has been the House Chair of this committee since January 2005.

"I am pleased that Speaker Donovan has re-appointed me to co-chair a committee that is so vital to our students and to Connecticut's economic future," Rep. Willis said. "I have had the honor to head this committee and to serve with hard working colleagues committed to improving both the quality of higher education in our state and to continue to work to make it as affordable as we can for students at all age levels."

The Committee has oversight over all matters relating to public and independent colleges and universities, the Department of Higher Education, the Board of Governors of Higher Education, post-secondary education and job training institutions, apprenticeship and adult job training programs and the Office of Workforce Competitiveness.

The Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee plays an important role in job creation and workforce development which is critical to Connecticut's economic development and recovery, said Willis.

Rep. Willis will also serve on the Environment Committee and will chair the Appropriations Sub-Committee on Higher Education. She was first elected to the General Assembly in 2001 representing the towns of Cornwall, Goshen, Salisbury, Sharon and a portion of Torrington which comprise the 64th District.