State Senator Jeff Edler R-State Center

DES MOINES – Senator Jeff Edler, R-State Center, has been named the chair of the Senate Human Resources Committee for the 89th General Assembly.

The Human Resources Committee focuses on issues surrounding the Department of Human Services and Department of Public Health.

Edler, who serves Senate District 36 in Tama, Marshall and Black Hawk counties, has served on the Human Resources Committee through the 88th General Assembly under chair Annette Sweeney, R-Alden. Sweeney will chair the Natural Resources Committee and will be the vice chair on the Senate Agriculture Committee in the upcoming General Assembly.

“I am honored and humbled to be chosen to serve as the chair of the Senate Human Resources Committee,” Edler said. “The work we do in this committee is vital to ensure the well-being and safety of Iowans, and I look forward to working on legislation to achieve those goals.”

In October the Iowa Department of Administrative Services published a request for proposal document seeking a contractor that could assist the state in realigning and merging several of the operations within the state human services and public health departments.

Edler will be joined on the Human Resources Committee by vice chair Mark Costello, R-Imogene.

The announcement came earlier this month as state House and Senate party leadership announced their appointments for the upcoming legislative assembly that will begin on Jan. 11.

Senate Majority Leader Matt Whitver, R-Ankeny, described his fellow GOP state senators as a “dynamic group of people who are deeply connected to their districts”.

“For three election cycles in a row, Iowans have spoken and clearly stated they want leadership in Des Moines to conservatively manage the state budget, implement policies to encourage growth, and continue to provide tax relief for working families,” Whitver said. “It is a privilege to lead this caucus and I am excited to spend the next two years delivering on our promises.”