Representative Jan Angel, R-Port Orchard, has been appointed as ranking Republican to the new Community Development, Housing and Tribal Affairs Committee in the state House of Representatives. The announcement was made last week by House Republican Leader Rep. Richard DeBolt, R-Chehalis.

The committee considers issues relating to community development, veterans, parks and recreation, tourism and government relationships between the state and Indian tribes. It also considers bills relating to accessibility and affordability of housing. Angel said the committee fits well with her experience as a Realtor, past chair and board member of the Kitsap County Consolidated Housing Authority, past president of the Port Orchard Chamber of Commerce and eight years of service as a Kitsap County commissioner.

“I’m thrilled to be the House Republican leader on this new committee. Tourism is a vital part of the economy for the Kitsap Peninsula,” Angel said in a news release. “I will be looking for opportunities to promote tourism, job creation, and a better quality of life in our local communities and throughout the state.

“I’m particularly interested that this is the primary committee in the House that will be addressing veterans’ issues. With the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton and Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor in our backyard, we have a large population of retired veterans and active military personnel throughout the 26th District. I plan to be a strong voice on this committee in support of our veterans and the men and women in uniform who serve our country.”

The 26th District lawmaker also was named to the House Health Care and Wellness Committee, which considers legislation related to health care, health insurance, pharmaceutical drugs and licensing of health care facilities.

Angel will continue her role on the House Transportation Committee.

“It’s vital for my district to have a watchdog on this committee that will protect our local transportation interests,” she said. “I’m very concerned that every time tolls are increased on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, traffic decreases. If this trend continues, we’ll not have the revenue to pay off the bridge. The financing on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge must be reviewed and we need to come up with some long-term solutions other than making tolls so unaffordable that no one will cross this span.”