Rep. Shea to take leadership role on energy and environment issues
Washington State House Republicans released member committee assignments for the upcoming 2019 legislative session, today. Rep. Matt Shea, R-Spokane Valley, will take a new leadership role by serving as the ranking Republican on the House Environment and Energy Committee.
“I'm honored my colleagues elected me to be their leader on energy and environmental issues,” said Shea. “I expect to tackle some large and important issues in this committee over the next two years, all the while working to keep Seattle environmental politics out of Washington energy policies. As we witnessed in November, the voters of this state are not in favor of tax increases. I expect to see renewed legislative energy thrown at old 'enviro-tax schemes' and am committed to leading the charge against increased taxes.”
Shea, an attorney and military veteran, will also continue to work on judiciary issues as a member of the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee.
“More and more we see our civil liberties and religious freedoms under attack from all sides,” said Shea. “It is an honor to continue in this leadership role as we work to preserve the liberties and freedoms that so many of us hold dear. This committee really deals with 'Liberty and justice for all.' Those aren't just words in our pledge of allegiance – they are words to live by and words to die for, and many have.”
Shea will begin serving his sixth two-year term in the state House of Representatives in January. He earned a BA in history and political science at Gonzaga University and graduated cum laude from Gonzaga School of Law. He is a combat veteran, including eight months as a platoon leader in Bosnia and 11 months as a company commander and logistics officer in Iraq.
The 2019 legislative session begins Monday, Jan. 14 and is scheduled to last 105 days.