ATLANTA – The Georgia House of Representatives’ Committee on Assignments named State Representative Dave Belton (R-Buckhead) as the Chairman of the Military Affairs working group. Rep. Belton previously chaired the House Military Affairs Study Committee.
“I’m deeply grateful to Speaker Ralston for allowing me to lead this working group, and I feel extremely honored to continue this important task,” said Rep. Belton. “Georgia has the fifth largest military population in America, with an economic impact of nearly $20 billion per year. Providing 150,000 jobs and indirectly employing almost one-third of a million Georgians, the Department of Defense is the largest single employer in the Peach State. With so much at stake, and with the military drawing down to levels seen in seventy years, Georgia cannot afford to ignore our military, especially as rival states budget millions of dollars every year to protect their own installations.”
This working group has been tasked with working on legislation relating to military affairs, and the group’s primary goal is to partner with Georgia’s military, civilian and community leaders to learn how to protect and strengthen Georgia’s bases. This House working group differs from standing committees in that it is term-limited and will expire at the end of this legislative session.
“The House Military Affairs Study Committee visited all of Georgia’s bases last summer, and to my surprise, every base we visited asked for better K-12 education for children of military personnel,” added Rep. Belton. “We show our appreciation for the military in many ways, but if we really cared about these brave men and women, we would do the very best we can for their patiently waiting children. Georgia needs to do better.”
Based on the findings of the House Military Affairs Study Committee, Rep. Belton plans to spearhead an effort to improve education for military children during the 2017 legislative session by introducing a “School Choice” bill for children of Georgia military families. This legislation would encourage local school boards throughout Georgia to allow children of active-duty military personnel to attend any public school of their choice within their school system, regardless of where that child resides.
“Fixing K-12 education is, of course, a Herculean task, as education occupies 53 percent of the state budget,” added Rep. Belton. “However, if local school boards throughout Georgia agreed to allow military children go to any school within the county that would create military-friendly flagship schools that could meet those children’s unique needs.”
The House Committee on Assignments, chaired by House Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge), is charged with making all House committee assignments for the members of the Georgia House of Representatives.
For a complete list of all House Committee assignments, please click here.
Representative Dave Belton represents the citizens of District 112, which includes all of Morgan County and the eastern side of Newton County. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 2014, and currently serves as a member of the Economic Development & Tourism, Education, Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications and Interstate Cooperation committees.
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