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12/03/2020 11:00 PMState Representative Christine Palm (D-36) has been named to four committees of the General Assembly and will serve as Democratic leader of the bipartisan Legislative Internship Committee. She was also named an assistant majority leader by Speaker of the House Matt Ritter.
For the coming term, in addition to leading the Internship Committee, Palm will serve on the Environment, Judiciary, and Government Administration and Elections committees. Under the committee structure, bills are screened, raised, and advanced for a full vote by various committees of cognizance, depending on the specific subject matter of the proposed legislation.
“Since she entered the legislature, Rep. Palm has been one of the most passionate and vocal advocates for young adults, particularly young women,” said Speaker-designate Ritter. “I know she will use her experience as a former teacher to make sure legislative interns receive a valuable experience.”
“Rep. Palm knows our young people are the future, and I am confident she will use this position to ensure the legislature provides a useful and fulfilling education to students,” said Majority Leader Rojas.
“It’s vital that Connecticut’s young people participate in the legislative process, as today’s students are tomorrow’s elected officials, community leaders and corporate executives,” said Palm. “We need to encourage young adult earners to stay in Connecticut, and I’m excited to make sure this committee I have the honor of leading is a two-way street—we in government can gain as much from the energy and perspectives of Millenials and Gen Z as they can gain from internship opportunities in the General Assembly. I want to thank Speaker-designate Ritter and Majority Leader Jason Rojas for giving me the opportunity to advance the education of civic-minded students and to encourage my colleagues to listen to our young people, who have really stepped up, especially in fighting for the environment.”
Of her other committee assignments, Palm said, “I’m excited because they cover issues I care deeply about...I asked to serve on the Government Administration and Elections Committee (GAE) because of my work this summer on crafting language to expand absentee balloting. The pandemic has exposed the fundamental flaws and constraints in Connecticut’s election laws, and I’m eager to work on expanding them permanently so voting is more accessible to everyone. GAE also deals with such important concerns as Constitutional amendments, freedom of information and ethics.”
Palm is returning to the Environment and Judiciary Committees, on which she served in her first term, because “protecting our environment and advancing environmental justice are of paramount importance to me, and the Joint Committee on Judiciary deals with legislation on gun safety, sexual assault, and criminal justice reform. Both committees passed many signature bills last session but have lots more work to do in these areas.”
Based on her Young Earners Prosperity Roundtable initiative, and drawing upon her 10 years of teaching experience, Palm was asked to serve as the Democratic chair of the Internship Committee, which she plans to expand by giving young people more of a voice in government.
Palm assumes her new committee assignments when the 2021 session convenes on Jan. 6.