SPRINGFIELD – Illinois House Committees have been meeting online for a couple of weeks and State Rep. Paul Jacobs (R-Pomona) is releasing his Committee assignments for the 102nd Illinois General Assembly.
“I believe my Committee assignments fit my district, my personality, my background and variety of experiences in different industries very well,” Jacobs said. “I am proud to represent the people of the 115th district and vote to uphold the values we share.”
A first-term State Representative, Jacobs received appointments to the Illinois House Tourism Committee, Higher Education, Higher Education Appropriations, Health Care Access and Availability, and Health Care Licenses.
“I have been a practicing optometrist in Southern Illinois for 40 years, so I think my health care committee assignments are particularly beneficial for my district,” Jacobs said. “We do struggle with access to health care in Southern Illinois, and that is something I hope to be able to address. We also have a significant delay when we process things like nursing and doctors’ licenses for folks that want to practice medicine and take care of patients in the state. I hope to address these delays in the Health Care Licenses Committee.”
Jacobs was also enthusiastic about his appointment to the Illinois House Committee on Higher Education.
“SIU is a treasure and real economic engine for Southern Illinois,” Jacobs said. “SIU Carbondale is a world-class university and renown for research and innovation. I’m going to fight for that for the students of SIU and for everyone that serves the university. It is vitally important to protect SIU Carbondale so our graduates have an outstanding local option for higher education.”
Jacobs is also a former owner and operator of a vineyard and winery in southern Illinois. Jacobs says he is ready to hit the ground running as a member of the House’s Tourism Committee.
“The wine and grape industry in Southern Illinois is one of the most vibrant and successful in the world,” Jacobs said. “I am going to work hard to bring Illinois tourism back to levels we haven’t seen in years. We can do that by highlighting and supporting the many museums, parks and recreation areas, lakes, rivers, trails, and so much more that we have to offer in all corners of Illinois, but especially in Southern Illinois.”