State Sen. Heather Somers, R-Groton, has been reappointed by Senate Minority Leader Kevin Kelly, R-Stratford, to serve as the leading Republican on the General Assembly’s Public Health Committee.

The committee has jurisdiction over matters relating to the Department of Public Health, the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, the Department of Developmental Services, emergency medical services, nursing homes and the treatment of substance abuse.

Somers, serving a third term in the 18th Senate District, also will be the ranking senator on the Transportation Committee, which has cognizance of all matters relating to the Department of Transportation, including highways and bridges, navigation, aeronautics and mass transit, and the Department of Motor Vehicles. She also will serve as a member of the Appropriations Committee, which formulates the spending portion of the state budget, as well as on the Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee.

“Senator Somers has significant expertise on public health policy matters. That in-depth knowledge will continue to make her an invaluable asset on the Public Health Committee,” Kelly said in a statement. “I am also pleased that she will serve in a leadership role on the Transportation Committee, where she will be a strong and respected voice for sensible transportation policies which benefit middle class families.”

Somers currently serves on the state’s COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Group, chairing its Communications Subcommittee.