The New Jersey State Senate will shuffle some committee chairmanships this year after ten new senators were sworn into office on Tuesday.
Joseph Cryan (D-Union) will lead the Senate Higher Education Committee, where he can advocate on behalf of a major college located in his district, Kean University. He succeeds Sandra Cunningham (D-Jersey City), who did not seek re-election.
Cryan’s previous slot as chairman of the Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee will go to Gordon Johnson (D-Englewood).
Andrew Zwicker (D-South Brunswick) is the new chairman of the Senate Oversight Committee, a panel headed for the last two years by former Gov. Richard J. Codey.
“I have long prioritized the need for cost-effective results for New Jersey families, and I believe higher education provides limitless opportunities for all of our children,” Cryan said. “I strongly believe that the most cost-effective way to reduce the financial burden of college is to graduate quickly with quality education, and our institutions of higher learning have an obligation to help make that happen.”
Cryan said that in tough financial times, “our colleges and universities have an obligation to work in concert with the public to ensure that critical taxpayer dollars are being properly expended.”
“We have started having these conversations to help increase access, affordability, and positive outcomes for New Jersey students and families, and I look forward to expanding those partnerships even further,” he said.
Zwicker pledged to use his chairmanship to “make sure all of our systems and administrative and legislative actions are effective and carried out fairly and lawfully.”
“When we took our oaths, we swore to uphold the Constitution, and through the Oversight Committee, we have the duty make sure that oath and its responsibilities to it are realized without fear or favor,” Zwicker said.
Johnson is a U.S. Army veteran and served in the Army reserves as a major in Operation Desert Storm and Operation Joint Endeavor.
“As a veteran myself, I intimately understand the major issues facing our community and will work together with my colleagues to continue New Jersey’s strong tradition of supporting those who serve us all,” he said.
The New Jersey Globe reported earlier today that Joseph Lagana (D-Paramus) was the new Labor Committee chairman.
Senate President Nicholas Scutari picked the new committee chairs.
“We are fortunate to have such a talented group of Senators within the Democratic Caucus to assume the responsibilities of leading these committees. They possess the skills needed to address the issues of importance that impact the lives of the people of New Jersey,” Scutari said. “I have the utmost confidence in our selections and I look forward to the progress they will achieve in the new legislative session.”