U.S. Rep.

Jason Altmire, D-4th, has been appointed to the committee on education and the workforce for the 112th Congress.The committee and its four subcommittees oversee education and workforce programs that affect all Americans, from early learning through secondary education, from job training through retirement.Altmire will serve on the higher education and workforce training and health, employment, labor, and pensions subcommittees.Altmire, meanwhile, also announced this week the formation of the privately-held and family owned business Congressional caucus. He will served as co-chairman of the new caucus with U.S. Rep

Peter Roskam, R-Ill.“Privately owned businesses pump trillions of dollars into our economy, and, more importantly, employ more than 4 million Americans,” Altmire said. “The interests of these businesses are often overshadowed by large, publicly traded companies, yet the policy decisions we make impact their operations.“It is important that their needs are brought into our discussions in Washington, and I look forward to ensuring these businesses have a voice as Congress continues to develop policies to get our economy back on track.”———U.S. Rep.

Mike Kelly, R-3rd, on Tuesday voted for the Empowering Parents through Quality Charter Schools Act, which overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives, 365 to 54.The measure, Kelly said, would encourage states to support the development and expansion of charter schools, streamline federal charter school program funding to reduce administrative burdens and improve funding opportunities for the replication of successful charter models and facilities assistance.Additionally, the legislation would support an evaluation of schools’ impact on students, families, and communities, while also encouraging sharing best practices between charters and traditional public schools, and offer incentives to states that use charter schools to reach out to special populations, including at-risk students.———An open meeting of the Republican Women of Butler County will be held from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the Cranberry Township Community Center’s activity room, 2525 Rochester Road.Men and women are encouraged to attend to learn more about the group. Those attending the meeting also will have the opportunity to talk with the Republican candidates for Butler County commissioner,

Dale Pinkerton and

Bill McCarrier.Light refreshments will be provided.For more information, contact Mary Ellen at 724-789-7882 or 724-712-3187 or at MaryEllen@rwbcpa.org, or visit the group’s website at www.rwbcpa.org.