Rep. Joe Lovvorn, R-Auburn, will be the next member of the Alabama House Education Ways and Means Committee, which is responsible for allocating about $6 billion in funding to Alabama's public K-12 schools, two-year and four-year public universities.
Lovvorn was elected in September in a special election for House District 79, which includes Auburn and portions of Opelika. Lovvorn replaced former House Speaker Mike Hubbard, who was removed from office in June after being convicted of 12 felonies.
With his district including Auburn University, Lovvorn has said since the election that he would ask to be on the education budget committee in the House. With the speaker's appointment, Lovvorn will now get to help write the state's education budgets.
“As the state’s greatest and most respected institution of higher learning, Auburn University deserves every dime of education funding that it can receive from the Legislature, and I will be the loudest voice and strongest advocate pushing for that needed funding throughout my service in the House,” Lovvorn said. “At the same time, the citizens of my district devote more local dollars to our children’s K-12 schools than most other areas of the state, so I will work to obtain the state funding that is necessary to supplement those contributions and ensure Auburn’s public schools remain the best in Alabama.”
Lovvorn was also appointed to the House Technology and Research Committee and the Lee County Legislation Committee.
“Rep. Lovvorn requested a seat on the House education budget-writing committee so he can ensure that Auburn University and the public schools in his district receive the necessary funding,” McCutcheon said. “Given Auburn’s importance to our state economy and the determination and dedication that Rep. Lovvorn has already shown during his short time in office, I am happy to comply with his request.”
Lovvorn also works as a battalion chief at the Auburn Fire Division and is a small business owner.
“Auburn University is among the preeminent research institutions in the Southeast, and its work in several important areas, including technological advancement, is respected across the globe,” Lovvorn said. “I’ll use my seat on the committee to advocate for the research being conducted at Auburn University and make sure that the state supports, rather than obstructs, the important work it conducts.”
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