State Rep. Leslie Acosta, announced this week she has been selected to sit on the House Appropriations Committee for the remainder of the 2015-16 legislative session.

“I am humbled to serve on such a vital committee in my first legislative term,” Acosta said. “There really isn’t a better time to start work on this panel. With budget negotiations ramping up, I am eager to work with my colleagues to help put Pennsylvania back on a path of fiscal success.”

She highlighted Governor Tom Wolf’s budget plan as a bold vision for Pennsylvania, which faces a budget deficit of $2.3 billion. “The governor is especially committed to helping our Philadelphia students and taxpayers who have been stretched to the limit in recent years. It’s time to put more teachers back in our schools, and create more good-paying jobs to help families pay bills and put food on the table.”

State Rep. Joe Markosek, Democratic chairman of the Appropriations Committee, said he welcomes Acosta’s enthusiasm to the panel. “Acosta will bring new insight as a member of the Appropriations Committee. She will be a strong advocate for education funding, and I look forward to working with her to undo the damaging cuts the previous administration made to schools across Pennsylvania.”

Acosta, a former social worker and child advocate, made history as the first Latina elected to the state legislature. She also serves on the House Children and Youth, Finance, Human Services, State Government, and Tourism and Recreational Development committees. The Appropriations Committee oversees the state budget process, conducting hearings to evaluate the governor’s budget proposal. It also forms recommendations for fiscal-related matters facing the legislature.