VANCOUVER… Sen. Lynda Wilson is the newest member of the state Legislature’s Joint Committee on Veterans’ and Military Affairs, giving the proud daughter of a U.S. Air Force veteran another venue for supporting Washington residents who have served or are serving in the nation’s armed forces.

“While I’ve appreciated being able to introduce and co-sponsor many pieces of legislation related to our veterans and active-duty military, this committee looks like the place where I can dig deeper into specific needs and concerns and have those ground-floor discussions that lead to solutions,” said Wilson, R-Vancouver. Her appointment by the lieutenant governor, who also is president of the Senate, became official earlier this week.

Eight Republicans and eight Democrats comprise the joint committee, which also is evenly divided between senators and representatives. It was created by a 2001 law and meets at least three times annually. Wilson’s appointment came the request of Senate Republican Leader Mark Schoesler following the Sept. 30 retirement of former Sen. Barbara Bailey, R-Oak Harbor.

Wilson, who was recently involved in assembling back-to-school backpacks for children of deployed Clark County residents and welcoming a new National Guard unit to its Vancouver home, says she didn’t expect the opportunity to come along when it did – but volunteering to serve was an easy choice.

“I look at the other names on the committee and see veterans, and others who come from military families or represent communities that have a strong military presence. It’ll be nice to work with people who feel a similar kinship with the military and veterans – and there’s a lot of work to do.”