State Rep. Mark Hamilton of Cumming recently received some new legislative duties.

The Cumming Republican has been appointed chairman of the Employment Security and Unemployment Insurance Subcommittee and vice chairman of the Special Subcommittee on Transportation Funding.

Rep. Mike Coan of Lawrenceville, a Republican who chairs the Industrial Relations Committee, appointed Hamilton to head the subcommittee.

"Hamilton has shown great dedication throughout his time working on subcommittees, and I feel that he is more than ready to be a leader and make pertinent changes," Coan said in a statement.

"This subcommittee is a natural fit with Rep. Hamilton's years of private business ownership experience in the staffing industry."

As chairman of the Employment Security and Unemployment Insurance Subcommittee, Hamilton will deal with benefits and insurance issues.  

Hamilton, who owns H&H Staffing in Cumming, said he has a firsthand understanding of many of the issues that may come before this subcommittee.

"I look forward to working with employees, employers and other lawmakers on important issues that will offer the right amount of employment security and encourage and stimulate job growth which is so critical in getting our economy back on track," he said.

Vance Smith Jr., R-Pine Mountain, said he chose Hamilton to serve as vice chair of the newly created transportation funding subcommittee because of Hamilton's work on the transportation committee during his first term.

Smith, chairman of the House Transportation Committee, noted Hamilton served on the Joint Transportation Funding Study Committee, and has worked with him on HB 277, "the Georgia 20/20 Transportation Act."

Before running for office, Hamilton made it clear transportation was among his top priorities. The sentiment continues at the start of his second term.

Hamilton said he will work to improve transportation "not only for the citizens of Forsyth and Cherokee counties, but for all the citizens of Georgia."

"I look forward to using all that I have learned over the last several years and working diligently on this special subcommittee to hopefully ensure that the correct vision, planning and implementation will become a reality through an effective piece of voter-approved transportation funding legislation that will benefit all Georgians," he said.