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Committee on Health adopts rules, appoints staff; chair outlines priorities
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Summary
At its Jan. 16 meeting, the Committee on Health unanimously approved its rules of organization and procedure and confirmed committee staff. Chair Councilmember Christina Henderson said the committee will prioritize behavioral health, maternal health, healthy food access, workforce shortages and school-based services.
On Jan. 16, 2025, the Committee on Health unanimously approved rules governing its organization and procedure and confirmed the committee's staff during a brief organizational meeting chaired by Councilmember Christina Henderson.
Henderson, chair of the Committee on Health, opened the meeting and said the committee will focus on improving behavioral health and substance use resources, expanding healthy food access, improving maternal health outcomes, addressing health care worker shortages and ensuring adequate school-based health services. "I plan to prioritize improving behavioral health and substance use resources, expanding healthy food access, improving our maternal health outcomes, addressing critical health care worker shortages, and ensuring adequate school based health services for our students," Henderson said.
The committee considered two organizational items: a resolution establishing the rules of organization and procedure for the committee and a resolution appointing the committee's staff. Henderson moved approval of the rules of organization and procedure "for the Committee on Health for council period 26, resolution of 2025" and asked staff to make technical changes in consultation with the general counsel. The committee then voted "aye," and the chair directed that the record reflect the vote was unanimous.
The committee then considered the appointment of staff. Henderson named Ona Bakas as committee director, Marcia Huff as senior policy analyst, Rebecca Cooper as health policy legislative analyst and Ashley Strange as legislative assistant. Henderson moved the staff appointment resolution "with leave for staff to make technical changes in consultation with the office of general counsel." The motion carried by unanimous voice vote; the record was noted as unanimous.
Henderson also noted an upcoming local development: the opening later in the spring of the Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center in Ward 8, described as the district's first new hospital in 25 years. The meeting lasted roughly three minutes; no public comment or extended debate was recorded. The chair adjourned the meeting and said the committee will reconvene for performance oversight at a later date.
