JEFFERSON CITY -- Sen. Anita Yeckel, R-Sunset Hills, has been appointed chairman of the Senate Committee on Financial and Governmental Organization, Veterans' Affairs and Elections. Sen. Yeckel has served as chairman of this committee since the Republicans assumed control of the Senate in 2001.

"I am pleased to again serve as chairman of this committee," said Sen. Yeckel. "In the last two years many important bills have passed out of this committee to later be passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by the governor."

Among the legislation passed out of this committee was 2002's landmark election reform bill, the first legislation of its kind to be passed in Missouri in nearly 30 years. Sen. Yeckel also served as sponsor of this bill.

As head of the Financial and Governmental Organization, Veterans' Affairs and Elections Committee, Sen. Yeckel will lead the committee in its consideration of bills dealing with banks and banking, savings and loan associations, and other financial institutions in the state. The committee will also review bills dealing with elections, election law, military organizations and veterans' affairs.

Sen. Yeckel is well-versed in issues dealing with banking, having worked in the financial institutions industry for 17 years.

"There is a lot of hard work ahead for all of the committee members," Sen. Yeckel said. "I am confident our efforts will result in solid improvements in our state and the services it provides our citizens."

Sen. Yeckel's other committee assignments include Appropriations; Education; and Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence.