A committee chairmanship and a vice chairmanship, along with other assignments, have been given to state Rep. Byron Cook of Corsicana by Texas Speaker of the House Joe Straus.

Cook represents District 8 in the Texas House of Representatives, an area that includes Freestone, Navarro, Limestone and Anderson counties.

House committee assignments of the 81st Texas Legislature were made last week.

The District 8 representative is chairman of the Environmental Regulation Committee and vice chairman of Local and Consent Calendars, and also is serving on the Calendars and State Affairs committees.

State Sen. Steve Ogden of District 5 is assigned this session as chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and is on the Administration, Education and Government Organization committees.

Cook and Ogden are both Republicans.

As chairman of the Environmental Regulation committee, Cook will oversee state laws on pollution and waste disposal, matters regulated by Texas Department of State Health Services and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and provide oversight for TCEQ.

"It is an honor to have the opportunity to serve as chair of the Environmental Regulation Committee," Cook says. "Recognizing that environmental issues affect all Texans and have a significant impact on the state, I intend to ensure the committee makes thoughful and deliberate decisions, and look forward to working with my constituents and everyone who has interests before this committee."

The House Calendars Committee is the body through which all bills must pass before being brought to a vote, the Local and Consent Calendars schedules votes on uncontested items, such as resolutions recoginizing community leaders and groups, and State Affairs deals with questions of state policy and administration.

"These prominent committee appointments provide me the opportunity to fully represent and address the concerns of the citizens who elected me as their state representative," Cook says.

Cook was recognized in 2007 by Texas Monthly Magazine as one of the 10 Best Legislators, has been Legislator of the Month by Texas Municipal League and received the Friends of Medicine Award from Texas Medical Association.

Ogden, who has served in the senate since 1997, was reappointed last month as chairman of the Senate Finance Committee charged with drafting a state budget.

The Senate Education Committee reviews and enacts policies for public school accountability, public school construction and property tax rates.

Ogden was named to the Texas Monthly "10 Best" list in 2005 and 2007.