HARRISBURG - State Rep. Frank LaGrotta, D-10th, has been appointed as the Democratic chairman of the House Tourism and Recreational Development Committee by House Minority Leader H. William DeWeese.

The committee is responsible for improving the tourism industry in the state. The committee also will work with the soon-to-be licensed gaming venues to create resorts at those locations, according to a news release from LaGrotta's office.

"I'm especially interested in working to bring more tourists to the state in conjunction with gaming venues that will open in the very near future," he said in the news release.

"These locations must be more than just buildings with slot machines. We want to make Pennsylvania a real tourist attraction, creating the thousands of new jobs that go along with that. I am committed to using my position as chairman to do that."