Rep. Garland Pierce of Scotland County has been appointed to the Consumer and Advocacy Committee for the Blind.

The appointments were announced by House Speaker Joe Hackney.

The purpose of the committee is to study the entire range of problems and needs of the blind and visually impaired, and to make specific recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services about legislative solutions.

“I am pleased to have this opportunity to serve on this committee,” Pierce said. “This appointment will allow me to serve the needs of visually-impaired persons across the state.”

Among other things, the committee examines national trends and programs of other states, as well as programs and priorities in North Carolina. Because of the cost of treating persons who lose their vision, the committee also studies and makes recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services concerning methods of preventing blindness and restoring vision.

Pierce, who lives in Wagram, is serving his third term in the House of Representatives. He is Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural and Economic Resources, Vice Chair of the House Committee on Aging, Vice Chair of the House Committee on Federal Relations and Indian Affairs, House Committee Member on Commerce, Small Business, and Entrepreneurship, House Committee Member on Insurance, and House Committee Member on Juvenile Justice.