Biography

10/10/1939 -

PITTS, Joseph R., a Representative from Chester County; born, October 10, 1939 in Lexington, Fayette County, Ky.; A.B., Asbury College, 1961; M.Ed., West Chester State College (now West Chester University of Pennsylvania), 1972; captain, Strategic Air Command, United States Air Force (1963-1969, Vietnam War); high school science and math teacher; elected as a Republican to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 1973 term and served 11 consecutive terms thereafter; elected, Minority Appropriations Chair (1988-1994); elected, Majority Appropriations Chair (1995-1996); appointed, Special Committee to Review Juvenile Unrest and Gang Wars in the Philadelphia Area (1973-1974); appointed, at-large, Select Committee to Investigate the State Water Plan (1974); appointed, chair, House Select Committee to Investigate SEPTA (1979); appointed, Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee (1981-1982); appointed, Legislative Budget and Finance Committees (1983-1988); appointed, Select Committee on Seasonal Farm Laborers (1984); appointed, Commonwealth Committee on Bicentennial of United States Constitution (1987); appointed, chair, Legislative Bicentennial Subcommittee (1987-1988); appointed, board, State Employees’ Retirement System (1993-1994); appointed, Select Committee on Nonpreferred Appropriations (1994); appointed, House Select Committee on Violence (1994); not a candidate for reelection to the House (1996); elected, United States Congress (1997-2017); elected, delegate, Republican National Convention (2004).