U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Ky., chairman of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, named members of his party to the various appropriations subcommittees Friday -- and three Florida Republicans won some plum assignments, giving the Sunshine State a large seat at the table when Congress sets federal expenditures.
Each and every one of our Republican committee members are (sic)committed to the historic challenge of dramatically reducing government spending and getting our economy on a sustainable and responsible path, said Rogers. "It is with their expertise, hard work and leadership that this Congress will begin to undo the damage caused by record deficits and debt, put Americans back to work, and provide for a secure financial future. We have a tough road ahead of us, and this committee will begin our work immediately to accomplish our goals for the 112th Congress.
The dean of the House Republicans, U.S. Rep. Bill Young, was named to lead the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee where he will be joined by U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw. Rogers also named Young, who led the full committee from 1999 until 2005, as one of two chairmen emeritus for the Appropriations Committee. Young will also serve on the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee.
Besides serving on the Defense Subcommittee, Crenshaw will also chair the Legislative Branch Subcommittee -- a position that had been held by South Florida Democrat U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz -- and head upthe Homeland Security Subcommittee.
Congressman Crenshaws leadership and knowledge of defense, military, and fiscal issues made him a natural choice to sit on the Defense and Homeland Security subcommittees and to chair the Legislative Branch Subcommittee, said Rogers. I have every confidence that he will help his colleagues on both sides of the aisle to make the tough decisions that are ahead and that he will continue to serve his state and our nation well.
Crenshaw, who has represented parts of the First Coast and North Florida in Congress since being elected in 2000, outlined his agenda on Friday.
Congress must enact reforms to return confidence and transparency to the appropriations process, said Crenshaw. That work includes, but is not limited to, earmark reform, cuts to wasteful spending, and a review of the failed policies of the Democratic administration that have damaged the economy and pocketbooks of all Americans."
Crenshaw indicated that he would follow in the footsteps of his predecessors -- namely the late U.S. Rep. Charles E. Bennett and the late U.S. Rep. Tillie Fowler -- in supporting the various military installations around Jacksonville.
A seat on the Defense Appropriations Committee will allow me to ensure that the needs of our nations military bases, including those in Northeast Florida, are met and that our servicemen and women have the necessary tools to wage the war on terror at home and around the globe, said Crenshaw. A central part of that national security mission is the homeporting of a nuclear aircraft carrier at Naval Station Mayport a fight I will continue until a carrier sails into Mayport.
Crenshaw pointed to his speech on the House floor Thursday to advocate a 5 percent reduction in congressional office budgets as an example of his agenda for the Legislative Branch Subcommittee.
At the Legislative Branch Subcommittee, as I outlined in a House floor speech on Thursday, well take the same steps that American taxpayers have taken to do more with less by cutting committee, leadership, and member office budgets," said Crenshaw. We are taking the first step. We are going to cut our own spending, and thats what we will demand from every agency in the government. We can do a whole lot more with a whole lot less, and we all know it."
U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart was named to the Financial Services Subcommittee, the State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee and the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee. While Diaz-Balart has been in Congress since first winning election in 2002, the South Florida Republican is a newcomer to Appropriations. He was named to the committee back in December.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
