With Ohio Republican Pat Tiberi leaving Congress, a congressman from Florida will take his spot as one of the leaders of the Republican Main Street Caucus (“Main Street”).
On Friday, Illinois Republican Rodney Davis tapped Florida Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart to be one of the three cochairs of the group, joining Congressmen Jeff Denham of Illinois and Fred Upton of Michigan.
The group launched in September and has more than 70 members “who believe in pragmatic governing and are dedicated to strong, conservative principles related to economic and national security policy.” Besides Diaz-Balart, who chairs the House Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee, other members from Florida include Carlos Curbelo, Brian Mast, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and John Rutherford.
"I cannot thank Pat enough for his leadership and years of service to his constituents and our caucus. Although we are losing a friend and key member of our caucus, we are excited about the new addition of Mario Diaz-Balart to the leadership team of Main Street," Davis said on Friday.
"Mario brings a long history of the kind of common sense governing we need and a new voice from the Appropriations Committee to the Main Street leadership table,” Davis added. “With Mario's help, we are excited to deliver results our constituents are counting on, including crafting an infrastructure plan that builds on the momentum of tax reform and will keep our economy growing"
"I am humbled to join Congressmen Davis, Denham, and Upton on Main Street’s leadership team," said Diaz-Balart. "Members of this group are some of the most respected and effective Members of Congress and are involved in every important piece of legislation on Capitol Hill. It is a privilege to receive their support. I look forward to working with our colleagues to find commonsense solutions that will better the lives of Americans across the country."
“Mario is a good friend and a champion of main street Americans as well as small business,” said Denham. “He is the right choice to promote commonsense reforms and policies to benefit the backbone of America.”
“I’m greatly looking forward to serving alongside Mario Diaz-Balart in his new role," said Upton. "Mario and I have known each other for years and I’ve always relied on his keen instincts and commitment to governing and delivering results. He’s a natural leader who will serve our Caucus with honor. I look forward to working with Mario, and the entire caucus, as we continue the push from our successful tax reform efforts so we can keep job and economic growth speeding along.”
First elected in 2002, Diaz-Balart represents Hendry County and parts of Collier County and Miami-Dade County. He current chairs the Congressional Hispanic Conference and co-chairs the Congressional Everglades Caucus, the Congressional Colombia Caucus, the Congressional Friends of Spain Caucus, the Congressional Taiwan Caucus and the Florida Ports Caucus.
Diaz-Balart is not the only Florida Republican to move up the ladder after Tiberi resigned from Congress. Earlier in the month, Vern Buchanan took over the Tax Policy Subcommittee after Tiberi bowed out.
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