Two congressional representatives from South Florida took steps up the leadership ladder in the U.S. House last week.
Despite having just taken his seat last month, U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla., was named as the chairman of the U.S. House Agriculture, Energy and Trade Subcommittee, under the umbrella of the U.S. House Small Business Committee.
U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot, R-Ohio, the chairman of the Small Business Committee, explained his rationale for naming Curbelo as chairman of the subcommittee.
Rep. Curbelo understands that small businesses provide opportunities for millions of working Americans to get ahead in life, Chabot said. His personal and professional experiences will be vital to the committee as we work together to produce solutions that help entrepreneurs and small businesses continue to provide opportunities for working families. Im looking forward to working with him as he leads the Agriculture, Energy, and Trade Subcommittee.
I recognize the important role small businesses play in our communities, Curbelo said when named to the post last week. In Florida, 95.4 percent of our exports were from small firms, generating over two-thirds of our states export value. I will work tirelessly to ensure we remain globally competitive. I look forward to working in a bipartisan manner with my colleagues to address policies that will enhance rural economic growth, increase our countrys energy independence and champion small-business growth throughout the United States.
Two of Curbelos fellow South Florida Republicans vouched for the freshmans abilities and said he would have no problem leading the subcommittee.
Its great to see young leaders like Carlos already blazing a trail in Congress and working to deliver for South Florida, said U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla. I know that as chairman of this subcommittee, he will work diligently to ensure South Floridians have all the tools they need to start or expand their small businesses. I look forward to working with him so that our South Florida delegation can help improve our community.
Congressman Curbelo knows our community and how important small businesses are to Floridas economy, and he will be a great champion for them in Congress and on the committee, insisted U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla. I congratulate Carlos on his chairmanship and look forward to working with him and the rest of the South Florida delegation to better our community.
But Curbelo is not the only representative from South Florida who got a promotion last week. Now in her third term in the U.S. House, U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Fla., announced on Thursday that she will take over as the ranking Democrat on the U.S. House Workforce Protections Subcommittee, under the U.S. House Education and Workforce Committees umbrella.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
