Freshman U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham, D-Fla., announced her subcommittee assignments on Thursday, insisting hew new takes will help her North Florida district.
In her successful campaign to topple U.S. Rep. Steve Southerland, R-Fla., last year, Graham said she would follow the North Florida Way in Washington and she returned to that theme on Thursday.
Bringing the North Florida Way to Washington means working on the issues most important to constituents, Graham said. Serving on these subcommittees will allow me to have a greater impact in Congress for the military, farmers and families across North Florida.
From her seat on the Armed Services Committee, Graham will be on the Seapower and Projection Forces, Tactical Air and Land Forces and Oversight and Investigation subcommittees.
Graham said her role on the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee will help the Naval Support Activity post in Panama City while the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee assignment will help Tyndall Air Force Base.
These committees are responsible for ensuring Americas soldiers, seamen, marines and airmen are fully equipped to carry out their mission and keep our country safe, Graham said. Its my job in Congress to make sure our service members have the resources they need, whether theyre in North Florida or serving on the front lines.
Graham will be on the Agriculture Committees General Farm Commodities and Risk Management and Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research subcommittees.
Farmers and rural communities are the backbone of North Florida, Graham said. Serving on these subcommittees will give North Floridas farmers and agriculture research programs a stronger voice in Congress.
In the meantime, the freshman conrgesswoman has drawn the fire of the National Republican Congressioal Committee (NRCC) which accused her of backing President Barack Obamas call to tax 529 saving accounts that Americans use to save for their childrens college education. After drawing heavy fire from the Republicans on the proposal, Obama has spiked it for the moment.
Gwen Grahams first big initiative in Congress was supporting Barack Obamas plan to tax college savings accounts a proposal so absurd that even the president has already abandoned it, said Chris Pack, a spokesman for the NRCC, on Wednesday. Hopefully Graham now realizes that she should study up on the presidents proposals to see how they would impact her constituents before she blindly supports them.
But a spokesman for Graham told Sunshine State News she has never backed the president's plan or raising taxes on 529s and hit the NRCC for distorting her record. Graham's camp noted that, in her response to Obama's State of the Union, the new congresswoman said, "I disagree with some of the presidents proposals, like raising taxes while our economy is still recovering."
Graham's team also noted that her father -- former U.S. Sen. and Gov. Bob Graham, D-Fla. -- introduced 529s with now-U.S. Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
