Alabama House of Representatives Delegation Receives Key Committee Assignments | local news

Now that paradigm has shifted to the other side of the Capitol, where members of the Alabama House of Representatives have secured key committee and leadership posts that wield significant influence.

Topping the list is MP Mike Rogers, R-Saks, who was formally appointed Chair of the House Armed Services Committee this week. With several active military installations and National Guard missions, as well as dozens of defense industry contractors, the US military has a large presence in Alabama. The Congressional Armed Services Committee is responsible for a number of Department of Defense policies and programs, and as chair, Rogers will play a leading role in establishing these.

“Alabama has always played a critical role in supporting our national security. As the first congressman from Alabama to serve as Chair of the House Armed Services Committee, I look forward to continuing that legacy,” Rogers said in a statement. “Our nation faces unprecedented threats from China, Russia, North Korea and Iran. To fend off these threats and remain the world’s most feared force, we must ensure our military focuses on lethality and proficiency. Over the next two years The House Armed Services Committee will provide our war fighters with the resources and weapons they need to deter and, if necessary, defeat any adversary anywhere in the world.

Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Haleyville, continues to climb the ladder on the House Appropriations Committee and has been appointed Chair of the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies. Being a “cardinal” of funds is always influential, but this subcommittee is of particular importance to Alabama given the biomedical research in Birmingham, Huntsville and Mobile. If Republicans maintain their majority through 2025 and abide by conference rules, Aderholt is next in line to become chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, one of the most influential positions in all of Washington.

“The Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Subcommittee is responsible for the largest pool of non-defense government spending in the entire federal budget, and with that comes the obligation for renewed oversight and fiscal responsibility as we enter the fiscal 24 mid-cycle,” said Aderholt in a statement.

Also earning a seat on the House Appropriations Committee is second-term Representative Jerry Carl of R-Mobile. Carl made his funding ambitions known in a recent appearance in Capitol Journal and expressed his gratitude to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in a statement.

“I am honored to be nominated to serve on the House Appropriations Committee for the 118th Congress where I can best advocate for the values ​​and needs of South Alabama,” said Carl. “The Appropriations Committee is responsible for all federal funding, and I take seriously the opportunity to cut wasteful spending while ensuring our military is properly funded and our taxpayers’ dollars are wisely spent. This is a great asset to our district and state, and I look forward to working with Chairperson Kay Granger and my fellow committee members to achieve victories for southern Alabama and our entire nation.”

Alabama’s sole congressional Democrat, Rep. Terri Sewell von Selma, will retain her position as Chief Deputy Whip within the Democratic Caucus. Sewell is no stranger to the minority party, having served in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives from 2011 to 2018.

During both the Obama and Biden presidencies, Sewell maintained a close relationship with the White House, which she often uses for the benefit of her district and state. Full committee lists have not yet been announced, but she is expected to retain her coveted seat on the House Ways and Means Committee, which writes the nation’s tax policy.

“It is with great pride that I accept the honor of serving as Chief Deputy Whip under the leadership of the Democratic Whip Katherine Clark for the 118th Congress,” Sewell said in a statement. “I look forward to working with House Democrats’ strong and dynamic new leadership team to protect our progress, continue to strengthen our economy and serve the needs of working-class American families. I am confident that by working together, we can continue to provide lower prices, safer communities, and more opportunities for communities in Alabama and across our country.”

Rep. Gary Palmer, R-Birmingham, will again serve as chair of the House GOP Policy Committee, giving him a seat at the table within the House leadership. Palmer will also retain his coveted position on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees overall national health and energy policy. He will also serve on the House Oversight and Governmental Reform Committee, which has a reputation for investigating the executive branch, particularly when the president belongs to another party.

“Now more than ever, the American people want House Republicans to hold the Biden administration accountable for actions that have undermined the integrity of the executive branch. If left unchecked, this administration will abuse Americans’ rights,” Palmer said in a statement. “It’s up to Republicans on the Oversight and Accountability Committee to shed light on what this administration is hiding in the dark.”

Rep. Barry Moore, R-Enterprise, earned a feather in his congressional hat and landed a seat on the House Judiciary Committee. This committee is not only responsible for the country’s criminal laws, but also has oversight of the Justice Department and all of its subordinate departments, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

“It is a great and humbling honor to be appointed to the prestigious House Judiciary Committee and to serve alongside my friend and our Chairman, Jim Jordan, to defend our fundamental American freedoms,” Moore said. “The Judiciary Committee will spearhead this Congress fighting to ensure that America’s popular government works to protect its civil liberties, not undermine them to advance a political agenda. With President Biden in the White House, we have a tall order ahead of us, but I am ready to get to work.”

Alabama’s newest delegation member, Rep. Dale Strong, R-Huntsville, has made his first pick on the House Armed Services Committee. According to his office, Strong is one of 10 new congressmen nominated by the House Republican Steering Committee to serve in the armed forces. Alabama’s Fifth District includes Redstone Arsenal and a variety of defense industries.

“Alabama is home to many military stocks, but the 5th Circuit is particularly proud to be home to Redstone Arsenal. From the Army Material Command, the aerospace and missile programs and the Missile Defense Agency, Redstone is critical to America’s national defense,” Strong said in a statement. “I’m grateful for the trust my constituents and Chairman Mike Rogers have placed in me. I look forward to continuing to showcase Alabama’s innovation and ingenuity through my role on this committee.”