Multiple Texan politicians are poised to chair key committees in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The Republican Party took control of the House of Representatives during the past midterm elections, securing 218 seats, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
The majority shift has given the Republican party the ability to take control of key congressional committees and shape federal legislation. Multiple Republicans slated to chair these committees hail from Texas.
“That’s a significant shift in terms of the clout that Texans will wield in directing some key committees on the hill,” said Matthew Wilson, professor of political science at Southern Methodist University, according to NBC 5.
Wilson said that Rep. Kay Granger of Fort Worth is now poised to chair the House Appropriations Committee.
Granger represents the 12th District of Texas and is the Ranking Member of the Appropriations Committee. Granger also served on the State and Foreign Operations, Energy and Water, and Defense Appropriations subcommittees.
“Appropriations is truly one of the key committees in the House. It is widely regarded as a power committee. So chairing Appropriations, which is what [Rep. Granger] will do, puts her in a position to wield considerable influence over the spending of federal dollars,” said Wilson.
Austin Rep. Michael T. McCaul is in line to chair the Foreign Affairs Committee and will become the first Texan to take up the role.
McCaul became the ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee at the beginning of the 116th Congress. He also served as the Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security during the 113th, 115th, and 116th Congresses.
As reported by KBTX, McCaul described his future role as treating “worldwide threats to the United States coming out of Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, and how we deal with that issue,”
Fort Worth Rep. Roger Williams announced his run to chair the House Small Business Committee on November 17.
Williams is a second-generation business owner, having run a family-owned car dealership and calf-cow operation for over 50 years. He also serves on the Financial Services Committee and is the vice-ranking member of the House Small Business Committee.
“Our family business employs hundreds of people in Texas, so I don’t just read about the challenges facing Main Street, I live them firsthand,” said Williams in a press release. “As Chairman, I will provide the leadership and clear direction required to drive free-market policies and conduct proper oversight of this administration. I’m ready to fight for our Nation’s job creators and ensure that capitalism endures and small businesses can compete,” he continued.
The midterm election results will take effect in January 2023.