Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez continues bid for committee role in Democrat-controlled House.
1/16/2019 16:30
A vote on new appointees to the House Financial Services Committee, including several new progressive Democrats led by U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and several freshmen Republican members, is expected within the next week, according to media reports.
Committee Chair Maxine Waters, D-Calif., will be charged with bringing together new members on the progressive side with moderates now that the Democrats control the U.S. House of Representatives in the 116th Congress.
Politico reports other new members and freshmen expected to join the committee include U.S. Reps. Katie Porter, D-Calif.; Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich.; and Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass.
A party steering committee recommended the Democrat assignments Tuesday night and their approval will next be considered by the Democratic caucus, according to the article.
Other Democrat members recommended for the committee include U.S. Reps. Alma Adams, North Carolina; Cindy Axne, Iowa; Sean Casten, Illinois; Madeleine Dean, Pennsylvania; Tulsi Gabbard, Hawaii; Jesús García , Illinois; Sylvia Garcia, Texas; Al Lawson, Florida; Ben McAdams, Utah; Dean Phillips, Minnesota; Michael San Nicolas, Guam; and Jennifer Wexton, Virginia, according to a news release from Waters.
“The 116th Congress is the most diverse in U.S. history and I am very pleased that the Financial Services Committee Democratic Caucus will reflect its diversity,” Waters said in the news release. “We have new members bringing fresh ideas and a wide range of perspectives, as well as experienced lawmakers championing and leading on important issues that affect all Americans. I welcome the new members of the Committee and am looking forward to working together with all of our members to advance solutions to benefit and protect hardworking Americans.”
New Republican members, U.S. Reps. Anthony Gonzalez, R-Ohio; Lance Gooden, R-Texas; Denver Riggleman, R-Va.; John Rose, R-Tenn.; and Bryan Steil, R-Wis.; are slated to join the committee as well.
"The new members recommended to serve on the Financial Services Committee will provide critical input and expertise from their diverse backgrounds in everything from small business to farming. I look forward to working alongside these members, and the Republican Conference as a whole, to build on the gains we’ve already achieved for hardworking taxpayers. I’m glad to see this important step taken so we can get to work for the American people in the 116th Congress," said U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., in a news release. The Republican recommendations are expected to be considered next week.
The House Financial Services Committee, which has oversight of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, currently has 60 members and is the third-largest House committee. Waters said she will focus on “undoing the damage” at the bureau and may call on former Acting Director Mick Mulvaney to testify before the committee.
Ocasio-Cortez put in a bid to serve on the committee in December. If selected among new members by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, she will serve with U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., who also recommended Ocasio-Cortez for one of the open seats.
As part of change in leadership, the committee released a new website. If you subscribed to committee news releases, you may want to update your subscription here. Visit the House Financial Services Committee Republicans’ website here. The committee is also available to follow on Twitter @FSCDems and @FinancialCmte.
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